ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
Torrid, a new standalone in the Sordid series, features the younger Markovic brother. A bad boy who gets what he wants, Vasilije wants to take over the throne of the Serbian mob, but in the meantime a little action with a pretty girl wouldn't hurt. The blonde was meant for a single night, but something about her keeps him coming back for more and each time he shows her a little bit more of his true self. She knows his secrets, but Vasilije Markovic doesn't know Oksana's secrets and hers just might put her on the throne instead.
Maybe you looked into this book for the cover, or maybe the synopsis enticed you just enough, or just maybe you just heard that Nikki Sloane writes great erotic romance and she's come to shake things up again, either way Torrid has your attention and it's well deserved. Released almost a year after Sordid first made waves by being banned on Amazon, Torrid has the same smut, the same enticing mobster brothers, and even better writing. There's deception, there's bloodshed, and there's steamy deprivation aplenty. I knew I had to read Torrid the minute I heard about it, though admittedly I have been reading less erotic novels than I used to. I know Nikki Sloane knows how to deliver a dark romance that will keep you turning pages well past your bedtime. Vasilije was all I hoped for, his younger age making him less refined than his older brother, his emotions less controlled, and his desires easy to spot. Oksana, on the other hand, was anything but pliant and easy. She's a tough-as-nails heroine, a girl with a vengeance, and a natural desire to submit that only Vasilije brings out in her.
I love a good dark romance, but Sordid was almost too much for me and I was afraid Torrid would be the same, that wasn't the case. There's natural chemistry and the story line keeps the story flowing, two powerful characters desperate to take back what they deserve after losing everything. The connection between Vasilije and Oksana is strong, they're drawn to one another in ways that they shouldn't be. I loved that Nikki Sloane had so much character development in Torrid, it was more than just smut. There was a lot more backstory to this installment of the Sordid series, the mob played a much bigger background, and the characters were more than passion and revenge plots. I'd absolutely recommend Torrid to readers looking for a dark romance.