Blog Tour: Rome (Marked Men #3) by Jay Crownover

Add to Goodreads

Rome
Marked Men #3
By:  Jay Crownover
Published:  Jan. 7, 2014
By:  William Morrow PB
Source:  Publisher
Mature Content:  18 & Up
Tour Organized By: Literati Author Services

GR's Summary:

Sometimes the wrong choice can be just right. 

Fun and fearless, Cora Lewis knows how to keep her tattooed "bad boy" friends at the Marked in line. But beneath all that flash and sass is a broken heart. Cora won't let herself get burned again. She's waiting to fall in love with the perfect man—a baggage-free, drama-free guy ready for commitment. Then she meets Rome Archer.

Rome Archer is as far from perfect as a man can be. He's stubborn, rigid, and bossy. And he's returned from his final tour of duty more than a little broken. Rome's used to filling many roles: big brother, doting son, supersoldier—but none of those fit anymore. Now he's just a man trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his life while keeping the dark demons of war and loss at bay. He would have been glad to suffer through it alone, until Cora comes sweeping into his life and becomes a blinding flash of color in a sea of gray.Perfect may not be in the cards, but perfectly imperfect could just last forever . . .

Marked Men Series:

My Thoughts:

I remember reading many rave reviews on Rule when it was first published as an Indie ebook.  I was curious about the story, and went ahead and bought Rule, and then when Jet came out, I bought it also, but didn't have the time to read them.  When I heard Rome was going to be released, I was so excited to sign up for the tour, and finally get the opportunity to read this series, and see if it lived up to my high expectations.  I'm glad to say that I found a new favorite series, and an amazing up and coming romance author in Jay Crownover.  

Each story in the Marked Series focuses on characters that are good friends  that have strong relationships with one another, and are more like a close knit family than friends.  Most of them work together at the same tattoo shop and hang out on a regular basis at the bar and at Jet's performances with his band.  Ms. Crownover gives us the dual perspectives of both the male and female lead in each installment (which I love,) along with the continuation of the secondary characters in the series.  The first installment was about Rule (a sexy, tatted, and pierced bad boy), and Shaw, the girl who has been in love with him since she was 13, and he always thought was his dead identical twin, Remy's girl).  The second installment is about Jet (Rule's good friend, and a very talented musician,) and Ayden (Shaw's best friend, and a girl with a secret past).

Rome focuses on Rule's eldest and only living brother Rome, and Cora (a much beloved character that works as a body piercer with the guys at the tattoo shop.)  Rome has returned injured from Afghanistan after being seriously injured and the sole survivor of an IED attack.  He is permanently discharged from his high ranking position in the army as special ops.  When Rome returns home, he has completely changed in to a broken and miserable person.  He has survivor's guilt, is going in a downward spiral from never dealing with his younger brother, Remy's death, PTSD, and feels like he doesn't know what direction his life is taking now that he's not a soldier.  

Cora is good friends with Shaw, Ayden, and all the guys at the tattoo parlor.  She give's everyone great advice, and is known for her blunt nature and hot temper when it come to defending those that she loves.  As Cora see's her friends pairing off, and falling in love, she realizes that she wants to find her Mr. Right.  However, she is looking for the "perfect" guy, and all her friends think that her expectations are too high.  When Cora and Rome interact for the first time at a housewarming BBQ, they do not hit it off.  In fact, Cora comes up with a nickname for Rome, "Captain No Fun."  After he is talking badly about Rule and Shaw's relationship, Cora becomes angry and dumps beer over his head.  Her feisty personality piques Rome's curiosity, and he finds himself captivated by the cute, colorful, and vivacious, Cora, who everyone refers to as "Tink," because she looks like Disney's Tinker Bell.  Rome and Cora eventually end up getting hot and heavy, and these two "opposites" find someone special in one another, and realize that even though they may not be perfect, they are perfect for each other.

Rome was amazing, and has been added to my favorites shelf.  I loved how protective, loyal, loving, and giving Rome was, and appreciated Cora's strength, honesty, independent nature, and how she was protective of those she loved.  Together, these two built each other up, had one very steamy and sexy relationship, and deep emotional connection.  The story also had a lot of suspense, and dramatic twists and turns.  This series never gets boring, and Rome is my favorite installment in the Marked Men Series.  There were some very touching aspects in the story, and I found myself getting teary eyed a lot near the end of the story.  I was extremely happy with how the story progressed.  The pacing was perfect, the plot hooked me, and the characters stole my heart (both main and secondary).  Not to mention that I found it fascinating as the story included aspects of tattooing, and piercing in regards to sexuality.  I give Rome 5 Fiery, Fantastic, and Frenzied Passion-Filled Stars!

My Favorite Quotes:

"This--I put my hand over his heart and made sure he could feel me squeeze him from the inside--"is as perfect as it gets.  You're my guy, no one else does to me or for me what you do, and that's all there is to it.  I didn't know what perfect meant until you."  (eARC, Loc. 3664)

~Cora

"Her fingers got tighter in my hair and I knew there was no one else on this planet I would willingly get on my knees for, but this girl with all her mouthy ways and swirling eyes, I would do it for her whenever she asked and even when she didn't."  (eARC, Loc. 3897)

~Rome

"Love is a goddamn scary thing.  Facing it takes brass balls, and we all know you have a pair."  (eARC, Loc. 4083)

~Rule

Purchase At:

 Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Barnes and Noble | iTunes | Indie Bound

About Jay Crownover:

I’m supposed to share interesting details about myself so that my readers get to know me so here we go in no particular order: I’m an natural redhead even though I haven’t seen my real hair color in years, I’m a big fan of tattoos and have a half sleeve on either arm and various other pieces all over the place, I’ve been in the bar industry since I was in college and it has always offered interesting insight into how men and women interact with each other, I have 3 dogs that are all crazy, I live in Colorado and love the snow, I love music and in all reality wish I could be a rock star not a writer or a bartender but I have zero talent so there is that.

I love to write, love to read and all I’m interested in is a good story with interesting characters that make the reader feel something.

  Facebook | Twitter | Website | Goodreads 

Giveaway:

Tour-Wide Giveaway

Follow the Tour