RUSSIAN MAFIA ROMANCE SERIES 1-3 by Maura Rose-Reviews

BEHOLDEN TO THE BRATVA
A Russian Mafia Romance #1
by Maura Rose
RELEASE DATE: February 16, 2018
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, Russian Mafia, romance

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VIKTOR

Ruthless. Brutal. Bloodthirsty.

That’s my reputation, and as a member of the Sokolov crime family, I’ve earned it. I’m good at what I do, and although I may not enjoy “conducting business” quite as much as my father, I know how to do what has to be done. Even if it means ruining lives. Even if it means killing.

The high point of my week is when we have our business meetings at the restaurant where the lovely Lina serves as a waitress and brightens the room with her sweet, nervous smile. She is the daughter of Darius, the restaurant’s owner—and Darius is deep in debt to Bogdan, the boss of the Sokolov Bratva…and my father.

Lina is gorgeous. She’s angelic. She blushes when she looks at me. But she hates us for what we are.

And now, I have to kidnap her. Business is business, after all, and Darius has to pay.

LINA

Business has been bad for years now, but my father refuses to close the doors of the restaurant. Rather than wiping down tables to clear away food, I’m cleaning off tables to keep the dust from settling. No one eats here anymore…except them. The criminals. The “businessmen.” The Bratva.

Every week, they come in and have a meeting in our banquet room, and even though my father puts on a show of friendliness when they walk through the doors, I can tell there is fear in his eyes when he sees them—and that makes me afraid, too. There has to be more to their relationship than a simple love of good comfort food, but my father refuses to talk about the history between him and Bogdan.

I can’t stand them. They’re bad for business and leave a bad taste in my mouth. I hate the way they look at me, and I hate that I have to smile in their faces while they muddy our restaurant with their vile presence. I hate them all.

Except one. The one with the icy blue eyes that linger on me, the quiet one with the handsome, brooding face. Despite knowing what he is and what he does for a living, I can’t help myself. He’s hot. He’s mysterious. And damn it all to hell, I want him.

Beholden to the Bratva is a standalone full-length steamy romance novel with a heat level (and action-packed drama) sure to leave you dripping with sweat! No cliffhangers, no cheating, and a guaranteed HEA!

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REVIEW: BEHOLDEN TO THE BRATVA is the first instalment in Maura Rose’s contemporary, adult RUSSIAN MAFIA ROMANCE series. This is Sokolov crime family son Viktor Sokolov, and Lina’s story line.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Lina and Viktor) BEHOLDEN TO THE BRATVA follows the building relationship between Sokolov crime family son Viktor Sokolov, and Lina. Lina had no idea her father Darius was deep into the Sokolov Russian mafia for close to a million dollars, money he didn’t have, and never would. In order to make restitution Lina will unknowingly become fodder for her father’s debt, a debt she would have to pay for with her life. Enter Viktor Sokolov, the man who with whom Lina will fall in love but a man with familial connections to the Russian mob. What ensues is the kidnapping of Lina; Viktor’s dogged determination to protect Lina at all costs, and the potential fall-out as the costs incurred would send Lina and Viktor on the run.

The relationship between Lina and Viktor is one of immediate but forbidden attraction. For years the Sokolov crime family has made themselves at home in Darius’ café, a café that now struggles to pay the bills. With each visitation, Lina will come face to face with Viktor Sokolov, the man with whom she will fall in love but a man who struggles with what will, and must be done. The quick building relationship is passionate and seductive without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to Lina’s father Darius; Viktor’s brother Ivan; Bratva lieutenant Pavel; their merciless father Bogdan, as well as Bogdan’s number one enforcer Vladimir. Not everyone will survive to see another day.

BEHOLDEN TO THE BRATVA is a story of family, power, murder and control. The premise is inviting; the romance is spirited; the characters are determined but fell a little flat in the personality development.

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Reviewed by Sandy 

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BURNING FOR THE BRATVA:
A Russian Mafia Romance #2
by Maura Rose
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, Russian Mafia, romance

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release date June 12, 2018

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Burning passions can be all-consuming…

IVAN
I’m the head of the Sokolov Bratva now. My father is dead, my brother gone, and I’m left with picking up the pieces of a broken business and a pile of broken dreams. I’m the only one who can do it, but I can’t do it alone.
That’s where the Irish come in. If we can work with each other instead of against each other, we can all benefit. But there’s trouble stirring, and if I don’t find out what’s going on and put a stop to it, I may end up joining my father in the grave.
My life is on the line. I don’t have the luxury of letting myself be distracted. Especially not by a woman. Especially when that woman is an Irish mob boss’s daughter.

KELLY
My father is insane if he thinks I’m going to marry some Russian mafia goon for the sake of his business dealings. I don’t want to do it, and I won’t. I don’t want to marry him or anyone else. My dad may be a mob boss, but I am the boss of my own destiny.
And I won’t do it. No matter how sexy he is.
But that’s the least of my worries. Someone is killing off my family, and I think I know who the “someone” is. The trouble is, I can’t do anything about it without the help of the guy from the bratva. And as much as I like the eye candy when he’s around, entering into a dangerous business dealing with a Russian mob boss is the last thing I want to do.
Unfortunately, it may be the only way to keep the rest of my family—and myself—alive.

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REVIEW: BURNING FOR THE BRATVA is the second instalment Maura Rose’s contemporary, adult RUSSIA MAFIA ROMANCE erotic, romance series. This is the head of the Sokolov Bratva Ivan Sokolov, and Irish mob daughter Kelly O’Gill’s story line. BURNING FOR THE BRATVA can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Kelly and Ivan) BURNING FOR THE BRATVA follows the quick building romance between the head of the Sokolov Bratva Ivan Sokolov, and Irish mob daughter Kelly O’Gill. With the recent death of his father, Ivan needed a mentor in order to take control of the Sokolov Bratva. Having wandered into the Irish territory, Ivan comes face to face with Sean O’Gill, the man who is about to show Ivan the ropes. Enter Sean’s daughter Kelly O’Gill, and the woman with whom he would fall in love. What ensues is the search for a mole within the O’Gill organization and the potential fall-out as someone close is trying to even the score.

Kelly O’Gill battles between head and heart knowing that an alliance with the Russian Bratva would secure her family’s control at the docks. With one brother dead, and another one barely alive, Kelly wants retribution against the people responsible, even if it means going against her father’s wishes. Ivan knows that to merge with the O’Gill family is a bonus anyway you look at but meeting sassy, smart mouthed and arrogant Kelly O’Gill, Ivan sees more than a merger but a possible future and mother to his heir.

The relationship between Kelly and Ivan begins acrimoniously as the couple are forced to work together to uncover a plot against the O’Gill family. Betrayal revealed, vengeance demanded, Kelly and Ivan will begin an investigation of their own that leads to a sexual encounter, at the risk of their own lives. The $ex scenes are passionate, erotic and intense, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters are colorful but limited in number. We are introduced to Kelly’s father and the head of the O’Gill Irish family Sean O’Gill her brother Shane, and Sean’s lieutenant Bates. Pavel returns as Ivan’s lieutenant and second in command.

BURNING FOR THE BRATVA is a story of blood and family; betrayal and retribution; power, control and vengeance. The character driven premise is edgy and engaging; the romance is spicy; the characters are determined and animated. BURNING FOR THE BRATVA is an energetic story line merging the Russian and Irish mobs.

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Reviewed by Sandy 

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BLAZING FOR THE BRATVA
(A Russian Mafia Romance #3)
by Maura Rose 

Release Date: November 19, 2018

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About the book: 

The struggle for power, the struggle for love…

PAVEL
I’ve always been the low man on the Sokolov bratva’s totem pole, but not anymore. The family is changing, growing, and I have stepped up as second-in-command. I’m not the errand boy now. Pavel the Puppy is no more. Now, I’m a wolf—a force to be reckoned with, and I get the respect I deserve because I’ve earned it.

But with status comes sacrifice, and the bratva needs an alliance to cement our place in the city’s organized crime hierarchy. Now I have to marry a complete stranger who just happens to be the youngest daughter of the Mikhailov bratva’s boss—the most powerful man in the city.

She’s gorgeous. She’s educated. She’s feisty. She’s also convinced she’s too good for an arranged marriage with a man of my reputation.

But I’m going to make her mine. No matter what it takes. Mine.

NATALIA
My father runs the most powerful Russian mafia operation in the region. He has decided it’s time to marry me off to some no-name guy from some no-name bratva, and I want to find a way out of it. I deserve better than some second-rate lieutenant—I should be marrying a boss, myself! But Father’s word is final, so I don’t have much choice.

Then I meet him. He’s courteous. Mysterious. Handsome. He’s not at all like the puppy dog I had imagined or the bodybuilder wannabes who are typical of the men in the organized crime world. There is a danger that lurks within his beautiful eyes, and a demeanor of calm that commands respect. I want to hate him, want to hate our arranged marriage—but instead I hate myself for wanting him so bad.

I have to get him alone, have to find out what secrets hide behind his eyes… and under his clothes. But if we are caught meeting alone before the wedding, it could bring shame on the Mikhailov bratva—and it could mean death for Pavel.

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REVIEW: BLAZING FOR THE BRATVA is the third instalment in Maura Rose’s contemporary adult RUSSIAN MAFIA ROMANCE erotic, romance series. This is Sokolov Bratva lieutenant Pavel , and Natalia Mikhailov’s story line. BLAZING FOR THE BRATVA can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Natalia and Pavel) BLAZING FOR THE BRATVA follows the building but forbidden relationship between Sokolov Bratva lieutenant Pavel, and Natalia Mikhailova. The impending wedding between Natalia’s sister Irena to the heir to the powerful Japanese Yakuza is meant to merge the Russian and Japanese mobs but Natalia’s father is determined to increase his standing in the Bratva by announcing Natalia’s marriage to a man she doesn’t know. Enter Sokolov Bratva lieutenant Pavel, the man with whom Natalia will fall in love. What ensues is the building but secret romance between Natalia and Pavel, and the potential fall-out as things don’t go according to plans with Irena’s wedding, and Natalia’s father calls off any future plans for our story line heroine.

To keep up appearances and maintain propriety Natalia and Pavel are not allowed to date prior to their engagement announcement but our story line couple are desperate to meet one another, and in the ensuing aftermath, begin a secret relationship on the road to falling in love. Natalia struggles with her father’s old country ways, and following a near disaster at her sister’s wedding, demands her right to choose.

The relationship between Pavel and Natalia begins acrimoniously. Neither Pavel nor Natalia are thrilled with being forced into a marriage of convenience; a marriage meant to merge rival Russian powers but powers each seeking something different. Hoping to become friends first, Pavel and Natalia will begin a secret courtship behind everybody’s back. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters include Natalia’s sisters Irena, Anastasia, Lana and Vasilisa, as well as their father Ivan Mikhailova. We are re-introduced to the head of the Sokolov Bratva Ivan Sokolov, and his wife Kate (Burning for the Bratva #2).

BLAZING FOR THE BRATVA is a story of family, betrayal, power and control. The premise is engaging and captivating; the romance is seductive and provocative; the characters are animated and lively. The usual violence in many Russian Bratva story lines is limited, as well as the story line conflict but saying that I am looking forward to reading more future story lines focusing on Natalia’s sisters.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy