"Rowdy" By: Jay Crownover Review

Rowdy

By: Jay Crownover

Synopsis

After the only girl he ever loved told him he would never be enough, Rowdy St. James knocked the Texas dust off his boots and decided he was going to do everything in his power to live up to his nickname. Life was all about a good time, good friends and never taking much too seriously. Rowdy learned his lesson early on, when you care that much about anything it can destroy you, and he never wants to risk feeling like that again. Only now he has a new coworker, a ghost from the past who’s making him question every lesson he ever learned.

Salem Cruz grew up in a house with too many rules, too many regulations, and no fun allowed. That never worked for her so she left it all behind as soon as she could, but she never forgot the sweet, blue-eyed boy next door who’d been in love with her little sister. Fate and good intentions from an old friend have placed her right in Rowdy’s path and she’s determined to show him he picked the wrong sister all those years ago. A mission that is going along perfectly until the one person that ties them together shows up and could very well tear them back

My Thoughts

   Rowdy St. James is used to being left by the ones he loves. His mother was murdered when he was still a child, his father was nonexistent in his life, and his best friend Salem, left town when she turned 18. So when Salem shows back up 10 years later, he is understandably unsure of how to relate to the girl he once knew. The only thing he knows for sure, he isn’t ready to connect with his former friend only to be hurt once again.

    Salem Cruz ran away at the age of 18 to escape from her tyrannical father. Independent for the first time, she never forgot her friend Rowdy or their intense connection. She hears through the grapevine that he is now working in a tattoo parlor in Denver so when she is offered a job in the very same shop, she takes it thinking she and her friend will have a good reunion. Little does she know that their relationship is about to go to the next level.

    Jay Crownover is simply wonderful. I love her writing style and the characters are always written superbly. She takes tattooed bad boys who have been on the wrong side of the law more than once and makes them someone you wanna take home to Mama.

    Rowdy and Salem have a lot of history to work through. Rowdy has led such a lonely life with everyone leaving him, it's truly heartbreaking. You can honestly feel his loneliness and understand how hesitant he is to connect with Salem again. Salem herself has been dealing with severe mental issues developed by a lifetime of abuse from her father. Definitely emotional, but finally when they connect its like fireworks!

     A tumultuous, emotional yet sexy novel, Crownover can write damaged characters unlike any other. Fantastically entertaining, I was drawn into Rowdy’s story and fell in love with Salem. The secondary characters from previous novels are featured and I loved catching up with my favorite Marked Men. Look for more Marked Men fun next year when Asa gets his own story!

Marked Men

1. Rule

2. Jet

3. Rome

4. Nash

5. Rowdy (October, 2014)

6. Asa (April 2015)

Book Details

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks

ISBN: 9780062333056

Date of Publication: October 21, 2014

# of Pages: 400

Source: Edelweiss - for Review

Location: Denver, CO

"Nash" By: Jay Crownover Review

Nash

By: Jay Crownover

Synopsis

Will their past determine their future?

Saint Ford has worked hard to achieve her childhood dream of becoming of nurse. Focused on her work and devoted to her patients, there’s no room for love. She doesn’t need a guy making waves in her calm, serene life—especially when he’s the unforgettable hottie who nearly destroyed her in high school. Dark, brooding Nash Donovan might not remember her or the terrible pain he caused. But he turned her world upside down... and now he’s trying to do it again.

Saint has no idea that Nash isn’t the cocky player he once was. Uncovering a devastating family secret has rocked his world, and now he’s struggling to figure out his future. He can’t be distracted by the pretty nurse he seems to meet everywhere. Still, he can’t ignore the sparks that fly between them —or how she seems so desperate to get away from him. But the funny, sweet, and drop-dead gorgeous Saint is far too amazing to give up on—especially since she’s the only thing in his life that seems to make sense.

When Nash discovers the truth about their past, he realizes he may have lost her heart before he could even fight for it. Now, Saint has to decide: is Nash worth risking herself for all over again?

My Thoughts

     Saint Ford is a successful nurse, working in a high pressure environment, and thrives in the Emergency Room. Imagine her surprise when her arch nemesis and former high school crush arrives in the ER needing her help. Having broken her heart without even realizing it, Nash is thrown into a situation not of his choosing but finds himself needing her comfort intensely.

     Dealing with a sudden revelation about his father, Nash is thrown for a loop. Add to that the stress of realizing his newly found Father is fighting for his life, Nash is unable to deal with life’s new stresses. Saint can’t help herself and helps bring Nash out of his booze induced depression but her own low self-esteem continues to suffer.

      Nash’s story may be the most emotional for me. Nash grows up quite a bit and you follow his emotional journey towards becoming an actual responsible adult. His moments of realizing how much he truly cares about the people in life is both enlightening and heartbreaking.

     On the other hand, Saint drove me up the freaking wall. Her insecurities at times seemed so overwhelming and I found them a bit hard to believe at times. I’m a little chubby and her comments about her weight drove me crazy, so I had a hard time connecting. Yet once I got over those aspects, I really enjoyed her caring nature and the connections she made with these rough and tumble tattooed men so outside of her normal life.

     Another fun addition to the Marked Men series, this book more than the others show how much the main characters have adjusted and how circumstances have truly changed in their world. The world Crownover has created is full and well rounded with lots of different people from a wide array of backgrounds but it all works in a strangely wonderful way. As always, Crownover can write a heck of a naughty scene and let me tell you, Nash may be the naughtiest of all. Incredibly excited to read Rowdy’s book coming out in October 2014, then hopefully Asa will get his own story!  

Favorite Quote

“That boy is sprung on you and he is a nice guy. A superhot, supersexy nice guy. Do you know how rare that is? He’s like a goddamn unicorn.” 

― Jay Crownover, Nash

Marked Men

1. Rule

2. Jet

3. Rome

4. Nash

5. Rowdy (October, 2014)

6. Asa (April 2015)

Book Details

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Date of Publication: April 29, 2014

ISBN: 9780062333049

# of Pages: 302

Source: Personal Purchase

Location: Denver, CO

"Rome" By: Jay Crownover Review

Rome

By: Jay Crownover

Synopsis

Sometimes the wrong choice can be just right . . .

Fun and fearless, Cora Lewis knows how to keep her tattooed "bad boy" friends at the Marked in line. But beneath all that flash and sass is a broken heart. Cora won't let herself get burned again. She's waiting to fall in love with the perfect man—a baggage-free, drama-free guy ready for commitment. Then she meets Rome Archer.
Rome Archer is as far from perfect as a man can be. He's stubborn, rigid, and bossy.

And he's returned from his final tour of duty more than a little broken. Rome's used to filling many roles: big brother, doting son, supersoldier—but none of those fit anymore. Now he's just a man trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his life while keeping the dark demons of war and loss at bay. He would have been glad to suffer through it alone, until Cora comes sweeping into his life and becomes a blinding flash of color in a sea of gray.Perfect may not be in the cards, but perfectly imperfect could just last forever . . .

My Thoughts

    Cora is the smart mouthed, loud, sassy manager of the Marked Men tattoo shop in Denver. Keeping the tattoo artists in line is her job and she doesn’t have time for much else. When Rome Archer (brother to the infamous Rule) arrives in town, with a bad case of PTSD, pissed off at the world and self destructive, she finds herself making time for the handsome soldier immediately.

    Rome has went to war, fought a battle for his life and his soul, and now has returned to civilian life. Lost within himself, Rome has turned to violence and alcohol to soothe his soul. When a night of drinking has him calling his brother, it’s Cora who answers the call for a sober driver. A night of passion later, Cora and Rome embark on a voracious romance that changes their lives and their fates forever.

    Perhaps my favorite to date, I knew from the very beginning that I was going to love Rome. Always so protective and by instinct the most loyal, Rome is heartbroken when he returns. He doesn't feel like he knows his family anymore and his whole world is upside down when he returns. Cora is so different from him and takes no prisoners. Strong and independent, Cora is wary of falling for Rome. She knows he needs help, but can she truly be the help he needs?

      Adorable and fun, I absolutely fell in love with Rome. Crownover does a great job of writing Cora and her interactions with the boys of the shop had me laughing out loud. Her no holds barred treatment of Rome and her sensitivity when dealing with his PTSD is handled with care and realistically related. Maybe my favorite part? Rome is dirrrrty when the times call for it and we all know Crownover rocks the dirrrty! Next up is Nash!

Favorite Quote:

“She was also damn cute. Not beautiful or stunningly pretty, but she was cuter than any girl with that much attitude had a right to be, and somehow the bouquet of flowers that colored her skin in every shape and variety seemed like it belonged there.”

― Jay Crownover, Rome

Marked Men

1. Rule

2. Jet

3. Rome

4. Nash

5. Rowdy (October, 2014)

6. Asa (April 2015)

Book Details

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Date of Publication: January 7, 2014

# of Pages: 384

ISBN: 9780062302397

Location: Denver, CO

Source: Personal Purchase

"Rule" By: Jay Crownover Review

Rule

By: Jay Crownover

Synopsis

Opposites in every way . . . except the one that matters

Shaw Landon loved Rule Archer from the moment she laid eyes on him. Rule is everything a straight--A pre-med student like Shaw shouldn’t want--and the only person she’s never tried to please. She isn’t afraid of his scary piercings and tattoos or his wild attitude. Though she knows that Rule is wrong for her, her heart just won’t listen.

To a rebel like Rule Archer, Shaw Landon is a stuck-up, perfect princess-and his dead twin brother’s girl. She lives by other people’s rules; he makes his own. He doesn’t have time for a good girl like Shaw-even if she’s the only one who can see the person he truly is.

But a short skirt, too many birthday cocktails, and spilled secrets lead to a night neither can forget. Now, Shaw and Rule have to figure out how a girl like her and a guy like him are supposed to be together without destroying their love . . . or each other.

My Thoughts

    Shaw’s life has always been dominated by her family’s demands. Whether it's hanging out with the “right” people or going to the best schools, her family has always dictated when and where their daughter would go and what she will do. Until that fateful day when she becomes friends with the Archer boys and her entire world is turned upside down. Best friends with Remy and in love with Remy’s twin brother, Rule, Shaw finds herself having to navigate this new world on her own.

    Rule is so used to having Shaw around, he never even thought of her more than an annoyance. Friends with his brother, Rule seemed to just expect Shaw to pick up the pieces when life fell apart. When Shaw is unable to take anymore of the turmoil, Rule finally sees her as more than an annoyance. Tattooed and the ultimate bad boy, Rule finds himself wanting to be more than a good time guy.

     I adore the way Jay Crownover writes characters. She is able to get right to the heart of matters and deals with situations in a real manner. Messy and uncomfortable feelings, oh yeah, we have them and she writes them. Embarrassing moments you wish you didn’t have in life, she includes them. But those heart wrenching, emotionally draining moments in life that we live for...oh yeah, she can write the hell out of those!

     Rule’s book begins the Marked Men series and I’m looking forward to the rest of the boys’ books. Shaw and Rule deal with death, sorrow, and mourning but also newfound love with a fresh look at life. Intense emotional connections with the past crowd the present, but true love prevails. Who knew a tattooed bad boy would be oh so good with his hands and his heart? Super fun and uber sexy, I can’t wait to read the rest of the Marked Men series. Love it!

Favorite Quote:

“Rule if this goes bad it’s gonna be so, so bad.” Her voice was just a husky whisper against my chest.

“True, but if it’s good it’s going be so very, very good.”

― Jay Crownover, Rule

Marked Men

1. Rule

2. Jet

3. Rome

4. Nash

5. Rowdy (October, 2014)

6. Asa (April 2015)

Book Details

Publisher: Jay Crownover Books

Date of Publication: December 30, 2012

ISBN: 9780062302373

# of Pages: 432

Source: Personal Purchase

Location: Denver, Colorado

"Leaving Time" By: Jodi Picoult Review

Leaving Time

By: Jodi Picoult

Synopsis

For more than a decade, Jenna Metcalf has never stopped thinking about her mother, Alice, who mysteriously disappeared in the wake of a tragic accident. Refusing to believe that she would be abandoned as a young child, Jenna searches for her mother regularly online and pores over the pages of Alice’s old journals. A scientist who studied grief among elephants, Alice wrote mostly of her research among the animals she loved, yet Jenna hopes the entries will provide a clue to her mother’s whereabouts.

Desperate to find the truth, Jenna enlists two unlikely allies in her quest. The first is Serenity Jones, a psychic who rose to fame finding missing persons—only to later doubt her gifts. The second is Virgil Stanhope, a jaded private detective who originally investigated Alice’s case along with the strange, possibly linked death of one of her colleagues. As the three work together to uncover what happened to Alice, they realize that in asking hard questions, they’ll have to face even harder answers.

As Jenna’s memories dovetail with the events in her mother’s journals, the story races to a mesmerizing finish. A deeply moving, gripping, and intelligent page-turner, Leaving Time is Jodi Picoult at the height of her powers.

My Thoughts

    Jenna has lived most of her life, since the age of three, wondering why her Mother left one night. Jenna has spent her entire life investigating her mother’s disappearance. Saving money from her babysitting jobs, Jenna is now thirteen years old and decides to approach a local psychic for help. Told from four points of view: Picoult’s newest novel shares the story of Jenna, our abandoned and lonely child; Alice, Jenna’s mother who researches elephants and their behaviors; Serenity Jones, a has-been psychic skeptical of her own gift; and Virgil Stanhope, the original investigator in Alice’s disappearance who is now jaded and no longer believes in happy endings.

    Jenna’s search for her mother is desperate, at times a bit misguided, but she writes a teenager’s mind very well. Serenity’s lost her way, lost her psychic powers, and lost her career. She comes to view Jenna’s search for her Mother as a way to redeem all that she has lost. Virgil, our detective, sees Alice in his dreams. She’s the one case he hasn’t been able to forget, the one disappearance that still stews in his mind. Originally dismissive of Jenna’s research, he comes to view Alice almost as Abab did the great white whale. Drawn just as far in as Serenity, they join forces to help Jenna find out what truly happened that night over a decade ago. Finally, Alice, Jenna’s mother shares her story, both of her marriage to Jenna’s father and her research with her first love, the elephants she regards in such high esteem. The differing anecdotes about the elephants work perfectly in tandem with the plot points of the story and serve to reinforce various aspects of the story.

     I was shattered by Leaving Time. Absolutely, gut wrenching sorrow paired with optimism, strength, and love, I was swept away into a land of a Mother’s embrace and an elephant’s grief. Completely different than any other Picoult book I’ve read, she uses the research with elephants to reinforce the themes of motherhood, growing up, and how the world deals with grief. Utterly lovely writing, I was transported into world filled with elephants, family issues, life, love and grief in a most stunning way. As with all Picoult books, you will be stunned by the absolute brilliance of the ending.

Book Details

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Date of Publication: October 14, 2014

ISBN: 978-0345544926

# of Pages: 416

Source: Edelweiss - for Review

Location: New England