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A review by katemc7
Ruled Out by Ruth Stilling
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
OMG what a wonderful way to end this series! This was definitely the most emotional/heaviest book of the series. I would definitely recommend checking out the trigger warnings before diving in. That being said, Ruth did a really great job addressing some heavy topics and though I haven't experienced them myself I found myself thinking that what I was reading seemed to accurately depict emotions associated with abuse. I was excited to read Jessie's story. We got some sneaks of it and learned a little more about him in JJ and Kate's book, but I wanted more. This gave us SOO much more. Jessie has been THROUGH it yall. He found the love of his life but after her father realized what was happening between them, Jessie was shipped off to another team (the Scorpions). He has been drinking and performing at half-mast being in Seattle. When he realizes that Mia is in the same city her can't resist. Watching these two come together was magical. It just goes to show how much you can change for the good when you are with the right person and have the right people in your life. Mia was on the other side of making a stand for her independence with her dad. She had left her heart with Jessie all those years ago. She was beyond ecstatic to see him but her first priority was HIM. She wanted to help him. Get him in a better headspace. She was so selfless and played such a key role in Jessie getting on the other side of his addiction. These two had a HARD road to get their HEA. Reading about jessie's shame of his past and how he finally shed that shame was amazing.
Jessie is basically just doing the motions of life at this point- he goes to work. He goes out with friends. And in the meantime he drinks to forget everything. But mostly he drinks to forget her. The love of his life. Mia. Who he had to cut out and hasn't spoken to since. His friends can tell something is off but Jessie isn't ready to open up yet. But then he finds out Mia is in the same city. He can't help it. He is a moth drawn to a flame. And when he sees her for the first time in all this time, it's like seeing the sun. She just sets the world right for him. She gives him a chance. She doesn't make him feel judged at all. She gives him space to process his own stuff while also giving him her heart and her body. He wants to do everything right this time. He wants to prove to her dad that he is worthy. All the while he is taking care of his mom and trying to avoid his dad. But after going home to protect his mom he comes home and hides like he always does. But this time he show Mia behind the curtain. He lays it all out. He expects her to run away and leave him and his baggage at the door. But she doesn't. She holds him. She is there for him. She makes him feel safe. Their plan of telling her dad changes when he finds out first and then Jessie can't hide his past anymore. His mom has had an accident and even though he asks her to stay Mia follows him. And when she is put in danger. All bets are off. Because he doesn't want to live without her anymore. And he isn't going to let anyone stand in the way of that.
Mia has left her heart in Texas. It was broken long ago by the one man she thought she understood. Now she has taken a stand on what she wants with her Dad and is in the same city as said love- Jessie Callaghan. She tried to see him a while ago but that went sideways so she pretends like seeing him on tv doesn't affect her how it does. She expects nothing to change. He has made his stance clear. But then he shows up at the library one night and everything changes between them. He doesn't let her all the way in but he shows her that he never stopped caring. He made the wrong choice and now he wants to make up for it. And here they are a week or so later, spending the night together. All over each other. Experiencing things together she has never experienced. All the while when he gets a call from his mom it's like he changes. She gives him space to process but at the same time she wants in. They decide they are going to do it right this time. They are going to tell her dad- they just have to wait for the right time. But then that decision is taken from them. And Jessie is done hiding his past. Mia is beyond amazed at what Jessie has overcome. And now so is her dad. It feels good that he knows. But then Jessie runs home to save his mom again and this time Mia goes with him. She thought she knew what he had endured but she was wrong. She finds herself on the wrong side of a convo with his dad but Jessie makes it in time to save her. Now she just has to show Jessie that nothing of his past affects how she feels about him. She has to prove to him that he is worthy of her.
This book made me feel sooo many things. Like I said it was heavier than I expected but it was also SOOO healing. This was such a wonderful way to wrap up the series. Though this one says it is a standalone, I would recommend reading at least book 3 ahead of time BUT I enjoyed all of them. I do wish we had gotten a LITTLE sneak of where Jack's story is going. I am PUMPED for the spin off that is coming.
Thank you to Ruth for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!!
Jessie is basically just doing the motions of life at this point- he goes to work. He goes out with friends. And in the meantime he drinks to forget everything. But mostly he drinks to forget her. The love of his life. Mia. Who he had to cut out and hasn't spoken to since. His friends can tell something is off but Jessie isn't ready to open up yet. But then he finds out Mia is in the same city. He can't help it. He is a moth drawn to a flame. And when he sees her for the first time in all this time, it's like seeing the sun. She just sets the world right for him. She gives him a chance. She doesn't make him feel judged at all. She gives him space to process his own stuff while also giving him her heart and her body. He wants to do everything right this time. He wants to prove to her dad that he is worthy. All the while he is taking care of his mom and trying to avoid his dad. But after going home to protect his mom he comes home and hides like he always does. But this time he show Mia behind the curtain. He lays it all out. He expects her to run away and leave him and his baggage at the door. But she doesn't. She holds him. She is there for him. She makes him feel safe. Their plan of telling her dad changes when he finds out first and then Jessie can't hide his past anymore. His mom has had an accident and even though he asks her to stay Mia follows him. And when she is put in danger. All bets are off. Because he doesn't want to live without her anymore. And he isn't going to let anyone stand in the way of that.
Mia has left her heart in Texas. It was broken long ago by the one man she thought she understood. Now she has taken a stand on what she wants with her Dad and is in the same city as said love- Jessie Callaghan. She tried to see him a while ago but that went sideways so she pretends like seeing him on tv doesn't affect her how it does. She expects nothing to change. He has made his stance clear. But then he shows up at the library one night and everything changes between them. He doesn't let her all the way in but he shows her that he never stopped caring. He made the wrong choice and now he wants to make up for it. And here they are a week or so later, spending the night together. All over each other. Experiencing things together she has never experienced. All the while when he gets a call from his mom it's like he changes. She gives him space to process but at the same time she wants in. They decide they are going to do it right this time. They are going to tell her dad- they just have to wait for the right time. But then that decision is taken from them. And Jessie is done hiding his past. Mia is beyond amazed at what Jessie has overcome. And now so is her dad. It feels good that he knows. But then Jessie runs home to save his mom again and this time Mia goes with him. She thought she knew what he had endured but she was wrong. She finds herself on the wrong side of a convo with his dad but Jessie makes it in time to save her. Now she just has to show Jessie that nothing of his past affects how she feels about him. She has to prove to him that he is worthy of her.
This book made me feel sooo many things. Like I said it was heavier than I expected but it was also SOOO healing. This was such a wonderful way to wrap up the series. Though this one says it is a standalone, I would recommend reading at least book 3 ahead of time BUT I enjoyed all of them. I do wish we had gotten a LITTLE sneak of where Jack's story is going. I am PUMPED for the spin off that is coming.
Thank you to Ruth for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!!