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The Jewel of Colorado

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When Evan Carlson hears that a member of the elusive Sanders family is visiting his bank to have the most valuable diamond in Colorado appraised, he assumes that he won’t be allowed anywhere near the jewel. But when Jacob Sanders arrives, he specifically requests that Evan be present for the secretive meeting, and Evan tries his best to keep his composure around the strikingly handsome man. Jacob comes across as a friendly, assertive guy who is unaffected by his wealth, and Evan feels an immediate attraction.

Invited to visit the Sanders Ranch, Evan discovers a family who cares deeply for each other despite their attempts to keep some of their darker secrets hidden. When one of those unwanted secrets appears out of the blue, Evan and Jacob are thrown together and forced to deal with the chaos. As the two men begin to explore their feelings, they must deal with the realization that the precious jewel has gone missing.

Trying his best to comfort Jacob, Evan agrees to help search for the missing stone or the person who might have stolen it. With fingers being pointed in all directions, Evan tries to keep himself off the list of suspects as he moves forward cautiously. Hoping to save their relationship, Evan joins in the hunt for Colorado’s most infamous jewel.

203 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 13, 2016

37 people are currently reading
95 people want to read

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Jason Collins

107 books530 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
Profile Image for OJ.
147 reviews11 followers
November 15, 2016
This is my review of The Jewel of Colorado, by Jason Collins, from my M/M Romance Books Blog, OJ He Say. Click the link below to see the whole review and more.
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The Jewel of Colorado at OJ He Say!

Rating: 3.5 stars


BLURB

When Evan Carlson hears that a member of the elusive Sanders family is visiting his bank to have the most valuable diamond in Colorado appraised, he assumes that he won’t be allowed anywhere near the jewel. But when Jacob Sanders arrives, he specifically requests that Evan be present for the secretive meeting, and Evan tries his best to keep his composure around the strikingly handsome man. Jacob comes across as a friendly, assertive guy who is unaffected by his wealth, and Evan feels an immediate attraction.

Invited to visit the Sanders Ranch, Evan discovers a family who cares deeply for each other despite their attempts to keep some of their darker secrets hidden. When one of those unwanted secrets appears out of the blue, Evan and Jacob are thrown together and forced to deal with the chaos. As the two men begin to explore their feelings, they must deal with the realization that the precious jewel has gone missing.

Trying his best to comfort Jacob, Evan agrees to help search for the missing stone or the person who might have stolen it. With fingers being pointed in all directions, Evan tries to keep himself off the list of suspects as he moves forward cautiously. Hoping to save their relationship, Evan joins in the hunt for Colorado’s most infamous jewel.

The Jewel of Colorado

This book called out to me as soon as I read the blurb for it. I mean, cowboys, jewels, Colorado and hot men? What’s not to like!

What I found was a great, fun, interesting whodunit that I can wholeheartedly recommend. Great reading here.

THE CHARACTERS

Evan Carlson:

“Just tell me this, Evan: are you looking forward to coming back tonight?”

Evan paused before answering, as he wanted to make Jacob sweat it out a little. He had never really played hard to get before, but something about being pursued was making him excited. He liked knowing that someone was genuinely interested in him, and he wanted to milk the feeling for all it was worth.

“Evan?” Jacob asked again.

Evan sighed with a smile as he finally replied, “You know I am.””

Evan Carlson has been working at Telluride’s First National Bank for years now, under the thumb of his oppressive boss, Mr. Phillips, and he has been wanting and working towards a promotion with the bank when he meets the handsome Jacob Sanders, heir to the Sanders fortune and the famous Blue Moon diamond that is kept at First National’s safe.

Jacob Sanders:

“Jacob was one of the most handsome men he had seen in ages. He was tall with dark brown hair, and a classic look that seemed effortless. He was dressed conservatively in jeans and boots, and he looked as though he had just spent a carefree day at the ranch.”

Jacob Sanders, a banker in his own right, returns home to Telluride to take care of his grandfather, the patriarch of the Sanders fortune and 5,000 acre ranch at the foothills of the Rockies when he goes to Telluride’s First National Bank to have the famous Blue Moon diamond re-appraised. He decides to take the diamond home for his grandfather, hoping to lift his spirits up, when he meets the alluring Evan Carlson. Unbeknownst to Jacob, this would trigger a maddening series of events.

THE STORY

The Jewel of Colorado is a fun, creative, and entertaining contemporary cowboy whodunit.

Evan’s been working at First National for years when he meets the handsome Jacob who takes him to his grandfather’s ranch at the foothills of the Rockies. Jacob also takes the Blue Moon diamond with him to cheer his grandfather up while he is recuperating from a broken arm.

While Evan and Jacob are getting to know each other Jacob’s estranged step mother, Lucy, comes back home. Jacob’s grandfather, James, has been trying to divorce Lucy for years to no avail and now Lucy decides to come home. Not only is Lucy back home, but Jacob’s sister, Ella, has come home as well to be with Jacob and her grandfather. That same night the Blue Moon goes missing. The result is a fun whodunit that keeps you on your toes throughout.

THE WRITING

Jason Collins puts forth a good, solid story, albeit a little slow at the very beginning but then the story picks up a good steady, interesting pace. The characters seem well developed for the story, not overdone. The one thing I would have loved to see is where are Jacob’s and Ella’s parents? It seems as if that piece of information is never given. Did they perish in a horrible airplane accident whilst traveling in Nepal? Hmmm… Otherwise this is a really enjoyable book.

I would like to thank Jason Collins for providing OJ He Say! with a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Achilles Patroclus.
13 reviews12 followers
December 5, 2016

A sweet, little bit hot romance with family dramas, an obnoxious boss, and a small but pricey conspiracy.
Evan, a worker in a prestigious bank, got the opportunity to see the Jewel of Colorado - Blue Moon, a diamond owned by the Sanders family.
No only did he get to see the jewel, but he also happened to meet someone as well bright as the stone- the grandson of James Sanders, the owner of Blue Moon and a surprisingly big ranch.
He is Jacob Sanders, whom Evan promptly fell in love with.
"Still playing hard-to-get?
Between their small dates, several sweet dialogues, and a sexy moment, a lot of things start happening and it was all the disaster and stuff. Yeah.
I like Evan pretty much. I mean he's apparently charming (and sometimes he's like a magnet for annoying people) and isn't really interested in fortunes (when he keeps referring Blue Moon as merely a stone) and his considerate personality towards everyone. When all the things are consistently destroying his and Jacob's date, and when people are making fun of his sexuality, he is always the cool one.
Though there is actually one thing I'm particularly confused about, which is how Jacob and Evan are drawn to each other. I know that it is probably because of their personalities, yet it's not fully explained; I believe in love at first sight, but I as well believe that it is something that requires an adequate explanation.
And there could have been more dialogues between them two...
Oh and there are seldom angry exchanges between them (Wait. I think there are none. Great!)
Despite some problems, this is still pretty much an enjoyable and relaxing read :)
Profile Image for Pam Kay.
586 reviews9 followers
November 15, 2016
Jason Collins did a great job in this novel. Storyline was strong and exciting. The characters were well developed within the theme of the story.. Jacob Sanders was the grandson of a very wealthy Colorado rancher. He came into town to the bank his family had their assets including the Blue Moon Diamond, also known as the Jewel of Colorado, currently being appraised at $30 million. While Jacob is getting it appraised he meets Evan, a bank employee. After the appraisal is done, Jacob informs the bank that he will take the diamond home for his grandfather to see and he wanted Evan to escort him home. But his objective is to get to know Evan better, spend more time with him. Mr. Sanders estranged wife shows up and the stone comes up missing with his wife gone as well. This is the beginning of an exciting "who dunnit" situation with Jacob and Evan going after the thieves. A lot of interesting twists and turns along with multiple surprises. An interesting, dramatic beginning to a relationship along with an amazing HEA. I'll stop here so as not to spoil the story, but I highly recommend reading this one. Exciting, dramatic, mysterious, with a great blossoming relationship. Don't miss this one❤️
Profile Image for Lorraine.
955 reviews11 followers
November 15, 2016
This is an enjoyable "who done it" with a touch of romance. Evan and Jacob meet, when Jacob comes into the bank Evan works at, to take a precious stone jewel out of the family safe, to allow his Grandad to enjoy the treasure.
Evan is asked to accompany Jacob to ensure the safety of the Jewel, but once in the house, with a series of visitors the precious Jewel goes missing presumed stolen.
As the two men bond over shared lust and the hunt for the precious stone, I found myself being more invested in working out who had stolen the treasures rather than in the romance between the two men.
The return of the Jewel felt right, but somehow I still wasn't quite convinced that Evan and Jacob would stay together.
I received a free ARC of the story to give an honest review.
3.5 stars rounded up.
Profile Image for Debbie Bookers.
119 reviews5 followers
November 21, 2016
5.0 out of 5 stars This was such a fun read. Jason sets up the characters to fall ...
By Debbie - November 14, 2016
Amazon Verified Purchase
This was such a fun read. Jason sets up the characters to fall in love with or hate depending on the character your reading at the time. The scenery was beautiful and I would feel like I was looking at the Rocky Mountains.
The plot with the Blue Moon Diamond has you suspecting different characters and never knowing who to trust. And of course, the love between these two men is undeniable. What a first date to have.
I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys love, beauty and a bit of drama.
Profile Image for Deanna.
2,745 reviews65 followers
November 29, 2016
Fun read with good guy characters. My first read by this author but not my last. Sure some of the story is a little far fetched but who cares. I loved these MCs.
Profile Image for Michele.
85 reviews19 followers
November 14, 2016
Adorable

This is my first book by Jason Collins so I had no ideas what to expect. What I got was sweet romance and a suspenseful thrilling storyline. I thought the relationship between Evan and Jacob was simply adorable. The initial awkward flirting, especially with all the blushing from Evan was just too cute. Evan the shy quite guy, smitten with this very attractive, and playful guy who he discovers also has character. I must say that I never expected all the twist and turns the story provided. If someone told me that I would have enjoyed a book that had very little sex, and the MC's were cute and sweet I would have probably laughed. Most people know I'm an angst queen. But as I read this story, I was consistently drawn in by trying to figure out the "who done it" amongst all the suspects. The story cast enough doubts on most of the colorful characters that you are constantly trying to solve the mystery.

If I include any details, It will only spoil it for everyone. J. Collins really captured my attention as a reader by keeping you connected with the different characters. I really enjoyed hating a few of the secondary characters, ahem...a certain bank manager, and a certain ex wife. Lol! I found this book to be a very entertaining read. I give this 4 stars.
Profile Image for Anthony.
58 reviews9 followers
May 31, 2017
I volunteered to write an honest review for a free arc copy

This is the first book of Jason’s I have read, and I must say I was very impressed with this book. The characters feel real and come to life pretty much from the start. There is excitement and tense moments as Jake and Evan tackle the stolen Jewel of Jakes Grandfather. The stone is worth $30 million but that is not the reason Jake is determined to get it back. He knows how much the jewel means to his grandfather. There are a few red herons in the mix too. This is a great story of a very unusual first date, where both characters get to see the real other person warts and all. I enjoyed the story from start to finish. The only part I did not like was the words The End, I could have continued reading about these two characters.

I have no hesitation in recommending this book to all my book friends. Now I am off to buy some of Jasons other books.
Profile Image for Jess A Jaye.
520 reviews20 followers
November 14, 2016
This was the first Jason Collins title I've read but I would read others. The main plot of The Jewel of Colorado is about a stolen gem stone. It's much more of a crime whodunit rather than romance novel. I like a good mystery. There were a few red herrings to throw you of the scent and plenty of horrible characters that you'll love to hate.
An enjoyable read! I look forward to following Jason and seeing where his writing goes in the future.
1 review
May 7, 2018
Excellent!!!

Classic who-done-it mystery with a little sexy romance to spice things up. But no porno sex scenes thank you Mr. Collins. Endearing lovable characters. Absolute page turned could not put it down. And of what mystery wouldn't be complete without a $30 million diamond at the heart of it all.
Profile Image for Wendy Moore.
1,332 reviews11 followers
November 14, 2016
This was my 1st Jason Collins read and I am a new fan!! This story centers around Evan and Jacob who are great together. And I liked all the quirky secondary characters. This is a great read. My only complaint would be, I would have loved an epilogue. just to see where they were in the future.
128 reviews
July 3, 2017
Intriguing

First time reading this author. He kept my attention throughout the entire book. I couldn't wait to continue reading the story.
Profile Image for Isabella ~Mikku-chan~.
799 reviews40 followers
November 16, 2016
*~~*ARC kindly provided by the author to me in exchange for an honest review *~~*

A debut read for me since the author asked on his social media channel for honest reviews.
I was right from the start really hooked by the cover but also by the blurb.

The blurb was very well revealed, the character had a great depth, here and there were slight bumps but nothing serious. Sometimes a few of the character behaviours made me laugh out loud. :D I liked the character, not only the two main character but also the minor character, besides the antagonists and "bad guys".

The "crime" setting had a nice solution, it had thrilling parts and I admit I didn't expected the twist in the plot. I at least suspected another person to be the criminal. :)

The relationship between Jacob and Evan was fast building, nothing bad but maybe for somebody a bit rushed - for me not, I felt the direct connection between the character. There could have been a bit more focus the next time: we only have one erotic scene, which was hot as hell but... it was only one. Bummer and a shame, since Jason is really great in writing those scenes. :3

I will definitely read the other books by the author and I would love to review other books too (so I'll right myself on the ARC distributing list). :)

Review originally posted on my blog with added content Mikku-chan / A world full of words
Profile Image for Cee Brown.
1,310 reviews38 followers
November 14, 2016
☆҉‿➹⁀☆҉☆4.5 stars
☆҉‿➹⁀☆҉‿➹⁀☆҉☆☆҉☆
☆҉☆☆҉☆‿➹⁀☆҉☆Love even more precious than the Jewel of Colorado.


Bank employee Evan Carlson was aware that all the people of his small town were excited to gossip about the jewel of Colorado. The jewel held little fascination for Evan, who found its heir even more worthy of his time.

Jacob Saunders was grandson to the owner of the fabulous diamond that meant a lot to his family. After his grandfather was hurt, Jacob came home take care of him. He also took time to appraise the diamond and take it to his grand with the fascinating Evan as protection.

A fast paced romance ensued and then mystery began once time after time the impossible happened. First the missing Sanders returned, followed by the lost of the 30 million dollar diamond and the journey it took to recover. Over night, Jacob and Evan became sleuths and proved they had what it took to not only maintain a relationship, but work as one.

Jason Collins has stepped out of his being and proven that he can switch it up and still entertain. I was all over the place trying to solve the mystery before the truth was revealed and boy was it fun the be involved in a Hardy Boys-esque mystery again. This book proved to be enjoyable.

I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this book without bias or persuasion from the author.
Reviewed by Cee from Alpha Book Club
Profile Image for Susana.
1,297 reviews36 followers
November 22, 2016
2.5 stars
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review
When Evan Carlson is invited by Jacob Sanders to visit the Sanders Ranch, he expects to spend some time with a man he finds very attractive… But he finds himself in a chaos of stolen jewels, twisted family relationships and lies. Is Jacob Sanders worth all the trouble Evan seems to be getting into?
So… Although the idea behind the book is interesting, the execution is a bit messy and somehow unsatisfactory. There is the matter of the seemingly insta-love between the two main characters and the fact that Jacob seems a bit of a fruitcake (seriously, who would take a 30 million jewel and walk around with it in his pocket… and ask a complete stranger to go with him, on top of that). All the characters are flat and archetypal, and the plot has a lot of holes on it. The apparent uselessness of the characters drove me crazy (Evan could not stop an obnoxious woman from making passes on him… why? Lacking backbone?). There were so many inconsistencies that I just lost interest and dragged along till the end of the book…
Anyway, it is not a really bad book. It just needs a bit more of work of it. I think it would improve if the characters were a bit more complex and the plot reviewed. But that's just a matter of opinion. So many people have loved the book that's probably me the one who's wrong. My loss, I guess.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Ewokgrl.
11 reviews2 followers
November 14, 2016
I got an ARC from the author for an honest review. The story starts with Evan working at a bank and it’s a big day because the Sanders family will be showing up to have The Jewel of Colorado appraised. A beautiful diamond. Jason Sanders, the grandson, of the owner of the jewel is introduced into the story. From there the story goes quickly. I don’t want to give too much away because it would be telling too much and ruin the chance of enjoying the book. This book is a quick, insta-love story, I loved the characters and the mystery but when I read I look for character growth. This didn’t have it. Don’t misunderstand, it's a good , cutesy book with drama. It is simply I could see the story being longer with the characters being more….just more human with all the playfulness, shock, joy, anger and sadness that makes the characters more endearing. So, is the book worth the read? Yes, definitely. Will you end up wanting more? No doubt, Yes, again. Hoping for a second book that will take the characters further because I completely loved getting to know Evan, Jason, James, Ella and even Lucy. Jason Collins is a newer author that I am definitely enjoying getting to read and am looking forward to see his growth as a writer.
Profile Image for Lee.
10 reviews11 followers
November 16, 2016
A cute, fun, romantic MM mystery

While this book started out a little slow, the addition of the mystery got things moving. Once it heated up, I was eager to finish it. There were a few red herrings thrown in that left you guessing until the end. While it's not a major whodunit, the mystery adds to the story, making it more than just a standard romance. And while the author added a little more 'steam' to the story in a revision, it wasn't really needed to keep the romance interesting (and there's not enough sex to dismiss this as 'smut'). All the action takes place over a fast paced, busy weekend, and the characters behave in a fairly realistic fashion, considering the circumstances they are thrust into.

Yes, there were a few flaws, not everything is perfect. As some have mentioned in other reviews, there were a few continuity errors, and a little more backstory would have brought some additional depth to the characters. But I can honestly say I'm looking forward to seeing where these characters go, and what other stories this author has in him!
1,787 reviews26 followers
December 31, 2016
Repetitive and Not Convincing

Nice premise for a nice story--which it is--but with two major problems.

The first is that there are too many times when an explanation is given for something and it's then given five or six more times. For example, Jacob's grandfather never got a formal divorce from that gold digging wife Lucy. It appears at least a dozen times, and so do a lot of other instances. Editor, please!

The second thing is that I thought Evan was very shallow. He's supposed to be the star of the show here (ok, the diamond is, but it's really told from his perspective). Jacob says he's a tease. I think he's just gun shy of getting involved, but there is no background as to why.

And the sex between him and Jacob--who is a much more developed and likable character--is really not convincing.

Maybe the sequel will be better.
Profile Image for Tammy Huckabee.
91 reviews7 followers
November 14, 2016
When I began this book I wasn't sure what to expect, but what I got was so much more than I could have expected. I adored Evan and Jacob from the beginning. Their awkward and sweet flirting to their deep need to protect one another has made them one of my absolute favorite couples to date. This storyline is full of twists and turns, suspense, and tons of moments that made me go "AWWWW!" I can't tell you much more without giving away something important, so I will just leave you with this...I absolutely LOVE this book! I will be reading it over and over. The author has an amazing way with connecting you with the characters and drawing you into the story. This is the first book by Jason Collins that I have read, but I can promise you, It will not be the last!
25 reviews5 followers
November 21, 2016
A review from ready the ARC copy... my honest review...
This is my first read of Jason's work and it certainly will not be the last. A great read. Interesting and compelling story. Characters I wish were living next door to me and some I am really glad are not real. I am so happy to know their story and hope there will be more of it to follow. Jason does have a habit of stating things repeatedly and I'm not sure why... I read something and then a couple pages later the same topic is rehashed almost verbatim. But this is a teeny tiny complaint in a lot of GOOD... a good sing is when you don't want to put the book down are are sad when you get to the final page. BUY IT! You won't be sorry.
Profile Image for L.P. Lindeman.
Author 5 books15 followers
November 24, 2016
Heartfelt good feel story

This story was very interesting I loved the twists and turns. Evan was easy to like and root for in this book. Jacob was a little twist throughout and in the end was pleasantly surprised. It was well written and kept you into the story. I felt like I was in the scene with them and loved the grandfather. This was a refreshing surprise and just when you thing you have things figured out the author did an amazing job keeping you guessing. Well done and I would recommend this to anyone.
Profile Image for W. Garza.
Author 11 books33 followers
December 7, 2016
The Jewel of Colorado

Written by Jason Collins 

Reviewed by Willy Garza ( PartyWill )


I truly enjoyed every single minute of this story from beginning , middle and end !


It's exciting how we get romance mixed in with a mystery involving the Colorado Jewel ..terrific storytelling and descriptions of the characters !


KUDOS to the Author !


I invision this book to one day becoming a motion picture in the making ..


Highly recommend if you enjoy compelling storyline and characters that grab your interest immediately at the start !


Grade :
Profile Image for Melissa.
635 reviews4 followers
December 13, 2016
I love a good mystery, which this story delivered on. However, it wasn't the romance story I thought it would be. Even though there was romance between Jacob and Evan, it took a back seat to finding the stone. I enjoyed the supporting characters and thought they were all good but I would have like more romance. I think Sanders family drama and stone hunt overshadowed the relationship between Jacob and Evan. I would still recommend this book if you want a good mystery with little romance. However, if you want mind blowing sex scenes, you might want to skip this book.
Profile Image for Amy.
16 reviews
November 15, 2016
Sweet M/M romance with a simple mystery and lots of colorful characters.

I truly enjoyed this sweet read by Jason Collins (a new author to me.) This is a simple mystery, well written, with a clear plotline, and it's low on the angst and heat scales with strong, likeable main characters. A perfect book to escape into while snuggling in front of a fireplace; it will leave you with all the good feels!

*I received a free ARC in exchange for my unbiased review. ~AW
48 reviews
November 15, 2016
I really enjoyed The Jewel of Colorado. I Love Evan and Jacob story. The storyline hooked me from the beginning the chemistry and love between Evan and Jacob is hot and fun and the whodunit kept me guessing to the end. I was unable to put in down and read it in one night.
A contemporary mm cowboy whodunit thats a fun enjoyable read from start to end highly recommend.
I will looking for more Jason Collins books to read.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
758 reviews4 followers
November 15, 2016
I really liked Jewel of Colorado. Both Jacob and Evan were likable MCs. I definitely wasn’t sure of the end for a long time. I liked the interesting characters we got to meet. It was fast paced and interesting. There was some predictability in the millionaire meets regular joe, but I like that escapism sometimes. I would definitely recommend this book.
Profile Image for A.L..
Author 6 books59 followers
November 29, 2016
I received an ARC copy:

I enjoyed the story. The mystery was very good and the development of the relationship between Evan and Jacob was very good. Some people may consider the relationship development a bit Insta-love, but I think it went well.

This is the first book I've read from this author, and it's a very good story.
Profile Image for Bradley Mathis-Krone.
189 reviews3 followers
December 8, 2016
This is a Jewel

I wasn't sure about this book at first, but I decided I would have to give it a try and I am so lucky I did. This was a very well written story, compelling storyline and very believable characters. I thourghly enjoyed the adventure and I am very much looking forward to the next one.
6 reviews
November 15, 2016
With a little romance and mystery it was a good story.
" The Jewel of Colorado" goes missing and Evan and Jason go on a search through Telluride Colorado to find out who has stolen the Blue Moon. The beginning started of slow but by the middle, I couldn't put it down.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews

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