Bratva's Intern (Bratva's Undoing Book 1) by Gianni Holmes

Wren is given an unexpected chance to work for a luxury property mogul, but unbeknownst to Wren, Maxim Morozov has an illegal hidden side to his business. Everybody knows you shouldn't sleep with your boss, but Maxim and Wren give into the mutual attraction while both have secrets hovering that may cause problems once they come to light.

From the blurb:

They call me a businessman.

And that suits me fine.

Let them believe I built my empire with contracts and strategy.

Not blood, blackmail, and the resentment of a father who thought I had no place in his world.


Then Wren arrives.

Shy. Awkward. Unremarkable on paper.

The kind of intern meant to disappear into the background.

Until he throws himself in front of a blade meant for me.

Now he’s always at my side.

Craving the smallest scrap of praise like it’s air.

And I give it to him.

Not because he’s earned it.

But because I like who he becomes when he’s praised.

Bolder, braver, a little more mine each day.


I tell myself I can keep him close without letting him in.

But someone’s after me.

And if Wren keeps looking too closely, he won’t just see the truth.

He’ll get pulled into it.

I should push him away.

Protect him from the world I was born into.

But I won’t. I can't.

Because I’ve finally found something worth losing everything for.

And I’m not letting him go.


Bratva's Intern is Part 1 of a 2 Part series. Part 1 ends on s cliffhanger. Part 2 to be released shortly after.


SNik's review:

First in series (Bratva’s Undoing). Mafia/hidden identity. Age gap. Boss/employee. Slow burn. Dual POV. Mild cliffhanger. Heed content warnings. 

Wren doesn’t remember applying for an internship with Morozov Property Holdings and he’s certainly underqualified, but suddenly he’s working directly for the impressive Maxim Morozov himself. The spitfire that stole his coffee that morning is now his hired intern, and Maxim knows he should stay away, but something about Wren calls to him even as Maxim is hiding the illegal side of his business. 

The author has specifically noted that this story will continue in the next book of the series, so there are some small unknowns that will be resolved later, and luckily we get more of Maxim and Wren as they hopefully consolidate their relationship. Maxim is a supportive mentor for Wren and unlocks his praise kink as Wren blossoms with his support, and once they become romantically involved the steam is off the charts as one can expect from Gianni Holmes. I really enjoyed these two characters both with their own strengths, vulnerabilities, the supportive secondary characters, and the engaging underlying plotline, so bring on the next book please.


Bratva's Intern is currently available as an e-book