★☆ A Top 100 bestseller in Canada and Australia ★☆
A hidden beauty. A soulful singer. Does he have the right tune to open her heart?
Gemma can’t seem to escape the constant reminders of her brutal past. But when her secret college application succeeds, she jumps at the chance to start a new life away from her damaged daily existence. And though singing with a sexy stranger stirs her soul, she … singing with a sexy stranger stirs her soul, she suspects his intentions aren’t pure.
Indie band frontman Hendrix is plagued by guilt over his family’s heartbreaking history. But when he meets the shy new girl on campus, he finds a path to forgiveness. And as he slowly falls for her quiet courage, he vows to keep her safe.
But Gemma is still in danger, and a rising threat looms to shatter the fragile healing she’s found with the aspiring musician. And with Hendrix desperate not to be responsible for another deadly tragedy, he’s terrified they’ll be torn apart.
Will their destiny collapse under pressure, or will they find strength in a selfless love?
Love & Ruin is the achingly raw first book in The Love & Ruin new adult series. If you like emotional rollercoaster rides, heart-stopping suspense, and passionate connections, then you’ll adore J.A. Owenby’s compelling drama.
Buy Love & Ruin to sing desire’s melody today!
** Love & Ruin is the first book in The Love & Ruin Series. Hendrix and Gemma’s story continues in Love & Deception and finishes with an HEA in Love & Redemption.
**This book includes mature content and possible triggers.
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This is a great start to a new series. The main characters have great chemistry and so do the minor characters! The plot seems very well thought out and written with a pretty even pace. I was intrigued with this story pretty much from a few pages in, there’s twists, turns, ups and downs, this main couple seem so real that you can’t help feeling for them and all they go through. It does end on a cliffhanger though, so be prepared to continue on with the story in book 2.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review
Audio Book Review
5
This is the first book in the Love & Ruin series. What an emotional journey. Gemma pretty much closed herself off to the world after a traumatic event. After five years she decides to take a chance and attend college far away from her family. She is use to blending into the background until him. Hendrix is helping her love life. I was not ready for that ending! Can’t wait to start book 2. Stephanie Nemeth-Parker did a great job narrating.
I love this story about Gemma finding herself. She had a tragic past. Depression and anxiety took over her life. Her parents were over- protective of her and kept her in a bubble. Her only friend next door gave Gemma words of encouragement and the confidence to leave.
Gemma had the opportune time when she was accepted to college in Washington state.
That’s where she met Hendrix, sitting at her library table.
He was the perfect boyfriend, understanding and caring.
A family tragedy made her return home.
This story is a rollercoaster ride of emotions.
A shocking accusation left this story with cliffhanger that destroys Gemma.
Stephanie Nemeth-Parker narration brought this story to life.
audiobookObsession The.Flock
Love & Ruin by J.A. Owenby is a new adult romance that I listened to on audio narrated by Stephanie Nemeth-Parker. This is the first book in The Love & Ruin series.
This is the first book of J.A.’s that I have read and it won’t be my last. I liked the slow burn relationship that is being built between Gemma and Hendrix.
The book ends on a cliffhanger, but that wasn’t a surprise since Gemma and Hendrix story is a trilogy. I can’t wait to dive into the next book in the series Love & Deception.
Stephanie did an amazing job on the narration. She really knows how to bring a story to life. I look forward to listening to more of her work in the future.
I would recommend this book if you like slow burn romances, new adult romances, contemporary romance, or romantic suspense.
The Flock Team
Audiobook Obsession Reviewer
Love & Ruin
The Love & Ruin Series, Book 1
By: J.A. Owenby
Narrated by: Stephanie Nemeth-Parker
My first JA Owenby book and I was captivated! Not only am I ready to break out into book 2, but I was completely entranced in Hendrix and Gemma’s story. Gemma has been raised in an extremely religious family. After a life altering experience, Gemma has decided it’s time to start her own life breaking away from her cage and goes to college across the country. Always hiding herself, she bonds with her roommate and the ever popular Hendrix. The beauty of the music they sing brings them together, and they are falling for each other. But circumstances and accusations are pulling them apart! Gemma’s sudden exit to home and Hendrix’s past are causing a separation! Will they be able to find a way back? This story is extremely emotional, and I found the character’s realistic and believable. They have wormed their way into my heart and I need to know more.
Stephanie Nemeth Parker gives a heart felt performance. I love her accent and ability ot create voices for these characters. Each one is perfect for their personality and she gives each an emotional narration to tug at my heart strings. I need to hear book 2 now to see where the story is going!
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What a great book, it showed the life of a young girl who lived through a tragic life event and managed to come back from it. But like a lot of these romance stories someone has to come along and try to destroy it. Im glad i don’t have to wait for book 2.
Well!!!!!!
I was not prepared for THAT!!!!
A slow burn that will have you begging for more.
Drama, angst and a dash of spice.
This book has *Triggers for some and explained the drama behind it.
Love all the characters and their personalities.
Gemma shows some major growth and set backs that can be taken different ways, but if you really place yourself in her shoes… you can feel her anxiety, fear, strength and love that radiates as she grows more confident.
Hendrix, what a perfect male specimen!!!
Understanding, compassionate, a musician and more… yum!!!
I enjoyed reading this and will be sailing right into the next!! Do yourself a favor, have the next book handy!
Love & Ruin – J. A. Owenby
Love & Ruin is the beginning of a 3 book trilogy written by J. A. Owenby. That means that this book is going to pack quite a punch. In first books like this the author has to introduce the main characters, the side characters who often have either a family or friend tie to one of the main characters and those on there and you may see them a time or two but they are needed to make the story grow. J. A Owenby does a wonderful job introducing the main characters and giving us a glimpse of what has happened to these characters and what brings them together.
Gemma has been living in a bubble, depressed and still affected by a terrible tragedy that although is not outwardly named it’s easy to surmise that she was attacked and raped at some point. Hendrix is somewhat closed but because of a tragedy that happened to him as a young person he has an overwhelming need to take care of people, whether he knows them or not. Mackenzie (Mac) was diagnosed with ADHD and although she had been on medication, she has chosen to go off that medication and try to find ways to deal with and live with her ADHD. Gemma’s elderly neighbour Ada Lynn sees Gemma as the daughter or granddaughter she never had and is constantly looking our for Gemma’s well being. It is Ada Lynn who convinces Gemma she needs to leave their small southern town and go far away to college.
Hendrix meets Gemma for the first time after she has had an altercation with a guy on campus who is known for being rough with girls and probably has assaulted a number of them. From the moment Hendrix meets Gemma he has a need to protect and watch out for her. Something Gemma is not use to and she has shut down she feelings to just about everyone. Since Gemma is Mac’s room mater she becomes shocked to learn that Hendrix is Mac’s stepsister.
Hendrix is the lead singer of a band and one night Mac convinces Gemma to go listen to the band. All goes well until a fight breaks out, the girls get parted from each other and the creep (Brandon) threatens Gemma. Gemma eventually gets take to the campus police building because Brandon has accused her of stalking him, of course it is the other way around. Mac gets Hendrix involved, the band gives Gemma an alibi, Hendrix walks the girls back to their dorm to make sure they arrive safe. When they arrive Mac eggs Hendrix into singing a song and Gemma starts to sing harmony with him! Perfect, if this isn’t a connection nothing is.
Our hero and heroine play games with each other share their deepest secrets with each other and eventually fall in love with each other.
Of course there are always things that happen and although Gemma seems to have been able to open up and accept all the new things flying her way she still has a trust issue. This trust issue is going to play a huge role at the end of the story and into the next part of their relationship.
J. A. Owens feeds you enough to allow you to get to know each character, how they are going to react to things, how they think, who they are and who they are growing to be and how they handle or not handle the negative things that will come into their lives. She takes the reader so far in this book and leaves us wanting to jump right into the next book. I will admit I have become addicted to the Love & series. I’ve binge read Love & Ruin and Love & Deception and am about to start Love & Redemption! You’ve hooked me Lady!
Love & Ruin by J.A. Owenby. She has done it again. This book grabbed me from the beginning. Owenby makes you feel like you are there. Gemma a small town girl, heads off to college to escape her painful past, with the help of her best friend Ada Lynn. There she meets her roommate, Mac, who is loud,hyper and is ok with the fact that Gemma hides herself behind hats and glasses. Then there is Hendrix, handsome, a singer, and totally falls for Gemma. But, has heartbreak in his past as well. Will Gemma let him tear down the walls she has built up to protect herself? Is Hendrix too good to be true?
This was my first romance book and now I am hooked. I couldn’t put the book down. I stayed up all night reading then thought about it all day at work! So well written, I feel like I know Gemma and Hendrix and can’t wait for more.
A wonderful first in a triology that is a heart breaking story about healing and not letting your past define your future. This beautiful written story has love, twists and turns, and thrills that is angsty, dark, suspenseful, drama, and romance that kept me on the edge if my seat. The characters are dreamy, could kick but, and full of romance. I honestly and voluntarily reviewed this ARC.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
She is always hiding in the shadows so she goes to a college far from home. Even there she is bullied. Someone tries to help her but she cannot believe he is interested in her. Is it all real? Will.She end up with love? See if she will
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I enjoyed reading this book. It kept getting better and better, the plot getting more complicated and intense as the book went along. The plot subject can be troublesome but is a true reality for people of that age group. I like the characters a lot and their relationship to each other; true love and loyalty.
What an inspiring story this is. Both Gemma and Hendrix have so many emotional barriers to overcome. Together they are perfect until Gemma has reason to believe they aren’t. This story covers physical and emotional devastation, angst, PTSD, assault, and terror. Excellent read. Big cliffhanger at end, can’ Wait to start book two!
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book is part one of a trilogy and be prepared as it does end on a cliffhanger. This book was a great read, I picked it up, hated to set it down and could not wait to pick it back up. That being said this did not take me long to read but I enjoyed each and every moment that it lasted. This story is about Gemma and Hendrix. Gemma has decided that she is tired or living separate from the world and wants to start living in it. Gemma has an amazing backstory of events that has lead her to this point in her life and her next step is to attend university and get out of the house. Gemma meets Hendrix and he just sees everything. This story begins to unfold and as Gemma and Hendrix learn to get to know one another, we learn so much more about them and how they fit together. I cannot wait to see what these two have in store for them as individuals and as a couple.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Holy moly, what a book! Ms. Owenby certainly has created a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat, thanks to the compelling writing, awesome characters, and more than a few OMG moments that will sneak up and take your breath away. If you love your romances dark, angsty, and suspenseful, your heroes steadfast and dreamy, your heroines determined and kick ass, this book will put a big smile on your face. The secondary characters are wonderfully written and will melt your heart as well. Be forewarned … this first book in the trilogy ends on a cliffhanger. But don’t despair! I’m told books two and three follow right on the heels of this one.