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The Princess and the Bruiser: A Science Fiction Romance
A SECRET MARRAIGE? EASY. NOT FALLING FOR THE PRINCESS BEFORE SHE LEAVES HIM FOREVER? IMPOSSIBLE.
Rax Varon, head of security on the infamous interstellar pleasure cures, the Ignisar, despises the Royals of his home planet, especially House Lysero, the palace lording over his home city. But when he returns from a visit to his mother, he discovers the insufferable only princess of House Lysero has stowed away on his shuttle to escape her abusive uncle. Despite his better judgement, Rax agrees to help Kateri hide out on his ship, while also training her to defend herself. But when a mysterious Royal visits the Ignisar, he realizes there's a better way to protect Kateri - he has to marry her.
Now Rax must navigate the treacherous waters of his culture and his heart to keep the woman he's come to care for safely by his side.
Set against the backdrop of a deep space pleasure cruise through a neighboring solar system, this steamy, emotional, heart-pounding series is perfect for fans of Honey Phillips and Ruby Dixon.
Content notes/tropes: Emotional/magical abuse, hurt/comfort, high spice.
Rax Varon, head of security on the infamous interstellar pleasure cures, the Ignisar, despises the Royals of his home planet, especially House Lysero, the palace lording over his home city. But when he returns from a visit to his mother, he discovers the insufferable only princess of House Lysero has stowed away on his shuttle to escape her abusive uncle. Despite his better judgement, Rax agrees to help Kateri hide out on his ship, while also training her to defend herself. But when a mysterious Royal visits the Ignisar, he realizes there's a better way to protect Kateri - he has to marry her.
Now Rax must navigate the treacherous waters of his culture and his heart to keep the woman he's come to care for safely by his side.
Set against the backdrop of a deep space pleasure cruise through a neighboring solar system, this steamy, emotional, heart-pounding series is perfect for fans of Honey Phillips and Ruby Dixon.
Content notes/tropes: Emotional/magical abuse, hurt/comfort, high spice.
316 pages, ebook
Published January 19, 2023
3 people are currently reading
74 people want to read
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January 9, 2023Welcome back to the Ignisar!
When I set out to write Rax's story, I really wanted to dive into the world of the Aquilinian Royalty. I loved the idea of a secret society of magic-using Royals pulling the wool over the entire Known Universe's eyes. And oh, what a villain this premise created in the black-eyed weasel Tibor Lysero. The WORST!
Rax is a natural protector, and I wanted his partner to be someone who challenged not only his protective instincts, but his fear of not being strong enough to keep his loved ones safe. Princess Kateri, with her feistiness and refusal to ever back down from anyone or anything no matter how hard the people and forces in her life worked to break her, was the perfect match our big green bruiser never saw coming.
Writing this book tore me apart and put me back together. It is the heaviest book thematically that I've written to date (FAIR WARNING) and deals, on a highly exaggerated scale, with the trauma left behind when a person grows up led to believe they'll never be good enough.
Telling Rax and Kateri/Clara's story made me visit some difficult places in my own life and really examine the scars I've mostly accepted as part of who I am. There is a physicality to this book, to the way Rax and Clara find and heal each other, which really spoke to me as someone who didn't trust words for a very long time.
That being said, this is still an Ignisar novel! It is fun and sweet and emotional. All your favorite crew members are back including baby Felix who steals every scene he is in!
But please be aware of the following content notes and take care of yourselves:
- Emotional/magical abuse
- Isolation/neglect as punishment
- Gaslighting
- Mourning loss of parents (occurs prior to events of this book)
- Unwanted physical contact (a man in a club puts his hand over Clara's mouth)
- Confronting trauma
- High spice level (in my opinion and compared to my other books) including spanking
If you're okay with this content, I hope you fall in love with Rax and Clara as much as I have. And, as always, thank you so much for reading!
Jess
When I set out to write Rax's story, I really wanted to dive into the world of the Aquilinian Royalty. I loved the idea of a secret society of magic-using Royals pulling the wool over the entire Known Universe's eyes. And oh, what a villain this premise created in the black-eyed weasel Tibor Lysero. The WORST!
Rax is a natural protector, and I wanted his partner to be someone who challenged not only his protective instincts, but his fear of not being strong enough to keep his loved ones safe. Princess Kateri, with her feistiness and refusal to ever back down from anyone or anything no matter how hard the people and forces in her life worked to break her, was the perfect match our big green bruiser never saw coming.
Writing this book tore me apart and put me back together. It is the heaviest book thematically that I've written to date (FAIR WARNING) and deals, on a highly exaggerated scale, with the trauma left behind when a person grows up led to believe they'll never be good enough.
Telling Rax and Kateri/Clara's story made me visit some difficult places in my own life and really examine the scars I've mostly accepted as part of who I am. There is a physicality to this book, to the way Rax and Clara find and heal each other, which really spoke to me as someone who didn't trust words for a very long time.
That being said, this is still an Ignisar novel! It is fun and sweet and emotional. All your favorite crew members are back including baby Felix who steals every scene he is in!
But please be aware of the following content notes and take care of yourselves:
- Emotional/magical abuse
- Isolation/neglect as punishment
- Gaslighting
- Mourning loss of parents (occurs prior to events of this book)
- Unwanted physical contact (a man in a club puts his hand over Clara's mouth)
- Confronting trauma
- High spice level (in my opinion and compared to my other books) including spanking
If you're okay with this content, I hope you fall in love with Rax and Clara as much as I have. And, as always, thank you so much for reading!
Jess
April 9, 2023
Overprotective sexy green man who loves his mom and is good with kids!? Uh, yeah. Sign me up. Where tf do I get one? Do they grow on trees? Amazon, maybe? I'm morally corrupt enough to sacrifice a virgin so point me to right demonic summoning circle.
We're back on Ignisar and I AM SO HAPPY TO BE HERE! I knew in my soul that Rax wasn't going to let me down and boy was I right. Add him to the list of males who could punch me in the face and I would just say thank you. And, yeah, Rax would never hit a woman but what if she asked nicely? I really enjoyed the plot in this one! And the added benefit of getting to touch base with the rest of our Ignisar team? Instantaneous serotonin straight to my veins.
Now, getting down to the nitty-gritty...
I have to be honest, I didn't really like Clara. It's not that I disliked her by any means. I just feel like we got so many facets of Rax's personality and we didn't really get that for Clara. Yes, I hold huge value in her past and what she went through but her present personality traits/actions didn't shine the way I wanted them to. Like, I didn't really see what parts of her personality Rax was falling for? I could 100% see why she would fall for Rax but Clara was kind of just there. But who knows, maybe I just want the world for Rax and no one would have been good enough in my mind.
P.S. Shout out to Mal for being the absolute cutest bionic to ever exist. He deserves all the butter in the world.
P.P.S. IF THE NEXT BOOK IS MORG AND ROLANT I WILL SIMPLY DIE OF JOY.
We're back on Ignisar and I AM SO HAPPY TO BE HERE! I knew in my soul that Rax wasn't going to let me down and boy was I right. Add him to the list of males who could punch me in the face and I would just say thank you. And, yeah, Rax would never hit a woman but what if she asked nicely? I really enjoyed the plot in this one! And the added benefit of getting to touch base with the rest of our Ignisar team? Instantaneous serotonin straight to my veins.
Now, getting down to the nitty-gritty...
I have to be honest, I didn't really like Clara. It's not that I disliked her by any means. I just feel like we got so many facets of Rax's personality and we didn't really get that for Clara. Yes, I hold huge value in her past and what she went through but her present personality traits/actions didn't shine the way I wanted them to. Like, I didn't really see what parts of her personality Rax was falling for? I could 100% see why she would fall for Rax but Clara was kind of just there. But who knows, maybe I just want the world for Rax and no one would have been good enough in my mind.
P.S. Shout out to Mal for being the absolute cutest bionic to ever exist. He deserves all the butter in the world.
P.P.S. IF THE NEXT BOOK IS MORG AND ROLANT I WILL SIMPLY DIE OF JOY.
January 10, 2023
I was given an ARC of this book from the author for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Let me start by saying this book is spicy. It might be one of the spiciest I've ever read. I had to cover my eyes and peek through my fingers a few times because - whoa - sexy. Not just the sexy times, tho. The steam is strong with this one. I love Jess' writing style, and I love the imagination behind this universe and these characters. I haven't read the first two books of this series, but I definitely want to because I'm enamored with baby Felix! I also love how the crew of the ship was one big family, and they took care of each other. All of them working together when it counted.
Rax and his twin brother Morgath live and work on a deep space pleasure cruise ship, the Ignisar. When they are off ship visiting their mother, they pick up an unexpected stowaway, a runaway princess, escaping the abuse of her uncle and a wedding she doesn't want. Rax and Morg take Kateri to the ship and attempt to protect her - even if it means Rax has to marry her.
Rax's view of Kateri (who changes her name to Clara while hiding) is so lovely and so sweet. He truly wants to treat her like a princess, but Clara equates "being treated like a princess" as a negative thing. The torture she endured at the hand of her uncle is heartbreaking, and she is a damaged being. Rax really helps her work through her demons and take her life back - and her consent and her emotions. Their love story is one built on trust. After Clara finds herself again, after she breaks out of the shell her family forced on her, I was absolutely giddy for her! I might have even gotten teary-eyed when she sees Rax when she comes to save her, but she thinks he's a dream. For a big hulk of a man, Rax sure takes care of Clara like she is the most precious thing in the world. Bring me a Rax STAT.
For the emotion that I felt while reading, the excitement I felt when the Ignisar family saved Clara, I rated this a 5. The family aspect of this story caught me off guard, and I wasn't prepared to love the found family the twins have on the ship. Plus, Rax and Morg's mom is hella sweet, and I want to have dinner at her house! haha
Be mindful of triggers:
- Emotional/magical abuse
- Isolation/neglect as punishment
- Gaslighting
- Mourning loss of parents/grief
- Unwanted physical contact
- Confronting trauma
- High spice level including spanking
Let me start by saying this book is spicy. It might be one of the spiciest I've ever read. I had to cover my eyes and peek through my fingers a few times because - whoa - sexy. Not just the sexy times, tho. The steam is strong with this one. I love Jess' writing style, and I love the imagination behind this universe and these characters. I haven't read the first two books of this series, but I definitely want to because I'm enamored with baby Felix! I also love how the crew of the ship was one big family, and they took care of each other. All of them working together when it counted.
Rax and his twin brother Morgath live and work on a deep space pleasure cruise ship, the Ignisar. When they are off ship visiting their mother, they pick up an unexpected stowaway, a runaway princess, escaping the abuse of her uncle and a wedding she doesn't want. Rax and Morg take Kateri to the ship and attempt to protect her - even if it means Rax has to marry her.
Rax's view of Kateri (who changes her name to Clara while hiding) is so lovely and so sweet. He truly wants to treat her like a princess, but Clara equates "being treated like a princess" as a negative thing. The torture she endured at the hand of her uncle is heartbreaking, and she is a damaged being. Rax really helps her work through her demons and take her life back - and her consent and her emotions. Their love story is one built on trust. After Clara finds herself again, after she breaks out of the shell her family forced on her, I was absolutely giddy for her! I might have even gotten teary-eyed when she sees Rax when she comes to save her, but she thinks he's a dream. For a big hulk of a man, Rax sure takes care of Clara like she is the most precious thing in the world. Bring me a Rax STAT.
For the emotion that I felt while reading, the excitement I felt when the Ignisar family saved Clara, I rated this a 5. The family aspect of this story caught me off guard, and I wasn't prepared to love the found family the twins have on the ship. Plus, Rax and Morg's mom is hella sweet, and I want to have dinner at her house! haha
Be mindful of triggers:
- Emotional/magical abuse
- Isolation/neglect as punishment
- Gaslighting
- Mourning loss of parents/grief
- Unwanted physical contact
- Confronting trauma
- High spice level including spanking
January 26, 2023
I received an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I really really enjoyed reading this book. It was a really fun experience and I flew through it super quickly. I really liked both Rex and Clara, they were great characters.
This book is very steamy and spicy so fair warning. I really enjoy Jess's writing style and she has created a really fun universe. I really enjoyed the banter between the two brothers and Mal was one of my favorite characters in the book.
This is book 3 in The Ignisar series and though I haven't read the first two books I still understood the world building or should I say space building (hehe).
Some of the tropes in this book are touch her and you die vibes, fiercely protective mmc, psychokinesis, marriage of convenience, forced proximity, found family.
I really really enjoyed reading this book. It was a really fun experience and I flew through it super quickly. I really liked both Rex and Clara, they were great characters.
This book is very steamy and spicy so fair warning. I really enjoy Jess's writing style and she has created a really fun universe. I really enjoyed the banter between the two brothers and Mal was one of my favorite characters in the book.
This is book 3 in The Ignisar series and though I haven't read the first two books I still understood the world building or should I say space building (hehe).
Some of the tropes in this book are touch her and you die vibes, fiercely protective mmc, psychokinesis, marriage of convenience, forced proximity, found family.
January 29, 2023
The twins have secretly been favorites of mine throughout the series. Okay, maybe not so secretly. So, to see Rax find his Forever with a heroine who makes him ‘work for it’ was simply brilliant. There was also a subtle Sleeping Beauty feeling to this story that I positively adored. Both members of this leading couple experienced so much learning and growth; discovering themselves and learning to trust one another. And, do we see the first inkling of a romance for Morgath, or is that just a complication for his true Forever to come? Whatever’s next, I can’t wait to get my hands on it because I’m completely in love with this series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Booksprout.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Booksprout.
January 30, 2023
Quick(ish) Review
The Princess and the Bruiser: This is probably the closest to a traditional SFR, but the found family established in the earlier books really makes me want to live on the Ignisar...well, maybe not the spacecups. But I digress. FMC Clara is on the run from her evil uncle and MMC Rax is a grumpy security expert who finds Clara on his cruiser, heading back to the Ignisar. I loved seeing more of the Ignisar, it really features Mal and Morgath, who I both adore and want to know more about. But the romance itself features that deep longing which I am a complete sucker for (the first book has it too). That MMC longing for the FMC? *chef's kiss* just lovely. And there's a little bit of kink that makes me even happier. Loved it. Alot.
Series Overall: OMG I really enjoyed this series, far more than I anticipated tbh. Could I reduce this to a cross between The Love Boat and Star Trek? Yes, but that's just the broad strokes. I love found family scenes and this is a great example of building the characters in each story so I was intrigued with the supporting characters as much as the leads. While I recommend reading the series in order, each book works on its own and that's not as common as you'd think, esp in SFR. The worldbuilding is well done and intriguing, the humor's good and it has just enough emotionally resonant moments that it takes the storytelling to that next level. Very happy I read this and I can't wait to see where it goes next.
The Princess and the Bruiser: This is probably the closest to a traditional SFR, but the found family established in the earlier books really makes me want to live on the Ignisar...well, maybe not the spacecups. But I digress. FMC Clara is on the run from her evil uncle and MMC Rax is a grumpy security expert who finds Clara on his cruiser, heading back to the Ignisar. I loved seeing more of the Ignisar, it really features Mal and Morgath, who I both adore and want to know more about. But the romance itself features that deep longing which I am a complete sucker for (the first book has it too). That MMC longing for the FMC? *chef's kiss* just lovely. And there's a little bit of kink that makes me even happier. Loved it. Alot.
Series Overall: OMG I really enjoyed this series, far more than I anticipated tbh. Could I reduce this to a cross between The Love Boat and Star Trek? Yes, but that's just the broad strokes. I love found family scenes and this is a great example of building the characters in each story so I was intrigued with the supporting characters as much as the leads. While I recommend reading the series in order, each book works on its own and that's not as common as you'd think, esp in SFR. The worldbuilding is well done and intriguing, the humor's good and it has just enough emotionally resonant moments that it takes the storytelling to that next level. Very happy I read this and I can't wait to see where it goes next.
March 19, 2023
Review originally posted at https://smexybooks.com/2023/02/series... (Reviewed as a series)
This is the third book in the series and features grumpy security expert Rax Varon and Clara, the princess who while escaping her evil uncle and an arranged marriage she doesn’t want takes a ride on his ship (unbeknownst to him) back to the Ignisar.
This book was SO much fun. A bodyguard, hurt/comfort, marriage of convenience romance with an MMC who goes into protective mode when he realizes the woman who drives him crazy is hiding from her family for a damn good reason. I loved being back on the Ignisar and seeing the dynamic between all the crew members. Rax and his brother have this wonderfully close, yet with some gentle ribbing and sparring, relationship that made me fall in love with both of them. The romance between Clara and Rax is beautiful as she is finding herself in a safe space, and he is learning how to protect her while also giving her room to come into her own.
Throw in the kink with consent, an exciting rescue scene, and the recovery and rehabilitation of a beloved friend at the end and this was my favorite so far in this series.
Here’s to hoping that Rax’s brother and his hunky prince get a love story of their own in the future.
All in all, highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys science fiction romance.
This is the third book in the series and features grumpy security expert Rax Varon and Clara, the princess who while escaping her evil uncle and an arranged marriage she doesn’t want takes a ride on his ship (unbeknownst to him) back to the Ignisar.
This book was SO much fun. A bodyguard, hurt/comfort, marriage of convenience romance with an MMC who goes into protective mode when he realizes the woman who drives him crazy is hiding from her family for a damn good reason. I loved being back on the Ignisar and seeing the dynamic between all the crew members. Rax and his brother have this wonderfully close, yet with some gentle ribbing and sparring, relationship that made me fall in love with both of them. The romance between Clara and Rax is beautiful as she is finding herself in a safe space, and he is learning how to protect her while also giving her room to come into her own.
Throw in the kink with consent, an exciting rescue scene, and the recovery and rehabilitation of a beloved friend at the end and this was my favorite so far in this series.
Here’s to hoping that Rax’s brother and his hunky prince get a love story of their own in the future.
All in all, highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys science fiction romance.
January 11, 2023
I was given an ARC of this book by the author for an honest review, all the opinions are my own.
Let me start by saying that this book is the third in a series I had no prior knowledge of. Also my first time reading any science fiction romance. But I did read “Come as you are” last month by the same author and absolutely loved it so I was excited to get my hands on this one. I am very glad I did.
I love her writing style, it is a very fun and engaging book. Despite breaching on some serious topics, there is a lightness and humour to it and just the right about of spice. Even if you know nothing about book 1 and 2 you will enjoy this.
Let me start by saying that this book is the third in a series I had no prior knowledge of. Also my first time reading any science fiction romance. But I did read “Come as you are” last month by the same author and absolutely loved it so I was excited to get my hands on this one. I am very glad I did.
I love her writing style, it is a very fun and engaging book. Despite breaching on some serious topics, there is a lightness and humour to it and just the right about of spice. Even if you know nothing about book 1 and 2 you will enjoy this.
January 27, 2023
ARC REVIEW (thanks booksirens!)
Marriage of convenience IN SPAAAACCCCEEEE
After escaping the palace and an arraigned marriage Princess Kateri (aka Clara) hitches a ride on Rax’s space ship. To get out of her arraigned marriage to a prince she needs to marry someone else 👀
I loved reading how Clara and Rax started to like each other and fall in love over their shared trauma. They both taught each other how to fight (both physically and mentally- Clara can mind meld)
Side characters were great and added a lot of comic relief!
I probably would have liked this book more if I had read the first 2 in the series but it was easy to catch on with the world building.
Marriage of convenience IN SPAAAACCCCEEEE
After escaping the palace and an arraigned marriage Princess Kateri (aka Clara) hitches a ride on Rax’s space ship. To get out of her arraigned marriage to a prince she needs to marry someone else 👀
I loved reading how Clara and Rax started to like each other and fall in love over their shared trauma. They both taught each other how to fight (both physically and mentally- Clara can mind meld)
Side characters were great and added a lot of comic relief!
I probably would have liked this book more if I had read the first 2 in the series but it was easy to catch on with the world building.
January 17, 2023
Tropes:
- enemies to lovers
- marriage of convenience/protection
I'm not usually a big fan of sci-fi romances, but since I loved another one of the author's books and am a sucker for enemies to lovers, I gave it a whirl! The Princess and the Bruiser had me hooked instantly, and while this is the third book in the Ignisar series I wasn't confused at all!
Clara and Rax's story is everything I've come to expect from Hardy's work, and I loved their snarky banter and explosive chemistry. It was a fun, quick read and I will definitely read the rest of the books in the series!
- enemies to lovers
- marriage of convenience/protection
I'm not usually a big fan of sci-fi romances, but since I loved another one of the author's books and am a sucker for enemies to lovers, I gave it a whirl! The Princess and the Bruiser had me hooked instantly, and while this is the third book in the Ignisar series I wasn't confused at all!
Clara and Rax's story is everything I've come to expect from Hardy's work, and I loved their snarky banter and explosive chemistry. It was a fun, quick read and I will definitely read the rest of the books in the series!
July 31, 2023
This has everything you want from an Ignisar novel: fun characters, humor, worldbuilding you just want to dive into, hot sexy times. AND Jess K. Hardy dials up the tension, intrigue and complexity with a plotline involving royal manipulation, horrific mental powers and physical peril. It was really well done.
Here’s hoping we get a Rolant and Morgath story next!
Here’s hoping we get a Rolant and Morgath story next!
January 21, 2023
Lord this was fun, like a perfect mix of humor, swoons, suspense and delicious spice. Now I gotta read the first two!
January 10, 2024
I have just finished reading my ARC copy of this book and have realised that I had stopped breathing a while ago in order to read and finish this brilliant book. Deep breath!!
This may be book 3 of a series, but I had not read the previous 2 and can confirm that this can be read as a standalone book.
This story is such a wonderful love story. Yes, it is absolutely an adult romance, but the steamy parts are written so well and not overdone, as so frequently they are.
All the components of an excellent read are here, the villain, the hero's - Kateri (The Princess), Rax (The Bruiser) and his brother, plus a host of friends and good people. The story is slowly built up and the pace is excellent. It is fun to watch how Kateri and Rax meet and we get to understand the reasons behind Kateri's story. There is such thought behind the plot and it builds in such a way as how things are going to run their course is a true white-knuckle ride. It is so fun as Rax and Kateri and Rax discover that the secrecy behind the princess has outed to a few without her knowledge and a full reveal is agonisingly thought through.
But then the villain and his true power make their presence felt as heart stopping events take place and we hurtle towards the finale.
At a point in the story there are a number of truths shared, and this marks the beginning of my tears and runny nose due to the emotions I went through as I read on. By the end I was a blubbering wreck, but so satisfied by the read. I read The Curse of Nona May Taylor by Jess and was completely taken by her style and ability to tell a story really fully.... well, this book just capped my earlier thoughts.
This is such a 'must read' book. I just cannot wait for my next Jess Hardy Book to see how she knocks this book out of the park as she develops - but that will be a true challenge.
I would give this book 6 or 7 starts if I could and truly cannot recommend it enough.
Enjoy.
This may be book 3 of a series, but I had not read the previous 2 and can confirm that this can be read as a standalone book.
This story is such a wonderful love story. Yes, it is absolutely an adult romance, but the steamy parts are written so well and not overdone, as so frequently they are.
All the components of an excellent read are here, the villain, the hero's - Kateri (The Princess), Rax (The Bruiser) and his brother, plus a host of friends and good people. The story is slowly built up and the pace is excellent. It is fun to watch how Kateri and Rax meet and we get to understand the reasons behind Kateri's story. There is such thought behind the plot and it builds in such a way as how things are going to run their course is a true white-knuckle ride. It is so fun as Rax and Kateri and Rax discover that the secrecy behind the princess has outed to a few without her knowledge and a full reveal is agonisingly thought through.
But then the villain and his true power make their presence felt as heart stopping events take place and we hurtle towards the finale.
At a point in the story there are a number of truths shared, and this marks the beginning of my tears and runny nose due to the emotions I went through as I read on. By the end I was a blubbering wreck, but so satisfied by the read. I read The Curse of Nona May Taylor by Jess and was completely taken by her style and ability to tell a story really fully.... well, this book just capped my earlier thoughts.
This is such a 'must read' book. I just cannot wait for my next Jess Hardy Book to see how she knocks this book out of the park as she develops - but that will be a true challenge.
I would give this book 6 or 7 starts if I could and truly cannot recommend it enough.
Enjoy.
September 20, 2023
The amazing thing about this series is that the author manages to incorporate aspects of other subgenres into each of these so they never feel repetitive. I just binged 3 books in as many days about love stories of the staff of a space cruise ship and somehow the stories were all completely different and I was never bored.
This one in particular is so sweet. It really cemented some of the side characters we hadn't spent a lot of time with yet as absolute favorites. I know the author has been focusing on some other series lately but I really hope she comes back to this and gives us more!
This one in particular is so sweet. It really cemented some of the side characters we hadn't spent a lot of time with yet as absolute favorites. I know the author has been focusing on some other series lately but I really hope she comes back to this and gives us more!
January 25, 2025
I loved this story. Rak, Clara and the rest of the crew are amazing characters and there story is filled with terror and love.
Highly recommended
Highly recommended
January 19, 2023
Princess Kateri is on the run to avoid being married off to a dangerous Prince from another powerful family. After stowing away on his ship, Kateri begs Rex to keep her secret and to take her to the cruise ship he works on to hide. An unexpected visitor to the ship tells Kateri and the others that there is only one way to keep her safe. She must marry someone else and get it done quickly before her evil uncle can track her down. With few options, Rex volunteers to this marriage of convenience.
The Princess and the Bruiser is a sweet and spicy, enemies to lovers dream. This is book three in the Ignisar series. It could be read as a stand alone but I think it would be best enjoyed after reading the other two books first. Many of the prominent characters from the rest of the series make appearances throughout The Princess and the Bruiser.
It does have more steamy moments than the previous two books in the series but there’s also plenty of humorous banter for balance. Although this is a marriage of convenience where the MCs start out as enemies, they do develop a friendship before going straight to lovers. The growth of their relationship is seen throughout the storyline in spite of their unusual arrangement.
Everything is open-door so be prepared for that. The author does have some trigger/content warnings listed including: emotional abuse, trauma, and unwanted physical touch.
I have not read many sci-fi romances but there is something about this series that keeps drawing me back in. Jess K. Hardy is such a phenomenal writer that she somehow manages to make any of the characters relatable whether they are alien princesses, mama’s boy bodyguards, or celebrity obsessed bionics. I don’t know if the author has any more books planned for this series but I look forward to reading whatever she writes next.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Princess and the Bruiser is a sweet and spicy, enemies to lovers dream. This is book three in the Ignisar series. It could be read as a stand alone but I think it would be best enjoyed after reading the other two books first. Many of the prominent characters from the rest of the series make appearances throughout The Princess and the Bruiser.
It does have more steamy moments than the previous two books in the series but there’s also plenty of humorous banter for balance. Although this is a marriage of convenience where the MCs start out as enemies, they do develop a friendship before going straight to lovers. The growth of their relationship is seen throughout the storyline in spite of their unusual arrangement.
Everything is open-door so be prepared for that. The author does have some trigger/content warnings listed including: emotional abuse, trauma, and unwanted physical touch.
I have not read many sci-fi romances but there is something about this series that keeps drawing me back in. Jess K. Hardy is such a phenomenal writer that she somehow manages to make any of the characters relatable whether they are alien princesses, mama’s boy bodyguards, or celebrity obsessed bionics. I don’t know if the author has any more books planned for this series but I look forward to reading whatever she writes next.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 18, 2023
Thank you to Jess K Hardy & her team for this Arc. All Thoughts are my own.
This is the third and latest (maybe last) installment of this series. I binged the whole series in three days. I couldn't put them down at all, and every book got better and better.
Rax and his twin brother Morgath, are security on the pleasure cruise spaceship, Ignisar. This book starts off with them visiting their mother on their home planet and having to deal with the royal wedding of their people.
While on his home planet, he almost runs over a woman, one who is beautiful and also sassy as hell. She basically gives him the finger and tells him off for nearly hitting her. Rax can't get her off his mind.
It zooms to the next day and the woman turns out to be Princess Kateri, who wants to escape her life as a royal slave and decides to sneak onto his ship on its way back to the Ignisar.
Chaos ensues, as she is discovered, and tries to sway them to let her stay. In the end, they agree to keep her identity hidden and give her passage to the ship, going by the name Clara.
The more time Rax and Clara spend together, they can't deny their attraction and feelings, and low and behold to save her life from her horrible uncle, they must get married and consummate it to make it true.
The spice in this book is 10/10. I enjoyed the sex scenes in this just as much as their own individual journeys of self-discovery and how to work through their childhood traumas together.
Rax appears to be a giant brute, but he is most definitely a cinnamon roll, and he loves fiercely.
I admire Clara's strength and ability to overcome everything that she does, and that they are both brutally honest with one another.
If you enjoy the enemies to lovers, the marriage of convenience, and bodyguard tropes, mixed with outerpsace and alien planets, then this book is for you. It is my favourite of the series.
This is the third and latest (maybe last) installment of this series. I binged the whole series in three days. I couldn't put them down at all, and every book got better and better.
Rax and his twin brother Morgath, are security on the pleasure cruise spaceship, Ignisar. This book starts off with them visiting their mother on their home planet and having to deal with the royal wedding of their people.
While on his home planet, he almost runs over a woman, one who is beautiful and also sassy as hell. She basically gives him the finger and tells him off for nearly hitting her. Rax can't get her off his mind.
It zooms to the next day and the woman turns out to be Princess Kateri, who wants to escape her life as a royal slave and decides to sneak onto his ship on its way back to the Ignisar.
Chaos ensues, as she is discovered, and tries to sway them to let her stay. In the end, they agree to keep her identity hidden and give her passage to the ship, going by the name Clara.
The more time Rax and Clara spend together, they can't deny their attraction and feelings, and low and behold to save her life from her horrible uncle, they must get married and consummate it to make it true.
The spice in this book is 10/10. I enjoyed the sex scenes in this just as much as their own individual journeys of self-discovery and how to work through their childhood traumas together.
Rax appears to be a giant brute, but he is most definitely a cinnamon roll, and he loves fiercely.
I admire Clara's strength and ability to overcome everything that she does, and that they are both brutally honest with one another.
If you enjoy the enemies to lovers, the marriage of convenience, and bodyguard tropes, mixed with outerpsace and alien planets, then this book is for you. It is my favourite of the series.
January 25, 2023
The best in the series so far, I did not expect to be so captivated by these two characters. Rax is a big, surly, security officer with a heart of gold, and Clara is a runaway princess who throws herself on his mercy when he is visiting his mother, after some aggressive glaring (on both parts) and a little mind control (on hers). When he agrees to shelter her things get complicated, and they return to his ship.
Highlights:
The 'who hurt you' vibe is strong here. Clara has been horribly abused by her uncle since she was a child, and everytime a layer of her past is peeled back by Rax, he has the urge go on a rampage and simuataneous protect her from the world and give her the skills and confidence to protect herself. They have a beautifully evolving relationship that hits so many of my personal buttons, including a marriage of convenience and lots of physical and mental trainings sessions.
Watching Clara blossom and grow as she starts a new job on the ship, make friends, and slowly fall in love with Rax is a joy. I love how badass she is, how much crap she gives him all the time, and the way she sinks into an intimacy with Rax that starts to heal a lot of wounds she carries.
Rax is afraid to love, his trust damaged by the loss of his father at an early age, and he compensates by being overly protective of those in his circle, and deeply surly to everyone outside it. Learning to love Clara, while trying to protect himself and her doesn't work super well, and he has to grapple with his big feelings throughout the book.
Overall, I totally loved this one, and I can't wait for more in the series.
Highlights:
The 'who hurt you' vibe is strong here. Clara has been horribly abused by her uncle since she was a child, and everytime a layer of her past is peeled back by Rax, he has the urge go on a rampage and simuataneous protect her from the world and give her the skills and confidence to protect herself. They have a beautifully evolving relationship that hits so many of my personal buttons, including a marriage of convenience and lots of physical and mental trainings sessions.
Watching Clara blossom and grow as she starts a new job on the ship, make friends, and slowly fall in love with Rax is a joy. I love how badass she is, how much crap she gives him all the time, and the way she sinks into an intimacy with Rax that starts to heal a lot of wounds she carries.
Rax is afraid to love, his trust damaged by the loss of his father at an early age, and he compensates by being overly protective of those in his circle, and deeply surly to everyone outside it. Learning to love Clara, while trying to protect himself and her doesn't work super well, and he has to grapple with his big feelings throughout the book.
Overall, I totally loved this one, and I can't wait for more in the series.
February 7, 2023
This book was amazing and the main characters had hoping that everything would work out and I was drawn further into the book the more pages I turned. Kateri Lysero is a Princess of the house Lysero who has just been told by her evil and abusive uncle that she is to married off to one of the most powerful and dangerous man of the House of Hasantis and with no help from her distant mother Kateri only choice is to run and get off planet and hide forever, so now she is a stowaway on a shuttle with grumpy green alien as the pilot. Rax Varon is head of security on the interstellar pleasure cruise ship the Ignisar and has gone to visit his his mother and when he is leaving he notices the Princess has stowed away on his shuttle and she begs for his help and he agrees and even hides her in plain sight on the pleasure cruise ship and everything was going great until a unexpected visitor shows up on the cruise ship and he’s looking for her and she panics as the others try to hid her but she will be taken back to be married off. With no other choice she’ll have to go home until Rax offer a marriage of convenience because if she is already married they have know power over her and she is safe. How does it all turn out and is she really safe from her uncle and how does her marriage of convenience work out when there chemistry for each other is off the charts and do they get a HEA in the end or not.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 10, 2023
The Princess and the Bruiser by Jess K. Hardy is a fun sci-fi romance with an endearing ensemble of characters and revolves around Rax Varon and Princess Kateri Lysero. This cover is gorgeous and screams sci-fi goodness... I had to have it!
Rax Varon is a gentle giant with a gruff exterior. Once he discovers the Princess has stowed away on his spacecraft he ultimately takes responsibility for her safety. The more time they spend together, train together, and sleep in the same pod together, the more their attraction demands their submission.
This is a well-crafted story with a bit of a slow-burn romance. The author does a great job of building a solid connection between the protagonists. The spice is also expertly delivered! I appreciated receiving Rax's back story early on, which helped me bond to him within the first few chapters. It was a nice touch, while Kateri remained more of a mystery. Her story slowly unfurls as she learns to trust Rax and lean on him for protection. Despite all the content warnings provided by the author, I found this story to be somewhat light-hearted. The conflict is intriguing. The conclusion is satisfying, with a well-deserved happy ending.
3 stars for overall entertainment!!
Dual POV
No cheating, sharing, or true ow/om drama - the MCs are always respectful of each other
Virgin heroine
3 month Epilogue
I received an ARC for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Rax Varon is a gentle giant with a gruff exterior. Once he discovers the Princess has stowed away on his spacecraft he ultimately takes responsibility for her safety. The more time they spend together, train together, and sleep in the same pod together, the more their attraction demands their submission.
This is a well-crafted story with a bit of a slow-burn romance. The author does a great job of building a solid connection between the protagonists. The spice is also expertly delivered! I appreciated receiving Rax's back story early on, which helped me bond to him within the first few chapters. It was a nice touch, while Kateri remained more of a mystery. Her story slowly unfurls as she learns to trust Rax and lean on him for protection. Despite all the content warnings provided by the author, I found this story to be somewhat light-hearted. The conflict is intriguing. The conclusion is satisfying, with a well-deserved happy ending.
3 stars for overall entertainment!!
Dual POV
No cheating, sharing, or true ow/om drama - the MCs are always respectful of each other
Virgin heroine
3 month Epilogue
I received an ARC for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 21, 2025
I love this series so much and was so excited when I saw this book for the first time! And of course this series just keeps getting better and better. From the moment Raf and Clara (aka Princess Kateri) start yelling at each other I was hooked! Look there’s a crosswalk and Raf having to stop his spaceship so he doesn’t hit her and she ruins her ice cream on his ship…and then when he gets her food later he makes sure to get her the same ice cream. There are so many details like this and I adore these two!
I’m a sucker for grief recovery. It is one of my favorite things to read. Both Raf and Clara lost their fathers two weeks apart when they were children. When the two finally open up and talk about this and their pain the emotional payoff was wonderful. I love the backstory for why Clara choses to go by Clara while on the Ignisar. I also really liked the training that Raf and Clara did and how that not only led them to become closer to each other, but played into the plot.
I love Raf’s relationship with his twin brother, Morgath, and his mother Pearl. Also it was great seeing Mal and Maximus again. Little Felix stole every scene he was in. It was fun seeing Sunny and Freddie adjusting to parenthood while the rest of the crew is supportive. I love that even though they’re colleagues they treat each other like family. This is definitely a book I look forward to rereading.
I received an advanced review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
I’m a sucker for grief recovery. It is one of my favorite things to read. Both Raf and Clara lost their fathers two weeks apart when they were children. When the two finally open up and talk about this and their pain the emotional payoff was wonderful. I love the backstory for why Clara choses to go by Clara while on the Ignisar. I also really liked the training that Raf and Clara did and how that not only led them to become closer to each other, but played into the plot.
I love Raf’s relationship with his twin brother, Morgath, and his mother Pearl. Also it was great seeing Mal and Maximus again. Little Felix stole every scene he was in. It was fun seeing Sunny and Freddie adjusting to parenthood while the rest of the crew is supportive. I love that even though they’re colleagues they treat each other like family. This is definitely a book I look forward to rereading.
I received an advanced review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 30, 2023
Wonderful characters combined with top-notch storytelling make this an outstanding example of romance writing AND science fiction. I enjoyed every minute of this delightful, fast-paced tale of opposites attracting in a slow-burn romance complete with a funny, bionic sidekick; wacky friends; and a snarky twin sibling. The villain is dastardly and ruthless, the heroine is strong and feisty, and the hero is tough and tender-hearted. Ex-Princess Clara stows away with Rax Varon, his twin brother Morgath, and their robot friend Mal in order to escape a forced marriage orchestrated by her abusive and power-hungry uncle Tibor. Sparks fly between Rax and Clara as he helps her hide in plain sight as a fellow crew member aboard the pleasure cruiser Ignisar. They marry in an effort to take Clara off the board as a pawn in her uncle's plan for planet-wide domination, and try to pretend that they're doing so from necessity rather than true love. Their pretense soon fails and together they fight for Clara's freedom. Intimate scenes between Rax and Clara were beautifully written as they open their hearts, minds, and bodies to each other. I found myself crying at one point in their tender revelations of past pain and suffering. Great book. Read it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 6, 2023
I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the first two in the series.
Clara is a princess who has been mentally magically controlled by her uncle for years. She finally has an opportunity to escape and meets Rax who lives on a pleasure ship.
Rax, his brother Morgath and Mal, the "bionic" agree to hide and help Clara hide from her uncle on the ship. They end up marrying to keep her from having to marry the prince from another house to whom she was engaged. They have to marry and consummate the marriage, which they do, but it takes them awhile to realize that they do love each other. This happens while they are quarantined from "space cups", a very contagious version of hiccups.
Meanwhile Clara learns to fight and she teaches Rax to fight the mind control all Royals have. When her uncle finds her again, it comes in handy.
This is a standard romance and sci fi romance, with marriage of convenience, one bed and "enemies to lovers" tropes. What I thought was different was that in this case there aren't aliens who need female humans to keep their species going, both of the main characters are aliens of the same species. I found the storyline, the world and the adventure/conflict interesting and it kept me involved the whole way through.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Clara is a princess who has been mentally magically controlled by her uncle for years. She finally has an opportunity to escape and meets Rax who lives on a pleasure ship.
Rax, his brother Morgath and Mal, the "bionic" agree to hide and help Clara hide from her uncle on the ship. They end up marrying to keep her from having to marry the prince from another house to whom she was engaged. They have to marry and consummate the marriage, which they do, but it takes them awhile to realize that they do love each other. This happens while they are quarantined from "space cups", a very contagious version of hiccups.
Meanwhile Clara learns to fight and she teaches Rax to fight the mind control all Royals have. When her uncle finds her again, it comes in handy.
This is a standard romance and sci fi romance, with marriage of convenience, one bed and "enemies to lovers" tropes. What I thought was different was that in this case there aren't aliens who need female humans to keep their species going, both of the main characters are aliens of the same species. I found the storyline, the world and the adventure/conflict interesting and it kept me involved the whole way through.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 24, 2023
You will love The Princess and the Bruiser if you enjoy:
💍Marriage of protection
💪Gladiator guys
🤺Enemies to lovers
🗡️Training sequences
🤖Lovable bionic characters
🌶️If you like it extra spicy
The Princess and the Bruiser (the 3rd book in The Ignisar series) has everything I’ve come to expect from Jess K. Hardy’s books: skilled and smooth prose, lovable characters who leap off the page, sci-fi creativity in spades, five-alarm spiciness that folds seamlessly into the narrative, snappy one-liners and clever dialogue, and so much heart. With Clara and Rax’s story, Hardy has somehow plumbed the emotional depths of the sci-fi rom-com and written a book that wrangles fun and pain into a cohesive and satisfying narrative (definitely note those trigger warnings, survivors). Fans of this series will love the glimpses of past characters (+ cute babies!) but also enjoy seeing more of the rich and resonant sci-fi world Hardy has created.
💍Marriage of protection
💪Gladiator guys
🤺Enemies to lovers
🗡️Training sequences
🤖Lovable bionic characters
🌶️If you like it extra spicy
The Princess and the Bruiser (the 3rd book in The Ignisar series) has everything I’ve come to expect from Jess K. Hardy’s books: skilled and smooth prose, lovable characters who leap off the page, sci-fi creativity in spades, five-alarm spiciness that folds seamlessly into the narrative, snappy one-liners and clever dialogue, and so much heart. With Clara and Rax’s story, Hardy has somehow plumbed the emotional depths of the sci-fi rom-com and written a book that wrangles fun and pain into a cohesive and satisfying narrative (definitely note those trigger warnings, survivors). Fans of this series will love the glimpses of past characters (+ cute babies!) but also enjoy seeing more of the rich and resonant sci-fi world Hardy has created.
January 30, 2023
I loved these two so much! Rax is just perfect. He's growly, grumpy and completely honourable. He will say what he thinks (mostly) and he tries to be as honest as possible although he holds back if he is unsure of himself and boy does Clara have that power over him. She can pull the rug out from under his feet without even trying to. At first he was convinced that she was spoilt and rude, then that she was no good but now he sees that these are personas to keep anyone from finding her true self. She is protecting herself in the only way she can now except that somehow she cannot protect herself from Rax. He has been all that he can be and yet he has never truly, hurt her, not once and she knows that he never would. That kind of knowledge is dangerous, deceptive and it could lead to a cracking in her walls. She would forever be vulnerable to him and never be the same again. Can she trust him?
I absolutely adored Mal and totally fell for him. Such a complete darling!
I absolutely adored Mal and totally fell for him. Such a complete darling!
February 2, 2023
Saving the Princess . . .
Rax Varon, head of security on the interstellar pleasure cruise the Ignisar, and his twin brother, Morgath, went to visit their mother. Returning to their shuttle, Princess Kateri Lysero (“Clara”) has sneaked aboard in an attempt to hide as she runs from her cruel uncle who is forcing her to marry an undesirable prince from a powerful family. As they head back to their deep space pleasure cruise ship, Clara begs Rax to allow her to board the Ignisar so that she can hide. Word gets to them through the arrival of a Royal that only by marrying someone else can Clara be kept safe from her uncle, but it must be done quickly. Rax offers to enter into the marriage of convenience. Will this truly keep her safe?
I really enjoyed both the story line and the characters who appeared more like family than simply crew members. Grab your copy and find out if their troubles end here or if there is more excitement to come!
Rax Varon, head of security on the interstellar pleasure cruise the Ignisar, and his twin brother, Morgath, went to visit their mother. Returning to their shuttle, Princess Kateri Lysero (“Clara”) has sneaked aboard in an attempt to hide as she runs from her cruel uncle who is forcing her to marry an undesirable prince from a powerful family. As they head back to their deep space pleasure cruise ship, Clara begs Rax to allow her to board the Ignisar so that she can hide. Word gets to them through the arrival of a Royal that only by marrying someone else can Clara be kept safe from her uncle, but it must be done quickly. Rax offers to enter into the marriage of convenience. Will this truly keep her safe?
I really enjoyed both the story line and the characters who appeared more like family than simply crew members. Grab your copy and find out if their troubles end here or if there is more excitement to come!
July 14, 2023
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
Hello Fellow Readers,
I loved the second book in the series, so much so that I purchased the first one right away. So, when I saw that there was a third one I was giddy with excitement. For some reason, this took me forever to read and I think the reason is that 'The Princess and the Bruiser' felt like much more of a slow burn for me. It just felt like it took too long for Rax and Kateri to come together and it just drove me crazy.
Rax was such a great character a gruffy big guy with a gooey soft side he only shows those he is close to and Kateri a princess just trying to be free really did make me like both characters. The spiciness was great and really well done just like Hardy's other books. The plot in this one seemed a lot more interesting than the last book.
Overall, a solid romance.
Hello Fellow Readers,
I loved the second book in the series, so much so that I purchased the first one right away. So, when I saw that there was a third one I was giddy with excitement. For some reason, this took me forever to read and I think the reason is that 'The Princess and the Bruiser' felt like much more of a slow burn for me. It just felt like it took too long for Rax and Kateri to come together and it just drove me crazy.
Rax was such a great character a gruffy big guy with a gooey soft side he only shows those he is close to and Kateri a princess just trying to be free really did make me like both characters. The spiciness was great and really well done just like Hardy's other books. The plot in this one seemed a lot more interesting than the last book.
Overall, a solid romance.
August 6, 2023
An alien romance set apart from the rest - because both MCs are aliens and the culture doesn't require a complicated backstory to understand. A delightful plot, the right amount of spice, and all plot points settled. I will happily pick up another alien romance by this author.
*** I received an advance copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
*** I received an advance copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 6, 2023
I am obsessed with anything Jess K. Hardy turns out and book 3 in The Ignisar series in no exception. Kat and Rax are the most similar opposites I've ever had the pleasure of reading. A runaway princess and a security specialist with a small chips of dislike for royals on his shoulder, so of course OF COURSE these two would be perfect in a marriage of convenience(protection). Also, not only is this the authors sexiest book to date but I also get "who hurt you/ let me destroy them for you." Which I am a huge sucker for. Now then, this book isn't all fun and adventure and sexy times, it deals with some pretty intense topics too: emotional/magical abuse, isolation and punishment, confronting your "demons", gaslighting, and for a part in the book unwanted touching. A warning to tread carefully for those with triggers.
January 16, 2023
This whole series is everything I want in a sci-fi romance!
I absolutely love this whole series from Jess Hardy, and this book is a wonderful addition. Hardy gives us a fun and interesting world with the perfect amount of world building to keep it fun and entertaining, and fills it with characters I have really grown to love. And even thought this is set in space, The Princess and the Bruiser has all the same hallmarks as Hardy's utterly beautiful contemporary romance, Come As You Are - characters who are kind to one another, who find safety and healing through friendship and love, and who's hot hot sex always comes with a side of vulnerability.
I will run to read anything Jess Hardy writes, whether it's on the ski slopes or outer space!
I absolutely love this whole series from Jess Hardy, and this book is a wonderful addition. Hardy gives us a fun and interesting world with the perfect amount of world building to keep it fun and entertaining, and fills it with characters I have really grown to love. And even thought this is set in space, The Princess and the Bruiser has all the same hallmarks as Hardy's utterly beautiful contemporary romance, Come As You Are - characters who are kind to one another, who find safety and healing through friendship and love, and who's hot hot sex always comes with a side of vulnerability.
I will run to read anything Jess Hardy writes, whether it's on the ski slopes or outer space!
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