Season of Wrath

The Bratva #3

by Lisa Cullen

My attraction to the older mafia boss is undeniable…
He says he’s stealing my youth, but I want him to have it.
Until a baby bump ruins all my plans…

I never wanted to strip for money… but a job is a job, and one check later, I’ve spent the night with a gorgeous, loaded mafia boss and paid off my mom’s hospital bills.

Four years later, the handsome stranger comes back into my life… Except Maksim Federov has no idea I had our baby girl years ago after the night we spent together.

I’ll keep the secret until I can make sure Maksim has a place in my daughter’s life…

Until then, our relationship will be governed by my boundaries.

Even if it does mean I end up in his bed every night, begging for more of his sensual touch. Now I just have to keep my mouth shut about the baby he gave me.

But life has other plans.

SEASON OF WRATH is a full-length, standalone, spicy bratva romance. Can’t get enough dominant billionaires? Jump into this dirty, dark, mafia series now!

★ Are you ready for Maksim, the last Federov brother? Meet him in this final series installment!★

Genres: Romance, Mafia Romance, Dark Romance, Second Chance, Audiobook, Surprise Pregnancy

325 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 3, 2023

Reviews

[Black Sheep · Rating 1 out of 5]

First time reading from this author and the last.

Sorry ass plot.
Selfish heroine.
Shit you fucking not, heroine says this:

“He’s like a drug. And I’m happily addicted. I know I need to keep things in perspective, that this is just a temporary high, and eventually, our time together will come to an end. But I’m determined to enjoy every last second of it while I can. And afterward, I’ll go back to being the responsible, disciplined, chaste mother Sarah deserves.”

What in the FUCK? So interesting that parenting has a switch of when to be and not be a responsible mother/parent. Fucking WILD.

Robotic hero that’s in love with his deceased fiancée.
Absolutely NO character development.
Random BDSM scenes?
Weird word vomit from the h?

Still at 70% h has not told the H he’s the father; she’s still been fucking him and playing double life. (DNF at this point.. and I started skimming after 40%)

This story was all over the place and lacked the basic foundations of a decent story… an organized story.. Jesus.. also lacked any morals a decent parent holds but whatever.

Skip this shit.

I’m out.

- B.S.

[Shyralf · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2 Stars! Bratva romance. An ok read.

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Season of Wrath is the third book in this Bratva Series. An Age Gap, Russian Billionaire Romance by Lisa Cullen. This is Maksim Federov and Heidi Turner's story. Heidi has been attending school taking interior design and it has taken her five years to get where she is at. Now she is going to postpone classes, because Mrs. Turner Heidi's mother age fifty-five has found out she has a brain tumor. Her mother needs to start chemo and the cost is so expensive Heidi needs to find work. Heidi's friend Zoe works at Lady Venus as a stripper and makes good money. Heidi doesn't want to do that type of work, but it will go a long way with the bills. After six months her mother's tumor is still growing and they need an alternative option. Maxsim went to his brother Alexei's wedding and seeing his two younger brothers so happy, made the pain of knowing what he had lost come back full force. Not going to the reception, Maksim went to the Lady Venus club. This is where he saw (Angel) Heidi and saw the sadness in her eyes and she saw the same in his. So as not to be alone Maksim offered Heidi one-hundred-thousand dollars to be with him for one night. Maksim and Heidi have an instant connection and they can feel the intense chemistry between them. These two are also keeping secrets. This story is touching, emotional, steamy and a page-turner. I have loved reading this wonderful series of books by Lisa Cullen. She is a very talented writer.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Overall:⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶🌶🌶

There were things I loved about this book and things that made me cringe.

Things I loved:
*The complexity of Maks character. I think the author handled the death of his fiance very tastefully. She didn't harp too much on his relationship with his ex, but also didn't forget about her.

*I loved Maks and Heidi's chemistry. It was very angsty--waiting for them to finally admit their feelings made me crazy in the best way!

*I agreed with her decision to hide their child from him. She was protecting their child the best way she knew how. He really didn't show signs of being able to love anyone for the longest time.

* The spice! This book was definitely steamy if that's your thing!

Things I didn't like:
* The weird things that would spill out of her mouth literally made me cringe. It. Was. Weird.

* Maks seemed to go from 0-100 with his feelings out of nowhere. He went from having 20 walls built up to 0 in 1 day.

* The way she was so willing to have an arrangement with him the 2nd time he offered her money. She seemed SO offended, but then when he said it was because his fiance died, she was no longer offended....like, at all.

*It seemed pretty easy for her to leave her daughter night after night. I would have had some major mom guilt! She also knew he was dangerous (not the extent) BUT still chose to go in blind seeing him even though she had a child to protect.....

Overall, the book was okay. I liked the storyline the best out of the 3 stories, but the 2nd one is still my favorite!.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part of The Bratva series each can be read as standalone but connect via the brother’s and we have watched the brother’s find other half’s now let’s see if the oldest will get his second chance. Maksim sexy as all get out older brother leaves his brother’s wedding wanting to forget the hurt of losing his love heading to the club to lose himself in a drunken stupor but sees a dancer wanting a private dance from her offers $100,000 accepting his offer, and just for one night they are together providing him a moment of escape. Heidi a sweetheart will do everything needed for her mother including dancing to get the money needed for her mother's chemotherapy treatments so putting on blinder to get through the night until the sexy man demands a private dance from her offering $100,000 more than enough to take care of her mother, enough to allow her to quite dancing but that one night also, left her with a gift that was unexpected but welcomed and since neither of them exchanged names/number no way of contacting him or plans of ever seeing him again. Fast forward they meet again the magnetic pull is still just as strong they try to ignore but can’t the more they ignore it the stronger the pull giving in isn’t a choice but both are keeping secrets from each other but what happens when he finds out he is a father, will he be upset, will he accept his daughter, will she accept him as he is, will she be okay with his job, will he accept this being his second chance, and will they find happiness despite the shenanigans they get into?

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.75/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪🧪
Plot: 3/5

Series: Federov Brothers #3

Place: San Francisco, CA

Tropes: Mafia, Age Gap, Secret Baby, Dark Romance, Billionaire Romance, Edging

TW: Cancer, Sex Club

Main Characters: Heidi & Maksim


I wanted to love this Soo much more than I did. I wasn't expecting majority of the plot to be laid out the way it was. I'm not a fan of a secret baby turned child. Surprise babies are one thing, but secret babies are a whole other ballgame.

The reactions to so many things throughout this book were odd to me. Not what I would expect, much less come to be in the end. There wasn't enough emotion for the largest things that happened. If getting such big news, I would be in shock but also mad, sad and happy to a point until the others wore off.

I think there could have been more substance to Maksim and his role within the Bratva. He wasn't so much a Pakhan as it should have shown him. It literally shows that he spent majority of his time with his brothers at work or in his apartment with Heidi. A Pakhan is sooo much more than his free time. Having smut in the book is a necessity but there are bigger things going on within their worlds that should have been showcased. Not a lackadaisical approach that there was.


I received a complimentary copy via the author and Book Sprout. All opinions are my own, honest and voluntary.

[Suzana · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC provided via Booksprout and I'm leaving an honest review*

✔Contemporary
✔Romantic suspense
✔Dark romance
✔Spicy Russian Bratva romance
✔Billionaire romance
✔Mafia romance
✔Age gap
✔Forced proximity
✔Secret baby
✔An older mafia boss
✔A stripper
✔Gripping / gritty / raw /
✔Enough emotional baggage to fill a room
✔Page turner
✔Fun cast of secondary characters that add to the story and development

Season of Wrath is the third book in The Bratva series by Lisa Cullen. It is a standalone in series of interconnected standalones. Charming, touching, an action-packed, unpredictable, twisted, haunting, and addictive page turner and a dark romance that will leave a reader enthralled and glued to the pages. This story is full of emotions, poignant writing, wrapping up storyline beautifully.

The author delivered a sweet, steamy, suspenseful, and mysterious love story. The suspense isn't overshadowing light moments or emotion-charged ones. When Maksim saw first Heidi, she immediately enthralled him and captured his eye. He offered to pay her mother's bills which started off their love story. These two have an instant connection and off the charts chemistry. The gradual trust and growing love between them is everything as well as their unique connection. The flow and pace of the story added to their romance / development / growth as well as secondary characters.

A fantastic, suspenseful, and captivating book that comes full circle.

[𝓐𝓪𝓼𝓱 · Rating 1 out of 5]

1 Star – A Complete Trainwreck

First (and definitely last) book I’ll ever read by Lisa Cullen.

“Season of Wrath”? More like Season of What-the-Hell-Did-I-Just-Read.

Let’s start with the heroine — selfish, delusional, and morally bankrupt.

The hero? Robotic. Bland. Still obsessed with his dead fiancée. Zero spark. Zero depth. Just vibes… and none of them good.

The plot? If there even was one. This book read like a chaotic mess of tropes, angst, and random BDSM scenes thrown in for shock value. I’m not anti-spice, but this wasn’t spice — it was cringe.

By 70%, the heroine still hadn’t told the hero he’s the father. Instead, she’s out here living a full-on double life, sleeping with him like it’s nothing. Responsible mom? Where?

I started skimming after 40%. Couldn’t take the word vomit, the erratic pacing, or the total lack of character development any longer. The heroine’s internal monologues felt like a teenager’s diary mixed with a bad self-help book.

Look, some characters aren’t meant to be parents — and this FMC is absolutely one of them.

Bottom line: This story lacked structure, morals, and emotional logic. It was a mess from start to (unfinished) finish.

Skip this one. Seriously. Save yourself the headache. I’m out.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maksim Federov the head of the Russian Bratva lost his fiancée and in turn has decided he will never jeopardize another woman with a relationship. One night stands are the only way for him to find a release. Seeing Angel stripping though does something to him, he wants her and offers her a deal she cannot refuse.

Heidi Turner is swimming in her Mother's hospital bills. She agrees to one night with Maksim but she never planned to become pregnant. Years later Maksim sees Heidi again and he wants another night with her, actually several nights but with both of them agreeing that when feelings get involved they both put in an end to it. The problem is Heidi has not told Maksim about his daughter and a rival is threatening to destroy the woman he is falling for.

I liked this but was a bit perplexed about Maksim's former fiancée because there were so many questions surrounding her in the previous two books. I liked this but had a few head scratching moments that I was a bit unsure of. Great series overall.

[Grinning Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

MMC/FMC- Maksim and Heidi
POV- 1st person dual
Genre- Mafia Romance
Sub Genre- Bratva
Heat- 🌋🌋🌋🌋 they do the thing often, in great detail.
Series? Y
Safety: Y, meaning no s. violence or cheating. Also, no cliffhanger, HEA.
Triggers- Language, Violence, Explicit Erotic Content, Use of the Word “Fudge”.
Tropes- One Night Stand, Indecent Proposal, Age Gap, Surprise Pregnancy, Secret Baby, Love In an Elevator, He Ain’t Heavy- He’s My Bratva, A Corps Of Corpses, Ain’t Just A River In Egypt. (Welcome To The Trope-icana. We have snacks.)
What I liked- I liked that they fell in love despite their mutual denial. The characters were great, especially Zoe. We could all use a best friend like her. The zexytime scenes were very hot.
What I didn’t- when selecting my next Book Boyfriend, I can’t choose between the three Federov brothers.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debbie Lyon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maksim and Heidi and baby Sarah!

Good dark,intense mafia book! Where Maksim meets Heidi at a strip club where she dances,he pays her for a lap dance.He then decides he wants more and she says no but they come to agreement friends with benefits and at the end she leaves, so three years later they run into each other and he tries setup a plan again but she doesn't except the money but they do have benefits on the side but Heidi is hiding a secert from three years ago and Maksim finds out that his enemy has Heidi and he goes to save her and his enemy plans to kill Heidi and Sarah but Maksim takes care of his enemy for the last time,he finds out about the secert and Heidi explains what happen three years ago,why she was dancing, why she except the money and where Sarah came in and why she didn't tell Maksim the second time they met.So everything turns out good and Maksim finally feels love with Heidi and Sarah!

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 3 in Cullen's The Bratva series and can be read as a standalone. A wonderfully well written romance that has everything you could want in a Bratva read...dark, suspense, grit, billionaire, age gap and emotions. This book was compelling with a great balance of sweet and steamy romance. Our main characters are Maksim and Heidi and neither of them are looking for a relationship - Maksim works with his brothers as Bratva and Heidi owns her own company and while they enjoy each other - the emotions need to say out of the equation - only...can they? Wonderful read - loved it and can't wait for more!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Monica · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why couldn't Heidi tell Maksim he was a father and let him decide if he wanted to be a father to his daughter instead of just choosing on her own how he wouldn't be emotionally available for his daughter? Either she's a mind-reader (which, because this is a contemporary book, is the wrong answer) or she's just a selfish adult taking choices away from others while pretending it's in her daughter's interest. But that doesn't prevent her from sleeping with the guy. Because having sex with your daughter's father while failing to inform him of his fatherhood is a most assuredly sign of maturity and intelligence. Can we stop having selfish women like this? I can't with the mental leaps they take to justify their selfishness.

[Irene Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Book

This the third and final book in the Federov Bratva books and the last brother Maxim to find his perfect woman. Maxim Federov was engaged until his Fiance was killed by his arch enemy and he vowed never to love again. But as he was drowning his sorrows a beautiful stripper walked on the stage in the form of Angel he offered her a substantial amount of money to sleep with him she desperately needed the money and agreed. Four years later they meet again by accident and their chemistry is just as hot if not more so and he learns her real name is Heidi. She has a big secret will it destroy them or make them stronger and his enemy Alexandre Volkov is still around can he protect her. A good read with a strong storyline and captivating characters.

[Misty Schott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maksim does do love!

After losing his fiancé, Maksim has made sure to keep to a no relationship/no love rule when it comes to women. When he pays a stripper, Angel, for one night of passion with him he feels a connection with her and seeks her out but can not find her again. Four years later he runs into her again, only to find her real name is Heidi and that Angel was her stage name. Maksim wants to spend more time with her but is still unwilling to have a relationship and doesn't want either of them to form an attachment. They decide to keep it casual, but Make I'm still has a rival Bratva coming for him and Heidi has a pretty big secret of her own that she's been hiding from Maksim for a while now. Will this impossible situation work itself out?

[Katia Chirino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maksim y Heidy

Esta es una historia con mucho sexo y descubrimiento, ella es una joven de 23 años y el mayor cito y como mucha experiencia,el que a perdido a su prometida producto de un ajuste de cuentas entre pakanes de la Bratva y la adquisición de inmuebles . Sin deseos de mantener relaciones serias o arduas y sentimientos lo llevan a pagar por un baile sensual y luego una noche de sexo.
Al pasar los 4 años ese encuentro los lleva a reencontrarse y continuar donde lo dejaron sexo sin complicaciones ni compromisos serios solo desfogo. Pero el no sabe que ella tuvo una hija de su primer encuentro y el no desea sentir por ell lo que ya está sintiendo ,necesidad, apego deseo descontrolado. Con un final hermoso, puedo decir que quiero un Maksim en mi vida.jajajaja.

[Karen Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maks met Angel at a strip club where he paid for her to give him a private lap dance. He also offered her $100,000 to spend the night with him. Heidi a younger girl/woman was trying to get the money together for her mother to receive a special chemo treatment and this would do it.

Lisa Cullen brought it again in this book. She delivers a thrill packed, high octane, roller coaster of emotions. On one hand we have a brutal Russian mafia story and the other a love story. All melded perfectly together. I could not put it down.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Shifty Bugger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

"O" Wow, this was one hot book to read, the story was exhilarating it was definitely one book you wanted more it was easy to visualise the main characters. This story was about Maksim and Heidi, Maksim doesn't do relationships, he works with his brothers they are Bratva. Heidi is not ready for a relationship, she owns her own company, she is enjoying the contract she has with him but keep the emotions out of it. They both have plenty of secrets, they are both to scared to tell each other how they feel, will their contract be cancelled.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Victoria Donnachie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the first book I’ve read by Lisa and it won’t be the last.

The story is Maksim and Heidi (Angel) hooked me quite quickly. Heidi is having a tough time when she first meets Maksim and even though their plan for their night of passion to be just one night, neither of them are able to forget the other.

There is a lot of action, both in the bedroom and with Maksim’s enemy. There were times when I wanted to shout at both Maksim and Heidi for different reasons but it was nice to see everything come together at the end.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Puisan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been following this series by Lisa Cullen and after the last book, I felt very sorry and sad for Maksim. This book finally gave him his happily ever after, which he so deserve. A book about second chances, redemption and romance. Quite a bit of steamy scenes as to be expected by this author but it also has adequate amount of action and suspense. Worth reading but I’d advice to start from the first book although it still could be a stand alone.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[LeMiliere · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Maksim and Heidi's story, they met when she was working in a strip joint to pay for her mother's chemotherapy treatments when they first met. They are together for one night before parting. Later on, she discovered she was pregnant with their child but didn't tell him.

When they meet again sometime later the chemistry is still there but he's still unaware that he's a father. But he too is keeping secrets and as neither are ready to have a meaningful relationship what will the outcome be? They certainly can't ignore the palpable chemistry they share so what will they do?

[Jarylynn Schlegel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maks kept himself an arms length away from relationships since his rival killed his fiancé. He refused to put anyone in harms way. Heidi was under a lot of stress due to her moms health and needed extra cash. Her friend worked at a club and made good money and hit her a job. Maks went to the club to relax and ended up offering Heidi a large amount of cash for one night. That one night ended up changing Heidi’s life forever, loved the story line and connection between the characters.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maksim and Heidi. Shes in school for interior design. After years of getting where shes at she has to quite and take care of her mother who has fallen ill. She turns to stripping to pay all the bills. After going to his brothers wedding reception hes so lonely he goes to the strip club. He sees Heidi and pays her to spend the night with him. He may think hes buying a night but he feels something for her and she him. This is full of secrets chemistry emotion and a page turner. Hard to put down.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Themis · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 - 4 stars

This book is better than the first even though I skipped Alexeis book (2)it didn’t feel like I missed much other than the death of his fiancé.
Loved Zoe’s support one of the best friends you could ever have.
Maks is a very dominant male with a soft heart.
Hidie from a stripper to support her sick mother ends up a single mother after one night with Maks. She’s a hard worker that agrees to a no strings attached sex relationship.
Her secret is out and they live happily ever after:)

[Joan Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meeting again

Trying to survive emotionally and financially, Heidi, did what she had to Do. Maks offered her a one time hook up for so money, she was able to do what she started before life had other plans. Years past and she was doing well with her life.
Maks and Heidi met again years later. He thought he could make her the same offer. That didn't go well. They did have a "no strings" relationship until the enemies found out about her.

For me, it was a 2.5 because the end was rushed.

[Cassandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's Carmel! Not Caramel! Seriously, it was called Caramel several times, so it wasn't a simple mistake. Not once was it called Carmel.

I found it icky that she insists she's not a whore to take money for sex, but then actually does it. Then, I get you don't want to curse, but the phrases that she comes up with are just so cringey.

I did like the story overall. But they built up that he didn't know Sarah was his, he didn't want a family, but when he finds out she is his, he's suddenly OK with it.

I doubt I would read any of these books again, but they were entertaining enough.

[Merry Jelks-Emmanuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Heidi takes a job as a stripper to pay her bills, she captures the eye of Makim. He is enthralled with her and offers to pay her one hundred thousand dollars to sleep with him. That bargain will start their journey that is filled with action-packed drama that kept me glued to the pages from start to finish.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Brenda Moser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well written age gap romance with strong characters in Maksim and Heidi. The author does a fantastic job developing their story and brings a ton of emotions and a sizzling hot chemistry, She blends the Russian bratva and their love story and paints her scenes perfectly. I was glued to the pages reading their story and would highly recommend this book.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.

[Angela Farley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Book 3 of The Bravata Series It is a stand-alone But characters from previous books are in this one.
This is full of steam and chemistry between Maks and Angel/Heidi. The book leads with that and lures you into the storyline which is written well.
I loved the book and felt like it brought the previous books a good update on their Epilogues as well. Great series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Carmelita Clardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic ending

This is the 3 rd book in the series and it didn’t disappoint. The H had lost his fiancée in a gun fight. He went to a strip club where he saw the h. He offered her a 100 grand to sleep with him. 4 years later they reconnect and discover they are still attracted to each other. He doesn’t know she had his daughter. The plot and characters were very well written. It was a page turner, I couldn’t put it down. Great epilogue.