Daddy’s Forbidden Prize

by Lydia Hall

She’s my employee.
My daughter’s favorite person.
And the one woman I should never touch.

I’m a Bratva pakhan with blood on my hands.
A widowed father ruling through fear and loyalty.
Love was buried with my wife.

Until she walks into my club—
smart mouth, steady hands, eyes that don’t flinch.

She tells me no.
She challenges my power.
She makes my home feel alive again.

It was supposed to be control.
One mistake. One night.

Now the Feds are watching.
My enemies are circling.
And she’s hiding something that could destroy me.

Don’t worry, solnyshko.
Daddy will protect what’s his… no matter the cost.

Author’s A dark, emotional Bratva romance featuring a widowed mafia father, forbidden attraction, age gap tension, and dangerous secrets. No Cliffhanger. HEA Guaranteed.

328 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 7, 2026

Reviews

[Nicole]

Daddy's Forbidden Prize is second book in the Bratva Daddies Trilogy. A steamy full-length standalone romance. A dark, emotional Bratva romance featuring a widowed mafia father, forbidden attraction, age gap tension, and dangerous secrets. No Cliffhanger. HEA Guaranteed. A widowed Bratva boss falls for his employee despite forbidden attraction and dangerous secrets. Featuring dark mafia themes and mature adult content. This is Roman and Ember story which told from a dual point of view. A beautifully written story with world building individuals and a complex storyline that captures the reader attention from the first chapter and keeps you riveted and on the edge of your seat. A definite page turner with enticing erotic scenes filled with heat, angst, intrigue, heart-stopping emotions, pulse-pounding drama and suspense. An absorbing addicting and unputdownable read. A fast paced, thrilling, and dark story.
A contemporary romance, organize crime thriller story, billionaire romance, he-falls-first romance, protective alpha hero romance, aged gap trope romance, forbidden romance, polar opposite attracts story, morally-grey antihero romance, workplace romance, off-limits romance, employee-boss romance, hate-to-love vibes story, single dad romance, enemies-to-lovers romance, protector hero romance, Bratva romance, damsel-in-distress story, rags-to-riches story, lust-at-first-sight romance, insta-love romance, insta-everything romance with deception, violence, lies, secret, madness, darkness, steam, power and control, consensual, intense sexual scenes, dominance, submission, dirty talking, danger, revelations, survival, resilience, traitor, mole, double-cross, treachery, backstabbing, acceptance, friendship, tension, betrayal, love, panty-melting passion, twists and turns, loss, grief, death and so much more.
For years Ember has had a dream of being her own boss and owning her club, so she saved every penny in order to achieve this goal. But her ex-boyfriend destroyed that dream by stealing her money and caused her to lose her job. With all her funds depleted and a dead dream her back was against the walls. This is when her best friend told about a position at a strip club as a manager. She never knew that by taking that position how much her life would change tremendously. She was just so happy to be making some money that she jumped on the job that her friend recommended unbeknowing that it was run by the mafia. Roman Orlov has blood on his hands and also the pakhan of the Orlov Bratva. He ended up running and owning a strip club as a debt payment for someone who couldn't afford to pay their debt. He's also a widowed father ruling through fear and loyalty with a rebellious fifteen year old daughter. His love was buried with his wife years ago until Ember walked into his club with her smart mouth, stead hands, and eyes that don't flinch.
She's a sassy, fiery, fierce, feisty and determined blonde. She was also his daughter's favorite person. She's not afraid to tell him no and challenge his power. She makes his home feel alive again. They were both drawn to each other from the first moment that they saw each other. Ember was able to double the profits at the club in just a couple of months with her taking over as the manager, something that the guy who owed him could not do. Ember is a the daughter of a cop who is now decease. They had one night together, one mistake that was supposed to be control. But things got out of hand and before you know it the Feds are watching and his enemies are circling. Roman as an informant in his organization who's feeding information to the Feds about Roman and his organization in order to take him down. Ember is also being pressure by the Feds to give them information about Roman but they have started a relationship. Roman knows that she's hiding something from him that could destroy him. But he vows to get to the bottom of it. "Don't worry, solnyshko. Daddy will protect what's his no matter the cost." And when Ember gets abducted by the Feds Roman will burn down the world to get her back and Ember remains strong in the face of adversity and pressure. A swoon-worthy story with heartbreak and healing.

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

[Shawna]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Daddy’s Forbidden Prize by Lydia Hall is dark, emotional, and completely addictive. This story delivers everything fans of forbidden mafia romance love—danger, intense chemistry, and a powerful hero who will do anything to protect what’s his.

Roman is a fascinating character. As a Bratva pakhan and widowed father, he’s hardened by loss and the brutal world he rules. Love is the last thing he expects to find again—especially with the one woman he absolutely shouldn’t want. Watching him struggle between control, duty, and the powerful feelings Ember awakens in him makes the story incredibly compelling.

Ember is the perfect match for him. She isn’t intimidated by Roman’s power or reputation and refuses to simply fall in line. Her strength and courage bring warmth back into Roman’s life and into his home, especially with the bond she shares with his daughter. Their dynamic is filled with tension, emotion, and undeniable attraction.

The added danger from enemies and the watchful eyes of the Feds raises the stakes, making the romance feel even more intense. Secrets, loyalty, and passion collide as Roman fights to protect the woman who has become more important to him than he ever expected.

If you love morally gray mafia heroes, forbidden attraction, age-gap tension, and fiercely protective fathers, this book is a must-read. Dark, steamy, and full of emotion—an unforgettable romance with a satisfying HEA. 🖤🔥.

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

[Denise DeJonge]

Ember has always dreamed of owning her own club. But so many life circumstances have gotten in the way of her achieving her dream, so she decides to take a job being a manager at a club. Little does she know this club has Bratva involvement.

Roman, the head of the Bratva organization ends up owning a club, as a result of an unpaid debt. Suddenly, his world gets turned around by a feisty blonde bombshell who is working as the new manager of the club.

I really enjoyed this Bratva saga. It had the perfect mix of drama, mystery and action. Of course Lydia Hall would never let the reader miss out on spicy scenes.

The character building included a strong female, Ember, who is not afraid to advocate for herself and for her needs. And most of the time, that worked great for her. In the same manner, Roman continue to portray himself as a strong leader, who reluctantly faced his struggles with opening his heart.

I look forward to reading more of Lydia Halls books. She has quite a creative mind and a great writing style.

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

[Judy]

This is the 2nd story in the Bratva Daddies Series where we find Ember down on her luck needing a job after her ex left her penniless. When her friend helps getting her a job as the manager at the strip club she’ has mixed feelings. Growing up with a dad as a police officer she’s always done the right thing. Roman is a Bratva Pakhan and gets ownership of the club due to an unpaid debt by the owner and several months after Ember has turned it around making money. These two are attracted to each other but once Ember discovers what Roman is she’s hesitant to continue working there or getting involved with the dark side of his life. When trouble comes for both of them from enemies and the law looking to take Roman down things get complicated especially after Ember and Roman start to build a life together. Mistakes are made and the cost it takes on them could cause life altering decisions. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[lf]

Carving a future they want

Daddy’s Forbidden Prize is the second book in the Bratva Daddies series by Lydia Hall. This story is a deliciously engaging and exciting story with a nice mix of age-gap, Mafia, single father, boss/employee, danger,. strong MFC, and a pure Alpha MMC. When Ember has no other option but to take the job as a manager of a strip club she never imagined what her life would become. She works hard to turn the club around and make it successful. Roman is the Pakhan of the local Bratva and he balances that with being a single father to a sweet girl. When unpaid debts mean he becomes the owner of the strip club he was not expecting the manager to turn his head in ways that have his world spinning. Ember and Ronan are attracted to each other immediately but will they cross that line to become more....and then what happens when they do.

[Catherine Ramirez Leon]

Daddy’s Forbidden Prize is an intense and engaging addition to the Bratva Daddies series. The story blends dark romance with suspense, creating a fast-paced read filled with tension and strong emotions.

The Bratva setting adds a powerful atmosphere to the story, and the characters have a compelling dynamic that keeps the reader invested. The connection between the main characters is filled with chemistry and emotional intensity, making their relationship both dramatic and memorable.

Readers who enjoy darker romance, possessive heroes, and high-stakes relationships will likely enjoy this book. It’s an entertaining read that fits well within the Bratva romance genre.

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

[Linda Fairburn]

Ember's father had been a cop until his death and in her mind is to keep on the right side of the law.
That's going to be rather difficult when she managing a strip club that has just been taken over by Roman and he's Bratva.
On top of that they can't stop the passion even if they tried, love slowly happens but for how long.
Troubles comes for her no matter how she tries but when Roman thinks she's a mole giving information to the FBI and he doesn't believe her, is it the end.
There's so much more to this story, blackmail, traitors, kidnappings and a rival who has set his sights on killing Roman.
What a story and one that captures your attention from the start.

[Nicole BOYD]

Ember and Roman are an unlikely pair that you quickly get sucked into their story. When I first met Roman I wasn't sure how I felt about him. I then find myself cheering for him hoping that Ember doesn't get caught or say the wrong thing after she is pretty much kidnapped and blackmailed by the FBI to rad him out. When Roman opens up about his wife and what happened to her my heart broke for not only him but his 15 year old daughter who is ypur typical rebellious teen. Out of all the Lydia Hall books I've read this is probably my favorite!.

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

[Lisa Parker]

Ember dreams of owning her own club but her ex made her lose her job and stole her money. She had been looking for a job when a friend recommends a manager job at a strip club. Roman Orlov, Pakhan takes over ownership of the club when his investment does not get the promised return. Ember is a cop's daughter and known as a goody two shoes but cannot stop the draw to Roman.

Roman has a snitch in his group, Ember is being pressed by the FBI. Who will she be loyal to? There are my twist thru the story, and plenty of steamy scenes.

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

[Johanna]

'Author’s Note: A dark, emotional Bratva romance featuring a widowed mafia father, forbidden attraction, age gap tension, and dangerous secrets. No Cliffhanger. HEA Guaranteed.'

The characters were very appealing and complex and complicated and perfectly steamy together. Plot was intriguing and intense and well paced. World building was excellent and impressive. 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.

[Merry Jelks-Emmanuel]

Roman and Ember are totally opposites and you would think not make a connection but working in the strip club that he takes over has them meeting and starting their path that is filled with dangerous twists and turns that kept me glued to the pages.

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

[Christine]

Arc review I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. Amber never thought she be running a strip club but life takes her in different directions ,but when Roman orlov comes into her life now her dad be rolling over in his grave.Fantastic

[Narelle]

A steamy read with Ember as she navigates a new job and Bratva boss Roman. Add in a teenage daughter, Feds watching and chemistry for a darker read with emotion and sizzling tension.

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

[Gill Charlton]

I liked the story, protagonists were believable i was not too sure when the spying bit came in I thought that was a bit strange...

I liked style of writing very descriptive and the finale was well thought out.

[Nate]

Daddy’s forbidden prize was Roman and Ember’s story. It was an engaging and emotional roller coaster. And voluntarily leaving this review.

[Katie]

This was just as bad as I knew it would be.

[Marii]

3,5