What do you think?
Rate this book
The Ex
A STANDALONE steamy, banter-filled, enemies-to-lovers, second-chance, Soulmate Romance with a feisty heroine and a stubborn hero you won’t want to miss.
What happens when an independent woman, flying high and set in her ways, is suddenly rocked to her core and unexpectedly forced to face the first love she vowed to forget? Is it too late to change her mind, or has she finally met her match with this Alpha Male? Can even the hardest of hearts heal? These two will put each other to the ultimate test to find out. Check out the excerpt below!
Mila
Lately, I feel like I’m spiraling in a never-ending drain of disappointment. I like to think I’m a pretty good catch. I’m not a size 4 or 6 like my friends, I’m barely a 10 on a good day, but I know my worth. I don't understand why it is so hard for me to find a decent date or, at the very least, a decent lay. It’s not that I don’t believe in love. I do. I had it once. Unfortunately, I found my first love when I was much too young to be able to hold onto it. Not to mention the fact that when that love inevitably left me heartbroken, I became guarded, jaded, and I got “picky”- as I have heard so many times. Now, I'm 34 and have nothing to show for all of my expectations, maybe even because of them. But I refuse to let anyone hurt me like that again, so I hold tight to my rules.
But when I am put through an experience that leaves me broken and bloodied, and wake in a hospital bed to find the only man I've ever loved staring down at me with those unforgettable aqua eyes, I suddenly begin to question every step and choice I've made that brought me to this moment. So, when he tells me he wants me back, and he isn't taking no for an answer, I do what any sane, modern, woman would do in my position.
I kick his sexy butt out.
Kade
I’ve spent half of my life in the Marine Corps. Sleeping in terrible conditions, being shot at, avoiding IEDs, losing friends… I’ve been through it all and made it out on the other side fairly unscathed. But seeing the woman I love laying unconscious in the middle of an alleyway, unsure if she was even alive at first sight, was like a living nightmare worse than any I have ever endured. And believe me, my nightmares would make even the toughest men wake up gasping in a cold sweat. She was always my anchor, my safe place, and unbeknownst to her, I came back to this town of bad memories for one thing, and one thing only. Her.
So when she promptly kicks me out after saving her, I know I'm in for a fight. Knowing she is alone and in danger has a new mission forming in my mind. She may have won the first battle, but I'm a Marine now, we adapt and overcome. I don’t stop fighting until I’m dead or unconscious. If it’s a war she wants, sign me up. It wouldn’t be the first time I made that choice.
We were our firsts, and I promise we will be our lasts.
18+ Romance
Contains strong language and scenes that may be sensitive for some readers including sexual assault, war scenes, child abuse and neglect.
Please Read Responsibly
As always, this is a Realistic Romance. Everyday people, everyday struggles, with once in a lifetime connections.
What happens when an independent woman, flying high and set in her ways, is suddenly rocked to her core and unexpectedly forced to face the first love she vowed to forget? Is it too late to change her mind, or has she finally met her match with this Alpha Male? Can even the hardest of hearts heal? These two will put each other to the ultimate test to find out. Check out the excerpt below!
Mila
Lately, I feel like I’m spiraling in a never-ending drain of disappointment. I like to think I’m a pretty good catch. I’m not a size 4 or 6 like my friends, I’m barely a 10 on a good day, but I know my worth. I don't understand why it is so hard for me to find a decent date or, at the very least, a decent lay. It’s not that I don’t believe in love. I do. I had it once. Unfortunately, I found my first love when I was much too young to be able to hold onto it. Not to mention the fact that when that love inevitably left me heartbroken, I became guarded, jaded, and I got “picky”- as I have heard so many times. Now, I'm 34 and have nothing to show for all of my expectations, maybe even because of them. But I refuse to let anyone hurt me like that again, so I hold tight to my rules.
But when I am put through an experience that leaves me broken and bloodied, and wake in a hospital bed to find the only man I've ever loved staring down at me with those unforgettable aqua eyes, I suddenly begin to question every step and choice I've made that brought me to this moment. So, when he tells me he wants me back, and he isn't taking no for an answer, I do what any sane, modern, woman would do in my position.
I kick his sexy butt out.
Kade
I’ve spent half of my life in the Marine Corps. Sleeping in terrible conditions, being shot at, avoiding IEDs, losing friends… I’ve been through it all and made it out on the other side fairly unscathed. But seeing the woman I love laying unconscious in the middle of an alleyway, unsure if she was even alive at first sight, was like a living nightmare worse than any I have ever endured. And believe me, my nightmares would make even the toughest men wake up gasping in a cold sweat. She was always my anchor, my safe place, and unbeknownst to her, I came back to this town of bad memories for one thing, and one thing only. Her.
So when she promptly kicks me out after saving her, I know I'm in for a fight. Knowing she is alone and in danger has a new mission forming in my mind. She may have won the first battle, but I'm a Marine now, we adapt and overcome. I don’t stop fighting until I’m dead or unconscious. If it’s a war she wants, sign me up. It wouldn’t be the first time I made that choice.
We were our firsts, and I promise we will be our lasts.
18+ Romance
Contains strong language and scenes that may be sensitive for some readers including sexual assault, war scenes, child abuse and neglect.
Please Read Responsibly
As always, this is a Realistic Romance. Everyday people, everyday struggles, with once in a lifetime connections.
298 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 30, 2022
11 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Stevens
7 books25 followersVictoria Stevens believes in true love, soul mates, love at first sight, opposites attract, possessive alpha males, the strong, unique women that tame them, for better or worse, and happily ever afters.
An avid romance reader herself, after over a thousand books read under her belt, she decided to embark on a mission to write realistic romance anyone could relate to. Everyday people, everyday struggles, and once in a lifetime connections. She hopes that by doing so, she can inspire other people with hopes becoming an author to take charge, find their niche, and be brave.
Victoria Stevens lives in Texas with her middle-school sweetheart, two kids, two dogs, crazy cat, and two fish that refuse to die. She enjoys writing in-between her day job, momming, and binge-reading.
An avid romance reader herself, after over a thousand books read under her belt, she decided to embark on a mission to write realistic romance anyone could relate to. Everyday people, everyday struggles, and once in a lifetime connections. She hopes that by doing so, she can inspire other people with hopes becoming an author to take charge, find their niche, and be brave.
Victoria Stevens lives in Texas with her middle-school sweetheart, two kids, two dogs, crazy cat, and two fish that refuse to die. She enjoys writing in-between her day job, momming, and binge-reading.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 30, 2022
What a journey you guys. Thanks so much for reading, I am so grateful for your support.
This book was near and dear to my heart. This one was dedicated to my husband, my best friend, my soulmate. He inspired Kade in so many ways, his qualities, his faults, his mistakes, his redemption. And honestly, Mila was inspired my me. So many times in books we get a sweet girl with the crazy friend, the single, flirty, IDGAF friend, the one that tempts the main character to step out of their comfort zone. With Mila, I wanted to explore that character. What makes her tick? What led her to the way live she lives? Is she truly happy? What kind of guy would she ever change for?
I hope that this book proves that even flawed people are capable of true, everlasting love. Hearts that are broken and weary can still be coveted. They are still worthy of protection and admiration. For the right person, for a true Soulmate, all of those faults and warnings are just stepping stones to a strong foundation. Never give up on finding your person, and never give up on your own happiness. It's out there, and more beautiful than you can even imagine.
Happy Reading fellow book nerds! Love, Vic
This book was near and dear to my heart. This one was dedicated to my husband, my best friend, my soulmate. He inspired Kade in so many ways, his qualities, his faults, his mistakes, his redemption. And honestly, Mila was inspired my me. So many times in books we get a sweet girl with the crazy friend, the single, flirty, IDGAF friend, the one that tempts the main character to step out of their comfort zone. With Mila, I wanted to explore that character. What makes her tick? What led her to the way live she lives? Is she truly happy? What kind of guy would she ever change for?
I hope that this book proves that even flawed people are capable of true, everlasting love. Hearts that are broken and weary can still be coveted. They are still worthy of protection and admiration. For the right person, for a true Soulmate, all of those faults and warnings are just stepping stones to a strong foundation. Never give up on finding your person, and never give up on your own happiness. It's out there, and more beautiful than you can even imagine.
Happy Reading fellow book nerds! Love, Vic
Want to read
February 10, 2023🎁 FREE on Amazon today (2/10/2023)! 🎁
June 20, 2023
I started this series through a reading group that I follow called Nose Stuck in a Book. The first 3 books were great going through the lives of 4 close girls and how they each came to meet their significant others. This is the last story following Mila and how she came to meet or get reacquainted with an old flame. They both had really rough upbringings and therefore doubted themselves often. It story starts off with Mila being sexually violated in an alleyway and her old high school flame finds her beaten and broken. Mila often pushes Kade away because she doesn't want a bruised ego. She also pushes the severity of the incident out of her mind because she doesn't want to admit that it's actually an issue and that it's something that scares her. The story reminds me how women often want to handle things ourselves and say it's nothing and that we can get through this. However, it doesn't normalize situations like this and it doesn't make them ok. Sometimes it does break us a little and it's not necessarily a weakness to show that. We can lean on others despite sick men out in the world. We need more protective men out in the world who will do anything to protect the women they love.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews