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Baranova Bratva #1

Rule of Three

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The ex, the bodyguard, and the billionaire. Three Russian mafia kings, sitting on a stolen throne. They'll do anything to make me their Bratva queen. Break my body. Claim my heart. Steal my soul. But if they want ruthless, I'll show them no mercy. Rule of Three is a very smutty, Russian mafia, why choose, dark romance.

Kindle Edition

Published February 7, 2024

979 people are currently reading
5725 people want to read

About the author

Misti Wilds

9 books236 followers
Just a smut-lover listening to angsty love songs on repeat.

Misti Wilds loves watching characters pine after one another from afar--until a tall, dark, and brooding alpha male says f*ck this and claims his woman. But one man isn't enough these days--Misti's got her hands full when it comes to writing multiple dark and delicious men with violence in their hearts and a declaration of love etched on the barrel of their guns.

Why choose one when you can have them all?

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5 stars
580 (39%)
4 stars
509 (34%)
3 stars
264 (18%)
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77 (5%)
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26 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 286 reviews
Profile Image for Ilya Kristensen.
174 reviews3 followers
December 8, 2024
Just entertaining enough to make me want to read the second, but this was not great.

Profile Image for Kristy Cohen.
183 reviews3 followers
March 8, 2024
I got an ARC of Rule of Three and loved it!! It was exactly what I was hoping for - a spicy, fast burn Bratva book that I devoured in a day! I loved seeing Valentina growing her backbone and stepping up to become the Queen she’s meant to be, and I adore all three of her men. Andrei, Mikhail, and Ezra are all dangerous, slightly unhinged (especially Mikhail!), sweet only to Valentina, and ultra-possessive and overprotective of her as well… everything you want in your mafia men. ;)

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5


I’m grateful for the ARC read and can’t wait for the second book!
Profile Image for Baileyreadsnow.
12 reviews
August 23, 2025
I started my Misti Wilds journey with an ARC of Begging for Mercy and I loved her writing so much I found out there is an entire universe!! This book was amazing with top notch spice! the only reason I couldn’t finish it in one night was because I had to be an adult and go to work! I am so excited to finish the duet and dive deeper into all the other stories!!!
Profile Image for Ari Loves All The Books.
385 reviews71 followers
March 14, 2024
Valentina.. Valentina... Valentina.. she was supposed to be the ideal docile mafia wife, but circumstances changed that and she started to become a hard to resist, boss of the mafia. This book has a great female lead and I cannot wait to see where this goes and what happens next.
Profile Image for Cécile Smits .
1,430 reviews281 followers
January 9, 2025
Rule of Three is the first of the Baranova Bratva duet,and i still don’t understand how i missed it on Booksirens the first time,but i’m glad i got the ARC now.
Because,boy,these men are HOT,and Valentina is such a lucky girl to have all 3 of them!
The way they treat her…like the Queen she is….but at the same time like the dirty girl she is for them….delicious!

Rule of Three started in the past,when Valentina left Andrei at the altar,but now,after 5 years,she’s back.
To get the answers she needs from her father about what really happened to her mother.
Only,her father is dead,and Andrei took his place in her absence,with Mikhail as his second,and Ezra as his enforcer.
She immediately stumbles across Ezra,her former bodyguard and friend,who takes her to Andrei straight away.
Even though they have a very rocky restart,Andrei is still determined to marry her.
And initially,he tells Ezra and Mikhail to convince her to agree…..
But feelings can’t be ignored,and soon they’re spilling all over the place.
Until both Valentina and Andrei admit they still love eachother.

But why did she leave all those years ago?
And what were her grandmother’s real plans for her?
Who is Liam really,and what are his plans?
While her men are finding more and more evidence against those 2,she still believes her grandmother loves her,and Liam is harmless….in spite of what she’s learned so far.
Until it’s really staring her in the face….after she’s been kidnapped by those 2!
Will her men find her in time???
It’s a good thing i have Reign of Four,because i need to know!!!
Profile Image for lara .
200 reviews8 followers
December 26, 2024
the book has a lot of potential, i just feel like some things were rushed.
So I liked most of the things until I found out that she fell in love with the MMCs after TEN DAYS? like that was way too fast even for me

And some things got dragged out until I didn’t find them interesting anymore, making her grandmother bad was a great idea but it just dragged on and on and on
And some things were super confusing, sometimes I couldn’t follow the story
Valentina is also way too naive (and kinda stupid) for her own good, they showed her prove that her grandmother is the “villain”, literal proof and she still didn’t believe them, and like she has a crazy stalker but oh no, she knew him so it’s fine??
Profile Image for K.
527 reviews77 followers
July 26, 2024
5 stars! This is was a great spicy reverse harem mafia romance! It kept me entertained the entire time and I cannot wait for the next book.
Profile Image for Tishana Wright.
523 reviews46 followers
March 26, 2024
Misti Wilds, I am officially OBSESSED with you!

Rules of Three was an incredible read! Valentina is the Bratva Mafia Princess. She was sworn to marry Andrei, but ran from the altar on their wedding day, taking on a whole new life for 5 years before returning home to get answers about her mother’s death. But not everything is like she envisioned to be and within those walls, there was more secrets and everything she thought was true, ends up being lies.

This is by far my top 5 reads of 2024 FOR SURE.
-3 MEN?! All 3 being alike in some senses and different in others. Mikhail is the fun part of their polyamorous couple, Ezra’s the quiet yet dark one and Andrei is ruthless. The spice was *chef’s kiss*. 5/5. Valentina gets 1 on 1 spice with each, 2 at the same time and all 3 at THE SAME TIME. They make sure she’s taken care of multiple times EVERY time. Such considerate men. And they are literally possessive, waiting to burn the whole city for her, giving her anything she wants. YASSSSS QUEEN.

I was obsessed with the storyline. The plot twists kept me captivated with every page, the spice WAS SPICY, the betrayal, the secrets, the main characters, the side characters, the truth being peeled back as the story continues. Every part of this book was a masterpiece! THIS IS HOW YOU WRITE A SPICY MAFIA BOOK!!

Please rush publication for book 2 of the series. I need answers and more of this foursome! That cliffhanger was insanely GOOD! If you want a book that will have you binging it, plot twists for days, spice that would keep you hot and bothered and full of new book boyfriends, RULE OF 3 IS FOR YOU!
Profile Image for Christy.
898 reviews38 followers
June 14, 2024
Ezra is baby girl and I will defend him until my last breath.
Profile Image for Persi  .
9 reviews2 followers
March 21, 2024
✨This book was sent to me by the publishers for review consideration, but all opinions are honest and my own.✨

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️


**ℜ𝔲𝔩𝔢 𝔬𝔣 𝔗𝔥𝔯𝔢𝔢**



I absolutely adored this story. It’s hands-down one of my favourite reads of the year so far. Everything about this book - the pace, setting, plot, and tone - is absolutely perfect, but what truly shines are the characters so I’ll talk about them the most. Each character, even the most minor ones with small roles, is written brilliantly and enhance every scene they’re in. 🖤


** Valentina **
“The rules for being a mafia princess aren’t written in ink. They’re written in blood.”

I wanted to write about her first because her character deserves a mini deep-dive. Valentina's character arc in accepting her power and agency is a highlight of the story. She’s an amazing FMC because her softness isn’t a weakness, it’s a strength. She left a world where men hold all the power, but instead of just being satisfied with leaving that world behind and seizing her agency that way, she goes right back to stand her ground with all the adversity around her. Her journey to embrace her strength and defy the expectations of a mafia princess is empowering and satisfying. Her resilience and growth throughout the novel are beautifully portrayed.

I also love that her struggle and her character arc isn’t just a side plot, but a central theme of the whole novel: if we have a rewritten script about who we are supposed to be and what our future is supposed to hold, how do we seize our own destiny and forge our own path? How do we reconcile our loved ones - who want us to stick to the script - with who we want to be? Will they still love us if we don’t? Those questions are not just for Valentina, but they also echo and ripple for everyone in the story.


** Andrei **
“I will give you the world. All you have to do is claim it. Take what you want. Be ruthless, darling.”

Andrei "Get your hands off my Wife” Leonov embodies the 'my wife' trope but with the darker edge that innocent-lovers-to-enemies-to-spicy-lovers gives it. He is the Pakhan, the boss with tight control over emotions, yet he has a hair-trigger temper when any man is mentioned around Valentina with a name other than theirs.



** Mikhail **
“How does all that power taste? I bet it got your panties all wet, didn’t it?”

Mikhail is the sweet-talking character with a hidden, deliciously unhinged side. He brings the wit and charisma that’s edged with panty-creaming scariness, making his character both captivating and intense.



** Ezra **
“You are not convenient. You are INconvenient. You are temptress sent to ruin me.”

Ezra, the gigantic, broody bodyguard protector, is another standout character. While he is absolutely the rough-and-tough guy, his character goes beyond the typical. Deep down, he’s surprisingly soft and loving, with a praise kink that adds an yummy layer to his personality.



As you can see, one of the standout elements of this book is that the archetypes of the typical three-man RH are present but also brilliantly subverted, making this story and these personalities unique and SO GOOD. Instead of the just the lead, the funny one, and the broody one, the characters in this story are fresh, new, and exceptional. Andrei, Mikhail, and Ezra each bring something different to the table, making them a captivating trio. Also, I’m in love with all three of them and you will be too. But let it be known that I have called shotgun on all of them okthankyou✨

The banter and chemistry between the characters are off the charts. The playful jealousy they have over her hits that sweet spot where it's obvious and present but doesn't veer into the dreaded love triangle area. It's playful with each other and intense with everyone else (seriously, besties, the OTT & J/P is x3 intensity 🤤) creating a dynamic and engaging read.

Even though I’ve spent all this time talking about characters, this story is still a smutty smutfest of god-tier smut. Those 🔥 scenes are deliciously excellent, adding another layer of allure to this already captivating story. The author's ability to balance these steamy moments with emotional depth is chef’s kiss.

Speaking of emotional depth, the plot has an excellent balance of pace that hits the notes it’s supposed to. The serious moments are serious and intense and the fluffy moments are soft and sweet. And with all of this, there’s a mystery afoot that will have you hooked! I read this book twice because I was so enraptured with everything that I completely forgot to take notes or highlight quotes. The book just took me on a ride and I didn’t want to pause! The word that comes to mind the most when I think about my experience reading it is FUN!

TL/DR: I absolutely love this book with all my heart. It's top-tier dark mafia romance, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating and steamy read. Everyone should add this gem to their reading list! 🖤



**Side Note:** The curly hair representation in the book is fantastic; it's so well done, and it's wonderful to see curly hair loved on - frizz and all.
Profile Image for T.P.A..
704 reviews9 followers
August 2, 2025
Valentina has made run on her wedding day as to put a distance between the cruel of world of the mafia and herself as per her mother's allegedly last words. When she comes back, her ex fiancée is there, waiting and this time there is no way out.
Now, things happen really really fast here, I understand that Valentina and Andrei have history, so with them it did feel natural to follow back in each other's arms. Ezra has been her shadow for sometime, but then again at least he has known her for some time. The third gentleman though has just met her and bam, he is in love.
What bugged me about the story was the grandmother and Valentina's lack of willingness to look beyond the surface. I am off to the next one as I hope some clarity would be given.
Profile Image for Vanessa Ouellette.
164 reviews20 followers
March 24, 2024
This book his so steamy! It's the best Bratva, why choose book I've ever read! Left on a Cliffhanger. I ordered hard copy before I was even finished with the digital version b/c It was so good! Misti Wilds does Bratva why choose the best!!
Profile Image for Brooke.
1,476 reviews82 followers
October 3, 2025
3.75

This was a fast read. I do think it was a little to fast burn and insta love. I thought the beginning was cringe as well. I also don’t understand how Valentina grew up as a mafia princess, but yet she knows nothing not even Russian? Also as for the main plot kind of dumb.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Katie Day.
7 reviews
March 20, 2024
Wow….what a great start to this new mafia romance series!! I absolutely fell in love with these characters.

Seeing the progression Valentina made in this was wonderful. So much determination and fire in her. Can’t wait to see how this unfolds in book 2!!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Madeline Paige Fornes.
173 reviews3 followers
August 25, 2024
I haven't read many mafia romances, but why choose & dark romance are right up my alley. This book has now become my official gateway into mafia romance. "These men take, and they have no problem claiming you for themselves. I shouldn't be so damned excited about that." I'm sorry but who wouldn't be completely and utterly consumed by something with not just one man, but THREE like this?

Rule of Three is a why choose with three men who all are different but share their lady with her ultimate benefit in mind. There is a cliffhanger at the end so brace yourself, but just know that our men (yes, they are ours now) are not going to go down without a fight.

Misti Wilds also definitely knows how we operate with the line of "Why is it that the villains are always sexy and delicious?" Because honestly.. our guys come across a little villainous at some points. But, even in other books, why is it that way? Whoops.

Most of my highlights and quotes from this book are not appropriate to be shared so you guys will just have to read for yourselves and find out, because it is a good one. One favorite that I can share is this one: "Anyone who manipulates you, hurts you, steals you away from me, or threatens your autonomy has a death wish that I'm happy to fulfill." WHERE CAN I FIND ONE OF THESE MEN?! I don't even need three. I would be more than content with just one. Ugh. Lucky fictional women.

Any who, I'm gonna be quiet now so you can go read this book cause it's amazing. That's all.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Margaret Anne.
247 reviews6 followers
August 20, 2024
This was really good. I have to say I loved the guys and I liked Valentina but she did annoy me a little with her need to protect.

I get that she loves her gran and she had that thing with Liam but then when the guys present her with the evidence especially for Liam’s wrong doing she lets him go. It just didn’t make sense to me. I don’t care how good and nice you are you don’t let someone away with that. He mentioned her mum so interrogate him don’t just let him walk.

I did really like it and I’m looking forward to the next one. I really hope the boys find her before it’s too late.
98 reviews1 follower
May 23, 2024
Omg, love love love this book. I need the next one, like now, lol. Valentina goes from meek and mild to a QUEEN! Love that she found herself with her 3 men! Ezra, Mikhail, and Andrei are, of course, stunningly hot and dirty!

This is the second book I've read by Misti Wilds and she is quickly becoming my favorite author!

I received this as an ARC book and leave this review completely voluntary!
3 reviews2 followers
March 16, 2024
Very spicy book. It has all it needs. It has drama, action, and plenty of spicy scenes. That grandmother and the ex boyfriend got on my nerves could. Can't wait for more! Hopefully there is a plot twist in the second book. Can't wait for the next book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Nanii’s Book Corner.
225 reviews25 followers
August 12, 2024
Rule of Three (Baranova Bratva #1)
by Misti Wilds

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 ➵ ★★★★☆

🦋 𝐃𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞 🦋
“Angels don’t do the kind of things I do. But you keep on believing, Valentina, and maybe someday, I’ll become the man you think I am.” - Ezra Reinoff

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐓𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 ↴
💀 Insta-Lust
🥀 Why Choose
💀 Russian Mafia
🥀 Forced Proximity
💀 Forced Marriage
🥀 “One Hell” Of A Cliffhanger

𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 ↴
This book starts in the past (five years before the present) and follows Valentina as she goes back to her home to find answers about her mother’s death. What she doesn’t expect is there to be three men who have been waiting five years for her return and now they won’t let her out of their sight again.

This book was an instant catch as soon as I began reading. It is a fast burn and I loved every second of it, and those spicy scenes were hitting just right. How could they not when there’s three different men to enjoy? Really enjoyed when Valentina stopped taking orders and took control, girl you are the heir to the Baranova Bratva act like it. Now I despise that ending and despise Valentina’s grandmother even more. There’s just something about family members that refuse to accept their place and accept that the MCs are capable of making their own decisions that ticks me off. I’m excited to see what happens in book two and can’t wait to get into it. If you love lots of “my wife”, possessive jealous men, and touch her and die vibes then you’ll surely enjoy this one.

𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 ↴
explicit language, explicit sex, group sex, forced orgasms, kidnapping, dubious consent, stalking, family betrayal and manipulation, violence, murder, emotional abuse, physical abuse and assault, non-consensual kissing, drugging for kidnapping


𝐖𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤? ➵ Yes!

🤍 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 📖
Profile Image for Reina Everhart.
Author 5 books31 followers
March 17, 2024
Rule of Three
Baranova Bravata book one

Misti Wilds
Stars:🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Burn level:🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Time to read: 5 hours
Cliffhanger
My review may contain spoilers
Read trigger warnings!!!!!

Tropes/tags:
Mafia
Dark romance
Rh
Dub con
OTT jp
Sending chance
Age gap


Valentina Baranova, 23, run away mafia princess
Ezra Reinoff, 33ish, Valentina’s ex personal bodyguard
Andrei, 33ish, the ex fiancée
Mikhail, billionaire

Valentina comes back home five years after she ran from her wedding to Andrei at 18. She is excepting to confront her father, the head of the Baranova Bravata, but what she discovers instead is her father is D3ad and Andrei took his place. He is intent on her still becoming his bride, but also mad enough he doesn’t want to admit he is still in love with her and orders his two best friends, Mikhail and Ezra to also court her to get her to stay. As the story professes, we discover not all is as it seems. Dangers lurk around the corners, Valentina is being st@lked, and the three guys surrounding her are the only ones she can truly trust.

I loved this story and I am ready to dive into the next one asap!
Profile Image for Ivelisse✨📚.
35 reviews2 followers
August 13, 2024
Where do I begin? 😅

First of all.. this book was a 4 on the 🌶️ scale. Let’s get that out of the way.

So I went into this book blind… and when I started reading, I quickly realized this was a RH (which I should’ve realized by the title alone, tbf 😆). I am typically not a fan of, unless the story line is written well, and that it was!

This was a really quick read for me. It was written very well. It was consistent, the story pulled me in and I finished it in a day!

I actually really enjoyed this read. It has an interesting plot and the spice was definitely 🔥🥵

I am excited to find out what happens in the next book!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Natiley Holmes.
284 reviews11 followers
October 1, 2024
ARC Review

I absolutely loved *Rule of Three*! This book had me completely captivated from start to finish. The intricate details the author provides for each character really brought them to life, making me feel like I wanted to jump right into the story.

As someone who's been diving into Mafia-themed novels lately, I was curious to explore a reverse harem within that genre, and it did not disappoint. The dynamic between the characters is thrilling, and the tension is palpable.

I'm particularly grateful that I can jump straight into the second book because I don’t think I could handle the suspense of waiting! The ending wasn’t a cliffhanger in the traditional sense—it left me eager to know what happens next without the frustration of an unresolved crisis.
Profile Image for Jessica Verhoeven.
12 reviews
April 22, 2024
IArc review

I got this book because who doesn't love a good maffia RH.

If you're into spicy fast burn maffia romances with some morally grey man. this is your shot of wodka!

Ezra stole a piece of me I never get back. The way he opened up to her ( and she to him but.. thats another story 😅)

I look forward to whatever gems Misti brings into this world.

Im 1000% sure it'll be as good as this one
Profile Image for Isis Jordan.
9 reviews3 followers
October 8, 2025
I had the privilege of reading this ARC and I absolutely devoured this book! I loved how each character was easily distinguishable and had their own phrases and way of seeing things and reacting to situations. The MMCs were also all HOT and the sharing aspect between them was just😮‍💨The spice was immaculate and fun each and every time. Nothing felt repetitive or boring. Really fun mafia reverse harem🔥I really enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to read the second!
Profile Image for Michelle.
42 reviews
August 23, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I really drank this up. It was a little unexpected, honestly, but I was quickly Andrei levels of obsessed with this story. When I had to put it down all I could think about was getting back to it as soon as possible. I look forward to seeing where the next book takes these four.
Profile Image for Daira.
117 reviews
January 26, 2025
No es una lectura muy compleja. Me pareció muy insta love, paso muy poco tiempo (y escenas) para que las cosas se pusieran tan intensas entre los personajes. También hay otras cosas de las que se habla como si hubieran pasado múltiples veces a lo largo del tiempo y solo pasaron 10 días ¿???
Me pareció insoportable Valentina.
Profile Image for goodgirl_meg.
60 reviews8 followers
March 25, 2024
*slight maybe spoiler alert- but no earth shattering details*

Okay. The way I sped through this book… so good! I’m itching for the sequel and I want it now! 😂 if you like, mafia, RH/why choose, morally grey men, touch her and die vibes… I totally recommend.

Characters: The FMC is curvy (size 18), sassy, and loves her some spice! I loved seeing a body type similar to mine represented. This is a RH/why choose book and the MEN!? 🥵 all three are badass mafiosos, but are soft for her and I just love it! They each bring unique aspects to the relationship and have such a great dynamic amongst themselves too.

Plot: Without spoiling too much, I was on the edge of my seat. Suspense, danger, and badassery abound. We get hints at the FMC becoming a true mafia queen from the sheltered princess she was raised to be and I am HERE FOR IT! Can’t wait to see her continue to come into her own with her men by her side. This book ends on a doozy of cliffhanger and gimme the next book right now!

Spice: ooh the spice be spicin! There’s plenty of build up, tease and torture, culminating in some 🔥 spicy time. Personally, I wanted more group action and a few more scenes, but I’m a greedy girl. 😉

I’d actually give this book closer to a 4.5. I think it could have hit that 5 star for me had it been a liiiitle longer to add some additional depth. I want to DROWN in my books and come up gasping. I came up for air a little too quick here and I WANT MORE!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
27 reviews
August 3, 2024
Pretty good. I just hate how she doesn't let them kill Liam 🖐️😭
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