Title: Better When He's Bold
Author: Jay Crownover
Publisher: William Morrow Books
Publication Date: 2/3/2015
Source: ARC from publisher through Edelweiss
Synopsis:
Some men are just better when they're bold.
Welcome to the Point...
In a dark and broken kingdom, a ruler has to be fearless to control the streets and the ruthless people who run them.
Race Hartman is just bold enough, just smart enough, and just lost enough to wear the crown. Places like the Point will always have bad things and bad people, but the man in control of all that badness can minimize the devastation. Race has a plan, but can he prevent total annihilation without destroying himself?
Brysen Carter has always seen her best friend's brother for what he is--too pretty, too smooth, and way too dangerous to touch. Basking in Race's golden glow is very tempting, but Brysen knows she'd eventually get burned.
When she starts receiving threatening texts and someone tries to take her out in parking lot, the only person interested in keeping her safe is the one man she can't allow herself to have.
Sometimes being bold is the only way to stay alive. But can she let Race save her life . . . if it means losing herself to him?
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And don’t miss the previous books in The Point Series!
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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“I should go home.” My voice was strained to my own ears. I couldn’t have sounded less convincing if I tried.
“There are always other things we should be doing. Come back to my place with me, Brysen.”
It wasn’t a question, it was almost an order. It shouldn’t sound as hot as it did.
“I don’t really think that’s a great idea. Besides, we haven’t even touched on the fact that I do officially have a stalker.”
He took a step even closer and the finger he had used to rub my cheek he now used to push some of my hair back behind my ear. It was probably the most kind, most reverent touch I had felt from another person in my life. That it was coming from this complex and troubling man hit me in all of my warm and squishy places.
“You have a stalker until I can get my hands on him. And it might be a bad idea, but it’s a bad idea that is going to happen one way or another, so fighting it seems stupid and takes energy I can sure as hell put to better use. Let me take care of you for one night, Brysen. I promise you won’t regret it.”
Of course I wouldn’t regret it. I wanted him, was entrapped by him, and after I ate it all up, took everything he had to give, lived in the pleasure and passion he broke loose inside of me, it would for sure kill me to know I would never be able to have it again. I blew out a breath, lifted a hand to wrap around his thick wrist, and fully intended to tell him no, that it just wasn’t worth the impending heartache, but what came out of mouth was:
“I don’t know what to do with you, Race.”
His warm hand slid under the fall of my hair at the back of my neck and his head lowered toward mine. His mouth hovered right over mine and my lips parted in their own invitation.
“Yes, you do.”
When he kissed me, my mind was made up. I wanted this—wanted him—and I hadn’t had anything just for myself in far too long. I knew it was bound to lead to really bad things, but on the way there I really, really wanted to enjoy everything that came with him. Including the way he pulled me close. The way he slid his hands down over the curve of my ass. The way his tongue lured mine out to play, and maybe mostly the way he made everything else that was always hounding me fade away. With his mouth on mine, with his hands roving over me, there was no crumbling home life, there was no failed math class there was no lurking and unidentified threat … all I could feel was heat, burning, desire, and desperation. It was such a welcome reprieve from what I usually felt that there was no way I could tell him no.
He took a step back and squeezed the back of my neck. I was breathless and his eyes had shifted to that sexy, deep, opaque forest green.
“I can’t offer you anything fancy. You’ve been on my mind and under my skin for a minute now, but I promise that I’ll make it worth your while.”
I breathed out a sigh and took the hand he offered me.
“You already have, Race.”
He flashed that dimple at me again and inclined his head toward the mouth of the alley.
“Where did you park?”
“Around the corner.” He gave me a look that indicated I would be lucky to find the BMW in one piece once we reached it.
I am a superfan of Jay Crownover's MARKED MEN series, but I was completely scared of this one. Jay makes it known that the characters in THE POINT are not simply bad boys, but rather they are men and they do bad things. These are not softies or teddy bears on the inside. These are guys that are willing to do whatever it takes to get what they want. These are the kind of men that scare the bejeesus out of me.
I read BETTER WHEN HE'S BAD and could see Jay's style and talent pouring through, but Bax, being Bax still scared me and I just wasn't sure if this was a series that I could stick with. I honestly don't remember signing up for the ARC of BETTER WHEN HE'S BOLD and when it first arrived on my Kindle, I'll admit that I let it sit there for a few days and even considered putting it in the freezer, it scared me so bad. (Friends reference, did you see it?) Finally I decided to just face this thing head on. I grabbed Race by his golden hair and squared off with him ready to do battle. I am so glad that I didn't let this book intimidate me.
Race is the Golden King of The Point. He has set himself up as the new ruler of the criminal element and it seems that not everyone is happy with his rule.
Brysen met Race when she was helping his sister, her friend Dovey (from book #1). Since their first meeting, Brysen has been completely overwhelmed by Race, but determined to stay far away. Little does she realize that Race has decided that she would make an amazing queen to rule the underworld beside him.
Brysen has taken it upon herself to help hold her family together. Her father is completely wrapped up in his own work, and her mother can't stay sober for more than two minutes in a row. Someone has to make sure that her little sister has what she needs and is fed.
As Race and Brysen grow closer, her father's connections to The Point begin to come clearer. Distracted by the growing problems at home, Brysen fails to see the danger her own life is in.
Race refuses to let the unscrupulous players take over The Point, but what is he willing to risk in order to maintain his hold on the city?
This story was exciting and grabbed me from the very beginning. A little like how Race grabbed Brysen's attention.
Some men are impossible to ignore. It's like everyone else around them is moving in slow motion, like everyone else is painted in black and white and he's the only spot of color; the only thing moving in the room. Race Hartman was that kind of man.
The story was surprising and well put together. The characters are very colorful. Even the peripheral characters make an impression. Brysen is a fascinating character. She is strong and sweet; smart and sassy. Race is incredibly persuasive. He managed to convince Brysen (and me) to give him a chance and I don't think either one of us will ever be the same.
5 out of 5 stars
OK Go - Invincible
When they finally come, what'll you do to them?
Gonna decimate them like you did to me?
Will you leave them stunned and stuttering?
It seems obvious to me that John Fogerty spent some time in The Point and it inspire him to write Bad Moon Rising. While the original is awesome, I just loved the creepy
Rasputina - Bad Moon Rising
So don't come out tonight
it's bound to take your life
there's a bad moon on the rise.
Fall Out Boy - Immortals
This song was chosen strictly for the lyrics. I don't think their sound particularly fits in The Point, but the words feel like they were written with Race in mind.
Sometimes the only pay off for having any faith
Is when it's tested again and again every day
I'm still comparing your past to my future
It might be your wound but they're my sutures
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