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.
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WOW, this book was everything I wanted and everything I never knew I NEEDED!!!! I was blown away with this book. I fell in love with Sawyer in Dylan and Jace’s book and could not wait to get to know her better. Absolutely fantastic read. I felt every emotion, every pain and insecurity these characters felt. Oh Cole, this boy. I fell hard for him even when he was a being a jerk. These two people took me on such a journey and one that I will never forget! All the feels.
I received an ARC for my honest review.
***5 ‘…Because You’re You’ Stars***
Hello, Book. Hangover.
This baby was intense, frustrating, sweet…it was simply addicting, even when I wanted to knock some sense into the characters with a 2×4 and then hug them because I couldn’t stand to see them hurting.
Sawyer. I’ll admit that I went into this totally #TeamSawyer. I couldn’t help it. I loved that girl after meeting her in Cruel Prince. She didn’t try to be someone she wasn’t. She owned every piece of her and gave as good as she got. And my opinion of her hasn’t changed. In fact I admire and adore her even more. This isn’t to say that she was perfect, or didn’t do anything ‘wrong’ ~ because lemme tell you, she took me on one hell of a journey ~ but I really like the person she grew into when the book ended.
Cole. Unlike Sawyer, I was intrigued by Cole, but I wasn’t necessarily a fan. I knew he had his demons and that there was a lot more going on than I could ever fathom, and boy was I proven correct. The level of frustration he put me through was kind of epic, but I got it. I could understand his reasoning, even if I didn’t agree. But as he started to deal with the ghosts of his past,I have to say that I ended up adoring him. He showed that even the darkest soul, can have a golden heart.
To say that Sawyer an Cole’s journey tried me is an understatement. These two put me through the ringer. But even with all the teenage angstyness going on, the push/pull…they worked for me. There was that strange connection between them that had me rooting for them to get that elusive HEA, because after all they were dealing with, they deserved it.
Going in, I knew this book would be filled with all kinds of landmines (So, YES you really do need to read Cruel Prince first) but even I wasn’t truly prepared for ALL of them. The bullying was a given, the body image ~ well, self image ~ issue was a given and dealing with all that had happened with Liam was a given, but boy did the author thrown in a couple of doozies to the mix that gave even me a pause. BUT I like how everything worked itself out. It wasn’t all pretty, but it was real. And as for the secondary cast of characters…I loved catching up with Jace and Dylan, but Oakley and Bianca…these two gots lots of issues to work through and I know I’m going to have to prepare myself for the chaos, but I can’t deny that I’m totally looking forward to it!
~ Copy provided by Candi Kane PR & voluntarily reviewed ~
5 BIBLE THUMPER STARS!! THIS WILL BE ONE OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS THIS YEAR!! What a beautiful hard love story that Sawyer and Cole went through. The feels were off the charts, there were times I could not even breathe. You will go through all of your emotion buttons and these two characters will tattoo their names on your heart. Ashley Jade writes from the heart and you feel it in your bones as you read her stories. If you haven’t started this series, what are you waiting for.
Where do I even begin with Ruthless Knight? This book broke my heart, had me shouting at my kindle, ugly cry sobbing, laughing and swooning all over the place…. because Cole. These two… their story it was completely unexpected but everything that I didn’t know I wanted from them.
Unexpected Twists
Angsty Goodness
Heartbreaking Darkness
Family Drama
One Undeniable Connection
These two YA’LL! SO SO GOOD! From all of Sawyer’s sassiness, her heartbreakingly beautiful vulnerability and her unwillingness to give up on the people she loves… to all of Cole’s overprotective alpha ness, his unexpected sweetness and all of his demon’s that he hides. You can’t help but root for them, fall in love with them, maybe occasionally want to junk punch them (Cole ) all while holding your breath as you go on this epic journey with Lucky Seven and his Bible Thumper.
* I do want to mention or rather say THANK YOU to Ashley Jade… For being so honest and real about Sawyer’s struggles with her weight/weight loss and everything she battles with in between. As a person who has struggled with these very same issues; while reading I found myself saying yep… yass! That’s exactly right…that’s exactly how I feel/felt! So without blabbering on too much… I will just say this… the authenticity in your words and the very real approach to this topic; I commend you and I thank you.
***ARC Provided in Exchange for an Honest Review/ Megan Scandalous Book Blog***
Ashley has outdone herself. This is one of the most amazing books I’ve read. If you thought Cruel Prince was great, Ruthless Knight will prove you wrong.
This book is everything. So don’t wait and grab it. Sit down and buckle up because Ashley will take you for an emotional ride.
Your hearts will be aching and your heads will be spinning from all the feelings you’ll experience while reading this story.
I highly recommend it.
***4.5 stars***
How to top Cruel Prince? Well Ashley Jade certainly succeeds with Ruthless Knight all thanks to some compelling and flawed characters. Ruthless Knight can be read as a stand-alone but why would one deprive themselves of book 1 Cruel Prince which is just as good.
Ruthless Knight is a roller coaster. A tour de force of emotions from start to beginning. Yes, the story is centered around high school, 17/18year olds and the drama that comes along like cliques, football and sex but it’s so much more. The story and its core characters here Sawyer and Cole deal with real and relatable issues. Issues that hits home for most people and the author doesn’t hold back when it comes to showing the dark and ugly sides to those. There’s nothing flattering about it and there shouldn’t be. It’s real, brutal and it hurts like hell.
Sawyer (The Bible Thumper) Church and the popular Quarterback Cole Covington. I absolutely adored these two. In book 1 I had no doubt that there was something going on or there was potential for some given the poking Cole did at Sawyer. Some fascination of some sorts. In Ruthless Knight Sawyer and Cole truly shine. They’re young and make plenty of mistakes but I couldn’t blame them given the track card of issues they share from their past and now the present.
How is it possible that two so very different and opposite characters complete and complement each other so flawlessly. Again it’s all thanks to the author and her storytelling. I feel her love for the characters and their story that it jumps off the pages. Ashley Jade lets her characters take their time and it pays off. Their time to make mistakes and learn from them. To grow up and to let go.
Ruthless Knight is one hell of a book. Not only has #Sole claimed my heart but so have the other characters. Despite their flaws they have strong personalities but most importantly they have heart. This series and its characters keeps on delivering. Wow!
4.5 One Hell Of A Ride Stars
What an intense read! Omg. I’m soooo in love with Cole and sawyer!!! Every single bit of this book I just adored!!! From her sarcasm to their vulnerability- I tell you—the roller coaster of emotions did me in!
I have no words to describe how much I loved this book! I expected this book to be amazing but Ashley Jade went above and beyond. She has left me speechless and wanting to beg for more. Ruthless Knight is 100 chapters and over 139k in words and I still want and need more of this book! I was hooked from the first word until the last word and even still now days after I finished I’m thinking about this book.
Cole and Sawyer’s story was so much more than I thought it would be. Ashley Jade left me feeling emotionally raw after reading. So many different feelings. Jade took me on a roller coaster ride I wasn’t expecting. I never knew which way I would go. She had me on the edge of my seat screaming, crying, and wanting to reach through my kindle and throat punch everyone in this book at least once, and some more than others. I have never wanted to punch and kiss someone at the same time I did Cole Covington. He is one of the biggest arrogant, meanest, cruel jerks but also the sweetest, most protective person. Sawyer Church is the nerdy, church going girl that everyone had something to say about.
Ashley Jade brings lite to some real life issues that we tend to sweep under the rug because they aren’t happening to us. Jade takes them and makes you feel the pain. She makes you understand that your words and actions have an affect whether or not you see it right away or not. And those actions and words cannot be taken back. How you treat someone they will always remember and so will you.
Cole and Sawyer’s story is filled with soul crushing pain, and real life issues, but also this beautifully broken love, and sometimes two broken people can help piece each other back together.
Ashley Jade did an amazing job in going deeper into somethings from Cruel Prince, while phenomenally giving us Cole and Sawyer’s story, while also making us love Oakley and Bianca and setting up future books in the series perfectly. I not only fell in love with Cole and Sawyer’s characters but Oakley and Bianca, and also more in love with Jase and Dylan. Generally when reading a book all of our thoughts immediately go to the main characters but with Ruthless Knight I don’t find that true, while I absolutely love Cole and Sawyer I one hundred percent believe this book would not be what it is without the side characters. Each and everyone of these characters brought something huge with them. Cole and Sawyer grew as characters immensely in this book and it was fantastic to watch them grow.
Ruthless Knight has left me feeling so many emotions I never expected to feel and feel them deep in my heart. I wish I could give Ruthless Knight more than 5 stars because I do not think 5 comes anywhere close to what this book deserves. If I was not already a fan of Ashley Jade she would have hooked me forever with this book.
Cole and Sawyer’s story is one I definitely recommend reading, it’s not just the typical romance you will read, it has so much depth and the reality of their story is absolutely full of emotions that will run deep into your heart. This book is on my top must read list of the year and the year is just starting. Cruel Prince showed us a glint into Cole’s character, what I read then and now is way more of everything, I think Cole’s character is phenomenal, Ashley did a terrific job getting him and Sawyer, they are as real as they can get, every struggle they have can be felt across the pages. Cole Covington has become one of my top favorite characters and I can just give a standing ovation to A Jade for writing this masterpiece. A must read, on the top book list of the year and definately over 5+ stars!
“ ….’ … .”
Ashley Jade is an automatic one click for me, and all she did is solidify this decision with RK.
I am overwhelmed with all the things this book made me feel, to the point where I had to sleep on it before I reviewed, just so I wouldn’t let anything slip.
This was a beautiful case of exorcising demons, becoming who you wanted to be, and just general growth.
I am so proud of these characters, no matter whether the path was easy or difficult, they did what they had to do.
I left this book with a new girl crush, and even more in love with Oakley than I was before. The side characters place in this just heightened the experience.
I’m not saying anything else, except that I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this read.
This is book 2 in the Royal Hearts Academy Series. and even though it’s considered a standalone reading book 1 gives you insight and added perspective into the overall story line.
That said, if you read the author’s warning then you know this isn’t a sweet heartfelt young adult read.
Oh nooo, it’s raw, gritty, emotional and oozing with passion. The characters are the kind that you love to hate and hate to love.
That’s why as soon as this read reached my kindle I dropped everything and jumped right in!
I loved this story!
If you’re still reading this review, after the warnings…then… know this…
Sit back, fasten you’re seatbelt and enjoy the bumpy ride!!
You don’t even want to grab a snack or take a bathroom brake! This book will pull you in and hold you captive from beginning to end!
From the sinfully seductive prologue to the push and pull the built up and the finale release, I was enamored with the characters and captivated by their story.
The best part about this juicy hunk of beefy book, it had heart and soul.
As far as storyline was concerned, it felt complete!
The author doesn’t leave anything out. The characters are flawed, complex, and well developed. The issues these teens are going through and endure, I totally get because it seemed so personal and honestly struck a chord.
We share their journey as their story evolves and develops. All the emotions fit the powerful poignant story line.
Bravo Master Ashley
4.5 stars!
I don’t know where to start. I sat down to start Ruthless Knight and the next thing I know my family won’t have any dinner ready and no clean clothes for tomorrow. It’s that good. Five stars is nothing for this incredible, informative and intense read.
Colt and Sawyer….. they are everything. Absolutely everything you want in characters. He’s the hot, clueless jerk and she’s the sweet, smart bible thumper. They are both broken, in need of something and find it in each other.
The writing is flawless. The author had me screaming and crying with all the emotions she was throwing at me. I totally fell in love with this wonderful heartbreaking read and highly recommend it to everyone. It has something for everyone and will definitely be one of the best books of the year.
I don’t know where to start. I sat down to start Ruthless Knight and the next thing I know my family won’t have any dinner ready and no clean clothes for tomorrow. It’s that good. Five stars is nothing for this incredible, informative and intense read.
Colt and Sawyer….. they are everything. Absolutely everything you want in characters. He’s the hot, clueless jerk and she’s the sweet, smart bible thumper. They are both broken, in need of something and find it in each other.
The writing is flawless. The author had me screaming and crying with all the emotions she was throwing at me. I totally fell in love with this wonderful heartbreaking read and highly recommend it to everyone. It has something for everyone and will definitely be one of the best books of the year.
*Review by Michelle
First off if you haven’t read Cruel Prince yet I highly suggest you do!!! You first meet Cole and Sawyer in Jace and Dylan’s story
Let me tell you the Cole you see in Cruel Prince is only a tiny glimpse of the real depraved man!! Cole is so tragically and beautifully fucked up… your heart just breaks for him but at the same time you want to kick him in the balls for being such a prick!! Sawyer is a badass!!! She sees through Coles bullshit and loves the real him!! They are both tragically broken by their experiences. Can Sawyers love save the broken soul of Cole or will he cause the destruction of Sawyers heart? Read to find out!!!!
“ Sometimes, when you least expect it…two beautifully broken souls end up finding each other.”
When I first saw that Ruthless Knight was 100 chapters, I was scared. I didn’t want to not like this book because it was an anticipated read for me. But once you started reading and got sucked Into the prologue the time flew and it didn’t feel that long at all.
Ashley Jade messed me up with Ruthless Knight. It was emotional, heartbreaking, real and relatable. It was everything I didn’t know that I wanted from Cole and Sawyer’s story.
I urge everyone to read this, but be prepared that there are some hard hitting scenes that will gut you and leave you breathless.
Oh god, I can feel it now, I’m going to have the longest book hangover after reading this!
We haven’t even got out of January and I’m already lining Ruthless Knight up for being my favourite book of the year. It’s a story that will literally invade your mind, have you tied up in the emotion agony and want to strip naked and shout “take me now” to the hero, Cole, whilst at the same time electrifying his balls for being such a douchebag at certain points throughout the story.
Ms Jade has produced a phenomenal story, with relatable characters with relatable problems. It’s not often that characters really get under my skin and I become so quickly attached. Cole and Sawyer, complete opposites but their love story, is mesmerising, beautiful and often painful. Gritty and not shying away from hard facts, it’s a story that will resonate with many. Me being one. Raw, gut aching emotions, and also the overriding feeling of hope and new beginnings – Your heart will be in for one hell of a ride.
I going to say it now, this has fast become my favourite story from Ashley Jade.
Freaking addictive and angsty as hell! I seriously could not put this story down. Work? What’s a paycheck? I need to know what Cole is going to do to Sawyer next! Cole is ruthless, cutthroat, sexy, flirty and can turn on you in a heartbeat and slice you to pieces. Sawyer is loyal, headstrong, forgiving, faithful and crushing on a toxic male…Cole. Too many times I wanted Sawyer to kick Cole in the crotch and move on but then I’d want her to hug him close and heal his soul. This book evokes so many conflicting emotions while dealing with hot topics that I went from snickers to tears to swooning to anger and then cycling through them all again. So good! I never want to “quit” the manipulative Covington clan. So tragically beautiful.
Oh my! I thought Cruel Prince had me a crying mess when I read it last year, but no, A. Jade proved me wrong with Ruthless Knight. Thank goodness, my husband was not in the room when I read the previous parts of Ruthless Knight because I was bawling. I couldn’t sleep after reading it; that’s how emotional I was after finishing the book. I loved the book, though, even if it ripped my heart out and tore it in pieces with Cole’s story.
Oh, Cole! This young man was cold and dark inside his soul, but that’s due to no one loving him. At least he believes no one loves him, and finding out how he was treated when he was young was heartbreaking. The saddest part was finding out more about Liam’s story through Cole. Liam was Cole’s twin brother, and these two didn’t get along at all. Cole thought everyone loved his twin brother more. The most significant scene that broke my heart was when Cole revealed something about the night when his twin brother came to see him at his most vulnerable time. I don’t want to give anything away, so I’m going to stop there. Be prepared ahead of time. You’ll need a box of tissues. I wish I could go through the book and give Cole’s twin brother comfort and also give Cole support too. It had to be one of the hardest scenes in the book that I read until A. Jade made me cry even more towards the end. Oh gosh! She’s an author that can make you go through so many emotions.
Cole may have never known love until he finds love with a girl who has been bullied for years now, even by him. Sawyer Church is the complete opposite of Cole, but she makes him better. He shouldn’t love her because she annoys him with her love of Jesus and her pureness, but he adores her for ‘her.’ She’s not fake like everyone else. Sawyer is the girl everyone bullies for her supposedly being overweight. She even gets bullied at home by her mother, which broke my heart. I wanted to go through the book and slap her mama for putting Sawyer through so much grief. Sawyer was a smart, beautiful girl who stuck up for her friends and fought back with everyone that bullied her. Although, she ends up doing something that will harm her in the long run that she supposed would help her with her busy schedule. I adored Sawyer in this book and was glad I got to read her story, since the first book she was there for Dylan. Sawyer is the best friend who will back you up and always be there for you.
A. Jade wrote another book that made me cry, smile, laugh, and even mad. I had a hard time putting down the book, even if I wanted to go through the book and knock some sense into individual characters. Cole was one of them and then Sawyer. There was also Bianca (Cole’s little sister) and Oakley. This book has some severe triggers that involve violence, depression, suicide, drugs, bullying, and death. A. Jade, though, brings to light issues that include bullying and what high school kids go through and what happens to a family that loses a loved one to suicide. This is a tough book to read, but I would read it again and again. A. Jade has become a favorite author of mine due to her writing style and the stories she tells. I highly recommend this book and the first book to anyone who loves to read High School Bully Romances. I would also recommend reading the books in order because you don’t want to miss out on Cole’s brother’s story, Jace. I loved reading more about Jace and Dylan’s relationship and what they are doing now after their book. Jace and Cole now have their HEA, and here’s hoping their little sister, Bianca gets one too because she needs one as well.
Story Rating: 5 stars
Steaminess Rating: 4.5 stars
Standalone or part of series: Part of series, but each can be read as a standalone. Although, I recommend reading in order.
Do I recommend this book? Yes.
Will I read other books from the author? Yes.
Tropes/Elements: Opposite’s Attract; Fake/Pretend Relationship; Enemies-to-Lovers; Violence; Drugs; Suicide/Death; Bullying
I’m sitting here, staring into space, trying to come up with the words that would describe how completely EVERYTHING this book is. Ruthless Knight utterly gutted me. His haunting past and the tomb of guilt that he built his home in… It was nothing short of heart wrenching. Cole broke my heart into tiny little pieces only to super glue it back together again.
And to the author: The bullying and the fat shaming from the “it” crowd… It is sad, but accurate. Being a person of size, I related so incredibly much to this story and the feelings that bullying can make you have. Thank you for writing a story like this. It is so timely, real, and raw. I needed to read this right now. Thank you for showing that we deserve love too, and the love that we choose… not just someone we are expected to settle for. You managed to help my heart.
Ashley really knows how to twist the knife deep in your heart. Her earlier books are a testament to her tear inducing skills with angst and pain. In Cruel Prince we saw Jace and Dylan, in this one we meet Cole & Sawyer.
Though these stories can be read as standalone, it helps if you read them in order to connect the dots.
The characters are so broken, full of insecurities and complexes that their relationship becomes an enabling swamp of toxic mud which sucks them in. They’re trapped, unable to move forward or escape. Their verbal exchanges broke my heart. I wanted to hug Sawyer and strangle Cole at times….actually many times.
It’s emotionally explorative and deeply moving story about love gone wrong till the pieces of puzzle click and the heart is whole again
I love Ashley and if you need a good cry after you’ve torn out your hair in frustration, pick up Ashley book and cuss your heart out!!
4.5 stars for Sole who tore my Soul