Monday, August 16, 2021

King's Queen {a review}


Do you ever start reading a book and think "gee this sounds familiar"? Because that's what happened to me with King's Queen by Marie Johnson. King's Queen is the fifth book in the Oil Kings series, and it just released on August 16.

King's Queen is about Aiden and Kate King. They have been married for a little bit now, but really it's more of a marriage by name, and not an actual marriage. Aiden spends more time at the office than at home, and wants nothing to do with Kate. Or so it seems. In this book, Kate learns about the rules that were put in place for Aiden to gain access to his trust fund. To say she is hurt is an understatement. It also explains why Aiden is acting the way he is. The logical part of Kate's brain says she has to divorce him. But her heart, that is saying otherwise. Can these two repair their relationship and save their marriage? Can Aiden work a bit less to have some time with his wife? Or are these two destined to separate?

Oh friends, King's Queen tugged on my heartstrings. This book hit me in the feels, and I went through a variety of emotions as I was reading. Kate and Aiden have been through so much. Aiden has changed and become this workaholic because he thinks it is what is expected of him. I was so proud of Aiden when he told his dad everything. When he revealed the heartache and pain he was dealing with because of the hours he had to put in. When he stood up to his grandma and said enough is enough. Just yes! I love that both Aiden and Kate were fighting for their marriage. NO it wasn't perfect. YES they had issues to work on. And yes, at times it felt like it was more one sided. But the heart wants what the heart wants. I loved the characters. Loved the setting. Loved the story. I don't read a lot of marriage on the rocks books, but the few I have always draw me in, and hold me captive.

Highly suggest you check out this book, and the entire series. I think you'll fall for these characters. I know I did.

Thank you for reading my thoughts,
Laura



BLURB

When Aiden King asked me out four years ago, I went from mousy librarian to wife of the most wanted bachelor in Montana in four months flat. No longer the nerdy girl from the wrong side of the tracks, I was a CEO’s wife in a mansion by the river—and my husband was the man of my dreams. I almost couldn’t believe my good fortune.

Turns out, I shouldn’t have believed it. After years of rattling around that mansion alone while Aiden put in long hours at the office, I learned his secret: he’d needed to marry someone, anyone, to fulfill his trust requirements, and the nerdy girl from the wrong side of the tracks had been an easy target.

I never thought I’d be the girl asking a handsome millionaire for a divorce. Now, my pride and I just want to limp back to my family and start over. But to do that, I’ll have to swallow one question. If the trust only required him to be married for a year, why has it been four years since we said I do?




PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU





EXCERPT

“Can I get a room for the next three nights?” Preferably as close to Kate as possible? I glanced up. Seven levels. What were the odds I’d land on the same floor?
“I’m so sorry, sir. We don’t have any vacancies.”
None? It was December. A slow month for conferences and sporting events. Ah. “Construction?”
Her smile was sympathetic. “I’m sorry. I can help you find a room in a hotel nearby.”
I hadn’t expected to spend a lot of time with Kate while she was at her convention, but I’d at least hoped to be under the same roof. The roof might house a few hundred rooms, but I’d remained optimistic.
Kate’s attention was on us. “No opening?”
I tucked my wallet back into my slacks. “No problem. I’ll talk with Luna about the bedroom.” Could I use it when the plane wasn’t in use? I didn’t care to sit in another hotel.
“On the plane?” Kate glanced at the young man helping her, then at the woman assisting me. Her gaze landed on me, full of resolve. “Just stay with me.”
“This is your conference.” I could fist pump right now, but I hadn’t meant to intrude this much on her weekend. She was technically working, after all.
“It’s all right, Aiden.”
I thanked Cynthia for her time, gathered my suitcase and Kate’s, and shouldered my tech bag while she finished up.
On the way to the elevator, she handed me a key, hesitant. “There’s two beds. Two queens.”
Damn. “All right.”
Still. Progress was progress. We were talking. She hadn’t asked when we were going to sign the divorce papers. I was making progress whether I was back in her bed or not.











AUTHOR BIO

Marie Johnston writes paranormal and contemporary romance. She also works as a medical laboratory scientist and has worked as a public health microbiologist. Depending on the situation, she can be oddly unconcerned about germs or weirdly phobic. Marie’s been a volunteer EMT, a college instructor, a security guard, a phlebotomist, a hotel clerk, and a coffee pourer in a bingo hall. All fodder for a writer!! She has a husband, four kids, and even more cats.


AUTHOR LINKS




Thank you to Marie Johnston, and Give Me Books PR, for providing me with an advanced copy of King's Queen.