Mammas, don’t let your cowboys grow up to be…singers.Five years ago, I was an oilfield roughneck with little to show for myself besides my voice. I never thought my songs would land me in the spotlight, working with country music legend Krystal King, but now that I’m here, I’m determined to make it all the way to the top. If only Krystal’s haunting eyes weren’t so distracting…Krystal grew up … up on stage, and the more time I spend with her, the less I see the appeal of her “golden life.” She’s got secrets, and soon, I’m fostering a wild addiction to her, and letting go of my own dreams to help her heal. But getting her to risk her battered heart may not be possible, and the path to redemption looks like it’s going to be even harder than the path to glory.
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Audiobook Review:
Overall – 5
Performance – 4
Story – 5
Heartbreaking in places but also very romantic.
As far as I know, Jace is the first book I’ve listened to performed by Robin Verne and I think she did a good job. I’m pretty picky about female narrators who have to do a lot of male voices in a book so while I would have preferred a male voice at times, I still enjoyed listening to this book over-all.
Jace is the first book in a series and I liked it enough to want to listen to more of the books. My heart broke for Krystal. It was quite a way into the book before we find out for sure what happened to her but there were major hints along the way so it wasn’t a big surprise when all was revealed.
Jace was a warm and caring person and I pretty much loved everything about him. You could tell how much he cared for Krystal.
So far, I see that there are two more books in this series, both of them about Krystal’s other siblings. I won’t give anything away but I sure hope there is at least one more book to come because I really want to know Sawyer’s story.
Gripping Country Romance
Great characters, captivation plot, and lots of feels.
From the first page to the last I was entranced. The characters were so real-to-life I wanted to hug them, scream at a few, and beat the heck out a couple more especially Uncle Tig. I loved the close bond between the siblings and thanked the lord my mom is nothing like Cici King.
I enjoyed the book so much I’ve already downloaded the next book in the series.
The narrator did a great job, except when it came to the songs. She slowly read them word for word without any type of beat. It was frustrating.
Once again, Sasha Summers has delivered an amazing book! I laughed, cried, and couldn’t stop reading this beautifully written story about country music stars Jace Black and Krystal King. This cowboy hero is the kind of swoon-worthy gentleman who would stand in the shadows just so she can shine. You are going to LOVE him! They create magic on the country music stage and will take you on an emotional journey of love and finding inner strength.
Summers tackles some big issues with empathy and grace, leading to a very satisfying ending. I can’t wait for the next book in the Kings of Country series!
WOW! What a wonderfully written tragic, emotional, impactful romantic story!
I just LOVED Krystal King and Jace Black, the lead characters in this fantastic book. Krystal is a wonderful, totally misunderstood woman. She puts out this bad attitude to the world that she is invincible to the outside world. However, in her own mind, and soul, she has been damaged to the very depths of her soul. Jace, he truly sees her for the phenomenal woman she really is. He just knows she is not the person everyone else sees. I LOVED watching Jace pull back the layers and really see Krystal.
ALL the characters are very well developed. The way that Ms. Summers builds them, you/I just either absolutely love them, or absolutely HATE them. Take Krystal’s mother, PLEASE take her away and just drop her off a cliff. I just wanted to throat punch the b, er witch more and more throughout the book. How could any mother do this?!?! Sorry Ladies, I cannot give anything away.
The author, Sasha Summer, is a new to me author whose writing that I have been introduced thru NetGalley. I was gifted with a copy of this book for my honest opinions of this book/story. Thank you NetGalley, I have definitely found a new author to love and follow!!
Thank you, Ms. Summers for sharing your writing talents with the world. You took a hard subject, brought it to life, and made it your, errr, witch! Kudos!
The ONLY thing I think the author/publisher could have done to make this book, not the story, better, is put links at the end of the book to national hotlines to groups to help victims of such abuse.
I cannot wait to read about the rest of Krystal’s and Jace’s siblings.
Thank you for reading my review. I hope I have helped you make the decision to hit that purchase button. I really think you will love this story as much as I have.
4 1/2 STARS!
An emotional journey of healing! With the first book in her Kings of Country series Sasha Summers brings us a story filled with hope as life unravels and rebuilds. I was drawn into the characters and the story quickly and didn’t want the book to end. I’m looking forward to the next one in the series!
Krystal King is an attention grabbing character right off the bat. She is supposed to be this big country star with the world at her feet, but it doesn’t take the reader long to see the undertones of what her life is really like, and as the story line progresses, we start to figure out that sometimes the bright lights and smoke are hiding a nightmare.
Jace Black is so yummy! He’s your typical hardworking cowboy type in the oil fields of Texas when all of a sudden a twist of fate brings him into a world unlike anything he’s ever known. He’s humble, kind and such a temptation to hardened Krystal.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves an emotional love story that has to overcome hurdles on it’s way to happily ever after. The characters were relatable and the plot carried itself well.
This was such a realistic story. The author obviously has some first-hand insight into the ruthless cutthroat world of the music business. Krystal King has grown up on the stage and in the spotlight, with a father who was a country music giant. She, her sister, and her brother make up The Three Kings and produce hit after hit. But Krystal is broken inside, while outwardly, she’s tough as leather. And when a newcomer is brought in after winning a talent show, she is not happy about being forced to allow him to record a song (her song) that means the world to her. But the record label insists. And not only insists that she give him the song to record, but that her sister will sing the duet with him, not her. The hurt and betrayal go deep. But Emmy Lou, Krystal’s twin sister understands and fakes a sore throat, forcing them to let Krystal sing with Jace Black. Krystal wants to hate him and tries to find every reason to do so.
But Jace is a gentleman through and through. And he’s overwhelmed at the opportunity he’s been given to work with his idols, having signed a contract to open shows for them. He’s finally out of the oilfields and living his dream. Now he can make a better life for himself and his little sister whom he takes care of. Neither Krystal nor Jace are prepared for the intensity of the chemistry between them.
Krystal suffered sexual abuse at the hands of a man whom everyone thought was a family friend (even called him uncle). And although it’s been years, the deep scars have never healed. Krystal is convinced she is so flawed no one can ever love her. Jace is determined to prove her wrong.
Her resistance is strong, but he is stronger.
This is such a good story with a realistic view into the world of stardom, life on the road, and a family that survives whatever is thrown at them. The characters are believable and the world-building is great. If you love a highly charged romance with lots of obstacles, this book is for you, and especially if you are also a music fan!
Jace by Sasha Summers
1st book in the Kings of Country series. Contemporary romance.
Childhood sexual abuse revealed and exposed.
Krystal King and her family tour on the country music scene. Jace Black, having won a signing contest, joins the family and is awarded Krystal’s newest written song. She’s not thrilled to have to share her music but the two have immediate sparks soon their duet is a hit with fans. Their powerful connection also brings out the gossips and controversy.
A powerful romance. A positive resolution of past and hidden abuse. A little disappointed on a couple of decisions that Krystal makes while under pressure but loved that Jace was steady and reliable. Wonderful romantic ending and the future of Kings books to come is exciting.
4.5
I’ve been on a Sasha Summers kick lately, and this first book in her Kings of Country Series didn’t disappoint. This series promises to be just as good as others she’s written.
Jace was a scrumptious hero with a capital S and a gentleman through and through, which was exactly what the heroine Krystal needed after what she’d been through—a gentle man. The sometimes dark subject matter was handled with sensitivity and well done, and the outcome from it was triumphant and satisfying.
I loved reading about the country music scene, too. It was like having a front-row seat to what it was like to be a country music star. And the lyrics of the songs and the scenes where Jace and Krystal were onstage—sigh. So romantic and breath-stealing.
The next book in the series is Brock, which is Emmy Lou’s story, and I can’t wait for it to come out. Summers is an excellent author whose writing is both heartwarming and poignant. Highly recommend!
Sasha Summers tackles a tough issue so eloquently in this book. Krystal King the sister in The Three Kings that rough around the edges, put all of her pain and brokenness into the songs she wrote. Here pinnacle song was going to be given to her sister and some new comer Jace Black.
Although when she sang the song with Jace, they along with everyone else knew the duet was meant for them.
Jace wants to be the man that makes all the pain that ever happened in here life go away – Krystal thinks she is to broken.
This book is so good and will bring tears to your eyes and make your heart beat faster.
When an author combines my love for two things: Romance Books and Country Music….I get nervous. There was no reason to be with this book. Jace and Krystal took my love for both of these things to a whole new level. This is the first book in Sasha Summers new series, The Kings of Country and I can not wait to get my hands on the rest. Jace Black is an overnight sensation. He won a televised singing competition and fans, mainly women, fell in love with him and his voice. Krystal King on the other hand is the complete opposite of her twin sister Emmy Lou who radiates goodness and sunshine. Krystal, Emmy Lou and their older brother Travis make up the band The Three Kings. Krystal is devastated when her father, Hank King, and manager, Steve Zamora, decide that the new song she wrote should be sung as a duet by Jace and Emmy. Krystal is not happy since she feels deep down inside that this song bleeds her raw emotion and drama. When Emmy fakes being sick so her sister can sing “her” song it is instantly clear that Jace and Krystal have an intense chemistry between them.
The part I love the most about this book though is not that it is just a romance but a story about family and how far they will go to protect one of their own. Also the love this father has for all three of his children and how he wants them to succeed in their own right. This book definitely pulled at my heartstrings and I can not wait to see which one of the siblings will be featured in book 2. I am hoping for Emmy since it was mentioned that her ex was getting divorced but I will have to wait and see like everyone else.
Thank you to netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I loved this delightful tale of a singer born into country royalty and a country boy just starting out. The book is named for the hero but it is the heroines story that will drag you in and make you listen. I loved Jace and his gentlemanly ways. I ached for Krystal for what she’d gone through and would go through. I loved that Jace was there for her and fought for her. This book will take you on an emotional ride worthy of a country song.
You need to read about Krystal and Jace!
Country singer Krystal King is upset that the song she wrote is going to be recorded by her twin sister Emmy Lou and Jace Black, the winner of Next Top American Voice because she wanted to keep the song for herself. Emmy Lou decided to fake being sick so that Krystal would be forced to record with Jace and everyone was surprised how good they sounded together resulting in Jace being offered the opening act for the Three Kings of Krystal, Emmy Lou and their brother Travis.
Some books have a hard time pulling the reader into the story but Jace pulled me right in because I absolutely loved it and the background of the story especially for someone that was raised on classic country music. The connection between Krystal and Jace singing is amazing but I will let the author take you on the journey and it is worth the read!
P.S. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I absolutely adored this deeply emotional, tender, romantic love story!
Jace is The Next Big Thing in country music, a newcomer with a bright future who has been snatched up by the reigning King family, the father, a legendary solo artist, and his three adult children, whose trio act is consistently at the top of the charts. He is paired with one of the sisters, Krystal, to sing a duet of a song she wrote. This begins his association with the family who can make or break his career, and he unwittingly gets a glimpse behind the curtain of the inner workings of this perfect-in-public family.
The characterizations in this story are top-notch. Krystal’s personality fairly leaps off the page right from the start, and Jace is everything a girl could ask for. It’s a Tim and Faith style relationship that is solid from the start, even if one of them has a few doubts.
The author’s unique writing style perfectly captures the emotions and complicated thoughts of both main characters through the third-person omniscient POV. Krystal’s inner dialogue is portrayed in a delightfully quirky way to show her resisting her attraction to Jace. The way she comes to rely on him as her rock, her foundation, her shelter in the coming storm, solidified their relationship in a way that words never could. It’s very compelling, easy to read escapism that completely consumed me and required more than a few tissues towards the end.
There’s plenty of “kitchen counseling” and southern charm throughout this immersive look at the country music industry. I loved every bit of it, and am looking forward to future books in this series. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
JACE is a beautifully tragic love story about two people meant to be together. This sweet and endearing story is about the country music industry and it is a combination of funny and angsty and also tackles some important issues. The characters are realistic but both of them have some issues they are trying to work through. I enjoyed the story and all the entertaining characters.
Krystal comes from country music royalty. Her father is a big name in country music and Krystal and her brother and sister are the Three Kings, a top charting country act. Krystal is continually crucified by the press and she is tired of fighting all the negative publicity. My heart went out to Krystal because life and people haven’t been kind to her. I admire how strong Krystal is, but I also feel sorry for her because she suffers in silence and she is afraid to let anyone in.
Jace is such a good guy. He is caring and sensitive and just the right guy for Krystal. He is new to the music business and fascinated and intimidated by all the big stars he is meeting. He is instantly attracted to Krystal and also feels protective of her.
Krystal has never met anyone like Jace. He is a good guy with no ulterior motives; what you see is what you get with Jace. In the cutthroat music industry, Krystal doesn’t meet many people like Jace. However, she is afraid to let down her guard with Jace and put her heart on the line, because she has been hurt in the past. Krystal and Jace are perfect together. From the moment they meet, they are drawn to each other. I loved all their interactions and the wonderful music they creat together. I hope there is going to be a story about Emmy.
~~TOP 10 RECOMMENDED~~
As a reader of romance I love getting the chance to see about new authors and have to say Sasha Summers is one author this reader will keep on. We have two people, Jace and Krystal, both coming out of painful relationships seeing that music is not just for entertainment but emotions. We see a song that speaks everything Krystal is afraid to show to the real world and Jace showing her that love is still possible. Sasha Summers blew me away with how easy this book came to life so easily seeing these two together. The best part is seeing these two come together and the behind the scenes of this music family, The Kings, was interesting to the end. This is definitely one author that brings all the romance, the feels and most of all hope to life. This is the first in a series of a music family that will keep you on your toes with what they do next, how to deal with their fans and most of all try to balance love and the real world all in one. Cannot wait to see more of the Kings and their music, mind blowing.
“I received an eBook copy from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own.”