Release Blitz & Book Review: Cruel Prince (Royal Hearts Academy #1) by Ashley Jade

Cruel Prince
Royal Hearts Academy #2

By:
Ashley Jade

Release Date:
August 20, 2019

Add to:
Goodreads

Source:
eARC from the author in exchange for a honest review

Book Synopsis:

Welcome to their kingdom...  

I never thought I'd step foot in Royal Manor again. But four years later, here I am...back to finish my senior year at Royal Hearts Academy. 

And forced to face Jace Covington. My first friend. First crush. First kiss. The one I left behind. 

Only—he isn't the same boy I gave my heart to. 

This new Jace is as cruel as he is gorgeous. And he's determined to make my life a living hell. Along with the rest of his glorified family and crew of tyrants. 

They expect me to worship the ground they walk on like everyone else, but I'd rather eat dirt. 

If Jace Covington wants me gone...he'll have to try harder. Because I've never been the kind of girl to play by the rules. 

WARNING: Royal Hearts Academy is a New Adult/High School series of standalones filled with drama, a touch of angst, and boys who are bad to the bone. This series is recommended for mature readers due to graphic language and sexual content.

 

My Thoughts:

Fans of the Fall Away Series by Penelope Douglas, you need to read the first book in the Royal Hearts Academy Series, Cruel Prince!  You are going to love it!!!  Cruel Prince was a story that I could not put down.  It dealt with so many heavy and difficult topics, such as loss of a loved one, mental health issues, suicide, dysfunctional families, bullying in schools, and  more. This is a story that should be read by mature readers, as it deals with serious topics, even though it takes place in a high school setting.  I love when a story is so much more than what it at first appears.

The author alternated chapters by flashing from the past, when the main characters were in elementary school, to the present, where the main characters are now seniors in high school.  We learn that Dylan and Jace became best friends in the fifth grade.  They connected over the losses of their mothers and were inseparable.  Dylan and Jace spent every waking moment together, shared their grief, their secrets, their hopes, and knew each other in a way that no one else did.  Dylan became close to the Covington's; twins Liam and Cole, who were one year younger than Jace, and little sister Bianca.

Then, after Dylan's father marries a gold-digger, he abruptly moves her away the night of the eighth grade dance, and doesn't give her time to say goodbye to Jace.  After she moves, she repeatedly tries to contact Jace through calls and social media, but he doesn't respond to her.  Dylan is devastated. 

Right before her senior year of high school, Dylan's father gets imprisoned for embezzlement, and she comes to live with her aunt, uncle, and step-cousin Oakley.  Dylan finds herself attending the same school as the Covingtons' and is excited to reunite with her best friend.  However, things don't go as expected, and Jace treats her cruelly, bullies her, and has a lot of anger towards her.  

There is a lot Dylan doesn't know about the night she left.  There's a thin line between love and hate, and Dylan is not going to let anyone intimidate or bully her.  However, these two still share chemistry and deep feelings for one another.  Will Dylan get her best friend back, or as more happens, will she even want to?

I really enjoyed Cruel Prince.  I wanted to know what could possibly have happened to make Jace hate Dylan so much.  I suspected what it had to do with, but did not know the details.  The explanation bothered me, because I felt like there should have been more trust with the situation, and Dylan should have been given the benefit of the doubt.  There was never a dull moment in this story, and the ending was perfect!  I swooned and got teary-eyed! 

I loved the strong cast of secondary characters.  Dylan's best friend, Sawyer was amongst my favorites.  Initially, she was quiet, and timid, but she became stronger through Dylan's friendship.  I could tell Sawyer and Cole had feelings for each other, but she was quiet, religious, and didn't share the same social status.  Cole's story is next, and I'm hoping he wises up!

Oakley, Dylan's step-cousin, made me so angry at the beginning of the story, but he eventually grew on me.  His character added a lot of humor to the story.  Bianca, the youngest Covington was sassy, feisty, and fiercely loyal.  I'm looking forward to her story as well, and suspect that she's going to fall in love with the Covingtons' biggest enemy's little brother!

Cruel Prince was a story that I did not want to put down!  If you enjoy new adult contemporaries, dark bully romance, angst, drama, serious issues, and combustible sexual chemistry, you need to check out this story!

Teasers:

This series is recommended for mature readers due to graphic language and sexual content.

Book Excerpt:

“Is that why you wore this sexy little shirt tonight?” His warm breath tickles the side of my neck. “Hoping to get my attention.” 

“No.” 

That earns me a husky chuckle. “Too bad.” He presses his lips against my throat. “Because it’s working. You have all my attention.” He walks his fingers down my torso. “Question is…what are you going to do with it?”

Purchase At:

AVAILABLE NOW!! 

FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU

About the Author:

Ashley Jade loves to tackle different genres and tropes within romance. Her first loves are New Adult Romance and Romantic Suspense, but she also writes everything in between including: contemporary romance, erotica, and dark romance. 

Her characters are flawed and complex, and chances are you will hate them before you fall head over heels in love with them. 

She’s a die-hard lover of oxford commas, em dashes, music, coffee, and anything thought provoking…except for math. 

Books make her heart beat faster and writing makes her soul come alive. She’s always read books growing up and scribbled stories in her journal, and after having a strange dream one night; she decided to just go for it and publish her first series. 

It was the best decision she ever made. 

If she’s not paying off student loan debt, working, or writing a novel—you can usually find her listening to music, hanging out with her readers online, and pondering the meaning of life. 

Check out her amazon page and Facebook page for future novels. She recently became hip and joined Twitter, so you can find her there, too. She loves connecting with her readers—they make her world go round’.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter 

 Instagram | Bookbub | Amazon

Blog Tour Hosted By:

https://candikanepr.net