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Long live the King

Growing up as the oldest Kingston sibling, I knew what was expected of me.
King Corp. was my legacy, and my siblings were my responsibility.
The world was ours for the taking. For the living.
But I neglected to live it for myself . . . until her.

Daphne Brenner wasn’t meant to be part of the deal.
I never intended to acquire a new assistant with my new hockey team, but here she is.
Constantly challenging me. Continually Intriguing me. Never backing down.

Even if I’m the villain in her fairytale.

He stole my legacy, and now he holds the key to my future.

When he sold our family’s hockey team to Max Kingston, my father destroyed my dreams without a second thought. And that was only his first betrayal.

Now I have to play nice with my new boss in order to carve out my new future.
But when long days and late nights lead to so much more, I realize I’m falling for the intensely arrogant, beautiful man who quietly puts everyone else’s needs before his own.
Playing nice with the enemy isn’t nearly as hard as I thought it would be.

But can I survive falling for this King?

413 pages, Hardcover

First published May 18, 2022

631 people are currently reading
1335 people want to read

About the author

Bella Matthews

35 books3,767 followers

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5 stars
2,598 (50%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 306 reviews
Profile Image for Dora Koutsoukou .
2,272 reviews723 followers
June 13, 2022
3 ❤️🤔🤔⭐️s

Max’s character was portrayed in a very different way in the previous parts and his behaviour in FK puzzled me a lot.

Dixon’s interest towards Daphne and her father’s role added absolutely nothing to the story. I don’t know what were the purposes of sticking those insertions in the plot.

In this part, besides the Kingston clan, even more characters paraded, either from the hockey or the football team! If I only knew, I would have written down all the characters’ names and their roles on a long list, in order to avoid the huge headache they gave me!
Profile Image for Jessica Alcazar.
4,403 reviews624 followers
December 28, 2022
The rating and the reasons for it make my heart hurt :( but it is what it is.

*sigh* … this book was disappointing. I said what I said and I am devastated that I had to. It seems that I am the only reader disappointed in Fallen King and honestly, I’m a bit baffled by that as well. Some of the reasons I’m disappointed could be because maybe I built up in my mind what I thought Max and Daphne together would look like and that’s not really on the author. That’s a complete me thing so I’ll own those disappointments, but I’ve read every word that Bella Matthews has written thus far and even listened to a few audio books and based on those experiences, the plot development and character development both failed in a big way with this book.

There are numerous circumstances that happen on the outside of Max & Daphne’s journey that were either not fully developed, thrown in for dramatic effect only or just made zero sense to the storyline as whole.

If you’ve read any of the previous books in the Restless Kings series, then you should be pretty familiar with Max, the oldest of the King siblings. Based on these past glimpses, I expected him to be an alpha who goes after what he wants with determination and grit and let’s nothing get in his path. That’s not the Max in this book. Like not even a little. It was weird. The grit and taboo edge that is inherit to an age-gap such as Max and Daphne was almost non-existent, and the dramatic effect of a boss/subordinate relationship was underwhelming.



So, this was not a #win for me. It saddens me because I am hooked on these siblings and on Bella. I love her style and I’ve pretty much loved every other word she’s introduced into the world. I am still looking forward to more Kings and anything else she might decide to write because she is a talented storyteller, just not this one time *shrug*
Profile Image for Sabrina.
4,309 reviews2,398 followers
December 24, 2022
Get it here:
Amazon US * Amazon UK

I quickly became obsessed with Bella Matthews after reading her debut novel. And since that first book from her I've obsessed over and loved everything she's come out with. Which is why I'm really sad to say this book didn't make me fall in love. Max and Daphne were good characters and I did enjoy seeing them together. But there was a lot going on in the background of their story that I didn't like so much. 

First, there are a lot of characters in this world and they're all connected in some way or another. Which can be very interesting and I do enjoy when there's a group of friends or family that are all very close to one another. But as the last book in a series that was already a spin off from another series, it was a little too much and too many characters to try and keep up with and remember how they connect. Especially with some names like Chloe and Carys, which aren't super similar but for some reason I kept getting them confused. Hell, at one point I had to stop and make sure the cat named Cinder was actually a cat and not another person. Which I'll chalk up to my sleep deprived brain. 

More than that there were storylines that didn't feel developed enough and when all was said and done they seemed pointless to the overall story. And then we had the addition of a storyline that was hinted at many many times and yet was mostly kept a secret to tease an upcoming book. Honestly, I was intrigued at the start to know who Carys' ex was and what happened between them. But as the book went on and more and more hints were being dropped I just wished it would stop so I could get more of the actual main characters. It felt like Carys' story got too excited to be told and took over the book at times.  And then the ending came and really felt like it was the start pf or part of another story because it was completely about Carys for that last chapter or two, which personally I didn't love.

Again, I did enjoy these characters, Max and Daphne, and overall the book was a good read even if my ranting makes it seem like I didn't like it at all. I would still definitely recommend this book and the series. 

P.S I went right to Carys book after finishing this one! 
Profile Image for Jenn (The Book Refuge).
2,673 reviews4,501 followers
May 22, 2022
Boss and Assistant Romance. But her father used to own the company. Seems like it will be enemies to lovers but more so it was friends with benefits. Hero has a huge nosy family. Sweet and sexy.

4 stars
3.5 stars
Profile Image for Kelly_Reads_Books.
2,127 reviews192 followers
May 8, 2022
Max and Daphne’s story was so amazingly good that I could not put it down. This couple is the most unexpected pair, new owner of the team and his assistant, and they struggle from day one, but finally find their groove.
There are so many characters in this book but the right amount of information was given for each that I didn’t feel lost. Now I just want to read more about them.
Bella Matthews writing was smooth and flowed beautifully and was such a pleasure to read.
Profile Image for annasbook nookk.
956 reviews74 followers
May 14, 2022
I've been waiting for Maxs book, and really enjoyed it.

Max buys out Daphnes dads company and she ends becoming his assistant. She makes him off limits as he's her boss and the man who made her loose her dream job.

Max is a powerhouse, gorgeous of a man and she must resist.
The question is can she?

A fast paced billionaire romance that I read in one sitting. I love the series as a whole.
Profile Image for Maddie (Bookaholic_Dreamer).
964 reviews82 followers
May 13, 2022
The oldest Kingston sibling Maximus ‘Max’ Kingston time to shine is now.
Fallen King the third book in Restless Kings series by Bella Matthews is here to tell his story alongside Daphne ‘D’ Brenner through dual perspective.

Max and Daphne’s story was definitely an entertaining read. But that wasn’t surprising, given the nature of its being a mixture of a kinda/sort of Rom-Com within a Sports Contemporary Romance.
The two leads having headstrong personalities meant moments of constantly butting heads. Creating some funny moments to take place from the back and forth witty banter they had going on between each other.
But despite those moments, there were still times where Bella had the storyline exploring the emotional side within the serious moments that took place leading to some angsty-ness. Yet it was a given considering the intensity of the tension filled moments it built upon, surrounding some of the situations that arisen. Particularly when it came to their relationship of which it involved.
Having established the relation of boss and bosses assistant, always being hard at work with focusing on their jobs. It didn’t stop Max and Daphne's newly developing feelings for one another to grow and lead them to the forbidden side. Not only from the Age-Gap they shared, but having to break the rules they placed within the work environment.
Something they truly struggled with getting a handle on, with the more time they spent in each other’s company the more Max and Daphne could see and feel themselves falling.
Ultimately leading to some explosive moments, given the cause of pressure becoming too much with reach a boiling point. Obviously resulting in lots of Fiery Heat that was Smoking Hot!
Safe to say Bella upped the ante even more with Max and Daphne’s story, given the Fire they brought was a whole other level from the couples that had preceded them.

It needs to be said, but was it just me or did anyone else not feel like the story strayed away from Max and Daphne a couple of times throughout the narrative? Especially when another side story came into play.
While those particular times may have only lasted for a short period of time, the way it was inserted into the overall story not only felt so random and out of place.
It just didn’t seem to work IMO, especially with how quickly it cut off only to delve right back into Max and Daphne’s story, almost as if it never even really happened with interrupting their story.
While it could be said that it was Bella's idea of using it as possible Easter eggs.
In my honest opinion those specific moments of time could’ve been better spent on Max and Daphne, given the out of place climax that came about which ended too abruptly for my liking. Only to then lead right into an ending that seemed rushed to me, which had me not so keen on unfortunately.

Overall, Max and Daphne’s story was a fun read of which included a good variety of elements within the narrative. And for that it can be said Bella Matthews did a good job in bringing their story to life within Fallen King, the final book within Restless Kings series.



*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for christyheartsbooks.
1,147 reviews32 followers
May 18, 2022
Max has stepped up as the patriarch for his family when his this as his chance to prove that he is capable enough to do this without riding on his father's coat tails. What he was not expecting was his assistant, Daphne, the daughter of the owner trying to liquidate his assets. Daphne is blindsided by her dad selling the hockey team, her legacy. So when Max Kingston comes in here, in all his gorgeous glory, she wants nothing to do with him. But as his assistant Daphne has a hard time staying away from Max.

The push and pull from Max and Daphne was so much fun. I adored how she gave him so much sass but stood her ground and fought for what she wanted. I adored how Max supported Daphne and helped her fight for her dreams. Gah . . . these two were so good together. But my absolute favorite thing about this book is how strong Daphne is. Her world is crumbling and she keeps going, fighting for what she wants and doesn't cave to anyone. I was expecting Max's alpha dirty mouth to win me over but Daphne's strength and determination captivated me and is what made me ultimately love this book to no end.
Profile Image for Lissete.
583 reviews4 followers
May 9, 2022
Max Kingston, is the oldest sibling and in charge of his family’s empire. He decides to branch out and buy the local Hockey team, he’s in charge of the merge and thus creating his own mark. While he’s hard at work, he doesn’t see her coming, Daphne. The daughter of the former owner and effective immediately, his new assistant.
Boy oh boy! This age gap, work place novel is filled with heat! Daddy Max sure knows how to take care of business 🔥🔥🔥
I know I say this every time I review one of Bella’s books, but I love that there’s no miscommunication, no unnecessary BS, just people living their lives the best they can and falling in love in the process. I also love how strong the heroines are! Daphne might be young but she’s smart, determined and full of sass 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 she won’t bow to anyone, she doesn’t need a man to take care of her. Please refer to the scene where she handles one of Max’ brothers, because OMG it was EPIC! YAS QUEEN! 🔥🔥🔥

And let’s not forget that this is a huge family, full of love and we get to see more of each of the siblings in this book. I’ll be honest, I didn’t think I was going to love this book as much as I did. Not after Sam Beneventi (book 1) and Cade St. James (book 2), but Max Kingston knocked me off my feet. What an amazing man! I love him so! And Daphne might not be a Kingston but she’s as strong and bada**, if not more! This couple is absolute goals!!! I can’t get enough.
Profile Image for XxnightxowlxX74.
1,198 reviews8 followers
May 18, 2022
Daphne is in shock when she finds out her dad sold their family’s hockey team. She’s so angry with her father for keeping it a secret even though he convinced the new owner to keep her and the staff for at least 1 year.
She meets the new owner Max Kingston the same day she finds out. They both are extremely attracted to one another but Max knows he can’t go there… Until he does. Within a short period of time we see this couple shine. They wanted to only be friends with benefits but boy did they get more then that!
Daphne learns her father owes a lot of money to some pretty bad guys. She’s upset that he sold her childhood home and bugged her for her mothers rings so he could pawn them for money. She cuts all ties to him.
Max and Daphne were really a great power couple and I enjoyed reading their story.
Profile Image for Ode to my book boyfriends.
530 reviews
May 8, 2022
I don't even know where to begin...I am in LOVE with this book (this entire series if I'm honest). We've met the oldest Kingston Max, aka Maximus or Maxipad to his bigger than life family, in previous books and I couldn't wait to get my hands on his story!

Max has always shouldered the responsibility of the Kingston family after his father's passing, taking care of all his siblings, King Corp and the Kings football team. The Kingston's just purchased the Revolution (a hockey team) that Daphne's father and grandfather owned. Her father asked Max to purchase the team and he saw it as a way to step out of his father's footsteps and build an empire out of the struggling franchise.

"There’s something about the way he’s standing at my desk . . . as if he’s the master of the universe and expects the planets to revolve around him. And I get the impression I’m supposed to be one of those planets."

Daphne, aka D to friends and Siren to Max, graduated college and started working as her father's executive assistant temporarily until she could reinstate the charitable team that her father shut down. She has a huge heart and you wouldn't know she grew up with money. She volunteers her time and wears her late mother's clothes to keep her memory alive.

"This woman can only be five foot two at most, putting her at an entire foot shorter than me, but she straightens her spine and stares me down like she’s six feet tall. Little does she know, strong women are my kryptonite. In the boardroom and the bedroom."

Max and Daphne have a bit of a rough start since she wasn't aware that her dad sold the company. But, Max wins her over fairly quickly and their chemistry is off the charts (right from the start)! They challenge and support each other, I'm so here for there journey! Not to mention...MORE Kingstons (yes please), I love this family!

I really love that it took Max and Daphne a while to get their shit together with each other, but the conflict didn't break them apart, it made them stronger. This age gap, boss/employee, forbidden romance is a must read! I'm ready for more Kingstons!

Favorite spoiler-free quotes:
“Any man with eyes would want to fuck you, Daphne. And that man knows you. So he knows you’re gorgeous, and smart, and have a giant heart. You’re the entire package. And I’m an ass for not telling you that sooner.”

“You’re the glue that holds us together, Maximus. You always will be. But it’s your turn to be happy. And don’t try to tell me you have been because content and happy, truly happy, are two completely different things.”

“In Greek mythology, Apollo was the god of the sun, one of the most powerful gods. Daphne was a nymph, one he fell for, utterly and completely. She was the most beautiful thing he ever saw. Ultimately, she was his downfall too. But hopefully, that won’t be the case with us. Now sleep, my siren.”

These Kingston siblings take codependence to an entirely new level.

Sarcasm is our love language, and revenge is a Kingston sibling’s sacred weapon.
Profile Image for Meredith (SweetReadsandTreats).
1,213 reviews26 followers
May 16, 2022
The third book in the Restless Kings series tackles Max, the head of the family and the character that intrigued me the most out of the Kings siblings. This book picks up right after Scarlett’s book finishes with the acquisition of the Revolution hockey team and Max taking over ownership. A little office romance, a little enemies to lovers, and a little Alpha mixed together makes this a yummy read with the of course hilarious shenanigans of the King siblings who make fun of each other like it’s a sport.

Daphne Brenner went into work one morning and found out that her dad had sold her family’s legacy and the hockey team her mother’s family had built without her knowledge. She is completely blindsided and then she finds out that he sold her childhood house too. D’s father turned her world upside down from one moment and she is now the assistant to Max, the new owner. Max comes in looking to make a difference, create his own legacy out of the shadow of his father. As these two begin working together, sparks fly, and they both begin to realize that they might be exactly what the other needed.

Fallen King is another yummy addition to the Restless Kings series. I loved how Max and Daphne were quite different but worked so well together. She pulls him out of his workaholic lifestyle and makes him realize that it’s time to start living for himself outside of his father’s shoes. Max helps Daphne find her place in the world and gives her the support to follow her dreams. They are both so sweet to each other and spicy too! The story starts off action packed and the plot just keeps rolling for these two all the way to the end. There are times you’ll laugh, times you’ll gasp (the slap!), and you’ll feel all the warm fuzzies about found family. I’ve really enjoyed this entire series and am looking forward to more!
Profile Image for Read What I Like Blog.
412 reviews42 followers
May 16, 2022
FALLEN KING (RESTLESS KINGS BOOK THREE)

Kindle Unlimited: [X]YES [ ]NO
Stand-alone: [X]YES [ ]NO
Author: Bella Matthews
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spiciness rating: 🌶🌶🌶/5
POV: Dual, first person
Main Couple: Daphne & Max
Favorite Character: Max
Tropes: Workplace romance; enemies to lovers; age gap

Review:

“𝘚𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳. 𝘈 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨.”

This is my first time reading one of Bella’s book and I have to start this review by saying the girl is talented.
When Daphne’s father sells the family team to the Kings, Daphne sees herself lost and having to work for Max (who she sees as the bad guy who stole what was hers by right). Soon she discovers what a good and upstanding man Max really is and their “no strings” relationship begins.

It was hard for me to choose a favorite this time. Although Daphne is a strong independent woman, Max is the handsome, rich, s*x God, family man, good employer, respectful man, how can you compete with this? His only flaw was his family. I mean, they cared a lot about each other, but I don’t like others minding my business, so I’m glad Daphne didn’t care, because I would. And since they were so good together and Dixon is still single I’d happily offer my support and friendship to him (call me Dix!).

If you like hot workplace romances with a couple with lots of chemistry, you should check out Fallen King.

*** I received an advanced copy of Fallen King and I’m voluntarily leaving this review. ***
Profile Image for Kaya.
626 reviews
May 18, 2022
Fall in love with the Kingstons all over again

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
STEAM: 🔥🔥🔥.5



Max Kingston has taken over the Revolution hockey team. Handing over the Kings football team to be run by his sister Scarlet made more sense, so it looks like he has a fledgling hockey team to turn into NHL champions.

Too bad not everyone is on the same page, including the former owner's daughter Daphne Brenner. But Max can't shake her off easily, especially since she is on contract to remain as his assistant for twelve months. But that's the least of his worries because he cannot seem to shake off his attraction to his new and sassy assistant.

I thought Cade and Scarlet's story was going to be so hard to surpass, but Bella Matthew keeps raising the bar, especially with Max and Daphne's story.

Max has always intrigued me since I started reading about the Kingstons. The patriarch who had to claim the head of the family too early, he has always had to live in his father's shadow and raise his brothers and sisters. He did so with little complaint and handled the organized chaos that is his extended family with strength and grace.

I love that Daphne throws him off his guard. The normally stoic Max is shaken by this sassy, fearless, and kind woman who is years his junior. She is not what he expects, and he finds himself liking it a lot. I also love that she stands her ground not just with him but also with other men around her. They respect her as they should because she is smart, hard-working, and witty.

Their chemistry is just off the charts. Even their adversarial start set fire to my Kindle. The tension is absolutely sizzling.

The Kingston family could find 50 more siblings, and I would read them all. Each one brings a certain charm, and I love their interactions. They keep each other in check, they support each other unconditionally, and it is abundantly clear that they love each other very much. Even their significant others and children integrate well into the family and have their siblings' backs.

** I am voluntarily reviewing an advance copy of this book. Thank you to Bella Matthews and Social Butterfly PR for providing an ARC. **
Profile Image for Jennifer Pierson.
11.7k reviews189 followers
May 24, 2022
I have to say Fallen King totally hijacked all my attention from the jump so I didn't move until I had devoured every last page. Max has acquired the team that Daphne's father sold to him so she's feeling quite betrayed by them both. To make matters worse, she's now Max's assistant which seems to only add insult to injury at the end of the day. Despite the fact that she wants to stay away from him, as his assistant, that's just not feasible so the sparks start to really fly between the two of them. I loved both of them, but it was Daphne's strength that shone the brightest because despite the fact that she's hurt, she's not going to stop fighting & goes toe to toe with Max. This is a fantastic story that I never wanted to end despite wanting to know how it all panned out, and now I crave more of these two. I truly believe that y'all will feel the same way so hit those one click buttons as I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
Profile Image for IvetteA_13.
395 reviews1 follower
July 7, 2024
Max and Daphne (Siren)


4/⭐️ 2/🌶️ 👔🥅👩🏼‍💼❤️‍🔥
Profile Image for Erin Branscom.
Author 18 books879 followers
May 13, 2022
SO good! Bella Matthews nails it again. She’s my absolute fave. I’m still not sure how she does it but I love each new book she puts out even more!
Profile Image for Intel Chicky Reads Romance (Kara Merideth).
2,263 reviews1,532 followers
May 18, 2022
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Trope: enemies to lovers, boss/employee
Angst: 😱😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Fallen King is absolute perfection! This series has been my introduction to Bella Matthews and I'm so glad I found her! I read primarily dark romance, but her stories and characters have this great combination of gripping and funny that just pulls me in and holds on and Fallen King did not disappoint.

I have been really looking forward to the story of Max Kingston, the very reliable and serious oldest brother of the Kingston clan. He's branching out the Kingston brand into a hockey franchise and his new assistance, Daphne is the daughter of the previous owner and she is NOT thrilled with the fact he is taking over and could ruin what she feels is her family's legacy. But Daphne has trouble coming up on the horizon and it's coming from the most unexpected of places. Daphne is going to have to make herself vulnerable to Max to find out if he can really be the guy that can be there for her, forever.

I seriously floved this book! The storyline is great and it's well written. Angsty without contrived drama, that's there for the sake of drama. The banter in the book is phenomenal and it will have you literally laughing out loud. Every time his brother called him Maxipad I snortled, lol. It's really the characters that make this book (and this series) so great though. I love their large family and how the siblings all support each other - even when they get into fights. Max is written true to form of an oldest, overachieving sibling who struggles to take time for himself. I love how he's attracted to Daphne from the start and that her freeness and sparkling personality was what drew him in. I love how he stood by her, even when others were casting doubts. I thought it wonderful how driven Daphne is. A hard worker who keeps plugging even when life gets her down. Just an all around excellent read that will leave you with all the feels. Can't wait for the Defiant Kings series and can't wait for Brent to get his, lol!

Fallen Kings is the third book the the Restless Kings series by Bella Matthews. While it can be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading it in series order as it will improve the reading experience and the fact that all the other books are fracking wonderful too. Fallen King is told in first person, from dual perspective.

⛔️ My bookshelves can sometimes be considered spoilers
Profile Image for Kelly (AndKellyReads).
1,002 reviews60 followers
May 12, 2022
All these books in the Kingston family series make me that much more excited for Hudson to meet the love of his life and get knocked on his ass by that person. It's going to be beautiful.

But, back to Maximus, I liked this. Watching him fall for a younger woman who wanted him for everything but his money, basically, and only wanted him as a distraction? *chef's kiss* He and Daphne were a rollercoaster and I loved it and I loved that there was really no third act breakup and instead they faced problems along the way and (drum roll please) COMMUNICATED THEM with one another and it just brought me so much joy. I do wish we had seen Max be a bit more of the Dom I know he is, so that was kind of a bummer, and I wish they had been enemies a *teeeeeensie* bit longer, but he was still filthy and perfect and Daphne was charming and omg I love Max so much.

Also ... this COVER *heart eyes*

I will say, though, that this is one of the first books in this series where I was really really glad to have read the Kings of Kroydon Hills series first. Daphne was so intertwined with the characters from those books that it, honestly, becomes a lot of people and it's very easy to lose track. And if I had trouble keeping everyone straight even having read those books? I can only imagine how someone starting out with the Kingston family would feel. So, while you don't HAVE to read the Kroydon Hills boys first, I do strongly recommend it.

The only other thing that was wild about this book to me was the inclusion (and emphasis) on Carys's storyline (which we know is coming with the summer duet) but it felt ... out of place??? AND I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS????? I feel like I was very much left hanging but also, like I kind of said before, I was invested because I know these characters. I don't know, it felt weird when Daphne and Max had SO MUCH going on to kind of .. pivot, but I didn't hate it. I just felt confused.

But yeah overall, I liked this one. A lot. The cover is pure art, Max Kingston is a baller, I adore this family, and I can't wait for more from these Kingston siblings. The steam was top notch (per usual for Bella) and I liked both the hero and the heroine. They were headstrong and determined but also soft, they were adults that communicated, and they learned how to work with one another and express what they really wanted and also, that *slap* scene is going to live in my head rent free for the rest of my life. A+.

[I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review]
Profile Image for One Loves Reading .
1,172 reviews27 followers
May 23, 2022
"He stole my legacy, and now he holds the key to my future."

Max & Daphne love story is perfect age gap office STEAMY romance that will make you fall inlove with the King Family even more 🥰

Max is a BRILLIANT human and brother. I love that all his 9 siblings want him to think for himself and get his life back. When their father dead he took care of his siblings cause he is the eldest and he was forced to take over his father family business. Since he was born he was trained to take over his father and when he dead he never had a chance to discover what he wants in life

Daphne got the shock of herself when he dad throw a GIANT curve ball and we learn along the way that wasn't the last curve ball...no spoilers. I loved she hated Max first until he brought her in the office and had a open conversation with her. With that conversation they both have a love for charities that support children and support the people in Philadelphia. They both love their city and they have the same passion to help those who need help and support

Both have lived in a family shadows and both are learning to shine outside of it. This book is full of heart and witt that will make you smile promise ❤️

ONCE AGAIN I LOVE THE KING SIBLINGS
all 9 of them will make you laugh so much and if you are like me who has siblings you will see either your bro or sister in one of the siblings. They are so relatable and that why I love them so much cause every sibling goes through these insane witty banters and the exreme protection you have for your siblings young or old

☆MUST READ & FAV☆
Profile Image for Kristina Maysonet.
1,750 reviews36 followers
May 10, 2022
Wow Bella just keeps getting better and better with each book and Fallen King was no different. It was perfect! I am in love with Max. Max is the oldest Kingston and he is the one who took over the family empire. Now that he is letting Scarlet take over for the Philadelphia Kings and stepping into Philadelphia Revolution, he is finally breaking free from being his father’s clone. Max was prepared for this change, he was prepared for the backlash that comes with the change, but he was not prepared for Daphne. Daphne has the same bad a$$ features as Scarlet, she is quick witted and full of sass. (Her clapback to Becket was my favorite part of the whole book) Her father was the previous owner of the Revolution and with the sale of the team, his relationship with his daughter crumbled. I loved how strong Daphne was through it all and that she didn’t let it break her. Daphne is Max’s assistant but she has goals of her own for the company. Max adores the motivated side of Daphne and their chemistry is off the charts hot!

Fallen King is an age gap, office romance that is so beautiful. They really built a strong bond and despite claiming to be casual, their feelings for each other were anything but casual. I love when the couple don’t fight their feelings for each other, they just give in and fall in love so effortlessly.

The whole Kingston family is so much fun and their text messages for sure will bring you a bunch of laughs. There was also the most perfect setup for the next book by Bella and wow I can’t wait for it. If you enjoy books with strong family dynamics, an adorable couple, and lots and lots of steam, then I think you will not be disappointed.
Profile Image for Daisy Knox.
Author 4 books37 followers
May 12, 2022

More reviews posted at Tales of Love, Life, and Murder

I loved Daphne and Max’s story from the first page. It goes right into the action from Daphne’s POV as the rug gets ripped out from under her. Her entire life goes sideways in minutes with no warning and things just keep getting crazier. Max is expanding his kingdom and jumps right into his new role as head of the Revolution, but his beautiful new assistant has an immediate effect on him. Watching him struggle with his reaction to Daphne is one of the best things about this story. He’s so confident and successful in every aspect of his life, with his family and empire, but this hot blonde makes him weak as soon as he sets his eyes on her for the first time. There’s the forbidden aspect of their attraction since he’s the boss, plus an age gap, but they really don’t bother fighting it because the pull is so strong.

There’s a lot of angst because of her family situation and his (to a lesser extent, ahem, Beckett) but Max falls hard and fast with no reservations, even as Daphne works to guard her heart. I love the way they came together and stuck together throughout. The epilogue is my favorite of the series and one of the highlights is seeing Beck get beat down by a girl. This is a perfect end to a favorite series.
Profile Image for Emma Lou.
310 reviews4 followers
May 9, 2022
Bella just continues to be the most amazingly versatile author to gift us with her words. Honestly, there's nothing she can't write and I love how each new book presents us with new and exciting avenues. I mean come on, 👏🏻 these 👏🏻 tropes! All of my favourites wrapped up into one incredible book!

🏒 Sports
🏬 Office
🔥  Curvy Heroin
💪🏻 Adonis of a hero
🖤 Enemies to lovers
😈 Age gap

Best thing about this for me though? Being a naturally curvy girl myself, its so refreshing and comforting to feel more represented in books and not having to compare myself to the petite heroins that the guys go feral for. And if Max Kingston likes his girls with sexy curves then consider my faith restored! 🥰

Daphne is without a doubt my favourite Heroin so far from the the world of the Kings. She's incredibly relatable, down to earth but strong and sassy, she gives a Max a run for his money and doesn't make things easy just because. She goes through so much and comes out stronger in every situation, what a woman! 💪🏻

And Max Kingston, I mean we've all been waiting for his book haven't we. The eldest sibling and heir to the King Corps throne, the one who keeps everyone grounded and holds the family together, and the one who puts aside his happiness, accepting solitude, long work hours and an empty bed so he can focus on everyone else. I lived for his inner thoughts and feelings about his little siren and watching him come to realise what he wants is the opposite of what he said was just everything! This man had me weak at the knees, for me nobody in the Kings world can overtake Sammy Beneventi, but Max came very close second! 🔥

Gah I just loved everything about this, I loved the Ice Hockey environment, I loved seeing all our favourite pop back up, the hilarious group texts, the push and pull between these two and of course Bella just blew it out of the water as per and continued to build upon the world we've all fallen head over heels for. Now starts the dreaded wait for our next fix and I think y'all are going to love who we have coming up next 👀😍
Profile Image for Samantha Hickey.
1,974 reviews48 followers
May 9, 2022
I wanna be a part of the Kingston family so damn bad!!!

Fallen King is book #3 in the Restless Kings series and is Max and Daphnes story.

Daphne Brenner has just been told her father is selling their hockey team that has always been in her family, Philadelphia Revolution, to the Kingston family. Her dad said he was in a tough spot and had to do it. So now, she works for the oldest and hottest Kingston sibling, Max.

Max Kingston is trying to get out of his fathers shadow and feels like buying the Revolution will get him there. He just wasn't expecting to be so attracted to his new assistant, Daphne, who is the old owners daughter. He cant stop thinking about her, even though she is younger than him.

Daphne has been left with nothing by her father and just wants to achieve her dream of starting Start a Revolution. When her and Max agree to be friends with benefits, things get HOT!!! But then, feelings start getting involved.

I have no words to describe my love of this book!!! Max is the perfect book boyfriend and I love how Daphne stands up for herself and doesn't take any crap(the slap heard around the world ���). When they are together, the sparks fly and the chemistry is INSANE!

And i love getting to see the whole Kingston family!! I can't wait for Coopers book!

If you haven't started this series yet, you REALLY need to!!
Profile Image for Karen_Lee_Reads.
1,301 reviews46 followers
May 9, 2022
Fallen King
(Restless Kings #3)
Written by: Bella Matthews

Max King stepped up when his father died and has been the head of the family as well at the CEO of King Corp., now it is time that Max does something for himself.

He thought that would be purchasing and taking over ownership of the Philadelphia Revolution hockey team but it might mean taking on Daphne Brenner.

Max and Daphne are a bit of fire and ice, in this case though the fire might melt the ice, but that doesn’t mean the ice doesn’t have a hold on the fire and when fire and ice get together the steam takes over and they make quite the couple!

There are several sub-stories taking place in Fallen King. We have an upcoming wedding, two babies on their way, a new venture for Max and a woman whose whole world has fallen apart. That woman of course would be Daphne, who thought the King’s bought out her family legacy only to find out she has been wrong about so many things.

The author gives her readers a story with lots of angst and heartache but also a lot of family love, not to mention watching Max learn a lot about himself but also how he is able to see himself now as a brother as well as the head of the family.

I flew through this book, mostly because the characters kept me so engaged. This was a great Mother’s Day read and I’m looking forward to the next Kingston siblings turn at finding love.
Profile Image for Nic_key_reads .
518 reviews13 followers
May 9, 2022
Look out Max Kingston is coming in HOT!!!
Fallen King is nothing less then 5 stars.
It is book 3 in the Restless Kings series and they just keep getting hotter.

The oldest Kingston has gotten his book and let me tell you....he's going to surprise you. Max is the business man. He's all about maintaining his family legacy and he's doing such a great job of it. He's all work and no play. Once his sights are set on his new assistant...all bets are off.

Daphne falls into the category of heriones that Bella has written that I just absolutely love! Her fire and her drive is what makes her so loveable. There was no one better suited for our boy.

I love a good work place romance. This one is one of the best. This story was written so incredibly that it would be hard to not love it. Max and Daphne are absolutely no words. They are the perfect match. Now it wasnt smooth sailing for these two but what perfect story is? There are some bumps along the way for them.

I have read every book Bella has written and she just keeps surprising me. You can tell what her strengths are. She excels at pulling you in from the beginning...and keeping your attention until the end.

I don't pick favorites books by Bella they have all been my favorite. This is a one click!!!! You won't regret it
Profile Image for Paige (wingsandsmut).
911 reviews87 followers
September 21, 2024
Max Kingston....he kind of annoyed me in some of the other books, but getting his book definitely made me like him a bit more. And I absolutely love Daphne! She's sweet and caring, yet also sassy and not afraid to speak her mind. The banter and spice between these two is steamy and I loved it!

-Billionaire
-Age gap
-Workplace romance
-Boss x assistant
-Failed FWB
Profile Image for Laiza.
656 reviews9 followers
May 30, 2022
#Hail2TheKing
#MaximusKingstonIsMyFavorite
#TheFallenKing
#Hockey
#Revolutionary
#Daphne
#Family
#HeWhoShallNoTBeNamed
#IWantMore
#LoveThisWorld
#BellaMatthewsYouRocked
#Max
#UncleAsshole
#BookedHangover
#GiveMeMoreKingstons
Profile Image for Brianna Cooper.
379 reviews64 followers
May 18, 2022
Fallen King had my heart from start to finish!

We meet Max Kingston in previous books but to get his own story, it was perfect! I loved how he finally had his chance to spread that big old heart of his. He wasn't just a billionaire that threw around money carelessly. From day one he's always been the protector and had his family's happiness and safety in mind, until he realized they didn't need him to do that anymore and it was time for him to finally live his own life. His intense, possessive, and caring heart captivated me. Max is the ultimate book boyfriend. And man oh man does he know how to use an ice cube.

Daphne Brenner is a new character to this world but she was perfect for Max. She gave as good as she got. I loved that her backbone was never in question but we still had that soft vulnerable side of her that makes these Bella Matthews' Heroines so addicting. You can't help but smile and fall in love with their love story. Daphne doesn't have it easy with the jaw dropping news that lands on her desk but I loved that she not only persevered but proved her worth to not only others but to herself as well.

This story packs a punch with steadily increasing steam that will melt all ice cubes, office romance with a smidge of tension at the start, and two people who learn how important living for yourself and valuing your dreams really are.
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