The Thread Ruby: A dark, fated-soulmates romance of obsession and forbidden love across lifetimes

by V.K. Leon

Some loves are not meant to be gentle.

When Ellie meets Alex, the attraction is instant—violent in its intensity, impossible to ignore, and frightening in how deeply it takes hold.

Alex doesn’t want her casually. He wants her completely. With a devotion that borders on obsession. Ellie feels the same pull… a hunger she doesn’t understand, a sense of being claimed by something ancient and inevitable.

Because this is not the first time their souls have collided.

They have loved each other before.
And it destroyed them.

As Ellie’s modern-day story unfolds, a second timeline bleeds through time—one set in 19th-century Greece, where a village girl named Sophia and a Chiot shipping heir named Orpheas lived a love so forbidden, so consuming, it carved itself into eternity.

Their desire.
Their defiance.
Their tragedy.

All of it echoes in Ellie and Alex.

When the past begins bleeding into the present, Ellie is forced to confront the truth behind their bond—one written long before either of them were born. A truth that threatens everything.

✨ Praised by Midwest Book Review as “original, emotionally engaging, deftly crafted… a simply riveting read from start to finish.” ✨
✨ Featured on East London Radio and in The Table Read Magazine, early praise hails The Thread Ruby as one of the year’s most captivating dark romances. ✨


Sensual. Emotional. Haunting.

The Thread Ruby is a dual-timeline dark romance woven with reincarnation, obsession, historical intrigue, and slow-burn passion that explodes into fate-bound love.

⭐ Featuring all your favourite

💞 Fated mates across lifetimes
🔥 Obsessive, brooding hero
💫 Reincarnation / past-lives connection
⏳ Dual timelines (modern London + 19th-century Greece & London)
❤️ Forbidden attraction
🌹 Slow burn → explosive spice
📜 Lush historical settings
👀 ‘I’ve known you before’ tension
💗 Soul-deep chemistry you can feel
🕯️ Dark, poetic atmosphere
🔗 Destiny that refuses to break
🌿 Village secrets + family legacy
🖤 Emotion, obsession, longing

Two souls.
One destiny.
A love too powerful for a single lifetime.

The Thread - Ruby, the first book in The Thread trilogy.


🔥 READERS CAN’T LET GO OF THE THREAD RUBY 🔥

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Beautiful, addictive, and brilliantly written debut novel. I was hooked from page one.” Emma A.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “I could not put it down. Passionate, emotional, and unforgettable — I’m desperate for book two.” Cathryn M.

481 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 16, 2025

About the author

I’m V. K. Leon, a Greek-Londoner romance author drawn to love stories that feel fated, emotional, and impossible to forget. I write the kind of romances that linger long after the last page, sensual, atmospheric, and charged with the haunting pull of destiny.

My debut novel, The Thread Ruby, has already received early industry praise, including a review from Midwest Book Review calling it “original, emotionally engaging, deftly crafted… extraordinary for a debut. A simply riveting read from start to finish.”
I’ve also been featured as “a bold new voice in romance” in The Table Read Magazine and discussed my creative process on East London Radio.

My stories draw inspiration from the duality of my life between London and Greece, and from my background in shipbroking, worlds shaped by distance, longing, and deep emotional ties. I’m fascinated by reincarnation, soul connections, historical echoes, and the kind of chemistry that feels written across lifetimes.

When I’m not writing, you’ll usually find me reading late into the night, wandering by the sea, or uncovering forgotten pieces of Greek history that spark new stories.

The Thread Ruby is the first book in The Thread Trilogy, where love refuses to fade and fate always has one more card to play.

Reviews

[Andreea-Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

*gifted*
This is a book for spicy romance lovers and if that’s your thing you won’t be able to put it down! Split between the 19th century and modern times we discover the story of Orpheas and Sophia whose love is very strong, passionate, obsessive, and engulfing. Their deep desires and soul consuming love are the focus for most of the book.
Sophia was my favourite character, her strong character a perfect match for Orpheas. Their moments of jealousy were just as passionate and strong as their love.
Then in modern day London we follow Ellie and Alex whose love is just as passionate and obsessive.
The author created enough tension that I progressed easily through the chapters. The book was also very spicy, about a 4🌶️ on the spice scale.

I enjoyed it and recommend it to steamy romance lovers🖤🌶️🔥 The book is also available on KU for anyone interested 😌
*I received a review copy and these are my honest thoughts.*

[Emma Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

❤️ Blurb -
The Thread - Ruby, the first book in The Thread trilogy.
When nineteen-year-old Ellie Ioannides crosses paths with her enigmatic tutor, Alex Rodocanachi, she feels an attraction she cannot explain. Magnetic and terrifying. Alex is rational, disciplined, and the heir to a powerful Greek shipping dynasty. He is not the person she would expect to fall for. Yet, every glance they share feels deeply like fate. Every touch sparks something deep within her.
Alex feels it too, but he’s convinced their worlds can never truly meet. Ellie tries to dismiss the recurring dreams that feel far too real. Yet a part of him lingers with her — waiting at the edges of her life like a promise left unsaid until fate brings them together on her university graduation..
At the start of a deeply passionate and electrifying love affair, Ellie begins to uncover the truth. Some desires are not new but remembered. Some bonds are not chosen but returned. Alex holds secrets that go beyond one lifetime. Those secrets could take her heart, her destiny, and everything she thought she knew about herself.
From modern London to 19th-century Thessaly in Greece, beneath the shadows of Mount Olympus, The Thread Trilogy is a story of obsession, fate, and unapologetic passion where love is never truly lost; it is only waiting to be found again.
Lyrical, romantic, and unforgettable, this story will obsess you and remain with you long after you turn the last page.
💜 Review -
I really enjoyed this novel. From the very first page the author's writing had me hooked, and I knew that I would enjoy the story. I found the author's writing style beautiful and brilliantly paced. I loved the dual time line and the chemistry between the characters was spicy. Overall, a brilliant novel that I highly recommend to other readers.
💝 Thank you to Zooloo book tours, the author, V K Leon and the publisher for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://sarahreads4.wordpress.com/202...

[Mirela W · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book blends everyday life with the idea of fate and destiny, which makes it really personal.
Ellie and Alex are two people who feel a deep connection from the start.
Their story happens in both present day in London and also in the 19 century in Greece, which gives the book a feeling of powerful love setting in a dual world.
The book is even more special and intriguing due to how the present and the past are blended together.
The writing is beautiful and emotional and describes Ellie as a curious, sensitive, and strong person. While Alex is her tutor - and that makes you wonder.
Their bond is strong, and the tension between them is visible.
This book is more than a love story - it is about love, belonging, fate, memories, and connection through time.
The Thread Ruby is the type of book that makes you want to keep reading and discover more.
If you are into slow-burn romance and stories that have a magical feel, this book is perfect for you.
It is a story that stays with you even after you finish the book - you will not regret reading it.
I can't wait for part 2.

[Cathryn Melani (cat.inspired) · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw this cover design, the cool title and great blurb I jumped at reading this as part of the Hygge booktours book review tour.

This book was so awesome!! Like, I could not put it down, read it cover to cover awesome!!

The story is set across two timelines. 19th century Greece, where the story follows Sophia and Orpheas. And OMG I loved how he supported her and loved her so passionately and deeply. These two were 🔥

And also modern day London as we see the intense connection between Ellie and Alex. Every moment when they connect was truly a story of fate and destiny.

I absolutely loved it. The passion, love and connections of the MCs was so endearing. The strength of the characters and the underlying links between the generations was captivating.

There is spice in this book, and its hot and steamy. A pure extension of the characters and how intense their feelings are for each other.

Book one in a new series, I am 100% already needy for book two.

All thoughts are my own.

[Fatguyreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Thread Ruby is the first book in the Thread Trilogy, and I must say, it's definitely not my usual type of read, but i'm glad I gave it a go as I really did enjoy it, and I also think it's beneficial for authors to have the perspective of readers who are not necessarily their target audience, so I try to read outside of my comfort zone as often as possible.

Set across dual timelines, in present day London and 19th century Greece, we follow our main characters, Ellie and Alex in a tale of love, longing and romance.

It's a slow burn story that's full of intrigue, deep emotional connections and romantical tension.

At over 480 pages, it's certainty quite the hefty tome, but it really doesn't feel that long.

Writing is vivid, descriptive and absorbing, and the characters are believable and feel real.

4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.

[Leanne J · Rating 5 out of 5]

As soon as I started this I knew it was something different. The writing is beautiful and so expressive. It felt like the relationship between Ellie and Alex was going to be deep and obsessive. I don’t mean obsession in any kind of negative way. It’s pure and unapologetic need. I could feel it.

And then came Orpheas and Sophia. I’m not usually in your historical anything but I loved this. The way he supported her in an era when women were not supposed to be in business. The connection. The tension. The need. Loved it.

Going back then to Ellie and Alex. I loved the same feelings but in modern times. There may have been a lot of intimate scenes in this book but I never once thought it was too much because it was about feelings and passion and connection. It was beautifully written. I’m going to be thinking about this for a while.

Thank you to @hyggebooktours and @vicky.k.leon for the gifted review copy. I will definitely be reading the rest of the series.

[Athena Kyriacou · Rating 5 out of 5]

How beautiful is this cover!!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was an incredible love story, blending over 2 timelines from the 19th century to modern day.

You will absolutely fall in love with the characters Ellie & Alex will pull you in with their intensity and Opheas & Sophia are just everything you could every want ❤️.

The θread Ruby had passion, connection, obsession, emotion & spice all in this beautifully written story and I can not wait for the next one in the series.

Thank you Hygge Book Tours & @vicky.k.leon for letting me be a part of this tour!!xx

[Tami Wylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spinning two timelines, The Thread Ruby is a wonderful love story about people who are bound by fate, even if they don’t know it. Ellie and Alex feel a deep connection from the very start. However, he doesn’t believe he can truly fit into her world. Ellie is strong, sensitive and inquisitive. Alex is the heir to a shipping empire and Ellie‘s tutor. I really loved how the 19th century timeline blended seamlessly with the modern one. The writing is absolutely beautiful and the story is captivating. I’m so happy that this is book one in a series, as I didn’t want it to end.

[Lisa reads alot Hamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the sound of this book and it didn’t disappoint plus what an amazing cover too.
A story of fate and destiny with a dual timeline, the chemistry between the couples is so good and the spice is steamy.
A good chunky book with a great storyline, plus its book 1 in a trilogy what’s not to love, I cannot wait for the next instalment.

[Valerie Perdue · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I loved most about this book was how the the story evolved two time eras. A slow burn that takes you from modern London to 19th-century Thessaly in Greece. The Thread is a romantic, magical love story that blends fate and destiny, a story every woman loves to imagine. I can't wait for book two and be able to continue this journey.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm reviewing this as part of a tour with Hygge Book Tours.

“The Thread Ruby” is the first in a trilogy, and is also the author's debut novel. Based on what I read here, I'm excited for what's coming next.

When I saw the book's cover art and read the description, I felt very drawn to it. I'd say this is a type of book that I only read when the mood takes me, and I enjoyed it.

From the beginning, when Ellie was introduced, I felt a connection with her, and turning the pages, I felt a kind of pull, as though I was being drawn deeper into the story. I had only just scratched the surface, and had no idea what was about to unfold.

This is a dual timeline novel following two sets of characters, and I've come to enjoy those types of books. If you like some spice as well as romance, there's plenty of that, but I definitely felt the romance too. When I read romance, I like to feel some heat and intensity between the characters, because as a reader, I feel the need to support their relationship and be there for it. I like to feel as though the connection between the characters is everything. This was a forbidden love story too, which made the love seem even more powerful.

This romantic adventure swept me away. I was left reeling from these characters and their story, and it left me craving a little bit more. I'll be waiting for the second book in the series.

Thank you to Hygge Book Tours, and to the author and publisher, for the opportunity to read and review this.

[Courtney Pityer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Thread Ruby to a dual timeline novel whuch is the debut of the author. It is the first of a three book series. The first timeline takes plave in the modern world while the second timeline takes ace in the late nineteenth century. I will say that this was a very impressive story. Although the adult content is a little high but overall I still the book. It is filled with romance and adventure.

In the modern world we are introduced to Ellie qho is a college student and she ends up getting tutoring from a man named Michael. They can't helo but have an attraction to each other even though they come from different backgrounds. What is even more strange that Ellie keeps havibg these vivid dreams of another life.

In the late nineteenth century where we are introduced to Orpheas a man from an influential trading family who on business to Greece meets the captivating Sophia. Despite opposition from his family the two marry. Despite the trials that life throws at them their love remains strong.

[Country Mama · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Thread Ruby by V K Leon is the first book in The Thread trilogy by the author, and a great debut to the series. This book follows Ellie our FMC who is being tutored by Alex our MMC, and these two have a powerful connection to eachother. There is so much chemistry when these two meet and they both have no idea why. There is a flashback to Greece with other characters that are based in about 19th century, named Orestes, Sophia, Panagos, and Orpheas. The steamy intimate scenes are well written also, you really feel what Orpheas and Sophia feel and sense. This is a slow burn romance with the relationship between Alex and Ellie not kicking off till later in the story. There is a lot to this book and the fact that there were so many pages didn't faze me as a reader at all. As soon as you start the book you want to read all of it. The next book will be coming sometime in the future and I can not wait to see more of Ellie and Alex's story!

[Kim Wilch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This debut novel swept me up from start. The writing is gorgeous, the pacing smooth, and the dual timelines (modern day and 19th century) blend seamlessly. Ellie and Alex’s connection crackles from the moment they meet, and the fact that it’s a forbidden romance only turns the spice (and swoon) up a notch. Ellie’s strength and curiosity, plus Alex’s broody-heir energy make them impossible not to root for.

It’s a captivating, fate-touched love story with beautiful prose, a timeline twist that works, and chemistry that jumps off the page. And since this is book one of a trilogy, I’m already excited for what’s coming next. Highly recommend for anyone who likes their romance heartfelt and a little spicy.

[Nessa’s Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh wow. Just…wow. The Thread Ruby completely tangled me up in fate, obsession, and passion in the best way possible.

Ellie and Alex are magnetic! I mean, their chemistry practically jumps off the page and grabs you by the heart.

I loved how Ellie is both fierce and vulnerable, and Alex…ugh, that mix of terrifying discipline and unshakable devotion? Chef’s kiss.

Their story isn’t just your typical love story; it’s layered with secrets that stretch across lifetimes.

There were moments I literally had to pause and whisper, “No, don’t do that… wait, yes, do that.”

From modern London to the windswept landscapes of 19th century Greece, V.K. Leon crafts a romance that’s breathtaking, obsessive, and unforgettable.

I’m officially haunted by this book in a good way.

[kirsty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this read it was giving obsession and love will never die and I was totally here for it.

The writing hooked me in right from the start and kept me hooked all the way through. It was so descriptive and I felt like I was in between the pages and at times I wish I was.
The characters were well developed and I took to them instantly, the chemistry was palpable and the spice was perfect.

I can't wait to read more by the author, I loved it

[Faye Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Thread Ruby by VK Leon
🌟🌟🌟💫

An enjoyable read. Not my usual genre, but I did enjoy it.
Ellie and Alex feel a spark as soon as they meet, but neither feel they belong in each other's lives.
A slow start to what is a long book. The writing is beautiful and the description of London and Greece makes you feel you are there