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Falling For Tormented Treasures

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Lennox lived the kind of life that never allowed her to relinquish control. She felt responsible for her sister, for her mother, for their finances, for managing the family struggles and protecting all the people she held dear. Her life was a weight on her shoulders. She felt she could never escape. When her protectiveness lands her before a judge, causing her to lose her job, she realizes she might just have to do something she never thought she would.

Jaxon Smith never thought he would see Lennox again. He also never thought when he did see her again, she wouldn't remember him. She looked through him, as though they didn't share that special night all those years ago, like he meant nothing. Realizing her life was slowly becoming a sinking ship, Jax did the one thing he knew how, spread his money around and made her an offer she couldn't refuse.

He doesn't really need a girlfriend, but paying her to be his is the only thing he can think of to keep her around long enough to get her to see that surrendering all her control to him is exactly what she needs.

393 pages, Paperback

Published May 17, 2022

67 people are currently reading
308 people want to read

About the author

S.J. Stewart

13 books79 followers
SJ Stewart is a genre jumper who likes to write primarily in Fantasy and Horror. After writing stories for over a decade, she made the decision to finally publish her first novel: Hidden In Darkness, which will be the first in the Fantasy series Seven Realms Books.

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5 stars
78 (40%)
4 stars
78 (40%)
3 stars
31 (16%)
2 stars
3 (1%)
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1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
Profile Image for sometimesrobinreads.
116 reviews376 followers
March 25, 2024
Jaxon and Lennox’s love story was so beautiful to read. Every so often I found myself cheesing while reading all the way Jaxon tried to get through to Lennox and show her she deserves to have someone take care of her.

I know sometimes it’s hard to watch a character stand in their own way when it comes to getting their happy ending but the author did a wonderful job at explaining why Lennox was resistant to leaning on anyone but herself. There were parts of this book that pulled at my heart strings because I just wanted to hug Lennox.

This book was by a new to me author and boy, it did NOT disappoint. I can’t wait to see what next.
Profile Image for Sanjasbestshelf.
172 reviews3 followers
May 18, 2022
Is it hot in here or is it just this book??

This is my first book by SJ Stewart and I’m in love! This book was everything you want in a billionaire romance. It was HOT, fun, loving, and real. It’s not your everyday fluffy billionaire romance. The topics in this book are real and at times they’re heavy, but so we’ll written! Highly recommend this Toronto based, diverse, real, and spicy book!

TW: domestic violence.
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews132 followers
Want to read
July 23, 2022
🎁 FREE on Amazon today (7/23/2022)! 🎁
Profile Image for Jerrica (Mrsmar10Reads) Martin .
1,647 reviews9 followers
May 18, 2022
What can I say?

I'm currently reading one of S.J's fantasy books right now, and though the genres are different the writer and writing is still amazing. This book is everything you didn't know you needed. Power exchange, kink, healing, overcoming trauma, and much more. This story is following Jax and Lennox was everything and more. Lennox is so accustomed to being in control and taking care of everyone and everything, sacrificing her chance at happiness and things she wants that she's wearing herself thin. The only person who can see that is her best friend Nate. Btw, we ALL need a Nate in our lives! Handling things for her older sister lands her in trouble and puts her in the path of Jaxson Smith, someone from her past who remembers her, but she doesn't remember him. He offers her a job with benefits and stipulations just to have her near and to reconnect. The stipulations: Relinquish control. He can see her anxiety and knows that she's not properly cared for and when I tell you this man handles it, it is thoroughly HANDLED!

I had to be patient with Lennox because she warped her mind so many times to push Jax away. I had to step outside the box and think of all the things she suffered through and endured as the youngest of her family, never really being shown love. I loved that Jax was patient and understanding because he saw her, every piece of her.💖 My favorite scene was absolutely the ballroom dance. Everything else between those two was just 🥵🥵🥵
Profile Image for Jenni.
67 reviews6 followers
May 25, 2022
3.5, rated up for goodreads.

I liked this book, but there were times the transactional power dynamic between the two main characters made me uncomfortable, and while it was addressed in the book several times, it still made me uneasy. The main characters had great chemistry and were well written. The smut was fun and spicy. I liked how the author included little details here and there that seemed fairly innocuous, but ended up actually leading to important parts of the plot. The story did move a little slow at times, but the chemistry between the main characters made up for it. Overall, there were a few things I would've liked to be different, but not enough to hinder my enjoyment of the book. Also HELL YES to this book being very sex work positive. You love to see it. This was a tiktok find I don't regret reading.
Profile Image for LaTosha Webber.
1,162 reviews72 followers
May 18, 2022
Begging For More

I don’t even know where to begin. I guess the best place to start is with how amazing of a book boyfriend Jaxson is. I mean he has definitely earned his way into my top 5. This man had me all in my feelings and trying to crawl out my skin. This book was romance and intimacy. It was pain and pleasure. It was heartbreaking and beautiful. Because S.J. can write her ass off!! But it was also hot as hell. Have your squirming in your seat and clenching yo cheeks. I love the way Stewart gives such a depth to her characters. Lennox was such an amazing and powerful character. Some of her feelings/struggles hit me so square in my chest it took my breath away. I don’t often connect with the FMC, but she feels so real that I was so happy she got all the love and happiness she deserves. This is romance beautiful passionate Black romance. Once again I’m left completely blown away but the power of S.J. writing.
27 reviews
May 17, 2022
This was different than what I’ve read of hers so far. Though I prefer her fantasy books, this was still an amazing read. There was enough plot to have you wondering about the side characters and backstory as you read through spicy scenes that make you sweat. This was a very nice spicy book, and I was happy to see a Black Billionaire romance, as I haven’t seen too many!
Profile Image for selena.
44 reviews1 follower
August 5, 2022
yeah I’m sorry I’m gonna have to DNF. I cant get over the “he fell in love with her when he was 19” and she was 16… like no I’m sorry why couldnt they have just been the same age?? or her 18?? why make her 16?
Profile Image for Dartanyan Johnson.
Author 17 books64 followers
May 6, 2022
Falling For Tormented Treasures is about a woman named Lennox, who stuggles to make ends meet in her hectic life, and Jax, a self-made billionaire who will do anything to win her heart.

Right of the bat, the story begins with action! We learn that not only is Lennox's sister in a violent relationship, but Lennox is the one who comes to the rescue...and she pulls no punches when defending her family. Though noble, her actions land her in a heap of trouble with authorities and shakes up the already coarse road ahead.

And then she meets Jax, and her whole world changes...in more ways than one!

This was an interesting story, and definitely worth a read!
Profile Image for Tina.
957 reviews156 followers
January 31, 2024
4.5 ⭐️😜😍🔥

I really enjoyed this story; I am looking forward to reading more from this author.


Trope: BDSM LIGHT, Second Chance, Fake Dating


Enjoyment: 5 ⭐️


Character development: 3.5 ⭐️


Romance: 4⭐️


Heat\steam:4 ⭐️


Intrigue:4⭐️


Story\plot: 4⭐️


World Building: 3.5 ⭐️


Enjoy!!!
Profile Image for Laneisha.
196 reviews24 followers
September 19, 2022
This was my first read by SJ Stewart and she didn’t disappoint at all! I stayed up past 2am to finish this and have no regrets. My bratty submissive heart was so full and content reading this. I love how the author sprinkled a little bit of BDSM in this story. The main female character, Lennox, was so relatable. As someone who always wants to be in control, I too have a very difficult time letting someone else take control just as Lennox did. The male main character, Jax, is officially my top book boyfriend. This man had me absolutely weak in the knees the entire read. This was an amazing novel incorporating both romance and suspense. The characters, plot, and smut were all 10/10. I hope Stewart continues this series!
523 reviews2 followers
November 13, 2022
Lennox and Jax 😭😭😭 I loved them. I think more people should read this book. I just appreciate Lennox’s journey in trusting Jax and letting him take care of her. Nate 🫶🏽 a king. I just love Lennox and Nate’s conversations and how he was her voice of reason. Jax is a book husband now 😭😭😭 at this time, I just felt like the situation with Paul and Lennox did not need to happen. I would have rather Lennox just went back to talk Jax. It’s more of 4.25⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Soulflower.
73 reviews9 followers
June 7, 2024
SJ never disappoints, and Falling For Tormented Treasures has set the bar high for all future billionaire romances. It exceeded all my expectations, delivering everything I could have hoped for and more. The story was both tasteful and captivating. I couldn’t get enough of Jax and Lennox; their chemistry was simply irresistible.

SJ, thank you for writing. I can’t imagine my shelves without your books.
Profile Image for Asha.
48 reviews
May 2, 2024
This book is in my top 5 favorite reads of this year. JAX oh my goodness. He is really the definition of “actions speaks louder than words” because baby he stood on business about Lennox. This book had the perfect amount of spice it was absolutely perfect.
Profile Image for Taylor.
184 reviews
March 2, 2024
This would have been 5 stars if it wasn’t in third person POV. This book was so heartbreaking and yet so heartwarming all at the same time.
Profile Image for Krystal Barnes.
388 reviews14 followers
August 16, 2022
“Sometimes, you get so caught up in the dream of getting out, that you don’t realize the place you escaped to is even worse than the place you left behind.” -Lennox

We all deserve love!!! Like Zion said. Lennox needed it and deserved it.

“His disinterest made Jax fume. What was the point in keeping company with someone you had no interest in or weren’t even planning to treat with respect while you kept it?” -Jax

I would love to have someone like Jax to carry the weight from my shoulders.

I would love to lose my control to the right person.

“That’s the problem though, isn’t it? When everyone is living for themselves, someone has to take the control. Otherwise, everything falls into chaos.” So sad that Lennox feels she has to live for everyone in fear that control will be lost.

Every woman needs a Jax. So protective it’s so damn cute!!

“I don’t like seeing all these little cracks.”

“Does it bother you to see me in all my ruin?”

“You’re not as ruined as you think you are.”

“You just came in here and took over everything.”“You didn’t even ask me.”

“Because you’d never accept my help, no matter how badly you need it. I see you, Lennox. I see you drowning and, unlike all the other people in your life, I’m not willing to stand by and see if you can swim.”“If I had my way, I’d make sure you never get thrown in the water in the first place. You’re too precious for this life, treasure. And I have every intention of showing you just that.”

“I crave human connection and you crave a full breath without the anchor of your life pulling you into the depths of constant pressure.” -Jax

Leaning on people was dangerous. All too quickly, they disappeared and left her alone — usually flat on her ass. Better to learn not to lean on anyone at all. That way, when they left, she didn’t feel the loss. It couldn’t break her. -Lennox

“I think you should do whatever you want to do without worrying about what finally doing something for you will make you. Regardless of what you decide, you’re still Lennox and I think it’s time you did something for you just because you wanted to. You deserve it, Nix.” -Nate

“Your whole life, you’ve stood in your own way where your happiness was concerned. For once, can you just step aside and see what it feels like when you let it in?”

Jax could be my everything!!!!

As soon as the doors opened, her heart soared. As much as she didn’t want to admit it, Jax knew her. He knew when her anxiety was coming on, knew when she needed him to take control, knew when she wanted her coffee black or with cream, and knew just how she’d want to spend her days.

Any man who didn’t get on his knees, worship between his woman’s legs, was a man who didn’t understand pleasure.
Profile Image for Tracy - loves to read .
1,013 reviews
December 29, 2022
Worth the risk and the fall

This book was soooo good.

Lennox was the little sister that everyone depended on and we’re still ungrateful for. No one had to do anything because she did it for them. I totally identified with Lennox when it came to being everything to everybody and nothing to yourself. I struggle with the same thing when it comes to my family so she spoke to me. “When you were the person everyone leaned on, you couldn’t trust someone finally offering you a shoulder to rest. Worn and weary.”

Jax saw Lennox and wanted to carry all her burdens, be her safe space, take care of her, and give her chances to breathe. He wanted to be her one, her person. He had the heart and the means to meet her every want, need and desire. He didn’t know how to achieve it tho.

I enjoyed the back and forth between the two and how he broke down her walls to let him other in - vulnerable all by asking for what she wanted. Their chemistry was fire and the sexy scenes were well written and hot!

Lennox was a complex character with her depression, anxiety, trauma, difficulty in trusting people and giving up control. She was a fixer and an enabler too. But Jax was willing to take it all on and saw her as perfect. “I’m not perfect.” ““You are, and there is absolutely nothing you can say to me right now to convince me otherwise. Or make me love you any less.” “You don’t love me,” she affirmed. “You can’t.” “I can and I do.”

She was his tormented treasure.
Profile Image for mo be readin.
110 reviews10 followers
May 27, 2024
I started off really liking this book. It set a really interesting plot and lots of tension and spice that had the potential to progress nicely - and it did. However, by the time I got to the 75% mark, I started thinking, “soooo, when are we going to find out about the canon event (iykyk) that changes Lennox’s life? What’s the story with Zen? What’s the story with the mama? How did this impact Rell (because it was hinted at, to me anyway) and why doesn’t Jax know about this since he was supposed to be there? And what is Jax’s backstory?”

Then, we get to the fallout/third-act breakup and it’s a rush to the finish line🫨🫨 and the epilogue was just the bits that we get at the end of the housewives seasons that spill the tea from after filming. Like we just rushing through this major realization for Lennox? What about her healing?!? There were a few things left untied that left me like que pasa? That’s it?

I really liked the spice (🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ - I always could use more recklessness and filth and the use of c*ck gives me the heebie jeebies); overall I’d give this a 3.8⭐️⭐️⭐️ - really good, reliable plot, but needs some better pacing.
Profile Image for _SimplyRead.
106 reviews21 followers
July 29, 2023
Lennox was a girl full of anxiety with a toxic savior complex. Taking care of her family was always first priority over her own desires. Jazz was a man who fell in love at 19 with and spent his entire life becoming the man they discussed on that one night together.

I loved Jax energy, he was a man who stood by his word and laser focused on taking away the demons in Lennox life. Lennox slightly annoyed me tho, I got her not believing Jax was really into her based on how they got started, but girl…. ACTIONS are greater and he ALWAYS showed her his true intention through action!

This was my first novel by this author and I enjoyed it, but I think a little more character development was needed for Lennox.
Profile Image for Brittney Thomas .
167 reviews1 follower
March 7, 2023
I thought this was great. I sympathized with Lennox. Anxiety is not something that is fun at all. I thought this author did a great job of covering some of the pressures that a lot of black women can connect to. Lennox and the relationship with her mother broke my heart. Jax was everything! I loved the way he loved Lennox and wanted to give her everything. The spice was spicing. My favorite part has to be when Lennox was worried about everything she had to do for her mother and Jax took all of that from her. Nate was an amazing friend and there needs to be a book about him and Ben. I loved how protective of her sister Lennox was. May Paul continue to have the day he deserves.
12 reviews
November 29, 2023
*Round of applause*. This was a beautiful love story. Jaxon found freedom in Lennox during a brief encounter and carried that with him for years. Lennox struggled through life and found freedom in Jaxon once they reconnected. Their story was well written but I think I enjoyed how Lennox grew to love herself throughout the book even more. She didn’t think she was worthy of putting herself first in life nor did she think she was worthy of a love like Jaxon. Her inner battles made me shed tears. I do wish there was a little more dialogue between the characters (felt is was a lot of inner monologue). Well done S.J. Stewart!
Profile Image for LadyLovesToRead.
156 reviews5 followers
October 3, 2022
What can I say

Lenox is the baby of the family and she is drowning in Responsibility. She is taking care of her mother and her sister and she needs someone to take care of her...
She runs into Jax at the courthouse and has no memory of who this man is. The only problem is he never forgot her from the one day they spent together. Jax says it's love at first sight.
The twists and turns kept me up all night..
The spice was nice and spicy and the praise with the spice is top teir...
I love me a bratty Submissive...
This book was everything you could ask for
28 reviews
October 31, 2022
Jax for the win!

Lennox got on every last one of my nerves y’all! I get it- trauma has a way of making you deal with things in the most unconventional way. However she didn’t hold anyone accountable for anything they did EXCEPT Jax. But baby when a person comes in and lightens your load like Jax did for Lennox it is beyond a blessing! I loved the way he loved her. He taught her its ok to let go and be soft. I definitely will be re-reading this one
1,411 reviews12 followers
December 11, 2022
Just My Type

Perfect! When I say Jaxon is the all-time book bae, I am not exaggerating. Wow, Ms. Stewart did her thing! Character development was on point! Jaxon was thorough from start to finish. Of course Lennox required a lot of patience due to her brokenness. However, she pulled it together, chapter by chapter. Overall, it was a good book with good characters and a good plot.
Profile Image for Takeah Latimore.
Author 3 books22 followers
July 30, 2022
Treasures galore

I can’t say anything other than HELLo kitty YES 👏🏾 🙌🏾. This read was endearing, gentle, passionate, raunchy, twisty & downright GOODT! This was my first read by the author but it will not be my last. Y’all take a ride with Jax and Lennox…you’ll be happy you did ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Profile Image for Agnes Hina.
167 reviews8 followers
February 22, 2023
Honestly, I probably would’ve ranked this like a 4.5 or 4.8 but it’s close enough that I don’t mind putting it as a five. There were some little issues to me but overall I feel like I’ve developed a praise kink. Jaxon was by far one of the best male characters I have ever seen written. If you don’t like this book, there’s something wrong with you. It’s not the book.
Profile Image for Jaleesa.
402 reviews53 followers
July 26, 2022
YES

I really enjoyed this story. There was angst from Jax and so much doubt from Lennox and that somehow merged together to make this love story. This is my first read from this author but it’s certainly not my last.
438 reviews3 followers
November 23, 2025
A very good book… 4 1/2 ⭐️⭐️ for sure

This was a slow storyline with a happy ending but still fell a little flat…
First time reading this author and it will not be the last time. This was very thorough and very informative. A very good book 👍
Profile Image for Tamia.
4 reviews
July 24, 2022
no spoilers

this book was everything I thought it would be, it kept me on my toes. It's so raw and emotional but loving that it makes a great story.
Profile Image for Cha_oticreader.
46 reviews
August 22, 2022
I think I went in expecting too much which led me to give it 3/5 star . It has a lot of potential and I felt like it was missing something. It just didn’t stick.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews

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