Fallen Foe (Cruel Castaways 2) by LJ Shen- review 

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 9, 2023

Arsène Corbin does not intend to marry for love. His fiancée has always been a means to an end, a woman he wants to conquer. But when she dies suddenly in an accident, Arsène’s grand plan unravels.

Still reeling from his fiancée’s death, he meets Winnifred Ashcroft, a struggling actress who lands a coveted role in a play at his theater…and knows things about his late fiancée no one else does. The only problem? They can’t stand each other.

Backstage at Arsène’s theater, Winnie begins to let down her guard around the tempestuous billionaire. She appreciates his wit and quirky affection for astronomy. And Arsène, jaded as he is, respects Winnie’s headstrong personality.

Tragedy and betrayal bring them together, but will their painful pasts hold them back—or fuel their desire?

••••••

REVIEW:FALLEN FOE is the second instalment in LJ Shen’s contemporary, adult CRUEL CASTAWAYS erotic, romance series focusing on three friends: Christian Miller, Arsène Corbin, and Riggs Bates. This is thirty-five year old, multi-millionaire businessman Arsene Corbin, and twenty-eight year old, stage actress Winnifred Ashcroft’s story line.FALLEN FOE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

Told from present day and memories from the past, using dual first person perspectives (Arsene and Winnifred) FALLEN FOE follows the enemies to frenemies to lovers relationship between thirty-five year old, multi-millionaire businessman Arsene Corbin, and twenty-eight year old, stage actress Winnifred Ashcroft. Months earlier, while in the Italian Riviera with his soon to be fiancée Grace, Arsene Corbin will meet American actress Winnifred, and her husband, Grace’s boss Paul Ashcroft but from the outset their meeting is tempestuous at best, fueled by Grace’s barbs and condemnation of the woman in question. Fast forward several weeks and months wherein Arsene will lose his father, his fiancée, and discover that not everything is at it appears to be. Winnifred will have lost her husband as well, and the mutual commiseration between Winnifred and Arsene begins to reveal the secrets and lies neither one knew anything about. What ensues is the search for the truth, as Winnifred’s star begins to rise, and Arsene’s heart is destroyed in the process.

Arsene Corbin doesn’t do relationships but his relationship with his ‘fiancee’ is a convenience at best but all is not well, as secrets will reveal a life and past Arsene knew nothing about, a life that will directly affect the woman with whom Arsene will fall in love. Arsene Corbin considers Winnifred Ashcroft a country bumpkin; an unskilled actress with no sense of taste or style, all predicated upon first impressions and other people’s comments. Winnifred Ashcroft is a woman who wants to thrive but a woman whose personal and private life are spiralling out of control.

The relationship between Arsene and Winnifred is turbulent, emotional and stormy. Winnifred doesn’t know Arsene yet his actions constantly place Winnifred below his station, actions that are continue to break Winnifred’s heart. As their relationship grows from enemies to frenemies, a series of discoveries pull Winnifred away from New York, and back into the arms of her family in Tennessee. The $ex scenes are passionate and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters include the return of Arya and Christian (Ruthless Rival #1), professional photographer Riggs Bates; Alice Gudinski; Arsene’s fiancée Gracelynn Langston, and her mother Miranda: Winnifred’s husband Paul, and her agent Chrissy.

FALLEN FOE is a story of secrets and lies, power and control, money and obsession, forgiveness and love. The premise is tragic, emotional and intriguing; the romance is heart breaking and raw; the characters are animated, broken and flawed.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one RUTHLESS RIVAL

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

L.J. Shen is USA Today, WSJ, Washington Post and #1 Amazon Kindle Store bestselling author of contemporary romance books.

She writes angsty books, unredeemable anti-heroes who are in Elon Musk’s tax bracket, and sassy heroines who bring them to their knees (for more reasons than one).

HEAs and groveing are guaranteed.

She lives in Florida with her husband, three sons, and a disturbingly active imagination.

Keep up with L.J. on all platforms:
Newsletter Sign up ➜ https://bit.ly/3LhsIrb
Instagram➜ shorturl.at/cDJRZ
TikTok ➜ shorturl.at/frw59
Facebook➜ https://goo.gl/fKCSo4
Website ➜ www.authorljshen.com