Dark Seduction

by K.C. Crowne

What’s more humiliating than the walk of shame?
Walking into your new job…
Locking eyes with the dominating stranger.
And realizing he’s your boss.

* * AN AMAZON TOP 17 BESTSELLER * *

Lev Ivanov.
Dark. Commanding.
The most irresistible silver fox I've ever seen.

After rescuing me from a sketchy situation,
He didn’t just suggest dinner— he demanded it.
Curiosity won over caution, and that night became the most passionate of my life.
By morning, he was gone.

Fast forward to
I choke on my coffee as I spot Lev in the CEO's office.

Turns out, he’s not just my boss…
He’s a mob boss.

Just as I’m processing this, the ground shifts beneath
“You’re expecting,” says the doctor.
“It’s time we made this official,” declares Lev.

And one thing about Lev...
He doesn't ask.
He commands.


Readers This is full-length standalone, Russian mafia/bratva, age-gap, office romance romance in the bestselling Chicago Bratva series. K.C. Crowne is an Amazon Top 6 Bestseller and International Bestselling Author.

Genres: Mafia Romance, Romance, Surprise Pregnancy, Dark, Contemporary Romance, Workplace, Dark Romance

302 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 7, 2024

About the author

️‍🔥Silver Fox Daddies (complete standalones)
1. Doctor Daddy
2. Taboo Daddy
3. Daddy's Best Friend
4. Daddy's Law
5. My Ex-Boyfriend's Dad
6. Daddy's Girl
7. My Ex-Best Friend's Daughter
8. Secret Daddy
9. Christmas with Dad's Best Friend
10. Vegas Daddy
11. Daddy's Obsession
12. Royal Daddy
13. Irish King
14. My Ex's Dad
15. Daddy's Orders
16. His Demands
17. The Arrangement
18. Sold to my Ex's Dad
19. Sexting the Silver Fox
20. Nanny for the Don
21. Dark Christmas
22. Sexting the Don
23. Boss Daddy
24. Forbidden Vows
25. Sinful Union
26. His Son's Ex
27. Under His Control
28. Masked Seduction

️‍🔥Chicago Bratva Series (shared world, bratva family)
1. Dark Prince
2. Dark Obsession
3. Dark Seduction

️‍🔥Antonov & Nicolaevich Bratva Series (shared world, bratva family)
1. Highest bidder
2. Bratva Daddy
3. Owned by the Bratva
4. Knocked up by the Bratva
5. Ruthless Rival
6. Scarred Prince
7. The Closer
8. Brother's Best Friend
9. Devil's Nuptials

️‍🔥For Her Pleasure, Reverse Harem Books (complete standalones)
1. Four Daddies for Christmas
2. Christmas Triad
3. Her Independence Day
4. Quadruple Daddies
5. Bossed by 3 Billionaire Brothers
6. Four Stepbrothers for Christmas
7. Christmas with Four Tattoo Artists
8. Men on a Mission
9. Christmas with Four Firemen
10. Dirty Cowboys
11. Big Bad Mountain Brothers (Menage)

️‍🔥Doctors of Denver Series (shared world, small town doctors)
1. Doctor's Secret
2. Doctor's Surprise Delivery
3. Irish Doctor's Secret Babies
4. Triplets for the Millionaire
5. Doctor's Baby Plan
6. New Zealand Doctor's Baby
7. Doctor's Duties
8. Billion Dollar Mistake
9. Irish Doctor's Gift
10. Irish Doctor's Orders
11. Irish Doctor's Valentine
12. Lucky Charm
13. Secret Babies for my Best Friend's Dad
14. Secret Baby Next Door
15. Secret Babies for the Mafia Doctor
16. Secret Babies for my Dad's Best Friend
17. The Doctor Who Stole Christmas

️‍🔥Mountain Men of Liberty Series (shared world, small town mountain men)
1. Baby for the Mountain Man
2. Junior for the Mountain Man
3. Knocked Up by the Mountain Man
4. Baby for Daddy's Best Friend
5. Triplets for the Mountain Man
6. Taken by the Mountain Man
7. Mountain Man's Secret Baby
8. Mountain Man's Accidental Surprise
9. Quadruplets for the Mountain Man
10. Delivering His Gifts
11. Mountain Man's Fate
12. Mountain Man's Lucky Charm
13. Mountain Man's Rival
14. Small Town Mountain Daddy
15. Mountain Man's Gift
16. Mountain Man's Christmas Surprise
17. Mountain Man's Valentine
18. Big Daddy
19. Fireworks with Three Mountain Men
20. Faking Mr. Right

️‍🔥Bearded Brothers (shared world, small town mountain men)
1. Her Mountain Daddy
2. Beauty and the Beard
3. Built and Bearded
4. Bride and Beard

Connect with me anytime!
https://authorkccrowne.com/pages/contact

Reviews

[jesly 🥭 · Rating 1 out of 5]

I would like a round of applause for being able to finish whatever this book was.

[Sarah Evans · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'd give it 0 if I could. This author doesn't even write these books; it's AI.

[Jess Morgan]

I have a hard time with mafia romance. Not because organized crime is bad, although that certainly doesn't help. Because everything I know about the mafia from far superior fiction tells me that hot guys, good sex, and clothes that fit simply aren't part of the deal. In that spirit, for the purposes of this review, the part of hero Lev Ivanov will be played by the late Tony Sirico, whose past life of crime largely informed his award-winning performance as Paulie Walnuts.

You chose to read this subgenre too. This is what you deserve.

Heroine Dalia is having a hell of a bad time. Her cheating "husband" (that marriage had no legal standing somehow) left her utterly broke, she's just lost her job because her boss is friends with her ex-not-husband, and now her car has broken down. No mention of a dog that ran away, or we'd have a perfect country song. She takes it to a garage, where a greasy, ugly Russian asshole mocks her relentlessly for keeping it in such poor condition. He tries to charge her $1,500, then calls her a bitch when she objects. Remember that episode where they try to bring a Starbucks expy into their racket but can't because all the employees answer to corporate? This is why you should just go to Midas.

Enter Lev, who isn't pleased.



Dalia likes what she sees:

This man, this towering figure with an air of cold authority, looks from the mechanic to me, his expression unreadable but intense. He's tall, over six feet, with a physique that practically screams strength and control. His black hair is slicked back, adding to the danger that radiates from him.

Lev offers to have the car fixed at half the price, in installments, plus a dinner date. Penthouse sex ensues. Lev offers to use a condom, to his credit, but Dalia assures him that she's on the pill. He just voluntarily agreed to protect you from whatever unholy stripper germs reside within him, Dalia. Should've said yes. After round one, Lev commands that Dalia call him sir, which she eagerly does, and then everything else happens on his orders, including her next orgasm. It's just that easy when your mere presence is so intimidating.



Dalia leaves the next day wondering about the scars on Lev's back and carrying a wad of cash that he left her. These people live in Chicago, by the way. The mob may not run things as they once did, but she should be able to put all these clues together simply by being alive in 21st-century Chicago. But since she hasn't proven to be more than a dimwit, I'll spell it out for her: He fell backwards onto a pile of Legos, Dalia. That stays with you forever.

The next day, Dalia is almost masturbating behind the wheel when she gets an offer to work as the personal assistant to the COO of Ivanov Holdings. Now I can buy a mobster running a chain of garages. Easy enough to launder money through those. But a corporation operating out of a skyscraper? With operations in green tech, health care, and retail? Whose meetings sound like this?

"Additionally, we need to streamline our operations in the logistics sector. I've noticed some inefficiencies that are costing us valuable time and resources. Let's focus on tightening those operations."

I'm guessing the earliest draft of this paragraph was something like "Additionally, business words business words business words business words business words."

Neither Lev nor Dalia can think about anything but fucking each other before or after they meet again. Dalia's appearance and behavior are consummately professional and competent, but her repeated use of "sir" ensures that Lev's thoughts are not. Even so, they make it through a full week without fucking. Over Thai food one late night, though, all bets are off.



This book has been mostly hot penthouse sex, hot office sex, and hot fantasy penthouse and office sex, and I couldn't be more bored. These two are down so bad for each other so early that all the tension is completely gone. If you've ever had to explain to a guy how porn and erotica are different, it's probably because he read something like this.

Here's just how down bad Lev is:

What if she's the one? The one who might finally give me the family and love I've secretly yearned for all these years? Dalia, with her resilience and warmth, who's never been loved properly herself, deserves so much more than what she's had. She deserves someone who will give her everything she wants and needs, and I find myself wanting to be that person for her.

The sex really is that good, huh? Perhaps that sounds reductive, but what else do they have? Well-written meeting notes?

Well, they do have a secret: the real story behind Lev's Lego scars. Dalia is so miffed at his refusal to let her touch those that she vows to be "nothing but professional" from now on. Which goes completely out the window the next night, after she follows his instruction to buy a dress and lingerie and get primped for a gala. We don't even get to see the shopping or the primping! That's Erotic Romance Wish Fulfillment 101! Hang your head in shame, K.C. Crowne. You have failed us.



Things take a turn when some gun-wielding bikers interrupt the gala. The gala at the Art Institute of Chicago, where a new wing is opening at the expense of Lev's family, at a time when they're keenly aware of new competition from some guy named Alexei.

You people are so fucking stupid.

Dalia falls and hits her head in the chaos. She wakes up in the hospital, where she discovers she's pregnant. Am I supposed to interpret "It's okay, I'm on the pill" as "It's okay, none of my medical decisions matter because I'm going to get pregnant as soon as it's dramatic enough" from now on? Lev decides they'll marry. If you want to know how this would turn out in reality, I have one word for you: "University."

Lev's sidekick Vlad is the one who finally tells Dalia that they're Bratva. But they're not criminals, he assures her, because their businesses are legitimate. Dalia seems to believe him. I'd say the baby isn't going to get its brains from her side of the family, but his side of the family holds showy galas at the Art Institute, so this kid is going to be a drooling idiot no matter what.



While Lev is off hunting down the bikers, Dalia gets to know future sister-in-law-by-marriage Maura. She shares her back story, which appears to be limited to the cheating husband. Maura recognizes him from a photo as a guy who knocked up and abandoned her own sister. You know, I was really looking forward to hearing no more of the cheating husband. He's probably going to be Alexei's financier or something.

Alexei himself turns up at Lev's building to confront Dalia. He warns her that the Ivanovs, and by extension her, are all under threat. He gives her his card in case she needs protection. And she's probably going to call that number without telling anyone and get them all into even more danger. At this point I'm just waiting for her to stop in the middle of the road to peck at a pile of free birdseed with a FREE BIRDSEED sign in it.

After another thwarted public attack, Lev gets all of Dalia's stuff sent over to his place so she can remain there. She already agreed to move in, but if there's one plot beat K.C. isn't skipping, it's "FMC moves in with the MMC because she'll be safer at his place, even though the bad guys are actually after him and this might be one instance where splitting up is the better option." Only here do we learn that Dalia has a talent other than fucking Lev: She makes her own jewelry, but the asshole boss kept her pieces and is selling them as his own. I can't wait to see what she comes up with after she's spent enough time with Russian bratva wives. We'll be able to see that shit from space.

Things are calm for a while. Eating, fucking, sleeping, fucking, threatening to execute the asshole boss if he doesn't give Dalia the credit and the proceeds for her jewelry, fucking, fucking, barely a trace of pregnancy symptoms, fucking. The usual. Then Lev and his brothers track down Alexei at his usual hangout, where we get further proof that these mobsters are just terrible at mobbing:

Alexei: Oh, no, I'm not doing any of the bad shit. But now that I think about it, I bet someone in your own organization is. Let's partner up so we can find them.

Lev: Sounds legit. Let's do that.



Mafia men are far, far above your pay grade, K.C. Stick to tattoo artists.

A fire breaks out at Lev and Dalia's last-minute wedding. They escape unscathed. One of the brothers remarks that this was clearly "a plot." "Are you saying this was intentional?" a horrified Vlad asks. No, Vlad, it's just that someone's Charmander was running about and grazed its tail against some of the greenery. OF COURSE IT WAS INTENTIONAL, YOU FUCKING PASTE-EATER. You're in the non-criminal bratva, aren't you?

Dalia decides the best way to stay safe is to put some distance between her and Lev. If only she'd thought of that, oh, 69% of the book ago. And as I predicted, she calls Alexei for help. "I don't sense any ulterior motives in his gesture," Dalia thinks when he kisses her hand. It's easy not to pick up on things like this when your brain is the size of a lentil. Before he can take her to his safe house, someone shoots him and pistol-whips her. Hm. Perhaps he was right about not doing any of the bad shit. Still, Lev should have extracted more than a handshake before deciding to take that at face value!

Alexei is alive and lucid, and he tells Lev what just went down. He agrees to "pause" "all [his] operations" as they all look for Dalia, who has just ascended to Bella status with all these supremely powerful men dropping everything for her. Lev gets a text with a photo of Dalia bound to a chair, with the message "Come now and come alone." If he does come alone, it'll only be the fourth-dumbest thing he's done in this book.

Vlad's behind it all. Lev's not happy.



The two have a long, long argument about whose dad betrayed whose dad and whose brother lied to whose brother or whatever. Alexei, who turns out to be Lev's secret half-brother, and two other full brothers show up to shoot Vlad while Lev rescues Dalia. They bring Alexei into their organization as their new junior vice president of assassinations. Dalia notes how "pretty" Alexei is, which means the next book will likely be about him. I'm not reading it.

Lev takes Dalia and Maura to LA so they can confront the cheating husband. They force him to give Dalia some money to make up for what he stole from her. They leave him with his genitals intact. Pity. If Dalia didn't feel like giving him a swift one to the nards, she should have given Maura the chance.

Lev and Dalia elope at the Bellagio. They fuck. Snore.

Epilogue. Lev and Dalia's twins are named Emma and Laurel, which are disappointingly normie names for girls with a Russian father. We close on a happy family scene of secretive Russian businessmen who totally don't do any crime, nope-ity nope nope.

Remember what made The Sopranos so compelling? The fact that the characters did do crime, and we got invested anyway. How soon they forget.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part of the Chicago Bratva series 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! Dalia didn’t realize how strong she was until she needed to be she is having a day caught her husband cheating, left him, he cleared out her accounts, had car issues just to have the mechanic takes for a ride with the price which she can’t afford he treats her badly but then the owner come in demanding her car be fixed, and he takes her to dinner even though she feels like he has already done enough for her ending with one night of passion but only to learn she lost her job because her boss was friends with her husband. Leaving her to find a new job as assistant to the CEO when she does walk to find her new boss is her one night of passion. Lev sexy as all get Bratva boss isn’t a man you want on your radar, he fights for those he cares for, will kill to protect them, he is dangerous, ruthless on a good day, deadly every day, and met a women that makes him want to be a better man for her but also makes him want to take care of everyone who hurt her. When she shows up as his new PA he knows she is meant to be his and he won’t let her ex. continue to harass her all while taking out those who mean his family harm but will he be there to protect her, he was fallen hard for her but he knows he has danger follows him, will she see him for the man he is much better than her ex., will her ex. get what he deserve, and where are they headed maybe this time around a real marriage a little happiness?

[Sonia N. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lev and Dalia

This book had alot going on. Dalia meets Lev and have a hot one night. Then she goes on a job interview and is hired and that’s when she notices that her boss was her one night stand. He is also the head of his brava.
Romance and feelings develop among other things in this book. And it has a great happily ever after.

[Molly · Rating 1 out of 5]

A month later and I’ve still not finished this book. I always push through as I like to understand a full plot but this is truly unbearable, this is the 2nd time ever I’ve not been able to finish a book and I’ve tried multiple times, I’ve given up at this point 🥲

[Alaina · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was hoping the book would be good but I just did not like it. I thought I was going to get a build up but don’t. Also for one I did not like the FMC I kind of felt like she was a gold digger but not super big on.

Lev & Dalia
- mafia romance (not really)
- one night stand
- baby

Ebook
Finished 9:17 am

[Gladys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark, intense, steamy and attraction grabbing, Dalia and Lev's romance was quite delicious. Filled with drama, twists, suspense, action, passion and emotion, this book pulled me in and held tight to me from the first chapter to the last.

[Tiffany Maldan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of bland. Started off great and then went nowhere. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Seduction is the second installment in the Chicago Bratva Series. This is full-length standalone with no cheating or cliffhanger and complete with a happily-ever-after. A brilliantly crafted story with complex individuals and a twisty and fascinating storyline that grabs the reader attention from the start and keeps you riveted and on the edge of your seat and turning the pages until the end. This is Lev and Dalia story which is told from a dual point of view. A fast paced, dark, twisted, thrilling and gripping read. It's compelling, delicious and captivating. Hang on to your kindle and prepare yourself for this tantalizing rollercoaster ride of tension and cravings and heart-stirring emotions as you follow these characters as they navigate through their lives and fall in love. This story demands to be read and screamed escape from the everyday life and gave that something extra that you craved and never knew that you needed.
A dark mafia romance, organize crime story, contemporary romance, Bratva romance, age gap trope story, curvy girl romance, romantic suspense story, office romance, forbidden relationship, off-limits romance, taboo romance, crime thriller, women's crime fiction story, billionaires & millionaires romance, employee-boss romance, surprise pregnancy story, protective hero romance, workplace relationship, forced proximity romance, polar opposite attracts story, OTT possessive alpha hero story, Russian mafia story, damsel-in-distress story with betrayals, enemies, pain, surprising twists and turns, anger, angst, lies, suspense, attempted murder, power and control, kidnapping, family found, spice, love, heartbreak, possessiveness, obsession, hurt action packed, consensual intense rough sex, dirty talking, dominance, submission, loyalty, drama, family issues, darkness, survival, resilience, madness, steam, surprises, humor, passion, dominance, submission, BDSM, dirty talking, spanking, revenge, hatred, retaliation, mystery, suspense, double-cross, alliances, assassination attempts and Brotherhood.
Dalia Abbas thought that she was happily married woman until one she came home from work early and her whole life impoded. She heard some noises coming from upstairs and when she really listened she heard moaning and groaning. It was her husband Chad and someone upstairs having sex. She couldn't believe that he would bring someone in their home and have sex in their bed, sitting down on the couch trying to get herself together she notice a woman bra and shoes then she saw the diamond bracelet on the floor that she had helped him picked out last year. It flew her mind and as they reach the crescendo in their sex she had to go up their and confront him. She was shocked when she saw that it was him and Eliza his secretary in their bed. He then tells her that it was not what she think it was. She was pissed off and leaves the house then her car broke down. She was having the worst day of her life with everything falling apart. Not only did she out find out that she was broke since her husband cleaned out their bank account and caught him cheating she found out that their marriage was technically wasn't even legal and if that wasn't enough she lost her because her boss was her ex's best friend. Dalia vented all this to the tow truck driver since her was persistent in wanting to get her to talk. It felt good venting to a complete stranger. She was living proof of when it rained it pour. She was feeling hopeless until her friend Bailey told her about a position at the company that she worked at Ivanov Holdings and she only hoped that she gets the job. Ivanov Holdings is a diversified holding company with interest on technology, healthcare and retail, and they're the biggest holding company in the city. They have been expanding aggressively into renewable energy.
The tow truck driver takes Dali to a mechanic shop where she was treated deplorable and disrespectful by the mechanic who was overcharging her and called her a bitch. His boss Lev came and tore into him for his behavior. He then tells her that the repair would be on the house. Dalia was instantly attracted to him from the moment she that she saw him. Dalia decline the offer of fixing her car for free and they made another arrangement where she would pay a hundred dollars a month, and he also added that he would like to take her to dinner. They went to dinner and dinner turned into a night of passion and in the morning, when she got up Lev was gone. He left her a note and a wad of cash for a fresh start to help her get back on her feet after he heard her story. Dalia didn't want to take it because of her pride but she thought better of it. She went for her interview the next day and it went well, but her friend Bailey didn't mention that the position was for the personal assistant to the COO.
Dalia couldn't stop fantasizing about him and reliving their night together and vice versa for him. She was the first woman who had him like that. Fast forward, a few days later and Dalia and Lev got the shock of their life when they came face-to-face with each other again when the HR director Melissa Barnes introduced her as his new PA. After thinking about Lev every waking moment, what’s more humiliating than the walk of shame? Walking into your new job, and
locking eyes with the dominating stranger of your fantasy and realizing he’s your new boss. Lev Ivanov is handsome, intelligent, relentless, dark, commanding, ruthless and the most irresistible silver fox that she had ever seen. He's also the Russian Bratva leader of the Ivanov family in Chicago and the most powerful. The chemistry between Lev and Dalia is magnetic and electrifying. Lev has been secretly longing to meet someone who could give him the family and love that he had been yearning for for years and believe that Dalia could be that person. He knows that she deserves someone who will her everything she wants and needs and he finds himself wanting to be that person.
He knows that it would be a risk given his lifestyle but not exploring it would be a greater risk. He decided to give them both a chance at something real and lasting. They embarked on a mind-blowing orgasmic relationship with threats, attacks and danger all around. The Ivanov's was throwing a gala of the arts when they were attacked by three unknown assailant and Dalia got hurt and it was then that they found out that she was pregnant. Lev tells her that they had to get married which she fought him on. But the Ivanov's was getting attacks after attacks because someone wanted them all gone. Lev believes that it was a new new name Alexei Plushenko because he had been buying up the properties they were interested in. However, the perpetrator was sophisticated and seems to always be one step ahead of them. Lev was in fear for Dalia's life and asked her to move in with him because anyone associated with the Ivanov's are targets. Everything is not as it appears to be and Lev has an inside traitor. And when they have been attacked for the third with this one being at their wedding Dalia had have enough because she was in fear for her child's life so she leaves Lev and ended up getting kidnap by the person who has been causing all the problems.
Lev was betrayed by his ally Vladimir who wanted to extinguish the Ivanov's for revenge of his father's death. Lev could not believe that his close friend and ally would do that to him, and man who he thought had been trying to bring him was actually his half-brother. Alexei knew all along that Lev was his brother but he had been waiting for the right time to let it be known. When Lev and Vanya had been out gunned and cornered by Vladimir it was Alexei who came to their rescue. Lev and Dalia had was bumps in the road along the way as they navigate through treachery, backstabbing and enemies but they got their hard fought HEA and their two beautiful daughters giving each other a life that they always wanted. Dalia was even able to get her payback against her ex fake husband and ex-boss which was comical and compensating.

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

[Shirley Rentzel · Rating 1 out of 5]

21

I made it to chapter 21 before I just could not go on. I found this book incredibly boring and didn't want to waste even one more minute of my time. Run from this book. Shirley

[Melissa Briggs · Rating 1 out of 5]

This shit was stupid. Skimmed 95% of it.

[Kay · Rating 1 out of 5]

Need to get to 100 books this year :/

[Korkoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Their Destined Encounter -
Dalia was extremely frustrated with the way her life was going, so she wasn’t in the mood to deal with the rude mechanic, but her mood changed after she met a gorgeous hunk who changed the direction of her life. Lev’s job didn’t really allow him to engage in relationships, so he really struggled with himself when he felt a connection with Dalia from the moment they met and he couldn’t forget their night together, even after they parted ways. However, fate stepped in and brought Lev and Dalia back into each other’s lives.

Even though Dalia and Lev tried to maintain a professional relationship, they just couldn’t keep their hands off each other, but then they found themselves in the middle of danger. Lev realised he wanted Dalia to be in his life forever after she was in a near fatal incident, which also led them to receive the life changing information. Unfortunately, Lev and Dalia’s path to happiness didn’t run smoothly, as they had to navigate through a few dangerous situations, which led to Lev uncovering a long held family secret. As luck would have it, Lev not only helped Dalia recover everything she lost following her ex’s betrayal, but he also helped her get back into the career she once loved.

I didn’t expect KC CROWNE to exceed my expectations after reading Dark Prince, but in my humble opinion, she hit it out of the park with this book. If you are looking for your next romance story, that will take you on one heck of a reading adventure, then grab a copy of this book and you won’t be disappointed.

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

[Charlene Gaskins · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

Dalia's life was a train wreck and a catastrophe waiting to happen. Enter Lev who is a billionaire businessman and the leader of his Bratva and you have their story. Fast forward to them having unprotected sex which guess what equals a surprise pregnancy and you have the basis for this novel. It wasn't a bad story, and I liked both characters but was turned off from the "insta love attraction" these two experienced immediately. Sex was in the air 24-7 whether it be an elevator or the office or in a bed. I prefer as a reader some build up to doing the deed with a good dose of "pull and push" teasing and taunting, instead of the instant lust attraction that goes with many of these books. Initially they are never love stories, that must spend the rest of the book building to that level. It's far more interesting when a couple spends a portion of the book building sexual attraction instead of just going from 1-100 immediately.

I really liked Lev's character as the billionaire businessman as well as the Bratva leader. His character was very appealing as he maneuvered both the business and Bratva ay the same time. He had his brash moments and his criminal moments, but also had a protective loving side that made his character a standout. It is often difficult to craft a character in this genre that possesses the ability to be both a businessman and the man who run a criminal family. The author did a good job of joining the two successfully.

Initially Dalia seemed liked a character that had a talent for going from one disaster to another. Her character grew the most in this book as she came into the woman/character she was always meant to be.

The book had all the components of a solid read in this genre even with the "oops baby" theme. Well written with a solid plot and characters.

[Mafia Wife · Rating 3 out of 5]

Her life is a dumpster fire... her not so legal husband was caught cheating with his secretary, he stole all the money in their bank account, she got fired and now her car broke down. When she is at her lowest she meets the most sexy charming man and decides to just have a good time for one night. She never expects to see him again until she meets her boss at her new job and realizes it is him. The surprises keep coming....he is Bratva... she is pregnant with his baby....what is a girl to do? I appreciated that the FMC was strong and sassy and not going to just take it lying down. I loved the tall, imposing Lev. The story was probably 2/3 mafia/bratva drama and the last 1/3 was their relationship. There was a lot of detail and twists to the drama, but the romance was lacking. They did not get as much detail as I would have liked. Their spicy time was very steamy but I wanted to build more on the relationship and it seemed to be more her overthinking in her head and him off trying to deal with the drama by himself. When he was there with her he made some grand gestures that were great but then it fell off and didn't seem like he had the same dedication to the relationship. I wanted him to be more alpha, more OTT and really claim her... but it seemed to waiver. He would say something and then nothing for a long time. The epilogue and their HEA was great and worth powering through but it was missing some pull for me.

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

[Naughty Nightie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dalia is having a day from hell. First, she comes home to find her husband cheating on her with his secretary, so she packs some clothes and leaves. Then her car breaks down, and she finds she has no money as all her accounts have been cleared out. She gets a tow to the nearest garage, and she's quoted an amount of money that she can't afford and gets treated badly by the mechanic, too. Then Lev, the owner comes to the rescue, demands that her car be fixed, and then takes her out to dinner despite her refusal. She ends up spending the night with him. Dalia finds out that she has lost her job because her boss was her husband's friend. So she starts looking for a new job and somewhere to live. She can't believe her luck when the job her friend recommends her to apply for. She gets the job, and when she turns up for her first day as the CEO's assistant, it is Lev. KC keeps you turning the pages with all the mafia, mystery, intrigue, and family drama. Along with the hot, steamy, burgeoning romance between Lev and Dalia.
I received an arc from Booksprout for my voluntary, honest review for NN Book Blog. If you love a steamy mafia romance with some mystery and intrigue, you will love this book.

[RxReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bratva boss turned office boss? Yes, please! This sizzling romance had me hooked from page one. When a steamy one-night stand turns into the shock of a lifetime, our heroine finds herself face-to-face with Lev Ivanov—her new boss and a powerful mob boss who’s as demanding as he is irresistible. The intense chemistry between them jumps off the page, and every scene crackles with suspense, heat, and passion.

The surprises don’t stop there! Just as she’s trying to wrap her head around working for the dark, commanding man she can’t forget, she finds out she’s pregnant. And Lev? He’s not one to sit back and let things unfold. His possessive, take-charge attitude means one thing: They’re getting married, whether she’s ready or not!

This book has everything—an alpha hero who takes control, a curvy heroine with a mind of her own, and all the thrills of a mafia romance intertwined with forbidden office romance vibes. It’s the perfect read for anyone craving a fast-paced, high-stakes story with a strong heroine and a protective (yet totally swoon-worthy) hero. Highly recommended for fans of dark, steamy romances that keep you on the edge of your seat!.

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

[Linda Whitacre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprise, your boyfriend is Bratva
Dalia Abbas is down and out after her cheating boyfriend steals all her money and gets her fired. And her piece of junk car… is DOA. At the auto garage, she is rescued by a HOT guy, who takes her to dinner. They connect and share one night of “Oh my God, he’s incredible,” and then they go separate ways…until the first day of her new job. Guess who her new boss is. Lev Ivanov and Dalia can’t deny there are feelings between them, so they go with it. Lev is the COO of his family's (Bratva) business, Ivanov Holdings. Dalia is his new “awesome” personal assistant. He finds she is perfect in every way. Their relationship heats up; both falling so in love. BUT...Someone is out to get the Ivanov Bratva. Who would be bold enough to attack such a powerful family? There have been several attacks but then their beautiful wedding is horrifically interrupted. Someone wants the entire family dead.
Dalia is scared…she wants to protect her baby, so she runs but ends up kidnapped. The perpetrator is a backstabbing “close friend”. Lev will move heaven and earth for the woman he loves and their baby. This is an insta Bratva love story. Lev and his family are awesome, and Dalia is a great character. I love their happy ever after. Linda

[Heather Dudley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Seduction is the first installment in the Chicago Bratva series. Dark Seduction follows the journey of Dalia and Lev. These two main characters were well-developed, beautifully written, and perfectly executed by Author KC Crowne. Author KC Crowne does an amazing job with creating this amazing romance story. I felt bad for Dalia and how her so-called husband treated her by cheating on her with the trash secretary of his. I so badly wanted to punch her husband in the face and do the same thing with the trash secretary. Also, the mechanic that was completely ruined towards Dalia I also wanted to beat the crap out of him for the way he treated her. Now I’m not going reveal much in detail about Dark Seduction because I don’t want to spoil the book by revealing too much about it. However, Dark Seduction is most definitely a book that I would give as a suggestion for anyone who loves reading mafia romances. I can’t wait to see what will be next from this amazing author. Dark Seduction is both a suspenseful and a definite page-turner of a mafia romance.

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

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dalia's life changes in a matter of minutes when she catches her partner Chad cheating on her, then to make matters worse, he clears out their bank account and disappears. Then she loses her job because her boss is Chad's BF. When her car breaks down on top of all this on her way to her new apartment, Dalia could cry. But a silver lining may be on the horizon when she meets Lev, the owner of the garage. Both feel a connection and Lev asks her out for a meal. After their meal they go back to Lev's so she can spend the night.

Dalia is happy when she gets offered a the job of a PA to the COO of Ivanov holdings. Only to find out who she'll be working under! Can both keep their relationship strictly professional.

Lev as well as dealing with his feelings towards Dalia, is also dealing with threats towards his family. Can he keep them all safe and where is the threat coming from?

Dalia's has fallen hard and fast for Lev, but can she deal with who Lev really is and who she works for?

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

[Rozebudzz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dalia and Lev

Dalia has a broken down car and is having a bad day. Lev helps her get it fixed, takes her to dinner, then a one night stand and they part ways. She unknowingly get a job at his company ashis personal assistant. From the beginning, there was a connection and their chemistry is hard to resist. I love how strong Dalia is. She’s practical and sensible with a bit of an impulsive streak now and then. She has a strong sense of self and has a ton of common sense as well.

Lev falls first but is worried about the dangers his life brings and what that means for Dalia. There’s someone trying to kill him and his family and much of the subplot is finding out who it is. He and Dalia have a dom/sub dynamic in private but outside the bedroom, she has her own voice and is confident in expressing it. This is age gap but really, it’s lightly implied but never outright mentioned but I’m guessing there’s a 10 year age difference. There’s a ton of heat. These two are great together and really deserve their HEA.

[Ragu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Seduction is book one, an Age Gap, Office Romance of the Chicago Bratva Mafia story with great characters and fantastic storytelling. This story is about Lev and Dalia, Lev Ivanov, is a Russian Bratva a dark, ruthless, very commanding and a very irresistible silver fox. Dalia is sweet, a Mafia Princess. Dalia catches her husband cheating - Bank account drained & jobless all the same day! A chance meeting with Lev makes things seem so much better … Dalia is smart and resourceful and more than a match for Lev who expects all his orders to be followed without question especially since she finds herself in the position of his personal assistant at his company.. The characters are both funny and seductive, they keep you guessing. Dalia keeps Lev on his toes and he’s not use to it. Lev takes control of Dalia and this leads to some very different times between them. A really great book, it keeps your attention from the first page to the last page. Good read! I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Terry Sasada · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this author so much, but these books about the Russian mob, otherwise known as the Bratva, have me so tangled up with emotions and rooting for the mob. Dalia find herself with no job, no money, and thanks to her, ex no prospects. Even the idiot she worked for who was friends with her ex did her wrong. Lev is every woman’s fantasy, and a one night stand was a good enough for both of them until it wasn’t. Now Dalia herself as Lev’s Personal secretary. And she has no idea what she’s getting into. We meet his family, and family is everything. Being loyal, being honest, and true is what Lev and his family are about. The book has everything, it is super spicy so hold onto your hats, it is dangerous, it’s full of secrets, and betrayal. Throughout the book, it’s almost a who done it? And there are back stories within back stories that hold you throughout the book. I can’t say enough good things about this book. Everything gets answered at the end which I loved, and for the moment Lev and Dalia have found their peace and they’re happily ever after.

[Patricia C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet and sexy storyline with a little betrayal. Awesome read.

Betrayal from an ex who was supposed to be your husband that steal your money and leave broke with no job or a place to stay. Dalia found out the hard way about the man who was supposed to be her husband only to find out the marriage was a fake. When her car broke down, it was towed to the garage and ran into a very rude mechanic. Lev Ivanov came out of the office upon hearing the way the mechanic was talking. He reprimanded him and ordered him to fix her car. Lev invited Dalia to dinner, the attraction between them was off the chart. When she got the job at Ivanov Industries, neither thought they would ever see each other again as well as being her boss. Even though they worked together they couldn’t stay away from each other. She found out she was pregnant and Lev wanted to marry her but betrayal by one of his top men almost took out his whole family. Great book, so much love from the first chapter to the end. Love at first sight. I recommend reading this book.

[Stephanie Abeyta · Rating 4 out of 5]

sweet romance with a side of deception!

I did not guess the plot twist till it was close. The foreshadowing was like getting hit in the head with a bullseye.

The romance with these two is the sweetest. Not to say our MMC isn’t an idiot some times. He definitely has some learning curves to swoon a lady. But remember it’s always “for her safety” no dingbat…that’s the LAST thing she wanted! (Anyway I was frustrated there for a little) but the reception was sweet. I red this book fast. 300 pages zoomed by. It was interesting the entire book. There was zero filler. Something is always happening and when it wasn’t …..


Spice; this book is 1/3 spice 2/3 plot. And when it is spicy it’s a solid 3.5/5 chili peppers spicy. Consider it open steamy door scenes a plenty. Because these two have massive chemistry and our dummy FMC questions “but does he even like me?” He moved mountains for her and she questions. (That was the frustrating part)

Because of that this was a good 3.75/5 stars almost a 4 star.

[juwel · Rating 2 out of 5]

As far as mafia romance books this is just a meh story for me. Its super fast paced to the point you don’t really get a chance to feel their story line and feelings as they’re happening. Chaos will erupt and be wrapped up in the next page and then back to “we gotta figure out who's coming after us”. The spice is verrryyy mild in my opinion. I wouldn’t really categorize this as an office romance, either.

Spoilers to follow —
I genuinely tried to like this book but jesus Lev feels like the most incompetent crime boss. You’re being targeted but you keep letting your baby mama go pack her apartment alone and go to the hospital alone immediately following threats to your families lives. And Dalia just leaving to go to some other crime boss for protection is just insane to me. I get you have to open the door for drama and story telling but these two just frustrated the heck outta me with their choices and lack of thinking things through.

[Kristi Lange · Rating 4 out of 5]

more of a 3.5 for me! if i didn’t go in expecting MAFIA, i probably would’ve liked it more. he is the “kingpin” of the bratva (also weird, why is he not called the pakhan??) but there is very little in regards to mafia included in this, mafia light if you will. not a lot of violence

was going to list tropes but i literally can’t remember most of this book and i just finished it 2 minutes ago

what i do remember
- strangers to lovers (starts as a one night stand)
- surprise pregnancy
- office romance but they hooked up a few weeks before she started the job
- he helps her get back at the people who wronged her i.e ex husband/boyfriend and her old boss who was bffs with he ex and fired her when they broke up


also, when she finds out that his family is part of the bratva she’s weirdly okay with it? like he’s not even the one to explain it to her, his brother (i think??) was the one to tell her and then the two MCs literally never discuss it.

[Laura Wilke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually enjoy a mafia romance by KC Crowne but this one was a bit lacking of that something something. It’s spicy, for sure. There’s some light BDSM. There’s found family and righting of past wrongs for our FMC. But it doesn’t come together for me. I had a hard time getting sucked into the story. I had to push through. The FMC isn’t as strong as suggested. Everything is solved by the MC. And the mafia element is light. They’re supposed to be a mafia family. There’s elements but they’re mostly a legit business family. And they can’t even really protect themselves. Things happen that probably shouldn’t happen once they realize the family is being targeted. Anyway, this is my two cents. It’s good but not quite there.

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

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a rough time for Dalia. First she catches her husband cheating, then when he cleans out her bank account, she finds that they were never legally married. He causes her to lose her job and her boss steals her work. Finally, her crappy car breaks down and a disreputable repairman wants to rip her off for repairs. Coming to her rescue is Lev, a big, handsome man who happens to be a even bigger Bratva boss and soon to be her boss, in more ways than one.

I really liked this mafia tale. Dalia is strong, resourceful, and talented, but unsure if she should get entangled in Bratva life. Lev falls hard for Dalia, but has his own demons to face and is unwilling to put Dalia in danger. The steam between these two is piping hot, but there is also a lot of respect and caring.

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