Reviews

Nikolai by Roxie Rivera

stucknbooks14's review against another edition

4.0

Nikolai wondered what was more dangerous to him. Was it the very real possibility of trouble with the Calaveras motorcycle gang and the Guzman Cartel or Vivian living in his home and sleeping across the hall from him? He’d put his money on Vivian.

Nikolai was right, he could have made a pretty penny (not that he needs it) betting on Vivian. I’ve done it again. I’ve fallen in love with a fictional powerful Russian man covered in tattoos with a dirty mouth. This is not just about an innocent girl falling for a mobster. No honey, this has more family drama than a damn soap opera! And because the Russian mafia is involved, it is not meant for daytime television! I was actually surprised when we got Nikolai’s POV, but it quickly became my favorite view. For a big man full of anger and fury, he sure was such a softy. Only with Vivian of course. I’ve read enough mafia books to know that tattoos tell a lot about a man and his organized crime associations. Surely a woman nose deep in it would know that too? Why in the world would she think a tattoo exhibit would be a good idea? I found myself taking Nikolai’s side a lot when it came to her naivety. (How was she so naive?!) When the truth came out, my heart ripped in two. Maybe one of the most gut wrenching moments I’ve read in a mafia book was Nikolai’s I’m sorry. Their communication is unmatched. I never had to stress over avoidable miscommunication. How refreshing is that?! Nikolai made sure Vee understood that she could always talk to him, that she never had to be afraid. It wasn’t bravery that had her standing up to him. It was love and understanding. Nikolai always loved her tender. No one supported her or believed in her more than him. And he showed it time and time again. He was vulnerable with her. He never held back, he felt safe with her by his side. Nikolai deserves a life with Vee in an apron scrambling eggs, without crime scenes and missing persons.

My Favorite Quotes:
•”Nothing will ever keep me away from you.”
•”I started to crave you. I need you. The thought of being separated from you makes my heart bleed.”
•”You can’t be a monster because I love you.”
•”You fit right here.”
•”Such a dirty word from such a pretty mouth.”
•”I shouldn’t feel so possessive of you but you’re so precious to me.”
•”You’re beautiful every day, but today you are exceptionally perfect.”
•”If you can’t tell me, then show me. Let me see your face.”
•”We’ll figure it out...together. You and me, Vee. Forever.”
•”I don’t need a fairy tale. I only need you.”

6/10 Dirty Birdy
6/10 Forbidden Love
9/10 Mafia
8/10 Secret Identity
6/10 Slow Burn

bill_nai_bxtch's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

antoinetteo's review against another edition

emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

the_immortal_library's review against another edition

3.0

Though I enjoyed it... I just wanted to smack the characters around.... how did it take them so long to admit how much they loved each other. How could neither of them see that their love could conquer all. It had more drama than the first 3. But the whole the man monster man is your dad and the kidnapppng and almost abusing of the characters was a bit over the top for me. The first wedding night was a fiasco. I would've been mad too.

fredicia's review against another edition

5.0

Okay, I read all of the books in less than a week, so in a way, I'm rating both Nikolai and the series at the same time.

This is the first non-fantasy adult series I've ever read. I've read things like Black dagger brotherhood, Immortals after Dark, Women of the Otherworld, Lords of the Underworld etc... and I feel like this was on par, or perhaps better than those books.

The intensity, chemistry, and attraction was there between all the couples, even without the added fantasy component. The guys were protective without being controlling. They trusted their partners without stepping in. They were sweet and sexy and FUN to read about. And the sex scenes. WOW. Rivera sure has a way with words. This series is way up there in the adult genre.

As for Nikolai, I would have to say that Vivian and Benny are tied as being my favourite ladies. Vivian was headstrong and assertive and stubborn. She made her opinions clear and didn't let Nikolai boss her around. I really liked the part where she gave up the painting in order to protect Nikolai, because even though Nikolai said it was fine, it was a nice bit of compromise going on there between married couples. And the fact that she didn't give it up in the first place. I liked that.

More people need to know about this series. Like seriously. I don't understand how this isn't on any of the bestsellers list.

ingypingy2000's review against another edition

2.0

One of the better of the series, but barring the fact I find the books to be incredibly juvenile and a "Fabio" fantasy... there were quite a few of the intimate scenes where I'd hear Gilbert Gottfried voice reading it to me because it was so absurd. Russian mobster stories should be told with grit... not painted in pink, BUT this was the better of the ones I read by her so far.

ezichinny's review

4.0

My second favorite in the series, after [bc:Dimitri|22907663|Dimitri (Her Russian Protector, #2)|Roxie Rivera|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1407838175s/22907663.jpg|24800107]. It wasn't as angsty as I was expecting, it had just the right amount of story, love and mob drama to keep this series so entertaining.

This is my first time listening to Pinky Powell narrate a series, and she is doing a great job. I just wish I knew if [bc:Sergei|20495177|Sergei (Her Russian Protector, #5)|Roxie Rivera|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1407837044s/20495177.jpg|26688334] will be available in audio or if I should just go ahead and read it.

see_sadie_read's review

3.0

I can absolutely say that I liked this fourth book better than the first in the series, which is all I had to compare it to at the time I wrote this review, having not read the whole series. I liked Nikolai and Vivian, both, as characters and they were sweet together. I appreciated that the author didn’t bother with a bunch of miscommunications and false drama. The couple was unusually honest with one another (except for the one Big Lie at the center of the plot) and it was refreshing.

The book does follow the old Contemporary Romance dictate that all men must be Big and Rough and Dangerous and all women should be Small and Virginal and Innocent. Blerg. My eye-roll was particularity acute since Rivera was especially prone to point this size difference out during sex scenes. It was always “her small hand” reaching for his cock or his “big hand” tweaking her nipple.

Also on the cliched scale is the fact that the primary challenge of the book comes when Vivian is kidnapped by sex traffickers. The use of abused and exploited women (especially sexually) has got to be THE MOST overused trope in all of human literature. And I am 100% sick of reading it. So much so that, like here, I’ve just started pointing it out whenever I encounter it and asking authors (female authors most of all) to think of something new and MORE INTERESTING. But I do appreciate that Rivera allowed for the abuse of men too, without any drama about it undermining their masculinity.

But overall, I enjoyed Nikolai and Vivian’s story. They were a good match, even with the age gap. I look forward to seeing how their story progresses.

kirbs419's review

4.0

I couldn't wait to read this book and it didn't disappoint! Loved this series and this is definitely my fav so far!

mary_05's review

4.0

I don't think I've ever marathoned a series so fast. I may have started with the latest book, Sergie, before going back to the first book and moving my way up to Nikolai, but I've not had as much fun reading books back to back as I have with this series.
Roxie Rivera really knows how to write an amazingly addictive series. I swear I could not go a day without reading the next book once I was done with one. Alone each book is captivating but together they are like crack, I just couldn't get enough of them.
When I started the Her Russian Protector series I was pretty sure that my favourite book was Sergie, but after reading Nikolai... I'm sorry Sergie... My heart belongs to Nikolai (It totally makes sense why he's getting a second book, just saying).
I loved this book: the drama, the romance, the action, the angst (I'm not usually one for 'angst', but my gosh it was just angst-tastic) all of which when put together and mixed right produce an awesome read. I'm kind of feeling some withdraw now since I burned through them so fast, I can't wait for my next Russian fix.
Roxie Rivera knows her sexy Russians, but seriously; this series is really captivating. It was well paced and the characters just suck you into their lives, you can't help but love them. I'm really looking forward to the rest of the series.