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Twisted Games - Ana Huang

 

(Read the review. Thank you)

“Be careful, Mr. Larson, or I’ll think you’ll actually like me.” Stop. Just stop it because Rhys isn’t real, Eldora does not exist, and I’m not a Bridget von Ascheberg. 

Ana Huang said this was inspired by The Princess Diaries, and she wasn’t lying. It so was, but 100x better. The nickname here is simply "princess," which is suitable and fitting. 

Where do I even begin? We have Bridget, who’s 10 years younger than Rhys, her bodyguard. Bridget left Eldora to study abroad and get a sense of normality. From partying to volunteering at the animal shelter, she tries her best. After losing her parents at a young age, she’s the closest to her brother, Nikolai, and her grandfather. Rhys Larsen, on the other hand, is an ex-Navy SEAL and works for Harper Security. Side Note: love Christian Harper. Any fictional character called Christian is usually a great sign. Anyways, back to Larsen. He's gruff and arrogant with black hair, a muscled frame, and gunmetal eyes. Did I mention the jagged scar going through his left brow? Let’s just say this new pairing brings about some growing pains, which leads to other pain that ends in a trip to Costa Rica—and so much more. 

Remember the kidnapping I told you about in the previous review? I forgot to mention that a certain princess was there with Ava. That’s when Bridget was put under stricter restrictions by her bodyguard. After graduating, a shooting took place in which slowly, something started to bubble between Rhys and the princess. I’d say that was the most pivotal moment. 

Upon hearing about the heart attack of her grandfather, they both rush to Eldora to find out Nikolia has decided to abdicate. However, on the plane ride, they both bonded a lot over the loss of loved ones and Rhys’s abusive single parent. Anyways, Bridget is off on her horse, only to be hit by a branch and left in the rain. Of course, Rhys finds her after threatening her staff—because why wouldn’t he? Everything gets frosty. On the secret balcony, which now Rhys is a part of, things get just a little bit cold. Cold as in Rhys says he will now leave when she returns to the palace due to his contract, and Bridget doesn’t like the feeling of being dismissed so easily. So, what does she do? Decides to make life hell for her new bodyguard once they go back to university. Let’s just say living one's life as a party isn’t for the bodyguard. 

This leads to more gentle gestures. It was thoughtful of Rhys to set up a living-room music festival experience, almost like the real thing, and then that damn bucket list number. I’m not telling you, but read it. They go to Costa Rica and then do what you do in Costa Rica. Can you guess? 

After Costa Rica, Rhys declines the offer given by Bridget to become his permanent bodyguard. True to his word, what happens in Costa Rica stayed right there. The most awkward morning after ever. Well, he’s an idiot. He soon understands his mistakes and then comes rushing back. Did I mention he returns when Bridget’s grandfather is now looking for a husband for the future queen? This is when it starts to really get good. 

PSA: Mr. Larsen stays away from addictive things, including alcohol, but the breakup hit him so hard that it worked him up. There’s also a cousin of the princess involved, but I’ll let you read up on him. 

The sneaking around, the late-night hook-ups, and all those small special moments—including Rhys’s jealousy—really made part 2 that much better. Let’s just say videos get leaked, some crawling happens (IYKYK) laws get changed, and maybe a wedding happens where no one can find Josh and Jules. Thank God for grandads, especially that one of a princess. 

I’d say the most heartbreaking moments were when Bridget couldn’t peacefully visit her parents’ graves and when she realized who was leaking things to the press, alongside the blackmail. I know what it feels like to be betrayed by those whom you trust so much, so saying I felt for Bridget is an understatement. 

This ranks first for me as book #1 in the Twisted Series. Everything was perfect and paced so beautifully. There wasn’t a moment where I wanted to put the book down. It was alarming how much I preferred it over Twisted Love. Written perfectly to a T. 

The best reading moments for me were when they did something *cough* *cough* at night in a place where it started to rain, the reconciliation after the breakup, and when the voting happened to change laws. The badass moments were when Christian Harper grilled Larson and then Bridget reached out to none other than Mr. Volkov himself. If you remember the end of Twisted Love then you know how iconic the meaning was behind it for Twisted Games. 

I cannot recommend it enough. I’m sure it’s readable as a standalone, but why would you want to? There’s nothing better than an interconnected series, and it only gets better if it’s written by Ana Huang. 

Don’t delay these paper pages like I did. 

Mwah! 

Vivian. 

Don’t forget to keep reading, because as long as you do, it’s making a struggling authors day that much better. Reach for the starts of success.

 

 


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