To find her sister, Erin will need the help of her big, scary Russian protector—but asking for help from a man like Ivan carries a steep price, one that might just include her heart.Desperate to find her sister, Erin goes to the only man in Houston who can help her--Ivan Markovic. The intimidating, tattooed Russian operates one of the most elite mixed-martial arts training centers in the world but it’s his shadowy past and reputed connections with Houston’s underworld that interest her most.To find her sister, she’ll need the help of her big, scary Russian protector—but asking for help from a man like Ivan carries a steep price, one that might just include her heart.

Claimed and cherished by Houston's most ruthless mob boss, artist Vivian Kalasnikov embraces her new position as Nikolai's wife and the lonely, dangerous role as queen of Houston's underworld. But Nikolai is keeping secrets from her, and the whispers of a coming street war leave her terrified for the man she so passionately loves—and the tiny life growing inside her. Nikolai finally has everything he's ever wanted—power, wealth and a family with Vivian, the beautiful sun who lights up his dark life. But as his young wife prepares for her debut on the international art stage, he finds himself drawn into a bloody conflict that threatens the quiet life he's painstakingly built. He can feel the promise of his future happiness slipping through his fingers like grains of sand. One wrong move, and he'll lose Vivian and his child forever. One wrong move, and he won't see another sunrise. The sins of their fathers have come back to haunt Vivian and Nikolai. To protect his beloved wife and his heir, he'll do absolutely anything. The brutal gangster who violently conquered the streets of Moscow and Houston is about to be unleashed—and Houston's underworld will never be the same again.

Born with a broken heart, Hadley Rivera hasn't stopped fighting since the moment she drew her first breath. Coddled and spoiled by her wealthy parents, she's finally managed to break free and live life on her own terms. With a bestselling series of graphic novels and her very own thriving arts center, Hadley has one more box to check on her to-do list. And his name is Finn Connolly. Damaged and broken, former Marine Finn Connolly has never wanted anything as badly as he wants Hadley. After saving her life from a cartel assassin, he can't stop thinking about the alluring heiress with striking gray eyes—or all the reasons he'll never be good enough for her. Until one perfect night together changes everything… But his decision to cross a cartel threatens his life and those of everyone he loves. With the cartel and the Russian mob breathing down his neck, Finn learns Hadley's heart is giving out on her again. After everything he's survived to finally find his perfect other half, Finn refuses to lose her now. He'll prove his heart is strong enough for both of them.

It's Christmas in Houston, and the Russians are ready to spoil—and protect—the women they love. Featuring nine sexy, flirty stories, this holiday-themed collection from the Her Russian Protector series allows readers to revisit favorite couples and meet new love interests. It includes the following tales: It's A Wonderful Life (DIMITRI) The Luxury Sleigh Ride (ALEXEI) From Russia, With Love, (VASYA) All I Want For Christmas (NIKOLAI) Nine Ladies Dancing (KOSTYA) Toys for Tots (DANILA) My Favorite Things (YURI) Five Golden Rings (IVAN) A Bright, New Beginning (SERGEI) This novel-length collection fits the Her Russian Protector series timeline between YURI (Book 3) and the beginning of NIKOLAI (Book 4).

Shay Sandoval has big dreams and works hard to achieve them. But her older sister likes that fast, easy money and finds herself in a hot mess of trouble when she helps her boyfriend scam Houston’s underworld. Terrified for her sister and herself, Shay turns to the only man powerful enough to save them—former prize fighter and Russian mob enforcer Alexei Sarnov. Just as ruthless in business as he was on the streets, Alexei has built a new life as a respected, wealthy businessman. When he learns Shay’s troubled sister has invoked the wrath of Houston’s criminal elite, Alexei rushes to intercept Shay before the city’s worst men can get their hands on her. But now that she’s under his protection—and under his hands—Alexei realizes that he wants and needs more than he’s ever dared to hope for in his harsh life. He wants Shay in his home and in his bed—but not as merely his mistress. Earning Shay’s love and trust just might be the hardest deal he’s ever sealed…

Includes the connected books Ivan (Her Russian Protector #1) and Alexei (Her Russian Protector #8) as a FREE BONUS To escape a debt owed to the mob, mixed martial artist Zel Tesla agrees to one final match with one of his league’s most notorious fighters. If he wins, he’ll clear the debts he incurred trying to save his young son’s life and earn his freedom. But one chance encounter with a luscious burlesque performer in Vegas threatens all those carefully laid plans… Ten years ago, Sara Contreras fled Houston with the help of her mobbed-up friends. Since barely escaping with her life, she’s built a multi-million dollar empire, but she’s always looking over her shoulder, wondering if the dark, dangerous secret she left behind in Houston is going to catch up with her. When Sara’s past threatens everything Zel has worked so hard to achieve, she has to make a painful choice. She can sacrifice her love for Zel and let him go—or she can fight for him, facing the secret that nearly buried her back in Houston and the loan shark who owns them both.

After losing her older brother in a violent robbery, wedding gown designer Bianca Bradshaw refuses to date men with criminal ties. She's never been tempted to cross that line—until Sergei. The Russian behemoth works as an enforcer for mob boss Nikolai Kalasnikov and fights as his champion in the underground bare-knuckle circuit. Sergei is absolutely the last complication she needs in her life—but he's the only man who makes her body ache with desire. And right now she needs his help. When he learns some creep is bothering Bianca, Sergei Sakharov vows to protect her at all costs. He's been trying to get close to the plus-sized beauty for months but she rejects him at every turn. He's determined to show her that he's worth more as a man than his criminal connections. But Sergei's loyalty to his family—both blood and criminal—put him at odds with the future he wants with Bianca. He has to choose—the woman he desperately loves or his loyalty to the man who saved his life. Because the darkness of the underworld he inhabits is about to spill into Bianca's life and the hardest choice may be the only one that allows him to protect her…

When Phoebe ducks into a hotel room to escape yet another of her father's boring political fundraisers, she runs smack-dab into the party's poster boy, Jack Richmond. There's just something about the clean-cut conservative politician that intrigues Phoebe. She can't quite put her finger on it but suspects he's a bad, bad boy behind closed doors. Even so, Phoebe is shocked when Jack makes his move. The much older congressman is going to earn her vote one sinfully delicious kiss, lick and nibble at a time!

After a stalker breaks into her home, internet entrepreneur Bee Langston decides Kelly Connolly is the only man who can help her—but seeking help from the former Marine isn’t easy, especially after she made a spectacular fool of herself trying to kiss the sinfully sexy bodyguard. When Kelly spots Bee weaving her way through the Houston nightspot where he’s working security, all those feelings he’s desperately tried to deny for his best friend’s sister come flooding to the surface. He’ll do anything to keep her safe, even if means getting up close and personal with the one woman he simply can’t have. Soon, Bee’s stalker isn’t his only problem. His gambling addict father is tangled in a mess of debts to two of Houston’s toughest loan sharks. With the family gym on the line, there’s only one way for Kelly to make everything right. He agrees to fight for the Albanian mob in an underground bare-knuckle fighting tournament. But winning the tournament and saving his family’s legacy comes at a high price—one that just might cost Bee her life.

When pawn broker Abby Kirkwood discovers the evidence of a chilling drug cartel hit on one of the video cameras hocked in her store, she turns to the only man she can trust—Jack Connolly. The smolderingly sexy former Marine runs a successful gym down the street and coaches her brother's special needs baseball team. He's the one man who is always there when she needs him. If anyone can protect her family, it's commanding, capable Jack. The moment he learns someone is threatening Abby and her brother, Jack sees red. To save the woman he's secretly loved for years, he'll do whatever it takes, even if it means facing off with a Mexican drug cartel and making deals with the same Albanian mob outfit that tried to ruin his family. He finally has sweet, feisty Abby right where she was always meant to be—writhing with pleasure in his bed and safely sheltered in his arms. The vicious cartel assassin hot on her heels has no idea what he's up against. The Connolly brothers are standing strong together—and no one touches their family.

Refusing to lose her brother to the violent Hermanos street gang, Benny turns to Dimitri, the dead sexy Russian who lives in the apartment above her family's bakery. He's the only man tough enough to get through to Johnny and save him from a life in prison—or worse. There's nothing Dimitri won't do for Benny, even if it means dealing with her troublemaking brother. He quickly realizes that it's not just Johnny and his thug friends that pose a threat to Benny. A shady real estate developer needs to buy her bakery to secure a multi-million dollar deal and he'll stop at nothing to make her sell. Threatened from all sides, Benny finds safety in Dimitri's strong arms—and in his bed. Her big, sexy Russian has no intention of ever letting her go—and he'll brave the fires of hell before he lets anyone harm her. Reader's Note: Dimitri is an incredibly passionate man with a dominant streak—and Benny is only too happy to indulge his need for a little…restraint.

Kostya: Her Russian Protector #7

Gathering her courage and the four thousand dollars she has in savings, college co-ed Cassie bravely enters the bar where Hagen, Houston's most feared loan shark, operates his criminal empire. Her brother, Ronnie, is in deep trouble and she's his last hope. She just prays her payment will be enough to keep the knee-breakers at bay for a little while longer. Hagen shatters her hope when he informs her Ronnie owes far, far more than the four grand she's scraped together. Feeling rather generous, Hagen presents her with an offer Cassie knows she can't refuse: her body to settle the debt. Though she expects a degrading, miserable experience, Cassie is shocked by Hagen's seduction. Left breathless with pleasure after their encounter, Cassie discovers she can't walk away from Hagen. But she's flirting with danger now—and someone is bound to get hurt.

Named for her late father's most prized possession, Aston McNeil shares a deep connection with the classic car she inherited upon his recent death. When she learns her reckless stepbrother lost the car as collateral to Houston's most feared loan shark, she fights the urge to throttle him and vows to do whatever it takes to get the car back. Mechanic and mob enforcer Ben Beciraj can't believe his eyes when Houston socialite Aston McNeil storms into his chop shop and demands the return of the car he's just repossessed. He counters with a deal he never expects the fiery blonde heiress to accept—one week at his beck and call for the keys to her late father's favorite toy. But Ben's plans to have a little fun with a girl way out of his league are shot to hell after one taste of sweet, beguiling Aston. When her stepbrother's shady dealings are revealed, Ben will do anything to protect her from the seedy underworld he inhabits—even if it means crossing the only family he's ever known.