From the New York Times bestselling author of the Marked Men books comes the second installment in the Saints of Denver series featuring a bad girl and a by the book attorney who could be her salvation...or her ruin.
Avett Walker and Quaid Jackson’s worlds have no reason to collide. Ever. Quaid is a high powered criminal attorney as slick as he is handsome. Avett is a pink-haired troublemaker with a bad attitude and a history of picking the wrong men.
When Avett lands in a sea of hot water because of one terrible mistake, the only person who can get her out of it is the insanely sexy lawyer. The last thing on earth she wants to do is rely on the no-nonsense attorney who thinks of her as nothing more than a nuisance. He literally has her fate in his hands. Yet there is something about him that makes her want to convince him to loosen his tie and have a little fun…with her.
Quaid never takes on clients like the impulsive young woman with a Technicolor dye job. She could stand to learn a hard lesson or two, but something about her guileless hazel eyes intrigues him. Still, he’s determined to keep their relationship strictly business. But doing so is becoming more impossible with each day he spends with her.
As they work side-by-side, they’ll have to figure out a way to get along and keep their hands off each other—because the chemistry between them is beyond charged.
MELISSA'S REVIEW
As it seems to be with Jay's novels as of late, my reaction to Charged is a mixed bag. Some parts I loved and others I just can’t muster any excitement for. But, I think it is worth noting that the things I do love are what keep me coming back for more of her stories.
I’ve mentioned this in previous reviews, and it is clear as crystal with Charged – this is a Jay Crownover novel. Her writing style and approach to romance is so uniquely hers that I could pick out her work in a romance excerpt line up. It’s confident and measured despite the high frequency of releases in the past three years (13 if you’re counting). Her stories have depth and are abundant with relatable themes and Charged has it in spades. Jay approached the clichéd opposites attract theme with contrary and colorful characters resulting in a sharp story despite the trope’s overuse in the genre.
If you’re familiar with the Marked Men series, you know what a hot mess Avett is. She is irresponsible and careless, always beating down the outreach of love and support shown by her father and his tight knit group of men. As she has resurfaced time and again, I never felt betrayed by her despite her foolishness, figuring she was just young and immature. In Charged as my true understanding of her behavior was formed I couldn’t help but feel sympathetic towards her. Thankfully as her story unfolded, she grew from self-inflicting, petulant brat to someone who is making a positive way forward. I really enjoyed the familial undertones of her story, as she rebuilt her relationship with her parents, and loved getting to know Brite and Darcy a little more.
Initially, Quaid was a little harder for me to get to know. Jay carefully interspersed his story parallel to the love story between he and Avett which heightened my curiosity for him and motivated me to finish the novel. I liked that regardless of his past and his materialistic camouflage he seemed to be very forthright, unwavering and affectionate. He didn’t close himself off or beat himself up and seemed to be eager to share himself with Avett.
Despite my enjoyment of both Avett and Quaid unaccompanied, I didn’t feel that their connection was all that overwhelming. Okay, yes, their intense sexual chemistry resulted in some of the hottest Jay Crownover steam scenes to date. But, as a couple, in a romantic relationship? It wasn’t as believable and I think that this is due in part of the delivery. Sure, the writing is solid and Jay’s talent shines but, there is a lot of inner monologue going on here, a lot, and I just didn’t like it. There is too much tell and not enough show and I can’t help but feel a little boo-hoo about it, because I think Quaid and Avett do complement eachother, but the internal narration was excessive and tedious. Sigh.
Anyway, would I recommend this? Probably. I think romance readers who appreciate themes of family and redemption will really enjoy Avett and Quaid's story. I’m looking forward to the next book and cannot wait to meet more of the men and women in the Saints of Denver series.
EXCERPT
Quaid
I narrowed my eyes at her, shifted my weight from foot to foot as her proximity and the charge of her pushing and me pulling thickened both my blood and my cock. I was an attorney for a reason. I never met an argument I didn’t like or that I didn’t feel compelled to win. The way Avett always seemed to challenge me was as much of a turn-on as her curvy little body was.
“Where is your father?” I lifted my eyes from her penetrating gaze in search of the big biker. I didn’t need to try and explain a black eye or a broken arm to Orsen on top of why I suddenly had no interest in searching out a pretty piece of ass to spend time with.
“He’s waiting at the truck. I told him I had some questions I needed to ask you about what happens next.”
“Do you?”
“Do I what?” She was getting increasingly annoyed and I wanted to groan at the way it made her cheeks flush and her breathing hitch. I bet she looked the same way when she was about to come.
Shit. That was not the direction I needed my thoughts to go, but now that they were there I didn’t have a chance in hell of wrangling them back into the safe zone.
“Do you have questions about what happens next?” My voice didn’t sound like my own and I knew there was no hiding the wayward direction of my thoughts as they played out in my gaze as I watched her carefully.
Slowly, her head shook back and forth, dislodging the bun at the back of her head. Pink strands of hair floated around her face, curling over her shoulders, and my fingertips itched to reach out and push it off her face.
“I know what happens next, Quaid…do you?” Her tone had dropped to a husky whisper that hit me right in the dick. My entire body tensed up and I almost, very nearly, leaned down and met her as she lifted up on her tiptoes towards me. I wanted to kiss her. I wanted her to kiss me. But over the top of her head, as she moved towards me, I caught sight of a familiar face. The heady, little bubble of seduction and intoxicating risk that Avett had created around me popped, dropping me hard, back into reality.
I turned my head as her lips grazed my cheek, and even though it was as innocent as any kiss had ever been, it felt more erotic, more forbidden, and more illicit than any of the actual sex I had ever had. This little slip of a woman could demolish me, waste me, annihilate me, and if I allowed her to do it, I knew it would feel better than anything had in a very long time.
ABOUT JAY CROWNOVER
Jay Crownover is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men, The Point, and the Saints of Denver series. Like her characters, she is a big fan of tattoos. She loves music and wishes she could be a rock star, but since she has no aptitude for singing or instrument playing, she'll settle for writing stories with interesting characters that make the reader feel something. She lives in Colorado with her three dogs.