Paved in Venom

Reviews

• Cenigh

  Finished September 13, 2025

  So far, I am really enjoying this series. Most of them are relatively short, with page counts under 300. Simona is socially awkward and doesn't have anyone in her life when she travels to Romania to see where her parents were from. She trusts the wrong person and is drugged and sold off by sex traffickers. Danil buys her at an auction, trying to see if she had any information about their missing sister Alina, who also met a similar fate over a year ago. It is insta love. “Ever since the first second I saw you, I knew you were mine. I can’t explain it, I’ll never be able to, but I knew that you were the woman I was meant to spend my life with.” Danil is sweet, patient, possessive, protective, and understanding. He doesn't rush her, knowing she has been through a traumatic experience, he is more than willing to take things as slow as she wants. I can go as slow as she needs me to. I’d wait forever for her at this point. I can’t imagine being with someone else now. The very idea pisses me off. Simona is brave, strong, but also insecure. She does come off as a little too needy and desperate at times. Danil, however, tells her over and over again how perfect he thinks she is. There are some cute conversations between them and a sexy lap dance. He is a bit too controlling in the bedroom for my liking. The plot is great, and each book is getting them closer to finding Alina. The seriousness of some of the subject matter is interspersed with humor, making it easier to read. The narration for this audiobook was fantastic; both narrators did a great job, especially with the accents. The urge I have to take care of her and protect her is not something I’m familiar with. I’ve never cared about a woman before, not like this. I love Alina, and I’ll never stop looking for her, but it’s not the same thing. Staring at Simona, I want to climb into my bed and bury myself inside this woman and never fucking leave. I don’t ever want to see this scared look on her face ever again. I want her to know and trust that I will always protect her, no matter what. Her voice is barely more than a whisper when she reaches out her hand to me and says, “Will you stay in here with me?” Before I can answer, she quickly adds, “I mean, just to sleep.” There’s another pause and then, “I don’t want to be alone.” I promise, Simona, I’m going to kill that fucker for what he did to you. I’m going to kill them all for you.” “I just do,” I tell her. “I feel very protective of you. I can’t really explain why.” When she turns back to look at me, I add, “I knew the second I saw you that I couldn’t leave that building without you. I would’ve killed them all to get you.” I’ve decided I like to see Danil worried about me. When those grey eyes turn serious and his whole body radiates with this need to protect me and I know he’s seconds away from putting his hands on me, it’s like a damn drug, and I want more. “We have all the time in the world,” he reminds me. “I’m not going anywhere, Simona. There’s no rush, but I want you to know that I’m feeling everything you are.” “I seriously doubt that.” He smiles. “Well, believe it. In fact, I’d say I’m probably feeling more, but I don’t want to scare you, so I’ll leave it at that.” “Watching me sleep, sladkaya?” I ask her with a grin. “Wearing my dirty shirts and spying on me while I sleep, better be careful, baby, you’re getting dangerously close to stalker territory.” “Not because I bought you, and not because of that fucking tattoo, but because you were mine the second I saw you.” He kisses his way back to my lips. “You’re mine because I’m falling so fucking hard for you, and you’re mine because I can’t let you go.” “I love you with a fierceness that scares the hell out of me,” he says with a soft laugh. “It’s all-consuming and it possesses every single part of me and I wouldn’t have it any other way. You make me happier than I’ve ever been. You’ve shown me what love is supposed to be like, and every day I wake up so goddamn grateful to have you next to me. I love you so much, and I promise I will always love you and take care of you and be faithful to you, because you’re the only woman I want, the only woman I will ever want. Will you marry me, Simona?” “You’re the only thing that’s ever made my brain feel calm,” he murmurs against my lips. “Usually it never shuts up, and it drives me fucking crazy—all this noise that never goes away. But when I’m with you, it quiets down. It feels peaceful.”

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