What do you think?
Rate this book
Sunday Morning #1
Sunday Morning
Footloose meets A Star Is Born in this small-town, new adult, forbidden romance standalone from USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Jewel E. Ann.
Her boyfriend's older brother should be off-limits, but he's a sinful temptation.
Sarah is a preacher's daughter and a people pleaser. She's also on the verge of graduating high school and following her dream of singing in Nashville. The only thing standing in her way is that the entire town of Devil's Head, Missouri thinks she will marry Matt, the son of the town's richest rancher.
But Sarah's not sure he's her future husband, especially when his older brother, Isaac, returns home after serving six years in the Army. He has tattoos on his arms and bad habits that are not "father-approved."
When he's not working on the ranch or roping at the rodeo, Isaac hangs out in the barn, playing his guitar. He's trouble, but Sarah's music-loving heart gravitates toward him.
Isaac loves consuming Sarah's mind, crawling under her skin, backing her into corners, and whispering inappropriate things in her innocent ears.
After weeks of playful banter and guitar lessons blurring the line between right and wrong, Issac makes Sarah a proposition she can't refuse.
When the unthinkable happens, and everything she knows is destroyed, will Sarah make the right choice?
Her boyfriend's older brother should be off-limits, but he's a sinful temptation.
Sarah is a preacher's daughter and a people pleaser. She's also on the verge of graduating high school and following her dream of singing in Nashville. The only thing standing in her way is that the entire town of Devil's Head, Missouri thinks she will marry Matt, the son of the town's richest rancher.
But Sarah's not sure he's her future husband, especially when his older brother, Isaac, returns home after serving six years in the Army. He has tattoos on his arms and bad habits that are not "father-approved."
When he's not working on the ranch or roping at the rodeo, Isaac hangs out in the barn, playing his guitar. He's trouble, but Sarah's music-loving heart gravitates toward him.
Isaac loves consuming Sarah's mind, crawling under her skin, backing her into corners, and whispering inappropriate things in her innocent ears.
After weeks of playful banter and guitar lessons blurring the line between right and wrong, Issac makes Sarah a proposition she can't refuse.
When the unthinkable happens, and everything she knows is destroyed, will Sarah make the right choice?
Audiobook
First published September 26, 2024
3031 people are currently reading
28656 people want to read
About the author
Jewel E. Ann
55 books10.6k followersJewel is a Wall Street Journal & USA Today best selling author with a quirky sense of humor. When she's not saving the planet one tree at a time, you can find her role modeling questionable behavior to her three boys, binge-watching Netflix with her husband, and writing mind-bending romance.
Her newest release is I Thought of You, a contemporary romance/women's fiction.
Upcoming Projects: Sunday Morning, book 1 in the Sunday Morning Series coming in Sept. 2024.
Stay in the loop by subscribing to her newsletter!—> Sign up here!
Her newest release is I Thought of You, a contemporary romance/women's fiction.
Upcoming Projects: Sunday Morning, book 1 in the Sunday Morning Series coming in Sept. 2024.
Stay in the loop by subscribing to her newsletter!—> Sign up here!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,049 reviews
September 27, 2024
5+⭐️ This is immediately being added to my all-time favorites list. I absolutely devoured this story and it holds such a special place in my heart! This book captivated me from the start and truly pulled every single emotion out of me while reading. I laughed, cried, and kicked my feet more times than I can count.
Sarah and Isaac’s story is raw, messy, and filled with incredibly real emotion. The chemistry between these two is off-the-charts hot while also having such a beautiful emotional depth. Isaac is a dream MMC, watching his role in Sarah’s journey made my heart swell so many times.
What to expect:
✨Forbidden romance
✨Preacher’s daughter
✨Boyfriend’s older brother
✨Bad boy cowboy
✨He falls first
✨Coming of age
✨Emotional/ Grief
I will be shouting this one from the rooftops, my first Jewel E. Ann book and certainly not my last! Thank you Valentine PR and Jewel E. Ann for this ARC. I had the time of my life reading it and will be (not so patiently) awaiting The Apple Tree!
Sarah and Isaac’s story is raw, messy, and filled with incredibly real emotion. The chemistry between these two is off-the-charts hot while also having such a beautiful emotional depth. Isaac is a dream MMC, watching his role in Sarah’s journey made my heart swell so many times.
What to expect:
✨Forbidden romance
✨Preacher’s daughter
✨Boyfriend’s older brother
✨Bad boy cowboy
✨He falls first
✨Coming of age
✨Emotional/ Grief
I will be shouting this one from the rooftops, my first Jewel E. Ann book and certainly not my last! Thank you Valentine PR and Jewel E. Ann for this ARC. I had the time of my life reading it and will be (not so patiently) awaiting The Apple Tree!
March 2, 2025
AMAZING!!!!
Sunday Morning made me cry—and I mean really cry—but it was also one of the best romances I’ve read this year.
The passion between Isaac and Sarah had me absolutely giddy with happiness. I laughed, I swooned, and I fell hard for Isaac. And Sarah? I fell a little in love with her too—she was exactly my kind of heroine. Together, they embodied passion, young love, and a connection that endures through everything life throws at them.
Isaac’s quiet maturity paired with Sarah’s joy and shy confidence was pure catnip for me. These are the kind of books I live for—the ones that sweep you away and make you feel every single emotion.
A 5-star romance has become a rare gem for me, but when one comes along, it’s pure magic. My heart is so full, it’s bursting. 💖
Sunday Morning made me cry—and I mean really cry—but it was also one of the best romances I’ve read this year.
The passion between Isaac and Sarah had me absolutely giddy with happiness. I laughed, I swooned, and I fell hard for Isaac. And Sarah? I fell a little in love with her too—she was exactly my kind of heroine. Together, they embodied passion, young love, and a connection that endures through everything life throws at them.
Isaac’s quiet maturity paired with Sarah’s joy and shy confidence was pure catnip for me. These are the kind of books I live for—the ones that sweep you away and make you feel every single emotion.
A 5-star romance has become a rare gem for me, but when one comes along, it’s pure magic. My heart is so full, it’s bursting. 💖
October 14, 2024
4 stars
Jewel E. Ann really brought the feels with this one. I cried so much the last 25% of Sunday Morning. I enjoyed the romance a lot, but there were other aspects that didn't quite work for me. Jewel's writing is fantastic and I'm curious about the next one because Eve was a hoot.
We were either the bad kind of right or the good kind of wrong. It was hard to distinguish the two. We had a reckless love and perfectly awful timing. We were impossible to describe, and that’s why every time I tried to put us into words, it made no sense.
Jewel E. Ann really brought the feels with this one. I cried so much the last 25% of Sunday Morning. I enjoyed the romance a lot, but there were other aspects that didn't quite work for me. Jewel's writing is fantastic and I'm curious about the next one because Eve was a hoot.
September 20, 2024
🌸 𝙼𝚈 𝚁𝙴𝚅𝙸𝙴𝚆 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚁𝚂 🌸 can also be found on my blog: ╰┈➤K𝐈T𝐓Y K𝐀T𝐒 𝐂R𝐀Z𝐘 𝐀B𝐎U𝐓 𝐁O𝐎K𝐒
'𝐒U𝐍D𝐀Y M𝐎R𝐍I𝐍G' Is a full length angsty age gap small town romance book by Jewel E Ann. Isaac & Sarah
This was the one book I was anticipating like no other book before it, throw in the teasers making its rounds and my anticipation levels skyrocketed, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it, once it arrived on my ipad game over, life on hold and I lapped up every single word and loved every single minute of it.
I think Jewel E. Ann portrayed this preacher's daughter perfectly, Miss Goody Two Shoes who was a prim and proper people pleaser, who loved god to a fault, and always walked the line of goodness, but she wanted more out of life, she wanted the fire crackers and firsts to count, where she's seen and her dreams and aspirations matter. Where she's not molded into everyone's expectations.
Having a preacher as a father isn't an easy life for Sarah and her siblings there's so many expectations and responsibilities on their shoulders, even more so when Sarah started dating Matt, the good looking neighbours boy everyone had them married off and to keep the peace and everyone happy she never said otherwise, but life threw a curve ball when her boyfriends older brother Isaac returns from his stint away at the Army and she sees him in church on Easter Sunday.
Twists and Turns
Secrets and Lies
Heartbreak and Hope
Isaac is the fall guy, he's the families biggest disappointment, the underdog, whereas Matt is the golden child and is always put first.
📚"....𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚏𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚒𝚗 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝙸𝚜𝚊𝚊𝚌. 𝙸 𝚏𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚖𝚢𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚒𝚗 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚑𝚒𝚖. 𝙸𝚗 𝚑𝚒𝚖, 𝙸 𝚏𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚖𝚢𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏. "
But delve deeper and Issac is so much more than listed above he had my heart from the get go, a man of few words, but when he does speak those words are mostly wrapped up in sexual innuendos to crawl under Sarah's skin. The moment he saw her in church that day was the moment he wanted her. But to have her was going to rip his family and hers apart.
January 29, 2025
‘He could have the fame and fortune. World titles and fancy cars. He could have six days and nights. I only wanted Sunday Morning.’
He. Only. Wanted. Sunday. Morning 😩
This isn’t the most ideal way to speak about your brother’s girlfriend, but if you’re going to say it, say it like this. Say it exactly like this.🥲
Ahhhhhhhh this book was so goodddd that I’m struggling to put it into words …and yet I have written a whole rambling review. Enjoy !
I’m starting this review with a tiny spoiler because I think it’s necessary to share. This wasn’t a black-and-white cheating romance. The couple initially mentioned in the blurb, have already scheduled their breakup and are very open about the expiry date of their relationship. The first few chapters went into more detail, but the main relationship featured wasn’t a torrid affair at all. Don’t miss out on this book if you were put off by the mention of cheating (like I almost did 😅)
Set in a small town in 1985, our FMC, Sarah was painted as the perfect preacher’s daughter. She was in the church choir, never disappointed her parents and was dating the town golden boy. However, behind that perfectly crafted facade, she wanted to experience being 18 without restrictions. So she started pushing the boundaries…Enter Isaac….her boyfriend’s older brother, who saw rules more as a suggestion.
Their relationship started as poking and picking at each other, but underneath it all was this looming sexual tension that just wouldn’t go away.
Issac wasn’t the perfect person. He hid behind self-deprecating humour and bluntness, but he was honest, devoted and loyal to the people he loved even when it wasn’t always evident. He allowed Sarah to be herself while encouraging her to grow as a person.
Sarah was constantly fighting with her faith and questioning her relationship with god, in comparison to others' beliefs. Throughout the book, she gained a mind of her own and that mind was honestly hilarious. Her funniest lines were often the result of anxiety or the early stages of a mental breakdown, and I couldn’t relate more if I tried.
E.g. When Issac is staring at her at a church service…
"It's hot," I whispered to Heather while
pulling at the neck of my choir robe.
"It's not. Your dad always has the AC set at fifty,” she mumbled under her breath.
It was Satan.
He brought the flames of Hell with him. And he loved watching me sweat and squirm through the whole service.
I am going to start using the line ‘it was Satan’ when any or all minor inconveniences happen. It feels right.
With the funny, also came the heartbreaking. I didn’t understand why people found this book sad until I got to the sad part and oh f**k. Yeah, that was devastating. The church speech especially 😢 I’m not going to spoil it, but it was soooo well written.
To me, this was a 5-star read. However, it did go down to a 4-star (temporarily) during a miscommunication near the end. This could have been cleared up with a simple text, but then I realised it was 1985….
Overall, I loved the characters, plot and also how the title tied in perfectly. The significance of ‘Sunday Morning’ was everything ☀️
Thanks for the rec, Sarah !
He. Only. Wanted. Sunday. Morning 😩
This isn’t the most ideal way to speak about your brother’s girlfriend, but if you’re going to say it, say it like this. Say it exactly like this.🥲
Ahhhhhhhh this book was so goodddd that I’m struggling to put it into words …and yet I have written a whole rambling review. Enjoy !
I’m starting this review with a tiny spoiler because I think it’s necessary to share. This wasn’t a black-and-white cheating romance. The couple initially mentioned in the blurb, have already scheduled their breakup and are very open about the expiry date of their relationship. The first few chapters went into more detail, but the main relationship featured wasn’t a torrid affair at all. Don’t miss out on this book if you were put off by the mention of cheating (like I almost did 😅)
Set in a small town in 1985, our FMC, Sarah was painted as the perfect preacher’s daughter. She was in the church choir, never disappointed her parents and was dating the town golden boy. However, behind that perfectly crafted facade, she wanted to experience being 18 without restrictions. So she started pushing the boundaries…Enter Isaac….her boyfriend’s older brother, who saw rules more as a suggestion.
Their relationship started as poking and picking at each other, but underneath it all was this looming sexual tension that just wouldn’t go away.
Issac wasn’t the perfect person. He hid behind self-deprecating humour and bluntness, but he was honest, devoted and loyal to the people he loved even when it wasn’t always evident. He allowed Sarah to be herself while encouraging her to grow as a person.
Sarah was constantly fighting with her faith and questioning her relationship with god, in comparison to others' beliefs. Throughout the book, she gained a mind of her own and that mind was honestly hilarious. Her funniest lines were often the result of anxiety or the early stages of a mental breakdown, and I couldn’t relate more if I tried.
E.g. When Issac is staring at her at a church service…
"It's hot," I whispered to Heather while
pulling at the neck of my choir robe.
"It's not. Your dad always has the AC set at fifty,” she mumbled under her breath.
It was Satan.
He brought the flames of Hell with him. And he loved watching me sweat and squirm through the whole service.
I am going to start using the line ‘it was Satan’ when any or all minor inconveniences happen. It feels right.
With the funny, also came the heartbreaking. I didn’t understand why people found this book sad until I got to the sad part and oh f**k. Yeah, that was devastating. The church speech especially 😢 I’m not going to spoil it, but it was soooo well written.
To me, this was a 5-star read. However, it did go down to a 4-star (temporarily) during a miscommunication near the end. This could have been cleared up with a simple text, but then I realised it was 1985….
Overall, I loved the characters, plot and also how the title tied in perfectly. The significance of ‘Sunday Morning’ was everything ☀️
Thanks for the rec, Sarah !
November 10, 2024
Sunday Morning was the exact kind of read that I never knew I needed. This author knows how to suck you in!!! I started the first chapter and I knew from the first page that I was going to be in for a ride. These characters not only went on a journey of self discovery, but they took me on one as well.
Living in a small town and being the preacher's eldest daughter, comes with a lot of responsibilities. Sarah Jacobson knows that all too well and she plays the role perfectly. Dutiful daughter, loving girlfriend,faithful parishioner, Sarah’s life couldn't be more at peace. That is until her boyfriend's older brother moves back home after being in the army for six years.
Isaac is the opposite of his younger brother. He's blunt, does what he wants and apologizes for nothing. But if you really get to know him, that's just scratching the surface and deep down, his complexities and lonesome sacrifices is what makes him one of the best heroes I've had the pleasure of reading about. It's been six years since Isaac's been home and the first thing that caught his attention was none other than Sunday Morning herself. What happens when the town's hottest bad boy sets his sights on you?
I seriously wanted to crawl into this storyline because it was that good!! I found myself giggling at certain scenes, raging and swooning at the same time and I felt my heart break when I didn't see it coming. These characters were hard to get out of my head but what I truly loved most about this story, was their evolution and the way they loved. That feeling was indescribable but you felt it and you saw all the signs and you slowly went down as they were falling
I would have loved to have the Hero's pov a lot more in the story because for certain scenes, I needed to know how he was feeling in those exact moments. But rest assured, the author makes up for it in different ways when she gut punches you with ALL THE FEELS! If you haven't read anything from her yet, you need to start right now. I highly recommend this one and I can't wait for the next book in this series.
November 18, 2024
alexa play cowboy like me 🗣️
i dont even know where to begin with this one, i was absolutely sold on this book before ever even picking it up when i saw “footloose meets a star is born” and to say i ended up devouring it would be an understatement. i was hooked immediately and it kept me in a chokehold the entire time, it was so addicting.
i didnt really go into this with any expectations but i can assure you i did not expect to get my ass handed to me the way i did 😂 one minute i was giggling, so excited for sarah and isaac and the next i was sobbing 😭 this one really packed an emotional punch that felt cruel but also added so much to the story?
i do wish we had gotten a bit more of isaac’s pov through out the book but im insanely obsessed with the chapters we do get, i dont know what it was about that man but good gravy i am in love with him!!! i absolutely loved how he was the only person who never tried to change sarah and helped her do whatever it took to live out her dreams. their love for eachother the entire time felt so palpable 🥹
i will be thinking about these two forever and ever and already look forward to rereading this book
i dont even know where to begin with this one, i was absolutely sold on this book before ever even picking it up when i saw “footloose meets a star is born” and to say i ended up devouring it would be an understatement. i was hooked immediately and it kept me in a chokehold the entire time, it was so addicting.
i didnt really go into this with any expectations but i can assure you i did not expect to get my ass handed to me the way i did 😂 one minute i was giggling, so excited for sarah and isaac and the next i was sobbing 😭 this one really packed an emotional punch that felt cruel but also added so much to the story?
i do wish we had gotten a bit more of isaac’s pov through out the book but im insanely obsessed with the chapters we do get, i dont know what it was about that man but good gravy i am in love with him!!! i absolutely loved how he was the only person who never tried to change sarah and helped her do whatever it took to live out her dreams. their love for eachother the entire time felt so palpable 🥹
i will be thinking about these two forever and ever and already look forward to rereading this book
April 8, 2025
I decided to reread this book, and I can honestly say I love it just as much the second time around!
The fmc is a preacher’s daughter who dreams of becoming a singer. Her parents don’t support her passion — they want her to marry Matt, the son of the town’s richest rancher. Sarah is dating Matt, but her feelings for him aren’t deep. Then Matt’s older brother returns to town — the one with the bad reputation, tattoos, and a guitar — and Sarah’s world is turned upside down.
I’m absolutely obsessed with this book! Set in the 80s, the story is soaked in nostalgic vibes, and I couldn’t stop hearing Kim Carnes’ “Bette Davis Eyes” playing in my head.
Isaac returns from the army, and although many in town see him as the "bad boy," he’s the only one who truly sees and supports Sarah’s dreams. Yes, at the start of the book Sarah is with Matt, but don’t worry — there’s no major cheating or anything like that.
It’s full of great humor and incredible chemistry between the characters, but also touches on important themes — the relationship between parents and children, self-sacrifice for the sake of others, and finding your own path in life.
If you’re on the fence about reading this — don’t be. Just do it!
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓ small town
✓ age gap
✓ forbidden romance
✓ bad boy / good girl
✓ opposites attract
✓ banter
The fmc is a preacher’s daughter who dreams of becoming a singer. Her parents don’t support her passion — they want her to marry Matt, the son of the town’s richest rancher. Sarah is dating Matt, but her feelings for him aren’t deep. Then Matt’s older brother returns to town — the one with the bad reputation, tattoos, and a guitar — and Sarah’s world is turned upside down.
I’m absolutely obsessed with this book! Set in the 80s, the story is soaked in nostalgic vibes, and I couldn’t stop hearing Kim Carnes’ “Bette Davis Eyes” playing in my head.
Isaac returns from the army, and although many in town see him as the "bad boy," he’s the only one who truly sees and supports Sarah’s dreams. Yes, at the start of the book Sarah is with Matt, but don’t worry — there’s no major cheating or anything like that.
It’s full of great humor and incredible chemistry between the characters, but also touches on important themes — the relationship between parents and children, self-sacrifice for the sake of others, and finding your own path in life.
If you’re on the fence about reading this — don’t be. Just do it!
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓ small town
✓ age gap
✓ forbidden romance
✓ bad boy / good girl
✓ opposites attract
✓ banter
January 30, 2025
rtc
Footloose x a star is born?! oh YESS PLS
Footloose x a star is born?! oh YESS PLS
Read
September 26, 2024Available now!
Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
Amazon: https://amzn.to/45cPTOH
Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/SundayMorning
Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/4caMm5y
Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
Amazon: https://amzn.to/45cPTOH
Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/SundayMorning
Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/4caMm5y
July 22, 2025
3.5 stars. I got an ick that I couldn’t get rid of and it just wasn’t it for me.
lost-interest
September 21, 2024"Footloose meets A Star is Born. A forbidden, new adult romance set in a small town."
GIVE IT HERE
GIVE IT HERE
October 11, 2024
Oh, man. This one hit hard. I cried like a baby. Side note no one told me each chapter was named after a 1980s song. I love that! Brought me back to my teenage years.
I am totally swooning over Issac. He saw Sarah. I mean really saw her, knew she wanted more, and was too big for the small town. While Sarah was struggling to break free and achieve her dreams.
What drew me into this book is not reviews and recommendations. It was one of my favorite tropes., boyfriends brother. It may not be for everyone but it’s for me.
Sunday Morning is a beautiful love story, that is well written about Sarah and Isaac both who sacrificed for their family. Didn’t set out to love each other but knew it would hurt so many if they did.
The book is set in the 1980s. While the author gave the book 1980s nostalgia, she gave a unique twist of todays world. Absolutely brilliant. Sunday Morning is a must-read.
October 16, 2024
3.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown
The Good: The premise, the taboo, the H.
The Not-So-Good: I wanted more if the H's POV and I would've liked a lot more of a connection through music like it was implied in the blurb.
The Bad: The epilogue being right after the conflict leaving me with unanswered questions.
Overall: I'm such a sucker for Jewel E. Ann books. Even though I know that I usually end up frustrated with them in the end for something or another, I always go back! I think it's her voice and flow. She is a master at sucking me in, at least enough for me to go from sample to the whole book. That being said...I was disappointed in how I didn't get the angst fest that I was expecting from reading reviews though. It very well could be just me! I just didn't get all that emotional tbh. I also was frustrated that this didn't have more music and them bonding over the music. When I read "footloose with a star is born" I was definitely expecting to have them connect more and to experience the pursuing the music career more. It felt like it was . There was none of that on-page and I think it could've made it better.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Sarah and Isaac's story. Sarah is the pastor's daughter that is sheltered and expected to become the good little rancher's wife to her high school boyfriend. Only when her boyfriend's older brother comes back from the military, he stirs everything up and sees her and her dreams like nobody else has. Isaac pushes Sarah to break free and fight against the small box that everyone has placed her in. There is some family drama, some personal growth, and some sexy times...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between mostly Sarah and some of Isaac's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good except for the very end (see closure section below), but I never skimmed sand I thought it flowed well otherwise.
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings.
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Isaac. I liked him more than the h but I would've loved to have some more of his POV!
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Sarah. I liked her but I wanted her to communicate better.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I shed a few tears but not as much as I had expected (based of the reviews I read) and I never needed any tissues.
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: Yes
Cheating: Yes
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends in a good place with what I would call a HEA ending , but this was right after the conflict was resolved and I was left with a lot of unanswered questions-- or at least I wanted to experience more of their HEA instead of being told things happened after the fact.
Safety: This one is probably Not Safe for most safety gang readers
Opinion Breakdown
The Good: The premise, the taboo, the H.
The Not-So-Good: I wanted more if the H's POV and I would've liked a lot more of a connection through music like it was implied in the blurb.
The Bad: The epilogue being right after the conflict leaving me with unanswered questions.
Overall: I'm such a sucker for Jewel E. Ann books. Even though I know that I usually end up frustrated with them in the end for something or another, I always go back! I think it's her voice and flow. She is a master at sucking me in, at least enough for me to go from sample to the whole book. That being said...I was disappointed in how I didn't get the angst fest that I was expecting from reading reviews though. It very well could be just me! I just didn't get all that emotional tbh. I also was frustrated that this didn't have more music and them bonding over the music. When I read "footloose with a star is born" I was definitely expecting to have them connect more and to experience the pursuing the music career more. It felt like it was . There was none of that on-page and I think it could've made it better.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Sarah and Isaac's story. Sarah is the pastor's daughter that is sheltered and expected to become the good little rancher's wife to her high school boyfriend. Only when her boyfriend's older brother comes back from the military, he stirs everything up and sees her and her dreams like nobody else has. Isaac pushes Sarah to break free and fight against the small box that everyone has placed her in. There is some family drama, some personal growth, and some sexy times...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between mostly Sarah and some of Isaac's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good except for the very end (see closure section below), but I never skimmed sand I thought it flowed well otherwise.
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings.
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Isaac. I liked him more than the h but I would've loved to have some more of his POV!
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Sarah. I liked her but I wanted her to communicate better.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I shed a few tears but not as much as I had expected (based of the reviews I read) and I never needed any tissues.
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: Yes
Cheating: Yes
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends in a good place with what I would call a HEA ending , but this was right after the conflict was resolved and I was left with a lot of unanswered questions-- or at least I wanted to experience more of their HEA instead of being told things happened after the fact.
Safety: This one is probably Not Safe for most safety gang readers
May 27, 2025
This story makes me emotional and happy because is so carefully written. I loved it.
It’s worth reading!
It’s worth reading!
July 4, 2025
3.75 rounded up
For the love of God, can someone get these characters a glass of water? I’ve never read so much on page Pepsi consumption.
Overall, I really enjoyed the story, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on what felt slightly off. Maybe it was the character development, or the fact that the tension never fully hit that boiling point. It just needed a little extra spark to really stick the landing. That said, if you’re not looking for heavy grit in your romance, there’s a good chance you’ll really enjoy this one.
I saw one reviewer mention being put off by the religious language, but I actually thought it added a layer of subtle humor, it ended up being one of my favorite parts. At one point, she wears a Jesus Loves Me T-shirt hoping it’ll kill the mood with her boyfriend… hilarious.
For the love of God, can someone get these characters a glass of water? I’ve never read so much on page Pepsi consumption.
Overall, I really enjoyed the story, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on what felt slightly off. Maybe it was the character development, or the fact that the tension never fully hit that boiling point. It just needed a little extra spark to really stick the landing. That said, if you’re not looking for heavy grit in your romance, there’s a good chance you’ll really enjoy this one.
I saw one reviewer mention being put off by the religious language, but I actually thought it added a layer of subtle humor, it ended up being one of my favorite parts. At one point, she wears a Jesus Loves Me T-shirt hoping it’ll kill the mood with her boyfriend… hilarious.
March 16, 2025
4.5/5 ⭐️
2/5 🌶️
Tropes & what to expect:
- Small town romance
- Forbidden romance
- Good girl x bad boy
- Boyfriend's older brother
- Forced proximity
I cannot say enough good things about this book! It was definitely giving me "some" similar vibes/feels to A Star is Born and Footloose.
I don't tend to go for many small town romances so to be honest I wasn't sure I'd like this one so LOVING it is a big deal for me. 🤭
I highly recommend listening to the audiobook if you enjoy those! 💛
2/5 🌶️
Tropes & what to expect:
- Small town romance
- Forbidden romance
- Good girl x bad boy
- Boyfriend's older brother
- Forced proximity
I cannot say enough good things about this book! It was definitely giving me "some" similar vibes/feels to A Star is Born and Footloose.
I don't tend to go for many small town romances so to be honest I wasn't sure I'd like this one so LOVING it is a big deal for me. 🤭
I highly recommend listening to the audiobook if you enjoy those! 💛
December 2, 2024
What the reviews made this book out to be: angsty, forbidden romance, young girl who goes on a journey to find herself and finds love on the way
What it actually was: creepy, inappropriate 24 year old guy continuously hits on his (much) younger brother’s super naive and impressionable girlfriend until she gives in. Oh and the other 60% of the book is about god, church and religion, so I think this should be tagged as a Christian book (which is also weird because there’s a TON of graphic spice).
Do not recommend.
What it actually was: creepy, inappropriate 24 year old guy continuously hits on his (much) younger brother’s super naive and impressionable girlfriend until she gives in. Oh and the other 60% of the book is about god, church and religion, so I think this should be tagged as a Christian book (which is also weird because there’s a TON of graphic spice).
Do not recommend.
September 30, 2024
One of my favourite authors, but this one let me down big time.
Disappointing. 😞
Disappointing. 😞
June 3, 2025
“One of the Best Contemporary Romance I’ve Read. Period”
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Okay, full confession…I didn’t take notes while reading this, which I regret because my memory can be a bit chaotic without them. So I don’t have my normal review but I can tell you it was AMAZING!
It was spicy, it was fun, and it had just enough emotional depth to sneak up on me and completely wreck me in the best way. Think Footloose vibes, that small-town tension, the freedom, the rebellion, the intensity, but make it romantic, raw, and SO DAMN GOOD.
The chemistry? 🔥
The pacing? Addictive.
The emotion? Yeah… I 100% shed a tear.
I wasn’t expecting this book to hit so hard, but it did. And it reminded me why I love this genre so much, because it can make you laugh, swoon, and cry in the same breath. One of my absolute favorites this year. No notes. Just vibes. Read it.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Okay, full confession…I didn’t take notes while reading this, which I regret because my memory can be a bit chaotic without them. So I don’t have my normal review but I can tell you it was AMAZING!
It was spicy, it was fun, and it had just enough emotional depth to sneak up on me and completely wreck me in the best way. Think Footloose vibes, that small-town tension, the freedom, the rebellion, the intensity, but make it romantic, raw, and SO DAMN GOOD.
The chemistry? 🔥
The pacing? Addictive.
The emotion? Yeah… I 100% shed a tear.
I wasn’t expecting this book to hit so hard, but it did. And it reminded me why I love this genre so much, because it can make you laugh, swoon, and cry in the same breath. One of my absolute favorites this year. No notes. Just vibes. Read it.
September 26, 2024
*4.5 Stars*
Sunday Morning is a wonderful time! A very addictive story about faith and forbidden love with a few twists along the way.
I was invested from start to finish. Sarah and Isaac’s story was so compelling and well explored. It’s a delicious slow burn.
Isaac’s a flirt but only when it comes to the young and naive Sarah. He’s a good guy throughout and my love and admiration for him only grew as the story progressed.
Sarah had to set aside her dreams to please her father but her growth was so good. With the help from Isaac she found her voice and took a stand. I cheered. Together they gave me all the feels of young love and finding your soulmate.
Sarah’s sisters Eve and Gabby were introduced and I’m beyond excited to read Eve’s book.
What a fabulous start to the Sunday Morning series.
Sunday Morning is a wonderful time! A very addictive story about faith and forbidden love with a few twists along the way.
I was invested from start to finish. Sarah and Isaac’s story was so compelling and well explored. It’s a delicious slow burn.
Isaac’s a flirt but only when it comes to the young and naive Sarah. He’s a good guy throughout and my love and admiration for him only grew as the story progressed.
Sarah had to set aside her dreams to please her father but her growth was so good. With the help from Isaac she found her voice and took a stand. I cheered. Together they gave me all the feels of young love and finding your soulmate.
Sarah’s sisters Eve and Gabby were introduced and I’m beyond excited to read Eve’s book.
What a fabulous start to the Sunday Morning series.
September 27, 2024
5 Stars!
(ARC provided by Valentine PR)
“Music is what happens when your body and soul speak at the same time.”
Sarah Jacobson is the eldest daughter of a preacher in a small town in Missouri called Devil’s Head. She’s eighteen and about to graduate high school. The only thing she was truly passionate about was music, and singing in Nashville was her biggest dream. Her first love and only real boyfriend was a guy who came from a family of ranchers. The Cory’s owned most of the land in Devil’s Head, and her family had known them and been intertwined for years. She believed she was being groomed to marry the youngest Cory son. She grew up a people pleasing, innocent, rule follower who often felt invisible. She always did what was expected of her, but she longed to be fearless and brave. Then her old crush returns to town after being away for six years. Isaac Cory is her boyfriend’s older brother, and totally off limits. He enlisted in the Army after graduation, and he’s now back, and looks like everything her dad always warned her to stay away from. He’s bold, rebellious, and too tempting. She barely recognized him when their gazes locked, but she couldn’t deny the attraction she felt. She can’t stop thinking about him, and the way he fascinates her. He’s a bit obnoxious and inappropriate, and enjoys pushing her buttons, but also peaks her curiosity in a thrilling way. Soon lines get blurred, and she feels reckless. Her world suddenly seems like anything is possible. Things are new and unfamiliar, and she feels everything, but will she take a chance and risk it all for love?
Sunday Morning by Jewel E. Ann is the first book in the Sunday Morning series. It’s a standalone, small town, opposites attract, bad boy/good girl, preacher’s daughter, boyfriend’s older brother, age gap romance about family, heartbreak, music, undeniable connections, self discovery and forbidden love. It’s a unique, emotional story full of angst, sizzling chemistry, secrets, and fabulous banter. It gives Footloose vibes and all the 80’s nostalgia. I loved this book so much, and can’t wait for the next story in the series! <333
***NOW AVAILABLE***
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D6HTLCM3?...
(ARC provided by Valentine PR)
“Music is what happens when your body and soul speak at the same time.”
Sarah Jacobson is the eldest daughter of a preacher in a small town in Missouri called Devil’s Head. She’s eighteen and about to graduate high school. The only thing she was truly passionate about was music, and singing in Nashville was her biggest dream. Her first love and only real boyfriend was a guy who came from a family of ranchers. The Cory’s owned most of the land in Devil’s Head, and her family had known them and been intertwined for years. She believed she was being groomed to marry the youngest Cory son. She grew up a people pleasing, innocent, rule follower who often felt invisible. She always did what was expected of her, but she longed to be fearless and brave. Then her old crush returns to town after being away for six years. Isaac Cory is her boyfriend’s older brother, and totally off limits. He enlisted in the Army after graduation, and he’s now back, and looks like everything her dad always warned her to stay away from. He’s bold, rebellious, and too tempting. She barely recognized him when their gazes locked, but she couldn’t deny the attraction she felt. She can’t stop thinking about him, and the way he fascinates her. He’s a bit obnoxious and inappropriate, and enjoys pushing her buttons, but also peaks her curiosity in a thrilling way. Soon lines get blurred, and she feels reckless. Her world suddenly seems like anything is possible. Things are new and unfamiliar, and she feels everything, but will she take a chance and risk it all for love?
Sunday Morning by Jewel E. Ann is the first book in the Sunday Morning series. It’s a standalone, small town, opposites attract, bad boy/good girl, preacher’s daughter, boyfriend’s older brother, age gap romance about family, heartbreak, music, undeniable connections, self discovery and forbidden love. It’s a unique, emotional story full of angst, sizzling chemistry, secrets, and fabulous banter. It gives Footloose vibes and all the 80’s nostalgia. I loved this book so much, and can’t wait for the next story in the series! <333
***NOW AVAILABLE***
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D6HTLCM3?...
September 14, 2024
Okay i just read this book in 4 hours straight at work and yeah i didn’t actually get anything done i just
by couldn’t put the book down!
From the very first page i was hooked, i know it’s something we say so easily and so often but this time it was sooo true like i swear i was already grinning and kicking my feet at page 3!!!
The first half of the book i just ate up, i love sarah and isaac so much i spend the whole time smiling and laughing it was so freaking funny !
But the second half of the book ? Yeah things got a bit more intense and might i say a whole lot hotter… And no one’s complaining here. But then what happened next i didn’t expect, my jaw kept falling down to the floor and just stayed there. So many twists, so many things happening it was so good it just kept on coming and i was having so much fun reading it! And a few years were also shed…
So yeah i would 100% recommend this book i love sarah and isaac forbidden little relationship so bad.
If you’re looking for a good angsty, age gap romance where he falls first and with a forbidden relationship where he’s literally her boyfriend’s brother this book is definitely for you !
The epilogue had me crying on the very first line so yeah there’s that.
Also i loved her sister Eve so much everything she said had me laughing so hard and i really look forward to reading more…
Thank you Valentine Pr and Jewel E. Ann for providing me with an eArc.
Sunday Morning we’ll be available on September the 26th so yeah add it to your calendar !!!
4,5⭐️
by couldn’t put the book down!
From the very first page i was hooked, i know it’s something we say so easily and so often but this time it was sooo true like i swear i was already grinning and kicking my feet at page 3!!!
The first half of the book i just ate up, i love sarah and isaac so much i spend the whole time smiling and laughing it was so freaking funny !
But the second half of the book ? Yeah things got a bit more intense and might i say a whole lot hotter… And no one’s complaining here. But then what happened next i didn’t expect, my jaw kept falling down to the floor and just stayed there. So many twists, so many things happening it was so good it just kept on coming and i was having so much fun reading it! And a few years were also shed…
So yeah i would 100% recommend this book i love sarah and isaac forbidden little relationship so bad.
If you’re looking for a good angsty, age gap romance where he falls first and with a forbidden relationship where he’s literally her boyfriend’s brother this book is definitely for you !
The epilogue had me crying on the very first line so yeah there’s that.
Also i loved her sister Eve so much everything she said had me laughing so hard and i really look forward to reading more…
Thank you Valentine Pr and Jewel E. Ann for providing me with an eArc.
Sunday Morning we’ll be available on September the 26th so yeah add it to your calendar !!!
4,5⭐️
September 25, 2024
Read if you like: age gap, bad boy x good girl, cowboy, he falls first, opposites attract, cheating, sneaking around, secrets, lies, self discovery, forbidden romance
Check TW
The small and very conservative/religious town is hard for Isaac. He’s the bad boy who was forced to enlist in the army for his shameful behaviour. “He put the Devil in Devil’s head” was the perfect description for him.
Sarah has a pastor for a father, and was raised to be extremely sheltered. Isaac brought out her authentic self, the one who had dreams outside of the small town they grew up in. Girl couldn’t keep a secret to save her life though omg, she was a people pleaser and definitely acted her age (18).
Isaac was so down bad in love with her and just wanted to make all her dreams come true. I really liked him as a a MMC, but I did not like Sarah 😭 I found her annoying a lot of the time 😬
My problem is that I’m not religious so I could’ve gone without all the God talk, but that was like 80% of the book 😂
This was a good book, but I would be aware that there’s heavy church and religious talk. I would give this a go if you like sneaking around and a forbidden romance.
Thank you Valentine PR for this ARC
Check TW
The small and very conservative/religious town is hard for Isaac. He’s the bad boy who was forced to enlist in the army for his shameful behaviour. “He put the Devil in Devil’s head” was the perfect description for him.
Sarah has a pastor for a father, and was raised to be extremely sheltered. Isaac brought out her authentic self, the one who had dreams outside of the small town they grew up in. Girl couldn’t keep a secret to save her life though omg, she was a people pleaser and definitely acted her age (18).
Isaac was so down bad in love with her and just wanted to make all her dreams come true. I really liked him as a a MMC, but I did not like Sarah 😭 I found her annoying a lot of the time 😬
My problem is that I’m not religious so I could’ve gone without all the God talk, but that was like 80% of the book 😂
This was a good book, but I would be aware that there’s heavy church and religious talk. I would give this a go if you like sneaking around and a forbidden romance.
Thank you Valentine PR for this ARC
October 17, 2024
2.5 stars
Welp, you can’t win ‘em all. Sunday Morning is unfortunately one of my least favorite books by one of my all-time favorite authors. I’m honestly shocked by how much I disliked this.
It’s a coming of age story about Sarah, an ambitious 18 year-old preacher’s daughter who is yearning for independence, grappling with her faith, and suffocating under the weight of her family’s expectations.
Except for Isaac, none of the characters are particularly likable, and that includes Sarah. I tolerated her immature behavior at first due to her age, but she doesn’t experience a lot of growth, as evidenced by her outbursts and temper tantrums in the last part of the book. Relationships are damaged in the course of the story, and seeing reconciliation play out could have been rewarding for readers, but it’s overlooked. At the end of the book, I was left wondering if anyone actually learned anything.
I’m an older reader, so perhaps this type of new adult story just no longer resonates with me. I still love Jewel E. Ann though and will be first in line to read her next adult novel.
Welp, you can’t win ‘em all. Sunday Morning is unfortunately one of my least favorite books by one of my all-time favorite authors. I’m honestly shocked by how much I disliked this.
It’s a coming of age story about Sarah, an ambitious 18 year-old preacher’s daughter who is yearning for independence, grappling with her faith, and suffocating under the weight of her family’s expectations.
Except for Isaac, none of the characters are particularly likable, and that includes Sarah. I tolerated her immature behavior at first due to her age, but she doesn’t experience a lot of growth, as evidenced by her outbursts and temper tantrums in the last part of the book. Relationships are damaged in the course of the story, and seeing reconciliation play out could have been rewarding for readers, but it’s overlooked. At the end of the book, I was left wondering if anyone actually learned anything.
I’m an older reader, so perhaps this type of new adult story just no longer resonates with me. I still love Jewel E. Ann though and will be first in line to read her next adult novel.
October 1, 2024
4 Stars ⭐️
November 3, 2024
Set in 1985, this was such an angsty, gritty, and deeply layered coming-of-age romance that was completely unputdownable! You follow Sarah Jacobson, an eighteen-year-old preacher’s daughter, whose upbringing clashes dramatically with the emotions and choices that come with finding herself.
This romance absolutely consumed me! Beginning as a forbidden love triangle between two brothers, there's a big focus on desire, freedom, and the struggle for happiness against familial expectations. The chemistry between the characters was so palpable, marked by relentless flirting, silent torments, and an unwavering trust that binds them in a way that felt both tender and intense.
On top of that, it was filled with shocking twists that kept me on the very edge! It's the kind of unsettling, messy, passionate love story that hooks you from start to finish. I absolutely loved it.
(heat level: multiple open-door scenes, moderate details)
This romance absolutely consumed me! Beginning as a forbidden love triangle between two brothers, there's a big focus on desire, freedom, and the struggle for happiness against familial expectations. The chemistry between the characters was so palpable, marked by relentless flirting, silent torments, and an unwavering trust that binds them in a way that felt both tender and intense.
On top of that, it was filled with shocking twists that kept me on the very edge! It's the kind of unsettling, messy, passionate love story that hooks you from start to finish. I absolutely loved it.
(heat level: multiple open-door scenes, moderate details)
September 26, 2024
Sarah + Isaac
The year is 1985 and pastor daughter Sarah has just turned 18. She's dating Matt - the son of the town's richest rancher. Everybody believes they'll get married soon. But they're both pretty happy with going their own ways after the summer. Matt will be a College baseball star and Sarah....she wants to go to Nashville to become a singer.
Isaac is Matt's older brother. Back home from the military to work on the ranch. And he has a guitar...and tattoos....and he smokes. He is so not pastor son-in-law material... But Sarah is fascinated.... and that is only the beginning...
What will happen with Sarah and Isaac?
Will there be a HEA?
READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT!
══════════════════
Well. I kinda loved this.... But. No, I really enjoyed reading it. But...
It's probably my own fault for not really reading the blurb and all the teasers when they were revealed. It's a JEA book, so I had to read it.
The book is set in 1985. Which... to be honest, you don't really notice 80% of the time. But I'm not a fan of such set-in-the-past kind of things. And it also didn't really make sense to me anyway. Why 1985? Why not today? It could've been set in today's world with not much change in the story. Especially in rural America 2024.
The worst thing about the book though... I don't want anything religious in my books. I hate religion. So so much. And this book has a lot of all that stuff. I almost already stopped reading when I read the dedication. And it only got more religious the more I read. Ugh.
I wanted Sarah's dad to be just a strict parent maybe. Just anything really ... a teacher. Lawyer. Construction worker. But not such a preachy guy. That whole religion stuff made me hate so much of the book. A book that I would've really loved otherwise. I still really loved it. But I just wish the religion stuff would've been .. not in there.
Even though now, after reading the whole book - it wasn't that preachy. Sarah rebelled against it all quite a bit and Isaac didn't care for any of it anyway. So it wasn't super bad. Nobody tried to talk me into joining their cult. But it was still too much for a book which is not categorized as a Christian Romance.
But... even with my religion rant... the book was cute. Isaac is amazing. He's the best part of the book. And the sisters and friends and even the parents were great here and there. It was a great book with a great cast. I just wanted a bit more of all the amazing things. It ended too quickly. I wanted more of Isaac and Sarah together. Just more...of everything. Another 100 pages would've made the book super amazing.
But it was a very beautiful story the way it was.
Sweet. Sparky. Forbidden-ish. Sad. Heartbreaking.
I so need to see this on TV one day!
Can't wait to read book #2 about Sarah's sister with an age-gappy single dad!
SUNDAY MORNING was such a sweet and beautiful and heartbreaking love story. Full of family. Friends. Love. Music. Expectations. Rebellion. Secrets. Small Town things. Hopes. Dreams... and so much more! I loved it. Go read it!
If you can't click the buy-links from your phone -
click ► HERE!
💜
💜
October 17, 2024
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Type: Standalone book from Sunday Morning series
POV: First Person - Dual (mostly female)
Rating:
As the daughter of a preacher, Sarah Jacobson always had expectations to live up to. When her childhood crush, Isaac Cory, came back after serving in the military, he made her realize her own wants and dreams mattered too. But choosing her own heart could shatter the bond holding both families together.
Sarah had been the good daughter her entire life, and I liked watching her learn to prioritize herself. From the beginning, I knew Isaac was more than meets the eye. I was drawn to his mischievousness and underlying strength.
If I died, they would call me a martyr. If I didn’t die, I’d be a saint. Realistically, I was going to Hell as a sinner.
This book was a little light to start, but towards the end it bulked up on the emotions. I enjoyed the overall story especially with the dynamics between the families.
Sunday Morning is a story of sacrifices and self-discovery. It would appeal to readers who enjoy small town contemporary romance.
Book in the series:
For more reviews/interviews/book talk/promo visit:
For graphics, trailers & author services visit Warhawke Design Studio.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,049 reviews