REVIEW: Ruckus by LJ Shen

Title: Ruckus

Series: Sinners of Saint #2

Author: L.J. Shen

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: May 26, 2017

OUR REVIEW:

Shel: Dean Cole is my favorite HotHole, though I suspect that I say that about all of them and with what I suspect is Trent's novel up next, don't call me a liar if I say it about Trent too. Though, Trent's going to have huge shoes to fill because Dean Cole was such a charmer and with the emotional depth that I'd seen flashes of in the other two Sinners of Saint books, I was a goner within pages. There was something special about this pairing of Rosie and Dean--maybe it was their wicked back and forth exchanges or their strong chemistry that grabbed my attention, or more likely it was the duration and depth of their feelings that they'd both shoved down for years and years that really spoke to me--whatever it was it worked for me. Dean even expresses some sorrow at how much time they've lost over the years and it just hit me right in the feels and I think that once they gave in to how they felt, that they didn't fight it...instead they fought for it made them one of my favorite HotHole couples. Some of the things they had to battle were just so impossibly sad and challenging and yet they kept reaching for each other, supporting each other, and being strong for each other when circumstances called for it. There were some heart-wrenching epiphanies made in the last part of this novel and yet as much as it hurt to imagine what these characters were feeling, I couldn't look away--they were that compelling.

Court: I think we suspected there was a lot more to him than he wanted us to see, but I was out with the jury for a while on him. Until I realized that these two really would be there to fighting for each other in ways that I think we and they did not expect. Rosie as a character is ridiculously strong...she has a lot to overcome but a lot too in just battling how other people see her as this delicate flower. She goes out of her way to prove that thought process incorrect, and I love her so much for that. Dean like I said for me took a while to warm up to him, because you never really know what might happen with our HotHoles...because goodness they get up to no good. Then, he is there for Rosie even when they're still frenemies, he's there for Trent, he is there for Vicious even though they really have a Weird with a capital W way of showing they love each other! The writing as always is amazing, and I really love LJ Shen and am so glad that we are reading her books. They hit me in the feels, they hit me in the heart and head, and they're sexy to boot. They're the whole package.

Shel: I quite enjoyed the chase that was given in Ruckus --it was sexy and funny and emotional. I liked that Shen made her characters stubborn and mouthy and assholes and loving and wonderful--Rosie and Dean are perfect for each other and were a couple that seemed surprisingly normal and real life-like despite the fact that they're characters in a novel. Court: Ditto. This one really brings together all of the things we've been thinking in the other books...and old characters get a lot of air time. I told another friend who read these too that I love the bromance of these boys almost as much as the romance, and she agreed 100%!!!

Rosie

They say that life is a beautiful lie and death a painful truth. They're right.

No one has ever made me feel more alive than the guy who serves as a constant reminder that my clock is ticking.

He is my forbidden, shiny apple.

The striking fallacy to my blunt, raw, truth.

He is also my sister's ex-boyfriend.

One thing you should know before you judge me;

I saw him first. I craved him first. I loved him first.

Eleven years later, he waltzed into my life, demanding a second chance.

Dean Cole wants to be my bronze horseman. My white knight has finally arrived. Hopefully, he isn’t too late.

Dean

They say the brightest stars burn out the fastest. They’re right.

She sets my mind on fire.

All smart mouth, snarky attitude and a huge heart.

In a world where everything is dull, she shines like fucking Sirius.

Eleven years ago, fate tore us apart.

This time, I fucking dare it to try.

Getting to her is a battlefield, but man, that’s why they call me Ruckus.

Rosie LeBlanc is about to find out how hard I can fight.

And conquering her will be the sweetest victory.

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L.J. Shen resides in sunny California with her husband, son, chubby cat and wild, wild dreams. Her passion is to write badass stories, sushi, UFC and her awesome family and friends (not in this order, though. Obviously, sushi comes before writing. Oh, and also the family part.) She spend the first half of her twenties traveling the world and is now paying all the fun with extra shifts in front of her MacBook. Feel free to contact her on her Facebook page. She loves to hear from her readers.