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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
m1ch3lle's review against another edition
4.0
After reading the others and always in the background was Nicolai and Vivian 's story, waiting. This turn out to be more 3.5 almost 4 stars for me. I think I expected a little more grittiness but this more focused on the other players as far as the underground is concerned. Still it was a good story. My hearts strings were pull, the love story was good. I can see why the Nicolai , volume 2. But this won't stop me from reading the next , and the next.
strawberrylover's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
div_hufflepuff's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this book, i liked it enough to give it 4 stars lol
Nikolai is a a russian mobster who has been watching over Vivian for 11 years if I'm not mistaken. In that time he has fallen in love with her but wants to keep his distance because of the line of work that he is in. However, circumstances causes him and Vivian to come together but one of Nikolai's secrets from the past could possibly break them apart. So this is the summary for the most part.
Cons:
1. I wanted more flashbacks of Nikolai's past. I'm guessing it will show up in later novels but I'm not sure.
2. Vivian came off as kind of a baby to me, but then again there was that big age difference
3. Would have loved to see Nikolai's darker side. I knew Nikolai was a mobster and that he had a good conscience to him, but I wanted to see more of that bad side. What made his men so fearful of him? Don't just tell me, show me.
Pros:
1. The story was AWESOME! Look I love a good story and this was a good story, not to mention some pretty funny moments.
2. The love scenes were really good. They weren't sleazy or overtly done. I mean we all come across those novels that make these scenes so full of eh that they become so unbelievable, and then you have the ones that are just cheap and sleazy. This not at all. I found them to be classy.
3. Loved how Vivian held on to her faith in this one. The chick held on to that V card until her wedding day lol
4. Loved the romance between these two, came off as cheesy on some parts but man it was worth it.
Nikolai is a a russian mobster who has been watching over Vivian for 11 years if I'm not mistaken. In that time he has fallen in love with her but wants to keep his distance because of the line of work that he is in. However, circumstances causes him and Vivian to come together but one of Nikolai's secrets from the past could possibly break them apart. So this is the summary for the most part.
Cons:
1. I wanted more flashbacks of Nikolai's past. I'm guessing it will show up in later novels but I'm not sure.
2. Vivian came off as kind of a baby to me, but then again there was that big age difference
3. Would have loved to see Nikolai's darker side. I knew Nikolai was a mobster and that he had a good conscience to him, but I wanted to see more of that bad side. What made his men so fearful of him? Don't just tell me, show me.
Pros:
1. The story was AWESOME! Look I love a good story and this was a good story, not to mention some pretty funny moments.
2. The love scenes were really good. They weren't sleazy or overtly done. I mean we all come across those novels that make these scenes so full of eh that they become so unbelievable, and then you have the ones that are just cheap and sleazy. This not at all. I found them to be classy.
3. Loved how Vivian held on to her faith in this one. The chick held on to that V card until her wedding day lol
4. Loved the romance between these two, came off as cheesy on some parts but man it was worth it.
suntimes's review against another edition
3.0
3 stars
I think I had such high hopes for this that the story didn’t measure up. It fell kind of flat tbh. Nikolai was so sweet. But something about the story was just kind of…meh. I didn’t not like it though. It probably because I liked Yuri’s story so much.
I think I had such high hopes for this that the story didn’t measure up. It fell kind of flat tbh. Nikolai was so sweet. But something about the story was just kind of…meh. I didn’t not like it though. It probably because I liked Yuri’s story so much.