Louie Morelli’s Mistress: Haunting New Orleans thriller

Haunting New Orleans thriller:

Louie Morelli’s Mistress by Patricia Bellomo

 

 

What readers are saying about Louie Morelli’s Mistress:

“This novel captures the atmosphere of New Orleans, and uses it to advantage in developing the story. It is not a “mobster” story, even though one of the main characters is a criminal boss. I enjoyed the descriptions of the people and places, but they did not get in the way of a very well-told story. Surprise after surprise awaits as the story develops, and even when the reader has a suspicion of coming events, they occur in novel ways. It is an exciting read, and leaves you with much interest in what might happen in the future. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a fascinating story that is far afield from the typical romance or action thriller.”

“Great book!!! Threw your book (Louie Morelli’s Mistress) in my breifcase as I was heading off to New Orleans for vacation. Great read. Everytime I read about one of the places mentioned in the book, I added it to my must visit list. Stayed at the Royal Sonesta, and had a great stay. Your novel made it even better.”

5 star Amazon review on Louie Morelli’s Mistress:  “Makes me want to go to New Orleans.”
“All in all, an excellent book. I look forward to checking out the other books written by Ms. Bellomo. If they are half as good as this one, then that will be money well spent.”

“Louie Morelli’s Mistress … a haunting New Orleans thriller.”

Available at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com

 

 

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Stella di Mare

Louie Morelli’s Daugter

The Prince of Mafia Princes

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Mob Blog: Louisiana Oil Man, March 29, 2016

Mob Blog: Louisiana Oil Man, March 29, 2016

I’m sitting on my terrace with the Louisiana oil man, Jay Connolly. It’s near dusk, and the clouds, tinged with lavender and orange, are bunched up over the Atlantic, the sea calm and smooth as glass. We’re sitting facing the sea, watching tankers and cruise ships traverse the horizon. I’m relaxed as I can be, but Jay, for all his old-fashioned courtesy, is wound tight as a drum.

Mob Blog: Louisiana OIl Man

I’ve known Jay my whole life. He’s been like an uncle to me because it was my old man who bankrolled him, giving Jay his start when he was a wildcatter down on the gulf.

Jay’s a character. His wife died years ago, and every couple of months he has a new girl. They’re all strippers and showgirls and barmaids and so indistinguishable from one another that I don’t even try to remember their names.

Jay doesn’t have a girl with him today. He’s beleaguered and out of sorts. He doesn’t like Palm Beach, considers it a little too prissy and liberal, yet he had his pilot fly him in on his Gulfstream this morning. Jay called me from the air above Mobile, letting me know he was en-route, which is about the time I began to suspect he had a problem.

“It has to look like an accident.”

Now Jay is sitting beneath the overhang on my terrace with a glass of Booker’s Single Barrel Bourbon (he brought his own), telling me about his problem. It seems like the Louisiana oil man wants my help “eliminating an obstacle”. I know who he’s talking about. A hard-ass victim’s rights attorney doing a class action. It’s been on the news a lot, and Jay’s taking heat in the court of public opinion. And he’s really angry because he’s always tried to do the right thing, and the media is crucifying him.

“Lou, it’s a tricky situation,” he says. “It has to look like an accident.”

I give him a long look. I can see he’s worried. I don’t try and talk him out of it. After all, we’ve known each other a long time, and we’ve had these kinds of situations before.

A minute later, the sky going dark over the ocean, I say, “I’ll have my guy call you first thing tomorrow.”

The Prince of Mafia Princes

The Prince of Mafia Princes

If you enjoyed Louisiana Oil Man, you may wish to purchase one of Bellomo’s books.

Books include The Prince of Mafia Princes, Louie Morelli’s Mistress, Stella di Mare, & Louie Morelli’s Daughter.

Available online at Amazon.com/Barnes and Noble.com

 

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Mardi Gras, January 28, 2016

Mob Blog: Mardi Gras, January 28, 2016

 

Mardi Gras Mask

Mardi Gras Mask/Patricia Bellomo

 

I looked at my calendar today and realized that Mardi Gras is just around the corner. This doesn’t mean much to most Yankees, but I’ve an ongoing love affair with the city of New Orleans. The Big Easy also happens to be Louie Morelli’s hometown, and is featured extensively in my novels. In fact, the final scene in Louie Morelli’s Mistress takes place on Mardi Gras.

Mardi Gras, also known as Shrove Tuesday, translates to Fat Tuesday in French. It’s a Catholic holiday, a celebration of excess because the day after Mardi Gras is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of lent and a time of fasting.

Mardi Gras is not unique to New Orleans, but no other city in America celebrates this pre Lenten festival with such flair as the Big Easy. The Carnival season begins on Twelfth Night, which is the conclusion of the twelve days of Christmas and the night before the Feast of Epiphany. Society balls commence with the Twelfth Night Revelers ball, held this year at the Ritz-Carlton on January 6. At this time King Cakes appear in bakeries and supermarkets.

Mardi Gras, also known as shrove Tuesday, translates to Fat Tuesday.

The King Cake is a circular ring cake made of Danish dough and decorated with festive frosting in gold, green and purple—the colors of Mardi Gras. Baked into one of the slices is a small plastic baby or, traditionally, a bean. The person who receives the slice with the baby is considered lucky and is generally chosen to host the next “King Cake” party.

Mardi Gras King Cake and baby

Mardi Gras King Cake and baby/Patricia Bellomo

Although Carnival celebrations were present in some form or another in early New Orleans, it didn’t become organized until the 1850’s when a group of young men formed The Mystick Krewe of Comus and launched the first parade, with mule-drawn floats carrying masked riders.

In the 1870’s Rex arrived as a mock monarch and soon became known as the King of Carnival, with the Rex parade becoming the major parade on Mardi Gras. As with Comus, the Rex organization is comprised of Uptown bluebloods. But other “krewes” soon formed, and it is these private organizations and secret societies that fund the Carnival magic. The cost to the city is minimal, consisting mainly of added police protection.

No longer the exclusive domain of white male aristocrats, parading krewes represent the cultural diversity of New Orleans.

Nowadays, there are a number of krewes that parade and some that don’t, plus the suburban krewes and celebrations. No longer the exclusive domain of white male aristocrats, parading krewes represent the rich cultural diversity of New Orleans, with many African-American and gay krewes offering some of the best entertainment of the season.

Competing krewes start parading at least two weeks prior to Mardi Gras, with the big events slated for the last weekend before the big day. This is when tourists jam the city and the party really kicks in. To get a firm grasp of the enormity of it all, visitors should check out Blaine Kerns Mardi Gras World, where artisans work year round creating floats for forty parades. Celebrations continue throughout the day on Mardi Gras, ending abruptly at midnight, when Lent begins.

Patricia Bellomo is the author of the “Louie Morelli” series. Books include Louie Morelli’s Mistress, Stella di Mare, Louie Morelli’s Daughter, and the award winning The Prince of Mafia Princes. All books available via Amazon or the author’s website.

 

 

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Alpha Males in Popular Fiction

 

 Alpha Males in Popular Fiction

Louie Morelli: The Prince of Mafia Princes

Alpha Males in Popular Fiction

I like my protagonists to be alpha males. In fact, I tend to like alpha males in real life, too, but that’s a different story. For now, I’ll concentrate on fiction, which is what I write. Real life tends to be too real, and what is better than a great escape?

Perhaps I’m a romantic, but when I call to mind my favorite movies and books, the male characters are undoubtedly alpha males. Think Bogart in Casablanca, Clark Gable in Gone With the Wind, Brando in The Godfather, and Robert Shaw in Jaws. And last, but not least, Ian Flemings James Bond. For the record, I think Sean Connery was the best Bond.

“No weeping wimps for me. I like my men to act like men.”

With books the alpha male can be a bit nuanced—it’s sometimes a good thing to show a little vulnerability or weakness. But please, no weeping wimps. I like my men to act like men. In popular fiction John Sandford’s Lucas Davenport nails it, as do Michael Connolly and John Lescroart’s characters. And, of course, Lee Child’s Jack Reacher is really something. Not to mention the late Vince Flynn’s heroic Mitch Rapp or the father of the alpha male, Ernest Hemingway.

I haven’t mentioned any female authors because I think men write alpha males better than women, although Sandra Brown and Karen Robards have both done an excellent job creating strong male characters. And Margaret Mitchell did a bang up job with Rhett Butler. There are others, of course, but I’m talking popular fiction here, and I tend to be a bit disappointed with the modern take on the alpha male. In romance, the protagonist is too often portrayed as a lascivious stud, and I cringe when the male POV is expressed in a boyish or naïve manner.

I read about half of the first book in the E.L. James’s trilogy, but for the record, I do not consider Christian Grey an alpha male. He seemed more like a bad porn character to me, but then, I prefer my erotica not be watered down. I like it the old-fashioned way.

Kidding aside, there are some wonderful alpha males in fiction, and I specifically want to salute the many unnamed and often unrecognized authors who created them. And, perhaps, here I can mention my own dark and dashing bad boy: Savvy mobster, Louie Morelli.

Louie and his sidekick, Victor, are definitely alpha males, and my female readers love them. My male readers like them, too, mostly because they act like men and follow a code of honor, even if it is highly questionable. But, hey, I write fiction, and I guess I’m not the only one who likes alpha males.

Please tell me who your favorite alpha males in fiction are.

 

The Boss - Patricia Bellomo

The Boss
The Alpha Male in Bellomo’s Life

 

Patricia Bellomo has authored four Louie Morelli novels, including Louie Morelli’s Mistress, Stella di Mare, Louie Morelli’s Daughter, and The Prince of Mafia Princes.

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Miami Beach Mafia Thriller

If you’re planning a beach trip, Stella di Mare, the second novel in Bellomo’s “Louie Morelli” series, is the book to take with you.

Miami Beach Mafia Thriller, Stella di Mare

Miami Beach  Mafia Thriller,
Stella di Mare

Stella di Mare, A Miami Beach Mafia Thriller

 

Tara Evans never planned on getting involved with a married man, but when Louie Morelli assumes control of the swank Miami Beach hotel she works for, Tara falls hard for the charismatic mobster, rushing headlong into a hot affair. Things heat up after Louie discovers that the hotel’s former proprietor, Franco Santia, has been hustling hot diamonds. Soon a rare gem—a magnificent “blue diamond” is uncovered. The diamond is Franco’s ticket to paradise, and he and his creepy pal, Manny, are desperate to get it back. After Manny accosts Tara, Louie “persuades” Franco to betray Manny. Then he devises a scam involving a famous filmmaker, an eccentric diamond dealer, a mysterious hit man, and his lovely lady, Tara.

Available at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com.

Released in print and on all E-readers.

 

 

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