Author: Jay Crownover |Website| Twitter| Facebook|
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Genre: New Adult Romance
Series/Standalone: Series
Format: Ebook, paperback
Genre: New Adult Romance
Series/Standalone: Series
Format: Ebook, paperback
Cost: $14.99
Pages: 368
How I got it: Publisher
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Publisher
Publication Date: February 2017
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Synopsis:
I really loved this one. Romance, unrequited lov, a road trip, small southern towns and a bit of a mystery all rolled into one with another hot southern charmer in the Denver crew. Church is close to the main Marked Men because he is friends with all of them but especially with Rome as they served together in the Army. I loved that we didn't get the hints of Church's true story until the story really began on their way out of Denver. I also loved that Jay recognized that there are instances where it really sucks to travel deeper into the heartland, and even had instances of scenarios where as a black person int he US we notice things that the white person traveling with us might not even be aware of.
This is Church's story and Church shared with us his hunt for finding a place as a biracial child in a small town that isn't always as open and forgiving as some like to think. We see instances of the camaraderie of a community as well as the instances of coldness with yo are clearly other. I loved that even in these moments there were moments of acceptance for Church by the people who matter most.
Con of the story:
The mystery wasn't fully formed; it was a bit of just background noise ; it didn't have me at the edge of the seat. I guessed pretty early who it was (huge mystery reader, so yeah). The reveal still made me nervous because Jay isn't afraid to make our characters hurt and badly too. But damn that was still unhinged and just dang why?? Why are people so horrible??
Pros of the story:
The well developed characters. I threw a challenge out there when I read Better When He's Bad, asking authors to create complex characters and make them black, we have the same issues you do, we may not talk about it as openly but we still have the, our motivations aren't any different from yours, an we all then to want the same things for ourselves and our families (you know the ones of us who aren't garbage human beings) and she answered by giving us a good strong story with great characters and well rounded and developed story lines. The characters motivations were complex and felt realistic to how a teenager would react, to how many of us "adults" react to having our hearts broken. Hell some of us are still working through shyt from childhood, so yeah I get him being so closed off.
I loved that Church's reasons were just as complex and convoluted as any of the other characters in the series. He wasn't any kind of stereotype and I loved that even though his home life wasn't pretty it wasn't for any stereotypical reasons.
My favorite is realizing that Dixie's motivations were just as complex as Church's, she hid hers better but she was just as in need of self care as he was. I loved their love. I loved her sparkle and I loved that he saw her for who she was; I loved that his family recognized how much harder it is to be happy in the face of all that pain and that he cherished her even when he tried to deny their love. Dixie was willing to love Church even when he didn't believe he deserved it, and when she realized he couldn't give her what she wanted she decided she was worth more, and I loved her so much for that. It's one thing to say you love someone and allow them to destroy you and end up hating them and yourself in the end it's another to love them from afar. I loved that Dixie gave herself the space to make her decisions but knew that she was going to have a time when she was going to make a real choice.
Jay wrote that she might revisit the town. I hope she does because I would love to see more from his family including his dad. Can't wait for our other couples that are being shown, especially Wheeler's story. I can't wait until we get more from her sister as well. I hope we get it soon unless they are going to solve her sister's issues in Wheeler's story as well.
Publication Date: February 2017
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Synopsis:
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Marked Men books comes the next installment in the Saints of Denver series. Everyone else in Dixie Carmichael's life has made falling in love look easy, and now she is ready for her own chance at some of that happily ever after. Which means she’s done pining for the moody, silent former soldier who works with her at the bar that's become her home away from home. Nope. No more chasing the hot as heck thundercloud of a man and no more waiting for Mr. Right to find her; she's going hunting for him...even if she knows her heart is stuck on its stupid infatuation with Dash Churchill. Denver has always been just a pit stop for Church on his way back to rural Mississippi. It was supposed to be simple, uneventful, but nothing could have prepared him for the bubbly, bouncy redhead with doe eyes and endless curves. Now he knows it's time to get out of Denver, fast. For a man used to living in the shadows, the idea of spending his days in the sun is nothing short of terrifying. When Dixie and Church find themselves caught up in a homecoming overshadowed with lies and danger, Dixie realizes that while falling in love is easy, loving takes a whole lot more work…especially when Mr. Right thinks he's all wrong for you.
Giveaway
This is Church's story and Church shared with us his hunt for finding a place as a biracial child in a small town that isn't always as open and forgiving as some like to think. We see instances of the camaraderie of a community as well as the instances of coldness with yo are clearly other. I loved that even in these moments there were moments of acceptance for Church by the people who matter most.
Con of the story:
The mystery wasn't fully formed; it was a bit of just background noise ; it didn't have me at the edge of the seat. I guessed pretty early who it was (huge mystery reader, so yeah). The reveal still made me nervous because Jay isn't afraid to make our characters hurt and badly too. But damn that was still unhinged and just dang why?? Why are people so horrible??
Pros of the story:
The well developed characters. I threw a challenge out there when I read Better When He's Bad, asking authors to create complex characters and make them black, we have the same issues you do, we may not talk about it as openly but we still have the, our motivations aren't any different from yours, an we all then to want the same things for ourselves and our families (you know the ones of us who aren't garbage human beings) and she answered by giving us a good strong story with great characters and well rounded and developed story lines. The characters motivations were complex and felt realistic to how a teenager would react, to how many of us "adults" react to having our hearts broken. Hell some of us are still working through shyt from childhood, so yeah I get him being so closed off.
I loved that Church's reasons were just as complex and convoluted as any of the other characters in the series. He wasn't any kind of stereotype and I loved that even though his home life wasn't pretty it wasn't for any stereotypical reasons.
My favorite is realizing that Dixie's motivations were just as complex as Church's, she hid hers better but she was just as in need of self care as he was. I loved their love. I loved her sparkle and I loved that he saw her for who she was; I loved that his family recognized how much harder it is to be happy in the face of all that pain and that he cherished her even when he tried to deny their love. Dixie was willing to love Church even when he didn't believe he deserved it, and when she realized he couldn't give her what she wanted she decided she was worth more, and I loved her so much for that. It's one thing to say you love someone and allow them to destroy you and end up hating them and yourself in the end it's another to love them from afar. I loved that Dixie gave herself the space to make her decisions but knew that she was going to have a time when she was going to make a real choice.
★★★★1/2☆
Happy Reading
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