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Wendy'sThoughts's Reviews > Justified
Justified (Loveless, Texas #1)
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by
4.5 The Power of Words and Actions Stars
* * * *1/2 Spoiler Free
How to address this book and themes...Jay Crownover has taken the pain of a "Son Bearing the Sins of the Father and Righting These Wrongs and mixes it with the "One Who Worked to Protect Him" be the one he thinks hurt him the most. And that is just the tip of the iceberg of this tale.
In Loveless Texas, there were a couple of things to know. Years ago, you never crossed the Sheriff if you knew what was good for you. Especially if your skin was a little too different or if he thought you were a good target for his ire. Don't be a woman looking for protection from an abusive husband, good ole boys rules applied. Don't complain if drunks started to take advantage, you were begging for it...And please, please do not be the woman who gave him his three kids because she got pushed, struck, and hurt in her own home.
Case worked to erase everything his father did when he was a kid. Polite, good, and looking out for others like his mother taught him, he was the golden boy of Loveless. Soon to be Top College pick as the star football player on his high school team, school hero and good guy others wanted to hang with, and girls wanted him to be theirs. He had his girl, her sights set to be the Classic football girlfriend and then-wife with all the perks expected.
But life doesn't turn out exactly how one plans. Football scholarships disappear when Case was injured during a game. Girlfriend's sneaky pregnancy got Case to marry her but she didn't get the perks she expected. Instead, she was married to a man who went off to war to support his new family and country. When Case returned, he thought he left hell back in the desert...but no, he had just another type here in Loveless. As part of the sheriff's department, he had to deal with all the crap his father did to the people of the town. He had a disgruntled wife who blamed him for all her lost dreams. The only light in his life was his son who he would do anything for...
Aspen Barlow was brought to Loveless Texas as a young teen and it was traumatic. Coming from Chicago to small-town Texas would blow anyone's mind let alone starting high school and knowing no one. Her tastes, looks, and thoughts were nothing like the kids at school. There was only one person who was actually nice to her. Case was that one person who made sure the new girl felt welcome.
And that was all it took, Aspen crushed on Case and it never went away.
As I said, life happened and Aspen went to law school back in Chicago and became a savvy attorney, sharp and very astute to the needs of her clients. She had returned to Loveless with the idea to help the helpless in the system, put there by the corrupt Lawton Sherriff. She was wooed by another Loveless Social High School Star, found herself in the in-crowd for the first time, and married the man. It turned her head a bit, making her lose focus on her original legal goals. She was brought in to the family practice, did the country club stuff, and handled cases she had no passion for.
It was the ugly "Perfect Storm" when these two people cross paths again. Case is served the divorce papers at the station when Aspen is there for another client. He is furious and Aspen makes the critical error of acknowledging what is happening and suggests he get a good lawyer. In his pain and fury, Case lashes out and addresses Aspen's comments with the taunt his wife's crowd use to say during those horrible high school years. Says he knows what he is doing and doesn't need her type of advice. With pain and a bruised ego Aspen turns away. And as the "Perfect Storm" continues, she is forced to represent the witch during the divorce.
The crux of the relationship these two have becomes this:
Although Case's words had hurt Aspen, she always believed in him. She knew in her core, he would never be anything like his father. The witch was determined to hurt Case and having full custody of his son would do the trick. Hearing all of the venom spewing from this woman and what she was determined to do, Aspen took it on to do as best as she could to protect Case and his son.
From Case's view, it didn't look that way when he lost his rights. All he could see was Aspen being an accomplice in his pain. His family hated her and this was the way things were left. Over the years, Aspen worked to make the visitations the best she could and when the son was of age to request he live with his dad, Aspen was finally released from the torture of representing the woman. She was fired.
Aspen took a good look at her life and wanted to be released from her marriage as well. She filed for divorce, pushed for her ex to finalize the papers, and left the family practice. She found a cute little home to fix up her way, opened her own practice to help the people her original goals encompassed. She would have a fresh start and finally be in control of her own life.
Time doesn't stop and children grow. Case was finally able to kick his father out of the department and took over the head position with a vow to do right by the people. Case's son is now getting ready to go away to college. Case still holds the pain and grudge of all the time he missed with his son and anytime he can make things difficult for Aspen he does. His son tells him to cut her a break because she tried to always make things better for him and his dad.
With all this backstory, the meat and potatoes of this tale started with Aspen's office destroyed and vandalized. Cruel ugly words are written across the front for all to see and all of her files, furniture, and windows are broken and shattered. As the Sheriff, Case comes to investigate. He is taking everything in; she is being strong as she can waiting to hear him make some comments like usual but it doesn't come. Instead, he is steady for her and as he is walking her out he is there when her ex comes and demands Aspen return back to his home so he can watch over her. Aspen says hell no, sign the papers and the ex gets pushy. Case, stepping forward tells the ex to let go of her arm and move away.
This story takes this love/hate relationship between Aspen (past crush/pain/caring) and Case (hate, pain, and confusion) and creates something alive and pulsating. Aspen is in danger and the cause needs to be found. There are too many possibilities. Case is drawn into this situation, sees more of Aspen as a person rather than this evil idea he has carried for all these years. With the threats becoming more dangerous, the chemistry and care for each other surfaces and they finally see what should have been clear from the start.
This story had many layers and worked to keep the intrigue vital. The other family members were a concrete part of the story and added the extra flavor Crownover is known for. I know another entry must coming, as Kody the sister and another lawman have a history that begs to be told.
Unbroken (Loveless, Texas, #0.5)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Justified (Loveless, Texas, #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Unforgiven (Loveless, Texas #2)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Blacklisted (Loveless, Texas, #3)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
Leave it Jay Crownover set up a doozy of a ride...
We have a woman who never fit in at her new high school in Texas...
The only person who treated her as if she was normal was the beloved football player...
Only natural for a Crush of the Ages happened for her...
He was nice to everyone, so she knew she wasn't special to him...
Fast forward, now these two are adults; he the deputy sheriff for the town...
She an accomplished attorney, married into a family which erases her outsider status...
or so she thought...
She was instructed to be the divorce lawyer for this man's ex...
The woman was vicious, wanting to destroy this man...
The only way to try to help her old crush was to represent the witch...
She tried her best with damage control but he lost his rights to his son...
Something he will Never Forgive...
Years pass and now this divorced woman needs to reach out and have this man help her...
Someone is out to destroy her, she is in danger...
He wants to hold onto his anger from years ago but what he is experiencing doesn't match up...
His feeling for her have changed, he wants to figure all of this out and it seems he feels...
Justified (Loveless, Texas #1)-June 25th 2019
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
* * * *1/2 Spoiler Free
How to address this book and themes...Jay Crownover has taken the pain of a "Son Bearing the Sins of the Father and Righting These Wrongs and mixes it with the "One Who Worked to Protect Him" be the one he thinks hurt him the most. And that is just the tip of the iceberg of this tale.
In Loveless Texas, there were a couple of things to know. Years ago, you never crossed the Sheriff if you knew what was good for you. Especially if your skin was a little too different or if he thought you were a good target for his ire. Don't be a woman looking for protection from an abusive husband, good ole boys rules applied. Don't complain if drunks started to take advantage, you were begging for it...And please, please do not be the woman who gave him his three kids because she got pushed, struck, and hurt in her own home.
Case worked to erase everything his father did when he was a kid. Polite, good, and looking out for others like his mother taught him, he was the golden boy of Loveless. Soon to be Top College pick as the star football player on his high school team, school hero and good guy others wanted to hang with, and girls wanted him to be theirs. He had his girl, her sights set to be the Classic football girlfriend and then-wife with all the perks expected.
But life doesn't turn out exactly how one plans. Football scholarships disappear when Case was injured during a game. Girlfriend's sneaky pregnancy got Case to marry her but she didn't get the perks she expected. Instead, she was married to a man who went off to war to support his new family and country. When Case returned, he thought he left hell back in the desert...but no, he had just another type here in Loveless. As part of the sheriff's department, he had to deal with all the crap his father did to the people of the town. He had a disgruntled wife who blamed him for all her lost dreams. The only light in his life was his son who he would do anything for...
Aspen Barlow was brought to Loveless Texas as a young teen and it was traumatic. Coming from Chicago to small-town Texas would blow anyone's mind let alone starting high school and knowing no one. Her tastes, looks, and thoughts were nothing like the kids at school. There was only one person who was actually nice to her. Case was that one person who made sure the new girl felt welcome.
And that was all it took, Aspen crushed on Case and it never went away.
As I said, life happened and Aspen went to law school back in Chicago and became a savvy attorney, sharp and very astute to the needs of her clients. She had returned to Loveless with the idea to help the helpless in the system, put there by the corrupt Lawton Sherriff. She was wooed by another Loveless Social High School Star, found herself in the in-crowd for the first time, and married the man. It turned her head a bit, making her lose focus on her original legal goals. She was brought in to the family practice, did the country club stuff, and handled cases she had no passion for.
It was the ugly "Perfect Storm" when these two people cross paths again. Case is served the divorce papers at the station when Aspen is there for another client. He is furious and Aspen makes the critical error of acknowledging what is happening and suggests he get a good lawyer. In his pain and fury, Case lashes out and addresses Aspen's comments with the taunt his wife's crowd use to say during those horrible high school years. Says he knows what he is doing and doesn't need her type of advice. With pain and a bruised ego Aspen turns away. And as the "Perfect Storm" continues, she is forced to represent the witch during the divorce.
The crux of the relationship these two have becomes this:
Although Case's words had hurt Aspen, she always believed in him. She knew in her core, he would never be anything like his father. The witch was determined to hurt Case and having full custody of his son would do the trick. Hearing all of the venom spewing from this woman and what she was determined to do, Aspen took it on to do as best as she could to protect Case and his son.
From Case's view, it didn't look that way when he lost his rights. All he could see was Aspen being an accomplice in his pain. His family hated her and this was the way things were left. Over the years, Aspen worked to make the visitations the best she could and when the son was of age to request he live with his dad, Aspen was finally released from the torture of representing the woman. She was fired.
Aspen took a good look at her life and wanted to be released from her marriage as well. She filed for divorce, pushed for her ex to finalize the papers, and left the family practice. She found a cute little home to fix up her way, opened her own practice to help the people her original goals encompassed. She would have a fresh start and finally be in control of her own life.
Time doesn't stop and children grow. Case was finally able to kick his father out of the department and took over the head position with a vow to do right by the people. Case's son is now getting ready to go away to college. Case still holds the pain and grudge of all the time he missed with his son and anytime he can make things difficult for Aspen he does. His son tells him to cut her a break because she tried to always make things better for him and his dad.
With all this backstory, the meat and potatoes of this tale started with Aspen's office destroyed and vandalized. Cruel ugly words are written across the front for all to see and all of her files, furniture, and windows are broken and shattered. As the Sheriff, Case comes to investigate. He is taking everything in; she is being strong as she can waiting to hear him make some comments like usual but it doesn't come. Instead, he is steady for her and as he is walking her out he is there when her ex comes and demands Aspen return back to his home so he can watch over her. Aspen says hell no, sign the papers and the ex gets pushy. Case, stepping forward tells the ex to let go of her arm and move away.
This story takes this love/hate relationship between Aspen (past crush/pain/caring) and Case (hate, pain, and confusion) and creates something alive and pulsating. Aspen is in danger and the cause needs to be found. There are too many possibilities. Case is drawn into this situation, sees more of Aspen as a person rather than this evil idea he has carried for all these years. With the threats becoming more dangerous, the chemistry and care for each other surfaces and they finally see what should have been clear from the start.
This story had many layers and worked to keep the intrigue vital. The other family members were a concrete part of the story and added the extra flavor Crownover is known for. I know another entry must coming, as Kody the sister and another lawman have a history that begs to be told.
Unbroken (Loveless, Texas, #0.5)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Justified (Loveless, Texas, #1)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Unforgiven (Loveless, Texas #2)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Blacklisted (Loveless, Texas, #3)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
Leave it Jay Crownover set up a doozy of a ride...
We have a woman who never fit in at her new high school in Texas...
The only person who treated her as if she was normal was the beloved football player...
Only natural for a Crush of the Ages happened for her...
He was nice to everyone, so she knew she wasn't special to him...
Fast forward, now these two are adults; he the deputy sheriff for the town...
She an accomplished attorney, married into a family which erases her outsider status...
or so she thought...
She was instructed to be the divorce lawyer for this man's ex...
The woman was vicious, wanting to destroy this man...
The only way to try to help her old crush was to represent the witch...
She tried her best with damage control but he lost his rights to his son...
Something he will Never Forgive...
Years pass and now this divorced woman needs to reach out and have this man help her...
Someone is out to destroy her, she is in danger...
He wants to hold onto his anger from years ago but what he is experiencing doesn't match up...
His feeling for her have changed, he wants to figure all of this out and it seems he feels...
Justified (Loveless, Texas #1)-June 25th 2019
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
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Reading Progress
May 20, 2019
–
Started Reading
May 20, 2019
– Shelved
May 25, 2019
–
Finished Reading
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Kat valentine ( Katsbookcornerreads)
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May 25, 2019 04:13PM
Excellent review !!💖😉
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Kat wrote: "Excellent review !!💖😉"Awww Kat, thanks so much. Crownover layers stories and there is always so much depth. It can be a challenge to try to share but not give too much away. :DDD
