It was my testimony that put him away for life, but now he’s escaped and standing in my bedroom
Lydia: Kirill Chernikov is a deadly hitman for a powerful Bratva, and it’s my eyewitness testimony that puts him away for life. He’s the monster who killed my dad…at least I think he is. The truth is I didn’t see his whole face that night. I saw a tall man with a powerful, deadly build, and one hell of a chiseled jaw. The police convinced me it was Kirill, and he’s the one I pointed out in the courtroom. After he was sent away, I thought it was over, but it’s only just begun. Turns out he’s a little, I mean a lot, obsessed with me. He sends me letters from prison, has someone watching me at all times, and tells me I’m not allowed to date anyone. I’m his and only his. I should be disgusted. I’m not. He makes me want things I shouldn’t, and when he escapes, I’m the first thing he comes for. He makes it clear that he won’t be spending another night away from me ever again. He’s a man who doesn’t like to be disobeyed. And he’s decided I’m his.
Kirill: I’ve spent my life building a reputation that ensures everyone fears me. I have no attachments. No one gets close. But all that changes when I see Lydia. I can’t get her out of my head. I’m an obsessed man with nothing but time. I may be in prison now, but I’ll be escaping soon, and when I do, I’m coming for her. Once she’s in my arms, I’m never letting go of my delicious prey. I’m going to devour her piece by piece.
WARNING: This is a dark Bratva romance, and it is a standalone with zero cheating and an HEA. It has all the elements you would expect from a dark mafia romance. Some scenes may be disturbing to sensitive readers.
This is an okay read, a bit of a cheesefest and some parts fell flat but I still enjoyed it.
Book info: - No cheating / opd / 3rd act break up - Violence - Gruesome death - Patricide - Mention of domestic abuse - Paranoia
MCs: - Kirill (27) - Lydia (20)
Notes: - MCs met two years earlier when she was 18 and he was 25 - Virgin h - Unsure about the H, but there were reminders of him having women before and that they were "meaningless quickies" and his no touching rules.
Kirill is a hitman who has no loyalty to anyone but to himself and his friend Vadim. He works for those who pay and is good with this job.
Lydia is a senior highschool graduate and is on her way to college. However, one night she saw her father got murdered. She begged the killer to spare her and said killer let her go. Although she didn't fully see the man, the police wanted her to point out that it was Kirill. She did during the trial resulting in him having a life sentence as punishment.
After six months in prison, Kirill sent Lydia the first letter and for some reason they've become pen pal for the next two years. He said he didn't leave any witness whenever he did his job, he insinuated but not outrightly said, that he didn't kill her father. Lydia became comfortable with him, probably because she thinks that he'll never get out and that somehow he's innocent.
He escaped after two years, and basically kidnapped Lydia. Well, there wasn't any struggle on Lydia's part, she came willingly anyway. So they live together, becoming domestic each passing day, until they're madly in love with each other.
It was going so well until one night when Kirill confessed that he did kill her father and he let her go that night because he was strucked by her beauty. I think it was insta-love for him. Imagine the kind of betrayal Lydia felt. Her relationship with her father isn't good but he was still her father. After his death, she got anxiety and nightmares for two straight years. Her college plans were ruined because she has to work to be able afford their house and to provide for herself. She was also isolated for two years because Kirill kept reminding her that he would hurt people, mostly guys, who would show interest in her. Afraid of putting anyone in harm, she stayed with herself and didn't even make any friends at all. Kirill basically made her fell in love with him so when the time comes to actually tell the truth she wouldn't be able to leave.
Idk, but if the guy I'm supposed to be in love with is the one responsible for the utter disaster of my life, I don't think love would be enough to make me stay. I would go and escape as fast as I could, that's for sure.
When Lydia ask for space, she was kidnapped just right after she passed their gate. Apparently his enemies were waiting for her. Obviously, he saved her and she immediately forgave everything he did. They got their HEA and an epilogue.
Overall, this is still a decent read. Sometimes cringey when they all do the love bombing stuff. I also felt like that the spicy scenes were too much. They did converse but some of it was mentioned only in passing. I would've love to actually read some of those conversations. There's nothing really new with the plot, but I still dig it. I really liked when an obsessed MMC would do everything just to get the FMC. Or how much he's a ruthless person to everyone but her.
This would've been a 4 ⭐ read if Kirill stayed innocent just like what he implied in his letters. But his confession threw me for a loop and I felt so pissed by that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
»I didn't kidnap you.« »You didn't? What the hell do you call this?« »No. It's called taking what's mine.«
★ ★ ★ ★
❥ 𝑳𝒚𝒅𝒊𝒂 She‘s a likeable character but sometimes really naive. She handles the situation with Kirill well.
❥ 𝑲𝒊𝒓𝒊𝒍𝒍 What a psycho. He was cute but creepy at the same time. I like him though.
✥ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 This book was kinda cute. It‘s stalker/obsessed mafia romance with a man who does everything for his woman. In my opinion Lydia fell too quick for Kirill. That could have been done with more tension and suspense. By 50% the plot gets a little bit boring but it gets better till the end. The dogs were my personal highlight and I enjoyed the writing style.
Whoaaaa! 🥵🥰😩 Lydia is one lucky woman because I wanted to be her!!! This is a fast paced story.. he’s a hit man, she witnessed the murder, she sent him to jail, he became obsessed with her and the rest is history lol
Genre/Trope: Dark Bratva Romance Book Type: Standalone Book Length: Novel POV: Alternating Dual Setting: Unknown Male MC: Kirill Chernikov is the best hitman in the Teterev Bratva. He is menacing, extremely dangerous and never leaves any witnesses behind. Kirill is 25 and is tall, muscled and tattooed, with short dark hair, a scar running down one cheek and stormy grey eyes. Female MC: Lydia Moore is a young high school graduate when she witnesses a gruesome incident that leads her into a frightening but intriguing relationship with the man she sends to prison. Lydia is 18-20 and has long dark hair and blue eyes. Endearment: Zaika, Little Bunny and Baby Spice Level: High Frequency of Spice: High Angst Level: Low Cliffhanger: No My Review: I am thoroughly enjoying these dark romances by an author I have recently discovered and quickly grown to love. The men fall hard and fast, are wildly obsessed with their women, possessive beyond belief, and sexy as hell. I loved Kirill and Lydia so much. Their relationship starts off very rocky, as Lydia is naturally scared of Kirill (as she should be!) but as he pursues her, she can’t deny the attraction she feels for him. Their love was tender and sweet but deliciously spicy and exciting too. It also had an amazing epilogue that was so beautiful and satisfying and I adored seeing their love come to fruition like that. Highly recommend!
I loved this book!!! It was just what I was in the mood for! I loved Kirill! He was so obsessed with Lydia, she was his and he wasn’t taking no for an answer. I loved the dogs, especially Peanut and I loved Vadim!
I felt like the hitman and the prison aspects were done really well, they flowed well and I just really loved this book!!!
Кирил е наемен убиец работещ за руската Мафия. Когато е нает да убие наследника на италианската мафия, той знае, че това ще предизвика война, но работата си е работа. Това, което не е очаквал е да бъде заловен от полицията и тикнат в затвора до живот за убийството на един мъж. А показанията на дъщерята на жертвата са тези, които подписват присъдата му. Въпреки гнева му, Кирил не може да се принуди да спре да мисли за жената тикнала го в затвора.
Лидия тъкмо е завършила гимназия, когато една вечер заварва баща си мъртъв в дома им, и зърва за миг убиеца му. В полицията й показват снимката на един наемен убиец заловен на няколко пресечки от дома й, и макар да не помни лицето му, Лидия се оставя да бъде убедена от полицията, че именно Кирил е убил баща й. Тя свидетелства срещу него и Кирил се оказва в затвора с доживотна присъда. Скоро обаче Лидия започва да полуава писма от Кирил. Изглежда убиецът на баща й е обсебен от нея.
Ок, Кирил е пълен психопат. Нестабилен. Нахален. С мръсна уста и още по-мръсно съзнание. Всеки път щом си отвореше устата се чудех дали да се смея или да се чувствам скандализирана. Той е вървящ червен флаг... и все пак... все пак той се влюби от пръв поглед в Лидия и беше готов на всичко за нея. Прати Вадим, дясната си ръка да се грижи за нея, той я пазеше, помагаше й и предаваше информация на Кирил. В началото Лидия беше ужасена. Кирил беше пратил някой да я следи, заповяда й да не си и помисля да се сближава с някой мъж и настояваше тя да му праща писма. Но след 2 години размяна на писма Лидия вече не се боеше и бяха толкова сладки. Обожавам колко закрилнически Кирил се държеше с Лидия. Как гледаше тя да има всичко, от което има нужда. Как й позволяваше да разпери криле и да бъде свободна. На Лидия й отне време да свикне с него, с живота му и с тайните, които той криеше, но в крайна сметка бяха адски сладки, на моменти супер забавни и буквално обожавам всяка страница от книгата.
Обожавам това, че кучетата бяха важна част от книгата. Както малкото Йорки на Лидия, Пинът, така и четирите Малиноа на Кирил. Обожавам, като имаме кучета в книгите.
В тази книга, Соня Грей успя да ме накара да се влюбя в един пълен психопат, който се научи да обича и за пръв път имаше нещо, за което да се бои и което да пази. Обожавам Лидия и Кирил и те се превърнаха в една от любимите ми двойки. Отново имаме всичко в книгата. Имаме смях, съспенс, еротика, изненади, напрежение и много любов.
📚 Сюжетни линии? 🔫мафия 😵💫 обсебване ⚡ от врагове до любовници 👰 невинна героиня 💎 алфа мъж с меко сърце 🕵️ forced proximity 💸 властен герой
💪 Главният герой: Кирил Наемен убиец. Безскрупулен. Безстрашен. Пресметлив. Интелигентен. Уверен. Умел. Защитнически настроен. "Докосни я и си мъртъв". "Моя". Леко преследвач. Малко психо. Откачен. Непредвидим. Той се влюбва пръв. Дори от затвора той успява да помага и закриля Лидия. Праща й писма и й купува подаръци.
🎀 Главната героиня: Лидия Току що завършила училие. Мила. Нежна. Ранима. Силна. Смела. Показанията й вкарват Кирил в затвора за убийството на баща й. Въпреки всичко, тя се влюбва в него.
🫣 Има ли проблем с друг мъж или жена? Не.
🤬 Има ли изневяра? Не.
😏 Колко опит имат героите? Кирил има доста опит, Лидия е девствена.
😔/😁 Настроение по време на книгата? 😆😁🥰🤪😍☺️😬🥺❤️🩹💖
🥵 Колко горещи са секси сцените? 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 Много горещи +👅Орално 🍑👋 Пляскане 🥵Мръсни приказки 🪢 Вързване 🏃♀️🏃 Преследване 👁 Анално
💔 Разделят ли се героите за определен период от време? Не.
😍 Има ли щастлив край? Да🥰
⚠️ Списък с предупреждения:
🪦 Смърт на родител 💀 Насилие над трети лица ☠️ Смърт на трети лицa 🕵♂️ Преследвач - главният герой следи всяко действие на героинята за период от 2 години 🔪 Отвличане и насилие над главната героиня 🤕 Раняване на главния герой ⚔️ графично насилие 🧠 психологично напрежение и обсесия ☠️ заплаха от насилие/покушение
I wish there were more letters and less time jumps at the beginning. I don't know if it's because of these time jumps, but I found the chemistry between them lacking. I loved the premise of this story, though.
SPOILERS: Kirill gets locked away in prison because of Lydia's testimony. She witnessed him killing her dad (he's a hitman) and because Kirill was lovestruck or whatever he left instead of killing her as well. From this point on, he is obsessed with her and starts writing letters to Lydia. He's also having one of his men watch her for the entirety of the two years he's in prison. His letters were really charming (maybe there's something wrong with me) and eventually Lydia writes back.
Unfortunately, we didn't get to see their relationship build while writing these letters back and forth. There are quite a few time jumps at the beginning of this story. Thus, the author skips most of the letters.
Eventually, Kirill escapes (because of course he does) and finds Lydia. There's lots of spice from this point on and less and less plot. There's some kidnapping action towards the end of the book. There's also a fight between Kirill and Lydia in the third act, but it's not really a third-act breakup. The book ends with a HEA :)
Also the fmc is so stupid it was just so annoying. Like he is a professional killer best in business and in one scene someone breaks onto his property and the mmc tells the fmc to stay inside where it’s safe and what does she do SHE GOES OUTSIDE TO “SAVE/HELP” HIM. Like wtf will you actually do but get yourself killed.
There was another chapter where the mmc had to go out and like spy on his next victim and she wouldn’t let him go alone, she had to go w him. They decide then to take the motorcycle because you can’t see their faces, but they forgot that your man is like 6’5 I think, and the mmc describes the fmc as tiny so let’s assume she’s 5’5 at best so how is she not going to be recognised as a woman also like he has a woman on the back of his motorcycle like ofc they’re together. These little bits piss me off like just stay at home like people aren’t stupid they can recognise a woman.
Idk it was just so annoying bc she was stupid like that putting herself in danger and what not and I’m supposed to like cheer her on??
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Tropes : mafia romance, assassin H, J/P H, touch her and ☠️, obsessive H, insta lust/love Ending : HEA ( married with a baby girl) Triggers : violence, gore, ☠️, murder Spice : 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️🌶️ /5 Angst : 🔥 🔥 🔥 /5 OM/OW drama : slight OM (a guy the h met at the club) Celibate while separated : yes Intimacy details : virgin h, rough sex, no condom, cum marking, spanking, anal, oral Standalone / Series : standalone
Hero : Kirill Chernikov (30s) Heroine : Lydia Moore (18/20)
At first I was quite interested and engaged with the story but halfway through I found it draggy. Kirill was possessive and obsessed with Lydia since day 1.
The mafia side was there but it might be because I’ve been in a funk and wanted something more I was not in the mood for insta love story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Summary: MMC was hired to kill FMC's father, however she did not have a good look on the killer.
The police convinced her that MMC is her father's killer, hence leading her to point him out in court.
He was angry at her but somehow became obsessed?? He send her multiple letters in prison warning her he is coming for her and to not let another man touch her or there will be blood.
She likes to test the limits and went out clubbing, the next day she was delivered a man's finger in a box.
Oh right, lets not forget he stole her panties and jerk off while sniffing it.. and they say romance is dead.
They started writing letters because she thought he would not ever get out but of course he broke out of prison.
He kidnaps her (Although is it really kidnapping if she went willingly), at this point nothing really happened, its just pages of sex and oh guess what? More sex. Him withholding penetration until he thinks she is 'ready', we love a patient man.
After they proclaim their love for each other and all is well, he decides now is the time to confess he actually did kill her father. Perfect timing for a confession when he has a hit on his head.
FMC got mad, stalks out of his house and got herself kidnapped, and with a knight in shining armour act she forgives him.
But for course the story is not complete if there is no dramatic flair, he gets shot and she becomes remorseful while he is fighting for his life in the ER.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I really wanted to love this one. The actual concept is great and something I can get behind in terms of a dark romance but the execution is poor and leaves you wanting more. I had to push myself to get this far and it became clear that it just wasn't worth it.
The book feels rushed - it started strong with the build up of the letters and then it just escalated a bit too quickly as soon as he broke out of prison. The dialogue between the characters is the real let down as it's just so incredibly cringey and forced. They were better when they were just writing letters.
I think it was still salvageable, up until the point they'd just finished on the bed together after he'd gotten out of prison. After that, the dialogue just broke down and it didn't work for me.
The spicy scenes were good ... They were probably what kept me reading for so long but they weren't great... It just... Yeah... Certain degrading parts didn't do it for me.
Also her character just doesn't make sense. Where was her fight? Why was she just so okay with everything? Why was she putting herself on danger?
Then there were just so many plot holes that were genuinely irritating and contradictions or lazy generalisations ... Like a guy with such a severe gambling addiction that he's getting a hit on from the mafia but apparently has enough savings for her to keep the house? Make it make sense....
Anyways, I finally found myself rolling my eyes more than I was actually reading it and decided to give up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Loved this possessive alpha male insta-love romance. Lydia may have sent Kirill to prison but it doesn't make him want her any less. Will he be able to her to fall in love with him with locked up? Kirill is capable of a lot of things and making his "zaika" fall in love with him will just be one more things on the list of impossible things he has accomplished. This is a great story and I can't wait to read more from this author.
Horrible cringe ass nickname aside, I had a great time. What can I say I love an unhinged (yet still respectful) psycho stalker. idk I always eat them up.
What on earth was that?! I spent so many days struggling to finish this book. It completely drained me—I lost all motivation! Is this the mess I was actually excited for?!
In the beginning—let’s say the first 50 pages—I was obsessed. I truly thought I had fallen in love. It was beautiful, poetic, and I was enchanted—despite the clear red flags I had, which turned out to be painfully accurate.
Kirill MMC... honestly, he initially felt like the perfect man. Sweet, protective, attentive, affectionate—he had it all. He made me believe he was the ideal MMC, one that no one else could compare to. But of course—sarcastic laugh—the author couldn’t let us enjoy anything wholesome without completely ruining it!
Kirill turned out to be a degrading sadist who thrived on obedience and control. I hate him. And not just him—Lydia FMC too, for several reasons. One of them being: how could she accept being treated like that?
Here’s a quick rundown of the nonsense:
-She crawled after him in his house like a dog. -He put her in a harness and blindfolded her. -She willingly strapped a leash around her neck, and he held the leash like she was his pet.
At that point, I genuinely wanted to smash my phone. Whatever ideal image I had of Kirill was completely shattered. None of his “good moments” made up for it. I hated both him and Lydia.
The prison letters and the early build-up were the best parts. Everything that happened after his release was just... repulsive. He felt like a completely different person—contradictory and incoherent. The author failed miserably at reconciling the different sides of his character.
And I still can’t get over how Lydia brushed off her father’s death. She suspected Kirill of being the killer and still kept sending him letters?
Let me make something clear: Her father may not have been perfect, but at least he wasn’t abusive. At least he gave her a roof over her head, even with all his flaws like gambling. And when he died, she finally realized his worth—especially when she had to face all the bills and daily responsibilities.
Yet she just... moved on? Kept writing to a man who kill her father? Even if she wasn’t certain??
You know what? The dogs were the best part of this entire mess.
Now for the biggest blow: Kirill did kill her father. He confessed. And you know what? I don’t blame him—he’s a hitman, that’s his job. I blame Lydia.
Kirill made her fall for him before telling her the truth. Oh, he “feels guilty,” sure...
But Lydia? I will never understand how she managed to stay with the man who murdered her father. And as I mentioned, her father wasn’t some monster that justified being easily forgotten. Yet she threw all that aside and chose to spend her life with his killer?
Lydia was degraded throughout the entire novel—by the MMC and the enemies. The amount of humiliation she endured was unbearable. She spent the whole story begging.
Even when she got kidnapped, and Enzo stepped in—yes, I get that he had to stay calm to save her—but that cold reaction? It just didn’t sit right.
Finally, I made it to the end of this trainwreck.
⭐5\1 -a generous rating just for the effort I put into finishing it.-
HEA Standalone, interconnected characters Bratva/Mafia, Dark *over 18 readers only*
Trigger warning Murder Death of mfc father Stalking Pet type play Torture Kidnapping Gun violence
Kirill is a hired hitman, going where the money is, not following loyalty. He takes out the only son of Enzo Faretti, Matteo, along with the woman he was doing at the time. This will obviously start a war between the Faretti Family and the Teterev Bratva. Lydia was raised by an absent, gambling addicted father. They don't get along, but seeing him murdered was a shock. The police insisted it was Kirill. Kirill was put in prison due to Lydia's coerced testimony. But that's not the end of their story. It takes a couple of years, but she wakes up one night with him in her room with her. He takes her home with him, and she falls in love. But there are things about him she doesn't know. And there are people coming for them..
I love these Bratva books by Sonja Grey. There are intense. Maybe a couple of typos or word choice issues, but I still enjoy reading them.
While the book could have been a 5 but it lacked some story and suspense, 70-80 percent of the book was basically smut not that I'm complaining I'm a sucker for Kirill but at least put some drama revolving around the other mafias and stuff.
How was it easy for a hitman who worked his whole life as that to just let it all go without even discussing it?? And I loved Vadim I really did but how come he even moved with them or sth, what do they work now? Literally nth or sth smh, I'm not gonna even say how she didn't even spend a week after he took her and was already ready to beg like srsly? At least u could have waited 2 days or anything! I'm glad the girl didn't get truamatized or anything or like too much like the other books when she got kidnapped, even tho they didn't discuss what happened there much and how did she go through this, like srsly I don't think it's normal for someone to get kidnapped in the middle of the night get stripped and was a hit stabbed or sth that required stitches and you're just fine with it?? I loved their relationship, I didn't like how she just gave up on her dreams of uni and stuff which is idk fine ig if that's not what she wanted to start with and was just to leave the city or sth but yeah, overall the book is really nice and addicting but it lacked a bit of story which is fine if you want to get out of a reading slump or just want a light one but still have a dark taste to it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Umm..I didn't like it and DNFed this bool at 50ish mark...I mean have started writing these reviews and the whole time while I was reading this book it was on my mind and was kind of spoiling everything. But keeping that aside,the book itself was pretty boring Same old stalker romance nothing different, and smut could've been better. I swear at some scenes i was like dude that's creepy and characters had no real depth and came off as these 2 dimensional typical MCs of a stalker romance. I mean this girl thought that MMC killed her father and was still attracted to him, which she explained by saying that he looked beautiful and was this god like creature. Hello author, where are real feelings of guilt and love and struggle between both.. And it was also insta love on top of that. I am normally fine with it if I get some good smut out of it..but I didn't even get it..smut itself was just weird and came off more as creepy than hot. I have lots to say but for some reason I don't have energy..maybe I will rewrite a better review or will not.. don't know..
What the fuck is this? They're too fucking fast, plus the girl is so stupid. Apparently, from what the Goodreads reviews said, Kirill's going to make her crawl all over the house... WTF?!?! Events are happening too quickly, there's not enough development and there are no details. On top of that, they move in together the first night and they're already madly in love, or almost. What the fuck? At some point, you can't overdo it.
At one point, Lydia is one of the stupidest protagonists I've ever seen in my life. What the fuck? The girl finds out that Kirill killed her father and she stays?! And on top of that, the Goodreads review is so right. He wasn't a perfect father, but at least she had a fucking roof over her head? And she moved in so easily? Bitch, whrap it up!
And Kirill bro the fuck you doing? At first I was really excited but now? The guy degraded her and she stayed? After a while you get fed up !
3 stars because I love me a psychopath hitman. Some thoughts while reading this.
Jesus Christ, there are five dogs, they’re very good boys, WE GET IT. Why are we getting their whole life story. Shut up about the dogs.
He winked at her 30 times in this book, I looked it up. That’s a creepy amount of winks I would worry there’s something wrong with his eye.
Why is this so gd long. Am I accidentally skimming or does shit not add up? Why is he suddenly telling her the truth about her dad? Randomly after anal??
SHUT UP ABOUT THE DOGS OMG
Third act breakup and LOTS of crying. I feel like fmc had a major personality change after we started getting more of Kirills pov?
Was she always this annoying? He’s telling you to stay inside because there are people trying to murder you, why are you fighting him on this???????