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Ruthless Obsession #2
Sweet Depravity
The moment she opened those gorgeous red lips to tell me no, she was mine.
I was a powerful Russian arms dealer and she was an innocent schoolteacher.
If she had a choice, she’d run as far away from me as possible.
Unfortunately for her, I wasn’t giving her one.
I wasn’t just going to take her; I was going to take over her entire world.
Where she lived.
What she ate.
Where she worked.
All would be under my control.
Call it obsession.
Call it depravity.
I don’t give a damn… as long as you call her mine.
I was a powerful Russian arms dealer and she was an innocent schoolteacher.
If she had a choice, she’d run as far away from me as possible.
Unfortunately for her, I wasn’t giving her one.
I wasn’t just going to take her; I was going to take over her entire world.
Where she lived.
What she ate.
Where she worked.
All would be under my control.
Call it obsession.
Call it depravity.
I don’t give a damn… as long as you call her mine.
Kindle Edition
First published May 13, 2021
About the author
Zoe Blake
81 books2,233 followersUSAT Bestselling author, Zoe Blake, delights in writing Dark Romance books filled with overly-possessive Billionaires, Taboo scenes and Unexpected twists.
She usually spends her ill-gotten gains on martinis, travel and red lipstick. Since she can barely boil water, she’s lucky enough to be married to a sexy Chef.
To keep in touch and score a few free books, check out her website at www.zblakebooks.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/zoeblakebooks/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zoeblakebooks/
Twitter https://twitter.com/zoeblakebooks
Join Zoe’s Facebook Reader Group for weekly signed paperback giveaways.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ZoeBl...
She usually spends her ill-gotten gains on martinis, travel and red lipstick. Since she can barely boil water, she’s lucky enough to be married to a sexy Chef.
To keep in touch and score a few free books, check out her website at www.zblakebooks.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/zoeblakebooks/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zoeblakebooks/
Twitter https://twitter.com/zoeblakebooks
Join Zoe’s Facebook Reader Group for weekly signed paperback giveaways.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ZoeBl...
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 385 reviews
May 25, 2021
***4.5 STARS***
This is the story I have been waiting for since starting this series: Vaska and Mary.
Vaska is a Russian arms dealer and he has been tasked to provide safety for his best friend Dimitri’s (book one) girlfriend Emma and her best friend Mary (come on keep up...lol). But when he first sees Mary he knows that he has to have her. And what he wants he gets.
Mary is taken aback by the brutish Russian who has bulldozed himself into her life and she is determined that she will have some say so on the outcome although Vaska says no.
Vaska was the ultimate over the top possessive alpha. I loved it. He fell hard and I loved every minute. Mary was a little frustrating at times but I guess she had a real world reaction to the situation.
I highly recommend this one but book one in the series should be read first to follow along. There is spanking and dub con so trigger warning alert.
This is the story I have been waiting for since starting this series: Vaska and Mary.
Vaska is a Russian arms dealer and he has been tasked to provide safety for his best friend Dimitri’s (book one) girlfriend Emma and her best friend Mary (come on keep up...lol). But when he first sees Mary he knows that he has to have her. And what he wants he gets.
Mary is taken aback by the brutish Russian who has bulldozed himself into her life and she is determined that she will have some say so on the outcome although Vaska says no.
Vaska was the ultimate over the top possessive alpha. I loved it. He fell hard and I loved every minute. Mary was a little frustrating at times but I guess she had a real world reaction to the situation.
I highly recommend this one but book one in the series should be read first to follow along. There is spanking and dub con so trigger warning alert.
May 12, 2021
4.5 Wrong Kind of Man Stars ⭐
He storms into her life, wreaking havoc as he goes. In an instance he's claimed Mary as his. Now it's a matter of convincing her to keep him. Dangerous, demanding and totally gone for her.
“No, you are in my world now and in my world I am king.”
Mary fought my embrace. “Yeah, well, fuck the monarchy!” she yelled before grinding her heel down on my foot.
Mary like so many has always lusted over the bad boys. But she's no fool and has no plans of ending up with one. Famous last words! From their first meeting he's insistent that she belongs to him. I guess getting your brains banged out kinda seals the deal.
“I’ll scream.”
I smiled as I tossed the cufflink onto her vanity and reached for the other one. “Please do. I’d be offended if the woman I was fucking didn’t scream.”
As she tries to push him away, this Russian is only holding on tighter. The fact that he's a criminal is the least of her worries. Accepting it's more than sex is the issue. Because being the submissive girl that gets off on pain and discipline is scarier.
“Please, stop. I can’t.”
“Say it,” I ground out. “Say you like the pain of my cock. You like feeling dominated and owned by me. Say you’re mine.”
As soon as Vaska meets Mary he feels the shift. Yet in typical caveman fashion, he'll take what he wants while expecting her to fall in line. But she has no intentions of dancing to his tune.
“Do you feel that, love? Do you feel how wet your sweet cunt is? Your lips may continue to lie but your body will always show me the truth.”
I have been dying for Mary and Vaska's story since meeting them in Sweet Cruelty, and this book didn't disappoint. These two were passionate, intense, kinky and crazy. Sweet Depravity focused mainly on their interactions whilst everything else was secondary. This allowed their relationship to develop at a good pace. Like Mary I was initially weary, but Vaska and his winks won me over. It took time and trust for Mary to give into her feelings, even with the force of Vaska smothering her with his affections. He was a wrecking ball who I enjoyed immensely. 🔥🔥
He storms into her life, wreaking havoc as he goes. In an instance he's claimed Mary as his. Now it's a matter of convincing her to keep him. Dangerous, demanding and totally gone for her.
“No, you are in my world now and in my world I am king.”
Mary fought my embrace. “Yeah, well, fuck the monarchy!” she yelled before grinding her heel down on my foot.
Mary like so many has always lusted over the bad boys. But she's no fool and has no plans of ending up with one. Famous last words! From their first meeting he's insistent that she belongs to him. I guess getting your brains banged out kinda seals the deal.
“I’ll scream.”
I smiled as I tossed the cufflink onto her vanity and reached for the other one. “Please do. I’d be offended if the woman I was fucking didn’t scream.”
As she tries to push him away, this Russian is only holding on tighter. The fact that he's a criminal is the least of her worries. Accepting it's more than sex is the issue. Because being the submissive girl that gets off on pain and discipline is scarier.
“Please, stop. I can’t.”
“Say it,” I ground out. “Say you like the pain of my cock. You like feeling dominated and owned by me. Say you’re mine.”
As soon as Vaska meets Mary he feels the shift. Yet in typical caveman fashion, he'll take what he wants while expecting her to fall in line. But she has no intentions of dancing to his tune.
“Do you feel that, love? Do you feel how wet your sweet cunt is? Your lips may continue to lie but your body will always show me the truth.”
I have been dying for Mary and Vaska's story since meeting them in Sweet Cruelty, and this book didn't disappoint. These two were passionate, intense, kinky and crazy. Sweet Depravity focused mainly on their interactions whilst everything else was secondary. This allowed their relationship to develop at a good pace. Like Mary I was initially weary, but Vaska and his winks won me over. It took time and trust for Mary to give into her feelings, even with the force of Vaska smothering her with his affections. He was a wrecking ball who I enjoyed immensely. 🔥🔥
May 23, 2021
ᴛʜʀᴇᴇ⋆⁵ sᴛᴀʀs ✰
♫ sᴏɴɢ ʀᴇᴄ ♫ ~ Super Freak (RICK JAMES)
-ˏ͛⑅ ᴘᴀʀᴛ ᴏɴᴇ ~ ғɪʀsᴛ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs ⑅ˏ͛-
YOU GUYS, I had a legit epiphany while reading Sweet Depravity, and I am now going to share it all with you lovely people. Here it is; I don't think I'm a serious enough as a person to take erotic romance or romance with BDSM elements seriously. I just don't. Honestly, the entire time I was reading SWEET DEPRAVITY I was holding back my laughter. And I'm almost 99% sure that was not the intended goal of author Zoe Blake .
It's just - it was almost too ridiculous, and thus (for me) it bled into that "this is so OTT that it's hilarious" realm almost immediately. Therefore, with this review I'll attempt to break down my thoughts and feelings. However, before I commence I just want to say, anything I write in this review is not meant to be mean spirited, and if you loved this book I completely understand why.
-ˏ͛⑅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴏᴛ ⑅ˏ͛-
Quite honestly it's that age old tale of when man (Vaska) meets woman (Mary) and they f*ck. Or wait, it kinda went like this -
Basically, man bangs on girls apartment door at 7 am and demands to know why she answered the door half dressed. He then proceeds to tie her to the bed and f*ck her brains out. Thus, begins the saga of them f*cking, fighting, mafia-shit for funsies, and then rinse and repeat. In between that Vaska demands that Mary declares her love for him. . . *holds back laughter* yeahhhhh, it was a time. So, does Vaska telling Mary they're in a relationship eventually work? Does he wear her down? Only time will tell.
-ˏ͛⑅ ᴘᴀʀᴛ ᴛᴡᴏ ~ ᴛʜᴇ ʜɪʟᴀʀɪᴏᴜs -ˏ͛⑅
✿ ᴍᴀʀʏ ✿
Are you guys ready to meet the absolute hero of womankind? Honestly, she was doing God's work, because w-o-w. Basically, she just let herself be swept along the river current that was, Vaska. Like bro bro almost breaks her door down, begins insulting her, demands that they're gonna have sex, and you know what she does -
Like, I can't even hate because if a man with a fine ass walked into my house and demanded that I hop on right this second who am I to deny him? For 'Murica people, for that Red, White, and Blue.
And you know what made Mary a true hero to all women? It was the way she constantly just went with this mans craziness. TBH, italmost felt like she recognized how batshit crazy he was, but just - didn't give a shit. Which again, QUEEN.
Ultimately, what made Mary so great was her self-awareness to not let the golden opportunity that was Vaska go to waste. She made no apologies, hopped the fuck on, and just went along for the ride. Also, she pawned his cufflinks, like a boss. I just - *sheds a tear* honey was not wasting the wonderful opportunity fate afforded her.
✿ ᴠᴀsᴋᴀ ✿
I - hmmmm.
What to say about Vaska. He was. . . fucking hot, but also batshit crazy. My mans is basically the kind of hero that makes a declaration and just. . . expects it to happen. He's basically encompasses this gif. -
I honestly love how these big buff scary-hot Russian dudes get hit with the biggest case of insta-lust that the world has ever seen. For example, he takes one look at Mary and just. . . demands that they have sex. And then afterwards makes it known that they're in a relationship, which, okay. He then proceeds to fuck Mary, buy her shit, attempts to emote, and then fucks her some more. Let us be real ladies (and gents) if that's not the pinnacle of a healthy relationship, then I don't know what is. Although, I will say his gestures while a bit over the top were actually kind of. . . romantic.
The big bad Russian mafia man had his moments, what can I say. However, in all seriousness, if you don't like your heroes extra-possessive and almost cave-man like in mentality thennnnn you might not like Vaska. However, me personally, how could I not love a man who unapologetically has this tattoo above his dick -
✿ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ✿
Was SWEET DEPRAVITY a romance? I mean. . . i guess. Personally, I interpreted it less as a romance and more as a demonstration of how to force a woman to fall in love with you in three easy steps.
Luckily for Vaska he's got all three in spades. No joke, my mans basically whips out his dick at any opportunity and well, it works like a fucking charm. I mean I know I was enamored and I can 100% tell you Mary was as well. In addition, he's got this hot rapey-but-not-quite-rapey vibe going on that works for him somehow. Moreover, the romance is less a romance and more of a. . . forced coupling?
Even though it was a bit ridiculous I personally thought it was hilarious that Vaska was pretty much like, "you are mine and we are now dating. end of story." And our girl Mary was in shocked disbelief for most of the book. I think she was a bit intimidated and we can't blame her. Vaska, drool-worthy though he may be, is a lot of man to deal with. However, somehow, Vaska and Mary's romance was actually. . . kinda cute? Ehhhh, then again there's really not much to say about the romance because they mostly just fucked a lot.
-ˏ͛⑅ ᴘᴀʀᴛ ᴛʜʀᴇᴇ ~ ᴍʏ ᴄᴏɴᴜɴᴅʀᴜᴍ -ˏ͛⑅
✿ ᴍᴀʀʏ // ᴠᴀsᴋᴀ ✿
First things first, Mary and Vaska as characters were hilarious. They really were. Sometimes on purpose, but more often than not unintentionally. That being said. . . they also got on my nerves towards the end of the book. See, it got to the point where Vaska's antics got to be just too overbearing. Which, I know, I know, it's a book called SWEET DEPRAVITY, and it literally starts with him breaking down the door with his erect penis. but still. My mans was literally out here demanding that she move in with him, declaring that they were in a relationship, forcing her to marry him, stalking her all over Chicago, and it left me wondering, w-h-y-?
Also, it really didn't help that the timeline for this book is about. . . four months max. And two of those months both Vaska and Mary weren't even together, so again I ask, why? In addition, it seemed like Vaska liked Mary a hell of a lot more than Mary liked Vaska. By the end Vaska was begging, in a manly way of course, that Mary tell him that she loved him. Meanwhile, Mary's out here telling him "i love you too" with all the enthusiasm as a woman at her yearly GYN appointment. She was just so utterly whelmed.
Ultimately, I think I liked Vaska and Mary separately a bit more. They were both. . . interesting characters with intriguing backstories. So, everything I said about them above holds true, BUT, and this is a big but, together? IDK, there was just something. . . missing. It's not even that I didn't like the romance, because I liked it fine, but I think it just never came together for me. I was waiting for the end to wrap everything up and really push their coupling into romance territory, but ultimately, that never happened.
I think a lot of this whole thing can be blamed on Mary (and Vaska. . . just a touch). Like I stated, Mary just seemed very meh about Vaska. Meanwhile, Vaska is out here doing everything in his power to make this woman love him. Maybe if Vaska stopped demanding they fall in love they would. at a more natural pace. In the end, everything about them felt wayyyyy to lopsided. Then again, this book is called SWEET DEPRAVITY. . . sooooo, I may thinking about this a way too deeply.
✿ ʀᴀɴᴅᴏᴍ ᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ✿
Do you like, sex, kinky sex, some romance, and random action scenes filled with blood and violence? Well, do I have the book for you, that's right, it's this book. For a book supposedly about two kinky fuckers getting it on there was a lot of kidnapping going on.
I know Vaska is in the mafia, or Russian Bratva, or something, buuuuut, idk, you'd think it'd be introduced//streamlined a bit better? See, at around. . . fortyish percent of the book I started to notice a pattern. Vaska and Mary would fight, they'd fuck, they'd go on a date, they'd fight again, and then somewhere in between all that Mary would be kidnapped by. . . enemies. Who were these enemies? I don't know, but they were enemies nonetheless. Consequently, these kidnappings//shootings would have zero stakes and caused the book to feel like a completely different story for like, barely a chapter. Personally, I didn't think the Fast and the Furious style action fit SWEET DEPRAVITY.
However, I do have to give ZOE BLAKE an A++ for effort. Most authors make their heroes part of the mob and then never do anything with it.
Overall, this point didn't bother me so much as it greatly confused me. I think I know where ZOE BLAKE was going with the random bouts of mafia-shit, buuuuuut, like I previously stated, I think it could've been incorporated a lot better. Although, I will say, I did like that anytime there was mafia-shit happening Vaska and his BFF Dimitri would team up. They had a bromance that just wouldn't quit.
-ˏ͛⑅ ᴘᴀʀᴛ ғᴏᴜʀ ~ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏɴᴄʟᴜsɪᴏɴ -ˏ͛⑅
✿ ғɪɴᴀʟ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs ✿
Overall, SWEET DEPRAVITY was a book that made me feel things. Now, all those feelings may not have been positive, but I felt things nonetheless. You see even though I rated this book three and 1/2 stars, it was an enjoyably hilarious three and 1/2 stars. Vaska and Mary as characters were balls-to-wall crazy and their journey to love was a wild one. Personally, I think I'm just not destined to enjoy BDSM//Erotic romance. There's something about this genre that goes too OTT, and I can never take it seriously. But, eh, that doesn't mean I'll stop trying ;)
Anyway, if you guys are looking for a way to spend a lazy afternoon then I suggest you check out SWEET DEPRAVITY. I mean come on, you guys don't want to miss out on Gods Russian gift to women, Vaska, and his reluctant love Mary, do you?
『 This wasn’t a movie, for fuck’s sake. There was no guarantee of a happy ending. For all I knew, I was about to either have the best sex of my life or get murdered literally tied to my bed. 』
♫ sᴏɴɢ ʀᴇᴄ ♫ ~ Super Freak (RICK JAMES)
-ˏ͛⑅ ᴘᴀʀᴛ ᴏɴᴇ ~ ғɪʀsᴛ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs ⑅ˏ͛-
sɪᴅᴇ ɴᴏᴛᴇ ▸//▸ If the above song recommendation doesn't set the tone for this review, well then. . . I don't know what will.
YOU GUYS, I had a legit epiphany while reading Sweet Depravity, and I am now going to share it all with you lovely people. Here it is; I don't think I'm a serious enough as a person to take erotic romance or romance with BDSM elements seriously. I just don't. Honestly, the entire time I was reading SWEET DEPRAVITY I was holding back my laughter. And I'm almost 99% sure that was not the intended goal of author Zoe Blake .
It's just - it was almost too ridiculous, and thus (for me) it bled into that "this is so OTT that it's hilarious" realm almost immediately. Therefore, with this review I'll attempt to break down my thoughts and feelings. However, before I commence I just want to say, anything I write in this review is not meant to be mean spirited, and if you loved this book I completely understand why.
-ˏ͛⑅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴏᴛ ⑅ˏ͛-
Quite honestly it's that age old tale of when man (Vaska) meets woman (Mary) and they f*ck. Or wait, it kinda went like this -
『 My brain was shrieking homicidal criminal psychopath, run! While my body was ready to lie back and scream take me now, make it hurt! 』
Basically, man bangs on girls apartment door at 7 am and demands to know why she answered the door half dressed. He then proceeds to tie her to the bed and f*ck her brains out. Thus, begins the saga of them f*cking, fighting, mafia-shit for funsies, and then rinse and repeat. In between that Vaska demands that Mary declares her love for him. . . *holds back laughter* yeahhhhh, it was a time. So, does Vaska telling Mary they're in a relationship eventually work? Does he wear her down? Only time will tell.
-ˏ͛⑅ ᴘᴀʀᴛ ᴛᴡᴏ ~ ᴛʜᴇ ʜɪʟᴀʀɪᴏᴜs -ˏ͛⑅
sɪᴅᴇ ɴᴏᴛᴇ ▸//▸ remember ladies (and gents); if a sexy tatted up overly possessive and aggressive Russian man bangs on your door at an ungodly hour you let him the fuck in because some kinky AF shit is about to go down.
✿ ᴍᴀʀʏ ✿
Are you guys ready to meet the absolute hero of womankind? Honestly, she was doing God's work, because w-o-w. Basically, she just let herself be swept along the river current that was, Vaska. Like bro bro almost breaks her door down, begins insulting her, demands that they're gonna have sex, and you know what she does -
SHE👏✨😤 FUCKING👏✨😤 AGRESS👏✨😤 AND👏✨😤 HOPS👏✨😤ON 👏✨😤HIS👏✨😤 DICK
Like, I can't even hate because if a man with a fine ass walked into my house and demanded that I hop on right this second who am I to deny him? For 'Murica people, for that Red, White, and Blue.
『 He unzipped his pants, letting them and the rest of his clothing fall to the floor. The man had the greatest, tightest ass I’d ever seen. 』
And you know what made Mary a true hero to all women? It was the way she constantly just went with this mans craziness. TBH, it
Ultimately, what made Mary so great was her self-awareness to not let the golden opportunity that was Vaska go to waste. She made no apologies, hopped the fuck on, and just went along for the ride. Also, she pawned his cufflinks, like a boss. I just - *sheds a tear* honey was not wasting the wonderful opportunity fate afforded her.
『 Open door to crazy hot, sexy, dangerous-looking bad boy stranger. He flashes a gun. Scream his name while tied to my bed. The end. 』as she SHOULD 🥲
✿ ᴠᴀsᴋᴀ ✿
I - hmmmm.
Vaska undeniably has a screw loose, like i honestly think he lived through one to many Russian winters. . . but i also would 10/10 hop THE FUCK on, soooooo.
What to say about Vaska. He was. . . fucking hot, but also batshit crazy. My mans is basically the kind of hero that makes a declaration and just. . . expects it to happen. He's basically encompasses this gif. -
except. . . replace the word drink with the word vagina 🌸✨
I honestly love how these big buff scary-hot Russian dudes get hit with the biggest case of insta-lust that the world has ever seen. For example, he takes one look at Mary and just. . . demands that they have sex. And then afterwards makes it known that they're in a relationship, which, okay. He then proceeds to fuck Mary, buy her shit, attempts to emote, and then fucks her some more. Let us be real ladies (and gents) if that's not the pinnacle of a healthy relationship, then I don't know what is. Although, I will say his gestures while a bit over the top were actually kind of. . . romantic.
❝I’m not drinking red wine in here! What if it spills on something?❞
❝Then I buy another one.❞ She shook her head and pushed the glass back toward me. Without saying a word, I walked over to my white sofa, which was positioned to have a spectacular view of the lake and cityscape, and held my glass high over it.
Mary cried out, ❝No!❞
Ignoring her, I poured the contents directly onto the fabric, permanently staining it. ❝Feel better now?❞
The big bad Russian mafia man had his moments, what can I say. However, in all seriousness, if you don't like your heroes extra-possessive and almost cave-man like in mentality thennnnn you might not like Vaska. However, me personally, how could I not love a man who unapologetically has this tattoo above his dick -
He sighed. ❝It says Mr. Big.❞ I covered my mouth to stifle a bark of laughter.
❝What?❞ He rubbed his eyes.
❝I was drunk. Sex and the City was new to Russia… and there was this girl.❞A true icon that we surely do not deserve 🥲
✿ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ✿
Was SWEET DEPRAVITY a romance? I mean. . . i guess. Personally, I interpreted it less as a romance and more as a demonstration of how to force a woman to fall in love with you in three easy steps.
1. BE ATTRACTIVE
the first and honestly most important step is to be earth shatteringly gorgeous. if not well. . . hopefully you have step number 2.
2. HAVE A GIANT DICK
that's right gentlemen you best have a the biggest 🍆 [eggplant emoji] in the land. with this not-so-secret weapon you will make all the ladies swoon.
3. BE RICH ~somehow~
if you're rich and can throw money around like its freaking paper GREAT. however, what makes this trick work even better is if the man//lady you're trying to woo has enormous student loan debt. works like a charm every time, ✨😉
Luckily for Vaska he's got all three in spades. No joke, my mans basically whips out his dick at any opportunity and well, it works like a fucking charm. I mean I know I was enamored and I can 100% tell you Mary was as well. In addition, he's got this hot rapey-but-not-quite-rapey vibe going on that works for him somehow. Moreover, the romance is less a romance and more of a. . . forced coupling?
❝Why did you do that?❞
Vaska put a hand against the brick wall, high over my head, caging me in. ❝No man touches what’s mine.❞
❝Yours? You act like we’re dating or something.❞
His brow furrowed. He picked up one of my braids and tugged on it slightly. ❝And just what do you think this is, krasotka?❞
Exasperated, I threw my arms up into the air and blurted out, ❝I don’t know! The one-night stand that won’t end?❞
❝Trust me, this is no one-night stand, beautiful girl. I have captured myself a pretty butterfly, and I have no intention of letting you go.❞
Even though it was a bit ridiculous I personally thought it was hilarious that Vaska was pretty much like, "you are mine and we are now dating. end of story." And our girl Mary was in shocked disbelief for most of the book. I think she was a bit intimidated and we can't blame her. Vaska, drool-worthy though he may be, is a lot of man to deal with. However, somehow, Vaska and Mary's romance was actually. . . kinda cute? Ehhhh, then again there's really not much to say about the romance because they mostly just fucked a lot.
-ˏ͛⑅ ᴘᴀʀᴛ ᴛʜʀᴇᴇ ~ ᴍʏ ᴄᴏɴᴜɴᴅʀᴜᴍ -ˏ͛⑅
ᴇᴅɪᴛ ▸//▸ this is the part where i attempt to explain how this book was both hilariously entertaining, but also almost head-meet-desk inducing.
✿ ᴍᴀʀʏ // ᴠᴀsᴋᴀ ✿
First things first, Mary and Vaska as characters were hilarious. They really were. Sometimes on purpose, but more often than not unintentionally. That being said. . . they also got on my nerves towards the end of the book. See, it got to the point where Vaska's antics got to be just too overbearing. Which, I know, I know, it's a book called SWEET DEPRAVITY, and it literally starts with him breaking down the door with his erect penis. but still. My mans was literally out here demanding that she move in with him, declaring that they were in a relationship, forcing her to marry him, stalking her all over Chicago, and it left me wondering, w-h-y-?
❝You stole all my stuff.❞
❝Not true, I simply arranged to have it relocated. It’s all right here, present and accounted for.❞
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈
❝Are you saying you want to marry me?❞
He smiled. ❝I’m saying I am marrying you.❞
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈
❝Keep misbehaving, baby girl. I’m keeping a tally and trust me, you are going to feel the sting of my belt on that cute ass of yours when this is all over.❞
Her brow furrowed. ❝You can’t honestly think you’ll still be my boyfriend after all this mess?❞
I drove the fingers of my free hand into her sleek hair and pulled her face close. ❝Absolutely not, I’ll be your husband.❞
-ˋˏ���┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈okay, i'll admit, that last one was kinda hot.
Also, it really didn't help that the timeline for this book is about. . . four months max. And two of those months both Vaska and Mary weren't even together, so again I ask, why? In addition, it seemed like Vaska liked Mary a hell of a lot more than Mary liked Vaska. By the end Vaska was begging, in a manly way of course, that Mary tell him that she loved him. Meanwhile, Mary's out here telling him "i love you too" with all the enthusiasm as a woman at her yearly GYN appointment. She was just so utterly whelmed.
Ultimately, I think I liked Vaska and Mary separately a bit more. They were both. . . interesting characters with intriguing backstories. So, everything I said about them above holds true, BUT, and this is a big but, together? IDK, there was just something. . . missing. It's not even that I didn't like the romance, because I liked it fine, but I think it just never came together for me. I was waiting for the end to wrap everything up and really push their coupling into romance territory, but ultimately, that never happened.
I think a lot of this whole thing can be blamed on Mary (and Vaska. . . just a touch). Like I stated, Mary just seemed very meh about Vaska. Meanwhile, Vaska is out here doing everything in his power to make this woman love him. Maybe if Vaska stopped demanding they fall in love they would. at a more natural pace. In the end, everything about them felt wayyyyy to lopsided. Then again, this book is called SWEET DEPRAVITY. . . sooooo, I may thinking about this a way too deeply.
✿ ʀᴀɴᴅᴏᴍ ᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ✿
Do you like, sex, kinky sex, some romance, and random action scenes filled with blood and violence? Well, do I have the book for you, that's right, it's this book. For a book supposedly about two kinky fuckers getting it on there was a lot of kidnapping going on.
❝What the fu—❞
He pulled me against his side and dragged me out of the classroom as my uncaring students continued to holler and egg him on. I was being kidnapped… by my own boyfriend.
I know Vaska is in the mafia, or Russian Bratva, or something, buuuuut, idk, you'd think it'd be introduced//streamlined a bit better? See, at around. . . fortyish percent of the book I started to notice a pattern. Vaska and Mary would fight, they'd fuck, they'd go on a date, they'd fight again, and then somewhere in between all that Mary would be kidnapped by. . . enemies. Who were these enemies? I don't know, but they were enemies nonetheless. Consequently, these kidnappings//shootings would have zero stakes and caused the book to feel like a completely different story for like, barely a chapter. Personally, I didn't think the Fast and the Furious style action fit SWEET DEPRAVITY.
However, I do have to give ZOE BLAKE an A++ for effort. Most authors make their heroes part of the mob and then never do anything with it.
i mean. . . at least she tried 🙃
Overall, this point didn't bother me so much as it greatly confused me. I think I know where ZOE BLAKE was going with the random bouts of mafia-shit, buuuuuut, like I previously stated, I think it could've been incorporated a lot better. Although, I will say, I did like that anytime there was mafia-shit happening Vaska and his BFF Dimitri would team up. They had a bromance that just wouldn't quit.
-ˏ͛⑅ ᴘᴀʀᴛ ғᴏᴜʀ ~ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏɴᴄʟᴜsɪᴏɴ -ˏ͛⑅
I raised my glass. ❝To the schoolteacher and librarian and the bad boys who love them!❞
Emma toasted, ❝To our bad boys!❞
✿ ғɪɴᴀʟ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs ✿
Overall, SWEET DEPRAVITY was a book that made me feel things. Now, all those feelings may not have been positive, but I felt things nonetheless. You see even though I rated this book three and 1/2 stars, it was an enjoyably hilarious three and 1/2 stars. Vaska and Mary as characters were balls-to-wall crazy and their journey to love was a wild one. Personally, I think I'm just not destined to enjoy BDSM//Erotic romance. There's something about this genre that goes too OTT, and I can never take it seriously. But, eh, that doesn't mean I'll stop trying ;)
Anyway, if you guys are looking for a way to spend a lazy afternoon then I suggest you check out SWEET DEPRAVITY. I mean come on, you guys don't want to miss out on Gods Russian gift to women, Vaska, and his reluctant love Mary, do you?
May 5, 2021
WE FINALLY GOT MARY AND VASKA STORY!! We seen these two in few other books with their little teases now its there turn. Now you know I had a mix feelings for Mary in Emma book.. on how she was as a friend.. she kinda grew on me in this book.. Now you know Zoe has her guys ALPHA to the max so if overprotective, possessive bossy assholish sorta dubish Cornish type of guys aren't your thing you can skip.
When these two meet its BOOM!! slamming against doors hair pulling and things thrown at eachother and that's just the first few chapters 🤣🤣🤣 the chemistry between these two was sizzling and alil cold from Mary's side when she thinks what they have is a one time thing/fling but boy is she wrong..when Vask tells her time and time again she's his, Mary makes sure she has a escape plan but let's be honest it never works lol.
Beside the steamy scenes we do get to see few characters from other books and some drama..idk which man in this series I love more lol but Vask is pretty high on "tie me up baby"
Tiny tiny ow drama (past ex), no cheating, Drama, slight secondary character, sexy times, no virgins (both had past)
Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐⭐⭐⭐
Heat level-🌶🌶🌶
Slow-instaburn
Push/pull from h
Pubishments/Spankings
Seperation (2 months)
Dub-conish
Safe sex/No condom
Anal play
Violence
Hea
Epilogue
When these two meet its BOOM!! slamming against doors hair pulling and things thrown at eachother and that's just the first few chapters 🤣🤣🤣 the chemistry between these two was sizzling and alil cold from Mary's side when she thinks what they have is a one time thing/fling but boy is she wrong..when Vask tells her time and time again she's his, Mary makes sure she has a escape plan but let's be honest it never works lol.
Beside the steamy scenes we do get to see few characters from other books and some drama..idk which man in this series I love more lol but Vask is pretty high on "tie me up baby"
Tiny tiny ow drama (past ex), no cheating, Drama, slight secondary character, sexy times, no virgins (both had past)
Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐⭐⭐⭐
Heat level-🌶🌶🌶
Slow-instaburn
Push/pull from h
Pubishments/Spankings
Seperation (2 months)
Dub-conish
Safe sex/No condom
Anal play
Violence
Hea
Epilogue
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2021
Things I liked:
- Vaska 😍 I'll always love a bulldozer H. Honestly, it's the dream to just have a guy who takes care of everything and takes the lead.
- The references to Buffy. One of my all time favorite TV shows
- Pinup clothing. My clothing of choice
Things that I didn't like:
- Mary. Really disappointed that she ended up being such a harpy who fought him till the last chapter. She was exhausting!! I was really hoping she'd be more like Emma who I loved. She pushed back but also wasn't awful and didn't make things difficult just because.
- rehashing events from previous books but from the H and h's pov. I really wish this book had started after all of these events so we had fresh/new things happening with this couple.
It was still an enjoyable book for sure but when a h rubs you the wrong way it's hard to fully root for the couple. Vaska definitely saved this for me.
- Vaska 😍 I'll always love a bulldozer H. Honestly, it's the dream to just have a guy who takes care of everything and takes the lead.
- The references to Buffy. One of my all time favorite TV shows
- Pinup clothing. My clothing of choice
Things that I didn't like:
- Mary. Really disappointed that she ended up being such a harpy who fought him till the last chapter. She was exhausting!! I was really hoping she'd be more like Emma who I loved. She pushed back but also wasn't awful and didn't make things difficult just because.
- rehashing events from previous books but from the H and h's pov. I really wish this book had started after all of these events so we had fresh/new things happening with this couple.
It was still an enjoyable book for sure but when a h rubs you the wrong way it's hard to fully root for the couple. Vaska definitely saved this for me.
January 16, 2023
4 OTT jp MR. BIG, Buffy and Spike stars
This book made me eye my Buffy the Vampire Slayer collection in nostalgia. Yes, I totally shipped Buffy and Spike (I wanted them together). I should’ve known my obsession with toxic characters was going to manifest into me reading these types of books lol and I don’t even care 💁🏻♀️. I also have Angel on dvd🫣. Don’t judge me (man, those were the days!). I also love the Sex and the City references 😉.
If you read book one, you met Mary and Vaska there. There’s some overlapping plot points between this and Sweet Cruelty, which was nice considering I really enjoyed book 1.
Vaska literally barges into Mary’s life, and he gives NO F’s. He goes to secure her apartment since she lives in a questionable area. Considering she’s a prospective teacher and a graduate student she doesn’t have money for more. He sees her, he wants her, and he’s gonna have her, whether she wants it or not😅.
What I liked/loved-
—previous ZB characters! Not only do we see Emma and Dimitri, buuut we also see Ivanov Crime characters 🥰
—the spicy asf smexx. There’s a lot of it, and it starts early in the book 🔥
—the n0ncon/dubcon. It’s probably more along the lines of dubcon, but some might say non. Regardless, I loved them 😈
—how much of a bulldozer Vaska is💁🏻♀️. He sees what he wants and he does whatever he needs to get it. In this case, it’s Mary 😅
—how sweet he could be too. Sure, he could be an ahole, but he was also sweet and thoughtful too
—THE REFERENCES! I was fan girling over here when Sex and the City was mentioned (ummm… and Why it was mentioned 😉👀��) and even more so when BUFFY AND SPIKE WERE MENTIONED 🥵 (my love for hate smex has to originate from there… I think 🔥lol)
—how OTT Vaska is
What I didn’t like/wanted more of:
—do we have info on Mary’s family? I got to the end and I was asking myself whether she had siblings or parents or… I just didn’t remember 😬
—having more details (maybe that’s why I didn’t notice that one ^^)
—how quickly Mary gave in. BBS for sure 😐. I wish she would’ve stuck to her guns more when she said something. Sure, it would’ve turned some scenes into n0ncon ones, but at least it would’ve fit into her character (I love fighting scenes way too much 🫣)
—the owd scene. It’s the first time I encounter one in a ZB book. It’s not a big deal since Vaska shut it down quickly, but I still felt icky considering that Mary gave in right after😐. Sigh. Girl. Be mad please 🤦🏻♀️I DID appreciate the food and butter being thrown 😂. I wouldn’t have minded if she maybe drew some bl00d in this scene 😂😅
—the ending was fast… could’ve been longer. Even the epilogue was fast lol
Overall, I really enjoyed it.
⚠️ safety squad ⚠️
-no cheating/sharing/omd
-dark/violence/death/bloodshed
-dubcon/noncon
-sp@nking/praise k!nk
-no virgins/very experienced H manwhore
-OW- H’s previous paid escort shows up and tries to entice the H. He shuts it down but the h isn’t happy
-2 month separation/both celibate
-condom the first time/then none (she’s on the pill)
-HEA/epilogue is one month later
This book made me eye my Buffy the Vampire Slayer collection in nostalgia. Yes, I totally shipped Buffy and Spike (I wanted them together). I should’ve known my obsession with toxic characters was going to manifest into me reading these types of books lol and I don’t even care 💁🏻♀️. I also have Angel on dvd🫣. Don’t judge me (man, those were the days!). I also love the Sex and the City references 😉.
If you read book one, you met Mary and Vaska there. There’s some overlapping plot points between this and Sweet Cruelty, which was nice considering I really enjoyed book 1.
Vaska literally barges into Mary’s life, and he gives NO F’s. He goes to secure her apartment since she lives in a questionable area. Considering she’s a prospective teacher and a graduate student she doesn’t have money for more. He sees her, he wants her, and he’s gonna have her, whether she wants it or not😅.
What I liked/loved-
—previous ZB characters! Not only do we see Emma and Dimitri, buuut we also see Ivanov Crime characters 🥰
—the spicy asf smexx. There’s a lot of it, and it starts early in the book 🔥
—the n0ncon/dubcon. It’s probably more along the lines of dubcon, but some might say non. Regardless, I loved them 😈
—how much of a bulldozer Vaska is💁🏻♀️. He sees what he wants and he does whatever he needs to get it. In this case, it’s Mary 😅
—how sweet he could be too. Sure, he could be an ahole, but he was also sweet and thoughtful too
—THE REFERENCES! I was fan girling over here when Sex and the City was mentioned (ummm… and Why it was mentioned 😉👀��) and even more so when BUFFY AND SPIKE WERE MENTIONED 🥵 (my love for hate smex has to originate from there… I think 🔥lol)
—how OTT Vaska is
What I didn’t like/wanted more of:
—do we have info on Mary’s family? I got to the end and I was asking myself whether she had siblings or parents or… I just didn’t remember 😬
—having more details (maybe that’s why I didn’t notice that one ^^)
—how quickly Mary gave in. BBS for sure 😐. I wish she would’ve stuck to her guns more when she said something. Sure, it would’ve turned some scenes into n0ncon ones, but at least it would’ve fit into her character (I love fighting scenes way too much 🫣)
—the owd scene. It’s the first time I encounter one in a ZB book. It’s not a big deal since Vaska shut it down quickly, but I still felt icky considering that Mary gave in right after😐. Sigh. Girl. Be mad please 🤦🏻♀️I DID appreciate the food and butter being thrown 😂. I wouldn’t have minded if she maybe drew some bl00d in this scene 😂😅
—the ending was fast… could’ve been longer. Even the epilogue was fast lol
Overall, I really enjoyed it.
⚠️ safety squad ⚠️
-no cheating/sharing/omd
-dark/violence/death/bloodshed
-dubcon/noncon
-sp@nking/praise k!nk
-no virgins/very experienced H manwhore
-OW- H’s previous paid escort shows up and tries to entice the H. He shuts it down but the h isn’t happy
-2 month separation/both celibate
-condom the first time/then none (she’s on the pill)
-HEA/epilogue is one month later
May 14, 2021
“You’re under my control now, Mary Fraser, and I have no intention of letting you go. “
So.. I thought I read all of Zoe Blake’s books but I guess I haven’t read Sweet Cruelty where Mary and Vaska are introduced as secondary characters. But that’s OK for anyone who hasn’t either because the story still totally flows. Sweet Depravity is about Mary’s story who is the pinup/rockabilly-esque roommate and BFF of Emma. They both end up with two hot and sexy and dominating Russian arms dealers.
“Trust me, this is no one-night-stand, beautiful girl. And I have captured myself a pretty butterfly, and I have no intention of letting you go. “
This book starts off with a bang. Literally banging nearly in chapter 1 between Mary and Vaska. Vaska is absolutely enamored with Mary from the get-go. While Mary thinks that she’s just another one night stand for him- Or so she thinks. She chalks it off to nothing serious despite Vaska saying that he’s not going anywhere
“I was more beast than man. A beast fighting to keep his mate.”
There’s the push and pull relationship between these two. Especially when some past flings happened to walk into Vaska’s life during the worst moments like him trying to take Mary out on a romantic dinner. And despite him only having eyes for Mary, Mary just wants nothing to do with that kind of crap in her life.
So Vaska definitely needs to prove that he’s serious about Mary.
“She was the woman I have been searching for my whole life without even realizing it. She filled the void. I had meant every word of what I said earlier, I would never let her go. “
This is author Zoe Blake we’re talking about.
She writes some of the best smut that I have personally ever read so you know this book is going to be burning hot. I have a feeling some moments in book one overlap into this book which might be spoilers but I personally didn’t care. If you don’t like spoilers, start with Sweet Cruelty.
Yes to an HEA!!!!
So.. I thought I read all of Zoe Blake’s books but I guess I haven’t read Sweet Cruelty where Mary and Vaska are introduced as secondary characters. But that’s OK for anyone who hasn’t either because the story still totally flows. Sweet Depravity is about Mary’s story who is the pinup/rockabilly-esque roommate and BFF of Emma. They both end up with two hot and sexy and dominating Russian arms dealers.
“Trust me, this is no one-night-stand, beautiful girl. And I have captured myself a pretty butterfly, and I have no intention of letting you go. “
This book starts off with a bang. Literally banging nearly in chapter 1 between Mary and Vaska. Vaska is absolutely enamored with Mary from the get-go. While Mary thinks that she’s just another one night stand for him- Or so she thinks. She chalks it off to nothing serious despite Vaska saying that he’s not going anywhere
“I was more beast than man. A beast fighting to keep his mate.”
There’s the push and pull relationship between these two. Especially when some past flings happened to walk into Vaska’s life during the worst moments like him trying to take Mary out on a romantic dinner. And despite him only having eyes for Mary, Mary just wants nothing to do with that kind of crap in her life.
So Vaska definitely needs to prove that he’s serious about Mary.
“She was the woman I have been searching for my whole life without even realizing it. She filled the void. I had meant every word of what I said earlier, I would never let her go. “
This is author Zoe Blake we’re talking about.
She writes some of the best smut that I have personally ever read so you know this book is going to be burning hot. I have a feeling some moments in book one overlap into this book which might be spoilers but I personally didn’t care. If you don’t like spoilers, start with Sweet Cruelty.
Yes to an HEA!!!!
May 26, 2021
I am so truly, deeply, madly in love with Vaska!
He is definitely a true version of alpha male! Swoony, a master chef, dirty talker, extravagant and he delivers his threats with no qualms! He's obviously so into Mary that he's got her locked tight and secured! Talk about kidnappy heroes to swoon for!
These two have the greatest banter and fight and fcukfest ever! No dull moments between these two. Reading their story is very thrilling from start to finish. You just don't know what these two will do next and you will just find yourself giggling with their shenanigans! Simply amazing!
He is definitely a true version of alpha male! Swoony, a master chef, dirty talker, extravagant and he delivers his threats with no qualms! He's obviously so into Mary that he's got her locked tight and secured! Talk about kidnappy heroes to swoon for!
These two have the greatest banter and fight and fcukfest ever! No dull moments between these two. Reading their story is very thrilling from start to finish. You just don't know what these two will do next and you will just find yourself giggling with their shenanigans! Simply amazing!
April 25, 2022
This book features the epitome of opposites attract: the mafioso and the school teacher!
I loved this book. It’s cute and dark at the same time, which is hard to explain! I loved Mary in the first book, and she doesn’t disappoint in this one. I absolutely LOVE how obsessed with Buffy the Vampire Slayer she is. This isn’t just generic references (like ooh that vampire Spike is hot), but the author references specific episodes and specific scenes. Mary’s obsession with Buffy comes up in the suspenseful climactic scene, and it was so well placed that I squealed. So good!
POPSUGAR Reading Challenge 2022: This book fulfills the "A book that features two languages“ category (Vaska speaks Russian a lot in the book).
I loved this book. It’s cute and dark at the same time, which is hard to explain! I loved Mary in the first book, and she doesn’t disappoint in this one. I absolutely LOVE how obsessed with Buffy the Vampire Slayer she is. This isn’t just generic references (like ooh that vampire Spike is hot), but the author references specific episodes and specific scenes. Mary’s obsession with Buffy comes up in the suspenseful climactic scene, and it was so well placed that I squealed. So good!
POPSUGAR Reading Challenge 2022: This book fulfills the "A book that features two languages“ category (Vaska speaks Russian a lot in the book).
January 6, 2023
Flaming read. Storyline felt too similar to book 1 dropping the rating a bit. Vaska is as amazing as the synopsis leads you to believe. Mary tends to be head strong to the point she makes some frustratingly stupid mistakes.
Still a great read!
Happy reading,
DD 🥂
Still a great read!
Happy reading,
DD 🥂
May 5, 2021
ALL MY REVIEWS CAN BE FOUND ON MY BLOG: ABSTRACT BOOKS
Star Rating : 4/5 Stars
POV : Dual
Cliffhanger : None
Hero : Vaska
Heroine : Mary
Pace of the story : Moderate
Angst Rating : 5/10
Heat Rating : 8/10
Triggers Involved : Dub Con scenes , kidnapping
Plot Summary :
Mary has led a simple life. That is until her best friend gets tangled up in a mafia man. From them she meets Vaska who is the most arrogant man she has ever met. He doesn't know the meaning of no and is hell bent on saving her.
Vaska totally agrees that Mary is the most infuriating woman ever. She never listens to him and If this goes on then he will have no choice but to punish her. And that is something he will definitely enjoy. Her, not so much.
Things turn out difficult when Vaska's enemies turn to Mary. Now he has no choice but to restrain her in his own ways. And he is surely going to enjoy that.
Overall Opinion :
I am so freaking addicted to this author's books! The way she writes and especially her heroes and the steamy scenes. THE BEST.
Mary and Vaska have one hell of a tale for which I have been waiting for so long. Ever since I read Dimitri's book, I wanted this one so bad. It has suspense, danger and is so hot.
I would definitely recommend it to all the dark romance lovers out there. Trust me, this author is the best and you won't regret picking this book!
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July 28, 2021
did i really read that? i loved, loved Sweet Cruelty which was the first book in the series and so, this was obviously a one click for me. but oh my god what was this. i liked the book but it was just too OTT and silly
this is legit all that happened. they fought, he didn't ever listen and just repeated the line "you're in my world now" and then tied her and fucked her and she never really objected and repeat
// 3 stars //
Open door to crazy hot, sexy, dangerous-looking bad boy stranger. He flashes a gun. Scream his name while tied to my bed. The end.
this is legit all that happened. they fought, he didn't ever listen and just repeated the line "you're in my world now" and then tied her and fucked her and she never really objected and repeat
// 3 stars //
February 10, 2022
Nothing I expected yet everything I craved. This book will leave you laughing, gasping, melting, and squirming. If you haven’t had the chance to meet Vaska and Mary in the last four books you’ve seriously missed out!!
This story was the perfect culmination of every book in the set until now. We got to reexperience Morocco, Samara’s attack at the Ivanov’s Chicago safe house, and Yelena abduction by helicopter from a whole new point of view.
Vaska’s brutal honesty with Mary is breathtaking. He doesn’t hold anything back and shows her nothing but his true self from the moment he meets lays eyes in her. From claiming her within minutes of their meeting to admitting to being an arms dealer. Yet my favorite moments were when he’d put her in his clothes, feed her from his hands, or take the time to wash her body.
“𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙚, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣.”
Mary is feisty, opinionated, and ballsy. She’s thrown by Vaska’s nonchalant way of blatantly telling her how will go and that she’s now his. Yet none of it comes as a surprise seeing as how the TV men she desires are exactly the same way.
“𝙄 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙈𝙧. 𝘿𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙮 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙟𝙪𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙚. 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙎𝙥𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝘽𝙪𝙛𝙛𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙑𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙎𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙧, 𝙅𝙖𝙭 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙎𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝘼𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝𝙮, 𝘿𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙎𝙪𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙡, 𝙎𝙚𝙗𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝘾𝙧𝙪𝙚𝙡 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨.“
You can’t honestly be a lover of dark romance and say you don’t agree with the girl on her tv boyfriend choices...Jax Teller and Dean Winchester?!! Ummm, yes please!!
By the end of this book Mary and Vaska captured my heart with their love. They remind me that when somethings meant to be nothing can stand in your way. And while I am sad to see this series come to an end, I cannot wait to reexperience then all from start to finish on a binge.
Although these are designed to be standalones within an interconnected series, I highly suggest reading in publication order. Each book in the series builds onto the next, setting up the larger connections and overarching plot lines.
💋 Sweet Cruelty: Ruthless Obsession #1 • REVIEW LINK • Dimitri Kosgov & Emma Doyle
🖤 Savage Vow: Ivanov Crime Family #1 • REVIEW LINK • Gregor Ivanov & Samara Federova
🖤 Vicious Oath: Ivanov Crime Family #2 • REVIEW LINK • Damien Ivanov & Yelena Nikitina
��� Betrayed Honor: Ivanov Crime Family #3 • REVIEW LINK • Nadia Ivanov & Mikhail Volkov
💋 Sweet Depravity: Ruthless Obsession #2 • Vaska Rostov & Mary Fraser
♥️ Sweet Savagery • coming soon
𝓋𝓍𝒽𝑒𝓍𝓃 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹𝓈
Instagram | Facebook | Bookbub
This story was the perfect culmination of every book in the set until now. We got to reexperience Morocco, Samara’s attack at the Ivanov’s Chicago safe house, and Yelena abduction by helicopter from a whole new point of view.
Vaska’s brutal honesty with Mary is breathtaking. He doesn’t hold anything back and shows her nothing but his true self from the moment he meets lays eyes in her. From claiming her within minutes of their meeting to admitting to being an arms dealer. Yet my favorite moments were when he’d put her in his clothes, feed her from his hands, or take the time to wash her body.
“𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙚, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣.”
Mary is feisty, opinionated, and ballsy. She’s thrown by Vaska’s nonchalant way of blatantly telling her how will go and that she’s now his. Yet none of it comes as a surprise seeing as how the TV men she desires are exactly the same way.
“𝙄 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙈𝙧. 𝘿𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙮 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙟𝙪𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙚. 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙎𝙥𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝘽𝙪𝙛𝙛𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙑𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙎𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙧, 𝙅𝙖𝙭 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙎𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝘼𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝𝙮, 𝘿𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙎𝙪𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙡, 𝙎𝙚𝙗𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝘾𝙧𝙪𝙚𝙡 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨.“
You can’t honestly be a lover of dark romance and say you don’t agree with the girl on her tv boyfriend choices...Jax Teller and Dean Winchester?!! Ummm, yes please!!
By the end of this book Mary and Vaska captured my heart with their love. They remind me that when somethings meant to be nothing can stand in your way. And while I am sad to see this series come to an end, I cannot wait to reexperience then all from start to finish on a binge.
Although these are designed to be standalones within an interconnected series, I highly suggest reading in publication order. Each book in the series builds onto the next, setting up the larger connections and overarching plot lines.
💋 Sweet Cruelty: Ruthless Obsession #1 • REVIEW LINK • Dimitri Kosgov & Emma Doyle
🖤 Savage Vow: Ivanov Crime Family #1 • REVIEW LINK • Gregor Ivanov & Samara Federova
🖤 Vicious Oath: Ivanov Crime Family #2 • REVIEW LINK • Damien Ivanov & Yelena Nikitina
��� Betrayed Honor: Ivanov Crime Family #3 • REVIEW LINK • Nadia Ivanov & Mikhail Volkov
💋 Sweet Depravity: Ruthless Obsession #2 • Vaska Rostov & Mary Fraser
♥️ Sweet Savagery • coming soon
𝓋𝓍𝒽𝑒𝓍𝓃 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹𝓈
Instagram | Facebook | Bookbub
June 6, 2021
Yay! Mary and Vaska's story! I wanted to read their story since they first made their appearance in Sweet Cruelty. I LOVED it! It was intense, kind sweet, kinky and very passionate! Explosive chemistry! Mary was one feisty heroine and Vaska a love-struck brute!
May 19, 2021
I like the first in the series, but this one did not hold my interest.
May 26, 2022
3,5 ⭐️
May 17, 2021
4 - 4.5 smutty Mafia stars!
This is the second book in the Ruthless Obsession series and features Mary and Vaska. I have been waiting for their story since we got glimpses of them in Blake’s other Mafia books. Vaska meets Mary through Emma (who is with Dimitri from book 1) and he immediately claims her as his despite her objections. Their story is a sexy game of cat and mouse. Vaska is an illegal arms dealer and Mary wants to be a teacher and the two of them burn up the sheets. The two of them challenge each other in hot as hell ways and I loved Mary’s fire and Vaska’s alphahole attitude.
Vaska knows Mary is it for him but Mary is definitely not on board so it’s up to Vaska to prove to her that they are perfect for each other. However, it becomes clear that dangerous outside forces could ruin everything. Can Vaska keep Mary safe while also proving to her that they belong together?
I really enjoyed this story. I did want to pull my hair out with Mary though...she just continued to push Vaska away and it got real old, real fast. I loved Vaska’s obsessive, possessive personality. It was over -the-top and just how I like my Mafia men. A warning though...if you don’t like dubious consent or possessive alpha males I would say this book isn’t for you. Me? I love it. Zoe Blake...thanks for doing justice to Mary and Vaska and please keep writing Mafia romance.
This is the second book in the Ruthless Obsession series and features Mary and Vaska. I have been waiting for their story since we got glimpses of them in Blake’s other Mafia books. Vaska meets Mary through Emma (who is with Dimitri from book 1) and he immediately claims her as his despite her objections. Their story is a sexy game of cat and mouse. Vaska is an illegal arms dealer and Mary wants to be a teacher and the two of them burn up the sheets. The two of them challenge each other in hot as hell ways and I loved Mary’s fire and Vaska’s alphahole attitude.
Vaska knows Mary is it for him but Mary is definitely not on board so it’s up to Vaska to prove to her that they are perfect for each other. However, it becomes clear that dangerous outside forces could ruin everything. Can Vaska keep Mary safe while also proving to her that they belong together?
I really enjoyed this story. I did want to pull my hair out with Mary though...she just continued to push Vaska away and it got real old, real fast. I loved Vaska’s obsessive, possessive personality. It was over -the-top and just how I like my Mafia men. A warning though...if you don’t like dubious consent or possessive alpha males I would say this book isn’t for you. Me? I love it. Zoe Blake...thanks for doing justice to Mary and Vaska and please keep writing Mafia romance.
May 2, 2021
OMGGGGGGG so worth the wait and way better than anticipated
I wouldn't have thought I could adore anyone more than Dimitri but Vaska has taken demanding to a whole new level. Vaska wasted no time in letting Mary know that there was no out for her that she was well and thoroughly his. He is a man that was just as ruthless in his business dealings as he was in his acquiring of Mary. From the moment he saw her he let her know his intentions and stayed true to them
Mary is a complete bundle of style and sass. She did not disappoint her reluctance to accept that Vaska was absolutely the perfect man regardless of his "business". she just needed to take the LONGG THICK headed way to the finish line while enjoying every moment of it.
This book was true to the Blake captivity of her readers she gave us yet another reason to stay up all night. This story will have you laughing putting it down while continuing to read it as if what you read didn't just take your breath away.
I would suggest you read their foreplay story in SWEET CAPTIVITY before being swept away in SWEET DEPRAVITY "This is love. It's messy and inconvenient. "
I wouldn't have thought I could adore anyone more than Dimitri but Vaska has taken demanding to a whole new level. Vaska wasted no time in letting Mary know that there was no out for her that she was well and thoroughly his. He is a man that was just as ruthless in his business dealings as he was in his acquiring of Mary. From the moment he saw her he let her know his intentions and stayed true to them
Mary is a complete bundle of style and sass. She did not disappoint her reluctance to accept that Vaska was absolutely the perfect man regardless of his "business". she just needed to take the LONGG THICK headed way to the finish line while enjoying every moment of it.
This book was true to the Blake captivity of her readers she gave us yet another reason to stay up all night. This story will have you laughing putting it down while continuing to read it as if what you read didn't just take your breath away.
I would suggest you read their foreplay story in SWEET CAPTIVITY before being swept away in SWEET DEPRAVITY "This is love. It's messy and inconvenient. "
June 10, 2022
4.5 stars
WOW! Sweet Depravity is a HUGE improvement from the first book. Okay, so this review is going to be more biased than usual because any book that references Buffy the Vampire Slayer automatically wins brownie points. I don't make the rules 🤷🏾♀️
The timeline overlaps in the first two books of this series and there are characters from another series that show up, but Sweet Depravity can still be read as a standalone. In fact, I'd recommend Sweet Depravity over Sweet Cruelty. This series is all about the insta-love, over the top Alpha hero, and dub con. And lemme tell ya—it works. How does it work, you ask? I can't explain it. You'll have to read it for yourself 😂
Unlike Emma, Mary is smart and uses her God-given brains. She's a spitfire and constantly fights Vaska and his overbearing attitude. Does she win against him? Nah 😂 But it makes her dynamic with Vaska that much more fun and steamier 🔥 Plus, Mary is a huge Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan, so she's basically my bestie 😌
Vaska...Lord, have mercy 🥵🔥 He's an Alpha Russian arms dealer who can dirty talk your ear off and cook you a delicious meal at the same time. The things this man says make me equally 🥵 and 😍 I am a total sucker for a man who can use his tongue for dirty talk and romantic speeches 🥵😍 I honestly did not expect Vaska to be this romantic. His love declaration made me swooooooon. Also, make sure you translate his Russian dirty talk...you won't regret it 🥵
I can't end this review without mentioning Buffy the Vampire Slayer references. They were ON POINT omg. The Buffy reference during the climax was PERFECTION!! I was shook!! Vaska's only fault is that he doesn't like the show all that much and he refers to Spike as the "weird blond vampire" 😂 But hey, what matters is that he actually sits down and watches the show with his girl 😌 And his favourite character is Spike, so we know he has good taste 😌
As with the previous book, we don't know much about the hero and heroine's respective past and family. There are some brief allusions, but nothing too detailed. The focus is mostly on the main leads and their best friends. And to be honest, I don't mind because Mary and Vaska are well-rounded characters without this addition. The narrative is also a lot more focused, which makes the book a quick and easy read.
WOW! Sweet Depravity is a HUGE improvement from the first book. Okay, so this review is going to be more biased than usual because any book that references Buffy the Vampire Slayer automatically wins brownie points. I don't make the rules 🤷🏾♀️
The timeline overlaps in the first two books of this series and there are characters from another series that show up, but Sweet Depravity can still be read as a standalone. In fact, I'd recommend Sweet Depravity over Sweet Cruelty. This series is all about the insta-love, over the top Alpha hero, and dub con. And lemme tell ya—it works. How does it work, you ask? I can't explain it. You'll have to read it for yourself 😂
Unlike Emma, Mary is smart and uses her God-given brains. She's a spitfire and constantly fights Vaska and his overbearing attitude. Does she win against him? Nah 😂 But it makes her dynamic with Vaska that much more fun and steamier 🔥 Plus, Mary is a huge Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan, so she's basically my bestie 😌
Vaska...Lord, have mercy 🥵🔥 He's an Alpha Russian arms dealer who can dirty talk your ear off and cook you a delicious meal at the same time. The things this man says make me equally 🥵 and 😍 I am a total sucker for a man who can use his tongue for dirty talk and romantic speeches 🥵😍 I honestly did not expect Vaska to be this romantic. His love declaration made me swooooooon. Also, make sure you translate his Russian dirty talk...you won't regret it 🥵
I can't end this review without mentioning Buffy the Vampire Slayer references. They were ON POINT omg. The Buffy reference during the climax was PERFECTION!! I was shook!! Vaska's only fault is that he doesn't like the show all that much and he refers to Spike as the "weird blond vampire" 😂 But hey, what matters is that he actually sits down and watches the show with his girl 😌 And his favourite character is Spike, so we know he has good taste 😌
As with the previous book, we don't know much about the hero and heroine's respective past and family. There are some brief allusions, but nothing too detailed. The focus is mostly on the main leads and their best friends. And to be honest, I don't mind because Mary and Vaska are well-rounded characters without this addition. The narrative is also a lot more focused, which makes the book a quick and easy read.
October 26, 2022
DNF, @35%.
I think the turn off is that the h/h meet on the first page and then they just f*ck? Like no hello, how are you? Lol, I tried to look past that and force myself to read on, cause I thought I could handle it with a strong heroine but it just got more annoying, like the hero would just take her when he wanted and why was he allowed to “punish” her, like they hardly know each other? It would of been a good stroryline maybe it gets good after the first 30%? I guess for now, I’ll leave it and come back when I’m feeling it.
I think the turn off is that the h/h meet on the first page and then they just f*ck? Like no hello, how are you? Lol, I tried to look past that and force myself to read on, cause I thought I could handle it with a strong heroine but it just got more annoying, like the hero would just take her when he wanted and why was he allowed to “punish” her, like they hardly know each other? It would of been a good stroryline maybe it gets good after the first 30%? I guess for now, I’ll leave it and come back when I’m feeling it.
January 7, 2023
"Sweet Depravity" is the story of Mary and Vaska.
The sassy best friends from book one hook up in this strong guy- sassy girl romance which had instant attraction, loads of hot lovemaking, drama and a satisfying ending.
Good one time read.
Safe
3.25/5
The sassy best friends from book one hook up in this strong guy- sassy girl romance which had instant attraction, loads of hot lovemaking, drama and a satisfying ending.
Good one time read.
Safe
3.25/5
May 9, 2022
I just wanna smack some sense to Mary because that girl is so stupid!!!! She sees that the mob as a joke! When things start to go down she acts as of nothing happens, when she sees “real” danger she just cries and doesn’t move and gets angry!!
I love Vaska, he is very direct and straightforward from the beginning, he is very open of what he wants, Mary is not, she doesn’t say anything, she just fights and gets angry and expects Vaska to read her mind?? 🤡
I don’t like Mary, she is too stupid and childish. There is this scene where she has to go to a safe house because the mob is having some issues and she is in danger, and her thoughts are:
”I was a little disappointed that it was an ordinary knock and not some kind of secret code double then single then double knock sort of thing.”
Like you might get unalived and you are thinking a door lock doesn’t look like a bank’s safe with a lot of codes????????? Girl better get that head checked 🙃🙃
I love Vaska, he is very direct and straightforward from the beginning, he is very open of what he wants, Mary is not, she doesn’t say anything, she just fights and gets angry and expects Vaska to read her mind?? 🤡
I don’t like Mary, she is too stupid and childish. There is this scene where she has to go to a safe house because the mob is having some issues and she is in danger, and her thoughts are:
”I was a little disappointed that it was an ordinary knock and not some kind of secret code double then single then double knock sort of thing.”
Like you might get unalived and you are thinking a door lock doesn’t look like a bank’s safe with a lot of codes????????? Girl better get that head checked 🙃🙃
December 12, 2021
continued with the next book because i was curious of how mary and vaska's relationship would be. i kinda like this better since the male lead actually talked about himself unlike dimitri who was super secretive. mary's sassy personality made things really fun as well. the back-and-forth between them were entertaining. there were some parts that still a little iffy but i think it comes with the dark romance territory.
May 10, 2021
Again I'm speechless and I don't know what to say. Every book by this author is a great experience with many emojis.
In this book, we finally have the story of Mary and Vaska, and wow definitely this hero beats on points with his candor and does not keep in suspense our fiery Mary.
He from the beginning claimed her and showed that she is he's too protect, cherish and of course to love.
And Mary! My God I love this girl and her style to dress and all are literally amazing. In every chapter I laugh to her stubbornness how she try to fight the attraction toward Vaska.
This book give me mixed experience that I love so much with sexy, funny and hot scene that make me want one Vaska in my life for sure. Thanks for the chance to read earlier their story Zoe Blake
In this book, we finally have the story of Mary and Vaska, and wow definitely this hero beats on points with his candor and does not keep in suspense our fiery Mary.
He from the beginning claimed her and showed that she is he's too protect, cherish and of course to love.
And Mary! My God I love this girl and her style to dress and all are literally amazing. In every chapter I laugh to her stubbornness how she try to fight the attraction toward Vaska.
This book give me mixed experience that I love so much with sexy, funny and hot scene that make me want one Vaska in my life for sure. Thanks for the chance to read earlier their story Zoe Blake
Read
May 17, 2021miss blake can do no wrong in my eyes 😩
every single one of her russian mob guys are 👏👌🏽
but vaska?? giirrrl 🥵
easily the hottest out of all the books i’ve read from her 👀
every single one of her russian mob guys are 👏👌🏽
but vaska?? giirrrl 🥵
easily the hottest out of all the books i’ve read from her 👀
Read
March 21, 2023rtc
May 3, 2021
Ok we have been waiting to read about Mary & Vaska. Vaska was all business. He figured make sure Dimitri’s girlfriend Emma’s friend was safe. Add some security and that was it. He was stunned by Mary. Mary cracked me up. From her Buffy references to her thought about Vaska. She may act tough but boy was she falling for him. I do love the reference to Spike. Yeah, he would make any good girl turn bad. And Mary was a bad girl in her soul. When you have a teacher that can take down a big strong mafia tattoo'd tough guy, you know that is love. I loved this book. She and Yelena needs to get together. Those two are my favorites. This book is so good, I hated to see it end. I had my mouth open screaming in my head, NOOOOOO when it was over. I hate to not seem them again. The story just flowed so well. {sniff sniff} All good things come to and end. I do love these two.
July 31, 2021
Loved Mary story!!! As a matter of fact, love all Zoe Blake books.
P.S. to all my English speaker friends and authors, It is “Colombian” not “Columbian” lol
P.S. to all my English speaker friends and authors, It is “Colombian” not “Columbian” lol
December 13, 2021
4.5 Smutty Stars. It was another enjoyable read by Zoe Blake, except for some OTT actions / scenes that make me raised my eyebrow…🤔
Shelved as '5-tbr-ooit'
April 15, 2021
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