KEEPING RUBY (Volkov Bratva 2) by Alannah Carbonneau-review

KEEPING RUBY (Volkov Bratva 2) by Alannah Carbonneau-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 20, 2024

She came to me as a favor.
A burden I didn’t want or need.
A tiny thing with fiery hair and a temper that defies her innocence.
She holds strong to a faith I threaten to shatter with ugly truths.
She’s my salvation, but she calls me her devil.
I might not be the one who stole her.
But I’ll be keeping Ruby.

••••••

REVIEW: KEEPING RUBY is the second instalment in Alannah Carbonneau’s contemporary, adult VOLKOV BRATVA erotic, Bratva romance series. This is forty-three year old, Russian bank owner Kirill Volkov, and twenty-three year old, Bratva princess Ruby Belle Popov’s story line. KEEPING RUBY can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary. Kirill is the brother of Ilya LITTLE BLUE (book one).

NOTE : Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers. The author reminds the readers the Volkov Bratva series is a medium/light Bratva romance with some dark details.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Kirill and Ruby) KEEPING RUBY follows in the wake of the abduction of our story line heroine. Ruby Belle is a prisoner of a man she has never met. Oblivious to the point of naive, Ruby is completely unaware of her father’s life. Forced to marry Kirill Volkov for her own protection, our heroine will discover there is more to her father, and the family, she knew nothing about. Defiant and rebellious, Ruby struggles with her new husband, having become a prisoner in a gilded cage, but a prisoner none the less. As the relationship begins to develop, our heroine will be targeted; a price on her head; for the sins of her father, a man she never really knew. What ensues is the building but tempestuous relationship between Ruby and Kirill, and the potential fall-out when threats against Ruby come to fruition.

The world building focuses on Ruby’s past; her father’s lies; her husband’s life straddling a dark grey line between businessman and crime lord; and the growing relationship between two people who are thrown together by betrayal, secrets and lies.

The relationship between Kirill and Ruby is an age-gap, forced marriage, in which Ruby is but a pawn in a much large game. Ruby is an innocent, unaware of her father or her new husband’s lifestyles, and in this, our heroine is thrown to the proverbial wolves as she is failed time and time again. Kirill wants to protect the woman with whom he is falling in love but his attempts to seduce are hindered by his need to claim and protect. The
$ex scenes are provocative and intense.

We are reintroduced to Kirill’s brother Ilya, as well as several members of the Kirill’s security team including Maxim and Ilya’s head of security Pavel.

KEEPING RUBY is a story of betrayal and vengeance, power and control, secrets and lies, acceptance and love The premise is dramatic and tragic; the romance is seductive and fated; the characters are dynamic, energetic and determined.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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A MONSTER IS COMING (Volkov Bratva 4) by Sam Crescent-review

A MONSTER IS COMING (Volkov Bratva 4) by Sam Crescent-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 2, 2024

All I wanted was to be free, to not be scared anymore. Was that too much to ask?

I was the unwanted bastard daughter of Finn Byrne. Many feared him and women loved him. My mother didn’t want me, but my birth kept Finn coming around.

After being used as a punching bag for most of my life, I decided to run. The first mistake I made was staying in a small town. The second mistake was falling in love with a guy I barely knew.

Peter lied to me. He manipulated me. Ivan Volkov gave him a job to do, and that was to make me fall in love with him, and get me pregnant. Well, he did all of those things, and I hate him for it, and I love him for it.

I also discovered I’m a wealthy woman. It would seem my grandmother didn’t like her son, nor any of his offspring, but she did like me. I’m the one who has control over the Byrne empire.

And I have a choice to make.

When the time comes, I can choose to leave the Volkov Bratva forever and have my freedom, or I can remain Peter’s wife. I love him, but he doesn’t know how to love me. What choice do I have?

•••••

REVIEW: A MONSTER IS COMING is the fourth instalment in Sam Crescent’s contemporary, adult VOLKOV BRATVA dark, erotic, Bratva romance series . This is Volkov Bratva Brigadier Peter Orlov aka Peter Shadows, and twenty-five year old, Niamh Long aka Niamh Byrne’s story line. A MONSTER IS COMING can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty.

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

Told from several first person perspectives including Niamh and Peter, A MONSTER IS COMING follows the building but fake relationship between our story line couple. Niamh Byrne is on the run from her abusive mother and father. Niamh’s father is the head of the Byrne Irish Mob, and as such, Niamh was an unwelcome addition to the Irish family.Hiding in plain sight, Niamh working as a cafe waitress would come face to face with her future in the guise of Peter Shadows, a man ‘sent’ to protect and retrieve our story line heroine . Peter Orlov’s latest assignment as a Volkov Brigadier, finds our hero following orders, orders meant to seduce and claim our story line heroine but Niamh’s location has been compromised, and Peter is forced to watch from the sidelines as his future implodes. What ensues is the building relationship between Peter and Niamh, and the potential fall-out when the truth is revealed, leaving a heart broken and abused Niamh lying in its’ wake.

The world building continues to focus on the head of the Volkov Bratva, Ivan Volkov, who determined to play matchmaker for his Brigadiers and men but Ivan has a secret, and our heroine is only one of three people who know the truth.

The relationship between Peter and Niamh is predicated upon a number of lies. Neither Peter or Niamh reveal the truth about their identities or their pasts, and in this, Niamh will feel betrayed, once again, facing life without kindness or love. The $ex scenes are provocative and intense but I dislike the use of a certain four-letter word.

All of the previous story line couples return in cameo appearances, as well as the head of the Volkov Bratva Ivan Volkov. We are introduced to Niamh’s father Finn Byrne, and her brother Finn Byrne jr. The requisite evil has many faces.

A MONSTER IS COMING is a story of power and control; secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, violence and abuse, family and friendships, forgiveness and love. The premise is emotional, dark, gritty and dramatic; the romance is seductive; the characters are broken, determined and charismatic.

Reading Order and Previous reviews
Second Best
A Sense of Duty
The Mistake

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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THE MISTAKE (Volkov Bratva 3) by Sam Crescent -review

THE MISTAKE (Volkov Bratva 3) by Sam Crescent-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 9, 2023

I was the mistake.
A piece of trash.
No one wanted me.
All of my life I’d been told this. I meant nothing. I was nothing.

The Volkov Bratva made a mistake. They kidnapped me and it should have been my sister. My father wanted me dead. I expected Ivan Volkov to kill me. Instead, they killed my father, and now I’m to marry Ive Yahantov, a brigadier. I’m to be his wife. The man hates me. He doesn’t want me.

I don’t know what changes, but I go from being ignored, to being with Ive all the time. We share everything. The life I thought was only ever going to be that of a dream, becomes my reality. I’m falling for the man I thought I would hate. But nothing is ever certain. Ivan Volkov faked his death, and the repercussions of that is far and wide. My husband has enemies, and those enemies, they’ve come to collect.

I knew I was going to die young, but I had no idea life could be so cruel. I knew peace. I knew love. I knew happiness, and now, it was all going to be taken away.

••••••

REVIEW: THE MISTAKE is the third instalment in Sam Crescent’s contemporary, adult VOLKOV BRATVA dark, erotic, Bratva romance series. This is forty year old Volkov Bratva Brigadier Ive Yahantov, and eighteen year old Charlotte’s story line. THE MISTAKE should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up after the events of book two-A SENSE OF DUTY.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise there WILL BE triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Ive and Charlotte) covering approximately three years, THE MISTAKE follows in the aftermath of the abduction and imprisonment of our story line heroine. Charlotte was the abused and neglected daughter of former president of the Evil Savages MC, and in an attempt to take down the man in charge, Charlotte was kidnapped by the Volkov Bratva, and held prisoner by the man with whom she would fall in love. An unwanted marriage but the promise of protection meant Charlotte was once again a prisoner but a prisoner in a gilded cage. As the weeks and months went by, Charlotte would struggle with her husband’s absences in the face of ongoing rejection and deep seated humiliation but Ive’s position as second in command meant taking down the people taking aim at his world, a world that now included our story line heroine. What ensues is the building relationship and love between Charlotte and Ive, and the potential fall-out as an impending war for power and control will target the woman with whom Ive’s has fallen in love.

The world building follows several paths including the previous abuse and humiliation of our story line heroine. Charlotte is broken; unwanted and destroyed; a shell of a human being and in this Charlotte struggles to accept anything good. With issues of trust, having been beaten and abused, Charlotte believes it is only a matter of time before her life, such as it is, comes to an end. As Ive must ferret out and take down the people targeting the Bratva, his wife often feels abandoned and unwelcome.

The relationship between Ive and Charlotte begins as an abduction, imprisonment and a forced marriage to tentatively unite the Bratva and the Evil Savages MC. Charlotte believes she was never the intended target or bride to be but Ive will have to prove to his bride, that she is the woman he wants for his happily ever after. The $ex scenes are intimate and provocative.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, powerful and questionable secondary and supporting characters including Volkov Pakhan Ivan Volkov, Andrei and Adelaide (A Sense of Duty 2), Aurora and Slavik Ivanov (Second Best 1), Charlotte’s security Hubert, as well as MC MC President Rage, and Charlotte’s sister Cassie- both of whom are questionable as to their lack of support and protection for our story line heroine. The requisite evil has many faces.

THE MISTAKE is a heart breaking and emotional story of power and control, abuse and neglect, betrayal and vengeance, acceptance and love. The premise is dark, dramatic and intense; the age-gap romance is passionate; the characters are broken, desperate and determined. The epilogue fast forwards approximately two years

Heed my trigger warnings.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book tow A SENSE OF DUTY

Copy supplied for by Booksirens

Reviewed by Sandy

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A SENSE OF DUTY (Volkov Bratva 2) by Sam Crescent -a review

A SENSE OF DUTY (Volkov Bratva 2) by Sam Crescent -a review

 

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ABOUT THE BOOI: Release March 7, 2023

I was never supposed to marry Andrei Belov. He was meant to marry my beautiful sister. But she did something very wrong to have the man in charge of the Volkov Bratva change his mind.

Now I’m married to a man many call a monster. He ignores me. I mean nothing to him.

I’m trapped and alone in a loveless marriage. My parents don’t care. They have what they want. Andrei doesn’t like it when I have friends. He doesn’t like it when others take care of me. He claims not to have slept with my sister, but Bethany is still around to cause me trouble, to make me doubt.

It all starts with a kiss to get what I want. If I kiss him, I’ll get a reward, but soon the game changes.

I’m Andrei Belov’s wife. In this world, no one is safe, especially not me. I didn’t know it, but I have an enemy, one that wants me dead no matter the cost. I wasn’t supposed to marry into this family, but now, there is no way out

•••••••

REVIEW: A SENSE OF DUTY is the second instalment in Sam Crescent’s contemporary, adult VOLKOV BRATVA dark, erotic, Bratva romance series. This is forty year old, Bratva Brigadier Andrei Belov, and twenty-one year old Adelaide’s story line. A SENSE OF DUTY 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 (Adelaide and Andrei) A SENSE OF DUTY follows in the aftermath of the arranged marriage between forty year old, Bratva Brigadier Andrei Belov, and twenty-one year old Adelaide. Ivan Volkov is the head of the Volkov Bratva, and as such has arranged a marriage between his Brigadier Andrei Belov, and Adelaide’s sister Bethany but Bethany has angered the man in charge, and Andrei finds himself facing a woman who knows nothing about the life of which she is about to enter. Adelaide is an innocent, unaware of the nuances of Bratva life, and believes she is nothing more than a pawn in a bigger game for the Bratva alliances. From the outset Andrei Belov struggles with what to do with his new wife, a struggle that forces Andrei to push away the woman with whom he will fall in love but someone is targeting our story line couple, and with Andrei’s territory at risk, the safety of his young wife, and his need for control, threaten everything that has ever mattered. What ensues is the building but acrimonious relationship between Andrei and Adelaide, and the potential fall-out as Adelaide must face down an enemy she knows all too well.

The relationship between Adelaide and Andrei is an age gap, arranged marriage between a powerful member of the Volkov Bratva, and an innocent woman with issues of low self esteem, and a family who has turned their backs on their youngest daughter. Adelaide is the black sheep of the family, and as such as been sold to the Bratva to save someone else. Andrei’s attraction to Adelaide is hidden behind a mask of indifference and power but Andrei’s control is about to snap when the threat against Adelaide comes from a familiar place. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic, and provocative.

There is a large ensemble cast of interesting secondary and supporting characters. We are introduced to Andrei’s driver and security Leo; Adelaide’s friend Nathan, her sister Bethany, Volkov Pakhan Ivan Volkov; casino worker Anna; MC member Rage, and his ‘daughter’ Lottie, Oleg Pavlov, and the return of Aurora and Slavik Ivanov. The requisite evil has many faces.

A SENSE OF DUTY is a story of power and control, betrayal and vengeance, fractured family dynamics, acceptance and love. The premise is dark, gritty and heart breaking; the romance is provocative but struggles in the face of issues of trust; the characters are broken, charismatic and tenacious.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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