5 SMOOCHES
Synopsis
Jay Crownover’s New York Times and USA Today bestselling Marked Men series continues with the much anticipated story of southern charmer and certified criminal Asa Cross.
Starting over in Denver with a whole new circle of friends and family, Asa Cross struggles with being the man he knows everyone wants him to be and the man he knows he really is. A leopard doesn’t it change its spots and Asa has always been a predator. He doesn’t want to hurt those who love and rely on him, especially one luscious arresting cop who suddenly seems to be interested in him for far more than his penchant for breaking the law. But letting go of old habits is hard, and it’s easy to hit bottom when it’s the place you know best.
Royal Hastings is quickly learning what the bottom looks like after a tragic situation at work threatens not only her career but her partner’s life. As a woman who has only ever had a few real friends she’s trying to muddle through her confusion and devastation all alone. Except she can’t stop thinking about the sexy southern bartender she locked up. Crushing on Asa is the last thing she needs but his allure is too strong to resist. His long criminal record can only hurt her already shaky career and chasing after a guy who has no respect for the law or himself can only end in heartbreak.
A longtime criminal and a cop together just seems so wrong . . . but for Asa and Royal, being wrong together is the only right choice to make.
Review
“Accountability was a foreign thing, and back in the day I avoided it like I owed it money.”
He may not have been there from the start but Asa’s story has been a long time coming. If there was one character who we have seen a long term complete transformation it would be Asa Cross. I have loved every one of the Marked Men and for me one of the delights about them is that while they are all mostly off the beaten path they are all still “good” guys. The same cannot be said for Asa. While in present day Asa is trying hard to be a better man for his sister Ayden. The trouble is that Asa does not believe himself capable of being truly worthy and good.
“Despite my best intentions, this inferno that raged between us was going to burn out of control and she had just lit the match and tossed it carelessly on the tinder.”
Good girl and straight laced cop Royal is going through an identity crisis after an accident on the job caused her partner and best friend to get injured. Determined to live a little on the wild side to push all of her doubts and insecurities away, Royal this Asa is just the right amount of wild for her. Two people who cold not be more different, a thief and a cop, are so much more alike than they think and when they finally come together it is like a surge of electricity.
“It was obvious the path to every decadent sin led right through Asa Cross, and man oh man, did I want to race down it.”
Asa is one of those characters that has grown on us throughout the series. When we meet him in Jet I think we can all agree that we all hated the situations he put his sister in. When he came back in Rome and we saw him struggle to be a better person (even if at times he floundered) we all started to fall for the southern charmer.
“Asa was a beautiful man when he was wearing worn jeans and an old T-shirt; naked and angry, he looked like an ancient Greek god visiting amongst us mere humans.”
Both Royal and Asa are struggling with a supreme lack of confidence and while neither wants to admit it they need the other to help build them up. I loved Royal. The ladies of the Marked Men series are unlike no other. Sexy, sassy, witty and strong willed. They don’t give in easily and can look out for themselves. Tough as balls cop Royal is no different but admitting she wants someone else to be all those things with her is near impossible. She has hoped that a night with Asa would be a good distraction from the trouble and doubt that is following her around but she never expected it to come with so many more feelings and attachments.
“He kissed me like he wanted to tell me things with his lips and tongue that he couldn’t say with words.”
Jay Crownover has once again written a story I cannot put down and a man I would love to have in my bed. Asa was everything I wanted him to be and so much more. While I am sad to see this series end I cannot imagine any way to bring it a close any better than she did with Asa.
“With you, the only way to go is high risk, high reward.”
Sexy and a smooth talker, Asa is just what this southern belle needed to finish out the series!
~miranda
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