Our time together was only meant to be fleeting.Five weeks after being dumped by the love of my life, I was forced to start over. Twice I’d given my heart to those who didn’t want it, leaving my ego fragile and my future bleak. Bitterness became my sidekick. One night stands, fights, and alcohol were all I had left. If only I’d have known she was right there waiting for me—the stunning beauty no … stunning beauty no one was meant to fall in love with. Especially not me. Especially not then. Her life was mapped out and there was no room for me to be a part of it, but the scars on my heart had somehow made me stronger, and I was a good guy who knew exactly when to be bad to get what I wanted.
Good God, I wanted her. I was going to have her. Then, no matter who stood in my way, I was going to keep her.
That unexpected, sassy surprise love of mine.
– Marcus Anderson
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Favorite Quotes:
If only love came with a warning label and a list of possible side effects, maybe I’d have known what would happen to me once I let go of the second love of my life. Once made me naïve. Twice made me a fool— a feeling I wasn’t too comfortable with.
You once told me you didn’t need saving. What I didn’t realise at the time was that I did.
Love is a two-part adventure. The first step is falling. The other is staying. Now that I’ve invited you in, you’re never allowed to leave.
Johnny, however, looked like his skin was made of rubber and wax, with his extra small T-shirt showing off his helium-filled muscles, and jeans so tight I had to wonder whether his fart would pop back up into his throat if he accidentally let one rip in those things.
…you look at the whole world like it barely matters, but when you look at me, your face lights up like I’m the only thing you see.
My Review:
Victoria L. James is an outright thief, an outlaw, a bandit – she has delivered a book that is heart stealing and breath-snatching, and I couldn’t be happier to have been robbed blind of both. Marcus is a treasure, the book, and the character. He is epic, indelible, the total package, the ultimate BBF. Swoon, I want one. Victoria L. James has a special kind of magical word voodoo, falling into her characters’ heads was immediate and effortless, yet the conjured scenarios were compelling and extraordinary; all of which requires great skill, deft handling, prodigious word prowess, and a limitless imagination. Don’t bother reading Marcus unless you enjoy clever banter, endearing and alluring characters, emotive writing that mines every corner of your heart, amusing humor, keen insights, and a moving and engrossing tale. I read it slowly so I could savor every word, and found a pleasurable banquet to devour in each chapter. Sigh, I am ruined and fear that reading anything else will feel like diet food.
In order to understand Marcus’ story you have to start at the beginning in Natexus.
The fun, older brother of Samantha Anderson who was there to save one of her best friends Natalie. a little over 5 years and Marcus’ is still drowning and needs saving.
“You need to go for the one chick who doesn’t need saving”
His best mate Cameron is there when he needs him, a friend to drink with, to listen when needed and to tell him things he doesn’t realize he needs to here.
“I hope this year is the best year of you”
What he found is a close friend in someone we never thought would be there and with that realized he had a bigger support system than he thought.
“I’m holding you. That bitch just broke you apart, and I’m trying to squeeze all your cracks back together”
A love that didn’t need saving.
“What took you so long to find me?” she whispered.
“Just be glad I finally did”
And a way to chase his dream with the one he loves.
This story is everything… Although I still swoon for Alex; Marcus is the most genuine, fun-loving friend that any girl would be lucky to have and I absolutely loved his story!
really enjoyed this story. Marcus….. Oh My God, how I wish I could jump in the pages of the book and experience being the women he gives his love to. He is something else and he can have my heart any day. I know that this author can write a book that has me feeling all the way through it and have me on an emotional rollercoaster ride….. I’ve read Natexus after all. I felt I had to wait a little until she hit me with the words that made me feel this way but she did and for that I am truly grateful. Lots of emotion, a fabulous story and characters who now feel like my friends. I really would love to have Sammy’s story. Fingers crossed that book will be written. 4.5 stars
There aren’t enough stars in the whole of space for this book, this series!
I am struggling to write this book, Marcus’ story a review because frankly I am breathless and so filled with emotion that even now I’m totally at a loss as to what to say. I’m so invested in the characters in this series and I know that these stories will stay with me for a long time and will have a special place in my heart forever.
The only other thing I can say is read this series and if you’ve read the first two books then read this one, I guarantee you will not be disappointed!
That was absolutely perfect !!!!
Absolutely perfect
I cried tears of happiness. Sadness heartbreak, all the things we feel in real life.
Vic managed to being the laughter & joy along with the tears and misfortunes of the reality of life, but with a reassuring hug maybe all of those pieces can be held together, if we just believe
Think
Take time to live and love ourself as much as we do for other people.
I loved this, L James your words always bring me so much happiness because I feel the passion through your stories.
You can’t get any more real than you.
5 held together pieces of
Guys please know that writing this review is a struggle, yes the struggle is real because what my head is thinking I want so desperately to be able to put into words so you all have an understanding of what this novel is and what it has done to me.
I have read all of Victoria L James novels and I have loved every single one of them.
But Marcus for me is different. It’s like it has been stripped back of any glitz and glamour. It’s been stripped back of any unnecessary words or scenarios.
I guess what I am trying to say is that Marcus is simplistic with a rawness, pureness and honesty with a beauty that I have not come across in a novel for a very long time.
I was first introduced to Marcus in the first instalment Natexus, where he fell for the love of his life Natalie.
Already a broken man from past heartache, Marcus was desperate for his love for Natalie.
But he had to let her go. Her heart belonged to another man, and who was Marcus to stand in her way of happiness. So rather than hold her back, he let her go.
Which brings us to his story in Marcus.
Not only losing one, but two loves, Marcus is now on his own, trying to survive the heartache. He has lost his way and who he is. Lonely, tired and so unsure of life, Marcus needs to find himself again. But what Marcus never realises is that one girl will help him in every sense of the word. She will open his eyes to the world. She will teach him to feel again, and not be afraid. She will teach him that loving someone isn’t a bad thing and that happiness can be found. She will show him the beauty of the world through her eyes. She will ultimately teach him to find himself again.
I really don’t want to give anything other than that away because Marcus needs to be read without teasers, without opinions. It needs to be just picked up and read.
Such a beautifully, thoughtful, all consuming and breathtaking read that will bring you to your knees just like it did me. Sheer perfection.
5 stars
Marcus’s story was an emotional story. I wanted to hate him so much in book 1/2 and I did by book 3 I was in an confused state. This book had me torn all ways until a certain point when I knew what should be. The rollercaister of events was pulling me me so many ways then it got me wha he should be and I was there. This series is a series of young first love emtuonally where you want to be and where you are. This is a must read series that should come with a box of tissues omg I’ve never cried so much and hope book 4 holds the same. Must read series.
Marcus, Marcus, Marcus… I’ve spent hours upon hours thinking about this book after I finished it. If you’ve read the other books in the series, you know Victoria L. James is not just a talented wordsmith, but an engaging one and Marcus is no exception.
The story follows on from Natexus, but through the eyes of Marcus Anderson. A man who is a little broken and unsure about life after the curve ball life threw at him. He’s human after all, but he’s not one to just sit back and let life pass him by. Neither will his family or friends allow him to fall apart too much. So he’s dragged along for a while until life suddenly becomes a lot more interesting for him. You could call this a beautifully written love story – which it is – but it’s also a stunning representation of how life goes on when disaster strikes. How – when no matter how much crap falls on the road ahead of you – a positive attitude, great heart and refusal to give up on yourself or those around you will always bring you something you never knew you wanted to begin with.
I really don’t want to give anything away in this review because I feel like MARCUS needs to be experienced. The characters, the story, the fantastic writing… It all needs to be lived as you read it because it wraps around you and embraces you, it drags you under and consumes you until it’s the only thing you can think about. It took me a while to get over this book hangover, and even now I find myself daydreaming about it.
I really do love the way Victoria writes her characters. Whether it’s the protagonist or some random stranger passing through their lives, they’re memorable and beautifully written, and they stay with you. When I’d finished reading, I realized that I actually missed them. Without you realizing it, they wind their way around your heart and stay there.
Treat yourself and read this stunning story of heartbreak, self-discovery, betrayal, and love, you won’t regret it.
Damn. Damn, damn, damn, damn. I didn’t want to love Marcus with as much passion as I loved Alex, but gawd I just couldn’t bloody help it. This man, this journey, this love, reached into my chest & squeezed my heart so tight, I wasn’t quite sure if I would survive.
Marcus has a heart as deep & as giving as the universe. He has a beautiful soul, a gorgeous spirit & enough love to give in 10 life times & then some. I hated how his past had him convinced that he was destined to be second best, that his happiness was secondary & loving someone so completely was too much, because seriously, this man could love the bones outta me & I would never EVER get sick of it.
Then we have Danni, now this is a girl with fire in her soul & passion in her veins & quite simply, she rocked my world. Spirited, sexy, sassy & spunky, I seriously grinned right along with her so many times, that my cheeks actually ached. I loved how focused & driven she was, yet equally how self aware & soft her soul was. She shines & sparkles with her entire essence & I was so glad, her love & passion was enough to rival that of Marcus, because they both deserved an extraordinary life full of extraordinary love.
I didn’t think Victoria could beat Natexus, I mean, that book, Alex & Nat, it was epic on every frickin level, so I went into this story never once expecting the sucker punch that this one delivered. But absolute credit to the phenomenal writing, exceptional character portrayal & development & the stunning way every ounce of emotion that was poured into these pages, could be inhaled, touched & lived. My tears flowed, my breath caught, my heart broke, but some how I smiled, against all the odds I laughed & then as this pair stole half my heart, I was slowly put back together again, albeit not quite complete. All was right in my world, location ~ somewhere in Leeds Uk, where these people have fast become my people in every single way.
An extraordinary story of love from an author who has undoubtedly secured her place as one of my unicorns.