Enslaved by the memories of my past, I hide away in plain sight. Happy to be viewed as the disgruntled daughter, the storm to my sister’s sunshine. To the outside world, I’m a loner. Inside my little bubble, I’m lonely.
I lost myself and I’m afraid to find the girl I used to be. She was weak. A word I refuse to be defined by any longer.
Enter Rocco Shay.
I hated him.
Until I didn’t…
I pushed … the chaos of my life into his, begrudgingly and unapologetically.
more
I’ve been dying for Rocco’s book since I read Parker’s story because when we see Rocco, we know he has been through hell and back with a story that had to be told. Rocco keeps a lot of his thoughts, feelings, and life close to the vest because trusting others to come into his life isn’t something that he ever wanted or needed. Camryn has endured a lot, her and Rocco are so similar yet so different that you can feel the tension between them bleed off the pages. I absolutely loved everything about this story because it had so many twists, turns, emotional moments, and we get to see a love grow from hatred. It was such an emotional read while we sat back and watched Rocco and Ryn try discover themselves, find strength in their weaknesses, and figure out this new family dynamic that they find themselves in. It was tragic, beautiful, emotionally charged, page turning, and epic. These authors know how to make you feel everything and connect you with the characters in a way you feel a part of their world.
“I know you don’t want to understand me. I don’t want to understand you either. But there’s something inside of you that can communicate with the demon within me.”
Rocco rocked my world…sigh. I confess, I’m addicted to broken badass bad boys and you can’t get more broken than Rocco. He ticked all my boxes and then some.
And what I love even more is that she’s broken too. Not that I wish bad things on anyone, even characters, but it’s being inside their heads and hearts as I read stories written in dual POV that touches the broken places in my own heart. It inspires me to be inside their heads when they experience the things they go through and still manage to beat back their demons and find love.
I can’t find the words to express how much I enjoy the works of Haley Jenner, the dynamic duo that seems to share a brain because their writing is so smooth and seamless it’s impossible to tell that it’s written by two people. They took me to more than one dark place in Reining Devotion. They pulled my heartstrings and sharpened my virtual-detective skills as I stayed anxious and excited as I became totally invested in the lives of the amazing cast of characters that they birthed in their wicked imaginations.
Rocco’s memories torture him day and night and he struggles to escape his demons. The one thing that brings him temporary release is what brings her into his life. They draw their swords, fighting with words that are sharp, neither backing down. But, somehow, they understand what’s not being said and see the truth in each other’s eyes. That connection makes them fight even harder to resist it. Good news, it doesn’t work. How exciting it was as I waited for them to give in to their attraction to each other. It was so good I had to struggle to ‘calm my farm’. I loved every second of the journey.
Absolutely love everything about Reining Devotion! This story was so intense at times! The hate and tension between Rocco & Ryn at the start was so thick! But in the end Rocco & Ryn hot their freedom and peace! That ending was perfect!
Haley Jenner has done it again with Reining Devotion! This book will suck you in and doesn’t let go until the final page. This is the story of Rocco Shay and Camryn “Ryn” Rein, enemies from long fighting families who are suddenly brought together when Rocco’s brother and Ryn’s sister fall in love. Although this can be read as a stand-alone story, you may want to read Parker and Codi’s book, Tangled Love, if you haven’t already so that you get the full story behind this book. There are some other Haley Jenner characters thrown into this book as well, so I suggest that you just go ahead and read the Leaves of Maple books too…actually, just read all Haley Jenner books because they’re all amazing! Anyway, I’m getting off track…so Reining Devotion is a very well told story of grief, revenge, retribution, fighting one’s demons while finding one’s self, and finally finding the love that doesn’t feel deserved. Amazing story, and I’m sad to see the Chaotic Rein series end.
Wow! Just Wow!
I finished my beta read of this one just after 3am this morning. I’ve actually been up the last two nights reading these authors well into the small hours of the morning. Their books are the kind that once you start you can’t put down. Their talent is worth the 3 hours sleep I’m running on.
Rocco’s book is a really special one. I liked his character in Tangled Love. I felt for him. He intrigued me. I felt there was a lot MORE to him. Reining Devotion is where we get our MORE.
This one is what I’d call Brutal Perfection. The story of two broken souls who come together & try to mend. It’s raw. It’s sometimes mean. But, it is also one of the most honest love stories I’ve read in a long time. The authors gave the characters room to build a love story. Room for the chemistry and slownburn to develop to a point that you were squirming right along with the heroine.
The dialogue, the banter, the “realness” of their growth made me feel like I knew them. That to me is a great read. It means when plot twists come I genuinely gasp out loud & feel my heart break right along with them.
These two ladies have a knack for writing delicious alpha men, the kind you want to spend a filthy weekend with, but what I actually love more about their writing is how they handle their heroines. The women they choose to portray. Their stories matter. They give them a voice & they show a type of quiet strength that you don’t often see in love stories.
Proper review to come when blurb etc is revealed. In the meantime just trust me & add it to your TBR. This is a truly special book.
Beta read
WOW, ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!!
This book left me speechless!
Rocco and Camryn are two beautifully broken people who’s story is dark, intense and emotional.
It’s about fighting demons. forgiveness and discovering your self worth.
I binged this and felt the characters come to life. This is one that will stay with me forever!
My absolute favorite couple! A must read. Hot hot hot and SEXY!
Once again, another magnificent read by this amazing author. I’m writing this as I am basking in the afterglow of Rocco and Cami’s story.
The sequel to Tangled Love, I knew this was going to be a great read as Rocco Shay and Camryn Rein had an undeniable magnetism, I was hoping this was going to be an enemies to lovers scenario. It is one that touches on demons of the past for both these brilliant characters, who have been thrown together by the new family connection.
“I all but vomited my damaged heart onto the floor, laying it at his feet, asking him to not judge me for how scarred it was.”
This book is a definite page turner as the journey unfolds through unforeseen mysterious twists and heart wrenching tears.
“We took a hammer to Rocco’s emotions. Cracked open a box he’d kept sealed away with the power of a million padlocks.”
I really enjoyed this slow burn that brought us to another of HJ’s beautiful epilogues that always make me feel my heart is ready to explode with love. They do it to me every time.
I wish a had the talent of written words like Haley Jenner has. Then I could give you the review this book deserves. But I don’t do all I will say is…….YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK, LIKE IMMEDIATELY!!
5 PHENOMENAL STARS!! Wow….I absolutely loved this book. Rocco and Ryn took my heart….what a tough beautiful love story. The feels in this book are off the charts. My words can’t even tell you how this book made me feel. All I can say is read their story.
An emotional read for those who love some grit with their romance and plenty of angst. I loved this one!
This was book two in the Chaotic Rein series and tells the rocky love story that developed between Rocco Shay and Camryn Rein. Rocco is Parker’s brother from book 1, and Camryn is Codi’s sister. Their lives are intertwined whether they are in favor of that status or not…and believe me, they were not.
At least, not initially. This was a perfect enemies to lovers romance if that is your jam. There is so much to love about both Camryn as our beloved heroine and Rocco as our scrumptious hero. They were like two halves of a whole, even when they tried not to accept their fate.
“He doesn’t want to understand me, he doesn’t want to feel a connection because we’re both damaged. And neither do I. Yet, here we are.”
In keeping with the storyline that transpired in book 1, Rocco is dead set on getting the revenge and retaliation that every muscle in his body yearns to carry out. He is a man on a mission, and people need to pay for the transgressions that have plagued him throughout the past 16 years. He has been punishing himself ever since for his shortcomings, but there are bigger issues and players that have contributed to the state of his existence, and he intends to get the answers he deserves. If aligning himself with members of the Rein family is what has to be done in order to meet his goals, he’ll suffer through it. Accepting help from Camryn Rein was not a part of his plans, but it’s the card he was dealt. So be it.
It’s a fantastic ride! A nail biting, seat gripping journey.
Rocco Shay was perfect. He’s the alpha dog who’s rough around the edges but has this softer side that you never saw coming. He’s powerful, and in control at all times. He’s a caretaker and protective of those he loves to a fault. He is battling some pretty big demons, but he never turns his back on those he cares for. When we finally learn what has been driving this man all of these years, I was floored! GAH….not only was I shocked by the revelation, but I wanted to hug him so badly. My heart ached for him and all that he has endured. I was thrilled that Camryn was able to see beyond her own demons to the real man that lay beneath all of his guilt, shame, and misdeeds. Rocco needed a woman like her and I believe she was the only woman that would do for him, and he for her.
“You wanna be indifferent toward me,” I tell her. “But you’re not. No more than I am to you. You might have hate in your sad little heart for me, but you have more for yourself in there. You hate that you crave my company. You despise that you’re starting to believe that I am the one person in your life that might truly understand you and still enjoy being around you. I know all of that, because it’s exactly how I feel.” OH. GOODNESS….Rocco has a way with words y’all and this is just a small snippet of his talented, sharp tongue.
There is SO much storyline and plot development in this book. I strongly advise that you read book 1 before diving into this one. You need the backstory to really get ALL that’s happening between the sordid lives of the Rein and Shay families. What I like about the writing style of the dynamic Haley Jenner duo, is that they have the capability of giving readers a captivating, gritty story that flirts with being dark, without it ever plunging readers into the grime of a seedy underworld. Yes, it’s edgy and deals with mature/dangerous concepts, but you never feel weighted down while enjoying the ride. There was just enough laughter, banter, and dare I say even some cute moments between the cast of characters that kept this one on the lighter side of a darker read. I laughed out loud and swooned plenty!
I feel confident that Rocco will steal your heart, and that you’ll fall head over heels for another Shay brother, just as we did for Parker. As an added bonus, you’ll see plenty of he and Codi in this book as well….so YAY! I can’t wait to see what comes next!
After being introduced to Rocco and his demons in Chaotic Rein, I was more than ready for this book! I love a tortured hero and Haley Jenner does not disappoint with Reining Devotion.
Rocco and Camryn’s story isn’t a fairytale. It’s sometimes filled with nightmares and ghosts. Each haunted by their own past, they grow to realize they have more in common than they expected.
This book was beautiful, heartbreaking and an ultimate page turner. It kept me reading way past an acceptable bedtime and it was very much worth it!
Wow!!! Such a special book from two amazing authors. They have such a way of writing sexy, alpha men with strong heroines. Another great read and one that I’ll be rereading over and over.
There’s a reason other reviewers have started their thoughts on this book with “WOW!”
This story has impact. It hits you hard in the chest, leaves you breathless and you feel the weight and burning heat of it for days afterwards.
After Tangled Love, I was itching for Rocco’s story.
I have a special love for dark, seemingly irredeemable characters; men that you can’t think to consider as heroes or even anti-heroes for that matter.
Rocco is the antithesis of this type of character for me, and he has been so exquisitely conceived by this talented duo, I’m just so gone for this guy!
Rocco appears as a solid wall of hate and indifference.
A vehicle of violence who revels in power and control, the giving and receiving of pain.
And you’d be forgiven for believing he is evil and devoid of a heart, let alone at all capable of love.
In fact, this is how our jaded and cynical heroine, Camryn sees him, and she lets him know in no uncertain terms exactly that. A judgement Rocco not only accepts but encourages and supports in his own self belief.
Yet, these two are so drawn to each other, their individual broken pieces seeking the repair from each others’ damaged soul. A seemingly impossible prospect to them but not for the reader.
I found myself championing this union more than any other couple I have read, probably ever!
We can see the connection building and the slow-burn ignition of them getting there is so perfectly written. These authors do smouldering heat to perfection!
This story would be perfect just on their interactions alone, but the supporting characters add such a special depth and intensity to their love story and the messages behind their redemption, I just found myself re-reading several passages just to experience it again.
One such exchange was between Rocco and Camryn’s father Dominic Rein.
The power and tension portrayed in their words both delivered and unsaid.
A gentleman’s understanding between monsters. But neither are, despite what they’d have you believe.
There are just so many special moments such as this, I’m now certain I already need to re-read this story all over again lest I forget the magic in the messages of love and determination and the visceral heartfelt impact it delivered.
It’s just that special!!
I don’t have adequate words to describe how I feel about Rocco and Camryn. Those 2 deserve far more than 5 stars, I’d give them 10 if I could.
Camryn and Rocco have been broken into tiny pieces against the large rocks of violence and deceit they’ve experienced, and the decisions Rocco made in an effort to seek vengeance for his mothers death, and both of them feel like they are unworthy. Definitely not worthy of love or family.
Haley Jenner takes things that many of us experienced in the past, or are still experiencing now, and wraps a story around our hearts declaring loudly that everyone is worthy. Worthy of love, kindness, and a family to stand behind and beside in protection.
Camryn and Rocco are experiencing life on the rocks, and the outcome is solely dependent on their ability to dance on the knife edge between love and hate when push comes to shove.
The main ingredient in every Haley Jenner novel is love, and they have excelled in showing Rocco and Camryn how to love again. An extra two stars for making Reining Devotion one of the sexiest slow burn novels out there!
I was lucky to be given the opportunity to read my first book by this dynamic duo, a gifted ARC of Impact, and I haven’t looked back since. Their writing has something that just touches something in me and keeps me wanting more. Their writing style has depth, characters that pull at your heart strings one minute and the next you want to smack them to get them on track. Reining Devotion supersedes every book I’ve read before by these two authors.
We met Roco in Tangled Love and his character pulled me in from the first, and I knew his story was going to be one that had my heart in tatters. Reining Devotion is his book and it definitely delivers. Roco and Ryn’s story is a messy one, it’s full of anger, self hatred, revenge, and most importantly it’s also full of healing, finding the love that completes who these characters are meant to be. It’s sometimes down right mean and rude but on the flip side it has devotion and a healing freedom.
Once again I am blown away by the power that this story has over the reader. It will drag the reader into the depths of hell along with Roco and Ryn but also gives the healing power of a once in a lifetime connection between two characters who deserve it.
I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS BOOK! Haley Jenner has killed me with Rocco and Ryn’s story. I knew going into it that it would be a heavy hitting, emotional, gritty romance. Boy, did it ever exceed my expectations. The deep emotion, soul shattering angst, and raw chemistry between the characters was perfect. The plot was well-developed and kept me flipping pages as fast as I could. I want more from this world! My heart isn’t ready to let these characters go yet! I will definitely be telling everyone to read this book!
What happens when everything you believed in your whole adult life turns out to be a lie? Complete and utter chaos is what happens.
Reining Devotion is book 2 in the Chaotic Rein series by Haley Jenner. In this book we follow the seriously gorgeous and flawed Rocco Shay, and the beautifully broken Camryn Rein.
Rocco Shay is a man who is very damaged and a little psychotic. Everything he grew up believing in – hate, brutality, revenge has all been a lie. After recent revelations, Rocco is left reeling without an anchor to hold him in place. He starts spiralling into a black pit of self loathing and destruction.
Camryn Rein has been to hell and back. She is struggling to be strong and to keep her broken pieces hidden. She constantly has her guard up and lives her life for family and work only. She is unable to truly break free from her past.
Together these two enemies form an unlikely bond that changes both their lives in the most beautifully chaotic way.
The twists and turns, and new character additions in this novel were exceptional. Once again, these authors have created a world and characters that set my heart on fire.
Fingers crossed that there is more to come from these Chaotic Rein characters!
I finished this book earlier tonight, and after ranting and raving to these wonderful ladies and taking some time to regroup, I think I finally have all my thoughts together to write this review. That being said, this book is outstanding. I have been eagerly waiting for Rocco’s book since we were first introduced to him in Tangled Love, but here where we get to see his inner thoughts, the way he hid his heart and pain behind his hate and brokenness, how he never got to be the boy who grieved his mother, but was pushed to be a man at the hands of monsters .. it all broke my heart. He has real demons, and feels immense guilt for all the pain that he caused, and he refuses to believe that he can ever be redeemed. But when he finds himself falling for the other Rein sister, the one who is just as broken as he is, he starts to want all the things he swore up and down he could never have, but is it all too good to be true? And when twists and turns and secrets are revealed, will it be too late for their love?
This book is perfect. PERFECT. I loved Rocco, (he is mine, after all) and Camryn, she absolutely SLAYED me. Her story is a heartbreaking one, but she is stronger than even she realizes, and to watch Rocco pour and encourage that inner strength out of her was so beautiful to witness. You could just feel their love, their chemistry, the overwhelming need for them to be together. It was truly something special to witness them falling in love with one another!
This may be a small spoiler, but I loved how Rocco was the one who said ‘I love you’ first. This is definitely a slow burn romance, but that was perfect for them. They needed to heal on their own, and then heal together and realize that you can let someone in and see all the ugly parts of you and have them love you even more for it. And witnessing Rocco truly evolve into the man who didn’t deal with emotions, to one who would gladly yell from the rooftops who he loved was spectacular. I can’t wait for you all to read this book!!
Also, I LOVED that twist that we got towards the end, and I hope we see more of that to come in future books! That made my heart so happy!!
Although this is a standalone, I encourage you to read Tangled Love first so you are fully immersed in the story and these characters. These books are true gems and deserve to be read and loved!
**I received an ARC of this book and these are my honest opinions!!**
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Here are some of my favorite quotes from the book!!:
“We’re both broken, but together all our broken pieces, they make a beautiful fucking whole, Cami.”
“I’d bleed for you too. I poured so much effort into hating you, that you bulldozed your way into my heart without me noticing. Without either of us noticing .” We smile. “But more than that, you showed me how to love myself. You gave me something I thought was lost. You let me be free.”
“I don’t need a hero to save me. I’m my own fucking savior.”
Reining Devotion opens with a gritty, pain-filled beginning, and I loved Rocco from the very start! He needs that pain, part punishment, part reminder that he is alive. Camryn was his perfect other half, two peas in a pod, two halves of a whole. Her sweetness hid a will of steel that held her up when she needed it most. Their unlikely connection transcended the forces dragging them apart, and I loved their story from the first page to the last!