Oh my heart! I did not realize just how much I missed the crew in Denver (and Austin)! This brings us the Marked Men that I fell in love with and their grown-up offspring. I will admit it took me a bit to keep the kids straight with who their parents were (and who were cousins and not), but I was quickly immersed back into this world and loved seeing old friends in the role of mature parents and seeing how their kids have grown into their own personalities. The next generation has a whole new dynamic that is all their own. 

This one focuses on Ry Archer (Rule and Shaw's son) and Bowe Keller (Jet and Ayden's daughter).

Ry is the responsible, well-liked, rule follower, golden boy, football player, and perfectionist. He works hard to prove himself worthy and is used to winning. He has his life all planned, but when one thing in his life starts to crumble, it sends him spiraling. He is emotionally repressed so when something goes awry he becomes unpredictable and irrational. And in his haste to leave questioning family and friends behind, he takes off and ends up on a path he did not expect. 

Bowe is a bit surprised when her frenemy Ry shows up at her door a long way from home. They had always circled around each other until things went too far and they went their separate ways.  Bowe is a colorful, edgy, intimidating, observant, tough, non-conformist, and rule breaker. She is also brutally honest and can see right through Ry's constructed veneer, and that is just what he needs.

They have the whole opposites-attract thing going, but can see below the surface of the other. They are truthful and push and challenge each other. But they also scare each other as well. They are both at a point where they need to find out who they are and what they want to be without the pressure of parental expectations. She fires Ry up and makes him braver. He pushes her to realize what her own dreams are. But they have to deal with priorities, challenges, unsure futures, and unexpected situations. Timing is important and has not always been on their side.

This is about two people now trying to find their way, push boundaries, and figure out what they can and cannot live without.  They thought their paths were set, but they are finding forks in the road that they did not see coming. It's angsty, dramatic, emotional, intense, and still has humor and sweetness too. 

The characters are so well developed and have such emotional depth. All the connections are so layered and complex. Not only between all the younger characters and older characters, but also between the parents and their children. Relationships between them all are complicated and constantly evolving. I am so intrigued by the other stories developing under the surface for the other young adults. There are so many dynamics and secrets and I truly hope she ends up writing books for the other kids. I am all in! This was everything I did not realize I needed right now. A whole new group but back to a comfy place with characters I love and seeing the bonds and such progression. I finished late last night and I still keep thinking about them today.