Feature and Giveaway: Respect by Jay Crownover

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess who called a corrupt kingdom home sweet home.

Protected and sheltered from the worst the world had to offer, she fell in love with the crumbling city that burned and blazed around her. Every dirty corner, every scary shadow, found a place within her heart. So did a man who was violent and dangerous, just like the streets she claimed as her own.

He was all business and brutality, except when it came to her. With her, he was calm, caring, and heartbreakingly patient.

He warned her over and over that he wasn't the man for her, but she refused to listen. She never expected either the streets or their enforcer to hurt her, since she'd given her heart so completely to both.

She should have known the streets in the Point were always going to be savage, and so was the man committed to keeping control of them in the hands of criminals and bloody kingpins.

Blindsided by a betrayal which cut so deeply she was sure the wounds would never heal, the princess fled the home she loved and the man who broke her heart. Throwing away her rusted, twisted crown was supposed to help her forget. All it did was make her long for everything she left behind. She told herself she would never go back, but in this tormented kingdom, family is everything. Eventually, she has no choice but to return.

While she was gone, the people who loved her worked hard to make the city safe, and the man who destroyed her sank deeper into the darkness. Going back shouldn't feel like surrender... but it does. As this pretty princess hovers on the edge of the unknown, the past attacks with a vengeance. It's a good reminder that puppy love eventually grows up and turns into something with sharp teeth and one hell of a bite.

She never asked for the keys to the kingdom. She'd much rather go out and build her own.

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ARC Review: Rule by Jay Crownover

I have read books in the Marked Men series by Jay Crownover before, but I will admit that I read them completely out of order. I hadn't started with the first book in the series, so while I knew how things ended up for Rule I was looking forward to actually seeing how he got to where he did. While I did like Rule and Shaw, I will say that there were times in this book that I seriously wanted to shake them both.  

Shaw has loved Rule since she first met him, but everyone seems to know it except Rule himself. While at first they look like complete opposites, Shaw has always seen and loved Rule for exactly who he is. But even if he was the type to commit to one girl, Shaw belonged to his dead twin brother and he refuses to go there. But when a drunken birthday leads to an unforgettable night together, both Rule and Shaw must figure out what it means for each of them and if there is possibly a future together. 

I liked both Rule and Shaw, and I thought that they were good together. These two had a lot more in common than you would first think, and I enjoyed seeing them get to know one another better. There was so much more beneath the surface to each of them, and seeing them explore that was really interesting to me. Shaw was kind and she understood that Rule had issues. For the most part she was patient and seemed to know what he needed. Rule on the other hand struggled to embrace change in his life, even when he wanted it. The back and forth with these two drove me nuts, and I really thought that they just needed to talk to one another a lot of the time. I hated that they would run away from each other when they should have been running towards each other.  

The other thing that bothered me here was the fact that both of them let their parents treat them horribly. Besides avoiding them at times, they really didn't do much about it and that drove me absolutely nuts. These people did and said horrible things, and there really wasn't much resolution until the end and at that point it was a bit too little too late for me. There was also an incident that happened that I wasn't a fan of at all. I felt like it was forgiven a bit too easily and even though it wasn't as bad as it could have been, I was never able to really forget that it had happened even if the characters were able to move beyond it. Overall, this wasn't my favorite of the series though I did enjoy it. I like Rule and Shaw, and I do believe they belong together. I love that Jay Crownover gives us unique and different characters than the norm, and the Marked Men all have such strong personalities. The camaraderie between them keeps the read invested and anxious for more, and I look forward to reading more of this series that I haven't so far. 

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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Feature and Giveaway: Charged by Jay Crownover

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Marked Men books comes the second installment in the Saints of Denver series featuring a bad girl and a by the book attorney who could be her salvation...or her ruin.

Avett Walker and Quaid Jackson’s worlds have no reason to collide. Ever. Quaid is a high powered criminal attorney as slick as he is handsome. Avett is a pink-haired troublemaker with a bad attitude and a history of picking the wrong men.

When Avett lands in a sea of hot water because of one terrible mistake, the only person who can get her out of it is the insanely sexy lawyer. The last thing on earth she wants to do is rely on the no-nonsense attorney who thinks of her as nothing more than a nuisance. He literally has her fate in his hands. Yet there is something about him that makes her want to convince him to loosen his tie and have a little fun…with her.

Quaid never takes on clients like the impulsive young woman with a Technicolor dye job. She could stand to learn a hard lesson or two, but something about her guileless hazel eyes intrigues him. Still, he’s determined to keep their relationship strictly business. But doing so is becoming more impossible with each day he spends with her.

As they work side-by-side, they’ll have to figure out a way to get along and keep their hands off each other—because the chemistry between them is beyond charged.

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Avett

I blew out a breath and felt that bottom I had careened onto reach up to embrace me even tighter. “It is what it is. I’ve let both my folks down a lot over the last few years but getting caught up with a guy that would rob the bar, a guy who could threaten my dad’s people.” I shook my head. “I deserve to rot.”

I was being overly dramatic but that’s how I felt. I deserved to sit in jail and so much worse than that. Self-pity was good company down here at rock bottom and I wasn’t ready to let go of the warmth it provided just yet.

He gave me a look I couldn’t read and headed for the door. “I’ll call your parents for you and see if we can have something in place before tomorrow. Working on your case will be a lot easier for both of us if you aren’t incarcerated. Remember, you need to listen to me, Ms. Walker. That’s the first rule in all of this.”

Panic hit me like a truck. What if he called my dad and my dad told him he’d had enough of his problematic daughter and her endless nonsense? What if he couldn’t love me anymore? Jail I could survive; losing my father for good, well, it would be the end of me.

Without thinking I jumped to my feet, which had the chains on both my hands and my legs rattling loudly, and two uniformed officers hurried into the room. I was about to make maybe the worst decision to date but I couldn’t stop the words from sliding off my tongue.

“Don’t call my dad!” Recklessness, thy name was Avett Walker.

The attorney turned around and looked at me like I had grown a second head. He didn’t say anything as the officers moved to either side of me and told me to calm down.

“You can’t call my dad.” The words sounded as panicked and as desperate as I felt on the inside.

His broad shoulders lifted and fell in a shrug like he really couldn’t give a shit that he was about to ruin my life…which was saying a hell of a lot considering where I was.

“I have to.” He sounded bored and impatient with my outburst.

I narrowed my eyes at him, and that vortex of awful, which I always seemed to be smack dab in the center of, started to spin faster and faster around me.

“Then you’re fired.” I saw the cops exchange a look and my rushed words had the blond man turning fully back around to look at me. “I don’t want your help. I don’t want anything from you.”

Finally, there was something other than indifference in his gaze. There was surprise, maybe a hint of admiration colliding with a huge splash of humor in the pale depths.

“Sorry, Ms. Walker, but you didn’t hire me, so that means you don’t get to fire me.” That grin of his, which should be registered as a deadly weapon, flashed across his face again as he watched me, and then he was gone.

Jay Crownover is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men and The Point series. Like her characters, she is a big fan of tattoos. She loves music and wishes she could be a rock star, but since she has no aptitude for singing or instrument playing, she'll settle for writing stories with interesting characters that make the reader feel something. She lives in Colorado with her three dogs.

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ARC Review: Charged by Jay Crownover

Charged is the second novel in the Saints of Denver series by Jay Crownover. I will admit that after reading Built, my favorite book of Jay's ever, that I was both anxious and a bit nervous for Charged. While I loved the set up for Quaid and Avett in Built, Avett was not my favorite character and I have to say that Quaid wasn't either. But right from the start of Charged, these two both won me over and I really ended up enjoying their story!

When Avett Walker finds herself in her biggest mess yet, she is determined to suffer the consequences. She has let her family down too many times to count and she refuses to involve them again. But when the sexy Quaid Jackson shows up and says that he has been hired as her lawyer, she has no option but to let him help her out. Though these two are total opposites, Quaid finds himself drawn to her in a way he has never been to a client or woman before. Soon they both realize that though their lives might appear as different as can be, they have more in common than you might expect.

I was surprised just how much I ended up loving these two. Avett has come off as a selfish brat that never thinks anything through before, and I really loved her attitude here. She was determined to stand on her own two feet, and I really liked that she was willing to accept what she had done and not try to pass blame off on others. In fact she even went too far and blamed herself at times for things that absolutely weren't her fault, but it was really nice to see that she wasn't what you might first think based on what we have seen of her past. Quaid came off in Built as a bit arrogant, thinking that he could get anything he wanted and almost seeming like he was a bit entitled. But very early on here we learn some of his past and what he has been through, and he was so different than I was expecting. I really felt for both of these characters, and I thought that they were perfect for one another. They were great together, had smoking hot chemistry, and they understood each other in a way that was surprising yet completely genuine.

I will say that after reading Built, I had expected this to be a bit more of an enemies to lovers story. The sparks were flying in that book, and the vibes they were giving off said they definitely weren't each other's biggest fans though the attraction was there. But while there was a bit of that here, this one was definitely sweeter than I had been expecting. I really enjoyed it and thought that the story was good, it was just different than I had thought going in. Overall though, this book was really great and I loved getting to see some familiar faces. I am super excite for the next book in the series, Riveted, which will feature Dixie and Church. If you are a fan of Jay Crownover's this book is not to be missed! If you are new to her books, this is a great place to start and I highly recommend checking out her Marked Men series where it all started for these characters in the Saints of Denver series.

**ARC Provided by Inkslinger PR**

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ARC Review: Built by Jay Crownover

Built is the first book in the Saints of Denver series from Jay Crownover, and I absolutely loved it! Fans of the Marked Men series will recognize both Zeb and Saylor, as the Saints of Denver is a spin-off to that series. But if you haven't read those books yet, Built is a easily read as a standalone. It was nice to see some familiar faces though, and I loved getting to know both Zeb and Saylor better after meeting them previously. I have to say that this book is my favorite so far of everything I have read from Jay Crownover. Everything about it spoke to me and I couldn't put it down! 

Zeb Fuller works in restoration after turning his life around. He made some mistakes in his past, and is determined to move forward. When Zeb meets Saylor Cole, he knows that he wants her right away. Though Zeb and Saylor are complete opposites, they find themselves drawn to one another. As Zeb works on restoring Saylor's house, he tries to drop as many hints as possible to his feelings for her, but nothing seems to come of it. But just when things appear to be taking a turn in the right direction, Zeb is given new that changes everything. Needing help, he finds himself turning to Saylor in both a personal and professional manner. But getting her help could be what ultimately pushes her away for good. 

I have to admit that I wasn't sure how much I would like Saylor before starting this book. While I had been intrigued by her, she always came off as cold and unfeeling. But as we got to know her better in Built, it was clear that there was so much more to her. Though she never became the overly warm and friendly type of heroine, I found that I actually really liked her. She was such a good person, and despite everything she had a strength to her that even she didn't realize. Zeb was my favorite though, and he was impossible not to love. Here was a guy that had such a strong love of family and loyalty to them that he would do whatever it took to protect and look out for them, and while that ultimately got him into trouble he did what he felt he had to do. I liked that he realized that he had messed up though, even with the right intentions, and that he worked hard to put his life back together and be a different person. He never gave up and that was what made him so easy to like. He was the kind of guy that Saylor needed in her life, and I really thought that these two made each other better people. They had great chemistry and the attraction was clear right away, but the way that they connected was what made their relationship one worth reading about.

Overall, there was so much to like here and I feel like I really can't go into detail without spoiling it. What I will say though was that I absolutely loved all the characters involved here and not just Saylor and Zeb. This one was sweet and heartwarming and I couldn't put it down. There was so much growth and development in these characters, and the love was so evident between them. Built is a fantastic start to this new series, and I cannot wait for the next book! Jay Crownover did such a great job setting up the next book as well, and the little we saw of Quaid and Avett has me hungry for more! I highly recommend this book, especially if you are a fan of Jay's! This is my favorite book of hers to date, and I can't wait to read more from her in the future.

**ARC Provided by Inkslinger PR**

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ARC Review: Better When He's Brave by Jay Crownover

Better When He's Brave is the third installment in Jay Crownover's Welcome to the Point series. Each book is a standalone, though I would honestly suggest reading in order with so much going on that relates to the previous stories and characters. Though it isn't necessary to start at the beginning, I really think it adds a lot to the reader's experience rather than just jumping in here. 

Titus King knows that he is fighting a war that is almost impossible to win. Though he knows his city is filled with hard men and women, they are his to protect and look after and he will do whatever it takes to keep his city as safe as possible. But when Reeve Black shows up with information and asks for his help to take down a dangerous man, he knows that the real battle is just getting started. Reeve knows that Titus is the best of the best and that there is no way a woman like her could ever be what he deserves, yet she also will do whatever it takes to try and set right some of her past wrongs. But can Reeve and Titus work together long enough to take care of what they need to without being hurt or killed in the process? 

I liked Reeve and Titus. These two are so completely different, and yet that was what really made them work. They balanced each other out in a way that they both really needed. Titus is used to only seeing things in black and white, and Reeve definitely challenged that. Though he knew about Reeve's past and still agreed to work with her, he tried to stay away. The chemistry between them though was too strong for him to fight for long. Reeve had wanted Titus since she had met him, but she knew that because of her past actions that she wasn't the one for him. She thought he deserved better, and I was glad that she was determined to do right by him and try to make up for what she had done before. I did think that she showed how far she had come though, and I thought that she did deserve him and was glad that these two seemed to be unable to stop the connection growing between them.

I will say that I thought that this story was often very detailed, to the point of being unnecessary. Things would get lost in the details and I found myself zoning out at times and wanting to skim large portions of the story because of that. I didn't need six pages to see why Reeve felt she wasn't good enough for Titus or the same for Titus to explain how bad his city was. It almost felt as though the author was trying to make sure the reader knew just how awful The Point was, and I thought that came across without needing to go to so much extra effort. I think that it was very clear how their city was, and how these characters felt that we didn't need convincing. Besides that though I did enjoy these two and seeing how they were together.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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Feature and Giveaway: Better When He's Brave by Jay Crownover

In New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jay Crownover’s third novel in her sexy, thrilling Welcome to the Point series, a woman’s search for repentance leads her to the one man from her past she can’t forget as they join forces to save their city—and the explosive love neither can live without.

Titus King sees the world in black and white. Right and wrong. Which is why as a teenager he left behind the only family he’d ever known to make a better life for himself. Now a police detective in one of the worst cities in the country, he can’t deny his life has turned into a million different shades of gray.

The new criminal element in The Point has brought vengeance and destruction right to Titus’s front door, and the difference between right and wrong is nothing compared to keeping those he loves alive. To add to his already strained moral compass, the beautiful and mysterious Reeve Black has made her way back to town, and she might be as dangerous to Titus as the guy trying to destroy the Point because he needs her—in more ways than one.

Reeve knows all about how ruthless this new threat to destroy The Point can be… and instead of running away, she wants to help. She has a lot to repent for and saving the city, plus the hot cop that she hasn’t been able to forget might just be the only way she can finally find some inner peace.

With an entire city poised on the brink of war, Titus and Reeve stand in the crossfire—and it will take two brave souls to fight for the ultimate love.

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ARC Review: Asa by Jay Crownover

Asa is the sixth and final book in the Marked Men Series by Jay Crownover. Each of these books can be read as a standalone, but the characters are interconnected and I would recommend reading these in order if possible. Asa was first introduced in Jet's book, as he is Ayden's troublemaker brother. But you won't have any problems reading this story even if you haven't read the previous books. 

Asa Cross relocated to Denver in order to start his life over, leaving behind his checkered past. He struggles with trying to be the person his friends and family want him to be and how to reconcile that with the person that he knows he actually is. Though he has done terrible things in the past, he is trying to do better. He knows that the beautiful cop Royal Hastings is interested in him, and yet he knows he is the last person she should hang around. Royal has been struggling as well after an incident on the job left her best friend and partner injured but lucky to be alive. She feels guilt and believes that what happened was her fault. She hasn't been sleeping and the only thing she has been interested in doing is going to the bar where Asa works to see him. Though she realizes that Asa is far from what she needs, she also can't stop herself from wanting him. Can a criminal and a cop find happiness and a life together? 

Asa had that southern charm about him, and he had always known how to use that to his advantage. He was also sexy and never had a problem using that either. But I liked seeing beneath the surface with him. He was so much more, and I felt really badly for him at times. He thought he was a bad person for what he had done and while I don't support a lot of it, it was also easy to see that he hadn't had the easiest life growing up and that had affected him. I was really glad that Royal was able to see more to him, and that she helped him to realize that he wasn't as bad as he thought. At first glance these two were complete opposites, and yet when you got down to it they were actually similar in a lot of ways. Both of them were struggling and it wasn't until they really found each other that they were able to start to move forward with their lives. They were just surviving rather than really living. They had a lot of chemistry and you could see the attraction right away for them, but the connection was slower to build and I liked seeing them figure things out as the grew closer. 

Overall, I liked this book but I also felt like it wasn't my favorite that I have read in this series. While Asa and Royal were good characters, I just didn't feel invested in them or their story. I found my interest wavering at times, especially at the beginning of this story. For some reason, I just wasn't drawn in and kept wanting to put this one down. I liked them, but I wasn't excited by them or their story. I think a lot of readers will enjoy their story, especially fans of this series. But this one just lacked that spark for me, and I felt like something was missing. I will read more from Jay Crownover in the future though, and I am curious about the spin-off series that will follow the Marked Men series.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Rowdy by Jay Crownover

Rowdy is the fifth book in Jay Crownover's Marked Men series, but this book can easily be read as a standalone. I really enjoyed this book, and I love the characters in this series. If you haven't read any of this series yet, I highly recommend giving it a shot. Jay Crownover's characters are easy to like and relate to, and I love how different they are.

After having his heart broken, Rowdy St. James doesn't let anyone get close enough to hurt him. Everyone that he has ever cared about has left him. But when Salem Cruz suddenly reappears in his life as his new coworker, he is forced to face his past. Salem was his best friend as a child until she abruptly left when she turned eighteen. Rowdy was left behind with her sister Poppy. Salem always cared for Rowdy, but he was always in love with her sister Poppy. Now years later though, she is still as drawn to Rowdy as she always was and Salem is determined to show him that things between them are worth giving a chance. But when secrets and hidden truths from the past are revealed, Rowdy and Salem will have to figure out if they can finally have something between them or if things will tear them apart once and for all.

I really liked Rowdy and Salem. I loved that they were both different and unique. Salem was strong and independent. She went after what she wanted in life and wasn't afraid to ruffle some feathers along the way. She did what made her happy, and I really loved that about her. Rowdy was sweet and charming and was able to get any girl he wanted. But he also had such a vulnerable side, and it was clear that his past affected him greatly. Rowdy needed to believe that he wouldn't always be alone, and that someone would stick around and be there for him. I loved the history between Rowdy and Salem and the fact that they had been such great friends. But they also had a ton of chemistry between them, and it was great to see them start to explore the feelings between them that went beyond friendship.

Overall, this was a really great read. I liked the characters a lot and I thought that the story was really good. I thought that there were a few parts that were a bit slow for me, mostly in the beginning of the story. But I was drawn in and really wanted to see what would happen as Rowdy and Salem got to know each other again after all the years apart. I highly recommend this series, and I think that fans of Jay Crownover will really enjoy her latest addition to the Marked Men series. But I also think that if you haven't read any of her books before that Rowdy is definitely worth the read. I can't wait to read more from Jay Crownover in the future.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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Feature and Giveaway: Rowdy by Jay Crownover

The New York Times and USA Today bestselling Marked Men series continues with this sizzling, sexy story of love, heartbreak, fate, and second chances.

After the only girl he ever loved told him that he would never be enough, Rowdy St. James knocked the Texas dust off his boots and set out to live up to his nickname. A good ol’ boy looking for good times and good friends, Rowdy refuses to take anything too seriously, especially when it comes to the opposite sex. Burned by love once, he isn’t going to let himself trust a woman again. But that’s before his new co-worker arrives, a ghost from the past who’s suddenly making him question every lesson he ever learned.

Salem Cruz grew up in house with too many rules and too little fun—a world of unhappiness she couldn’t wait to forget. But one nice thing from childhood has stayed with her; the memory of the sweet, blue-eyed boy next door who’d been head over heels in love with her little sister.

Now, fate and an old friend have brought her and Rowdy together, and Salem is determined to show him that once upon a time he picked the wrong sister. A mission that is working perfectly—until the one person that ties them together appears, threatening to tear them apart for good.

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Guest Post with Author Jay Crownover and Giveaway

Meet Jay Crownover, author of Rome.

I’m supposed to share interesting details about myself so that my readers get to know me so here we go in no particular order: I’m an natural redhead even though I haven’t seen my real hair color in years, I’m a big fan of tattoos and have a half sleeve on either arm and various other pieces all over the place, I’ve been in the bar industry since I was in college and it has always offered interesting insight into how men and women interact with each other, I have 3 dogs that are all crazy, I live in Colorado and love the snow, I love music and in all reality wish I could be a rock star not a writer or a bartender but I have zero talent so there is that.

I love to write, love to read and all I’m interested in is a good story with interesting characters that make the reader feel something.

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Feature and Giveaway: Rule by Jay Crownover

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.

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