What do you think?
Rate this book
Boston Underworld #5
Thief
I’m a good girl.
I live by a code that can’t be bent or broken. It is my duty to my family to stay innocent and pure. To marry an Italian man. The stars are already aligned.
But Nikolai Kozlov re-writes my destiny with five simple words.
You belong to me now.
He's Russian mafiya. A thief. A skilled liar with no moral boundaries. He is everything I have been taught to hate. A man who stands for nothing. A man who takes what he wants without a second thought.
And what he wanted was me.
He thinks he controls my fate, but what he doesn’t know is, sometimes it’s the good girls you have to watch out for.
I’m a dangerous man.
I live by a code. The Vory code. It is my duty to my family to protect the brotherhood. To destroy anyone who threatens what we stand for, including her.
She’s a dancer. A beautiful little doll. My prisoner, and my new favorite puppet. This mafia princess thinks she has me under her spell, but in the end, she is simply collateral.
It’s a shame to destroy precious things.
But this is what bad men do.
Note: this book contains dark subject matter, please read at your own discretion. This is a full length standalone that can be read in any order within the series.
I live by a code that can’t be bent or broken. It is my duty to my family to stay innocent and pure. To marry an Italian man. The stars are already aligned.
But Nikolai Kozlov re-writes my destiny with five simple words.
You belong to me now.
He's Russian mafiya. A thief. A skilled liar with no moral boundaries. He is everything I have been taught to hate. A man who stands for nothing. A man who takes what he wants without a second thought.
And what he wanted was me.
He thinks he controls my fate, but what he doesn’t know is, sometimes it’s the good girls you have to watch out for.
I’m a dangerous man.
I live by a code. The Vory code. It is my duty to my family to protect the brotherhood. To destroy anyone who threatens what we stand for, including her.
She’s a dancer. A beautiful little doll. My prisoner, and my new favorite puppet. This mafia princess thinks she has me under her spell, but in the end, she is simply collateral.
It’s a shame to destroy precious things.
But this is what bad men do.
Note: this book contains dark subject matter, please read at your own discretion. This is a full length standalone that can be read in any order within the series.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 22, 2018
1188 people are currently reading
6817 people want to read
About the author
A. Zavarelli
56 books7,505 followersA. Zavarelli is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author of dark and contemporary romance.
When she’s not putting her characters through hell, she can usually be found watching bizarre and twisted documentaries in the name of research.
She currently lives in the Northwest with her lumberjack and an entire brood of fur babies.
Facebook Page- https://geni.us/AZavarelliAuthor
Facebook Reader Group- https://geni.us/FemmeFatales
Mailing List: https://geni.us/ucfAZH1
Instagram- https://geni.us/AZavarelliInstagram
Amazon- https://geni.us/AZavarelliAmazon
Bookbub- https://geni.us/AZavarelliBookbub
Twitter- https://geni.us/AZavarelliTwitter
Website- https://www.azavarelli.com
When she’s not putting her characters through hell, she can usually be found watching bizarre and twisted documentaries in the name of research.
She currently lives in the Northwest with her lumberjack and an entire brood of fur babies.
Facebook Page- https://geni.us/AZavarelliAuthor
Facebook Reader Group- https://geni.us/FemmeFatales
Mailing List: https://geni.us/ucfAZH1
Instagram- https://geni.us/AZavarelliInstagram
Amazon- https://geni.us/AZavarelliAmazon
Bookbub- https://geni.us/AZavarelliBookbub
Twitter- https://geni.us/AZavarelliTwitter
Website- https://www.azavarelli.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 968 reviews
March 28, 2018
4.5 Stars
I just fucking love this series.
I've been waiting for Nika and Tanaka's story forEVER and it definitely didn't disappoint.
I always love it when the H/h are forced to live under the same roof and this one definitely made the most of that. There was also a lot of great push/pull between them and I enjoyed how it paralleled the time lines of the previous books in the series as relates to the main characters here.
I just fucking love this series.
I've been waiting for Nika and Tanaka's story forEVER and it definitely didn't disappoint.
I always love it when the H/h are forced to live under the same roof and this one definitely made the most of that. There was also a lot of great push/pull between them and I enjoyed how it paralleled the time lines of the previous books in the series as relates to the main characters here.
January 17, 2022
the only thing this book stole from me is my time.
「 PLOT 」
Thief is about Tanaka (h) and Nikolai (H). Both characters were introduced in Ghost. Nikolai is Alexei's half-brother. Tanaka is the daughter of Manuel, an Italian mob, who owns Nikolai a lot of money. As collateral he's taking Tanaka as his captive until Manuel can pay his debt. The rest of the book is just Tanaka staying at his home, doing nothing, while Nikolai is ... doing nothing as well. The plot of this book is that ... it has no plot.
「 WHY THIEF IS JUST BAD 」
If I didn't make it clear. This book was hella B-O-R-I-N-G. Tanaka's only personality trait is ballet and having an eating disorder. Nikolai's personality is as dry as white untoasted toast (sorry to toast by the way, but that's the first comparison that came to my mind), but you know what? Characters having no personality and the book being boring I can deal with. It's not like I haven't complained about this series having too many "no personality" characters before, so what is one more to the list.
But even when some of the other Heroes in this series are dull as dishwasher, at least they are loyal. Once they meet the heroine, they don't look at other woman and then here comes Nikolai Kozlov trying to break the norm.
&
「 THE ONE HIGHLIGHT 」
I have learned a new torture method.
Acid bath... that must be really painful, but yay for her for slashing his tiny tick with a broken mirror!! Goo girl!!
Nikolai and the rest of the guys capture Manuel. Ronan, the torture king he is, comes and has some fun with Manuel. He drills some holes into Manuel knees, hips and elbows with a power drill. Uses sandblaster for half of his face. And then boils Manuel alive in oil in a kettle. ♥️🛐 What a beautiful scene, I might have shed a tear for the beauty...peak literature. I can really count on Ronan to pull through with his torture devices and make scumbags suffer.
That's why I only love one man and his name is Ronan.
1 star because i can't give any less
0.25 for proving me once again that Alexei is the superior brother
0.25 for the Ronan cameo
┍━━━━━━━━━━━━━┑
BOSTON UNDERWORLD SERIES
#1 Crow – 2 stars
#2 Reaper – 3.75 stars
#3 Ghost – 3.25 stars
#4 Saint – 3 stars
#5 Thief – 1.5 stars
#6 Conor – 1.75 stars
┕━━━━━━━━━━━━━┙
「 PLOT 」
Thief is about Tanaka (h) and Nikolai (H). Both characters were introduced in Ghost. Nikolai is Alexei's half-brother. Tanaka is the daughter of Manuel, an Italian mob, who owns Nikolai a lot of money. As collateral he's taking Tanaka as his captive until Manuel can pay his debt. The rest of the book is just Tanaka staying at his home, doing nothing, while Nikolai is ... doing nothing as well. The plot of this book is that ... it has no plot.
「 WHY THIEF IS JUST BAD 」
If I didn't make it clear. This book was hella B-O-R-I-N-G. Tanaka's only personality trait is ballet and having an eating disorder. Nikolai's personality is as dry as white untoasted toast (sorry to toast by the way, but that's the first comparison that came to my mind), but you know what? Characters having no personality and the book being boring I can deal with. It's not like I haven't complained about this series having too many "no personality" characters before, so what is one more to the list.
But even when some of the other Heroes in this series are dull as dishwasher, at least they are loyal. Once they meet the heroine, they don't look at other woman and then here comes Nikolai Kozlov trying to break the norm.
(𝟙) there is this dancer at their club, her name is Mara, who he fucks on Tuesdays. Thanks for that information bro.
(𝟚) Nikolai lets Mara give him a blowjob while Tanaka is watching across the room. Who told him that was a good idea?
(𝟛) he keeps calling her "pet" and I just hate that 'endearment'. She is not his dog or anything. If he'd call me that...
(𝟜) we're 33% into the story. Tanaka goes into his office after she sees him with some blond girl. She opens the door and sees him getting a bj while he just watches her. ONE THIRD OF THE BOOK ALRIGHT.
(𝟝) then Nikolai has the audacity to say this
"I like to watch Tanaka squirm. I like to get my dick sucked knowing she’s just down the hall, hearing every second of it."
And for what? Because he was feeling petty after she rejected him.
(𝟞) He is getting BJs left and right, but how dare Tanaka looks at Alexei.
"Perhaps you would rather go home with my brother. Is that it, pet?”
let me tell you Nikolai, every women out there would be honored to go home with your brother because he is 2049395 times the man you wish you were. Also stop calling her your pet, you disgusting pig.
(𝟟) He was ready to let some other guy he trusted deflower Tanaka so they could send the bloody sheet to her father. But thank you heaven for Alexei!! He is here to save the day, cause he wouldn't let Tanaka get punish. ALEXEI I LOVE YOU MWAH BEST MAN!!
(𝟠) top tier romance between Nikolai and Tanaka:
“Tell me you want me,” he demands.
“You disgust me.” My nails sink into his back while my words lay into his ego. “You don’t deserve to take me when this means nothing to you.”
you can just feel their chemistry pouring off the page... ah wait that are just my tears for having to endure this.
(𝟡) more swoony moments & top tier banter between these lovebirds:
“You are a monster.”
“And you are his whore.”
(𝟙𝟘) after Nikolai finds out about what happened to his mother, he goes berserk and almost kills Tanaka.
“Please, Nika—” Like a snake, his hand lashes out to wrap around my throat. “You don’t deserve to live.”
&
He cuts off my air supply, and I claw at his hands. When that doesn’t work, I scratch at his face. My nails tear into any flesh I can reach, and it only makes him more volatile. He releases his hold on my throat, only to reach for the cigarette in his mouth. I watch in horror as he drags it a hair’s breadth from my throat. Smoke wisps between us, and heat rolls off the flame red cylinder as I struggle to stay stock-still. He can’t do this. He wouldn’t scar me like my father scarred my mother.
Aww, isn't he the best? That happens at 75% of the book. the romance I was waiting for. Thank you Mister Kozlov for delivering the "I almost killed the love of my life - trope" no one asked for. Best boy.
「 THE ONE HIGHLIGHT 」
I have learned a new torture method.
My mother left this world fighting. Fighting to escape. She slashed Manuel Valentini’s dick with a shard of broken mirror. And then he dissolved her in an acid bath.
Acid bath... that must be really painful, but yay for her for slashing his tiny tick with a broken mirror!! Goo girl!!
Nikolai and the rest of the guys capture Manuel. Ronan, the torture king he is, comes and has some fun with Manuel. He drills some holes into Manuel knees, hips and elbows with a power drill. Uses sandblaster for half of his face. And then boils Manuel alive in oil in a kettle. ♥️🛐 What a beautiful scene, I might have shed a tear for the beauty...peak literature. I can really count on Ronan to pull through with his torture devices and make scumbags suffer.
That's why I only love one man and his name is Ronan.
1 star because i can't give any less
0.25 for proving me once again that Alexei is the superior brother
0.25 for the Ronan cameo
┍━━━━━━━━━━━━━┑
BOSTON UNDERWORLD SERIES
#1 Crow – 2 stars
#2 Reaper – 3.75 stars
#3 Ghost – 3.25 stars
#4 Saint – 3 stars
#5 Thief – 1.5 stars
#6 Conor – 1.75 stars
┕━━━━━━━━━━━━━┙
February 17, 2018
Thief is A. Zavarelli’s pièce de résistance!!
I cried so many tears when I found out this series was ending. I’ve collected so many book boyfriends over the course of reading the first 4 books in the series. So, it’s bittersweet to see it come to end, however I’m really happy with the way things turn out.
Nikolai and Tanaka’s story is one of the sweetest of the series. Don’t get me wrong. It’s still a dark romance, but I really liked these two together. The circumstances leading to their coupling is unconventional, but there’s no doubt about how strongly they feel for one another.
What I loved: Nikolai, obvi!
Tall, fearsome, clear blue vibrant eyes, and a dirty mouth. I was goner from the very first word. He’s ruthless and certainly isn’t a traditional romance hero, but I love him!
The sacrifices. I won’t go into details, because spoilers… But I love when characters are willing to do whatever it takes to attain the love they seek.
And last but not least. Some of my absolute favorite BBFs make an appearance or two. EEEEEEPPPPPP!
Yes, I freely admit that I love fictional characters! Catching up always fabulous!
While I’m sad the series is ending, it’s been one of my favorites EVER! Grab this one as soon as you can. It’s a fabulous ending to an amazing series.
A fitting end to a fantastic series!
I cried so many tears when I found out this series was ending. I’ve collected so many book boyfriends over the course of reading the first 4 books in the series. So, it’s bittersweet to see it come to end, however I’m really happy with the way things turn out.
Nikolai and Tanaka’s story is one of the sweetest of the series. Don’t get me wrong. It’s still a dark romance, but I really liked these two together. The circumstances leading to their coupling is unconventional, but there’s no doubt about how strongly they feel for one another.
What I loved: Nikolai, obvi!
Tall, fearsome, clear blue vibrant eyes, and a dirty mouth. I was goner from the very first word. He’s ruthless and certainly isn’t a traditional romance hero, but I love him!
The sacrifices. I won’t go into details, because spoilers… But I love when characters are willing to do whatever it takes to attain the love they seek.
And last but not least. Some of my absolute favorite BBFs make an appearance or two. EEEEEEPPPPPP!
Yes, I freely admit that I love fictional characters! Catching up always fabulous!
While I’m sad the series is ending, it’s been one of my favorites EVER! Grab this one as soon as you can. It’s a fabulous ending to an amazing series.
A fitting end to a fantastic series!
February 28, 2018
3.5
Before I begin my review, I have to get something out of my system. I'm devastated! I had no idea that Thief was going to be the last book in the Boston Underworld series by A. Zavarelli!
This series is responsible for my love of mafia romance. Lachlan is one of my favorite book boyfriends, and Mack is one of my favorite heroines of all time! I'm talking, hands down one of my favorite couples ever! Rory and Scarlett aren't far behind them. I read Crow when I was first getting into the romance genre, so I guess you can say it helped me fall in love with romance period. To know that there will never again be another story written about these characters crushes me! I get depressed every time I think about it. Okay, enough about my heart being ripped out! Let's talk about Thief!
Thief is the story of Nikolai Kozlov, a member of the Russian mafiya, and Tanaka, the daughter of an Italian mobster, Manuel Valentini. Nikolai takes Tanaka captive in exchange for a debt owed to him by her father, but his ultimate goal is to find out what really happened to his mother. He thinks Manuel was involved in her disappearance and will use Tanaka to avenge his mother's death if he finds out he's right.
Tanaka has been groomed to be a mafia wife since birth. She grew up extremely sheltered with ballet as her only outlet from her strict family life. The night she is given to Nikolai as collateral, her world is turned upside down in more ways than one. Someone sabotages her pointe shoes ensuring she will never be able to dance professionally ever again.
Nikolai falls for Tanaka rather quickly and vice versa, but he tries to hold back due to the fact that a relationship between them is impossible. Not only is she Italian instead of Russian, but he may have to murder her for her father's crimes. Even if he offs Manuel instead, the vory will never accept her as his wife, because Viktor, the pakhan, wants him to marry someone else. Denying Viktor would be suicide for both him and Tanaka. On top of that, would she really be able to be in a relationship with the man responsible for her father's murder?
Thief is a gritty mafia romance full of sexual tension and plenty of push and pull. I was intrigued by Nikolai's character in Ghost, and it was great to finally get his story. Nikolai and Tanaka are two troubled individuals that shouldn't make sense together, but in the end, the author convinced me that they did!
My favorite parts of this book didn't have to do with their romance though. I enjoyed seeing more of Alexei and Nikolai together, and I was happy with where they were with each other when all was said and done. The torture scene was amazing! Bravo to the author for that one!
I was also ecstatic to see the whole gang together at the end, but it was way too brief for me. With this being the final book, I wanted more. I still loved it though! I'll cross my fingers and hold on to the pipe dream of a novella or a spin off with cameos from these characters.
The main problem I had with this installment was the lack of build up or development of feelings between Nikolai and Tanaka. I felt like they went from hate to love with not much in between. They may have resisted it, but it was always there. Tanaka is not the kind of heroine I enjoy. She seemed too weak for me. I could go on. However, I don't want to, because I think this may be a case of "it's not you, it's me." My personal preferences combined with how much I loved the previous book in the series could have negatively affected my overall enjoyment.
This wasn't one of my favorites in the series, but it could certainly be yours. If you've read all the other books prior to this, I recommend you read this one, too. Ashleigh is a phenomenal writer. She will always be one of my favorites, and I hope if you haven't given this series a try, you do so asap! The Boston Underworld series is incredible, and I recommend it to everyone! It's one of the series I have always pimped the hardest, and even though this is the final book, that's never going to change! Read it, people!
Before I begin my review, I have to get something out of my system. I'm devastated! I had no idea that Thief was going to be the last book in the Boston Underworld series by A. Zavarelli!
This series is responsible for my love of mafia romance. Lachlan is one of my favorite book boyfriends, and Mack is one of my favorite heroines of all time! I'm talking, hands down one of my favorite couples ever! Rory and Scarlett aren't far behind them. I read Crow when I was first getting into the romance genre, so I guess you can say it helped me fall in love with romance period. To know that there will never again be another story written about these characters crushes me! I get depressed every time I think about it. Okay, enough about my heart being ripped out! Let's talk about Thief!
Thief is the story of Nikolai Kozlov, a member of the Russian mafiya, and Tanaka, the daughter of an Italian mobster, Manuel Valentini. Nikolai takes Tanaka captive in exchange for a debt owed to him by her father, but his ultimate goal is to find out what really happened to his mother. He thinks Manuel was involved in her disappearance and will use Tanaka to avenge his mother's death if he finds out he's right.
Tanaka has been groomed to be a mafia wife since birth. She grew up extremely sheltered with ballet as her only outlet from her strict family life. The night she is given to Nikolai as collateral, her world is turned upside down in more ways than one. Someone sabotages her pointe shoes ensuring she will never be able to dance professionally ever again.
Nikolai falls for Tanaka rather quickly and vice versa, but he tries to hold back due to the fact that a relationship between them is impossible. Not only is she Italian instead of Russian, but he may have to murder her for her father's crimes. Even if he offs Manuel instead, the vory will never accept her as his wife, because Viktor, the pakhan, wants him to marry someone else. Denying Viktor would be suicide for both him and Tanaka. On top of that, would she really be able to be in a relationship with the man responsible for her father's murder?
Thief is a gritty mafia romance full of sexual tension and plenty of push and pull. I was intrigued by Nikolai's character in Ghost, and it was great to finally get his story. Nikolai and Tanaka are two troubled individuals that shouldn't make sense together, but in the end, the author convinced me that they did!
My favorite parts of this book didn't have to do with their romance though. I enjoyed seeing more of Alexei and Nikolai together, and I was happy with where they were with each other when all was said and done. The torture scene was amazing! Bravo to the author for that one!
I was also ecstatic to see the whole gang together at the end, but it was way too brief for me. With this being the final book, I wanted more. I still loved it though! I'll cross my fingers and hold on to the pipe dream of a novella or a spin off with cameos from these characters.
The main problem I had with this installment was the lack of build up or development of feelings between Nikolai and Tanaka. I felt like they went from hate to love with not much in between. They may have resisted it, but it was always there. Tanaka is not the kind of heroine I enjoy. She seemed too weak for me. I could go on. However, I don't want to, because I think this may be a case of "it's not you, it's me." My personal preferences combined with how much I loved the previous book in the series could have negatively affected my overall enjoyment.
This wasn't one of my favorites in the series, but it could certainly be yours. If you've read all the other books prior to this, I recommend you read this one, too. Ashleigh is a phenomenal writer. She will always be one of my favorites, and I hope if you haven't given this series a try, you do so asap! The Boston Underworld series is incredible, and I recommend it to everyone! It's one of the series I have always pimped the hardest, and even though this is the final book, that's never going to change! Read it, people!
March 10, 2018
★4.5★
Thief is the fifth installment in the Boston Underworld Series. A. Zavarelli is back with a heart-stopping, emotionally gripping, passionate and violent dark romance that will leave you breathless and desperate for more.
Overall, I highly recommend Thief to anyone who enjoys a dark mafia romance. Although this is the fifth book in the series, you can certainly read and enjoy Thief as a stand-alone. With action, passion, and romance, A. Zavarelli offers an Epic Romance that I will never forget. I look forward to reading more from this author and to discovering every single piece of Mafia goodness that exists in the Boston Underworld.
***Boston Underworld***
*ARC graciously provided in exchange for an honest review!
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
"You don't get to leave me. The only way you're leaving me, pet, is through death."
Thief is the fifth installment in the Boston Underworld Series. A. Zavarelli is back with a heart-stopping, emotionally gripping, passionate and violent dark romance that will leave you breathless and desperate for more.
"My teeth clash with hers, and I taste blood. I lap at the bittersweetness, desperate for more."Tanaka is a dancer and an Italian Mafia Princess. When her father owes a debt, she is taken and held captive by the ruthless Russian Mob killer Nikolai. Nikolai wants nothing more than to serve his family and to shed blood for the people that have wronged him. Tanaka is the key to his success and to his ruin. Despite the countless women at his disposal, it is his captive and "doll" that becomes his obsession. In order for Nikolai to prove his loyalty to his family and the organization, he can only use Tanaka before taking her to her death. And yet, sometimes the thing we can never have is the only thing we will kill to keep.
"She opens her mouth and lets me inside. It's warm and it's wet, and it's my fucking heaven and hell all wrapped into one."Told in dual POV, Thief is a brilliant dark romance set in an action-packed mafia world. The characters are desperate to survive and will not stop until their enemies are dead and buried underground. Although at first glance Thief appears to be another "captive romance" book, A. Zavarelli offers so much more. With a complex plot and rough and raw passion, Tanaka and Nikolai discover tenderness and long lasting love. The supporting characters enhance the story as the plot twists and tangles like a spider's web. Nikolai is far from a tender lover and yet, his rough and unrelenting facade is ripped away when Tanaka enters his life. Tanaka is determined to fight for what she wants and paired with Nikolai they become a mighty force like no other.
Overall, I highly recommend Thief to anyone who enjoys a dark mafia romance. Although this is the fifth book in the series, you can certainly read and enjoy Thief as a stand-alone. With action, passion, and romance, A. Zavarelli offers an Epic Romance that I will never forget. I look forward to reading more from this author and to discovering every single piece of Mafia goodness that exists in the Boston Underworld.
***Boston Underworld***
*ARC graciously provided in exchange for an honest review!
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
September 25, 2018
It’s been a while since I dived into the world of the anti-heroes of this series and I believe
Thief
was the perfect book to get my feet wet. It was high on emotion, full of guts, and the chemistry between the main characters was dangerous. Who knew a thief and a ballerina were capable of providing so much entertainment?
Tanaka/Nakya was a sheltered girl, living under the oppressive shadow of her mob boss father. Her only personal happiness came from dancing and she did everything within her power to be a prima ballerina. But that life was going to swiftly come to an end as she was expected to give up her hopes and dreams to fulfill her obligations, namely her impending arranged marriage. But even those plans hit a snag when she is traded as collateral for a debt her father can only hope to pay. Her captor? Nikolai Kozlov/Nika. He was a high-ranking member of the Russion mafiya, a thief who could procure obscure collectibles or could make a realistic forgery. A man to be feared, not one to be trifled with. A man who never expected his world to explode by the shy girl he takes as his pet.
I loved Nikolai and Tanaka. She didn’t have a clue about ‘normal’ life, her reactions were almost childlike because of her innocence, but her heart knew exactly who it belonged to. All the while, she fought against the inevitable pull of him, but resistance was futile.
As for Nikolai, he was in a state of absolute confusion. He had this young girl in his possession, who for all intents and purposes was utter perfection, but she was a lot more damaged than he bargained for. And for some reason, he couldn’t leave her in the state he found her in. He also couldn’t fight his obsession with his new pet or the fact that, despite his circumstances and what was expected of him, his heart kept reaching out for her.
I can’t get enough of bad boys who fight the good fight only to fall all over themselves when they find love and A. Zavarelli captured this brilliantly.
Release: Feb. 23, 2018 | Genre: Mafia Romance | POV: Dual - 1st person | Heat: 4 out of 5 | Standalone - Boston Underworld #5
*** Graphics taken from author's Facebook page ***
Tanaka/Nakya was a sheltered girl, living under the oppressive shadow of her mob boss father. Her only personal happiness came from dancing and she did everything within her power to be a prima ballerina. But that life was going to swiftly come to an end as she was expected to give up her hopes and dreams to fulfill her obligations, namely her impending arranged marriage. But even those plans hit a snag when she is traded as collateral for a debt her father can only hope to pay. Her captor? Nikolai Kozlov/Nika. He was a high-ranking member of the Russion mafiya, a thief who could procure obscure collectibles or could make a realistic forgery. A man to be feared, not one to be trifled with. A man who never expected his world to explode by the shy girl he takes as his pet.
I loved Nikolai and Tanaka. She didn’t have a clue about ‘normal’ life, her reactions were almost childlike because of her innocence, but her heart knew exactly who it belonged to. All the while, she fought against the inevitable pull of him, but resistance was futile.
As for Nikolai, he was in a state of absolute confusion. He had this young girl in his possession, who for all intents and purposes was utter perfection, but she was a lot more damaged than he bargained for. And for some reason, he couldn’t leave her in the state he found her in. He also couldn’t fight his obsession with his new pet or the fact that, despite his circumstances and what was expected of him, his heart kept reaching out for her.
I can’t get enough of bad boys who fight the good fight only to fall all over themselves when they find love and A. Zavarelli captured this brilliantly.
Release: Feb. 23, 2018 | Genre: Mafia Romance | POV: Dual - 1st person | Heat: 4 out of 5 | Standalone - Boston Underworld #5
*** Graphics taken from author's Facebook page ***
February 22, 2018
A beautiful Ballerina, dancing like she had wings, stretching, flying , landing, like she breathes. Dancing is not just her art, it's her life, her escape, her motive to keep living
I felt instant connection to the Mafia Princess - Tanaka Valentini, daughter of Manuel Valentini.
then a monster walks into her life and she falls!! Broken body, mutilated heart and shattered soul.
Her Fall From Grace forever captured and her light dimming till if just is a dying ember.
I can feel the same dread, same dangerous aura in this book like I felt in earlier Boston Underworld series. This is genre and trope ash is really master of. She creates Nikolai, a Vor Soldier. Ruthless, heartless and merciless
As men go, Nikolai falls in the top percent of his red-blooded class. From his Herculean build to his wild hair and sharp cheekbones, he is a deity among the male species. A mortal casted in the image of a Greek god. And that would make me his concubine.
He's also a THIEF. Stealing precious objects and now he has stolen Tanaka and made her his pet.
I loved the story , it's my fave trope and the intricacies of Bratva, combined with interconnections with Italian Mafia made it very dark, very dreadful. There's a lot of sinister deals, vengeance, mayhem, gory torture atypical of such dark underworld. The end scene was so casually written , gave me shudders !!!
There's also Love, lust, pain, angst and heartbreak . Perfect combination that kept me occupied throughout. Lots of sizzling action, Nike is a Red Blooded Alpha male and he uses his pet however he
Pleases and whenever he wants.
Towards the end is a bombshell !!! I had forgotten all about it actually.
Taut, tense and tensile, story is hard and elastic both, twisting and turning till our mouth falls open.
I have to mention one line that impacted me real hard and truly captures the plight of Tanaka.
With the tug of his puppet strings, the master fractures the good girl inside of me. All that’s left in the wake of his devastation is a broken doll who wrings out every ounce of pleasure from his mouth before she deflates. I’m bankrupt. ....I'm BANKRUPT <--- I loved it. It truly shows her destitution. She has nothing left. I shed a tear or two at this point . Thank you Ashleigh !!!
4.5 "Zvedza" stars
#BookBistroBlogApproved
Follow us on
FB - https://www.facebook.com/groups/BookB...
Blog -https://bookbistroblogcom.wordpress.com
Blog -https://bookbistroblogger.blogspot.com
Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/BookBistro
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/BookBistroBlog
I felt instant connection to the Mafia Princess - Tanaka Valentini, daughter of Manuel Valentini.
then a monster walks into her life and she falls!! Broken body, mutilated heart and shattered soul.
Her Fall From Grace forever captured and her light dimming till if just is a dying ember.
I can feel the same dread, same dangerous aura in this book like I felt in earlier Boston Underworld series. This is genre and trope ash is really master of. She creates Nikolai, a Vor Soldier. Ruthless, heartless and merciless
As men go, Nikolai falls in the top percent of his red-blooded class. From his Herculean build to his wild hair and sharp cheekbones, he is a deity among the male species. A mortal casted in the image of a Greek god. And that would make me his concubine.
He's also a THIEF. Stealing precious objects and now he has stolen Tanaka and made her his pet.
I loved the story , it's my fave trope and the intricacies of Bratva, combined with interconnections with Italian Mafia made it very dark, very dreadful. There's a lot of sinister deals, vengeance, mayhem, gory torture atypical of such dark underworld. The end scene was so casually written , gave me shudders !!!
There's also Love, lust, pain, angst and heartbreak . Perfect combination that kept me occupied throughout. Lots of sizzling action, Nike is a Red Blooded Alpha male and he uses his pet however he
Pleases and whenever he wants.
Towards the end is a bombshell !!! I had forgotten all about it actually.
Taut, tense and tensile, story is hard and elastic both, twisting and turning till our mouth falls open.
I have to mention one line that impacted me real hard and truly captures the plight of Tanaka.
With the tug of his puppet strings, the master fractures the good girl inside of me. All that’s left in the wake of his devastation is a broken doll who wrings out every ounce of pleasure from his mouth before she deflates. I’m bankrupt. ....I'm BANKRUPT <--- I loved it. It truly shows her destitution. She has nothing left. I shed a tear or two at this point . Thank you Ashleigh !!!
4.5 "Zvedza" stars
#BookBistroBlogApproved
Follow us on
FB - https://www.facebook.com/groups/BookB...
Blog -https://bookbistroblogcom.wordpress.com
Blog -https://bookbistroblogger.blogspot.com
Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/BookBistro
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/BookBistroBlog
February 20, 2018
4.25 "Zvezda" stars
Manuel Valentini, a slimy Italian mobster made a huge debt owning it to the Russian mafia branch, so the one to collect it was a member of Vory, Nikolai Kozlov , a Thief in Law. The collateral until the debt is payed off, would be, Valentini's only daughter, Tanaka , a beautiful but shattered within, ballerina.
their first encounter will result with a tragic event, that would end Tanaka's dancing career for prologued time, while she's Nikolai's prisoner and it will also bring to the surfice, years and years of malnutrition and exploit of her body...the secrets, the pain, the hurt of endured mistreatment through her childhood and adulthood, and not only by her own actions...
The push and pull between Nikolai and Tanaka is palpable, yet not clearly defined, as they both struggle with the notion of the situation they have found themselves in.
She's a collateral. A prisoner.
He's her captor. He can't venture into the craving. He's chained by the obligation to his Pakhan Viktor's order to marry his daughter and enter the family.
Until he can't fight against the pull any more.
He can't resist her shattered soul, intrigued by her body, infatuated by her exotic beauty, Nikolai will provide her body nurture and care, he will give her a new sense of perception, BUT he will also drive her to the edge of existence, showing her passion on the brink of heated hatred mixed with undiluted sensual craving she has never experienced before in her sheltered, controlled life as a mafia princess.
And when things escalate to the verge of barely functioning poisonous relationship, they breathe each other's air BUT there's no future visible ahead...and Tanaka will have to make a decision...stay trapped and await her decimation, or will she escape and take a chance on a new life, away from mafia altogether...
BUT would she be able to escape him...at all? In a search for her happily ever after...
Even though, the storyline carries the well known collateral/captor/captive premise, we usually find in mafia themed books, it's not described in a classic way either, and I have to emphasize the fact that this story, despite the slight pacing interchanging tempo, and some unclear transitions of events in the action part of the plot, the intense, angsty, edgy, raw, carnal sexual and emotional interactions between the two main characters were some of the best I have read so far in A. Zavarelli's books.
And I have read most, if not all of them. ;)
Release date: Feb 23, 2018
***ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review***
Manuel Valentini, a slimy Italian mobster made a huge debt owning it to the Russian mafia branch, so the one to collect it was a member of Vory, Nikolai Kozlov , a Thief in Law. The collateral until the debt is payed off, would be, Valentini's only daughter, Tanaka , a beautiful but shattered within, ballerina.
I took possession of Tanaka with the understanding that it might eventually mean taking her life. These are the rules our Vory abide by. And eye for an eye is only fair and just.
their first encounter will result with a tragic event, that would end Tanaka's dancing career for prologued time, while she's Nikolai's prisoner and it will also bring to the surfice, years and years of malnutrition and exploit of her body...the secrets, the pain, the hurt of endured mistreatment through her childhood and adulthood, and not only by her own actions...
The push and pull between Nikolai and Tanaka is palpable, yet not clearly defined, as they both struggle with the notion of the situation they have found themselves in.
She's a collateral. A prisoner.
He's her captor. He can't venture into the craving. He's chained by the obligation to his Pakhan Viktor's order to marry his daughter and enter the family.
The truth is, zvezda, it was never our fate to end up together. The stars are not in our favor, and the only way this can end is in tragedy.
Until he can't fight against the pull any more.
He can't resist her shattered soul, intrigued by her body, infatuated by her exotic beauty, Nikolai will provide her body nurture and care, he will give her a new sense of perception, BUT he will also drive her to the edge of existence, showing her passion on the brink of heated hatred mixed with undiluted sensual craving she has never experienced before in her sheltered, controlled life as a mafia princess.
And when things escalate to the verge of barely functioning poisonous relationship, they breathe each other's air BUT there's no future visible ahead...and Tanaka will have to make a decision...stay trapped and await her decimation, or will she escape and take a chance on a new life, away from mafia altogether...
BUT would she be able to escape him...at all? In a search for her happily ever after...
Even though, the storyline carries the well known collateral/captor/captive premise, we usually find in mafia themed books, it's not described in a classic way either, and I have to emphasize the fact that this story, despite the slight pacing interchanging tempo, and some unclear transitions of events in the action part of the plot, the intense, angsty, edgy, raw, carnal sexual and emotional interactions between the two main characters were some of the best I have read so far in A. Zavarelli's books.
And I have read most, if not all of them. ;)
Release date: Feb 23, 2018
***ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review***
March 12, 2020
Nikolai is very hot as the tortured artist/Russian mobster!
This was another good book in this series. Like book 3, this one also centered on the Russian Vory. Nikolai is Alexei’s half brother and the one that the Father cared about. Though Nikolai was jealous of Alexei because he got out from under his Fathers thumb, while Alexei was Jealous of Nikolai for being the favorite son while he was tossed out as being defective after losing his hearing at a young age.
Now Nikolai is determined to find out what happened to his Mother. He suspects she didn’t just run away with an Italian man like his father told him. He suspects his father has something more to do with it and that an Italian mob boss is involved. The mobster owes the Vory a lot of money so Nikolai takes his daughter, Tanaka, as collateral. He plans to find out exactly what the man did to his mother and do the same to the mans precious daughter in return.
However, Nikolai is instantly attracted to the ballerina who and the more he gets to know her the more he wants her. Very hot and sexy action follows...
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub
This was another good book in this series. Like book 3, this one also centered on the Russian Vory. Nikolai is Alexei’s half brother and the one that the Father cared about. Though Nikolai was jealous of Alexei because he got out from under his Fathers thumb, while Alexei was Jealous of Nikolai for being the favorite son while he was tossed out as being defective after losing his hearing at a young age.
Now Nikolai is determined to find out what happened to his Mother. He suspects she didn’t just run away with an Italian man like his father told him. He suspects his father has something more to do with it and that an Italian mob boss is involved. The mobster owes the Vory a lot of money so Nikolai takes his daughter, Tanaka, as collateral. He plans to find out exactly what the man did to his mother and do the same to the mans precious daughter in return.
However, Nikolai is instantly attracted to the ballerina who and the more he gets to know her the more he wants her. Very hot and sexy action follows...
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub
February 24, 2018
This is a story about revenge, a debt to be paid, family loyalties, and a graceful ballerina who finds love outside of dancing. This is not a dark book throughout, but there’s some darker content towards the very end of the story.
I struggled to like the main characters and couldn’t get enough of the characters from the prior books.
There were bits of the story that I liked, but I didn’t fall in love with this story as a whole. Some of Tanaka’s more noteworthy thoughts?
I want to collect his secrets like he has collected my tears. I want to dissect the intimate details of the man who haunts me day and night.
I want him to say that I’m not broken anymore, and everything is going to be okay. But his truth is bitter and loving him is too. The thief stole my heart, only to hold it in the palm of his hand, extorting my affections when it suits him.
► Favorite scene?
► Overall, an okay read, but not my favorite in this series.
*ARC kindly provided by Ashleigh Zavarelli in exchange for an honest review.
I struggled to like the main characters and couldn’t get enough of the characters from the prior books.
There were bits of the story that I liked, but I didn’t fall in love with this story as a whole. Some of Tanaka’s more noteworthy thoughts?
I want to collect his secrets like he has collected my tears. I want to dissect the intimate details of the man who haunts me day and night.
I want him to say that I’m not broken anymore, and everything is going to be okay. But his truth is bitter and loving him is too. The thief stole my heart, only to hold it in the palm of his hand, extorting my affections when it suits him.
► Favorite scene?
► Overall, an okay read, but not my favorite in this series.
*ARC kindly provided by Ashleigh Zavarelli in exchange for an honest review.
February 23, 2018
4 STARS
Tanaka has only ever known duty and dreams. Her dream to become a ballerina, her dream to be the best one she can, it's all within reach now. But her duty to her Italian roots and her father's debt to another mafia syndicate soon costs her more than she knows.
Thief, much like the previous books in this series, spares no detail in taking the reader deep into the dark underbelly of organized crime. The Bratva is not known for being forgiving, and Nikolai is owed a debt; a debt that he intends to take in blood. Nikolai is a character that first caught my interest in Ghost. The brother to Alex that proves to have a whole lot more depth that the reader is originally lead to believe, he intrigued me to no end. With a psychopath for a father, a feud with his brother, and a determination to find out what happened to his mother, Nikolai is ruthless in his efforts. Breaking the daughter of the man that may have been responsible for a lot of his pain is at the epicenter of the storm of rage that he has.
While I fell hard and fast for Nikolai, Tanaka took a bit of warming up to. They may both be broken beyond repair, but Tanaka is even more so, just in a different way. But while she's not the badass mafia princess that you'd expect, she's no wilting flower either. Beneath the broken exterior lies the strength of a fighter and that came out more and more as the story progressed.
A. Zavarelli definitely has a gift for writing one addicting and gritty mafia romance. She doesn't shy away from the gory details or getting her readers way outside of their comfort zone. Nikolai is not perfect, and he makes it no secret. If you're expecting a sweet hero in a bad circumstance that wields a gun while making googly eyes at the heroine, you'd best read another book. My one quibble with the story is the somewhat incorrect use of Russian terminology, slang, and nicknames. However, the author also clearly did her research on the Bratva and there wasn't much Russian used here that brought out my nitpicking like it typically would.
Thief was another action packed and gritty installment in the Boston Underground series, and the intensity hasn't lessened even a little. I can't get enough of these mafia men, and I hope there's more to come!
ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review
Find me on:
I knew my captor was dangerous. I just didn’t realize how dangerous he was to me.
Tanaka has only ever known duty and dreams. Her dream to become a ballerina, her dream to be the best one she can, it's all within reach now. But her duty to her Italian roots and her father's debt to another mafia syndicate soon costs her more than she knows.
Thief, much like the previous books in this series, spares no detail in taking the reader deep into the dark underbelly of organized crime. The Bratva is not known for being forgiving, and Nikolai is owed a debt; a debt that he intends to take in blood. Nikolai is a character that first caught my interest in Ghost. The brother to Alex that proves to have a whole lot more depth that the reader is originally lead to believe, he intrigued me to no end. With a psychopath for a father, a feud with his brother, and a determination to find out what happened to his mother, Nikolai is ruthless in his efforts. Breaking the daughter of the man that may have been responsible for a lot of his pain is at the epicenter of the storm of rage that he has.
While I fell hard and fast for Nikolai, Tanaka took a bit of warming up to. They may both be broken beyond repair, but Tanaka is even more so, just in a different way. But while she's not the badass mafia princess that you'd expect, she's no wilting flower either. Beneath the broken exterior lies the strength of a fighter and that came out more and more as the story progressed.
A. Zavarelli definitely has a gift for writing one addicting and gritty mafia romance. She doesn't shy away from the gory details or getting her readers way outside of their comfort zone. Nikolai is not perfect, and he makes it no secret. If you're expecting a sweet hero in a bad circumstance that wields a gun while making googly eyes at the heroine, you'd best read another book. My one quibble with the story is the somewhat incorrect use of Russian terminology, slang, and nicknames. However, the author also clearly did her research on the Bratva and there wasn't much Russian used here that brought out my nitpicking like it typically would.
Thief was another action packed and gritty installment in the Boston Underground series, and the intensity hasn't lessened even a little. I can't get enough of these mafia men, and I hope there's more to come!
ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review
Find me on:
January 6, 2019
It’s like this author has read my non-existent diary, folks, where I would have penned to paper my preferred do’s and don’ts in romantic reads. You see, she added some of my biggest beefs with books in the mafia romance genre. Stereotypical virgin heroine who is physically taken as leverage then has to witness the hero getting it on with hos on top of hos, just to make her feel even more miserable than she already is and make him feel all powerful over her. Not only do I find this not original, but it irritates the ever living daylights out of me. Keep it in your pants, buddy. Does he? No, in fact, their first smexy time together felt like sexual assault. It was a trend I’m sad to say continued throughout the entire book. Each so called intimate encounter felt degrading and humiliating to witness. What made it even worse were the snippets thrown in implying she enjoyed parts of it.
Honestly, I could go on and point out even more, but what’s the point. Just know I found myself wanting Dante, the guy she was supposed to get engaged to/marry before she was taken, to come and pound this pathetic loser hero into the ground.
OK..One more thing I just can't let go without wagging my Kindle fastforwarding forefinger in a "Hell to the No" back and forth gesture: He continues to use the heroine as his so called sex toy all while planning to discard her when he's tired of her. Plus, plans are now in motion to announce his engagement to someone else. A person way too young for him who parades around with him on his arm while the heroine is cast to the side and forced to watch.
Who’s the thief now? I feel my time was stolen and wasted on this one, folks. I’m an avid mafia romance reader and am no stranger to dark themes. However, I’ve got to respect my main characters and want them to get a HEA. I positively despised the leading man in this one and, overall, felt this whole book was a huge disappointment. Here's a tip: Read Crow, Reaper, and Saint instead.
(These comments are based on a Kindle Unlimited version. This is not an ARC review).
Honestly, I could go on and point out even more, but what’s the point. Just know I found myself wanting Dante, the guy she was supposed to get engaged to/marry before she was taken, to come and pound this pathetic loser hero into the ground.
OK..One more thing I just can't let go without wagging my Kindle fastforwarding forefinger in a "Hell to the No" back and forth gesture: He continues to use the heroine as his so called sex toy all while planning to discard her when he's tired of her. Plus, plans are now in motion to announce his engagement to someone else. A person way too young for him who parades around with him on his arm while the heroine is cast to the side and forced to watch.
Who’s the thief now? I feel my time was stolen and wasted on this one, folks. I’m an avid mafia romance reader and am no stranger to dark themes. However, I’ve got to respect my main characters and want them to get a HEA. I positively despised the leading man in this one and, overall, felt this whole book was a huge disappointment. Here's a tip: Read Crow, Reaper, and Saint instead.
(These comments are based on a Kindle Unlimited version. This is not an ARC review).
February 23, 2018
DNF at 43%.
You see, when I read a book, I either highlight or underline. Highlights are for parts of the book I like, and underlines are for parts of the book that I find I have problems with, or parts of the book that I find odd or downright did not enjoy. And when a book has more underlines than highlights, the chances of me DNF-ing gets higher and higher. And that is what happened to this book.
From the start, I find myself feeling as if the story has the same vibe as the third book in this series – Ghost. The premise is almost the same, being the heroine somehow was a collateral in some kind of deal or incident and has somehow come into the hero's possession. But again, I loved A. Zavarelli's first and second book so much, I decided that I am going to give it the benefit of the doubt.
So Tanaka was the collateral of her father's debt to Nikolai and has somehow gotten into Nikolai possession. So at first he wants nothing to do with her, then weeks passed and he can't seem to help himself but notice how pretty yet skinny she was. Only to realize that this girl has been hurling out her food or barely eaten anything given to her at all because she has an obsession about her body weight.
So then Nikolai proceeds to tie her down to the bed and force feed her using tubes. Now, I don't mind his way of handling things. I don't like it, I want to rage because of it, but the logical part of me knew that he did what he did for her own good. While I can come to terms with his actions, I expected Tanaka to be more resilient to it. I expected her to fight teeth and claws with the fact that Nikolai tied her to the bed and force fed her without her consent.
And for all the talk that this girl might be docile but she is inwardly very stubborn, it seems to be just that, all talk and no action.
I wanted for her to fight against Nikolai, to rile and agitate him and make him feel sorry for what he did to her. But no, this girl seems to be all accepting with the force feeding and eventually even with the therapist that Nikolai wants her to see. So okay, I decided maybe this is just her character and I let it go.
Then weeks pass by without them seeing each other, Nikolai doing everything in his power to try and avoid her so he doesn't get ideas of wanting her, and Tanaka was busy with her therapy and nutritional meal. And the first time they see each other, the hatred and annoyance and all that ill feelings they felt toward each other seems to just float away and suddenly they want to bone each other like
“To experience a man’s touch. It’s not something I thought I could ever want for, but sometimes, I wonder what it would feel like to be touched by a man. As men go, Nikolai falls in the top percent of his red-blooded class. From his Herculean build to his wild hair and sharp cheekbones, he is a deity among the male species. A mortal casted in the image of a Greek god.
And that would make me his concubine.”
Bitch what the fuck just happened did I somehow missed a few chapters where their feelings develop or what causes I am fucking confused. How does one go from hating each other to that ? I get the enemy-to-lover trope, trust me I do, but I need some character development goddammit. You can't just go from avoiding each other whenever possible to this :
“His fingers graze the length of my arm, and it’s not an accident. It’s no accident when he draws me closer, molding me to his body. He buries his nose against my throat, inhaling me, and it opens a flood of warmth between my thighs. I sag into him, a drunken awareness hijacking my senses. I’m comatose, strung out in his arms, and for the first time in my life, I don’t care. I want more.”
“ For now, I am a slave to his touch. A servant to his commands. Another doll for his collection. Pretty and untainted by anyone but him.”
“ I want him to ruin me too. I want him to crucify me. ”
Gurl, let me tell you that is not how you develop a relationship between characters.
Not only that, so now that Nikolai has touched her once – which in the end she rejects cause of some pure and holy reason that I don't care to remember– Tanaka somehow feels like she has this reign over him. This if-she-can't-have-him-nobody-else-can mindset. Cause when she sees the man have sex with another girl after she rejected his advances, she got angry and jealous and start starving herself and throwing up her food just to spite him.
Oh well. Guess my anticipation for this book is too high as this book is nothing but a big ball of disappointment. And as for "dark romance" goes, this is pretty fluffy to me. But then again, that might just be my crazy preferences on the "dark" books that I read. *shrugs*
Click here for more of my reviews
You see, when I read a book, I either highlight or underline. Highlights are for parts of the book I like, and underlines are for parts of the book that I find I have problems with, or parts of the book that I find odd or downright did not enjoy. And when a book has more underlines than highlights, the chances of me DNF-ing gets higher and higher. And that is what happened to this book.
From the start, I find myself feeling as if the story has the same vibe as the third book in this series – Ghost. The premise is almost the same, being the heroine somehow was a collateral in some kind of deal or incident and has somehow come into the hero's possession. But again, I loved A. Zavarelli's first and second book so much, I decided that I am going to give it the benefit of the doubt.
So Tanaka was the collateral of her father's debt to Nikolai and has somehow gotten into Nikolai possession. So at first he wants nothing to do with her, then weeks passed and he can't seem to help himself but notice how pretty yet skinny she was. Only to realize that this girl has been hurling out her food or barely eaten anything given to her at all because she has an obsession about her body weight.
So then Nikolai proceeds to tie her down to the bed and force feed her using tubes. Now, I don't mind his way of handling things. I don't like it, I want to rage because of it, but the logical part of me knew that he did what he did for her own good. While I can come to terms with his actions, I expected Tanaka to be more resilient to it. I expected her to fight teeth and claws with the fact that Nikolai tied her to the bed and force fed her without her consent.
And for all the talk that this girl might be docile but she is inwardly very stubborn, it seems to be just that, all talk and no action.
I wanted for her to fight against Nikolai, to rile and agitate him and make him feel sorry for what he did to her. But no, this girl seems to be all accepting with the force feeding and eventually even with the therapist that Nikolai wants her to see. So okay, I decided maybe this is just her character and I let it go.
Then weeks pass by without them seeing each other, Nikolai doing everything in his power to try and avoid her so he doesn't get ideas of wanting her, and Tanaka was busy with her therapy and nutritional meal. And the first time they see each other, the hatred and annoyance and all that ill feelings they felt toward each other seems to just float away and suddenly they want to bone each other like
“To experience a man’s touch. It’s not something I thought I could ever want for, but sometimes, I wonder what it would feel like to be touched by a man. As men go, Nikolai falls in the top percent of his red-blooded class. From his Herculean build to his wild hair and sharp cheekbones, he is a deity among the male species. A mortal casted in the image of a Greek god.
And that would make me his concubine.”
Bitch what the fuck just happened did I somehow missed a few chapters where their feelings develop or what causes I am fucking confused. How does one go from hating each other to that ? I get the enemy-to-lover trope, trust me I do, but I need some character development goddammit. You can't just go from avoiding each other whenever possible to this :
“His fingers graze the length of my arm, and it’s not an accident. It’s no accident when he draws me closer, molding me to his body. He buries his nose against my throat, inhaling me, and it opens a flood of warmth between my thighs. I sag into him, a drunken awareness hijacking my senses. I’m comatose, strung out in his arms, and for the first time in my life, I don’t care. I want more.”
“ For now, I am a slave to his touch. A servant to his commands. Another doll for his collection. Pretty and untainted by anyone but him.”
“ I want him to ruin me too. I want him to crucify me. ”
Gurl, let me tell you that is not how you develop a relationship between characters.
Not only that, so now that Nikolai has touched her once – which in the end she rejects cause of some pure and holy reason that I don't care to remember– Tanaka somehow feels like she has this reign over him. This if-she-can't-have-him-nobody-else-can mindset. Cause when she sees the man have sex with another girl after she rejected his advances, she got angry and jealous and start starving herself and throwing up her food just to spite him.
Oh well. Guess my anticipation for this book is too high as this book is nothing but a big ball of disappointment. And as for "dark romance" goes, this is pretty fluffy to me. But then again, that might just be my crazy preferences on the "dark" books that I read. *shrugs*
Click here for more of my reviews
February 24, 2018
Well, this book was nothing I expected...
I know I'm in the minority here... I think it's just not really for me...
É fascinante o quanto os nossos gostos literários mudam com o tempo, coisas que antes relevávamos, hoje em dia não toleramos e vice e versa. Eu li o quarto livro dessa série em dez/2016. Muito tempo se passou, portanto, tenho a vaga lembrança de que não gostei muito em comparação com os livros anteriores, não me pergunte os detalhes porque não me recordo.
Quando soube que Thief seria o último livro da série, criei altas expectativas de ver/ler aquele encerramento digno, satisfatório e lindo... Iniciei a leitura já com um sentimento de saudade, se é que faz sentido, rs. Entretanto, não posso dizer que essa história superou minhas expectativas ou que sequer chegou perto. Não, não foi uma leitura prazeroza e muito menos encerrou com chave de ouro.
Não me conectei com a história, não gostei do desenrolar da trama e o principal; não senti simpatia nenhuma pelos personagens principais e seus comportamentos.
Tanaka Valentini e sua repetitiva ladainha “sou uma boa menina, criada para obedecer e seguir ordens” me irritou demais. Eu não sei quem ela estava tentanto convencer devido ao número de vezes que isso foi citado, a mim que não foi. Queria ter visto mais resistência da parte dela, mais luta, mais garra e muito mais força. Pricipalmente em relação de como Nikolai a tratava, tive vontade de dar umas boas sacudidas nela pra ver se acordava pra vida.
Nikolai Kozlov... confesso que eu amo esse nome, Nikolai! Porém, não posso dizer que o sentimento é o mesmo quando se trata desse personagem. Óbvio que sendo parte da máfia desde que se entende por gente eu não esperava flores e corações dele a todo momento, como também não esperava ver um homem indeciso, relutante e covarde. Porque pra mim ele foi sim covarde e em constante negação sobre seus sentimentos.
O relacionamento desses dois foi bem turbulento, intenso e as cenas de sexo não foram nada excitantes, ao contrário, para mim passaram uma impressão mais parecida com um assalto sexual do que “amoroso”. Não me senti confortável lendo esses “encontros”, me incomodou, causou mal-estar... assim como não me senti confortável com o tratamento degradante e humilhante. Isso não caiu bem... há um certo limite entre o que é aceitável ou não... nesse caso aqui, passou da conta, na minha opinião. Não consegui tolerar a agressividade imposta.
E o romance, o amor? Praticamente inexistente, deixou a desejar, faltou uma construção maior em cima... Eu sinceramente não senti isso entre Tanaka e Nikolai, não foi convincente o suficiente.
Sinto dizer, mas pra mim essa série terminou de forma decepcionante e não foi nada do que eu esperava... :(
Sei que estou entre a minoria que não gostou desse livro, a minha opinião foi a mais honesta e infelizmente essa história não funcionou pra mim.
I know I'm in the minority here... I think it's just not really for me...
É fascinante o quanto os nossos gostos literários mudam com o tempo, coisas que antes relevávamos, hoje em dia não toleramos e vice e versa. Eu li o quarto livro dessa série em dez/2016. Muito tempo se passou, portanto, tenho a vaga lembrança de que não gostei muito em comparação com os livros anteriores, não me pergunte os detalhes porque não me recordo.
Quando soube que Thief seria o último livro da série, criei altas expectativas de ver/ler aquele encerramento digno, satisfatório e lindo... Iniciei a leitura já com um sentimento de saudade, se é que faz sentido, rs. Entretanto, não posso dizer que essa história superou minhas expectativas ou que sequer chegou perto. Não, não foi uma leitura prazeroza e muito menos encerrou com chave de ouro.
Não me conectei com a história, não gostei do desenrolar da trama e o principal; não senti simpatia nenhuma pelos personagens principais e seus comportamentos.
Tanaka Valentini e sua repetitiva ladainha “sou uma boa menina, criada para obedecer e seguir ordens” me irritou demais. Eu não sei quem ela estava tentanto convencer devido ao número de vezes que isso foi citado, a mim que não foi. Queria ter visto mais resistência da parte dela, mais luta, mais garra e muito mais força. Pricipalmente em relação de como Nikolai a tratava, tive vontade de dar umas boas sacudidas nela pra ver se acordava pra vida.
Nikolai Kozlov... confesso que eu amo esse nome, Nikolai! Porém, não posso dizer que o sentimento é o mesmo quando se trata desse personagem. Óbvio que sendo parte da máfia desde que se entende por gente eu não esperava flores e corações dele a todo momento, como também não esperava ver um homem indeciso, relutante e covarde. Porque pra mim ele foi sim covarde e em constante negação sobre seus sentimentos.
O relacionamento desses dois foi bem turbulento, intenso e as cenas de sexo não foram nada excitantes, ao contrário, para mim passaram uma impressão mais parecida com um assalto sexual do que “amoroso”. Não me senti confortável lendo esses “encontros”, me incomodou, causou mal-estar... assim como não me senti confortável com o tratamento degradante e humilhante. Isso não caiu bem... há um certo limite entre o que é aceitável ou não... nesse caso aqui, passou da conta, na minha opinião. Não consegui tolerar a agressividade imposta.
E o romance, o amor? Praticamente inexistente, deixou a desejar, faltou uma construção maior em cima... Eu sinceramente não senti isso entre Tanaka e Nikolai, não foi convincente o suficiente.
Sinto dizer, mas pra mim essa série terminou de forma decepcionante e não foi nada do que eu esperava... :(
Sei que estou entre a minoria que não gostou desse livro, a minha opinião foi a mais honesta e infelizmente essa história não funcionou pra mim.
Read
June 23, 2018Title: ➳ ❤-Thief
Series ➳ Boston Underground 5#
Author: ➳ A. Zavarelli
Publication: February 23rd 2018
*****
ღ Nikolai and Tanaka I was so worried that these two weren’t going get a book, but A. Zavarelli doesn't disappoint!
➳Manuel Valentinus’s old school Italian mobster with huge debt to the Russian mafia , he decided to use his only daughter in exchange for his debt
Tanaka suffered a lot through her life being the mafia princess. She was sheltered from so much from world that she didn’t really have much of a life or anyone she could count on. As you might imagine the loneliness & the pain that she felt throughout her life
Tanaka conflicting feels for Nikolai, she didn’t know if she loved him or hated him
There is so much that I might tell you about Nikolai. There are many layers to Nikolai. Like he called the Thief, but in my opinion the Russian should call him the Thief of hearts.
Nikolai has always been a stickler for the order of things and follows orders, until it came to Tanaka. Now Nikolai is struggling keep his loyalty both Tanaka & Vory….. Who will win out at the end?
Nikolai set out on journey to find out what truly happen to his mother.in return he found so much more. The love & respect of his brother, he learn who he could trust in pinch. He also learn that he put his faith & loyalty in wrong people. But most importantly he learn who he could come to trust the most
♥●• I can't get enough of the Boston Underworld series! A. Zaverelli seems to always wreak havoc on my emotions & just like all her previous books, Thief had me baling my eyes off one minute & yelling the next. I hope & pray this isn’t the last book in the series or that A. Zaverelli doesn’t make us wait long for the next book
📚 Hope you enjoy this read & also always keep in mind this is just my opinion & my honest review 💕
Reading order
1➳Crow
2➳Reaper
3➳Ghost
4➳Saint
5➳Thief 💕
💕 ✎Paulette Review ❤💕
November 25, 2024
Reread 25/10/2024
I enjoyed this just as much as my first read-through. This was originally my first foray into this world before I much later backtracked to read the rest. I think I was thrown into the deep end with this one as reading the rest of the series I do think the actual relationship between these two did have a much darker flavour than earlier books. But yeah do yourself a favour if mafia is your jam read this series, you won't be disappointed.
So I have never read anything by this author before, but I will definitely now be adding her books to my enormous TBR pile. I devoured Thief and was completely engrossed throughout. This dealt with some dark and heavy themes many of which I wasn't expecting and I was glued and as it all unfolded I was unable to put it down.
This is Nikolai Kozlov and Tanaka's story. Tanaka is collateral for her father's debt and a very reluctant guest in Nikolai's home. It's her new gilded prison until such time as her father pays what he owes or instead, she pays with her life. Tanaka lives for her ballet but knowing she will have to eventually give it up when she enters an arranged marriage. Until that day arrives she is protected by walls and locks and guards a prisoner at the complete will of her father's whims. To the outside world, she's a pampered princess but appearances can be deceptive and there's a whole lot more going on here than can be seen on the surface.
On the night Niko calls in his debt Tanaka's world implodes as she's dealt a harsh blow, an injury she will struggle to overcome. Taken with the permission of her father Tanaka finds herself a guest of Niko's. Niko of the tattoos and fuck you attitude and It's a world both foreign but equally familiar.
She's like a lost soul totally out of her depth. There's also a lot going on with Tanika that is explored here and these things have left a deep mark. Niko has no idea why he wants to help her but he is also conflicted as there's also a deeper agenda going on with him and that's partially why he wants Tanaka. So he swings erratically between these polar emotional states. We deal with plenty of dark and uncomfortable themes, this was as toxic as it was compelling. It also imparted a huge sense of family with the recurring past faces and I was rooting every step of the way for Tanaka and Niko even when it looked impossible and bleak. Well written and a must for anyone who loves dark mafia romance.
I'm now looking forward to my next book by this author and this was one of those stories that digs deep and sticks. I received an ARC of "Thief" (Boston Underworld, #5) from the Author of which I have reviewed voluntarily. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm.
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
March 29, 2018
“The thief stole my heart, only to hold it in the palm of his hand, extorting my affections when it suits him.”
I've been rooting for Nikolai and Tanaka on Ghost (Alexei & Talia's story) and I have a wishful thinking they'll have their own book. I'm unaware this series has been extended and I'm truly glad because it's their story. 😭💗 I really like it despite of its gradual pace on the first 20-25%. It takes place from the events on Ghost but don't worry guys, it can be read as a standalone.
Tanaka Valentini is a graceful and passionate dancer and mafia princess. Her dreams of being a dancer crashed because of her father's debts on the Russian mafia. She was held captive by Nikolai Kozlov as a payment. Nikolai was nothing but harsh to her and I pity Tanaka here as she pays for her father's sins. Despite of his cruelty, she remained kind and loyal to him. He may be flawed but she believes he's a good man capable of love.
Nikolai's mission was to find his biological mother. Dead or alive he'll seek revenge to those who hurt her and the missing puzzle to this piece was Tanaka's father, Manuel Valentini. He thinks that man was violent and abusive. What angers him more was the possibility of Tanaka being abused. She was innocent and genuine. She was a light to his darkness and he can't help falling for her even if it makes him weak.
I really like their story but I'm slightly underwhelmed with it. I know Nikolai was concerned for Tanaka's well being but there are moments he's too forceful and rude. I want to smack him so bad, like dude give Tanaka a break and show some kindness. The epilogue was great and it's nice to see the all characters from the previous books. 😍😍😍 I'm going to miss them all.
March 18, 2018
PopSugar Reading Challenge 2018 34. Un libro publicado en 2018
A. Zavarelli fue mi autora revelación en el 2016, me conquistó con esta serie y sobre todo con el libro de mi Ronan.
El libro anterior a este me decepcionó bastante por eso es que con este libro,que por cierto lo esperé un año dos meses, le recé tantos a los dioses literarios para que mínimo me gustara no pedí tanto, ya que sé que sé que ninguno va a estar a la altura del Reaper.
Comencemos con la historia, tenemos como antecedentes en el libro de Ghost que Tanaka es una garantía por una deuda que su padre tiene con Nikolai hermano de Alexei y Vor de la mafia rusa, también tenemos que la chica ha desarrollado sentimientos por él pero que él no lo ve tontear por ahí con otras, hasta aquí se ve interesante no? Es por eso que esperé tanto este libro.
La historia transcurre a la par con la de Alexei, ahora si conocemos los verdaderos motivos de Nikolai del porque tiene a Tanaka en su poder y no es nomás por la deuda de su padre.
Nikolai también empieza a desarrollar una actracción hacia ella y sentimientos profundos entre más la conoce pero sabe que es prohibida, ella no es rusa y por si fuera poco pertenece a una de las familias de la mafia italiana en NY Forbidden Everywhere
Y por si fuera poco Nikolai tiene que cumplir su deber de casarse y con nada más ni menos que la hija del Packman.
Ahora los personajes, Tanaka fue criada para ser la esposa perfecta, sumisa y obediente alejada del mundo de los hombres la mantienen pura y casta, siempre han controlado su vida y para lo único que ella tiene poder es para su cuerpo y lo que come, y como es una bailarina de ballet mientras se casa pues su obsesión es mucho mayor, esta chica tiene grandes problemas de bulimia y anorexia combinado con no sé qué tantas cosas, vemos a lo largo del libro que Nikolai le brinda la ayuda y como lucha para recuperarse.
Ahora viene mi gran confusión mi gran dilema porque la verdad es que el libro me gustó, pero odie la relación de Tanaka y Nikolai, al principio pensé que sería como el libro de Lucca de Sarah Brianne pero no, él a veces la trataba bien otras mal y otras peor la humillaba le decía cosas feas como esclava, juguete, muñeca sucia, mascota y esas cosas degradantes, las escenas de sexo la mayoría eran para que ella viera a quien le pertenecía
Lo que más me desagradó de Nikolai fue su cobardía porque ya sabía que amaba a Tanaka y no luchaba por ella, entendemos que tiene un deber en la organización y tal pero oye debes defender lo que amas, hubo una escena donde Viktor el jefe él ordena a unos de los vor que le quiten la virginidad a la chica para mandarla como prueba al padre y este idiota lo iba a dejar sino fuera por Alexei o sea es en serio imbécil?
Y luego nunca le pide perdón yo necesitaba que se arrastrara el perro pero no y lo frustrante era que Tanaka se dejaba la muy bruta para mí la relación de ellos fue un BIG BIGGER NOT!!
Aunque no voy a negar que cuando el hombre se ponía derramar sus sentimientos pues si le salían frases llegadoras
Una de mis escenas favoritas es cuando salió Ronan es su papel del Reaper aaaay su lado oscuro me mata y e que me pregunto ¿Cómo puede ser tan lindo y a la vez tan frio y sanguinario al matar? Este hombre es y seguirá siendo mi favorito
No es necesario que entiendan mi calificación porque sé que no corresponde con lo que puse en la reseña pero le echo la culpa a mis hormonas revolucionadas
A. Zavarelli fue mi autora revelación en el 2016, me conquistó con esta serie y sobre todo con el libro de mi Ronan.
El libro anterior a este me decepcionó bastante por eso es que con este libro,
Comencemos con la historia, tenemos como antecedentes en el libro de Ghost que Tanaka es una garantía por una deuda que su padre tiene con Nikolai hermano de Alexei y Vor de la mafia rusa, también tenemos que la chica ha desarrollado sentimientos por él pero que él no lo ve tontear por ahí con otras, hasta aquí se ve interesante no? Es por eso que esperé tanto este libro.
La historia transcurre a la par con la de Alexei, ahora si conocemos los verdaderos motivos de Nikolai del porque tiene a Tanaka en su poder y no es nomás por la deuda de su padre.
Nikolai también empieza a desarrollar una actracción hacia ella y sentimientos profundos entre más la conoce pero sabe que es prohibida, ella no es rusa y por si fuera poco pertenece a una de las familias de la mafia italiana en NY Forbidden Everywhere
Y por si fuera poco Nikolai tiene que cumplir su deber de casarse y con nada más ni menos que la hija del Packman.
Ahora los personajes, Tanaka fue criada para ser la esposa perfecta, sumisa y obediente alejada del mundo de los hombres la mantienen pura y casta, siempre han controlado su vida y para lo único que ella tiene poder es para su cuerpo y lo que come, y como es una bailarina de ballet mientras se casa pues su obsesión es mucho mayor, esta chica tiene grandes problemas de bulimia y anorexia combinado con no sé qué tantas cosas, vemos a lo largo del libro que Nikolai le brinda la ayuda y como lucha para recuperarse.
Ahora viene mi gran confusión mi gran dilema porque la verdad es que el libro me gustó, pero odie la relación de Tanaka y Nikolai, al principio pensé que sería como el libro de Lucca de Sarah Brianne pero no, él a veces la trataba bien otras mal y otras peor la humillaba le decía cosas feas como esclava, juguete, muñeca sucia, mascota y esas cosas degradantes, las escenas de sexo la mayoría eran para que ella viera a quien le pertenecía
Lo que más me desagradó de Nikolai fue su cobardía porque ya sabía que amaba a Tanaka y no luchaba por ella, entendemos que tiene un deber en la organización y tal pero oye debes defender lo que amas, hubo una escena donde Viktor el jefe él ordena a unos de los vor que le quiten la virginidad a la chica para mandarla como prueba al padre y este idiota lo iba a dejar sino fuera por Alexei o sea es en serio imbécil?
Y luego nunca le pide perdón yo necesitaba que se arrastrara el perro pero no y lo frustrante era que Tanaka se dejaba la muy bruta para mí la relación de ellos fue un BIG BIGGER NOT!!
Aunque no voy a negar que cuando el hombre se ponía derramar sus sentimientos pues si le salían frases llegadoras
“Why do you call me that?” I ask.
“Zvezda?”
I nod.
“Why wouldn’t I? You are my star. My dancing ballerina. My northern light. I think you lead me to do good.”
Una de mis escenas favoritas es cuando salió Ronan es su papel del Reaper aaaay su lado oscuro me mata y e que me pregunto ¿Cómo puede ser tan lindo y a la vez tan frio y sanguinario al matar? Este hombre es y seguirá siendo mi favorito
No es necesario que entiendan mi calificación porque sé que no corresponde con lo que puse en la reseña pero le echo la culpa a mis hormonas revolucionadas
March 10, 2018
3.5 Stars
Tanaka is an extremely sheltered Italian mafia princess who has given her life meaning through ballet.
I liked Tanaka. She was an interesting heroine who had a practical side that I appreciated. There was such an aura of dignified sadness about her, and the way she wavered between hope and resignation for her future was believable, as was her decision to give in to Nikolai:
I actually really liked the impossibility to the start of Nikolai and Tanaka's relationship. Neither of them was free to love who they chose. The author had me intrigued as to how the insurmountable barriers between them would be overcome.
Unfortunately, while this is how relationships begin in dark romances…
Another problem I had was the parallel running of the plot with book 3, Ghost. The Nikolai and Tanaka from that story didn't match the Nikolai and Tanaka in this one. The cross-over scenes felt awkward, disjointed, and false.
But hey, for all my moaning about this book, I can't deny that I read it in almost one sitting. By no stretch of the imagination was I ever bored, which is a lot more than I can say for a lot of books out there.
He will be the one to lure me to my quietus.There's no doubt that A. Zavarelli is a great writer. Her words always wrap themselves around me and hold me hostage until the story is done. Too bad I'm not always a happy or willing hostage.
Tanaka is an extremely sheltered Italian mafia princess who has given her life meaning through ballet.
I don't know anything other than one unalterable truth. I'm a dancer. It's all I have. It's all I am.As a Vor, Nikolai is ruled by the dictates of the Russian mafiya. Recently promoted, he decides to get answers about his mother who he's always been told abandoned him to run off with some Italian...an Italian he suspects is Tanaka's father. Now drowning in debts that he cannot pay, Tanaka's father offers her as collateral and Nikolai accepts. Tanaka becomes his prisoner.
I liked Tanaka. She was an interesting heroine who had a practical side that I appreciated. There was such an aura of dignified sadness about her, and the way she wavered between hope and resignation for her future was believable, as was her decision to give in to Nikolai:
I want to live before I die.Nikolai, on the other hand, I did not like - at all. Unlike Lachlan, Ronan, Alexei, or Rory, he was never shown to have a softer side. I found his principles lacking and his motivations unredeemable, but that wasn't immediately apparent when the story began.
I actually really liked the impossibility to the start of Nikolai and Tanaka's relationship. Neither of them was free to love who they chose. The author had me intrigued as to how the insurmountable barriers between them would be overcome.
Unfortunately, while this is how relationships begin in dark romances…
"Zvezda." He kisses behind my ear. "You are so lovely, so soft and sweet and pure. I want to ruin you."…in my opinion, it shouldn’t be how they end. These two may have started out on an even playing field, disdaining each other in equal measure, but slowly the scales became more and more unbalanced. Tanaka fell in love with Nikolai, but he continued to slice her open at every opportunity and just watched her bleed. The whole reason that I read this genre is to witness the characters' transformations. In this case, it was like Tanaka and the plot grew while Nikolai remained static, a cruel asshole to the end.
Another problem I had was the parallel running of the plot with book 3, Ghost. The Nikolai and Tanaka from that story didn't match the Nikolai and Tanaka in this one. The cross-over scenes felt awkward, disjointed, and false.
But hey, for all my moaning about this book, I can't deny that I read it in almost one sitting. By no stretch of the imagination was I ever bored, which is a lot more than I can say for a lot of books out there.
Read
February 24, 2018Will not rate as I didn’t finish but I wish I read the review that said about the scenes with ow, it was so off putting and I didn’t like the heroine.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2018
Hard to love a Thief...
I start every A. Zavarelli story rubbing my hands in glee. Then, within a few chapters, I'm questioning why I do this to myself. I always hate the hero or heroine for at least part of the book. More times than not I question how, what and why people are so bloody EVIL. I'm scared to think that anything Ms Zavarelli creates could be close to being real. There's this extreme level of depravity, degradation and wickedness that leaves you squirming uncomfortably. It's obvious that most of the blokes have very little respect for women and think of them as toys or pets used for their own pleasure. We're even supposed to forgive these guys for treating their love interest badly.
But, I can't help but be fascinated. I don't understand how a woman can be sexually turned on by a man who is holding her prisoner. If you are growing affection for a woman, why would you want to see and make them suffer? How, in this day and age, can we still have such double standards for men and women?
So, I spend the majority of the time reading feeling frustrated, angry and...a little turned on.
HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?
I have no bloody idea, but Ms Zavarelli somehow exposes the passion between the characters that they can't deny. These strong blokes who seem to have no feeling besides loyalty to their brothers, show a vulnerability when the toy they're playing with starts to become more. Those little signs of affection start to give the heroine comfort and security, but, they know, in the next breath, it could all be taken away.
Like the heroine, I spend most of the book on tenterhooks. I expect bad things around every corner and never believe it's going to be alright until the last page has turned.
Thief is not an easy story to read. Besides the fact that we're dealing with mafia wars and evil men, we also get a glimpse into the life of a ballet dancer. Holy shamoly, there is NO WAY IN HELL I COULD DO IT!! It's more than just discipline, it's eating disorders, body dysmorphia and ignoring pain to a level that leaves you disfigured and disabled. For such a seemingly beautiful art there is a very ugly side to it. I was truly disturbed that there could be even a margin of truth to Tenaka's life as a ballerina.
These men in the Russian Mafiya, Irish Mafia and Italian Mafia have rules and beliefs that are abhorrent and disgusting. By the end of the story, I have "seen" things that I hope to never have to witness in real life. It's the stuff of nightmare...and I'll never look at a power-tool the same way again.
The funny thing is, I expect this from a mafia book. There is no way that I have sunshine and lollipops or hearts and flowers on my mind when I start. Somehow, after all the pain and suffering, I do get a little hearts and maybe even a sun poking through the clouds. But, for a man who lived every day like it could be his last, and a woman who was used as collateral, their story ended like all their dreams came true. Some dreams...are different.
While it may not seem it, I really did enjoy this story. It may not make my heart flutter or leave me on a giddy high, but it did make me feel.
I start every A. Zavarelli story rubbing my hands in glee. Then, within a few chapters, I'm questioning why I do this to myself. I always hate the hero or heroine for at least part of the book. More times than not I question how, what and why people are so bloody EVIL. I'm scared to think that anything Ms Zavarelli creates could be close to being real. There's this extreme level of depravity, degradation and wickedness that leaves you squirming uncomfortably. It's obvious that most of the blokes have very little respect for women and think of them as toys or pets used for their own pleasure. We're even supposed to forgive these guys for treating their love interest badly.
But, I can't help but be fascinated. I don't understand how a woman can be sexually turned on by a man who is holding her prisoner. If you are growing affection for a woman, why would you want to see and make them suffer? How, in this day and age, can we still have such double standards for men and women?
So, I spend the majority of the time reading feeling frustrated, angry and...a little turned on.
HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?
I have no bloody idea, but Ms Zavarelli somehow exposes the passion between the characters that they can't deny. These strong blokes who seem to have no feeling besides loyalty to their brothers, show a vulnerability when the toy they're playing with starts to become more. Those little signs of affection start to give the heroine comfort and security, but, they know, in the next breath, it could all be taken away.
Like the heroine, I spend most of the book on tenterhooks. I expect bad things around every corner and never believe it's going to be alright until the last page has turned.
Thief is not an easy story to read. Besides the fact that we're dealing with mafia wars and evil men, we also get a glimpse into the life of a ballet dancer. Holy shamoly, there is NO WAY IN HELL I COULD DO IT!! It's more than just discipline, it's eating disorders, body dysmorphia and ignoring pain to a level that leaves you disfigured and disabled. For such a seemingly beautiful art there is a very ugly side to it. I was truly disturbed that there could be even a margin of truth to Tenaka's life as a ballerina.
These men in the Russian Mafiya, Irish Mafia and Italian Mafia have rules and beliefs that are abhorrent and disgusting. By the end of the story, I have "seen" things that I hope to never have to witness in real life. It's the stuff of nightmare...and I'll never look at a power-tool the same way again.
The funny thing is, I expect this from a mafia book. There is no way that I have sunshine and lollipops or hearts and flowers on my mind when I start. Somehow, after all the pain and suffering, I do get a little hearts and maybe even a sun poking through the clouds. But, for a man who lived every day like it could be his last, and a woman who was used as collateral, their story ended like all their dreams came true. Some dreams...are different.
While it may not seem it, I really did enjoy this story. It may not make my heart flutter or leave me on a giddy high, but it did make me feel.
November 15, 2018
UPDATE 11/14/2018: OKAY. so i dropped my rating from a 5 to a 3.75 because i had what they call last book syndrom and my mind automatically formed a 5 star opinion. but now there were a few things that irritated me but eh, the smut won out in the end.
________________________
ok. ok. ok. i didn't even know this was out until yesterday and you bet your ass that i read the whole damn thing today... at work ... at my desk while i was supposed to be working.
i have issues okay?
so onwards i suppose.
PROS:
↠ Nika
I've stolen many priceless things in my life, but nothing as priceless as her.
↠ ballet rep (i did ballet for 11 years)
"You may burn my clothes, Mr. Kozlov, and I will still dance naked. You may beat me or touch me in ways you have no right, and still, you won't break me. I'm telling you now, so if it is your intent, then go on and do your worst to me."
↠ my old babies (i.e. alexi and reaper)
↠ continuous plot that alined with 80% of all the others
↠ my smol twisted baby reaper
"I wasn't particularly sure how you'd wanted to go about it. We could boil him or light him on fire. Your choice, really."
cons:
↠ the super angst (which i'm so down for tbh... i'm trash like that.)
↠ this series has ended
↠ there won't be anymore books in this series
↠ i'm going to go to my room now and cry under the covers in the dark
YOU SKANKS DIDN'T TELL ME THIS FUCKING BOOK WAS OUT!!!!!
April 6, 2018
Super disappointed by this one. :(
I hated the story, i hated him, i hated the way he treated her, how he spoke to her, so basically i hated everything about it.
There was about 5% of the book were he was ok.
Plus, the whole Stockholm Syndrome is starting to get old in Ms. Zavarelli’s book.
I’m all for bad boys, mafia or not, but not like this. I’m close to calling him a rapist, on top of everything, so No! Hell NO!
I hated the story, i hated him, i hated the way he treated her, how he spoke to her, so basically i hated everything about it.
There was about 5% of the book were he was ok.
Plus, the whole Stockholm Syndrome is starting to get old in Ms. Zavarelli’s book.
I’m all for bad boys, mafia or not, but not like this. I’m close to calling him a rapist, on top of everything, so No! Hell NO!
February 24, 2018
2.5*
Beware of the Kraken and spoilers!
Let me start with how much I adore this series and this author. The BU series is my no. 2 fave mafia series of all time and I always wait on the Amazon to 1-click after the book is released.
All being said, I wish Ms. Zavarelli would finish this series at #4.
Because the Thief was
Safety gang safe would have a field day at this one.
Once he sleeps with her he becomes crazy OTT obsessive and possessive of her.
I never felt he really loved the h, he never really showed it until the very end. I though he treated her like a plaything and abused her. The sex scenes where bordering on dub-con. I couldn't connect with the ballerina who suffered from bulimia and acted like she's TSTL. IMHO
I noticed one inconsistency between the alternate POV.
Maybe I hallucinated. *shrugs*
I enjoyed the writing style and read it in one sitting, which is rare in my constant slump. The last 14% was real mafia business with suspense, twist, action and violence, thus 3 very generous stars.
I'll always support and buy books by my fave authors even if some of their books aren't working for me!
Beware of the Kraken and spoilers!
Let me start with how much I adore this series and this author. The BU series is my no. 2 fave mafia series of all time and I always wait on the Amazon to 1-click after the book is released.
All being said, I wish Ms. Zavarelli would finish this series at #4.
Because the Thief was
Safety gang safe would have a field day at this one.
Once he sleeps with her he becomes crazy OTT obsessive and possessive of her.
I never felt he really loved the h, he never really showed it until the very end. I though he treated her like a plaything and abused her. The sex scenes where bordering on dub-con. I couldn't connect with the ballerina who suffered from bulimia and acted like she's TSTL. IMHO
I noticed one inconsistency between the alternate POV.
Maybe I hallucinated. *shrugs*
I enjoyed the writing style and read it in one sitting, which is rare in my constant slump. The last 14% was real mafia business with suspense, twist, action and violence, thus 3 very generous stars.
I'll always support and buy books by my fave authors even if some of their books aren't working for me!
March 24, 2024
𝟏/𝟓★’s
You know when you reached a point where you can stand and somewhat like the mmc but then they just decide to ruin it by saying or doing something dumb?
Well that's how I felt with this book. I reached a point where I could stand NikolaiI didn't like him but I could stand him but then he proceeded to ruin the moment by doing stupid shit.
: ̗̀➛ No cause why is he such a dick in his own book but in his brother Alexei's book he seemed so nice 💀
: ̗̀➛ Is this a sadist x masochist relationship cause it felt like it with these two. HOW'D YALL FALL IN LOVE WITH EACH OTHER 🥹
: ̗̀➛ He's giving her all these signs... touching her... showing her affection/lust but then proceeds to get a BJ from a blonde woman after. Plus he takes pleasure in watching the fmc seeing him get a BJ in front of her.
╰┈➤ "𝑰 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝑻𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒌𝒂 𝒔𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒓𝒎. 𝑰 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝒔𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒉𝒆’𝒔 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒍, 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒊𝒕."
➥ Ok...why? 😃
: ̗̀➛ He was really about to let his best friend take her virginity just to send the bloody sheets to her father and he only stopped it cause Alexei showed up.
╰┈➤ “𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒆, 𝑵𝒂𝒌𝒚𝒂,” 𝑰 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒓. “𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒆.”
“𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒉𝒊𝒎 … 𝒕𝒐𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒎𝒆,” 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒖𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒐𝒃𝒔.
➥ No I can't this bitch-
: ̗̀➛ Shows her affection one day then the next day he's with another woman. Plus he doesn't drop the big bomb that he's engaged to the Pakhans daughter. She has to find out herself by again yes, watching him with her.
: ̗̀➛ Legit treats her like a sex toy/object
╰┈➤“𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓,” 𝑰 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒍. “𝑨 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒇𝒇 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒄𝒖𝒎. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝒑𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒔𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔.”
“𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒔𝒐𝒏,” 𝑰 𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒆𝒓. “𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒖𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒆.”
“𝑺𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒓𝒖𝒊𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖,” 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔. “𝑰𝒕’𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒂𝒚.”
➥ Is she for real? 😭
You know when you reached a point where you can stand and somewhat like the mmc but then they just decide to ruin it by saying or doing something dumb?
Well that's how I felt with this book. I reached a point where I could stand Nikolai
: ̗̀➛ No cause why is he such a dick in his own book but in his brother Alexei's book he seemed so nice 💀
: ̗̀➛ Is this a sadist x masochist relationship cause it felt like it with these two. HOW'D YALL FALL IN LOVE WITH EACH OTHER 🥹
: ̗̀➛ He's giving her all these signs... touching her... showing her affection/lust but then proceeds to get a BJ from a blonde woman after. Plus he takes pleasure in watching the fmc seeing him get a BJ in front of her.
╰┈➤ "𝑰 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝑻𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒌𝒂 𝒔𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒓𝒎. 𝑰 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝒔𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒉𝒆’𝒔 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒍, 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒊𝒕."
➥ Ok...why? 😃
: ̗̀➛ He was really about to let his best friend take her virginity just to send the bloody sheets to her father and he only stopped it cause Alexei showed up.
╰┈➤ “𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒆, 𝑵𝒂𝒌𝒚𝒂,” 𝑰 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒓. “𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒆.”
“𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒉𝒊𝒎 … 𝒕𝒐𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒎𝒆,” 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒖𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒐𝒃𝒔.
➥ No I can't this bitch-
: ̗̀➛ Shows her affection one day then the next day he's with another woman. Plus he doesn't drop the big bomb that he's engaged to the Pakhans daughter. She has to find out herself by again yes, watching him with her.
: ̗̀➛ Legit treats her like a sex toy/object
╰┈➤“𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓,” 𝑰 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒍. “𝑨 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒇𝒇 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒄𝒖𝒎. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝒑𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒔𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔.”
“𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒔𝒐𝒏,” 𝑰 𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒆𝒓. “𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒖𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒆.”
“𝑺𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒓𝒖𝒊𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖,” 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔. “𝑰𝒕’𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒂𝒚.”
➥ Is she for real? 😭
March 16, 2018
****4 STARS****
It was different than the others but still good.
RTC. . .
It was different than the others but still good.
RTC. . .
July 22, 2019
4.5*
I can’t believe I’ve waited so long to read this. I’ve no one to blame but myself. The previous book didn’t really work for me. Well to be honest it was Scarlett I had an issue with. I loved Rory.
This book held me from the first page to the last.
Tanaka is the pampered ballerina. Or so it appears. The truth is every aspect of her life has always been controlled. Down to who she’ll marry and when.
She’s an Italian mafia princess.
Nikolai is Russian mafiya. He’s a thief. A man who takes what he wants and he wants Tanaka. Her father owes a debt he can’t pay and she’s taken as collateral.
He takes her and holds her prisoner. This is nothing new to Tanaka. She’s been a prisoner her entire life. A game of cat and mouse, prisoner and warden begins. He finds himself inexplicably attracted to her and while she professes to hate him he stirs something else inside her.
There no HEA on the cards for these two. Everything is stacked against them.
Is there anyway they could beat the odds?
It’s straight onto Conor now.
I can’t believe I’ve waited so long to read this. I’ve no one to blame but myself. The previous book didn’t really work for me. Well to be honest it was Scarlett I had an issue with. I loved Rory.
This book held me from the first page to the last.
Tanaka is the pampered ballerina. Or so it appears. The truth is every aspect of her life has always been controlled. Down to who she’ll marry and when.
She’s an Italian mafia princess.
Nikolai is Russian mafiya. He’s a thief. A man who takes what he wants and he wants Tanaka. Her father owes a debt he can’t pay and she’s taken as collateral.
He takes her and holds her prisoner. This is nothing new to Tanaka. She’s been a prisoner her entire life. A game of cat and mouse, prisoner and warden begins. He finds himself inexplicably attracted to her and while she professes to hate him he stirs something else inside her.
There no HEA on the cards for these two. Everything is stacked against them.
Is there anyway they could beat the odds?
It’s straight onto Conor now.
February 13, 2018
An unstoppable force of desire, devotion, commitment and secrets to be unveiled. Thief stole my attention from the very beginning and I’ve been entranced ever since. Prepare to be shocked, turned on, heart broken and obsessed from beginning to end. What a fantastic read. One of my favorites.
July 29, 2019
This series is just a must read. That is all.
A must read series. The End.
A must read series. The End.
February 21, 2018
Since book one I have absolutely loved this series. I adore the series if I’m being honest. The Boston Underworld is one of the best mafia reads that I have read. No seriously this is the best. It had me on the edge of my seat and biting my nails.
They say that the greatest love stories always end in tragedy. Maybe not always. But here it was a close call.
The Characters.
Tanaka Valenti the Italian mafia princess has always wanted to be a ballerina and she has achieved every single thing she set her mind to. But she has always lived on the outskirts of the mafia world. But knew at some point that she would have to give her dream up but not the way that it was ripped from her and who did the ripping. Her rat bastard of a father has offered her up as a debt. Against her will she exchanges one prison for another.
With a name like Tanaka I thought that she was Japanese now how amazing would that have been with a Yakuza. Waving a hint here, think about it Ms. Zavarelli.
Nikolai Kozlov at heart is a thief, art is his speciality, he steals it, creates it and sometimes even destroys it. Nikolai has been promoted to the rank of Avtoritet, but there are problems with his father Sergei and Nikolai his brother. But he will make amends. Nikolai has been a Vory right from the start. is from a completely different world to where Tanaka has grown up.
Now Tanaka is collateral. But there is a reason why Nikolai took her he has a plan, but he didn’t count on his attraction.
I liked Tanaka and I didn’t. To begin with she was a snob and naïve. But she learnt fast and had good character development. But I also felt her to be somewhat of an idiot because she was so naïve., a snob and ignorant.
I liked Nikolai a lot more than Tanaka although he is volatile at and too placid at other times. I wanted to hate him, but I couldn’t. There were times he was completely off his rocker. He had his flaws and was torn between duty and his heart.
The Chemistry.
Yes, there is chemistry between the two. However, they both didn’t want to feel something for one another and tried to fight it but couldn’t. They both gave in not matter what was to happen.
I would do well to stay away from her. She is of no importance to me. And as shameful as it may be to see something so lovely destroyed, it might come to that in the end.
They both play mind games and well they have a twisted kind of love that that is no surprise to how it all starts out.
The Writing & Plot.
This runs parallel to Ghost’s book and is just as dark, gritty and I loved every fucking second of it. There are some fucking cringeworthy moments especially at the end and Ms. Zavarelli did not go easy on me in the least. Quite the opposite she took it all, shattered it and stomped around for a while but delivered something exceptional. So, fangirling here right now.
I’m going to sound like a major mare here but the woman can write, no for real she can WRITE! There are so many authors out there who think that they can write but they can’t.
It was tough going on how many stars to give it. At some point it was a 5-star read and could have easily stayed that way. Alas, IMO the author gave us about twenty pages too much with the back and forth of Nikolai having to make a choice but not wanting to.
The Verdict
Firstly, brace yourself for the awesomeness of this book. Secondly read the book.
Safety.
═══ PLEASE SUBSCRIBE / LIKE / FOLLOW US ════
Blog : https://www.jerisbookattic.com
FB Page : https://www.facebook.com/JerisBookAttic
Twitter : https://twitter.com/JeriTRyan
Goodreads : https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2...
Bloglovin : https://www.bloglovin.com/@jerisbooka...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 968 reviews