For Finlay - J. Nathan

Caden is the perfect example of an egotistical jerk. He was no problem getting women. He is hot and he knows the women melt when he gives them his sexy wink and no. Until he meets Until he meets Finlay. Finlay hates Caden for reasons he doesn’t understand and wants to change Finlay’s mind about him. It’s tricky as he is in a relationship and wasn’t a guy who cheated. Finlay is trying to  honor the memory if her twin brother Cole. It had been his dream to play football and hopefully make it to the pros But Cole had a heart attack on the field. But Cole died too soon to see the dream fulfilled. Two years after Cole’s

death the shame and pain over her last conversion with Cole still haunts her. When the coach of the Alabama football team offers the opportunity to be the water girl for the team every practice and game , Finlay jumps at it. Finlay hopes to put her life back in order.  Caden is the star quarterback and he is the one who took Coles place. Finlay hates him. Caden hates dishonesty. Cole had been Finlays best friend as well as her twin. Cole died thinking Finlay hated him. When really Finlay was really proud of him and loved him. For her entire life finlay has run plays, watched practices and games, helped Cole to train and become better. Finlay was a freshman as she took a couple years off after Cole's death. Caden was a Junior. Cole was the football player everyone wanted to know , she used to hate it and resent Cole for all his fame in the town.. Finlay hated being referred as  Cole’s little sister . She wanted her own identity. When Finlay first starts as the watergirl Grady always had snarky comments for her until Caden stands up for her. Caden laughed at Cole’s funeral which added to Finlay’s hatred of him. Caden can’t seem to stay away from Finlay. Especially since they share a class and bus rides and keep bumping into each other at night as they both had insomnia.

I enjoyed  reading this book My attention was caught from the first page until the last. I didn’t want to put this down.This was a hate to love romance.  I chuckled at times and choked up at times while reading this. I really liked the plot and loved the pace. My heart broke for Finlay and the guilt she carried. I read this in one setting. I didn’t understand some of the scenes in this book. I didn’t really care for the ending. I felt this was fairly realistic. I loved seeing Caden and Finlay build a relationship. I loved the characters and the ins and outs of this book and I recommend it.

Arrowood has a problem. It isn't the fact that his sister has returned. Nope. It isn't the fact that his wife left - his fault that. It isn't that the beer has gone off.

It is Sherlock Bloody Holmes.

Finlay's book is about the anti-Holmes and Watson. Not bad guys, no, but the ones who handle those cases that are not classy enough for Holmes. Along the way, Finlay also subtley digs at Watson's martial status.

Overall the book is good. The mystery is a bit wrapped up in a bow, if you know what I mean, but the characters are engaging, and Finlay nails the period. He also puts in commentary about Holmes, and quite frankly, I think he should get a bonus for the whole riff about Adler because honesty, after what Moffat did with her, I so needed that.

This seemed to be the most referenced book in Stoned by Aja Raden. So I picked it up from the library as well. I'm glad I read Stoned first. I liked Raden's style of writing more than Finlay's.

Jewels is an interesting read too, I just found it a little dry. Also I wish the book had footnotes rather than notes at the back. It was annoying to have to keep flipping back and forth while reading.

This novel takes place after a previous one and follows on with the plot – which is a little tricky if you haven't read the previous one - like me. There is an explanation to some extent of what has come before but it emerges as the book proceeds.

Robert Finlay is an ex-SAS operative now in the police force and having recently survived an attempt on his life. He is assigned to a sex trafficking unit but his previous experiences also come into play. This book includes action from both the SAS/MI5/MI6 world and from the police environment. It's quite a page-turner, exciting and engaging. However I feel that this will lead into another book and I prefer my thrillers to be stand-alone unless I know in advance that I am looking at a series. Recommended to all fans of both genres.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

v