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The Choosing Chronicles #2
A Heart of Desire and Deceit
How does one pick up the pieces of their life after it has been obliterated by the person they mistakingly trusted?
Ryker Waterborn’s heart is broken, and his wife is a killer. Their marriage is a sham, built on a foundation of murder, lies, and deceit. They’re broken. Destroyed. Yet, even after hearing her confession, Ryker cannot leave Brynleigh in the Pit.
In an act of foolish love, he makes a deal to set Brynleigh free. All she has to do is go back to her Maker and find evidence that Jelisette de la Point is a traitor.
That’s easier said than done, but Brynleigh is left with no choice. She can either accept the deal or rot behind bars. Worse than all that is her relationship with Ryker.
Once, she thought they’d get a happy ending. Now, an ocean divides them.
She broke the rules and fell in love, but is love powerful enough to save them?
This is the second half of Ryker and Brynleigh's duet, and should be read after A Game of Love and Betrayal.
Ryker Waterborn’s heart is broken, and his wife is a killer. Their marriage is a sham, built on a foundation of murder, lies, and deceit. They’re broken. Destroyed. Yet, even after hearing her confession, Ryker cannot leave Brynleigh in the Pit.
In an act of foolish love, he makes a deal to set Brynleigh free. All she has to do is go back to her Maker and find evidence that Jelisette de la Point is a traitor.
That’s easier said than done, but Brynleigh is left with no choice. She can either accept the deal or rot behind bars. Worse than all that is her relationship with Ryker.
Once, she thought they’d get a happy ending. Now, an ocean divides them.
She broke the rules and fell in love, but is love powerful enough to save them?
This is the second half of Ryker and Brynleigh's duet, and should be read after A Game of Love and Betrayal.
428 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 15, 2024
1444 people are currently reading
18047 people want to read
About the author
Elayna R. Gallea
32 books2,077 followersElayna Gallea lives in beautiful New Brunswick, Canada with her husband and two kids. They have dogs and cats and enjoy touring their beautiful province whenever they can.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 594 reviews
October 22, 2024
⭐️ 3.5
Whoever hired this author’s PR person should be applauded because I read through two books to get to the one part that was advertised.
Two. Books.
I just wanted the part where she comes and saves him! But no…that’s near the end of the SECOND book.
And it was a slog. It took three times as long to marinate on a character’s inner turmoil than the usual.
The characters weren’t badass enough for me. Don’t tell me they are and then not show me! 😩 Don’t tell me he’s super powerful and then show him throw a temper tantrum at the sky. Don’t tell me she’s ruthless and then she feels every feeling under the sun, and then some, obsessing over the littlest things.
For a female assassin, she sure had an excessive amount of hangups. And the amount of times she would say she’s “putting her feelings deep down in a box”, and then walk through a door and have it explode out again was far higher than expected.
It was so unsatisfying and yet, I read to the end!
😭😭😭
Was it terrible? No. Did I expect more? Yes.
Is this book worth reading? Also yes, but only if you’re a teenager. Maybe that’s it. I needed something more gritty and realistic because I have outgrown this stage of my life.
Whoever hired this author’s PR person should be applauded because I read through two books to get to the one part that was advertised.
Two. Books.
I just wanted the part where she comes and saves him! But no…that’s near the end of the SECOND book.
And it was a slog. It took three times as long to marinate on a character’s inner turmoil than the usual.
The characters weren’t badass enough for me. Don’t tell me they are and then not show me! 😩 Don’t tell me he’s super powerful and then show him throw a temper tantrum at the sky. Don’t tell me she’s ruthless and then she feels every feeling under the sun, and then some, obsessing over the littlest things.
For a female assassin, she sure had an excessive amount of hangups. And the amount of times she would say she’s “putting her feelings deep down in a box”, and then walk through a door and have it explode out again was far higher than expected.
It was so unsatisfying and yet, I read to the end!
😭😭😭
Was it terrible? No. Did I expect more? Yes.
Is this book worth reading? Also yes, but only if you’re a teenager. Maybe that’s it. I needed something more gritty and realistic because I have outgrown this stage of my life.
August 25, 2024
I’m on the resistance’s side. This book pissed me off.
August 1, 2024
I stand by my review of the first. Ryker is boring. I love Brynleigh. She’s such a complex character and I loved that she didn’t shy away from who she is when the nitty gritty of her job required a bit of ruthlessness.
****spoiler***
Although.. am I the only one who wanted to rebels to succeed? The government is corrupt and faming Brynleigh as the savour. He being this face of the unsuccessful rebellion almost took away her victory because honestly she’s fighting for the wrong side.
I wish that the main conflict between Ryker and Brynleigh was opposing eachother in a political sense rather that this “betrayal” that was only due to miscommunication and bad timing…
Ryker still boring though. Beyond his love for B, his job, chess and his sister, we didn’t get any deeper level of him. Missed opportunity for him to go off the rails a few times. Wish he flooded something ya know.
****spoiler***
Although.. am I the only one who wanted to rebels to succeed? The government is corrupt and faming Brynleigh as the savour. He being this face of the unsuccessful rebellion almost took away her victory because honestly she’s fighting for the wrong side.
I wish that the main conflict between Ryker and Brynleigh was opposing eachother in a political sense rather that this “betrayal” that was only due to miscommunication and bad timing…
Ryker still boring though. Beyond his love for B, his job, chess and his sister, we didn’t get any deeper level of him. Missed opportunity for him to go off the rails a few times. Wish he flooded something ya know.
September 23, 2024
2.5 ⭐
I'm sorry but this was soooo disappointing! I don't know why I didn't just dnf because I skimmed the entire thing. Also, I can't believe I got snagged by that cliffhanger in the last book when it wasn't even an interesting plot twist.
I honest to god think I rolled my eyes every time Ryker's POV showed up. SIR- get the fuck over yourself!! Look I get that he felt sad and betrayed etc. etc. but he would not stop whining! For someone who quite literally was the captain in a corrupt society's army, he seemed to have a lot of problems with his girlfriend killing scum-of-the-earth type guys. I don't know about you but generally speaking armies aren't known for their ethical killing practices. Also the incessant outrage over Bryn almost killing him- please. She literally thought he murdered her entire family and it takes him 3/4 of the book to "understand" her motivations. SIGH.
I will say there were some very cute "my wife" moments throughout that somewhat redeemed him, and he got a lot better by the end.
I just feel like this series had so much wasted potential. And to have an entire duology with a vampire FMC and only have one biting scene *in the epilogue* is criminal.
🔥🔥
I'm sorry but this was soooo disappointing! I don't know why I didn't just dnf because I skimmed the entire thing. Also, I can't believe I got snagged by that cliffhanger in the last book when it wasn't even an interesting plot twist.
I honest to god think I rolled my eyes every time Ryker's POV showed up. SIR- get the fuck over yourself!! Look I get that he felt sad and betrayed etc. etc. but he would not stop whining! For someone who quite literally was the captain in a corrupt society's army, he seemed to have a lot of problems with his girlfriend killing scum-of-the-earth type guys. I don't know about you but generally speaking armies aren't known for their ethical killing practices. Also the incessant outrage over Bryn almost killing him- please. She literally thought he murdered her entire family and it takes him 3/4 of the book to "understand" her motivations. SIGH.
I will say there were some very cute "my wife" moments throughout that somewhat redeemed him, and he got a lot better by the end.
I just feel like this series had so much wasted potential. And to have an entire duology with a vampire FMC and only have one biting scene *in the epilogue* is criminal.
🔥🔥
October 9, 2024
Great story line, not so great writing style
This was a great story concept. Girl saves man, they fall in love, deal with some heartbreak and betrayals, he saves her, more conflict, then she saves him again. Couple of vampires, shifters, fae with elemental type powers, good ol fashioned fantasy characters.
My biggest issue with these books (I read the first as well) is the writing style. Inner monologues frequently repeat the same themes and ideas. Dialogue is constantly broken up by multiple paragraphs of inner monologues. It just doesn’t flow and drags on. I frequently found myself skipping multiple sentences and in some cases paragraphs. I almost gave up finishing the first book but was curious how the author closed the plot. When it ended on the cliff hanger I downloaded the second to finish the story. It took a lot of will power to push through.
Overall I gave it two stars because I liked the idea of the story, but wish it was written differently.
This was a great story concept. Girl saves man, they fall in love, deal with some heartbreak and betrayals, he saves her, more conflict, then she saves him again. Couple of vampires, shifters, fae with elemental type powers, good ol fashioned fantasy characters.
My biggest issue with these books (I read the first as well) is the writing style. Inner monologues frequently repeat the same themes and ideas. Dialogue is constantly broken up by multiple paragraphs of inner monologues. It just doesn’t flow and drags on. I frequently found myself skipping multiple sentences and in some cases paragraphs. I almost gave up finishing the first book but was curious how the author closed the plot. When it ended on the cliff hanger I downloaded the second to finish the story. It took a lot of will power to push through.
Overall I gave it two stars because I liked the idea of the story, but wish it was written differently.
September 7, 2024
This wasn't what i was expecting. It was incredibly hyped up and there was a lot of potential but I got very over the constant inner monolog of just restating the plot of the story. Constantly like every other paragraph. I enjoyed the morally grey female but she wasn't THAT morally grey. A lot of potential to be a great story. But the world building and settings weren't all that clear.
July 16, 2024
Absolutely love this second part of the duology. I pretty much cried the whole first half. Emotional devastation. Ryker’s POVs are everything! So many good “my wife” moments, and she’s the morally grey one! Can’t wait for the next duology!
October 19, 2024
I should have just accepted that it wasn't going to be good after slogging through the first one. I'm sure 17-year-old Sasha would have been okay with this duology but 26-year-old Sasha just didn't have the patience... I could have finished the book on the first day but it took me over a week because the idea of picking it up actively put me off reading. Eventually I gave up and just began skimming for dialogue. Not the worst method as I did eventually manage to finish it. I managed to miss about 7,000 re-hashings of how much they loved each other (for no reason I could fathom, insta-love might not be a good enough description for how quickly and seemingly randomly these two fell in love with each other) but couldn't be together, basically "we have the set, we have the clothes may as well make a second one".
I can only say I am grateful to be done reading this. Please spare yourself if you are not a booktok girlie and have slightly higher standards for your romances (i.e. any modicum of substance and backing for a romantic pairing). Thank you for attending my TED talk. Okay bye.
I can only say I am grateful to be done reading this. Please spare yourself if you are not a booktok girlie and have slightly higher standards for your romances (i.e. any modicum of substance and backing for a romantic pairing). Thank you for attending my TED talk. Okay bye.
June 23, 2025
Cosas q no me gustaron:
1: Ryker no se arrastró.
2: Bryn no le dejó a Ry tocarle las alas.
3: Solo hubo UNA mordida😞
Después AMÉ, que lindo libro. Muy cute y romántico. No hay mucho mas que agregar✨️
...
Things I didn't like:
1: Ryker didn't crawl for her.
2: Bryn wouldn't let Ry touch her wings.
3: There was only ONE bite😞
Afterwards, what a lovely book. Very cute and romantic. Nothing more to add✨️
1: Ryker no se arrastró.
2: Bryn no le dejó a Ry tocarle las alas.
3: Solo hubo UNA mordida😞
Después AMÉ, que lindo libro. Muy cute y romántico. No hay mucho mas que agregar✨️
...
Things I didn't like:
1: Ryker didn't crawl for her.
2: Bryn wouldn't let Ry touch her wings.
3: There was only ONE bite😞
Afterwards, what a lovely book. Very cute and romantic. Nothing more to add✨️
November 14, 2025
This series is just really disappointing to me. This book specifically I’d probably rate 2.5 stars actually, but we know we can’t do that here.
The writing style just really isn’t for me. It’s like every plot point is excessively stated, and then reiterated several more times in these constant and excruciatingly long character monologues. I get it, I know what’s happening, please stop telling me outright. I don’t even need you to tell me once! I can guess! I have a brain! I like when you don’t spell it out for me and let me figure it out myself. There’s just too much tell, not enough show. And the characters are really fucking annoying. I don’t know about anyone else but I was getting sick of the mmc moaning and whining constantly about how unfair and fucked up the situation was. WE GET IT!!!! Now what are you gonna do about it???? Christ. Both of them were doing this, and it made me borderline suicidal.
The plot itself was also sus. Why are we rooting for the imperialist regime??? Why are we being told the rebels are the bad guys when they didn’t really do anything?? Okay they bombed a school and killed some innocents, but that’s kind of what rebel militias do when they’re not being listened to by oppressive governments. It’s an unfortunate reality. We still don’t get on our knees for the 1% who are subjugating an entire subsection of the populace!!!! I’ve never read a book where we side with the empire before. I hated it.
The writing style just really isn’t for me. It’s like every plot point is excessively stated, and then reiterated several more times in these constant and excruciatingly long character monologues. I get it, I know what’s happening, please stop telling me outright. I don’t even need you to tell me once! I can guess! I have a brain! I like when you don’t spell it out for me and let me figure it out myself. There’s just too much tell, not enough show. And the characters are really fucking annoying. I don’t know about anyone else but I was getting sick of the mmc moaning and whining constantly about how unfair and fucked up the situation was. WE GET IT!!!! Now what are you gonna do about it???? Christ. Both of them were doing this, and it made me borderline suicidal.
The plot itself was also sus. Why are we rooting for the imperialist regime??? Why are we being told the rebels are the bad guys when they didn’t really do anything?? Okay they bombed a school and killed some innocents, but that’s kind of what rebel militias do when they’re not being listened to by oppressive governments. It’s an unfortunate reality. We still don’t get on our knees for the 1% who are subjugating an entire subsection of the populace!!!! I’ve never read a book where we side with the empire before. I hated it.
June 16, 2024
A Game of Love and Betrayal, the first book in this duology, has been living rent free in my head since I read it. I loved the slow burn, the world setting and the characters - and the cliffhanger it ended on was excruciating. The book made me laugh and cry so much.
A Heart of Desire and Deceit did not disappoint! It picks up right where A Game of Live and Betrayal left off with all the confusion and emotions pouring out of our two main characters. I can’t say much because most would end up being a spoiler, and I wouldn’t want to spoil this.
As always Elayna delivers - she takes our hearts, puts it through an emotional grinder and puts it back together again. What I love about her writing and the Romance genre in general, is we know we will have our happy ending, but it’s getting there that’s interesting - it’s all about the journey, and boy did we go on one!
We constantly hear about shadow daddies, but I’m so glad we now got a shadow mommy we can fawn over, as well! I loved one particular scene, which (again) I won’t spoil, but Chapter 36 named Bloodlust & Death, which starts with “Brynleigh was dead, and death was Brynleigh” was immense and I was totally whooping!
Elayna is one of my auto-buy list for a reason. I like her writing style and her ability to wring emotions out of me.
A Heart of Desire and Deceit did not disappoint! It picks up right where A Game of Live and Betrayal left off with all the confusion and emotions pouring out of our two main characters. I can’t say much because most would end up being a spoiler, and I wouldn’t want to spoil this.
As always Elayna delivers - she takes our hearts, puts it through an emotional grinder and puts it back together again. What I love about her writing and the Romance genre in general, is we know we will have our happy ending, but it’s getting there that’s interesting - it’s all about the journey, and boy did we go on one!
We constantly hear about shadow daddies, but I’m so glad we now got a shadow mommy we can fawn over, as well! I loved one particular scene, which (again) I won’t spoil, but Chapter 36 named Bloodlust & Death, which starts with “Brynleigh was dead, and death was Brynleigh” was immense and I was totally whooping!
Elayna is one of my auto-buy list for a reason. I like her writing style and her ability to wring emotions out of me.
October 18, 2025
5/5 AHHH😩 Heart on fire!!!!!!
3.5/5 Spicy 🌶️ 🤪
“If you’re going to ruin me, do it by my side. Remain with me. Let us work this out, and whatever happens, happens.” He traced her wedding ring. “There’s no one I’d rather be ruined by than you.”
A vampire seeking revenge that turns them from Lovers to enemies then back lovers?? PLEASE my heart felt like it was going to IMPLODE while reading this 2nd book😫
The plot on this one felt just as good as the last book & the romance sparks only got better 💓🤌🏽 very happy with the ending! I am very curious if the 3rd book will be mainly about Rykers sister River as it ends with her running to Nikhail for help👀 TBD!!
3.5/5 Spicy 🌶️ 🤪
“If you’re going to ruin me, do it by my side. Remain with me. Let us work this out, and whatever happens, happens.” He traced her wedding ring. “There’s no one I’d rather be ruined by than you.”
A vampire seeking revenge that turns them from Lovers to enemies then back lovers?? PLEASE my heart felt like it was going to IMPLODE while reading this 2nd book😫
The plot on this one felt just as good as the last book & the romance sparks only got better 💓🤌🏽 very happy with the ending! I am very curious if the 3rd book will be mainly about Rykers sister River as it ends with her running to Nikhail for help👀 TBD!!
July 24, 2024
STAR RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
SPICE RATING: 🌶️🌶️/5
Oh Elayna, you’ve done it again! I started this book and within the first 10% I was crying, that just goes to show how emotionally invested I am in these characters.
After the absolute behemoth cliffhanger at the end of book one, I was so very ready to dive back into this world and read what happened next to these amazing characters.
This story was all high stakes, I was on the edge of my seat constantly, not knowing what was coming next. I adored reading as Brynleigh and Ryker find each other once again after everything that happened in book one. There are so many heart breaking moments, as well as so many sweet tender moments that it made my heart break in the most beautiful way.
Getting to further explore the dystopian world in which this story is set, meet new characters, as well as the Easter eggs from other books set in the same world honestly makes this book even more of a delight to read.
I am soooooo excited for River and Nikhails story, that little teaser was everything and you can bet I am ready for more!
SPICE RATING: 🌶️🌶️/5
Oh Elayna, you’ve done it again! I started this book and within the first 10% I was crying, that just goes to show how emotionally invested I am in these characters.
After the absolute behemoth cliffhanger at the end of book one, I was so very ready to dive back into this world and read what happened next to these amazing characters.
This story was all high stakes, I was on the edge of my seat constantly, not knowing what was coming next. I adored reading as Brynleigh and Ryker find each other once again after everything that happened in book one. There are so many heart breaking moments, as well as so many sweet tender moments that it made my heart break in the most beautiful way.
Getting to further explore the dystopian world in which this story is set, meet new characters, as well as the Easter eggs from other books set in the same world honestly makes this book even more of a delight to read.
I am soooooo excited for River and Nikhails story, that little teaser was everything and you can bet I am ready for more!
January 1, 2025
If you started this series because of that quote circulating bookstagram, just know it took 750 pages to get there. I still loved it
December 24, 2024
Ok icl this was cute but a little boring :)
July 30, 2025
I really liked the second book! 🎧💖 The audiobook was great and now I’m so excited to dive into her other series soon! 📚✨
February 21, 2025
Its... fine.
In the end I just feel incredibly dissatisfied. I nearly gave it one star, but then I remembered I could've just stopped after book one so obviously the story was interesting enough to go to the end.
Here's the thing... The story gives major Hunger Games vibes. Except, Katniss doesn't hate the Capitol and she falls in love with someone from the capitol and everyone in the capitol is really excited about it and then the capitol wins in the end. oh, and the capital really has no personality but we are told they suck a lot.
I was really waiting for a reason to hate on the rebels more... but like, they had a point? And then I thought for sure our FMC was about to go all Katniss Everdeen and save the world, but in the end the representatives are still in power and Brynleigh is now just a part of their privileged few and that's a happy ending?
Decent spice, I guess. IDK, am I the only one that wants a good story with my spice? I mean, basil is fine and all, but I'd rather have it sparingly with some ravioli and garlic bread if you know what I mean.
In the end I just feel incredibly dissatisfied. I nearly gave it one star, but then I remembered I could've just stopped after book one so obviously the story was interesting enough to go to the end.
Here's the thing... The story gives major Hunger Games vibes. Except, Katniss doesn't hate the Capitol and she falls in love with someone from the capitol and everyone in the capitol is really excited about it and then the capitol wins in the end. oh, and the capital really has no personality but we are told they suck a lot.
I was really waiting for a reason to hate on the rebels more... but like, they had a point? And then I thought for sure our FMC was about to go all Katniss Everdeen and save the world, but in the end the representatives are still in power and Brynleigh is now just a part of their privileged few and that's a happy ending?
Decent spice, I guess. IDK, am I the only one that wants a good story with my spice? I mean, basil is fine and all, but I'd rather have it sparingly with some ravioli and garlic bread if you know what I mean.
Read
June 24, 2025DNF at 33%
I had to stop — it was mental torture.
Oh, how I hated MMC Ryker. Hypocritical, egotistical coward. I wish he’d died in the previous book and FMC had found someone better. They tortured her for weeks just because she wanted to kill Ryker, not because she actually did it. Didn’t they see she was manipulated by her maker? And even worse — they sent her back to Jelisette.
I expected more understanding from Ryker when he heard all of FMC’s reasoning — but he completely shut it out, only focusing on HIMSELF, on how FMC wanted to kill HIM. Poor guy. 🥺🥺🥺
Fuck him.
I had to stop — it was mental torture.
Oh, how I hated MMC Ryker. Hypocritical, egotistical coward. I wish he’d died in the previous book and FMC had found someone better. They tortured her for weeks just because she wanted to kill Ryker, not because she actually did it. Didn’t they see she was manipulated by her maker? And even worse — they sent her back to Jelisette.
I expected more understanding from Ryker when he heard all of FMC’s reasoning — but he completely shut it out, only focusing on HIMSELF, on how FMC wanted to kill HIM. Poor guy. 🥺🥺🥺
Fuck him.
“Not only had the older vampire fed her progeny lies and forged her into a weapon of death, but she’d played her. Brynleigh was a victim in this, too.
Ryker knew that, but that knowledge left him with even more questions.
Where did that leave them? How could he forget everything else that had happened? He had to protect his family and the remnants of his heart.”
May 18, 2025
Ryker and Brynleigh go through so much. The way they help each other heal. The trust is broken. Can they rebuild? The mystery and suspense that shrouds their world keeps you turning the pages. And then there’s that one line that will live rent-free in your mind for a while.
"What's happening?"
He met the Death Elf's gaze and smiled. "My wife has arrived."
"What's happening?"
He met the Death Elf's gaze and smiled. "My wife has arrived."
February 20, 2025
3.5 ⭐️. Overall I enjoyed the read. It wasn't overly complex, but I appreciated the main characters working through the outcomes of their choices in book one and finding a path forward to their HEA.
November 5, 2025
Ja weetje toch echt prima boekje zo. Ben ook niet meer gewend aan fantasy series die gewoon een eind hebben, dus erg blij met een cute einde en closure hahaha
June 27, 2024
I could not stop reading this one and finished it in less than 24 hours. The start of this story is devastating, heartbreaking, and complicated but it soon becomes accepting, and understanding. It was just a beautiful journey of fixing a relationship.
Brynleigh betrays Ryker and he has to come to understand why Brynleigh did such a thing. And Brynleigh is full of trauma from her time in jail plus carrying all the guilt but also accept she love Ryker and she deserves to be happy, vengeance would never give that to her.
We see both of them slowly come to terms with each other, decide to try and fix their relationship and slowly we get a second-chance love story. It took time but since they’re working together to bring down the rebels, it works. I just loved reading this one and would highly suggest it to people. This is officially a completed duology.
Brynleigh betrays Ryker and he has to come to understand why Brynleigh did such a thing. And Brynleigh is full of trauma from her time in jail plus carrying all the guilt but also accept she love Ryker and she deserves to be happy, vengeance would never give that to her.
We see both of them slowly come to terms with each other, decide to try and fix their relationship and slowly we get a second-chance love story. It took time but since they’re working together to bring down the rebels, it works. I just loved reading this one and would highly suggest it to people. This is officially a completed duology.
November 18, 2024
SUPER LIGHT SPOILERS: It was underwhelming
Spice - 2/10
The descriptions were minimal, making some scenes and positions hard to visualize. While there’s an attempt at a slow-burn romance, it feels immaturely written and essentially boils down to just making out.
World-Building - 7/10
This is where the frustration sets in: there’s so much effort put into creating the world, yet none of it feels utilized. The main character is “double blessed” but somehow weaker than most others. Her major victories are entirely due to plot armor—there’s no plausible way she should have won. For example, it’s mentioned that meeting the night god in the void is a myth, yet this never happens. Elves are said to see their soulmates, but this wasn’t explored. Vampires are supposed to bond with their loved ones, but this couple doesn’t. So much lore is introduced, but none of it is meaningfully tied to the main characters or their relationship.
Realism - 3/10
The inconsistencies are hard to ignore. She relishes the torture of her enemies yet feels sick at the thought of grotesque scenes? He’s supposedly a military man, but the fight scenes feel like amateur street brawls with zero strategy. And he’s squeamish about her killing? What happened with the dad? The couple’s fight was painfully irritating—it took him multiple chapters to understand why she plotted against him. How could he be so blind to something so obvious? And why wouldn’t he tell his sister about her role in an act that devastated his wife’s life? Even more baffling, how is she still friends with the sister after all that? The lack of realism in character behavior and development is deeply frustrating.
Overall
The book reads as though it was written by a very young or inexperienced author. The world-building, while initially intriguing, falls flat because it’s not fully integrated into the story or characters. It feels more like a surface-level romance novel than an immersive fantasy. The main characters are overshadowed by the supporting cast—everyone is stronger, faster, and better than them. That could be fine, but the story starts by hyping them up, only to reduce them to ordinary and underwhelming figures in the context of the world.
Spice - 2/10
The descriptions were minimal, making some scenes and positions hard to visualize. While there’s an attempt at a slow-burn romance, it feels immaturely written and essentially boils down to just making out.
World-Building - 7/10
This is where the frustration sets in: there’s so much effort put into creating the world, yet none of it feels utilized. The main character is “double blessed” but somehow weaker than most others. Her major victories are entirely due to plot armor—there’s no plausible way she should have won. For example, it’s mentioned that meeting the night god in the void is a myth, yet this never happens. Elves are said to see their soulmates, but this wasn’t explored. Vampires are supposed to bond with their loved ones, but this couple doesn’t. So much lore is introduced, but none of it is meaningfully tied to the main characters or their relationship.
Realism - 3/10
The inconsistencies are hard to ignore. She relishes the torture of her enemies yet feels sick at the thought of grotesque scenes? He’s supposedly a military man, but the fight scenes feel like amateur street brawls with zero strategy. And he’s squeamish about her killing? What happened with the dad? The couple’s fight was painfully irritating—it took him multiple chapters to understand why she plotted against him. How could he be so blind to something so obvious? And why wouldn’t he tell his sister about her role in an act that devastated his wife’s life? Even more baffling, how is she still friends with the sister after all that? The lack of realism in character behavior and development is deeply frustrating.
Overall
The book reads as though it was written by a very young or inexperienced author. The world-building, while initially intriguing, falls flat because it’s not fully integrated into the story or characters. It feels more like a surface-level romance novel than an immersive fantasy. The main characters are overshadowed by the supporting cast—everyone is stronger, faster, and better than them. That could be fine, but the story starts by hyping them up, only to reduce them to ordinary and underwhelming figures in the context of the world.
July 15, 2024
✨𝓐𝓡𝓒 𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀✨
📖: A Heart of Desire and Deceit (The Choosing Chronicles #2)
💻: Release Date: July 15, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.💫
Three agonizing weeks have passed following the events of the Choosing and Brynleigh’s betrayal is exposed. Despite the lies and hurt, both Brynleigh and Ryker remain hopelessly drawn to each other. Can a relationship so broken ever be repaired?
An unexpected deal for Brynleigh in exchange for her cooperation forces them to conspire against common enemies while facing the consequences of their choices. Will love be enough to overcome all?
Tropes:
💕 Second chance romance
🧛🏻♀️ Morally grey vampire FMC
🧚 Alpha male fae MMC
⚖️ Political unrest
⛔️ Touch her/him & 💀
🔥 He’ll burn the world for her
🌶️: moderate
"𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰 𝘨𝘰𝘥𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦, 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦. 𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶."
"𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴, 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯."
This book had me clutching my heart from the very beginning! In the first book, Brynleigh and Ryker broke down each other’s walls, allowing themselves to be vulnerable and falling deeply in love. Now, the intentional and unintentional betrayals on both sides divide them.
Elayna beautifully showcases how they process the hurt and anguish and slowly reconcile difficult truths with their new reality. Ryker’s emotional journey in this story is multifold as he shoulders concern for his family and the danger of Brynleigh’s deal. Seeking forgiveness and redemption, Brynleigh is determined to be better and to help build a better future. And if she can help it, that future includes Ryker.
With a love that burns like an inferno, will these two lost and broken souls find a way to forgive and forge something stronger?
A Heart of Desire and Deceit is a thrilling and heartfelt conclusion to Brynleigh and Ryker’s duet. I cannot wait for the next story in this series!
Huge thanks to the author for the ARC opportunity! This is my honest and voluntary review.
📖: A Heart of Desire and Deceit (The Choosing Chronicles #2)
💻: Release Date: July 15, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.💫
Three agonizing weeks have passed following the events of the Choosing and Brynleigh’s betrayal is exposed. Despite the lies and hurt, both Brynleigh and Ryker remain hopelessly drawn to each other. Can a relationship so broken ever be repaired?
An unexpected deal for Brynleigh in exchange for her cooperation forces them to conspire against common enemies while facing the consequences of their choices. Will love be enough to overcome all?
Tropes:
💕 Second chance romance
🧛🏻♀️ Morally grey vampire FMC
🧚 Alpha male fae MMC
⚖️ Political unrest
⛔️ Touch her/him & 💀
🔥 He’ll burn the world for her
🌶️: moderate
"𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰 𝘨𝘰𝘥𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦, 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦. 𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶."
"𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴, 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯."
This book had me clutching my heart from the very beginning! In the first book, Brynleigh and Ryker broke down each other’s walls, allowing themselves to be vulnerable and falling deeply in love. Now, the intentional and unintentional betrayals on both sides divide them.
Elayna beautifully showcases how they process the hurt and anguish and slowly reconcile difficult truths with their new reality. Ryker’s emotional journey in this story is multifold as he shoulders concern for his family and the danger of Brynleigh’s deal. Seeking forgiveness and redemption, Brynleigh is determined to be better and to help build a better future. And if she can help it, that future includes Ryker.
With a love that burns like an inferno, will these two lost and broken souls find a way to forgive and forge something stronger?
A Heart of Desire and Deceit is a thrilling and heartfelt conclusion to Brynleigh and Ryker’s duet. I cannot wait for the next story in this series!
Huge thanks to the author for the ARC opportunity! This is my honest and voluntary review.
July 29, 2024
This one didn't grip me as much as the first so it took me a little longer to read. However. It was a good continuation to the first book picking up immediately where the first one finished. The plot felt a little weaker in this one though and my brain picked up more repetition and spelling/editing mistakes.
It felt a little rushed but was still a good story.
It felt a little rushed but was still a good story.
October 15, 2024
Lo intente, pero no lo pude terminar.
La construcción de mundo es pobre; los personajes son incoherentes; nunca entendí por qué o cómo los protagonistas se enamoraron; ella es un monstruo porque mata criminales, pero él es un ejemplo de virtud a pesar de ser militar y haber encubierto la masacre que causó su hermana 👌.
La construcción de mundo es pobre; los personajes son incoherentes; nunca entendí por qué o cómo los protagonistas se enamoraron; ella es un monstruo porque mata criminales, pero él es un ejemplo de virtud a pesar de ser militar y haber encubierto la masacre que causó su hermana 👌.
July 7, 2025
Sigh. Was it bad? No. Did I expect more? Yes. It was just okay. Ryker is a boring character. Bryn is dope, I enjoyed her development a lot. It was cheesy/corny and I was hopeful to be in love with the story, but I wasn’t. Worth a read/listen if you have no expectations but I won’t be re-reading it.
April 16, 2025
I side with the rebels. Wtf did I just read— I felt like this would’ve been sooo much better if it was about fighting the power. But no. It was about stomping on resistance and allowing a fascist government to continue being fascist.
February 15, 2025
I can't lie, I'll buy the next one and enjoy it, even though I don't want to
Displaying 1 - 30 of 594 reviews