Lev: a Shot Callers novel

I’d only read the RAW Family Series by this author before, although I had this book on my shelf for years!! I think I hesitated to read it because it’s a different genre, not the dark kind that Raw was. But boy, what had I missed out on all these years! The writing was captivating and I was sucked into this story from the very first page. I felt for Mina and her sad situation and was stunned about Lev’s reaction and emotions. I wasn’t sure what to make of Lev in his first chapter but the very moment Mina entered his life, I was taken by him. And after just a few chapters, when he offered her his black t-shirt (OMG this scene!!!), I fell madly and deeply in love with him. The Story: Mina was broken and desperate which brought her in a difficult and dangerous situation. When she was caught stealing by the intimidating looking Lev Leokov, she never expected to find kindness and help. Although hesitant at first because he was still a stranger, she found herself thrust into a world where she least expected to belong to. Thoughts: Despite her situation, Mina had a lot of sass. I liked that about her a lot because she hadn’t given up and accepted her fate but fought to survive. She was a fighter and ran into the arms of her savior. Lev was not just nice or fair or selfless, he was very generous and that kind of person you wish to run into when you find yourself in trouble to help you out. He wasn't your average man, because he was so unique and very special in his ways. He was generous, honest, straightforward, and reasonable until his temper took over. He had a way with words because although he didn't talk a lot, the few words he said were said with meaning, conviction and thought. They were few but touched deeply. He was very set in his ways and drove hard bargains but Mina got him in a way only ever his family could. I adored his protective and jealous side and even his obliviousness to other people’s feelings. He was a very sweet and kind hero although he was a mystery to me for quite a while in this book until I got to understand him more and more with each detail that was revealed, and loved him even harder then. It was a slow burn romance but there was so much stuff going on which made this book hard to put down and so easy to read in one sitting. There was drama, there was complexion in a lot of ways but it all came in a pretty package and I wanted to shower it with love. There was not a lot of sex, but the sexy times between the characters were off the charts hot, and I had to laugh a lot during this read as well. I actually hadn’t expected this story so be so full of loving and kind people, all with their own troubled pasts and hardened exteriors. My heart hurt so badly for some particular characters. They all had such hard lives and childhoods. I loved how the author gave the troubled characters a better life and I was so happy at the progress the characters made. I really loved the Leokov's and closer to the end my heart even warmed up to Sasha. I can’t wait for the books of the other family members!! I just wanted to hug my kindle all the time because of how wonderful this family was.

This was a sweet story but if it wasn't for Lev, I am not sure I would've liked it as much. He was just so wonderful and I really felt for him. He was real and kind and sweet and sincere but also fierce. I loved him. Mina was okay. I understood she had her issues but she was strange at times. I just didn't get her character much and it put me off a little. And it bothered me when she called Lev sweetie or honey... It could be because I hate those pet names and it also could be because you don't call a man like Lev sweetie or honey - he's not a child. Nas was a bit strange as well but it think it was part of her charm and quirk - I liked her better than Mina. Sasha was a good character. With him you got what you saw - bad ass man, powerful and no nonsense. I liked Alessio too and who couldn't like Lidi - she was so adorable. There were also a bunch of grammar errors which bothered me. As I said earlier, if it wasn't for Lev, I wouldn't have liked the book as much and would've graded this story lower. I mean the proposal was just so awkwardly perfect and so very Lev that it was so endearing and beautiful - it made me smile so big.

I love books with socially awkward heroes or heroines and Lev was exactly that. Mina is living on the streets, desperate for her next meal when she meets Lev, who catches her stealing. Lev comes off as apathetic, precise, quiet and impassive. But from his first encounter with Mina, she strikes a deep chord somewhere within him and he offers to help her. I was a fan of both Lev and Mina immediately. Lev may not be good with feelings or social cues, but he can be intuitive and considerate with the people he cares about. While he may not offer up much in the way of conversation or affection, he does provide loyalty and protection, especially when it comes to Mina. He's very direct in his words and even though he thinks he is incapable of love, it's apparent in Mina's observations that Lev is far from cold-hearted. Mina herself is a fun character. She possesses a certain innocence about her, but she isn't entirely clueless. She's perceptive and compassionate. She appreciates any kind gesture towards her and she also understands the value of good friends and family. Although she is attracted to Lev, their relationship starts out as strictly friendship and it's very sweet and endearing in the way they interact with one another because they seem to understand one another in a way that others do not. Mina isn't looking for a relationship because she has to get her life back on track and Lev simply doesn't do relationships for obvious reasons. However, they are injected into each other's lives so everything becomes intertwined and that comfort they find in one another's presence continues to grow. The development of their relationship, along with Mina and the other characters that are part of Lev's life is at a natural pace and I enjoyed all the different dynamics. There were several times where I laughed out loud by something one of the characters would say, but there were other times when my heart squeezed, too. The cast of secondary characters is great, and I can tell that they have some interesting stories coming up ahead, which I look forward to. Mina came into the story with nothing to lose but now that she's a part of Lev's life, she has everything to lose if Lev doesn't want her to stay. For a guy who doesn't believe in or understand love, would Mina be the exception? I really loved that scene with Lev and the cue cards, definitely a unique one of its kind for something that often happens frequently in books. Fantastic story overall.

Loved it! I fell in love with both Lev and Mina. Lev was emotionally stunted and Mina was horrendously mistreated by people she cared about. But what amazing characters they become under this author's guidance. The storyline grabs your attention and then you're on a roller coaster of a ride. It's humorous, heartbreaking and satisfying. I can't recommend it more. The first in this series, I wait impatiently for the next few books. Lev's family is intriguing and I want to know what happened with his sister and brother. I fell in love with them too. I have read this book multiple times in an effort to remind myself that my life isn't so bad. Strange that an author can make you feel as if you know these characters personally. Each of us is damaged in some way whether we want to admit it or not. Maybe the reason some people dislike the book is because it hits too close to home. I will admit, it isn't a blockbuster of a novel, but give it a try, you might find you have found a new author to enjoy. She has the ability to capture your imagination by drawing you into the book through humor and tragedy and make you wish you knew these characters intimately.

Most reviews have hit on the same issues that I have had so this won't be anything new. Very sweet Cinderella type story, but Prince Charming happens to have a disability. Not sure if it's autism or maybe aspbergers, but I loved that aspect. Not something you see in modern day romances at all. I applaud the author for that. You won't get much into his head because even though this is duel POV, the heroine's is like 95% what you see. Which was a bummer... I really enjoyed the beginning of the book. Mina trying to survive, Lev being very mysterious and alpha-like. Shortly after though things just started to get a little too unbelievable. Mina started out so strong and independent, and by the end of the book she was the opposite. She started talking like a high schooler. I started hating the way she talked to Lev. When he would get upset or angry it was always "Oh sweetie" or "Now sweetie," and it started coming across like she was talking to a child. She patronized him with that "Sweetie" dozens of times. It became weird and drove me nuts. One other thing, if you are thinking this is going to be a suspenseful or gritty read then let me warn you, it is not. Not much drama besides typical family stuff and that is resolved and wrapped up quickly. There is also a random wedding scene towards the end where a million characters are introduced and I skimmed through that because no way was I going to remember them, and they added absolutely zero to the story. Definitely not what I expected, but a quick easy read. There were a couple typos but nothing too bad. I was way more interested in the side characters and will be reading their stories if they get one. If the author is planning on continuing, I hope Nas and Vicks story is next. Loved them! I want a bff like Nas. I kept reading solely for her!

Lev and Mina are a remarkable couple! And you don't want to miss them! He is swoon-worthy and Mina is a girl that I'd love to have on my side! Lev is a man that many people do not understand. He has a quirk that makes him view himself as not normal - so emotions and feelings do not mean anything to him. He is dreamy and he knows how to make you feel wanted even when he says things that may be hurtful. He had an odd sense of protectiveness over Mina that he hasn't experienced with another woman before. He first meets Mina in a very compromising position and gives her options - she chooses an option that changes their lives forever. Mina is a woman who had reached one of the lowest points in her life and she knows she can't give up. She is in over her head and doesn't know what to do. She does the unthinkable and then starts to question herself afterwards. She knows what she did was wrong, but did she have any other choice? She never expected to walk out and be confronted by a man who treated her like no one else ever had. The same man that would change her life forever. As they forged a relationship, Mina starts to understand some of the quirks that make up Lev. She understands that it takes time with him and that he is different, but in her mind, that makes him extraordinary. She seems to be developing more friendships than just with the mysterious man who gave her an option she couldn't refuse. Lev's sister, Nastasia, is very vocal and opinionated, but she forges a true friendship with Mina over a shopping trip. As Mina's heart starts to swell with love and affection towards this man and his family, she cannot believe that life was giving her a second chance at happiness. The secondary characters make you want to dive into their lives even more. Sasha, Lev's brother, and Nastasia have stories that are waiting to be told. Anika and Vik - friends of the family - are intertwined within those stories waiting. We also meet Cora and Alessio - who may get stories of their own! You fall in love with Lev and Mina, but you also fall in love with the close knit family and Belle makes you root for all of them to find true happiness. You get glimpses of their struggles from this book and you become invested in their stories already! But relationships are not all happy. I love that this relationship between the main characters in not insta-love. You get to watch as they grow as friends and turn into something more. As in any relationship, instances in life have good times and bad times. Can Mina understand Lev's unusual habits? Can Lev trust someone else after the devastation he's surfaced in the past? Can Mina handle the life of Lev and the different sides to his complex nature? Can Lev finally feel safe? Can the two actually make a life out of their unusual start? Well...you will have to find out for yourself! Don't wait too long! You'll miss out on this amazing love story!

You know in the erotic romance world, we get the same plots rehashed in various ways... from billionaires into BDSM, to the man paying a woman to be his girlfriend, to the hot guys in motorcycle clubs, to the Scottish highlander who might also be a werewolf, to the whole awful world of dark erotic romance with women being kidnapped and tortured and then falling for their captors. (Yuck.) One thing I liked about this story was it was unexpected. Lev is a damaged guy (who I believe has some form of autism.) He finds homeless Mina on the streets and keeps her. He takes care of her and eventually falls for her. There were some interesting plot twists with his family, the night club, her long lost brother and foster family, and of course darling Lidi. I really didn't know who or what would turn up next. And yes, total suspension of reality here. I mean, why is she homeless for seven years and starving? Yet, she's so bright and inventive. Why on earth hasn't she gotten on her feet by then? She's so smart. And there is food and soup kitchens for homeless people. Seriously, not one person is helping her out? For SEVEN YEARS? That made no sense. I think there could have been a bit more explanation about Anika's crush on Lev and why he took her virginity years before even though they were just friends. But, to me that missing back story wasn't a deal breaker. Lev's character is a person who doesn't understand a lot of human emotion. Mina helps him grow and learn to navigate difficult feelings. Also, I didn't like that Lev was Sasha's enforcer and that he could be so violent. It was incongruent with his gentle personality. Again, this is explained as part of his damaged personality. Still it was a bit of a stretch to believe he could be so sweet and then turn into a killer. Other reviewers didn't like that everything wrapped up so neatly and that it turns out that Mina is actually an extended family member of Lev's. Again, that didn't bother me so much. That is a bit of a romance cliche' and we know it will lead us into a series of books because we've been introduced to these characters. Belle Aurora has some talent as a writer. RAW was a book that people either loved or loathed. I liked that book because it was just so far fetched and again, I had no clue what would happen next. Aurora does push the envelope, but I like that she doesn't push it toward outright abuse of women, which I've seen in some erotic romances. Instead we get alphas who are protectors and in the end, will do everything and anything for the women they love. Lev is worth a read.

Most people who know me know that I am as loyal as they come when it comes to authors I love. Their books become my go-to reads and they become a part of my battered soul, filling in the broken cracks and leaving a healing mark. Belle Aurora is part of that club. I first stumbled upon this author when she published Friend-Zoned. The level of love I had for that story was borderline unhealthy, as I read it about 40 times by now, and gifted it even more than that. This is because this author knows how to craft a character, tell a story, invoke emotions, tug at the heartstrings and have you breaking out your proverbial pompoms to cheer characters and the events alike. That is how that whole Friend-Zoned series reads, and Lev is no different. Lev…my sweet, naïve, unsure, adorably clueless, immaculately dressed, honest, blunt, scarred and triumphant man. He is everything you hope he is, nothing he thinks he is and just enough of what he wants to be. He welcomes into his life a very lost girl, Mina, who turns out to be more like him than even he realizes. Both are lost and trying to find their way, both are somewhat damaged by their past and both want to be more and don’t know how. Their behavior is ingrained, their actions desperate, and their reasoning justified. But at the end of the day, will any of those things be able to be changed? How does a girl in poverty and a man steeped in affluence find common ground? Well, they start out by balancing each other’s weaknesses with strengths, support what is right, discourage what is wrong, try to look forward and never behind and, most of all, impart patience. They wait for each other to learn, grown, accept, embrace, and catch up…all while holding each other’s hand and leaning on each other in all aspects. Each one is coming from a different situation, yet the same place emotionally. There was something so special about this story and these characters. Watching them each change from who they thought they were, who they actually were and who they soon became, was magical. It was like watching the transformation from a caterpillar to a butterfly. It was emotional to endure some of their truths, but it was encouraging to watch them overcome them…especially together. By the end, the door that was always closed and locked up tight, which is symbolic of so much, was finally open in a true display of the world being fully open for the taking, filled with new adventures, love and possibilities. In one simple move, Lev left behind the anchor that held him back and chose to embrace the winds in his sails…and he wanted Mina with him for the ride. Belle writes some of the best secondary characters in literature today. The kind of characters that make you long for a own book of their own and hear their unique story, and this book was no exception. Every secondary character added true value and dynamic and you slowly saw their own story unfold before your eyes. At the end of the book, you sat and realized you wanted more, and you didn’t care who it was because they were all worthy. I loved every single word of this book. Not just because Belle Aurora wrote it, but because Belle Aurora wrote it right. She writes real characters, with real lives, having real problems, with relatable personalities, believable interaction, comical commentary, lovable and intriguing connections, all of which leave you with a sense of hope for something good, a desire for something more and an excitement of what is yet to come. I, for one, was not disappointed, and I know that as this series continues, I will continue to reap the rewards that the kind of special story telling only Belle Aurora can give. She makes it real, she makes it fun and she just makes you crave more. Well, I want more, and I cannot wait until the day comes that I can indulge in it. Color me eager, waiting and impatient!