Series: Closer To You #2
Author: A.L. Jackson
Published: June 24, 2014 NAL
Format: Galley, Penguin - Thank you!
A second chance at life…
A second chance at love…
Jared Holt never thought he deserved either—until he found both in the arms of Aly Moore. Aly has loved Jared for as long as she can remember, and she’s more than ready for the future they’re making together. But Jared can’t help remembering his own family. And he’ll never forgive himself for what happened to them. How can he allow himself the very happiness he once destroyed?
To live a life worthy of Aly, Jared knows he has to stop running and finally put his past to rest. But when he decides to face his demons head on, he encounters more than he bargained for: a dangerous mix of jealousy, lies, and dishonest intentions. When those intentions threaten Aly, Jared loses all control, giving into the rage that earned him his bad boy reputation years before. And he’ll fight to protect her no matter what it costs…even if he destroys himself in the process.
*Sigh* This series... *Sigh* What do I say? I love it. It has moved me a million different ways, and it's only up to book two. Quick recap? In Come To Me Quietly, Jared comes back to town, runs into his old friend Chris. Christopher offers Jared a spot on the couch. Aly, Chris's sister, also lives there. Old crushes die hard, and despite a horribly tragic occurance in Jared's life, him and Aly crash together in this cosmic boom of love and lust and need and devotion. It's simply beautiful... heart crushing at times, but the beauty of it all... *sigh* It was wonderful.
He looked back at me. One side of his mouth lifted, all sexy and indecent.
Could he know what that lone look did to me? Not a chance, because this feeling was impossible. Crossing his arms over his strong chest, he rested further back on my car, and his mouth spread into a full smirk.
I shook my head at myself. Maybe he did actually know.
"What are you doing over there when you are supposed to be here with me?" His voices slipped along the ground, his intent reverberating against me.
Come To Me Quietly starts back up with Jared and Aly. They're together, and they've got the baby on the way. Life is... well, hey, it's good - as good as it can get for the moment. Like my favorite line in Willy Wonka? What happened to the boy who suddenly got everything he ever wanted? He lived happily ever after. Well, it seems that Jared and Aly have suddenly got their HEA, right? So then why a book two for them? Seems all is not settled, right? Jared is still dealing with the devastation that losing his mother has caused him. Aly is holding on to him, and holding him up as best as she can. These two...without a doubt, they are soulmates. You can feel the need for each other radiating from them. They are absolutely two halves of one soul - but is that enough?
And that's what we deal with in book two. There's no doubt these two want to be together, but now the issue is more a question of "Can they?" Jared is sweeping things under the rug, he's ignoring his problems and trying to steamroll right into his future. But he is an emotional man, and it's only a matter of time before his pressure cooker releases, and he explodes. Come To Me Softly definitely focuses more on Jared and his issues revolving around, well, everything.
My heart begged for him. Whispered and pled for him. But God, did my body ever ache for him.
Aly is a rock. She's there for Jared, no matter what. And he knows that. And I know it. I love her. And there comes a point in this book where she has to make a very big decision for the betterment of her and the baby, and also for Jared. It's a bit of tough love, but it's love. And it's the hard decisions that show us how true and deep it is.
But hey, they aren't the only characters in this book. Of course there is Christopher. OMG, you have to love him, right He is so protective of his little sister, he just makes me smile. Even when his protectiveness goes into over-protectiveness. Christopher is very much a person made of glue. He holds Jared together, he helps hold Aly and Jared together, he helps hold his family together when there are rifts. He's a good man - and I'm so excited for his upcoming book.
This book had a bit of everything. Lots of emotion and drama, tons of tension, a bit of heat, and some good ol' fashioned romance. This couple is one of my favorites in the New Adult world, and I am eager to read every word in the whole Closer To You series. I can't recommend this book enough - but definitely start with Come To Me Quietly. If you are a fan of contemporary new adult romance, you will NOT be disappointed.
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