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Newport Diaries #1
Roses, Pearls, and Hot Summer Nights: Four brothers. One broken girl. A summer that changes everything. A steamy found-family romance with secrets, scars, ... heat.
One girl. Four brothers. A summer that changes everything.
I didn’t ask to be saved.
And the Lent brothers have never been heroes.
When four insanely gorgeous, ridiculously wealthy brothers pull me out of the only life I’ve ever known, I expect the rich playboys who care about nothing.
But something shifts in that moment. In me. In them.
And no one is more surprised than the Lent brothers.
Well… maybe I am.
Barrett, Jeremy, Julian, and Phoenix Lent are used to getting what they want.
Except this time, what they want… is me.
They say I’m safe now. But safety comes at a cost. And the way they look at me—like I belong to all of them? That cost might be my heart.
These brothers aren’t just protective.
They’re broken. Sharp-edged. Scarred by a legacy of secrets, power, and a grandmother whose journals hold the key to everything.
And me?
I’m the girl with no past, no future, and no idea how I ended up here.
But I’m about to learn that sometimes the family you find is more dangerous than the one you left.
And love? It’s rarely clean.
Sometimes it’s messy, forbidden, and absolutely worth the risk.
If you
Slow-burn romance with steam
Protective, possessive brothers
Found family with secrets
Wounded heroines healing through love
Big houses, bigger feelings, and legacy-level drama
Then you’ll fall hard for Roses, Pearls, and Hot Summer Nights—the first sizzling, emotional installment in The Newport Diaries.
I didn’t ask to be saved.
And the Lent brothers have never been heroes.
When four insanely gorgeous, ridiculously wealthy brothers pull me out of the only life I’ve ever known, I expect the rich playboys who care about nothing.
But something shifts in that moment. In me. In them.
And no one is more surprised than the Lent brothers.
Well… maybe I am.
Barrett, Jeremy, Julian, and Phoenix Lent are used to getting what they want.
Except this time, what they want… is me.
They say I’m safe now. But safety comes at a cost. And the way they look at me—like I belong to all of them? That cost might be my heart.
These brothers aren’t just protective.
They’re broken. Sharp-edged. Scarred by a legacy of secrets, power, and a grandmother whose journals hold the key to everything.
And me?
I’m the girl with no past, no future, and no idea how I ended up here.
But I’m about to learn that sometimes the family you find is more dangerous than the one you left.
And love? It’s rarely clean.
Sometimes it’s messy, forbidden, and absolutely worth the risk.
If you
Slow-burn romance with steam
Protective, possessive brothers
Found family with secrets
Wounded heroines healing through love
Big houses, bigger feelings, and legacy-level drama
Then you’ll fall hard for Roses, Pearls, and Hot Summer Nights—the first sizzling, emotional installment in The Newport Diaries.
- GenresContemporary Romance
416 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2025
46 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Royce
193 books1,430 followersAuthor of science fiction, fantasy, and the paranormal.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
January 13, 2026
for me, maybe about 3.75 stars. It was a pretty easy read. no spice in this first one.
The FMC is 16, the boys are 16-18. it's verrry slow unravelling the story..but, basically, the kids all have a lot of questions about things in their parents pasts - on both sides - and eventually they'll need to start figuring things out, bc it's stuff that will impact them too. (things like mysterious deaths of parents/grandparents, the sordid secrets of the super rich, stories of a place in Louisiana where polaymorous people in "the life" live, a kidnapping, some falsified paperwork, a PI trailing them...) they don't really get anywhere with this first book, but they're just working on becoming friends and learning to trust each other, and then they eventually realize there are a lot of unexplained things in their parents' pasts that they need to know/understand for their own safety/ peace of mind.
more details:
- FMC is Alatheia. calls herself "the poor relation" a lot, bc she's been dropped off at aunts and uncles houses for the last 6 yrs since her mom died, and they repeatedly tell her what a burden she is. also she writes/draws an anime that she titled "the poor relation" and she posts it online where it is very popular already..
- MMC #1 Julian. one of the 17 yr old twins. the nice/charming one. brunette w blue eyes. likes to read, and wants to be playwright one day.
-MMC #2 Jeremy. the other twin. blonde hair, brown eyes, looks like he could be a rich surfer. my favorite so far I think (although I don't love the name jeremy). he starts out sounding like a competitive jerk who was a bit of a playboy, but pretty quickly that whole thing goes away, and he is just the sweetest one.
- MMC #3 Barrett. the oldest. brown hair, brown eyes. told by his parents that he needs to be a lawyer even though he'd rather be a teacher /music club owner..? he likes jazz. like it's his whole thing. he's probably my least favorite so far, but just because of my own personal preferences. the lawyer / jazz musician is so far from my type lol.
- MMC #4. Phoenix. the baby of the family, 16 yrs old, and just 1 month younger than FMC. Brown hair, blue eyes? He was kidnapped when he was 10, and gone for like 3 weeks before he was found?! he doesn't remember how he got away, what happened, who took him, nothing. all they focus on is the after-effects of the whole ordeal on the rest of the family.. like his mom going kinda crazy and his dads being kinda distant, and his brothers all feeling guilty/ responsible and don't know how to move on.. and so poor Phoenix just gets high constantly bc he can't deal with reality.
if I could change just a couple of things about the book - it'd be that there were wayyy fewer references to Phoenix's drug use (like it feels like the FMC is just CONSTANTLY monitoring his level of sobriety, and it was offputting)... and I'd also change the way the kids are too often referred to as "men/women." They're not. They're teenagers. They don't need to be going in to bars, jazz clubs, out-of-control parties, etc. It was jarring that the first part of the book focused on the FMC venturing outside of her aunt's apartment for the first time basically ever, and slowly making her first friends, and then all of a sudden it was like she was part of the Gossip Girl scene. I get that she needs to learn more about NYC and more about the MMC's world especially, but I much prefer the parts of the books where they're doing their own thing than just getting drunk/high.
This first book is their summer in NYC/the Hamptons. the second book is them going back to school in the fall.
The FMC is 16, the boys are 16-18. it's verrry slow unravelling the story..but, basically, the kids all have a lot of questions about things in their parents pasts - on both sides - and eventually they'll need to start figuring things out, bc it's stuff that will impact them too. (things like mysterious deaths of parents/grandparents, the sordid secrets of the super rich, stories of a place in Louisiana where polaymorous people in "the life" live, a kidnapping, some falsified paperwork, a PI trailing them...) they don't really get anywhere with this first book, but they're just working on becoming friends and learning to trust each other, and then they eventually realize there are a lot of unexplained things in their parents' pasts that they need to know/understand for their own safety/ peace of mind.
more details:
- FMC is Alatheia. calls herself "the poor relation" a lot, bc she's been dropped off at aunts and uncles houses for the last 6 yrs since her mom died, and they repeatedly tell her what a burden she is. also she writes/draws an anime that she titled "the poor relation" and she posts it online where it is very popular already..
- MMC #1 Julian. one of the 17 yr old twins. the nice/charming one. brunette w blue eyes. likes to read, and wants to be playwright one day.
-MMC #2 Jeremy. the other twin. blonde hair, brown eyes, looks like he could be a rich surfer. my favorite so far I think (although I don't love the name jeremy). he starts out sounding like a competitive jerk who was a bit of a playboy, but pretty quickly that whole thing goes away, and he is just the sweetest one.
- MMC #3 Barrett. the oldest. brown hair, brown eyes. told by his parents that he needs to be a lawyer even though he'd rather be a teacher /music club owner..? he likes jazz. like it's his whole thing. he's probably my least favorite so far, but just because of my own personal preferences. the lawyer / jazz musician is so far from my type lol.
- MMC #4. Phoenix. the baby of the family, 16 yrs old, and just 1 month younger than FMC. Brown hair, blue eyes? He was kidnapped when he was 10, and gone for like 3 weeks before he was found?! he doesn't remember how he got away, what happened, who took him, nothing. all they focus on is the after-effects of the whole ordeal on the rest of the family.. like his mom going kinda crazy and his dads being kinda distant, and his brothers all feeling guilty/ responsible and don't know how to move on.. and so poor Phoenix just gets high constantly bc he can't deal with reality.
if I could change just a couple of things about the book - it'd be that there were wayyy fewer references to Phoenix's drug use (like it feels like the FMC is just CONSTANTLY monitoring his level of sobriety, and it was offputting)... and I'd also change the way the kids are too often referred to as "men/women." They're not. They're teenagers. They don't need to be going in to bars, jazz clubs, out-of-control parties, etc. It was jarring that the first part of the book focused on the FMC venturing outside of her aunt's apartment for the first time basically ever, and slowly making her first friends, and then all of a sudden it was like she was part of the Gossip Girl scene. I get that she needs to learn more about NYC and more about the MMC's world especially, but I much prefer the parts of the books where they're doing their own thing than just getting drunk/high.
This first book is their summer in NYC/the Hamptons. the second book is them going back to school in the fall.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2026
📚Rose, Pearls, and Hot Summer Nights
✍🏻Rebecca Royce
Blurb:
One girl. Four brothers. A summer that changes everything.
I didn’t ask to be saved.
And the Lent brothers have never been heroes.
When four insanely gorgeous, ridiculously wealthy brothers pull me out of the only life I’ve ever known, I expect the rich playboys who care about nothing.
But something shifts in that moment. In me. In them.
And no one is more surprised than the Lent brothers.
Well… maybe I am.
Barrett, Jeremy, Julian, and Phoenix Lent are used to getting what they want.
Except this time, what they want… is me.
They say I’m safe now. But safety comes at a cost. And the way they look at me—like I belong to all of them? That cost might be my heart.
These brothers aren’t just protective.
They’re broken. Sharp-edged. Scarred by a legacy of secrets, power, and a grandmother whose journals hold the key to everything.
And me?
I’m the girl with no past, no future, and no idea how I ended up here.
But I’m about to learn that sometimes the family you find is more dangerous than the one you left.
And love? It’s rarely clean.
Sometimes it’s messy, forbidden, and absolutely worth the risk.
If you
Slow-burn romance with steam
Protective, possessive brothers
Found family with secrets
Wounded heroines healing through love
Big houses, bigger feelings, and legacy-level drama
Then you’ll fall hard for Roses, Pearls, and Hot Summer Nights—the first sizzling, emotional installment in The Newport Diaries.
My Thoughts:
Alathia is an orphan being shuffled from family member to family member just trying to survive until her 18th birthday. Alatheia knowing two things: it is better not to be seen or heard when staying with her relatives and that she can tell a lot about people, especially rich people, by looking at their shoes. Imagine her surprise when she barely settles into her Aunt’s New York apartment and is tasked with being a paid companion to a wealthy woman downstairs, Dina Lent. Dina enters her life, an older woman who actually understands Alatheia and the position she’s in Dina, world has consequences and opportunities Alatheia never has considered for herself.. Dina, the matriarch of the Lent family, and all her grandsons. So when the meets the Lent brothers, she doesn't expect anything different from them. She slowly learns they are different though, in many ways.The four rich, very loyal brothers care for her beyond what she's ever known. But the secrets that they all keep can either pull them together or break them apart.I would recommend this book to those that love slow burn romance with steam, Protective possessive brothers. Found family with secrets, Wounded heroines healing through love and Big houses, bigger feelings, and legacy-level drama.
Thanks NetGalley, Rebecca Royce Publisher and Rebecca Royce for the advanced copy of "Roses, Pearls, and Hot Summer Nights" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#RebeccaRoycePublisher
#RebeccaRoyceAuthor
#Roses,Pearls,andHotSummerNights
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✍🏻Rebecca Royce
Blurb:
One girl. Four brothers. A summer that changes everything.
I didn’t ask to be saved.
And the Lent brothers have never been heroes.
When four insanely gorgeous, ridiculously wealthy brothers pull me out of the only life I’ve ever known, I expect the rich playboys who care about nothing.
But something shifts in that moment. In me. In them.
And no one is more surprised than the Lent brothers.
Well… maybe I am.
Barrett, Jeremy, Julian, and Phoenix Lent are used to getting what they want.
Except this time, what they want… is me.
They say I’m safe now. But safety comes at a cost. And the way they look at me—like I belong to all of them? That cost might be my heart.
These brothers aren’t just protective.
They’re broken. Sharp-edged. Scarred by a legacy of secrets, power, and a grandmother whose journals hold the key to everything.
And me?
I’m the girl with no past, no future, and no idea how I ended up here.
But I’m about to learn that sometimes the family you find is more dangerous than the one you left.
And love? It’s rarely clean.
Sometimes it’s messy, forbidden, and absolutely worth the risk.
If you
Slow-burn romance with steam
Protective, possessive brothers
Found family with secrets
Wounded heroines healing through love
Big houses, bigger feelings, and legacy-level drama
Then you’ll fall hard for Roses, Pearls, and Hot Summer Nights—the first sizzling, emotional installment in The Newport Diaries.
My Thoughts:
Alathia is an orphan being shuffled from family member to family member just trying to survive until her 18th birthday. Alatheia knowing two things: it is better not to be seen or heard when staying with her relatives and that she can tell a lot about people, especially rich people, by looking at their shoes. Imagine her surprise when she barely settles into her Aunt’s New York apartment and is tasked with being a paid companion to a wealthy woman downstairs, Dina Lent. Dina enters her life, an older woman who actually understands Alatheia and the position she’s in Dina, world has consequences and opportunities Alatheia never has considered for herself.. Dina, the matriarch of the Lent family, and all her grandsons. So when the meets the Lent brothers, she doesn't expect anything different from them. She slowly learns they are different though, in many ways.The four rich, very loyal brothers care for her beyond what she's ever known. But the secrets that they all keep can either pull them together or break them apart.I would recommend this book to those that love slow burn romance with steam, Protective possessive brothers. Found family with secrets, Wounded heroines healing through love and Big houses, bigger feelings, and legacy-level drama.
Thanks NetGalley, Rebecca Royce Publisher and Rebecca Royce for the advanced copy of "Roses, Pearls, and Hot Summer Nights" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#RebeccaRoycePublisher
#RebeccaRoyceAuthor
#Roses,Pearls,andHotSummerNights
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
December 27, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
Wow! What a hidden gem! 💖 First off, thank you to NetGalley and Rebecca Royce for letting me read an ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
I was hooked from the very first page. Alatheia, our resilient and relatable heroine, captured my heart immediately. Despite being orphaned and shuffled around from one uncaring relative to another, she carries herself with quiet strength, a touch of jaded realism, and a surprising amount of grace. She isn’t whiny or self-pitying, which made her all the more lovable. Then Dina enters her life—a kind, insightful, and motherly figure who becomes her guide, confidante, and source of warmth. The bond between Alatheia and Dina is beautiful and genuinely heartwarming. 💕
The story is set in a vibrant, intriguing world filled with mystery, family secrets, and a hint of glamour reminiscent of The Great Gatsby. Royce builds her characters and setting meticulously—Alatheia’s summer working for Dina introduces her to four grandsons, each bringing charm, tension, and moments of swoony connection. I loved watching the relationships develop, the romantic sparks, and the playful dynamics between the characters. There are laughs, heartfelt moments, and a lot of tender, emotional beats that will leave readers smiling and swooning. 😍
What really sets this book apart is its balance of drama and sweetness. Alatheia’s past trauma, the secrets of her relatives, and the challenges she faces are handled thoughtfully, making her journey of growth, friendship, and love feel authentic. Royce keeps the plot well-paced, and I couldn’t put this down—I stayed up far too late just to see what would happen next!
Overall, Roses, Pearls, and Hot Summer Nights is a captivating contemporary YA romance with a reverse harem twist, family intrigue, and plenty of swoony moments. Fans of heartfelt, character-driven stories with romance, mystery, and summer magic will adore this book. I cannot wait for the next installment in the Newport Diaries! 🌸✨
Tropes: Orphaned heroine, reverse harem, summer romance, family secrets, slow-burn romance, coming-of-age, small-town/community vibes, mentorship/motherly figure.
Thank you again to NetGalley and Rebecca Royce for the ARC—I’m so grateful for the opportunity to read this enchanting story! 💖
Wow! What a hidden gem! 💖 First off, thank you to NetGalley and Rebecca Royce for letting me read an ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
I was hooked from the very first page. Alatheia, our resilient and relatable heroine, captured my heart immediately. Despite being orphaned and shuffled around from one uncaring relative to another, she carries herself with quiet strength, a touch of jaded realism, and a surprising amount of grace. She isn’t whiny or self-pitying, which made her all the more lovable. Then Dina enters her life—a kind, insightful, and motherly figure who becomes her guide, confidante, and source of warmth. The bond between Alatheia and Dina is beautiful and genuinely heartwarming. 💕
The story is set in a vibrant, intriguing world filled with mystery, family secrets, and a hint of glamour reminiscent of The Great Gatsby. Royce builds her characters and setting meticulously—Alatheia’s summer working for Dina introduces her to four grandsons, each bringing charm, tension, and moments of swoony connection. I loved watching the relationships develop, the romantic sparks, and the playful dynamics between the characters. There are laughs, heartfelt moments, and a lot of tender, emotional beats that will leave readers smiling and swooning. 😍
What really sets this book apart is its balance of drama and sweetness. Alatheia’s past trauma, the secrets of her relatives, and the challenges she faces are handled thoughtfully, making her journey of growth, friendship, and love feel authentic. Royce keeps the plot well-paced, and I couldn’t put this down—I stayed up far too late just to see what would happen next!
Overall, Roses, Pearls, and Hot Summer Nights is a captivating contemporary YA romance with a reverse harem twist, family intrigue, and plenty of swoony moments. Fans of heartfelt, character-driven stories with romance, mystery, and summer magic will adore this book. I cannot wait for the next installment in the Newport Diaries! 🌸✨
Tropes: Orphaned heroine, reverse harem, summer romance, family secrets, slow-burn romance, coming-of-age, small-town/community vibes, mentorship/motherly figure.
Thank you again to NetGalley and Rebecca Royce for the ARC—I’m so grateful for the opportunity to read this enchanting story! 💖
December 12, 2025
I am not sure how I feel about this one. It was a good time, it was an easy read, it piqued my curiosity and kept my interest and I read it basically in two sittings. I would have absolutely no qualms recommending this for a beachside/poolside read, it serves a purpose and I think I will actually carry on with the rest of the series.
Having said that, there were a few things I struggled with. The shoe thing didn't work and it was mentioned waaaaayyyy too many times. The FMC's name is Alatheia, but the word in geek would spell Alitheia or Alethia and being Greek myself, it annoyed me a bit. And, speaking of Alatheia, she's someone I have a lot of empathy for and sympathise with, BUT I didn't connect with her to the point I particularly feel invested in her journey or arc. I found it hard to believe that she just goes with the flow without asking the questions and just being able box them for a later time. The Lent brothers are well fleshed out, uber hot and I enjoyed the sibling dymanic and relationships. The insta-love is a hard sell, to be honest, it didn't work for me and some of the things they said were beyond far fetched. Additionally, a bunch of teenagers sleeping in the same room/bed, half naked, kissing but being able to stop themselves instantly and not take things further? Hmmmm.... Also, WHY have they all fallen head over heels for this girl, how does this work? I doesn't, not really. And, in all honesty, the idea of this type of relationship working and everyone being super relaxed and chilled and not in the least jealous of each other, I can't really compute that (but this could very well be a me problem.) Maybe the next book will convince me!
Despite the above, I enjoyed reading this book and as mentioned, will probably read the next book in the series. If you like this kind of premise, definitely give it a go.
Thank you to Rebecca Royce and NetGalley for my review copy, all opinions are my own. Happy reading!
Having said that, there were a few things I struggled with. The shoe thing didn't work and it was mentioned waaaaayyyy too many times. The FMC's name is Alatheia, but the word in geek would spell Alitheia or Alethia and being Greek myself, it annoyed me a bit. And, speaking of Alatheia, she's someone I have a lot of empathy for and sympathise with, BUT I didn't connect with her to the point I particularly feel invested in her journey or arc. I found it hard to believe that she just goes with the flow without asking the questions and just being able box them for a later time. The Lent brothers are well fleshed out, uber hot and I enjoyed the sibling dymanic and relationships. The insta-love is a hard sell, to be honest, it didn't work for me and some of the things they said were beyond far fetched. Additionally, a bunch of teenagers sleeping in the same room/bed, half naked, kissing but being able to stop themselves instantly and not take things further? Hmmmm.... Also, WHY have they all fallen head over heels for this girl, how does this work? I doesn't, not really. And, in all honesty, the idea of this type of relationship working and everyone being super relaxed and chilled and not in the least jealous of each other, I can't really compute that (but this could very well be a me problem.) Maybe the next book will convince me!
Despite the above, I enjoyed reading this book and as mentioned, will probably read the next book in the series. If you like this kind of premise, definitely give it a go.
Thank you to Rebecca Royce and NetGalley for my review copy, all opinions are my own. Happy reading!
December 8, 2025
This is pretty low stakes and pretty low spice/steam for a why choose romance. Alatheia is an orphan who has been shuttled around to increasingly worse family members since her mom died five years ago. The family is loaded, but hadn't had any contact with her mom for basically forever, and they clearly are not happy about Alatheia, so her current aunt's household has her living in, essentially, a cupboard under the stairs and are pretty awful about her food and clothing upkeep.
Her aunt's downstairs neighbor, Dina, decides that Alatheia is going to be her companion for the summer and, during that time, she is also going to transcribe Dina's journals. On day 1, Alatheia meets Dina's grandson, Julian who quickly becomes attached to her. Within three-ish days, maybe less, she has Julian, Jeremy, and Barrett all following her around like puppies and trying to get her out from under the thumb of her awful family. They have questions, which has Alatheia starting to ask questions as well about what really happened with her mother and where her money, if any, went.
There are some dark plotlines in the backstories of several of the characters, particularly Alatheia and Phoenix, but this could honestly probably be considered a YA book, especially with the ages of all the characters. Alatheia's commentary about judging people by their shoes got pretty old to me pretty quickly, but for the most part I had a hard time putting this book down. I plan to continue with the series, and am looking forward to learning more about the Lent family's community in Louisiana and what the heck is going on with Alatheia's terrible family.
Her aunt's downstairs neighbor, Dina, decides that Alatheia is going to be her companion for the summer and, during that time, she is also going to transcribe Dina's journals. On day 1, Alatheia meets Dina's grandson, Julian who quickly becomes attached to her. Within three-ish days, maybe less, she has Julian, Jeremy, and Barrett all following her around like puppies and trying to get her out from under the thumb of her awful family. They have questions, which has Alatheia starting to ask questions as well about what really happened with her mother and where her money, if any, went.
There are some dark plotlines in the backstories of several of the characters, particularly Alatheia and Phoenix, but this could honestly probably be considered a YA book, especially with the ages of all the characters. Alatheia's commentary about judging people by their shoes got pretty old to me pretty quickly, but for the most part I had a hard time putting this book down. I plan to continue with the series, and am looking forward to learning more about the Lent family's community in Louisiana and what the heck is going on with Alatheia's terrible family.
October 1, 2025
I was hooked the second I started reading. Royce builds the world from the perspective of an unwanted child named Alatheia. Interestingly enough she isn’t sad and whiny. Perhaps a bit jaded and resigned to her lot but not whiny about it. She has her outlets, with her initially being super isolated. That is till Dina enters her life, an older woman who actually understands Alatheia and the position she’s in. I liked Alatheia and she’s a very relatable character. Dina just made me happy with joy, such a mother hen. She’s the perfect example of the kind of motherly influence that you can want in your life.
Royce left no stone unturned building this world, it’s vibrant, beautiful and intriguing. With the mist well developed characters and a well thought out storyline. I can’t wait for the next book! This was fantastic!
Royce left no stone unturned building this world, it’s vibrant, beautiful and intriguing. With the mist well developed characters and a well thought out storyline. I can’t wait for the next book! This was fantastic!
January 11, 2026
This is a sweet story and a wonderful beginning to Alatheia and the Lent brothers. I enjoyed getting to meet each brother and Alatheia. Their lives are so different yet they fit so well together. As Alatheia works to survive hers the brothers are thriving in theirs. When their lives collide, everything changes and the brothers will do anything to make sure she is safe and knows that she is wanted. Alatheia is a fighter and longs for what she thinks is out of her reach. When she begins to read their grandmother’s diary things begin to come into focus and Alatheia’s hopes may not be so out of reach. It was nice to see how Alatheia interacts with each brother and how they themselves interact with each other. Bonds are formed and some and strengthened as they spend more time together. Their story moves at a good pace and pulled me in. I am interested in what the future holds for them.
October 30, 2025
Amazing read! I couldn’t put it down and stayed up way too late finishing it.
From the start the story hooks you. Alatheia, has been bounced around from one horrible relative to the other since her mother’s tragic death 5 years ago. Alatheia spends the summer working for her neighbor Dina Lent who sees a lot of herself in her. She also knows what it is like to go through hard times and be an orphan at a young g age. While working for Dina she meets her 4 grandsons who all take a liking to her instantly. Alatheia gets a summer she will never forget, filled with love, friendship and family secrets.
The story is well developed and well paced. Filled with romance, laughs, mystery and intrigue. I can’t wait to read book two!
Thank you Netgallery for ARC.
From the start the story hooks you. Alatheia, has been bounced around from one horrible relative to the other since her mother’s tragic death 5 years ago. Alatheia spends the summer working for her neighbor Dina Lent who sees a lot of herself in her. She also knows what it is like to go through hard times and be an orphan at a young g age. While working for Dina she meets her 4 grandsons who all take a liking to her instantly. Alatheia gets a summer she will never forget, filled with love, friendship and family secrets.
The story is well developed and well paced. Filled with romance, laughs, mystery and intrigue. I can’t wait to read book two!
Thank you Netgallery for ARC.
December 27, 2025
actual rating = 3.75 stars
I devoured this book and found it genuinely difficult to put it down to go back to real life.
I enjoyed the characters and appreciated how well they were developed. However, the instalove aspect was hard for me to believe, as Julian, Barret, and Jeremy all develop strong feelings for Alatheia very quickly. The central mystery revolves around Alatheia's family, specifically what happened to her mom and money, which is another interesting element in the story.
Some of the darker elements included in certain characters' backstories felt slightly too heavy for a YA book, but overall, it was a great start to a series.
Thank you NetGalley and Rebecca Royce for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I devoured this book and found it genuinely difficult to put it down to go back to real life.
I enjoyed the characters and appreciated how well they were developed. However, the instalove aspect was hard for me to believe, as Julian, Barret, and Jeremy all develop strong feelings for Alatheia very quickly. The central mystery revolves around Alatheia's family, specifically what happened to her mom and money, which is another interesting element in the story.
Some of the darker elements included in certain characters' backstories felt slightly too heavy for a YA book, but overall, it was a great start to a series.
Thank you NetGalley and Rebecca Royce for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 21, 2025
Roses, pearls
Wow! What a hidden gem. Smoothly written and edited, contemporary ya reverse harem. Alatheia is only sixteen but she has lived too much life for her young age. She's retained her innocence, but has been beaten down by people who should love her and has confidence issues and suspicions. After losing her father as a toddler, she loses her mother at eleven. She's bounced around among her mother's wealthy siblings never quite fitting in. Now in NYC she meets four young brothers who have a colorful family dynamic. There are mysteries to solve and family drama which are entertaining. On to the next.
Wow! What a hidden gem. Smoothly written and edited, contemporary ya reverse harem. Alatheia is only sixteen but she has lived too much life for her young age. She's retained her innocence, but has been beaten down by people who should love her and has confidence issues and suspicions. After losing her father as a toddler, she loses her mother at eleven. She's bounced around among her mother's wealthy siblings never quite fitting in. Now in NYC she meets four young brothers who have a colorful family dynamic. There are mysteries to solve and family drama which are entertaining. On to the next.
October 8, 2025
Thank you Netgalley and the author for a chance to read Roses, pearls and hot summer nights by Rebecca Royce. This 1st book in a "new adult" series hooked me right away, and I could not put it down! I was looking for some easy reads to accompany all my October scary reads and I basically dropped everything to read about Alatheia, and her introduction to the Lent brothers; Julian, Jeremy, Barrett and Phoenix. Plenty of family secrets, drama, and just a hint of spice made me put Rebecca Royce on my must read authors lists and I can't wait for the 2nd book!!!
October 11, 2025
Wow... I tried to read slowly...
What an amazing return to writing! I have missed you so much Rebecca Royce!!! I loved this book, and tried to read slowly knowing the second was going to be a while to come out but I just couldn't delay anymore. I am invested... There has to be something you're hiding about this mystery/family/love and I cannot wait to read it. Thank you for the new characters, I loved Alatheia and the Lents. Even those we didn't learn too much about, I'm hoping there will be more about them in the next book to give us some backstory. Can't wait!
What an amazing return to writing! I have missed you so much Rebecca Royce!!! I loved this book, and tried to read slowly knowing the second was going to be a while to come out but I just couldn't delay anymore. I am invested... There has to be something you're hiding about this mystery/family/love and I cannot wait to read it. Thank you for the new characters, I loved Alatheia and the Lents. Even those we didn't learn too much about, I'm hoping there will be more about them in the next book to give us some backstory. Can't wait!
August 7, 2025
Brilliant read.
Alatheia is trying to keep her head down, Living with her aunt and staying under the radar is becoming quite difficult when her aunt won't just ignore her presence as much as she tries. Tricia wants her out the house and luckily her elderly neighbour is in need of a companion. Alatheias life is about to change in so many ways and her stance on life is forever altered.
brilliant read.
Alatheia is trying to keep her head down, Living with her aunt and staying under the radar is becoming quite difficult when her aunt won't just ignore her presence as much as she tries. Tricia wants her out the house and luckily her elderly neighbour is in need of a companion. Alatheias life is about to change in so many ways and her stance on life is forever altered.
brilliant read.
October 1, 2025
I am so glad Rebecca Royce is back writing again, her books are always so good I can’t put them down!
This might be my new favourite, I love Alatheia, and really want to see where the relationships go with the Lents, but I’m also super intrigued about her mother and her family and what skeletons are in that closet!
Great characters who you love and can relate to, a nice slow burn romance along with mysterious secrets to be uncovered who could ask for more?
This might be my new favourite, I love Alatheia, and really want to see where the relationships go with the Lents, but I’m also super intrigued about her mother and her family and what skeletons are in that closet!
Great characters who you love and can relate to, a nice slow burn romance along with mysterious secrets to be uncovered who could ask for more?
October 1, 2025
And she's back! And what a story to come back with!! The characters are great, love their personalities - even though some you want to smack. When Alatheia is given an opportunity to get out the apartment to help a neighbor, little does she know it'll change her life. The brothers are all different, but each seems to fill a need and that's great as we see it grow. And let's not forget the mysteries and Dina's journals. I can't wait for the next book!!!
October 2, 2025
Orphaned and resented Althea is just trying to survive by staying under the radar. When her Aunt wants her out of the house, becoming a companion to a wealthy elderly neighbour offers her a change to her life that is totally unexpected.
The characters grab you from the start and leave you wanting more. Such a wonderful start tot a new series. I am so glad that Rebecca has produced this book and am really looking forward to the next.
The characters grab you from the start and leave you wanting more. Such a wonderful start tot a new series. I am so glad that Rebecca has produced this book and am really looking forward to the next.
October 5, 2025
It seems like absolutely nobody wants her. Alatheia was passed from relative, to relative to....after her mother died- the sister nobody wanted around. Her life begins to change once she meets Dina, the matriarch of the Lent family, and all her grandsons. The 4 very rich, very loyal brothers care for her beyond what she's ever known. But the secrets that they all keep can either pull them together or break them apart. Fabulous book in a new series by Rebecca Royce. Simply fabulous!
October 4, 2025
An Interesting Start.
This was an intriguing start to a new series. I found myself unable to tear through the book as quickly as I would have normally. The story felt like it needed to be savored instead of devoured. I really like all of the MCs, and I am excited to unlock more secrets in the next books. I absolutely love Dina, and I cannot wait to learn more about her as well!
This was an intriguing start to a new series. I found myself unable to tear through the book as quickly as I would have normally. The story felt like it needed to be savored instead of devoured. I really like all of the MCs, and I am excited to unlock more secrets in the next books. I absolutely love Dina, and I cannot wait to learn more about her as well!
October 1, 2025
Absolutely FABULOUS!!!
Welcome to a world filled with wealth and privilege, trauma and secrets, mystery and intrigue. Have I caught your attention 😉? Alatheia captured my heart from the moment we were introduced on the page. I could. Not. Put. This. Down!! I'm already on tenterhooks awaiting the next in this exciting series. I can't wait to see who this resilient young woman will become by the end of the series.
Born from loss and trauma, with secrets hidden in her past even from herself, she is surviving the best she can. And then a fairy godmother arrives by way of wealthy neighbor Dina. More than she seems on the surface, and sees more than she should- past the mask "A" allows the world to see. Kindred spirits. Take the journey as Alatheia begins to learn about the world around her, Dina and her family, and maybe starts to learn a little about herself at the same time? Plus maybe a handsome grandson or two (or more) along the way doesn't hurt 😉. These characters will grab hold of you and leave you wanting MORE in all of the best ways. I am so excited for this new series.
Welcome to a world filled with wealth and privilege, trauma and secrets, mystery and intrigue. Have I caught your attention 😉? Alatheia captured my heart from the moment we were introduced on the page. I could. Not. Put. This. Down!! I'm already on tenterhooks awaiting the next in this exciting series. I can't wait to see who this resilient young woman will become by the end of the series.
Born from loss and trauma, with secrets hidden in her past even from herself, she is surviving the best she can. And then a fairy godmother arrives by way of wealthy neighbor Dina. More than she seems on the surface, and sees more than she should- past the mask "A" allows the world to see. Kindred spirits. Take the journey as Alatheia begins to learn about the world around her, Dina and her family, and maybe starts to learn a little about herself at the same time? Plus maybe a handsome grandson or two (or more) along the way doesn't hurt 😉. These characters will grab hold of you and leave you wanting MORE in all of the best ways. I am so excited for this new series.
October 7, 2025
Another fantastic book
I love Ms. Royce. She has a way with words that draws me me in and keeps me there. I ave read and listened to her books over and over again. This book has the angst tempered with the strength that I love in in a main characters. Definitely worth your time.
I love Ms. Royce. She has a way with words that draws me me in and keeps me there. I ave read and listened to her books over and over again. This book has the angst tempered with the strength that I love in in a main characters. Definitely worth your time.
December 23, 2025
Alot going on has a happy for now with more reveals to come I'm all in this is fabulous an I'm eager for more I am gong to be devouring the next two books as my christmas time off read and i am excited!
September 29, 2025
I loved this book. The writing and story drew me in right away, and I could not put it down. There is something genuine about Alatheia and the guys. I can't wait to read what is next for them.
dnf
December 13, 2025DNF @ 64%
December 16, 2025
Great read
Thoroughly recommend this author. All her series have strong characters & detailed plots. Genuinely cant put them down until I finish all the available books.
Thoroughly recommend this author. All her series have strong characters & detailed plots. Genuinely cant put them down until I finish all the available books.
October 2, 2025
Orphaned. Unwanted. Resented. Alatheia is simply trying to survive until she is old enough to be on her own. But then fate intervenes with one overheard conversation. A kindred soul recognizes her story and steps in to make a difference. So, Alatheia's present-day life is forever changed as history repeats itself.
I know I can not adequately describe this book. It was reminiscent of the Great Gatsby for me. The ambiance was captivating and melancholy. It was a world of decadence and deception covered by glamour. A world of money and secrets. A world where appearances meant more than substance. One of casual cruelty and lost souls. But within the world, there were people who sparkled. People who were romantic and sweet, creative and clever, who remained hopeful and genuine. Dina. Alatheia. Others tried to put them in their place, saying they didn't belong. They didn't. They were special. Technicolor in a world of black and white. And what is different causes resentment and fear except to the few who want to share a piece of the magic. Barrett, Jeremy, Julian, and Phoenix Lent each connected with a piece of Alatheia and with them, she felt safe and possibly loved.
I am so enthralled with this book and these characters. It was magical and evoked so many emotions. Alatheia had my heart. The Poor Relation who wanted to be seen even while she remained invisible. The family who should have cherished her was horrid and clearly after something. These people do not deserve her. They caused such anger and disgust. Dina had my love and admiration. She was a champion. Phoenix held my pain, the poor, broken boy. Rosalind created such turmoil within me. The characters were so flawed, there was so much ugly behavior; each stolen moment of sweetness was savored even more. And there was so much potential for future happiness. I can't wait to return to the Newport Diaries.
I know I can not adequately describe this book. It was reminiscent of the Great Gatsby for me. The ambiance was captivating and melancholy. It was a world of decadence and deception covered by glamour. A world of money and secrets. A world where appearances meant more than substance. One of casual cruelty and lost souls. But within the world, there were people who sparkled. People who were romantic and sweet, creative and clever, who remained hopeful and genuine. Dina. Alatheia. Others tried to put them in their place, saying they didn't belong. They didn't. They were special. Technicolor in a world of black and white. And what is different causes resentment and fear except to the few who want to share a piece of the magic. Barrett, Jeremy, Julian, and Phoenix Lent each connected with a piece of Alatheia and with them, she felt safe and possibly loved.
I am so enthralled with this book and these characters. It was magical and evoked so many emotions. Alatheia had my heart. The Poor Relation who wanted to be seen even while she remained invisible. The family who should have cherished her was horrid and clearly after something. These people do not deserve her. They caused such anger and disgust. Dina had my love and admiration. She was a champion. Phoenix held my pain, the poor, broken boy. Rosalind created such turmoil within me. The characters were so flawed, there was so much ugly behavior; each stolen moment of sweetness was savored even more. And there was so much potential for future happiness. I can't wait to return to the Newport Diaries.
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