⭐️ 5/5
🌶️ 4/5
I’ll admit I’m a bit of a Sonja Grey fangirl, but she deserves it. With Born Into Blood, like most of her other books, she once again outdid herself.
Plot Summary
Luka Melnikov’s life has always been his family’s Bratva. He’s never cared about women and stayed away from them, but then he sees Lara.
He only needs one look to know that there is not other woman for him, but there is one problem. Lara was told her entire life that the Melnikovs are bad people. They are the ones responsible for her father’s death. Well, that is the story that her mom told her.
But Luka claimed her as his and when she actually gets to know him and his family she doesn’t see the monsters that her mom believes them to be.
They are each other’s firsts, lasts and everything in between, no matter the odds.
My Thoughts
As I mentioned earlier, I really loved this Born Into Blood. I love that Luka is this ruthless Mafia boss, but when it comes to his family he is a sweetheart. He will do anything to keep them safe.
Lara is a wonderful FMC. I despise it when FMCs are close minded, prideful or anything along those lines. She has been taught all her life to hate the Melnikovs, but she is willing to give them a chance without being ridiculously irritating.
But to be honest that is Sonja Grey for you. She has the ability to write an intriguing story that keeps you on the edge of your seat, without compromising the characters of her characters.
Where to Read?
You can get Born Into Blood by Sonja Grey on Amazon. If you buy it using my link, I’ll get a small commission at no extra cost to you.
You can read it for free with a Kindle Unlimited trail.
Unfortunately, there is not yet an audiobook of Born Into Blood.
Series or Standalone?
Born Into Blood is the second book in the Melnikov Brava series second generation spin-off series, Devils Will Rise: Melnikov Legacy.
This series, unlike the original one can technically be read as standalones, but are better read in order.
The first book in the series, Born Into Sin, doesn’t really have any spoilers for the original series, but Born Into Blood have some serious spoilers for the Melnikov Bratva series. I seriously recommend your reading the parents’ series before reading this book.
I promise it will anycase be worth your time. It is an amazing series and beautiful beyond words (in the dark romance sense of the word). That series cannot be read as standalones and you should start with Paved in Blood.
Tropes
This book is pretty much the definition of instalove and he falls first and harder. The MMC is possessive to a fault, but not to an irritating level. I also like that the FMC doesn’t constantly fight it.
They are each other’s firsts in pretty much everything and they both take pride in the fact that there will be no one else for the other.
And of course, the dark romance favourite… touch her and you die.
Pet Names
One night Lara finds a stray kitten. She decides to adopt him, but Luka pretty much forces himself into the equation saying that THEY are adopting him together.
Luka then decides to call Lara Kisa, which, is the Russian word for kitten.s
Quotes
Please note that the following quotes are not my words. They are quotes from Born Into Blood by Sonja Grey that I really loved. All credit goes to her. They are here to convince you to read this book.
“Sometimes you don’t know what you want until it’s forced into your lap, and then you wonder how you ever survived without it.”
– Vitaly Melnikov
“You can’t be this perfect,” I whisper, staring into his green eyes. “No one is this damn perfect.”
“You’re the perfect one, kisa. I’m far from it.”
– Lara and Luka
“I know your family runs the most dangerous Bratva our city’s ever seen.” She raises a brow at me. “I probably shouldn’t be sitting here with you. You’re a very dangerous man, Luka.”
“Never to you, kisa.”
– Lara and Luka
“I could never be anything but sweet to you, kisa.”
– Luka Melnikov
“Be careful, Luka. Please don’t put yourself in danger because of me.”
He pulls back and smiles. “I can’t think of a better reason than you, kisa.”
– Lara and Luka
“I will love you and be faithful to you for the rest of my life, and when I leave this world, it’s only going to be so I can find you in the next one. We’re connected, kisa. You’re a part of me, I feel like you always have been, and I will always find you. Whatever life awaits us after this one, we’re spending it together. I don’t just want one life with you, baby, because one could never be enough. I want forever with you. I want an eternity.”
– Luka Melnikov
“I’m never getting married, so I won’t have to worry about it.”
His dad laughs. “Yeah, we all said that, too.”
“I don’t see the point,” Sasha says, shrugging his shoulders.
Lev looks at his son. “The point is you fall in love, and the idea of her not having your name and your ring on her finger isn’t even a fucking option.”
– Sasha and Lev
“My dad is one brutal fucker when he needs to be, but like the rest of us, he turns soft when he’s with his family. I’m grateful that I haven’t been raised to see that as a weakness. It’s a strength. It’s what helps us do the things we need to do to keep our families safe, and it ensures that we always will. Family comes first. Always. Because without them, we’re nothing.”
– Luka Melnikov
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