Riveted by Jay Crownover: Review

Riveted by Jay Crownover
Pages: 368


Series: Saints of Denver #3
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Source: ARC, Edelweiss
Also in this series: Built, Charged, Salvaged
Also by this author: Asa, Built, Charged, Honor, Retreat, Salvaged, Shelter, Unbroken, Justified, Unforgiven, Blacklisted, Fortunate Son, Prodigal Son, Son of a Gun

Goodreads

Everyone else in Dixie Carmichael’s life has made falling in love look easy, and now she is ready for her own chance at some of that happily ever after. Which means she’s done pining for the moody, silent former soldier who works with her at the bar that’s become her home away from home. Nope. No more chasing the hot as heck thundercloud of a man and no more waiting for Mr. Right to find her; she’s going hunting for him...even if she knows her heart is stuck on its stupid infatuation with Dash Churchill.
Denver has always been just a pit stop for Church on his way back to rural Mississippi. It was supposed to be simple, uneventful, but nothing could have prepared him for the bubbly, bouncy redhead with doe eyes and endless curves. Now he knows it’s time to get out of Denver, fast. For a man used to living in the shadows, the idea of spending his days in the sun is nothing short of terrifying.
When Dixie and Church find themselves caught up in a homecoming overshadowed with lies and danger, Dixie realizes that while falling in love is easy, loving takes a whole lot more work…especially when Mr. Right thinks he’s all wrong for you.

Fangirling ahead…

I FLOVE Jay Crownover. I gobble her books up like fat kid with candy. Her words are exquisite. Her characters are deep and damaged. Even when the content of the book might not be Earth shattering events, the characters make you feel like it is all important. Riveted is just another example in a long line of exemplary books.

Dixie is the type of girl I love to read about. She is genuinely nice. She is honestly sweet and caring. She believes in true love. She isn’t jaded, even though she hasn’t been successful in love. Watching everyone around her fall in love has only made her want to try harder to get what they have. Her sunny disposition is refreshing to read in a female character. Church is the ying to her yang. Where she is sunshine and happiness, he is darkness and boorishness. Dixie knows Church is ‘the one’ but she doesn’t think he would ever agree with her. She spends her time trying to find another ‘one’ via online dating. Then, Church needs her help and she, being generous and kind, agrees. Dixie is the heroine I didn’t know I was missing and didn’t realize I needed.

I didn’t expect the story to take the turn it did, and I really enjoyed the added suspense. I expected the entire plot to be driven by Dixie wanting Church, and Church being too deep in self loathing to claim her. I figured the entire story would be about Church’s journey and Dixie would just be his north star. I was pleasantly surprised at the added depth to the story beyond Church’s homecoming.

Crownover also does something else with her writing I find magical. The story never crosses over into the too angsty territory, even though with the depth of her characters, it could easily go that route. Church could have wallowed deeper in his misery and bad luck. Dixie could have bemoaned everyone needing her and never giving back to her. But, thats not the path the author takes and I am eternally grateful for that choice. Church and Dixie are dynamic characters with real issues and struggles yet they never become whiny or pedantic about their situations. It reminds me that a character can have struggles, issues, and self doubt without a story being an angsty mess.

Riveted is one of those books that makes me remember why I fell in love with reading romance. It takes me back to when I stayed up all night with my college roommate reading, swooning, and blissfully happy with everything. I read 300 books a year, and I have found that lately I haven’t loved reading like I used to. Riveted reminded me that I still do and it just takes the right book. Riveted is the right book.

*PS-I am CRAZY excited for Poppy and Wheelers book. Like, insanely excited!

 

• POV: dual 1st
• Tears: I did cry a few tears!
• Trope: fake relationship
• Triggers: none
• Series/Standalone: stand alone within an interconnected series (you could totally read this as a stand alone!)
• Cliffhanger: View Spoiler »no « Hide Spoiler
• HEA: View Spoiler »yes, with an epilogue about 2 months later « Hide Spoiler

The Strongest Steel by Scarlett Cole, Max by Sawyer Bennett, A Stone in the Sea by AL Jackson, Wait for You by J. Lynn, Fighting for Flight by JB Salsbury…then you will probably like Riveted!

 

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