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The Karzhov Crime Family #1
Mafia Boss's Fearless Lover
After a lifetime of ordinary, Katya Miller discovers a world she never knew existed and a man who may be her undoing.
In the wake of her parents’ death, Katya’s search for answers reveals her family’s deep ties to the Russian Mafia. Now, determined to get revenge and take her place at the top, she’ll let no one stand in her way. Not even dark, brooding mafia boss, Nikolai, whose tantalizing good looks tempt her like never before.
Bratva mafia boss Nikolai Tsarsko is used to having whatever he wants, until a headstrong strawberry blonde becomes an intriguing challenge. Katya may be the key to reuniting the organization, and with that comes danger from every direction. To protect and possess her, Nikolai will have to use his most wicked ways.
In an underworld filled with unexpected enemies, Kat tries to take her rightful place, Nik fights to keep her safe, and a powerful passion ignites that may bring them both to their knees…
In the wake of her parents’ death, Katya’s search for answers reveals her family’s deep ties to the Russian Mafia. Now, determined to get revenge and take her place at the top, she’ll let no one stand in her way. Not even dark, brooding mafia boss, Nikolai, whose tantalizing good looks tempt her like never before.
Bratva mafia boss Nikolai Tsarsko is used to having whatever he wants, until a headstrong strawberry blonde becomes an intriguing challenge. Katya may be the key to reuniting the organization, and with that comes danger from every direction. To protect and possess her, Nikolai will have to use his most wicked ways.
In an underworld filled with unexpected enemies, Kat tries to take her rightful place, Nik fights to keep her safe, and a powerful passion ignites that may bring them both to their knees…
106 pages, ebook
First published October 31, 2014
186 people are currently reading
586 people want to read
About the author
Leslie North
664 books1,521 followersNew to Leslie? Readers suggest starting with 'The Bossy One' (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C6BP3BBF) —Imagine a sunny Minnesotan Mary Poppins, employed by a grumpy Irish billionaire. The story is a blend of humor, revenge, passion, heartbreak, hope, and witty banter. As one reader put it, ‘This story had me squealing at the romantic moments and silly moments.’
Leslie North is the USA Today Bestselling pseudonym for a critically-acclaimed author of romantic comedies and contemporary romance. The anonymity allows her to fully express her creativity, especially in the romantic and fun sexy scenes!
In fact, she confesses to loving her fictional persona, Leslie North, more than her everyday self! Her bestselling books are known for their strong characters, particularly women who aren’t afraid to challenge an alpha bosshole. And the humor? So infectious, you’ll be laughing out loud in public!
Leslie’s love for romance began when she picked up a worn-out romance book from her local library. She started writing soon after, and as they say, the rest was history. She now resides in a cozy cottage on the British coast, enjoying long walks with her two Dalmatians, George and Fergie.
She LOVES reader feedback, and if you have any comments, don’t hesitate to contact her!
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Website: www.leslienorthbooks.com
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Leslie North is the USA Today Bestselling pseudonym for a critically-acclaimed author of romantic comedies and contemporary romance. The anonymity allows her to fully express her creativity, especially in the romantic and fun sexy scenes!
In fact, she confesses to loving her fictional persona, Leslie North, more than her everyday self! Her bestselling books are known for their strong characters, particularly women who aren’t afraid to challenge an alpha bosshole. And the humor? So infectious, you’ll be laughing out loud in public!
Leslie’s love for romance began when she picked up a worn-out romance book from her local library. She started writing soon after, and as they say, the rest was history. She now resides in a cozy cottage on the British coast, enjoying long walks with her two Dalmatians, George and Fergie.
She LOVES reader feedback, and if you have any comments, don’t hesitate to contact her!
I'm Social Too:
Website: www.leslienorthbooks.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/leslienorthbooks
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@leslienorthcomments
Instagram:www.instagram.com/leslienorth_books
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
January 15, 2016
I really enjoyed this book but I knocked off a star because I was so annoyed when it just ended, it states it's book 1 and having recently been caught out by an unannounced cliffhanger I actually quickly checked ahead the blurb of the next book 'Mafia Hitman's Daring Lover' and since it featured completely different characters to this blurb I felt justified in assuming this was a standalone.
Despite the abrupt ending I found this to be a good entertaining if somewhat far fetched read, Katya Miller has lived an ordinary life with ordinary parents, or so she believed until her parents were killed in a road accident and then a whole new world opens up for her. Her family are related to the Russian Mafia and her life is in danger and so she packs up and goes looking for her history and her revenge.
I liked Grigori, I really want to find out what happens with Katya and Nikolai and the next book's on KU so I can't say no.
February 6, 2015
This is a great story. I only gave it two stars because I am sick to death of authors chopping their stories up and selling them bit by bit. Write a stand alone book and be done with it. This whole here's one hundred pages for free but now you have to pay $2.99 for the next hundred and gee another $2.99 for the next hundred is nothing but a pain in the butt. Authors need to stop this. Offer the whole book for a reasonable price and be done with it.
January 31, 2015
Interesting Read
The plot line was good with the family deceit and betrayal, especially with the whole mafia family thing. When you think of the title you expect a badass tough heroine but I found Kat to be too soft and submissive. Yes there was little streaks of boldness in her but nothing portraying what a reader would expect. If this was a full novel with more added, it would have been a much better read.
The plot line was good with the family deceit and betrayal, especially with the whole mafia family thing. When you think of the title you expect a badass tough heroine but I found Kat to be too soft and submissive. Yes there was little streaks of boldness in her but nothing portraying what a reader would expect. If this was a full novel with more added, it would have been a much better read.
October 29, 2022
I needed more
I really liked this short story but I wanted more of a resolution. Katya was in search of her uncle after the death of her parents. She finds Nikolai first but he knows her uncle. Nikolai works to keep Katya safe knowing she'll be important to her families legacy. The story had good bones and kept me wanting more.
I really liked this short story but I wanted more of a resolution. Katya was in search of her uncle after the death of her parents. She finds Nikolai first but he knows her uncle. Nikolai works to keep Katya safe knowing she'll be important to her families legacy. The story had good bones and kept me wanting more.
June 26, 2019
I just finished reading this book from Leslie North and it was awesome! I love her characters and the story was captivating. It was great from beginning to end! I would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves a good romance story.
June 28, 2020
It was a nice book, however it ended abruptly as to be continued.
July 6, 2022
pretty good for a novella. Cute couple but I didn’t know this was a novella so I had higher expectations but that’s my own fault lol
May 31, 2025
I did love this until the unexpected hated cliffhanger of some sort. They didn’t resolve the problem.😤
It would have been 4 stars if the uncle died and everything was good but noo…😤
It would have been 4 stars if the uncle died and everything was good but noo…😤
March 14, 2017
Great read
Loved the whole Russian macho man story line it was very good too looking forward to more books like it
Loved the whole Russian macho man story line it was very good too looking forward to more books like it
February 19, 2017
A lot of story, not enough depth.
July 5, 2016
No ending
All opinions of this review are strictly my own. My review may or may not contain some spoilers.
I'm extremely disappointed with this book. It had a really good potential to be an exciting short read. However, the author rushed through the plot so there was no wondering why it happened, who was involved, what they hoped to gain, etc.
Katya's parents are murdered and she finds out their secrets in a safety deposit box. After tracking down her uncle by getting a job as a stripper, she later learns with the help of Nik that her uncle set up mom and was behind the murder.
Now, other than the rushed information that we get, it would've been nice to actually have the parents in the story or maybe have had the book start from the mother's or even grandfather's pov and lead up to this point.
The major problem with this book is that is suddenly suddenly ends. Nik's cousin (who is the main focus of book 2 in this set) comes to help out but leaves when he says he got some possible Intel he must get in person and flies to Tampa. We never how the confirmation between Katya and her uncle go, if her uncle was behind setting up Nik (the uncle is Nik's second in command), we don't know the information Grigori received, if any, in Florida (though maybe it's in his book?), we never learn if Katya takes her place in the family. There are just too many unknowns. This book is very unfinished like the author stopped and decided to just publish what little she had.
I can't recommend this book or any of the other books. While each is a based on a different male character none of the stories are completely finished.
All opinions of this review are strictly my own. My review may or may not contain some spoilers.
I'm extremely disappointed with this book. It had a really good potential to be an exciting short read. However, the author rushed through the plot so there was no wondering why it happened, who was involved, what they hoped to gain, etc.
Katya's parents are murdered and she finds out their secrets in a safety deposit box. After tracking down her uncle by getting a job as a stripper, she later learns with the help of Nik that her uncle set up mom and was behind the murder.
Now, other than the rushed information that we get, it would've been nice to actually have the parents in the story or maybe have had the book start from the mother's or even grandfather's pov and lead up to this point.
The major problem with this book is that is suddenly suddenly ends. Nik's cousin (who is the main focus of book 2 in this set) comes to help out but leaves when he says he got some possible Intel he must get in person and flies to Tampa. We never how the confirmation between Katya and her uncle go, if her uncle was behind setting up Nik (the uncle is Nik's second in command), we don't know the information Grigori received, if any, in Florida (though maybe it's in his book?), we never learn if Katya takes her place in the family. There are just too many unknowns. This book is very unfinished like the author stopped and decided to just publish what little she had.
I can't recommend this book or any of the other books. While each is a based on a different male character none of the stories are completely finished.
January 29, 2015
This is one of Leslie North best stories. I enjoyed the plot and the twists in this one. I just hope she will finish this story line. It did not have any type of ending. I gave her 4 stars only cause of the way this one was written not about the unending. Its about a young woman who's parents dies in a car crash. Katya finds out her whole life was a lie. Her parents were once involved with the Russian Mafia and were on the run. Now after their deaths she finds out that their deaths was not an accident. She wants revenge. So she finds her last living relative, Uncle Danil, to help her. Only she finds her self now invovled with the Las Vegas boss, Nikolai. Not all is as it seems. Please finish their story. There are three other stories with this series but did not see where this story finishes.
April 22, 2015
The more I read Leslie North's books the more I enjoy her writing. Yeah, I wish they were 50-100 pages longer but at the same time I can't complain. She manages to pack quite a wallop into the 100 or so pages she does write and I feel like I could easily purchase one of her books and not feel like I lost out. Since I did subscribe to her newsletter I was told about the free ones that are available and they are what I am reading now.
A clueless girl about to run face first into a brick wall.
A gorgeous Russian becomes that brick wall and her eye opener.
Two sexy people learn about each other while one teaches the other about what life is going to be like.
A clueless girl about to run face first into a brick wall.
A gorgeous Russian becomes that brick wall and her eye opener.
Two sexy people learn about each other while one teaches the other about what life is going to be like.
August 26, 2016
Finding out the truth
Finding out that her parents were murdered was just the first shock of many for Katya. But finding out that she is actually the heiress to a major Russian mafia family nod that she is being hunted by the one person who should want to protect her. Even with all of this danger she seems to have found a true attraction with Nikolai, he head of the mafia family. The journey they have begun to each other and to justice for her parents and herself has just begun.
This was an unexpected book for me. I wasn't sure I would like this book, but I must say that I enjoyed every minute of this and am ready for the rest of the series.
Finding out that her parents were murdered was just the first shock of many for Katya. But finding out that she is actually the heiress to a major Russian mafia family nod that she is being hunted by the one person who should want to protect her. Even with all of this danger she seems to have found a true attraction with Nikolai, he head of the mafia family. The journey they have begun to each other and to justice for her parents and herself has just begun.
This was an unexpected book for me. I wasn't sure I would like this book, but I must say that I enjoyed every minute of this and am ready for the rest of the series.
January 18, 2015
Kata had two loving parents but that changed a few months ago when they were killed in a car accident. But as she looks through her parent's things she finds a safety deposit box key. That will change her views and she will find out her family was part of the American Russian mafia. It leads her to Las Vegas and in the sights of Nikolai the head of a mafia group that could help her find some answers.
November 20, 2015
This book kept my interest with it's pace and good story telling.
Why then only 3 stars??
It was because of the final page with its abrupt ending and the to be continued vibe this created that relegated my rating initially from a 4 to 3 stars.
In agreement with another reviewer I too am frustrated with authors writing stories that are chopped into small portions to generate more funds. Hence my choice to not revisit.
Why then only 3 stars??
It was because of the final page with its abrupt ending and the to be continued vibe this created that relegated my rating initially from a 4 to 3 stars.
In agreement with another reviewer I too am frustrated with authors writing stories that are chopped into small portions to generate more funds. Hence my choice to not revisit.
January 29, 2015
Abrupt ending
I was enjoying the story and while recognizing in advance that it was going to be short, I thought there would be a smoother transition. Perhaps more of a cliffhanger ending, but instead it just stopped.
I did enjoy the characters and setting, but there just wasn't time to really explore them in depth.
I was enjoying the story and while recognizing in advance that it was going to be short, I thought there would be a smoother transition. Perhaps more of a cliffhanger ending, but instead it just stopped.
I did enjoy the characters and setting, but there just wasn't time to really explore them in depth.
April 25, 2015
It's a short story, good writing style, a few misspelled words but nothing major, excellent characters, the plot was actually very good but there's no end to the story, I guess I was hoping for a HEA, a love declaration, some years later, I don't know, just a little bit more... still will read more of this author.
April 27, 2015
Really enjoyed this book
Katya loses her parents and finds out she is part Russian and her family was mafia. She becomes a stripper at a bar her uncle is supposed to frequent. There she meets Nikolai, a mafia crime boss. But as they investigate her parents death, they believe her Uncle has put a hit on her. Cliffhanger. Sexy. And a little humorous.
Katya loses her parents and finds out she is part Russian and her family was mafia. She becomes a stripper at a bar her uncle is supposed to frequent. There she meets Nikolai, a mafia crime boss. But as they investigate her parents death, they believe her Uncle has put a hit on her. Cliffhanger. Sexy. And a little humorous.
November 18, 2014
Mafia Boss's Fearless Lover (The Karzhov Crime Family Series Book 1) Katya is looking for answers. Her parents have been murdered and she fears she may be next. While seeking the help of her uncle she meets Mafia boss Nikolai. Sparks Fly. Great book.
May 9, 2015
Cliffhanger alert!
I usually scan for this before I read the book but this book does not just have a cliffhanger it's not finished! It totally ends in the middle of the story. It is a good start to a series. I am hoping the next books are a little longer.
I usually scan for this before I read the book but this book does not just have a cliffhanger it's not finished! It totally ends in the middle of the story. It is a good start to a series. I am hoping the next books are a little longer.
July 27, 2015
Great author
I really enjoy this author. Her books are long enough that I don't feel cheated when I read them but short enough that I can read it in one sitting. Plus the storyline always keeps me interested.
I really enjoy this author. Her books are long enough that I don't feel cheated when I read them but short enough that I can read it in one sitting. Plus the storyline always keeps me interested.
August 19, 2015
Disappointing
Disappointing was my reaction with all the proofing errors. Sentences did not make sense and it made it difficult to follow the story. I did not finish reading the book because of this.
Disappointing was my reaction with all the proofing errors. Sentences did not make sense and it made it difficult to follow the story. I did not finish reading the book because of this.
November 18, 2015
I love Ms. North writing style. You need a good book with a little bit of violence, adult content, and a bit of romance written in a short read. Some authors take pages and pages of blah blah blah to get to the point, not Ms. North.
C
C
January 8, 2016
Short read but I liked how you get all the detail and story without so many distractions with the sex scenes. You get down to the point of the story and the characters come off as interesting as well.
December 4, 2014
Katya is young woman in early twenties who believes her parents were murder. She is trying to figure out why, while figuring out who her parents really where.
December 22, 2014
Good read with interesting storyline. Lots of intrigue and sexy times.
January 20, 2015
Would have definitely giving it more stars but it seemed incomplete! Maybe the next book will give me answers.
August 27, 2015
As always this book bring adventure mystery and excitement of all sorts, it's steamy hot and wets the appetite for more. Love Leslie's variety of characters and how she develops her stories.
April 1, 2015
Love this book. Can't wait to finish the series. Always knows how to make such a great love story. (:
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews