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Desperate to find her sister, Erin goes to the only man in Houston who can help her: Ivan Markovic. The intimidating, tattooed Russian operates one of the most elite mixed-martial arts training centers in the world but it’s his shadowy past and reputed connections with Houston’s underworld that interest her most. To find her sister, she’ll need the help of her big, scary Russian protector—but asking for help from a man like Ivan carries a steep price, one that might just include her heart.

150 pages, Paperback

First published February 24, 2013

757 people are currently reading
6411 people want to read

About the author

Roxie Rivera

68 books2,799 followers
When I’m not chasing after my wild preschooler, I like to write super sexy romances and scorching hot erotica. I live in Texas with a husband who could easily snag a job as an extra on History Channel’s new Viking series, a sweet but rowdy three-year-old with Tetralogy of Fallot, and Bosley, our Great Dane with major mommy issues.

I also have another dirty-book writing alter ego, Lolita Lopez, who writes deliciously steamy tales for Ellora’s Cave, Forever Yours/Grand Central, Mischief/Harper Collins UK, Siren Publishing and Cleis Press.

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5 stars
3,145 (28%)
4 stars
3,385 (30%)
3 stars
3,100 (27%)
2 stars
1,094 (9%)
1 star
350 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 857 reviews
Profile Image for Stacia (the 2010 club).
1,045 reviews4,098 followers
December 21, 2013
No. No. Nononononononono.

Adult review for erotic content. Someone stole my brain bleach and I want it back ASAP. I'm thinking one of my reviewer friends took it. You probably know who you are. Many of us seem to be in need of it lately.

I'm pretty sure that Ivan wasn't trying to do a comic take on sexy time. At least, I don't think so. I'm also semi-sure that there was at least some semblance of a story to be found, although I couldn't seem to focus on it when this book was so short and overrun with bad sex.

I picked Ivan because I was on a little bit of a mini-high after reading The Professional (cringe-worthy moments and all) and wasn't ready to let go of my hot Russian bodyguard fantasy just yet.

If you thought I was a little too tough on The Professional, let me say this about my last reading experience : even with my nit-picking over terminology and character behavior, that book was leaps and bounds better than Ivan. Even with Professional's glaring hiccups, at least I enjoyed it enough to come up with several positives.

Ivan, you aren't going to get the same lenience.

Here's how a sexy book falls off the rails :

The instant we made contact an electric zing arced through me. Make no mistake. This isn't a paranormal book. There was no actual cause for electric shocks - unless Ivan was shuffling around the carpet in his socks, then I might understand.

He petted my bare pussy. Aww. I wonder if her cat gets cold in the winter.

He painted my entrance. I wonder if Ivan's a water color or acrylic man?

He ate me like a starving man. Hopefully, he didn't actually chew his food.

His tongue lashed my pussy. Damn, the elusive whip-tongue. I'm jealous.

Ivan's tongue stabbed into my wet pussy. Now his tongue is a sword? It's like he has a Swiss Army Knife full of surprises.

Our tongues dueled. Kissing should be pleasurable, not violent.

A split-second later, I felt the first hot splash of semen on my belly. We clutched and jerked in the chair as we shuddered in the grips of our shared climax. I was seriously imagining a seizure by this point.

I highlighted a few sex scenes which read like a continuous chain of one description to another description, as in : he did this, then he did this, then he did this. Some of the scenes were completely wooden and unappealing because of the absolute lack of emotion.

Dimitri Belikov's (Vampire Academy) role as my number-one favorite protective guardian type is probably never going to be overturned, but I have to admit that I was hoping to find another hero who could come at least somewhat close. Ah well. I guess I'll have to wait around and visit Sevastyn again when The Professional: Part 2 comes out in order to get another hot Russian fix because I don't think I'll be picking up book 2 of this series.
Profile Image for Saswati.
517 reviews344 followers
i-give-up
January 11, 2021
DNF @ 37% cuz this book just straight up lacked FLAVOUR!

My reading resolution for this year → If a book doesn't capture my attention even after 30%, I'll just leave it. Too many books, too little time 🤷
Profile Image for Sabrina.
4,167 reviews2,374 followers
March 7, 2016
2.5 Stars

Ivan had a lot of potential, but it fell flat for me in the end. I liked the premise of Ivan being this tough, bad boy that helped Erin and that's what initially drew me to the book. But once I got to about fifteen percent I realized that this wasn't going to be the book I thought it was.

I wasn't expecting for Ivan and Erin to have such an insta-love relationship, and I didn't particularly like how fast they moved. I felt as if so much of their relationship was missing from the story because it went from them meeting, to being in love rather quickly, and then some more bad guys were thrown into the story too.

Overall, I just couldn't connect with this story, and ended up being disappointed. There were a few thing that I liked, the characters being one of them, so I think I'll give the series another shot sometime.
Profile Image for SueBee★bring me an alpha!★.
2,417 reviews15.3k followers
Want to read
March 7, 2016
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FREE on Amazon US today (3/7/2016)

Stand-alone book 1.
Even better today get book box set, 1-3, Her Russian Protector Boxed Set Volume 1 (Her Russian Protector, #1-3) by Roxie Rivera for FREE:

BLURB:
Desperate to find her sister, Erin goes to the only man in Houston who can help her--Ivan Markovic. The intimidating, tattooed Russian operates one of the most elite mixed-martial arts training centers in the world but it’s his shadowy past and reputed connections with Houston’s underworld that interest her most.

To find her sister, she’ll need the help of her big, scary Russian protector—but asking for help from a man like Ivan carries a steep price, one that might just include her heart.


http://www.amazon.com/Ivan-Her-Russia...


FREEBIES are often good for MORE than one day, I have gathered all my FREEBIES on a special shelf: Kindle-freebies (currently over 500 books)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Profile Image for SamJ ★Needs a HEA★.
609 reviews908 followers
February 28, 2016
A short read but a great introduction to the series, and I do love a hot Russian!

Fast paced and full of action! Packed a lot into a little story!

My only issue is it was maybe too short. But it is not a bad thing to want more from the characters!

Made me want to read about the other characters introduced in the book.
Profile Image for DeeReads.
2,284 reviews
August 26, 2023
8/26/2023 - Reread... ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5/2/19 -Reread--- Still Ivan Markovic stands out as the fiercest of Roxie Rivera's Russian Protectors. I enjoyed rereading their gritty and smexy story. I forgot about how cold and calculating the Albanian, Besian was in this story! And payback really was a bitch for poor Andrei!

An intense and sexy read...

5 Protective stars!!!!!!*****
Profile Image for axola.
293 reviews6 followers
April 28, 2013
Since the very beginning I couldn't stop rolling my eyes. It's not surprising, taking into account that the book starts with our heroine (Erin) going into a gym to ask Ivan ( a guy who she doesn't know, but suspects has dealings with the russian mob) to help her find her sister.

So, on one side we have a heroine who proves from the very beginning she is too stupid to live. And on the other side the " bad boy" who decides in their 1st meeting to help her get some information from the mob, just because her hips swing enticingly. Is he 15? Street wise he is not, that's for sure.

Sorry to say the things didn't improve. Erin behaved like a martyr for most of the book (taking her sisters abuse, pretending to go out not to put anyone more in danger when she gets in trouble with 2 gangs...) and Ivan was cartoonish.

I couldn't get into this book. Too many rolling eyes moments and wtf moments to be able to enjoy it!
Profile Image for Nicla.
416 reviews344 followers
February 3, 2016
For a short read this was really good. I am definitely interested in reading more of this series. Recommend if you are looking for a quick instant love read.

HEA
Cheating/OW/OM
Any couple separation:
Angst Level: Very low
Heat Level: Medium
Profile Image for Elise ✘ a.k.a Ryder's Pet ✘.
1,314 reviews3,092 followers
May 11, 2017
This book could actually had been quite good if it didn't have insta-love (which we all know I hate), hell it could even had been longer for my taste. Who doesn't adore a dangerous, russian alpha male and cute female? I know I do.. To bad it had that damn insta-love, and I'm talking REAL insta, like 8 hours gone by and bam, they want each other for life. Naah-ah, not my thing.
Rate: 2.5 *Ivan was kinda cool* stars.
Profile Image for Mo.
1,400 reviews2 followers
March 7, 2013
Not sure why I could not really get into it. It was a good enough read but just felt I had read it before. I know it is difficult for authors to get creative and have original ideas and subjects.
Profile Image for Aղցela W..
4,431 reviews314 followers
August 4, 2019
This was a quick read for me. I liked both Erin and Ivan and liked their story. Erin is a good woman that's in a bit of trouble. She lost her parents years before and her sister, Rose, is a drug addict that seems beyond help. Erin spends a lot of time looking after Rose and cleaning up her messes but since Rose doesn't care enough to stay off the drugs, all Erin's efforts are pretty much just enabling Rose to be that way. Now Rose is missing and Erin is trying to find her before things go bad. Ivan is a Russian that used to be in the Russian mob. He moved to the US years ago and straightened out his life. Ivan is a big man and is feared by most because of his looks and reputation. Although Ivan never fought professionally, his fighting skills were well known enough that he was able to open a successful business training fighters in his gym, spending most of his time doing this. Erin approaches Ivan for help and to be honest, I didn't know how she expected it to turn out because she didn't know him, he didn't know her and there was no reason at all for him to help out. Even his reputation doesn't give the idea that he's a helpful sort. Regardless, Erin goes in to Ivan's gym and asks for help with the heavy crap Rose got mixed up in. Ivan refuses her at first but evidently can't stand to turn her away and agrees to see what he can find out (but makes no promises). There's an attraction between them right away and Ivan does his best not to scare her. Surprisingly, although she realizes that Ivan is a scary guy, he doesn't scare Erin and she's intrigued by him more than anything. Soon after their meeting, Erin gets in to some trouble with the people looking for Rose and Ivan helps get her out safe. After this she stays with Ivan while things get worked out. The story is very short and I do wish there had been a little more. But overall good story
Profile Image for Zuzu.
1,061 reviews34 followers
April 1, 2021
Reread 3/31/21 - I didn’t remember anything about this book but it had been 7 years! It was just okay for me.

Entering a previously read book
Profile Image for Emily.
5,810 reviews543 followers
July 17, 2014
Erin has made every excuse she has to help her sister who is a drug addict. Now that she is missing and seems to have gotten herself in trouble again, she quickly realizes she needs help. Despite every ounce of nerves in her body, she seeks out Ivan Markovic. Erin knows he has ties to the underbelly of Houston and maybe able to help her. She doesn't expect chemistry and she certainly doesn't expect his protection, but Ivan has his own reasons for wanting to keep Erin close. Ivan sees something in Erin he has not seen before, hope.

The first in Her Russian Protector series. This was a treat The only complaint I would have is it was too short, I would have liked a little bit more development with Erin and Ivan because they were so opposite of one another. Otherwise very fun read.
February 16, 2015

If you like damsels in distress, former gangsters with fluffy edges who reveal too much too soon, convoluted plots, and uninspired sex scenes Ivan is for you. The author does show potential so I generously rated this 2 stars - however, if I'd had to pay for it I'm certain I wouldn't have felt so generous.
Profile Image for ☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎.
1,747 reviews161 followers
April 17, 2016
Loved it!

This was a great story. Can I have an Ivan? A Russian protector?! I think he is so much more. For him to do so much for someone he didn't know you know that's love. I can't wait to see what's next. For guys growing up in an orphanage together and don't what you can too survive the streets has got to be a few good stories there.
Profile Image for Vicky Sp.
1,720 reviews129 followers
April 22, 2020
3,5 stelline
Nonostante si tratti di una novella e sia breve, è stata una lettura scorrevole e veloce, romantica e sensuale. Alla suspence e all'azione, l'autrice alterna momenti di grande passione.

Erin, "Angel Moy", scopre, per la prima volta, sensazioni nuove che la coinvolgono completamente, con un uomo conturbante, che con lei si dimostra essere diverso da quel che appare agli altri, dato soprattutto il ruolo che ricopre nel suo lavoro.

Ivan è un affascinante istruttore di arti marziali che in  passato è stato legato al pericoloso ambiente della malavita di Houston.

Tante emozioni, imprevisti e pericoli, li attendono dietro l'angolo.
Profile Image for Sam I AMNreader.
1,617 reviews327 followers
September 26, 2021
Fair to say I'm in a bit of a mood and have just the right amount of patience for insta-everything. I really did feel like I blinked and they were in love, or that I had skipped a chapter, but that's actually just how this story was. I plan to continue, because I'm in a bit of a mood and have just the right amount of patience.(2.5)
Profile Image for Maritza.
527 reviews30 followers
September 15, 2018
Good start to the series

Besides a few editing problems I think the book had a good flow and a complete storyline. Erin seeks out the help of Ivan and finds love along the way.
Profile Image for Nile Princess.
1,538 reviews175 followers
July 26, 2014
In theory, this book had everything I was looking for. Russian mob. Check. A hero named Ivan. Check. The tatoos. Check. Alpha male. Check, check and mate. Instead....*side eye* and le sigh, it was not a book I could take seriously. I am not knocking the five star reviews. We all have different tastes. All I'm saying is if you're a serious Mafia romance fan...who loves her alpha males ALPHA and her heroines with a lick of sense, then approach with caution. I knew I was in trouble when a few pages in I read this "The instant we made contact an electric zing arced through me. From the flash in his eyes, he must have felt it too." Sigh, sigh and what the hell. I thought he was looking at her like who is this peon grabbing all up on my arm and why doesn't she realize I can end her life with a word?

Ok, so the chick (I forgot her name) goes to Ivan (ex mafia, now legitimate businessman) to help her find her druggie sister, who's dating one of Ivan's workers. Problem 1 - This woman has no knowledge of the seedy underworld but was able to find out that the sister's bf was slinging stuff on the side and for whom yet Ivan, an ex Mafia kingpin, doesn't know one of his workers is mixed up in a life he left behind and is asking HER for answers. Really?? One would expect Ivan to be extra vigilant of his employees, exactly BECAUSE he walked away from a life of crime and doesn't want his business/people mixed up in it. Ok, fine, we leave that behind. Ivan offers to help her and puts out feelers to old acquaintances to get info etc. He tells her to go home and let him deal with it, but her sister calls her from her kidnap location and dumb chick (let's just call her DC) rushes over there alone. Of.course. *headdesk*. Ivan had put one of his guys to follow her and keep her safe, but for some reason he himself busts in with his driver and saves her *rolls eyes*. One of the guys wants to kill her to repay the debt of the sister who owes them drugs and money so, Ivan, in an attempt to save her life tells the guy she belongs to him. DC starts fantasising as to exactly why he would say that and that it was 'news to her' that she was his. But it gets better!

So they're driving home now and Ivan is telling her everything's he found out and that there are now two Mafia factions gunning for her. DC orders him to stop the car and let her out because she doesn't want to trouble him, he doesn't know her (something she didn't take into consideration when she asked him to go up against the MOB for her sister) and she's dead anyway. *Head.Desk.Hard!* I was literally shouting, Please let her out the car! Please! Where is a damn sniper when you need one? Ivan of course doesn't (dang) and says she will have to stay with him (really??) and DC is all like something is happening between us. Something real. Yeah, real DUMB. You guys have been in each other's presence for all of 3 hours and she's already picking out china. He takes her to his apt and lends her a pair of his boxers. UH.YEWWW. Who 'borrows' a strange dude's BOXERS?? A t-shirt maybe. Some sweat pants, possibly. But boxers?? And she's all asking him, 'Did you mean it when you said I belong to you?' I was rolling my eyes so hard I almost had to unglue them from the ceiling. So they have sex he tells her she's beautiful and she tells us (the reader) that Ivan wasn't just saying she was beautiful just to get into her pants, he really meant it. Huh? She reads minds now? The last thing I read before I hit delete on my kindle was her having a conversation with her friend on the phone and the friend going, 'So, does he like you?' And she's all 'Yes.' ' (This may or may not have been news to Ivan himself). "And you like him?'" "Yes, no...I don't know." I heard my neighbor have this same conversation last week. She's 9. I mean how old are these people that a man has sex with you the day he meets you and that means he's half falling in love? You guys had sex. Great! But let's not get silly about it. Once she started going in about how Ivan really has a good heart and how he was hurting under his brash exterior, insight I guess the one quickie gave her, I had to exit stage left. I cannot believe this book was written by an adult. I was ready to throw in the towel at Chapter 2, but gave it 5 chapters and I couldn't read another word. Thank God I got it for free as part of an Amazon Kindle sale. If you're looking for a real Mafia series, let me know. I'll hook you up.
Profile Image for Steph.
2,151 reviews305 followers
July 29, 2013
Meet Ivan, the first in the author's Her Russian Protector series.

At first, it seemed a bit odd that Erin would risk the unknown when she walked into the fight club training center looking for the man who might be able to help her locate her missing sister. But, Roxie did a great job of providing enough of the characters' past life experiences and friendships to make it believable.

In 99 pages, we learn about Erin, her sister, and her girlfriends' past as well as a bit about Ivan, Nikolai, Yuri and Dimitri, the Russian protectors who are spotlighted in other books in the series. Ivan got me interested in the world and the lives of the characters. I look forward to reading more of this series.

Reading Order for Her Russian Protector
Ivan (Her Russian Protector #1) by Roxie Rivera Dimitri (Her Russian Protector, #2) by Roxie Rivera Yuri (Her Russian Protector, #3) by Roxie Rivera Nikolai (Her Russian Protector, #4) by Roxie Rivera
Profile Image for Leigh.
1,378 reviews322 followers
November 25, 2013
I picked this book up for free on Amazon a while back and since I usually stick to PNR/UF I didn't give it much thought. All I can say is I'm sorry I waited so long I just loved this book. Yes its short which is why it lost a star but I enjoyed all the characters that were introduced and I'm looking forward to their books. I loved the romance and the sex was hot but there was also the gangs that made it exciting. Since it is short some might not like the insta lust/love but it worked for me and so did the sweet girl going to the ex-mob guy for help. I will be downloading the rest of this series.
Profile Image for CeCe.
3,609 reviews109 followers
November 21, 2015
Too insta-love and everything for me. They feel immediate attraction. He immediately wants to protect her, he immediately has people follow her, he immediately asks her to move in with him. HUH???

There are many books I have loved that have had insta-love, but they were at least somewhat believable. But this was a bit over the top. It did not work for me.

He really knew nothing about her, but just fell instantly in love with her beauty?!?!?
Profile Image for mira.
900 reviews1,379 followers
October 4, 2021
2⭐️

um..... thank god this was short. i would've cried myself to sleep from bad pain if this was long. erin is so fucking unlikable. every time she opened her mouth i cringed because of how awkward she was. i liked ivan way more than her even though he was hella awkward too.

it was cringy and cheesy and not very good. hell it wasn't even a little bit good. will i continue? yes because i heard some of the later books are better. am i gonna bitch about it? hell ya.
Profile Image for Ezi Chinny.
2,658 reviews534 followers
August 27, 2015
I really liked this quick audiobook. Erin was looking for her drug addict sister and her search lead her to a known business man Ivan. Ivan ran a fight club and Erin's sister was dating one of the fighters. Something about Erin drew Ivan and made him agree to help her find the two addicts. thus began their acquaintance and subsequent relationship.
Profile Image for Amanda.
797 reviews38 followers
February 11, 2014
insta-love to the extreme, cheesy dialogue. A cracked out sister and a Russian that is willing to put his life at risk for someone he's known like 5 mins. No thanks. good thing it was free and short.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 857 reviews

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