Welcome to their kingdom. Cole Covington is the most popular heartbreaker at school.Every guy wants to be him and every girl wants to screw him.Except me. His devastatingly good looks, golden arm, and flirty smiles don’t do it for me anymore…because I know what’s lurking underneath the star quarterback’s gorgeous armor. At least I thought I did.Sometimes the most beautiful people…hide the … I did.
Sometimes the most beautiful people…hide the ugliest truths.
And sometimes the only way to save someone…
is to walk beside them through hell.
Sawyer Church is the bible-thumping nerd of Royal Hearts Academy.
Girls pick on her and guys don’t notice her.
Except me.
Sweet, curvy, and sarcastic, she’s impossible to ignore.
No matter how much I try.
Everyone at school has her pegged as the chubby, Jesus loving geek, but unlike them—Sawyer’s real and never pretends to be someone she’s not.
Until I ask her to be my fake girlfriend.
Sometimes the most beautiful souls…hide the greatest pain.
And sometimes the only way to save someone…
is to fight for them.
This is book 2 in the Royal Hearts Academy series. Please note: Although this is Cole and Sawyer’s book, Cruel Prince (Jace and Dylan’s book) should be read first for a better understanding of the family dynamic.
WARNING: Royal Hearts Academy is a New Adult/High School series of standalones filled with drama, a touch of angst, and boys who are bad to the bone. The characters are flawed. If you’re looking for a safe, sweet romance with nice heroes and heroines who are perfect all the time, this series is NOT for you.
more
4.5 Cranky Stars
I’m warning you this book is big and will more than likely rip your heart out several times over. You’ll rage at how horrible Cole Covington is what a vile mean messed up person he is until you reach that pivotal point in the book where all the pieces fall into place. You feel for Sawyer and her body issues because at one point you knew what It was like to have someone make fun of your weight. I was the opposite Sawyer though just a girl way too skinny that must mean she starves herself. Cole Covington is full of self-hatred and anger. This is the story about the king of Royal Hearts and the bible thumper. Buckle up Buttercup because you are about to go on one heck of a ride.
I really don’t want to do some massive review for fear that I will give something away. I will say this book will rip your darn heart out a million times over though and make you really reflect on how you see yourself. I raged for Sawyer and Cole and all the injustice they put themselves through and what others did to them. I HATED Cole for most of the book and I honestly put the book down several times because despite anticipating what was going to happen next, I couldn’t handle his attitude. In some way it felt like it was happening to me and I was disgusted. I can see how women love him though because don’t we all want to save the bad boy? I’m sure Ruthless Knight will trigger some people and that’s fine not every book is for everybody. The character of Sawyer seems like she might have been given some of the authors personal problems because she seemed so real. I must say that takes guts so bravo lady! Cole did have his redeeming moments especially when he said “Because without her…there is no me”. I would say the only thing that stood out to me that was unrealistic, yet I haven’t been a teenager in forever is all the adult level sex these kids have. It was almost more college or grown level and that kind of took me out the story at times, but I kept on. So, go into this book with an open mind and an open heart.
“How come lies are so beautiful and the truth is always so f&*^ing ugly?”
Another touchdown for Ms Jade. This is one of my favorite books so far this year. Ms Jade has set the bar high for my next reads. I loved this story so much! All of the emotions and drama that I would expect and love to read about in a high school romance. Not to mention that Cole and Sawyer are my favorite couple in this series! I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book in this series
I absolutely LOVE Sawyer Church!!! I swear the author followed me around, in the past, when I was in high school!! She is definitely who I was. The only thing I didn’t do was talk about religion around people in high school, and I rarely went to parties. I was chubby with only one friend, and a crush on an absolute jerk. I was crying by 3% into the book, so you can just imagine the tornado of emotions I went through. As usual I wish I could reach through my kindle and strangle Cole. But Sawyer has a soft spot for the jerk, so I tried to keep an open mind. Bianca’s book is next, and I for one, cannot wait to get inside her head more!! I HIGHLY recommend this book, but make sure you read Cruel Prince first. Enjoy!!
What an emotional book. I was wrecked after reading Cole and Sawyer’s story. It was absolutely beautiful and tragic. It took so much for them to get their HEA. I know author’s stories are personal in some way but this was a lot of Ms. Ashley herself and I love it. I love her writing.
This is book two of the Royal Hearts Academy series and can be read as a standalone; however, to understand Cole Covington, you need to understand his history and the intricate details of his life that make him the ruthless person he has become. This story is also about Sawyer, the Bible Thumper who is one of the sweetest heroines you’ll ever meet. Two complete opposites in every form of the word, but together they make a brilliant pair. Cruel Prince is book one of the Royal Hearts Academy series and introduces you to the Covington family and the gang at Royal Hearts Academy. It’s told from Jace Covington (Cole’s brother) and Dylan’s points of view but Cole and Sawyer are introduced along with a cast of secondary characters that are detrimental to the plot. I highly recommend you read Cruel Prince before diving into Ruthless Knight.
Okay, now that we have that out of the way…
Here we go again! I don’t even know where to start. Every time I open a book by Author Ashley Jade, I’m instantly transported into an alternate universe where I’m watching the entire story play out, living and breathing as if I’m actually there in the thick of it. Ashley Jade has this unbelievable ability to tell a story that drips with every emotion the human body can produce. She bleeds her heart and soul into the pages bringing these characters to life with every word.
Cole Covington (Lucky Seven) is the most popular guy at Royal Hearts Academy and with a throwing arm that can put Tom Brady to shame, he owns the football field and runs the school. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s one sexy quarterback. Cole has spent his life always feeling like he’s never enough and striving to make people see him. Sure, all the girls at school want to sleep with him and the guys want to be him, but at the end of every day, no one truly knows him. He’s tired of being compared. Tired of living a lie. He harbors so much guilt and regret, but he doesn’t know how to face it, until he meets Sawyer.
Sawyer Church has thrived on being smart and real. She knows she’ll never be popular and she’s okay with being the nerd that everyone makes fun of. With her true friends always having her back, she doesn’t need the spotlight to feel important. At least, that’s what she tells herself every day when she looks in the mirror and can’t help but compare herself to the beautiful thin girls, like Cole’s girlfriend Casey.
This story is an epic journey into the life of Sawyer and Cole who are high school students at opposite ends of the spectrum but find they relate through internal pain that pulls them closer together.
Ashley Jade touches on very sensitive subject matter in this story and I found that I could absolutely relate in so many ways which is what makes this story so powerful. You can feel the tension, the raw emotion and blinding pain as if she reached into your chest and ripped your heart out with her bare hands.
Be prepared for a story that will make your heart pound with the craziest mixture of anticipation, frustration, dread, excitement, hope, and love. I’m anxiously awaiting for more of these characters and more of this all consuming world that is Royal Hearts Academy.
Ashley Jade. Holy moly!! She never disappoints with each and every book we read! Her words come to life. Her characters become part of us and hit us deep. Her writing is flawless and pure magic. This book makes me fall even more for her and her writing.
Cole and Sawyer. Holy hotness and chemistry! Their story is so deep and emotionally involved. The troubles these characters have is so real and raw. It is one that is hard to handle because all the real situations. Such a great, amazing book!!
This book is second in the series and I highly recommend reading them in order. I also recommend having tissues around when you read this book.
When reading this book, expect to truly feel and experience a rollercoaster of emotions as the characters learn that love isn’t easy. Whether its love of yourself, partner or family. Be prepared for a journey that will leave you in awe and speechless. (It took me a day to decide how to write this review.)
My favorite quote (well one of top 3):
I used to think I knew what sex was—hormones and lust. Fulfilling a biological urge and releasing some pent-up impulse. And while it can be all those things… it can also be more than that. It can be loving someone so much you want to give them the rawest , most stripped-down parts of yourself… because there aren’t enough words to express how much you feel for them. It’s needing something a little less fortified …and a lot more vulnerable. Something pure and genuine.
This book was nothing I expected. I loved how the story played out, I loved that I found myself in Sawyer more than I thought I could. I loved how certain topics were touched. And I loved that this book took me on an emotional roller coaster. I need to gather my thought a little, to write a review that will do this book justice.
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from Cole and Sawyer’s book. All I can say I wasn’t disappointed in the slightest. Like Cruel Prince there are several layers the story and characters. Loved everything
Wow I was intrigued by Cole and Sawyer since book 1 and I got much more than I expected. Deep down the arrogant quarterback had a heart for the Bible thumper. On paper they were TOTAL opposites but that never stopped either of them. They “saw” each other and seeing their love grow was the most beautiful and emotional love story. They were lots of revelations and lots of deep down hurt from both that makes you understand them more. It was so darn beautiful that you root for them from beginning to end. Of course they were some characters that needed to disappear and then there’s Oakley, lol. I loved it even better than Jace and Dylan story.
DENISE’S DREAMY REVIEW
“Sometimes when you least expect it… two beautifully broken souls end up finding each other.”
Ruthless Knight by A. Jade is book two in the Royal Hearts Academy Series, in which I’m in absolute love with! I highly advise that you read book one, Cruel Prince, as there are characters that you meet that make appearances in this book! It will also enhance your reading experience, I’m so sure of it!
I am an emotional wreck and completely in awe of Jade for writing such a moving, powerful, and amazing book that will PUT YOU THROUGH IT. I swear, her writing and way of storytelling will blow your freaking mind and put you through a whirlwind of emotions, that you may not be able to keep contained!
OMFG. GAH!! Cole and Sawyer are two perfectly and beautiful, yet imperfect and broken characters that were absolutely MEANT for each other! And I mean every single word! I’m telling you, every page (600 of them) was worth the sleepless night because THEY ARE UTTER PERFECTION.
Cole the bad boy quarterback, an unapologetic asshole hero was everything I could have ever want to read about and more! There’s always something about a bad boy that just grabs my attention and never lets go! Cole is just… ah! I have heart eyes
Sawyer the good girl, the Jesus lover, and always tried and saw the good in everyone. It was I loved and adored most about her! She was beautiful in her own way and her intentions were always clear.
But behind all of that, there was so much more to these characters! This author touched on so many subjects that aren’t talked about a ton in books like struggles with appearance, guilt, never feeling good enough, etc. Jade handled the subjects so beautifully and I can’t even tell you how much it made me feel! It really spoke to me and hit home!
These two characters together just… it was beautiful, emotional, and made me shed tears while simultaneously smiling through their growth and progression. Reading their story be unfold in so many chapters… I fell in love with them so hard and deep! Jade really put so much into this book and you see it through her writing!
Trust me when I tell you, this book is not just about romance. It is SO much more! Read it and find out why for yourself because you will not regret it!
With that being said, I cannot wait to Wicked Princess and more of this world that Jade has created and her superb writing!
Five dreamy stars:
OML!!! What can I say! This book hit hard for me! Everything that was said jsut brought back some memories from high school. I cried, I laughed, I cried again lol to the point my throat was hurting like hell! BUt I kept reading. Fucking Cole was the man and let me tell you the man, because the things he did and the reasons behind it, youll be swooning over him. BUt dude Sawyer was like hella the best! She does everything but the wrong way. When you read there story you will fall in love.
Ofc we also see Bianca and lets say I cant wait to read her story because this girl has fury.. lol But we get to visit a few people from Cruel Prince also.
If I can give this more than a 5 star I would but this is my TOP #1 READ THIS YEAR. I have read plenty! lol
Where do I even begin! This book was remarkable! Jade really created something so powerful and beautiful, my heart is so full right now. She’s taken my breath away with this masterpiece. Ruthless Knight is book 2 in the Royal Hearts Academy standalone series. Now you can read RK without reading book one, but I highly recommend reading Cruel Prince first. I love these characters so very much. They each have a special place in my heart and I have to say Cole and Sawyer have obliterated me! Their story, this book, is hands down the Best book I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. Jade hit you right in the heart with this emotionally gripping read! I devoured in about 5 hours, I just couldn’t stop reading! It’s EVERYTHING. It’s hilarious, I’m still dying over Oak and Bessie! My nose is still burning from the coke I was drinking. That is the funniest sh*t ever! We get all the ruthlessness of high school and these teens are vicious! The bulling is brutal, the relationships are intense! Heck, this whole book is intense! It keeps you on the edge ready for what will happen next! I felt everything the characters went through, I was embarrassed, guilty, humiliated, swooned, hurt, happy. My world was turned upside down and rocked. This book has some mature content, it deals with the real, it opens you up until your raw. I cried my eyes out and I know this book will forever stay with me. I will need a green butterfly to go with my blue one. Ruthless Knight is just one of those books that needs to be read, it has so heart and soul and will leave a lasting impression. I’m dying for jade will have for us next, she never disappoints and I just know Bianca is going f*
Ruthless Knight.
The story of Cole and Sawyer aka bible thumper.
Even before this book was written we saw bits and pieces of them in Cruel Prince.
The level of intensity and dose of reality you get when you check out the real deal?
Now that is something none of us saw coming.
Their story is my favorite in this series so far.
Why? Because Ashley Jade didn’t hesitate to face the truth head-on and slam us with emotions that stripped me bare.
Thanks for keeping it real babe and please keep the words flowing!Ashley Jade
Angst heaven! The Covington siblings are really screwed up, product of a wealthy family where the parents had tons of money but no time to tend to their children. Cole Covington, the middle child and one of a twin pair, fought for attention and love from his parents, but it was his twin brother who got the bigger share of what little there was. His older brother tried to fill in the voids but Cole didn’t get a lot. Competition between the twins for their mother’s love was unfair, since Liam, his twin, was more accomplished and better at winning their mother’s love. After their mother died in an accident, things got worse, they were even more abandoned by their remaining parent, and Liam got unhinged. From bad to worse, it all imploded when Liam committed suicide.
Now that Jace is away at college and living with his girlfriend Dylan, Cole is reigning King at Royal Hearts Academy. He’s selfish, narcissistic, cruel, arrogant and cocky. He goes through the school like he owns it and all the students need to kowtow to him. All except for one: Bible-thumper Sawyer Church, Dylan’s best friend. She’s a religious nerd, but also sassy and sarcastic, she’s attracted to Cole, but she sees him as the bad news he is. And yet, they keep on hitting on each other at the same time they throw barbs at each other.
Sawyer is overweight, proclaims she’s happy with her weight, but we realize she does have body image problems. She’s constantly bullied and insulted about her appearance, and the first one in line bullying is none other than her own mother, an ex-beauty pageant winner, for whom appearance is everything. Sawyer deals with rejection and insults from everyone, and stays focused on her goals, which is to graduate with honors and get a full ride to Duke’s Heart U.
There are rare moments when Cole lets Sawyer see the real guy behind the façade. Those moments are few but enough to make Sawyer take a chance on him. There are so many back and forths between them, moments when Cole ruins everything by ridiculing Sawyer publicly. His intentions are good, but his execution is horrible. The strains of keeping a façade, his guilt about his twin’s suicide, the urgency of getting somewhere with Sawyer, the football competition and his goals of making it to Duke’s Heart on a full ride take him on a downward spiral.
,
Apart from Sawyer and Cole, there are two other characters also going through their own crisis: Jace and Cole’s baby sister Bianca and their friend Oakley, who is Dylan’s step-cousin. Bianca starts the book behaving like a raring psycho demon girl, she’s horrible and insulting and entitled. I initially hated her but throughout the book, she changed, she showed her heart and made amends with Sawyer. She’s still terrible and a little psycho but we learn that once you gain her trust, she’s a good friend, snarky but loyal. I still don’t love her character but understand that the snarkiness hides an inner insecurity.
There’s also Oakley, whose story is even sadder than Cole’s, and it seems like he’s going nowhere. In spite of being the most unstable of all the guys in the story, and a pothead also, he has the biggest heart and is the bestest friend of all. He was true to Sawyer, to Dylan and to Cole. He’s otherwise viciously cruel and insulting to Bianca, so I suspect there will be a story there.
The book is a slow burn and we don’t get to learn about all the secrets until it all implodes together. In fact there are several implosions, several dramatic moments where we thought we would get over the drama and see a solution, but the author kept taking us over several plot twists, like a rollercoaster, until we arrive at the end, mentally exhausted. It was complicated, frustrating, exhilarating and delicious.
I can’t tell you how much this book has reached my heart not only for the characters but also for the topics involved and how serious issues were also part of this book.
The word opposites attract is what is Sawyer Church and Cole Covington. He was the most popular boy in school and she was just a nerdy girl who obviously wasn’t popular at all, she was intelligent and a girl with a big heart. What attracted to Cole was how true Sawyer was. She wasn’t fake, she wasn’t malicious, she wasn’t one of the “it” girls and that’s what was least attractive to Cole. He only dated the most popular girl because it was expected of him.
But as Cole finds himself in a dilemma, he asks Sawyer to help him by acting like his fake girlfriend. Ata first she was hesitant because she knew what it entailed but she was so much in love with Cole that she relented and decided to follow through with his request. While acting as a couple, they found themselves starting to really fall for each other and what started out as fake, it became real.
The real issues come in after all has been said and done and they are out in the open about their “real” relationship. Sawyer struggled with her weight and she wanted to look beautiful for Cole and she thought that the way to go was by losing weight. Little did she know that Cole loved her the way she was.
This book was very touching, the elements and the struggles that people go through in real life are no joke.
Ashley Jade touched my heart with this book, I will hold it dearly to my heart for how much I loved it.
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy at no cost from the publisher/author. All opinions in my review are my own.
This book is utterly brilliant. This book absolutely gutted me. I didn’t think that I would be able to love Cole’s book as much as I loved Jace’s book but I was wrong. While Jace’s story is definitely incredible, Cole’s story undeniably surpasses it.
We get to know Cole and Sawyer in Cruel Prince but we get to know them so much more intimately in this book. This is their story after all. The way that the author brought both of these characters to life was magical. Their characters were written so realistically. They are both flawed people and I think that really made them feel more real. Both Cole and Sawyer have some legit character development. They both have immense growth. All of the secondary characters are amazing as well. The author creates such wonderful relationships that the reader can feel in their bones.
I loved everything about the romance in this book. It was raw and real and honest. Cole and Sawyer may have their issues but they are hopelessly devoted to each other and it shows. Cole’s devotion to Sawyer, after he pulled his head out of his ass, was the most beautiful thing. Reading it will make your heart ache. The way that Sawyer refused to give up on Cole no matter how many times he made mistakes by letting his demons take over was just as intense. The love between these two was a tangible thing. I will ship these two all day long.
I have fallen so in love with Jade’s storytelling. It’s like she writes just for me. The writing is smooth and just beautiful. Her dialogue is always flawless and fitting. I can’t praise her writing style enough.
Jade has constructed such an ingenious plot in this book. Everything connects beautifully within the story. The twists and turns are ones that you won’t see coming and they will shock you. You won’t be able to get enough of this story. I could not stop flipping the pages on my kindle. I read this book in a single day.
Overall, this book is a masterpiece. It will take you on such a rollercoaster ride of emotions. This book digs down deep and is heartwrenching at times. I literally started crying at one point in the book. This book made me feel so much. Prior to reading this, I wasn’t entirely as excited about reading Bianca’s story as I was to read Jace and Cole’s stories. Now I am so eager to read her story. Jade is a masterful writer and I am so excited to follow her on the rest of her author journey. She has definitely locked down a new fangirl with me. Do yourself a favor and pick up this series today.
I have feelings like five hundred buckets worth. I will try to be precise and careful but there is going to be some word vomit.
I want to publically express my love for Cole and specially Sawyer. These two together make my heart a happy place full of unicorns and rainbows.
Cole is an enigma. I knew there was something in his heart that was making him the way he was. I don’t think my heart has cried for anyone as much as I did for him and Sawyer. These two have made a permanent home in my soul and I just want to keep reading more and more about them.
Sawyer is my sweetheart and no one deserves eternal happiness more than she does. I was so emotionally attached to her character that towards the end, I don’t I was even breathing while reading all that was happening. She is so precious to me I can’t even put it into proper words.
This story is not easy to read. It takes you on a treacherous emotional journey and it’s the most glorious feeling in the world. This story has love, heartbreak, acceptance and raw emotions. Like I said before, this book may be about teenagers but it is just so much more than that.
I am 100% invested in Ashley’s words and I cannot get enough.
I’m not normally a YA fan, but I am normally an Ashley Jade fan and this book did not disappoint. Cole and Sawyer are amazing, the writing in this book is impeccable, the plot and story line are amazing and I’m already ready for the next to come. This book is mega heavy on emotions and heartstrings. It is 100% a heart breaker…but don’t worry, Ashley will slowly put it back together for you! Great book and I highly recommend.
OMG!! Where do I begin?!?! Sole. Are. Everything!!! This book is most definitely a story about Cole and Sawyer’s journey but you learn so much about some of the other characters. If I didn’t have to sleep, I would have read in one sitting. Yes, this book is over 100 chapters, but it never felt slow or dragged on and on. Everything; the words, the characters, the storyline, it all flowed without flaws. This is my favorite read of 2020!! And honestly, I don’t see any other book topping Ruthless Knight! I most definitely recommend this book!