“Isobel with an O, Starr with two Rs,” I said to her pleasantly. “It’s been a while.”
Isobel’s lips moved as she mouthed words. Damned if she wasn’t praying.
Eight years. That’s how long it’s been since Rory Morin went away, but now he’s back in Detroit to clean up his life. Eight years before, Isobel Starr made an appearance in it, and now he’s come looking for her—and she knows that she owes him.
Isobel never left the city. She’s been getting by and doing better than when she first met Rory. Back then, she was a little kid hiding in the dark from him, a giant of a guy who scared people so much with his size and scowl that they crossed the street to avoid him.
She doesn’t think that she’s same person anymore, but is he? Has Rory really changed after spending eight years of his life in prison? Can she trust him, and can she trust her own feelings for him?
And when Rory’s past comes roaring back and threatens them both, will they be able to survive it?
Was Rory as beautifully awkward as his brother? No.
Was he so cute I could die anyway? Yessir.
Being honest, this had zero chances to be as loved by me as Defending the Rush, because that book was the best slowburn I've read in some time, but this one was still a great read...
Damaged characters who overcome their past and find a way to somehow manage to get together despite their flaws? Count me in.
An H who doesn't know or like to communicate through words but mostly with gestures or facts. And an h who had a specially rough life and somehow for me, she shows her strength when she lets him help her.
It was a perfectly written slowburn romance, so don't come near this one if you expect over the charts chemistry and smut, because you'll be sorely disappointed.
4.7 stars This book was completely different from anything I ever expected. With the first chapter I was so confused I just continued to read to see where this story would lead me, and it turned out to be such a sweet story I don't regret a thing. However, before starting this book be aware of the trigger warning because this book conveys a bit of an ugly world even though it ends with a happy ending.
TW: domestic violence, drugs, arrhythmia, ex-con, guns, blood, prostitution, mentally ill mother, alludes to child sexual assault, child abuse
I loved this book - it was just what I needed this week. It's been a seriously wacky 2021 so far. I'm all about escaping reality whenever I can and this book really made my week a little more bearable.
We got our first glimpse of Rory in Defending the Rush. While he wasn't in the book, we got a pretty clear picture of how much trouble he managed to get himself into in his short life. When we meet him in the book the consequences of his poor choices are about to kick down his front door.
Isobel is a very sweet girl, fragile and slightly twisted but I instantly liked her and wanted her life to improve. I wish she was a little bit less of a victim in the book, but she was young and life can be pretty brutal to those most vulnerable in situation or mindset. She did toughen up and grow as a character in the book, which made me happy.
I liked Isobel and Rory together immediately (after he got out of the pokey). While Rory was a criminal and continued to make questionable choices, I recognized he was only doing what he felt he had to in order to protect his family. Isobel wasn't without flaws either, but it was easy to understand how she could have problems.
I liked the secondary characters and really enjoyed the dark humor when it popped up.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporary romance.
I stumbled across this book by chance and thought the premise sounded interesting. I was drawn into the story from page one and never wanted to set it down. The characters are unique, relatable and good people at their core. Their circumstances, challenges and mistakes make for a compelling read. I love books with real problems to overcome. Our main characters weren't kept apart because of some silly misunderstanding that could have been resolved with one conversation. They didn't mistreat each other. They proved that they belong together with every interaction. The each were determined to be better people and that made them perfect for each other. I will be looking at the other books by this author. My only question is ... why has it taken me so long to find Jamie Bennet?
My first book by this author and WOW! I was hooked from page one and read it in one sitting. Great storyline, amazing plot, plenty of dramatic tension, and best of all, no eye-rolling romancing. Just protagonists Isobel and Rory who are flawed but real, great, genuine chemistry, who you root for despite the odds. Gonna check out her other books now!
I think this might be my least favorite book by this author so far, and that is noteworthy just because I have really enjoyed every single other book I've read in my journey to read them all (one per month from the author's recommended reading order list).
It's not the writing or the subtle, slow-and-low burn romance, both of which are great. I think a combination of mood and just how hard these main characters' lives were coupled with how tough real life has been lately was not a good combination for reading enjoyment.
I was happy to see their happy ending, of course, but some of the elements seemed wrapped up too quickly and neatly relative to the pace of them throughout the rest of the book, or maybe I just wanted more happy stuff in between all the obstacles and the HEA epilogue to enjoy? Not sure, but if you are new to this author, I wouldn't start here. On to the next!
i wasn’t sure what to think of this book at first. i guess after the last jamie bennett’s book i read, i picked this one up expecting a feel-good romance—just something light to brighten up my day. nobody’s fault, though. i should have read the reviews and blurb.
however, i’m glad i didn’t give up on it because i would have missed out on this gem. i loved both rory and isodora but goddamn, izzy just stole my heart. she wasn’t perfect by any means—she stole, she pried into people’s business when she wasn’t supposed to, she cared too much about people who didn’t give a shit about her. but underneath it all, she was a good person. the kind of person that you makes you wonder to yourself, “life has given you so much shit to deal with, how are you still fucking standing?”
i truly love jamie bennett’s style of slow burn romance. this author has a way of making the relationship between her main characters so effortless. the way they met, and how they seamlessly fall into a routine where they cared for each other until they decided that they’re in love with each other is just perfect. i’m obsessed. there’s no big declarations of love. it’s in the way they hold hands, all the non-sexual physical touches. gah.
Jory’s story is my favourite, but it was great to have his brother’s story. Lovely story about two people who have had hard times, but find each other.
I really liked Rory, and how he tries to grow from his past mistakes and be a better man.
This is the sequel/follow up book on Rory Morin (Jory’s twin). It’s a far departure from Jory’s own story (“Defending The Rush”). Jory’s story is one of my favorites — it’s quirky and light and funny and touching. Rory’s story is darker — he’s freshly released out of prison and needs to wrap up some loose ends before moving on with his life. And the things he was into before he went to prison, are vastly different from Jory’s life.
Jamie Bennett had this unique writing style where it feels really simplistic, but it’s loaded with nuance and hidden meanings. There’s a lot of inferences that the reader makes, but it’s that fine balance that JB does so well — she gives enough information but pulls back just enough to make the reader want to lean in further — and all in the unique POV of the character in question. I love it.
Both Rory and Isobel are extremely likable main characters. They are genuinely good people at heart, and each one finds himself/herself in the midst of difficult circumstances and little resources. I was so wrapped up in their situations, even the romance felt like a side story (I was more interested in how Isobel would get out of some dangerous relationships and how Rory would solve his dangerous circumstances). I loved how much they individually cared for Rella (and vice versa).
I suppose I could do a CW listing, but honestly, the way JB writes, it’s not explicit at all, and somehow she’s able to maintain a lighthearted tone throughout the book. I even chuckled a couple times at a few parts, despite the dismal circumstances the characters were in.
CW: child abuse/neglect, domestic violence, drug trafficking, drug use, sexual abuse, attempted murder, attempted hostage/violence with a child
I LOVE Jamie Bennett, and I liked this book a lot. The only reason it’s 4 stars instead of 5 for me is that (for me) the balance was off between all the angst leading up to the HOA (from external sources, not between the H and h) and the actual happy part. Most of the book was hard times and heart wrenching. Only the very end was happy and the book basically cut off right when you got to it. Also there was one character who I thought deserved more humiliation in his comeuppance, but at least he was punished and anyway that’s just my own opinion. I really like to see antagonists get what’s coming to them in books. Overall, I liked the characters and enjoyed their incredibly hard-earned HOA. They were complex and unique like all of Bennett’s characters. And “Defending the Rush” (Jory’s book) is one of my favorite books of ALL TIME- seriously it’s so good- so I’m still glad to have read this one about Jory’s twin Rory and seen everything work out so beautifully for him and his girl, even though they did both have to go through “heck” for 90% of the book to finally get there.
Even though this book touches some heavy topics (such as: drug addiction, alcoholism, child abuse, child neglect, extreme poverty, abuse, violence and murder) its such an easy read that I couldn’t put it down once I started reading. For having such trigger warnings it shouldn’t have been so fluffy and soft, I don’t know how Jamie Bennett did it but I loved every second, if you’re looking for heavy angst and explicit violence you won’t find it here, this is not a mafia book with or a mob boss hero, honestly, Rory is SO sweet I love him so much I only want to protect him.
btw, this is continuation/spin off of Defending the Rush where we get to know Rory’s brother (who’s mentioned in the book quite a few times), Jory. Jory is as sweet as his brother and I 100% recommend his book, his story is written before Rory get’s out of prison so we don’t get to meet him there but we do hear about him.
All in all this was 4 stars, could’ve been 5 if we could’ve known more about Isobel’s past or the specifics about Rory’s but it was enjoyable anyways.
This is not just a love story. This is a life story. Their love/life story is familiar, compelling, heartbreaking, but ultimately uplifting. Jory and Isobel did not have easy lives, a lot of Jory’s self-inflicted and most of Isobel’s was inflicted upon her. A chance meeting provides a beacon of hope for both them that outlasts a long stint in prison and a desperate scramble to survive. They both reacted to the world better than they treated, for the most part. They grow, overcome, and hold each other accountable. I love how the author doesn’t allow them to skate by on the victim train to justify their poor decisions. When they know better, they do better. I adore Jamie’s writing and love the way that she wraps the hard to love, the hard to understand with the redeemable and the beloved. These characters will live with me for a long time.
Não é o melhor romance que você lerá, mas é ok. A trama é relativamente interessante (mocinha aos treze anos conhece um cara antes dele ser preso, após ele ser solto 7 anos depois, ele volta para tratar de assuntos inacabados). A sinopse não é muito romântica, mas o romance e quem é o casal é óbvio. Torcemos pelo casal, que é marcado por várias coisas do passado e que tentam seguir em frente apesar das dificuldades. É bem "slow burn", o romance demora a decolar, ele é desenvolvido bem lentamente, a leitura é simples, fluida, mas lenta. O final poderia ser melhor, mas é satisfatório. O grande problema do cara no decorre do livro é resolvido de forma super rápida e sem grandes problemas e a autora jogou uma informação no final para nada, deu a entender uma coisa, mas não fez nada com isso. Se você gosta de personagens principais com passados problemáticos e de romance slow burn, talvez você goste desta leitura.
This is Isobel and Rory's story. Isobel has had a really hard upbringing due to her neglectful and feckless mother. Isobel initially meets Rory at the age of 13. That night Rory gives her a bag to hide just before being arrested by the police. 8 years later Rory is released from prison and goes in search of Isobel to collect his bag, from this point on a friendship develops. Both characters are interesting and complex but completely likeable. Isobel is jaded by the experiences of her childhood but incredibly kind, especially to her elderly neighbour, Rella who is beautifully written. I loved their relationship and how much they loved and supported each other. The storyline is well developed and keeps you entertained throughout. My heart ached for Isobel and her truly horrendous childhood and i completely understood her lack of trust in people. I loved how protective and caring Rory was towards her and Rella. This is a great read and I would definitely recommend.
I love a good damsel in distress book. This had an extra spin where the hero is in distress as well. They were two kind hearted souls given a rough start but they found their way to each other and helped each other.
Isabel is trapped in an unhealthy relationship and burdened by her lack of upbringing. Rory has just been released from jail and searches for Isobel… who he met eight years prior.
It was cute and entertaining. Different in that we see both points of views… JB doesn’t do this often. And usually her female characters are stronger. Isobel is strong but definitely more in distress.
well written, enjoyable and gritty. Both leads have had a hard life, and are working their way to something better. As always, Jamie Bennet writes characters who are sweet but in terrible situations. Trigger warnings for child abuse, child neglect, mental illness, drugs guns violence... It's all here. Personally I prefer her sports hero stories & wonder why every female character needs to have an utterly tragic backstory. Her books are still superior to most bc so well written.
I think this is my favourite book of Jamie Bennett. But I say/think that with every book of hers I finish. I'm in love with Rory. It's nice to see two damaged souls trying to survive together. I can't help swoon over the title. It makes so much sense and I love how the title and the story ties together.
I enjoyed this but in all JBs books the heroines seem to have very odd or mean parents. Also the characters speak as if they are constantly swimming through syrup or are a few cans short of a six pack. Their sentences are just so short and undescriptive. I liked the characters but by the end of the book their speech patterns were just annoying. Show some emotion damn it!
All kinds of triggers. Alludes to child sexual assault. Drug abuse. Child abuse. Prostitution. Mentally ill mother. This was a different Jamie Bennet book, I had only read her sports books. This was very dark compared to those. I did like the tie in to the football stories though. If I hadn’t already read all of the Woodsmen books I would have never even caught it.
After reading and loving Defending the Rush (highly recommend) featuring Rory’s twin Jory I was expecting so, so much more than this. It was so boring. I never felt the connection between Isobel and Rory. I actually didn’t really like the FMC at all she was a doormat the entire book. This was just really boring and could have been half the length.
As usual, Jamie Bennett impresses me with creating yet another charming, quirky, and complex protagonist. But stepping up her game, she adds *drumroll* A MALE PROTAG POV. I was so psyched I squealed a bit. Already excited for Bennett's next book!
I love Jamie Bennett’s books. They are all re-readable which is high praise, indeed. But this one might be the best of all. Isobel and Rory were a compelling pair—both deserving of a happy ending. I loved their love story.
Rory and Isobel, I love them both so much! I keep thinking about this book today after I finished it last night. As usual I love the slow burn style of this author and watching good people who had tough times find each other.
I liked First, Last, and in Between. It was about two lonely and lost people (Rory and Isobel) that find each other. Both aren’t in the best circumstances, but, together, they realize that they have the strength and desire to change.
I really enjoy books from this Author and I was so excited to read about Rory. I love how sweet he was and a little misunderstood because of his size. I would have loved more of an epilogue but I think I'll just re read Jorys book instead
Loved Jory's book, but Rory's book was sad, mostly because of how awful the heroine had it. Really wanted more of an epilogue that shows life being good for them.
Even if I don't like the characters or their decisions, I can't quit reading this author. She is a great storyteller.