Apollo (Alpha Heroes, #4) (2024)

Quite honestly, I don't even know where to begin to discuss Apollo, the fourth novel in Anna del Mar's incredible Alpha Heroes, series other than tell you it's a 5-star read, and to attempt to tell you why without giving away any spoilers.

First, we meet Apollo, the only African American Battleson brother, and he is on a mission. When Leo Battleson, one of his 5 brothers, was fatally injured in an IED explosion, his dying words were "River Nile Egypt." It didn't make much sense until the brothers and the mysterious and elusive Tee, figured out that the first two words were, "River Niles," the name of the woman Leo loved, and that "Egypt" was a town, one of 17 with that name in the U.S., and which was finally whittled down to Egypt, Nebraska. It was further whittled down to a sleazy, white supremacist, neo-Nazi skinhead, biker bar, The Hangout, which is the last place on earth Apollo should have entered alone, but with a mission to complete, he orders a beer from a beautiful waitress with dyed blue hair, who tells him the name she goes by is Blue. When he asks about the owner, Blue tells him that she's a "super bitch," that she isn't there, and Blue warns him to get out while he can, and asks him to meet her in the bathroom in 8 minutes.

The biggest, meanest, most vile, skinhead in the bar is Ray, Blue's brother, and she has been his unwilling hostage for the past year. Ray treats her horribly, loves to abuse and humiliate her, and after the quick meeting in the bathroom and a surprising hot kiss, followed by Blue being forced to strip and pole dance at her brother's orders, Apollo plans to get her out of there, not fully understanding what Ray has been holding over her head for the past year, or Blue's protestations that she can't leave, and we soon learn why. When Apollo manages to sneak Blue out of there, he sets off quite a chain of events, but I won't spill the beans--you'll have to read it yourself.

If you're looking for one seriously gritty, graphically violent, graphically steamy novel, with danger and villains around every corner, and two emotionally wounded yet brave and damaged souls coming to terms with their pasts and their personal issues, look no further than this novel because it has it all. Kudos to Ms. del Mar for pulling out all the stops and weaving this amazing roller-coaster of action and emotion into what is perhaps the most intricately plotted, deeply emotional, and addictive novel in the series so far. While Apollo reads just fine as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the novels in this fabulous series in the order they were written to fully understand who the Battleson brothers are, how they came to be and what they mean to one another. You won't regret a minute of it.

Here's the thing with Anna del Mar: as soon as I turn the first page, I know I'm going to be sucked head first into a well-written story with characters I'll care about and a story that will have me wanting to stay up in the early hours of the morning to read so I can find out what happens. Apollo's book was no different. The penultimate in the Alpha Heroes series, this Battleson brother has his demons, as do all of them, but then he meets the woman who changes his world upside down...except he knows he can never have her because of who she is.

Blue was not at all what I was expecting, given her identity. Put through hell by her revolting brother, she tolerates it for her other sibling who needs her. When Apollo gives her an out, she so desperately wants to take it, but she doesn't dare dream she really could have a better life. Apollo is determined to prove she does deserve it, and watching them fall for each other is a delight. I don't want this series to end!

Another fabulous exciting read in this series. Apollo is such a wonderful hero and Blue has such spunk, both overcoming terrible pasts. Great catching up with a lot of the others from this series, although I missed Trev who was only there in the background (still hoping he gets his own story).

Looking forward to the story of Kass and Tee, when we will at last learn the identity of the nasty Zero Tango...

My only what the h### moment in this book was when I saw the cover... good looking guy, but Apollo is black?!

Another battle Royale occurs here, between the Battlesons and their nemesis, the one they call Zero Tango. The twist here is the island setting, along with the discovery that River Niles is not just Leo's lady, but destiny for Apollo, too. So much happens here that some details may fall by the wayside. The Battlesons live to fight another day, another brother finds his match, and there are only two loose ends - right now.

I loved💘it

I did enjoy reading this book. The characters were great. The plot and storyline were great too. The chemistry between Apollo and Blue were off the charts. They were HOT🔥.

This story has drama, action, suspense, danger, love❤, lust, and a whole lot more !
Read it for yourself!