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Trouble Lies: Deadly Orders, Book One | Sovereign Assassin Universe
Halie House kills dragons before breakfast, and she’s good at it.
By day she works as a barista. By night she serves as a Sovereign Assassin. When her latest mission in New York goes up in flames, she is benched and replaced by the one man she swore never to see again, Xavier Wolf.
Her ex and fellow assassin.
Now forced to back him up on a high-risk hunt in DC, Halie finds herself caught between ruthless dragon overlords, old lies, and a fake dating cover that feels far too real.
As old secrets surface and new flames ignite, Halie must decide which is deadlier, the dragons she’s sworn to kill or the man she never stopped loving.
In a world where dragons rule the boardrooms and assassins rule the night, love is the most dangerous game of all, and this time it might just burn them both.
If you love urban fantasy romance with dragon shifters, forced proximity, and high-stakes second chances, this story will set your heart on fire.
Part of the Sovereign Assassin Universe, featuring interconnected stories with standalone heroines and sizzling, high-stakes romance.
By day she works as a barista. By night she serves as a Sovereign Assassin. When her latest mission in New York goes up in flames, she is benched and replaced by the one man she swore never to see again, Xavier Wolf.
Her ex and fellow assassin.
Now forced to back him up on a high-risk hunt in DC, Halie finds herself caught between ruthless dragon overlords, old lies, and a fake dating cover that feels far too real.
As old secrets surface and new flames ignite, Halie must decide which is deadlier, the dragons she’s sworn to kill or the man she never stopped loving.
In a world where dragons rule the boardrooms and assassins rule the night, love is the most dangerous game of all, and this time it might just burn them both.
If you love urban fantasy romance with dragon shifters, forced proximity, and high-stakes second chances, this story will set your heart on fire.
Part of the Sovereign Assassin Universe, featuring interconnected stories with standalone heroines and sizzling, high-stakes romance.
452 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 12, 2026
1 person is currently reading
11 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 9, 2026
Spoiler Free Review: 3 stars
Thank you to the author T.S. Devon for allowing me to ARC read. I am voluntarily leaving this review.
The pacing of the story was pretty steady for me, I didn’t think there were any super slow times.
I love a caring, chivalrous, and understanding man and Xavier Wolf is just that.
This is a solid read but for me personally I was just confused about how she is the infamous Halie House but she 1. Failed to exterminate her target 2. Keeps losing her weapons 3. Unable to be professional or maintain her cover (Xavier was constantly having to remind her to smile or act like whatever they’re trying to portray but if she has been doing this since she was 18 (hopefully I’m remembering that correctly, if not then please correct me😅) then it should be second nature to her right??
Oh and the other part that was frustrating was learning why Halie broke up with Xavier. When that came to the surface I was thinking “Really that’s the reason why you broke up with him?”
Anyway, I did enjoy the action and the story, just couldn't really connect to the characters.
Thank you to the author T.S. Devon for allowing me to ARC read. I am voluntarily leaving this review.
The pacing of the story was pretty steady for me, I didn’t think there were any super slow times.
I love a caring, chivalrous, and understanding man and Xavier Wolf is just that.
This is a solid read but for me personally I was just confused about how she is the infamous Halie House but she 1. Failed to exterminate her target 2. Keeps losing her weapons 3. Unable to be professional or maintain her cover (Xavier was constantly having to remind her to smile or act like whatever they’re trying to portray but if she has been doing this since she was 18 (hopefully I’m remembering that correctly, if not then please correct me😅) then it should be second nature to her right??
Oh and the other part that was frustrating was learning why Halie broke up with Xavier. When that came to the surface I was thinking “Really that’s the reason why you broke up with him?”
Anyway, I did enjoy the action and the story, just couldn't really connect to the characters.
February 12, 2026
Why did I do this to myself?
I just finished this at 2:47 AM and I don't even care.
I picked up Wild Cards a few months ago and loved it, but Trouble Lies is a whole different beast. Same world, same dragon rules, but this one grabbed me by the throat and didn't let go. Halie's voice is such an interesting character I laughed during scenes where I was terrified for her life.
The pacing is RELENTLESS. I thought I'd read a couple chapters before bed. Well that was a mistake. Every time I thought I could put it down, something exploded or someone said something or Halie did something and I just had to keep going.
Also Xavier. That's all I'm saying.
I'm becoming a serious fan of this author. I could see everything, and the romance is chef’s kiss. Halie losing her weapons had me cracking up.
Anyway I'm exhausted and need the next book immediately and also coffee. Read this. You won't regret it. Your sleep schedule might, but you won't.
I just finished this at 2:47 AM and I don't even care.
I picked up Wild Cards a few months ago and loved it, but Trouble Lies is a whole different beast. Same world, same dragon rules, but this one grabbed me by the throat and didn't let go. Halie's voice is such an interesting character I laughed during scenes where I was terrified for her life.
The pacing is RELENTLESS. I thought I'd read a couple chapters before bed. Well that was a mistake. Every time I thought I could put it down, something exploded or someone said something or Halie did something and I just had to keep going.
Also Xavier. That's all I'm saying.
I'm becoming a serious fan of this author. I could see everything, and the romance is chef’s kiss. Halie losing her weapons had me cracking up.
Anyway I'm exhausted and need the next book immediately and also coffee. Read this. You won't regret it. Your sleep schedule might, but you won't.
February 17, 2026
If you like slow burn romances with action packed scenes all the way to the end, the this book is for you.
Unfortunately it just wasn’t for me, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a solid book as a whole. I do wish there would have been a prologue that went into some detail as to why Halie left Xander in the beginning. It left me confused more than intrigued when they kept eluding to ‘before’ all the time.
✨No third act breakup ✨No spice ✨No cliffhanger
Unfortunately it just wasn’t for me, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a solid book as a whole. I do wish there would have been a prologue that went into some detail as to why Halie left Xander in the beginning. It left me confused more than intrigued when they kept eluding to ‘before’ all the time.
✨No third act breakup ✨No spice ✨No cliffhanger
February 28, 2026
I really enjoyed this book. It was action packed from beginning to end! This is the first Dragon fantasy I read and it did not disappoint. I loved the second chance romance between Halie and Xavier. The constant pull between wanting to love but not knowing if the next battle would be the last was beautiful. Great read!
March 5, 2026
An action filled, slow burn, romance, with an actual end? Say no more. Everything you'll ever want. With a dynamic push and shove between the MCs, you wonder who will win. My vote is for Xavier. Halie just rubbed me the wrong way. Great read, I just could not connect with it.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews