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The Petrov Legacy #1
Trapping His Queen
After being betrayed by my own, I found myself banished to a crap-hole city in the northeastern part of America, a disowned Bratva royal in hiding, wanted by the Mafia for crimes against a Don.
I’m simply biding my time, plotting my return to Russia to reclaim my family inheritance and my Bratva throne from my little brother…
But then I met her in some dingy bar with terrible music and even worse alcohol.
What is better than returning to Russia to oust my brother and reclaim my birthright? Doing so with an heir already secured in the soft womb of a gorgeous woman.
I will abduct her. I will seduce her. I will breed her. And then she will die, as tradition dictates. So why am I finding myself envisioning a future with her by my side?
As for my little malishka, she dreams of freedom and yearns to escape my claim. But I will never let her go. Only death will part us now, and how soon that happens depends on her.
Trapping His Queen is a full-length standalone novel with an HEA, but the series presents a better reading experience when following the suggested order. This series contains dark elements, including an over-the-top villain who does as he pleases. Please read at your own discretion.
I’m simply biding my time, plotting my return to Russia to reclaim my family inheritance and my Bratva throne from my little brother…
But then I met her in some dingy bar with terrible music and even worse alcohol.
What is better than returning to Russia to oust my brother and reclaim my birthright? Doing so with an heir already secured in the soft womb of a gorgeous woman.
I will abduct her. I will seduce her. I will breed her. And then she will die, as tradition dictates. So why am I finding myself envisioning a future with her by my side?
As for my little malishka, she dreams of freedom and yearns to escape my claim. But I will never let her go. Only death will part us now, and how soon that happens depends on her.
Trapping His Queen is a full-length standalone novel with an HEA, but the series presents a better reading experience when following the suggested order. This series contains dark elements, including an over-the-top villain who does as he pleases. Please read at your own discretion.
285 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 6, 2022
408 people are currently reading
985 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
January 24, 2023
3.5 stars
This author writes dark and spicy with diversity, and I’m here for it. The actions, the dialogue and character intersection were not rendered as naturally as would be expected in more seasoned writing. And initially more telling than showing, particularly in character and story development. Sloane and Alexei’s initial attraction didn’t feel authentic, lacking a bit of burn in intensity. Alexei just says he likes her and all the physical reasons why, but I didn’t feel their connection. Their relationship upon first meeting wasn’t credible, by words, actions, or attraction. Rather, everything felt professed.
Despite my sentiments on the writing style, I decided to push on and read more, and simply began to immerse myself in the story. Boring, it was not! And the pace was medium-fast.
Alexei was alluringly unhinged especially once he set his sights on Sloane. I appreciated his crazed fascination for her and desire to, in his words, breed her, own her body, mind, soul. From somnophilia to day to day drugging — just to keep the feisty woman docile — Alexei was obsessed, and in the meanwhile, he was living covertly as a second in command pakhan, escaped from his home Russia. His background, their love affair, and Sloane’s entanglement with the local MC made for an entertaining story.
I was here for all the spice (4/5), the dark themes, their love fights.
The young boy, Roman, came across unrealistically, unbelievably older than his 11 years. I didn’t feel he was a child prodigy and that his street sense and life experience belied his age. However, I liked the clever striking up a deal and his becoming Alexei’s protege, this pakhan in training, and claimed family member. Creative, and matches with the crazy nature of Alexei.
There were a few plot flaws and an abrupt, rushed ending that didn’t really close the story. Though it was a happy ever after, it left loose ends — does the legacy continue of severing ties mother and first-born (son), for instance — and started the next book in the series with the younger brother.
Still, I am looking forward to reading about Viktor especially if he is just as unhinged and obsessed with a woman of color as his brother. Certainly Alexei would not take no for an answer. Unapologetic, hot antihero who relentlessly claims (and finds love with) his woman.
His love may be insane, but it was still love.
- Sloane
This author writes dark and spicy with diversity, and I’m here for it. The actions, the dialogue and character intersection were not rendered as naturally as would be expected in more seasoned writing. And initially more telling than showing, particularly in character and story development. Sloane and Alexei’s initial attraction didn’t feel authentic, lacking a bit of burn in intensity. Alexei just says he likes her and all the physical reasons why, but I didn’t feel their connection. Their relationship upon first meeting wasn’t credible, by words, actions, or attraction. Rather, everything felt professed.
Despite my sentiments on the writing style, I decided to push on and read more, and simply began to immerse myself in the story. Boring, it was not! And the pace was medium-fast.
Alexei was alluringly unhinged especially once he set his sights on Sloane. I appreciated his crazed fascination for her and desire to, in his words, breed her, own her body, mind, soul. From somnophilia to day to day drugging — just to keep the feisty woman docile — Alexei was obsessed, and in the meanwhile, he was living covertly as a second in command pakhan, escaped from his home Russia. His background, their love affair, and Sloane’s entanglement with the local MC made for an entertaining story.
I was here for all the spice (4/5), the dark themes, their love fights.
The young boy, Roman, came across unrealistically, unbelievably older than his 11 years. I didn’t feel he was a child prodigy and that his street sense and life experience belied his age. However, I liked the clever striking up a deal and his becoming Alexei’s protege, this pakhan in training, and claimed family member. Creative, and matches with the crazy nature of Alexei.
There were a few plot flaws and an abrupt, rushed ending that didn’t really close the story. Though it was a happy ever after, it left loose ends — does the legacy continue of severing ties mother and first-born (son), for instance — and started the next book in the series with the younger brother.
Still, I am looking forward to reading about Viktor especially if he is just as unhinged and obsessed with a woman of color as his brother. Certainly Alexei would not take no for an answer. Unapologetic, hot antihero who relentlessly claims (and finds love with) his woman.
His love may be insane, but it was still love.
- Sloane
October 1, 2023
The book offers an intriguing premise that captivated my attention from the very beginning. With a dark theme skillfully woven throughout the narrative, it delves into the depths of human emotions and tackles the complexities of its flawed characters. In particular, the author's portrayal of the damaged heroine struck a chord with me, evoking a sense of empathy and compassion. However, the hero's portrayal, while attempting to embody the "bad boy" persona, fell short of my expectations.
The premise of the book is undeniably compelling, drawing readers into a world that is both mysterious and filled with tension. The author expertly sets the stage, creating an atmosphere that is shrouded in darkness and uncertainty. This dark theme permeates the entire narrative, adding layers of complexity and intrigue to the story. It serves as a constant reminder of the shadows that engulf the characters' lives, emphasizing the struggles they must face and the battles they must fight.
The heroine of the book is a deeply damaged character, haunted by her past and burdened with emotional scars. The author's portrayal of her pain and vulnerability is remarkably poignant, allowing readers to connect with her on a deeply emotional level. As we witness her journey unfold, we cannot help but feel a sense of sympathy and understanding for the challenges she faces. Her damaged nature adds depth and complexity to her character, making her relatable and compelling.
On the other hand, the hero's portrayal in the book did not resonate with me as strongly. While his attempt to embody a "bad boy" persona was evident, it felt forced and contrived. His actions and choices seemed to be driven more by a desire to fit into this archetype rather than stemming from genuine motivations. As a result, his character lacked the authenticity and depth that the damaged heroine possessed. This imbalance between the two central characters hindered my overall enjoyment of the book.
Alexie's portrayal in the book was indeed confusing. The author took the character down a dark and unnecessary path, involving actions such as drugging, raping, and kidnapping Sloane. In my opinion, a more romantic route could have been taken, which would have made for a more engaging storyline. The author's failure to establish a great plot device is evident here, as these unnecessary events only served to confuse and alienate the reader.
Furthermore, the timeline in the book is often mixed up, adding to the overall confusion. It is perplexing how Alexie manages to sneak inside Sloane's apartment without being detected, and then suddenly his whereabouts become uncertain. These inconsistencies disrupt the flow of the story and make it difficult for the reader to fully immerse themselves in the narrative.
The portrayal of Alexie in the book leaves much to be desired. The unnecessary and disturbing actions taken by the character, as well as the mixed-up timeline, detract from the overall quality of the plot. It is disappointing to see these flaws in an otherwise promising story.
In conclusion, the book's premise and dark theme successfully create an atmospheric and engaging reading experience. The damaged heroine's portrayal tugs at the heartstrings, eliciting a genuine emotional response. However, the hero's attempt to be bad falls short and feels artificial. Despite this, the book's strengths overshadow this minor flaw, making it a worthwhile read for those who appreciate a captivating premise and a deep exploration of complex characters.
The premise of the book is undeniably compelling, drawing readers into a world that is both mysterious and filled with tension. The author expertly sets the stage, creating an atmosphere that is shrouded in darkness and uncertainty. This dark theme permeates the entire narrative, adding layers of complexity and intrigue to the story. It serves as a constant reminder of the shadows that engulf the characters' lives, emphasizing the struggles they must face and the battles they must fight.
The heroine of the book is a deeply damaged character, haunted by her past and burdened with emotional scars. The author's portrayal of her pain and vulnerability is remarkably poignant, allowing readers to connect with her on a deeply emotional level. As we witness her journey unfold, we cannot help but feel a sense of sympathy and understanding for the challenges she faces. Her damaged nature adds depth and complexity to her character, making her relatable and compelling.
On the other hand, the hero's portrayal in the book did not resonate with me as strongly. While his attempt to embody a "bad boy" persona was evident, it felt forced and contrived. His actions and choices seemed to be driven more by a desire to fit into this archetype rather than stemming from genuine motivations. As a result, his character lacked the authenticity and depth that the damaged heroine possessed. This imbalance between the two central characters hindered my overall enjoyment of the book.
Alexie's portrayal in the book was indeed confusing. The author took the character down a dark and unnecessary path, involving actions such as drugging, raping, and kidnapping Sloane. In my opinion, a more romantic route could have been taken, which would have made for a more engaging storyline. The author's failure to establish a great plot device is evident here, as these unnecessary events only served to confuse and alienate the reader.
Furthermore, the timeline in the book is often mixed up, adding to the overall confusion. It is perplexing how Alexie manages to sneak inside Sloane's apartment without being detected, and then suddenly his whereabouts become uncertain. These inconsistencies disrupt the flow of the story and make it difficult for the reader to fully immerse themselves in the narrative.
The portrayal of Alexie in the book leaves much to be desired. The unnecessary and disturbing actions taken by the character, as well as the mixed-up timeline, detract from the overall quality of the plot. It is disappointing to see these flaws in an otherwise promising story.
In conclusion, the book's premise and dark theme successfully create an atmospheric and engaging reading experience. The damaged heroine's portrayal tugs at the heartstrings, eliciting a genuine emotional response. However, the hero's attempt to be bad falls short and feels artificial. Despite this, the book's strengths overshadow this minor flaw, making it a worthwhile read for those who appreciate a captivating premise and a deep exploration of complex characters.
Read
December 14, 2022DNF 21% in. I’m all for dark romance and non con and dub con but this left a sour taste in my mouth. I think how the author also wrote about the fmc being raped by the Club could have been written better. The hero was also icky and part of the problem when paired with the Club situation.
Read
April 10, 2023DNF @54%
This book is a prime example of why erotic novellas should stay novellas. The ridiculousness of his need to breed and methods he’s using was humorous at first (because of how crazy it). But got old fast. Especially if he’s suppose to be some Russian mobster but yet a poor girl in a shit town keeps fighting him.
Like one point he didn’t want to fuck her again too soon because he read somewhere the ridge of his cock would scoop out of his cum and that “goes against his interest” 🙂🥴
This was very dark from what I read. She was SA’d right in the beginning by a member of the local MC that continues to harass. Then the MMC sneaks into her room at night and drugs and ‘breeds her’.
Usually none of this bothers me but if I’m gonna read something where the whole premise is to put a baby in her, I’ll read erotica where it’s quick and to the point. A full length novel of rinse and repeat is just.. too much.
This book is a prime example of why erotic novellas should stay novellas. The ridiculousness of his need to breed and methods he’s using was humorous at first (because of how crazy it). But got old fast. Especially if he’s suppose to be some Russian mobster but yet a poor girl in a shit town keeps fighting him.
Like one point he didn’t want to fuck her again too soon because he read somewhere the ridge of his cock would scoop out of his cum and that “goes against his interest” 🙂🥴
This was very dark from what I read. She was SA’d right in the beginning by a member of the local MC that continues to harass. Then the MMC sneaks into her room at night and drugs and ‘breeds her’.
Usually none of this bothers me but if I’m gonna read something where the whole premise is to put a baby in her, I’ll read erotica where it’s quick and to the point. A full length novel of rinse and repeat is just.. too much.
December 18, 2022
I really didn’t like this book. I don’t think dark necessarily means constant trauma to the FMC. it was the whole book and then the end we just rushed to wrap up stuff. We know he handles the MC, but we don’t see most of it. Then somehow things in Russia are better, but why? This book just felt gross to me.
January 12, 2023
Wow! That’s the best way to describe this book. I am a sucker for a villian and boy oh boy the Alexie fit that title. He was wicked and dirty to the core but it worked for me 100%. Sloane did not have it easy. From the start of the book she was put through the paces and my heart hurt for her. While Alexie didn’t give her hearts and flowers he truly was the lesser than the 2 evils in my eyes. By the end, she was as twisted as he was and I loved that! I really enjoyed the character, the plot and the…. Steam of you want to call it that. It was dark dirty and kinky. Can’t wait to read the next one. 4 stars #2OCCJD
December 15, 2022
zero stars
Literary garbage. Saw it recommended on a reading group but clearly whoever said I should read it has zero taste. If you like a plot that makes no sense, an MMC that makes you want to vomit, and an FMC that has zero brains and no backbone, then this is the book for you!
Literary garbage. Saw it recommended on a reading group but clearly whoever said I should read it has zero taste. If you like a plot that makes no sense, an MMC that makes you want to vomit, and an FMC that has zero brains and no backbone, then this is the book for you!
December 13, 2022
Heroine is black and the hero is Russian. He is obsessed with her the moment he sees her.
I thought the heroine was interesting. She kept fighting.
I thought the heroine was interesting. She kept fighting.
December 8, 2022
I love this story so much
I love this story. It’s a dark romance, mafia, plus-sized heroine of color, interracial love story that is delicious in its nearly pitch darkness. The villainy anti-hero kept the same energy all the way until the end—which I loved. Often authors will make their heroes (or antiheroes) do a 180 in the name of love, but I enjoyed that this antihero got to keep the same naughty yet arrogant alpha-hole personality he had from the very start. Because that is who the heroine fell in love with. I think I now prefer stories where characters love each other for who they are verses characters who change who they are for love. It’s probably why I prefer dark romance over mainstream romance these days. I know love changes people, but it’s nice to read a story that doesn’t require a personality change. In this case, the antihero is a sociopathic and obsessive. I think the heroine needed that more dominant love, to protect her from herself in this story when trauma would have her behave recklessly. So the antihero didn’t have to change to suit the heroine, he instead got to love her in his own way, and the heroine came to appreciate that from him. You can tell the hero is so in love with the heroine that he really will burn down the world for her, and prices it by doing such. Highly Recommend!
I love this story. It’s a dark romance, mafia, plus-sized heroine of color, interracial love story that is delicious in its nearly pitch darkness. The villainy anti-hero kept the same energy all the way until the end—which I loved. Often authors will make their heroes (or antiheroes) do a 180 in the name of love, but I enjoyed that this antihero got to keep the same naughty yet arrogant alpha-hole personality he had from the very start. Because that is who the heroine fell in love with. I think I now prefer stories where characters love each other for who they are verses characters who change who they are for love. It’s probably why I prefer dark romance over mainstream romance these days. I know love changes people, but it’s nice to read a story that doesn’t require a personality change. In this case, the antihero is a sociopathic and obsessive. I think the heroine needed that more dominant love, to protect her from herself in this story when trauma would have her behave recklessly. So the antihero didn’t have to change to suit the heroine, he instead got to love her in his own way, and the heroine came to appreciate that from him. You can tell the hero is so in love with the heroine that he really will burn down the world for her, and prices it by doing such. Highly Recommend!
May 22, 2023
Sloane was a moron and Alexie was a rapey douchebag.
Besides it being OTT unbelievable.
- Sloane has been r@ped, beaten, and beaten down for the last 6 years. But she dressed in a sexy red dress, goes to a dive bar and flirts with Alexie upon meeting him. Were in real life, I would think she would do anything to be hidden from any male attention.
- She said in chapter one that she doesn't do drugs or drink anymore to block out her crappie life. Yet she's getting drunk in chapter three.
- How did no one notice or say anything about the cigarette that was put out on her cheek that morning???
- The sex show they put on in the bar... 👌🏻that was gross
- It proceeded its downward spiral and couldn't continue reading this trash. DNF at 56%
Besides it being OTT unbelievable.
- Sloane has been r@ped, beaten, and beaten down for the last 6 years. But she dressed in a sexy red dress, goes to a dive bar and flirts with Alexie upon meeting him. Were in real life, I would think she would do anything to be hidden from any male attention.
- She said in chapter one that she doesn't do drugs or drink anymore to block out her crappie life. Yet she's getting drunk in chapter three.
- How did no one notice or say anything about the cigarette that was put out on her cheek that morning???
- The sex show they put on in the bar... 👌🏻that was gross
- It proceeded its downward spiral and couldn't continue reading this trash. DNF at 56%
January 2, 2023
3 stars because really? Where did we end up standing on the whole our son will kill her on his 12th birthday
What the hell kinda crazy is that? Loyalty is a big deal but u can kill the person who literally gave u life? So dumb. Would have been 4 stars if not for that stupid part
What the hell kinda crazy is that? Loyalty is a big deal but u can kill the person who literally gave u life? So dumb. Would have been 4 stars if not for that stupid part
June 12, 2023
Truly had the potential of 5 star. All this time I thought I’d rate this a 5, but then the ending was so rushed and just idk, ut was kinda stupid tbh. I really enjoy 80% of the book, but the ending did me dirty 🥲
February 9, 2025
A S Q U E R O S O
ESTOY HARTA, HARTA, MUY HARTA QUE ESTAS AUTORAS CREAN QUE EL DARK ROMANCE CONSISTE EN V10LAC10NES, LA PROTAGONISTA TENGA QUE PASAR POR ESO REPETIDAS VECES.
Aquí ella es violada en el capítulo 1 pero lo narran así, como si nada, y también relata que desde que cumplió los 18 años y no acepto casarse con el lider del MC, se convirtió en un juguete de ellos que la violaban y le daban golpes y ella no hacía absolutamente nada (nunca intentó huir ni defender ni buscar ayuda ni nada). También que antes se drogaba y emborrachaba para que fuera más fácil pero que ahora no pero después va a un bar a emborracharse donde conoce al MMC. Además que coquetea y pues yo no sé, pero creo que después de sufrir de todo tipo de abuso, ella no debería de estar TAN normal. Y el otro, el protagonista, empieza una guerra porque dejó embarazada y se acostaba con la esposa de un Don, y cuando el Don llega a pedir venganza y dice que mato al bebé, el Man huye en plena guerra y todo es muy normal para él, no le importa en absoluto la mujer y el hijo que también era de él. Dice que después de eso debe de no volver a tocar una mujer pero momentos después decide que va a encontrar una mujer, embarazarla y volver a Rusia para reclamar su puesto.
QUE LIBRO DE MIERDA, OIGAN.
ESTOY HARTA, HARTA, MUY HARTA QUE ESTAS AUTORAS CREAN QUE EL DARK ROMANCE CONSISTE EN V10LAC10NES, LA PROTAGONISTA TENGA QUE PASAR POR ESO REPETIDAS VECES.
Aquí ella es violada en el capítulo 1 pero lo narran así, como si nada, y también relata que desde que cumplió los 18 años y no acepto casarse con el lider del MC, se convirtió en un juguete de ellos que la violaban y le daban golpes y ella no hacía absolutamente nada (nunca intentó huir ni defender ni buscar ayuda ni nada). También que antes se drogaba y emborrachaba para que fuera más fácil pero que ahora no pero después va a un bar a emborracharse donde conoce al MMC. Además que coquetea y pues yo no sé, pero creo que después de sufrir de todo tipo de abuso, ella no debería de estar TAN normal. Y el otro, el protagonista, empieza una guerra porque dejó embarazada y se acostaba con la esposa de un Don, y cuando el Don llega a pedir venganza y dice que mato al bebé, el Man huye en plena guerra y todo es muy normal para él, no le importa en absoluto la mujer y el hijo que también era de él. Dice que después de eso debe de no volver a tocar una mujer pero momentos después decide que va a encontrar una mujer, embarazarla y volver a Rusia para reclamar su puesto.
QUE LIBRO DE MIERDA, OIGAN.
January 5, 2025
Sloane, daughter of the local MC prez, becomes the MC's punching bag after her father is unalived. She sneaks out of town and meets banished Bratva heir, Alexie, and they have some fun before she goes on her way. Little does she know, Alexis has his sights set on saving his queen, and will stop at no length to secure their future.
We got some Stockholm Syndrome, a reluctant bride, f0rce and coercion, turning an underage street rat into his second, administering medical products to promote sleepiness, lots of locked doors, and one instance of holding a pew pew to the forehead of his pregnant wife and cocking it to get his way. Their dynamic was not very enjoyable, despite some cuter moments. The whole affair was one WITSEC call away from comfortable. However, the actual story was well-written, and I did enjoy how Alexie dished out some overdue revenge on his girl's bullies. 3 stars for touch her and d!e done right.
We got some Stockholm Syndrome, a reluctant bride, f0rce and coercion, turning an underage street rat into his second, administering medical products to promote sleepiness, lots of locked doors, and one instance of holding a pew pew to the forehead of his pregnant wife and cocking it to get his way. Their dynamic was not very enjoyable, despite some cuter moments. The whole affair was one WITSEC call away from comfortable. However, the actual story was well-written, and I did enjoy how Alexie dished out some overdue revenge on his girl's bullies. 3 stars for touch her and d!e done right.
January 5, 2023
Mafia Romance ☑️
MC Romance ☑️
Love to Hate to Love☑️
Kidnapped/Captive ☑️
Breeding Galore ☑️☑️☑️☑️☑️
Too Dark To Handly☑️☑️☑️
OK then. So this is my honest review. My favorite trope at the moment is a breeding trope. This book provided a shit load of breeding kink that scratched the itch I couldn’t reach. The chemistry and sex scenes were sizzling.
So if any one of you out there are into over-the-top, jealous possessive alpha holes than you will enjoy this book!
There were a couple of things that I did not like in this book, like the description of the h. I was under the impression that the woman in the story was Caucasian. But later on the author stated in a quote that the female was a person of color. WTF? Was she actually a black girl??? Nothing against it. I’m only upset that it wasn’t clear to me. That confused me a bit.
Also at the beginning of the story that woman states that she is only 5’2. Later on in the book however, the author states that the woman has a size 9 shoe size. It just doesn’t seem likely for such a pretty woman to have such a large feet.
And the little boy Roman, he acted more mature than either a hero, or the heroine of the story. He was around 10 years old at the beginning of the story but was close to 12 by the end of the book even though not too much time has passed.
MC Romance ☑️
Love to Hate to Love☑️
Kidnapped/Captive ☑️
Breeding Galore ☑️☑️☑️☑️☑️
Too Dark To Handly☑️☑️☑️
OK then. So this is my honest review. My favorite trope at the moment is a breeding trope. This book provided a shit load of breeding kink that scratched the itch I couldn’t reach. The chemistry and sex scenes were sizzling.
So if any one of you out there are into over-the-top, jealous possessive alpha holes than you will enjoy this book!
There were a couple of things that I did not like in this book, like the description of the h. I was under the impression that the woman in the story was Caucasian. But later on the author stated in a quote that the female was a person of color. WTF? Was she actually a black girl??? Nothing against it. I’m only upset that it wasn’t clear to me. That confused me a bit.
Also at the beginning of the story that woman states that she is only 5’2. Later on in the book however, the author states that the woman has a size 9 shoe size. It just doesn’t seem likely for such a pretty woman to have such a large feet.
And the little boy Roman, he acted more mature than either a hero, or the heroine of the story. He was around 10 years old at the beginning of the story but was close to 12 by the end of the book even though not too much time has passed.
August 19, 2023
Features a Russian Mafia outcast on the run and a beat down female lead stuck in an MC life where she's forced to withstand awful, vile abuse. A better of 2 evils dark romance, with some really hot smex scenes and a completely obsessed and possesive mmc. Alexie wants to take Sloane for his own agenda: to sire an heir and take back his throne and he sees Sloane as the perfect, beautiful candidate to birth a son. Initially that's his only desire for her, past that a woman is just a liability but the normally cruel uncaring man starts catching the feels in his own disturbing way.
Sloane is the fuller figured poc female lead who is over 25 and is not a v'rg'n-this was the big sell for me. I liked Sloane-even just her name, she is lonely and alone but always stays standing, placing one foot in front of the other.
Includes a HEA for the main couple. Alexie... is wild!, his final actions to prove his love were 😘👌 so satisfying.
Sloane is the fuller figured poc female lead who is over 25 and is not a v'rg'n-this was the big sell for me. I liked Sloane-even just her name, she is lonely and alone but always stays standing, placing one foot in front of the other.
Includes a HEA for the main couple. Alexie... is wild!, his final actions to prove his love were 😘👌 so satisfying.
maybe
December 16, 2022Self note:
10%
10%
January 14, 2023
Not my first but my favorite
Not my first Russian related mafia romance but it definitely was my favorite! I loved the arc and how their love story developed and how they conquered their demons figuratively and literally. Alexie major made up for his crap without changing one iota of his Dubcon personality. Loved it all!
Not my first Russian related mafia romance but it definitely was my favorite! I loved the arc and how their love story developed and how they conquered their demons figuratively and literally. Alexie major made up for his crap without changing one iota of his Dubcon personality. Loved it all!
July 21, 2023
This was actually better than I expected. I’ve only read one other book by this author and I really didn’t enjoy it. I kept getting drawn in by the book recommendation requests in my dark romance reader group. Over and over this would appear as a suggestion. I was still wary though so I held off.
This was definitely better than my other experience reading this author. I like the vibe this author has going but some of the things her heroes do just cross a line I find irredeemable. In this book her H was not quite as feral so he was somewhat more palatable. It’s all subjective anyway. I just get the sense this author is sometimes going for shock factor more than writing a good story and I don’t care for that.
General nonspecific safety note - this isn’t fully 100% safe. It’s mostly safe though. How’s that for vague. Explicit safety spoilers will be at the bottom. If you don’t want story spoilers just scroll past the next part, I guess.
I liked how quickly Alexei’s obsession flared up for h. What I didn’t like was the whole notion of h having this expiration date. In this world, it’s apparently a rite of passage for a Bratva kid to kill his own mother at age 12. H chose h as a breeder to serve this purpose. Yuck. As much as I like dark romance I’m not into H actually wanting h dead at some point. What the fuck is romantic about that? I get his character arc is realizing he wants to keep her and all that but how about we pick an arc that doesn’t involve murdering h at all. I’ve read thousands of books, I promise there are limitless possibilities. This has an HEA so obviously he changes his mind about the breeder bullshit but it put a sour taste in my mouth.
This is also a general pet peeve of mine but as an avid dark romance reader I come across it all too frequently. On multiple occasions in this book the h is racking up future punishments from H for offenses she has no idea she’s committing. I understand this is likely to illustrate how nutty and unreasonable H is over h but I don’t like it and I wish it wasn’t such a common theme in dark romance. I’m not particularly into punishment books but it’s almost impossible to avoid them in this genre. In this book, his punishments are largely sexual which I prefer to spanking and other nonsense.
We see his potential for being even more cruel than he is and I garner we are supposed to take his decision not to use these more cruel punishments as a sign of his true feelings for h. One, he considers starving her at one point. Like seriously. He doesn’t go through with it likely because she’s pregnant almost immediately. Then we learn there’s a cage under her bed for if she’s ill behaved. I can’t even tell you how glad I was he never used it.
The h herself was fairly meh overall. She’s been dealt a tough life. Abused, raped and mistreated by the MC she’s grown up in. She’s a bit of a sad sack but doesn’t really fight her fate. She’s feistier with H but only to an extent. I’m honestly surprised she resisted him at all. He may have been batshit crazy but he was vastly preferable to the alternative. She’s not my favorite h I’ve read but she was ok.
No condoms
No virgins
Noncon
Dubcon
No OW drama
No real OM drama
No cheating
No separation after he takes her captive
HEA
Safety - after her dad died and she refused to marry the MC prez she became the club’s whipping girl. She was abused and raped whenever they took a notion. We see one encounter on page in the very beginning of the book. A club member shows up to get money from her for the MC and when she doesn’t have it he takes her out back and rapes her on page. It’s a very brief encounter since he’s a 2 pump chump but fucking gross.
She and H meet shortly thereafter and he gets her wildly drunk and they have a ONS. He’d been planning to keep her but she bounced while he was sleeping. He then watches her for about 4-6 weeks making preparations to take her captive. Once he kidnaps her there is no further separation.
At the dead ass end of the book H shows up with the MC prez who raped and tormented her so she can have her revenge. The other club members don’t escape his wrath either.
This was definitely better than my other experience reading this author. I like the vibe this author has going but some of the things her heroes do just cross a line I find irredeemable. In this book her H was not quite as feral so he was somewhat more palatable. It’s all subjective anyway. I just get the sense this author is sometimes going for shock factor more than writing a good story and I don’t care for that.
General nonspecific safety note - this isn’t fully 100% safe. It’s mostly safe though. How’s that for vague. Explicit safety spoilers will be at the bottom. If you don’t want story spoilers just scroll past the next part, I guess.
I liked how quickly Alexei’s obsession flared up for h. What I didn’t like was the whole notion of h having this expiration date. In this world, it’s apparently a rite of passage for a Bratva kid to kill his own mother at age 12. H chose h as a breeder to serve this purpose. Yuck. As much as I like dark romance I’m not into H actually wanting h dead at some point. What the fuck is romantic about that? I get his character arc is realizing he wants to keep her and all that but how about we pick an arc that doesn’t involve murdering h at all. I’ve read thousands of books, I promise there are limitless possibilities. This has an HEA so obviously he changes his mind about the breeder bullshit but it put a sour taste in my mouth.
This is also a general pet peeve of mine but as an avid dark romance reader I come across it all too frequently. On multiple occasions in this book the h is racking up future punishments from H for offenses she has no idea she’s committing. I understand this is likely to illustrate how nutty and unreasonable H is over h but I don’t like it and I wish it wasn’t such a common theme in dark romance. I’m not particularly into punishment books but it’s almost impossible to avoid them in this genre. In this book, his punishments are largely sexual which I prefer to spanking and other nonsense.
We see his potential for being even more cruel than he is and I garner we are supposed to take his decision not to use these more cruel punishments as a sign of his true feelings for h. One, he considers starving her at one point. Like seriously. He doesn’t go through with it likely because she’s pregnant almost immediately. Then we learn there’s a cage under her bed for if she’s ill behaved. I can’t even tell you how glad I was he never used it.
The h herself was fairly meh overall. She’s been dealt a tough life. Abused, raped and mistreated by the MC she’s grown up in. She’s a bit of a sad sack but doesn’t really fight her fate. She’s feistier with H but only to an extent. I’m honestly surprised she resisted him at all. He may have been batshit crazy but he was vastly preferable to the alternative. She’s not my favorite h I’ve read but she was ok.
No condoms
No virgins
Noncon
Dubcon
No OW drama
No real OM drama
No cheating
No separation after he takes her captive
HEA
Safety - after her dad died and she refused to marry the MC prez she became the club’s whipping girl. She was abused and raped whenever they took a notion. We see one encounter on page in the very beginning of the book. A club member shows up to get money from her for the MC and when she doesn’t have it he takes her out back and rapes her on page. It’s a very brief encounter since he’s a 2 pump chump but fucking gross.
She and H meet shortly thereafter and he gets her wildly drunk and they have a ONS. He’d been planning to keep her but she bounced while he was sleeping. He then watches her for about 4-6 weeks making preparations to take her captive. Once he kidnaps her there is no further separation.
At the dead ass end of the book H shows up with the MC prez who raped and tormented her so she can have her revenge. The other club members don’t escape his wrath either.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2025
Trapping His Queen is the first book in Selena Michael's new series, The Petrov Legacy.
I have come to really love the breeding trope and this book provide a tone of that and this book kept scratching that itch all day long with all the chemistry and s*x scenes that were sizzling off the pages.
This is a mafia romance first and foremost with an MC romance. It contains a love to hate back to love trope. Our FMC is kidnapped and held captive. It has all the breeding you could ever want, and it is just dark enough to handle.
There is a bit of confusion in the book, which did detract. You are first under the impression that the FMC is Caucasian but later on, the author says that the FMC is a person of color. I found that to be very confusing. I have nothing against people of color. The only issue I had was the confusion over if she was or wasn't a POC.
We have our FMC Sloane. Sadly, having lived in hell, she unknowingly runs from that place, thinking that she'll find a better place somewhere else. Sadly, that doesn't work the way she thinks it will, and she soon realizes that she's just traded one h*ll for another. After she spends one scalding hot night with a steamy stranger, she slips away in the early morning before he wakes up. She doesn't realize that he plans on seeing her as soon as possible. One of my favorite things personally about Sloane is that is that she is a plus-sized woman. And I am always down for reading about a plus-sized FMC.
And we have a little boy named Roman. He actually acts more mature than the hero or heroine of this story. At the beginning, he was 10 or so, and by the end, he was 12, even though no time had really passed.
Our MC Alexie. He hasn't exactly had it easy either. He's been banished from the Russian Bratva, runs from Russia, is hiding in the USA, and has set his eyes on Sloan. He spotted her in a bar one night. After spending one single night with her, he decides that he is going to keep her.
Sloane is owned by the MC already, but Alexie doesn't really care. He is going to take Sloane from the MC with or without her agreement and with or without the agreement of the MC.
I really liked Sloane's desire to keep fighting, and she never gave up no matter what she was going through. The ending, though, and how Sloane finally got the revenge that she was seeking, that was such an amazing read. That was a feel-good moment.
So, if you are into an over-the-top jealous possessive alpha-hole, you enjoy a mafia story, and then you will enjoy this book. I do recommend this book.
I have come to really love the breeding trope and this book provide a tone of that and this book kept scratching that itch all day long with all the chemistry and s*x scenes that were sizzling off the pages.
This is a mafia romance first and foremost with an MC romance. It contains a love to hate back to love trope. Our FMC is kidnapped and held captive. It has all the breeding you could ever want, and it is just dark enough to handle.
There is a bit of confusion in the book, which did detract. You are first under the impression that the FMC is Caucasian but later on, the author says that the FMC is a person of color. I found that to be very confusing. I have nothing against people of color. The only issue I had was the confusion over if she was or wasn't a POC.
We have our FMC Sloane. Sadly, having lived in hell, she unknowingly runs from that place, thinking that she'll find a better place somewhere else. Sadly, that doesn't work the way she thinks it will, and she soon realizes that she's just traded one h*ll for another. After she spends one scalding hot night with a steamy stranger, she slips away in the early morning before he wakes up. She doesn't realize that he plans on seeing her as soon as possible. One of my favorite things personally about Sloane is that is that she is a plus-sized woman. And I am always down for reading about a plus-sized FMC.
And we have a little boy named Roman. He actually acts more mature than the hero or heroine of this story. At the beginning, he was 10 or so, and by the end, he was 12, even though no time had really passed.
Our MC Alexie. He hasn't exactly had it easy either. He's been banished from the Russian Bratva, runs from Russia, is hiding in the USA, and has set his eyes on Sloan. He spotted her in a bar one night. After spending one single night with her, he decides that he is going to keep her.
Sloane is owned by the MC already, but Alexie doesn't really care. He is going to take Sloane from the MC with or without her agreement and with or without the agreement of the MC.
I really liked Sloane's desire to keep fighting, and she never gave up no matter what she was going through. The ending, though, and how Sloane finally got the revenge that she was seeking, that was such an amazing read. That was a feel-good moment.
So, if you are into an over-the-top jealous possessive alpha-hole, you enjoy a mafia story, and then you will enjoy this book. I do recommend this book.
January 17, 2023
Trapping His Queen falls prey to the pitfalls of incorporating dark elements into the plot just for the sake of it, and not in any real service to the story.
First, though, let’s talk about the element of the story that I could appreciate. I thought it was appropriate and responsible of the author to provide a link to comprehensive trigger/content warnings before beginning the story. I feel like this should be the standard, especially for dark romance, and not in a condescending, “this isn’t for the faint of heart” way. Author Selena Michaels gets kudos from me on that front.
Other than that, though, I really struggled with this narrative. The pacing felt off… slow in the beginning with a rushed ending. There were jarring scenes of SA and random violence that didn’t really do anything but put salacious content on page. When I read a story like this, I want all of the plot elements to serve a purpose, to forward the storyline. There’s a fine line between communicating a character’s trauma and just putting trauma on page for the heck of it. All of the dark elements in this book felt like the latter.
I also didn’t love the male protagonist in this book. And it was never super clear to me whether or not he’d eventually allow his heir to fulfill his duty and unalive the female protagonist. With an antihero, you have to believe that there is some sort of connection with their counterpart. That in spite of the evil within them, there’s something that ties the two (or more) main characters together. I never, ever felt that in this book. I felt I was told that the FMC liked being assaulted by him and whatnot, but was never shown.
Also, to have the hero/antihero/villain MMC also committing assault on the FMC to no real satisfying end just felt gross. As did the fact that the FMC was obviously not white, and the MMC was white. So there was a component of racial violence and captivity there that I don’t think was intended but was hard to read, regardless of intent.
I’ve read a lot of dark romance, and this just one didn’t work for me.
I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
First, though, let’s talk about the element of the story that I could appreciate. I thought it was appropriate and responsible of the author to provide a link to comprehensive trigger/content warnings before beginning the story. I feel like this should be the standard, especially for dark romance, and not in a condescending, “this isn’t for the faint of heart” way. Author Selena Michaels gets kudos from me on that front.
Other than that, though, I really struggled with this narrative. The pacing felt off… slow in the beginning with a rushed ending. There were jarring scenes of SA and random violence that didn’t really do anything but put salacious content on page. When I read a story like this, I want all of the plot elements to serve a purpose, to forward the storyline. There’s a fine line between communicating a character’s trauma and just putting trauma on page for the heck of it. All of the dark elements in this book felt like the latter.
I also didn’t love the male protagonist in this book. And it was never super clear to me whether or not he’d eventually allow his heir to fulfill his duty and unalive the female protagonist. With an antihero, you have to believe that there is some sort of connection with their counterpart. That in spite of the evil within them, there’s something that ties the two (or more) main characters together. I never, ever felt that in this book. I felt I was told that the FMC liked being assaulted by him and whatnot, but was never shown.
Also, to have the hero/antihero/villain MMC also committing assault on the FMC to no real satisfying end just felt gross. As did the fact that the FMC was obviously not white, and the MMC was white. So there was a component of racial violence and captivity there that I don’t think was intended but was hard to read, regardless of intent.
I’ve read a lot of dark romance, and this just one didn’t work for me.
I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
January 18, 2025
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
I really wanted to like this book. But every 50 or so pages I kept asking when the romance would be happening and the FMC wouldn’t be unhappy and further traumatized. Dark romance doesn’t mean that the entire book is completely dark and traumatizing. There should still be a romantic story. I was waiting for them to actually be in love and they didn’t even admit they were in love until the last 5% of the book.
The first half of the book is Sloane being raped and abused by the MC club. The second half of the book is Sloane being kidnapped, drugged, and breeded by Alexie. Almost the entire time Sloane is living with Alexie it’s by force. Forced breeding, forced marriage. She basically doesn’t leave because I guess it’s better than being raped and abused by the MC club. She comes across as a pretty weak FMC. But I think she’s pretty broken from the last 6 years being beaten down by the MC. But she never really gets her happiness and I didn’t like that.
There isn’t really a love story. There’s really no point in which she chooses to be there and be with Alexie except she’s kinda acknowledged she’s into him. We spent the second half of the book waiting for Alexie to kill all the men who abused her. That finally happened in the last 20 pages. The ending was a rushed attempt to give a HEA in 20 pages. The ending should’ve been the last 30% of the book.
Spice is 3🌶️ because it’s very spicy. However like half of the smëx scenes were dub con or non con. The ones that were actually consensual were good and well written.
Overall 3 stars. I didn’t hate it but I spent the majority of the book frustrated waiting for what was squeezed into the end. I didn’t DNF only because I kept thinking the happy part was coming and when it finally did it was rushed.
“You intoxicated me. I’ll give you the world if you let me.” ~ Alexie
Tropes: mafia romance, MC romance, kidnapping, breeding, dub con, non con, public sex, drugging, violence, torture, murder, pregnancy, birth control tampering
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
I really wanted to like this book. But every 50 or so pages I kept asking when the romance would be happening and the FMC wouldn’t be unhappy and further traumatized. Dark romance doesn’t mean that the entire book is completely dark and traumatizing. There should still be a romantic story. I was waiting for them to actually be in love and they didn’t even admit they were in love until the last 5% of the book.
The first half of the book is Sloane being raped and abused by the MC club. The second half of the book is Sloane being kidnapped, drugged, and breeded by Alexie. Almost the entire time Sloane is living with Alexie it’s by force. Forced breeding, forced marriage. She basically doesn’t leave because I guess it’s better than being raped and abused by the MC club. She comes across as a pretty weak FMC. But I think she’s pretty broken from the last 6 years being beaten down by the MC. But she never really gets her happiness and I didn’t like that.
There isn’t really a love story. There’s really no point in which she chooses to be there and be with Alexie except she’s kinda acknowledged she’s into him. We spent the second half of the book waiting for Alexie to kill all the men who abused her. That finally happened in the last 20 pages. The ending was a rushed attempt to give a HEA in 20 pages. The ending should’ve been the last 30% of the book.
Spice is 3🌶️ because it’s very spicy. However like half of the smëx scenes were dub con or non con. The ones that were actually consensual were good and well written.
Overall 3 stars. I didn’t hate it but I spent the majority of the book frustrated waiting for what was squeezed into the end. I didn’t DNF only because I kept thinking the happy part was coming and when it finally did it was rushed.
“You intoxicated me. I’ll give you the world if you let me.” ~ Alexie
Tropes: mafia romance, MC romance, kidnapping, breeding, dub con, non con, public sex, drugging, violence, torture, murder, pregnancy, birth control tampering
March 27, 2023
What the actual fuck....
And I mean the title of this post in the most respectful delicious way because what the actual f*** did I just read. When I tell you I got so many questions and so many thoughts I can't even fathom what was going through miscelina Michael's head when she wrote this. But I gotta say collapse to U says because I loved it. It was the best kind of deranged in a male villain not a good person character that I literally just loved. And yes alexey is someone that I would love to hate and hate to love, But for some reason he was just sinfully irresistible. Honestly though a lot of the stuff he did was really questionable I mean the kidnapping the non consensual mating ritual, the breeding can't, the pain, the kidnapping, the roofing… the list probably goes on, I just can't not like a villain but not a villain…. if that makes sense. Sloane was also a trooper like her strength and her will to survive is a one cause it couldn't have been me at all like he would have had to End me. I just devoured this book in such a short time span and I'm so sad that it's over but like I'll be waiting for book 2 because I need to know what happens does their child get 12 and does he actually think he can like murder her or what it was it just solidified that you wouldn't murder because they got married. Like I have actual questions how did him and his brother rectify their situation why is he still banished if they get along. Like so many unanswered questions also the f*** is Tiffany. I like Sloane that wedding scene was epic.
But yeah thoroughly enjoyed this mess and we'll be reading the next book when there is one.
And I mean the title of this post in the most respectful delicious way because what the actual f*** did I just read. When I tell you I got so many questions and so many thoughts I can't even fathom what was going through miscelina Michael's head when she wrote this. But I gotta say collapse to U says because I loved it. It was the best kind of deranged in a male villain not a good person character that I literally just loved. And yes alexey is someone that I would love to hate and hate to love, But for some reason he was just sinfully irresistible. Honestly though a lot of the stuff he did was really questionable I mean the kidnapping the non consensual mating ritual, the breeding can't, the pain, the kidnapping, the roofing… the list probably goes on, I just can't not like a villain but not a villain…. if that makes sense. Sloane was also a trooper like her strength and her will to survive is a one cause it couldn't have been me at all like he would have had to End me. I just devoured this book in such a short time span and I'm so sad that it's over but like I'll be waiting for book 2 because I need to know what happens does their child get 12 and does he actually think he can like murder her or what it was it just solidified that you wouldn't murder because they got married. Like I have actual questions how did him and his brother rectify their situation why is he still banished if they get along. Like so many unanswered questions also the f*** is Tiffany. I like Sloane that wedding scene was epic.
But yeah thoroughly enjoyed this mess and we'll be reading the next book when there is one.
January 29, 2023
Okay.....
Hold on for a second as my review will perhaps come off a little confusing!
I loved to hate this book. Truly!
Sloane, our female heroine. She literally trades one hell for another. All the while, one could say the latter she enjoys to an extent.
After spending a hot night with a handsome stranger she leaves the next morning before he wakes up not knowing he plans on seeing her again.
Alexie has been banished from his Russian bratva. Taking up refuge in the US. He sets his eyes on Sloane all alone in a bar.
After spending the night with her. Alexie plans on keeping her.
The MC already own Sloane and Alexie is going to take her MC or not. Sloane agreement or not!
So..... the heat of this book was through the roof. So that for me was a huge plus.
I absolutely 110% never walked into this book expecting hearts and flowers but the violence towards Sloane via Alexie was just something I couldn't get on board with.
That was a huge minus for me.
He showed contradictory feelings and behaviours and kinda gave me whiplash. But this is my view and how seen it.
This was not to say the story as a whole was bad.
I really liked Sloane's fight. She never really gave that up. The ending and the revenge she finally got was actually really good as well.
The story was written quite well overall.
Hold on for a second as my review will perhaps come off a little confusing!
I loved to hate this book. Truly!
Sloane, our female heroine. She literally trades one hell for another. All the while, one could say the latter she enjoys to an extent.
After spending a hot night with a handsome stranger she leaves the next morning before he wakes up not knowing he plans on seeing her again.
Alexie has been banished from his Russian bratva. Taking up refuge in the US. He sets his eyes on Sloane all alone in a bar.
After spending the night with her. Alexie plans on keeping her.
The MC already own Sloane and Alexie is going to take her MC or not. Sloane agreement or not!
So..... the heat of this book was through the roof. So that for me was a huge plus.
I absolutely 110% never walked into this book expecting hearts and flowers but the violence towards Sloane via Alexie was just something I couldn't get on board with.
That was a huge minus for me.
He showed contradictory feelings and behaviours and kinda gave me whiplash. But this is my view and how seen it.
This was not to say the story as a whole was bad.
I really liked Sloane's fight. She never really gave that up. The ending and the revenge she finally got was actually really good as well.
The story was written quite well overall.
November 27, 2024
Ending was weird?
This story was pretty intriguing and was able to suck you in very fast. Everything was fast paced but some of information was useless. Hotels,bratva junk,Italian junk,Roman as a character,did they get betrayed by that old dude?
!!!!!Spoilers!!!!! If ykyk
I honest to god don’t know if she’s going to get even killed anymore. Like I truly truly don’t know. Like I understand that he adopted Roman,married her..but he did all of that so he could get his position of power back. He brought up multiple times how “weak” his brother was because he broke tradition and didn’t feed his mom a bullet at 12.
He didn’t even end up getting unbanned from the family..
Like I’m pretty sure A still wants her to get offed by his offspring no matter if “loves” her or not. Women don’t rly mean anything to him or his mafia…He didn’t rly have any character growth beyond wanting to break her bones..he just backhanded her and bruised her instead :) Like at least she was so effected by trauma and Stockholm syndrome that when she eventually eats a bullet from her spawn she’ll die happy thinking “he loves her”.
The only positive to her was she knew proper hair care. Her character growth went from dumpster fire to forest fire. This woman definitely was color blind because her whole life was a red flag.
This story was pretty intriguing and was able to suck you in very fast. Everything was fast paced but some of information was useless. Hotels,bratva junk,Italian junk,Roman as a character,did they get betrayed by that old dude?
!!!!!Spoilers!!!!! If ykyk
I honest to god don’t know if she’s going to get even killed anymore. Like I truly truly don’t know. Like I understand that he adopted Roman,married her..but he did all of that so he could get his position of power back. He brought up multiple times how “weak” his brother was because he broke tradition and didn’t feed his mom a bullet at 12.
He didn’t even end up getting unbanned from the family..
Like I’m pretty sure A still wants her to get offed by his offspring no matter if “loves” her or not. Women don’t rly mean anything to him or his mafia…He didn’t rly have any character growth beyond wanting to break her bones..he just backhanded her and bruised her instead :) Like at least she was so effected by trauma and Stockholm syndrome that when she eventually eats a bullet from her spawn she’ll die happy thinking “he loves her”.
The only positive to her was she knew proper hair care. Her character growth went from dumpster fire to forest fire. This woman definitely was color blind because her whole life was a red flag.
December 27, 2022
I didn't know how I felt going into the third or fourth chapter, but I began to really enjoy Alexie and Sloane's story as the book progressed. That damn Alexie. What a possessed and obsessed man, and I loved to see it! I didn't know whether to love or hate him, and that's what I want in a hero set within a dark romance. And our heroine, Sloane. First and foremost, I loved that she was a full-figured Black woman. It's so hard to find that in romance novels, let alone dark romance novels, and I was so excited about that! Sloane had been through so much, yet she remained steadfast. I'm not a fan of the tropes that were used against her in the name of the adversity that she faced, which knocked my rating down one star. I did, however, like that even after all that was done to her, she still accepted Alexie and his way of showing his love to her, and not TOO long after she was taken. I hate dark romances where the captive spends almost the entire book trying to get away from the captor. That is such the norm with captor/captive style dark romance novels that it gets repetitive and boring quickly, imo. This was a refreshing surprise. I hope we get to read more of Alexie and Sloane's story because I'm hella invested! 🖤
January 20, 2023
Characters: Sloane and Alexie
Trope: Mafia
TW: Rape, abduction, non-con, bully, murder, drugs, forced breeding, stalking
Wow. This one was a lot. If you have any trigger warnings, please check them before reading.
I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I am a big fan of dark mafia romances. This one wasn’t my favorite, but I didn’t necessarily dislike it either.
Sloane has been dealt some pretty shitty cards. After her fathers death, she “betrayals” the new president of the MC so now she is treated like straight trash by everyone. Alexie was the heir to the Russian bratva, but now he has been banished and ends up in America.
After a chance encounter, Alexie decides immediately that Sloane will be the one to carry his children whether she agrees or not.
There really isn’t much happening with the plot. Just a lot of sex (forced and “not”), stalking and eventually the abduction. The last few chapters felt awkward and rushed, almost like there is chapters missing.
Even though I wasn’t a major fan of this book I will more than likely continue the series when the next is released as this one ends on a cliffhanger and I am intrigued with where the story will go.
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Trope: Mafia
TW: Rape, abduction, non-con, bully, murder, drugs, forced breeding, stalking
Wow. This one was a lot. If you have any trigger warnings, please check them before reading.
I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I am a big fan of dark mafia romances. This one wasn’t my favorite, but I didn’t necessarily dislike it either.
Sloane has been dealt some pretty shitty cards. After her fathers death, she “betrayals” the new president of the MC so now she is treated like straight trash by everyone. Alexie was the heir to the Russian bratva, but now he has been banished and ends up in America.
After a chance encounter, Alexie decides immediately that Sloane will be the one to carry his children whether she agrees or not.
There really isn’t much happening with the plot. Just a lot of sex (forced and “not”), stalking and eventually the abduction. The last few chapters felt awkward and rushed, almost like there is chapters missing.
Even though I wasn’t a major fan of this book I will more than likely continue the series when the next is released as this one ends on a cliffhanger and I am intrigued with where the story will go.
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 8, 2022
Nope. This book was not for me unfortunately. While I love an OTT MMC, I found NOTHING redeemable about him until maybe the 97% mark. The poor FMC was not only raped by the motorcycle club members her father once ran, but continued to be raped by the MMC under the guise of being OTT. While noncon and dubcon are usually OK for me, I think it was the fact that she came from being abused to being abused more through kidnapping, forced pregnancy, forced marriage, and forced love. One scene that was particularly difficult for me is when she was drugged and then he anal raped her. Of course, her body would respond to that in a way that would lead him on, but it wasn't sexy. I think if the MMC came around to being soft towards her even a little bit before the ending, I could have gotten behind the relationship more. I also disliked that his backstory conclusion was rushed and saved for the epilogue. The MMC spend the whole book wanting revenge on his brother, but then suddenly his brother is a sweet uncle to his kid? Everything was wrapped into a bow too quick for me, but then lead to a cliffhanger for his brother's story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2025
1☆ dnf 15% in
I genuinely hate leaving such low star reviews, especially for an arc (audio) read , but if there was ever a book, i would give 0 starts. Unfortunately, this would take that spot.
I love me some dark romance as much as the next girly hell pitch black i don’t mind, but this???? This is the stuff that gives the genre a bad name. Never have i felt so icky listening to an audio or had such a visceral reaction to the way certain things were described. I feel like i was reading some kind of messed up wattpad fan fic.
There's so much messed up stuff in this book, granted that was expected, but even for me, this was just straight trauma, r* pe, grooming and sexualising i couldn’t stomach reading much more. From the whole mmc situation, the grooming a child to work for him, to the forcing the female to get black out drunk to breed her.
As for the audio narration, i wasn't a huge fan. A lot of the scenes felt very weird hearing it from a male. His deep, raspy voice worked great for male scenes, but the rest not so much.. i usually listen at 2x speed, sometimes higher, but i couldn't with this book due to the narration as it lost the clarity .
I genuinely hate leaving such low star reviews, especially for an arc (audio) read , but if there was ever a book, i would give 0 starts. Unfortunately, this would take that spot.
I love me some dark romance as much as the next girly hell pitch black i don’t mind, but this???? This is the stuff that gives the genre a bad name. Never have i felt so icky listening to an audio or had such a visceral reaction to the way certain things were described. I feel like i was reading some kind of messed up wattpad fan fic.
There's so much messed up stuff in this book, granted that was expected, but even for me, this was just straight trauma, r* pe, grooming and sexualising i couldn’t stomach reading much more. From the whole mmc situation, the grooming a child to work for him, to the forcing the female to get black out drunk to breed her.
As for the audio narration, i wasn't a huge fan. A lot of the scenes felt very weird hearing it from a male. His deep, raspy voice worked great for male scenes, but the rest not so much.. i usually listen at 2x speed, sometimes higher, but i couldn't with this book due to the narration as it lost the clarity .
January 12, 2025
This author is new to me and she is fast becoming one of my favourite authors of 2025. And I've only read one book so far of hers, so that tells you alot!! It's just that good.
Holy shit, be still my beating heart, that's how it felt through out this book my heart was racing that much I needed it to be still just for a moment. What a story! What a wicked rollercoaster ride it was, with twists and turns.
It's packed with rawness, darkness, spice, grittiness, fun, heartbreak, emotions, breeding, kidnapping and so much more.
Once I started I just couldn't put it down, I was on the edge of my seat wanting, no needing to know more. I ate it up. It was so delicious!! And I was here for every min of it.
The characters, storyline and plot where created and written wonderfully. I loved their dark crazy story and I loved them, they where so made for each other. Two crazy soul mates. Their journey wasn't easy not one bit.
I can't wait to sink my teeth into more books by this author. Highly recommend!
"His love may be insane, but it was still love."
Holy shit, be still my beating heart, that's how it felt through out this book my heart was racing that much I needed it to be still just for a moment. What a story! What a wicked rollercoaster ride it was, with twists and turns.
It's packed with rawness, darkness, spice, grittiness, fun, heartbreak, emotions, breeding, kidnapping and so much more.
Once I started I just couldn't put it down, I was on the edge of my seat wanting, no needing to know more. I ate it up. It was so delicious!! And I was here for every min of it.
The characters, storyline and plot where created and written wonderfully. I loved their dark crazy story and I loved them, they where so made for each other. Two crazy soul mates. Their journey wasn't easy not one bit.
I can't wait to sink my teeth into more books by this author. Highly recommend!
"His love may be insane, but it was still love."
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