Dax Colyn is one of the bad boys of Willow Valley. A fearless volunteer firefighter and hard working, sexy mechanic, he makes all the woman swoon and he likes it that way. He keeps people at a distance since his mother died. He doesn’t want to let anyone in, much less a woman he knows he could fall in love with.Ava Anderson keeps people away, too. Haunted by her tortured past and constantly … fearful of the future, it’s only her daughter Olivia and Dax’s dad Rowdy that she’s let in. But when tragedy strikes, it pushes Dax and Ava together, forcing them both to let go of their fears. They soon learn how hard it is to keep pretending and how easy it is to let others in. Especially when those people are family.”Dax” is the first in the “Bad Boys of Willow Valley” series from author Shannyn Leah.
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He has lost his mother and so he lets no-one in although he gets plenty of female attention. She has had a troubled past and the only people in her life is her daughter and his father. Soon they will be pulled together with a loss. Can they help each other? Will they allow others in? See if they will
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This author has multiple formats of romance novels and other books. Previously I tried to read the first Davenport book but could not get into it at all. Some of her other books were on sale so i decided to give another one a try, and here we are.
I had a very hard time staying engaged in this book. The characters were meh, the story was also meh, and the romance fell so flat for me. There are other authors that I’m riveted on every word, and in this book I started skipping pages to make the end come faster, and I’m not a page skipper by habit. I got a couple other books to try, but honestly after this read I don’t know that I’m going to bother.
Dax Colyn is the guy women of all ages fantasize about and what to be with. However, Dax only does one night with women and nobody local. This is Dax’s rule to protect himself from being hurt and ensuring his heart is never in the picture to be broken. He’s seen first hand from his father what a broken heart does to someone and he’s vowed never to put himself in that kind of position.
Ava Anderson, for the last 7 years has finally found a place and family after losing hers in a house fire. Nobody, not even Rowdy knows her past. But Rowdy has a big heart that knows no bounds and when he meets a pregnant Ava he takes her in and gives her a family that she can count on.
Since the first time Dax and Ava met there have always been sparks between the two. However, they’ve never acted upon these feelings because Ava never wanted to be “just another woman”.
But tragedy strikes and Dax and Ava are thrown together and forced to rely on each other to make sure the other gets through these trying times. Soon Dax is realizing that he doesn’t want to live a lonely life without the love of Ava. But his reputation precedes him and he’ll have to work hard to convince Ava that he’s in it for the long haul.
Although I’m not one for reading books with heroes like Dax (who sleep around a lot!) I enjoyed that this one didn’t really throw his encounters in our face. Yes, the book opens up the morning after him sleeping with a tourist, but I at least didn’t have to read about it. I much prefer just reading the sexy scenes with him and the heroine.
I want a bad boy like Dax, he may act all rough and growly,”supposedly” happy with a new woman a night, but someone has him hot and bothered. Dax’s dad Rowdy took Ava in when she was alone and pregnant , in a way they adopted each other. The chemistry is a flowing between Dax and Ava , the emotions are all over the place and I’m loving it. You’ll need ice to cool down, tissues for any crying and a drink by you because you won’t want to leave your seat after you start reading. I’m ready for my next bad boy and I know that I’m going to enjoy it also
Have to give this one 5 stars . I was hooked from the start of the story and couldn’t put it down. Rowdy took Ava a pregnant teen with no where to go and helped her get on track. Olivia Ava’s daughter is being raised as Rowdys granddaughter she’s a little tomboy but smart. Dax is Rowdys son. Within the first six chapters my heart hurt. I had to know what happened. Ava has secrets too going to get the rest in the series. I’m not giving away a lot of details but I would highly recommend this book.
I was blown away by Dax and Ava and what all they went, not only alone but, also together. To lose a family and find another one, with the bonus of your future, is great.
A fantastic story full of ups and downs. The characters were enjoyable to read and I loved watching their relationship grow and develop.
I had so many emotions when ready this story. So of the parts really hit home for me because they have happened to me in the last few years. But the story between Ava and Dax was a great journey to follow and see them grow. I love stories where you really get to see the characters change and grow because of life situations. This was my first story by this author and I would recommend this story and look forward to reading more!!!
I had so many emotions when ready this story. So of the parts really hit home for me because they have happened to me in the last few years. But the story between Ava and Dax was a great journey to follow and see them grow. I love stories where you really get to see the characters change and grow because of life situations. This was my first story by this author and I would recommend this story and look forward to reading more!!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. This is a book I have wanted to read for sometime now but I kept putting it off. A well written story the pages flowed smoothly one to the other. I enjoyed the interaction between Olivia, Ava’s daughter and Charlie. Dax is the firefighter who comes into Ava and Olivia’s lives. This is a book I would recommend.
Dax loves his Dad Rowdy and they are partners in a garage as well as work as firefighters, 7 years earlier Rowdy took in Ava she is pregnant and all alone and she became a part of their family along with Olivia when she was born. Rowdy has always known they had an attraction to one another but neither would admit or act on it, the fact that Dax slept around and Ava didn’t want to lose the only family she has. Tragedy strikes and now it is up to Dax and Ava to work out what they are going to do however while Ava doesn’t want to trust her heart Dax decides to take matters into his own hands and will do everything he can for her to see they are meant to be together. There is plenty of frustration, heartache, love, twists and surprises alone with some suspense that will leave you biting your nails and grabbing the tissues to see if what Rowdy believed to be true really is or if they are not for each other.
Shannyn Leah is fast becoming one of the authors that I can count on to provide a fun and entertaining story. Dax is the first of the Bad Boys of Willow Valley series. As soon as I finished it I started on book 1.5, Dax the Halls, which is a novella that continues Dax and Ava’s story.
Dax is a “bad boy” who’s a sweet, good, and gentle man. Dax’s mother died when he was a child and his father went into such a deep depression that Dax feared he’d lost both parents. Ava is the young woman who Rowdy (Dax’s dad) rescued from a fire that destroyed her home and killed everyone in her family. It’s Ava who brings the joy of life back into Rowdy’s life. Dax isn’t sure how he’s supposed to feel about Ava. Oh, he knows how he feels. He’s not sure he’s supposed to feel that way. It’s now seven years after Ava joined their family and tragedy strikes again.
I enjoyed taking some time out of my busy holiday to enjoy this fun read. It’s pure entertainment.
A wonderful story, deeply emotional, full of romance, angst, funny moments and adventure. What more can you ask from a book? It has the whole package! Grab a box of tissues and start reading!!!
This book was another hit by Leah. She again created strong characters with an intriguing plot. The characters developed naturally through their past experiences and the plot turns. The steam and love that develops between the characters keeps pulling the reader in. I highly recommend!
Ava a single mother who was taken in by the fire chief of Willow Valley when she was pregnant with nowhere to go.
Rowdy the widowed fire chief who takes Ava under his wing with a bad boy son named Dax; a mechanic and volunteer firefighter. What more can you ask for??
When they suffer a heartbreaking loss they turn to each other. THe only family they have known to get through the troubling times. Will they ever admit their feelings for eachother.
I felt like they just kept going back and forth, They didn’t like each other, but then then did. They wanted to be together but one didn’t trust the other. They then trusted each other but their actions showed otherwise. When an event happens and they needed to trust and talk to each other the most although I understood the reasoning behind Ava not talking to Dax I feel she could have trusted him a bit more and gotten the same outcome.
This is my first book by the author and I really did enjoy it. It had everything from the bad boy, to the romance, action and suspense. Would definitely recommend this to others…
**I received a copy of Dax from Net Gallery in exchange for an honest and voluntary review**
Dax is the first book in Ms. Leah’s Bad Boys of Willow Valley, I haven’t read her previous books about Willow Valley and can truly say that this can be easily read as a stand alone. I did have some concerns about Dax due to his wandering eye but he was there when he was needed most for Ava & Olivia.
Dax Colyn is part owner in his families car restoration business and also a volunteer firefighter but he’s never met a willing woman in the local bar that he couldn’t get into bed. But he’s a loyal firefighter in Willow Valley and is very interested in Ava whom his father took into his home when she needed it most. He runs a tight shop and won’t let a newbie student slack off when restoring one of the vehicles brought into his shop. When tragedy strikes in the fire house it will be Ava who will come to his rescue but can he save her when someone from her past kidnap her child?
Ava Anderson came to Willow Valley, young, broke and pregnant and Rowdy Colyn took her in. Now seven years later he patiently guides Olivia through restoring “Charlie” back to its glory. He hopes that someday Dax will fall in love with Ava and Olivia even though she is completely against Dax and his rotating bed mates. Her early life was from the wrong side of town and when losing her family in a fire. Now she’s a high school teacher, loves her daughter Olivia and is determined to help her students who need extra help because no one helped her. When a person from her past decides to take Olivia from her it will be Dax she’ll turn to. Can she let someone into her heart again and will it be Dax?
This book is absolutely incredible. It sucks the reader into the world of Dax and Ava as they have to adjust their lives to work without Rowdy. The two of them have always had a thing for each other but have been able to keep it under control until now anyways. When the two of them get together the sparks sure fly and I just loved watching them evolve into just what the other one needed when they needed it. This is perfect book for fans of a steamy romance with a bad boy as the leading man. The writing is smooth and the dialogue really keeps you hooked. I loved each and every minute of it so it gets 5/5 stars.
“Don’t run from me. When you’re done hurting and think you can walk in this world without my support, don’t cut me off.”
She ran away from her ashamed past, she found a new family a new purpose, a new life. She knows all about fear and doubts, but what about love, faith and trust?
He’s been hiding from the fear of his feelings towards anyone, a wall of gruffness.
He’s wanted her since the first day he laid eyes on her; he wants her, her future.
She’s loved him since the first time he looked into her eyes but she can’t let him in. She needs to run again to protect those she loves. They fought their feelings for each other for years; will they fall in their desires while needing comfort for their mutual sorrow….?
Dax the sexy womanizer has set is goal on winning Ava, She won’t fall for his old games; she has too much to care for.
Shannyn Leah did it again; a whirlwind of emotions that won’t let you put this beauty down.. A heart wrenching story that will bring smiles, tears and deep emotions within you.
Great book!! This book will have so many emotions going through you. You will be bawling your eyes out, laughing, angry, etc. make sure you have lots of tissues!! You will need them. You will love Dax and you will want to smack him upside of his head at times but you will go back to loving him…hopefully!
This is a well written, heart-warming romance depicting family in a way that makes one grateful for all those people in our lives who stand by us. When Ava loses her family in a fire, and with danger pursuing her, she is taken in by Rowdy the local fire chief. Rowdy’s life was crumbling after the death of his wife, and Ava and her unborn child gave him new meaning and purpose. However, with Rowdy came his son, the ultimate bad boy and womaniser. Ava and Dax gave each other wide berth over the years, but the attraction between them is plain for all to see. When tragedy strikes, it draws the small unconventional family closer together and Dax eventually recognises that if he is going to keep the most important people in his life, namely Ava and her little girl Olivia, he has to stake his claim. Ava is guarded and despite her feelings for Dax, she is careful to keep the shutters of her life closed. When her past intrudes and puts both Ava and Olivia in danger, her first instinct is to run, but Dax’s powerful need to keep them safe has him taking charge and protecting them. I loved the characters in this book: Dax’s powerful but gentle caring, Stone’s tempering influence, Rowdy’s presence throughout the book, Ava’s determination to keep her daughter safe, Olivia’s unconventional approach to life especially given her age, and Wanda’s gentle nurturing of the whole family. I found this book to be well written, with a good flow of language. Although this book is part of a series, this book is nevertheless a standalone. I received a copy of this book as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.