WOW! Great story! Great writing! Great narrator!

Would you listen to Jagged again? Why?

Yes! Story line realistic and easy to follow, but having a wonderful narrator makes all the difference! Emma is excellent at the voices of all her characters! Ham sounds deep and scratchy and like a man, so his part in the story "felt" real. Loved "Cookie" because her drama was simple and real and NOT drug out all through the book! I get frustrated when the whole story is drama and could have been resolved with a conversation.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ham (Graham) So reasonable. Delightfully intent, sexy, and masterful.

What does Emma Taylor bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Emma brought the characters to life. was very pleased to listen and went looking for more books she's narrated.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

wanted to, but had to sleep. Couldn't wait to start it again in the morning though!

Any additional comments?

A good book is made better by a good narrator. I've listened to some so-so books that were better than the writing alone because of the narrator, and I've listened to some really good books that were hard to get through because the narrator wasn't right for the story. It's a team adventure and this team is a winner on all accounts!!

12 people found this helpful

Really good addition to the series :D

4-4.5 stars

This was a very good book. Graham Reece first shows up in the book “For You” from KA’s The Burg series. I really liked what I saw of Reese in that book and have been looking forward to his book. Zara and Reece are really good together and I enjoyed their story. :D

Zara grew up in an abusive home and now has nothing to do with her family. She has made her way on her own for years and things haven’t been easy for her. She met Reece around 8 years before the current time of the book, when he happened to be working in her town for a while before he moved on. She knew he was her “one” but also knew she couldn't keep him. For 5 years he’d visit and be there for her at some points when she needed help but he’d always leave again so she ends up being forced to break things off with him and tell him she’s moving on.

Reece is a good guy but he was screwed over early in life and it made him untrusting of women. Only 2 women have broken past his barriers at all, and that’s Zara and February (the heroine from “For You”). He cared for Feb and his involvement with her for a while earned him an attack by a stalker/serial killer that was killing off past lovers. Once he recovers from his attack he starts to examine his life. He realizes he wants to find a home and build a family, so he goes after the woman he’s always known he was a fool to walk away from, Zara.

Things didn't go well for Zara after she ended things with Reese. She got married to a nice man but she was settling and knew it. She thought she loved him enough but once they were married she found she was losing herself to try to work things out with him. She had to end the marriage (for which she carried a lot of guilt) and around the same time the recession hit and financial issues came up which forced her in to a cheap but not very safe apartment and a low paying job. Reece did show up right after his attack and her divorce but neither of them was in the right state of mind at the time and they just ended up fighting. Reece leaves and gives her some space for a while but shows up again when she needs him and convinces her to move in with him (but only as a roommate) while also offering her a higher paying job. Zara still has feelings for Reece and knows it’s not a good idea (for her emotional well being if nothing else) but agrees because she’s in dire straits.

Zara and Reece are just roommates at first. They get used to each other again and become friends again but there are also fights at times as they’re both attracted to each other but not together so there’s tension. Eventually, in halting steps, Reece and Zara get together as more than just roommates. It’s not easy and their communication skills aren't the best. I’ll admit there were times when Reece didn't handle some of Zara’s issues the best but he did eventually get very good at expressing his feelings and in very sweet and meaningful ways. Zara didn't always listen very well and made some misjudgments herself but she came around and learned to trust what Reece was showing and telling her and started bringing her own goodness to the relationship.

Soon after Reece and Zara finally come together as a couple, Reece shows his supportive side to Zara as issues with her family come to light. Reece is great about helping Zara with the heavy problems she has to deal with. He is very protective of her and does what he can to lighten her load…I have to admit to falling for him a bit myself. The family issues do get sorted out and the book ends with a satisfying HEA for Zara and Reece.

This was a very good book. I really liked Reece and Zara and was happy they got their HEA especially since it was years late. This was a good addition to the series (it reminded me of book #1, The Gamble). I’d recommend this book. Thumbs up. :D

9 people found this helpful

THIS BOOK TOOK, MORE THAN IT GAVE TO ME

One thing I love about Kristen Ashley is that she knows how to move your emotions, as a reader. She makes you FEEL…she makes you think. With that in mind, I kept thinking about sayings like, "you don't choose who you fall in love with." Well, that saying was fitting for Zara Cinders. I mean, who would have chosen to love a man, and give him 5 years of her life, who was not only a man-whore, but a roamer, all while BEING with HER!! Where was her self-worth? That is probably what kills me the most, especially when you learn about her family background, then it makes sense that she would allow herself to become emotionally latched on to a man who wasn't able to give her commitment. I think that's the worst part of Graham ("Ham") Reece. When he was present, he was good, he was interested, he was connected, but it was clear that there was no room for Zara to request more from him than the scraps he gave her. I hated that. I wouldn't want that for any woman.

For me, this story took more energy than it gave me. It made me angry and it put me in a bad mood. Ham is a hulking, handsome man, but he had issues with women. You just knew his backstory was going to be horrific because it was like someone poured acid on his emotional connections and his ability to establish roots with Zara. When he finally had a chance to be with Zara (9 F-in years later), he regretted walking away. But, I hated that even when he came back to win Zara over, he was a shitty communicator, and he had a kind of "no-nonsense" or "no-tolerance" policy regarding her questioning him, in particular, about February Owens. February Owens is a woman HE mentioned to Zara in a fight saying pretty much that of all the women he has slept with only February and Zara were kept in the same category (meaning he kept coming back to them). So OF-FREAKN-COURSE- Zara is going to feel some insecurity about February. And, sorry, but when he finally felt fit to give her an explanation about February, and what she meant to him, it was shit. I hated that Zara caught him talking to her on the phone and called February "beautiful" and throughout the book referenced Zara's looks as "dam pretty." Well, guess what???? Every woman KNOWS THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN "beautiful" and "pretty." So, when he described Zara as "beautiful" only on their wedding day, well, that just wasn't good enough. Even though Ham said Zara was the best woman he ever met, well it's still shit knowing there was a very, VERY close runner up who he still laments not having a closer relationship with her (since her man won't allow it). I don't know…maybe I should read February's book in order to understand Ham's connection to her. But, due to Ham's emotional distance and lack of tolerance for Zara's emotional output, well he never was good enough….even after everything he did to win Zara back. When it comes down to it, the bad times overshadowed the good times toward the latter part of the novel, and weighed the whole book down for me. It's one of those stories where love is the only explanation because everything else is just jacked up.

I know this review became more of a rant, but MY GOODNESS, I'm still fuming from reading it. The positive aspect of Ham and Zara's story is that KA delivers a very REAL type of love, but it's not ideal.

27 people found this helpful

NIce a little different but still great

What made the experience of listening to Jagged the most enjoyable?

That I already knew some of the players

What did you like best about this story?

That the girl didn't get kidnapped

What does Emma Taylor bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She is a awesome reader

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Not worthy of a movie

4 people found this helpful

Super author and series

What made the experience of listening to Jagged the most enjoyable?

The story content, and the narrators.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I like Zoras store clerk friends. They are super funny.

What about Emma Taylor’s performance did you like?

I like that she is engaging.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book made me feel angry, sad and happy. I'm not going to elaborate so I don't give anything away.

Any additional comments?

I have read a lot of this authors books and I have not been disappointed yet. Go to her website and get the book order.

3 people found this helpful

Not what the bad reviews are saying!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes to both.....the characters were a hoot.

Any additional comments?

What was all the fuss about? K A has a formula for the mountain series that pervades through all the books. Fans of her know this. This one is no different.
I'll admit that after reading several stories one may get tired of the perfect mountain man gets gorgeous girl (who does not know it,) I am a little. But I still enjoy the characters and the mystery behind them and watching the story unfold. I laugh and cry with them and that's why I get the books in the first place.

9 people found this helpful

Mountain Men

If you could sum up Jagged in three words, what would they be?

Total Romance and Sexy!!!!

What other book might you compare Jagged to and why?

The whole series of Kristen Ashley's books are all "Total Romance"

Which scene was your favorite?

I love all the bedroom scenes. And I love the way "Ham" comes to take care of the woman. To make her SAFE and feel PROTECTED!!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This story made me cry!!

4 people found this helpful

Not my favorite

This book is not my favorite in the series... It is is still a good book but not at the sane level as the other books in the series.

1 person found this helpful

Excellent

I really enjoy this author and this series, I like the humor and the action. I would definitely recommend. The narrator is amazing she really fit this story or should I say this authors books.

1 person found this helpful

Jagged Stars

Graham "Ham" Reese & Zara Cinders

Second chance romance! I love these, ok I see why some didn’t like but I have read this book 3 or 4 times now. And I don’t know I think maybe because we are introduced to Reece in For You another novel by Kristen Ashley and I found him so intriguing I just had to read his book.

I also love the background to both of these characters; Zara has had a poop life growing up. Abuse is not something any child should have to endure and she did.

Reece had a loving home growing up it was his ex’s that really messed with his head and he has/had a hard time put the past in the past and moving forward.

I can’t tell you why I loved this book; it could be a number of things. The fact that Reece kind of acts like a GIANT BUTT… Then turns into the white knight.

"A man is not what he says, babe. He's what he does."

It could very well be that Zara throws some serious tude and I love it. Usually I’m not a fan of drama but I freaking love it in this book.

And the epilogue.. Sigh so good.

*You don't have to like my review but its 100% my opinion, and I am allowed to have it.*

17 people found this helpful