“He has to be ready for it, Jess,” I say, my voice low and quiet. Jesse nods. “I know. It’s just that I’m a fixer, and his broken-ass heart is the one thing I can’t fix.” “No one can,” I say. “I can’t fix his broken heart. He has to be willing to be with me with a whole heart. There’d be pieces missing, and seams and cracks, but offered as a whole. I’m worth more than just taking the screwed up … taking the screwed up mess of him, just to have part. I want more than that—I deserve more. If he can get there, I’ll be here waiting. I’ve got nothing but time, Jess. I’m not going anywhere, and I told him that. I’m willing to wait—because I think he’s worth waiting for.” I smile at Jesse. “If he can get his head out of his ass and work on rebuilding his broken-ass heart, he’ll be worth having waited for.”
Except I’ve already waited so long. For him—for anyone, but especially for him. Endured so much. Spent so long alone, and lonely. And now James is RIGHT THERE, but still out of reach. My heart wants him, my body wants him, but my fears say he’ll only hurt me. And he himself says he’s not sure he’ll ever be able to get over the past—losing his wife. I don’t blame him, but…
How long can I wait? And if he does come around, will it be worth it?
more
Jasinda has truly Screwed me.
Wait.. this was a process.
She has Hammered , Drilled , Nailed AND Screwed my emotions. But it’s OK because I loved every word, every page and every chapter composed in this series.
Screwed brings the series to an end, giving us James and Nova’s story. An amazing story about starting over. A story that shows how friends are the family members you select to walk through life. A story where loss and love remind us to let go and live. Just thinking of how I felt when reading this book, I get emotional. Cathartic tears that only the Wilders provide.
While I’m sorry to see a series come to an end, I love and highly recommend this whole series. The characters are in their forties and I loved being able to connect and relate to them. Even though the stories are told from the heroines POVs, you truly get both sides and you fall in love with all the characters.
Read it! You’ll thank me later.
Well damn, what an emotional read Screwed turned out to be, but it was definitely something I expected since we’ve learned about James and Nova. From the very beginning, we know that James had suffered such a huge loss in his life and it’s pretty evident that he’s still dealing with it. And if you’ve been following along with this series, you know that there was so much more to Nova’s story.
Jasinda seriously lays everything out with the final book in the Dad Bod Contracting series, even though I knew it was coming, I wasn’t quite expecting all the emotional whiplash right off the bat. Yep, she’ll bulldoze you with the emotions right with the first chapter. Ahhhhhh, my poor heart was breaking, which made me yearn for that happy ever after for the both of them.
The first chapter to me definitely sets the tone for the book. It gives you the sense of what Nova and James will be facing throughout their story. It wasn’t going to be easy despite their intense chemistry towards one another, but I was rooting for them 100%.
It was so easy for me to fall in love with both Nova and James. After everything that Nova has experienced with past relationships, love and loss, little by little she came out stronger for it even if she doesn’t always realize it at times. Her vulnerabilities are still there, but she’s a woman that absolutely knows her worth and doesn’t go at things half-ass. She’s honest and just wants the complete truth with everything. And I loved that’s what she always pushed for during her conversations with James. Plus it something he needed, that extra push to finally confront his feelings. Nova has definitely been holding so much in from her past, so much that not even her closest friends know. I was glad that she quickly faces and accepts everything early on in the book.
As for James, he has so much to work through and it really is so painful and your poor heart will break for the man. It’s as clear as day that he wants so much more with Nova, but he knows that he has to work on himself before he’s to pursue anything with her. It wasn’t going to be an easy fix, but every change he needed to make, he had to do it for him.
Screwed was such a solid conclusion to this series and it was a story that my heart just wasn’t quite prepared for, but loved all at the same time. And if you’ve been with this series from the beginning, the epilogue ties everything up in a perfect bow. I’m sad to say farewell, but am definitely looking for the next series that Jasinda will give us.
major thank you to Megan and the author for the complimentary copy in consideration for a review. this does not affect my opinion of the book or review.
Jasinda Wilder
I knew going into Screwed that it was the fourth and final book in the Dad Bod series, but that still didn’t fully prepare me for all the bittersweet feelings I had because saying goodbye to a characters who’ve made you fall in love with them is never easy. Don’t tell the other guys this but I think Jasinda Wilder saved the best for last. Shhh! I mean, I loved the first three books, but this fourth one felt extra special. Maybe it’s because James was the one I was always most curious about, and me being the angst addict that I am, I just had this feeling that his story would be the one that had the most angst, and boy, oh boy, was I right. I needed a couple of tissues while reading his story, but it wasn’t merely his back story and his moving forward with his life that had me tearing up. There was Nova and the rest of the guys and their women, and gah! It was just everything about this novel that affected me.
This book was so much than I was expecting, and given how high the bar was already set by the books the preceded it, suffice it to say that my expectations were nothing to sneeze at. I’ve read my fair share of Jasinda Wilder’s books, but dare I say that this book in particular and this series as a whole is her at her best. i loved how she delved into each of her characters, but especially James and Nova, and the evolution of their relationship and as individuals. Rest assured that this does end in a happily-ever-after–and a much deserved one at that!–but nothing worth having is easy. Screwed puts your heart through the wringer, but it’s simply worth it. Five-plus stars.
Screwed is the fabulous final book in her Dad Bod Contracting series.
Screwed is the tale of James and Nova and their emotional struggles. James is a widower and
Nova, we discover has also experienced heartache. They both feel they are not ready for a relationship.
Their emotional and physical connection is very strong and it’s tough for them to fight it. They both work through their past pain, through acceptance, soul searching and honest talks.
This roller coaster ride is a wonderfully written conclusion to this series. We also find out what happens to all of our favorite couples in the Dad Bod ‘family’.
This alpha male is finally here!!!!
I didn’t have a chance to read the whole book, only the free sample, but I didn’t want to stop reading. Seems super sexy and steamy, and I can’t wait to purchase the book so I can read the rest.
Perfect ending to this series that all can be read as standalones.
Love that all the characters in this series are older and wiser and have lived life and then some to find their happily ever after.
This is James & Nova’s story.
I was waiting for this one because I wanted to know how things would end with them & Author Jasinda Wilder gave it all!
I laughed & cried reading this book.
It has all the feels and enjoyed that many of the life events that Nova & James go through touched me personally.
A well rounded series that I will be going back to read over and over again.
Go #oneclick them all!
5 popped!
—alpha male
—romantic comedy
—happily ever after
—witty banter
—steamy
—second chance romance
Love second chance romance with steam! Long time fan of Jasinda Wilder!
I received a free copy of this book from the author.
Oh how I was looking forward to reading this story. Nova and James have been dancing around each other this whole series. We already knew James’ hang ups but didn’t know of Nova’s. Though lots more was revealed in this book about both characters.
I like the story. Read it in a day. The one thing I didn’t feel, though, was the emotions of the characters. There’s several instances in this book most would be effected by in some way. That didn’t happen for me. I wasn’t emotionally captivated and I’m not sure what that says about me. Hopefully it will capture you, though.
A witty and steamy conclusion to the Dad Bod Contracting series from Jasinda Wilder. Screwed is a second chance rom-com that’ll leave you smiling!
I have loved this series from the very beginning. The character intertwined through each book is perfection! Throughout the series Jesse and Nova have kept me intrigued with their refusal to act on what was obvious. Nova was such a mysterious character throughout the series– finding out her background and getting inside her story was absolutely perfect! I cried for her, and Jesse, as individuals and also for not taking chances. Their story was fun and emotional and suited them!
Thank you for your review.
I knew Nova and James’s story would be emotional, but holy cow did the author give us an amazing heartfelt storyline with Screwed, written with Jasinda’s marvelous flare for the written word . Another great thing about “Screwed” is while the story is about James and Nova, the whole Dad Bod Contracting gang is back and play an active role in the storyline and what I can only sadly conclude is the ending of the series.
Nova has been the elusive one of the girls in the first 3 books. We know she has her secrets from the past but what and how deep they cut, the loss she’s dealt with. we are soon to find out. Nova is crazy about James, has been since the first time she saw him and especially after that first toe curling kiss. As for James, he has closed himself off after the death of his wife. While wildly attracted to Nova, he can’t get past the guilt of wanting another. Their story is a full of roadblocks, speedbumps, and aghast. Can these two possibly find a way to move forward and let the past stay in the past?
This is a story full of goosebumps, sadness, laughter and love. I highly recommend it as well as all the Dad Bod Contracting series. 2 Thumbs and 5 stars up for a wonderful read and one outstanding series.
If you’re into steamy second-chance love stories, then you’ll love Dad Bod. Such a great series.