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The Aces' Sons #14
Craving Francesca
Francesca Marino knew it was a terrible idea to get involved with Grayson White.
He’s her best friend’s cousin. He’s older than her. They hung out in the same group, and it would be impossible to avoid him if things went sour…but it was hard to remember if any of those things really mattered when she could practically taste the chemistry between them.
Ignoring all the blaring alarm bells, she hooks up with him anyway, and it’s everything she could’ve imagined.
Toe curling.
Mind-blowing.
Life-affirming.
Until he gives her the brush off.
Determined to ignore her hurt feelings and get past any weirdness between them, she does her best to move on. She’s more than capable of keeping her distance, and she assumes that she’ll stop daydreaming about him at some point.
Too bad Gray doesn’t seem to be on the same page. She runs into him everywhere.
When a relationship goes sour and Frankie is determined to face the fallout in silence, he’s the only one who notices.
And if there’s one thing that Gray learned from the men who raised him, it’s that you never sit back and watch a good woman face a monster alone.
He’s her best friend’s cousin. He’s older than her. They hung out in the same group, and it would be impossible to avoid him if things went sour…but it was hard to remember if any of those things really mattered when she could practically taste the chemistry between them.
Ignoring all the blaring alarm bells, she hooks up with him anyway, and it’s everything she could’ve imagined.
Toe curling.
Mind-blowing.
Life-affirming.
Until he gives her the brush off.
Determined to ignore her hurt feelings and get past any weirdness between them, she does her best to move on. She’s more than capable of keeping her distance, and she assumes that she’ll stop daydreaming about him at some point.
Too bad Gray doesn’t seem to be on the same page. She runs into him everywhere.
When a relationship goes sour and Frankie is determined to face the fallout in silence, he’s the only one who notices.
And if there’s one thing that Gray learned from the men who raised him, it’s that you never sit back and watch a good woman face a monster alone.
253 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 23, 2025
109 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Jacquelyn
38 books3,578 followersNicole Jacquelyn started writing before she started elementary school, however she didn’t start publishing her stories until her senior year in college. Today, she’s the author of the best selling Aces Series, Hawthornes Series, Fostering Love Series and Bouchers Series. She loves to read, drinks too much coffee, and lives in Oregon with the coolest children in the entire world and an English Bulldog named Blue.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
May 30, 2025
3.5 Stars
Knowing me, I’ll probably upgrade this after a re-read or two. Love this author and this world and that’s usually how it plays out for me when it’s anything less than a four right out of the gate for her books.
Knowing me, I’ll probably upgrade this after a re-read or two. Love this author and this world and that’s usually how it plays out for me when it’s anything less than a four right out of the gate for her books.
July 28, 2025
First, I’d like to preface this by stating that the representation of women’s reproductive rights was wonderful. In most of the romance stories I’ve read it’s almost always the h going through with the unplanned pregnancy or representing loss through miscarriage. Either plot device is fine, but it’s cool to see the full scope of the spectrum since the topic itself is not black and white at all.
Now that that’s out of the way, one of my main gripes is the lack of chemistry between h Frankie and H Gray. They spent maybe 60 to almost 80 percent of the story separated with occasional scenes of Gray helping Frankie out as a “friend.” It’s hard to believe the chemistry between them when there were more mentions of Gray sleeping with his year-long friends with benefits (OW) Emma than of him and Frankie. The author crammed like 5 seggs scenes in the last 15% of the book and basically called it a day. And might I add that Gray was still sleeping with his FWB even after realizing Frankie was the one for him. Gross. Meanwhile, Frankie got the short end of the stick when the author decided to make her rebound a creep. Which brings me to my other gripe. Frankie’s character.
Frankie absolutely had no discernment when it comes to making good decisions. Everything that happened after her one night stand with Gray it’s like her common sense and critical thinking skills just vanished. The author also made her out to be quite immature just with the given dialogue. Her stubbornness borderlines childishness and it got old so quickly. It’s like the author couldn’t make up her mind about the kind of character she wanted her to be. Here I thought she was this fierce, sharp-witted woman, but she turned out to be cringy and passive. Gray was suppose to be the older one. You’d think he’d be the one in haste to lock her down. But no, Frankie was all too willing to wait around until he finished sleeping with his FWB and decided he was finally ready to accept her as his “forever.” It wasn’t even ever clear that he broke it off with the FWB. Literally up until their little road trip he was still seeing her. And still Frankie accepts him with open arms no questions asked. Begging for love isn’t really a cute look.
Now that that’s out of the way, one of my main gripes is the lack of chemistry between h Frankie and H Gray. They spent maybe 60 to almost 80 percent of the story separated with occasional scenes of Gray helping Frankie out as a “friend.” It’s hard to believe the chemistry between them when there were more mentions of Gray sleeping with his year-long friends with benefits (OW) Emma than of him and Frankie. The author crammed like 5 seggs scenes in the last 15% of the book and basically called it a day. And might I add that Gray was still sleeping with his FWB even after realizing Frankie was the one for him. Gross. Meanwhile, Frankie got the short end of the stick when the author decided to make her rebound a creep. Which brings me to my other gripe. Frankie’s character.
Frankie absolutely had no discernment when it comes to making good decisions. Everything that happened after her one night stand with Gray it’s like her common sense and critical thinking skills just vanished. The author also made her out to be quite immature just with the given dialogue. Her stubbornness borderlines childishness and it got old so quickly. It’s like the author couldn’t make up her mind about the kind of character she wanted her to be. Here I thought she was this fierce, sharp-witted woman, but she turned out to be cringy and passive. Gray was suppose to be the older one. You’d think he’d be the one in haste to lock her down. But no, Frankie was all too willing to wait around until he finished sleeping with his FWB and decided he was finally ready to accept her as his “forever.” It wasn’t even ever clear that he broke it off with the FWB. Literally up until their little road trip he was still seeing her. And still Frankie accepts him with open arms no questions asked. Begging for love isn’t really a cute look.
May 27, 2025
Absolutely loved!! Hoping for many more books in this series 😃
May 28, 2025
If you’re a Nicole Jacquelyn fan, you are going to love her newest installment in the Craving series, Craving Francesca. Frankie is one of Myla Hawthorne’s bffs. She has a close encounter with Gray White. The quiet, older son of Lily and Leo. After a time of avoiding each other, Frankie finds herself in need of a friend, a non-judgmental confidant. Leo, skeptical of their age difference has found Frankie to be alluring, but he’s tried to stay away from Frankie. He can’t. Especially when she needs him. Great love story and one that is so real in today’s world.
June 6, 2025
I liked it
Like almost 5 star liked it
I haven’t read anything else in this series now kinda think I should
Gray was pretty amazing TBH. The silent brooding type that was just a little swoon worthy IMO
Like almost 5 star liked it
I haven’t read anything else in this series now kinda think I should
Gray was pretty amazing TBH. The silent brooding type that was just a little swoon worthy IMO
May 26, 2025
My favorite of all the Cravings so far. Gray is my all-time favorite, which makes sense because Leo was my favorite before. I guess I’m a sucker for the men in the White family.
I adored Frankie, a little bit of Rose and Farrah in her. Together, they were fire. Can’t wait until the next one!
I adored Frankie, a little bit of Rose and Farrah in her. Together, they were fire. Can’t wait until the next one!
June 26, 2025
Man, I love the Aces Sons!!!
This series is fantastic! I loved the two and I loved the interaction between all the "kids". I'm really looking forward to Bas' story!!!
This series is fantastic! I loved the two and I loved the interaction between all the "kids". I'm really looking forward to Bas' story!!!
June 7, 2025
Wow...this was amazing
I loved this one so so much, it was so light and fast paced, algo I got all the fanservice I didnt know I needed, with old timers, I cannot have enough if them.
Grey and Frank are so good together even though at the beginning I couldnt see how those teo were to end up together. But I shouldn't be surprised that Nicole make it work so nice I ended loving this couple as all the rest. Now let's address the big situation that Frank had to go through ...it was amazing the way this was written, really organic and fresh in the sensa that usually this hard decisions are not made in a romance, but is so much a part of a women's experience and happens more often that you think, also remember women support women and their rights to choose. So now I guess we wait to know what is next....will we get to know what happened to Bas?
I loved this one so so much, it was so light and fast paced, algo I got all the fanservice I didnt know I needed, with old timers, I cannot have enough if them.
Grey and Frank are so good together even though at the beginning I couldnt see how those teo were to end up together. But I shouldn't be surprised that Nicole make it work so nice I ended loving this couple as all the rest. Now let's address the big situation that Frank had to go through ...it was amazing the way this was written, really organic and fresh in the sensa that usually this hard decisions are not made in a romance, but is so much a part of a women's experience and happens more often that you think, also remember women support women and their rights to choose. So now I guess we wait to know what is next....will we get to know what happened to Bas?
September 25, 2025
THIS WOMAN KNOWS HOW TO WRITE. Goddam. I loved, loved and loved Francesca a bit more. Truly.
For me, it's always the heroines that need to shine. Obviously that a bitch of a hero wouldn't do it for me. A dull one, a blank personality type, one that isn't really explored emotionally I can take.
But what truly draws me in are the heroines. Always. And Francesca is the type I enjoy reading about. Don't get me wrong, Gray is good too.
For being a novella, not quite lengthy enough, we kinda gloss over Gray. But he is fleshed out enough for us to get a feel of who he is.
I'll probably try to read everything Jacquelyn has published that caught my fancy. Her dialogue, descriptions, everything is so damn good.
And the relationships besides the romantic one? Yeah, fucking amazing.
For sure reccomend this one.
For me, it's always the heroines that need to shine. Obviously that a bitch of a hero wouldn't do it for me. A dull one, a blank personality type, one that isn't really explored emotionally I can take.
But what truly draws me in are the heroines. Always. And Francesca is the type I enjoy reading about. Don't get me wrong, Gray is good too.
For being a novella, not quite lengthy enough, we kinda gloss over Gray. But he is fleshed out enough for us to get a feel of who he is.
I'll probably try to read everything Jacquelyn has published that caught my fancy. Her dialogue, descriptions, everything is so damn good.
And the relationships besides the romantic one? Yeah, fucking amazing.
For sure reccomend this one.
May 27, 2025
Aces for the win again!
The Aces never fail to make me wish I was part of the family! I look forward to each release by Nicole Jacquelyn. I have read a lot of MC Romance books and you are by far on the top of my list. From the very first book I picked up by you, I knew that I wool be back for more. You have a gift for building conflict and foreplay to draw your reader in seeking that retribution and climax. Thank you for sharing your fiction family.
The Aces never fail to make me wish I was part of the family! I look forward to each release by Nicole Jacquelyn. I have read a lot of MC Romance books and you are by far on the top of my list. From the very first book I picked up by you, I knew that I wool be back for more. You have a gift for building conflict and foreplay to draw your reader in seeking that retribution and climax. Thank you for sharing your fiction family.
May 29, 2025
I love nicole and her writing and especially this world she created. However the last 3 or 4 books I've felt likes it's been repetitive and has no interesting parts to it. while I finished this book it just felt okayish compared to the rest of the series. I feel like their isn't much to go on with anymore. But in saying that I'll prob still read Bash and Lou's book because I'm so curious to see there relationship unfold.
June 21, 2025
Aces !!
This book reminded me of exactly why I love Nicole's books. The characters of Frankie and Gray were written so well I could almost feel their emotions myself. There was just enough friends and MC bits, just enough romance, and just enough problems to work through. If you are a fan of this author you will get all the greatness that we have come to expect in this series. If you are not yet a fan, this will bring you right into the addiction!
This book reminded me of exactly why I love Nicole's books. The characters of Frankie and Gray were written so well I could almost feel their emotions myself. There was just enough friends and MC bits, just enough romance, and just enough problems to work through. If you are a fan of this author you will get all the greatness that we have come to expect in this series. If you are not yet a fan, this will bring you right into the addiction!
July 14, 2025
3.5 stars pretty generously rounded up but this is the first time in awhile with this spin off series that I felt we had a story with an actually beginning, middle, and end. There was conflict, resolution, a plot, and character growth... Something that has been seriously missing from a lot of its predecessors. Not anything super memorable or sensational, but I enjoyed Francesca and Gray. And I was excited to feel a bit more out of an Ace's story again to round to 4 stars.
May 27, 2025
3.75+ Stars
Absolutely loved Frankie and Gray’s story, not wanting it to end.
This is my favourite kind of comfort MC read, I loved this book the focus on family and friends.
The drama was there, but pretty much in the background, leaving the angst of the romance being at the forefront.
Absolutely loved Frankie and Gray’s story, not wanting it to end.
This is my favourite kind of comfort MC read, I loved this book the focus on family and friends.
The drama was there, but pretty much in the background, leaving the angst of the romance being at the forefront.
May 27, 2025
I loved this book and just like all the others in this series I hated to see it end, I wish I could just read forever with this series. I can re-read this whole series over and over and never get bored with it the minute I read about Dragon and Brenna’s story I was hooked and, my favorite series by far 💯❤️ can’t wait for one!!!
May 29, 2025
I really want to give this book a 5 and in all honesty if I could give half stars, I would. While I thoroughly enjoyed it, it doesn't stand up to her originals in the ACE series; it's missing the depth of characters, the ability to pull at your emotions.
Worth reading but not her best.
Worth reading but not her best.
June 10, 2025
love love the story
Little bit different in a good way . Love the plot& the characters . A very well written biker romance . Think this was my first book by this author but won’t be my last. Didn’t want to put the book down !
Little bit different in a good way . Love the plot& the characters . A very well written biker romance . Think this was my first book by this author but won’t be my last. Didn’t want to put the book down !
June 17, 2025
love
I fly through her books because they are soo good! Loved Frankie and Gray! Really I love this whole series and some. Read it basically one night. Such a good writer and keeps my attention.
I fly through her books because they are soo good! Loved Frankie and Gray! Really I love this whole series and some. Read it basically one night. Such a good writer and keeps my attention.
August 13, 2025
Returning to this world is like putting on your favorite comfy pj's and fuzzy socks. Gray and Frankie were great once they got their heads out of their butts. I was glad we were given Gray's pov about "the night" and made me forgive him for Emma.
May 25, 2025
Loved!!!!!
There is nothing that she could write in this series I wouldn't read again, this book is no exception! Highly recommend!
There is nothing that she could write in this series I wouldn't read again, this book is no exception! Highly recommend!
May 25, 2025
Wow!
So good! Read it in one night! Finally completed at 1:15am!
Love witnessing the family of “the oldies”. Such a great series!
So good! Read it in one night! Finally completed at 1:15am!
Love witnessing the family of “the oldies”. Such a great series!
May 25, 2025
Another winner
I'm never surprised when I finish and think this is my favorite. Then I read the series all over again. I always fall in love with her characters.
I'm never surprised when I finish and think this is my favorite. Then I read the series all over again. I always fall in love with her characters.
May 26, 2025
Aces and Eights
I’ve read every single book and it never gets old. I’ve loved every book. I can’t wait to read more!
I’ve read every single book and it never gets old. I’ve loved every book. I can’t wait to read more!
June 2, 2025
*3.5 stars*
June 7, 2025
Frankie and Gray
The Aces! I could happily live in their world forever! This is one of my top series ever.
You will love this book!
The Aces! I could happily live in their world forever! This is one of my top series ever.
You will love this book!
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews