Review: Trust: A Mafia Doms Novel by Adara Wolf by R. Phoenix 4 of 5 stars

Trust: A Mafia Doms Novel by Adara Wolf by R. Phoenix
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Micah, a struggling musician trapped in an abusive relationship, is coerced by his partner into seducing Ilya Zima, a notorious Russian mafia boss, to secure his partner’s career. What begins as a dangerous mission shifts when Micah discovers that Ilya is unexpectedly gentle, attentive, and deeply moved by his music. As Micah spends more time with him, he begins to fall in love, longing for Ilya to rescue him from his cycle of violence and despair.

I loved this story, which was not just a romance — it was a meditation on vulnerability, the paradox of power, and the possibility of finding healing in unexpected places. I loved that Micah’s abusive relationship with Adam, who used coercion, violence, and manipulation, leaving him trapped in a cycle of fear and dependency, whereas, by contrast, mafia boss Ilya embodied gentleness and care, offering Micah a glimpse of what intimacy could feel like when rooted in respect. The story juxtaposes brutality with tenderness, asking whether healing can come from the most unexpected places. I liked that the story doesn’t shy away from depicting the harsh realities of abuse, grounding the romance in real emotional stakes. Easy to read, feel and understand. This was an MM story with mature content and a BDSM-like D/s dynamic.

** Please read the content warnings.

Buy from Amazon

Review: Drag You Down by Adara Wolf by R. Phoenix 5 of 5 stars

Drag You Down by Adara Wolf by R. Phoenix
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Levi is innocent, sheltered, and desperate to escape the gaze of Gabriel—a man who feels more like a devil than a savior. Gabriel is relentless, haunting Levi’s every step, claiming him with kisses that taste of sin and promises that blur the line between protection and possession. To Gabriel, Levi is purity incarnate—a lamb he longs to corrupt and cherish. Beneath his charm lies a violent devotion: he kills without remorse, but only those who threaten Levi’s fragile world. As their bond deepens into something dangerous and consuming, Levi must decide whether Gabriel is his salvation… or the darkness he can’t resist.

I loved this dark story of obsession wrapped in velvet and blood. The story was darkly seductive and emotionally intense. There were plenty of twists and turns in this story as Gabriel investigated the man who controlled the community that Levi lived in. Very strong emotions and feelings from both men as they struggled with the implications of Gabriel's obsession with Levi. This was an MM story with mature content.

*** Please read the trigger warnings and be kind to yourself.

Buy from Amazon

Review: Gambler's Conceit by Adara Wolf by R. Phoenix 2 of 5 stars

Gambler's Conceit by Adara Wolf by R. Phoenix
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Seven is a fugitive on the run who makes a risky mistake by crossing paths with Caleb Spade, a powerful casino owner and mob boss in Calamity City. Trapped in his world, they navigate dangerous dynamics with Caleb's enforcer, Vortex, and the volatile Havoc. Using seduction as a survival strategy, he stakes everything on his body while fiercely guarding his heart, determined to avoid a return to a life of abuse and desperation.

I struggled with this story at times as it needed more story and less of the sexual content as it kept losing my attention. I'm not sure if I want to read the next book in the series. This was an MMMM story with mature content.

Buy from Amazon

Review: Obey by Adara Wolf 4 of 5 Stars

Obey by Adara Wolf
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Knives thought he was over him. But eight years after he betrayed him, we're suddenly working for the same organization. It's impossible to be professional when all I can think about is how much I want to hurt him and make him suffer the way I suffered. And how much I want to completely wreck him until he's a mess of pleasure and pain. No matter how hard he tries, he can't stay away. Maddox: never expected to see Knives again having put that part of his life behind him. Yet now we're both made men in the same organization. Worse: the boss is forcing us to work together. There's no way for Maddox to apologize. so he'll take whatever he gives him, the good and the bad. He deserves to suffer. Sometimes, Maddox can't help but wish that he deserved to be happy, too.

I enjoyed this story although I did feel that the anger from Knives went a little too far. There was so much passion from them both I can understand how they were made to work together. Easy to read, feel and understand. This was an MM story with mature content.

Buy from Amazon

Review: Control by Adara Wolf by R. Phoenix 5 of 5 stars

Control by Adara Wolf by R. Phoenix
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Helios has been taking care of himself for as long as he can remember. Kicked out as a teen, he's gone from living on the streets to earning money in any way possible. His life has never been easy, but it’s still his own. Evan is mafia boss Silvano Cresci’s head of security and meets Helios at a meeting in the club he works in. He thinks he can “save” Helios but he doesn't want to have to depend on anyone else ever again because if he starts to rely on him and fall for him then when he inevitably decides to move on from him it will hurt so much more.

This was a suitably dramatic story as Evan became obsessed with Helios and keeping him safe. Whilst I could understand his motivations he went about some of them in the wrong way and that was interesting when Fox was suitably vindictive and caused some mischief (which could have caused Helios's death). I loved that Silvano came through at the last minute with a solution which removed Helios's old boss who was not a good man. Lots of emotions, feelings and over-the-top need to protect someone in this story. This was an MM story with mature content.

Buy from Amazon

Review: Submit by Adara Wolf by R. Phoenix 5 of 5 stars

Submit by Adara Wolf by R. Phoenix
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Kyran Winters has a secret. He is gay, a submissive and he can't be in a relationship with Silvano Cresci. As the son of the Winters gang leader, he cannot be gay and Silvano is the leader of their most hated rival gang. He cannot stop thinking about Silvano can't stop lusting for him, and the way he made him submit and the way he could get him to the edge with just a few words and touches. Trying to say he is done with Silvano he has different ideas and so he has to choose between him or his family but how long can he resist him? Silvano knows that being a gay mafia don is not easy as he has always had to live with homophobic comments or slurs but knows to get their respect he has to prove that he can be just as ruthless as them and take down the Winters Gang. The problem is if he does that he will turn Kyran towards hatred and he will lose him. He just needs to find a way to do it and not remove the thread of his family while keeping them alive because Kyran is his, whether he knows it or not.

Wow, this was a dark story but so very addictive that I just could not put it down. The drama of their relationship and the different gangs ramped up the pressure on them and so I was so pleased that Silvano found a way to avoid needless death for the members of Kyran's family. Their kinks aligned perfectly even though you might not understand them. Lots of emotions and feelings in this story came to the fore at critical moments. Easy t read, feel and understand. This is an MM story with mature content and a BDSM-like dynamic.

Buy from Amazon

Review: Surrender by R. Phoenix by Adara Wolf 5 of 5 stars

Surrender by R. Phoenix by Adara Wolf
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Assassin Fox was hired to kill Cristiano Fiore and he thought it would be a simple job to get in, take the shot and then get out. However, then there was an explosion and he actually rescued Fox Post the explosion Cristiano took care of Fox while dominating him and eventually giving him the best sex of his life. Using the word Daddy for Cristiano made Fox feel so safe and made it hard for him to go back to his old life. Can he dare to dream of a place where he belongs? For Cristiano mafia life is full of danger but the failed assassination attempt and then the explosion appear to be overkill. So they have to work together to try and find out who wants to take them both out and as time goes on the more he wants to actually become a proper Daddy to Fox and take care of him. However, can he really trust someone who tried to kill him?

I really enjoyed this story with the mysteries of who sent the assassin to kill Cristiano, who set the explosives to kill them both, who Fox works for and what is the likely succession in the mafia family. I enjoyed the banter between the two men and the way that eventually they started to cooperate and work out the players in the events that occurred. I loved their relationship in the end and the secrets around Fox were very interesting. This was easy to read, feel and understand. This was an MM story with mature content and a BSDM-like DDLB relationship.

Buy from Amazon