King of Pride (Kings of Sin #2)

Blurb

Reserved, controlled, and proper to a fault, Kai Young has neither the time nor inclination for chaos—and Isabella, with her purple hair and inappropriate jokes, is chaos personified.

With a crucial CEO vote looming and a media empire at stake, the billionaire heir can’t afford the distraction she brings.

Isabella is everything he shouldn’t want, but with every look and every touch, he’s tempted to break all his rules…and claim her as his own.

***

Bold, impulsive, and full of life, Isabella Valencia has never met a party she doesn’t like or a man she couldn’t charm...except for Kai Young.

It shouldn’t matter. He’s not her type—the man translates classics into Latin for fun, and his membership at the exclusive club where she bartends means he’s strictly off limits.

But she can’t deny that, beneath his cool exterior, is a man who could make her melt with just a touch.

No matter how hard they try, they can’t resist giving into their forbidden desires.

Even if it costs them everything. 

Tropes

Forbidden Romance / opposites attract / Contemporary / new Adult / English accent / Billionaire romance / C.E.O / Mild but steamy spice

My Review

A tale as old as time, but with a spicy twist. We've got two characters who are like night and day, yet somehow fate decides to play matchmaker.

First up, we've got our leading man, Kai , the big shot CEO dripping with sophistication. He's all about those highbrow hobbies like Scrabble and translating classic literature into Latin. Talk about an intellectual powerhouse. And then there's our leading lady, Isabella, a waitress in Kai's exclusive gentlemen's club (who in her free time writing her own book) and who also got a penchant for...wait for it...dinosaur erotica. Yep, you heard that right. It's like mixing fine wine with, well, something a bit more prehistoric.

Now, you'd think with such contrasting personalities they might not work, but trust me, sparks would fly. As their conversations start flowing, so does the undeniable attraction between them. But when the storm hits, it's not just rainbows and butterflies anymore. Jobs are on the line, secrets are revealed, and of coursse, more drama.

But here's the thing: for all the sizzle and pop, something was missing. Sure, the chemistry was there, but everything else felt a bit...vanilla. Too predictable, too tame, too much like your average forbidden romance. And trust me, I'm all about a good romp through the pages, but this one left me craving a bit more spice, a bit morefight, just...more.

Don't get me wrong, though. As an audiobook, it's a solid listen. The voices? A+ quality. The production? Top-notch. But if I had flipped through this as a physical book, I might have been less forgiving. It's just one of those Ana Huang specials, you know? Her stories seem to hit differently when they're streaming through your earbuds.

But sure asa hell I'm not one to give up on a series that easily. Oh no, I'm strapping in for the long haul. And let me tell you, I'm already eyeing up the next audiobook in line because, truth be told, I'm way more curious about Dominic and Alessandra's story. Now that's a duo I can get behind.

So, in conclusion, "King of Pride" may not have set my world on fire, but it's still a decent read. I enjoyed the sneaky rendezvous and the forbidden romance vibes, even if it didn't quite hit the mark for me. Isa was lovely enough and liked her style just fine and Kai was loveable and determined, sure, but he didn't quite hit all the ticks to be an unforgetable ' book-boyfriend'. But hey, if you're looking for a light-hearted adventure with a side of steamy romance, this might just be your cup of tea. As for me, I'll be  eagerly awaiting the next chapter in this sinfully delightful saga. Giddy up!