“She’s the daughter of a ruthless crime boss. He was hired to protect her. Falling in love was never part of the plan.
When Christopher Wolff signs on to guard the daughter of Russian mafia crime boss Ivan Gromov, he knows the rules: stay alert, stay detached, stay alive. But Sarah Gromov isn’t what he expected. She’s smart, brave, and dangerously beautiful—and when a violent ambush forces them into hiding, the line between duty and desire begins to blur.
To protect her, Christopher crossed a line he never should have—and now they’re both paying the price.
As enemies close in from both sides, Christopher must face the unthinkable. And loving her? That could cost him his life.”
Gripping, emotional, and unforgettable, I Fell in Love with a Gangster’s Daughter is the explosive first entry in the Christopher Wolff series—a high-stakes romantic thriller about loyalty, survival, and the one person you were never supposed to fall for.
🔗 https://a.co/d/1B0zpnA 🔗 . . "I Fell in Love with a Gangster's Daughter" by J.V. Barinovs.
This is the explosive first entry in the Christopher Wolff series—a high-stakes romantic thriller about loyalty, survival, and the one person you were never supposed to fall for. She’s the daughter of a ruthless crime boss. He was hired to protect her. Falling in love was never part of the plan. . . More of this story on TikTok and YouTube: . . TikTok: tiktok.com/@jvbarinovs . . YouTube: youtube.com/@jvbarinovs
This book was an absolute ride from start to finish - intense, suspenseful, and filled with the kind of forbidden romance that makes your heart race. The chemistry between Christopher Wolff and Sarah Gromov was electric, layered with tension, danger, and unspoken longing. I loved how the plot balanced high-stakes action with deeply emotional moments, pulling me in so much that I couldn’t put it down. The writing was immersive, making every scene feel cinematic, from the quiet, intimate exchanges to the adrenaline-filled confrontations. It’s rare that a story blends romance and danger so seamlessly, but this one nailed it.
The book absolutely wrecked me - in the best way possible. The tension, the danger, the forbidden romance… But then there was that scene- the way this scene got me kicking, screaming, and giggling, I can’t even explain:
Sarah turned slightly, resting one elbow on the bar as she faced Christopher. Her dress shimmered under the low lighting, hugging every curve, the slit revealing just enough leg to steal his attention for a second too long. She caught him looking. “See something you like?” she asked softly, her tone teasing but laced with something heavier.
After that scene, I knew this was going to be a great book. Their chemistry felt so real, I could actually feel the main character’s emotions building, the pull between them growing until it finally broke and they couldn’t fight it anymore.
CHRISTOPHER WOLFF. The man that you are… I think I just found myself a new book boyfriend. The way he treated Sarah is unmatched. 🖤 The man literally jumped in front of a bullet for her, and there were so many moments between them that felt so raw and charged I honestly felt like I was right there with them. Their connection went so far beyond sexual desire, you could feel their bond deepening with every page.
The cemetery scene completely got me. What Sarah said to him there was so heartwarming, and you could really see how close they had become emotionally. This is a forbidden love story, so it was definitely a slow burn, but that made it even better. It really built their relationship before anything happened, which made the moment when they finally got together feel so much more real and deserved.
This book had the perfect mix of danger, suspense, and romance. And Christopher? Yeah, he’s going to live rent-free in my head from now on.
When Sarah first came down the stairs at the party, I was hooked. That moment pulled me right in and made me instantly want to see where things would go between her and Christopher. Since this was an ARC read for me, it felt even more exciting to experience that scene fresh and unspoiled, it set the tone perfectly for the slow build of tension and chemistry that followed.
This book pulled me in like a storm rolling over the fields. Christopher’s strength and quiet intensity made me root for him even when he was out there unaliving people. It was definitely on the darker side for me, but the forbidden tension kept me flipping pages fast.
This book is one of my favourites this year. I’m blown away by how good it is. Sarah is a medical student, a surgeon wannabe, but she’s also the daughter of the most dangerous gangster. Christopher is her bodyguard. They’ve been attracted to each other for years but always kept a professional distance until everything blows up and the lines finally blur. Christopher never truly belonged in the gangster world, but he’s not helpless either. He walks a grey line, and when Sarah’s life is in danger, he doesn’t even hesitate. I couldn’t put this book down because it felt like watching an action movie and I was constantly on edge, desperate to see what would happen next. And then the slow burn is incredible. The tension is palpable and those final chapters are worth every one of the 400 pages and the wait. I loved it. Six stars if I could.
J.V. Barinovs - Christopher Wolff: I Fell in Love with a Gangster’s Daughter absolutely gripped me from the very first chapter and never let go. I went into this expecting some action, maybe a little forbidden romance, but what I got was so much deeper, more emotional, and honestly unforgettable.
The title tells you a lot, but what it doesn’t prepare you for is the emotional pull of this story. Yes, there’s danger. Yes, there’s crime and tension and all the moral grayness you’d expect. But there’s also heart. So much heart.
And then there’s Christopher. Tall, dark, and muscular - need I say more? But he’s so much more than just the classic bad boy look. He’s confident, disciplined, and absolutely intense. There's this quiet, magnetic energy about him - the kind of man who doesn’t say much, but when he does, everyone listens. He’s mysterious, closed-off, and unapproachable to most, but beneath that tough exterior is someone deeply loyal and fiercely protective.
He’s the definition of a man with a hardened shell and a soft heart underneath - the kind of guy who would burn the world down for the one person he lets in. And that person is Sarah. His character arc had me completely invested. His sarcasm, dry wit, and quiet depth, mixed with that whole mysterious bad boy vibe? Totally addictive. And let's not forget - he's Sarah's bodyguard, which only adds layers of tension to their relationship. Being forced into such close proximity with her while trying to keep his feelings in check makes their dynamic even more explosive. The constant push and pull between duty and desire? It’s everything.
And let’s talk about Sarah - because she is so much more than just the beautiful daughter of a gangster. She’s confident, layered, and incredibly resilient. Her personality is strong - I would even say stubborn She’s a character who truly stands on her own. But what makes her truly captivating is how much depth lies beneath her perfectly polished surface. She’s a Harvard medical student studying to become a surgeon, sharp and ambitious, but she also has this genuine sunshine energy and a kind of natural feminine warmth that draws people in.
Their chemistry and tension was insane, and the way it was written truly felt like I was watching two people who shouldn't be together fight with everything they had not to want each other - only to fall in love in the most beautiful way. They had a connection that felt both intense and intimate in a way that hit me hard.
And beyond the romance, the book itself had such an interesting plot that kept me completely invested. There were so many unexpected twists and turns that genuinely surprised me, and I loved how much depth the story had outside of the central love story. The side characters also felt fully fleshed out and necessary to the story. Christopher’s brother, Dominick, especially stood out, and his dynamic with Rosalia had me very curious… like maybe they’re getting their own book? (Please??)
Christopher Wolff: I Fell in Love with a Gangster’s Daughter is raw, romantic, and absolutely addictive. It perfectly balances emotion and action, danger and vulnerability, trauma and healing. If you love stories with mysterious, emotionally complex men and strong, feminine women who challenge them, this book will be everything you’re looking for.
I was completely hooked from start to finish - and I can't wait for the second book to come out. One of the most intense and emotionally satisfying love stories I’ve read in a long time.
Dark, romantic, and impossible to put down. The forbidden pull between Christopher and Sarah is so well written I couldn’t get enough of it. He is her bodyguard and she is the daughter of a powerful crime boss, creating a forbidden romance that’s as thrilling as it is tender. The tension between love and survival builds beautifully, and while their choices are messy and complicated, it all feels heartbreakingly real. It’s the kind of book that makes you hold your breath and wonder what you’d do if you fell for someone you were never supposed to love.
I love reading books that have a real story and things happening in between the romance parts, and this book really had it. The first part of the book builds such an interesting storyline that sets the scene for everything else that happens. It is definitely a slow burn, but when it starts burning it feels so real and addictive, the forbidden love and tension in this is unreal. Now I can’t wait for the second book to drop.
What stood out most in this book was how raw and human it felt beneath all the danger. Christopher isn’t the typical untouchable hero, his struggles with loyalty, morality, and desire made him feel so real. Sarah was equally compelling, caught between privilege and vulnerability, and their dynamic was full of push and pull that had me constantly on edge. The suspense of the mafia world kept the pace sharp, but it was the stolen moments of tenderness that made the story unforgettable.
If I could use 3 words to describe the book it would be- dark, suspenseful, and completely addictive. Okay I guess that’s four, but that’s how it felt. Christopher’s brooding charm mixed with Sarah’s fearless spirit made their chemistry impossible to ignore, especially once they reached the safehouse. The forbidden bodyguard-and-mafia-princess romance burned with tension and yearning. Gritty, romantic, and full of high-stakes emotion, it kept me turning pages.
Christopher Wolff is all brooding danger and barely restrained desire, and Sarah Gromov is the one woman he can’t resist. Their chemistry is explosive, every stolen glance, every forbidden touch crackles with heat. A dark, seductive mix of passion, suspense, and temptation that had me locked in for days.
This was slow burn done right - agonizing, delicious, and almost cruel. Every second of longing built pressure like a bomb. And then it went off, gasoline on everything, fire everywhere, nothing left untouched - literally. Christopher and Sarah consumed each other so hard, I forgot where the book ended and I began.
Christopher and Sarah’s chemistry is intense, and their story is filled with tension, emotional pull, and high stakes that made it impossible to look away. For me some action moments felt almost too raw, but that’s a personal preference.
Dark, slow-burn, and utterly addictive, this book is impossible to put down. The push and pull between the characters made every scene feel charged with intensity. It’s the kind of story that has you up at 2 a.m. reading “just one more chapter.”
This book was so intense yet surprisingly tender at the same time. Christopher and Sarah’s romance had that perfect mix of danger, desire, and sweetness. They’ve had feelings for each other for years, but it only starts to escalate after one unforgettable party, and from there it’s addicting to watch how they try to fight it, even as their bond deepens with every chapter. You can really feel that they’re falling in love for real, and it makes the story both gripping and heartfelt. It’s the kind of read that leaves your heart racing but also soft, and it definitely left me wanting more. Can’t wait for book two!
Forbidden love, mafia danger, and a bodyguard you can’t help but fall for. This book gave me everything I wanted, romance, action, and heart-stopping suspense.
I received it as an ARC and honestly, I couldn’t put it down. Forbidden bodyguard romance that had me breathless. Christopher and Sarah are my new obsession.