What do you think?
Rate this book
Roped In
True love. Soul mates. Your better half.
Those are things that aren’t in the cards for me.
I thought I had all those things years ago, but when he turned out to be nothing but a selfish jerk who cared only for himself, I promised myself I would never let myself go down that road again.
Until I met Jack Harding.
After casually dating him in college, I ended things when I felt both of us slipping too deep into a relationship I didn’t trust either of us to have. We went our separate ways for six years, and I thought I moved on. I thought I was over him and whatever tremulous relationship we had all those years ago. I don’t want a relationship, not since the guy who broke my heart all those years ago, and certainly not since the very first man in my life who taught me that men always leave. All it takes is one late night message to thrust Jack and I right back where we were in college.
But this time things are different.
Jack has grown and changed and gone from the hot boy I knew then to the sexy man that I worry will steal my heart. My heart is even harder than it was when we were together so long ago, and now I know exactly what I want. And what I don’t want. What I want is Jack—his body, his bed—what I don’t want is his heart, his kindness, his passion, his love. We slip right back to where we were, and even though every part of me tries to fight it this time, I start to wonder what would happen if I let him in, if I let myself be open to love. Would both of us be roped in to something that would destroy us both, or would we both find what we’ve been looking for since the day we met almost a decade ago?
Those are things that aren’t in the cards for me.
I thought I had all those things years ago, but when he turned out to be nothing but a selfish jerk who cared only for himself, I promised myself I would never let myself go down that road again.
Until I met Jack Harding.
After casually dating him in college, I ended things when I felt both of us slipping too deep into a relationship I didn’t trust either of us to have. We went our separate ways for six years, and I thought I moved on. I thought I was over him and whatever tremulous relationship we had all those years ago. I don’t want a relationship, not since the guy who broke my heart all those years ago, and certainly not since the very first man in my life who taught me that men always leave. All it takes is one late night message to thrust Jack and I right back where we were in college.
But this time things are different.
Jack has grown and changed and gone from the hot boy I knew then to the sexy man that I worry will steal my heart. My heart is even harder than it was when we were together so long ago, and now I know exactly what I want. And what I don’t want. What I want is Jack—his body, his bed—what I don’t want is his heart, his kindness, his passion, his love. We slip right back to where we were, and even though every part of me tries to fight it this time, I start to wonder what would happen if I let him in, if I let myself be open to love. Would both of us be roped in to something that would destroy us both, or would we both find what we’ve been looking for since the day we met almost a decade ago?
182 pages, Paperback
Published December 11, 2018
2 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 11, 2018
This cover though!!! Its BLAZIN HOT!!!
Talia has MAJOR trust issues that has taken over her confidence in men. She had a good thing going in college with a guy named Jack Harding. He was everything she needed and wanted but was still quite guarded and ultimately CRUSHED, STOMPED, RAN OVER his heart. She protected her own heart before it could get broken and too invested.
Years pass.....Jack is back in her life....he looks AMAZING and is still an outstanding guy. Talia is aware and Jack wants her back in his life even if its as friends. He knows shes guarded, but he knows he hasn't been able to move on with his life because he has always had feelings for Talia even when they were apart.
I loved Jack. His character speaks volumes. His patience was amazing. There is no way, I could ever stick around with someone so flip floppy and sending mixed signals. But Jack knows what he wants, and he will be in her life, even if its just being friends. He knows he's torturing himself, but they were really great friends with a hella alot of chemistry. Her back and forth was quite frustrating. I felt for this guy. But as the story went on and she let go of all her hang ups, I enjoyed her growth and her love for Jack. . But when she finally realized her love and feelings for Jack, I was soooo happy for him. Jack is a unique character. He wasn't going to settle with just anyone without love, chemistry, and happiness. I wanted that for him so badly.He really deserved an amazing HEA. I love love loved his POV, I wish there was more of his POV.
I enjoyed their story. Their chemistry, their looks, it was scorching HOT!!!! The steamy scenes will make you want to go cool off in the freezer. No joke.
I am very curious about Holly being introduced....I'm intrigued and want to know her story.
Talia has MAJOR trust issues that has taken over her confidence in men. She had a good thing going in college with a guy named Jack Harding. He was everything she needed and wanted but was still quite guarded and ultimately CRUSHED, STOMPED, RAN OVER his heart. She protected her own heart before it could get broken and too invested.
Years pass.....Jack is back in her life....he looks AMAZING and is still an outstanding guy. Talia is aware and Jack wants her back in his life even if its as friends. He knows shes guarded, but he knows he hasn't been able to move on with his life because he has always had feelings for Talia even when they were apart.
I loved Jack. His character speaks volumes. His patience was amazing. There is no way, I could ever stick around with someone so flip floppy and sending mixed signals. But Jack knows what he wants, and he will be in her life, even if its just being friends. He knows he's torturing himself, but they were really great friends with a hella alot of chemistry. Her back and forth was quite frustrating. I felt for this guy. But as the story went on and she let go of all her hang ups, I enjoyed her growth and her love for Jack. . But when she finally realized her love and feelings for Jack, I was soooo happy for him. Jack is a unique character. He wasn't going to settle with just anyone without love, chemistry, and happiness. I wanted that for him so badly.He really deserved an amazing HEA. I love love loved his POV, I wish there was more of his POV.
I enjoyed their story. Their chemistry, their looks, it was scorching HOT!!!! The steamy scenes will make you want to go cool off in the freezer. No joke.
I am very curious about Holly being introduced....I'm intrigued and want to know her story.
March 17, 2019
New To Me Author & Books!! Boy am I glad I had the chance for an ARC to read this!! It has easily become one of my favorites! I loved the feel of this book!!
Talia as a character is THE BOMB! I think she was mature enough, funny, sweet and beautiful without knowing it. She has what almost a lot of woman nowadays have...TRUST ISSUES & Low Self Esteem! Not in a bad way, just in a way that she doesn't know herself what a great and beautiful woman she is. After a heartbreak that led to a WALK AWAY WITH Jack Harding back in collage, she sin't so sure what to do when Jack strides back in town.
Jack Harding, what to say about him? Can one own a person? If so, can I own Jack Harding please?! I absolutely loved his patience, his character, his sexy guff self! GAH, dream dream dream! For as much as I liked Talia, she drove me a little crazy (in a good way) but this is the best part, Jack knows what he wants and he is sure of himself which makes him even more sexy! Therefore when Talia went slightly wishy-washy...guess what?! HE STUCK AROUND, as in was there for her, every step of the way to make her realize what they have now.
When Talia realized what Jack has been trying to be good about and not push her, it was so B E A U T I F U L! Their chemistry, their actions to one another and the passion! STEAMY, SEXY & SIZZLING!
I really again, am glad I got a chance to read this fantastic book! I am rating it a 5 PLUS & HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! I mean REALLY REALLY want to read this!! It also made it to my TOP 2019 MUST READ list!!
H A P P Y - R E AD I N G
Talia as a character is THE BOMB! I think she was mature enough, funny, sweet and beautiful without knowing it. She has what almost a lot of woman nowadays have...TRUST ISSUES & Low Self Esteem! Not in a bad way, just in a way that she doesn't know herself what a great and beautiful woman she is. After a heartbreak that led to a WALK AWAY WITH Jack Harding back in collage, she sin't so sure what to do when Jack strides back in town.
Jack Harding, what to say about him? Can one own a person? If so, can I own Jack Harding please?! I absolutely loved his patience, his character, his sexy guff self! GAH, dream dream dream! For as much as I liked Talia, she drove me a little crazy (in a good way) but this is the best part, Jack knows what he wants and he is sure of himself which makes him even more sexy! Therefore when Talia went slightly wishy-washy...guess what?! HE STUCK AROUND, as in was there for her, every step of the way to make her realize what they have now.
When Talia realized what Jack has been trying to be good about and not push her, it was so B E A U T I F U L! Their chemistry, their actions to one another and the passion! STEAMY, SEXY & SIZZLING!
I really again, am glad I got a chance to read this fantastic book! I am rating it a 5 PLUS & HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! I mean REALLY REALLY want to read this!! It also made it to my TOP 2019 MUST READ list!!
H A P P Y - R E AD I N G
December 6, 2018
I’ve only read 2 romance novels in my life, both of them from the awesome writer, JC Hayden. First, a bit about the author.
What makes the NO STRINGS series so special is that you can tell how much Hayden cares about the genre and how much she loves writing it. In anything, the passion for the material will shine through if it’s there, and there’s passion for days. Speaking of which —
This book is much sexier than the first. What makes this the case is like all good books — the characters. This isn’t the will-they, won’t-they loss of innocence struggle that Cat has in book one. Talia is jaded with major trust issues, but deep down is looking for someone that will be there for her and never leave despite her shortcomings. That’s where Jack plays a huge role, by constantly being there, overlooking these issues and loving her despite them. That’s what makes the physical aspect of their relationship so intense, far more than Cat and Brody could have; both Talia and Jack know what it’s like to love and lose, so when they’re together they go at it like it’s the last time they will see one another because it’s a clear and real possibility in Talia’s mind.
I applaud Hayden deepening her characters and situations. I’ve heard the romance world can feel as formulaic as the Hollywood blockbuster, but the cure for that is in the treatment of character. Something Hayden does with immense skill and ease.
What makes the NO STRINGS series so special is that you can tell how much Hayden cares about the genre and how much she loves writing it. In anything, the passion for the material will shine through if it’s there, and there’s passion for days. Speaking of which —
This book is much sexier than the first. What makes this the case is like all good books — the characters. This isn’t the will-they, won’t-they loss of innocence struggle that Cat has in book one. Talia is jaded with major trust issues, but deep down is looking for someone that will be there for her and never leave despite her shortcomings. That’s where Jack plays a huge role, by constantly being there, overlooking these issues and loving her despite them. That’s what makes the physical aspect of their relationship so intense, far more than Cat and Brody could have; both Talia and Jack know what it’s like to love and lose, so when they’re together they go at it like it’s the last time they will see one another because it’s a clear and real possibility in Talia’s mind.
I applaud Hayden deepening her characters and situations. I’ve heard the romance world can feel as formulaic as the Hollywood blockbuster, but the cure for that is in the treatment of character. Something Hayden does with immense skill and ease.
March 10, 2019
I loved the first book in this series so I had high hopes for the second. I was not disappointed!! Talia is so guarded and cannot bring herself to trust men when it comes to relationships. She has some good reasons for it. Cue Jack, the one who wants to tear down all her walls. He is so patient and works so hard to get her to open up to him. I loved his character. This book was a lot steamier than the first one too! They have obvious chemistry! I love good character development throughout books and I loved following Talia's! Such a great book!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews