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Secrets & Sovereignty: A Dark Mafia Romance
He intercepted my death sentence. Now I'm not sure if I'm his prisoner—or his obsession.
Alexei Ivanov is the Bratva's strategist. Cold-eyed. Calculating. The reason I'm still breathing.
I dug too deep into a story I shouldn't have touched. Someone ordered my death. He stopped it. Now I'm trapped in his penthouse while he decides what to do with me.
He says I'm leverage. An asset. A problem to manage. But the way he watches me doesn't feel like strategy. It feels like hunger.
The door isn't locked. He reminds me of that constantly. But every time I try to leave, I find myself walking toward him instead.
He killed for me. And the most dangerous part? I don't want him to stop.
Tropes: captive romance he falls first morally gray protector cat and mouse slow burn detonates
Alexei Ivanov is the Bratva's strategist. Cold-eyed. Calculating. The reason I'm still breathing.
I dug too deep into a story I shouldn't have touched. Someone ordered my death. He stopped it. Now I'm trapped in his penthouse while he decides what to do with me.
He says I'm leverage. An asset. A problem to manage. But the way he watches me doesn't feel like strategy. It feels like hunger.
The door isn't locked. He reminds me of that constantly. But every time I try to leave, I find myself walking toward him instead.
He killed for me. And the most dangerous part? I don't want him to stop.
Tropes: captive romance he falls first morally gray protector cat and mouse slow burn detonates
110 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 11, 2026
SECRETS AND SOVEREIGNTY is the second instalment and novella in Kelsie Calloway’s contemporary, adult IVANOV BRATVA Mafia romance series. This is Alexei ‘The Ghost’ Ivanov, and journalist Zara Okonkwo’s story line. SECRETS AND SOVEREIGNTY can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary .
Told from dual first person perspectives (Alexei and Zara) SECRETS AND SOVEREIGNTY follows in the wake of the abduction of journalist Zara Okonkwo by the Ivanov Bratva, more specifically Alexei ‘the Ghost’ Ivanov . Zara Okonkwo is investigating organized crime and corruption in her city including the Ivanov Bratva and Corsetti Crime Family but Zara never expected to find herself under the protection of our story line hero. The Corsetti crime family has ordered a hit on our story line heroine, and Alexei becomes guardian and protection of the woman who could destroy them all. As the days go by Zara discovers there is more to Alexei than the determined and quiet killer, but a lonely man, heart broken by events of the past.
The world building focuses on the protection of Zara Okonkwo, and the encroaching war between crime families. Alexei is determined to protect Zara even if it costs him his life; Zara struggles to prove Alexei is worthy of his own happily ever after.
The relationship between Zara and Alexei is one of force proximity in the wake of Zara’s abduction. Alexei quickly discovers he wants Zara for himself, something he never could have imagined or dreamed of in the face of his life style and demands. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
We are reintroduced to Alexei’s brothers: Sergei, Dmitri and Pakhan Nikolai Ivanov, as well as Nikolai’s wife Sable.
SECRETS AND SOVEREIGNTY is a story of power and control, secrets and lies, family and relationships, acceptance and love. The fast paced, character driven premise is dramatic and edgy-for a novella length story, SECRETS AND SOVEREIGNTY packs quite a bit of detail and proverbial punch, though not as dark a many Mafia series. The characters are determined and dynamic; the romance is fated and seductive.
copy supplied for review
Told from dual first person perspectives (Alexei and Zara) SECRETS AND SOVEREIGNTY follows in the wake of the abduction of journalist Zara Okonkwo by the Ivanov Bratva, more specifically Alexei ‘the Ghost’ Ivanov . Zara Okonkwo is investigating organized crime and corruption in her city including the Ivanov Bratva and Corsetti Crime Family but Zara never expected to find herself under the protection of our story line hero. The Corsetti crime family has ordered a hit on our story line heroine, and Alexei becomes guardian and protection of the woman who could destroy them all. As the days go by Zara discovers there is more to Alexei than the determined and quiet killer, but a lonely man, heart broken by events of the past.
The world building focuses on the protection of Zara Okonkwo, and the encroaching war between crime families. Alexei is determined to protect Zara even if it costs him his life; Zara struggles to prove Alexei is worthy of his own happily ever after.
The relationship between Zara and Alexei is one of force proximity in the wake of Zara’s abduction. Alexei quickly discovers he wants Zara for himself, something he never could have imagined or dreamed of in the face of his life style and demands. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
We are reintroduced to Alexei’s brothers: Sergei, Dmitri and Pakhan Nikolai Ivanov, as well as Nikolai’s wife Sable.
SECRETS AND SOVEREIGNTY is a story of power and control, secrets and lies, family and relationships, acceptance and love. The fast paced, character driven premise is dramatic and edgy-for a novella length story, SECRETS AND SOVEREIGNTY packs quite a bit of detail and proverbial punch, though not as dark a many Mafia series. The characters are determined and dynamic; the romance is fated and seductive.
copy supplied for review
May 2, 2026
A novella about a couple finding one another after he saves her from being killed by people who don't like her looking into their business, she was going to write about his family.
From first sight he started having feelings for her but it didn’t take long before she started having feelings for him as well. She helps him after he gets hurt.
His family gets targeted by a rival that wants her. They want her so they can force her to write about his family so that they will be put in prison so they can take the family’s territory.
Their feelings grow. They tell one another that they love one another. After another attack on his family’s properties he knows that he has to let her go to save her but she fights to stay with him.
The couple comes back together to take down the family’s rival. She’s accepted into his family. The rivals are taken care of.
The couple are happy together and are in love.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
From first sight he started having feelings for her but it didn’t take long before she started having feelings for him as well. She helps him after he gets hurt.
His family gets targeted by a rival that wants her. They want her so they can force her to write about his family so that they will be put in prison so they can take the family’s territory.
Their feelings grow. They tell one another that they love one another. After another attack on his family’s properties he knows that he has to let her go to save her but she fights to stay with him.
The couple comes back together to take down the family’s rival. She’s accepted into his family. The rivals are taken care of.
The couple are happy together and are in love.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 11, 2026
This is Alexei and Zara's story. It was a slow burn that developed into the beginnings of love. Alexei is the Ghost of the family who intercepts an order on Zara. It starts out as using her as bait and develops into something more. Zara is writing a story on his family. In reality the crimes she's investigating aren't the responsibility of his family. The one issue which caused the 4 rating was when he pushed her away and with her life in danger, she's running around the sidewalks without protection. The way it's tied up and the article she writes is a unique way. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy
When journalist Zara looks to deeply into the Ivanov Bratvas dealings she ends up on a hit list and its Alexei Ivanov who comes to her rescue, but now shes in his penthouse, the choice to leave is ahead of her with the doors unlocked yet she cant make her self go, captive to her body and minds desires just as Alexei is to her, but his family didnt order the hit in her, which makes him need to know who did? Well written the story and characters draw you in with steamy tension, desires, action and more.
March 14, 2026
This is book 2 in Calloway's Ivanov Bratva Mafia romance series. A great addition to the series that can be read as a standalone. A novella size/length read that focuses on main characters Zara and Alexei. Zara is a journalist digging a bit too deep into the Bratva's dealings and Alexei steps in to save her from a hit being placed on her. I love their draw and chemistry. The twists and turns will keep readers captivated. Overall, a well-done romance. Looking forward to more!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 12, 2026
Gigging too deep into information for a story gets Zara targeted for death until Alexei steps in and protects her. Now she is in his penthouse under his protection. His family was not the ones that order her death and close proximity has hearts opening and more than secrets spreading. This story is filled with drama that kept me glued to the pages from start to the end.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 14, 2026
Zara and Alexei were prefect in this story. He protected her from a potential hit when she dug too deep into things she should’ve left alone. But his attraction to her is one that can’t be hidden. Alexei turns out to be a pretty great guy. And him and Zara together was so steamy. I loved the depth and the intensity of this one. It was such a great story that had me turning pages needing to know what was going to happen next.
March 18, 2026
The second book in this series and as much as I enjoy these books I do wish they were longer. Alexis & Zara are great together although they shouldn’t be together. Sometimes life just doesn’t turn out the way they are suppose to and sometimes it’s for the best. The author did great with this being a novella with the story line being strong and the twists and turns that are involved. A really good book that I wish I had more of
March 14, 2026
3.75 - 4 stars.
I liked how these two were drawn to each other, seeing them get to know each other, support, accept one another and give in to their feelings. I liked how protective Alexei was and how Zara stood up to him and how she was willing to make changes in her life for them to be together.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I liked how these two were drawn to each other, seeing them get to know each other, support, accept one another and give in to their feelings. I liked how protective Alexei was and how Zara stood up to him and how she was willing to make changes in her life for them to be together.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 1, 2026
The characters are well written, and the storyline is written with depth and character which makes this an excellent story to read. The unexpected twists and turns had me on the edge of my seat with anticipation the entire time I was swooning over Alexei and loving Zara.
March 7, 2026
Sweet romance
A fairly sweet romance for the mafia genre - I liked the characters and felt the book was well written. Book 2 in the series but works also as stand alone.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A fairly sweet romance for the mafia genre - I liked the characters and felt the book was well written. Book 2 in the series but works also as stand alone.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 14, 2026
The author has given us a heart pounding story that pulls us into the lives of Alexei and Zara. The story keeps us turning the pages with danger, a kidnapping, connection, fear, action and steam.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews