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Volkov Bratva #1
Second Best
I’m not beautiful or skinny.
I’m hated.
Always second best.
I was given to Slavik Ivanov, a deadly, fearsome man in the Volkov Bratva. Married into the world of the Bratva, I have to learn to survive. My husband doesn’t pay me attention, but the longer he ignores me, the longer I’ll live.
Trouble is brewing in the Volkov Bratva. It’s dangerous, and I know it’s only a matter of time before I’m killed because I’m the stranger. The enemy.
Slavik doesn’t love me. I’m nothing more than a duty to him. I’m an obligation, but when he finally notices me, his touches set me on fire.
Does he know I’m loyal to him? Or will he believe the orchestrated lies and finally get rid of the wife he never wanted?
My life is in his hands, and I fear I will never be the same again.
I’m hated.
Always second best.
I was given to Slavik Ivanov, a deadly, fearsome man in the Volkov Bratva. Married into the world of the Bratva, I have to learn to survive. My husband doesn’t pay me attention, but the longer he ignores me, the longer I’ll live.
Trouble is brewing in the Volkov Bratva. It’s dangerous, and I know it’s only a matter of time before I’m killed because I’m the stranger. The enemy.
Slavik doesn’t love me. I’m nothing more than a duty to him. I’m an obligation, but when he finally notices me, his touches set me on fire.
Does he know I’m loyal to him? Or will he believe the orchestrated lies and finally get rid of the wife he never wanted?
My life is in his hands, and I fear I will never be the same again.
295 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2021
384 people are currently reading
1042 people want to read
About the author
Sam Crescent
551 books5,504 followersSam Crescent is passionate about fiction. She loves a good erotic romance and so it only made sense for her to spread her wings and start writing. She began writing in 2009 and finally got that first acceptance in 2011 by Total-E-Bound.
She loved creating new characters and delving into the worlds that she creates. When she’s not panicking about a story or arguing with a character, she can be found in her kitchen creating all kinds of havoc. Like her stories the creations in the kitchen can be just as dubious but sometimes things turn out great.
She loved creating new characters and delving into the worlds that she creates. When she’s not panicking about a story or arguing with a character, she can be found in her kitchen creating all kinds of havoc. Like her stories the creations in the kitchen can be just as dubious but sometimes things turn out great.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews
September 12, 2021
this review may contain spoilers
2.5✨
‹ 21 years age-gap that surprised me. He is 40 and she is 19 at the beginning of the book but i really didn't care tbh.
› she is a virgin and he is a selfish lover....? It's an arranged marriage but the fact that he was more concerned about his own pleasure and not hers 👀
and about this, his friend Cara showed her how to feel pleasure touching her, making her have an orgasm etc but my issue was that this scene didn't make sense for me, cheating? idk.
› she is not “conventionally pretty” and all the time she was like "i'm ugly, i'm fat" i don't have friends, my life is so sad"(me too, bestie) I'm not gonna lie, she has a point but it was repetitive and annoyed me.
tbh, i read the blurb of this book and i was intrigued but i feel that the plot wasn't very well developed so good blurb.
2.5✨
‹ 21 years age-gap that surprised me. He is 40 and she is 19 at the beginning of the book but i really didn't care tbh.
› she is a virgin and he is a selfish lover....? It's an arranged marriage but the fact that he was more concerned about his own pleasure and not hers 👀
and about this, his friend Cara showed her how to feel pleasure touching her, making her have an orgasm etc but my issue was that this scene didn't make sense for me, cheating? idk.
› she is not “conventionally pretty” and all the time she was like "i'm ugly, i'm fat" i don't have friends, my life is so sad"(me too, bestie) I'm not gonna lie, she has a point but it was repetitive and annoyed me.
tbh, i read the blurb of this book and i was intrigued but i feel that the plot wasn't very well developed so good blurb.
September 10, 2021
*sigh*
i hated it and at the same time i liked it , i struggled to let it down anyway.
I loved and hated Slavik so many times during this book, but eventually he grew on me.
I can't believe him, i can't believe he never considerate her pleasure, i mean, come on, more than half way into it and they had 2 bad sex times in 10 months... that was so weird for me.
Also the Cara thing? i considerate it cheating, i hated that, she could've show her in a different way not actually touching her, i disliked that, i was so upset by that, but at the same time Slavik kind of deserved it for not giving her a good time.
Then i find it a little repetitive, i mean, a lot of stuffs are brought up over and over again , i get it, she isn't beautiful, she is fat, she is this and that but having a full on book about her degrading her self constantly i got really REALLY annoyed by that!!!
I really appreciate that they both weren't happy about the match, there wasn't any body betrayal LUCKILY and this is what it worked the most for me in this book. I liked how slowly and realistic they came together, how they went from being forced together to trying to get to know each others and finally seeing what is good in the other person, and ending up loving each others. I liked that aspect of this book.
Overall, it wasn't bad. I just had a hard time with the things i said above, BUT the fact that i didn't skip or DNF means it actually got my attention all the way. :)
Can't wait to read Ivan's ( even tho i kind of hate how he was all over Aurora all the times, i don't know maybe Sam should've match her with him LOL, i thought of that many times BUT at least i'm happy Aurora never act out of place with him. ) and i want Andrei's book ASAP
i hated it and at the same time i liked it , i struggled to let it down anyway.
I loved and hated Slavik so many times during this book, but eventually he grew on me.
I can't believe him, i can't believe he never considerate her pleasure, i mean, come on, more than half way into it and they had 2 bad sex times in 10 months... that was so weird for me.
Also the Cara thing? i considerate it cheating, i hated that, she could've show her in a different way not actually touching her, i disliked that, i was so upset by that, but at the same time Slavik kind of deserved it for not giving her a good time.
Then i find it a little repetitive, i mean, a lot of stuffs are brought up over and over again , i get it, she isn't beautiful, she is fat, she is this and that but having a full on book about her degrading her self constantly i got really REALLY annoyed by that!!!
I really appreciate that they both weren't happy about the match, there wasn't any body betrayal LUCKILY and this is what it worked the most for me in this book. I liked how slowly and realistic they came together, how they went from being forced together to trying to get to know each others and finally seeing what is good in the other person, and ending up loving each others. I liked that aspect of this book.
Overall, it wasn't bad. I just had a hard time with the things i said above, BUT the fact that i didn't skip or DNF means it actually got my attention all the way. :)
Can't wait to read Ivan's ( even tho i kind of hate how he was all over Aurora all the times, i don't know maybe Sam should've match her with him LOL, i thought of that many times BUT at least i'm happy Aurora never act out of place with him. ) and i want Andrei's book ASAP
October 11, 2025
Though the hero was an idiot it was good. It had angst and sad moments but I find it really tiresome that in every story I've read from this author so far the heroines are viewing theirselves like the last trash in the earth and they repeat it throughout the book until it gets annoying. I get they're fat or shy or ignored or whatever but it gets repetitive when it's mentioned every second page.
September 12, 2021
Honestly, I don't know what was wrong with me. I've read several (latest) Ms Crescent's books but none of it was really got it. And yet, I kept on picking her new book. Hoping and wishing that she would write an awesome book like she used to be. Thus, I gave this book 3 stars instead of 2.
The plot always seemed too weak or even the characters were too weak. I used to adore her earliest work. She used to be able to write some twists and a good melancholy book. Enough drama or angst but not that much that left the characters weak and instead it showed how strong and badass the characters were. Just like how adore her "Convicts" book. This one though was the last straw for me to pick her book.
So let us start with the plot, shall we?
So, Slavik, as the head honcho (or brigadier or capo or whatever it was) was forced to marry one of the daughters of the rival head honcho. The thing was this daughter, a.k.a Aurora the h, was the second-best. The ugly duckling. The sacrificial lamb that no one would miss. Unlike her sister, Aurora was meek, weak, and had no friends. Like at all. Zero friends. Not even the helpers at her house. Zilch.
My reaction exactly. Like how sheltered were you to have no friends at all? Granted, maybe her friends from school feared her family because, duh, she had a mafia family. But, come on. No one to talk to at all? Especially when things were bad at home. This was uber weird for me. I get it. The author wanted to make an extra dramatic effect for h's misery, but this was waaaayyy out of line. It didn't make sense. Surely she made a human interaction at some point. At least befriended the maid? No? driver then? still hard no? one of her dad's minions? one of the sellers she frequented to? I was grasping at straws here.
Okay, let's leave Aurora in her own pity party and loneliness and insecurity and all her issues. Let's move on to Slavik. Slavik, an orphan, toughened by mafia (bratva) life and life itself, was a hard cold man. Okay, maybe he marry Aurora because his boss told him so. And (maybe) deep down he feared for his life if he said no. Or maybe because he just simply didnt care who he married to. I don't know. But he didn't try his best to make his marriage work. He just wanted kids. Again, just because his boss told him so. A weird guy. And then suddenly, he changed his mind. He's attracted to Aurora at some point. But then again, I didn't see why. He saw Aurora as a meek and weak girl. Not his type. Okay maybe because one of his trusted people show his interest in Aurora, but then again, it was just a simple pissing contest. Just because another kid showed interest in his toys, he got mad. But afterwards, I didn't know why Slavik suddenly proclaimed that he was sexually attracted to Aurora, and even he said he's in love. Oh and he's actually completely misogynistic a**hole who disregard women let alone his wife feelings and perspectives.
People!! Things were just getting out of hand here!! Okay, that was two major things that I didn't get from the plot. Others were just too angsty and way too miserable for Aurora for me to mention (her family, acquaintances, and basically other people in the story). And no, Aurora was just there, accepting her fate. She didn't do anything to change her life. She just thought by doing nothing would help her cause. Which was, again, uber weird. I wondered how she kept insanity for this long. Girll....
And after all those whole rides of angst and misery and self-pity, the book was just telling us a glimpse of bratva life if none at all. Epicly disregard the title. And so I'm out!! No more Sam's book from here on.
Virgin h, celibate H
No condoms
Heavy drama, angst
No cheating
Dual PoV, 1st person
HFN (because I personally think that she will divorce his ass or vice versa once another interesting person came along)
Overall score: 2 misery stars
The plot always seemed too weak or even the characters were too weak. I used to adore her earliest work. She used to be able to write some twists and a good melancholy book. Enough drama or angst but not that much that left the characters weak and instead it showed how strong and badass the characters were. Just like how adore her "Convicts" book. This one though was the last straw for me to pick her book.
So let us start with the plot, shall we?
So, Slavik, as the head honcho (or brigadier or capo or whatever it was) was forced to marry one of the daughters of the rival head honcho. The thing was this daughter, a.k.a Aurora the h, was the second-best. The ugly duckling. The sacrificial lamb that no one would miss. Unlike her sister, Aurora was meek, weak, and had no friends. Like at all. Zero friends. Not even the helpers at her house. Zilch.
My reaction exactly. Like how sheltered were you to have no friends at all? Granted, maybe her friends from school feared her family because, duh, she had a mafia family. But, come on. No one to talk to at all? Especially when things were bad at home. This was uber weird for me. I get it. The author wanted to make an extra dramatic effect for h's misery, but this was waaaayyy out of line. It didn't make sense. Surely she made a human interaction at some point. At least befriended the maid? No? driver then? still hard no? one of her dad's minions? one of the sellers she frequented to? I was grasping at straws here.
Okay, let's leave Aurora in her own pity party and loneliness and insecurity and all her issues. Let's move on to Slavik. Slavik, an orphan, toughened by mafia (bratva) life and life itself, was a hard cold man. Okay, maybe he marry Aurora because his boss told him so. And (maybe) deep down he feared for his life if he said no. Or maybe because he just simply didnt care who he married to. I don't know. But he didn't try his best to make his marriage work. He just wanted kids. Again, just because his boss told him so. A weird guy. And then suddenly, he changed his mind. He's attracted to Aurora at some point. But then again, I didn't see why. He saw Aurora as a meek and weak girl. Not his type. Okay maybe because one of his trusted people show his interest in Aurora, but then again, it was just a simple pissing contest. Just because another kid showed interest in his toys, he got mad. But afterwards, I didn't know why Slavik suddenly proclaimed that he was sexually attracted to Aurora, and even he said he's in love. Oh and he's actually completely misogynistic a**hole who disregard women let alone his wife feelings and perspectives.
People!! Things were just getting out of hand here!! Okay, that was two major things that I didn't get from the plot. Others were just too angsty and way too miserable for Aurora for me to mention (her family, acquaintances, and basically other people in the story). And no, Aurora was just there, accepting her fate. She didn't do anything to change her life. She just thought by doing nothing would help her cause. Which was, again, uber weird. I wondered how she kept insanity for this long. Girll....
And after all those whole rides of angst and misery and self-pity, the book was just telling us a glimpse of bratva life if none at all. Epicly disregard the title. And so I'm out!! No more Sam's book from here on.
Virgin h, celibate H
No condoms
Heavy drama, angst
No cheating
Dual PoV, 1st person
HFN (because I personally think that she will divorce his ass or vice versa once another interesting person came along)
Overall score: 2 misery stars
January 14, 2022
2.5 stars but rounded down for Aurora being the most depressing character I think I've ever read.
I'm beginning to think SC had a very hateful, abusive, or traumatic upbringing. Maybe she needs some therapy and healing. I don't know why it seems so many of her heroines are unloved by their family, they have no friends, everyone dislikes them, they are chubby and ugly, and super insecure almost agreeing they should be treated like shit.
This was one of the worst. It was longer than her usual books, which I was happy about. I was excited by it being a bratva tale since she does psycho mobsters well, but poor Aurora was just a fucking doormat. It really was so unrealistic the amount of people who backstabbed Aurora or treated her like shit that wasn't worthy of love. It was just super depressing.
It wasn't insta-love. It took 10 months for Slavik and Aurora to start being friendly and sleeping together, but it wasn't really a romantic build up either. It was more detached and confusing. Slavik started not minding his wife's company but didn't know why. Aurora could barely stand him and could never believe he liked her or found her attractive. It seemed to keep droning the same thing on and on and became tiresome.
I'm beginning to think SC had a very hateful, abusive, or traumatic upbringing. Maybe she needs some therapy and healing. I don't know why it seems so many of her heroines are unloved by their family, they have no friends, everyone dislikes them, they are chubby and ugly, and super insecure almost agreeing they should be treated like shit.
This was one of the worst. It was longer than her usual books, which I was happy about. I was excited by it being a bratva tale since she does psycho mobsters well, but poor Aurora was just a fucking doormat. It really was so unrealistic the amount of people who backstabbed Aurora or treated her like shit that wasn't worthy of love. It was just super depressing.
It wasn't insta-love. It took 10 months for Slavik and Aurora to start being friendly and sleeping together, but it wasn't really a romantic build up either. It was more detached and confusing. Slavik started not minding his wife's company but didn't know why. Aurora could barely stand him and could never believe he liked her or found her attractive. It seemed to keep droning the same thing on and on and became tiresome.
August 8, 2022
Wow..this heroine really went thru the ringer,I felt sorry for her :(
How can anyone be put thru what she went through with her own family no less.
This was my first Sam Crescent read in a very long time,I liked it.
How can anyone be put thru what she went through with her own family no less.
This was my first Sam Crescent read in a very long time,I liked it.
October 26, 2024
4- ⭐⭐⭐⭐
===========
Good story that kept me interested. Early on I found out who the traitor was. It was obvious.
===========
Good story that kept me interested. Early on I found out who the traitor was. It was obvious.
March 14, 2023
Ok
Nothing to write home about
Nothing to write home about
March 21, 2023
Man, I LOOOOOVE a cruel, cold, ruthless hero, who slowly melts under the power of the heroine’s gentleness and innocence and THIS HAD THAT!! The hero is a total ASSHOLE from the beginning, he’s callous and cruel to the heroine and it takes some time for him to start melting for the heroine, but when he does—SWOON!!! He is insanely jealous and possessive over the heroine and he’s not afraid to kill for her. He fights his feelings for her, but it’s a losing battle.
The only thing I didn’t care for was the slimy, sociopathic prostitute touching the heroine and bringing her to orgasm. I thought it was gross and unnecessary, a betrayal to her vows, and who the fuck knows where her slimy hands have been? The heroine was too good and sweet to have been exposed to her and the whole scene was a giant “yuck.”
Everything else was pretty good tho. There’s lots of OW drama, which the hero doesn’t reciprocate, some OM drama, also not reciprocated and the heroine is attacked. There’s also lots of mention of physical abuse by a parent. And since this is a SC mafia book, plenty of violence and gore.
Safeish. Hero’s past is mentioned, he was a manwhore before the heroine but is faithful after meeting her. Heroine is a virgin and belongs only to the hero, even tho she is touched by a hooker who shows her how to achieve an orgasm. No cheating or sharing or abuse between MCs. HEA with epilogue
The only thing I didn’t care for was the slimy, sociopathic prostitute touching the heroine and bringing her to orgasm. I thought it was gross and unnecessary, a betrayal to her vows, and who the fuck knows where her slimy hands have been? The heroine was too good and sweet to have been exposed to her and the whole scene was a giant “yuck.”
Everything else was pretty good tho. There’s lots of OW drama, which the hero doesn’t reciprocate, some OM drama, also not reciprocated and the heroine is attacked. There’s also lots of mention of physical abuse by a parent. And since this is a SC mafia book, plenty of violence and gore.
Safeish. Hero’s past is mentioned, he was a manwhore before the heroine but is faithful after meeting her. Heroine is a virgin and belongs only to the hero, even tho she is touched by a hooker who shows her how to achieve an orgasm. No cheating or sharing or abuse between MCs. HEA with epilogue
August 14, 2023
I really liked this one, but it ran too long and there wasn't NEARLY enough sex. When you look at other SC books, there's a good amount, but this one was lacking for me.
Aurora (virgin, Italian mafia) is forced to marry Slavik (killer, Russian mafia) in order to have peace between the two groups. Aurora is considered the fat and ugly one in her family and therefore, second best. Slavik doesn't care for her but is still doing his duty, which was ordered by the head honcho, Ivan. The night of the wedding, he takes her to the house and f*cks her without love, kissing, or passion. Months and months go by and slowly they start to care about each other. In the end they fall in love and get their HEA. There's other drama but I don't want to spoil it for you.
SC writes this same character in a LOT of her books. The heroine is overweight, has been abused or neglected, isn't considered "beautiful", etc. I'm used to it. This time though we spend at least 10 chapters worth of Aurora talking about how she's never been beautiful and how fat and ugly she thinks she is. We get it. That's what made this book so long. SC just kept repeating the same thing over and over.
That said - I still really liked the story. I'm super excited to read the next one, but it's not in my library so I'm debating on purchasing it.
I'm also won over because Slavik is a perfect Russian sex god. I want him for my own. Yummy.
Aurora (virgin, Italian mafia) is forced to marry Slavik (killer, Russian mafia) in order to have peace between the two groups. Aurora is considered the fat and ugly one in her family and therefore, second best. Slavik doesn't care for her but is still doing his duty, which was ordered by the head honcho, Ivan. The night of the wedding, he takes her to the house and f*cks her without love, kissing, or passion. Months and months go by and slowly they start to care about each other. In the end they fall in love and get their HEA. There's other drama but I don't want to spoil it for you.
SC writes this same character in a LOT of her books. The heroine is overweight, has been abused or neglected, isn't considered "beautiful", etc. I'm used to it. This time though we spend at least 10 chapters worth of Aurora talking about how she's never been beautiful and how fat and ugly she thinks she is. We get it. That's what made this book so long. SC just kept repeating the same thing over and over.
That said - I still really liked the story. I'm super excited to read the next one, but it's not in my library so I'm debating on purchasing it.
I'm also won over because Slavik is a perfect Russian sex god. I want him for my own. Yummy.
July 5, 2025
Put your trust in me
This book has some of my favorites hidden between the pages! A Bratva romance, an emotionally distant, over the top alpha male, and an innocent who is more than capable of navigating shark infested waters, but is a novice with issues of the heart. I enjoyed the gentle buildup of their relationship, and I adore what it seems Ivan, and the author, have in the works for all the men of the Bratva. I can’t wait to see what happens as each one of them fall for their own HEA. The author kept the story moving with action and danger, and a twist that I never saw coming. This book is a fantastic debut into the world of the Bratva.
This book has some of my favorites hidden between the pages! A Bratva romance, an emotionally distant, over the top alpha male, and an innocent who is more than capable of navigating shark infested waters, but is a novice with issues of the heart. I enjoyed the gentle buildup of their relationship, and I adore what it seems Ivan, and the author, have in the works for all the men of the Bratva. I can’t wait to see what happens as each one of them fall for their own HEA. The author kept the story moving with action and danger, and a twist that I never saw coming. This book is a fantastic debut into the world of the Bratva.
March 13, 2023
2.5 stars
This felt really long. It was too repetitive throughout especially the heroine’s constant inner turmoil about no one liking her and always being second best. No one is 100% anything and when authors rigidly adhere to these notions it takes away all nuance to the characters. Characters don’t have to be caricatures of good or evil to serve their purpose.
This had decent potential but it just didn’t quite make the hurdle. When it wasn’t being repetitive it was actively contradicting itself. One moment H was having warm and fuzzy thoughts about h to turn around and be completely dismissive of her. Talk about whiplash. Same with h, one moment completely submissive, depressed and repressed and the next she’s reading him the riot act.
They have sex a couple times in the first half of the book but it’s super underwhelming. She’s doing it 100% out of duty and he can’t be bothered to make it good for her at all for no particular reason. Finally the female brothel owner fingers the h to orgasm and shows H a video. Mind you he literally killed h’a guard for kissing her but this he lets slide. All the sex after 47% is pretty typical for a romance novel.
Virgin h
Manwhore H
No push away from either but both are AGGRESSIVELY apathetic about each other for a good portion of the book
Mild OW/OM drama
No separation
HEA
Safety - so the brothel owner does finger h to orgasm and videos it to shame H. It’s not really a sexy thing and we see it through H watching video. I don’t really consider it cheating but it’s a weird thing for sure. The h’s guard kisses her and then is murdered by H. He’d been trying to get with h but she wasn’t interested.
H tells h if he wants to fuck OW she will have to deal with it at one point but he never does. He’s not even with OW when he and h aren’t really having sex in the beginning. It’s just super obnoxious that he was like that with her. I think at some point he tells her he won’t do that but I can’t remember for sure. We know he won’t though but ugh. Mafia dudes are ridiculous.
This felt really long. It was too repetitive throughout especially the heroine’s constant inner turmoil about no one liking her and always being second best. No one is 100% anything and when authors rigidly adhere to these notions it takes away all nuance to the characters. Characters don’t have to be caricatures of good or evil to serve their purpose.
This had decent potential but it just didn’t quite make the hurdle. When it wasn’t being repetitive it was actively contradicting itself. One moment H was having warm and fuzzy thoughts about h to turn around and be completely dismissive of her. Talk about whiplash. Same with h, one moment completely submissive, depressed and repressed and the next she’s reading him the riot act.
They have sex a couple times in the first half of the book but it’s super underwhelming. She’s doing it 100% out of duty and he can’t be bothered to make it good for her at all for no particular reason. Finally the female brothel owner fingers the h to orgasm and shows H a video. Mind you he literally killed h’a guard for kissing her but this he lets slide. All the sex after 47% is pretty typical for a romance novel.
Virgin h
Manwhore H
No push away from either but both are AGGRESSIVELY apathetic about each other for a good portion of the book
Mild OW/OM drama
No separation
HEA
Safety - so the brothel owner does finger h to orgasm and videos it to shame H. It’s not really a sexy thing and we see it through H watching video. I don’t really consider it cheating but it’s a weird thing for sure. The h’s guard kisses her and then is murdered by H. He’d been trying to get with h but she wasn’t interested.
H tells h if he wants to fuck OW she will have to deal with it at one point but he never does. He’s not even with OW when he and h aren’t really having sex in the beginning. It’s just super obnoxious that he was like that with her. I think at some point he tells her he won’t do that but I can’t remember for sure. We know he won’t though but ugh. Mafia dudes are ridiculous.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2022
I honestly had low expectations, but I still managed to be annoyed with this book. Is this is what I get for trying to satiate my morbid curiousity by dipping my toes into one of many 'dark romance' subgenre, a.k.a mafia romances?
I spent most of the time reading this book looking like this:
The 'angst' of this book (which honestly was what I was here for) became too much like graitutious emotional porn just to amp up what miserable life poor our heroine Aurora has. But between the shallow characterisation, underdeveloped, flimsy plot and implausible rapid heel-face-turn of our main couple into insta love makes seriously reconsider touching anything from this author or genre.
I wished she just ended up with either Ivan or Sergei, hell just figured out a way to leave this wretched life and find happiness with anyone *but* this massive controlling douchebag (who was just the worst, hate him. No redeeming qualities what so ever).
I spent most of the time reading this book looking like this:
The 'angst' of this book (which honestly was what I was here for) became too much like graitutious emotional porn just to amp up what miserable life poor our heroine Aurora has. But between the shallow characterisation, underdeveloped, flimsy plot and implausible rapid heel-face-turn of our main couple into insta love makes seriously reconsider touching anything from this author or genre.
I wished she just ended up with either Ivan or Sergei, hell just figured out a way to leave this wretched life and find happiness with anyone *but* this massive controlling douchebag (who was just the worst, hate him. No redeeming qualities what so ever).
January 7, 2022
⭐️⭐️ two stars -
Was drawn to this one cause I’m a sucker for Bratva romances. This one was a slight disappointment, but overall not too horrible.
Two stars due to the nonstop self depreciating internal monologue from the heroine. It just became too repetitive and annoying.
Overall, a light read for Bratva fans. Typical of what you’d expect with sexy times and a hot alpha.
Two star read due to the writing capabilities of Sam Crescent.
Was drawn to this one cause I’m a sucker for Bratva romances. This one was a slight disappointment, but overall not too horrible.
Two stars due to the nonstop self depreciating internal monologue from the heroine. It just became too repetitive and annoying.
Overall, a light read for Bratva fans. Typical of what you’d expect with sexy times and a hot alpha.
Two star read due to the writing capabilities of Sam Crescent.
January 18, 2024
Slavik is a brigadier honour-bound to marry Aurora to form an alliance between the Bratva and Mafia. Like so many things in her life, she was the spare. The afterthought. She believes the real woman he probably wants is her sister, Isabella. The beautiful one. The one her father couldn’t bear to sacrifice to the disgusting Bratva bastards.
Aurora Fredo, the second daughter, the ugly duckling, she was the one given up freely. She’s been overlooked her entire life. She was the one they didn’t invite to parties, it was something she’d grown used to.Her family was worse. She was the embarrassment. When they went to dinners, she was placed so far away from them, people had no idea of her existence.
On her wedding day, men offered their condolences to the man who stood before her.
Her family had all but dismissed her from their lives.
Aurora, can I ask you a question?” Ivan asked.
“Were you liked at home?”
“Why? Is this to punish me for what my father did?”
“Were you respected? Loved? Liked?”
“Mr. Volkov, people didn’t even know I existed, and if they did, they made me very much aware of just how unimportant I was.”
Her family is utterly despicable. She’s been devoid of attention even as a child. She was never good enough. Her mother would tell her to leave the kids alone. If they didn’t want to play with her, then maybe there was something wrong with her. She spent her time in the shadows watching all the fun happening, knowing she would never be part of it. The shopping trips. She watched Isabella get invited. OFTEN‼️She would be nearby, but no one extended an invitation by extension; so she stopped trying to be involved.
No one wanted her. No one liked her.
Aurora’s marriage to Slavik cements Ivan’s place. He wanted the treaty in place to add power in warding off attacks but also to overpower the Italian mafia.
There was no love, nor was there any passion. She’s kind, sweet, even when the world treats her with utter disdain and disrespect. Even knowing her father abused her. Her calculating sister caused her harm, she still tried to help.
Marriage was a duty, an alliance.
The early part of their marriage was a nightmare, she was an utter doormat, a sacrificial lamb. There was no love, not even conversation. They coexisted in the same space.
Now, nearly ten months together, they’d changed. They spoke, made love, f-d, and spent time together. Not just for the cameras either, or the spies. She enjoyed his company. He didn’t scare her. She never believed he’d hurt her, not really. The threat was obviously always there, but it had nothing to do with him.
All her life she’d been overlooked, passed over, treated like second-best.
Vik, the strong, powerful man turns out to be a sweet protector and redeems himself. Aurora having mentally been reduced to virtually no self-worth and disdain by her family just about by everyone she’d met, inwardly struggles with the deluge of cruelty dealt by the opportunistic females in their circles.
Their firstborn - Slavik Ivan Ivanov
Their little girl - Hope
Their other son - Ivan Slavik Ivanov
He’s used the same names twice, what will he name his other sons?
The threat is easily eradicated.
Aurora Fredo, the second daughter, the ugly duckling, she was the one given up freely. She’s been overlooked her entire life. She was the one they didn’t invite to parties, it was something she’d grown used to.Her family was worse. She was the embarrassment. When they went to dinners, she was placed so far away from them, people had no idea of her existence.
On her wedding day, men offered their condolences to the man who stood before her.
Her family had all but dismissed her from their lives.
Aurora, can I ask you a question?” Ivan asked.
“Were you liked at home?”
“Why? Is this to punish me for what my father did?”
“Were you respected? Loved? Liked?”
“Mr. Volkov, people didn’t even know I existed, and if they did, they made me very much aware of just how unimportant I was.”
Her family is utterly despicable. She’s been devoid of attention even as a child. She was never good enough. Her mother would tell her to leave the kids alone. If they didn’t want to play with her, then maybe there was something wrong with her. She spent her time in the shadows watching all the fun happening, knowing she would never be part of it. The shopping trips. She watched Isabella get invited. OFTEN‼️She would be nearby, but no one extended an invitation by extension; so she stopped trying to be involved.
No one wanted her. No one liked her.
Aurora’s marriage to Slavik cements Ivan’s place. He wanted the treaty in place to add power in warding off attacks but also to overpower the Italian mafia.
There was no love, nor was there any passion. She’s kind, sweet, even when the world treats her with utter disdain and disrespect. Even knowing her father abused her. Her calculating sister caused her harm, she still tried to help.
Marriage was a duty, an alliance.
The early part of their marriage was a nightmare, she was an utter doormat, a sacrificial lamb. There was no love, not even conversation. They coexisted in the same space.
Now, nearly ten months together, they’d changed. They spoke, made love, f-d, and spent time together. Not just for the cameras either, or the spies. She enjoyed his company. He didn’t scare her. She never believed he’d hurt her, not really. The threat was obviously always there, but it had nothing to do with him.
All her life she’d been overlooked, passed over, treated like second-best.
Vik, the strong, powerful man turns out to be a sweet protector and redeems himself. Aurora having mentally been reduced to virtually no self-worth and disdain by her family just about by everyone she’d met, inwardly struggles with the deluge of cruelty dealt by the opportunistic females in their circles.
Their firstborn - Slavik Ivan Ivanov
Their little girl - Hope
Their other son - Ivan Slavik Ivanov
He’s used the same names twice, what will he name his other sons?
The threat is easily eradicated.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2025
This author really loves to make her FMC’s super downtrodden. Smdh. This book was longer than her usual short fast paced ones and while it dragged on all the pity partying of the FMC I couldn’t put it down.
I loved the HEA and that’s what made this a four star book. Otherwise, it was an okay story with a super sweet epilogue. Enjoy.
I loved the HEA and that’s what made this a four star book. Otherwise, it was an okay story with a super sweet epilogue. Enjoy.
January 14, 2026
I have a love/loathe/ehhh relationship with Sam Crescent books but I really liked this one and I'm tempted to buy the rest of the series 😅
October 23, 2022
The couple: Slavik and Aurora
Romance trope: mafia
Series: Volkov Bratva
Length: 295 pages
Plot: Slavik was being forced to marry the daughter of a rival mafia, in order to keep the peace. They give him the "second best," though - the daughter they consider ugly and fat and inadequate. Slavik married her even though it was an insult, and they started their married life with less than a bang. They didn't spend much time together and only had very lackluster sex a couple of times. Eventually, though, Slavik begins to see the value in his wife, but did he leave it too late?
Commentary: This is a typical Sam Crescent story, with a fat, ugly, meek, unloved, and ignored heroine. It's actually becoming a problem for me - all her heroines are essentially the same. However, what was different was the hero in this story. Most heroes are gorgeous specimens who know their way around women front and back. Slavik might have been skilled in the bedroom, but if he was, he sure never showed Aurora. He didn't even try, to the point that Aurora thought sex was supposed to be that way until a friend (madam) of Slavik's showed her (yes, actually physically showed her by making out with her) that she could get actually pleasure from sexual activity. A lot of this author's stories could be longer, but I think this one could have actually been shorter, as in less angst about the so-called ugliness of this horribly unloved heroine. It was a drag after a while.
Also, he made sure to let her know, multiple times, that he might still kill her:
Grammar/formatting: typical weirdly passive and awkward sentences
Romance trope: mafia
Series: Volkov Bratva
Length: 295 pages
Plot: Slavik was being forced to marry the daughter of a rival mafia, in order to keep the peace. They give him the "second best," though - the daughter they consider ugly and fat and inadequate. Slavik married her even though it was an insult, and they started their married life with less than a bang. They didn't spend much time together and only had very lackluster sex a couple of times. Eventually, though, Slavik begins to see the value in his wife, but did he leave it too late?
Commentary: This is a typical Sam Crescent story, with a fat, ugly, meek, unloved, and ignored heroine. It's actually becoming a problem for me - all her heroines are essentially the same. However, what was different was the hero in this story. Most heroes are gorgeous specimens who know their way around women front and back. Slavik might have been skilled in the bedroom, but if he was, he sure never showed Aurora. He didn't even try, to the point that Aurora thought sex was supposed to be that way until a friend (madam) of Slavik's showed her (yes, actually physically showed her by making out with her) that she could get actually pleasure from sexual activity. A lot of this author's stories could be longer, but I think this one could have actually been shorter, as in less angst about the so-called ugliness of this horribly unloved heroine. It was a drag after a while.
Also, he made sure to let her know, multiple times, that he might still kill her:
“If Mr. Volkov told you to, would you kill me? If the treaty became voided for whatever reason, you’d kill me dead. Even if I was the mother of your children?” I didn’t know where the question came from. My parents said my curiosity would get me killed, and it would seem today was going to be that day. “I will kill you, if I have to. Be loyal to us and our cause, and you live in peace at my side.” As a response, it wasn’t very reassuring.
Grammar/formatting: typical weirdly passive and awkward sentences
January 16, 2022
Aurora is always treated like she's second best. Her beautiful sister was set on a pedestal and Aurora was traded to Slavic on a treaty. She has serious self confidence issues. I didn't understand why so many girls hated her when her character was supposed to be kind and gentle. A cute story about how the bratva brigadier falls for the fat ugly second best sister.
September 7, 2021
5**
Absolutely fantastic Sam! You have threw the ball out the park with this book. Loved it from start to finish. Slavik I loved him then I hated him then I loved him again. As for Aurora she was just the sweetest women ever!!! Well done Sam 👏
Absolutely fantastic Sam! You have threw the ball out the park with this book. Loved it from start to finish. Slavik I loved him then I hated him then I loved him again. As for Aurora she was just the sweetest women ever!!! Well done Sam 👏
November 13, 2022
A interesting first book of this series. The Bratva stories are mostly always going to have the main character as a hard arse with harsh words but I have to say the author did a pretty convincing job writing Slavik’s character as a complete hard and utter asehole. Because he definitely was. However you start to see another side of him but only towards his wife. The storyline was definitely intriguing but emotional as well. Vik had a hard life as well but was exactly what you expect someone in the Bratva to be like. Aurora was complete opposite, like night and day. Vik as black as night, and Aurora as warm and light as day. But together Vik and Aurora grew and together they made an interesting couple. After my initial thoughts of Slavik, it got better and really entertaining with a slight twist. Overall an enjoyable read.
August 26, 2024
I was good but a little too long. I felt that some of it was repeated especially when it came to Aurora’s self-doubt. To be fair it was a good story and I liked them together. I might not have liked that Cara had to point out to Slavik where it was going wrong but I got them to where they needed to be.
September 14, 2021
3.5!
I seemed odd to me that it took them half the book to start having pleasurable sex. And even then she was disappointed about him not being affectionate enough post sex. It just took them an awful lot of time to warm to each other. Whereas from the start of the book the H’s boss had shown interest and attraction towards the h. It would have been more valid to put them together. But the story and plot progression was still good. Despite the lack of emotion at the start, it still felt organic, the way their
relationship progressed. It was good see the H being patient with the h’s insecurities. I liked it enough to
enjoy the read. I am not fan of age gap so I mostly ignored the big age difference.
I’d like to read Andrei and Adelaide’s story.
I seemed odd to me that it took them half the book to start having pleasurable sex. And even then she was disappointed about him not being affectionate enough post sex. It just took them an awful lot of time to warm to each other. Whereas from the start of the book the H’s boss had shown interest and attraction towards the h. It would have been more valid to put them together. But the story and plot progression was still good. Despite the lack of emotion at the start, it still felt organic, the way their
relationship progressed. It was good see the H being patient with the h’s insecurities. I liked it enough to
enjoy the read. I am not fan of age gap so I mostly ignored the big age difference.
I’d like to read Andrei and Adelaide’s story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2021
So you're telling me that this chick's whole life she has never met a girl who didn't care for how 'fat' she was? WHAT A LOAD OF BULLSHIT.
Literally, every girl she met was mean to her and a slut for slavik. SO ORIGINAL. NOT LAUGHABLY FAKE AT ALL.
Literally, every girl she met was mean to her and a slut for slavik. SO ORIGINAL. NOT LAUGHABLY FAKE AT ALL.
September 9, 2021
I enjoyed this more than I have expected
Read
September 9, 2021Angsti iyiydi...kapak... gözüme gozukmesin ama orta derece
September 7, 2023
4.25-4.5 stars 🌟
Was this worthy of 4.5 stars? That’s debatable 😂 I really don’t care tho, I had fun reading this and I couldn’t put it down!!
Was this worthy of 4.5 stars? That’s debatable 😂 I really don’t care tho, I had fun reading this and I couldn’t put it down!!
April 8, 2025
I went into this book with no expectations and read it for fun.
This book is so chaotic and it didn’t really have a structured storyline.
It wasn’t great but I also couldn’t stop reading it, so idk what that says about me 😂
This book is so chaotic and it didn’t really have a structured storyline.
It wasn’t great but I also couldn’t stop reading it, so idk what that says about me 😂
September 28, 2021
Sorry you're seeing this again- I accidentally deleted my previous review. ooph.
Anyway basically this one worked for me. However this is full on, unrepentant, Bratva mafia violence and underworld overlords. The lead is fairly hardcore yet somehow ends up being a favorite of mind.
The book ticks boxes for me- and then has things that tick boxes that REALLY bother other romance readers.
* It starts off rapey- not really my thing either, for the record, but truthful considering the setting- but it also ends up in typical romance HEA... with babies!
* HUGE age gap, she's 19/he's 40, which makes me super angry in real life but here not so much because I empathized with the next-
* BBW. Her dealing with the negativity of being a larger woman is appealing to me who always roots for the unchampioned, but I will say it became a bit of a bore because almost EVERY other woman in this story were bullies.
* She's a clueless virgin in the bedroom. In fact another woman shows her how to get off. Not really my thing either. (Sorry its just not my thing.)
* However the lesbian interaction was mild and happened just once in the story and the hetero rest was explicit in the bedroom with Slavik being super protective and in chargey. - TICK! =)
* And I was a bit surprised at who ended up being a baddie and that's something that ticks my boxes in story telling too.
Overall- Mama likey! and I'm reading on!
PS Im gonna have to add a few more sub-genre bookshelves to this one.
Anyway basically this one worked for me. However this is full on, unrepentant, Bratva mafia violence and underworld overlords. The lead is fairly hardcore yet somehow ends up being a favorite of mind.
The book ticks boxes for me- and then has things that tick boxes that REALLY bother other romance readers.
* It starts off rapey- not really my thing either, for the record, but truthful considering the setting- but it also ends up in typical romance HEA... with babies!
* HUGE age gap, she's 19/he's 40, which makes me super angry in real life but here not so much because I empathized with the next-
* BBW. Her dealing with the negativity of being a larger woman is appealing to me who always roots for the unchampioned, but I will say it became a bit of a bore because almost EVERY other woman in this story were bullies.
* She's a clueless virgin in the bedroom. In fact another woman shows her how to get off. Not really my thing either. (Sorry its just not my thing.)
* However the lesbian interaction was mild and happened just once in the story and the hetero rest was explicit in the bedroom with Slavik being super protective and in chargey. - TICK! =)
* And I was a bit surprised at who ended up being a baddie and that's something that ticks my boxes in story telling too.
Overall- Mama likey! and I'm reading on!
PS Im gonna have to add a few more sub-genre bookshelves to this one.
November 7, 2021
Not a Bratva book. It's not even written for grown ups. This is really badly written,
juvenile, teenage bully book, taken straight from high-school, with cheerleaders picking on the fat, nerdy girl.
There were too many cringingly immature scenes and the heroine was written as a pathetic, immature, 'poor, woe me' type of woman, constantlygoing on and on and on about how pathetic, and sad, and fat she is. It was not enjoyable.
The so called author actually has her heroine thinking stupid things like, "nobody ever liked me, even when I was a child other innocent little children didn't like me'. And all the time. Really! It was just bad!
It's complete rubbish. The writing is so bad that, even if the author got an editor to fix the many mistakes with the grammar, punctuation and spelling etc, the writting and story would still be extremely basic.
I was attracted by the cover but it is wasted on this badly written, immature and embarrassing drivel. Not a Bratva story. Honestly I don't get how this badly written, churned out rubbish got a single reader to give it more than a 1 star rating.
juvenile, teenage bully book, taken straight from high-school, with cheerleaders picking on the fat, nerdy girl.
There were too many cringingly immature scenes and the heroine was written as a pathetic, immature, 'poor, woe me' type of woman, constantlygoing on and on and on about how pathetic, and sad, and fat she is. It was not enjoyable.
The so called author actually has her heroine thinking stupid things like, "nobody ever liked me, even when I was a child other innocent little children didn't like me'. And all the time. Really! It was just bad!
It's complete rubbish. The writing is so bad that, even if the author got an editor to fix the many mistakes with the grammar, punctuation and spelling etc, the writting and story would still be extremely basic.
I was attracted by the cover but it is wasted on this badly written, immature and embarrassing drivel. Not a Bratva story. Honestly I don't get how this badly written, churned out rubbish got a single reader to give it more than a 1 star rating.
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