Jay Crownover

The sixth book in the scorching hot NEW YORK TIMES bestselling MARKED MEN New Adult series

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️

Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂

Asa is the finale in the "Marked Men" series. This is a story that features a truly opposite couple and their story has been building slowly throughout the series so this was my most anticipated story and I really did enjoy it for the most part. I will always be drawn to the opposites attract trope and you don't get more opposite than a cop/ex criminal pairing. There is some powerful chemistry that builds between these two but the sweet pining between them was so magnetic and Jay Crownover really delivered in that aspect.

Not too long ago when I watched a girl purposely get as drunk as this pretty one did, I would've moved in for the kill.

Bad boy, Tattoed, ex criminal and working on redeeming his past.

Working in Law Enforcement, dealing with some emotional trauma and pining for a man that would be her most unlikely match

Royal Hastings has been working in law enforcement with her best friend. But when her partner is almost killed, she blames herself and is working through the shame and guilt she feels from it and starts second guessing her own abilities. Then jumps into the mix is Asa Cross, who is working on his own path of redemption. The easy way is his old way of being a criminal but Asa is determined to make his sister proud of him and forge a new life for himself. But being with a woman like Royal will push his limits and may be too much of forbidden fruit.

There were many elements to this story that I DID enjoy quite a bit. The way in which Asa rescues Royal in the beginning was so heartfelt. She is on a path of emotional self destruction, and he is there, a steady rock for her and determined to save her from herself if necessary. The journey that Royal goes on in healing and learning to accept things she can't change was powerful. I adored her growth and seeing her find her own place in her career as a officer. I had a blast seeing the chemistry build between Royal and Asa. They are such an unlikely match, but they really fit so well together. They are the epitome of why opposites attract works so well.

So there was done factor in this story that completely ruined the book for me and that was in the third act. I didn't really understand what the author was trying to do here because you build up a conflict and then it leaves you mad as a hatter. I coudn't even enjoy the epilogue like I wanted to because of how the conflict was resolved. I did not feel satisfied in any way. I get the motivations on both sides but I just felt like I was given this big meal of promise and expectation and it was ripped away at the last minute lol

This duo team did a superb job in narrating this story and I really had a fun time doing most of this series in audio. The narration really brought the characters to life.

Asa had a powerful match up that delivers strong emotional connection, a vibrant sexual attraction and a pairing that you can fall head over heels in love with!

What I want to do is love the Asa that’s here with me now. You need to let go of those boulders weighted with all the bad things from the past that are dragging you down before you get crushed under them

Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult

Character Types: Law Enforcement, Business Owner

Themes: Tattoo's/Piercings, Secrets, Pining Heroine

Lover of Romance 

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖
Narration:🎧🎧🎧🎧
Ending:🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨


First Impressions
Asa is the finale in the "Marked Men" series. This is a story that features a truly opposite couple and their story has been building slowly throughout the series so this was my most anticipated story and I really did enjoy it for the most part. I will always be drawn to the opposites attract trope and you don't get more opposite than a cop/ex criminal pairing. There is some powerful chemistry that builds between these two but the sweet pining between them was so magnetic and Jay Crownover really delivered in that aspect.

First Line
Not too long ago when I watched a girl purposely get as drunk as this pretty one did, I would've moved in for the kill.

The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Asa
Bad boy, Tattoed, ex criminal and working on redeeming his past.

The Heroine: Royal
Working in Law Enforcement, dealing with some emotional trauma and pining for a man that would be her most unlikely match

Summary
Royal Hastings has been working in law enforcement with her best friend. But when her partner is almost killed, she blames herself and is working through the shame and guilt she feels from it and starts second guessing her own abilities. Then jumps into the mix is Asa Cross, who is working on his own path of redemption. The easy way is his old way of being a criminal but Asa is determined to make his sister proud of him and forge a new life for himself. But being with a woman like Royal will push his limits and may be too much of forbidden fruit.

What I Loved
There were many elements to this story that I DID enjoy quite a bit. The way in which Asa rescues Royal in the beginning was so heartfelt. She is on a path of emotional self destruction, and he is there, a steady rock for her and determined to save her from herself if necessary. The journey that Royal goes on in healing and learning to accept things she can't change was powerful. I adored her growth and seeing her find her own place in her career as a officer. I had a blast seeing the chemistry build between Royal and Asa. They are such an unlikely match, but they really fit so well together. They are the epitome of why opposites attract works so well.

What I Struggled With
So there was done factor in this story that completely ruined the book for me and that was in the third act. I didn't really understand what the author was trying to do here because you build up a conflict and then it leaves you mad as a hatter. I coudn't even enjoy the epilogue like I wanted to because of how the conflict was resolved. I did not feel satisfied in any way. I get the motivations on both sides but I just felt like I was given this big meal of promise and expectation and it was ripped away at the last minute lol

Narration
This duo team did a superb job in narrating this story and I really had a fun time doing most of this series in audio. The narration really brought the characters to life.

Overall View
Asa had a powerful match up that delivers strong emotional connection, a vibrant sexual attraction and a pairing that you can fall head over heels in love with!

Favorite Quote(s)
What I want to do is love the Asa that’s here with me now. You need to let go of those boulders weighted with all the bad things from the past that are dragging you down before you get crushed under them

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult
Character Types: Law Enforcement, Business Owner
Themes: Tattoo's/Piercings, Secrets, Pining Heroine
Tropes: Opposites Attract

Book Perspective
Duo POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Relationship Conflict

Song This Book Inspires
Only For You by Hearless Bastards

Recommendation For Reading Order
Yes

Steam/Spice Explanations

Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.

Narrators:
Christian Fox, Kendall Harper

Ana Matti

THE SERIES IS DONE I AM IN TEARS I LOVE MARKED MEN SO MUCH

Bethany Lacey

http://laceysloveofliterature.blogspo...

OMG! This book. This beautiful Southern charmer. God. He was just... sigh.

So, I grew curious about Asa in Ayden's book and then he secretly stole my heart in Rome's book. I have been dying to get my hands on his book since I began this series and I didn't have to wait that long. Imagine a squealing woman jumping all over her house when she finds out she gets an ARC. Yep, I did that.

In Nash's book, I didn't know what to make of his red-head neighbour Royal. She seemed like one of those girls who's beautiful and sexy but belongs in the guys club - you know that girl who knows the football stats and it impresses guys, and you just hate on her? Well in Nash's book I got that vibe from her. And I am glad I was so wrong. She's strong, and yes she does get on better with guys, but so what? She doesn't necessarily enjoy the attention. The only attention she wanted was Asa, the southern Bar-tender who keeps getting her out of trouble. The problem? He appears uninterested. And well, this is something Royal's never had to deal with. So, she makes it a challenge to get him to notice her. However, Asa's not as uninterested as she thinks. Yes he's attracted to her, but he feels like he doesn't deserve her. 

One night when the ever-forgetful Royal locks herself out of her car, she ends up back at Asa's and instead of running from Asa when he tries to push her away, she challenges him. She was bad-ass. The way she called him out on his behaviour - god, this girl has balls. She's just so cool and I want her as my new best-friend. 

So, these two begin.

God, I loved this book. It was just amazing. I loved Asa. He was this man struggling with his past, who thought he was irredeemable and not deserving enough - of anything. But the thing is, Asa deserves everything. Yes, he made mistakes. But who hasn't?

And can I just say how much I loved the glimpses of Rome! This soldier is still my fave Marked Man. I especially loved the wedding and his interactions with his daughter and Cora.

So, overall this series is a kick-ass, and this book just increases its bad-assery. You guys need to read this whole series. I can't wait for her new series to begin - a spinoff from this I think?

Find this review and more at 
  kimberlyfaye reads
.

I was a giant ball of feelings after finishing Asa, and I'm pretty sure writing this review is going to bring all those feelings back again. So, bear with me. There will probably be tears. (There will totally be tears.) It's also going to be hard to do this one justice without giving much away. 

I've been waiting for Asa to find his happily ever after for at least the last two books. He's a complicated guy with a less than stellar history, but I liked how his character has grown and I wanted to see him happy. I suspected Royal would be his perfect match and boy, was I ever right! The ex-con and the cop. It was perfect. I loved how she was the one who pursued him. Relentlessly. They were smoking hot together. And I adored both of the characters on their own, so it was easy to love them together. 

As with any book there's conflict and drama, but I appreciated the maturity with which things were dealt in Asa. There's more openness and trust. (view spoiler)[Though it frustrated me when it happened because I didn’t understand the finer points, there’s this thing that happens late in the book that really shows how far Asa has come. The man used to taking whatever he wanted with little regard for how it affected others took a step back and gave up what he wants more than anything to protect the person he loves. More than even the romance, I think that’s the real triumph of this book. Asa realizes he can, in fact, love and is willing to give it up for the other person’s happiness. (hide spoiler)]

I loved everything about this book. I love Jay's writing and the character development. The epilogue is one of the best I've read and the last two paragraphs are gorgeous and nothing short of perfection. This is just the ending I wanted for one of my favorite series. I'll miss these characters so very much – I already do – but I'm so pleased with how everything wrapped up for everyone. It was wonderful, but not fake perfect like in some books you read.

*sigh* It's gonna be hard to let these characters go. But I'm really looking forward to see what Jay brings us next. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.

Asa

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