Anything can happen during the hot nights in the Dominican Republic.SydneyI just wanted a tan and to sip drinks with little umbrellas in them. I didn’t know that vacation would mean sleeping with a hot stranger, being drugged, and nearly killed. My instincts tell me there’s more to the smooth facade of Nathan Russo, but my heart won’t listen. He’s my opposite: hot where I’m cool, experienced … He’s my opposite: hot where I’m cool, experienced while I’ve never really lived. What starts out as a steamy fling can’t be more… can it?
Nathan
I’m a dangerous man with a mission to complete and people to kill. Sydney Lewis might literally cost me my life. As the stakes increase, I have to decide whether to follow my head or my heart. My life is too dangerous, I’m too much of a monster. She’s a good girl. She can’t be a part of this. I have to be cruel. I have to cut her out.
But she’s the only one who can save me.
Heat will take you on a journey to paradise, through hell, and back.
Publisher’s Note: This steamy, dark romance may contain triggers. It contains elements of danger, adventure, explicit scenes, power exchange, and a guaranteed HEA.
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This story starts out with a bang and never slows down. Nathan is a seriously dark character while Sydney is the complete opposite. When these two characters come together lighting crackles and strikes. I don’t know how this author does it but she takes a character you want to hate so much and creates a story, a romance, that has you cheering for him. Fabulous storytelling!
Heat by Nicolina Martin is book one in the Russo Saga. This is the story of Nathan Russo and Sydney Lewis. Nathan seems to be all about his ‘work’ until a Sydney encounter, where she tells him no when he tries to pursue her. Fate has them meet again which starts their story of excitement, heat and power. I enjoyed the secondary characters in this book…so I hope to read more of them soon.
Nicolina Martin is an up-and-coming new author to the dark erotic romance scene. I’ve not previously read her work, but I’d heard such great things about it that I jumped at the chance to review this offering.
Well I have to say that ‘Heat’ is a very apt name for this red hot tale of love and redemption. The story has quite a unique feel to it, seeming to blend contemporary, mafia and dark erotic romance into one very captivating read.
I loved at the start of the book how Nathan was blown totally out of the water for his arrogance towards Sydney. I love a strong alpha male but on the times he overstepped the mark, or pushed too hard, I equally loved how Sydney wasn’t afraid to put him back in his place. Too often these egotistical traits are written as if they are desirable, I’m with Syd and would very much tell a guy like that where to get off. Treat me with respect and acknowledge I have a brain, or take a hike.
Sydney on the surface blew a little hot and cold, but I totally found myself agreeing with her actions and motives. She wasn’t some silly heroine who was happy to overlook the truth about the hero. She was sometimes naive, but in the way that many of us would have been in that situation. Nor was she so in lust that she lost all cognitive ability – don’t you just hate it when a heroine thinks/says one thing but one glimpse of the hero has her knickers falling down faster than the speed of light? I know it bugs the heck out of me.
I loved how each gave the other the strength to find and be who they truly wanted to be, and not let family keep them in a box that just didn’t fit anymore. I also appreciated how the plot didn’t follow the standard tropes and cliches. It felt fresh and would be hard to pigeon-hole as any specific sub-genre of romance.
This was a story that not only kept me entertained but also left me guessing as to not only how the plot would unfold, as well as how it would end. I wasn’t disappointed by any of it.
Heat is the first story I’ve read by Nicolina Martin and just WOW! Told in dual POV, Nate and Sydney story was so well written and detailed that it will make you tune everything around you out until you have finished reading. With what people call “fate” pushing Nate and Sydney together at multiple times, you can’t help but think they belong together and root for them no matter the situations they are going through. It does have certain situations/triggers that some readers may find hard to read about, but I recommend trying to push through because once you’ve finished I believe you’ll find that it was worth it in the end. Heat is a great story to read if you’re new to Nicolina, as I was, because it gives you a taste of her writing style and leaves you wanting more of the Russo series as they come out!
This book was soooo good! I just couldn’t put it down, kept reading until was exhausted, went to sleep and went back at it in the morning. It trapped me and I had to keep reading it. It’s dark, angsty and full of lust and passion. It has a little but of everything to make up a great story. This is my first book by this author and I’m sure it won’t be the last. I’m officially a fan! And this book is worth 5+ stars!
Romancing the “Bad Guy”!!
Sydney works too hard in the hotel business. When multiple chance encounters with Nathan Russo occur, sparks fly, and common sense goes right out the window. When Nathan’s profession come to light, it makes relationship decisions that much harder.
A scintillating journey, a roller-coaster ride and a highly entertaining story of love, decisions and strength.
This Book was an AMAZING READ! I felt it as a slow burn romance, which I have never encountered in a book yet. The beginning is definitely a strong entrance into a book. I didn’t expect anything like that to happen in the beginning of a book. But It definitely hooked me. I love the characters Sydney’s dad is a hoot her conversation with him made my laugh, Sydney has had it rough a couple times in this book but it made her into one strong ass character, Nathan is the hot stubborn bad ass that takes no ones shit. There was a lot of comedic part in this book that really helps tie this book together. There is a plot twist that definitely messed my head up that I couldn’t get over. There was even so real emotion in this book too, finding out about Nathan’s childhood is definitely heart wrenching. They are both stubborn between each other which made it a slow burn but it was completely worth it. I loved the ending of this book, has me wanting the next book. Martin did a fantastic job writing this book .
Get comfy before you start as your not going to be moving until you finish this enticing book. Nate and Sydney are characters you cant help but connect with and wish they would realise that they keep unexpectedly meeting as they are meant to be together. This isn’t an all sunshine and rainbows read, there are triggers, uncomfortable situations along with good and evil characters, but all of this makes it a great read and I can not wait for the next book!!!!
What can I even say about these two… It’s nothing but fire from the very first meeting. Nathan is a complicated man but he tries to make things better for Sydney. Now there’s Syndey, this is one determined chick who knows what she wants and she will get it. This is a dark read so take that to heart when you start this one.
Wow. I’m not sure what all I feel about this story. It drug my feelings through the mud and shoved them into a wringer, and I haven’t been able to work them back into straight.
Sydney never thought she would see the man from the bar again, but there he was, just the very next morning, and he started changing her life.
Nathan saw the pretty brunette but she shot him down. Then he sees her again at the airport and things start getting exciting.
I really didn’t know what to think about Nathan. I mean, he’s not a good guy, but he is a compelling guy. He’s very magnetic, which Syd finds out about. I can understand why she does each and everything she does, even if it feels soul destroying.
I think that Sydney is quite sweet and very smart. I do think she’s a little naive and overly trusting at times, though. I can relate to bring drawn to the bad boy, but not being sure what to do when you are in his circle.
Altogether, really enjoyable, and
Nathan Russo enters this story in full on “work-mode”!
Ruthless, but with a strange kind of ethics code. At first it seems he is dedicated to his job. But soon there are doubts creeping in.
When he gets a resounding, “No, thank you!” from a slightly ditzy young woman he propositions in a nightclub, he is baffled. As serendipity would have it they meet again. And this time, what starts as a slight tingle, quickly turns into a blaze. They both know they are wrong for each other, but still can’t stop.
Through a potent mix of murder, assault, scorching hot sex, a gang war, family obligations, and a see-saw of emotions, those two claw their way to a resolution that will leave you panting and wishing for more!
Great start of a series!
WOW!!! We get to meet the first Russo Nathan who carries a lot of very dark baggage and secrets and is not a good man but oh boy I love him and he brings the heat in waves. Sydney is all light and the total opposite and these guys meet not once but twice lets call it fate with the attraction off the charts hot they cant help themselves even if it could be the biggest mistake in their lives, it could be very very bad for her. The character development is outstanding with so much detail in the writing style it brings these characters to life and just jumps off the pages with so much excitement and wanting more and more of their HEAT
Hold onto your hats,there is a Heat wave a comin’!! Ms. Nicolina Martin introduces us to the Russo Family. This is first installment of the saga and she hits the ground running!! This story grabs you, sucks you in at the very beginning and I don’t think I took another breath till I got to the epilogue!! Ms. Martins does a fantastic job on her character development, making it easier to feel what they feel. You really don’t want to like Nathan, he is a bad guy, or is he?? Can one do bad things and still be inherently good. I think that is the question roaming around in Sydney’s head after thier second encounter she has with Nathan,Nathan Russo. Their relationship ebbs and flows in,out and push and pull and often you can feel that push/pull like you are right in the middle of the ruckus!! One of the more interesting things in this story is that it’s the male lead who wants to be better,do better for her. You get to go inside Nathan’s head. What you see may surprise you!! You don’t often see the raw & vulnerable side of a man. We mustn’t forget to mention the heat both figuratively and literally between these two. If you like it turned up a bit then you will love the love that holds these two together!! I hope you will jump with both feet, into the Russo Saga. It’s going to be an amazing ride! and we’re on!!
This book is most definitely worth your precious time and hard earned money!! Well done Ms. Nicolina Martin!!! Can’t wait for book 2, where we get to meet the next Russo who has a story to tell!!
Nathan lives in the shadows. He’s confused and lost at times. He’s not a good man.
“An empty shell of a man is what I am, but I don’t know how to live any other life. Not anymore.”
“Sometimes I think I’m two people.”
Sydney’s confused as well after meeting Nathan. She lives in the light. She’s innocent.
“He’s fire. And I’m a moth. I’m pulled to him by invisible strings, but I’ll burn if I stay.”
He starts to see a way out. He’s drawn to her. He wants to be with her night and day. She gives him hope.
“I finally found a reason, the strength to move on. I’ve changed for you, Sydney.”
Ms. Martin’s words take us on one wild ride with these two characters. There’s so much intensity and their passionate moments sizzle.
There’s more characters that will have their own books in the Russo Saga. I highly recommend starting with Heat as another brother will
tempt us soon on what will surely be another intriguing story.
3.5 stars
“Either I cut him out and lose him, or I stay, and lose myself.”
When I first started reading this book, I was impressed by how different it was. In the beginning, it’s unclear whether the male main character is a mobster or a mercenary. I immediately realized that this isn’t a boilerplate organized crime, which I greatly appreciated. I also loved the palpable sexual tension between the main characters.
However, after their initial meeting, I quickly became disappointed by the multiple “coincidences” leading the main characters to continuously run into each other. I had expected Martin to be more creative than to just have the characters “accidentally“ run into one another multiple times (for example, having them “coincidentally” sitting right next to one another an airplane just hours after meeting.
Aside from the numerous “coincidences”, HEAT is a really well told story! However, it needs a good proofread. *** If you would like to hear my editing/proofreading critique, continue reading. Otherwise, this is where my review ends!!!***
There were a lot of inconsistencies, for example, Oxford commas were used The majority of the time but not always, and commas were not always used between adjectives (for example, “an expertly cut dark blond stubble”) or semicolons were erroneously used instead of commas. TOO was never offset by commas when in the middle of a sentence even when it should’ve been, and the FANBOYS comma rule and rules for using OH we’re not followed (for example with, “Oh my God”). There were typos like FURTHER instead of FARTHER, MIGHT when it should’ve been MAY, and HELL was always capitalized even when it shouldn’t have been. There were sentences with missing words, extra words, the wrong word and some with missing letters (for example, “Will do,” mutters Nathan and squeezes my hand.” and, “She chuckles and open her eyes.”). Semicolons weren’t used correctly, spacing rules dictated by the The Chicago Manual of Style were not followed for em dashes or ellipses, and the expression PLAY IT BY EAR was worded incorrectly as, “I’ll play it by the ear.”
I love mafia books and this one wasnt a disagreement. When two strangers meet in a club they never thought it would change their lives forever. Nate is beyond sexy, with dominant rough persona. The way leads Sydney to bend at his will was a thrill to read. Sydney held her own bring the light he so much needed to escape the hardness of the life of his family. Great book and amazing plot, cant wait to read more in this series.
4.5 stars
What a delightful surprise. I am not sure there was ever a more aptly named book than this one because sweet holy hell, the chemistry, and steam between Nathan and Sydney were hotter than hot.
I was sucked in from the very beginning but it wasn’t until these two met on the plane and the banter between the characters really took off and made it so that I couldn’t quit reading. The author did a great job saying so much without saying anything. The anticipation and the feelings, both the want and the fighting of the want, that came about because of this crazy attraction made it that much more enticing.
I felt that the ending came to fast and didn’t give me enough of how they got from the then to the now. Considering this was a big jump and hurdle to overcome I was disappointed. That was my only complaint.
I liked the dark underbelly of the criminal world and its undertones throughout the book. I really liked the Nathan’s brother, Christian, and definitely want to see more of him in the future. This has the making of a great series. I look forward to reading more.
I love mafia genres with unpredictable events but this story was filled with fallible occurrence.
This is the first book in a new series by Nicolina Martin. This story revolves around Nathan and Sydney. Theses two characters couldn’t be more different. We have Sydney who is clean cut and a workaholic and Nathan who works very hard, but not so clean cut. Circumstances keep placing these two together so when things do what up between them it is off the charts hot. I had to check my kindle a time or two to make sure there was no steam coming out if it.
I enjoyed the fact it was told in dual POV’s. I like to get a peek into what the other is thinking. With this being the first in a series am looking forward to the next. I am one of those nerdy girls that has to know what is going to happen with everybody else’s stories. Let’s face it we met some characters and I know you want to see how all of their stories unfold just as much as I do.
Aw, man, I LOVED this book! The author has a gift for writing flirtatious banter and I fell for this couple, right away. There is at once a lightheartedness to the flirting between the main characters and an intensity to their connection that kept me on the edge of my seat. I was never quite sure what to expect with their encounters, but I think that was part of what I enjoyed so much. There was an unpredictability to the storyline that kept me wanting to read just a few more pages, even at the expense of some much-needed sleep. LOL
There are some triggers and this is more on the dark side of romance, but I don’t think this should dissuade anyone from reading this book. I happily recommend this book (and author) to anyone wanting a thrilling, romantic adventure.