Zander

I’m a fan of Maryann Jordan’s books and there are certain things I’ve come to expect in her stories. With Zander I get those things but even more. It is a beautifully romantic story that pulled me in from the start.

“Holding the kiss for a moment, he whispered, “If I could just have you look at me, your face would be more precious than a book.”

I loved the Sleeping Beauty fairytale tie-in with this story. It felt a bit like the movie While You Were Sleeping with some Maryann Jordan twists.

“He was so handsome. Big and rough, as though he could battle anything and, yet, so gentle with me. And it was so easy to just give it all over to him. My worries, concerns, fears, doubts. He took them all and made me feel safe.”

The hero, Zander, is flawed. He is not perfect. A gruff and grumpy bar owner who comes to realize that his focus has been on the wrong things. His eyes are opened to what is really important and the direction he needs to look to find his happiness.

“I’ve realized that I put you on a pedestal. You were my hero…my dragon slayer…my prince.”
Fear gripped his chest, his heart beating so loudly he was sure she could hear.
“But, the reality is, you’re just a man. A man who makes mistakes. Sometimes falters. Sometimes disappoints.” Her lips curved slightly as she continued, “But I forgive you, Zander. Because, even though you’re just a man, you’re still my hero.”

This is the first book in a new series of stories that I just can’t wait to read more. With this book as with every new M.J. book I feel like I’ve found a new favorite story.
-5 Stars-

Unique take on a traditional fairytale.

Wow what a Fantastic book Zander by Maryann Jordan this was a romantic suspenseful story with a whole lot of emotions. Zander was a very well written story. I absolutely recommend this great book it will keep you turning the pages as fast as you can read. The writer makes you feel like you are there with these incredible characters, like you can feel exactly what her characters are going though and what the are feeling. Zander, according to his family and friends is a bit of a grouch and one night while at his bar he notices a woman who just doesn’t belong in his rough bar. She just doesn’t look capable of taking care of herself with the guy trying to talk to her. Feeling a bit angry at her for some reason he tell the guy to leave her alone and kicks him out. Thinking she is a problem waiting to happen he also kicks her out. But when he finds her after closing beaten up and near death he blames himself. This is a story that definitely will keep you hooked till the very last sentence. A must read if you enjoy alpha men who will show you his caring and tender side. She is the one who brings this out in him. Can two people who come together during a vulnerable time find love or will it be a confusing time? WOW is one way to describe this fantastic book. I hope you will enjoy this as well as I did. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and Wow.

Sweet love story. Zander is swoon worthy. Maryann Jordan always knows how to grab the heartstrings with her writing. Great start to a new series. Can’t wait for the other books!

Zander is the 1st book in a new series by Maryann Jordan. All I can say is this book is an emotional rollercoaster ride from start to finish in the best way ever.
This book will rock you because Xander isn’t your normal hero he is grumpy and gruff and just getting through his day surviving but not truly living. “The true measure of a man is not in the mistakes he makes…but in how he handles those mistakes” is a quote that the whole story is based on. I love the “Sleeping Beauty” and classical quotes throughout the book as well as the bar is named Grimm’s. When Zander makes a mistake with Rosalie that he feels great guilt from and the story is how he handles and rectifies the situation. Character development is phenomenal in this book and you will truly feel like you know these characters and want to be there friends. Miss Ethel is crucial to the story and one of the best written characters I have read in a long time. As always you will cry and laugh as you read this book and I cannot wait for the rest of the series. Zander and Rosalie will be your feel good couple and their HEA ending is so worth the wait. Waiting for the rest of the brothers and their stories will be excruciating on readers but do worth it. Do not miss this book.

Maryann Jordan has a way of writing a story that consumes you. One that you can’t put down. And in this new book a start of another series you are consumed from page one till the very last.

They say fairytales always come true….but sometimes it takes slaying dragons to get to that happy ever after. Sometimes it’s not pretty and sometimes you just have to keep hope alive.

Zander is ex-military, after getting out he decided to start his own business and Grimms was born. After one night his whole world changes. He’s got a lot of guilt but that guilt soon turns to absolute Care and love. We watch him be that knight in shining armor. We watch has he protects those he loves. And what a beautiful story it is.

Highly recommended.

What an enchanting love story. Maryann Jordan has introduced us to a wonderful cast of characters. Do yourself a favor, read this one! It’s well worth your while and will bring you lots of smiles.

An unfortunate set of circumstances leads to a tragic event that makes Xander feel like he stepped into a fairy tale. Sleeping Beauty to be exact. He found his princess in the back alley behind his bar severely beaten. Now she’s in the hospital alone and in a coma. His guilt and concern over her condition has him returning daily just to sit with her so she’s not alone. He begins reading to her everyday in the hopes that eventually she will wake up. When she finally opens his eyes, she sees the man behind the voice she’s heard in her subconscious. Once she finally remembers who she is, sander is instrumental in her getting her life back on track. Their feelings for each other are deep and quickly turn to love. Rosalie determines that she must gain some autonomy before they can have a real relationship. As with all fairy tales, they do get their HEA but only after danger once again rears its ugly head

Beautiful book and awesome start to an amazing series.
Zander is so different from what Maryann usually writes but so beautiful and touching.
Zander and his foster brothers are raised by Miss Ethel who never had kids of her own.
Love how Miss Ethel loved her boys. Such a sweet, caring and wise lady.
Zander is a brooding bar owner and one night made a mistake that he deeply regrets.
Can’t wait for more of this series.

The talented Ms Jordan once again excels in her storytelling gift. This new series, will be one that will make us all fall in love with these heroes.
The stories will center around the “boys” Miss Ethel took in as foster children. They not only became ”brothers” but she also became their mother figure. A woman they still take care , visit and love.
Zander, the oldest of them, owns a bar named Grimm’s. As the story progresses you will get the reference to the name. In his usual grumpy self, when he sees a woman that looks too young and innocent in his bar, being harassed, he gets mad at her, tells her to leave and tells one of the bouncers to find her a cab. A fight takes place shortly after inside the bar and after all is quiet , and the bar is closing , he assumes she had left without a hitch. But that was not the case. When he finds her nearly beaten to death, and later in a coma at the hospital, he is determined to visit her. At first it was out of guilt, and then for reasons he is not sure he wants to know he gets attached to her.
The author gives us an engaging plot with complex characters. But in the midst of all that , she shows us that families are not always made up of blood relatives, but of the deep relationships we develop with those we love and care for. That having a tough start in life, doesn’t mean that later on we can’t overcome the “dragons”. And that love, be that of a substitute mother, “brothers” and/or a significant other, does heal our hearts and our minds.

What an excellent start to this new series! I’m a huge fan of Maryann Jordan’s previous books, but this new group of men has me itching for more! The element of weaving the fairytale into the story was perfect. I loved the stoic man that Zander was and how he fell in love with Rosalie as she was asleep. The tale was well written with great characters. There is that element of suspense as there is in each of her prior books. I can’t wait to see where she takes these characters!