Keeping Ruby: Kirill - Volkov Bratva Romance

Volkov Bratva #2

by Alannah Carbonneau

She came to me as a favor.
A burden I didn’t want or need.
A tiny thing with fiery hair and a temper that defies her innocence.
She holds strong to a faith I threaten to shatter with ugly truths.
She’s my salvation, but she calls me her devil.
I might not be the one who stole her.
But I’ll be keeping Ruby.

Keeping Ruby is what I consider a medium light Mafia/Bratva romance. There are dark themes. This is a Mafia/Bratva romance, after all, and Kirill isn’t exempt from the Volkov curse. Just like the men before him, he falls hard for his woman—and sometimes the descent comes with some wrongs, hard landings, and a lot of…ahem…love. **Cough, cough…spice.**

Genres: Mafia Romance, Dark Romance

350 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 20, 2024

About the author

Born and raised in Alberta, Canada, Alannah Carbonneau is only a short drive away from the Rocky Mountains that have a staring place in so many of her novels. With seventeen novels and counting currently available on Amazon, Alannah is not only a full-time author, but a full-time mom of two beautiful boys, and wife to an amazing man who always has her back. She lives in a rambling ranch house that needs way too many renos and has one too many cats, but she is happy and in love.

With a solid circle of friends and family, and a very manly, supportive husband who does his best to make sure his family is taken care of, Alannah’s novels feature manly men (sometimes they can be a LOT manly) and friend/family relationships weaved into the stories, because life is about a whole mess of people, and although this is fiction, the best fiction is sprinkled with sweet (and sometimes not so sweet) bits of reality.

Because she loves romance, Alannah writes Contemporary and New Adult Romance. Soon to be released is the Creekwood Valley Series that has ties to the reader beloved Donnelley Brother Series, where light suspense and romance weave to create titillating stories that not only steal your heart but keep you on the edge of your seat. She is the author of the highly rated Teach Me Series, an emotional read about love, life and lessons learned. Our Dark Design is a standalone erotic romance peppered with enough suspense to keep you turning the pages, and The Choice is an entirely unconventional standalone romance about three.

She is currently working on a Cross World Fantasy Romance Series for Adults she can’t wait to share with you, because this will feature hot men who are a little bit dominant and a lot protective who are head over heels in love with stubborn, magnificent women.

When Alannah isn’t writing or spending time with her three men, she can be found in her garden, or with a paint brush in hand. But no matter where she is or what she’s doing, you can bet that she’s thinking of a love story she can share with you.

Reviews

[Allia Reads (semi hiatus)]

Self note:

Some safety info about the OWD from a FB group:

“The H had been in a sleep buddy relationship with OW, prior to h coming into his custody and i mean according to him, he had literally had $€x the day before the h arrival. The H had even initially planned to marry said OW (he wasnt in love with her or anything, the OW fit some type of mold for him, basically an arm candy and good for release. He wasnt even gonna allow her to sleep in the same room as him, or planning to stay faithful to OW) but hadn't proposed to her yet. He became 0ɓs€$$ed with h and completely cut off OW and start his pursue of h. Now OW comes back later on with h's half brother to thre@t€n her abt ɓr@tva related stuff in which h runs home and tries to her away from H where all the stuff i said above is told by the H to h.

[DiDi · Rating 4 out of 5]

MMC Krill is dark but not. Ruby the MFC is innocent. Krill kept Ruby in a dank dark damp room in the basement for a month giving bland food and went to see her there every day questioning her about her father who Ruby loved and did not know how evil he was. I struggled with the fact that he was attracted to her yet kept her there. She had destroyed a nice bedroom she had been placed in first and she was moved to the basement because of it. Early in the story he brings her upstairs and she begs him not to send her back down because it’s cold. He just tells his man to give her another blanket. Ruby was struggling and emotionally drained.
Krill eventually moved her back to the bedroom and ends up backing her into a corner to marry him. He sets about getting her to love him. I did not enjoy their first real sexual interaction as she asked him to stop and told him no. She was attracted but did not want him to touch her. He did not fuck her but it felt wrong and not the right way to go about in winning her. Overall the story was good and the writing good but there were definitely times Krill was cold but on the flip side he was trying to make Ruby happy. I am giving 4 stars because I really wish she had not been a virgin and so innocent on top of that. She was emotionally broken, kidnapped and married to the brother who killed her father and took her. It felt a little like she was not truly in love more confused by her feelings and associating sex with love. If she had a boyfriend and a relationship with good sex the love would have felt more believable. That being said it is rare for me to still give 4 stars with that plot point which tends to be overdone. The reason is that this had a good balance of dark and light. No real OW drama as Krill was done with the OW after Ruby entered the picture.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not read the previous book and while it probably could have helped a bit, I didn’t find myself lost or missing anything at all.

Is this dark? Yes. Is there an age gap I wasn’t expecting? Yes. Is it a little trope-y? Yes. But did I like it? Honestly, yes.

A red head named Ruby is a little on the nose tbh. And some things were just a little romance cringe. But overall this is a fun story about a woman semi stockholmed into falling in love with her captor. Kirill is a little unhinged (she can’t even kiss the male DOG because of his jealousy? Come on.) but overall is a good dude sucked into a bad world against his will.

Ruby is a little flat as a character and she really goes from meek little mouse to mature woman a little too fast. But I liked her overall and overlooked a lot.

This was just a fun premise to read, tbh. I read a LOT of books and things can get repetitive, so it was nice for a fresh idea, even if some of the tropes felt pushed in there to hit a milestone instead of contributing to the plot.

Solid 3.5/5 ⭐️ rounded up to four because I could never write a whole-ass book, and I appreciate the effort every time.

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

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kirill and Ruby's relationship began on unstable footing, but it evolved into something remarkable.

Ruby was understandably stubborn, having endured months of imprisonment followed by a terrible ultimatum: choose between the known devil and the unknown one. She struggles to find her place, and it's heart-wrenching to see her having lost everything, now with nothing to hold her together.

Kirill deeply loves Ruby and makes every effort to help her accept her situation. His only desire is to protect and cherish her. While it's sad to see his struggle, it's important to remember that he did imprison her, which complicates his position.

Despite the challenges, they shared great chemistry and many wonderful moments

[Jordan Fiest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kirill may have started out the relationship with Ruby on very rocky grounds, but it developed into something amazing.

Ruby was quite stubborn and rightfully so. She was held as a prisoner for a few months and then given a horrible ultimatum. The devil you know or the devil you don't. She really struggles to find her place and I feel bad for her because she lost everything and now has nothing holding her together.

Kirill loves Ruby and he tries very hard for Ruby to accept her fate. He only wants to protect her and love her. I feel bad for him, but then again, you held her prisoner. You kind of had this coming.

They did have great chemistry together and had a lot of great moments.

[Shifty Bugger · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

I was absolutely mesmerised reading this amazing book, this story was written well and the characters were sensational. Ruby is a Bratva Princess and is very Nieve, quiet person not knowing what her father is into and what he fully does. Kirill Volkov, doesn't want to be the Pakhan for the Bratva, he wants to remain as the Russian bank owner. Ruby is forced to marry Kirill who is twenty years older than her, for her protection and their chemistry became erogenous, passionate and could this possibly turn into love and be her savior aswell.

[Cristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing new I haven’t read before. The H falls for the h as soon as he sees her. Of course the h takes awhile to get there…especially since she’s his “captive”. Not bad and not great. It was cute read, very safe.

[Sandy S · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75stars- KEEPING RUBY is the second instalment in Alannah Carbonneau’s contemporary, adult VOLKOV BRATVA erotic, Bratva romance series. This is forty-three year old, Russian bank owner Kirill Volkov, and twenty-three year old, Bratva princess Ruby Belle Popov’s story line. KEEPING RUBY can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary. Kirill is the brother of Ilya LITTLE BLUE (book one).

NOTE : Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers. The author reminds the readers the Volkov Bratva series is a medium/light Bratva romance with some dark details.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Kirill and Ruby) KEEPING RUBY follows in the wake of the abduction of our story line heroine. Ruby Belle is a prisoner of a man she has never met. Oblivious to the point of naive, Ruby is completely unaware of her father’s life. Forced to marry Kirill Volkov for her own protection, our heroine will discover there is more to her father, and the family, she knew nothing about. Defiant and rebellious, Ruby struggles with her new husband, having become a prisoner in a gilded cage, but a prisoner none the less. As the relationship begins to develop, our heroine will be targeted; a price on her head; for the sins of her father, a man she never really knew. What ensues is the building but tempestuous relationship between Ruby and Kirill, and the potential fall-out when threats against Ruby come to fruition.

The world building focuses on Ruby’s past; her father’s lies; her husband’s life straddling a dark grey line between businessman and crime lord; and the growing relationship between two people who are thrown together by betrayal, secrets and lies.

The relationship between Kirill and Ruby is an age-gap, forced marriage, in which Ruby is but a pawn in a much large game. Ruby is an innocent, unaware of her father or her new husband’s lifestyles, and in this, our heroine is thrown to the proverbial wolves as she is failed time and time again. Kirill wants to protect the woman with whom he is falling in love but his attempts to seduce are hindered by his need to claim and protect. The
$ex scenes are provocative and intense.

We are reintroduced to Kirill’s brother Ilya, as well as several members of the Kirill’s security team including Maxim and Ilya’s head of security Pavel.

KEEPING RUBY is a story of betrayal and vengeance, power and control, secrets and lies, acceptance and love The premise is dramatic and tragic; the romance is seductive and fated; the characters are dynamic, energetic and determined.

I will have to go back and read book one !

[Michelle Frater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruby’s dreams were simple and unassuming until the day they were brutally shattered. Snatched by Ilya Volkov and handed over to his brother Kirill like a pawn, Ruby finds herself thrust into a world she never imagined—a world where her father, Ivan Popov, wasn’t just an ordinary man, but a player in the Russian mafia, knee-deep in human trafficking. The most tragic part? Ruby had no clue about her father’s true identity, let alone the dark underbelly of his empire. Confined and interrogated in a cold, unforgiving basement for weeks on end, I felt so sad for this broken, young woman, who had lost not only her freedom, but all those she loved as well. It seemed unimaginable that Kirill, who would later profess his love, could be capable of such cruelty. His control over her was absolute, leaving Ruby with little choice but to bend to his will. Yet, as Kirill’s layers are slowly peeled back, you begin to see glimpses of a man who’s just as captivated by Ruby as he is conflicted by his actions. What I found mesmerizing was Kirill’s subtle attempts to express his feelings and bring some semblance of happiness into Ruby’s life. Each gesture a quiet plea for her love and acceptance. It’s a slow burn watching Ruby grapple with the captor-captive dynamic, but gradually she begins to notice the cracks in Kirill’s facade. The sexual tension between them simmers beneath the surface, until it finally snaps one night when Kirill loses control. That moment left me torn. On one hand, it stayed true to the ruthless mafia trope; on the other, it felt at odds with the patient, almost tender side of Kirill that had been hinted at until then. I can’t quite pinpoint the exact moment Ruby’s feelings began to shift—perhaps it was when Kirill opened up about his past, offering her a glimpse of the man behind the mask—but when she finally admitted her love, it felt like it was worth every twist and turn of their tortured journey.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Brittany (Brit.tea.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒊𝒕, 𝒘𝒊𝒇𝒆. 𝑻𝒐𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒄😻𝒏𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝑰 𝒇—𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉.

Oh, how I enjoyed Kirill and Ruby’s story. 😈

𝑭—𝒌, 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒉, 𝒘𝒊𝒇𝒆. 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒊𝒕. 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒂 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍. 𝑰’𝒎 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒇—𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒕!𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒆, 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒖𝒍. 𝑰’𝒎 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒚 🍑 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒚 💦 𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒐 𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒍 𝒊𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒌𝒔 𝒐𝒖𝒕.

Ruby was taken by Kirill’s brother and dropped off at his house, where she was held captive and interrogated about her father, who she adored. Little did Ruby know the kind of horrible monster her father was, but she'd soon find out.

𝑻𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒎𝒆, 𝒘𝒊𝒇𝒆. 𝑻𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖.

Kirill falls in love with his little captive and demands they marry. He needs a wife and an heir, and he’s obsessed with her. He can't imagine life without his little spitfire.

He knows he has his work cut out for him since Ruby hates him, but he will show her that he's not the monster she thinks he is, and soon she’ll fall madly in love with him.

𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆, 𝑹𝒖𝒃𝒚. 𝑭𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒆. 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒔—𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆—𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒆.

I loved Ruby. She was so innocent but such a sassy spitfire. She made him work for everything and fought him hard along the way.

𝑰’𝒗𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒕 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝑰 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆. 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒂𝒍𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏. 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒑𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒚 𝒅𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆. 𝒀𝒐𝒖. 𝑨𝒓𝒆. 𝑴𝒚. 𝑾𝒊𝒇𝒆. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔. 𝑬𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒚, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚, 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔.

To some, Kirill was an unhinged monster, but not to his wife. He was fiercely protective and possessive of her and wanted to give her the world. 🥰

All the sweet gestures and things he did for her made me swoon. My favorite was every night before bed. He brushed her hair and kissed her goodnight 🥰

𝑰’𝒗𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒂𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒂𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒘𝒊𝒇𝒆.

Kirill definitely is touch her, and 💀 and oh, when he says my wife 🥵🫠

As much as I loved Kirill and Ruby’s story, Ilya and Irelynn are still my favorites. 🖤 I enjoy this world and can’t wait to see what she writes next.

[Sneha Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruby Belle Popov, a small-town librarian, who is involved in charity and social work in her free time, has her life turned upside down when she is kidnapped by a Mafia and thrown in an underground cellar of Kirill Volkov's, his kidnapper's brother, huge mansion to get information on his father's business and activities, she is totally unaware of.
Kirill Volkov belongs to the Bratva Family (Russian Mafia) but is the CEO of a bank (Volk Vault Bank) spread across countries. He is a 6 foot 4 tall, dark-haired, deep, dark-eyed man who is Ruby's keeper. Ruby is left with no choice but to marry his keeper, a monster, she hates for her protection.

Kirill and his overbearing personality, but he kept trying hard to be calm and patient with her.
She denying and fighting the feelings she has for the monster also, her husband, and him trying his best to win her over relentlessly...had me.
She always wanted a cat, but couldn't, so he gets her 2 kittens! Her heart loosens and opens up to Kirill (as he steals kisses and) as she discovers the scarred and soft man, who was forced to mask his feelings, fears, and true self for his duties as the eldest son of the Bratva family.

The bodyguards were too good! Pavel (Mac), Maxim and Dimitri, and Simba (Kirill's pet dog), they were with Ruby with her, supporting her, while she was so new and vulnerable to this new place and life.
The epilogue could have been better, giving an insight of their life a year later or so, with their child

It was a 3.75/5⭐ for me.
It has an age gap, forced marriage, and spice.
For my first mafia romance, I must say I really liked this one. Though I found it somewhat predictable, there wasn't a moment I felt bored. And, I look forward to reading for mafia romances!!!!

[Stacey T · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in the Volkov Russian Mafia series. Taken and held in a dungeon, Ruby is living a nightmare and wishes for her safe and simple life before. She doesn’t understand what the monster that is holding her wants. Kirill is the CEO of Volk Vault Bank and as a favor to his brother, the Pakhan of the family, he is holding the daughter of their enemy and trying to obtain details from her that she is oblivious too, having never known the true evilness of her father. Now, Kirill must get Ruby to decide to stay with him for he has finally fallen under the Volkov men family curse, and he has no plans on letting her go. As Ruby starts to understand him better, will she fall in love with him and learn to accept that her dream of a simple life has now changed to one of danger and just possibly a love that will last for all eternity?
I enjoyed this book as much as the first one with Ilya. I love these dark and brutal men that fall, unconditionally hard for their women and can be brought to their knees by them as well. Kirill and Ruby were great together and the story, although following a similar plot as the other book, was interesting and funny at times (Simba, Nala, and Rafiki) too. My only wish is that the epilogue had been further after the end of the book so we could have seen how life was treating them. Also, I needed a chapter where the whole family came together so she could have been introduced to the rest of the men and wives. Overall, another great book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Teresa Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

#Ruby #Kirill #RussianBratvaRomance #CaptiveTOLover

Keeping Ruby: Kirill - Volkov Bratva Romance by Alannah Carbonneau is a Russian Mafia story about Ruby, a minor kingpin daughter, being held captive by one of major Bratva’s leaders and how a love story emerges from brokenness and hurt. What begins as “captive for insurance” in the midst of grabs for power between the Russian mob/Bratva leaders turns into an unexpected romance between Ruby, the illegitimate daughter of a ruthless human trafficker who thought her father was the owner of a shipping company and Kirill, head of a vast Russian Banking Conglomerate of the Volkov family. Ruby enters into a marriage of convenience with her captor Kirill when she hears her step-brother, Artyom Popov, whom she never knew existed, say he would have used and abused her by others until she wished she was dead. It is a deadly game the players of the Russian families play to win the most power, with many lives at stake, like innocent Ruby. What may have begun as a Stockholm captive syndrome becomes a romance that defies description. Alannah Carbonneau writes about an edgy, morally gray Kirill who will protect and watch over everyone he cares for. Ruby and Kirill’s love story overcomes hate as they fall in love, making Keeping Ruby by Alannah Carbonneau worth reading.

[Candace Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ 𝚂𝚙𝚘𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚛𝚜 ✨

𝚃𝚒𝚝𝚕𝚎/𝙰𝚞𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚛:

Keeping Ruby - Alannah Carbonneau

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐:

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

𝙼𝚊𝚒𝚗 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜:

- Ruby 🖤
- Kirill 💀

𝚀𝚞𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚜:

"To the devil, I am nearly ready to bargain my soul."

"The woman is so deep under my skin, she’s the blood in my veins."

"I’ll put your pieces back together, little princess."

𝚂𝚢𝚗𝚘𝚙𝚜𝚒𝚜:

Ruby's whole life has been a lie. Her family is evil and she's been taken by the enemy. Kirill never thought he would fall for his captive. But he did and he'll make her fall in love with him.

𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:

This is a first for me by this author. I've read so many Bratva/Mafia romances they all seem to mash together. But this one felt different in a good way. Kirill, man. This man made me melt. He had me from the dungeons until the end. I loved this story though the plot was a bit fast it was still an amazing story. The MMC was a walking flag but I don't care 💅🏻 The FMC was so sweet an innocent. She didn't know what the world was around her and I felt for her. The spice was medium level but there. Overall this story was a good read and I definitely want to read more by this author.

𝚃𝚛𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚜:

• Captive/Captor
• Dark romance
• He falls first
• Forced marriage
• "My wife"

𝚂𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚎:

🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

𝚂𝚘𝚗𝚐:

Until We Go Down - Ruelle

[Teresa Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keeping Ruby: Kirill - Volkov Bratva Romance by Alannah Carbonneau is a Russian Mafia story about Ruby, a minor kingpin daughter, being held captive by one of major Bratva’s leaders and how a love story emerges from brokenness and hurt. What begins as “captive for insurance” in the midst of grabs for power between the Russian mob/Bratva leaders turns into an unexpected romance between Ruby, the illegitimate daughter of a ruthless human trafficker who thought her father was the owner of a shipping company and Kirill, head of a vast Russian Banking Conglomerate of the Volkov family. Ruby enters into a marriage of convenience with her captor Kirill when she hears her step-brother, Artyom Popov, whom she never knew existed, say he would have used and abused her by others until she wished she was dead. It is a deadly game the players of the Russian families play to win the most power, with many lives at stake, like innocent Ruby. What may have begun as a Stockholm captive syndrome becomes a romance that defies description. Alannah Carbonneau writes about an edgy, morally gray Kirill who will protect and watch over everyone he cares for. Ruby and Kirill’s love story overcomes hate as they fall in love, making Keeping Ruby by Alannah Carbonneau worth reading.

[Akilah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, was so good!

I’m no newbie when it comes to dark mafia romance, so I wasn’t expecting much. However, I was really surprised how much I enjoyed this book.

I was expecting to just flip through because I’ve read so much mafia/bratva books, they’re mostly the same, after a while. However, this book had me at the edge of my seat. Ot was that good.

It started off quite unexpected. I was like “huh?”. But, as the story progressed I grew to absolutely adore the fmc. She was such a breath of fresh air to read, from start to finish.

I absolutely loved how the mmc was obsessed with her, and rightfully so! He was obviously the brutish, alpha male in the beginning, not taking no for an answer. His words goes. However, as their story progressed, and he fell for her more, he was more overprotective, than possessive, in my opinion.

Their age gap did surprise me but it didn’t throw me off in a negative way. It wasn’t really off putting, if you like age gaps.

If you like dark romance, kidnapping trope, age gap romance stories with a HEA. Get this book!

I got an ARC, and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.

[Pascale Brouwers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't read the previous book in this series and it turned out I didn't need to read it to keep up with this book.

Ruby Belle Popov is abducted by Ilya Volkov and handed over to and held prisoner by his brother, Kirill Volkov, a Russian bankowner / Bratva member. Ruby is eventually forced to marry Kirill.

During the book we learn how Ruby lost het mother to a horrible disease and about the relationship Ruby had with her father, who was killed by Ilya while she was held prisoner, her now brother in law. Together with Ruby we learn that her father is not who she thought he was. It goes as far as having a bounty on her head for the things her father did and for who she is.

The age-gap, the forced marriage, the Bratva membership and her own confusing feelings for Kirill make her struggle.

Kirill is showing a surprisingly kind, gentle side towards Ruby, but she rejects him on many occasions. He really has to work for her love! And he does!

Enough spicy moments, some dark times, making this book a good read!

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

[Aria Maze · Rating 4 out of 5]

I has high hopes for this book and was not disappointed. Ruby started off a bit annoying for my tastes. I don’t mind innocence, but naivety in FMCs toes a fine line for me. I did however love Kirill. I have a deep love for controlling and over the top possessive men. And Russian men? Yes please.

Ruby does get a bit of a pass because she was literally held in a dungeon for the first chunk of their “relationship.” I love captor/captive romance but that was hard for me to stomach. I think it speaks to how much she loves him that she was able to move past that at all.

The spice in this though!!! Holy cow it was amazing! Especially the scene towards the end with the plug. Woof woof.

I think the only reason this book gets four stars from me and not five is because I loved the first book so much more. The characters in this were great but I found myself missing Ilya and Irelynn.

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

[Margaret Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say I liked this one more than little blue and I really liked that one.

Maybe it was because Kirill didn’t actually take her but every-time he did something nice for Ruby and she rejected him my heart broke a little for him.

I was so glad when she realised that she didn’t want to run anymore. Kirill would have been devastated if she had and I do believe he would have burned down the world to fine her.

As soon as Kirill told her what the dog was called I was convinced it had something to do with his mum. So when she named the kittens and he’s thinking about how his mum’s gonna love her. I knew the mum and named his dog liked she had named Ilya’s dogs. I would have loved for her to have met his family. Especially the wives the might have help her with the fact she wasn’t alone with the how intense the Volkov men love.

[Moldy Bread · Rating 1 out of 5]

Simba, really?

There’s a load of bad writing in this book.

To start, a lack of originality when naming a dog. You really think a dude like Kirill is going to name his dog after a Disney character? Was doing that supposed to add depth to his character? It didn’t, because it was so stupid.

Dialogue needs work. It’s inconsistently formal and informal and interrupted with too many ellipses and stutters. Freaking annoying AF.

The FMC’s obsessed with being a prisoner. Poor, sad FMC. She’s been “forced” to marry a man who dotes on her and protects her. Poo-poo. The alternative was to go to her brother who would have turned her into a whore and eventually killed her.

The FMC is twenty-three. I couldn’t believe it. She’s about as mature, logical and intelligent as a thirteen-year-old. A character is only as smart as their creator, after all…

Gonna be another DNF.

[Britney O'Neal · Rating 3 out of 5]

The part where Ruby gives in to Kirill came out of left field for me. I felt there could have been more build-up before she gave in to him. I didn't feel the chemistry or love from her end. She also kept saying how much she hated him. I understood that after the first time, but it was repeated a lot at the beginning, but I failed to see how her actions showed she did. Sure, she fought at him a little and told him she hated him, but other than that, she did nothing else to show her despise for the man.

Kirill, being in his early 40s, threw me off. I didn't sense that from him. I was guessing late 20s, maybe early 40s. I'm not sure why Anya was included as a character when she barely had a spot in the book except for one scene. If anything, she should have had a few more scenes to make it more believable as to why her character was even mentioned in the first place.

[Janice Hebert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book in the Volkov series that I’ve read. I loved the first one and absolutely loved this one as well! Kirill is the eldest Volkov son and was expected to take over the Russian Volkov Bratva. However, he did not have the “stomach” for it and instead runs the Volkov Vault Bank. He does a favor for his brother, holding Ruby as his prisoner because unbeknownst to her, her father was a rival Bratva to the Volkov’s and dealt in human trafficking. Ruby sees Kirill as a monster and thinks he is lying about her father. I loved how Kirill did everything he could to make Ruby happy and he understood her concerns and gave her space.

I received a copy of this book through BookSirens and voluntarily reviewed it.

[Tess · Rating 4 out of 5]

It hit my "Mafia ,kidnapped sweet h and an protective and OTT possessive/obsessive H" spot! This was much better than Little Blue-the first book in this series. The h in this is sweet, naive and not as prone to tears as the h in previous book. Loved the way Kirill loved Ruby-she completely owned him but did not know it. The spice was spicing in this one as well. Going to read this authors backlist. The only thing i would find fault in is the overuse of comma and the lack of extended epilogue. I wanted to see more of Ilya and blue along with some babies in future...
I received this as an ARC for an honest review.

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruby's life is turned upside-down by her late father a man she thought she knew as a good missionary certainly not the true dark world he thrived in. Ruby is given to Kirill to be watched over by his brother, but with news of her fathers death she is forced to make a choice between the devil she knows in kirill or the one she doesnt in her brother. Things don't start off well for the pair, Kirill is obsessed with Ruby and wants to protect her from the threats but hes keeping her captive, he wants her love but how can she love a man who keeps her prisoner? Well written the story captivates you from the start, with emotions, desires obsession and more!

[Anna M. Diaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kirill Volkov/Ruby Belle Petrov aka Popov'. Older man/Younger woman. Bratva Financier/Bratva Princess. Innocent. Naive. Kidnapped. Ivan Popov aka Petrov - Father. Alias. Secrets. Lies. Revelations. Human trafficking. Murder. Dangerous. Vicious. Devastated. Distraught. Denial. Artyom Petrov - Brother. Angry. Bitter. Evil. Vengeance. Threatens. Bounty. Forced, arranged marriage. Kidnapped. Self-Defense? Murder? Protective. Possessive. Action-packed. Thrilling. Gripping. Wonderful characters and intriguing story. Attraction. Taboo. Affection. Virgin. Consensual. Acceptance. Love. HEA. Entertaining.

[deeena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book starts off with a bang I guess. There’s no real meeting if the MCs. You’re just thrown into them already knowing eachother as a captive/jailer couple

I don’t love that the FMC was held in a cellar for 2 months even tho the MMC was obsessed with her during that time anyway.

Overall tho I did enjoy the MMCs possessiveness and OTT personality. I would have loved if the FMC fought back a bit longer instead of just crying as much as she did

-good spice, official sex scene doesn’t happen until the half way point
- pregnancy trope/ kinda breeding book
- no third act breakup
- third act kidnapping

[Taylor Maxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful

Gosh I loved this book and couple so dang much! Story was amazing in my opinion.🥰



“I love you, Ruby Volkov. I am so deeply in love with you, I don’t think I can breathe in a world where you are not. I love you in a way that my life depends on you being in it. The center of it. You are everything to me. You and the life we create—are everything to me. For you, I have the capacity to become a monster. A thing of nightmares. But I will try to be good for you. To be honorable in the ways that I can, for you.”

“I love all the parts of you. The monster and the man. Thank you, Kirill, for keeping me.”

[Jennifer Maxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gosh I loved this book and couple so dang much! Story was amazing in my opinion.🥰



“I love you, Ruby Volkov. I am so deeply in love with you, I don’t think I can breathe in a world where you are not. I love you in a way that my life depends on you being in it. The center of it. You are everything to me. You and the life we create—are everything to me. For you, I have the capacity to become a monster. A thing of nightmares. But I will try to be good for you. To be honorable in the ways that I can, for you.”

“I love all the parts of you. The monster and the man. Thank you, Kirill, for keeping me.”

[Angela Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keeping Ruby

I was fortunate to read Keeping Ruby as an ARC read through Booksirens. This is the 2nd book I’ve read by author Alannah Carbonneau. Kirill falls in love first. I love when a Strong Bravta man falls in love. Ruby definitely challenged Kirill and honestly made him work for her love. But I mean when you are kidnapped and told you are being kept, by a crazy man, you aren’t just going to fall in love right away. The book has a great story line and If I didn’t have to work I would have read it all in one day! I can’t wait to read more books by Alannah!

[Evy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 ⭐️

This was again a great story, I love the Bratva vibe. Kirill is, as you suspect, very demanding and authoritative but he has a very soft spot for Ruby. She can bring him to his knees. Ruby is very innocent and has a lot to learn. Along the way they soften for each other and love each other fiercely. This story has some funny moments, some steamy moments, some drama and love. The only thing I missed was perhaps a meeting between Ruby and his mom and Irelynn.

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