After their wild night running from Houston’s criminal underworld, Ben and Aston have been inseparable. Refusing to choose between the only family he’s ever known–the Albanian mafia–or building a life with sweet, innocent Aston, Ben walks a careful line. He’s not giving her up without a fight.
But the loose ends left unclipped from that first fateful night together are threatening to strangle … strangle the future Ben and Aston so desperately want.
Calvin, her sadistic stepbrother is gone, but even in death, he’s found ways to torment her. He left behind a tangled web of schemes and lies that threaten to set Houston’s underworld on fire.
When Aston discovers an unexpected consequence from her torrid night with Ben, she refuses to let Calvin and his terrible secrets hurt the people she loves. Whatever it takes, whatever the risk, she’ll keep them safe.
Even if that means betraying Ben’s criminal family…
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A six year wait takes nothing away from the continuation of Aston & Ben’s story.
This one takes off where book one left off and we get the same steamy connection we got with their original novella. There is lots of action and our old pals Besian and Marley are back as well as everyone’s favorite cleaner Kostya.
Love The book
3.5 Stars
Kostya was a long time coming. I hope Roxie Rivera is doing well and everything is moving in a positive direction for her. I didn’t mind waiting for Kostya to be released.
As the “cleaner” for Nikolai and Maksim, Kostya was always intriguing, but he seemed more forbidding in previous books. The fact that he had his “little spiders”, made him seem more approachable, like he had more of a sense of humanity. Kostya was more than a killer and a cleaner.
Holly saw something in Kostya that made her not mind the suspicions she had about his business activities. Even when her suspicions were confirmed, she had no major problem with the work Kostya did for the family.
Kostya and Holly had more in common than either could imagine. When the secrets begin to unfold, Holly’s life took a turn in a direction she could never have anticipated. Kostya was determined to do everything in his power to keep the woman he loved safe and alive. How successful would he ultimately be at that particular duty?
The secrets in this book ended up encompassing almost the entire family; including the little spiders, Holly’s coworkers, her Mom, and even a crossover to the Connelly clan.
There was a more than sufficient amount of suspense, danger, intrigue, action, and mystery. I did think the writer was light on the romance and steamy scenes as compared to previous books, but it has been a while since I read any of them.
This book can be read as a standalone. I read it without reading any of the previous books as a refresher with no problem. Reading Kostya made me want to go back and read all of the other books again. I do think they were better.
I admit that I am terribly greedy. After waiting so long for Kostya, this would have been a 5 star book for me had there been an epilogue. The ending, after all the climactic scenes, was a little disappointing. Don’t get me wrong, it was still a decent book. I just ended up wanting more.
The story move at a good pace and the characters are well written. You get lots of twists and turns inside this love story. The characters are funny, strong, intelligent and entertaining.
Holly Phillips has been attracted to her neighbor Kostya since they met but Kostya has never given her any notion the feeling is the same. Kostya has lived a life that would scare the boogie man and yet he has kept a watchful eye on Holly, now Holly is in danger and Kostya has a plan to protect her. Holly sees this for what it is, Kostya cares about her and she wants more. Kostya though doesn’t want to drag Holly into his dangerous life giving her an out if she wants it. What will Holly do and when there are secrets from her own life that are out there will Holly understand or walk away?
This was not quite how I thought Kostya’s story would unfold. I have long awaited this story and this was fantastic but he is a bit different then I expected. Kostya is dark, he is menacing and it radiates through the pages but in some ways he is also vulnerable. I liked Holly, her background story talk about surprise, surprise, surprise. Excellent addition to the series.
I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!!!
It had everything you could ever want or need in a romantic suspense. Sexy, alpha, deeply caring bratva men and a smidge of underground fighters. International undercover, and double, and triple, agents. Enemies, and friends, from the past, that have come back, with unclear motives. Rival bad guys, and balancing it all. And at the heart of it all, men who love their women unconditionally, and will do anything to keep them safe. Women who will do anything for the men they love, and support them, while they protect themselves. The twists and turns keep coming, but for every reveal, there is another question. And for everything that comes to be seen, you realize it was right there in front of you all along
Kostya has been waiting forever for Holly, and he will wait until forever, because he knows he can’t have her. He is in too deep, knows to much, has done too much, to sully her. But he doesn’t have a choice, because Holly has decided she has had enough waiting and wants more. Resistance really is futile, but the world they are both living in has plans for them. Horrible and nasty things planned, and it will take all they have just to make it through alive.
An amazing story of love, family, and danger. Sacrifices made, and promise kept. Unconditional devotion, protection, and caring for those around you that matter to you. Kostya and Holly weren’t supposed to end up together, but the attraction between them is undeniable. The heat they give to each other, burns from the inside out. The emotions that pass between them will not be denied. Everyone who thinks they aren’t made for each other needs to get on board, because this will not be denied!
KOSTYA is the seventh instalment in Roxie Rivera’s contemporary, adult HER RUSSIAN PROTECTOR Russian romance series. This is Russian mob cleaner Konstantin ‘Kostya’ Antonovich, and hair stylist Holly Phillips’ story line. KOSTYA can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous storylines is revealed where necessary but I recommend reading the series in order for back story and cohesion.
Told from first person point of view (Holly), and third person (Kostya) KOSTYA follows the building relationship and romance between neighbors Russian mob cleaner Konstantin ‘Kostya’ Antonovich, and hair stylist Holly Phillips. Kostya Antonovich knows war approaches, and Holly has been targeted for sins of the past. Hoping to protect the woman that calls to his heart, Kostya calls in a favor using his team of ‘spiders’ to safeguard our heroine from the Cartel and the former KGB. What ensues is the building romance between Kostya and Holly, and the potential fall-out as more than one player is aiming their sights on Holly Phillips.
Holly Phillips struggles with her true identity. Having never met her father, our heroine is unaware of her family history, history that is about to crash into the present. As a salon owner and hair stylist Holly caters to the wives of the local Russian mob but Holly’s connections go much deeper than friendship, a familial relationship is about to be exposed. Kostya Antonovich is a cleaner; he does the dirty work necessary to protect the people with whom he works and works for. Meeting Holly Phillips stirs something deep within our story line hero, something he prefers to remain dormant and cold.
The relationship between Holly and Kostya is a friends to lovers but a relationship wherein Kostya is both protector and guardian of the woman with whom he is falling in love. Desperate to keep Holly out of the life he was born to do, Kostya continues to push Holly at every opportunity but our heroine is intent on placing herself in danger for the people she loves. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate and seductive.
There is a large ensemble cast of familiar secondary and supporting characters including Nikolai and Vivian, Ten, Boychenko, Artyom, and several wives (Bianca, Erin, Benny and Lena) and significant others, and members of the Russian mob. We are introduced to Holly’s mother Frances Phillips; Holly’s employees Nisha, Billie, Savannah, Peyton as well as Kostya’s team of ‘spiders’: Fox, Sunny, Maxine, Lana and Lobo; Gabe Reyes; and numerous members of the Mexican Cartel, and local interconnected gangs. There is a slight cross-over with the author’s Fighting Connollys series, and the cameo appearance of Finn Connolly. For first time readers they numerous characters and ‘nicknames’ may be overwhelming, which is the reason I recommend reading the series in order.
The world building continues to focus on the Russian mob; their family, friendship, connections, love and protection .
KOSTYA is a story of secrets and lies; betrayal and vengeance; retribution and acceptance. The premise is engaging and energetic; the romance is steamy and hot; the characters are dynamic and captivating. On that note, it is close to two and half years since the last instalment, and the story lines have been released out of order so a re-read may be necessary to reconcile a number of plot points.