Promised to the Killer

by B.B. Hamel

Her family tossed her aside like a broken doll.
But she's my shining treasure and I'll kill to make her mine.

Siena Bastone is going to die. She's the cast-off traitorous daughter of a minor mafia family with deliciously pouty lips and a wicked tongue.

But after we spend one unforgettable night of sin in a hotel room, I can't walk away.

I pull her from her family's clutches and make her my own. I save her from punishment and torture—and drag her into my world.

She's my toy. My plaything. Nothing more. Never more.

I'm too wrecked and twisted to ever let myself get too close to a woman—especially a woman like Siena.

Until I get a peek beneath her ice-cold surface and taste the heat bubbling up from her core.

My father will never approve of this arrangement. He'll cut my throat before he lets me take a traitor as my bride.

But I can't get enough, and I might tear apart my family in the process.

Welcome to the first steamy book in the Novalov Bratva series! You're going to fall in love with Maxim and Siena's gut-wrenching story, just like I did.

Promised to the Killer is a full-length standalone novel with no cliff-hanger and a gauranteed HEA. Enjoy!

Genres: Dark Romance, Romance, Mafia Romance, Dark, Suspense, Crime, Enemies To Lovers

376 pages, Paperback

First published March 2, 2022

About the author

I'm a long time reader, writer, and lover of Romance! Writing is my dream and my passion, and I want to share my stories with you.

I live in the Philadelphia area with my husband and two dogs.

Website: http://www.bbhamel.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bbhamelwriter

Check out my mailing list for updates, giveaways, and more! http://bbhamel.com/signup

Reviews

[Coco.V · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book immensely!
Interesting characters, tightly woven plot and flaming hot chemistry. I enjoyed reading Siena and Maxims story and following them on their journey. Numerous intriguing secondary characters I would love to read about. Looking forward to the next story. Overall rating: 4.5 stars!


💝 I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. 💝

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great start to a new mafia series. Maxim and Siena meet and sparks fly and they share a steamy night together. When Siena is branded a traitor by her family, Maxim rescues her and makes her his toy, but he wants so much more. He knows his father won’t approve; will he be able to let her go? Fast-paced read with loads of drama, suspense and twists and turns. Intense chemistry and plenty of sizzling scenes. I loved it.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

so good!!

You can’t help but continue to flip pages until the very end. You will be enthralled to complete in one sitting. I loved the fiery sienna and the hard impenetrable maxim. He has quite the reputation but he melts for sienna. I loved watching him soften for her. Even her fiesta nature. He always wanted a good Bratva bride who was obedient and subservient but he is drawn to sienna. I loved how he fought for her and how despite everything he wanted her. Only needed one pep talk from his mom but it was warranted after what his dad and her horrible father did. I love that all the siblings worked out their crap. Enzo, Santo and Franco learned to grow a pair and defend their sister and apologize for their mistakes. And then maxims brothers had his back too. I liked that feliks came to his senses and tried to help sienna and maxim, he just wanted to be heir. But he loved maxim. And jasha always smiling and their for them both. Loved the story. I hope we get to see more of jasha and feliks.

[Magali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful anti-heroes
4.5
I found it to be a really good dark romance between Siena, the daughter of a petty Italian mobster specializing in prostitution, and Maxim, the adopted son of a very powerful Russian mobster boss. The subject is not easy to approach, and yet the narrative manages to remain romantic, with a beautiful writing which makes it possible to create empathy even for the shadow part of Maxim. There is even a Cinderella side to the land of the mafia for Siena who is surrounded by twisted people.
Their story is very hot and intense, sometimes a little hard to read, with the first chapters starting off with a bang.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book

[Steffi De Ceuster ♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

O dear God, why the f did I buy it?
The preview sounded so good and promising, from there on out it went downhill fast and stayed..

So Maxim is a maffia heir, he really didn't seem like it.. Maybe I read to much, but he was just so darn soft and let people get away with a lot that others wouldn't.

Then everyone is scared of the Don, but I just didn't get it.. He didn't sound so bad..

For me this one was just to soft to be maffia.
And don't get me started on Sienna djeez what a girl...

I'm sad that I've read it, good that others loved it, but for me it wasn't dark badass maffia..

[JoAnna VanDorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG Max is book boyfriend worthy!!! This was my first book by this author but it won’t be my last!!! It was suggested by a friend for a Bingo spot.

Like I seriously need a arranged marriage or be kidnapped by a hot mafia/bravta member who will un alive any one who messes with me 🤣🤣

I was definitely disappointed a tad bit that this book is a few years old but there’s only one book in the series 🤣🤣😭😭 I need more.

Spice level was a pepper and half

[Nicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this read about Maxim and Siena. Maxim is the heir to his father’s throne as head of the Novalov Bratva family. Siena is the daughter of Don Bastone who treats her horribly. Interesting story.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the start of one AMAZING Mafia series by BB and it will be a page turner until the very end! We get to take a dark, possessive, powerful ride with Maxim, 2nd in command of the Russian Bratva expecting to marry a docile obedient bride but one night in a bar he meets a beautiful woman, Sienna. They spend one unforgettable night together as Sienna knows it’s her last night of living and she ends up leaving Maxim early the next day to face her sins. Being from a Italian Mafia family her only value is to marry and have babies but when she’s caught being a traitor her father and brother want to end her so Sienna is sent to work in one of the brothels as a maid and never to be seen again. Maxim’s family wants to do a business deal with Sienna’s family and when Maxim finally sets eyes on her after 2 months looking for her he does not give up until he gets her but is he ready to pay the price he’ll have to endure to get her to safety? These two start out as one night lovers, enemies, filled with hate to actually falling in love. There are those out there to continue to push Sienna down, punish, give her pain and heartbreak over and over. Their love is tested on many levels and when the bottom falls out they both believe their lives are over. When Maxim has some sense kicked into him does he realize who he is and takes the fight to those who have Sienna to get her back no matter what comes next. In the end Sienna’s brothers, Enzo, Santo and Franco make decisions to move forward with a cost they are ready to face. Then along the way both of Maxim’s brothers join him in helping him stand up for Sienna and their love. I also enjoyed Maxim’s sisters and look forward to the next story in this series!! I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jill Haworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maxim is a notorious member of the Volokov Bratva. Siena is the daughter of a lower mob boss. She had allowed a girl of her fathers to escape the whore house where she was being forced to work, believing that she was going to go home as she’d said. Instead she’d gone straight to the police. All of this made Siena a traitor to her family. A family that had always treated her less than. Her oldest brother thought nothing about punishing her.
Siena decides she’s not going to die a virgin and escapes her home for one night. In a bar she meets Maxim. It’s only later in the hotel room when she realises who he really is, but the passion between them is intense.
When Maxim discovers her months later, cleaning a whore house of her fathers that he’s touring on business, and sees her being slapped around by the madam, none of it sits right with him. But he’s in a precarious position. He’s next in line for pakhan, but not by a true blood link. His stepbrother Feliks is always trying to twist the knife. Plus he doesn’t know Siena’s true identity until he makes a deal that is to make her his wife. But once the clock starts ticking, they’re on borrowed time…
This was a brilliant, interesting and enjoyable read, albeit dark in places.
The chemistry between Maxim and Siena is passionate and they really are it for each other. But Siena’s father is a snake, and cannot be trusted. A sexy alpha, a strong heroine, plenty of chemistry and untrustworthy adversaries. What more can you ask for. Brilliant.. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Promised to the Killer” is the dramatic start to a new series by author BB Hamel. This is the first in a new series of mafia stories set in Dallas, TX. I’m glad to be able to tell you that this was an intense story that captured my attention immediately and kept it straight through to the end.

We first met Maxim in “Shattered Prince” when he had a small secondary role. Even in that he was intriguing, and I was so glad to see him featured in this story. Siena is the daughter of a local mafia boss who has infuriated her father by doing something that interfered with someone related to ‘business.’ Convinced that her father will punish her for being a traitor, Siena sneaks out to experience life for a single night. Lucky for her, that night ends up being with Maxim. Complete chaos begins the next day and the pace of the story never slows down.

Several things in this story were startling and unexpected, and there are surprising twists and turns. I’m trying to be careful not to ruin it for you because it’s so entertaining. Maxim and Siena are both multifaceted characters. I was particularly impressed with the depth he shows. The evil characters are exquisitely terrible and sometimes may make you cringe. Both lead characters have siblings who are sometimes also surprising, and I liked Maxim’s mother. I thought the ending was done well, and I’m really looking forward to the rest of this series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I also purchased a copy on Amazon.

[CherylB · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in B.B. Hamel’s newest story arc set in Texas. This on features Maxim Novalov. He is the scion in the Novalov Bratva. He is a tough, smart, tattooed killer. Then there is Siena Bastone. She is the daughter of Don Bastone. She is considered a traitor for trying to help one of their sex workers escape. As punishment she is sent to work as a cleaner in one of their houses. She is ridiculed and beaten. But the night before he fall from grace she snuck out and picked up a guy, Maxim of course, to have one night a a free woman and lose her virginity. Afterword Maxim has spent two months searching g for her. When he is sent by his father to learn about the flesh industry he stumbles across Siena. Things get more interesting from there. This book is full of action, angst and steam. Can Maxim get his family, especially his father, to accept Siena as his wife? Will Siena survive the very bumpy road she is on? I love BB Hamel’s books for the depth of her characters and the realistic worlds they inhabit. I can’t wait to see who falls next. I did receive an advance copy for my review.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Promised to the Killer: A Dark Mafia Romance is book one in the Novalov Bratva Series. It's standalone novel with no cliffhanger and a guaranteed HEA. This is Maxim and Siena story. It's decadent, raw, gripping and dark. I love this book. The chemistry between the two is off charts. The drama and suspense has blown me away in this book. Great start to the series and I can't wait for the second book. Intense, hot, steamy, and action packed. The heat was seeping through the pages. Siena is the cast off traitorous daughter of a minor mafia family. She did something to upset her dad she was convinced that it would end in punishment so she snuck out to have her last night of freedom. She ended up meeting Maxim and the two spend one night of passion together that he could not forget that would have him scouring earth for. Siena was sent to brothel . There were so many complexities swirl through this story and twists and turns, surprises, secrets, and so much more. The story was beautifully written with exceptional characters and an amazing storyline.

I received an advanced copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lisa Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Siena is going be dead tomorrow so she sneaks out of her house to find a man to be her first time. She is in a bar where she meets Maxim. They go back to a hotel he frequents and spend the night together, she leaves while he is still sleeping. She goes back home to face her fate, believing that her father will kill her, instead he installs her as a maid in one of his brothels.

It has been two months and Maxim cannot get Siena out of his head, he father head of the Novalov Bratva sends him to meet with Don Bastone for the possibility of joint business venture. He sees Siena at the brothel and is angry, how could a father do that to his daughter?

Maxim has a tenuous position as second in command, is he willing to risk it all for Siena? Can he leave her there?

There is a lot steamy scenes, violence and action, keeps you turning the page until finished.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[lf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense and Delicious

Promised to the Killer is the first book in the new Novalov Bratva series. This book introduces the reader to the new Russian Bratva crime family and a whole new world of dark and twisted bad men that you love in fantasies but wouldn't want to meet in real life. At least that is Maxim Novalov for me....the "sex-on-a-stick" man who is broken and twisted. It is his meeting and white hot night of sin with Siena Bastone that will play havoc with his heart, body and mind.

This is a well written book that has a deliciously dark and intense story-line filled with drama, action, danger, twists and twistedness, fiery, and a lot more. The characters are interesting and are things you don't quite expect but are so happy to discover as they fight their way to there own version of a HEA.

I received a copy of this book and am leaving my honest review. My opinions are all my own.

[Korkoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two Lost Souls Finding Each Other -
Wow! That is the first thing that came into my mind when I finished reading this book. I really loved the story from start to finish, as it pulled me in, by taking me on one heck of a rollercoaster ride of emotions. I just kept rooting for Maxim and Siena to not only get their happy ending together, but for them to find a solution suitable for all the good people, without resorting violence. It was good to see a different take on how the Bratva works.

I can definitely say the hours I spent reading this book was well worth it, because once you start reading, there would be no chance of you wanting to stop, until you reach the end. I suggest you make this book your next weekend read.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Susanh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book

Siena doesn’t want to die a virgin. And after what she did, she expects to die in the morning. So, she goes looking for a man to take her virginity. She never expected to find the heir of the region’s bratva. Then, instead of killing her, her family sentences her to work in one of their brothels. This may be a fate worse than death.

Since he’s adopted, Maxim has had to work twice as hard to get half as far in his father’s eyes. When he finds the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen at a bar, he can’t help but bring her back to his room. Even though she disappears in the morning, he can’t get her out of his mind. When he sees her again at a brothel his father wants in his organization, he can’t believe his luck. But what happens next is heartbreaking. Can they find a way to each other?

[Ms Cat's World · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flawed Heir

Siena Bastone, only daughter to a minor Mafia family, turning traitor, shunned and rejected from her princess title, sent to work as a slave in one of their brothels. Her three brothers and her live under a dark cloud of anger and abuse throughout their lives.

Maxim Novalov first appeared in Cap and Mal's storyline in Bitter Pledge, then again in Shattered Prince with Carmine. This also introduces his siblings: Feliks 22, Jasha 20, Galina 18, and Emilia 16.

Book immersed me in Siena's pain and tormented life. Maxim was heartbreakingly sweet to her as he strived to keep his "father" impressed and his Bratva. His flaws were continuously brought to down upon him. Can't wait to see what the author writes in this series and wondering if she is going to write about Siena's brothers as well. By the way, always looking forward to more from this author!

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first in a new series and what a great story Maxim and Siena’s journey is. Siena is the cast-off daughter of a mafia family, and after one passion filled night together, Maxim cannot let her go. The chemistry between these two is combustible and undeniable. This is a well written story which is dark, raw, gritty, and powerful emotionally roller coaster, with violence, action, twists, intrigue, drama, tension, family, passion, and love, which lead to a heartwrenching and steamy all-consuming page turner. I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I always highly recommend.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[K. Smock · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!! This is a dark mafia romance. There is Maxim who is the heir to the Novalov Bravata or is he? Then there is Siena. She is a mafia princess for a lesser Italian mafia that basically sells women for their money. Siena does something that is unforgiveable to her family so the night before she is caught, she decides to go out on her own and really live life. Unbeknownst to her, the guy who interests her is Maxim. She gives herself to him in a night of passion and loses her virginity to him. From there it just gets twisted, and her fate is not death but something worse. The story has lots of twists and turns that keeps you reading to the end. This is a good one. Enjoy!

I wrote this review from reading and advanced copy of this book from Booksprout.

[Leanne Bryson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic read starting with a haunting cover (those eyes & lips, swoon). Maxim is heir to the Novalov Bratva, but not the typical criminal, he's so much more. Siena is the daughter of a minor mafia boss, but has angered her father by interfering with someone related to "business"and knows she will be punished. She escapes her home for one night of freedom and ends up in Maxim's arms. This story sizzles, has great steam, action, drama, twists, and turns. BB Hamel has written some great characters with depth, passion, and so much more. Great Strat tooth's series and the entire Novalov Bratva series will be available to read for free with your Kindle Unlimited Subscription. Loved this book

I received an ARC from Booksprout and this is my honest review.

[Carolyn Spence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maxim and Siena, two totally different people, met by chance, but intertwined like no others. A gripping read, especially the heartache that Siena goes through and trying to save her friends. Maxim, he has his own reasons for taking her, now he has to figure out a way to keep her. I loved their initial meeting, castles and treasures. Devils and demons abound in this book and its epic to watch how they fall in the end. Toy, pet, princess, loved that description, as well, "pleasure and pain", totally true. He knew exactly what she needed before she did, it was a pleasure to read. Zookeeper, what a perfect description. Loved this book.

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome Dark Mafia Romance
Another well written mafia romance by B.B. Hamel. It is a perfect balance of steamy romance, drama, action, violence and suspense. Maxim and Siena are both products of mafia families that have not had it easy and are walking a fine line with their violent mafia fathers who do not think twice about punishing and using violence against them. Some of their siblings are working against them as well. There was so many twists and turns in this story that I had trouble putting it down till I was finished.
I received an ARC of this book from the author in return for voluntarily writing an honest review.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

One steamy night was all it took for Maxim the Novalov heir to fall for Sienna the mafia princess. She thought she was going to be killed for being a traitor to her family so she escaped for one final night and now he's determined to save her and make her his. This is a fast paced mafia romance with dangerous characters, intense chemistry, family drama, and unexpected twists that held me captive until the very last page. Promised to the Killer is book one in the Novalov Bratva series and I absolutely loved it. I can't wait to read the rest of this series. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book. Siena and maxim are very good together. She does something that is forbidden on the mafia family she thought she was gonna die so she has a one night stand to the heir of the notorious mafia family. She goes back home to face the consequences and I can't believe she oldest brother did what he did and her horrible father if I had family like that and put me in where they did I would be like their dead to me I have no father or brother but the other 2 brothers weren't bad. Maxim falls in love with Siena and once he finds out who she is they have up hill battle to conquer. You'll have to read to see what happens I highly recommend this book

[JenMcJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. I liked this book and it might be fairer to round up to 4 stars but Sienna got on my last nerve when Maxim first rescues her from the Cinderella situation she lands in. I mean, the ungratefulness of it is just stunning. She blames him for her problems like a entitled brat when she brought it on herself. Whether she deserved that treatment isn't the issue, but not taking responsibility and being bitchy to Maxim was just too much for me to get over.

Additionally, I feel like this book needed an epilogue. I honestly don't know how the new family working dynamic is going to work and I'd like to see how the author envisioned the HEA for these two.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book but there is nothing sweet about it, it is full of violence and sadness with occasional moments of lightness or happiness. Maxim and Siena have a chemistry that is off the charts, but initially they don’t like each other. They both are battling against difficult fathers and almost impossible odds at ever being together. This is an emotional rollercoaster with more downs than ups and is very sad at times, but the ending is lovely and they find the happiness they deserve.

[Gladys · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought that this book was absolutely delectable, and boy do I want more of this enticing new series. I loved the intense complexity of Maxim and Siena, and their chemistry was absolutely incendiary!!! I found the story fiercely gripping and once I started reading, I resented every single second that I had to put this book down. A skillfully crafted and wicked smart combination of drama, emotion, tension, poignancy and twists went down smoothly and sinfully easy. I am freely posting a frank review.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rollercoaster of emotions. I absolutely loved this story! Siena and Maxim first meet by chance, and their chemistry is seriously hot. After a one night stand, Siena disappears and though Maxim searches for her for 2 months, he doesn't find her until a chance encounter. From there things get complicated, and throughout the story there are ups and downs and you will definitely feel them along with the main characters. But don't worry. Everything works out for them in the end.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sara Barney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one-night-stand enemies-to-lovers story featuring Maxim of the Novalov Bratva and his pursuit of Siena who happens to be on the outs with her own mafia family as well as unacceptable to his family. With so much working against her, how can Siena possibly find a happy ever after? With a bit of violence and betrayal and steam the couple makes for and entertaining read and I can't wait for more of the family.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Hanan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast paced suspenseful story.
Maxim is the heir to the bratva Novalov Family.
They are ruthless, deadly and without mercy.
And Maxim is no exception.
Siena is the only daughter of the mafia Don Guido Bastone.
If you’re thinking spoiled mafia princess well I’ll let you know she’s far from it.
Both Maxim and Siena try desperately to win the approval of their tough fathers.
Both are trying to find their place in life.
One passion filled night has turned into so much more.
Siena and Maxim will never be the same again.
Nor the Bastone and Novalov families.