White Nights

By: Anna Zaires, Charmaine Pauls

Narrated by: CJ Bloom, Sebastian York

Length: 7 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

Power. That’s what I think of when I spot him across the ER. Power and danger.

One of the wealthiest Russian oligarchs, Alex Volkov is as ruthless as he is magnetic. He always gets what he wants, and what he wants is me, in his bed.

He’s the kind of trouble every woman should run from. The bullet his bodyguard took for him proves that.

I should stay far away, but for one night, I give in to temptation. Before I know it, he’s pulling me deeper into his world of excess and violence, invading not only my life but my heart.

How much trust can I place in a man so dangerous? How much do I dare risk for his love?

©2021 Anna Zaires and Charmaine Pauls (P)2021 Anna Zaires and Charmaine Pauls

IT’S REALLY GREAT 💕.. BUT IT’S ALSO A CLIFFHANGER

They meet while Nurse Kate is trying to save his Bodyguard from dying and the chemistry between Kate and the handsome, charismatic Russian is electric. Oil Baron and Oligarch Alex Volkov is used to getting what he wants and he desperately wants Kate - so he subtlety and shamelessly makes his moves. But despite the obvious attraction, heated stares and sizzles, it takes a few days and a bit of convincing before Kate agrees to a one night stand with the dark, dangerous, determined force that is Alex Volkov. Then the ‘one and done’ becomes a game-changer when the intense and obsessed Russian wants more.. and more.. and much much more than Kate ever dreamed of when his single-minded seductive pursuit finally breaks down all her defence. However, as Kate gets lured into Alex’s world, the sizzles and sex might be great, but how does she fit into his very different mysterious lifestyle?.. how much can she truly know him when he’s keeping secrets from her?.. how can she stop herself from falling in love with her jealous, possessive, protective lover?.. and how stuck is she in Alex’s well spun web of sins and secrets?

Worth a credit? Yes, I really enjoyed Kate’s well-written and addictive journey as she meets and truly tries to resist the dark dangerous force that is Alex Volkov.. and the push n pull, the pace and the flow and the anticipation of their relationship is deliciously climactic. Told from Kate’s POV as she tries to navigate her feelings caught in a relationship that’s lured her in despite her dubious reservations for Alex.. and then moves very quickly thanks to Alex’s possessive nature and perhaps ultimate plans. And, despite this book being low angst, I’m sure there’ll be threats, danger, deaths, drama and angst to drool over in book 2 when Alex’s web catches and clashes with Kate. CJ Bloom did a fantastic job with the narration.. but sadly Sebastian York only narrated the Prologue and two chapters where enemies plotted and planned something big. The cliffhanger ending promises angst, suspense and drama to come in November/December and I can’t wait to hear and experience more from these two wickedly devious and wickedly talented authors.

Sebastian York's Accent is on Point!

This dark romance collaboration will leave you breathless! Deliciously heating up the pages from cover to cover, get ready to stay up past your bedtime! Five stars for an all consuming read that's guaranteed to leave readers eagerly awaiting part 2!

Another One 😍

Anna never disappoints and again I am in love with these Characters. I cannot wait for book 2 😁 I can Safely say Anna and Charmaine knock it out the park and have me waiting in full anticipation for the conclusion. I was a wonderful listen now it's time to read 🤓

White Nights is a steamy listen!

Sebastian York only have a couple of short chapters but he doesn’t disappoint. His voice and narration was wonderful!
CJ Bloom practically narrated the whole book but she was superb in her performance.

This is book 1 of Alex and Kate’s story and it was scorching hot. She’s a nurse and he’s a Russian zillionaire and their chemistry was amazing. I love the fact that Kate have a backbone and it was fun how Alex had to resort to the most cliche ways of romancing her. I’m glad this first book didn’t end in a big cliffhanger. I can’t wait for Midnight Days.

Female lead character is too annoying

I usually like Anna Zaires’ books, but there were a couple of big things I didn’t like about this one. First, the female lead character was incredibly annoying. Almost 3/4 of the book she was determined not to be with the male character and acted like a hysterical, obstinate jerk. I honestly have no idea what he saw in her, which takes me to the second point. With the exception of a few pages where Sebastian York narrates for a character other than the male lead, the story is told from the annoying female’s point of view. I got so irritated with her childish thoughts and behavior that I fast forwarded quite a bit. At least if some of the story was told from the male lead’s point of view, the reader might have been able to figure out what he saw in her, but that never happened. It also felt like a bait and switch seeing Sebastian York as one of the narrators when he had so little involvement in the audiobook.

Absolutely sizzles!

Audiobook: Narrators - CJ Bloom & Sebastian York

These narrators did an excellent job of bringing Alex and Kate to life. Some of these characters spoke with an accent and they both did a very nice job of adding that to the story. The sizzle and intensity between these characters was tangible in the voices of both Bloom and York.

The story itself is filled with alpha goodness, relatively low in angst but with the threat of danger lurking behind each page making me anticipate when it was all going to unravel. This is mostly about the build up of the relationship but it’s filled with some steamy smexy moments.

Definitely worth listening to but be forewarned, this ends in a cliffhanger! However, the next book isn’t too far behind. I can’t wait!

5 STARS

I absolutely loved this book! Alex was everything I like in an anti-hero. He was jealous possessive, mysterious and didn't back off once his mind was made up. He gave me tingles every time he took charge. Kate is such a kind person and a little over her head when it comes to Alex's world. She did try to put up some resistance but Alex is a force. There is plenty of steamy scenes as well as some sweet ones. The book ends with a lot of questions and I can't wait to for the next book.

Narration was perfect! CJ did a great job with the accent IMO. SebYo only narrates a few chapters.

a great story to listen to

I loved White Nights from beginning to end. Alex is definitely on my list of book boyfriends ;-) he's just the right mix of power and possessiveness. The chemistry between Alex and Katerina is electric and one I enjoyed the narrator's and look forward to Midnight Days.

Nostrovia

I loved loved loved this book. Exceptional story writing and awesome narration. Cant wait for part 2.

Wow! Alex & Katie Story - Ends In A Cliffhanger.

Wow! Alex & Katie Have Intense Chemistry That Sizzles, But They Find More Than Just Physical Attraction. As A Powerful Oligarch, Alex Has His Choice Of Women, But It Is The Take-Charge ER Nurse That Has Him Finally Wanting More Than Just One Night – If Only He Can convince Katie To Take A Chance. The Two Face Emotional Roadblocks As Well As Outside Threats. The Suspense Builds As His Enemies Look For A Weakness. Ends In A Cliffhanger!


This is book one of the White Nights duet. It is Alexander Volkov and Katherine Morrell’s story. Book two, Midnights Days, is the conclusion.

As the story opens, it is a chilly November in Brooklyn.

Katherine Morrell, twenty-five, is logical in all she does. She was raised by a single mom, whom she loves, and never knew her father. Since graduating from college three years ago, she has made her home in Brooklyn. She works long hours as an ER nurse at Coney Island Hospital, which she loves. She has never had a one-night stand; she is a relationship person. Tony had been a safe choice – or boring, as Joanne, her best friend since high school, liked to say. The surgical resident was easy to spend time with and theirs was a relationship based on shared interest and friendship, or so she thought until she discovered him cheating on her. She learned the hard way that she couldn’t base a relationship on purely objective points. Without passion, it is doomed to fail.

Alexander Volkov, thirty-six, is one of the wealthiest men in the world. He is a notorious playboy, photographed by the tabloids and never seen with the same woman twice. The calculated and controlled Russian oligarch amassed his wealth in the oil industry but has since branched out into other fields. He owns real estate around the world, but as of last year, he makes his home in Brooklyn. As an oligarch, Alex exudes great power. The oligarchs arose after the fall of the USSR and were ruthless in their efforts to fill in the power vacuum. Business back in the old country is done a little differently than in the U.S., and due to the corruption, Alex’s empire probably operates more like the mafia. Not surprisingly, he cannot be too careful and is always accompanied by his bodyguards. His men are loyal, willing to take a hit for him.

When a gunshot victim enters the ER late one night, Katie steps in to assist. The strangest thing happens when another man, lurking in the background, captures her attention. He shamelessly takes her in, and she instinctively feels everything he wants to do with her. It is a purely physical attraction that they share – no logic involved. The feeling is like no other she felt before, and thoughts of the man overwhelm her. When he later tells her exactly what he wants, she finds herself questioning her own resolve.

Alex isn’t the type of man that people argue with. Instead, they bend over backward to please him. So when the beautiful nurse gives him a hard time, it only makes him more determined than ever. He has never wanted a woman as much as he wants Katie. Alex doesn’t date, but there is something special about Katie, whose rejection he takes as a challenge.

Alex and Katie are both taken by surprise when they first encounter one another. What they feel for one another is entirely new, and try as they might, they cannot seem to avoid the inevitable. Neither is looking for a relationship, and they are both out of their comfort zone. Alex’s calm strength is hypnotic, and his self-confidence speaks to the power he has attained. Katie is flighty thanks to her recent breakup, and she struggles with herself in Alex’s absence. She is never one to let go and just enjoy life, too concerned about logic and safety. Alex is not a safe choice, even if he makes her feel incredible. When she learns that she might not be the only special woman to enter his life, it reminds her just how at-risk her heart is with Alex. She is overcome with jealousy and insecurity. She wants to walk away and spare herself even more heartbreak down the road.

There is more at stake than just a broken heart, though. As Alex and Katie try to figure out what they have together, danger lingers in the background. There are several Russians that have Alex on their radar, all hoping to find a weakness. Ivan Besov is watching, and Oleg Pavlov is feeling the pressure as Vladimir Stefanov begins to lose patience. Mikhail Turgenev, a business rival, would like to make deal with Alex. Dania hopes to seal that deal as well, as Katie learns. The suspense builds as the couple tries to work through their complicated feelings The story ends with a cliffhanger.

Book two of the duet, Midnight Days, follows.

Wow! Alex and Katie have intense chemistry, and their steamy connection absolutely sizzles. This is no slow burn; what these two have too primal to tame. They come from very different worlds. An ER nurse hardly fits into the lifestyle of an oligarch. Alex travels and attends high-powered meetings and events, whereas Katie as an ER nurse is tied down by her shifts. Long term, their schedules would likely become an issue. This book explores their characters and their relationship, which moves forward at breakneck speed. The story takes place over the course of several weeks, ending prior to the holidays. But the story is also about Alex and the enemies that want to see his demise. There are many questions that remain, as only a hint of the business and politics behind Alex’s woes are given. There remains a lot of mystery surrounding Alex’s past. But despite her rather simple life, there is a question mark in Katie’s past as well. It may – or may not- be relevant moving forward. Katie’s father is unknown – even her mother is unaware of his identity. Because they live in an area with a huge Russian population, one might wonder if her father ends up being an important figure in the story.

Alex and Katie’s story is dripping with insane chemistry, but the pair find more than just physical attraction. It is an insta-love story that faces emotional roadblocks as well as outside threats. As a powerful oligarch, Alex has his choice of women, but it is the take-charge ER nurse that has him finally wanting more than just one night – if only he can convince Katie to take a chance. Their love story dominates in this book, but the suspense steadily builds as his enemies look for a weakness. Book two is sure to be a thriller, as the story takes a twist and Alex’s enemies show their faces. This story is well-written. The plot is fairly simple thus far. It is written in first person in Katie’s POV, with the prologue in Bes’s POV, and chapters 6 and 16 in Oleg’s POV. I rate this book 4.5 stars.

As for the Audio: it is well-performed and consistent with the book.

Brilliant from start to finish

Loved this, couldn't stop listening, brilliantly written, great story and characters, can't wait for part two!

Brilliant

Love these writers and this book doesn’t disappoint 👏👏👏👏 the characters are on a journey of love ❤️

Dont waste your money/Credit!!!!!

I have loved all of Anna Zaires books but this one is so bad I give up at chapter 15. it was boring me to death!! The narrators attempt at a russian males voice was terrible! there is literally nothing exciting about this book at all...No build up to the "love story" so disappointing!

Disappointing read

No a great story, even the characters are boring! Not sure what happened as Anna's books are normally great....

Very disappointed and left with no ending

This book was very disappointing from this author not a patch on her twisted trilogy also not a full book as no ending you have to wait or buy another book to get the next bit of the story you have just lost me as a fan I won’t be buying the next book

Kate is so disappointingly dumb

The book starts off interesting but as I read on, I got more and more irritated with the female character, Kate. She is so naive and absolutely daft and ditsy. I don't think dumb women like that exist in real life. CJ Bloom is so fantastic though. I hope to listen to a book narrated by her with women who have better brains

Longwinded Book

Hate Cliffhanger book!
Why cant the writer wrote the whole story in 1 book and charge the price accordingly. Not going to waste my time for the second book :(

Tedious….

I hope I can get my credit back. I have very low expectations of new contemporary romances but this was beyond bad.

Disappointing

I was looking forward to listening to this but was very disappointed with the story and the narration. It could have been brilliant if a little more thought went into it. Will not bother with the second book.

Not the best from Mrs Z

I usually love her stories and buy them knowing they will keep me engaged but kept falling asleep while listening to this. Nothing special, story very poor and characters very superficial, sorry but won't be buying second in the series.