What do you think?
Rate this book
The Solnyshko Duet #2
The Vengeance of Roan Sinclair
Roan Sinclair used to have it all. Now? He’s a shell of his former self. He knows he should be grateful to be alive… but he’s not. He’s humiliated. Ashamed. Most of all, he’s angry. Hoping vengeance will piece him back together, Roan devises a plan to get back at those who wronged him.
When old enemies from his boyfriend’s past show up, they might end up costing Roan everything—including the happily ever after he so desperately wants with his Wolf.
THE VENGEANCE OF ROAN SINCLAIR is a dark MM mafia romance about love in the aftermath of trauma and finding your new normal. There are emotional steamy scenes, plenty of violence and revenge, and a much-needed HEA. It is intended for a mature audience and reader discretion is advised. A full list of triggers can be found in the front matter of the book and at my website under Tropes & Triggers.
When old enemies from his boyfriend’s past show up, they might end up costing Roan everything—including the happily ever after he so desperately wants with his Wolf.
THE VENGEANCE OF ROAN SINCLAIR is a dark MM mafia romance about love in the aftermath of trauma and finding your new normal. There are emotional steamy scenes, plenty of violence and revenge, and a much-needed HEA. It is intended for a mature audience and reader discretion is advised. A full list of triggers can be found in the front matter of the book and at my website under Tropes & Triggers.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 30, 2022
141 people are currently reading
1204 people want to read
About the author
Ashlyn Drewek
20 books930 followersInternational best-selling and award-winning author Ashlyn Drewek has always been fascinated by "weird" things like Edgar Allan Poe, Halloween, and witchcraft. Not necessarily in that order. But she's also a hopeless romantic who lives for stories about true love conquering all. Since variety is indeed the spice of life, she writes a mix of MM tropes and subgenres to satisfy her rapidly changing whims.
For information on upcoming releases, go to ⇢ https://www.ashlyndrewek.com/upcoming
Have a question? I might have an answer! ⇢ https://www.ashlyndrewek.com/faq
Looking for links? Go here ⇢ www.ashlyndrewek.com/main
For information on upcoming releases, go to ⇢ https://www.ashlyndrewek.com/upcoming
Have a question? I might have an answer! ⇢ https://www.ashlyndrewek.com/faq
Looking for links? Go here ⇢ www.ashlyndrewek.com/main
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 332 reviews
May 11, 2023
5/5 ⭐ ❝Until the sun stopped
rising
❞
This is the last sentence quoted by Sasha and it puts the cherry on the cake 🍰 onto ❛The Solnyshko Duet❜ duology by Ashlyn Drewek. Malum Discordiae left me a bittersweet aftertaste, I wanted to enjoy plenty that book that the feeling turned out to work against my quite high expectations, so I cried out for a reconciliation with her literature 💔 This is how I came back to this series, because of my past experience with The Kidnapping of Roan Sinclair was a fabulous one and I want to relive that emotion.
And I achieved my goal, by far. Hence, my five stars 🌟
◾ This book is an amazing roller-coaster of emotions 🎢 ❥ I could split it into three identical pieces, which perfectly fit with Roan's personal journey into his PTSD recovery, thus the pacing of the story adapts to the reality lived by him, which is developed slowly throgh the first third―because of when we start reading Roan is into ❛anger phase❜ which is the second phase which belongs to a ❛mourning phase❜―with our boy always angry and frustrated with the assaulted suffered in the previous book. He shows this behaviour against Sasha, mainly, because of his boyfriend is his nearest person and Roan feels lonely and excluded into their relationship 💔
❝The doctor said―❞
❝The doctor didn't say anything about your dick being off-limits. Ok?❞
Being aggressive or passive-aggressive will be his natural state through this first third of the book. Then, he goes into a ❛bargaining phase❜, whe he didn't stop over-thinking and worrying about his past—he's experiencing obvious symptoms of anxiety—, showing us his insecurities about his previous expirience 😕
❝Did I blamed him [Sasha] for all of that?
Yes, I did.
No, I didn't.
No. It was enterely my fault. Me. Mine. Not his.
I didn't listen. I put myself in harm's way [...] I deserved the punishment they doled out❞
Ashlyn Drewek also writes about ❛depression phase❜, which is revealed by Roan's sadness and his bitter attitude 🥀 We can read about his reduced energy and motivation , plus his social interest is in its least state, which does he wants to avoid call Frankie, who left the city 《thanks to God》, or hanging out with Samuel, his current job partner.
❝I just didn't have the energy these days. It was all I could do to maintain basic thing, like hygiene and making it to work on time❞
The second third and the last one of this book are developed when Roan reachs a good spot into his recovery, which is around 44.57 % into the reading progress, 《 second third》and later he'll set in motion his vengeance against his father《 the last third》Thus, we have a book which starts slowly, but the thrill increases little by little after its second third 📈, where the plot springs up, definitely, after a murder which is related with a new villain 👿 who has arrived from Russia anxiously expecting to take revenge on Sasha.
◾Positives:
✔️ Roan's recovery journey ❤️🩹 I'm not going down into it, because it was explained previously. Maybe, there are people who thinks that it has been wrongly written, but I think that it was developed with solvency. I also would’ve like that this process had not abruptly cut off into the second third 🥴, but being realistic, if this process is enlonged into a novel, it is more than possible that all of us would end bored. Plus, I consider that the author has made a great reasearching in order to write all this journey the better and the most respectful way possible.
✔️Sasha as a supporting boyfriend 💜 He's deeply in love and it is noted. Firstly, Sasha's confused behavior is given by the guilt feelings about Roan's trauma, both psycological and physical sides: he is also angy with himself due to not being able to help his boyfriend when he needed him the most. He's more violent than his usual self, reckless into his decissions about Roan's security. If he has to kill a bodyguard due to what he considers negligence, he has no doubts about and Sasha kills Roan's bodyguard without blinking 💀 He plays no jokes!
❝ Solnyshko [...] Tell me how to make you happy❞
Sasha evokes conflicted feelings to re reader due to his duality. Sometimes, I want to slap his pretty face, but later, I would hug him for his efforts. I was expecting they left aside their disputes because it was frustrating to read them always arguing 🙄 Just like Sasha, I also missed our dear ❛Solnyshko❜ ❥ At the end of the book, he wants to improve his communication skills for get better with Roan 🗣️ Their ending is so cute ❥ By times, I thought they wouldn't achieve it, but their persevering struggling against difficulties has been worthed, as well as the whole sacrifice 🤭 To be noted: Roan's declaration of love quoted in Russian:
❝Ya lyublyu tebya, Sasha❞ 💌
✔️ When the action takes part into the show, it is a non stop 🤯 Daria and her family ties with Yuri, that Yuri who all of you're thinking about, for God's sake! The introduction of new characters is like a fresh breeze from an open window: Bennet and Ilya ❥ I love these guys with all my heart; the first one belongs to another series by Ashlyn Drewek, ❛The Leander Welles Series❜, which is another MM Romance, by the way. He is a lawyer who will help our dear Roan to deal with his evil father. In the other hand, Ilya is Misha's nephew and Roan's new boyguard. He's so nice with our MC and is always there to lend him a hand when it's needed and teach him new interesting skills 😏 I'm speaking about guns, real guns, don't get yourselves spicies 🌶️
✔️ When ❛The vengeance of Roan Sinclair❜―as it says the main title―finally starts, later than it is expected, but it does, 😈 it is needed to be noted the following statement: it's pretty savage and there are twice or more gory scenes 🩸 By the way, readers who are used to read mafiosi plots will be delighted by the whole carnage displayed here, haha 👻
✔️ Roan's mom 😤 I'm not gonna say she is a posive character by herself, unlike Frankie this woman was headed to be a hateful character, the same as senior Sinclair. By different ways, but these are characters who make us to wonder about neglectful paternity issues. This was no the case about Roan's bestie, because I think that the author wanted us to love her but it turned out wrong. Roan' mother is written perfectly and she fullfils her function here. What a gray morality has this woman! She looks forward her own interest: her social climbling and wealthy assets. She only calls her son when things go wrong, for her, of course! In the end, both parents get a dose of their own medicine 💉
◾ Negatives:
❌ F R A N K I E with capital letters 🤡 The best of her is she almost has time screen here, but every time she speaks, she puts her foot in her mouth. The following quoting is one of her ❛gems❜:
❝You want to talk about [...] how it hurts to fucking breathe [...]? How there are days I wish I didn't wake up?❞ [...] ❝My God, I haven't seen you this pissed since you lost first chair in seventh grade❞ 😒
What kind of ❛friend❜ mocks about his bestie's mental illness? Girl, Rowan is deeply depressed, and he also has disturbing thoughts—saying it smoothly—, the hell! Let alone to say about her taking him for a walk—she dragged him like a puppy tugged by a leash 🐶—and forcing him to go into a sex-shop. It was pretty obvious that Roan was going to suffer an anxiety attack sooner or later, but even she didn't notice it. She was daydreaming about sex toys to purchase for his friend by the goodness of her heart instead of keeping an eye on him 🤡 I only can mirror my puzzlement by clown emojis, for Christ's sake! Sorry, I can't stop swearing because it is beyond my strength and I can not help it.
❌ Samuel deserved better. Not gonna say more 🤐
❌ The book ends 🥀
I'm pretty sad because I've done with this series 💔 I have no doubt about rereading ❛The Solnyshko Duet❜ duology some time in the future.
Previously in the series:
◽ The Kidnapping of Roan Sinclair (The Solnyshko Duet, #1) 5/5 ⭐
This is the last sentence quoted by Sasha and it puts the cherry on the cake 🍰 onto ❛The Solnyshko Duet❜ duology by Ashlyn Drewek. Malum Discordiae left me a bittersweet aftertaste, I wanted to enjoy plenty that book that the feeling turned out to work against my quite high expectations, so I cried out for a reconciliation with her literature 💔 This is how I came back to this series, because of my past experience with The Kidnapping of Roan Sinclair was a fabulous one and I want to relive that emotion.
And I achieved my goal, by far. Hence, my five stars 🌟
◾ This book is an amazing roller-coaster of emotions 🎢 ❥ I could split it into three identical pieces, which perfectly fit with Roan's personal journey into his PTSD recovery, thus the pacing of the story adapts to the reality lived by him, which is developed slowly throgh the first third―because of when we start reading Roan is into ❛anger phase❜ which is the second phase which belongs to a ❛mourning phase❜―with our boy always angry and frustrated with the assaulted suffered in the previous book. He shows this behaviour against Sasha, mainly, because of his boyfriend is his nearest person and Roan feels lonely and excluded into their relationship 💔
❝The doctor said―❞
❝The doctor didn't say anything about your dick being off-limits. Ok?❞
Being aggressive or passive-aggressive will be his natural state through this first third of the book. Then, he goes into a ❛bargaining phase❜, whe he didn't stop over-thinking and worrying about his past—he's experiencing obvious symptoms of anxiety—, showing us his insecurities about his previous expirience 😕
❝Did I blamed him [Sasha] for all of that?
Yes, I did.
No, I didn't.
No. It was enterely my fault. Me. Mine. Not his.
I didn't listen. I put myself in harm's way [...] I deserved the punishment they doled out❞
Ashlyn Drewek also writes about ❛depression phase❜, which is revealed by Roan's sadness and his bitter attitude 🥀 We can read about his reduced energy and motivation , plus his social interest is in its least state, which does he wants to avoid call Frankie, who left the city 《
❝I just didn't have the energy these days. It was all I could do to maintain basic thing, like hygiene and making it to work on time❞
The second third and the last one of this book are developed when Roan reachs a good spot into his recovery, which is around 44.57 % into the reading progress, 《 second third》and later he'll set in motion his vengeance against his father《 the last third》Thus, we have a book which starts slowly, but the thrill increases little by little after its second third 📈, where the plot springs up, definitely, after a murder which is related with a new villain 👿 who has arrived from Russia anxiously expecting to take revenge on Sasha.
◾Positives:
✔️ Roan's recovery journey ❤️🩹 I'm not going down into it, because it was explained previously. Maybe, there are people who thinks that it has been wrongly written, but I think that it was developed with solvency. I also would’ve like that this process had not abruptly cut off into the second third 🥴, but being realistic, if this process is enlonged into a novel, it is more than possible that all of us would end bored. Plus, I consider that the author has made a great reasearching in order to write all this journey the better and the most respectful way possible.
✔️Sasha as a supporting boyfriend 💜 He's deeply in love and it is noted. Firstly, Sasha's confused behavior is given by the guilt feelings about Roan's trauma, both psycological and physical sides: he is also angy with himself due to not being able to help his boyfriend when he needed him the most. He's more violent than his usual self, reckless into his decissions about Roan's security. If he has to kill a bodyguard due to what he considers negligence, he has no doubts about and Sasha kills Roan's bodyguard without blinking 💀 He plays no jokes!
❝ Solnyshko [...] Tell me how to make you happy❞
Sasha evokes conflicted feelings to re reader due to his duality. Sometimes, I want to slap his pretty face, but later, I would hug him for his efforts. I was expecting they left aside their disputes because it was frustrating to read them always arguing 🙄 Just like Sasha, I also missed our dear ❛Solnyshko❜ ❥ At the end of the book, he wants to improve his communication skills for get better with Roan 🗣️ Their ending is so cute ❥ By times, I thought they wouldn't achieve it, but their persevering struggling against difficulties has been worthed, as well as the whole sacrifice 🤭 To be noted: Roan's declaration of love quoted in Russian:
❝Ya lyublyu tebya, Sasha❞ 💌
✔️ When the action takes part into the show, it is a non stop 🤯 Daria and her family ties with Yuri, that Yuri who all of you're thinking about, for God's sake! The introduction of new characters is like a fresh breeze from an open window: Bennet and Ilya ❥ I love these guys with all my heart; the first one belongs to another series by Ashlyn Drewek, ❛The Leander Welles Series❜, which is another MM Romance, by the way. He is a lawyer who will help our dear Roan to deal with his evil father. In the other hand, Ilya is Misha's nephew and Roan's new boyguard. He's so nice with our MC and is always there to lend him a hand when it's needed and teach him new interesting skills 😏 I'm speaking about guns, real guns, don't get yourselves spicies 🌶️
✔️ When ❛The vengeance of Roan Sinclair❜―as it says the main title―finally starts, later than it is expected, but it does, 😈 it is needed to be noted the following statement: it's pretty savage and there are twice or more gory scenes 🩸 By the way, readers who are used to read mafiosi plots will be delighted by the whole carnage displayed here, haha 👻
✔️ Roan's mom 😤 I'm not gonna say she is a posive character by herself, unlike Frankie this woman was headed to be a hateful character, the same as senior Sinclair. By different ways, but these are characters who make us to wonder about neglectful paternity issues. This was no the case about Roan's bestie, because I think that the author wanted us to love her but it turned out wrong. Roan' mother is written perfectly and she fullfils her function here. What a gray morality has this woman! She looks forward her own interest: her social climbling and wealthy assets. She only calls her son when things go wrong, for her, of course! In the end, both parents get a dose of their own medicine 💉
◾ Negatives:
❌ F R A N K I E with capital letters 🤡 The best of her is she almost has time screen here, but every time she speaks, she puts her foot in her mouth. The following quoting is one of her ❛gems❜:
❝You want to talk about [...] how it hurts to fucking breathe [...]? How there are days I wish I didn't wake up?❞ [...] ❝My God, I haven't seen you this pissed since you lost first chair in seventh grade❞ 😒
What kind of ❛friend❜ mocks about his bestie's mental illness? Girl, Rowan is deeply depressed, and he also has disturbing thoughts—saying it smoothly—, the hell! Let alone to say about her taking him for a walk—she dragged him like a puppy tugged by a leash 🐶—and forcing him to go into a sex-shop. It was pretty obvious that Roan was going to suffer an anxiety attack sooner or later, but even she didn't notice it. She was daydreaming about sex toys to purchase for his friend by the goodness of her heart instead of keeping an eye on him 🤡 I only can mirror my puzzlement by clown emojis, for Christ's sake! Sorry, I can't stop swearing because it is beyond my strength and I can not help it.
❌ Samuel deserved better. Not gonna say more 🤐
❌ The book ends 🥀
I'm pretty sad because I've done with this series 💔 I have no doubt about rereading ❛The Solnyshko Duet❜ duology some time in the future.
Previously in the series:
◽ The Kidnapping of Roan Sinclair (The Solnyshko Duet, #1) 5/5 ⭐
January 18, 2023
*** I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.***
Roan and Sasha!!!! So happy with how everything concluded with Sasha and Roan. This story is filled with heartbreaking moments, suspense, and genuine fear for our two main characters. This conclusion perfectly encapsulates why Sasha and Roan are soul mates and deserve their fully earned HEA.
Vengence picks up a few months after the events in Kidnapping, where Roan is struggling with the aftermath of his assault and he and Sasha are struggling to communicate with one another. There is a great amount of distance between the two as they work on moving forward. This necessary part of the story was difficult to get through only because I hated seeing Roan, our ball of sunshine, in so much pain, feeling guilty and struggling with his anger. Sasha is still reeling from Roan's assault and is trying to give Roan time and space, which makes everything worse, unfortunately.
Eventually Roan has a breakthrough in his healing process and that's when the Vengence aspect of the story picks up. Roan orchestrating his plan for revenge was brilliantly executed, even Sasha was intimidated, which was fun to see. Along with Roan's revenge comes many complications from other Russian mobsters and hidden skeletons in the past that won't stay hidden.
Another fun component to this story is all of the little easter eggs and nods to other characters from other Ashlyn Drewek stories. I loved the many appearances by Bennett Reeves, who is my favorite little trickster and he fit in effortlessly within this story.
I also enjoyed getting to see more from Misha, he is still an enigma, but I look forward to seeing more from him in the future.
Overall the Solnyshko Duet is a brilliant story of two souls that should not have met, should not work, but their grumpy/sunshine dynamic is too magnetic to ignore. Their complicated love story is one of my all-time favorites and I cannot wait to see more stories in this wonderfully dark and addicting universe.
Roan and Sasha!!!! So happy with how everything concluded with Sasha and Roan. This story is filled with heartbreaking moments, suspense, and genuine fear for our two main characters. This conclusion perfectly encapsulates why Sasha and Roan are soul mates and deserve their fully earned HEA.
Vengence picks up a few months after the events in Kidnapping, where Roan is struggling with the aftermath of his assault and he and Sasha are struggling to communicate with one another. There is a great amount of distance between the two as they work on moving forward. This necessary part of the story was difficult to get through only because I hated seeing Roan, our ball of sunshine, in so much pain, feeling guilty and struggling with his anger. Sasha is still reeling from Roan's assault and is trying to give Roan time and space, which makes everything worse, unfortunately.
Eventually Roan has a breakthrough in his healing process and that's when the Vengence aspect of the story picks up. Roan orchestrating his plan for revenge was brilliantly executed, even Sasha was intimidated, which was fun to see. Along with Roan's revenge comes many complications from other Russian mobsters and hidden skeletons in the past that won't stay hidden.
Another fun component to this story is all of the little easter eggs and nods to other characters from other Ashlyn Drewek stories. I loved the many appearances by Bennett Reeves, who is my favorite little trickster and he fit in effortlessly within this story.
I also enjoyed getting to see more from Misha, he is still an enigma, but I look forward to seeing more from him in the future.
Overall the Solnyshko Duet is a brilliant story of two souls that should not have met, should not work, but their grumpy/sunshine dynamic is too magnetic to ignore. Their complicated love story is one of my all-time favorites and I cannot wait to see more stories in this wonderfully dark and addicting universe.
February 6, 2022
***4.5 rating***
"Ya lyublyu tebya, Sasha.”
They say that all good things must eventually come to an end, sadly that is the case with this duet. It is over 😭. I am sad that it is and will miss these well written characters, especially Roan.
The second book in this duet, is by far my favorite. It is where we see Roan gain strength and courage after the tragic SA he endured and suffered in book 1. However, before we begin to see Roan's character development and growth, we also witness his struggles.
Following the aftermath of the SA, Roan is extremely depressed and even harbors suicidal thoughts. His mental and physical health have been violated. It was hard to see him go from such a upbeat, fun, optimistic character to one that is experiencing PTSD and depression. I must applaud the author for not romanticizing depression and trauma. I hate when authors do that. But luckily, we don't get that with this author. Drewek portrays realism when it comes to issues with mental health and trauma.
However, the reader may find themselves at times frustrated with Roan, especially when he constantly picks fights with Sasha and doesn't listen to him when it comes to his safety. I must note that I understand why Drewek changed Roan's character, it is to signify his trauma and suffering.
Following the events that occurred in the first book, Roan and Sasha's relationship suffers. Roan is distant both mentally and physically. He blames himself for what happened to him, and likewise Sasha does the same. He feels guilty and at fault. All of these feelings that the mains feel is valid. I loved the relationship development between these two in this book. Whereas book 1 was about attraction and lust, this book focuses on the dynamics between them where they are an actual couple. The honeymoon phase is over and like any couple (well they are no ordinary couple lol), these two have issues. One of them being communication. Its a huge issue in their relationship, because Roan admits to his therapist that he and Sasha never talk and he even wonders why they are still together. The lack of communication ignites jealousy, mistrust, and possessiveness (which I enjoyed lol😂). Sasha and his mob ways I tell ya. This man gets so jealous where he thinks Roan may be even cheating on him, smh. Roan gets jealous too, it's kind of cute and toxic but it makes for a great story, I am not complaining.
There are a lot of issues in their relationship that they need to tackle in order for these two to actually be a couple. And they do, which is what I appreciated about this book, mob drama aside, it was nice to see them express their frustrations and romantic feelings for one another.
In book 1, Sasha was the first to fall in love and go all out for Roan, in this book it is the opposite. Roan loves Sasha fiercely and will go to extreme measures to protect the one he loves. For example, when asshole Daddy Sinclair threatens Sasha's freedom, Roan masterminds his vengeance. I loved fierce Roan. He is intelligent, logical, tactical and rational. He even cracked me up with laughter. I loved Sasha's surprise and shock when he came to know of Roan's plans. Haha. Our guy was shooketh.🤣😂.
“I am simultaneously impressed and a little bit scared of you right now,” Sasha said as we pulled out of the driveway and headed for home."
Even Eduard was impressed 💀😂. I say all this to say how loving, fierce, and protective Roan has become after his tragedy. He was not a shell of a person as that bitch Frankie babbled about.
Speaking of Frankie, yeah I couldn't stand that bitch. She was an awful friend to Roan.
“Whatever, Roan. Just try not to fucking kill yourself along the way.”
The audacity of this woman. Smh. It was so satisfying to see Roan to tell her fuck off. Pardon my language but if you know this character, you understand my hatred for her. I mean who takes a SA victim to a sex toy store, so soon after the incident?🤦🏼♀️
I am glad she just sort of disappeared as the story progressed. You know who I missed in this story? Freddy😭. Our silent hero. I miss you king 😭.
Few other characters that liked in this duet were: Misha (🏳️🌈), Valery, and Ilya. They were great addition to the duet. I hope we get a Misha and Valery duet🙏🏻. They need their own story. I knew I ain't the only one who could feel the sexual tension between them 😏.
We also finally got to see the demise of the Sinclair parents thanks to Roan's brilliant vengeance plan. Hehe. They will not be missed.
I am sad that this story is over 😭 but happy with the way it was concluded. I loved seeing the relationship development between our mains: the Wolf and the Sun. A truly intriguing dark mm mafia romance story. It started out toxic but ended with two lost souls finding true love 💕.Read it if you have a chance! I enjoyed this second book much more than the first one because we get to see these two come together. Together they are a power house and balance each other out. I loved how Sasha was trying to be a civilian because of his love for Roan 😭💕 ugh my babies I will miss them😩.
This one was a winner and a great conclusion to the duet. I am definitely gonna read Leander and Bennett's story, they were such an interesting couple.
Until next time folks✌🏻
Thank you for coming to my long ass TED talk.
"Ya lyublyu tebya, Sasha.”
They say that all good things must eventually come to an end, sadly that is the case with this duet. It is over 😭. I am sad that it is and will miss these well written characters, especially Roan.
The second book in this duet, is by far my favorite. It is where we see Roan gain strength and courage after the tragic SA he endured and suffered in book 1. However, before we begin to see Roan's character development and growth, we also witness his struggles.
Following the aftermath of the SA, Roan is extremely depressed and even harbors suicidal thoughts. His mental and physical health have been violated. It was hard to see him go from such a upbeat, fun, optimistic character to one that is experiencing PTSD and depression. I must applaud the author for not romanticizing depression and trauma. I hate when authors do that. But luckily, we don't get that with this author. Drewek portrays realism when it comes to issues with mental health and trauma.
However, the reader may find themselves at times frustrated with Roan, especially when he constantly picks fights with Sasha and doesn't listen to him when it comes to his safety. I must note that I understand why Drewek changed Roan's character, it is to signify his trauma and suffering.
Following the events that occurred in the first book, Roan and Sasha's relationship suffers. Roan is distant both mentally and physically. He blames himself for what happened to him, and likewise Sasha does the same. He feels guilty and at fault. All of these feelings that the mains feel is valid. I loved the relationship development between these two in this book. Whereas book 1 was about attraction and lust, this book focuses on the dynamics between them where they are an actual couple. The honeymoon phase is over and like any couple (well they are no ordinary couple lol), these two have issues. One of them being communication. Its a huge issue in their relationship, because Roan admits to his therapist that he and Sasha never talk and he even wonders why they are still together. The lack of communication ignites jealousy, mistrust, and possessiveness (which I enjoyed lol😂). Sasha and his mob ways I tell ya. This man gets so jealous where he thinks Roan may be even cheating on him, smh. Roan gets jealous too, it's kind of cute and toxic but it makes for a great story, I am not complaining.
There are a lot of issues in their relationship that they need to tackle in order for these two to actually be a couple. And they do, which is what I appreciated about this book, mob drama aside, it was nice to see them express their frustrations and romantic feelings for one another.
In book 1, Sasha was the first to fall in love and go all out for Roan, in this book it is the opposite. Roan loves Sasha fiercely and will go to extreme measures to protect the one he loves. For example, when asshole Daddy Sinclair threatens Sasha's freedom, Roan masterminds his vengeance. I loved fierce Roan. He is intelligent, logical, tactical and rational. He even cracked me up with laughter. I loved Sasha's surprise and shock when he came to know of Roan's plans. Haha. Our guy was shooketh.🤣😂.
“I am simultaneously impressed and a little bit scared of you right now,” Sasha said as we pulled out of the driveway and headed for home."
Even Eduard was impressed 💀😂. I say all this to say how loving, fierce, and protective Roan has become after his tragedy. He was not a shell of a person as that bitch Frankie babbled about.
Speaking of Frankie, yeah I couldn't stand that bitch. She was an awful friend to Roan.
“Whatever, Roan. Just try not to fucking kill yourself along the way.”
The audacity of this woman. Smh. It was so satisfying to see Roan to tell her fuck off. Pardon my language but if you know this character, you understand my hatred for her. I mean who takes a SA victim to a sex toy store, so soon after the incident?🤦🏼♀️
I am glad she just sort of disappeared as the story progressed. You know who I missed in this story? Freddy😭. Our silent hero. I miss you king 😭.
Few other characters that liked in this duet were: Misha (🏳️🌈), Valery, and Ilya. They were great addition to the duet. I hope we get a Misha and Valery duet🙏🏻. They need their own story. I knew I ain't the only one who could feel the sexual tension between them 😏.
We also finally got to see the demise of the Sinclair parents thanks to Roan's brilliant vengeance plan. Hehe. They will not be missed.
I am sad that this story is over 😭 but happy with the way it was concluded. I loved seeing the relationship development between our mains: the Wolf and the Sun. A truly intriguing dark mm mafia romance story. It started out toxic but ended with two lost souls finding true love 💕.Read it if you have a chance! I enjoyed this second book much more than the first one because we get to see these two come together. Together they are a power house and balance each other out. I loved how Sasha was trying to be a civilian because of his love for Roan 😭💕 ugh my babies I will miss them😩.
This one was a winner and a great conclusion to the duet. I am definitely gonna read Leander and Bennett's story, they were such an interesting couple.
Until next time folks✌🏻
Thank you for coming to my long ass TED talk.
![Profile Image for moonlight ☾ [semi-hiatus].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1645500038i%2F37448930._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
February 4, 2022
❝How can you care,❞ he asked, grudgingly looking up at me, ❝knowing what you know?❞
❝Because I love you. I love all of you. The good, the bad, and the fucking ugly. Just like you love me.❞
THIS. if i had to sum up Sasha and Roan's relationship in a quote, it would be this and it's honestly why i found this book - and their romance - so beautiful. it was far from perfect or easy, they had to go through obstacles to get their happy ending. so many heartbreaking moments (these two had me sobbing in the first half!!), as well as angst, but the way they accepted and loved one another, despite their flaws... i just love their love. 🥺
i enjoyed the first book, but this one solidified my love for this couple. due to the events that took place in the previous book, it's understandable why Roan was more closed off here and i just wanted to hug him, but my admiration for Sasha grew even more through this. Sasha isn't a patient man, but the way he was patient for Roan bc he knew it's what he needed, I LOVE HIM. while we see Sasha's love a bit more in the first half, Roan had his time to shine in the second and it's the equal give and take in their relationship that truly made me believe they will last.
soo, is Misha going to have his own book?? Valery? Ilya? i'm interested to see these men fall in love too, please. 😭 i know Bennett/Leander have their own book(s), which i'm hoping to get around to asap bc they intrigued me.
ps. Roan's dad can fuck off. the fact that he . 😐
❝Because I love you. I love all of you. The good, the bad, and the fucking ugly. Just like you love me.❞
THIS. if i had to sum up Sasha and Roan's relationship in a quote, it would be this and it's honestly why i found this book - and their romance - so beautiful. it was far from perfect or easy, they had to go through obstacles to get their happy ending. so many heartbreaking moments (these two had me sobbing in the first half!!), as well as angst, but the way they accepted and loved one another, despite their flaws... i just love their love. 🥺
i enjoyed the first book, but this one solidified my love for this couple. due to the events that took place in the previous book, it's understandable why Roan was more closed off here and i just wanted to hug him, but my admiration for Sasha grew even more through this. Sasha isn't a patient man, but the way he was patient for Roan bc he knew it's what he needed, I LOVE HIM. while we see Sasha's love a bit more in the first half, Roan had his time to shine in the second and it's the equal give and take in their relationship that truly made me believe they will last.
soo, is Misha going to have his own book?? Valery? Ilya? i'm interested to see these men fall in love too, please. 😭 i know Bennett/Leander have their own book(s), which i'm hoping to get around to asap bc they intrigued me.
ps. Roan's dad can fuck off. the fact that he . 😐
November 14, 2021
"I cocked my head, trying to figure out why he wasn't happier. He had a problem, I presented a solution. That should have alleviated his worry. But no. He still had to be a pain in my ass."
Even better than The Kidnapping of Roan Sinclair, which is saying something, and I couldn't love Roan and Sasha more.
We finally get closure for these boys in The Vengeance of Roan Sinclair, so thank you Ashlyn Drewek, you total QWEEEN 👑. And a special nod to the cameo appearances of my two FAVOURITE Ashlyn Drewek characters - my lips are sealed 🤐.
In case you think it's all sunshine and flowers and pumpkin spice and apple pies, think again. This is an Ashlyn Drewek book. Her characters are flawed and challenged and triggered and betrayed and dark and confronting. Make no mistake, this is a book about revenge and whether love can really conquer all in the most horrific of circumstances.
"I'm going to destroy every single thing in his life. Absolutely everything. Everything he loves, everything he cares about, everything that holds meaning to him. Fucking gone."
(HINT: the closure is a HEA 😍 but the journey is rough😥).
Tropes:
❤ Dark MM romance
❤ Russian mafia
❤ Opposites attract
❤ Confronting themes
❤ Revenge
And yes, the steam is still there for these two boys 🔥🔥.
"I don't want you to ever forget who you are, what you can do," he said quietly. "No matter what happens, the sun always rises."
5 passionate, vengeful stars ✨✨✨✨✨
Even better than The Kidnapping of Roan Sinclair, which is saying something, and I couldn't love Roan and Sasha more.
We finally get closure for these boys in The Vengeance of Roan Sinclair, so thank you Ashlyn Drewek, you total QWEEEN 👑. And a special nod to the cameo appearances of my two FAVOURITE Ashlyn Drewek characters - my lips are sealed 🤐.
In case you think it's all sunshine and flowers and pumpkin spice and apple pies, think again. This is an Ashlyn Drewek book. Her characters are flawed and challenged and triggered and betrayed and dark and confronting. Make no mistake, this is a book about revenge and whether love can really conquer all in the most horrific of circumstances.
"I'm going to destroy every single thing in his life. Absolutely everything. Everything he loves, everything he cares about, everything that holds meaning to him. Fucking gone."
(HINT: the closure is a HEA 😍 but the journey is rough😥).
Tropes:
❤ Dark MM romance
❤ Russian mafia
❤ Opposites attract
❤ Confronting themes
❤ Revenge
And yes, the steam is still there for these two boys 🔥🔥.
"I don't want you to ever forget who you are, what you can do," he said quietly. "No matter what happens, the sun always rises."
5 passionate, vengeful stars ✨✨✨✨✨
March 3, 2022
4.25 Stars!
January 30, 2022
It's out now!!
Do you ever just have to peruse a dictionary to find the right words to describe something? No? Same 🥴
Anyways, the best word I could find was perfection. This was utter perfection!
I have never been more proud of Roan Sinclair. I feel such a strong sense of camaraderie with his character because he's so real. The realest fictional character I've ever met. In book 1, we see him go though such a terrible experience and in book 2, we see him struggle through the aftermath but also rise up from it. He's so brave, and beautiful, and strong. Vengeful Roan is my favourite Roan! And does it make me a bad person that I'm mad his father is still alive?! I don't care 💅🏾
Sasha!!! Sasha will always be a hottie lamottie with a swimmer's (more like body builder's) body but I digress. Let's also just accept the fact that Sasha will always be a grumpy bear, and we love him for it. I loved him in all of his moodiness, especially for how he let Roan do what he needed to do, and supported him (sometimes grudgingly) throughout! *Adding him to my growing list of book boyfriends*
The suspense and action in this book was so well executed! I was suspicious of everyone. Literally everyone. Even my baby Misha at one point 😬 Ultimately, ROAN GOT HIS REVENGE AND IT WAS SWEET!!
Ashlyn Drewek killed this! The way she weaved this story, in its darkness and rawness, had me captivated! If I could describe this book in another word (which I also totally looked up 😆) it'd be: Unputdownable. It was heartbreakingly beautiful with the sweetest HEA, and epilogues (yes two!) and drew me in right from the start. My heart is happy!
Also that author's note at the end was so good. I don't even have the words (what's new?). I encourage everyone to read it!
P.S. patiently twiddling my thumbs now for baby? daddy? baby daddy? Misha's book 👀. It's going to be soooooo good! So freaking good!
Do you ever just have to peruse a dictionary to find the right words to describe something? No? Same 🥴
Anyways, the best word I could find was perfection. This was utter perfection!
I have never been more proud of Roan Sinclair. I feel such a strong sense of camaraderie with his character because he's so real. The realest fictional character I've ever met. In book 1, we see him go though such a terrible experience and in book 2, we see him struggle through the aftermath but also rise up from it. He's so brave, and beautiful, and strong. Vengeful Roan is my favourite Roan! And does it make me a bad person that I'm mad his father is still alive?! I don't care 💅🏾
Sasha!!! Sasha will always be a hottie lamottie with a swimmer's (more like body builder's) body but I digress. Let's also just accept the fact that Sasha will always be a grumpy bear, and we love him for it. I loved him in all of his moodiness, especially for how he let Roan do what he needed to do, and supported him (sometimes grudgingly) throughout! *Adding him to my growing list of book boyfriends*
The suspense and action in this book was so well executed! I was suspicious of everyone. Literally everyone. Even my baby Misha at one point 😬 Ultimately, ROAN GOT HIS REVENGE AND IT WAS SWEET!!
Ashlyn Drewek killed this! The way she weaved this story, in its darkness and rawness, had me captivated! If I could describe this book in another word (which I also totally looked up 😆) it'd be: Unputdownable. It was heartbreakingly beautiful with the sweetest HEA, and epilogues (yes two!) and drew me in right from the start. My heart is happy!
Also that author's note at the end was so good. I don't even have the words (what's new?). I encourage everyone to read it!
P.S. patiently twiddling my thumbs now for baby? daddy? baby daddy? Misha's book 👀. It's going to be soooooo good! So freaking good!
December 9, 2022
2.5 Stars
Told in dual POV, 1st person, it’s the second installment in "The Solnyshko" duet and should be read in order. This wasn’t what I expected it to be. It started off good, but after the first half, I lost interest in the story. The struggle to finish it was hard. After reading 77% of the story I skipped a lot. Roan’s revenge was late in the story and I think he lost his light here. The story dragged a lot and it was a bit repetitive. I hated Sasha for what he did to that pregnant woman and Roan for making excuses for him. I’m sure there could have been other choices. Overall, it didn’t live up to my expectations but I hope you enjoy it more than me!
Told in dual POV, 1st person, it’s the second installment in "The Solnyshko" duet and should be read in order. This wasn’t what I expected it to be. It started off good, but after the first half, I lost interest in the story. The struggle to finish it was hard. After reading 77% of the story I skipped a lot. Roan’s revenge was late in the story and I think he lost his light here. The story dragged a lot and it was a bit repetitive. I hated Sasha for what he did to that pregnant woman and Roan for making excuses for him. I’m sure there could have been other choices. Overall, it didn’t live up to my expectations but I hope you enjoy it more than me!
February 25, 2022
i'm blaming ashlyn drewek for making me a bit delusional about this certain hot russian guy falling in love with me and calling me solnyshko every fucking time.
December 31, 2023
I loved this as much as I loved the previous one, but I felt that some parts of the book were unnecessary. (Something to do with a pregnant lady and the lighting director).
Over all, I would've loved seeing the growth of Sasha and Roan's relationship where they learnt to communicate after a traumatic event, but the ending was well worth it!
I'm over the moon that our ticklish Wolf and Brilliant Sun got the HEA they deserved.
Now I'll be twiddling my thumbs waiting for Misha and hopefully Ilya's story too!
P.s. I GET TO READ MISHA'S STORY NOW!!! Thank you, Ashlyn Drewek!!
Over all, I would've loved seeing the growth of Sasha and Roan's relationship where they learnt to communicate after a traumatic event, but the ending was well worth it!
I'm over the moon that our ticklish Wolf and Brilliant Sun got the HEA they deserved.
Now I'll be twiddling my thumbs waiting for Misha and hopefully Ilya's story too!
P.s. I GET TO READ MISHA'S STORY NOW!!! Thank you, Ashlyn Drewek!!
February 6, 2022
“You can’t do that to me,” he sighed, his eyelids heavy.
“It’s not like I planned it.” If I was going to pre-plan my arrest, it would have been before the fantasy movie marathon. I’d rather spend another night with the Irish brawlers than watch one more thing with a dwarf or elf or goblin in it.
“It’s love. And I know you don’t need it. You don’t need anything or anyone. You’ve made that abundantly clear. But I’m here if you want it.”
this was actually very nice. ^^ random quotes to make up for my lack of writing a review
“It’s not like I planned it.” If I was going to pre-plan my arrest, it would have been before the fantasy movie marathon. I’d rather spend another night with the Irish brawlers than watch one more thing with a dwarf or elf or goblin in it.
“It’s love. And I know you don’t need it. You don’t need anything or anyone. You’ve made that abundantly clear. But I’m here if you want it.”
this was actually very nice. ^^ random quotes to make up for my lack of writing a review
August 30, 2023
I thought the first one was incredible but the second book beats the first one definitely!
This was such a good story development and very well written, I kinda enjoyed this here more than in the first book!
But this book here was exactly as the previous one, an emotional rollercoaster.
Roams recovery journey…God to see Roan and Sasha so broken made my heart ache.
I was just so incredible glad to see that Sasha never let Roan down..he slowly tried his best to be supportive and tries to understand what’s going on inside of him. Even if he really struggled sometimes.
The both healed and stitched each other up (well for real tho) again …this was so beautiful to see🥹🩷.
Also the epilogue made me scream I was so happy that they finally get to be together, without worrying about any messed up things that usually followed them.
This was such a good story development and very well written, I kinda enjoyed this here more than in the first book!
But this book here was exactly as the previous one, an emotional rollercoaster.
Roams recovery journey…God to see Roan and Sasha so broken made my heart ache.
I was just so incredible glad to see that Sasha never let Roan down..he slowly tried his best to be supportive and tries to understand what’s going on inside of him. Even if he really struggled sometimes.
The both healed and stitched each other up (well for real tho) again …this was so beautiful to see🥹🩷.
Also the epilogue made me scream I was so happy that they finally get to be together, without worrying about any messed up things that usually followed them.
September 26, 2025
ohhh, shocking. my review was reported and removed.
Does Drewek need another safe space from the community she's profiting off of?!
DO NOT RECOMMEND authors like this.
I read it and I regret it.
Zero stars for profiting off a community you hate.
Zero stars for hiding in the MM author community.
Zero stars for supporting Trump.
Zero stars for reporting reviews, snowflake.
Does Drewek need another safe space from the community she's profiting off of?!
DO NOT RECOMMEND authors like this.
I read it and I regret it.
Zero stars for profiting off a community you hate.
Zero stars for hiding in the MM author community.
Zero stars for supporting Trump.
Zero stars for reporting reviews, snowflake.
September 24, 2025
My previous review wasn't ok by GR so... here I go again. For me this is a 1 star. Because reasons.
August 29, 2023
I'm rating this book with 4.5⭐ and rounding it up, because the story development was absolutely wonderful, much better than the first book and I appreciated all the side characters, whose stories I'm wholeheartedly invested in.
In this book Roan and Sasha live together in Misha's apartment building, Sasha was basically promoted, so he's making better money and working for Misha now.
🟣 Roan and Sasha living together
🔴 Trauma, therapy
🟢 Being closeted as a couple
🔵 No cheating, no break-up
🟡 Great side characters
🌶️ Great spice; t/b (I didn't adress it specifically in my review, but it goes without saying that the spice is really good, in this book very intimate)
The problem here is that Roan is a SA survivor and he absolutely can't get out of this depression he's fallen into. He lives with Sasha, but he's not there. He's invested in his music, his job, but since him and Sasha don't really talk and now for the past few months aren't intimate, the relationship is at a standstill.
I loved the way their relationship evolved past Roan's trauma and Sasha's insecurities about Roan being too good for him. They both know they want each other, so eventually they profess their love and everything was so damn believable.
There was no rush, no OTT romantic gestures, it was life-like, they didn't sugarcoat anything and most certainly didn't use big words for it, but that one "i love you" was enough.
It came after a really hard battle, a lot of times being sad, broken and alone, but it came and for me, that just cemented the whole deal, Sasha and Roan seem solid, a strong relationship, a strong connetion that can't be severed.
Eventually they start getting intimate, back to their old magic and Roan somehow lets go of the trauma he's had, although we know it never really does go away, but Sasha offers such a strong support, is there for Roan, isn't rushing him or straying, by all means no, so Roan does open up and they both find a way back to each other.
His vengeance is actually towards his father and it's present in the 2nd half of the book. Roan is taking back what he was cheated out of, and that's money and that final payback for all the ignorance and wrongs his father did to him.
I loved seeing a very resourceful Roan, who had this whole plan worked out, he was smart about it and was thinking about his and Sasha's future. He wanted for Sasha to quit the mafia business and for them to have a normal, quiet life together , which they definitely do in the end.
Yes, Sasha gets out and I absolutely loved it, I loved their new life!
Roan is making music and getting his awards and Sasha has his security business and damn, I'd love to see that in action! I'd love to know more about their job, about their everyday life, are they going to get married?? I feel like we haven't heard the last words from these two.
All of them such wonderful characters and here's me, hoping this will eventually turn into a series.
This book is as well written as the first one, but it does have a deeper note to it, so I enjoyed reading it, what an amazing journey!
Again, all the side characters are simply amazing, I can't state that enough, yes, and Sasha and Roan are definitely one of those couples I'll remember forever.
Misha , hands down, Misha is one of my favourite characters in this duet. Ilya, his nephew. who's working for Sasha, Bennett, who already has a whole series, actually, so I'll definitely get to that.
Freddy, who is Frankie's twin brother and seems like a decent guy. I think we all disliked Frankie, because we're in the male/male frame of mind and there's rarely any woman character who actually fits here, I think in this case it was Lada and noone else.
But what I'm really, really hoping is for the author to continue with this amazing world she's built and gives all of her side characters a story. Yes, even Valery and Eduard.
I absolutely recommend this duet.
In this book Roan and Sasha live together in Misha's apartment building, Sasha was basically promoted, so he's making better money and working for Misha now.
🟣 Roan and Sasha living together
🔴 Trauma, therapy
🟢 Being closeted as a couple
🔵 No cheating, no break-up
🟡 Great side characters
🌶️ Great spice; t/b (I didn't adress it specifically in my review, but it goes without saying that the spice is really good, in this book very intimate)
The problem here is that Roan is a SA survivor and he absolutely can't get out of this depression he's fallen into. He lives with Sasha, but he's not there. He's invested in his music, his job, but since him and Sasha don't really talk and now for the past few months aren't intimate, the relationship is at a standstill.
I loved the way their relationship evolved past Roan's trauma and Sasha's insecurities about Roan being too good for him. They both know they want each other, so eventually they profess their love and everything was so damn believable.
There was no rush, no OTT romantic gestures, it was life-like, they didn't sugarcoat anything and most certainly didn't use big words for it, but that one "i love you" was enough.
It came after a really hard battle, a lot of times being sad, broken and alone, but it came and for me, that just cemented the whole deal, Sasha and Roan seem solid, a strong relationship, a strong connetion that can't be severed.
Eventually they start getting intimate, back to their old magic and Roan somehow lets go of the trauma he's had, although we know it never really does go away, but Sasha offers such a strong support, is there for Roan, isn't rushing him or straying, by all means no, so Roan does open up and they both find a way back to each other.
His vengeance is actually towards his father and it's present in the 2nd half of the book. Roan is taking back what he was cheated out of, and that's money and that final payback for all the ignorance and wrongs his father did to him.
I loved seeing a very resourceful Roan, who had this whole plan worked out, he was smart about it and was thinking about his and Sasha's future. He wanted for Sasha to quit the mafia business and for them to have a normal, quiet life together , which they definitely do in the end.
Yes, Sasha gets out and I absolutely loved it, I loved their new life!
Roan is making music and getting his awards and Sasha has his security business and damn, I'd love to see that in action! I'd love to know more about their job, about their everyday life, are they going to get married?? I feel like we haven't heard the last words from these two.
All of them such wonderful characters and here's me, hoping this will eventually turn into a series.
This book is as well written as the first one, but it does have a deeper note to it, so I enjoyed reading it, what an amazing journey!
Again, all the side characters are simply amazing, I can't state that enough, yes, and Sasha and Roan are definitely one of those couples I'll remember forever.
Misha , hands down, Misha is one of my favourite characters in this duet. Ilya, his nephew. who's working for Sasha, Bennett, who already has a whole series, actually, so I'll definitely get to that.
Freddy, who is Frankie's twin brother and seems like a decent guy. I think we all disliked Frankie, because we're in the male/male frame of mind and there's rarely any woman character who actually fits here, I think in this case it was Lada and noone else.
But what I'm really, really hoping is for the author to continue with this amazing world she's built and gives all of her side characters a story. Yes, even Valery and Eduard.
I absolutely recommend this duet.
November 8, 2023
reread Nov. 2023
4/5 stars
I loved this book so much. This was a lot better than the first book. It made me love Sasha and Roan so much more.
4/5 stars
He was curled up next to me, still fast asleep, using my arm as a pillow. If that wasn’t enough, one of his legs was hooked around one of mine. I didn’t care. He could have used my whole body as a pillow and I wouldn’t have cared. I just liked being near him, especially like this.
I loved this book so much. This was a lot better than the first book. It made me love Sasha and Roan so much more.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t wrap my head around the fact someone like Roan loved someone like me, but I thanked God every day that he was mine. My sun. My everything.
February 27, 2022
Ashlyn Drewek is now officially a FAVORITE AUTHOR!!!! 😍 😍😍😍
5++++++++ stars story and writing style!!! Fucking awesome story and characters!!
5++++++++ stars story and writing style!!! Fucking awesome story and characters!!
September 20, 2023
°°°Since this is a duet this review will have spoilers for book one, so read with caution.
This book wasn't like book one with all of its lust, passion, and excitement. The honeymoon period of Roan and Sasha's relationship came to an abrupt end when Roan was sexually assaulted, and this book deals with that painful aftermath. Watching them work through Roan's depression and suicidal ideations was rough. Both of them blamed themselves for what happened to him, and it really didn't help that they didn't talk to each other about what they were feeling.
It was an agonizing experience but thanks to Sasha's unwavering love and patience in the face of Roan's sometimes outright hostility or dismissiveness they managed to get through it and after the 40% mark the story shifts gears and starts focusing more mob business and Roan's revenge against his father.
Throughout all of this, we get to witness their relationship grow stronger and them as individuals become better/more resilient versions of themselves. This was a great conclusion to their story. Realistic (or at least as realistic as you're going to get with this type of story) and beautifully handled. 🖤
A special thank you to the author for not subjecting me to Frankie more than once in this story. I couldn't stand her insensitive ass and I am so glad she was just sort of forgotten. If she had shown up in one of the epilogues, I would've died inside. 😑 3.75 stars, rounded up.
This book wasn't like book one with all of its lust, passion, and excitement. The honeymoon period of Roan and Sasha's relationship came to an abrupt end when Roan was sexually assaulted, and this book deals with that painful aftermath. Watching them work through Roan's depression and suicidal ideations was rough. Both of them blamed themselves for what happened to him, and it really didn't help that they didn't talk to each other about what they were feeling.
It was an agonizing experience but thanks to Sasha's unwavering love and patience in the face of Roan's sometimes outright hostility or dismissiveness they managed to get through it and after the 40% mark the story shifts gears and starts focusing more mob business and Roan's revenge against his father.
Throughout all of this, we get to witness their relationship grow stronger and them as individuals become better/more resilient versions of themselves. This was a great conclusion to their story. Realistic (or at least as realistic as you're going to get with this type of story) and beautifully handled. 🖤
A special thank you to the author for not subjecting me to Frankie more than once in this story. I couldn't stand her insensitive ass and I am so glad she was just sort of forgotten. If she had shown up in one of the epilogues, I would've died inside. 😑 3.75 stars, rounded up.
February 25, 2024
Tropes: grumpy/sunshine, age gap, hurt/comfort
Feels: 4/5
Steam*: 3.5/5
Kinks: n/a
Angst: medium
HEA: yes
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings: kidnapping, violence, murder, drugging, bad parents, homophobia, internalized homophobia, murder of child(ren), self harm, rape aftermath
Fyi, this is part one of a duet. When I read duets or trilogies, my thing is I read all of the books before I review them. I've read both books.
This book picks up where the other one left off. Roan is trying to recover from having been violently beaten and raped in book 1. Sasha got vengeance for him in that book, but that doesn't mean that there isn't healing that needs to happen from his trauma. They can't just continue as if nothing happened. Sasha is treating him like porcelain. Roan isn't happy about the kid gloves, though he knows he isn't ready for sex, he's on the brink of panic attacks. Roan goes to therapy. He and Sasha are in a bad place with their relationship. Sasha feels guilty and like he failed Roan and like he has to treat him differently. Roan blames himself for not listening and leaving the apartment. He resents being coddled. Sasha is jealous of a co-worker of Roan who's hitting on him, he's slightly worried Roan might be cheating on him but he's not!
It takes a number of months but they get back to a good place in their relationship. Sasha is now working for Misha who is also gay so he can get out from under some of the homophobia that's been playing him but he still has to not rub his relationship in front of other people. Sasha and Roan both have more allies and community now.
There's a lot going on plot wise in this book. In addition to them dealing with their relationship struggles and Roan's recovery, they are trying to take down Roan's father and there are a bunch of Russian power players threatening them. They go through it but they get a great happily ever after at the end, it was a satisfying end for them.
This was a great continuation of the first book. I liked both of them. I think they were really well thought out and written by the author. Roan and Sasha are very compelling characters, and they have a great relationship. I love that neither of them are perfect. They're both dicks in ways and I love that. Roan was so strong and smart too in this book. I loved the way that he took down his dad. Sasha in both books had his moments where he shone, but I loved that Roan was a mastermind here! And I loved that Sasha prioritized Roan time and time again. Ilya, Misha, and Bennett were great supporting characters. I liked the little moments of humor. I liked how they handled some really deep topics too, showed a lot of complexity.
Some notable moments:
"I leaned forward, eyes narrowed. “I picked the guy who looked at me like I was the center of his goddamn world. The guy who was willing to die for me. And the only person who ever made me feel like I was worth a damn.”"
Roan dying of embarrassment in the sex shop was hilarious. "She rolled her eyes and helped herself to an obscenely large, pitch-black dildo. “So it’s all systems go? You’re back to banging the criminal?” “None of your fu—” Frankie pointed the dildo at me, silencing my outraged response. “I call bullshit on whatever is about to come out of that pretty mouth. And as much as I might hate the asshole, I care about your asshole and I want it taken care of.” “Oh my God…” Fucking kill me now."
"“Where the fuck did you learn to shoot?” I held my breath for a minute before answering. It wasn’t that I was keeping it a secret, per se, but it was something I’d wanted to surprise Sasha with. At the very least, not make an idiot out of myself if we ever did go shooting. “Ilya.” He nodded, his arms tightening around me. “And the Russian?” “Ilya…” Again... not a secret, more like a happy surprise. He nodded again. “Did Ilya teach you anything else?” Inwardly I cringed, for both myself and my poor bodyguard. “How to beat you in Durak…” “That’s it. He’s fired.”"
Sasha is always going to be an a****** and I love it. "“I don’t give a fuck how many Oscars are on her mantel. My men are not there to walk her fucking dog.” He paused, his scowl tightening. “She hasn’t been relevant in twenty years. The only person who wants to kill her now is me.”"
*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.
**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.
Feels: 4/5
Steam*: 3.5/5
Kinks: n/a
Angst: medium
HEA: yes
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings: kidnapping, violence, murder, drugging, bad parents, homophobia, internalized homophobia, murder of child(ren), self harm, rape aftermath
Fyi, this is part one of a duet. When I read duets or trilogies, my thing is I read all of the books before I review them. I've read both books.
This book picks up where the other one left off. Roan is trying to recover from having been violently beaten and raped in book 1. Sasha got vengeance for him in that book, but that doesn't mean that there isn't healing that needs to happen from his trauma. They can't just continue as if nothing happened. Sasha is treating him like porcelain. Roan isn't happy about the kid gloves, though he knows he isn't ready for sex, he's on the brink of panic attacks. Roan goes to therapy. He and Sasha are in a bad place with their relationship. Sasha feels guilty and like he failed Roan and like he has to treat him differently. Roan blames himself for not listening and leaving the apartment. He resents being coddled. Sasha is jealous of a co-worker of Roan who's hitting on him, he's slightly worried Roan might be cheating on him but he's not!
It takes a number of months but they get back to a good place in their relationship. Sasha is now working for Misha who is also gay so he can get out from under some of the homophobia that's been playing him but he still has to not rub his relationship in front of other people. Sasha and Roan both have more allies and community now.
There's a lot going on plot wise in this book. In addition to them dealing with their relationship struggles and Roan's recovery, they are trying to take down Roan's father and there are a bunch of Russian power players threatening them. They go through it but they get a great happily ever after at the end, it was a satisfying end for them.
This was a great continuation of the first book. I liked both of them. I think they were really well thought out and written by the author. Roan and Sasha are very compelling characters, and they have a great relationship. I love that neither of them are perfect. They're both dicks in ways and I love that. Roan was so strong and smart too in this book. I loved the way that he took down his dad. Sasha in both books had his moments where he shone, but I loved that Roan was a mastermind here! And I loved that Sasha prioritized Roan time and time again. Ilya, Misha, and Bennett were great supporting characters. I liked the little moments of humor. I liked how they handled some really deep topics too, showed a lot of complexity.
Some notable moments:
"I leaned forward, eyes narrowed. “I picked the guy who looked at me like I was the center of his goddamn world. The guy who was willing to die for me. And the only person who ever made me feel like I was worth a damn.”"
Roan dying of embarrassment in the sex shop was hilarious. "She rolled her eyes and helped herself to an obscenely large, pitch-black dildo. “So it’s all systems go? You’re back to banging the criminal?” “None of your fu—” Frankie pointed the dildo at me, silencing my outraged response. “I call bullshit on whatever is about to come out of that pretty mouth. And as much as I might hate the asshole, I care about your asshole and I want it taken care of.” “Oh my God…” Fucking kill me now."
"“Where the fuck did you learn to shoot?” I held my breath for a minute before answering. It wasn’t that I was keeping it a secret, per se, but it was something I’d wanted to surprise Sasha with. At the very least, not make an idiot out of myself if we ever did go shooting. “Ilya.” He nodded, his arms tightening around me. “And the Russian?” “Ilya…” Again... not a secret, more like a happy surprise. He nodded again. “Did Ilya teach you anything else?” Inwardly I cringed, for both myself and my poor bodyguard. “How to beat you in Durak…” “That’s it. He’s fired.”"
Sasha is always going to be an a****** and I love it. "“I don’t give a fuck how many Oscars are on her mantel. My men are not there to walk her fucking dog.” He paused, his scowl tightening. “She hasn’t been relevant in twenty years. The only person who wants to kill her now is me.”"
*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.
**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2022
heads ♪ will ♪ roll ♪
uhhh … i liked both books about the same, sooo … 🤷♀️
which, look. did i hate the solnyshko duet? no, of course not. but … i was expecting something god-tier and instead was served middling-tier. which … eh. my fault for having such high expectations.
that said, i do want to stress how great the vengeance of roan sinclair was at nailing romantic moments. some of the moments in this (and book one) were incredibly romantic and memorable.
plot.
☀ roan sinclair … recovering.
☀ aleksandr (sasha) vassiliev … in love with roan.
☀ stockholm-syndrome to the max: hot-mess-express° edition.
cw.
roan sinclair.
i don't like roan sinclair.
i-💀
i'm going to hell aren't i?
and i was ready you guys. i was ready to empathize with him, cry with him, feel with him, and cheer him on, and … nothing. nope. nada.
i spent the first half of the book wanting to lock him in his therapists office, and i spent the second half of the book wondering who tf this roan bodysnatcher was.
again, roan had some great moments *cough* him orchestrating his dad's kidnapping *cough* but memorable moments don't equal memorable character.
me reading part one (before forty percent):
me reading part two (after forty percent):
in summary.
⤷ i'm a terrible person.
⤷ and i hate that i disliked roan sinclair.
sasha vassiliev.
sasha needs a deep-tissue massage, cause he must be in excruciating pain from carrying this entire duet on his back ♥
another book, another three glaring thoughts about the absolute star character of this duet.
𖤐 one. sasha can still fucking get it.
𖤐 two. sasha can really really fucking get it.
𖤐 three. i don't understand why he wants to climb roan like a tree.
once again, sasha was thee standout character of the solnyshko duet. which … it's kinda funny cause i really feel like ashlyn drewek wanted roan to be the star character, alas …
i think all of the meaningful character development went into sasha. because, wow. the sasha we meet in kidnapping is completely different from the sasha we are left with in vengeance. and yet … it wasn't a bad or unrecognizable different.
instead, the sasha we are left with feels like his most authentic self. like, my mans is still not afraid to cut a bitch for roan, but ... he's also settled and happy.
and happy is a good look on sasha.
the romance.
the romance has me so conflicted it's not even funny. i want to say ❛fuck it❜ and put a bunch of my favorite quotes, but … that would feel disingenuous. cause, while the sasharoan romance had some really memorable moments, as a whole it left me feeling some type of way.
what worked.
𖤐 sasha.
𖤐 sasha being romantic.
𖤐 sasha dicking roan down.
𖤐 sasha.
thank you for coming to my ted talk 😌
what did not work.
𖤐 the why of it all.
𖤐 we kept getting teased about sasha 🍑
𖤐 miscommunication.
not me agreeing with roan in the above quote 🙃
↳ there were many romantic moments that i liked.
↳ and yet … i'm still confused about why roan and sasha are together.
↳ i kinda want my own sasha ♥:
because i'm lazy … let's wrap this shit up ♥
you know, i'm actually really glad i decided to read the solnyshko duet. sasha is now one of my all time favorite characters, and roan … well roan is also there. but sasha, his character development was a thing of beauty.
things i also have opinions on.
☀ roan's trauma.
… i like that we actually saw how his assault effected him.
… but it was never brought up after forty percent.
… i guess sasha's dick really does work miracles.
☀ frankie.
… i hate her so freaking much.
… she's the worst.
… her entire scene had me shaking in anger.
… i-🖕😤
☀ the plot.
… hahahaha, no.
… it kinda randomly came out of nowhere.
… i didn't really care.
☀ the side-characters.
… i can't wait for misha's book.
… i'm hoping ilya also gets his own book.
overall, the vengeance of roan sinclair was a nice ending to a solid duet.
𖤐𖤐𖤐 kidnapping
𖤐𖤐𖤐 vengeance
❝kidnap anyone lately?❞ i asked with a smirk of my own.
❝just you. always you.❞
uhhh … i liked both books about the same, sooo … 🤷♀️
which, look. did i hate the solnyshko duet? no, of course not. but … i was expecting something god-tier and instead was served middling-tier. which … eh. my fault for having such high expectations.
that said, i do want to stress how great the vengeance of roan sinclair was at nailing romantic moments. some of the moments in this (and book one) were incredibly romantic and memorable.
❝i’ll relax when we’re home and i can take this ridiculous thing off.❞
❝i think you look hot.❞ i shot him a coy smile and bit my lower lip suggestively. ❝my big bad wolf.❞
❝i hate you right now,❞ he said, completely deadpan.
plot.
☀ roan sinclair … recovering.
☀ aleksandr (sasha) vassiliev … in love with roan.
☀ stockholm-syndrome to the max: hot-mess-express° edition.
cw.
❝sasha, do you love me?❞
❝of course i fucking love you!❞
❝then forget the rest, because it doesn’t matter.❞
❝it does matter.❞
❝i love you and you love me. that’s all i care about.❞
❝but—❞
❝no. no ❛buts.❜❞
roan sinclair.
i don't like roan sinclair.
i-💀
i'm going to hell aren't i?
and i was ready you guys. i was ready to empathize with him, cry with him, feel with him, and cheer him on, and … nothing. nope. nada.
i spent the first half of the book wanting to lock him in his therapists office, and i spent the second half of the book wondering who tf this roan bodysnatcher was.
again, roan had some great moments *cough* him orchestrating his dad's kidnapping *cough* but memorable moments don't equal memorable character.
me reading part one (before forty percent):
me reading part two (after forty percent):
in summary.
⤷ i'm a terrible person.
⤷ and i hate that i disliked roan sinclair.
❝i don’t want you to ever forget who you are, what you can do,❞ he said quietly. ❝no matter what happens, the sun always rises.❞
sasha vassiliev.
sasha needs a deep-tissue massage, cause he must be in excruciating pain from carrying this entire duet on his back ♥
another book, another three glaring thoughts about the absolute star character of this duet.
𖤐 one. sasha can still fucking get it.
𖤐 two. sasha can really really fucking get it.
𖤐 three. i don't understand why he wants to climb roan like a tree.
once again, sasha was thee standout character of the solnyshko duet. which … it's kinda funny cause i really feel like ashlyn drewek wanted roan to be the star character, alas …
i think all of the meaningful character development went into sasha. because, wow. the sasha we meet in kidnapping is completely different from the sasha we are left with in vengeance. and yet … it wasn't a bad or unrecognizable different.
instead, the sasha we are left with feels like his most authentic self. like, my mans is still not afraid to cut a bitch for roan, but ... he's also settled and happy.
and happy is a good look on sasha.
❝even if you left me tomorrow, i would still love this tattoo. you were the first good thing that was ever mine. everything i’ve done here, the good i’ve done here, is because of you.❞
the romance.
the romance has me so conflicted it's not even funny. i want to say ❛fuck it❜ and put a bunch of my favorite quotes, but … that would feel disingenuous. cause, while the sasharoan romance had some really memorable moments, as a whole it left me feeling some type of way.
what worked.
𖤐 sasha.
𖤐 sasha being romantic.
❝do you want to know what happened to the last man who didn’t listen to me? i peeled his face off while he was still alive. keep it up and you’ll lose more than your fucking tongue.❞
𖤐 sasha dicking roan down.
𖤐 sasha.
thank you for coming to my ted talk 😌
what did not work.
𖤐 the why of it all.
❝i want you, roan. that’s it.❞
❝that’s it? really?❞
at the moment, i’d probably have an easier time convincing him the sun rose in the west. ❝yes, really. i don’t know why you don’t believe me.❞
❝i didn’t realize your standards were so low.❞
i made a face at him. ❝don’t be stupid.❞
❝don’t be a dick,❞ he spat back, making the same irritated face at me.
𖤐 we kept getting teased about sasha 🍑
𖤐 miscommunication.
not me agreeing with roan in the above quote 🙃
↳ there were many romantic moments that i liked.
↳ and yet … i'm still confused about why roan and sasha are together.
↳ i kinda want my own sasha ♥:
❝you’re going to torture that guy?❞
❝yes.❞
fuck, he didn’t even blink! ❝why?❞ i practically gasped the word. ❝why not kill him and be done with it?❞
❝he was going to kill you. he doesn’t get off that easy,❞ sasha replied, as if the answer was obvious. ❝are you still hungry?❞
❝what?❞
❝breakfast.❞ he glanced at his watch. ❝well, brunch now. right? brunch? that’s the word?❞
if he was anyone else, i would have thought he was fucking joking. ❝you cannot talk about torturing someone to death and then turn around and take me to brunch!❞
❝why not?❞
of course he blinked that time. not over torture and death — food.
❝you’re hungry. let’s go eat. it’s going to be a long day for me.❞
i-✋🥺💕
because i'm lazy … let's wrap this shit up ♥
you know, i'm actually really glad i decided to read the solnyshko duet. sasha is now one of my all time favorite characters, and roan … well roan is also there. but sasha, his character development was a thing of beauty.
❝you know, I’m not going to think less of you if you say something about your feelings once in a while.❞
❝i’m not a fucking greeting card,❞ i muttered.
he laughed softly and ran his hands over my chest, idly tracing some of my tattoos. ❝trust me, i know. i’m just saying… it would be nice to hear—❞
❝roan?❞
❝yeah?❞
❝shut up and kiss me.❞
things i also have opinions on.
☀ roan's trauma.
… i like that we actually saw how his assault effected him.
… but it was never brought up after forty percent.
… i guess sasha's dick really does work miracles.
☀ frankie.
… i hate her so freaking much.
… she's the worst.
… her entire scene had me shaking in anger.
… i-🖕😤
☀ the plot.
… hahahaha, no.
… it kinda randomly came out of nowhere.
… i didn't really care.
☀ the side-characters.
… i can't wait for misha's book.
… i'm hoping ilya also gets his own book.
overall, the vengeance of roan sinclair was a nice ending to a solid duet.
❝you don’t like the way i’m treating you, solnyshko? you think i’ve been too gentle? too soft?❞ he squeezed the arteries in my neck until I thought my head was going to explode from the pressure. ❝you want me to be the fucking wolf for you?❞
𖤐𖤐𖤐 kidnapping
𖤐𖤐𖤐 vengeance
January 6, 2022
This book is the sequel of The Kidnapping of Roan Sinclair. Book 1 does have a happy for now, but there are a few unanswered question / future projet, so you clearly don't want to miss out on book 2.
Sasha and Roan are still the same aka Grumpy and Sunshine, but they have to go over some difficulties first, since the trauma that happened in book 1. After that, they get sexy, funny, AND POSSESSIVE 😈😈😌😌.
So basically, I really liked it.
I am so excited for Misha's book
I am so bad at reviewing, sorry. This is my first one.
Sasha and Roan are still the same aka Grumpy and Sunshine, but they have to go over some difficulties first, since the trauma that happened in book 1. After that, they get sexy, funny, AND POSSESSIVE 😈😈😌😌.
So basically, I really liked it.
I am so excited for Misha's book
I am so bad at reviewing, sorry. This is my first one.
January 31, 2022
*** I received an ARC for an honest review ***
First, Kudos to this Author for writing an amazing story. A hard storyline and a hard topic!
This book was fantastic. I was enthralled.
Every single page was strategically important and connected to the overall story.
I loved the banter between the two MCs and the internal dialogue was hilarious! The love and devotion was absolutely beautiful and brutal. This is not a pretty story it was hard and painful at times, but real isn’t always pretty.
Overall this is a 5 star book. Great plot. Amazing MCs. Fantastic writing style. I loved every page!
Sasha and Roan ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
We also get to see the lovely, beautiful and enduring psychos ❤️❤️
Be still my heart!!
And..
Misha…. Oh the lovely Misha❤️
First, Kudos to this Author for writing an amazing story. A hard storyline and a hard topic!
This book was fantastic. I was enthralled.
Every single page was strategically important and connected to the overall story.
I loved the banter between the two MCs and the internal dialogue was hilarious! The love and devotion was absolutely beautiful and brutal. This is not a pretty story it was hard and painful at times, but real isn’t always pretty.
Overall this is a 5 star book. Great plot. Amazing MCs. Fantastic writing style. I loved every page!
Sasha and Roan ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
We also get to see the lovely, beautiful and enduring psychos ❤️❤️
Be still my heart!!
And..
Misha…. Oh the lovely Misha❤️
May 19, 2022
4 ★'s
in my opinion, the book did not start out great. i loved the fact that the author was trying to show us the trauma that roan was going through but i did not like how it was portrayed.
instead of talking ab it they either fought or had sex and that is never the solution. i also felt that after the initial long drawn out chapters of them fighting, his trauma kinda just disappeared (??) like there was no talk ab it?? not complaining since all they did was fight instead of talk but like ??
also, we got absolutely nothing ab sasha's past and that really, really pissed me off
moving onto the romance, i loved it. it was beautiful. they had each other's back and more importantly they understood each other.
sasha had a soft side to match roan's and roan had an evil side to match sasha's. they truly balanced each other and they loved each other and it was just beautiful.
i loved how strong roan became in the later part of the book. his revenge plan and the way he did not shy away from embracing his evil side was just so refreshing and amazing to read about. Philip Sinclair deserved everything that he went through and honestly so much more.
also unpopular opinion alert i HATED frankie. and i LOVED freddy.
frankie annoyed the fuck out of me. she was supposed to be supportive and kind and just be there for roan but there was none of that. she was just loud and obnoxious and seemed like she always got what she wanted. she pissed me off so much and im glad we didn't have to see much of her in the later part of the book. freddy, on the other hand, was supportive and i really liked him.
this some what reminded me of the energy that Stavros and Daniel had from the Staniel Duet and that is like one of my most favourite books ever and so i loved that
overall, an amazing duet and i need more rec's of this kind so help a girl out
________________________
#1 The Kidnapping of Roan Sinclair ★★★★
#2 The Vengeance of Roan Sinclair ★★★★
in my opinion, the book did not start out great. i loved the fact that the author was trying to show us the trauma that roan was going through but i did not like how it was portrayed.
instead of talking ab it they either fought or had sex and that is never the solution. i also felt that after the initial long drawn out chapters of them fighting, his trauma kinda just disappeared (??) like there was no talk ab it?? not complaining since all they did was fight instead of talk but like ??
also, we got absolutely nothing ab sasha's past and that really, really pissed me off
"How can you care," he asked, grudgingly looking up at me, "knowing what you know?"
"Because I love you. I love all of you. The good, the bad, and the fucking ugly. Just like you love me."
moving onto the romance, i loved it. it was beautiful. they had each other's back and more importantly they understood each other.
sasha had a soft side to match roan's and roan had an evil side to match sasha's. they truly balanced each other and they loved each other and it was just beautiful.
'Three little words, followed by four little words. Soft, loving sentiment after a shooting. How fucked up was that? He was proud of me for trying to murder someone. That’s not something you should be fucking proud of.'
i loved how strong roan became in the later part of the book. his revenge plan and the way he did not shy away from embracing his evil side was just so refreshing and amazing to read about. Philip Sinclair deserved everything that he went through and honestly so much more.
also unpopular opinion alert i HATED frankie. and i LOVED freddy.
frankie annoyed the fuck out of me. she was supposed to be supportive and kind and just be there for roan but there was none of that. she was just loud and obnoxious and seemed like she always got what she wanted. she pissed me off so much and im glad we didn't have to see much of her in the later part of the book. freddy, on the other hand, was supportive and i really liked him.
If he was anyone else, I would have thought he was fucking joking. "You cannot talk about torturing someone to death and then turn around and take me to brunch!"
this some what reminded me of the energy that Stavros and Daniel had from the Staniel Duet and that is like one of my most favourite books ever and so i loved that
"Missing home?" I asked, slipping my arms around his waist and pressing my cheek to his back.
"You’re my home." He dialled down the heat and turned in my arms, kissing me.
overall, an amazing duet and i need more rec's of this kind so help a girl out
________________________
#1 The Kidnapping of Roan Sinclair ★★★★
#2 The Vengeance of Roan Sinclair ★★★★
April 6, 2022
This ended up being a bit flat for me, especially in comparison to the first book.
Romance:
On the romance side, I liked seeing Roan and Sasha have to work to overcome their differences and stubborness, and many many communication failures. They had some very sweet moments peppered in throughout the book. However, I didn't feel like they adequately learned how to communicate, even a little. Would have liked a little more word use or acts of service or something to show that growth a bit more.
The plot(s):
On the plot side, I had three main criticisms.
1. Vengeance...?
I expected a larger portion of the story to involve some sort of vengeance, given it's the title. The actual vengeance takes a long time to arrive, and feels a bit...neat, almost. Too easy, too fast, etc. Roan somehow has skills to plan this multi step thing, even though Bennett (omg i love bennett) does a lot of it.
2. The other hundred plots
There's a lot of other plot things going on, and it felt like they kept getting lost and then reappearing at random. The book starts with bodyguard drama, then Ilya vanishes for a large part of the book, before reappearing. Kazimir is a threat, but only sort of, so he doesn't feel too important. Daria leaves ominous threats and then vanishes, both literally and figuratively. The prison visit was like a tour with how much it mattered. Ultimately, there was just so much going on that none of it felt important.
Focusing on one larger plot and maybe only a few little ones would have made this feel a lot more cohesive, and ratchet up the tension.
3. The epilogues
okay there is such a thing as too cheesy, especially considering the tone of the original book. This went way into cheese land. I also was a little confused - wouldn't they want to keep a bit lower of a profile after exiting the criminal land? Sasha does have a reputation. Or is LA far enough for them to be on TV safely, etc. Mostly it was just over the top dramatic success, and not having seen them really have the background for this (especially Sasha, I thought he was murder, not thief?) made it come out of nowhere.
Overall, I'll probably stick to just reading the first book in the future, as I found the HFN to be satisfying enough for me. It maintained tone and a plot thread much better.
Romance:
On the romance side, I liked seeing Roan and Sasha have to work to overcome their differences and stubborness, and many many communication failures. They had some very sweet moments peppered in throughout the book. However, I didn't feel like they adequately learned how to communicate, even a little. Would have liked a little more word use or acts of service or something to show that growth a bit more.
The plot(s):
On the plot side, I had three main criticisms.
1. Vengeance...?
I expected a larger portion of the story to involve some sort of vengeance, given it's the title. The actual vengeance takes a long time to arrive, and feels a bit...neat, almost. Too easy, too fast, etc. Roan somehow has skills to plan this multi step thing, even though Bennett (omg i love bennett) does a lot of it.
2. The other hundred plots
There's a lot of other plot things going on, and it felt like they kept getting lost and then reappearing at random. The book starts with bodyguard drama, then Ilya vanishes for a large part of the book, before reappearing. Kazimir is a threat, but only sort of, so he doesn't feel too important. Daria leaves ominous threats and then vanishes, both literally and figuratively. The prison visit was like a tour with how much it mattered. Ultimately, there was just so much going on that none of it felt important.
Focusing on one larger plot and maybe only a few little ones would have made this feel a lot more cohesive, and ratchet up the tension.
3. The epilogues
okay there is such a thing as too cheesy, especially considering the tone of the original book. This went way into cheese land. I also was a little confused - wouldn't they want to keep a bit lower of a profile after exiting the criminal land? Sasha does have a reputation. Or is LA far enough for them to be on TV safely, etc. Mostly it was just over the top dramatic success, and not having seen them really have the background for this (especially Sasha, I thought he was murder, not thief?) made it come out of nowhere.
Overall, I'll probably stick to just reading the first book in the future, as I found the HFN to be satisfying enough for me. It maintained tone and a plot thread much better.
May 19, 2022
love doesn’t equal romance
Why I felt the need to put myself through book 2 is a mystery. I honestly thought this “romance” would end in a murder suicide.
There’s dark romance and then there is this book. Ugh. Roan should have run away and stayed away. Spoiler alert Sasha is a depraved person. He kills a pregnant woman as she begged for her life. Like WTF. No TW for that. I’ll never read this author again.
This book was such trauma porn on steroids it was gross. I’m embarrassed I even read this until the end tbh. Something must be wrong with me.
Don’t read this. It’s terrible and will give you nightmares. Not a romance just two troubled people that should really not be together.
Why I felt the need to put myself through book 2 is a mystery. I honestly thought this “romance” would end in a murder suicide.
There’s dark romance and then there is this book. Ugh. Roan should have run away and stayed away. Spoiler alert Sasha is a depraved person. He kills a pregnant woman as she begged for her life. Like WTF. No TW for that. I’ll never read this author again.
This book was such trauma porn on steroids it was gross. I’m embarrassed I even read this until the end tbh. Something must be wrong with me.
Don’t read this. It’s terrible and will give you nightmares. Not a romance just two troubled people that should really not be together.
December 11, 2024
Después de todo lo que paso Roan con su secuestro, su violación y su venganza a manos de Sasha, no debería estar vivo. Pero su amor por Sasha lo mantiene cuerdo. Pero cuando Sasha comienza a alejarse de él, Roan piensa que puede morir, sus pesadillas aumentan, su humor es cada vez menos dulce, y su rencor hacia Sasha se esta volviendo mas grande que su amor.
Por otro lado, Sasha no sabe que hacer, ambos están a salvo en su mundo, Roan esta persiguiendo su sueño de ser compositor, y él tiene un trabajo estable para el jefe de la mafia, y sin embargo, parece que su relación con Roan esta cada vez peor.
Que podrán hacer para volver a ser como antes? Como Sasha se dará cuenta de lo que necesita Roan? Cuando Roan dejará de sentirse culpable por lo que paso? Y que pasará con la familia de Roan?
Para ser la 2da y última parte de la serie, este libro es extremadamente dramático. Tiene momentos interesantes, y algunos diálogos que pueden hacerte pensar, pero la primera mitad es deprimente, agotadora y aburrida. No había forma que logrará conectar con ninguno de los protas. Ni con la rabia que Sasha por no saber que hacer, ni con la culpa de Roan por "dejarse" violar. Los pocos momentos interesantes en esa primera parte, fueron las interacciones con Ilya y Frankie. Además el final quedo como muy rosa, muy falso, pero bueno, es un HEA.
En fin, un autor nuevo que resulto interesante de leer, seguro buscaré otras series de él para leer mas adelante.
Por otro lado, Sasha no sabe que hacer, ambos están a salvo en su mundo, Roan esta persiguiendo su sueño de ser compositor, y él tiene un trabajo estable para el jefe de la mafia, y sin embargo, parece que su relación con Roan esta cada vez peor.
Que podrán hacer para volver a ser como antes? Como Sasha se dará cuenta de lo que necesita Roan? Cuando Roan dejará de sentirse culpable por lo que paso? Y que pasará con la familia de Roan?
Para ser la 2da y última parte de la serie, este libro es extremadamente dramático. Tiene momentos interesantes, y algunos diálogos que pueden hacerte pensar, pero la primera mitad es deprimente, agotadora y aburrida. No había forma que logrará conectar con ninguno de los protas. Ni con la rabia que Sasha por no saber que hacer, ni con la culpa de Roan por "dejarse" violar. Los pocos momentos interesantes en esa primera parte, fueron las interacciones con Ilya y Frankie. Además el final quedo como muy rosa, muy falso, pero bueno, es un HEA.
En fin, un autor nuevo que resulto interesante de leer, seguro buscaré otras series de él para leer mas adelante.
January 16, 2024
3.25/5
February 1, 2022
I was excited to dive into this second installment, and overall, it didn't disappoint.
Roan Sinclair went through hell in the last book. He was kidnapped, held for quite awhile, his horrible father didn't want to bother to pay the ransom for his own child, and then later on he was attacked and raped by four men.
The one bright spot was Sasha, who is as ruthless as they come. But despite how he was a part of Roan's kidnapping, a connection formed between them, and they couldn't stay away from each other.
After Roan's horrible attack, though, things aren't easy, to say the least.
For a good half of this book, Roan is in a fairly dark place, understandably. He went through hell, and while he's healed physically, mentally and emotionally is another matter.
He goes to therapy, but it doesn't seem to help much. Sasha is trying his best to be there for Roan, but all Sasha has known is harshness, darkness, and brutality for basically his whole life. He doesn't really know how to handle this situation the right way.
While I understand all that, and the place Roan was in, I do wish that at some point these two would have a breakthrough conversation. These two had all these thoughts about what was wrong, about what their issues were, but decided to never talk about it. Sasha was of the "what good would it do" persuasion while Roan was of the "Sasha hates to talk about that stuff, doesn't ever talk about that heavy stuff, so what's the point?" persuasion.
I would have understood them not communicating well for a good portion of this, but I do wish at some point they had had at least one big talk to get it all out in the open. I know that's not in Sasha's nature, but I felt like a breaking point had to come where they just spilled all their thoughts and feelings, because the pain got to be too much.
But really what happened is that eventually Roan was ready for sex, Sasha was holding back, but eventually gave in too. They led up to it a little bit with a dildo, but only a bit before they got to penetrative sex, and then things just...started to get better, because they were having sex.
Which is a big part of Roan's (and Sasha's) recovery. I was happy they were eventually able to get there. But I personally just don't think sex solves everything, even the issue of Roan being raped. They could get to the sex having part, but I personally don't think that would just cure Roan of being in that bad, dark and painful place.
I at least wanted them to have a real talk, to lay it all out, all the pain, all their feelings, of the past few months. Just to have that connection, that emotional connection as well as the physical. Roan still wouldn't have been all the way better, and I think being a survivor of rape is a life long struggle, but I think he could have gotten to a better place regardless, maybe even a healed place.
Him getting to that healed place with just the hurdle of sex didn't quite sit right with me. Roan and Sasha never truly, in depth, talked about things, talked about how they were both handling the aftermath of what happened in the previous book. I really wanted that talk or talks. No matter who Sasha is or how he is, I just wanted that talk. Maybe Roan would force the talk, but Sasha would grudgingly give in because he loves him and well, they're in it now.
But that never came, and I just felt a bit disappointed as this went on and they just kinda moved on and never talked. I don't think Roan going a *tiny* bit on the darker side to get back at his father is what he needed to be healed from what other people did to him. Some healing, for what his father did to him his whole life and how treated him, but not for the attack.
So I thought that part of this could have been handled better. Also, near the end, I thought Sasha was able to a little too easily. Would . I didn't quite buy that, that it was just that easy.
But, other than those two things, I did overall enjoy this a lot. Despite the early struggle, seeing these two get back to Roan and Sasha was wonderful, even if I didn't agree with how they got there. I loved seeing them become such a strong team again, and Sasha willing to do anything for Roan.
And I did like the angst for what it was, that it wasn't easy for Roan. It felt real, how much Roan struggled with what happened, and Sasha too in his own way. They both were going through shit, Roan more than anyone, but they never gave up on each other. Roan might have come close, but it never actually got to that point.
I always love when, if a couple is going through a hard time, they don't give up on each other. I'd always much rather read that with an established couple than them breaking up. I love to see couples fight for their relationship, and Roan and Sasha did do that, even if it happened the easier route of just through sex.
I also loved seeing these two get to have their HEA. After all they went through, them getting to be happy together for the rest of their lives is the best thing.
Once they got back to having sex, the steam was great as well. These two have such great chemistry.
The rest of the story, aside from Roan getting vengeance on his father, was Sasha having to deal with people from his past in Russia. The brother of Viktor, his old boss, is out of prison and headed for the U.S., and his daughter, who Sasha used to sleep with and who completely betrayed him (and so he hates her) also pops up.
That story provides nice closure for Sasha and his own storyline, while Roan gets his own closure with the storyline with his horrible father, and finally getting the upper hand with the asshole.
So overall, this would have been 5 stars for me if these two had talked, in detail, about their problems at all. Not doing that just made me feel too disappointed to give this 5 stars. As well as the easy , just made me feel like I couldn't give this more than 4 stars.
The rest though, was great and I loved getting one more installment with this couple. I definitely can't wait for more stories from this author 😍
Roan Sinclair went through hell in the last book. He was kidnapped, held for quite awhile, his horrible father didn't want to bother to pay the ransom for his own child, and then later on he was attacked and raped by four men.
The one bright spot was Sasha, who is as ruthless as they come. But despite how he was a part of Roan's kidnapping, a connection formed between them, and they couldn't stay away from each other.
After Roan's horrible attack, though, things aren't easy, to say the least.
For a good half of this book, Roan is in a fairly dark place, understandably. He went through hell, and while he's healed physically, mentally and emotionally is another matter.
He goes to therapy, but it doesn't seem to help much. Sasha is trying his best to be there for Roan, but all Sasha has known is harshness, darkness, and brutality for basically his whole life. He doesn't really know how to handle this situation the right way.
While I understand all that, and the place Roan was in, I do wish that at some point these two would have a breakthrough conversation. These two had all these thoughts about what was wrong, about what their issues were, but decided to never talk about it. Sasha was of the "what good would it do" persuasion while Roan was of the "Sasha hates to talk about that stuff, doesn't ever talk about that heavy stuff, so what's the point?" persuasion.
I would have understood them not communicating well for a good portion of this, but I do wish at some point they had had at least one big talk to get it all out in the open. I know that's not in Sasha's nature, but I felt like a breaking point had to come where they just spilled all their thoughts and feelings, because the pain got to be too much.
But really what happened is that eventually Roan was ready for sex, Sasha was holding back, but eventually gave in too. They led up to it a little bit with a dildo, but only a bit before they got to penetrative sex, and then things just...started to get better, because they were having sex.
Which is a big part of Roan's (and Sasha's) recovery. I was happy they were eventually able to get there. But I personally just don't think sex solves everything, even the issue of Roan being raped. They could get to the sex having part, but I personally don't think that would just cure Roan of being in that bad, dark and painful place.
I at least wanted them to have a real talk, to lay it all out, all the pain, all their feelings, of the past few months. Just to have that connection, that emotional connection as well as the physical. Roan still wouldn't have been all the way better, and I think being a survivor of rape is a life long struggle, but I think he could have gotten to a better place regardless, maybe even a healed place.
Him getting to that healed place with just the hurdle of sex didn't quite sit right with me. Roan and Sasha never truly, in depth, talked about things, talked about how they were both handling the aftermath of what happened in the previous book. I really wanted that talk or talks. No matter who Sasha is or how he is, I just wanted that talk. Maybe Roan would force the talk, but Sasha would grudgingly give in because he loves him and well, they're in it now.
But that never came, and I just felt a bit disappointed as this went on and they just kinda moved on and never talked. I don't think Roan going a *tiny* bit on the darker side to get back at his father is what he needed to be healed from what other people did to him. Some healing, for what his father did to him his whole life and how treated him, but not for the attack.
So I thought that part of this could have been handled better. Also, near the end, I thought Sasha was able to a little too easily. Would . I didn't quite buy that, that it was just that easy.
But, other than those two things, I did overall enjoy this a lot. Despite the early struggle, seeing these two get back to Roan and Sasha was wonderful, even if I didn't agree with how they got there. I loved seeing them become such a strong team again, and Sasha willing to do anything for Roan.
And I did like the angst for what it was, that it wasn't easy for Roan. It felt real, how much Roan struggled with what happened, and Sasha too in his own way. They both were going through shit, Roan more than anyone, but they never gave up on each other. Roan might have come close, but it never actually got to that point.
I always love when, if a couple is going through a hard time, they don't give up on each other. I'd always much rather read that with an established couple than them breaking up. I love to see couples fight for their relationship, and Roan and Sasha did do that, even if it happened the easier route of just through sex.
I also loved seeing these two get to have their HEA. After all they went through, them getting to be happy together for the rest of their lives is the best thing.
Once they got back to having sex, the steam was great as well. These two have such great chemistry.
The rest of the story, aside from Roan getting vengeance on his father, was Sasha having to deal with people from his past in Russia. The brother of Viktor, his old boss, is out of prison and headed for the U.S., and his daughter, who Sasha used to sleep with and who completely betrayed him (and so he hates her) also pops up.
That story provides nice closure for Sasha and his own storyline, while Roan gets his own closure with the storyline with his horrible father, and finally getting the upper hand with the asshole.
So overall, this would have been 5 stars for me if these two had talked, in detail, about their problems at all. Not doing that just made me feel too disappointed to give this 5 stars. As well as the easy , just made me feel like I couldn't give this more than 4 stars.
The rest though, was great and I loved getting one more installment with this couple. I definitely can't wait for more stories from this author 😍
November 28, 2023
3.5 stars
It’s better than book 1 and has some emotional scenes that will pull at your heartstrings.
It’s better than book 1 and has some emotional scenes that will pull at your heartstrings.
April 4, 2022
DNF @ 37%
I can't believe I'm DNFing an Ashlyn Drewek book, but this wasn't what I was expecting at all. If a story has the word 'vengeance' in the title, talks about vengeance in the summary and is marketed as dark romance, I have certain expectations. Unfortunately, those expectations weren't met in the 37% that I read. In addition, I didn't like how Sasha's characterization was changed and I realized Roan and Sasha make no sense to me as a couple.
My first set of problems were the pacing, tone balance and overall narrative direction of this story. Instead of being focused on Roan's revenge and other mafia shenanigans with Roan's assault recovery being a companion plotline, the majority of the focus was on the assault recovery. While I'm happy the author decided to shine the light on a subject that's too often ignored or handwaved away as being unimportant, that wasn't what the marketing of this book promised me. The pace was very slow with tons of internal monologuing from Roan complete with circling thoughts, a lack of self-confidence and paranoia. All things to be expected from somebody suffering from depression and recovering from a brutal assault. But again - that's not what I was expecting or hoping to read.
Then there was the lack of tone balance. The author did a perfect job finding the right balance between dark and light moments in books like The Damnation Of Leander Welles and The Wrath Of Leander Welles where Bennett's humor and the cute interactions between Leander and Bennett perfectly balanced out the dark stuff happening. Even The Kidnapping Of Roan Sinclair had it done right. But in this book, everything is depressing and dark with no breaks. Roan is depressed, Sasha is angry and violent and Roan's dad is an asshole. Having the tone be dark all the time not only bored me but it made me react with repulsion and annoyance when the author went above and beyond to include something gruesome for the sake of being dark. For example, . There was no point to this over the top gruesome violence and that makes me think it was only done so the author can justify slapping the 'dark romance' label on this book, when the majority of the content wouldn't qualify. That's when my annoyance started.
My annoyance continued when I started to realize that Sasha and Roan don't work as a couple. This should have been obvious to me in the first book, but there was so much going on that I didn't think about it. But this book's slow pace and boring plotline really hammered home the fact that these two guys are amazing characters but they don't make any sense as a couple. They live in completely different worlds and more importantly, they have no respect, interest or enthusiasm for the other person's world. That's fine, but it means the only thing these two had in common was that they're sexually attracted to each other and they like having sex together. Even if they wanted to be part of each other worlds more, it wasn't possible. They couldn't (and didn't want to) be part of each other's social lives and due to mafia rules, they weren't allowed to be a couple out in public. All they had was having sex in their apartment. That's it. And that's not a relationship that has any hopes of lasting long term.
Making things worse is that poor Sasha spends a lot of time in this book desperately trying to understand Roan and help him. Unfortunately, Sasha has never spent much time with people like Roan and has no idea how to relate to him. Sasha's world operates in a completely different way from Roan's and I felt so bad for him when Roan got mad at Sasha's efforts to be helpful or supportive. For example, . This was a prime example for why these two don't make sense as a couple. I like both characters and I understand both of their viewpoints, but they're completely incompatible.
Speaking of criminal things, another thing that really started to annoy me in this book is Roan's casual 'ignorance is bliss' approach to Sasha's mafia activities. Roan constantly complains and lectures Sasha about how wrong his activities are, yet Roan continues benefitting from them. He knows Sasha spends his days murdering, torturing and beating people for money and Roan is quick to lecture and moralize at Sasha, but Roan continues living in the expensive apartment that's paid for by that money and not going to the police or doing anything else to help Sasha's victims. I'm perfectly happy with two characters who are both criminals and have no moral hang-ups about what they do, but I have a problem with characters who want the best of both worlds without any of the consequences. This is why I love characters like Leander, Bennett and Sasha and why Roan annoys me.
Speaking of Bennett, I found it funny that most of the side characters in this story would have made much better partners for both Roan and Sasha. Roan's interactions with Samuel or even Ilya were great and they got along with barely any effort. As for Sasha, he needs somebody positive to balance his constant pessimism, but it needs to be somebody who Sasha trusts to be able to take care of himself. Somebody like Misha or Bennett (don't worry, I'm not advocating for breaking up one of my favorite OTPs). Seeing Roan and Sasha interacting with many people who seemed to fit with them way better added to my dislike of them as a couple.
Related to Sasha, I didn't understand what the author was doing with him in this story. He went from being a grumpy and intelligent pessimist who easily identified Roan's moods through the music he played before he'd even met Roan to somebody who acted like a dumb caveman. He was constantly manhandling and yelling at people around Roan, with no regard to who was around. His insistence that Roan have a bodyguard accompany him 24/7 felt over the top, especially when we learn that he murdered Roan's former bodyguard for daring to get rear ended. I understand Roan's assault upset him and made him be overprotective, but his caveman antics were way too much and it made him seem like a cartoon character. The part I stopped reading was at the masquerade ball where the author had Sasha's speech patterns change so he was actually talking like a caveman with choppy sentences and cartoon-villain-type phrasing. It was ridiculous and I couldn't take it seriously.
The only positive thing I brought away from this book is something that shocked me. I actually liked Frankie in this book. While I hated her in the first one and thought all of her scenes were a waste, I liked what the author did with her here. Not only was her immaturity and child-like behavior toned way down and she acted like somebody her age should, but I love that she refused to let Roan pull away from her and insisted on helping him any way she could. She did her own research on assault survivors and when Roan continued ignoring her due to his depression, she flew from NY to Chicago to help him. She knows him so well that she knew exactly what to say and do to help be supportive but also to help him move forward. Unfortunately, this once again emphasized the wide gulf between Roan and Sasha because Sasha's efforts almost always went sideways. In any case, the fact that Frankie and Bennett (and various other side characters) were the best part of what I read meant I didn't want to continue.
I can't believe I'm DNFing an Ashlyn Drewek book, but this wasn't what I was expecting at all. If a story has the word 'vengeance' in the title, talks about vengeance in the summary and is marketed as dark romance, I have certain expectations. Unfortunately, those expectations weren't met in the 37% that I read. In addition, I didn't like how Sasha's characterization was changed and I realized Roan and Sasha make no sense to me as a couple.
My first set of problems were the pacing, tone balance and overall narrative direction of this story. Instead of being focused on Roan's revenge and other mafia shenanigans with Roan's assault recovery being a companion plotline, the majority of the focus was on the assault recovery. While I'm happy the author decided to shine the light on a subject that's too often ignored or handwaved away as being unimportant, that wasn't what the marketing of this book promised me. The pace was very slow with tons of internal monologuing from Roan complete with circling thoughts, a lack of self-confidence and paranoia. All things to be expected from somebody suffering from depression and recovering from a brutal assault. But again - that's not what I was expecting or hoping to read.
Then there was the lack of tone balance. The author did a perfect job finding the right balance between dark and light moments in books like The Damnation Of Leander Welles and The Wrath Of Leander Welles where Bennett's humor and the cute interactions between Leander and Bennett perfectly balanced out the dark stuff happening. Even The Kidnapping Of Roan Sinclair had it done right. But in this book, everything is depressing and dark with no breaks. Roan is depressed, Sasha is angry and violent and Roan's dad is an asshole. Having the tone be dark all the time not only bored me but it made me react with repulsion and annoyance when the author went above and beyond to include something gruesome for the sake of being dark. For example, . There was no point to this over the top gruesome violence and that makes me think it was only done so the author can justify slapping the 'dark romance' label on this book, when the majority of the content wouldn't qualify. That's when my annoyance started.
My annoyance continued when I started to realize that Sasha and Roan don't work as a couple. This should have been obvious to me in the first book, but there was so much going on that I didn't think about it. But this book's slow pace and boring plotline really hammered home the fact that these two guys are amazing characters but they don't make any sense as a couple. They live in completely different worlds and more importantly, they have no respect, interest or enthusiasm for the other person's world. That's fine, but it means the only thing these two had in common was that they're sexually attracted to each other and they like having sex together. Even if they wanted to be part of each other worlds more, it wasn't possible. They couldn't (and didn't want to) be part of each other's social lives and due to mafia rules, they weren't allowed to be a couple out in public. All they had was having sex in their apartment. That's it. And that's not a relationship that has any hopes of lasting long term.
Making things worse is that poor Sasha spends a lot of time in this book desperately trying to understand Roan and help him. Unfortunately, Sasha has never spent much time with people like Roan and has no idea how to relate to him. Sasha's world operates in a completely different way from Roan's and I felt so bad for him when Roan got mad at Sasha's efforts to be helpful or supportive. For example, . This was a prime example for why these two don't make sense as a couple. I like both characters and I understand both of their viewpoints, but they're completely incompatible.
Speaking of criminal things, another thing that really started to annoy me in this book is Roan's casual 'ignorance is bliss' approach to Sasha's mafia activities. Roan constantly complains and lectures Sasha about how wrong his activities are, yet Roan continues benefitting from them. He knows Sasha spends his days murdering, torturing and beating people for money and Roan is quick to lecture and moralize at Sasha, but Roan continues living in the expensive apartment that's paid for by that money and not going to the police or doing anything else to help Sasha's victims. I'm perfectly happy with two characters who are both criminals and have no moral hang-ups about what they do, but I have a problem with characters who want the best of both worlds without any of the consequences. This is why I love characters like Leander, Bennett and Sasha and why Roan annoys me.
Speaking of Bennett, I found it funny that most of the side characters in this story would have made much better partners for both Roan and Sasha. Roan's interactions with Samuel or even Ilya were great and they got along with barely any effort. As for Sasha, he needs somebody positive to balance his constant pessimism, but it needs to be somebody who Sasha trusts to be able to take care of himself. Somebody like Misha or Bennett (don't worry, I'm not advocating for breaking up one of my favorite OTPs). Seeing Roan and Sasha interacting with many people who seemed to fit with them way better added to my dislike of them as a couple.
Related to Sasha, I didn't understand what the author was doing with him in this story. He went from being a grumpy and intelligent pessimist who easily identified Roan's moods through the music he played before he'd even met Roan to somebody who acted like a dumb caveman. He was constantly manhandling and yelling at people around Roan, with no regard to who was around. His insistence that Roan have a bodyguard accompany him 24/7 felt over the top, especially when we learn that he murdered Roan's former bodyguard for daring to get rear ended. I understand Roan's assault upset him and made him be overprotective, but his caveman antics were way too much and it made him seem like a cartoon character. The part I stopped reading was at the masquerade ball where the author had Sasha's speech patterns change so he was actually talking like a caveman with choppy sentences and cartoon-villain-type phrasing. It was ridiculous and I couldn't take it seriously.
The only positive thing I brought away from this book is something that shocked me. I actually liked Frankie in this book. While I hated her in the first one and thought all of her scenes were a waste, I liked what the author did with her here. Not only was her immaturity and child-like behavior toned way down and she acted like somebody her age should, but I love that she refused to let Roan pull away from her and insisted on helping him any way she could. She did her own research on assault survivors and when Roan continued ignoring her due to his depression, she flew from NY to Chicago to help him. She knows him so well that she knew exactly what to say and do to help be supportive but also to help him move forward. Unfortunately, this once again emphasized the wide gulf between Roan and Sasha because Sasha's efforts almost always went sideways. In any case, the fact that Frankie and Bennett (and various other side characters) were the best part of what I read meant I didn't want to continue.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 332 reviews