I don’t know how she does it, but every time LJ releases a book. She pulls you in with every word and emits raw emotions from her characters and from her readers. Arsene and Winni chemistry is down right great. I love that they fight the attraction at first, because the angst is so so so intense, I love it! This forbidden, work place, opposite attraction novel will consume you with every word until you finish. I can’t wait to see what see writes about next.

I have been seeing L.J. Shen books all over bookstagram and surprisingly this was my first dip into her writing. As a person who is very susceptible to book/author recommendations from the bookstagram community I had high hopes for this book and I was not disappointed at all.

This is the story of Arsene and Winnie, two people who meet at an event for their significant others' company and do not get along. After their significant others die in a plane crash together, Arsene and Winnie decide to work together and get some answers for shared questions. As they share information they learn that spending time together might be what they need to heal.

What I loved:
- Parts, I enjoy books that are split up into parts since it helps my brain register something is about to change
- Winnie's support, as Winnie goes through a lot in this story I loved that she has such an amazing support system including her family, friends and even an old ex-boyfriend. They are all able to provide her the support and advice she needs at different times
- Grief, I think this job does a great job at showing as different people process grief. They both lose someone close to them and they deal with the grief in vastly different ways
- Support, with both of them going through their grief I liked how they each tried to be a support for the other even when they didn't necessarily like each other that much

There was a lot of good stuff in this book and I'm only wanting to share things that are broad strokes as I don't want to spoil anything. Even though it was part of a series I never felt like I was missing anything for not reading the first of the series and now I'm trying to figure out how quickly I can start the first to learn more about Arsene and his friends. This is a great book who likes a darker enemies to lovers romance with a bit of taboo and a good amount of spice throughout. If you are looking for a book with romance that makes you feel and maybe want to shake a main character or two then I would absolutely recommend this book for you!

3.5
I liked the second half of this novel, but the first part was telling the story of a total different couple of what the actual book was about! I thought it was good to know the back story but we didn’t need to go on for 30% of it. The first part of this book tells the story of our MMC and his stepsister who also happens to be the one who he’s spent his whole life with in a secret relationship they have had a toxic relationship sense they where kids. Grace the step sister was awful and I really hated her character! But our MMC is obsessed with making her his and when he finally succeeds and they get engaged but than she is suddenly killed in a plane crash with her boss. Which brings us to our actual leading lady! She is the wife of the boss who died in the plane crash and she doesn’t belong in his world she is form the country and an actress. As she tries to move on from her husbands death and the life she had before she gets a job as actress in the club he owns and why he tires to get rid of her at first they realize soon that there is a lot of questions unanswered with grace and Paul’s death and why he is ready to know what happened she is hesitant to let go of him she knows it wasn’t what it seemed, I liked these two together and thought she did such a good job showing him how to love and be loved and what he had with grace wasn’t love. This would of been a 4 star with out the first part being so long!

I don't want to spoil this one, but this book went from one way to the other and boy did it deliver. I was shocked at the turn of events that LJ Shen created with Arséne and Winnie. I was wondering what is going on and half way though the mood I was mindblown.

This book had major - Cruel Intentions vibes - if you loved that movie - you need to read this.

A major thank you to the author for the ARC.

Fallen Foe by L.J. Shen is another fantastic read from this fabulous author. This author knows how to take the reader on an emotional ride from anger to love and everything in between. Be forewarned. The first half of this book is going to make you so angry, but definitely push through. Arsene and Winni's chemistry is down right great. I love how they fight the attraction at first, because the angst is so intense. I could go on an on about this book but instead I'll leave it with a READ IT! NOW! You'll thank me later!

This was a bloody mess but I ate up every single second of it. Arsene was so toxic but he was so damaged I wanted to hug him but he really did redeem himself. The reason this was not 5 stars is because the epilogue sucked, their separation was too long for me and i really wanted more scenes with Arsene and Winnie but overall this was an enjoyable read.

I can tell y’all right now, I almost didn’t make it through the first part 🙈💀 Grace was HORRIBLE. HORRIBLE. (Mary Katherine Gallagher voice). I was so glad she didn’t turn out to be the main love interest.

Now onto part two… man 🫠 I know Arsene is a huge walking red flag but he was just so fucking funny. I couldn’t get enough of his addiction to astrology.

Winnie is a gem. She was so kind and down to earth, I wondered what attracted her towards Arsene multiple times. And even though she was so kind, she wasn’t afraid to challenge Arsene on every level 🙈

I do wish that I could’ve seen more relationship progression between these two. I felt that a majority of the time they were so focused on the betrayals of their former partners. I did like that we see some of Arsene’s thought process of his feelings for Winnie vs. Grace (because she was truly toxic) & how he differentiated those feelings.


3.5⭐️

Fallen Foe by L.J. Shen is book two in the Cruel Castaways Series. This is the story of Arsene Corbin and Winnifred Ashcroft 'Winnie'. Arsene had a plan and it included a fiancée that he didn't love but it was means to an end. But then his fiancée died which started to unravel his plans. Then there is Winnie who is an actress in his theater but she seems to know more about his bride to be then him.

If I could start the book from the moment Arsene loses his fiance this book would be a ten star for me
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Lj Shen writes one of the best enemies to lovers, each fight, each confrontation is so charged with energy that it completely captures my attention, with just a look, or the description of a paused moment I am immersed in the book
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I enjoyed the first part but it gets so good after he loses his fiancée and how both characters grow without the presence of other characters and their toxic relationships..it's so well written
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Arsene Corbin has a complicated relationship with hid family, especially with his stepsister during her childhood. An open and toxic relationship full of manipulation and hate. But they still manage to get engaged and are about to get married when she dies in a extrange accident
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Arsene cannot understand what happened and exhausting all his resources, he decides to turn to the only person who is in the same situation and it is convenient that she is now working on a play in his theater. But trying to convince Winnie to help him is not an easy task, even more so after having treated her badly on other occasions
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There are so many things that Arsene doesn't understand about Winnie but especially how to avoid being attracted to her while he discover another dark side of his fiancée
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Passionate, brutal, full of chemistry, constellations and serious conversations full of love about chronic illness, endometriosis, and family
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Thanks to Lj Shen for give me a copy of this beautiful book in exchange for my honest and voluntary opinion

4.25stars--FALLEN FOE is the second instalment in LJ Shen’s contemporary, adult CRUEL CASTAWAYS erotic, romance series focusing on three friends: Christian Miller, Arsène Corbin, and Riggs Bates. This is thirty-five year old, multi-millionaire businessman Arsene Corbin, and twenty-eight year old, stage actress Winnifred Ashcroft’s story line.FALLEN FOE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

Told from present day and memories from the past, using dual first person perspectives (Arsene and Winnifred) FALLEN FOE follows the enemies to frenemies to lovers relationship between thirty-five year old, multi-millionaire businessman Arsene Corbin, and twenty-eight year old, stage actress Winnifred Ashcroft. Months earlier, while in the Italian Riviera with his soon to be fiancée Grace, Arsene Corbin will meet American actress Winnifred, and her husband, Grace’s boss Paul Ashcroft but from the outset their meeting is tempestuous at best, fueled by Grace’s barbs and condemnation of the woman in question. Fast forward several weeks and months wherein Arsene will lose his father, his fiancée, and discover that not everything is at it appears to be. Winnifred will have lost her husband as well, and the mutual commiseration between Winnifred and Arsene begins to reveal the secrets and lies neither one knew anything about. What ensues is the search for the truth, as Winnifred’s star begins to rise, and Arsene’s heart is destroyed in the process.

Arsene Corbin doesn’t do relationships but his relationship with his ‘fiancee’ is a convenience at best but all is not well, as secrets will reveal a life and past Arsene knew nothing about, a life that will directly affect the woman with whom Arsene will fall in love. Arsene Corbin considers Winnifred Ashcroft a country bumpkin; an unskilled actress with no sense of taste or style, all predicated upon first impressions and other people’s comments. Winnifred Ashcroft is a woman who wants to thrive but a woman whose personal and private life are spiralling out of control.

The relationship between Arsene and Winnifred is turbulent, emotional and stormy. Winnifred doesn’t know Arsene yet his actions constantly place Winnifred below his station, actions that are continue to break Winnifred’s heart. As their relationship grows from enemies to frenemies, a series of discoveries pull Winnifred away from New York, and back into the arms of her family in Tennessee. The $ex scenes are passionate and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters include the return of Arya and Christian (Ruthless Rival #1), professional photographer Riggs Bates; Alice Gudinski; Arsene’s fiancée Gracelynn Langston, and her mother Miranda: Winnifred’s husband Paul, and her agent Chrissy.

FALLEN FOE is a story of deceit, secrets and lies, power and control, money and obsession, forgiveness and love. The premise is tragic, emotional and intriguing; the romance is heart breaking and raw; the characters are animated, broken and flawed.



THE READING CAFÉ: https://www.thereadingcafe.com/fallen-foe-cruel-castaways-2-by-lj-shen-review/


GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5460138303


AMAZON COM: https://www.amazon.com/review/R3U3FW50KCE9J8/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B0B9WV9LCZ


BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/3357460265

Fallen Foe is the second installment in the Cruel Castaways series. The story follows Winnie and Aresene. Their first meet did not go well, they both hated each other and were with other people. When a tragedy strikes and involves both characters they connect to get answers. Winnie gets a job in a play where Aresene is her boss, further connecting them. I loved both of the characters witty banter. I felt like Winnie was a character you could really connect with and is easily liked. This book is heavy on grief, betrayal and deception. These two definitely found love where you would least expect it. Definitely recommend.

I CAN ABSOLUTLY SAY I’M OBSSESED WITH THIS BOOK
Arsène Corbin does not intend to marry for love. His fiancée has always been a means to an end, a woman he wants to conquer. But when everything changes, Arsène’s grand plan unravels. Then he meets Winnifred Ashcroft, a struggling actress who lands a coveted role in a play at his theater…and knows things no one else does. The only problem? They can’t stand each other.
Backstage at Arsène’s theater, Winnie begins to let down her guard around the tempestuous billionaire. She appreciates his wit and quirky affection for astronomy. And Arsène, jaded as he is, respects Winnie’s headstrong personality. Tragedy and betrayal bring them together, but will their painful pasts hold them back—or fuel their desire?
OMG OMG OMG THIS BOOK!!! I’m so happy I didn´t read the synopsis and went blind with it! The story is completely different for everything I’ve read before. Arsène is an acquired taste, definitely ruthless and intense and oh so hot. Winnie is adorable and strong and resilient. They are so different and yet so great for each other.
This story is full of aghast, sexual tension, deep engaging moments and pretty emotional ones. The writing is flawless and wonderful as always from this great author. I highly recommend it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Fallen Foe is Book 2 in the Cruel Castaways series and can be read as a stand-alone; but I highly recommend Ruthless Rival just because it was just as dramatic and enjoyable.
There are a few players in this take. Arsene is definitely our villain. He is brilliant, antisocial, rude and strangely obsessed with his step sister Grace.
Grace was a little psychotic. Selfish, dangerous and manipulative. With the history they had it’s very surprising they dusky manage to kill each other, although Grace tried. We have to get the background so we can really get into Arsene’s personality.

Then we have Winnie. The complete opposite of Arsene. She is sweet, caring giving and finds the hood in everyone except Arsene. She gives him a run for his money. She constantly keeps him on his toes and snaps back.
The story has drama, secrets, twists and turns. A slow burn from enemies to lovers.

A very entertaining story with good character growth. We get to she how they made each other stronger and better. Love the banter between the two. She let him know she was more than a country bumpkin.

The story itself was full of suspense and heartbreak, but it also showed the power of family and the importance of love. Arsène was a fascinating character who was both cold and heartless, yet vulnerable and broken. Winnie, on the other hand, was sweet and brave, always trying to fit in with societal expectations. Their chemistry was palpable, and their scenes together were intense and emotional. While there were some aspects of the writing that didn't quite work for me, I would still recommend it to anyone looking for a gripping and unforgettable read.

Very good addition to the cruel castaways series. Winnie and Arsene, while not your normal love story get their happy ending!

I liked the first book in this series but this one was even better! I am a sucker for witty banter between MC’s and this book did not disappoint. Arsene and Winnie were at each others throats the entirety of the story and I constantly found my self laughing out loud at the dialogue. I will say that although I loved to see Winnie and Arsene together, I don’t think their relationship was developed enough by the end of the story.

The plot to this story was interesting and honestly I didn’t really see any of the plot twists coming. I will say that I wish I looked up trigger warnings for this one! One of our MC’s Winnie, suffers from endometriosis and there is a lot of talk about infertility. As someone who is infertile and can’t have kids, it kinda hit me in a sore spot to read about my reality but it’s my own fault.

I recommend if you’re interest in the following ⬇️

Overview:
- witty banter
- step-sibling relationship
- enemies to lovers
- forced proximity
- toxic relationships
- talk about endometriosis, infertility, etc.
- grumpy/sunshine
- kind of second chance?

Thank you to Montlake, NetGalley and L.J. Shen for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

FALLEN FOE Cruel Castaways #2 by LJ Shen
This is one addictive read, it kept me turning pages! It is a completely different complex story that is full of angst, solid characters, betrayal, drama, chemistry with plenty of twists and turns. Arsene and Winnifred have a very complicated path to get work out getting together. This is 5 stars.

3/5 ⭐
2/5 🌶️
3/5 🎧

Fallen Foe was good, but it wasn't my favorite read from Shen, especially in the Cruel Castaways series. The premise was interesting, but I felt like there was waayyyy too much focus on their previous relationships in the beginning that just felt like a ton of "other woman" drama when I knew Grace wasn't the endgame relationship. Plus, I really just did not like her.

The audio book was good, but I didn't love Savannah's Arsène. It was definitely worth the listen, but not one I absolutely adored.

I liked Arsène and Winnie well enough, their back and forth was pretty fun and I liked the aspect of their enemies to lovers relationship. It wasn't very spicy, we got a handful of scenes and none were very descriptive, I was tempted to give it less than 2 stars, but my 1 stars are for fade to black and heavy petting books. However, I did like what we got for what it was. They had some decent chemistry and especially the last scene gave me all the feels.

All in all I enjoyed my read and I'm still very excited for the third book in the series, which I'm assuming has to be Riggs. I can't wait to see who he's paired up with and which tropes we will get with his story.

Fallen Foe is finally here and I am so excited for everyone to read this book!!! When I read this book, I had forgotten the blurb and who the heroine was. To tell you this had me gasping, I didn’t want it to end!! I am not a fan of slow burns but this was absolutely epic!!!

𝐋𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐜 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐞𝐬!!!! This book is a must read!!!

Shattered hearts and souls.
The whole first half of this book I just kept saying how much I hate these people. They're awful, horrible, twisted! I kept asking myself why in the hell am I still reading this? And why the hell can't I STOP reading it?! With each page I was on the edge of needing to know what kind of crazy was coming next.
Tragedy forever links Arsène & Winnie. They need each other to get info and closure concerning their partners. He's cold and heartless and she's way too nice and genuine. These two are so completely opposite it's hard to see any way they could work together let alone any way they could ever have any kind of relationship.
This is hard and gritty. It's heartbreaking and explosive. There's relieving highs and dark dark lows. Major emotions that had me all over the place! It's just an all around awesome read that will drain you and fill you back up nicely.


(I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley)