Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Book #Review: Rowdy ( A Marked Men Novel # 5) by Jay Crownover .@JayCrownover .@WmMorrowBks

Book Title: Rowdy ( A Marked Men Novel #5)
Author:  Jay Crownover |WebsiteTwitterFacebook|
Publisher: William Morrow
Genre: New Adult Romance
Series/Standalone:  Series Book 5
Format: Trade paperback
Cost: $13.99
Pages: 400
How I got it: Purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks
Publication Date: October 21st, 2014
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Synopsis:
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.
This is the story of Rowdy and Salem, she's the sister of the woman who let Rowdy down horribly and sent him on the run.  Back when they were kids, Salem tried to be the good girl her family required she be and just couldn't quite pull it off, she loved the boy next door but he loved her sister and when it came time for her to grow up, she runs away and leaves Rowdy and her sister in the dust. Salem came back into Rowdy's life after Nash's dad pulls a stunt and tells Cora to hire her for the new downtown shop, this was his last gift to the two people he loved.  His intervention helps the story to unfold and I loved that this was his last act for them.

Rowdy is hanging onto the past and refuses to see that just because one woman hurt you doesn't mean you can't fall in love again, I loved the conversations he has with the men and how they school him on his stupidity.
“You're a dumb shit. There's a million first girls for a million different first things.There's the first girl you slow-dance with, and the first girl you go to bed with. There's the first girl to give you a kiss, and then the first one you take home to mama." His amber eyes lit up with humor.
"There's the first girl you fight with and the first girl you fight for. There's also the first girl you have to let go of. There's the first girl you love, obviously, and the first girl to break your heart.There's always a first girl, Rowdy, but there is also the girl that is going to come after her until you get to the last girl.  The last girl is the one that really matters.” 
Salem has her own hangups, her parents where strict and he dad was a bit of a jacka** when it came to his beliefs and their mother wasn't one to stand up to him.  Salem had to learn to not let the past be the reason she moved on so quickly and yet it helped to shape her into a pretty kicka** young woman who does what she wants and has embraced a lifestyle that makes her happy.  While she has always missed Rowdy and was ready to win him, she wasn't completely lonely, she wanted love but she wasn't unhappy with her life (which I absolutely loved).  I loved that even though they had different life paths, they ended up at the same place and had fallen in love with tattooing an it's 'alternative' lifestyle.    Salem has a habit of cutting and running when things don't work out for her and when she relocated here, Rowdy doesn't expect her to stay long and so he isn't willing to let her in because he's afraid she'll abandon him like before.

I did feel at times, like Salem just took it too hard, so what if they were strict, hating on religion shouldn't be answer. However I totally got her reasoning, I just wish she didn't relate it so often. Rowdy had a few moments that made me want to push him in front of a bus like Sir stop being such a punk and man up!!  I did love the meandering road that leads them back to each other and that they have to learn to forgive each other and their parts in their pasts.  I loved that this one took a little longer to get there, as Salem and Rowdy had to meet each other as they were now, and not who they used to be.  They also had to confront the past in the form of Salem's sister when she comes to visit of course throwing a wrench in the blooming relationship of Salem and Rowdy.

I loved how the relationship blooms despite both of their shields being up in some regards.  I of course really loved meeting the other characters, and seeing some of my favorite coming back, Cora of course is always there making life awesome.  I loved that the shop was doing so well and seeing the foundation being laid for the new series coming up.  I can't wait to meet those new tattoo artist and see their lives unfold.

I loved when Rowdy finally gets it:
I always thought it was the firsts that matter, but now I know that it’s the lasts that stay with you.”
& I loved the final few chapters, when Rowdy asks Salem to meet his mama, and even when Salem confronts her past before returning to Rowdy. I just loved those moments, as they allowed both characters to open up and allow the past to go back where it belonged.
 ★★★★
I can't wait to see how Jay redeems Asa, which comes out in 2015 (oh gawd that's so damn far away). Have you started the journey with the marked Men??  If not I suggest you do!!
Happy Reading


Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Waiting On Wednesday: October Edition (1)

Hosted by: Jill over at Breaking The Spines.  This is a weekly book lust prompt, asking for us to share our absolute can't wait to get our hands on a copy books. Swing on over to find out how to participate and to see what others are sharing.  This is by no means an exhaustive list of the books coming out thismonth, but these are the ones I have 1) pre-ordered b) can't wait to read~~~

Young Adult

Talon (Talon 1) Julie Kagawa (Receieved at BEA 2014, pre-ordered a physical copy anyway)

Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they're positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser. Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. As Ember struggles to accept her future, she and her brother are hunted by the Order of St. George. Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon's newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey: and nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember's bravery, confidence and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the Order has ingrained in him: and what he might be willing to give up to find the truth about dragons
Due Date: Oct 26,2014
Print: Hardcover
Pages: 400
Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Sublime Christina Lauren
True love may mean certain death in a ghostly affair of risk and passion from New York Times bestselling duo Christina Lauren, authors of Beautiful Bastard. Tahereh Mafi, New York Times bestselling author of Shatter Me calls Sublime “a beautiful, haunting read". When Lucy walks out of a frozen forest, wearing only a silk dress and sandals, she isn’t sure how she got there. But when she sees Colin, she knows for sure that she’s here for him. Colin has never been captivated by a girl the way he is by Lucy. With each passing day their lives intertwine, and even as Lucy begins to remember more of her life—and her death—neither of them is willing to give up what they have, no matter how impossible it is. And when Colin finds a way to physically be with Lucy, taking himself to the brink of death where his reality an
Due Date: October 14, 2014
Print: Hardcover
Pages: 336
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
New Adult

Rowdy (Marked Men 5) Jay Crownover (already pre-ordered this baby!!)

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
Due Date: Oct 21, 2014
Print: Trade Paperback
Pages:400 
Publisher: William Murrow Paperback


These are the first few I'm looking forward to. I promise as the month goes along I'm going to find more to lust over!! How about you, find any you need to have in your hands??  Share down in the comments below and let's fawn over them together.

Happy Lusting