From the New York Times bestselling author of the Marked Men series comes an irresistible and suspenseful romance between a tough Texas Ranger and his first love–a woman in danger who insists she doesn’t need his protection. Hill Gamble is a model lawman: cool and collected, with a confident swagger to boot. Too bad all that Texas charm hasn’t gotten him anywhere in his personal life, … hasn’t gotten him anywhere in his personal life, especially since the only girl he ever loved has always been off-limits. But then Hill is assigned to investigate her father’s mysterious death, and he’s forced back to the town–and the woman–he left behind.
When Hill left Loveless, he broke Kody Lawton’s already battered heart. And now that he’s working on her father’s case, avoiding him is impossible. She can handle Hill and her unwanted feelings–until he puts his life on the line to protect her. Suddenly, Kody realizes that Hill could be taken away from her…for good.
“Crownover delivers the goods.”-Lori Wilde, 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
Includes the bonus novella Cowboy to the Rescue by A.J. Pine!
I was so excited to start this book. I was eager for Hill and Kody to get their HEA! Their past was heartbreaking and tragic, individually and regarding Aaron. The first part of the book was very emotional for me because of the pain Hill and Kody had. I absolutely loved it when things started to change and honest feelings came out. Presley was a good addition and I cannot wait till Shot’s book comes out.
My only complaint about the story was the ending. Even though Hill and Kody were together it didn’t feel like they got their HEA. It’s like the story stopped being about them. That was really disappointing. But overall, good writing, characters and most of the storyline.
I really disliked Kody and her recklessness up until now. And even with her story, sometimes I wanted to slap her. But then I realized just WHY she is the way she is, and suddenly I got her. And I understood exactly what Hill loves and why. And Hill…..there’s no question that yet again, Jay has given us a man with so much more than black or white in his heart that we can’t help but love him.
I can’t wait for more from this town and series!
I was really looking forward to Unforgiven because I LOVED the first book in this series, so naturally I was going to love this one too, right? Wrong. I liked Kody’s character in book one, but I wasn’t desperate for her story, and Hill seemed alright. I was expecting all of the emotion and how real and raw book one was to be present in Unforgiven. Enemies to lovers is my favorite trope, so I was excited. Instead what I got was Kody is an immature brat who had the impulse control of a 13 year old, and Hill was just there. Not only did the characters have zero chemistry, and I mean zero, but it felt like a second chance trope. Kody was insufferable most of the time and Hill was incredibly boring.
Not even the mystery in the story could liven things up because I just didn’t care. The one and only true bright spot in this whole story was Shot. Now him I want to know more about. The epilogue was better than the entire book.
3.5 stars
Hill has spent the majority of his life being in love with his younger brother’s girl. He walked away from her, from everyone, once; but he’s back now on a case. He doesn’t believe this is his chance, but fate might just have something different in store for him. Something with the potential to be beautiful, if only Kody would take her head out of her ass and allow it to happen.
There are 2, no 3, things that I liked about Unforgiven. #1 is Hill. I absolutely loved this quiet, strong man. He deserved the world and I’m glad Kody finally took her head out of the fog and gave him the time of day. Honestly, he deserved better than Kody, but she’s the one he wants, so at least he’s happy. #2 is Kody’s brothers. They’re awesome. #3 is the case. It probably takes up too much time in the story, but it’s an interesting one and made for enjoyable reading.
I have to admit my mind may have wondered a tad, and I felt the ending was abrupt and maybe a bit rushed, but all in all, this is a fairly solid read. I am definitely looking forward to Shot & Presley’s story next, because they were a fascinating part of this story and I can tell their own story is going to be a doozy!
At the end of Justified, Jay Crownover gave a bit of insight into next’s book hero and heroine, but in doing so, she left her readers with more questions than answers in regards to why Kody Lawton greeted Hill Gamble with a slap to the face instead of as someone she has known for almost her entire life.
But as soon as Unforgiven started and readers became privy to just how much of an entangled past Kody and Hill share, the pieces started to fall into place, and even though I felt like Kody’s anger and resentment toward Hill was unwarranted, given the circumstances and the emotional state that she was in during these life-altering events, helped me to understand that, that was how she coped…that was how she shielded herself from being weighed down by any further guilt, any more pain than she’s already dealing with after the loss of her first love and, more recently, her father.
Kody is a heroine who readers will most definitely have a love/hate relationship with, but what helped me to keep things in perspective was being given her internal thoughts and the reasoning behind her words and actions. You had to look beneath her reckless behavior and her scathing and defensive words to understand just how wrecked and heartbroken she’s been for quite some time and how with Hill’s reappearance in Kody’s life, especially due to the situation that brings him back. And, as Kody and Hill’s story continues and her heart begins to thaw and she becomes as transparent as possible, healing can begin and her life can be lived instead of just going through the motions.
I don’t think I’ve been introduced to a more respectable or more good-intentioned hero than Hill Gamble for quite some time. And while he’s not without his faults, he most definitely lives to serve and protect as a Texas Ranger and he also lives to ease the pain of those he loves and Kody Lawton is right at the top of that list. Did Hill seem a little too good to be true? Maybe, but Crownover does a great job of illustrating the hows and whys that Hill became the man that he did and now that he’s back in Loveless what he’s willing to do to help Kody any way he can, even if it’s just to help her move on.
I loved being back in Loveless, Texas, and learning more about the Lawton siblings as well as Aaron and Hill Gamble and Shot Caldwell. And while there is an overarching suspenseful story line that brings Hill back to Loveless, he and Kody working through their issues and getting her to realize exactly how much Hill means to her is what I was most interested in witnessing play out. And, with how Crownover ends Unforgiven and sets up book three, I’ll be more than ready to head back at the end of October.
4 Poison Apples
Unforgiven picks up just where we left off in Justified. This book centers on the Lawton’s sister, Kody, and Texas Ranger Hill Gamble. Talk about a couple that just doesn’t seem like a match on paper!
Hill is back in Loveless to investigate the death of Kody’s father. Hill is best friend’s with Kody’s older brother, and the brother of Kody’s deceased first love (that’s a tough hurdle to get over!) Kody doesn’t exactly walk the straight and narrow. She is wild and colorful, a bar owner, and she has questionable ties to the local biker club. How on earth will these two come together?
I enjoyed the almost forbidden aspect of their relationship. They both had spent years pining for the other and feeling guilty for their feelings. So when they came together, it was electric. I liked how genuine their feelings for each other were. How deeply they truly cared about each other. And how well they really fit together. I do wish that we got a little bit more of their relationship. That we could have seen them develop a bit more. I feel like the action and suspense in the book took a little bit away from their relationship. Now don’t get me wrong… I still thoroughly enjoyed Hill and Kody. And the suspense in the book held me utterly captivated!
I definitely enjoyed this installment in the Loveless Texas world and can’t wait to travel back there to see what happens next!
Four words…Hill Gamble, Texas Ranger!
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Overall rating: 5 Texas Ranger ’s
Kindle unlimited: no
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This is book two of the Loveless, Texas series and it was awesome! My curiosity about Hill and Kody was piqued in book one. I was not expecting the depth of the pain they had both suffered. It was heartbreaking to read what tore these two apart. However, watching the walls crumble had me reading all night!
Kody is the baby sister of Case and Crew Lawton. Hill has been in love with Kody. Kody has experienced pain and her heart is now frozen and Kody doesn’t want to let anyone in. But, when Hill has to come back Loveless to investigate Kody’s father’a death, Hill and Kody are thrown together and what happens when you throw gasoline on a ? Yep, explosion…and what a beautiful explosion it is!
All the characters from book 1 are here, and a few new ones. This could probably be read as a standalone but you would miss so much context so I don’t recommend it. Based on the end of this book…,OMG!! I can’t wait for the next book! I think the series is just getting better! Do I recommend? Hell yeah! Will I keep reading? Duh, of course! I LOVE this series!
Flipping heck. I’m loving these cowboys. Jay Crownover can go from tattooed bad guys to alpha cowboys seamlessly. We go back to Texas, and sexy Ranger, Hill Gamble who upholds the law, no questions asked, and that includes putting his life on the line to protect and serve. Hill returns to Loveless to solve the murder of Kody‘s dad and has to face his demons whilst dealing with all the drama and protecting his heart. Kody is wild, reckless, and breaks the rules, regularly going up against her over protective brothers. I knew when these two finally got together it would be passionate and explosive, and I was right, the chemistry was off the charts. Action, intrigue and lots of emotion in this small town family drama. I’m loving this series so much. I can’t wait for Shot’s story.
This is the first book in the series that I read and absolutely loved it.
Kody and Hill have major magnetism and Kody definitely had this love/hate with Hill that makes you cling to every word and page. Another plus for me is a Texas Romance. It has to be one of my favorite genres and Jay did a fabulous job at capturing the flow of small towns and I found myself enraptured with the story and the growth of the relationship of Hill and Kody.
This book will most certainly take you on a ride. I can’t wait for the next in the series and in the meantime, I will be going back to read books 1 & 2!
From the first page to the last, this was a book with a lot going on. From its romance of second chances to a mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat, this tale will keep you guessing and waiting for the next twist or turn. By the turn of the final page readers will be satisfied by all that came before while looking forward to the next shoe to drop in a conclusion that will leave readers waiting with breathless anticipation.
Picking up right where the previous book in this series left off, readers are reintroduced to brothers Hill and Aaron Gamble and their deep connection to Wild Child Kody Lawton. It’s a connection that takes a romantic turn and ultimately has Hill leaving so he doesn’t stand in the way of his brother’s happiness with Kody. Young love soon turned sour though, leading to death and a broken heart that Kody still hasn’t recovered from. With the recent murder of her father, Kody’s life takes another unexpected turn towards danger that only Hill can save her from. With his return though her anger over the past is unleashed along with the thawing of her heart that has her counting on Hill to keep her safe while guarding her heart and body from a villain still focused on destroying her family. Kody’s an outgoing heroine who’s always lived life on the edge. When Hill left he took her heart with him and it had her landing in the arms of Aaron in a relationship full of heartbreak due to his mental disorder, and subsequent suicide, that she still blames Hill for. Because of this their reunion is messy with lots of harsh feelings from the past keeping them from quickly finding HEA. Their scenes are full of conflict and flirtiness and often overshadowed by the overall mystery. Though I can understand Kody feeling hurt by Hill leaving all those years ago, she should’ve been able to forgive him much quicker as he too experienced loss with the suicide of Aaron. For me, her anger went on a bit too long.
Hill and his brother were tight knit as children and with Kody by their side they were like The Three Musketeers. Even as a young man Hill knew he was attracted to Kody but never felt worthy of her. She needed someone just as outspoken as she was and his cool, calm, and collected nature had him walking away so his brother could find happiness. He’s never forgotten her though, and when he’s assigned to find the murderer of Kody’s father, he’ll not only get the chance to bring a killer to justice but he’ll also have the chance to make amends with his and Kody’s past. Hill’s a drool-worthy hero through it all, intense and reliable, a man you can always count on to do what he thinks is right. Throughout the years he’s taken whatever morsels of attention Kody’s thrown his way so it’s about time he deals with their feelings for each other once and for all. It’s a rocky road towards HEA full of push/pull moments that leaves them heading in the right direction by the end of the story, but with a cliffhanger that will leave readers counting down the days until its resolution arrives.
On a whole this was a compelling read focused a bit more on the mystery and suspense than on the second chance romance of Hill and Kody. There was quite a bit I found enjoyable actually, while there were some areas that could’ve been done better. Focusing more on the mystery lessened my connection to this couple a bit, but still had me rooting for them to put the past behind them. With combustible interactions and scenes teeming with sexual tension I still found them to be a likable couple worthy of a HEA. While the identity of the villain was pretty obvious, the twists and turns along the way were entertaining and brought in other characters that will be featured in the next installment. These characters were left in a precarious situation that has me greatly anticipating whatever comes next.
So excited to get my hands on Hill and Kody’s story. Texas Ranger Hill Gamble is investigating the murder of Kody Lawton’s father when he realizes he’s been in love with his dead brother’s fiancée his whole life. When the investigation hits too close to home, Hill realizes he needs to stop living life in the past and claim Kody for himself.
I have found my next one click author! Jay Crownover is a new author to me but by the time I got to chapter 10 in this book, I was buying the previous books in this series. Full of angst, heat, intrigue and strong characters, I could not put this book down. My favorite quote: “Being away from you hurts. It always hurt, but now it’s impossible to ignore. My heart aches.” I am eagerly anticipating Shot and Presley’s story.
I received a copy from Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.
Unforgiven is a dramatic suspense, heartbreaking, and deep emotion romance read. Its a wonderful well written story. It has a good storyline. I truly enjoyed reading about these two characters Jody and Hill. They are enjoyable to read about.
I read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are of my own. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this story.
Loveless Texas #2, I’m listing this as more contemporary then suspense because while there is a mystery and some action it falls secondary to the emotional romance between Hill and Kody. I was so excited for Kody and Hill and it did not disappoint. Hill has loved Kody from the very start of their friendship but as they got older Kody fell for his brother. Hill while happy for them was heartbroken and as soon as he could he left. Kody was torn between the two brothers, Aaron was her age and the most like her he was quick to react, moody, and so sweet. Aaron and Hill Gamble were Kody’s first real friends and even after Hill left Kody would call on him for advice. But Hill could only take so much loving Kody from afar and seeing how Aaron was falling apart and sometime horrible to Hill so Hill started to back off. It wasn’t fair that Aaron killed himself before the wedding and it wasn’t fair that Kody spewed all her anger at Hill and Hill took it because he thought she was right it was all his fault. Now he’s ready to take the brunt of her anger and hatred again because her father was murdered and he was the one who told her.
Kody starts to remember that her feelings for Hill go way back and even as mean as she has been to him since Aaron’s death Hill still stands by her, he still worries about her and he still in little ways shows her he cares. Little by little Kody starts to realize her anger was misplaced and that his abandonment all those years ago is what fed her anger. But Hill his here now and although the timing might not be ideal Kody and Hill are finally getting their chance to clear the air and as long as the psycho killer doesn’t get to her first they are willing to try for their HEA.
The small suspense part deals with who murdered Conrad Lawton and why. Hill while not technically on the case is helping out because the Tx Rangers believe have a local will help loosen lips and as hated as Conrad was the suspect list is endless. Now the ending is a little open ended all the major question get answered but one little detail is left which is what leads us to the next book. Overall, outstanding book. It’s an emotion book about unrequited love finally coming to fruition. The suspense part was good, I enjoyed it and I kind of figured it was going to leave off the way it did.
Unforgiven was such a beautiful story. Kody and Hill are are perfect for each other. Hill’s love and commitment to Kody has always been there but circumstances kept them apart until now.
A charming and beautiful love story with heart,heat and intrigue makes this one delicious read!
The latest in Jay Crownover’s Loveless, Texas series is Unforgiven. If I had to pick a trope for my romance reading, unrequited would be at the top. Although part of a series, Unforgiven can be read as a standalone. Hill and Kody belong together. I loved the chemistry and couldn’t wait to see how they were going to get together. With a bit of suspense, I couldn’t stop reading until the end.
I’m looking forward to reading more from Loveless, Texas, I’ll need to catch up while I wait.
I was so excited to finally get Kody and Hill’s book. I enjoyed it so much. What a great story
Jay brings us back to Loveless, Texas to figure out how a man as evil as Conrad Lawton was killed in Austin, so far away from Loveless!
Watching Hill and Kody circle each other is one of the best parts of romance, the longing is apparent on both their faces to everyone BUT them!!
Hill has decided that he’s not giving up on Kody no matter what she’s doing, legal or not. Kody has decided that every time something happens to pull her life a little farther down the drain, Hill is the one giving her the bad news. From her relationship with his brother, to her relationship with the President of the Sons of Sorrow Motorcycle Club, it is apparent that Kody is spiralling closer and closer to the trouble that has killed other people in her life.
A beautiful story spent on tenterhooks, waiting for the next shoe to drop! Hill and Kody learning how to navigate their new normal with an unknown addition to the Lawton family, and danger coming from a direction no one could have prepared for. Jay Crownover gives an amazing trek through Texas, with Rangers, bikers, and a gorgeous, whip smart woman who has never been able to count on anyone but her brothers.
https://bexbookrevieux.blogspot.com/2020/02/jay-brings-us-back-to-loveless-texas-to.html?m=1
Unforgiven by Jay Crownover
Loveless, Texas #2
Did I need to read the previous books to enjoy this one? No
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series/by this author? Yes
Threads in this book:
* Murder mystery – who killed Conrad Lawton? Where it the murderer hiding?
* Romance between Kody and Hill – kind of a second chance romance but not quite
* Surprise half-sister for the Lawton siblings
* Dysfunctional families
* Sons of Sorrow MC
What I liked:
* Hill Gamble: loves deeply, one woman man, dedicated to his job, honorable and more
* Kody: I liked her once she settled in on/with Hill but she was rather spirited, unpredictable, troubled and difficult BUT also loving, kind, caring and all in for those she was cared about
* Lawton siblings and their partners: they were close and there for one another
* Johnny Hearst – the special agent in charge that Hill worked with – he deserves a story of his own
* Palmer “Shot” Caldwell: ex Marine, sniper, president of Sons of Sorry MC – a good friend to Kody – hoping he and Presley end up finding their HEA in the next book in the series
* That the story wasn’t predictable or necessarily easy
* Having the feeling at the end that I wanted to read the next book in the series
What I did not like:
* The murderer – ruthless, wicked and wily – hope in the next book karma smacks this one down
* Hill’s parents
* Conrad Lawton
* Having to say goodbye to the characters at the end of the story
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishinig) for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4.5 Stars
The second in the Loveless series by Jay Crownover is one of lose, love and vulernablilty..
Kody Lawton has known pain and lose, she is old friends of both, but when her father turns up dead, the one person in the world she never wanted to see is the one she secretly needs the most. Kody is a spitfire through and through, she takes care of herself and doesn’t trust many people. She learned the hard way what that trust can do when it’s broken.
Hill Gamble left the town of Loveless in his near view mirror for a good reason, and his reason for being be is just as good.
Kody Lawton.
The one woman that wants nothing to do with him might need his help more than either of them know. Hill has lived his life on the straight and narrow, a Texas ranger to boot, he has returned to Loveless to help in the investigation of the Lawton patriarch. However, his ugly past and all too complicated present collided and long ago emotions that he thought he berried are making their way to the surface…
Jay Crownover writes an adventure that will twist the heart, engage the mind and warm the soul. A cowboy romance about forgiveness, love and hope all rolled into a plot with twists that no one could see coming. I very much enjoyed this story, just as I look forward to more that will hopefully come.