10 Days to Surrender

Ozerov Bratva #2

by Nicole Fox

I had a plan to make a mob boss hate me.
Good It worked.
Bad I'm pregnant with his babies.

Remember when I had ten days to make Sasha Ozerov hate me?
Well, I succeeded.
Just not the way I planned.

Now, I'm hiding in France with his unborn twins,
Trying to forget the monster who stole my heart.
The devil who betrayed my sister.
The man I can't stop loving.

But when Serbian hitmen track us down,
Guess who shows up to save the day?

Then Sasha insists we go with him to a remote Italian villa.
For our own safety, he claims.
Just me, my sister, and the father of my child.
For ten weeks.
Until the babies come.

Sasha says he's changed.
He says he loves me.
He says he wants to make things right.

Problem is...
I might actually believe him.

Ten weeks to resist a reformed villain.
Ten weeks to guard my heart.
Ten weeks to
Run from the man who betrayed us...
Or surrender to the father of my children?

10 Days to Surrender is Book 2 of the Ozerov Bratva duet. The story begins in Book 1, 10 Days to Ruin.

Genres: Romance, Young Adult Romance, Realistic Fiction, Ebooks, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Love Story

456 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 21, 2025

About the author

Nicole Fox writes smart, sexy mafia romance novels. She is a crazy cat lady in her late 30s with a coffee addiction, an overactive imagination, and a husband who somehow puts up with her impulsive need to keep buying new plants for their house.

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Reviews

[Neapolitan670 📚🖤]

It follows on from the first book 10 days to Ruin. Sasha is rescued by Ariel’s uncle Kosti and taken to Canada to recover from near death. Ariel is in France and finds her sister, they move so no-one can find them but it seems they don’t move far enough as the Serbians do in fact find them, though so does Sasha. For him the shock of finding Ariel with Jasmine is over shadowed by the fact she is pregnant.

We follow them all from here to Tuscany where they set themselves up for the foreseeable future until Sasha is strong enough and the babies are born, as expected best laid plans and all that. As their lives are once again thrown into turmoil. Will everyone make it out alive? Will their lives ever be at peace?

This one for me was more about the growth of them all and the action didn’t come until later in the story, it did flow well, the writing kept you reading, that and waiting to know the outcome 🤣

[Holly]

Picking up almost 6 months after book 1 ends, this one is just as delicious. Ari is still heartbroken over what happened. Sasha has intentions to let her live her life even if he’s miserable. Fate has other plans though! Ari and Sasha both have to grow and evolve into better versions of themselves.

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

[sweetness_v]

Similar to book 1, this book had many inconsistencies that just annoyed me.
If the sister is only 34, why does she have ‘crow’s feet and a bolt of grey shot through her caramel hair’
She is definitely not that old now
Oh and How was Ariel 7 months preggo when they clearly said she’s due in 2 weeks?

Ariel pissed me off ngl
Girl was feeling too many things and some of them didn’t even make sense.
I just couldn’t with her,
There are killers at your door who are there to take away jasmine and probably you and then torture or kill you but you’re more focused on not going with sasha, who’s literally the only person who can save you!
And then her getting off midway because she doesn’t want to go with him?
Bitch you’re preggo with his kids, make it make sense

And why was Sasha such a pushover? He could have done better!

At first the book was maybe 2.5 stars but then when I reached chapter 49 and with it came even more drama
I just could not deal with their shit!
The same old constant Sasha being a liar and Ariel being done with his shit, Jasmine being the dumb sister who was dragged into every topic and whom everyone was waging wars for.
The characters were annoying and so was the plot. Too much drama, little action, no chemistry.

[Tiffany]

If your into tame and boring..

The writing was good. But the story itself was boring. Too much internal thinking. Dragged on and on. Mfc too dramatic stubborn and immature.

[Witch's Biblioniche]

0 stars? 0.5 stars? I can't make up my mind, but I don't think I've ever hated reading a book this much.

This is the one wherein the mmc was a fucking doormat and the fmc was an absolute piece of shit asshole.

Sasha, love, you deserve so much better than the self-obsessed bitch that was Ariel.

[↻ ◁ Nour ▷ ↺]

ما قدرت أتحملها بسكيب و رفعتلي ضغطي أول مرة أقرا رواية كان ودي ادخل ل كتاب وأمسك راسها في اقرب حيط لين يطلع دماغها هذا اذا كان موجود .
بطلة مقرفة بكل معنى الكلمة... امرأة ثلاثينية يفترض ناضجة لكن عقلها واقف عند سن المراهقة وتصرفاتها أتعس من طفل مدلل أنانية بشكل مقزز مفكره نفسها محور الكون كأن العالم خلق لخدمة جلالتها 🥴
طريقة كلامها و نوبات غضب و قرارات الغبية و تناقضاتها تضحك وتتصرف كأنها الضحية بينما هي أصل كل الخراب.. ما عندها لا نضج عاطفي ولا ذرة مسؤولية أنانية بشكل يقرف ومع ذلك تفرض سيطرتها وتبتز بالمشاعر بكل برود ... وتعرفون الأسوأ؟ إنها مستعدة تحرم رجل من أولاده فقط باش تعاقبه!!! هذا مش قوة شخصيةولا كرامة هذا خبث وأنانية.
البطل كان حرفيًا ممسحة تحت رجليها لا عنده هيبة ولا كرامة معها أول مرة أشتهي بطل يصفق بطلة كف يرجعلها براغي منفكه من عقلها كانت تتعامل معاه وكأنه ما عنده لا مشاعر لا كرامة و تسويله دراما وهي لا مفكره في اطفال يلي حامل بيهم ولا فيه المهم ترضي إيغو حقها ب تصرفاتها المايعه ياريت بس كان في هدف وراء دراما هذي وكل مشاكلها من صنع أيدها تورط نفسها وترجع تلعب دور البريئ المسكين كأنها الضحية ومفروض مني اتعاطف معها؟؟؟ أتعاطف مع الغباء و الحقارة ليه؟؟؟ لاهي تستاهل تعاطف ولا بطل ثنينتهم يقرفو وكاتبه تقرف لسه دايخه وتكتب وتنسى قولت لعلا وعسى تفيق على نفسها لكن عبث كتاب هذا كتبته زي أول مليان أخطاء و تناقضات ... أستسلم ريقي نشف🏳🏳🏳🏳

[Tiffany M]

I know I’m going to be in the minority but this book was too long,
Hated the MFC she was too winey, contradicted herself ( don’t touch me-touch me I hate you I need you BLAH BLAH BLAH ) and for once it would be nice to read about a FMC that actually supported her man instead of whatever this was. I just felt pity for him throughout both books
And the writing had too many liberties. She had the MFC riding a bike 8-9 months pregnant with twins in Tuscany. Anyone that’s been A) Pregnant B) to Tuscany will call that BS. And she also had her in a hot spring. Once again that far along in your pregnancy would be a NoNo. And that’s just a few examples.
I read a lot of Bratva/Mafia books and I noticed a trend lately that they have these scary Alpha Bosses in the beginning of the books and by the time the story ends he’s completely emasculated giving up his position and now he lives to carry her purse 👛
I was rooting for Sasha the whole time and felt he deserved better
OH and maybe the MOST INFURIATING PLOT THIS STORY HAS TO OFFER was he saved her sister, smuggled her out of a bad marriage kept tabs on her to make sure she was safe and pinned it as murder the guy who was abusing her, yes he did make everyone believe she was dead and no his intentions weren’t completely angelic but they all turned on him like he was the total bad guy and no one else was taking any blame or thanking him for saving her. And sometimes they do thank him then turn around and hate him for it. Make it make.sense. 🤷‍♀️.

This author had a good story line. Loved how the first book started out but instead of bringing the couple together once they found each other again I was forced to read toxic spewing from the FMC throughout. The tender moments could have really been special Sasha would have been all over it.

AND THE CHERRY ON TOP Ari goes into labor on her wedding day in the back yard in a storm that is supposedly so bad that the roads are too hazardous and instead of picking her up off the ground and walking 10 feet. They make a makeshift tent with tablecloths and shoelaces. REALLY!!!! That’s where she’s delivering twins. While everyone crowds her in a storm under a tablecloth 🤷‍♀️🤣
Maybe it’s just me. Maybe I worked in labor and delivery for too long and I thought I heard/seen it all. And I know this is truly a book of fiction but it just borderlines on ridiculous.

[Lyritza]

Rating for the series
DNF @40% of the second book

This has to be the worst fmc Nicole Fox has ever written. And I just couldn't anymore.
Here is a woman, in her thirties, who has been living out in the real world for at least 15 years, and you still feel like you're in the mind of a 16 year old with actions to match. To say she was juvenile is an understatement. She even speaks in text-talk... A thirty-something journalist, who writes for a newspaper, using text abbreviations in real life conversations....
She was horribly self-centered, didn't even register that the mmc might also have feelings, and basically threw tantrums when she didn't get her way.
When the fmc said the mmc would never know his kids, even after him being there for her and expressing that he wanted to be with her and his children, after seeing the mmc hurt that he might never experience being a father, well that completely killed it for me. I don't care how it ends. I don't like women who deny men their kids just to punish them. And honestly, the man hadn't even deserved to be punished.

[Toni]

Once again, this title makes no sense.
Another 3.5 that we will round up.
I like how the entire premise of this book hinges on her carrying twins to full term and delivering on her due date. What a magical world where human gestation is a precise calculation that no possible variable can influence. I am more apt to suspend disbelief that a woman 45 minutes postpartum could have the wherewithal to commit intentional vehicular homicide. That seems legit.

[destiny]

this was just dragged on tbh 😭 i like the idea of the story but it just felt like it took me forever to really get into

[Intel Chicky Reads Romance (Kara Merideth)]

Pretty good

Story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Trope: arranged marriage
Angst: 😱😱😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥

I can't say this was my favorite Nicole Fox, but it was worth reading to the end. Lots of action, twists, and drama. If you're a fan of grovels, Sasha definitely had to work for forgiveness, lol.

[Livy dow]

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 it’s was good, I just definitely think I loved the first one more.

[Tabatha Reed]

DNF @50% too drawn out and boring. Not every story requires 2 books.

[Wanda B]

Very rarely for me does a duet disappoint. This book was at least one plot point too long. I truly cannot stand a twist occurring after a presumed happy ending, just to rehash old conflicts that had seemingly been resolved. Totally unnecessary and ruined the book for me.

[itsybitsybookhoarder]

The second book in the Ozerov Bratva series follows Ariel, pregnant and on the run from dangerous hitmen, placing her only hope on Sasha Ozerov, the ruthless monster who has stolen her heart. I jumped straight into this one after finishing the first book because I had to know what was next for Ariel and Sasha, and I was not disappointed! The banter, chemistry, and spice made for a great read that kept me thoroughly satisfied… and fanning myself quite a few times. The narrators performed even more exceptional work with this one… and yes I am absolutely fawning over the accents! I enjoyed and ate up every word. Warning… now that it’s over I have a book hangover and want a deep dive on other books by this author…. Also I fully plan on listening to more audiobooks performed by both narrators. Highly recommend!

[Joud]

Not bad.. but the first book was so much better.

[Sonia N.]

Ariel and Sasha

This is book 2 of the Ozerov Bratva series. I thought Ariel’s story was going to be a little less drawn out! It just felt like it dragged on with one thing after another. Of course there are so many secrets and sacrifices. But the story seemed drawn out.

[Kim Janey]

10 Days to Surrender is the second book in the Ozerov Bratva series and if you haven’t read 10 Days to Ruin yet, stop right here and go back to the beginning, you’ll thank me later.

When we last left off, Ariel had uncovered some devastating truths about Sasha, forcing her to run. Sasha, meanwhile, was left fighting for his life after being attacked. Now, Ariel finds herself in France, searching for her sister and fostering a secret that could change everything. But as the months go by, Sasha and Ariel find themselves crossing roads once more, only to come to the realization that the 10 days they spent changed them permanently and bonded them together in ways that they can no longer ignore. Ariel had ten days to ruin their relationship, but resisting Sasha’s charms for the next ten weeks proves nearly impossible.

“Kissing him feels like home, even when it shouldn’t.”

It’s wild to think that all of the events of book 1 had unfolded in just ten days. The intensity of Ariel and Sasha’s relationship made time feel elastic, each moment stretched tight with emotion, danger, and passion. So I loved that this book gave them ten weeks to truly grow together, to go through hard times that ultimately molded them into the couple they were meant to be. Their chemistry is as explosive as ever, and watching them balance their light and dark sides was pure magic. Sasha, once a pakhan terrified of love, has transformed into a man who isn’t afraid to love or be loved anymore.

Sasha’s character growth in 10 Days to Surrender is everything. We knew him as a pakhan who believed love was a weakness, but now? He’s a man breaking free from the toxic bonds of his upbringing. He’s not just fighting for Ariel…he’s fighting for himself, too. His journey to embrace love, to not only give it but receive it, is so heartwarming. Sasha’s vulnerability shines through, and it’s impossible not to fall for him all over again.

“I’m here to be soft so you can be hard. I’m here to be gentle so you can be cruel.”

I had a bone to pick with Ariel cause just when I thought she’d come to her senses, she’d self sabotage and run. But once she stopped running, everything fell into place. I loved seeing how she stopped fighting with herself and finally let Sasha in. She accepts him (flaws, darkness, and all) because she sees the changes he’s making for her. She’s no longer just surviving; she’s thriving, making choices for herself and building the future she deserves.

And the plot of this book kept my blood pressure up (in a good way!). It had me on the edge of my seat until the very last minute, just when I thought I knew where things were heading, Nicole Fox threw in twists that left me biting my nails, genuinely worried about how this could all wrap up. I found myself checking the page count, wondering, “How is this going to end?”. Nicole always writes the best happily ever afters but believe me, I was scared! You truly are in for a rollercoaster of emotions.

“I’m doing to give you every single part of me. Head to toe, heart to soul.”

It wasn’t just a happy ending; it was the happiest of endings. This book delivers on every front: romance, action, humor, and heart. I’m already counting down the days until Nicole Fox’s next release!

[Nicole]

I dont think I'll ever get over Nicole Fox's books. Just simply great!!!

[aysha☆]

A very, vey, very hard earned HEA 🫪🔫 The emotional damage, my god, but it was all so worth it in the end. The conclusion couldn't have been more beautiful, though at one point, I genuinely thought Sasha and Ariel weren't going to make it. Like, hello?! Did you see the absolutely fucked up shit going down in this book? 👁️👄👁️ Every single happy moment cost them a shit ton of problems. 😭

​Sasha is such a twisted man. He’s far from perfect, obviously, but that silent, broody, "I will suffer alone" energy gets me every single time. He loved Ariel so much, but confessing it was the BIGGEST TASK FOR HIM. Like COME ON BRO it can't be that hard🙏🏻 Still, he’s easily one of the best mafia men I’ve ever read. He has his flaws, but he’s perfect in his own imperfect way. 😙 Sad boys just have their own charm, istg, and I adore it. 🤧

​AND Sasha didn't grovel like a normal person obv he's a big, bad Bratva man, after all. He had his own ways: the silent suffering, the watching from afar (a little creepy, ngl 😵‍💫), the foot massages, and taking care of Ariel in the background. I could literally go on forever about him. 🫠

​Ariel, on the other hand, is such a stunning, resilient woman. She survived the absolute shittiest, most unhinged situations and was still standing on business, which made me love her even more. She stayed on Sasha's ass and didn't forgive him for like 70% of the book, and I was honestly living for it. 💩. She was pregnant with the twins of the man who betrayed her and she still loved them with everything 🤧

​The angst between them was insane just next level. Their chemistry was off the charts! Book 1 was fun and all, but Book 2 was a completely different beast. The slow burn, the banter, the constant back and forth 😝 loved every second of it.

​Another detail that made this book so special was the side characters and the found family element, which I totally didn't see coming! 😭 Kosti, Jasmine, Belle, Gina, Lora, Feliks, Zoya, AND JASMINE OMG she needs her own book with an assured HEA (she deserves it more than anyone). Every single one of them brought their own unique charm to the story.

[Joanne Barton]

“10 Days to Surrender” is the second/final instalment in the “Ozerov Bratva Series” and has been thoroughly enjoyable read. I love her books and this one is no exception! Nicole is the Queen of “dark mafia romance” and once again she has excelled with this series. Sasha and Ariel’s relationship is in tatters. She planned to make the mob boss hate her - good news, it worked! The bad news: I'm pregnant with his babies. Ariel had ten days to make Sasha hate her and succeeded, just not the way she planned. Now she is hiding in France with his unborn twins, but she cannot stop loving the monster who stole her heart.

Unaware that the Serbian Hitman have found her and Jasmin, her sister, Sasha comes to their rescue. For ten weeks they will be hiding out in a remote Tuscan villa whilst Sasha recovers physically and until their twins are born. Sasha says he's changed, he says he loves me, he says he wants to make things right. The problem is …. I might actually believe him. When the twins are born, can she just walk away from the man that she has given her heart too?

“His eyes meet mine. It only lasts a second, but some seconds last centuries. This is one of them. I feel like I’m hallucinating as the last six months replay in my mind—only this time, Sasha is there for all of it.

I see all of that in his eyes. I don’t know what he sees in mine, and I don’t want to ask. I’d rather just rip my gaze away so these visions I didn’t want disappear.”

This book is action packed from start to finish with so many questions. This book is a standard Mafia Romance stories, it is dark in places, violent at times, passionate in places, full of secrets, loyalties tested and let’s not forget the heat between Sasha and Ariel. Will their relationship survive both their past trauma’s inflicted by their individual fathers? Will their pasts destroy any chance of a future together? Will parenthood bring them closer to each other? So many questions …. you will be hooked! A thoroughly enjoyable read from page to page, one chapter to the next - at times you are metaphorical “on the edge of your chair” wondering what will happen next. Overall, I would highly recommend this book and you will not be disappointed 😊

[Allison]

Despite having the same characters, book #2 felt very different from the first. There was more action and less romance. I really loved the Italian setting, but I felt like the author tried to wrap everything up too quickly at the end. Also her giving birth outside to twins and then walking afterwards?? Not a chance. Overall, I did still enjoy this quite a bit. I'd have read a third book if there was one. 4⭐

[L.Bunt]

First book is better. First 10% of this book almost made me stop reading. I had some major issues with this one. I loathe stupid FMCs, and this FMC is beyond stupid. I don't get why authors like to write them so stubborn to the point of putting themselves in danger just to bicker with the MMC, who is trying to save her but she is busy being stubborn and not moving although her life depends on it... that is not building momentum ... that's making her an idiot and a hypocrite as well, since she is hatting on him half the book for putting her in danger... so wtf... that ruined this book for me a bit... and her indecisiveness is so annoying... and the having s*x "without feelings " bullsh*t when in the first bookthey already loved each other. So yeah this book I hate because of the idiot FMC. And the ending... eye roll... between the not knowing what happened with the villain, whom nobody checked if he was dead because they all were apparently to lazy to be bothered, to the FMC being delirious in bed but also flash since she gets there in the nick of time to save the day... an let's not forget the cringe worthy moment "it's time for the bratva to die and let's all turn legit..." The story was going so well in the first book... the second needs a re-write.

[Misty Schott]

You never know who you can trust!

This is book two of the Ozerov Bratva and Sasha is determined to get Ariel to see he is a changed man. But they need to watch out because betrayal can come from anyone, including those closest to you.

[Donna reads Romance]

Great Conclusion!!

The second book in the Ozerov Bratva was absolutely intriguing, fascinating and passionate.
These characters are so interesting, captivating and entertaining.
A very good and engaging storyline.

[Lauren]

This book felt very similar to book one with similar issues that they had to face. I enjoyed it but also thought it maybe was a little too long.

[Aղցela W.]

Review Coming

[Lovisa]

3.75⭐️

[Stacey Madden]

I did not like the ending at all.

[I’m a Paula too… Thompson]

Better than the first part…

Better but not by much. Ariel ends up saving him at the end. The Serb gets crushed by a car but it’s still unknown if he died. No body… uncle Kosti was the leak and he got himself killed. The Serb has no honor whatsoever plus he was a wife abuser.

This storyline was really confusing and convoluted. I felt like I needed to take notes.

KU read and I’m pretty much done with this author. I don’t like her female characters…