The Pakhan’s Secretary

by Ariana Cooper

What’s worse than desperation?
Taking a job I can’t afford to lose.

Walking into a glass tower of power, locking eyes with the most dangerous man I’ve ever seen—
and realizing… he owns everything. Including me.

Roman Sokolov. Cold. Commanding.
The Pakhan hiding behind a CEO’s smile.

I’m hired to be invisible—to organize his life,
to keep his secrets, to never ask questions.

But Roman doesn’t look at me like an employee.
He studies me like a weakness he plans to conquer.

One night of fear and fire shatters every rule I swore to follow.
By morning, he’s distant. Untouchable. Back behind his desk.

Then the truth detonates my world.
“You’re pregnant,” the doctor says softly.

That’s when Roman stops pretending.
“This child is mine,” he says. “And so are you.”

Now I’m trapped between enemies who want me dead
and a man who refuses to let me go.

Because one thing about a Pakhan—
he doesn’t make offers. He decides your fate.

And I don’t know yet whether he plans to protect me…
or destroy me to protect his empire.

Author’s A dark, emotionally intense mafia romance filled with power imbalance, obsession, forced proximity, and dangerous consequences. No cliffhanger. HEA guaranteed.

Genres: Mafia Romance

403 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 28, 2026

Reviews

[Céloise · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 35% Is this what happens when AI writes a smut novel? Cuz it sucks. And repeats itself like an automated recording.

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. I was looking forward to this. Had a good premise. The storyline was even very good until about the halfway point. I got about 3/4 of the way through this book before I threw it back. The big bad Pakhan, from everyone is afraid of, turns into this milk toast. He doesn’t act like a boss at all. He’s got this enemy who he doesn’t confront. He just keeps letting stuff happen. If this was a real mafia book, he had gone out and just killed the other guy. Then there’s the holes. She’s so afraid of him, but as soon as she moves into his house, she starts bossing him around and yelling in his face and telling him what he is and isn’t going to do and what is and isn’t non-negotiable, like she has any power in the situation at all. Then there’s the little brother who is 16. She throws him this Halloween party and he accidentally stumbles upon the guy who’s being kept in the seller. Even though if you were to go down into the seller, it would look like a wine seller because where they keep the prison is hidden behind a secret door, but that’s OK. He finds him anyway we don’t know how that was pretty much the last straw. I’m just fed up with this. I was really hoping I had found a new author to read. I won’t be reading anymore for stuff.

[Erika Green]

This book was so repetitive I started to wonder if AI wrote it. I was starting to feel like I was going crazy because of how often the same thing was repeated over and over. Describing her clothes, “the curve of her neck” and whatnot was just…odd.

[Alice · Rating 2 out of 5]

disappointing

This book really needs some major editing.
The overall story was good and promising, but it just fell apart.
There were so many repetitive scenes, boring scenes about her navy shift dress, her blond bun, him drinking vodka. Over and over.
There were major timeline issues. It was morning, it was evening, then back to noon. This book was just all over the place.
I really wanted to like it, but again, major editing issues.
I hope this isn’t an AI book, but the story was just had so many repetitive scenes, it was very disappointing. I won’t read any more of the books in this series.

[Ra Ra]

DNF at 50 pages. Sad, I know.

Here’s why
- The “Navy Sheath Dress”. Our heroine wears this dress no less than 3 times in the first 50 pages. Lazy writing or copy & paste? You can decide. Regardless, it bothered me.
- Whole paragraphs repeated word-for-word. UGH. I am a stickler for details and when I noticed this it drove me CRAZY. Don’t accept writing from authors that think you won’t realize they’re copying their expository text from previous chapters. Yucky. Lazy. Hate it.
- Roman has a mustache. Didn’t work for me, personally

That was enough to make me dip.

[Lara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Al principio me enganchó bastante, pero a medida que avanzaba me fui desenganchando y al final lo he acabado por inercia.

[Courtney T · Rating 1 out of 5]

Such a terrible book. How many times do we have to repeat the same lines over and over? Have the book is just saying the same thing. Copy and paste.

[Kirsty Graham · Rating 1 out of 5]

Got 20% of the way in and then the repetitive text and continuity errors really got on my nerves.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Pakhan's Secretary is second in the Sins of Bratva Series. A full-length standalone romance with no cheating or cliffhanger. A dark, emotionally intense mafia romance filled with power imbalance, obsession, forced proximity, and dangerous consequences. No cliffhanger. HEA guaranteed. A secretary becomes entangled with Roman Sokolov, a dangerous mafia boss posing as CEO. Their forbidden relationship leads to pregnancy and deadly consequences. Contains mature adult themes. This is Roman and Eva story which is told from a dual point of view. A beautifully written story with world building individuals and a fascinating and complex storyline that captures the reader attention from the start and keeps you riveted and on the edge of your seat and turning the pages until the end. A fast paced, dark, gripping and thrilling story.
A contemporary romance, Bratva romance, dark mafia romance, billionaire romance, aged gap trope story, morally-grey antihero story, employee-boss romance, workplace romance, taboo romance, forbidden romance, romantic suspense story, OTT possessive alpha hero story, forced proximity romance, polar opposite attracts story, rags-to-riches story, billionaire romance, dark romance, off-limits romance, pregnancy romance, he-falls-first romance, protective alpha hero romance, with obsession, possessiveness, power and control, revelations, twists and turns, panty-melting passion, action packed, darkness, madness, danger, violence, enemies, rivalry, secrets, consensual intense rough sex, lies dominance, submission, and resilience.
A story of family, brotherhood, survival, love, betrayal, sabotage, treachery, suspense, deception, mystery, surprises, tension, heart-stopping emotions, angst, family, acceptance, captivity, kidnapping, pulse-pounding drama, anger, threats, attacks, backstabbing, double-cross, enemies and love. Roman Sokolov is the billionaire CEO of of Sokolov Financial Group and the pakhan of the Sokolov Bratva who's hiding behind a CEO's smile. He's cold, stoic, handsome and domineering. By day he runs a legal business and by night an illegitimate business for the Sokolov Bratva. He has a lot on his plate running both side of the business while his company falling apart and he doesn't know where the problem is coming from.
Eighteen year old Eva Markova is drowning in debt and can barely make it because of her mother staggering hospital bills due to cancer before she pass away. She had to take a loan out to help pay back the hospital. She needed to find a better job. She was desperate so when she got the job at Sokolov Financial Group, she couldn't afford to lose it. It affords her to at least see her way. Walking into a glass tower of power, she locks eyes with the most dangerous man that she seem. Eva was hired as his secretary and must stay invisible to organize his life, to keep his secrets, and to never ask questions. Roman believes that she was planted in his company to be a spy because of the company who lend her money. He doesn't look at his employees, but he was attracted to her.
She worries that he doesn't look at her like an employee and more like he would like to devour her. He studies her like a weakness he plans on conquering. The more time and late nights that they spend together their feelings only grow more. Until one night they cross the line, a night of fear and fire that would shatter every rule that she swore to follow and they succumb to their desires. And by morning, he was distant, untouchable back to his desk as if they didn't just spent an earth-shattering night together. And it turns out that he left her with a parting gift when the doctor said the two words she wasn't prepared to hear. "You're pregnant." Her entire world detonate in one breath. And then he stopped ignoring he said this child is mine, and so are you. However, there's a mole in his inner circle that is trying to bring down his empire.
He must get to the bottom of it sooner rather than later because Eva is not now caught in the cross-hair and they want her gone. Eva works alongside him to see figure out who's the mole and it will shock him. There's also a woman who claims that they're engaged and is planning on getting married. Which option will he choose his family in Russia and his Bratva or the new family that he as created with her?

I received an advanced copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[M. H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot was very very good ! I would have definitely given it at least 4 stars but there were some things that just made it less enjoyable for me.

Firstly: SOOOOOOOOO MANYYYYY of the same phrases and dialogues were constantly repeated through out at least half the book, to the point that it became tediously exasperating. I mean really, the repetitions were just making it feel like ‘ugh this EXACT SAME PHRASE AGAIN, its getting old now’.

Another thing: there are a few situations that we don’t see the fall out of or how things were handled between the MC’s, and that just made it feel very unresolved when the story abruptly moved on to something else. 3 scenes come to mind: first, immediately after Roman orders Eva to move in to his house, his ‘arranged fiancee’ (whom he led on without correcting her because her father was a powerful ally) burst into his office yelling at him ‘what! you’re gonna move your secretary into your house?!’, and the chapter just ends there and starts on a completely different day! we don’t see ANYTHING of how that scene panned out between the 3 of them, so it was super anticlimactic and felt unresolved for that scene. Second, there’s a scene where Eva gets a call that her grandmother has to go into emergency surgery and the person on the phone asks if she wants to talk to her on the phone before the surgery, she says yes and then that chapter (And event) just ends. We see later that her grandmother made it through the surgery, but it never showed Eva sharing this news with Roman, so we dont know if he even knew or if he tried to comfort her. Likewise in another scene, right after she moves into Roman’s house, Eva’s brother visits her from Russia and accuses her of living in opulence while he and their grandmother struggled financially and starved, after which he leaves, and we never see Eva share this entire conversation/event with Roman so i just assume he never knew about it and never felt bad or tried to comfort her about the fallout with her brother. It just felt like there were massive disconnects between the characters and the scenes.

The other thing: there was NO interaction shown between Roman and Eva’s brother, like absolutely none at all even though they were depicted in group settings, they don’t say even one dialogue to each other even once. It’s not necessarily a huge deal breaker, but it just felt like a huge missed opportunity to expand on how Roman would build a relationship with her loved ones. Showing that relationship development between brothers-in-law would have made it more wholesome.



so overall, the plot was great but there were tonnnsss of repeated phrases to the point of tediousness (not even exaggerating), some significant disconnect between characters and some significant unresolved scenes that drop you into new situations abruptly without seeing how those scenes ended.

[Tbascoebuzz · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hilarious. Does this author think that her reading audience are preschoolers where she has to repeat sentences and paragraphs and entire chapters ad nauseam? Was this supposed to be a teenager’s debut attempt at writing? This began well with strong character descriptions, laying out a solid foundation and giving readers a lay of the land, ie; building/architecture and offices etc. that Eva is entering. But within a few chapters it takes a drastic nose dive and doesn’t recover. It went from character building and promise to ridiculous repetition with the same phrases repeated verbatim, over and over without progressing. It becomes a story of a lot going on but nothing happening and I know how ridiculous that sounds but that’s just how ridiculous it is. There’s so much wrong with this book that it would take a book to unpack it all. There’s a scene where Eva is packing up her belongings in her apartment. The author describes her room “looking like a bomb went off”. With “half packed boxes littering every surface”, etc. Six sentences later Eva says, “everything I own fits into three boxes”. LOL. And Roman Sokolov is described as this big, bad, all powerful and controlling Bratva Pakhan when in reality he’s more like a horny, vodka guzzling teenaged boy who’s unable to solve a problem. Every chapter has the Same. Exact. Drama.

Best friend Lev says: “We have a problem. Three more Chinese gambling operations hit tonight“.
Roman: “Blyat! And the Irish”? (He’s very concerned of and always asking about those damn Irish)
Lev:” Roman we’re losing control“.
Roman: “It’s Yakovlov”. No duh. It’s been “Yakovlov” since chapter 1 …(we’re now in chapter 35! Same scenario. Same dialogue).

This is the least of the problems with this book. The dialogue is hilarious and actually had me laughing out loud with these grown, supposedly tough Bratva men throwing shade and talking like jr. high rejects trying to prove themselves. The same scenes, sentences and phrasing recycled on repeat. This book would be perfect to use for Creative Writing classroom no-no’s. It’s my own fault. I asked the Lord to give me patience. He sent me this book.

[Charlene Gaskins · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Another story with an oops pregnancy and "mine" written a million times throughout the book. There is some repetitive dialogue as well. I have begun keeping track of authors that are drawn to the pregnancy tropes in their books and am putting a pause on any of their new release's unless I sense something in the blurb that is "different" than the usual read and repeat. For awhile it was sex clubs and BDSM, but many have moved on to unplanned pregnancies' which has gotten extremely predictable and boring. It's 2026 not 1970 where you would think that single woman use something to protect themselves from unwanted pregnancies, but apparently not in this genre.

Roman and Eva's story could have been so much better had the author not dumbed down both main characters. Roman's character was suppose to be a strong Pakhan and business man and yet he couldn't figure anything out as everything is being strategically destroyed by a character right out of the Soprano's. Eva was suppose to really need this job, but can't stop herself from having sex with her new boss, Roman. He rolls over Eva like a train and then expects her to fall in love with him. I found it interesting that Lev kept reminding Roman about how dangerous his relationship with Eva was and yet he was exchanging pillow talk with Irina. How either of these men completely dismissed that she could be up to no good, until she sabotaged Eva's wedding dress was almost laughable since she had front row seats to what was going on in Roman's Bratva. Exiling her instead of something more serious was a real disappointment considering what she did and how many people died because of her.

Had the author included Lev and Irina in the story more, may have given the book added interest. Their involvement was behind the scene until it wasn't.

[Shelly Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was on its way to being rated four stars. The slow tension between the leads. The right-hand man trying to keep everything on track. The stuck-up Russian girlfriend and the one who thinks she's a fiancee. The family which needs money back home. Then it went off the rails. First the kidnapping and interrogation of Megan's brother. Seriously the guy doesn't see Eva's not interested and his sister says nothing. Then he suddenly knows so much more about the business side than anyone should and blabs he's going to tell. So instead of making him relocate they keep him in a guest room in the basement. The next is dear brother having a passport and visa to fly to the US and then starts complaining that Eva's so well off even though he knows better. He somehow has free run of the house and finds Tyler in the basement. So of course, he keeps Alexi, Meghan, Tyler, and Eva locked in the house only to let them go a bit later and nothing done. After that, it should have immediately righted itself but unfortunately the right-hand man is made to look incompetent because his girlfriend is playing both sides. Scrap the entire character of Tyler, don't bring Alexi over and then you don't have the off the rails bit. Make Abram more evil, Irina more diabolical and make her the fake fiancée not the girlfriend of the right hand and it would flow so much better. It would make sense. As it was after the entire - Tyler in a basement thing, I was ready to stop. I know the author writes better than this. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Belle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story itself had a lot of potential. Unfortunately, it became very repetitive at times, which caused the plot to lose its momentum and direction. Eva starts working as Roman’s assistant. At first, he is very distrustful and constantly on edge because of the dangerous world he lives in. Although his business is legitimate, that is exactly why he has to be careful about who he allows into his inner circle. Eva desperately needs the job for financial reasons, so she pushes through her fears and continues working despite her concerns. The two definitely have chemistry, but their emotional connection never really develops. The attraction is there, but it never feels like it grows into anything deeper. They become intimate at work, only to practically ignore each other afterward, which made their relationship feel inconsistent and underdeveloped. When Eva becomes pregnant, the dynamic between them shifts considerably. However, I never felt truly invested in their relationship. I was missing the emotional build up, meaningful conversations, and gradual development that would have made me believe in their connection. Instead, many of the interactions felt repetitive, and the romance relied more on physical attraction than on emotional intimacy. Because of that, the later changes in their relationship didn’t have the emotional impact they were clearly meant to have.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 2nd story in the Sins of the Bratva Series where we find Eve in debt struggling with several jobs trying to get from under the debt of her mothers medical bills and sending money to Russia helping her younger brother and grandmother. Finding this secretary job making good money should help. What Eve doesn’t expect to find is one demanding and powerful man, Romas as her boss. Roman runs a legitimate business while running his Russian family as Pakhan. The interactions between them are professional until they’re not and once Eve becomes part of Roman’s world. When family and friends become a threat Roman protects his bratva and Eve loses faith. Roman is skating on thin ice with all the attacks on rival families made to look as though he’s doing them. When the danger comes to a head the secrets, lies, past and present collide leaving Eve and those he cares for in more danger than they thought possible. The love created and broken between Eve and Roman will be tested! I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Stephanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful, Amateurish

I’m not sure where to start with this review. The further you go in this book, the worst it gets. One of the biggest issues is that it almost seems like the Author forgot what she’s previously written. It’s full of repetition. We’re constantly told the same things over and over and over. There’s at least 11 times were told how he notices that she presses a thumbnail into her index finger when she’s nervous.

Must be at least 10 times we’re told that they know who it is that’s trying to dismantle his mafia but they need proof. We told things then nothing seems to happen with them except chapters later the exact same things are said again..

Parts of the plot were just nonsensical, it got so bad that the last 20% (and I consider it a real testament that I managed to keep going that long) I just flick through picking up the main themes just to get to the ending.

If this is the style of writing for this Author then I’m afraid I won’t be reading her again.

[Katherine Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good but inconsistent

This has the potential to be a fantastic story. Unfortunately the author repeats herself a lot and it’s very frustrating. There is also jumps in the story and you have to work out what’s gone on. She also uses the same phrases a lot and to be honest it made me start to lose interest. There is also huge inconsistencies in time lines. The sister being given an hour to pack her bags but then doesn’t arrive for weeks. Similar thing with Eva’s brother. Once these issues are sorted then this book will be good but to be honest from 60% in I was skimming as I was struggling with the issues. A generous three stars but could definitely improve with a good edit

[Michi Rosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Roman's character, he is the perfect bratva boss that we all learned to love: brooding, gorgeous, touch-her-and-die vibes, and falling first and harder.
Eva is a good character but she goes back and forth between being strong and standing her ground to being fragile and uncertain and clueless about what to do.

I really enjoyed this story, but this book needs some editing. Roman downs his vodka so much and so often to drown some feeling or another (always failing to do so) that I was surprised he wasn't drunk for most of the book. Also, "her stubborn pride he both loves and wants to crush" becomes very repetitive after the fifth time...

A great story overall, just could have benefitted from having a beta-reader.

[Merry Jelks-Emmanuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eva is in a serious bind when she gets a job offer, she can't refuse. When she meets Roman, he is everything the assistant stated and more and his commanding personality resonates through the warnings. He is a ruthless CEO and so much more when she learns that he is the Pakhan and when one intimate encounter leads to two pink lines Eva has her plate filled with dawning realities. Will his dangerous lifestyle become her reality and lead them along a path to happiness in the end. This story is filled with twists and turns that had me glued to the pages.

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

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Pakhan’s Secretary is a spicy, intense Bratva romance that forms between leads Roman Sokolov and Eva Markova.
Eva needs the job at Sokolov Financial Group badly, it pays well and along with her other jobs will keep her debts at bay for a time.
Eva had no idea the direction her life would soon be taking once she stops being CEO Roman’s life organizer and keeper of secrets.
Loved the story which was well written with drama, intrigue, crime dynamics, surprises, danger, and passion.
An excellent read that delivered quite the entertaining narrative.

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

[Brenda A · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not finish

I was really enjoying this book till I got to about page 20. Where they had sex in his office she was all prim and proper robotic answers and then they had sex. No build up no flying her with alcohol. She needs this job so bad she would not have made that kind of mistake also it didn't seem like she was a virgin. Since they both know nothing about each other they should have used some kind of protection. I really don't like leaving a bad review I just get so disappointed with these books. Not only do they need an editor they need a beta reader who does a reality check LOL

[Rhonda Barrett · Rating 1 out of 5]

First I had to keep checking to see what chapter I was reading because the same description was used in practically every chapter. Then the time line jumps 3 weeks to the future but the two weeks before the wedding is about a month and a half long. When Iriena was first mentioned very early in the tale, I knew who the mole was. Her interest in the Pakhan's secretary soon after being hired was just too questionable that everyone in the story should have been suspicious. The sex was without heat or passion. I finished it only because I started it. That is hours I will never get back. I cannot recommend.

[Dulcie Marshall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent

Long...very long. Thr characters are compelling. The build up is solid. My complaint is the repetitive nature. The first part repeats thing multiple times, sometimes almost word for word. Roman's musings abput the curve of her neck, the bun...etc...it was annoying and seemed a lazy.
One part was just...wait, what? He assigned her two cars to follow her for her protection. Meanwhile she's taking the subway and walking...try, one car will drive you home whilst the other is back up. Protection doesn't leave you exposed. So, yeah, that got me SMH.
Beyond that, I liked the storyline.

[Barbara K. West · Rating 2 out of 5]

a little disappointed

I thought authors had editors that took care of there books. But I guess this author doesn’t have one. The stories are repeated and in a lot of cases they contradict their self. The overall story was good. Just weird things like Eva was setting between Lev and Roman but in the next instant Roman says that Lev is looking at him and Eva in the rear view mirror….what the??? Then he gets a call about his sister and with Eva standing there that they have to get her to America. But a few chapters later he tells Eva he has a sister……??? She already knew that. This book was really confusing. Not sure I’ll read another of her books.

[Noor · Rating 2 out of 5]

My head hurts from the repetition.
Lev knows everything I think he is a psychic 🤣. “ It's not a question. Lev knows me too well, can read the situation with uncomfortable accuracy. I don't bother denying it.”.
I also don’t see the Pakhan plotting and strategising to take over territories or planning to protect his empire 21% in this book and he is either in his office drinking vodka and watching Eva or at his penthouse drinking vodka and think about her. And when Lev comes to tell him that they are bleeding money and the business under attack he says I think it’s Yakovlev but we need proof it’s him what do you think.
Arrrraaghhh pathetic

[Linda Fairburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eve is running out of money debts mounting up and a family in Russia counting on her and the only way out is to get a better paid job.
The job as a secretary is working out really good, falling for your boss though is a definite no no but it's too late now she's pregnant.
This is where everything changes, sometimes for the good but there's a lot of bad coming there way and its looking like there's no way out.
This story will keep you on the edge of your seat, there's so many problems at every corner and solving them is not easy.
A definite must read.

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Author’s Note: A dark, emotionally intense mafia romance filled with power imbalance, obsession, forced proximity, and dangerous consequences. No cliffhanger. HEA guaranteed.'

The characters drove the storyline and they were very compelling and complex and complicated and perfectly steamy together. Plot was intriguing and intense and well paced. World building was excellent and solidly drawn. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend!

Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.

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

[DSquared · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid story

This book tells a good story with likable characters. In spite of some twists, no real surprises. The characters are predictable with the MMC a bit softer than probably intended. The twist comes a bit out of the blue from a character not well developed which is why the 3.5 star rating. The FMC is very naive and innocent in spite of descriptions of her spine of steel. Not sure why, but the characters seemed stereotypical rather than genuine to me - another reason for the 3.5 stars. But, still, for the genre, a solid story with some action, a twist and a HEA.

[William J · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Pakhan Secretary

Ugh, where do I start. I did read the first book and i gave it 4 stars. It had a good plot and story but it was repetitive in many ways but overall a decent read.
This book sadly not so much. The plot was boring and just got a little spunk at the end. Otherwise it dragged along and it was even more repetitive than the first. At lest 10 times like a copy and paste. Every other page I had to read about fuller boobs due to pregnancy. I was ready to quit reading but powered through. The story is ok, lame, but ok.

[L KQ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Betrayal Lurking

When Eva comes to work for Roman she thinks he is merely the CEO of the company. As they become closer, his life as Pakhan is revealed and the situation gets dangerously enticing. Their story is exciting, intense and spicy. While there are some parts that fall flat, it is still entertaining at it's other moments.

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