Rome Archer is as far from perfect as a man can be. He’s stubborn and rigid, he’s bossy and has come back from his final tour of duty fundamentally broken. Rome’s used to filling a role: big brother, doting son, super soldier; and now none of these fit anymore. Now he’s just a man trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his life while keeping the demons of war and loss at bay. He would have been glad to suffer it alone, until Cora comes sweeping into his life and becomes the only color on his bleak horizon.
Perfect isn’t in the cards for these two, but imperfect might just last forever . . .
I remember raving I wanted Cora to be his girl, so when that little synopsis came along sufficed to say I screamed the house down. I loved her character in the past two books and just knew she'd be perfect for Rome, there's just something about her that says she may be tough on the outside but there's a wealth of softness underneath. I loved her vibrant personality, the strong devotion to her friends and her strength to fight for the things that matter. Underneath her somewhat snarky facade she carries a great deal of hurt, and you could see how she closed herself off in many ways to avoid ever going through heartbreak like that again, and while at times it was annoying because in doing so she was pushing Rome away, it was also necessary in getting to the other side and seeing the bigger picture, for both of them. I loved seeing her relationship with Shaw and Ayden, their friendship was illustrated perfectly through all the different dynamics that come with being girlfriends. There when you need them, supportive and non-judgmental and just all round great friends. It also didn't hurt through their scenes, we got to see and hear more about our favorite Marked Men.
Cora's relationship with Rome was anything but easy, and definitely not what I was expecting. But in a totally great way. Despite their situation I liked how Jay orchestrated it all, and built up the relationship from the ground up. There were no easy fixes, and when many would have maybe just walked away Cora held on. One of the big reasons why I admire her, because throughout it all she was incredibly understanding and I think her straight talk went a long way in bridging the gaps in their relationship. She assessed and handled everything that was thrown their way with her head on straight, there was no time for self-pity or doing those stupid and annoying things some heroines are prone to do.
Rome Archer was a force to be reckoned with, a storm brewing of broken thoughts and dangerous demons, of misplaced responsibility and unknown future.
I couldn’t ignore that something was happening between us and it was time to stop being scared and find the answers to exactly what that something was.
I could chase the shadows with him, as long as he was willing to let me bring the light in.
His relationship was Cora was tumultuous to say the least, and just when it seemed like his demons were going to win he got back up and came back swinging. The color Cora brought to his world was exactly what he needed, and Jay's writing style to demonstrate this was beautiful. It wasn't like she came along and things were hunky-dory, it took a great deal of work, determination, pain and fighting. Cora helped keep him grounded, and when he lost sight of the present she was the beacon of light that brought him back. Their situation did wonders for their relationship, because it gave Rome a purpose, something to focus on so he didn't lose his way. I can't give much away, but certain scenes had me all gooey and warm inside. I couldn't resist the grin that graced my face from scene to scene, and the constant use of the words 'awe' and 'oh my god'. Words cannot describe the captivating grace with which Jay delivers this story, it makes you take a step back and think and most importantly makes you aware of the sacrifice soldiers make to keep us safe. Bringing a whole new level of appreciation and respect.
You’re so full of color, so vibrant you never get lost in all the gray in my head. I don’t want to lose that.”
She tasted sweet. She tasted like redemption. She tasted like the future I didn’t need to figure out anymore.
I just want you to know what this is for me, that I’m not going anywhere ever again. I promise you that, and I’ll prove it to you no matter how long it takes.”
My rating therefore stands at 5 enthralling stars. This book is done so tastefully, there's a wealth of depth behind the characters, a very vivid insight into the mind of a soldier and a romance that starts off a little unusually but is beautifully unique it's own right. Rome Archer is here minions, and he's a force to be reckoned with. Warning, side effects may include: Swooning, panting, awing, crying and a serious case of the warm fuzzies.