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Using You
All her life Nana Valencia has been told what she can and can't do because of her early life struggles as a child in the hospital. Now she's healthy as ever, and a rookie with the NYPD. She couldn't be happier until an infuriating, massive Russian keeps showing up wherever she is calling her a 'tiny thing.' Nana has no clue who she has been encountering at first. When his identity dawns on her, she decides to use him to get the information her department desperately needs on the Bravta. Ilya Volstov has no problem with death. His job protecting the Bravta's youngest boss, Nikolai Prakenski, brings him into close contact with it every day. Even before he came to America, his life in Russia was darkness, pain and survival. Now in the land of the free, he's living day to day until Nana comes in and shakes up his life. Can these two separate work and love? Or will their games catch up to them with a fiery end?
112 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 22, 2016
80 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
Ariel Arnold
14 books43 followersAriel is a Massachusetts native battling this New England wheather. She has an unhealthy obsession for music and literature. She loves learning about other cultures and different languages which probably accounts for the fact that she has more music in Korean, Chinese, Italian and German then English.
Writing helps her achieve some much needed adventure since she is a dedicated homebody.
Writing helps her achieve some much needed adventure since she is a dedicated homebody.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 1, 2017
Buyer beware
This book sucked. Do not buy it. I know there is supposed to some suspended reality but this book was a waste of the authors. First, Nana is 21, a traffic cop, her two best friends are engaged to members of the Russian Mobile, and she's involved with The Top Mobile enforcer. Wtf. She didn't know he was but barely teenage supper traffic cop has been put on the case to investigate the Mobile. Again, wtf. Second, she's still mentally a teenager. One minute she's all in love and can't breath and wants to have sex with Illya. She's a virgin and her hormones are all over the place like a teenager in heat. Again, wtf. Third, her sister was killed by a stalker which was her main motivating factor in becoming a cop. She has no sense of danger or self preservation. Btw, she's not even black. I'm so tired of books being billed as bwwm romance novels and the blk female is biracial or multiracial or diluted enough to be racially ambiguous. Did I mention she's 21. What was the author thinking? Who told her this was a good book and that was a good plot? Who thought this crap was good enough to publish. Don't get me started on the editing. Was there even an editor? I won't even begin to point out all the ways Illya sucked. I'm gonna stop here. I'm upset that I wasted my time. Even if I did skip through until the end. However, the kicker, the cherry on top of the banana split is that there will be a part 2. Please, somebody, tell this author to put down her pen until she can do a better job. I'm about to completely give up on bwwm interracial romance novels. I think I have read all of the goods bc lately all I've managed to run across is crap. I'm done. I'm so done. A freaking teenager as the main character and a over grown kid as an elite Russian Mob enforcer. What was in her kool-aid when she wrote this? I'm frustrated as hades.
This book sucked. Do not buy it. I know there is supposed to some suspended reality but this book was a waste of the authors. First, Nana is 21, a traffic cop, her two best friends are engaged to members of the Russian Mobile, and she's involved with The Top Mobile enforcer. Wtf. She didn't know he was but barely teenage supper traffic cop has been put on the case to investigate the Mobile. Again, wtf. Second, she's still mentally a teenager. One minute she's all in love and can't breath and wants to have sex with Illya. She's a virgin and her hormones are all over the place like a teenager in heat. Again, wtf. Third, her sister was killed by a stalker which was her main motivating factor in becoming a cop. She has no sense of danger or self preservation. Btw, she's not even black. I'm so tired of books being billed as bwwm romance novels and the blk female is biracial or multiracial or diluted enough to be racially ambiguous. Did I mention she's 21. What was the author thinking? Who told her this was a good book and that was a good plot? Who thought this crap was good enough to publish. Don't get me started on the editing. Was there even an editor? I won't even begin to point out all the ways Illya sucked. I'm gonna stop here. I'm upset that I wasted my time. Even if I did skip through until the end. However, the kicker, the cherry on top of the banana split is that there will be a part 2. Please, somebody, tell this author to put down her pen until she can do a better job. I'm about to completely give up on bwwm interracial romance novels. I think I have read all of the goods bc lately all I've managed to run across is crap. I'm done. I'm so done. A freaking teenager as the main character and a over grown kid as an elite Russian Mob enforcer. What was in her kool-aid when she wrote this? I'm frustrated as hades.
December 31, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed "Using You" because it kept me engaged and connected to the characters and past events in the previous books in the 'My Sexy Russian' series. I thought this book would have solved Nik's grandfather's death, Jason's death and his shooting but Ariel Arnold fooled me yet again! But oh, no you didn't end Ilya and Nana's story in yet another cliffy! Clever move but I JUST DON'T LIKE CLIFFY!
So in the memorable words of Florida from Good Times, "Damn, damn, damn!!!!!"
"Be sure to continue on this journey of lies, betrayal, and deceit with Ilya and Nana in the last installment of the crew we’ve come to love in, Because of You."
So in the memorable words of Florida from Good Times, "Damn, damn, damn!!!!!"
"Be sure to continue on this journey of lies, betrayal, and deceit with Ilya and Nana in the last installment of the crew we’ve come to love in, Because of You."
August 31, 2018
This was really short and frankly, I'm glad that part II is readily available on Kindle Unlimited because if I had to buy this, I would have been pissed. There are NO LOVE SCENES in this book. Just a kiss. So beware if you want something hot and steamy lol This is the beginning of Nana and Ilya's story. It's actually kind of interesting but I was disappointed that there's no real heat in part one of their story. It's a slow simmer in a very short novella!
October 18, 2018
Ilya and Nana's beginning
Using You 1, is Ilya and Nana's story. It picks up where I Deserve It, ends. I love Ilya, so loyal and strong but he has a sensitive side. He is also very perceptive when dealing with certain situations. This the beginning of Ilya and Nana's journey. The attraction is obvious but the trust is not there. Check it out. Great series of books. On to Using You 2. Ty.😊
Using You 1, is Ilya and Nana's story. It picks up where I Deserve It, ends. I love Ilya, so loyal and strong but he has a sensitive side. He is also very perceptive when dealing with certain situations. This the beginning of Ilya and Nana's journey. The attraction is obvious but the trust is not there. Check it out. Great series of books. On to Using You 2. Ty.😊
March 10, 2017
More of a sample
I wouldn't consider this a book. It was so short it was more of a sample. There was too much circling around and really nothing happened.
I wouldn't consider this a book. It was so short it was more of a sample. There was too much circling around and really nothing happened.
August 27, 2018
Omg
I was going to stop reading it I am so glad he figured out about her can’t wait to continue reading
I was going to stop reading it I am so glad he figured out about her can’t wait to continue reading
October 16, 2018
Excellent
March 18, 2024
Excellent
I can't wait to read the next instalment of this series. This pair are so cute. Great storytelling with interesting characters, Ilya my new book boyfriend 😍.
I can't wait to read the next instalment of this series. This pair are so cute. Great storytelling with interesting characters, Ilya my new book boyfriend 😍.
April 25, 2024
Ilya and Nana
Very nice story. I also read Alex and Yaz story, Nico and Amanda story all were nice stories. the Russian Brat a is something esle.
Very nice story. I also read Alex and Yaz story, Nico and Amanda story all were nice stories. the Russian Brat a is something esle.
December 25, 2016
I hate cliffhangers
With that said, just as the story starts to heat up, it ends. There is so much potential here but the author only scratched the surface. This story should have been longer, I felt cheated out of a story. The way it ended I don't feel any attachment to the characters to even want to read any future installments. Sorry!
With that said, just as the story starts to heat up, it ends. There is so much potential here but the author only scratched the surface. This story should have been longer, I felt cheated out of a story. The way it ended I don't feel any attachment to the characters to even want to read any future installments. Sorry!
December 31, 2016
This ebook started out as a exciting read, but after Chapter 10; book went to second book in the series, I Deserve It. Hopefully, they will get this corrected as soon as possible. Review has been changed from 3 to 4. I really did enjoy this read but it's a cliff hanger.
March 23, 2017
It felt a bit too rushed to wrap up the series. My fave is still the first book in the series but it was cute and it should have just been 1 book.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews