Everything I thought I knew has been a lie. Bishop, Wells, Ronan, and Abel no longer believe the worst about me, And my nights are filled with love from each of them. But my heart is broken in four pieces, And I don’t even think they can put it back together. I’m constantly looking over my shoulder… Unsure of where to turn or who to believe. All I know is that I’ve never felt more alone.
Lover is the third book in the Loxley Prep reverse harem series.
*This reverse harem romance contains foul language, sexual content, and parts may be triggering.*
Lover is the third and final installment within the Loxley Prep series. I honestly devoured these books in one sitting. There's just something about this group, heck reverse harems in general, that keep me coming back. I wouldn't necessarily say it's the cliffhangers but the overall mystery/unknown and the characters for sure.
It's why I was rooting for everyone within this group to get everything that they wanted and more. I wanted all the assholes who did them, and others, dirty to rot for what they have done. It also didn't hurt that the guys were basically their own versions of Robin Hood and stole all their money to give it to the people who needed it the most: the victims of the shitty ass camp or sex trafficking ring.
I'm also not surprised with the big reveal towards the end. They were honestly all acting highly suspicious that I couldn't believe a single word coming from their mouths. I do, however, feel like it all felt a bit rushed towards the last few chapters which made me a little sad. I mean the mystery surrounding this camp and everything else was still being built up just for the final result to come so quickly. I wanted pain, bloodshed, and groveling.
In the end, I'm so happy that I came across this series and can't wait for Ever's books!
I wish I could say I loved this book. I didn’t particularly love or obsess over the first two, but carried on with the series out of curiosity for what happened in the camp and how everything would work out with our FMC & the guys, particularly Abel. Being that this is the last book of the series, I was hoping we would get all loose ends taken care of and have a satisfying conclusion. I was worried with how short the book was, and I think I was right.
The biggest problem with not only this book, but the other two as well, is the length. It’s far too short for the story we’re being told, so it’s not as well developed as I’d like. This book is a little over 200 pages, and there’s a lot of sex scenes. I expect to have sex in a reverse harem, but this was really pushing it. The ratio of sex scenes to actual plot is far too lopsided for me. I also feel awful for what happened to Abel, but that doesn’t excuse what he did and how he treated Lennon. Their reconciliation is too fast and unrealistic. We end up with a lot of questions that frustrate me to remain unanswered. How did they get away with faking Gentry’s death? I understand he went to rehab. What I don’t understand is how his death was so easily faked or why. Did they fake his death so he and Lennon’s aunt could trick Brewster? What exactly were Darby’s intentions or goals? Why did she cut up Lennon’s paintings- was it jealousy? What were Brewster’s intentions with Darby if he knew she was playing him? What was his role with the camp? What was Darby’s? What actually comes from taking these guys down and what consequences do they face? What does the aftermath look like for our main characters other than them going to Greece? We meet all these other characters who end up not being super significant… I wish we could have heard more about these characters who were also in the camp and gotten their experience, and gotten to know them. It’s all just so fast and underdeveloped. To have three books in this series and get to our big climax only for it to be super underwhelming is so disappointing. 2/5⭐️
I honestly finished this just because my OCD wouldn’t let me give up. The book was complete rubbish. Superficial, naïve, oversimplified, and with a saccharine-sweet ending. Barf!
Sometimes in reverse harems, the first couple books are the build up of plot and the girl getting with the guys and then the last book seems to be all sex. Now, I understand that one of the reasons for reading books like this is the steaminess of it, but I still want some plot happening too. Lennon and the guys went to school maybe two days in this book and there weren't really any revelations that I didn't see coming. I had hoped there might be a cool twist, but that's okay.
This leads into Ever getting her own book with the hockey team and I'm looking forward to it. She's quiet and keeps a lot to herself, I think she's got some interesting secrets locked up.
Lover is the third and final novel in the Loxley Prep reverse harem series. Lover, like its predecessor, was a quick and spicy read I couldn’t get enough of.
Like I mentioned in my review of Thief, Loxley Prep is the ultimate guilty pleasure read for me. It’s a spicy reverse harem, full of drama, and a plot that doesn’t amount to much because the focus is on the main character and each of the men in the relationship.
Lover is easily the spiciest of the three novels as Lennon settles into her relationship with Ronan, Wells, Abel, and Bishop. These scenes were hot and were easily the best part of the novel. However, Lennon and Bishop’s relationship was the least developed because of the age difference and Bishop being a teacher. I wish Jude would have spent more time on Lennon and Bishop, especially in the school setting.
Lover wraps up too quickly as everything comes to a climatic end. This isn’t really a critic since I wasn’t reading this series for its intricately plotted and realistic mystery. Let’s be honest, The Valiant’s work is unrealistic considering their time at Camp Capitree. But, like I said, I wasn’t reading this series for its plot.
Overall, Lover is a great conclusion to the Loxley Prep series that focuses mostly on Lennon and each of the men in the relationship. Though the novel stumbles with its plot, Jude makes up for it with her spice.
This book mended my heart together. Well, first, it broke my heart completely (Thanks, Hattie), but then it promptly fixed it. THE GUYS IN THIS WORSHIPPED LENNON LIKE IT WAS THEIR JOB. The amount of spice in this one was just perfection. I loved seeing Lennon's relationship grow even more with the boys. They took care of her and supported her. And Abel's 180, he just became the sweetest thing--so sweet I almost cried a few times. These characters have surely wormed their way into my heart.
The ending was good and satisfying. I am going to miss this series (However, if a spinoff series came out with Ever, I would be all up on that.) Truly outstanding job, Hattie. I know for a fact that I will be a lifelong reader of your books.
Also, my suspicion made back in book 1 was correct, so hells yeah, I'm a genius. Prettiest book award goes to this series!
I think by this book I was over some of the continuing story-lines. I was underwhelmed with the same drama especially Abel’s constant barbs. Of course we do finally learn his whole story and he finally has the proof he needs to see Lennon wasn’t lying to him. He finally ‘forgives’ her and she just lets it slide. There’s tons of sex, a cute dog and a whole lot of certifiably insane and evil people with a connection to the camp and all the horrors that went on there. Nothing really came as a surprise and even the climax felt a bit flat compared to all the built up drama of the past two books. I think their story could have wrapped up in a duet but I did enjoy this trilogy and all the spicy moments.
Overall Opinion : The last book of the series is here! I have been waiting for this one because damn I want the answers lol. The author has been dangling them all infront of us from day one lmao.
This trilogy was definitely amazing as hell!! I loved the twists and turns although I saw that one coming with Abel but the real reason the boys kept her shocked me lmao. I hated that they betrayed her like that and wanted to smack them!! We have an HEA though so all is good. Definitely recommending this one to all the Dark second chance RH romance people out there.
Okay, so I started to struggle just a little with this last book. Poor Lennon. Like, seriously. This poor girl. I started to say more, about who all had her back, but it was semi spoilery. And at this point, these guys are lucky she's forgiving. Especially Abel. Honestly what kept me hooked was the whole storyline and action surrounding the kidnapping and their old camp. Getting the bad guys, solving mysteries, was more of a pull than the romance. But it was a good series.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review for Stephanie's Book Reports.
Everything I thought I knew has been a lie. Bishop, Wells, Ronan, and Abe no longer believe the worst about me. And most nights are filled with love from each of them. But my heart is broken in four pieces. And I don't even think they can put it back together. I'm constantly looking over my shoulder. Unsure of where to turn or who to believe. All I know is that I've never felt more alone.
Lover is the third and final book in the Loxley Prep Series from Hattie Jude. You have to read Traitor and Thief before Lover or you are going to be super lost. I have loved spending this time with Lennon and her guys. These five characters have been though so much. Bishop and Abel have never really opened up to Lennon with Abel being the real hold out and at times I felt like he was just horrible to her. But the man had his reasons and you are about to find them out and possibly see another side of him that I don't want to say surprised me but I loved him through this whole series because I just knew there was quiet the story there and you get it in Lover. You also get all the answers we have all been dying for and you meet some new character and some really shocking things happen as this all unravels and one of those events had me letting out a big fat NO while reading I have to say I was surprised and upset by that event. The twist and turns will leave you one the edge of your seat and there is just no way that your not going to be absolutely thrilled about the conclusion. I honestly am so sad that my time with Lennon, Abel, Ronan, Wells and Bishop is over. I have fallen so in love with these characters. I have never read a Hattie Jude book before I read Traitor and I was instantly hooked and have really fallen in love with her writing style and how she keeps you guessing while making her characters compassionate no matter what they have been though. All five of these characters have stolen a place in my heart and I am so excited to see what we get next from Hattie Jude. Doesn't Ever need a story? I think she might because I just would love to spend more time in the Loxley Prep universe.
This is the final installment for the Loxley Prep series and I was sad to see it end and no longer have books to read about these characters! However, with that being said Hattie blew this dark reverse harem series out of the water.
Lover picks up right where Thief left off with the continuation of lies, secrets and betrayal. We finally get all of our questions answered from the previous two books in this one ten-fold. But don't worry Hattie still throws in twists and turns along the way to keep you sitting on the edge of your seat anxious about what's going to happen next. And she did not disappoint with those plot twists!
Hattie came in swinging with the spice in this book, nothing like saving the best for last! To see Bishop and Lennon's relationship continue to grow along with Wells and Ronan but also for Abel to finally redeem himself was swoon worthy. And now I have to say Abel moved to the top for my love of these boys. To see the love, devotion, and protectiveness they all had for Lennon made my heart melt with envy.
Fantastic job Hattie on this entire series and I can't wait to read what you write next!
* This is not a standalone and Traitor and Thief must be read prior to Lover*
Don't misunderstand the rating... this whole series is fucking awful. This one gets 2 stars where the first two got 1 because it didn't force me to read graphic child sexual abuse. That's literally the only reason.
I can't believe it took 3 books for a plot to start happening. We spent the first two in my personal hell. And this third one is only marginally better because we had fewer whole ass chapters dedicated to child abuse and more of present-day fuckery. It REALLY shouldn't have taken 3 books to get to the goddamned point.
Also can I say that these gorgeous book covers are WASTED on this garbage series.
Definitely the spiciest of the trilogy, but the ending left me wanting more. I loved the characters and devoured all three books quickly, but this one felt the least developed. A lot was packed into the final chapters, which made things feel rushed and a little too easy. Some questions went unanswered, and a few plot points could’ve used more depth. Still, I enjoyed the series overall and would recommend it for anyone who wants a fast, chaotic, drama filled why choose ride.
I'm confused. So many unanswered questions. All the lead up and it was done without providing clarity with some things. I know they are short books but maybe the climax could have been more climactic if so much of the book wasn't spent on other climactic experiences every time she so much as breathed in their direction. Little bit of a let down to an otherwise enjoyable series.
Lover is the 3rd and final book in the Loxley Prep series. Its a dark reverse harem.
This book is an EPIC conclusion to this series!!
Lover picks up where Thief left off and its a wild ride with secrets being revealed, and Lennon finds out how much she has been lied to. We get the answers to the questions we have been waiting for, and with the crazy twists Hattie gives us, you will be on the edge of your seat!!
Lennons relationships with Wells and Ronan continue to grow, and her relationship with Bishop is finally going in the right direction. And my grouchy boo Abel finally pulls his head outta his butt and it made my heart so happy!! Hattie definitely didnt hold back with the spice in this one either!!
I love this series so freaking much and Lover blew me away!! I can't wait to see what else Hattie Jude has in her amazing brain for us next!!
The conclusion to this trilogy had it wrapping up perfectly but also definitely not ending on a boring note. All boxes were checked and all my questions answered
When you first start this series you know Lennon’s dad is one evil astard then you get to this book and wonder how she has a decent bone in her body . Awesome ending
I spent the last 20% of this book determined that it was gonna be a saga instead of a trilogy. There was no way the story was going to be suitably wrapped up in 25ish pages. And I was right one one count - it wasn’t suitably wrapped up. But it is a complete trilogy.
Here’s my issue, I LOVED this trilogy. I devoured books one and two and literally cried when I realized I couldn’t immediately download book three. And I only had to wait three hours. I was so excited! But now that it’s over, I feel like I missed half the story. The first two books were full of depth and intrigue and detail. This one was short and it read short. It resolved far too quickly.
I also hated how easily she forgave the guys in the beginning of this one. I’m not going to give any spoilers, but it went from ‘no way’ to ‘love me’ in a matter of pages. I wanted the grovel. I deserved it. Particularly from one of the guys who was the literal worst before this. But I didn’t get it. And honestly, it felt a bit out of character for her that it happened that quickly.
Overall, this is a 5 star series, but this is not a five star ending. It felt rushed and lackluster. It didn’t shine as brightly as the first two. It felt like it was just desperate to end, and therefore missing a lot of the intrigue and detail that we got in the others. I mean, in books one and two there were huge OMG moments that lead to the cliffhangers. The OMG moment in this one was nothing compared to those.
I wanted to so badly to be satisfied by this ending. Maybe my expectations were too high. The first two enthralled me. I was determined that this trilogy was going to become a favorite of 2022 for me. Instead, it’s just one that I enjoyed. I recommend it. I definitely think it’s worth a read, particularly if you love the tropes. But sadly, book three didn’t bring it home for me. And it breaks my heart.
after 2+ weeks, i finally decided to DNF this book. i think a lot of people liked this series, but it was just seriously lacking in many aspects for me.
first of all, i’ve been saying this since the first book, but the main character has absolutely NO PERSONALITY. and it’s the same for everyone else. they’re all just flat characters that are way way too similar.
i managed to bypass that and get through books 1 and 2, simply because i hate DNFing and i wanted to see it through. at first, i thought the plot was an interesting take, and i wanted to see where it went. but it was devastatingly UNDERWHELMING. like it’s actually so sad that there was a good amount of potential just for it to fall short.
another thing that seriously disturbed me for this series was the author’s writing. it was insane to me that many people loved these books, because the writing technique was pretty much appalling. there was multiple grammatical errors, which that alone would make me DNF a book. but also, there was an extreme lack of detail in important scenes. the entire climax (metaphorical) of the book would be crammed into half a page with little to no details, and filler content would take up chapter after chapter. it was just crazy!!
overall, i tried to read this book and i just couldn’t. i would not recommend it!
hmm okey, that's it.... somehow it's not really the conclusion I was expecting and there are also a lot of loose ends for me. the plot to sex ratio in this book - there are a lot of sex scenes. I expect there to be sex in a reverse harem book, a lot in fact - but this was really over the top. the reconciliation was SO quick and a bit inevitable, too quick and unrealistic. where was the groveling? also, it felt a little like Abel was actually her favorite. and I don't think something like that should shine through in an RH.
but since I liked the story and the characters throughout the series, it is still a 3 star for me
Ok so I really liked the story in all 3 books. That being said, book 3 fell so short for me. I was hoping for more. I knew something big would have to happen for Lennon to forgive him, and while what he went through was terrible, it was just forgive and forget about all the shit that he did to her. It was too fast. And all the crazy ass aunt Darby shit. What was that? The book was very rushed and very straight to the point.
I was given an arc in exchange for an honest review
Watching Lennon realize that the guys have all been weary of her from the moment she reentered their lives, even the ones who seemed to have made amends with her quickly, broke her heart. Add to that the fact that a person she thought was long gone resurfacing sends Lennon into a tailspin. She doesn't know where to turn or who to trust. The men she thought she could trust completely betrayed her and used her in some twisted test to see how loyal she was to them. When they found out that she was as trustworthy as she claimed they were desperate to make amends. But it may be too little, too late for them now. Can Lennon survive her long thought dead enemy, the betrayal of every single person in her life she thought she could trust, and find a way to graduate high school in the process?
I have not been so heartbroken for a character in a long time. I watched Lennon fall to pieces over and over again and she was so utterly alone in her pain. The guys wanted to make it up to her and apologize but some things are far too big to forgive. But I also saw her pick herself up and give every single person the middle finger. She was determined to take care of herself on her own without the protection of the guys or her Aunt Darby. She grew a backbone that I hadn't really seen until this point.
I also enjoyed seeing Lennon and the guys find their way back to each other. They all opened up about their past and commiserated. Lennon was there to put them back together just as they were for her. They were a united front when it came to foiling the diabolic plans of their enemies and I was their biggest cheerleader.
The only pitfall that I found in the book was that the resolution felt rushed. It was a lot about Lennon's betrayal and her relationships being rekindled with her guys so that the drama and antagonist issues kind of took a backseat. Normally that would be fine but I was expecting something a little more thought provoking. The mystery was easily solved as the enemies seemed to basically turn out to be vast in either one regard or another. You could throw a rock or hazard a guess as to the big baddies and you'd have probably been right. That just felt a little flubbed to me but it didn't detract from the overall enjoyment of the book.
It was a nice conclusion to a truly visceral book series that brought on tears, laughs, and swoon-age.
Lover is the final installment of the Loxley Prep series by Hattie Jude, and I couldn’t have asked for more! This book is woven with secrets, mystery, and intrigue and the spice level was really amped up in this book! I mean… we all make predictions as we’re reading, and generally, we have an idea of what’s going to happen, the shock factor in this book was off the charts – I never would have guessed how the secrets unraveled – AMAZING JOB!
This book picks up right where Thief left off. Consistent with previous, it’s told in multiple POVs and incorporates flashbacks to a disciplinary camp where Lennon and her boys initially met. Having all endured the camp together, they all became very close… until they weren’t… and the boys believed Lennon betrayed them. Although most of the main characters are high school age, it’s easy to forget as they’re all on their own and very mature for their age.
Fast forward to Lover, it seems as though they’ve made strides in mending their broken relationships. However, the script has flipped and one big secret the boys are keeping from Lennon may destroy it all. Can they redeem themselves? Even more, can they keep her safe from threats? I LOVE the twists and secrets in this whole series. Every time you turn, there’s another lie and another secret unfolding – I really appreciate how the author slowly revealed secrets throughout the book – we didn’t understand the full extent of the treachery until the VERY END. The writing all flows so well and the character development was also incredible – each person has a unique personality making them memorable and easily distinguishable.
Hats of to you Hattie Jude – this was a great series! Highly recommend this to any reader looking for a dark RH tale full of secrets and twists!