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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
Overall Grade: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Anyone who has read A.L. Jackson knows that she corners the market on the tortured hero. She writes the heck out of them and causes you to fall deeply for them because their brokenness and belief that they don’t deserve the heroine is attractive. Her newest story, Give Me A Reason, is no different. LIke her Sunder Guys or her Falling Stars heroes, Trent, her newest hero, is the epitome of the broken hero. Jackson writes darkness into him which means, based on the rules of romancelandia and Jackson herself, he needs light and life to counter his shadows. And Give Me A Reason does not disappoint in presenting Trent and Eden as the yin to the other’s yang.
Beautifully constructed, Give Me A Reason is lyrical in its presentation. Jackson’s writing is as much poetry as it is prose, and she entices you into her story with punctuated fragments to mimic punches to your soul and words that feel like the overwhelming emotions of Trent and Eden.
The oscillation in the denial of their feelings for each other pulls you in while the broken chronology of her story holds you in its thrall. Moving forward for most of the story, Jackson keenly punches into their forward motion with the details of the past, and she builds her story like an expert mason does a brick wall. Little by little, she teases at your own emotions as Trent and Eden move back and forth between denial and attraction. At just the right times, Jackson gives you more of them, but everything feels precarious even to the last 5 percent of this book.
I love the message of forgiveness: forgiveness for past wrongs, forgiveness from others, but most importantly, the forgiveness of one’s self. This is the underlying theme that twists and turns through Give Me A Reason. Trent’s denial of love and light comes from his inability to forgive himself of his past. He believes he cannot have good in the world. Jackson makes you empathize with him through his self-flagellation. Then, she gives you his Eden, his paradise, in the form of his heroine. She speaks truth into his darkness, and you find yourself lost in their love affair.
Add to the message ancillary characters such as Gage, Trent’s son, who steals the story. Jackson has this ability to write children characters that add dimension to her story while providing levity. Additionally, we meet Jud and Logan, Trent’s brothers, who will find their own stories in this new Redemption Hills series. These two act as his wizened and closest advisors, a true place to fall when he becomes overwhelmed by his adoration for Eden.
One moment, Give Me A Reason is a study in chemistry, and the next moment, it’s a heart-pounding bit of suspense. At its core, though, A.L. Jackson’s newest book is a fluid, beautiful romance that reminds us that forgiveness and love should rule our lives.
Anyone who has read A.L. Jackson knows that she corners the market on the tortured hero. She writes the heck out of them and causes you to fall deeply for them because their brokenness and belief that they don’t deserve the heroine is attractive. Her newest story, Give Me A Reason, is no different. LIke her Sunder Guys or her Falling Stars heroes, Trent, her newest hero, is the epitome of the broken hero. Jackson writes darkness into him which means, based on the rules of romancelandia and Jackson herself, he needs light and life to counter his shadows. And Give Me A Reason does not disappoint in presenting Trent and Eden as the yin to the other’s yang.
Beautifully constructed, Give Me A Reason is lyrical in its presentation. Jackson’s writing is as much poetry as it is prose, and she entices you into her story with punctuated fragments to mimic punches to your soul and words that feel like the overwhelming emotions of Trent and Eden.
The oscillation in the denial of their feelings for each other pulls you in while the broken chronology of her story holds you in its thrall. Moving forward for most of the story, Jackson keenly punches into their forward motion with the details of the past, and she builds her story like an expert mason does a brick wall. Little by little, she teases at your own emotions as Trent and Eden move back and forth between denial and attraction. At just the right times, Jackson gives you more of them, but everything feels precarious even to the last 5 percent of this book.
I love the message of forgiveness: forgiveness for past wrongs, forgiveness from others, but most importantly, the forgiveness of one’s self. This is the underlying theme that twists and turns through Give Me A Reason. Trent’s denial of love and light comes from his inability to forgive himself of his past. He believes he cannot have good in the world. Jackson makes you empathize with him through his self-flagellation. Then, she gives you his Eden, his paradise, in the form of his heroine. She speaks truth into his darkness, and you find yourself lost in their love affair.
Add to the message ancillary characters such as Gage, Trent’s son, who steals the story. Jackson has this ability to write children characters that add dimension to her story while providing levity. Additionally, we meet Jud and Logan, Trent’s brothers, who will find their own stories in this new Redemption Hills series. These two act as his wizened and closest advisors, a true place to fall when he becomes overwhelmed by his adoration for Eden.
One moment, Give Me A Reason is a study in chemistry, and the next moment, it’s a heart-pounding bit of suspense. At its core, though, A.L. Jackson’s newest book is a fluid, beautiful romance that reminds us that forgiveness and love should rule our lives.
***Reread 9/21/23***
It's been two years since I read this book. Some things I remembered, others I didn't, but it was still good. There were some things that annoyed me a little this time around though. I'm going to cough it up to the fact that I've read so many more books that I'm more critical of some things.
I really didn't like the constant I'm not good enough for her. It's like they would be together, they love each other, then something bad happens and then its I'm not good enough for you. UGH! I don't ever change my ratings but after this time around I probably would've given it a 4 just because of this stuff.
I completely forgot about the twist so that was a nice refresher. They do have a good ending. I got tears in my eyes. I also got the bonus scene and had a smile for these two.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Such a great book!!! Eden and Trent both pull at your heartstrings. Eden is the light to Trent's darkness. They have an instant attraction that neither knows how to deal with. Add in Gage to the mix and you just find yourself rooting for these two.
There is so much angst but it's so worth it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It's been two years since I read this book. Some things I remembered, others I didn't, but it was still good. There were some things that annoyed me a little this time around though. I'm going to cough it up to the fact that I've read so many more books that I'm more critical of some things.
I really didn't like the constant I'm not good enough for her. It's like they would be together, they love each other, then something bad happens and then its I'm not good enough for you. UGH! I don't ever change my ratings but after this time around I probably would've given it a 4 just because of this stuff.
I completely forgot about the twist so that was a nice refresher. They do have a good ending. I got tears in my eyes. I also got the bonus scene and had a smile for these two.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Such a great book!!! Eden and Trent both pull at your heartstrings. Eden is the light to Trent's darkness. They have an instant attraction that neither knows how to deal with. Add in Gage to the mix and you just find yourself rooting for these two.
There is so much angst but it's so worth it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Give Me A Reason is an all new novel in A L Jackson‘s new Redemption Hills series.
It‘s about Trent who is bad boy single father and Eden who has the girl next door vibes.
I havent read a book by AL in a while so when she announced Give Me A Reason I was super excited! And lets be honest that cover is just seriously hot.
Eden and Trent are made for eachother and I die enjoy their story. However I felt the story being dragged out alot and some parts of the book were very slow for me.
I did highly enjoy the drama and mystery. Like I did not figure it out until it was revealed! So thats pretty damn good!
I am curious to see what will happen next in this series though!
3.5⭐️
It‘s about Trent who is bad boy single father and Eden who has the girl next door vibes.
I havent read a book by AL in a while so when she announced Give Me A Reason I was super excited! And lets be honest that cover is just seriously hot.
Eden and Trent are made for eachother and I die enjoy their story. However I felt the story being dragged out alot and some parts of the book were very slow for me.
I did highly enjoy the drama and mystery. Like I did not figure it out until it was revealed! So thats pretty damn good!
I am curious to see what will happen next in this series though!
3.5⭐️
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
"It's torment getting a peek at Heaven from the vantage of Hell. Maybe that's the real meaning of eternal punishment."
Give Me a Reason is the first book in the Redemption Hills series, and I thought it was a good introduction to the new characters and setting. The main characters in this book are Trent, who owns a bar and is a single father, and Eden a kindergarten teacher. They meet when Eden goes for an interview at Trent's bar to get hired as a cocktail server. It is quiet obvious these two are the complete opposite, but you know what they say about those. And that was the case because there was insta-lust between them right from the start. They are both dealing with some issues and it stops them from completely giving in to each other. However, it isn't easy for them to resist each other.
"You said I brought your heart back to life, but Eden, you made mine beat for the first time."
I thought Give Me a Reason was a great start to the series (it can be read as a stand-alone!). The writing was great like always, and I loved the growth in the characters. There was fortunately no unnecessary drama added to the story. I loved all the side characters and thought they added to the story. I especially loved Trent's five-year-old son, who was just the cutest. I am very excited for the next books in the series, because they will focus on Trent's brothers Jud and Logan. Overall this was a good contemporary romance with a bit of suspense/action sprinkled in. It was also pretty hot and steamy, the way I like my romance.
"It's torment getting a peek at Heaven from the vantage of Hell. Maybe that's the real meaning of eternal punishment."
Give Me a Reason is the first book in the Redemption Hills series, and I thought it was a good introduction to the new characters and setting. The main characters in this book are Trent, who owns a bar and is a single father, and Eden a kindergarten teacher. They meet when Eden goes for an interview at Trent's bar to get hired as a cocktail server. It is quiet obvious these two are the complete opposite, but you know what they say about those. And that was the case because there was insta-lust between them right from the start. They are both dealing with some issues and it stops them from completely giving in to each other. However, it isn't easy for them to resist each other.
"You said I brought your heart back to life, but Eden, you made mine beat for the first time."
I thought Give Me a Reason was a great start to the series (it can be read as a stand-alone!). The writing was great like always, and I loved the growth in the characters. There was fortunately no unnecessary drama added to the story. I loved all the side characters and thought they added to the story. I especially loved Trent's five-year-old son, who was just the cutest. I am very excited for the next books in the series, because they will focus on Trent's brothers Jud and Logan. Overall this was a good contemporary romance with a bit of suspense/action sprinkled in. It was also pretty hot and steamy, the way I like my romance.
one of the best books ive read since this year started. it was fun and easy quick read but of course there was drama though not as much as you’d expect. it was more on the realistic side of dramatics.
DNF @ 16% I've really tried to like ALJ, but it's all just too overblown for my tastes. Too much drama, too many exclamation points, everyone is extra. It just doesn't work for me.
I was gifted this book by Valentine PR, and decided to buddy read it with a friend. I adored the entire thing! First off, I am typically indifferent to the single parent trope, but I believe Gage is literally the cutest kid I have ever read about in a book! Of course his smokin' hot father with tattoos and a bike has eyes for only him, and it is the sweetest single parent trope to date. This book has a lot of feels, but the biggest one being an intense burn, undeniable passion, and smoldering amount of angst between these two. Their attraction is physically palpable throughout this book. The author has a talent for writing in a way that gives you all the feels. A lot of metaphors and comparisons over lengthy descriptions helps the reader to feel rather then to see. I was so pleasantly surprised by how much I adored this book, and then plot twist! Literally... a plot twist that made me fall in love even more.
This book is great for those who enjoy palpable angst between enemies who become lovers. A forbidden work place romance and a single parent trope makes the read that much better!
This book is great for those who enjoy palpable angst between enemies who become lovers. A forbidden work place romance and a single parent trope makes the read that much better!