Cover Image: King's Rule

King's Rule

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

This book was so entertaining. I was drawn into the story from the beginning and was involved until the end. The characters were complex and interesting. I found the story to be well paced and engrossing throughout the whole book. I was invested in the couple throughout the book and felt all the emotions through both the highs and lows of the story.The side characters were such an integral part of this story as well. This is the love story i needed to read at this time. If you want an entertaining and well written book this is it for you

Was this review helpful?

Second book in the Kings of Sydney with Xander and Poppy's tale of road to romance for the future.
Ebook from netgalley and publishers with thanks. Opinions are entirely my own.

Was this review helpful?

Desperate for each other’s touch they denied themselves for years. Trying to hide who they were in the inside and finally letting the fire within them consume them both. One moment changed everything but will hidden secrets destroy everything? Scorching hot story!

Was this review helpful?

I Couldnt put this down. I love this series its Hot and naughty but still has a good story. You never disappoint

Was this review helpful?

I thought I would enjoy this second book in the red-hot Kings Of Sydney book as much as the first, but I didn’t enjoy it as much. It lacked that initial magic that captivated me the first time.

Was this review helpful?

A big thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin/Dare Publishing for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. His snarky step sister makes him crazy! What fun and what complicated feelings, guilt, just all in one. Xander and Poppy have great chemistry. A predictable but fun read. 3 stars

Was this review helpful?

Jackie Ashenden is one of my favourite authors, her heroes are so dam tough and hard but always underneath is that loving caring hero and her heroines are strong and vulnerable and this book has both, I am really enjoying this series and getting to know Xander and Poppy was very enjoyable, and steamy hot, the pages could become a light, you will need a fan to keep you cool.

Xander King is determined to right a wrong that he is convinced he caused years ago and to do that she needs a good PA to work with and no one will work with the King family, so he insists on hiring is step-sister Poppy, the girl he really hates but there is no other option. This could mean a very rocky time for Xander.

Poppy is furious when Xander demands that she work for him, but in the end she has no choice, working for the man that she has never liked since her mother married his father when she was ten years old, their relationship has always been a feisty one, but now there is a pull that she cannot ignore.

This story is very erotic, steamy and with a controlling Xander pushing Poppy although not without her enjoying what is happening between them, they have a lot from their pasts that needs to be sorted both feel responsible for a death, both have had terrible childhoods and both have felt alone most of their lives, but when their sensual desire for each other explodes this causes their emotions to open up and heal, they say that there is a very thin line between love and hate, this is one that I highly recommend.

Was this review helpful?

I received this book for free, and I can only be glad that I didn’t have to pay for it. It was definitely not worth the time it took to read it. Xander is a son of an infamous crook, and has turned his life around and become a billionaire. His step-sister, Poppy, is young, gorgeous and a complete brat. Why do authors think that women want to read about grown men falling for neophytes? Sigh. Poppy is blackmailed into working for her step-brother, whom she hates but secretly lusts after. Xander is pressured into hiring Poppy despite wanting to keep away from her because, yeah, he has the hots for her. There was just so much of this book that either didn’t make sense, was ridiculous or such an obvious cliche that I was happy to be done with it. Definitely not recommended.
Note: I received this book in return for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Xander and Poppy are step-brother and sister with sexual tension between them. They eventually get past the I hate you's and become lovers. Will their relationship work? An interesting read.

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley and am leaving a review.

Was this review helpful?

Jackie Ashenden has once again written a book that I have enjoyed reading so much! I couldn't put this book down!

Was this review helpful?

Gah!! “Kings Rule” is another Jackie Ashenden jackpot!! It’s smoking hot, intense and plenty of action. A must read. Totally recommend

Was this review helpful?

This contemporary romance keeps readers well entertained throughout as a billionaire and his stepsister navigate a hate / love relationship. Xander and Poppy are strong characters that stand out as they draw readers into their story. The relationship between is earthquake shaky and full of snark, attitude, stubborn clashes and sizzling chemistry. The passion burns hot both in their heated arguments and during their intimate times together and the emotional turmoil that takes place during this relationship is quite intense. Readers can’t practically feel the energy between Xander and Poppy leap off the pages as they go head to head in battle, well actually the energy can be felt throughout the story no matter what the couple is doing.

The plot is fast paced and keeps readers well entertained with some chuckle worthy events, some heart tugging events and quite a bit of suspense as both characters are holding back due to past events and secrets that they don’t want to let go of. But on the down side of that, readers may find some of the antics between Xander and Poppy to be a bit overdone, although this can easily be overlooked due to the fact that it is also quite amusing and there is enough of the sweet and romantic fall in love events to balance it out, which keeps readers turning the pages.

Was this review helpful?

The second book in the King's of Sydney, King's Rule is the story of Xander King and Poppy Valentine.

Xander needed a personal assistant, everyone that he previously had kept quitting, no wonder as he was certainly very surly and no temp agencies wanted to supply staff to the Kings. Poppy Valentine needed money, she wanted to travel to London and become an architect, she was well on the way but funding her Mothers' lifestyle, even though she had a very comfortable allowance, was depleting all Poppy's savings.

Even worse for Xander was that Poppy was his stepsister. One that he had admired for many years but now despised. There was no other choice but to hire Poppy but unfortunately for Xander, Poppy wasn't interested to work for any King and until Xander backs Poppy into a corner, literally, there was no other way for her to earn money to help her in her quest for her lifelong dream.

This is a fast paced book that will certainly keep you interested from beginning to end and will have you fanning yourself quite a bit with the situations Xander introduces to Poppy.

Thanks to NetGalley and HARLEQUIN - Romance (U.S. & Canada) Harlequin Dare for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Was this review helpful?

I was given an ARC in exchange of my honest review.
Xander King is running his father's company after he went to jail. In need of assistant he thinks of his step-sister.
Poppy Valentine is Xander step-sister that he offers a temporary job. He feels guilty that her father had committed because of his father.
However Poppy wants nothing to do with the King family until Xander offers the one thing that she really wants . An internship at Jordan Architectural.
An intense love/hate relationship
Their interactions will set the pages on fire!!!
Jackie Ashenden will not disappoint her readers!!!! .

Was this review helpful?

If domination and submission are your cup of tea, you'll enjoy this latest offering from Jackie Ashenden. Highly erotic and packed with sizzle, King's Rule is a love/hate relationship between two characters who burn with a passion for each other and still deliver an amusingly sweet story you won't soon forget.

Was this review helpful?

There were parts of this book I really liked, but I feel like there was a lot left to be desired. It was portrayed as a step-brother, step-sister relationship, but there just wasn't enough turmoil about that relationship and the morality of it. But there was a little bit of it, so you know the characters struggled with it at least a little. But honestly, the book would have worked a lot better if they would have just been childhood friends or something, rather than step siblings.

There also was the "secret" that Xander was carrying around and was struggling with the entire book. But when he told Poppy, she was just like "oh, okay, don't worry about it". I wish there would have been more of a climax to that.

The sex scenes were definitely steamy and I enjoyed the pacing of this book. It was enjoyable and page turning.

Was this review helpful?

King's Rule by Jackie Ashenden is the second book in the Kings of Sydney series. I thought I would give this book a try because I have came to love the Dare line but this one is just not for me. I couldn't get past the she's my sister thinking.

Was this review helpful?

You must be willing to read adult language and sexual situations to appreciate this book.

Jackie Ashenden is one of those rare writers who can pen erotica and make the playing field level for both the male and female character. I admit that this was an unusual scenario with a step-sister and brother but the story works.

Was this review helpful?

King's Rule by Jackie Ashenden is book Two in the Kings of Sydney Series. This is the story of Poppy and Xander. I haven't yet read the previous book, so for me this was a standalone book.
Xander 'talks' Poppy into take a job with him but knows its gonna be hard working with her and his desire for her. Poppy is a handful herself with how she deal with her issues but the one thing they seem to be finding out is that they can not ignore the sexual tension between the them any more.
Enjoyed this hot love story.

Was this review helpful?

3.5 stars--KING’S RULE is the second instalment in Jackie Ashenden’s contemporary, adult KINGS OF SYDNEY erotic, romance series focusing on the King siblings of Sydney, Australia. This is thirty-year old investment whiz Xander King, and twenty-five year old architect graduate Poppy Valentine’s story line. KING’S RULE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalment is revealed where necessary.

NOTE: KING’S RULE contains scenes of discipline and spanking, Domination and submission, that may not be suitable for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Xander and Poppy) KING’S RULE follows the acrimonious relationship between step-siblings, thirty year old investment whiz Xander King, and twenty-five year old architect graduate Poppy Valentine. Months earlier, the King brothers took over their father’s real-estate business, a business with ties to the local mob. With their father now in jail for money laundering and fraud, Xander, Leon and Ajax King struggle to clean up a reputation inherited based upon sins of the past but what Xander never expected was to come face to face with his father’s step-daughter, a woman who, for years, has pushed all of Xander’s buttons-both good and bad. Enter Poppy Valentine, architect graduate, and a woman desperate in more ways than one. What ensues is the enemies to lovers relationship between Poppy and Xander, and the potential fall-out as Xander wants nothing more than a friends with benefits affair, leaving Poppy struggling to make sense of it all.

Xander has a secret that if revealed would likely destroy the tentative hold he has on our story line heroine. Broken and hurt, blaming herself for her father’s death, Poppy battles between head and heart feeling as though she has surrendered her soul to the Devil, himself.

The relationship between Xander and Poppy is tempestuous, at best, ever since a ten-year old Poppy found herself the step-sister to Leon, Xander and Ajax King. From the outset Poppy struggled to fit into the family, a family she refused to accept or love. Hurt, humiliated and grieving, Poppy would make Xander’s life miserable right from the start, misery disguised to hide a growing attraction to her new elder step-brother. A distinct lack of maturity, and the ever-present sibling squabbles was exhausting; the back and forth aggression, and onslaught of emotional tirades left something to be desired. The $ex scenes are erotic and intense.

The secondary and supporting characters are colorful and energetic. We are reintroduced to Xander’s brothers Leon and Ajax, as well as the introduction of Poppy’s mother Lily Valentine.

KING’S RULE is a story of family, heart break, blackmail and love. The premise is dramatic and energetic; the romance is erotic; the characters are immature, broken and struggling to fit.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

THE READING CAFÉ: http://www.thereadingcafe.com/kings-rule-kings-of-sydney-2-by-jackie-ashenden-a-review/


GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2624595312


AMAZON. COM: https://www.amazon.com/review/R2DG2BAHB9HP2C/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8


BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/3579652109

B&N (Sandy_thereadingcafe)posted

CHAPTERS/INDIGO (Sandy_At_the_Reading_Cafe) posted

GOOGLE PLAY (Sandy S) posted

Ibooks (Sandy Sch) posted

Was this review helpful?