Mobsters in Fiction

Mobsters in Ficton: Louie Morelli:

Mobsters in Fiction: Louie Morelli

“Who is your favorite mobster, Mrs. Bellomo?”

The question was recently posed at a luncheon where I was the keynote speaker. We were discussing mobsters in fiction. This was easy. After all, there is only one fictitious mobster that means anything to me. So I answered without hesitation. “Louie Morelli,” I said.

We were discussing mobsters in fiction.

My audience was expecting this. And they understood. Really, how can Louie not be my favorite mobster? I gave life to him.

The ladies seemed to appreciate this answer. They like Louie, too. In fact, some of them love Louie. It’s true on page and off. Women do love Louie. They love him because he’s a dark hero–an enigmatic mobster who employs violent and, occasionally, underhanded methods. The ladies don’t mind that he cheats on his long-suffering wife. They love Louie because he’s Louie—darkly handsome, filthy rich (not all of it come by honestly), and very powerful. Power is sexy. Louie is sexy.

Look at the comment from one of my female readers:  “Louie is the kind of man we all wish we knew.”

True, Louie is a badass gangster, and he can be cruel, but he’s tender and sweet to those he loves, and he takes care of his women, rescues us from the big bad world for a few hours. He’s our protector.

It’s easy to love Louie because he exists on the pages of my novels: the ultimate bad boy. Operating from a code of honor and possessing a suave sophistication that’s a bit Bondish, as in James Bond, Louie has his share of male admirers, too. He’s a pretty cool cat. And he always gets the girl.

A lot of writers can’t do mobsters. Frequently, mobsters in fiction come off as corny caricatures of Hollywood psychos. Bad to the bone. As an author, I like to explore the nuances in human nature. Truthfully, I think I have a bit of an advantage because I’ve known a lot of Louie Morelli types. Just to be clear: That doesn’t mean I know their secrets. Or even care to know them. Fiction is much more interesting.

 Fiction is much more interesting.

Anyway, as Louie’s creator, I’m totally prejudiced. Louie’s my favorite mobster. How about you?  Do you have a favorite mobster?

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Patricia Bellomo is the author of the Louie Morelli mafia romance series. Books include The Prince of Mafia Princes, Louie Morelli’s Daughter, Stella di Mare, and Louie Morelli’s Mistress. Books available at Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com. Also available in all e-book formats.

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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

 

 

7 + 8 =

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Best Beach Reads, April 25, 2016

Best Beach Reads

Beach Reads from Patricia Bellomo

Reading a Patricia Bellomo novel at the beach.

Heading to the beach this spring for a little rest and relaxtion?

If you’re off to seek the sun and sand, don’t forget to load up your kindle or nook, or better yet, pack several good books: Beach Reads, to be exact. Noting too heavy or dramatic for the beach. It’s not the place to brush up on classics or delve into a literary masterpiece. But nothing beats basking on the beach with a good romantic thriller or a novel of suspense and intrigue.

Some of the best beach reads are books that are set in romantic and tropical settings. Nothing like reading about the beach while actually being on one. Of course, exotic settings are good reads for rainy days, too. The key is to immerse yourself in a great escape.

“Bellomo’s sizzling mafia read is perfect for the beach.”

Some of my best beach reads are books by Elin Hilderbrand, Donna Leon, and James Grippando. I also favor John Sandford’s series, books by John Lescroart, and my favorite, John le Carre. Who is your favorite author for beach reading?

Added to this list are my own books:  Louie Morelli’s Mistress, Stella di Mare, Louie Morelli’s Daughter, and my latest award winner, The Prince of Mafia Princes.

Bellomo's beach read

Bellomo’s ultimate beach read, Stella di Mare

“Stella di Mare … the ultimate beach read.”

“Bellomo did a great job of setting up the imagery for Southern Florida.”

“If you can’t read it on A South Florida beach, you’ll feel like you’re there.”

Books available at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com

Signed copies available on website.

 

2 + 12 =

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Louie Morelli’s Mistress

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

 

9 + 4 =

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Mob Blog: Breakfast with the Eagles Cheerleaders

Mob Blog: The Eagles Cheerleaders,  March 5, 2016

Breakfast with the Eagles Cheerleaders

The Eagles Cheerleaders – Patricia Bellomo

I have a meeting with a big name investor this morning. It’s strictly legit—the guy’s a high financier who likes to gobble up South Florida real estate. We’re discussing a future project, and he wants to do breakfast so Victor and I meet him at the Marriott on the corner of Atlantic and A1A in Delray Beach. The investor’s a little square, and he gets a thrill out of doing business with someone who is “connected.”

That’s what he says to me anyhow. “Lou, I know you’re connected.”

His eyes shift to Victor, and I could see he’s wondering if he’s gone too far. But I merely smile, and Victor nods cordially, and we make pleasant over our fruit and coffee. By the time our eggs arrive we’re talking high finance. Then a couple of stunners walk by, and we momentarily suspend our conversation.  A few minutes later at least a dozen more young ladies come in and join them. They’re sleek and tanned and some are blonde and some are brunettes and a few girls are black, and they are all so damned lovely our meeting grinds to a halt. They enter in groups of two and four and join their friends at long tables, and suddenly the Marriott’s looking like a sorority club.

“Suddenly, the room is filled with cheerleaders … Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders.

One perky young thing next to us is even entertaining her grandmother, the two of them exchanging gift baskets. The room fills with chatter and high-pitched laughter, and I’m reminded of the parties Stella used to have. But these girls are all fit and toned and wearing tiny shorts and bikini tops and gauzy little outfits. There are a lot of implants and bleached teeth and bright smiles, and Victor, who hasn’t missed a meal since he did his two year stint in Angola twenty-five years ago, shoves aside his banana pancakes. “Jesus,” he says, “what is this, some kind of modeling thing?”

My guest says, “It’s quite a show, isn’t it?”

Two beauties plop down on Victor’s side of the table, and he gets the story. They’re cheerleaders for the Eagles, and they’re in Delray Beach to do their annual calendar shoot. Soon we’ve got five gorgeous young girls sipping orange juice at our table, and Victor’s cracking jokes. Then he mentions that we’re planning to take the Stella di Mare down to Lauderdale this afternoon, and the young ladies get all excited. They’d love to go for a boat ride. I ask my pal, the investor, if he’d like to come along, and he’s all for it. So I guess I’m playing hooky with the Eagles cheerleaders. Life is pretty damn good.

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Stella di Mare

If you enjoyed “Breakfast with the Eagles Cheerleaders” you may wish to check out Patricia Bellomo’s mafia thrillers, The Prince of Mafia Princes, Louie Morelli’s Mistress, Stella di Mare, and Louie Morelli’s Daughter. All books available online at Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble.

 

 

15 + 12 =

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