Perfect Monster

The Oligarchs #1

by B.B. Hamel

Nothing good happens in a monster’s bedroom.

Roman Lenkov could burn the world to ashes.

Ice blue eyes, fingers like a sculptor. He’s beautiful and terrible. Cruel but fair.

And a member of a secret society of ultra-powerful, ultra-wealthy men called The Oligarchs.

Mafias bow at his feet. Woman beg to spend one night in his luxurious bed.

And I want absolutely nothing to do with that psychopath.

Three years ago, my life was shattered at the end of a knife.

Now all I want is a quiet life in a sleepy ocean town.

But Roman needs me for his revenge, and there’s no escaping his powerful grasp.

It doesn’t matter if I’ve sworn off handsome gangsters in custom suits.

When Roman takes me, it feels like lust and sin and everything I’m supposed to hate, but don’t.

Genres: Dark Romance, Mafia Romance, Romance, Smut, Contemporary Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Crime

351 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 18, 2021

About the author

I'm a long time reader, writer, and lover of Romance! Writing is my dream and my passion, and I want to share my stories with you.

I live in the Philadelphia area with my husband and two dogs.

Website: http://www.bbhamel.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bbhamelwriter

Check out my mailing list for updates, giveaways, and more! http://bbhamel.com/signup

Reviews

[Charlene Gaskins · Rating 3 out of 5]

2..75 rating
I like this author but this novel was a disappointment for me. Roman and Cassie's story lacked the kind of depth I look for in a book in this genre. This author has used senseless death and mayhem in prior stories in this genre successfully; unfortunately that wasn't the case with this novel. Roman was not the least bit affected by senseless death and Cassie's character by books' end was completely desensitized to it as well.

Roman's revenge was all based upon the fact that someone else assassinated his father, a man he had a deep seeded hatred for. This story is built around Roman being denied the opportunity to kill his father, The book is filled with senseless death, destruction and chaos all brought on by Roman's need to kill the man that killed his father. The loss of his older brother fuels his revenge. When all is said and done and countless numbers of people are killed as either collateral damage or as a result of the war he starts between two Mafia families, he still doesn't feel the "high" he thought he would feel once the older Irish Don is finally assassinated by him. What a waste of time and people's lives.

As an Oligarch to the other Mafia families his reputation and choices are questioned splintering the alliances he has built. He steps over the line with a fellow Oligarch which leads to the next book in the series. I felt his choices were skewed and ill gotten which resulted in a convoluted storyline.

Cassie gets pulled back into the world she escaped three years earlier by witnessing a murder that puts her in Roman's sight. I never felt a real "love" connection between these two characters as the story progresses, just a means to an end for Roman. He lusts for her and wants to keep her safe but the focus is on "what marrying her can do for him". Even their wedding is a horror story as a front for the assassination of the Irish Don. A wedding dress that has blood and human remains on it is not exactly a recipe for a happy ending.

Lust and protection does not equal love no matter how much he gets her off in bed. Her character begins as a woman that is trying to rebuild her life from the ashes of a terrible rape/hit gone wrong turning into a character that does a deep dive into the darkness that surrounds Roman. She quickly falls down the preverbal rabbit hole. These two never make love but engage in the rough kinky sex and punishment that Roman requires. Love is so much more than kinky sex if it's to be sustainable and not a passing thing.

Even when they profess their love for one another by books' end , I still didn't feel that this couple would stand the test of time. The book ends with Damien hot on Roman's trail. The death and unnecessary bloodletting that happens in book one apparently will resurface in book 2.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars ⭐️

Holy moly, what a riveting, bloodthirsty story. Roman is a cold killing machine, scarred as a youth by his brutal father. Cassie has a father who has scarred her in much the same way. But together they find love amongst the bloodshed. This book doesn’t end in a cliff hanger, but the story of the brewing trouble Roman has created is far from finished. If you have triggers then it’s best you don’t read this book. The second book in the series finds Cassie’s best friend Winter kidnapped by another oligarch Darren

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was honestly one of the best mafia-ish book I’ve read in a while. My first book by this author as well and I’ll read more for sure! I absolutely loved the writing style, I really enjoyed the story and the characters. I do wish it had been a bit longer and less rushed toward the end, but overall I highly recommend it.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve enjoyed a lot of books by B. B. Hamel, but I have to say that I truly think “Perfect Monster” is her best work yet. From start to finish, it’s full of excellent characters, intense situations, gasp-inducing moments, passionate encounters, and non-stop action.

Cassie is a poor but hardworking waitress in a seaside resort town. She’s a sweet person who tries to go about her life as unobtrusively as possible. While working a catering job, she has a frightening run-in with a vicious mafia gangster, who she later witnesses committing a cold-blooded crime. An even more frightening man, Roman, appears on the scene at both crucial moments in Cassie’s life. He’s a handsome and compelling man, but Cassie has no idea why everybody seems to be afraid of him. Roman knows more about Cassie then she realizes. His role in the underworld strikes terror in the hearts of mafia leaders, although most people have no idea who he is. He’s an intriguing character, and as the story unfolds he gets more and more interesting. Cassie and Roman each have their own closely held secrets. The physical attraction between them practically sizzles off the pages. There’s so much I’d like to talk about in this review, but the plot is so good I’m being very careful not to divulge anything because you deserve the experience of uncovering it yourself! Please trust me when I tell you that it’s not a typical mafia story, and it’s got some startlingly emotional parts that really took me by surprise.

The secondary characters throughout this story are vividly depicted. Just as with the main characters, you can picture them all in your mind’s eye. The epilogue indicates that Cassie’s best friend will be an important part of the next story in the series, and I’m already looking forward to it! I’m also hoping there will be much more about Roman’s assistant Roza, and about his best friend/bodyguard Erick.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I also purchased a copy.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cassie is working an event when she witnesses a murder. Roman Lenkov rescued her once earlier in the night but finding her looking at a dead woman has Roman whisking her off and keeping her protected until he can fix the threat against her. Roman is a powerful Oligarch, more powerful then the mafia's he is a strategist and even though he would like to keep Cassie close, he lets her go when she asks. He keeps a tab on Cassie and when her threat comes back he grabs her. Roman let her go once but he doesn't plan to a second time. He also has discovered a secret about Cassie that could work in his favor. Will accept Roman or will she run the minute she can?

This was another great beginning to this series. A bit darker then the other series. I liked Cassie a lot, she has a tragic story and I thought she drew from Roman's strength. At times you are not certain where this story will go, keeps you on the edge of your seat.

[Gladys · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book wastes very little time in making sure you are snared in its dark and dangerous web. I really enjoyed this book. The intensity and tension are thick and the drama and twists abundant. As for the characters, I was intrigued. I found it very easy to feel a connection to and feel sympathetic towards Cassie. Roman is sinfully tempting. Powerful, hot and with a sharp edge, he's the type of bad man that you know you shouldn't want but he makes being bad look so good you simply can't resist. LOL At least that's how I felt. These complex characters are brilliantly paired with a consuming storyline that had me feeling on the edge and eagerly looking for answers. A great start to this new series that I desperately need more of. I am electing to post and objective review.

[Mandy Reads Indie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am still on the fence for how I truly felt about this book. Did it entertain me the whole way through? Yes. Were the sexy scenes sexy? Absolutely. Did it have a plot worth reading? Yep! Did it make me want to keep reading the series? For the most part.

My thoughts is this. Yes, I really enjoyed the book and it had me reading at every free moment. I was intrigued by Roman and from where his revenge stemmed from. The same goes for Cassie. I knew she had a past with her inability to get in a car and figured it had something to do with the mafia after the bits and pieces she revealed of herself in the beginning. They kept me reading.

But I also wasn’t sold on their love for each other. Now hear me out. I am all about some insta love stories. I devour them when I feel the author is putting some real feelings behind it, making it believable. But, I believe Roman and Cassie were on their way to love but not quite there yet. Like they were stuck in this gray area between the two.

I think I want to see where the next book goes. I may grab it up soon and see what Darren has in mind for Winter. 4 Stars!!

[Cloudstanloves2read · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars

🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5 Spice

If you’ve been following me and my reviews, you probably know that I B.B. Hamel has become a go to author for me, as I’ve been slowly reading her back catalog. I really enjoyed Perfect Monster and absolutely loved the premise of the book. Cassie & Roman are perfectly paired, as are the main characters. The spice is always spicing in a B.B. Hamel book, and I’ve already started book 2 in this series. I think this series might be taking the lead, as my favorite, so far.

[Grace Cady · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was just not it for me. I did not enjoy the writing, the pacing, or the way the story was told.

I found it weird that like twice the author chose to switch to Erick’s and Winter’s POVs?? It just felt very out of place and it was clear she had not developed a voice for them yet because their writing read very mechanically.

I didn’t really like the main characters, they just lacked depth and so did their relationship.

This book just did not excite me, even though I found the concept for the plot really interesting. Everything was just very underdeveloped and that was really disappointing.

[Sudasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a different writing style for me, I have not read much from B. B. Hamel in the past. So this was a pleasant surprise.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

After what happened to her a few years ago, Cassie just wants to live a quiet and peaceful life. When she sees something, she shouldn’t she is rescued by Roman, a member of the oligarchs. What will happen when she is forced to remain with him? Fast-paced read with intense chemistry, characters with lots of depth and an entertaining story. I loved it!

[B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roman & Cassie’s Steamy Chemistry Is Set Against A Bloody Battle For Revenge. It Will Pull You Into A Power Struggle Of Epic Proportions. Roman Is A Cold-Blooded Killer, Detached From Humanity; Cassie Is Reclusive. Both Are Shaped By A Tragic Event But Find Compassion In One Another.


ABOUT THIS NEW SERIES:

The world’s most exclusive club includes some of the most feared men and women on earth. They are the oligarchs. The mafias, the cartels, the bratva – you name it – they all bow to the likes of them. The oligarchs are drowning in wealth. That in combination with the boredom that plagues them has led to a corrupted view of the value of human life. As a result, they have evolved such that now they operate like gods on earth. Their money buys them whatever they want. So far removed from society-imposed consequences, all that is left to hold them in check is the high-powered game that they play amongst themselves.

Like puppet masters, the oligarchs use the various criminal underground groups to orchestrate their desired outcomes. They enjoy the back and forth and the power struggle that results from their interferences. It is a zero-sum game. You take a little here and there, upsetting the balance of power. But they have rules, too. Importantly, oligarchs aren’t allowed to make a direct move against one another; that is what their proxies are for. They can align themselves with the Irish mafia, for instance, to indirectly attack another oligarch via the bratva he helps fund, but only as long as it doesn’t create too much chaos. They must be measured (which is of course a relative term).

No oligarch can assume too much power without the others eventually deciding to restore the balance. Thus the game goes, repeating the cycle, but it always balances out in the end because there are rules that the members abide by, expectations they understand of one another. There are consequences if they step out of line. While they might fight with guns via their proxies, that isn’t how business is conducted with one another. They require a different set of skills to operate amongst their peers. Politics, alliances, and the ability to sway opinions are how they win the game from within. A direct attack on another oligarch, however, will provoke a bloody reaction from the group. Stepping that far out of line, upsetting the balance of power, is not tolerated. If an oligarch continues the course, causing too much chaos, sooner or later the other players – the other oligarchs – will decide to act against you.

IN THIS BOOK:

Cassie Ward, about twenty-one, left her father’s Boston home and moved to Sea Isle, New Jersey three years ago. Sea Isle was a fresh start for her, a chance for a quiet life. She bicycles around town and works at various bars to support herself. She hasn’t seriously considered dating since then. Her best friend, co-worker, and neighbor – Winter – encourages her to get out there and have some fun, but she doesn’t know anything about the incident. The car phobia, the scar, the words that damaged her self-esteem … Cassie keeps those things close to the vest.

Roman Lenkov, thirty-eight, belongs to the world’s most exclusive club: the oligarchs. He assumed his position of leadership when his father was gunned down at his cousin’s wedding three years ago. Oisin MacKenna, head of the MacKennas, an Irish mafia organization that is moving into the South, killed his father, and Roman won’t rest until he gets revenge. Darren Servant, another oligarch, is backing up the MacKennas, hiding Oisin and making Roman’s efforts fruitless. But Roman has a plan. It will be messy, but it doesn’t matter anymore. Roman won’t just roll over and allow the assassination to go unpunished. Revenge will be his, even if Roman’s father was a monster.

When Cassie works a party full of powerful and dangerous men, an accident turns the ire of one such man against her. Another man, whose powerful presence seems to command the entire room, comes to her rescue. But Cassie’s troubles don’t end there. When she becomes a witness to a crime, a target is on her back. Her knight in shining armor, Roman, comes to her rescue again, promising to keep her safe. But as things begin to unravel, Cassie soon finds herself whisked away into Roman’s dark and dangerous world.

Roman is a monster, no doubt about it. There is blood on his hands. His callousness is chilling. He wants to use her, and she doesn’t really have a choice. The past that she spent years trying to forget comes back to haunt her, but she finds comfort and support unexpectedly in her captor. She finally agrees to help him in his quest for revenge, and though she finds herself captivated by him, she looks forward to returning to Sea Isle when all is said and done. The couple eventually earns a happy for now ending, but the series is clearly unfinished. The danger remains. It appears Winter’s story will follow (probably with Erick).

Roman and Cassie’s story is a mafia romance with a twist. The oligarchs rule just like the gods from Mount Olympus. There are multiple players and a lot going on; it takes some concentration to follow but it keeps you in suspense. The story feels timely, as so many of the heads of companies and uber-wealthy these days seem to be unashamedly assuming power and using it to push their influence in new and different ways.

Roman and Cassie’s steamy chemistry is set against a bloody battle for revenge. It will pull you into a power struggle of epic proportions. Roman is a cold-blooded killer, but there is another side to him as well. He and Cassie both suffered from a tragic event that shaped their lives. They were both victims of their horrible fathers. They both pulled back from life, yet in different ways. Roman became detached from humanity; Cassie became reclusive. Together, they find compassion and understanding, which helps to bridge the divide of mistrust.

As for my review, I read the ARC but also the original published version. There seems to have been a mistake because the published version was also an ARC (and said so). I would imagine that error has been corrected by now. The ARC version had a number of errors, and it admitted that fact, and I can only assume that a corrected version was published in an update. The story is plot-driven. It is complex. It is written in first person. The POV alternates between Roman and Cassie, with two chapters in Winter’s POV and two in Erick’s POV. I rate this book four stars (assuming the final version is cleaned up).

I received an advance copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[TP · Rating 1 out of 5]

The characters and their thought processes were superficial, immature and one dimensional.
I expect more from a good book.
I gave up not even half way through.
The author packed all the right dark themes into the book, but the way it was implemented and the way the characters acted wasn’t believable for me. It was too easy and no real struggle or development. The female character was all talk and nothing to back it up. The instant love kaboom between the two characters was not appealing really, despite the right ingredients.
The world building was too simplistic and boring.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (9/10/2022)! 🎁

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect Monster is B. B. Hamel latest dark mafia romance. It's dark, twisted and filled with ultra powerful, ultra wealthy violent men. It's filled with violence, revenge, attempted murder, a forced marriage, action packed, intimidation, steam, power, alliance, danger, passion, drama and love. It was captivating, enthralling and intense. The characters were well developed with a great plotline. Perfect Monster delineate the lives of Roman Lenkov a member of the Oligarchs. He is thirty eight years old powerful and wealthy. Roman dad was the former leader of the Oligarchs before he was brutally gunned down and killed by Oisin Mackenna who is the leader of Mackenna Irish mafia at a wedding. Roman knows that his father was a wretch and brute but an act such as this can not go unpunished he needs his vengeance.
Callie Ward is a hardworking twenty two year old young woman who is just trying to live quiet inconspicuous life under the radar. She works as a waitress at a bar along with her best friend Winter. She was working a one night when she spill some drinks a patron, as it turns out he was Manzi a member of the mob. Manzi was not keen on the idea of a female spilling drinks on him and loss his cool with Callie. Roman Lenkov was there and witnessed the altercation between Manzi and Callie and threatened him for his abuse of her. Later on Callie when outside after the altercation because she was shaken and witnessed Manzi shot and killed a point blank. The incident shook her so much that she screaming which alert him to her location, he was just about to a bullet in her as well to eliminate the witness when Roman came to her aid once again. Roman took her safety for the before letting her go home. But couple days later while ride her bike another attempt was made on her life which he was there to save her again since he was watching her. Roman save Callie but he has his own selfish reason why he continuously comes to her. She has the power to help him gets his ultimate revenge. Both of these people has deep seated secret from the other. The chemistry between Roman and Callie was tantalizing, titillating and sensual.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trigger Warnings include:
mentions of death of a loved one. all on page in detail: assault, murder, gun violence, panic attacks, night terrors, ptsd, rape, death of a child

Roman breezes in like a white knight, and then he goes and does it again! I wouldn’t mind having a man like Roman Lenkov as a white knight. Especially with Cassie’s luck! (Or lack of.) Poor thing is trying to silently live her life, hide in plain sight. Not that she can hide from Roman and his men. He won’t let her hide, especially not from him. That big bad monster sure made me giggle. He had the marriage license and prenup ready to go. I mean, the man was absolutely devoted to protecting Cassie! Made sure to pull out all the stops! Roman is naturally attentive, but it’s a whole different thing with Cassie. She toes the line between naive and ignorance is bliss. And in their life, that’s a dangerous place to be! The moment I knew I loved Roman, really wasn’t the moment for it. There was death and such involved. Then again…he’s Roman Lenkov, going to war for Cassie…when wasn’t it involved?!

My Favorite Quotes:
• “I told you already. I’m nobody.”
• “Maybe I’ll keep you around. You can be a little pet for me.”
• “Because I haven’t had my fill of you yet.”
• “Let me find out.”
• “There’s a difference between something to be used and discarded and something to be kept and cherished.”
• “Perfect. Delicious. Look at you.”
• “I’m going to rip this world to pieces and you’re going to come with me for the ride.”
• “It isn’t your soul I want. Only your body.”
• “Maybe making you happy is reason enough.”
• “You look at me like you can’t decide if you’d rather push me off a roof or ride my cock into oblivion.”
• “I need your flaws, all of them, and you’ll accept mine.”
• “I’ll be what’s in front of you, if you’ll let me.”
• “Come for me, my princess.”
• “I want to be all yours.”
• “I’m going to put the world back together, because she deserves it.”

8/10 Dirty Birdy
9/10 Dark Romance
7/10 “Arranged” Forced Marriage
7/10 Fake Relationship
6/10 Forced Proximity
8/10 Mafia Romance

[Tabatha Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oligarchs are a new one for me. I’ve heard of them before but never encountered a story about them. I don’t know if it’s an accurate portrayal of oligarchs but in here they are the money and power behind various crime organizations.

We have Roman who’s on a mission to avenge his little brothers death. He’s powerful, ruthless and cunning. He’s honestly a fantastic hero/book boyfriend, he checks all the boxes for me.

Then we have Cassie, a seemingly innocent civilian who has the misfortune of witnessing something she shouldn’t. Of course, she’s not really a civilian, she’s on the run with mob ties of her own, a life she thought she escaped. She’s a likable heroine but a bit naive at times.

So Roman sees an opportunity to protect a girl he’s become infatuated with but also a way to exact the revenge he’s been seeking for years. He tricks Cassie into marriage.

They have good chemistry and a mutual attraction to each other. The whole thing is a bit dub-con but it’s definitely hot and not nearly as dark as it could have been. I’d put this firmly in light grey territory on that end. The book has a fair amount of violence in it so that may drive it a bit darker if that bothers you.

Story 4/5, Spice 3.5/5, Dark 1.5/5, Angst 2/5, medium burn, multiple POV - we get Cassie and Roman - but also a handful of chapters from Winter and Erick - who are the people closest to Cassie and Roman, respectively.

There’s no cheating and no cliffhanger for Cassie and Roman, though a bit of unfinished business with a fellow oligarch. This leads to a cliffhanger type ending which happens with Cassie’s friend Winter. I’m not sure if this is a setup for Winter to have a story with her captor or with Erick, her potential savior.

You do get an HEA and epilogue for Roman and Cassie. I’d definitely read more of this series!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect Monster is a dark, mafia-adjacent story that features a Russian oligarch with a personal moral code, and the woman who gets inadvertently tangled in his crosshairs.

When Cassie inadvertently witnesses a murder that could set off a mob war, she’s saved by the inscrutable Roman, a man as formidable as he is handsome. As their worlds become more and more intertwined, and Cassie’s past and Roman’s secrets come to light, they find that their seemingly combustible chemistry continues to build. Is their connection strong enough to last, or will Roman’s quest for revenge blast them apart before they’ve even truly begun?

This book delivers all of the hallmarks of a mafia romance with its fair share of violence, mayhem, and white-hot steamy scenes. There’s forced proximity, some “light” kidnapping, and a hero who steps outside the law to get what he wants. The dynamic between Cassie and Roman is definitely insta-lust meets enemies-to-lovers, and it is a delight to read. There are also a few chapters sprinkled throughout from secondary characters, Erick and Winter, which were a welcome addition to the narrative and set up the next book in the series quite nicely.

Make sure you check your triggers, as this is definitely a dark romance, and buckle up for a wickedly wild ride. Note: this is the beginning of an interconnected standalone series, and so it leaves you with a bit of a cliffhanger, which I wasn’t expecting. But it’s got me itching for the next book in the series, which is always a good thing.

I was provided an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Perfect Monster is a perfect way to begin a new series. From the first line this book had my complete attention. I did not want to put it down!!! So much intrigue, suspense, interesting concept, and the heat! Phew- Roman and Cassie are full of fire, heat, and a raging passion. Who doesn’t like a little pain with their pleasure?

Cassie moved to Sea Isle three years ago to escape her life. Keeping to herself, working multiple jobs in the tourist town all blown to hell when she is in the wrong place at the wrong time and finds herself in the middle of a mafia war.

Roman Lenkov, wealthy Oligarchy bent on revenge, who comes to Cassie’s aid, not once but twice. She lingers in his mind like no one before. He makes her feel safe and alive.

When Roman learns who Cassie is, he makes a proposition, one that fixes his problems and helps with his revenge plan. The price for him saving her life- he was going to rip this mafia world apart and she would be on his arm as he did it.

We mainly get Roman and Cassie’s POV, but a few of the chapters are told thru secondary characters POV’s, which makes me wonder if they will be part of the upcoming books…

Roman recognizes quickly that Cassie could be a major asset to his business. Cassie comes to realize she is with a perfect monster. He sees her, hears her, and stands up for her.

They are kindred spirits. Their passion is all consuming. He wanted her at his mercy, her body a toy for his twisted needs and Cassie was all to willing to make the dive into that darkness and let him completely consume her.

[lf · Rating 5 out of 5]

He was a honeypot, a poison flower, a Venus flytrap, something beautiful and dangerous all at once

Perfect Monster is the story of Cassie and Roman. It is described as a dark mafia romance but it is a whole lot more than that as the "mafia" is just a bit of this story. Cassie you like immediately as she is a young woman who struggles financially but is hard working and determined. She lives in a seaside resort town and works as a waitress. Her quiet life is turned completely around one night when she is working and has the misfortune to encounter a very dangerous Mafia man who basically frightens her. But that is nothing to later when she sees him kill someone. She is saved by a man named Roman who seems to be even more dangerous. She does not know who he is but he has power, wealth, position and is dangerous in his own right. Roman saves Cassie and takes her back to his house for the night. He lets her know that she will be safe and that no one will do anything to her. But that is not what happens when she returns to her life. So Roman steps in again to keep her safe and to do that they must get married, as then no one will ever dare to threaten her again since she will be completely under his protection. But Roman and Cassie both have secrets that make this story deliciously sinful and captivating.

I received a copy of this book and am leaving my honest review. My opinions are all my own.

[Kitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Captivating

Cassie Ward lives in Sea Isle New Jersey. She had a traumatic past and left home to get away from her father. She normally works in a bar/ restaurant but took a catering job this night as she needed the money. Cassie accidentally spills wine on a nasty customer named Manzi after he bumped into her.He causes a scene and a man named Roman comes to her assistance. Shortly thereafter she went outside to settle her nerves and she sees this Manzi kill his girlfriend in cold blood.She starts screaming and Roman comes to see what the racket is and just saves Cassie from being shot in the face. He ushers Cassie into his chauffeured car
and she is taken to his bunker.Roman is obviously very wealthy, hot,dangerous, and protective. It turns out that Manzi is the son of a don and if the murder he performed is found out a mafia war will occur.

This bunker home is quite something with many levels and a pool. Winter who is Roman's assistant at most everything eventually tricks her into signing a prenuptial and marriage certificate. Now she's pretty much trapped but they keep having super hot sex and he is very protective of her.

I have read this author's books for years and this is the best book so far. I'm used to reading ARCs and was surprised at the typos that I expected in an ARC but not a finished manuscript. Not used to a cliffhanger but anxious to read the next book.

[Heather Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cassie works as a waitress is a small sea side town. She likes the quietness of the small town, she can ride her bike everywhere. She does catering gigs with her bar / restaurant when they are needed. Cassie was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and witnessed someone getting killed. Of course it's with the mafia! A man that took an interest in her earlier that night see's her as she is coming back into the kitchen area and knows something is wrong. Roman, knows he can protect her. But, she has to go with him.

Roman is a strong influence within the mafia world on the east coast. Roman knows he has to protect this innocent young woman. If he doesn't her blood will be shed. Roman takes Cassie home, but, when she's in his car she's having a panic attack, Roman doesn't know what to do other than try a few breathing technique's he knows, Cassie calms down, but, it takes awhile. He's never encountered someone who has a panic attack in a car, he wants to understand what is going on.

Cassie and Roman part ways but, a month later they are reunited. Roman thought Cassie would be safe in the small sea side town, but, he was wrong. He swoops in to rescue her again.

Will Cassie be able to leave Roman's protection? Will Roman be able to part ways with Cassie? Will Cassie confide in him what happened to her and why she doesn't like cars? Will Roman be able to lower his shield around her?

I did receive a free ARC copy of this book. I am freely leaving an honest review.

[Kayla 🐼 · Rating 2 out of 5]

so much meh

I wish I had the willpower to DNF books (I keep thinking they’ll be redeemable by the end) because I would’ve cut my losses and shelved this 2 years ago when I first couldn’t finish. Honestly this book would’ve been much better WITHOUT the romantic relationship. Only the mafia drama kept me interested enough to actually finish it (main reason it even made it to 2 stars), and even then by the end it got boring and exasperating. And a lot of the built up dramatic moments ended up falling flat.

The “romance” didn’t feel like romance, there was no chemistry between the two characters, hardly any real progression of feelings. Together, Roman and Cassie were incredibly irritating and I ended up skimming so many of their scenes together, even the smut was tiresome and couldn’t save this mess. Cassie was annoying pretty much the entire way through, Roman was only really interesting from the mobster perspective. Also, Darren is horrific, and I know he’s book two. So in addition to the author not creating an interesting enough story, I also won’t be continuing this series because Darren doesn’t deserve happiness. 🤷🏻‍♀️

This formatting is also horrendous. Not to mention there were literal paragraphs of ONE sentence. Just one, incredibly long dragged out sentence that spanned 15-20 lines. It was ridiculous. And there was too much repetition of words and phrases, like just say it once and be done with it. This book is overall just a big no.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roman & Cassie- Love through blood

Cassie has been re-building her life away from dangerous mafia men. She has found a new life and has a great best friend and decent work that allows her to be free from her past. However, her past has found her and by chance she witnesses a murder and now her life is in danger. Roman spotted her across the room and can’t take his eyes off her. She is beautiful and he wants to make her his. He didn’t realize that her witnessing a murder would give him the perfect opportunity to keep her safe and make her his wife! Roman knew he couldn’t let her go but her connections to his enemy is an added bonus to help him get his revenge.

Cassie can’t believe this happening and she doesn’t know if she can trust Roman but he is keeping her safe and that is all she can ask for. Their primal need and desire for each other is explosive and sinfully hot and oh so sexy! Roman knows his revenge is going to cost a lot of people their lives but he won’t let Cassie go because she is his wife!

This is an intense dark mafia romance and the violence, sexiness, and sinful connections between these two is explosive. This book is the first of this series and it leaves us set up for Book 2 where Winter ( Cassie’s BF) has been taken by Darren another Oligarch who is determined to get revenge on Roman. Happy Reading!!

[Merry One Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprising romance inside a war

I wasn’t expecting the romance inside the war, but it worked. Cassie is a sweet young woman who had been attacked in her past. Her family didn’t care so she escaped them for a new life on her own. Cassie was working as waitstaff at an important party when a man bumped into her causing red wine to spill on him. The man was a jerk, but the son of a mafia boss. The host, Roman, came to rescue Cassie and to put the jerk in his place. Later in the evening Cassie sees a murder that obviously she shouldn’t see. This sets a whole new war in place. Roman, the lead male, is alpha, sexy, powerful and he decides to take Cassie and win the war. Roman is not nice, but you will like him anyway. His assistant is my favorite, Roz. She is fierce and a bad-a. She makes this book better and I gave a star just for her. It’s rare to get a powerful woman next to an alpha, who learnt to be an alpha female. So I say to the author, well written! There is a happy ending but the end does setup the next book two. There’s lots of strategic things going on, violence, and power plays in the midst of the developing romance. You will enjoy this book if that’s your thing. Read On!

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cassie has been laying low and walking or riding her bike everywhere she goes. She is escaping her past as best she can. How long can a person go without their family? Can she stay hidden forever? During an event in town, she happens to see something that she wasn't supposed to see. But instead of running more, she is being protected by Roman. Can he protect her forever? What will he want in return?

Roman more powerful, feared and respected than a mafia Don....he is an Oligarch. He is old money and influence in every aspect of life. After seeing Cassie at the event, he knows he wants to know her more, but more than that he wants to keep her safe. After a night at his mansion, they go their separate ways, but when he hears of another attempt on her life, he decides to step in and save her himself. Roman soon discovers that Cassie could be helpful in his revenge plot, but is that all there is between them?

This story is such a fast paced romance with dark and heavy mysterious drama, but filled with love, lust, romance, suspense and so much more!!! You will not be disappointed in this book. I love BB Hamel and everything BB Hamel. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Beverly McCall · Rating 4 out of 5]

. Perfect Monster is the first installment of B.B. Hamel’s Oligarchs series. Ms. Hamel introduces readers to Cassie Ward and Roman Lenkov. She is the daughter of a Lieutenant in the MacKenna Crime Family. He is a Russian Oligarch. He is not part of any mafia crime family, but, is so powerful that he brokers deals between and amongst the various crime families. Roman realizes who she is and takes her. She was brutally attacked and left emotionally wounded. He realizes she suffers with panic attacks and helps her to cope through breathing. Roman is out for revenge for the murder of his father. Will he accomplish it? Will he act on his feelings for Cassie? Will she resist him or fall for him? You must read this book to find out.

I find BB Hamel’s writing style easy to follow. Hamel’s characters are likeable. The storyline is enjoyable with a perfect blend of drama, romance, and humor. This is a captivating romance with several respectfully written steamy bedroom scenes. The plot is well-thought out. I liked Hamel’s use of a two-prong plot line. One follows Cassie and Roman’s romantic journey. The other is the intrigue behind the Roman’s relentless need for revenge. The result is a riveting romantic suspense story. Nicely done, Ms. Hamel.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

enough with the biting

This is the second book in the series and the violence was ratcheted way up. That was ok and expected in a mafia book. My issue was with the rough biting and spanking during foreplay and during $ex. They constantly bit each other to the point of blood. This was not a BDSM thing, he got turned on inflicting pain on her. He would bite her in “sensitive spots” and be very rough after she was mad at him and it turned her on. I found it mostly ridiculous and not sexy at all. It was pretty constant during the book and I found it tiresome. I liked the characters though and the basic plot. I didn’t really understand the point of the big climax near the ending. I’m assuming it will be explained in the next book. But here’s the problem, I’m done with this series. Violence is not a turn on and I don’t like the way these books make the readers feel that sexual violence is okay and is expected to turn you on. That’s not a good message that I think should be shared and somehow normalized. There are better books out there to spend my time on. Sorry for the harsh comments but they are my honest opinion and I wish everyone would be honest in their comments. This would help readers only select books that would appeal most for them.

[Jill Haworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roman is an intense and alluring businessman with stunning, ice blue eyes. When Cassie witnessed an Italian mafia dons son, murder his girlfriend, the daughter of a capo in a rival cartel at Roman’s party that she is working, Cassie is dragged into a whole world she never knew existed. Not only is Roman a successful businessman, he’s an Oligarch. One of a handful of men who literally rule the world and the mafia, Bratva, cartels etc. but from behind the scenes. They’re so much more than money men, deal makers and breakers. Their world is a minefield walked on eggshells.
When Cassie ran away from the Irish mob that she had been raised amongst, she was ‘damaged goods’. She wanted to disappear and find a quiet nook in the world to live a simple life. One bullet changed everything for good….
This was a fascinating and intriguing read. The chemistry between Cassie and Roman is initially fraught, but they are brought closer by every act of violence that ricochets around them, regardless of the consequences. There are enemies everywhere, friendships few and a fantastic teaser involving Cassie’s best friend. Superb.

[Korkoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Accidental Soulmates -
Cassie just wanted live a quiet life after the hell she went through, but unfortunately trouble found her, as she was witness to a murder. Roman was happy watching Cassie from afar until she was accosted by one of the guest and he had to step in. Unfortunately, Cassie found herself in a quandary again and Roman decided to take charge to keep her safe. It was initially meant to be on a temporary basis, but subsequent circumstances caused them to have to spend more time together, as they navigated the intricacies and understanding of the underworld.

All I can say is that I really enjoyed this great story with interesting characters, lots of twists and turns, deeply emotional moments and fantastic sexual encounters, that will keep you entertained from the beginning until the end. I highly recommend you find a quiet place to relax before you start reading this book, because you will not be happy if you are interrupted before you reach the end.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.