In a world where the rules are gray and the Don’s word is a law unto itself, only one thing is sacred… family.A Team A.L.P.H.A. and Alphabits spin-off seriesRiver Erikson is a man on the run. After scenting his true mate, he’s done everything in his power to escape. Just because he was born an omega doesn’t mean he needs to answer fate’s call and drop to his knees for some alpha. Especially not a … knees for some alpha. Especially not a smug mafioso who thinks way too much of himself. Luckily, his job at STAHP—the vicious vigilante organization that works to police shifters when law enforcement can’t—keeps him busy enough that he can try to forget how his traitorous body reacts whenever a certain muscled Russian is around.
Vasily Novak is stunned when he scents his mate, but powerless to chase him when he flees. How can he? His focus is entirely centered on the precocious five-year-old he recently learned was his child. All he can do is trust the fates to bring his mate back when the time is right. Vasily is confident that River will be his eventually… he just needs to be patient.
When Vasily’s son is taken, River comes to help retrieve the boy who melted his heart the first time Petey called him “pretty kitty.” As the pair leave a bloody trail through the city on their search, will the fates give them a second chance at finding a forever in each other?
This is the first book in a new mpreg mafia series. Get ready for a world ruled by the Don’s iron fist, unique interrogation tactics, and a family that stands together… no matter what. You can expect to find naughty, knotty scenes of steamy passion, along with a lot of potty-mouth language and more violence than you’re used to from us. But at its heart, you’ll still find all the fluffy mpreg feels and crazy antics you’d look for from Susi Hawke and Crista Crown.
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**********Contains Spoilers**********
Man, Susi and Crista have done it again. What an awesome book. Yes, it was way more violent than the previous books in this universe but that’s to be expected since it’s the mafia. I loved the connection between River and Vasily, even though it took River awhile to accept that they’re mates since he’s so fiercely independent and had the completely wrong idea of how mating works between true mates, he thought that he basically has no voice and is going to be forced to stay home and be barefoot and pregnant because he’s an omega, while his mate goes out and f*cks sh*t up since he’s an alpha. I loved that Vasily didn’t mind River being in the thick of things and found his level of violence pretty hot, Vasily respected River and didn’t try to protect him even when he was pregnant.
They were perfect for each other. I loved how much Petey loves his pretty kitty River. I think it was awesome that even after River had marked Vasily, Vasily forced his bear back and didn’t return his mark as he’d promised River that he wouldn’t. I also loved that he didn’t pressure River to be a stay at home dad after they found out they were having a baby, and told him that it’s up to him if he still wants to work for STAHP or not, every choice was River’s decision and Vasily never discounted River’s strength. River definitely had to learn how to compromise which was great to see. I loved getting more of the Novak Family after meeting them in Silenced and can’t wait to get to know each of them as I read their books. I’m looking forward to reading Joey’s story next, all I can say is his mate needs to be able to put up with a lot of sh*t in having to deal with all of Joey’s overprotective alpha brothers even though Joey is more than capable to look after himself. I’d definitely recommend this book, series and both authors to everyone.
Wish I’d read this series earlier. It’s got heat, it’s got punch, it’s got grit and characters you’ll adore.
*WARNING* contains explicit adult m/m situations, crude language, and violence
This was okay. I like mpreg stories and am a big Susi Hawke fan. This story just wasn’t as good as some of her others (in my opinion.) I didn’t really care for these characters. I felt River was to much with the I’m not a simpering Omega, I’m bad mofo and then agreed to contract at the end. As much of a fan of Susi as I am, I think I’ll skip this series.
4.5 stars
Heat Level: 3.5
Narration: 4.5
Yes! We finally get River’s story and it’s done so well.
I always wondered about River and his desire to stay away from his brother Leaf, and his generally skittish nature even with the family love and longing he seems to have under the surface. His story does not disappoint. While working for STAHP, he meets, saves and befriends a sweet little boy who names him “His pretty kitty” and I feel this is the start of River’s new life path.
I enjoyed getting to know River, his past and his issues. I liked the unique approach to his true-mate and all the perfect interconnecting parts across Team A.L.P.H.A and the Alphabits and now onto the Novak family and mafia connected world of our beloved, Cyrus’ family.
Brilliant interweaving characters, plots, families, and mates. I love Susi and Crista’s world and this is another perfect spinoff and a great start to what proves to be another awesome mpreg series!!!
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You can’t run from Fate. But accepting Fate doesn’t mean losing control.
What a great way to start a new series! Susi & Crista have outdone themselves. I love this book! It has it all: vibrant characters, old friends, old enemies, family angst, conflict, violence, kidnapping, an adorable boy, shifters, hot sex, mpreg. And assumptions. You know what they say about assuming…
This book is River & Vasily’s story. It picks up where the last Alphabits book ends. Read that series, time well spent . But this is the story of the family Novak. Francis Novak, Mafia Don, is Vasily’s father. In River’s mind, that makes Vasily an evil, overbearing, manipulative Alpha. Problem. River has known for a while that Vasily is his fated mate. A member of STAHP, he is just as deadly as Vasily. He has been keeping away, running from Fate. Once Vasily scents him, all bets are off. When Vasily’s son is kidnapped, the two men must work together to save him.
HEA is assured, though the road is full of bumps. River must overcome his fear of what being mated really means. He must accept that he needs the other half of his soul to be complete. Vasily must learn patience, and that trust is won by deeds, not words.
This book will pull you in from the first pages and not let you out. You will be drawn into their lives and loves, and experience what family is all about. You will love it! You have to get this book!
This book contains adult themes and language, violence, mm sex and is intended for mature readers only.
Amazing first book in the new series by Susi Hawke!! As a spin-off of another great series, Alphabits, it is better if you read first those books to truly enjoy and understand this story. Now is the turn of Vasily and River and how they discovered they are fated mates finishing together after a lot of dangerous situations. As all other books by Susi, there are action, intrigue and mystery in between hot scenes, light BSDM and cute babies. Loved it!!
Family Ties is the first book in The Family Novak series by Susi Hawke and Crista Crown. And now I am beyond excited for this new spin off series from the Alphabits universe. This story gives us the sass, the antics, the stea.y naughtiness and the sweetness we come to expect from this writing duo…. but we also get the mafioso action with a tint of STAHP. River and Vasily had me laughing, had me smiling and had me saying “oh sh**” out loud. I really want the next book now, please.