Built (Saints of Denver #1) By: Jay Crownover

Hey ya'll!! *WAVES

I know I have been super MIA this past couple months, and I will have a new post up soon explaining everything... But until then I wanted to drop by and leave a fun review for one of my fav authors.

I got involved with Jay Crownover's books back when ROME came out a couple years ago. And I've been hooked since.

I was still a newbie blogger, maybe out there a whole 6 months (If even that) when Harper Collins found me somehow and reached out to be a part of the awesome puzzle style cover reveal.

Pretty sure it was actually the first cover reveal I ever did... And I was just like I have no clue what I'm doing. You mean this is a thing blogs do??? How do I know what to do??? Do you contact me??? Do I contact you??? GOWWWDDDD I was so lost hehe.

Then that next summer I went to Book Bash in Orlando and actually got to meet Jay. I think I had maybe read Rule and Jet by that point (I had a hard time with the books that follow different characters in each book back then) And I knew Rome because I had done the cover thing, so I was so excited to actually get to meet her. I had no idea what I was getting into haha (I've met Jay I think 3 times now, and every time is a cool experience. She is so fun and crazy and I remember that first time so well though because she was actually pretty tame that meeting, and after my last couple times I'm just like wait was that the same author hehe)... That whole event in general was another new crazy experience. I had no idea what I was getting into with that (It was so overwhelming, but one of the best experiences I've had)

But I can now proudly say I have come a far way from that point, and have fallen even more for the amazing men Jay writes.

Book Bash 2014

(I share this pic so you can see how big of a dork I was during all this. I mean can we talk about the fact you can't even see my eyes in it haha. But seriously it was such a fun event, and I really introduced me to so many new authors that I read religiously now)

Decatur Book Festival 2015

(Hey look I'm wearing the same shirt haha. I'm dubbing it the signing shirt from this point on lol.

Same cheesy smile, and still no eye balls to be found, but it's a little less fangirly looking lmbo)

Apollycon 2016

(See I can be way more normal now. Still no eyes in the pic, but I don't look like a total weirdo haha. Authors are like my rock stars though. So a little fangirling can be expected hehe

I feel like I have come a far way from that fort picture though, I can act more like a professional blogger than a weirdo freak lol)

Also something I want to add is I've never actually physically read any of Jay's books... What am I talking about you ask????

A friend back when I started these was introducing me to audio books, and RULE just happen to be my first ever audio. And I mean if you haven't done these books in that format you are seriously missing out. The narrators for every book from her are the most amazing people,and after starting her books that way I could never actually bring myself to read them on my own.I mean I have here and there when I couldn't pull an audio out and would have to go to my nook instead. But her books on audio are an experience all their own. And while I've mentioned listening to audio books before I'm not sure I've ever done an audio book review, so I will have some fun this review and do a hybrid of sorts and give you a review, and an audio review. Wish me luck haha ;)

Sometimes a real hero lets you save yourself . . .

Sayer Cole and Zeb Fuller couldn’t be more different. She’s country club and fine-dining, he’s cell-block and sawdust. Sayer spends her days in litigation while Zeb spends his working with his hands. But none of that has stopped Zeb from wanting the stunning blonde since the moment he laid eyes on her—even if the reserved lawyer seems determinedly oblivious to his interest.

Sayer is certain the rough, hard, hot-as-hell Zeb could never want someone as closed off and restrained as she is, which is a shame because something tells her he might be the guy to finally melt her icy exterior. When he shows up at Sayer’s door needing her professional help, she’s both disappointed and relieved that she won’t get the chance to find out just how good he could be.

But as they team up to right a wrong and save a family, the steam created when fire and ice collide cannot be ignored.

So now that you know some of my past with blogging, and get to see in full color the depths of my dorkyness let's get this thing started.

Like I said above... I listen to all of these books in audio form. It started back with The Marked Men books, continued with the Welcome To The Point books, and now I'm keeping it going with the Saints of  Denver. 

Let me make something clear though. It's not that I don't enjoy jay's books as books. I just a have a few authors that I prefer to listen to the adios of (Kristen Proby, Jay, Christina Lauren)

All of those books are amazing regular reading style, but when you listen to them, it just changes something, and makes the books about 187% better. The narrators chosen for each character are matched to that character perfectly. I mean it would be exactly the way I would picture them sounding in my head. And I really can't tell you how much I want to convince you to go listen to all of Jay's books in that format. It will seriously change the way you see them. You will love them even more than you already do.

It adds so much depth to the feelings jay is able to write her characters having. Especially with Sayer and Zeb in this case. Both characters are a little... broken? I'm not sure that's really the word I want. But they have both been through a lot in their lives and when I listened to this one the narrators were able to portray those emotions and struggles in such a way that had my emotions all over the place. (if you don't know, I'm not very emotional when it comes to that sort of thing. I can count on one hand the number of books that have made me cry... This wasn't one, but that doesn't mean that it didn't wring me listening to it.) Jay has a way of writing that speaks to the reader in general. She creates these characters that are relatable, and a bit larger than life. But still makes them so normal and you get to see the things they struggle with. She makes you feel the things they do with her writing, and let me tell you. An author that has an ability to connect her characters and story that well with readers is an amazing one in my book. We get all the hot heavy romance, but still with the soft gentle struggling aspect that makes these fictional characters real in a way. And allows for the reader to connect to them like they were someone they met on the street rather than are reading about in a fictional book. I could totally picture myself hiring Zeb to come do work on my new house I just moved into, or grabbing a drink with Sayer after work.

I want to kinda jump to Sayer and Zeb themselves after all that. Because now that I've babbled on about how real they seem I guess I should explain them a bit more huh?

I'll start with Sayer, as is my normal style to start with the heroin.

I really liked her character. While I normally take to Jay's male characters more (I mean who wouldn't. They are tatted, pierced, a little broken, romantic, amazingly kind... Ok I'll stop haha)

I really think Sayer may be one of my favorite female characters Jay has written yet. I mean just her job alone blows my mind. She is fierce and loyal to her clients, and really does a job that is mostly male dominated better than any man could. She also picked up and  moved her entire life to be close to family she didn't even know she had until very recently. That alone takes guts. I know personally the farthest I've ever moved from any of my immediate family has been 5 hours and I traveled home any chance I got. Now while my situation is much different from Sayers. Even moving away from the familiarity of my home for literally the unknown scares me and I couldn't imagine doing what she did at all. And I actually think that makes me like her more. Because she did something that I wish I could and was brave enough to do, and she gives me hope I would be able to do something like that if I ever had to. Fictional characters can be role models too ya'll!!

I know I mentioned that both Zeb and Sayer were sort of broken characters (Still not sure that is the word for it, but we're going to go with it until I find a better one)

Sayer's family experience is one I wouldn't wish on anyone. It was loveless and dull to say the least. Lacking of any sort of compassion or color mentally and physically. Sayer is the epitome of put together and proper, but because of the way she was raised she lacks the sparkle and vibrancy of life. That is until the very colorful Zeb enters her world. He shows her that life isn't all muted grays and blacks and that even the smallest things can bring joy and life to something. But it isn't only him that manages to do this for her. Rowdy and Salem, along with Salem's sister Poppy and the whole Marked men crew in general do what they can and help Sayer in their own ways. Poppy especially. In helping her, Sayer begins to see things differently and wants to be different. She sees that there are people who need her. And in caring for someone who could be a little more broken than she is helps her to fix things about herself as well.

She is a great character to watch grow as the story progresses, and I'm so happy Jay decided to give us her story.

So on to Zeb I guess...
This man... Gosh, he just is one of those incredible Jay Crownover men I was telling you about. And this on eis all tattooed and bearded??? Yes please! I have a love for those me. Fictional or not hehe.
But Zeb is just sort of special. He is one of those characters tat is fiercely loyal to the people he loves and cares about. To the point that he is willing to do whatever he thinks needs to be done to protect them. No matter the cost to himself. 

I will admit, I was completely intrigued by him back in The Marked Men and the more we learn about him the more I fall in love with him.

Zeb has been through some pretty crappy things in the pursuit of taking care of the people he loves. One decision in particular he did to protect someone dear to him had lasting repercussions Zeb fights with every day. Not because he is fighting his demons really, but because that decision changed the course of his life and he has to work extremely hard to prove he isn't the bad guy. It breaks your heart in a way to see such a good person struggle with that sort of situation when the only reason they were put in it was because of love for someone.

But I have to say. Zeb is incredible in the fact that despite dealing with all of his other problems he works extremely hard and is even willing to change things about his entire life when a new person is thrown into the mix of things. He works so hard to prove he is the kind of person this new one needs and will do whatever he must to be a part of their lives. While also balancing his new relationship with Sayer and deciding if she is willing to accept him, flaws and all. (Yes there is another person that comes into Zebs life.... And I'm not talking about Sayer. Obviously haha. But I won't give anything away. Don't worry ;) )

But all that Zeb goes through for even just Sayer... Trying to win her over and help her deal with her own internal issues proves the kind of man he. He really cares for her and wants to help. But even he has his breaking points too, and Sayer has to decide if he's worth it.

I also want to talk about Poppy a little before I wrap this baby up. She is Salem's sister, yes Rowdy's Salem. And if you remember back in Rowdy, she moved in with Sayer after wanting space from Salem when she moved to Denver to escape her awful past and be able to start healing.

She is this shy little thing, scared from what she went through, but on the mend. Sayer sort of takes her under her wing and tries to give her an environment she will feel comfortable in. But Poppy kinda has this way of not only being able to heal herself but also helping Sayer to as well (Sort of like I mentioned above) We see these two women who have such different experiences but who retreat into their selves to protect them. And while small things like letting Poppy pick a color of a wall seem sort of insignificant. Giving her a choice at something has a way of helping to put her on the mend. And while yes, Sayer really deals with some intense stuff. Poppy to me is the one I kinda looked up to throughout the story. She is just so inspiring in the fact that she was able to go through what she did,and yet still be strong enough to say that won't stop me.It may slow me down, but I will get back up, and I will be even stronger no matter how much time it takes. It really stuns me sometimes how attached to the supporting characters I become. Because while I loved Sayer and Zeb, Poppy and that other person I won't say who they are really touched my heart and I think had the biggest impact on me.

This story was definitely one of my favorites that Jay has written. (I'm sure by now I've explained my whole not ever crying thing in enough posts... I am an emotionless weirdo for those who don't know.... No not really, I just don't cry very often or anything) And while this book didn't make me cry, it definitely had me feeling things. It was just such a beautiful story about finding some sort of peace with your past and almost even redemption in ways. But also was such a great story at proving everyone deserves to be loved and cared for, even when you've been told you don't or haven't been shown that sort of care and compassion before.

Built is absolutely marvelous, and I hope that I've been able to convince you to at least give it or any of Jay's books a shot. They are truly amazing and by far some of my favorite books.

I give Built: ***** 5 Stars *****

Cover Reveal: Built (Saints Of Denver #1) By: Jay Crownover

We are absolutely thrilled to bring you the Cover Reveal and Prologue for BUILT by Jay Crownover! BUILT is the first novel in her upcoming Saints of Denver Series, a spinoff of her Marked Men Series, published by William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins. BUILT is releasing on January 5, 2016! This is a definite one click, friends!

Check out the cover of BUILT!

 

Preorder BUILT Today!

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  About BUILT: From the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men books comes an electrifying new spin-off series,Saints of Denver, featuring all the characters fans have been dying to read about. Sayer Cole and Zeb Fuller couldn’t be more different. She’s country club and fine-dining, he’s cell-block and sawdust. Sayer spends her days in litigation, while Zeb spends his working with his hands. She’s French silk, he’s all denim and flannel. Zeb’s wanted the stunning blonde since the moment he laid eyes on her. It doesn't matter how many smooth moves he makes, the reserved lawyer seems determinedly oblivious to his interest—either that or she doesn't return it. Sayer is certain the rough, hard, hot-as-hell Zeb could never want someone as closed off and restrained as she is, which is a shame because something tells her he might be the guy to finally melt her icy exterior. But just as things start to heat up, Zeb is blindsided by a life altering moment from his past. He needs Sayer’s professional help to right a wrong and to save more than himself. He can’t risk what’s at stake just because his attraction to Sayer feels all consuming. But as these opposites dig in for the fight of their lives, battling together to save a family, the steam created when fire and ice collide can no longer be ignored.

And don’t miss this sneak peek of BUILT! Check out the prologue here!

Prologue

I met her at a bar. She had a beer bottle in her hand even though she looked like she should be sipping champagne out of an expensive flute, and that inexplicably turned me on. She was pretty and looked completely out of place in the no-name bar sitting across from one of my longtime friends who also happened to be her long-lost brother. He was the reason she was here. In that split second that I laid my eyes on her I wanted to be the reason she stayed. I knew it was rude and that the two of them needed some time together, some time to figure out what they were to each other now that she had blasted into his life unannounced. If I was a better friend I would have left them alone. As it was, I made my way over to the tiny table and sat down. I was covered in sawdust and had drywall mud caked in the hair on my head and on my face, but she didn’t flinch or bat an eyelash when I purposely broke up their party of two and placed myself as close to her as I could without actually touching her. My buddy Rowdy St. James lifted his eyebrows at me as I stared at her while he introduced us. Sayer Cole. Even her name was elegant and sophisticated sounding. She was an enigma, this pretty woman that seemed like she should be in any place but this bar with the two of us. She’d showed up out of the blue a couple of months ago claiming to be Rowdy’s half sister, claiming that they shared a father, claiming that all she wanted was to be in his life and have some kind of family of her own. She looked too delicate to be that brave. Came across as way too proper to have said “fuck it all” and picked up her life to move it someplace unknown without being sure of her welcome. She looked like silk, but if my guess was right about her, it was silk wrapped around steel. Luckily Rowdy was a good guy. After the shock of discovering he wasn’t alone in the world, and once he realized he had someone tied to him by blood forever and ever, he had warmed up to the idea of having a sister and appreciated that the sister was Sayer. I liked Rowdy a lot. He was a stand-up guy and a good friend, but I had a feeling I was going to like his newly found big sister even more. In my usual tactless way I asked him without looking directly at the knockout blonde, “So you have a sister? A hot, classy sister?” A sister that was also a lawyer, so beautiful and smart. I expected a giggle from her or an eye roll at the outlandish compliment, but what I got was a wide-eyed stare of disbelief as eyes bluer than anything I had ever seen on earth danced between me and her brother like she wasn’t sure what to do with herself or with my overt interest in her. I thought that I had gone too far, pushed the beautiful stranger too far out of her comfort zone. I was a big guy and knew I looked far wilder and rougher than I actually was. I figured it might be too much for a woman already obviously out of her element and depth to take. Instead, Sayer surprised me and I could see by the way he stiffened that she surprised Rowdy, too. While she wasn’t exactly overflowing with welcome and warmth, she did ask me about the current project I was working on after Rowdy explained I was a general contractor and had rebuilt the new tattoo shop he worked in. She seemed genuinely interested, and when I told her that my specialty was rehabbing old houses and giving them new life, her eyes practically glowed at me. I wanted to touch her to see if she felt as smooth and polished as she looked. I wanted to leave streaks of dirt on her perfect face to mark the fact that I had touched her, that she had let me touch her. It was a primal and visceral reaction that I couldn’t explain and I liked the way it felt. Liked the weight and heft of it in my blood even if I knew the feeling wasn’t likely to be returned. She told me all about a fantastic but crumbling Victorian she had purchased that was falling down around her. She asked me for a business card and I saw Rowdy stiffen across the table. I sighed and rubbed a hand over my already messy hair. I watched her eyes follow the light cloud of dust that escaped the strands. I was great at my job, loved what I did, but I couldn’t do anything with her or for her without laying everything on the line. Especially not with Rowdy giving me the death glare from just a few feet away. I dug the card out of my wallet, and when I handed it over our fingers touched. I saw her eyes widen and her lips part, just barely. She looked a little dazed when I grinned at her. “You take that card, but understand that the man giving it to you has a past.” She blinked at me and cleared her throat. “What kind of past?” It wasn’t something I liked to tell a beautiful woman when I first met her. It was something I liked to work up to, liked to prove it was behind me, but with this one it seemed like I wouldn’t get that chance. “I tell everyone that I do any kind of work for or that considers hiring me on for a project that I have a criminal history. I spent time locked up for a few years, and while I’m not proud of it I can’t deny it happened. I was a hotheaded kid and it got me in trouble, but I’m the best at what I do, so I hope that doesn’t discourage you from giving me a call.” Hopefully for more than some construction. Usually I got a concerned frown followed by a hundred questions about what had led me to serving time. I got none of that from the stunning blonde. She tilted her head to the side and considered me silently for a long moment before reaching down and slipping my card in her purse. If anything, I could have sworn she was wearing a look of sympathy when she told me softly, “I see it every day from the inside. Sometimes the system simply gets it wrong.” A slight grin turned her mouth up at the corners, and I wanted to lean over and kiss it. “People make mistakes. Hopefully they learn from them.” I don’t know that “wrong” was accurate in my case so much as misguided, but the complete lack of judgment or censure coming from her made me want to pull her into my arms and hold on to her even more. I had made a mistake, a huge one, one that I was forever going to have to carry around with me, but I had learned from it, was still learning from it. That kind of understanding from a total stranger was so rare, especially coming from someone in the legal field. I wasn’t accustomed to someone looking at me and seeing me, just me, not an ex-con loser after I explained where I had been. It was wildly refreshing and attractive. I couldn’t quite get a handle on what made the woman tick, but I would welcome any opportunity she gave me to figure it out. I found her outwardly flawless and pristine demeanor tempting to taint with my dirty hands and ways, and there was something about the way she watched me, the way she turned toward me like she was drawn to me, that made me think maybe I wasn’t alone in the inexplicable pull department. Rowdy left and she stayed. We had a couple more beers and talked some more about her house and what she wanted done with it. She already hired one contractor but felt like the guy was ripping her off. It happened a lot in the industry, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the guy was taking her for a ride. Spending time with her was easy. She was fun to talk to and really fun to look at. I really wanted to get my hands on her house and of course on her, and I felt like she was maybe, kind of, slightly leaning in the same direction when I made the mistake of asking her about her past. I asked about where she had been before she found out about Rowdy and decided to move to Denver so that she could get to know him. I was curious what kind of life she had where she could leave everything behind and not be missed. Really I wanted to know if she had a boyfriend or husband stashed somewhere, but the simple inquiry must have touched a nerve. The next thing I knew she had paid out the tab for both of us and disappeared into the night. She went from glowing and bright to frigid and untouchable in the span of a heartbeat. I figured I blew my shot by being too blunt, as always. I assumed she probably did have someone else in the picture and had been friendly and polite only because I was good friends with her brother. I thought I would never hear from her again and was baffled why the thought of that made my chest ache and my heart feel like it weighed two tons. Imagine my surprise when she called me and hired me to renovate her house a week later without a bid, without a contract, without even knowing if I was half as good as I claimed to be. Of course I accepted, but I knew once I was inside I would need to knock down and rearrange more than just the walls of the house, in order to get at something beautiful and lasting.

 
About Jay Crownover: Jay Crownover is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men and The Point series. Like her characters, she is a big fan of tattoos. She loves music and wishes she could be a rock star, but since she has no aptitude for singing or instrument playing, she'll settle for writing stories with interesting characters that make the reader feel something. She lives in Colorado with her three dogs.        

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