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hreads2much's review against another edition
5.0
This is a beautiful, tragic, angsty, forbidden love story. Scarlet is an amazing character in her abundance of love. Not that she allows others to walk over her, she just doesn’t allow their actions to influence her mental space. Which still allows her to love them the way she needs to. She is a beautiful character through and through. She has felt the pain of tragedy, but still lets love define her. Lance is not someone that has felt that unconditional love until he met his found family. He wants the love of family so badly. Which creates the angsty, forbidden portion of this story, because Scarlet is his best friend’s little sister. I could feel the pull and tension between Scarlet and Lance in every page. Their spice is off the charts hot. Their banter had me cracking up at so many points. And their pain, it yanked my heart hard. I cannot wait to see what is next for this couple.
nadiaelfahem's review against another edition
5.0
I’ve read Grand Lies, Grand Love and Grand Pact so to say I was surprised by the timeline and the events in it would be a lie.
But still - Lance and Scarlett’s love story took me by storm. I did not expect it to be so deep, so real, so passionate and so hopelessly fucking wild.
But still - Lance and Scarlett’s love story took me by storm. I did not expect it to be so deep, so real, so passionate and so hopelessly fucking wild.
bookishnova's review against another edition
5.0
• ARC Review •
The Grand Ruin by JC Hawke
Ratings:
⭐️: 5/5 ——> seriously, all the damn stars
The Grand Ruin by JC Hawke
Ratings:
⭐️: 5/5 ——> seriously, all the damn stars
romancingthereader's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is the best five-star book I’m going to tell you not to read - not yet at least. Because if you read it, you’re going to be heartbroken. Then you’re going to be mad at me.
Orrrrr, you can read it, yell at me, and we can be broken hearted together until the second part of this story comes out.
📔 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼: The Grand Ruin, part one of Lance and Scarlett’s story in the Grand amen universe.
📚𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲: Brother’s best friend, forbidden romance, angsty romance.
📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Scarlet meets Lance, who works as part of her brother’s company. What starts as friendly banter quickly morphs into a secret relationship, which overcomes deep ups and downs as they navigate time and the space between them.
🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: Ok, so if you’ve been with me since I recommended The Promise Duet, you already know where this story is going. But let me tell you, you don’t know the emotional turmoil you go through to get there.
For those of you who haven’t read any of JC Hawke’s work, start there and work your way forward. (P.S. see my note below…)
I missed a huge context clue when it said this was part one of their story, so when I got to the end and was crying through the last few pages, I was probably more wrecked than I should have been. But The Grand Ruin stood up to its name and demolished me.
It was great to delve deeper into Scarlet and Lance’s characters. She turned out to be so much more than I thought and I really, really felt for her. And Lance was absolutely perfect. Cocky and independent, but when Scarlet comes alone he’s completely undone. Like… read this…
“𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱, 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗿. 𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝘂𝘀𝗵 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗜 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗲. 𝗦𝗼, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮 𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱.”
Cue me fainting with happiness. It also had just enough of Hawke’s British drama style. It’s all over the top, and I love it.
Bottom line, this is an excellent next chapter. Lucy and Elliot’s story was epic, but turned out to be just a breather in between Mason and Nina and the heart break that is Lance and Scar. But it has me screaming for the next part NOW. And I can’t imagine how emotionally taxing that will be.
📝 𝗔 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲… You’ve got to start this one from the beginning. Start with Grand Lies and Grand Love, Mason and Nina’s story. You’ll love the series much better if you get the whole story.
𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 3/5 🌶🌶🌶
🆓️ on KU
Orrrrr, you can read it, yell at me, and we can be broken hearted together until the second part of this story comes out.
📔 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼: The Grand Ruin, part one of Lance and Scarlett’s story in the Grand amen universe.
📚𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲: Brother’s best friend, forbidden romance, angsty romance.
📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Scarlet meets Lance, who works as part of her brother’s company. What starts as friendly banter quickly morphs into a secret relationship, which overcomes deep ups and downs as they navigate time and the space between them.
🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: Ok, so if you’ve been with me since I recommended The Promise Duet, you already know where this story is going. But let me tell you, you don’t know the emotional turmoil you go through to get there.
For those of you who haven’t read any of JC Hawke’s work, start there and work your way forward. (P.S. see my note below…)
I missed a huge context clue when it said this was part one of their story, so when I got to the end and was crying through the last few pages, I was probably more wrecked than I should have been. But The Grand Ruin stood up to its name and demolished me.
It was great to delve deeper into Scarlet and Lance’s characters. She turned out to be so much more than I thought and I really, really felt for her. And Lance was absolutely perfect. Cocky and independent, but when Scarlet comes alone he’s completely undone. Like… read this…
“𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱, 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗿. 𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝘂𝘀𝗵 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗜 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗲. 𝗦𝗼, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮 𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱.”
Cue me fainting with happiness. It also had just enough of Hawke’s British drama style. It’s all over the top, and I love it.
Bottom line, this is an excellent next chapter. Lucy and Elliot’s story was epic, but turned out to be just a breather in between Mason and Nina and the heart break that is Lance and Scar. But it has me screaming for the next part NOW. And I can’t imagine how emotionally taxing that will be.
📝 𝗔 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲… You’ve got to start this one from the beginning. Start with Grand Lies and Grand Love, Mason and Nina’s story. You’ll love the series much better if you get the whole story.
𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 3/5 🌶🌶🌶
🆓️ on KU
tiarareadsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. this was one of my most anticipated books of the year and it did not disappoint. This whole journey of this series and these characters have a special place in my heart. I never want this world to end. This does end on a cliffhanger and I am so excited for the part two. I feel like I have been waiting for forever on Lance and Scarlet's story and here we are. Being able to go back to their timeline was so important in filling in the gaps. I also loved being able to go back to the beginning to Nina and Mason's story and see it all unfold. Scarlet has been through so much grief and yet she is everything to everyone. she continues to give give give even when she is running on any empty cup. she is so deserving of happiness and love, but when she gets close she tries to not accept it. lance is one that makes you feel all the things for him. you root and hope for him because of his past. it was incredible to see the way he cares for and loves scarlet. I am so glad that we still got all of the girls nights and the mention of Tuesdays (favorite day-iykyk)!
If there is one thing I have to commend JC on is that every time I read a book by her I am so emotionally invested and they really make me feel all of my feelings. I love how she story tells through her writing. Her writing is intentional to the characters and always makes you feel the comfort of an old friend. I smiled, laughed, cried, and felt so deeply reading this book. I'm just going to be in a puddle until part two comes out.
five stars / three chili peppers
tropes:
- grumpy x sunshine
- brother's best friend
- he falls first
- found family
- secret relationship
If there is one thing I have to commend JC on is that every time I read a book by her I am so emotionally invested and they really make me feel all of my feelings. I love how she story tells through her writing. Her writing is intentional to the characters and always makes you feel the comfort of an old friend. I smiled, laughed, cried, and felt so deeply reading this book. I'm just going to be in a puddle until part two comes out.
five stars / three chili peppers
tropes:
- grumpy x sunshine
- brother's best friend
- he falls first
- found family
- secret relationship
kwistinareads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
franstaffs's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
ea82625's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I refuse to read books with cliffhangers until the second book is out and I’m glad I waited on this one. I loved this book and cannot wait to continue to the next one to see the conclusion.
This book ran during parallel time line as the first 3 books in the series and it was fun to see how scar and lances story happened amidst everything else. I wouldn’t say you have to read them to read this one, but all of the characters in this found family are fantastic. You really get to see them grow in their relationship and themselves. I didn’t expect lances backstory and it added the missing pieces to the puzzle of the first few books.
I also loved how a lot of scarlets backstory and inner thoughts were told by letters to/from her mom. It was very emotional but really hit home that her main relationships were with her parents, in one way or another.
The only part that was a little hard to believe/follow was the fraud that lance was investigating but I can overlook that given how much I liked the rest.
Highly recommend this one and a true tearjerker.
This book ran during parallel time line as the first 3 books in the series and it was fun to see how scar and lances story happened amidst everything else. I wouldn’t say you have to read them to read this one, but all of the characters in this found family are fantastic. You really get to see them grow in their relationship and themselves. I didn’t expect lances backstory and it added the missing pieces to the puzzle of the first few books.
I also loved how a lot of scarlets backstory and inner thoughts were told by letters to/from her mom. It was very emotional but really hit home that her main relationships were with her parents, in one way or another.
The only part that was a little hard to believe/follow was the fraud that lance was investigating but I can overlook that given how much I liked the rest.
Highly recommend this one and a true tearjerker.
lvrst4rs's review against another edition
3.0
— 3 ⭑
“When the sun sets, and you start to forget me, remember every moment you fell in love with me in this meadow. Please, baby.”
the first half was definitely a 4 star read but the second half made it a 3 star read.