This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.
About The Book
Don’t be fooled.
Don’t make excuses for me.
I am not a good man.
I’ve seen things no one should, done things no one should talk about. Honor and conscience have no place in my life. But I’ve fought and I’ve survived. I’ve had to.
The first time I saw her dancing on that seedy stage in that second rate club, I felt my heart pulse for the first time. Keelyn Foster was too young, too vibrant for this place, and I knew in an instant that I would make her mine. But first I had to climb my way to the top. I had to have something more to offer her.
I’m here now, money is no object and I have no equal. Except for her. She’s disappeared. But don’t worry, I will find her and claim her. She will be mine.
Like I said, don’t be fooled. I am not the devil in disguise… I’m the one front and center.
She was my endgame. She was what had given my life meaning, and now she was breathing that very essence back into me and it felt perfect. She was everything.
My Review
First Impressions
Honor is the first book in the “Breaking Point’ series which is also connected to the “Welcome to the Point” series. I was growing my Libby library and I came across this audio that was available, and I instantly grabbed at the chance to read this one. This is an author I love reading and have really fallen behind on reading and this was the perfect chance to get back to her books,., What I have really admired from Jay Crownover is the way she writes edgy contemporary, it’s like the in-between genre between contemporary and dark romance. I wouldn’t call this dark romance but borderline it. From the first moments, I knew that this book would be a glorious one and I will be honest, this book has been on my GR Wishlist for years, I remember when this book was first released and I am not sure why I didn’t grab it up back then when this one was all the rage when it was first released, and now having read “Honor” I am having a moment of wondering why it took me so long to read this one *banging head against the wall in shame*. I will say that if you are fans of sexy alpha males, strong feisty heroines, and a second chance romance then this book will definitely work for you.
She was so much more than freedom. She was Honor
Summary
Our story begins with an introduction to the hero, Nassir, and his life growing up in the middle east, where he was used by everyone for their own causes and he found his way to escape that hell of a life to find his own life in the States. and he found his home in the Point and the one woman who had his heart and soul. He first met Keely when she was a stripper at a club and rescued her when she was attacked by an eager patron, and later saved her life when she was shot. Keelyn knew the moment that she met Nassir that what was between them was intense and real and it scared her, so she left her life in the point and the only home she had ever known and went to Denver to settle in a boring life that doesn’t bring her true satisfaction. But then Nassir comes back into her life and she realizes that her home has always been the Point with the one man who has always held her heart and now will go back to embrace his offer to be his partner in this sex club he wants to open as well as fighting for the love they have. But seducing the sexy but resistant Nassir won’t be as easy as she thinks, and with an enemy out to destroy everything Nassir has built, Keelyn will have her work cut out for her to fight for the man who deserves a life of passion and enduring love…
I was born and bred to fight and never give up. The fight was in my bones. It was in every breath I exhaled. It was in every drop of blood that poured out of me and painted the soil.
What I Loved
Honor was such a breathtaking book and held my heart captive from the first moment. The first was the author’s dedication to the innocent lives caught up in the religious war in the middle east and I knew from that dedication, that this book would be breathtaking and it definitely was!!! Definitely going to make one of the best books I have read this YEAR! I absolutely adored this story in every single way. We first get to see the type of life that Nassir grew up in and lived as a teenager and my heart just broke for him but to see him have the grit and determination to escape that life and find his own path was so beautiful. Nassir is such an alpha male, but with so many vulnerabilities that you just want to hug the male. We see his soft and caring side for Keelyn. He isn’t your typical alpha male either. He just wants Keelyn back in his life no matter what, he doesn’t go after her in a romantic relationship, he just wants her close to him, that any nearness to him is enough for him. Keelyn is a female that doesn’t give up without a fight. She knows that they have something strong and it’s worth fighting for. At first,? Nassir is resistant to pursuing anything romantic or sexual with her, but its Keelyn that uses every tool she knows to win Nassir over both his body and heart. The dynamic that we see between them was so unique in that it was the heroine that was doing the fighting in the relationship, but once Nassir falls and gives into her, he can’t let her go, and seeing his devotion and protectiveness became my catnip. He is such a bad boy and doesn’t apologize for it, but he also will fight to protect everything good in his life and wants to make the Point a place to cultivate people’s talents and Keelyn finds her passion in not just Nassir and being his business partner, but also finding her niche in the Point, and being a fairy godmother to those in need wanting a different life. The romance between Nassir and Keelyn is sexy, poignant and guaranteed to leave the reader on edge all the way through as it will capture your heart and deliver in depths and layers of delicious need.
“These men we love . . .” She gave her head a little shake and a soft smile tilted up the edges of her mouth. “They should come with clear warning labels. Not that it would matter because our hearts wouldn’t pay attention anyway.”
What I Struggled With
Nothing….this book was perfection for me!!
The Narration
This was done in dual POV, and I really liked both of the narrators, they will bring heart and personality to the story and handled their accents of Nassir very well.
Sometimes you have to burn it all, level it all to the ground, for something new to sprout out of the ashes.
Overall View
I found Honor to be a sensually charged romance that speaks to the soul of need and exhilaration of the heart. It’s a story that captivated my attention from the beginning and tugged at my heartstrings in the most unexpected ways! AN EDGY FULFILLING GEM OF A READ!
You aren’t in my world, you are at the center of it. You always have been.
Book Details
Title: Honor
Author: Jay Crownover
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Length: 10 Hours and 15 Mins
About the Narrators
Youssif Kamal is a stage, film, and television actor. He has appeared on stage at such venues as the Lincoln Center and the Atlantic Theater, and his TV credits include roles in 24, NCIS, The Unit, Law & Order, and Law & Order: SVU.
Sloane Carson no bio available but has narrated Honor by Jay Crownover and Rivalry by Nikki Sloane
Book Links
Amazon| Barnes & Noble| Kobo| Goodreads| LibraryThing| Storygraph| Literal Club| Audible| Anyplay
Book Evaluation
Storytelling Quality: 5
Story Itself: 5
Character Development: 5
Writing Style: 5
World Building 5
Feels + The Romantic Heart 5
Pacing 5
Plot 5
Narration= 5
Cover Art 4
Ending 5
Book Ratings
Rating of the Book
Steam Level
Simmering cup of tea—soft warm touches and light intimacy
Warmin’ by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.
Steamin’ up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.
Blazing fire to the building-The prime focus is the sex scenes, scorching hot, and could burn one. Less focus on the emotional intimacy to the relationship.
Series Order
The Breaking Point
Avenged-Pub 2017 #0.5 in the Series
Honor-Pub 2016 #1 in the Series
Dignity-Pub 2017 #2 in the Series
Respect-Pub 2018 #3 in the Series
About Jay
Jay Crownover is the International and multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men Series, The Saints of Denver Series, The Point and Breaking Point Series, and the Loveless, Texas series. Her books can be found translated in many different languages all around the world. She is a tattooed, crazy haired Colorado native who lives at the base of the Rockies with her awesome dogs. This is where she can frequently be found enjoying a cold beer and Taco Tuesdays. Jay is a self-declared music snob and outspoken book lover who is always looking for her next adventure, between the pages and on the road.
I love Jay Crownover but have not read this series yet. Sounds like this was an excellent start to the series! I just love a vulnerable alpha hero. 🙂
I liked getting to see characters from the Point books get their HEA. I remember liking this book, but then again, I always seem to like Crowover’s books.
This is one of the Crownover books/series I have yet to read. I need to. Sounds good!
I remember liking this book, however, again, I consistently like Crowover’s books.
I haven’t read anything by her in years. Glad you enjoyed it!
You changed your blog! Very pretty.
Karen @For What It’s Worth