What do you think?
Rate this book
Zakrevsky Bratva #3
Rhapsody of Pain
I know Demyen Zakrevsky is wrong for me.
But I can't help hoping... What if he's not?
After all, he's saved me time and time again.
He's made me a mother twice over.
He's healed my broken heart.
But he's also the one who sold me in the first place.
The one who got my baby stolen away from me.
The one who broke my heart over and over and over.
I can't decide if he's a saint or a sinner.
I suppose now's the time we'll find out for good.
Because the bad guys have my baby, and they want one thing in
Me.
And for my daughter's sake, I'll give myself up every. single. time.
So I take one final step into the shadows.
And I just have to hope that the man who calls me "his" won't let me go without a fight.
RHAPSODY OF PAIN is Book 3 of the Zakrevsky Bratva trilogy. Demyen and Clara’s story starts in Book 1, REQUIEM OF SIN, and continues in Book 2, SONATA OF LIES.
But I can't help hoping... What if he's not?
After all, he's saved me time and time again.
He's made me a mother twice over.
He's healed my broken heart.
But he's also the one who sold me in the first place.
The one who got my baby stolen away from me.
The one who broke my heart over and over and over.
I can't decide if he's a saint or a sinner.
I suppose now's the time we'll find out for good.
Because the bad guys have my baby, and they want one thing in
Me.
And for my daughter's sake, I'll give myself up every. single. time.
So I take one final step into the shadows.
And I just have to hope that the man who calls me "his" won't let me go without a fight.
RHAPSODY OF PAIN is Book 3 of the Zakrevsky Bratva trilogy. Demyen and Clara’s story starts in Book 1, REQUIEM OF SIN, and continues in Book 2, SONATA OF LIES.
454 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 24, 2024
1733 people are currently reading
858 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Fox
195 books4,814 followersNicole Fox writes smart, sexy mafia romance novels. She is a crazy cat lady in her late 30s with a coffee addiction, an overactive imagination, and a husband who somehow puts up with her impulsive need to keep buying new plants for their house.
Sign up to her mailing list and get a free book!
Sign Up Here
Sign up to her mailing list and get a free book!
Sign Up Here
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 350 reviews
February 10, 2024
She’s mad at Bambi but immediately forgives Dem and is back in bed with him the minute he gets her home?? He sold her to sex traffickers and she thinks he’s a good guy??
I found it tough to get into this relationship again. This was my least favourite book of the series. It ends with a HEA.
I found it tough to get into this relationship again. This was my least favourite book of the series. It ends with a HEA.
February 7, 2024
Third book of this series. Let’s talk about it.
After literally being sold into a human trafficking ring by her supposed love interest, it takes about 0.5 seconds for her to forgive him. Demyen (love interest) was a terrible fucking person that blamed everyone else for his shortcomings. The entirety of this series is him fucking her over one way or another and her taking him back without any need for groveling. Not to mention that he starts treating her like shit out of nowhere over a dream and fully turns his back on her daughter who had become dependent on him (all before selling her into human trafficking where she is literally branded and beaten on multiple occasions). All the FMC thinks about during her time as a sex slave is how she hates Demyen yet all he has to do is say he’s sorry and that he loves her to get her to forgive him. Other than the FMC being a weak fucking bitch, the writing was okay. And there were only a few plot holes here and there.
After literally being sold into a human trafficking ring by her supposed love interest, it takes about 0.5 seconds for her to forgive him. Demyen (love interest) was a terrible fucking person that blamed everyone else for his shortcomings. The entirety of this series is him fucking her over one way or another and her taking him back without any need for groveling. Not to mention that he starts treating her like shit out of nowhere over a dream and fully turns his back on her daughter who had become dependent on him (all before selling her into human trafficking where she is literally branded and beaten on multiple occasions). All the FMC thinks about during her time as a sex slave is how she hates Demyen yet all he has to do is say he’s sorry and that he loves her to get her to forgive him. Other than the FMC being a weak fucking bitch, the writing was okay. And there were only a few plot holes here and there.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2024
I hoped for a good grovel from the MMC, Demyen, but it didn't happen. The FMC, Clara, made it too easy for him to have her trust, which made me like her less. I was into how strong she was in the first two books, but after combining the lack of character development from both MCs and the messy ending, I was done.
February 16, 2024
Okay Read
It really threw me off for the hero to learn of the pregnancy in the epilogue when it's a main point in each book description.
It really threw me off for the hero to learn of the pregnancy in the epilogue when it's a main point in each book description.
February 16, 2024
The book itself was fine. However, Dem's redemption was so laughable. I'm glad Clara was saved, but what about all of the other women he allowed to be auctioned. Clara yells at him twice and all is forgiven. I just... I suspend disbelief so often, but Dem's actions were so far beyond "dark romance" it's insane. And it's even more twisted because of all the "friends" that stood by and let it happen. This was freaking insane and I honestly regret finishing this series. I should've dnfed in the second book the moment he left her at the auction. I just kept hoping it would get better and then in this book... I honestly don't know what someone could do to make up for what he did.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2024
This was book 3 in the
"Zakrevsky Bratva"
series. At the end of the last book Demyen sex slave auction where she is sold, and the buyer is a surprise Oleg Zakrevsky, Demyen and Tolya’s father also at the auction were Greg Everett and Martin Patterson. The person in charge of the auction is Raizo Watanabe, head of the Yakuza he also tried to kidnap Willow from school. When he comes to his senses, he puts Willow somewhere safe and goes to get Clara he is shocked that it’s his father that bought her and he and a few of his men go to rescue her. He intercepts her when she escapes but Clara fights with Demyen she doesn’t trust him. His only leverage is to promise her that he will reunite her with Willow. This was a really good read with a lot going Clara overhears her father and Martin talking about Tolya's case and she records it and sends it to her best friend. I loved that Clara was willing to anything to protect Willow and the baby in her stomach that she hasn't told Demyen about. A lot of the questions were answered in this book. This book had a lot of action in it Demyen and his brother would do anything to protect his Queen and Princess and that included getting rid of Martin and his father. This book was well written with no errors in grammar or spelling. I was happy that they got their happy ending.
May 11, 2024
Disappointing. Felt thrown together there. And for the LOVE! How much can one person take! I was invested but come on! Eye rolls all over the place. I think I’m just experiencing trauma bc I’ll do anything to not grade. Lol
February 19, 2024
Did I binge read this in one day.. yes! And am I ashamed that I got no sleep and it’s Monday morning? No!
April 9, 2024
I just can’t with this series. The MC was an immature, spineless, piece of shit. He spent 2 whole books flip flopping between hating her and wanting to be with her. He had temper tantrum after temper tantrum over rumors and dreams. He sells her into sex slavery, then completely LIES to her once he “saves” her saying it wasn’t him- it was all the Yakuza guy. He literally heard a couple sentences of a conversation, and decided she deserves whatever happens to her, then he just left her there, went home, and got drunk. And she obviously believes him and pretty much forgives him right away (eye roll).
THE EVIDENCE—- The FMC has a full confession recorded and sends it to Bambi and Pavel. Bambi (Didn’t she quit?) goes to the MC after he just leaves the FMC to get trafficked and point blank tells him he was mistaken whatever he heard, because she sent evidence so strong, his brother could be out, like, tomorrow. The MC just brushes her words away. THEN, apparently WEEKS (really? Weeks?) have gone by before the FMC is “saved,” and the brother is STILL in prison? Absolutely NOTHING has been done with the damning evidence and, apparently, Bambi hasn’t even mentioned it again, because it’s news to the MC when the FMC asks him about it… (AND HE DOESN’T BELIEVE HER, of course). Nobody has done a single thing with this evidence because it was in his SPAM folder for weeks?! REALLY? And then they STILL don’t do shit about it for another few weeks! AND THEN! His father steals Willow and gives her to Martin in exchange for him planting evidence to get Tolya out of prison, and Tolya is out within HOURS?! Not once did the MC tell his father about the actual evidence they have. Then the FMC decides she needs to go back to Martin to protect her daughter, and the MC just brings her there…to Martin’s house… where he is just sitting there alone. This big, bad, Bratva boss couldn’t just fuck up Martin and take Willow back right away? Really? He just shrugs and walks away without Willow or her mother like there is absolutely nothing he can do about it.
THE BABY- We hear about the baby in the book overview for both book 2 and book 3. She only mentions the baby in passing to herself in one of the last chapters of book 2, and the MC doesn’t even learn about it until the epilogue of book 3. All this shit happened, and she never once told him until the last few sentences of the epilogue. I have liked many of Nicole’s books, but this series is just horrible.
THE EVIDENCE—- The FMC has a full confession recorded and sends it to Bambi and Pavel. Bambi (Didn’t she quit?) goes to the MC after he just leaves the FMC to get trafficked and point blank tells him he was mistaken whatever he heard, because she sent evidence so strong, his brother could be out, like, tomorrow. The MC just brushes her words away. THEN, apparently WEEKS (really? Weeks?) have gone by before the FMC is “saved,” and the brother is STILL in prison? Absolutely NOTHING has been done with the damning evidence and, apparently, Bambi hasn’t even mentioned it again, because it’s news to the MC when the FMC asks him about it… (AND HE DOESN’T BELIEVE HER, of course). Nobody has done a single thing with this evidence because it was in his SPAM folder for weeks?! REALLY? And then they STILL don’t do shit about it for another few weeks! AND THEN! His father steals Willow and gives her to Martin in exchange for him planting evidence to get Tolya out of prison, and Tolya is out within HOURS?! Not once did the MC tell his father about the actual evidence they have. Then the FMC decides she needs to go back to Martin to protect her daughter, and the MC just brings her there…to Martin’s house… where he is just sitting there alone. This big, bad, Bratva boss couldn’t just fuck up Martin and take Willow back right away? Really? He just shrugs and walks away without Willow or her mother like there is absolutely nothing he can do about it.
THE BABY- We hear about the baby in the book overview for both book 2 and book 3. She only mentions the baby in passing to herself in one of the last chapters of book 2, and the MC doesn’t even learn about it until the epilogue of book 3. All this shit happened, and she never once told him until the last few sentences of the epilogue. I have liked many of Nicole’s books, but this series is just horrible.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2024
This is an absurd storyline.
MFC - Overly trusting after being mistreated constantly, puts her daughter at risk repeatedly, twists the truth and makes everything more complicated, loyal to her Dad who beat her and killed her mother, prone to panic attacks and bad decisions yet somehow becomes a “Bratva woman” who kills people and shoots a gun effortlessly at the end of the book. Also, keeps her pregnancy a secret until the epilogue for some idiotic reason.
MMC - a psychotic idiot who blames an 8 year old for his brother going to jail. Ten years later he still blames her and then decides that she also grew Wolfsbane and poisoned the only person that was ever nice to her, a police officer, by putting poison in his coffee. Huh??? Because he believes these outrageous stories he decides to sell her at a slave auction and keep her child. It’s so ridiculous!!! Let’s not forget that his Father buys her and feels that he’s justified (again, everyone is punishing the 8 year old who was beat up and testified in court and who is now an abused adult). The MMC gets her back, but still doesn’t fully trust her…🙄) and then she’s kidnapped again by her ex.
The MFC is kidnapped so many times that it becomes laughable. They need to track her with an AirTag. She puts herself, and her daughter, in harms way over and over again and always trusts everyone - even folks who beat her repeatedly. We’re told that she loved her ex at one point and then later on we’re told that she never loved him and her parents allowed him to groom her as a minor and then rape her. But, she never left him and had a kid by him.
Everything about this book is absurd. The characters are illogical at best, the supposed character development goes back and forth - is she growing or regressing repeatedly??? And the MMC is a horrible bi-polar idiot who justifies all of his crazy plans on him hating an 8 year old for over a decade.
Also, the corruption in the police department and the incompetency of everyone involved insults the reader.
I never write reviews on these types of books. They’re supposed to be fun/escapist reads and therefore don’t need extensive reviews. However, this was so absurd and the other reviews made this seem so great that I felt an honest review is was necessary.
MFC - Overly trusting after being mistreated constantly, puts her daughter at risk repeatedly, twists the truth and makes everything more complicated, loyal to her Dad who beat her and killed her mother, prone to panic attacks and bad decisions yet somehow becomes a “Bratva woman” who kills people and shoots a gun effortlessly at the end of the book. Also, keeps her pregnancy a secret until the epilogue for some idiotic reason.
MMC - a psychotic idiot who blames an 8 year old for his brother going to jail. Ten years later he still blames her and then decides that she also grew Wolfsbane and poisoned the only person that was ever nice to her, a police officer, by putting poison in his coffee. Huh??? Because he believes these outrageous stories he decides to sell her at a slave auction and keep her child. It’s so ridiculous!!! Let’s not forget that his Father buys her and feels that he’s justified (again, everyone is punishing the 8 year old who was beat up and testified in court and who is now an abused adult). The MMC gets her back, but still doesn’t fully trust her…🙄) and then she’s kidnapped again by her ex.
The MFC is kidnapped so many times that it becomes laughable. They need to track her with an AirTag. She puts herself, and her daughter, in harms way over and over again and always trusts everyone - even folks who beat her repeatedly. We’re told that she loved her ex at one point and then later on we’re told that she never loved him and her parents allowed him to groom her as a minor and then rape her. But, she never left him and had a kid by him.
Everything about this book is absurd. The characters are illogical at best, the supposed character development goes back and forth - is she growing or regressing repeatedly??? And the MMC is a horrible bi-polar idiot who justifies all of his crazy plans on him hating an 8 year old for over a decade.
Also, the corruption in the police department and the incompetency of everyone involved insults the reader.
I never write reviews on these types of books. They’re supposed to be fun/escapist reads and therefore don’t need extensive reviews. However, this was so absurd and the other reviews made this seem so great that I felt an honest review is was necessary.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2024
I don't really know how I finished this series. I mean, they're not really even 3 stars, more like 2.5 (barely).
I have a love-hate relationship with Nicole's books, some I really like and some are soo delulu I can't with them. This ones just aren't for me at all.
I love an alpha-hole male lead but Demyen was just plain freaking dumb. The first two books are basically him switching every chapter between believing Clara is the root of all his problems and hating her and loving her and wanting to play house with her.
Clara is also a bit of a big dummy. Ok, she's been abused her whole life so I get the emotional damage, but her actions are so erratic and she makes no sense with her decisions.
I like when the main character has to grovel but for me Demyen went to far. Selling Clara as a sex slave? Hell no, that's not redeemable. More so if the reason why he did it it's because he got mad from a conversation he half heard and missinterpretated after really (really!) believing some 8 year old would poison someone with a self made poison. The dude is an imbecile. Yes, when he wants he can be so sweet and he's cute with Willow but he's such a bastard the rest of the time it's not redeemable.
Also, this could've been a book. A book and halve. It just went on and on with the same conflicts and misunderstandings all the time.
I have a love-hate relationship with Nicole's books, some I really like and some are soo delulu I can't with them. This ones just aren't for me at all.
I love an alpha-hole male lead but Demyen was just plain freaking dumb. The first two books are basically him switching every chapter between believing Clara is the root of all his problems and hating her and loving her and wanting to play house with her.
Clara is also a bit of a big dummy. Ok, she's been abused her whole life so I get the emotional damage, but her actions are so erratic and she makes no sense with her decisions.
I like when the main character has to grovel but for me Demyen went to far. Selling Clara as a sex slave? Hell no, that's not redeemable. More so if the reason why he did it it's because he got mad from a conversation he half heard and missinterpretated after really (really!) believing some 8 year old would poison someone with a self made poison. The dude is an imbecile. Yes, when he wants he can be so sweet and he's cute with Willow but he's such a bastard the rest of the time it's not redeemable.
Also, this could've been a book. A book and halve. It just went on and on with the same conflicts and misunderstandings all the time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2024
O.M.G. I feel like I've been through it! If Sonata of Lies was the emotionally wrought and angsty book, Rhapsody of Pain is the action-packed, rollercoaster conclusion.
If I was Clara, I would have poisoned Demyen. Or hit him with a truck. Honestly, the shit that man did to her. Yet she just went along with everything. (Guess size can make up for many faults.) Did I still love this book? He'll, yes. It was great! I want to be sad, angry, happy, amused, all the emotions when reading. This whole series delivered on that.
Because I want everyone to read these books, I don't want to spoil anything. Just know that the HEA was worth every, single thing that happened (mostly, the auction was a bit much). Also, Demyen's relationship with Clara's daughter Willow is beautiful. That relationship carries the reader through many dark times.
Also, Nicole, Bambi needs a book, please. She is THE BEST supporting character.
Side note: Tolya's story is told through a short story included at the end. I really, really wanted him to have a full book.
If I was Clara, I would have poisoned Demyen. Or hit him with a truck. Honestly, the shit that man did to her. Yet she just went along with everything. (Guess size can make up for many faults.) Did I still love this book? He'll, yes. It was great! I want to be sad, angry, happy, amused, all the emotions when reading. This whole series delivered on that.
Because I want everyone to read these books, I don't want to spoil anything. Just know that the HEA was worth every, single thing that happened (mostly, the auction was a bit much). Also, Demyen's relationship with Clara's daughter Willow is beautiful. That relationship carries the reader through many dark times.
Also, Nicole, Bambi needs a book, please. She is THE BEST supporting character.
Side note: Tolya's story is told through a short story included at the end. I really, really wanted him to have a full book.
February 21, 2024
Ok so now that I have read the trilogy, I want my time back. That did not need to be that long and definitely needs a major rewrite. The author seems to forget what she does with characters or just doesn’t care and then changes it to suit the story; either way it’s sloppy. How Clara’s mom died changed multiple times. Clara’s reason for not testifying changed a few times. She doesn’t reveal that she’s pregnant until the very end!! Umm what?! Also her dad just reveal’s everything to her in a public place? He was supposed to be this cunning smart detective! So many things just don’t make sense and make the story weird. And last but not least I love spicy books but so much sex in so many scenes. When she returned from Oleg… instead of seeing her daughter… come on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2024
Did this series really need to be 3 books?? I resigned to finishing it since I started not knowing but wow.
January 26, 2024
This is the third and final book to the series and the author does not disappoint! She once again brings strong characters and weaves an intriguing story that had me glued to the pages. She does a fantastic job painting her scenes, making you feel as though you are there and the wraps up Demyen and Clara's story perfectly. I loved the bonus story of Tolya and Eve's blossoming romance. Loved and recommend reading.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
February 21, 2024
So. Here I go. Regarding the MMC, he is a narcissistic nut-job from the start. He ended up with the MFC and began his revenge. She had literal unspeakable things happen to her, by his dad, no less, who must be into thwapping, we just don't know all the details. She escapes, how fortunate MMC's there at that precise moment to "save" her from the bad wolves he left her to. He started this rollercoaster ride of nonsense he's conjured up.
She. Forgives. Him.
With immediate makeup sex because it must heal her, for the sake of yet another sex scene.
She. Forgives. Him.
He blames the entire plot situation on a little girl, the MFC, which, is she 8 or is she 10? Both were mentioned at different points, but I opted to choose 8, since at some point that was the age mentioned in the book first. He bases all his facts on whatever stupidity he dreams up.
I did like the MMC's interaction with Willow, though even with the "kidnapping" of mom and issues at school more questions would come to mind. Demyn is the Bratva ffs, why did he not storm the house of the kidnapped Willow and get them back? Stealth and planning is their middle name. Why was no one staked out watching the mother and daughter, following them? They would know she was pulled over. Dumb shit. That's a mere fraction of plot holes one may never recover from! Roxie, Bambi, Pav, the little girls guard, Princess, all enjoyable side characters.
While we're at it, let's talk about sex-scenes. Sure, most every adult likes sex, and if they don't, well, maybe they should, idk. I do. But, really, the scenes, sometimes they begin to be just page fillers. I would hate to count these, but there are only so many ways a man can lick/suck/finger/grunt while she wriggles wetly/bites her lip/screams lustily that she belongs to the man that sold her to flesh trafficking. 😉
So in the real, non-fiction world, it gets boring.
Nicole Foxs' heroines are all running together for me. I've read 2 small series and this one. They all act the same. Unbelievable airheads. This trio of books is difficult to break down into a book-by-book review.
Of course it's fiction, and I won't get all the answers, but even with the end closure I still have those "but what about......"
Good writing though, even if it is a little holy for me. Nice covers and titles as well, all 3.
She. Forgives. Him.
With immediate makeup sex because it must heal her, for the sake of yet another sex scene.
She. Forgives. Him.
He blames the entire plot situation on a little girl, the MFC, which, is she 8 or is she 10? Both were mentioned at different points, but I opted to choose 8, since at some point that was the age mentioned in the book first. He bases all his facts on whatever stupidity he dreams up.
I did like the MMC's interaction with Willow, though even with the "kidnapping" of mom and issues at school more questions would come to mind. Demyn is the Bratva ffs, why did he not storm the house of the kidnapped Willow and get them back? Stealth and planning is their middle name. Why was no one staked out watching the mother and daughter, following them? They would know she was pulled over. Dumb shit. That's a mere fraction of plot holes one may never recover from! Roxie, Bambi, Pav, the little girls guard, Princess, all enjoyable side characters.
While we're at it, let's talk about sex-scenes. Sure, most every adult likes sex, and if they don't, well, maybe they should, idk. I do. But, really, the scenes, sometimes they begin to be just page fillers. I would hate to count these, but there are only so many ways a man can lick/suck/finger/grunt while she wriggles wetly/bites her lip/screams lustily that she belongs to the man that sold her to flesh trafficking. 😉
So in the real, non-fiction world, it gets boring.
Nicole Foxs' heroines are all running together for me. I've read 2 small series and this one. They all act the same. Unbelievable airheads. This trio of books is difficult to break down into a book-by-book review.
Of course it's fiction, and I won't get all the answers, but even with the end closure I still have those "but what about......"
Good writing though, even if it is a little holy for me. Nice covers and titles as well, all 3.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2025
As a psychology student, I understand her reactions to some events; I can see why Clara forgave Damyen so easily, and they deserve everything good. But as a reader? Hell no. I would never do that. If I knew that love of my love was in trouble (especially because of me), I would burn this world for her; I would not rest until she was with me safe in my house. I would search every house with my bare hands until I could find her. Clara, my love, you deserve that. So no, I don't get this. Also, she could not go to the doctor? I mean, after all of this happened, I was worried about her safety. So just why? Maybe something happened to this baby? To her? but the story was interesting and made me read all night
February 16, 2024
I just really felt like Dem could have been more badass in a way. It just seemed like he was constantly saying he’d kill Martin and never followed through. It just felt like the book went around in circles and the spice scenes were boring. The same thing every time…
February 26, 2024
I don’t normally write review but I was so annoyed by this book I just had to. I read a lot and I always love a morally grey lead male and I’ll forgive a lot of stuff especially when reading a mafia romance but selling the person you love into sex trafficking that’s where I draw the line, then she just gets over like it was a little fight, the character is naive girl, can’t even figure out that’s he’s just as abusive as her dad and baby daddy, also don’t even get me started why he and his brother are idiots who are blaming an 8 year old for the brothers imprisonment. Ugh this book is dumb don’t read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 29, 2024
Gaping holes in storyline
Gaping holes and riddled with inconsistencies. Great ideas but frustrating when the author appears to forget what she wrote in the previous chapter or book and leave unraveled threads everywhere.
Cannot understand the number of five star reviews, did they read the same book??
So disappointing!
Gaping holes and riddled with inconsistencies. Great ideas but frustrating when the author appears to forget what she wrote in the previous chapter or book and leave unraveled threads everywhere.
Cannot understand the number of five star reviews, did they read the same book??
So disappointing!
March 3, 2024
can’t believe I read (or skimmed) all three
This is the worst trilogy by Nicole Fox. The characters are horrible. Story doesn’t make any sense, even if you are used to suspending reality for the romance world. I can’t believe these are rated above three stars by anyone at all.
This is the worst trilogy by Nicole Fox. The characters are horrible. Story doesn’t make any sense, even if you are used to suspending reality for the romance world. I can’t believe these are rated above three stars by anyone at all.
February 2, 2024
Rhapsody of Pain is the epic conclusion of the Zakrevsky Bratva Trilogy of Demyen and Clara’s story complete with a happily-ever-after. A well crafted story by the queen of darkness with two damage and yet broken individuals and storyline fueled by revenge, complex and twisty that grabs you by the throat and never let up until the mind-blowing end. It keeps you twisting in the wind, guessing, shouting for characters for some redemption and for rescue and saving. Nicole weaves a story filled with depravity, abuse, evil and dark and it pulls the readers through the story allowing them feel all the emotions and transcending into the story. Clara and Demyen story continues and picks up picks right where that mind-blowing cliffhanger leave the audience Demyen realized what he have done was a mistake and went on a rescue mission to get back Clara.
He find and have her in his arms and can't believe how good she feels, but Clara doesn't trust him. She doesn't know who to trust, she run away from him he doesn't want to face his father if he find out that he's rescuing her. He doesn't want to alert the guards because Clara will not make it. It hurts him that she doesn't trust him and doesn't want to be anywhere near her, it's a stab in the gut. Because of his overreaction to a dream that she had of her eight year self giving the poison that murdered her uncle that his brother is Is frame for he put her on the auction block. But he had a change of heart but she was already sold and since that night he had been looking for her. Clara is not doing good after Demyen rescue her and takes her back to his house. Because she feels that everyone has betrayed Pavel, and Gloria who she thought was her friend. They knew that Demyen was going to sell her and didn't stop him so she's angry with them. She also having problems connecting with Willow because of Oleg.
She want can smell Oleg scent all over her skin and it makes her crazy. She tries to burn it off using the scorching hot water but couldn't. She begs Demyen to have sex with her to replace his scent. When he does he saw all the bruises, cut and the family crest that he had branded her with. Demyen vowed revenge against Oleg for what he did to his woman. In the morning she remembered the confession that her father had made about the murder that would freed his brother on a voice-mail recording that he had had sent to Bambi before she got sold. But there was no recording so Demyen didn't believe her. They were still at this impasse and believes that man who's running the auction Raizo had been knowing her father for years, and he had also been knowing Demyen and his father years so why did it take him so long to find her. She believes that that they're double-crossing Demyen. Oleg is a monstrous, vile, evil, warped, and dastardly and Demyen is just same because because his blood runs through his vein. With the rescue of Clara dark secrets will be revealed.
Demyen and Oleg guys got in a shoot out for taking Clara, which ended in car chase with Demyen guys killing all of Oleg men and burning their bodies and Demyen send a picture to Oleg. Oleg call Demyen on the phone and tells him to bring the bitch and asked him if her daughter is also just as important to as her. Oleg and Martin Clara ex-husband conspired together and kidnap Willow and she has to go back to Martin if she wants to see Willow again. Demyen doesn't want her to go, but Clara says they want her so she has to go plus they have her baby. Demyen is devastated because he promised himself that he would protect his family and don't tell any harm come to them.
There will be non-stop action, unexpected twists and turns, mystery, revelations, retaliation, emotions, passion, power struggle, power play, hatred, pleasure, drama, darkness, madness, trauma, light, surprises, strength, survival, happiness, fear, joy, war, bloodshed, chaos, mayhem, violence, attacks, threats, obsession, rivalry, action packed, manipulation, possessiveness, despair, acceptance, revenge, forgiveness, jealousy, murder, Bratva romance, enemies-to-lovers romance, hate-to-love romance, billionaire romance, torture, sex trafficking, and love. Ms. Fox did good job in stopping hurt and the bleeding of the female character in bringing happiness and joy. It was a hard long fight to HEA. Tolya has finally got exonerated and has join back the fold of the Bratva.
I received an advanced copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
He find and have her in his arms and can't believe how good she feels, but Clara doesn't trust him. She doesn't know who to trust, she run away from him he doesn't want to face his father if he find out that he's rescuing her. He doesn't want to alert the guards because Clara will not make it. It hurts him that she doesn't trust him and doesn't want to be anywhere near her, it's a stab in the gut. Because of his overreaction to a dream that she had of her eight year self giving the poison that murdered her uncle that his brother is Is frame for he put her on the auction block. But he had a change of heart but she was already sold and since that night he had been looking for her. Clara is not doing good after Demyen rescue her and takes her back to his house. Because she feels that everyone has betrayed Pavel, and Gloria who she thought was her friend. They knew that Demyen was going to sell her and didn't stop him so she's angry with them. She also having problems connecting with Willow because of Oleg.
She want can smell Oleg scent all over her skin and it makes her crazy. She tries to burn it off using the scorching hot water but couldn't. She begs Demyen to have sex with her to replace his scent. When he does he saw all the bruises, cut and the family crest that he had branded her with. Demyen vowed revenge against Oleg for what he did to his woman. In the morning she remembered the confession that her father had made about the murder that would freed his brother on a voice-mail recording that he had had sent to Bambi before she got sold. But there was no recording so Demyen didn't believe her. They were still at this impasse and believes that man who's running the auction Raizo had been knowing her father for years, and he had also been knowing Demyen and his father years so why did it take him so long to find her. She believes that that they're double-crossing Demyen. Oleg is a monstrous, vile, evil, warped, and dastardly and Demyen is just same because because his blood runs through his vein. With the rescue of Clara dark secrets will be revealed.
Demyen and Oleg guys got in a shoot out for taking Clara, which ended in car chase with Demyen guys killing all of Oleg men and burning their bodies and Demyen send a picture to Oleg. Oleg call Demyen on the phone and tells him to bring the bitch and asked him if her daughter is also just as important to as her. Oleg and Martin Clara ex-husband conspired together and kidnap Willow and she has to go back to Martin if she wants to see Willow again. Demyen doesn't want her to go, but Clara says they want her so she has to go plus they have her baby. Demyen is devastated because he promised himself that he would protect his family and don't tell any harm come to them.
There will be non-stop action, unexpected twists and turns, mystery, revelations, retaliation, emotions, passion, power struggle, power play, hatred, pleasure, drama, darkness, madness, trauma, light, surprises, strength, survival, happiness, fear, joy, war, bloodshed, chaos, mayhem, violence, attacks, threats, obsession, rivalry, action packed, manipulation, possessiveness, despair, acceptance, revenge, forgiveness, jealousy, murder, Bratva romance, enemies-to-lovers romance, hate-to-love romance, billionaire romance, torture, sex trafficking, and love. Ms. Fox did good job in stopping hurt and the bleeding of the female character in bringing happiness and joy. It was a hard long fight to HEA. Tolya has finally got exonerated and has join back the fold of the Bratva.
I received an advanced copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 13, 2024
A heart stopping and satisfying conclusion
By the end of Book 2, Clara has been betrayed by Demyen, because he thinks her dream is an admission that she poisoned Detective Little whom his brother is accused of murdering. Upon returning from Fiji, Clara and Willow, once his Queen and Princess, have been relegated to smaller bedrooms on the estate and treated poorly by him (the jerk! 😡); essentially, their status has been diminished significantly. In the eyes of his staff and Bratva family, Demyen has lost their respect and his own status, if not his mind. They are ready to revolt, a few have resigned. Demyen is still so filled with anger about his brother remaining in jail despite his innocence, that he does the unthinkable…he takes Clara to the “antiquities auction” - a euphemism for sex slave auction. The person chairing the auction is Raizo Watanabe, head of the Yakuza, and in attendance are Greg Everett and Martin Patterson. Why are Clara’s dad and her BF, both LVPD, there?
Their presence, the atmosphere, and his unspoken love for Clara contribute to Demyen’s change of heart….a little too late. They are separated, he’s surrounded by the Yakuza, and Clara is whisked away to be sold. The price is $50 million and the buyer is Oleg Zakrevsky, Demyen and Tolya’s father!! 😱
That is one of the big surprises at the end of Book 2. The other is that Oleg is working with Raizo. Oleg’s plan is to brutalized the woman responsible for his son’s imprisonment and to use her as a pawn in extracting Tolya from prison. Little does he know, Clara recorded a confession from Martin about Tolya’s being set up by her father, while she was at the event, and she sent the recording to Bambi. Readers will be thrilled by Clara’s refusal to be submissive any longer and she becomes a force with which to be reckoned. The final paragraphs in the second book showcase her ability to incapacitate the evil Oleg in order to escape, and she almost makes it…Book 3 begins.
In a complete state of panic, Demyen regains his senses, puts Willow in a safe place, and returns to Raizo to find out who bought Clara. He’s astonished that it’s his father, and he with a few men go to rescue her. He intercepts her, but the new and improved Clara fights with Demyen…she doesn’t trust him. His only leverage is to promise her that he will reunite her with Willow. The author does a fantastic job of showing character development on the part of Demyen, as he realizes that his abusive childhood with his father is responsible for his mistrust and disbelief in love. His repeated interactions with Clara and especially Willow invade his tiny little Grinch heart 💜. And Clara’s metamorphosis is refreshing. She has always garnered strength when protecting Willow and now that she is pregnant that strength has returned in full force.
Fox has us twisted 😵💫 with more action, violence, plot twists, sub plots, and revelations in this novel. How did Oleg get $50 million? Why did the Yakuza try to kidnap Willow at her school? What was the reason that Uncle Raizo orchestrated Clara’s sale? How did her mother die? When will Tolya be freed?These and many more questions are answered. While all that is happening, Clara and Demyen slowly fall in love, but what readers will relish more is the father/daughter relationship between Demyen and Willow. That relationship transcends the passionate exchanges between our MC’s. What I love most about this novel is that we get to read about the villains’ comeuppance…everyone single one.
Read the extended epilogue that addresses other loving couples. It’s lovely.
My thanks to the author for my ARC’s, but I purchased them all during Book 1.
Yes, I know, this review is way too long. Hahaha 😝
By the end of Book 2, Clara has been betrayed by Demyen, because he thinks her dream is an admission that she poisoned Detective Little whom his brother is accused of murdering. Upon returning from Fiji, Clara and Willow, once his Queen and Princess, have been relegated to smaller bedrooms on the estate and treated poorly by him (the jerk! 😡); essentially, their status has been diminished significantly. In the eyes of his staff and Bratva family, Demyen has lost their respect and his own status, if not his mind. They are ready to revolt, a few have resigned. Demyen is still so filled with anger about his brother remaining in jail despite his innocence, that he does the unthinkable…he takes Clara to the “antiquities auction” - a euphemism for sex slave auction. The person chairing the auction is Raizo Watanabe, head of the Yakuza, and in attendance are Greg Everett and Martin Patterson. Why are Clara’s dad and her BF, both LVPD, there?
Their presence, the atmosphere, and his unspoken love for Clara contribute to Demyen’s change of heart….a little too late. They are separated, he’s surrounded by the Yakuza, and Clara is whisked away to be sold. The price is $50 million and the buyer is Oleg Zakrevsky, Demyen and Tolya’s father!! 😱
That is one of the big surprises at the end of Book 2. The other is that Oleg is working with Raizo. Oleg’s plan is to brutalized the woman responsible for his son’s imprisonment and to use her as a pawn in extracting Tolya from prison. Little does he know, Clara recorded a confession from Martin about Tolya’s being set up by her father, while she was at the event, and she sent the recording to Bambi. Readers will be thrilled by Clara’s refusal to be submissive any longer and she becomes a force with which to be reckoned. The final paragraphs in the second book showcase her ability to incapacitate the evil Oleg in order to escape, and she almost makes it…Book 3 begins.
In a complete state of panic, Demyen regains his senses, puts Willow in a safe place, and returns to Raizo to find out who bought Clara. He’s astonished that it’s his father, and he with a few men go to rescue her. He intercepts her, but the new and improved Clara fights with Demyen…she doesn’t trust him. His only leverage is to promise her that he will reunite her with Willow. The author does a fantastic job of showing character development on the part of Demyen, as he realizes that his abusive childhood with his father is responsible for his mistrust and disbelief in love. His repeated interactions with Clara and especially Willow invade his tiny little Grinch heart 💜. And Clara’s metamorphosis is refreshing. She has always garnered strength when protecting Willow and now that she is pregnant that strength has returned in full force.
Fox has us twisted 😵💫 with more action, violence, plot twists, sub plots, and revelations in this novel. How did Oleg get $50 million? Why did the Yakuza try to kidnap Willow at her school? What was the reason that Uncle Raizo orchestrated Clara’s sale? How did her mother die? When will Tolya be freed?These and many more questions are answered. While all that is happening, Clara and Demyen slowly fall in love, but what readers will relish more is the father/daughter relationship between Demyen and Willow. That relationship transcends the passionate exchanges between our MC’s. What I love most about this novel is that we get to read about the villains’ comeuppance…everyone single one.
Read the extended epilogue that addresses other loving couples. It’s lovely.
My thanks to the author for my ARC’s, but I purchased them all during Book 1.
Yes, I know, this review is way too long. Hahaha 😝
February 4, 2024
After Clara was sold to Demyen’s father, Oleg or Otets. Clara only knows him as Master until Demyen and Pavel come to visit Otets. Demyen is shocked to see Clara as Oleg’s sex slave. Demyen comes back to rescue Clara after she hit Oleg in the head with a lamp and ran away, Demyen caught her before she made too much noise. Demyen takes Clara home and tells her that he loves her and he will always protect her. Demyen has come to consider Willow as his own. It takes a while for Clara to get back to herself. Demyen gets notified that Willow’s school is under attack. Demyen and Clara finally find Willow who had been hiding behind a HVAC system where Pavel had put her. Pavel was shot but he survived. Martin demands to get his wife and daughter back but Demyen won’t do it. Demyen and Clara take Willow to get a dog after the school shooting, she gets a dog that is scheduled for euthanasia and is supposed to be a mean dog. Princess protects Willow. Demyen and Clara are out and they left Bambi and Roxy to watch Willow. When Demyen pulls up to the compound he can tell something isn’t right. Oleg is waiting inside for them and there are dead guards around. Bambi is knocked out and so is Roxy. Willow and Princess are gone. Martin had made a deal with Oleg. Clara still hasn’t told Demyen she is pregnant with his child. Clara has to go be with Willow, she can’t leave her with Martin alone. Clara tells Martin that she will marry him like he wants if he will turn in her father for being a cop on the take. Once Clara and Martin give their statements about Greg, Clara writes a note and gives it to one of the investigators that says Martin has been beating her for years and he is a dirty cop too. After Tolya was released from prison because of what Martin falsified Oleg took Tolya and Demyen to Russia to meet with the grand pakhan. Tolya found some evidence of where Oleg got the 50 million dollars to buy Clara. When Oleg, Tolya and Demyen met with the grand pakhan Demyen had proof of Oleg’s theft and other wrongdoings. The Bratva are big on family and children so when Demyen told them about Oleg’s human trafficking and the school shooting Oleg was found guilty and sentenced to death. Tolya and Demyen witnessed his death. While Demyen and Tolya are in Russia Clara decided that she needed to run from Martin. On her way to pick up Willow from school she was pulled over by Martin who beat her up a bit and threw her in his trunk. Martin had made a deal with Raizo the head of the Yakuza, Raizo use to be in love with Clara’s mother. Raizo wants to keep Clara but she can’t see him as anything but Uncle Raizo so he decides he is going to sell her again. Demyen gets notified of what happened to Clara just as they are landing in Las Vegas. Martin and Clara are put in a shipping container together. Will Clara finally get her revenge on Martin? Will Demyen and Tolya be able to get to Clara before it’s too late? Will Demyen, Tolya and their men rescue the other sex slaves? Will Demyen be able to kill Raizo? Will Clara finally tell Demyen that she is pregnant with his child? Will Demyen, Clara and Willow find happiness? Will Tolya find peace with Eva one of the women he rescued? Will Demyen and Clara get a wedding and a new baby? Will Demyen and Clara find love and happiness together in the Zakrevsky Bratva?
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book via Booksprout.
Awesome Zakrevsky Bratva Book 3!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book via Booksprout.
Awesome Zakrevsky Bratva Book 3!
Read
April 25, 2024The Requiem of Sin is the first book (and the first series, the Zakrevesky bratva books,I've ever read by Nichole Fox.) and I am yelling where have you been all my life, Nichole Fox?!?! Haha, but really though...these books were so addicting they had me questioning the choices I made while reading them because I needed every minute I could get every day to read them! So that meant staying up late, reading on breaks, and lunches at work and anytime I had to wait on something or someone there was me pulling out my phone or Kindle to read more.
I almost stopped reading for the night and then something crazy happened and I would keep reading for another hour... Heh-heh.
Running off book adrenaline and coffee.
I loved the characters, except for the ones you should hate and I definitely loathed them. (Her Dad, Martin, Raizo, OLEG, etc, etc.)
I love the Lion that is Bambi, and how both Clare, Willow, and Demyen all grow and change for the better with and because of each other.
Tolya is amazing..........
I just adore Princess the Dog so much!
Demyen is my book boyfriend now.
Clare is an awesome mother and a strong person, who becomes even better and even stronger by the end of the series.
This book had so much action, and so many twists and turns, that I am still reeling. Not to mention the "lovey-dovey sexual adventures." (*Sweating* Blushing*) They were hot, hot...HOOTTTT 🥵🔥 as they come... whew!
The books had really funny parts that made me laugh out to myself like some kind of crazy person, which really helped break up some of the more serious and scary topics.
I will admit a few times I was ready to write Demyen off because of his asshole-ishness but let's face it, his life was not all sunshine and rainbows. His otets is a real piece of trash. But, I believe his mother was good, his older brother was good. Hence the little bits and pieces of good you would see in him and in his mind. He was at war with himself and others and a pakhan of the Zakrevesky bratva. But, you could see him, growing, changing and evolving through many horrible situations. So, he did change and improve and work to redeem himself, and that's proof people don't always have to be assholes. That's why he was redeemable in my eyes.
--
I told myself I would wait a while before reading another book by Nichole Fox because I let almost everything else take a backseat while reading The Requiem of Sin, Sonata of Lies, and Rhapsody of Pain. However...... that was a LIE............. Less than a day later, I started Cruel Paradise.... ahhhhhhhh and I am not regretting it.
Never stop writing Nichole Fox, I am addicted!
I almost stopped reading for the night and then something crazy happened and I would keep reading for another hour... Heh-heh.
Running off book adrenaline and coffee.
I loved the characters, except for the ones you should hate and I definitely loathed them. (Her Dad, Martin, Raizo, OLEG, etc, etc.)
I love the Lion that is Bambi, and how both Clare, Willow, and Demyen all grow and change for the better with and because of each other.
Tolya is amazing..........
I just adore Princess the Dog so much!
Demyen is my book boyfriend now.
Clare is an awesome mother and a strong person, who becomes even better and even stronger by the end of the series.
This book had so much action, and so many twists and turns, that I am still reeling. Not to mention the "lovey-dovey sexual adventures." (*Sweating* Blushing*) They were hot, hot...HOOTTTT 🥵🔥 as they come... whew!
The books had really funny parts that made me laugh out to myself like some kind of crazy person, which really helped break up some of the more serious and scary topics.
I will admit a few times I was ready to write Demyen off because of his asshole-ishness but let's face it, his life was not all sunshine and rainbows. His otets is a real piece of trash. But, I believe his mother was good, his older brother was good. Hence the little bits and pieces of good you would see in him and in his mind. He was at war with himself and others and a pakhan of the Zakrevesky bratva. But, you could see him, growing, changing and evolving through many horrible situations. So, he did change and improve and work to redeem himself, and that's proof people don't always have to be assholes. That's why he was redeemable in my eyes.
--
I told myself I would wait a while before reading another book by Nichole Fox because I let almost everything else take a backseat while reading The Requiem of Sin, Sonata of Lies, and Rhapsody of Pain. However...... that was a LIE............. Less than a day later, I started Cruel Paradise.... ahhhhhhhh and I am not regretting it.
Never stop writing Nichole Fox, I am addicted!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 30, 2024
This is a captivating read that was filled with wonderful characters, they have come together in dire circumstances
This was a simply wonderful read and I guarantee that you will love the wat that the book has been written so well. The main characters have come together in circumstances that you would never suspect and I am sure that like me you will be left hanging on the edge of your seat as the factors of truth are so clearly shown within this books pages.
Clara and Willow are now both back together after Demyen and his best friend and Bratva man have recovered her from the clutches of the auction and the subsequent who had taken him by surprise but he promises that be it family of not they will be made to pay and he and his Bratva are willing to do whatever it takes.
How Clara managed to hold on to the small piece of Demyen the first man that has shown her how a woman should be shown that she is safe and that she is loved, Willow has shocked everyone at the cabin in the woods and the beautiful Teddy Bear picnic that they have set up for her as a surprise and every one of Willows smiles and cuddles of her furry bear friends make the men that have gone to the special trouble to make this little girl happy.
The situation between the Bratva and the Yakuza has heated up dramatically and they have made sure that they will not stand for the sale and kidnapping of women and they will eradicate anyone that fails to pay heed to their last warning where they save over fifty women and killed a large number of Yakuza soldiers.
I guarantee that you will love this finale to the book and the fact that Clara and Demyen have been working together to take out anyone that would hurt his family and also will be doing whatever it takes to prove the innocence of his brother Tolyer..
I assure you that you will love every moment of this book it is simply a fantastic read.
I voluntarily received and review an Advanced Reader Copy
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to reading any future publications; keep up all the great writing.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was a simply wonderful read and I guarantee that you will love the wat that the book has been written so well. The main characters have come together in circumstances that you would never suspect and I am sure that like me you will be left hanging on the edge of your seat as the factors of truth are so clearly shown within this books pages.
Clara and Willow are now both back together after Demyen and his best friend and Bratva man have recovered her from the clutches of the auction and the subsequent who had taken him by surprise but he promises that be it family of not they will be made to pay and he and his Bratva are willing to do whatever it takes.
How Clara managed to hold on to the small piece of Demyen the first man that has shown her how a woman should be shown that she is safe and that she is loved, Willow has shocked everyone at the cabin in the woods and the beautiful Teddy Bear picnic that they have set up for her as a surprise and every one of Willows smiles and cuddles of her furry bear friends make the men that have gone to the special trouble to make this little girl happy.
The situation between the Bratva and the Yakuza has heated up dramatically and they have made sure that they will not stand for the sale and kidnapping of women and they will eradicate anyone that fails to pay heed to their last warning where they save over fifty women and killed a large number of Yakuza soldiers.
I guarantee that you will love this finale to the book and the fact that Clara and Demyen have been working together to take out anyone that would hurt his family and also will be doing whatever it takes to prove the innocence of his brother Tolyer..
I assure you that you will love every moment of this book it is simply a fantastic read.
I voluntarily received and review an Advanced Reader Copy
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to reading any future publications; keep up all the great writing.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 25, 2024
Although I enjoyed this series, I do feel like a lot of it could have been edited out and condensed into 2 books without losing anything integral to the plot.
*Repetitive spicy scenes.
*Repetitive arguments leading to really never any good groveling on the part of the mmc. I honestly think he was a very unattractive combination of stubborn and stupid.
There were many plot holes here... the biggest one being that for man who has has millions and millions at his disposal.. he can't seem to do anything or anticipate anything. He leaves his woman alone, but yet doesn't get cameras in the house that she is staying in to keep an eye on her?? Also, was anyone else confused how that Michael guy died? Like they say he was poisoned? but yet he followed a kidnapping and just magically died when he was shot, but the gunshot didn't kill him it was the poison he ingested hours ago? What?! I chose not to get hung up on it, but it made no sense to me.
If there was a drinking game for every time someone was kidnapped (even kidnapped by the same people!), I would have been falling down drunk. Same for the amount of temper tantrums the mmc threw... literally a toddler. Usually I can't get enough of the mmcs, esp in mafia romances but I couldn't stand this guy and that really affected how I enjoyed this book.
Good things- the writing was really well done, the plot was interesting, and when the spicy scenes were relevant they were really spicy and hot. Nicole writes great books, but this whole series didn't hit the mark for me- but that might be a me thing- think I was hoping it would be darker than it was.
Recommend to this to people who enjoy
* slow to thaw, but when they do they are literally cinnamon roll mmc (but be warned he is hot and cold and has a hair trigger temper that leads to temper tantrums).
* a weak fmc that does eventually find it within herself to grow into a badass woman that can stand up for herself.
* spicy scenes
* whodunnit storyline with many twists and turns
* mafia based.
*Repetitive spicy scenes.
*Repetitive arguments leading to really never any good groveling on the part of the mmc. I honestly think he was a very unattractive combination of stubborn and stupid.
There were many plot holes here... the biggest one being that for man who has has millions and millions at his disposal.. he can't seem to do anything or anticipate anything. He leaves his woman alone, but yet doesn't get cameras in the house that she is staying in to keep an eye on her?? Also, was anyone else confused how that Michael guy died? Like they say he was poisoned? but yet he followed a kidnapping and just magically died when he was shot, but the gunshot didn't kill him it was the poison he ingested hours ago? What?! I chose not to get hung up on it, but it made no sense to me.
If there was a drinking game for every time someone was kidnapped (even kidnapped by the same people!), I would have been falling down drunk. Same for the amount of temper tantrums the mmc threw... literally a toddler. Usually I can't get enough of the mmcs, esp in mafia romances but I couldn't stand this guy and that really affected how I enjoyed this book.
Good things- the writing was really well done, the plot was interesting, and when the spicy scenes were relevant they were really spicy and hot. Nicole writes great books, but this whole series didn't hit the mark for me- but that might be a me thing- think I was hoping it would be darker than it was.
Recommend to this to people who enjoy
* slow to thaw, but when they do they are literally cinnamon roll mmc (but be warned he is hot and cold and has a hair trigger temper that leads to temper tantrums).
* a weak fmc that does eventually find it within herself to grow into a badass woman that can stand up for herself.
* spicy scenes
* whodunnit storyline with many twists and turns
* mafia based.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2025
Este fue el peor libro de la trilogía. Sigo sin entender como a una autora se le ocurre contarte todo lo que pasará en la saga desde el primer libro. Encima lo del embarazo no sale a la luz hasta el epílogo de este libro, literalmente la escritora te cuenta el final en el prólogo del primer libro jajajaja increíble.
Lo único que vimos en esta trilogía, fue como varios hombre maltratan a una mujer y ella lo acepta sin más. La peor protagonista del mundo, en 3 libros no tuvo ni una mínima evolución.
El tipo la vende y ella lo perdona literalmente a los 3 segundos y se le tira encima para tener sexo. Pero cuando ve a su hija la rechaza, porque quedo traumada. Quedo traumada para su hija pero no para tener sexo, siendo que el trauma era porque la abusaron sexualmente. De verdad, que mujer más denigrante, asco me da. La protagonista nos contó que Martín nunca le gustó, que nunca quiso estar con él, que la pasó fatal, que siempre le pego, que abuso de ella, etc. Pero después nos dice "ay este es el Martín del que me enamore, que siempre me defendió, bla bla bla" "Martín, el amor de mi vida" ehh?
El protagonista es un hipócrita, mata a los japonés por no hacer nada contra la venta de esclavas, cuando él presto el lugar para que se lleve a cabo la subasta y llevo a Clara allí para venderla.
De verdad, perdí la cuenta de las incoherencias que hubo durante toda la trilogía.
Escenas de sexo repetitivas, que no suman nada a la historia, que se dan en momentos que no corresponden con el drama que está pasando, con unos protagonistas sin química, ya no tenía sentido asique las adelantaba.
Los termine porque eran en formato audiolibro y quería saber como finalizaba pero son malisimos. No entiendo como tienen 4,5 estrellas 😐
Lo único que vimos en esta trilogía, fue como varios hombre maltratan a una mujer y ella lo acepta sin más. La peor protagonista del mundo, en 3 libros no tuvo ni una mínima evolución.
El tipo la vende y ella lo perdona literalmente a los 3 segundos y se le tira encima para tener sexo. Pero cuando ve a su hija la rechaza, porque quedo traumada. Quedo traumada para su hija pero no para tener sexo, siendo que el trauma era porque la abusaron sexualmente. De verdad, que mujer más denigrante, asco me da. La protagonista nos contó que Martín nunca le gustó, que nunca quiso estar con él, que la pasó fatal, que siempre le pego, que abuso de ella, etc. Pero después nos dice "ay este es el Martín del que me enamore, que siempre me defendió, bla bla bla" "Martín, el amor de mi vida" ehh?
El protagonista es un hipócrita, mata a los japonés por no hacer nada contra la venta de esclavas, cuando él presto el lugar para que se lleve a cabo la subasta y llevo a Clara allí para venderla.
De verdad, perdí la cuenta de las incoherencias que hubo durante toda la trilogía.
Escenas de sexo repetitivas, que no suman nada a la historia, que se dan en momentos que no corresponden con el drama que está pasando, con unos protagonistas sin química, ya no tenía sentido asique las adelantaba.
Los termine porque eran en formato audiolibro y quería saber como finalizaba pero son malisimos. No entiendo como tienen 4,5 estrellas 😐
February 7, 2024
*this contains spoilers*
Rhapsody of Pain starts off where the 2nd book ends. Clara escapes into the arms of Deymen, as we should have expected. Deymen is finally ready to treat her right, but Clara has trouble overcoming the abuse at the hands of Deymen’s father. Now the troubles come not from within the family unit but from all of the other things threatening to tear the family apart. This becomes a fast-paced, suspense and action thrilled ride. The suspense actually made me stop to take a breath a couple of times to calm down, as in the other books.
Deymen’s relationship with Clara may now be good but I had a lot of trouble forgiving Deymen.
After what Clara went through at the hands of Deymen’s father why doesn’t she hate him?! He actually brought her to the auction and he may have said that he didn’t bring her to sell her but he did and only changed his mind at the last minute. And then what he doesn’t tell Clara is that after he overheard a snippet of a conversation with her father Deymen left her at the auction to be sold. He only tried to save her several hours later after it was too late.
I have to say that this is the darkest series that I have read by Nicole Fox. The MMC is not morally grey but black. He holds an auction to sell women just to have a venue to get revenge on the woman who as an 8 year old gave testimony against his brother. He actually sells her as he intended to do. His father is a horrible man who owns slaves and sexually abuses Clara. As I said, very dark. So, read this series at your own risk.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Rhapsody of Pain starts off where the 2nd book ends. Clara escapes into the arms of Deymen, as we should have expected. Deymen is finally ready to treat her right, but Clara has trouble overcoming the abuse at the hands of Deymen’s father. Now the troubles come not from within the family unit but from all of the other things threatening to tear the family apart. This becomes a fast-paced, suspense and action thrilled ride. The suspense actually made me stop to take a breath a couple of times to calm down, as in the other books.
Deymen’s relationship with Clara may now be good but I had a lot of trouble forgiving Deymen.
After what Clara went through at the hands of Deymen’s father why doesn’t she hate him?! He actually brought her to the auction and he may have said that he didn’t bring her to sell her but he did and only changed his mind at the last minute. And then what he doesn’t tell Clara is that after he overheard a snippet of a conversation with her father Deymen left her at the auction to be sold. He only tried to save her several hours later after it was too late.
I have to say that this is the darkest series that I have read by Nicole Fox. The MMC is not morally grey but black. He holds an auction to sell women just to have a venue to get revenge on the woman who as an 8 year old gave testimony against his brother. He actually sells her as he intended to do. His father is a horrible man who owns slaves and sexually abuses Clara. As I said, very dark. So, read this series at your own risk.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 20, 2024
I had high hopes for some redemption from the male main character, Demyen, but unfortunately, it never materialized. Clara, the female main character, seemed to easily grant him her trust, which diminished my admiration for her character. While I initially appreciated Clara's strength in the first two books, the lack of significant character development for both protagonists, coupled with a messy ending, left me disappointed.
I struggled to reconcile Clara's swift forgiveness of Demyen, especially considering the gravity of his betrayal—he had sold her to sex traffickers. Her rapid return to his side upon their return home felt unrealistic and unsettling. How could she view someone who had subjected her to such trauma as a "good guy"?
The dynamics of their relationship felt strained and unconvincing, making this installment my least favorite in the series, despite its promised happily-ever-after conclusion. Clara's relentless hatred toward Demyen during her ordeal as a sex slave sharply contrasted with her sudden forgiveness upon his apology and declaration of love, leaving me questioning the consistency of her character. Seriously, who could forgive a man that had sold you into sex slavery!
While the writing itself was passable and the plot mostly coherent, this book failed to resonate with me. Despite my previous enjoyment of Ms. Fox's works, this particular installment fell short of expectations, particularly considering the promising start in the preceding books.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I struggled to reconcile Clara's swift forgiveness of Demyen, especially considering the gravity of his betrayal—he had sold her to sex traffickers. Her rapid return to his side upon their return home felt unrealistic and unsettling. How could she view someone who had subjected her to such trauma as a "good guy"?
The dynamics of their relationship felt strained and unconvincing, making this installment my least favorite in the series, despite its promised happily-ever-after conclusion. Clara's relentless hatred toward Demyen during her ordeal as a sex slave sharply contrasted with her sudden forgiveness upon his apology and declaration of love, leaving me questioning the consistency of her character. Seriously, who could forgive a man that had sold you into sex slavery!
While the writing itself was passable and the plot mostly coherent, this book failed to resonate with me. Despite my previous enjoyment of Ms. Fox's works, this particular installment fell short of expectations, particularly considering the promising start in the preceding books.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 350 reviews