I think I'd know the authors writing anywhere. There's an honesty about Jay's writing that's really unique and grabs you right in the feels, she has this intrinsic knack of showing you how complicated love can be but also how easy and freeing it can be. In Unforgiven, Hill Gamble and Kody Lawton have a shared past which they’re both trying to deal with and heal from. There's a clarity and conviction in their narrative here that really enables the reader to get inside their heads and see what makes them tick. They're such strong and forthright MCs who make no apologies for who they are and they're so damn strong despite being patched together inside after being touched by so much tragedy. It was a love hard fought, and that’s what made this a cracking read. It was a difficult journey for them both as they not only had to forgive each other, they had to forgive themselves first which is the hardest thing to do. Hill was such a sexy and steadfast character—which is a winning combination I might add—and Kody is wonderfully stubborn and makes no apologies and to watch them do the dance while not only trying to find out who killed Kody’s father, but deal with some other shocking surprises was just so good. Really enjoyed this one and I’m also a little bit obsessed with Johnny Hearst!

Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMG Reads.

Give .e all the sexy cowboys.
I love that this series is such a a departure from some of crownovers other series. They are still amazing and have her unique writing style to them. But they are also very different.

The characters are so good. And they have so much chemistry. And I flew through this one. I could not put it down

I have tried to finish Unforgiven a couple of times since receiving this arc, and unfortunately I keep loosing interest in it. DNF at 18%

This is book 2 in the series and a second chance romance between Kody and Hill. The best part of this story for me was Hill. His quiet intensity and patience are infinitely appealing. Trouble seems to seek out Kody, the resident wild child in this book. Hill is called in to find Kody’s father’s murderer and Kody is not happy about it. She is quite angry and takes her anger out on Hill. Hill thinks he deserves it so he takes it. It all stems from his brother’s suicide, the man Kody used to be married to. I enjoyed the story, just not always how it unfolded. Kody and Hill spend far too long mad at each other for my liking, and it took Kody a really long time to understand that she had real feelings for Hill.

**Thank you to NetGalley, Forever and Jay Crownover. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own.***

At this time, as I am guessing is obvious by the publication date that was literally years ago, I have decided not to review this title.

Technically, I made this decision a while ago, but was not as prompt with sending feedback as I should have been. My apologies for the delay, as well as clogging up your inbox with this very late review response.

As always, while incredibly late, I thank you for the opportunity to read and review one of your titles.

Laura

I really enjoyed and loved this book, had me hooked right away and I couldn't get enough. Cant wait to see where this series gos next

I LOVED the first one in this series so I knew I needed to pick this one up. I think I may actually like this one more because I’m in love with Hill. He is the SWEETEST and SO HOT. I loved his relationship with Kody and thought they had so much chemistry. Kody was a little more tough on him than I was expecting but I did grow to love her and her development by the end. The suspense had me flying through the pages and I loved that they needed to face their problems head on. It was so nice seeing them finally moved past their past together! I’m a sucker for a good unrequited love story so this was perfect!

*Book Received in Exchange for Honest Opinion/Review*

I liked this installment to the Loveless, Texas series but I didn't love it. The plot line was fantastic, action-packed and filled with endless twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. But the romance definitely lacked for me, and I am not sure if that was due to Kody's personality, the lack of build-up, or potentially both these factors? 

Hill is the man with a heart of gold. He is selfless but he does have his limits. I found his boundless love for Kody endearing and the fact that he was will to do whatever it took for her to be happy, even at a detriment to himself, had me feeling all the feels. But Kody spends the majority of the book with her head up her arse, clinging to anger. If you have read Jay's other works, some of her personality reminded me of Bax. She was just so jaded, self-centered, and blind to anything and everything. 

There were several moments where I thought Hill and Kody were finally going to communicate (which really translated to Kody actually listening to what Hill had to say instead of running away) but no, it takes a near-death experience for Kody to wake the f*ck up. She was just so frustrating. Even after things were said and done, I felt like there were still some residual feelings regarding Aaron and I didn't have closure on that front.

The storyline was fast-paced and filled with action. As the book progresses and we learn more of Conrad Lawton's dirty secrets, the man truly had no redeemable qualities. A secret sibling is revealed and this starts off a chain-reaction of chaos and sets the tone for the final book in the series. Which I am still on the fence as to if I will read or not...

Kody and Hill have history. And it’s not all that great history. Kody was engaged to Hill’s brother but didn’t know that Hill had feelings for her. He separated himself from Kody and his brother and then his brother committed suicide. Now years have past and Hill is investigating Kody’s fathers death they can’t ignore each other anymore.

While this is the second book in the Loveless series it’s the first book in the series I’ve read. The author does a good job of making sure you aren’t missing information form the previous book and novella.

I really wanted to love this book and while I did enjoy it I was somewhat disappointed that the author was repetitive in the way she explained Kody’s feelings of being abandoned. I get that she felt that way but i also go tired of reading the same thing all over again.

I really enjoyed this book and while there were times I was frustrated with the repetitiveness I was really captured by the story and that means a lot for me. I want to be held captive and I was by this world Jay Crownover created!

Thank you for the opportunity to be an early reader. I've tried on two occasions to get into this one and it's just not working for me.

Book 2 of the Loveless, Texas series.
Hill Gamble is a model lawman: cool and collected, with a confident swagger to boot. Too bad all that Texas charm hasn't gotten him anywhere in his personal life,.
When Hill left Loveless, he broke Kody Lawton's already battered heart. And now that he's working on her father's case, avoiding him is impossible.
Kody's father was formerly the town's sheriff and was as corrupt as they come. Neither Kody nor her two brothers were close to their father and had as little to do with him as possible.
Hill and Kody get close again and the chemistry is there.
I received this from Forever and NetGalley for honest review.

Cowboy Romance by Jay Crownover
Loveless, Texas Series, Book 2

Book Boyfriend: 💋💋💋💋💋
Hill Gamble is the strong and silent type. Being a Texas Ranger, he is very protective of those he cares about. Hill carries a lot of guilt from his past which haunts him in the present. He puts his job before all things because subconsciously he won’t allow himself to be happy. Hill is a tall drink of water that comes to a boil with every article of clothing removed. He is loyal, honest (not always about his feelings) and looks great in wranglers and a cowboy hat. The more I got to know him, the more I loved him. He is a good guy through and through.

Strong Female Lead: 💋💋💋💋
Kody Lawton has always lived on the wild side of life. Both her older brothers are constantly checking in on her and making sure she’s staying out of trouble. Kody sees the good in everyone which causes her to make some bad decisions. She too carries around a lot of guilt and pain from the past. Kody grew up with a father who was supposed to uphold the law but spent more time breaking it. He soiled the family name and created obstacles all the children had to jump through. Kody is beautiful, sassy and loves her independence. She works hard and is dedicated to the success of her bar. I think she would be a lot of fun to hang out with!

Plot: 💋💋💋💋
The Lawtons just can’t escape being smack dab in the middle of trouble. In fact, “trouble” is Kody’s nickname. The plot of this book is fresh, suspenseful and packed with angst. Not only does the push and pull of the characters keep you engaged but the many twists and turns the story takes will keep you on your toes. There are so many elements to the story and things you never see coming. I love how little pieces slowly come together to create this well-formed puzzle.

Steamy Factor: 💋💋.5
The main characters spend a little more than half the book openly disliking each other but secretly liking each other. But just like any Jay Crownover book, there’s some heat and the chemistry between the two is sparking. Like all love/hate relationships, the passion is at maximum capacity at times.

Overall: 💋💋💋💋.5
This book overlaps the first book and I’m guessing the third book will overlap this one. I am a huge Jay Crownover fan and love her books. They are the perfect combination of sweet and spicy. This book did not disappoint until the end. I love the growth and honesty of the characters. Hill and Kody balance each other out but share the most important qualities of honesty and loyalty. By the end, the relationship aspect of things is resolved but the actual problem in the story is carried over to the third book. I am not a huge fan of cliffhangers and am already chomping at the bit for book three. I need closure!

I struggled with what to say about this book, but I think not saying anything is probably worse.
So let me start by saying that I didn't expect this to be a light read. It's romantic suspense and the blurb certainly tells me there will be danger and stuff to work through.

The blurb does not tell us, however, that the book will open with the hero's brother/heroine's fiancée completing suicide. Apparently both brothers are in love with the same woman and a big part of the central romantic conflict is that she will never forgive him for "allowing" the brother to complete suicide. This is all in the first chapter of the book, so it's not a spoiler. Their parents are IN THE HOME when he does this. He shows up distraught, having decided to leave his fiancée for the weekend and has enough time to be almost dead from slitting his wrists when the hero shows up. He proceeds to die. On page.

Then we hear about how the hero has learned a lot about bipolar disorder and depression in the intervening years and I had to tap out. I have bipolar disorder and this is not the book for me.

I wish someone had warned me or that the blurb said literally anything about this.

So glad I picked this one up over the weekend!
Welcome back to Loveless, TX. I loved Justified but might have loved this one even more.
Unforgiven by Jay Crownover is the perfect blend of suspense and romance. Sometimes it can be hard to walk between those two plots, but in this book I thought the suspense elements and romance elements were perfectly balanced. I loved the tension between Kody and Hill and watching their romance develop. And if you are looking for steamy scenes, Crownover can WRITE! I swear steam was coming off the pages as I read. The suspense kept me turning pages and their romance drew me in. Loved this book and cannot wait to read book 3!

I did struggle with the opening of the book. In my reviews for readers, I will definitely be sharing a content warning for suicide and suggesting some readers might want to skip the prologue.

Second chances are tricky because I feel they have to be earned. Add in some drama to make that difficult to accomplish and you've got a longer road of disappointed hopes before everything can be resolved.

I didn't mind the characters, I just found them to be quite simple. There wasn't enough explanation or depth or groveling for my tastes during the redemption process. Kody didn't make things easy on either of them when she kept changing her mind. With a severe lack in communication it's no wonder they couldn't seem to get onto the same page with one another.

A nice story overall that emphasized the pain of pasts and how love can bring them freedom and peace.

Received in exchange for a honest review.

So I love Hill. I felt for him with all that guilt he carried for so long. He didn’t deserve all the guilt he carried nor did he deserve the attitude he got from some after his brother. This man was kind, caring, gentle and amazing. He was a great Texas Ranger and an even more awesome person as a whole. I felt for him when he had to come back to his hometown and investigate his friends’ father’s murder. It brought some unresolved issues and demons he needed to deal with and he does but it is sad to see. This is a sweet man who didn’t deserve some of the anger from Kody he got. He felt he did but he didn’t.

Kody is a sassy, stubborn woman who is trying to make it on her own. She owns a bar in Loveless and keeps everyone but her family at a distance. She has yet to deal with her past and her feelings of all that happened in the past. What I didn’t like about Kody is her way of treating Hill. She was mean and close to cruel to him. She pushes him away and he keeps being there for her. She yells at him and has even blamed him for things that he had no control over but it is her way of dealing and he takes it and is still there for her. She doesn’t deserve him that if for sure and yet she owns this man’s heart and soul.

As Hill is trying to find Kody’s dad’s killer, he must reconnect with her again. At first she is very angry and lashes out at him. He takes it though. He takes her anger and pain and feels he deserves it. Does he? No. As the danger ratchets up for Kody, it is Hill who protects her and risks himself for her. This is what finally takes her out of her own world and begins to see Hill for the man he is. They confront the past together and slowly get past it. they explore their feelings and find that there is love there. For Hill, that love has been there for a very long time and he never once acted on it-first because of his brother and after because of his guilt and her anger towards him. For Kody, she has to almost lose him to realize her feelings.

The attraction between the two sizzles at times. Others you feel the anger coming off Kody in droves. The girl has no filter and doesn’t hold back when it comes to Hill. He takes the brunt of all things Kody. He is also the one that calms her and shows her that she doesn’t need to change who she is only be who she is meant to be. The story is fun, sassy and filled with some great banter. There is danger, mystery and romance that keeps you on your toes and wanting more of Hill as he solves a murder and gets the girl that stole his heart all those years ago.

It's love, love, love in Loveless! The broody, sexy Texas Ranger, Hill Gamble finally gets his girl. And what a catch she is...not! She's the rebellious hellion and little sister to the town sheriff with the nickname Trouble. I fell in love with Kody from the start of this series featuring her deliciously hunky older brothers, Crew and Case. She won my heart with her ballsy attitude and protective behavior for her brothers. She won my heart with her ballsy attitude and protective behavior for her brothers. The tough Lawton sister can hold her own against the rough heathens that frequent her bar but she turns to mush in the hands of her childhood crush and oldest brother's best friend, Hill. I was waiting with bated breath to see if Kody and Hill could overcome their shared tragic past and finally succumb to their obvious desire for each other. All the Lawtons are firecracker hot and along with their sexy partners burn up the pages. This author is a master at creating characters that are such opposites like the stoic, broody Hill and the reckless, wild child Kody and throwing them into a romance that sizzles and pops. I love this series with the sensual romances and edge-of-your-seat suspense as someone is always in danger. The mystery in this story is a carryover from the last one and like the last one, this one ends with a tease for the next book. It's wonderful to see all the old characters in this story and a few new faces. One in particular is quite a surprise and adds to the fabulous Lawton family. I can't wait for my next visit to Loveless with the hot cowboys and the fierce women. Although, it looks like the next one will feature an outlaw biker. Yoo-hoo!

A compelling addition to Ms. Crownover’s Loveless Texas series, in this second installment we get the story of Kody and Hill. It’s kind of a second chance for both of them, but really a second-first chance with each other. This book has many facets, mystery, suspense, tragic loss, and sexy times, but don’t worry you will get you HEA. Kody and Hill’s love story is heartbreakingly beautiful, they both their demons, and finally give into one another. I really loved this small town romance, and you will too

I love jay Crownover new adult series but for some reason I didn't loved her cowboy series. This was just a case it's not the book it's me.

My heart belongs to Hill and Hill ONLY!!!!!!!!!!

So, my adoration for this series keeps increasing the way up with every Lawton sibling. They are a force to reckoned with and just “chef’s kisses” .

Kody Lawton is chaos personified, and I love her messy energy. She is also like dumb but in the sense that makes her more like Hulk? And I just want her to take a breath and THINK THINK THINK. I think she actually grew in the story, and I am obsessed with her journey.

Hill Gamble can come wreck my whole life and I’d turn around, thank him and follow him to the end of the world. This man???? The patience? The love? The feels? I was ready to jump in and hug him from page 1. I was ready to fight him because he thought he didn’t deserve love. My man is so pure and so in love, I’m gone for him.

I was invested in this story from the start, and I couldn’t stop till I had gobbled it all up. I wanted Kody and Hill to explore their relationship a bit more. I love them together without a doubt, I just wanted to see more of them together.

I am HELLA excited for the next book in this series because we’ll get to see Shot in action and boy oh boy is it going to be a thrilling ride.