“You don’t have to fight the world alone. You’ve got me.”
Travis Dayton, a.k.a. Truck, is focused on two things: settling into his position at the Coast Guard Academy and helping his younger brother stay out of trouble. So even though the beautiful, comic loving Jersey Banner is tugging at his heart strings in funny ways, he isn’t going to act on those emotions. Not when he’ll eventually be … those emotions. Not when he’ll eventually be moving on, and she’ll be staying behind.
Jersey has been struggling to keep her family afloat ever since their dad went to jail. The pain she feels on a regular basis? It isn’t anything she can stop to think about. At least not, until she ends up at the emergency room in the protective arms of the one man who makes her pulse beat faster than the superheroes she worships.
When Jersey finds herself in desperate need of medical care that she can’t afford, Truck does the only thing he can to help… he marries her.
When chaos invades their lives, their temporary deal starts to crumble. Hearts and souls are twined together, so that there’s little chance of escape without permanent damage. Unless, they just surrender to it all and let love heal them both.
From award-winning author, LJ Evans, comes a novel inspired by Lady Antebellum’s “Ocean” about resilience and love. You don’t want to miss this small town, military romance.
Author’s Note: Protective, noble Coast Guard. Nerdy, comic loving heroine. Heart tugging words and slow, simmering attraction. Fake marriage, broken promises, and happiness you’ll feel in your bones.
“Love is the only real superpower.”
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**Read as part of the Anchor Novels box set**
“From the moment I’d walked into Leena’s place and found her standing in the kitchen, I’d felt a shift, a change in my world. I hadn’t recognized it for what it was. Souls calling to souls.”
I started reading this series in the wrong order, so I was already familiar with the characters in this book. Believe me when I say that did nothing to stop the emotions running through me. LJ Evans really has a way of reeling you in with her words.
“It made his smile widen, eyes stretching and crinkling in a way that would leave laugh lines later in life. In a way that made me want to touch the corner of his lip. In a way that made me want to keep laughing so he’d keep smiling.”
For some reason, I didn’t feel connected to Truck until this book. Maybe because he really is the moody, Coast Guard guy with a sort of a superhero complex. The thing is that he doesn’t really want to be a superhero. It’s something life, and a weird upbringing, have forced upon him. He’s such a wonderful, sweet, and gentle guy underneath his rock solid exterior that I really wanted to hug him.
“But concentrating on her was all kinds of hard because she looked beautiful. I wish I could have found a different word, a word that stood for more than beautiful, because, really, that was her.”
Connecting to Jersey was easy from the get-go. The girl who carries the world on her shoulders, who tries to do what’s best for her little sister, and always puts herself last. The girl people have shunned and ignored, who is not used to being cared for, even with it comes to the health condition she has. All her walls are up, and they’ve been that way for a very long time.
“Travis and I were like that. Oxymorons. Contradictory terms being brought together by situations we had no control over.”
These two were perfect for each other. You’d think they wouldn’t be, because their lives are dominated by guilt from something that happened in their pasts. And because both of them are focused on helping their siblings, whatever the cost, disregarding their own lives and, especially, their feelings.
I love that Jersey is an artist. I love superheroes, so I wish I could see her drawings. I love her tells, like the way she plays with her ring. I love how Truck listens, even when you’re not sure he is listening, and he picks up on the smallest things.
“‘The first thing I didn’t tell you, when I had the chance, was that I love you. I think I’ve loved you from the first moment you argued Hulk and Wonder Woman with me.'”
When Jersey needs help to handle a health issue, and doesn’t have health insurance, Truck jumps in and marries her. It’s a marriage of convenience, and it’s meant to help her, but it’s also awkward because they both feel this pull towards each other.
This means he gets closer to her, and the girl who has a force field around her starts to open up, and starts allowing herself to be touched, and felt, and loved. And the marriage of convenience ends up helping both of them, in so many different ways.
“‘Sometimes, love isn’t enough.’ She was shaking her head vigorously in the negative.
‘You’re wrong, Jers. Love is the only thing that really matters.'”
Once both of them allow themselves to feel, and to really understand what’s been there for a while, it’s clear as day that all the barriers keeping them apart are not really there. Sometimes you need to let go of the guilt to let happiness in. And loving someone doesn’t have to mean ignoring everyone else in your life. It means bringing them into the fold, and creating your own family around them.
“‘You’ve been fighting for so long alone. Please, let me be the one who fights at your side.'”
Avenged by Love is a really beautiful story about two unique people who needed to be shown they can love, and be loved back. That not all people have an agenda, and that there really are people out there who care. That they’re worthy of happiness, and that love is worth fighting for.
5 stars for this lovely romance! With Jersey and Truck the main focus of this book, we also have links with other characters from the wider world of LJ Evans’ writing.
I loved the dynamic between Jersey and Truck, alongside the Violet/Dawson potential. Jersey has locked herself down so hard in order to be a surrogate mother, that it’s as if even her body is protesting against the stresses she is under, and as someone who too suffered from her malaise, I could really empathise with both her pain and fear. Her huge strength is wonderful, but so is the huge heart coming her way. Truck is just a dream.
Setting us up for more stories, LJ Evans has written another beautiful book which has music weaving its way through the narrative, informing and supporting the story that is being told. Fabulous!
LJ Evans writes a great HEA story. This is a standalone but does have characters from the previous books. A wonderfully written slow burn, nerdy girl meets, protective Coast Guard, fake relationship read that brings all the feels.
A story of love amidst the chaos that is their lives. The characters were fascinating as they struggled to overcome their obligations and concerns and try to have a life for themselves. The author makes you feel for the characters with the wonderfully written scenes and intense dialogue. I enjoyed reading this story.
Couldn’t wait for Truck to have the chance to tell his story. I love that Truck has a hero complex and that Jersey is into superheroes and comics. Match made in Heaven? I love sweet guys so it wasn’t hard to fall for Truck. But he also had a chip on his shoulder, as did Jersey. It was a little difficult, but satisfying, watching them get through all their struggles and come out on the other side. I really can’t wait to read Violet’s story.
the story line is captivating and an enjoyable read. The characters are fantastic and easy to fall in love with. The chemistry between the characters is sizzling and amazing. Don’t let this one slip by, add it to your reading list today!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
An introvert with a past full of heartache collides with a life of the party superhero hiding his heartache behind the mask. They save each other. Strangers to lovers with a healthy dose of superhero references, Avenged by Love is a sweet slow burn.
Avenged by Love is one of those emotionally charged love stories that in reading it you know that parts of the story are so heartfelt that the author must have some personal experience with some of the subject matter. It is the third book in her series and stands alone but I do recommend reading the two prior books, Guarded Dreams and Forged by Sacrifice so you really get to know Travis aka Truck Dayton. Travis has taken a job with the Coast Guard in New London and one of the first people he met was Jersey Banner. He has been enchanted by her since that moment but he is focused on getting his younger brother Dawson focused on the right path as well as his career with the Guard. Jersey has been treading water most of her adult life. She has dreams that she keeps under wraps due to real life issues such as chronic pain, money issues and the raising of her 16 year old brilliant sister Violet. This story is truly an emotional journey for Truck and Jersey. It is the story of two people brought together by unusual circumstances but also drawn together by something deeper. This book is everything that I look for in an inspirational romance. The characters are complex yet charming, funny yet serious and full of love and sacrifice. It is told from dual POV and it will make your heart break in wonderful ways. I highly recommend reading not only this but the entire series!
Jersey believe that her only responsibility was to ensure her sister, Violet’s, well-being after all the ordeal they went through. Then she met Travis, and from the start there was an attraction. But she had only one purpose. And Travis needed to be there for his brother, whom he felt responsible for. Then Jersey needed medical help and Dawson, Travis’s brother, came up with a hair brained scheme for them to get married so Jersey can get health benefits. They decided to do it, they had after all written a marriage contract. But the longer they are married, the more difficult it gets to adhere to their own provisions. This is a well written book, telling the story of two people who took on more responsibilfity than they should have. It is a story about learning that you are not in charge of other’ actions and that you need to let go in order to live your own life, to forgive yourself and open yourself to love.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
AWESOME READ!!! A good story about believable and like able characters. I have enjoyed reading this story and look forward to reading more. This is such a good book! It was one I did not want to put down. My thanks to the author for writing it, and I can’t wait to read more!!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The Heart Knows
Avenged by Love is an emotional, slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance. The characters were flawed and unique. Jersey and Travis (aka Truck) have both experienced tragedies and disappointments in life, however they both forged ahead. Jersey for her younger sister and Truck for his career. Their loyalty to their siblings was a common bond, but there was something…more. Their souls called out to one another. Just like the sexual tension their friendship builds slowly and steadily. I loved watching Jersey and Truck grow and trust one another. This love story has ups and downs just like life itself. It will inspire you to reach for hope and love and your own HEA.
There is nothing better than a troubled love story that ends in HEA. Torture me all you want throughout the process just as long as you wrap it up with a beautiful, happy bow at the end. Such was the case with Jersey and Truck. Another thing I love is when two damaged people realize they are damaged and find each other.
Jersey and Truck are everything you could ask for. They both have so much baggage that is so similar yet so different. You would think that would instantly bond them but that would make things too easy so both of them bury their problems and pasts which always leads to major blow ups. Even though at times Avenged By Love came off a bit predictable it was still a great read. I really enjoyed the fake relationship level up to a fake marriage!!
(4 out of 5 stars) It was really interesting to see a female character with a comic book obsession. I really thought with that and her last name being Banner there was going to be some ribbing or even at least a mention of her sharing the last name of The Hulk. Other than that I loved this story and can’t wait to read more by L.J. Evans.
This is the 3rd book I’ve read written by LJ Evans; she has done a great job at writing a good book; I can’t wait to read more of her books.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I loved the chemistry between the characters.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
Jersey is struggling. Her mother died years ago. Her father got drunk and caused an accident which sent him to jail, caused a teacher’s death, and left her sister Violet with ongoing health problems. She’s having her own health issues, making it difficult to cope with everything at times, but she has no insurance. Travis (a/k/a Truck) is in the Coast Guard, trying to advance his career, and help keep his brother on the straight and narrow. Dawson comes up with a solution – marry Jersey and she’ll get Truck’s insurance. Now he just has to convince her. Once he does, they make a marriage contract. This is a beautiful book, one that is so moving. Jersey is such a beautiful woman. She’s had to be strong for so long that she doesn’t know how to let someone in to help her. I love how Truck worms his way into her life. He doesn’t just break down her walls – she breaks his down as well. The author tackles a couple of tough issues (endometriosis and lack of health care/insurance) in sensitive and sympathetic manner. This is my first read from the author – now I need to read the prior book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I can’t ever find enough words, or even the right words to describe how well written this author’s books are. I was really curious about Jersey’s backstory. There was so much mystery surrounding her when we met her in previous books. Completely unexpected plot there. Truck and Jersey find themselves in really similar situations in life. They both have to step up to the plate to keep an eye on their sibling. Putting others first is second nature. Both of them made me mad at times during the book, but they finally found a way to make a life for themselves and not living for others.
Having read Guarded Dreams and Forged by Sacrifice I could not contain my excitement for Avenged by Love! I was so happy to dive into this story and more of Ms.Evans’ words! Right from the start I was absolutely hooked and I loved this story so much!
Truck and Jersey’s journey wrapped around my heart with every page turn and didn’t let go! I felt everything under the sun with these characters throughout reading. I connected with them so much and I couldn’t get enough of their story!
With Avenged by Love, Ms.Evans brought all the feels!
*I volunteered to read and review a copy of this book from the author*
Jersey and Trucks story is my favorite thus far. Once again I was swept away with the flowing words and music that brings it together nicely. I was eagerly turning the pages. There’s moments that make your heart smile and will have you cheering them on as they realize love is worth the risk. This is a refreshing happily ever after. I received an ARC of this and volunteered to review it.
This is a new Author to me and I want to read more by her. A well written story that kept me turning pages. Travis Dayton, a.k.a. Truck and Jersey Banner marry because she needs someone to help pay her medical bills. What they do not expect is to find they have feelings for each other, but because of someone else she will not act on them. I enjoyed seeing this story come together. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I was so excited to receive an ARC of Avenged By Love via Booksprout. Here is my mess of a review in time for release day!
Fake relationships just happen to be one of my favorite tropes. I love that LJ gave us something different from the usual “make an ex jealous” (which I also love haha) and focused on very real issues that many people face today. Truck is my new favorite book boyfriend *swoon* The way he took such gentle care of Jersey in the beginning when they barely even knew each was so sweet.
Favorite relatable quote from the book-
“Why on earth would anyone want to be tied forever to a mess like me?” I ask my husband this daily
Hands-down, my favorite LJ Evans book to date! Truck and Jersey are both doing their best to take care of their younger siblings.Juggling their responsibilities, and Jersey’s medical condition, with their growing feelings for each other…..the push and pull is a delicious build up. Appreciative for this ARC, and for the opportunity to voluntarily leave my honest review.
Quote: “You’ve been fighting for so long alone. Please, let me be the one who fights at your side.”