There is only one thing Regent Malone cares about. His family. And he will do whatever is necessary to protect them. Amass power, wealth, and fear. Whatever it takes. Because they are the only thing standing between him and the darkness. Cross his family and feel his wrath. No one is immune . . . Not even a gorgeous brunette with more sass than self-preservation.
Laylah loves reading, but she particularly loves a good romance with some seriously alpha men. Protective, possessive men with large hearts. Writing has become her passion and she hopes her readers enjoy her stories as much as she does writing them.
Ever since Laylah Roberts introduced me to the Malone family,the Texas as well as the New Orleans Malones,i’ve been in love with them. They may be crazy,they may be over the top,but they’re loyal to the ones they love,and they’d do anything to keep them safe and make them happy. Regent is a perfect example of all those things……and i’m só happy he found THE ONE for him! He may have resisted at first,claiming he wasn’t made for love and it would put her in danger just by being with him,but he só deserved Jilly!!
Being the eldest of the New Orleans Malone siblings meant that Regent had the responsibility to keep his younger brothers,and especially his sweet little sister Lottie safe from their father. It also meant he’d had to deal with the bastard the most…..until he was finally able to kill him and his second in command….Jilly’s dad. Now that everyone had found their other halves,it meant he could breathe a little easier….just a little. Until he got a phonecall from Jilly’s mum Anna,asking him to check if Jilly was alright…. Because Jilly was sweet,innocent,a mess,and promised a whole lot of trouble! Because the more he saw her,the more he wanted her,and he wouldn’t….shouldn’t do that to her! But….if anyone could keep her safe from the trouble she seemed to be in…..he also knew that would be him.
Regent Malone was the only man Jilly ever loved,but she knew he was out of her league. But the man she’d broken up with was on the other end of the spectre….that bastard had conned her,and she was stíll paying for it….literally!! Working in the library wasn’t paying enough and she needed an extra job,one that brought in the money she so badly needed. She had a small group of friends that knew the how and why,and one of them had a solution….if she had the guts. Dancing in a stripclub (incognito mind you!) gave her a little air,but lead to a lot more trouble of a different kind….. Because Regent had somehow taken an interest in her,and turned out to be a visitor of the club she was dancing at! Not only that,all the stress and lack of rest,not to mention healthy food,meant Jilly got ill…. And who saw her arrive home from the club in an Uber,feverish and weak?? Exactly….the only man she wanted,but could never,ever have….Regent!
Once Regent gave up the fight,and admitted he was the man for Jilly,he was all in. She was his,he was going to take care of her,ánd her problems,once she admitted she had them to him. Never mind the problems he had himself,he was very capable of solving those. As long as he had his sweet girl at the end,his life was good.
I só loved how protective,caring and sweet Regent was with Jilly! Even his stern moments came from his need to make sure she was in the best place she could be. He was exactly what she needed to become who she was meant to be besides the kindhearted,generous and sweet girl she already was. Her father left scars that she felt deeply,but Regent knew….because he had plenty of scars himself,left by his own father. And when the rest of the family visited?? Total mayhem,and i loved every second of it!!
What a way to end the series....while I'm sad to say goodbye to the New Orleans Malones, I'm thrilled to have finally gotten Regent's story AND I know these Malones will pop up again in the Texas Malones' books.
Jilly and Regent couldn't have been more opposites attract, but really Jilly was exactly what he needed with the life he leads and the way he grew up. She balanced him.
And Jilly got her childhood crush at last....gives us all hope for those crushes we've held onto...OK maybe just this reader.
Loved the balance of dark/heavy in this book with the light/funny. It truly showed just how these two fit and belonged together.
The ending was my absolute favorite, what a great way to end the book and series...Laylah really took us out with a bang.
Another wonderful addition to The Malones, Regent and Jilly are sexy and exciting reading The Crane had been the bodyguard of Regent Malone’s father and both of them had been but from the same cloth, they were brutal and cruel to their enemies and to their families as well. Jilly still recalled the night that Regent a young man not even in his twenties delivered the news that had changed her mother and her world, both The Crane Regent fathers bodyguard and his father were dead. Jilly and her mother continued living in their family home which actually belonged to Regent and his brothers, it also guarded the escape tunnels from the Malones family home so that they could surprise their enemies if they were attacked. Jilly was in such a predicament her ex-boyfriend was had set up credit cards in her name and racked up a huge amount of debt and when she came home one afternoon the apartment had been emptied and he had disappeared. She returned to her home which was empty as her mama was holidaying with her paramour with a man that finally made her happy and treated her well. What was she going to do how was she going to clear the huge debts that were racking up interest at a dramatic daily amount, her daily job as a librarian was not even making a dent and ever since Margaret had been promoted, she had been making her life a misery. She was working extra hours and constantly being belittled, missed lunches and the job she had once loved had become a daily chore. Her friends had suggested that she work at the strip club as Nyx an anonymous stripper, she had to work hard to sell the show to the owner and it had gone down a storm. Since she refused to do any one-on-one dances, when she was pushed, she had insisted that she would leave the club first and that had been that. God she was so tired she appreciated the attention that Regent had been giving her, checking in to see that everything was alright and apart from her burning their dinner and a few other disasters all seemed to be going well. Jilly had been in love with Regent since they had been teenagers and although there was ten years between them her love for him had never waned, he was the only man she ever thought of settling down with however she knew that they were poles apart. Without giving away the outcome of this simply wonderful read I will say that Regent is determined to keep Jilly safe and he ensures that her ex is found and that the retribution deserved is paid in full with interest and with regards to the blackmailer this is not being allowed to stand, In The life of Regent Malone apart from the women in his life who he protects at all costs along with his family who he guards till his final breath and will ensure anyone threatening them would conveniency disappear. I guarantee that you will love this book and if you are a reader of the previous three books I guarantee that you will be blown away by this simply wonderful read the characters and the plot is wonderful and once started it is impossible to put this book down once you begin reading this book. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to reading any future publications; keep up all the wonderful writing.
There is not much left to say about Ms. Roberts's ability to connect with her readers except that she has done it again with Regent and Jilly’s story. The storyline built slowly, and I got so frustrated waiting for Regent to make a move and declare his feelings for Jilly that I nearly stopped reading. I'm happy that I persisted, as their story was intoxicating. I was also frustrated by their miscommunication. One honest conversation would have saved them both time and heartache.
Abuse at the hands of their fathers had left Regent and Jilly with scars that plagued them. Jilly was particularly vulnerable, but Regent was also affected and shied away from commitment.
Jilly lived a life of misery and hurt. An ex-boyfriend took her to the cleaners, and she was now in debt. Out of desperation, she worked two jobs: one as a librarian and in a club as a dancer in disguise at night. Regent was Jilly’s first crush, but he was out of her league, or so she thought, until he swept in and took control of her life. He was unhappy that she had been keeping secrets from him. Jilly was like a scared little rabbit, frightened of her own shadow, but with Regent's support, she flourished. I found her internal dialogue amusing.
I thought Regent would be a one-dimensional character, but he surprised me. He was loyal, loving, and protective of his family, but you wouldn't want to get on his bad side, where he was dangerous, brutal, and unafraid to get his hands dirty. Regent never wanted a relationship as it was too risky. He kept denying his feelings for Jilly and was weighed down with responsibilities, which left him no time for commitment. Finding out that Jilly was in danger was like flicking a switch in Regent. He swept in and took control of her life.
I enjoyed the depth of emotion built into the characters. Jilly’s sensual awakening was beautifully portrayed. Regent and Jilly’s chemistry was so electrifying that it left me with goosebumps. The secondary characters added flavor and enhanced the overall reading experience. I'm addicted to Ms. Roberts's books, and this is one addiction that I'm not willing to give up.
This book was about Regent Malone and the young woman who always had a crush on him named Jilly.
Regent has always been known as cold, harsh and ruthless. He has always had Jilly’s mom and Jilly stay in a house that he owned. Jilly would listen in to conversations that he had with her mom. Jilly always had a crush on Regent. She thought that he always saw her as a little sister instead of a grown woman. Jilly grew up with a father that was very mean and abusive to her. Jilly starts working in a library with a boss that was very mean to her. Jilly liked to read romance books because she liked reading happy ever afters. Regent went to a strip club where she was working not knowing that she was one of the dancers that he saw. Jilly’s mother called Regent and asked him to check up on Jilly and saw how she was doing. One night after getting out of an Uber he notices Jilly stumbling out thinking she was drunk and found out that she was quite ill. He went inside and took care of her even though she tried to get him to leave. She got him to get rid of a spider 🕷️ that was in her bathroom that she named Clive. She told Regent that he couldn’t kill Clive just to release him outside. He would tell Jilly to stay still and he would find that she didn’t listen to him. He told Jilly that they were friends and she said that friends don’t threaten to spank their friend. Regent ended up packing up her stuff and moving her in with him after talking to his brother. She didn’t think that Regent was into her which he proved her wrong. Regent and Jilly had some very spicy 🌶️ 🌶️🌶️🌶️moments in this story. He found out that she was being blackmailed at the club by one of the other female dancers. He found out that she was keeping secrets from him which he would spank her for. I liked Regent and Jilly together as a couple. I enjoyed reading this book.
Regent Malone ,Head of a New Orleans Crime Family,taught by an emotionless father to never let anyone in(if you care about no one they can’t hurt you or be used against you) he swore to himself that he would never be as cold as his father. Family means everything to him, but he has problems letting them in emotionally. All of his brothers and sister have found their life partners and are moving into their own homes and Regent will be alone thinking that he doesn’t deserve to be loved, it is enough that he will continue to protect his family and continue to run the business even if he is lonely Jillian Crane has loved Regent Malone with her whole heart since she was 16 years old and he was her first crush many years before that. Jillians father was a violent evil man who verbally and physically abused her and her mother.(he also happened to be Regents Fathers Right Hand Man) Jilly would escape into her books and imagination as a child which carried through to adulthood where she would try to go unnoticed. Circumstances and unexpected debt caused Jilly to take on an unexpected second job. When her mom could not get in touch with her, her mom asked Regent to check on her.(secretly playing Matchmaker) Now I can go on but to me this book needs to be read without any spoilers because it is a slow burn that turns into an inferno that you definitely can’t not resist 🥰
Laylah Roberts serves up a deliciously fun read in Ruthless King, and it's all thanks to the irresistible Malone brothers. Regent might be cold and commanding, but underneath that grumpy exterior is a fiercely protective heart and a lot of swoon-worthy charm. The banter between him and our sassy Jilly is pure gold, making their chemistry pop right off the page.
It's fun, flirty, and just the right amount of heat.
But let's be honest, the Malone men steal the show. Each one is captivating in his own way, from Regent's ruthless intensity to the teasing and loyalty of his brothers. You'll find yourself wishing you could be adopted into the family to get a front-row seat to all that brotherly fun (and trouble!).
This book is more than just a dark romance; it's an entertaining, wild ride with characters you can't help but fall for. Ruthless King is definitely a must-read if you're in the mood for a good time with some delicious alpha energy. The Malone men will make you laugh, swoon, and maybe even wish for a ruthless king of your own!
This one delivers if you love dark romance with possessive heroes and fearless heroines. It's gripping, intense, and just the right amount of dangerously addictive. Regent may be the king, but this story is about fiery chemistry.
Ruthless King is the fourth and final book in Laylah Roberts’ New Orleans series, and it delivered exactly what I was hoping for. The story had a solid plot, and the characters were easy to root for. One of the things I loved most was seeing Regent, a strong, emotionless man, slowly transform into a caring and protective partner for Jilly, the right woman for him. The way they balanced each other out, despite being total opposites, made their relationship feel genuine. It was inspiring to see them work hard to communicate and compromise, making their bond even stronger.
I also really enjoyed Regent’s relationship with his siblings. Their banter was funny, but they clearly had each other's backs when it mattered. It made the family dynamic feel real and heartfelt. While I’m sad to see this series end, I’m confident that Laylah Roberts will continue to create characters I’ll love just as much as the Malones. This book was a satisfying conclusion to the series, leaving me looking forward to what comes next.
When it comes to the head of the Malone's, I always wondered what sort of female would draw his attention . But the women who has his attention has had it for a long time, however he knew she wasnt for him because he had enemies. Jilly used to love her job, but now not so much, it wast bringing in the money to pay the bills her ex had raked up to her. So with a little bit of help from her friend she got a second job. Regent Malone has been asked to look up Jilly, and what he sees, well hes not pleased, the house is in need of repair and Jilly looks run down. Soon its Regent looking after Jilly when she becomes sick, feelings run rampart between them both. But between them both there is someone blackmailing Jilly and an old enemy has come back to cause trouble.
This was an absolute brilliant book once more Laylah has outdone herself, it really was a book worthy to be read.
I love this author and read almost anything she writes. The characters are great and I love the chemistry. This one was great but there was only one thing that bothers me. She kept mentioning again and again how they are running and dealing drugs everywhere. So I totally get that it is a mafia book and that would be part of that, but I guess irl drugs is such a big killer right now that I just don't think running home the fact that the hero is a big drug pusher again and again worked well for me. I read plenty of mafia books and most of them do not talk about it so much. It's assumed and implied that they do illegal things, but I guess just making him someone that is responsible for so much drug dealing makes it a little hard to root for him. I just pretended that wasn't part of it and enjoyed the rest of the book.
I loved everything about this story, especially Regent when he finally realizes he wants Jilly in his life forever. It’s well written and very entertaining in that it draws you into the story and holds your attention until the very end. The story is full of emotion, some good and some not so good. I love how Jilly is able to show Regent how to relax and truly enjoy his life and family. It’s good to see the Malone men and the women that they fall hard for. There are secondary characters who added a lot to the story, especially Ace and all of his antics and Mrs. Yards is an absolute hoot! The Malone’s are always a great read and I would highly recommend both the New Orleans and the Texas Malones. I received a free copy of this book via Bookfunnel and are voluntarily leaving a review.
What a wonderful uplifting story full of emotion and surprising plot lines. There were times I laughed out loud, the dialogue between Jilly and Regent was amazing. There were some scenes that were brutal, but that is the dichotomy of Regent. Slowly and surely Jilly is bringing out his softer side and making him more human but, she never forgets who he is and accepts the need for his dark side. There are some sad scenes but they do not bring down the story and the sweet and funny more than make up for them. Ace was a delightful character and so typical of a young boy. The whole family is included in this story and what a family they are. Wonderful read and I am sad to say goodbye to the Malones.
Ruthless King is book four of the New Orleans Malones series of interconnected standalones. I have been waiting for Regents book and it didn’t disappoint! Regent is the oldest of the New Orleans Malones and has always been protective of his siblings. He isn’t looking for love and knows his life is too dangerous to drag someone else into it. Jilly has always had a crush on Regent but always thought he was too sophisticated for her. Her ex took advantage of her kind soul and left her with a mountain of debt. These two were so perfect together! Regent helped Jilly become more confident in herself and she helped to smooth out Recent’s rough edges. I’m sad that this series is over and I hope we get more of these characters in the future!
I couldn’t wait for this book to come out & now that it has, I’m ecstatic!! Regent Malone always both scared me to death & made me go “Hmmmmm, I wonder…” and now I have the answer. Raised to be cold & unfeeling (the opening scene will break your heart), he finds the perfect match in Jilly. I loved seeing their relationship evolve!! They’re perfect for each other. This is the last New Orleans Malone book, which makes me sad, because the family is one of my favorite families, but the ending was perfect. Thank you Laylah Roberts for another masterpiece, and for catching us up on all the crazy Haven Malones in the process. 500 stars & chefs kiss perfect!!!!
Jilly & Regent are so perfect and so funny . I agree that rice pudding is the thing of life when you need a boost. I laughed so hard so many times that I had to read sections out to my fella and had him laughing so hard also ( he also went out and bought us both six fans of rice pudding. Perfection) Jolly has the perfect dirty desires with Mrs Yards toys to play with lol. Please don't let this be the last book of the New Orleans Malones as they are brilliant and we also need more crossover with the Texas Malones as they are brilliant and hilarious together. Thank you Laylah for another fantastic story that you always knock them out of the park. Loved loved loved it.
I was hyped for this book and it did not disappoint. Regent was exactly as I expected him to be. Ruthless, protective, dominant and a bit soft when it came to Jilly. I really enjoyed Jilly and thought she was one of the most authentic characters that Laylah has written . She comes with a ton of past trauma that directly affects how she feels about herself and her relationship. I also found it refreshing that Jilly was stripping to get herself out of debt..don't get me wrong that was t ideal but I liked that she didn't rely on others to fix her issues. As always the Malones have a piece of my heart.
I loved Regent’s story: his background was so clearly the impetus for his seemingly emotionless adulthood! Jilly was funny: she embraced her silly side and covered her trauma with a tremendous strength that Regent recognized. Laylah Roberts is my favorite author and the Malone family is one of the main reasons! It was such a treat to see Regent emerge from his self imposed limits, especially with Jilly’s enthusiastic responses and her courage to stand up for him. I’m just sad the book ended, but I’ll reread it often to laugh, cry, and feel the love between them!!!
Holly is such an innocent. Getting lost in her head and knowing her thoughts had me laughing. She was a delightful character. I'm sorry to say goodbye to the Malones. I'm also glad you kept the sex scenes hot I'm up for whatever you write next I read your books the day they available. As soon as they are announced it goes on my calendar even though I get the email notification Thank you so much. Now that I'm retired there's not a lot to look forward to
I've been waiting for Regent's story and it did NOT disappoint. Jilly is having a hard time because of her ex! He was a horrible person and left her with a mountain of debt in her name. The story is a slow burn because while Jilly has loved him for a long time, Regent doesn't think he's the right man for her. Yup, he had his head up you know what but once he decides she's his, he is ALL IN!! He takes it easy with her even when he's being that "stern" guy. This story was so good and I loved it so much!
This is an excellent addition to the New Orleans Malones. I am so glad that we finally have Regent's story. I will say that the slow build-up to Regent finally accepting that Jilly will be his felt interminable. But once he accepted it, everything fell into place, and I had to finish before I could sleep. It was another short sleep for me, but it was worth it.
I've heard that this is supposed to be the last book in the series, but maybe there are some long-lost Malones out there that Ms. Roberts can write about.
I’ve loved this series from the very first book. Regent has always fascinated me and I couldn’t wait to read his story. And what a story it is! He is all tough and gruff but when it comes to those he loves all bets are off. Jilly has been in his life for a long time but he never acted on his feelings until the day she was threatened. He decided he will make her his. I loved Jilly! What a delight and she keeps Regent on his toes! These two made me laugh and cry and I loved everything about their story!!
Regent has looked after all his siblings, some of his cousins, and their partners for years, and it was finally time to get his own HEA and claim Jilly. With her love and determination, he will be a better man in the future. The only concern I had was that their dialog was almost teenager-ish in the beginning. I was very surprised, but it steadily got better by the end. Unless Laylah does their children, I'll be sorry that this is ending. Throughly enjoyed this series.
Regent Malone- I swear that is like saying it all. If you read Laylah’s book, you already know he is controling, ruthless, doesn’t take no for an answer, and possessive. Oh, let’s not forget a Malone and all that has entailed. When Regent FINALLY gives in to Jilly, who has loved him almost her whole life, I don’t think it could get better. Jilly is sweet, fun, affectionate, and haunted by the way she was raised. Watching her chip through Regents no emotions showing and how he thinks he doesn’t deserve anything good- is quite the show. Loved this book so much.
Regent has held my imagination from the first book. I'm so glad his story is here. I've read almost all of Roberts books. This might be my favourite. I loved the character growth.
It was quite funny at times. Also, who hasn't had an old bat of a boss? I think Mrs. Yardley was secretly a spy or something else awesome & unexpected . Hers would be a great story.
As to the now homeless spider, Clive, into the wild you go.
I had this book on pre-order from the time it came up, waiting and hoping. I have wanted to read Regent's story from the first time I met him and it's well worth reading. He had a terrible childhood, so did Jilly. Their connection is honest and open with lots of hot chemistry. All the characters are real and rounded. There are lots of different elements including some violence and hot sexy scenes. This book is well written and described and will not disappoint the reader.
Awesome book and fun and a joy to read! The cute sassy and constant banter between Jilly and Regent is totally off the wall and hilarious throughout the book!! Add in some mystery, suspense and some really hot sexy times makes this a perfect 5++++ book to read!! I read this book in Kindle Unlimited but am now going to buy it so I can re-read whenever I want!! It's just that good!!
All the Malones, New Orleans and Texas! I just wish Ms. Roberts could fine a way to come up with more Malones. Ms. Roberts has created a wonderful set of characters and then puts them in great stories that are just a joy to read. That is not saying I don't lobe her other worlds, because I do. I have never picked up one of her books and not had a wonderful time.