Rome (Marked Men #3)

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Author(s)

Jay Crownover

Publisher

William Morrow Paperbacks

Genre(s)

Age Range

18+

Release Date

January 07, 2014

ISBN

978-0062302427

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Sometimes the wrong choice can be just right . . . Fun and fearless, Cora Lewis knows how to keep her tattooed "bad boy" friends at the Marked in line. But beneath all that flash and sass is a broken heart. Cora won't let herself get burned again. She's waiting to fall in love with the perfect man—a baggage-free, drama-free guy ready for commitment. Then she meets Rome Archer. Rome Archer is as far from perfect as a man can be. He's stubborn, rigid, and bossy. And he's returned from his final tour of duty more than a little broken. Rome's used to filling many roles: big brother, doting son, supersoldier—but none of those fit anymore. Now he's just a man trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his life while keeping the dark demons of war and loss at bay. He would have been glad to suffer through it alone, until Cora comes sweeping into his life and becomes a blinding flash of color in a sea of gray.Perfect may not be in the cards, but perfectly imperfect could just last forever . . .

Editor reviews

2 reviews

A great set of characters that made this a highly enjoyable read.

February 18, 2014

Overall rating

4.3

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What I Loved: I really loved the characters, especially Cora. She’s definitely a tough little thing and I love how she doesn’t take crap from anyone and how she’s like “one of the guys”. It was cool to meet the other characters, and I have to admit, I read this series out of order. I also liked the direction that the author went with their relationship. It’s not often that it’s done right and I think she played everything out nicely. Rome was a bit rough around the edges, which isn’t my favorite kind of guy, but once things picked up with him and Cora, I really fell in love with him. I especially loved their dialogue, you know I’m big on that, and their chemistry was pretty hot!

Left Me Wanting More: There was a somewhat pivotal moment after Rome and Cora get it on, but before their relationship progresses that bugged me a bit. Usually, when one character has that “epiphany” moment where they decide they want to be with the other person, it’s more dramatic and believable and I just couldn’t see it when it came to Rome. We’re more or less just told that he wants to try things with Cora instead of seeing it all play out and I was disappointed with that. It definitely would’ve been more akin to emotional relationship and would’ve given me a bit more insight to his character if I could’ve seen him go through those moments. Also, The only thing that bugged me about Cora was her idea of wanting the “perfect guy”. I understand why she’s like that, given her past, but it was a bit unrealistic.

Final Verdict: There were definitely some minor points that didn’t make this stand out as much for me as some other books I’ve read with this same plot line, but I really enjoyed this one. The characters were the best part of the book and I’m excited to check out the other books in this series.

Vi, Promotions Manager Top 50 Reviewer 116 reviews

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Rome by Jay Crownover

March 06, 2014

Overall rating

4.7

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I received a physical copy of this book from the publishers in exchange for participation in a blog tour as well as an honest review.

I took part in a blog tour for the first two books in Jay Crownover's esteemed Marked Men series back in November. I fell in love with the men in her stories as well as the New Adult genre in it's entirety. I started reading nothing but New Adult afterwards. Knowing that the sequel to Jet and Rule was set to be released soon I watched all the various blog tour hosts I am subscribed to in hopes of the book being picked up for a tour. I was delighted to find that the same host that featured the first two books, TLC book tours, was also doing a tour for Rome. I e-mailed the host and begged to be let in on the tour to which she accepted. I had heard about Rome in the first two books but knew I wanted to know more about the eldest Archer boy. I knew there was more to him than just being the carefree man who loved his family and the military with all his heart. There had to be more behind the handsome mask.

Rome feels he was born to be in the military. He was made for leadership and he was made to be a warrior for his country. When a terrible accident results in him being discharged from active duty and the military entirely, he has no idea what to do with his life. He comes back to his family and feels they have all moved on in their lives without him. He doesn't know where he fits. He doesn't know how to accept the secrets his dead brother kept hidden from him even after his death. He doesn't know how to forget all the horrible things he saw in the wasteland of a desert he was working out of. Rome is a man with no future and a past that haunts him. His world is darkness and shadows until a bright light, in the form of a smart-mouthed tattooed pixie, comes to his rescue.

Cora has been hurt before. The man she thought was her end all turned out to be nothing but a philandering snake. Her life was in ruins when she came to work at the Marked with Rule and the guys. She slowly, after five years, found her way back to some semblance of a normal life. She had decided that the next guy she gets involved with will be perfect. He is out there somewhere and she is happy to wait as long as it takes to be with him. Rome is anything but perfect. He's damaged physically and emotionally. He would rather drink his troubles away then let anyone help him. Cora will not tolerate Rome or anyone else causing trouble for her family and she sets forth to rid Rome of his demons in any way she can. But as she tries to help him she starts to realize just how attracted to him she truly is. She is having a terrible time fighting off the feelings that keep bombarding her for the scarred soldier.

Rome and Cora are an unlikely pair. Cora is spontaneous and energetic, Rome is strict and consistent in the way he handles things. Neither of them expected to develop feelings for them let alone, nor did Rome bank on finding trouble in the one place he found solidarity with other ex-military. A young biker is unhappy with Rome's appearance in his domain and he will do anything he can to pay Rome back for getting him eighty-sixed out of his gang. Even threaten the woman Rome is starting to fall for.

I thought I loved Rule until I met Jet. Now meeting Rome, I think Jet and Rule have fallen off my radar. Rome is such a strong man with some really horrible demons. Cora is the balm the wounded soldier needs so badly. I love this pairing. Better than Rule and Shaw and even Ayden and Jet. With so many ex-military out there, it's hard not to see how realistic this story is. The struggles of transitioning from soldier to citizen as well as the night terrors and trauma related to simply witnessing death and destruction. I admire Rome and I admire Jay Crownover for creating a character that is so relateable in this day and age.

Rome is a harrowing story of the aftermath of a soldier who has gone to war and how he attempts to find a future and possibly even the love of a good woman.

Review posted on: http://www.ladybugliterature.blogspot.com