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Nova #5
Ruin Me
A part time student, CNA, and caretaker for her slightly deranged mother, Clara McKiney doesn’t have time for a relationship. That’s why her friends with benefits arrangement with sexy and ridiculously charming Jax Hensley works perfectly.
But Jax has other ideas.
The moment Jax met Clara he was instantly drawn to her wittiness, confidence, and gorgeous smile. Even though he agreed to the friends with benefits arrangement, he secretly hopes for more than their weekend hook ups.
When Jax's estranged mother mysteriously disappears, he sees an opportunity to spend more time with Clara. After convincing her to return home with him, a new agreement is made. One road trip and week together to find out why his mom vanished into thin air.
Things are about to get complicated.
But Jax has other ideas.
The moment Jax met Clara he was instantly drawn to her wittiness, confidence, and gorgeous smile. Even though he agreed to the friends with benefits arrangement, he secretly hopes for more than their weekend hook ups.
When Jax's estranged mother mysteriously disappears, he sees an opportunity to spend more time with Clara. After convincing her to return home with him, a new agreement is made. One road trip and week together to find out why his mom vanished into thin air.
Things are about to get complicated.
253 pages, ebook
First published January 19, 2015
71 people are currently reading
3306 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Sorensen
418 books20.1k followersJessica Sorensen is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author from the snowy mountains of Wyoming. When she's not writing, she spends her time reading and hanging out with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
January 26, 2015
Ruin Me was much different from the rest of Jessica’s Nova series. And that’s not a bad thing. In fact, it was quite refreshing. Ever since I read Wreck Me, I have been intrigued by Jax. I knew I wanted to know more about him and I’m so glad he got his own story. *FYI- This can be read as a standalone, but I would recommend reading book 4 to get the full effect. It’s Jax’s sister’s story and you get a lot of him and his family’s background in that book.*
Jax has had a rough life. The way he grew up, the places he lived… just awful. But instead of turning to drugs, violence or anything like that, he’s taken a different path. He goes to college. He works. He helps his sister take care of his nephew. He’s a good guy. He doesn’t have a girlfriend… but there is this girl he likes. Her name is Clara.
Jax and Clara were friends. Then they started hooking up. Now their friends with benefits. Jax wants more, but he can’t push too hard. Clara isn’t open like Jax. She keeps to herself and she’s not interested in a relationship.
Clara is opposite of Jax in the way that she had a great upbringing/childhood. The last few years, everything in her life has changed. She’s got serious responsibilities and her life isn’t the average college student’s life. She doesn’t get close to anyone, not really. But there is something about Jax. It’s just him. He makes her happy, makes her smile, makes her feel just a little more free.
Jax gets a troubling call about his mother and has to take off to check on her. He manages to talk Clara into taking a break from her responsibilities and coming with him. This road trip might just be what Clara needs. To get away, even just for a few days. And Jax and his little games on the way… I know you’ll never believe this, but I actually LAUGHED several times in this book. J.S. books aren’t known for their humor, but Jax really is a funny guy.
“Favorite dessert?”
“You covered in chocolate.” She massages her temples with her fingers.
“This game is already getting out of hand.”
The more time Clara and Jax spend together, the closer they become. The more Clara finds out about Jax and his past, the more she feels like she can open up to him. It’s obvious Jax wants more with Clara. He doesn’t care what she’s hiding. He just wants her. And slowly but surely, she can’t completely resist him.
I adored Jax so much- one of the best, and possibly most well adjusted men in this series. He was the perfect combination of sweet, sexy and laugh out loud funny. Clara was a great heroine. She was strong and stoic- but Jax brought out a different side of her. I especially liked that this was a little different than the others in the addiction aspect
Ruin Me is a fantastic addition to the Nova series. If you’ve enjoyed this series so far, this will be a nice change of pace for you! It was a little on the short side, but a great read!
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March 6, 2015FREEBIE - > http://amzn.to/18XbcXk
April 30, 2015
I fell in love with Jessica Sorensen's beautiful way of telling a story so emotionally charged and realistic, that it would leave you stunned and amazed back in March. From the moment that I sat down to read Breaking Nova, I absolutely fell head over toes in love with the whole series and couldn't put any of the books down until I had finished it entirely. The world she creates and the characters that she develops are gorgeously broken, incredibly strong, and emotionally intense that it is seriously breath taking. By the time that you are finished with this series, it will leave you dealing with all the feels. Fraking amazing and emotionally charged, Ruin Me will ruin you completely in all of the best ways possible. Beautifully written and incredibly intense, this gorgeous and compelling story will draw you in and captivate you.
It's not hard to fall in love with all of the characters in this series, but Ruin Me is a little different than the rest of the books. Both Jax and Clara have had a lot of emotional issues they've had to deal with and they definitely come from broken and painful backgrounds. Yet, the two of these find themselves gravitating towards one another. Jax is an amazing character, instead of letting his crappy past define the person he becomes, he takes an entirely different route in life. He becomes a protector of his sister Avery and his nephew, he's also just this really amazing charismatic guy that has a lot to offer any woman that he chooses to be with and at the moment he wants Clara. Clara, on the other hand, isn't interested in being more than a friend. She's terrified of getting close enough for him to see the truth, a truth that she's not really ready for anyone to find out.
Ruin Me, is such an emotionally driven book where you can see that both characters aren't addicts and neither are a victim of their circumstances either. It's inspiring in a lot of ways and just a really amazing novel, it can be read as a stand alone although I would recommend the entire series as a whole. If you're not one to want to read the whole series, then at least read Wreck Me, which is Jax's sisters Avery book where he plays a part in it and you get a lot more information on their background and the crappy existence they had to endure as young kids. One of the things that Jessica Sorensen did with this book is take a really huge negative and turn it into a wonderfully inspiring and positive love story that ended with happiness.
If you are looking for a series that's going to totally turn your feels upside down, then this is the series that you want to pick up.
Full review coming soon.
It's not hard to fall in love with all of the characters in this series, but Ruin Me is a little different than the rest of the books. Both Jax and Clara have had a lot of emotional issues they've had to deal with and they definitely come from broken and painful backgrounds. Yet, the two of these find themselves gravitating towards one another. Jax is an amazing character, instead of letting his crappy past define the person he becomes, he takes an entirely different route in life. He becomes a protector of his sister Avery and his nephew, he's also just this really amazing charismatic guy that has a lot to offer any woman that he chooses to be with and at the moment he wants Clara. Clara, on the other hand, isn't interested in being more than a friend. She's terrified of getting close enough for him to see the truth, a truth that she's not really ready for anyone to find out.
Ruin Me, is such an emotionally driven book where you can see that both characters aren't addicts and neither are a victim of their circumstances either. It's inspiring in a lot of ways and just a really amazing novel, it can be read as a stand alone although I would recommend the entire series as a whole. If you're not one to want to read the whole series, then at least read Wreck Me, which is Jax's sisters Avery book where he plays a part in it and you get a lot more information on their background and the crappy existence they had to endure as young kids. One of the things that Jessica Sorensen did with this book is take a really huge negative and turn it into a wonderfully inspiring and positive love story that ended with happiness.
If you are looking for a series that's going to totally turn your feels upside down, then this is the series that you want to pick up.
Full review coming soon.
July 3, 2015
Jax and Clara have a friends with benefits relationship but Jax wants more. He really likes Clara and wants more than just a quick night together (not that he's giving that up though). Clara is hesitant to get involved with Jax. Her life is full of taking care of her mother after a devastating car accident rearranges her life, not to mention her last boyfriend dumped her because of all of it too. She doesn't have time relive that heartache when she's got so many other things to manage in her life.
Jax isn't about to give up on Clara, and when he receives a cryptic "help me" call from his mother back in Wyoming, he asks Clara to accompany him, knowing that if she says yes, she'll see all the big bad stuff in his past. But he isn't afraid of that, he'll take whatever time he can get to convince Clara that he's worthy of more than an arms-length sex-only relationship.
When Clara agrees, the two set out on their road trip. It doesn't take much for Jax to convince Clara to let go of her reservations about getting involved. Their trip down memory lane through the drugs, alcohol and prostitution lifestyle he's left behind is an eye-opener for her. It would have been so easy for Jax to succumb to that life with his mother, and it's a testament to his character that he pulled out of it and is making a better life for himself. He learns some hard lessons on his trip back to Wyoming, finally realizing just how manipulative his mother is and the lengths she will go to get the drugs and money she wants. It's a good thing that someone who truly cares about him is there with him.
I thought Ruin Me was a very sweet romance set among the dark and crusty life of long-term drug addiction. I loved reading Jax's reactions to his mother, starting with his concern for her and ending in a much different way. Ruin Me was really a story of personal growth and hard decisions, and it was a perfect addition to the Nova series.
ARC provided for review.
This review also appears on my blog at: http://redhotbluereads.blogspot.com/2015/02/review-ruin-me-by-jessica-sorensen.html
Jax isn't about to give up on Clara, and when he receives a cryptic "help me" call from his mother back in Wyoming, he asks Clara to accompany him, knowing that if she says yes, she'll see all the big bad stuff in his past. But he isn't afraid of that, he'll take whatever time he can get to convince Clara that he's worthy of more than an arms-length sex-only relationship.
When Clara agrees, the two set out on their road trip. It doesn't take much for Jax to convince Clara to let go of her reservations about getting involved. Their trip down memory lane through the drugs, alcohol and prostitution lifestyle he's left behind is an eye-opener for her. It would have been so easy for Jax to succumb to that life with his mother, and it's a testament to his character that he pulled out of it and is making a better life for himself. He learns some hard lessons on his trip back to Wyoming, finally realizing just how manipulative his mother is and the lengths she will go to get the drugs and money she wants. It's a good thing that someone who truly cares about him is there with him.
I thought Ruin Me was a very sweet romance set among the dark and crusty life of long-term drug addiction. I loved reading Jax's reactions to his mother, starting with his concern for her and ending in a much different way. Ruin Me was really a story of personal growth and hard decisions, and it was a perfect addition to the Nova series.
ARC provided for review.
This review also appears on my blog at: http://redhotbluereads.blogspot.com/2015/02/review-ruin-me-by-jessica-sorensen.html
January 23, 2015
For some strange reason, I haven’t been keeping up to date with Jessica Sorensen’s most recent releases. However, I thought I’d go back with RUIN ME. In this book, Sorensen reminds me why I enjoy her books so much. While not as heartbreaking and angsty as her other books, Sorensen does give both Jax and Clara a set of bad parents.
Both are working on bettering themselves and their lives. However, their old life always seems to prevent them from moving on. When Jax’s mother calls with a startling plea for help, Jax has no choice but to return home to get her out of trouble. Similarly, Clara has some unfinished business involving his father and his death that needs to happen before she can find closure. What starts out as a casual relationship soon turns into one of trust, passion and love.
I really love this story because Sorensen makes the romance the main feature. While Jax and Clara’s past do present their own conflicts, the emotional journey between the hero and heroine is what stands out to me the most. Sorensen has his ability to create light and darkness in her writing. When Jax and Clara are together, there’s sexual tension, easy banter, teasing and flirting. It’s a time once a week where they can forget about their troubles and enjoy each other’s company. In contrast, Sorensen adds darkness, that bit of angst that flavors the story more.
I flew through RUIN ME, enjoying every moment of it. Both sweet and sexy, Jessica Sorensen has a book to suit every reader.
*ARC provided by author
February 10, 2017
Jax and Clara's story
September 26, 2015
Jax is Avery’s brother from Wreck Me. He didn’t have a huge role, but he was a fairly prominent side character. Even still, it was obvious that he was a great character and one that I wanted to know more about. Jax was always helping Avery with Mason, and Jax basically looked to Avery as his mother figure since their mom was a drug addict. Needless to say, there’s a lot to explore here.
Jax and Clara have a friends with benefits relationship that is more benefits than friends. I struggle with relationships where the physical has a better foundation than (or sets the foundation for) the emotional aspects. Clara doesn’t want more than the physical. She’s struggling to balance school, taking care of her mother who has brain damage from a car accident, and paying the bills. So Clara doesn’t think she really has time for another more. Jax, of course, wants more from day one. If I read a book where the physical relationship is well established before the emotional, I tend to prefer these to be books where the male in the relationship knows he wants more than the female. Even though this is backwards from what you normally think, I like it because I always want to root for the good guy. That’s more believable to me (even though I do love a hot, bad boy turned good).
Jax receives a disturbing phone call from his mother. She basically tells him she’s afraid that this drug dealer is going to kill her because she owes him some money. Jax can’t just ignore that. So even though his mother has never done anything for him, he sets out to find her. And he miraculously talks Clara into going on the trip with him. But Jax isn’t being completely honest. He’s hoping that this trip will bring them closer. He’s hoping that Clara will let down her guard and let him in a little. Of course, that’s essentially what happens.
Jax and Clara were both easy to read from. They both had a lot of past history that Jessica Sorensen explored. Each was likeable in their own ways. But the conflict of this story just wasn’t up to par. The confrontation with Jax’s mom was so easy, and Jax was all of a sudden able to move on with his life. Clara’s idea that her past and what she's currently dealing with would cause Jax to “run away” was so ridiculous considering everything that Jax has shared with her about his own history and past. Clara’s life doesn’t compare to what Jax has gone through. And to throw in the past boyfriend that left her and thus being her number one fear of letting Jax in just didn’t logically make sense.
Favorite quotes:
Ruin Me was good for the mood I was in. I wanted light and quick. Even though the subject matter was kind of heavy, it was nothing compared to the earlier Nova books. I did have a few issues, namely the conflict. It was just too easy which is often a complaint of mine with Jessica Sorensen books. Ruin Me gets 3 Stars. Have you read Ruin Me? What did you think? Let me know!
Jax and Clara have a friends with benefits relationship that is more benefits than friends. I struggle with relationships where the physical has a better foundation than (or sets the foundation for) the emotional aspects. Clara doesn’t want more than the physical. She’s struggling to balance school, taking care of her mother who has brain damage from a car accident, and paying the bills. So Clara doesn’t think she really has time for another more. Jax, of course, wants more from day one. If I read a book where the physical relationship is well established before the emotional, I tend to prefer these to be books where the male in the relationship knows he wants more than the female. Even though this is backwards from what you normally think, I like it because I always want to root for the good guy. That’s more believable to me (even though I do love a hot, bad boy turned good).
Jax receives a disturbing phone call from his mother. She basically tells him she’s afraid that this drug dealer is going to kill her because she owes him some money. Jax can’t just ignore that. So even though his mother has never done anything for him, he sets out to find her. And he miraculously talks Clara into going on the trip with him. But Jax isn’t being completely honest. He’s hoping that this trip will bring them closer. He’s hoping that Clara will let down her guard and let him in a little. Of course, that’s essentially what happens.
Jax and Clara were both easy to read from. They both had a lot of past history that Jessica Sorensen explored. Each was likeable in their own ways. But the conflict of this story just wasn’t up to par. The confrontation with Jax’s mom was so easy, and Jax was all of a sudden able to move on with his life. Clara’s idea that her past and what she's currently dealing with would cause Jax to “run away” was so ridiculous considering everything that Jax has shared with her about his own history and past. Clara’s life doesn’t compare to what Jax has gone through. And to throw in the past boyfriend that left her and thus being her number one fear of letting Jax in just didn’t logically make sense.
Favorite quotes:
-“If you don’t like my cockiness, then you should probably lay off with the staring. Seriously Clara, you’re stroking the crap out of my ego.”
-“You keep saying things that give me hope.”
Ruin Me was good for the mood I was in. I wanted light and quick. Even though the subject matter was kind of heavy, it was nothing compared to the earlier Nova books. I did have a few issues, namely the conflict. It was just too easy which is often a complaint of mine with Jessica Sorensen books. Ruin Me gets 3 Stars. Have you read Ruin Me? What did you think? Let me know!
March 26, 2015
This book was originally reviewed on The Book Hookup.
**I received an advance copy of this,but that did not influence the review**
If you guys know me, you know that this series has owned me. So when I saw there was a 5th book I had to have it.
This story was a little different than the rest of the series, not quite as gritty. There was the element of drug addiction and how it affected people, but not directly. It was Jax’s mom who was the addict so we didn’t get to hear his personal struggle of trying to stay clean. He did have a lot on his plate though, so we did see how deeply addiction impacted his life.
Jax and Clara were both really similar and a great match. While the exact details of their situations were different, they both knew about too much responsibility at such a young age. While they didn’t divulge their secrets right away it made for a great connection. Which in turn led to a great romance. I loved the push and pull of their attraction, on both a physical and emotional level. I knew Clara wanted to give in, and I knew she wouldn’t hold out forever. I loved Jax’s honesty and how he was unashamed to ask her for more. The kissy times weren’t so bad either. ;)
I didn’t realize this would be a road trip book, and I got so excited as soon as that came up. It suddenly opened the door for the relationship to get to that next level. And if there’s one thing I love, it’s a good road trip story.
What did I want more of? Everything. It was just a little too “on the surface for me”. I love feeling the dark and gritty rawness of a character in my bones, and while it was written and I enjoyed it, I never felt it totally own me this time around.
The ending was lovely and full of so much hope and potential for fresh beginnings. It made my heart flutter because these characters totally deserved a HEA.
Rec this? Yes! I really loved it even though it wasn’t quite as gripping as the rest of the series.
**I received an advance copy of this,but that did not influence the review**
If you guys know me, you know that this series has owned me. So when I saw there was a 5th book I had to have it.
This story was a little different than the rest of the series, not quite as gritty. There was the element of drug addiction and how it affected people, but not directly. It was Jax’s mom who was the addict so we didn’t get to hear his personal struggle of trying to stay clean. He did have a lot on his plate though, so we did see how deeply addiction impacted his life.
Jax and Clara were both really similar and a great match. While the exact details of their situations were different, they both knew about too much responsibility at such a young age. While they didn’t divulge their secrets right away it made for a great connection. Which in turn led to a great romance. I loved the push and pull of their attraction, on both a physical and emotional level. I knew Clara wanted to give in, and I knew she wouldn’t hold out forever. I loved Jax’s honesty and how he was unashamed to ask her for more. The kissy times weren’t so bad either. ;)
I didn’t realize this would be a road trip book, and I got so excited as soon as that came up. It suddenly opened the door for the relationship to get to that next level. And if there’s one thing I love, it’s a good road trip story.
What did I want more of? Everything. It was just a little too “on the surface for me”. I love feeling the dark and gritty rawness of a character in my bones, and while it was written and I enjoyed it, I never felt it totally own me this time around.
The ending was lovely and full of so much hope and potential for fresh beginnings. It made my heart flutter because these characters totally deserved a HEA.
Rec this? Yes! I really loved it even though it wasn’t quite as gripping as the rest of the series.
March 5, 2015
3.5 stars- this was over all a pretty good novella. I couldn't quite give it 4 stars though because of the heroine. I guess I understand that in contemporary romance it's kind of a given that one or both of the people have a lot of baggage, however, in this book I felt like Clara's reasoning for keeping Jax at arms length was pretty ridiculous.
You don't find it out until about 4 chapters in, but once I read it I thought, really?!?? I won't say what happens, even though it's pretty obvious as soon as the book goes to her POV, but I was hoping it was something more. Yes, I can see that her situation would have caused her heartache , but to never let in another human being again because of something that basically happened right out of high school? I had a hard time really believing that could happen.
I never really saw what Jax's appeal for her was, especially in the beginning, other than the fact that she was hot. I wish we could have gotten a little more detail about why he wanted more of a relationship with her. What I found ridiculous was that after seeing the crap hole Jax grew up in, knowing his mother was basically a drug addict and a prostitute and hearing about the way he grew up could she still be questioning if he would still want her once he found out about her responsibilities. Um, sorry, but your history has absolutely nothing on his.
Other than that I liked these two together. I really liked Jax, even though I felt like he was pretty naive taking off across the country to try and find his mom knowing what she was like, but still, it was admirable. I liked reading about a guy wanting to commit instead of it being the other way around and I really enjoyed watching him dig his way into Clara's heart. Their story was sweet, with just enough drama to make it interesting without dragging anything out to much, and a great development of relationship along the way.
Over all a good read. I'd recommend this one.
You don't find it out until about 4 chapters in, but once I read it I thought, really?!?? I won't say what happens, even though it's pretty obvious as soon as the book goes to her POV, but I was hoping it was something more. Yes, I can see that her situation would have caused her heartache , but to never let in another human being again because of something that basically happened right out of high school? I had a hard time really believing that could happen.
I never really saw what Jax's appeal for her was, especially in the beginning, other than the fact that she was hot. I wish we could have gotten a little more detail about why he wanted more of a relationship with her. What I found ridiculous was that after seeing the crap hole Jax grew up in, knowing his mother was basically a drug addict and a prostitute and hearing about the way he grew up could she still be questioning if he would still want her once he found out about her responsibilities. Um, sorry, but your history has absolutely nothing on his.
Other than that I liked these two together. I really liked Jax, even though I felt like he was pretty naive taking off across the country to try and find his mom knowing what she was like, but still, it was admirable. I liked reading about a guy wanting to commit instead of it being the other way around and I really enjoyed watching him dig his way into Clara's heart. Their story was sweet, with just enough drama to make it interesting without dragging anything out to much, and a great development of relationship along the way.
Over all a good read. I'd recommend this one.
March 10, 2015
MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS - Jax, Avery's brother who she has basically raised on her own since their mom is a druggie/hooker, is a sweet boy who lives with Avery & helps her take care of her son. Avery is now dating Tristan & Jax is 19 years old & ready to start living his life on his own. Like Avery he has had to grow up way too fast & even though they moved to North Carolina he can't quite escape his past. While in college he literally runs into Clara, a beautiful nursing student who quickly becomes a friend-with-benefits. This is what Clara wants since she can't emotionally handle any more than that. Jax turns out to be quite hot with a bit of a dirty mouth! Clara draws these boundaries with Jax because her jerk of a boyfriend dumped her due to all of her "complications" years ago, at the moment when she really needed him. She is now under the misconception that no man is going to want to spend time with a girl who is working, going to college, caring for her mother, taking care of all the responsibilities, etc. When Jax hears a voice from his past, someone who sounds like they are in serious danger, he takes a week off of school & plans a road trip to see if he can help. He desperately wants to form a relationship with Clara & asks her to come along. She's the one who refuses to be more than a friend but just like she figured, being with Jax 24/7 is too tempting! As she's watching him sleep & having dozens of dirty fantasies Jax says, "Your heavy breathing's starting to creep me out!" :) Of course he loves it but they have such fun banter, exactly what they each need when all of the heaviness of real life is on their shoulders. A fairly simple story but I couldn't deny that I loved Jax & Clara together, they were hot in bed & gave each other pleasure instead of all the pain they've endured, and they were sweet & loving & could really comfort each other in the future.
January 29, 2015
Jax, Avery' s brother, is finally ready to move on with his life. At his age, he's been through more than most adults have been through. With their mother, always drunk or high, never around for them and never able to be a mother to them, Avery stepped up to make sure Jax would one day have a better life. Jax met a girl he is willing to let in his world. They have a "friends with benefits" agreement but Jax only agreed to it because he will take what he can get to be with her. Her being Clara, a girl who herself has baggage, is scared to open up to anyone because the last person she let into her heart left her when times got tough. She really likes Jax but is just being cautious. Then one day Jax gets a call from his mother telling him to go back home she is in trouble with Marcus and he kill her then the phone goes dead. He immediately is worried, even tho his mother always owes somebody something. Clara goes back with him to his home town. While there looking for his mother, they get closer and open up to each other. The share stories of their past with each other. They are there for each other, silently falling in love. Then his mother shows up and completely ruins him with just awful things she says to him. But Clara is there for him and for this he is thankful for. The ending was not a great ending, which I'm completely surprised by. I am a fan of Ms Sorensen' s writing but this just ended too suddenly, hopefully there is another book.
January 21, 2015
4 ⭐️s
I'm not used to this, two Jessica Sorensen books in the span of just a couple of weeks. Back-to-Back for me. I feel like I've won the lottery!
This has been my favorite series by this author and this installment didn't disappoint. Of course, I didn't love it as much as Quinton and Nova's books but I really enjoyed it. I really liked Jax and Clara. It was a simple and quick read. It wasn't long at all. This one wasn't near as depressing as her other books. It still has that sad element but I didn't close the book feeling all sad and emotionally drained. It left me with a smile. Something else I'm not used to with this author. This book did not end with a cliffhanger. It has an ENDING! Jessica Sorensen, you're full of surprises!
Overall, it was a simple and sweet read. I liked it!
February 24, 2015
Jax & Clara
I didn't enjoy this book.
It was rather boring and the storyline was not what I am used to from Jessica Sorensen.
I need to jot down what happened in this book otherwise I will have to read it again, that's how boring this book was for me.
He has issues from his past, she has issues from her past.
The fact that she has so many rules to their friends with benefits arrangement does not make much sense because there is no major reveal behind the rules of no touching, etc.
Then they go on a roadtrip to find his mother and then they come back home in a relationship... big surprise there.
The book ends one month later, where he is about to meet her crazy mother.
I didn't enjoy this book.
It was rather boring and the storyline was not what I am used to from Jessica Sorensen.
I need to jot down what happened in this book otherwise I will have to read it again, that's how boring this book was for me.
He has issues from his past, she has issues from her past.
The fact that she has so many rules to their friends with benefits arrangement does not make much sense because there is no major reveal behind the rules of no touching, etc.
Then they go on a roadtrip to find his mother and then they come back home in a relationship... big surprise there.
The book ends one month later, where he is about to meet her crazy mother.
April 5, 2015
Nothing spectacular
This book was just okay. I really enjoy Jessica Sorensen as an author and pick up lot of her books but this one was pretty bland. I found Clara to be a bit overdramatic. She has to help take care of her mom who gets a little confused sometimes, but she had a good childhood and a supportive aunt who helps out greatly. If anything, Jax should be the one that has the emotional baggage and insecurities due to his past. Overall, I just didn't find anything spectacular about this book. It was a short, light read which is a sharp contrast from her other books.
This book was just okay. I really enjoy Jessica Sorensen as an author and pick up lot of her books but this one was pretty bland. I found Clara to be a bit overdramatic. She has to help take care of her mom who gets a little confused sometimes, but she had a good childhood and a supportive aunt who helps out greatly. If anything, Jax should be the one that has the emotional baggage and insecurities due to his past. Overall, I just didn't find anything spectacular about this book. It was a short, light read which is a sharp contrast from her other books.
January 25, 2015
It was a good book. I really like Jax character but I had some issues with Clara. Some things didn't add up to me. For instance, she doesn't have time but yet she goes to parties every Friday night...to hook up with Jax...I may be Nick picking but I found myself putting the book down and drifting to doing other things. Will I continue to read the series? Yes. I love how the author writes about the real things out there.
May 3, 2015
This was a great read. I loved Jax and Clara and my heart felt for them and their situation. I loved them together, they kept their strong chemistry throughout the entire book and I was rooting for them both. It was incredibly satisfying to see these two wounded people beginning to heal. I would recommend to any fans of Jessica. Touching and sweet!
January 24, 2015
I love Jessica Sorensen and I had high hopes for this book. Unfortunately this book was not nearly as good as her others. I'm actually surprised by all the high ratings. The book was so boring I could barely finish it. Really disappointed.
January 20, 2015
Review coming soon!
Want to read
March 30, 2015WHO.WHAT.WHEN?
January 25, 2015
ah..!un altro..!non vedo l'ora..!!! *.*
25/1:
5 stars..!
25/1:
5 stars..!
February 18, 2015
**REVIEW TO FOLLOW**
January 24, 2015
Liked it but a little too short :)
May 28, 2015
This book was ok. Nothing too exciting.
February 1, 2015
Jan 19th
December 10, 2021
This is Avery's brother's story. Jax has always felt obligated towards his mother, even though he knows that she was the worst mother to him and Avery.
When he gets a call from her screaming that has has to help her or she may get killed, he decides to take a road trip to his hometown to try to find her. Everyone tells him not to do it, but he can't help it.
Clara's life revolves around taking care of her mother and working. Her mother suffered brain damage in an accident that killed her father years ago and is now childlike. She doesn't think she can handle a relationship on top of her obligations. She agrees to go with Jax on the road trip only because it is where she promised her father she would scatter his ashes.
This is a pretty short book, not quite as dark and angsty as the rest of the series as neither Jax or Clara have any addiction or PTSD to deal with. It's an easy quick read and wraps up the series pretty nicely.
When he gets a call from her screaming that has has to help her or she may get killed, he decides to take a road trip to his hometown to try to find her. Everyone tells him not to do it, but he can't help it.
Clara's life revolves around taking care of her mother and working. Her mother suffered brain damage in an accident that killed her father years ago and is now childlike. She doesn't think she can handle a relationship on top of her obligations. She agrees to go with Jax on the road trip only because it is where she promised her father she would scatter his ashes.
This is a pretty short book, not quite as dark and angsty as the rest of the series as neither Jax or Clara have any addiction or PTSD to deal with. It's an easy quick read and wraps up the series pretty nicely.
March 15, 2019
This is a review for the whole series, as I wasn't able to put it down until I was done.
There is something dark, and so real about Jessica Sorensen's books. If you can ignore a little the overly sexual portions, the main topics of each series are really real, and can really get you to feel some intense emotions.
Quinton and Nora's story was absolutely heartbreaking. Every moment I feel such dispair, and sadness. But at the same time, it felt real. It could have easily been someone I knew. Life takes particular turns, and decisions can impact your life forever.
What I love about these books is reading and knowing that, even with all the twists and turns that life brings to our lives, even the most broken souls can overcome challenges.
There is something dark, and so real about Jessica Sorensen's books. If you can ignore a little the overly sexual portions, the main topics of each series are really real, and can really get you to feel some intense emotions.
Quinton and Nora's story was absolutely heartbreaking. Every moment I feel such dispair, and sadness. But at the same time, it felt real. It could have easily been someone I knew. Life takes particular turns, and decisions can impact your life forever.
What I love about these books is reading and knowing that, even with all the twists and turns that life brings to our lives, even the most broken souls can overcome challenges.
October 25, 2018
Another great book from a great writer. I am a true fan of your works!!
December 3, 2023
Such a good read!!
September 14, 2016
This review is also available on my blog, Bows & Bullets Reviews
Clara McKinley has made the fact that she doesn’t have time for a relationship abundantly clear. She has set up a serious of rules to insure her Friday night flings with Jax Hensley don’t become anything more than a friends with benefits arrangement. That works fine until Jax receives a call from his crack-whore mom saying she fears for her life and he needs someone to go with him back to Wyoming to check on her. Clara agrees under the assumption that nothing will change between them on this trip. But even as she makes the stipulation, she knows it’s useless. Things with Jax grow more intense at every encounter and pretty soon she’s be breaking all her rules for him.
I was half in love with Jax from the previous novel. Jax does a lot to help his sister Avery in Wreck Me and he’d already won me over there. He’s smart and loyal and sweet and just right level of cocky to have me swooning. It had me wondering how Clara managed to resist him at all, much less for how long she does. It was just a bit weird for me to switch Jax from brother role to lover in my head. I don’t know why exactly as I have read series’ that feature different siblings before, but this time switching gears just took a moment. The first time him and Clara get it on, I was still wearing my Avery goggles and that gave the scene a very different vibe than I expect was intended. It is probably only because I jumped directly into this after finishing Wreck Me. I mean I literally finished Wreck Me and then flipped through my kindle for this one and started it. So, you know, don’t do that. Wait a few hours or a day before starting this to let your brain settle Jax out of the brother role. Once I got out of that, though, I was immediately swooning over him.
Clara was a character I didn’t love as much as I expected to. I think it was because I felt like she was putting too much emphasis on her mom and her responsibilities. She shies away from guys because her high school boyfriend dumped her over the responsibilities she was left with when her dad died and her mom became mentally handicapped. She’s scared all guys will run away because he did. I get that Jax is young, but she knows enough about him to know that he has his fair share of responsibility and would never walk away for such a reason. It really bugged me that it took her so long to let him in. The boy has had a hard life and he deserves some happiness. I don’t like anyone who stands in the way of that.
My only issue with this was that I didn’t love Clara as much as I normally love Sorensen’s heroines and it felt too short. With Clara, I just felt like she was making more out of taking care of her mom than she needed to. I’m not saying her situation isn’t sad, just that it isn’t as bad as she makes it out to be in her head. The shortness thing is probably just because when I really enjoy things I don’t want them to end. Besides, I’m used to 300-400 pages from Sorensen and this doesn’t even hit 200. So naturally I wanted more. Even with not loving Clara, I was ready to see more scenes between her and Jax. Or maybe a few more snippets of Jax and Avery interacting because I like seeing the novels connect. At the same time, I can see why it’s short. Jax’s has been through enough and is more than ready to start his happily ever after. After this one adventure tracking down his mom, his life should be turmoil free for a good long time and there is no need to draw out his torture unnecessarily.
The story and writing here is just what I’ve come to expect from Sorensen, amazing. She never fails to deliver a story that keeps me enthralled and begging for me. She’s also pretty known for her cliffhangers, but that is blessedly absent here. Ruin me is written with her signature level of smut and snark and heart. Even as you smile at the humorous dialogue, your heart hurts for these characters and their lives.
I know I’ve said it in several reviews before, but it bears repeating. Jessica Sorensen knows how to write a perfectly flawed character. She knows exactly how to give me the characters I didn’t know I needed to read about and this is no exception to that. Though it doesn’t quite live up to the epic-ness that is Wreck Me, it’s an amazing story in it’s own right and one that kept me thoroughly entertained. She is already one of my favorite authors and each book I read by her just bumps her higher up the list! Though I think this could be read as a stand-alone, I recommend reading Wreck Me before diving into this so you have a bit more background on Jax.
****Thank you to Jessica Sorensen for providing me with an eARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review****
Clara McKinley has made the fact that she doesn’t have time for a relationship abundantly clear. She has set up a serious of rules to insure her Friday night flings with Jax Hensley don’t become anything more than a friends with benefits arrangement. That works fine until Jax receives a call from his crack-whore mom saying she fears for her life and he needs someone to go with him back to Wyoming to check on her. Clara agrees under the assumption that nothing will change between them on this trip. But even as she makes the stipulation, she knows it’s useless. Things with Jax grow more intense at every encounter and pretty soon she’s be breaking all her rules for him.
I was half in love with Jax from the previous novel. Jax does a lot to help his sister Avery in Wreck Me and he’d already won me over there. He’s smart and loyal and sweet and just right level of cocky to have me swooning. It had me wondering how Clara managed to resist him at all, much less for how long she does. It was just a bit weird for me to switch Jax from brother role to lover in my head. I don’t know why exactly as I have read series’ that feature different siblings before, but this time switching gears just took a moment. The first time him and Clara get it on, I was still wearing my Avery goggles and that gave the scene a very different vibe than I expect was intended. It is probably only because I jumped directly into this after finishing Wreck Me. I mean I literally finished Wreck Me and then flipped through my kindle for this one and started it. So, you know, don’t do that. Wait a few hours or a day before starting this to let your brain settle Jax out of the brother role. Once I got out of that, though, I was immediately swooning over him.
Clara was a character I didn’t love as much as I expected to. I think it was because I felt like she was putting too much emphasis on her mom and her responsibilities. She shies away from guys because her high school boyfriend dumped her over the responsibilities she was left with when her dad died and her mom became mentally handicapped. She’s scared all guys will run away because he did. I get that Jax is young, but she knows enough about him to know that he has his fair share of responsibility and would never walk away for such a reason. It really bugged me that it took her so long to let him in. The boy has had a hard life and he deserves some happiness. I don’t like anyone who stands in the way of that.
My only issue with this was that I didn’t love Clara as much as I normally love Sorensen’s heroines and it felt too short. With Clara, I just felt like she was making more out of taking care of her mom than she needed to. I’m not saying her situation isn’t sad, just that it isn’t as bad as she makes it out to be in her head. The shortness thing is probably just because when I really enjoy things I don’t want them to end. Besides, I’m used to 300-400 pages from Sorensen and this doesn’t even hit 200. So naturally I wanted more. Even with not loving Clara, I was ready to see more scenes between her and Jax. Or maybe a few more snippets of Jax and Avery interacting because I like seeing the novels connect. At the same time, I can see why it’s short. Jax’s has been through enough and is more than ready to start his happily ever after. After this one adventure tracking down his mom, his life should be turmoil free for a good long time and there is no need to draw out his torture unnecessarily.
The story and writing here is just what I’ve come to expect from Sorensen, amazing. She never fails to deliver a story that keeps me enthralled and begging for me. She’s also pretty known for her cliffhangers, but that is blessedly absent here. Ruin me is written with her signature level of smut and snark and heart. Even as you smile at the humorous dialogue, your heart hurts for these characters and their lives.
I know I’ve said it in several reviews before, but it bears repeating. Jessica Sorensen knows how to write a perfectly flawed character. She knows exactly how to give me the characters I didn’t know I needed to read about and this is no exception to that. Though it doesn’t quite live up to the epic-ness that is Wreck Me, it’s an amazing story in it’s own right and one that kept me thoroughly entertained. She is already one of my favorite authors and each book I read by her just bumps her higher up the list! Though I think this could be read as a stand-alone, I recommend reading Wreck Me before diving into this so you have a bit more background on Jax.
****Thank you to Jessica Sorensen for providing me with an eARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review****
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