Nash (Marked Men #4)
By Jay Crownover
400 pages
Published on April 29 2014 by William Morrow Paperbacks
Summay via Goodreads.com
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 review:
I think this was my favorite of the series so far. Nash came from a troubled, unloving home. He's moved past that, mostly and is a thriving and independent man now. He and Saint, highschool classmates, cross paths at the hospital where he is with his ailing father. Saint held a torch for him when they were kids, but felt like he led her on and then made fun of her behind her back. Apparently this ruined her dating life and her ability to trust men.
I kept waiting and waiting for the big reveal of what he did to her and when it was finally told, I did kind of have to roll my eyes. To me, even my highschool self, that didn't seem like something that would make me react how she did.
Aside from that, this book was amazing. Jay Crownover has such a way with words, and more importantly, the written word. This series has been great for me to read. By the time I got through the 4th book it really opened my eyes up to my own youth and that I am sure many of my classmates were dealing with similar home lives, such as the characters in these books. They've given me a bit of a different out look and if I could go back, I may do some things differently.
5 stars!
Friday, May 16, 2014
Missing You
Missing You
By: Harlen Coben
400 pages
Published on March 18th by Dutton Books
Summary via Goodreads.com
It's a profile, like all the others on the online dating site. But as NYPD Detective Kat Donovan focuses on the accompanying picture, she feels her whole world explode, as emotions she’s ignored for decades come crashing down on her. Staring back at her is her ex-fiancé Jeff, the man who shattered her heart—and who she hasn’t seen in 18 years.
Kat feels a spark, wondering if this might be the moment when past tragedies recede and a new world opens up to her. But when she reaches out to the man in the profile, her reawakened hope quickly darkens into suspicion and then terror as an unspeakable conspiracy comes to light, in which monsters prey upon the most vulnerable.
As the body count mounts and Kat's hope for a second chance with Jeff grows more and more elusive, she is consumed by an investigation that challenges her feelings about everyone she ever loved—her former fiancé, her mother, and even her father, whose cruel murder so long ago has never been fully explained. With lives on the line, including her own, Kat must venture deeper into the darkness than she ever has before, and discover if she has the strength to survive what she finds there.
My Review:
Let me start by saying that I am a HUGE fan of Harlen Coben. I've been reading his mysteries for about 5 years now. This is probably the best mystery I've read all year.
Kat and Jeff broke up several years before and she never really felt like she had closure. She never really understood his reasoning for leaving her.
Fast forward 18 years and he reaches out to her on an on line dating website. Or is it him? I can hardly begin to recap this story for you, because it honestly took me all over the place. There were highs and lows. There were some really dark and unhappy parts, as well as some happy.
If you like a good mystery, then you must check this book out!
I would give this more than 5 stars.
By: Harlen Coben
400 pages
Published on March 18th by Dutton Books
Summary via Goodreads.com
It's a profile, like all the others on the online dating site. But as NYPD Detective Kat Donovan focuses on the accompanying picture, she feels her whole world explode, as emotions she’s ignored for decades come crashing down on her. Staring back at her is her ex-fiancé Jeff, the man who shattered her heart—and who she hasn’t seen in 18 years.
Kat feels a spark, wondering if this might be the moment when past tragedies recede and a new world opens up to her. But when she reaches out to the man in the profile, her reawakened hope quickly darkens into suspicion and then terror as an unspeakable conspiracy comes to light, in which monsters prey upon the most vulnerable.
As the body count mounts and Kat's hope for a second chance with Jeff grows more and more elusive, she is consumed by an investigation that challenges her feelings about everyone she ever loved—her former fiancé, her mother, and even her father, whose cruel murder so long ago has never been fully explained. With lives on the line, including her own, Kat must venture deeper into the darkness than she ever has before, and discover if she has the strength to survive what she finds there.
My Review:
Let me start by saying that I am a HUGE fan of Harlen Coben. I've been reading his mysteries for about 5 years now. This is probably the best mystery I've read all year.
Kat and Jeff broke up several years before and she never really felt like she had closure. She never really understood his reasoning for leaving her.
Fast forward 18 years and he reaches out to her on an on line dating website. Or is it him? I can hardly begin to recap this story for you, because it honestly took me all over the place. There were highs and lows. There were some really dark and unhappy parts, as well as some happy.
If you like a good mystery, then you must check this book out!
I would give this more than 5 stars.
Keep Quiet
Keep Quiet
By: Lisa Scottoline
352 pages
Published April 8, 2014 by St. Martin's Press
Summary via Goodreads.com
Jake Buckman’s relationship with his sixteen-year-old son Ryan is not an easy one, so at the urging of his loving wife, Pam, Jake goes alone to pick up Ryan at their suburban movie theater.
On the way home, Ryan asks to drive on a deserted road, and Jake sees it as a chance to make a connection. However, what starts as a father-son bonding opportunity instantly turns into a nightmare. Tragedy strikes, and with Ryan’s entire future hanging in the balance, Jake is forced to make a split-second decision that plunges them both into a world of guilt and lies. Without ever meaning to, Jake and Ryan find themselves living under the crushing weight of their secret, which threatens to tear their family to shreds and ruin them all.
Powerful and dramatic, Keep Quiet will have readers and book clubs debating what it means to be a parent and how far you can, and should, go to protect those you love.
My review:
This was a book full of mystery and suspense. Lisa Scottoline has been one of my favorite authors for a few years now, and its because of books like this. I couldn't stop reading this book. I had a hard time setting it down to make dinner on a couple of occasions.
Ryan is a typical teenager, not overly fond of his dad, hiding away with his cell phone and what have you. But one decision can change his life for ever. He talks his dad into letting him get behind the wheel of a car on his permit even though its after hours. Not only that, tragedy strikes and it turns out Ryan is dabbling in some drugs. Jake makes a split second decision that sets this story in motion, going at top speed with no looking back.
Jake's wife is a judge with a chance at a huge promotion. However when she gets wind of what's happened, her career is hurt as well.
Jake thinks he's made the best decision he could to protect his son, but it's opened up a box of deeply buried secrets from the past. And the ending will leave you feeling as though you have been put through the ringer.
This was a 5 star read for me
By: Lisa Scottoline
352 pages
Published April 8, 2014 by St. Martin's Press
Summary via Goodreads.com
Jake Buckman’s relationship with his sixteen-year-old son Ryan is not an easy one, so at the urging of his loving wife, Pam, Jake goes alone to pick up Ryan at their suburban movie theater.
On the way home, Ryan asks to drive on a deserted road, and Jake sees it as a chance to make a connection. However, what starts as a father-son bonding opportunity instantly turns into a nightmare. Tragedy strikes, and with Ryan’s entire future hanging in the balance, Jake is forced to make a split-second decision that plunges them both into a world of guilt and lies. Without ever meaning to, Jake and Ryan find themselves living under the crushing weight of their secret, which threatens to tear their family to shreds and ruin them all.
Powerful and dramatic, Keep Quiet will have readers and book clubs debating what it means to be a parent and how far you can, and should, go to protect those you love.
My review:
This was a book full of mystery and suspense. Lisa Scottoline has been one of my favorite authors for a few years now, and its because of books like this. I couldn't stop reading this book. I had a hard time setting it down to make dinner on a couple of occasions.
Ryan is a typical teenager, not overly fond of his dad, hiding away with his cell phone and what have you. But one decision can change his life for ever. He talks his dad into letting him get behind the wheel of a car on his permit even though its after hours. Not only that, tragedy strikes and it turns out Ryan is dabbling in some drugs. Jake makes a split second decision that sets this story in motion, going at top speed with no looking back.
Jake's wife is a judge with a chance at a huge promotion. However when she gets wind of what's happened, her career is hurt as well.
Jake thinks he's made the best decision he could to protect his son, but it's opened up a box of deeply buried secrets from the past. And the ending will leave you feeling as though you have been put through the ringer.
This was a 5 star read for me
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Tempting Fate
Tempting Fate
By: Jane Green
Published March 25, 2014
St Martin's Press
352 Pages
Summary via goodreads.com
When Gabby first met Elliott she knew he was the man for her. In twenty years of marriage she has never doubted her love for him - even when he refused to give her the one thing she still wants most of all. But now their two daughters are growing up Gabby feels that time and her youth are slipping away. For the first time in her life she is restless. And then she meets Matt . . .
Intoxicated by the way this young, handsome and successful man makes her feel, Gabby is momentarily blind to what she stands to lose on this dangerous path. And in one reckless moment she destroys all that she holds dear.
Consumed by regret, Gabby does everything she can to repair the home she has broken. But are some betrayals too great to forgive?
My Review:
I love Jane Green. I've been reading her for years. Over the past few years, her books have taken a twist from being typical chick lit to being more in depth stories. I especially loved her last book. So many twists and turns and it wasn't your run of the mill chick read.
This book started out along those same lines. It was really a good book and I read it in just a few days. However, in thinking back on this story the beginning was almost too rushed. It would have been nice to have some build up, rather then jump right into the night that Gabby was going out with her friends and met Matt.
The build up to the affair even just didn't seem too thought out. It was very rushed and not too realistic to me. However, once it came out and once the story got going with that I couldn't put this book down. It was really eye opening. It was very real. It no longer felt like just a story.
I had no idea how this story was going to end. And as much as I did like the ending, it was almost a little to good to be true. But at the end of the day, it was wonderful to see a family overcome such heart ache and come together as one.
By: Jane Green
Published March 25, 2014
St Martin's Press
352 Pages
Summary via goodreads.com
When Gabby first met Elliott she knew he was the man for her. In twenty years of marriage she has never doubted her love for him - even when he refused to give her the one thing she still wants most of all. But now their two daughters are growing up Gabby feels that time and her youth are slipping away. For the first time in her life she is restless. And then she meets Matt . . .
Intoxicated by the way this young, handsome and successful man makes her feel, Gabby is momentarily blind to what she stands to lose on this dangerous path. And in one reckless moment she destroys all that she holds dear.
Consumed by regret, Gabby does everything she can to repair the home she has broken. But are some betrayals too great to forgive?
My Review:
I love Jane Green. I've been reading her for years. Over the past few years, her books have taken a twist from being typical chick lit to being more in depth stories. I especially loved her last book. So many twists and turns and it wasn't your run of the mill chick read.
This book started out along those same lines. It was really a good book and I read it in just a few days. However, in thinking back on this story the beginning was almost too rushed. It would have been nice to have some build up, rather then jump right into the night that Gabby was going out with her friends and met Matt.
The build up to the affair even just didn't seem too thought out. It was very rushed and not too realistic to me. However, once it came out and once the story got going with that I couldn't put this book down. It was really eye opening. It was very real. It no longer felt like just a story.
I had no idea how this story was going to end. And as much as I did like the ending, it was almost a little to good to be true. But at the end of the day, it was wonderful to see a family overcome such heart ache and come together as one.
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Rome
Rome (Marked Men #3)
By Jay Crownover
Published Jan. 7th 2014 by William Morrow Paperbacks
387 pages
Summary via goodreads.com
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 Review:
This book wasn't my favorite out of the series. I really liked Rome, though I felt like he went from angry guy to happy go lucky a little too quickly for reality. All things considering, he has a good head on his shoulders and seemed to do ok once he worked through all of his demons.
Cora is one character I am not a fan of. She's kind of rubbed me the wrong way the entire time and so having a book that focused on her wasn't my cup of tea, but I wanted to read it anyway because this series is awesome! I feel like Cora went way overboard with trying to fix everyone's problems. It was almost annoying. But, I loved the chemistry between her and Rome, and I can't wait to read more about them in the next story!
By Jay Crownover
Published Jan. 7th 2014 by William Morrow Paperbacks
387 pages
Summary via goodreads.com
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 Review:
This book wasn't my favorite out of the series. I really liked Rome, though I felt like he went from angry guy to happy go lucky a little too quickly for reality. All things considering, he has a good head on his shoulders and seemed to do ok once he worked through all of his demons.
Cora is one character I am not a fan of. She's kind of rubbed me the wrong way the entire time and so having a book that focused on her wasn't my cup of tea, but I wanted to read it anyway because this series is awesome! I feel like Cora went way overboard with trying to fix everyone's problems. It was almost annoying. But, I loved the chemistry between her and Rome, and I can't wait to read more about them in the next story!
Jet
Jet (Marked Men #2)
By Jay Crownover
Published May 28th, 2013 by William Morrow Paperbacks
416 Pages
Summary via goodreads.com:
With his tight leather pants and a sharp edge that makes him dangerous, Jet Keller is every girl’s rock and roll fantasy. But Ayden Cross is done walking on the wild side with bad boys. She doesn’t want to give in to the heat she sees in Jet’s dark, haunted eyes. She’s afraid of getting burned from the sparks of their spontaneous combustion, even as his touch sets her on fire.
Jet can’t resist the Southern Belle with mile-long legs in cowboy boots who defies his every expectation. Yet the closer he feels to Ayden, the less he seems to know her. While he’s tempted to get under her skin and undo her in every way, he knows firsthand what happens to two people with very different ideas about relationships.
Will the blaze burn into an enduring love. . . or will it consume their dreams and turn them to ashes?
My Review:
I loved this book. Just about as much as the first book. Jet and Ayden both felt something for each other, but held off for a year or more before giving in. Both have pasts and upbringings that they're ashamed of, yet both are able to work through all of that because they finally realize they are capable and deserving of love and happiness.
This book roped me in from page one. I just love this author's style of writing. She is captivating, moving and keeps my attention from the first page to the last.
5 stars. easy.
By Jay Crownover
Published May 28th, 2013 by William Morrow Paperbacks
416 Pages
Summary via goodreads.com:
With his tight leather pants and a sharp edge that makes him dangerous, Jet Keller is every girl’s rock and roll fantasy. But Ayden Cross is done walking on the wild side with bad boys. She doesn’t want to give in to the heat she sees in Jet’s dark, haunted eyes. She’s afraid of getting burned from the sparks of their spontaneous combustion, even as his touch sets her on fire.
Jet can’t resist the Southern Belle with mile-long legs in cowboy boots who defies his every expectation. Yet the closer he feels to Ayden, the less he seems to know her. While he’s tempted to get under her skin and undo her in every way, he knows firsthand what happens to two people with very different ideas about relationships.
Will the blaze burn into an enduring love. . . or will it consume their dreams and turn them to ashes?
My Review:
I loved this book. Just about as much as the first book. Jet and Ayden both felt something for each other, but held off for a year or more before giving in. Both have pasts and upbringings that they're ashamed of, yet both are able to work through all of that because they finally realize they are capable and deserving of love and happiness.
This book roped me in from page one. I just love this author's style of writing. She is captivating, moving and keeps my attention from the first page to the last.
5 stars. easy.
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Rule
Rule
A Marked Men Novel
By: Jay Crownover
Published December 2012 by Jay Crownover books 327 pages
Summary via www.goodreads.com: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
A Marked Men Novel
By: Jay Crownover
Published December 2012 by Jay Crownover books 327 pages
Summary via www.goodreads.com: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
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