Having never read a book from this author, I really had no expectations. Either I was going to like the book or I wasn't. It turns out that I loved it and I loved it because of the two main characters, Crown and Lyra.In the beginning of the book, Crown, who is a professional soccer player, is not very likeable. His ego is so inflated that he refers to himself in the third person like royalty. I think he even refers to himself as a king at one point. Then there's Lyra, a young woman who because of the actions of a teacher who should have been trusted, exhibits signs of OCD, a bit of paranoia and a fear of being watched/filmed/photographed. She's a model who prefers not to show her face in the photos she poses in. Yet, unlike Crown, albeit to a small number of people only, she's able to still give a little bit of herself, her caring and her kindness.What makes this book five stars for me is really the because of the transformation of both characters. First, there's Crown. Here's a man, who from the time he was a kid, was railroaded into eating, sleeping, drinking soccer by his father. While it seems that it's only because his father was driven because he himself wasn't able to become a professional soccer player, there's also an implication that perhaps it was his way of dealing with the grief of his wife's death while Crown was just a child. His father shut love out of his life when his wife died and in a way, taught Crown to do the same thing. When you shut love from others, it then becomes about just loving yourself, taking care of only your needs and only giving if you get something in return. Loving only yourself leaves no room for loving others and what happens is that you end up alone. Alone is what Crown is when he goes to Louisiana to recuperate and rehabilitate after he injures his knee.When Crown and Lyra first meet, suffice to say that it doesn't go well. However, Lyra's compassion starts to make its way into Crown's life, not that he really wanted to acknowledge it. Instead, he comes up with a plan to ask Lyra if she'd consider posing as his girlfriend as a way for him to stay in the spotlight.She says yes for reasons of her own, but in spending time with Lyra, Crown starts to realize how selfish he has been in comparison to Lyra's generosity of spirit. It isn't until something happens at Lyra's home that he starts to understand about giving back. By Lyra needing his strength, it made him want to be whatever she needed most. One line that I found poignant came from Crown when he said that "I didn't know that I heart before you."Lyra also starts to change. Due to her extremely traumatizing experience with the teacher, she has difficulty trusting men in general, but more specifically in a romantic fashion. What I liked regarding this plot point is that while there were hints of what happened regarding the teacher, it didn't really come out until Lyra told Crown the whole story.By Lyra helping Crown to open his heart and to not live just a "partial life", she was also learning to open up her own heart and also to trust again. That trust was first shown when after a freakout, she allowed Crown to be there for her. But it wasn't until telling Crown that the teacher she trusted had wired her bedroom and bathroom with cameras for years to watch her, that she really put her trust in his hands.Unfortunately, as Crown's injury healed and it was time for him to go back, who he was then and who he is now started battling with each other. Even though Lyra tells him that she loves him, Crown is unable to accept or acknowledge that he feels the same way. Soccer is the only life he's ever known and because of that he feels like has no other choice. So instead of staying and loving Lyra, he goes back to his "partial life" but not without extracting a promise for Lyra to come and see his first game.It's what happens at that game that Crown finally realizes that he wants more and that his only true happiness lies with Lyra and in true HEA fashion, he goes and gets her. I always enjoy Lila Felix's books & this one was no different! Crown Sterling is an arrogant, pompous douche pants athlete! He's the star soccer player until he gets hurt! He's shipped to Louisiana to his Uncles apartments to stay until he recovers. Lyra lives next door in the apartments. I felt bad for her! Obviously she was hurt really bad by someone & is scared to death! It was nice & refreshing watch them both grow! Lyra was exactly what Crown needed! He wanted to be better! By the end of the book, Crown is different! After betraying Lyra, she has no choice but to run! She has to protect herself! I was really nervous about her past finding her!!! Can Lyra escape her past?? Can Crown change for good or will he go back to his douche pants ways when he's back playing the game? Great book of love, betrayal & loyalty! See first hand what famous & fortune can do to a person! I can't wait to read more of Lyra & Crown!
What do You think about Dethroning Crown (2000)?
awww I loved this!!! It was such a good story. I loved Lyra and even Crown Sterling.
—manja95
