eARC Book review: Ivan (Gideon’s Riders #3) by Kit Rocha

Available March 28th 2018
eARC Provided by self published author

As the sheltered princess of Sector One, Maricela’s life is defined by duty: to her people and to her family. Her wealth and influence have allowed her to build a better world, but they come with a price---the responsibility to secure political stability with a practical marriage. Maricela cherishes the idea of marrying for love, but there’s not much romance in the endless line of suitors interested only in prestige and power.

And her handsome, brooding new bodyguard isn’t helping the situation. 

Ivan is the perfect, deadly warrior, a man trained from childhood to be the ultimate protector to the Rios family. His focus on keeping her safe is intense--and a little intoxicating. When the threat of danger cracks his icy control, Maricela realizes she’s not the only one fighting against temptation.

Ivan knows that the blood on his hands makes him unworthy of the pure-hearted princess. But from the first kiss, their forbidden affair feels inevitable. He can give her a glimpse of life outside her gilded cage and a lover who wants the woman instead of the crown. The only thing he can never do is promise her forever.

Because spurning her noble suitors to marry her bodyguard wouldn’t just be a scandal. It could set off a political firestorm that would tear Sector One apart.

The writing team that makes up Kit Rocha takes us back into sector one. Maricela is the sector one princess. The youngest Rios and it's up to her to marry well to add to the Rios' power. Love would be a nice side benefit if she can find it with one of the noble suitors hounding her. Problem is Maricela already has someone in mind and he's not exactly noble. Ivan is Maricela's bodyguard. Wherever she goes he goes. Their attraction to each other is something that  they can't give in to until the one day they decide they can. This story is a definite slow burn. You're going to have to wait for quite a while for the steamy parts but once they start it's pretty intense. Maricela's life might seem pretty idyllic until you see how constrained she really is. There are a lot of expectations from her and in a sense she only there to be used to make alliances through marriage. Ivan on the other hand had a really tough upbringing. He and his mother were shunned by something Ivan's uncles did years ago. His only thought for a long time is how he can redeem himself though being one of the Riders and protecting the Rios family. It's kind of heartbreaking to see the struggles both Ivan and Maricela deal with considering their very different upbringings. I really  liked Ivan and Maricela but I'm excited to see what happens with the other Riders and of course Gideon. There was a new character introduced in this book and while they didn't get a lot of page time I'm curious to see where the author takes him in future books. 

Find out more about this series and Kit Rocha here www.kitrocha.com