Vlad

V Games #1

by Ker Dukey, K. Webster

Everything I do has purpose. Everything I do has reason. Until her.

The Vasiliev name is a powerful one.
We rule with an iron fist and we do it well.
Being the eldest, I am Father’s best hope at keeping us at the top of the food chain.

Everything I do has purpose.
Everything I do has reason.
Until her.

I play my games thinking several moves ahead.
Power. Power. Power.
Until her.

The next move requires I marry and soon.
This will strengthen us and secure our position.
But I am not to marry her.

I am to wed the eldest Volkov.
Problem is, her younger sister is the one who awakens my dead heart.
It is her I want in my bed and by my side forever.
Her. Her. Her.

In this game, though, it’s not about what I want.
But maybe it can be about what she wants.

I am Vlad.
Vile. Vicious. Villainous. Vasiliev.
And I will win eventually.

Genres: Dark, Romance, Dark Romance, Mafia Romance, Contemporary, Erotica, BDSM

252 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 23, 2018

About the author

Ker Dukey is an International bestselling author based in the United Kingdom.
Genres include:
Dark Romance, Psychological Thriller, New Adult Romance, Romantic Suspense, and Erotic Romance. Ker, is an international bestselling author, with over thirty titles published. Her titles have held multiple #1 bestseller banners and have had rights sold to numerous countries.

In addition to being an author, Ker is an annoying wife and a mother of three children + one dog (who thinks he's human.) She has a passion for reading and binge-watching crime documentaries.

Find her on social media, where she loves interacting with her readers.

My readers' group: http://bit.ly/darKERgroup
My newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KerDukeyauthor
Website: http://kerdukeyauthor.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerdukey/
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2kuKWJl
Bookbub: https://tinyurl.com/y68uazav

PA: terriesin@gmail.com


REPRESENTATION:


lbla
lorella belli literary agency
54 Hartford House
35 Tavistock Crescent
Notting Hill
London W11 1AY
tel. + 44 (0) 20 7727 8547
fax. + 44 (0) 870 787 4194
info@lorellabelliagency.com

Reviews

[Val ⚓️ Shameless Handmaiden ⚓️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Smut Scale Stars...

...to the book.

And 0 stars to myself for not realizing this was a new release and thus no ready sequel.

Damn you, self.

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

 
 
~WRITING - PLOT - PACE~
So I have to admit I struggled a little with how to rate this one. The writing was f-cking fantastic. The pace was perfect. The plot was super engaging and had me turning the pages like a madwoman. Alas, the "romance" aspect just fell short for me. First, I LOATHE sibling sharing so the minute I realized where this was heading I was disappointed. Now one could say I should have figured that out from the blurb, but the "hero" is basically engaged to the heroine's sister for almost the entire book. They kiss. He touches her (no sex). They all live in the same house. Since I am not a fan of that type of setup it was just a bit too much for me. On top of that, and maybe because of that, I struggled with the pairing of Vlad and Irina. It felt like it took forever for them to actually get together and I would have liked a bit more time with them as a couple without the engagement between them. But like I said, apart from the less than stellar "romance" aspect this book was fantastic and set up the series extremely well.


~HERO~
VLAD...what can I say about this character? I liked him for the most part. He was hot as f-ck. He was ruthless. He was dangerous. He was f-cked up in the head. He was rapey. All that said, I didn't 100% love him until very near the end. I struggled with him being OK marrying Diana but keeping Irina as a side piece. I wanted him to man up and put an end to things and go after what(who) he really wanted. He doesn't do anything until his hand is forced.


~HEROINE~
IRINA...I liked her character for the most part. She started off seeming to be this meek little virgin and then turned into this kinky little nympho basically overnight. But OK, I went with it. It also bothered me that she seemed perfectly OK with sleeping with her sister's fiancée behind her back. Now I get Diana had her own little dalliance going on, but still, it all didn't sit right with me. I feel like I am being picky about this issue and I am really not trying to be. I know this is a "dark romance" and I generally go into those in a different mindset, but ugh, the setup just bothered me a lot. C'est la vie.


 

~SECONDARY CHARACTERS~
There was an EXCELLENT array of secondary characters in this one. So many families and people that it did become a bit confusing at times. WAY too many people with names and last names that started with "V" (lol). But these authors do include a nice list of who all the characters are at the start of the book. I am certainly looking forward to reading about a lot of these guys. And even though I did not like the "engagement" setup with Diana I LOVED her character and I cannot wait to see her wreak vengeance on everyone.


~HEAT LEVEL~
Fairly High. The sex scenes were smokin' and the frequency felt right for the story. There was a lot of rapey sex (dubious consent) in this one. Choking. The couple had amazing on page chemistry as well.


~ANGST LEVEL~
Medium. "I" didn't find this one particularly angsty. Technically there WAS cheating as Vlad IS engaged to Diana (Irina's sister) for almost the entire book and he starts a sexual relationship with Irina while still engaged. That said, Diana was also cheating so I imagine most folks won't be bothered by that. There is one OW sex scene near the beginning a threesome, but Vlad basically just observes. Other than that there was no OW or OM drama.


~IN THE END~
Overall, I enjoyed it A LOT. I adore the pairing of these two authors and again with this book we have another fantastic read. That said, the whole engaged to the sister Irina and Vlad sleeping together while he is engaged to Diana. lowered what could have been a 5-Star read for me to a 4- Star one. Still, a very respectable rating in my opinion and I am sure I will be in the minority in regard to the issues I had, but sometimes things just bother you. What can you do? *shrug* That said, yours truly is still going to give this one two solid thumbs up and I CANNOT wait to see what these authors have up their sleeves with VEN in book two. 

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[SueBee★bring me an alpha!★]

TICKLED PINK VLAD!

Book 1.
Purchase: | AMZ US | AMZ UK |
Blurb:
The Vasiliev name is a powerful one.
We rule with an iron fist and we do it well.
Being the eldest, I am Father’s best hope at keeping us at the top of the food chain.
Everything I do has purpose.
Everything I do has reason.
Until her.
I play my games thinking several moves ahead.
Power. Power. Power.
Until her.
The next move requires I marry and soon.
This will strengthen us and secure our position.
But I am not to marry her.
I am to wed the eldest Volkov.
Problem is, her younger sister is the one who awakens my dead heart.
It is her I want in my bed and by my side forever.
Her. Her. Her.
In this game, though, it’s not about what I want.
But maybe it can be about what she wants.
I am Vlad.
Vile. Vicious. Villainous. Vasiliev.
And I will win eventually.

Books in V Games series are stand-alones:
Book 1: Vlad
Book 2: Ven

[❥ KAT ❥ Kitty Kats Crazy About Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

MY REVIEW can also be found on my blog:
KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS

‘VLAD:’ is the first dark book in K.Websters & K. Dukey’s ‘The V Games’ Series.

So we have our three main characters, Diana who is arranged to marry Vlad, her younger sister Irina.

Twenty two year old Vlad Vasiliev knows how to play the game of life better than anyone, how could he not when he’s been groomed at a young age by the best, his father.
Vile
Vicious
Villainous
Vasiliey men aren’t weak, they bow to no one, they are kings of their empire. Blood in Blood out.

Diane is the eldest child of the Volkov family and has been primed to take over their family empire of Volkov Spirits, and is requested to marry into the Vasiliey family which will strengthen both families power and wealth over others.



Then we have eighteen year old Irina, always in the shadow hiding behind her sister, but that’s not always the case, once Vlad lays claim to her we see a drastic change, like a phoenix rising she comes out of the shadows and is Vlad’s equal in every way. She’s had a secret crush on Vlad since time began, always watching him from the back ground hidden within the shadows, he’s her favourite addiction, her reason to breath.

Oh what a tangled web these two weaved, once Vlad places that ring on his betrothed finger she begged him to take Irina under his wing and protect her and allow her to choose who she marrieds when the time comes. Two for the price of one, he now owns both of them and are living in his quarters.



Under the same roof as Vlad, let the game of seduction begin, this is where things get interesting.

I guess I went into this one with high expectations because with these two pairing up that’s where the bar has been set when it comes to the wickedly disturbed stories they give us. So this one was a wee bit different, where I expected the dark, gritty, deranged shit to come at us these two ladies held back but still delivered us a book that will get it’s hooks into you.

I know this book is mean’t to surround the V. Games but even reaching the end of the book I don’t really know or understand what the games actually entail as it didn’t really give a full description, but did suggest it was a blood bath which I’m guessing will be explained more in the next book.

There were a lot of v names and for good measure in keeping with the V names they very cleverly incorporated some v words into the mix too. But when it came to all the V names it did make for a confusing read in the first few chapters though it helped that they had a family tree of sorts inserted in the front of the book as reference.

All in all if your fans of these two authors go in prepared to have your world turned upside down, keep in mind that you are stepping into one of the most dangerous mobster families, things aren't as they appear, secrets will be revealed, death and murder will occur, bed swapping will happen.

Let the games begin!!

* Teasers used are off the Authors facebook page *

     

[Jessica ❥Chatterbooks Book Blog❥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25
Ever since I found out K. Webster and Ker Dukey were writing a spinoff of the Pretty Little Dolls series, I've been dying to get my hands on this book! The whole concept of the V Games intrigued me, and I was interested in finding out more about Viktor's crazy family. In fact, Vlad was one of my most highly anticipated books of 2018, and thankfully, it did not disappoint! It's a fantastic start to what I'm sure will be a phenomenal series! 



The men and women in Vlad Vasilev's world do not marry for love. They marry for power and wealth. Vlad is no different. He is expected to marry the oldest Volkov child, Diana. Neither love one another, but both are willing to do what they must for their family. The pairing will strengthen the Vasilev's and the Volkov's, and with the two being friends since childhood, they know they could be stuck with a lot worse. 



When Diana is asked to move in with Vlad, she makes him promise to let her little sister, Irina, come with her. Irina and Diana are more than just sisters. They're best friends. The two of them were brought up to be businesswomen, and they're both tough as nails, smart, capable, and drop dead gorgeous. 

Any man would be lucky to have either of them. Too bad Vlad wants the one he can't have. He's a ruthless man that prides himself on being in control, but even he can't resist this kind of temptation. 

Vlad is a perfectly paced, entertaining, and intriguing dark romance filled with violence, betrayl, secrets, and steam! Vlad's vile, vicious, and villainous just like the author's claimed, and though he allows love into his heart, he is still very much the same person at the end of the book. Love doesn't soften him, and I liked that a lot. 

In the beginning I worried I would hate Irina, because I loved Diana. I didn't understand how the authors would make everything okay for me, but they did! I should never have doubted them. They are a dream team, and everytime I read one of their books, I'm reminded of that. I loved this installment of the V Games series, and I have a feeling it's only going to get better from here!



If you're a fan of the authors' work or dark/mafia romance, this one's for you! 

[warhawke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Dark Romance
Type: Book 1 from The V Games series
POV: First Person – Dual
Rating:




Vlad Vasiliev was a powerful man. As the heir of his family empire, he worked hard to keep them at the top by being vicious and heartless. But that heart wasn't immune the moment he laid his eyes on the sister of his future wife.

Irina Volkov had always lingered in the background. As the second daughter, she was mere shadow behind her well loved sister. She had her own desires to fulfill but she must choose to either follow her heart or follow her duty to her family.

She wants me to be the bad guy. It’s a good damn thing I enjoy the hell out of that notion.

I like how Vlad was a villainous hero who stayed true to himself. He could be vile when he wanted to, but also sexy when he wasn't in "business mode".

I’m no sun. But it felt good to shine like one, even if only for a moment.

Irina might look like a pushover, but she could stand on her own. I like how she wanted to carve her own path instead of simply accepting what laid in front of her.



The story was exciting and fast pace. There were family dramas and business conflicts amidst lust, love and cold blooded killings. The sex was dirty mixed with a little kink and a whole lot of dub-con making my bits all pitter patter haha!

My chest cracks open, and I let this girl in. I know it’s foolish. Everyone I let in either dies or betrays me or leaves me.

Vlad is a story of power and manipulations. It would appeal to fans of dark romance.

Note 1:
Why do Russians like names starts with a V? Lol! There are a lot of Vs in this book both first and last names. Thank god the authors provided characters list.

Note 2:
I love that guy whose book coming next. Looking forward to it!



💥 🔫 💥 . . . (F)BR With Twinsie CC . . . 💥 🔫 💥





For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading books that are written by Ker Dukey and K. Webster! This one wasn’t as dark as they usually write, but it still darker than most! I do wish I had of read this one before the last “Pretty Doll” book as I would have understood more of what went on in that book. In doing that though I would have wrecked certain secrets etc!!! I’m very tempted to go back and reread book four in Benny’s series though!!

Anyway, this is a great spin off series that I’m positive will become more and more exciting as it continues! It reminds me of a Russian mob soap opera!!!! There is killing, sex, lust, secrets and some love! It is very hard to put a book like that down!!! Now I’m eagerly awaiting the next one!!!

Thanks Steph, for another wonderful buddy read!

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read again 21st - 22nd January 2019
Ready for Vas

Re-read 17th - 18th July 2018.
Ready for Ven.

Original review.

Having seen all the brilliant 5* reviews I couldn’t resist this book. Now I’m not known for my patience and so I usually prefer to wait until a whole series is out but I just couldn’t.

I was glued to every page even when I didn’t particularly like what I was reading I was still hooked.
If I’m being honest as a rule I’m not a huge fan of sibling sharing but even that didn’t convince me to hold off and this actually worked really well for me. Well apart from a couple of annoying moments when it wasn’t moving in the direction I wanted fast enough.

I found myself enthralled by the world that’s been created here and all the families, the backstabbing and ruthless deals. Family comes before everything, the games are life or death and daughter’s and sisters are traded to make stronger ties. Certainly not a life you’d choose to be born into.

I have to say the title threw me for a minute as well since there’s another series running at the moment called the V Games.

While I’m eagerly awaiting the next book Ven I’m also a little apprehensive. The only other experience I have with this author was Taking Avery (collaboration with a different author I know). Now I really enjoyed this book and couldn’t wait to start the next one Finding Rhiannon. The problem was in the first book Avery was a great character, strong, independent and intelligent. But in the second book she’d transformed into a TSTL airhead and I quit at 21%.
So I’m hoping that doesn’t happen here, this could be the start of a great series so please please keep the women strong and don’t turn them into brain dead idiots.

[Naomi · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was beyond disturbing and I don't mean that in a good way. Lord knows I like dark shit, I'm into some pretty twisted stuff when it comes to this genre of romance but this wasn't right. Sorry, not sorry.

I've read plenty of mafia books, plenty of dark, gritty and depraved books but this one was something else entirely. I can't believe it has so many great reviews that led me to believe this was going to be a good story. And fuck it for being well written too because I kept reading.

Rape does absolutely nothing for me. Buying poor innocent women in order to sell them and/or give them away for some twisted game does nothing for me. Stitching their vagina so they're 'tighter' does, once again, nothing for me. Giving a poor girl away to his twisted as fuck father so he can play with her and make her scream, you guessed it, it does nothing for me.

This book was so wrong, I couldn't believe I was reading what I was reading. And yes the hero is in on it, he approves of all this and even gets the heroine to train, I repeat train, the trafficked women into being more lady-like so they can be better able to seduce the enemy and, hopefully, not die.

This was Vlad in a nutshell. And what a fucking shame because I actually liked the first few chapters of this book, I enjoyed the writing style and this world the authors created was quite fascinating, until I realized how terrible those characters were.

Find a balance, this isn't sexy. It's just disgusting.

[Melanie (mells_view) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ker and K Webster can honestly do NO WRONG together. They make dark magic together like some evil twisted witches, but in a good way. A real good way.

Vlad is book one of The V Games series, and it is full of everything amazing and awful. It’s essentially the introduction of characters that will be featured in this series, the dynamics of the V Games world, and the setting. The romance is dark and taboo. The sex is dark and taboo. The characters are terrible and amazing all wrapped into one big cluster bubble. Agh. It was so good. I don’t want to ruin anything, so I’ll end it with this... if you like;
Russian mobsters.
Soap opera level drama and angst.
Blood and gore.
Dark happenings, dark sex, dark romance.
and the preparations for the Hunger Games on MDMA...
Then you need to get your pop corn ready, and start this series right now.

[CC · Rating 4 out of 5]

At 22 years old, Vlad Vasiliev is the first heir to a powerful family dynasty built upon illegal enterprise and the infamous V Games. Abiding his father’s wishes, Vlad is to marry the oldest daughter of another ruling family in order to solidify the Vasiliev name. Understanding the importance of such a union isn’t lost on Vlad but he also has his own agenda and he is ready to take his family to a new level.

“Even if I never use you. You are mine.”

Irina Volkov, the youngest sibling in her family, maintains the books of Volkov Spirits and is an artist. Always in the shadow of her older sister, she accepted this subservient position out of love and respect but Irina is strong, beautiful and a powerful force in her own right. Believing in the idea of true love, Irina is holding out for the man she’s admired since childhood but doesn’t think he ever noticed her.

“The Volkov women are known for having spines of steel – they do what needs to be done when the moment arrives.”

When Vlad’s fiancé and her sister, Irina, move into the Vasiliev estate, the wedding nears but all isn’t what is seems. With varying factions vying for power, Vlad is on the top of his game yet he is tempted by Irina’s innocence. As they enter a game of secrets, Irina must decide if her family loyalty is stronger than what she desires.

“Nothing will snuff out what has begun to rage between us. An inferno.”

In Vlad, what ensues is a multi-layered plot with rich main and secondary characters that test the limits whether it leads to deceitful or violent means. Vlad’s domineering ways seer the pages and Irina’s charm is effervescent. With some surprises and drama, the plot pace consistently builds until certain secrets are revealed.

With this new series, Ker Dukey and K. Webster show their collaborative efforts continue to produce effective suspenseful, dark and sexy scenes. I look forward to book two and the commencement of the V Games.



The V Games Series:
Ven Book 2


*An ARC was generously provided for an honest review.


*This was a (F)BR with Twinsie Hawkey!*


For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:

[Ker Dukey]

* NOW LIVE! *

[Heather❀Kiss The Pages❀ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let the V Games Begin

I'm starting this review off with a warning. This is probably one of the darkest books I've ever read.
The Vasiliev family are one of the first families in the Russian mob.

Vasiliev men aren't weak
Vasiliev men bow to no one
Vasiliev men are kings

Vlad is the eldest son and he was raised by his father to play the game, to conquer and to win at all costs. He is emotionless, cold and dead inside. Vlad is exactly how he is described in the blurb.
Vile. Vicious. Villainous. Vasiliev

Vlad is arranged to marry Diana, the eldest daughter of another first family, the Volkovs. Diana and her younger sister Irina move into the Vasiliev household during their courtship and essentially what feels like an X-rated mafia soap opera starts to unfold.

Irina is nicknamed "Shadow" because she is plain and goes unnoticed. She lives in the shadow of her sister. However, to Vlad she is the sun. He is reluctantly drawn to her. She has become his weakness but he is bound by his duty to marry her sister. There are so many twists and turns in this book and believe me when I say no one in this book is innocent.

There is an actual event called the V Games where apparently people fight to the death. This first book only kind of alluded to these games, we didn't actually experience it. From my perspective, however, the V Games seem to have a double meaning. There is this fight for power among all the families and marriages are arranged as business transactions to strengthen the family name. Of course there is a lot of plotting and scheming as these characters try to play each other.

I was so uncomfortable at times reading this book. There were so many moments when I couldn't believe the authors went THERE. It certainly threw me off balance. The sex too was quite dark and also quite explicit. Get ready for a wild ride with this one! So many things were taboo but you just had to keep reading! This book ends with a HEA for the main characters but I can't wait to find out how things play out for everyone else.

5 Stars
Dark Romance
Series: Book 1
No Cliffhanger
Heat Level: Hot
POV: Dual
HEA



COME FIND ME!

[Sentranced Jem · Rating 3 out of 5]

Holy Smut Balls!
I freaking honestly don't know what to write...
I hated this book yet I really liked it.
I was really uncomfortable reading certain parts of this book but on the other side....damn woman!!!
To be honest, I was expecting a really tragic love story... when you read that blurb, the romantic in you wants one, right? Nope! This book is filled with raw, sexual chemistry... nothing romantic.
Vlad is wild, intense and there is nothing sweet or innocent about this book.
So, if you are in the mood for something dark, intense and bloody hot... this book is it.
Ker Dukey and K. Webster have written a book that I never thought I'd actually like but here we are... waiting for part 2.

Happy Reading!



For more ...
www.jemimajamir.com

[Natalie ~ The Biblioholic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vlad was most definitely vile, vicious and villainous. Then again, it seemed all the men in this book were in some way, shape or form. And the women weren’t completely virtuous either. Somehow these characters worked to help create an entertaining story of the dark games and dastardly deeds the deadly and diabolical play.

Vlad has been promised to marry Diana, a girl who he grew up with and called friend. Too bad that he can’t keep his mind or his hands off of Diana’s little sister, Irina. Determined to do right by his duty and his future wife, he’s also intent on having his cake and eating it too.

This ordinary girl does extraordinary things to me.

Full of secrets, lies and betrayals, this story was a wicked treat for any dark or mafia romance lover. Life itself wasn’t guaranteed, whether you were friend, foe or family. Loyalty was a rare commodity and trust was virtually non-existent. And Vlad was sick with the strange turn of events of the last few months. Jealousy cost him his beloved brother and he refused to lose anything else. He was destined to run their world and absolutely nothing was going to stop or distract him from that. Until her.

Her smiles and laughter are my drug. That body of hers is my sustenance. I crave her with everything in me.

While I didn’t agree with Vlad sneaking around with Irina, or his hypocrisy with regards to Diana, I loved the development of their relationship. I loved how innocent Irina appeared to be despite growing up in a world full of human traffickers, gun traders, drug lords, etc. Yet there was this spunky side to her that made her quite the match for Vlad. Although it seemed these two weren’t going to catch a break, it was obvious to me that they were strangely meant to be.

Release: 02-26-18 | Genre: Mafia Romance | POV: Dual - 1st person | Heat: 4 out of 5 | Standalone - The V Games #1

Check out the Blog Tour + Giveaway: http://bit.ly/2oRBvIr

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[✰♊ Angie ♊✰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, that was unexpected...



occasionally uncomfortable...



but mostly just smut-tastic!

[nikita · Rating 2 out of 5]

it’s appalling how quick the heroine’s priorities shifted from her sister to the hero considering the strong volkov sister bond has been marketed throughout the book. i was counting on irina to take a stand, speak up and do something to change things for her sister’s case but she didn’t.

it would have been interesting if irina’s character was catered as a strong one to depict a character development because irina, who believed she lived in the “shadow” of her sister her whole life ended up became a shadow of her other half, not the “sun”

[Elle ✟ Søren's ♡ (i'm too old for this shite) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4* war of hearts STARS!!



I might say that this book is one of the best in 2018 so far! The most exciting and leave me hangover for days until now. I'm sucker for mafia romance especially when the Russian involve. And... Oh my... Vlad already grab my attention since the announcement. Even the book is quickly became my fave, it still have some minor flaws.

As the oldest Vasiliev, Vlad has responsibility as the first family and V Games host. Many things happened within his family, including the dead of his dear brother in the Games also his sister's betrayal. His other responsibility to marry came with the greatest temptation. Irina Volkov has been shadowing her sister, Diana until the day Vlad engaged to Diana. Irina wouldn't ruin her family just for a childhood crush towards Vlad. But he has different ideas for Irina to keep her for himself

Vlad. Let's see... Handsome, rich and powerful. Vlad known himself as the head of Vasiliev family and he did it really well. He's cold, deadly and ruthless. What I liked about him is his character stays true until the end. He didn't change his believe even for love.

Irina is not like her sister, Diana. She was more closed and a bit mousy at first. Irina is what people called beauty with brain but she didn't realize it. Irina easily captivating people with her own persona. She 'scarified' herself for Diana, Vlad and the family. However, Irina keeps taunting the beast inside Vlad.

Irina blinds me. Weakens me. Destroys me with her sweetness. And I can’t look away. I willingly allow her to ruin every single thing about me.
I’m no longer Vlad, the great Russian mobster who plays the game better than anyone.
I’m hers.

They have really intense banter. Vlad isn't heart and flowers kind of type. He's a total alpha jerk when it came to sex. Raw and demanding. But surprisingly, he could be a bit playful around Irina. She's bring the good thing out of him. Just a little.

...all I want to do is drown myself in Vlad’s intoxicating scent. Wrap my legs around his slim waist and ride him like a prized stallion. He’s under my skin, burrowed so deep, I don’t think I’ll ever get him out.

Aside from the V Games, there's conflicts within family as expected. I didn't really bother with the fact that when Vlad is going to marry Diana and keep Irina for himself. Well, because in the end, it didn't matter anymore. Maybe irritated me at first, but after a few chapters, it makes sense.

This book is totally not for the weak and Vlad did not the type who will redeem himself. Vlad is absolute. Your worst anti-hero ever. He never hesitate. Vicious and precise. Overall, it was a great read and I couldn't put it down. My problem is, there's so much secrets in Diana's POV that I really need to know. In this story, they didn't let her explain. I want book #2 so badly, just because of Veniamin. He's already have my heart since his first appearance and I hope it will continue.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adoro os livros dessas autoras. Com esse não foi diferente. Testam a nossa sanidade. Essa história foi muito bem montada, e vamos entrando na onda dessa loucura!
Adorei. Aguardando os próximos, que prometem!

[Sky- A hopeless romantic girl :D · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7 stars

first of all, if you are wondering how come i read this non-safe book then-



just kidding there were 2 valid reasons for that-
1- i was in a mother of all funks and all of my reads were resulting into dnf.
2- like i have mentioned before, i keep maturing as a reader and getting more real with the fiction reality.


now on the book- if you are into a fast paced but not really well developed plot with confused characters then this is for you!

now i know what i mentioned above was a recipe to disaster but it worked for me reason being mafia possessive hero and virgin heroine with a plot interesting enough to hold my interest.

tbh it worked for me just because i was craving those trope at that moment but believe me if you are going with a rational mind then plz don't...

many points are too stupid and undeveloped.

and that anton twist was too stupid for me. i knew from the first intro something was there.

so yeah if you are craving some mafia romance with a possessive hero then only you'll be able to enjoy it otherwise there are too irrational shit to deal.

it also felt too short but i njoyed it so.....

[Grecia Robles · Rating 4 out of 5]

OOH EMM GEE!!
Este libro si es Dark Romance.

Tenía bastante tiempo que no leía este género y eso que antes lo leía mucho tenía el alma más negra.
Cuando vi que este libro estaba escrito por K. Webster en colaboración con otra autora me llamó la atención saben cuánto amo la forma de escribir de K. y luego me di cuenta que esta algo relacionado con su serie de las Dolls que desde hace tiempo le tengo ganas ahora si lo voy a leer más pronto que tarde porque me encantó la narración es bastante adictiva y el ritmo es muy ágil.

Este libro es sobre la mafia rusa pero a diferencia de otros que he leído está ambientado en Rusia. Hay varias familias involucradas y todas quieren tener el poder por eso las más poderosas unen lazos para estar en la cima por lo que Vlad nuestro protagonista se tiene que casar con la hija mayor de los Volkov. Él sabe que es lo mejor, él no lo duda sabe que le dará más poder del que ya tiene aunque con eso sacrifique lo que más desea, a la hermana menor de su prometida, Irina.

Vlad es bastante HOT, es peligroso, oscuro, sexy es un monstruo no tiene ni una pizca de bondad y es bastante posesivo sabe que no puede tener a Irina más sin embargo la reclama como suya. No es el típico chico malo que se reforma o suaviza, NOO a pesar de que se enamora sigue siendo el mismo tipo sin misericordia.
Es por eso que me gustó tanto.

Irina a pesar de que tiene cierto aire de dulzura e inocencia, ha sido capaz junto a su hermana de r construir y sacar a delante las empresas de su padre, sabe que las mujeres son sólo peones pero ella se niega a serlo, ella quiere elegir a alguien por amor aunque al único al que pueda amar es al prometido de su hermana.


Lo único que no me gustó fue que Vlad no eligió a Irina sobre Diana, si ésta no hubiera sido descubierta por algo que hizo, Vlad jamás la hubiera dejado, Irina seguiría estando en la sombra y la clandestinidad.

Las escenas sexosas estuvieron bastante HOT oh shii

Normalmente se embellece mucho la mafia pero se dejan de lado los actos delictivos y lo común en la mayoría de los libros que he leído es tráfico de armas y drogas y los villanos son los traficantes de personas y típico nuestros protas son tan honorables que no meten en ese tipo de negocios.
Pero en este libro realmente nos muestran sus negocios con el tráfico de personas en este caso mujeres como las tratan como si fueran vil ganado es más el ganado tiene más valor que ellas. Me parece bastante repulsivo y estoy en contra de eso TOTALMENTE pero me gustó que las autoras nos lo mostraran tal cual aunque sólo fueran unas escenas.

[Snow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vasiliev men aren’t weak.
Vasiliev men bow to no one.
Vasiliev men are kings.

And there's Vlad Vasiliev

then there's an arranged marriage for the sake of alliance, more power and greed.

then there's a desire, need and passion with the wrong sister, the one Vlad is not engaged to and yet she's everything he ever wanted, needed, desired.

she's the breath he breathes, she's his lifeline...and the lengths he'll go to, to have her...

and then, there's still the lingering question LOL, what exactly are The V Games ? I haven't quite realized what exactly goes down in that arena...hmmm

[Phuong ✯ · Rating 3 out of 5]

#1 Vlad – 3 stars
#2 Ven – 3 stars
#3 Vas – 3.75 stars

if you see me reading trashy mafia books, look the other way because i can't seem to stop 😂

Vlad wasn't the worst mafia book I've read, but it wasn't great either. i love a good anti-hero, but they still need to have some morals you know? mafia deals with a lot of dubious content, but i'm really not a fan of human trafficking which a couple of families in this series deal with. seeing how these people buy girls to train them to be sex slaves? eww.

therefore i have a bit of a love-hate relationship with Vlad. was i repulsed by how he treated some of these women and killed them without a care? yes. but then he was so soft with Irina, which made up for half the shit he did in this book. it's still annoying what kind of hypocrites these men are. expecting their future wives to be virgins but if they fuck someone that's not a problem.

i'm not a fan of the trope where the hero is engaged to the older sister, but lusting after the younger sister, so this book was never meant to be my favorite :D

what i really loved was the sibling relationship between Diana and Irina. the way the sisters protected and stood up to each other was heart warming. Diana became quickly my favorite character of the book. she's badass, she's fierce which is not an easy feat in this male dominated mafia world.

what was irritating is that the series is called the v games. they talk a lot about these v games and how much preparation and training goes into these games, but do these games get explained or do we see any of these games? no.
from what i've gathered it sounds like the hunger games, where every family sends someone to fight for them in the arena and they have to kill all their opponents until only one is left standing. 🤷‍♀️

[chan ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

slaughter & skull-fuckery DOES actually equal romance

kidding, mostly. all jokes aside this was actually pretty damn entertaining.

i had no idea what to expect going into this, i thought "maybe vampires" "maybe weird freaking vampire sex" and sadly that wasn't the case. instead we get some weird russian mob/old money/misogyny type shit. russians, sweetie i am SO sorry an ugly bitch would even.

like... the plot: intriguing. the characters: nice (if a little one dimensional). the sex: HOT.

but holy shit, it was pretty hard to overlook the horrible fake Russia that was created. and the actions of the characters. i mean i don't typically flinch when a guy kills for his lady in fiction, it's just part of it ya know? but in this book... hope you love DISEMBOWELMENT before your sex.

and also maybe this was a set up for the rest of the "series" but there were no V games. like, none.

this was seriously hot mess central, but go ahead and read it. just maybe wash your brain out with bleach afterwards.

[Catgirl · Rating 1 out of 5]

Although I don't mind a dark read, this one was not my cup of tea...too violent against women and too little emotion or affection for the heroine from Vlad. Having the hero in sexual situations that aren't with the heroine once they have met is a real turn off for me. In other dark themed books I've read, I could find redeeming qualities in the hero. that was not the case with this book. I'm honestly surprised I finished reading this. I won't be continuing this series.

[SusanAhh · Rating 5 out of 5]

"'You’d do more than paint me, you’d paint yourself all over my soul.'”



Some of my all-time favorite dark romance reads involve the power, animal passions and sheer savagery of an impossible romantic love within the culture of real and/or mythicized Russian organized crime organizations. If written well, these men are some of the hottest über Alpha beasts that make a girl go uhmmm and ahhhh… Bal'shoye spaseeba.



I will say that this duo of authors, which are new to me, have a wonderful grasp of all the elements that make a story from this unique flavor of dark romance so enticing and tasty. Of course, the most important element is that dark, dangerous, merciless man of violence, while being one beautiful animal, the dark hero. The title of the book bears his name. He is Vlad Vasiliev. “Vile. Vicious. Villainous.”

He is everything a girl could dream about if you were a girl so inclined. He is fiercely loyal to whom he loves, and this list is very short. He understands the rules of the game he must play to maintain the power he holds. He knows when and if he can rewrite the rules to favor his desires. He will kill efficiently for expediency and to insure his protection and protection of his own. Men and only strong men have the right to rule and women are there for comfort, amusement or to breed more men. He has little or no use for women, even his own sister has become a huge disappointment in her demeanor and trivialities.

We are introduced to the First families of Russian society at the outset of the book. We are also introduced vaguely to a tournament-like game of violence and sexual perversions that players representing the families enter for nebulous reasons relating to power. This is a life or death struggle…for indeed Vlad’s own brother whom he dearly misses appeared to have perished in this game. It was his Father who began the games.

” My father may think he designed these games—not just The V Games, but every game in life. What he never counted on was for someone to change the rules. New Rule Number One: You hurt my brother, I fucking hurt you.”

The story twists and turns along an intricate plot line weaving the fate of the families as dark sometimes disturbing revelations are brought to light. Within the intrigue is the betrothal of Vlad to Diana and the fact that Diana’s little sister Irina has secretly crushed on Vlad since she was a little girl.

” I’ve been watching him from the background since I could walk. Learning, deconstructing, and pining despite my brain wishing I didn’t. But it’s impossible not to. He’s my favorite addiction. I take him in like air to my lungs and breathe.”

Diana was always the glamorous one who shone like a jewel. Everyone was drawn to her brilliance and if ever there was going to be a Russian woman who was going to break the mold and be worth more than a broodmare, it would be her. She would also bring her sister along with her, for they were both very close to one another.

The attraction Irina felt toward Vlad was mutual and despite his duty to the family in his betrothal to Diane the light of Irina felt like the “sun” to him. She was so much her sister’s shadow, she was nicknamed as such and accepted herself as a shadow. Vlad cannot help himself around Irina and so it begins… the illicit, forbidden sex, the conflict of loyalties for Irina and it’s all oh so addictive, dizzyingly passionate and Hotttt!!!

“’When you’re staring at the sun, you can’t see a shadow.’ His voice is low and husky.”

The authors have the readers breathless with how well they write about the first time they innocently, maybe not so innocently, make eye contact until Irina captures Vlad’s heart and soul being the perfect and ideally matched partner in erotic adventures. She takes his breath away figuratively as he literally takes hers away.

“’When you were a child, I just wanted you to paint me. To make something ugly and destined for destruction to be beautiful. Just once. I wanted to be something beautiful and worthy even if only for a moment. To capture the real me in one instant and lock me there. I wanted to be yours, then and forever. It didn’t make sense, but my heart whispered these things to me. Promised I’d have you one day. You’d do more than paint me, you’d paint yourself all over my soul.’”

Told in alternating POV’s this is the heady dangerous stuff that good girls really should not dare to dream about but sometimes well…you know…the bad boy who loves the good girl…Now the bad boy is a little bit better and the good girl a lit bit badder. Yeah…It’s like that.

[Kay's Blushing Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

VLAD by K Webster & Ker Dukey
GENRE: Contemporary Romance
NARRATION: Multiple POV
BOOK DETAILS: Book #1 In the V Games Series
AUDIO AVAILABLE? No
THE STORY:

Vasiliev men aren't weak
Vasiliev men bow to no one
Vasiliev men are kings

At 22 years old, Vlad Vasiliev is heir to his family’s illegal enterprise and infamous V Games. His duty and honour to the cause is vicious, ruthless and violent.

Vlad is betrothed to Diana Volkov, a marriage purely in order to solidify the Vasiliev name. Diana is a woman he grew up with and considered a good friend, she is strong, smart and very beautiful, but not the woman he wants. His darkest, deepest, dirtiest desires belong to a woman he can never have, Irina, her younger sister.

Irina has lived in the shadows of her sister Diana her whole life. She is soft, sweet and so seemingly innocent. Vlad is everything she shouldn’t want but everything she needs. Temptation turns to seduction and seductions turns to sin in a passionate and poisoness affair.

Irina has entered a dangerous game when she discovers a secret that will redefine her sisters fate will possibly seal a deadly one of her own.
Let the V Games begin.

“You can’t tease a lion and not expect to get eaten”



MY THOUGHTS:
VLAD is ruthless, brutal and completely unredeemable. He is a product of his upbringing; his Russian Mafia world has moulded him into the perfect lethal monster. His love for Irina is as feirce and as dangerous as himself.

Warning :Not for the faint hearted this novel is violently graphic, sexually explicit and very dark.

This is a great collaboration by K Webster and Ker Dukey. Being a fan of K Webster and the dark side, I was in my element reading this story.

This is not a hearts and flowers love story. Vlad is a cold blooded killer, he plays dirty, lives dangerously and loves to the death. I really enjoyed this story, I was engaged and intrigued immediately. The sex was gritty, the violence bloody and raw, it is a powerful and compelling story of lies, secrets and delicious drama surrounding a Russian criminal ring. This would make one hell of a movie!

The only issue I had with the book (hence the 4.5 Stars and not 5) was that I was confused about the V Games and their intent. The games were not ever fully explained or described. I can only assume this will be divulged in Book#2 further. I felt like when I started the book I’d missed some important first chapters as there was not enough of the character’s backstories to connect with them, but that is just my opinion.

I felt it all went too fast and could have been made longer, more drawn out, or perhaps it was just that I didn’t want it to end. I read this in one sitting and could not put it down. I look forward to reading VEN The V Games Book#2.

MY RATINGS: (All ratings are out of 5)
HERO RATING: 4
HEROINE RATING: 4
BLUSH RATING: 4
ROMANCE RATING:3
DARK RATING:5
PLOT RATING: 5
OVERALL: 4.5 Blushing Stars

DO I RECCOMEND THIS BOOK?
Absolutely, however be warned, it is dark and dirty and contains graphic and violent scenes that may offend some. If you’re a fan of K. Webster, than this is one you won’t want to miss.

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[Mirjam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vile.
Vicious.
Villainous.
Vasiliev.

Vlad Vasiliev, 22, heir to the most powerful Russian mob family, older brother of Viktor.
Vlad is A ruthless, fighting killing machine. A winner. You can’t go nose-to-nose with someone like me and come out unscathed. I always win. I. Do. What. I. Want.
Vlad, Strong. Formidable. Beautiful. is destined to marry Diana Volkov, 24, heir to the Volkov family business but Vlad is infatuated with Diana’s younger sister, Irina.



Irina “Shadow” Volkov, 18, seen but not heard—ushered away in the shadow of my incredible sister, Diana. The sisters were promised our marriages would be our choice and not what benefits the family but her sister was ordered to marry into the Vasiliev family.
Irina has always had a crush on Vlad and the one who will wed my sister, crushing my soul with every vow spoken. He’ll soon be my brother-in-law.

With Vlad and Diana engaged the two sisters have moved into the Vasiliev home, the attraction between Vlad and Irina grows steadily and strong, with things heating up fast.

The little sun named Shadow is mine.



It is a well written story of power, puppeteering, cruelty and murder of sexual scandals and revenge. And the sex scenes were off the charts, hot and frequent.
I was grateful for The V Games Cast of Characters list at the beginning of the book since all those Russian V names were quite confusing.



I’ll always jump on anything written by the magic duo Dukey/Webster, and of course this one proved to be a winner, again. I highly recommend to lovers of dark & vicious reads.

And now we wait for book 2,
Volcanic.
Victorious.
Valiant.
Vetrov.



Part of the The V Games Series that has to be read in order:


Dark Erotica Book of the Month March 2018

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!! This is an amazing collaboration by K Webster and Ker Dukey. The Ks killed it!!

Vlad (the book) is captivating. I couldn't put it down. It was intense and ran me through a gamut of emotions.

Vlad (the main character) is harsh, powerful, unforgiving, violent, calculating, and always several steps ahead in all the games of life. He is bound by blood, family name, and honor to follow a certain path in life and that leads him to where our story really begins. Through glimpses of his thoughts, I determined that he was also capable of love and I found myself finding redeeming qualities in him and wanting him to find peace and contentment in his brutal world.

I will wait for the book to be released before posting more of a review since I don’t want to give away anything regarding the plot or the other characters.

Vlad is a must read. I am so excited to see what comes in the rest of the series. Although the series will be a continuation of the story, the immediate story resolves within the book so we aren’t faced with a cliffhanger or anything. It ends in a great spot. I am slapping one of my rare 6+ stars ratings on this book. Check it out for yourself…

[alka · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars.

sorry but this book killed my mood to read mafia. snoozefest at its finest 😴