Rating: ★★★★✬ (4.5/5 Stars)
Title: Sleepwalking With Ruby
Author(s): Dee Armstrong
Character(s):
― Ava Fairbanks: Early thirties, Black, Green Eyed
― Jaxon Wolfe: Black, Brown Eyed
Setting: Twin Springs, Virginia
Tag(s): Romance, Contemporary
Content Rating: R
POV: Third Person
Smexy Level: Warm
Favorite Quote(s):
― “There’s no woman alive or dead who could hold a candle to me.”
― “Caffeine. Sweet caffeine. My morning lover. Brightens my day as no man ever will.”
Overall Opinion:
The Broadway bombshell returns home when her world crashes down after the lost of her father and career simultaneously. Just when she thinks she could hide away from all the troubles, the press hunts her down in Twin Springs Hotel and is adamant in destroying her by accusing her of ruining a marriage and causing a woman's suicide, Ava must play the most difficult role of her life and must reluctantly place her trust in the new security manager, Jaxon Wolfe. Unbeknownst to everyone, the new security manager isn’t all what he seems and is undercover to determine if Twin Springs Hotel is filing fraudulent insurance claims but in the midst of his investigation, the unworldly connection to Ava sets his heart ablaze.

Starting off, Dee Armstrong once again did a phenomenal job with the second book of the “A Twin Springs Trilogy” series. I have never thought I would like it even more than the “Visions Of Emerald” book and I have to give it to her, it was a great read! I was immediately enthralled by Ava and Jaxon story and their journey to one another. Background information was provided in the prologue and you are able to get a better sense of their characters and why their actions were rendered. “Sleepwalking With Ruby” starts off with Ava and Jaxon making their way back to the Twin Springs Hotel by showcasing the life changing events that changed them forever. Starting off with the lead heroine, Ava is a mega star on Broadway but it all changes one night when she is attacked and almost sexual assaulted by the shows director Terrance Hollingworth. Fortunately for her, his wife Ashlee knocks on the door preventing further action and allowing the black-haired beauty to escaped from the terrors that could’ve happened. Putting on a facade, the show must go on and she steps on stage to wow the crowd. In the midst of her performance, Ashlee, the esteemed Broadway director's wife steps on stage and commits suicide ultimately changing the course of Ava’s life. Furthermore, months prior the lead hero Jaxon failed to save his comrades after the compromise intel given to him during a mission ended the lives of his friends. On the open graves of his comrades, he swore to never trust a woman again especially beautiful, lying bitches like the one that provided the intel and ruined his life forever. Returning home to work this family's detective agency after failing his team, country and himself, the soldier finds his way to Twin Springs Hotel. From the get-go, there was something different about the hotel that jolted and rocked him to the core and that only intensifies when he meet Ava, a woman he’s hell-bent on avoiding. But we all already know where this relationship is headed and their journey to their happily ever after is well worth the read.

The overall connection between the Ava and Jaxon in their past and present lives is scorching hot and when they were together, they just clicked. Their relationship definitely gave off a sense of being much more mature than Theo and Isabella which is probably why I was such a bigger fan of this couple than the last. Their past life-changing events defined who they are today and they were able to help each other to heal and cope with everything that has happened. On top of that, I do want to stated despite the rave review, there were a few things that did bother me about the relationship and minor characters such as Sheela better known as Mackenzie and Terrance Hollingworth but that didn't take from the overall enjoyable read.

Moreso, Dee Armstrong gave a glimpse of who the third gem is and needless to say, I can’t wait for book three! I won’t spoiled much of who the she may be but just know, everyone and everything is intertwined. From my perspective, she seems pretty badass and I can’t wait for her to step into Twin Springs to learn more about her story. And I can't forget to mention that we also get a bit more info on Niles Porter, the villain of the story and what motivates him to destroy the Fairbanks family.

And lastly, I want to give a big thank you to Dee Armstrong and her publisher for the ARC. It was a pleasure to read the continuation of the “A Twin Springs Trilogy” and she is hands down one of my favorite new authors of 2019.

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