Book Review: Romeo Redeemed by Stacey Jay

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Random House International (9 Oct 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385740182
• ISBN-13: 978-0385740180

Cursed to live out eternity in his rotted corpse, Romeo, known for his ruthless, cutthroat ways, is given the chance to redeem himself by traveling back in time to save the life of Ariel Dragland. Unbeknownst to her, Ariel is important to both the evil Mercenaries and the love-promoting Ambassadors and holds the fate of the world in her hands. Romeo must win her heart and make her believe in love, turning her away from her darker potential before his work is discovered by the Mercenaries. While his seduction begins as yet another lie, it soon becomes his only truth. Romeo vows to protect Ariel from harm, and do whatever it takes to win her heart and soul. But when Ariel is led to believe his love is a deception, she becomes vulnerable to Mercenary manipulation, and her own inner darkness may ultimately rip them apart.

Romeo is cursed to spend eternity in his rotten, stinking corpse – his punishment for defying the Mercenaries. But he is offered a chance at redemption by an Ambassador. All he has to do is make Ariel Dragland fall in love with him.

As the world’s most famous lover, Romeo believes this will be his easiest assignment ever, and his reward is just around the corner. But Ariel herself has a dark side, and if Romeo cannot bring her into the light and make her love him, then the scales will be tipped in favour of the dark. 

When the lines blur and Romeo can no longer be certain that he is acting, Romeo vows to protect her forever and do whatever it takes to keep the Mercenaries at bay. Ariel herself cannot believe her own luck. As the school freak she never thought love was on the cards for her, and just when she lets herself believe it might be real, Ariel is convinced it is all a cruel hoax.

Romeo must prove to her once and for all that she is his true love, and not even the Ambassadors or the Mercenaries can take that away from them.

Romeo Redeemed, was actually preferable to me than Juliet Immortal. This does not happen often, but in the case of this sequel, it has more than surpassed its predecessor. This book was achingly romantic, tender and raw all at once. It is action-packed and bittersweet, hot and cold. It is one of those rare books that make you feel just about every emotion possible. And it more than passed the tear-test.

While Romeo is one heck of a flawed character, it was a pleasure to watch him, well, redeem himself. It was beautiful to see him grow and lay aside the seducer in him and try for something real.

And though it is doubtful, my only wish is that there will be another instalment in Romeo and Juliet’s epic saga.