Cruel Deception: A Dark Mafia Arranged Marriage Romance (Kozlov Empire Book 2)

If you are looking for engaging, well-written stories, with thoughtful characters, 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 intimate scenes with dominant antiheroes and feisty women that are willing to do whatever is necessary to protect (or get vengeance) for those they love, all set against a backdrop of mafia (including Bratvas and cartels), then I highly recommend this series by Monica Kanye.While this could be read as a stand-alone, I personally DO NOT consider it to be. There are multiple reoccurring characters, common themes and references to previous events that cannot be adequately recapped within another story. Therefore, I highly recommend that these be read in order, including the free prologue from the author.** If you have not read this story, the following may contain spoilers **⛔️ Contains scenes and/or references to subject matter that may be a trigger or offensive to sensitive readers. These include: adult language; derogatory terms; detailed adult intimate scenes with dominance, submission, exhibitionism, voyeurism, etc.; violence stereotypical of the genre including assault, fighting, threats, coercion, theft, gambling and cheating at a casino (not between the MMC or FMC), murder, torture, etc.I love a dark romance series especially when the stories are interconnected in multiple ways. It can be hard to find a series that engages me, keeps me thinking about it, or looking forward to the next story before I even finish the current one! This is one of those series for me.Monica Kayne took the time to build the characters and the environment, which brought everything to life. I am also enjoying some of the originality she has woven into storyline, which can be difficult in any genre, much less one as popular as mafia stories. I also loved the addition of dialogue in Russian and Spanish. They are sprinkled throughout, not overused, and most contain the translation. The exceptions were common enough phrases heard irl so no translations were needed, which I appreciated Monica not including.I am a ‘visual’ reader, meaning that I visualize a story as I read it. Most authors do not add enough character, location, etc. descriptions, or they include so much minutiae that the story drags. Monica does a wonderful job providing just the right amount imo, and she did this throughout the story, further refining the picture I had of the characters, while still maintaining a good pace.I did find a few grammatical issues, but not many especially considering the length of the story. The majority involve punctuation (missing commas, missing spaces after some of the ellipsis, etc.), formatting in regards to possessive words ending in ‘s’, word tense, and capitalization. Some I documented and some I did not, but I uploaded my notes to goodreads for anyone interested.

BookTok made me do it.Bianca lost her parents at a young age and was subsequently raised by her uncle, head of a major Colombian cartel. Her boyfriend Jorge is an abusive jerk, but she has her reasons for sticking with him. Until Jorge stupidly bets her in a poker game and loses.Daniil watches Jorge smack Bianca around and decides the he needs to step in. He doesn’t like Jorge anyway, so humiliating the man is too tempting an opportunity to pass up. But when Daniil realizes Bianca’s identity as sole living heir to the Colombian cartel, he realizes he’s bitten off more than he can chew. Especially when Bianca’s uncle insists Daniil save face by marrying Bianca.Daniil thinks he doesn’t want to be tied down, yet finds himself honoring his vows. Bianca wants independence, but Daniil insists she needs to get used to being a pampered mob wife. Cue malicious compliance, starting with adopting an untrainable dog breed just to bug Daniil who just happens to be allergic.Bianca’s secrets are catching up with her, as are all those feelings she and Daniil are catching playing house together. Too bad so many people want Bianca and Daniil to suffer greatly… before they die.OMG this was a great introduction to the Bratva. It’s brutal and edgy, and a whole lot spicy. I loved that Daniil is a secret teddy bear where Bianca is concerned, and that Bianca is a bigger badass than even she anticipated. I can’t wait to read more of this series!

I’m pretty sure I called the entire plot 10 pages into the book… it was enjoyable and was a good break between intense fantasy books

This book didn’t disappoint. Compared to book reviews of the Kozlov empire though, it was dirtier in a sexy kinda way. I liked the story line just as much and all the twists and turns along the way.

Loved the storyline of these two! Bianca is a favorite! Can’t wait to read the next book in this series.

4.5 stars (rounded up)Daniil wins Bianca in a poker game when trying to get her out of an abusive relationship and unknowingly starts a larger war between his family bratva and Bianca's uncle, a Columbian drug king pin.Forced/arranged marriage between the two was the "deal" the uncle made but it was just a poly to gain access to intel into the Kozlov's family empire.Enemies to lovers to enemies again, but back to lovers by the end.I enjoyed this book and had read Merciless Heir last year. But the book can be read as a standalone in the interconnected storyline. I recommend reading book one though, because it was also well written and a great story.Daniil is forced to learn how to be a spouse when he never even wanted a girlfriend. Bianca learns what it means to be truly desired and cared for after she has betrayed no only her uncle, but the Kozlov bratva as well.Story was very suspenseful and quite steamy in the romance area. I'm jumping into Fierce Vow as soon as possible!

This is book two in the Kozlov series and follows Danil and Bianca. You do not have to read the first book in order to read this one but the characters do intertwine so it may help.Bianca is an informant for the FBI trying to take her uncle and fiance down. Danil thinking he's doing the right thing makes a bet in a poker game and wins. Will that bet ruin everything for both of them or can they find a way to make things work for both of them?Bianca is a badass who just wants revenge for her family but ends up tied to somebody that could ruin it all. Danil is a middle child who never wanted to get married and/or find love. These two could make or break each other and I loved watching everything happen.Again amazing characters and plot. The pace still needs a little work but was better in this book. I loved watching everything come together in the end as truths finally came out. After this book I absolutely cannot wait to see what happens in the next book!

Extraordinaire comme d'habitude 🔥🔥❤️‍🔥chaque histoire de la série peut être lue séparément même si les frères sont présents dans chaque livre..

The Kozlov family put family first and trust no one outside the family. Daniil runs the casinos and came across an injustice he had to do something about, all he had to do was win at a high roller card game against someone who was cheating amongst other things.

Loved it!Will definitely recommend this books to others who have interest in mafi world novels. I was able to imagine how hot all the characters were.

Auch wenn es ein bisschen vorhersehbar war, ist dieses Buch der absolute Hammer. Fantastischer Schreibstil ! Beim Lesen ging man durch ne Gefühlsachterbahn. Man hat mit den Figuren so mitgefiebert 😃

Loved it