MIKIAL (Bratva Blood Brothers #2) by KJ Dahlen-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Re-release February 27, 2018

Mikial
The Bratva made him who he was.
He would die to protect any one of them.
The moment he saw her, he couldn’t ignore her.
He couldn’t help himself and he couldn’t stay away from her.
She belonged to him the moment he touched her.
Stepping in to protect what is his.
He would die to protect her, and go through hell to get her back.
God help any man who tried taking her away from him.

Pepper
In her nightmares, she can’t remember the face who crashed her world
She thought he wanted to use her, hurt her, and cast her away.
But he found it. He touched her soul, and he saved her.
She finds in his arms the safety she’s been missing
He makes her want the rest of the world to just go away
Now that she’s found him she’ll never let him go
To lose him now would be like ripping her soul out

•••••••••••••

REVIEW:  MIKIAL is the second instalment in KJ Dahlen’s contemporary, adult BRATVA BLOOD BROTHERS erotic, Russian Mafia, romance series focusing on a close-knit group of friends, originally from Russia. This is import/export dealer Mikial Bannonkov, and legal researcher Pepper Windjue’s story line. MIKIAL can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary. The author begins each story with a prequel short story focusing on the history of the ‘brothers’ and how they came to be.

NOTE: MIKIAL is the re-release of the author’s April 2017 IN COLD BLOOD.

SOME BACKGROUND:  Five young boys and childhood friends (Yuri, Sazon, Barshan, Mikial and Roman) survived the mean-streets of Russia only to be rescued and reared by a local gym owner Ivan Russo, who would meet his death by a local gang. Seeking revenge against the gang, local Russian Bratva member and soon to be New York Russian mafia leader Nikoli Silvanic would mentor the five young men until they were ready to take on the world, with the approval of Russian Bratva leader Sergi Constantine. When the time came Nikoli Silvanic would take over the New York territory, while the five ‘blood brothers’ would take over New Orleans.

Told from several third perspectives including Mikial and Pepper MIKIAL follows the quick building romance between import/export businessman Mikial Bannonkov, and legal researcher Pepper Windjue. An art showing at a local gallery owned by the five Russian Bratva brothers brought together some of the elite of New Orleans but Pepper Windjue found herself staring down her future and her past. With a recommendation from a friend Pepper saw what could have been a painting from her life, an exact image of the child she once was but never knew. A mysterious man, a unknown shooter, and an attempt on her life find our heroine under protective custody by the man with whom she would fall in love. Enter Mikial Bannonkov, import/ export businessman, and a man whose own business interests are about to over lap with Pepper’s past. What ensues are the quick building lust to love romance between Pepper and Mikial, and the potential fall –out when Pepper becomes collateral damage in a war between the Russian and Irish mob.

The relationship between Pepper and Mikial is very quick to build. From the attempt on her life into protective custody with the Bratva Brothers, Pepper and Mikial will find themselves falling in bed within hours of meeting, and proclaiming their love in a matter of days. I would have loved a slower build-up to love and a happily ever after. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic, and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text. I will add, that in this age of STDs and AIDs, I believe an author has a obligation and duty to promote safer sex, but there is NO mention of condom usage throughout the first two story lines.

All of Mikial’s Bratva Blood Brothers play secondary and supporting characters including the ongoing relationship struggles between Yuri and Raven (Yuri #1). Barshan’s story line is next.

The book description noted for a limited time, the book includes bonus content. At the beginning of the book the author adds that MIKIAL is a full length novel but ends before 100% on the Kindle File…I’d say….the story line ended at 12% with the remaining 88% focusing on the author’s Satan Spawn MC and Sin’s Bastards series, as well as other books by Butterfly Publishing. The first 2 % covered the background and history of the Bratva Brothers, a prequel that is also included in book one Yuri. I was hoping for a longer story line; a more thorough look at the conflict between Mikial and the Irish mob; and the connections to our heroine’s past.

MIKIAL is an easy read; simple in its’ presentation and formula. The premise is entertaining and intriguing; the characters are colorful; the romance is quick, fast and hot. If you are a fan of insta-lust/love then MIKIAL is the perfect read! If you are a fan of the Russian Mafia trope, then the Bratva Blood Brothers series is another chance to enjoy the ride.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one YURI

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Reviewed by Sandy