A friends-to-lovers, brother’s best friend standalone romance with an HEA and no cliffhanger.
My brother’s best friend wants to save me ...
I just don’t know if I can be saved. After surviving a kidnapping that wrecks me in every way that matters my older brother invites me to tag along on tour with August Clover— his indie rock band that’s taking the world by storm. But my nightmares won’t let me rest. When Cade Richardson invites me into his bed I try to resist. There are so many reasons— after all, he’s my brother’s best friend. One of my oldest friends. And as the lead guitarist, a notorious player. Not just a different girl in every town. But a different girl every night. All he wants is to keep me safe. And after everything I’ve been through, how can I refuse? When friendship turns to something more we agree to keep it under wraps, afraid that knowledge of our relationship will upset the delicate balance on the tour. When my kidnapper lands an unexpected blow, I withdraw from everyone. If I can be hurt like this even with my brother and one of my oldest friends protecting me, when will I ever feel safe again? Cade’s not ready to let me go. But with a past like mine, will he eventually give up? Or decide that love is worth the consequences?
While you don't need to read the first three books in this series to enjoy Love & Consequences, it is highly recommended. This book is adult/new adult, and it is only suitable for readers aged seventeen and older due to mature content.
International bestselling author J.A. Owenby grew up in a small backwoods town in Arkansas, where she learned how to swear like a sailor and spot water moccasins skimming across the lake. She finally ditched the south and headed to Oregon. The first winter there, she was literally blown away a few times by ninety-mile-an-hour winds and storms that rolled in off the ocean.
Eventually, she longed for quiet and headed up to snowier pastures. She now resides in Washington state with her hot nerdy husband and cat, Chloe (who frequently encourages her to drink). She spends her days coming up with ways to torture characters in a way that either makes you want to throw your book down a flight of stairs or sob hysterically into a pillow.
J.A. Owenby writes new adult and romantic thriller novels. Her books ooze with emotion, angst, and twists that will leave you breathless. Having battled her own demons, she’s not afraid to tackle the secrets women are forced to hide. After all, the road to love is paved in the dark.
Her friends describe her as delightfully twisted. She loves fan mail and wine. Please send her all the wine.
Cads has loved Mac forever but the timing was never right. Did Mac even see him that way? With the band on tour and Mac tagging along its close quarters and the nightmares of her time with Brandon still front and center she can't hide from Cade. Cade offers Mac a lifeline to sleep in his bed so there is someone close and she feels safe. What starts as a sweet gesture and getting to know Cade better turns into so much more.
Continuation of the story from book 1 but focuses on Mac where as the others focused on Gemma and Hendrix more.
Trying to wrap your head around Macs thinking process and seeing inside her head is interesting. ADHD I never really thought of as something serious but the knowledge from this story helped me see that it can be a crazy nightmare for some.
I didn’t make it 20 pages before giving up on this dumpster fire. You can physically hear squealing from the pages with every “omigosh” and I had to wonder if a 12 year old wrote this. Sadly, Fifty Shades of Grey is bettering writing and that entire series is atrocious writing.
JA Owenby does it again. This book had me from the first page and never slowed down. I found myself sneaking away while at work just to keep reading. Owenby does a great job at capturing the essence of Mac's ADHD. You can tell by her words and thoughts he mind is running a million miles a min. She also bring some awareness to autims and how dibaliating it can be. No two people with ADHD or Autims are the same. Her characters may not be like the people you know, but they are real. The love and personal pain are so relatable. There is no sugar coating life in this book. Just a truly happy ending.
Love & Consequences: A Love & Ruin Standalone Novel - J.A. Owenby
Although this is a standalone novel, it tags on the J.A. Owenby’s Love & series.
This novel is about Mac’s life, how she is coping with the post kidnapping stress along with the havoc her ADHD. Mac is having a very hard time dealing with the emotional and mental stress cause by her kidnapping that took place in Love and Redemption.
She has been struggling using drugs to help her sleep, along with ADHD medication and alcohol. Now with the band getting ready to go on tour she knows there is a good chance someone will find out what actually did happen to her while Brandon was holding her hostage. She doesn’t want that to happen. Add to all of that her long time ex-Asher has messaged her asking to see her before she leaves on tour with August Clover her brothers band. She tells Asher that they need time away but she feels like they are done and not to contact her.
On top of all of this, the band is travelling with enhanced security due to the FBI still looking into the group that has been using family connections to set up underaged girls who are raped and sometimes worse by other members of the secret society. All and all, poor Mac really does have a lot to deal with while touring with Hendrix, Gemma and the band for the first time.
What might be the worst thing that could happen however, is developing feelings for Cade, Hendrix’s best friend and guitar/singer in the band.
Mac has huge issues in this story, from ending what has been and on again off again relationship with Asher, to spending so much time with Hendrix and Gemma afraid they will see how she is struggling emotionally, learning how to live in a tour bus with so many males, finding out that she is admired and cared for by one of those males and finally realizing that having as much security as they have the band is still open to danger and the eventual loss of a long time friend.
J.A. Owenby is so great at opening up and keeping a dialogue going in with issues like ADHD. Throughout this series the growing problem with disregard of women/female of all ages rights and how that ties in with the issue of human trafficking and how it ties into the sex trade. As a reader all I wanted throughout this story was for Mac to realize she needs to get support when it comes to her trauma and for her to realize that she can and will end up with having exactly what she really wants and that is a relationship with someone that is as healthy and wonderful as the relationship that Hendrix and Gemma share.
**Special note: at the end readers are invited to partake of a bonus scene about Pierce and find out more about him! I did and I’m ready to start into Pierce’s story. Always, always take advantage of these offers!
Wow! Just wow! This reader is new to J.A. Owenby's work but not anymore.
This novel is hauntingly beautiful. Analogous to the main female character's life, is like how overtly a lemon tastes sour but is one of the sweetest fruits. Through circumstances beyond the main female character's control, her life has soured, however, there is much sweetness still in her life, if she can reach deep enough to grasp it. Her life is sweet with the supportive, unconditional love of family and friends. Many a lesson learned from reading this novel. A beautiful romance sprouted and grew in spite of all the negative experiences surrounding it.
Riveting story line that totally absorbed the reader's attention. Gritty, ugly, beautiful, awe-inspiring. There are some hauntingly gruesome scenes that shock a reader. These scenes were not done purely for shock value, even though they were indeed shocking, but rather, to expose the harsh realities of some people's life experiences. Excellently depicted characterizations that greatly enhanced the story telling.
This reader took away new knowledge, from a victim's perspective, after encountering evil people and their nefarious deeds. Also learned, was how this type of horrendous experience may be handled and felt by the victim's friends and family. A lengthy read but necessary to more accurately depict the timeline of events. This novel was well written and flowed effortlessly. By no means did this story feel protracted, as time sped by unnoticed, while this reader immersed them self in the world and people the author so eloquently crafted.
Yay!! I’m so happy for Mac’s story! Ever since she was introduced to Gemma, giving her a ride before she even knew who she was, I’ve loved her character!!
Mac is ready for a change of scenery. After bad breakups, moving, and the kidnapping, Mac is going down a really bad road. When she goes on the road with the band, it’s much harder to hide her demons, and the last person she thought would comfort her does...Cade.
Cade is a member of the band and a total playboy. Definitely not someone Mac would ever think would settle down. But Cade sees right away that Mac is struggling and something is wrong. Cade might have the playboy reputation, but that doesn’t mean he has no heart. His heart has just always been set on the one girl he thought he could never have. Mac. Now, Mac is touring with them, and coming to him for help because she feels like she’s falling into the darkness after the kidnapping.
I think Mac is adorable, and after her last two awful boyfriends, she deserves someone good. I’m glad she makes Cade work for her a little, knowing that he has a reputation for being a player and getting a different girl every night. She’s not going to be another notch on the bed post. I think Cade definitely proves himself, and after everything they go through together. They deserve their happily ever after, and I’m so happy they finally found each other.
Highly recommend the whole series, start at the beginning!
A friend to lovers stand alone, yet so much more than just that. Mac is a straight up strong character who often says what she means, yet shows us her vulnerability as well. She’s been thru hell and back. Yet with her childhood friend Cade and his support helps her to get thru so so much. There was so much to this book than just friends falling into each other’s arms. Many fabulously strong and sexy characters. The storyline was riveting and full of angst and heart pounding in its intensity. I literally felt as if I was a part of the story too, I got so involved in it. I went thru every emotional thing with them. A very easy read and page turner. Haunting, heartbreaking, exhilarating and a gripping roller coaster ride. I highly recommend this story and author. I can’t wait to read more of Author J A Owenbys other stories. Thank you for such a riveting and emotional story.
J.A. Owenby is an author who arouses your attention from the moment you read the first page. J.A. Owenby writes with passion, gets you immediately into the story, as her words flow genuinely. You’ll fall in love with the characters. The anticipation and suspense of what happens next will be at the forefront of your mind so that you will not want to put the book down. I recommend Love and Consequences, A Love & Ruin Standalone Novel whether you are a new reader to J.A. Owenby's books or if you an avid fan as I am, who craves more unpredictable, moving stories filled with mystery, drama, romance that for sure capture your heart. Take time now, explore, engage and enjoy. Planning a vacation to relax and or if you want to take a break from your world, order your copy today.
Amazing friends to lovers story by J.A. Owenby. Cade and Mac had off the charts hot chemistry. Mac has been through a traumatic event along with her bestie Gemma. She went to school with Cade so she knows he a player. As they spend time together when her brother's band, August Clover goes on tour, their friendship becomes more and more intimate. Mac begins to see the real Cade as he supports her through her trauma and her frequent nightmares. They try to keep their growing relationship a secret but when the past comes back to haunt them, Cade is ready to stand up and protect the woman he loves. Will her brother and the rest of the band accept their relationship and can the guys protect her?
This was such a good book I truly enjoyed it!! One thing I will say is that while its “recommended” that you read the trilogy that came before this book, I would say DEFINITELY read it...I didn’t and while there wasn’t anything major that made it difficult to read, I could tell there were details that would have helped with the storyline that I had missed out on by not reading the trilogy. My biggest complaint about this book though was the ending and how sudden it was...it felt very unfinished and needed more detail to truly finish it off, it almost seemed like the author just wanted to wrap the book up...
This is my 1st read and review for this author and I absolutely loved this story. Mac was kidnapped it was pretty brutal and she’s having a hard time trying to recover, her brother convinces her to go on tour with his band August Clover. Cade is the lead guitarist for the band he’s a major player and has a different woman in his bed every night but when he takes Mac under his wing the friendship forms into more but is Mac too damaged for any kind of relationship?. A very emotional story that me laugh and cry and I highly recommend this book it’s definitely well worth the read.
This is one of the best books I've ever read! I could not put this down for a minute I only put this down a few times and read straight through in a day. I was on the edge of my seat through this whole story. My heart ached and lept for joy along with the characters. It's not often I feel as much as I did reading this! The bonds and relationship in this were so amazing and the whole story from start to finish was so gripping and at times gut wrenching and I could feel everything right along with Mac and her whole family/group!
I couldn’t put this book down! Love and Consequences is addicting. It pulled me in right from the start and I read the book in one sitting. Cade and Mac’s story is both heartbreaking and endearing with unexpected plot twists that will keep you turning pages. I loved how protective Cade was over Mac and the support system they both had as their relationship developed. Mac is fantastic – speaking her mind, standing up for herself, and learning how to cope with tragedy – I was rooting for her throughout the book. Can’t wait to read the rest of this series!
Ahhh! I adore Cade!! Poor Mac has been through the ringer. She has so much darkness hanging over her right now and she’s making bad choices left and right. Cade has loved her from afar for years. He comes across as the hot manwh*%e but deep down he’s different. As soon as he gets a chance with her, he takes it. It’s explosive, beautiful and just what she needs to make it through the dark. The danger surrounding them all hasn’t disappeared and it comes for them all taking one of their own with it. This is a fantastic book in the series. Can’t wait for more!
Mac, what a wonderfully complicated person. Loved the twists and turns. I never knew what was coming next. Could not put this book (Well Kindle) down. This is a stand-alone, but after reading this story I could not wait to read the entire Love & Ruin series. I highly recommend this book and the entire series, the characters pull you in and won’t let you go!
Man, with all that’s happened so far, things keep getting more intense. Mac is having problems dealing with everything, but she’s keeping almost everyone in the dark. Of course Pierce sees and knows all, but he’s a good bodyguard and friend. But man, one person shocks me and is completely and totally head over hills in love with her. I’ll be honest, I shed some tears with this one. Can’t wait to see what’s next!!!
Whew. Dealing with self medicating is always a touchy hard thing. This was so well written. Mac is a bundle of energy and foot in mouth, but she’s so amazing and stronger than she realizes. Cade is her perfect counterbalance accepting all of her and loving her for who she is. The emotional toll and the continuation of the Brandon situation and the fall out of that was heartbreaking. Could not put this down. So ready for Pierce's story.
Omg I loved this book Mac is just amazing I loved her and everything that she went through and her and Cade together just wow I will definitely be reading Gemma and Hendrix trilogy next
Such a great read, loved all the characters and the storyline was excellent, loved that certain issues were covered really well, made the characters feel real 😊 the bonus read was great but I am SO hoping that means Pierce is getting his own book?? 🤞😉, definitely one to keep an eye out for 😁
Enjoyed Mac’s and Cade’s story. Although this book can be read as a stand-alone, I wish I had read the previous books in the series, to fully appreciate the plot and characters.
You will go on an emotional ride with this story. You will feel the highs and lows. You will cry with sadness and joy. Nothing more to say....other than I want a full story on sexy peirce
Of you want to read a story full of angst and love, this is it! I was either on the edge of my seat or swooning. To finish this book I found a quiet spot and read it to the end.. I loved every character except Brandon.
I am blown away with this book! I love the twists and turns of it all! I want more of Mac and Cade! But all good this must come to an end. I recommend this book to anyone!
I will admit that I loved this book more due to a conclusion to the backstory than the romance. Don't get me wrong. Case and Mac were sweet and steamy, but after reading about Hendrix and Gemma for 3 books, it fell kind of flat for me.
This was incredible. Page turner from start to finish. Characters, story, everything was pure perfection. I was laughing, crying, and smiling all within minutes as the author brought the story to life.
Mackenzie is great character, lots of heart, smartass, and chatter. Also, loved her bestie relationship with Gemma. However, I would have loved to have Cade's point of view too.
Mac is in a class all of her own. She is hilarious with her no filter mouth, yet the love and relationship she developes with another amazing and sexy character Cade is to die for!! Love the ups and downs in this book❤️❤️
Mac is so much stronger than she believes she is. She powers thro even tho she wants to give up. She has the help from the ones who loves her the most.
I loved the development of her relationship with Cade. It got stronger as time went on.
I'm so happy her and Cade get a story..I felt some parts were a little dragged out but I really appreciated seeing the whole dynamic play out. We get to see more of Hendrix and Gemma. The love of the family was touching.