Cruel Fate

King's Crossing #1

by V.M. Rheault

Trust always comes with a price.

Zane

Six months ago, my parents were killed in a plane crash. They left behind me, my sister, and a billion-dollar company that’s my responsibility now.
The only things that have gotten me through are Zarah and my best friend, Ashton Black.
Until I meet Stella.
Ash hates Stella as much as I love her, and as I try to uncover the reason why my parents’ plane crashed, I struggle to keep both of them in my life.
When she disappears, Ash says, “I told you so,” and all I have left is our friendship built on years of family loyalty, tears, and blood.


Stella

Meeting Zarah Maddox while she tours her parents’ company is a dream come true. She introduces me to her brother, Zane, and a world I want to desperately be a part of as much as I fear.
Ashton Black is Zane’s best friend, and he hates me from the second he hears my name.
He’s not the man Zane thinks he is, but when I discover evidence he’s hurting Zarah, there’s nothing I can do but sacrifice myself to keep them safe.
Zane’s loyalty to the Blacks is stronger than our love, but I won’t be the only one to pay the price.Author’s This series is better described as a serial, and you must start with book one. Also, books one, two, four, and five end in cliffhangers, and if you dislike those, please be warned because I hate saying, “I told you so.” :) These books are full of delicate material, and a complete list is available on the author’s website for your convenience. Thank you.

Genres: Romance

318 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 16, 2024

About the author

VM Rheault writes billionaire romance and contemporary romance under Vania Rheault. She's lived in Minnesota all her life, and fall is her favorite season. You'll always find her with a cup of coffee in hand while writing, reading, or snuggling with her cat.

If you want a free billionaire ugly-duckling full-length novel, sign up to her newsletter.

https://vmrheault.com/subscribe/

Reviews

[Paula (on hiatus)]

Note to myself: AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE!

OW Drama and worse MMC I read in months! Avoid all 3 books below and see review from Book 2 for spoiler details- https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


Book # 1 from 3 - Part of Series:

#1 Cruel Fate by VM Rheault
# 2 Cruel Hearts by VM Rheault
# 3 Cruel Dreams by VM Rheault

[Viv “BookVixen” Gutierrez · Rating 1 out of 5]

As soon as i see “Arc review” i skip it, because you cant trust these reviewers who will write a glowing review in return for a free book. most of the time theyre dishonest and they leave ugly details out. Like cheating.

This hero for example is a scumbag who slimes his way to another woman and in subsequent books in the series, the OW takes up page space.

YET AGAIN another romance FAIL, with a non-celibate hero spewed out onto the page because the author has all the romantic compass of a narcissist, where cheating is totes cool!

[Brandi-Lynn Weiser · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good start to Stella and Zane’s story. It took a little while for me to get into it, but quickly I was hooked. One thing I gotta say, and I can’t wait to see him get what he deserves, I honestly can’t stand Ash. I had red flags right from the start when it came to him. And it was beyond frustrating how Zane constantly defended him and didn’t see through his bs. But nothing shocked me as much as the ending and I can’t wait to start book 2.

[Kailynn (slump 😔)]

self note:

Avoid 1-3!!

[Reelina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cruel Fate is not just a book—it’s an emotional experience that leaves a profound mark on your heart. VM Rheault has crafted a beautifully tragic love story between Zane and Stella, filled with vulnerability, tenderness, and deep sacrifice.

Zane is a character who instantly pulls you in. His vulnerability is palpable, shaped by the immense loss of his parents and the crushing weight of responsibility for his family's billion-dollar empire. Through it all, you see a young man who’s trying to navigate the tumult of his grief, and it’s this fragility that makes his journey so compelling. His love for Stella is pure, almost desperate—something he clings to in a world that feels like it’s slipping away from him. Rheault portrays Zane with such depth and rawness that it’s impossible not to feel every pang of his heartache.

And then there’s Stella—what a character! She embodies both wisdom and innocence, with a strength that is as admirable as it is heartbreaking. Her sacrifice is something that takes your breath away, because while it is rooted in love, it also speaks to her greatness as a person. Stella’s character is not only about spice or romance; it’s about her incredible capacity to give, to love, and ultimately to protect the people she cares about, even if it means losing everything for herself.

The connection between Zane and Stella is intense, passionate, and undeniably magnetic, but what makes their relationship truly unforgettable is the underlying emotion—the kind that burns slowly, deeply, and leaves you yearning for more. There’s a balance of youthful innocence and mature selflessness in their love, making it so much more than just a "spicy" romance. It’s a story of two people trying to save each other in the only ways they know how, even when the world seems determined to tear them apart.

VM Rheault has done an incredible job of blending the rawness of human emotions with a storyline that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The twists and turns, the heartbreak, the moments of connection—all come together to create a beautifully woven narrative that is as addictive as it is soul-stirring.

I cannot wait to see where Zane and Stella’s journey takes us next. Cruel Fate has left me emotionally invested, eagerly anticipating the next installment of this unforgettable story.

[Nicole Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an Advanced Reader Copy and am voluntarily reviewing it. I am so happy I took a chance on this author and this series. Ms. Rheault gives readers all that there is to give with this one and leaves us hanging. This series will make readers commit for the long haul. I can't wait to read book two. Stella Mayfair was just barely making it in the payroll department of Maddox Industries. Stella is asked to let the CEO's sister shadow her. This one day opened Stella up to a life she never even dreamed of.

Zane Maddox is forced to step in as CEO after his parents were killed in a plane crash. He was been wallowing and now it is time to do something. He is diligent looking into the plane crash and taking the reins of the family business. Zane has found the one person that brings calm to his hectic world. Stella is all he needs. He makes Stella his executive assistant despite her lack of skill. She is a fast learner. Zarah is happy to have friend. The only person in Zane's life that is not thrilled about Stella is Zane's best friend, Ashton Black.

Everything seems to be going good. Of course, there are the regular trust issues in a relationship. Stella has a lot of baggage and tends to bend over backwards for Zane. We shall see if that is a good or bad thing. I am afraid that her willingness to please will get her into some trouble that Zane can't get her out of. If you had not noticed, I am all in. The characters have me shook. I want to know more about them. Ms. Rheault has a way of making characters human. Readers will understand their feelings and emotions. This book is a twisted ride. Be prepared.

[ravenblackbird74 · Rating 5 out of 5]

♟ Be prepared for a cunning game of love and intrigue ♟

📚Review ~ Cruel Fate (King's Crossing Book 1)
🖋Author ~ VM Rheault
🖋Features: Billionaires & Millionaires Romance, serial, cliffhanger, mystery
⭐️Rating: 5/5

Stella ~ I’m stuck in the spider’s web, and the more I struggle, the more entangled I become.

Befriended by the lonely and beautiful Zarah Maddox, Stella finds herself whisked up from the basement, where she worked as a payroll clerk to the top floor of Maddox Industries, and Zane Maddox’s executive assistant. Stella must rely on her street smarts to navigate the treacherous world of the wealthy, fit in as one of them, and stay safe.

This new world is full of hidden agendas, treachery, and conniving players who want more status, more money, more of everything. They are the elite of King’s Crossing who will stop at nothing to keep Zane Maddox from learning the truth about the death of his mother and father.

🖋Enjoyment: 5. Readability: 5. Writing: 5.
🖋Setting: 5. Plot: 5. Characters: 5.

https://linktr.ee/ravenblackbird74

#writer #editor #review #books #bookstagrammers #bookreviewer #reader #MustRead #bookclub #bookish #booklover #bookworm #readers #currentlyreading #readersofinstagram #brokenwingbookreviews #ravenblackbird74 #booktok #VMRheault #Billionairesromance #Millionairesromance #Romance #serial #cliffhanger #mystery #CruelFate #KingsCrossing

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The start of the King’s Crossings series hang on this one will have you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end especially with who ends up being responsible. Zane sexy as all get out now CEO of Maddox forced to take over the company after the death of his parents who were killed in a plane crash, while investigating the plane crash that took his parents he meets the one person that brings him out of the dumps so to speak especially dealing with everything but his best friend however isn’t happy in fact there is so much dislike boarding hate coming from his friend Aston Black. Stella has been working in the payroll department of Maddox Industries making next to nothing until she is asked to let the CEO’s sister shadow her things start to look up, the new boss made her his executive assistant despite her lack as experience she learns fast, she makes a good friend in his sister but Stella has her own baggage but she has still has the ability to see good in other to love them despite the craziness they put off or spew. But now that Aston Black is the one that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up but what gets me is how Zane never saw what was right in front of him but he believed his so called friend will he listen to his heart, will they find the one who caused the death of his parents, why don’t his friend like Stella, and where are the headed?

[Laura Moylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stella and her cubby mate, Connie work in the accounting department in the basement of Maddox Industries and one day, the daughter comes in and Stella is chosen to show Zarah Maddox around. They hit it off. They have a lot in common and a lot not in common and that makes for some good convo. Zarah and her brother, Zane, lost their parents in a plane crash and now they need to handle the business and everything it entails. Zane isn’t really handling it all that well. You’ll see what I mean as you read. However, he gets a shock when he sees Stella hanging with Zarah in their place. I felt really bad for Zane and Zarah for most of the book and I knew that Ash wasn’t going to like Stella from the blurb, but he gives new meaning to ‘dislike.’ Just wow. Zane does something crazy and sees more of Stella. Then he does something even cooler and crazier. Then there are things I started noticing that got me really upset. I cried a few times, pushed my pillow and put the AC on, because Zane and Stella are hot together. But the book does end on a cliffhanger. I was absolutely livid, but proud of Stella, because to me, she is a freaking hero. I can’t wait to see how she gets out of things and hopefully there will be happy endings for the Z’s.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ildikó · Rating 5 out of 5]

*** ARC review ***

TRIGGER WARNING : physical and sexual abuse mentioned (prostitution ring)

If you like reading about a billionaire where he falls in love first with a normal girl with some dark content (not from the main male character) then put the entire King’s Crossing series on your TBR! You absolutely need to have all six books to read them one after the other, you will be thankful to do so!


Six months after a tragic event, Zarah (20) and Zane (25) are having difficulties getting back on their feet and finding their place at their father’s, now Zane’s, company. After both of them meet Stella (20), they realize that with her help, they are able to slowly get back into their old routine. Reading how Stella and Zane complete each other, how Stella gives to Zane what he needs without asking anything in return was so beautiful. Please note that this book ends on a cliffhanger!!

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zane and Stella. Hes thrust into a chaotic life of managing a billion-dollar company and taking care of his sister because of a plane crash that killed his parents. His sister is Zarah and his best friend is Ash. Stella meets Zarah at the company that she happens to work at so Zarah introduces her brother to Stella. They hit it off immediately. But there are some wrenches thrown there way and Stella must decide on Zane and Zarahs wellbeing instead of her happiness. Of course, Ash isn't who he seems. Well written. Wonderful storyline. Couldn't put this down. Only time will tell. Can't wait for next story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Deanna (OnceUponADee) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zane and Zarah Maddox lost their parents in a place crash. Zane is now set to take over his family's business Maddox Industries. Zarah meets Stella Mayfair, a payroll employee during her shadowing of different departments. Stella has her own share of shadows in her past. She is thrust into the lifestyle of being friends with Zarah and Zane's girlfriend. There is something sketchy happening with Zane's best friend Ash. The book ends on a cliff hanger that leaves you wanting to find out what happens to Stella.

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was Zane and Stella’s story. Six months ago, Zane’s parents were killed in a plane crash. They left behind him, his sister, and a billion-dollar company that’s now his responsibility. Then he meets Stella. His best friend hates Stella as much as Zane loves her. As he tries to uncover the reason why his parents’ plane crashed, he struggles to keep both of them in his life. It ends on a cliffhanger. So looking forward to the next book. And voluntarily leaving this review.

[Jocelyn Masson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must say I was hooked by this book from the beginning and was able to finish it in about 3 hours. I hated Ash from the beginning and immediately felt hurt for the conclusions people jumped to with Stella. I felt the pain of Zane and his grief, always questioning and seeking answers. This book had me on edge at the end and my heart felt broken but hopeful of what's to come.

[Merry Jelks-Emmanuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in the series, and it sets the story up perfectly giving you just enough to tease introducing the characters as I got to connect with them. It is a well written story that captivates and keeps you glued to the pages.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rachel Gabriel · Rating 4 out of 5]

You are my possession. Never forget that.

What a cliffhanger! The suspense was strong and powerful. Good mix of intrigue, passion and foreshadowing. I am definitely looking forward to the next book.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really good book. It is the start of a good series of books that are suspenseful, passionate, and addictive.