Jake's Redemption

The Angel Eyes #0

by Jamie Schulz

An imprisoned cowboy. An empowered woman. When true love is forbidden, opening their hearts could destroy them both...

Chained and enslaved, Jake Nichols is convinced he'll die alone. In this new order where men are stripped of all power, he endures brutal torture at the hands of his female captor. But when he's hired out to build a ranch home for an outspoken beauty, his dreams of escape transform into visions of passion.
Monica Avery struggles to fill her heart in a loveless society. With marriage outlawed and romantic partners reduced to pawns, she's given up hope of finding her soul mate. But watching the rugged rancher hard at work on her shelter awakens deeply buried desires.
As the project comes together, Monica discovers a kindred spirit in the tenderhearted Jake. But despite their growing attraction, he still belongs to a cruel woman who'd rather see him dead than free.
Can Monica save Jake, or will their love lead to a tragic tomorrow?
Jake's Redemption is a full-length book in the Angel Eyes cowboy dystopian romance series. If you like scorching-hot chemistry, clever post-apocalyptic worlds, and star-crossed love stories filled with suspense, then you'll adore Jamie Schulz's captivating tale.
Buy Jake's Redemption today to see if love can brighten a dark world!
This prequel has an HFN ending and opens the door for the next book in the Angel Eyes Series.
This story would appeal to those who found the adult scenarios in books like A Handmaid's Tale and The Hunger Games intriguing. Or who enjoy the writing of other romance authors like Maisey Yates, Pam Godwin, Karen Robards, and Nora Roberts, or who simply love cowboys.
Please note: Intended for mature audiences. This story contains some unsettling and violent subject matter that sensitive readers may find disturbing. Reader discretion is advised.Review Snippets"If you are looking for an extremely well written new story that is different from the norm, I can definitely recommend this book to you. I am anxiously waiting for the next book ...!"
- Avonna, The Romance Reviews.
"Peppered within the main story arc were lovely moments of tension and unexpected plot twists. This was a smooth read, with depth and development of a wide range of emotions. It is hopeful, romantic, gripping, and original. I loved it and look forward to see how it all develops in the rest of the series."
- Kindle Customer
"Schulz pens a grand mix of storytelling within Jake's Redemption. It's like fantasy meets cowboy meets romance. I enjoyed the premise of the story and how it played out. It is not always easy to blend genres, but Schulz does it remarkably. The hint of dystopian brings the Jake to Monica's doorstep, and things evolve from there. The story has a great deal of tormented souls and romance, and surviving the obstacles. Schulz certainly can write a good story. I look forward to reading more by this new author."
- Amy, Amy's Bookshelf Reviews
"Oh My! For a prequel, I didn't expect it to be so in depth and long! I actually expected it to be done in a couple hours, like a lot of other prequels. But WOW! It sucked me in and I was ready to read the next one! But have to wait. But I'm sure it'll be worth it!"
- Rachel Menzies, Amazon UK Reviewer
"While dystopian, post-apocalyptic stories are not my favored genre, I found this prequel engaging. It's more-including a western theme, a sweet romance, and a glimmer of hope in a dismal swamp of misery-something for everyone."
- Colorado Avid Reader Review

Genres: Romance, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Fiction, Westerns

334 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2019

About the author

Jamie Schulz is a contemporary western romance and dystopian cowboy romance author. She loves to write about heroes with vulnerabilities and strong, feisty heroines who are a match for the men they love. To her, every one of her stories, no matter how dark, must have a happy ending, and she strives to make them impossible to put down until you get there.

Jamie has been writing and making up stories for most of her life and hopes to one day reach the bestsellers lists. Her book Broken Cowboy has won the Global Book Awards Gold Medal for romance and was a finalist in the RONE Awards. From her other series, Jake’s Redemption was also an award-winner in the Global Ebook Awards.

Cowboys, ice cream, and reading almost any kind of romance are among her (not so) secret loves. She balances her free time between reading her favorite romance authors—in genres ranging from erotica and dark romance to sweet historicals and contemporary romance—and spending time with those she is closest to. She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her family and their fur babies, and she enjoys hearing from her fans. You can follow her at:

* Website: thejamieschulz.com
* Amazon Author Page: Amazon Author Page
* Facebook: thejamieschulz
* Twitter: twitter.com/TheJamieSchulz
* Instagram: instagram.com/thejamieschulz
* Good Reads: www.goodreads.com/thejamieschulz
* BookBub: www.bookbub.com/authors/jamie-schulz

Reviews

[Nadene (Totally Addicted to Reading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I usually avoid books that are labeled as sci-fi and dystopian, but I found myself drawn to Jake’s Redemption. When I first picked it up, I did not realize it was the prequel to a series where book one is slated to be released in 2020. It is a long book for a prequel, not that I am complaining. I have never encountered prequels that were 425 pages long.

Jake’s Redemption introduced me to a world where women were ruthless slave owners and men were at their mercy. However, as we find in situations like these, there were women who did not agree with the abuse and atrocities the men faced on a daily basis. Jake, the hero of this complex and intricately woven tale, will learn the difference between the two.

Jake found himself captured and sold at the end of the war, which saw the male population depleting. Unfortunately, for Jake, the woman who bought him was sadistic witch, who took pleasure in breaking and humiliating him. Temporary relief came when Monica Avery needed someone with Jake’s skills to oversee the construction of a building on her ranch.

Monica is not the typical slave owner. She treated everyone who worked for her with kindness and respect. Jake intrigued her and the more she got to know him, she realized that beneath the physical and emotional scars was a man who had a huge heart.

The treatment Jake received before arriving at Monica’s ranch made my blood run cold. No one deserves such cruel treatment. Jakes fears ran so deep; he had a hard time believing Monica differed from, Darla, his sadistic owner. Eventually, he would learn that Monica was everything Darla was not. Eventually he developed feelings for her. Jake’s stay his temporary, so they know there is no hope for a future. All throughout the story I kept wondering what will happen to Jake. Will he have to go back to his tormentor, will he escape, or will Monica be able to save him?

The story moved slowly as it focused on the developing relationship between Jake and Monica. Jakes struggles with the memories of the horrors he had faced and Monica’s attempts to get him to trust her was the highlight of the story. There was a point in the story where my nerves were rattled, as I feared for Jake.

I found the main characters likeable and relatable. I empathized with Jake on every level. Despite, the many attempts to break him, his inner strength remained intact. Monica’s patience proved an asset in their relationship. She understood his fears and never tried to push him beyond what he could bear.

The secondary characters helped to stir things up in the story. I am especially interested in learning more about Angel who will be the main character in the next book in the series.

I enjoyed the story, the world building and the romance. The story delved into areas that paved the way for the next book in the series. As s result questions arose, which I figured would be answered in the sequel.

Conclusion/Recommendation.
To conclude, Jake’s Redemption is a story that has the potential to wreak havoc on your emotions. It touches on topics that may be triggers to some readers. It is a story of sacrifices, love and healing and one I recommend with no reservations.

["Avonna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out all of my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com

JAKE’S REDEMPTION: THE ANGEL EYES SERIES PREQUEL by Jamie Schulz Is a full length prequel to a new dystopian, western, sci-fi romance mash-up series. This story pulled me in right from the first chapter. The author brings you into a new world order in which females are in charge and the institution of slavery has reappeared. All of the characters in this book have survived the war, but some are much more damaged than others.

*WARNING: This book is written with authenticity to the sci-fi story so there are triggers for more sensitive readers which include scenes of abuse, torture, non-consent, rape and slavery.

Jake Nichols is trapped and enslaved. After two years of torture and abuse by his sadistic owner, he is loaned out to a neighboring fledgling rancher who needs his services as a builder. What he discovers is an owner unlike his Mistress, who does not believe in cruelty and submission. He begins to feel like the man he was before he was captured, but this is only a temporary reprieve. As much as he dares to hope for a future on the ranch with his new owner, he is afraid he must try to escape before he is returned to his Mistress. Death would be better than returning.

Monica Avery has given up on finding love. She works instead at sheltering those under her care from the harsh realities of this new society. When Jake comes to work for her, she is intrigued by him. He wants nothing to do with the females on the ranch, but he shows his caring nature with his treatment of the children and his respect of those who work with him. Monica wants Jake to care for her, but she knows he has been damaged and is just starting to trust she is not like other females. Can she rescue Jake from returning to a captivity that will destroy him?

As the slow burning romance between Jake and Monica grows, you are introduced to a whole host of secondary characters. Ms. Schulz has done a great job of world-building. I never felt bogged down by info or character overload. Every scene was interesting and integral to the plot and world-building. This is an emotionally charged story of a dark future where it does not seem females learned their lessons from the past. If you are looking for an extremely well written new story that is different from the norm, I can definitely recommend this book to you. I am anxiously waiting for the next book in this proposed six book series!

Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.

[Ava · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 stars!:)

I was really excited to pick up this book, because it is unlike anything I have ever heard of before. I have not read a true dystopian novel since The Hunger Games and Divergent days, and to be honest I wasn't really expecting to read anything else in that genre after the fact. My reading tastes have changed since then and I am more of a romance reader than a YA reader nowadays. So when I started reading this novel and realized that is was dystopian, I was actually really excited since I had never heard of a dystopian romance book before.

This is a dystopian romance book where women are basically the rulers of everything. Women ended up developing this ability to become quite strong and powerful when filled with adrenaline (most of the time when the adrenaline is fear based). They started over powering the male species, and "Women, no longer considered the weaker sex, controlled everything now. Men were their slaves, thanks to losing a second world war they foolishly started themselves" (Schulz 16).

Our main character Jake has been abused for years by his mistress Darla, and wonders how much more he can endure. He is then saved by a woman named Monica Avery, who has 'rented' Jake from his mistress for six months to help her build a ranch on her property. Jake used to work in construction before the war, so his skills are coveted by Monica. This is a love story between Jake and Monica, who have to over come the struggles of Jake's past and PTSD. The big problem here is what will happen to the couple when Jake's six months are up and he must return to the life of enslavement that almost broke him.

I really really enjoyed reading this!! The main reason why I cannot give this a full five stars though is because it was slow in the beginning and it took me a while to actually get invested in the story. But let me just say, when I did finally get invested... I became OBSESSED with the story! I needed to know what was going to happen to our two main characters and was completely invested into their relationship. Jake and Monica's love story is heartbreaking, beautiful, steamy, and overall addictive. Once their relationship got rolling, I could not put this book down!

Needless to day, I'm SO EXCITED and highly anticipating the next book in this series! I need to know what happens to Jake and Monica, and the new couple we will soon be introduced to :)

TW: abuse, sexual assault, and PTSD.

I was sent this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Siobhan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jake’s Redemption is the prequel to Jamie Schulz’s The Angel Eyes series, and it’s a read that has me desperate to see what the series brings. Although my feelings were a bit mixed towards this one in the end, as a whole it was highly addictive and I’m certainly interested in reading more about this world.

With Jake’s Redemption we’re introduced to an interesting dystopian world, one that left me super curious. I’ll be honest and say I didn’t completely understand it – there were some elements that were never completely explained, some details I wanted to know more about – but what I did understand was interesting. Moreover, the lack of knowledge did not prevent enjoyment of this one. We know enough to appreciate the story, but there are certainly questions left. My fingers are crossed these questions are answered in the future books in the series.

What really sucked me in with Jake’s Redemption was the story itself. I was sucked in from the very start and was addicted to the way things were going to play out. I felt it dragged a wee bit in places and some things were repetitive, but I was so hooked I did not care. I wanted more, and I powered through the story to get my answers of how things played out.

For the most part, this book was sitting around a three-point-five-star rating. There were some four-star moments, but there were some three-star moments as well. It was the lack of answers to some of the details in the end that left me rounding down. There were plenty of things left open, things that will be important in the main series, but there were some elements in this one I felt should have been resolved and not left hanging. As a prequel story, I would have liked everything about the romance in this one, everything to do with the main characters of this story, to be explained in full. As it was, there were a few things I felt needed a bit more explanation and that had me rounding down.

Overall, however, Jake’s Redemption was an incredibly addictive read and I’m certainly interested in diving into the main books in the series when they’re released.

[Brenda Moser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a totally different read for me but one I'm glad I read. The author does a fantastic job bringing a great cast of characters and weaving an intriguing story line. She brings an array of emotions from cruelty, pain and despair along with torture and slavery to hope and romance and describes it all in detail with vividly painted scenes. She captured and held me from start to finish and had me turning the pages as fast as I could trying to keep up with all the twists and turns along the way. I loved this prequel and am looking forward to the next book.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.

[Juanita E. Arp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book 📚, it is a roll reversal where men are the sex objects and slaves instead of women. Tells how Monica meets Jake a slave and they fall in love and try and find a way to be together. I can't wait for the next book. I received this book as a FREE ARC copy to read and I voluntarily leave this review.

[Lady Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning: Intended for mature audiences. This story contains some unsettling and violent subject matter that sensitive readers may find disturbing or triggering. Reader discretion is advised.

Jake’s Redemption is the story of Jake Nichols becoming a slave after the war that put women in charge of the world. He was broken, beaten and damaged, but a kind spirit woman took him in and tried to build him back up into the man he once was. Monica Avery was an amazing woman with a past of her own but the attraction she felt towards Jake made her risk what she got to keep him.

The book presents a dystopian setting. The aftermath of a war that left few men alive and women in charge. The abuse of power or the threat of it was ever-present, even when not every woman was corrupted by the power they now wield, the ones that did were scary enough.

I could talk about this book for days. Seriously, it has so many points that are amazing for discussion and I think some of those discussions are necessary for this day and age. With the Me Too movement and other topics about abuse of power, this book opens a lot of questions for those willing to think about it.

Jake Nichols was real. Every little struggle he had during his imprisonment in Darla’s hands and when he was under Monica’s supervision felt real. I think this book presents the broken mind and the aftereffects of abuse like no other I have ever seen. I believe Jamie couldn’t have done a better job crafting Jake even if she tried.

The writing was beautifully done. I can’t stress enough how many times I found myself thinking: “Jamie is a genius. This book is amazing.” I wish you could see my Kindle file for this book, the highlights and notes are everywhere. As long as the book was, it wasn’t tedious and the writing was compelling, even in descriptions I couldn’t find a flaw.

I want to mention that for a prequel this book was LONG. Now, it’s content was fantastic, in my opinion, but I was not expecting the page count since I see prequels as small books. That being said, give me Angel and Brett’s book as long as it comes because I will DEFINITIVELY read it.

The only thing I believe that could have been better crafted/imagined in this story was the way women managed to overpower men. The idea of becoming super-strong when strong emotions are involved it’s not a new one for me but I think it could have been done in a more original way. Considering this trade in women was not actively used in this particular story after Jake was captured… I took note but it didn’t have much weight on my score.

To finish this I must give credit to the cast of secondary characters that were present in the story. I think all of them, even Katherine was fulfilling a role. That being said, I want to know what role Toby was playing because that little piece of… *shuts up and breath deeply* I have a feeling he will be trouble in Angel’s book.

If you have Kindle Unlimited, or even if you don’t, please grab this book. It may take you a little longer to read through it but I absolutely believe is worth it.

Disclaimer: I read the book from Kindle Unlimited.

[Amy [Book Addict Reviews] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jamie Schulz is a new to me author and this book isn’t my normal genre, BUT I was intrigued about the story after reading the blurb and the story itself did not disappoint. This is a post-apocalyptic, western, romance mix and it works well.

Schulz created a world in which woman rule, they are powerful, and they are slave owners. There was a war and this is a story about those who survived physically, but mentally may still be damaged.

Jake Nichols was captured. He is a slave. His mistress is cruel, she enjoys torturing her slaves. Jake is stuck, he can’t escape this life. However, he gets a break from the torture when another ranch needs his help for 6 months. The owner of this ranch is the complete opposite from his mistress. She doesn’t torture her slaves, she treats them like any other human. He knows his time away is temporary but it gives him a glimpse of what life could be like if he was away from captivity.

Monica Avery is the ranch owner who Jake is working for. She has given up on any sort of relationship, she isn’t the typical slave owner. She truly cares about those who work for her and wants to help them, not hurt them. When Jake starts working for her, she is intrigued by the man. There is something about him that draws her to him, but she knows that she needs to lightly when it comes to getting close to him.

This story was a SLOW, SLOW burn. Jake and Monica definitely have chemistry, but they are both afraid to take the next step with each other BUT when they finally do, sparks fly. Jake is a broken man, he truly doesn’t trust women (which given his past who can blame him). Monica is there for him, she is patient and she will do anything she can to keep him away from going back to his previous mistress.

The main characters were well written, but so were the secondary characters and they really contributed to the overall plot of the story. This also sets up for the second book in the serious, because I am very intrigued with Angel and want to learn more about her.

This story was well written, built an amazing world with intriguing characters and I can’t wait to see how Jake and Monica’s relationship continues to grow and to see how the story continues with Angel and Bret.

[Rachel Menzies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh My! For a prequel, I didn't expect it to be so in depth and long! I actually expected it to be done in a couple hours, like a lot of other prequels. But WOW! It sucked me in and I was ready to read the next one! But have to wait. But I'm sure it'll be worth it! There are triggers: NonCon memories, abuse effects, abuser confrontation, NonCon stalking. But the care Jake receives slowly brings him back from the brink. It's uplifting and lets the reader know that if you surround yourself with the right people, you CAN get through it. It's a dystopian future where the Women are in charge, and some are just not nice, some in the extreme. There WERE times where I shuddered with memories, but pushed through. The storytelling is good.

[Georgia Mathers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Schulz's debut offering straddles genres. It is a dystopian cowboy romance, and it examines some well-worn territory of the slave trade, gender equality, and at times, I made parallels with modern sex-trafficking. This book is a full-length novel, but it is a prequel to the series Schulz has created, in which a gender war has erupted. Women rose out of the war as the victors and relegated men to positions of slavery and servitude. More …

[Jamie Schulz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a labor of love and introduces the world for the upcoming six-book series. I really enjoyed writing it. I hope everyone else will enjoy reading it too.

[Escape Into Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before I start this review, I want to let everyone about some significant triggers in Jake’s Redemption. I usually don’t include trigger warnings, but I felt this book warranted one. The trigger warnings I want to add are rape, the threat of rape, mental abuse, and physical abuse. If any of these triggers you, I would suggest finding another book.

Jake’s Redemption starts with Jake, his best friend, and the group that they are traveling with being captured in the mountains. Jake’s best friend, Bret, stages a daring escape but leaves Jake behind in the chaos. Five years later, Jake is a shell of the man he used to be. Abused in every way by his owner, Jake is waiting to die. Then, he is offered a chance to get away from his owner for six months. He is loaned to Monica. Expecting the worse, Jake is surprised when Monica turns out to be a kind and gentle woman who cares for the people under her protection. He begins to heal and begins to fall in love with Monica. But time is working against them. Jake is slated to return to his abusive owner. What will happen? Will Jake be returned? Will Jake and Monica have their happily ever after?

Jake’s Redemption was not what I thought it was going to be. When I read the blurb, I knew that I was getting a dystopian book with romance elements, which was fine with me. I like dystopian themed books, and I love romance. What I wasn’t expecting was the book to be as raw and gritty as it was. It blew my mind in the right way. I couldn’t put the book down. I needed to find out what was going to happen to Jake. I can’t say that I have had a book have an effect like that on me in a long time!!

I loathed Darla. Her treatment of Jake was horrendous. Then her backstory was explained. She was a victim of domestic abuse before the war. While I still loathed her, I understood why she treated her male slaves the way she did.

Jake was an amazing main character. The author did a fantastic job of showing his transformation. He went from a man who was living free to a man who had been tortured. She also did a tremendous job of showing his recovery and how tenuous it was. I didn’t blame him for not wanting a woman to touch him. My heart broke for him when he told Monica that. I did wonder if he was too damaged to be with Monica. I also wondered that if the brainwashing that Darla did would kick in towards the end of the book.

I liked Monica. I did find her pushy with Jake at points in the book. She knew that he had been abused. She still insisted on trying to kiss him. That made me go “Eeeehhhh” when it came up in the book. I did like that she stood up to Darla. That one scene when Darla tried to visit Jake and Monica intervened is seared into my brain. I also liked that while she had slaves, she still treated them as people. I do think that she should have gotten rid of that one guard who attacked Jake when it happened. I did understand why Monica kept her but still. That was asking for trouble.

There were two significant storylines in Jake’s Redemption. The main one is Jake/Monica’s romance. The second one, which didn’t show up until the middle of the book, is about Angel. I liked that the author was able to intertwine the two storylines but kept them completely separate.

Jake and Monica had insane chemistry and insane sexual tension. Even with Jake denying it, he was attracted to Monica. The author was able to build that sexual tension up until it exploded. That lead to one of the hottest sex scenes that I have read to date. It was fog up my Kindle hot!! It was also bittersweet because of what Jake went through with Darla.

The dystopian angle of Jake’s Redemption was interesting. I liked that the author chose to make the world female-dominated. I did like that the woman discovered that they had a new adrenaline based power. It was interesting. I wish that more detail had been given about that power. Heck, I would have loved to have seen it shown more often

The end of Jake’s Redemption was exciting. It set up for the next book perfectly. None of the storylines were ended. I do wonder what Angel had over Darla that made her cave as often as she did. I am hoping more will be explained in the next book.

I would give Jake’s Redemption an Adult rating. There is sex. There is language. There is violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Jake’s Redemption. I would recommend it to family and friends.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

[Alex (Bri's Book Nook) · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this universe, there was a war of men vs. women many years prior. The women won and can enslave the men, and most women show the men no mercy. Marriage is outlawed, and women are meant to just make use of the many male slaves that are around. Jake has been tortured for years under Darla and doesn’t think that he will ever be able to be happy again. When a woman named Monica offers him a job on her ranch, he is worried that he might be going to a fate worse than Darla. When Monica treats him like a human instead of a slave, Jake doesn’t know how to react. Soon, he finds himself falling for her, but he doesn’t know if he can love again.

Wow, I have never read a book quite like this one. So often have I seen a book with female slave/damsel in distress being saved by the male protagonist, but never the reverse. Monica doesn’t believe in slavery, but many women at the time did. Jake had resigned himself to his fate with Darla, but Monica shows him that life could be happy again. He cannot be fully free from Darla because she is constantly keeping tabs on him, but he will be somewhat free on Monica’s ranch until his contract is up.

I also loved how this book shows that both men and women can be traumatized. In many books, men go through trauma and automatically want to go back to having people all over them. Jake doesn’t even want to be hugged by a woman after the horrors he has gone through with Darla, and Monica respects that. When others on the ranch do not respect his wishes, Monica speaks out against it. He has to heal just like anyone else, he isn’t some sort of emotionless being who bounces back after years of torture after seeing a pretty woman or something. Jake needed a time and place to heal, and Monica’s ranch gave him this space.

The romance wasn’t the main focus of this book in my opinion. Jake’s healing was the main focus, which I truly appreciated. Even though the cover looked very sensual, nothing happened until Jake was truly ready to move to that stage of a relationship. When the romance did occur, it was very slow. The characters weren’t just having sex like in some adult romance novels, they truly loved one another and worshipped each other.

To think that this book is a prequel to the rest of the series that hasn’t even come out yet is astonishing. I can’t wait to read the rest of the Angel Eyes series. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a new NA dystopian romance novel.

I received a copy of this novel and this is my voluntary review.

[Cary Morton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about Jake’s Redemption by Jamie Schulz. I’ll be honest, when I first picked up the book, for the first chapter or two, I hated it. I found it hard to accept the world that was built for this series – because I simply can’t make myself believe that given the advantage of strength, womankind would overtake men and start treating them like slaves. The way the men in this story were treated was depraved, and I’d like to think that having been oppressed and mistreated for thousands of years, surely women would do better.

The feminist in me loathed the way the women’s strength was named “Hysterical Strength”. It brought up bad images in my head of women being confined to insane asylums because they were “hysterical” which just meant they were women that were too outspoken, or simply too inconvenient for the men in their lives, and needed to be discarded. I cannot describe how much this simple phrase bothered me. I understand why it was chosen, but I didn’t like it.

Then, the book moved on. The book morphed into a story about trauma and love, and two people trying to overcome their personal and societal issues – and it was sweet. I liked the characters. I liked their romance. The writing was easy to sink into. All of these things made me forget how much I hated the beginning of the book. I very nearly gave this a 4-star rating because of it.

…and then the end came. Chapter after chapter of time jumps, hinting that soon everything would be relieved, relationships would move forward, and things would be resolved… but they weren’t. The book ended still unfinished. The last few chapters broke this book for me. I don’t know what happened to the structure – but it just didn’t work for me.

Overall, the book was okay. Thought he cover at no way hinted at this being dystopian, the story structure was a bit off, and the world-building at times was problematic, I still enjoyed the story for the most part. It’ll be interesting to see where the series goes from here.

[Living My Best Book Life · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first time reading a Jamie Schulz novel and OMG it was so good! Jake's Redemption was a forbidden love romance that had so much depth to it.

After reading the blurb, I knew this was going to be a story about two people who would most likely fall in love. It was so much more. The story was complex with characters that were placed in complicated and unimaginable situations.

We meet Jake Nichols, an enslaved cowboy, who would do anything to escape his "master" Darla. Jamie Schulz was able to detail the story when Jake was enslaved so vividly. I felt like I could picture the living conditions.

Jake gets a break from his awful master and spends time with a new master, Monica Avery. She is the complete opposite of Darla. She is kind and doesn't torture Jake.

I loved the vulnerability of both characters. Jake has to learn to give his trust when all he has known is torture and pain. And Monica has to be patient with Jake because he has a lot of emotional and physical scars to work through.

Overall this was a romance that was a beautiful disaster. The fact that so much bad and damage occurred and yet Jake and Monica were able to find love was breathtaking.

I give Jake's Redemption 4 stars. It was an emotional, tragic, romance that I highly recommend. It begs to ask the question of what would you risk for love? I really enjoyed getting to know these characters and that was all because of the great writing by Jamie Schulz. I am ready to read more!!

[Misty's Book Space · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sent this book by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Jake's Redemption is the prequel to Jamie Schulz's The Angel Eyes series and it has hooked me and made me want to continue on with the series as soon as possible.

This is definitely an introduction to this world and some things were left open and I was left with some unanswered questions that I am assuming will be elaborated on and answered in future books. Because I am impatient I wanted to know everything now but even though that's not the case it didn't take away from my enjoyment.

I will say this was slow going for the majority of the book which I did kind of struggle with but I pushed through and things picked up and like I said I'm hooked. I need to know what's in store next for these characters.

The roles are reversed in this dystopian world. The men are the sex objects and slaves and the women have some hyper strength that kicks in when they are threatened. There are trigger warnings for abuse, rape, drugging and PTSD so be aware of that going in.

As I've mentioned I really enjoyed reading this. It took me a little bit to become fully immersed in the story because it was slow going but once I did I was hooked. This is a slow burn dystopian romance that I definitely recommend and I cannot wait for the next book in the series.

[Danielle Urban · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jake's Redemption by Jamie Schulz is an interesting new twist on romance novels featuring cowboys. I loved the whole book. The atmosphere was intense. Men are now imprisoned like slaves. Sold and loaned as their owners please. Jake has been dreaming and hoping for his freedom. Back to days when men were not slaves. But now, those hopes are just dreams. Soon, he is taken to build a ranch for a woman, Monica. Monica isn't like all the other women. Jake instantly takes a fancy to Monica and forgets his freedom. However, love, is forbidden. These two characters have been tested and tried physically, mentally, and emotionally. Jamie Schulz has created a world that swallow sup readers whole. I was immediately taken with this story. The novel takes freedom to a new level in many ways. Overall, I recommend this stunning yet steamy novel to all readers. 

I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.

[Paula D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a prequel story! Jake is a slave. In this evil world woman get men as there slaves. But some woman don’t treat there slaves like garbage. Monica gets Jake to help her build a house and do things country boys do. Unfortunately Jake is a slave to someone else and will be leaving Monica’s place in couple months. ...The chemistry is off the charts hot! The story isn’t for the light hearted it’s deep, dark and intense and heartbreaking but real. My heart broke so many times for Jake and I just wanted to hug the handsome man and tell him he’s loved and give him strength. I can not wait for Brent’s story next! And more of Jake and Monica! 5/5 stars definitely in my top reads of 2019

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goodreads Kindle Copy Win

Jake is a slave who is about to meet his match.

Monica is a strong willed woman who is in charged. She is about to change his world in more ways than he will ever imagine and vice versa. Neither was expecting to find love amidst their setting only a haven from the cruelty of society.

But their new love will have to go through challenges along the way for them to gain happiness.

[Morgan Blomstedt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the premises of the story. Well written and kept me engaged.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An awesome story of role reversal. Where women are in charge. Jake meets Monica and a romance starts. Can this work? Couldn’t wait to find out. Don’t miss out.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! A brilliant read, amazing first novel

I got this book as a KU. I saw it whilst browsing and it intrigued me especially with it being the authors first book, I had to read it because I've got a thing for up and coming authors. I'm amazed that is her first book, she goes into so much detail and is so thorough. The back story is first as the main character re lives it. Even though it happened a few years ago Jake can't stop obsessing over it. The book is set in the future after the wars, women hold the power, men are slaves, some are treated better than others depending who buys them at the auction, but they are all owned once they have been captured and sold. The majority of women though take advantage and abuse their power and many slaves end up dead or worse as Jake puts it, because they have to live the abuse every day and wish death would come quickly. You get a real feel for the characters and what they have had to deal with since the fallout of the war.

The book really starts when Darla his owner lends him to Monica to help her with the construction of her ranch house. Darla his mistress abuses all of her slaves and likes nothing more than trying to break them purely for her and her friends entertainment. There are a few good women who buy as many men as they can to save them, these men are treated like people and not possessions they help their owner with various jobs. Jake settles in quickly but keeps waiting for the other shoe to drop, surely they must want something else from him. The other men in the ranch can't imagine a life like Jake has had because they've never been through it, but they see the fear and haunted look in his eyes and also the state he was in when he arrived, battered, beaten and in shackles, they have also heard the rumours about how some get treated.

The main characters are Jake, Monica, Rosa, Shawn, Angel and Darla even though she mainly comes up in conversation and Jake's flashbacks and dreams. You see how he struggles with trust around the Monica the owner of the ranch and the guards, who are women. He's waiting for the abuse and beatings to start if he says no to them. He has lost all trust and finds it hard to let go after years of knowing nothing else. You get drawn into the book and you can never really second guess what's going to happen next. It's a long time since a book has got me like this.

Even though you know Jake was abused the book doesn't really go into many details with it, you only read the bits where Jake has flashbacks and dreams, you have to let your imagination lead you to what has happened to him. There are bits and pieces about it, but most of the book is about how the world is now and the ranch where he's helping with the construction. It's a lot more in-depth than I thought it would be for a prequel and a lot longer than I thought it would be. It's a well written, heart warming romance. I spent all of my time with my fingers crossed that Jake finds and can accept love with Monica. That's if his cruel mistress will leave him alone and let him go.

It's an easy read considering the topics but that's because it is well written. There is a good feel to it and even though there are various twists and plots to it. There are sex scenes but they aren't too much. I found myself keeping my fingers crossed for Jake throughout the book. Even right to the end you never really knew what would happen, there were quite a few twists and turns throughout the book with various plots popping up right to the end. It was easy to follow and enjoy because it was so well written. I would definitely recommend the book to anyone that likes a great love story.
Once I started reading the book I couldn't put it down and ended up not sleeping because I got lost in it! I think Jamie is going to be an author to look out for in the future if this book is anything to go by

[Sandy S · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars--

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 1,2019

In a broken world, he faced a future full of pain. Will one daring woman be his last chance for love… Before time runs out…

Jake longs for the life men lived before war destroyed everything and women enslaved them. When fate forces a temporary reprieve from torment and imprisonment, escape becomes his primary objective. Until his new captor sparks hope, and something far more passionate, in his lonely heart.

After giving up on romance, Monica dedicated herself to sheltering unfortunate souls from a harsh new society. But then destiny delivered a desperate man to her doorstep. A man she soon discovers she cannot ignore and would do anything to save.

Will Monica be able to free Jake from the vicious woman who wants to break him? Or will Jake be forced to leave Monica behind to save himself?

••••••••••

REVIEW: JAKES’ REDEMPTION is the first instalment and full-length prequel in Jamie Schulz’ post-apocalyptic, dystopian, erotic romance series focusing on a world controlled and ruled by women. This is former rancher and slave Jake Nichols, and ranch owner Monica Avery’s story line.

WARNING: Due to the nature of the story line there are numerous triggers including rape, torture, abuse, non-consent, slavery and imprisonment that may not be suitable for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual third person points of view (Jake and Monica) JAKE’S REDEMPTION follows Jake Nichols spiral into the darkness, and the building relationship between our broken hero, and rancher Monica Avery. Several years earlier a catastrophic war destroyed cities and towns throughout the world, and ‘changed the social order’ between men and women. In the ensuing aftermath, a second civil war between the sexes resulted in women becoming the dominant and controlling sex, while men were slaves to be used and abused. Jake Nichols, and his best friend Bret Masters hid in the mountains only to find themselves captured by raiding parties and sentenced to servitude and slavery for the rest of their lives.

Jake Nichols is a broken man; shattered by months of sexual abuse at the hands of his Mistress and owner Darla Cain, and her equally cruel and abusive friends and council members. When rancher Monica Avery offers Jake a chance at temporary ‘freedom’ from Darla’s barbarism, Jake is sceptical about Monica’s intent. What ensues is the slow building relationship between Jake and Monica, and the potential fall-out as Jake’s time with Monica comes to an end.

The relationship between Jake and Monica struggles in the face of Jake’s imprisonment and torture by Darla Cain. Fractured, and unable to trust, Jake battles the memories, the fears, the humiliation, and the possibility of returning to Darla’s hold, fear that controls every aspect of his life. Monica’s attraction to Jake is met with uncertainty as Jake’s trust has been destroyed by betrayal, abuse and torture.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful secondary and supporting characters including Jake’s friend Bret Masters; Monica’s best friend Angel Aldridge and her head guard Michelle, as well as Monica’s ranch hands and guards- Shawn Brohm, Rosa Santos, Kristine, Trevor and Kara, and Section Council member Jewel Stewart; Darla Cain, and Carrie Simpson. Angel and Bret’s story line is next.

The world building looks at the aftermath of another world war, and the consequences of corrupt power. Not all women are cruel or vindictive but those that are have destroyed any sense of peace for the men that survived.

JAKE’S REDEMPTION is a heart breaking, emotional, dark and gritty story of survival wherein recovery is next to impossible; and memories control the present and the future.

Copy supplied for review

www.thereadingcafe.com

[Lane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jake and his friend Bret have been evading Raiders since the war was lost. But his lovesick friend got them caught. In a last-ditch effort to get free, Jake is able to cause just enough of a distraction to help his friend make a run for it. Unfortunately, Jake doesn't fare so well, becoming a slave to one of the most sadistic women. This is the story of a women-run world; where the men are little more than property, slaves.

This story was intriguing and very sad. My heart broke over and over for Jake and the atrocities he endured. Most of the story follows his healing on Monica's farm, an off chance opportunity that he almost refused to take. I did find myself smiling at Shawn's antics and Kara and Trevor's innocence. I am curious about Rosa and Angel's stories.

I liked the writing, but there were times where the pacing crawled and I found myself skimming the pages. This didn't happen often, but it happened. The characters were well written and worked well together to make this story work. The premise was interesting. There were a few things that I questioned, like the spurts of super strength and the WARs that caused everything to happen. I just wanted more info on them. It bothered me that women were so depraved and saw nothing wrong with their actions.

I liked that the author showed the main characters' strengths and imperfections and allowed the characters to recognize them. I'm not sure of what a "happy ending" should look like for a story like this. The main character does find a reason to be happy, but it is not without its problems. The ending actually felt like the beginning of the next book with a planned resolution for Jake and Monica to come. This was a great setup for Angel's story, but I wanted something more solid for Jake.

Warnings: There is physical and mental abuse. The men are given a drug that makes them cower to women. Though there are no explicit details, there is rape and molestation and it isn't seen as wrong to seemingly most of the women in this society. But there is hope. I am interested in reading the next book in this series.

3.5 stars

[M.B. Saul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jake's Redemption is a well crafted story that sets up a series the to come. The tension of Jake's looming departure was present in everything, and added a layer of suspense and emotion that impacted the depth of each scene. The chemistry between characters was a highlight of the writing. The build and attraction between Jake and Monica is gripping and raw, and teases and twists in all the right places. The relationships that develop between the supporting characters are excellent. There is a great cast of characters in this novel that make me excited for the next book and to learn more about how their stories continue and their world expands. Schulz does an expert job of providing great detail and context without overdoing it, readers are drawn in from the start with the extreme of Jake's circumstances. There are incredibly vivid descriptions, which created a solid sense of place–I could clearly picture the ranches and the world around them.

Peppered within the main story arc were lovely moments of tension and unexpected plot twists. This was a smooth read, with depth and development of a wide range of emotions. It is hopeful, romantic, gripping, and original. I loved it and look forward to see how it all develops in the rest of the series.

[Kelly DeMarco · Rating 5 out of 5]

On pins and needles from beginning to end!

My heart broke from the first for Jake and immediately became invested in him. This story of his redemption and healing is both heart breaking and hopeful. Jake’s path in this book is fraught with distress, emotional scars, anger and rage, torture and gut wrenching, paralyzing fear. Yet amidst all that negativity, there’s also hope, laughter, a sense of family and belonging, light hearted moments, and even happiness. That happiness is due mostly to Monica. She and Jake share a connection and their chemistry is longed for, but drawn out.
This prequel sets the scene for more of the story to come, it’s not just about Jake and Monica, but also about this new society. The author has deftly created unique society in which cruelty reigns. As Jake’s story progresses, more of his plight is revealed as well as his past before his capture and torture.
This author’s work is new to me and I enjoyed her style of writing, attention to detail and characters with much emotional depth. There was tension, a sense of urgency, even suspense at times.
Overall, a very well written book and I’m really looking forward to reading the next book.

[Leslie OBrien · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for something different to read that will take you out of reality and drop you into a dystopian world, where women rule and the men are nothing more than, well…. Then look no further than Jamie Schulz’s “Jake’s Redemption”. So, let’s start: The world building is amazing, it’s detailed, and Ms. Schulz paints us a world where punishments are gleefully handed out and hope is hard to come by. Enter Monica and Angel, two women who completely disagree with how people (men) should be treated. And Jake, who is terrified at the prospect of being treated with a gentle touch. Let the story making continue. Ms. Schulz did a great job balancing the bleakness of life for much of the population with the very real emotions (fear, hope, loss) that exist for these characters; and I mean it when I say, they were palpable for me. Gah, I swear I could taste Jake’s despair at times (well done there!) Amazon has this story categorized in romantic fantasy, dystopian fiction, and science fiction romance, but it’s much more than that. It’s a love story that spans years, it’s a story of redemption, it’s a story of second chances, and it’s a story of love triumphing. Well, mostly. It is a prequel to what I hope will be a long running series.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Upon first reading the description, I didn’t know whether this book would be a hit. The dystopian scene where the battle of the sexes have reversed and women were now the dominant gender was hard to believe.

Jamie did an EXCELLENT job setting the scene and not only explaining this new life, but she did so in a way that you could actually imagine this type of life. You could see the scenes and feel the struggle that the characters endured.

Many times during the book I took a step back and realized how our current society played a hand in her imagination creating this novel’s plot. It was absolutely brilliant.

Aside from that, the love and lust that grew between the two main characters was a slow burn but so worth the wait.

Absolutely beautifully written.

I fell in love with this story and while reading, began to fall for the secondary characters that Jamie will introduce in book 2. I can’t wait to get my hands on it!

I’m so glad I took a chance on this novel and on Jamie! Don’t hesitate, put this on your bookshelf, NOW!

[☾❥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story mashup of dystopia, sci-fi and western is a first for me and I was skeptical of how the author will be able to pull it off. And, to my surprise this story came well together. 

In this female-dominated western society, slavery has returned and Jake has found himself on the wrong side of the fence serving a cruel Mistress that treats him like the dirt beneath the sole of feet. When he is temporarily lent to another slave owner, there he finds the complete opposite of the slave life he had with his Mistress. He beings to heal and gain hope for a better future but hope is not set in stone.

Be warned that before venturing into this tale of wonders, there are some serious trigger warnings. Slavery, torture, and rape. The world building and the plot are the epitomai of Jake's Redemption. I enjoyed the way things functioned in this dark sci-fi western world.
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[Josselyn Radillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read the whole review:
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Jamie Schulz delivers a very new empowering story for women that at the same time makes you grip. This a standalone from her series. Expertly combining modern, cowboys, western and slavery. Jamie ratchets up the suspense as she weaves of dystopia that crosses time. In addition, thrilling action, important issues as slavery, war, and abuse drawn story to nearer to an epic romance between Michelle.

We see, Jake and his best friend Bret and they were taken by a group of bandits. They become prisoners but one of them escape but with no good luck at all as he enters the word of slavery.

Jake is the main character and he goes through a lot as people did in that time. Topics like torture, rape, and abuse are displayed in this story and well that makes Jake struggle with the dire situation was in, the pressure and all he lived with Darla affects him at some point. Then he is owned by Michelle and things between them begin to change.....