Happy Release Day to A.L Jackson as we celebrate her new book Come to Me Softly!!
From the New York Times bestselling author of Come to Me Quietly comes
a scorching new adult romance in the Closer to You series.
A second chance at life…
A second chance at love…
Jared Holt never thought he deserved either—until he found both in the arms of Aly Moore. Aly has loved Jared for as long as she can remember, and she’s more than ready for the future they’re making together. But Jared can’t help remembering his own family. And he’ll never forgive himself for what happened to them. How can he allow himself the very happiness he once destroyed?
To live a life worthy of Aly, Jared knows he has to stop running and finally put his past to rest. But when he decides to face his demons head on, he encounters more than he bargained for: a dangerous mix of jealousy, lies, and dishonest intentions. When those intentions threaten Aly, Jared loses all control, giving into the rage that earned him his bad boy reputation years before. And he’ll fight to protect her no matter what it costs…even if he destroys himself in the process.
Reviewed by Erycka:
Come to Me Quietly by A.L. Jackson
This is the story of Jared and Aly. They have been friends since they were kids until a terrible tragedy tore them apart. This is told from both points of view so we are able to see inside both Aly and Jared’s head. The picture at times is very gritty and not so nice to look at. I cringed multiple times, gasped, and said aloud, “oh my” on more than one occasion.
We meet Jared in a local bar where he found respite after his long journey back to Arizona. His best friend Christopher (and Aly’s brother) runs into him and offers Jared a place to stay until he can get on his feet. Jared is thankful for both the continued friendship and the place to stay. When he sees Aly for the first time since he left, he is completely taken aback by her beauty. Aly is thrilled to see Jared as it has been quite some time since the three of them have been together as one group. That, and she’s always had a crush on Jared … so much so that she’s been drawing pictures of him since she was a child.
Now both of them are all grown up and their attraction to one another is undeniable. Jared starts sneaking into Aly’s room after Christopher either leaves for the night or is already in bed. These stolen moments turn into more than just a “roll in the hay” and Jared begins to feel bad for lying to his best friend, but not enough to tell Christopher the truth when confronted.
As Jared and Aly’s story progresses, we are given glimpses of why Jared is so broken. He doesn’t think he’s worthy of anything good. I had a very hard time connecting with him because although what happened was awful and the aftermath destroyed so much of his childhood, I couldn’t get on board with his self hatred. Intellectually I get it, emotionally, I don’t.
For me this story moved somewhat slowly. I found the repetitiveness of Jared’s metal slashing to be a bit over the top. Overall, this was a good book, it is well written. A.L.’s ability to paint pictures with her words is incredible. And for that, I give this book 3.5 stars.
Come to Me Softly by A.L. Jackson
This picks up where Come to Me Quietly ends. Still told in duel point of view. We learn Jared left behind more than Aly and his bloodied best friend when he ran after seeing Aly and Christopher’s mother for the first time since he was young.
The last three months have been sheer hell for Aly. The love of her life left her... again, she’s carrying a secret that only her brother knows about and she’s trying her best to hide her pain with a smile that those closest to her can see through.
But, like a “moth to a flame,” Jared returns. He can’t get Aly out of his head no matter how hard he tries or how far he runs. She’s in his blood. She’s managed to pool herself into his inner stream and feed his beating vessel with every thump. He needs her, in more ways he knows how to articulate. Aly comes home to find Jared sitting on the steps of her apartment. She is elated he’s returned, but worried he may leave again once her secret is revealed. Jared professes his love to both Aly and her brother. He promises to never leave her side.
This book digs deeper into what makes Jared tick. It shed a new light for me and made me understand the constant ‘mental whipping’ he gave himself. He has a good heart. Damaged, but good. He loves deeply and hurts even deeper.
The flow of this book was again a bit slow for me. Although, I felt a deeper connection with Jared so, maybe I subconsciously took my time reading because I didn’t want it to end. Again, A.L.’s execution of words is amazing. True talent. I give this book 4 stars.
*Enjoy the trailer created by the wonderful Becca the Bibliophile*
♥BUY YOUR COPY OF COME TO ME SOFTLY♥
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes
Be sure to join us for the Come to Me Softly Read Along Party! We’re kicking off the celebration on June 24th with a ton of prizes, then the read along begins. Daily prizes all the way up to grand prize on July 2nd!
Grand Prize: Coach Bag stuff with A.L. Jackson Goodies!
♥JOIN THE COME TO ME SOFTLY READ ALONG PARTY!♥
Come to Me Softly Release Celebration Giveaway!
Grand Prize: Coach Bag, Kindle Paperwhite, and A.L. Jackson Swag
Second Prize: Come to Me Quietly Custom Charm Necklace
Third Prize: A.L. Jackson Swag Pack
♥BUY BOOK 1 IN THE CLOSER TO YOU SERIES♥
Aleena Moore is content with her life. She has goals and dreams and an easy smile. She also has a secret she holds locked inside.
Jared Holt believes he doesn’t deserve to love or be loved. He destroys everything he touches. Haunted by the mistake that shattered his life, he’s fled from the memory of that pain.
Jared doesn’t know why he’s compelled to return, but finds himself drawn back to the place where it all began. The exact place where it ended. When he runs into his childhood best friend, Aleena’s older brother Christopher, he agrees to share Christopher and Aleena’s apartment while he looks for a place of his own.
Aleena is no longer the little girl Jared remembers from his past and evokes feelings in him he never wanted to feel again. Terrified of destroying her, he fights to keep her away. But her touch is something he can’t resist—the touch that sealed his fate.
Their pasts are intertwined and their futures uncertain. The only truths they know are the secrets they whisper in the night.
A.L. Jackson is the New York Times bestselling author of Take This Regret and Lost to You, as well as other contemporary romance titles, including Pulled, When We Collide, If Forever Comes, and Come to Me Quietly.
She first found a love for writing during her days as a young mother and college student. She filled the journals she carried with short stories and poems used as an emotional outlet for the difficulties and joys she found in day-to-day life.
Years later, she shared a short story she’d been working on with her two closest friends and, with their encouragement, this story became her first full length novel. A.L. now spends her days writing in Southern Arizona where she lives with her husband and three children.
Look for Come to Me Softly and When We Met: Behind Her Eyes coming soon.
Instagram @aljacksonauthor
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