Blog Tour! Asa (Marked Men #6) by Jay Crownover - Review & Giveaway
Synopsis:
Starting over in Denver with a whole new circle of friends and family, Asa Cross struggles with being the man he knows everyone wants him to be and the man he knows he really is. A leopard doesn’t it change its spots and Asa has always been a predator. He doesn’t want to hurt those who love and rely on him, especially one luscious arresting cop who suddenly seems to be interested in him for far more than his penchant for breaking the law. But letting go of old habits is hard, and it’s easy to hit bottom when it’s the place you know best.
Royal Hastings is quickly learning what the bottom looks like after a tragic situation at work threatens not only her career but her partner’s life. As a woman who has only ever had a few real friends she’s trying to muddle through her confusion and devastation all alone. Except she can’t stop thinking about the sexy southern bartender she locked up. Crushing on Asa is the last thing she needs but his allure is too strong to resist. His long criminal record can only hurt her already shaky career and chasing after a guy who has no respect for the law or himself can only end in heartbreak.
A longtime criminal and a cop together just seems so wrong . . . but for Asa and Royal, being wrong together is the only right choice to make.
Review:
Oh Asa I never wanted you to end. Not just because you are so good and I never want any of these books to end, but that also means that this amazing series, The Marked Men, is over. It make me sad, like losing a friend, but at least we have all of these amazing guys to read again and again. Plus the Saints of Denver series to look forward to (with possibly some glimpses of the Marked Men throughout since you know it is set in the same city/world as this series!). I didn't want you to end, but you didn't let me down. This was an amazing read, an amazing end to this series, and I heart Asa and Royal and all the characters we have met along the way!
When we first met Asa back in Jet he was not a good guy. He was using his sister, like he apparently always has. He almost died in that book and that near death experience changed him. He got his act together, started working for Rome at his bar, just has been trying to stay on the up and up. The problem? Even though everyone else has noticed he has changed he doesn't think he has. He still thinks of himself as that person who did all those terrible things. He still feels guilty for everything he has done and thinks it would be too easy to slip back into the Asa he used to be. He doesn't want to, but he doesn't trust himself not to.
Royal is kind of crashing and burning. Her guilt over her partner being shot on the job is eating her up inside. It doesn't matter how many times people tell her it wasn't her fault, her partner is fine, he doesn't even blame her, she blames herself. She is having a hard time dealing with this, dealing with her emotions in a positive way. She is drawn to Asa, drawn to how he makes her feel okay when nothing else does, but he keeps trying to keep her at arms length. He wants her, but doesn't want to be just another mistake she makes.
When they finally start to see each other, they finally get together, things are not easy. Royal is a really strong lady who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to work for it. She wants Asa. Just Asa. As he is, not some other incarnation of himself. If only he could see that and see how good he is. Asa is his own worst enemy.
Royal is really great for Asa. She helps him get over his past, just like he helped her get over her issues. She was just this amazing lady who grew as the story progressed and you cannot help but love her.
There are some really heartbreaking moments in this book. Asa really is a great guy like I knew he would be. Sure he has a bad past, but he has been trying to change and make things better. He can be so incredibly selfless when he wants even if that hurts him. What he does for Royal, how he is with her, how much he cares, is beautiful. I loved both of them as they are such an amazing couple. The cop and the criminal. Shouldn't work, but it does.
I was sad to have this story end, sad to have to say goodbye to these amazing characters, but it won't be the last I read them. You get to see pieces of everyone else's lives in here, everyone from the prior books, and it was just a really great way to wrap up this series. I cannot wait for more from Jay Crownover. I love her books, love her characters, just love her. Thank you for writing these amazing people. It is always a bit sad when you close a chapter, but there is more to come. I know whatever Jay writes in the future will be amazing, just like these have been. Plus the Marked Men are here for me to read again and again whenever I need. Like saying hello to an old friend you haven't seen in a while. Simply amazing.
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★1/2
When we first met Asa back in Jet he was not a good guy. He was using his sister, like he apparently always has. He almost died in that book and that near death experience changed him. He got his act together, started working for Rome at his bar, just has been trying to stay on the up and up. The problem? Even though everyone else has noticed he has changed he doesn't think he has. He still thinks of himself as that person who did all those terrible things. He still feels guilty for everything he has done and thinks it would be too easy to slip back into the Asa he used to be. He doesn't want to, but he doesn't trust himself not to.
Royal is kind of crashing and burning. Her guilt over her partner being shot on the job is eating her up inside. It doesn't matter how many times people tell her it wasn't her fault, her partner is fine, he doesn't even blame her, she blames herself. She is having a hard time dealing with this, dealing with her emotions in a positive way. She is drawn to Asa, drawn to how he makes her feel okay when nothing else does, but he keeps trying to keep her at arms length. He wants her, but doesn't want to be just another mistake she makes.
"Of course he likes you. Maybe he can just tell that you don't like you very much right now."
When they finally start to see each other, they finally get together, things are not easy. Royal is a really strong lady who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to work for it. She wants Asa. Just Asa. As he is, not some other incarnation of himself. If only he could see that and see how good he is. Asa is his own worst enemy.
"I think you love her but you're so caught up in the then and so worried about the when that you can't even see the now."
Royal is really great for Asa. She helps him get over his past, just like he helped her get over her issues. She was just this amazing lady who grew as the story progressed and you cannot help but love her.
There are some really heartbreaking moments in this book. Asa really is a great guy like I knew he would be. Sure he has a bad past, but he has been trying to change and make things better. He can be so incredibly selfless when he wants even if that hurts him. What he does for Royal, how he is with her, how much he cares, is beautiful. I loved both of them as they are such an amazing couple. The cop and the criminal. Shouldn't work, but it does.
I was sad to have this story end, sad to have to say goodbye to these amazing characters, but it won't be the last I read them. You get to see pieces of everyone else's lives in here, everyone from the prior books, and it was just a really great way to wrap up this series. I cannot wait for more from Jay Crownover. I love her books, love her characters, just love her. Thank you for writing these amazing people. It is always a bit sad when you close a chapter, but there is more to come. I know whatever Jay writes in the future will be amazing, just like these have been. Plus the Marked Men are here for me to read again and again whenever I need. Like saying hello to an old friend you haven't seen in a while. Simply amazing.
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★1/2
Don't miss the prior books in the Marked Men series
Nash available on Amazon, Amazon.de, Barnes & Noble, and Goodreads
Rowdy available on Amazon, Amazon.de, Barnes & Noble, and Goodreads
About the Author:
Jay Crownover is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men series. She also introduced the dark and sexy world of The Point that started with BETTER WHEN HE's BAD and is currently working on her newest series The Saints of Denver. 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.
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