People call me callous. Arrogant. Ruthless. I call myself tenacious. One of the most powerful attorneys in Charleston, I don’t let anyone or anything stand in my way.Until a chance encounter changes everything.One glance.One touch.One night.It only leaves me wanting more.But Grace is off limits. Most people would even say forbidden. Everyone knows an attorney can’t sleep with his client. Too bad … knows an attorney can’t sleep with his client.
Too bad I already did.
And even with the threat of losing everything, I don’t know if I can stop myself from having her again…
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I’m not going to lie, I was pleasantly surprised with this one. The author immediately starts of revealing a strong female lead within the first few chapters. Grace is all that plus some. She stands strong, puts her head up with everything on the line and gives her all for what she loves ans believes is right. It was inspiring.
Ian on the other hand.. I kind of thought he was a dick. But experiencing him opening up and showing his true feelings was honestly swoonworthy.
1 thing I will say is this book was PACKED with angst and I loved how the story line unfolded- with complete surprises.
This book was really fricken good.
Favorite Quotes:
“I’ve seen pictures of you. You were a knockout.” “Pssh.” She waved her hand. “What are you talking about, was? I am a knockout. You should see all the men fighting for me down at the bingo hall.”
He was doing that arrogant thing. You know, just breathing. As if he held the power to command all the air.
Their childhood . . . it was a battle. A warzone. One they were forced to fight even though they’d never enlisted. The aftermath left them completely different and so intrinsically the same.”
I could hear my grandmother shuffling through the night. “That squirrely bastard,” she hissed. “I have half a mind to go after that boy with a frying pan and teach him a lesson. Lord knows his mama must not have done it.”
My Review:
All of Me was a long book with lots and lots of angsty words and atomically steamy sex scenes. In fact, there were so many naughty words that I was forced to plug my Kindle into the charger to be able to keep reading them. Oh my, this tale was full of torment, woe, conflict, and hot sex, but mostly woe. There was even woe about the hot sex. Written in my favorite dual POV, both characters were overflowing with stressors and tension of all varieties. Their inner musings were a full-on angst fest, which at times felt tediously repetitive as well as more than a bit over the top, yet I was inexplicably unable to stop reading. I may have wanted to roll my eyes and sigh, but the hooks were deeply embedded – I had to know how it would unravel. Ms. Jackson can certainly spin a tangled tale as the storylines were well-crafted and intriguing. In addition to the intense sensual heat, a bit of much needed comic relief and sweet heart squeezes were provided by a feisty grandmother and sweet and imaginative children.
5 Ian-Zain the Great Filled Stars
I’m not sure how to write this review. I finished this book around 1am and I’m not sure if I’ve found the right words to put into this review. First thing I need to say is I didn’t think anybody could pass Jace. But, move over Jace bc Ian has arrived!!!!
We know from reading More Of You these brothers didn’t have the greatest childhood. They went without eating at times. Jace did anything to protect Ian as best as possible and then he went to jail. What happened to Ian after Jace got into trouble.
Ian went to become a lawyer. Ian doesn’t trust or care about anybody but his brother and his family and his best friend Mack. Other then that he keeps everybody at arms length. Ian’s on a mission to make partner at his firm.
Ian has some some shady things in his life. Things he’s not proud of but it’s gotten him where he is now. Ian’s has many women in his life. He’s happy his brother Jace won the love of his life back. But, as far as meeting a woman falling in love and starting a family, isn’t in Ian’s plan of action.
When Ian’s stuck going to his firms charity event he spots Grace and he knew instantly he was screwed. She did something to him and then she ran away. Ian knew he shouldn’t follow her. But, he did and he knew looking at her scared face that his life was never going to be the same.
Grace went to that charity event looking for a lawyer. She got laughed at. Grace doesn’t think she’ll ever find a lawyer to take her case but Grace won’t give up on her babies.
Grace spots a beautiful man. She can tell he’s an intense man. She tries to runaway until he talks her into a dance. The feelings Grace is feeling is unlike anything she’s ever felt. Grace runs away hoping she can find a hero to help her and her babies.
Ian finds Grace and their instant chemistry is still through the roof! Even though they try to fight it they can’t. When they finally give in OMG fireworks!!!
When Grace shows up at Ian’s job looking to hire him Ian’s furious. He wants to say she used him but can tell by looking at her she truly didn’t know who he was at first. The fact they slept together is the reason he can’t technically be her lawyer.
But, Ian can’t say no to Grace. After meeting her and her kids they’ve managed to break open a piece of him that he didn’t know existed. Grace’s ex is a powerful and dangerous man. Ian’s not sure how he’ll win this and save Grace, her kids and himself in the process.
Ian and Grace are beautiful together. Ones dark the others light. Where one is weak the other is strong. They complete the other. They make the other feel things they’ve never felt before and it scares them both.
This was such an amazingly beautiful powerful story. There wasn’t anything missing. One of my favorite things in A. L. Jackson’s books are the children. I fall for every kid in her single one of her books. They bring light into their adults lives. All of them bring laughter, joy and happiness. I hope she doesn’t stop putting them in her stories.
I loved seeing Jace, Faith and their children. And, then Mack. Glad to see him and we got more of him this time. I can’t wait for his book next.
Lawd y’all Ian and Grace! There’s so much fire, passion and heart in this story, it really is a perfect read. I adored All of Me, it may even be my new favorite AL Jackson book.
I loved this book! It has been so long since I gave a book 5 stars. I’d resorted to re-reads to get through my book slump. Ian and Grace pulled me right out of my slump. AL Jackson is always a one click author for me and she never disappoints. I didn’t want this book to end.
I cannot say enough about how much I enjoyed this story. Ian tries so hard to be this stone cold, not gonna fall kind of guy, but Grace is too much. He never saw her and her situation coming. One night changes everything for Ian and I personally think it’s for the better!!! He can let go of his demons, everything that’s been holding him back, everything that has made him so dark. Grace is the perfect partner for Ian!! I loved the backstory and how everything came about. Never saw it coming!!!
5 Stars
All of Me is the all new INCREDIBLE stand-alone novel by AL Jackson. It is the second book in the Confessions of the Heart series and OH. MY. GOSHHHHHHHH it was so good! AL Jackson seriously knocked this book out of the park! My heart literally wanted to explode with all the emotions I felt while reading it.
We met Ian in the previous book and I couldn’t wait to get his story. I knew it was going to be amazing and boy was it ever. While i want to shout from the rooftops how fantastic it was, I’m not. I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone. You need to experience it all without knowing much. I will say this though Ian is broken. So broken I didn’t think he be able to give himself truly and fully to Grace. And Grace…that woman has been through hell and back and her strength was admirable. I loved them. Seriously seriously loved them.
All of Me was a page turner for sure! I couldn’t put it down. Ian and Grace’s journey was filled with ups and downs but it had so much heart. This story will be staying with me for a long time to come. If I could sum it up into one word it would be: UNFORGETTABLE.
Falling for a guy when everything is a stake, when your life is spiraling out of control… Wise or not? Falling for a woman you absolutely can’t fall for, personal-wise and business-wise… Yes or no? All of Me tells the story Grace and Ian, who both are at a very different point in life. I’ve enjoyed reading this story very much.
“She was a mess. A gorgeous fucking mess. A disaster waiting to happen.”
Grace is at her wits end. She finally has taken control of her own life again, but she’s in desperate need of help. Help of a good attorney who can help her to get what’s hers, to protect what she loves. Having a one-night stand is not her thing, but when Grace embraces her inner vixen for once, she lets go. Enter Ian, a ruthless, detached attorney on the brink of reaching his goal. Ian and Grace hit it off right away, thinking they’ll never see each other again. But to their surprise, they meet again… As attorney and client… They can’t be a couple but staying away is impossible.
“Making his claim. Marking me. Every inch. Body and heart and soul. I was right. I was right. I was never going to be the same.”
I feel so sorry for Grace. She thought she had it all, until slowly her life started to change. Bit by bit her dreams went up in smoke and walking away is the only possible outcome. But it’s not just about her, is also very much about her kids, who she feels deserve a better life. There’s only so much money can buy, and love and happiness can’t be bought. Ian might seem cold and calculating, but for Grace he’s a knight in shining armor. He goes out of his way to help Grace, and the fight isn’t easy. I love Grace and Ian together, they both are what the other needs.
All of Me is a true A.L. Jackson book, full of feelings and emotions. Starting this book, I had the idea it would be your typical attorney/client romance, but the story is so much more than that. Ian and Grace are the main couple of course, but Grace does have her children to think about. I love how Ian quickly realizes Grace is a mom first, that her kids are very important to her. But that doesn’t mean Ian and Grace don’t get to know each other… I love the ending of story, it’s everything Grace and Ian deserve.
“I love you so much it hurts, Ian. So much that I can feel you etched on my skin. Written on my heart. Marked on me forever. You are my gift. The hero I never expected.”
4.5 stars
WOW! I thought I loved Jace and Faith’s second chance story but Ian and Grace’s story blew me away. This book held my heart and breath captive from beginning to end. I was completely captivated in their love story, the push/pull between them was amazing and the Chemistry was explosive.
Not only do you have a great romance but you also have some suspense that leaves you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what would happen, what the truth is.
Ian Jacobs is callous, arrogant, ruthless. Unless your his brother or Mack he doesn’t trust or let anyone in. He doesn’t commit to any women until he meets Grace. One look and he’s wanting more then he has ever wanted before. She is opening his cold, dark heart to possibilities.
grace Dearbourne is beautiful, inside and out. A battered Cinderella. She sees the good in Ian, even when he tries to hide it. He gives her hope.
I can’t wait to see what AL Jackson brings us next with Mack’s story <3
4.5 Cranky Stars
Ian is a self-proclaimed bad boy. He is tainted, and he is dirty and nothing will stop him from climbing the corporate ladder to become a partner at the firm. He doesn’t realize the extent of how dirty and entrenched he is in Lawrence Bennett’s lies. When he sees a beauty across the room at a gala, he dubs her his broken Cinderella when she runs away and loses a shoe. He can’t stay away from her, but he doesn’t do love or family except his brother Jace and his wife Faith and their kids. When he gets a chance to really know Grace, he decides to put aside his wants and takes on her case. Sadly, it won’t be one that will be fought fair.
Grace has escaped an abusive marriage to a corrupt politician. He still holds things over her head including their three beautiful kids. She is desperate and at the end of her rope. No one will represent her. She sees Ian at a gala and finds herself drawn to him but doesn’t have time for messy entanglements. When she finds out he is a lawyer she offers to pay him anything to help. He agrees and she realizes there is more to this man than he lets on.
We got to see Ian in the first book so I was excited to see his story. It wasn’t a pretty one that’s for sure. I was glad that he found Grace. Their relationship wasn’t easy and it made Ian really face his own lies. This story is packed with so much love, mystery, heart breaking moments and steamy times. It’s a perfect combo of a book. I hated her husband!! I love her kids!! I can’t wait for the next book!
I have to admit that I have several of A.L. Jackson’s books but had yet to read on till now. What an incredible book this was!
Ian has a horrible past one that he wants to forget and considers himself a broken man. Ian is a career driven lawyer who has no time for woman in his world until Grace, a beautiful, strong single mother who is in a nasty custody battle.
There are so many twist that will have you turning the next page. This book will have you crying one minute and aweing the next! I know I will be starting another one of A.L. Jackson’s books next!
2 likes
This book was so much more than I expected. Though it holds everything I love about A.L. Jackson’s writing, it has a bit of a different feel to me. A bit darker, a bit more, a bit twisted. Two broken and shattered souls fighting for what they want most. Fighting for what they hold dear and doing whatever they feel is needed to achieve their goal. Ian is so much more than your average bad boy, cocky lawyer. He comes from someplace that most would just give up, give in or go along. He has made himself into the man he is all on his own and has done whatever was necessary to get there. Grace is a woman who knows what she wants, what she needs, and will do anything in her power to get that. She’s strong and independent and the mother of three. I absolutely love AL Jackson when she writes kids but these three shattered me. This whole book shattered me. We all have things about us that we dont like and we keep them hidden. We dont let many people see the darker parts of us. But when you can find the person that can see you through those darker parts…. When we find someone who can see past anything that we may have done wrong, even when maybe it was the only way we had to go. When we find someone who is willing to do anything in their power to help us right anything that may be wrong. Someone who is willing to sacrifice everything they are, everything they have worked so hard for… for you… sacrifice. To me that is one of the biggest things I’m taking away from this book. Ian and Grace were made for each other. They complete each other. They may not have found each other early in life, already having lives of their own, but they did find each other
Wow wow wow! Ian is so tough and broken but buried underneath is a sweet guy who needs someone to love him. Grace wants to be that someone but she’s fighting her own battle. Full of angst and lost of sexiness, this story was everything! A L Jackson barber disappoints and I love getting lost in her books.
4 Stars
All in Me, the second book in the series “Confessions of The Heart” brings the story of Ian, a broken and life-oriented protagonist: to leverage his lawyer career at all costs, that is, until Grace enters his life and make your priorities change.I liked this story, it’s a forbidden love story between lawyer and his client, with a touch of Cinderella in this story and full of suspense that brought that brought pace to this story.
Ian is a character that I had a case of love and hate during much of the book. I confess that at first I did not like him very much, no, I found him a presumptuous asshole, but with the course of the story the author did an excellent job for his growth in the book, which in the end made me sympathize with him.Grace already liked it very much, even being in a difficult situation she always fought for her children and this I think admirable. She is strong, brave and loyal.
The chemistry between Ian and Grace is explosive from page one, and I confess that at first this lust between them turned out to be a bit excessive for me.And while I liked them, and undeniably they have an absurd chemistry I missed a larger connection between them that was beyond a sexual attraction.And maybe that’s why I could not fall in love with the romance between them. I confess that the story of Grace, and the suspense and twists of the books captivated me much more than the romance itself.And the beginning of the book was a little stopped for me, the story really picked up the pace for me a little further forward that’s when the story took off in my opinion.
All in me brings a well written story, captivating and with a good rhythm and even the romance itself among the protagonists not captivating me totally I think the story as a whole did.
4.5 All of Me by A.L. Jackson is the second installation in Confessions of the Heart series.
Ian is a shady attorney who a broken past. He is mentally and physically scarred from his rough upbringing. Ian hooks up with Grace, and she later becomes Ian’s client in a high-profile custody battle. They can’t be in a relationship since it would be unethical. Ian believes he is incapable and undeserving of love, especially from a woman like Grace. Their attraction is undeniable, and it could end up hurting them both. Will Ian risk it all to be with Grace and her kids? Will he finally open his dark heart to the love and light that Grace has brought into his life?
A.L. Jackson’s signature writing style really shined in All of Me. This book was full of passion and angst and was pretty intense at times. What an ending!!!!! I couldn’t turn my virtual Kindle pages fast enough. This emotion-packed romance will set your heart on fire. One-click worthy.All of Me
This. Book. You know how sometimes you think you have a fav book boyfriend from one authors work and then every book they publish that book boyfriend changes to the most recently published one?
Yeah that’s AL Jackson for you. She can’t do wrong in the Hero department. Ian and All of Me are just everything. Everything you could possibly expect when you go into a book wanting to get lost to escape reality for a bit. All of Me did that and so much more!
The characters, the premise, and the development of the story line was BEYONG magical. Plot twists that slap you in the face and lust that makes you fan yourself at every turn. Plus that one aspect you get with EVERY AL Jackson read. I won’t spoil that but it’s something I normally shy away from in books. NOT HER BOOKS! I expect it every time and it always gives her books that something extra.
This book is for everyone who never stops putting up a fight for something they believe in.
Hands down the best ending to a book I have ever read! AL Jackson proves yet again she is the master of all things romance with the plot and character development in this story. You will be addicted to the chemistry between Grace and Ian. Both characters are intense in their own way, but equally damaged and broken. I honestly don’t know who I love more? It is easy to be swept off your feet by the devastatingly handsome, intense, successful and broody Ian. But, Grace will equally charm and capture your heart with her selfless love, charisma and devotion to her family. Ian is as devoted to his law career as Grace is to protecting her kids. Put the 2 of these together and add in three adorably, amazing kids and you will be so engrossed in the story, you won’t be able to put it down. . Can they find a way to save each other without destroying what they each hold most dear? You will get to enjoy not only sinfully hot scenes, but also suspense, drama, and such a relatable plot that you will savor every page. This modern day fairy tale is one that all of us women dream about and men try to emulate.
Occasionally I read other reviews between finishing a book and writing my own review, just to see if what I was feeling in a book was the same as what other people were. I did that with All of Me and noted that several people had an issue with their insta-lust. I suppose it’s something you can only appreciate if you’ve experienced it. Personal aside: I met my husband when I was 16 and he 20 (far too old at that point in my life), after a less than five-minute interaction I compared every other person I dated to him until the day I married him, six years later. Sometimes your heart and soul know better than your rational mind. All of that to say, I loved the fact that their connection was instant and intense.
I loved Ian and Grace’s love. Even before either of them was ready to admit that was what was happening between them, their connection was bigger and more beautiful than anything they were looking for, anything they wanted. They both ran from it, their fear ruling their choices, but neither of them could fight the pull back to the other, and that was what made their relationship so special.
We’d seen a little of Ian’s story in the first book in this series, More of You, and I was so happy we got to finally see his tragic childhood and what had formed him into the man we’d met. His history was dark and the guilt he carried immense. My momma heart broke for him and wanted to wrap that poor boy up and keep him safe. Grace’s story was no less heartwrenching, and I connected with her deep-seated need to protect her babies with every molecule of her being. Together they gathered all their broken pieces and made something magnificent and impenetrable.
My only wish for All of Me is that it be a little less predictable. I could see every twist and turn coming a mile away, and it dampened my reading experience. I know all of the pieces have to be in place to make a story come together, but a lot of the plot points in this book were just too convenient.
All of Me is the second book in AL Jackson’s Confessions of the Heart series. The books in this series are interconnected stand-alones and can easily be read independently of one another. All of Me is written in dual first-person perspective, narrated by Grace and Ian.
A powerful, beautifully written and emotionally gripping story, All of Me was everything I expected and so SO much more!
Ever since he first appeared across the pages of More Of You, I’ve been absolutely captivated by Ian’s intensity. There’s just something something about him that sucks you right into his dark vortex. This is a man with dark secrets and a painful past. His history helped paint his present and mold him into the powerful and determined, do-anything-to-succeed man he is today. Nothing will ever stand in his way, especially a woman or love.
If there’s one thing that AL Jackson can do like no one else, it’s suck readers in with her prologues. And the one in this book? SHIVERS. I’m talking full body shivers here, people. I was desperately turning the pages well into the night.
A chance meeting changes everything for Ian when he runs into a mysterious beauty at a work gala. Unable to get her out of his mind, he pursues her with a single minded intent. But he’s not the only one with dark rooted secrets, and Grace has some of her own. Secrets that just may cost both of them everything.
Grace was the perfect balance to Ian’s intensity. She’s such a strong heroine yet has this vulnerability to her that you can’t help but fall in love with. She’s tenacious and protective when it comes to those that she loves. And she’s a woman that loves and loves hard. Even though she’s been through a hell of her own, she hasn’t lost any of her tenderness. The relationship between her and Ian develops over time. While their chemistry is instantaneous, they both fight what’s brewing between them until the flames just prove to be too much. I simply adore Jackson’s lyrical style to story telling. I think that’s what ultimately softened the dark edges of these two characters. Their story is not a light one, but the beautiful storytelling style helped lighten it. It was captivating and enrapturing.
I can’t wait for Mack to get his book next. Considering the books in this series just get better and better, I can’t wait to see what the next one will bring.
Grace is the forbidden fruit that Ian can’t wait to bite into. Lana~ White Hot Reads
Ian and Grace have an instant attraction that is so powerful it knocks them both off kilter. Ian has demons that he can’t forget or forgive and Grace is the forbidden client. You learn so much more about Ian and they way he was raised and all the things he’s done to make a name for himself. You can feel all the pain these two have and it radiates off them. In the end its both Grace and Ian who save each other.