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.

The second in the Loveless series by Jay Crownover is one of lose, love and vulnerability..

Kody Lawton has known pain and lose, she is old friends of both, but when her father turns up dead, the one person in the world she never wanted to see is the one she secretly needs the most. Kody is a spitfire through and through, she takes care of herself and doesn't trust many people. She learned the hard way what that trust can do when it's broken.

Hill Gamble left the town of Loveless in his near view mirror for a good reason, and his reason for being be is just as good.

Kody Lawton.

The one woman that wants nothing to do with him might need his help more than either of them know. Hill has lived his life on the straight and narrow, a Texas ranger to boot, he has returned to Loveless to help in the investigation of the Lawton patriarch. However, his ugly past and all too complicated present collided and long ago emotions that he thought he berried are making their way to the surface...

Jay Crownover writes an adventure that will twist the heart, engage the mind and warm the soul. A cowboy romance about forgiveness, love and hope all rolled into a plot with twists that no one could see coming. I very much enjoyed this story, just as I look forward to more that will hopefully come.

Another stellar book by Jay Crownover. I adore these characters. They are complex, raw and am smitten with them.

Wow, if you couldn't tell from the cover, this book was hot, hot, HOT! I absolutely loved the story and the characters and all the added 'spice' *wink wink*

I will effeminately be reading more from this author and the rest of this series!

1 star
This book did not seem like the Jay Crownover to be. I was expecting something else. I do not think this series is for me.

I loved this book and look forward to reading the rest of the series. Jay Crownover certainly delivers again with this book in my opinion.

This is Kody's story....
Hill Gamble is Kody's brother-in-law. His brother, Aaron was a troubled individual that died young. Hill has loved Kody forever and stepped aside when she married his brother.  Now Hill is a Texas Ranger intent on protecting Kody from her father's murderer.  This couple has a rocky past and rough road ahead of them. Can their love survive? Read this book to find out!

I enjoyed Kody's story but this wasn't a riveting read for me.

There is nothing more delicious than the sweet, sweet angst of unrequited love. And when that love is for your brother’s widow? I am SO HERE FOR IT.

The second Hill made his first appearance at the end of Justified, sparks flew. I’ve been practically salivating in my wait for his and Kody’s book. So the second this landed on my kindle, I jumped on it faster than you can say GIMME!

She always wanted space, and I was always running after her. It was like an adult game of tag, only I never managed to catch her.

Hill has been in love with Kody since they were teenagers. He was always the quiet reliable one to Kody’s fiery storm. Kody is the wild Lawton. She’s got sass for days and a wild streak that always keeps her on the skirt of trouble. Her entanglement with the local biker club and their prez is just one example. But Kody is also a broken soul. She lost the man she loved and she’s still trying to recover from all of it.

Loving him forced my icy heart to thaw. Losing him froze it right back up and shattered the brittle block of ice into a million pieces. I was certain I was never going to be warm.

And now the man that she least expects or wants to see is back to investigate her father’s murder and she’s forced to deal with all the feelings she thought she buried long ago.

I loved Hill’s quiet intensity and how he was this wall of reliability to Kody’s fire. He’s been in love with her since they were teens. But when she started dating his brother, he forced himself to back off. Kody knows that the blame she’s placed on Hill all these years is wrong, but she’s struggling. She’s struggling with her father’s death, even if he was a terrible father and a corrupt man. She’s struggling with her feelings for Hill. And she’s struggling with the threat against her family with the murderer still out there.

I fell so hard for Hill in this book. As much as I love me an alphahole, I love a good man, too. And Hill was as good as it gets. His love and protectiveness to Kody is incredible. My heart ached for him.

There’s so much that happened in this book that made for one page turner. There’s the suspense element with a couple of new characters that are introduced that I was immediately intrigued by. I’m slowly dying for Shot’s book and after the set up at the end of this book, I’m pretty sure I’ll die of anticipation. Hill and Kody’s romance was so incredibly satisfying. The mystery of Kody’s father murder continues while we get some of the puzzle pieces revealed and holy moly were those juicy! I can’t wait for the next book already!!

Unforgiven by Jay Crownover 

Jay writes cowboys in a way that I dream of moving to the middle of nowhere and falling head over heels in love with a man in boots and a cowboy hat who works hard with is hands. In the case of a second chance romance like this one, I'm even more in love with the angst between these two. Cheers to Jay and I'm ready for more Loveless!

Kody is a bad girl, until 1 Texas ranger walks back into her life. Hill is a Texas Ranger, he’s always loved Kody even when she was married to his little brother. When tragedy strikes Kodys life., Hill is assigned to help find out why it happened. Can Kody get past being abandoned by Hill long enough to see what’s always been there?

I read and reviewed this advanced complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley