“This was all nuts. The way I wanted him. The ways we knew each other. And the ways we didn’t…”LEAHWhen I was too young to know any better Ryan Jedson fascinated me.After he went on the run I thought I’d never see him again.I was wrong.Now that he’s back in town I realize it’s a bad idea to catch his eye.And yet I can’t help it.Sometimes you want the one you shouldn’t want.But there’s a … you want the one you shouldn’t want.
But there’s a complication.
He has no idea that I’m the reason his life fell apart.
And I don’t know what he’ll do if he ever finds out.
RYAN
Back in the day when we were neighbors she was too young, not even worth a second look.
However, six years have gone by and now Leah Brandeis is fair game.
I see how she looks at me.
I understand she thinks her secret is safe.
And I’m playing along.
For now.
But soon the truth will come out and there will be hell to pay.
Because I know what she did.
I’ve always known.
Stand alone. Enemies-to-lovers. Tons of angst, secrets and steamy vengeance.
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This is Leah and Ryan’s story and the hell they have gone through in Emblem. The characters are believable and draw you in making you feel as if you know them intimately. Leah had a terrible life with a dad that worked all the time and had no time for her and a mother that was manipulative, nasty and spiteful, yet despite this all she wants is love.
Ryan became unruly when he was a teenager and ran with the wrong crowd and did things he is now ashamed of. Ryan has to leave Emblem when leah’s mother frames him for a crime he didn’t commit. When he comes back he is intent on making Leah pay and sets out to take everything from her.
Will he succeed or will Leah change his mind??
I’m not going to ruin the story by revealing too much but it is a story that needs reading. I f I could give 10 stars I would ,it’s that good.
Love all the Gentry books, but this one is one of favorites of all time! Great book!
3.5 Stars
As a young girl Leah had a crush on Jedson, hearing her inner thoughts was kind of cute. All the ways she imagined their future even though he doesn’t see her that way at all. Her childish innocent love is ripped apart by a stunning revelation, it was a shocker for me too. When they meet again years later there is all this unresolved tension longing and bitterness. I found him unnecessarily cruel, I know he’s angry but she was a child. It’s like a game of cat and mouse but only one of them knows the rules of the game. I hated that forgiveness was given so easily I thought Leah was made of stronger stuff than that and that it wasn’t explored more.
Reviewed by United Indie Book Blog
What draws me into reading this is the blurb. I love revenge trope that usually caused by misunderstanding. It does deliver. However, only a pinch. I was expecting a whole lot of angst. So yeah, I was a bit disappointed.
I’m having difficulty in grasping the way of writing at first. Especially when she added a whole bunch of characters which was probably introduced at Tristan. But since I haven’t read it, it’s a bit hard digesting who is who. Some were actually not of importance. Throw in a drama that is not needed IMO.
Leah was pretty much in love with Ryan even when she was a teen, so in love that years later, she still felt the same… unfortunately, to the extent that she has NO SENSE OF SELF RESPECT the very first time she went to visit Ryan.
I don’t know how Ryan came to a 360 degree from hatred and seeking revenge to falling for her in such a short span of time. Considering that they barely spent time together.
I really hoped the story revolved around them spending time together – hero using it as a bait for heroine to fall for him until he realize he is the one that is starting to fall but his plan for revenge has already took place and he cannot stop it until heroine finally realize his true motive…. that is how I expected this story to happen.
Jedson, follows Ryan Jedson and Leah Brandeis. They grew up as neighbours and Leah always had a crush on Ryan who was a few years older. That is until she feels totally betrayed by him and when he gets fingered for a local murder and has to leave town, he wrongly believes it was Leah who was responsible. Years later and Ryan is back, with an agenda to make Leah pay. Their friends to enemies to lovers story plays out and shows the complications of miscommunications and assumptions. Another enjoyable Emblem story with great characters. Can be read as a stand-alone book.
What a fantastic story by this talented author!!! I loved Leah and Ryan’s story so much!! I wasn’t prepared for all of the feelings their story bought out in me. What started as revenge for Ryan turned into something he wasn’t prepared for at all. Ryan didn’t count on falling for Leah hard and caring about her as much as he did. This story is a bit darker and more angsty but it fit for the two of them considering their past. There was chemistry and as much as I didn’t want to like Ryan….he won me over. I was hooked from beginning to end and didn’t want it to end. I highly recommend their story and I can’t wait to see what this amazing author comes out with next. Well done!!!!
Ryan Jedson….. there was a glimpse of him in Tristan’s book which had me intrigued to read his book and it definitely lured me in. Ryan and Leah had a tumultuous relationship because of lies, anger and a revenge plot that was exposed to bring down Leah. Their story was seductive, alluring and captivating that I inhaled page after page from the very beginning until the very end because I refused to put it down! If you’re a fan of Cora’s amazing words like myself then one-click this sexy as sin friends-to-lovers-enemies-to-lovers read now!
Jedson by Cora Brent is book Two in The Ruins of Emblem Series. This is the story of Ryan Jedson and Leah Brandeis. I have read the previous book, but feel you can make this a standalone book if you wish to do so.
Leah and Ryan were once young friends, although Leah had a crush on him. But then a misunderstand came to be that drove Ryan out of town and the cops on him. Now 6 years later he has return since everything has cleared up for him except one thing…Leah. Leah has put everything on hold to help her dad and then she hears that Ryan is back in town. Thinking that she needs to have a talk with him but puts it off when he starts talking to her like all is good…but is it?
Enjoyed their story!
Jedson is a story about decite, revenge and forgiveness. This a very angsty entiomal roller coaster ride that will have you disliking the hero one minute and rooting for him the next. Ryan and Leah have a life time of memories that can make it break them. Great second book in the Ruins of Emblem series. Must read!
Yup, huge Cora Brent fan right here!!! I adored this super emotional book!
I also loved Tristan’s story and was waiting for this one…Leah and Jedson’s rollercoaster of a hea will grab you from page 1.
The secondary characters, one I hated!!! Most I loved!
Highly recommend this page turner
4*
Leah’s mother Luanne loves to be the centre of the world adored by her husband but cruel to others.
Jedson (Ryan) lived with his mum celeste in a trailer on the family’s plot. The mums were best friends until Luanne lies had Jedson leaving Emblem.
He’s back but will the truth come out or does he get his revenge?
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book
Where do I even start to explain how amazing this book is. Cora Brent did it again with this fantastic book. My emotions were all over the place while reading this book and once I started reading, I couldn’t stop until the end, it was that amazing. If you are looking for a book full of angst, love, steamy sex scenes and an emotional roller coaster then this is definitely the book for you. Simply amazing and highly recommended.
Book 2 of The Ruins of Emblem is Jedson by Cora Brent. It is an emotional rollercoaster romance ride deep with history between the main characters that is rife with drama that is bound to keep this story moving.
This is deep with angst and misunderstandings , of regrets and pain, of bitter lies and anger, of teenage love and a 2nd chance at romance, of love and forgiveness. This story has it all- hang on and get ready for the journey that Ms. Brent takes you on. Make sure to have tissues handy for this will , at times, bring the feels and the water works out. Ryan and Leah’s story is full and deep yet oh so moving and sizzling. What a great read!!! Definitely a summer read!!
My Rating: 4.5 stars *******
Dang! Jedson, book 2 of the Ruins of Emblem, is so much more than I was expecting!! The emotions of this enemies to lovers story are so raw, I could feel both Ryan and Leah’s pain….caused by Leah’s mom. Good lord was she nasty and evil. Their road in life was not easy, nor was their road to a HEA easy either. Cora Brent perfectly mixes angst and pain with swoony sexy times and witty banter.
When I saw a hint of Jedson & Leah’s story in Tristan’s book I was so intrigued. I never expected the story I just read. It was so good. A case of unfortunate circumstances, lies and events that got pushed into motion made these two story one so very entertaining and captivating. My heart broke for them both and what they had to deal with separately because of actions beyond their control. At one point I really wanted to place Jedson on timeout for his antics but I easily forgave him because of his thought process. I wanted to hug Leah so bad, literally that’s all she needed throughout this book. Their story was steamy and complicated. Awesome read once again by Cora Brent.
An emotional and engaging read
This author has been on my TBR for a while now, and this new release seemed like a good choice to take a chance on. A book in the Ruins of Emblem series which is a spin-off from the Gentry Boys/Gentry Generations books, the author did an excellent job of making this a standalone, as I never felt I was missing out on anything in spite of characters carrying over from earlier books and/or series.
This was darker and more angsty than I expected based on what I’d heard about the Gentry Brothers series, especially the front half. The setup was interesting and the author had me engaged with the characters and the plot almost immediately. I was especially sympathetic towards Leah. Leah and Ryan had a complex relationship that evolved over the course of the story, and there was a TON of chemistry between them, whew! I loved the many different secondary characters adding depth to the story (including a few in the love to hate category); some were carryovers as I mentioned already and some I assumed to be new with this book.
While I usually like revenge story plot lines, I don’t like not liking a main character—one of the things I want most out of story (besides a hea), is to be cheering for the characters to get their hea—and though I felt bad for Ryan’s situation, there was a lot of time in the first half of the book where I didn’t like him very much (as the author intended). Since this was a new to me author, I wasn’t certain whether or not he’d be redeemed, and since I was so unsure about Ryan, the front half of the story dragged a bit for me. The second half was much more my taste; with a little more humor (though the author still had my heart breaking for both Ryan and Leah at times), and I loved the ending.
All in all, an emotional and engaging read that not only has me eager to get more from the citizens of Emblem, but to go back and read the Gentry stories as well. 4.5 stars
B2B Kelly
This book just thoroughly reminded me why I fell in love with Cora Brent’s writing and how much I truly adore everything to do with Emblem. Jedson is a roller coaster taking you from raw tear inducing heartbreak all the way to happy sighing swooning. Leah and Ryan’s story is my definitely a new favorite for me!
Their second chance is one that is not only unique but also incredibly moving. The history between them incredibly heartbreaking, but that served to make their love even more powerful.
The glimpses of Leah and Ryan in Tristan made me really impatient for this book. And oh my god, was the short wait 100% worth it!! I can sum this book up with two descriptions: tragic and heartbreakingly sweet.
CB always has a way of weaving every possible emotion into every book she writes. That connection that’s weaved between the reader and the characters keeps me glued to the stories and ignoring all other responsibilities just to see what happens. The angst and heartbreak in this book had me sobbing more than once but the sweet, funny moments gave me so much hope that Leah and Ryan would have a happy ending. The cameos from all my faves from the other series definitely mended my heart after hearing the backstory of both Leah and Ryan.
I thought visits to Emblem would be hard after the description the Gentry’s gave over all of those books but Emblem is becoming one of my favorite fictional towns!
This is book two in the “Ruins of Emblem” series and can be read as a standalone.
Jedson has blown back into town, armed with money, secrets and an agenda; topped off with a wicked chip on his shoulder and he’s a ticking time bomb.
Leah has put her whole life on hold for the sake of her father, a father who can’t be bothered by his daughter. Distraught over his life, Leah takes control but seemingly loses herself in the process.
When Jedson strolls into Leah’s bar neither are prepared for their undeniable chemistry or their past mistakes. What starts out as harmless fun quickly turns into regret and revenge.
Ms. Brent did a fantastic job weaving complexity and heart within this story. This story is unlike most of her books. This is a bit on the darker side and quite twisty. The writing was eloquent and straightforward. The chemistry was on fire from the first meeting. As with all Ms. Brent’s books, this is truly a story of redemption and overcoming one’s past.
This story wraps you in and makes you wonder how’s it going to end and whether to like Ryan Jedson or not it if Leah will get a clue about anything. There’s so much angst, suspense, dislike, mixed emotions between two people that one way or another was hurt by the same person. Leah always had a crush on the boy next door but he only saw her as a kid especially since he was 5 years older than her. Fast forward some years and he’s out for revenge. And poor Leah is his intended target. The way he goes about it is ruthless but you can’t deny their chemistry. When he finds out the truth about everything things change but Leah is not one to backdown. Ryan pours his heart out and Leah of course can never hate him.