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His Reckless Obsession: A Forced Marriage Mafia Romance
Aurora
It was just another night at the bar where I work as a cocktail waitress to pay for my sister’s college.
Until the sexy man with the bad-boy vibe tips me five hundred dollars for a single drink and looks at me like no one ever has before.
Until I step into the alley to take out the trash and watch him kill a man who attacks me.
Until he kidnaps me.
Until I learn he’s Russian mafia, and I have information he wants. Information that can get me—and my little sister—killed.
Until I fall for him.
Alexei
Six years ago, my impulsiveness got my brother killed. Now I’m cold. Calculated. Controlled.
Everything bratva should be.
Until a gorgeous cocktail waitress wearing a ridiculously skimpy costume witnesses me kill a man.
First, I was her jailer. Then her protector.
Now I’m the only thing standing between her and the elite criminals on both sides who want her dead. But my icy resolve is melting. She’s defiance and vulnerability wrapped into one tempting package. To keep her safe, I’ll need to risk everything.
Including the control I swore I’d never lose again.
*His Reckless Obsession is a full-length mafia romance novel with no cheating and a guaranteed HEA.
More about His Reckless
- Forced Proximity
- Captive/Kidnapped
- Grumpy/Sunshine
- Innocent Outsider
- Fake Engagement
- Hero on a Quest
- Damsel in Distress
- Rich Man, Poor Woman
- Has an HEA
- Can be read as a standalone
It was just another night at the bar where I work as a cocktail waitress to pay for my sister’s college.
Until the sexy man with the bad-boy vibe tips me five hundred dollars for a single drink and looks at me like no one ever has before.
Until I step into the alley to take out the trash and watch him kill a man who attacks me.
Until he kidnaps me.
Until I learn he’s Russian mafia, and I have information he wants. Information that can get me—and my little sister—killed.
Until I fall for him.
Alexei
Six years ago, my impulsiveness got my brother killed. Now I’m cold. Calculated. Controlled.
Everything bratva should be.
Until a gorgeous cocktail waitress wearing a ridiculously skimpy costume witnesses me kill a man.
First, I was her jailer. Then her protector.
Now I’m the only thing standing between her and the elite criminals on both sides who want her dead. But my icy resolve is melting. She’s defiance and vulnerability wrapped into one tempting package. To keep her safe, I’ll need to risk everything.
Including the control I swore I’d never lose again.
*His Reckless Obsession is a full-length mafia romance novel with no cheating and a guaranteed HEA.
More about His Reckless
- Forced Proximity
- Captive/Kidnapped
- Grumpy/Sunshine
- Innocent Outsider
- Fake Engagement
- Hero on a Quest
- Damsel in Distress
- Rich Man, Poor Woman
- Has an HEA
- Can be read as a standalone
- GenresMafia RomanceM F Romance
344 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 15, 2025
74 people are currently reading
120 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
December 8, 2025
ARC Review for His Reckless Obsession by Ava Zane ✨
Book 1 – Bratva Brotherhood Series
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ an explosive, heart-racing mafia thriller 🔥
Ava Zane came out SWINGING with her debut 👏
His Reckless Obsession is dark, emotional, violent, tender, and beautiful in all the places you don’t expect.
Aurora is a cocktail waitress barely surviving a life that keeps hitting her from every direction 🥺poverty, dangerous men, a sickening job, and the crushing responsibility of protecting and providing for her sister. The night she meets Alexei, a cold, lethal Bratva enforcer drowning in grief and vengeance, everything changes.
A single spark at a bar.
A kiss to escape danger.
A murder she wasn’t meant to witness.
And suddenly her life spirals into blood, secrets, kidnappings, and a war she never asked for.
I love how Ava made Aurora an artist 👩🎨 a mosaic maker who sees beauty in broken things, who recognizes the cracks and weaknesses even trained soldiers miss. She is light in a world built on violence… and Alexei sees it immediately.
Alexei is pure chaos wrapped in steel. A man hollowed by the loss of his brother, refusing to let the lies around him stand. He’s ruthless, terrifying, and yet soft in ways he doesn’t know how to express. His obsession with Aurora is reckless, but also protective, consuming, and painfully genuine.
Their chemistry? Scorching🥵
When the brotherhood discovers Aurora, Alexei does the one thing that will keep her safe: he claims her. “She’s my fiancée.”
What follows is a fake engagement, a forced marriage neither expected, and a love that blooms slowly yet beautifully amid looming danger.
He gives her safety. A home. A studio for her art. A future she never dared hope for.
She gives him purpose. Truth. Light. A reason to breathe again.
Their wedding night? I’m STILL recovering♥️🥹
Just when life feels settled, Gio Falcone slithers back in and ignites a full blown war. The revelations about MJ, the diamonds, the betrayal… EVERYTHING ties together perfectly.
The most powerful thing?
Aurora becomes more than a witness.
More than a wife.
More than a victim and survivor.
She becomes a Bratva queen 👸 in her own light.
This debut is rich, emotional, intensely romantic, and genuinely addictive.
I cannot wait for the next installment in the Bratva Brotherhood world 🙌 Thank you Ava for an incredible start to this series
Book 1 – Bratva Brotherhood Series
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ an explosive, heart-racing mafia thriller 🔥
Ava Zane came out SWINGING with her debut 👏
His Reckless Obsession is dark, emotional, violent, tender, and beautiful in all the places you don’t expect.
Aurora is a cocktail waitress barely surviving a life that keeps hitting her from every direction 🥺poverty, dangerous men, a sickening job, and the crushing responsibility of protecting and providing for her sister. The night she meets Alexei, a cold, lethal Bratva enforcer drowning in grief and vengeance, everything changes.
A single spark at a bar.
A kiss to escape danger.
A murder she wasn’t meant to witness.
And suddenly her life spirals into blood, secrets, kidnappings, and a war she never asked for.
I love how Ava made Aurora an artist 👩🎨 a mosaic maker who sees beauty in broken things, who recognizes the cracks and weaknesses even trained soldiers miss. She is light in a world built on violence… and Alexei sees it immediately.
Alexei is pure chaos wrapped in steel. A man hollowed by the loss of his brother, refusing to let the lies around him stand. He’s ruthless, terrifying, and yet soft in ways he doesn’t know how to express. His obsession with Aurora is reckless, but also protective, consuming, and painfully genuine.
Their chemistry? Scorching🥵
When the brotherhood discovers Aurora, Alexei does the one thing that will keep her safe: he claims her. “She’s my fiancée.”
What follows is a fake engagement, a forced marriage neither expected, and a love that blooms slowly yet beautifully amid looming danger.
He gives her safety. A home. A studio for her art. A future she never dared hope for.
She gives him purpose. Truth. Light. A reason to breathe again.
Their wedding night? I’m STILL recovering♥️🥹
Just when life feels settled, Gio Falcone slithers back in and ignites a full blown war. The revelations about MJ, the diamonds, the betrayal… EVERYTHING ties together perfectly.
The most powerful thing?
Aurora becomes more than a witness.
More than a wife.
More than a victim and survivor.
She becomes a Bratva queen 👸 in her own light.
This debut is rich, emotional, intensely romantic, and genuinely addictive.
I cannot wait for the next installment in the Bratva Brotherhood world 🙌 Thank you Ava for an incredible start to this series
December 16, 2025
Ava Zane did not tiptoe into the mafia romance world. She kicked the door in with blood on her boots and feelings in her hands.
His Reckless Obsession is dark, emotional, violent, and unexpectedly tender, the kind of book that lures you in with danger and keeps you there with heart.
Aurora is barely holding it together. She’s a cocktail waitress scraping by, sacrificing everything to keep her sister safe and in school, while life keeps throwing fists instead of favors. Then one reckless night detonates her world: a dangerous stranger, a too-generous tip, a split-second kiss, a man killed in an alley… and suddenly she’s trapped in the crosshairs of the Bratva.
Enter Alexei.
Cold. Lethal. Controlled to the point of cruelty. A Russian enforcer shaped by loss and regret, who’s spent years turning grief into discipline. Until Aurora witnesses something she shouldn’t have. Until she becomes his responsibility. His secret. His weakness.
What starts as captivity shifts into protection, then something far messier and far more dangerous: attachment.
This book delivers on all the mafia romance promises. Forced proximity. Constant danger. A protector who doesn’t ask permission before claiming what’s his. The slow burn between Aurora and Alexei builds under pressure, and when his control starts to fracture? Oh, it hits.
Aurora is a standout FMC. She’s not reckless or naïve. She adapts. She survives. She holds onto her creativity and compassion even while surrounded by violence, and that emotional grounding makes her feel real in a world full of monsters.
Alexei is every broody alpha reader’s weakness. Intense, possessive, and terrifyingly capable. Watching his walls crack for Aurora was deeply satisfying, especially when his obsession stops being just about control and starts becoming about protection.
The writing is smooth, engaging, and confident, especially for a debut. The world-building feels intentional and expansive, setting the stage for a series that clearly has more blood, secrets, and broken men waiting in the wings. The ending ties up enough to satisfy while leaving threads dangling just enough to make book two feel necessary.
This is a strong, promising start to the Bratva Brotherhood, and Ava Zane is absolutely an author to watch.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️.5
His Reckless Obsession is dark, emotional, violent, and unexpectedly tender, the kind of book that lures you in with danger and keeps you there with heart.
Aurora is barely holding it together. She’s a cocktail waitress scraping by, sacrificing everything to keep her sister safe and in school, while life keeps throwing fists instead of favors. Then one reckless night detonates her world: a dangerous stranger, a too-generous tip, a split-second kiss, a man killed in an alley… and suddenly she’s trapped in the crosshairs of the Bratva.
Enter Alexei.
Cold. Lethal. Controlled to the point of cruelty. A Russian enforcer shaped by loss and regret, who’s spent years turning grief into discipline. Until Aurora witnesses something she shouldn’t have. Until she becomes his responsibility. His secret. His weakness.
What starts as captivity shifts into protection, then something far messier and far more dangerous: attachment.
This book delivers on all the mafia romance promises. Forced proximity. Constant danger. A protector who doesn’t ask permission before claiming what’s his. The slow burn between Aurora and Alexei builds under pressure, and when his control starts to fracture? Oh, it hits.
Aurora is a standout FMC. She’s not reckless or naïve. She adapts. She survives. She holds onto her creativity and compassion even while surrounded by violence, and that emotional grounding makes her feel real in a world full of monsters.
Alexei is every broody alpha reader’s weakness. Intense, possessive, and terrifyingly capable. Watching his walls crack for Aurora was deeply satisfying, especially when his obsession stops being just about control and starts becoming about protection.
The writing is smooth, engaging, and confident, especially for a debut. The world-building feels intentional and expansive, setting the stage for a series that clearly has more blood, secrets, and broken men waiting in the wings. The ending ties up enough to satisfy while leaving threads dangling just enough to make book two feel necessary.
This is a strong, promising start to the Bratva Brotherhood, and Ava Zane is absolutely an author to watch.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️.5
December 17, 2025
ARC REVIEW 📚
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ — 4.5 Stars, I Was Glued From Chapter One
Okay so… this book?? It grabbed me by the throat from page one and refused to let go 😮💨🖤 Like… I opened it thinking I’d read a few pages and suddenly I’m 60% in, dehydrated, and emotionally unstable in the BEST way 🫠📖. The atmosphere is dark and tense, the emotions are messy, raw, and a little unhinged, and it’s the kind of story that makes you pause, stare at a wall, and whisper "what did I just read" (in a good way) 😵💫. This book absolutely followed me into my sleep… and yes, it tried to ruin that too 🤭🫣😁
I don’t say this lightly....but I was completely locked in from chapter one 🔒. Alexei and Aurora pulled me into their world immediately, and once I was there, there was no escaping them 🖤.
Alexei is exactly the kind of man you know you shouldn’t love… but absolutely do anyway 😈🔥 Dangerous, intense, and obsessively focused in a way that somehow works. And Aurora? She’s strong without being overdone, soft without being weak, and she matches his energy so naturally that their connection just clicks 💥. The tension, the push and pull, the way they orbit each other.... I ate it up 😌.
The chemistry between them is undeniable 🔥. Every interaction feels charged, like something is about to snap at any second.... and when it does? Completely worth it 🫦.
Overall, a solid 4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨. Intense, gripping, darkly addictive, and impossible to put down. If you love obsessive men, strong heroines, and romances that emotionally wreck you just enough to keep you thinking about them long after you close the book… this one delivers 💭🖤📚.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ — 4.5 Stars, I Was Glued From Chapter One
Okay so… this book?? It grabbed me by the throat from page one and refused to let go 😮💨🖤 Like… I opened it thinking I’d read a few pages and suddenly I’m 60% in, dehydrated, and emotionally unstable in the BEST way 🫠📖. The atmosphere is dark and tense, the emotions are messy, raw, and a little unhinged, and it’s the kind of story that makes you pause, stare at a wall, and whisper "what did I just read" (in a good way) 😵💫. This book absolutely followed me into my sleep… and yes, it tried to ruin that too 🤭🫣😁
I don’t say this lightly....but I was completely locked in from chapter one 🔒. Alexei and Aurora pulled me into their world immediately, and once I was there, there was no escaping them 🖤.
Alexei is exactly the kind of man you know you shouldn’t love… but absolutely do anyway 😈🔥 Dangerous, intense, and obsessively focused in a way that somehow works. And Aurora? She’s strong without being overdone, soft without being weak, and she matches his energy so naturally that their connection just clicks 💥. The tension, the push and pull, the way they orbit each other.... I ate it up 😌.
The chemistry between them is undeniable 🔥. Every interaction feels charged, like something is about to snap at any second.... and when it does? Completely worth it 🫦.
Overall, a solid 4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨. Intense, gripping, darkly addictive, and impossible to put down. If you love obsessive men, strong heroines, and romances that emotionally wreck you just enough to keep you thinking about them long after you close the book… this one delivers 💭🖤📚.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a strong debut and a really solid start to the Bratva Brotherhood series.
His Reckless Obsession delivers exactly what it promises. Forced proximity, danger, protection, and a slow burn connection that grows under pressure. Aurora is a cocktail waitress just trying to keep her life and her sister afloat when one night changes everything, and suddenly she’s tangled up with Alexei, a controlled, dangerous Bratva enforcer with a lot of guilt and a very sharp edge.
Aurora was my favorite part of the story. She’s resilient, loyal, and emotionally grounded even when the world around her is chaos. I loved that she has a creative side and an inner strength that doesn’t disappear just because she’s surrounded by powerful men. She feels like someone who adapts instead of breaks.
Alexei is intense, broody, and very much in his mafia alpha era. When he claims Aurora, it lands, and there are moments where his control slipping is especially satisfying. Their dynamic builds steadily, and once it clicks, the chemistry is there.
The story itself is well written, easy to follow, and clearly sets up a larger world that feels ready to expand. This reads like a confident debut with a clear vision, and I can absolutely see readers who love mafia romance diving right in and wanting more from this series.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read and a promising start for Ava Zane. I’m looking forward to seeing where she takes this world next. Thank you to the author for the ARC.
His Reckless Obsession delivers exactly what it promises. Forced proximity, danger, protection, and a slow burn connection that grows under pressure. Aurora is a cocktail waitress just trying to keep her life and her sister afloat when one night changes everything, and suddenly she’s tangled up with Alexei, a controlled, dangerous Bratva enforcer with a lot of guilt and a very sharp edge.
Aurora was my favorite part of the story. She’s resilient, loyal, and emotionally grounded even when the world around her is chaos. I loved that she has a creative side and an inner strength that doesn’t disappear just because she’s surrounded by powerful men. She feels like someone who adapts instead of breaks.
Alexei is intense, broody, and very much in his mafia alpha era. When he claims Aurora, it lands, and there are moments where his control slipping is especially satisfying. Their dynamic builds steadily, and once it clicks, the chemistry is there.
The story itself is well written, easy to follow, and clearly sets up a larger world that feels ready to expand. This reads like a confident debut with a clear vision, and I can absolutely see readers who love mafia romance diving right in and wanting more from this series.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read and a promising start for Ava Zane. I’m looking forward to seeing where she takes this world next. Thank you to the author for the ARC.
December 9, 2025
4.5 stars!!!!
A strong debut with great tension, danger, and compelling characters, but what truly stood out for me was Aurora. She is brave, loyal, talented, and easily the best part of this book. This might be the first mafia romance where I preferred the FMC over the MMC.
Alexei is complex and intriguing, but he carries a heavy sadness from start to finish. Even with Aurora by his side, the gloom never fully lifts, which made his character feel less satisfying for me. Their chemistry, though, is undeniable, and together they are hot, hot, hot!!!!! Both are driven by love for their siblings and by guilt. Aurora works herself to exhaustion to support her sister, and Alexei is consumed by finding out the truth behind his brother’s death. Their collision leads to a kidnapping, a fake engagement, and a marriage built on protection and necessity (and love). Aurora shines in every moment. Her courage, her art, her loyalty, and her strength make the story worth reading. I also loved the big family vibe, warm and chaotic.
By the end, some secrets are revealed while others are carried into the next book, which keeps the series intriguing. I’m definitely looking forward to what comes next.
A great debut and a promising start to the series. Highly recommended. Thanks for the ARC.
A strong debut with great tension, danger, and compelling characters, but what truly stood out for me was Aurora. She is brave, loyal, talented, and easily the best part of this book. This might be the first mafia romance where I preferred the FMC over the MMC.
Alexei is complex and intriguing, but he carries a heavy sadness from start to finish. Even with Aurora by his side, the gloom never fully lifts, which made his character feel less satisfying for me. Their chemistry, though, is undeniable, and together they are hot, hot, hot!!!!! Both are driven by love for their siblings and by guilt. Aurora works herself to exhaustion to support her sister, and Alexei is consumed by finding out the truth behind his brother’s death. Their collision leads to a kidnapping, a fake engagement, and a marriage built on protection and necessity (and love). Aurora shines in every moment. Her courage, her art, her loyalty, and her strength make the story worth reading. I also loved the big family vibe, warm and chaotic.
By the end, some secrets are revealed while others are carried into the next book, which keeps the series intriguing. I’m definitely looking forward to what comes next.
A great debut and a promising start to the series. Highly recommended. Thanks for the ARC.
December 10, 2025
ARC Review, thx Ava Zane
What a debut! I'm still blown away; it's a hell of a storyline.
I've read a lot of dark romance/mafia stories lately, but this book is in a league of its own. I was captivated from the first line to the last and didn't want to put the book down.
Great writing style, beautifully written, and so many loving details, almost too many.
You empathize with the two main characters and are right in the middle of their emotional turmoil. A near-perfect blend of emotions, banter, suspense, smut, and secrets. I like FMC and MMC equally, which is rare. I love that FMC Aurora is a strong woman, yet also fragile at the same time. I also like MMC Alexei's character traits: dominant, possessive, but he also has a hidden soft side that he only shows Aurora. Outstanding chemistry between the two protagonists. All in all, an incredibly great book.
Bonus point for including a cat. Tough Bratva men who care for a pet melt my heart.
Finally, there's an HEA for Aurora and Alexei, but not all questions are answered; some mysteries remain.
I'm really looking forward to reading the next installments of the Bratva Brotherhood series to see how all the open questions about the overarching plot will be resolved.
Don't miss this gem. Highly recommended.
HEA, no cheating or sharing
⭐️ 5/5
🌶 4/5
What a debut! I'm still blown away; it's a hell of a storyline.
I've read a lot of dark romance/mafia stories lately, but this book is in a league of its own. I was captivated from the first line to the last and didn't want to put the book down.
Great writing style, beautifully written, and so many loving details, almost too many.
You empathize with the two main characters and are right in the middle of their emotional turmoil. A near-perfect blend of emotions, banter, suspense, smut, and secrets. I like FMC and MMC equally, which is rare. I love that FMC Aurora is a strong woman, yet also fragile at the same time. I also like MMC Alexei's character traits: dominant, possessive, but he also has a hidden soft side that he only shows Aurora. Outstanding chemistry between the two protagonists. All in all, an incredibly great book.
Bonus point for including a cat. Tough Bratva men who care for a pet melt my heart.
Finally, there's an HEA for Aurora and Alexei, but not all questions are answered; some mysteries remain.
I'm really looking forward to reading the next installments of the Bratva Brotherhood series to see how all the open questions about the overarching plot will be resolved.
Don't miss this gem. Highly recommended.
HEA, no cheating or sharing
⭐️ 5/5
🌶 4/5
December 15, 2025
In Reckless Obsession, Aurora works as a cocktail waitress so she can pay her rent, bills and her sister’s college tuition. She hates her job but loves her sister more than anything. She will do anything she has to do to ensure her sister’s happiness and future. The night she meets Alexei, he tips her generously. She knows she won’t see him again but then she stumbles onto him and a man arguing. The confrontation leads to a death and now she’s a witness. Fearing for her life she tries to run but he grabs her. What will happen now?
Alexei has plagued with memories and guilt for the death of his brother. He believes he got him killed and is investigating his death. He’s intrigued by Aurora when he meets her. There is an instant connection and chemistry. Unfortunately, he catches her watching him while questioning someone and her distraction causes a confrontation that leads to a death. He has no choice but to take her.
Ava Zane has me feeling bad for Aurora. Her life is in danger for being in the wrong place at the wrong time not once but twice. All she wants is to keep her sister safe. I also felt bad for Alexei. He refuses to give up until he finds out who killed brother. I loved their banter and the tension between them. This was an emotional rollercoaster. It was filled with drama, a lot of action, danger, heat, and suspense.
Alexei has plagued with memories and guilt for the death of his brother. He believes he got him killed and is investigating his death. He’s intrigued by Aurora when he meets her. There is an instant connection and chemistry. Unfortunately, he catches her watching him while questioning someone and her distraction causes a confrontation that leads to a death. He has no choice but to take her.
Ava Zane has me feeling bad for Aurora. Her life is in danger for being in the wrong place at the wrong time not once but twice. All she wants is to keep her sister safe. I also felt bad for Alexei. He refuses to give up until he finds out who killed brother. I loved their banter and the tension between them. This was an emotional rollercoaster. It was filled with drama, a lot of action, danger, heat, and suspense.
December 25, 2025
A Dark, Addictive Mafia Romance That Kicks the Door In
Ava Zane doesn’t ease you into mafia romance—she storms in with blood on her boots and feelings in her hands. His Reckless Obsession is dark, emotional, violent, and unexpectedly tender. Aurora and Alexei pulled me in from page one: she’s a survivor fighting to protect her sister, he’s a cold, disciplined Bratva enforcer undone by the one woman he shouldn’t want.
The tension is intense and electric 😮💨🔥—forced proximity, danger at every turn, and a protector who claims first and apologizes never. Aurora is resilient and real; Alexei is every broody-alpha lover’s kryptonite. Their slow-burn obsession feels powerful and earned.
The world-building is sharp, the writing confident, and you can feel the setup for a bigger, bloodier series. I only docked a star because the ending felt abrupt—no epilogue, more like “see you in the next book” 😅📚. Still, I’m hooked.
If you love dark mafia romance with heart, this one delivers. 💋🖤🔥
Ava Zane doesn’t ease you into mafia romance—she storms in with blood on her boots and feelings in her hands. His Reckless Obsession is dark, emotional, violent, and unexpectedly tender. Aurora and Alexei pulled me in from page one: she’s a survivor fighting to protect her sister, he’s a cold, disciplined Bratva enforcer undone by the one woman he shouldn’t want.
The tension is intense and electric 😮💨🔥—forced proximity, danger at every turn, and a protector who claims first and apologizes never. Aurora is resilient and real; Alexei is every broody-alpha lover’s kryptonite. Their slow-burn obsession feels powerful and earned.
The world-building is sharp, the writing confident, and you can feel the setup for a bigger, bloodier series. I only docked a star because the ending felt abrupt—no epilogue, more like “see you in the next book” 😅📚. Still, I’m hooked.
If you love dark mafia romance with heart, this one delivers. 💋🖤🔥
December 26, 2025
This is my first book by Ava Zane, His Reckless Obsession (Book 1 in the Bratva Brotherhood series).
A strong debut with great tension, danger, and compelling characters, His Reckless Obsession is dark, emotional, violent, and unexpectedly tender—the kind of story that lures you in with danger and keeps you hooked with heart.
The book delivers exactly what it promises: forced proximity, danger, protection, and a slow-burn connection forged under pressure. The FMC is just trying to survive and protect her sister when one night changes everything, tangling her life with the MMC—a controlled and dangerous Bratva enforcer burdened by guilt and a razor-sharp edge.
Thank you to the author for the ARC.
A strong debut with great tension, danger, and compelling characters, His Reckless Obsession is dark, emotional, violent, and unexpectedly tender—the kind of story that lures you in with danger and keeps you hooked with heart.
The book delivers exactly what it promises: forced proximity, danger, protection, and a slow-burn connection forged under pressure. The FMC is just trying to survive and protect her sister when one night changes everything, tangling her life with the MMC—a controlled and dangerous Bratva enforcer burdened by guilt and a razor-sharp edge.
Thank you to the author for the ARC.
December 17, 2025
Absolutely addictive!
OMG the spice! The MMC is hard and dangerous when needed and tender, obsessive and possessive when it comes to the FMC. This book is everything close proximity, dangerous sexy mafia MMC, sassy feisty FMC. The way they heal each others past trauma. The way their love cultivates is everything. The way he loves her before he even realizes it himself. I can't wait for the second. It ends on a cliff hanger of sorts I really hope the next book is about Aurora and Alexsi.
OMG the spice! The MMC is hard and dangerous when needed and tender, obsessive and possessive when it comes to the FMC. This book is everything close proximity, dangerous sexy mafia MMC, sassy feisty FMC. The way they heal each others past trauma. The way their love cultivates is everything. The way he loves her before he even realizes it himself. I can't wait for the second. It ends on a cliff hanger of sorts I really hope the next book is about Aurora and Alexsi.
December 18, 2025
2.75★
A good debut.
It was okay I guess for a mafia book but it was missing things which I'd prefer such as banter , romance , chemistry and fun. Also all the build up felt flat tbvh. The pacing felt rushed.
The protection , love , attraction all of that came out of nowhere and it didn't felt genuine.
I liked the suspense aspect . Those parts kept me hooked but other than that not much.
Their story doesn't feels complete. Feels like there is more to their story and all.
Still I think it is a solid debut book. I will definitely tuned in for next book in this series.
A good debut.
It was okay I guess for a mafia book but it was missing things which I'd prefer such as banter , romance , chemistry and fun. Also all the build up felt flat tbvh. The pacing felt rushed.
The protection , love , attraction all of that came out of nowhere and it didn't felt genuine.
I liked the suspense aspect . Those parts kept me hooked but other than that not much.
Their story doesn't feels complete. Feels like there is more to their story and all.
Still I think it is a solid debut book. I will definitely tuned in for next book in this series.
December 18, 2025
His Reckless Obsession
Slow burning romance between Alexei and Aurora that starts as a spark in the bar she works at. When Aurora witnesses Alexei murder a man, she forced into a marriage built by strategy. Sparks fly throughout the book and a twisted mafia war puts both characters in the thick of danger. Their smoking hot chemistry is evident and keeps you turning the pages. Definitely recommend that you check out this author and book.
Slow burning romance between Alexei and Aurora that starts as a spark in the bar she works at. When Aurora witnesses Alexei murder a man, she forced into a marriage built by strategy. Sparks fly throughout the book and a twisted mafia war puts both characters in the thick of danger. Their smoking hot chemistry is evident and keeps you turning the pages. Definitely recommend that you check out this author and book.
January 13, 2026
Ending needed more
This is a new to me author and I really enjoyed their storytelling and both MCs. At times I was frustrated with the MFC because she hadn’t told the MMC the full truth. The ending felt like I was left hanging. Did they get their HEA - yes, they did. I just wanted more. And I want to know how the overall plot of the story continues so I will be reading the next book.
This is a new to me author and I really enjoyed their storytelling and both MCs. At times I was frustrated with the MFC because she hadn’t told the MMC the full truth. The ending felt like I was left hanging. Did they get their HEA - yes, they did. I just wanted more. And I want to know how the overall plot of the story continues so I will be reading the next book.
January 17, 2026
Well written but a cliffhanger
Main characters get together at the end but the mystery is not solved and continues with the next book which is about another couple. Book kept my interest and was well written. A lot of killing but not graphic. Both Characters are well developed and likeable even with their quirks. I am interested enough to continue with the next story. Good heat.
Main characters get together at the end but the mystery is not solved and continues with the next book which is about another couple. Book kept my interest and was well written. A lot of killing but not graphic. Both Characters are well developed and likeable even with their quirks. I am interested enough to continue with the next story. Good heat.
January 14, 2026
Really well written
The MFC and MMC are strong and the writing is excellent. Spice scenes are well thought out and spaced. I have to say it was a lovely story of a hard working selfless waitress and mobster looking for answers. MMC and FMC are well matched. Great plot twists. I laughed hard at some of the scenes and exchanges. Overall top writing.
The MFC and MMC are strong and the writing is excellent. Spice scenes are well thought out and spaced. I have to say it was a lovely story of a hard working selfless waitress and mobster looking for answers. MMC and FMC are well matched. Great plot twists. I laughed hard at some of the scenes and exchanges. Overall top writing.
December 7, 2025
A fantastic debut novel from Ava Zane!
I loved Aurora and Alexei’s love story- from enemies to lovers their relationship had it all!
This is the first book in the Bratva Brotherhood Series and I can’t wait for Book 2 to see where this storyline goes!
I loved Aurora and Alexei’s love story- from enemies to lovers their relationship had it all!
This is the first book in the Bratva Brotherhood Series and I can’t wait for Book 2 to see where this storyline goes!
December 18, 2025
This is the first book in the Bratva Brotherhood series. It’s a very entertaining, fake engagement, mafia romance. Aurora and Alexis are great together and have great chemistry. I enjoyed their story. It can be read as a standalone
December 12, 2025
ARc review
Ava zane debut book did not disappoint. I love how she portrays the FMC to be selfless but fierce.. The way their first attraction and acted on it..
Their chemistry is so cooked beautifully and i feel like that MMC is a different breed of dangerous and mysterious man that twists your mind.
From fake to real marriage. From wanting to leave to cannot live..
Hoping for more of this series
Ava zane debut book did not disappoint. I love how she portrays the FMC to be selfless but fierce.. The way their first attraction and acted on it..
Their chemistry is so cooked beautifully and i feel like that MMC is a different breed of dangerous and mysterious man that twists your mind.
From fake to real marriage. From wanting to leave to cannot live..
Hoping for more of this series
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I devoured this book in one sitting. The FMC is fierce, brave, and impossible not to root for and the sparks of banter were the perfect touch.
December 27, 2025
Enjoyed.
January 4, 2026
Can't wait to continue with The series.
The plot, the spice, the MCs, I really liked this book.
The plot, the spice, the MCs, I really liked this book.
January 16, 2026
aurora and alexei
(read on kindle)
(read on kindle)
December 29, 2025
can’t wait for what’s next!
We get to meet a kickass heroine, Aurora, who fights tooth and nail to stand up for herself and her family. She’s no damsel in distress, and yet, she kinda is. She is just such a fierce character with so much love, perserverence, and yes, damage. She meets our hero, Alexei, from the Russian Bratva, and he’s every bit the stoic, hardheaded, rough-around-the-edges kind we’d expect from a made man. From their first meeting to the end of the book, their love takes a long tumble, slow burn until it’s polished into a love that is hot, messy, and 100% theirs. On top of that blistering heat, there’s the mafia intrigue, mysteries behind a supposed suicide, secrets kept close to the chest, and they all come together to form this riveting story. There is a HEA (the MCs stay together and are in love), but the story doesn’t end there. I’m sure there’ll be more mafia intrigue and adventures weaved through the rest of the series to come as we explore the rest of the Bratva Brotherhood. I don’t know who the next couple will be and where Ava Zane will take us, but I’m happy to stay on this ride and see what happens next!
We get to meet a kickass heroine, Aurora, who fights tooth and nail to stand up for herself and her family. She’s no damsel in distress, and yet, she kinda is. She is just such a fierce character with so much love, perserverence, and yes, damage. She meets our hero, Alexei, from the Russian Bratva, and he’s every bit the stoic, hardheaded, rough-around-the-edges kind we’d expect from a made man. From their first meeting to the end of the book, their love takes a long tumble, slow burn until it’s polished into a love that is hot, messy, and 100% theirs. On top of that blistering heat, there’s the mafia intrigue, mysteries behind a supposed suicide, secrets kept close to the chest, and they all come together to form this riveting story. There is a HEA (the MCs stay together and are in love), but the story doesn’t end there. I’m sure there’ll be more mafia intrigue and adventures weaved through the rest of the series to come as we explore the rest of the Bratva Brotherhood. I don’t know who the next couple will be and where Ava Zane will take us, but I’m happy to stay on this ride and see what happens next!
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