Review: Built (#1, Saints of Denver) by Jay Crownover - Vilma Iris | Lifestyle Blogger

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Review: Built (#1, Saints of Denver) by Jay Crownover

My Thoughts

A touching love story with lots of sizzle, lots of sexy and lots of heart. You’ll fall in love with Zeb and Sayer!

4halfstars

Synopsis

Jan-05Sometimes a real hero lets you save yourself . . .

Sayer Cole and Zeb Fuller couldn’t be more different. She’s country club and fine-dining, he’s cell-block and sawdust. Sayer spends her days in litigation while Zeb spends his working with his hands. But none of that has stopped Zeb from wanting the stunning blonde since the moment he laid eyes on her—even if the reserved lawyer seems determinedly oblivious to his interest.

Sayer is certain the rough, hard, hot-as-hell Zeb could never want someone as closed off and restrained as she is, which is a shame because something tells her he might be the guy to finally melt her icy exterior. When he shows up at Sayer’s door needing her professional help, she’s both disappointed and relieved that she won’t get the chance to find out just how good he could be.

But as they team up to right a wrong and save a family, the steam created when fire and ice collide cannot be ignored.

My Review

There are so many things I love about Jay Crownover’s books, but more than anything, it’s the feeling of being sucked in to a story that’s both sexy and tender, heartbreaking and uplifting. Every single time, I devour the books in one sitting. They are so fun and addictive to read and Built is no different. I fell in love-—hard—with Zebulon Fuller. I love the juxtaposition of his toughness and hardness with his softness and vulnerability. He was loyal and loving to a fault.

But for Sayer Cole, despite feeling consumed by her unexpected desire for him, she knew she couldn’t offer an interesting, exciting, colorful man like Zeb anything worthwhile. Sayer had grown up working to live up to her father’s expectations with everything perfect, everything just as he liked it. She was put together, smooth, beautiful, her world colored in whites and beiges and everything as it should be. What could she really give to a guy like Zeb?

“She looked like silk, but if my guess was right about her, it was silk wrapped around steel.”

On the outside, they couldn’t be more different, but somehow, every time they were around each other, desire burned while a connection took root. For Zeb, Sayer smoothed the rough edges, calmed him when his temper flared and his fears got the best of him. For Sayer, Zeb drew out all her color and liveliness. He made life exciting, and for the first time she felt as if her world spun out of control. It was as exciting as it was terrifying.

“It was stupidly simple. I had a crush that I couldn’t shake, and it terrified me.”

As their relationship revved, life threw some more curve balls at Zeb, and that meant he suddenly lost his footing. He needed Sayer more than ever, but every step forward was tiny and tough. Sayer’s armor may have been thin, but it was firmly in place, especially as things began to get real.

“I wanted more. I didn’t want to want more. I didn’t want my heart to rip over itself … I didn’t want to feel scrambled and out of sync every time he called to talk to me or anytime I had to be in the same room with him.”

Theirs is a story with lots of ups and downs, pushes and steps backwards, unexpected twists and impulses you couldn’t help but act on. It’s about learning how to shed the armor and be who you are. What was clear was that Zeb didn’t mess around… for a menacing looking man who towered above the rest, his heart was as open and embracing as it could be. He was determined to help Sayer believe in herself, in them, in a life they could build a future on.

“He destroyed me with openness and stark honesty. I destroyed us by not having any space inside of myself. Even with the emotions I was purging and choking on leaving a hollow and empty space, I still couldn’t find room to hold all of those wonderful things he was trying to give me.”

Built encapsulates everything I love about Jay Crownover. Each page boasts the perfect mix of heart and edge. The story give us some surprises from the beginning that lend itself to even more feels, delivering an even stronger sense of loyalty, love and family. I can’t wait to keep going with the Saints of Denver… Quaid and Echo’s story is up next!

“I’m not going to leave, Zeb. Whatever we build we do it together, and it’s forever.”

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One Comment:


  1. Nicole said:

    Any tickets available for the Austin Book Fest? I need 2 please.

    Reply

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