Full Review by Autumn.Aria
What happens when there is a marriage alliance contract between the Italian Mafia and the Russian Bratva, where the contract is non-negotiable, fixed and invariable and the Russians who needed to provide a male heir for the wedding have all been killed off?
There's only a daughter left, the remaining child of the Russian Pakhan, who now becomes the sole heir and she must marry the Italian Don's daughter. Though it is mutually agreeable with the two leaders, it doesn't bode well for some of their followers. There is a threat of usurpation and betrayal with the FBI also breathing down their necks.
The two families including the daughter of the Italian Don are very religious and we see how the two communities blend and accommodate their respective orthodox and catholic beliefs for the impending marriage and alliance.
The story was entertaining enough though it wasn't the best. It's basically about Catarina, the Italian daughter given in exchange for a mutually beneficial alliance, how she goes about her daily life as a bride to be in the Volkov household.
What I didn't like was how very repetitive many of the sentences were and how everything is told in the minutes of detail. I can understand that it may be to set the tone, the mood, the vibe or for the dramatics but I feel it was overdone to the point of making the reading extremely slow and sluggish.
This is the first book of a trilogy. Things end in a peaceful manner but the inherent problems and dangers facing both wives and their families still hang precariously and inevitably over their heads.
Overall it was an interesting story despite its many shortcomings and I'm curious to know how it all works out.