I wake up chained to the bed of a stranger. He says I’m his wife.
I have nothing—no money. No friends. No escape.
He’s everything I never imagined: ruthless, calculating, feared. A beautiful monster with a face like a god’s, cold and untouchable.A mafia kingpin whose wealth could buy empires and whose power makes the world tremble.
My captor. My husband.
He vows to protect me at all cost, and in return demands...everything. My body. My obedience. My submission.
Every touch, every brutal kiss stirs a dangerous desire neither of us can control. His words may be laced with venom, but his touch is fire, and every time he’s near, I burn.
As days bleed into weeks, the fog of my past refuses to lift. The more I fight it, the harder I’m pulled into his orbit.
But as my memories start to unravel, I wonder—what if the past I can’t remember holds the key to our destruction? And when the truth finally comes out...will either of us survive?
For readers of the Wicked Vows series, this is a fully standalone book one in a brand new spin-off series: Polina's story.
Please note: Unleashed is a standalone dark romance with a strong, fierce heroine and an unapologetically obsessive, jealous, and possessive alpha anti-hero. No OW drama, no cliffhanger, always a hard-won HEA.
Fueled by dark chocolate and even darker coffee, USA Today bestselling author Jane Henry writes what she loves to read – character-driven, unputdownable romance featuring dominant alpha males and the powerful heroines who bring them to their knees. She’s believed in the power of love and romance since Belle won over the beast, and finally decided to write love stories of her own.
"But there's one question that troubles me far more than the pain does: Who am I?"
Memories can be an interesting thing. You never think your brain will betray you. Until it does. That's what happened to Polina Romanov. Bright lights. Darkness. Wake up and chained to a hospital bed in Moscow. She doesn't know who she is. She can't remember anything. But Rafail Kopolov will not let her forget. She is his wife. And she is not escaping him again.
"Enjoy that last taste of freedom. It's the last you'll ever have."
I received an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review 🌹🖤
"I’ll teach her that her place is by my side, where she can’t run or hide again."
I cannot believe I am saying these words because it seems so surreal but thank you so much Jane Henry for asking me to create a playlist for this book!! OMGGGG (TOTALLY STILL FREAKING OUT BUT OK). Jane Henry has a knack for writing just amazing dark mafia romances. And this one is no different. I mean… forced marriage? Kidnapping? Amnesia trope?? I AM HERE AND I AM READY!! I absolutely adored Polina and Rafail - pure bad boy x good girl energy and loved every second of it! And I heard the playlist matches the vibe exactly… (*wink wink*) How about that? 😘😘
"All you need to know is that you're mine, and you're not going anywhere."
Ok ok so this was such a fun one to make - the dark romance aspect and I added in some covers and some new songs that I found - I had a blast!! And I hope you guys like it too!! 💫💫
🎶 "Gangsta - Harley Quinn & Joker Flashback Version" - Kehlani 🎶 "Feeling Good" - Michael Buble 🎶 "Wicked Games" - The Hot Damns 🎶 "Blood On A Rose" - Everybody Loves an Outlaw 🎶 "Blood // Water - Remix" - grandson, King Kavalier 🎶 "Fake Fiction" - Picturesque 🎶 "Take Me to Church" - MILCK 🎶 "Sharks" - Imagine Dragons 🎶 "Shatter Me" - Lindsey Stirling, Lzzy Hale 🎶 "Once Upon a December" - Emile Pandolfi 🎶 "Don't Ever Stop Running" - Maggie Jean Martin 🎶 "No Mercy" - Austin Giorgio 🎶 "HEARTBEAT" - Isabel LaRosa 🎶 "Shackles (Pitched Down)" - Steven Rodriguez 🎶 "Feel Me Now" - If Not For Me 🎶 "Bite Marks" - Ari Abdul 🎶 "BLURRY" - Neoni 🎶 "HAUNTED" - Isabel LaRosa 🎶 "God" - Jake Daniels 🎶 "Imaginary" - Evanescence 🎶 "Shivers" - No Resolve 🎶 "Eve" - Precious Pepala 🎶 "Bleed" - Connor Kauffman 🎶 "Harder To Breathe" - Letdown. 🎶 "Cravin' (Remixed)" - Stileto, Kendyle Paige 🎶 "The Wolf" - The Spencer Lee Band 🎶 "Enter Sandman" - Alessia Cara, The Warning 🎶 "Bitter Love" - Pia Mia 🎶 "Drop Dead Gorgeous" - VOILA 🎶 "Lose Control - Strings Version" - Teddy Swims 🎶 "Natural" - THE DRIVER ERA 🎶 "Like A God" - Lia Marie Johnson 🎶 "Hypnotic" - Zella Day 🎶 "Granite" - Sleep Token 🎶 "My Oh My" - Camila Cabello, DaBaby 🎶 "Body" - Rosenfeld 🎶 "A Little Death" - The Neighbourhood 🎶 "Desire" - MEG MYERS 🎶 "Electricity" - Ashley Jana 🎶 "RUNRUNRUN" - Dutch Melrose 🎶 "Big Bad Wolf" - Roses & Revolutions 🎶 "favorite" - Isabel LaRosa 🎶 "Kryptonite" - Fame on Fire 🎶 "Nails" - Call Me Karizma 🎶 "Be" - Hozier 🎶 "Clarity - Rock" - Our Last Night 🎶 "Call Out My Name" - Kelly Clarkson 🎶 "Lay All Your Love On Me" - The Butterfly Effect 🎶 "Scream" - Besomorph, RIELL 🎶 "Taste" - Ari Abdul 🎶 "I Feel You" - Depeche Mode 🎶 "Chains" - Nick Jonas 🎶 "BABYDOLL (Speed)" - Ari Abdul 🎶 "Teeth" - 5 Seconds of Summer 🎶 "Monster" - Lady Gaga 🎶 "Devil Devil" - MILCK 🎶 "Me and the Devil" - Soap&Skin 🎶 "Mr. Sandman" - SYML 🎶 "Love On The Brain" - Rihanna 🎶 "River" - BRKN LOVE 🎶 "Mirrors - Rock" - Our Last Night 🎶 "LET THE WORLD BURN" - Chris Grey 🎶 "Mine" - Sleep Token 🎶 "Power Over Me" - Dermot Kennedy 🎶 "Beg" - Aryia 🎶 "Only One King" - Tommee Profitt, Jung Youth 🎶 "Monster" - Willyecho 🎶 "ever fallen?" - Kate Peytavin 🎶 "All I Need" - Within Temptation 🎶 "Drinking with Cupid" - VOILA 🎶 "lie to me" - Alie Gatie, Tate McRae 🎶 "Dangerous Woman" - Ariana Grande 🎶 "Painkiller" - Ruel 🎶 "Skin and Bones" - David Kushner 🎶 "Burn" - Tom Walker 🎶 "100 Ways" - Austin Hull 🎶 "Never Tear Us Apart" - Paloma Faith 🎶 "I'm yours" - Isabel LaRosa 🎶 "Never Let Me Go" - Florence + The Machine 🎶 "Spectrum (Say My Name)" - Florence + The Machine 🎶 "Biblical" - Calum Scott 🎶 "Clandestine - Remis" - FILV, edmofo, Emma Peters, Jvstin
And the spice delivers… it delivers 🌶️🌶️🔥🔥
"Spread your legs, babydoll. Now."
"You know the rule. Bend over. Take me. I want to mark you before we leave this room."
"Good girl. Come on my mouth, angel. Come for me."
🖤 Tropes 🖤
🌹 Dark Mafia Romance 🌹 Forced Marriage 🌹 Kidnapping 🌹 Amnesia 🌹 Bad Boy x Good Girl
🖤 Trope List 🖤 Amnesia 💫 Anti-Hero 🖤 Arranged Marriage 💍 Bad Boy / Good Girl 😉 Band of Brothers 👨👨👦👦 BDSM ⛓ Boy Obsessed 💞 Enemies-to-Lovers ❤️ Forced Proximity 🔐 Mafia 🔫 Mistaken Identity 🤔 Heroine in Danger ⚠️
Jane Henry’s writing is hit-or-miss with me, and this one is a miss. I DNF at 30-ish %.
I liked the story premise and I was curious at how it all turns out, which is why I gave it 2 ⭐️ instead of 1. I read the first 3 books in Wicked Vows and liked them, but the following three after that I couldn’t get into. I was really rooting for this one, but the writing is just Ugh.
First, the inner monologue of the MMC is repetitive and simplistic. Second - and this is a big one for me - I can’t handle couples who have smexy times after one of them has suffered a MAJOR INJURY!!! It’s so ridiculous and beyond my ability to suspend belief. And the way one of the intimate scenes was written—while the FMC is injured and they are in a tub WHILE she has a cast—had me going back and rereading a couple of times because it was physically confusing, if not impossible. Finally, the inconsistency and/or sudden shift in the characters’ personalities and behaviors did me in.
Thank you to the Valentine PR and the author for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 3 ⭐️ Genre: New Adult Dark Romance Format: ARC Ebook Pages: - Spice: 2 🌶️ POV: Double POV S/S: standalone Check trigger warnings for any book.
This was an all right mafia dark romance book. The writing was enjoyable. The spice was there. There’s a lot of family talk, as there usually is in the mafia world.
It was an interesting way of using the amnesia plot, although I was hoping that would not be the entire plot of the book, but it was.
I did not connect to our characters at all. I’m unsure if this was done on purpose, as Polina doesn’t know who she is, so we can’t really love her or her personality as she doesn’t really have one. As for Rafail, he’s the typical overly dominant alpha mafia man. He felt one dimensional, only wanting to teach his wife a lesson through the entire book.
It felt quite repetitive, Polina asked questions, Rafail answered some, she wanted more answers, he didn’t so he « made her pay for disobeying him ».
All the action happened in the last two-three chapters of the book. Same thing for Polina, she finally got somewhat of a personality at the end of the book.
Also, there was no need to mention her porcelain pale skin every two seconds.
Overall, if you want a « basic » dark mafia romance with the amnesia trope, go for it. I do think that reading the other books from the author may help with the overall mafia world, but it isn’t necessary to enjoy this story.
Leena - Leena.reader review - @leena.reader on tiktok and instagram
I've read a fair number of mafia forced/arranged marriage kind of stories so this wasn't bad, but it wasn't really anything unique or super exciting for me. I did read this pretty much in one sitting as I was on a long flight so that might explain why some of the lines felt repetitive.
I seriously had a mental 🙄 'Really, we're going with that trope?' when it got to how she ended up being caught by Rafail. No spoilers so I'll leave it at that 😆. Not that it was bad, and it made the story work overall.
Still, not a bad read and it was enjoyable enough.
Thank you to Jane Henry and Valentine PR for providing me with an ARC of Unleashed in exchange for my honest review.
While I was initially intrigued by the premise of Unleashed, the story ultimately fell short for me. The storyline involving the FMC’s memory loss and mistaken identity started strong and had a lot of potential, but it became a crutch for the narrative and didn’t develop as fully as I hoped.
One of the major disappointments for me was the portrayal of BDSM. Rather than presenting a nuanced or empowering dynamic, the relationship felt overly simplistic, with the MMC primarily ordering the FMC around and using spanking as a disciplinary tool. This depiction didn’t align with the more balanced and consensual representation I would expect in a story centered around BDSM.
Although I appreciate the opportunity to read this book, Unleashed didn’t resonate with me. Based on this experience, I don’t think I’ll be reading more from this author in the future.
The FMC Polina wakes up from an accident tied to a bed, sore, broken and with no idea who the man who looks at her with such cold calculating eyes is, with no idea who she is. The MMC Rafail has to tread carefully, does his ‘wife’ really not know who he is, or is she playing games because she ran from him on their wedding day and put his family in danger and she knows he’s not a man who will allow her to go unpunished. He plans to make her pay for her betrayal but it’s hard to hold a grudge against someone who has no idea what they’re supposed to have done to you, the more they learn about each other, the more the thought of her memories coming back could ruin what they’re building. Will the lies come out and ruin them or will the trust they’ve built hold steady when the truth finally comes out and the mistakes and betrayal are revealed.
I enjoyed the plot of this book and the amnesia aspect, can a relationship built on an initial lie withstand the reveal when you’ve grown to know someone behind the masks they wear for everyone else, when you become their safe space.
I liked the main characters, the plot felt a little rushed at the end personally. I also liked that the MMC was very alpha and didn’t really drop that act with the FMC. He was caring to her but he didn’t completely change his personality to be better, she accepted him as he was, flaws and all.
My reason for not giving this more stars was mainly down to the writing style. I struggled a little with the writing, it did get better about 1/3 in, I felt there were a few inconsistencies in the plot, silly mistakes, some repetition, some unanswered plot points that didn’t make much sense or felt a little confusing.
I feel like if this had slighter more attention at Beta reading or plot checking editing it would have easily been 4⭐️ but some aspects of the writing felt amateur and I really had to stick at it. Overall it’s a good book and a decent read just something felt off for me personally
What do you do when you’re left standing at the alter? Well, if you’re a mafia boss who’s just been jilted out of not only a bride but an arrangement between two families- you hunt her down of course…
This book was a fun spin on forced marriage. There’s a lot going on that will leave you guessing until the end.
This was my first Jane Henry book so I went into this blind but it was so good. It’s been a while since I’ve read a mafia romance but this was my first time reading the amnesia trope. Polina and Rafael were so cute trying to not be obsessed with each other when they so obviously were.
Unleashed is a dark romance mafia book so be sure to check the trigger warnings. This is my first Jane Henry read and I may check out more of her books. This book started off strong but then sorta died off for me until the end. Due to that I felt the ending was rushed. I had a hard time connecting with the characters and the amnesia trope was a new one for me and it definitely made it an interesting read for me. Despite that, I did enjoy it. Would I read it again? Probably not. But it did intrigue me enough to want to check out more books by the author to see if there’s anything there for me cause I do think this book had a lot of potential and maybe it was just rushed for some reason. Thank you Valentine PR & Jane Henry for an ARC of this book.
Polina’s story is finally hereeee and may I just say that Jane Henry absolutely crushed it👏🏼.
I haven’t read that many mafia romance books that have the amnesia trope but this worked very well for Polina and Rafail’s story. The book opens in Moscow where we meet Rafail and he has been stood up by his bride Anissa to be at the altar. Rafail vows that he will find his runaway bride and make her pay. Now in the states Polina has just been informed by her brothers that she must go into hiding as a threat they thought was subsided has arisen once again, so Polina and her mother flee to Moscow.
Now one thing you should know is that Polina and Anissa look exactly a like and when Rafail lays eyes one Polina he mistakes her for Anissa. Rafail attempts to confront Polina while she is out on a run which causes her to be involved in an accident and when she awakens Polina has no memory of who she is whatsoever. Rafail is weary at first as he believes that ‘Anissa’ (aka Polina without her memory) is faking it at first but he comes to the conclusion very quickly that she is telling the truth and she can’t remember a thing.
Rafail concocts a plan, in which he tells ‘Anissa’(aka Polina without her memory) that he is her husband. Polina is quite hesitant with some of the information that Rafail supplies as she feels like it just doesn’t fit.
This book was honestly such a rollercoaster, we had a mix of high and low moments. We see Rafail starting off with a plan for revenge to slowly falling for the woman who he assumes to be the one that betrayed his family and left him at the top of the altar. Rafail leads his family with a firm hand and this is mostly to protect his siblings in which he has raised after the passing of their parents years prior. Rafail is possessive and would burn the world for his wife, and yes the fact this man will drop a my wife at any chance he gets, ultimate swoon😮💨
Polina is resilient and she challenges Rafail, which I can safely say that he does enjoy even if he wouldn’t admit it outright . She struggles at times in this book as she feels a part of her is missing (her mother and brothers) and she is desperate to regain her memories. I found it quite sweet that even though Polina couldn’t remember her family she gained a new family in terms of the Kopolov siblings, honestly we get some heart warming interactions🥹.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. The push and pull between Polina and Rafail was delicious . The balance of plot and spice was perfection👏🏼 thank you so much to the author and Valentine PR for providing this e-arc for my honest thoughts 💭
Polina’s story introduces an amnesia trope in the mafia romance genre, which had potential but fell into repetitive patterns. The writing was enjoyable, and the balance of plot and spice was decent, but the overall execution didn’t quite hit the mark.
Positives:
• The opening with mistaken identity and memory loss was intriguing. • Polina’s dynamic with the Kopolov siblings added warmth. • Rafail’s protective nature and devotion to “his wife” were compelling in moments.
Negatives:
• Polina lacked personality for most of the book due to the amnesia, making it hard to connect with her. • Rafail was a one-dimensional, overly dominant alpha male whose behavior felt repetitive. • Much of the action and character development was confined to the last few chapters. • The portrayal of BDSM felt surface-level, focusing on punishment rather than a consensual and balanced dynamic. • Overemphasis on Polina’s “porcelain pale skin” became tiresome.
If you’re looking for a basic mafia romance with an amnesia trope and alpha MMC, this might be for you. However, readers seeking deeper character development or a nuanced portrayal of BDSM may find it lacking.
Have you read Jane Henry's "Wicked Vows" series? If so, do you remember Polina, the only girl in a family of seven? If you're like me, you've been eagerly awaiting this new installment. "Unleashed" is the first book in Ms. Henry's latest series, "Bratva Kings," which is a spin-off of "Wicked Vows." Don't worry if you haven't read the original series; this book stands alone. Of course, the brothers and their mother make appearances in the storyline. This beautifully written journey is filled with intrigue, drama, danger, and mystery, all while highlighting the true value of family, loyalty, and love. Polina Romanova finds herself in danger from a Colombian cartel leader seeking revenge on her Mafia family. To protect her, her mother decides, with her oldest brother's permission, to take her to Moscow to keep her hidden from the looming threat. However, Polina's rebellious spirit leads her into a situation that exceeds her wildest imaginings. Rafail, who has become the Pakhan of his family after the death of their parents, had to assume the role of guardian for his younger siblings at a very young age. He didn’t have the luxury of finding his softer side; he needed to ensure their survival and unity. This required him to exert complete control and demand obedience from them. I don’t want to reveal too much about the plot because it’s incredibly gripping. I know you’ll want to experience every moment for yourself and feel the emotions alongside the characters. I can't wait for the next book to be released!
I reached chapter 13 and really wanted to finish the book because I found with each page I turned this book just got worse. This has to be in the top two worse books I never finished. I didn't even skip to "the end" because I knew it would be a HEA and I really prefer to think the book ends with them driving off a cliff. That would be the perfect ending to this horrible book. Run from this book. Shirley
I’m giving up on Goodreads reviews, how is this over 4 stars? The plot was weak and the characters not developed at all. I only finished it because it’s a character flaw of mine that I can’t not know the ending of a book once I’ve started.
The Bratva Kings series is a spinoff from the Wicked Vows series. The story begins at the Cove in America but will mostly occur in Zalivka, Russia, near Moscow. It is a roller-coaster ride of mystery, suspense, life-and-death danger, mistaken identity, retribution, and revenge. I will say this: the story is a fast-paced, action-packed page-turner.
Word has reached the Romanov family that Manuel Soloto, head of the cartel in Columbia is after Polina. While Mikhail wants to keep her safe in America, her mother. Ekaterina wants to take her to Russia, thinking it would be safer.
Mikhail: Polina, you’re in danger. You have to go. Polina: What is it, Mikhail? Mikhail: You have to go away. Aria’s discovered something, and you’re not safe here anymore. Polina: Be more specific, please. Mikhail: Manuel Soloto, head of the cartel in Columbia. He’s after you. Remember that Isabella said you weren’t safe here anymore? Polina: Yes, but I thought she said-- Mikhail: You thought he changed his mind? That he got married and forgot about you. It was a lie. A ploy. He’s not forgotten about you. He’s coming after you. Ekaterina: No, Mikhail. She’ll be safer in Moscow. You know she will. I have contacts there. We both do.
Rafail Kopolov lost his parents as a young man, became head of the Kopolov Bratva, and the raising of his siblings. He needs to marry and Anissa abandons him at the altar—running and hasn’t been found. But he will find her, and then he will make her pay.
The story is full of surprises—and that is what made this story a true page-turner. Rafail is seeking revenge on Anissa and when he finds her, things go wrong, she fights him, and manages to escape, but runs into traffic and is injured. Now he has her in his home, but things aren’t easy—there is a new challenge that they must face. Can he convince Anissa that they are married? Why does none of this sound right?
“He isn’t lying, and yet—he’s totally lying. Could it be that he doesn’t know the truth? Or has he completely hoodwinked me?”
I don’t want to ruin anything but this story was amazing. Ms. Jane Henry really knocked this one out of the ballpark. How will they handle the dangers that have come to Russia? One of the most profound lines—“Love is messy.” How true. Throw in the good, the bad, and the ugly, mix and stir, and then try and separate it into what is true, and what is not—and hope that in the end, you get your happily ever after ending.
Oh my goodness!! What a fantastic story! Polina gets taken by Rafiel ant it’s game on!!! Polina gets amnesia before she gets to his compound. The heat between these two characters will melt the cold that’s outside. Adventure, danger and excitement are all on board for this one. The characters in this story seem to leap off the page and are fully formed into your mind! The details of the scenery and the family of RAF. Adds to that sense of this could happen in real life. Not mine or anyone I know of but still gives you that feeling. And isn’t that the hallmark of a great book? We get to visit with some characters that were already acquainted with. But this definitely can be read as a standalone! I highly recommend it!
I gobble up any and all Jane Henry books and Unleashed was no exception. I will toss aside any book by any other author to devour a Jane Henry book. There’s just something about her writing and her characters that enthrall me. That’s the good news. The bad news is that I want to rush to see how it ends and then……….it ends. And now I have to wait for her next book to come out. Anyway, this is the best mistaken identity plus amnesia storyline I’ve read. This is Polina’s story. Her brothers sent her away to Russia to protect her. True to her nature Polina slips away from her guards to run and discovers she’s being followed by a strange man. In her fear she’s struck in the street and loses all her memories. Rafail, dom of his families Bratva is the man who pursued and caught Polina. He believes she’s the woman who was promised to him and he intends to keep her and make her pay for running from him at the altar. Anissa is who he thinks he’s captured. This is their beginning and it’s definitely a rocky but an intriguing one. The interaction between Rafail and Anissa aka Polina is amazing. How they come to love each other is a treat to read. And Rafail’s family opens up an entire banquet of other possible characters who need their own stories told as does the mysterious Anissa! I can’t wait to read the next persons story.
2,5 ⭐️ Really? is this the plot? 400 pages and a plot this weak and stupid? Dammit. But, well, i thought Polina was going to get angry or something when her memories came back, but she was a grown-up, and fell in love, so i can't blame her for not being angry.
Ugh.... she always says that he controls the world, but i never saw anything!! i only found control over her and him younger siblings?
I loved this book. Dark mafia romance with amnesia trope as well it definitely kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next. If you love a mafia romance you definitely need to read this. It was a wild ride full of highs and lows.
This was a great mafia romance! I loved the main characters and how their relationship changed throughout the book. It was an emotional read for sure, with everything the FMC went through. I’d love to read the siblings’ stories at some point!
*Thank you VPR for the ARC!!* This book is marketed as a dark mafia romance with an arranged marriage and mistaken identity. The beginning was a little tough to get through, the situation seemed very unrealistic and it all happened so quickly, and seemingly only for the purpose of the mfc experiencing amnesia. However, I do think the book got better as it went and I really enjoyed all the characters and their personalities. The plot was ok, the author made the “plot twist” clear from the start of the novel imo so no surprise there. Even though this is marketed as a dark romance with bdsm, I did not find it dark at all. The mmc was very caring and the spice was more pg-13 and vanilla, but still heartwarming and cute. There were lots of moments that I enjoyed, and lots of moments where I was cringing. It gave me mixed feelings but it was a good palette cleanser and I am glad to have read it!
I was looking forward to Polina's books and it did not disappoint. I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the Bratva King series. The snippet I read looks really good.
Grumpy mafia daddy? Sign me up! This was such a fun read. Probably one of the best mafia romances I’ve read. if you know of better, drop it in the comments 😁
I found this one just okay. The writing was good within itself, but for me it lacked the mafia action I was expecting. There were some steamy and erotic in flavour sex scenes. Amnesia trope, but I wasn't invested in the H/h enough to say I loved it. 2.5 stars.