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Inked in Betrayal
I married him to prevent a war, but it turns out he married me for revenge.
I’m a fixer of scandals, but when I’m caught in a deadly power grab, I end up making a deal with the devil.
Okay, it’s more like the devil blackmailing me.
Marry him or trigger a war that could last generations.
His proposal sounded logical, but I soon discover the extent of his deceit.
The ink is barely dry on our wedding vows when he executes his ultimate betrayal.
His goal? Humiliate his bride in the worst possible way.
But he underestimates the De Lucci and Moretti blood I have running through my veins.
If my dear husband wants a marriage war, I’ll give him one.
I’m a fixer of scandals, but when I’m caught in a deadly power grab, I end up making a deal with the devil.
Okay, it’s more like the devil blackmailing me.
Marry him or trigger a war that could last generations.
His proposal sounded logical, but I soon discover the extent of his deceit.
The ink is barely dry on our wedding vows when he executes his ultimate betrayal.
His goal? Humiliate his bride in the worst possible way.
But he underestimates the De Lucci and Moretti blood I have running through my veins.
If my dear husband wants a marriage war, I’ll give him one.
444 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 8, 2026
About the author
Victoria Paige
34 books1,177 followersVictoria Paige writes smart, edgy, seductive romance.
Her heroes are badass alpha males and her smart, strong-willed heroines can hold their own against a bossy hero. Her books are sexually explicit and may contain dark themes, morally ambiguous choices, and disturbing situations as she injects realism into her stories and gives them her own twist.
Victoria lives in Richmond, Virginia with her husband and playful German Shepherd Dog, Loki.
Find her at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/victoriapaig...
Twitter: @vpaigebooks
Join my newsletter for new release info, extended epilogues, giveaways and other freebies: https://www.subscribepage.com/victori...
Her heroes are badass alpha males and her smart, strong-willed heroines can hold their own against a bossy hero. Her books are sexually explicit and may contain dark themes, morally ambiguous choices, and disturbing situations as she injects realism into her stories and gives them her own twist.
Victoria lives in Richmond, Virginia with her husband and playful German Shepherd Dog, Loki.
Find her at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/victoriapaig...
Twitter: @vpaigebooks
Join my newsletter for new release info, extended epilogues, giveaways and other freebies: https://www.subscribepage.com/victori...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 290 reviews
May 11, 2026
2.5 ⭐️
He married her for revenge.
Ignored her in public.
Emotionally terrorised her at galas.
Had me fully prepared for a female rage masterpiece.
And then this book suddenly pivoted into: “emotionally stunted husband discovers feelings after causing psychological damage.”
Reader, I suffered.
What worked for me
(aka: why I was thriving in the toxic chaos initially)
The setup had all the ingredients for a toxic masterpiece. Revenge marriage. Mafia politics. Forced proximity. A cold, emotionally avoidant bratva husband trying to punish the woman he blames for his best friend’s imprisonment?
YES. GIVE IT TO ME.
The early tension was strong. Kirill and Lucy’s dynamic had bite from the start - manipulation, distrust, power plays, mixed signals, reluctant fascination. And Lucy constantly clocking Kirill’s nonsense made their interactions far more compelling.
The emotional humiliation angle initially really worked for me because the book fully committed to the toxicity. Kirill wasn’t just cold - he was strategic about it. Publicly ignoring her, emotionally entangled with Anya, constantly sending mixed messages…it created exactly the kind of messy revenge-marriage atmosphere I wanted.
I liked Lucy. Instead of constantly screaming and spiraling, she adapted. She survived. She quietly integrated herself into Kirill’s family while he made himself miserable.
Kirill’s family becoming Team Lucy was one of the best parts of the book. Ivan threatening Kirill. Irina apologising for him. Aralina offering itching powder for his underwear. Incredible. No notes.
I also appreciated that Lucy and Kirill actually communicated at times. Once they started having honest conversations, their intellectual chemistry worked far better for me than the repetitive “I hate you but also want you” cycle.
And while Kirill’s emotional progression was uneven, some quieter moments really landed: him worrying when she wouldn’t eat, realising revenge no longer satisfied him and slowly understanding that Lucy already belonged in his life long before he consciously admitted it.
Where it lost me
(aka: where the revenge arc lost its bite)
The female rage payoff never fully came
The setup promised: “woman psychologically destroys revenge husband after he humiliates her.”
What I got instead was: “woman survives gracefully while man slowly realises he’s sad.”
And listen - Lucy surviving with dignity was satisfying in some ways. Kirill himself even admits her quiet happiness and closeness with his family hurt him more than any retaliation would have.
But emotionally? I still needed MORE.
I wanted devastation. Prolonged suffering. Groveling. Emotional collapse. I wanted Lucy to truly make this man WORK for forgiveness after everything he put her through.
Instead, the reconciliation started softening before the emotional damage had fully landed.
The shift from revenge tension to seduction happened too fast
This was where the book really lost momentum for me. The cake tasting was great. The emotional manipulation reveal afterward? EVEN BETTER.
But after that, Kirill’s transition from: “I will humiliate this woman” to “confused horny husband who wants cuddles” felt too abrupt for the level of hatred and revenge obsession we were initially sold.
And once the dynamic shifted into sexual tension, possessive husband antics, domestic moments and “we should share a room” energy, the original tension that made the book compelling started fading for me.
I needed a slower emotional reckoning before the seduction arc fully kicked in.
The Anya situation dragged too long
I understood the purpose of Anya initially. She created emotional instability and constantly reinforced Lucy’s fears about the marriage.
But eventually the Anya storyline started going in circles. And the payoff? Honestly underwhelming.
After all that buildup, the resolution felt too convenient and robbed Lucy of a truly satisfying confrontation or emotional release.
Which brings me back to my original complaint: Lucy deserved a bigger rage moment than this book gave her.
Kirill’s emotional growth relied too heavily on crisis escalation
At some point the book started using danger, near death, panic and coma angst to force emotional progression instead of letting the relationship evolve more organically.
And while some of those scenes were emotional, they didn’t hit as hard as they could have because I was still waiting for a deeper reckoning over everything that came before.
Final Thoughts
This book had all the ingredients to emotionally destroy me. The early revenge-marriage tension was strong and kept me invested for a while.
But the emotional payoff never fully matched the setup for me. I wanted more rage, more consequences and a slower emotional reckoning before the romance softened.
Instead, the book gradually shifted from revenge-marriage psychological warfare into “emotionally confused husband discovers feelings,” and that’s where it slowly started losing me.
Final Verdict
2.5 ⭐️ - Kirill suffered. Just not enough for my personal taste. And Lucy deserved at least one scene where she verbally eviscerated this man beyond recovery.
Came for mafia revenge warfare. Stayed for Lucy thriving out of pure spite. Left still waiting for the full female rage apocalypse.
Tropes and Vibes:
• Mafia romance (Russian Bratva)
• Revenge marriage
• Forced proximity
• “I hate my wife” → “I will psychologically collapse without my wife”
• Possessive husband energy
• Toxic devotion
• Jealousy & emotional manipulation
• Family secretly adopting the FMC
• Marriage politics & reputation games
• Cold MMC accidentally catching feelings
• Emotional whiplash
• Female rage potential (partially unrealised)
• “This man needs therapy and possibly prison” vibes
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Pre-read:
Manifesting: feral chemistry, unhinged retaliation and a heroine who makes that man regret every life choice 🤞🏻
He married her for revenge.
Ignored her in public.
Emotionally terrorised her at galas.
Had me fully prepared for a female rage masterpiece.
And then this book suddenly pivoted into: “emotionally stunted husband discovers feelings after causing psychological damage.”
Reader, I suffered.
What worked for me
(aka: why I was thriving in the toxic chaos initially)
The setup had all the ingredients for a toxic masterpiece. Revenge marriage. Mafia politics. Forced proximity. A cold, emotionally avoidant bratva husband trying to punish the woman he blames for his best friend’s imprisonment?
YES. GIVE IT TO ME.
The early tension was strong. Kirill and Lucy’s dynamic had bite from the start - manipulation, distrust, power plays, mixed signals, reluctant fascination. And Lucy constantly clocking Kirill’s nonsense made their interactions far more compelling.
The emotional humiliation angle initially really worked for me because the book fully committed to the toxicity. Kirill wasn’t just cold - he was strategic about it. Publicly ignoring her, emotionally entangled with Anya, constantly sending mixed messages…it created exactly the kind of messy revenge-marriage atmosphere I wanted.
I liked Lucy. Instead of constantly screaming and spiraling, she adapted. She survived. She quietly integrated herself into Kirill’s family while he made himself miserable.
Kirill’s family becoming Team Lucy was one of the best parts of the book. Ivan threatening Kirill. Irina apologising for him. Aralina offering itching powder for his underwear. Incredible. No notes.
I also appreciated that Lucy and Kirill actually communicated at times. Once they started having honest conversations, their intellectual chemistry worked far better for me than the repetitive “I hate you but also want you” cycle.
And while Kirill’s emotional progression was uneven, some quieter moments really landed: him worrying when she wouldn’t eat, realising revenge no longer satisfied him and slowly understanding that Lucy already belonged in his life long before he consciously admitted it.
Where it lost me
(aka: where the revenge arc lost its bite)
The female rage payoff never fully came
The setup promised: “woman psychologically destroys revenge husband after he humiliates her.”
What I got instead was: “woman survives gracefully while man slowly realises he’s sad.”
And listen - Lucy surviving with dignity was satisfying in some ways. Kirill himself even admits her quiet happiness and closeness with his family hurt him more than any retaliation would have.
But emotionally? I still needed MORE.
I wanted devastation. Prolonged suffering. Groveling. Emotional collapse. I wanted Lucy to truly make this man WORK for forgiveness after everything he put her through.
Instead, the reconciliation started softening before the emotional damage had fully landed.
The shift from revenge tension to seduction happened too fast
This was where the book really lost momentum for me. The cake tasting was great. The emotional manipulation reveal afterward? EVEN BETTER.
But after that, Kirill’s transition from: “I will humiliate this woman” to “confused horny husband who wants cuddles” felt too abrupt for the level of hatred and revenge obsession we were initially sold.
And once the dynamic shifted into sexual tension, possessive husband antics, domestic moments and “we should share a room” energy, the original tension that made the book compelling started fading for me.
I needed a slower emotional reckoning before the seduction arc fully kicked in.
The Anya situation dragged too long
I understood the purpose of Anya initially. She created emotional instability and constantly reinforced Lucy’s fears about the marriage.
But eventually the Anya storyline started going in circles. And the payoff? Honestly underwhelming.
After all that buildup, the resolution felt too convenient and robbed Lucy of a truly satisfying confrontation or emotional release.
Which brings me back to my original complaint: Lucy deserved a bigger rage moment than this book gave her.
Kirill’s emotional growth relied too heavily on crisis escalation
At some point the book started using danger, near death, panic and coma angst to force emotional progression instead of letting the relationship evolve more organically.
And while some of those scenes were emotional, they didn’t hit as hard as they could have because I was still waiting for a deeper reckoning over everything that came before.
Final Thoughts
This book had all the ingredients to emotionally destroy me. The early revenge-marriage tension was strong and kept me invested for a while.
But the emotional payoff never fully matched the setup for me. I wanted more rage, more consequences and a slower emotional reckoning before the romance softened.
Instead, the book gradually shifted from revenge-marriage psychological warfare into “emotionally confused husband discovers feelings,” and that’s where it slowly started losing me.
Final Verdict
2.5 ⭐️ - Kirill suffered. Just not enough for my personal taste. And Lucy deserved at least one scene where she verbally eviscerated this man beyond recovery.
Came for mafia revenge warfare. Stayed for Lucy thriving out of pure spite. Left still waiting for the full female rage apocalypse.
Tropes and Vibes:
• Mafia romance (Russian Bratva)
• Revenge marriage
• Forced proximity
• “I hate my wife” → “I will psychologically collapse without my wife”
• Possessive husband energy
• Toxic devotion
• Jealousy & emotional manipulation
• Family secretly adopting the FMC
• Marriage politics & reputation games
• Cold MMC accidentally catching feelings
• Emotional whiplash
• Female rage potential (partially unrealised)
• “This man needs therapy and possibly prison” vibes
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Pre-read:
Manifesting: feral chemistry, unhinged retaliation and a heroine who makes that man regret every life choice 🤞🏻
need-safety-deets
April 28, 2026Self-note:
Early reviews said there's OW drama, I need more information on that. The blurb sounds intriguing, but idk, we'll see.
Early reviews said there's OW drama, I need more information on that. The blurb sounds intriguing, but idk, we'll see.
May 12, 2026
[for safety details, check below]
This was an okay read. Honestly, in the beginning i could feel this one becoming 5 or even 4 star but during midway i started loosing interest.
So basically our H (kirill) hates h (Lucy) because she sent his best friend like brother to jail. It is an enemies to lovers. Initially there were a lot of angst but later on everything became bland.
Once they married, H was very cold and asshole initially but the switch from cold hearted husband to a loving husband happened kinda quickly. He was treating her badly, humiliating her but when she showed she didn't care — he suddenly became less asshole and started doing efforts for her.
And his reason was that she is not reacting to his actions and is happy without him so there is no point in humiliating her anymore.
Later on, author stopped working on characters all together and the focused shifted to the plot which is not that intresting either because there are A LOT of characters and i honestly lost track of them.
The writing is good, initially it had potential but then it went down the hill.
I know a lot of you want to know about the OW drama so read the details below -
- Anya is the ow here
- H and Anya have known each other for more than 10 years since childhood basically and she was his ex-lover in the present timeline
- it has been 10 years since they had sex
- H cares for her but do not love her
- Anya was married to someone else in this time line but then her husband died so she started thinking that H will marry her
- H did use Anya to humiliate lucy
- H wasn't intimate with the Anya in any way after meeting with lucy in current timeline however he did hug her one or two times
- H did leave lucy on wedding night because ow attempted suicide
- lucy also received videos and pictures of her husband and ow together
However once H realised that he really want this marriage to work, he stopped seeing ow. He would sometimes reply to her texts but nothing more.
Cheating:no
Sharing:no
OM drama:H was jealous of a tech guy who was helping lucy and nothing much
OW drama: read above
Sex scene with OM or OW:no
Virgin/manwhore:no
Separation:no
Celibate during separation: --
Condoms: not used
Safe sex: yes
HEA: yes
SAFE?: yes
This was an okay read. Honestly, in the beginning i could feel this one becoming 5 or even 4 star but during midway i started loosing interest.
So basically our H (kirill) hates h (Lucy) because she sent his best friend like brother to jail. It is an enemies to lovers. Initially there were a lot of angst but later on everything became bland.
Once they married, H was very cold and asshole initially but the switch from cold hearted husband to a loving husband happened kinda quickly. He was treating her badly, humiliating her but when she showed she didn't care — he suddenly became less asshole and started doing efforts for her.
And his reason was that she is not reacting to his actions and is happy without him so there is no point in humiliating her anymore.
Later on, author stopped working on characters all together and the focused shifted to the plot which is not that intresting either because there are A LOT of characters and i honestly lost track of them.
The writing is good, initially it had potential but then it went down the hill.
I know a lot of you want to know about the OW drama so read the details below -
- Anya is the ow here
- H and Anya have known each other for more than 10 years since childhood basically and she was his ex-lover in the present timeline
- it has been 10 years since they had sex
- H cares for her but do not love her
- Anya was married to someone else in this time line but then her husband died so she started thinking that H will marry her
- H did use Anya to humiliate lucy
- H wasn't intimate with the Anya in any way after meeting with lucy in current timeline however he did hug her one or two times
- H did leave lucy on wedding night because ow attempted suicide
- lucy also received videos and pictures of her husband and ow together
However once H realised that he really want this marriage to work, he stopped seeing ow. He would sometimes reply to her texts but nothing more.
Cheating:no
Sharing:no
OM drama:H was jealous of a tech guy who was helping lucy and nothing much
OW drama: read above
Sex scene with OM or OW:no
Virgin/manwhore:no
Separation:no
Celibate during separation: --
Condoms: not used
Safe sex: yes
HEA: yes
SAFE?: yes
May 8, 2026
5🌟, 3🌶️
Kirill Zakharov is the kind of hero who makes you want to scream and swoon in the same breath.
He’s a cold, calculated Bratva boss who starts this marriage with nothing but revenge and manipulation on his mind, but his journey from a hardened Pakhan to a man completely obsessed with his wife was breathtaking. The way his traumatic past shaped his icy exterior made his eventual vulnerability feel so earned, and watching his carefully laid plans fall apart the moment he actually spent time with Lucy was pure gold.
Lucy is easily one of the strongest heroines I’ve ever read. She’s a brilliant lawyer and scandal fixer who handles humiliation and betrayal with such grace and fire that it’s impossible not to root for her. Instead of breaking under Kirill’s mind games, she leans into the "marriage war" and holds her own against his every threat. Her intelligence and independent spirit are exactly what it took to bring a man like Kirill to his knees, and their "love-hate" banter was the perfect foundation for their electric chemistry.
This story is a total rollercoaster of angst, suspense, and raw passion that kept me glued to the pages. The betrayal was sharp and the slow burn was agonizing in the best way possible, making their eventual connection feel incredibly deep and genuine. It was so satisfying to see them move past the blackmail and secrets to find a real, protective partnership.
I’m honestly so sad it’s over, but I’m leaving this book feeling completely obsessed with the world Victoria Paige has built.
~~~~
Huge thank you to Victoria Paige and The Author Agency for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
Kirill Zakharov is the kind of hero who makes you want to scream and swoon in the same breath.
He’s a cold, calculated Bratva boss who starts this marriage with nothing but revenge and manipulation on his mind, but his journey from a hardened Pakhan to a man completely obsessed with his wife was breathtaking. The way his traumatic past shaped his icy exterior made his eventual vulnerability feel so earned, and watching his carefully laid plans fall apart the moment he actually spent time with Lucy was pure gold.
Lucy is easily one of the strongest heroines I’ve ever read. She’s a brilliant lawyer and scandal fixer who handles humiliation and betrayal with such grace and fire that it’s impossible not to root for her. Instead of breaking under Kirill’s mind games, she leans into the "marriage war" and holds her own against his every threat. Her intelligence and independent spirit are exactly what it took to bring a man like Kirill to his knees, and their "love-hate" banter was the perfect foundation for their electric chemistry.
This story is a total rollercoaster of angst, suspense, and raw passion that kept me glued to the pages. The betrayal was sharp and the slow burn was agonizing in the best way possible, making their eventual connection feel incredibly deep and genuine. It was so satisfying to see them move past the blackmail and secrets to find a real, protective partnership.
I’m honestly so sad it’s over, but I’m leaving this book feeling completely obsessed with the world Victoria Paige has built.
~~~~
Huge thank you to Victoria Paige and The Author Agency for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
May 11, 2026
I enjoyed this one.
Manipulative Hero and strong heroine.
No intimate scenes other than the H/h.
Other woman drama in ex for Hero, cheating implied by her and him and some mysterious texts.
He isn't cheating.
Manipulative Hero and strong heroine.
No intimate scenes other than the H/h.
Other woman drama in ex for Hero, cheating implied by her and him and some mysterious texts.
He isn't cheating.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
April 27, 2026Be prepared for the angst. Kirill is definitely going to test your patience but Lucy is no doormat.
For those who want to experience the angst, go in blind. For those who want a little more info, and I think I know what the question is, click on the content warning on my website of the book's page.
https://victoriapaigebooks.com/books/...
For those who want to experience the angst, go in blind. For those who want a little more info, and I think I know what the question is, click on the content warning on my website of the book's page.
https://victoriapaigebooks.com/books/...
Did Not Finish
May 26, 2026I have to officially throw in the towel on the book and I think the author too. Every time, she seems to have these super interesting storylines that hook me initially, but the execution is terrible!
The plot logic is like a noodle, it's malleable and bends whichever way the author wants it. We're *told* the FMC is a highly competent fixer that's supposedly very skilled, but I don't see how, as she's shown to be a totally clueless moron over and over. This whole story would have been better if she didn't start out knowing he put a hit out on her. If she knew *someone* had put a hit out on her, but didn't know it was the H until after they were married, that would have cured so many logic issues with this book.
The author relies HEAVILY on assumed intimacy, where characters are getting jealous and upset and shocked by things before the characters have had the plot development to get to that point! It's such bad, lazy writing! As it was, here is a guy who SHE KNOWS tried to have her killed, he's extorting her into marrying him and she's all "Well, there's no reason we can't have a civil marriage, even if it's temporary" and starts falling for him before they've barely spoken. The first time she overheard him, what he said wasn't even really that awful or shocking, he just says she's gullible and he's using her as a cover, which should have been a given. The fact she was all shocked and hurt by this was just....girl why did you think he wanted to marry you?! You think after this, the "super savvy" FMC would wise-up, but then she catches him in the garden with OW at their wedding and she's so pissed and upset about it! I just don't understand where her jealousy or anger came from! Hello!!! This is the man who put a hit on your head! If he's blackmailing you into marriage *obviously there's a dastardly reason*🙄🤦🏼♀️
What's more sad though, he doesn't even really seem to have a set reason after all! Just blanket "revenge". Ummm, okay? How are you planning on doing that exactly? He says he's "going to make her life miserable". His exact revenge seems to shift with the plot and never makes much sense. I have no idea what his initial plan was, but somewhere in there he decides that he's going to make her fall in love with him and break her heart and humiliate her. That would be a lot more effective if she didn't know you were trying to stop her from living! Oh wait, nevermind! In "Victoria Paige Dollhouse Fantasy Land" the h totally buys your charm and expects nothing nefarious, so I guess he's in luck! Then he's talking about "I'd never force a woman". No, you'd just have her killed, you noble man you! 😂 Are we really at a point in society that I have to point out that lack of consent is NOT a fate worse than death? It's just really not, guys! People have lost their damn MINDS! 🤦🏼♀️😮💨 I will now automatically DNF any book with a "morally grey H" who says the words "I will never force a woman" because that's just fluff pretending to be edgy and ain't nobody got time for that. Where are the books with Mafia men who are actually bad?!
Anyways, I'm over these "mafia-lite" books and wish there were some out there with characters who behaved in a plausible or rational way. No more Victoria Paige, I'm off the stuff for good!
The plot logic is like a noodle, it's malleable and bends whichever way the author wants it. We're *told* the FMC is a highly competent fixer that's supposedly very skilled, but I don't see how, as she's shown to be a totally clueless moron over and over. This whole story would have been better if she didn't start out knowing he put a hit out on her. If she knew *someone* had put a hit out on her, but didn't know it was the H until after they were married, that would have cured so many logic issues with this book.
The author relies HEAVILY on assumed intimacy, where characters are getting jealous and upset and shocked by things before the characters have had the plot development to get to that point! It's such bad, lazy writing! As it was, here is a guy who SHE KNOWS tried to have her killed, he's extorting her into marrying him and she's all "Well, there's no reason we can't have a civil marriage, even if it's temporary" and starts falling for him before they've barely spoken. The first time she overheard him, what he said wasn't even really that awful or shocking, he just says she's gullible and he's using her as a cover, which should have been a given. The fact she was all shocked and hurt by this was just....girl why did you think he wanted to marry you?! You think after this, the "super savvy" FMC would wise-up, but then she catches him in the garden with OW at their wedding and she's so pissed and upset about it! I just don't understand where her jealousy or anger came from! Hello!!! This is the man who put a hit on your head! If he's blackmailing you into marriage *obviously there's a dastardly reason*🙄🤦🏼♀️
What's more sad though, he doesn't even really seem to have a set reason after all! Just blanket "revenge". Ummm, okay? How are you planning on doing that exactly? He says he's "going to make her life miserable". His exact revenge seems to shift with the plot and never makes much sense. I have no idea what his initial plan was, but somewhere in there he decides that he's going to make her fall in love with him and break her heart and humiliate her. That would be a lot more effective if she didn't know you were trying to stop her from living! Oh wait, nevermind! In "Victoria Paige Dollhouse Fantasy Land" the h totally buys your charm and expects nothing nefarious, so I guess he's in luck! Then he's talking about "I'd never force a woman". No, you'd just have her killed, you noble man you! 😂 Are we really at a point in society that I have to point out that lack of consent is NOT a fate worse than death? It's just really not, guys! People have lost their damn MINDS! 🤦🏼♀️😮💨 I will now automatically DNF any book with a "morally grey H" who says the words "I will never force a woman" because that's just fluff pretending to be edgy and ain't nobody got time for that. Where are the books with Mafia men who are actually bad?!
Anyways, I'm over these "mafia-lite" books and wish there were some out there with characters who behaved in a plausible or rational way. No more Victoria Paige, I'm off the stuff for good!
July 8, 2026
My first Victoria Paige book, and excuse me while I immediately go snoop through her backlist because this was SO much fun.
This forced marriage, enemies-to-lovers mafia romance walks that perfect line where it gives you all the delicious mafia vibes without making your soul need therapy afterward. We love a little murder and mayhem... as a treat.
Lucy De Lucci is the mafia's fixer. Dead body? Scandal? Mess that needs disappearing? That's her specialty. Unfortunately, this time she's the one standing in the middle of the crime scene with metaphorical blood on her hands. Enter Kirill Zakharov with a blackmail proposal that's honestly less "Will you marry me?" and more "Marry me or else." Romance is alive and well, people.
Now let's talk about Kirill.
This man had approximately three emotions when this book started: revenge, murder, and mild annoyance. He's cold, calculating, emotionally constipated, and absolutely convinced he's immune to feelings. Sir... you picked the wrong woman for that.
Watching this terrifying Bratva Pakhan slowly realize he'd rather burn the world down than let anything happen to Lucy? Inject it directly into my veins. His entire revenge plan basically crumbled the second he accidentally caught feelings, and I enjoyed every single second of his emotional unraveling.
Lucy, meanwhile, is an absolute queen. She refuses to be intimidated, refuses to roll over, and gives as good as she gets. She doesn't throw childish tantrums or make stupid decisions just for the plot. She simply looks this terrifying mafia boss dead in the eye and says, "That's cute," before doing whatever she was going to do anyway. We love a competent heroine.
And the banter? Top tier. Every conversation felt like foreplay disguised as verbal combat, which is one of my favorite romance tropes.
Can we also take a moment to acknowledge Anya? Girl... respectfully, go touch grass. I spent most of this book hoping someone would accidentally leave her in traffic. Thankfully, Lucy handled her with far more grace and wit than I ever would have.
The pacing never dragged, the chemistry was off the charts, and before I knew it I was kicking my feet and giggling over a man who probably has at least six bodies buried somewhere. Romance readers truly are built differently.
If you're looking for a steamy mafia romance packed with tension, banter, forced proximity, and an emotionally repressed murder husband who absolutely does not want to fall in love (spoiler: he loses that battle spectacularly), do yourself a favor and pick this one up.
4 stars
This forced marriage, enemies-to-lovers mafia romance walks that perfect line where it gives you all the delicious mafia vibes without making your soul need therapy afterward. We love a little murder and mayhem... as a treat.
Lucy De Lucci is the mafia's fixer. Dead body? Scandal? Mess that needs disappearing? That's her specialty. Unfortunately, this time she's the one standing in the middle of the crime scene with metaphorical blood on her hands. Enter Kirill Zakharov with a blackmail proposal that's honestly less "Will you marry me?" and more "Marry me or else." Romance is alive and well, people.
Now let's talk about Kirill.
This man had approximately three emotions when this book started: revenge, murder, and mild annoyance. He's cold, calculating, emotionally constipated, and absolutely convinced he's immune to feelings. Sir... you picked the wrong woman for that.
Watching this terrifying Bratva Pakhan slowly realize he'd rather burn the world down than let anything happen to Lucy? Inject it directly into my veins. His entire revenge plan basically crumbled the second he accidentally caught feelings, and I enjoyed every single second of his emotional unraveling.
Lucy, meanwhile, is an absolute queen. She refuses to be intimidated, refuses to roll over, and gives as good as she gets. She doesn't throw childish tantrums or make stupid decisions just for the plot. She simply looks this terrifying mafia boss dead in the eye and says, "That's cute," before doing whatever she was going to do anyway. We love a competent heroine.
And the banter? Top tier. Every conversation felt like foreplay disguised as verbal combat, which is one of my favorite romance tropes.
Can we also take a moment to acknowledge Anya? Girl... respectfully, go touch grass. I spent most of this book hoping someone would accidentally leave her in traffic. Thankfully, Lucy handled her with far more grace and wit than I ever would have.
The pacing never dragged, the chemistry was off the charts, and before I knew it I was kicking my feet and giggling over a man who probably has at least six bodies buried somewhere. Romance readers truly are built differently.
If you're looking for a steamy mafia romance packed with tension, banter, forced proximity, and an emotionally repressed murder husband who absolutely does not want to fall in love (spoiler: he loses that battle spectacularly), do yourself a favor and pick this one up.
4 stars
Review of advance copy
KIRILL TESTED EVERY LAST ONE OF MY NERVES 😭✋ this man really woke up every day and chose manipulation, revenge, emotional warfare and audacity like it was a full time career. The amount of times I wanted to throw my kindle across the room?? criminal. But somehow Victoria Paige had me absolutely inhaling every toxic, chaotic second of this marriage-from-hell masterpiece.
Lucy though??? THAT WOMAN. Steel spine wrapped in designer silk. The way she handled humiliation, betrayal, power plays and Kirill’s constant mind games without completely combusting deserves a standing ovation because I would’ve committed several felonies by chapter five 😉 She gave as good as she got and I LIVED for it.
The tension in this book was vicious. Not cute little bickering. I’m talking sharp-edged, table-flipping, stare-you-down-across-the-room tension where every conversation felt like a loaded weapon. Their chemistry was so intense it practically had teeth. One second I hated Kirill with the fire of a thousand suns and the next I was folding like a lawn chair. Absolutely unacceptable behavior from this man honestly.
And the BETRAYAL??? Victoria Paige did not come to play. The wedding vows weren’t even cold before this man detonated Lucy’s world and I sat there staring into space like I had personally been wronged. My jaw stayed on the floor for half this book.
What I loved most was that underneath all the revenge and power games there was still this raw obsession between them. Messy. Dangerous. Addictive. Like watching two beautifully dressed hurricanes crash into each other.
If you love ruthless MMCs, marriage of convenience with knives hidden behind wedding bouquets, family power wars, emotional damage, and a heroine who refuses to stay broken, this book is an absolute feast. I devoured it and now I need to recover in a dark room with snacks and therapy
Lucy though??? THAT WOMAN. Steel spine wrapped in designer silk. The way she handled humiliation, betrayal, power plays and Kirill’s constant mind games without completely combusting deserves a standing ovation because I would’ve committed several felonies by chapter five 😉 She gave as good as she got and I LIVED for it.
The tension in this book was vicious. Not cute little bickering. I’m talking sharp-edged, table-flipping, stare-you-down-across-the-room tension where every conversation felt like a loaded weapon. Their chemistry was so intense it practically had teeth. One second I hated Kirill with the fire of a thousand suns and the next I was folding like a lawn chair. Absolutely unacceptable behavior from this man honestly.
And the BETRAYAL??? Victoria Paige did not come to play. The wedding vows weren’t even cold before this man detonated Lucy’s world and I sat there staring into space like I had personally been wronged. My jaw stayed on the floor for half this book.
What I loved most was that underneath all the revenge and power games there was still this raw obsession between them. Messy. Dangerous. Addictive. Like watching two beautifully dressed hurricanes crash into each other.
If you love ruthless MMCs, marriage of convenience with knives hidden behind wedding bouquets, family power wars, emotional damage, and a heroine who refuses to stay broken, this book is an absolute feast. I devoured it and now I need to recover in a dark room with snacks and therapy
May 12, 2026
This was a hard book for me to rate because I did genuinely enjoy it, but when I finished, I was left feeling like something was missing.
Lucy was easily the standout for me. She was strong, sharp, and exactly the kind of heroine I love in mafia romance. She grew up in this world, so she wasn’t naïve or easily intimidated, and I loved how she could hold her own against Kirill from the very beginning. Their chemistry was undeniable, and personality-wise, they matched each other so well.
The story starts with their marriage arrangement—Lucy agrees to marry Kirill because it benefits her, while Kirill’s reasons are much darker. His whole plan is to humiliate her, make her fall for him, and then leave her broken as payback for past issues between their families. What made this part so satisfying, though, was that Lucy overhears him talking about his plan before he can actually go through with it. Up until that moment, she had started to lower her guard because Kirill had been acting like the perfect husband—giving her his grandmother’s ring, being unexpectedly attentive, and making her think maybe he wasn’t as cold as everyone believed. So overhearing him call her gullible and talk about manipulating her was a huge moment.
Instead of confronting him, Lucy quietly decides to play along, and honestly, that completely shifted the power dynamic of the book for me. From that point on, Kirill thinks he’s in control, but Lucy knows exactly what he’s doing—and watching his own game slowly backfire was one of the best parts of the story.
I also appreciated that the “other woman” drama with Anya was very minimal. Yes, she and Kirill had a sexual history years ago, and yes, she clearly had some possessive feelings toward him, but it never turned into unnecessary cheating drama, which I appreciated. Her husband’s death and Lucy being involved in witnessing it is what really kicks off the marriage arrangement and ties into the bigger mafia plot.
One of my favourite moments was Lucy risking herself to help save Kirill’s sister. I think that was one of the first times Kirill truly started seeing her for who she really was—not just as someone tied to a rival family, but as a woman who was loyal, brave, and far stronger than he gave her credit for. From there, you really see him start to fall, even if he doesn’t fully understand it at first.
That said, despite enjoying all of this, I still felt like something was missing. I think I wanted more angst, more emotional grovelling from Kirill once he realised how badly he’d misjudged Lucy, or maybe just more emotional intensity overall. The romance was good, the characters worked, and I enjoyed the writing—but it didn’t hit me emotionally in the way I wanted it to, and I don’t think it’ll be one of those books I remember long-term.
Overall, this was still a really enjoyable read, and Lucy absolutely carried this book for me. I’m definitely curious about the next couple because the new characters introduced caught my attention.
Rating: 3–3.5 stars.
Lucy was easily the standout for me. She was strong, sharp, and exactly the kind of heroine I love in mafia romance. She grew up in this world, so she wasn’t naïve or easily intimidated, and I loved how she could hold her own against Kirill from the very beginning. Their chemistry was undeniable, and personality-wise, they matched each other so well.
The story starts with their marriage arrangement—Lucy agrees to marry Kirill because it benefits her, while Kirill’s reasons are much darker. His whole plan is to humiliate her, make her fall for him, and then leave her broken as payback for past issues between their families. What made this part so satisfying, though, was that Lucy overhears him talking about his plan before he can actually go through with it. Up until that moment, she had started to lower her guard because Kirill had been acting like the perfect husband—giving her his grandmother’s ring, being unexpectedly attentive, and making her think maybe he wasn’t as cold as everyone believed. So overhearing him call her gullible and talk about manipulating her was a huge moment.
Instead of confronting him, Lucy quietly decides to play along, and honestly, that completely shifted the power dynamic of the book for me. From that point on, Kirill thinks he’s in control, but Lucy knows exactly what he’s doing—and watching his own game slowly backfire was one of the best parts of the story.
I also appreciated that the “other woman” drama with Anya was very minimal. Yes, she and Kirill had a sexual history years ago, and yes, she clearly had some possessive feelings toward him, but it never turned into unnecessary cheating drama, which I appreciated. Her husband’s death and Lucy being involved in witnessing it is what really kicks off the marriage arrangement and ties into the bigger mafia plot.
One of my favourite moments was Lucy risking herself to help save Kirill’s sister. I think that was one of the first times Kirill truly started seeing her for who she really was—not just as someone tied to a rival family, but as a woman who was loyal, brave, and far stronger than he gave her credit for. From there, you really see him start to fall, even if he doesn’t fully understand it at first.
That said, despite enjoying all of this, I still felt like something was missing. I think I wanted more angst, more emotional grovelling from Kirill once he realised how badly he’d misjudged Lucy, or maybe just more emotional intensity overall. The romance was good, the characters worked, and I enjoyed the writing—but it didn’t hit me emotionally in the way I wanted it to, and I don’t think it’ll be one of those books I remember long-term.
Overall, this was still a really enjoyable read, and Lucy absolutely carried this book for me. I’m definitely curious about the next couple because the new characters introduced caught my attention.
Rating: 3–3.5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 10, 2026
Inked in Betrayal was so good. Absolutely love Kirill and Lucy. Kirill is all about revenge than he ends up obsessed with Lucy. Lucy is awesome she’s definitely no doormat. She’s so feisty and can hold her own. Such a Queen. I just loved the push and pull between them. Will definitely reread this book!!!!
May 9, 2026
Ruthless! That is how I would describe the story between Lucy and Kirill. Their story is one full of manipulation, power struggles, and mind games.
When Kirill blackmails Lucy into marriage, he thinks he has won and he will be able to get revenge. But he underestimated Lucy and soon begins a war between these two. And the cold and calculating bratva boss soon starts caring and becoming protective of Lucy.
Excited for more of this series!
When Kirill blackmails Lucy into marriage, he thinks he has won and he will be able to get revenge. But he underestimated Lucy and soon begins a war between these two. And the cold and calculating bratva boss soon starts caring and becoming protective of Lucy.
Excited for more of this series!
May 15, 2026
Literally couldn’t stand the MMC… I really tried to give him the benefit of the doubt but fuck that and fuck him lol
June 15, 2026
another disappointing book
Want to Read
May 11, 2026🔥Enemies-to-lovers
🔥Blackmail arranged Marriage
🔥Age-gap (9 years)
🔥Betrayal/Revenge/Overheard/OW drama
🔥Cold & manipulative hero
🔥Touch her and ☠️
🔥Bratva/Italian Mafia
Lucy is forced into an arranged marriage with Kirill to keep a war from starting. Kirill is in it just for revenge.
🔥Blackmail arranged Marriage
🔥Age-gap (9 years)
🔥Betrayal/Revenge/Overheard/OW drama
🔥Cold & manipulative hero
🔥Touch her and ☠️
🔥Bratva/Italian Mafia
Lucy is forced into an arranged marriage with Kirill to keep a war from starting. Kirill is in it just for revenge.
Want to Read
May 11, 2026edit: I'll prob come to this later when I'm in the mood. taking a break from reading atm ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Revenge/ OW drama. Please have an epic grovel and a heroine with a spine 😑🙏🏻
Revenge/ OW drama. Please have an epic grovel and a heroine with a spine 😑🙏🏻
May 9, 2026
Inked in Betrayal is an explosive start to a brand-new series from Victoria Paige, and after reading and loving her Scorned Fate series, I genuinely didn’t think she could top it, but she may have done exactly that if this book is anything to go by This is hands down one of the best enemies-to-lovers, forced-marriage romances I’ve read in a long time, and that’s largely because of the strength of its two unforgettable protagonists. Lucy De Lucca and Kirill Zahkarov are absolute powerhouses from the moment they step onto the page. Their marriage is meant to prevent a war between the mafia and the bratva, but Kirill has orchestrated the arrangement with his own agenda in mind: revenge. Believing Lucy is responsible for his friend’s imprisonment, he intends to humiliate his new bride at every opportunity and make her life miserable. Unfortunately for Kirill, he underestimates exactly who he’s dealing with. Before the ink has even dried on the marriage certificate, Lucy uncovers his true motives. and refusing to become his victim.
Lucy was easily one of my favourite parts of the book. She’s a master strategist, intelligent, calculating, and more than capable of matching Kirill move for move. With ties to not one but two mafia families, she understands manipulation and power just as well as he does, which makes their constant battle for control incredibly addictive to read. Their dynamic is intensely addictive, and their chemistry is intense from the start, filled with razor-sharp banter, simmering relentless tension, and enough heat to practically burn through the pages. While Kirill definitely has the possessive, morally grey ‘touch her and die’ energy readers love, if I had to choose who truly got under the other’s skin, though, I’d say Lucy rattled Kirill far more than he ever managed to shake her. Beyond the romance, the plot is is fast paced, layered, and packed with drama and suspense. Between marital wars, mafia politics, hidden agendas, missing heirs, an unknown watcher lurking in the shadows, and even a serial killer, there’s constantly something happening to keep the pace moving. Told through dual POVs, giving insight into both Lucy and Kirill’s obsession with each other. There’s also the suggestion of another woman, though it serves mainly to spark jealousy rather than involve any actual cheating proving that even a ruthless bratva boss has lines he won’t cross. It also heightens the growing tension between Lucy and Kirill without undermining any future relationship.
Overall, this was a gripping and addictive read with two perfectly matched characters whose chemistry completely stole the show. If the rest of the Marriage Ink series is anything like this first book, it’s going to be an incredible series. I’m already counting down the days until the next book in the Marriage Ink series.
Lucy was easily one of my favourite parts of the book. She’s a master strategist, intelligent, calculating, and more than capable of matching Kirill move for move. With ties to not one but two mafia families, she understands manipulation and power just as well as he does, which makes their constant battle for control incredibly addictive to read. Their dynamic is intensely addictive, and their chemistry is intense from the start, filled with razor-sharp banter, simmering relentless tension, and enough heat to practically burn through the pages. While Kirill definitely has the possessive, morally grey ‘touch her and die’ energy readers love, if I had to choose who truly got under the other’s skin, though, I’d say Lucy rattled Kirill far more than he ever managed to shake her. Beyond the romance, the plot is is fast paced, layered, and packed with drama and suspense. Between marital wars, mafia politics, hidden agendas, missing heirs, an unknown watcher lurking in the shadows, and even a serial killer, there’s constantly something happening to keep the pace moving. Told through dual POVs, giving insight into both Lucy and Kirill’s obsession with each other. There’s also the suggestion of another woman, though it serves mainly to spark jealousy rather than involve any actual cheating proving that even a ruthless bratva boss has lines he won’t cross. It also heightens the growing tension between Lucy and Kirill without undermining any future relationship.
Overall, this was a gripping and addictive read with two perfectly matched characters whose chemistry completely stole the show. If the rest of the Marriage Ink series is anything like this first book, it’s going to be an incredible series. I’m already counting down the days until the next book in the Marriage Ink series.
May 7, 2026
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I wrote this review for Saucy Reviews on Kinky Korner.
Lucy and Kirill are the lead characters in this book and holy moly are they smoking hot. Both feel the incredible chemistry between them, but Kirill is all about revenge and won’t let it go, even to try to understand or ‘see’ Lucy as she really is.
I can’t say I hated Kirill, far from it, but I did feel like giving him a shake or two (aka a clout over the head 😀). I warmed up to him more and more as the story progressed. However, Lucy is a completely different matter. I liked her from the beginning with her sass and spunk. She is such a strong, confident, and caring woman, and, thankfully, she needed every ounce of strength to deal with Kirill and the mafia/Bratva world in which they lived. As they fight the ‘pressure-cooker tension’ (as so accurately described in the book) things become very interesting. The banter between Kirill and Lucy is terrific and helps to show readers more about each character.
The intricacies of different subplots are woven into a fascinating tangled web where readers basically have to hang on to their hats and go along for the ride to discover the whys and hows to get all of the answers. There is plenty of action and some terrific twists that certainly took me by surprise. The excitement when things are pointing towards who is pulling the strings builds beautifully until all is revealed—well sort of, this sneaky author has left some crumbs for another story and I look forward to it.
I wrote this review for Saucy Reviews on Kinky Korner.
Lucy and Kirill are the lead characters in this book and holy moly are they smoking hot. Both feel the incredible chemistry between them, but Kirill is all about revenge and won’t let it go, even to try to understand or ‘see’ Lucy as she really is.
I can’t say I hated Kirill, far from it, but I did feel like giving him a shake or two (aka a clout over the head 😀). I warmed up to him more and more as the story progressed. However, Lucy is a completely different matter. I liked her from the beginning with her sass and spunk. She is such a strong, confident, and caring woman, and, thankfully, she needed every ounce of strength to deal with Kirill and the mafia/Bratva world in which they lived. As they fight the ‘pressure-cooker tension’ (as so accurately described in the book) things become very interesting. The banter between Kirill and Lucy is terrific and helps to show readers more about each character.
The intricacies of different subplots are woven into a fascinating tangled web where readers basically have to hang on to their hats and go along for the ride to discover the whys and hows to get all of the answers. There is plenty of action and some terrific twists that certainly took me by surprise. The excitement when things are pointing towards who is pulling the strings builds beautifully until all is revealed—well sort of, this sneaky author has left some crumbs for another story and I look forward to it.
June 15, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I loved every bit of this book!
It actually got me into reading again despite my busy life as a houseman , so of course I had to give it 5 stars hehehe. But more importantly, it’s a 5-star read because this book just eats!!
The plot was plotting, the FMC was absolutely FMC-ing, and who doesn’t love an MMC who was basically a cyborg at the beginning but slowly started showing genuine emotions, became obsessed with his wife, and literally lost sleep worrying about her?😌
They are just so HOT together. Marriage of convenience/arranged marriage just never misses. The slow burn was BURNING, and I loved that he never entertained his past lover despite her constantly coming back. It really showed how seriously he took his vows and his loyalty to the FMC.
I also loved how he was actively trying to seduce his wife and was completely unapologetic about it. 😆 It was so funny because he knew exactly what he wanted and wasn’t shy about pursuing her.
But what made me love him even more was that he understood that trust couldn’t be rushed. He knew he had to earn it, and he was incredibly patient with her every step of the way. For someone who started off so emotionally detached, seeing him learn to be gentle, patient, and genuinely care for her was everything.
I absolutely loved their banter too😆 They had me giggling and kicking my feet almost the entire book for sure.
I didn’t entirely love how things turned out with Anya, but I can live with it because everything else was just so good.
Everything was exactly what I signed up for 🫶🏼
I loved every bit of this book!
It actually got me into reading again despite my busy life as a houseman , so of course I had to give it 5 stars hehehe. But more importantly, it’s a 5-star read because this book just eats!!
The plot was plotting, the FMC was absolutely FMC-ing, and who doesn’t love an MMC who was basically a cyborg at the beginning but slowly started showing genuine emotions, became obsessed with his wife, and literally lost sleep worrying about her?😌
They are just so HOT together. Marriage of convenience/arranged marriage just never misses. The slow burn was BURNING, and I loved that he never entertained his past lover despite her constantly coming back. It really showed how seriously he took his vows and his loyalty to the FMC.
I also loved how he was actively trying to seduce his wife and was completely unapologetic about it. 😆 It was so funny because he knew exactly what he wanted and wasn’t shy about pursuing her.
But what made me love him even more was that he understood that trust couldn’t be rushed. He knew he had to earn it, and he was incredibly patient with her every step of the way. For someone who started off so emotionally detached, seeing him learn to be gentle, patient, and genuinely care for her was everything.
I absolutely loved their banter too😆 They had me giggling and kicking my feet almost the entire book for sure.
I didn’t entirely love how things turned out with Anya, but I can live with it because everything else was just so good.
Everything was exactly what I signed up for 🫶🏼
May 10, 2026
A true enemies to lovers read, considering that Kirill had a hit on Lucy because he wanted revenge for his BF. Kirill is the boss of a Russian Mafia, his cruel, heartless, lethal and devoid of any emotions and Lucy is a “fixer” from an Italian mafia family. Circumstances lead to Lucy being in a bad situation and to avoid an all out war between the Russian and Italian mafia, Kirill blackmails her into marrying him, he can’t kill her but he can make her life miserable and humiliate her for his revenge. Lucy has no choice but to agree and they have a deal for a year and after that, they can divorce. Arrangements are made, venues are picked, prenups are signed and the I do’s are said….now the games begin between these two.
Hold onto your seats and go for a roller coaster of a ride…the banter, the push and pull, the sparks, the cunning from both and the surprises. Hating Kirill is easy in the beginning and cheering for Lucy is easier, she’s smart, headstrong, doesn’t break and can go head to head with anyone…including Kirill and along the way his heart starts beating, and starts to respect his wife, her intelligence, her strength and her beauty…inside and out. The story reels you in, the characters keep you flipping the pages, the descriptions are spot on…and as Kirill’s heart expands, so does accepting and cheering him on as their story unfolds. And to finish it off…their extended epilogue…holy smokes…oh my…YES!!
Hold onto your seats and go for a roller coaster of a ride…the banter, the push and pull, the sparks, the cunning from both and the surprises. Hating Kirill is easy in the beginning and cheering for Lucy is easier, she’s smart, headstrong, doesn’t break and can go head to head with anyone…including Kirill and along the way his heart starts beating, and starts to respect his wife, her intelligence, her strength and her beauty…inside and out. The story reels you in, the characters keep you flipping the pages, the descriptions are spot on…and as Kirill’s heart expands, so does accepting and cheering him on as their story unfolds. And to finish it off…their extended epilogue…holy smokes…oh my…YES!!
May 8, 2026
I devoured this book.
The whole story was amazing and I loved that it was a little enemies to lovers but he falls first and gets frustrated about it. Added everything to the tension between characters.
I have not had a mafia read for a long time but I really enjoyed that all scenes were consensual instead of some of the other books I’ve read.
Kirill and Lucy were so perfect for each other and I loved that Lucy had a backbone and didn’t let Kirill turn her into the wife that gives up after the marriage. Kirill cares so deeply even when he shouldn’t or is fighting it and it watching them fall in love in their own circle was beautiful.
Quotes and Notes
“You consume me. I think I am obsessed with every single part of you. Your face, your body, your mannerisms. Even down to the way you annoy me. I’m obsessed. I hate seeing you go hungry; I don’t want to see you get hurt, unless it’s the good hurt that leads to you coming on my cock”—I rolled my eyes, but he squeezed my jaw to pay attention—“anything that brings a smile to your face, I want to be the one to put it there.” He exhaled heavily. “I’m still trying to understand what this is, baby. Do I make sense?”
Me: perfect. Yes yes yes. It continues too!
I was given this as an arc and I am beyond grateful. This review is of my own opinion entirely.
The whole story was amazing and I loved that it was a little enemies to lovers but he falls first and gets frustrated about it. Added everything to the tension between characters.
I have not had a mafia read for a long time but I really enjoyed that all scenes were consensual instead of some of the other books I’ve read.
Kirill and Lucy were so perfect for each other and I loved that Lucy had a backbone and didn’t let Kirill turn her into the wife that gives up after the marriage. Kirill cares so deeply even when he shouldn’t or is fighting it and it watching them fall in love in their own circle was beautiful.
Quotes and Notes
“You consume me. I think I am obsessed with every single part of you. Your face, your body, your mannerisms. Even down to the way you annoy me. I’m obsessed. I hate seeing you go hungry; I don’t want to see you get hurt, unless it’s the good hurt that leads to you coming on my cock”—I rolled my eyes, but he squeezed my jaw to pay attention—“anything that brings a smile to your face, I want to be the one to put it there.” He exhaled heavily. “I’m still trying to understand what this is, baby. Do I make sense?”
Me: perfect. Yes yes yes. It continues too!
I was given this as an arc and I am beyond grateful. This review is of my own opinion entirely.
May 15, 2026
✨ ARC REVIEW ✨
⭐️ 3/5
📅 May 8, 2026
❤️ Arranged Marriage
❤️ Mafia Romance
❤️ Marriage of Convenience
❤️ Revenge Plot
❤️ Morally Gray Hero
❤️ Touch Her and Die
Okay starting a book with Lucy trapped in the trunk of a car with a dead body?? That was definitely a wild way to start a book and it immediately had my attention 😭
Lucy being a fixer honestly gave me Olivia Pope vibes and I really liked her from the beginning. She’s smart, capable, and honestly handled Kirill way better than I would have because my god this man made it HARD to like him at times 😅
Kirill really said “I cleaned up your mess, now marry me” and expected that to go smoothly lmao. The revenge plot definitely kept things interesting, but there were multiple times I wanted to shake him because sir WHAT are you doing??
I did feel bad for Lucy though, especially once everything with Anya started unfolding. Every time I thought Kirill was finally softening up, he’d immediately do something that had me side-eyeing him again 😭
I also loved Lucy’s relationship with Dom and Uncle Luca. Those family moments were honestly some of my favorite parts of the book.
The mystery elements and background drama kept me interested the whole time too. Mr. Anonymous definitely threw me off at first, but once I started figuring things out I was immediately like 👀 okayyyy I see where this is going.
Overall I didn’t fully love Kirill and Lucy together, but the book was still entertaining and definitely kept my attention the entire time.
Thank you to The Author Agency for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.
⭐️ 3/5
📅 May 8, 2026
❤️ Arranged Marriage
❤️ Mafia Romance
❤️ Marriage of Convenience
❤️ Revenge Plot
❤️ Morally Gray Hero
❤️ Touch Her and Die
Okay starting a book with Lucy trapped in the trunk of a car with a dead body?? That was definitely a wild way to start a book and it immediately had my attention 😭
Lucy being a fixer honestly gave me Olivia Pope vibes and I really liked her from the beginning. She’s smart, capable, and honestly handled Kirill way better than I would have because my god this man made it HARD to like him at times 😅
Kirill really said “I cleaned up your mess, now marry me” and expected that to go smoothly lmao. The revenge plot definitely kept things interesting, but there were multiple times I wanted to shake him because sir WHAT are you doing??
I did feel bad for Lucy though, especially once everything with Anya started unfolding. Every time I thought Kirill was finally softening up, he’d immediately do something that had me side-eyeing him again 😭
I also loved Lucy’s relationship with Dom and Uncle Luca. Those family moments were honestly some of my favorite parts of the book.
The mystery elements and background drama kept me interested the whole time too. Mr. Anonymous definitely threw me off at first, but once I started figuring things out I was immediately like 👀 okayyyy I see where this is going.
Overall I didn’t fully love Kirill and Lucy together, but the book was still entertaining and definitely kept my attention the entire time.
Thank you to The Author Agency for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.
May 8, 2026
No Freaking way was I ready for this awesome read!!!
One emotionally constipated but Hot as well ,… S***HOT and ICE cold Man. Think G.O.T Fire meets Ice here level.
Well Him, Kirill the Bratva Pakhan has his eyes on Lucy… the very much Firecracker of her Mafia family's golden child.
“My dear Lucy.” Again in a chilling tone without inflection. “Since I can’t *unalive you, please do me the honor of becoming my wife.”
The grudges are real and this is Enemies to Lovers at its best.
I abso-f-ing-lutley loved this Book.
The banter is top notch.
The Spice and Chemistry build up will have you a little bit hot and flustered.
Kirill and Lucy find themselves in an arranged marriage which does not look like it can last at all.
But things can change…. people can change.
“She’d been truly corrupted underneath all that sweetness. This pleased me.”
ps: I would love to read something on Sato…..
I can't wait for Aralina and Chloe’s books either but Sato is a very intriguing character.
and Kolya…. mmmm
One emotionally constipated but Hot as well ,… S***HOT and ICE cold Man. Think G.O.T Fire meets Ice here level.
Well Him, Kirill the Bratva Pakhan has his eyes on Lucy… the very much Firecracker of her Mafia family's golden child.
“My dear Lucy.” Again in a chilling tone without inflection. “Since I can’t *unalive you, please do me the honor of becoming my wife.”
The grudges are real and this is Enemies to Lovers at its best.
I abso-f-ing-lutley loved this Book.
The banter is top notch.
The Spice and Chemistry build up will have you a little bit hot and flustered.
Kirill and Lucy find themselves in an arranged marriage which does not look like it can last at all.
But things can change…. people can change.
“She’d been truly corrupted underneath all that sweetness. This pleased me.”
ps: I would love to read something on Sato…..
I can't wait for Aralina and Chloe’s books either but Sato is a very intriguing character.
and Kolya…. mmmm
June 16, 2026
2.5⭐️
I think I’m done with the mafia for a while, I’m sated, time for a switch up!
This book was TOO much— too many characters, too many mob factions, too many nicknames, too many plots, too much miscommunication, and WAY TOO MANY PAGES! I skimmed the last 100 because I was checked out and literally couldn’t even make sense of the plot anymore.
At first I really did enjoy Kirill and Lucy, I appreciated that Lucy wasn’t just some demure skittish woman but actually fought back and verbally sparred with the MMC. However, Lucy really starts to freaking annoy you when she KEEPS EAVESDROPPING AND THEN GETTING OFFENDED OVER WHAT SHE THINKS SHE HEARS WHEN SHE COULDN’T BE MORE WRONG. Also she’s supposed to be a fixer of scandals and she’s so bad at it, Olivia Pope would never.
Going back to too many characters— I have no idea what the whole beef between the Kings and the Zharkanovs is why should I even care about Jeremiah and Theo? Why was Anya such a big deal? Like it’s just a soup of characters and all we needed was like 4 max.
This book had potential but it was just destroyed by trying to do way too much and not well.
I think I’m done with the mafia for a while, I’m sated, time for a switch up!
This book was TOO much— too many characters, too many mob factions, too many nicknames, too many plots, too much miscommunication, and WAY TOO MANY PAGES! I skimmed the last 100 because I was checked out and literally couldn’t even make sense of the plot anymore.
At first I really did enjoy Kirill and Lucy, I appreciated that Lucy wasn’t just some demure skittish woman but actually fought back and verbally sparred with the MMC. However, Lucy really starts to freaking annoy you when she KEEPS EAVESDROPPING AND THEN GETTING OFFENDED OVER WHAT SHE THINKS SHE HEARS WHEN SHE COULDN’T BE MORE WRONG. Also she’s supposed to be a fixer of scandals and she’s so bad at it, Olivia Pope would never.
Going back to too many characters— I have no idea what the whole beef between the Kings and the Zharkanovs is why should I even care about Jeremiah and Theo? Why was Anya such a big deal? Like it’s just a soup of characters and all we needed was like 4 max.
This book had potential but it was just destroyed by trying to do way too much and not well.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow! Ms. Paige knew exactly what she was doing when she wrote this book. I adored Lucy in the previous books. I was beyond excited when her book hit my Kindle. Kirill was a mystery because there wasn't much to talk about, and little interaction. When my book boyfriend Luca was mentioned, I was all invested, even if I just got a glimpse of his side character, but oh, do you get more than a side. As for the book itself, it was fantastic! Yes, you get the typical MMC messes up, and he has to grovel, but even better is that he does it with a pout. His whole plan went out the window as Lucy navigated his betrayal, and I loved it. Lucy was the perfect fmc; she truly was a queen, and I ate up her chapters. I don’t just recommend this book; I beg you to read it.
May 12, 2026
“But I was giving myself latitude to experience feelings that were slowly emerging from the cracked walls of my heart.”
This was a solid 5 star read for me up until the 70% mark. The last 30% of the book felt convoluted with drama from new characters that I just did not care about. I can’t stand Chloe, all she does is escalate tense situations without a thought in her head.
I loved Lucy and Kirill’s relationship, especially when they decided to really give it a go. I enjoyed Kirill’s pov as he started evaluating his feelings for Lucy and what it meant. They were horrible to each other in the beginning, but they had a lot of sweet, tender moments that made me initially consider giving the book 5 stars.
This was a solid 5 star read for me up until the 70% mark. The last 30% of the book felt convoluted with drama from new characters that I just did not care about. I can’t stand Chloe, all she does is escalate tense situations without a thought in her head.
I loved Lucy and Kirill’s relationship, especially when they decided to really give it a go. I enjoyed Kirill’s pov as he started evaluating his feelings for Lucy and what it meant. They were horrible to each other in the beginning, but they had a lot of sweet, tender moments that made me initially consider giving the book 5 stars.
May 10, 2026
Notes for me
Kirill - Pakhan
Lucy - cleaner (not houses) from Moretti/De Lucci family. Dom’s sister
Characters introduced in Scorned Beauty.
He blames her for his “brother” Kostya’s prison sentence
Decides the best revenge is marrying her then humiliating her. She agrees to stop a mafia war.
Anya is a woman who grew up with Kirill and Kostya. It was a hard life in Siberia. Her husband is killed and she believes Kirill will marry her now. After all he promised to always care for her and put her first. Kirill marrying Lucy blindsided her.
Kirill and Lucy both have to decide if they want a real marriage.
Not a bad thing but a lot goes on in these books. Large family so a lot of characters, rabbit trails to the story.
Kirill - Pakhan
Lucy - cleaner (not houses) from Moretti/De Lucci family. Dom’s sister
Characters introduced in Scorned Beauty.
He blames her for his “brother” Kostya’s prison sentence
Decides the best revenge is marrying her then humiliating her. She agrees to stop a mafia war.
Anya is a woman who grew up with Kirill and Kostya. It was a hard life in Siberia. Her husband is killed and she believes Kirill will marry her now. After all he promised to always care for her and put her first. Kirill marrying Lucy blindsided her.
Kirill and Lucy both have to decide if they want a real marriage.
Not a bad thing but a lot goes on in these books. Large family so a lot of characters, rabbit trails to the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 10, 2026
Ugh it's so freaking good!!
Seriously, just read it!
It's absolutely the most addictive book I've read this year! I started it late at night, which was a huge mistake because at 3 a.m., my husband literally had to drag me to bed. The characters in this story are everything. The banter, the revenge *chefs kiss*
The only bad things I will say about this book is that it will make you want to go back and read/reread all of Victoria Paige's books, as well as leave you hooked to read the next one!
Seriously, just read it!
It's absolutely the most addictive book I've read this year! I started it late at night, which was a huge mistake because at 3 a.m., my husband literally had to drag me to bed. The characters in this story are everything. The banter, the revenge *chefs kiss*
The only bad things I will say about this book is that it will make you want to go back and read/reread all of Victoria Paige's books, as well as leave you hooked to read the next one!
May 4, 2026
Lucy and Kirill had the chemistry from the start! As soon as the book started I could feel the tension with these two! She is forced into an arraigned marriage by him even tho he just wants revenge. Obviously that doesn’t work out for his plans when he starts getting feelings for her. Lucy was such a great FMC. I loved her character. We get some action, family dynamics, spice 🔥, angst, slow burn and banter for days!! Can’t wait to see if we get books from other characters! 5 stars!!!
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