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Bound by Vows #3
Deceptive Vows: A Closed Door Mafia Romance
A fake engagement becomes dangerously real when two killers discover love is the deadliest game of all…
Thea
I've survived the streets, built walls no one can breach, and perfected the art of being untouchable.
So when my engagement to a Russian stranger is arranged to stop a human trafficking ring, I agree—because it's fake.
Just business.
Just revenge.
But Nazar Volkov isn't what I expected. He sees past my sharp edges to something I thought died long ago.
And that terrifies me more than any enemy ever could…
Nazar
In my world, caring about someone is a liability I can't afford.
Until I meet Thea Kalantzis—a woman as lethal as she is beautiful, who doesn't need my protection because she's perfectly capable of protecting herself.
She's everything I never knew I wanted in a partner.
Now our fake engagement feels anything but fake. I've fallen hard for my deadly bride, but she's determined to keep this strictly business.
Problem is, I'm not giving up without a fight…
Deceptive Vows is a no spice (kisses only), contemporary mafia romance with plenty of suspense and a guaranteed happily ever after. Download today and get ready to fall for Thea and Nazar.
Author’s There is no spanking. None.
Thea
I've survived the streets, built walls no one can breach, and perfected the art of being untouchable.
So when my engagement to a Russian stranger is arranged to stop a human trafficking ring, I agree—because it's fake.
Just business.
Just revenge.
But Nazar Volkov isn't what I expected. He sees past my sharp edges to something I thought died long ago.
And that terrifies me more than any enemy ever could…
Nazar
In my world, caring about someone is a liability I can't afford.
Until I meet Thea Kalantzis—a woman as lethal as she is beautiful, who doesn't need my protection because she's perfectly capable of protecting herself.
She's everything I never knew I wanted in a partner.
Now our fake engagement feels anything but fake. I've fallen hard for my deadly bride, but she's determined to keep this strictly business.
Problem is, I'm not giving up without a fight…
Deceptive Vows is a no spice (kisses only), contemporary mafia romance with plenty of suspense and a guaranteed happily ever after. Download today and get ready to fall for Thea and Nazar.
Author’s There is no spanking. None.
440 pages, Paperback
Published July 15, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
January 24, 2026
5+ Stars!
When two broken souls meet, they find their missing pieces in each other.
That single line embodies the heart of Thea and Nazar's story. From the very first pages, I was completely invested in their journey. They wiggled themselves into my heart and didn’t let go, quickly becoming my favorites in this series.
Thea and Nazar are perfection! Oh how I adored them! I fell in love with these two almost immediately and found myself rooting them on from the very beginning. They both had things in their past that haunted them and held them back from finding love. If ever two souls belonged together, it would be these two. They balanced each other out and were there for each other during the hard times. Their HEA was absolutely beautiful!
Thea and Nazar’s story is one I won’t be forgetting anytime soon... tender, emotional, and deeply satisfying in all the best ways. This one hit me in all the feels!
Y'all know how much I adore side characters. They can make or break a book for me. I loved seeing old faces and meeting new ones. I'm secretly hoping one of said characters will get their own book. I really need to see them get their own HEA!
I am loving this series! Ms. Avalon keeps hitting it out of the park, and I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next!
As for my casting, I seriously LOVE these two! What do you think?!
Content warning: PG-13 Swoony kisses, violence, past trauma, human trafficking (plot related, no detail).
When two broken souls meet, they find their missing pieces in each other.
That single line embodies the heart of Thea and Nazar's story. From the very first pages, I was completely invested in their journey. They wiggled themselves into my heart and didn’t let go, quickly becoming my favorites in this series.
Thea and Nazar are perfection! Oh how I adored them! I fell in love with these two almost immediately and found myself rooting them on from the very beginning. They both had things in their past that haunted them and held them back from finding love. If ever two souls belonged together, it would be these two. They balanced each other out and were there for each other during the hard times. Their HEA was absolutely beautiful!
Thea and Nazar’s story is one I won’t be forgetting anytime soon... tender, emotional, and deeply satisfying in all the best ways. This one hit me in all the feels!
Y'all know how much I adore side characters. They can make or break a book for me. I loved seeing old faces and meeting new ones. I'm secretly hoping one of said characters will get their own book. I really need to see them get their own HEA!
I am loving this series! Ms. Avalon keeps hitting it out of the park, and I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next!
As for my casting, I seriously LOVE these two! What do you think?!
Content warning: PG-13 Swoony kisses, violence, past trauma, human trafficking (plot related, no detail).
January 29, 2026
One of my favorites in the series. I've been waiting for Thea's story since the very beginning.
4.5⭐
4.5⭐
July 29, 2025
Be still my tension and banter loving heart! Oh the swoon this book holds. I love the dynamic between the main characters. He falls first and hard, so you get this big love in a dark world. This dual POV hit just right with all the feels. And did I mention he calls her his Dark Angel? 🫠 Caretaking and small gestures give the feeling of home they find in each other. I love the element of close family and tradition within a dangerous world. This book is filled with high stakes mafia suspense and intrigue giving it an edge of grittiness. But, the love story was sweet.
🖤 Mafia Romance
🖤 Sweet romance in a dark world
🖤 Black Cat, Stabby FMC
🖤 Banter
🖤 Fake Dating
🖤 Marriage of Convenience
🖤 Revenge
🖤 He falls first
🖤 Mine
🖤 Protective and Possessive MMC
🖤 Age Gap (29x42)
🖤 Protective Brothers
🖤 He worships her
🫑 swoony closed door | no spice
You may want to check trigger warnings before reading
🖤 Mafia Romance
🖤 Sweet romance in a dark world
🖤 Black Cat, Stabby FMC
🖤 Banter
🖤 Fake Dating
🖤 Marriage of Convenience
🖤 Revenge
🖤 He falls first
🖤 Mine
🖤 Protective and Possessive MMC
🖤 Age Gap (29x42)
🖤 Protective Brothers
🖤 He worships her
🫑 swoony closed door | no spice
You may want to check trigger warnings before reading
March 25, 2026
I was SO ready to finally read about Thea! I had no idea how she was going to take falling in love, and this book did not disappoint. She was a mixture of confusing feelings, and I ate it up. And Nazar… dangggg. That’s all I gotta say. He was so down bad and loyal to her through the whole book. I know that sounds like a a bit of a spoiler, and it might be, but it’s why you NEED to read this one! This series is now 3 for 3 as 5 star reads.
try-again-later
July 27, 2025Will try again later once I start the series, Book 1. Then will review this one, once I read it.
September 26, 2025
Enjoyed! Not as good as the first but still loved if you want a no spice mafia then I recommend this series!
August 1, 2025
This closed-door mafia romance is packed with danger, devotion, and just the right amount of slow-burn tension. Thea has survived more than most, but after being taken in by a mafia family that gives her purpose and belonging, she’s found her strength. When their enemies target innocent women and children through a human trafficking ring, Thea and her found family refuse to look the other way - even if it puts them at greater risk.
Nazar never intended to get involved, but uncovering the truth forces his hand. An arranged marriage with the sister of another mafia leader is proposed as a strategic move - but what starts as a fake alliance becomes something much deeper. As the clock ticks on their mission, sparks fly in the midst of kidnappings, fires, and car crashes.
I loved the dual POV - it gave heart to both leads and showed how trust can be built even in the darkest of circumstances. Thea doesn’t need saving, and Nazar doesn’t want a puppet - he wants a partner. Together, they prove that love doesn’t weaken you - it makes you fight harder, stand taller, and believe there’s still good worth protecting. Intense, emotional, and full of high-stakes twists, this romance delivers all the grit of mafia life without on-page spice, relying instead on chemistry, connection, and raw emotion to pull you in.
Nazar never intended to get involved, but uncovering the truth forces his hand. An arranged marriage with the sister of another mafia leader is proposed as a strategic move - but what starts as a fake alliance becomes something much deeper. As the clock ticks on their mission, sparks fly in the midst of kidnappings, fires, and car crashes.
I loved the dual POV - it gave heart to both leads and showed how trust can be built even in the darkest of circumstances. Thea doesn’t need saving, and Nazar doesn’t want a puppet - he wants a partner. Together, they prove that love doesn’t weaken you - it makes you fight harder, stand taller, and believe there’s still good worth protecting. Intense, emotional, and full of high-stakes twists, this romance delivers all the grit of mafia life without on-page spice, relying instead on chemistry, connection, and raw emotion to pull you in.
March 30, 2026
3.25 ⭐️
Spice: 1/5 🌶️ Steamy kisses
Read TW/CW at the beginning of the book.
This author needs a better editor.
I really wanted to like this book more, but there were too many times where it seemed like the author forgot the details of her own story. She’d write one thing, but then later she’d write something that contradicted the information previously given. One example: the MMC originally talked about how close he was with his father, but then later said how his father blamed/resented him. Another example: One of the villains was noticeably absent from a Christmas party, but later the MMC claimed that he saw that villain at the party. These contradictions and inconsistencies happened more than it should’ve, which took me out of the story and caused me to be confused.
Thankfully, the mix-ups weren’t large enough to make me give up on the story, so I was able to finish the book and still like it. But it bothered me enough to prevent me from loving it, which is disappointing since I really loved Nazar and Thea’s characters and I thought this story would be my favorite of the series 😩
Spice: 1/5 🌶️ Steamy kisses
Read TW/CW at the beginning of the book.
This author needs a better editor.
I really wanted to like this book more, but there were too many times where it seemed like the author forgot the details of her own story. She’d write one thing, but then later she’d write something that contradicted the information previously given. One example: the MMC originally talked about how close he was with his father, but then later said how his father blamed/resented him. Another example: One of the villains was noticeably absent from a Christmas party, but later the MMC claimed that he saw that villain at the party. These contradictions and inconsistencies happened more than it should’ve, which took me out of the story and caused me to be confused.
Thankfully, the mix-ups weren’t large enough to make me give up on the story, so I was able to finish the book and still like it. But it bothered me enough to prevent me from loving it, which is disappointing since I really loved Nazar and Thea’s characters and I thought this story would be my favorite of the series 😩
August 20, 2026
This is the book I've been waiting for! I've loved Thea since book 1, and I'm so glad that she got her own love story! Especially when it comes in the form of a fake marriage that gets complicated by feelings! *giggle*
This book was so good, it was everything I could have wanted, and I devoured it in less than a day.
Thea is so fearless, confident and fierce, and I love that instead of getting a partner that calms her down, like her siblings did in their books, Thea gets Nazar, who meets her fire with his own. They protect and fight for and with each other. Also, "Dark Angel" is my new favorite pet name for an FMC! And it fits Thea so perfectly!
Also, the way I cheered when *insert spoiler* got *insert spoiler*! I loved that Thea was the one to dish out sweet justice! It was fabulous and oh, so satisfying!
Content warnings:
-human trafficking
-kidnapping
-starvation/drugging
-gang violence
-torture
-attempted and actual murder
None of the above is super graphic, but they are either mentioned or briefly happen on-page. There is no spice. The romance stays at kissing only, with one or two heavier make out scenes.
This book was so good, it was everything I could have wanted, and I devoured it in less than a day.
Thea is so fearless, confident and fierce, and I love that instead of getting a partner that calms her down, like her siblings did in their books, Thea gets Nazar, who meets her fire with his own. They protect and fight for and with each other. Also, "Dark Angel" is my new favorite pet name for an FMC! And it fits Thea so perfectly!
Also, the way I cheered when *insert spoiler* got *insert spoiler*! I loved that Thea was the one to dish out sweet justice! It was fabulous and oh, so satisfying!
Content warnings:
-human trafficking
-kidnapping
-starvation/drugging
-gang violence
-torture
-attempted and actual murder
None of the above is super graphic, but they are either mentioned or briefly happen on-page. There is no spice. The romance stays at kissing only, with one or two heavier make out scenes.
July 23, 2025
Bree does it again!!!!
-> Book 3 in series (standalone, but better read after book 1 & 2)
-> His 'Dark Angel'
-> He falls first
-> She's healing from her past & learning to love
-> Arranged marriage
-> Forced proximity
-> Touch them and di*
-> Black Cat FMC
-> Mafia
-> Closed-door
-> Mild cursing (nothing super explicit)
It's Thea's turn to end Moretti's hold on the Kalantzis family. After the murder of her sister and the death of her mother, Thea is ready to take care of things once and for all. But when Nazar, a Russian ally planning to double cross Moretti is thrown into her life, she's forced to make decisions. And they're, well, complicated.
Nazar fell for Thea the moment she kept her word and threw her knife into one deserving man. The best part? He hadn't known her name. And now he gets to marry her. If she'll have him, of course. And he just might be willing to die to prove to her he loves her.
-> Book 3 in series (standalone, but better read after book 1 & 2)
-> His 'Dark Angel'
-> He falls first
-> She's healing from her past & learning to love
-> Arranged marriage
-> Forced proximity
-> Touch them and di*
-> Black Cat FMC
-> Mafia
-> Closed-door
-> Mild cursing (nothing super explicit)
It's Thea's turn to end Moretti's hold on the Kalantzis family. After the murder of her sister and the death of her mother, Thea is ready to take care of things once and for all. But when Nazar, a Russian ally planning to double cross Moretti is thrown into her life, she's forced to make decisions. And they're, well, complicated.
Nazar fell for Thea the moment she kept her word and threw her knife into one deserving man. The best part? He hadn't known her name. And now he gets to marry her. If she'll have him, of course. And he just might be willing to die to prove to her he loves her.
August 18, 2025
Deceptive Vows by Kess Avalon (5 stars)
I love that we get to have Thea‘s backstory through flashback memories. It really gives us an insight into why she is who she is and why her loyalty to her family is unquestionable.
I also really liked how Nazar is intrigued by Thea, how he sees that she’s strong and admires it. He doesn’t need someone to protect. He needs someone by his side and he thinks she might be just that person.
Circumstance makes it so she needs a place to live and she chooses to live with him, but it stays clean throughout the novel.
An intriguing dive into the darker side where you find yourself rooting for the “good” mafia over the “bad” mafia. When, normally, you wouldn’t root for either. But this isn’t reality, it’s fantasy and thoroughly enjoyable, at that.
This book sent me back into the world the author has created and I just HAD to re-read the other two in the series!
I love that we get to have Thea‘s backstory through flashback memories. It really gives us an insight into why she is who she is and why her loyalty to her family is unquestionable.
I also really liked how Nazar is intrigued by Thea, how he sees that she’s strong and admires it. He doesn’t need someone to protect. He needs someone by his side and he thinks she might be just that person.
Circumstance makes it so she needs a place to live and she chooses to live with him, but it stays clean throughout the novel.
An intriguing dive into the darker side where you find yourself rooting for the “good” mafia over the “bad” mafia. When, normally, you wouldn’t root for either. But this isn’t reality, it’s fantasy and thoroughly enjoyable, at that.
This book sent me back into the world the author has created and I just HAD to re-read the other two in the series!
July 31, 2025
This was boring as hell, and annoying to read with the flasbacks thrown randomly in the middle of something. There are too many characters, too much tak with nothing being said.
I don't like anything insta. Nazar was basically instantly obsessed with Thea. It was cringe.
Nothing really happened. A lot of talk, everyone being instant bffs with Nazar, being open and welcoming. Everyone having their hearts on their sleeves for no reason. You dont tell your whole history to someone you just shook hands with. Is this supposed to be mafia trope, the least they can do is have a pokerface? It was more like two people meeting, a lot of blablabla, planning a wedding, playing vigilante with some teenagers, the end!
Thea was supposed to be strong and what not. Sure she threw a knife, but that was it. There was nothing to like about her character.
This was just not it.
I don't like anything insta. Nazar was basically instantly obsessed with Thea. It was cringe.
Nothing really happened. A lot of talk, everyone being instant bffs with Nazar, being open and welcoming. Everyone having their hearts on their sleeves for no reason. You dont tell your whole history to someone you just shook hands with. Is this supposed to be mafia trope, the least they can do is have a pokerface? It was more like two people meeting, a lot of blablabla, planning a wedding, playing vigilante with some teenagers, the end!
Thea was supposed to be strong and what not. Sure she threw a knife, but that was it. There was nothing to like about her character.
This was just not it.
July 21, 2025
This is a spice free, morally grey, mafia book. There’s lots of action with some violence. Lots of implied violence with some truly evil characters. And while the MMC and FMC are morally gray and involved in the violence, it was still easy to get behind their actions. I loved the tough mafia guy, Nazar, falling first. And street hardened Thea finds out she does indeed have a heart with feelings. This can be read as a stand alone but I would recommend reading the first two books in the series for a better understanding of the world Thea and Nazar live in. The chemistry is heated but this books stays safely in the spice free zone.
August 29, 2025
This is my first introduction to Kess/ Bree’s writing. I thoroughly enjoyed this story/ series. The main characters were complex but likeable. You get your happy ending plus an opening for further development of the story with the next books in line. A clean mafia romance, loved it! We need more for those who do not want smut in their books! These books also highlight the horrors of trafficking and abuse, so be mindful of that. Our strong independent Thea finds love that accepts her and doesn’t seek to change her.
I hope we get another 1/2 books to finish this saga off. Would like to see Lex and Dimi get their happy endings and a certain family wiped out!
I hope we get another 1/2 books to finish this saga off. Would like to see Lex and Dimi get their happy endings and a certain family wiped out!
August 12, 2026
Oooh. Another good one from Kess Avalon!
I love Thea. I love her backstory. Her grot. Her independence. Her naturally lethal demeanor. But she's also broken. So is Nazar. This duo is so sweet. I love how towards the end they really realized how special they were for each other. Aunt Helen is just a sweet soul and I love hearing more from her! Just one more book in the series!
If you're looking for a high intensity Mafia romance where he calls her "dark angel"- here it is. No spice. (Although this one was a little bit more kiss intense than the other, at least that I can recall). But all the twists and turns and drama with a heartbreaking story line.
I love Thea. I love her backstory. Her grot. Her independence. Her naturally lethal demeanor. But she's also broken. So is Nazar. This duo is so sweet. I love how towards the end they really realized how special they were for each other. Aunt Helen is just a sweet soul and I love hearing more from her! Just one more book in the series!
If you're looking for a high intensity Mafia romance where he calls her "dark angel"- here it is. No spice. (Although this one was a little bit more kiss intense than the other, at least that I can recall). But all the twists and turns and drama with a heartbreaking story line.
August 1, 2025
Loved it!!
Deceptive Vows was just as good as its predecessors in the series. You get sucked right into the story, and it doesn't let you go until the last page. Sleep-deprived? Yes. But, oh, so worth it.
It was fun watching Thea, the deadly knife-loving sister, fall for a man who loved her just as she is (and also because she wielded a knife so well).
Can't wait for the next one!
Deceptive Vows was just as good as its predecessors in the series. You get sucked right into the story, and it doesn't let you go until the last page. Sleep-deprived? Yes. But, oh, so worth it.
It was fun watching Thea, the deadly knife-loving sister, fall for a man who loved her just as she is (and also because she wielded a knife so well).
Can't wait for the next one!
August 4, 2025
This is my first mafia romance book and also the first time I read a book by Kess Avalon/Bree Livingston. I think I found another favorite trope/genre. Once I started reading, I could not put my Kindle down!!! So good!!!!
Thea and Nazar’s story has everything I love in a romance: banter, sass, humor, honesty, compromise, willingness to try, swoon…all of it!
I will definitely read the previous book from this series!
Thea and Nazar’s story has everything I love in a romance: banter, sass, humor, honesty, compromise, willingness to try, swoon…all of it!
I will definitely read the previous book from this series!
August 9, 2026
⭐ 5/5 - (I had the time of my life)
🌶 1/5 - ( Glimpses and kisses)
I love love love Thea’s character. She’s been my favorite from book one. I love how she is so strong and what she has forged from her brokenness. I also love that our MMC didn’t try to put Thea in the bring light to my darkness role like Anna and Claire do. The fight and protect together and I love seeing that he doesn’t make her give that up.
🌶 1/5 - ( Glimpses and kisses)
I love love love Thea’s character. She’s been my favorite from book one. I love how she is so strong and what she has forged from her brokenness. I also love that our MMC didn’t try to put Thea in the bring light to my darkness role like Anna and Claire do. The fight and protect together and I love seeing that he doesn’t make her give that up.
July 24, 2025
I have really enjoyed this series so far! Thea and Nazar’s story was everything I hoped it would be. These morally gray characters are written so well, and the continuing storyline of the series really weaves the characters together well! Highly recommend this book, but be sure you read the first two in the series first!
November 20, 2025
I ABSOLUTELY loved this book might I say the best in the series I'm not sure it's neck and neck with the first I adored all the characters the fast-ish burn fabulous, the plot continues to thinken through these books omgoodness I can't wait for the next book. I would definitely read this book again cause the plot fire, the characters double fire and the romance IT IS THE FIRE
January 14, 2026
Thea and Nazar...loved their story. Lots of baggage for the FMC to slog thru. MMC was patient and consistent. Both characters are morally grey. Loved his nickname for her. The teasing between the two characters was fun to read. Dark subject matter in all of this series.
No Spice 🫑
No Foul Language 🫢
No Spice 🫑
No Foul Language 🫢
September 5, 2025
I did not love it as much as I loved the other 2 books in the series. But it is still incredibly well written and full of drama and really well done closed door romance. i will read every other book she puts out in this series... hopefully, they come out quickly...????
January 26, 2026
I loved Thea and Nazar! They had amazing chemistry and banter. I adored how touch and independent Thea was but also let Nazar love her. I have been eating up every single story in this series! Keep them coming! Four stars
August 5, 2025
I've been looking forward for Thea, and it didn't disappoint. I love her, and I loved her in this. And her hero, swoon-worth and worthy of her. I am so looking forward to the next one.
August 11, 2025
My least favorite book in the series so far. The plot was heavy and dark - also not a fan of the storyline. But 2 stars for Thea & Nazar. Love them together!
November 11, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
banger
banger
January 10, 2026
Fabulous book. Book 3 of a 6 book series. Each book stands alone but EVERY SINGLE ONE is fantastic. The stories are written in such a way that you begin to care deeply about these characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2026
As someone dealing with an almost year-long book slump, this is one of the first books this year to really capture me and made it hard to put down.
chock-full of witty banter, sizzling chemistry, tension, and great action sequences. Loved Thea and Nzars entire story. They were a great team together, both in life and in war, and you will have a lot of fun reading their journey.
chock-full of witty banter, sizzling chemistry, tension, and great action sequences. Loved Thea and Nzars entire story. They were a great team together, both in life and in war, and you will have a lot of fun reading their journey.
May 11, 2026
There has to be some other trope in a mafia romance than just arranged marriages…
July 19, 2026
I was so excited for Thea’s book and it did not disappoint!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews