Also by this author: The Wild Ones, Everything for Us, All the Pretty Lies, Pocketful of Sand, , The Dandelion, The Dandelion, The Way We Burn: A Standalone Romance...With A Twist, Tequila High (100 Proof Book 1)
Series: Wild Ones #3
Published by Berkley on June 3, 2014
Format: eARC
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He’s someone she can’t trust…
She’s someone he thinks he knows…
Violet Wilson is a wallflower. Shy, serious, and accident-prone, she’s got a bad habit of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The night she’s forced to pose with her friend might just be the worst time of all—that’s when she meets Jet Blevins. She knows better than to get involved with someone like him, but he touches her in ways she never expected, neverwanted before.
On the outside, Jet is a typical rocker, an arrogant lead guitarist who unapologetically lives a wild lifestyle. But on the inside, he’s battling demons and using the stage to escape the troubles of his past and the addictions of his present. Until the night he sees Violet standing at the back of the room. She brings his life into focus. She knows his secrets. She’s the girl he can’t forget, and the one thing he craves more than his addiction.
But can they ever hope to have a future when their very foundation is nothing but lies?
The Wild Ones (A Wild Ones Novel)
Wild Child (A Wild Ones Novella 1.5)
Some Like It Wild (A Wild Ones Novel Book 2)
There's Wild, Then There's You (A Wild Ones Novel Book 3)
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Hi, my name is Maria and I am addicted to Michelle Leighton’s men and novels. There isn’t a character she’s dreamed up that hasn’t made my heart race, blood boil or given me goose bumps. Jet is right up there. He is a rocker, as if that weren’t enough, he’s so sexy it’s wild. See what I did there…lol. Seriously, though, Jet is unlike any other rocker because he has ambitions that don’t involve performing. However, as hot as he is, he’s also a bad boy. We think we know why but he’s got a secret. And it’s not so nice. Then again, he never claims to be a nice guy. In fact, he tells us just the opposite.
“I want Violet, and I’ll do whatever it takes to have her. Period. End of story. And that is who I am. That is the real me.” ~ Jet
Enter Violet. Good girl. Social worker trying to fix the world one broken person at a time. She meets Jet in the most bizarre place. They both believe something about the other that isn’t exactly true. One of the things I love is how Michelle Leighton builds the tension between the characters. The chemistry is tangible. The air is charged with desire. The reader can feel it. And is just as frustrated as the characters, waiting for them to get their act together.
“Everything about him is an invitation- his eyes, his smile, his posture. From his spiky black hair and dazzling blue eyes to his perfect lips and politely casual smile, he appeals to me like no one has ever appealed to me before. But he reeks of danger and hedonism. two things I avoid like the plague. Two things I’ve never wanted not to avoid. Until now.” ~ Violet
The story is written in dual POV which I love because it allows me to get inside each of the main character’s heads. I love knowing what they are thinking or feeling as told by them. Michelle Leighton is an expert at this type of writing. The characters are well developed. I love the banter between Jet and Violet but also between Violet and her best friend Tia. There are some laugh out loud moments and some touching ones, too. Violet is a perfect blend of tough, independent and vulnerable. Perhaps a bit to trusting, though she acts as if she’s not. Jet, well I already told you how hot he is but he is also caring and sweet under his gruff exterior. I like that although the attraction is instant, their relationship develops slower. Michelle Leighton does a great job touching on the effects of addiction without being preachy or predictable, nor making light of it. Although, some addictions can be fun when they involve two people in love. Did I mention Jake, our favorite wild firefighter, makes an appearance or two?
Michelle Leighton has written another fantastic story with yet another totally AHHHHMAZING male character who will steal your heart with his sexiness and heart of gold under his bad boy persona. I highly recommend this novel. Fans of Ms. Leighton will not be disappointed.
~ Excerpt ~
I lick my lips before I raise my eyes to his. Part of me knows I should turn and run, foregoing common courtesies and niceties. Something in me, some deep and rarely used instinct that lives within, knows that once I meet those eyes, I’ll be forever lost. It makes no sense, but I know it like I know my name and my eye color and the way my hair flips out on the ends when it’s rainy outside.
Despite my better judgment, I do it. I look up and up and up until I reach a blue so fathomless I feel like I could dive into and never reach the bottom. Like I could drown and never even know it.
But I can’t do that. I can’t dive in. Not with a guy like this. I’ve seen what someone like this can do to a person—turn that which was once whole and capable into nothing more than scattered pieces of wreckage and ruin.
“I’m Jet,” he offers softly, his eyes never leaving mine.
Jet. Even his name is sexy, which makes me more uncomfortable.
Ridiculous! my rational, level-headed, slightly bitter side scoffs. It pipes up with its less bedazzled perspective, reminding me that guys like this are nothing more than predators. The love ’em and leave ’em type. And he’s obviously worse than most, as evidenced by his attendance here. Apparently, he’s got a real problem.
I give him a tight smile as I straighten away from him. “Violet. Nice to meet you,” I say, hurrying to continue. “Excuse me please.”
I slip on my familiar, no-nonsense persona like a protective shield, like the armor that has kept me from harm all these years. It has never failed me before; I don’t expect it to now.
My head is high, my spine is rigid, and my imperviousness is firmly in place as I move past the dark and damaged stranger. With every step I take, I determine to put him out of my mind and never think of him again.
Until he speaks once more. His words make dents in my breastplate like armor-piercing rounds.
“It’s short,” he calls from a few steps behind me.
Confused, I turn.
Knowing I shouldn’t, still I turn.
“Pardon?”
“My name. It’s short.”
“Short for what?”
I watch as he moves toward me, narrowing the space I only just created. He stops within inches and bends slightly forward, one side of his mouth pulling up into a self-deprecating grin. “Jethro.”
And, just like that, he’s human. And vulnerable. And slightly imperfect. And even more dangerous to me than he was before.
To be honest, I haven’t had a chance to ready any of these books yet, that is why winning the set would be awesome. Thanks for the giveaway. lacombejc at suddenlink dot net
My favorite hero/heroine is Cash / Nash only because they had to overcome so much to prove theirs father’s innocence and keep the secret (life) going for so many years. But, I do love all her books, they are so easy to get lost in 🙂
This is a new to me author….can’t wait to start reading this series!
Since I have only read Until I Break, I would have to pick Laura and Alec. A great story. Can’t wait to read more from her. Thanks for the great giveaway!
My favorite is Hemi from All the Pretty Lies. He is so intense, yet sensitive and totally swoon worthy! 🙂
Cash and Nash are my favorites!
I don’t have a particular favorite.