**UPDATED 2015 re-edited version**Contains adult content and language.Verbally abused by her mother for years, 18-year-old Ellie Johnson always believed she would never be loved or wanted by anyone. She focused all of her attention on her grades and getting into the University of Texas to start a new life away from her mother.The last thing Ellie expected was to fall in love with Gunner Mathews, … in love with Gunner Mathews, a starting linebacker for the University of Texas football team and not to mention, her brother’s best friend.
Gunner only has two passions in life, football and his grandfather’s ranch, until he falls for his best friends little sister. He will stop at nothing to show Ellie how much he wants her, even if it means he has to move faster than she would like.
Gunner knows they are meant to be together forever, but Ellie keeps denying her feelings out of fear of being hurt again. Every time he gets close to winning her love, something pushes her away again. Will Ellie ever be able to let go of the past and let him into her heart, and will Gunner be patient enough to wait for her?
What will it take for them to realize they are all each other have ever WANTED?
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I would have to say this was a very enjoyable read for me. I found this book just by luck and I am really glad I gave it a try. It was a wonderful love story. I would have to say that it started out a YA and worked its way up to a NA by the end. There were some sex scenes in the book towards the end but they were more romantic and swoony then they were steamy. They are not told in graphic detail, which in my opinion worked for this book. I think the reason the Author didn’t classify this as a YA was because there was bad language throughout the whole book, but nothing that was offensive at all.
Gunner was Amazing….he was just sweet and loving to Ellie. I know most people don’t like insta-love/attraction stories but this one just worked for me. I truly fell for Gunner. Even though Gunner and Ellie had that instant attraction to each other they still took their time before jumping into a relationship. Ellie had some severe trust issues due to her mom and past boyfriends. Gunner was amazing to be so patient with Ellie. Ellie had a habit of jumping to conclusions and Gunner still stuck by her.
I liked the Dual POV, but his book actually was a multiple POV book because you get a small glimpse into Jefferson and Ari’s mind. I was expecting this book to be all about Gunner and Ellie only but I was shocked to see that Jefferson and Ari played a big part in this story. The next book that is coming out is called Saved and it will be Jefferson and Ari’s book. I can’t wait to see what happens.
This book does have a HEA but it also has a to be continued aspect for both Jefferson and Ari and Gunner and Ellie. I don’t want to give anything away so you will just have to read this book. Please don’t be turned off by the To Be Continued ending…this story does have an ending that is finished but the author just set it up for the next book. You definitely don’t need to wait for the next book before picking this one up.
I would definitely recommend this book for anyone looking for a very sweet and loving LOVE story:)
It a great love story and the whole series needs to be made into movies!!
I was pleasantly surprised to see Kelly Elliott’s book Wanted in my local library. I am a follower of hers and many authors on Facebook. I was surprised because most Indie authors are not carried by public libraries.
Kelly Elliott’s book Wanted is the first book in the Wanted series. Saved, Faithful, Believe, and Cherished finish out the series. I was lucky to find Wanted, Saved, and Faithful in my library. They should be read in order and not as stand alones.
How dare Ellie’s Mom tell her daughter she won’t be wanted by anyone!! No Mother should EVER call her daughter a whore!! What kind of mother puts those words into a child’s head?! Being a drunken mother is no excuse. Those words echoed throughout her head throughout her life. Everytime something went wrong with a guy she remembered what her Mom said. Ellie’s Mom totally pissed me off so much so that I wanted to smack her upside the head. No child should ever be verbally abusive to their child!!
Kelly Elliott wrote a love story unlike I have every read before. This was Ellie’s and Gunner’s love story and how they became to be. Jefferson (Ellie’s over protective brother) introduced Gunner (Jefferson’s best friend) to Ellie. They both felt an instant connection. However, Ellie still had that wall built up from the verbal abusiveness of her mother and how her ex boyfriends betrayed her.
I loved the bond that Ellie and her brother Jefferson had. Jefferson knew about her horrid childhood growing up with their alcoholic mother. He hated what she did to Ellie with a passion. He never wanted to see Ellie hurt again by anyone. He would do anything he could for his sister. Jefferson never introduced his friends to her because he didn’t want anyone to hurt her. However, Gunner was different. He trusted his best friend around his sister. Gunner was a good match for Ellie too. Makes me wish I had an older brother looking out for me like that.
Ellie’s BFF Ari was a trip. She was always there for Ari too no matter what. She predicted that Gunner was into Ellie as she was into him. Gunner was the only man to make Ellie go week in the knees. Ari was always fighting with Jefferson about everything. The more they fought the more that Gunner and Ellie thought Jefferson may like Ari. Ari was like the forbidden fruit that Jefferson could not eat because she was his sisters BFF.
I really enjoyed reading this book and cant wait to read Saved next in the series.
I first read this book the day it was published. But way back then I didn’t have a Goodreads account so I want to put my review up now…a little late but oh well.
I absolutely loved this book/series. Gunner Matthews will always be my one and only book boyfriend. All the books I have read and I will always say his name if someone asks me whats my favorite book boyfriend. I fell in love with the characters in this book and series so easily. Kelly is one of my favorite authors and when I first read this book I knew I had found a new instant read, instant buy, author. The characters in this book make you feel like you are part of their group and that they are real people and all you want to do is hang out with them all. Definitely read all the books in the series they don’t disappoint.
I love a good Cowboy read and this story did not disappoint. Ellie grew up thinking her Dad didn’t love her or her Brother. It didn’t help that her mother always told her it was her fault. To Ellie she had 1 person beside her Best friend Ari she could count on and that was her Brother Jeff. Jeff went off to College that left her alone and she took the full brunt from her Mom’s abuse. Jeff is ready to get her out the house now that she is finished High school, along with his best friend Gunner. Gunner is stunned at the beauty of Ellie inside and Out and he for the first time wants to make a girl his. With her insecurities she isn’t sure letting someone in. This is where she has to deal with her insecurities and learn to trust and most of all Love. Gunner and Ellie have an amazing story to share and you get a mix of friends that become more like Family. Gunner will make you fall in love with him and you will be Swooning. A Must Read.