4.5 stars

This is one of those books that I was thinking about when I wasn't reading it. I LOVE finding a book that just pulls me in. I went into this one without really knowing the premise of the story. I loved Setta Jay's Guardian's series. I was a little apprehensive that I would be reading a repeat of sorts but this was not the case. So without being spoilerish, I'll just say that this was a great start to an exciting series. Strong female character and an alpha male that keeps the story moving. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book.

I loved this book so much! Setta Jay is another new to me author and I was really lucky to have the opportunity to read this book as my first from her.

Sophia is a royal princess who leads a double life as a mercenary; righting the wrongs done by the people in high society. It all started as a teenager in boarding school where she and her friends witnessed a murder and it was covered up by money. Seeing the injustice, her and her friends and hired mercenaries for the past 8 years have been making sure the people pay and are brought to justice. During the current operation, Viktor, a man Sophia has had a crush on since she was 16, takes notice of her. Sophia intrigues Viktor, he's noticed her in the past couple of years eyeing him but it was not until recently when he saw her scaling a wall that he's become very very interested in her. Viktor is what people would call a bad man, he's done some not so legal things in his past. People are afraid of him, he is intense and when he finds something he wants, he will do whatever he can to get it. And now he wants Sophia and all her secrets.

Normally I'm not too much of a fan of romance involving royalty, but this one was really unique. Sophia didn't like her life as a princess, she felt like she was in a gilded cage, she wanted the freedom she felt while she was living her double life. So she decided to take this opportunity with Viktor for as long as she can, she just didn't know how possessive and protective Viktor is. Viktor is the type of hero I love to read about, the macho, alpha, dominant, possessive and protective type. The sexy times these two have are sizzling hot! But ultimately I loved the love story between these two.

As for the villain in this story, he is definitely a very very bad man, I'm really happy with how that was resolved. All the other secondary characters were also awesome, I cannot wait to read their stories!

All in all I am so happy I found another author who's work I really enjoyed. This book is definitely a must read, not your typical royalty romance book that is for sure.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

As a young girl, Sophia and her friends experience a traumatic event that left them feeling helpless and out of control. From that point on they banded together to create a group that could bring down the powerful men that the law couldn’t, or wouldn’t touch. Now, years later, she’s concentrated on her job even as she continues to smile for the press and present the perfect princess persona they all believe her to be. When she runs into the man that she has obsessed over for a decade she suddenly finds herself struggling to keep her princess façade front and center.

Vicktor’s past is painted in blood and violence. People fear him, rightfully so. He is not the type of man that a King or Queen Mother would welcome into their fold as a suitor for their princess. Nevertheless, he craves one night with Sophia. She intrigues him and he wants to know all of her secrets. When each step forward only creates more questions, he is determined to protect her at all cost.

Sophia was strong and independent even as she had to live a freedomless life all the while wearing a mask of conservatism. I respected the way she had learned to tweak the system to work for her own personal agenda. Never brash, she was still capable of cutting a man down in quick order and Vicktor yielded to her dictates in order to gain his own desires.

I absolutely loved how Vicktor wanted to force her to submit to his orders and yearnings and yet he knew the minute he pushed her she would be gone. This was definitely a hero chasing the heroine story and I gobbled it up in quick delicious bites. I absolutely love a hero who gets positively growly at times when not getting his way. And the dirty talk! Holy hotness, with a few guttural words he melted my kindle!

This was a fantastic read with awesome secondary characters that I’m already antsy to read right now! The beginning was a tad bit slow and it took some time for this couple to actually take over the book, but once they did, the story took off like a shot with a pace to match. The steam was scorching and I loved the jealous, possessive and most of all protective tendencies the hero tried to contain. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes hard core alpha heroes (who try not to scare away the girl) and heroines who are smart, a bit feisty, tough but not harsh.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.