Always For You: Jack by Alexis Morgan

Item: Always for You: Jack
Rating: 3
Author: Sparkles

April 23, 2016 Sparkles Book Review 0 ★★★

Always for You: Jack by Alexis Morgan
Series: Sergeant Joe's Boys #1
Published by Loveswept on April 19th 2016
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 296
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No one understands family loyalty like Jack McShane. He’d do anything to honor his foster father’s last wishes, even if it means putting his own plans on hold to manage Joe’s construction business. An ex–Special Forces operative, Jack thrives on the thrill of globe-hopping rescues. But now he’s needed closer to home. His foster mother has her hands full with a troubled teen, and when Jack meets the hired tutor, he discovers a woman who stirs his protective instincts—and his deepest desires.

Caitlyn Curtis knows that good looks can hide a hot temper. After an abusive marriage crushed her dreams of a happy ending, she swore off men—until one intoxicating dance in Jack’s strong arms breaks down every emotional barrier. Tough but tender, he leaves Caitlyn yearning for more of his gentle seduction. Despite the violence he’s seen, Jack is a good man. And even though passion can be dangerous, the promise of Jack’s kiss tempts her to believe that love is a risk worth taking.

This book may be unsuitable for people under 17 years of age due to its use of sexual content, drug and alcohol use, and/or violence.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

I find Always For You: Jack’s blurb a bit misleading. Ok, so misleading might be too strong a word but there are a couple of things that are not as mentioned above.

Jack was Special Forces but had to retire because of an injury, and is doing some private work for a friend where he can put all the skills he honed during his time in the military to good use.

He and his two foster brothers (who are also in the military) were fostered by a great couple. Joe, their foster Dad passed away leaving them each a third of his construction business. When I think of a construction business that can be equally bequeathed to three heirs I think of a fairly large enterprise. The whole book Jack just goes to small jobs by himself. This seems more like a handyman type business, rather than a full-on construction company.

Jack being the only one of the brothers currently out of the military is the one who stays to take care of the business, at first with thoughts of handling the pending jobs and then going back to his current job. While working, he befriends a kid who reminds him of his street living days.

After a terrible incident, Jack gets the kid under his foster mother’s care until he can be approved to take him on himself. The tutor he hires is Carolyn who although attracted to Jack is a bit skittish.

As for Jack, well, he is in over his head with an untrusting teen keeping secrets, a skittish woman who melts his insides and his own past and the demons it left him with.

Now, I liked Always For You: Jack. It was sweet and heart-warming. Jack and Caitlyn had some steam-ishy moments, there was a bit of suspense and even a pinch of action. We get a couple of scenes from Ricky’s PoV, which was actually awesome so we could learn what the f was going on with him.

This said, while I liked pretty much every character in the story (save Ricky’s parents, they can burn in Hell for all eternity) I never truly connected with any of them. Jack was manly, sweet, deadly and sexy. Caitlyn was caring, gentle, and she gave her all to her students. Jack’s mom was a trooper and even the razzing between the brothers was funny. It just was all very lukewarm… if that makes sense.

Overall, it was a good, solidly uplifting story about three people who had been wronged and how unconditional love and a little TLC can help heal a person.

Sparkles’ Rating: 3 some-people-shouldn’t-be-allowed-to-have-kids Stars