Adrian Maguire is a scumbag. Scourge of the earth. A dirty, corrupt, unscrupulous politician.He’s the man who tried to ruin my sister’s life.Hate, hate, hate.You know what I despise more than Adrian?The fact that I have no choice but to take his case. Otherwise, I’ll lose my job.I didn’t spend years in law school to defend people like him.So, when he strolls into my office, I’m not prepared for … to defend people like him.
So, when he strolls into my office, I’m not prepared for his presence to suck the air out of my lungs.
When his touch sends sparks flying across my skin, not ready for my heart to skip a beat.
My traitorous body burns for him, even though my mind screams at me to stop.
But I can’t.
I see another side of Adrian that he’s hidden away from everyone—even himself.
The more time I spend with him, the more I realise I was wrong.
Wrong to judge him, wrong to hate him, wrong to push him away.
But when secrets are exposed, there’s more than just my career on the line.
Adrian could destroy everything…including my fragile heart.
Note: Despise at First Sight was previously titled Ruined.
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Ruined: An Enemy to Lovers Romance, Confession Series, Book 3 by Lilian Monroe
Stella King is a contract lawyer at a prestigious law firm. She has just been given what could be the biggest case of her career, but she would rather spit nails.
Adrian Maguire is the youngest Mayor in Denver history. He could also be going to jail for a long time for handing out construction contracts in exchange for campaign contributions.
Stella has just been told that she must help represent the Mayor of Denver. The same man that threatened to reveal her sisters’ darkest secrets and had her fired from her job to protect himself. Adrian knows he was wrong, but he wants to fight for what he worked so hard to accomplish, Mayor. As Mayor he did do some things right, but the media is a fickle bitch. Stella doesn’t know how she is going to tell her sister about having to represent Adrian. Stella tries to get her boss to take her off the case stating conflict of interest but to no avail. She has a feeling that this case will take everything out of her, including her soul. Adrian doesn’t know if he is just attracted to Stella or if it’s the fact that she hates him so much, either way he needs her. He needs her to save him from jail, but he also needs her to save him from himself.
Oh, my gawd I was worried that Adrian wouldn’t be able to come back from Book two, Corrupt. I mean how can you make Adrian into a good person. I shouldn’t have worried at all! You saw Adrian at his worst in Corrupt but in this book, you see him humbled. He wants to tell his brother that he is truly sorry and that he misses him. He wants to be a part of their lives. The road to Mayor is paved with regrets and in the end, he has nothing to show for it but being lonely and losing everything. It truly humbles him. He finally sees what it worth fighting for. Stella has always put her sister first before herself. When she finally tries to make herself happy, she has such guilt. She feels like she must hurt one to have to the other, but Adrian sacrifices himself to make her happy. How can you hate him after that?
Adrian is a selfish politician with little regard to those around him. Stella is a successful lawyer always putting those she loves above herself. After finding out she is going to be defending the man who tried to ruin everything she loves she finds herself struggling with the lines between love and hate. Will they find their HEA or will everything they have been putting first in their lives take over and end everything good they could have had. This is definitely a 5 star read in my opinion. The story is easy to follow and engaging and you find your self turning page after page to get the next little bit that you can.
I voluntarily reviewed this book after receiving an ARC for my honest review.
I always love to hear the villain’s side of the story.
When we were first introduced to Adrian in Corrupt, he was the cold slimy ambitious politician that would stop at nothing to climb that political ladder – even if it meant using his brother and ruining his reputation and relationship. He was definitely the ‘villian.’ But in his own story we get to see his side of life. It takes possibly losing everything he’s worked for to realize he’s not really living the life he wants to live. Ruined is the story of redemption, owning up to your discretions, making things right for yourself and everyone around you, and ultimately, learning to give and receive forgiveness.
It’s a good read!