Marlena finally has her life together after so many years of hardship but someone from her past is back to try and ruin it. In steps Viktor...or should I say in bulldozes Viktor...to save and claim Marlena.
“You aren’t my girlfriend, moy sladkiy voin,” he repeats himself, his voice low and raw. “You are mine. Period.”
Solemn Vow is really hot and really good and is super reminiscent of Zoe Blake's Russian alpha males. So I liked this a lot. It's kinky, action packed with twists and has the strong heroine that melts for her OTT mafia man.
I actually didn't expect that I would fall in love with this story and the main characters.
Marlena is finally working her dream job after so many years. Instead of spending her hard-earned money on a better life, she has been blackmailed by an old acquaintance. She is a person that doesn't need a man next to her, she wants to do everything alone. But in this particular case, she needs help. Well, thank God for Victor, who can't accept no for an answer, and he is also literally obsessed by her and her safety. Let me tell you, I am all in for sexy alpha men who know what they want.
Marlena and Victor were explosive together. The sparks were flying all the time. Their spicy scenes were just so, so good. The smut was incredible, and I was there for all of it 🥵🥵🥵.
Even though this was a mafia romance (I read this genre very rarely), I loved this story ♥️.
***I received an ARC from Grey's Promotion and my review is given voluntarily.***
What I liked about this story was that it flowed smoothly, was evenly paced, had colorful and likable characters, and had an entertaining storyline. This does not surprise me as Ms. Stone is well-versed in complicated Mafia-themed relationships. Honestly, every time I read anything from this author, it just keeps getting better.
I love dark, intense romances where the feisty FMC gives the MC a run for his money. Marlena ran a good race, but Viktor was a worthy opponent and never gave up the chase. The push and pull between this couple was amusing, and I felt that Victor was always one step ahead, much to Marlena’s disgust.
Marlena was struggling to keep her head above water financially. I loved how feisty and independent she was, but she was too stubborn for her good. I felt like strangling her when she kept rejecting Viktor’s offers of help, but as her past unraveled, it was easy to understand why it was so essential to remain independent, and it made me want to cheer for her all the more. Her past had impacted her present, and Marlena had trust issues and couldn't understand why Viktor’s offers of help came with no strings attached.
Viktor was your stereotypical mafia boss, yet with one difference: he had a heart and was patient up to a point. He knew Marlena was in trouble and was determined to claim her. He never gave up on Marlena, making his point one spanking at a time, plus the sex didn't hurt his cause.
I loved Viktor’s protectiveness and persistence; learning to compromise was sweet. Marlena’s personal growth while facing her fears and overcoming challenges was admirable. From her initial stance on not trusting anyone or accepting help to finally acknowledging,that she deserved to be happy was heartwarming.
I loved everything about this book. The chemistry between this couple sizzled and was electrifying. It's full of emotional turmoil, but at the heart of it, it's a true love story filled with raw passion and addiction.
Tropes: Contemporary dark romance, romantic suspense, mafia romance, forced proximity, he fell first
Marlena's being blackmailed. And she's lying about it. Ordinarily, he'd turn a blind eye. But it's her. And Viktor won't let any darkness touch her. He gives her chance after chance to come clean and accept his protection, but she resists him at every turn. Her relentless defiance only intensifies his insatiable hunger for her. As a Russian mafia crime boss, he won't accept disobedience. It's a lesson she's going to learn again and again until she accepts her fate. He makes this his solemn vow. He will make her his.
This was my first read by this author, and I can say with certainty that it won't be the last. Mafia romance has become one of my favorite pastimes, so I'm happy to have found another author who can create an entertaining mafia romance. I loved both main characters. They both could be a bit bull-headed at times, and sparks would ignite when they interacted. The plot held my attention, and I enjoyed the time spent reading it. This is my honest opinion, freely given.
This is book two in the Sacred Obsession series & is Viktor and Marlena's story. Marlena is a tough, stubborn, depend on no one, strong woman. Her one weakness is she doesn't depend on others, for good reason. Viktor is determined, protective, alpha male whose weakness is he doesn't know how to compromise. Compromise is something he needs to learn how to do with Marlena.
The push pull stubbornness between the two characters makes the reader constantly change their mind about who will break and who will win. Marlena is a woman with a past who doesn't trust or depend on others for good reason. Viktor wants to swoop in and fix everything. To say they but heads is an understatement. The issue in the first book regarding the fleshing out of the characters and the chemistry is a thing of the past. The author drew us in with the tag at the end of the first book when Viktor knew something was bothering Marlena and the story took off from the first word. The characters were multi-dimensional and fleshed out through the arc of the story seamlessly. The chemistry, both physically and emotionally was off the charts. The author created a beautiful story with two characters, broken in their own unique ways, coming together, learning how to interact and react to each other as they learn to trust & build their relationship. The story arc harkens back to the author's prior series & one couple makes a cameo. The ending is a bit unique in the author didn't tie everything into a nice neat little bow but it's a perfect ending for this couple.
I received an advanced readers copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Solemn Vow is the second book in the Sacred Obsession series. Marlena’s past is catching up to her present and she’s doing everything she possibly can to stay treading above water, and Viktor is determined to help by any and all means necessary. She’s his, but can he get her to open up and trust him and their relationship, or will she keep pushing him away?
Oh my, this was such a fantastic read! I literally could not put the book down, didn’t even try, and I adored the push and pull that was Marlena and Viktor! They were simply dynamite together, sparks flew in every page between them, and I loved that neither one really tried to change the other, but more like find compromise and acceptance. Marlena was such a firecracker. I loved her strength and independence, her determination and drive. I thought she was a really powerful and unique character. Viktor was a bit of a bulldozer in the best and dominant of ways, but I loved that his strength and determination was able to meet Marlena’s. I loved their interactions together, along with all of their delightful and decadent steamy moments, but I think my favorite part of the two of them together was seeing how well they could fit together if they both could bend just a little bit. It was adorable that he called her his sweet warrior and she called him out on his crap, but both were eventually able to trust. I feel like I could gush about how much I loved these characters for forever, but I also loved the plot line, the drama, the suspense, and the twists and turns. This was a fantastic read and I am already looking forward to more from Ms. Stone!
A steamy, fast paced, dark mafia romance with fantastic characters. The hero, Viktor had been obsessed with the heroine Marlena since they’d first met but she wouldn’t give him the time of day until he took things into his own hands and forced the issue. Viktor was a definite caveman of a hero who wasn’t above putting the feisty Marlena over his knee for a spanking whenever he felt she’d disobeyed and unfortunately…… or perhaps that should be luckily for Marlena, disobedience was her middle name. She had major trust issues and an abhorrence of relying on anyone. Her life had been bad pretty much since the day she was born, her mother dying giving birth and leaving her to an abusive father. When he died, she’d hit the streets to avoid social workers and the care system. She’d gotten involved with a ring of car thieves but now finally her life was back on track with a good job and home to call her own until a man from her past decided to blackmail her. Fortunately, Viktor isn’t about to let this go without retaliating.
The overall story for Solemn Vow was well written with a fantastic flow to it and you’ve got to love a dominant hero like Viktor especially when he falls first. Once he decided Marlena was his, he wasn’t taking no for an answer even though had a lot of work to do breaking through her major trust issues which lead to several steamy encounters that usually ended up in the bedroom. But for all his dominance and steamrolling ways he had an innate sense of when to back off and give her the space she needed. With a plot involving rival crime families, blackmail and secrets this was a great addition to the Sacred Obsession series.
This story is exceptionally well-crafted, with characters that are not only well-developed but also incredibly likable. Marlena’s past strongly influences her views on relationships and trust, shaping her into a fiercely independent and strong-willed woman. Despite her efforts to build a stable life, her past catches up with her, forcing her to navigate challenging circumstances.
Enter Viktor, a man who doesn’t easily take no for an answer. Resourceful and formidable, he plays a key role in his family’s business. Despite his intimidating demeanor, he deeply cares for his family and loved ones. Viktor sets his sights on Marlena, determined to make her his, and the dynamic that unfolds between them is captivating.
The banter and evolving relationship between Marlena and Viktor are portrayed perfectly. Viktor’s patience is a stark contrast to Marlena’s penchant for pushing boundaries, creating a compelling dynamic between them. It’s heartwarming to see Viktor gradually earn Marlena’s trust and show her that she can rely on someone to love and protect her.
The ending of this story is satisfying, and I’m eagerly anticipating Sergei’s story to see who will capture his attention next. Overall, this book is a delightful read, and I highly recommend it to fans of romance and character-driven narratives.
Viktor's cousin happened to be married to Marlena's best friend, and from the moment Viktor laid eyes on her, he was consumed by an intense obsession. He sensed the danger lurking within her secret and felt an overwhelming need to shield her from harm, regardless of the cost. Viktor's obsession with Marlena bordered on the extreme, his protective instincts kicking into overdrive as he made it his mission to make her realize that she belonged to him. Despite Marlena's difficult past and her struggles to trust him, Viktor persisted in showing her that he would go to any lengths to keep her safe. Their relationship, fraught with tension and passion, blossomed into something beautiful, captivating readers who revel in tales of overly possessive yet fiercely protective heroes. For fans of stories featuring an OTT (over-the-top) obsessive and protective protagonist, this captivating narrative comes highly recommended.
I loved this book! It's a great example of why Measha Stone continues to be one of my favorite mafia romance authors. Viktor and Marlena are so great together. He's a big teddy bear towards her and I love it. She's strong and fiesty, she can take it and then give it back just as well. Their banter was cute and Viktor never taking no from Marleana until she finally admitted she likes being his. With all her trust issues and stubbornness it was a huge deal for her to actually let Viktor know about everything that was happening with Jimmy and letting him help her. The reveal I did not see coming at all! 🫢 I can't wait to read what Sergei is going to get himself involved with.
"I’ll be alone again, sweeping up my hurt into a dustbin full of past broken hearts." 😞
I am leaving my honest review for a complimentary copy of this book via the author.
I love stories like this. I think this will be a great series. 2 books so far n both are great. Lots of sexy times n fun bantering. So good. i want a victor for myself, lol. N no problem with the story itself except one spot where Jimmy had Marlenas phone after the accident, but Victor said it was in the car. So i was a little confused about that, but also, i may have read it wrong. I'm not really sure. But I love this author regardless n the stories are great. HEA
I was so excited for Viktor and Marlena’s story you could feel the tension between them in book 1. I do recommend reading the 1st book for more backstory and the appreciation of Viktor’s obsession.
In book 1 you know something is going on with Marlena and in this story you get to see what she is dealing with. Viktor being as perceptive as he is can tell something is going on and he is obsessed with her so it does not take him long to figure it out.
They have great chemistry the banter is fun and light he is not as intense as Andrei but he does do what he needs to do to protect her. This story had so many great mafia elements to it, I would love to see Sergei get a story and an HEA.
~~What to Expect~~ 🏙️ Mafia Romance 🏙️Forced Proximity 🏙️OTT Hero 🏙️Enemies to Lovers 🏙️Obsessed MMC
~~Quote~~ 💈I’m not going anywhere no matter how many times you run, you try to hide, you try to wiggle away I will catch you every single time. And each time we we’ll end up right here.
I'm pleasantly fanning myself with Ms. Stone's latest book. More than that, I enjoy being transported into a story that makes you feel through words almost hearing the impact play similar to one's internal voice. The characters developed during the first book, which was equally enjoyable. It is a definite feel-good book that almost has me wanting back into the middle age dating pool to find a companion.
I was actually excited to read about Viktor & Marlena. She is the type who doesn't want or need a relationship whereas Viktor knew since the first he saw her, that she was the one so I was in for a ride. This type of story has the potential to annoy me when the fmc just refuses a relationship with a man who actually does everything for her but this story was not it. I actually loved Marlena and how she handled everything including Viktor.
Viktor was such a patient guy but not too patient you know. He pushed Marlena at the right times but also let her pull back when she needed it. I really liked their dynamic and how they progressed in their relationship. Viktor is also very protective, possessive and likes control much like Andrei but he compromised a lot with Marlena which I very much liked to see. Marlena's view on relationship was very tainted by her past but nothing like a man who won't bulge no matter what to show her that not all hope is lost and that love is possible for her, she just had a give in a little and her world would be rocked. I liked seeing Marlena just being convinced little by little that Viktor wasn't going anywhere.
I'm actually very excited for Sergei's book. I feel like that one is gonna be so good. Can't wait so read more about him. I feel like he was the cousin who liked relationships the most but because of an ex, he hates them but that's about to change and I can't wait.
Russians grab me every time… Viktor and Marlena are my new favorite couple. He is possessive, domineering, and yet a gentle giant with Marlena who has learned to hold her own through her less than easy past. This is one of my go-to authors who always writes books that are guaranteed to have me putting everything aside to finish. This was no exception with just the right combination of heat and plot. While it probably goes without saying, can’t wait for what couple comes next!
I loved this book. Amazing characters and wonderful plot. Beautifully written and easy to read. I had many emotions when reading it.
Marlena is working her dream job. She is a very independent and intelligent woman. She doesn’t need a man. But now that she is being blackmailed by an old acquaintance, she realises she needs help. Enter Victor, he doesn’t take no for an answer and he is very obsessed with her. He’s determined to protect her no matter what. The chemistry and passion between Marlena and Victor is very strong. They are very good for each other.
Overall I loved this book very much. If you’re a fan of mafia romance then you’re going to love this.
Lol, Marlena is so independent that Viktor has his hands full right from the start. He never gave up and proved to her he wasn't like everyone else and would leave. I'm glad she gave him a chance.
My first measha stone book, and I'll definitely be adding more to my list from this author.
Told in dual POV this book is a mafia romance with a twist. FMC is an independent woman with a past that comes back to haunt her and bleed her dry financially. MMC is a possessive, over bearing fixer who falls first and protects what is his.
With a bombshell twist that makes all the sense by the end and a crazy past, this book will make you laugh and want to strangle stupid people throughout.
Solemn Vow by Measha Stone is book Two in the Sacred Obsession Series. This is the story of Marlena and Viktor. Viktor wanted Marlena from the start and worked hard to claim her. Marlena is a independent women who is fighting to stay above ground financially. But each time Viktor offers help she turns it away but there is just so many times you can turn him away before he just takes. Loved this book and this author's writing!!
Author Measha Stone brings readers a mafia/age gap romance story. Marlena (22) is being blackmailed, and Victor (31), a Russian Mafia Boss, pieces together subtle signs and steps in to help her. What I like about Marlena is that despite her age, she was not a “damsel in distress,” type of person. She makes it known how independent she is, but ultimately, she needs help when things get out of hand. Victor and Marlena have quite a bit of schmexual tension between them. Things smoke up into flames about the midpoint, and it’s written well.
I’m a sucker for a great mafia romance. Add in he falls first vibes and I’m a complete goner. Viktor was in full on protective alpha mode from beginning to end and Marlena was strong, independent, and determined to solve her problems on her own. This was an entertaining fast paced read with just the right amount of spicy and steamy.
Marlena excels at being a hairdresser and has worked hard to get where she is. She isn’t someone who backs down easily, has grown up learning to depend only on herself, and will fight tooth and nail for things she cares about. She doesn’t want to drag anyone into problems related to her either.
Vicktor isn’t someone who takes “no” for an answer. He is resourceful and fearsome, helping his cousins Sergei and Andrei run their dealings. While he can be a force to be reckoned with, he will always have his family’s back and vice versa, and is willing to compromise for the people he cares about.
These two! They have good banter and like to ping pong against each other, often throwing back each other’s words. While Marlena tries to push Viktor away in order not to become too dependent on him, Viktor does take Izzy’s words to heart and decides not to push too hard but go at Marlena’s pace, because he has already fallen hard and fast for her and will do what ever it takes to make her comfortable and safe to be with him and win over her heart. We can see this progression in the story and their relationship is both sweet and spicy.
Along the way we get a bit of suspense, mafia action, and some humor and heart. The pacing is good and the plot keeps you interested. Overall this was a good read and I wonder what’s in store for Sergei’s story!
I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book! You get glimpses of Viktor and Marlena in Sacred Vow. And their clashing personalities were guaranteed to make a great story. Thank goodness for stubborn Russian alpha men. No one else could have gotten thru to Marlena. But man are they great together. And seriously hot! And boy was there a surprise I never saw coming… Now I’ll just be not so patiently waiting for Sergei’s story….
Wow! What a story! I love Mafia style stories and they are even better when they are Russian! I enjoy this series and looked forward to Viktor’s story, and it is so well worth the wait! Viktor is all alpha, protective and has his sights on Marlena, but she doesn’t want anything to do with him or a relationship. But Viktor is quite persistent and plans to break down her walls, but she doesn’t make it easy! Marlena is a strong, beautiful woman who has taken care of herself and yet I sensed she did want someone to love. Could Viktor be the one? When outside forces threaten her, Viktor vows to protect her. I enjoyed their witty banter and their chemistry was so smoking hot I swear my Kindle was going to catch on fire! I completely fell in love with these characters and could read about them forever!
Marlena is in trouble, but she doesn't dump her troubles on anyone else. For one thing, she's afraid of leaning on someone and then finding out they don't live up to her expectations. Victor is the cousin of her BFF's hubby, but she won't allow herself to go there because when the inevitable happens and they break it will be awkward. But Viktor wants to be the man she relies on and find out all her secrets. But when he discovers certain things, Marlena might just be right and it may break them forever. I loved how Viktor had to just keep coming back and proving himself to be the man she needed and he wasn't going to give up. Everything she put between them he just knocked right down. These two get the HEA they both deserve.
- a mafia romance! dark romance, forced proximity, age gap, praise k!nk! - Marlena is so stubborn lmao and i love her for it - i feel i would of just told the very rich family that i am tied to about the blackmail, feel like it would be a lot easier - that spanking scene was hot AF - the sex is fantastic oh my god - Marlena’s character development is SO good - i love how after the first couple of hiccups they work so well together as a team!! listening to each other and comprising, i love it! - so obsessed with the sex scenes - well we all saw that coming but it was written v well - WOAH PLOT TWIST - Jimmy is such an idiot i love it hahaha - them having a proper conversation about everything that happened and their feelings was just so good - perfect epilogue!! with great love confessions - oh i loveddddd this, watching Marlena learn to trust Viktor was so good!! and they just worked so well as a team
What do you do when a dark, protective, tattooed god gets you in his crosshairs? If you're smart, you roll over and play dead, but if you're Marlena, you do everything possible to get the spotlight off you. Silly girl, she doesn't understand there's no getting away. Read this with a fan because it is H.O.T! Phew
Second book in Ms Stones Russian Sacred Obsession mafia series and wowsers this one is my favourite so far… Viktor has been keeping his eye on his cousins wife (Sacred Vows) best friend Marlena, a feisty, super independent hair dresser with trust issues, who has a secret past that is about to drag her back into big trouble as she is caught between Viktor and a rival mafia family… I loved the chemistry between Viktor and Marlena with humorous moments and steamy intent, Viktor sets to break into Marlena’s fiercely protected heart..