⚠ This review contains a minor teaser!
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• BLURB •
Sasha Nikolaev.
The unhinged mobster.
Satan’s spawn with pale blue eyes.
I made him a promise years ago. Granted, I only made it so he’d kiss me. But it was a promise made nonetheless. So I waited.
And waited some more.
He never came back to collect. So I moved on.
Never would I have ever thought I’d see him the day I walked down the aisle.
Except there he was, waiting for me in the pews.
Sasha Nikolaev.
When he snatched me in the middle of the ceremony, for the whole world to see, shit hit the fan.
He claimed I had a debt to pay.
My family promised retribution. My fiancé did the same.
And now, nothing will ever be the same.
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• MY REVIEW •
“Baby, your initials have been carved into my heart for a long time.”
Sasha is a crazy, hella entertaining mofo and this story mirrored his character to a T! 🙌 He first caught my attention when I came across him in a series crossover (Kingpins Of The Syndicate). His cheeky and protective, yet somewhat unhinged personality had me curious to know more about his story.
This book was no holds barred. It had a gritty atmosphere from start to finish that set the entire mood as you delve into both Sasha and Branka’s entire history. It’s not for the fainthearted, with constant fear, brutality, and danger in the air.
Please note, it contains sensitive content that may be triggering for some readers such as, domestic abuse, child abuse, graphic violence, suicide, rape, drug use, and psychological torment— all resulting in one form or another of PTSD. It has dark themes and strong sexual content. It’s intended for readers 18+ only.
Sasha has three main elements within its story— familial dynamics, violence, and BDSM romance. The first two I’m accustomed to with the copious amounts of dark/ mafia and romantic suspense books I read. The latter not so much. BDSM is not in my usual wheelhouse of romance tropes and elements. I have nothing against this element, it’s just not for me, but in saying that and after seeing snippets of Sasha in previous books of Belles & Mobsters (and in the Kingpins Of The Syndicate series), Sasha wouldn’t be Sasha without some eroticism and kinky bedroom play. 🤷♀️😅
The world-building is vivid and extensive, and whilst it can technically be read as a standalone novel, the entire series is interconnected through its characters and the relationships they’ve formed. I recommend you start from the beginning to get the full experience of the Belles & Mobsters underworld and the connections amongst each family and territory.
Whilst I’m not completely up to snuff with this series yet, I have read enough of the books to see similarities within each one. All are relatively steady-paced storytelling. I do see occasional repetitiveness or previously mentioned details circle back around. This book is no different and a contributing factor to it being a little wordy. Although both Sasha and Branka’s backstories were both haunting and heart-wrenching to learn about, I metaphorically grasped the pages (of my ebook) whenever they interacted as their relationship was somewhat of cruel slow burn.
It’s a character-driven story full of sadness, anger, and retribution that gradually morphs into one of strength, healing, and happiness. Sasha and Branka are complex, damaged characters with their own ghosts and insecurities. Their character growth was interesting to see throughout and although there’s an age difference between the two it didn’t necessarily come across in their dynamic. Whilst they do have an unconventional relationship, it does work for them.
All in all, Sasha did not disappoint. He exceeded my expectations and then some! 😜 He’s a total alpha-hole and his lunacy will have your jaw-dropping in shock but in a good way. Sasha’s fierceness and all-guns-blazing attitude in achieving his HEA with Branka is a prime example of a possessive mobster in an all-out dark, mafia romance story! Sasha has intrigued me for the longest time, and after having read his story I’m left in happy contentment. His book is another great addition to the series, and now I can look forward to reading the next one.
After five books the cast of characters is vast and connections are more complex than ever, but rest assured once you settle in, juggling all the relationships and family trees will be a piece of cake. It’s not to be missed for readers who’ve been following the Belles & Mobsters series. I think fans of dark, mafia romance books will get a kick out of this one. It has equal parts romance and mafia elements. You can also look forward to seeing strong bonds and a contrast of personalities. It’s twisty, at times comical, and an all-around wild ride!
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you Eva Winners and Give Me Books PR for the opportunity to read an advance copy! 💗
🔔 Interested in reading Sasha? Grab your copy here: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU
💀🌹 Start the Belles & Mobsters series! Grab the books here: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU
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👑 More Books by Eva Winners!
The Kingpins Of The Syndicate
Prequel: Corrupted Pleasure by Eva Winners
Book One: Villainous Kingpin by Eva Winners
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Happy reading, guys! Catch you in my next one! Xo
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