| Title | : | Ruthless Rebel (Ruthless Billionaires #2) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 173955342X |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781739553425 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 372 |
| Publication | : | Published December 4, 2023 |
He’ll do anything to get the empire his grandfather promised him... including marry me.
His ex.
To the media Jericho Grayson is an elite billionaire and one of the heirs to the Grayson legacy.
To me, he was the rebel.
The boy I first gave my heart to.
Eight years ago when he broke up with me, it broke me.
Imagine my embarrassment when I run into him eight years later when I’m broke, in trouble, trying to make ends meet.
He makes me an offer I can’t refuse.
Marry him so he can get his empire and I get two million dollars.
One year of marriage to my ex.
The plan is simple in theory.
Except, every time he kisses me it feels real.
People say you never forget your first love
But falling in love again was never part of the plan.
Neither was unearthing secrets from the past that should have stayed hidden.
Ruthless Rebel (Ruthless Billionaires #2) Reviews
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A lot of rehashing g of the plot of why a MOC is needed from book one. Too much push away from H . The MCs didn’t have enough o. Page time… we were told what happened not shown. I wasn’t interested in all the hacker /Dad stuff. Skimmed a lot.
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This book phenomenal! Absolutely perfect and just what I needed. Faith never disappoints with her writing. As with all her books, Jericho and River’s story sucked me in immediately and I couldn’t put it down. It had it all, secrets, betrayal, lies, heartbreak, and angst. You’ll feel all the emotions of sadness, anger, frustration and love. It was absolutely perfect. I loved Jericho, but wanted to smack him too. I hated what he did after getting engaged to River, it was a jerk thing to do. But everyone saw him as this cruel, merciless and a playboy, but how he loved River was everything. Their love is the once in a lifetime, soul mate kind. I especially the loved end when they were recreating moments from their past.
I absolutely hated her dad from the beginning, and had bad vibes about him. I knew things were off with how he was so pro Sasha, but against Jericho.
This book was such a great read and I can’t wait for Luc and Autumn’s story in Ruthless Villain up next! -
Whew. If you love angsty romances, this one is for you! With some serious background issues, and full of family who don’t deserve to be called that, this was rough on my heart. But the spice and the HEA made it worth it. The secret cinnamon roll that Jericho is made me swoon. I came in to the series at this book, but it didn’t matter at all. Overall, a spicy, angsty good time (for the reader at least).
❤️ Tropes ❤️
💋 second chance
💋 fake marriage
💋 touch her and ☠️
TW: abuse (not on page)
Jericho has a problem. In order to get the CFO position in the family company, his grandfather made the stipulation that he needed to get married. He is now down to the deadline, and has his best friend making a list of potential business only marriages, complete with NDAs. But when he went out, this mermaid with a cloud of red hair was doing amazing moves with a hoop at the Gentlemen’s club. Only it was the girl whose heart he broke in high school. The one he never got over. Last he knew she was a Prima ballerina in Russia, what the ever loving heck happened to her that she is dancing here? Can his heart survive if they come up with a solution to both of their problems? -
another must read hit!!
This is the second book dealing with the Grayson brothers, Knight and Grayson, the eldest sons of Tobias Grayson and beloved grandsons of the Chairman of the Board of Grayson, Inc. As with Knight (RUTHLESS KNIGHT), Jericho is given a year to find a girl and marry her then he will become the CFO of the firm.. the Park Avenue branch. As a high school student, Jericho was all in over River St James. They met accidentally when she was running from the bullies at their elite school. The bullying stopped as no one wanted to mess with Jericho. Her father Neil St James, a computer programmer and developer hates his father with a passion bordering on obsession and refuses to let the couple date. They do so in secret and then……. River, a talented ballet dancer, goes on to Juilliard to study and eventually is dancing with the Bolshoi. There she becomes engaged to a violent criminal of whom her father approves. River is kidnapped and ransomed for half a million dollars which her aunt Gina funds. Sasha goes to prison in Russia and with a ton of debt, River comes home. Her path with Jericho crosses at Club Edge and he buys her in an auction held there. River overhears a conversation Jericho is having on his phone about his grandfather, who has shortened the time frame on his engagement and wedding and volunteers to an NDA and a contract marriage. The funds will enable her to pay off the debts still owed re her kidnapping and paying off Sasha’s debts. A win-win… Jericho gets a platonic marriage for a year and River gets out of debt. And from there….. twists and turns characteristic of Ms Gray’s books. Unlike her darker books, this one, like with Knight’s there is humor and passion along with well developed, written characters. What is the deal with Jericho and her father? Why does her father hates so passionately that he is willing to destroy his daughter’s life? Will Jericho come clean with all of his secrets? Will River permit herself to love Jericho again? Watching these two, Jericho and River come together and rebuild what they once had. She is feisty, a survivor, a talented dancer who knows who she is and where she wants to go. Jericho is the rebel genius who can make a computer sing as hackers are often wont to do. They butt heads and emotions. Clever dialogue makes for enjoyable characters and reading. This reader could NOT put the story down once begun. Simply had to know and “didn’t see THAT coming!” 10 stars at least. And please hurry and give readers Luc’s story. Knight and Jericho’s childhood friend and professional hockey player. Ms Gray teases his story to come… and this reader cannot wait. -
Like dark chocolate, a little bitter with the sweet
First things first:
Spice 🌶🌶🌶/🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶(3/5)
Medium burn 🔥
Interconnected Standalone
Violence/gore (1/5)
Dual POV
First person narrative
Tropes: second chance, marriage contract/fake marriage, billionaire/struggling heroine, ballerina, history of abuse
Premise at its simplest: the two main characters had a secrete Romeo and Juliet type relationship as teenagers due to a feud between their fathers and then main male character ended the relationship abruptly, breaking her heart 3 years into it. Eight years later, he finds her performing in a strip club as a cirque du solei type acrobat and begins to think she might be in trouble. He needs a wife right away for inheritance purposes and he marries her in exchange for money to help her get out of trouble.
Thoughts: despite there being some heavy themes, the author manages to keep triggering event off page and vaguely stated so while you are aware of them, they don't quite impact as strongly. There is mild angst associated with what amounts to a star-crossed lovers type plot. While the main male character self describes as being a bad boy, wicked, malicious, etc... his actions are more consistent with being a protective cinnamon roll type guy. I enjoyed the fact that they communicated pretty well beyond his big secret. Their love and affection for each other is clear early on. Overall I enjoyed this story, and plan to read the next one starring Luc the pro hockey playing best friend. -
This is a great second chance, fake marriage, billionaire romance. This was my first time reading Faith Summers, and I really enjoyed her writing and would be interested in reading the first book in this series.
Jericho Grayson is trying to become the CFO when his grandfather retires. However, his grandfather has some stipulations, mainly that he must get married and he can not get the position until he is married for 6 months and the marriage must last at least a year. He is going to interview women to be his wife for a year and he will pay them a couple million dollars, but he runs into his first and only love while she was doing a Cirque du Soleil type of performance at a gentlemen's club. He broke up with River out of nowhere when they were younger and broke her heart, but he had his reasons. He can’t stop thinking about River and doesn’t understand why she is in such a bad place in her life.
River’s life is a mess, and she is in a difficult situation. She used to be a prima ballerina, yet now she is working multiple jobs and putting herself into a risky auction at the gentlemen’s club. Her aunt is in a lot of debt from helping River out of a dangerous situation with her Russian criminal ex fiancé. River offers to be his fake wife for the money and help with her aunt’s extreme health issues that require surgery.
Jericho wanted their marriage to be just a contract, and they shouldn’t cross any physical lines, but that doesn’t last long. They have a hot connection, and their chemistry was off the charts. However, Jericho has a big secret from his past. That was the reason he ended things with her. He will need to be honest with River about a mistake he made in the past that had affected her and her family.
I enjoyed this book and the characters. However, I thought the part with River’s Russian ex fiancé felt a little rushed and included abruptly at the end. The reveals at the end did seem kind of crazy and OTT, but I was ok with it.
I am very interested in reading Luc’s story, especially since it is a hockey romance.
Thank you to Literally Yours PR for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review. -
Ruthless Rebel by Faith Summers is book Two in the Ruthless Billionaires Series. This is the story of Jericho and River. I really was excited to get this book and it did not let me down. I am a fan of Ms. Summers so I do recommend her books. I can't wait to read more from this author.
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Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 0.5 🌶️
Jericho & River cross paths randomly one night when River is working herself to the bone trying to get her family out of a seemingly unending rut. And what they thought was the end for them proved to be just the beginning.
Boy I really wanted to gobble this up - usually lovers to enemies to lovers is right up my 2nd Chance sub-trope alley. But there were some elements that made it tough for me to get into the swing of this author’s style. A bit rushed in some areas - too drawn out in others - and a few too many details swirling/popping up. -
Loved it!!!
Its a must read. I could not put it down. The story was well written and I know you will enjoy it. -
First bad read of 2024. DNF at 81%.
How does this have a 4.3 rating? It’s so bad, I don’t even wanna jot down all the reasons why and waste any more time on this book. The characters are so terrible and bland, the plots are too conveniently written, and for some reasons the author(s) are deathly allergic to putting commas at the right place. The run on sentences were killing me.
I’ve read fanfics on wattpad that are better than this. -
ruthless rebel. what a baddie
it’s one of those where they are saying one thing, but do another. complicated for no reason. -
Boring
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4. 25stars- RUTHLESS REBEL is the second instalment in Faith Summers’ contemporary adult RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRES erotic, romance series. This is twenty-nine year old billionaire Jericho Grayson, and twenty-six year old dancer River St. James’ story line. RUTHLESS REBEL can be read as a stand alone but for back story I recommend reading book one Ruthless Knight.
NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.
SOME BACKGROUND: Jericho Grayson and his brother Knight are their father’s eldest sons but Tobias Grayson refuses to recognize his eldest boys. Grandfather Bradford Grayson has made it clear, in an effort to gain control of Grayson Inc, each of the grandsons must prove they are worthy by first performing a task that will be difficult for everyone involved.
Told from dual first person perspectives (Jericho and River) RUTHLESS REBEL follows the rekindling romance, and marriage of convenience between our story line couple. Approximately eight years earlier Jericho destroyed the woman he loved, walking away in an effort to protect her heart, and his own reputation. Fast forward to present day, Jericho will come face to face with the woman he still loves, the woman he would destroy, a second time around. River St. James is struggling with life including paying the debts of her ailing aunt, and catering to the whims of her embittered father.At the demands of his grandfather, Jericho needs to marry to inherit the mantle of CFO and thirty percent ownership of Grayson Inc, and River is ripe for the picking. What ensues is the rebuilding relationship and marriage of convenience between River and Jericho, and the fall-out when secrets from the past threaten our story line couple.
The world building focuses on the River’s need to protect her father, and save the woman who sacrificed everything for our story line heroine. Jericho Grayson is hiding years of betrayal behind his need for a woman whose heart he destroyed, a betrayal, that once revealed, runs much deeper than anyone could have ever imagined. Jericho’s backstory is heartbreaking; River’s history in the aftermath of Jericho’s rejection is rife with suffering and betrayal, a betrayal that will continue without her knowing.
The relationship between Jericho and River is one of second chances. River struggles to forgive Jericho for breaking her heart but the truth will reveal a much darker betrayal by someone else. Jericho has never stopped loving our story line heroine but Jericho believes his secrets and lies will destroy everything he has worked hard to forget. The $ex scenes are intimate and intense.
Most of the secondary and supporting characters have questionable intentions, and not without a darker agenda. We are reintroduced to Jericho’s brother Knight, and their embroiled half brother Bastian: River’s ex fiance Sasha Konstantin, and her father Neil St. James; Jericho’s best friend, professional hockey player Luc; River’s best friend Eden; and Jericho’s assistant Corey. The requisite evil has many faces. Luc’s story line is next.
RUTHLESS REBEL is a story of power and control, betrayal and vengeance, greed and deception, family and relationships, forgiveness and love. The premise is dramatic, impassioned and emotional; the romance is seductive; the characters are broken, charismatic and dynamic.
Copy supplied for review -
Another good one in the books! This one however had a slower start, resulting in the 4 rating. This was my only complaint about the book. There was surprises and predictions that came true so I would say it surprised me but it also didn’t at the same time. This book had more positive aspects in the story. However, there was always an underlying hint that not all would be well and something was going to happen. This is because everything was working out too well which I enjoyed! I was playing guessing games with myself trying to figure out what it would be. What I got was one prediction coming true and another from left field. On top of this, it still had the heat, intensity and sensuality that was off the charts. Jericho and River liked to deny themselves each other and tried ignoring the desire that bubbled under the surface and in fact, they do during the slower part of the book. This was a strange time in my head because one minute they would be all over each other, and the next Jericho would stop it due to his guilt he felt about what happened in the past. It was messing with River’s head because she still had built up feelings for him but didn’t want to act on them as a way of pride and protecting her heart. As I’ve said in a past post about a book I read, I don’t go for second chance romances too often because I’m not a fan of them unless the plot grabs me or the storyline. This one was that exception and I don’t know if it was because I wanted to see Jericho happy, or because the world Faith Summers created is enticing, rich, intense and sensual. This world drew me in and I became so engrossed with it and this family that I have no choice but to continue. I enjoyed reading about Jericho because I always got the feeling he was the black sheep out of Knight and him and I wanted him to have all the happiness. I do believe Knight was more cruel when it came to business and how he got his way, whereas Jericho was ruthless but in a sense that he did things under the radar that could otherwise be considered illegal. They both aren’t bad guys and you see it in Jericho and also in Knight. Jericho was just wrecked with guilt over what he did and didn’t have the best childhood, making him cold, angry and wanting to show no weaknesses, eliminating the part of himself that wanted love and happiness. When you see this part of Jericho with River, you get the man that cares and who will do anything for the people he loves. I feel like you really get to see this side of him and what makes him the way he is. I just didn’t care for his jealous streak but I get that was put in there to drive a point. I don’t think there’s a ton of men out there who would act the way he did. It was definitely enjoyable and I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next.
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Whether you're trying to escape the reality of your life or just looking to immerse yourself in someone else's for a while, why not try a billionaire romance?
I was sucked in, right from the start. Saying River has fallen on hard times is an understatement. She's working 3 jobs and still dancing in a ballet. She's strong, resilient, and a kind, genuine person.
Jericho is smart, hardworking, and determined to get what's his, despite everything being stacked against him from the beginning. One of those things he wants, is the CFO position in his grandfather's company. A position that has a requirement before he's even eligible. He has to get married, and he's on a tight deadline.
Unfortunately for Jericho, he gave up on relationships after he lost the love of his life - River.
Fate, however, is a meddling bitch. River has come back to town, and if it's not sheer dumb luck, it's fate that has Jericho in the very club River works at. Once he sees her, all his plans get messed up.
I love that River is so strong, yet vulnerable. Despite everything going on in her world, she refuses handouts and only when she's hit rock bottom, does she let herself accept help - even if it means marrying the man who broke her heart.
Jericho, on the other hand, is frustrating, but with good reason. The push and pull in their relationship left me craving that happily ever after. The thought of either of them walking away from the marriage was unfathomable.
In some ways, Ruthless Rebel reminded me of a darker version of Terms and Conditions by Lauren Asher (if you haven't read it, I highly recommend it).
Though this is a second chance book, I honestly found myself wondering how it was all going to turn out.
Rating this book is tough. Story, characters, the emotion the author was able to invoke deserves five stars. However, for a few chapters, 2/3 of the way through, there were several areas where words were incorrectly used (looked like typos that a spell check wouldn't catch because the word was spelled right, but was the wrong word.) There were a couple of places where the same words were repeated, in the same order, in the same sentence. Then the biggest concern were the areas where words were missing completely. All these technical things pulled me out of the story. Thankfully it got better just before the climax. -
Another arranged marriage is on the cards for the younger Grayson brother Jericho if he is to fulfil the criteria to receive his inheritance and take his rightful place in his grandfather’s firm and conveniently, he’s just met his high school girlfriend, dancer River Grayson. They’d met when he protected her against the bullies and theirs was a true Romeo and Juliet romance at least on River’s side with her father detesting anyone with the name Grayson due to his dealings with Jericho’s father whether they were related or not. River had been the love of his life, but Jericho’s life was a mess at that point with an abusive father and drug abuse which led him down a path that impacted directly on River’s life, so guilt stricken and determined to keep the truth from her, he walked away. Now years later he’s astonished to find the girl who was destined for greatness as a ballet dancer performing an aerial routine at a gentleman’s club.
There were great dynamics between Jericho and River with River being no easy pushover. She’d been through hell in her previous relationship and was still dealing with the aftermath. Their chemistry was more than steamy but there was that big secret between them, namely why Jericho had dumped her years before a time when she needed him the most. The overall storyline involving family betrayal was well written and moved at a fast pace. The one thing I would’ve liked in Ruthless Rebel would’ve been to have more of what happened to River in Russia post Sasha but before she returned to the US which I feel is kind of glossed over even though it played a major part in the situation River found herself in. Saying that I did prefer this book to the first one in the Ruthless Billionaires series as I felt River was a stronger heroine compared to Aurora and, after that epilogue I can’t wait for Luc’s story whose book will be next.
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📖 Just finished Ruthless Rebel by Faith Summers, and WOW! 🌟 This book takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions – secrets, betrayal, lies, and a second chance at love! ❤️🩹Follow Jericho and River's tumultuous journey as they navigate past mistakes and unexpected twists.
💼 Jericho's quest for the CFO position is hindered by an unusual requirement—marriage. As he contemplates a contractual marriage, fate intervenes, reuniting him with his first love, River, in the most unexpected place. Their reunion sparks a whirlwind of emotions as they rekindle a connection abruptly severed years ago. ✨
💔 The characters of Jericho and River are so complex and real, carrying the weight of their pasts while trying to make sense of the present. Their relationship's push-and-pull dynamics had me feeling ALL the emotions – sadness, frustration, anger, heartbreak, and the ultimate joy of a transcendent love.
🔄 The narrative is full of unexpected twists that kept me on the edge of my seat, eagerly anticipating the resolution of their intertwined destinies.💞Jericho's internal conflict adds depth to his character, and despite his flaws, his genuine love for River shines through. 💪 River's strength and vulnerability make her such a relatable and compelling protagonist.
Ruthless Rebel has elements of suspense and mystery that I didn't see coming, adding a darker undertone to the story. 🕵️♀️This is a rewarding read for fans of the genre, promising a rollercoaster of emotions and a journey towards a well-deserved happily ever after. 🎉
👏 Faith Summers demonstrates a knack for storytelling, leaving me eagerly anticipating the next installment in the series. 📖Highly recommend this series and this author – you won't be able to put it down! 🔥🌟
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. -
MMC/FMC- Jericho and River
POV- 1st person dual
Genre- Contemporary Romance
Heat- 🌋🌋🌋🌋🌋
They do the things
And use the P word
D and T words
But not the C word.
Series? Y (book one is fabu too!)
Safety- No cheating or S.A. It is a second chance romance but they were not celibate during the time they were apart. I consider this a Safe book, but YMMV.
Triggers- Anecdotally :Child Abuse (past), Abuse (past), Substance Abuse (past). Current: Language, Violence, Explicit Erotic Content.
Tropes- First Love, Second Chance, Fake Relationship, Marriage of Convenience, Bachelorette Auction (which is a trope I’ve learned to LOATHE because it smacks of prostitution at best and trafficking at worst), Possessive Hero, That’s Not My Leg, Billionaire, Touch Her and Unalive.
What I liked- this book was very well written. There was a good blend of story elements. It was definitely Hot With a Plot. The zexytime scenes were superb and the romance was very real, even though the relationship was very fake. The twist reveal was perfectly timed, if a little convenient to the story. It might’ve been a more layered story if but it was still good.
I received an advance review copy for free from Cherrylily ARCs and this is my honest and voluntary review. -
The angst, secrets and betrayal hit hard here as we see Jericho and River navigate a sea full of uncertainty and heavy feelings. I wanted to yeet River’s dad for his support of Sasha that didn’t even deserve the oxygen he takes up. But Jericho? There were times I wanted to throw him away too. I understood he was a total playboy and forever bachelor but he definitely frustrated me. He was seen as cruel, and merciless. But he loves River with everything he has.
Though with the stipulations so he is able to take over the business made great sense and honestly made for a wonderful plot. I love fake dating, which fake marriages are almost the same thing. Given their history in high school, the plan was totally set up to fail. I don’t think I could manage to keep feelings at bay in their shoes.
The trauma River had to deal with concerning Sasha and the trickle down effect that occurred with her aunt totally broke my heart, and honestly I think how Jericho dealt with that entire situation redeemed himself quite a bit for me.
This book was wonderful, and I would definitely pick up more of this authors books. The characters are delightful and broke that cookie cutter mold of the typical eligible bachelor with our MMC Jericho. -
This was my first book by Faith Summers and I really enjoyed it. Ruthless Rebel is a book about Billionaire's fake marriage, second chance love with a threat of Mafia involvement. River and Jericho dated eight years ago when Jericho ended things abruptly. River never fully understood what went wrong with the relationship. These two had everything going against them from the start.
After seeing Jericho for the first time in eight years it is both devastating and a blessing. River is doing everything in her power to just survive, not thrive. Her character has been through some tough times but what she endured from the people she loves is the most heartbreaking. Jericho is the only person who could help her even if she is too prideful to ask. In the end, they found that they can help each other out. I really enjoyed the development of their relationship.
I love that both of these characters are strong willed and willing to fight for what they need. The chemistry they have together is fantastic. This is a connected stand alone, told from a dual POV. There is no cliffhanger and you'll get happily ever after in the end. This book will make you feel frustrated, sad, and complete by the time it ends. Happy reading! -
Jericho must marry within the year in order to obtain the CFO position of his grandfather’s company. Jericho has many secrets from his past and one of those secrets ended up with him losing the love of his life. River St James was in love with Jericho and he just tossed her away one day. They were seeing each other in secret as her father could not stand the Grayson family and blamed them for everything bad that has happened to him.
While River was away, she got into some trouble when she met Sasha. She thought she loved Sasha, but he ended up being nothing but trouble – abusive and on the wrong side of the law, she is kidnapped and her aunt must pay half a million to get her back. This puts her aunt in trouble and now River is back to help her get out of the debt. River is performing at Club Edge and even though she is wearing a disguise, Jericho knows it is her. Let the fun begin.
Fake marriage, lots of secrets, deception, lies, twists and when the truths come out, buckle up! Great story! I wonder if there will be a story for Jericho and Knight’s half brother Bastian? Although he seems to be an a$$, I would think there is more than we know!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. -
There was River who has been through more in her short life than one would expect. At the opening of the story, she is about to hit what she thinks is rock bottom by putting herself in an auction to self herself to the highest bidder to make money to pay her aunt's debts. Her aunt only has the debt because of her and she needs to make things right. Then there is Jericho who dated River in high school but broke things off with her. River couldn't believe that they had grown apart as she was about to move to Boston with him. Regardless, her life was forever changed. When Jericho finds out about the auction, he ends up buying her for the two days. That leads to a new proposal because he needs to be married in order to become the CFO of his grandfather's Park Avenue business.
When River's aunt has a heart attack and needs surgery that is not covered by her insurance, she agrees to Jericho's terms to marry for one year. This is the start of a roller coaster of an affair and ever-changing life events. This was a good story and kept me reading to the very last page.
I voluntarily wrote this review from reading an advanced copy of this book.
