King of Sloth (Kings of Sin #4)
My Review
I must admit, I approached *King of Sloth* with a healthy dose of skepticism. Having not been particularly fond of Sloane in the previous books—thanks to her rigid and somewhat robotic persona—I wasn't overly optimistic about her taking center stage. Unfortunately, my apprehensions were well-founded, and this book missed the mark for me.
The premise had potential: a highly overworked PA and her spoiled, troublemaking client embarking on an unlikely journey. While I generally enjoy the bad-boy-falling-in-love trope, this particular troublemaker, Xavier, was a rich kid who did nothing but party on his daddy's dime, making it hard to root for him at the beginning.
The plot starts with Sloane striking a deal with Xavier to get him to do something for her, in exchange for a holiday week in Mallorca. This setup felt too convenient and lacked the dramatic buildup I crave. They travel to Mallorca with minimal fuss, and, although sparks begin to fly— nothing catches fire. Their sudden attraction felt forced and lacked genuine chemistry. The story takes a more serious turn when they receive phone calls about family dramas, pulling them back to reality. Xavier's world shifts as he returns home to Bogota to see his dying father. His father’s deathbed confession and a surviving letter from his mother hint at deeper emotional layers but don't quite deliver the punch.
Xavier's transformation from a party boy to a budding designer overnight was a bit too sudden for my taste. Sloane’s eventual realization of his potential felt rushed, and while she starts to fall for him, she stubbornly refuses to admit it. The will his father leaves behind ties his hands in a complicated manner, further entangling Sloane in his life.
Their forced closeness leads Xavier to develop feelings for Sloane, who remains an ice queen, afraid of commitment. Their casual dating arrangement—with an expiration date—feels like a thinly veiled excuse to prolong the inevitable. As expected, they fall in love, share past traumas, experience a honeymoon phase, encounter more drama, and eventually find their way back to each other for a happy ending. Sometimes it’s so typical it hurts.
But, despite the predictable plot, there were moments of enjoyment. Xavier's character, although initially unappealing, grew on me as he evolved. However, Sloane never quite managed to shed her cold, unapproachable exterior. The story was passable, but it didn’t resonate with me as the previous books did.
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