I know him but I don't. I want him but I don't. I need him but I don't.

This book is like a train wreck. I knew what was going to happen, I was just waiting for it, but I could not stop reading and hoping that it would all be okay. I was drawn in immediately by the writing style and story. This is not a just a sweet, happy, rainbows and butterflies kind of book. It is emotional, raw, and the main characters have both had tragedies in their pasts that have shaped them.

Jo...she is alone, has survived a horrible life, and guards her heart. She is tough, independent, sarcastic, and likes to be in control. She uses sex to forget and does not have relationships...ever...

No one knows my story...I don't like explaining the whole tragedy that is my life and I damn sure don't feel like answering a million questions from some curious jerk-off. The last thing I expect or want is pity from others. I've had enough pity and condolences to last me two lifetimes.

Some days the despair I feel threatens to drown me and this is a very dangerous kind of despair for a person to muddle through, It's that kind of despair that makes people do stupid things just to gain a measure of relief from their suffering.

Damon...Hello, Greek God of all things masculine and sexy. He is charismatic, cocky, bossy, domineering, hot, and wealthy. He has secrets too...

They have an immediate spark, a connection they cannot figure out but cannot deny. Jo thinks he will be just like any other man, one she can just use and leave, but Damon is different...and he has other ideas....

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to decipher the tension between us as sexual. It is purely animalistic attraction and it is involuntary.

He is determined and domineering and before Jo knows it she is losing control to him. I loved seeing them navigate the unfamiliar territory of a relationship since neither of them had experiences with healthy relationships. Their chemistry was intense, their bedroom scenes(and scenes all over the house) were steamy, and they had a strong need for each other physically and emotionally. They have witty rapport and a playful relationship. He is loving, protective, possessive, generous, supportive and completely enamored of Jo. And even though she fights it, she cannot fight the pull of Damon for very long. She is not used to caring about people or having them care for her. I loved seeing how well they fit together and how Damon was there for her during difficult times.

There is just something so damned familiar about him. Something familiar and comforting. I feel like I want to be around him. Like, maybe being around him will make things alright. Like it will make me alright. It's f**king preposterous, I know that, but it's a feeling that I can't shake.

"Even if it takes me the rest of my life, I swear to you, I'll make you forget every bad thing that has ever happened to you. We'll make happy memories that will out weigh the sad ones ten-fold. I love to make you smile, Josephine."

But all along, I was waiting for her to learn his secrets. He has demons in the past just as she does. Will she be able to handle the truth? Is love enough? This book has tragedy, pain, love, passion, and heartbreak. It keeps you interested and you are truly invested in this couple.

The ending left me breathless and wanting more (like now!) and thankfully Restore Me is expected out March 27, 2013 as I do not want to wait for a continuation of Damon and Jo's story. This book was a fast, entertaining, and emotional read. The characters are well developed and likable. The writing style is engaging and powerful. I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you to J. L. Mac for allowing me to review this book in exchange for an honest review

First let me just say, dang you J.L.! You left me breathless and heartbroken with that cliffhanger! So totally not fair J.L. to make me become so attached to Damon and then just....I can't even think about it anymore otherwise I feel a pull at my heart that leaves me a little teary eyed.

I adored Josephine and Damon. Their story is filled with loss, pain, redemption, love, lust, etc. You name it, it was there. Jo and Damon were an emotional read for me. Both characters were so broken in their own ways. They share a sense of familiarity, an instant attraction of lust and love, and secrets that will turn their relationship upside down while taking you through an emotional ride of loss and growth. Jo and Damon were total opposites, but they work for me.

On the surface, Jo's walls are firmly in place; this girl suffered through a devastating tragedy at a young age that shaped her in to the woman she is today. She has lived life hard and fast, the only way she knew how and she permitted no one entrance to her heart. No affections, no attachments, and definitely no emotions…just sex. That is until one particular sexy man turned her world inside out. Our independent sassy heroine has no clue how to handle this dominating force in her life. Damon Cole is unchartered territory for her.

“He's everything. He's it. He's the one. I know it like I know my own damn reflection. If ever two people were designed for one another, it's us. I have never believed in the whole love at first sight, soul mate bullshit until now. Until him."

Damon Cole, let’s just say I absolutely ADORED him. Our hero had some pretty dark secrets, those secrets left him just as broken as Josephine, but in a different way. He was more polished on the outside. He was rich, he was successful, and he was also in control. When it came to females he was no different that Josephine in that aspect either, it was strictly sex. Damon had no time for anything-long term that required emotions. I loved that he while he was so dominating; he also was very loving and sweet. Damon didn’t want to see Jo suffering any longer. He did everything with in his means to give her the happiness and life she one had but lost.

"You may not realize it yet, but you're mine. Not because I am claiming you. You're mine because that's how it is. I feel like I have waited my whole life to find you."

I loved the direction J.L. took with this book. Redemption was offered. In addition, she encouraged her characters to find the light at the end of the tunnel. She offered the chance at love to two people who had closed their hearts to anything remotely close to that emotion. A second chance at not just life, but at actually living that life. The story centered around two lost characters and gave them the one thing they needed in order to begin repairing all the pain and brokenness, each other. Some parts seemed to move fast, and I don’t normally like to read about instant love, but in this book with these characters, I understood it. I had a few minor issues, but nothing major that took away from the love story Wreck me portrayed.

J.L. Mac has a new fan. She has me chomping at the bit to get my hands on book 2. I need to see where Damon and Josephine are headed in their journey of love and redemption.

Thank you to J. L. Mac for allowing me the opportunity to join her on tour and for gifting me with the book for an honest opinion.

Restore Me (Wreck Me #2)

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Release date March 27, 2013

Navigating the world alone was all Josephine Geroux had ever known. Life altering tragedy struck early on for her. She learned the hard way to adapt and survive.

As a young girl she endured an admirable struggle through her youth. She managed to arrive at adulthood in one piece in spite of it all.

After such chaos, maintaining a life free of complications was a priority for her.

Everything changed when a man with amber eyes came through her door and claimed her heart. She fell hard in more than one way. The pull between Josephine and Damon seemed like fate bringing things full circle.

With another devastating loss looming Josephine has to fight to hold on to the very thing that brought her to her knees.

She finds herself faced with choosing between a promising future or clinging to a devastating past. But that’s not the most worrisome problem on her hands.

She must convince more than just herself to let the past stay in the past where it belongs. On her journey to find closure and resolution she does the exact opposite.

An old wound caused by a heinous act becomes exposed for what it is. The truth is catastrophic and Josephine is helpless to watch as the ruins of her fragile world endure more turmoil.

Can something conceived from tragedy and malice end well? Can something so completely poisoned conquer adversity? She is left to make a decision; accept the circumstances she finds herself in or fight with unwavering ferocity to restore what has been damaged.

Exclusive for our blog from J.L.Mac:

Warning: Language and spoilers if you have not read Wreck Me

Saturday, June 8th, 1996

“Just shut the fuck up, boy! I don’t want to hear a damn thing from you. You’re just as dumb and useless as your whore mother! It’s no wonder she didn’t want a damn thing to do with you. The bitch must’ve been psychic along with being a dirty slut. She had to have known how stupid and worthless you were going to be. That’s why she went and dumped you off on me. If it weren’t for your pain-in-the-ass grandmother I would have gotten rid of you the minute your bitch mother shoved you off on me!” I should be use to it but it always makes me flinch when he says those things to me. I hate it. I prefer his fists over the verbal assault. I think I heal from the physical stuff a lot faster than the awful shit he says. I don’t get how someone could hate their kid so much. It’s like I never had a chance. He hated me from the minute I was born and seventeen years hasn’t changed anything. If anything he may hate me a little more. He is drunk and he is mean as hell. What’s worse is that he thinks it is perfectly fine to drive all over when he is wasted. It scares the shit out of me.

“Dad, I just think I should drive, you know in case the cops pull us over or something. They’ll smell the whiskey.” He knows I could not care less about him getting in trouble. He knows I am scared. He always knows when I am scared. 

“What the hell do you know about anything, dumbass? Just shut your mouth and sit there. If it weren’t for you I could still be at the house. You just had to screw up my day huh?”

“I didn’t mean to. My ride bailed on me. I’m sorry.” He couldn’t possibly know how sorry I am. I would rather be riding around in Erik’s car right now but he finally got a date with Ashley Wilcox and I told him to go ahead. I am not a dick to my friends. 

“Yeah you’re right about that. You are sorry. Maybe you should apologize.” I look out the window so he can’t see me cringe at his insult. I hate this shit! I am seventeen going on eighteen! I will be an adult soon. He should treat me with more respect. He should treat me more like an adult. I hate this asshole.

“I apologize, Dad, but please just pull over and let me drive home.” Please pull over.

“Hell no! I’m not drunk and even if I was, I still drive better than your seventeen year old ass. Tell me to pull over again and I will but it will be to kick your snot nose ass up and down this road. You aren’t drivin’ my car Damon so fuckin’ forget about it!” Of course not. Stupid. I shift in my seat and tug my lap belt a little tighter. He doesn’t seem to notice and I am thankful for it. I don’t need more shit about how I am such a “sissy-boy”. 

“Dad, you’re drunk, please, just-” His cold eyes land on me and I flinch. I thought for a second he was going to land a punch right here in the car as we swerve down the road. He doesn’t hit me though. Just pins me to the seat with his hateful glare that always rips me apart. I don’t think I have seen him look at me with love. Not once has he ever looked at me like a normal dad does. It makes me hate him and hate my mom, whoever she is. I hate her maybe even more than I hate him. She didn’t want me so she handed me over to him. She made me live this way. I wish both of them were dead. Who knows? Maybe she already is.

“Shut up boy before I make you shut the hell up like your lying whore mother!” Why does he have to call her that? Was she a damn prostitute or something? 

“Dad! C’mon! Your all over the road! Pull over. Please!” He is scaring the shit out of me now. We’re going to be wrapped around a utility pole if he doesn’t stop. I have to stop him. He raises his straight as a board hand and rears back to slap the piss out of me like he has done so many time. 

“I need to teach you a lesson in obedience you worthless little asshole!” I turn my head to brace for the blow. My eyes catch a glimpse of something. Oh shit! I reach for the wheel. 

“Dad! Watch out!” The impact was so loud. Glass breaks, metal grinds, rubber squeals against the pavement, and smoke billows. I went lurching forward but the belt jerked tight across my chest, pinning me to the seat. I look up and try to see through the smoke drifting over the hood of dad’s car. I’m too late. I’m too late and this is completely my fault. We have hit another car. Head on. Dad’s old heavy four-door has smashed right into the small economy car in front of us. I should have walked home or called for another ride. I should have taken the beating for forcing him to pull over. I should have been a man not the sissy-boy that I am. Fuck! I unclip my belt with shaky hands then reach across and unbuckle dad. The sorry bastard is looking scared. What the hell? 

“Listen to me boy. You were driving. Understand?” What? He wants me to take the blame for the wreck?

“Dad, I-” He leans over to me and his breath is strong. It smells like an open bottle of booze. 

“You. Were. Driving. Say something different, and see what happens, sissy-boy. Just try it!” Spit flies out of his mouth and makes me flinch as it spews onto my cheek. I don’t say anything. I wrench my jaw from his hand and forcefully shoulder out of my side of the car. I run to the other car. 

“Oh, Jesus! Oh, God!” I am frozen for a moment. I can’t move. The front of this car is now in the middle of the car. Fuck! I can see blood splattered onto the glass. I’m scared. I don’t want to go over there. I can’t go over there. I run my hands through my hair. Dad makes his way from our car. It looks like he isn’t hurt at all. I am not hurt either. But this car in front of me is crumpled and has blood sprayed on the glass! 

“Please!” Someone is alive in there. I push past the fear and hurry to the car. I can see through the broken window that the two people in the front seat are gone. There is so much blood. 

“Oh, God. Oh, God. I’m so sorry. Oh, God.” 

“Please, help me!” I can see her easily through the busted out window. And with my heart pumping out of control I could not care less about anything except getting these people help. 

“I’ve got you. C’mon. Dad, get them out of the front. GO!” There is a little girl in the back seat. She is struggling to get free. I don’t know how but I pull the door so hard I nearly go falling back on my ass.

She is younger than me and she has blood oozing down her leg. She is stuck behind the driver’s seat. The crash has shoved everything back. The hood of the car is now where the dashboard should be, and both of the front seats have been sandwiched in the middle. I have to get her out. I peek over at the front passenger’s seat though I am scared too. I wish I hadn’t. The woman must be her mother. She has blood pouring from where her left eye should be. I can’t see it though. There is just blood and her hair is matted in it. She isn’t moving. I don’t know if she is breathing but I learned how to check someone’s pulse in physical education. I stretch across the girl and hold my fingers beside her watch like I learned. It could be my racing heart and shaky hands but I can’t feel anything. Nothing. I have to get this girl out. I carefully get a grip on her and I figure quick is best. Her leg looks bad and this is going to hurt but she needs help. I jerk her form the car with one hard tug. Oh, shit. I feel queasy. I get one look at the bone barely peeking through her skin and nearly hurl. Oh shit. That looks like it hurts. This is my doing. 

“This is my fault. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I’ll make sure you are okay.” I have to. I have to make this better. I can’t make it right but maybe I can try to make it better. Maybe there is something I can do. I don’t know, but I have to try. The ambulance arrives and I hurry her to the paramedics. They take her from me and push me aside so that they can take care of her. I want them to take care of her and all, but I want to stay with her. She has no one else here. She needs to have a person. She needs someone who watches and waits to find out what is next. Her parents are not going to make it. I can tell. It’s my fault so I’ll be here for her. I will be her person. I have to be her person.

J.L. Mac is twenty-six years old and currently resides in El Paso, Texas, where she enjoys living near her parents and siblings. She was born and raised in Galveston, Texas, until she married her husband in July of 2005. She has two young children and is married to a soldier in the United States Army. J.L. and her family have lived all over the United States and have enjoyed each new experience in each new place. J.L. admittedly has had a long and sordid love affair with the written word and has loved every minute of it. She drinks too many glasses of wine on occasion,and says way too many swear words to be considered “lady-like.” J.L. spends her free time reading, writing, and playing with her children.

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