His to Claim: A Forced Proximity Mafia Romance

by Kat Steele

Genres: Mafia Romance, Forced Proximity, Dark Romance, Romance

420 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 24, 2026

Reviews

[➦Paulette & Her Sexy Alphas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dr. Rowan Hale is a dedicated trauma surgeon at Charlotte Memorial Hospital, trying to balance the pressures of her career while staying close to her family. She shares a strong bond with her younger brother Ethan, a 25-year-old paramedic, and their mother Marian,
. The loss of their father in a tragic car accident years earlier continues to impact both siblings, especially Rowan, who was only twelve at the time.
It all begins with Alexei, a dying man clutching Rowan’s wrist and forcing dangerous information into her hands. Betrayal is already in motion before Rowan even fully understands the meaning of the word “Pakhan.”

Rowan’s life takes another dramatic turn when she discovers an injured man, Kiren Sovarin, in an alley and fights to keep him alive until his associates arrive. When their paths cross again at a hospital gala, the chemistry between them is undeniable. What makes their relationship so compelling is the contrast between Rowan’s compassionate, morally grounded nature and Kiren’s dangerous role within the Russian Bratva. Despite knowing the risks, Rowan finds herself drawn deeper into his violent world.
As Kiren steps into his late father’s role as Pakhan, Rowan becomes a target for his enemies, putting not only herself but also her brother Ethan and their mother Marian in danger.
The plot definitely has the ingredients to be gripping, filled with suspense, danger, and action that can keep readers engaged. Yet, the writing felt a bit removed and lacked the emotional connection needed to truly bond with the characters. While the idea is captivating, the overall tone seemed a bit cold and impersonal, making it hard to really immerse myself in the story emotionally.


The cliffhanger ending, which involves Rowan's kidnapping and Lila's dubious actions, creates a strong sense of intrigue but also leaves readers questioning who can be relied upon. I think this story has a lot of promise, and I'd be interested in diving into a similar premise if it had a more emotionally resonant writing style. Even though I'm not typically into cliffhangers, my curiosity about how the story will unfold is definitely tempting me to pick up the next book…………….

In the end, time will tell ......... So don't be too quick to judge me if my OCD gets the better of me…. Lol

[BookReads · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book feels unmistakably AI written, not abruptly but undeniably, in a way that becomes less like a reading experience and more like a slow descent into confusion wrapped in dramatic phrasing pretending to be depth. Every sentence seems charged with the intention of meaning something profound, yet the meaning remains just out of reach, suspended somewhere between vague tension, repetitive emotion, and lines that sound polished until you actually stop and realize they make no damn sense. The prose doesn’t move so much as circle itself, tightening and deepening and intensifying without ever actually saying anything, and if I had to read one more “rather than,” “despite,” “like,” “as,” or some tortured comparison trying to pass itself off as good writing, I was genuinely about to punch a hole in my wall. By 20% I was no longer reading with curiosity but with endurance, caught in a rhythm of exaggerated feeling, hollow atmosphere, and characters who speak like they were generated by a machine trained exclusively on “breath hitching,” “charged silence,” and “something shifted between them.” I really tried to stay with it, to trust that clarity or chemistry or literally any coherent point would emerge, but it never did, and if this review feels exhausting, overwritten, and faintly disconnected from reality, that’s because it is the closest possible imitation of what it feels like to read this AI-written garbage. -1000 stars, DNF at 20%.

[S. Mountjoy · Rating 1 out of 5]

technical

This read like a users manual. I wanted to like it so bad because of the story line. However , it was stiff wording was stiff. The characters where rigid. Sorry I cannot recommend.

[Mary Bendon · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book but it was just so boring and repetitive. The timelines jumped from one paragraph to the next. The constant mention of “antiseptic.” The characters were dull. I had to force myself to finish it, hoping it would get better…it did not. I’m definitely not reading the next one, even though this one ended on a cliffhanger. I can guess the ending of the next one.

[Vanessa Aceti · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wish I could give this zero stars. Horrendous writing style. Zero emotion. I felt like I was reading about two robots. I so badly wanted to like this but it’s just so bad.

[JoyceLynn · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was entirely too much—dragged out, overdone, and just… ugh 😩 I kept pushing through, hoping for that moment—that spark, that something to make it all worth it—but nope. Nada.

And the ending? 😐 Just… there. No “oh shit,” no gasp, no anything. By the time I got to it, I was so checked out that it didn’t even hit. Somewhere in the middle, they completely lost me, and the rest just felt like going through the motions.

Honestly, this is a “read at your own risk” because for me? It was all buildup with zero payoff. 😬

[Katy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Made it to Chapter 18 and don’t think I can read this anymore.
The writing style is terrible. It’s basically overly explained and everything is repeated.
I don’t know how many times I have to read “The hospital smells of antiseptic”.
“I walk fast, but not too fast”.
“I feel like someone is watching me, but not over watching me”. Like what??.
There isn’t really any romance at all between the two main characters besides them having S** a few times and getting pregnant the first time they do it because they don’t use protection at all..
The FMC literally works the whole time.
SO MANY BROKE DOWN PARAGRAPHS..
Has anyone read the second one? Was it any better??

[Dark Widow · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not finished reading the book as of yet, however I am having a few issues with the storyline. Is she a surgeon or a doctor; yes there is a difference even though this author doesn't realize that. The summary of the book states she's a surgeon who saves a Bratva pakhan yet in the book she is a trauma doctor in an ER; which is it? Did the author forget and why didn't the editor not pick thi up?? Also, the chemistry between the two main characters is almost non existent and is very business-like.

Update: Stopped reading at 54% because it became so boring and dragged on continuously without any action or spice. Also, the continuity was still off and it became very frustrating.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars for the storyline. There’s too many descriptive words that I was so close to DNF at 30%. But I picked it up and finished it. The romance is lacking, felt flat with no true affection or intimacy between the FMC and MC. I would have liked more quiet, personal scenes between the two instead of FMC always at work. It was weird.
In the second s.x scene where he goes A to V 🤢 and she’s a doctor that thought nothing of this?!!!!
The forced proximity catch wasn’t really a thing either in my opinion.
Then the whole pregnancy thing. The first time they have s.x, no protection seemed to be used or discussed. And no mention of her fertility issue.
The action and plot were good when they picked up.
Onto book 2 to see how it ends.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really really liked this one. Very different Mafia book. Adult. Intentional. All those great words. Patient. So well written!

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can appreciate it

I can appreciate that this book had a strong storyline and a lot of thoughtful structure behind it. The plot itself was interesting, and I can absolutely see why it would resonate with many readers. For me personally, though, the writing felt a bit mechanical, which made it hard to fully connect with the characters and the emotional flow of the story. That is more about my reading style than the quality of the book itself, because I know different books speak to different people in different ways. While this one wasn’t the right fit for how my brain connects with a story, I still think it had a compelling premise and a solid overall arc.

[KathyDarlene Tomcik · Rating 4 out of 5]

different

The whole story was not your run of the mill romance novel. It took me a while to figure it out. Kiran was the strong silent type. Hardly talks. I like dialogue. Lots of it. This had almost none. Rowan and er doc. Strong, precise movement, not a talker either. But they connect. And more.
Great book. Totally different but good.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not read far enough to determine potentially offensive items in this book, beyond stalking.

This book is AI-generated garbage. It wasn't exciting; it was vague. Yeah, it had poor use of antithesis all over the place, similes and metaphors that didn't make sense, vague and meaningless descriptions, misuse of words, and a plot that really doesn't go anywhere, filled with hints that something important is going on but never really telling us what it is.

I mean, really? "Board members smile too widely as they scan the room for relevance." They're scanning the room to see how it applies to their situation? "His dark blonde hair falls across his forehead in a way that makes him appear less threatening than he is." How exactly does the way one's hair falls across one's forehead in a "less threatening" manner? Or how about "familiar enough to let my guard down, but my senses stay alert." Are her senses alert or let down? Then there are the numerous repetitive phrases and words: "Sounds" is used an average of once every four pages, for example.

This book has a great premise--a female trauma surgeon saves the life of a billionaire who funds the hospital where she works after he is attacked and mortally injured. You would think that the first chapter would start there and detail this attack and how she saved him, but this was written by a computer so we get vague references to the event (which happened before the book begins) and spend the first tenth of the book watching the main female struggle to get dressed (despite living alone she can't figure out how to deal with a stuck dress zipper), wander around a gala event, and dance with the main male character. Listening to Cage's "As Slow As Possible" would be more exciting. Then, [sarcastic gasp] he asked her to dinner--and that's where I was done. You couldn't pay me to finish this.

[Isabella]

I couldn’t with the names in this book. Sovarin … sovereign? Kiren … Kieran? We’re just mixing up letters to make it seem more Russian. I even googled them both, those are not actual Russian based names.
Also, the writing was a little off. Like there would be a phrase repeated every couple pages, like three mentions over the span of five pages of a very specific phrase. Threw me off.
It was a fine story, just got bored with it. Will probably come back to it sometime in the future.

[Megan]

Really wanted to like this, just couldn’t get into it. The storyline I think is a good one. I think the writing style is a bit different, making it hard for me to get sucked in.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was Good!!

I really really liked this book! I like how Rowan and Kiren are so similar. I also like how Rowan doesn’t panic and get overly emotional. To many times the main female character is so overly emotional and just annoying and Rowan is not that.

[Tracy Newman · Rating 4 out of 5]

1 nasty part threw me off

I couldn't give it a 5 star due to the fact Rowan is a Doctor and she let him go from the back to the front during smexy time and ALL women know that's a big no-no!! That's just nasty!!

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

writing felt factual and sterile

This had so much potential. The plot was good.. but the authors writing style came across on the main characters in the style she writes. The word choices and the way the FMC and mmc talk to each other feels stiff, cold, factual, and absolutely no emotion in their words. It made reading this book like watching paint dry. She over describes surrounding and sounds and smells and then almost nothing into any emotions. The only reason I kept reading was for the plot. Even the spicy scenes felt dry. I won’t be reading book 2

[Sarah Troop · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good idea, but giving the main characters some personality could go a long way.

[Brandy Hicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cliffhanger

Interested in what happens going to read next book characters are interesting and complex. Enjoyable and not annoying. Not overly sexual but still erotic enough to keep you entertained

[Selena · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing felt mechanical

I got bored about half way in because the writing was very mechanical, very little emotion and no instinctive reaction. All calculated and calm and I understand some people operate like this but it bled into Kiren and Rowan's relationship that I felt zero chemistry between them. Coming together wasn't hot, zero anticipation, no slow burn or hot passion. Just a discussion of facts, then a kiss, then bed. The writing also became repetitive, everything Kiren is feeling and thinking, over and over again. What happens in the hospital on Roman's shift, routine yes but again repetitive. Even when something unusual happens, there's little fanfare or excitement. I'm curious enough to read book 2 though to see how it plays out

[Gen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love a good Bratva book

You are almost immediately hooked when you start reading. It keeps you caught in what is going on and the main female character has backbone which i love

[Jordyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was not my cup of tea.

This writing style is not for me. There were lot of words in this book but not for a good purpose. It was weirdly stilted and needed way more dialogue. The stilted nature of the conversations in addition to the odd phrasing and minimal amount of information from each scene was just odd.

[Ashley Acevedo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read a little slow going but not bad.

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

Really wanted to like it. Writing was dry and repetitive. I’ll still probably read the second one though.

[Megan Elise · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 Stars

This book needs a logistical editor. It had so much potential but at times, the logistics were completely off.
Exhibit 1: no freak out when he texted her out of the blue. No how did you get my number, etc.

Exhibit 2: she demands to meet him at his office before the first date. He agrees and recognizes that she doesn’t want to give out her home address yet. Smart. Except at the end of the date, he drives her home. To the address he’s not supposed to know. And the address she didn’t provide. Again no freak out.

Exhibit 3: she is a damn doctor. And we switched from back to front door with no sanitization or protection. Excuse me? That’s irresponsible and unsanitary and something I feel like these responsible educated adults would know.

The romance just appeared. There was no real relationship development.

[Rebecca Price · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was written so strangely. Nobody speaks in full sentences. There is no - like less than zero - chemistry between the main characters. For a good chunk of the book I couldn’t even tell if they were in a relationship with each other.

It’s confusing and awkward and I’m so disappointed that there’s a second book. I have never once not wanted to read the second book, but I’m not going to read this one.

[December Thompson · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 90%. I tried to push through to the end but the dialog was killing me. There was no emotion and everything was answered in one word. The set up of the story was good, but the MMC and FMC had no emotions.

[Luna Ferri · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can I say about this book? Nineteen highlights! The dialogue, the intensity… And yet, I finished it feeling completely indifferent about the sequel. I doubt I'll read it. Perhaps the author became too repetitive, or got so lost in the characters' minds that they ended up feeling like separate entities.

[Buffy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not this, but that...

Every paragraph and sentence in this book was: "it's not this, but that" "he didn't say it, but meant it" "he didn't cough, but I felt he could". The pattern became so noticeable that it grated on my nerves.

I could not finish this book. The male character has the personality of a doorknob.