Asa audiobook

3.5-4 StarsOh man, trying to decide how to review this book has actually left me bereft of words...Oh wait, there you are Words!Honestly, I find myself torn as there were parts of this book I truly adored...And parts I adored not so much. In fact, I'm gonna just go out on a limb and say...actively disliked a smidgen. Now before I get started, I must say this: Jay Crownover's writing has gotten wicked awesome over the course of this series. In fact, many times after reading certain passages in this book I would legit hear myself say to myself, "Wow, Self, Jay Crownover's writing has gotten wicked awesome."Also, Asa and Royal were fucking HOT together. Their connection was heavily palpable from page one. And their sexy time? *Panty Change in Aisle One*For serious though.Dead. Effin. Sexy.Now, being that I feel a bit of...ambivalence for this thing...I am just gonna straight list mah Nay Feels, so without further ado...Enter Diplomatic Val. Oh, you aren't familiar with "Diplomatic Val?"*****Just kidding, I have no fucking idea who that is either.LOLZ Ahem, anyway...So here was this book in a nutshell:Enter Asa.Page...After Page...After Page.After about the hundredth variation of, "You don't understand what a bad man I am" though...We got it. Now enter everyone else around Asa, telling him:Over.And OVER.And OVER Again.Jesus Big C, already. The horse is dead.So stop beating it.Now, don't get it twisted, I love that Asa wasn't just "miraculously redeemed" overnight, but I felt like this whole book was just the whole Cast of Characters going back and forth about this issue over and over and over again. Speaking of the Cast of Characters... ...let's talk about that for a hot second here. I have said this in almost every review for this series I've done. And I am abso-fucking-lutely going to say it again here:Are there no NORMAL NAMED people living in all of Denver?Don't get me wrong, I dig all the cool names. But seriously, you can't tell me that there has never been at least ONE unoriginal child-naming parent in the world who has lived in or moved to Denver. Or perhaps even just a strict anti-birth control Catholic couple who has a slew of Marys, Josephs, and Pauls. But I digress.Aside from the circular carousel that was the majority of this story line, the main conflict of the book? - Oh wait - Because you could see this "issue" coming at you just as cleary as Sarah Palin can apparently see Russia while standing in fucking Alaska. And it ain't even interesting - or even worth in my opinion - all the heartache it causes. Again, don't get me wrong, I understand the premise behind the type of issue Crownover created here. She really wanted Asa to prove his selflessness and to shine, which I dig. I just didn't love the plot ploy that was utilized. Or the ending. But the epilogue was STUNNING.Now I know this is coming off as a negative review. But it's not meant to be.I LIKED this book. I am going to KEEP this book. I will eventually RE-READ this book. But don't worry. If you get mad and want to shoot me?Just shoot the book out of my hand, sharpshooter. Because that's totally realistic. Isn't it? *blatantly undisguised sarcasm*But whatevs!Love this author.Love this series. Love that she left it open-ended for more.

4 stars!I’ve been excited for some time to get to Asa’s book. I love reading books about reformed men. If you’ve read the Marked Men series, you know that Asa has a past. He’s not always been the best brother, the best friend or the best man. He’s had a wake up call and this southern charmer is trying to do the right thing, to stay on the straight and narrow and be a better man.Royal is a police officer. How ironic that this police officer is insanely attracted to this ex con? Royal is going through a lot right now. She doesn’t know much about her life at this time, but she knows she wants Asa something fierce. Asa is hesitant. Royal is beautiful, she’s strong, fierce and kind, and even though he’s changed, he will always see himself as that criminal, as someone unworthy of her. Royal does what she can to get Asa to see himself as she sees him. I liked how their relationship took a little time to develop. There was a bit of drama (which I understood, but still irked me) but overall, this was low drama and angst and just an all around good read. I loved both Asa and Royal. I always find it nice when both main characters are likable. There has been a book or two in this series where that wasn’t the case. I loved the connection that Asa and Royal shared. Not just the chemistry and the steam, but how they were on an emotional level. This story was about sacrifice, about love, about new beginnings, making positive changes. About moving on, letting go and falling in love. It’s about family, friends and friends that are your family. It’s a series that will always be near and dear to my heart. Asa was a great final book in the Marked Men series. The ending was absolutely perfect and made me tear up just a bit. I’m going to miss this crew. I really hope Jay will give us a spin off book (maybe Zeb???) so we can get some glimpses of our favorite tattooed boys.

Girl chases boy, but boy oh boy, did the tables turn!!!! That man let the little cop know who was BOSS! Loved it!

Perfect in EVERY way. So sad it's over!!!!! And Asa too?!?!?!?! My dear fucking lord Jay. I love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

“When we love someone there’s an endless amount of times we forgive them when they screw up." Asa is the final book in the Marked Men Series. I have been a fan of Jay Crownover ever since the day she introduced me to RULE! The way that Ms.Crownover crafts her characters with such ease draws you in. You feel relaxed and ready for the ride. Although Rule is still my favorite in the series, each book has been unique and unforgettable. We met Asa in Book 2 of the Marked Men Series. Asa is Ayden's wayward brother. He has suffered because of choices he made in his early years. Now he feels he is finally on the right path. He is working as a bartender in Rome's bar. Life is finally looking brighter for the southern gent! Royal is Saint's best friend. She is also a cop. She is also "THE COP" that wrongfully arrested Asa when he was swept up into some trouble. (Mind you, he was completely innocent.) Royal has been going through some trying times at work. Her partner and best friend was injured on the job. She has been put on leave. Royal has always had her eye on Asa. She gives into her need of rebellion and sets her sites on Asa."The complexities that lived under his artful façade were anything but attractive and that’s what I liked the most about him. His ugliness made him even more beautiful."-RoyalRoyal and Asa, oddly enough, are a perfect match. “The cop and the criminal. Who would have ever seen that coming?” Together they find friendship, healing, and plenty of passion. Asa takes a long time to accept that he is good. I would say the tension borderlines craziness but it was completely understandable knowing all that he has been through. He feels like he doesn't deserve happiness and he deeply regrets the pain he has caused his sister. He feels like he is broken. "What I want to do is love the Asa that’s here with me now. You need to let go of those boulders weighted with all the bad things from the past that are dragging you down before you get crushed under them.”-RoyalYet somehow, Royal breathes life into him. She makes him see the man that he is now is good and worthy of love. “A good life doesn’t seem so far out of reach, looking at you laid out before me with the taste of you all over my tongue, Red.”-AsaWhile Royal is working hard to heal Asa, Asa gives Royal peaces while she is in his arms. I know it sounds cliche' but these two just worked so well together.The book included many breathtaking moments. Anyone who has been a fan of this series will rejoice at the multiple tender moments our favorite characters experience. Crownover deserves an accolade for the way she completed this series.The only thing holding me back from giving this book the 5 glowing star review it deserves is not a small thing it is a BIG THING! There is an issue between Asa and Royal that is left unresolved. Although I appreciate the thought process behind the characters choices, I am simply dumbfounded that it wasn't addressed properly or handled. I won't reveal exactly what happens here but I will tell you..... I don't care what anyone thinks (view spoiler)[ a secret between a couple like that it destruction in the making! How could Royal possibly accept Asa knowing that he is keeping something from her? Why shouldn't her slut of a mother have to answer for her choices? (hide spoiler)] It left me angry and sad for Asa and Royal. Days later, I am still bothered by it. Because I have always considered the Marked Men to reflect natural and realistic situations, this incident left me in quite a state! I can only hope that down the road Asa and Royal come clean. Despite the big secret, I still loved Asa and Royal."When you allowed yourself to love and be loved, that was when life really started. I might have come back from the dead once, but I hadn’t started living until I let myself love Royal."-Asa Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone that has invested in this series. Asa and Royal were a perfect couple to round out this series. This book was more then just a romance novel. It is a story of healing, self acceptance, and self growth. I am truly saddened that it is over but ecstatic that there is only more to come! I will certainly keep my TBR shelf stocked with anything Jay Crownover writes. Her passionate characters leave me breathless! "We all had marks, some physical, some emotional, some that would never leave us, and many of those marks were of our own making as we all tried to get to the place we were supposed to be. Our marks defined us, separated us, and made us the men we were today." ["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>

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Asa came to Denver to get a fresh start. After he died in the hospital and was brought back to life he knew he needed to turn his life around to protect his sister. Never wanting to see her hurt because of him again he vows to stay on the straight and narrow. Royal watcher her best friend and partner get shot it the line of duty and blames herself. She starts hanging around the bar where Asa works and tries to get him to take her home. But Asa can't let go of all of the horrible things he did in the past and thinks he isn't good enough for the hot police officer. But Royal isn't going to give up easily and she's determined to make the criminal fall for the cop. I kept putting this book off because I knew that it was the last in the series and I didn't want to be finished with the Marked Men. But now that I've finally read it I deserve to be kicked for putting Asa on a shelf and making him wait. I loved this book and the change of characters was amazing. I wasn't sure how I would like Asa after his first appearance in Jet but I had nothing to worry about. He had a huge change of character and was really trying to be a different person. I felt so bad for him at times when all he could focus on was his past self and not the person he became. Royal was amazing for Asa and it was brilliant how they were so different yet both had similar problems. After watching her partner get shot she couldn't stop focusing on what she could have done differently to prevent him from being hurt. But with Asa she started to forgive herself. They really were perfect for each other even with their pasts that were so different. Bottom line, this was a great book and an awesome addition to this series that I have loved from the start. Jay Crownover will forever be one of my favorites and I can't wait for the spin off series.