Review: The Lion Heart by Carrie Aarons (Rogue Academy #2)

Note: An advanced reader copy (ARC) was provided by the author.

“I decided not to engage in immature, daft behavior so that I could stand by you as the man you deserve. And if you're made about that, then you're mental. I mean, I know you're mental, but even more than I already thought. Can't you see, I bloody love you. I would only try to play the smart move for you; I'll only ever be in love with you. So, just fucking let me.”

And just like that, Jude Davies been knocked down a slot on my list of favorite Carrie Aarons book boyfriends and he's got his best friend and teammate to thank for that. The Lion Heart is the second novel in Aarons's Rogue Academy series and it's all about Kingston Phillips, a footballer gifted with skills on the pitch and off it as well, especially when it comes to the opposite sex. From the time he was selected to attend the acclaimed Rogue Academy at the age of seven, Kingston's prowess was considered to be a given, what with football-playing genes his parents passed on to him. At twenty-one, his parents have never failed to remind him that the Phillips legacy was something he had to live up to, and in their eyes, he's yet to come close. Kingston distracts himself with women and carousing, used to getting what and who he wants simply because of who he is. But that was before he met Poppy Raymond. At twenty, she's already spent six years establishing herself as one of the top supermodels in the world. She's yet to meet a guy who piques her interest, yet as much as Kingston and his arrogance irks her, there's something about him that has her engaging every time he lobs a cocksure quip her way. Then she begins to see the broken young man beneath the self-assured facade, making Poppy wonder what sort of heart beneath it...

Gah! I absolutely adored every single thing about Kingston and Poppy's story! Carrie Aarons took the enemies-to-lovers trope and laved it with snark and sass alongside the sweetness and sexual tension. I loved the British witticisms and the lighthearted humor, but this story also happened to have a healthy dose of angst to it, courtesy of both Poppy's and Kingston's pasts. It could be said that the whole back and forth between them during the first few chapters could be seen as foreplay, but there was something deeper that was meant for them than a roll in the proverbial hay. The more that was revealed about them and their personal histories, the clearer it became that these two had a better understanding of each other's brokenness and then come to the realization that just because they were broken didn't mean they were defective or not worthy of love and happiness. The progression and development of these two main characters as individuals and as a couple felt realistic to me, including a stumble here and there. If you're a fan and reader of the series, Jude Davies and Aria Lloyd continue to enjoy their happily-ever-after here. We get an idea of what may lay ahead for Vance Morley when his book is released, but while I'm quite excited for Vance's story, I'm still basking in the awesomeness that is The Lion Heart. Five-plus stars. ♥

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Read my reviews for the Rogue Academy series:

The Second Coming (book one) - five stars - My Review

The Lion Heart (book two) - five-plus stars - My Review (posted above)

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Release Date: 15 September 2019 14 September 2019

Date Read: 14 September 2019

Learn more about Carrie Aarons.

Purchase The Lion Heart on Amazon.