Porcelain Lies

Tarasov Bratva #1

by Lisa Lovell

I accidentally delivered the wrong package to the Bratva Boss.
A bunch of ‘adult toys’ if you catch my drift.
And now, I’m pregnant with his baby.

My life fell apart when another woman answered my fiancé’s phone.
"Leave my boyfriend alone," she said.
Just like that, my perfect future shattered into a million pieces.

So when I locked eyes with a devastatingly handsome stranger,
I decided to do something reckless for once in my life.

One night.
No names.
No strings attached.
Just scorching chemistry and skilled hands that made me forget my broken heart.

By morning, he was gone.
Good riddance.
Time to rebuild my life.

Until my brother calls, terrified and desperate.
"I stole from the wrong people," he whispers. "The Bratva wants their money back."
In a heartbeat, I’m begging my cheating ex for cash to save my brother's life.

When I arrive at the address with the money, my heart stops beating.
Because the most feared man in the city is the same one who saw me naked just days ago.
The same one who made me scream in pleasure all night long.

But that’s not even the worst part.
When he opens the bag my ex prepared, there’s a thin layer of cash covering something else entirely.

A certain type of… toys.
Dozens of them.
The most extreme kind.
My ex’s twisted revenge for leaving him.

Now the most dangerous man in the city thinks I’m mocking him.
“Your brother’s debt just doubled,” he says coldly.
“And you, zaychik... you belong to me now.”


Welcome to Tarasov Bratva!
Porcelain Lies is a Russian dark mafia romance, and it is the first book in the Tarasov Bratva duo.
For the best experience, read the books in order.
Enjoy! xoxo

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

444 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 27, 2025

About the author

Hopeless romantic.
Bestselling author (still can't get over this one).
Dark Mafia Romance enthusiast with a vivid fantasy and an urge to write and share her own stories. :-)
Sign up to her mailing list and get a free novella: https://BookHip.com/QANJJGW

Reviews

[Whitney · Rating 1 out of 5]

...so many holes

So I really enjoyed this book when I first started it. But as I read further and further, so many plot holes became apparent.

There is a pregnancy in this book, but I swear either the author has never been pregnant or doesn't know a single thing about pregnancy. The MMC is supposed to be overly protective and pregnancy minded to the point that she's literally a prisoner on a schedule with a nutrition specialist. Except they don't know to not feed a pregnant woman runny eggs, or prosciutto? So much for experts, I guess. Not to mention, his sister is literally smoking weed around a pregnant woman. Crazy considering how "protective and knowledgeable" they are supposed to be. Let's not forget that the literally changed her entire diet and underfed her, which is way more harmful to the baby than if they just let her eat what she wanted. It's like the author didn't do any research into what she was writing.

He's supposed to be the Bratva boss in total control with all this surveillance, but so much crap has slipped through his fingers. It's like he doesn't get involved in his day to day operations because his underlings are constantly messing up important things and his reaction is mostly "thats crazy, you should fix that." No wonder people are getting the one up on him. He's not intimidating or a good mob boss. He's just a POS who doesn't know the first thing about pregnancy but insists on controlling hers. He literally took all the good out of her pregnancy.

Let's not forget how dumb the FMC is. She made a run for it with absolutely no plan. Didn't even call her fed bff to pick her up or protect her or anything. Doesn't even ditch the phone they can 100% track and immediately gets kidnapped again. The author is trying to portray her as a smer person, but she's been dumb the whole book. She's not independent at all. Just been getting pushed around by two guys the whole time.

There is also several instances where a conversation is had between characters, facts have already been revealed and learned. Then the same conversation happens later in the book, and the characters act shocked. It's incredibly repetitive.

[Zen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

This book was coincidence after coincidence, after coincidence. It was pretty laughable, tbh. That's not even taking into consideration the surprise baby. Revenge. Secret child. Murder. Destitute drug addict sibling. Cheating fiance. Long lost sibling. Unwanted arranged marriage. This duet contains soap opera level drama. Telenovela level drama.

[Brianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

why was this so long? and also fmc has an imaginary friend/sister...at 27. mmc doesn't have redeeming qualities.

[❤️Court - Villains Do It Better❤️]

dnf

[Aria Maze · Rating 5 out of 5]

just wow

I love a good mafia romance and I just happened to stumble across this one. The blurb intrigued me but the story was so wild I couldn’t put it down.

Onto book two!

[Holly Doyal · Rating 1 out of 5]

Who are all these people leaving 5 star reviews? Did they read the same book I started?

This book is weird - repetitive; the FMC has an imaginary sister she talks to all the time (am I missing something there? Is this a new trend I don’t know about? So bizarre); a deadbeat brother that steals $300k from the Russian mafia because he thinks it’s a good idea; her drunk doctor dad commits a horrible medical malpractice in Russia and flees to the US with his family having the FMC grow up in LA learning to get rid of their Russian accents (and BTW - how can he just suddenly change from an OB in Russia to now practice family medicine in LA while giving the family all fake names?).

I could go on and on, but I won’t. Take my advice - skip this one - it’s too ridiculous to finish.

[Addicted 2 📖]

DNF
Love a good Bratva book.
Lost me with the FMC talking to her imaginary sister (and her answering). She’s 27. 😐

And yes I know, this is just MY opinion, but I couldn’t get past the name Bobik. Being of Slavic decent (first generation in U.S.) this word/name is an endearment derived from the word bean (боп). Kinda like calling someone ‘kitten’ ‘sweet pea’ etc. Hey, I know there are many interesting foreign names - the one on my birth certificate proves it as I’ve yet to come across one person with the same here in the U.S. 😅.

This one was just not for me.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Porcelain Lies: A Russian Mafia Romance was one twisted, tangled plot that went full circle. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and that ending was a doozy.

[Renee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Imaginary childhood friend, born from her hidden sister, that Stella has dialogue with? Seriously? Woman is too grown for that mess. Seriously reconsidered reading this book when that popped up and continued. Should have left it as one’s own mind speak. That foolish mouth was all throughout the book.
Stella’s devastated by finding out her fiancé has been cheating on her and a whole liar, and before she ends the relationship, she’s going out with this stranger, who himself has a whole fiancé, unbeknownst to her at the time, even if it is an arrangement, so what makes it better? Way too unrealistic her going to dinner the very night, would have believed having met him while at some event after having broken off her engagement. Granted, Stella ended up it right then and there, just had not informed the sleezebag yet.
Aleksei is there to give a donation, that there was no indication he was giving anonymously, because he is needing it for legitimacy purposes, so how is it that she doesn’t know his name? He put his information for the donation in her phone for her charity. And she’s the event coordinator, it’s her charity event, no way Aleksei would not have been told her name. Huge plot holes and lack of realism.
Another huge plot hole, if she was a teenager when her family left Russia, she would have grown up speaking Russian, it would be her native tongue, so why is it written she thinks how she knows enough to recognize the curse word Aleksei used? It is later written how she took speech lessons to get rid of her Russian accent, did it also wipe her ability to speak her own language?
Why is Aleksei engaged? The way he spoke of who is later said to be his fiancée, they shouldn’t be engaged, nothing more than dating. Stella was cheated on, why would she then be with a man who also is a cheater? Aleksei proves to be the same low life cheater that Stella’s fiancé is. Absolutely Ridiculous and disgusting that the author when then write Stella to be with Aleksei, he’s no better!
After the one night stand, Stella leaves the hotel and TURNS IN THE KEY CARD AT THE DESK so how is it that when she gets home the key card is in her clutch sitting next to her lipstick?
Sophia is so absolutely ridiculously written it’s pathetic. Aleksei is the bratva boss. Sophia’s character is so far out of reality it’s assinine. The cliche make the arranged relationship woman vile acting so as to try to justify the male leads cheating. IT DOES NOT.
Stella goes to get her things from Gianni’s PENTHOUSE apartment, drives in to park in her usual spot after let through by the security guard, so WHY is she able to see the girlfriend out front to call a ride and why is she able to see Gianni come out on his balcony and to cap down to the girlfriend, yelling out across the courtyard?! That’s not him loving in a penthouse apartment.
Stella’s father died in car accident he caused, why is Aleksei contacting a police captain about making it seem an accident? It was an accident! There was nothing done to him other than him driving erratically because he got scared! It made absolutely no sense what was written.
Aleksei has his son hidden so he cannot be used against him by enemies and the Bratva council, so what is this talk about Aleksei needing to produce an heir?, because they would still be his children and could be used against him…And his sister is pathetic setting him up with Sophia, trying to marry him off to the woman. And he and his sister are supposed to be close? She acts like she does not know how Sophia acts. his sister continued pushing Sophia on Aleksei is not that of a loving sister with her supposed twin brother’s best interest, nor her nephew’s. Then it’s said sister cares more about the alliances than her brother. HE IS HEAD OF THE BRATVA, alliances are already present, and it made no sense that Aleksei would need Sofia’s father’s medical connections, Aleksei would be able to access them and already had been, he definitely would be able to get to whatever resources was alluded to by Diana. The whole storyline is asinine.
Stella deleted Gianni from her contacts, so how is she later with her fingers trembling over her ex’s name?
Editing needed, details aren’t kept track of, like the before mentioned hotel key card. One of Sasha’s men was outside the door, then third paragraph later it’s Sasha that’s there. Aleksei said he was finding out what was wrong with the mother of his child when he first is on scene visiting his child, he’s repeating the same thing when he again goes back to see his son and sees the condition of the mother. He was supposed to have already done this.
The tired surprise baby. How? It was written that she was on birth control at the time. Sure birth control is not available, but she was pretty darn consistent from how it was written, she did not stop taking it until after she found out about her ex fiancé is cheating, so there should have been no pregnancy that occur the night of the charity event. And there was nothing but oral when she was forced to make the choice to perform a sexual act with her ex fiancé, so I don’t even know why she would’ve thought of him when realizing her likely pregnancy. And it goes from her contributing the pregnancy to the night of the charity event, to the way later time when she went to his house to give him the money to pay her brother‘s debt. Sigh.
And Aleksei’s too weak to be THE boss. Diana just up and sends wedding invites and sets a date? He’s no alpha male, he’s weak. He’s written to lack what it takes to be the boss. when he canceled the wedding in front of the altar, his sister is suddenly OK with it? Saying why couldn’t he give her advance notice, she would’ve brought popcorn? He told her he did not want to marry and wanted to cancel, and she went behind his back and set up the wedding and a date! He only has the moxie to cancel the wedding because conveniently he received text message from Stella about her being pregnant.
And when Stella tells about being pregnant, he comes to her apartment and raise the doctors note that says THREE weeks? Are you kidding me with that? She didn’t realize it was about her period until way after, there is no way that a doctors note would say she was three weeks. Timeline is way off. And another mistake because the very next day Aleksei is talking about how for the next seven months Stella essentially was just an incubator, that would’ve made her eight weeks pregnant!
Sofia shows back up at the house after the cancelled wedding, when she was supposed to be banned? And she did not have things at his house, he made that very clear earlier in the book, but suddenly she has things all over his mansion? Why would he even put up with her being there, she would have been thrown out, she would have been threatened to be killed with how her mouth was running and anything that actually did belong to her would have been either packed up and sent, or just thrown out. Her father would have been contacted and told to control his daughter or she’ll be eliminated. He’s later written to think how the Bratva Handbook is clear on disobedience, yet he doesn’t handle Sofia? Again, he is absolutely weak and does not fit being THE boss as he’s written to be. And the completely convenient writing of Sofia being in the house while Stella is in the house and then running into each other is preposterous.
And him talking about removing her essentially as the child’s mother, that she could have supervised contact after the baby is born? Nanny would be hired, unhandy that he didn’t even hire for his first child. There is no way that he would be doing all of this, given his background, and his first child had his mother all his life. It was utterly stupid to have been written. Sofia gets in the house AGAIN Andy how is it she’s able to again get in the guarded house? Aleksei supposedly has most trusted at his home, so how is she getting past his guards. And Stella sees Sofia talking to the hired help for her, sees money being given, hears things said, and she says nothing about it to Aleksei? And why would his sister just be denying Stella dinner?
Already found out to be messing with Aleksei’s business dealings, was supposed to have been watched and picked up, and it doesn’t happen, more previously written details that are later forgotten.
Stella’s father was not killed, he jumped in his car to run away when he saw Aleksei’s men and lost control of his car!! Why is Aleksei saying how he had Stella’s father killed?! This whole book needs to be scrapped and rewritten and all the frivolous, cliché and unrealistic foolishness eliminated. Essentially DNF at 70%, skimmed and skipped the rest just to get through it to the end. Characters have no real depth, and are way too insular. Stella’s parents connected, her brother connected, her former fiancé connected, even Sofia which was absolutely lacking sense and comes off just for more drama that completely ruins the story. There was no hit on her father!! They were going to pick him up, he ran and crashed!! There was NOTHING TO STAGE!! IT WAS AN ACCIDENT, HE CAUSED HIS OWN DEATH WHILE TRYING TO RUN!!! Then the cliche ditch bodyguards, get taken by her ex, who’s supposed to have already been taken care of by Aleksei’s men, and Sofia who starts working with him. Aleksei and all his men are completely incompetent. This author needs to leave alone trying to write about the bratva. I will absolutely not be continuing to book two and not reading anything else from this author. I deplore leaving books unfinished.

[Ms. Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stella Fermont is preparing for the children’s cancer benefit at the Grand Ballroom. Her fiancé, Gianni Maranzano, is supposed to be there for sound check. He is supposed to give the keynote speech. However, he has not answered his phone all day. Gianni’s phone is finally answered by a woman. The woman tells Stella that she has been Gianni’s girlfriend for months now and that the engagement with Stella was just a way to keep his investors happy. She is devastated but has to be there for the children.

Aleksei Tarasov has a 10-year-old son named Bobik who has been paralyzed since birth. The doctor that delivered the baby was drunk and damaged Bobik’s spine. The doctor fled Russia and Aleksei has had his older brother, Vasya looking for him ever since. Olga, Bobik’s mother, has lost a lot of weight rapidly, and Aleksei knows there is something wrong. He has them set up in a house with bulletproof glass. He will do anything to keep his son safe. Aleksei has a twin sister, Diana. She is one of only a few people who know that he has a son.

Aleksei is the Pakhan of the Bratva. The other Bratva members and rival families would see Bobik as a weakness which is why Aleksei keeps Bobik hidden. Diana has arranged for Aleksei to marry Sofia Novikova to strengthen the Bratva family. Aleksei is expected to marry her and produce a legitimate heir. He does not even like Sofia.

Aleksei goes to the fundraiser that Stella organized and donates a million dollars to help the children. He finds Stella sitting alone and finds her refreshing. He asks her to dinner and since she finds him attractive, she says yes. Stella decides to take what she wants and goes with Aleksei to his hotel room. They do not exchange names or phone numbers.

I had a feeling that Stella’s family fleeing Russia and Aleksei being the Pakhan with a son in a wheelchair would somehow be intertwined. Throw in Hannah Collins, Stella’s best friend and a federal agent and I knew things would be complicated. Poor Stella is in the middle of a big mess. I can’t wait to find out how everything gets resolved.

[Anika · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for a wild, steamy, edge-of-your-seat romance with enough twists to give you whiplash, "Porcelain Lies" delivers in every way imaginable.

Lisa Lovell throws us headfirst into a high-stakes, high-heat love story between a heartbroken woman and the dangerously irresistible boss of the Russian Bratva. What starts as a one-night stand quickly turns into a chaotic spiral of secrets, betrayals, and scorching chemistry — all wrapped in a plot thick with tension and jaw-dropping revelations.

The premise is outrageous in the best way possible: a botched delivery of "adult toys" to a mafia kingpin, a surprise pregnancy, and a brother's debt that spirals into a deadly game of ownership and obsession. Every time you think you know where the story is going, Lovell throws in another shocking twist — and somehow it all works.

The writing is snappy and addictive, the banter sizzles, and the chemistry between the leads is undeniable. The Bratva boss is the perfect blend of danger and desire — brooding, possessive, and darkly magnetic. Meanwhile, the heroine is refreshingly human: messy, impulsive, heartbroken, and trying to stay afloat in a world that's spiraling out of her control.

Expect everything from revenge plots and dark secrets to emotional vulnerability and raw desire. Yes, there are dark elements (this is a mafia romance), but Lovell balances them with emotional depth and moments of tenderness that make you root for this unlikely couple.

"Porcelain Lies" is addictive, dramatic, and undeniably hot — the kind of book you inhale in one sitting and then immediately need to talk about with someone. A thrilling start to the Tarasov Bratva duo, and a must-read for dark romance fans who love their stories with danger, dominance, and a whole lot of heart.

[Victoria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aleksei and Stella

Dual POV
M/F
No cheating
OW/ OM drama

I don’t know where to start. Stella is an absolute idiot. Naive and no backbone whatsoever. She allows everyone in her life to walk all over her and doesn’t do a thing about it. You think she might fight but if she “tries” she doesn’t follow through.

Aleksei ugh. I’ve read better Bratva/Mafia bosses than him. He seems green in the gills if you ask me. His men can’t seem to do anything right. He’s a control freak and I just don’t like him. Maybe if he cared about Stella then I could work through it, but he doesn’t. And when he does “care” about her, it’s very random. They hardly spend any time together to get to know each other. If they do see each other it’s to go to pound town because again, Stella has no backbone to say no. He spends all his time thinking about work or his secret son. Which I do not like single dad books, so wasn’t a fan of that.

It starts as Stella is engaged to another man. Finds out he’s been cheating and sleeps with Aleksei when they meet at her event that same night she finds out about her fiance.
In most cases, the MMC would be some kind of infatuated with the FMC, but this one it’s like he forgets all about her for awhile then will randomly throw a bone like “oh yeah she’s pretty”.

Book ends on a cliffhanger and I will say I’m mildly interested to see how it plays out, but if it’s like this one, it’ll be kinda boring.

[CrazyGal609 · Rating 3 out of 5]

It started off so good, then I lost count how many times I called her stupid!! 🫤 Things like throwing her $$$$$$ engagement ring in the garbage (you could sell that 🙄), or how about an STD check after you find out about cheating ex and go have unprotected sex with a different guy… don’t get me wrong- yeaaa for the yum-yum but boooo for the possibility of bugs 🦠 and what dumba** doesn’t check the bag of money before leaving (or before signing anything/sucking someone off for $$$)

The storyline is interesting, but a few things are irritating… why would any of his men keep letting his ex back onto the property (especially after he left her at the alter AND had her thrown out with 15min to pack her stuff!!??!)
Or how long it took for them to find out who each other really are 😬🫤
Allll the stuff that happens under his roof with alllll that security, anybody actually watching the cameras?!!

Gave up going to Google and 2 other sites to translate the 2or 3 different languages in here 😠😡🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬😮‍💨 NOW, there’s a 🤬 cliffhanger… YES, I’m gonna read it, but I’m absolutely annoyed by it 😮‍💨😑🙄, plus I want to know what happens to Bobik 💚

Good & great characters… interesting twists - but foreseeable, loved her imaginary “sister” in her head 😆, oh… and great cover page💋 like that haven’t seen him on any other covers😉

[Dee Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great start to the duet…

Good story that keeps reader engaged and eager to find out how the messes the main characters are involved in sort out. The story so far - smart and beautiful science-minded FMC meets Bratva Pakhan at charity event. She’s just found out her fiancé is cheating. In this vulnerable state she agrees to dinner with the anonymous, good looking, charismatic and powerful Russian charity benefactor. They don’t exchange names but do engage in passionate sex that each recalls with yearning after that one night. And here come the complications: (1) her brother steals from this Pakhan and the FMC must find and return the money (passionate sex ensues during the exchange); (2) this Pakhan wants to capture her father for being drunk during the delivery of his son but the father is killed and the mother suicides- FMC doesn’t know of this history or connection; (3) well, there’s more but it would be a spoiler. With several twists and turns, the story moves along quickly and the characters stay true. Four stars because of the over abundance of coincidences which prompt a few eye rolls. Otherwise, be aware of some possible triggers including dubious consent, forced proximity/kidnapping, and suicide of non-main character.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stella & Aleksei's story- Book 1 in the Tarasov Bratva series
What a ride and what a cliffhanger! I fell in love with Aleksei, then Stella, then hated Aleksei, then was sympathetic towards him, then honestly- so many twists & turns.
I'm totally on board with Stella & Aleksei, and just when I think they're getting their happily-ever-after - boom! Stella is blindsided by a childhood event that she never sees coming, and we're left breathlessly awaiting to see how this is going to be resolved.
I'm totally invested in this couple's success and the happiness of each of them as they've both had so much heartbreak and loss. Aleksei's guilt and regrets are at war with growing feelings for Stella and his responsibilities as pakhan and I desperately want their happiness to win.
Lisa Lovell has done a great job with the plot twists in this book, I'm looking forward to Porcelain Vows (Book 2) so much. If you're a fan of Bratva romances and revenge tropes, this is a stellar addition to your collection!

[Michelle Mulvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!!! Definitely a 5 star read. To say I loved this book is an understatement. The main characters Stella and Aleksi are both amazing.
Stella is such a strong character. She has a heart of gold and can’t help doing what she does and caring as much as she does. Her break up comes on the night of a huge charity event. She doesn’t know how she will get thru it but she does. Then she meets Mr Tall, Dark, and Dangerous. She has a crazy night with him in his hotel room only to come out of the shower and find he is gone. She thinks she will never see him again but Aleksi is so intertwined with her life. He knows her brother, her father and her ex fiancé.
When her brother comes to her begging for help, of course she has to do whatever she can to help him and that’s when she walks in to meet with a stranger who happens to be Aleksi!!!
This book has lots of steam, suspense, heartbreak and drama.
And that cliffhanger?!?!?! Such a great read! Cannot wait to read the final part of this duet!

[RobJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! I just finished Porcelain Lies & Porcelain Vows (book 2) and these are two of the best books I have ever read. I could not put them down and even snuck in some reading time at work. Porcelain Lies had me hooked from the start. When you get to the end of Porcelain Lies, Stella and Alexei's story is far from over and continues in Porcelain Vows. I loved the way the author dug into Alexei's emotions and showed that not only was he a pakhan that could be brutal but he also had real feelings and cared about those he loved. There were things that happened that I did not see coming at all, and I cried (or at least got a little teary) at least 4 times reading these 2 books. I loved Bobik and his relationship with his father, and how could you not love Stella? These are the first books I have read by Lisa Lovell, and she is an incredible author. I loved these 2 books so much that I took a picture of the covers and texted them to a friend and said you HAVE to read these!

[Darcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Smokes! This story pulled me in right from the very beginning. It is packed full of drama, and suspense. It keeps you on the edge of your seat with anticipation. There are lies, betrayals, and twists that throw you off what you think you know. Stella has this beautiful personality that shows how much she cares but is so incredibly strong. Aleksei is this force to be reckoned with. He has secrets that make him a part of who he is. You easily fall in love with both of them. The story definitely takes a twist that you don’t see coming. I absolutely couldn’t put it down. It is extremely well written and developed. The story feels like a journey that you are taking right alongside these amazing characters. Then we get to the end and talk about a cliffhanger, boy does it have me absolutely having to know what happens. Absolutely a must read that will not disappoint.

[Tesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow amazing story so far. The ultra protective Bratva Don with a scared but stubborn woman he has to control.

When her brother owes Bratva Pakhan Alekseia great deal of money, his sister Stella goes to pay him off and finds out he was her one night stand.

Kind of irked me that Aleksei was so controlling until the reasons why are revealed. He was so over protective of not just Stella but all in his care but she seemed to get the brunt of it. But the attraction was always there and that carried the story forward dramatically.

So much danger, drama and suspense under all the lies and Betrayal. I really loved Stella and felt for her in her situation. And I enjoyed the addition of Bobik, Aleksei's son.

Fantastic book so far, now on to the second book of the duet!

[lelia g. johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

LGJ

The lies we weaves and how other peoples lives are affected by them
Learning your biological sister adopted at birth is the the person who was sleeping with you man were engaged to; but she was scheduled to marry the man’s baby you are carrying. The plot gets thicker. Your father got killed and your mother caused.her own death because they were aware that he caused your baby daddies older son’s injury at birth because of his drunkenness. Your brother on the run because he sold from him. So you paid the price with your body for the boyfriend and the baby daddy. Lastly she is in love with the baby daddy and fond of the older son. Was he able to survive the last survey. In book two let’s see how the issues are resolved

[Rozebudzz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stella and Aleksei

Longer than I’m used to in Bratva books. Lots of angst, anger, frustration, highs and lows. Part 1 of this duet is mostly character building and background. We learn about their family history. Stella felt like she had ideal parents. Aleksei’s as quite dysfunctional. They both have so many secrets. This familial history shaped them to make decisions that affected each other.

I love seeing their growing trust in each other. They also started communicating more. Aleksei has a lot of angst and paranoia. Stella is much calmer and seems the more practical one. The side characters are interesting. Some of the narrative is repetitive which is why it’s so long. No real 3rd act breakup. Ends in a cliffhanger so I went right into part 2.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 to 3.5 stars

I thought the story had a good plot, it was just a little long in my opinion. There are a few repetitive scenes i felt and I was a bit annoyed by the whole them sleeping together, then he is rude and she just takes it. And the whole diet thing, just tell him you're hungry sheesh. The part that I thought was a bit silly was twice she talked about having to get "feminine products" (which the second time she said she needed tampons specifically) and I was like ummm.... she's pregnant..... so that didn't make sense. But other than that the plot twist was good i thought the interactions between the Fmc and his son were cute. I will probably read the next one at some point, i am kinda curious how it ends.

[Nikki Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a tangled web we weave is an apt saying for Stella and Aleksei. While trying to help her brother Stella finds herself caught up in a game of revenge and destruction between her ex fiancee and Aleksei Tarasova, the Bratva Pakhan. Secrets, lies, loss, grief and betrayal and a surprise pregnancy and Stella finds herself stuck at Aleksei's home, unable to leave. When she discovers the truth behind her father's death she runs and finds herself in even more trouble, leaving Aleksei to make an impossible decision. Full of drama, suspense, twists and turns, this book will certainly keep you on your toes. I can't wait to read part 2.

[Chaos · Rating 4 out of 5]

So long but I still loved it so much. Stella is a bit stupid and naive. Not exactly the match for Aleksie that I think he needs. However, she is so intellectually smart! I love her brain and how she bonds with Bobik. I don't think Aleksie and her make a good match as of now because of how controlling he is. No honesty, no trust, and no love. I hate that she is pregnant. I dont think this is the right trope for this series. Aleksie is also an idiot when it came to Sofia and Gianni. They should have been handled so different. Now he's going to have to pay for it. I hope the next book resolves everything quickly.

[Teresa · Rating 1 out of 5]

dnf 48%

This book is one drama after another. It's just too much and I hate so many of the characters. The way the mmc's sister acts is insane. He's supposed to be this big bad pakan but he doesn't actually take care of the business and lets his sister make decisions for him. She is super annoying and it seems as if she wants him and his son dead. I didn't finish so I'm not sure if that's a possibility...
And then the pregnancy. Who has unprotected relations in this day and age? Of course there's going to be a baby 🤦
And then the plot holes and the mfc talking to her imaginary sister.
One review related this book to a soap opera and I wholly agree. It's just too much.

[gillian52 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Managed to work through it. Enjoyed somewhat but the over use of Russian words and phrases began to get annoying (sorry) it interrupted the reading flow for me. The invisible friend who acted like her personal Jimminy Cricket (Pinocchio reference) then turned out to be her awful shitty lost sister. Sorry but the two just didn’t match up as the same person . Plus l would love a story where the mfc does not run head first into the bowels of hell, makes us all look a bit stupid. I will read the second book because l want to hope she actually saves herself at some point.

[Merry Jelks-Emmanuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This thrilling story is filled with twists and turns that had me tuned into Aleksei and Stella. They meet thanks to her brother's mess that leads to an unexpected pregnancy and the starting of their path together. It is a well written book that is descriptive with a plot that reads like a movie. I can't wait to get into the next book to see how it all ends for these two.
I am volunteering to leave a review for an ARC of this book.

[K. Smock · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!! This is the first book in a duet, and it grabs you and keeps you reading. There are tons of twists and turns in the plot line and the attraction between the two main characters is electric. They are fighting their attraction though you know they will eventually give in. Ends in a cliffhanger and you will want to start reading Porcelain Vows right away to see what happens. Enjoy!!

I voluntarily wrote this review from reading an advanced copy of this book.

[Kristie Abbott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aleksie and Stella

It has been a very interesting read. It has kept me on the edge of my seat as I turn the next page. The Russian Bratva is good. Lisa has portrayed them in a way that you know is more like they should be. I’ve read other books that you wonder what the author is thinking. Aleksie is a good pakhan. Possessive and protective and fierce. Stella is a kind and caring woman the falls into his path. Watch the fireworks!

[Joan Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lies

She had no clue her dad was sneaking away with the family in the dead of night. Deep down, she always felt something was off in their home. Not knowing why her dad was running, she just went with the flow and enjoyed life.

He was obsessed with his super smart son and was ready to do anything to help him out. But then, their hidden histories started unraveling. The stories she'd been told and the revenge he was after could totally mess up everything they had going on.