The Bratva's Hostage

Bratva's Claim #0

by Jagger Cole

Taking her was only the beginning…

A hit gone wrong. My partner, the future King of the Kashenko Bratva, bleeding out. There’s only one choice left for me:

Kidnap the daughter of the rival mob boss, and take her as my hostage.

Now, she’s my temptingly innocent, beautifully forbidden bargaining chip.

Talia is a pretty little bird, trapped all her life in a gilded cage. Too good for me. Too young for me, too. A softness I’ve never touched. A sweetness I’ve never tasted.

We’re trapped together, and time is running out.

But the solution might be just as forbidden as she is…


This extra-steamy novella is a *standalone* prequel to the Bratva’s Claim series. Absolutely no cheating, no cliffhanger, and a happy ever after.

Genres: Mafia Romance, Dark Romance, Romance, Novella, Dark, Audiobook, Contemporary

Unknown Binding

First published November 1, 2021

About the author

A reader first and foremost, Jagger Cole cut his romance writing teeth penning various fan-fiction stories years ago. After deciding to hang up his writing boots, Jagger worked in advertising pretending to be Don Draper. It worked enough to convince a woman way out of his league to marry him, though, which is a total win.

Now, Dad to two little princesses and King to a Queen, Jagger is thrilled to be back at the keyboard.

When not writing or reading romance books, he can be found woodworking, enjoying good whiskey, and grilling outside—rain or shine.

You can find all of his books at www.jaggercolewrites.com


Grab a FREE book for joining my fans-only newsletter! -> https://dl.bookfunnel.com/8rld1ik3sd

Reviews

[becs ౨ৎ⋆.˚ (semi-ia + comment restriction) · Rating 1 out of 5]

okay the covers are killing me oml 😭 it’s my fault really for always wanting to read things in the author’s suggested reading order which usually starts with their older work 🫩 i had high hopes for this author (seen great things about his more recent works) but it seems like i’ll have to get though a good chunk of these before i can get to the books of his that are recommended by everyone… wish me luck 😞

this was a novella so it’s expected to be short and fast paced but the insta-lust and insta-love in this was insane lmaoo?? we jump from a shootout scene to him taking her as a hostage upstairs and then them instantly falling for each other and saying i love you… writing was not my taste either, i’ll push through to get to the series that i wanted to read but man will it take some effort. i really hope the witting style changes as we progress 🥲

[Mairi Swan · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want something without plot to pass your evening then this is your thing. It was ridiculous but at the same time enjoying.

[♡Naz♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an amazing and easy read and am not at all surprised by it. JAGGER COLE is an artist with his words just pure perfection ❤️ 👌

[Carissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the professionally narrated audiobook on the Read Me Romance Podcast for FREE!

Read Me Romance FREE Audiobooks ➝ https://bit.ly/2PzD65g

Listen for FREE here:
iTunes ➝ http://geni.us/A888vRA
Google Play ➝ http://geni.us/7lB4UBK
Stitcher ➝ https://bit.ly/2yX2zeH

[Autmn Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

You can grab the boom from the author's website.

It's Insta love, whar do I expect? 😂
Too rush coz this book just has 56 pages based on my device and at some point this story a little bit cringe for me, yet the story quite interesting so I want to know the other stories from this series.

[Ada · Rating 2 out of 5]

I knew what I was getting into.

[lexie 🦌୨୧˚⋆ · Rating 1 out of 5]

why does he growl so much

[remy | readwithremy 🤍🫶🏼 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25/5⭐️
4/5🌶️

A fun, fast-paced, and spicy novella! This was my introduction into Jagger Cole and I can’t wait to read more from him!!

Tropes/Themes:
-Dark mafia romance
-Insta-love

[✮⋆˙Shorouk˙⋆✮ · Rating 1 out of 5]

0.25⭐.
I honestly can’t believe the bullshit I read.

[Alina Kravets · Rating 4 out of 5]

Коротенький приквел до серії, мені сподобалось, хоч тут прям кохання з першого погляду.
Цікаво почитати наступну книгу, бо автор кинув затравочку на майбутню пару.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Thus was good. Hot and even kinda sweet. I liked Roman. And Talia was badass.

[Jahni · Rating 1 out of 5]

well.. i hope they burn in hell

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually enjoy the insta-lust/love that comes with mafia romance, but this one just wasn't for me. I will likely read the next in the series and hope it pulls me in a bit more.

[lamija🪷📖 · Rating 2 out of 5]

the cover is killing me- but nevertheless a quick read

[sladjana.reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was cute, low plot insta love.
A little taste of what’s to come. It also made me laugh. I do love some cheesy writing sometimes♥️

[Denim · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was just the beginning, and then it got straight to the end, dont mess around...

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this story a lot. It was entertaining and enjoyable with an exception. The characters were interesting and likable except for Gio. Gio was a complete jerk and deserved the comeuppance that he received. Roman was loyal and protective. He knew that he wanted to keep Talia as soon as he saw her. Talia was smart but she felt trapped in her life. When she saw Roman she was knocked for a loop by her attraction to him. Roman and Talia were really sweet together but still steamy. I loved their happily ever after. I recommend listening to this story. I listened to it on Read Me Romance and I'm hoping that it will come out in ebook soon.

[Jeraca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this free eARC novel from the author. This is my honest review.

This was short, but oh so spicy! Talia and Roman connected INSTANTLY and sparks were flying between them.

I love getting right into the thick of the story with short stories, but then I'm always left wanting way more lol. Oh well, I still really enjoyed this story and I can't wait for more by this amazing writer!

[No Book Behind · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, steamy&sexy novella. Great introduction to Bratva's series

[Romi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Odio los instalove, pero esta es la versión eyaculador precoz de todos los instalove del mundo.
No hay palabras para describir el sin sentido de todo lo que sucede en este libro.

[Malini · Rating 5 out of 5]

His to take by MeemsAngel82

I loved that Jagger did this story! This was before a certain Russian boss came into his role. It was so fun for us fans especially those of us that have been following his stories for literally years! This was a book for his newsletter fans and I want to review this out of my own will because I loved it. The writing was action packed and high heat as usual. There are ties here that will take root and truly grow his Mafia style world. I love the characters and the chemistry and the plot.

They were stuck behind enemy lines and he had the future of the Bratva to protect. But he couldn't help him just yet. During their standoff he'll meet someone he'll never let go of.

Fantastic, fun writing. Such a cool treat to see the beginning of an empire being built! The connections that would come are so fun and I loved the action here. This man was so good and deserved this delightful girl! They both had great chemistry and I loved how she was worthy of him despite his own doubts. Also that he valued her when her own dad didn't...so sweet! This was a quick one but a fun one. What a sexy, fun and sweet ride.

[Awilda Abreu · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bratva’s Hostage – Jagger Cole
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5)

This book is short, but packed with tension, drama, and that addictive dark mafia vibe.

Talia and Roman’s story begins with revenge: when Talia’s father kidnaps Viktor (Roman’s friend), Roman retaliates the only way he knows how… by taking his enemy’s daughter.

Yes, kidnapping right from the start 👀🔥

Talia has lived her entire life sheltered, protected by her father and isolated from the real world. That innocence contrasts perfectly with Roman, who is dangerous, dominant, and unapologetically ruthless.

What makes the story work is how their dynamic shifts during captivity. What starts as a tense situation slowly evolves into something deeper. The chemistry is there, and even in such a short format, the emotional connection comes through.

The added layer of Talia discovering her life was already planned for her (through an arranged marriage) gives more weight to her choices and makes her growth more meaningful.

By the end, she’s no longer just a victim, she takes action and helps Roman save Viktor and bring her father down.

A quick, engaging read and a great introduction to the series. Definitely leaves you wanting more.

[Maria Zuniga Salgado · Rating 3 out of 5]

♥︎ Maya's Reads ♥︎

For context, I have already read the majority of Jagger Cole's books over the years. So, you can safely say Jagger Cole is definitely among my favorite authors in my book journey. ♥︎ Currently, I'm just going back to writing reviews from what I remember years later, and hoping my excitement is still prominent.

For this book, it truly was a good filler novela!! If you want a quick read that has plot but romance, this is the one!!! At times, I wished it was longer, but regardless, I read this like in an hour tbh!!! For me I enjoyed the love story from them because although it was quick, they were bound in a really unique way. I did enjoy reading this because I chose to read this series after having read some the main ones, and it was really cool to read Jagger Cole's initial writings, LARGEEEEE IMPROVEMENT!!!

★★★☆☆ overall rating

[Christi Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: The Bratva’s Hostage
Author: Jagger Cole
Format: Audio
Narrator Jarmin Day
Genre: Romance, Mafia, Age Gap, Kidnapping Suspense, Forced Proximity, Virgin
Standalone: Yes
Part of a Series: Prequel to the Bratva Claim series
POV: Roman, Talia
Steam Level: Steamy
5/5

I listened to this audiobook on the Read Me Romance podcast. OMG What fun I enjoy mafia romance and this one was a bunch of fun. I love that there was an epilogue which always makes a story feel complete. I’m not sure I’ve read Jagger Cole before but I’ve definitely heard of him and now I want to devour his books, sparring with this series. The chemistry between Roman and Talia was instantaneous and over the top hot. This book was a ton of fun and I loved Talia and Roman.

[BahiyYih · Rating 1 out of 5]

OMG, this book… To be honest, I didn’t expect much since it’s a novella, but OH MY GOD it was so cringy. I still shudder thinking about it. I really tried to finish it (I mean, it’s only 61 pages!), but I just couldn’t. It was that bad.

Now, usually, I’m a sucker for an age gap but only when it’s done right. And this one? Not it. Especially with the FMC being 18, super innocent, and pink princess-coded yeah, no thanks. I swear I could feel my precious brain cells disappearing while reading it hhhh. That’s how bad it was.

But since I’ve read other Jagger Cole books, I know what he’s capable of. And considering this is probably one of his first books, I’m just gonna pretend I never read this or even crossed paths with it.

[Angelita Cardona Verano · Rating 1 out of 5]

Totalmente innecesaria esta precuela, nos muestra a Roman uno de los hombre de Viktor qué junto con él se ven envueltos en un efrentamiento con una familia rival, a lo qué Roman toma de rehén a la hija del lider rival, por supuesto ya sabemos qué pasa cuando los mafiosos toman de prisioneras a damiselas jóvenes, así es tienen s3x0 y después de 2 días están profundamente enamorados.

No entiendo porqué el autor retrata a las protaginistas cómo inocentes e inmaduras, en este caso Talia, ni siquiera había besado a nadie y tiene 18 años, adicional, qué en todos los libros a los tipos les importa muy poco si las mujeres planifican, ni siquiera usan condón -_-

[Kirsten_BookRants · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️

This was my introduction to Jagger Cole and he didn't disappoint. He dropped us right into this story and I was captivated from the first page.

Taila and Roman knew nothing about each other, so the instalove made absolutely no sense in this case. But I ate this novella up. And I'm looking forward to reading more of this series.

Talia got her black knight to come rescue her and Roman found someone worth living for. I hope to see them through out the other books.

Short, sweet (well spicy) and to the point. Jagger Cole just helped me get out of my current reading slump. And I'm thoroughly looking forward to this seemingly wild ride.

[Rocío · Rating 1 out of 5]

Entiendo que es un libro muuy corto, tiene menos de 100 páginas, pero siendo un libro de mafia aún así esperaba más. Siento que no tiene nada de trama, empieza en un tiroteo, lastiman a uno, el otro toma de rehén a la hija del tipo que querían matar, la tipa dura 1 segundo secuestrada, SE ENAMORAN, o sea, habían pasado menos de veinticuatro horas y él ya no podía vivir si ella ¿????

Logró decepcionarme de todas las maneras posibles, cuando pensaba que se iba a poner bueno, no pasaba nada.

Es un 0.5 si, pero ni siquiera te hablan de la vida de él, con suerte nombran algo de la vida de ella, y de la nada él se retira de la mafia¿???

No entiendo nada.
Conclusión: No lo lean😊

[Kiki_HeartReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was really good. However, It was a novella so of course, way too fast development in a way too short a time. Therefore, I cannot give it a full 5 stars. There was an I love you b/w characters that was unecessary especially that quickly. Maybe in the epilogue it couldve been said. It was too soon and wow just NO. lol.

I loved it though and I wished They didnt leave the mafia world so i could see more of them in this coming series. I guess this was an origin story lol for Viktor. Was a pretty sweet novella.

[FabReads♡ · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't like insta-love books and this one isn't an exception. The presence of so many typos and repetitions, and the speed of the narration made me bored immediately. And let's not even talk about how many embarrassing scenes I've read.
I wish I could say that I've probably just gotten used to the slow pace of my beloved High Fantasy books, but I like dark romance and I like the pace of most dark romance books...
This is my first impression of Jagger Cole, and I'm truly disappointed.