**Review will be posted on my blog on 10/24/2019 for the His to Defend Blog Tour - http://pastmidnight.home.blog**

Thank you to Carina Press and NetGalley for giving me a chance to read an eARC of this book.

Russian mob? A damsel in distress? New Orleans? This story is a contemporary adult fiction with a Cinderella vibe but much much MUCH more scintillating than the original story.

Evette Labadie is a sweet single mother with some challenges securing a job. She needs one right away to get funds to send her son to a private school. Sergei Petrovyh has a reputation in New Orleans as a mob boss kind of figure, with lots of connections. To hear Sergei say it, it’s a lifestyle, it’s bratva or a brotherhood. He has power, connections, money and will do whatever is necessary to protect his own and he has an eye on Evette. Evette asks Sergei to help her, and he does…and then some!

While the story is somewhat predictable: powerful man rescues woman in need, I don’t think it takes away from the story at all. It’s one of those stories that’s addicting if mobster romance is your thing. Their relationship does happen really quick with not a lot of resistance on her part. Evette does have some spunk in her, but deep down she is a sweetheart and gives in to her attraction to Sergei. As for Sergei…he is 🔥🔥🔥 in the bedroom and so soft and protective towards Evette outside of it. I mean, he does get his way at times because he is a powerful, alpha kind of man. But I like how he’s cautious and easy with her son Emerson as well.

Outside of their love story is a situation close to Evette that threatens Sergei and Evette’s lives. But hey…Sergei’s a powerful man. He takes care of it. 👀🕶

Overall this is an enjoyable, hot read, with sweetness, a little danger, lots of sexy moments, and a happily ever after!

I have been waiting to read this book since Rhenna announced it. And man! She does not disappoint. Sergei I was familiar with from Knox and Darya’s book but here you will witness the whole spectrum of his personality. When Evette and Emerson enter his world everything just shifts and settles within him and he knows that they are exactly what he needs to make his family.

If you liked the Haven series you are going to love the NOLA Knights series. The best part is you will continue to get glimpses into the Haven brotherhood as well because they are Sergei’s extended family. Ooh all these alpha males and their equally alpha female just keep growing and getting better.

After discovering Rhenna Morgan and her awesome writing in the Ancient Ink series, I was very happy to see the start of a new series: NOLA Knights. This is a spin-off of her Men of Haven series, which I haven't read (yet!), but it is perfectly understandable without reading those. Rhenna has the ability to suck you right into the story from the very beginning. And although Sergei is a Russian mobster in New Orleans, you just can't help but fall for the big bad guy. Because beneath the harsh exterior there is a wonderful, loving and caring man, who will stop at nothing to defend the ones he loves.
And when Evie turns to him, to help her meet ends to ensure a good future for her son, Sergei takes her into his household. But soon she realizes that Sergei didn't only offer her a place to work, but a place in his bed and in his life. Ensuring that no harm will come to her, ever.
Is Evie prepared to give up her solitary life, to give her son the education he needs? But at which price? Because being with the biggest mafia boss in the neighborhood will create other problems. When Evie realizes that Sergei will stop at nothing to save her, she must choose whether she can live with that. Or not... Suspense, drama and heartbreaking choices. What a wonderful trip! Thank you very much Rhenna and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc. Five out of five stars from me and I'll be waiting for the next parts in this series.

This one delivers pretty much what's promised in the blurb - a sexy mafia themed romance. It's definitely for fans of alpha male 'I protect my family at all costs' anti-hero types. Consent could have been stronger from the heroine, and I had an issue with the bad guy being slovenly and overweight as that's a form of subtle fat shaming. Otherwise the plot is interesting and I liked the strong heroine and her son. 3.5 stars and good odds I'll read the next in the series.

What a good surprise this book was!

This is my first book by Rhenna Morgan and I enjoyed every minute of it. I already knew it was right up my alley when I read the blurb, but we all know that a lot of things can go wrong from there. And I have to say that I was not disappointed. This book is not only well-written but fresh and downright entertaining. The plot flowed smoothly from page to page and the characters were well defined and spark to life from the very first page.

Evie was sassy, determined, and compassionate, and really stayed true to herself. Sergei was sexy, caring, protective and domineering. Their connection was strong, their chemistry combustible and they were the perfect fit for each other. I absolutely loved how Sergei interacted with Evie's son, Emerson! The little boy was a delight to read about. This book charmed me, and I will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from this author.Overall rating : A solid 4 stars!

“She was his weakness. The delicate chink in his otherwise insurmountable wall. But she was also his redemption. His absolution, greater purpose and color in another otherwise drab and monochrome world.”

This story started of pretty good and it went down hill for me pretty quickly. I just didn't like that possessiveness from Sergei. It was un confortable to read at time. Too much use of the word MINE. I found the heroine a bit weak. She really was dominated by this guy.
I voluntarily reviewed this ARC on my own voluption. Thanks the publisher and netgalley.

I have loved every book I have read by Rhenna Morgan and this one is no different! Sergei was an amazing and loyal hero you love to read about! It was great that a few of the couples from The Haven Brotherhood made an appearance along with those two adopted mothers that were a blast in the past series! I cannot wait for book 2 to come out!

The more that this one went on the more that I liked it. I liked that Evie was pretty upbeat despite how crappy her life was, glad that when she hit a speed bump she took a chance and talked to Sergei. Sergei was interesting in that it seems like Evie was on his radar, but he was going to stay away, yet once he had an in he did what he could to keep Evie and Emerson safe, to give them their dreams. Even when Sergei was honest with Evie about what he was and his past Evie saw the good in him and at the end Evie trusted Sergei with the worst she found out and to take care of things. I think it was the best decision Evie could make for herself, for her son and for Sergei.

I FREAKIN LOVE THIS BOOK!!! I sucked this one down in 24 hours! I just couldn’t put it down!!!

This is a Mafia Romance with some twist and turns and suspense thrown in. The love story between Evette and Sergei was so, so captivating!! The passion and intensity of their connection just pulled you in and left you sighing!

The way Sergei was so protective of Evette and her son, Emerson, was intense. No one hurts his family. Here he is a Russian Mafia Boss (or pakhan, in Russian) and Evette knows he’s dangerous, but she goes to work for him anyway. He’s drawn to her from the beginning and tells his men that they are his family and should be protected at all costs. Evette begins to see glimpses of the man behind the mask.

"Yes, he was a predator. A wolf barely contained by the human confines of flesh. But she sensed something else beneath as well. A lost soul. Once aching like everyone else."

I loved so much about this book. I fell completely in love with Sergei & Evette. I also came to really love young Emerson and some of Sergei’s men, especially his two captains Roman and Kir! I loved how it took place in New Orleans and the descriptions of the place were fascinating. Plus I learned some Russian words, not that I’ll remember them, but that was cool!!

I am really impressed with the way Rhenna Morgan writes!! I will be checking out more of her work!!!

This was better than I expected and the sexy times were, well, exactly that...sexy. I found the story somewhat predictable and I wished the heroine was truly as strong as the other characters in the story thought of her. Overall, it was a pretty good story.

Solid 4.5 stars!
I greatly enjoyed this one! I have not read the previous book in this series and now I need to go back and meet Sergei in the beginning.
Sergei is a MOB boss.
Evette is a poor neighborhood’s darling.
He wants her.
She needs a job.
He gives her a job.
She accepts the job.
He wants her.
She is an angle. The sun.

I really recommend you read this one.

Wow!

Hard as nails alpha male with a super sweet heart of gold finds his angel. They have bumps and humps but find their way to HEA.

I voluntarily read an advanced copy.

ARC received for review

You might remember Sergei from Tempted & Taken, and now he's back for his own HEA. Evette has been drooling over Sergei for a while, and when she and her son need help she asks Sergei for help. He helps her and falls in love with her. Sergei doesn't do anything halfway, and getting his woman is no different. Evette is unsure about falling in love with him and being the wife of a Russian mobster, but in the end of course, Sergie wins her over.

I'm hoping the next two books are his sergeant-at-arms, Roman and Kir.

That time I picked up a Netgalley book and preceded to be a slave to my kindle until the very last page!! YOU GUYS! Rhenna Morgan's His to Defend completely rocked my world. I legit DIED for Sergei and Evette and seriously could not stop reading! This story was sexy and emotional and SUCH an amazing read. I seriously was hooked on every word!!

Anyone who knows me know that Mafia stories are my jam! I am SO obsessed with Bratva stories it isn't even funny. Add to that a single mother who would burn the world down for her child? SIGN.ME.UP!! Evette and Sergei were so fiery! I loved their connection and how honest they both were with each other. He was bad and made no qualms about it but she saw the loyal and avenging angel behind his devilish facade and stood by his side. Likewise, I loved how protective and caring Sergei was to both Evette and her son. I seriously loved EVERY word and am SO here for this series!! Now I need more ASAP!! Bravo! 5 stars! ~Ratula 

I would like to thank Netgalley and Carina Press for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review.

Sergei is quite a protective man, "he’d bet he could make her boss listen. And suffer. For a very long time." There are times I think Sergei enjoys driving his woman bananas, "he grinned. Actually freaking grinned. “I’m not circling anything, solnyshka. You are.” I liked this book, I loved Sergei.

Yes!! What a kick off to a new series! Although we met this hero in the Men of Haven series, you can read this on it's own. Sergei lives in a rough world but he tries to make things good for the down trodden. I loved his outlook on life, his willingness to defend his family and his secret soft spot he let show through to Evie. It made him swoon worthy.

Evie was such a strong character in her own right. Fiercely independent. She only wants what is best for her son. A Mama Bear ready to protect against anything that may cause him harm. And Emerson in his own right, much older than his years and so sensitive to his Mom's needs. She was not ready for Sergei. I am happy to see her stick to her guns about what was the best way to proceed as a couple.

Great mafia story. LOVED seeing the Haven gang pop up here. So happy that Sergei continued his relationship with all the Haven Brothers over the years. I am looking forward to watching this love story play out over future books. I have a feeling both of these characters will have much to say about anyone else in their family finding an HEA.

Great job once again by this author!

4.75*


I loved this book.

When I started reading I fully expected this to be a 3* read. I liked the blurb but I honestly never expected this to be so good. Plus I’m a bit stingy with my stars. A book has to be something special to get more than 3* from me.
This is also a new author to me and I’ll be checking out her other books as soon as I’ve finished this review.

I loved everything about this. Evette is a strong confident hardworking single mother. Her seven year old son Emerson is her world and she’ll do anything for him.

Sergei is the ruthless pakhan. He’s tall, incredibly handsome, rich and powerful.

Evie is desperate and plucks up the courage to ask him for help finding a job. The rest as they say is history.

This is a fabulous read. Sergei moves Evette in as his housekeeper but he wants more. The attraction sizzles between them. But can Evie let go of her past enough to move forward with her future.

I’m off to find Knox and Darya’s book now.


I voluntarily read a review copy kindly provided by NetGalley.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting my request for an ARC of this book. The review below is entirely my own.

I absolutely loved this first story in a new spin-off series from Rhenna Morgan's Men of Haven books. It's one of my favorite reads of 2019.

Sergei, the H, is Darya's "big brother" whom we met in Tempted & Taken. Evie, the h, is a sassy, hard-working, frugal, single-mom with a 7y.o. son.

I loved how gentlemanly, decisive, protective, and all-about-family Sergei was. He's totally the only kind of mafia boss I would want to have as book boyfriend.

Evie and her son Emerson will also make you fall in love with them. I especially loved how relatable Evie was.

I couldn't put this book down. Pace was great. There wasn't a lot of angst. The story had enough action to keep things interesting. And the chemistry between the MC's was hot, hot, hot.

Fans of Ms Morgan, fans of the Men of Haven series, will more than likely love this new series too.

Russian vor Sergei Petrovyh has moved to New Orleans to get away from his rough childhood in Russia. Sergei offers protection to shopkeepers, buys business and housing, and creates his own community. Evette Labadie is a poor, single mother living in a small apartment and living from paycheck to paycheck. Until she is fired for using her badge in a law office after hours. She knows she didn’t do this, but has no recourse. Knowing she will not be able to find a job quickly, she approaches Sergei asking for his help in securing one. Little did she know her life would change in that moment.

I really enjoyed this book. Take charge Sergei and independent Evie butt heads on numerous occasions and the sparks do fly. Evie becomes the light in Sergei’s life and Sergei becomes the protector Evie has always yearned for. The writing was very fluid and the storyline was creative and flowing. I really hope that she writes love stories for Sergei’s two bodyguards. I will be first in line to read it.

This is Sergei and Evie book, Sergei is a Russian mob boss! Even though his methods may be rough when it comes to protecting what’s his, his heart is always in the right place! It’s never been more true than when the gorgeous Evette ask him for a job , he knows he has to keep his hands off, especially with the beloved by the locals Evie ! Evie knows not to get involved with the powerful Russian mafia boss, he’s always at her favorite diner and she knows his reputation is dangerous but she struggling with her New Orleans neighborhood and her son and just wants better for him so she ends up asking Sergey for a job! She soon finds herself in a Cinderella situation with a man that’s definitely more of a prince than a villain! She knows she shouldn’t but she’s definitely falling hard! This book was definitely awesome! I’m going right back and starting her other series the spinoff from this one I can’t believe I’ve never really seen this author before I may have seen the books in her other series but I really enjoy her writing! I’m so glad I found myself a new author LOL I can’t wait for more from this author!! Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for sharing this book with me! And thanks for the introduction to this author LOL