this is so off schedule it’s not even funny… but I have to share this with you right right now now.
As the sheltered princess of Sector One, Maricela’s life is defined by duty: to her people and to her family. Her wealth and influence have allowed her to build a better world, but they come with a price—the responsibility to secure political stability with a practical marriage. Maricela cherishes the idea of marrying for love, but there’s not much romance in the endless line of suitors interested only in prestige and power.
And her handsome, brooding new bodyguard isn’t helping the situation.
Ivan is the perfect, deadly warrior, a man trained from childhood to be the ultimate protector to the Rios family. His focus on keeping her safe is intense–and a little intoxicating. When the threat of danger cracks his icy control, Maricela realizes she’s not the only one fighting against temptation.
Ivan knows that the blood on his hands makes him unworthy of the pure-hearted princess. But from the first kiss, their forbidden affair feels inevitable. He can give her a glimpse of life outside her gilded cage and a lover who wants the woman instead of the crown. The only thing he can never do is promise her forever.
Because spurning her noble suitors to marry her bodyguard wouldn’t just be a scandal. It could set off a political firestorm that would tear Sector One apart
The Meta Details:
Source: Author
Format: eBook
Length: 378 pages
Publication Date: March 28th, 2018
Genre: Post-apocalyptic utopian dystopian romance
Content Level: ADULT
Pearl Clutching Content: public sex, bullying princesses, assassins, bloodshed
Trigger Warnings: graphic violence, familial manipulation, bullying, depression, first world problems
Featuring: princesses, bodyguards, tough broads, stoic gents, and RoboAshwin and GD I forgot how awesome he was…
Scorecard:
Recommended for: people who need to laugh, love, cry, and heal
Rating: Must Read
Ginny Lurcock’s Thoughts: Gideon’s Riders and the O’Kanes have always had to fight the good fight. There’s always been some kind of outside enemy threatening to tear them (and whatever budding romance is unfolding on page) apart. It’s always been the way of things.
And Ivan had that as well. There was a real and definite life-threatening event. People could have died. People nearly did.
Well, actually, two people did… but they were minor characters so I promptly forgot about them because I’m the worst…
But that’s not the point I’m trying to make. Ivan had external conflict, but it also had something else. Something the other books have had as well, but that didn’t hit so close to home until right now.
Until today.
(This might be a spoiler, just to warn you.)Because right now, today, the internal struggles were depression and having to live up to expectations. Something I’m dealing with very much right now as we head into the first holiday and birthday (my birthday) without my in-laws.
Since my sister-in-law shunned us.
And there are a lot of things that I should have been feeling that I didn’t allow myself to feel. Not until Ivan and Maricela did on page, and I was able to feel along with them. To process as they process. To grow and change and realize that I do deserve love and happiness.
Through them. With them. And all without someone sending assassins after me.
I mean, with crying at work, sure… but it’s not quite the same.
Kit Rocha has always written unparalleled prose full of action, adventure, intrigue, and genuine emotion. Creating characters and a landscape full of depth and vibrancy. Stuffing the pages full of conflict and climax (pun intended) all with perfect pacing.
I just don’t know if I ever appreciated how much it made me feel until today.
Which I’m now remembering I wrote about Beyond
Shame, as it was the first time I thought “hey, it’s okay to be kinky as long as it’s consensual.”
So I guess that Kit Rocha has another hidden talent. She (they? how do you refer to two people with one pen name?) makes me feel like it’s the first time, every time.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for a fair and honest review from the author.
Ginny Lurcock 