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Boston Underworld #3
Ghost
Talia.
I have always been a bird. Caged by one prison or another when the only thing I ever wanted was to fly away.
Sold. Beaten. Starved. Drugged.
Nothing scares me anymore.
Until him.
He makes the numbness go away.
He is hazardous to me. It has nothing to do with his mafia lifestyle, and everything to do with what he offers.
A gilded prison.
A retreat from everything that I once knew. The reality I have no desire to return to.
He thinks he’s caged me, but soon…
I’m going to fly.
Alexei.
I live by a code. The Vory code.
In this mafiya world, there are traditions.
Expectations.
She does not care for these things. She does not care about anything.
She thinks she has me fooled with her haunted eyes.
What she can’t know is that I see her better than most.
She wants to fly.
But I’m going to clip her wings.
And make her my wife.
**This is a DARK mafia romance. A full-length standalone novel with HEA and no cheating.**
I have always been a bird. Caged by one prison or another when the only thing I ever wanted was to fly away.
Sold. Beaten. Starved. Drugged.
Nothing scares me anymore.
Until him.
He makes the numbness go away.
He is hazardous to me. It has nothing to do with his mafia lifestyle, and everything to do with what he offers.
A gilded prison.
A retreat from everything that I once knew. The reality I have no desire to return to.
He thinks he’s caged me, but soon…
I’m going to fly.
Alexei.
I live by a code. The Vory code.
In this mafiya world, there are traditions.
Expectations.
She does not care for these things. She does not care about anything.
She thinks she has me fooled with her haunted eyes.
What she can’t know is that I see her better than most.
She wants to fly.
But I’m going to clip her wings.
And make her my wife.
**This is a DARK mafia romance. A full-length standalone novel with HEA and no cheating.**
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 27, 2016
About the author
A. Zavarelli
57 books6,982 followersA. Zavarelli is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author of dark and contemporary romance.
When she’s not putting her characters through hell, she can usually be found watching bizarre and twisted documentaries in the name of research.
She currently lives in the Northwest with her lumberjack and an entire brood of fur babies.
Facebook Page- https://geni.us/AZavarelliAuthor
Facebook Reader Group- https://geni.us/FemmeFatales
Mailing List: https://geni.us/ucfAZH1
Instagram- https://geni.us/AZavarelliInstagram
Amazon- https://geni.us/AZavarelliAmazon
Bookbub- https://geni.us/AZavarelliBookbub
Twitter- https://geni.us/AZavarelliTwitter
Website- https://www.azavarelli.com
When she’s not putting her characters through hell, she can usually be found watching bizarre and twisted documentaries in the name of research.
She currently lives in the Northwest with her lumberjack and an entire brood of fur babies.
Facebook Page- https://geni.us/AZavarelliAuthor
Facebook Reader Group- https://geni.us/FemmeFatales
Mailing List: https://geni.us/ucfAZH1
Instagram- https://geni.us/AZavarelliInstagram
Amazon- https://geni.us/AZavarelliAmazon
Bookbub- https://geni.us/AZavarelliBookbub
Twitter- https://geni.us/AZavarelliTwitter
Website- https://www.azavarelli.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,697 reviews
November 14, 2023
Re-read: 11/13/23…man, I love this book.
Original Review:
5 Crazy Fucking Awesome Stars
So before I get started, I have to say...
I have been in an odd mood this past week, thus my lack of reviews, the 13+ books of rotating wonder on my "currently reading" shelf, and the spastic word diarrhea that is this GR feed.
But what can I say...PMS + sudden changes at home + one too many social events for this introvert to handle in one week = a non Val Par-tay.
My point being?
Yeah, I don't know. But if you figure it out...
Keep it to yourself.
Cause I'm busy.
Anycraycray, back to the amazing-ness that is this book and this shitty review that won't do it justice.
I.
Fucking.
Loved.
This.
Seriously though.
In fact, I just realized that I have read three of this author's books.
And I have 5-starred them ALL.
Mind. Blown.
Mind blown again.
*snort*
Sorry.
Anyrexaroo, if you read my reviews for books 1 and 2 in this series, you know that this series ticks a whole lotta my (and a lot of people's) boxes:
- Mafia
- Alpha male
- Heroine I don't want to strangle
- Reasons for H/h to be around each other (and in this case an "arranged" style marriage to boot)
- Cool action scenes
- Good supporting cast of characters
- And most of all:
AMAZING WRITING.
A. Zavarelli is a seriously talented lady-scribe who just plain puts out an amazing product.
In other words...
It doesn't feel like she just one day said, "Hey, I think I'll write a mafia book - cause that's in totally right now - do NO research of any kind whatsoever outside of watching The Godfather and John Wick, throw in some sex scenes and the word 'baby' and hope for the fucking best."
In other words, Ms. Z writes with a depth and down to earth realism that make it obvious that she does her due diligence in the research and editing department, on top of simply being a talented writer and story teller...and in my opinion, the best of the best are both of those things.
For realz though, homie-scribe brought her A-game as usual.
And as much as I loved books 1 and 2....I loved this one even more.
Alexei and Talia were just plain amazing together.
Like a damaged duo of fucked up Wonderbread.
Add the peanut butter protein of their awesome characterizations and the sweet jelly of their sexy sexy time, and you have yourself the best back to school sandwich EVER.
Warning though: for those with certain triggers for you might want to ask for more details before reading, depending on your tolerance level. Feel free to PM me. Or one of other gazillion peeps who have read this masterpiece.
Also, I was asked if this could be read as a standalone...and while, technically, methinks yes...don't shortchange yourself by missing out on the awesomeness of books 1 and 2.
You can find my reviews here...if you are super bored...and sitting on the toilet with your smartphone.
Book One: Crow
Book Two: Reaper
I know, I know. What can I say?
Original Review:
5 Crazy Fucking Awesome Stars
So before I get started, I have to say...
I have been in an odd mood this past week, thus my lack of reviews, the 13+ books of rotating wonder on my "currently reading" shelf, and the spastic word diarrhea that is this GR feed.
But what can I say...PMS + sudden changes at home + one too many social events for this introvert to handle in one week = a non Val Par-tay.
My point being?
Yeah, I don't know. But if you figure it out...
Keep it to yourself.
Cause I'm busy.
Anycraycray, back to the amazing-ness that is this book and this shitty review that won't do it justice.
I.
Fucking.
Loved.
This.
Seriously though.
In fact, I just realized that I have read three of this author's books.
And I have 5-starred them ALL.
Mind. Blown.
Mind blown again.
*snort*
Sorry.
Anyrexaroo, if you read my reviews for books 1 and 2 in this series, you know that this series ticks a whole lotta my (and a lot of people's) boxes:
- Mafia
- Alpha male
- Heroine I don't want to strangle
- Reasons for H/h to be around each other (and in this case an "arranged" style marriage to boot)
- Cool action scenes
- Good supporting cast of characters
- And most of all:
AMAZING WRITING.
A. Zavarelli is a seriously talented lady-scribe who just plain puts out an amazing product.
In other words...
It doesn't feel like she just one day said, "Hey, I think I'll write a mafia book - cause that's in totally right now - do NO research of any kind whatsoever outside of watching The Godfather and John Wick, throw in some sex scenes and the word 'baby' and hope for the fucking best."
In other words, Ms. Z writes with a depth and down to earth realism that make it obvious that she does her due diligence in the research and editing department, on top of simply being a talented writer and story teller...and in my opinion, the best of the best are both of those things.
For realz though, homie-scribe brought her A-game as usual.
And as much as I loved books 1 and 2....I loved this one even more.
Alexei and Talia were just plain amazing together.
Like a damaged duo of fucked up Wonderbread.
Add the peanut butter protein of their awesome characterizations and the sweet jelly of their sexy sexy time, and you have yourself the best back to school sandwich EVER.
Warning though: for those with certain triggers for you might want to ask for more details before reading, depending on your tolerance level. Feel free to PM me. Or one of other gazillion peeps who have read this masterpiece.
Also, I was asked if this could be read as a standalone...and while, technically, methinks yes...don't shortchange yourself by missing out on the awesomeness of books 1 and 2.
You can find my reviews here...if you are super bored...and sitting on the toilet with your smartphone.
Book One: Crow
Book Two: Reaper
I know, I know. What can I say?
September 6, 2016
Ever since reading 'Crow', I've been curious about Alexei, the mysterious and reclusive Russian friend of Lachlan. It was evident that there was far more beneath the surface and I was dying to hear his story. Finally, we get his story in 'Ghost' and it does not disappoint. I devoured this book!
Talia is a far cry from the young woman she was when she went missing. Betrayed by her "boyfriend" Dmitri and sold into sexual slavery, she's suffered unimaginable horrors. Her only goal is to find a way to end her own life, freeing her from the hell of her daily existence.
When Alexei is asked to find Mack's best friend, Talia, he does far more than he's asked to. Seeing her picture, he becomes enamored with the missing lady. He decides, before ever meeting her, that this is the woman he will marry. He's agreed to find her, but he has no intention of ever letting her go. He plans to rescue her from one prison and thrust her straight into another.
Alexei arranges to take Talia from her owner, Arman, as collateral for a deal that Arman failed to deliver on. Neither man has any intention of letting her go, but Alexei finally has her in his possession. With the help of his loyal house staff, Alexei begins to nurse Talia back to health while setting plans in place to make his "ownership" of her permanent.
For the first time in her life, Talia is important to someone. She finds a mother-figure in Magda, the woman who raised Alexei and now oversees his household. She is cared for and treated well. Yet, she still longs for the type of love that Alexei says he will never give.
Coerced into a marriage of convenience, Talia realizes that she is, yet again, enslaved to a man. Alexei might be nicer than the men before him, but like the others, he's using her. She knows that he will never love her.
Marrying her was Alexei's way of preventing his own arranged marriage to Katya, the daughter of another high-ranking member of the Russian Mafia. Despite her persistence, Alexei has no intention of ever being married to the woman that betrayed him with his own brother. However, Katya is not planning to let him go without a fight.
From start to finish, I did not want to put this book down. I have loved every book in this series, but I think this one has been my favorite. Alexei and Talia were so broken and yet, so perfect together. I love dark, twisted stories and their story just called to me.
Make no mistake, this story is a dark one. This story addresses the topics of rape, physical and psychological abuse, etc. If you're put-off by stories that contain darker themes like these, then 'Ghost' will not be for you.
On the other hand, if you love darker reads like I do, 'Ghost' is a phenomenal choice! I loved every minute of this disturbing story! It's a new favorite of mine.
Talia is a far cry from the young woman she was when she went missing. Betrayed by her "boyfriend" Dmitri and sold into sexual slavery, she's suffered unimaginable horrors. Her only goal is to find a way to end her own life, freeing her from the hell of her daily existence.
When Alexei is asked to find Mack's best friend, Talia, he does far more than he's asked to. Seeing her picture, he becomes enamored with the missing lady. He decides, before ever meeting her, that this is the woman he will marry. He's agreed to find her, but he has no intention of ever letting her go. He plans to rescue her from one prison and thrust her straight into another.
Alexei arranges to take Talia from her owner, Arman, as collateral for a deal that Arman failed to deliver on. Neither man has any intention of letting her go, but Alexei finally has her in his possession. With the help of his loyal house staff, Alexei begins to nurse Talia back to health while setting plans in place to make his "ownership" of her permanent.
For the first time in her life, Talia is important to someone. She finds a mother-figure in Magda, the woman who raised Alexei and now oversees his household. She is cared for and treated well. Yet, she still longs for the type of love that Alexei says he will never give.
Coerced into a marriage of convenience, Talia realizes that she is, yet again, enslaved to a man. Alexei might be nicer than the men before him, but like the others, he's using her. She knows that he will never love her.
Marrying her was Alexei's way of preventing his own arranged marriage to Katya, the daughter of another high-ranking member of the Russian Mafia. Despite her persistence, Alexei has no intention of ever being married to the woman that betrayed him with his own brother. However, Katya is not planning to let him go without a fight.
From start to finish, I did not want to put this book down. I have loved every book in this series, but I think this one has been my favorite. Alexei and Talia were so broken and yet, so perfect together. I love dark, twisted stories and their story just called to me.
Make no mistake, this story is a dark one. This story addresses the topics of rape, physical and psychological abuse, etc. If you're put-off by stories that contain darker themes like these, then 'Ghost' will not be for you.
On the other hand, if you love darker reads like I do, 'Ghost' is a phenomenal choice! I loved every minute of this disturbing story! It's a new favorite of mine.
June 23, 2021
In my next life I will:
「 PLOT 」
This is Talia (h) and Alexei's (H) story. Talia was Mack's friend who one day disappeared. Turns out her mafia boyfriend lured her to take a vacation in Mexico with him so he could sell her into sex slavery. For the past year she's been a sex slave for a guy named Arman who beat, tortured and gang raped her with his friends. Alexei who has promised Mack to find Talia, makes a deal with Arman about some weapon shipment that by some accident gets lost. As a punishment Alexei ask Arman for his fav sex toy a.k.a Talia as collateral until Arman can fulfil his promise. Alexei brings Talia back to his estate and keeps her there for the next months.
「 THE GOOD, THE BAD AND EVERYTHING ELSE 」
I felt extremely sorry for Talia, cause the first few chapters before Alexei 'rescue' her from Arman are pretty fucked up. She's only a punching bag and a hole for so many guys and I could understand her numbness, I really could, because if I'd be in her shoes I would want to die too.
A problem that I have in general with this series is, that I can't find any character development. These characters always run around in circle, making one step progress and 5 steps backward. Until almost 40% of the book and Talia is still trying to kill herself, she is still numb and feels indifferent to most thing and it was hard for me to feel anything as well, because Talia's thoughts were so monotonous. I just want to see SOME kind of progress. I don't expect her from one day to the next to suddenly want to live when she has been feelings dead for so long, but after months of her staying with Alexei and Magda (the maid) who has been so patients and caring with her, I expected more.
Alexei has demons on his own, having lost his hearing since childhood, he has some daddy and mommy issues. His father, Sergei, abandoned him and his mother, because he felt like they were worthless. What is he going to do with a son who's defective. His mother committed suicide, because she couldn't deal with him either. This guy really had some heave abandonment issues. It wasn't explicitly stated, but I think Alexei is an alcoholic. He was drinking so much through the book and seeing druck all the time.
I liked Alexei, because he's pretty chill lmao!! He is some tech genius who remains in his home most of the time, afraid that people will find out he has a defect. All he does is sitting infront of his 10393 computer screens, play chess and drink. That's basically his life. The reason why Alexei was so drawn to Talia is, because both of them are pretty emotionless and he could relate to that part of her too much.
In Reaper I mentioned my love-hate relationship with the accidental pregnancy trope. This trope was used her too, but I can't even say it's accidental, because Alexei planned it all along. He hoped that with a baby Talia would stop hurting herself and honestly? I WAS SO DOWN WITH THAT PLAN!! I wanted to see a progress in Talia's mood and if it takes a baby for her to want to live? I fucking take it.
For most of the book I didn't feel much reading it (cuz Talia's chapters were so monotonous and indifferent), but when the "conflict" happened with a lot of misunderstanding and betrayal uhhh lemme tell you. I wanted to cry with Alexei so badly. The last few chapters made my heart ache so hard and that's what I love about reading romances.
heeelp.... why are the author's favorite characters always the one that annoy me the most. It's a curse. I just know that A. Zavarelli loves Lachlan and Mack the most, since they are the only couple that make a cameo in each of the books in this series so far. I didn't care about Mack in her book, in Reaper she was ok bc of her friendship with Ronan, but again in this book I could slap this girl to the moon. This girl thinks she is so smart, but she's so fucking ignorant and judgy of the people around her. Telling Talia what to do without really knowing what she has been through.
Lastly, shoutout to Magda for being a great mother figure to both Alexei and Talia. I love her so much!!
Also, everytime I see this cover it reminds me of Johnny Depp WHY??
┍━━━━━━━━━━━━━┑
BOSTON UNDERGROUND SERIES
#1 Crow – 2 stars
#2 Reaper – 3.75 stars
#3 Ghost – 3.25 stars
#4 Saint – 3 stars (rtc)
#5 Thief – 1.5 stars (rtc)
#6 Conor – 1.75 stars (rtc)
┕━━━━━━━━━━━━━┙
Plan A: learn Russian and find some hot guy in the Russian bratva to take me as his wife so he can call me "solnyshko", "malyshka" or "kotyonok"
Plan B: apply as a maid, it seems like they be living their best life with their Russian bosses, making food and being the best side-kick in someone else's love story.. what a great job
Plan C: pray really hard that Plan A or B will work out, because failure is not an option
「 PLOT 」
This is Talia (h) and Alexei's (H) story. Talia was Mack's friend who one day disappeared. Turns out her mafia boyfriend lured her to take a vacation in Mexico with him so he could sell her into sex slavery. For the past year she's been a sex slave for a guy named Arman who beat, tortured and gang raped her with his friends. Alexei who has promised Mack to find Talia, makes a deal with Arman about some weapon shipment that by some accident gets lost. As a punishment Alexei ask Arman for his fav sex toy a.k.a Talia as collateral until Arman can fulfil his promise. Alexei brings Talia back to his estate and keeps her there for the next months.
Sometimes it's still hard to accept that this man is my husband. He's more than that. He's my savior. My unwilling hero. And the thing that is most dangerous of all.
My hope.
「 THE GOOD, THE BAD AND EVERYTHING ELSE 」
I felt extremely sorry for Talia, cause the first few chapters before Alexei 'rescue' her from Arman are pretty fucked up. She's only a punching bag and a hole for so many guys and I could understand her numbness, I really could, because if I'd be in her shoes I would want to die too.
A problem that I have in general with this series is, that I can't find any character development. These characters always run around in circle, making one step progress and 5 steps backward. Until almost 40% of the book and Talia is still trying to kill herself, she is still numb and feels indifferent to most thing and it was hard for me to feel anything as well, because Talia's thoughts were so monotonous. I just want to see SOME kind of progress. I don't expect her from one day to the next to suddenly want to live when she has been feelings dead for so long, but after months of her staying with Alexei and Magda (the maid) who has been so patients and caring with her, I expected more.
I had to go to hell to find the person I am today. And in the end, the road through hell led me straight to him.
Alexei has demons on his own, having lost his hearing since childhood, he has some daddy and mommy issues. His father, Sergei, abandoned him and his mother, because he felt like they were worthless. What is he going to do with a son who's defective. His mother committed suicide, because she couldn't deal with him either. This guy really had some heave abandonment issues. It wasn't explicitly stated, but I think Alexei is an alcoholic. He was drinking so much through the book and seeing druck all the time.
"As long as there is breath in me, as long as my heart beats, I will protect you, Solnyshko. You will remain by my side for all the days of my life. And even after my death, you will have others watching out for you. This, I can assure you."
I liked Alexei, because he's pretty chill lmao!! He is some tech genius who remains in his home most of the time, afraid that people will find out he has a defect. All he does is sitting infront of his 10393 computer screens, play chess and drink. That's basically his life. The reason why Alexei was so drawn to Talia is, because both of them are pretty emotionless and he could relate to that part of her too much.
"Do you like your women insane?" He pulls back just enough for me to see the smile on his face. "Obviously," he replies. And then he kisses me again.
In Reaper I mentioned my love-hate relationship with the accidental pregnancy trope. This trope was used her too, but I can't even say it's accidental, because Alexei planned it all along. He hoped that with a baby Talia would stop hurting herself and honestly? I WAS SO DOWN WITH THAT PLAN!! I wanted to see a progress in Talia's mood and if it takes a baby for her to want to live? I fucking take it.
"It's strange," I tell him honestly. "What is?" he asks. "That you can't hear," I answer. "And yet, you are the only person who has ever really listened to me."
"I will always see you, Solnyshko," he tells me. "Always."
For most of the book I didn't feel much reading it (cuz Talia's chapters were so monotonous and indifferent), but when the "conflict" happened with a lot of misunderstanding and betrayal uhhh lemme tell you. I wanted to cry with Alexei so badly. The last few chapters made my heart ache so hard and that's what I love about reading romances.
heeelp.... why are the author's favorite characters always the one that annoy me the most. It's a curse. I just know that A. Zavarelli loves Lachlan and Mack the most, since they are the only couple that make a cameo in each of the books in this series so far. I didn't care about Mack in her book, in Reaper she was ok bc of her friendship with Ronan, but again in this book I could slap this girl to the moon. This girl thinks she is so smart, but she's so fucking ignorant and judgy of the people around her. Telling Talia what to do without really knowing what she has been through.
Lastly, shoutout to Magda for being a great mother figure to both Alexei and Talia. I love her so much!!
Also, everytime I see this cover it reminds me of Johnny Depp WHY??
┍━━━━━━━━━━━━━┑
BOSTON UNDERGROUND SERIES
#1 Crow – 2 stars
#2 Reaper – 3.75 stars
#3 Ghost – 3.25 stars
#4 Saint – 3 stars (rtc)
#5 Thief – 1.5 stars (rtc)
#6 Conor – 1.75 stars (rtc)
┕━━━━━━━━━━━━━┙
February 10, 2017
****4 STARS****
Boston Underground Series in Ah-Mazing!!! I am officially a fangirl of A. Zararelli!
Now let's chat about book #3...
Alexei is a member of the a Russian mob and he is brilliant. He’s a amazing hacker – which I love because that’s what my hubby does for a living – and his hacking abilities makes him irreplaceable within the mob.
Alexei is tasked with helping Mack find Talia as they know she has been kidnapped and sold into the sex trafficking industry overseas in book #1. Through a few different channels his does find Talia and brings her back to the US. After she is back in the Boston area things start to get pretty interesting.
Talia is obviously f**ked in the head at this point. I mean, who wouldn’t be after being a sex slave for over year? Imagine waking up to 3 different men using each hole of your body at the same. I think I’d be a bit f**ked in the head to at that point as well. She was also beat on a daily basis and now she craves pain, physical pain just to feel anything at all.
Alexei did keep his word to Mack to find Talia but conveniently left out the part where he decided he was going to marry her. He didn’t even give the poor girl a choice. She just gets up one morning and tis old to put on this designer dress and fix herself up. Then that afternoon she is signing her name on the dotted line and tada….she’s married!
Talia sees herself as defective because she was a whore and can’t understand why this powerful has chose her for his wife. I’ll be honest, I kind of wondered the same thing. But her cared for her in a way I don’t think many men could have.
Was Talia a whore? Yes. Can anyone call her a whore? Hell no! If you do, Ghost might beat the shit out of you. He’s so sweet.
Let us take sex for instance; Talia couldn’t enjoy sex with some sort of pain being involved, so he would give it to her. He would cut her with razor blades, spank her, pour hot wax on her and any other thing he thought could bring her just enough pain to get the “there”. He loved her fucked up ways.
One of my favorite conversations in the book....
“You’re such a fucking hypocrite. A selfish asshole.”
She tries to get up. To leave me. But I hold her in place. My own anger coming out to play.
“Yes, and you are a psychotic bitch.”
She tries to yank herself away, but again I don’t let her. I grip her chin in my hands and force her to kiss me.
“But you’re my psychotic bitch,” I murmur against her. “And I am your selfish asshole.”
I thought that was such a sweet conversation. You see how much acceptance they have for one another.
For my complete unfiltered review....https://prettymessreading.wordpress.c...
Follow all my crazy....
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/prettymessr...
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/prettymessre...
Twitter https://twitter.com/prettymessread
Boston Underground Series in Ah-Mazing!!! I am officially a fangirl of A. Zararelli!
Now let's chat about book #3...
Alexei is a member of the a Russian mob and he is brilliant. He’s a amazing hacker – which I love because that’s what my hubby does for a living – and his hacking abilities makes him irreplaceable within the mob.
Alexei is tasked with helping Mack find Talia as they know she has been kidnapped and sold into the sex trafficking industry overseas in book #1. Through a few different channels his does find Talia and brings her back to the US. After she is back in the Boston area things start to get pretty interesting.
Talia is obviously f**ked in the head at this point. I mean, who wouldn’t be after being a sex slave for over year? Imagine waking up to 3 different men using each hole of your body at the same. I think I’d be a bit f**ked in the head to at that point as well. She was also beat on a daily basis and now she craves pain, physical pain just to feel anything at all.
Alexei did keep his word to Mack to find Talia but conveniently left out the part where he decided he was going to marry her. He didn’t even give the poor girl a choice. She just gets up one morning and tis old to put on this designer dress and fix herself up. Then that afternoon she is signing her name on the dotted line and tada….she’s married!
Talia sees herself as defective because she was a whore and can’t understand why this powerful has chose her for his wife. I’ll be honest, I kind of wondered the same thing. But her cared for her in a way I don’t think many men could have.
Was Talia a whore? Yes. Can anyone call her a whore? Hell no! If you do, Ghost might beat the shit out of you. He’s so sweet.
Let us take sex for instance; Talia couldn’t enjoy sex with some sort of pain being involved, so he would give it to her. He would cut her with razor blades, spank her, pour hot wax on her and any other thing he thought could bring her just enough pain to get the “there”. He loved her fucked up ways.
One of my favorite conversations in the book....
“You’re such a fucking hypocrite. A selfish asshole.”
She tries to get up. To leave me. But I hold her in place. My own anger coming out to play.
“Yes, and you are a psychotic bitch.”
She tries to yank herself away, but again I don’t let her. I grip her chin in my hands and force her to kiss me.
“But you’re my psychotic bitch,” I murmur against her. “And I am your selfish asshole.”
I thought that was such a sweet conversation. You see how much acceptance they have for one another.
For my complete unfiltered review....https://prettymessreading.wordpress.c...
Follow all my crazy....
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/prettymessr...
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/prettymessre...
Twitter https://twitter.com/prettymessread
August 20, 2016
Astounding <------- that's the word that comes to mind . This series has been a superlative experience, but this book , takes the cake. I've become a huge fan of these newer authors who churn out one superbook after next. Her research is very very thorough, her writing excellent and her language and plot just brilliant !!
Alexei , "Lyoshenka" Nikolaev is a Sovietnik in the Red Mafia. He holds power to destroy and protect. When Mack comes to him for help in locating Talia, he promises her to rescue her friend. He locates Arman , the monster who has Talia and negotiates her release in his protection
what to say about Talia, a girl who has had a tough childhood, bumping around in foster homes system, till she meets Mack and Scarlett. But she falls prey to Dmitri and therein begins her descent into living hell. After abducting her, training her to be a Fucktoy for men, he sells her to an even cruel chengiz-Arman. She literally becomes a Subhuman Piece Of Merchandise, for men to stuff her holes, gang rape and orgies committed on her unwilling, drug infested body. Her mind numb and body invaded.
They say Death can inhabit a body long before the soul even leaves
She is a walking zombie, who opens her body on command, but her mind has shut down, she gets beat viciously , humiliated and paraded as a piece of meat to be kicked, broken, spit at, a cumbucket for the dregs of humanity!!!.
Her saviour , Alexei, is broken too, just like her. Both being new to living , because both their hearts are dead. They fumble around each other, learning through trial, how to co-exist with each other.
Their attempts to tip toe around feelings is so poignant to watch . Alexei 's secret threatens to drive them apart, but since Talia is his mirror, she understands him. Just like he "listens" to her !
so many tender, heart ripping moments in this book, that my eyes were constantly wet. What a beautiful character Alexei is, I felt like sometimes slapping him awake and sometimes hugging him to sleep. He's like a lost little boy, looking for Love & validation.
Talia and Alexei are a perfect match , they just don't know it as yet. And this is the story of their journey together as a husband and wife. A story of marital adjustment, self discovery and trust building. Both have been betrayed badly .
first comes trust
then comes love
then comes betrayal
then comes death
then comes............................
Alexei , "Lyoshenka" Nikolaev is a Sovietnik in the Red Mafia. He holds power to destroy and protect. When Mack comes to him for help in locating Talia, he promises her to rescue her friend. He locates Arman , the monster who has Talia and negotiates her release in his protection
what to say about Talia, a girl who has had a tough childhood, bumping around in foster homes system, till she meets Mack and Scarlett. But she falls prey to Dmitri and therein begins her descent into living hell. After abducting her, training her to be a Fucktoy for men, he sells her to an even cruel chengiz-Arman. She literally becomes a Subhuman Piece Of Merchandise, for men to stuff her holes, gang rape and orgies committed on her unwilling, drug infested body. Her mind numb and body invaded.
They say Death can inhabit a body long before the soul even leaves
She is a walking zombie, who opens her body on command, but her mind has shut down, she gets beat viciously , humiliated and paraded as a piece of meat to be kicked, broken, spit at, a cumbucket for the dregs of humanity!!!.
Her saviour , Alexei, is broken too, just like her. Both being new to living , because both their hearts are dead. They fumble around each other, learning through trial, how to co-exist with each other.
Their attempts to tip toe around feelings is so poignant to watch . Alexei 's secret threatens to drive them apart, but since Talia is his mirror, she understands him. Just like he "listens" to her !
so many tender, heart ripping moments in this book, that my eyes were constantly wet. What a beautiful character Alexei is, I felt like sometimes slapping him awake and sometimes hugging him to sleep. He's like a lost little boy, looking for Love & validation.
Talia and Alexei are a perfect match , they just don't know it as yet. And this is the story of their journey together as a husband and wife. A story of marital adjustment, self discovery and trust building. Both have been betrayed badly .
first comes trust
then comes love
then comes betrayal
then comes death
then comes............................
December 18, 2018
It was the most disturbing book I ever read.
The writing was good and I enjoyed 2 previous books, but this one was wrong on so many levels…
He saved her from sex slavery and the 1st thing he did he slapped her?
She tried to attempt suicide and he decided to marry her and f**k his child in her?
The girl needed professional help!
He treated her often like wh*re, zero respect and zero trust. Especially with all drama at the end.
The whole vor-theme was just disturbing.
The women were pawns, reproductive organisms; they were cheated on and treated without respect.
And this girl wanted this life?
She was mental unstable, and he got her pregnant? It’s inhuman, even for the dark read.
I sickened at sex-scenes…
The plot was disrespectable toward rape and abuse victims! IMO!
This story will haunt me in my nightmares…
The writing was good and I enjoyed 2 previous books, but this one was wrong on so many levels…
He saved her from sex slavery and the 1st thing he did he slapped her?
She tried to attempt suicide and he decided to marry her and f**k his child in her?
The girl needed professional help!
He treated her often like wh*re, zero respect and zero trust. Especially with all drama at the end.
The whole vor-theme was just disturbing.
The women were pawns, reproductive organisms; they were cheated on and treated without respect.
And this girl wanted this life?
She was mental unstable, and he got her pregnant? It’s inhuman, even for the dark read.
I sickened at sex-scenes…
The plot was disrespectable toward rape and abuse victims! IMO!
This story will haunt me in my nightmares…
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2017
3.5 stars
A. Zavarelli has done it again! Ghost is another fantastic addition to the Boston Underworld series. I loved Crow and Reaper, so it came as no surprise to me that I enjoyed this book as well. This installment focuses on the characters, Alexei and Talia, both intriguing individuals that I was dying to know more about.
In the previous two books, we spent a lot of time with the Irish mob. This time around, we are thrust into the world of the Russian mafiya, the criminal organization of which Alexei is a member. Officially, Alexei's position is counselor to Viktor Sokolov, the Pakhan of the Vory v Zakone. However, his uniquely amazing computer skills along with his ability to make money with them, also make him Viktor's greatest asset.
If you have read the other books, you know that Alexei is a friend of Crow, a high ranking member of the Irish mafia. It is through Crow that Alexei meets Mack. Mack has been searching for her best friend, Talia, who went missing shortly after she began dating a Russian man that frequented the strip club where she worked. Mack requested Alexei's help to find Talia and bring her home. He agrees to find her, but he has no intention of returing her to her home. Alexei decides that he will make her his bride instead.
Talia has always had a hard time trusting others. She is an orphan that eventually wound up living on the streets with Mack after being abused in foster care. When she finally opens up to her boyfriend, Dmitri, he betrays her in the worst possible way by selling her into sexual slavery to a man named Arman. During her time with him, she is repeatedly raped and abused by countless men. Her only hope lies in the pills they give her to make her more subdued. She intends to hoard enough pills to end her miserable existence once and for all. To her dismay, a mysterious visitor thwarts her plans by confiscating her stash.
Later, she discovers that this mystery man is none other than the infamous, reclusive, and feared Russian mobster, Alexei Nikolaev. Alexei, who just so happens to be in business with Talia's captor, uses a failed business deal to force Arman to give Talia to him as collateral. Arman doesn't know that Alexei has no intention of returning his beloved slave.
Once Alexei gets Talia settled into his home, he marries her. Their union is little more than a business arrangement to him. Alexei believes he is incapable of love. His parents never loved him, and the woman he was originally supposed to marry betrayed him by sleeping with other men. Talia could care less. After enduring unspeakable abuse, she is nothing but a shell of her former self. She has no wish to see Mack or anyone else from her former life.
It's obvious from the beginning that Alexei and Talia are kindred spirits. Broken, betrayed, and unloved, they have a connection like no other. Automatically attracted to one another, they try for a long time to push away any deeper emotions that suface between them. No sooner than they both start to accept their mutually growing feelings, Alexei is betrayed by someone in a major way.....and all signs point to Talia.
Ghost is a much darker story than the previous installments. I love dark books so it wasn't a problem for me, but if graphic rape and abuse isn't something you are comfortable reading; then this is not going to be the book for you. If that doesn't bother you; this is definitely worth the read. The story is gritty, emotional, steamy, and captivating. The characters are raw, beautiful, and broken. I read this one slowly, because I didn't want it to end.
The only reason I couldn't give this 5 stars is because of Alexei. He doubts Talia way too often, and does some inexcusable things to her, in my opinion. I kept waiting for that moment where I would forgive him completely for everything he had done. Unfortunately, that moment never came. Don't let that discourage you though, because so many people absolutely adore Alexei. If you are a fan of mafia romance, or you liked the other books in this series; I wouldn't hesitate to pick this one up. I don't think you will regret it. I certainly didn't. :)
A. Zavarelli has done it again! Ghost is another fantastic addition to the Boston Underworld series. I loved Crow and Reaper, so it came as no surprise to me that I enjoyed this book as well. This installment focuses on the characters, Alexei and Talia, both intriguing individuals that I was dying to know more about.
In the previous two books, we spent a lot of time with the Irish mob. This time around, we are thrust into the world of the Russian mafiya, the criminal organization of which Alexei is a member. Officially, Alexei's position is counselor to Viktor Sokolov, the Pakhan of the Vory v Zakone. However, his uniquely amazing computer skills along with his ability to make money with them, also make him Viktor's greatest asset.
If you have read the other books, you know that Alexei is a friend of Crow, a high ranking member of the Irish mafia. It is through Crow that Alexei meets Mack. Mack has been searching for her best friend, Talia, who went missing shortly after she began dating a Russian man that frequented the strip club where she worked. Mack requested Alexei's help to find Talia and bring her home. He agrees to find her, but he has no intention of returing her to her home. Alexei decides that he will make her his bride instead.
Talia has always had a hard time trusting others. She is an orphan that eventually wound up living on the streets with Mack after being abused in foster care. When she finally opens up to her boyfriend, Dmitri, he betrays her in the worst possible way by selling her into sexual slavery to a man named Arman. During her time with him, she is repeatedly raped and abused by countless men. Her only hope lies in the pills they give her to make her more subdued. She intends to hoard enough pills to end her miserable existence once and for all. To her dismay, a mysterious visitor thwarts her plans by confiscating her stash.
Later, she discovers that this mystery man is none other than the infamous, reclusive, and feared Russian mobster, Alexei Nikolaev. Alexei, who just so happens to be in business with Talia's captor, uses a failed business deal to force Arman to give Talia to him as collateral. Arman doesn't know that Alexei has no intention of returning his beloved slave.
Once Alexei gets Talia settled into his home, he marries her. Their union is little more than a business arrangement to him. Alexei believes he is incapable of love. His parents never loved him, and the woman he was originally supposed to marry betrayed him by sleeping with other men. Talia could care less. After enduring unspeakable abuse, she is nothing but a shell of her former self. She has no wish to see Mack or anyone else from her former life.
It's obvious from the beginning that Alexei and Talia are kindred spirits. Broken, betrayed, and unloved, they have a connection like no other. Automatically attracted to one another, they try for a long time to push away any deeper emotions that suface between them. No sooner than they both start to accept their mutually growing feelings, Alexei is betrayed by someone in a major way.....and all signs point to Talia.
Ghost is a much darker story than the previous installments. I love dark books so it wasn't a problem for me, but if graphic rape and abuse isn't something you are comfortable reading; then this is not going to be the book for you. If that doesn't bother you; this is definitely worth the read. The story is gritty, emotional, steamy, and captivating. The characters are raw, beautiful, and broken. I read this one slowly, because I didn't want it to end.
The only reason I couldn't give this 5 stars is because of Alexei. He doubts Talia way too often, and does some inexcusable things to her, in my opinion. I kept waiting for that moment where I would forgive him completely for everything he had done. Unfortunately, that moment never came. Don't let that discourage you though, because so many people absolutely adore Alexei. If you are a fan of mafia romance, or you liked the other books in this series; I wouldn't hesitate to pick this one up. I don't think you will regret it. I certainly didn't. :)
August 25, 2016
༺**Complimentary Copy**༺ Provided by the author
"A. Zavarelli" exchange for an honest review..Thank you!!
TITLE: Ghost
SERIES: (Boston Underworld #3)
AUTHOR: A. Zavarelli
GENRE: CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
CHAPTERS: Prologue | 54 | Epilogue
RELEASE DATE: August 27th, 2016
MY RATING: 5 STARS
GHOST: Spoken in 'Dual Perspectives' This kicks starts us off in the 'Prologue' where all the grittiness you could ask for comes at you full throttle..Growing up in foster care and scaping by every day Twenty-two year old Talia jumps at the chance when her new boyfriend Dmitri asks her to go away to Mexico with him, the only trepidation she has is leaving her sister Mack behind.
You know I'd never do anything to hurt you, Talia.
I'd never put you in danger. You have nothing to worry
about when you are with me.
A. ZAVARELLI cloaks you in a false sense of security, then without any warning it turns dark, gritty, and will shake you to the core of your bones when you step into the life Talia is subjected to.
A hit to the face sees her losing consciousness. waking up naked, dread coursing through her body, scared beyond belief.
Stolen. Taken. Kidnapped. Raped. Beaten.
"Dimitri is the reason I have no trust. No hope. He is the reason I am dirty and ashamed. Touched by men who had no right to. The reason I struggle to look in the mirror most days. He handed me to Arman on a silver platter and made me wish I was dead every day.”
The only shining bit of hope in her darkest days that has her hanging by a thread is that she stockpiles the pills they hand out daily, these will be her saving grace to end it all..
He sold me.
Ruined me.
The damaged half to my soul
We are both damaged
But together
We fit perfectly.
Taken by one man, only to be owned by another. Are these two broken souls strong enough to mend?
Stolen moments
Pieces of his life and heart.
That's all he has to offer.
And I don't have anything to offer him.
Except for my broken thoughts and demented soul,
stitched together by my frequent bouts of insanity.
Either way I look at writing my review up will give spoilers away, but within this series, this is probably my favourite one to date, even though I've loved each one, this one is handing out more feels, I love these two characters, I don't think they could've been paired up any better, the storyline captivates you and grabs you within its grasp as soon as you read that dark, gritty prologue and doesn't let you go until that last page is read.
"A. Zavarelli" exchange for an honest review..Thank you!!
TITLE: Ghost
SERIES: (Boston Underworld #3)
AUTHOR: A. Zavarelli
GENRE: CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
CHAPTERS: Prologue | 54 | Epilogue
RELEASE DATE: August 27th, 2016
MY RATING: 5 STARS
GHOST: Spoken in 'Dual Perspectives' This kicks starts us off in the 'Prologue' where all the grittiness you could ask for comes at you full throttle..Growing up in foster care and scaping by every day Twenty-two year old Talia jumps at the chance when her new boyfriend Dmitri asks her to go away to Mexico with him, the only trepidation she has is leaving her sister Mack behind.
You know I'd never do anything to hurt you, Talia.I'd never put you in danger. You have nothing to worry
about when you are with me.
A. ZAVARELLI cloaks you in a false sense of security, then without any warning it turns dark, gritty, and will shake you to the core of your bones when you step into the life Talia is subjected to.
A hit to the face sees her losing consciousness. waking up naked, dread coursing through her body, scared beyond belief.
Stolen. Taken. Kidnapped. Raped. Beaten.
"Dimitri is the reason I have no trust. No hope. He is the reason I am dirty and ashamed. Touched by men who had no right to. The reason I struggle to look in the mirror most days. He handed me to Arman on a silver platter and made me wish I was dead every day.” The only shining bit of hope in her darkest days that has her hanging by a thread is that she stockpiles the pills they hand out daily, these will be her saving grace to end it all..
He sold me.
Ruined me.
The damaged half to my soul
We are both damaged
But together
We fit perfectly.
Taken by one man, only to be owned by another. Are these two broken souls strong enough to mend?
Stolen moments
Pieces of his life and heart.
That's all he has to offer.
And I don't have anything to offer him.
Except for my broken thoughts and demented soul,
stitched together by my frequent bouts of insanity.
Either way I look at writing my review up will give spoilers away, but within this series, this is probably my favourite one to date, even though I've loved each one, this one is handing out more feels, I love these two characters, I don't think they could've been paired up any better, the storyline captivates you and grabs you within its grasp as soon as you read that dark, gritty prologue and doesn't let you go until that last page is read.
August 29, 2016
A dark powerful addictive read.
This is a dark and difficult read so you've been warned, Talia is sold into slavery and her life is hell, absolute hell, she's kept docile with pills but what she has to endure is unbelievably dreadful and she's reached the point where for her death is preferable to living the life she has.
Alexei is Voy, a rich and powerful man “He is the councilor to Viktor Sokolov. The boss. Alexei Nikolaev has a reputation of being ruthless to anyone who crosses him.”
Alexei rescues Talia and decides she will become his wife, but why?
Since his first appearance in 'Crow' Alexei has been an intriguing character and here we discover the man behind the reputation, his secrets and his past.
Like I said it's a difficult read but it's also addictive as these two deeply troubled characters struggle to not only hold onto life but try and find a life together.
This is a strong powerful read but my least favourite of the three and a book I won't re-read not because it isn't good because it is but because it's upsetting and I'm, well me.
I was with these two every step of the way, I was annoyed at times that Alexei wasn't more aware of the people around him and the threat they posed but then he's battling his own demons as well as trying to help Talia with hers.
Why 4 star?
The ending seemed too rushed. It's crazy I know because I'm all about the HEA but I wanted more I just felt that after all the suffering and everything these two had been through they deserved a longer ending. Does that make sense?
December 30, 2023
★4.5★
Ghost is the third book in the Boston Underworld Series. After exploring the Irish Mob, the series shifts its focus onto their Russian Mafia counterparts. The series began with Mack entering the mob world in order to find out what had happened to her friend Talia. When Lachlan enlists the help of his friend Alexei Nikolaev, a powerful Russian Mobster from the Vory, Alexei discovers that Talia is a sex slave being held against her will. Alexei craftily rescues her and brings her to his home. Once safely secured in his home, he discovers just how damaged she truly is. Alexei is a complex man who has also suffered greatly in his life. Talia, albeit damaged, becomes a source of joy for him. As the two grow closer, Alexei works furiously to bring Talia back to life. As Talia begins to trust Alexei and learn to live again, she begins to fall for the ruthless Russian. But can a man of The Vory, truly allow himself love?
Overall, I highly recommend Ghost to anyone and everyone who enjoys a well written Mafia Romance. Although this can be read as a stand-alone, I highly recommend reading the entire series in order to grasp the full scope of these characters and their plight. I have quickly become addicted to this series and I cannot wait for more!
***Boston Underworld***
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
"She is a siren. A filthy angel. But only for me."
Ghost is the third book in the Boston Underworld Series. After exploring the Irish Mob, the series shifts its focus onto their Russian Mafia counterparts. The series began with Mack entering the mob world in order to find out what had happened to her friend Talia. When Lachlan enlists the help of his friend Alexei Nikolaev, a powerful Russian Mobster from the Vory, Alexei discovers that Talia is a sex slave being held against her will. Alexei craftily rescues her and brings her to his home. Once safely secured in his home, he discovers just how damaged she truly is. Alexei is a complex man who has also suffered greatly in his life. Talia, albeit damaged, becomes a source of joy for him. As the two grow closer, Alexei works furiously to bring Talia back to life. As Talia begins to trust Alexei and learn to live again, she begins to fall for the ruthless Russian. But can a man of The Vory, truly allow himself love?
"He is simply a force of calm. A flash of pale blue in the otherwise dark and tumultuous storm of my life."Told in dual POV, Ghost is an absolutely fantastic read with action, suspense, complex characters, and a thoroughly developed plot. The character development of Talia and Alexei both was flawless. I truly felt their connection from the beginning and the way in which they healed the brokenness in each other is constantly growing and molding into perfection. With each book in the series, the character relationships continue to develop and this mob family becomes near and dear to your heart. The text is meticulously crafted to match the intensity of each scene. The passion between Talia and Alexei is brutal and tender at the same time. Due to the atrocities that Talia has experienced, Alexei was the only man able to bring her back to life.
Overall, I highly recommend Ghost to anyone and everyone who enjoys a well written Mafia Romance. Although this can be read as a stand-alone, I highly recommend reading the entire series in order to grasp the full scope of these characters and their plight. I have quickly become addicted to this series and I cannot wait for more!
***Boston Underworld***
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
September 9, 2016
Ghost undoubtedly stands apart from the other books in the Boston Underworld series! The action, suspense, and drama are present, but Alexei Nikolaev and Talia Parker's story is much more darker than the other books. These characters are beautifully broken, their journey together very disorderly, and at times, utterly chaotic. This story tore me apart, but I was absolutely thrilled with the outcome!
The speculation surrounding Talia Parker's disappearance began in book one of this series and it was Mackenzie Wilder who suffered much while endlessly searching for her missing best friend. In Ghost, Talia resurfaces, but she is a shell of her former self, unrecognizable to her own eyes. This is a story of pain, despair, and hopelessness, in which Alexei also shares some burdens. He is no savior and Talia isn't warmly compliant, but darkness recognizes darkness, and these two battle together with their demons until the end of the book.
How is it that this series only continues to get better? Lachlan Crow (Boston Underworld #1) left me hunting to read books exclusively featuring Irishmen! Yum! Ronan's darkness (Boston Underworld #2) left me with drool stains on my pillow! And once again, Zavarelli hits the spot with Alexei Nikolaev! Though he could be aloof, harsh, and unwelcoming, Alexei extended a branch of hope to a woman who no longer recognized her own strength, and together, they helped to restore one another.
There are no peaches and cream in this story! There's nothing light-hearted and sweet about these main characters! They are survivors of turmoil navigating each day without expectations. All questions looming in the back of my mind while reading this text were answered before the story ended. Are there triggers in this book? Hell, yeah!! Guest appearances? Yep!! The writing style and pace of this story was excellent. I can't wait to see what Ashleigh Zavarelli does next...
Thoroughly enjoyed this book!
*ARC received in exchange for honest review*
July 31, 2020
Could these guys be any sexier? I think not!
Each book in this series is different but just as good, if not better than the last. This one is about the ultra hot Alexei, a.k.a. Ghost, second from the top of the Vory which is a very tough version of the Russian Mob. All members have to have spent time in Russian prison prior to getting in. They are now aligned with the Irish mob in Boston.
Alexei is a computer genius as well as mob enforcer and was asked in book 1 by Mackenzie to try to find out what happened to her friend Talia who was last seen with another Russian and at the time, Alexei found that she was sold into sex trafficking to an arms dealer his mob deals with. So In this book Alexei saves her though she is past the point of wanting to be saved.
Alexei is damaged in his own ways but tries to bring her back from the brink. There are also a lot of outside forces against them, including an arranged marriage that was supposed to be set up between him and another mob bosses daughter. The romance is really well done though, just like in the first two books. Alexei tells her he won’t be able to love her, but he is so protective of her and so hot. He is very good to her. Just so yummy!
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub
Each book in this series is different but just as good, if not better than the last. This one is about the ultra hot Alexei, a.k.a. Ghost, second from the top of the Vory which is a very tough version of the Russian Mob. All members have to have spent time in Russian prison prior to getting in. They are now aligned with the Irish mob in Boston.
Alexei is a computer genius as well as mob enforcer and was asked in book 1 by Mackenzie to try to find out what happened to her friend Talia who was last seen with another Russian and at the time, Alexei found that she was sold into sex trafficking to an arms dealer his mob deals with. So In this book Alexei saves her though she is past the point of wanting to be saved.
Alexei is damaged in his own ways but tries to bring her back from the brink. There are also a lot of outside forces against them, including an arranged marriage that was supposed to be set up between him and another mob bosses daughter. The romance is really well done though, just like in the first two books. Alexei tells her he won’t be able to love her, but he is so protective of her and so hot. He is very good to her. Just so yummy!
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub
November 9, 2016
You can’t find love until you learn to trust.
There comes a time in every reviewer's life when they struggle to find the words. Ghost has kind of left my mind blank. I’m overwhelmed with feelings. How do you explain your love for a story when it’s full of shame, degradation, humiliation and hate? When you love a character even though he is capable of violence and torture? Have an urge to smile with a character because she can see with her own eyes the person who hurt her being hurt in exactly the same way.
Am I sick?
Is this wrong?
Should I feel guilty?
I have come to realise that it’s not a matter of loving the matter in dark stories, it‘s appreciating the skill of an author in how they make you feel. Ms Zavarelli has taken me to the dark side. She gave me an invisibility cloak to wear so I can see them but they can’t touch me. I’ve been given a glimpse of what I hope to never see in real life. The author has shared but spared me from what others have suffered in pain, torture and abuse.
In Ghost the third book in the Boston Underworld series, we finally get to see what Talia has lived through. We also get to see a little of The Vory Code and traditions of the Russian Mafiya which is Alexei’s world.
Talia has had her trust broken too many times and now she just wants it all to end. She wants to fly away and have all her pain disappear. She’s has been sold to an evil man to become his slave. Talia has been drugged, used and abused one too many times. Death would be welcome…but she’s too valuable. One man has been called on to save her. But saving Talia won’t fix what’s broken inside.
Alexei is Ghost. He is a bad man who works with bad people. When he sees a picture of Talia, Alexei feels a pull towards her. Saving Talia is only a small part of getting her better. Her mind and body are broken. He can throw money at fixing her physical problems but Talia has got to want to fix her mind. Alexei wants Talia to be fixed because he wants to keep her for himself.
Alexei has his own “issues”. His life has been dedicated to The Vory and over time his place there has been cemented because of his dedication to the Pakhan (boss), Viktor. Alexei has a secret that only a few know about. He works extra hard to keep his place and not have his secret shared. Unfortunately, Alexei has enemies and the worst should be the last person you would expect.
With Talia broken and trying to mend and Alexei dedicated to seeing her whole again, we see this couple struggle daily. The memories are there to haunt them and trust is something that neither of them is capable of. The more time Talia and Alexei spend together the more they become connected. Talia wants to trust but it seems Alexei just wants to possess.
Ghost is not an easy story to read. We see Talia suffer and struggle to want to live again. Alexei’s dark side comes out and we see the violence he is capable of. It’s ugly but it’s never too ugly. Yes, I shake, shiver and groan but never enough to make me want to stop.
I love this series and I think Ms Zavarelli has wicked skills. I hope there will be more from the Boston Underworld in the future.
To buy Ghost for $1.00 from Amazon - http://amzn.to/2fg6tnp
I’m an Aussie chick who loves to read and review romance, drink coffee, be a Style Setter and stalk David Gandy. To see more of my reviews, fashion, food and pervathons -
August 28, 2016
Five shattering stars!
What to say about a Alexei that doesn't include him being, a cold calculating, hypocritical heartless bastard? Ummm he's all those things and I couldn't love him more. Then again I have a thing for assholes but he doesn't come that way naturally. Wounded, flawed and cast aside, he has his own demons he battles. Maybe saving Talia, who is the definition of broken, can heal the shattered man inside.
Does that mean they are right for one another or test each others resolve? Some might say no but the journey sure made for an interesting read and probably the most intense!
What to say about a Alexei that doesn't include him being, a cold calculating, hypocritical heartless bastard? Ummm he's all those things and I couldn't love him more. Then again I have a thing for assholes but he doesn't come that way naturally. Wounded, flawed and cast aside, he has his own demons he battles. Maybe saving Talia, who is the definition of broken, can heal the shattered man inside.
Does that mean they are right for one another or test each others resolve? Some might say no but the journey sure made for an interesting read and probably the most intense!
January 10, 2017
★★★★★ 5 Stars ★★★★★
I absolutely devoured this book, I ate it right up and i'm never letting it leave my thoughts - by far one of my favourite ever 'captive' books, and definitely in my top 5 Mafia reads!
Ghost follows an American girl named Talia, who has been kidnapped and sold to a Bulgarian arms dealer, via the Russian Vory. Her life is so miserable and full of despair, the only thing she looks forward to is the death that she has been planning ever since she arrived at her prison in the basement of her captors home.
Alexei is a top ranking Russian Vor, he is a solitary man, and one who is incapable of trusting anyone. Apart from his closest friends of which there are few, he spends most of his time holding the world at arms length. When the head of the Irish syndicate comes to him for help to find his wife's best friend, he sets himself on a mission to find the broken woman in the photo, and who he believes will be perfect for his plans.
Swapping one captor for another is terrifying for Talia, but not because her new master treats her badly, but quite the opposite. She cannot afford to have hope.
This book was pretty much perfect in my opinion, I have not one bad word to say about it. It was brutal, gruesome, heartbreaking, emotional, swoony, sexy, and completely authentic. There was nothing gratuitous, nor over the top, it was a fantastically well-written mafia romance that made me feel a multitude of emotions, but most of all it was such a beautiful love story, between two broken people who were perfect for each other.
I could read this all over again, and I am going to shout to everyone that I know, that if you love a dark romance, this is one that you must add to your shelf - it was SO GOOD!
Top marks to Zavarelli.
Ghost is a dark romance, told from dual POV and can be read as a stand-alone novel. Also part of a series following fellow mafia members in both the Irish Syndicate and Russian Vory.
Images featured in this review were created by me using stock images either purchased from deposit photo or from free stock sites.
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I absolutely devoured this book, I ate it right up and i'm never letting it leave my thoughts - by far one of my favourite ever 'captive' books, and definitely in my top 5 Mafia reads!
Ghost follows an American girl named Talia, who has been kidnapped and sold to a Bulgarian arms dealer, via the Russian Vory. Her life is so miserable and full of despair, the only thing she looks forward to is the death that she has been planning ever since she arrived at her prison in the basement of her captors home.
Alexei is a top ranking Russian Vor, he is a solitary man, and one who is incapable of trusting anyone. Apart from his closest friends of which there are few, he spends most of his time holding the world at arms length. When the head of the Irish syndicate comes to him for help to find his wife's best friend, he sets himself on a mission to find the broken woman in the photo, and who he believes will be perfect for his plans.
Swapping one captor for another is terrifying for Talia, but not because her new master treats her badly, but quite the opposite. She cannot afford to have hope.
“I may not ever be able to love you,” I tell her.
“But I can want you. And let there be no doubt, Solnyshko, I am keeping you.”
This book was pretty much perfect in my opinion, I have not one bad word to say about it. It was brutal, gruesome, heartbreaking, emotional, swoony, sexy, and completely authentic. There was nothing gratuitous, nor over the top, it was a fantastically well-written mafia romance that made me feel a multitude of emotions, but most of all it was such a beautiful love story, between two broken people who were perfect for each other.
I could read this all over again, and I am going to shout to everyone that I know, that if you love a dark romance, this is one that you must add to your shelf - it was SO GOOD!
Top marks to Zavarelli.
Ghost is a dark romance, told from dual POV and can be read as a stand-alone novel. Also part of a series following fellow mafia members in both the Irish Syndicate and Russian Vory.
Images featured in this review were created by me using stock images either purchased from deposit photo or from free stock sites.
January 8, 2021
5 Piece by Piece Stars ⭐
A Russian mobster who can't show any weakness, yet is defective in the eyes of the Vory and a woman trying to survive the horrors of sex trafficking. If that isn't riveting enough, watching these two fitting the pieces of their lives back together was nail biting!
"The truth is, she will never trust me. Nor I, her. It is the way we are programmed. Duped by too many in the harsh school of life. She is my equal in this regard. The perfect partner."
Alexei and Talia know firsthand how betrayal and abandonment shapes a person. Yet somehow these two overcome their brokenness to discover passionate love.
With amazing hacking skills, Alexei is one of the higher ranking members within the organisation. Being deaf is a stigma he's never let dictate his path. In fact it's just made him ruthless and a weapon not to be fucked with.
When Alexei rescues Talia from an arms dealer who purchased and kept her as a strung out sex slave, Alexei subconsciously knows he will keep her. He had anticipated that she would be broken and the path to recovery long, except he hadn't expected Talia to stop fighting.
Talia wants it to end. Being rescued isn't enough. It's like exchanging one prison for another. The abuse and humiliation is always forefront and the demons unbearable. However her new owner Alexei has a plan. He will use any means to get her living again because like knows like.
My hand cups the heat between her legs, rubbing the material of her shorts with my thumb, soaking it in wetness.
When my gaze meets hers, there is shame there. But want too.
And this is how I know she is not lost. That perhaps the thing she needs is not love but want.
Talia may initially think that being involved with Alexei is a just a means to an end. But her avenging saviour will fix her. His method may be unconventional, but it's effective. Their relationship is complicated and at times destructive since neither want to admit how much they need each other. Until desire becomes all too consuming and they are eternally bound.
God there was so much to love about Ghost! If gritty, passionate mafia stories are your kryptonite, this series is brilliant. These can be read as standalone.
A Russian mobster who can't show any weakness, yet is defective in the eyes of the Vory and a woman trying to survive the horrors of sex trafficking. If that isn't riveting enough, watching these two fitting the pieces of their lives back together was nail biting!
"The truth is, she will never trust me. Nor I, her. It is the way we are programmed. Duped by too many in the harsh school of life. She is my equal in this regard. The perfect partner."
Alexei and Talia know firsthand how betrayal and abandonment shapes a person. Yet somehow these two overcome their brokenness to discover passionate love.
With amazing hacking skills, Alexei is one of the higher ranking members within the organisation. Being deaf is a stigma he's never let dictate his path. In fact it's just made him ruthless and a weapon not to be fucked with.
When Alexei rescues Talia from an arms dealer who purchased and kept her as a strung out sex slave, Alexei subconsciously knows he will keep her. He had anticipated that she would be broken and the path to recovery long, except he hadn't expected Talia to stop fighting.
Talia wants it to end. Being rescued isn't enough. It's like exchanging one prison for another. The abuse and humiliation is always forefront and the demons unbearable. However her new owner Alexei has a plan. He will use any means to get her living again because like knows like.
My hand cups the heat between her legs, rubbing the material of her shorts with my thumb, soaking it in wetness.
When my gaze meets hers, there is shame there. But want too.
And this is how I know she is not lost. That perhaps the thing she needs is not love but want.
Talia may initially think that being involved with Alexei is a just a means to an end. But her avenging saviour will fix her. His method may be unconventional, but it's effective. Their relationship is complicated and at times destructive since neither want to admit how much they need each other. Until desire becomes all too consuming and they are eternally bound.
God there was so much to love about Ghost! If gritty, passionate mafia stories are your kryptonite, this series is brilliant. These can be read as standalone.
October 2, 2020
4,5 stars from me... best on the series so far ;)
February 28, 2019
5 Blind Faith Stars
Dark, twisted and delicious!
Talia 22 goes on her very first vacation with a man she trusted, that was a HUGE mistake!! She gets sold to a very bad man who puts her through hell.
In flies the GORGEOUS and a little broken Alexei to save her, but he has his own very selfish motives for why he is helping her. Alexi is high up in the Russian mafia and friends with Lachlan (Crow). I fell for him nearly instantly.
This was a super addictive read for me, I was captivated by the plot and just had to find out what happened and it's been awhile since that's happened.
When Alexi and Talia get together it is fireworks galore! I liked the fact Alexi didn't try and jump her straight away and waited until she was mentally ready as well as physically ready.
I had forgotten how much I loved this series so I am jumping into the next one straight away!! If you haven't read this series yet, I recommend bumping it up your list.
Dark, twisted and delicious!
Talia 22 goes on her very first vacation with a man she trusted, that was a HUGE mistake!! She gets sold to a very bad man who puts her through hell.
In flies the GORGEOUS and a little broken Alexei to save her, but he has his own very selfish motives for why he is helping her. Alexi is high up in the Russian mafia and friends with Lachlan (Crow). I fell for him nearly instantly.
This was a super addictive read for me, I was captivated by the plot and just had to find out what happened and it's been awhile since that's happened.
When Alexi and Talia get together it is fireworks galore! I liked the fact Alexi didn't try and jump her straight away and waited until she was mentally ready as well as physically ready.
I had forgotten how much I loved this series so I am jumping into the next one straight away!! If you haven't read this series yet, I recommend bumping it up your list.
October 2, 2016
Another awesome book in one of my favorite series of 2016!!! I am sad that I have no more to read...and I have my fingers crossed that this brilliant author writes more on these protective and possessive mafia men that I have come to adore!!!
I will write more when I get the time..but I have to say that this is a must read series!!!♥
I will write more when I get the time..but I have to say that this is a must read series!!!♥
September 13, 2016
I like that the series hasn't compromised its winning formula and that it continues to go on strong. These are alpha heroes who live on the other side of the law but still manage to hold on to morals and values that lead them to strong women that compliment them in all the best ways. Though it takes her a bit to come around, and understandably so, Talia fits that description. The things she goes through are unspeakable. I was legitimately a mess of raw emotion as I read the beginning of this story. The knot in my throat too big to talk. Alexei is a strong, compassionate man with a big secret and enemies among friends. When he decides to bring Talia into his world, he has this idea of what it will be, but it becomes so much more. It was messy and passionate. Amazing and heartbreaking. At one point, I was very disappointed and frustrated by Alexei. I admit that this was what led me to drop a star. Not going to get into it, but if you've read it... you know what I'm referring to. All in all a great read and wonderful addition to the series. I can't wait to read what's in store next. The setup for a new couple was intriguing. Safety: No OM/OW/Sharing after these two get together. There is severe and graphic rape and abuse. Very detailed. Very emotional. Absolutely a trigger. I struggled with the depth of the depravity. Don't take the warning lightly.
June 12, 2021
This book is dark as hell. If you’re going to embark on this series, make sure those trigger warnings are looked up, because they’re full of insane shit.
Also I recommend reading them in order, but it’s not a must.
For this book in particular, I could probably list every kind of trigger warning, but the main one is sexual assault.
Our heroine has been kidnapped and been sold into sex slavery. She’s experienced the worst things and had a terrible childhood.
Our hero is very much a recluse, dealing with his own demons and traumas.
These two come from different but similar broken backgrounds and we follow them on their journey of healing as well as one can heal, trusting one another and eventually fall in love.
Also I recommend reading them in order, but it’s not a must.
For this book in particular, I could probably list every kind of trigger warning, but the main one is sexual assault.
Our heroine has been kidnapped and been sold into sex slavery. She’s experienced the worst things and had a terrible childhood.
Our hero is very much a recluse, dealing with his own demons and traumas.
These two come from different but similar broken backgrounds and we follow them on their journey of healing as well as one can heal, trusting one another and eventually fall in love.
November 13, 2018
Alexei!!!!! ♥
4.5 filthy angel Stars
“You tell me it gets better, it gets better in time
You say I'll pull myself together, pull it together
You'll be fine
Tell me what the hell do you know?
What do you know?
Tell me how the hell could you know?
How could you know?”
You have my unconditional permission to be fucked up. Alexei and Talia, yes, and also ALL of you. To be damaged or broken or floundering or just “imperfect” in whichever ways you are. It is okay to NOT be okay. It’s not “wrong” to want things that others may not understand. To crave things that may seem dark, destructive or damaging.
You can’t force people to change. To cope with everything the way that you do. People are different. They all deal with things differently. You need to understand that.
Talia is broken, and after everything she’s been through who can blame her? The only constant in her life has been pain. She just wants to escape it. Even the numbness she coats herself in isn’t enough, she wants out of this life. There is nothing for her here, maybe there never was to begin with. She is almost there, so close she can all but taste the freedom, when a man walks in and refuses to let her die. His name is:
Alexei. And he will do anything to bring her back from that numbness, ANYTHING. He will give her the darkness she craves, the pain she needs to remain present in her shattering reality. He will pull her body off that edge, away from that cliff and he will use anything at his disposal to do it. Even if what that is is something that most of society will never understand. His body, his mind, his home, his passion, his violence…. Anything except his heart. His heart is off limits.
Alexei never judges Talia for needing that pain, that darkness and I loved him for that. For giving her what she needed and not being repulsed by her desires. Is it destructive? Probably, but sometimes you have to destroy yourself to survive.
“I want you to know the level of my devotion to you,” he states. “I don’t ever want you to question it. The things I have and will continue to do to protect you. To avenge you. They are dark things. But that darkness is my burden to carry, and it always will be.”
What is a masochist? Perhaps more importantly why is a masochist? These are questions I have asked myself on numerous occasions, and I have no more answers now than I did when I first posed the questions. What came first, the chicken or the egg? Was I born a masochist or was I made one?? Did it always exist somewhere inside of me or do I crave the bite of pain because of my history? And does it really matter in the end?
Whatever the case may be, I related deeply to Talia. I understood her darkness. And I don’t know if that is because I too have heard words of love while suffering acts of violence. All I know is that, to me, pain and pleasure are intermingled. Pain is real where pleasure isn’t. Pain grounds me, much like Talia, it forces me to be present and allows me to feel pleasure. Is that wrong? Or is society wrong for judging it?
“Till your world burns and crashes
Till you're at the end, the end of your rope
Till you're standing in my shoes
I don't wanna hear a thing from you, from you, from you
'Cause you don't know”
*All quotes are taken from the ARC*
**Lyrics from ‘Til it happens to you’ by Lady Gaga**
September 5, 2017
5 Brilliant Stars ❤
Wow what a wild ride, I'm still speechless.I loved this story so hard , even though I'm not a big fan of dark romance this one was something else.I fall in love with the story ,so brilliant.
"I may not ever be able to love you...
But I can want you.
And let there be no doubt, Solnyshko,
I'm keeping you."
Both characters have many issues and they are fucked up but omg how much I loved them. I feel sorry for Talia,she has to deal with so many issues and her life was so difficult.Being a slave, tortured and abused.My heart was broken for her.Alexei is an interesting character, from the beginning I was intrigued.He is protective,possessive,mysterious,sexy and dark.
If you like dark romance this one is perfect for you!! Get ready for a crazy and wild ride with an epic romance!!
Wow what a wild ride, I'm still speechless.I loved this story so hard , even though I'm not a big fan of dark romance this one was something else.I fall in love with the story ,so brilliant.
"I may not ever be able to love you...
But I can want you.
And let there be no doubt, Solnyshko,
I'm keeping you."
Both characters have many issues and they are fucked up but omg how much I loved them. I feel sorry for Talia,she has to deal with so many issues and her life was so difficult.Being a slave, tortured and abused.My heart was broken for her.Alexei is an interesting character, from the beginning I was intrigued.He is protective,possessive,mysterious,sexy and dark.
If you like dark romance this one is perfect for you!! Get ready for a crazy and wild ride with an epic romance!!
August 26, 2016
5 stars
Now that I've finished Ghost I can't decided which one I love more. I love every book in this series as much as the last one. Lachlan, Ronan, Alexei. But of course, I have a special weakness for Russian hero, and Alexei is hitting all the right buttons for me.
The tone of this third book of Boston Underworld series is slightly darker than its predecessor. We knew of our heroine, Talia who was kidnap and sold into a sex trafficking ring in Book 1 and Alexei was task to search for her by Mack and Lachlan. We also get a little glimpse of her in Book 2 whereby she was residing in Alexei's home. But what is she doing there?
I appreciate that Ghost started off from the beginning, right from the moment Talia was kidnap and we learn how Alexei's plan to retrieve her. It gives us a really complete story of Talia and Alexei, especially for those who are new to the series.
As with any sex slave that had endured the worst, Talia was on the brink of giving up. She even plan how it will end. Her plan was thwarted by Alexei when he swoop in to save her like a dark knight that he is. But Talia held no illusion for him, as she expect him to be just another person who will use her for his own selfish gain.
Alexei seems to be a really resourceful man as whenever some crisis happened previously, he was the person that both Lachlan and Ronan seek out. We finally get to know about this mysterious hero who hide in his mansion with all his computers. If not because he appears to be a beautiful man, I would have compare him to the Beast. He is also hiding a little secret of his own from his associates, constantly worries about who will eventually betrayed him.
The truth is, she will never trust me. Nor I, her. It is the way we are programmed. Duped by too many in the harsh school of life. She is my equal in this regard. The perfect partner.
Talia and Alexei relationship didn't started off healthy or even remotely romantic. But with their similar broken past, it works for them. Alexei understand what she needs, which is acceptance, instead of trying to fix her. In return, she learn to love the close off man who had faced too much disappointment in life to ever hope again.
"Do you want to drown, baby?"
"No. I want to fly."
I can't find a better suitor for Talia, even though Alexei came off as an emotionally unavailable douche of most of the time. He is not a man of many words, but his action speaks volume from the way he take care and protect her. I'm glad to see them finding solace in each other. Nothing is better than reading about a brooding hero fall in love.
Overall, Ghost is another strong follow up by A. Zavarelli. This woman is definitely up there as one of my favorite mafia-go-to-author. She write such flawed characters and make us rooting for them every single time.
"I will make you fall in love with me every day for a lifetime."
Now that I've finished Ghost I can't decided which one I love more. I love every book in this series as much as the last one. Lachlan, Ronan, Alexei. But of course, I have a special weakness for Russian hero, and Alexei is hitting all the right buttons for me.
The tone of this third book of Boston Underworld series is slightly darker than its predecessor. We knew of our heroine, Talia who was kidnap and sold into a sex trafficking ring in Book 1 and Alexei was task to search for her by Mack and Lachlan. We also get a little glimpse of her in Book 2 whereby she was residing in Alexei's home. But what is she doing there?
I appreciate that Ghost started off from the beginning, right from the moment Talia was kidnap and we learn how Alexei's plan to retrieve her. It gives us a really complete story of Talia and Alexei, especially for those who are new to the series.
As with any sex slave that had endured the worst, Talia was on the brink of giving up. She even plan how it will end. Her plan was thwarted by Alexei when he swoop in to save her like a dark knight that he is. But Talia held no illusion for him, as she expect him to be just another person who will use her for his own selfish gain.
Alexei seems to be a really resourceful man as whenever some crisis happened previously, he was the person that both Lachlan and Ronan seek out. We finally get to know about this mysterious hero who hide in his mansion with all his computers. If not because he appears to be a beautiful man, I would have compare him to the Beast. He is also hiding a little secret of his own from his associates, constantly worries about who will eventually betrayed him.
The truth is, she will never trust me. Nor I, her. It is the way we are programmed. Duped by too many in the harsh school of life. She is my equal in this regard. The perfect partner.
Talia and Alexei relationship didn't started off healthy or even remotely romantic. But with their similar broken past, it works for them. Alexei understand what she needs, which is acceptance, instead of trying to fix her. In return, she learn to love the close off man who had faced too much disappointment in life to ever hope again.
"Do you want to drown, baby?"
"No. I want to fly."
I can't find a better suitor for Talia, even though Alexei came off as an emotionally unavailable douche of most of the time. He is not a man of many words, but his action speaks volume from the way he take care and protect her. I'm glad to see them finding solace in each other. Nothing is better than reading about a brooding hero fall in love.
Overall, Ghost is another strong follow up by A. Zavarelli. This woman is definitely up there as one of my favorite mafia-go-to-author. She write such flawed characters and make us rooting for them every single time.
"I will make you fall in love with me every day for a lifetime."
August 30, 2016
4.5 "he is my solace, i am his sun" stars
Two unlikely souls to ever find their peace...within themselves or in each other.
..you are my psychotic bitch...
and i am your selfish asshole...
She's broken to pieces, she's like a scattered mosaic, tossed and stepped on, battered, beaten, molested, ruined...
he's a recluse, he's the danger, he's someone you don't ever wanna step in his way...
and he's finding a reason to save her, to keep her...even if he can't give her the only thing she really needs to heal!
I may not ever be able to love you...
But I can want you.
And let there be no doubt, Solnyshko,
i am keeping you.
Two tragically broken souls finding their way to each other through pain, grief, shattered lives each of them lived through only to be recognized as one, as each other's inseparable parts of one another's soul.
He's my savior.
My unwilling hero.
And the thing that is most dangerous of all.
My hope.
And through all the horrid experiences, the damaged, broken souls they both carry find their way to be WHOLE again...in each other, for each other.
A. Zavarelli did it again, bringing us hope and light after taking us through the darkest of tunnels known to human existence, one can endure it all expecting the highest of the rewards - it takes only a little spark of hope to bring the deliverance.
For more info and reviews visit
November 18, 2016
2 stars.
ARC generously provided by the author through Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review
I need to make a statement first: I do not like mafia books. It's not even that I've read tons and decided they're not for me. Unfortunately, here in Italy, the mafia is a pressing issue. It's not something we joke about and it's not something we romanticize. That being said, after reading so many ecstatic reviews about Ghost, and having it on my ARC shelf, I started it with really high expectations. Also because I love broken heroines. They make for empowering stories... when well done.
Truth is, this book is really dark. Darker than I had expected, and lately I'm not feeling much attraction from the dark side. Now, let's eviscerate it.
The beginning wasn't bad. It was raw, gritty. It posed the foundations for what I was sure would turn out to be an epic love story. A broken heroine with a very traumatic past and a hero who's sworn off love, I dived right in.
Then the story progressed and I started to feel more and more detached from the characters and the narration. Alexei was one cold motherfucker. Calculating. Manipulative. For almost the whole book all he felt for Talia was lust. Nothing more. Their relationship was indeed messed up. If on the one hand, Talia felt safe with him the way she hadn't with anybody else, on the other she either hated him, despised him, lusted after him. She was never consistent in her feelings. I couldn't feel their chemistry, at all. Which was one of the things that ruined this book to me. Oh, and the hot scenes? Even when things got kinky -- spanking, voyeourism, dirty talking -- it didn't make me feel a thing, evidence that feelings go a long way in the bedroom.
Second case in point, the hate to love. Or rather the hate-to-lust-to-love. I usually don't mind this trope. It makes for interesting dynamics and interactions, because deep down you know even the hate is some kind of foreplay. Here, it was all-out hate. Alexei couldn't care less about her and Talia was like an enraged kitten mad at him for saving her life (Talia was really messed-up).
A snippet:
I don't know you, but this doesn't sound romantic or playful banter to me.
They also played games with each other. Mind games that didn't make me feel their attraction, but rather made me want to shout at them to grow up.
Thirdly: breeding. Apparently, it's a thing and apparently, it's a popular thing. Read this:
Am I the only one grossed out by such an imposition? Alexei is always imposing himself and his will onto her. I'm not saying he's forcing her to have sex, but he does indeed never take her will into consideration when making life-altering decisions. Like, I don't know, having a baby. Plus, I hated how he went from "he's a whore" when he sees her talking to other men, to "I want her to have my baby." I'm just...
MAKE UP YOUR MIND, DUDE!!!
Fourth: women's role. Talia was probably supposed to come through as some sort of broken heroine that finally takes the helm of her destiny in her hands and steers herself toward a brighter future. Too bad she either acted like a crazy person, a nymphomaniac or a good little obeying girl. In general, women are seen as "collateral", aka payment for some sort of damage inflicted upon the Russian Mafia. They are pawns. Also Talia does basically nothing but loiter around the house, like some doll kept for Alexei's amusement only. It sickened me.
Fifth and last thing, Alexei and Talia's dynamics made no sense. I'm not gonna spoiler, but something happens in the end and Talia reacts to it in a way she wouldn't have only five pages earlier. And nothing had happened in those five pages. It was all so out there, almost surreal how they interacted, that took away all the enjoyment from the story.
Oh, and usually I like the ah-ah moment when you find out the meaning of the title. Here it was just Alexei's nickname, only mentioned once for the sake of throwing it out there.
As for the other elements, the plot was nothing special and I found myself skimming the last fourth of the book. The reader was supposed to feel somehow on pins and needles thanks to an invisible threat. It didn't work for me. The style... well, the writing wasn't bad. Especially at the beginning I loved how Talia's hopelessness was described, the insight of her mind. But then things started not to make sense anymore, the dynamics between characters so surreal I kind of dissociated and stopped caring, hence the meager 2 stars.
Would I recommend it? Nope. But maybe if you're a mafia-fan romance with a thing with cold-robotic heroes, this could be your jam.
Where to find me:
ARC generously provided by the author through Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review
I need to make a statement first: I do not like mafia books. It's not even that I've read tons and decided they're not for me. Unfortunately, here in Italy, the mafia is a pressing issue. It's not something we joke about and it's not something we romanticize. That being said, after reading so many ecstatic reviews about Ghost, and having it on my ARC shelf, I started it with really high expectations. Also because I love broken heroines. They make for empowering stories... when well done.
When you feel anxious or uncertain, I want you to touch that star. Always. Remind yourself, Solnyshko, of the one thing you can be sure of more than anything else. That you are safe if only for having that on your skin. You do not require any other armor when you wear my star
Truth is, this book is really dark. Darker than I had expected, and lately I'm not feeling much attraction from the dark side. Now, let's eviscerate it.
The beginning wasn't bad. It was raw, gritty. It posed the foundations for what I was sure would turn out to be an epic love story. A broken heroine with a very traumatic past and a hero who's sworn off love, I dived right in.
Then the story progressed and I started to feel more and more detached from the characters and the narration. Alexei was one cold motherfucker. Calculating. Manipulative. For almost the whole book all he felt for Talia was lust. Nothing more. Their relationship was indeed messed up. If on the one hand, Talia felt safe with him the way she hadn't with anybody else, on the other she either hated him, despised him, lusted after him. She was never consistent in her feelings. I couldn't feel their chemistry, at all. Which was one of the things that ruined this book to me. Oh, and the hot scenes? Even when things got kinky -- spanking, voyeourism, dirty talking -- it didn't make me feel a thing, evidence that feelings go a long way in the bedroom.
Second case in point, the hate to love. Or rather the hate-to-lust-to-love. I usually don't mind this trope. It makes for interesting dynamics and interactions, because deep down you know even the hate is some kind of foreplay. Here, it was all-out hate. Alexei couldn't care less about her and Talia was like an enraged kitten mad at him for saving her life (Talia was really messed-up).
A snippet:
You’re such a fucking hypocrite. A selfish asshole."
[...]"Yes, and you are a psychotic bitch"
I don't know you, but this doesn't sound romantic or playful banter to me.
They also played games with each other. Mind games that didn't make me feel their attraction, but rather made me want to shout at them to grow up.
Thirdly: breeding. Apparently, it's a thing and apparently, it's a popular thing. Read this:
“You need to give me a baby,” I demand of her. “You need to take my come inside of you every day until you are swollen with my child.”
Am I the only one grossed out by such an imposition? Alexei is always imposing himself and his will onto her. I'm not saying he's forcing her to have sex, but he does indeed never take her will into consideration when making life-altering decisions. Like, I don't know, having a baby. Plus, I hated how he went from "he's a whore" when he sees her talking to other men, to "I want her to have my baby." I'm just...
MAKE UP YOUR MIND, DUDE!!!
Fourth: women's role. Talia was probably supposed to come through as some sort of broken heroine that finally takes the helm of her destiny in her hands and steers herself toward a brighter future. Too bad she either acted like a crazy person, a nymphomaniac or a good little obeying girl. In general, women are seen as "collateral", aka payment for some sort of damage inflicted upon the Russian Mafia. They are pawns. Also Talia does basically nothing but loiter around the house, like some doll kept for Alexei's amusement only. It sickened me.
Fifth and last thing, Alexei and Talia's dynamics made no sense. I'm not gonna spoiler, but something happens in the end and Talia reacts to it in a way she wouldn't have only five pages earlier. And nothing had happened in those five pages. It was all so out there, almost surreal how they interacted, that took away all the enjoyment from the story.
Oh, and usually I like the ah-ah moment when you find out the meaning of the title. Here it was just Alexei's nickname, only mentioned once for the sake of throwing it out there.
As for the other elements, the plot was nothing special and I found myself skimming the last fourth of the book. The reader was supposed to feel somehow on pins and needles thanks to an invisible threat. It didn't work for me. The style... well, the writing wasn't bad. Especially at the beginning I loved how Talia's hopelessness was described, the insight of her mind. But then things started not to make sense anymore, the dynamics between characters so surreal I kind of dissociated and stopped caring, hence the meager 2 stars.
Would I recommend it? Nope. But maybe if you're a mafia-fan romance with a thing with cold-robotic heroes, this could be your jam.
Where to find me:
August 21, 2016
5 My Solnyshko Stars!
WOW!! I loved it!! This is the third book in The Boston Underworld series and for me it was the best one yet! This series just keeps getting better and better!!
Alexei can't help but stare at the picture of the woman that he's suppose to find for his friend. He knows when he finds her she won't be the same women she was before she was taken. He finds Talia and he brings her to his home. She's the perfect woman for him. He makes her his wife. He vows to protect her from everyone including herself. She will want for nothing except the one thing she needs the most love.
Talia goes to Mexico with her boyfriend. She doesn't tell her best friend Mack where she's going. It is there that her boyfriend who she trusted deceives her and sells her as a sex slave. She is drugged, starved, beaten and repeatedly raped by vile disgusting men. Talia lives everyday for the drugs they furnish her with. She's saving them and has them hid because the only way out of this prison is to end it herself. She is broken beyond repair. Until Alexei comes in and sees straight through her plans. She hates him but she also feels safe with him.
Alexei was just as broken as Talia. These two were the same. They both had trust issues and felt they weren't good enough to ever be loved. They both had crappy parents. They both are scared of being like their parents so they choose not to let anyone in. Neither trusts anyone.
That Alexei is a masochist, like me. Trying to drown his sorrows in the cognac he drinks. Trying to lock himself away from the world and whatever it is he doesn’t want to face.~Talia
Alexei was an a##hole at times but I couldn't help but to love him. He's my favorite kind of H to read about. To me they fall the hardest. Talia didn't think she was strong but to me she was very strong and I loved her so much too. Her and Alexei were super sexy together! I loved that no matter how much Alexei wanted Talia he waited for her to feel the same. Both of them had flaws and that didn't matter to either one of them. They took each other for what they were and I found that to be super hot!
“I’m going to f### you every day.” He grabs my face and kisses me hard. “And you won’t ever remember anything else.”~Alexei
Will the man that owned Talia get her back from Alexei or will Alexei make him pay for what he did to her? Will the Vory figure out Alexei's secret that only a few know about? The secret he's scared for everyone to find out about because he thinks it will make him seem weak? Will Talia and Alexei learn to love and trust each other? If you want to know the answers you will have to read this book to find out!
I don't think you would be lost if you read this as a standalone but you would defiantly miss out on two awesome stories before this one. I loved that we got more of Crow and Reaper in this book. So if you haven't read Crow and Reapers story get to it! You will not be disappointed!
I want to thank A. Zavarelli for giving me an ARC to review! You did a wonderful job and I can't wait to see who's next! I'm hoping its Nikolai's story we get!
If you are a Kindle Unlimited subscriber you can get this series for free. Links below for book one and two.
Crow - https://www.amazon.com/CROW-Boston-Un...
Reaper - https://www.amazon.com/REAPER-Boston-...
The damaged half to my soul. We are both so damaged, but together, we fit perfectly.~Talia
WOW!! I loved it!! This is the third book in The Boston Underworld series and for me it was the best one yet! This series just keeps getting better and better!!
Alexei can't help but stare at the picture of the woman that he's suppose to find for his friend. He knows when he finds her she won't be the same women she was before she was taken. He finds Talia and he brings her to his home. She's the perfect woman for him. He makes her his wife. He vows to protect her from everyone including herself. She will want for nothing except the one thing she needs the most love.
Talia goes to Mexico with her boyfriend. She doesn't tell her best friend Mack where she's going. It is there that her boyfriend who she trusted deceives her and sells her as a sex slave. She is drugged, starved, beaten and repeatedly raped by vile disgusting men. Talia lives everyday for the drugs they furnish her with. She's saving them and has them hid because the only way out of this prison is to end it herself. She is broken beyond repair. Until Alexei comes in and sees straight through her plans. She hates him but she also feels safe with him.
Alexei was just as broken as Talia. These two were the same. They both had trust issues and felt they weren't good enough to ever be loved. They both had crappy parents. They both are scared of being like their parents so they choose not to let anyone in. Neither trusts anyone.
That Alexei is a masochist, like me. Trying to drown his sorrows in the cognac he drinks. Trying to lock himself away from the world and whatever it is he doesn’t want to face.~Talia
Alexei was an a##hole at times but I couldn't help but to love him. He's my favorite kind of H to read about. To me they fall the hardest. Talia didn't think she was strong but to me she was very strong and I loved her so much too. Her and Alexei were super sexy together! I loved that no matter how much Alexei wanted Talia he waited for her to feel the same. Both of them had flaws and that didn't matter to either one of them. They took each other for what they were and I found that to be super hot!
“I’m going to f### you every day.” He grabs my face and kisses me hard. “And you won’t ever remember anything else.”~Alexei
Will the man that owned Talia get her back from Alexei or will Alexei make him pay for what he did to her? Will the Vory figure out Alexei's secret that only a few know about? The secret he's scared for everyone to find out about because he thinks it will make him seem weak? Will Talia and Alexei learn to love and trust each other? If you want to know the answers you will have to read this book to find out!
I don't think you would be lost if you read this as a standalone but you would defiantly miss out on two awesome stories before this one. I loved that we got more of Crow and Reaper in this book. So if you haven't read Crow and Reapers story get to it! You will not be disappointed!
I want to thank A. Zavarelli for giving me an ARC to review! You did a wonderful job and I can't wait to see who's next! I'm hoping its Nikolai's story we get!
If you are a Kindle Unlimited subscriber you can get this series for free. Links below for book one and two.
Crow - https://www.amazon.com/CROW-Boston-Un...
Reaper - https://www.amazon.com/REAPER-Boston-...
The damaged half to my soul. We are both so damaged, but together, we fit perfectly.~Talia
February 27, 2017
“There is nothing without you. Tomorrow, I take you home. And I will make you mine all over again. Every day, for the rest of my life, Solnyshko. That is my promise to you. I will make you fall in love with me every day for a lifetime.”
How'd it measure up?
***** 5 Seductive Lip Bites *****
Stayed up into wee hours of the morning to finish this. It was THAT GOOD!
I was dragging ass the next day.
I'm blaming you, Zavarelli... and I'm not even mad about it.
I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK.
I have loved all of the other books in this Boston Underworld series by Ms. Zavarelli. This book definitely doesn't disappoint. Ms. Zavarelli's dark and twisted writing completely pulls you in and totally immerses you in the fucked up world these characters call their own. Am I the only one who walks around after reading these books like I'm a Mafia princess... second guessing everyone's motives, glaring at others like I could snuff them out with my little pinky, and telling people to "Feck Off"??
No one?? Really? Nobody?? Okay... Yeah, me either. *awkward laugh*
I must admit, I have had this little gem of a book stashed away on my shelf for quite some time. And, tbh, I wasn't really sure I would ever read it. *gasp* You see, I had read Ms. Zavarelli's fantastically written books #1: Crow and #2: Reaper , which were based around the Irish Mafia. I wasn't sure I wanted to dig into this story which I knew was centered around the Russian Mob. I loved the Irish blokes and it (irrationally) felt disloyal to me to "get in" with these Russian Vory guys.
But, once I saw book #4 in this series had come out... I knew I had to dig back in with this book.
Now, you ask, "So, Angie... since book #4's release forced you into picking up book #3, do these books have to be read in series order or can they be read as standalones?"
Well, thank you for pointing a finger at my obvious OCD tendencies and, also, I'm glad you asked. The answer is... yes, you could read these books as standalones. But, for feck sake, why would you want to miss out on the other brilliantly constructed stories in this series? It would be a tragedy. So, I say... don't deprive yourself... read all the books!
The main characters in this story are a delightful bundle of fucked up craziness. Talia has been sold. Beaten. Starved. Drugged. She's been mistreated in the worst of ways. She feels nothing inside anymore. She just wants it all to end. She wants it all to go away forever. Basically, she's a train wreck, y'all!
Alexei is a high ranking member of the Russian Mafia, the Vory. He commands respect and incites fear in all who come in contact with him. Only a very select few know of his mental, emotional, and physical scars. And that's exactly the way he wants it. He can never fully let anyone in, and loving someone is out of the question. But, in the Vory, there are expectations that must be met. After rescuing the damaged and unlovable Talia, he realizes she is the only one who can help him achieve these expectations. But, he may have underestimated his ability to love and be loved.
This book is ripe with triggers for some. Consider yourself warned!
However, if you can handle the raw, dark, and gritty romance style then this book is definitely worth it! Go on now... take a walk on the dark side and give it a try!
How'd it measure up?
***** 5 Seductive Lip Bites *****
Stayed up into wee hours of the morning to finish this. It was THAT GOOD!
I was dragging ass the next day.
I'm blaming you, Zavarelli... and I'm not even mad about it.
I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK.
I have loved all of the other books in this Boston Underworld series by Ms. Zavarelli. This book definitely doesn't disappoint. Ms. Zavarelli's dark and twisted writing completely pulls you in and totally immerses you in the fucked up world these characters call their own. Am I the only one who walks around after reading these books like I'm a Mafia princess... second guessing everyone's motives, glaring at others like I could snuff them out with my little pinky, and telling people to "Feck Off"??
No one?? Really? Nobody?? Okay... Yeah, me either. *awkward laugh*
I must admit, I have had this little gem of a book stashed away on my shelf for quite some time. And, tbh, I wasn't really sure I would ever read it. *gasp* You see, I had read Ms. Zavarelli's fantastically written books #1: Crow and #2: Reaper , which were based around the Irish Mafia. I wasn't sure I wanted to dig into this story which I knew was centered around the Russian Mob. I loved the Irish blokes and it (irrationally) felt disloyal to me to "get in" with these Russian Vory guys.
But, once I saw book #4 in this series had come out... I knew I had to dig back in with this book.
Now, you ask, "So, Angie... since book #4's release forced you into picking up book #3, do these books have to be read in series order or can they be read as standalones?"
Well, thank you for pointing a finger at my obvious OCD tendencies and, also, I'm glad you asked. The answer is... yes, you could read these books as standalones. But, for feck sake, why would you want to miss out on the other brilliantly constructed stories in this series? It would be a tragedy. So, I say... don't deprive yourself... read all the books!
The main characters in this story are a delightful bundle of fucked up craziness. Talia has been sold. Beaten. Starved. Drugged. She's been mistreated in the worst of ways. She feels nothing inside anymore. She just wants it all to end. She wants it all to go away forever. Basically, she's a train wreck, y'all!
Alexei is a high ranking member of the Russian Mafia, the Vory. He commands respect and incites fear in all who come in contact with him. Only a very select few know of his mental, emotional, and physical scars. And that's exactly the way he wants it. He can never fully let anyone in, and loving someone is out of the question. But, in the Vory, there are expectations that must be met. After rescuing the damaged and unlovable Talia, he realizes she is the only one who can help him achieve these expectations. But, he may have underestimated his ability to love and be loved.
This book is ripe with triggers for some. Consider yourself warned!
However, if you can handle the raw, dark, and gritty romance style then this book is definitely worth it! Go on now... take a walk on the dark side and give it a try!
May 28, 2018
Actual Rating: 2.5 stars
It is not a love story I would recommend, however I did enjoy reading it.
The thing is, I did't really like the actual story of the book. Added to this, there are gaps, missing aspects that in my opinion are needed to make the story fuller. In the end, the book felt too short and not likable, but entertaining.
This might seem contradictory, but it is how it felt to me.
Even though I didn't particularly liked it, I enjoyed it.
Saint (Boston Underworld #4)
It is not a love story I would recommend, however I did enjoy reading it.
The thing is, I did't really like the actual story of the book. Added to this, there are gaps, missing aspects that in my opinion are needed to make the story fuller. In the end, the book felt too short and not likable, but entertaining.
This might seem contradictory, but it is how it felt to me.
Even though I didn't particularly liked it, I enjoyed it.
Saint (Boston Underworld #4)
September 30, 2016
6 Dark, Twisted, Wonderful, SUPER STARS!!!!
I love it when an author pushes her boundaries and dare to do something a little different. Ghost is a standalone and is part of the Boston Underworld series. Ghost is every different from the previous books and I really liked Crow and Reaper, but Ghost BLEW MY MIND away. I’m standing on my computer desk chair applauding this magnificent author and book.
Some stuff you need to know prior to reading. If you like something dark, this is your book. You like a STRONG alpha male, this is your book. You want a tortured strong alpha male this is your book. Do you get the point?
Since the summary doesn’t give anything away in the book, I’m going to do the same and just write my feelings.
First off the book starts out with a bam and it really pulled me in. Talia is struggling and I loved the way the author wrote this because you understand and feel her pain. Like I said, it’s a dark book so be prepared for some shock moments.
Then there’s Alexei. What I loved most about Alexei is that he is mysterious. He’s also tortured. He has some Daddy issues and it kind of made him the way he is. He’s tough, ruthless and very powerful. He’s the exact type of Hero I read. There are many layers to Alexei and what I enjoyed reading most is discovering them.
The chemistry between Alexei and Talia is dynamic. I got it from the moment they interacted with each other. I loved the way Talia reacts towards Alexei because she is so damaged she seems very indifferent, broken and all around messed up. Alexei doesn’t really care because he’s not a nice guy. But you know somewhere deep down he has a soft spot. I love the tension!
I can’t express to you how much I loved this book. I read it blindly and I think it was the perfect way to do it. It had EVERYTHING I was looking for in a romance read. I got a powerful epic book filled with action, drama, steam, romance and dark moments. It was a non-stop read for me. I will one-click whatever this A. Zavarelli writes from now on.
CROW #1 AMAZON | REVIEW
REAPER #2 AMAZON | REVIEW
GHOST #3 AMAZON
I love it when an author pushes her boundaries and dare to do something a little different. Ghost is a standalone and is part of the Boston Underworld series. Ghost is every different from the previous books and I really liked Crow and Reaper, but Ghost BLEW MY MIND away. I’m standing on my computer desk chair applauding this magnificent author and book.
Some stuff you need to know prior to reading. If you like something dark, this is your book. You like a STRONG alpha male, this is your book. You want a tortured strong alpha male this is your book. Do you get the point?
Since the summary doesn’t give anything away in the book, I’m going to do the same and just write my feelings.
First off the book starts out with a bam and it really pulled me in. Talia is struggling and I loved the way the author wrote this because you understand and feel her pain. Like I said, it’s a dark book so be prepared for some shock moments.
Then there’s Alexei. What I loved most about Alexei is that he is mysterious. He’s also tortured. He has some Daddy issues and it kind of made him the way he is. He’s tough, ruthless and very powerful. He’s the exact type of Hero I read. There are many layers to Alexei and what I enjoyed reading most is discovering them.
The chemistry between Alexei and Talia is dynamic. I got it from the moment they interacted with each other. I loved the way Talia reacts towards Alexei because she is so damaged she seems very indifferent, broken and all around messed up. Alexei doesn’t really care because he’s not a nice guy. But you know somewhere deep down he has a soft spot. I love the tension!
I can’t express to you how much I loved this book. I read it blindly and I think it was the perfect way to do it. It had EVERYTHING I was looking for in a romance read. I got a powerful epic book filled with action, drama, steam, romance and dark moments. It was a non-stop read for me. I will one-click whatever this A. Zavarelli writes from now on.
CROW #1 AMAZON | REVIEW
REAPER #2 AMAZON | REVIEW
GHOST #3 AMAZON
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