Ivan: A Dark Mafia Romance (Underworld Book 1)

Story 3.5/5 & Spice 3.5/5I enjoyed the book and the interaction between the MCs. Not enough to move right into the next... but I think it's because I've done almost 10 Sophie Lark books in a row and I need more spice. I'll probably finish the series, at some point.

Loved the banter between these two. Sloane is a strong FMC (that a lot of romance books fail to have). Plot was good, believable. Spice was 🌶️🌶️

I really liked the characters and the storyline. The only negative was that it was about 100 pages too short which is why their relationship felt a bit rushed. I would have loved to have another 100 pages to learn more about them and Ivan's business.

I have loved this colors of crime series. I liked this one because it set the stage for what was to come in the story. We found out that Sloane was a hit woman and that she had come to Russia to stay looking for her father and found out that her CIA father had become so paranoid in the end that he doesn't get shot or killed with poison or anything he thought would kill him he gets run over by a vehicle. So Sloane decides to stay and because her father had taught her everything that a CIA operative would know about killing and getting out of situations since the age of six, it was just naturally that resorted to being a hit person what else would a woman who grew up without a mother, because her mother died of cancer young and a father who was always in a state of readiness as a CIA agent, even when he was at home with her. Then their is Ivan Petrov who is the head of the largest Bratva families in Russia he and his brother took over from his father with him being the head. After Sloane finished her assignment taking care of Yozhin she goes to her apartment. She puts the disc that she stole in a steel case and put it behind a loose stone in her fireplace. Then as she is getting ready to rest and decide what to do she gets a chance for another assignment and lo and behold she finds out that the assignment is Ivan Petrov. That is how they get to know one another. He trying to kill him in his own home in his sanctuary called the Monastery because that is what it use to be outside of St. Petersburg. Sloane had devised a way to get into Ivan's home and went into his bedroom and was going to stick a syringe with a paralytic into his throat but, of course, Ivan is not sleep and grabs her arms knocks the syringe out her arm and takes her into the dungeon to interrogate her. He first ties her up before he slings her over his arm and takes her down there. Then he sits her in a chair and cuts her clothes off of her after having tied her feet and arms to this steel chair. She decides that she is attracted to Ivan and she feels that he is attracted to her too. One things leads to another and they finally act on their attraction. Him because he finds out that his enemy has sent him the head of one of his men, the young man Karol. So this is where the story starts to get really interesting. They do get tested. He had decided to let her stay. Sloane still wanted to try to find a way out to prove that she could and then their is both their enemies. It turned out to be a page turner for me. I really enjoyed the book. I would enjoy reading Sophie Lark's stories. This one I would highly recommend it. It is a Good Read.

Contains subject matter that may be a trigger or offensive to some including adult language, steamy adult intimate scenes with submission / domination, restraints, spankings for punishment and pleasure, etc. and violence such as kidnapping / abduction, murder, torture, assault, fighting, blackmail, etc.There are a few grammatical issues, but not many. I mention this in the event you are like me and any issue interrupts the scenes playing out in your mind while reading.The world building could be better, it needed more detail surrounding the city, otherwise I think this could have been set pretty much any place cold. The chemistry between Ivan and Sloane is fine and contains an insta-love type element. Could have worked a little bit better with a different type of dialogue between them.Sloane is a contract killer, aka assassin, and she has always succeeded at all her contracts. She just finished up one that killed a politician where she had to physically work at a strip club for 6+ weeks. Once that one has been completed she travels to her safe house in St. Petersburg to start a well deserved break. That is until she gets an offer too good to pass up.Eliminate a Bratva leader and net $500k … no problem, right?! Wrong, so wrong … Now that she has been caught what is he gonna do? Torture? Water board her? Beat her? Nope, none of the above …

I read this book because I am currently within reading The Kingmakers series. However, I know before starting The Bully, which I am so excited about, you should read Ivan and Snow.I went in to this book really wanting it to end because I wanted to get back to the Kingmakers series. But, it was a short fun read. I laughed more than I felt anxious while reading this book. Usually I read mafia books and the hero is always mean and hard, but that can't be said for Ivan. He was a teddy bear that fell for Sloane quicker than I would have thought.Sloane was hilarious and admitted that should couldn't win every fight and had to be strategic. I loved her since of personality and toughness.As for the book I give it a 3.25/5 because I wasn't really into it. Granted I may have just been trying to quickly read it to move on quickly. I finished this book in a day 🤣, but it wasn't long at all. I just didn't feel the chemistry between Ivan or Sloane at all. There relationship didn't build and they just fell for each other in thin air. The sexual chemistry was there. I did like the conflict plot and to see Ivan switch when he needed was remarkable.I would recommend to read this book for sake the of other books in the world. But, Sophie has said it herself you really don't have to 🤷🏾‍♀️. I just wanted to do the reading order based on a bookstagrammers recommendation who loves the Kingmakers series 🤩.

It did the trick on a rainy Sunday but it was "fine". Nothing ground breaking. She wasn't my favorite and i don't like that he didn't seem invisible.

It’s a hot blooded, ballsy Bratva romp from beginning to end. I’m hoping these two keep appearing in the rest of this series because I’m kind of in love with them.It’s so uplifting to read a story with a true beautiful badass of a heroine who is strong, feisty but utterly likeable! Sloane is just such an awesome character that I couldn’t help but adore.Usually, when a woman portrayed as a badass there’s a kind of aloofness or arrogance that makes them appear harsh and emotionless. Whilst Sloane is definitely focused and driven to achieve her goal and hit her target, she’s also witty, sassy and brilliantly sarcastic. Her intelligence and skill has created a highly dangerous assassin, but despite the callousness that her profession expects there is humour and even a hint of empathy for the hits she carries out.We first meet Sloane when she is working undercover as a stripper to lure her target into her trap. It’s planned meticulously and executed to perfection. Almost too easy. But, her next job might not be so easy.The target is Bratva Boss, Ivan Petrov. Ruthless, cold, arrogant and dangerous, Ivan is one of the main Bratva families in St Petersburg. He lives in an old renovated Monastery. And to top it off... he’s gorgeous, fit and built like a god. However, it’s not going well for Ivan and his brother Dom, as another powerful kingpin is muscling in on all the wealthy attributes that the underworld has to offer in the city. His new adversary is causing huge financial losses and if Ivan isn’t careful he will lose too much of what he and his family have built and gained over the decades.Just when he thinks things can’t get any worse, a stealthy and deadly Sloane manages to enter his huge estate. Just as she thinks the contract to take Ivan’s life is as good as done, she is discovered, captured and imprisoned in a dungeon below the house.She should be scared right? Yes, she should be... but strangely she isn’t. There’s something about Ivan that attracts her like a moth to a flame. Instead of either acting dumb or obnoxious, she plays her part perfectly. Within a matter of minutes she sees her best tactic is to play it cool.The banter and light hearted feel to their blossoming relationship is so heartwarming and funny. Had me giggling lots of times throughout the book because these two really do deserve each other. Such a great couple.There’s so much packed into the latter stages of this book that I don’t want to give any more away.... but all I will say is that these two have enough fire and passion to literally take explore.Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Amazing characters and you really get to feel like you are there with them.Please Sophie Lark... make sure I get to find out more about this adorable couple! Loved their story so much, and my little old heartstrings could definitely do with more of these two.

The Insta love was cringe worthy don't get me wrong I love Sophies writing but this book just felt rushed. The premise of the story was good but how the hell did they fall in love I feel like I completely missed that part and even the whole fighting to get his girl back fell a bit short this guy was supposed to be a real problem but that just didn't come across on the page I'll obviously be continuing with the series because I'm a s**t for Russian mafia romances but this one was just not it for me.

This is the first book by Sophie Lark that I've read and I loved it.If you like excitement, action and suspense and a whole lot of hot romance, then this is the book for you.Sloane is hired as an assassin...and her intended victim is Ivan...in St Petersburg, Russia...umm, things don't quite go as planned...and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! :)

Kick ass heroine, gorgeous, dominant male - what’s not to love about this?!?!? Loved the plot, gutted that it seemed over all too quickly, a recurrent theme with your books it seems. I get swept away with everything far too easily, reading greedily until ultimately, the wild ride is over and I’m looking at the end of the book…..

What I read, I enjoyed. I feel like the whole book was massively rushed - did I miss something? Was there a previous book I was supposed to read prior to this one? I just feel a little let down because I really love Sophie’s writing. Ivan and Sloane were great, something was missing though and I think it was like 5 more chapters throughout!