A Game of Romance and Ruin

Girl Games #2

by Ruby Roe

In a game of power, can love be the deadliest weapon?
Stirling Grey, a legendary negotiator, is on a to mend her broken heart and avenge its ruin.
Morrigan Lee, a hidden princess and heir to the throne, is harbouring a dark secret.
For years, Stirling and Morrigan navigated the perilous games of power and politics, shared clandestine moments, and ultimately... fell in love...
Until a deal with fate forced them apart.
When the Queen sets a formidable challenge, Stirling and Morrigan are thrust into a treacherous labyrinth of danger.
The task?
Protect the kingdom from a terrifying threat or lose the crown forever.
But this is not a simple mission.
With the clock ticking, they're going to have to trust each other...
And that's not easy when their past is filled with betrayal.
It's even harder when their hearts are entangled amidst the chaos.
Now, neither woman is sure if it's the throne they want to rescue or a love they want to rekindle.
Two hearts, one kingdom, and a romance that could lead to their ruin... or just maybe their redemption.
This is a spicy lesbian fantasy romance with second chances, ruinous secrets, found family, a masquerade ball, a long con, and a love that could either shatter a kingdom or save it.

Genres: Fantasy, Lesbian, Romance, Queer, LGBT, Smut, Audiobook

328 pages, Hardcover

Published June 22, 2023

About the author

Ruby Roe writes lesbian fantasy romance. She loves a bit of magic with her smut and will read anything as long as the characters get down and dirty. When she isn’t writing, she’s beasting herself at the gym or wandering the world on her next adventure. She lives in England with her wife, son, and two devious Ragdoll cats.

Reviews

[Sky. · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

”I wrap my arms around her neck and kiss her. I kiss her like we were never apart. I kiss her like she’s air and I need to breathe.”

I am usually not a fan of second chance romance or duel timeline, but when they’re done perfectly i love them, and this is the case with this book
It kept me at the edge of my seat, I literally couldn’t put it down

”She can stop me with a look, a kiss, a thought. If she commanded it, I would destroy armies for her. If she breathed it I would end lives and slaughter saints. And all for her.

I loved both Morrigan And Stirling so much
But anyone who read my review for A game or heart and heist, they’ll know i have a soft spot for Morrigan, that girl have my fucking heart

The amount of Angst between them had me sobbing 😭
My heart ached for them so much, they both made a lot of mistakes and the secrets they kept made everything worse
I found myself getting angry a lot of times because of the secrets they kept and screaming just tell each other everything !!
i just needed them to forget everything and everyone and be together
They sacrificed so much for each other, they deserve nothing but happiness 🥹🥹,

“Baby please, remember that night. Remember the promise we made. No matter how long it took, we’d find each other again. Find each other where blue meets blue. That’s now. We’ve found each other. We have to see this through.”

Indeed they always find their way to each other no matter what 😢🤍

Also Morrigan sister can go fuck herself I hated her with all my heart and wanted to kill her myself (I can’t believe i was hoping for a book a about her 🤬)
I was hoping for their relationship to be the same as Scarlett and Stirling but she’s such a fucking bitch!!

Speaking of Scarlett And Stirling, I wanted more moments between them but oh well 😔😔.

“Fine. What is it you want to know?”
“Are you happy?”
That is not what I expected her to say.”

Their relationship is so precious 🥹

As much as i loved the plot in this book, I think I love A Game of Heart and Heist a lot more, BUT but!!!!!
The sex scenes here! Much much more hotter, i had to take a break after a certain scenes to catch my breath because I forgot how to breathe 🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵.

”the two of us are left holding each other in the knowledge that we’re irrevocably in love. That our bodies confessed what our mouths could not.”

I want to put more but i won’t, so I don’t spoil anything 😭.

The team as always is funny as hell, even though it was missing Jacob 😭😂😂
Scarlett and Quinn always having the most inappropriate thoughts at the most inappropriate times

”Ladies,” Stirling snaps. “Stop thinking with your libidos. If we’re going to the party it’s to orchestrate a break in, not fuck in the sex rooms.”
“But we could do both…” Quinn says.
“You know, after we break in or whatever…” Scarlett grins.”

😭😂😂😂😂

And Remy! My baby deserve a Girlfriend worthy of her, and I CANNOT WAIT 🔥🔥

“I love my job. I love the industry and magic. I’ve not met the girl who makes me want to put her above it all.”

P.S: you don’t have to read the first book in order to read this one and there’s no spoilers here but i do recommend you read the first book, trust me when i say you don’t want to miss out on it 😉

Thanks to the Author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review




PRE REVIEW: Someone is freaking out because she just received an arc of the book she’s most excited to read, yes that someone is ME 😭.

[Gabby · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is so trash but I love the dumb girl smut😭😭 still will finish the series bc I am what I am

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

The world building continues in book 2 of this series.
Roe's plot with Stirling and Morrigan drips with betrayal, angst, secrets, intrigue, some humor and scorching sex. A realm at risk, grand balls, found family, a villain exposed, truths revealed and oh the page curling heat!! Nothing is simple in Morrigan's and Stirling's relationship but surely they deserve happiness...
An enjoyable book for anyone interested in a hot romance in a world of fantasy and magic. Best read with a cold brew and the air con on high.

[currentlyreadingbynat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read A Game of Hearts and Heists a few months ago and was completely blown away but the sexy AF lesbian fantasy novel. It was the epitome of an enemies to lovers romance, which is my favourite trope and I thought Book 2 would be similar. A Game of Romance and Ruin is steamy AF, but more of a second chance romance between two loveable idiots who keep obstructing their own romance. 🙃

Stirling and Morrigan have a complicated history. Whilst they have some serious sexual chemistry, their romance has been riddled with problems. So much so that we begin this book with the two of them barely capable of being in the same room together. There is a shitload of angst in this one from their complex history.

What I liked about this novel was the romance side of it. You know that big whole swirly aspect of typical romance where regardless of obstacles, you absolutely know they'll always end up together? Well, I got that while reading but also couldn't help but doubt these two could pull off forever. It kept me completely engaged in their story though as I am a sucker for forever.

The other part I really liked was the underlying storyline of Roman and his need for power and revenge. Although I found this aspect of the storyline a tad slow in the beginning and sitting on the backburner while all the juicy stuff began to play out. However, once it picked up I was taken on a journey that was jam-packed with intrigue and double-crossing. I loved it!

A Game of Romance and Ruin was another great lesbian fantasy from Ruby Roe. Book three sounds like another great storyline too. Can't wait!

Many thanks to Ruby Roe for providing me a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

[✧ iva · Rating 2 out of 5]

she indeed found someone who can match her freak

guys this is so bad
precisely it was just too much—
TOOOOOO MUCH

every 5 pages like come on guys…. not again pls 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️.. not an ounce of self control… the timing was totally inappropriate🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️made me uncomfortable

the writing and the whole story line felt plain and the dialogues were quite bad

was more invested in the side couple that was briefly mentioned like 3 times

it was okay but like …. not that great

maybe more character building next time and less explicit content 😦

the plot felt like a repetition of the first book:
two people that tragically can’t be together, lying about their past, yearning for each other anyway, fucking around and getting together in the end

[Sterling Sapphic Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This audiobook is fiiiireeeeee.... omg. Holy hot second chance romance - is another this a wild riiiiide from Ruby! I had high expectations for this and I'm happy to say that Ms Ruby Roe met every single one of them. Because I listened to the audiobook and loved it so much, I waited until this audiobook came out because the experience is just stellar. The narrators + this story = perfection. I can't even right now with this book. This is a second chance, sapphic dark romantasy novel following Scarlett's twin, Stirling, whom I loved from book 1, and her ex, Morrigan, as she gets ready to take the crown. As in the first book, the world-building is phenomenal, the characters are captivating, the chemistry is EXPLOSIVE and the narrators are perfect for the vibe of this book. I ached through this book. The relationship between Morrigan and Stirling was gut-wrenching at times. The love they have for each other- the frustration and the ups and downs. How complicated love is and yet how it just can't be helped. GAH! So angsty!! These two had me by the throat and didn't let go.
This book was just phenomenal.

AND- I can't not mention - Ruby Roe writes some HELLA sapphic steam. OMFG. There are plenty in this book but the sex magic scene. I needed resuscitation after that one. Just wow.

I'm so ready for book 3 but I'm loving the audiobooks of these stories so I'll be waiting for the next audiobook to be released!

[Lesbereading · Rating 5 out of 5]

We first got a glimpse into Stirling and Morrigan’s past in A Game of Hearts and Heists and I couldn’t wait to read their story and it was exactly what I was hoping for. Super steamy and a great storyline. The throne scene *chefs kiss*. Looking forward to A Game of Deceit and Desire 😍

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guys, I‘m obsessed with Morrigan. I love her charakter so much! Crushing hard🥵

[petite tortue]

DNF at 12%.
Yeah no I’m not reading that. It’s the same book as the first one.

[Aimee Grice · Rating 5 out of 5]

RUBY ROE TAKE A BOW 😌

This series has me in a chokehold. Absolutely devoured this book, did I stay up until 4am to see if they found each other where blue meets blue? Absolutely I did.

💙🩵💙

“I realised, Morrigan Lee… That I’m utterly, unequivocally, and most definitely dangerously in love with you.”

“I promised you I’d find you where blue meets blue”

“I come undone because she is my safe space and we finally found each other where blue meets blue”

💙🩵💙

[Demi Cramb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the first book in this series and I thought Stirling and Morrigan's story would be even better as I always wanted to find out more about them when reading book 1. Unfortunately, I do not know very much about them.

Yes this book is sapphic smut but the author should have dialed back on it to give insight into Morrigan and Stirling. There was a lot of passion but I just couldn't connect with it because I knew very little about them.

I did also find it frustrating that they were holding secrets from each other and the team which could have been explained within in the first 10% not the last 10%.

I think what keeps it at a mediocre 3* is because I do love the magic in it and the fantasy world.

[Mariah Greeno · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite of the three so far

[_kenzie_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5🌶️

•second chance
•sapphic
•lovers turned enemies to lovers
•fantasy/magic

“But she feels safe. She feels like summer nights and laughter. She feels like hunger and need and desire.”

this second chance romance was done perfectly! the amount of angst, banter and sexual tension had me screaming. it was too damn good. they both sacrificed so much for each other, but ugh i wanted to slap them both with the amount of secrets they were keeping from each other. but their relationship truly was everything. they were captivating, sexy & explosive. i wanted more more and more.

“she is my safe space and we finally found each other where blue meets blue.” 💙💙

Morrigan: i loveeeddddd her so much!!! omg😍 she’s covered in tattoos and has a very much don’t fuck with me attitude, that i was fucking with.
Stirling: in love with her. she’s confident, funny and cocky. she was very much a go with the flow kind of girl and was constantly doing things in the spur of moment.

i can’t wait to read Remys book, it’s about time she get her happy ending 🥹

fav quotes 🪄🔮📖

“Your mouth is saying no, but your body is saying yes. I’m going to kiss you now. And then I’m going to fuck you into understanding.”

“she is the only woman who could command me to my knees. For Morrigan, I’d fall on a sword. I’d kneel until my skin tore and my legs bled, if it meant I could have her. Fuck, I’d deal my soul to the devil if I could keep her forever.”

“You’re the drug, Morrigan. The one I have always been hopelessly addicted to. The one I’d cut my ribs open and tear my heart out for.”

“Stirling, look at me. You left me with a heart full of hate. And yet, standing here in my bathroom, those ocean blue eyes looking at me… I still want you. I still want to fuck you in the shower, on the floor, in my bed, in my garden. I want to fuck you every morning, before I go to sleep at night and between every breath. Tell me you’re not a drug.”

“She smiles and it brightens the whole bathroom. Lights up my chest.”

“Get on your knees, princess.”

“She smells like home. She smells like mine.”

[MJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will have to admit, Morrigan and Stirling are my favourite couple! I adore their dynamic but also what they went through and had to face.
I’ve also realised I’m a bit of a sucker for a second chance romance! And that throne scene 🫠🥵 Holy. Hell. IYKYK.
This series will always hold a spot in my heart. It was the first sapphic fantasy I ever read and I adore all of Ruby’s books! I don’t even know how many times I’ve reread this but this time round I’m annotating as well! Also tandem reading with audio, which makes the whole experience even better! The narrators did an amazing job!

This is written in first person with 2x POV’s. Second chance, dual timelines, forced proximity, found family, opposites attract. Book Two in the Girl Games series, can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend reading the whole series. 7x Spicy scenes.

[Laura B · Rating 1 out of 5]

My brain simply refuses to click with these books and if you liked it, that's perfectly fine. But these characters have about as much depth as a water dish for a cat and the plot doesn't go much deeper.
The book doesn't know where it stands with somewhat modern technology and the sprinkles of magic, which ruins consistent world-building. Every single person is driven by horny-ness and that is about it. You lied to someone for years? Well that's just fair and dandy aswell, because who cares for the sake of the plot?

I didn't like this. That's all. I won't be taking any questions

[Chelles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romance and Ruin

I knew it! This series has me completely - I almost don't wanna read the last book because I don't want it to end!!😭

Stirling and Morrigan are just 🤌🥰... their love runs DEEP, which you can tell right away in the first book. Here, we get a look in their past and learn how they came to be apart. We also leave that you can't really keep them apart lol.

There's so much more intrigue, mystery, excitement, and romance in the series....I love it all!!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A spicy lesbian fantasy romance with second chances, ruinous secrets, found family, a masquerade ball, a long con, and a love that could either shatter a kingdom or save it."

Once again Ruby Roe delivers all the steam and angst promised in this lesbian fantasy. With the Royal investiture just a month away, MCs Stirling and Morrigan find they must work together with their friends to bring down the most powerful under lord of New Imperium. Stirling and Morrigan must put their faith in one another in order to destroy the threat to the crown, hopefully overcoming even the darkest of secrets and betrayals.

I loved getting to learn more about New Imperium and Stirling & Morrigan's history in this storyline. And HOT DAMN did the steam between these two MCs lead to some fantastically spicy scenes!! 🥵🥵🥵

I practically devoured this book over night. I am so excited for book three with Remy & Bella!

A big thank you to @sachablackauthor for the ARC!

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

A subsequent book has so much pressure on it, can it continue the series? Was the first book a single shot in the dark? Can you build on what was started?

This book is a resounding yes for all above. This picks right up where the last left off. You get the other sister, the brash free wheeling, Stirling. You have her ice princess Morrigan, and another fantastic tale. The story is 🔥, no loss of the sizzle between the 2 main characters. That unbreakable ever present constant yearning helps drive this one home. Don't sleep on this sequel.

[Heather B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second chance



Second installment in the series from Ruby. I was really excited to read more about Stirling from her appearance in the first book. If you’ve read the first book you’ll know what I mean. She’s got that confident, cocky, yet appealing attitude. Then enters Morrigan who is covered in tattoos and who has a don’t fuck with me attitude. There’s so much angst between Stirling and Morrigan. If you enjoy second chances, angst, and a plot that’ll have you on edge with anticipation—Check it out!

[Lily Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5. I love Morrigan. I love Stirling. Ate this book up. Still can’t give it a 5 star bc Im not quite as obsessed as I was with kingdom of immortal lovers

I found this couple more interesting that Quinn & Scarlet. I also found this book had significantly fewer cringe moments vs the first in the series. The conflicts with Roman, btw him and the crown, him and Morrigan, and him and stirling, were very interesting. I had the know what this damn deal was. I think Ruby Roe was able to wrap up most of my questions about the twists.

And of course, majorly spicy. Very well done

[Brave · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little torn between 3 and 3.5 stars for this one. It's still a fun time, but I got a little tired of the repetitive spicy scenes and the repetitive "I should tell her...bUT I CAN'T or I'll LOSE HER" throughout the whole book. And I do mean...the whole book, lol. AGAIN, I'd recommend this book/series if you're looking for a fun spicy time, but this one just didn't quite entertain me as much as the first book did.

[Witch With A Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well this is steamier then my bathroom on a cold day.

So this book could be read as a stand alone, but I promise you the first one is just as steamy. We see the character grow with each other in many ways and secrets they have been hiding exposed.

Can't wait to get the 3rd book and seeing who the characters are

[Jennie Hedges · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked the first book in this series… i LOVED this one so much more. I felt like this book was a huge step up in terms of story and world building. The spice was spicy and the magic was magical! I loved how the author took small details from the first book that I overlooked and turned them into big F-ing deals in this one! So SO SO good!!!

[Lottie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fofo e frustrante ao mesmo tempo.

Comparativamente com o primeiro, senti que faltava alguma ação e o foco era demasiado a relação entre as duas personagens no entanto não deixa de ser entertaining

Só me confirmou que nenhuma personagem neste universo sabe ser honesto mas também se fossem não havia história porque revolve à volta de mentiras intermináveis.

Overall muito giro vou começar já o terceiro ehehehe

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

i’d say another high four star like the first book of the series say 4.7. same vibes as the first book.

i usually hate when a series changes from one couple to another to focus on in the next book but i actually love it in this series.

still problems in my mind with the world building, though. i was confused at several parts.

overall a wonderful addition to the series

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

stirling and morrigan are ridiculous. but i love them.
the story though wasn’t really my favorite, i definitely preferred the one in the first book in the series, but i still really loved this one.

also conspiring against a piece of shit man and then destroying him?? love that.

[Emma Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whooo dang! 🥵 she was spicy This was some serious fantasy romance and epic second book in the series, can’t wait for the 3rd book Stirling was bad ass to the days, a-lot of magic and powers but a great story to say the least

[Rey Hawke · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Noe · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[summer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5