What do you think?
Rate this book
Corrupt Bloodlines #1
Dangerous Games
Rich, powerful, cruel, older and dominant. I’m everything she hates… and everything she can’t resist.
Nanette Slater is my new hitman’s sister. Unfortunately for the pretty brunette, her brother is no good at his job, which means Nanette ends up kidnapped and in my bed…
Unless he makes good on his promise, I’m keeping his sister to myself. Not that I’m complaining.
She’s pretty irresistible despite the age gap, and the longer she spends in my home, the harder it is to resist her forbidden curves. I’m a man after all… A man her brother despises. But I’m not going to let that stop me.
Nanette’s brother may think I’m a good for nothing criminal, but she makes her own decisions. And as soon as my dominant nature comes out, poor, pretty little Nanette is going to fall for me.
Hard .
DANGEROUS GAMES is the first book of The Corrupt Bloodlines series. This dark, sensual, twisted romance novel does not hold back on the spice!
Nanette Slater is my new hitman’s sister. Unfortunately for the pretty brunette, her brother is no good at his job, which means Nanette ends up kidnapped and in my bed…
Unless he makes good on his promise, I’m keeping his sister to myself. Not that I’m complaining.
She’s pretty irresistible despite the age gap, and the longer she spends in my home, the harder it is to resist her forbidden curves. I’m a man after all… A man her brother despises. But I’m not going to let that stop me.
Nanette’s brother may think I’m a good for nothing criminal, but she makes her own decisions. And as soon as my dominant nature comes out, poor, pretty little Nanette is going to fall for me.
Hard .
DANGEROUS GAMES is the first book of The Corrupt Bloodlines series. This dark, sensual, twisted romance novel does not hold back on the spice!
- GenresRomanceContemporary
210 pages, Paperback
Published July 12, 2023
4 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 22, 2023
Steamy but also sometimes difficult to read
4.5
I both liked and sometimes had more trouble with this atypical and dark romance, sometimes difficult to read as the relationship between Dominic and Nanette is so intense because of their pasts and a relationship where domination plays an important role. The mafia world is adding a darker environment around them.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book
4.5
I both liked and sometimes had more trouble with this atypical and dark romance, sometimes difficult to read as the relationship between Dominic and Nanette is so intense because of their pasts and a relationship where domination plays an important role. The mafia world is adding a darker environment around them.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book
January 8, 2024
DNF at like 18%. This just felt like the reading equivalent of trying to eat cardboard. Just dull and unappetising.
January 13, 2024
this was so convoluted and poorly written I can't even describe exactly what was wrong. it's just bad.
September 30, 2025
My subscription to Kindle Unlimited is encouraging me to read books that I wouldn't normally. It's about 50:50 whether I regret taking a chance on a new author or genre. Unfortunately, the blurb is the best part of this book
Russian Mafia boss is looking for a mole in his organisation. Hires an external hitman who doesn't seem good at his job, so kidnaps the hitman sister to ensure the hit gets done.
Sounds interesting? Did to me.
After a few chapters, I realised that I was only in it to find out answers. Why didn't I come to Goodreads and read a couple of reviews? *dramatically shakes fists in the air, then bows head in regret* That would have alleviated the pain of reading this book to the end.
What is my deal? Why is this review so harsh? It's more or less everything. The plot is nonsense and poorly executed. But it's not as bad as the main characters. Dominic Bratva boss and Nanette, kidnapped sister. Both have traumatic pasts that could have been used to flesh out the details and motivations of the characters. However we don't get that. We get insta lust just because, raging and internal monologues
Saying someone is Bratva doesn't make it so. Explaining how their set up is different to other organised crime families, putting them in context of the OC history and contemporary location would have been great. Why did everyone fear the Gusev name? Beats me *shrugs shoulders, winces and closes eyes involuntarily, reopening slowly with unmistakable lament evident*
The writing doesn't evoke, it tells rather than describes. And that's probably my biggest annoyance because it made me uncaring of the characters, the storyline and outcome.
"But you still read the book, so it couldn't be that bad", I hear you cry. "There must have been something that kept you there right until the bitter end". Well that's one of my issues - too slow to DNF when it becomes clear I'm not enjoying a book and that's not going to change.
And no it wasn't the sex scenes, which made me dislike both characters more. Let's not use way out there trauma to excuse poor treatment and relationship angst.
TL:DR I will now remove the box set featuring Brava brothers from my kindle shelf and pretend that this never happened. Praying, hoping, fingers crossed that my next read is better. 50:50 here we come.
Russian Mafia boss is looking for a mole in his organisation. Hires an external hitman who doesn't seem good at his job, so kidnaps the hitman sister to ensure the hit gets done.
Sounds interesting? Did to me.
After a few chapters, I realised that I was only in it to find out answers. Why didn't I come to Goodreads and read a couple of reviews? *dramatically shakes fists in the air, then bows head in regret* That would have alleviated the pain of reading this book to the end.
What is my deal? Why is this review so harsh? It's more or less everything. The plot is nonsense and poorly executed. But it's not as bad as the main characters. Dominic Bratva boss and Nanette, kidnapped sister. Both have traumatic pasts that could have been used to flesh out the details and motivations of the characters. However we don't get that. We get insta lust just because, raging and internal monologues
Saying someone is Bratva doesn't make it so. Explaining how their set up is different to other organised crime families, putting them in context of the OC history and contemporary location would have been great. Why did everyone fear the Gusev name? Beats me *shrugs shoulders, winces and closes eyes involuntarily, reopening slowly with unmistakable lament evident*
The writing doesn't evoke, it tells rather than describes. And that's probably my biggest annoyance because it made me uncaring of the characters, the storyline and outcome.
"But you still read the book, so it couldn't be that bad", I hear you cry. "There must have been something that kept you there right until the bitter end". Well that's one of my issues - too slow to DNF when it becomes clear I'm not enjoying a book and that's not going to change.
And no it wasn't the sex scenes, which made me dislike both characters more. Let's not use way out there trauma to excuse poor treatment and relationship angst.
TL:DR I will now remove the box set featuring Brava brothers from my kindle shelf and pretend that this never happened. Praying, hoping, fingers crossed that my next read is better. 50:50 here we come.
July 23, 2023
Start to Corrupt Bloodlines series of rich, powerful, cruel, older, dominant men and the woman who captures their undivided attention but hate them with conviction. Once you start you won’t stop until the last page has been turned so hang on and double check that you are buckled up, dangerous men, alpha’s personified, possessive, oh, gorgeous, brooding all the makings of a story consisting with three D’s (dark, delicious, and dirty) 😊. There will be suspense, betrayal, death, darkness, secrets reveled, violence, hope, forgiveness, and maybe even love (ALL THINGS TO EXPECT FROM THE MAFIA WORLD). By the time you’ve figured out who is who and what is what, you’re already hooked, and you may as well give up the fight and prepare yourself for an all-nighter! CAN’T SAY YOU WEREN’T WARNED!!!!! Dominic sexy as all get out mafia boss ruthless on a good day, deadly every day, cruel daily unapologetic, usually takes what or in this case who he wants and will lie, cheat, steal to get them in this case it just happens to be his latest new hire’s younger sister. Nanette is a sweetheart, hates that her brother works for the mafia as a hitman, especially hates his boss, shows him no fear, and stands up to him feisty with a lot of spice something that draws her brother’s boss. So when he kidnaps her under a digues of a lie just to have her and surprising the more time they spend around each other the attraction is intense and the magnetic pull can’t be ignored but both are on a mission she protecting her brother from what destroyed them emotionally and him for all his past traumas neither realizing the more they are around each other the more they heal one another but what happens when she realizes he lied about her brother just to get her, will she walk away, is her brother okay, will he walk away from being a hitman, will he be honest with his feeling for her, will she accept the truth, will she accept the truth about her own feelings, and can they find happiness some where along the way?
August 30, 2023
DNF
TRIGGER WARNINGS – violent, semi-consensual sexual encounters; brief descriptions of rape; abusive relationship; aberrant attitudes about sex resulting from past trauma (rape)
I sent this back at the 52% read mark for two reasons – firstly, I thought it was very poorly written and/or edited and, secondly, because I didn’t know what the themes were before I started reading the novel.
Regarding my first point:
- The main characters (Dominic and Nanette) weren’t developed enough for me to care about them, but what the author DID disclose, I didn’t like.
- There were so many errors in the novel that I quit highlighting them after a while. These errors included all the usual suspects (grammar, misspellings, incorrect word usage), as well as consistency mistakes – at one point, although the main characters are in a house in a gated community, the author writes that Nanette screamed loudly enough to wake “the entire APARTMENT complex” (emphasis mine).
- Finally, I didn’t know what the h*ll was happening throughout most of the novel, and – weakness of mine – I kept reading beyond where I wanted to stop just to see if the author would ever disclose anything of substance.
Regarding my second point:
- there were NO trigger warnings at the beginning of the novel and there were NO trigger warnings in the Amazon blurb about the novel. Yes, I know it’s a “mafia romance,” but there are lot of authors specializing in this genre who manage to make their characters relatable, imbue them with “gray area” behaviors and mentalities, AND make me care for them. This novel just kind of made me sick – this is just MY opinion.
So, even though I don’t mind reading about “damaged goods” characters who manage to grow and evolve beyond their traumas to eventually find their HEAs, this novel’s characters were just too much for me. Combined with the (lack of) plot and the horrible number of errors, I have to send this back to KU, unfinished.
TRIGGER WARNINGS – violent, semi-consensual sexual encounters; brief descriptions of rape; abusive relationship; aberrant attitudes about sex resulting from past trauma (rape)
I sent this back at the 52% read mark for two reasons – firstly, I thought it was very poorly written and/or edited and, secondly, because I didn’t know what the themes were before I started reading the novel.
Regarding my first point:
- The main characters (Dominic and Nanette) weren’t developed enough for me to care about them, but what the author DID disclose, I didn’t like.
- There were so many errors in the novel that I quit highlighting them after a while. These errors included all the usual suspects (grammar, misspellings, incorrect word usage), as well as consistency mistakes – at one point, although the main characters are in a house in a gated community, the author writes that Nanette screamed loudly enough to wake “the entire APARTMENT complex” (emphasis mine).
- Finally, I didn’t know what the h*ll was happening throughout most of the novel, and – weakness of mine – I kept reading beyond where I wanted to stop just to see if the author would ever disclose anything of substance.
Regarding my second point:
- there were NO trigger warnings at the beginning of the novel and there were NO trigger warnings in the Amazon blurb about the novel. Yes, I know it’s a “mafia romance,” but there are lot of authors specializing in this genre who manage to make their characters relatable, imbue them with “gray area” behaviors and mentalities, AND make me care for them. This novel just kind of made me sick – this is just MY opinion.
So, even though I don’t mind reading about “damaged goods” characters who manage to grow and evolve beyond their traumas to eventually find their HEAs, this novel’s characters were just too much for me. Combined with the (lack of) plot and the horrible number of errors, I have to send this back to KU, unfinished.
July 21, 2023
This is the 1st story in the Corrupt Bloodlines Series where Dominic a powerful and cruel mafia boss finds his equal in Nanette, a younger woman while her brother was hired as a hit man by Dominic. Their story is dark with Dominic challenging Nanette’s hurtful past to slowly heal her mind and heart. When her brother doesn’t do his job she becomes a bargaining chip for Dominic and once he has her on his home he’s not letting her go. Nanette stands up for herself and has protected her brother since the incident that destroyed them both emotionally. Dominic is a man on a mission to find those responsible for his past traumas and while doing so they slowly heal one another finding happiness and love against all odds. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 23, 2023
This is Book 1 of Corrupted Bloodlines A Mafia enemies to lovers dark romance.
Nanette's brother Jimmy works for Dominic as a hitman to help him uncover and kill those who put a hit out on him and was a mole into the family.
But Jimmy is dragging his feet and doesn't want to do the hit or investigate it.
So Dominic takes Nanette as incentive to make sure Jimmy keeps up his end of the deal.
This book kept me on my toes with trying to figure out all the lies and deceit and twists.
The sexy moments between Dominic and Nanette was sizzling hot!
I couldn't put this one down!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Nanette's brother Jimmy works for Dominic as a hitman to help him uncover and kill those who put a hit out on him and was a mole into the family.
But Jimmy is dragging his feet and doesn't want to do the hit or investigate it.
So Dominic takes Nanette as incentive to make sure Jimmy keeps up his end of the deal.
This book kept me on my toes with trying to figure out all the lies and deceit and twists.
The sexy moments between Dominic and Nanette was sizzling hot!
I couldn't put this one down!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 6, 2023
Dangerous Games is the first book in The Corrupt Bloodlines Series which is an age gap Mafia Romance between Dominic, a Bratva Pakhan who has hired an inefficient hitman named Jimmy, and Nanette, the sister of Jimmy who ends up living with Dominic as an incentive for the hitman to complete his job. They have a dark enemies to lovers relationship with a suspenseful twist of a mole in the household and a hit out on Dominic. This intriguing read has great characters, forced proximity, secrets, mafia actions, plot twists and spicy passion.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 21, 2023
Lydia Hall delivers a 5 star brilliant read
What an absolutely awesome start to a series. As the author says Dominic & Nanette's story is a dark, sensual, twisted romance that had me hooked from the very first page. Once I started I could not stop until I had finished. I don't want to give away any spoilers so I'll just say this is one highly recommended read.
I can't wait for the next book to come out.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
What an absolutely awesome start to a series. As the author says Dominic & Nanette's story is a dark, sensual, twisted romance that had me hooked from the very first page. Once I started I could not stop until I had finished. I don't want to give away any spoilers so I'll just say this is one highly recommended read.
I can't wait for the next book to come out.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 21, 2023
Arc review I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. Dominic gusev is the next in line to be pakhan of the bratva is on the hunt for the man that raped and killed his mother and the mole in his organization. James Slater is the hitman he needs along with his sister Nanette because they have their own traumas that need addressing too. Awesome beautiful story
July 22, 2023
Nanette’s brother is a hitman, to bad he’s not good at it. Dominic convinces Nanette that she is the only thing keeping Jimmy alive, not really a lie. Dom is Mafia (first, last and always) so even though he tries to stay away from her, he’s drawn to her and even though he’s not a nice man she enthralled by him. This book is dark, twisty, steamy, suspenseful. Loved it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 24, 2023
My name is dominic and I have a new hitman who has a sister named Nanette that I want. I am a ruthless cruel man. I have past truama and so does Nanette and her brother. Nanette and I are trying to overcome our past and make us the future. This is a darl romance that you can see two ways, toxic or healing....you decide.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 4, 2024
This book is suspenseful, steamy, and sad all bundled together. Nannette goes with a mafia man to help protect her brother Jimmy. She hates Dominic with everything she has, but later ends up having feelings for him. When she is taken by a hit man who is after Dominic, she hopes that Dominic can save her. This is when the book gets really suspenseful, and you hope that things turn out good for her.
August 11, 2023
Nanettes brother is a hitman that had unknowingly taken a job for the Bratva, but he wasn't getting the job done. Dominic has a plan for leverage against him, Nanette. in taking her as collateral he ends up with far more than he bargained for, he wants her, yet she despises everything about him. But she'll do anything to keep her brother safe, even if that means the beast learns of her dark secrets. And wants to conquer them as his own.Well written, dark themes, a touch of the beauty and beast tale, twisted moments, steamy scenes and more.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 25, 2024
Parts of this are disturbing. Both Nanette and Dominic suffer from traumatic pasts. They have anger issues, and sometimes take it out on each other. There are triggers. There are steamy scenes, action and violence.
December 12, 2025
Bratva leader under fire. He hires a hit man to find the one who wants him dead. To motivate the hit man, he takes his sister, threatening to harm her. Along the way, through forced proximity and other means, the soon to be Pakham finds he needs her. Trouble deepens for all.
July 30, 2023
I loved Dominic and Nanette’s book. It was an addictive and intriguing read. And am voluntarily leaving my review.
November 4, 2023
Good read
December 2, 2023
This is a little different than other L Hall books I've read. If you like the mafia type with strong female characters this is the book to read. It is a quick read, and easy to get into.
September 14, 2024
I DNF this book because it is too slow for my taste
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews