Pretty good story. Emma is working to support her dead sister's three kids and their deadbeat dad. Ruslan is her boss, but the catalyst for him finally noticing her is a butt dial that leaves a sexy VM. The kids are cute, Emma is fine though a bit of a doormat, and Ruslan is the typical overbearing Russian Bratva leader. ( )

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖📖
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨✨

First Impressions
Cruel Paradise is the first book in the Oryolov Bratva duo series by Nicole Fox. This is a story that I was intrigued by the premise of the blurb. The moment I read the blurb, I knew that I needed to read this book. I really was fascinated and curious about this author. And not going to lie in that the cover was a contributing factor. Its super gorgeous. My general impression is that if you love alpha males, domination in the bedroom, dirty talkin and adorable children charming the socks off of this alpha male, a likeable heroine, then you definitely need to read this one. I was so impressed with the writing and it definitely delivered on all the feels for me on this one.

First Line
"Do I have your full attention, Ms. Carson? "

The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Ruslan Oryolov
Bratva boss, devoted to his family, domineering and possessive but craves his own family.

The Heroine: Emma
Hard working, devoted to her two nieces and one nephew after her sister was killed.

Summary
Emma is the personal assistant to Ruslan Oryolov. He is a hard taskmaster and very demanding. What she doesn't plan on is releasing some tension through some sexual satisfaction and with Ruslan being her source of inspiration, only to find out she butt dialed the man and left him a voicemail of the experience. Her embarassment knows no bounds, but when he drafts up a contract for her to be his sexual plaything in return for some financial compensation, she reluctantly agrees. She is barely making it by living in New York City and supporting three children with a pile of debts. She does what she needs to do, but she can't deny the attraction that she holds for him, but betrayal and secrets could tear them apart before their relationship can get off the ground...

What I Loved
So many aspects to this story that I loved. Now its not a perfect story. There will be readers that will not enjoy this book. However, I found this one to be catnip for me. It just worked for me in every way. I just so hooked on the romance, and Ruslan was a sexy alpha dreamboat. I found the heroine to be pretty likeable, she could be a bit naive at times, but you can see how drained she is. The stress is getting to her and I really appreciated that she was written in a way that I could easily relate to her character.

There is so much great sexual tension that builds between our characters. Ruslan has such strong alpha vibes so if you appreciate a sexy alpha male, then you will fall hard for Ruslan. But what intrigued me more was his reaction to the three children, especially Josh. The relationships that he builds with these children was so infectious and I couldn't help but be intrigued by it. It had such an endearing poignant quality to it. Ruslan isn't use to having to use his heart or emotion and faces up to what he has been neglecting in his life since his mother and brother were killed. We really see such growth among the characters here.

What I Struggled With
The ending. While I didn't mind the conflict that arises, how the heroine faces up to the challenge I was a bit disappointed in at times. I won't reveal to much but I just wished she had faced up to it in a different way and been more patient.

Overall View
Cruel Paradise is a sexy romance that has intense emotion and powerful energy. A story with powerful spice and emotion and delivers an intriguing heart.

Favorite Quote(s)
“I chose you for you, Emma Carson. For your character, your compassion, your capacity to love. I chose you because there’s no one else in this whole fucking world I can see myself raising a child with.”

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Contemporary, Dark
Character Types: Mafia, Billionaire, Alpha Male, Single Parent/Guardian
Themes: Office Love, Boss and Employee
Tropes: Rags to Riches

Book Perspective
Duo POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
A mix of both

Song This Book Inspires
Every Kind of Way by H.E.R.

Recommendation For Reading Order
Yes

Steam/Spice Explanations

Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes. ( )