Blood Brothers SeriesBook #2MikialWhen she’s was found at age four on the streets of New Orleans with no memories of who she even is, Pepper is left in a void.Years pass and when she goes into a gallery that Mikial Bannonkov owns to view a painting of a little girl with silver curls, it brings back memories. Memories she doesn’t know if she can trust.Memories of a murder.Moments later, a window … doesn’t know if she can trust.
Memories of a murder.
Moments later, a window shatters from a bullet and it plunges Pepper into another nightmare.
Mikial offers her protection and helps her to unravel her past. A past someone doesn’t want her to remember.
Mikial is with Pepper every step of the way as she uncovers all the secrets and lies of her life. Can he keep her alive so he can make her his woman?
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3.5 stars– MIKIAL is the second instalment in KJ Dahlen’s contemporary, adult BRATVA BLOOD BROTHERS erotic, Russian Mafia, romance series focusing on a close-knit group of friends, originally from Russia. This is import/export dealer Mikial Bannonkov, and legal researcher Pepper Windjue’s story line. MIKIAL can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary. The author begins each story with a prequel short story focusing on the history of the ‘brothers’ and how they came to be.
NOTE: MIKIAL is the re-release of the author’s April 2017 IN COLD BLOOD.
SOME BACKGROUND:
Five young boys and childhood friends (Yuri, Sazon, Barshan, Mikial and Roman) survived the mean-streets of Russia only to be rescued and reared by a local gym owner Ivan Russo, who would meet his death by a local gang. Seeking revenge against the gang, local Russian Bratva member and soon to be New York Russian mafia leader Nikoli Silvanic would mentor the five young men until they were ready to take on the world, with the approval of Russian Bratva leader Sergi Constantine. When the time came Nikoli Silvanic would take over the New York territory, while the five ‘blood brothers’ would take over New Orleans.
Told from several third perspectives including Mikial and Pepper MIKIAL follows the quick building romance between import/export businessman Mikial Bannonkov, and legal researcher Pepper Windjue. An art showing at a local gallery owned by the five Russian Bratva brothers brought together some of the elite of New Orleans but Pepper Windjue found herself staring down her future and her past. With a recommendation from a friend Pepper saw what could have been a painting from her life, an exact image of the child she once was but never knew. A mysterious man, a unknown shooter, and an attempt on her life find our heroine under protective custody by the man with whom she would fall in love. Enter Mikial Bannonkov, import/ export businessman, and a man whose own business interests are about to over lap with Pepper’s past. What ensues are the quick building lust to love romance between Pepper and Mikial, and the potential fall –out when Pepper becomes collateral damage in a war between the Russian and Irish mob.
The relationship between Pepper and Mikial is very quick to build. From the attempt on her life into protective custody with the Bratva Brothers, Pepper and Mikial will find themselves falling in bed within hours of meeting, and proclaiming their love in a matter of days. I would have loved a slower build-up to love and a happily ever after. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic, and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text. I will add, that in this age of STDs and AIDs, I believe an author has a obligation and duty to promote safer sex, but there is NO mention of condom usage throughout the first two story lines.
All of Mikial’s Bratva Blood Brothers play secondary and supporting characters including the ongoing relationship struggles between Yuri and Raven (Yuri #1). Barshan’s story line is next.
The book description noted for a limited time, the book includes bonus content. At the beginning of the book the author adds that MIKIAL is a full length novel but ends before 100% on the Kindle File…I’d say….the story line ended at 12% with the remaining 88% focusing on the author’s Satan Spawn MC and Sin’s Bastards series, as well as other books by Butterfly Publishing. The first 2 % covered the background and history of the Bratva Brothers, a prequel that is also included in book one Yuri. I was hoping for a longer story line; a more thorough look at the conflict between Mikial and the Irish mob; and the connections to our heroine’s past.
MIKIAL is an easy read; simple in its’ presentation and formula. The premise is entertaining and intriguing; the characters are colorful; the romance is quick, fast and hot. If you are a fan of insta-lust/love then MIKIAL is the perfect read! If you are a fan of the Russian Mafia trope, then the Bratva Blood Brothers series is another chance to enjoy the ride.
** spoiler alert ** Pepper grew up not knowing where she came from. Mikial grew up on the streets and only trusts a select few. Instantly the two are drawn together. Will Pepper learn the truth to her past? Will Mikial find the love he yearns for?
Loved the instant chemistry between these two. Just like in book 1 of this series, the two characters were instantly drawn together and both yearned for the connection. Loved how Mikial was an alpha male, but he still showed his love. Didn’t blame Pepper for being afraid of her past, but was proud when she proved how strong she was. Good read!
YOU BETTER BRING BACK UP!!!
Ok guys sit back take your shoes off, make sure you get a drink. This is a fast paced, easy to follow, well written and man are you in for the ride of your life. Fast talking, steaming hot, eyes locked and electricity shot through their whole bodies. Yeah, I’m not talking about a power line. Chemistry so hot, a bond so strong and that’s just the beginning. You’re captivated from the first sentence. Your attention is totally focused on all the twists and turns and unexpected surprises that seem to shoot out of every crack. Action packed, heated scenes so realistic you feel the breeze off the bullet that just past. You are hanging on to anything to ground yourself to find some sanity still there. You can’t help but feel a kinship to these characters as you start to understand their personalities that transforms the relationship. Hard and fast rules. You got their back and they’ve got yours. So sweaty, hot sultry scenes that hit it hard and on the edge. I have to really admire KJ cause this is so straight up its like living it. KJ brought this straight from hell to life so smooth and seemless and just that good.