Title: Shattered Crown (Kozlov Empire Book 4)
Published: 18th January 2024
Author: Monica Kayne
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Blurb:
He needs a wife. I need revenge.
To the world, Maxim Belov is a self-made billionaire with charm as deep as his pockets. But strip away the politician’s smile and crisp Armani suits, and you’ll find the puppetmaster commanding Moscow’s underworld—the man who decides who lives or dies.
He’s my best friend’s father and the last person I’d want as an enemy, but when I discover his role in my aunt’s death, I’m hell-bent on retribution. And what better way to learn his secrets than standing by his side—as his wife.
In front of the cameras, he’s all adoring smiles and sweet gestures, but behind closed doors, the devil comes out to play. He’s my every dark fantasy come to life, setting my body on fire with his filthy words and sinful touch.
But I’ll never forget the blood on his hands. When the time comes, Maxim will pay for his sins.
Shattered Crown is an age-gap marriage of convenience mafia romance. It has no cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after. Can be read as a complete standalone.
Review:
Knew this one was going to be good and it did not disappoint. Starting right where we left off with Kira making a deal with the devil. She has her own reasons to want this marriage of convenience and they will soon come to light. Maxim is a man of many faces, he has very few people he trusts completely. Can his new wife find a way into his dark heart or will she be placed on the outskirts forever? Time will tell with this explosive paring as not everything is as it seems.
So after the wedding Kira starts to put her plan in motion. She needs more information if she wants to seek her revenge for the people responsible for her aunts murder, her prime suspect being her new husband. The further she starts to dig and more she learns the harder it is to see whether what she was told was true or not. He isn’t the man she thought he was and whenever a new layer is pulled back she starts to warm to him a little bit more. Doesn’t hurt that he is one very hot older man who seems to make her pulse race.
Now Maxim really went about it the wrong way in the last book with getting his daughter to his side. A phone call might have been better but when you find out what happened in the past you start to understand his fears for wanting her close. Knowing she is safe now with Leo his next point of call is making sure his new wife is safe, whether she likes this fact or not. Her role as his wife is as a distraction for the elite while he tries to contain a situation with his forgery business. This is what leads to more dangers as the people he is going up against aren’t afraid to hit him where it hurts. That being his new wife.
The back and forth tension between Kira and Maxim comes to a head when she sneaks out to follow him after a close call with an attack and finds herself at an underground fight club. One where Maxim is involved and from the look on his face when he spots her not happy that she is there and without protection. This is the breaking point for all the secrets to come to light. The moment he gets a taste of his new wife there is no one on this planet he wants more. They crave each other like no one else but with dangers following them and trying to find out the real people responsible for her aunts death nothing is ever what it seems. Danger could be closer than you thinking if you aren’t careful you might not get there in time to stop it.
Great getting new characters to draw you into a different side of the mafia world, this time with Russian side of things. I really liked his go to right hand men and how they all interacted with each other. That head maid was something else, knew something was off about her. The next few books are going to be linked to them I think with who could be leads. Can’t wait to continue with this series, great books that draw you in to the chaos and chemistry that always follows the leads.
4 out of 5 stars
I received a copy of this book from the author for my honest review.
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