Sins & Surrender: A Dark Mafia Romance

by Kelsie Calloway

I was engaged to his cousin. I spent every dinner wishing I was next to him instead.

Three years ago, I ran from the Ivanov world the night before my wedding. I told myself I was escaping the darkness. The truth? I was running from Sergei.

The youngest Ivanov brother. Charming. Reckless. The one who flirted across candlelit tables while I wore his cousin's ring. The one I almost kissed goodbye.

Now he's found me again—with a proposition. Fake girlfriend. One week. Then I'm free.

But Sergei doesn't play fair. He touches me like I'm already his. Looks at me like the years between us never happened. And when he says, "This was never fake for me," I forget every reason I ran.

He's forbidden. He's family. And I don't think I can outrun him twice.

Tropes: second chance fake dating forbidden romance brother's ex the one who got away

Kindle Edition

Published March 20, 2026

Reviews

[Paula Boudreau · Rating 2 out of 5]

Inconsistencies

I don't understand how many inconsistencies are in this book. Book 1 we read the mother's dead and all of a sudden in this book the mother is alive. Also she calls him Sebastian instead of Sergei other names were mixed up too. Even though it's a short book the mistakes were hard to overlook. Definitely not as good as the first 3 books.

[Chandra Luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love forbidden romance wrapped in tension, second chances, and the one man you were never supposed to want, Sins & Surrender by Kelsie Calloway is a fast, steamy, and emotionally charged read that pulls you in from the very first page.

Thea thought she escaped it all.

The Ivanov world. The danger. The life she was about to marry into. Walking away the night before her wedding was supposed to be her freedom.

But the truth?

She wasn’t just running from the life… she was running from him.

Sergei.

The charming, reckless, completely off-limits man who made her feel seen in ways no one else ever had—even while she wore his cousin’s ring.

And now he’s back.

What makes this story so addictive is that the tension between them never really went away—it just waited. Every look, every touch, every moment feels charged with everything they didn’t allow themselves to have before.

The fake dating setup? It barely stands a chance.

Because for Sergei, it was never fake.

He doesn’t hold back. He doesn’t pretend. From the moment they’re back in each other’s orbit, it’s clear—he’s not letting her run again. And that intensity? It makes every interaction between them feel electric.

Thea’s struggle is just as compelling. She knows exactly what this world costs. She’s already walked away once. But resisting Sergei—the one person who made her feel truly wanted—might be harder than leaving ever was.

If you love:
✨ Forbidden, family-tied romance
✨ Second chance with unresolved tension
✨ Fake dating that turns very real
✨ Charismatic, persistent heroes
✨ Fast-paced, steamy reads

Then this is definitely one to add to your list.

❤️‍🔥 Quick, intense, and full of longing—this story proves that some connections don’t fade with time… they just wait for the moment you finally stop running.

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

[Sandy S · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5stars-SINS & SURRENDER is the fourth instalment in Kelsie Calloway’s contemporary, adult IVANOV BRATVA Bratva romance series. This is youngest brother Sergei Ivanov, and photographer Thea Lindqvist’s story line. SINS & SURRENDER can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Thea and Sergei) SINS & SURRENDER follows the second chance (of sorts) relationship between Sergei Ivanov and Thea Lindqvist. Three years earlier Thea was promised in marriage to Sergei’s cousin Kostya but Thea did not love Kostya, her heart belonged to someone else. Fast forward to present day, Thea has returned for her sister’s wedding, having spent the last three years in Stockholm, building up a photography business and clientele. Never expecting to see Sergei, Thea is surprised when Sergei offers a fake relationship to keep his mother from forcing an arrange marriage, a fake relationship that quickly turns into something more.

The relationship between Sergei and Thea is a rekindling romance . Thea and Sergei have lusted after one another from afar, but never acted on their attraction or feelings. Struggling to accept there is anything more, Thea battles between head and heart knowing she had previously broken the heart of another Ivanov man. The $ex scenes are mostly implied.

The secondary and supporting characters include the return of Sergei’s brothers: Nikolai, and Dmitri, as well as their cousin Kostya, and Thea’s sister Maja.

SINS & SURRENDER is another fast paced, quick read. A novella length story of unrequited love, second chances and love. The premise is captivating yet familiar; the romance is seductive; the characters are determined.

Copy supplied for review

[Amie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A novella that brings a couple that had feelings for one another even though they couldn’t be with one another has found each other again after years apart.
She ran from a wedding that she couldn’t do due to the fact that she was scared of the darkness that her fiance’s family is involved with and her also having feelings for someone else, so didn’t feel the same way her fiance felt about her.
She finally comes back to go to her sister’s wedding. While at her sister’s reception the two see each other again after years apart. A favor brings them close together and soon they make their feelings known to each other even though she is worried about being close to him due to his family’s darkness. They tell each other that they love one another. They talk to her ex fiance about them being together and why she left before.
The closer they get the more her worriness leaves. But soon she finds out about a rival family going after the women of the family, the rival family has already gone after one of the women of the family already. The rival family comes to the family home to take them out but the men of the family tend to them. During the fighting he gets hurt but nothing major.
After everything is better they talk about getting married and everything that comes with being together. The couple are in love and happy, they want to be with each other always and forever.

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

[Grinning Cat · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was confused as to what the aim of this story was. I suspect it was supposed to be either character focused or relationship focused. It wasn’t plot driven or action focused. There was not much plot and no on page action. Unfortunately, it didn’t reveal much about the characters except that Sergei was deeper than the happy-go-lucky flirt he presented and Thea had a tendency to run from her problems but was determined not to do so anymore.
The relationship was pretty much:
S: Hai.
T: Hai.
S: You’ve been gone for years and owe me nothing, but would you do me a favor and be my fake girlfriend for no real reason, and guaranteed to start a whoopload of family drama?
T: Okay.
S: Let’s torture my cousin whom you left almost at the altar and basically pressure him into giving his blessing.
T: Sounds good.
(Bow chicka wow wow)
S: I loved you from the moment my spineless cousin brought you to meet the fam. You were hawt.
T: Ohmygosh! So were you! I’m done running! I love you too!
-fin
***
I guess this book would be a vignette? I don’t know the purpose of the story and I don’t think the story does either.

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

[Shelly Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was a miss. After three quick but decent books, this had issues - mom was suddenly alive, one dimensional main characters, no real emotion, etc. Supposedly Thea was in love with Sergei while engaged to his cousin but waits until the night before the wedding and then runs? Then claims it's because of the family business. They know where she is and she returns for her sister's wedding and claims she's afraid but isn't really and there's no real danger. It just doesn't make sense. After the strong emotional connection between the two main characters - this falls short. The other issue is she disappears three years ago but somehow knows Sable, Cleo, and Zara who in the timeframe just had their story? Skip this one. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thea was set to be married to Konstain, until she discovered his families criminal ways and ran the night before the wedding, though she could never forget the way Sergei, Konstantines cousin made her feel seen and wanted and now their paths cross once more and Sergei proposes fpr her to be his fake girlfriend for one week, to get the preasure off from his mothers match making only theres no faking how he feels and hes playing for keeps. Well written fast paced, steamy romance

[Debdutch · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Sins & Surrender” by Kelsie Calloway

-A fast, steamy second-chance romance filled with forbidden tension and longing. I received a free copy and am voluntarily sharing my honest thoughts.

Thea and Sergei’s chemistry crackles as fake dating forces buried feelings into the open. Packed with danger, drama, and emotional payoff as they confront the past and fight together.

Short, addictive, and impossible to put down.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 - 4 stars.

The history between these two was complicated and revealed itself in layers. I believed in their connection and chemistry, liked seeing their past from both sides, and I liked it when they were completely honest with each other. They had family to face and deal with, danger closing in on them, and decisions to make whether to stay or go, to push away or pull closer.

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

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sins And Surrender is book 4 in Calloway's The Ivanov Bratva series. A great addition to the series, that can be read as a standalone. Captivating and well written, this is the journey of main characters Sergei and Thea. Short and fast paced but full of dark, delicious romance and steamy chemistry along with action, danger and so much more. A great read and I'm excited for more!

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

[GKP2460 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sins And Surrender is book 4 in The Ivanov Bratva series. It's Sergei and Thea's short, fast-paced story. It's an unrequited, second chance love story and it's a fantastic quick read. Sergei and Thea both fought their attraction to each other for years and when they finally see each other again, the feelings are just as strong as before.

[Debbie Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. A favor asked leads to Sergei and Thea to finally admit their love for each other. The old issues are dealt with as well as a rival crime family causing problems. Sergei and Thea realize they are stronger together especially when danger comes calling.

[Shannon Godwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 4th book of the series and it’s pretty good. Sergi gets his HEA in this one. A forbidden second chance story that is worth the read. Thea left his cousin at the alter years ago because she loved Sergi. Gatorade to her being back for a wedding and they start fake dating…. Or is it fake? You still have the drama of the bratva so hold on because it’s going to be good

[Patricia Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was exactly what I love to read. There is nothing better than a second chance forbidden love. This book pulled me in right from the beginning and kept me reading it in one sitting.
This is a voluntary review.

[CJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author has given us a fast-paced story that pulls us into the lives of Thea and Sergei. The heart pounding story keeps us turning the pages with connection, danger, action, revelations and steam.

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

[The Book Ssirren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love a good second chance romance with intensity and heat. And that’s exactly what this was. Thea and Sergei were so great once they came back together. I loved the push and pull between them. A really good story.

[Sam Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read

I enjoyed this - I felt invested in the characters and liked the premise. Still fairly sweet rather than dark but if you like the genre this is for you.

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