A new enemies-to-lovers standalone.Byron Crowne is a charming liar and a gorgeous monster. I detest him.I can’t resist him.He’s awakened desires I didn’t know I had.When he touches me, I need to fight him . . . and I need him to win.Our one night stand bruises my skin and leaves dents in the walls, but the sheets aren’t the only thing we shred that night.And suddenly, the stakes are higher than … night.
And suddenly, the stakes are higher than ever.
Olivia Monroe lights a fire in me that died a long time ago.
I’m a different man when I’m with her. I need to own her, take her, mark her as mine.
Everything changes when she might be pregnant and for the first time in my life…I’m powerless against this stubborn, untamable woman.
She’s the one in control and I have an impossible job:
Prove I’m worthy to be a father.more
My heart always belonged to Jonathan Drazen (Submission Series). Then Adam Steinbeck from Marriage Games really put on his alpha weight into the ring and took a piece of my heart as well. But then Bryon (Lord Bryon to you) Crowne said to the other alphas “I want into her Michelle’s heart, mind, body and soul.” There is a reason why I call CD Reiss my Queen, she is definitely a one-click author for sure. Then she writes these delicious, sexy, but most of all erotic prose and I am entranced from page 1.
I’m not going to tell you much, but if you love enemies-to-lovers, lots of angry sex, an extreme alpha guy with a head strong woman, then Iron Crowne is for you.
Olivia Monroe really, really dislikes Byron Crowne. And why shouldn’t she? He’s the epitome of everything she despises, using his wealth and charm to steamroll past environmental and city regulations just so he can own everything in sight. She didn’t count on her body reacting so viscerally to him in person, though, and it’s a problem. She can’t be attracted to the man she’s suing, can she?
When it becomes obvious that she simply can’t resist the gorgeous asshole, though, and he can be a means to an end, she takes him up on his brand of dominance and pleasure. After all, it will get her what she wants, so why shouldn’t she spend some time rolling around in the sheets with him?
But we all know that pleasure, whether it comes with a hefty dose of pain and dominance like Byron does, often times comes with feelings. Pesky little feelings. Feelings that it seems he might not reciprocate. So Olivia has a choice: stick with the plan or walk away and fulfill her dream on her own.
Iron Crowne is hot. Really hot. I can’t say I liked either Byron or Olivia that much, hence the 4 rather than 5 stars, but I liked the story itself and found everything else in this world intriguing. From Byron’s brokenness to Olivia’s sass that hides her own brokenness, down to Byron’s family. All very fascinating stuff. I will definitely be on the lookout for more in what I hope will be a series.
Olivia knew it was going to be a battle when she was going to fight Bryon to stop building near the Canyon Creek Reserve. She didn’t expect him to be handsome or charming, but she wasn’t going to let that affect her.
Seeing him at an event she decided to talk to him, she knew he had a spell on her, but she wasn’t going to give into him, he let her know he would destroy her, he knew she was worthy, he’d done his homework but had she.
Bryon offers her a proposal, one night, she tried to resist him he tells her that all he sees is she wants everything that she hates, and he will prove it. Knowing that the connection was like nothing she’s felt before, she agrees to one night giving him control.
Can they ever work things out, he can’t love, she can’t trust herself around him and hates him, but neither of them can deny their attraction to each other.
Believe it or not but this is my first full-length read by this author! I know. I know. Well, it was a beautiful, hot read, and I can’t wait for the next book in this series.
“He looked down at me with a heat that burned through my clothes anad snaked its way between my legs like a long, sparking fuse.”
Olivia Monroe wants one thing more than anything else in her life – a baby. However, she’s been dealing with disappointment time and time again. Her doctor tells her she needs to relax more. A pressing new case has her facing a new opponent – one with a sinfully gorgeous face. She’s determined to win but so is he.
“I bet I can make you beg for it like a starving animal.”
Byron Crowne is determined to build the biggest family house in Bel Air, and he’s willing to succeed by any means necessary. However, Olivia turns out to be a more than worthy opponent. In fact, she’s turns out to be more than worthy. Period.
“She was clarity, and desire, and the only one with the strength to change me The only one I wanted to make happy. She was hope.”
This was a fabulous story. The author writes with heartmelting poetry as well as raw sexuality. Byron is a broken, sexy, charming alpha with a filthy mouth. Olivia is an independent, single-minded woman but he brings out something in her that no one else ever has. I adored the banter, the chase, the catch, the release and the ending. It was a fantastic, addictive read!
dammit, i wish there was more! >>> that doesn’t mean what you might think it means LOL I think their story is complete. I just wasn’t satisfied with the wrapping up of the story. It felt like one minute we’re in conflict and then we weren’t. Just like that. So……, I wish there was more *shrug*
As for content, magnificent is probably not a good enough adjective. I’ll tell you how I described it to a friend of mine, and if you’re a fan of Christine’s and have read as many works as I have, you should have no problems understanding what I mean LOL I told her it was like Marriage Games and her Montlake stories, came together and had a baby and they called it Iron Crowne! For me, this story blended the two sides of Christine that I have always loved, her dark/edgy/filthy side and her fell-good/romantic side. It was glorious and I can’t wait for more Crownes!
Olivia Monroe and Byron Crowne despised each other the moment they met; and yet they’ve never wanted anyone as desperately as they did each other. One thing leads to another and eventually they decide to have a baby together. Will they be able to do so without their feelings getting in the way?
I was conflicted the entire time I was reading this book—I was excited to find out how it ends but I was enjoying reading it so much that I didn’t want it to end! From strong, complex characters to hot, steamy scenes—this is one brilliantly written (and well-researched!) story. I cannot recommend it enough!
Iron Crowne is an enemies-to-lovers contemporary romance written in dual first-person POV. It’s a standalone that ends with a HEA. No cliffhanger, no cheating.
Holy cow! What an incredible story! I don’t even know if there are true words to express how much I loved this book. The story of Byron and Olivia will seep into your heart and never let go. These two characters have such powerful personalities and their chemistry is chart topping! The way they banter back and forth will make you laugh and cry. There is so much that goes on in this story that your head will spin. You will root for them to end up together just as much as I did. I can’t express how much everyone needs to read this phenomenal story of lust and love. Just brilliant!
CD is one of the best, in my eyes. She’s an author that I will continue to go back and read and re-read her stuff… So when I saw a new release of hers, I couldn’t wait to dig in, and of course, within the first chapter, I couldn’t put it down…
Iron Crown was as slow-burn, and oh did it burn…
Byron Crowne is as alpha as they come. He’s hot as hell, he’s controlling, possessive, commanding, and has the ability to have any woman on her knees before him… But with an alpha side comes a vulnerable side… And that was ultimately won me over. He has a past, and it’s not a pretty one. He’s endured trauma, and it has shaped him into who he is.
Olivia was a strong, smart, and collected woman. She knows what she wants and she normally gets it. She honest to a fault, and she comes across as someone with a hard shell in my opinion but I also saw a softer side. I loved that she wasn’t scared to show and say her feelings… It showed so much strength… I was in complete awe with this character. I think the author wrote her perfectly!
You put these together and it’s like fire and ice. The banter…It started off as basically hate and slowly grew into passion, lust, and love as the story unfolded…
This book was amazing, I couldn’t put it down. Both characters were extremely well written, which of course was the case. It is a CD book and she has the ability to suck you in with amazing characters.
It’s slow-burn and it will have you wanting to get on your knees and beg for more once you hit the end… I sure as hell am!
5/5 Stars!
Carnal, that’s the first word I would use to describe this book.
The Iron Crowne is an erotic suspenseful romance that will shape your fantasy’s for years to come. These two characters are opposite personalities, they crash against each other in the best way possible.
I devoured this so quickly I had to go back and read all that goodness again. An epic battle of love, lust, erotic kink and romance that scorched my soul. Olivia’s is one of a kind, her independence, her stubbornness, her determination to make her goals a success, she is the girl we all hope to be one day. Now Byron, he’s another story; he is an arrogant dick, a dominant alpha male with a stubborn streak that gives Olivia a run for her money. He’s rich, he’s powerful, everything that a woman would want. Byron though, has a soft side though, one that when Olivia’s sees, she can’t help but want to see more.
This was so fantastically filthy, it was a true pleasure to read, Reiss has a way of wrapping you in a blanket of goodness that you never want to get out of. Be aware that if you don’t like erotic this won’t really be your thing, the romance is paired well with the kink, but the kink is there. And oh so good.
I knew I’d eat this book up like a bag of brownie brittle as soon as I saw the blurb, and I was right. I love how CD Reiss consistently writes smart, insanely hot, REAL romance, and Iron Crowne probably takes top spot as my favorite book of hers.
Byron Crowne and Olivia Monroe face off in a lawsuit, the bedroom, and with matters of the heart in this unbelievably sexy enemies-to-lovers story. Byron is a filthy rich alphahole used to winning, and it was intensely gratifying to see how Olivia, a smart and determined environmental attorney, gave him a run for his money. He definitely meets his match in this book, and every interaction between these two had me riveted.
On top of the unique storyline, the complexity of the characters and the development of their relationship was spellbinding and masterfully told. I was so immersed in this story and hooked from the first page. Add in the sizzling chemistry, and this is easily a five-star read.
Woah! Mother of all things that are right in this world, CD Reiss delivers an Iron Crowne with Mr. Bryon Crowne himself, in a suit, in the flesh, and in every position that he stands his ground. My, oh my this man is wrong and right in so many ways. He stands in the helms to destroy and rebuild anything that he sets his sights on. That’s until Olivia Monroe digs her heels into protecting her future and a real estate property standing between them.
This enemy to lovers story is filled with sexy banter, a passion that is felt to the core, and a realization that proves what really matters in life when you let go of the past and go after what you deserve. I love Olivia but I warn you that Bryon, the adversary Adonis that he is will leave you breathless.
5 Stars must read!
If you’re a fan of Über Dominant Alphas rejoice and look no further! Iron Crowne, an Enemies-to-Lovers Standalone, features one such amazing creature, forever known as Lord Byron. This story is delicious; it honestly felt like a treat, like one of the best desserts you can imagine indulging in. The writing is simply sublime and the main characters, Byron and Olivia, pull off the ‘yin and yang’ vibe going on between them despite, or in spite of, their differences. These two have such powerful and explosive chemistry that they sizzle every time they’re together (WE know they’re perfect together), though it takes them a while to realize and accept the inevitable. It’s emotional and a little tragic, making the HEA ending that much better.
“I forgot what it was like to feel anything. I was made of dry sticks and gunpowder. You were the spark I was waiting for. You set me on fire.”
Olivia Monroe has decided not to wait to start a family after breaking up with her boyfriend of three years, but at thirty-two she knows her chances are going to get narrower. Luckily for Olivia, her best friend Emilio has offered to help as long as he’s not expected to be anything more than an uncle to her child. She was raised by a single mother, so she’s confident she can do it alone, and as a successful environmental attorney for the Environmental Protection Fund it won’t be a hardship.
“Do you understand that I’ll never stay in the lines?”
Byron Crowne, at thirty-five, has made a reputation for himself and is known as the King of Spec. He’s achieved everything on his own, deciding not to join the family business, or dynasty as others would call it, at Crowne Petroleum. He’s left that to his other siblings. Bryon’s personal life is something else, he’s sworn off love after a tragedy that he still can’t forgive or forget.
“I’d met a lot of women in my life, but none who shapeshifted like Olivia Monroe. She started as a pawn in a game, shifted to a worthy opponent, then the object of my desire.”
Byron is a tough, no holds bar developer and some would say he plays dirty. He just likes to win, at all costs. His newest project is a ninety thousand square feet monstrosity and has garnered the attention of the EPF; it will impact a creek and they want to stop the project. Byron knows he’ll fight Olivia tooth and nail, and he’s going to enjoy bringing her to her knees, something he makes clear to her.
“I was trying to possess you, but all this time, you owned me. We walked the earth as two separate people, but I was yours and you were mine.”
Olivia and Byron have an instant attraction they can’t explain, a magnetic pull that’s so powerful, and they both decide not to fight it. What starts off as a ‘you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours’ proposal soon turns out as an all-or-nothing situation, especially for Olivia. And when Byron lets out his inner Dom, she has no other choice than to submit.
“We are a disaster. You despise me too much to want a relationship and just enough to turn you on.”
There’s so much at stake, especially for Olivia, who could lose her livelihood and reputation. She slowly discovers why Byron has his heart on lock down, refusing to let anyone in, but it’s already too late for her.
“I wanted to rip the pricetag off myself and give myself for free, without reservation, in a state of utter submission, as if had no needs or desires outside his. As if I was a toy he owned.”
I really enjoyed this one, a great story with lots of feels and good characters you can relate to!
This was a great enemies-to-lovers and opposites attract read!! Byron is the millionaire property realtor building a massive house and flouting all the boundaries and laws, and he doesn’t care as long as it’s the biggest and the best. He does not lose to anyone, he’s arrogant, dominant and super hot. He has had problems with a relationship in the past and won’t go down that road again, he knows he’s incapable of loving anyone.
Olivia is with the Environmental Protection Fund and is determined to stop him in his tracks and get him to observe the laws. She’s feisty and determined, not used to losing, in fact she never has! She can’t stand Byron and all that he stands for and is determined to make him toe the line. She has her own personal baggage, is feeling her biological clock ticking and is trying to get pregnant and raise the child on her own, not interested in a relationship or partner.
A one night stand between these two, where she does as she is told and he does what he likes, ends up with the possibility of her being pregnant, not something either were looking for, she knows she could end up falling for him but he is incapable of giving her that back, but he must also prove he is good enough to be a father figure.
A great story with lots of emotions and the push and pull between these two was sublime. It’s not an easy journey by any means and they have a lot to get through. They have an animalistic attraction and their passion simply explodes off the page, the domination and submission was awesome. Both are driven to succeed, each has their own problems and their own vulnerabilities and its a fight to see who will get there. Loved it, well worth the read.
Smart, stunning and off the charts hot! CD Reiss perfectly weaves together an enemy to lovers story with serious themes. Byron and Olivia’s story proves there is a thin line between love and hate.
Amount of sex 4 / 5
How explicit is the sex scenes 4 / 5
Story 5 / 5
Overall: 5 / 5
Wow!
Iron Crowne is a steamy enemies to lovers story that literally blew me away! This explosive book tells the story of Byron Crowne and Olivia Monroe, who are adversaries that can’t seem to keep their hands off each other. It’s been a long time since any character has kept my attention, and let me tell you, Byron is the newest inductee to my book boyfriends.
Iron Crowne has it all! It has well-developed characters, a gripping storyline, and flawless writing. I became completely engrossed in Byron and Olivia’s naughty scenes, and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough! I just literally devoured it!
Another Fabulous story from the amazing CD Reiss!
Voluntarily Reviewed an Advanced Copy!
I love a good enemies to lovers romance, and this book is one of top favorites!!! It was fantastic!!! It’s intense and steamy and so sexy and just so freaking good! Olivia is amazing. She’s fiercely independent and working on making her dreams come true. Byron… *dreamy sigh* He’s a sexy, charismatic jerk, but there’s more to him than meets the eye. The pair of them together is perfection and off the charts hot. I loved their journey from hating each other to loving each other. CD Reiss has outdone herself with this one. This is a top read of the year for me.
Reading this have me chills just like the Songs of Submission series did. Even though I love this authors other books, I always go back to those being my favorites by her. Well Iron Crowne is right up there with them.
I loved Byron. There I said it. He’s a closed off alpha who you immediately fall in love with. And he and Olivia’s enemies to lovers story will have you hot and begging for more. Congratulations to the author for giving us such a steamy hot read that has a great story. It’s a definite must read.
Reading this have me chills just like the Songs of Submission series did. Even though I love this authors other books, I always go back to those being my favorites by her. Well Iron Crowne is right up there with them.
I loved Byron. There I said it. He’s a closed off alpha who you immediately fall in love with. And he and Olivia’s enemies to lovers story will have you hot and begging for more. Congratulations to the author for giving us such a steamy hot read that has a great story. It’s a definite must read.
*Review by Michelle
Being an avid reader, I come across books in every trope in every Genre, but when I’m picking up Christine’s books, I know they’ll always hit the spot and remind me why I became a voracious reader. They never whet my appetite cause I’m always left starving for more. She’s an intelligent and sensitive writer, sweeps across the field and makes them her own. Her acute sensibility lifts up simple stories to great heights.
My eyes land on the first word on the first page and I feel a “tingle” up my spine every time. I know I’m on a journey like no other. I’m never disappointed and it’s a heady trip reading her fabulous words,I go in the zone sometimes, Hating to put the book down and break the spell.
“I can’t cling to my idea about myself while you live in the world.”
This here is a slow burning romance between two people who have trust issues, but they’re smart enough to know they’ve something remarkable on their hands. Afraid to let go and scared to hold on, both Olivia Monroe and Byron Crowne are in uncharted waters. Strong headed individuals on the opposite sides of a litigation, butting heads socially and bumping uglies clandestinely, it’s emotionally rewarding to see their yearnings combust spontaneously and fight their cravings in the next breath. A war between NEEDS & WANTS, Hate fucking at its finest.
“We are a disaster. You despise me too much to want a relationship and just enough to turn you on.”
Byron in particular has demarcated zones in his life, women dare not cross across the fence for him. And then in comes Olivia and burns up the boundaries, razing fences like a thunderstorm of passion. Poor guy doesn’t know what to do with her, his head sways in a direction away from his head and pretty soon he’s a twisted pretzel.
“King of the Assholes. Surprisingly decent, yet emotionally unavailable and complex human—Byron Crowne.”
This is how a smart man turns stupid! Very intense, very passionate, the chemistry doesn’t just sizzle it’s sets the house on fire!!!
Story is simple but the deep emotions, vivid characterizations, heart twisting angst took it to a sublime state. I think it’s her first book that made me cry…..for the heroine.
I know the book is about Byron, he graces the cover, but By God…Olivia is the warrior Queen!
“I’d met a lot of women in my life, but none who shapeshifted like Olivia Monroe. She started as a pawn in a game, shifted to a worthy opponent, then the object of my desire”
She OWNS it, she’s who I strive to be everyday. Strong, sorted, Succinct. In a way, she has Christine’s demeanor, I feel.
Her detailed plotting, nuanced sentiments, flawless prose make her a MUST READ author…on repeat!! It’s highly likely that I’ll be shedding tears for a long time, Lord Byron and Beautywalker will be alive in my mind always
5 stars for OBT – Outstanding. Brilliant. Tremendous
Of CD Reiss’ “Iron Crowne,” another NYT best-selling author, Jodi Ellen Malpas said, “FANS ARE GOING TO GO COMPLETELY NUTS OVER THE IRRESISTIBLE BRYON CROWNE AND HIS INTELLIGENT, FIERY COUNTERPART OLIVIA.” She is abso-freakin-lutely right. I went totally nuts. I finished “Iron Crowne” in less than a day and am still reminiscing about it. Thoroughly.
Iron Crowne may be tagged as an enemies-to-lovers story, but, honestly, there wasn’t much drama – me likey! Book hero, Byron Crowne, can quote poetry, for crying out loud. He’s in self-defense mode when it comes to meeting new people, but, for a book hero? He wasn’t too bad. There are bigger fictional bad-boys in other books (e.g., L.J. Shen’s Sinners of Saint series). Book heroine, Olivia, is a take-no-prisoners environmental lawyer. She’s hot, incredibly smart, and independent as all get out. Her resistance against Byron, though, is non-existent. Kill me for saying this, but her reaction towards his advances is on-point, because, hey, this is a ROMANCE. NOVEL. In the age of the Internet, we gotta get to the point fast. C.D. Reiss delivered beautifully.