King of Hearts

Hearts #3

by L.H. Cosway

In London's financial district, Oliver King is a rising prince.

Ambitious, intelligent and educated, Oliver wants to excel. His goal is to surpass the achievements of his peers and those who came before him. He doesn’t care much for love and romance until Alexis walks into his office. Oliver's new executive assistant lights up a room with her quick wit and charm. He’s never met a woman quite like her and can’t resist the banter they share. However, their forbidden love affair is short-lived and outside forces pry them apart.

Years later Alexis and Oliver finally find their way back to each other. But can she forgive him for leaving her behind all those years ago? And is he the same man she used to know?

***King of Hearts is standalone romance that tells the story of Oliver King, first encountered in Hearts of Fire. This is the third book in L.H. Cosway's Hearts series.***

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, New Adult, Second Chance, Friends To Lovers, Adult

397 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 16, 2015

About the author

L.H. Cosway lives in Ireland. Her inspiration to write comes from music. Her favourite things in life include writing stories, food, musical comedy, and of course, books. She thinks that imperfect people are the most interesting kind. They tell the best stories.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LHCosway

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LHCosway

Mailing List: https://lhcoswayauthor.com/newsletter/

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/lhcosway13/

Website: www.lhcoswayauthor.com

Reviews

[Amy | Foxy Blogs · Rating 5 out of 5]

on sale for $.99-> http://amzn.to/1LQX9D1
For more $.99 deals -> http://amzn.to/1LVCEof
10/25/2015

I’m a long time fan of L.H. Cosway’s work. My first experience with her was a few years ago with the book Painted Faces. I was so moved by that book it became one of my top reads for that year. When the HEARTS series began with Jay’s book I was hooked. The blurbs for this series are some of the must compelling and best blurbs I've read. KING OF HEARTS is the third book in the series but is written in a way that it could be read as a standalone. The reader meets Oliver King in book 2 and is given just enough information to intrigue the reader to want to know more about him. The King of Hearts is broken into 2 parts: Before and After.

BEFORE
We met King in ‘Hearts of Fire’ where he’s a broken man. He’s hiding out in the circus avoiding life by drinking himself into an oblivion. KING OF HEARTS begins 6 years prior where King is a rich business man who is an enigma to his employees. The secrets he holds close to him has everyone in the office speculating about his personal life.

Alexis is hired to be King’s new assistant and she is a feisty one. The banter she has with King is entertaining. As the two of them blur the lines between work and a personal relationship King’s secret is revealed to her. It’s a secret that breaks him…

AFTER
The aftermath of the secret is where we met King in the prior book. Even though he’s a minor character in that book he is still one that makes the reader want to know HOW and WHY he has fallen so far from greatness. When Alexis finds King she must decide if she’ll be able to be with the man he has become.



STEAMY
Whoa!!! The sexy time was off-the-charts!! King and Alexis don’t hold back on the steaminess they create between the pages of this book. I had to think back in the other books by Ms. Cosway and try to remember if they had this level of sexy-time... and I think it's safe to say they didn't. If you enjoy steaminess in a book than you'll enjoy this one because it was just the right amount for this couple.

I’m shelving King of Hearts with my of other books by Ms. Cosway as a WINNER. Her books are excellent and the storyline keeps you intrigued from the beginning to the end. Now, the wait begins for the next book - Hearts of Blue .

✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦
RELEASE DATE: July 16, 2015
Pre-order | order: http://amzn.to/1LQX9D1

STANDALONE
King of Hearts is standalone romance that tells the story of Oliver King, first encountered in Hearts of Fire. -LH Cosway

**Complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.**

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS! ★★★★★



“I never stopped loving you, not even in my darkest hour.”

Every time I pick up a LH Cosway book, I know I can expect wonderful things. They're magical in a way that I find myself easily whisked away in any world she creates. Her stories always have this touch of realism with beautifully flawed characters whom you could easily relate to. But above all, each story she puts out is refreshingly unique and she paints a tale so vividly with her words that you'll fall in love hard with.

When we were introduced with King in her previous book Hearts of Fire, I already knew this will be quite different from the rest in the series. For that reason alone, I've been DYING to read his story. Oliver King as we learnt previously, was a homeless alcoholic whose sister was the ringmaster of the Circus Spektakular. Rumor has it that he was once a king in the financial empire but after his downfall, he was so closed up that no one could get through to him. And now, we'll get his story.



King of Hearts is a story told in two parts; the before and the after. The 'before' part starts off with Alexis Clark who's about to attend a job interview at a prestigious bank in Canary Wharf for a position as an exec assistant to one of its head directors, Oliver King. Only with a diploma and years long experience as a barmaid, Alexis didn't think she'd stand a chance but she was not one to easily back down either. Charmed by her wit and brutal honesty, King knew that she was the right woman for the job.



The dynamic between these two was incredible right from the beginning. Both of them equally charming with their way of words and their banters skirting the line of that undeniable attraction they had for each other. And the sexual tension? It was painstaking to watch as they fought to stay within the boundaries of a strictly professional relationship. But it can only be so long till King claims his queen and set off the scorching moments in this read.



With all the good things that happened, I already knew the inevitable downfall was coming and I was biting my nails in anticipation to see the events unfold. And when it did, I didn't expect my heart to be painfully crushed knowing what drove King to be who he is in the present. You can hardly blame a man who almost had everything at his fingertips but still be plagued by a past that refused to let him go.



The 'after' part brings us back to the present time where King drowns in his pain with alcohol at the circus. Only this time we finally got to see from Alexis's end and thankfully with the help of the circus, a reunion was due. With 5 years that had gone by, these two will have a tough emotional time ahead of them as they come to terms with the aftermath of events that tore them apart. The journey to recovery wasn't an easy one but with enough patience and love, Alexis was determined to bring her king back to his rightful place.



King of Hearts is a read that stays true to LH Cosway's vividly beautiful writing style but yet stands apart from her other work as King's story proves to be the most emotional one yet in this series. With joy, there is pain and with highs, there are lows. I laughed, I swooned and I cried but by the end, I was grinning like a fool (yes considered yourself assured that there is a HEA!). LH Cosway brings you on a remarkable journey that is uplifting and emotional at the same time. I'm in awe with the level of work this author delivers every single time and this one is no different.

I find it impossible to not fall in love with her stories and her eccentric characters that are so endearing. Easily a winner read for me and a 2015 highlight read that everyone should lookout for. In fact, I would highly recommend all of LH Cosway's work if you have yet to read her books!



King of Hearts is the third in the Hearts series and can be read as a standalone. However, I will highly recommend to read Hearts of Fire first to get a better insight of King's character.

ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[~♡AB♡~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

★★★★★ 5 Stars ★★★★★

Now LIVE!
Amazon - http://on.fb.me/1CIVsob
Amazon UK - http://amzn.to/1KYhF2K



Oliver King. We met him in Hearts of Fire, he was an alcoholic, he was distraught, an emotional and physical mess. Homeless. This is the story of Before and After.

This book filled me with happiness, knocked me down, trampled on my heart and then gradually lifted me back up again - I am sitting here welling up at the thought of it. It was simply beautiful.

Set in the hustle an bustle of Canary Wharf, one of London's major business districts, Alexis Clark is an East End barmaid who decides to put her administration diploma to good use and applies for a job at one of the top investment banks in the UK.

Oliver King finds Alexis refreshing, she has no filter, says inappropriate things and makes him laugh and offers her the job the very next day.

King is a very educated man, is at the top of his game and is highly charming, which is why Alexis decides to keep him at arms length and despite the attraction between them they become friends and decide to attempt to resist the temptation to tear each others clothes off.



The sexual tension at this point was through the roof, it's not long before King makes claim.

"I felt like a small animal being preyed upon by an expert hunter. He'd caught me out, and I was under no illusions that he was going to make this easy for me."

This first half of this story is a friends to lovers theme which had me smiling, laughing and falling in love with these two characters, but with nervous dread as to what was to come.

When the events occurred that led to King's destructive downfall, I was so upset, I was sad for the woman who loved him so fiercely, and I was in agony for the broken man that he became.

But never fear, because L.H Cosway has written a wonderful and loving character in Alexis and it is her job to save the man who gave her confidence and affection and unconditional love. When she receives a letter from the travelling circus, she is determined to give him back his crown and title of King of her world, as she is his Queen.



This was an emotional and uplifting story, I absolutely loved it. I loved that it was set in my city, and that Alexis was so relatable; she was funny and kind with a sense of humour and a heart of gold.

King was absolutely charming, he was sexy and confident and adored Alexis. It was heartbreaking to see such a strong man fall.

"Shame. Pain. Loss. Fear. More shame.
So much fucking shame I could barely breathe with it."

His recovery was tough but King was strong, and along with the people he loved close by, he found the path to happiness once again.



The writing was stunningly beautiful, and the emotions that this story brought out of me has definitely placed this book on my top 10 favourite shelf of 2015.

ETA - I forgot to mention the epilogue! It was so clever, and lovely. It was told in King's POV and covered his perspective of all the best bits. So, so good.

This is a standalone contemporary romance written in Alexis' POV. It is not necessary to have read the previous books in this series, but I highly recommend them, or at least to have some insight to King's character in Hearts of Fire.

ARC gratefully received from the author in exchange for an honest review

[L.H. Cosway]

King of Hearts is now live!!

[✦❋Arianna✦❋ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!!



“King of Hearts” is the third installment in L.H Cosway series entitled, “Hearts” and like its predecessors it can be read as a standalone. Before everything else I have to say this series’ title is very well picked and if you choose to read any installment you will know why I’m saying this. This 3rd book in the series was as fantastic as the previous installments. It was unique, beautifully written, refreshing and had me glued to the pages from the very first chapter. “King of Hearts” was the most emotional installment in the series so far and while wasn’t my favorite it was an incredible read and a great addition to this series. Needless to say I highly recommend you to try it or any other installments in this wonderful series.

“The bigger our hearts, the more beautiful our souls.”

This installment is told in two parts – the before and the after and is told entirely from the heroine’s POV, Alexis.

We met out male main character, King in the previous installment and I have to be honest here, he intrigued me like no other character I have met so far in this series. In the present King is a homeless alcoholic who's not living. He only exists. He’s traveling with his sister’s circus, The Circus Spektacular and he doesn’t have many friends. He’s a broken man and he drinks to forget what or who nobody knows. No one knows what happened with him or who he was before he started drinking.



The past starts off with Alexis Clark, a young woman in her twenties who’s about to attend a job interview at a prestigious bank in Canary Wharf for a position as an executive assistant to one of its head directors, Oliver King. She has a diploma, but she doesn’t have any experience, so she’s absolutely sure she won’t get the job. Alexis is witty, confident, she has no filter and she manages to charm King from the start. ( and me of course because let me tell you I loved the sh*t out of her from the beginning)

“I had a feeling there was far more to Oliver King than met the eye.”

King is successful, confident, charming and sexy. Alexis feels a strong attraction toward him, but she’s determined to keep the distance. King wants Alexis, but he doesn’t do relationships. At the moment he doesn’t have space in his life for a real partner. King and Alexis become friends, both agreeing staying away from each other it’s for the best, but as the chemistry between them grows each and every day and they start falling for the other, they can't stay apart anymore.




King and Alexis’s chemistry was sizzling from the very beginning and the sexual tension was delicious. It goes without saying that the sexy scenes between them were hotter than hell. I also loved the dynamic between them. They were simply perfect for each other and they completed each other in every single way. They made me smile and swoon with the way they were with each other and let’s not forget the witty banter between them who made me grin more times than I can count. Loved it!

Something happens and King and Alexis are separated for five years, five years in which neither of them forgot or stopped loving the other.

“I never stopped loving you, not even in my darkest hour”

I loved King and Alexis, individually and together. They were such endearing and maybe even relatable characters, both in the past and in the present. King from the past was charming and everything, but King from the present, the one who got me intrigued since I’ve read the previous book in the series, won my heart completely. My heart broke one thousand times for this man. He was so tortured, so lost and I’m glad he had some good friends who helped him and brought him back to life and of course a little later Alexis, a strong, kind-hearted woman I fell in love with more and more reading this story.

The story is beautifully written, the storytelling once again is stellar and the cast of supportive characters just lovely. I loved the epilogue which is told from King’s POV. I really would have liked more chapters in his POV.

All in all, “King of Hearts” was a fantastic emotional friends lo lovers story (the past)/second chance romance (the present), with two flawed, yet lovable characters and a touching love story that will make you smile and swoon.

[Patrycja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: King of Hearts
Series: Hearts #3; can be read as a standalone, however I recommend reading Hearts of Fire first.
Author: L.H Cosway
Release Date: 16 July, 2015
Rating: 5+++++ stars
Cliffhanger:. No
HEA: Yes





It’s probably the hundredth time (or at least it feels like that to me) when I am challenged to write down my thoughts about Lorraine Cosway’s book and it’s absolutely stressing, hair pulling, nails biting task. I want my review to be simply perfect and worthy of the author’s work. I actually feel the need to make my gushing review (because how can it not be gushing? It’s L.H Cosway book we are talking about) sparkle and be just tiny little bit as magical and heart capturing as the book I’ve just read.

By now though, I know it’s completely impossible. There is absolutely nothing sparkle worthy inside my head right now. Frankly, right now my brain reminds me of big puddle of mushy goo filled with scattered thoughts and fangirling squeals. So there is a great possibility my review will be one hot mess of ‘ohs and ahs’ and one of the longest praises of the author’s talent.

“I never stopped loving you, not even in my darkest hour.”

From the moment we were introduced to the mysterious and broken Oliver King in Hearts of Fire I was sure I was in for a hell of a ride. I was anticipating King’s story like a junkie anticipates his next fix – lots of screaming in pain and nervous breakdowns; there was nothing pretty about it, I assure you. I wanted my hands on this book so much that when my wish finally came true I was an unstoppable beast, simply flaying through the pages of it. I don’t regret a single minute.



King of Hearts is told in Alexis Clark POV. Divided into two parts titled ‘Before’ and ‘After’, we slowly learn all the details of Oliver King’s heart wrenching past. With every new discovered puzzle I fell in love with him even harder.

‘Before’ is engaging, heart fluttering, LOL romance, that will warm you up and make you addicted to the main characters and their banter and theatrics. In this part we meet Oliver King on the top of his game as a successful, energetic businessman with spark and sass. Alexis is employed by him as his PA and they quickly become friends. Slowly we learn their history and the events that placed Oliver in the position from Hearts of Fire.

‘After’ is completely different tale, however. It’s heartbreaking journey of healing, letting go and fighting with the scariest demons. It’s also absolutely breathtaking and captivating.

King of Hearts managed to throw me on my knees, break my heart over and over again and then mend it carefully and put big smile on my face. The story of Alexis and Oliver was simply amazing! Incredibly sensual, moving and exceptionally beautiful journey of love I have never had the chance to read about before. It felt so real and so magical at the same time, I still feel like crying from all of those emotions building inside me, even though few days has passed since I finished reading Oliver’s story.



From the start to finish the author’s fabulous storytelling kept me on my toes. Lorraine has the amazing ability to capture all of me – she uses words as the greatest tool and enslaves me with them; she creates tales so vivid and real my little heart is not able to take all of it without racing like crazy and then stopping once in a while. They are just so bittersweet and decadent; and yet they are the thing I crave the most. I never want to stop climbing on her rollercoasters. I never want to stop reading her stories and living inside them.

King Of Hearts is the absolute winner of Summer 2015; I just know it, despite it being only July. I can’t even imagine reading a book better than this one, so I’m putting Oliver and Alexis as the The King and Queen of Summer reading. There will be no couple as engaging and beautiful as them.



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[♥Sharon♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was able to read Six of Hearts and Hearts of Fire back to back and I absolutely loved both of them. Within Hearts of Fire we get to meet King and L.H. Cosway deviously revealed pieces of him that for me spurred an intrigue that had me anxiously awaiting his story. And I knew I would love him. I knew once his story unfolded I would get lost in his world. I hated for it to end.

I finished this yesterday and I have been thinking about Oliver King and Alexis Clark’s story. Actually, I have been thinking about this whole series and what I love about it. What comes to mind is how beautifully flawed these characters are and how endearing and enticing each of their stories are. L.H. Cosway’s writing is vibrant, heartfelt and very distinctive.



Oliver King’s story is told in two parts; Before and After. In the beginning of King of Hearts, Alexis Clark becomes Oliver’s assistant in his fast passed Financial Corporation. She may not have been the expected choice but this was a chance for Alexis to change things in her life. Alexis was that whimsical kind of girl and Oliver was so serious. Their sexual banter provided for a temptation that both teetered with until King could take no more. Alexis was going to be his Queen.

King ~ I adored every inch of this man. But my heart settled with the “After” King. It was the flawed and broken man that I couldn’t stop thinking about. He had hit rock bottom but then saw the beauty again.



Alexis ~ She was a delightful and voluptuous woman. She was a beauty and she was King’s saving grace.



Oliver’s life wasn’t a simple one. He lived for success and acknowledgement but not for the money. He had very little family but fiercely protected them. With Alexis in his life he had a new kind of happiness but he was only able to hold on to it for a short time. One night King was brought to his knees experiencing something that helps explains his present desolate life.



As King drowns his pain at the bottom of a bottle he is still surrounded by people who want and need to help him. Five years have passed by and finally something is about to change. He is about to see his beauty again. Alexis would take him on another journey but this one won’t be as easy as the first. She offers him bits and pieces of the life he once had, the things he once loved but it would be King who would have to grab hold of it.



King of Hearts was such a beautifully written story. I adored both Oliver and Alexis and the end was just perfect. I loved that Jay and Jack where present in the “After” part and their wives too.

It is mentioned that this book is a standalone which is true but I would highly recommend that you at least read Hearts of Fire so that you have a little insight on who King is. This whole series is amazing. You will love them all.

ARC kindly provided by L.H.Cosway in return for an honest review.

[Penny Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe I haven't reviewed this yet... especially since I've read it two times since it released.

I don't think L.H. Cosway can write something I won't love. She just... *gets me* as a reader. I want unique, I want interesting, I want sexy, I want to think, I want to be surprised. She always surprises me. 'King of Hearts' was a perfect example of why L.H. Cosway is my highest of high author crushes.

Let's talk about the characters...
My Alexis

Bitch, she's fabulous. And she's also my new favorite romance novel heroine EVER. Her one liners had me laughing out loud and I loved how honest she was with herself. I also loved that she was strong, had depth, a real personality... she felt real to me. Love.

My King

That's right, he's a young Simon Baker. BAM!
I think I pictured Simon Baker because he has this habit of playing flawed yet beautiful male characters. King was flawed, but he was also beautiful (inside and out).

Favorite scene: TOO MANY!!! I had too many favorite scenes... but I really loved the the first time they came together... see what I did there?? ;-)
I loved that they were eating pizza one minute then all over each other the next. YES!

Okay, that's my crazy, sleep deprived review.
I love/loved this book. Love.

[Mo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much, Ms Cosway! Much appreciated.


Ok, I did enjoy this one but there were a few issues that were in it that prevented it from being a 5 star review for me. This author is wonderful. Her lyrics are flowing and if she could make me drop everything on a Sunday and keep me riveted to keep reading, she is doing something right.


We had "Before" and "After". While Before was engaging and interesting I really wanted to get to the After. I mean, who wasn't captivated by King in the previous book... he came across as much older in the previous book. Not in this one.... he seemed more vulnerable and younger. I preferred the older, grouchy character.


Set in Canary Wharf, King and Alexis seem to have an instant connection. She is from a working class family, has ordinary friends and sort of wants to better her self. She interviews for a position at his firm and he is intrigued. So is she.



So why not 5 stars? The main issue for me was .... King is an alcoholic. but suddenly Alexis re-appears in his life and he can just give up the booze. FFS, I love my wine but I sometimes feel I might need intervention if I had to give it up.... I thought it was totally unrealistic that he could go cold turkey without any medical intervention. TBH, I don't know much about this but if you have been drinking your socks off for years, surely you would need some sort of "help"? I would have preferred to see more of his struggle with this issue.



I enjoyed meeting the characters from the previous books.
OK, maybe I am a picky bitch and I hate nit-picking but I think the author will prefer an honest review. And I, for sure, am one to rant and rave about 5 STAR ARC reviews... so I am just being honest. L.H. Cosway is quite young I think so if this is some of her earlier work, I sure want to be on board for future books.


Anyhoo .... I will read anything by this author. I love her style, her prose, her attention to detail.



Is Rome not inland? Is there a beach near there? I know, I know, shut the fuck up Maura, you critical wench.


Sad to say, I remember those cameras.

[Catarina · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Second Chance Stars.

Six years ago Oliver King was one of the most powerful man in the business world. The world was his to conquer and he had every intention of doing it. Until he fell in love with his assistant, Alexis and he began to see that there was more to the world than money and power. But as the same time Alexis was changing her life a tragic accident puts an end to all of it, turning one of the most powerful man in the world into a broken man, lost in alcohol, living in the shadows, hiding in her sister’s circus. When life puts them in the same path again, Alexis is determined to bring back she fell in love some years ago, but can King stop living inside the memories that haunt him and begin living in reality?



I’m ashamed to say that I begin to read L.H Cosway books way later than I should. Because it seems that every time I read one of her books I completely fall in love with the story and with the characters. This one was no exception. With an exceptional writing and an amazing talent for storytelling, L.H. Cosway delivers (yet again) an amazing romance story that will take you in an emotional and beautiful journey that you will not want to leave, You will be suck by the world of Oliver and Alexis, by the eccentric feeling of the circus and for a love story so whimsical that I can assure you that this book will stay with you for a while. Way after you finish it. Now, seriously, what are you waiting for?



Rating: 5 Stars,
Characters Development: I seriously loved Alexis, she was without a doubt one of the best heroines I’ve read in a long time. I love how after so long she didn’t hesitate in fighting for king. She was one of the sweetest and strong heroines I’ve read about. Even if this book was all about her I’m pretty sure I would still love it anyway. I was curious about King since the photo drama in “Hearts Of Fire” and let me say it didn’t disappoint. It was painful to see his transformation from a powerful man to a broken one, but it was also amazing to see him come to life again. Definitely one of those book couples that will stay with me for a long time.
Steam: Some hot scenes.
Sensible Subjects: Alcoholism.
Love Triangle: No.
Cheating: No.
HEA: Yes.

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars



From the moment King was introduced in Hearts of Fire, my interest was peaked. Oliver King was a hot mess, an alcoholic with emotional issues, but a spark that had me drawn to him. I just knew his story would be special, and I love when my instincts are right. King's story of past and present was everything I could have hoped for, I absolutely adored every minute.

[Pavlina Read more sleep less blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 AMAZING STARS

"I knew it would be like this for us,
Effortless."

This book is simply amazing!!I loved it so much,King is something else!!I was so excited to read his book because the truth is when I met him in Hearts of Fire I wanted so bad to know him better!!I can't decide so far which one is my favorite character in this series because seriously these men are simply amazing!!Each one is unique and has something special to give me!!I loved all of them!!And I'm so excited each time I read a new book in this series!!




Past...
Some years ago, Oliver King is a successful businessman. Alexis is a young girl who will go for an interview for the position of Oliver King’s executive assistant.King is impressed with her honesty and personality and he hires her!Soon these two except of working together will become friends..And this will lead in something more..Because their connection and passion can't hide.
..Now...
King and Alexis are not together..King isn't the same man as in the past..Alexis will learn that he is in a circus and will go there and try to help him..It is up to her to bring him back...But can she do it??


L.H. Cosway knows how to write fantastic heroines!!I loved so much Alexis,she managed to captivate me with her personality!!She is
strong,confident,honest,charming and smart!Maybe I have a little crash with her!!King is so stunning!!I loved him because except that he is hot and gorgeous he is also smart,funny and sweet!!He made me laugh so much and I was swooning so often..*sigh*I loved their relationship because first they started as friends!Flirting and then create a strong relationship with an intense connection!!





I highly recommend this series!!L.H. Cosway is so talented author!!I loved her stories and I'm so happy to read whatever she writes!Are you ready to meet King and Alexis??

[Christie«SHBBblogger» · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: King of Hearts
Series: Hearts #3
Author: L.H. Cosway
Release date: July 16, 2015
Cliffhanger: No
HEAYes



I had a feeling there was far more to Oliver King than met the eye.

I feel so fortunate to have been given the opportunity to read this book early. I'm not afraid to admit that L.H. Cosway is one of those authors for me that I will do some major social media stalking. Her storytelling always takes me to a place where I've never gone before and I never want to return from. It doesn't matter what the premise or characters are like, I can always trust that she will write something that will move me. And that is what sets her apart from so many other authors.

This is a second chance romance to all of those who aren't familiar with the previous books in the series. We met King in Hearts of Fire when he's in a really dark place in his life. Knowing where he will end up, I knew going in that there would be a separation, but if you haven't read HOF, be prepared for the story to be broken up into a "before and "after".

I had a feeling King would steal my heart, but I had no idea how much Alexis would win me over as well. She is now one of my favorite heroines, probably tied with Freda from Painted Faces. If you've read it, you're probably doubting me right now, but trust me, she is going to convince you. I love strong heroines. No, I need them. And this lady right here has every female character trait I love and more.



She's had to struggle and fight for good things to come into her life, but she never lets anyone make her believe she is less. She's confident and values herself and that is something that never falters throughout the book. Not only is this heroine have lady balls of steel, she's witty with a killer sense of humor. And her blunt honesty perfectly matches King's, it's one of the things that made them incredible together.



They were like a male/female version of each other and I couldn't get enough of their banter and flirting in the "before". It was insanely good!

..."If Mr. Hirota is willing to do business in a place like this, then I worry how he might behave with a woman who looks like you."
I chuckled and deadpanned, "Tell me about it. Wherever I go, I'm constantly terrorized by men getting spontaneous erections around me. It's such a chore being a sex bomb."

All the teasing and covert longing between them made for some top notch sexual tension. This is one of the many things that this author does so well. After she realizes that she is in major lust with her new boss Oliver King, bigshot investment banker, she tells him one little white lie to keep her hormones in line. And that works-for a while. But as they develop a warm friendship and attachment to one another it becomes increasingly harder to hold back all of her true feelings.

Once King and Alexis get past their initial standoff, first off they burn up the sheets together, (and a few other surfaces). It is scorching, people. I'm not even going to try to explain how much chemistry these two characters have. Anything I say wouldn't be enough. But I'll leave this little bit right here for you:

He climbed up the bed until his hands were braced on either side of my head.
He sucked in a deep breath, his eyes traveling back and forth between mine as he swiped his thumb across my bottom lip. His voice was husky as he spoke. "The way you come is fucking devastating."
The way he spoke was fucking devastating.



As hot as this part of their relationship was, what really convinced me of their love was how much they had in common, and the time they spent getting to know one another during their friend phase. It really makes you believe in their compatibility and the flawlessness of them as a couple. Waiting for disaster to strike and come between them was a shadow hanging over my head and I knew that it was not going to be easy to read.



One of the things that sets this book apart is the way L.H. Cosway presents us with her tortured hero. Who doesn't love reading about that hero that's living in darkness only to be led into the light by the heroine? What you don't usually see is each side of that character's downfall. We see King at the top of his game, on top of the world. And we see him destroyed and broken and very, very lost. We see every facet of his life and that's what I really loved about King of Hearts. It was a beautiful story about survival-a love that endures through tragedy and a man who becomes stronger through it all. I can't say enough about this story. The beautiful message it conveyed was so inspiring and touching.



There really is a special quality in each and every one of her books that enchants me, an essence that you feel so distinctly even though each story is so individual from each other. She writes about perfectly imperfect characters. Ones who will charm you and make you want to be a part of their lives, even if it's only for a short while. King of Hearts was no exception. The only thing predictable about it? How much it will make you feel. Do not miss out on this book!

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[Eliza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: King of Hearts
Series: Hearts, #3
Author: L.H. Cosway
Release date: 16th July, 2015
Cliffhanger: No
HEA: Yes





King of Hearts can easily and simply be summarised in a single word: Perfection. Lorraine is an author who is beloved by my blogger besties, Christie & Patrycja and there are a whole host of incredible reviews by friends here on Goodreads for her Hearts Series. I'm pleased to say I've finally got a clue and had the immense pleasure of experiencing it for myself.

As someone who originally hails from Hackney in the East End, I absolutely loved that this was set not only in the backdrop of London but also in areas I grew up in. It focuses on two characters I found impossible to not fall in love with. Alexis Clark and Oliver King. Employee and Employer. Both hard working, driven individuals who hail from different walks of life but have a common genuine interest in each other and not to mention scorching attraction.



The first time they are together is nothing short of explosive. I adored King and his filthy, cultured mouth but even more so, I enjoyed the depth of his character. Alexis' character is an admirable, charismatic one; weaker female leads would have been swallowed up by King's enigma but Alexis not only holds her own but shows a strength that even King himself later leans on. There were moments that left me bereft and my heart broke for them both but also there were such hilarious, uplifting moments it was truly hard (not that I wanted to) to find fault.

This is the part where I confess that I haven't read the first two books in the series. Although they are technically standalones, they are interlinked and recurring characters are introduced in the latter half of the story. If like me you are thinking of jumping into the series here, I wouldn't discourage you. Lorraine tells the story in such a magnificent way, I never felt as though I was missing out in any capacity. My experience in receiving the story may have been different but I don't believe there was any difference in it's impact.



L.H. Cosway has a style of writing, I felt it all the way back when I read The Nature of Cruelty it's relatable, intelligent, emotive and incredibly sexy. Having finished with a huge grin on my face, it won't take a genius to figure out I'm definitely jumping into its predecessors.



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[Samantha Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Addictive. Consuming. Witty. Heartbreaking. Brilliant—King of Hearts is one of my favourite reads of 2015! I was intrigued by Oliver King’s mysterious story in Hearts of Fire, and that suspense carried on into King of Hearts. His story is epic and now I can’t make up my mind which of Cosway’s heroes in the Hearts series I’m most in love with. KOH is a fantastic addition to what has quickly become one of my all time favourite series.
LH Cosway is a truly refreshing voice in romance and now a definite one-click buy author for me.

[Jennifer Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 Stars

"Sometimes we see someone and they just suit us. They're beautiful to us in every way. You're that person to me."

[Wendy'sThoughts · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 To Forgive and Be Forgiven Stars
* * * * 1/2 Spoiler Free
I stayed up through the night and immersed myself in this world. I didn't take a break and became one with the book. I admit it took me a while to do this review and during the time I have waited... others have done incredible reviews with artwork, gifs, and details I would never have thought of or done. Bravo!

I have loved this series from the start, Six of Hearts... so unique and very different, and then the darker Hearts of Fire. Each book brought a sense of wonder about its characters and stories. There was pain and secrets...and women who healed them in the manner needed. Secondary characters were introduced not as accessories but as real compelling parts of the tale...a consistent talent of L H Cosway. She has this way of keeping the focus on the main story yet, causing the reader to wonder and be intrigued by the other characters surrounding and interacting with them... like leaving little nuggets of interest... to take us to the next part of all these characters' lives.

In Hearts of Fire, she created this man who would take over the page and make you wonder how he became this lost soul...what had happened to cause such agony and pain that he needed to blot it all out in drink...live in a forest and revert to barely being a functioning human. Was there something redeemable in him...would he ever be able to turn his life around and more importantly, did he even care to do so...All we felt for him amassed question after question so smartly planted by Cosway. Towards the end of the book, she gave us one of her copyrighted nuggets to keep us on the string...and this book was the reward for our patience.

You officially do not have to read any of the aforementioned books to read this installment of the series. However, I felt my reading them added to my experience.

This is a story in two parts, Before and After. About two very different people who meet under circumstances that allow them to see each other stripped of all facades.

The first part has Oliver King...literally King of the hunch... the gut feelings of investments. He is replacing his long-time personal secretary and interviews are taking place.

He is bored; he has to find the right candidate and could care less about the politically correct way of interviewing or selecting them. Hell, he even threw into the mix a woman who actually attached her photo to her resume for the position...She had the looks which would make this at least interesting... but as to her qualifications...some certificate, etc... but no real office experience. Well, at least she will be a break from these stiff drones.

Alexis Clark was nothing like a stiff drone, that was for sure. She was a self-assured, working-class woman who decided to make something out of herself... no matter what. She knew she had the physical goods... they had done her just fine while as a barmaid making her way... but she wanted more. She worked hard to make ends meet and applied to a certification course and qualified. Took no time off and plowed ahead of her peers landing at the top of her class. She knew her stuff and decided she was going to be somebody. This interview at this financial company was the key. She would do her best and get this position if she could.

While she was dealing with the three people in the room and answering the dry questions, one of them really wasn't paying any attention...She remained focused and answered every prying and condescending question the man in a suit with a sour face asked. When it looked like this was going to be a no-go... she decided not to let them get her down with their attitudes about her abilities. She answered clear and strong; gave back as good as she got. When push came to shove...she turned the tables on the man who was patronizing and asked back...If you thought I wasn't qualified... why bring me in. Taken aback, it slipped out Mr. King, Mr. Disinterested was the one who pulled her in for the interview... the information slipping out of the man's mouth caused Alexis to look at King...He shrugged and said ... I liked the looks of you...

Well, fine... She looked at this man directly... Yes, he was gorgeous... a pompous ass but piercing eyes and body one could not ignore. They both gave no weakness in that look. The others at the table became uncomfortable and goodbyes were said to break the connection. This was an experience she would chock up to file away and left with her head held high and understanding pigs would fly before she got this position.

Alexis had a roommate she loved, a social circle she partied with, and self-confidence which was just unique to her. She did not let the situation get to her...although once out of the building and thinking about the day... she did think Mr. Oliver King was a stud.

Pigs must have learned to fly for Alexis received the call from King's departing assistant and told her she had the position. This was life-changing...she was on her way to being more... she was not going to let anything mess this up. She was not going to let a little attraction distract her in any way.

King was a man in control at all times...The company's employees relied on him to manage and do well by them; the investors expected him to find the next big thing before anyone else and do his magic... making them vast sums of money. He had two assistants and this new one, Alexis, was going to make him nuts... for some reason her push back during the interview made its mark on him. Her way of not shutting down or being a scared little mouse intrigued him. She was outspoken and seemed to have things she could say at any moment and it would be a surprise. He liked that.

These two connect... from very different classes and worlds but it is Alexis who is able to cut through all the time-honored politeness and be frank with King. With Alexis he can be himself....and she came up with a tale to let him relax around her and become friends with no chance of lovers...This little white lie gave both of them the freedom to learn and rely on each other more than the Employer/Employee... It was something very special for King. He wanted to spend time with her, talk with her, and encourage her to be the best she could be...

The fib eventually is revealed and we are experiencing a love story of such passion...the characters can hardly breathe...There is more than that though...there is that wonderful weaving of plot Cosway does with layer upon layer of heartbreaking circumstances which causes pain, misunderstandings, and loss of faith in love... so true.

This was all the past- the first part...we are then brought into the present...where we had met this wreck of a man; this perpetual drunk attached to the traveling circus from Hearts of Fire.

It is this second part which is the coming together of need, understanding, and hope which takes the reader on a course and journey of redemption for King...

This second half was strong...it had all the elements to make you stay and read to the very end. Did I feel there may have been a few steps missing in the coming together of this conclusion...a bit... but this was L H Cosway's story to tell and I was more than able to accept it on her terms.

All of us as humans have our faults... or Achilles' Heel of sorts... Some have the shopping till they drop need to hide their pain... others gamble, drink, do drugs, have sex, or all of the above... It doesn't matter what the "vice" is... it is the actions of destruction, the things that can destroy everything in someone's life. To fight the urges is very hard...it can be done, proven by many... but the desire must be internal and only the person can make the choice every day.

The path is not easy...but in this story, our characters found a way. This was a powerful book of feelings... feelings of passion, joy, pain, and need. Thank you for the experience Ms. Cosway.

~~~ Before Reading ~~~
Perhaps I had a wicked childhood...
Perhaps I had a miserable youth...
But somewhere in my wicked, miserable past...
I must have done something good.

For here I am having this wonder in my hands from L. H. Cosway
Whether or not I should...

So, somewhere in my youth or childhood...
I must have done something good...*

* Thank you "The Sound of Music" for the inspiration:D

A gifted copy was provided by author for an honest review.
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[❥Lil · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know when you love someone and then they go and do something really special and you realise that it might have not seem possible before, but you now love them even more??
Well, this is how I feel about L.H. Cosway after reading King of Hearts.
She’s such a talented author and with each book she manages to keep creating unique characters, interesting emotional stories, laced with her magical writing, intertwined with art and music.



It doesn’t hurt that she sets her stories in places, like London this time, where I’ve lived and love with all my heart. Don’t get me started on the hot accents and the Briticisms.

"We can fuck.” He paused, his accent over-emphasising the “K” and making my bones turn to jelly.

Alexis Clark


Alexis blew through King’s monotonous life like a cyclone of fresh air!
She’s confident, beautiful, witty, a wisecracker with no filters whatsoever who catches King’s full attention from the get go.

“I was incapable of putting on airs and graces, and tended to act the same whether I was talking to my grandma or the Queen of England. Not that I’ve ever met the Queen, but you know what I mean.”

Oliver King




We first got to know King in Hearts of Fire, a secluded, dull presence amidst the vibrant and colorful life in the circus.




The book starts years before, when Alexis goes for an interview as his assistant and soon their banter-fest begins!
I enjoyed them so much together. I love me a “bantery” office romance and the first half of the book nailed it.

Did I mention he's a cockney-accented dirty talker with a poetic streak??
"...tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow..."



Unfortunately it ended too soon and in the second half we find Alexis again, this time more mature and successful, getting an out-of-the-blue opportunity to meet King.

It was heart-breaking to watch them reunite after several years and under so different circumstances. It was hard for both of them for different reasons and I got to appreciate and respect Alexis even more in the so much more emotional "After" part.


King cleaned up pretty well, though ;)




If I have one complaint about this book is that it ended!


It was also an immense pleasure to be treated with glimpses of Jay, Jack, Matilda and Lille.
Each book in the series is a standalone about a different couple, but it makes sense to read Hears of Fire before Alexis and King's story.

Can't wait for Hears of Blue now! It’s going to be a torture waiting but I know for sure that L.H. Cosway won’t disappoint.


Favorite quote:
“And I fear if I made you my queen, I could no longer be a king.”


Well, I think the Queen won her King after all.

[Ⓐlleskelle - That ranting lady ッ · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️



If there’s something you need to read this summer, it definitely has to be King of Hearts.
I can’t hide the fact that I’m a huge fan of this author, so maybe my review is going to be on the praising and gushing side, but really, what can I do other than state the fact that LH Cosway excels at bringing fantasy into real life? Or should I say bringing real life into the fantasy realm?

…I fear if I made you my queen, I could no longer be a king.

King of Hearts is the much expected story of Oliver King, the lonesome and trouble man we met in Hearts of Fire. His character, painted so tortured and mysterious made me literally obsessed with him. I knew that his story, his past and the future LH Cosway would create for him would be something epic and oh so enthralling.
And it was. And so much more.

“It’s a heady feeling to find someone you're highly attuned to, is it not?”

The author as the clever and unique way to go where we don’t expect her. I often said that she couldn’t write something boring if she wanted it, as her stories, paradoxically to their down to earth settings are leading you into some whimsical and private reverie. That’s what her stories are to me. A real escape from reality.

Well, then Mr King, if I do get chosen for the position, I’ll have to prove to you that my looks pale in comparison to what my brain can achieve.

The first part of this story starts off with how Alexis and King first met through work. Oliver King, leader of a financial corporation needs a new assistant and is interviewing potential applicants.

His eyes came to me for a brief second, looked away, then came back again in what seemed to be a double take. As he made a slow perusal of my body, a mix of amusement and intrigue passed over his features before his attention returned to his phone call.

Over Alexis’ interview, the author managed to hook me right up and yearn for a good potential office love affair. The arrogant Oliver King we meet in the office has nothing in common with the colorful and awkward Alexis, promising some delightful situations…

He arched a brow and then began unbuttoning the cuffs of his shirt sleeves before rolling them up his arms. I didn’t know why he was doing it, since it wasn’t particularly hot in here. And I really wished he wouldn’t because I couldn’t take my eyes off his forearms. They were… yeah, quite pleasant to look at.

But as much as I wanted the story to change into a passionate office love affair, I must say that I loved the author’s idea so much more. See, their story turned out to be a friends to lovers one!

My apologies. I sometimes forget you work for me. You’re so easy to get along with that you feel more like a friend.

For fear to ruin her chance to evolve in the company, Alexis is going at great lengths to hide her attraction to Oliver King… But how will she stop her oh so sexy boss to charm the pants out of her? Oh you know… By telling a tiny little fib… How she is into girls and all… lol

…I had no words. No funny lines or sarcastic comments to defuse the situation. I had nothing, and Oliver King was pushing a boundary I was helpless to defend.

They quickly fall into a friendly routine, albeit an awkward one, King fighting is attraction to his spunky and lush assistant while Alexis is trying to follow through her lies… Not an easy thing to do when your boss is the incarnation of British arrogance and charm…

The problem was, he didn’t look smug. King wore an expression that was all, ‘Here I am, take me or leave me’, which only functioned to make him even more irresistible. Take him, some deep, feminine part of me pleaded.

I loved that part of the book, they both have such a great chemistry as “friends”, I must say I was dying to see them fell into bed! LH Cosway really amped up the sexual tension in this book to a great level. But luckily the author followed through and the result of their “fall” was exquisite! Oliver King most certainly delivered in the bedroom AND office!

- We’re in something of a predicament, love.
– We are?
– Yes my darling, because I very much want to fuck you.

Being around you in the office, you wearing those tight little skirts that made me want to bite my way up to your perfect thighs and then sink my face between your legs until you screamed for it.

Alexis character is everything I love in my romance book heroines and the author does a great job to create fragile yet confident and empowered ones. I know it sounds like a complete contradiction, but trust me, it does make sense. Alexis was hilarious, really straightforward and a real empath.

Do you ever wish, Alexis, that your heart was just a little bit smaller, so that you didn’t have to care quite so much?

Oliver King is charisma and charm personified. Keeping to himself and valuing his personal life to remain private, he had this mysterious vibe around him…

In the office I’d seen him professional, efficient, confident, and i control. But right then he was vulnerable, artistic, and totally absorbed in the music.

Their attraction and love affair turning out to be sweet and passionate, until some tragic and heartbreaking events leading Oliver to disappear and we’re left 6 years later for the “second part”…
I won’t say much about the second part, I really don’t want to reveal anything but will tell you what is to expect…
Alexis is eventually going to find King again, and is going to devastatingly discover that the confident man she once knew is no longer at the top of the world…
This part focuses on King’s downfall and how Alexis is going to save him…

– Am I so awful to you now?
– Never. You’ve always been beautiful to me.

I thought I loved the first part better but I really can’t choose… In the second half of the story there was so much emotions, heartache, secrets and difficulties to get through, my heart was a sobbing mess.

It was a Greek tragedy come to life, and I felt like I’d suddenly stepped out of reality and into a dream.

His face contorted, and so many emotions flickered past I could barely count them. Shame. Pain. Loss. Fear. More shame. So much fucking shame I could barely breathe with it.

The author wrapped it all up in a beautiful epilogue, and it was over all too soon… Sigh.

I just loved this story so much, I highlighted half the book and it was hard not to do a “quotes” only review… Even now I know I’m rambling and wanted to keep this review on the short side, fail, I know!

Your faith in me was where my confidence to go through it alone came from

King of Hearts was such a beautiful story, I highly recommend any reader of romance to read it.

Sometimes we see someone and they just suit us. They’re beautiful to us in every way/ You are that person to me.

It is part of a series but can be read as a standalone, however, I would recommend to read Six of Hearts and at the very least, Hearts of Fire, where we met King for the first time.

I received an arc in exchange for an honest review

More reviews and book talk at :

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 - "You'll have to get up a lot earlier in the morning to offend me, Mr. King." Stars!

King of Hearts is another absolutely outstanding example of why I love L. H. Cosway’s work so much. You never know what you are going to get in relation to a characters story, or what direction everything is ever going to take. I walked into this one thinking I had an idea of how things might play out, I mean we met Oliver King in Hearts of Fire and we were given a little of the guys background, but that was literally just the tip of the proverbial Iceberg.



The previous two books in the series have offered up stories and characters of the weird and wonderful variety, and although we initially met Oliver whilst he was travelling around with the Circus Spektakulär, the first half of King of Hearts takes the reader back to 2009, back to a time when Oliver, was King of all he surveyed and at the beginning of a relationship, that produced the photograph that is the only thing his now alcohol addled mind really and truly treasures.

”If I don’t have respect, I have nothing.”

The author took me by surprise a little with this part of the book, the Before and the build up to the actual event that pushed Oliver into the man we know him as was not really what I was expecting, and once again L. H. Cosway completely blew my expectations out of the water.



I don’t want to give too much else away to be honest, the beauty in this book, as it is with all of this authors books is that you as a reader dive in and discover the stories secrets yourself. What I will say though is even though this book steps away from the Circus environment, still go in ‘expecting the unexpected’ and have plenty of tissues to hand (especially for the second half).

”I fear if I made you my queen, I could no longer be a king.”

I loved this book, I loved the path the story took; Oliver with all of his dashing charm, dirty moves and sexy wit, stands shoulder to shoulder with Jay and Jack in the 'leading man I love the most' stakes, and like its predecessors you can read this book as a standalone, I urge you to read the Hearts series in full though, you will struggle find a more unique and diverse set of characters and stories anywhere else.

Karla and Lee are up next, Hearts of Blue is due November 2015, so I will now go back to waiting for another L. H. Cosway book to release!

ARC generously provided by the author, and it was my absolute pleasure to provide the above honest review.

[Jln · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

Loved it! I can't even hide my bias...I love everything L.H. Cosway writes, I really do. All Jay had to do was show up in this book and throw out a "darlin" and I'm swooning. She really knows how to write the sexual tension, doesn't she? gah! Anyway, I've been avoiding reviews all week for this because I wanted to experience it first hand, so instead of writing one, I'm going to go read all of yours!

I was going to pick a favorite book in the series, but it's hard because they each have favorite aspects. Six of Hearts has my favorite hero, Hearts of Fire had my favorite scene, and this book had my favorite heroine...loved Alexis. Can't wait for the next book in the series, that's going to be really good, I can feel it.

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Heart-wrenching stars!



In L.H. Cosway's Hearts of Fire, we were introduced to the unkempt, ornery, and drunk, Oliver King, who freaked out over a photograph that he cherished. This is his story, through the POV of the heroine, Alexis. King of Hearts is divided into two parts. A before and after of the events that took place in Hearts of Fire with the time span being 6 years.

Before
Working at a bar most of her adult life, Alexis Clark needs a change. When the opportunity arises for her to interview as a personal assistant to a top banker, she jumps at the chance. She had no idea her new potential boss would be around her age, and so...striking.

Oliver King has had a successful run in the financial industry. He also has a hidden past and present that he doesn't want to get out. When he hires the beautiful interviewee, he cannot help but be enamored by her charming wit.

A friendship fueled with sexual tension begins, and before too long, an affair with potent feelings starts.



When the shit hits the fan, and some things about King come out, he flees.

After
Alexis Clark has been devastated for the past six years. Her and King had something powerful and she thinks about him every day. Out of nowhere, a letter shows up from a woman who knows King and wants to try to reunite them.

When she first sees him, she cannot get over that this was her King. The dapper and sophisticated man is gone. The shell of the man he once was is not what she expected.
His derelict appearance and alcoholism would have anyone else give up. But Alexis knows he is still there, and she is going to do whatever it takes to get him back.



Slowly, they start to get reacquainted, and things are looking up.



But Alexis still needs to bring up the past. Things could come up that may send him straight back to the bottom of the bottle.



There is not one single book from the talented L.H. Cosway that I haven't liked/loved yet. This was no exception. Even though I was very excited to learn about King, there was no way I thought I'd enjoy it more than Hearts of Fire. It turned out to be fan-fucking-tastic, and I think I actually loved it the most of all her work. Every book in the Hearts series seems to get better and better. They all have a different tone, but the writing, characters, and story are top notch!

In setting up the scene, I will say there was a bit of a slow start while getting the background to the pair. Once it started to pick up, I was unable to put it down. I stayed up until the wee morning hours just to almost finish. By the time I got to a certain point, my eyes were puffy from tears and my heart was so full, I had to make myself go to sleep. It was such a great book that will illicit so many feels. I always fall a little harder for stories where the MC's are separated due to the circumstances that surround them.

I don't think it's necessary to read all of the books together or in order, but it absolutely is the best way to go.

Since I am at a loss of things to say, just know that it was a truly wonderful tale that squeezes your heart really hard. I am very much loving everything! The fact that all of the authors' heroines are women you would want to know and befriend, and the heroes are men you want in all sorts of ways, makes them all the more amazing. These unique stories need to be on your TBR list, and read soon!

And now I am very much looking forward to next installment in the Hearts series. This next one should be interesting. I already have a crush on the forward and crass Lee!

[[~Ami~]♥Sexy Dexy♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

This book took a while to warm up to. I wasn't exactly swooning for King and the dialogue felt forced. After a while though I felt the sexual tension between these two and then something happened that had my jaw drop to the floor.

In the end I liked it but didn't full out love it. Also with LH Cosway books I'm usually grinning like an idiot but it didn't have that effect on me this time round. Still I think it's one of the better books I read this year.

[NMmomof4 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

Overall Opinion: I'm not quite sure exactly why I put this one off for so long. I think it was because I thought since it was labeled "#3" that I needed to read the other two books first, but that wasn't the case. I was able to follow along just fine. While there were appearances of the other mcs from the previous books, the author does it in a way that I didn't feel lost. I really liked both of the mcs, and I was able to connect with their story very well. My biggest complaint, however, is the epilogue. As you all that follow me know -- I'm a greedy, greedy reader and I like clean and clear HEAs! I LOVE getting a far glimpse into a couple's future to see their success as well as their troubles that we got along the way! Maybe they'll appear in the later books, but I was really disappointed in the epilogue for not giving that to me.

Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Alexis and King's story. Alexis is hired as King's personal assistant. They become fast friends with an underlying strong attraction to one another. Eventually they give in and fall in love, but some tragic even happens and they are separated. About 6 years later, they are reunited but things are not the same. There are some big obstacles in their way, some hot sexy times, some sad moments, and some sweet times...and they get a HEA ending.

POV: This was told in Alexis's POV. The epilogue was in King's POV (which I liked).

Overall Pace of Story: Good until the end (see below). I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well otherwise.

Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings.

H rating: 4.5 stars. King. I felt for him with his bad past, and couldn't help but love him even when he was moody and damaged.

h rating: 4.5 stars. Alexis. I really liked her. I appreciated how she cared for the H even though he was flawed.

Sadness level: Moderate. I teared up a few times, but I never needed any tissues.

Push/Pull:Yes They both push away and pursue the relationship at times.

Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.

Descriptive sex: Yes

OW/OM drama: Mild There is an ex of both of the mcs that are around at different times and want the mcs back, but it is pretty mild and doesn't really cause drama.

Sex scene with OW or OM: No

Cheating: No

Separation: Yes They are separated for about 6 years. Then h had been with one man, and the H hadn't been with anyone during this time.

Possible Triggers: Yes Assault/Rape/murder/drugs/car theft (off page not mcs), parent with mental issues/agoraphobia (on page), assault/blackmail/white collar crimes (on page), homelessness (on page), alcoholism (on page), and unexpected pregnancy (off page).

Closure: This is my biggest complaint with the book. While we did get some decent closure, I felt like I was still wanting more! I wanted a farther glimpse into the future! The epilogue was...meh. I liked that it was in King's POV, but why not be farther down the line and focused on their future instead of their past?! Disappointed, but still would call it a HEA.

Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers

- Does Not have cheating
- Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
- Does have both the h and H pushing away
- Does have a separation between the h and H
- Does Not have abuse by mcs
- Does have a HEA ending

[Rachel L · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

Quick/short review. One thing Cosway is so good at is giving you a character and you expect them to be one thing, but by the end of the book your perception of them has changed. When I read Hearts of Fire and met King, I honestly thought he was an old OLD man, I had no clue he was around 39. I loved reading his backstory and the heroine in this book was awesome. But the second half of the book, I had some trouble with the suspension of disbelief on King's recovery and the quickness of which everything was resolved. Otherwise yet another great read from Cosway and I can't wait to read the next one!

[Jeannine Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

5.5 Stars (Fourth Read 9/19/2018)

5.5 Stars (Third Read 12/29/2017)

5 Stars (Second Read 11/9/2016)

5 Stars (First Read 10/31/2015)



I remember reading Hearts of Fire in March of 2015 and thinking that King was like fifty or sixty years old. I don't know why, maybe it was because of how far into his drinking he was and/or I suck at remembering minor details like ages of side characters (it's probably a bit of both). But imagine my surprise when I read this for the first time a little over year ago and was blessed with a description that had my imagination giving me this:



Yeah, I was pretty freaking happy. And then you throw in a curvy heroine?



Yup. Sold. And you know what else was great? She was comfortable in her own skin and he loved her curves <3 The story wasn't about her weight! I hate it when a heroine who is anything but a size 4 automatically has a problem with how she looks (unless of course the book wants to be about weight and self acceptance), so I loved how confident Alexis was with it. I had a major girl crush on her!

Anyways... moving on. I just lovvvvve this freaking series. L.H. Cosway has such a great way with words. She pulls you in and writes such a compelling story without anything that feels too extreme or OTT. She gives you everything you could want...

Humor...

"Me and my trigger-happy arse-slapping hand."

Steam...

"But my hand is jealous of my mouth. It wants to feel you come, too."

Swoon...

"Sometimes we see someone and they just suit us. They’re beautiful to us in every way. You’re that person to me" - King

Safe to say, I loved these two. The timeline for this story is kind of weird and don't know 100% how it all fits in with the other books, but there is a six year time jump between the start of this story and King's place in Hearts of Fire and Hearts of Blue (I believe, it's been a couple months since I read this one).

I loved watching the two of them fall in love. But even more than that, I loved watching them fall in love for a second time. This is how a second chance romance is done. A) Giving us the start of their story, B) No pussyfooting around once they find each other again, C) Problems don't magically disappear, such as his drinking, they need to be worked on, and D) Nobody spent the time apart screwing everything that breathes.

I don't want to give too much of the story away but I think I've already made it pretty clear that I love it! King made Alexis feel so special and despite him not wanting a serious relationship, he's never cruel or pushes her away because of it. There are tense moments due to some things in his personal life, but he's not mean and he immediately apologizes. He was so incredibly sweet. For example, when she asked something of him and he responded with, will it make you happy? And when she said yes, he made it seem like a no-brainer that he do it. Basically, when it comes to King...



He's just incredible. There are times when I read a novel where I feel that one person might not necessarily deserve the other, that is definitely not the case here. Alexis was strong and assured and she deserved King just as much as he deserved her. Absolutely everything about this novel worked for me and I can't wait to read it again :)

And it wouldn't be one of my reviews if I didn't include some more of my favorite quotes:

"I see glimpses in him, Alexis, glimpses of a fascinating mind, of a great mind, of a great man from whom circumstance has stolen everything."

"It was a strange sensation to love somebody so completely yet fiercely hate their actions."

"I was just a person, and he was just a person, and together we were scrambling in the dark to try to understand each other."

"I thought that maybe the best loves had to suffer the greatest hardships."

"You're not irrevocably broken until you're dead."

"I think that in the space between birth and death you can have one life, or you can have many. But in order to have many, you also need the strength to end the one that came before. And there lies the tricky part."

"I was glad for my experiences, good and bad. I was glad for what they had made me.
And I was glad that I hadn’t had one life, but that I'd had many."

"Nothing was ever lost forever, especially love."

In summary:



;)

Safety: No OW drama. King broke up with his girlfriend a few months before because he didn't want a serious relationship. But I don't believe there's mention of him sleeping around, and when they are separate (6 years!) there is no OW!!! LOVED that <3 I'm not picky about this, but it's a refreshing change, especially because Alexis did sleep with someone. She had a bit of a backslide with her ex-boyfriend, Stu. But it was just once and it meant nothing. I liked this little role reversal a lot.

Closure: HEA! Alexis agrees to marry King in the final chapter. And then the epilogue is told in King's POV, giving small glimpses of important times with Alexis. LOVED this, too <3
-----------------------------------------
Before I made the incredibly wise decision to reread:

Another missing review...

[FMABookReviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

6 Brilliant Magnificent Exquisite Stars

"The best loves had to suffer the greatest  hardships."

King of Hearts is without a doubt one of my Top Favorites of 2015! L.H. Cosway brilliantly and magnificently brought King's story to life! The details were exquisite, the characters astounding, the flow, word choice, humor, emotional impact... simply perfect! I couldn't ask for anything more! I LOVED IT!

I loved this before (Beginning) and after (After) story of Oliver King from Hearts of Fire.  In HoF, Oliver was horribly depressed and guilt ridden. He was overwrought with sadness at the apparent loss of his relationship with the mysterious woman in a photo and he was a drunk. He was living like a homeless man within his sister's circus.

The Beginning is told from the point of view of Alexis Clark, the woman from the picture.

Even though she has her administration diploma, she is a barmaid from East End London.  Deciding it is time to put that diploma to use, she ventures to the business district and to Johnson-Pearse.  She applies for a job as his assistant. She doesn’t have the work experience and isn’t qualified for the job, but as soon as he sees her picture, he ignores her lack of qualifications and makes sure she is scheduled for an interview. King loves her spirit, and whit. She is quick to speak her mind, but she is also smart and sharp as a tack. She turns out to be not only a real asset to him at work, but a challenge for him on a personal level. He finds her honesty refreshing, her easy, care free spirit a delight and her curvy body, luscious.

"You included a picture, Miss Clark, and I liked the look of you."

Ms. Cosway takes us on an emotional journey (sometimes hysterical, sometimes steamy, all the time beautiful), all the while bringing us a slow building relationship, which provided some of the best sexual tension I have ever read in a book. While I wanted them to get.it.on. already, I really didn’t because I was enjoying their magnetism so incredibly much.

"I wanted him to consume me; I wanted to consume him before life got in the way and ruined it for both of us."

Even though they each have reservations about delving into a relationship outside of work, they find they can only fight the pull for so long. The catalyst was King going to watch her model and joining in on a session.

The incident which lead to the AFTER and the way it was written provided for such tears for me and heartache for Oliver King, that I had to stop reading. Because I knew what was coming next. I remembered his pain and anguish in Hearts of Fire. I remembered how incredibly and horrifically difficult his life was. That was the middle. And suddenly it all made sense. And I became flooded with his scenes from that book. I was afraid to read AFTER. I was afraid of what was in store for my heart.

After is told from Alexis’s POV. She is no longer modeling and now owns her own agency. She has turned her life around.

And then a letter turns it upside down.

Frightened of what she might find, determined to find what she knew she needed more than air, Alexis set off for the Circus, for King. What she found was better than her fears imagined, but worse than her loving heart could take.

"I couldn't believe this was the same man who once sat in his office overlooking the Thames, a ruler of his own universe, the best at whatever he set his mind to. Now he was  reduced to a homeless drunkard, completely unrecognisable."

With a show of the most beautiful example of unconditional love, Alexis refuses to give up on King. Slowly and assuredly her love reminds him of who he was, shows him who he is and helps him see who he can become.

But that's not the end of this beautiful story, you see, Ms. Cosway not only provided us with a Beginning, a middle and an After and but she also provided us with a stunning Epilogue. King. His voice was the crowning end to an epic novel!

My heart felt like it was reading two stories weaved into one. It was seamlessly, and beautifully  done.  L.H. Cosway stepped up her game with this book. I would not have thought that possible, since I devoured and adored Six of Hearts, Hearts of Fire, Painted Faces and Killer Queen, but for me, this is truly an epic read. I can’t stop thinking about it, it has weaved its way into my daily activities. Music on the radio reminds me of these incredible characters. Driving down the road I find my thoughts drifting to scenes from the book. A beautiful story of seduction, second chance romance, healing, and unconditional love at its finest, King of Hearts is by far one of my Favorites of the Year and of all-time!


ARC provided in exchange for honest review

[Dee Montoya · Rating 5 out of 5]

***** 5++ King of my Heart Stars*****

"Memories were a powerful thing. They could at once set you free or take you prisoner, hold your entire life captive."




This book is the third part of the wonderful series set in The Circus Spektakulär. In Hearts of Fire we met King, he was the drunk always hanging around the circus, always bitter yet his character always felt important and interesting to me. His story was absolutely heart breaking, and I must admit it was my favorite of all three.

The first part of the book is set six years prior of King being in the circus. We meet him as a very successful banker who is at the top of his game, the whole world is at his fingertips. He's hiring a new assistant and in comes the sassy and beautiful, Alexis.

She lands the job even though her smart mouth betrayed her, but she's a call them as she sees them kind of girl and also the fact that she strikingly gorgeous had Oliver King's interest peeked as soon as he met her.

The working relationship turns into a very fun and sweet friendship but then the intense sexual tension comes, and Oliver and Alexis are struggling with trying to choose between being friends or lovers.

A lot of secrets Oliver has, have him on edge and Alexis starts to worry about his coping mechanisms, and then one horrible night of events will finally make Oliver snap and completely loose himself in a very dark path, taking him away from all the people who love him, including his sweet Alexis.

On the second part of the book these lovers are reunited but time and pain have changed them, and although the love between them still exists and perhaps is even stronger than before, being together won't be as easy and sweet as they thought.



I loved this book so much because Oliver and Alexis were such good friends, I enjoyed the slow build of their relationship and the struggles they faced felt so real and heartfelt, allowing me to connect with their story in a very special way. L.H Cosway has a way with her words,that they always reach very deep into my heart and in this case, making this book absolutely extraordinary.

Each book in this series can be read as a standalone but all the characters eventually all become friends and make appearances in all the other books. So I do recommend reading them all in sequence to enhance the experience.

My King of Hearts music playlist: (Also available on Spotify)
*Glass Nor Stone by Sons of an Illustrious Father
*Moment 4 Life by Nikki Minaj
*City by Sara Bareilles
*Living in The Moment by Jason Mraz
*Higher Love by Vincent McMorrow

[AJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I never stopped loving you, not even in my darkest hour”.

ABSOLUTELY SENSATIONAL!

6 huge stars

This book! OMG, this book! Epic banter, phenomenal UST, drama, heartache and sensational romance. I laughed, I cried, I swooned, and my heart was pounding the whole time. It was perfect.

This is the third book in L.H. Cosway’s ‘Hearts’ series. The series features standalone books which are closely interconnected and I would highly recommend reading the earlier books in the series because not only are they fantastic reads, but it will make this story all the more intense.

King is introduced as a side character in Hearts of Fire, where he has hit rock bottom as a barely functioning alcoholic and is clearly struggling to cope with his life. I was really curious about how his story was going to be told. What could have possibly happened to him to destroy him so badly? Would my heart be shattered watching him through the hell that he is clearly in when we first met him? What happened to Alexis, the woman that he has never forgotten and clearly still has intense feelings for? Would he ever find peace and redemption?

Well, I’m happy to say that L.H. Cosway absolutely smacked it out of the park with this one. She has given King an incredible story that answered all of my questions, and had me totally invested from page 1 right through to the very end. I sat and devoured this book, unable to put it down and it instantly became a favourite.

The structure of the story is perfect, split into ‘Before’ and ‘After’ (that would be Before and After King’s downfall). The story of the past takes us back to meet King in all of his glory where he is the master of his world, a highly successful investment banker – wealthy, smug and arrogant, but totally charming and sexy as all hell.

The book is written entirely from the POV of Alexis who is hired to be King’s PA, and from the moment I met her, I absolutely loved her. She’s a straight talker with no filter, she says it like it is, and is totally inappropriate. King likes this about her, and the two of them soon strike up a friendship where they banter, share quips, and are completely open and inappropriate with each other, and it’s awesome!

“Look, King…”
“Did you just call me King?” he said, cutting me off.
“Oh, yeah, sorry, I…”
“Don’t apologise. I like it.”

But underlying all of that, the two of them want each other badly and the UST is off the freaking charts! It’s a rare and special thing when you feel this level of intensity between a couple while reading, and seriously - every single moment is sizzling with chemistry. And with each little step they move towards ‘more’, my heart was pounding and I was pretty much hyperventilating with anticipation (one particular scene actually had me squeeing out loud).

A long sigh escaped him before he said, “We’re in something of a predicament, love.”
I turned my face to look up at him. “We are?”
Reaching, out, he stroked my cheek with the back of his hand. “Yes, my darling, because I very much want to fuck you.”

It builds and builds, until it all explodes into a passionate encounter that is supposed to be a one off, but which they both instantly recognise will never be enough.

He sucked in a deep breath, his eyes travelling back and forth between mine as he swiped his thumb across my bottom lip. His voice was husky when he spoke, “The way you come is fucking devastating.”

We both seemed to understand that we were completely and totally screwed. No way was this going to be a one-time thing. Already I wanted to crawl beneath his skin and never leave.

Their relationship is easy and natural, passionate and intense, and they both fall and fall hard.

“I could lose the run of myself inside a woman like you, Alexis.”

There is a great build up to the big event that changes everything. It’s heartbreaking, but it’s not annoying. I could understand the reactions, and the fall out is what leaves us with King at his lowest. Thankfully, the story then skips ahead to six years later so we don’t have to watch his suffering, what we’ve seen in Hearts of Fire is more than enough!

And then there is the ‘After’ part of the story where Alexis is bought back into King’s life. The reunion is one of those moments where I was glued to my kindle, holding my breath and revelling in the feels. The intensity between them is still very much there and you know where the story is going to go, but the way it all unfolds is just beautiful.

Even though it had taken years, finding him had been the easy part. Healing him would be the greatest challenge I’d ever faced.

The feel of the second half of the book is different from the first. It’s a lot more emotional, but the heart-pounding sense of anticipation is still very much there. Obviously Alexis and King are both in completely different places in their lives, and the character development is fantastic. They have a lot that they need to overcome to move forward – not only does King have to struggle his way back to real life Is it possible to detox that fast and that seemingly easily? Who knows. But you know what? I didn’t care. I was too swept up in all of the emotion to think about practical things such as that, but he also has to catch up on all that he has missed and find who he is again. And it’s all interwoven into a beautiful and highly emotive second-chance romance. It’s heartbreaking but beautifully hopeful, and again, I loved every moment of it.

“I never stopped loving you, not even in my darkest hour”.

Jay, Matilda, Jack and Lille are all an important part of the story, fiercely protective of King, they all stand strong behind the reunited couple, doing what they can to help. I loved checking in with them, and loved their involvement in all that goes on. We are also introduced to the couple that will feature in the next book in the series – Alexis’ best friend (a police officer), and her smartass, bad boy criminal love interest. Should be interesting!

The story ends beautifully, with a gorgeous epilogue from King’s POV that not only finishes the story off but also gives us glimpses of the key moments from book from his perspective (nicely done, Ms Cosway!).

I absolutely adored this book. I love that we get to see all of the build-up to the relationship, as well as the reconnection between these two amazing characters. I was absolutely enthralled from start to finish, and ended this book on a total high.

6 massive stars.


An Advanced Reader Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Angela (Reading Frenzy Book Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!



This was the ideal lazy weekend read. It grabbed me from the first chapter and I gobbled it up in one day. It’s a unique second-chance love story, one that starts on a whimsical note and ventures into the land of pulled heartstrings. The book is divided into two sections: Before and After. In Part One: Before, we meet Alexis Clark, a former barmaid from the East End, on the day she arrives at a prestigious investment bank in Canary Wharf.



She’s interviewing for a position as an executive assistant to Oliver King. Although she’s unqualified, King is impressed with her candor, as well as her looks, and Alexis gets the job.



Oliver King is a man at the top of his game in a power-hungry industry. He’s extremely wealthy but he has no desire for money. Instead, he is driven by a desire to excel and be the best.



Alexis, with her quick-wit, lively and unassuming personality, is a breath of fresh air to King and the two become fast friends. As a mutual attraction develops they struggle to maintain the professional barrier between employer and employee. It was wonderful watching that friendship line blur. I relish a progressive build-up of affection between characters and the way Ms. Cosway tells this couple’s story is extremely satisfying. The flirtations, the banter, the chess games, the bathroom lunches – I loved it all.

“I could lose the run of myself inside a woman like you, Alexis. And I fear if I made you my queen, I could no longer be a king.”

You could practically cut the sexual tension with a knife and when they can no longer deny their feelings things between King and Alexis get downright explosive. This is one steamy read, people, but it also manages to be lovely and humorous.

“I want to fuck you so hard, Alexis, so hard you’re still feeling me inside you tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow…”

Okay, did he just hit me with a side of Shakespeare in his dirty talk?
I died. I died dead. All right, I didn’t die dead, but I did have a mini brain orgasm.

Just as the two begin to fall for each other, King’s past comes back to haunt him. A series of devastating events causes King to vanish and the story picks up six years later in the “After” section of the book. We discover that King is completely broken, an alcoholic who has hit rock bottom. He lives the life of a vagabond and is almost unrecognizable from the man we once knew. When Alexis and King cross paths again, can she help heal his emotional wounds? Is it too late for second chances?



This story is beautifully written. L.H. Cosway has given readers some vivid characters to root for. I love smart, witty heroines and I found these qualities in spades with Alexis. In King we almost have two separate characters: the “Before” King and “After” King. It’s difficult to decide which I liked more: the confident, driven, compassionate man or the tortured, vulnerable, artistic soul. One could argue that both men are flawed, although in different ways and my heart ached for each of them.



There are a couple issues I couldn't overlook that prevented me from giving this book five stars. In part one, I don’t feel the events warranted abandoning the love of his life without a fight or looking back. In part two, The love of a good woman can’t cure alcoholism in three weeks. However, it’s still a gorgeous story that’s sure to make any romance lover swoon. This book hits the funny, steamy and touching trifecta and is one of the most enjoyable reads of 2015.