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The Alayan Series #2
White Rose Rising
A war that threatens to destroy them all. An underground society trying to fight back. Two impossible love stories.
Emma is stumbling through etiquette lessons and trying to behave like a lady at dinner parties and balls, when she would feel much more comfortable haggling at foreign markets with a cutlass at her hip. Will she ever feel like the woman she was born to be? And then there’s her heartache over the absence of a certain Hemmish Naval Officer. Will she ever see him again?
Lady Olenn is trying to make Emma feel at home, but danger seems to have followed her there. Keeping Emma safe while protecting her own heart from the pirate captain who abandoned and betrayed her feels like an impossible task. Captain Marchand is doing everything in his power to track down the elusive Alayan, but first he has to make sure the girl he raised is safe. Which means facing the only woman he’s ever loved, who is destined to hate him forever.
When the threat to the entire Alayan coast becomes personal, each of them must decide who they can trust and which battles they’re willing to fight. And hope they all survive in the end.
White Rose Rising is the epic sequel to Emerald of the Sea, and is the second book in The Alayan Series.
Emma is stumbling through etiquette lessons and trying to behave like a lady at dinner parties and balls, when she would feel much more comfortable haggling at foreign markets with a cutlass at her hip. Will she ever feel like the woman she was born to be? And then there’s her heartache over the absence of a certain Hemmish Naval Officer. Will she ever see him again?
Lady Olenn is trying to make Emma feel at home, but danger seems to have followed her there. Keeping Emma safe while protecting her own heart from the pirate captain who abandoned and betrayed her feels like an impossible task. Captain Marchand is doing everything in his power to track down the elusive Alayan, but first he has to make sure the girl he raised is safe. Which means facing the only woman he’s ever loved, who is destined to hate him forever.
When the threat to the entire Alayan coast becomes personal, each of them must decide who they can trust and which battles they’re willing to fight. And hope they all survive in the end.
White Rose Rising is the epic sequel to Emerald of the Sea, and is the second book in The Alayan Series.
538 pages, ebook
Published August 30, 2024
67 people are currently reading
435 people want to read
About the author
Kimberly Pearl
6 books92 followersKimberly grew up in Flagstaff, Arizona and Wildwood, Missouri, the baby of seven children in a fun-loving and creative family. She got her first bachelor’s in Liberal Arts with a minor in Spanish at Utah State University, and returned for a second bachelor’s in Communicative Disorders. She loves ancient history, old stuff, and all things speech and language. She loves hiking in the woods and singing at the top of her lungs while doing the dishes, and hopes to someday become the old lady in the cottage who may or may not be a witch. She also loves to write.
Kimberly lives in Utah with her husband, Rob, their four lively kids, and two questionable cats.
Kimberly lives in Utah with her husband, Rob, their four lively kids, and two questionable cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
September 1, 2024
*Contains Spoilers*
I.WANT.MORE. Nay. I.NEED.MORE. I did not want this book to end! Book one completely hooked me on the plot and all the characters. Book two reeled me right back in.
We get more from Maggie and Hugo - THANK GOODNESS. Their story is swoony beyond my wildest dreams. Everything about their tragic young love blossoming into the love story we needed was absolute perfection.
Charlie Charlie Charlie. Where do I even begin?! The absolute gut wrenching confusion we feel when he is reintroduced in book two - are you kidding me!! Loved that little twist but also loved that we weren’t stuck in it for too long, because Emma all the way. I mean come on. So perfect.
Aside from the lovely romance - the action was kicked up a notch and we got to see Emma’s personality really shine. I love this heroine Kimberly has created! She’s so real, believable, and fun.
White Rose Rising will not disappoint. It has everything we need from a pirate romantasy & more. You will devour this book just like we all did with book one!
Thank you Kimberly for the ARC - absolutely adored this book 🤍
I.WANT.MORE. Nay. I.NEED.MORE. I did not want this book to end! Book one completely hooked me on the plot and all the characters. Book two reeled me right back in.
We get more from Maggie and Hugo - THANK GOODNESS. Their story is swoony beyond my wildest dreams. Everything about their tragic young love blossoming into the love story we needed was absolute perfection.
Charlie Charlie Charlie. Where do I even begin?! The absolute gut wrenching confusion we feel when he is reintroduced in book two - are you kidding me!! Loved that little twist but also loved that we weren’t stuck in it for too long, because Emma all the way. I mean come on. So perfect.
Aside from the lovely romance - the action was kicked up a notch and we got to see Emma’s personality really shine. I love this heroine Kimberly has created! She’s so real, believable, and fun.
White Rose Rising will not disappoint. It has everything we need from a pirate romantasy & more. You will devour this book just like we all did with book one!
Thank you Kimberly for the ARC - absolutely adored this book 🤍
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2025
I really enjoyed Emerald of the Sea, the first installment in this duology, earlier this year. But White Rose Rising, the followup and culmination of the story, blew me away. I loved everything about this book. The writing was fantastic. The pacing was tight yet nuanced, balancing relationship tension beautifully against incredibly well crafted action sequences. The characters were wonderfully fleshed out and experienced a lot of growth over the course of the story. And I loved the mix of Regency and pirate vibes in a no-magic fantasy setting. While it’s a long book, at 560 pages, it was never boring.
In this book we have a third perspective added to the two we flipped between in Emerald of the Sea: Emma and Maggie. The identity of this third perspective would be a spoiler for that first installment in the series, but suffice it to say that it's an addition I very much enjoyed. Some of the flashbacks—especially of the things Maggie endured—were difficult to stomach. Not because they were graphic, but because Pearl did a brilliant job making her character sympathetic enough that I could imagine the pain of being in her place.
I can’t discuss much more about the characters or many of the plot points without spoiling the first book in the duology. Here’s what I can say. The action sequences are plentiful, compelling, and well described without getting either boggy or vague with the details. There is lots of relationship drama in this book, and not just between romantic interests. Though the romance was fantastic. We have two romances here, one of which is a hard-fought second chance romance, on the heels of a decades’ worth of heartache. It was beautifully portrayed. One of the subtle themes here is reconciliation, and the unwavering power of love. Whether for a friend or a daughter or the love of your life, true love endures. That love is beautifully, heartachingly portrayed.
I adored White Rose Rising, and the series as a whole. I wasn’t sure going into this book if there would be another installment after this one, but now I hope there won’t be. The story ended on such a lovely, wholesome, satisfying note. It’s one of those rare happily ever afters that feels complete without coming across as too easily won. If you’re looking for a clean, no-magic fantasy that has both Regency and piracy vibes, compelling characters, phenomenal pacing, unexpected twists, two lovely romances, and a lot of truly fantastic action sequences, I can’t recommend this duology highly enough!
In this book we have a third perspective added to the two we flipped between in Emerald of the Sea: Emma and Maggie. The identity of this third perspective would be a spoiler for that first installment in the series, but suffice it to say that it's an addition I very much enjoyed. Some of the flashbacks—especially of the things Maggie endured—were difficult to stomach. Not because they were graphic, but because Pearl did a brilliant job making her character sympathetic enough that I could imagine the pain of being in her place.
I can’t discuss much more about the characters or many of the plot points without spoiling the first book in the duology. Here’s what I can say. The action sequences are plentiful, compelling, and well described without getting either boggy or vague with the details. There is lots of relationship drama in this book, and not just between romantic interests. Though the romance was fantastic. We have two romances here, one of which is a hard-fought second chance romance, on the heels of a decades’ worth of heartache. It was beautifully portrayed. One of the subtle themes here is reconciliation, and the unwavering power of love. Whether for a friend or a daughter or the love of your life, true love endures. That love is beautifully, heartachingly portrayed.
I adored White Rose Rising, and the series as a whole. I wasn’t sure going into this book if there would be another installment after this one, but now I hope there won’t be. The story ended on such a lovely, wholesome, satisfying note. It’s one of those rare happily ever afters that feels complete without coming across as too easily won. If you’re looking for a clean, no-magic fantasy that has both Regency and piracy vibes, compelling characters, phenomenal pacing, unexpected twists, two lovely romances, and a lot of truly fantastic action sequences, I can’t recommend this duology highly enough!
August 29, 2024
4.5!! I am not normally much of a YA reader, regency romance, or clean romance reader these days. However, the compelling characters, the adventure, and world building really pulled me into this series and book. This story is like a YA mash-up of pirates of the Caribbean, bridgerton, and knives out. 😅 If you like regency romance, POTC, and YA romantasy this is definitely the book for you.
Kimberly has a way of evoking a lot of emotion with her writing and there were moments where my heart ached and tears ran down my face cause I could viscerally feel just what the characters were feeling. Other moments I was on the edge of my seat and couldn’t read fast enough to figure out would happen next. I loved having a more mature romance story line as well as a young/first love story line all intertwined in one novel. I personally liked the action packed last 15% or so of the book best but fans of regency and high society fiction would likely love the tense middle section best. There truly is a little something for everyone in this book. ❤️
There are strong themes of self-discovery, forgiveness, acceptance of differences, and resilience.
Finally, to Kimberly, it was a privilege being one of your ARC readers and I am so proud to see how much your writing has grown. You inspire me!
Kimberly has a way of evoking a lot of emotion with her writing and there were moments where my heart ached and tears ran down my face cause I could viscerally feel just what the characters were feeling. Other moments I was on the edge of my seat and couldn’t read fast enough to figure out would happen next. I loved having a more mature romance story line as well as a young/first love story line all intertwined in one novel. I personally liked the action packed last 15% or so of the book best but fans of regency and high society fiction would likely love the tense middle section best. There truly is a little something for everyone in this book. ❤️
There are strong themes of self-discovery, forgiveness, acceptance of differences, and resilience.
Finally, to Kimberly, it was a privilege being one of your ARC readers and I am so proud to see how much your writing has grown. You inspire me!
August 27, 2024
*5 Stars*
What an adventure! Pirates, noble society, love that endures decades of separation, and a threat to the life and freedom of the nations surrounding the Alayan Sea!
Emerald of the Sea (book 1 in this series) is one of my favorite books that I’ve read this year, so I was VERY excited to get my hands on White Rose Rising. It did NOT disappoint! The action, adventure, multiple points of view, unique plot, and beautiful characters make for a truly memorable and immersive story.
Kimberly does a beautiful job of weaving three points of view and a few flashbacks into a captivating and thrilling story. The plot is full of action and intrigue way beyond the romance, and the story is well-written. BUT the romances are sweet, swoony, yet also realistic. The characters are incredible! Hugo and Charlie are strong men and fierce fighters but also chivalrous, compassionate, and show emotion. Maggie and Emma are strong and independent women who also express their emotions and find comfort and a sense of equal partnership with Hugo and Charlie. Both couples balance each other so well. Maggie’s mama point of view also tugged on my mama heart.
Two things that would have made White Rose Rising even better in my opinion - if some of the story had also been written from Charlie’s point of view and a few more chapters at the end! I found myself wanting a few more details about how everything wrapped up.
White Rose Rising is without a doubt in my top 5 books read this year, and I’ve read almost 70 books so far! This book is absolutely worth your time!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
What an adventure! Pirates, noble society, love that endures decades of separation, and a threat to the life and freedom of the nations surrounding the Alayan Sea!
Emerald of the Sea (book 1 in this series) is one of my favorite books that I’ve read this year, so I was VERY excited to get my hands on White Rose Rising. It did NOT disappoint! The action, adventure, multiple points of view, unique plot, and beautiful characters make for a truly memorable and immersive story.
Kimberly does a beautiful job of weaving three points of view and a few flashbacks into a captivating and thrilling story. The plot is full of action and intrigue way beyond the romance, and the story is well-written. BUT the romances are sweet, swoony, yet also realistic. The characters are incredible! Hugo and Charlie are strong men and fierce fighters but also chivalrous, compassionate, and show emotion. Maggie and Emma are strong and independent women who also express their emotions and find comfort and a sense of equal partnership with Hugo and Charlie. Both couples balance each other so well. Maggie’s mama point of view also tugged on my mama heart.
Two things that would have made White Rose Rising even better in my opinion - if some of the story had also been written from Charlie’s point of view and a few more chapters at the end! I found myself wanting a few more details about how everything wrapped up.
White Rose Rising is without a doubt in my top 5 books read this year, and I’ve read almost 70 books so far! This book is absolutely worth your time!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 19, 2024
Adventure ✔️ Pirates ✔️ Not 1 but 2 Love stories ✔️ Mystery ✔️ swooney moments ✔️
I mean, what more can a person want!? There's not a lot out there that I like more than a Clean, Adventurous, Pirate Romance! And Kimberly DEEEEEEEELIVERED! Man oh Man... how I was left feeling after the first book, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one! And once I started reading I couldn't stop! I was sucked into Emma, Maggie and Hugo's story from the get-go.
I can't recommend this series enough and wish there was more out there like them. Definitely a one of kind story you don't often get!
Thank you Kimberly for writing such an incredible story!!!
I mean, what more can a person want!? There's not a lot out there that I like more than a Clean, Adventurous, Pirate Romance! And Kimberly DEEEEEEEELIVERED! Man oh Man... how I was left feeling after the first book, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one! And once I started reading I couldn't stop! I was sucked into Emma, Maggie and Hugo's story from the get-go.
I can't recommend this series enough and wish there was more out there like them. Definitely a one of kind story you don't often get!
Thank you Kimberly for writing such an incredible story!!!
June 28, 2024
I’ve waited very impatiently for this second book and it was worth it. There is something incredible about the way Kimberly writes that makes it extremely difficult to stop, put it down, or think about anything else! When books pull me in this much and keeps me going with chills and a racing heart, I’m impressed. Often, the second book to something incredible can let us down, but this one finished these character’s stories so well. I’m a huge fan!
July 9, 2024
Wow!! A great sequel to the last exciting pirate adventure! I loved getting to know Emma’s mom better in this one, and to follow not just one, but two love stories all the way through. I loved the different POVs, and I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen next with so many twists and turns. Holding out for a third one🤞🏼🤞🏼
August 23, 2024
This was just as good as the first book Emerald of the Sea! I adore this series!
First off, I love the romance between Hugo and Maggie. In the first book, you get to see the start of their relationship until their status in society tore them apart. In this one, you get to watch it blossom and grow into something stronger and more mature. I loved being able to read about a romance that has grown over the decades.
Then there is the mother daughter relationship between Emma and Maggie! This book starts with them finally reuniting after 12 years. I love how slowly they learn to trust and love each other. It is such a sweet mother daughter relationship that I loved!
The second romance in this book is between Charlie and Emma who were separated at the end of the last book. This one was full of ups and downs, but I loved it all the same.
Overall I love the mix of YA and adult romance in this book! I love the action and adventure. I loved the house party and all the twists and turns. This was a book that I couldn’t stop thinking about when I wasn’t reading it. I loved every moment of this book! What an action packed, romantic adventure!
This book touched on domestic abuse and mental illness. It also had a bit of war time violence and death. It was a closed door romance with plenty of passion and swoon worthy moments.
First off, I love the romance between Hugo and Maggie. In the first book, you get to see the start of their relationship until their status in society tore them apart. In this one, you get to watch it blossom and grow into something stronger and more mature. I loved being able to read about a romance that has grown over the decades.
Then there is the mother daughter relationship between Emma and Maggie! This book starts with them finally reuniting after 12 years. I love how slowly they learn to trust and love each other. It is such a sweet mother daughter relationship that I loved!
The second romance in this book is between Charlie and Emma who were separated at the end of the last book. This one was full of ups and downs, but I loved it all the same.
Overall I love the mix of YA and adult romance in this book! I love the action and adventure. I loved the house party and all the twists and turns. This was a book that I couldn’t stop thinking about when I wasn’t reading it. I loved every moment of this book! What an action packed, romantic adventure!
This book touched on domestic abuse and mental illness. It also had a bit of war time violence and death. It was a closed door romance with plenty of passion and swoon worthy moments.
July 31, 2025
If I have to read another four straight paragraphs of rhetorical questions in a character’s mind, I will throw my kindle, on which this book was free under Kindle Unlimited. I needed something quick, clean, and easy, and I got that. But I was kinda surprised at just how … undeveloped some aspects were. For example, let’s consider the villain, or should I say the AnyVillain: distant, wounded, mysterious, and really good at losing in the end. Who the heck was this guy??? I spent the whole series expecting the villain to be Emma’s awful dad, which would have led to a much more satisfying and relevant ending. But alas, it’s not my book and, did I mention… it was free and got me one step closer to my yearly reading goal.
Let’s be honest though, the most enjoyable part of this experience was not only the precious banter, truly adorable ending, and gorgeous found family / true family, but also the delightful experience of guessing what would happen and being either right or more creative than the author. Again !!! The Alayan could’ve been Gaird or Lord Olenn !!!! Or literally anyone relevant to the story at all!!! Skarla could’ve ended up with whoever that one dude was !!! Or she could’ve been Circle and seeking revenge against Cloyze !!! Something to disrupt the monotony of Emma’s doubt about Charlie and Maggie’s anxiety about everyone’s wellbeing. Oh yeah and the pining.
Let’s be honest though, the most enjoyable part of this experience was not only the precious banter, truly adorable ending, and gorgeous found family / true family, but also the delightful experience of guessing what would happen and being either right or more creative than the author. Again !!! The Alayan could’ve been Gaird or Lord Olenn !!!! Or literally anyone relevant to the story at all!!! Skarla could’ve ended up with whoever that one dude was !!! Or she could’ve been Circle and seeking revenge against Cloyze !!! Something to disrupt the monotony of Emma’s doubt about Charlie and Maggie’s anxiety about everyone’s wellbeing. Oh yeah and the pining.
August 25, 2024
Guys this book is amazing. You will feel every emotion. There’s action, there’s angst, there’s romance, there’s adventure. Oh my stars, I am so glad that I read this book. It is a perfect wrap up to the first one.
This story continues to follow Emma and Maggie and I don’t want to say too much because I don’t want to give anything away. Especially if you haven’t read the first. If you haven’t, immediately remedy that right now!
I’m going to throw some reactions below that I had during my my reading that I just had to write down:
-Oh my gosh, my heart ACHES for Maggie. My heart aches for Hugo.
-Alright, there was a point I literally wanted to throw my kindle across the room. I have that strong of emotions about this book!
-Ohh the angst in this book, the fire. It’s amazing.
-I laughed out loud on some parts.
-Skarla and Oliver need their story now.
I’m just gonna show you this dedication right here because it should make you want to immediately read this:
“To the wild girls, the bold girls who the world tried to tame. And to the quiet ones who the world didn't realize were strong all along.”
CW: *may contain minor spoilers*
this is a closed door book (kisses only), domestic abuse (mentioned happening in past), there is violence. Mentions of mental illness.
Thank you to the author for allowing me to read this. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This story continues to follow Emma and Maggie and I don’t want to say too much because I don’t want to give anything away. Especially if you haven’t read the first. If you haven’t, immediately remedy that right now!
I’m going to throw some reactions below that I had during my my reading that I just had to write down:
-Oh my gosh, my heart ACHES for Maggie. My heart aches for Hugo.
-Alright, there was a point I literally wanted to throw my kindle across the room. I have that strong of emotions about this book!
-Ohh the angst in this book, the fire. It’s amazing.
-I laughed out loud on some parts.
-Skarla and Oliver need their story now.
I’m just gonna show you this dedication right here because it should make you want to immediately read this:
“To the wild girls, the bold girls who the world tried to tame. And to the quiet ones who the world didn't realize were strong all along.”
CW: *may contain minor spoilers*
this is a closed door book (kisses only), domestic abuse (mentioned happening in past), there is violence. Mentions of mental illness.
Thank you to the author for allowing me to read this. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 5, 2024
After reading Emerald of the Sea, I was so excited and anxious to get my hands on White Rose Rising. And let me tell you, this book did not disappoint! The book far exceeded my expectations. I couldn't put it down - sorry, family! Every scene had me captivated. I love how the author describes each characters feelings perfectly. They are each so personable and relatable.
So many books are easy to figure out what was about to happen, but I honestly had no idea who was going to be part of the Circle. It kept me on the edge of my seat. The love scenes gave me butterflies. The heartbreaks and struggles of the book tugged on my heart strings. The way they fought for love and family made me want to squeeze and love my family harder.
And that ending was so incredibly beautiful! I do wish it had told me more about the war. I felt like that was a little bit of a loose end. But overall, I absolutely loved this book and will be recommending it to friends and family. It was a great ending to a lovely series.
So many books are easy to figure out what was about to happen, but I honestly had no idea who was going to be part of the Circle. It kept me on the edge of my seat. The love scenes gave me butterflies. The heartbreaks and struggles of the book tugged on my heart strings. The way they fought for love and family made me want to squeeze and love my family harder.
And that ending was so incredibly beautiful! I do wish it had told me more about the war. I felt like that was a little bit of a loose end. But overall, I absolutely loved this book and will be recommending it to friends and family. It was a great ending to a lovely series.
August 22, 2024
An exciting conclusion to two beautiful love stories!!!
Adult Mags and Hugo was not something I was expecting but they stole my heart with so many fun and cheeky moments.
Seeing Emma comes to terms with her life , what it should have been and what she wanted is such a beautiful journey to go on.
Must read if you like sweet and swoons romances, pirate adventures, secret societies and archery hahaha
I believe the author intends to continue this series but from the POV of different characters. So don’t miss out on this book if you usually wait for a series to be finished before reading. This book does not end with any cliffhangers.
Adult Mags and Hugo was not something I was expecting but they stole my heart with so many fun and cheeky moments.
Seeing Emma comes to terms with her life , what it should have been and what she wanted is such a beautiful journey to go on.
Must read if you like sweet and swoons romances, pirate adventures, secret societies and archery hahaha
I believe the author intends to continue this series but from the POV of different characters. So don’t miss out on this book if you usually wait for a series to be finished before reading. This book does not end with any cliffhangers.
August 24, 2024
A swashbuckling good read! This was a pretty fast-paced adventure, with a little something for everyone. House parties and dancing, check. Pirates and swordplay, check. Both youthful and middle-aged romances, check. Secret agents, check.
Especially toward the end, there's a fairly high body count and a lot of play-by-play fighting descriptions, which I could do without. But overall this was an excellent adventure.
Especially toward the end, there's a fairly high body count and a lot of play-by-play fighting descriptions, which I could do without. But overall this was an excellent adventure.
July 27, 2024
Oh this book!!
Kimberly has such a way with descriptive words and putting a new spin and perspective on things you think about often, but not enough all at the same time. The way she words their relationships, helps them grow, fight and love is incredible and I LOVE reading them.
Emma is a fighter. I’m SO happy to have been able to read this and love her like I do!
I also loved getting to see her and her mom’s relationship blossom and grow so much, there’s something there that everyone needs in life, and deserves even if that hasn’t been their experience yet.
Romance, battles, anxiety, love, anger, sadness, all rolled into one story, it’s one you won’t regret!
Kimberly has such a way with descriptive words and putting a new spin and perspective on things you think about often, but not enough all at the same time. The way she words their relationships, helps them grow, fight and love is incredible and I LOVE reading them.
Emma is a fighter. I’m SO happy to have been able to read this and love her like I do!
I also loved getting to see her and her mom’s relationship blossom and grow so much, there’s something there that everyone needs in life, and deserves even if that hasn’t been their experience yet.
Romance, battles, anxiety, love, anger, sadness, all rolled into one story, it’s one you won’t regret!
August 21, 2024
This book was an excellent follow-up to the first. It was on the long side, but I enjoyed every minute of the read. The story excellently captured the characters' emotions and wove the past and present together in a way that felt like I was there with the characters.
November 2, 2024
4.5 rounded up
This one was very long and I was worried it was leading up to becoming a trilogy but it ended satisfyingly and I think the way it got there was pretty good. Some things felt a little convenient but I felt like it was done well enough.
This one was very long and I was worried it was leading up to becoming a trilogy but it ended satisfyingly and I think the way it got there was pretty good. Some things felt a little convenient but I felt like it was done well enough.
January 7, 2025
I adored book 1, but sadly this one fell flat for me. I missed the adventure and the setting of book 1.
December 1, 2025
I enjoyed book one a lot more but I still loved this!
If you’re in the mood for a clean pirate fantasy with romance series, these are the books for you! Definitely will be recommending these.
If you’re in the mood for a clean pirate fantasy with romance series, these are the books for you! Definitely will be recommending these.
November 2, 2024
4.5 🌟 So so good.
January 8, 2025
Finally! Finally White Rose Rising is here! There were two books last year that blew me away and consumed my every thought: The Assassin Bride and Emerald of the Sea. Both of those books were epic and they both had me desperately, frantically waiting for the next book to release. I am one very happy camper since both are now out in the world.
Emerald of the Sea was so engrossing, and surprising, and mind blowing. I was so invested in that story and the characters, the pages were turning faster and faster as I gobbled up every line. And just when I thought everything was coming up roses, Kimberly pulled the rug right out from under me and ended the book! I was left gaping and shocked and utterly devastated that I had to wait for more of Hugo, Mags, Emerald, and Charlie. The way she crafted the tale was magnificent. You never knew what to expect.
White Rose Rising picks up right where we left off in EotS. So if you haven’t read it, stop reading this review now! Because I want to talk about how amazing this story was and don’t want to ruin your reading experience if you plan to read Emerald.
When the confusing puzzle started to take shape at the end of book 1 questions were being answered and shocking revelations were made. Emerald discovered the truth about her family and life she had been living. And that life would take her away from Charlie. *cue the agony and torture* And she still doesn’t know what happened to the rest of her sea faring mates.
Danger is lurking, and Emerald is still in its crosshairs. Where is Captain Marchand? Will she ever see Charlie again?
I loved the reunion between Hugo and Emma. Talk about melt your heart! So sweet and tender and honest. The love those two share is nothing short of amazing.
There is suspense and mystery. Battles and balls. Forgiveness and hope. And double the romance!
If you ever wanted to try fantasy this series is a great place to start. High seas adventure, regency-esque feel, betrayal, secret society out to thwart the bad guys, and lots of sweet romance.
Thank you Kimberly for my advanced copy, all opinions are my own.
Emerald of the Sea was so engrossing, and surprising, and mind blowing. I was so invested in that story and the characters, the pages were turning faster and faster as I gobbled up every line. And just when I thought everything was coming up roses, Kimberly pulled the rug right out from under me and ended the book! I was left gaping and shocked and utterly devastated that I had to wait for more of Hugo, Mags, Emerald, and Charlie. The way she crafted the tale was magnificent. You never knew what to expect.
White Rose Rising picks up right where we left off in EotS. So if you haven’t read it, stop reading this review now! Because I want to talk about how amazing this story was and don’t want to ruin your reading experience if you plan to read Emerald.
When the confusing puzzle started to take shape at the end of book 1 questions were being answered and shocking revelations were made. Emerald discovered the truth about her family and life she had been living. And that life would take her away from Charlie. *cue the agony and torture* And she still doesn’t know what happened to the rest of her sea faring mates.
Danger is lurking, and Emerald is still in its crosshairs. Where is Captain Marchand? Will she ever see Charlie again?
I loved the reunion between Hugo and Emma. Talk about melt your heart! So sweet and tender and honest. The love those two share is nothing short of amazing.
There is suspense and mystery. Battles and balls. Forgiveness and hope. And double the romance!
If you ever wanted to try fantasy this series is a great place to start. High seas adventure, regency-esque feel, betrayal, secret society out to thwart the bad guys, and lots of sweet romance.
Thank you Kimberly for my advanced copy, all opinions are my own.
September 20, 2024
This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year! With the way the first book ended, I came in with extremely high expectations.
While there was much to love here, a lot of the book just fell flat for me 😬 one of my biggest issues was the pacing. The first half of the book was so slow (loved the flashbacks, but ultimately, that first half could've easily been taken care of with one conversation between Maggie and Hugo and it would've done wonders for the story....instead they put off talking to each other and fixing their relationship until nearly 75% of the way into the book and spent all that time acting like teenagers instead of the mature 40ish year old adults they were).
While I also loved adding Hugo's perspective to the story, where the heck were the chapters?! We were constantly jumping from one character's point of view to another's, which made it extremely difficult to keep straight where one chapter ended and the next one began (which, now that I think about it, could've been adding to the pacing issues I felt like this book had).
The second half of the story definitely picked up for me and I was glad that everyone got there happily ever after.
I received an early copy from the author; all thoughts are my own.
While there was much to love here, a lot of the book just fell flat for me 😬 one of my biggest issues was the pacing. The first half of the book was so slow (loved the flashbacks, but ultimately, that first half could've easily been taken care of with one conversation between Maggie and Hugo and it would've done wonders for the story....instead they put off talking to each other and fixing their relationship until nearly 75% of the way into the book and spent all that time acting like teenagers instead of the mature 40ish year old adults they were).
While I also loved adding Hugo's perspective to the story, where the heck were the chapters?! We were constantly jumping from one character's point of view to another's, which made it extremely difficult to keep straight where one chapter ended and the next one began (which, now that I think about it, could've been adding to the pacing issues I felt like this book had).
The second half of the story definitely picked up for me and I was glad that everyone got there happily ever after.
I received an early copy from the author; all thoughts are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2024
I like the story and the idea. I think it could have been written differently. When there are multiple character perspectives/narratives it does not leave the reader much to discover on there own. The story almost just told too much without letting the reader discover something that the characters in the story have not yet discovered. I do think the story would make a good TV series or film. I just don't like the way it was written. It was missing something. I almost would have removed the parent backstory and just had the narratives of Emma and Charlie. However it is a clean read.
November 14, 2024
It’s really hard to make the second book as good as the first, but this was just as good as book one. Kimberly Pearl is one of the most gifted writers I’ve ever read and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!
August 26, 2025
Soooo good! Very different from the last book for the most part, but I loved it! The epilogue made me so happy!
September 18, 2024
I feel like it dragged on a bit. I loved the first book in this series, and there were some really good parts in this book. Just fell a little flat for me.
March 18, 2025
This is a hard book for me to rate. On one hand, I enjoyed this book about as much as one person can enjoy a book. On the other hand, there are some things in the story itself that I wish had been a little different...
PROS:
Let me start by saying I had the time of my life reading this duology. I couldn’t put it down and sacrificed a lot of sleep to finish it this fast. The characters were compelling and the romances, though squeaky-clean, were so, so swoon-worthy!
I read this in about a week during which I was vacationing with my roommate, Kate, in Orlando. We stayed with her grandparents and went to four different amusement parks. Despite the busy schedule, I carved out time to read these books. As one does, I started casually remarking to my roommate, Kate, on how much I love them. Pretty soon, she was asking me to explain the whole plot to her, and I spent much of my time in theme park lines updating her on the story. She got so invested, and we reverted to high school girls, squealing and giggling over these characters and their stories/relationships. Not many books are captivating enough to be shared like hot gossip in theme park lines. This one was. I think, when it comes to engagement and story-telling, that says a lot.
The climax of Maggie and Hugo’s strife, where everything was brought out into the open, and we finally got what we had been waiting for, was impeccable. Maggie and Hugo are absolute gems and if soulmates exist, they’re a pair for sure. I couldn’t get enough of these two. While Emma and Charlie were also captivating, I think Maggie and Hugo take the cake for best duo ever.
That being said, I cannot ignore that scene between Emma and Hugo (the one which Maggie overheard—you know the one), and the conversation between Emma and Maggie after Emma found out about her birth father. Those had me close to tears and I will likely think about them for a long, long time. Parent/child relationships in books (particularly in the context of the Found Family trope, such as with Emma and Hugo) might just be my favorite thing to ever exist ever on this earth at all.
CONS:
Despite the engagement level of this book, I cannot deny that there are some things that I feel were not fleshed out the way I wish they were. For example, there was a point in the book where it seemed as though we were on the cusp of the traditional dinner party murder mystery trope (which is never a bad thing). But then, the plot was subverted and the payoff felt a little lost. There were a few events like this, or moments teasing another plot element, which ended up forgotten at the end of the book. There were also things I wish we’d delved into more—particularly concerning certain characters’ emotions or fears. Stuff like that.
It almost made me wonder if there will be additional books in this series, particularly an installment focused on Skarla. There were a lot of hints in this book at plotlines focused on her, but nothing that ever panned out. Makes me wonder if Pearl intended to explore these in a later book. I suppose we'll see (I'll read it, when/if ever it arrives!)
All in all, while this book was mostly perfect, it was slightly imperfect. Which is why I cannot give it 5 stars the way I did the first one.
Bottom line: if my choice is between cowboy, samurai, or pirate, I will choose pirate every time.
PROS:
Let me start by saying I had the time of my life reading this duology. I couldn’t put it down and sacrificed a lot of sleep to finish it this fast. The characters were compelling and the romances, though squeaky-clean, were so, so swoon-worthy!
The woman he was looking at, though clearly more than she had ever been, full of things he longed to know but didn't, was home. And he had been longing for home most of his life.
I read this in about a week during which I was vacationing with my roommate, Kate, in Orlando. We stayed with her grandparents and went to four different amusement parks. Despite the busy schedule, I carved out time to read these books. As one does, I started casually remarking to my roommate, Kate, on how much I love them. Pretty soon, she was asking me to explain the whole plot to her, and I spent much of my time in theme park lines updating her on the story. She got so invested, and we reverted to high school girls, squealing and giggling over these characters and their stories/relationships. Not many books are captivating enough to be shared like hot gossip in theme park lines. This one was. I think, when it comes to engagement and story-telling, that says a lot.
That was likely the last time they would ever be that close. He told himself not to harbor any hope.
But hope was a scrappy thing.
The climax of Maggie and Hugo’s strife, where everything was brought out into the open, and we finally got what we had been waiting for, was impeccable. Maggie and Hugo are absolute gems and if soulmates exist, they’re a pair for sure. I couldn’t get enough of these two. While Emma and Charlie were also captivating, I think Maggie and Hugo take the cake for best duo ever.
"And that told me that you love fiercely too ... I would give anything to be loved like that.
That being said, I cannot ignore that scene between Emma and Hugo (the one which Maggie overheard—you know the one), and the conversation between Emma and Maggie after Emma found out about her birth father. Those had me close to tears and I will likely think about them for a long, long time. Parent/child relationships in books (particularly in the context of the Found Family trope, such as with Emma and Hugo) might just be my favorite thing to ever exist ever on this earth at all.
CONS:
Despite the engagement level of this book, I cannot deny that there are some things that I feel were not fleshed out the way I wish they were. For example, there was a point in the book where it seemed as though we were on the cusp of the traditional dinner party murder mystery trope (which is never a bad thing). But then, the plot was subverted and the payoff felt a little lost. There were a few events like this, or moments teasing another plot element, which ended up forgotten at the end of the book. There were also things I wish we’d delved into more—particularly concerning certain characters’ emotions or fears. Stuff like that.
It almost made me wonder if there will be additional books in this series, particularly an installment focused on Skarla. There were a lot of hints in this book at plotlines focused on her, but nothing that ever panned out. Makes me wonder if Pearl intended to explore these in a later book. I suppose we'll see (I'll read it, when/if ever it arrives!)
"Once upon a time, there was a naval officer named Charlie Sutton who fell in love with a girl he met on the brig of a ship."
"This better not be about another girl."
"Shh, you're interrupting my story."
All in all, while this book was mostly perfect, it was slightly imperfect. Which is why I cannot give it 5 stars the way I did the first one.
Bottom line: if my choice is between cowboy, samurai, or pirate, I will choose pirate every time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2024
Some spoilers, especially if you haven't read book one, Emerald of the Sea -
What a fantastic book!! I remember reading the end of Emerald of the Sea and my mind being blown at how everything was connected, as well as screaming at the cliff hanger!! I was so ready for this book and it delivered on every level. Book one definitely gave me Pirates of the Caribbean vibes, and even though less time is spent on the sea in this one, the feeling was still there. New layers were added with a regency style house party and a Knives Out kind of mystery. There were moments of lightness, laughter, and love mixed with sadness, longing, and regret.
My emotions were all over the place as Hugo and Maggie reunited and tried to work through the last twenty plus years of separation. I understand the anger and frustration from both sides and I was so impatient for them to kiss and make up, lol! But the wait was worthwhile and them being able to untangle the complex nature of Emma's kidnapping and Maggie's "marriage" made the reunion all the sweeter. They have such an enduring love and it was wonderful to see the journey from the beginning of book one with them as children to the end with them as adults. They grew up together and were torn apart, but they fought to keep coming back together, through hurt feelings and betrayal. So beautiful!
Emma and Charlie, oh my!! It took a little while for Charlie to appear and when he did, I felt like the rug was pulled out from under me. I was so shocked and my mind was spinning trying to figure out what his excuse was. I was ready to throw hands for Emma! After everything got cleared up a little, I was once again pulled in by the Charlie magic and his half smirk. I really appreciated Emma's mixed feelings of wanting to put herself out there but being scared of being hurt. Their relationship perfectly encapsulates a young, tender, beautiful love and the ending was just right for them.
There was just the right mix of romance, mystery, and action. The last few chapters absolutely flew by between the separate battles. I was happy that one character was able to redeem themselves, although I was sad at their fate. I may be crazy, but I'm holding out hope for another book because I think Skarla and Oliver have a big story in them. They were in the background, but I was LOOKING, lol!
This is not a detraction from the book, because I truly did love it. I just wish the ending wasn't so abrupt. After the big battle, I guess I was expecting more of a conclusion as everyone was reunited. Skarla doesn't make a reappearance, which made me a little sad and is another reason why I'm hoping for another book. I also wouldn't have minded have Charlie's POV. He's the only main character that didn't have a POV and I just wanted to see inside his head a little more.
Thank you to the author for allowing me to read this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
What a fantastic book!! I remember reading the end of Emerald of the Sea and my mind being blown at how everything was connected, as well as screaming at the cliff hanger!! I was so ready for this book and it delivered on every level. Book one definitely gave me Pirates of the Caribbean vibes, and even though less time is spent on the sea in this one, the feeling was still there. New layers were added with a regency style house party and a Knives Out kind of mystery. There were moments of lightness, laughter, and love mixed with sadness, longing, and regret.
My emotions were all over the place as Hugo and Maggie reunited and tried to work through the last twenty plus years of separation. I understand the anger and frustration from both sides and I was so impatient for them to kiss and make up, lol! But the wait was worthwhile and them being able to untangle the complex nature of Emma's kidnapping and Maggie's "marriage" made the reunion all the sweeter. They have such an enduring love and it was wonderful to see the journey from the beginning of book one with them as children to the end with them as adults. They grew up together and were torn apart, but they fought to keep coming back together, through hurt feelings and betrayal. So beautiful!
Emma and Charlie, oh my!! It took a little while for Charlie to appear and when he did, I felt like the rug was pulled out from under me. I was so shocked and my mind was spinning trying to figure out what his excuse was. I was ready to throw hands for Emma! After everything got cleared up a little, I was once again pulled in by the Charlie magic and his half smirk. I really appreciated Emma's mixed feelings of wanting to put herself out there but being scared of being hurt. Their relationship perfectly encapsulates a young, tender, beautiful love and the ending was just right for them.
There was just the right mix of romance, mystery, and action. The last few chapters absolutely flew by between the separate battles. I was happy that one character was able to redeem themselves, although I was sad at their fate. I may be crazy, but I'm holding out hope for another book because I think Skarla and Oliver have a big story in them. They were in the background, but I was LOOKING, lol!
This is not a detraction from the book, because I truly did love it. I just wish the ending wasn't so abrupt. After the big battle, I guess I was expecting more of a conclusion as everyone was reunited. Skarla doesn't make a reappearance, which made me a little sad and is another reason why I'm hoping for another book. I also wouldn't have minded have Charlie's POV. He's the only main character that didn't have a POV and I just wanted to see inside his head a little more.
Thank you to the author for allowing me to read this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 3, 2024
“It’s your life, what do you want?’”
~Two impossible love stories. An underground society trying to fight an elusive enemy. A war that threatens to destroy them all. All they could do was the next thing, and try not to die doing it...
White Rose Rising is the epic sequel to Emerald of the Sea, and is the second book in The Alayan Series. A series with a fantastical regency adventure romance that will tug on all of your heartstrings! This is a story that needs to be read after Emerald of the Sea. Not before but immediately there after!
📚❤️You will love: endearing characters, intriguing plotlines, complex relationships, delightful and witty banter, all kinds of swoony no-spice content, It shines with originality, great intrigue, dazzling dynamic characters, awesome pirate adventure, a captivating plot with continual crazy plot twists and turns, crazy sword fights, high suspense and tension, great mystery, with no cliff hanger ending. It’s a book that will have you hooked and invested right from the very start to the very finish with such a satisfying ending! 💯
My heart felt all the emotions with this story! I have waited patiently after a great cliffhanger of an ending in book one for the story to continue on with book two. Friends, it was so worth the wait! It was beautifully done! I especially loved the themes of identity, self determination, trust and vulnerability stitches in this epic and beautifully tender story. Please do yourself a favor and go read this series starting with book one sooner than later! It’s that good! I greatly look forward to more to come from @kimberlypearlauthor! 🙌🏻📚💯
“I’m not willing to accept a future without you in it.”
-Content:
Some action violence, domestic abuse, mental illness
(All handled tenderly and with care)
“I will not abandon you. I will not abandon this fight. I mean to see it through, no matter the cost.”
#whiteroserising #kimberlypearl #worththeread #bookstagram #allaboutthebestreads
#butalsothislovelybookcover #lovelycover
#allthefeels
“I love you from across the sea and back.”
-I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
~Two impossible love stories. An underground society trying to fight an elusive enemy. A war that threatens to destroy them all. All they could do was the next thing, and try not to die doing it...
White Rose Rising is the epic sequel to Emerald of the Sea, and is the second book in The Alayan Series. A series with a fantastical regency adventure romance that will tug on all of your heartstrings! This is a story that needs to be read after Emerald of the Sea. Not before but immediately there after!
📚❤️You will love: endearing characters, intriguing plotlines, complex relationships, delightful and witty banter, all kinds of swoony no-spice content, It shines with originality, great intrigue, dazzling dynamic characters, awesome pirate adventure, a captivating plot with continual crazy plot twists and turns, crazy sword fights, high suspense and tension, great mystery, with no cliff hanger ending. It’s a book that will have you hooked and invested right from the very start to the very finish with such a satisfying ending! 💯
My heart felt all the emotions with this story! I have waited patiently after a great cliffhanger of an ending in book one for the story to continue on with book two. Friends, it was so worth the wait! It was beautifully done! I especially loved the themes of identity, self determination, trust and vulnerability stitches in this epic and beautifully tender story. Please do yourself a favor and go read this series starting with book one sooner than later! It’s that good! I greatly look forward to more to come from @kimberlypearlauthor! 🙌🏻📚💯
“I’m not willing to accept a future without you in it.”
-Content:
Some action violence, domestic abuse, mental illness
(All handled tenderly and with care)
“I will not abandon you. I will not abandon this fight. I mean to see it through, no matter the cost.”
#whiteroserising #kimberlypearl #worththeread #bookstagram #allaboutthebestreads
#butalsothislovelybookcover #lovelycover
#allthefeels
“I love you from across the sea and back.”
-I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
September 3, 2024
“All my blades are dangerous. But that doesn't mean they can't be beautiful. Look at you. You can't even help being beautiful. You're a woman. You just are. But you are also very dangerous, are you not?"
I do read YA here and there but usually tend to lean towards books with a little spice but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I worship this book. I LOVED it.
I’m a HUGE fan of Pirates of the Caribbean but that doesn’t mean I love all books either pirates in it. But this one? HECK FREAKIN YUS. I love how it would switch between three different POVs and different timelines. It wasn’t confusing at all. The world building was perfectly written, the characters were so captivating, and all of the adventures this book took me on made me fall in love with this book.
I couldn’t read this book fast enough because I was hooked from reading the first book and waiting to see what happened! This book is a lot longer than the first in the series, but I do love a good long read. It really flies back fast when you’re on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens next. Don’t let the longevity of this book turn you away. It’s truly that good.
There are three different POVs— Emma, Maggie, and Hugo. I will say my favorite is Hugo because he’s gone through so many hardships and still overcomes them all. Watching how he’s grown from being a child to a MAN was everything I needed from the second book. He was making me laugh so hard when he was trying to hide things from Maggie.
You get to experience two love stories and it was written so beautifully. All the adventures they all went on was captivating and I couldn’t get enough!
Read if you love:
* pirates
* strong FMC
* found family
* self-discovery
* resilience
* adventures
* TWO LOVE STORIES
* mystery
Thank you Kimberly so choosing me as an arc reader and sending me a copy in advance! I truly have fallen in love with how you write!
I do read YA here and there but usually tend to lean towards books with a little spice but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I worship this book. I LOVED it.
I’m a HUGE fan of Pirates of the Caribbean but that doesn’t mean I love all books either pirates in it. But this one? HECK FREAKIN YUS. I love how it would switch between three different POVs and different timelines. It wasn’t confusing at all. The world building was perfectly written, the characters were so captivating, and all of the adventures this book took me on made me fall in love with this book.
I couldn’t read this book fast enough because I was hooked from reading the first book and waiting to see what happened! This book is a lot longer than the first in the series, but I do love a good long read. It really flies back fast when you’re on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens next. Don’t let the longevity of this book turn you away. It’s truly that good.
There are three different POVs— Emma, Maggie, and Hugo. I will say my favorite is Hugo because he’s gone through so many hardships and still overcomes them all. Watching how he’s grown from being a child to a MAN was everything I needed from the second book. He was making me laugh so hard when he was trying to hide things from Maggie.
You get to experience two love stories and it was written so beautifully. All the adventures they all went on was captivating and I couldn’t get enough!
Read if you love:
* pirates
* strong FMC
* found family
* self-discovery
* resilience
* adventures
* TWO LOVE STORIES
* mystery
Thank you Kimberly so choosing me as an arc reader and sending me a copy in advance! I truly have fallen in love with how you write!
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