Ruthless Vows

by Ashlie Silas

I had one fiery night with a mysterious stranger, and then I was forced to marry him.

The ruthless don is twice my age, dangerous, and oozing power—everything I was taught to avoid.
Yet I can't forget how his touch set my world on fire.
The next morning, I disappeared. No names, no promises, no looking back… or so I thought.

Months later, fate intervenes.
He stands before Ivan Volkov, billionaire and ruthless leader of the Russian Bratva.

This time, it’s no coincidence.
He knows exactly who I Lucia Maranzano, mafia princess in hiding.

Now, he’s invoking a deal made with a dead man to force me into marriage.
I should despise him. But my body betrays me,
remembering every forbidden touch, every heated whisper from that one night.

As enemies, we clash. As lovers, we burn.

In the end, there's no escaping the don—I’ll either surrender to his power or rise as his equal,
bound by these ruthless vows.

Genres: Mafia Romance

218 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 27, 2024

Reviews

[Tabatha Reed]

Apparently I’m on a DNF roll 😩.

This isn’t bad but it’s just not holding my attention very well. Maybe I’ll come back to it later and try again.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part of the Merciless Mafia Vows hang on and you might want to make sure to double check that you are buckled up, dangerous men, alpha’s personified possessive, oh so gorgeous, brooding all three makings of a story consisting with the three D’s (dark, delicious, and dirty) 😊. There will be suspense, darkness, secrets revealed, hope, forgiveness, and maybe even love somewhere along the way! Lucia is a strong women walked away from her family for a bit allowed some freedom working in a competitive market she is stood up by a potential client when a hottie has dinner with her and diner leads to one night of passion unbeknownst to her, he is part of the Bratva after being assaulted at work, fired she heads home. Ivan sexy as all get out Don usually gets who/what he wants when he wants them/it by any means necessary isn’t a nice man for the most part. Isn’t a man you want on your radar, ruthless, dangerous on a good day, deadly every day, and one night of passion has him demanding marriage. Lucia returns home unexpected Ivan shows up demanding she marry him using some tactic that he was promised a wife she fights but knows there is no way out but to agree so their relationship starts out rather tense him learning she is stubborn, when forced into a situation where she has no choice, will their marriage be anything other than an arrangement where he took her freedom, and can they find some type of normalcy with a little happiness?

[Catherine Budd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I really taken with this novel! Lucia's background which she has forsaken makes her a strong woman in a competitive market. She meets Ivan when she is stood up by a potential client. She intervenes on behalf of a clumsy waiter which annoys Ivan. Ultimately, they have a one-night stand after sharing dinner. She has no idea he is part of the Russian Mafia with whom her family has an alliance.
She ends up quitting her job after client attempts to assault her in her office. He has his wealthy mother intervene on his behalf. She returns home to Chicago to her family.
Ivan shows up at her family's home insisting he is going to marry Lucia since he was promised a wife by now deceased second in command to her brother-in-law.
Ultimately, Lucia agrees to leave with Ivan, since he threatened her family if she did not marry him.
The interactions between Lucia and Ivan are tense, accented by her inability to accept her fate.
There are multiple twists in the plot with suspense, anger, betrayal and passion.
This novel was a page turner which I was reluctant to put down.
You will not be disappointed.

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

[Branlvsbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucia and Ivan have a one-night stand, and the next morning Ivan wakes up and Lucia is gone. A month later, Ivan showed up at Lucia’s family home to collect on an old debt. The payment? Lucia’s hand in marriage. At first Lucia and her family put up a fight, and he gives them 48 hours to agree or there will be bloodshed. When he returns for his answer, she agrees against her family's wishes, but she has ulterior motives for agreeing. Can she enter this marriage and not fall in love while achieving her goals? No risk, no reward. Right?



Ivan feels like he has got everything almost perfect in his world at the moment when in walks the one person that rocks both Lucia and Ivan’s worlds. Now they have to figure out how they will proceed after they recover from the shock. Is this person going to be an obstacle to them getting married? Will the secrets she has be their downfall? What does the future look like with so many things being uncertain?



If you are someone who is into age gap, mafia, or he falls first romance, then this is a book for you. This book is about Lucia, who is sisters with Aurora, who is the MFC in the first book in the series called Merciless Vows. So I recommend checking out that book also, and maybe first so you get a little background.

[SheMyaReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

FIVE STARS 😍

Ahhhh where do I begin this book was everything and more, I missed reading Maria books from my Wattpad days and this definitely lived up to it. Ivan and Lucia are the perfect couple they both compliment each other. Who says fire plus fire can’t be together if anything they burn brighter and more powerful. Overall, what an amazing book it had all the best tropes like enemies to lovers, age gap, and forbidden love if you want to call it that. Definitely one of my fav books!!!!! 🥰😌

[Frani Zumwalt · Rating 5 out of 5]

One flaming night with a man I don’t know. I slip out of the hotel room and head home to get ready for work. I’m suppose to meet with a designer on his new collection only he backs me up against a wall and tries to kiss me. I get fired from my job
I head to Chicago to see my sister who just had a baby and lo and behold my mystery man shows up and says we’re getting married.
This is a most read book. Loved the characters and the story line. Anxious for the next book

[Courtney Hastings · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this dark mafia romance our FMC has escaped the life from under her father. She is working her way up in marketing for a fashion magazine. She is stood up by a designer one night when she meets our MMC. He is of high power in the Bratva, and is at the same restaurant alone. She thinks he is arrogant but she doesn't want to be safe. So they end up spending a night together. She leaves without a note. A few months later when he still can't get her out of his head, he finds a way to secure her as his bride. She wants to refuse him but she can't resist - and might have a slight ulterior motive. But do they really know each other - and will the past cause major problems?

[Genoveva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please check CW and TW before starting this one. Enemies-to-lover, yes!!! Lucia and Ivan are just that from families that have had years of conflict but they cannot help their attraction. Lucia fights it tooth and nail. There is a little twist there in the middle that added to the drama!.

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

[CJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author has given us a heart pounding older man/younger woman story that pulls us into the lives of Ivan and Lucia. The story keeps us turning the pages with connection, secrets, manipulation, danger and steam.

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

[D. D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A man who needed nothing but his work and the prestige from it quickly discovered something...someone he needed just as much if not more. Loved this love story between Ivan and Lucia. Love the age gap, it doesn't stop love. I wish a couple of issues had been settled before the end of the book, perhaps in the next one.

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruthless vows was Ivan and Lucia’s story. Ivan is Pakhan of the Bratva. Ivan Volkov, billionaire and ruthless leader of the Russian Bratva. Lucia Maranzano, mafia princess in hiding. He’s invoking a deal made with a dead man to force her into marriage. It was an intriguing read. Great characters. And voluntarily leaving this review.

[Latrece Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it!

This was actually really cute i loved both characters usually the youngest characters are annoying but I loved Lucia she was so smart and brave and I loved how Ivan handled her so well. One thing I will say is I wouldn’t consider it a dark romance he was actually the most mature mafia man I’ve come across in all my mafia romance readings lol

[Nanette DeParlos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, hooked me right away! Characters Ivan and Lucia chemistry off the charts. The hotness meter broke right away. Also the story had major twists and turns you do not see coming. Definitely loved the family dynamic with Lucia and sister Aurora. I will more than likely read more than once.

[Karen Lovvorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bratva and Mafia

The best or worst of worlds. He saw her at a restaurant . She seemed to be waiting on someone. They did t show, so he took a chance with the beauty. From there, the roller coaster ride begins. So see how it ends!

[Tanya Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

surprisingly enjoyable

First thing is there is some wrong words in places, but they don’t detract from the story. I enjoyed the story, maybe would have enjoyed the Mmc to be a little grittier but overall not a bad read.

[Rebekah J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ivan a crime boss falls for Lucia from NYC. The meet and have a 1 night stand.

Later Ivan forces Lucia into marriage through a contract he made with a rival mofia group.

Lucia comes to live with him. They end up falling in love and getting married.

[BECCA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly such a great read. No lull moments even some of my favorite stories have and just the right amount of male possessiveness I love in stories.

[sheryl blaszczyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great book

Wow!!! Really loved this story. You really get drawn to the characters, which shows how phenomenal the writer is. Must read

[Rarraaa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honestly... *Sigh....
What is this

[Cheryl Haik · Rating 5 out of 5]

loving vows

Very good writing and story telling. I thoroughly enjoyed this age cap romance. I believe you will also. It’s very entertaining.

[Kaylyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short, fun read! I would’ve liked to see a little bit more of their relationship and, personally, I would’ve liked a little more conflict. But overall I enjoyed it!

[🫶🏼 · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5 🌟

[Marilyn Hawkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty pointless.

There was no steam, no sexual tension, no real description of what either main character looked like.
Just a waste of words.

[Dina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bravo!

I love, love, love this book! Start to finish and all the characters are amazing. Thank you for sharing your amazing talent with us.

[Helen C. Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to put down!

I liked this book because the plot was unique. So many books the outcome is predictable. I recommend this book it was very enjoyable and yet exciting.

[Krystal Renae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn’t mind this, could have finished sooner there was times it wasn’t grabbing my attention and made it hard to continue. I would read more of her books, 100%

[Snow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh well, it was a story. Not breath taking or anything but entertaining enough to finish. It wasn’t particularly memorable.

[Ashleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want someone to care for me the way Ivan cares for Lucia. I love the way he protects her! Lucia is such a strong woman and I love how much she cares for Ivan.

[Doroteja · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it. It was good. It wasn't so much dark, but that is just my opinion. It was romance and drama, with a bit of spice. For me it was very well written, not to much inner dialog.

[Ms. Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucia Maranzano was Don Valerio’s daughter. When Lucia was 15 and her older sister Aurora was 18, they were kidnapped. After they were rescued, Aurora took Lucia and moved away. Lucia has been living in New York and Aurora stayed in the Chicago area. Aurora is now married to Nicolas “Nico” Ramirez who is the Don in Chicago. They are expecting their first child.

Lucia is a marketing executive in the fashion industry in New York. She works at Haute Couture magazine. She is scheduled to go meet a diva designer named Hans Murray at a trendy new Chinese restaurant. Lucia is not a fan of Chinese food but is going since Hans does like it and she wants an exclusive for the magazine.

Ivan Volkov is high ranking in the Bratva of Chicago. He is in New York for a meeting with the Don of the Mincetti Family. The Pakhan is not thrilled that Ivan wants an alliance with the Mincetti Family. Ivan thinks the Pakhan is prejudice because Katerina Mincetti is the head of the Cosa Nostra. Ivan and Katerina have a successful negotiation. She has made reservations at a trendy new Chinese restaurant because Ivan like Chinese food. Katerina has an emergency at home so she can not go to dinner but tells Ivan to use the reservation without her.

Ivan goes to the restaurant and when a waiter drops his drink, he berates the nervous waiter. A woman comes up to him and tells Ivan to quit being a bully and that accidents happen. It is Lucia. Ivan watches Lucia and when it appears that she has been stood up, he goes over to her table. Ivan is 44 and Lucia is only 24. She likes older men and finds Ivan attractive but a jerk. They end up having a nice dinner and when Ivan suggests going to his hotel for a drink, Lucia agrees to go with him. When Lucia stated her name, Ivan knew that she is one of the exiled Maranzano princesses but Lucia has no idea who Ivan is. They have an amazing one night stand but Lucia leaves before Ivan wakes up.

Lucia ends up going to Chicago to visit her sister, brother in law and the new baby. Everything gets very interesting when Ivan arrives at Nico’s house because he knows Lucia is there.

I was glad Lucia got her own story. Loved it.

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