Tag: country music

Jumping Jude – REVIEW

Valerie @ Valerie's MusingsLeave a comment

5 out of 5 stars.

Jumping Jude is the third book in the Made Marian series by Lucy Lennox. These books are just so awesome! I’m probably overdoing it in my praise, but I absolutely love them!

Book Cover: A Made Marian Novel - Jumping Jude by Lucy Lennox - Gold background - top has two shirtless men with beards - one has shoulder length hair, the other is cropped short - the bottom has a stage with cheering fans
Made Marian #3

Add to Goodreads button

Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N

Synopsis

Jude: Reaching the top of the country music charts brings out the crazy, and there’s no one crazier than my ex. Unfortunately, his threats to out me are escalating. Enter the bodyguard of my dreams. I’d probably chafe under his constant presence if his attention to my body wasn’t so… ah… thorough. Now I have to worry about outing myself to millions of fans if I can’t keep my hands off him in public.

Derek: Now I’m an ex-Marine turned babysitter. If I have to hear Jude sing his mega-hit Bluebells one more time, I might murder him myself, and after 6 years in special ops, I know my way around a weapon. Unfortunately, so does he. Except his arsenal includes washboard abs and a killer set of pipes. I’ve faced guns, knives, explosives and yet it’s Jude Marian who may end up bringing me to my knees.

 

Review

Jumping Jude is the third book in the Made Marian series by Lucy Lennox and it’s just as great as the first two, Borrowing Blue and Taming Teddy. I absolutely adore this series and the Marian men! This book comes in a very close 2nd as far as my favorite in the series.

This book belongs to Jude and Derek, two men who have yet to come out to their families or the world. Jude belongs to a hit country band and country music and its fans aren’t always the most accepting in the world (this is the view of the book, not necessarily my own view!). Derek on the other hand comes from a military background and a very conservative Southern Baptist family, neither is conducive to coming out. So here we have two guys who are attracted to each other and they don’t realize the other is gay as well.

The characters in this book are incredibly complex and well-developed. The plot is also complex but still easy to follow along with. I loved the ending and I’m thrilled that Jude and Derek were able to remain together.

 

 

 

The Promise of Rainbows – REVIEW

Valerie @ Valerie's MusingsLeave a comment

5 out of 5 stars.

The Promise of Rainbows by Ava Miles - Pasture land scene with rainbow in sky

Add to Goodreads button

Purchase Links: Amazon – Kobo

A graphic rainbow between two clouds
©Graphic Garden

Synopsis

When military veteran and country music star Jake Lassiter hires Susannah McGuiness as his interior decorator, she has no idea he carries a secret so great it will change the love developing between them.

A graphic rainbow between two clouds
©Graphic Garden

Review

The Promise of Rainbows by Ava Miles is the fourth book in the Dare River series.

Wow. That pretty much sums up all my feelings as I finish of this latest offering from Ava Miles. Absolutely wow. This book was phenomenal.

Our hero Jake suffers from PTSD and is looking to find ways to cope. He’s already been through several therapists and different types of therapies, but in this book, he ends up working with Reverend Louisa, who we’ve met before in the other books in this series. Jake doesn’t believe there’s much hope, but working with Louisa, together with dating Louisa’s daughter, Susannah, he experiences breakthroughs like he never has before.

THIS book is what I was so hoping to see when Ms. Miles published “The Chocolate Garden”. This book accurately portrayed PTSD and the struggles that arise from it. Whereas I felt like “The Chocolate Garden” glossed over some of the difficulties of surviving domestic violence and entering into a new relationship after an abusive relationship, this book NAILED all the struggles and such that come with PTSD.  Jake’s feelings about himself and the brokenness he feels is all very indicative of what many PTSD sufferers feel. I know. I am one. The brokenness, the self-loathing, the feel that others are better off without being in a relationship with you, everything.

And yet, Susannah sees past all that and loves the man who Jake is, not all the lies that PTSD tells him about himself. He ends up seeing Susannah as his miracle, helping pull him out of himself and back into the world.   Each and every one of us has someone who either has worked such a miracle in our lives or who will work such a miracle one day. Not necessarily a romantic someone, but someone who pulls you up out of the depths when you can’t find the way out yourself. Even tho’ this is a romance book, the theme of having someone to lean on in the hardest of times is the main focus of the book.

It’s not an easy book to read given all of Jake’s struggles. If you struggle with PTSD yourself, like I do, you may find this book hitting very close to home. I certainly did. I cried more with this book than I have since The Bridge to a Better Life came out last spring. But it’s totally worth it. Take your time with the book, but read it. Give yourself breaks to process, but don’t hide from this book because of its subject matter. It’s too good to pass up.

The plot, the setting, the characters, everything about this book was phenomenal. One of Ms. Miles’ best books EVER. Read it. You won’t forget it or regret it.

(I received a free eBook copy from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review. I was not compensated for this review. All conclusions are my own.)