A long-simmering attraction reignites when a dedicated lawman is assigned to solve a murder and reunites with the woman he left behind in this exhilarating romance with a few twists along the way. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Unforgiven by Jay Crownover, along with my impressions of this second installment in the Loveless, Texas series, then add this suspenseful story to your bookshelf!
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Marked Men series comes an irresistible and suspenseful romance between a tough Texas Ranger and his first love--a woman in danger who insists she doesn't need his protection.
Hill Gamble is a model lawman: cool and collected, with a confident swagger to boot. Too bad all that Texas charm hasn't gotten him anywhere in his personal life, especially since the only girl he ever loved has always been off-limits. But then Hill is assigned to investigate her father's mysterious death, and he's forced back to the town--and the woman--he left behind.
When Hill left Loveless, he broke Kody Lawton's already battered heart. And now that he's working on her father's case, avoiding him is impossible. She can handle Hill and her unwanted feelings--until he puts his life on the line to protect her. Suddenly, Kody realizes that Hill could be taken away from her...for good.
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
AUTHOR INFO:
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MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
From the first page to the last, this was a book with a lot going on. From its romance of second chances to a mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat, this tale will keep you guessing and waiting for the next twist or turn. By the turn of the final page readers will be satisfied by all that came before while looking forward to the next shoe to drop in a conclusion that will leave readers waiting with breathless anticipation.
Picking up right where the previous book in this series left off, readers are reintroduced to brothers Hill and Aaron Gamble and their deep connection to Wild Child Kody Lawton. It’s a connection that takes a romantic turn and ultimately has Hill leaving so he doesn’t stand in the way of his brother’s happiness with Kody. Young love soon turned sour though, leading to death and a broken heart that Kody still hasn’t recovered from. With the recent murder of her father, Kody’s life takes another unexpected turn towards danger that only Hill can save her from. With his return though her anger over the past is unleashed along with the thawing of her heart that has her counting on Hill to keep her safe while guarding her heart and body from a villain still focused on destroying her family. Kody’s an outgoing heroine who’s always lived life on the edge. When Hill left he took her heart with him and it had her landing in the arms of Aaron in a relationship full of heartbreak due to his mental disorder, and subsequent suicide, that she still blames Hill for. Because of this their reunion is messy with lots of harsh feelings from the past keeping them from quickly finding HEA. Their scenes are full of conflict and flirtiness and often overshadowed by the overall mystery. Though I can understand Kody feeling hurt by Hill leaving all those years ago, she should’ve been able to forgive him much quicker as he too experienced loss with the suicide of Aaron. For me, her anger went on a bit too long.
Hill and his brother were tight knit as children and with Kody by their side they were like The Three Musketeers. Even as a young man Hill knew he was attracted to Kody but never felt worthy of her. She needed someone just as outspoken as she was and his cool, calm, and collected nature had him walking away so his brother could find happiness. He’s never forgotten her though, and when he’s assigned to find the murderer of Kody’s father, he’ll not only get the chance to bring a killer to justice but he’ll also have the chance to make amends with his and Kody’s past. Hill’s a drool-worthy hero through it all, intense and reliable, a man you can always count on to do what he thinks is right. Throughout the years he’s taken whatever morsels of attention Kody’s thrown his way so it’s about time he deals with their feelings for each other once and for all. It’s a rocky road towards HEA full of push/pull moments that leaves them heading in the right direction by the end of the story, but with a cliffhanger that will leave readers counting down the days until its resolution arrives.
On a whole this was a compelling read focused a bit more on the mystery and suspense than on the second chance romance of Hill and Kody. There was quite a bit I found enjoyable actually, while there were some areas that could’ve been done better. Focusing more on the mystery lessened my connection to this couple a bit, but still had me rooting for them to put the past behind them. With combustible interactions and scenes teeming with sexual tension I still found them to be a likable couple worthy of a HEA. While the identity of the villain was pretty obvious, the twists and turns along the way were entertaining and brought in other characters that will be featured in the next installment. These characters were left in a precarious situation that has me greatly anticipating whatever comes next.
My rating for this is a B.
*I got this book from NetGalley for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
AUTHOR INFO:
Jay Crownover is the international and multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men Series, The Saints of Denver Series, the Point Series, the Breaking Point Series, and the Getaway Series. Her books can be found translated in many different languages all around the world. She is a tattooed, crazy haired Colorado native who lives at the base of the Rockies with her awesome dogs. This is where she can frequently be found enjoying a cold beer and Taco Tuesdays. Jay is a self-declared music snob and outspoken book lover who is always looking for her next adventure, between the pages and on the road.
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