I love a good mafia romance book and boy o boy this book did not disappoint!!! This man’s love for his woman is what book boyfriends are made of! Great book I will be on the look out for the rest of this series! Chefs kiss five stars isn’t enough I’d definitely give it more if I could!

4.25/5 stars

i read this book in one sitting because i just could not put it down—it was exactly what i wanted and needed in my life right now. the chemistry between the FMC and MMC was electric, and the tension was palpable. not only that, but the two main characters had so much love and respect for one another, totally abandoning most of the classic toxic behavior these types of romances usually subscribe to. probably contrary to popular opinion, i was actually really happy that this focused mostly on the development of their relationship with the “climax” of her being taken a really small percentage of the book, with the HEA a great cherry on top. i loved these two together and it was all i wanted to read about—any other mention of other plot points in the story felt like a crime. the spicy scenes were sooooo hawt and well done. i actually was craving more spice which i never thought would come out of my mouth lmfao

KREOS!!!! kreos. omg that man. his filthy mouth, his possessiveness, his alpha mob boss persona!!!! like, a tall dark and handsome fully tatted russian mafia man, but make him a devoted husband/partner?! come onnnn it seriously doesn’t get much better than that. our FMC alora was also strong and held her own, constantly proving her place as queen of the russian mob.

i have a feeling the rest of this series will be written how the legacy of gods series is written with each couple getting their own standalone book. i have suspicions on who these potential future books are about, and let me tell ya, i am excited.

I want to take the time to give this book the proper review it deserves, truly, however I believe an unhinged review will also do the trick.

HOLY SHIT THIS WAS AN AMAZING READ!! Ashjkllpl I just love Kreos and Alora! This is handsoff my favorite maffia book! 10/10, no notes.

I will literally inhale the next book when it comes out. I am so excited for the next couple!

I finished this book in two days and couldn’t put it down. It was such a great Mafia romance. The FMC is awesome and the MMC is exactly what I was hoping for. 10/10

This was a fun time. I will keep an eye on this author! I had never heard of Dani Antoinette but I am a sucker for a cover with this model. It's just truth. Haha! I'm drawn to them.

This was a very unique story of a little thief who had an encounter with a Mafia man. They had a night of passion where she lost her virginity to him and they both went on their way. Now 6 years later when ends up in his clutches again, and this time, he's never letting her go.

I love a possessive man and Kreos, now the Pakhan of the Bratva, is as ruthless as they come. There's something about Alona that he's never been able to shake her. His life is not always his own, but he's going to make sure that Alona is. I loved that.

I do think the villains seemed to be a bit too many in number and there were many many characters. It got a bit overwhelming. But I think I'll be better prepared for the next one.

I think fans of Neva Altaj will find something to like with this one.

CW: Attempted Assault, death/grief of a family member, violence, kidnapping, torture, drugging, drugging of an animal (lives)

I loved this Russian mafia romance! The suspense had me at the edge of my seat and I couldn’t put it down! I loved how the fmc was bratty to the mmc and how he was sweet to her but possessive! This book was fast paced and definitely one of my favorite mafia romance reads to date!

I love this book I absolutely could not put it down. The girl who saved his life 6 years ago in an alley and couldn't get out of his head, but he decided to let go and not drag into his life happens to show up just when he's being pushed to marry someone. The character development in this novel is impressive. Alora is portrayed as strong and resilient, yet the pressure of her family's struggles makes her relatable and deeply human. Kreos, on the other hand, is the perfect blend of charm and danger, embodying the classic qualities of a mafia anti-hero while also revealing his vulnerabilities. Their chemistry sizzles with tension, making each interaction feel electric. The background characters are also well written and have great character development instead of just blending into the background of the story line.

Ruthless Bonds
This Russian mafia romance took me by surprise. While it does have some of my favorite mafia tropes in it, such as forced marriage, touch her and ill cut off your hand, he falls first etc. But it also has second chance romance, OWD and some twists and turns I was not expecting. Well written without being too wordy and over the top. I enjoyed every single page. Would highly recommend if you love a book with a hard exterior but a soft inside :) 4.5 stars, spice level 2.5

4.5⭐️

This is my new favorite mafia romance book (and it will be yours too)🧎‍♀️‍➡️

I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!!!!! It was intense and it was amazing🤌🏼 An OBSESSED Russian mafia boss finds the girl who he slept with 6 years ago and decided to make her his wife 🧎‍♀️‍➡️ they OBVS fall in love and it was SUCH A FUN TIME FOR ME AS THE READER!!

It was so so so good, I loved it - I think you should read it😠 Miscommunication is a trope (in novels and in real life) that I’m not a fan of, and that was a main theme in this book🙃 BUT it was needed to move the story along, so it was forgivable🤭 (and it came up like maybe 3 times, so you don’t really remember it until it’s mentioned again☺️)

I’m so excited for the next book in the series!! (I think I’m going to read all of the other books this author has written in the meantime🤪)

Thank you NetGalley and Dani Antoinette for the ARC of Ruthless Bounds.

Do you like morally grey men? Overprotective obsession? Do you think Zade is top tier book boyfriend? Then you NEED to read this…. Because you need to meet Kreos and Alora.

Without any spoilers let me tell you, Dani does the BEST job at getting the SPICE hot and steamy.. 12% into the book and I was kicking my feet and screaming!

Not only the spice being spicy, the characters were unique, intelligent, sexy and each character was given enough story time to keep you hooked and asking for more without being too much of too little.

There were so many events and situations that happened in the book that left so much room for suspense without being overwhelming or frustrating that we were getting enough from the story line and I wasn’t left with too many questions.

Alora is by far my favorite character in the book. She shows tremendous resilience, she is strong willed, determined and focused. She is personable without being careless or clueless. She is stubborn without being conceited, she is humble but strong in her intentions and beliefs. She is independent but somehow a “husband’s girl.

Am I Russian? No. Do I want to be called kotic? Yes.

This is my first Dani Antoinette read and I would put her in my top 3 favorite authors. I’ve added a few other books she has written to my TBR. I’m so very excited for this series to continue.

A captivating dark romance that twists and turns until the end about the head of the Russian mafia and the young woman who once saved his life.

Alora is down on her luck, barely keeping her head above water in the aftermath of her sister’s attack. She’s working around the clock to pay the bills and when she’s given the opportunity to get ahead, she takes it. She’s caught in the aftermath and finds herself needing to call in a favor from the man who she saved three years ago. In exchange for forgiving her crimes, she agrees to be his. But someone is attacking the mafia from within and before the empire crumples, will Kreos be able to save them all?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
possessive mmc
strong fmc

this is quintessential mafia romance! the spice is spicing, the writing style is so so good - fast paced but full of detail and plenty of depth. i’m pretty sure i had this read in under 12 hours, i couldn’t stop reading!

kreos can do no wrong to me. none. he is scary, rough, and takes no crap from anyone but melts for alora so sweetly.

alora is just a bad (in a good way) fmc. she is tough and hardened from life but fits to kreos so well. they are made for each other.

I have to say I do love a good mafia romance and this absolutely hit the spot for me !

The writing style was amazing ! It was fast paced, had so much depth and detail to it and I just instantly knew this was going to be a five star read.

The plot and storyline had me at the edge of my seat ready for the next page !From the first page I could already tell it was going to be an amazing read, for me there was never a moment where the story had slowed down it kept the same pace and I loved it as sometimes changing the pace can be quite challenging to when reading. The plot was amazing I felt like everything just fit together like a jigsaw and wasn’t easily confused, I knew what was happening and how it was happening when reading and I appreciate that in a book, as sometimes it’s difficult focusing when things get confusing.

I loved the main characters, they were absolutely everything I expected and more!!!

Alora is such a strong female lead and I got that from the very start from protecting her sister and putting her first before herself, it was difficult for her and definitely made her a strong woman, so I absolutely think that she is a very strong fmc in this book. Alora is definitely one of those characters you can relate too if being in the situation she was with looking after her siblings, I felt I had a connection with her. And the fact that she ended up wi ty the big bad scary mafia boss is perfect it shows that she is just as strong as he is, and that’s why I absolutely love Alora!.

As for my man Kreos…. He would most definitely get it.

He was an amazing character from the very start to the very end, he is the definition of the Russian man I want but can’t have🫣he’s tough but he has that kindest in him and gentlemanly personality to him towards Alora, and that’s what we all love in a man to be able to be kind towards your lover. He would undeniably do anything and everything for Alora he has that aura about him! He’s possessive over her is something I will always crave from this book. He definitely has early a spot in my little heart.

The ending definitely tied everything together seamlessly, the answers we needed about Alora and Kreos have been answered, however we now need answers about her sister Dove, I would most definitely read a book based on Dove and would scoff it up like a nice jam scone.

All the spicy scenes I was eating up like a delicious bowl of soup! I appreciated the fact that there wasn’t smut in every scene but I think that’s what made me like this book even more.

I for one would most definitely re-read this book again and recommend it to others for when it comes out. It’s a strong Russian mafia romance with strong leads and that’s something won’t ever forget about this book along with the whole book in general!.

Amazing book! I would love to read more about their future so hopefully that comes!

This book had it all; spice, romance, thrill, suspense.
Can’t wait to read the rest of the series!

✨Russian Mafia
✨Forced proximity
✨Dark Romance
✨He falls first
✨Forced Marriage

Chocolate Cake 🍰 😩 🤌🏼 tear jerker!

MMC was respectful yet dominating and fearless.
FMC was sassy and strong!

One of my favorite mafia romances!!

I loveddd these two and could not put this book down. Alora and Kreos are absolutely perfect! I loved how fierce Alora was and stuck to her goals and dreams. She didn't cave to a man who could give her everything in the blink of an eye. She stood up for herself and her sister and I just loved her. Kreos is the perfectly morally-grey gentleman. There is nothing better in a mafia romance than the "I lost her and now she's mine and I'm never letting her go" trope. Kreos is gold and I love, love, love how he worked for her love and didn't just demand it.

I loved that it was a slower burn as well. The tension that build is *chef's kiss*. The twists and turns in the beginning kept me intrigued and trying to figure out how all the pieces worked together.

Cannot wait for the next book!!!

I will post on Amazon on release day! Reviews posted on Storygraph and Goodreads.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

I love a good mafia romance and this one did not disappoint!

Immediately, I fell in love with the writing style. Not only was this book fast paced, but it was full of depth and detail. Honestly, my favorite kind of read.

The story line was packed full of substance and had me clinging to my kindle for more. There was never a moment where I felt like the story slowed down. It was engaging from the very first page, to the very last. Not only was the flow excellent, but the layers of conflict that all blended together seamlessly made for a truly interesting read. This was one of those books I desperately needed to finish because I had to have answers.

The main characters were seriously everything to me. I loved them both so much!

Alora is such a strong female lead. After being forced to look after her younger siblings while she was still a child herself and living a difficult life, it hardened her. Which honestly is so perfect since she ended up with a mafia boss. I just wholeheartedly adore strong female characters and Alora is no exception to that. Not only is she strong, but she is smart and extremely talented. It’s definitely easy to see why a billionaire mafia boss would be obsessed with her.

Now Kreos…. Raw, next question.

That man was everything I wanted in a Russian mafia book boyfriend. He is undeniably rough and scary, but the gentleness he has for Alora is heartwarming. His “touch her, you die” attitude is delicious and I was eating that shit up. His possessiveness and obsession with Alora is everything we want in our fictional men. But it’s not just how he would do anything to protect her, it’s also the love and trust he has for her. My heart!

The ending was mostly wrapped up really well. Everything in regards to Kreos and Alora is answered and then some. What we don’t really get is a conclusion to Dove’s story. (Alora’s sister) At first this bugged me but I think it’s because the author may be gearing up to give her a book of her own. At least, it was definitely set up that way. I personally am not mad at it and think it’s brilliant from a marketing standpoint. I never feel the need to read other books in a standalone series but best believe I will be reading Dove’s book if that day were to come.

The spicy scenes were definitely spicy. There wasn’t smut in every chapter which I totally appreciated but the bits we do get are steamy! I’m here for it!

I personally would read this one again and definitely recommend to anyone looking for a Russian mafia romance. Especially is you are looking for a possessive MMC and a strong FMC.

🔥 A Second-Chance Mafia Romance with Bite! 🖤

This mafia romance delivers everything I love—intensity, a complicated family dynamic, and a past that refuses to stay buried.

Alona is the responsible one, carrying the weight of her family’s survival. Her determination leads her to take odd jobs, unknowingly putting her right back in the path of Kreos—the mafia boss who needs a wife and just so happens to stumble upon the one that got away.

The writing weaves past and present seamlessly, giving just enough backstory to deepen the emotional impact. This is a lighter dark romance, with abduction, forced proximity, and a feisty FMC who refuses to go down without a fight. If you love mafia romance with sizzling chemistry and a second-chance twist, this one is a must-read! 🔥🖤

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a delicious mix of twists and turns, sweet and spice, emotion and anticipation!

I love dark romance. I love a good HEA. I love a bit of angst. But I'm thrilled when an author can bring out elements that surprise me. Dani Antoinette definitely did that. Books can sometimes blend together - especially in the romance genre - and this one stands out! I love knowing 'where we're going' and I enjoyed this tantalizing ride along the way. So...heck yes, this was a fantastic read.

Kreos was the perfect mix of scary/soft don't-f*ck-with-me/I-kneel-only-for-her. Alora is a survivor. She's strong and brave and so proud of it. She might have experienced unimaginable trauma, but she allowed it to fuel her growth to be stronger. And she never lost her humanity in the process.

The secondary characters were written with substance. They were real and didn't fade into the background. (Personally, I. Can't. Wait. to read Dove's story.) These friends and family will no doubt expand the world of the Hearts of Mayhem series in the best ways possible.

I received this ARC and squealed out loud. If you're looking for a delicious dark romance with forced marriage, an age gap, powerful and jealous MMC + he falls first...this is the one. You can't go wrong!

I shared this review on Goodreads and will also share on Amazon after the release (under the name Marisa).

Love this book! FMC is strong and smart but not bratty. MMC only soft to her. He massage her feet!!!😩😍

The suspense and plot just kept me hooked the whole time, well balance of spicy and plot.

Really enjoyed this book, can't wait for book and other characters' sotry!!

I read a decent amount of mafia books and - sometimes - they get a little repetitive. Ruthless Bonds had enough twists and plotlines that differ from other mafia books to hold my attention. I thought both K and Alora were well developed characters and their relationship was a slow burn but oh did it burn! All the side characters were also very interesting and I'm excited for them to all (hopefully) get their own book! This was a new author to me and I'm excited to see how this book series progresses!