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A review by loverofromance
Never Look Back by A.L. Jackson
adventurous
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Also my tags may have spoilers in them so be forewarned before checking out full review.
Book Evaluation:
Plot: ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ
World Building:πππππ
Cover:πππππ
Hero: π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»
Heroine:π¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈ
Intimacy Level: π₯π₯π₯π₯
Relationship Building: πππππ
Heart & Feels:πππππ
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: πππ
Page Turner Level:πππππ
Narration:π§π§π§π§π§
Ending:π§§π§§π§§π§§π§§
Overall View: β¨β¨β¨β¨β¨
No place my heart won't find you.
First Impressions
Never Look Back is the third installment in the "Redemption Hills" series and this book melted my heart in every single way. This series is phenomenal and I think from what I have read so far from this author, my favorite series by this author. There is something that just hits different about this family and love how they stand by each other and the heroines are all so superb and I just adore that there aren't really huge inner conflicts necessarily, the conflicts tend to be more outer which I find so refreshing. And there was so much deep emotion that I was so easily wrapped up in this story.
βWhy are you here, Aster?β Loganβs voice was gravel. βWhy did you come back to me?β
βI donβt know if I could have ended up anywhere else.β
First Line
It was just after ten when I pulled into the circular drive of the mansion hidden deep in the forest outside Redemption Hills.
Summary
Logan Lawson, was shocked that the old flame and the woman who broke his heart, walks into the room where he is playing at a illegal card table and that her husband, the man he hates more than anyone else, is now her husband and barters her off for the game. Aster is now his, but Aster has been looking for any opportunity to get away from her abusive husband, and even though she knows how much she hurt Logan, she knows that she will have to work to redeem herself. But there is much more in their past than neither of them realize. But they both were betrayed and they will have to work together and resolve their issues before either of them can embrace the future they dream of together.
βEven if I canβt see you, Iβll know youβre there, and Iβll find my way to you.β
βAnd there is no place my heart wonβt find you. My North Star.β
What I Loved
I absolutely ADORED everything about this book. I enjoyed so much of this book and is probably my second favorite (the first still holds supreme) but I couldn't get enough of the forbidden love that enters into the story here. And there were so many elements to this story that immediately pulled me into the story. There were many laughs from the children interactions. There was a mafia theme to this story so you mafia lovers will really have a blast with how its implemented within this story. Another aspect to the story that I easily got behind is the heroine having to redeem herself. Even though there are other circumstances involved, she did have sins to atone for and rebuild that trust with him. And while I understood where she was coming from, she still broke her man's heart and very deeply. I appreciated a heroine having to do a grovel through the whole story. But the hero isn't super cruel to her, but you can tell he is hurt from what she had done to him even though its been years. But once they resolve their issues, their connection just grows in such a way that tugs at your heartstrings. You see what makes them work so well together. And seeing how they both fight together for their happy ending was just icing on the cake.
"Even if I can't see you, I'll know you're there, and I'll find my way to you."
What I Struggled With
The flashbacks! I really am not a fan of flashbacks and would have just wished for one, not multiple flashbacks or a narration from the author of the past from the mindset of the characters.
Narration
BRILLIANT!!! Her books are amazing in audiobook. I recommend it this way if you struggle with lyrical style of writing.
Overall View
Never Look Back is a thrilling, emotionally gravitating romance that will steal your breath and dig deep into your heart. Its a tale of redemption, healing and unity in love.
"Beauty. My heart. My poetry."
"You are every word I've ever written."
Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance
Character Types: Alpha Male, Morally Grey, Mafia. Tortured Hero
Themes: Mutual Pining, Hot Smexy Times, Heart/Touching, Gambling Hell
Tropes: Forced Proximity, Enemies to Lovers, Second Chance, Forbidden Love
Book Perspective
Duo POV
Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
A Blend
If you like these authors, I recommend This Book
Catherine Cowles
Kristen Proby
Recommendation For Reading Order
Yes I would recommend reading in order
Steam/Spice Explanations
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.
Narrators:
Erin Mallon
Zachary Webber
Book Evaluation:
Plot: ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ
World Building:πππππ
Cover:πππππ
Hero: π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»
Heroine:π¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈ
Intimacy Level: π₯π₯π₯π₯
Relationship Building: πππππ
Heart & Feels:πππππ
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: πππ
Page Turner Level:πππππ
Narration:π§π§π§π§π§
Ending:π§§π§§π§§π§§π§§
Overall View: β¨β¨β¨β¨β¨
No place my heart won't find you.
First Impressions
Never Look Back is the third installment in the "Redemption Hills" series and this book melted my heart in every single way. This series is phenomenal and I think from what I have read so far from this author, my favorite series by this author. There is something that just hits different about this family and love how they stand by each other and the heroines are all so superb and I just adore that there aren't really huge inner conflicts necessarily, the conflicts tend to be more outer which I find so refreshing. And there was so much deep emotion that I was so easily wrapped up in this story.
βWhy are you here, Aster?β Loganβs voice was gravel. βWhy did you come back to me?β
βI donβt know if I could have ended up anywhere else.β
First Line
It was just after ten when I pulled into the circular drive of the mansion hidden deep in the forest outside Redemption Hills.
Summary
Logan Lawson, was shocked that the old flame and the woman who broke his heart, walks into the room where he is playing at a illegal card table and that her husband, the man he hates more than anyone else, is now her husband and barters her off for the game. Aster is now his, but Aster has been looking for any opportunity to get away from her abusive husband, and even though she knows how much she hurt Logan, she knows that she will have to work to redeem herself. But there is much more in their past than neither of them realize. But they both were betrayed and they will have to work together and resolve their issues before either of them can embrace the future they dream of together.
βEven if I canβt see you, Iβll know youβre there, and Iβll find my way to you.β
βAnd there is no place my heart wonβt find you. My North Star.β
What I Loved
I absolutely ADORED everything about this book. I enjoyed so much of this book and is probably my second favorite (the first still holds supreme) but I couldn't get enough of the forbidden love that enters into the story here. And there were so many elements to this story that immediately pulled me into the story. There were many laughs from the children interactions. There was a mafia theme to this story so you mafia lovers will really have a blast with how its implemented within this story. Another aspect to the story that I easily got behind is the heroine having to redeem herself. Even though there are other circumstances involved, she did have sins to atone for and rebuild that trust with him. And while I understood where she was coming from, she still broke her man's heart and very deeply. I appreciated a heroine having to do a grovel through the whole story. But the hero isn't super cruel to her, but you can tell he is hurt from what she had done to him even though its been years. But once they resolve their issues, their connection just grows in such a way that tugs at your heartstrings. You see what makes them work so well together. And seeing how they both fight together for their happy ending was just icing on the cake.
"Even if I can't see you, I'll know you're there, and I'll find my way to you."
What I Struggled With
The flashbacks! I really am not a fan of flashbacks and would have just wished for one, not multiple flashbacks or a narration from the author of the past from the mindset of the characters.
Narration
BRILLIANT!!! Her books are amazing in audiobook. I recommend it this way if you struggle with lyrical style of writing.
Overall View
Never Look Back is a thrilling, emotionally gravitating romance that will steal your breath and dig deep into your heart. Its a tale of redemption, healing and unity in love.
"Beauty. My heart. My poetry."
"You are every word I've ever written."
Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance
Character Types: Alpha Male, Morally Grey, Mafia. Tortured Hero
Themes: Mutual Pining, Hot Smexy Times, Heart/Touching, Gambling Hell
Tropes: Forced Proximity, Enemies to Lovers, Second Chance, Forbidden Love
Book Perspective
Duo POV
Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
A Blend
If you like these authors, I recommend This Book
Catherine Cowles
Kristen Proby
Recommendation For Reading Order
Yes I would recommend reading in order
Steam/Spice Explanations
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.
Narrators:
Erin Mallon
Zachary Webber