VICIOUS CONTROL (Dark Mafia Romance) by BB Hamel-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 19, 2026

The mafia boss knocked on my door at midnight holding a wedding dress… And said we either get married… or I’d be dead by morning.

Gabriel Russo’s no savior.

He’s a demon in a black suit and his beauty is only matched by his ruthlessness. To him, relationships are nothing more than simple transactions.

Gabe says my family was murdered and marrying him is my only chance at survival, all because I’m somehow the key to his empire.

But if I’m so important, he’d better be prepared when I make some demands of my own.

Now we’re locked in a struggle against each other and the powerful killers intent on bringing us both down.

I’ll wear his ring and pretend to be his dutiful wife… while he burns the world down around me.

Gabe’s a possessive monster, but I like the way his arms feel while they’re pulling me closer in bed…

••••••

REVIEW: VICIOUS CONTROL is the second instalment in BB Hamel’s contemporary, adult DARK MAFIA ROMANCE series, set in the author’s CRUEL SURPRISE world. This is Bratva Pakhan Gabriel Russo, and Veronika ‘Nika’ Kiselyov’s story line. VICIOUS CONTROL can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Gabriel and Nika) VICIOUS CONTROL focuses on the protection of our story line heroine. Veronika ‘Nika’ Kiselyov never met her father or her mother but her father’s Bratva empire and his seat as a Dragon, one of the most powerful men in the world is open for ascension, and the arrival of Pakhan Gabriel Russo leads Nika to believe all is not right in her world. In an effort to protect our heroine, Gabriel demands Nika’s hand in marriage but the marriage is more beneficial to Gabriel than Nika could have ever imagined. With a target on their backs, Nika and Gabriel go on the run, only to come face to face not only with Nika’s past, but a determined number of wanna-be Dragons who take at our story line couple.

The world building is fast and furious. The author pulls the reader into the dangerous world of power and control, underworld crime, and the dysfunctional family dynamics of the people in charge.

The relationship between Nika and Gabriel begins as protection and a forced marriage of convenience. Nika has been target by her father’s enemies, and Gabriel claims he is willing to marry her to protect her life but all is not as it appears to be.As Gabriel prepares to battle for the throne, Nika refuses to stand by and watch the man with whom she is falling in love, place his life in the direct line of fire. The $ex scenes are provocative and passionate.

The secondary and supporting characters are often questionable yet powerful. We are introduced to Gabriel’s right hand man Daniel, Nika’s aunt Yelena as well as several mob bosses, and the return of Massimo ‘Mass’ Cardone, his wife, Gabriel’s sister Allie Russo, and Massimo’s second in command Lucy. The requisite evil has many faces.

VICIOUS CONTROL is a story of secrets and lies, power and control, betrayal and vengeance, dysfunctional family dynamics, acceptance and love. The character driven premise is dramatic, dark and emotional; the romance is challenging yet seductive; the characters are determined, desperate and dynamic.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy