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Release Reviews: Blacklisted: Jay Crownover

by - Tuesday, October 27, 2020


BLACKLISTED 
(Loveless, Texas #3)
Jay Crownover
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Release Date October 27, 2020

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Marked Men series comes an irresistible and suspenseful romance between a doctor who plays by the rules and the outlaw who breaks them in order to protect her.

Dr. Presley Baskin has always lived a quiet, calm life. Unfortunately, nothing about her life in Loveless, Texas---especially not the wild, rowdy, and impossibly close-knit Lawton family who've claimed her---is quiet or calm. Which is how loner Presley finds herself roped into patching up local bad boy Shot Caldwell against her better judgment. Presley wants nothing to do with the dangerous, brooding leader of the local outlaw motorcycle club. But when someone starts stalking her, Shot is the only person she trusts to help. Plus he owes her one...

Palmer 'Shot' Caldwell has always known his life isn't made for relationships. At least until shy, secretive, Presley reluctantly pulled a bullet out of him. He's oddly protective of the pretty doctor, so when she comes to him for help, hard-hearted Shot suddenly realizes there's nothing he wouldn't do to keep her safe.


Graphics from Author's newsletter
Dr. Presley Baskin has been having a really rough time. Her entire life imploded and she is now left dealing with loss and anger, waiting for her ex-friend and current stalker to come out of hiding, and dealing with new half-siblings she did not know she had. When her half-sister calls her desperate for help, she did not expect to have to help save the life of the President of the local MC Club. 

Shot Caldwell would have died if not for the Presley. And even though he knows she is not the kind of woman for him and is also the Sheriff's half-sister, he pays his debts. And that is his justification for why he cannot seem to stay away from her even when she or her half-brother tell him to. But it becomes clear pretty fast that Presley is in danger and Shot just cannot leave her unprotected. 

“I’m the one who is going to purposely cross your path. I’m never going to walk the other way when I see you coming. I’m going to head right toward you.”

Presley is reserved, sweet, analytical, anxiety-ridden, hurt, and afraid. She has been hiding out and trying to keep safe. Shot is ex-military, an MC legacy, bossy, and likes to be in control. He has plenty of his own enemies gunning for him and his club too. He knows he is not meant for relationships even though he had a casual one with her half-sister. Yes, another reason Presley should be off-limits.

He is the chaos...she is the calmness. He is alpha, tough, and protective. He pushes her out of her comfort zone and encourages her to take back her life. She is becoming empowered and determined to deal with her situation once and for all so she can find peace. 
They take turns saving each other and trading favors. And along the way they start connecting and getting more serious. But they are different types of people and live different lives. 

The truth was that there was no place in the life I was preparing to go back to for someone like Shot Caldwell. It was boring, predictable, and staid…well it would be once no one was trying to kill me. And who was I to expect someone who lived their life full tilt, full speed, and out of control to try and understand that? To try and find their space inside the stillness? Not me. I would never. 

This is an opposites-attract, forbidden, good-girl-meets-bad-boy romance with danger, suspense, and heat. It is not only a romantic suspense story, but also a journey of self-realization and a catalyst for change for both of them. It's about finding a connection, balance, priorities, and the importance of family and a home. I enjoyed seeing the growth in the characters and changing dynamics with her family and his club.  It brings back the intense Lawton siblings and their significant others, and continues and concludes the ongoing mystery and suspense story arc that began in the previous books. And it lets us see what is going on in their relationships and leave them right where they need to be. 

I will admit that I had a harder time keeping my attention on this one and I am not sure why. It could have just been me. Something about the point of view or writing style of this one that did not draw me in as much as her books usually do. It took me longer to read than usual and I kept putting it down. But the last half went faster and had more action than the first part. And overall, I liked it and the characters. 
Presley Baskin lived a quiet, ordered life as she progressed her career through the medical examiner’s office. When she was offered a promotion, it set off a chain of events, sparking the ire of a sociopath. 

Shot Caldwell lives for his club. He may not always act within the law, but he gets things done his way. He knows local law enforcement watches him, but he also makes sure he does things right, so he won’t get caught. When Presley pulls a bullet from him, he finds himself in her debt, a position he doesn’t allow often. But when she needs his help he will do everything possible to keep her safe.

This is a compelling opposites attract. I loved both of these characters for different reasons. Shot has been a recurring side character in the Loveless series, and though he is rough around the edges and very much enmeshed in the MC life and all the law breaking that goes with it, he has a strong compass that guides his decisions and actions. Presley is very much a by the book kind of person, so learning to live with his code is a challenge for her.

As the threat looming over Presley has her questioning every move, I couldn’t help but wait to see how the men around her would react. As the half-sister of the sheriff (and all the Lawton siblings), she has people looking out for her. She isn’t used to having the support though and it never hurts to have more. She doesn’t want to impose on her new-found family, so finds herself turning to Shot when she needs help.

There was more to this story than just the threat from her former best friend. I loved the way things played out in the other aspects of the story, pieces I hadn’t seen coming but were needed for Presley to feel fully a part of the Lawton family. This was as much Presley finding her place in the family as it was about her relationship with Shot (and those 2 things were also connected in the small town of Loveless). 

I enjoyed this return to Loveless and am glad we got this story for Shot and Presley. The series arc finds resolution (finally!) in this story and I have been eagerly waiting to see how that all played out. 


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From the New York Times bestselling author of the Marked Men series comes a captivating novella about a rugged rodeo star who will do anything to protect the people he loves.

When rodeo star Crew Lawton loses everything in a bad bet, he has no choice but to take a new job to pay off his debts – even if it means becoming the face of an expensive male skincare line. Crew is used to getting sweaty and rustling in the dirt, not posing for photo shoots. And he’s certainly not used to being bossed around by a woman who doesn’t even know the difference between bulls and broncs. But Crew owes money to dangerous criminals, and he’ll do anything Della says in order to pay them back and keep them far away from his family in Loveless, Texas…

The launch of her new men’s line for her family’s company means everything to Della Deveaux, and she’s not willing to let some rugged, arrogant cowboy ruin her campaign. Crew Lawton is the last man she would have chosen to represent her chic, sophisticated brand. Unfortunately, her father already invested millions in Crew’s stupidly handsome face. Yet the more time they spend together, Della and Crew realize that opposites do attract. But when the time comes for Crew to face his past mistakes, will he be able to protect his family…and the woman he’s come to love?

JUSTIFIED 
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From the New York Times bestselling author of the Marked Men series comes an irresistible and thrilling romance between a rugged Texas sheriff and the woman who was once his sworn enemy…
Case Lawton comes from a family of criminals. So as the sheriff of Loveless, Texas, he’s determined to do everything by the book – until he’s called to Aspen Barlow’s office after a so-called break-in. The last thing he wants to do is help the woman who cost him custody of his son. But Aspen isn’t the heartless lawyer Case remembers, and he starts to question his long-held grudge…
Aspen is scared for her life, and Case is her last hope for protection. But to get him on her side, she’ll have to reveal the painful truth from all those years ago. Now, as they work together to track down a dangerous criminal, Case and Aspen learn to trust each other. And as the threats escalate, it becomes clear there’s a thin line between love and hate… because there’s nothing Case wouldn’t do to keep her safe.
Includes a bonus story: “It’s All About That Cowboy” by Carly Bloom!

UNFORGIVEN
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Our reviews


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.

Includes the bonus novella Cowboy to the Rescue by A.J. Pine!
Jay Crownover
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, the Getaway series, and the Loveless, Texas 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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