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Dray is Book 3 in Tess Oliver's bestselling Custom Culture series.When Cassie, the woman he loves, leaves him for a job in New York, Dray Warner finds his life falling apart. With nothing else to lose he takes up his friend, Barrett Mason’s, offer to head down to Mexico for some surfing and good times. But Dray’s conscience, hot temper and extreme fighting skills hurl him into a world of danger . . . a danger that could cost him his life.Cassie Carlton was sure she was making the right decision accepting her dream job in New York. She and Dray had parted ways and while she remains heartbroken by the break up, she needs to move on with her life. But when Cassie learns that Dray is in trouble, she realizes she will sacrifice anything to save him.Custom Culture Reading OrderFreefallClutchDrayRettNix & The WeddingClutch & The WeddingCustom Culture Spinoff SeriesColeRodeoDenver*Newly edited and formatted version*
227 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 21, 2014
72 people are currently reading
1303 people want to read
About the author
Tess Oliver
125 books2,449 followersTess Oliver is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Custom Culture series and a large collection of other romances. She is well known for her relatable characters who "become your friends" as you journey with them and for intriguing stories that will have you "devouring her books in just one day". Tess has been featured on USA Today's 'Happy Ever After' site, and in publications including Glamour UK and Elle UK magazines.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews
February 17, 2014
★★★★★ Dray by Tess Oliver (Custom Culture book 3)
I was given this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
This is such an
And it's
Read this!!!
If you haven't already, go read these, you still have a few days.
Freefall (Custom Culture book 1)
Clutch (Custom Culture book 2)
Does Rett get a book?
I was given this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
This is such an
And it's
Read this!!!
If you haven't already, go read these, you still have a few days.
Freefall (Custom Culture book 1)
Clutch (Custom Culture book 2)
Does Rett get a book?
March 1, 2014
I first came across Tess Oliver when she had her first book in the Custom Culture series, Freefall, on sale. Hot guy on the cover, shirtless; you all know how much I love a good cover! I was immediately engrossed in the ease of her prose as well as the familiarity. This ease of reading has carried through to the third installment of the series, Dray. Tess, has a way of taking seemingly, normal everyday life events and making them fresh with strange twists and turns. However, they aren’t too bizarre leaving you thinking, “Really?” They are fun, and true to life and completely enjoyable. I am always captivated when I read her stories.
Dray really got down to the bare bones of friendship and commradery. These men in this series, Nix, Clutch, Dray and Barrett are really all each other have. They are a tight unit, always looking out for one another and it’s a delight to read about. Dray really takes some dark turns in his story, being beaten down time and time again by life.
He is a blue collar worker, spending time on the docks, trying to become a longshoreman and a fighter on the side. His strength, hard work, and determination are all things to admire. He loves Cassie, someone he has known for years, but honestly doesn’t believe he is worthy of her. Again, you may have read about a similar idea, but Dray’s character development left me floored. I didn’t think it would be possible to love any of Tess’ men more than Nix, but Dray has totally stolen my heart. He is such a fighter, through and through, and I loved when he finally defeated his internal struggles and took hold of the reigns of his life.
Dray was a delight to read and I cannot wait for Barrett’s story. Please, tell me we are getting Rett’s story, Tess! 5 enormous smacking smooches!!!
~Nicole
Dray really got down to the bare bones of friendship and commradery. These men in this series, Nix, Clutch, Dray and Barrett are really all each other have. They are a tight unit, always looking out for one another and it’s a delight to read about. Dray really takes some dark turns in his story, being beaten down time and time again by life.
He is a blue collar worker, spending time on the docks, trying to become a longshoreman and a fighter on the side. His strength, hard work, and determination are all things to admire. He loves Cassie, someone he has known for years, but honestly doesn’t believe he is worthy of her. Again, you may have read about a similar idea, but Dray’s character development left me floored. I didn’t think it would be possible to love any of Tess’ men more than Nix, but Dray has totally stolen my heart. He is such a fighter, through and through, and I loved when he finally defeated his internal struggles and took hold of the reigns of his life.
Dray was a delight to read and I cannot wait for Barrett’s story. Please, tell me we are getting Rett’s story, Tess! 5 enormous smacking smooches!!!
~Nicole
July 12, 2014
I could not get into this story at all. To be honest, I don't think I read a complete page because the diologue was so boring. I Scimmed most of the book. I liked the first 2 stories of the series but this one was pretty blah. It's really too bad because I thought Drays story would be the most exciting concidering hes the baddest boy of the bunch. I felt there was no build up to the relationship between Dray and Cassie. Most if the story revolved around their seperate lives in different states so the ending to me was kind of weird; very rushed and unrealistic.
One minute, they are living apart and are not together. The next minute Cassie abandons a job and flies to Mexico to bail him out of a bind that leaves him in serious condition. Then she flies back before she can see him because shes afraid she will lose this job. They don't communicate at all, even though she saves his ass. Then Cassie decides she hates her job and moves home where he ignores her for a couple of weeks. Then BAM! They meet up at a party where they live happily ever after. Nope, not buying it.
One minute, they are living apart and are not together. The next minute Cassie abandons a job and flies to Mexico to bail him out of a bind that leaves him in serious condition. Then she flies back before she can see him because shes afraid she will lose this job. They don't communicate at all, even though she saves his ass. Then Cassie decides she hates her job and moves home where he ignores her for a couple of weeks. Then BAM! They meet up at a party where they live happily ever after. Nope, not buying it.
February 17, 2014
3.5 Stars! I LOVE this cover!! Dray is one hot bad boy! I liked this, I just didn't LOVE it like I loved Clutch and Taylor. This series is great! I love these guys, their humor is some of the best parts!
October 31, 2019
Oops, I've had this book on my kindle for 5 years...
February 23, 2014
ARC Review- I was given an ARC by the author for an honest review.
Dray is the third book in Tess Oliver's Custom Culture series.
Dray had a hard life growing up, with an abusive father he didn't have a real family, didn't know what it's like to love or be loved. He has a few close friends, Nix, Scotlyn, Clutch,Taylor and of course Cassie.
He had a wonderful girl in his life who loved him, but Dray being the man he is due to the way he was raised, knew he was happy with her but not that he loved her.
Cassie has a great job offer, to do what she's always wanted to do. In New York.
Dray tells her to go, ends their relationship, breaking her heart.
Cassie comes to say goodbye to her friends, running into Dray was not her intention and she leaves crying due to his seeming indifference to her. And off to New York she goes to start her new life.
I don't do spoilers, hate them so I don't post them.
I loved Dray, at times I wanted to slap some sense in to him, and the next moment
I wanted to hold and comfort him. He's a complicated man because he won't let go of
the past. All he needed to do was realize he was capable of being more than the
man who raised him.
I was a bit shocked at the minimal interaction between Dray and Cassie through most
of the book, but after finishing the book I realized it worked nicely. There was the back and forth between
them but it didn't monopolize the story, we got to see Dray on his own trying to
survive, to make his life better, and to learn to love. His friends love him unconditionally
and eventually he had to see he was capable of more.
I battle between 4.5 and 5 star rating only because I wanted a tiny bit more
Cassie & Dray interaction, but realizing that it was not necessary for the story to flow I decided on 5*.
I Love the story, the struggles and heartbreak as well as the support of his amazing friends who are his family.
The closeness of his friends makes it a great story, knowing he can be a complete
screw up and still be loved and accepted shows you what true family is.
Dray is the third book in Tess Oliver's Custom Culture series.
Dray had a hard life growing up, with an abusive father he didn't have a real family, didn't know what it's like to love or be loved. He has a few close friends, Nix, Scotlyn, Clutch,Taylor and of course Cassie.
He had a wonderful girl in his life who loved him, but Dray being the man he is due to the way he was raised, knew he was happy with her but not that he loved her.
Cassie has a great job offer, to do what she's always wanted to do. In New York.
Dray tells her to go, ends their relationship, breaking her heart.
Cassie comes to say goodbye to her friends, running into Dray was not her intention and she leaves crying due to his seeming indifference to her. And off to New York she goes to start her new life.
I don't do spoilers, hate them so I don't post them.
I loved Dray, at times I wanted to slap some sense in to him, and the next moment
I wanted to hold and comfort him. He's a complicated man because he won't let go of
the past. All he needed to do was realize he was capable of being more than the
man who raised him.
I was a bit shocked at the minimal interaction between Dray and Cassie through most
of the book, but after finishing the book I realized it worked nicely. There was the back and forth between
them but it didn't monopolize the story, we got to see Dray on his own trying to
survive, to make his life better, and to learn to love. His friends love him unconditionally
and eventually he had to see he was capable of more.
I battle between 4.5 and 5 star rating only because I wanted a tiny bit more
Cassie & Dray interaction, but realizing that it was not necessary for the story to flow I decided on 5*.
I Love the story, the struggles and heartbreak as well as the support of his amazing friends who are his family.
The closeness of his friends makes it a great story, knowing he can be a complete
screw up and still be loved and accepted shows you what true family is.
April 16, 2014
I was never really interested in having a Dray book, since he and Cassie had been together for awhile and I didn't like Dray that much. I was hoping that this book would surprise me, but unfortunately I still don't really care for him. He is my least favourite of the group, including Barrett whose own book hasn't even come out yet.
Near the beginning of this book, Dray said to himself that he never let anyone see behind his walls, including Cassie, and I was hoping that would mean that he would let her in in this book. I was hoping that the story would be about Cassie seeing the real him and falling in love with him all over again, making their relationship deeper. But unfortunately it wasn't. For most of the book Cassie was in NYC and missing Dray. They only had a few scenes together and most of the time they just really missed each other and were thinking about how much they couldn't live without the other. I didn't really see anything new develop between them.
I also never really got them as a couple. They are such an odd combination. I am all for odd parings, but usually in life situation, not in personality. They just don't seem to blend well. I also would have expected Cassie to be with a "quiet artsy-type" life her friends in NYC always said. I have no idea what they saw in each other, besides Dray being hot. Although I could never be attracted to him because I cant get past his temper. And I have no idea what Dray saw in Cassie. She is a nice person, but I just can't imagine what someone like Dray would see in her.
But I still enjoy the characters enough to want to see Dray and Barrett get out of Mexico safely, and I enjoyed seeing Nix, Scottie, Clutch, and Taylor some more. They are great pairings that I can totally get behind, and I hope Barrett's will be great too. He is such a sweetheart I cant wait to read his book!
Near the beginning of this book, Dray said to himself that he never let anyone see behind his walls, including Cassie, and I was hoping that would mean that he would let her in in this book. I was hoping that the story would be about Cassie seeing the real him and falling in love with him all over again, making their relationship deeper. But unfortunately it wasn't. For most of the book Cassie was in NYC and missing Dray. They only had a few scenes together and most of the time they just really missed each other and were thinking about how much they couldn't live without the other. I didn't really see anything new develop between them.
I also never really got them as a couple. They are such an odd combination. I am all for odd parings, but usually in life situation, not in personality. They just don't seem to blend well. I also would have expected Cassie to be with a "quiet artsy-type" life her friends in NYC always said. I have no idea what they saw in each other, besides Dray being hot. Although I could never be attracted to him because I cant get past his temper. And I have no idea what Dray saw in Cassie. She is a nice person, but I just can't imagine what someone like Dray would see in her.
But I still enjoy the characters enough to want to see Dray and Barrett get out of Mexico safely, and I enjoyed seeing Nix, Scottie, Clutch, and Taylor some more. They are great pairings that I can totally get behind, and I hope Barrett's will be great too. He is such a sweetheart I cant wait to read his book!
December 22, 2015
Dray is the third book in Tess Oliver's Custom Culture Series and I really liked it! Along with all the characters from the first book showing up in this one as well, this book is the story of Dray and Cassie, and a continuation of sorts from book 2, when Cassie has decided to go for a trip to other countries with her photography skills, and it was an opportunity she could not miss. Unfortunately this led Dray to believe that Cassie was just like everyone else, she was going to leave him. This book shows Dray's plummet into darkness and just what it takes to pull him up out of it.
This book had a great plot, always changing and left you amazed at the things that happen with Dray and Barrett, the two worst guys that should ever hook up, as they leave you wondering how they can possibly get into so much trouble from out of nowhere it seems! Barrett(Rett) talks Dray into going to Mazatlan with him for a week of surfing with his friends down there. When Clutch, Rett's brother and everyone else for that matter finds out they all know that this could lead to problems, Nix even out of desperation calls Cassie to talk to Dray, but she just can't. She loves him so much and she is trying to make a clean break.
Read this and find out what does happen in Mazatlan, and you will believe that sometimes it takes the worst thing that can possibly happen to someone to set them onto the road to realizations that they never saw before staring them in the face.
I loved this book and gave it 5***** stars and suggest you also listen to the audio tape, I listened and read along in the kindle edition of this book and it was really nice to blend the reading and listening together!
This book had a great plot, always changing and left you amazed at the things that happen with Dray and Barrett, the two worst guys that should ever hook up, as they leave you wondering how they can possibly get into so much trouble from out of nowhere it seems! Barrett(Rett) talks Dray into going to Mazatlan with him for a week of surfing with his friends down there. When Clutch, Rett's brother and everyone else for that matter finds out they all know that this could lead to problems, Nix even out of desperation calls Cassie to talk to Dray, but she just can't. She loves him so much and she is trying to make a clean break.
Read this and find out what does happen in Mazatlan, and you will believe that sometimes it takes the worst thing that can possibly happen to someone to set them onto the road to realizations that they never saw before staring them in the face.
I loved this book and gave it 5***** stars and suggest you also listen to the audio tape, I listened and read along in the kindle edition of this book and it was really nice to blend the reading and listening together!
December 5, 2014
Reviewer: Donna
Rating: 4.5 Stars
I have loved the Custom Culture series from the start. This group of tattoo, sexy guys are so easy to love and swoon over. The only problem with these guys, they don't no a lot about the opposite sex and how to understand them. All there love lives have been complicated and it's the same for the these two, Dray and Cassie.
Dray and Cassie were together for a while. Cassie worked at the tattoo shop that Nix owns, Freefall but then had a opportunity to intern in photography and travel from the world. This is when Dray decided to let her go and break up with her even though they are in love with one another. When Cassie comes back after her intern, she has devastating news for Dray, She has been offered a job working for a magazine in New York. This book sees both of them go off on their own journey. Dray's life goes down hill. He loses his job and gets into trouble that lands him in a jail cell. Cassie is trying to find her feet in New York but is finding it really difficult being away from everyone she loves. She has to decide if this is really her dream.
I really loved this book and this series. Well done to Tess Oliver for an amazing series. I can't wait to see if there is more to come in this series. Definitely check out this series!
Rating: 4.5 Stars
I have loved the Custom Culture series from the start. This group of tattoo, sexy guys are so easy to love and swoon over. The only problem with these guys, they don't no a lot about the opposite sex and how to understand them. All there love lives have been complicated and it's the same for the these two, Dray and Cassie.
Dray and Cassie were together for a while. Cassie worked at the tattoo shop that Nix owns, Freefall but then had a opportunity to intern in photography and travel from the world. This is when Dray decided to let her go and break up with her even though they are in love with one another. When Cassie comes back after her intern, she has devastating news for Dray, She has been offered a job working for a magazine in New York. This book sees both of them go off on their own journey. Dray's life goes down hill. He loses his job and gets into trouble that lands him in a jail cell. Cassie is trying to find her feet in New York but is finding it really difficult being away from everyone she loves. She has to decide if this is really her dream.
I really loved this book and this series. Well done to Tess Oliver for an amazing series. I can't wait to see if there is more to come in this series. Definitely check out this series!
March 12, 2014
This is the book three and series .
The gang is back and on summer break for
a week , Dray find himself lost without Cassie
and dray is back to his old self with getting drink
and sleeping with woman he didn't know ..
Barrett has asked Dray to go on surf adventure with
him in Mexico Dray agrees and thinks what can happen ..
When Cassie learns of Dray in Jail in Mexico there is nothing she
won't do to help him ... This was excellent addition to the story ..
The gang is back and on summer break for
a week , Dray find himself lost without Cassie
and dray is back to his old self with getting drink
and sleeping with woman he didn't know ..
Barrett has asked Dray to go on surf adventure with
him in Mexico Dray agrees and thinks what can happen ..
When Cassie learns of Dray in Jail in Mexico there is nothing she
won't do to help him ... This was excellent addition to the story ..
September 1, 2015
I don't understand all the 5 star reviews.
1.The main characters Dray and Cassie spend most of the book apart.
2.I had to skip pages of boring details about his work and him hurting his hand.
3. The sex scenes were boring and quick. These two love each other, where was the passionate sex. It should have just been fade to black because this is not erotic romance.
4.There is some cheesy dialogue
February 23, 2014
Loved this book! Very rarely do you love all three novels in a serious the same. I can't pick a favorite. The characters were real and amazing. This is what true friends are like.
Loved it AMAZING Tess!
Loved it AMAZING Tess!
August 25, 2014
So my dilemma is that in the first two books I really didn't like Dray. He was and kind of still is a douche. The same went for Cassie as well. I just didn't click with the main characters of this book. Ms Oliver writes a good story but I just wasn't feeling it.
March 2, 2014
4 1/2 stars
March 24, 2014
Loved it another epic read loved dray and Cassie's story I'm hoping Barrett's will be next x
January 3, 2015
This one is my least favourite in this series mainly because the H and h spent most of the book apart which I found to be a bit pointless!
February 20, 2021
I read the first 2 books in this series years ago and have only just got around to reading Dray and Cassie’s story. This can be read as a standalone and is mainly told from Dray’s perspective.
Dray is a bit down on his luck after Cassie leaves to go to New York everything spirals out of control. He loses his job and his abusive father passes. When Barrett gives Drag the chance to go to Mexico for a week of surfing, Dray decides to tag along and things go from bad to worse. While they are away Dray and Barrett get themselves into a heap of trouble by protecting a girl from a guy that is hitting her. This turns out to be the son of the powerful Rico, who takes the law into his own hands. He puts Dray and Barrett into a cell and when the guards try to mess with Barrett, Dray helps to fend them off a little too well. Rico makes a deal with Dray. Dray will fight for Rico to be the underdog and win Rico some money and Barrett is released. Clutch, Nix and Cassie fly to Mexico to help Dray. Unbeknownst to everyone, Rico has arranged for Dray to be beaten. His opponent has brass knuckles in his gloves causing Dray some serious damage. Once Dray is out of prison, he returns home and then weeks later at Barrett’s party, announces that he loves Cassie and doesn’t want her to leave again unless she is coming back to him. HEA.
Dray is a bit down on his luck after Cassie leaves to go to New York everything spirals out of control. He loses his job and his abusive father passes. When Barrett gives Drag the chance to go to Mexico for a week of surfing, Dray decides to tag along and things go from bad to worse. While they are away Dray and Barrett get themselves into a heap of trouble by protecting a girl from a guy that is hitting her. This turns out to be the son of the powerful Rico, who takes the law into his own hands. He puts Dray and Barrett into a cell and when the guards try to mess with Barrett, Dray helps to fend them off a little too well. Rico makes a deal with Dray. Dray will fight for Rico to be the underdog and win Rico some money and Barrett is released. Clutch, Nix and Cassie fly to Mexico to help Dray. Unbeknownst to everyone, Rico has arranged for Dray to be beaten. His opponent has brass knuckles in his gloves causing Dray some serious damage. Once Dray is out of prison, he returns home and then weeks later at Barrett’s party, announces that he loves Cassie and doesn’t want her to leave again unless she is coming back to him. HEA.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 19, 2019
Dray is the bad ass among the group. He has had a very hard upbringing. He hid his pain well when his father would take his fist to him. This made for Dray keeping how he feels to himself. Which didn't help much with his relationship with Cassie.
Cassie has had a crush on Dray from the moment he walked in the door where she works. He finally takes notice of her and things were going good until she got the job of a lifetime. Dray not wanting to hold her back lets her go without a fight.
I really thought this book would be amazing but it was really kind of boring. It was just one big pity party for Dray. He never tried to get himself out of the downward spiral his life was becoming. He was always mooching off of all of his friends. He never saw the good things in his life just what wasn't working.
Cassie has had a crush on Dray from the moment he walked in the door where she works. He finally takes notice of her and things were going good until she got the job of a lifetime. Dray not wanting to hold her back lets her go without a fight.
I really thought this book would be amazing but it was really kind of boring. It was just one big pity party for Dray. He never tried to get himself out of the downward spiral his life was becoming. He was always mooching off of all of his friends. He never saw the good things in his life just what wasn't working.
May 4, 2017
Book 3 in the Custom Culture series--this one has real life problems that many of us can relate to: Cassie was in love with Dray long before he even notices her, but when they finally get together, her career takes off and she has to make a choice about following her dream job or staying with Dray.
Meanwhile, he doesn't want to hold her back--even though all she wants is for him to beg her to stay, or even ask nicely!--instead he does some crazy sh** and ends up in a Mexican jail cell in a very bad way.
Eeeeeh. What a ride.
Meanwhile, he doesn't want to hold her back--even though all she wants is for him to beg her to stay, or even ask nicely!--instead he does some crazy sh** and ends up in a Mexican jail cell in a very bad way.
Eeeeeh. What a ride.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2020
This series was quite good!! I enjoyed the characters and their stories. I also Loved the intertwining of each of these best friends... each story is different to each other! Great read look forward to reading more from this author !!
January 23, 2021
I did not feel this book at all. The first chapter or so was ok but then it was just down hill from there. There were a few bits that were ok but most of the book I found it difficult to connect with.
February 9, 2021
Wow, this was an eye opener! Love the story! Being a parent is the most important job and kids that grow up abused by a father sure pays for it their entire life. Then close friends all pitch in and life turns around. Great story with a perfect ending!
May 8, 2020
Was looking forward to this one most of all. Sadly not much to it. I started skipping parts of it as just wanted to get to end of it
February 9, 2023
The entire time I was reading this I kept hearing 'Just Like Heaven ' by The Cure.
February 13, 2018
Dray, Dray, Dray, what can I say.
I knew I would love his story. Dray is broken because of his abusive parents who never seemed to want him. He takes out his anger and feelings by fighting. He is an amateur MMA fighter, but he certainly doesn't save it for the ring. He is dating Cassie, but their relationship is far from stable. She decides to take a dream job in New York as a photographer for a local paper. This ends their relationship.
Dray gets even more volatile and is constantly in need of his friends pulling him back off the ledge. He can't seem to hold a decent job and life is spiraling out of control.
I don't want to give any more away, but this was my favorite out of the series so far and I will just say, read it!
I knew I would love his story. Dray is broken because of his abusive parents who never seemed to want him. He takes out his anger and feelings by fighting. He is an amateur MMA fighter, but he certainly doesn't save it for the ring. He is dating Cassie, but their relationship is far from stable. She decides to take a dream job in New York as a photographer for a local paper. This ends their relationship.
Dray gets even more volatile and is constantly in need of his friends pulling him back off the ledge. He can't seem to hold a decent job and life is spiraling out of control.
I don't want to give any more away, but this was my favorite out of the series so far and I will just say, read it!
March 3, 2014
3.5 Stars
What happens when you let one go off to follow their dreams and you are still in love?
What happens if you are the one off following your dreams but your heart remains with the one left behind?
Dray and Cassie is what happens!
Cassie takes off to New York to follow her dreams of becoming a known photographer after traveling the world taking pictures. Fitting in and feeling alone is two different things. Cass does make a couple friends while in New York, but her heart always remains back with her friends and true to one person in general, Dray.
“I’d been in love with Dray since the first moment he’d walked into Freefall and that had not changed. That would never change, no matter what happened or where my future took me.”
Dray…well what can I say about Dray? As we all know, Dray is a wee bit of a hot head. Boy loves to fight and is pretty good at it. And trouble follows him around like a long lost puppy. He has no confidence in the fact that he deserves to have love and to be loved like Cassie loves him.
It seems to me that these two just can’t seem to get it together. Cassie wants to find herself and Dray really needs to find himself. All Cassie wants is for him to ask her to stay but she wants him to really want her there and he can’t “really” ask because he won’t be the man that holds her back.
“Stay then, Cassie. If you think you can stay and never have any regrets about it, then stay. But whatever you do, don’t keep coming back and then leaving because I can’t fucking take that, Cass. I can’t fucking take it.”
Dray had a chest and shoulders that could steal a girl’s breath. I could still feel every familiar ridge of muscle in my fingertips. My skin warmed as I though about running my hands over his bare skin.
I always felt Cassie was a little whiney but she actually steps it up in this read and I found myself silently cheering for her, but then wanting to smack her because to me she never really fought to get her man back in her arms. I felt there were a couple times where she was actually going to but then, nada! Frustration was the word.
As usual, Rett and Dray find themselves in a little bit of trouble down in Mexico. Those two planned on a mini vacation that ended up being a trip to hell. NO SPOILERS…but I did find myself squeezing the hell out of my e-reader because of the intense situations they found themselves in at the Mexican jail. Go figure, Dray defending something he believes is right and it all goes spiraling down for him.
“My heart was beating so fast I was sure I could hear it echoing off the brick walls of the hallway. For several long seconds, I waited for death, wondering briefly what it was going to feel like to have my brains splinter apart at my skull.”
But…Cassie pulls through for her man. It may have totally done her in seeing Dray beaten down the way he was but Cass and her “love” of pics still reigned on!
I found this read to be really dark, but what do you expect? Dray was raised by an abusive father and his mother was a tad shady. This read was INTENSE. The action, humor and the hot, steaming sex made it all come together. Oh, and Nix, Scotlyn, Clutch, Taylor and Rett are all along for the ride. Yet another thing to love about Tess is she doesn’t make these characters seem so far fetched. They are so down to earth.
The contrast between these two characters is awesome. Don’t we all love it when the “nerd” gets the “bad boy"?
“I knew the second she looked up from her book at me through those thick glasses. She looked tiny, and smart and confident and I knew she was perfect.”
It hurt to watch him struggle to find a place for himself and for the love that he carries for Cassie. One thing this story does truly cover is that you want the best for the one you love even if it leaves you broken.
“I love you,” his voice was low and deep, and he didn’t seem to care that the entire party had stopped to pay attention. “I love you, Cassie. You want me to beg?” He held his hands out. “I’ll fucking beg. You can keep taking pictures, and you can travel all over the damn world as long as you come home, you come home to me.”
***Strongly suggest readinging Book #1 Freefall and Book #2 Clutch first...
What happens when you let one go off to follow their dreams and you are still in love?
What happens if you are the one off following your dreams but your heart remains with the one left behind?
Dray and Cassie is what happens!
Cassie takes off to New York to follow her dreams of becoming a known photographer after traveling the world taking pictures. Fitting in and feeling alone is two different things. Cass does make a couple friends while in New York, but her heart always remains back with her friends and true to one person in general, Dray.
“I’d been in love with Dray since the first moment he’d walked into Freefall and that had not changed. That would never change, no matter what happened or where my future took me.”
Dray…well what can I say about Dray? As we all know, Dray is a wee bit of a hot head. Boy loves to fight and is pretty good at it. And trouble follows him around like a long lost puppy. He has no confidence in the fact that he deserves to have love and to be loved like Cassie loves him.
It seems to me that these two just can’t seem to get it together. Cassie wants to find herself and Dray really needs to find himself. All Cassie wants is for him to ask her to stay but she wants him to really want her there and he can’t “really” ask because he won’t be the man that holds her back.
“Stay then, Cassie. If you think you can stay and never have any regrets about it, then stay. But whatever you do, don’t keep coming back and then leaving because I can’t fucking take that, Cass. I can’t fucking take it.”
Dray had a chest and shoulders that could steal a girl’s breath. I could still feel every familiar ridge of muscle in my fingertips. My skin warmed as I though about running my hands over his bare skin.
I always felt Cassie was a little whiney but she actually steps it up in this read and I found myself silently cheering for her, but then wanting to smack her because to me she never really fought to get her man back in her arms. I felt there were a couple times where she was actually going to but then, nada! Frustration was the word.
As usual, Rett and Dray find themselves in a little bit of trouble down in Mexico. Those two planned on a mini vacation that ended up being a trip to hell. NO SPOILERS…but I did find myself squeezing the hell out of my e-reader because of the intense situations they found themselves in at the Mexican jail. Go figure, Dray defending something he believes is right and it all goes spiraling down for him.
“My heart was beating so fast I was sure I could hear it echoing off the brick walls of the hallway. For several long seconds, I waited for death, wondering briefly what it was going to feel like to have my brains splinter apart at my skull.”
But…Cassie pulls through for her man. It may have totally done her in seeing Dray beaten down the way he was but Cass and her “love” of pics still reigned on!
I found this read to be really dark, but what do you expect? Dray was raised by an abusive father and his mother was a tad shady. This read was INTENSE. The action, humor and the hot, steaming sex made it all come together. Oh, and Nix, Scotlyn, Clutch, Taylor and Rett are all along for the ride. Yet another thing to love about Tess is she doesn’t make these characters seem so far fetched. They are so down to earth.
The contrast between these two characters is awesome. Don’t we all love it when the “nerd” gets the “bad boy"?
“I knew the second she looked up from her book at me through those thick glasses. She looked tiny, and smart and confident and I knew she was perfect.”
It hurt to watch him struggle to find a place for himself and for the love that he carries for Cassie. One thing this story does truly cover is that you want the best for the one you love even if it leaves you broken.
“I love you,” his voice was low and deep, and he didn’t seem to care that the entire party had stopped to pay attention. “I love you, Cassie. You want me to beg?” He held his hands out. “I’ll fucking beg. You can keep taking pictures, and you can travel all over the damn world as long as you come home, you come home to me.”
***Strongly suggest readinging Book #1 Freefall and Book #2 Clutch first...
March 5, 2017
Dray and Cassie. Their story was the one I was waiting for! The angst! The heartbreak! I enjoyed the beginning but towards the end it got a little bit to unbelievable. But a guilty pleasure for sure.
March 1, 2014
Firstly, a massive thank you to Tess for sending me the ARC of Dray to review. Dray is the 3rd book in Tess’s Custom Culture series. Freefall, the first in the series was the first Tess Oliver book that I had read and really it started a love of Tess’s writing style and her characters for me.
If you’ve read the first two books in the series you will already have been introduced to Dray. He’s a bit of a rebel, a fighter and overall a big muscly man – exactly the type of romantic hero you want to see tamed by the love of a good woman. Cue Cassie. You will already know Cassie too as she works with Nix in his tattoo parlour Freefall (book 1).
The story picks up where book 2 left off. Dray and Cassie’s relationship was happening in the background throughout that book so at the start of the story the two characters are separated. The story follows them as they start to explore the possibility of moving on and of course there is always a drama whenever Dray is involved.
I wasn’t sure about Dray as a character. I even told Tess that I really was on the fence about what to make of him before I’d even started the book because he has always seemed a bit of a trouble maker and a bit hot-headed and moody. That opinion has been firmly reversed now though!
Dray’s upbringing was far from easy and the full picture of Dray is only really drawn in this story so you start to appreciate him a bit more, as well as appreciating exactly why he is the way he is. It’s a little bit of a tear jerker and the story really wins you over to Dray’s side.
Dray and Cassie are complete opposites, but they do say opposites attract. I think Cassie kind of grounds Dray and tames him a little so they work well together but I also think that Dray has instilled this instinct in Cassie to fight for what she loves and that really comes through in the book, even though when the book starts off they aren’t together. The dual POV throughout the book lets you see the story from both sides and I really enjoy this in a book.
There is a pretty big twist in the book as a result of trouble following Dray wherever he goes which keeps you on tenterhooks throughout and keeps you flipping through the pages. I’m secretly hoping now that there will be another book in the series about one of the other characters who becomes much more integral to the group of friends in Dray and that is Clutch’s brother Barrett. I absolutely love this NA series and can’t wait for more!
Erin xx
If you’ve read the first two books in the series you will already have been introduced to Dray. He’s a bit of a rebel, a fighter and overall a big muscly man – exactly the type of romantic hero you want to see tamed by the love of a good woman. Cue Cassie. You will already know Cassie too as she works with Nix in his tattoo parlour Freefall (book 1).
The story picks up where book 2 left off. Dray and Cassie’s relationship was happening in the background throughout that book so at the start of the story the two characters are separated. The story follows them as they start to explore the possibility of moving on and of course there is always a drama whenever Dray is involved.
I wasn’t sure about Dray as a character. I even told Tess that I really was on the fence about what to make of him before I’d even started the book because he has always seemed a bit of a trouble maker and a bit hot-headed and moody. That opinion has been firmly reversed now though!
Dray’s upbringing was far from easy and the full picture of Dray is only really drawn in this story so you start to appreciate him a bit more, as well as appreciating exactly why he is the way he is. It’s a little bit of a tear jerker and the story really wins you over to Dray’s side.
Dray and Cassie are complete opposites, but they do say opposites attract. I think Cassie kind of grounds Dray and tames him a little so they work well together but I also think that Dray has instilled this instinct in Cassie to fight for what she loves and that really comes through in the book, even though when the book starts off they aren’t together. The dual POV throughout the book lets you see the story from both sides and I really enjoy this in a book.
There is a pretty big twist in the book as a result of trouble following Dray wherever he goes which keeps you on tenterhooks throughout and keeps you flipping through the pages. I’m secretly hoping now that there will be another book in the series about one of the other characters who becomes much more integral to the group of friends in Dray and that is Clutch’s brother Barrett. I absolutely love this NA series and can’t wait for more!
Erin xx
February 25, 2014
I'm really happy that I've come across the Custom Cultures series!
I've enjoyed reading Nix & clutch stories so much!! I love Tess Oliver writing style...
Everything just seems to flow with her books & I love that!
Ok....
I really didn't know what to expect reading this book...
This book was really different from the other 2 book in this series.
It just had a whole different feel to it. Dray story just seemed darker.
I like dark.. I don't have a problem with that...
There were some things that I really liked about this book & then there were just some things that I just didn't care for.
I'll start off with the thing that I liked about the book.
Dray whole story.
I felt really sad & emotional about Dray in his book.
I mean I felt for him!
His story just broke my heart!
It definitely seems like he had the whole weight of the world on his shoulders.
He never seemed to catch a break. Plus too...the decisions that he made also played a big part in never catching a break.
But he diffantly felt alone in this book!
I felt the author did a really good job making you feel what Dray was feeling.
He had it pretty ruff growing up. His only real family were his friends & the gym he worked out in.
I loved how Tess incorporates Nix & Scotlyn & Clutch & Taylor in this book. They don't overshadow Dray story. They all just seem to work together. She gives you just enough of everyone.
I just love that! It makes you feel like your still in there lives!! And their story is continuing.
I hate that there was a part that I did to care for in this book.. But it was more of a character I didn't care for.
Cassie....
She wasn't really in this book I felt. Her chapter were really Blah.
Just about her photography. & how she felt that she had to go and pursue her dream job.
I'd say the last 90% of the book she was really in.
But... I felt that it was to late...
I couldn't connect with her as I did in the other books.
I just felt it was all too rushed at the end with Dray & Cassie.
I mean.. I was happy for Dray.. But I felt Cassie should have did the chasing...
But to each it's own...
I'm thinking there's going to be another book in the series... Clutch's brother.... Barrett! I'm looking forward to it!!
** ARC provided for an honest review **
I've enjoyed reading Nix & clutch stories so much!! I love Tess Oliver writing style...
Everything just seems to flow with her books & I love that!
Ok....
I really didn't know what to expect reading this book...
This book was really different from the other 2 book in this series.
It just had a whole different feel to it. Dray story just seemed darker.
I like dark.. I don't have a problem with that...
There were some things that I really liked about this book & then there were just some things that I just didn't care for.
I'll start off with the thing that I liked about the book.
Dray whole story.
I felt really sad & emotional about Dray in his book.
I mean I felt for him!
His story just broke my heart!
It definitely seems like he had the whole weight of the world on his shoulders.
He never seemed to catch a break. Plus too...the decisions that he made also played a big part in never catching a break.
But he diffantly felt alone in this book!
I felt the author did a really good job making you feel what Dray was feeling.
He had it pretty ruff growing up. His only real family were his friends & the gym he worked out in.
I loved how Tess incorporates Nix & Scotlyn & Clutch & Taylor in this book. They don't overshadow Dray story. They all just seem to work together. She gives you just enough of everyone.
I just love that! It makes you feel like your still in there lives!! And their story is continuing.
I hate that there was a part that I did to care for in this book.. But it was more of a character I didn't care for.
Cassie....
She wasn't really in this book I felt. Her chapter were really Blah.
Just about her photography. & how she felt that she had to go and pursue her dream job.
I'd say the last 90% of the book she was really in.
But... I felt that it was to late...
I couldn't connect with her as I did in the other books.
I just felt it was all too rushed at the end with Dray & Cassie.
I mean.. I was happy for Dray.. But I felt Cassie should have did the chasing...
But to each it's own...
I'm thinking there's going to be another book in the series... Clutch's brother.... Barrett! I'm looking forward to it!!
** ARC provided for an honest review **
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