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Tainted Hearts #5
The Mafia and His Obsession: Part 2
I lived in the darkness for so long.
No life. No choice.
The devil owned me, body and soul—but not my heart. It was the only part of me which could never be claimed…
…or so I thought.
Viktor weaved his way into my heart and imprinted on my soul. He made it clear he was there to stay. Even when the darkness blinded us, he never left my side.
What we shared was sweet, untamed, and wild. But it was forbidden, dangerous, and the outcome would only be painful.
A game is being played. The arena is a bloodbath, and the Game Masters are brutal. In the end, only one will survive.
Only one King will be left standing.
No life. No choice.
The devil owned me, body and soul—but not my heart. It was the only part of me which could never be claimed…
…or so I thought.
Viktor weaved his way into my heart and imprinted on my soul. He made it clear he was there to stay. Even when the darkness blinded us, he never left my side.
What we shared was sweet, untamed, and wild. But it was forbidden, dangerous, and the outcome would only be painful.
A game is being played. The arena is a bloodbath, and the Game Masters are brutal. In the end, only one will survive.
Only one King will be left standing.
499 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 11, 2019
455 people are currently reading
2997 people want to read
About the author
Lylah James
27 books4,969 followersAuthor of The Mafia and His Angel. Creator of Alessio Ivanshov and Aylessio.
Reading is her first love and always will be.
Writing is her passion. She writes because the voices in her head won't stop and because they deserve to be heard and read. Lylah James writes about drool worthy and total alpha males, with strong and sweet heroines. She makes her readers cry - sob their eyes out, swoon, curse, rage and fall in love. Mostly known as the Queen of cliffhanger and the #evilauthorwithablacksoul, she likes to break her readers' hearts and then mend them again.
She uses all her spare time to write. If she is not studying, sleeping, writing or working - she can found with her nose buried in a good romance book, preferably with a hot alpha male.
Reading is her first love and always will be.
Writing is her passion. She writes because the voices in her head won't stop and because they deserve to be heard and read. Lylah James writes about drool worthy and total alpha males, with strong and sweet heroines. She makes her readers cry - sob their eyes out, swoon, curse, rage and fall in love. Mostly known as the Queen of cliffhanger and the #evilauthorwithablacksoul, she likes to break her readers' hearts and then mend them again.
She uses all her spare time to write. If she is not studying, sleeping, writing or working - she can found with her nose buried in a good romance book, preferably with a hot alpha male.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 230 reviews
October 26, 2019
4.5
Lylah's done it again! I just can't get enough of her books. She is the kind of author that consistently delivers. I never have to wonder if I'm going to enjoy one of her stories. I know that I am without a doubt before I even pick it up. They're always captivating from the first page, and I never cease to be entertained from start to finish.
The Mafia and His Obsession Part 1 and 2 are Viktor and Valerie's story, but you should read The Mafia and His Angel Part 1, 2, and 3 before picking it up. The whole series needs to be read in order to get everything out of it and to understand all of the small details. That might be a lot of books, but they're so worth it!
Mafia romance is one of my favorite genres, and if you feel the same, Lylah James should be on your tbr. The romance in her books can be a bit sweeter than what I normally read in mafia, but the incredible darkness in them balances it all out into something amazing. I can honestly say, once I pick her books up, I have no desire to put them down. She has a way of completely immersing you in the story and making you fully invested in the characters almost immediately.
Bottom line, grab this book if you've read the rest of the books in the series. You won't be disappointed! If you haven't started the series yet, rectify that immediately! You can always count on Lylah to give you a fantastic story, complex characters, violence, suspense, darkness, and a whole lot of steam! What more could you want?
Lylah's done it again! I just can't get enough of her books. She is the kind of author that consistently delivers. I never have to wonder if I'm going to enjoy one of her stories. I know that I am without a doubt before I even pick it up. They're always captivating from the first page, and I never cease to be entertained from start to finish.
The Mafia and His Obsession Part 1 and 2 are Viktor and Valerie's story, but you should read The Mafia and His Angel Part 1, 2, and 3 before picking it up. The whole series needs to be read in order to get everything out of it and to understand all of the small details. That might be a lot of books, but they're so worth it!
Mafia romance is one of my favorite genres, and if you feel the same, Lylah James should be on your tbr. The romance in her books can be a bit sweeter than what I normally read in mafia, but the incredible darkness in them balances it all out into something amazing. I can honestly say, once I pick her books up, I have no desire to put them down. She has a way of completely immersing you in the story and making you fully invested in the characters almost immediately.
Bottom line, grab this book if you've read the rest of the books in the series. You won't be disappointed! If you haven't started the series yet, rectify that immediately! You can always count on Lylah to give you a fantastic story, complex characters, violence, suspense, darkness, and a whole lot of steam! What more could you want?
June 15, 2019
♥️ 'A story filled with paper swans and dancing.' ♥️
INSTAGRAM: Insane Book Lover 😊❤
————
❤️ ARC kindly provided by the this awesome author, in exchange for an honest review.
————
Soooo, this book... This book... 👏
The Mafia and His Obsession Part 2. The conclusion of Vikterie's story, truly gave me all the feels. It was beyond expectation. It had me hooked.
It was such an exhilarating read.
I read it in ONE DAY (with Part 1) yes. I did that. I started reading Part 1 the night before and the next day I finished Part 2, before night time came.. Yessss.
In a nutshell, this is a story full of forbidden love, heartache, pain, darkness, distress, love, passion, obsession and MULTIPLE plot twists.
The minute you think you know something is gonna happen, Lylah decides to change everything.
Also, the mindf*ck is off the charts!!!
The decision Viktor needs to make put him a difficult position to think about his choices and what he needs to do as so to get what he wants.
And Valerie is still trapped, but her soul is full of happiness because she trusts wholeheartedly Viktor. In him she found a protector and a companion.
Both of them have high hopes for the future. She loves both his dark and soft side of Viktor. And he feels like she is his breath.
But let's not forget that this Mafia world is not an easy one to live in.
Will they survive the darkness? Will they be able to live with the revealed secrets and betrayals ?
♥️ 'I will be yours. And you will be mine. ♥️
Thank you Lylah. Amazing job!!!
If you want to read books that has you captivated and full of emotions and has that dark, sexy, twisted element. What are you waiting for??
————
⋆ The Aylessio scenes made me go crazy. Need to re-read TMAHA.
⋆ We get some revelations regarding Evaline and Nikolay, and let me tell you. I'm not okay.
⋆ And we do get some Maddie and Phoenix scenes, that make me wanna know more about their story.
————
★The teaser was made by me.
★★The Pictures used are not mine. Credits to the owners/makers. 💜
————
INSTAGRAM: Insane Book Lover 😊❤
————
❤️ ARC kindly provided by the this awesome author, in exchange for an honest review.
————
Soooo, this book... This book... 👏
The Mafia and His Obsession Part 2. The conclusion of Vikterie's story, truly gave me all the feels. It was beyond expectation. It had me hooked.
It was such an exhilarating read.
I read it in ONE DAY (with Part 1) yes. I did that. I started reading Part 1 the night before and the next day I finished Part 2, before night time came.. Yessss.
In a nutshell, this is a story full of forbidden love, heartache, pain, darkness, distress, love, passion, obsession and MULTIPLE plot twists.
The minute you think you know something is gonna happen, Lylah decides to change everything.
Also, the mindf*ck is off the charts!!!
The decision Viktor needs to make put him a difficult position to think about his choices and what he needs to do as so to get what he wants.
And Valerie is still trapped, but her soul is full of happiness because she trusts wholeheartedly Viktor. In him she found a protector and a companion.
Both of them have high hopes for the future. She loves both his dark and soft side of Viktor. And he feels like she is his breath.
But let's not forget that this Mafia world is not an easy one to live in.
Will they survive the darkness? Will they be able to live with the revealed secrets and betrayals ?
♥️ 'I will be yours. And you will be mine. ♥️
Thank you Lylah. Amazing job!!!
If you want to read books that has you captivated and full of emotions and has that dark, sexy, twisted element. What are you waiting for??
————
⋆ The Aylessio scenes made me go crazy. Need to re-read TMAHA.
⋆ We get some revelations regarding Evaline and Nikolay, and let me tell you. I'm not okay.
⋆ And we do get some Maddie and Phoenix scenes, that make me wanna know more about their story.
————
★The teaser was made by me.
★★The Pictures used are not mine. Credits to the owners/makers. 💜
————
February 27, 2020
This was a good and satisfying conclusion to Viktor Ivanshov and Valerie Blackwell-Solonik's whirlwind romance. It's full of emotions, suffering, deaths, revelations and hardships.
Viktor is impressive playing mind games and I love he's two steps ahead on his plans. There is one point it was suicidal but holy crap, the guy is as brutal as Alessio. Even he's the second in command, the loyalty he exhibits is outstanding and Alessio trusts his decisions. He did well on his undercover mission.
Valerie on the other hand is the true warrior. She survived years of abuse in the hands of her cruel husband. What she'd been through breaks my heart and she learned to cope from it. I'm glad she's rescued from Valentin and that son of a bitch has an exclusive place in hell. Thanks to Viktor.
This series is consistently great BUT that snippet on Nikolay and Evaline’s novels pumped my adrenaline. What the frickin’ hell! WOOOOOOH!! GOD WHERE IS THE NEXT BOOK??? HAHAHHA
Viktor is impressive playing mind games and I love he's two steps ahead on his plans. There is one point it was suicidal but holy crap, the guy is as brutal as Alessio. Even he's the second in command, the loyalty he exhibits is outstanding and Alessio trusts his decisions. He did well on his undercover mission.
Valerie on the other hand is the true warrior. She survived years of abuse in the hands of her cruel husband. What she'd been through breaks my heart and she learned to cope from it. I'm glad she's rescued from Valentin and that son of a bitch has an exclusive place in hell. Thanks to Viktor.
This series is consistently great BUT that snippet on Nikolay and Evaline’s novels pumped my adrenaline. What the frickin’ hell! WOOOOOOH!! GOD WHERE IS THE NEXT BOOK??? HAHAHHA
June 5, 2019
5 My Dark Knight Stars
Val and Viktor
WOW. The Mafia and His Obsession: Part 2 by Lylah James hit me with all the feels. . This is not a hearts and flowers type of romance. It's a dark, twisted masterpiece. Pain, loneliness, despair, and obsession. . . Viktor is so used to be alone. Until he meets his beauty, Valerie. He has a fierce protectiveness over her, and would do just about anything to keep her safe.
TMAHO: Part 2 was intoxicating to read.
I breathed every word, and couldn't put down this heartbreaking, spine tingling, love story.
Love is not easy.
It's messy, and Vik & Val learn the hard way that nothing is exactly as it seems.
But what made this book so much more to me was the fact that Valerie embraced the darkness in Viktor. She knew what kind of man his is, and she didn't judge him for it. *sobs* Their love for one another pierced my soul.
There are so many twists you don't see coming. . .
Viktor is playing a very dangerous game to protect his family and the woman he loves.
The ending just about destroyed me. Secrets are revealed, ones that have laid dormant for so long. The betrayal of their actions will leave everyone at a standstill.
Lylah James has outdone herself with this one, and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.
➵ Follow me on:
Instagram ♦ Website ♦ Facebook
Val and Viktor
Last night, I found forgiveness in her touch.
I found redemption in her kisses.
And I found love in her eyes.
WOW. The Mafia and His Obsession: Part 2 by Lylah James hit me with all the feels. . This is not a hearts and flowers type of romance. It's a dark, twisted masterpiece. Pain, loneliness, despair, and obsession. . . Viktor is so used to be alone. Until he meets his beauty, Valerie. He has a fierce protectiveness over her, and would do just about anything to keep her safe.
TMAHO: Part 2 was intoxicating to read.
I breathed every word, and couldn't put down this heartbreaking, spine tingling, love story.
Love is not easy.
It's messy, and Vik & Val learn the hard way that nothing is exactly as it seems.
But what made this book so much more to me was the fact that Valerie embraced the darkness in Viktor. She knew what kind of man his is, and she didn't judge him for it. *sobs* Their love for one another pierced my soul.
𝑰'𝒎 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒓.
𝑰'𝒎 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅.
𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒓.
𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅.
𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒅. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒍 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒔.
𝑰 𝒂𝒊𝒏'𝒕 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆.
𝑰'𝒎 𝒂 𝒃𝒂𝒅 𝒎𝒂𝒏,
𝑰'𝒎 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆.
- Bad Man lyrics
There are so many twists you don't see coming. . .
Viktor is playing a very dangerous game to protect his family and the woman he loves.
The ending just about destroyed me. Secrets are revealed, ones that have laid dormant for so long. The betrayal of their actions will leave everyone at a standstill.
Lylah James has outdone herself with this one, and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.
➵ Follow me on:
Instagram ♦ Website ♦ Facebook
July 31, 2020
evalinenikolay killed me.
Evaline let her head fall against his chest, and she slumped into him, as if all the fight had finally left her body.
“He is yours and I need you to protect us."
Evaline let her head fall against his chest, and she slumped into him, as if all the fight had finally left her body.
“He is yours and I need you to protect us."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2022
Todos los feeeeelssssss,,, whew. Aquí creo la relación entre Viktor y Valerie estuvo pero de montaña rusa, porque en libro anterior se habla acerca de Irina (no sé por qué Lylah tiene ese subplot de la OW algo redimible o no específicamente eso pero víctima igual y la neta no sé si soy fan de eso, o al menos, podría poner otra sin necesidad de tanto envolvimiento thank u next) en fin, Viktor se da cuenta del tráfico de p*****as y eso complica aún más su plan para deshacerse de Valentin pues ahora busca vengar a su myshka y darle paz en todo lo que pueda.
Igual fueron momentos de mucho suspenso porque Viktor tenía la idea que había lastimado a Ayla, hasta yo me lo creí y afortunadamente no, el plan para engañar a Valentin salió perfecto. Lo complicado comienza cuando él se da cuenta que entre Viktor y Valerie hay algo más, y ay no, repito, fue fuerte y doloroso ver la escena donde Valentin prueba una droga con Valerie y obliga a Viktor ver su abuso, y ayñ, eso obviamente hace que Viktor se sienta súper mal, que sí, logra quitarle a Valentin encima, y ayuda a Valerie de la mejor manera que puede, y fue un momento bastante íntimo pero a la vez tan complicado y cuando ve el cisne de origami que le regaló todo destruido 🥺 sentí tristeza, porque cuando Valentin los deja solos de que “oh ya disfrutó a su esposa”, tanto Viktor como Valerie se sentían fatal pero ella porque pensó que él sentiría asco, lo cual se aclara súper rápido pero él no puede evitar que una parte de su alma se siente impotente y uhm va a unas peleas clandestinas donde estuvo a nada de perderlo todo, pero diría yo que cuando por fin Valerie habla con él, se calma el asunto. Además que se intercambian los primeros I Love You 💖❤️.
Oh pero la calma dura poco que cuando llega el momento decisivo, para erradicar a Valentin, Viktor sabe que debe jugar bien sus cartas con Carlos, el asociado de Valentin, pero él se llevó una sorpresa ya que se da cuenta que Carlos también quiere eliminar a Valentin. Cuando Viktor pone en marcha su plan, hace que Alessio visite Rusia, Alessio va sin guardaespaldas y vulnerable. Ocurre algo que sorprende ya que hace parecer que Viktor dispara a Alessio y él se muere, sin embargo más adelante se descubre que fue parte del plan para hacer que Valentín se sintiera poderoso y quitarle esa sensación de poder inmediatamente después, Viktor envenena a Valentin y la tortura, ayudándose de Erik y de Yegor (ambos personajes que hacen cortas apariciones, más Yegor y omg k word a ambos por razones nobles a la Bratva). También, para este punto, Valerie se reúne con Irina y el plan era sacarlas a ambas, pero por ataque Irina termina herida y Viktor rescata a Valerie, por promesa a Irina de darle prioridad a Valerie sin importar qué cuándo el plan estuviera ya haciéndose. Ay, Valerie Valerieeeee… en un rato queda mega traumada y masomenos le pasa como Ayla, y es que hasta confiesa lo de su pérdida de su familia, la danza, un bebé y la amiga, necesitaba desahogarse, luego llegan a New York, y Valerie está pero a la vez no, y es cuando tiene una conversación Ayla con Valerie que ella se da cuenta que debe perdonarse a sí misma y a Viktor, y no tener culpa por ser feliz. Btw, Ayla tiene a su otro bebé Xander Alessio 🥹 amooooo. Ejem, las cosas se resuelven entre Viktor y Valerie, me hubiera gustado verlos mas tiempo felices y totalmente unidos ngl, lo tierno igual fue ver la breve escena cuando Viktor le da su auxiliar para que oiga de un oído, weeee cuando oye la voz de Viktor 😫🫡, y ooooh ese tease de Evaline teniendo el bebé de Nikolay 🥹, el dramaaaaaaaaa.
El epílogo tho, no me esperaba eso que Viktor ya conociera a Valerie desde chiquitos, esa promesa de que se casarían 😍🥹❤️. Amé que Valerie bailara en el teatro de Londres y Viktor le dijera una propuesta de matrimonio esporádica pero muy sentimental, me recordó de la primera parte donde le regala unas zapatillas de ballet y hace que Valerie baile Ave María 🥹, esa escena fue preciosísima.
Aquí unos de los pensamientos de Viktor que más me gustaron;
I was no fucking poet, but damn, Valerie had a way of making me want to describe her as a poem. She was silent, but her eyes were loud. She spoke with her touch, and through her gaze, she told a mad tale of forbidden passion. She was silent, living, breathing poetry.
I was no hero. I liked to believe I was the villain, but if I had to play hero for Valerie, maybe I’d continue this little fantasy for her sake. She was mine now. And I’d claim her properly. My sweet little swan.
🦢
Igual fueron momentos de mucho suspenso porque Viktor tenía la idea que había lastimado a Ayla, hasta yo me lo creí y afortunadamente no, el plan para engañar a Valentin salió perfecto. Lo complicado comienza cuando él se da cuenta que entre Viktor y Valerie hay algo más, y ay no, repito, fue fuerte y doloroso ver la escena donde Valentin prueba una droga con Valerie y obliga a Viktor ver su abuso, y ayñ, eso obviamente hace que Viktor se sienta súper mal, que sí, logra quitarle a Valentin encima, y ayuda a Valerie de la mejor manera que puede, y fue un momento bastante íntimo pero a la vez tan complicado y cuando ve el cisne de origami que le regaló todo destruido 🥺 sentí tristeza, porque cuando Valentin los deja solos de que “oh ya disfrutó a su esposa”, tanto Viktor como Valerie se sentían fatal pero ella porque pensó que él sentiría asco, lo cual se aclara súper rápido pero él no puede evitar que una parte de su alma se siente impotente y uhm va a unas peleas clandestinas donde estuvo a nada de perderlo todo, pero diría yo que cuando por fin Valerie habla con él, se calma el asunto. Además que se intercambian los primeros I Love You 💖❤️.
Oh pero la calma dura poco que cuando llega el momento decisivo, para erradicar a Valentin, Viktor sabe que debe jugar bien sus cartas con Carlos, el asociado de Valentin, pero él se llevó una sorpresa ya que se da cuenta que Carlos también quiere eliminar a Valentin. Cuando Viktor pone en marcha su plan, hace que Alessio visite Rusia, Alessio va sin guardaespaldas y vulnerable. Ocurre algo que sorprende ya que hace parecer que Viktor dispara a Alessio y él se muere, sin embargo más adelante se descubre que fue parte del plan para hacer que Valentín se sintiera poderoso y quitarle esa sensación de poder inmediatamente después, Viktor envenena a Valentin y la tortura, ayudándose de Erik y de Yegor (ambos personajes que hacen cortas apariciones, más Yegor y omg k word a ambos por razones nobles a la Bratva). También, para este punto, Valerie se reúne con Irina y el plan era sacarlas a ambas, pero por ataque Irina termina herida y Viktor rescata a Valerie, por promesa a Irina de darle prioridad a Valerie sin importar qué cuándo el plan estuviera ya haciéndose. Ay, Valerie Valerieeeee… en un rato queda mega traumada y masomenos le pasa como Ayla, y es que hasta confiesa lo de su pérdida de su familia, la danza, un bebé y la amiga, necesitaba desahogarse, luego llegan a New York, y Valerie está pero a la vez no, y es cuando tiene una conversación Ayla con Valerie que ella se da cuenta que debe perdonarse a sí misma y a Viktor, y no tener culpa por ser feliz. Btw, Ayla tiene a su otro bebé Xander Alessio 🥹 amooooo. Ejem, las cosas se resuelven entre Viktor y Valerie, me hubiera gustado verlos mas tiempo felices y totalmente unidos ngl, lo tierno igual fue ver la breve escena cuando Viktor le da su auxiliar para que oiga de un oído, weeee cuando oye la voz de Viktor 😫🫡, y ooooh ese tease de Evaline teniendo el bebé de Nikolay 🥹, el dramaaaaaaaaa.
El epílogo tho, no me esperaba eso que Viktor ya conociera a Valerie desde chiquitos, esa promesa de que se casarían 😍🥹❤️. Amé que Valerie bailara en el teatro de Londres y Viktor le dijera una propuesta de matrimonio esporádica pero muy sentimental, me recordó de la primera parte donde le regala unas zapatillas de ballet y hace que Valerie baile Ave María 🥹, esa escena fue preciosísima.
Aquí unos de los pensamientos de Viktor que más me gustaron;
I was no fucking poet, but damn, Valerie had a way of making me want to describe her as a poem. She was silent, but her eyes were loud. She spoke with her touch, and through her gaze, she told a mad tale of forbidden passion. She was silent, living, breathing poetry.
I was no hero. I liked to believe I was the villain, but if I had to play hero for Valerie, maybe I’d continue this little fantasy for her sake. She was mine now. And I’d claim her properly. My sweet little swan.
🦢
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2019
MY RATING: 5 Stars
TITLE: The Mafia And His Obsession: Part 2
AUTHOR: Lylah James
SERIES: Tainted Hearts #5
RELEASE DATE: 11 June 2019
CLIFFHANGER: Yes
ARC KINDLY PROVIDED FOR AN HONEST REVIEW
“You are the hope I never had. My demons are silent in your presence, and you make my angels dance in harmony”.
The Mafia and His Obsession Part 2 is book five of the Tainted Hearts Series. You absolutely have to read the last five books before you read this and believe me, it’s worth it. The plot and characters are greatly intertwined so you won’t enjoy it unless you read the first four books.
Oh my god
Oh my god
Oh my god
Oh my god
I’ve been breathlessly waiting for this book since that cliff-hanger in the last book. My reviews don’t contained spoilers so I thought I’d have a little fun with this one and present it as if I’m having a conversation with Lylah James. You’re lucky I finished it this way. Turned out to be a lot more work than I anticipated.
Me: oh my god, these cliff-hangers are going to be the death of me. Do you really have to do it? And then make us wait another year for the next release in 2020? Do you have any remorse for your readers?
Lylah:
Me: Alrighty then. So we know Viktor from all the previously books, Alessio's right-hand man; funny, sexy, dangerous, hot as hell, rich as sin and every girl’s wet-dream. We last left Viktor in quite a predicament after he learns that one of his female conquests means the world to the woman he loves. By the way, speaking of that last book, did you have to have him shot in the ass?
Lylah:
Me: Yeah no, you’re right. Don't answer that. Stupid question
Lylah:
Me: OOKKAAY! Moving on…As I was saying, what a mess Viktor’s life has become. Being borne of one family and dedicated to another. The rapport he had with Valentin had me reeling there for a minute, especially following that ass-shooting incident. Having sacrificed everything for Alessio and the family, don’t you think Alessio’s ultimatum was a bit fucked up?
Lylah:
Alessio Ivanshov was not a man to be trusted. As much as he liked to look into your eyes as your life faded away, he was also the type of man who wouldn’t shy away from striking you in the back if he had the opportunity”.
Me: I know. You said that in your book. But still...to ask that of your brother. I thought it was really fucked up. I know these Ivanshov men are ruthless underground men and shit, but damn. And you know how much I love Alessio but I'm with Viktor on this one. The fact that he knows what to do with a woman's body not withstanding. But since you brought it up... Ohh but that Viktor, child! *very very pervy sigh* lawd have mercy.
Lylah:
Me:
Anyway…I digress. Can I share with the readers’ some of the shit he got up to?
Lylah:
Me: alright aright, sheesh. You spend too much time with the Ivanshovs. All that violence. No spoilers then. Damn.
Girl, let me tell you… you sure know how to write a steamy sex scene…mmmhhh. I was in there with them. It was as if Viktor was touching me, kissing me…
Lylah:
Me:
Yeah…I heard that too. Sounded wrong even to me. You have to admit; you write some really fucked up, bloody, dangerous, violent terribly delicious things. And then throw in there some steamy sex just to gloss over the fucked up shit you wrote. I mean you made Viktor watch that shit with Valentin. What the Fuck Lylah! You have to admit, that’s a bit sadistic and fucked up-even by your standards.
Lylah:
Me: I knew you would. I was just saying. Let’s talk about Valerie. Poor girl. Did you really have to fuck her up so bad? I know it’s a dark romance but fuck me. All your heroines in this series have seen some shit but damn. You went all out with Valerie. By the way, couldn’t you have fucked Valentin up a bit more? You should have given Viktor more time to really fuck him up. Or better yet, given Viktor time to call in the cavalry (Alessio and Lyov). Now that would have been great. What a bastard he was.
Lylah:
Me:Yes you’re right. Oh on another note. What the fuck is up with Maddie and Phoenix?
Lylah:
Me: I mean there’s some deep shit going on there. Are you going to tell us what or you’re just going to keep us guessing?
Lylah:
Me: Oh Okay. My bad. In the meantime, can you give me more hints on what the hell is going on with Nikolay and Evaline? That cliff-hanger was just too much. Can you give me something to wet my appetite?
Lylah:
Me: I guess I am. Thank you for spending time with me for a nutter. I’m going to go away and fantasise some more about Viktor and then I’m off to the shops to replace all the panties I ruined while reading this book. Thanks for that by the way.
I don’t know what Lylah smokes that she comes up with these stories; but I’m here for it. This is everything I’ve come to love and expect from her. It had me engaged from page one and left me reeling long after I closed the last page. I loved Ayla and Alessio’s story in the first three books, but I’ve got to say I think Viktor and Valerie’s are my favourite. As usual, the story is narrated from the main character’s perspective. So we got to see Viktor grow from a hardened man lurking in the shadows to a man after my own heart, while Valerie overcame the chains of her past and learnt to love herself and allow others to love her. I especially loved that the main characters from the previous books were a lot more involved. We get to see what they’ve been up to since we last saw them. It felt like a continuation of the last books... but not really. It’s an exquisite blend of the series while allowing some independence of each book. A story of forbidden love tainted with such ugliness, nurtured to bloom by unwavering committed- sending the reader on emotional rollercoaster; reaching into your heart and utterly and absolutely breaking it; before it soothes and moulds it back together with a delicious and hard-earned happily ever after. I didn’t pay much attention to Viktor before. I thought Alessio was hot but now…
Me::
TITLE: The Mafia And His Obsession: Part 2
AUTHOR: Lylah James
SERIES: Tainted Hearts #5
RELEASE DATE: 11 June 2019
CLIFFHANGER: Yes
ARC KINDLY PROVIDED FOR AN HONEST REVIEW
“You are the hope I never had. My demons are silent in your presence, and you make my angels dance in harmony”.
The Mafia and His Obsession Part 2 is book five of the Tainted Hearts Series. You absolutely have to read the last five books before you read this and believe me, it’s worth it. The plot and characters are greatly intertwined so you won’t enjoy it unless you read the first four books.
Oh my god
Oh my god
Oh my god
Oh my god
I’ve been breathlessly waiting for this book since that cliff-hanger in the last book. My reviews don’t contained spoilers so I thought I’d have a little fun with this one and present it as if I’m having a conversation with Lylah James. You’re lucky I finished it this way. Turned out to be a lot more work than I anticipated.
Me: oh my god, these cliff-hangers are going to be the death of me. Do you really have to do it? And then make us wait another year for the next release in 2020? Do you have any remorse for your readers?
Lylah:
Me: Alrighty then. So we know Viktor from all the previously books, Alessio's right-hand man; funny, sexy, dangerous, hot as hell, rich as sin and every girl’s wet-dream. We last left Viktor in quite a predicament after he learns that one of his female conquests means the world to the woman he loves. By the way, speaking of that last book, did you have to have him shot in the ass?
Lylah:
Me: Yeah no, you’re right. Don't answer that. Stupid question
Lylah:
Me: OOKKAAY! Moving on…As I was saying, what a mess Viktor’s life has become. Being borne of one family and dedicated to another. The rapport he had with Valentin had me reeling there for a minute, especially following that ass-shooting incident. Having sacrificed everything for Alessio and the family, don’t you think Alessio’s ultimatum was a bit fucked up?
Lylah:
Alessio Ivanshov was not a man to be trusted. As much as he liked to look into your eyes as your life faded away, he was also the type of man who wouldn’t shy away from striking you in the back if he had the opportunity”.
Me: I know. You said that in your book. But still...to ask that of your brother. I thought it was really fucked up. I know these Ivanshov men are ruthless underground men and shit, but damn. And you know how much I love Alessio but I'm with Viktor on this one. The fact that he knows what to do with a woman's body not withstanding. But since you brought it up... Ohh but that Viktor, child! *very very pervy sigh* lawd have mercy.
Lylah:
Me:
Anyway…I digress. Can I share with the readers’ some of the shit he got up to?
Lylah:
Me: alright aright, sheesh. You spend too much time with the Ivanshovs. All that violence. No spoilers then. Damn.
Girl, let me tell you… you sure know how to write a steamy sex scene…mmmhhh. I was in there with them. It was as if Viktor was touching me, kissing me…
Lylah:
Me:
Yeah…I heard that too. Sounded wrong even to me. You have to admit; you write some really fucked up, bloody, dangerous, violent terribly delicious things. And then throw in there some steamy sex just to gloss over the fucked up shit you wrote. I mean you made Viktor watch that shit with Valentin. What the Fuck Lylah! You have to admit, that’s a bit sadistic and fucked up-even by your standards.
Lylah:
Me: I knew you would. I was just saying. Let’s talk about Valerie. Poor girl. Did you really have to fuck her up so bad? I know it’s a dark romance but fuck me. All your heroines in this series have seen some shit but damn. You went all out with Valerie. By the way, couldn’t you have fucked Valentin up a bit more? You should have given Viktor more time to really fuck him up. Or better yet, given Viktor time to call in the cavalry (Alessio and Lyov). Now that would have been great. What a bastard he was.
Lylah:
Me:Yes you’re right. Oh on another note. What the fuck is up with Maddie and Phoenix?
Lylah:
Me: I mean there’s some deep shit going on there. Are you going to tell us what or you’re just going to keep us guessing?
Lylah:
Me: Oh Okay. My bad. In the meantime, can you give me more hints on what the hell is going on with Nikolay and Evaline? That cliff-hanger was just too much. Can you give me something to wet my appetite?
Lylah:
Me: I guess I am. Thank you for spending time with me for a nutter. I’m going to go away and fantasise some more about Viktor and then I’m off to the shops to replace all the panties I ruined while reading this book. Thanks for that by the way.
I don’t know what Lylah smokes that she comes up with these stories; but I’m here for it. This is everything I’ve come to love and expect from her. It had me engaged from page one and left me reeling long after I closed the last page. I loved Ayla and Alessio’s story in the first three books, but I’ve got to say I think Viktor and Valerie’s are my favourite. As usual, the story is narrated from the main character’s perspective. So we got to see Viktor grow from a hardened man lurking in the shadows to a man after my own heart, while Valerie overcame the chains of her past and learnt to love herself and allow others to love her. I especially loved that the main characters from the previous books were a lot more involved. We get to see what they’ve been up to since we last saw them. It felt like a continuation of the last books... but not really. It’s an exquisite blend of the series while allowing some independence of each book. A story of forbidden love tainted with such ugliness, nurtured to bloom by unwavering committed- sending the reader on emotional rollercoaster; reaching into your heart and utterly and absolutely breaking it; before it soothes and moulds it back together with a delicious and hard-earned happily ever after. I didn’t pay much attention to Viktor before. I thought Alessio was hot but now…
Me::
June 12, 2019
Danger, forbidden desires, betrayal and true love—TMAHO II has it all and more. I gasped out loud so many times reading this book. Lylah at her best!
June 5, 2019
➳ Rate: 4,5/ 5 stars
Goodness gracious, this woman does not play. Well, besides with our emotions, she does do a lot of that and she did it a lot in Viktor's books. I gotta say I survived a couple of heart attacks and many chapters spent in a deep anxiety over knowing the fate of this and that character.
Lylah never fails to amaze me with that plotting brain of hers. Her plots are full proof and filled with all the twists and turns that have my heart doing severe palpitations. She has given me the biggest 'WHAT? NO' 'PLEASE DON'T' 'OH GOD, NO NO NO' moments in all my bookworm history... she always always has a trick up her sleeve and will play it when you least expect it. Expect a lot of all that in this book. Lylah sure loves to make her readers suffer, whether it's leaving us hanging in the middle of an important meeting, whether it's not knowing for like 10 chapters whether a character is dead or not or you know just killing a character out of nowhere and making it a kind of emotional you were not expecting in the middle of all the chaos. Seriously, you will not make it through this book without suffering a little (or a lot if you're like me).
However, not all Lylah's strategies are 'negative' for us... if you've read her you know she gives the good stuff no matter how crazy things might get. Expect a lot of love and heat. Watching Viktor find and fall to his knees for his Mishka is nothing short of amazing. Getting to see him find what he always lusted after (and got jealous over) is out of this world. And just learning every little detail of how it come to be and how Fate played a hand in it all. And let's not forget how you learn secrets and things that tie to some of the other books. The details just freaking get to me. Just God, I applaud you Lylah James, I applaud you so hard! You are brilliant!
If you've read Alession and Ayla's story, you need to read Viktor and Valeries's too okay? You need to see and experience how deep their brotherhood is. Viktor and his Mishka have just as an amazing love story as Alessio and his Angel did - tragic, emotional and heartwrenchingly beautiful. Viktor was freaking brilliant! You get to see him fall, you get to see him weak and hurt and still he comes out on top. Things might not all go exactly to plan, he might get surprised left and right but he always finds a way to make the most of it and turn things back around in his favor. That man, even faced with the hardest choice of his life, managed to surprise us all, come out on top, get the cake and eat it too (well after a couple casualites along the way). You definitely get to experience how complex Viktor his, you get to be inside his brain and learn all his secrets and thoughts and most of see all his viciousness, his vileness for those who have wronged him and the ones he loves. He was so bada**. I digged it so much.
Lylah gave us some bread crumbs on Maddie and Phoenix but they tasted very bitter, specially knowing how long I'm gonna have to wait for their book since Nikolay and Evaline are next and only in 2020. My soul is weeping. The wait will feel like 87 years. But you know I am still excited for them as well, I mean each book is never just about the main characters, it's about all the Tainted Heart characters with surprise chapters in other character's povs (which I freaking love), where you get to see where they are at, both as person and as a couple, and also you get to see how every character plays a part in each other's life. I love that, I really loved to see both Viktor's friendship with the King but specially the Queen... I love the bond he has with Ayla.
The Mafia and his Obsession Part Two was beyond amazing. Lylah's writing continues to astonish me, she keeps getting better and better, her words are just poetic magic. If you're used to Lylah's writing and know what to expect from her others Tainted Heart books, know that more of that is coming your way, more of that times double! And if you're new to her, I will leave you with these parting words: Expect the unexpected.
➳ARC kindly provided by author, in exchange for an honest review.
➳ Order at: Amazon UK ⁕ Amazon US
➳ Follow me on: Blog ⁕ Instagram ⁕ Facebook ⁕ Twitter
Goodness gracious, this woman does not play. Well, besides with our emotions, she does do a lot of that and she did it a lot in Viktor's books. I gotta say I survived a couple of heart attacks and many chapters spent in a deep anxiety over knowing the fate of this and that character.
Lylah never fails to amaze me with that plotting brain of hers. Her plots are full proof and filled with all the twists and turns that have my heart doing severe palpitations. She has given me the biggest 'WHAT? NO' 'PLEASE DON'T' 'OH GOD, NO NO NO' moments in all my bookworm history... she always always has a trick up her sleeve and will play it when you least expect it. Expect a lot of all that in this book. Lylah sure loves to make her readers suffer, whether it's leaving us hanging in the middle of an important meeting, whether it's not knowing for like 10 chapters whether a character is dead or not or you know just killing a character out of nowhere and making it a kind of emotional you were not expecting in the middle of all the chaos. Seriously, you will not make it through this book without suffering a little (or a lot if you're like me).
However, not all Lylah's strategies are 'negative' for us... if you've read her you know she gives the good stuff no matter how crazy things might get. Expect a lot of love and heat. Watching Viktor find and fall to his knees for his Mishka is nothing short of amazing. Getting to see him find what he always lusted after (and got jealous over) is out of this world. And just learning every little detail of how it come to be and how Fate played a hand in it all. And let's not forget how you learn secrets and things that tie to some of the other books. The details just freaking get to me. Just God, I applaud you Lylah James, I applaud you so hard! You are brilliant!
If you've read Alession and Ayla's story, you need to read Viktor and Valeries's too okay? You need to see and experience how deep their brotherhood is. Viktor and his Mishka have just as an amazing love story as Alessio and his Angel did - tragic, emotional and heartwrenchingly beautiful. Viktor was freaking brilliant! You get to see him fall, you get to see him weak and hurt and still he comes out on top. Things might not all go exactly to plan, he might get surprised left and right but he always finds a way to make the most of it and turn things back around in his favor. That man, even faced with the hardest choice of his life, managed to surprise us all, come out on top, get the cake and eat it too (well after a couple casualites along the way). You definitely get to experience how complex Viktor his, you get to be inside his brain and learn all his secrets and thoughts and most of see all his viciousness, his vileness for those who have wronged him and the ones he loves. He was so bada**. I digged it so much.
Lylah gave us some bread crumbs on Maddie and Phoenix but they tasted very bitter, specially knowing how long I'm gonna have to wait for their book since Nikolay and Evaline are next and only in 2020. My soul is weeping. The wait will feel like 87 years. But you know I am still excited for them as well, I mean each book is never just about the main characters, it's about all the Tainted Heart characters with surprise chapters in other character's povs (which I freaking love), where you get to see where they are at, both as person and as a couple, and also you get to see how every character plays a part in each other's life. I love that, I really loved to see both Viktor's friendship with the King but specially the Queen... I love the bond he has with Ayla.
The Mafia and his Obsession Part Two was beyond amazing. Lylah's writing continues to astonish me, she keeps getting better and better, her words are just poetic magic. If you're used to Lylah's writing and know what to expect from her others Tainted Heart books, know that more of that is coming your way, more of that times double! And if you're new to her, I will leave you with these parting words: Expect the unexpected.
➳ARC kindly provided by author, in exchange for an honest review.
➳ Order at: Amazon UK ⁕ Amazon US
➳ Follow me on: Blog ⁕ Instagram ⁕ Facebook ⁕ Twitter
June 8, 2019
The Mafia & His Obsession Part 2 by @authorlylahjames.
What is it with me loving any mafia romance this woman writes? Well, you gotta give this book a massive surprise of your own to know the secret. TMAHO 2 continues where it left off previously with things becoming more cunning, vicious and dangerous for both Viktor and Valerie. These two have always been like a moth and flame. Trouble in paradise, eh? Leave it to this giant fucker to bring down each and everyone that stands in his way of LOVE! LOYALTY!
He loved hard. Desperately. Passionately. And that love didn't bring his downfall. It rose him up to something more vivacious. Valerie has always been a silent myshka, like a person who's pull is enough to bring down a man like Viktor on his knees. And she did it. Oh so beautifully. Graciously. We get glimpses of our favorite Uno couple Ayla and Aleksio and many more (Nik & Eva) too *wink wink*. Over all, TMAHO 2 has been a motherfucking riveting and a consuming read for me.
When I doubted even for a minute about how things will escalate from certain points, Lylah, being herself, pushed me fiercely to my own limitations. And I fell. Hard! Smack down!! It has Drama. Passion. Love. Revenge. Vengeance. Deceit. Lust. And a big gift hamper called *cliffhanger* packed by yours truly Lylah, herself. Mark my words. She'll be the death of me! ☠️
.
I have already read this story on Wattpad but received an ARC from @givemebookspr. Thank you so much ❤️
What is it with me loving any mafia romance this woman writes? Well, you gotta give this book a massive surprise of your own to know the secret. TMAHO 2 continues where it left off previously with things becoming more cunning, vicious and dangerous for both Viktor and Valerie. These two have always been like a moth and flame. Trouble in paradise, eh? Leave it to this giant fucker to bring down each and everyone that stands in his way of LOVE! LOYALTY!
He loved hard. Desperately. Passionately. And that love didn't bring his downfall. It rose him up to something more vivacious. Valerie has always been a silent myshka, like a person who's pull is enough to bring down a man like Viktor on his knees. And she did it. Oh so beautifully. Graciously. We get glimpses of our favorite Uno couple Ayla and Aleksio and many more (Nik & Eva) too *wink wink*. Over all, TMAHO 2 has been a motherfucking riveting and a consuming read for me.
When I doubted even for a minute about how things will escalate from certain points, Lylah, being herself, pushed me fiercely to my own limitations. And I fell. Hard! Smack down!! It has Drama. Passion. Love. Revenge. Vengeance. Deceit. Lust. And a big gift hamper called *cliffhanger* packed by yours truly Lylah, herself. Mark my words. She'll be the death of me! ☠️
.
I have already read this story on Wattpad but received an ARC from @givemebookspr. Thank you so much ❤️
June 12, 2019
The Mafia and His Obsession: Part 2 by Lylah James is filled with all the twists, turns, angst, obsession, pain, anger, loneliness, mind games and emotional feels. This story hit me in the heart while still weaving the dark mind games that Ms. James is known for with her stories.
Viktor and Valeria's story was one that will leave readers on pins and needles while also hitting them in the feels. Book 2 is the conclusion of their story and what a story theirs is. Make sure to bring tissues and don't make any plans to do anything. This book will keep you glued until you are completely finished. The chemistry, the heat, the rawness, the grit, the pain, the feels -- get ready for it all. Viktor will soon be your new favorite from this series!! Valeria- her story is one that let me broken but she is my new hero. This is such a beautiful story!!! I am sad there will not be any new stories until 2020 from this series but if it produces masterpieces like this..
My Rating: 4.8 stars *******
Viktor and Valeria's story was one that will leave readers on pins and needles while also hitting them in the feels. Book 2 is the conclusion of their story and what a story theirs is. Make sure to bring tissues and don't make any plans to do anything. This book will keep you glued until you are completely finished. The chemistry, the heat, the rawness, the grit, the pain, the feels -- get ready for it all. Viktor will soon be your new favorite from this series!! Valeria- her story is one that let me broken but she is my new hero. This is such a beautiful story!!! I am sad there will not be any new stories until 2020 from this series but if it produces masterpieces like this..
My Rating: 4.8 stars *******
September 29, 2020
this is the best book in the series so far. gave it a higher ranking bc of the ending and epilogue wowowowowowow
June 26, 2019
Worth the wait!!!!
Wow. Wow. Wow. I wished I could give this book 10 stars. I tried to read this book chapter by chapter on Wattpad, but I eventually gave up, because I could not deal with the angst. It was fate that I stumbled across this book today when I was searching for another book.
The series and characters were so imbedded in my soul that I remembered everything and I picked up right where I left off. Viktor and Valerie...sigh. My soul is happy!
Lylah James did not disappoint. I am a fan for life. I cannot wait for the next book in this series.
Wow. Wow. Wow. I wished I could give this book 10 stars. I tried to read this book chapter by chapter on Wattpad, but I eventually gave up, because I could not deal with the angst. It was fate that I stumbled across this book today when I was searching for another book.
The series and characters were so imbedded in my soul that I remembered everything and I picked up right where I left off. Viktor and Valerie...sigh. My soul is happy!
Lylah James did not disappoint. I am a fan for life. I cannot wait for the next book in this series.
June 8, 2019
Once again Lylah blows me away. With every book in this series, her writing evolves and it's so clear why she's become one of my favorite one-click authors. This is part two, so you do need to read the first part to get the full effect of Lylah's dark world.
I'm still reeling from the emotions that is so clear in James' writing. Her mafia men are both hot and dangerous. The pages are filled with suspense, as well as steam that will leave you needing more than just a cold shower.
I would recommend not only this book and the first part, but the whole series. Dip your toes into the world that's quickly becoming my favorite to get lost in--The Tainted Hearts Series.
I'm still reeling from the emotions that is so clear in James' writing. Her mafia men are both hot and dangerous. The pages are filled with suspense, as well as steam that will leave you needing more than just a cold shower.
I would recommend not only this book and the first part, but the whole series. Dip your toes into the world that's quickly becoming my favorite to get lost in--The Tainted Hearts Series.
May 18, 2021
3.5
Estos libros son muy adictivos
Estos libros son muy adictivos
August 31, 2020
Loved the book.
June 16, 2019
First things first, this book can't be read as a standalone, so be aware.
I strongly recommend to read TMHA trilogy in advance to fully enjoy Viktor's story.
ONE MORE THING TO NOTE: this book is dark, brutal and not for everyone, be aware, but you won't ever be disappointed that you read this book. Lylah James is a brilliant mafia romance author! And she showed us that twisted world in one of the most realistic ways.
So, let me tell you that I was totally consumed by this book. I was always intrigued by Viktor in previous books. His sense of humor and wit were always my favorite! We witnessed his fierce and funny side in TMHA and even in TMHO part 1. This book delivered a completely different side of Viktor and I cannot be happier, I love how Lylah showed us his good traits and bad at the same time, she fully explored his mind and soul! And it's almost impossible not to be fascinated by his character. Viktor and Valerie literally went through hell in this book and made out of it alive. I won't tell any spoilers in this review, but believe me, imagine your worst nightmare and double it in your mind. Needless to say that Valerie fascinated me as well. We met her in first part and automatically regarded her as a weak and broken girl who was through enough and simply could not take any more pain. And again Lylah showed us different side of Valerie, in this part, you will witness strong, unbreakable and wise Valerie. I sincerely liked her. I believe love strongly changed both characters and it was undoubtedly fascinating to read in a such detailed way of their emotions.
I'm simply in love with this book.
If you enjoy reading mafia romance, this series is for you.
Strongly recommended!
I strongly recommend to read TMHA trilogy in advance to fully enjoy Viktor's story.
ONE MORE THING TO NOTE: this book is dark, brutal and not for everyone, be aware, but you won't ever be disappointed that you read this book. Lylah James is a brilliant mafia romance author! And she showed us that twisted world in one of the most realistic ways.
So, let me tell you that I was totally consumed by this book. I was always intrigued by Viktor in previous books. His sense of humor and wit were always my favorite! We witnessed his fierce and funny side in TMHA and even in TMHO part 1. This book delivered a completely different side of Viktor and I cannot be happier, I love how Lylah showed us his good traits and bad at the same time, she fully explored his mind and soul! And it's almost impossible not to be fascinated by his character. Viktor and Valerie literally went through hell in this book and made out of it alive. I won't tell any spoilers in this review, but believe me, imagine your worst nightmare and double it in your mind. Needless to say that Valerie fascinated me as well. We met her in first part and automatically regarded her as a weak and broken girl who was through enough and simply could not take any more pain. And again Lylah showed us different side of Valerie, in this part, you will witness strong, unbreakable and wise Valerie. I sincerely liked her. I believe love strongly changed both characters and it was undoubtedly fascinating to read in a such detailed way of their emotions.
I'm simply in love with this book.
If you enjoy reading mafia romance, this series is for you.
Strongly recommended!
June 11, 2019
The Mafia and His Obsession: Part 2, is the continuation of the first part and book five of the Tainted Hearts series. It's a mafia romance that is unique like any other. After that cliffhanger from the first book, I didn't know what I was getting myself into.
Viktor and Valerie's story is an angsty one. It's forbidden, dramatic, scary and so hot. I never knew what was going to happen and I was basically on the edge of my seat the whole time. Watching these two overcome their struggles, make tough decisions between loyalty and love and become part of a love that was so beautifully tragic, made my heart so full. Lylah James continues to write stories that break the mafia romance stereotype, and while family and loyalty have always been a key aspect, James takes those two characteristics and evolved it into something more. The Tainted Hearts series focuses on two particular main characters, it doesn't deflect from the other characters and how this particular mafia family operates.
I applaud James for this story. Thank you, Lylah James, for continually giving us stories that make us feel more than we've wanted to. I definitely recommend this book and this series.
Viktor and Valerie's story is an angsty one. It's forbidden, dramatic, scary and so hot. I never knew what was going to happen and I was basically on the edge of my seat the whole time. Watching these two overcome their struggles, make tough decisions between loyalty and love and become part of a love that was so beautifully tragic, made my heart so full. Lylah James continues to write stories that break the mafia romance stereotype, and while family and loyalty have always been a key aspect, James takes those two characteristics and evolved it into something more. The Tainted Hearts series focuses on two particular main characters, it doesn't deflect from the other characters and how this particular mafia family operates.
I applaud James for this story. Thank you, Lylah James, for continually giving us stories that make us feel more than we've wanted to. I definitely recommend this book and this series.
August 26, 2019
Spanish:
“The Mafia And His Obsession: Part 2” de Lylah James pertenece a la serie “Tainted Hearts”. Otro romance dark con nuevos protagonistas, pero con personajes que aparecen en los anteriores libros. Por ello continua la venganza con estos sexis mafiosos y personajes dañados por el entorno en el que se hallan.
Viktor está luchando por desempeñar su papel como el fiel príncipe de Solonik, al mismo tiempo que se mantiene leal a la familia Ivanshov. Su creciente obsesión y sentimientos posesivos hacia Valerie sólo lo están distrayendo de su objetivo original. Valerie sigue siendo la prisionera mientras está empezando a sentir una sensación de esperanza.
Ha sido un final épico. Amo a Viktor igual que Alessio con todo mi corazón. Ósea la mente y las ideas que tiene este hombre es desbordante. Ella estuvo esplendida y se mantuvo fuerte en momentos en los que todo se fue a la mierda. Me hizo llorar cuando oyó por primera vez la voz de Viktor por que fue tan emotivo. Pero ese epilogo fue lo mejor del libro, no tenía motivos para imaginarme tal cosa. Y espero que en un futuro se den cuenta. Ya estoy deseando leer más libros de las diferentes parejas. Y por favor, el capítulo de Phoenix y Madie fue increible, necesito más de ellos.
⚜Rate: ★★★★★
English:
"The Mafia And His Obsession: Part 2" by Lylah James is part of the "Tainted Hearts" series. Another dark romance with new protagonists, but with characters that have appeared in previous books. So the revenge continues with these sexy mafia men and characters damaged by the environment in which they are.
Viktor is struggling to play his role as the faithful prince of Solonik while remaining loyal to the Ivanshov family. His growing obsession and possessive feelings towards Valerie are only distracting him from his original goal. Valerie continues being the prisoner as she begins to feel hope.
It was an epic ending. I love Viktor as much as Alessio with all my heart. The mind and ideas this man has are overflowing. She was splendid and kept strong at times when everything went to hell. She made me cry when she first heard Viktor's voice because it was so emotional. But that epilogue was the best thing in the book, I had no motive to imagine such a thing. And I hope that in the future they will realize it. I can't wait to read more of the different couples' books. Last but not least, the Phoenix and Madie chapter was incredible, I need more of them.
⚜Rate: ★★★★★
“The Mafia And His Obsession: Part 2” de Lylah James pertenece a la serie “Tainted Hearts”. Otro romance dark con nuevos protagonistas, pero con personajes que aparecen en los anteriores libros. Por ello continua la venganza con estos sexis mafiosos y personajes dañados por el entorno en el que se hallan.
Viktor está luchando por desempeñar su papel como el fiel príncipe de Solonik, al mismo tiempo que se mantiene leal a la familia Ivanshov. Su creciente obsesión y sentimientos posesivos hacia Valerie sólo lo están distrayendo de su objetivo original. Valerie sigue siendo la prisionera mientras está empezando a sentir una sensación de esperanza.
Ha sido un final épico. Amo a Viktor igual que Alessio con todo mi corazón. Ósea la mente y las ideas que tiene este hombre es desbordante. Ella estuvo esplendida y se mantuvo fuerte en momentos en los que todo se fue a la mierda. Me hizo llorar cuando oyó por primera vez la voz de Viktor por que fue tan emotivo. Pero ese epilogo fue lo mejor del libro, no tenía motivos para imaginarme tal cosa. Y espero que en un futuro se den cuenta. Ya estoy deseando leer más libros de las diferentes parejas. Y por favor, el capítulo de Phoenix y Madie fue increible, necesito más de ellos.
⚜Rate: ★★★★★
English:
"The Mafia And His Obsession: Part 2" by Lylah James is part of the "Tainted Hearts" series. Another dark romance with new protagonists, but with characters that have appeared in previous books. So the revenge continues with these sexy mafia men and characters damaged by the environment in which they are.
Viktor is struggling to play his role as the faithful prince of Solonik while remaining loyal to the Ivanshov family. His growing obsession and possessive feelings towards Valerie are only distracting him from his original goal. Valerie continues being the prisoner as she begins to feel hope.
It was an epic ending. I love Viktor as much as Alessio with all my heart. The mind and ideas this man has are overflowing. She was splendid and kept strong at times when everything went to hell. She made me cry when she first heard Viktor's voice because it was so emotional. But that epilogue was the best thing in the book, I had no motive to imagine such a thing. And I hope that in the future they will realize it. I can't wait to read more of the different couples' books. Last but not least, the Phoenix and Madie chapter was incredible, I need more of them.
⚜Rate: ★★★★★
June 3, 2019
Lylah James is one hell of a talented author. There is something special that happens when you read one of her books. She writes magic, and it blows me away. EVERY. DAMN. TIME.
James has a very distinct style of writing. It has musicality, tempo, rhythm. She uses pauses expertly. She uses breaks to her advantage. She uses punctuation to create an ambiance and a mood. She is one of the best authors out there when it comes to that. I kid you not. Her use of repetition also adds to the rhythmic writing of hers. She goes from smooth passages to sharp sentences in a heartbeat, and it creates something special.
There were SO many twists in this story. So many times where your head would spin and your heart would ache. There are hard scenes, but necessary scenes. Life isn’t just roses and rainbows. No, it’s heartache and hardship too. Lylah James brings us both in this book.
It wouldn’t be a Lylah James book if it wasn’t also super damn HAWT. Omg, the heat she brings into this book is OFF THE CHARTS. Like excise me while I blush on the train. *tilts kindle away from all passengers* This book is basically the full package.
Do yourself a favour and READ THIS BOOK! And if you haven’t read Lylah James yet, then what are you waiting for??
James has a very distinct style of writing. It has musicality, tempo, rhythm. She uses pauses expertly. She uses breaks to her advantage. She uses punctuation to create an ambiance and a mood. She is one of the best authors out there when it comes to that. I kid you not. Her use of repetition also adds to the rhythmic writing of hers. She goes from smooth passages to sharp sentences in a heartbeat, and it creates something special.
There were SO many twists in this story. So many times where your head would spin and your heart would ache. There are hard scenes, but necessary scenes. Life isn’t just roses and rainbows. No, it’s heartache and hardship too. Lylah James brings us both in this book.
It wouldn’t be a Lylah James book if it wasn’t also super damn HAWT. Omg, the heat she brings into this book is OFF THE CHARTS. Like excise me while I blush on the train. *tilts kindle away from all passengers* This book is basically the full package.
Do yourself a favour and READ THIS BOOK! And if you haven’t read Lylah James yet, then what are you waiting for??
October 25, 2020
Loved this book!! Absolutely loved it! Victor and Valerie’s story was sad and heartbreaking yet beautiful and healing! I am a huge lover of Mafia romance and Lylah James really knows how to write one. It’s got the good and evil aspect. It has the deep depth of depravity, yet it shows the human, passionate side of these amazing made men too. That’s what I love about these stories in this series. The men aren’t hard all of the time. They have their soft spots for their women and the children in their lives. I love that. Yet when their women and the children are in danger they will get as dark as they need to in order to protect them. Their family. I’m very excited for Nikolay and Evaline’s story. The little snippet in between Victor and Valerie’s story is gut wrenching and again at the end about killed me. I’m dying for their book!
June 13, 2025
She's mute, but not to him. Victor is cool, but I didn't like him as much.
It was sad to read the chapters where he wanted Ayla and was in love with her, but Ayla and Alessio were cool about it. I'm glad Alessio and Ayla found their happiness.
I so love the sweet relationship between Victor and Evaline - the way he calls her hedgehog is so beautiful.
I feel sorry for all those women in bondage.
They're kind of irresponsible. I knew right away that Valentine was no fool and would reveal them right away. I didn't like his blunt self-righteousness, even though it was clear from the beginning that Valentine had cameras everywhere.
I really want to read Phoenix and Maddie's story, for Maddie to heal from her past relationship and find her happiness.
I want a book about Evalyn and Nicholas! Why isn't it out yet?! Toward the end I was straight up intrigued, even though I know the author stopped writing.....
It was sad to read the chapters where he wanted Ayla and was in love with her, but Ayla and Alessio were cool about it. I'm glad Alessio and Ayla found their happiness.
I so love the sweet relationship between Victor and Evaline - the way he calls her hedgehog is so beautiful.
I feel sorry for all those women in bondage.
They're kind of irresponsible. I knew right away that Valentine was no fool and would reveal them right away. I didn't like his blunt self-righteousness, even though it was clear from the beginning that Valentine had cameras everywhere.
I really want to read Phoenix and Maddie's story, for Maddie to heal from her past relationship and find her happiness.
I want a book about Evalyn and Nicholas! Why isn't it out yet?! Toward the end I was straight up intrigued, even though I know the author stopped writing.....
September 17, 2020
In the conclusion of this series or at least this couple we have such a powerful story that is heartbreaking in many moments but it delivers a HEA for the couple so I was more than content with how it ended although it saddened me what happens towards the end. You need to put your guard up though or at least prepare yourself, I even read the ending first to make sure the characters I care the most about lived because at the end of the day its a suspenseful mafia romance. We truly see the darkness of this world and that is why Lylah James really highlights in here but what was even more powerful was in seeing that love does conquer all because this pair does have to really overcome so much to read their happy ending they both deserve.
July 5, 2019
I absolutely love this series! These books are dark with twists and turns that leave you reeling and keep you guessing. There is also so much passion and the characters never stop fighting for their happily ever after.
Viktor and Valerie really worm their way into your heart and have you pulling for them. I was sucked in from the very beginning and couldn't put it down!
If you haven't read any of the Tainted Hearts series, I highly recommend you start at the beginning with Alessio and Ayla in The Mafia and His Angel. You won't be disappointed! I can't wait for Nikolay and Evaline's book. I have a feeling it will be epic!
Viktor and Valerie really worm their way into your heart and have you pulling for them. I was sucked in from the very beginning and couldn't put it down!
If you haven't read any of the Tainted Hearts series, I highly recommend you start at the beginning with Alessio and Ayla in The Mafia and His Angel. You won't be disappointed! I can't wait for Nikolay and Evaline's book. I have a feeling it will be epic!
July 6, 2019
Okay, Woah... Just when I thought Ms. James had shown her best work, she goes and tops it with this beauty.
When I started Tainted Hearts, I wasn't 100% sure how I felt about it, but the end of book one came and I started reading into book two, I was beyond obsessed, and I had realized that the author had just been preparing me for what was to come, and boy it has been one hell of a ride.
The Mafia and His Obsession: Part 2 is the conclusion to Viktor and Valerie's story, and it was epic. It was pure perfection. This book came at me like a wrecking ball and shattered me with all the feels. It's definitely not for the faint of heart. It's not a romance you'd read to feel good... It's dark, It's twisted, it's a beautiful mindfuck... No other words can describe it... And I absolutely devoured it. Word by word, I just could not get enough.
I'm not about to dive into the entire book, I want people experiencing everything that transpired in this book and this series blind. You have to go in blind. But what I will say is, expected the unexpected. You will be thrown through SO MANY plot twists, so much intense and insane events that you will be left panting, trying to catch your breath. It truly is a masterpiece... and one thing I have learned from reading this series is don't give up so easily on a book, stick it out for more than you normally would because you'll be surprised that you may be missing out on something epic. Such as this author work.
6 Stars-- Because 5 just isn't enough!
When I started Tainted Hearts, I wasn't 100% sure how I felt about it, but the end of book one came and I started reading into book two, I was beyond obsessed, and I had realized that the author had just been preparing me for what was to come, and boy it has been one hell of a ride.
The Mafia and His Obsession: Part 2 is the conclusion to Viktor and Valerie's story, and it was epic. It was pure perfection. This book came at me like a wrecking ball and shattered me with all the feels. It's definitely not for the faint of heart. It's not a romance you'd read to feel good... It's dark, It's twisted, it's a beautiful mindfuck... No other words can describe it... And I absolutely devoured it. Word by word, I just could not get enough.
I'm not about to dive into the entire book, I want people experiencing everything that transpired in this book and this series blind. You have to go in blind. But what I will say is, expected the unexpected. You will be thrown through SO MANY plot twists, so much intense and insane events that you will be left panting, trying to catch your breath. It truly is a masterpiece... and one thing I have learned from reading this series is don't give up so easily on a book, stick it out for more than you normally would because you'll be surprised that you may be missing out on something epic. Such as this author work.
6 Stars-- Because 5 just isn't enough!
May 19, 2021
We finally have a happy ending for Viktor and Valerie, it took a long time but finally it was! I liked this book, but like all the previous books in this series it ends up getting so tiring of drama, and look that i am a person who loves good drama, but anyway i loved the couple they are very cute. Well, i don't have much more to say about this book.. but i had to say that i’m so anxious to Nikolay and Ev books, i can only think about them and this ending i just need to know what happened!
June 12, 2019
What can I say that I haven’t mentioned before, this book was Amazing 😉!! No Phenomenal!! The book starts with where it left off and let me say I was invested!! Gosh this book is soooooo good!! And the ending OMFG!! WTH!! I can’t wait for the next book of this epic series!!
May 20, 2021
This is what I signed up for . This is the content I deserve and signed up for
I enjoyed the series and this one made things better
I love the growth from Victor and I love love him and Valeries love
So beautiful ❤️
I enjoyed the series and this one made things better
I love the growth from Victor and I love love him and Valeries love
So beautiful ❤️
March 12, 2025
Oh boy, this was good. I wanted to read something with so much pain and torture because it made being saved by the hero that much better.
When her husband tortured her in front of Viktor, damn!
Some more imp quotes and moments:
The tears were long gone as I sat down, holding my knitting cloth and needle in my hand. Watching the sunset, I resumed my knitting.
As if nothing happened.
As if everything was perfect.
I was the perfect wife.
He was the perfect husband.
We were a perfect lie
Don’t go after the Queen. The King will follow
If there was someone who has never felt the brutality of his anger, that would be his Angel. His woman. His wife.
Just like they say…a King only bows down to his Queen.
Witnessing such a moment, the sudden pang in my heart almost made me flinch. I fucking hated it. Watching them together. Watching them be so in love
My body was cold, my hands ice as I listened to his words. The baby, an innocent child—Alessio and Ayla’s baby wasn’t even born yet—but his death was already being planned
I did the only thing I could.
I nodded.
I fucking nodded…to kill my brother’s baby.
But right now, I wish I could hear you. It hurts not being able to hear you.” Or the sound of your heartbeat.
Viktor’s eyes darkened, and our foreheads touched in a soothing way. “If I had the power to give you that wish, I would grant you it. Fuck, I would even cut my own arm off to give you this wish. I would leave a bloodbath behind me—just to give you this wish, myshka
Alessio waited. Silence hung between us. When I didn’t answer, he threw his head back and laughed. The room suddenly felt suffocating to me.
For the first time, I couldn’t understand Alessio.
“You sure have a thing for other men’s wives,” he said through his chuckles. “I guess like the saying goes, forbidden fruits taste better.”
Fuck you.
He made it sound like it was just that…sex. Like I used her. An emotionless affair.
“I sent Viktor there…because I realized that Valerie needed saving.”
Men like us, we are programmed this way. We are territorial, Angel. Once Viktor sees Valerie as his woman, he would do anything to protect her. We like to shed blood. We live for the adrenaline. But what we love more than shedding the blood of our enemies is seeing the smiles of our women.”
When her husband tortured her in front of Viktor, damn!
This is real, sweet myshka. I promise you.”
Tears filled my eyes, but I found myself smiling still. “You can read my mind now?”
“You are my woman. I can tell what you’re thinking and when you’re distressed.”
Oh God. There goes my little heart.
Some more imp quotes and moments:
The tears were long gone as I sat down, holding my knitting cloth and needle in my hand. Watching the sunset, I resumed my knitting.
As if nothing happened.
As if everything was perfect.
I was the perfect wife.
He was the perfect husband.
We were a perfect lie
Don’t go after the Queen. The King will follow
If there was someone who has never felt the brutality of his anger, that would be his Angel. His woman. His wife.
Just like they say…a King only bows down to his Queen.
Witnessing such a moment, the sudden pang in my heart almost made me flinch. I fucking hated it. Watching them together. Watching them be so in love
My body was cold, my hands ice as I listened to his words. The baby, an innocent child—Alessio and Ayla’s baby wasn’t even born yet—but his death was already being planned
I did the only thing I could.
I nodded.
I fucking nodded…to kill my brother’s baby.
But right now, I wish I could hear you. It hurts not being able to hear you.” Or the sound of your heartbeat.
Viktor’s eyes darkened, and our foreheads touched in a soothing way. “If I had the power to give you that wish, I would grant you it. Fuck, I would even cut my own arm off to give you this wish. I would leave a bloodbath behind me—just to give you this wish, myshka
Alessio waited. Silence hung between us. When I didn’t answer, he threw his head back and laughed. The room suddenly felt suffocating to me.
For the first time, I couldn’t understand Alessio.
“You sure have a thing for other men’s wives,” he said through his chuckles. “I guess like the saying goes, forbidden fruits taste better.”
Fuck you.
He made it sound like it was just that…sex. Like I used her. An emotionless affair.
“I sent Viktor there…because I realized that Valerie needed saving.”
Men like us, we are programmed this way. We are territorial, Angel. Once Viktor sees Valerie as his woman, he would do anything to protect her. We like to shed blood. We live for the adrenaline. But what we love more than shedding the blood of our enemies is seeing the smiles of our women.”
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