Book Review and Giveaway for American King by Sierra Simone

AMERICAN KING
by SIERRA SIMONE

They say that every tragic hero has a fatal flaw, a secret sin, a tiny stitch sewn into his future since birth. And here I am. My sins are no longer secret. My flaws have never been more fatal. And I’ve never been closer to tragedy than I am now.

I am a man who loves, a man whose love demands much in return. I am a king, a king who was foolish enough to build a kingdom on the bones of the past. I am a husband and a lover and a soldier and a father and a president.

And I will survive this.

Long live the king.

ADD TO GOODREADS

REVIEW: 4 FANTASTICAL STARS
"His power is his love, his command is his affection."

OK, So after reading the first two books and falling in love with this triad, I was out of my mind awaiting this third and final book because I needed the LAST FREAKING CHAPTER of their love story!! I want to say the wait was worth it, because it was totally worth it, but I did have a few issues with this book, and I'll explain. Thankfully I made it through three quarters of the book before I had a total WTF moment, causing it to lose some steam for me. But, I needed this one to finish out this series and I am so glad I read it! The pull and play Ash, Greer and Embry had on each other’s heartstrings was a carnal and meticulous one. This love, it was one borne deep within and there was no undoing it. It was almost as if it was necessary to be near one another in order to breathe. I felt this visceral need that swam between them all, and I will admit that I honestly feel lost without more of them to read. I loved their love and I loved their story. I found way too many quotes in this book, and I wanted to quote them all!! So. Very. Good.

"My love for the two of you exists inside your love for each other -- when you love each other, you are loving me."

--> If you haven't yet, you can read my spoiler free reviews for AMERICAN QUEEN and AMERICAN PRINCE. While I admittedly had some issues with the demeaning side of their sex life in the first two books, it didn't turn me off from their love story. I knew it needed to be told and I knew I needed to read it. I was completely addicted to them and was totally invested in this series, so I desperately wanted to finish it out.

"It's my actions that earn the love in my life, and I can never stop working."

There were so many intricacies in this book; it was a very busy read, but it was also a deep, emotional read. I loved that this one wasn’t dirty or raunchy (just uber hot!!!), but it was full of a love that was unconditionally strong. Sierra writes these intimate scenes as if you are there, in the room, looking on as they are happening and you can’t help but feel the emotion pouring off the page. The way she described the delicate transfer of power, the immense trust that is willfully given to their lover(s), was truly beautiful and it was without a doubt, insanely HOT. GOSH!! Intense love. Intense respect. She writes with an intimate knowledge of the pain these characters endure emotionally, and she masterfully guides you through it. I loved the love these three had for each other, and even the way they showed each other. I felt every beat of their heart and every breath they pulled for each other. I felt their yearning and their devotion, even when it was mucked up by circumstances. So many feels in this one.

"The most important part of wearing a crown and using a sword is knowing when to set them down."

This book was so freaking DEEP and LONG. I did feel that it was long winded in general, but it was necessary discussion. The hindsight alone was very eye-opening. This one was told primarily in Ash’s POV, and I'm so glad it was because I was so curious about his backstory and what made him tick, so this book spelled it all out for me quite nicely. I definitely needed this discussion, otherwise I don't think I would have liked Ash as much as I did by the time it was all said and done. I definitely wasn't his number one fan after the first two books. This was THE BEST book for Ash. It explained his character more and it allowed me to understand him so much better. I saw the mental and emotional torture Ash was going through with the departure of Embry from his team and his marriage. I felt his pain throughout the entire book -- I seriously hurt for him while I read. Ash was angry and he acted out at times, and I think that was articulated very well. Sierra did an amazing job showing how hurt he was, but also showing his internal struggles with his own place in his marriage.

"You are more dangerous wielding love than you are wielding pain."

There were some sobering topics that were addressed in relation to their relationships and their lives; ones that were innocent actions in the past only to be consequences for their futures. I loved that Sierra showed us the inner workings of Ash and how his feelings grew and how he accepted his truths and his new realities. This read of a man discovering himself and accepting his known facts: he was part of a three and his heart would always and only accept that fact as truth. I loved how deep and bold his convictions were, too. He loved with everything he had and he made NO apologies for it. It's no secret that I didn’t like how Ash treated Greer and Embry in the first two books, even though he loved them deeply and religiously. I thought he was an ass, but after gaining a different perspective from this one, I have a newfound love for him. I do. But Embry is still my favorite!!! Love him. Love love love him.

"I craved him like I suppose addicts crave things; it was blood deep, restless, dangerous."

The rehashing of the past was pretty helpful; the ‘now’ and ‘then’ chapters allowed me to put everything into perspective. It helped me remember the small intricacies of the first two books that I may have forgotten and it sure made it a lot easier to put the final chapter of their story together.

I’ll be honest (as usual). that brick wall I hit at 76%? It was because the of the directional change of the story. I was heated for a bit, so much so that I even mad-texted a friend that had read it and she had to talk me off the ledge to continue on. I needed to remember that this was Sierra’s version of King Arthur's tale and that she was telling this story TO me, not FOR me. So I reluctantly and begrudgingly carried on, but that unexpected genre jump threw me for a complete loop. I don't pretend to understand why it was thrown in there because it then became 'mythical' in a way after that. It sorta took out some of the reality behind this story for me. So.....weird? Yes. So, for 3/4 of the way through the book, this was a 5 star, fantastical read. The love, the devotion, the intensity was all there for me. The ball dropped then and I don't even know how to process it. I'm still trying to accept and understand it.

After reading all three books, I have a better understanding of this triad's dynamic. It was hard at first, but if you read my reviews, I admitted it was hard, but I also said that it was an addicting love. A love that I wanted to continue to read. And now that I’ve made it through all three books, I can better appreciate their love, as well as their differing needs for power and submission. This was such a great story. So heavy, so deep, so memorable. I’m glad I got my closure.

I have to mention this cover. It is my favorite of the series, and is the most fitting for me because it shows the struggle Ash had. I love this cover! I need this entire series signed on my shelf.

"It is a weighty blessing to feel, knowing that your very existence is to make someone happy."
~BEE

ENTER HERE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN ONE BOOK FROM THE TRILOGY

PURCHASE:

AMERICAN QUEEN: http://amzn.to/2jknYJy

AMERICAN PRINCE: http://amzn.to/2iOOnLN

AMERICAN KING: http://amzn.to/2zAFkYL

The characters as seen by me:
Ash had such disciplined control over himself. It was such an interesting thing to read. I loved seeing this manifest itself throughout the book, and it sure made me think back to the first two and allowed me to see things clearer.

Embry was a man that loved hard with a hint of alpha, but a need to submit to his king. He possessed this desire to love Greer with a different level of affection than he did with Ash. He had his own way of loving Greer and Ash individually and I loved that side of him!

Greer was for me, an easy character to understand and love. She wasn’t meek, but she was a true submissive and I loved how Sierra betrayed her throughout the entire series. She had a refined strength that was understated in some areas and utilized in others.

Merlin played an indelible character in this series but I never trusted him. He appeared to be making respectful decisions on behalf of Ash, yet I still didn’t trust him. He was necessary for the plot to remain as thick as it was, but I still had issues with him.

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~MEET SIERRA SIMONE~

Sierra Simone is a former librarian who spent too much time reading romance novels at the information desk. She lives with her husband and family in Kansas City.

~CONNECT WITH SIERRA~

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