He’s supposed to be the ruler of this kingdom.The prince poised to take his rightful place on the pitch.Instead, he plays the jester, shunning his legacy.Only I am privy to his lion heart.Kingston Phillips is the heir to England’s football dynasty. The offspring of two of the world’s greatest players, the expectations set on his shoulders could crush the universe. But the golden-haired Adonis … golden-haired Adonis chooses to live his life as a game; a series of nightclubs, brawls, pranks and different kit chasers parading through his sheets.
I’m the last woman he should chase, and I’ve told him so. My cheeky mouth and icy demeanor guard the secret no one can learn. But when the Casanova I’ve been avoiding becomes the bloke next door, he quickly begins to thaw the frost around my heart. Kingston shows me the ferocious, loyal, protective side of himself that no one else gets to witness.
I begin to realize that he’s just as damaged as I am.
That as much as I try to deny it, we’re the same.
And … that might just be our undoing.
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Two broken souls find each other, each with their own unconscionable childhoods. Kingston and Poppy are individually relatable characters but when they find each other they are captivating! I never thought of myself as a sports romance reader but I was proven wrong once again by the amazing Carrie Aarons!!
5 LION HEART STARS!! Kingston is beautiful inside and out, but broken from childhood. Poppy is so beautiful, but also broken badly inside. These two have one heck of a story to tell you. Their story has all the feels and will squeeze your heart. I absolutely loved this book. Carrie Aarons writing is phenomenal and always gives us readers the perfect story.
This is book #2, in the Rogue Academy series. This book can be read as a standalone novel. For reader understanding, and to avoid spoilers, I recommend reading this sexy series in order.
Kingston is at the top of his game. He has made it to the best of the best. Now he wants to be with the best. Attracted from the first moment they met, he has wanted Poppy. Chasing after women is just not the same now.
Poppy is sick of being lusted after by men who feel it is their right. Overpaid, or born into money they all seem to be just overgrown boys who want to add her to their toy collection. She has plans to be more than just a rich mans conquest.
The chemistry with this couple is off the charts. Every time they are even in the same room the temperature rises. This series seems to just get hotter. I love the banter. I love the pace that is nice and strong. The heat is nice and hot. I cannot wait to see the next installment.
***This early copy was given in exchange for an honest review.
I love Kingston and Poppy! This is the second book in this series. It’s another amazing book series by this author. I love that she writes books that deal with real life problems. I love a great sports romance book. A truly great series! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK/SERIES!
This is the 2nd book in this gripping series from Carrie Aarons and is Kingston and Poppy’s story. I really adore these two. Soon as they meet you can feel the connection and chemistry between them even though Poppy seems to hate Kingston on sight and he is not used to being turned down.
They are both broken but together they seem to find strength to heal. So many emotions in this tale as Carrie brought us all the feels with this story. As always Carrie’s writing draws you in and give you a great story that you can devour
Gah! I absolutely adored every single thing about Kingston and Poppy’s story! Carrie Aarons took the enemies-to-lovers trope and laved it with snark and sass alongside the sweetness and sexual tension. I loved the British witticisms and the lighthearted humor, but this story also happened to have a healthy dose of angst to it, courtesy of both Poppy’s and Kingston’s pasts. It could be said that the whole back and forth between them during the first few chapters could be seen as foreplay, but there was something deeper that was meant for them than a roll in the proverbial hay. The more that was revealed about them and their personal histories, the clearer it became that these two had a better understanding of each other’s brokenness and then come to the realization that just because they were broken didn’t mean they were defective or not worthy of love and happiness. The progression and development of these two main characters as individuals and as a couple felt realistic to me, including a stumble here and there. If you’re a fan and reader of the series, Jude Davies and Aria Lloyd continue to enjoy their happily-ever-after here. We get an idea of what may lay ahead for Vance Morley when his book is released, but while I’m quite excited for Vance’s story, I’m still basking in the awesomeness that is The Lion Heart. Five-plus stars.
The Lion Heart is book two in the Rogue Academy series. I didn’t read book one before diving into this book and I still understood what was happening. Book one is Jude and Aria’s story. The Lion Heart is based around Kingston and Poppy.
I loved the relationship between Poppy and Kingston. It was light and flirty. With sarcastic jabs and banter. But they definitely had their flaws. They were hiding behind a curtain that they put up to make people believe their lives were perfect. But they could see through each other’s facade.
This book was a great read. It was a little bit slow for me, but I enjoyed the story. The Lion Heart shows us the side of people that too many go through. The side we don’t always see. The side behind the curtain. I enjoyed this story and am excited to see what else Carrie gives us!
‘No one has ever been so raw with me. Poppy…I think maybe you see something in me that I never even knew was there. And…I think maybe I see the same thing inside you.’ – Kingston Phillips
Kingston Phillips is a gorgeous player with a weakness for women, booze, and brawls. He lives his life in fast forward with zero cares in the world. Soccer comes easy to him, being the child of two of the greatest players in the world, that shouldn’t surprise anyone, but he doesn’t take it or his life seriously.
Enter Poppy Raymond. She is a world-famous model, and she doesn’t have time for the resident bad boy, who she quickly learns lives in the flat next door to her new one. She tries her best to avoid Kingston, but the more he inserts himself in her life, the harder he is to ignore. As the two get to know each other better, both realize there is more to the other than meets the eye. Can the two move forward from pasts that have shaped them, or will they continue to let their pasts rule their futures?
Carrie Aarons, I swear every new book she writes is better than the last one (trust me they are all amazing, but you get my drift). ‘The Lion Heart’ is a book about two lost souls just living day by day, and there is darkness but also so much light and hope. I think that Kingston is one of my favorite characters from all of Carrie’s books. This book shows that no matter the fame and money, life isn’t all rainbows and unicorns. I love that Carrie doesn’t shy away from tough topics; she writes about them in a way that will leave you breathless. Sports Romance is also one of my favorite genres so getting to read a book by one of my favorite authors in my favorite genre was just icing on the cake. This book is a must read!
Carrie wrote a winner here, you will get all the feels out of this one! 5 soccer ball stars for this one!
Meet Kingston, son of two famous football parents, who expect nothing but the best from him, but in his eyes, no matter how good he is they always find something wrong with the way plays. Its a lot of pressure on him, so yes, he parties a bit! While out one night he meets hot model Poppy, who won’t give him the time of day! Wait, women never turn him down, what’s going on?
Poppy is fighting her own demons. Yet she’s never told a soul what her demons are, but when she talks to Kingston, and really gets to know him, she opens up to him.
Can these two shattered souls find healing in each other? Grab your copy asap and find out!
I’ve been looking forward to the next book in the Rogue Academy series, and the fact that it was Kingston and Poppy’s story was a win win! I had a feeling there was going to be so much more to Kingston and Poppy than what they seemed on the outside…with these two, appearances are everything, but inside they’re both broken and so much more alike than you’d think.
Initially Poppy hates Kingston, she knows his kind…a player in every sense of the word. Kingston has hit on her and been turned down, and he never gets turned down, which only fuels his need to have her. He’s a pompous, party boy who doesn’t take anything seriously, even playing football. However, living next door to one another makes it difficult to not see each other in a different light. Hitting bottom and realizing what’s important, these two help each other put the pieces back together and inevitably find love. Their story is raw and beautiful!
The Lion Heart is the second book in the Rogue Academy series featuring Kingston and Poppy. Technically the books in this series can be read as standalones, but it is my opinion that your reading experience will be richer and fuller if you start with the first book and read them in order.
I absolutely loved everything about Kingston and Poppy. Their chemistry was fiery hot, sparking right off the page and practically crackling in the air around them. This couple was positively electric together, and Carrie did an incredible job of capturing that chemistry and conveying that to the reader. I fell in love right along with Kingston and Poppy. They were that couple, the one you can’t help but root for, the one that you want together as much as they want to be together. They had their fair share of issues to work through, so it wasn’t exactly smooth sailing the whole way, but I found that I really enjoyed this relationship’s build up. The side characters were great, and they added dimension and depth, rounding out this story from something fantastic into something truly special.
Carrie’s writing is sharp and smart, and she writes romances that are genuine and sexy within stories that are relationship rich between the romance and the supporting friendships in the background. She has an incredible gift for telling difficult, powerful and gripping stories, drawing the reader into them with a vivid, rich and dynamic plot. I loved everything about this book, and I finished it with a smile on my face and a full, happy heart.
The Lion Heart is the second book in the Rogue Academy series by one of my favorite authors, Carrie Aarons. It can be read as standalone but I highly recommend reading The Second Coming since it’s just as amazing. It was also where I was first introduced to the cheeky Kingston Phillips and the sassy Poppy Raymond.
It’s been one year since Poppy walked away Kingston in that London club. One year since she shut him down. And now he was watching her strut down the runway with confidence and grace. He wanted her from the moment he saw her, one year ago and he wanted her even more now. Except she was immune to his charm and she definitely was not a kit chaser. She wasn’t however immune to his hotness but she knew how to hide her reactions to the swine. That was until she discovers that they are neighbors. Now, she couldn’t get away from him. And he was a determined arse.
Kingston wasn’t in love with the game anymore. He is not even sure if he ever loved it. Being the son of not one but two football greats, he was kicking a ball around before he couldn’t even walk. The pressure was always there to live up to his parents’ expectations. The world was waiting for him to either fall from grace or to raise to be king of the game. There was no in between when it came to his parents and fans. The only ones who truly cared for him was his best mates, Vance and Jude. Their opinions were the only ones that matter to him. All he cared about was showing up, partying, and women. He was drowning in pressure and self-destruction until he wanted to be better. For her.
From the outside Poppy had everything as a top model at twenty. She was beautiful, independent, and had loads of money and friends. She traveled and partied around the world. The reality was different. She hated being out at the clubs. She was skittish and didn’t have any friends. Until, Kingston wiggled his way into her life. She didn’t fall for his antics but she could fall for the man who showed her his sweet and tender side. The man who was just as damaged as she was. But, are they both too damaged to be in a lasting relationship?
Ok, that was longer than I thought it would be. I started to fall for Kingston in the first book. I rather do love the bad boy. I totally fell head over heels in love with him with him in this one. It is so much fun. Deeper emotional than I ever thought he would be. Sweet. And of course…delicious. And I might just have a girl crush on Poppy. She is a boss. One who doesn’t take Kingston’s shite (I love the accents! I hear them while I read). Together, these two are full of banter, flirt, sweetness, understanding, and love. I can’t wait for the next book! Oh Vance…it’s time for battle.
Quotes:
“You’re a hell raiser, I just know it. It’s what I like about you, Poppy.”
“Good night, Kingston.”
“That is some kind of karma. The one woman who doesn’t want to go anywhere near your bed is now the closest bird to it.”
“So, you’re trying to tell me you’d shag me if the world ended right now? Not much of a compliment, now is it?”
“Even if we were in a room full of people, I’d pick you.” I wink.
Once again, Carrie Aarons delivers a story that is entertaining yet high on the feels. The Lion Heart wraps you up in this world that she has created with these characters that are flawed but so endearing. You have Kingston who is the party boy who chases anything in a skirt but when you get to the nitty gritty of him, there are so many layers that you come to understand for him. It is heartbreaking to the point that you just want to hug him and tell him everything is going to be okay. Then you have Poppy. I love her sass and her attitude. Especially with how she makes Kingston work for it. Her layers are so painful and earth shattering. But she is so strong when push comes to shove. These two have always had a connection since the first book, but seeing their relationship play out in this one, was utterly priceless.
As a whole, this is a stunning tale of past pain, current emotions and moving on from everything that was holding them back. How these two both overcome the things that shackled them was brilliant. I honestly could not put this book down and felt every emotion that flowed through it!
I loved Kingston and Poppy’s story!! I love how Carrie Aarons developed the story.
Kingston grows so much in the book. Appearances and perceptions of people are different in so many ways and Carrie Aarons does a great job bringing that to light in the book. Poppy is strong and confident and real.
They have great chemistry and build on something that is real! I really enjoyed the friendships in the book of the other characters and also how they got to their HEA!!
This is the second book in this series following kingston Phillips as he navigates his way through life. In book one we saw a glimpse of the girl of his dreams- poppy. And this book starts from that moment. Trying to live up to his parents legacy, being overshadowed by the expectations that followed . Made kingston a reckless jokester. Poppy and Kingston forge a way through the turmoil in their lives to venture into a relationship. a haunting past keeps coming for poppy and Kingston finally learns what is most important in his life when it all falls apart. Great book. Loving this series.
Bloody Brilliant
Here’s what I loved about The Lion Heart, the tremendous heart Kingston and Poppy bring to their story. Also, that when these two went into their relationship they went all in.
Here’s what I loved about the writing of The Lion Heart, the care that Ms. Aarons used to tell Poppy’s story and the lyrical pace she used to tell this story.
Even though I have finished The Lion Heart this story and these two perfectly flawed characters will stay with me.
**ARC provided for an honest review**
In this book we get the playboy Kingston Phillips’ story, we know he is cocky, has a carefree attitude, and not too much phases him except his family so he stays away from them as much as possible. Underneath his carefree attitude hides an insecure little boy that just wants his parent’s acceptance or attention so he acts out and that is exactly what he has been doing for so long he doesn’t realize he is throwing so much talent and his life away. So, when we meet Poppy, the super famous model, Kingston has an instant attraction to her but all he sees is her looks and nothing else so of course he acts like a pig. Kingston starts to spiral out of control and Poppy sees that they are truly a kindred spirit because she has a darkness she’s been carrying around on her own. These two are perfect for each other and once Kingston starts to get his act together he apologizes to Poppy and starts to try his best to be a better man and he proves himself by working hard and stopping his nonsense. I loved that Kingston was there for Poppy and helped her overcome some of her issues just by being there and listening, I also loved how Poppy started to let loose some and start to trust people again the only thing was I felt with the issues of both their families the end seemed a little rushed. Poppy doesn’t have the best relationship with her family, barely talks to them, and they hate her career but towards the end they all of a sudden want to be there for her without talking much out. Also Kingston stood up for himself but I figured we would at least see his family try to come around more causing more issues because his dad was cruel so I didn’t see him just walking away so easily without a fight. I loved that Kingston had his friends that were like his family and always there for him and they accepted Poppy with open arms so neither of them are truly alone in the world, these two balanced each other so well that’s what I loved about them as a couple. All in all, it’s a great read and I can not wait for Vance’s story I just know its going to be a heartbreaker
Five hot stars for Poppy and Kingston !
“The Second Coming” is the reason why I’ve started reading Carrie’s books.
So, you can only imagine how I was happy when I found that “The Lion Heart” the second book from “Rogue Academy” series is coming soon!
Yes, I was dying for reading Poppy’s and Kingston’s book because from the first book I knew that their story will be one I won’t forget soon .
And Carrie didn’t disappoint!
She proved one more time that she is the master for writing a good romance book that you can read in one night without taking a break because it’s interesting and you want to know what will happen next.
Poppy is the female character that totally surprised me with the story of her past and how kind of person she is. She is proof that we shouldn’t judge people because of their look or the job they working.
Kingston is the one more proof for not judging people because of stereotypes we learned from a young age. Money doesn’t make people happy and he is the example for that.
Poppy’s and Kingston’s relationship is kind of a slow burn relationship but once they gave one to another chance to knew each other, it became an explosive one.
If you’re looking for New Adult romance, this is the book you need to read!
Highly recommended!!!
This is the 2nd book in this awesome series and is Kingston and Poppy’s story. Kingston is a womanizing, football bad boy, and Poppy is a famous model. Poppy find that Kingston is hard to ignore, especially now that they are neighbours, and he is determined to get his girl. Both of these characters are broken, and with undeniable chemistry, they complete each other. This is a beautifully written story which is an emotional roller coaster journey throughout. This is a raw, gritty, heartbreaking, powerful, and humorous story, which had me totally captivated throughout this addictive page turner, and I cannot wait to read more from this gifted author whose work I highly recommend for all readers.
I feel like when Carrie Aaron’s writes a sports romance it takes us back to her writing roots. You can tell that she enjoys writing sports romances. The characters are always fun and entertaining. The Lion Heart was a story I fell into incredibly easy. Kingston is a character I wasn’t sure I was going to like as first but I should have known Carrie gives all her men the sweetest and goofiest insides… you just have to get to the inside. Poppy is just what Kingston needed. She has no time for Kingston or his antics and his self-assured attitude. She doesn’t stand a chance against his charm once he starts to actually open up and show his true sides.
I have read every single one of Carrie Aarons’ books and each one is so uniquely different. Kingston really shows us that he can be a good man and that even though he’s always been in the spotlight and never had to work hard for anything he wanted. I adore the deeper meanings that Carrie inserts into the storylines. I was a bit surprised with the feelings shoved into this storyline but it seemed to make it a bit better-rounded. The Lion heart is a story full of adorable banter, a new adult plot with a sweet character driven storyline. You won’t regret this story one little bit!!
I received an ARC of this book with the hope that I would leave an Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… my opinions