She was a tiny little lamb that claimed my heart with one fearful look. I was her captor, the man responsible for breaking her, for preparing her for auction. She was taken, plucked right off the street and brought to me to be sold at the next auction.Rescuing her from my men was never part of the deal, and neither was bringing her up to my room. Yet, night after night I did this, refusing to … after night I did this, refusing to give up the way she made me feel. When I’m with her I feel less like a monster. I can remember the man I used to be before the mob got to me, before all the bad tainted my soul.
But wanting her is forbidden, and keeping her unthinkable. If they find out what I’m doing they’ll kill both of us.
And still…
I want to save her.
I want to love her.
I want to cherish her.
When the time comes will I be able to let her go? Or will I risk both our lives for a love that I may not deserve?
*This is book three in the series but it can be read as a complete standalone. It is a full-length novel (85k+ words) that contains NO-CLIFFHANGERS, NO CHEATING, and has a HEA. It is a dark mafia/crime romance and contains subject matter not suitable for all readers. *
more
I absolutely loved this book and was honored to have been able to read and review. It was such a phenomenal read and had amazing characters as well as an amazing story line. I just could not get enough of it and once I started reading it I could not put it down. I recommend that you read it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I greatly enjoyed this addition to the authors ‘Rossi Crime Family’ series.
Ivan (anti-H) works for the senior Rossi, an utterly evil & despicable mob boss specializing in human trafficking. Violet (h) is one of the terrorized women kidnapped & taken to Rossi’s compound to be ‘prepared’ for auction. And Ivan is in charge of each ‘shipment’ of kidnapped women, to ensure they make it to each auction in order to obtain the optimum sale price for Rossi’s empire.
But a chance run in between a terrified Violet & Ivan brings her to his attention & a past tragic memory of Ivan’s is triggered by the sight of Violet & causes him to deviate from his ‘business as usual’ treatment of women where it concerns her.
This book was dark, there are triggers & Ivan is NOT a good or nice man. He’s done heinous things & turned a blind eye to heinous things, but he just cannot do that when it comes to his little Kitten. He wants, needs, to save her to save his soul. All he needs to do is escape with Kitten then evade capture & retaliation by Rossi & his men . . . . .
I think the authors did an admirable job taking a man who has done reprehensible things, has a dark heart & soul & made the reader root for his potential salvation. Violet was a wonderful character, innocent, tenacious, loving, hopeful, enduring & so loving of Ivan.,
This story (IMO) was excellent, gripping, tense, suspenseful, sizzlingly erotic while the plot, the characters & the writing captured my interest from beginning to end.
I loved this one.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is the fourth book in this awesome series and is Ivan and Violet’s story. Violet is abducted on a night out for her birthday. Ivan is the boss and something is Violet draws him to protect her. This is a well written story which is raw, gritty, dark, which all leads to a story which is intriguing and addictive. I look forward to reading more from this talented duo of authors’ and recommend for all.
So far, Guard Me is my favorite book in The Rossi Crime Family series. There is just something magnetic about Ivan’s need to protect Violet from the moment she crashes into him. They are adorable together despite the circumstances in which they meet.
This book is darker than the rest and touches on hard topics like human trafficking, sex slaves, and rape. Yet, Ivan and Violet’s is beautiful and so, so good. The series keeps getting better and better with each book and is worth binge reading.
Book Three of the Rossi Brothers’ series follows Violet, younger sister to Ella. In book two of the series, Ella was captured by the Rossi brothers’s father and then eventually Xander while she was looking for Violet who had also gotten kidnapped, then sold at auction. We do find out who bought her but only know that she was doing well.
Prologue to book three opens with when Violet gets kidnapped and the process of being sold. Ivan runs the auction and slave trade side in Vegas under Rossi Sr. He starts fearing not only for himself but for Violet when he starts taking an interest in her. Doing so puts a target on both their backs as he moves towards rescuing her.
Definitely a Stockholm Syndrome insta-lust/love storyline. They both fearfully fall for each other. What really defines this though is the actual slave trade underboss (not really sure what job descriptive title I should give Ivan) POV perspective. Very unique and leaves for an intriguing next in the series with Ivan’s brother, Roman.
Ivan definitely has a sweeter side to him than Xander did. Yes he has done horrible things but from the beginning he shows her small kindnesses that are just unheard of. Other than the couple instances when he had to put on a show he was always trying to protect her loved how he is with her. Even his dirty side. Loved the collab with Xander. Intrigued but his relationship with Roman and looking forward to his book.
This was an amazing book from beginning to end. I absolutely loved Ivan and Violets story. I have to say this one is probably my favorite from this series. There was just something about it . Innocent pure Violet is picked off the street to be sold in the auction. Ivan is suppose to be preparing her. But something happens between them. Will he risk it all to save her? Amazing hot chemistry between these two that is instant. Enjoyable gripping hot.Loved it. Highly recommend reading it.
When I started this book I could’ve sworn I had read it before. Checked the goodreads, checked my folder of book cover pics, but nope, I hadn’t read it. However, I am almost positive I must have started it or something. It’s very, very familiar to some thing I’ve read before. Who knows. Anyway, yes I liked the story. Violet kind of started to get whiny after awhile. I mean, Ivan said it best, he risks everything for her and then she just goes, I wanna do this and you’re not the boss of me. I’d wanna choke her. As a reader, I wanted to thump her on the forehead. Ivan is great, though. I’m pretty sure he wasn’t supposed to have a Russian accent, but with a name like Ivan, that was his voice in my head. His younger brother? Totally normal no accent. Well, would I recommend it? Sure. It’s not the best mafia romance I’ve read, but Ivan is a great book boyfriend.
My first read by authors by J.L. Beck & Cassandra Hallman, wow Guard Me is a very dark read, what a tornado of excitement in reading this book it gave me the fear, thrill and love that I was looking in a dark mafia. I really liked reading Violet and Ivans story. I really had no idea what I was getting when I first started reading this book. Poor Violet all she wanted to do was celebrate her 18th birthday clubbing with her friends, what a night she found herself in. She found herself in hell when she was caught and drugged by sex trafficking mafia. Ivan who is involved in all of this never thought that by one look he would be willing to give it all up for her. If you like a dark romance read with all the feels then I highly recommend that you read this story, I look forward to reading more in the family Rossi Crime Series.
Ivan works for Rossi, and he normally doesn’t get involved in certain aspects, but one night that all changes and it changes him. He was taking a stroll when a fragile woman ran into him. But why was the woman out of the cell they had for them. The women stayed in these cells until they were ready for auction. But when he felt her warmth, he wanted to know more and more about this woman and comfort her as much as possible.
Violet wanted to celebrate her 18th birthday with friends, but was ready to go home. But as she was trying to get some air, she ran into men that would change her life forever. She was kidnapped and knew her sister would look for her, but what would she find if and when she found her? She just wanted to be back home. But when she was put in that cell and then the men came in there, she knew she was on borrowed time. But when she ran into a wall of muscle, she felt safe, warm and loved. But this man was one of them, wasn’t he?
This story continues with the series but delves into the darker side of Rossi’s empire of sex slavery, kidnapping and the auctions. But when Ivan and Violet run into each other and the chemistry they feel sparks, what will happen? Rossi won’t approve, but can he keep her safe. This is a dark romance filled with such love, lust, romance, fear, joy, hate, some triggers, wonderful characters and a story that grabs you and won’t let go. I couldn’t put this book down. I can’t wait for the series to continue. I received an ARC of this book from the author.
Dark, suspenseful, steamy and twisted, this book pulls you in quickly and never lets up. Strap yourself in and prepare for another raw and gritty ride in The Rossi Crime Family Series. Ivan is intense and very much the anti-hero. Violet was easy to feel for. She finds herself starring in a nightmare that she could never imagine. The chemistry between these two was insane and their scenes burned the pages. In a world where breaking the rules will get you killed and there is no room for emotions, Ivan and Violet may never get out alive let alone get a HEA. A excellent book and terrific addition to this series.
This is my first Cassandra Hallman book and will certainly not be the last. I love series books and now cannot wait to read the rest of them. It is a dark story that has it’s unexpected twist and turns that make you stay on course and finish the book asap. Violet and Ivan are like light and day which makes their chemistry so interesting and intense at the same time. Their coming together is beautiful but wrought with a lot of difficulties but ultimately it’s what makes the book special. Now I can’t wait for Roman’s book but while I wait, I’ll go through the first 3 books first.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Book 4 in The Rossi Crime Family series takes you to the underworld of crime and human trafficking where you meet Ivan whose job is to makes sure that the special packages make it to the auctions. He doesnt like that side of his job and doesnt get directly involved but one night will change his life forever when one of the women breaks free from her cell…….running….straight into his arms and into his heart.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
OMG i loved Ivan and Violets story from start to finish, There story full of action, suspense plus there chemistry was sizzling HOT from the moment Violet ran into Ivan. you get no spoilers from me, want to no how there story plays out you just have to ONE-CLICK ON RELEASE DAY. Another awesome addition to the series. A must read,I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy, Well done J.L and Cassandra
Loved Ivan and Violet’s story!!
This was a great read and I highly recommend it. Violet just wanted to celebrate her eighteenth birthday, so she went to a club. Realizing she made a mistake she goes to call her sister to ask her to pick her up. Unfortunately she never gets a chance to make that call. She wakes up in a cell and two men come in ready to forcefully take her, when she gets away she runs right into Ivan. Ivan is the boss of the two men and he is no saviour. No matter how much she begs he can do nothing but return her to her cell. Will Ivan end up helping poor innocent Violet? Or will do what he has always done and just turn a blind eye to the awful things that happen to the women that are kidnapped and sold? This is a great read and I truly enjoyed it from beginning to end!!!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. (less)
I have really enjoyed reading The Rossi Crime Family series! Guard Me, may be my favorite read this far! Ivan and Violet’s story was so good. Although Ivan is bad, he instantly becomes obsessed with Violet and her well being, and then when he risks everything for her. Their story is full of chemistry and plenty of emotional heart filled love.
If you haven’t read the first 3 books, I highly recommend reading those first as this this series builds chronologically. The series is definitely worth reading, so go for it!
I confess that the blurb about this book did not encourage me to want to read it. I did, however, because I have always enjoyed books by J. L. Beck and Cassandra Hallman – especially the previous books in this series [The Rossi Crime Family of which this is book 4]. So I settled myself down to read about Violet and Ivan and, oh my goodness, am I pleased that I did! Absolutely fantastic characters who are believable and I war med to Ivan and really rooted for them to get their HEA. The storyline was full of angst, unpredictable events, suspense, RED HOT STEAM and love. You don’t have to have read the previous books to appreciate this book but I strongly encourage you to do so and I will be all ready to read book 5 with anticipation. Fabulous writing which drew me in at page 1 and maintained my attention right to the very end. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. Most Definitely Recommended
He was to guard her and train her for the next auction. He had taken her from the streets but he could not stop wanting her. He should not want her but she makes him so much better. Will he be able to give her up? Will they be found out? See how they get on
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The plot for this book revolves around a very dark subject, that of human trafficking and slavery. The authors have done a fantastic job though of making a romance around this subject matter without making the subject matter any less horrific than it is. There is no easy way out for Violet once she is kidnapped to be sold, not even with the help of one of the Mafia bosses, Ivan. This story has so much angst in it that I found myself literally physically sitting on the edge of my seat! It’s a wonderful story that I could not put down till I had finished it and I was sad when it was over as I wanted more! The characters are well rounded, and I couldn’t help rooting for their love and for them to find a way to be together. There are a lot of triggers in this book as it is very dark but it’s worth the time to read it if you enjoy dark romances. I’m loving this series, so far, the authors haven’t written a bad book in it and I hope this continues to the very end of the series. I heard from other readers that there were issues with the book via Amazon but that the issue has been resolved now and the correct book is there for download or to be updated if you already purchased it. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Guard Me: A Mafia Romance
by Cassandra Hallman, J.L. Beck
This is the fourth book in the series and yes this is a standalone yet some of the characters in this book are intertwined in the previous books. So I would highly recommend reading the first three!
It’s Violet’s eighteenth birthday and she decides to go a club with a few friends. Once she gets there it’s too loud, smoky and the crowd is older than she thought. Deciding to call her sister Ella to pick her up she goes to leave the club. Unfortunately she never gets to make that call because she is kidnapped and wakes up in concrete box. Then her worst nightmare comes true two men (monsters) open her cell door and attack her she fights back with all her strength and escapes only to run into a wall of muscle.
Ivan is in charge of making sure the merchandise (girls) get to the auction site. He works for Mr Rossi Sr. and has never claimed to be a good guy. Then a tiny blonde blue eyed woman slammed into him and now his whole world is being turned upside down.
Ivan and Violet’s story is dark, dirty, dangerous, sexy, steamy, suspenseful, powerful, intense and loving.
We get insight on some of favorite past characters and a look at new ones that the next book will focus on. I can’t wait to see what happens in book five “Tame Me” with Roman and the girl who looks like a fallen angel that he agreed to take home.
Five
Dark,dangerous, suspenseful,steamy, sexy,intense love story.