CLAIMED BY DESIRE (Dark Mafia Romance 5) by BB Hamel-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 4, 2025

When’s the best time to tell my brother’s best friend that I’m pregnant with his baby?
Not the night before I’m supposed to marry someone else…
I was playing piano completely naked when my brother’s best friend Alexander walked in on me. But instead of turning away—he told me to keep going.
Which is how one song turned into an extremely stupid night of passion.
I’ve known Alex most of my life, and I’ve hated him forever. He’s a vicious killer, a gorgeous beast, and an arrogant monster. And now I’m pregnant with his baby.
My father wants me to marry someone else, and the head of our Bratva crime family personally picked out my arranged husband. There’s no way I can get out of this—so why am I standing on Alexander’s doorstep with a positive pregnancy test in my hands?

••••••••

REVIEW: CLAIMED BY DESIRE is the fifth instalment in BB Hamel’s contemporary, adult, dark Mafia romance series. This is Bratva Brigadier Alexander Sorokin, and Bratva princess Natalya Federov’s story line. CLAIMED BY DESIRE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Alexander and Natalya) CLAIMED BY DESIRE focuses on the building but forbidden relationship between Alexander Sorokin, and Bratva princess Natalya Federov. Natalya Federov found herself not once, but twice, a pawn in her father’s need for power. Living in Paris for close to a year, Natalya must face down her brother’s best friend and the bane of her existence Alexander Sorokin but a night spent together results in an unexpected pregnancy, and our heroine must come to terms with a possible future without the support of her family, friends and the man with whom she will fall in love. Marrying the woman who claimed his heart years before, Alexander found himself dishonored and exiled by the Federov family, as they become a target of her father and the Italian mob.

The world building follows the perceived betrayal by our story line couple; the impending war with the Italian Mob, and the fight for power and control. Natalya Federov is a bit of a spoiled young woman, such that her actions may threaten her brother, and the man with whom she is growing to love.

The relationship between Natalya and Alexander is a best friend’s sister/enemies to lovers. Natalya and Alexander’s friendships has been tenuous at best but when Alexander is sent to retrieve our story line heroine, anger gives way to lust, and in the ensuing days jealousy threatens to destroy them both. The $ex scenes are provocative and intense.

The secondary and supporting characters include Natalya’ brother Lev, and their father Oleg; Italian mobster Adriano Marino: Pakhan Valentin Zeitsev (UNDER CONTROL #1), as well as several Italian and Bratva members.

CLAIMED BY DESIRE is a story of organized crime, power and control, betrayal and vengeance, family and friendships, relationshjps and love. The premise is dramatic and thought provoking; the characters are strong and animated; the romance is fated and seductive.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Twilight Mask
Midnight Beast
Sunrise Malice
Under Control

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy