I was pure fire.And she was my light.Grigory MikhailovHuge. Silent. Brooding. And pure fire on the ice. As a defenseman for the Brooklyn Blades he takes his aggression out during the game, attacking with all the force of an inferno. He’s everything I shouldn’t want in a man. Until the Russian who has secretly been holding a torch for me comes to my rescue in a time of need.Now, I see the calm at … to my rescue in a time of need.
Now, I see the calm at the center of his storm.
But will it be enough to withstand outside forces that threaten to come between us?
Warning: due to adult content and language, 18+ only.
This is a BWWM Stand Alone Romance in the International Legacies Romance series:
The Italian Heir
The French Thief
The Nordic Lightning
Her Icelandic Protector
more
Let me start by saying that Camilla Stevens is a favorite author of mine, which is why I’ll continue to read her books. Her Russian Defender is the latest installment in her International Legacies series, which features the story of Grigory and Zia. Grigory is a Russian alpha male with some brooding tendencies and a low emotional IQ. Zia is an African-American female with an open and warm, but sometimes people-pleasing heart. This story is what happens when her open heart calls out to his closed off one and sparks fly. I love Camilla Stevens’ ability to create a world so vivid that you actually feel like you are truly a part of the story. The interplay between Zia and her girlfriends is simply amazing. As an African-American woman with a sister circle, I’ve had some of these same conversations among my friends so these discussions ring true for me. I love that all of her African-American female characters are so varied and diverse in terms of their personalities. She creates multi-layered characters that allow the reader to see whole people. Ms. Stevens also has an uncanny ability to make me want to visit every place she describes in her International Legacies novels. Maybe one day, right?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a great read. Grigory and Zia have a chemistry that’s almost palpable. Their romance burns hot and fast, but their relationship also involves personal growth and sacrifice. Grigory’s protective Alpha nature stays on 10 and that’s was just fine with me. Once I started this book, I didn’t want to put it down.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I first started reading this author with her book Nordic Lightning and I enjoyed both characters. While I also enjoyed Zia and Grigory in this story I wasn’t really a big fan of the storyline itself. It took most of the first quarter of this book before these two were actually together for more than a nano second, which instead of ramping up the tension it made the story really drag. Once they got together things started picking up then we went into full on stereotypical Russian drama mode, which took up another half of the book, which just brought the momentum to their courtship to a screeching halt. They finally get back together and we get a rush to the end, we do get an epilogue so we see what happens in their future.
What worked for me Zia was a strong woman, when her boyfriend cheated on her she defended her own honor, kept it together and kept on moving. I loved Grigory’s intensity, his dropped speech articles and his bluntness and big heart under that brooding exterior. While there was chemistry between them it wasn’t overtly intense, for me it was a sweet comfortable passionate type of thing. Zia didn’t go to much into drama queen angst mode when things went sideways, she kept herself together. Grigory was very pragmatic about his unwanted situation, but still wanted to figure out how to make things work with Zia.
For me the story didn’t do either of them justice and which it had taken a different path, I liked both Zia and Grigory and how easily they meshed despite some stumbles. Over the top unwanted drama not so much.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Zia was a different type of heroine–more modern hippie who had a penchant for being attracted to the wrong type of men. Men who needed coddling in a relationship. We caught a glimpse of Grigory and Zia at a party in one of the other books in the series. Grigory is thunderstruck by Zia’s beauty (and her hair) but unfortunately receives bad news from home and never gets to meet her.
The two are reunited through their mutual matchmaking friends. Zia had nor has any clue about the Grigory’s attraction to her. When she needs a temporary place to stay, sparks fly. Zia’s sworn off men and doesn’t trust her picker and Grigory is in no position to romance her. I found the reason very intriguing. Will they give in to their growing attraction or are they destined be nothing more than platonic roommates?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Tugging at the heart strings, left me with a smile
In the about section this book seems to be a sport romance, and although Grigory does play ice hockey, I did no feel as if this was the main focus of the book. Grigory and Zia get together in a fairly undramatic way, even if Zia is fighting the attraction. Grigory acknowledges his attraction but is left unsure as to the wisdom of pursuing the relationship. I felt that both characters showed immense growth – not only in their relationship but also in accepting the realities of themselves and their place in the world.
*spoiler alert*
There were some mafia shenanigans that impacted the couple. This was resolved in such a mature way that I felt even stronger about the couples HEA. It was truely deserved. I felt a nice positive buzz after reading this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.