Havok: A Bad Boy Mafia Romance

Riley Rollins (Author)

     Havok is a captivating and intriguing story. It is centered around a Russian Mafia hitman and a stripper. This story has many elements that many readers will find interesting. Havok is full of action, romance, suspense, drama, mafia men, a bad boy hitman, hot sex scenes, strong characters, and a happily ever after. This story does have some violent scenes and drug use, as the description states. I recommend this to anyone who likes to read about a Bad Boy and/or the Russian Mafia romance. 
    
 *Possible Spoiler*
     Penny has had a hard, rough life. She works as a stripper at a club called Fascinations. Penny does this to support her drug habit and to support her abusive boyfriend. She is using drugs to dull the emotional and physical pain of her life. Penny has become very adept at hiding her drug habit / usage from people around her. She wishes / hopes that someone could save her from her horrible life. Penny needs a “knight” to rescue her and protect her ferociously, but she knows that will never happen for her. She watches one of the bouncers at the club and want him to be the one to protect / save her. 

    Havok, Vladimir, is a hitman for the Russian mob, Bratva. He also works as a bouncer at a strip club to keep an eye and ear on what is going on in town. While on duty, Havok spends part of his time watching over and protecting Penny from drunk men and/or unwanted attention at the club. He finds her very attractive, but Havok would never make a move or ask Penny out. Since Havok lost his fiancee, he has turned off his feelings. He refuses to let anyone get close to him again. So Havok is left with just watching over Penny. He has never really talked to Penny. The one time that Penny and Havok talked, he lets her know that she should stay for away from him, because he is not safe. After seeing her boyfriend beat her, Havok steps in and tries to take care of it. Penny stops Havok from beating her boyfriend too badly and leave with him. 

   Girls start to go missing from the club. Havok discovers that his boss is taking the taking the girls. He also finds out that Penny is next to be abducted. Havok takes Penny to keep her safe from the sex traffickers and keeps her locked up at his home. The chemistry between Penny and Havok becomes too much for them to resist. Penny is the first girl in a long time, who has made Havok feel again. 

   Penny is a strong woman, when she needs to be. She is a fighter and will fight to survive. Havok is a tough, tattooed hitman. He is a no nonsense, will do what has to be done, tough man. Penny and Havok are two people who are just getting by. They are just surviving or living day to day. Neither of them really have anyone close in their lives and have shut down or turn off their emotions in order to survive. Will Havok and/or Penny allow them self’s to be vulnerable in order to connect with the other or to find love? Will they heal their own emotional scars in order to be together? Can Havok be the hero and knight that Penny needs?      

Favorite Quote:  “We are all damaged in are own ways”

Overall – 4 1/2 Stars
POV – Alternating POVs (each chapter)
Chemistry / Steamy / Hotness – 5 Stars
HEA – Yes
Bad Boy / Alpha Male – Yes
Recommend To Others – Yes
Cliffhanger – No
I was given this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review. 

Stolen From The Hitman: A Bad Boy Mafia Romance

Alexis Abbott (Author)

    Olivia Greenwood is a gymnast, who is recruited to train with an elite gymnastic’s company in Paris, France. She is from a small town in North Carolina. It is a place where everyone knows everyone. Olivia has known most, if not, all the boys in town all her life, so she has not really kiss a anyone before. She meets a man, Will, on the plane to Paris. He flirts with her, and Olivia tells him a lot about herself. This being her first time away from her parents, Olivia is excited and nervous at the same time. She is a very smart, good girl. Olivia has spent most of her life training to become a talented gymnast. She knows that she has been given a wonderful opportunity to train with a sexy new coach. After arriving at the school, Olivia meets her roommate, Maggie. The two girls have some things in common. Maggie takes Olivia out to see the city. Then later they are invited out to a party. Olivia knows that it would not be wise, but goes anyways with Maggie. Olivia should have listened to her instincts, because the girls’ night doesn’t turn out how they ever imagined. 

    Maskim Pavlenko is an ex Mafia hitman. He used to work for the Bratva. Before Max walked away from the Mafia, he took out several men who were starting / beginning sex trafficking in Paris. After that Max became a gymnastic coach. Max recruits, trains, and coaches girls to become the best gymnasts. The school and the girls don’t know about Max’s past. He tries to keep himself distant, hard, and professional from / with the girls. He is protective of the girls / students, because Max knows that they are his responsibility.  Max has a hard time being professional and distant with Olivia. 

    When Olivia and Maggie go missing or don’t show up for practice, Max goes to search for them. He becomes an one man army for the girls, especially for Olivia. Max does get some tech help from Felix. Felix does help out more than once with technology. He also tells some background info on Max. Once Max has rescued Olivia, Max knows that he should not get too close to Olivia. Max and Olivia are drawn to each other and can’t stop themselves. Their chemistry is very hot and intense. 

   I love that Olivia stands up for her new friend. She tried to be brave in the face of terror. After Max rescues her, Olivia believes that he is her hero. Max knows / believes that he is not worthy of being Olivia’s or anyone’s hero. Olivia stands by him no matter what and has faith in Max. I loved that Max was very sweet, kind and a gentlemen to Olivia, but he will protect her and do anything for her. Max would kill for her. 

    Stolen From The Hitman is an great story by Alexis Abbott. This story has romance, mafia men, a bad boy/hitman, twist and turns, a heroine who needs rescuing, and a happily ever after. Yes, there was an age difference, but it didn’t bother me. This is an exciting action packed story. I received this arc book for an unbiased review. This is my unbiased review. I recommend this book to other who enjoy bad boy and / or mafia stories.

POV – Alternating POV’s 
Hotness / Sexy / Chemistry – 4 1/2 Stars
Bad Boy – Yes
Overall Story – 4 Stars
Recommend to Others – Yes
HEA- Yes
Cliffhanger – No

Taken Back

Alyna Amorosi (Author)

     Sonya is a young, innocent and naïve girl. She is too trusting for her own good. After her mother dies, she struggles to make ends meet. Sonya meets a man at the gym, Halim, who offers her a job. He tells her that she can make very good money. The job is at a “gentlemen’s club” called Sultaim Place. Halim assures Sonya that she will only be a hostess greeting people at the door. Sonya doesn’t really feel comfortable with her job or look forward to going to work. One night an attractive Russian man comes to the club. Sonya has an instant attraction to him and is flattered by the way he kisses her hand.

Max: A Friends to Lovers Romance

Tara Crescent (Author)

    
       Max is a baker. He left his previous job and is starting up his own business. Max sells his baked goods like buns in the farmer’s market. He also is a singer in a band. Max is a player, and the women love him. When he dates, Max has rules that he follows. There is a 3 date maximum. 
    
       Charlie Campbell is a lawyer, public defender. She is a smart, strong and independent woman. Charlie is very feisty, but has a vulnerable side. She has rules when it comes to dating as well, due to commitment issues. 

       They both like Joe’s Bar and that is where they met. Charlie and Max use it as their location to break up/end their relationships. They both are afraid of getting hurt and put up walls to protect themselves. So Charlie and Max decide to become friends. Their feelings slowing start to grow. The sexual chemistry is there from the moment that they lay eyes on each other. The sexual tension develops until they can’t resist any longer. Max makes Charlie feel cared for and taken care of. Max has a sweet side, but has a dominate side as well (ie. the soft paddle, fur covered handcuffs, and deep voice).  

       One of my favorite quotes / lines: 
“It’s not my cake they come for, honey.” I wink at her. “It’s my buns they’re interested in.” 

       I appreciate that the characters didn’t have the typical jobs that we would expect a man or a woman to have. I like that they both had commitment or relationship issues, that they needed to work through / deal with in order to find love. I appreciate that is was not just the woman who was scared or had fears. I loved the sexual chemistry and the steamy scenes with Max and Charlie. The author allowed each character to be vulnerable and show that to the other character. Also the author allow each character to have their own strength(es) (ie. Charlie in the courthouse, Max in the bedroom). I was given this arc in exchange for an unbiased review. This review is my own thoughts and opinions (unbiased). I highly recommend this book to others.

5 Sizzling Bun Stars!
Overall –  5 Stars!
Cliffhanger – No
Recommend to Others – Yes
POV – Alternating POV each character
Hotness / Sexy – 4 1/2 Stars!