I want to start off by saying that Jacinta Howard has been added to my "Favorite Authors" list. This series embodied EVERY definition of love. I probably felt all 27 emotions while reading these books. These four books are a series, but can be read as stand-alones. I'm sure, after you start reading you'll definitely want to complete the series. It's as if the next book in the series is in competition with the book before it. The more I read, the more I fall in love. If you haven't read this series, I advise you do and report back here and let us know what you think.
Happiness in Jersey (Book 1)
In my opinion, there is nothing more endearing than a man loving a woman through her brokenness. "I believe God is love. And God created everything. So love is innately in all of us, thereby making love an inevitable part of life."
In book one of this series, Zay and Jersey find love at the most unconventional time. Jersey, a troubled girl, with a colorful past. Zay, a handsome guy with beautiful gray eyes, has everything that Jersey never knew she needed. That's my summary of what these two have going on. It's kind of hard to read about a love so strong and visualize one character always running away. Especially when you can literally feel the energy they create emanating off of the pages. "Tomorrow isn't promised to any of us. Relationships with other people are what make life, life. The in between stuff? That's really the best part."
I'll be the first to admit, Jersey pissed me off thoroughly throughout the entire read, but not enough to make me quit reading (lol). If you ever need an example of love conquers all, this is the perfect read for you. "'With you time is everything," he said, reading it aloud. "With you time is nothing. To my inevitable love, forever and always."
Kennedy and Travis's initial interaction was definitely not my definition of love at first sight, but there was definitely chemistry there. I will say, it's kind of hard to be attracted to a guy you think broke in to your grandma's house to kill you, but their meeting will definitely make for an interesting story to tell their grandkids.
Kennedy and Travis both came with a lot of baggage initially. On top of that they tried to deny their connection. But when it's meant to be, no matter how much you avoid it, it will be. ""I know what I want. I know what's real. And the way I feel you... it's some soul altering, I feel you in my bones, type shit, Kennedy.' He stepped closer. 'I don't wanna play around with this, with letting you know where my head is when it comes to you. I'm here. I'm all in.'"
Once these characters's demons are laid to rest, they can truly appreciate each other and the love they have for one another.
This installment was actually my favorite in the series. I'm not sure if it was Willow's innocence or Devin's persona, but I absolutely loved this couple.
"'You're the type of girl that dudes... aspire to,' I told her. 'Like the goal. Beautiful, talented, smart, sweet, fine as hell.'My gaze dropped to her long legs, where her dress had ridden up, exposing most of her thighs. I met her eyes, noting her blush. "You're the prototype, Willow. It ain't just me that recognizes that." This one quote pretty much sums up their relationship. Willow doesn't thinks shes good enough for Devin and Devin is always proving Willow is everything he needs an more.
I was literally on the brink of tears when I thought this couple would not make it. Willow takes a "break" from her and Devin's relationship and I think I was more heartbroken than him. "You never know why God has you move the way He does. You should just listen when He tells you to." I'm glad that Devin and Willow were both able to listen and find their way back to each other.
In the final installment we meet Cassandra James and Bam Mosley. Devin and Willow may be my favorite couple, but Bam is my favorite male character in this series. Even though he's a college "kid", Bam Mosley is 100% man. "Time usually does one of three things-changes, diminishes or intensifies. With Bam it was the latter, times one-hundred."
In my opinion, Cassie should've been Jersey's sister instead of Kennedy's. Her constantly running away from Bam had me ready to jump in this book and slap her. Cassie held true to the phrase "hurt people hurt people". Their story was a rocky ride, but no matter what they went through, I was rooting for them. "'Every now and then, in life, you have to step back and fall in love with yourself all over again, 'Pepper told me the other day when our hands was in the dirt."'It's no different than if you were loving someone else. You grow and change, and you have to learn how to love those mini-transformations.'"
Even though all of these installments read as a stand-alone, at the end of this book you get to know how things end with all of the main characters.
Jacinta has released a Glimpse series for these same characters. I haven't read them yet but i'm sure they'll be just as good as the original series.
