⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Dark, suspenseful and seductive

Action-packed, complex and interesting, this mafia romance is worlds away from Odette Stone’s hockey series, but still features the same great writing. It took me a little while to get into this one – Andrusha is not the typical romance “hero” and his lifestyle is anything but typical – but the mysterious, seductive romance drew me in as the story progressed. Andrusha may be a cold, hard man with a penchant for control, but with Olivia he is protective, tender, and downright loving. If you’re looking for a read that’s a little different from the norm, this is certainly worth a try.

The story follows Olivia, a dancer turned stripper who has had a string of bad luck leading her to a life so unlike the one that was once in reach. After witnessing a murder, she’s now in protective custody but the cops can’t be relied on to keep her safe. Enter Andrusha, a Russian mafia boss who wants to keep Olivia alive long enough to testify – so that she can put his enemy away. But something about Olivia draws him in, and it becomes more and more difficult to let her go. Given the choice between death and a chance at survival, Olivia is willing to put her life in Andrusha’s hands, no matter the cost.

It’s a dark romance that focuses quite a bit on the grittier parts of the mafia world, but the relationship between Andrusha and Olivia remains pretty light. There are triggers galore here so keep that in mind while reading, but I loved the relationship that slowly builds between these two. Andrusha doesn’t make the best first impression, and I was wary of his sexual preferences, but ultimately none of that stood in the way of the creation of a really great relationship. There’s plenty of action and suspense, but also a solid focus on the romance which made for an intriguing combination. I really enjoyed the direction it took towards the end and now I’m hooked on wanting to find out what’s next for some of these characters. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Dark Russian Angel by Odette Stone. My rating: 4 of 5 stars

View all my reviews