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Series: My Red Desire, Book 1
Review:
This review was written for Reedsy Discovery
Launched into the spotlight due to her high-profile relationship with a billionaire, paparazzi aren’t the only ones she’ll be running from
Lucie is starting over in San Diego, California after her ex-boyfriend’s addiction led to the end of their relationship. After her friend pushes her to try online dating, she connects with a mysterious man named Julian whose profile doesn’t reveal much–not even a clear photograph. Caught in a whirlwind romance after their first meeting, Julian is quick to claim Lucie as his own. Their chemistry is unmatched, but he hasn’t been completely honest with Lucie; he’s a high-profile billionaire with celebrity connections and gave her a fake name to conceal his identity. He initially wants to keep their relationship a secret, causing Lucie’s confidence to falter, but after he reveals their love publicly, she realizes that she underestimated his warnings. Her privacy isn’t the only thing in peril, and paparazzi aren’t the only ones chasing her.
While marketed as a dark romance,
Julian’s Rose would be better classified as romantic suspense. The romance between Julian and Lucie is sweet and their intimacy is not explicit, nor does it explore dark or taboo acts. The dark themes are limited to the suspenseful aspects, such as someone stalking Lucie. Nonetheless, the love that grows between Julian and Lucie is heartfelt and magnetic. The main characters' development is well-crafted, and even minor characters like Bradley have depth. There are a few clues that lead me to wonder if this story is a fictionalized account of author Lucie Benton’s own life, such as the main character sharing the same name, the name of the magazine publisher in the book being similar to the novel’s publisher, and a claim in the synopsis that this is a “deeply personal story.” I would also wager that some inspiration was drawn from Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series based on the plot and a few easter eggs in the novel.
(Update: The new synopsis confirms this point!) I am very curious to find out whether one or both of these are true.
Julian’s Rose is a strong opener to the My Red Desire series, especially as a debut. New adult and adult readers of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and love triangles will enjoy this story of navigating a relationship under public scrutiny and enduring love despite separation.
Audience: adult
Trigger warnings: mentions of drug use, death of a parent, abandonment, stalking, car accident, violence, death, gun violence
Recommended for fans of: contemporary romance, billionaire romance, virgin FMC, online dating, hidden identity, romantic suspense, love triangle, fated mates, tragic past, he falls first
Publisher's Synopsis:
He has the world at his feet.
She’s trying to survive hers.
Neither expected the other.
Lucie’s life has been a series of heartbreaks. Losing her mom at a young age. Being disowned by her father. Watching her future slip away with the boyfriend who once promised forever. Grief became her shadow. Love, a lie.
When she lands a job with Amanda Hart—the most powerful icon in publishing—it feels like a second chance. A new city. A clean slate. No distractions.
Until Julian Valmont walks in.
Billionaire. Tabloid obsession. Beautiful, brilliant, and completely off-limits. Julian is used to people wanting things from him—his name, his power, his fame. Lucie wants none of that.
She sees something else in him. Something broken. Something real.
As secrets unravel and boundaries blur, Lucie is forced to ask herself one terrifying question: **Is love worth breaking for... one more time?**
Inspired by the allure of Twilight and the intensity of Fifty Shades of Grey, Julian’s Rose is the story every romance girlie has been waiting for. Authentic, raw, and deeply moving—this isn’t just a book. It’s a testament to the truth that when life cuts deep, stories heal harder.
Source:
Reedsy Discovery
©Benton & Hart Media: October 21, 2024
Edition: digital ARC, read on KU
480 pages
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1.
Julian's Rose:
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2.
Julian's Curse:
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