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Bloodlines #2
Break Me Apart
Caiden Varrik thought leaving Russia would put distance between him and the one man capable of undoing him. But an ocean isn't enough to quiet what Arseny Zakirov left under his skin.
Arseny doesn't believe in half measures. If Caiden chooses him, he chooses all of it—secrecy, the fallout, and the consequences that neither of them can outrun.
But love like theirs doesn't exist in isolation. It exists under watchful eyes, in whispered rumours, and in a system that doesn't forgive weakness. And when death comes, the blame needs somewhere to fall.
Lines are crossed, loyalties fracture, and grief sharpens into something violent.
Some loves survive distance.
Some loves survive war.
Theirs might not survive each other.
Break Me Apart is a military dark romance about distance and fracture, silence and control, and what it costs when neither of them is willing to walk away.
Arseny doesn't believe in half measures. If Caiden chooses him, he chooses all of it—secrecy, the fallout, and the consequences that neither of them can outrun.
But love like theirs doesn't exist in isolation. It exists under watchful eyes, in whispered rumours, and in a system that doesn't forgive weakness. And when death comes, the blame needs somewhere to fall.
Lines are crossed, loyalties fracture, and grief sharpens into something violent.
Some loves survive distance.
Some loves survive war.
Theirs might not survive each other.
Break Me Apart is a military dark romance about distance and fracture, silence and control, and what it costs when neither of them is willing to walk away.
Paperback
First published August 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 8, 2026
This book, had me putting my kindle down and physically walking away. This story is incredible in so many ways. And I am left speechless, there are no words from me.
(Sitting tightly to see how the story unfolds!)
(Sitting tightly to see how the story unfolds!)
August 2, 2026
Oh my goodness
It’s not often a book leaves me speechless but this one absolutely has. I’ve been staring at the wall trying to think what to write here for like five minutes and I still have no clue. Just, read it, read it now
It’s not often a book leaves me speechless but this one absolutely has. I’ve been staring at the wall trying to think what to write here for like five minutes and I still have no clue. Just, read it, read it now
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this as an ARC from the author.
I really did enjoy this book. It picks up right after the end of the first one and follows Caiden and Ari's attempts at having a relationship.
We catch glimpses of what their life could look like and get to feel the longing and love that binds them together.
I genuinely enjoyed the characters even as they began to slip into one another.
I hated what happened to Mason with a passion. That being said I'm surprised they didn't immediately court-martial him and allowed what happened to him to carry on. Why weren't the men he fought in active combat with there to stand up for him?
The ending caught me a bit by surprise and left me wondering why Cassie's mum never checked in on Niko or why Ari thought he could "give" Caiden a kid and no one would question it.
I hope this is explained further on in the books.
I'm really looking forward to the next books in the series.
I really did enjoy this book. It picks up right after the end of the first one and follows Caiden and Ari's attempts at having a relationship.
We catch glimpses of what their life could look like and get to feel the longing and love that binds them together.
I genuinely enjoyed the characters even as they began to slip into one another.
I hated what happened to Mason with a passion. That being said I'm surprised they didn't immediately court-martial him and allowed what happened to him to carry on. Why weren't the men he fought in active combat with there to stand up for him?
The ending caught me a bit by surprise and left me wondering why Cassie's mum never checked in on Niko or why Ari thought he could "give" Caiden a kid and no one would question it.
I hope this is explained further on in the books.
I'm really looking forward to the next books in the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received a copy of this book for an ARC review, so here we go. I liked the characters and was happy to continue their story right away, since I just finished Break me open (Bloodlines #1).
The great stuff:
Arseny and Caiden are entertaining, wilful, annoying men living in a world where wanting each other is dangerous. Even though this is set in the 90's, which feels so recent, homophobia was a very real danger in Russia, and it was illegal to serve in the British military if you were homosexual. (I didn't know that, but a quick trip down a google wormhole taught me a bunch.)
At best, their relationship can get them court-martialled, at worst killed "by accident". They're brave and stupid and infuriating, and I love them for it.
Their choices make sense, most of the time, and the characters remain consistent to themselves.
The book was not predictable as a whole, though the big things were (to me, at least), which is okay, since it is quite satisfying when you pick up on hints and it turns out you were right.
I loved Amsterdam! Seeing what their relationship can be like was amazing and sets them up to crash that much harder when stuff inevitably catches up.
The setting was well established in the first book, and lives on in this one, even if it's sort of assumed that you already know what it looks like by then.
My issues were primarily with world-building.
A fun read. Didn't quite hit me in the feels, since the issues I mentioned knocked me out of proper immersion, but certainly worth reading, especially if you enjoyed the first book. (this one is better than the first)
The great stuff:
Arseny and Caiden are entertaining, wilful, annoying men living in a world where wanting each other is dangerous. Even though this is set in the 90's, which feels so recent, homophobia was a very real danger in Russia, and it was illegal to serve in the British military if you were homosexual. (I didn't know that, but a quick trip down a google wormhole taught me a bunch.)
At best, their relationship can get them court-martialled, at worst killed "by accident". They're brave and stupid and infuriating, and I love them for it.
Their choices make sense, most of the time, and the characters remain consistent to themselves.
The book was not predictable as a whole, though the big things were (to me, at least), which is okay, since it is quite satisfying when you pick up on hints and it turns out you were right.
I loved Amsterdam! Seeing what their relationship can be like was amazing and sets them up to crash that much harder when stuff inevitably catches up.
The setting was well established in the first book, and lives on in this one, even if it's sort of assumed that you already know what it looks like by then.
My issues were primarily with world-building.
A fun read. Didn't quite hit me in the feels, since the issues I mentioned knocked me out of proper immersion, but certainly worth reading, especially if you enjoyed the first book. (this one is better than the first)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2026
It took me 48 hours to finish this book, mostly because the ending was extremely heavy with Cassie’s death and then Niko’s death as well.
The first half was so sweet, seeing them try to find their way back to each other. I enjoyed it so much.
But when Caiden agreed, I had such an uncomfortable feeling in my gut. Why Caiden💔💔
Reading their emotional reaction after finding out about his death honestly made me feel sick to my stomach. My heart completely broke for them. Arseny’s words were harsh, but I really couldn't blame him.
I can’t wait for the third book!
The first half was so sweet, seeing them try to find their way back to each other. I enjoyed it so much.
But when Caiden agreed, I had such an uncomfortable feeling in my gut. Why Caiden💔💔
Reading their emotional reaction after finding out about his death honestly made me feel sick to my stomach. My heart completely broke for them. Arseny’s words were harsh, but I really couldn't blame him.
I can’t wait for the third book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this book as an ARC from the author. After Book One, I was desperate for the next part.
I was not disappointed. I won't go into the story as I promised not to post spoilers, but I cried so much, which never happens. I'm just sad I have to wait until next year for the next part of the series.
I was not disappointed. I won't go into the story as I promised not to post spoilers, but I cried so much, which never happens. I'm just sad I have to wait until next year for the next part of the series.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews