The New York Times bestselling author of the Marked Men series delivers an “emotional, unforgettable” (Lori Wilde) romance about a rugged Texas sheriff who must protect the woman who was once his sworn enemy… Case Lawton comes from a family of criminals. So as the sheriff of Loveless, Texas, he’’s determined to do everything by the book–until he’’s called to Aspen Barlow’’s office after a … book–until he’’s called to Aspen Barlow’’s office after a so-called break-in. The last thing he wants to do is help the woman who cost him custody of his son. But Aspen isn’‘t the heartless lawyer Case remembers, and he starts to question his long-held grudge…
Aspen is scared for her life, and Case is her last hope for protection. But to get him on her side, she’‘ll have to reveal the painful truth from all those years ago. Now, as they work together to track down a dangerous criminal, Case and Aspen learn to trust each other. And as the threats escalate, it becomes clear there’’s a thin line between love and hate… because there’’s nothing Case wouldn’‘t do to keep her safe.
“Off the charts attraction, dramatic suspense, heartbreaking betrayal, deep emotion, and unforgettable romance will keep you turning the pages to the climactic end.” -Jennifer Ryan, New York Times bestselling author
“Crownover writes cowboys that make you want to pack your bags in search of a small-town ranch!” -Melissa Foster, New York Times bestselling author
“Five big huge stars for Justified! Don’‘t miss this page turner!” -Harper Sloan, New York Times bestselling author
Includes It’’s All About That Cowboy, a bonus novella by Carly Bloom!
and hate… because there’’s nothing Case wouldn’‘t do to keep her safe.
“Off the charts attraction, dramatic suspense, heartbreaking betrayal, deep emotion, and unforgettable romance will keep you turning the pages to the climactic end.” -Jennifer Ryan, New York Times bestselling author
“Crownover writes cowboys that make you want to pack your bags in search of a small-town ranch!” -Melissa Foster, New York Times bestselling author
“Five big huge stars for Justified! Don’‘t miss this page turner!” -Harper Sloan, New York Times bestselling author
Includes It’’s All About That Cowboy, a bonus novella by Carly Bloom!
and hate… because there’’s nothing Case wouldn’‘t do to keep her safe.
“Off the charts attraction, dramatic suspense, heartbreaking betrayal, deep emotion, and unforgettable romance will keep you turning the pages to the climactic end.” -Jennifer Ryan, New York Times bestselling author
“Crownover writes cowboys that make you want to pack your bags in search of a small-town ranch!” -Melissa Foster, New York Times bestselling author
“Five big huge stars for Justified! Don’‘t miss this page turner!” -Harper Sloan, New York Times bestselling author
Includes It’’s All About That Cowboy, a bonus novella by Carly Bloom!
and hate… because there’’s nothing Case wouldn’‘t do to keep her safe.
“Off the charts attraction, dramatic suspense, heartbreaking betrayal, deep emotion, and unforgettable romance will keep you turning the pages to the climactic end.” -Jennifer Ryan, New York Times bestselling author
“Crownover writes cowboys that make you want to pack your bags in search of a small-town ranch!” -Melissa Foster, New York Times bestselling author
“Five big huge stars for Justified! Don’‘t miss this page turner!” -Harper Sloan, New York Times bestselling author
Includes It’’s All About That Cowboy, a bonus novella by Carly Bloom!
ep emotion, and unforgettable romance will keep you turning the pages to the climactic end.” -Jennifer Ryan, New York Times bestselling author
“Crownover writes cowboys that make you want to pack your bags in search of a small-town ranch!” -Melissa Foster, New York Times bestselling author
“Five big huge stars for Justified! Don’‘t miss this page turner!” -Harper Sloan, New York Times bestselling author
Includes It’’s All About That Cowboy, a bonus novella by Carly Bloom!
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Justified is the first book in Jay’s Loveless, Texas series. And it’s quite the angsty read! No one does angst better than Jay Crownover, in my humble opinion. And it’s exactly why I still love this author’s writing.
The prologue ripped my heart to pieces, and she didn’t put it back together until the very end of the book. The characters are complicated (but if you’ve read any of Jay’s books, you know that all of her characters are complicated!), real, and flawed. The story is complicated, real, and raw. If you love angsty books, this is absolutely the author you will want to read ALL her books.
So let’s talk characters for a minute. Aspen was that kid in high school. New. From the big city. And marched to the beat of her own drum. She was bullied and misunderstood by everyone. Except by Case Lawton. Case was this tiny Texas town’s golden boy. High school football star turned war hero, he’s now the Sherriff. Both characters have complicated relationships with their last living parent. And they only get more complicated throughout the story. There were times I wanted to hate Case. But at the same time, I could understand where his anger and rage came from. And overwhelming emotions like that tend to leave us single-minded and focused on all the wrong things. Thankfully, he eventually gets his head out of his ass. And Aspen…sometimes I just wanted to yell at her to open her eyes. She tries so hard to see the good in people, she’s blinded by her desire to be a people pleaser in a lot of ways. Like I said…these characters are complicated, real, and flawed. But in the end, you fall in love with who these two are as individuals, and who they become as a couple.
NICUnurse’s Rating: I’ve been a fan of Jay Crownover’s books since her Marked Men series. I’ve yet to read one of her books that didn’t pull out some complicated and dark emotions out of me while reading them, so sometimes I have to take them in small doses. But I always come back! In a world that wants to see things in black and white, Jay Crownover delivers romance in the gray areas like no one else. I give Justified by Jay Crownover 4.75 stars!
Justified takes enemies to loves to a NEW level. Y’all, she was the divorce lawyer who represented his ex!!!! We met Case in the prequel novella so we know he is the sheriff of the town. We also know Lawton’s father is seriously crooked. And finally, this is small town Texas: drama and danger are a given, right.
Case’s disdain for Aspen is legit. He does not pull punches either. But, he is a good guy, so when there is a credible threat to her, he, as sheriff, steps in to help. So, this relationship is slow build in the sense that the trust takes time. There is sexual attraction, but Case can’t just ‘forget’ what Aspen cost him. He is kind of an ass. I was torn between understanding his position and thinking “Dude, Aspen isn’t your ex. Be mad at the ex!”. And kind of like “Dude, you married your ex. Be mad at yourself”. But, being sheriff is one of Case’s ways of making amends. He feels horrible for the sins of his father. He becomes super straight laced in an attempt to show the town that all Lawtons aren’t bad.
Aspen is likable! You recognize she is good at what she does and that being a good lawyer means some people will hate you. She also has a crap-ton going on in her life. It was kind of exhausting just to read about it! Seriously, girl needs a break. But, she isn’t a shrinking violet. She sees the mistakes in her life and deals with them. But, she also isn’t afraid to get help.
Justified is a yummy blend of hate to love you, small town mystery. Crownover writes such wonderful stories. Her characters, including Case and Aspen are complex and dynamic as as their lives.
3.5-4 stars
This was a great weekend read! I was sucked in right from the start and didn’t want to put it down. I was hesitant to pick it up because I don’t often read cowboy romances, but this one felt more small town romance more than anything and I just appreciated the cover for the eye candy it was 😉
Justified is an enemies to lovers, forced proximity, suspense, and single parent romance rolled into one. I loved the sparks and sexual tension between Case and Aspen and how the gruff and grumpy sheriff slowly opened his heart. Case is exactly the loyal, protective, alpha hero that I love. I wouldn’t have minded a little more groveling on his part though and I did feel that Aspen forgave him very quickly. Also, her strong feelings toward him made sense considering their time together in HS, but Case’s feelings seemed to go from hate to love in the blink of an eye. The suspense kept things interesting, but did feel a little over the top at times. I’m really intrigued by Case’s little sister, Kody, and a certain Texas Ranger and loved the mysterious vibe. I’m hoping their story will be next! This was my first book by Jay Crownover, and I’m excited to see where this series goes.
*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*
So much action and excitement! And what a twist! I really wasn’t expecting that. This story is an all in or not at all, just like these characters. Aspen and Case have an ongoing war that feels like a mine field. And at some point one of them steps on one and BOOM, we have an explosion. When avoidance and hatred is not a go to option anymore for them they realize that they have a lot in common. They both want to contribute in the making of a better town. They are cleaning house one bad guy at a time. Aspen is feisty and independent. Case is protective and loyal. A total alpha man. Both grew up with a lot of integrity and good principles even when their parents sucked. With a lot of fighting, bickering and intense chemistry they uncover and finally accept their true admiration for each other. Just like when they were young. Now it’s all or nothing and there is no more time to waist. You will love every page of this book.
3.5 Stars!
One of my favorite tropes is enemies to lovers. I love a good fight scene and a good grovel. Throw in angst, and a good mystery, I’m giddy with excitement!
When Aspen Barlow moved from Chicago to small-town Loveless, Texas, Case Lawton was the first to befriend her. When other high school kids teased her about her appearance and called her weird, Case stood by her and protected her. They both had dreams about life after high school, he was going off to college on a football scholarship, and she was going to save the world.
Aspen went on to study law. When she came back to Loveless, she not only got a job one of the most prestigious law firms in the city, but she married one of the richest boys in Loveless.
Unfortunately, fate had other plans for Case. With the death of his mother, his broken leg, and his girlfriend getting pregnant, his plans of leaving Loveless were sidelined. Instead of heading to college on a football scholarship, he joined the military and married the girl who shackled him to the town he hated.
When Aspen returned with her law degree, it wasn’t long before her reputation as a great lawyer got out to everyone, everyone that is except the one person who needed her help the most. Case didn’t give much thought to the girl he’d known in high school, in fact, he didn’t care much about Aspen at all. That is not until Aspen was hired to defend his soon-to-be-ex-wife in their bitter divorce and custody battle.
Years after later, Aspen finds herself needing Case to protect her again. The problem though is getting Case to release the anger and resentment he’s carried toward her for years.
I had a few issues with the story 1) I felt like Aspen forgave Case too quickly; I wanted him to grovel, to earn his place in her life. Which leads me to 2) While I understood Aspen’s desires toward Case (a little anyway), I had issues with how quickly Case made an about turn and suddenly wanted to have a life with Aspen. 3) The mystery. Or should I say the who-done-it? Because it was who done it that had me side eyeing my kindle.
The good? I have never read this author before, and I really enjoyed her voice. The way she told the story was entertaining and held my interest despite the issues I had. I will definitely read more from her and CANNOT wait for one Texas Ranger to get his story!
I was provided a review copy by Forever; this did not influence my opinion of the book nor my review.
Divorce is never easy on a family. For Case Lawton – life took a dramatic turn when his wife decided to take him to the cleaners. With a father who ruled the Texas town of Loveless on the shady side of the law, Case’s chances to obtain custody of his son were waning by the second. When a familiar face from the past ends up representing the wife destined to cost him everything, Case quickly realized that Aspen Barlow was more than the geeky girl that was a part of his past.
Over the years, Case hasn’t kept his hostility towards Aspen a secret. The lawyer cost the new Sherriff a lot of heartache where his son was concerned. Now time has passed, and Aspen finds herself in a sticky situation that requires the help of law enforcement. During the course of her own bitter divorce, Aspen finds her office trashed and Case is the first one on the scene. With Aspen’s life threatened by an unknown assailant, Case finds himself tasked with keeping the woman that he has loathed for years safe from harm.
Aspen has always known that the anger Case feels towards her would come to a head one day. In spite of Aspen’s adoration of Case during her high school years, the two didn’t really keep in touch. When faced with a case that she couldn’t turn down, Aspen found herself an unwilling pawn in the trial that would leave Case without visitation or custody of his son. Years may have passed, but Aspen still feels the arrows that Case drills into her skull every time the two cross paths. With the hostility brewing beneath the surface, it might be hard to see that this broken soul still has a soft spot for the local Sherriff. Time is not on Aspen’s side, and the closeness with the local Sherriff will force the two to face their unresolved issues from the past.
Justified is the first book in a brand new series by Jay Crownover. The premise of the series involves the Lawton siblings and their climb to overcome the tendrils of their father’s life on the wrong side of the law. Case has devoted everything to pushing his father out of office, and making Loveless a town that anyone would be proud to call their hometown. Case has made so many sacrifices to just have a small part in his son’s life. Never in a million years did Case think that life would throw him in the path of the cyclone that is Aspen Barlow once more.
The characters in Justified are full of zest and grit. Each sibling has a place in this series. There is a prequel to the series – Unbroken. Readers do not have to read Unbroken to understand the plot of Justified. However – delving into the prequel will add another layer to the crazy past that each sibling has had to overcome. Case is definitely the sibling that seemed to have his life the most ‘together’, but he quickly learns that nothing where Aspen is concerned should be taken at face value. Fans of Crownover’s writing style will love the plot, characters and thrilling ride that one can always expect when reading one of the author’s novels. A great setup to what is in store for the rest of the series!!
So far I am absolutely loving Loveless, Texas. Since I am a sucker for a sheriff hero and feisty lawyer romance, this book really hit the spot with me. As usual, this author can take an alpha protective, rough around the edges good guy and bring him to his knees and senses by matching him up with a feisty, leading lady love interest. Throw in the enemies to lovers element and we are given one hot, complicated relationship.
Though a damsel in distress, I loved how Aspen tried to always stay true to herself. When she realized she had let her guard down and allowed others to derail her from her life’s purpose, she took action and matters into her own hands. She was tough and fragile all at the same time, and also very forgiving when it was called for. She seemed to be living proof you can’t keep a good woman down, folks.
Case had a serious case of family issues and baggage he’s been carrying around his whole life. You’ll have to shrug off his at first hateful, mean demeanor towards Aspen. This author did a good job of laying all the cards on the table, so we ultimately do get a clear picture of what he’s been dealing with.
Oh, I so want another shot at seeing Shot Caldwell, a good guy/bad boy biker sub-character that popped up in this storyline. Add Hill Gamble, a hot, handsome Texas Ranger to the list while you’re at it. My, oh, my! Those two alone are reasons I can’t wait for a return trip to this relationship angst riddled town where true love seems to keep finding a home!
Here’s to hoping Kody, the hero’s bar owner baby sis, is next in line to square off with her obvious love interest. That guy had better be careful though. This girl’s proved she’s got game, packs a gun, and knows how to use it.
Overall, just know I really enjoyed this book and did not want to put it down. Here’s to hoping you’ll feel the same.
Title: Justified, Series: Loveless, Texas (Book 1), Author: Jay Crownover, Pages: 384, stand-alone but part of series, divorced sheriff hero, damsel in distress feisty lawyer heroine, enemies to lovers, great sub-characters, perilous situations, relationship angst.
Book .5 – Unbroken (Crew & Della), 5/14/19, Pages: 160
Book 1 – Justified (Case & Aspen), 6/25/19, Pages: 384
(I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not given any payment or compensation for this review. There is no affiliation or relationship between this reviewer and the author/publisher/NetGalley)
Justified by Jay Crownover is the first in her Loveless, Texas, series. While we got a glimpse of the deliciousness to come in Unbroken, but this is Loveless in all its glory…or at least the Lawton family. Case is the perfect blend of gruff cowboy sheriff and overprotective teddy bear. Aspen is more than his perfect match. There is a twist I didn’t see coming. I stayed up way too late reading and have no regrets…at least not about the book. I am all in with this series and can’t wait to see what Crownover has in store for Kody.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.
Another amazing read that will have you glued too your kindle. Case & Aspen were friends to enemies to lovers and you won’t want too miss a second of there story. The twist in this story will blow your mind. Another phenomenal 5 star read with characters that are unforgettable. Truly love the Lawton’s and can’t wait for more.
4.5 stars
Case Lawton has led a tumultuous life…from the Golden Boy of Loveless, Texas to his life spiraling out of control and he is now back on track as the town Sheriff. But he is not the same charming, witty young man he once was. He is hardened, closed-off, and easy to anger. But he loves his son and his brother and sister and will do anything for them, and he is doing his best to make Loveless a safe community.
Aspen Barlow once had a teenage crush on him, but they later become bitter enemies when she represented his ex wife in court and lost him custody of his son for years. But now she is a woman in danger, and he is the only one she can really turn to. Someone seems to have a vendetta against her and they are coming at her full force. And Case has to take his job seriously to keep her safe and figure out who is out to get her. And along the way, they have to face their past, some secrets, and their undeniable chemistry. Sometimes things are not always as they seem, especially in this small town.
And at some point it becomes even more important to protect her so he does not lose her.
This is a friends-to-enemies-to-lovers that has danger, suspense, mystery, and steam. It is told in dual points of view. There are plenty of possible suspects, action, and hidden agendas. I will admit I did figure it out faster than Case did, but there was plenty of suspense and drama.
I enjoy the setting in Loveless and am looking forward to sister, Kody having a story. She is awesome and loves to snap back at her brothers. There seem to be two men in her periphery that could be her match.
I received this book for free from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Justified is SO AMAZING. It feels very much like a Jay romance. What do I mean? Well, Case is kind of a butthead, but I also love him. Also, this has suspense and mystery to it. And once you overcome one problem or think you have it figured out, she makes you question everything! And Aspen, man she has been in a tight spot for years, and these small towns sure do like to hate on people. When these two fight, Case definitely is good at sticking his foot in his mouth. Though nobody can top either of their exes.
This might sound crazy, but I might end up loving this series more than all her others, and I’ve read them ALL. It was just that good.
I very much so enjoyed Justified! It was emotional, surprising, and interesting. I liked how Loveless is connected to other books of Jay’s and how she includes little mentions of them. Case is an interesting character. He can be hard headed and rude, but he can also be very protective and caring. He carries a lot on his shoulders and thinks about everyone else before him. He’s a good guy at heart he just sometimes makes some poor decisions and gets caught up in other things. He opens up more as the book goes on and we get to see the good, real side of him. Aspen has a really rough time throughout this book; she can’t catch a break. She’s a good person who doesn’t get enough credit for what she does and definitely doesn’t deserve the type of treatment she receives. She’s one tough cookie to survive everything and be willing to go toe to toe with Case. Their relationship has many ups and downs, so it was interesting being in both their heads and understanding where they were coming from and their feelings for each other. I liked seeing how their relationship developed more over time. Hayes is another great character. He’s a great kid with a good head on his shoulders and clearly takes after his dad. Loveless seems like an interesting town and I can’t wait for more!
This book was full of love, action, and most of all it was simply a great story. I enjoyed reading about these two characters and I look forward to the next book in this series. I definitely recommend this author, this book, and this series.
3.75 enemies to lovers stars. A good read with a suspense element that lay seeds for the next book in the series.
Ahhhh! Even though I think this story is considered a slow burn, the story is extremely interesting enough to keep me page turning. I also loved how it kept me guessing. I loved the authors note at the end about the characters that have crossed over from her other series. Even though I haven’t read all of them but it was still cool to see. Needless to say I need to move more if Jay’s books up my tbr. She has a way with words.
I also hope Kady gets her story bc that one sounds seriously interesting!
I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of the publisher**
Justified is absolutely everything I love about Jay Crownover! Strong characters, some intrigue, some mystery, and a whole lot of sexiness make for a book I just did not want to put down!
Case Lawton and Aspen Barlow have known one another since high school. Case was one of the only people who was kind to the new girl in Loveless who happened to march to the beat of her own drum. As any girl would, she developed a crush on the handsome son of the town sheriff. While Aspen fought her own battles with not fitting in, Case was dealing with the fact that his father was as crooked as they come and while he was the sheriff, he wasn’t always looking out for the best interest of the townspeople. He wanted out of Loveless as badly as anything, but fate had other plans for him.
Years later, Aspen moves back to Loveless, marries and goes to work at her new family’s law firm. She happens to run into Case the day he is served with divorce papers and when he has the opportunity to hire her to represent him, instead he insults her. When she is hired by his soon-to-be ex-wife, Aspen become enemy number one because part of what his ex wants is for him to be kept away from their son.
It’s no secret that Case and Aspen don’t get along, so when Aspen is suddenly the victim and needs Case’s help since he is now the sheriff, things get interesting. It’s clear that Aspen’s life is in danger, but the question is who is out to get her?
I absolutely loved everything about this book. It grabbed my attention as soon as I started reading and I needed to find out who was behind all that was happening to Aspen. Not to mention the tension, both emotional and physical, that she managed to build between Case and Aspen, it was fantastic. Jay always creates complex characters and these were no exception. If you are a long time reader of her books, some of the characters might seem a little bit familiar as she has managed to give a nod some of her other most well-known series. I am already ready for the next book in the series as I know it’s going to be another great trip to Loveless, Texas!