Series: Belikov Crime Family
Volume: 1/?Publisher: Self-Published
Genre/s: Dark Erotic Romance, Mafia/MC
Length: 40 000
Read in: English
Review copy format: epub
Rate:✮✮✮✮✬✰
Jacoby Richards, a motorcycle club member known as JR, is not the lucky one. The night before the planned drug deal between his club and the Russian mafia, he spends the night with the man he has long been in love with, but the next day it turns out that he was set up and thrown to the Russian wolves.
JR's questioning is carried out by Ruslan Belikov himself, the head of the criminal organization who enjoys sexually torturing people, especially men, and who has lost his money and drugs because of the motorcycle club. However, it quickly turns out that Jacoby finds the torture and suffering pleasurable, which excites Belikov even more. Between the torturer and his victim begins to form a bond of attachment based on their addiction to pleasure, which is slowly getting out of control.
JR's questioning is carried out by Ruslan Belikov himself, the head of the criminal organization who enjoys sexually torturing people, especially men, and who has lost his money and drugs because of the motorcycle club. However, it quickly turns out that Jacoby finds the torture and suffering pleasurable, which excites Belikov even more. Between the torturer and his victim begins to form a bond of attachment based on their addiction to pleasure, which is slowly getting out of control.
Reviewing "Bad Deal", the first volume of "Belikov Crime Family" series, I decided to start with the warnings that we can find at the end of the description of this novel. Why? Because I think that referring to them in a few words is important both for the book itself and for my opinion about it. Let's start with the fact that making a decision about reading this novel, I took the authors' warnings seriously, but I also took into consideration that there is a possibility that we are dealing with some kind of a "scarecrow". And although I like sweet stories, I admit that it was the remarks at the end of the blurb that ultimately influenced my decision to reach for this book. I don't regret that I did it because "Bad Deal" is a story that I would definitely love if I read it about ten or fifteen years ago. Let's note that in this novel, we are really dealing with the brutality of the mafia, killing people with cold blood and various types of torture, especially sexual ones. This book is not a modern fairy tale about "Beauty and the Beast", but a kind of embodiment of perversion that combines pure violence, BDSM, sex and love. And this is undoubtedly an advantage here.
I mentioned BDSM and I want to write a bit more about it, as it really is a great advantage of this novel and in many respects it occupies an extremely significant place in it. There is no denying that in the mafia circle domination and violence play an important role, but in the case of "Bad Deal", Faith Ryan and Ember-Raine Winters made them even more meaningful. As the head of the crime family, Ruslan Belikov must be ruthless, but it so happens that all manifestations of this ruthlessness are his sexual weakness, so obviously he looks for some possibilities to satisfy his needs, and it includes domination, violence, pain and binding. But that's not all, his weakness for this kind of harsh play turns out to be the key to Jacoby's discovery of some interesting things about himself, as he finds out that he likes pain, humiliation, being tied up and to some extent submissive, and observing violence excites him. In this case it's easy to guess, that as we are dealing with two such extreme characters, there's no place for light BDSM practices in this book, and it really suits this novel which raises such and no other topics.
I admit, the thing that undoubtedly surprised me in "Bad Deal" was the fact that in the case of some of their characters, the authors really enforced a certain brutality, and what's more, emphasized the offhand manner of killing in a mafia circle. Let's be honest, in the case of many novels, as well as movies or TV shows, the death of characters closely associated with the leads is delayed indefinitely or a great drama is created around their murder. Usually, this is to present the positive features of a protagonist or antagonist who, although evil, seems to have a good heart. As for this book, we can forget all about it, because "Bad Deal" has its own laws. In short, the one who should die, from Ruslan Belikov's point of view, simply dies, just like that, even if later on there are certain consequences for Ruslan's sexual and professional life. He allows to live those who have some value for him or who may be valuable in the future. To tell the truth, I really like this ruthlessness and frankness of this character, because thanks to this way of creating him, Rus is even more interesting.
What I lacked in "Bad Deal" to some extent was the presentation of the characters' inner development. Although we have an insight into their thoughts and feelings, we miss some deeper analysis or proper study of their evolution. An example may be the fact that in the novel we are dealing with the feelings born between the torturer and the victim, so it seems to me that to many people the first thing that comes to mind in such a case is the Stockholm syndrome. And so the question arises, whether Jacoby's feelings are really love or just an answer of his psyche to the events that take place in his life. In the end, Ruslan doesn't give him many reasons to love him in an emotional sense. So how exactly the sexual pleasures turned into some deeper feelings, if we are dealing with real love in this case? So far, these are questions without concrete, unambiguous answers, and that's why I regret that when we get to know the main characters, we don't go deeper into their psyche. Rus and JR are really fascinating and I would like to learn more about how their minds work in more psychological sens.
To sum up, "Bad Deal" is a pretty good and interesting novel that will undoubtedly appeal to many readers who like spicy, hot stories, topic of harder BDSM and who don't avoid the display of violence. It's a hundred percent dark romance set in the circle of criminal organizations, after reading of which you immediately feel like reaching for another part of Ruslan and Jacoby's story.
Headcanon: From time to time, Ruslan gives Jacoby some presents. The thing is that all of them are either erotic toys or BDSM accessories.
Fanfiction idea: Jacoby's dream, in which Ruslan is a affectionate, loving, perfect boyfriend. JR wakes up terrified because in his opinion sweet Rus is a scarry Rus, and he definitely doesn't want him to behave that way.
AU idea: JR is a prisoner of war, and Ruslan, a general of the enemy army, is the one who tortures him.
Here's some more about:
Blurb
Book Title: Bad Deal (Belikov Crime Family 1)
Author: Ember-Raine Winters & Faith Ryan
Cover Artist: Always Inked
Heat Rating: 5 flames
It’s the first in a series but stands alone
He’s a Russian devil and he owns me.
JR Richards
What’s worse than wanting the one person you can never have? How about finally getting them. Don’t get me wrong the sex was great, but everything that came after? Yeah, it’s like they say, be careful what you wish for.
Ruslan Belikov
My brother made a deal that didn’t go as planned. Now I have to get back what’s ours and pretty boy Jacoby is the tool to make that happen. I’ll torture and use him until I get what I want, then I’ll toss him aside like the rest.
A motorcycle club and a Mafia family shouldn’t make deals. Someone’s bound to lose. Family, friends and hearts, nothing’s safe in a world fueled by drugs, money and sex.
WARNING: Ruslan Belikov and Jacoby Richards may not be for everyone. They are two dominant men thrown into an impossible situation. Some readers may find their story makes them uncomfortable. If you don't like dark and dirty mafia bosses who use torture and sex to get their way turn back now. You have been warned.
JR Richards
What’s worse than wanting the one person you can never have? How about finally getting them. Don’t get me wrong the sex was great, but everything that came after? Yeah, it’s like they say, be careful what you wish for.
Ruslan Belikov
My brother made a deal that didn’t go as planned. Now I have to get back what’s ours and pretty boy Jacoby is the tool to make that happen. I’ll torture and use him until I get what I want, then I’ll toss him aside like the rest.
A motorcycle club and a Mafia family shouldn’t make deals. Someone’s bound to lose. Family, friends and hearts, nothing’s safe in a world fueled by drugs, money and sex.
WARNING: Ruslan Belikov and Jacoby Richards may not be for everyone. They are two dominant men thrown into an impossible situation. Some readers may find their story makes them uncomfortable. If you don't like dark and dirty mafia bosses who use torture and sex to get their way turn back now. You have been warned.
Excerpt
I follow behind them quietly as Demitri shoves him toward the bathroom. I notice Jacoby wince as Demitri squeezes his shoulder. I file that information away for later when the fun really begins. As I enter the bathroom, I remove my suit jacket folding it over the counter and rolling my sleeves up to my elbows.
I see Jacoby shiver as Demitri blasts the cold water on him not bothering to let him remove his underwear. “Leave us.” I bark. Demitri jumps as if I’ve startled him, but does as told and scurries from the bathroom shutting the door firmly behind him. Jacoby’s eyes watch me as I move closer. I’m not sure if it’s fear or something else in his eyes as he glares at me. There was no heat behind it. “You like this, don’t you?” I wave a hand over my body. Jacoby nods. Good, no point in lying to me when I could see it written all over his face. My cock is painfully hard and I decide it’s time for some relief. “On your knees.” My thick accent becomes even thicker the more aroused I become. When he does nothing but drop to his knees and await my instructions, my hands go to my belt unbuckling it and pulling the leather slowly from my slacks. His breath catches in his throat when I pull myself out stroking once, twice before stepping forward and grabbing a fistful of his hair.
“Open,” I growl shoving myself down his throat. He gags and his eyes water as I start my punishing pace. Both my hands are in his hair pulling it roughly as I piston my hips. It only takes him a second to acclimate and stop gagging. I push harder and move faster. The feel of absolute control feels like heaven and has me coming like a river down his throat. This kid is the perfect submissive. Too bad I can’t keep him. As soon as I find my drugs, I’ll have to get rid of him. The thought has me pausing momentarily. No matter, I’ll enjoy it while it lasts.
Once my cock is sated, I close up my pants and walk out of the bathroom without a word. Demitri gives me an odd look as I exit the room and make my way down the hall. “Hang him up by the hook for the night, Demitri.” I never turn as I give the order. I hear Demitri’s grunt of understanding and continue to my apartment above the club.
About the Authors
Ember-Raine Winters
Ember-Raine Winters lives in sunny California with her two beautiful kids and a wolf. Also known as Apache her pure white Siberian Husky. She loves writing romance and reading just about anything she can get her hands on. And, football! She loves watching football and going to games. It's one of her favorite ways to unwind. She dislikes the super-hot temperatures in her city and exercise. She hates to exercise but somehow her sister still gets her to do it every day. She also thinks it's completely awkward talking about herself in third person. Ember loves connecting with readers so don't be afraid to stalk her and drop her a line on social media.
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Faith Ryan
Faith Ryan is wife to a handsome bearded man and mother to three, yes three, teenage girls. She lives in a small town in Ohio and is an avid reader of romance and frequently finishes several books in one day. A coworker once told her that people who read romance are considered smarter than others, Faith totally agrees and thinks this doubly applies to romance authors. Everyone needs a little bit (or a lot) of romance in their life!
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