Cruel Protector

Ivanov Crime Family #8

by Zoe Blake

He came to D.C. to clean up a mess—not to claim a bride.

Darius Ivanov believes the American branch of the Ivanov crime family has grown soft.

Too many weddings. Too many feelings.

Men who forget that love is a liability.

He’s there to set them right.

Darius Ivanov is the man no one dares cross.

The most disciplined—and most dangerous—of the Ivanovs.

He doesn’t raise his voice.

He doesn’t leave a trace.

And he never, ever loses control.

Until her.

To secure a multibillion-dollar arms deal, Darius crosses a line even the Ivanovs won’t excuse—

he kidnaps the daughter of a U.S. Senator and locks a diamond bomb collar around her neck.

His demand is

Obey…or your daughter dies.

Cruel. Calculating. Always in control—Darius tells himself it’s business.

Leverage. Strategy. Necessary force.

Anna is sweet chaos.

Messy. Soft. Broken.

Exactly the kind of woman Darius can’t stand—yet can’t stop touching.

Forced to wear his collar, Anna claws at every cage bar he builds.

She refuses to bend. Refuses to break.

And Darius responds with colder rules, harder hands…and the intoxicating promise of punishment.

For a man who calculates everything, obsession was never part of the equation.

Neither was the possessive, violent need to protect what he owns.

Even the other Ivanov men know he’s crossed a line.

He refuses to step back.

Because Darius no longer knows if he’s holding her for the family’s future or because he can’t let her go.

She was supposed to be leverage.

Now she’s the only thing he’ll kill to keep.

As enemies circle in the shadows, one wrong move will cost Darius the empire he built in silence and the only woman he’ll burn that empire to the ground to protect.


This dark mafia romance is perfect for fans of Michelle Heard, Neva Altaj, and Ava Harrison.

Enter the dangerous, seductive world of the Ivanov men in this enemies-to-lovers romance filled with obsession, control, and irresistible danger.

Genres: Enemies To Lovers, Dark Romance, Romance, Mafia Romance, Forced Proximity, Crime, Dark

362 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 16, 2026

About the author

Zoe Blake is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the romantic suspense saga The Cavalieri Billionaire Legacy inspired by her own heritage as well as her obsession with jewelry, travel, and the salacious gossip of history’s most infamous families.

She delights in writing Dark Romance books filled with overly possessive billionaires, taboo scenes, and unexpected twists. She usually spends her ill-gotten gains on martinis, vacations, and red lipstick.

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/zoeblakebooks/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zoeblakebooks/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zoeblakebooks

Reviews

[Kursed Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A disappointment to her apathetic mother, a crooked senator, Anna Eleanor Collins, becomes a pawn to the Ivanovs. What Darius Ivanov fails to understand is that her mother has no regard for her offspring.

Scared and sad, but feisty all the same, Anna touches Darius in a way he never saw coming. Loved seeing the Ivanov men bring it full circle with Darius falling – hard – after coming to the US to bring the family “back in line.”

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Darkness: 🖤
Heat: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Range of Emotions: 😱😫🥲🥵😍
Ending: 💗 {HEA}

POV: 👫🏻 {Dual | Present}

🗄️ Genre: Contemporary Romance
🗂️ Subgenre(s): Mystery/Suspense, New Adult

✨ Tropes: Age Gap (?), Bad Boy x Good Girl, Billionaire, Enemies-to-Lovers, Family Saga, Insta-Obsession, Kidnapped/Captive, Mafia/Bratva/Organized Crime
 
💫 Microtropes: Caretaker/Protective MMC, “Good Girl”, Pet Name, Tattooed MMC, Tragic Past, Used as Pawn/Leverage, “We’ll Make It Fit”

🔆 Character: Illegal Enterprises, Retail, Singer

💋 Kinks: 🍑, Body Betrayal, Bondage/Restraints, Brat, Breath Play, Dirty Talk, Discipline/Punishment, Domination, Impact Play (Belt), Rimming, Spanking, STFUATTDLAGG, Toys as Teammates

🤰🏻 Pregnancy: n/a

🚩 Red Flags: Alphahole, MINE!, Touch-Her-and-💀

⛔️ Safety Squad: Assault (Not by MMC), Unaliving, Violence, and other potentially triggering elements. Triggers may appear both on- and off-page, and in the past and present. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!

📍 Setting: City (Washington, D.C.) 🇺🇸

⚠️ Warning: This steamy read will leave your panties damp and your cheeks flushed.

📣 Type: Cruel Protector is part of the Ivanov Crime Family series of interconnected standalones. While no other books need to be read in order to follow the story, reading prior books may enhance the experience.

🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.

[Darlene I read WAY to many books · Rating 4 out of 5]

The big boss is in town!! Yes the leader boss man Darius is in town and he's making sure his family is in line. And his neck move is a doozy the plan put a pretty necklace with a bomb in the senators daughter's neck. Yup. Something all his family is against. And Anna shes terrified thinking her mother would save her do anything and it's silent. So that's even worse for her. Because the truth comes out that she means so little to her mother. That was my problem with Anna she tried so hard to believe her mother would save her when she even said so herself her mother doesn't care.
And Darius started to see that so he made sure she was taken care of. Bought her food, cleaned her apartment, spanked her when she was out of line. All the dirty words he spoke to her. The tension. Plus the confusion both felt when things were taken another step.

I was glad that she really never had a bomb in the necklace im surprised he never informed her after. The spice was delicious to. Zoe always knows how to mix some pain with her pleasure.

Now I believe? This was the then of the series? I could be wrong and zoe brings someone else in.

Tiny om drama/no ow, no cheating, slight secondary character, Drama, sexy times, no virgins


Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶🌶🌶

Slowinsta
Age gap
Push/pull from both
Abduction
Coercion
Praise kink
Degradation
Psychological warfare disguised as courtship
Power exchange
Emotional manipulation
Anal play/sex
punishments
Spankings
No condom
Hea

[Kate V · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars!

Cruel Protector was top tier Zoe Blake writing. Darius kidnaps Anna, a senator’s daughter, and straps a diamond bomb collar around her throat in an attempt to reign in the corrupt politician. Anna has spent her life being used as a pawn, being abused by her mother and has never truly felt safe, protected or loved. So when Darius enters the picture, she’s confused with herself when the collar Darius straps around her neck makes her mortified, afraid and aroused.

For once in her life it feels like a man is both using her and caring for her. That whiplash is definitely going to be detrimental to her life…and her heart.

Darius is a man that has built his life around control. Anna is complete chaos and tears down the carefully constructed walls of discipline and rigidity. She was supposed to be a means to an end and he’s hilariously concerned when she becomes so much more. His spiral into Anna was really endearing and sweet in a bulldozing kind of way and I really loved how Anna blossomed when she was freely given the things she needed most.

"You want to know why I care?" I turned back to her, and she was standing now, backing away from me.

"Because you're mine. That bomb around your neck? That's not just a threat, maya soloveyka. That's a brand. A claim. And no one—no one—touches what belongs to me."

This was a bit violent, a whole lot of smutty and kinky fuckery, emotional and traumatizing in the best ways. I loved Darius…he had the best Dom energy and Anna had the best fiery submissive energy. I loved the harder power play as well as the softer moments between the two of them. The story was fresh and the ending was so damn cute. Zoe Blake never lets me down with her OTT alpha heroes and vulnerable heroines that only melt for their other half. Loved it.





ARC provided for an honest review.

[Brittany Azolino · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s dark. It’s spicy as hell. It’s unhinged in all the best ways. It’s exactly what readers look for in a touch her and d!3, enemies to lovers, dubcon book. Darius needs to secure a vote. Anna needs unconditional love. Both share a common enemy. He’s everything she hates to need. She’s everything he swore to never want. Seems like a lose-win situation to me!

For the ones that want the dark MMC to actually be dark and not the cloaked mushy stuff, then this book is for you. 💜

Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Plot ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ending 🎆🎆🎆🎆
Character Development 💜💜💜💜💜
Ability to put it down 🚫🚫🚫🚫

[Tanya Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cruel Protector was absolutely amazing to read! Anna and Darius fueled each other through suspense, arguments and of course spice that was off the charts. I love how Zoe keeps the plot moving forward while still bringing is all the previous characters we have fallen in love with.

[Lakshmi Praveen · Rating 5 out of 5]

So it's been a hot minute since I had picked up Zoe Blake's book, and boy this one was worth the wait. Darius Ivanov and Anna Collins , talk about OTT possessive MMC, with unhinged tendencies and eyes for that one woman, ahhh I'm in heaven. I don't always want to read a cornered FMC, but when Zoe Blake writes it you know you're gonna love it. And I did love it!! Cruel Protector was everything that my heart needed !

[Elsa Reyna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ate it up and left no crumbs.
This story is wicked, fiery, and deliciously unrestrained. Dark in tone, ruthless in tension, and unapologetically intense, it delivers everything fans of touch her and d!3, enemies-to-lovers, and dubcon crave. Darius is playing a dangerous game to secure a critical vote. Anna is starving for the one thing she’s never truly had—unconditional love. They’re bound by a shared enemy, forced into proximity, and trapped in a collision neither of them can escape.
He’s the very thing she despises needing.
She’s everything he promised himself he’d never want.
A disastrous bargain… or the perfect one?
If you’re tired of “dark” MMCs who soften too quickly and want a male lead who actually stays morally gray, ruthless, and unhinged, this book will absolutely be your next obsession. No fluff. No sugarcoating. Just raw intensity and chemistry that burns.

Dark. Spicy as hell. Completely unhinged.
Enemies to lovers, touch her and d!3, dubcon done RIGHT.
He’s everything she hates to need.
She’s everything he swore to never want.
Morally gray MMCs that actually stay dark? Say less. 🖤🔥
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
🚫 Ability to put it down

[TheBookPlatypus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Darius and Anna


Anna works at a record store and is trying to maintain a somewhat normal life. Her mother is an evil politician and has never been a true mother to Anna.
Unfortunately for Anna, her mother‘s enemies are at her front door.
Darius is cruel. Russian mafia. And thinks holding Anna over her mother’s head will make her mother do as he says.
But he doesn’t know is that Anna’s mother doesn’t really give a shit about her.

Holding Anna hostage, Darius finds her fighting cute. And waste no time trying to put her in her place.
It’s spicy. It’s crazy. It’s delicious.
Overly possessive and wild.

Age gap
He kidnaps her and holds her hostage.
Coercion
Praise kink
Degradation kink
Breeding kink
Power exchange
He cooks for her
She gets collared
Emotional manipulation
sex/spankings as punishments
HEA guaranteed

3.5 ⭐️

[Mary S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darius was one man that only had in mind of keeping his own control on things that were around him. But along comes a songbird and his world crashing. Ana was this strong woman that was just the perfect match for this powerful man. Love the Ivanov’s men they sure know how to protect and love their women.

[Cat H · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.
I love when a hardass gets proven wrong. Especially when it’s because he falls for the woman he wasn’t supposed to.
That ending was a little rushed, but I loved how he melted for her throughout the book.

[Bryer Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had so many fun themes to explore in addition to the 🌶️🌶️🌶️. I will always love an over the top hero with a touch her and die complex but what I really loved about this story was it helped two characters understand that balance ⚖️ of control and chaos is vital. It also drives home that we don’t get to pick our family that we’re born into but we get to pick the people that we call and identify as family. Which is a theme that Zoe has throughout the entire series but it’s really honed in in this last book. As a sidenote, I really found the scenes where Darius and his nephews are fighting in bantering with one another, just fun to read and I would love to just be in the room with my popcorn, watching boys be boys.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

(please be sure to always read the trigger warnings to ensure your mental health safety. Not all themes are for everyone and that’s OK.)

[Mary Wasowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

*** I had the pleasure of receiving this book as an Arc copy and let me say, Zoe Blake never disappoints. ***

“From this moment on, no one else will touch you. No one else will get to look at your body; you are mine." WOW! When a hot Russian mobster delivers a line like that, what’s a girl to do? Of course, the lead heroine tries to be strong and resist his charms but it’s too late. Darius has set his target and that’s Anna, his songbird. His plan may have started with one objective in mind but when his feelings change all due to the innocent girl who has ensnared him in more ways than one.

If you haven’t taken a deep dive in the world of the Ivanov men, you need to get over to Amazon and download book 1, asap. You will love it and Zoe’s men!

[Charlene Erika Ramos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just LOVED this new novella! Another dark, hot & spicy, and very smutty book Zoe Blake has given to us, with a brand new hero— The head of the Ivanovs himself. Loved the development between Darius and Anna’s relationship; all the tension and hardship between the two with what they had going on. Darius being someone who needs to be in constant control, and Anna, who just wants to feel grounded.

Cruel Protector is another well written and gripping story that Zoe brings to the table, that I just could not put down. Definitely suggest reading if you’re an avid reader of hers or are new here! As a reminder, please check the trigger warnings as this book contains heavy dark themes.

Very very very happy to have received this ARC. This review is entirely voluntary :)

[Emly Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance copy from the author.

This book is the perfect amount of dark and deadly with a sprinkle of all encompassing obsession. Zoe knocked this out of the park! I dove into this book and had to make myself put it down. one of the best romance books I've read in the last year!

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Stand-alone: Yes***
Author: Zoe Blake
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Spiciness Rating: 3.5/5 🌶
POV: First Person DualPerspective
Main Couple: Darius and Anna
Trope(s): Dark Mafia Suspense Romance, Forced Proximity, Enemies To Lovers, Age-Gap

It’s been a bit since I’ve read a Zoe Blake book. Picking up Cruel Protector brought me back to the first of my reads by her- the Ivanov Crime Family. I was glad to revisit some old friends. This dark romance had angst, suspense, and heat. For me this book was an easy and enjoyable read.

Anna’s mother is a corrupt ambitious senator who is trying to defy the wrong people.

Darius Ivanov, head of one of the largest and deadly Russian mafias in the world, comes to D.C. to remind his nephews who have been running their empire in the States what their game plan is supposed to be. Having been in London running the family’s legitimate businesses.

So he plans on sending a message. By using her daughter.

Only Anna won’t be able to give him the leverage he thinks she will.

Anna has tried to separate herself from her mother for years. She spent her days hiding out in the record store trying to figure out her next moves in life. She has never been the daughter her mother has expected her to be. And, since she isn’t a useful pawn, she is of no use to her.

Anna has been emotionally starved for years. Cutting herself off from people afraid of their motives.

Darius invoked fear in Anna but she was also drawn to his dark, seductive presence.

She was supposed to be a means to an end.

Darius wants to be the one to take care of her the way she needs, all he wants in return is her submission.

[Bex’s reading corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 spicy, dub-com, darker than the night stars for Darius’s ride in delusional denial land.

It’s crazy how when we watch a movie, or tv show or hear about this kind of behaviour in real life, over controlling, possessive, caveman, ties to crime etc, we lose our minds.
Buttttt when we read it, especially the way Zoe Blake writes it, we can’t get enough and it leaves us in a dark romance hangover to the extreme.

I don’t want this to be the end. There are some questions I need answered.. some retribution I need to see played out, especially with Senator and the pots she’s got stirring.

I will say that y’all need to pay attention to the trigger warning. There is no mercy, apologies or escape, you will get sucked into the dark depravity and crave every line of chaos and sin.

[Danielle Vasquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read an advanced copy so not out yet but coming very soon . Darius is my dark dream!!!🔥❤️🥵. I found this the best book in the ivanov crime family series. Anna is a very down to earth relatable character. If you like it steamy and hot then this is for you. He starts out as your worst nightmare but falls quickly and I feel redeems himself. can be read alone but the whole series is good and the characters intertwine.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zoe never lets us down. Uncle Darius is so freaking hot 🔥 He tries so hard not to fall in love with Anna. This book was so good. The push and pull between them was delicious. Poor Darius trying to keep the family business at the top of his list. He tries to show his nephews who is a true leader of the family and has their priorities straight while failing so miserably. This book was a 5 star read for me. I loved everything about it.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darius is a classic Zoe Blake hero, but hes got some new tricks up his sleeve as well! a great mix of scary hot and secret softie 😉.
Anna is a wonderful character; sugar, spice and stapler to the face🤣, we love a feisty heroine! this is a fantastic addition to the Ivanov series, and if you love Zoes work you will love this one too!

[Dottie Giblin]

I love Zoe Blakes books and this time she doesn't let me down. it's a story of a family business, taking care of business, and protecting what is yours. The characters are well written, many twists and turns but in the end family trumps all. I love it and you will too!

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC read of this. I loved Darius from page one! I love a man that truly only has a heart for one woman. all of Zoe's men are like it!! I absolutely do not want this series to ever end. this couple will always have a place in my heart. ❤️

[Tammy Crooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!! Awesome!!! Best she has done!!!

[What Helen Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars, 3.5 on the spice scale.

I love Zoe Blake's writing, I love the Ivanov Family and this was a satisfying end to the series.

After thinking we were only getting seven books, this surprise instalment introduces Darius, the secret leader of the Ivanov family, and the moment he appears, the other Ivanovs practically flinch. He’s here to clean up a mess, make sure an arms deal goes through, and remind everyone that he thinks the family has gone “soft” because of their women.

When the senator they rely on starts playing the mafia families against each other, Darius decides to kidnap her daughter as leverage. Of course, the mother couldn’t care less, and of course, Darius ends up falling for the woman he’s taken. Their dynamic is dark, tense, and very Zoe Blake — complete with a “bomb” necklace she can’t remove, mind games, and that obsessive, unhinged devotion her heroes are known for.

As a finale, it wraps everything up beautifully. I’m sad this series is over but this was a great conclusion to a series I’ve had so much fun with.

*Thank you to the author for an ARC of this title.

[Brittany (Brit.tea.reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝑭--𝒌, 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒅.

😈🖤Darius & Anna 💎💣

𝒀𝒐𝒖'𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒅𝒊𝒂𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒔, 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝑰 𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒚 𝒄💦𝒎.

This series isn’t for everyone. If you’re searching for a sweet, gentle MMC who whispers sweet nothings to the FMC, you won’t find that in these pages.

𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒔. 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒖𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒑𝒔 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒃𝒚 𝒐𝒏𝒆.

Instead, you’ll find ruthless, unhinged men who never apologize and have dirty, filthy mouths. The men are dominant and aren’t afraid to spank their women into submission. The Ivanov men are some of my favorite mafia antiheroes because they take what they want and feed off their women’s fear.

Darius is a ruthless mafia leader and loves order and control. He came to get things in the family business in check, but he never thought he'd fall hard for his captive.

𝑰𝒇 𝑰 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒆𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒚 𝒄😻𝒏𝒕, 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝑰 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒆𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒆?

He kidnaps Anna and straps a diamond necklace around her neck, which just so happens to be a 💣, and uses her as leverage against her mother, the corrupted, dirty senator. He soon realizes that when he’s around this girl, he loses control, and he’s starting to feel things for her, something new to him. She breaks down this man's walls and makes him fall to his knees for her.

𝒀𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒂 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓.

𝒀𝒆𝒔. 𝑯𝒆 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏, 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒑𝒔 𝒃𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒛𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒚 𝒆𝒂𝒓.

𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝑰'𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒔 𝒆𝒙𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅.

My heart broke for Anna. Her mother was a horrible POS. She deserved so much more from a mother than what she got. I love that every time Anna needed Darius, he was always there to fix the broken pieces. The spice was scorching hot, and I loved their fun, witty banter. Anna has a bratty side, but honestly, who wouldn’t, with a huge Russian guy using you as leverage and a 💣 strapped to your neck?! I mean, this is diabolical, true Ivanov men style. I love the way Zoe’s mind works. 😈

𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒑𝒊𝒆𝒄𝒆 𝒃𝒚 𝒑𝒊𝒆𝒄𝒆. 𝑳𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 ����𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒚 𝒕𝒐𝒖𝒄𝒉.

🖤His bratty good girl

🖤Cleans her house and cooks for her 🫠

🖤He loves it when she begs

🖤He loved her voice and loved when she sang

🖤He licks her tears

🖤When she says I dont think it will fit he tells her it will, and she'll be begging for more

🖤Mine!

🖤Comforts her

🖤Protective

🖤He unalives the man who assaults her.

I can’t wait to read more from Zoe this year; she has so many great books planned, and her stories never disappoint!

[Soft Nectarine ~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

He puts a BOMB around her neck but this mafia man also cleans her apartment 💣✨ dark SMUTTY romance with a morally grey mmc that will spank her into BDSM heaven!!!

✨💣 💎🎵💎 💣✨

Anna is a neglected daughter of a corrupt politician & a prime target for a kidnapping/extortion plan. When a mafia hunk attaches a bomb necklace around her neck she’s not surprised but definitely freaked 👀 Darius is back to make his family ruthless again & is determined to see this plan through….even if he has to spank Anna into submission.

Struggle for control & attraction sprinkled with a deadly protectiveness!

Favourite dynamic of the Ivanov series! Darius craved control & order but was immediately intrigued by the unyielding and bratty Anna 🖤✨I was obsessed with the TERRIFYING BUT CARING mafia man! He tied her up & spanked her down…but he also cooked, protected & cleaned her apartment. Get you a Bratva man that can DO IT ALL!

💣 bratty fmc x mmc that craves control

🩶 he licks her tears

💣 “When I say dirty things to you, when I call you a slut, a whore, or anything else, I am only pushing you deeper into your head, coaxing out that neglected part of you that needs to be a bad girl.”

🩶 she needs DARK protection & care only he can provide

SPICED UP smuttiness! This story was a classic infusion of Zoe Blake smuttiness but spiced a little differently. I thought the whole choking/collar kink was done impeccably with the bomb necklace & definitely not something I’ve read before. Darius can GET ITTT!!

What a perfect ending to the Ivanov series! The big boss Darius arrives from Europe to put all his boys in line but ends up love-trapped himself. The story was quite fast pace/insta love but the perfect length so every chapter packed a punch.


mafia romance
possessive mmc
age gap *wish for more emphasis on this
bratty fmc
opposites attract
kidnapping
collar/chocking
body betrayal
dub con
spanking/belting
double p
sex toy & restraints
dom/sub dynamic
abusive parent
HEA

Thank you to Zoe Blake for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Maria Hussain · Rating 5 out of 5]

◦•●◉✿✨️ 𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 ✨️✿◉●•◦
...
𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀:
Mafia Romance
Age Gap
Dark Romance
Touch her and die
Morally Grey MMC
...
This book is toxic in the most delicious, can’t-look-away kind of way and after finishing it, Zoe has officially shot to the top of my favorite authors list.

“𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱…𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗱.”

Anna’s life is a complete mess. Her mother is a powerful U.S. senator who controls and abuses her, leaving Anna trapped in a life that’s slowly crushing her. The only place she finds any real comfort is in music until Darius storms into her world and flips everything upside down.

"𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿, 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗿? 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴."

And listen Daddy Darius is a full-on black flag MMC, and I loved every unhinged second of him. This man literally kidnaps the daughter of a U.S. senator and locks a diamond bomb collar around her neck. He’s cruel, calculating, always in control. To him, it’s just business. Anna, on the other hand, is sweet chaos. She’s messy, soft, broken and exactly the kind of woman Darius claims to despise somehow can’t keep his hands off.

"𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲."

Their relationship is toxic, messy, and wildly addictive. It’s the kind of dynamic that makes you question your morals while you keep turning the pages at lightning speed. If you love a morally grey MMC who only cares about the FMC and would burn the world down for her, you need to read this book. I was obsessed.

"𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗯𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗴 𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝘆 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆."

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darius Ivanov has watched his nephews reign slip. Gregor has been allowing his new family make him weak. All of them have become weak. He has a plan to fix all that. Take the Senator’s daughter, Anna Collins and fix it all. Anna just wants to be left alone. Her and her mother have no love lost. All her mother ever does is blame her for everything. When a big Russian comes into her music story, she knows she is in trouble. But he isn’t listening to her. But he does place a diamond collar around her neck. Now she is a pawn in their game. Will she die by his hands due to her mother?

When Darius showed up with an attitude blaming Gregor and Artem for the numbers falling, he tries to take back control. His plan to put a collar bomb on an innocent, Anna, is crazy. He scares Anna but also tempts him. Things slowly turn when Anna keeps drawing him in. The seduction is hot. As soon as the senator shows and her true feelings for her daughter are shown, Darius walls start to break. That woman has no heart. You can see how broken and unloved Anna feels. I felt so heart broken for her. The women do rally, which I love. They are not a weakness for any of the men. They are their strength. I so loved the progression of how these two were broken. Darius, always controlled not seeing or feeling what the other Ivanov’s did. And Anna looking for love from her mother but only found a bitter woman. She found love and protection from Darius and the family. When I got to the end, I just stopped. Zoe, is this “the end” of the series? Isn’t there more to be done?

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Anu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not even sure where to begin, but I’ll try. Whatever you do, read the seven other Ivanov books before this one. They are standalones, but you’ll lose so much emotional depth if you start here.

From the very first page, Darius stole my heart. That cold, calculated control that borders on cruel detachment — the kind of man we all recognize. Nothing rattles him, everything is deliberate, and not a single crack ever shows. That’s Darius to the core.

And then there’s Anna — sweet chaos wrapped in insecurity, desperate to be the perfect daughter, especially for her mother, and drowning in guilt for not measuring up. When Zoe pairs these two together, something genuinely magical happens. I felt Anna’s fear, anger, disappointment, and desperation on every page. And at the same time, I understood Darius’s need for control and his confusion over how someone could shatter a “perfect” life simply by showing him something even more perfect.

And the premise? Wild in the best way. Who decides to kidnap a senator’s daughter and strap a bomb around her neck just to force an unpredictable senator into line? But did the plan work — or did something else work even better? That part you need to read yourself.

This book is absolutely worth it. I loved every main character, and when the previous book revealed that Gregor and Artem aren’t actually the most terrifying Bratva leaders out there — that someone even scarier exists — I was already sold. (What’s wrong with me… we’re not discussing that here.)

Honest review — ARC provided voluntarily.

[Louise Car · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book by Ms. Blake deserves top marks for her ability to write dark, chilling tales that crawl under your skin. She delivers a haunting exploration of twisted love, peeling back her characters layer by layer until their rawest selves are exposed. This story was depraved, intense, and far better than I expected. Even with warnings about its darkness, it still pushed my boundaries in the best way. Set against a backdrop of danger, brutality, corruption, and mystery, the story is both heartbreaking and unexpectedly heartwarming. A volatile mix of vulnerability and desire draws Darius and Anna together while forces around them threaten to tear them apart.

Darius Ivanov was the anti-hero of my dreams, dark, ruthless, dominant, and utterly menacing. Cold and calculating, he fascinated me, especially when his instinct to protect Anna overrode his desire to punish her but he stalled punished her when she disobeyed him.

Anna, scarred by a cruel mother and used as a pawn in a deadly game, was a compelling and sympathetic heroine. Her strength, defiance, and emotional turmoil were palpable. I felt her fear, her longing, and her internal battle as she craved the very man she feared.

Once this story pulled me in, it didn’t let go. The raw passion between Darius and Anna was intense, but what I loved most was watching their relationship evolve. Dark, gripping, and unforgettable, this book

[Tbascoebuzz · Rating 4 out of 5]

”Life was just a series of math equations. Pluses and minuses. People were no longer human beings to me, just numbers on a spreadsheet”.
—MMC Russian Bratva Pakhan Darius Ivanov.
I loved that opening line from ch; 1. It describes bossy, controlling Darius Ivanov and all his arrogance as well as his thinking process perfectly. Anyway to gain revenge against Anna’s senator mother and to manipulate this Senator to bend to his will, he captures the senators’ daughter to use as leverage and turns Anna into his personal sex toy while he waits for the senator to obey his terms. But the joke’s on him. Because in less than 24 hours and without even trying, Anna turns him from a disciplined man into an effing glutton for her.

This author has an amazing way with words and as usual, this plot was perfectly conveyed, well edited with superb sentence structure, and excellent dialogue while giving the reader a dual POV. Also once again, character details and features were virtually zero. Not just weak….nonexistent. Their personalities are well defined but what do they look like?!? How is a reader supposed to connect if we don’t have the necessary means of connecting? WHAT DO THE MAIN CHARACTERS LOOK LIKE? We get their personality traits galore and how well maintained their hard, sexy bodies are but where are their facial features described? How tall are they? What are their ages? WE NEED TO KNOW.