Twenty-five-year-old Sgt. Gray Phillips is at a crossroads in his life: stay in the Marine Corps or get out and learn to be a civilian? He’s got forty-five days of leave to make up his mind but the people in his life aren’t making the decision any easier. His dad wants him to get out; his grandfather wants him to stay in. And his growing feelings for Sam Anderson are wreaking havoc with his heart…and his mind. He believes relationships get ruined when a Marine goes on deployment. So now he’s got an even harder decision to make: take a chance on Sam or leave love behind and give his all to the Marines.
Twenty-two year old Samantha Anderson lost her husband to an IED in Afghanistan just two months after their vows. Two years later, Sam is full of regrets—that she didn’t move with her husband to Alaska; that she allowed her friends to drift away; that she hasn’t taken many chances in life. Now, she’s met Gray and taking a risk on this Marine could be her one opportunity to feel alive and in love again. But how can she risk her heart on another military man who could share the same tragic fate as her husband?Note: Although these books are part of a series, they do not need to be read in order
PEPPER & MICHELLE’S JOINT REVIEW
PEPPER: OMG! This book. Not going to lie- I read it in one sitting. And you know me. That RARELY happens. so you have to know I mother hugging loved this book. I’m so excited to talk about this book.
MICHELLE: I get it! I was dying waiting for you to finish this one. JenFred is truly amazing. I know how nervous she gets about releasing a new book but I don’t understand why because she’s such a damn good writer.
PEPPER: I think the reason I loved this book so much - beyond the amazing cast - was the impeccable timing of EVERYTHING. At first, when they had the hottest public make-out scene ever, at like 8% I was like whoa this is intense. But then it just continues to flow from there. PERFECTLY. Thus, me not wanting to put the book down.
MICHELLE: I totally agree. I was also not sure how I was going to feel about Gray and Sam having sexy times so early on but it WORKED.
PEPPER: So. Much. It worked so good it hurt. I picture JenFred saying this whilst writing:
MICHELLE: I don’t know about you but every time I read one of the Woodlands novels I go into my happy place. All those damn men in one house- all sexy and shit. Like if this was a TV show I would watch EVERY DAY and be like:
So once again- JenFred has hit us with an incredibly strong heroine. I swear- every time I read one of her books I’m not sure who gives me a bigger lady boner- the guy or the girl.
PEPPER: For reals. Sam is so damn cool. And hilarious. She has some good inner thoughts. Like when she was trying to convince the reader what kind of guy she was into:
“My perfect man was someone who loved statistics more than guns and whose idea of a grand time was shopping for a new ruler or pen. Maybe he’d even be a fellow knitter and we’d sit side by side on the sofa watching Downton Abbey and knitting each other socks…”
MICHELLE: I agree. She is funny, smart and totally likeable the entire time.
And Gray. Sweet Lord. Each one of these hot military guys that JenFred writes- just do me now.
PEPPER: Oh God. I can’t. The dirty talking? And the sweetness???
MICHELLE: So I knew Gray was a dirty talker because JenFred and I talked about it. And still- it totally blew me away.
Like that shit was so hot. I considered giving up eating just so I could use my vibe all day. But that would never work out for me… My relationship with food is too strong.
PEPPER: My God, and I’ve said this before, JenFred is a god damn master of writing a dude mono/dialogue. Sometimes I think she might be a he??
MICHELLE: Seriously. And it’s not just when we get to be in Gray’s head. Even when she’s writing dialogue between Gray and his buddies its perfection.
In fact- this book was hilarious. I was constantly laughing especially with conversations like this between Bo and Gray:
“Don’t worry about me. I’m using lube because I’m going places no man has gone before.”
“You’re fucking their earhole?”
I. Died. And there is so much of that kind of humor in there- it’s so damn good.
PEPPER: YES!! The dialogue between the friends was amazing. Just genius . Pure genius.
MICHELLE: So Gray and Sam as a couple. I mean perfection is the only word that comes to mind.
I think the amount of honesty between these two was crazy but so damn amazing.
PEPPER: I loved that there were no games. Sam was just like, look I don’t know how to do this and I’m not fucking around. This is how I feel and you can do whatever you want with it.
MICHELLE: Seriously!!! And for the most part Gray was totally awesome about it. It’s like when it was about sex they were on the same page and when it was more- still on the same page. In fact- I was starting to wonder how on JenFred was going to rock the boat.
But of course when she did it was like WTF!!!
PEPPER: YES!! So good.
PS, can we discuss the whole “coffee” meaning “sex”. I mean who comes up with this stuff? Genius!! PEOPLE if you are reading this review, you have to get this book solely on the coffee discussion alone. It’s that funny.
MICHELLE: I know. That was BRILLIANT. God JenFred. I’m obsessed with you.
I seriously feel sorry for you if you have not read any of the Woodlands series. They just keep getting better and better. But it’s not too late!!!
PEPPER: I was going to say that too, that they keep getting better.
MICHELLE: I think one of my favorite things about this book is how thoughtful and deliberate everything is. Even when the drama happens- every moment after that is perfection and leads to the best. ending. ever.
PEPPER: God yes. That ending.
Wait! we can’t forget Gray’s “big gesture” toward the end. Could you die? Because I did.
MICHELLE: I died.
PEPPER: My question is, who is next?? Who do we get next? DYING…
MICHELLE: So I know JenFred is still undecided on who will be next between Finn and Adam. All I know it that as long as she gives me more- I’m ok.
PEPPER: You know who I want more of? LANA!! JenFred, give me more Lana. She is amazing.
OH and Bitsy? I want more Bitsy and more of Sam’s mom. Loved her family.
MICHELLE: I know!!! To all of it.
I actually asked about Bitsy and it’s not officially in the plans but I plan on internet stalking JenFred til it happens. I am also trying to figure out who Lana will be with. She will get a book at some point but that’s all we know. I even tried threatening JenFred with this review but she just continued to tease me and give me clues that made my head hurt.
But all this obsessing over the cast brings up a good point. It’s amazing how even though you are totally focused on these main characters, the supporting cast is so good that you just fall in love with everyone.
PEPPER: And naturally you want more and more and more. Like a God damn TV series. It’s like I need a JenFred Woodlands fix every week to keep me happy.
MICHELLE: I know. Thank God for the Charlotte Chronicles. It’s my fix. Also I internet stalk her daily.
So for those that don’t know- every week JenFred puts out a chapter of something called the Charlotte Chronicles. It’s the love story of Noah and Bo’s kids. And it’s amazing.
PEPPER: OMG it’s the best lovers. Read it!!!
MICHELLE: Well we could literally go on for days but we should wrap this up so you can buy the book and get to reading!
Anything you want to add Pep?
PEPPER: No, just fucking read it.
MICHELLE: You heard it here lovers- get this book!
EXCERPT
His tongue and mouth left mine to leave a hot, wet path from my mouth, across my jaw line, and down to my neck. My leg lifted of its own accord and he took it as a sign to hitch me up higher until both my legs either dangled off the floor or wrapped around him. I chose to wrap my legs around him and was rewarded with a thick hard column pressing into my sex. We both groaned at the contact and I could feel his sound against my neck. The reverberations sent minor shocks throughout my nervous system. Holding me up against the wall, he began thrusting against me rhythmically, every impact of his hips making me hotter and wetter than I remembered I could get.
I gripped him tighter with my legs and dug my hands into his hair, using every bit of his body as leverage. He held me up with ease, as if I were a feather. One hand was under my right butt cheek and the other was exploring my left side, pulling out my T-shirt, only to find the tank underneath. Needing his mouth back, I tugged on his hair and he took the hint immediately. He fastened his lips over mine and we devoured each other, still rubbing our lower bodies against each other as the bass from the dance floor pounded the floor boards.
Whimpering, I begged in moans and small cries for more. A familiar but almost forgotten tension was winding its way from between my legs outward. All thoughts of storage rooms and hallways and strangers were lost in a swirl of bright lights that were bursting behind my eyelids.
“I got you, baby,” he growled against my mouth. “Just let go.” And so I did. I closed my eyes and let those long dormant feelings wash over me, spreading from the inside of my legs to the nerve endings in my toes and fingertips and the very top of my head. All the while, he kept grinding and grinding and grinding against me, whispering in my ear how I was the hottest thing he’d ever held, how he couldn’t wait to taste, how he’d die if he couldn’t be inside me tonight.
UNDECLARED BOOK 1
For four years, Grace Sullivan wrote to a Marine she never met, and fell in love. But when his deployment ended, so did the letters. Ever since that day, Grace has been coasting, academically and emotionally. The one thing she’s decided? No way is Noah Jackson — or any man — ever going to break her heart again.
Noah has always known exactly what he wants out of life. Success. Stability. Control. That’s why he joined the Marines and that’s why he’s fighting his way — literally — through college. Now that he’s got the rest of his life on track, he has one last conquest: Grace Sullivan. But since he was the one who stopped writing, he knows that winning her back will be his biggest battle yet.
UNSPOKEN BOOK 2
Whore. Slut. Typhoid Mary.
I’ve been called all these at Central College. One drunken night, one act of irresponsible behavior, and my reputation was ruined. Guys labeled me as easy and girls shied away. To cope, I stayed away from Central social life and away from Central men, so why is it that my new biology lab partner is so irresistible to me?
He’s everything I shouldn’t want. A former Marine involved in illegal fighting with a quick trigger temper and an easy smile for all the women. His fists aren’t the danger to me, though, it’s his charm. He’s sliding his way into my heart and I’m afraid that he’s going to be the one to break me.
Impulsive. Unthinking. Hot tempered.
I allow instinct to rule my behavior. If it feels good, do it, has been my motto because if I spend too much time thinking, I’ll begin to remember exactly where I came from. At Central College, I’ve got fighting and I’ve got women and I thought I was satisfied until I met her.
She’s everything I didn’t realize I wanted and the more time I spend with her, the more I want her. But she’s been hurt too much in the past and I don’t want to be the one to break her. I know I should walk away, but I just can’t.
Bonus Content: Upon reaching the USA Today Bestselling milestone, I wrote a 10,000 word epilogue as a thank you to the readers who loved and supported Unspoken. I posted it for free on my blog but at the urging of readers, I have added it to the original version.
Note: This is a New Adult Contemporary Romance with mature content and sexually explicit scenes. 91,000+ words. Standalone novel.
AUTHOR INFO
Jen Frederick lives with her husband, child, and one rambunctious dog. She’s been reading stories all her life but never imagined writing one of her own. Jen loves to hear from readers so drop her a line at jensfrederick[AT]gmail[DOT]com.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Thank you for a chance at such an awesome giveaway!!! <3
Ha! I said it was an algebraic equation. You haven’t met Adam’s heroine. There’s a clue in Unraveled about Finn. X=Lana’s mate.
Anyway, I mother hugging loved this review. Group hug.