Unforgiven: Includes a bonus novella

3 stars — Well…this one didn’t work as well for me as Crew and Case’s romances. I honestly found myself skimming the sex scenes for the last half of the book. I think it really could have been edited down a bit and then the pacing would have worked better. I also had a hard time connecting with Kody. I kind of knew that might be the case going in — I wasn’t that intrigued by her in the first 2 books. She’s very volatile, makes crazy decisions, and she takes out her anger on the ones she loves. I know some people like that, and it’s something that really annoys me about those people, so I was never going to be on Kody’s side for that. I’m also a super good girl, so I’m never going to be excited about all the illegal type decisions that Kody was making…the reasons didn’t seem good enough for me. Hill was pretty sweet…but he was also kind of a doormat when it came to Kody. There were times I kept wondering what it was about Kody that he fell in love with, and then I’d have to remember that they had all these deep conversations in the past that the reader wasn’t privy to. That really didn’t help me feel the connection between them. And other than the way he was with Kody, I’m not sure I really knew a whole lot else about him. And I guess you can tell since I skimmed that I wasn’t really feeling the chemistry between the two of them. The emotional connection felt a bit forced, and I need that to get into the steamy scenes. I just couldn’t wrap my head around the two of them together. The suspense/mystery was interesting — though I was hella surprised when it wasn’t resolved. Didn’t see the next book coming. I’m more interested in those characters, but I’m not sure enough to keep going in this series. I enjoyed the previous books, but not enough to be blown away and clamouring for more, you know? So yeah. Characters are my bread and butter, and I just couldn’t connect with these two (though mostly Kody). Ah well.

Solid 3.5 This is the first book I have read by this author and therefore the first in the series I have read. The story centers around Hill Gamble and Kody Lawton. Kody, Hill, and his brother Aaron were friends in their youth. For Hill, it was love at first sight, but she chose his brother so he never professed his love. Kody did all she could to help Aaron, and felt betrayed by Hill for not helping his brother when he was at his lowest. Never knowing there was more to the story. Years later, she is a bar owner and he a Texas Ranger. When Kody’s father is killed and Hill is back in town to help investigate the murder, Kody and Hill are forced to faced their past. I have to confess that it wasn’t until I had read 50% of the book that I finally became engaged in the story. I felt that the dual POV in which the characters were constantly having an internal dialogue, was part of the problem. That said, aside from the mystery of who had committed the crime it was also a story about family. How the actions of those that are suppose to love a child, will affect that individual when they reach adulthood. I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

ARC for honest review with no compensation 4.5 stars received from NetGalley and Forever Unforgiven is book 2 in the Loveless, Texas series by Jay Crownover, a new to me author and will definitely be reading more of her books and this series! Hill Gamble, Texas Ranger has come back to Lovelace, Texas to investigate the death of the town’s corrupt sheriff and father of the woman he fell in love with years ago except she fell in love with his younger brother Aaron who had lots of issues and has passed away. Kody Lawton fell in love with Hill and his younger brother Aaron but when push came to shove she chose the younger brother. Hill backed off and left town but now he’s back to investigate her dad‘s death and all the old feelings arise again but can she open her heart, leave the past behind and let her love shine through… Suspense, tragedy, anger, longing, mystery and a love everlasting are just some of the things you will find in this book.