What do you think?
Rate this book
Makarova Bratva Duet #1
Shattered Altar
It started with the mile high club.
It ended with a fake marriage and his baby in my belly.
I thought it was just a hookup on an airplane.
Let’s be cute and call it a “one-flight-stand.”
Or we could be more accurate and call it what it really was:
The day that ruined my life.
Aleksandr Makarova sure looked the part of the knight in shining armor.
Tall, rich, with eyes that promised all kinds of delicious things.
Not to mention, a body that delivered on those promises.
It was the craziest moment of my life.
But when the flight landed, Aleks disappeared.
I tried to pretend it didn’t hurt my feelings.
Back to my boring old reality, right?
The problem was, Aleks wasn’t really gone.
And when I stepped one toe in my house and saw what he’d done to my family, I realized…
He wasn’t going away anytime soon.
It ended with a fake marriage and his baby in my belly.
I thought it was just a hookup on an airplane.
Let’s be cute and call it a “one-flight-stand.”
Or we could be more accurate and call it what it really was:
The day that ruined my life.
Aleksandr Makarova sure looked the part of the knight in shining armor.
Tall, rich, with eyes that promised all kinds of delicious things.
Not to mention, a body that delivered on those promises.
It was the craziest moment of my life.
But when the flight landed, Aleks disappeared.
I tried to pretend it didn’t hurt my feelings.
Back to my boring old reality, right?
The problem was, Aleks wasn’t really gone.
And when I stepped one toe in my house and saw what he’d done to my family, I realized…
He wasn’t going away anytime soon.
474 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 28, 2022
About the author
Nicole Fox
185 books4,147 followersNicole Fox writes smart, sexy mafia romance novels. She is a crazy cat lady in her late 30s with a coffee addiction, an overactive imagination, and a husband who somehow puts up with her impulsive need to keep buying new plants for their house.
Sign up to her mailing list and get a free book!
Sign Up Here
Sign up to her mailing list and get a free book!
Sign Up Here
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 404 reviews
June 1, 2022
1.5 - 2 Stars
This started off REALLY strong…but quickly started falling apart.
The plot was fairly messy. And there were a lot of unnecessary and unrealistic conversations that took up WAY too much page time. I’m sorry, but I just don’t see a bratva don and his right hand man constantly having existential conversations about women and love. Like, constant conversations.
Also, it got annoying when certain things would be blatantly hinted at, but not revealed by the characters when, in reality, those characters would have revealed those things because it just made sense to do so. Instead, characters kept silly secrets not because it made sense, but just for the sake of drawing the story out.
In general, this was definitely a case of an author penning a mafia character but being afraid to let that mafia character get his or her hands dirty...AKA do anything remotely mafia-like. The main guy does nothing even remotely mafia-like.
All in all, this was very, very mafia light. If that's your bag, you might enjoy this more.
Me? I was bored a lot and did a great deal of skimming.
This started off REALLY strong…but quickly started falling apart.
The plot was fairly messy. And there were a lot of unnecessary and unrealistic conversations that took up WAY too much page time. I’m sorry, but I just don’t see a bratva don and his right hand man constantly having existential conversations about women and love. Like, constant conversations.
Also, it got annoying when certain things would be blatantly hinted at, but not revealed by the characters when, in reality, those characters would have revealed those things because it just made sense to do so. Instead, characters kept silly secrets not because it made sense, but just for the sake of drawing the story out.
In general, this was definitely a case of an author penning a mafia character but being afraid to let that mafia character get his or her hands dirty...AKA do anything remotely mafia-like. The main guy does nothing even remotely mafia-like.
All in all, this was very, very mafia light. If that's your bag, you might enjoy this more.
Me? I was bored a lot and did a great deal of skimming.
May 6, 2022
Oh boy, how I wish I could take back my time reading this.
Pretty interesting plot but horrible HORRIBLE heroine. I wanted to shake her so hard over her stupid decisions. Whyyy oh whyyy
So yeah, okay plot but annoying as fuck heroine.
Pretty interesting plot but horrible HORRIBLE heroine. I wanted to shake her so hard over her stupid decisions. Whyyy oh whyyy
So yeah, okay plot but annoying as fuck heroine.
May 1, 2022
I love the plot, and Alex was a good character, but Olivia was such a pathetic doormat, it made the story just unreadable. How in the world do you continue to want, love, lust this dude who manipulates , lies, hurts, you and your family and straight up said you are as dumb as a doorknob . She was so pathetic it just killed this book. No one in life no matter how weak they are will ever allow this kind of treatment without even a bit of resentment . This dimwit was just so brainless that she didn’t even have an ounce of resentment. She even falls into crazy lust with this guy . Hated her . Worst character I ever have read this year .
But i love the plot so I’ll keep reading .
But i love the plot so I’ll keep reading .
July 5, 2022
1.6 STARS ✰
Ok let's get this over with.
Hero :Alexander Aleksandr
Hero's right hand man :Damian Demyan
Heroine : Olivia
The heroine is so fucking dumb. TSTL. Stupid. Naïve. And suffering from the obvious body-betraying syndrome.
➺While her POV was all about the H, her entire world and thoughts revolved around him throughout the book,Alex Aleks here is so indifferent towards her, he doesn't even mention her in his thoughts. Not once. And you'll only hear him talking about Olivia when Demyan is giving him a therapy lesson in between talking about bratva business. And that happens every fucking time we switch to Aleks' pov.
And that conversation goes something like this each time :
Demyan - “So, you sure you don't feel anything about Olivia?"
Aleks - "Shut up, Demyan"
Demyan - "i think she is different, she might be affecting you"
Aleks - "I don't have time for this nonsense, Demyan"
Blah blah blah. EVERY.FUCKING.TIME.
That's the only time Olivia is seen mentioned in his pov.
Unless of course when he is insulting her right to her face or behind her back.
He is just so indifferent. Non-chalant. Blunt. Apathetic.
I can relate.
➺ Now i know comparing books and characters to other ones is wrong,...but I'm gonna do it anyway. Hear me out.
Aleks reminds of Ignazio from Monster in His Eyes series. I have book boyfriends/husbands. But there are only a few MMCs that fascinates me. And Ignazio is on the top of that short list.
The difference between him and this Aleks is, Ignazio wasn't indifferent or anything but the thing is even after him falling in love with the h there, he didn't changed. He remained that fascinating character whose pov was always refreshing because even after we get to know everything about him, his backstory and all, he remained an enigma. The kind of man who ACTUALLY is powerful in the way he carries himself and his thoughts.
Aleks, indeed reminded me of him in this book but he didn't fell in love with Olivia, nor does he 'felt' anything outside of physical attraction towards her (and thats also wasn't evident from his pov)
➺I won't explain the level of stupidity Olivia posses. So I'll let Aleks' thoughts and dialogues and her own narrative to speak for herself :
I would be offended and might even disagee if all of this wasn't true and if she didn't kept proving the same, time and time again.
I didn't either but she did indeed.
I hate these types of people. This type of mentality. A toxic family member is a toxic family member not to mention here we are talking about murder. The "he is still your father/brother" "she is still your mother/sister" mentality is toxicity in itself. And it overshadows the severity of the damage done on the individual.
Again. I admire this dude. His insults. His brutal honesty. I might be rooting for a grovel if i wasn't indifferent towards Olivia like him myself.
Apparently the type of women you are.
Oh to think Aleks would talk this highly of Olivia. Nah, that's not possible. He is talking about his 'employee'.
Excuse me? But didn't we already established your "seduction" techniques is useless?
She does...she really does. Smh
I just told you that. And he didn't lost his mind with lust because....he's not you.
Ah! Aren't you the little jealous wifey.
~
~
Pfft I was initially planning on rating this 2+ stars but the ending predictable as it was ruined that. *Spoiler Alert* She is pregnant and now has escaped.
Sooo not reading the next book.
Idk who is more delusional her brother who is in love with a ghost of a woman or the one who feels butterflies in her belly when Aleks showers her with a lil bit of his attention.
×~×~×~×~•~×~×~×~×
One of my fav tropes was Mafia romance. And i only love two types of them : one where the heroine is the bad bitch , the leader (ofc I'm talking about my gal Melody here) and the other where she stands out in her mundane existence. (Much like J.T Geissinger's funny FMCs in the mafia world)
And the reason i don't read or like much mafia/bratva romances is obvious : The today's hyped mafia books featuring the same typical mundane docile squeamish FMCs forced to marry to a dangerous mafia person. (I think we all know what books I'm talking about)
×~×~×~×~•~×~×~×~×
Ok let's get this over with.
Hero :
Hero's right hand man :
Heroine : Olivia
The heroine is so fucking dumb. TSTL. Stupid. Naïve. And suffering from the obvious body-betraying syndrome.
➺While her POV was all about the H, her entire world and thoughts revolved around him throughout the book,
And that conversation goes something like this each time :
Demyan - “So, you sure you don't feel anything about Olivia?"
Aleks - "Shut up, Demyan"
Demyan - "i think she is different, she might be affecting you"
Aleks - "I don't have time for this nonsense, Demyan"
Blah blah blah. EVERY.FUCKING.TIME.
That's the only time Olivia is seen mentioned in his pov.
Unless of course when he is insulting her right to her face or behind her back.
He is just so indifferent. Non-chalant. Blunt. Apathetic.
I can relate.
➺ Now i know comparing books and characters to other ones is wrong,...but I'm gonna do it anyway. Hear me out.
Aleks reminds of Ignazio from Monster in His Eyes series. I have book boyfriends/husbands. But there are only a few MMCs that fascinates me. And Ignazio is on the top of that short list.
The difference between him and this Aleks is, Ignazio wasn't indifferent or anything but the thing is even after him falling in love with the h there, he didn't changed. He remained that fascinating character whose pov was always refreshing because even after we get to know everything about him, his backstory and all, he remained an enigma. The kind of man who ACTUALLY is powerful in the way he carries himself and his thoughts.
Aleks, indeed reminded me of him in this book but he didn't fell in love with Olivia, nor does he 'felt' anything outside of physical attraction towards her (and thats also wasn't evident from his pov)
➺I won't explain the level of stupidity Olivia posses. So I'll let Aleks' thoughts and dialogues and her own narrative to speak for herself :
“You were the better target,” I explain bluntly. “Young. Naïve. Easy to manipulate.”
“You’re the same thing you’ve been from the start, Olivia: a horny little girl in over her head.
I would be offended and might even disagee if all of this wasn't true and if she didn't kept proving the same, time and time again.
“You don’t strike me as the type of woman who trades sex for favors.”
I didn't either but she did indeed.
“You really killed your father?” I asked.
“He had it coming.” Demyan replied
“But… he was your father.”
“He killed my mother,” Demyan says.
I hate these types of people. This type of mentality. A toxic family member is a toxic family member not to mention here we are talking about murder. The "he is still your father/brother" "she is still your mother/sister" mentality is toxicity in itself. And it overshadows the severity of the damage done on the individual.
“I like my life. Liked it, at least.” I said.
He rolls his eyes. “I’m sure worms like the rocks they live under, too.”
Again. I admire this dude. His insults. His brutal honesty. I might be rooting for a grovel if i wasn't indifferent towards Olivia like him myself.
What kind of woman develops feelings for the man that threatened her family, beat her brother, and forced her into marriage? ~ Olivia
Apparently the type of women you are.
“She’s my best girl on the inside. The woman can charm the stripes off a fucking tiger. She’s an asset I don’t want messed with or distracted.”
Oh to think Aleks would talk this highly of Olivia. Nah, that's not possible. He is talking about his 'employee'.
Seduce him. That’s how men like him operate. If he thinks you want him, then maybe he’ll give you something in return. ~Olivia
Excuse me? But didn't we already established your "seduction" techniques is useless?
Does she really think anything happens in this fucking house without me knowing about it? ~ Aleks
She does...she really does. Smh
He saw right through my seduction attempts. He didn’t lose his mind with lust. ~Olivia
I just told you that. And he didn't lost his mind with lust because....he's not you.
I open my mouth to tell him not to call me “Mrs. Makarova” ever again. What comes out instead is, “Have you fucked her?”
Ah! Aren't you the little jealous wifey.
~
~
Pfft I was initially planning on rating this 2+ stars but the ending predictable as it was ruined that. *Spoiler Alert* She is pregnant and now has escaped.
Sooo not reading the next book.
Idk who is more delusional her brother who is in love with a ghost of a woman or the one who feels butterflies in her belly when Aleks showers her with a lil bit of his attention.
×~×~×~×~•~×~×~×~×
One of my fav tropes was Mafia romance. And i only love two types of them : one where the heroine is the bad bitch , the leader (ofc I'm talking about my gal Melody here) and the other where she stands out in her mundane existence. (Much like J.T Geissinger's funny FMCs in the mafia world)
And the reason i don't read or like much mafia/bratva romances is obvious : The today's hyped mafia books featuring the same typical mundane docile squeamish FMCs forced to marry to a dangerous mafia person. (I think we all know what books I'm talking about)
×~×~×~×~•~×~×~×~×
May 3, 2023
Finished Reading June 17, 2022
3.75 Stars.
I enjoyed this. There is a lot going on.
Suspense, some mystery, action and lots of steamy sex scenes.
The tension between these two is palpable.
I also tried to read the 2nd book. Unfortunately it was not as good as this one and I ended up DNF'ing it.
Buddy read in Dark Erotica group
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Prch
6/10/22
ZL
3.75 Stars.
I enjoyed this. There is a lot going on.
Suspense, some mystery, action and lots of steamy sex scenes.
The tension between these two is palpable.
I also tried to read the 2nd book. Unfortunately it was not as good as this one and I ended up DNF'ing it.
Buddy read in Dark Erotica group
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Prch
6/10/22
ZL
June 5, 2022
I have no willpower
I always say I will never read bratva/mafia book again and then snap! I do it. This was a cliffhanger but the 2nd book is already out so I can just go read it. I truly believe Aleks loves Olivia but man he is one mean hombre! The way he talks to his Mother and his Father he is just cold and calculating. He kidnaps her to have sway over her brother an FBI agent who is investigating him. And then he married her when the brother doesn't stop the investigation. He keeps her prisoner but you can tell he loves her and as I said this ends in a cliffie so be prepared. It is safe and free in KU.
I always say I will never read bratva/mafia book again and then snap! I do it. This was a cliffhanger but the 2nd book is already out so I can just go read it. I truly believe Aleks loves Olivia but man he is one mean hombre! The way he talks to his Mother and his Father he is just cold and calculating. He kidnaps her to have sway over her brother an FBI agent who is investigating him. And then he married her when the brother doesn't stop the investigation. He keeps her prisoner but you can tell he loves her and as I said this ends in a cliffie so be prepared. It is safe and free in KU.
June 21, 2022
Listened to the audiobook. It's meh.
June 23, 2022
Potential squandered.
This started with an interesting plot but slid down hill quickly. It was a struggle to slog from one page to the next. I can usually finish a dark romance in a day but I kept putting this down, picking it back up, considering DNF but eventually finished. Drained my time but at least it was KU and I read enough KU monthly to make up for a disappointing book now and again.
This started with an interesting plot but slid down hill quickly. It was a struggle to slog from one page to the next. I can usually finish a dark romance in a day but I kept putting this down, picking it back up, considering DNF but eventually finished. Drained my time but at least it was KU and I read enough KU monthly to make up for a disappointing book now and again.
May 13, 2022
Can't wait to read how it ends
This was soo good. From beginning to end I loved reading this. I would've given it 5 stars, however the way the herione was written. It made her incredibly annoying, I mean the truth was in her face and she just kept refusing to believe it. She had no fight.
This was soo good. From beginning to end I loved reading this. I would've given it 5 stars, however the way the herione was written. It made her incredibly annoying, I mean the truth was in her face and she just kept refusing to believe it. She had no fight.
June 2, 2022
The h is dumb has a door... She meets a strange man that looks her way 2 seconds, and she's like a baby deer on shaking legs, fumbling around...
Not the type of characters I'm interest.
Not the type of characters I'm interest.
May 29, 2022
Review!!!!
I hate that I just can't post my star review and not to be bothered to write it out to, I just want keep it moving.. Annoying!
If I just have to leave a review then I will say this, that the blurb for this book was kinda misleading. Although, thing did happen as it said it would but now how I expected it would if that makes sense...
Anyway, I did enjoy this book series or duet (whatever), I just hope that the next book holds my interest long enough to get through it and that I get some type of conclusions on Alekr's feels for Olivia.. So sick of him playing all hard geeze...
Overall Rating:
4* ~ A Good Read
I hate that I just can't post my star review and not to be bothered to write it out to, I just want keep it moving.. Annoying!
If I just have to leave a review then I will say this, that the blurb for this book was kinda misleading. Although, thing did happen as it said it would but now how I expected it would if that makes sense...
Anyway, I did enjoy this book series or duet (whatever), I just hope that the next book holds my interest long enough to get through it and that I get some type of conclusions on Alekr's feels for Olivia.. So sick of him playing all hard geeze...
Overall Rating:
4* ~ A Good Read
July 16, 2022
the plot is giving 2008 fanfic that was poorly executed bc i was confused rather than enjoying the book
edit: rereading my review made remember why i was so mad about this book, bc i though the baby bit would be the whole book but it was literally the last 3 pages of this book. 0/10 won’t read again i was misled
edit: rereading my review made remember why i was so mad about this book, bc i though the baby bit would be the whole book but it was literally the last 3 pages of this book. 0/10 won’t read again i was misled
September 20, 2022
I am kind of unsure how to rate this. I think 3 ⭐️
The plot was pretty good & I enjoyed that. Some parts dragged, so it could have been shortened a bit as well. It does end on a cliff hanger so be prepared that. I think I will read the next to see what happens though.
The plot was pretty good & I enjoyed that. Some parts dragged, so it could have been shortened a bit as well. It does end on a cliff hanger so be prepared that. I think I will read the next to see what happens though.
June 10, 2022
dnf 16% buddy read dark erotica
The premise was ok but but not a fan of the characters or writing. its a bit cringy.
Only 16% in when I stopped so keep that in mind when viewing this rating. It might pick up after this.
The premise was ok but but not a fan of the characters or writing. its a bit cringy.
Only 16% in when I stopped so keep that in mind when viewing this rating. It might pick up after this.
June 1, 2022
5 stars
Wow. Great story, ends in a cliff hanger, but still worth your time to read. Full of twists and turns. I loved it!
Wow. Great story, ends in a cliff hanger, but still worth your time to read. Full of twists and turns. I loved it!
May 1, 2022
not for me
This book keeps going around in circles and going nowhere. The reason for the events that took place is because of Isabella missing. There’s no movement on that, and there’s really not much on Olivia being held against her will. She’s just tortured in any way, she has her own room and though married against her will, everyone just exist in this book. It’s really boring.
This book keeps going around in circles and going nowhere. The reason for the events that took place is because of Isabella missing. There’s no movement on that, and there’s really not much on Olivia being held against her will. She’s just tortured in any way, she has her own room and though married against her will, everyone just exist in this book. It’s really boring.
June 17, 2022
I really liked the synopsis for Shattered Altar. I felt like the potential was in there.
But I am now 21% in and it’s not living up to what was promised for me.
And it’s because of the female lead character Olivia. I swear she can’t even speak a proper sentence. All she does is muddle her way through a conversation. I liked that Olivia was shy at first, it was endearing. She felt different from other stories I’ve read before involving Bratva or Mafia women who are either scared, stupid or infuriated when they are brought into that world by whatever force necessary.
But Olivia’s shyness quickly gave way to stupidity.
Olivia has no life skills whatsoever. She’s intimidated by everything. Even her own shadow I swear. It’s like she can’t function without someone making her own foot move in front the other. So her character grated on me quickly. Her conversations with Aleks were uncomfortable for me. I am all for an Alpha man but he just just too powerful for her personality. Aleks just bulldozed her every time they interacted.
Olivia has only has 2 main traits. Timid & horny. That’s it! That was her contribution to this book. I kept hoping she’d start playing the game. Be smarter. Do whatever it took to outthink Aleks. But nope. One minute she’s crying to his mother about wanting a meeting with Aleks but again she’s woefully unprepared for it because he’s so damn hot & it’s doesn’t matter if he kidnapped her… he’s too attractive to fight. COME ON!!! It is possible to have self control over your hormones.
Aleks accurately describes her at some point
“Your the same thing you’ve been from the start Olivia: a horny little girl way in over her head.”
Olivia asked such stupid questions too! I know she’s not of the Mafia world but her naivety was annoying as fuck.
I have never ever read a character more gullible than Olivia. Christ almighty! She just believed anything anyone said to her. She didn’t have an original thought in her head.
One minute she believes Rob, then next minute shes Team Aleks, then Yulia has her thinking something else. Olivia’s thought process & POV was beyond frustrating.
When they do talk in his office, a meeting she asked for again Aleks leads the conversation. He completely gets the upper hand before she even walks on the door. She’s shit at negotiating compromise or pleading her case.
Then the conversation gets weird… she accuses him of being a rapist but not a page later… she’s letting him finger her?????!!!! WTF!
This is the man who held your family hostage. Who hurt your brother. Who kidnapped you & locked you up!!! Who possibly killed your sister in law? But sure have sex with him because again he’s an such an Adonis. Fucking Hell!! I’m so sick of women being so blinded by looks in stories. I don’t care if the guy looks like Brad Pitt on steroids… if he has done unspeakable things. Use him back. Hurt him back! Fight! Escape! Do something other than spread your legs. All it does is make me have no respect for female characters and I can’t stand those girls.
I know a mafia guy will never be an angel but after what Aleks did I wanted more of a connection between them. For Aleks & Olivia to be on more equal footing. More redemption from him. More badassery from her!
Aleks on the other hand… I found him to be the more intriguing character of the two but also I… I like a mafia man whose woman brings out his softer side. Just for her. But Aleks got off on making Olivia miserable. He got off on hurting her family. He got off on lording his own power over her. Messing with her life. I didn’t like the fact that because he practically stalked her & knew pretty much her whole life story before he seduced her and kidnapped her… that meant he KNEW her??
I’m giving up now.
But I am now 21% in and it’s not living up to what was promised for me.
And it’s because of the female lead character Olivia. I swear she can’t even speak a proper sentence. All she does is muddle her way through a conversation. I liked that Olivia was shy at first, it was endearing. She felt different from other stories I’ve read before involving Bratva or Mafia women who are either scared, stupid or infuriated when they are brought into that world by whatever force necessary.
But Olivia’s shyness quickly gave way to stupidity.
Olivia has no life skills whatsoever. She’s intimidated by everything. Even her own shadow I swear. It’s like she can’t function without someone making her own foot move in front the other. So her character grated on me quickly. Her conversations with Aleks were uncomfortable for me. I am all for an Alpha man but he just just too powerful for her personality. Aleks just bulldozed her every time they interacted.
Olivia has only has 2 main traits. Timid & horny. That’s it! That was her contribution to this book. I kept hoping she’d start playing the game. Be smarter. Do whatever it took to outthink Aleks. But nope. One minute she’s crying to his mother about wanting a meeting with Aleks but again she’s woefully unprepared for it because he’s so damn hot & it’s doesn’t matter if he kidnapped her… he’s too attractive to fight. COME ON!!! It is possible to have self control over your hormones.
Aleks accurately describes her at some point
“Your the same thing you’ve been from the start Olivia: a horny little girl way in over her head.”
Olivia asked such stupid questions too! I know she’s not of the Mafia world but her naivety was annoying as fuck.
I have never ever read a character more gullible than Olivia. Christ almighty! She just believed anything anyone said to her. She didn’t have an original thought in her head.
One minute she believes Rob, then next minute shes Team Aleks, then Yulia has her thinking something else. Olivia’s thought process & POV was beyond frustrating.
When they do talk in his office, a meeting she asked for again Aleks leads the conversation. He completely gets the upper hand before she even walks on the door. She’s shit at negotiating compromise or pleading her case.
Then the conversation gets weird… she accuses him of being a rapist but not a page later… she’s letting him finger her?????!!!! WTF!
This is the man who held your family hostage. Who hurt your brother. Who kidnapped you & locked you up!!! Who possibly killed your sister in law? But sure have sex with him because again he’s an such an Adonis. Fucking Hell!! I’m so sick of women being so blinded by looks in stories. I don’t care if the guy looks like Brad Pitt on steroids… if he has done unspeakable things. Use him back. Hurt him back! Fight! Escape! Do something other than spread your legs. All it does is make me have no respect for female characters and I can’t stand those girls.
I know a mafia guy will never be an angel but after what Aleks did I wanted more of a connection between them. For Aleks & Olivia to be on more equal footing. More redemption from him. More badassery from her!
Aleks on the other hand… I found him to be the more intriguing character of the two but also I… I like a mafia man whose woman brings out his softer side. Just for her. But Aleks got off on making Olivia miserable. He got off on hurting her family. He got off on lording his own power over her. Messing with her life. I didn’t like the fact that because he practically stalked her & knew pretty much her whole life story before he seduced her and kidnapped her… that meant he KNEW her??
I’m giving up now.
June 11, 2022
I really liked this one. Olivia and Aleks have an interesting relationship. Olivia is kind of a mark for Aleks. He's using her to get what he needs. But along the way, he catches feelings, which of course he doesn't want to admit out loud. And she very much has feelings for him.
These two have some great banter. I love when she gives it to him. And he really lets her. She's different from other women.
Of course, this ends on a cliff-hanger, so I'll be jumping into the next one. I'm rooting for them!
These two have some great banter. I love when she gives it to him. And he really lets her. She's different from other women.
Of course, this ends on a cliff-hanger, so I'll be jumping into the next one. I'm rooting for them!
March 26, 2023
If you're into mafia type of books, this is definitely for you! I was hooked from the very beginning and couldn't stop reading! One of my faves of 2023!
March 21, 2023
Nah, can't say I'd recommend
First off, the head of Russian organized crime, or the bratva as this book is portrayed, is NOT a "Don" (that is the Italian mafia), in the bratva it's Pakhan. I would think if the story is employing that particular trope it would at least get the terminology correct, but I guess not.
The biggest problem: The female lead is a shallow twit led by her libido rather than her intellect, nor is she led by the LOYALTY she owes her family who she repeatedly admits she is close to and has done everything they can to support her. She's so weak minded, so easily manipulated, and so weak-willed she's willing to prostitute herself to supposedly see her brother, but she doesn't want said brother to know that she's been sexing it up with the scumbag that brutalized her family and took her captive, the scum who's trying to ruin her brother's career -- because if she was thinking with the one brain cell she might have rather than her genitalia, she'd realize that once her brother is under the bratva's thumb it'll never end -- saying her brother wouldn't understand, h*ll I didn't understand! Of course the idiot female lead hadn't thought that far ahead, because the bratva Pakhan is just so "hot."
No real woman with any loyalty or love for their family would ever even contemplate dinner or sex with the man guilty of home invasion during which he brutalized her brother, mother and sister, and threatened them all? And playing further into the shallow bimbo cliche, this idiot character gets excited about him buying her fancy clothes because she hadn't been shopping in a while -- you've got to be kidding me! Only shallow idiots act like that. Oh, wait, that was already established. There is nothing, and I mean NOTHING admirable about this female lead, and even less likable about the male lead. I wish authors would stop portraying women as shallow, stupid, disloyal, vag-led, flighty, weak, and easily manipulated toys that I get off on men abusing them and theirs.
First off, the head of Russian organized crime, or the bratva as this book is portrayed, is NOT a "Don" (that is the Italian mafia), in the bratva it's Pakhan. I would think if the story is employing that particular trope it would at least get the terminology correct, but I guess not.
The biggest problem: The female lead is a shallow twit led by her libido rather than her intellect, nor is she led by the LOYALTY she owes her family who she repeatedly admits she is close to and has done everything they can to support her. She's so weak minded, so easily manipulated, and so weak-willed she's willing to prostitute herself to supposedly see her brother, but she doesn't want said brother to know that she's been sexing it up with the scumbag that brutalized her family and took her captive, the scum who's trying to ruin her brother's career -- because if she was thinking with the one brain cell she might have rather than her genitalia, she'd realize that once her brother is under the bratva's thumb it'll never end -- saying her brother wouldn't understand, h*ll I didn't understand! Of course the idiot female lead hadn't thought that far ahead, because the bratva Pakhan is just so "hot."
No real woman with any loyalty or love for their family would ever even contemplate dinner or sex with the man guilty of home invasion during which he brutalized her brother, mother and sister, and threatened them all? And playing further into the shallow bimbo cliche, this idiot character gets excited about him buying her fancy clothes because she hadn't been shopping in a while -- you've got to be kidding me! Only shallow idiots act like that. Oh, wait, that was already established. There is nothing, and I mean NOTHING admirable about this female lead, and even less likable about the male lead. I wish authors would stop portraying women as shallow, stupid, disloyal, vag-led, flighty, weak, and easily manipulated toys that I get off on men abusing them and theirs.
May 31, 2022
If you are looking for a dark bratva romance with a cruel and alpha man… then this book is for you.
I was pleasantly surprised when I started reading this book. From the moment they “accidentally” meet at an airport the chemistry is apparent. Aleksandr is everything you would expect from the bratva, calculating, alpha and overbearing. I know some readers had an issue with Olivia and I get it. In my experience as a mood reader, I appreciate sometimes reading books with weaker heroines. I loved the twists the book provided and kept me enthralled till the second book in the duet.
I was pleasantly surprised when I started reading this book. From the moment they “accidentally” meet at an airport the chemistry is apparent. Aleksandr is everything you would expect from the bratva, calculating, alpha and overbearing. I know some readers had an issue with Olivia and I get it. In my experience as a mood reader, I appreciate sometimes reading books with weaker heroines. I loved the twists the book provided and kept me enthralled till the second book in the duet.
June 10, 2022
it’s awful
I wish I never read this duet. The characters are god awful. There wasn’t a single, likable character in the ENTIRE duet. Not one. I hated and loathed the main character, Olivia. She is a doormat; I can’t even describe how weak willed she was. She is a pushover, and ridiculously easy to manipulate. And lets not forget, extremely slow and unintelligent. Aleks had zero redeeming qualities. He NEVER becomes a likable character. He is a complete a $$ to Olivia for the whole duet. Right up until the very end. He’s cruel, patronizing, and—to be completely honest—boring. They all were. I love a good, dark romance with dominant alpha holes, but this wasn’t it. The plot was painfully predictable. I had the plot figured out early in the first book. Unfortunately, I do not recommend this duet.
I wish I never read this duet. The characters are god awful. There wasn’t a single, likable character in the ENTIRE duet. Not one. I hated and loathed the main character, Olivia. She is a doormat; I can’t even describe how weak willed she was. She is a pushover, and ridiculously easy to manipulate. And lets not forget, extremely slow and unintelligent. Aleks had zero redeeming qualities. He NEVER becomes a likable character. He is a complete a $$ to Olivia for the whole duet. Right up until the very end. He’s cruel, patronizing, and—to be completely honest—boring. They all were. I love a good, dark romance with dominant alpha holes, but this wasn’t it. The plot was painfully predictable. I had the plot figured out early in the first book. Unfortunately, I do not recommend this duet.
June 14, 2022
The beginning of the book was really great. It hooked you right up ! But then... d@mn it was dragging. After the 51% mark I started skimming the book. There were so many unnecessary conversations (and some of them were so repetitive. Like, how much she missed her father or what happened to him). The book could have been 300 pages top and it would have been enough.
Olivia was too naive and believed too much in the inner good of people... and she never learns from her mistakes. She keeps making them over and over again and get surprised when she get burns.
Alexandr has literally no redeemable qualities. In fact, he has no qualities at all. Once an asshole, always an asshole. I don't believe one second that he actually cares or loves Olivia. Yes, I think he might have soften up to her in some way, but he won't change at all. I also don't believe that he'll put her safety at his top priority over his Bratva. They say actions speaks louder than word... There's not one part in this book that shows how much he cares about her. Yes, he is interested, but she'll remain a mean to an end to him. I felt like it was only lust. He doesn't care about her.
Overall, I didn't feel any chemistry between the characters. The plot was good but not really well executed. I wished we could have seen the characters through a deeper level. I think I would have liked the story better if Alexandr was more likeable. He was just straight mean and he hurt her over and over again without feeling any guilt or remorse about Olivia. He just doesn't care about anything but himself. Anyway, I just found him to be an awful character and love interest. I love reading mafia books about fierce men who'll do anything to protect their woman. This book just wasn't the case. It gave me the impression that he would rather kill her if it was necessary.
Olivia was too naive and believed too much in the inner good of people... and she never learns from her mistakes. She keeps making them over and over again and get surprised when she get burns.
Alexandr has literally no redeemable qualities. In fact, he has no qualities at all. Once an asshole, always an asshole. I don't believe one second that he actually cares or loves Olivia. Yes, I think he might have soften up to her in some way, but he won't change at all. I also don't believe that he'll put her safety at his top priority over his Bratva. They say actions speaks louder than word... There's not one part in this book that shows how much he cares about her. Yes, he is interested, but she'll remain a mean to an end to him. I felt like it was only lust. He doesn't care about her.
Overall, I didn't feel any chemistry between the characters. The plot was good but not really well executed. I wished we could have seen the characters through a deeper level. I think I would have liked the story better if Alexandr was more likeable. He was just straight mean and he hurt her over and over again without feeling any guilt or remorse about Olivia. He just doesn't care about anything but himself. Anyway, I just found him to be an awful character and love interest. I love reading mafia books about fierce men who'll do anything to protect their woman. This book just wasn't the case. It gave me the impression that he would rather kill her if it was necessary.
August 28, 2022
3,5✨ will i change ratings? maybe! it depends on book 2.
if i could describe this book by emojis it would be something like this: 📈📈📉📉📉📉📉📉📉📉📉📈
or something like this: ✈️🔥🔫😱…………. (this means nothing special happened for a really long time) 💍🤰🏻 the end.
so, what i really wanna say is… this book started really really good but then nothing happened for 80%. the end was good though…
why will i keep reading? i really liked all characters but i still don’t feel convinced by the couple… they have chemistry but i just want to see aleks really whipped.
oh and olivia… god. she was such a fragile character… i want her to be a bad bitch on the next one or i won’t like it.
let’s see what will happen…
if i could describe this book by emojis it would be something like this: 📈📈📉📉📉📉📉📉📉📉📉📈
or something like this: ✈️🔥🔫😱…………. (this means nothing special happened for a really long time) 💍🤰🏻 the end.
so, what i really wanna say is… this book started really really good but then nothing happened for 80%. the end was good though…
why will i keep reading? i really liked all characters but i still don’t feel convinced by the couple… they have chemistry but i just want to see aleks really whipped.
oh and olivia… god. she was such a fragile character… i want her to be a bad bitch on the next one or i won’t like it.
let’s see what will happen…
May 1, 2022
What a great book, the first part of the Makarova Bratva duet. It follows Olivia who has an encounter with a mysterious man at an airport and ends up joining the mile high club, only to find out that this man isn't a stranger and is actually a Bratva Don that has targeted her due to her FBI brother's investigation into him.
The FMC has realistic flaws and is relatable, but I wish she showed more hatred and disdain towards her captor Aleksandr in the beginning as he caused her a lot of grief. Aleksandr is a strong MMC and I love how his character evolves as the story progresses.
The end is a cliffhanger and I can't wait to continue the story in part 2 (Shattered Cradle)!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The FMC has realistic flaws and is relatable, but I wish she showed more hatred and disdain towards her captor Aleksandr in the beginning as he caused her a lot of grief. Aleksandr is a strong MMC and I love how his character evolves as the story progresses.
The end is a cliffhanger and I can't wait to continue the story in part 2 (Shattered Cradle)!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 1, 2022
Olivia is heading to San Francisco for the holidays and when her flight is delayed, she meets Aleks and sparks fly. She ends up sitting next to him and they have some fun in the airplane bathroom. When she gets to her family home, she finds her family tied up and Aleks is the reason. Aleks kidnaps her but the sparks are still between them, will she be able to keep her family safe and fall for Aleks? Fast-paced read with loads of drama, suspense and steam. This is a duet so there will be more to this story. I can’t wait for more. I really liked it.
July 12, 2022
Olivia the cartoonist
Lonely Olivia who plays it safe all the time meets a mysterious gorgeous man at an airport who takes an interest in her. They flirt and after a moment of diving in feet first. Olivias mystery man turns out to a dangerous one.
Now I don't want to give too much of the story away but as a reader I try to find an emotional connection and ask myself what would I do in their shoes. I can categorically say I would never do that with someone who threatened my family. He would be at the top of my poo list.
It's well written with good characters and dialogue, I liked the storyline and the little twists and turns. I would say it's very predictable but I enjoyed it all the same even though Olivia needs to smell the coffee.
Would I recommend it, I think you need to read the blurb and see if it interests you. I'm invested enough to see what happens next, so I guess on that basis yes. If a fun read.
Lonely Olivia who plays it safe all the time meets a mysterious gorgeous man at an airport who takes an interest in her. They flirt and after a moment of diving in feet first. Olivias mystery man turns out to a dangerous one.
Now I don't want to give too much of the story away but as a reader I try to find an emotional connection and ask myself what would I do in their shoes. I can categorically say I would never do that with someone who threatened my family. He would be at the top of my poo list.
It's well written with good characters and dialogue, I liked the storyline and the little twists and turns. I would say it's very predictable but I enjoyed it all the same even though Olivia needs to smell the coffee.
Would I recommend it, I think you need to read the blurb and see if it interests you. I'm invested enough to see what happens next, so I guess on that basis yes. If a fun read.
November 19, 2024
A good read
This was a fast paced ride through Bratva territory with Olivia and Aleks. There are some common tropes, but also a few good twists on the regular ideas thrown in there. While Olivia and Aleks have a burning chemistry, their other interactions don’t quite seem sufficient to build a connection. Olivia seems like she lives in denial a lot too.
My main complaint is the blurb reveals Olivia falls pregnant - this little detail doesn’t come out till the very end of the book. Would have been better to not spoil it!
This was a fast paced ride through Bratva territory with Olivia and Aleks. There are some common tropes, but also a few good twists on the regular ideas thrown in there. While Olivia and Aleks have a burning chemistry, their other interactions don’t quite seem sufficient to build a connection. Olivia seems like she lives in denial a lot too.
My main complaint is the blurb reveals Olivia falls pregnant - this little detail doesn’t come out till the very end of the book. Would have been better to not spoil it!
May 9, 2022
Olivia just wants to be seen!
This is book one in the Makarova Bratva duet so be ready for a cliffhanger ending. Olivia thinks for the first time in her life while stuck in an airport waiting for her flight she has finally been seen by a man for who she truly could be if she put herself out there. But is it all a lie? is she just a means to an end for him? Aleks has been trying to get the FBI off the Bratva's back for a while now and he decides that Olivia is a great pawn for his game. Not everything is as it seems and I can't wait to read book two to find out how their story ends.
This is book one in the Makarova Bratva duet so be ready for a cliffhanger ending. Olivia thinks for the first time in her life while stuck in an airport waiting for her flight she has finally been seen by a man for who she truly could be if she put herself out there. But is it all a lie? is she just a means to an end for him? Aleks has been trying to get the FBI off the Bratva's back for a while now and he decides that Olivia is a great pawn for his game. Not everything is as it seems and I can't wait to read book two to find out how their story ends.
June 14, 2022
oh so good!
Loved it, the push and pull, the sexual tension, the Bravia - oh so good!
The characters are perfection, Liv is such a amazing character, love her artiness and her hermit-like life.
The sexual tension is off the charts and the sex scenes are steamy and hot AF.
The mystery and suspense had me on the edge of my chair, honestly couldn’t put the book down until the very last word.
That ending, left me needing more!
Can’t wait to read the next book in this series
Loved it, the push and pull, the sexual tension, the Bravia - oh so good!
The characters are perfection, Liv is such a amazing character, love her artiness and her hermit-like life.
The sexual tension is off the charts and the sex scenes are steamy and hot AF.
The mystery and suspense had me on the edge of my chair, honestly couldn’t put the book down until the very last word.
That ending, left me needing more!
Can’t wait to read the next book in this series
Displaying 1 - 30 of 404 reviews