What do you think?
Rate this book
***Includes the connected books Ivan (Her Russian Protector #1) and Alexei (Her Russian Protector #8) as a FREE BONUS***
To escape a debt owed to the mob, mixed martial artist Zel Tesla agrees to one final match with one of his league’s most notorious fighters. If he wins, he’ll clear the debts he incurred trying to save his young son’s life and earn his freedom.
But one chance encounter with a luscious burlesque performer in Vegas threatens all those carefully laid plans…
Ten years ago, Sara Contreras fled Houston with the help of her mobbed-up friends. Since barely escaping with her life, she’s built a multi-million dollar empire, but she’s always looking over her shoulder, wondering if the dark, dangerous secret she left behind in Houston is going to catch up with her.
When Sara’s past threatens everything Zel has worked so hard to achieve, she has to make a painful choice. She can sacrifice her love for Zel and let him go—or she can fight for him, facing the secret that nearly buried her back in Houston and the loan shark who owns them both.
To escape a debt owed to the mob, mixed martial artist Zel Tesla agrees to one final match with one of his league’s most notorious fighters. If he wins, he’ll clear the debts he incurred trying to save his young son’s life and earn his freedom.
But one chance encounter with a luscious burlesque performer in Vegas threatens all those carefully laid plans…
Ten years ago, Sara Contreras fled Houston with the help of her mobbed-up friends. Since barely escaping with her life, she’s built a multi-million dollar empire, but she’s always looking over her shoulder, wondering if the dark, dangerous secret she left behind in Houston is going to catch up with her.
When Sara’s past threatens everything Zel has worked so hard to achieve, she has to make a painful choice. She can sacrifice her love for Zel and let him go—or she can fight for him, facing the secret that nearly buried her back in Houston and the loan shark who owns them both.
134 pages, ebook
First published March 7, 2016
95 people are currently reading
1608 people want to read
About the author
Roxie Rivera
71 books2,804 followersWhen I’m not chasing after my wild preschooler, I like to write super sexy romances and scorching hot erotica. I live in Texas with a husband who could easily snag a job as an extra on History Channel’s new Viking series, a sweet but rowdy three-year-old with Tetralogy of Fallot, and Bosley, our Great Dane with major mommy issues.
I also have another dirty-book writing alter ego, Lolita Lopez, who writes deliciously steamy tales for Ellora’s Cave, Forever Yours/Grand Central, Mischief/Harper Collins UK, Siren Publishing and Cleis Press.
I also have another dirty-book writing alter ego, Lolita Lopez, who writes deliciously steamy tales for Ellora’s Cave, Forever Yours/Grand Central, Mischief/Harper Collins UK, Siren Publishing and Cleis Press.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
March 10, 2016
This was alright.
I LOVED Zel and wanted to give him a big fat hug. Sara was also a likable character. My problem was that the story was just to short for me to believe that these two formed this "happily ever after" bond. I needed more...
It was nice seeing some of the other guys though! I want Besian to get his HEA soon.
I LOVED Zel and wanted to give him a big fat hug. Sara was also a likable character. My problem was that the story was just to short for me to believe that these two formed this "happily ever after" bond. I needed more...
It was nice seeing some of the other guys though! I want Besian to get his HEA soon.
October 8, 2017
NOTE: This is a novella! You're buying, Ivan & Alexei along with Zel, so this story ends at about 14%. Don't be upset about that, it's a heck of a deal.
I really liked this quick story about Zel. He's got a tragic past, debts to pay off and Ivan Markovic riding his ass all the way to an MMA championship!
Though connected to the Her Russian Protector series, this is written a bit differently. Written completely in 3rd person, there's more than just Hero and Heroine perspective happening. We also get a little bit of Ivan and it's great. I hope that he and Erin get lots of page-time for other books in this series.
We also get to see Alexei and Shay (I would definitely recommend that Alexei be read before Zel), Nikolai and Vivian and a good amount of Besian, who I am jonesing for in the worst way (I can't wait until his book is out!).
Though this was really enjoyable for me as a fan of these interconnected series', Zel and Sara aren't going to be my favorite couple or anything. This was a quick and dirty insta-love that has all the signature Roxie awesomeness, but not the length and character depth of the HRP & Fighting Connolly's. I don't care, though. It was steamy, Zel was hot and heroic and there were tons of favorite characters appearing so I'm one happy camper!
I really liked this quick story about Zel. He's got a tragic past, debts to pay off and Ivan Markovic riding his ass all the way to an MMA championship!
Though connected to the Her Russian Protector series, this is written a bit differently. Written completely in 3rd person, there's more than just Hero and Heroine perspective happening. We also get a little bit of Ivan and it's great. I hope that he and Erin get lots of page-time for other books in this series.
We also get to see Alexei and Shay (I would definitely recommend that Alexei be read before Zel), Nikolai and Vivian and a good amount of Besian, who I am jonesing for in the worst way (I can't wait until his book is out!).
Though this was really enjoyable for me as a fan of these interconnected series', Zel and Sara aren't going to be my favorite couple or anything. This was a quick and dirty insta-love that has all the signature Roxie awesomeness, but not the length and character depth of the HRP & Fighting Connolly's. I don't care, though. It was steamy, Zel was hot and heroic and there were tons of favorite characters appearing so I'm one happy camper!
March 19, 2016
2.5 meh stars
I loved Zel. What a sweet and honorable man! I did not, however, like Sera. For several reasons. Call her what you will, but she was a stripper and I am not a big fan. Plus she is not stripping because she has no choice. She has a successful business. She is stripping because it promoted her brand. Plus I just did not like her as a person.
This next bit is my exception to being safe and a spoiler.
I loved Zel. What a sweet and honorable man! I did not, however, like Sera. For several reasons. Call her what you will, but she was a stripper and I am not a big fan. Plus she is not stripping because she has no choice. She has a successful business. She is stripping because it promoted her brand. Plus I just did not like her as a person.
This next bit is my exception to being safe and a spoiler.
May 9, 2016
reread 5/08/16
Impressive start to a new series! Loved the instant attraction between Zel, the MMA fighter and Sara, the sassy burlesque dancer. With similar backgrounds, H/h were quick to see that they were something special together instead of apart... they discover that pasts can be forgiven if they wanted it bad enough.
Ivan Markovic trained his fighters to win and think quick on their feet as he did with Alexei, and others from the Russian Protector series. The pace of the storyline was quick with great and cleverly crafted sex scenes, and drama/suspense.
If you read "Alexei" you would remember the cruel, Lalo Contreras who just so happened to be Sara evil but estranged husband who was killed supposedly in a burning hotel. Rivera, cleverly pinpointed that death to tie-in with Alexei's book 8 in The Russian Protectors bringing back Besian, Ivan (wife, Erin), Nikolai and wife, Vivian, and a host of others while attending Alexei and Shay's wedding in Las Vegas thus giving this story a new view through the eyes of Sara.
I am really looking forward to other fighters in this series because Ivan has trained many men in his gym/warehouse!
4.5 no TKO but great stars ****.5
Impressive start to a new series! Loved the instant attraction between Zel, the MMA fighter and Sara, the sassy burlesque dancer. With similar backgrounds, H/h were quick to see that they were something special together instead of apart... they discover that pasts can be forgiven if they wanted it bad enough.
Ivan Markovic trained his fighters to win and think quick on their feet as he did with Alexei, and others from the Russian Protector series. The pace of the storyline was quick with great and cleverly crafted sex scenes, and drama/suspense.
If you read "Alexei" you would remember the cruel, Lalo Contreras who just so happened to be Sara evil but estranged husband who was killed supposedly in a burning hotel. Rivera, cleverly pinpointed that death to tie-in with Alexei's book 8 in The Russian Protectors bringing back Besian, Ivan (wife, Erin), Nikolai and wife, Vivian, and a host of others while attending Alexei and Shay's wedding in Las Vegas thus giving this story a new view through the eyes of Sara.
I am really looking forward to other fighters in this series because Ivan has trained many men in his gym/warehouse!
4.5 no TKO but great stars ****.5
March 22, 2016
3.0 RATING- I liked this story but overall, I thought everything just seemed rush, especially the end.
I wish the author would have taken more time with the story and fleshed things out a bit more.
December 24, 2021
I mean it was kinda too short to give a proper review, it was short and sweet. A fair amount of smut and some character description, what made me want to read it was the fact that the character was a plus size burlesque dancer. And that he was strong enough to pick her up and not be bothered by it haha. The bar is very much on the ground, anyway might continue this series as I liked it.
October 3, 2016
3.75 stars---
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 7, 2016
To escape a debt owed to the mob mixed martial artist Zel Tesla agrees to one final match with one of his league’s most notorious fighters. If he wins, he’ll clear the debts he incurred trying to save his young son’s life and earn his freedom.
But one chance encounter with a luscious burlesque performer in Vegas threatens all those carefully laid plans…
Ten years ago, Sara Contreras fled Houston with the help of her mobbed-up friends. Since barely escaping with her life, she’s built a multi-million dollar empire, but she’s always looking over her shoulder, wondering if the dark, dangerous secret she left behind in Houston is going to catch up with her.
When Sara’s past threatens everything Zel has worked so hard to achieve, she has to make a painful choice. She can sacrifice her love for Zel and let him go—or she can fight for him, facing the secret that nearly buried her back in Houston and the loan shark who owns them both.
***Includes the connected books Ivan (Her Russian Protector #1) and Alexei (Her Russian Protector #8) as a FREE BONUS***
•••••••••
REVIEW: 3.75 stars---ZEL is the first installment and novella in Roxie Rivera’s adult, contemporary MARKOVIC MMA erotic romance series-a spin off from Her Russian Protector series.. This is MMA fighter Zel Tesla, and exotic dancer Sara Contreras’s story line. ZEL runs parallel to, and overlaps some of the time line of ALEXEI (Book #8) in Roxie’s HER RUSSIAN PROTECTOR series.
Told from several third person points of view ZEL focuses on Zel’s upcoming championship fight with a man who has already killed one of his former opponents. Meeting exotic dancer Sara Contreras, just days before the championship match, finds our hero distracted and thinking about a future with a woman he barely knows. When Sara’s past comes back looking for revenge, our heroine knows that for Zel to keep his head in the match, she must walk away before both of them find themselves deeper in debt to the mob.
The secondary and supporting characters include several of the couples from Rivera’s HER RUSSIAN PROTECTOR series including Ivan and Erin Markovic(Ivan #1);Nikolai and Vivian (Nikolai #4); Alexei and Shay (Alexei #8) as well as Sara’ s sister Lucy. Sara’s connection to the mob comes in the form of an ex-husband, and a step brother who wants what he deserves. Besian returns and we see a different side to the Albanian mobster.
ZEL is a fast paced story of insta-love; of one man’s many heartbreaks, and one woman’s need to save the man with whom she is falling in love. The premise is entertaining and revealing; the characters are animated and intense; the romance is a quick build to a happily ever after. ZEL is the first book in Rivera’s MARKOVIC MMA spin off series, and I am looking forward to many more.
Own a copy
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 7, 2016
To escape a debt owed to the mob mixed martial artist Zel Tesla agrees to one final match with one of his league’s most notorious fighters. If he wins, he’ll clear the debts he incurred trying to save his young son’s life and earn his freedom.
But one chance encounter with a luscious burlesque performer in Vegas threatens all those carefully laid plans…
Ten years ago, Sara Contreras fled Houston with the help of her mobbed-up friends. Since barely escaping with her life, she’s built a multi-million dollar empire, but she’s always looking over her shoulder, wondering if the dark, dangerous secret she left behind in Houston is going to catch up with her.
When Sara’s past threatens everything Zel has worked so hard to achieve, she has to make a painful choice. She can sacrifice her love for Zel and let him go—or she can fight for him, facing the secret that nearly buried her back in Houston and the loan shark who owns them both.
***Includes the connected books Ivan (Her Russian Protector #1) and Alexei (Her Russian Protector #8) as a FREE BONUS***
•••••••••
REVIEW: 3.75 stars---ZEL is the first installment and novella in Roxie Rivera’s adult, contemporary MARKOVIC MMA erotic romance series-a spin off from Her Russian Protector series.. This is MMA fighter Zel Tesla, and exotic dancer Sara Contreras’s story line. ZEL runs parallel to, and overlaps some of the time line of ALEXEI (Book #8) in Roxie’s HER RUSSIAN PROTECTOR series.
Told from several third person points of view ZEL focuses on Zel’s upcoming championship fight with a man who has already killed one of his former opponents. Meeting exotic dancer Sara Contreras, just days before the championship match, finds our hero distracted and thinking about a future with a woman he barely knows. When Sara’s past comes back looking for revenge, our heroine knows that for Zel to keep his head in the match, she must walk away before both of them find themselves deeper in debt to the mob.
The secondary and supporting characters include several of the couples from Rivera’s HER RUSSIAN PROTECTOR series including Ivan and Erin Markovic(Ivan #1);Nikolai and Vivian (Nikolai #4); Alexei and Shay (Alexei #8) as well as Sara’ s sister Lucy. Sara’s connection to the mob comes in the form of an ex-husband, and a step brother who wants what he deserves. Besian returns and we see a different side to the Albanian mobster.
ZEL is a fast paced story of insta-love; of one man’s many heartbreaks, and one woman’s need to save the man with whom she is falling in love. The premise is entertaining and revealing; the characters are animated and intense; the romance is a quick build to a happily ever after. ZEL is the first book in Rivera’s MARKOVIC MMA spin off series, and I am looking forward to many more.
Own a copy
November 17, 2017
Good short story! I liked being able to see some of the other characters in the Russian Protectors books and I especially liked to see the reason why Alexei and Shay were in Las Vegas. However, there were some editing errors that were a bit annoying.
I think in the scheme of all the books, even though this book isn't technically part of the Her Russian Protector series, this should be read after Alexei so it will make sense. It could be read as a standalone, but I think the background story would be better understood if all the previous books were read first.
I also can't wait until Besian's story. I'll have to re-read the parts in the Fighting Connollys series before his book comes out so I could refresh myself with the girl he has fallen for...
I think in the scheme of all the books, even though this book isn't technically part of the Her Russian Protector series, this should be read after Alexei so it will make sense. It could be read as a standalone, but I think the background story would be better understood if all the previous books were read first.
I also can't wait until Besian's story. I'll have to re-read the parts in the Fighting Connollys series before his book comes out so I could refresh myself with the girl he has fallen for...
March 20, 2016
I sort of expected more when I started this one, there were a lot of pages, things were going great, then all of a sudden it ended. I was wondering what the heck was going on, but the author put 2 of her other books in there. A good thing, but I just wasn't expecting it and thought I was getting more with this story.
Zel's story broke my heart, I so wanted him to be happy, so when he went for things with the dancer I was happy. As we learned more about Sara and that she wasn't a stranger to the world that Zel lived in I thought it was a good match. I was glad that neither of them held grudges, but figured out that they deserved to be happy.
Zel's story broke my heart, I so wanted him to be happy, so when he went for things with the dancer I was happy. As we learned more about Sara and that she wasn't a stranger to the world that Zel lived in I thought it was a good match. I was glad that neither of them held grudges, but figured out that they deserved to be happy.
March 8, 2016
It was short and sweet. The book I purchased had Ivan's story and Alexi. If I known this I wouldn't have punched Alexei book two months ago.
In this story you saw a different side of Besian, which I enjoyed. Character are tied together like they are one polygamist family from Utah.
In this story you saw a different side of Besian, which I enjoyed. Character are tied together like they are one polygamist family from Utah.
March 8, 2016
4.5
This story is the best version of mild insta love and finding a soul mate.
It's a quick novella with some of your favorite RR characters.
Also, it's sexy, like way sexy.
This story is the best version of mild insta love and finding a soul mate.
It's a quick novella with some of your favorite RR characters.
Also, it's sexy, like way sexy.
August 17, 2022
No.
Characters are meh. this is not a full on story nor a book. this is a novella with other stories for secondary characters, which I didn't appreciate tbh because I felt it was very crowded and just long and there were a lot of things already explained in the first story with Zel and Sara. there was no element of mystery to make you want to read about others.
If I choose a cliff to die on, its' romance novels/ novellas written in 3rd party. WHY DO YOU DO THIS. WHY FOR FUCK'S SAKE AM I READING THIS LIKE AN INTRUDER. I want to be them, I want to be in their head. ugh, really gives me the ick.
Characters are meh. this is not a full on story nor a book. this is a novella with other stories for secondary characters, which I didn't appreciate tbh because I felt it was very crowded and just long and there were a lot of things already explained in the first story with Zel and Sara. there was no element of mystery to make you want to read about others.
If I choose a cliff to die on, its' romance novels/ novellas written in 3rd party. WHY DO YOU DO THIS. WHY FOR FUCK'S SAKE AM I READING THIS LIKE AN INTRUDER. I want to be them, I want to be in their head. ugh, really gives me the ick.
April 8, 2016
This is a short story but packs a huge punch.
Zel Markovic's story was so good, his heartbreak was beyond painful. Zel just went through the motions, going into his last fight to finally pay off his debt to the Albanians. When the unexpected happens? He meets a woman who has turned his heart of stone back into flesh and her name is Sara Contreras.
Sara Contreras fled Houston years ago to start over with her family. She has made a name and a brand for herself, got her family out of poverty and now they are in business together. Sara has an ugly cloud over her head and if you are reading "Her Russian Protector" series you will know exactly whom I am speaking of.
Zel meeting Sara is everything to him but they both have pasts that may come back to haunt them in the worst kind of way but their pasts maybe what brings these two together for their own happily ever after.
It was great seeing Alexei and Shay in this story along with Ivan and Erin (Ivan is Zel's coach) and Nikolai and Vivian are in town for the wedding of Alexei and Shay. And Besian the Albanian always seems to pop up LOLL!!! To be fair him and Alexei are good friends and if you read (Alexei's story, you will see how instrumental he was in it). Hopefully people got this book when it was on sale for .99 cents and included Ivan's story and Alexei's story which was a fantastic deal.
Author Roxie Rivera did not disappoint with this story, she also has introduced some new characters from Alexei and Zel's story so it will be interesting when the author decides to write about them. Its good to see Author Roxie Rivera making her way back (her health is more important than writing). She seems to be slowly on the mend which is fantastic and happy to see her back.
Well Until My Next Review Ciao Bellas!
Zel Markovic's story was so good, his heartbreak was beyond painful. Zel just went through the motions, going into his last fight to finally pay off his debt to the Albanians. When the unexpected happens? He meets a woman who has turned his heart of stone back into flesh and her name is Sara Contreras.
Sara Contreras fled Houston years ago to start over with her family. She has made a name and a brand for herself, got her family out of poverty and now they are in business together. Sara has an ugly cloud over her head and if you are reading "Her Russian Protector" series you will know exactly whom I am speaking of.
Zel meeting Sara is everything to him but they both have pasts that may come back to haunt them in the worst kind of way but their pasts maybe what brings these two together for their own happily ever after.
It was great seeing Alexei and Shay in this story along with Ivan and Erin (Ivan is Zel's coach) and Nikolai and Vivian are in town for the wedding of Alexei and Shay. And Besian the Albanian always seems to pop up LOLL!!! To be fair him and Alexei are good friends and if you read (Alexei's story, you will see how instrumental he was in it). Hopefully people got this book when it was on sale for .99 cents and included Ivan's story and Alexei's story which was a fantastic deal.
Author Roxie Rivera did not disappoint with this story, she also has introduced some new characters from Alexei and Zel's story so it will be interesting when the author decides to write about them. Its good to see Author Roxie Rivera making her way back (her health is more important than writing). She seems to be slowly on the mend which is fantastic and happy to see her back.
Well Until My Next Review Ciao Bellas!
March 26, 2016
With a heavy heart I write this review.
It seems these days Roxie Rivera is becoming a hit or a miss with me. Where she once was a one-click buy, I'm thinking about taking that privilege away.
Zel is a book I'm pretty sure i could have lived without reading. He was never a main character or a character that piqued my interest. He's a man in debt to the mob. So what. Many others are in the same position.
I'm tired of the second and third characters getting books when they are not needed.
I did like the idea that the heroine was a stripper/business woman, but that's about all I liked about her. She thinks every man's dream is to have a stripper as a wife. Sure, the man may like the woman like that in the beginning, but pretty darn sure that occupation would be nipped in the butt
before the ring was on the finger.
Also, the insta-love is getting out of hand. They were literally on each other like 5 minutes after meeting. Heck, I could have chalked that up to hot one -night stand sexiness. They screw more than speaking and yet a few pages later sara and Zel are professing love for each. And they said like 10 words to each other!
I don't recommend this book. Maybe if it was longer the characters could have been fleshed out more considering Zel isn't really a big character. Or wasn't.
This so didn't help my book funk.
It seems these days Roxie Rivera is becoming a hit or a miss with me. Where she once was a one-click buy, I'm thinking about taking that privilege away.
Zel is a book I'm pretty sure i could have lived without reading. He was never a main character or a character that piqued my interest. He's a man in debt to the mob. So what. Many others are in the same position.
I'm tired of the second and third characters getting books when they are not needed.
I did like the idea that the heroine was a stripper/business woman, but that's about all I liked about her. She thinks every man's dream is to have a stripper as a wife. Sure, the man may like the woman like that in the beginning, but pretty darn sure that occupation would be nipped in the butt
before the ring was on the finger.
Also, the insta-love is getting out of hand. They were literally on each other like 5 minutes after meeting. Heck, I could have chalked that up to hot one -night stand sexiness. They screw more than speaking and yet a few pages later sara and Zel are professing love for each. And they said like 10 words to each other!
I don't recommend this book. Maybe if it was longer the characters could have been fleshed out more considering Zel isn't really a big character. Or wasn't.
This so didn't help my book funk.
March 25, 2017
Zel Tesla & Sara Contreras
3 stars
Read Jul 2016
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To escape a debt owed to the mob, mixed martial artist Zel Tesla agrees to one final match with one of his league’s most notorious fighters. If he wins, he’ll clear the debts he incurred trying to save his young son’s life and earn his freedom.
But one chance encounter with a luscious burlesque performer in Vegas threatens all those carefully laid plans…
Ten years ago, Sara Contreras fled Houston with the help of her mobbed-up friends. Since barely escaping with her life, she’s built a multi-million dollar empire, but she’s always looking over her shoulder, wondering if the dark, dangerous secret she left behind in Houston is going to catch up with her.
When Sara’s past threatens everything Zel has worked so hard to achieve, she has to make a painful choice. She can sacrifice her love for Zel and let him go—or she can fight for him, facing the secret that nearly buried her back in Houston and the loan shark who owns them both.
3 stars
Read Jul 2016
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To escape a debt owed to the mob, mixed martial artist Zel Tesla agrees to one final match with one of his league’s most notorious fighters. If he wins, he’ll clear the debts he incurred trying to save his young son’s life and earn his freedom.
But one chance encounter with a luscious burlesque performer in Vegas threatens all those carefully laid plans…
Ten years ago, Sara Contreras fled Houston with the help of her mobbed-up friends. Since barely escaping with her life, she’s built a multi-million dollar empire, but she’s always looking over her shoulder, wondering if the dark, dangerous secret she left behind in Houston is going to catch up with her.
When Sara’s past threatens everything Zel has worked so hard to achieve, she has to make a painful choice. She can sacrifice her love for Zel and let him go—or she can fight for him, facing the secret that nearly buried her back in Houston and the loan shark who owns them both.
March 18, 2016
I liked though I enjoyed seeing cameos from the Russian Protector series and learning the backgrounds of certain events rather than the romance. It felt rushed as this couple meets then within a day or two are planning a life together.
May 16, 2021
4.4 stars!! I re read Alexei the other day and I thought oh, that would be cool if we get a story about Zel. Then I decided to check the author's website and realized he has a book. Yay! I have trouble sleeping sometimes so I started this about 1am. I had to stop after a couple of chapters because you know sleep. I woke up and grabbed my kindle.
Zel and Sara grabbed me quickly. I felt my heart broke when he spoke of his son. Zel is a quiet, strong, genuine good man and he is just instantly captivated by Sara. Their first meeting with each other is off the charts and it just gets better from there. I do wish we had a bigger book but I can't fault that. If you're a fan of the author's other books, you'll love this one.
Zel and Sara grabbed me quickly. I felt my heart broke when he spoke of his son. Zel is a quiet, strong, genuine good man and he is just instantly captivated by Sara. Their first meeting with each other is off the charts and it just gets better from there. I do wish we had a bigger book but I can't fault that. If you're a fan of the author's other books, you'll love this one.
March 23, 2016
ZEL: MARKOVIC MMA by Roxie Rivera
3.75 stars---
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 7, 2016
To escape a debt owed to the mob mixed martial artist Zel Tesla agrees to one final match with one of his league’s most notorious fighters. If he wins, he’ll clear the debts he incurred trying to save his young son’s life and earn his freedom.
But one chance encounter with a luscious burlesque performer in Vegas threatens all those carefully laid plans…
Ten years ago, Sara Contreras fled Houston with the help of her mobbed-up friends. Since barely escaping with her life, she’s built a multi-million dollar empire, but she’s always looking over her shoulder, wondering if the dark, dangerous secret she left behind in Houston is going to catch up with her.
When Sara’s past threatens everything Zel has worked so hard to achieve, she has to make a painful choice. She can sacrifice her love for Zel and let him go—or she can fight for him, facing the secret that nearly buried her back in Houston and the loan shark who owns them both.
***Includes the connected books Ivan (Her Russian Protector #1) and Alexei (Her Russian Protector #8) as a FREE BONUS*** (reviews below)
•••••••••
REVIEW: 3.75 stars---ZEL is the first installment and novella in Roxie Rivera’s adult, contemporary MARKOVIC MMA erotic romance series-a spin off from Her Russian Protector series.. This is MMA fighter Zel Tesla, and exotic dancer Sara Contreras’s story line. ZEL runs parallel to, and overlaps some of the time line of ALEXEI (Book #8) in Roxie’s HER RUSSIAN PROTECTOR series.
Told from several third person points of view ZEL focuses on Zel’s upcoming championship fight with a man who has already killed one of his former opponents. Meeting exotic dancer Sara Contreras, just days before the championship match, finds our hero distracted and thinking about a future with a woman he barely knows. When Sara’s past comes back looking for revenge, our heroine knows that for Zel to keep his head in the match, she must walk away before both of them find themselves deeper in debt to the mob.
The secondary and supporting characters include several of the couples from Rivera’s HER RUSSIAN PROTECTOR series including Ivan and Erin Markovic(Ivan #1);Nikolai and Vivian (Nikolai #4); Alexei and Shay (Alexei #8) as well as Sara’ s sister Lucy. Sara’s connection to the mob comes in the form of an ex-husband, and a step brother who wants what he deserves. Besian returns and we see a different side to the Albanian mobster.
ZEL is a fast paced story of insta-love; of one man’s many heartbreaks, and one woman’s need to save the man with whom she is falling in love. The premise is entertaining and revealing; the characters are animated and intense; the romance is a quick build to a happily ever after. ZEL is the first book in Rivera’s MARKOVIC MMA spin off series, and I am looking forward to many more.
Own a copy
____________
IVAN (Her Russian Protector #1)
REVIEW: 4 stars—
IVAN is the first storyline in Roxie Rivera’s contemporary/romance/suspense series Her Russian Protector. IVAN is a short introductory story, basically 80 pages in length that prefaces a number of friends and members formerly involved with the Russian Mob.
The storyline premise focuses on Erin and Ivan. Erin needs to find her drug-addicted sister before it is too late. She knows Ivan’s reputation as a no nonsense man with connections. Making her way into his fight club, Erin will soon discover she has also made her way into Ivan’s heart.
Ivan is our hero: a man who admits he is not perfect but a man whose primary passion is Erin. Hoping to find her sister, Ivan and his fellow Russians uncover a connection that goes deeper than a simple addiction.
IVAN is a story about one woman’s love for her sister and her many attempts to save her from self-destruction. There is an immediate connection between Ivan and Erin-one that is protective without being too alpha; loving without obsession; romantic without control. Ivan is a man who has fallen for a stranger the moment she walks into his life.
If you like a quick and easy read-one with love, romance, sex and several sexy Russians waiting for their story to be told, IVAN is your first stop in HER RUSSIAN PROTECTOR series by Roxie Rivera.
–___________________
ALEXEI (Her Russian Protector #8)
REVIEW: 3.5 stars----
ALEXEI is the eighth full length installment in Roxie Rivera’s contemporary, adult HER RUSSIAN PROTECTOR romance series. This is former Russian enforcer/businessman Alexei Sarnov, and leather designer/cleaning lady Shay Sandoval’s storyline. ALEXEI falls somewhere in the timeline between Nikolai Vol 2 and the novella Lion’s First Roar, and has been released prior to book number 7-Kostya.
ALEXEI revisits some of the previous story line characters including Nikolai and Viv, Detective Eric Santos, Russian enforcer Boychenko, Albanian mobster Besian, and several others -byway of mention only. We are introduced to Russian newcomer and bodyguard Stas, and Shay’s BFF Kylee-whose past is mired in betrayal and loss. Many familiar names and characters are woven throughout the story.
ALEXEI is an entertaining story line with colorful characters but I felt less than invested in Shay’s happily ever after. Perhaps it was the heroine’s constant disregard for her own safety, and the safety of the man with whom she had fallen in love that left me questioning any hope for their future. I had so much hope for ALEXEI’s story but sadly this will not rank as one of my favorite Russian Protector story lines.
3.75 stars---
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 7, 2016
To escape a debt owed to the mob mixed martial artist Zel Tesla agrees to one final match with one of his league’s most notorious fighters. If he wins, he’ll clear the debts he incurred trying to save his young son’s life and earn his freedom.
But one chance encounter with a luscious burlesque performer in Vegas threatens all those carefully laid plans…
Ten years ago, Sara Contreras fled Houston with the help of her mobbed-up friends. Since barely escaping with her life, she’s built a multi-million dollar empire, but she’s always looking over her shoulder, wondering if the dark, dangerous secret she left behind in Houston is going to catch up with her.
When Sara’s past threatens everything Zel has worked so hard to achieve, she has to make a painful choice. She can sacrifice her love for Zel and let him go—or she can fight for him, facing the secret that nearly buried her back in Houston and the loan shark who owns them both.
***Includes the connected books Ivan (Her Russian Protector #1) and Alexei (Her Russian Protector #8) as a FREE BONUS*** (reviews below)
•••••••••
REVIEW: 3.75 stars---ZEL is the first installment and novella in Roxie Rivera’s adult, contemporary MARKOVIC MMA erotic romance series-a spin off from Her Russian Protector series.. This is MMA fighter Zel Tesla, and exotic dancer Sara Contreras’s story line. ZEL runs parallel to, and overlaps some of the time line of ALEXEI (Book #8) in Roxie’s HER RUSSIAN PROTECTOR series.
Told from several third person points of view ZEL focuses on Zel’s upcoming championship fight with a man who has already killed one of his former opponents. Meeting exotic dancer Sara Contreras, just days before the championship match, finds our hero distracted and thinking about a future with a woman he barely knows. When Sara’s past comes back looking for revenge, our heroine knows that for Zel to keep his head in the match, she must walk away before both of them find themselves deeper in debt to the mob.
The secondary and supporting characters include several of the couples from Rivera’s HER RUSSIAN PROTECTOR series including Ivan and Erin Markovic(Ivan #1);Nikolai and Vivian (Nikolai #4); Alexei and Shay (Alexei #8) as well as Sara’ s sister Lucy. Sara’s connection to the mob comes in the form of an ex-husband, and a step brother who wants what he deserves. Besian returns and we see a different side to the Albanian mobster.
ZEL is a fast paced story of insta-love; of one man’s many heartbreaks, and one woman’s need to save the man with whom she is falling in love. The premise is entertaining and revealing; the characters are animated and intense; the romance is a quick build to a happily ever after. ZEL is the first book in Rivera’s MARKOVIC MMA spin off series, and I am looking forward to many more.
Own a copy
____________
IVAN (Her Russian Protector #1)
REVIEW: 4 stars—
IVAN is the first storyline in Roxie Rivera’s contemporary/romance/suspense series Her Russian Protector. IVAN is a short introductory story, basically 80 pages in length that prefaces a number of friends and members formerly involved with the Russian Mob.
The storyline premise focuses on Erin and Ivan. Erin needs to find her drug-addicted sister before it is too late. She knows Ivan’s reputation as a no nonsense man with connections. Making her way into his fight club, Erin will soon discover she has also made her way into Ivan’s heart.
Ivan is our hero: a man who admits he is not perfect but a man whose primary passion is Erin. Hoping to find her sister, Ivan and his fellow Russians uncover a connection that goes deeper than a simple addiction.
IVAN is a story about one woman’s love for her sister and her many attempts to save her from self-destruction. There is an immediate connection between Ivan and Erin-one that is protective without being too alpha; loving without obsession; romantic without control. Ivan is a man who has fallen for a stranger the moment she walks into his life.
If you like a quick and easy read-one with love, romance, sex and several sexy Russians waiting for their story to be told, IVAN is your first stop in HER RUSSIAN PROTECTOR series by Roxie Rivera.
–___________________
ALEXEI (Her Russian Protector #8)
REVIEW: 3.5 stars----
ALEXEI is the eighth full length installment in Roxie Rivera’s contemporary, adult HER RUSSIAN PROTECTOR romance series. This is former Russian enforcer/businessman Alexei Sarnov, and leather designer/cleaning lady Shay Sandoval’s storyline. ALEXEI falls somewhere in the timeline between Nikolai Vol 2 and the novella Lion’s First Roar, and has been released prior to book number 7-Kostya.
ALEXEI revisits some of the previous story line characters including Nikolai and Viv, Detective Eric Santos, Russian enforcer Boychenko, Albanian mobster Besian, and several others -byway of mention only. We are introduced to Russian newcomer and bodyguard Stas, and Shay’s BFF Kylee-whose past is mired in betrayal and loss. Many familiar names and characters are woven throughout the story.
ALEXEI is an entertaining story line with colorful characters but I felt less than invested in Shay’s happily ever after. Perhaps it was the heroine’s constant disregard for her own safety, and the safety of the man with whom she had fallen in love that left me questioning any hope for their future. I had so much hope for ALEXEI’s story but sadly this will not rank as one of my favorite Russian Protector story lines.
August 15, 2017
Really short read that has me a bit disappointed in the quality of this one. Seems like the author has come to a standstill and the books don’t have that same depth to them as the others have. Zel and Sara’s relationship came off as rushed and more forced than the others. This took place over like three days and we’re supposed to believe the two really fell for each other. Maybe the next one will be better but I’m starting to doubt these now.
March 11, 2019
This was shorter than I realised. It's been a long while since I've bothered to read any Roxie Rivera. This was alright. Not as good as the original Her Russian Protector series but not horrible. Zel isn't really involved in the Underworld stuff so there's not much depth or that danger/drama element present in the other books. It reminded me of Sergei - although a lot better than. I didn't love Zel but I liked Sara. 2.5 stars.
October 26, 2021
A great book to read with a lot of mistakes throughout.
I gave this book a four star rating because there was a lot of mistakes throughout the book that made it hard for me to understand what the author was trying to say. I love how Zel and Sara finally found true love and happiness after the tragedy that occurred in their past. I am so happy that Zel is finally free to do whatever he wants to do.
I gave this book a four star rating because there was a lot of mistakes throughout the book that made it hard for me to understand what the author was trying to say. I love how Zel and Sara finally found true love and happiness after the tragedy that occurred in their past. I am so happy that Zel is finally free to do whatever he wants to do.
June 17, 2022
Zel
Zel is a novella that features his story and includes two bonus books Ivan 1 and Alexei. All three books are very good. Zel's story is sad and heartbreaking, I wanted him to have someone good to love him. Sara is a burlesque dancer who has dangerous ties to Houston. So her old life, new life will come crashing into Zel's life. I wished their story was longer but it was still very juicy! Happy Reading 📚
Zel is a novella that features his story and includes two bonus books Ivan 1 and Alexei. All three books are very good. Zel's story is sad and heartbreaking, I wanted him to have someone good to love him. Sara is a burlesque dancer who has dangerous ties to Houston. So her old life, new life will come crashing into Zel's life. I wished their story was longer but it was still very juicy! Happy Reading 📚
December 9, 2024
This was a quick read to fulfill by "Z" title for the year. It was mostly hot with little plot involving a hero in the MMA and ties to the mafia that the hero and heroine are doing their best to cut. The plot was an interesting one that I think could have been done really well if it was a full-length book. 3.5 Stars
June 2, 2017
Zel and Sara's story was sweet and dangerous, as always with RR. It was a nice avant-goût to Danila's (HRP#10). I can't wait for this book to be released, finally!
Happy reading!
An addicted reader.
Follow my favorite books on
Instagram@readonthedarkside
Happy reading!
An addicted reader.
Follow my favorite books on
Instagram@readonthedarkside
September 15, 2021
Enjoyed
Have to admit to skipping the sex scenes as they didn't add depth to the story for me. Great chemistry between the characters and wanted to find out more about them. Felt short in length and therefore a missed opportunity but still good.
Have to admit to skipping the sex scenes as they didn't add depth to the story for me. Great chemistry between the characters and wanted to find out more about them. Felt short in length and therefore a missed opportunity but still good.
December 25, 2021
This is a short novella! I dropped in without having read any of the connected books. I absolutely love Zel’s character. I was devastated by what happened to him. I was really glad for his happy ending! Something about this was just missing something for me.
April 29, 2022
OK, wow, Zel is the man of my dreams, Sara is the woman of my dreams. She has the respect of many in the underground circles. She worked hard for her family and proved herself to people she owed debts to.
I loved the instantaneous attraction between them.
I loved the instantaneous attraction between them.
October 11, 2019
Loved seeing characters from other books in this one!
August 26, 2021
Super Short
Super short, an ok addition to the series. Would have liked something more meatier for Zel and Sara felt like their relationship wasn’t really touched on. 🤷♀️
Super short, an ok addition to the series. Would have liked something more meatier for Zel and Sara felt like their relationship wasn’t really touched on. 🤷♀️
November 8, 2021
unnecessary and not very enjoyable.
absolute insta love for no reason.
not for me thank you. Don't recommend.
absolute insta love for no reason.
not for me thank you. Don't recommend.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews