⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 5/5
Colliding with Fate (Rise and Fall Series Book 2) was so good! I was honestly a little nervous about how book two was going to follow up but A. E. Valdez absolutely delivered.
We met Kyrell and Quinn in book one as Harlow’s friends, and I was so excited to finally get their story. And first things first… the spice level? Whew. It was turned all the way up. 🌶️
Kyrell and Quinn reconnect at Harlow’s engagement party after both ending up in Los Angeles. Quinn moved there to chase her nursing career, while Kyrell opened his own marijuana dispensary. What starts as two old friends reconnecting slowly turns into a friends-to-situationship-to-lovers romance, and I was here for every second of it.
This book also dives into some really heavy topics, including childhood abuse, abandonment issues, mental health, and the pressure of living up to your parents’ expectations.
Quinn comes from a two-parent household, but her mother expects her to be the perfect Southern belle with a man to take care of her. Meanwhile, Kyrell also grew up in a two-parent home, but his childhood was anything but easy. His mother… yeah, she got on my last nerve, and his father was never around. So when his dad suddenly shows up wanting to reconnect, Kyrell is forced to face a lot of childhood trauma he thought he had buried.
Now, did Kyrell annoy me with all the pushing people away? Absolutely. But the more I learned about him, the more I understood that he was just operating in survival mode. He was doing what he knew how to do.
One thing I really appreciated was how therapy wasn’t treated like an afterthought—it was woven into the story in such a natural way. I also loved the character development. Everyone still had flaws and things to work through, which made them feel real instead of magically healed overnight.
Even though this book was longer than the first, it never felt like it dragged. Every chapter kept me hooked, and by the end I was already ready to jump into the next book.
If you’re looking for a romance with spice, emotional depth, healing, and characters who actually grow, I highly recommend this series.
⭐️ Rating: 5/5
Reading Colliding with Fate truly resonated with me, especially how it authentically weaves difficult themes such as childhood abuse, abandonment issues, and mental health struggles into an engaging romance. The way Kyrell’s experience with his absent father and troubled past is explored felt very real and heartbreaking, and his defense mechanisms of pushing people away made his character more believable rather than just frustrating. I appreciated that the story didn’t shy away from showing therapy as an important part of the healing journey, which is often overlooked in many romance novels. It reminded me of how therapy can be vital in navigating complex emotions and trauma, making the characters’ growth feel earned and genuine. The dynamic between Kyrell and Quinn evolving from friends to lovers was slow and natural, which added to the depth of their relationship. Quinn’s background as a Southern belle trying to meet her mother’s expectations added interesting family pressure and contrast to Kyrell’s struggles. The setting in Los Angeles and Kyrell’s entrepreneurial venture with a marijuana dispensary gave the story a modern and relatable vibe. What stood out most was how the book balanced the steamy romance with emotionally heavy moments, without ever feeling overwhelming or rushed. As a reader, this balance kept me hooked and invested in the characters’ journeys. If you enjoy romances that combine spice with meaningful emotional development and real-life challenges, I highly recommend giving this book a read. It’s longer than the first in the series but every chapter felt necessary and engaging, making me eager to continue with the next book.
