So far I am absolutely loving Loveless, Texas. Since I am a sucker for a sheriff hero and feisty lawyer romance, this book really hit the spot with me. As usual, this author can take an alpha protective, rough around the edges good guy and bring him to his knees and senses by matching him up with a feisty, leading lady love interest. Throw in the enemies to lovers element and we are given one hot, complicated relationship.

Though a damsel in distress, I loved how Aspen tried to always stay true to herself. When she realized she had let her guard down and allowed others to derail her from her life’s purpose, she took action and matters into her own hands. She was tough and fragile all at the same time, and also very forgiving when it was called for. She seemed to be living proof you can’t keep a good woman down, folks.

Case had a serious case of family issues and baggage he’s been carrying around his whole life. You’ll have to shrug off his at first hateful, mean demeanor towards Aspen. This author did a good job of laying all the cards on the table, so we ultimately do get a clear picture of what he’s been dealing with.

Oh, I so want another shot at seeing Shot Caldwell, a good guy/bad boy biker sub-character that popped up in this storyline. Add Hill Gamble, a hot, handsome Texas Ranger to the list while you’re at it. My, oh, my! Those two alone are reasons I can’t wait for a return trip to this relationship angst riddled town where true love seems to keep finding a home!

Here’s to hoping Kody, the hero’s bar owner baby sis, is next in line to square off with her obvious love interest. That guy had better be careful though. This girl’s proved she’s got game, packs a gun, and knows how to use it.

Overall, just know I really enjoyed this book and did not want to put it down. Here’s to hoping you’ll feel the same.

Title: Justified, Series: Loveless, Texas (Book 1), Author: Jay Crownover, Pages: 384, stand-alone but part of series, divorced sheriff hero, damsel in distress feisty lawyer heroine, enemies to lovers, great sub-characters, perilous situations, relationship angst.

Book .5 - Unbroken (Crew & Della), 5/14/19, Pages: 160
Book 1 - Justified (Case & Aspen), 6/25/19, Pages: 384

(I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not given any payment or compensation for this review. There is no affiliation or relationship between this reviewer and the author/publisher/NetGalley)

I really liked learning more about Loveless (where my fave girl, Salem is from) and this a good book. Didn't really connect with the main characters. But I was a surprised about how this book did end up. Can't wait for Kody, Hill, Shot's books.

This was a new author for me and you can bet I'll be reading more of her work. It has romance, suspense and a bit of a mystery wrapped in the first book in a new series. I can't wait to read other books in the series and hope Kody's story is next.

Someone's targeting Aspen, an attorney in Loveless, TX. The sheriff is there to help her out, but their past gets in the way until they both learn that things aren't always as they appear.

I received a free ARC eBook from Net Galley and the publisher for my honest review.

Justified is SO AMAZING. It feels very much like a Jay romance. What do I mean? Well, Case is kind of a butthead, but I also love him. Also, this has suspense and mystery to it. And once you overcome one problem or think you have it figured out, she makes you question everything! And Aspen, man she has been in a tight spot for years, and these small towns sure do like to hate on people. When these two fight, Case definitely is good at sticking his foot in his mouth. Though nobody can top either of their exes.

This might sound crazy, but I might end up loving this series more than all her others, and I've read them ALL. It was just that good.

***I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Forever and Jay Crownover.***

I requested Justified from NetGalley because I’ve seen Jay Crownover’s name in my timeline on Goodreads dozens of times but never read one of her books. I was impressed. Case and Aspen have a history that dates back to high school, but they’ve become enemies over the years. Now, Aspen’s life is being threatened and as the sheriff of Loveless, it’s Case’s job to make sure she’s safe. They have to learn to trust one another, to set aside old prejudices and be honest with one another to catch who’s after her, and it leads to something neither ever expected.

I liked Aspen very much. I liked her independent streak, her kind heart, her strength and her good intentions. Case was a jerk with a mean streak (at least towards Aspen and her ex-husband) in the beginning, but once we got to the heart of him, it was hard not to fall for him. He cares deeply for his town and his family, and he tries to do the right thing for everyone.

I thought the writing was good but wished the plot had been more character-driven than event-driven. I didn’t love the resolution of storyline behind the attacks on Aspen. I liked the bits of Case’s brother and sister, Crew and Kody, that we got, as well as his son Hayes. I was interested in the chemistry between Ranger Hill and Kody, as well as Hayes and his potential girl. I’ll definitely look into more of Crownover’s books.

Justified was not love, but it was not hate. I would venture to say I enjoyed it for the most part, but some parts just lacked for me. First, I felt like it lacked a Western feel. It could have been almost any small town in the USA my opinion. This doesn’t bother me as I could do with or without the Western part, but others may be let down. I did enjoy many of the characters and the balance Crownover creates between alpha males and spunky females. She has definitely honed that skill and their dynamic was utter perfection. The suspense/mystery proponent of the story was 95% tight and felt right/justified (no pun intended), but the last twist kind of threw me out of the story which was very disappointing. It felt rushed and a bit flighty plot wise.

Case Lawton is how every alpha type should be. Attentive, strong, and stubborn, but never suffocating and always wanting what is best for his people. Aspen was different from the beginning and she was seemingly unapologetic about it. I love her heart despite being a shark of a lawyer for her clients.

I am curious to see who else gets a book in the series, but I also know that Case has been in other books and another secondary character already has a whole book with another secondary character. Call me picky, but I picked up this series to be able to start fresh on a Crownover series and I feel a bit let down that many characters are not new.

"He'd always been a bit of a heartbreaker, but now he was something beyond that. A heart destroyer, or maybe even a heart annihilator."

I fell in love with the author's Marked Men series years ago so I knew before I started reading Justified that she was gonna bring some #Love to Loveless, Texas and I didn't want to miss out. Um...did I mention there's a #SexySheriff? Even his name is sexy...Case...sigh. ❤️

Well, all that was before I met Case. I have to confess he did not make a good first impression with me. He was an #AlphaAsshole and did not treat my girl Aspen so good, at least not when they saw each other again as adults. But, being inside her head during her teenage crush over said asshole kinda gave him some brownie points for being nice to the new girl at school. When everyone else was being mean, he was kind. Which I'm sure is the only reason his later deplorable behavior didn't totally ruin her #CaseCrush. However, I had some colorful words for the rude asshole and was determined to make him earn my favor.

The more time I spent with Aspen the more I liked her. She's a tiny spitfire who is a force to be reckoned with in the courtroom. Too bad Case didn't hire her to represent him, because going against her did not bode well for his case. And once she proved that to him, she became his enemy, which did not bode well for her crush. Their animosity went on for years and they avoided each other as much as possible. Until he had to respond to a break-in and act his age. He was very professional as he handled the crime scene, his skill showing, with a side of asshole. His grudge against her was evident, but it was his job to protect her, right?

Yeah, that's when I stop to grab some popcorn and wine. He can't avoid her now. While I'm waiting for the sparks to fly between them, in anger and chemistry, the suspense is building too. That's when I stop to turn my fan up to a higher setting. Did I mention that she's keeping a secret? So, not only am I waiting for them to fall in love, I'm trying to figure out who the bad guy(s) is, and I'm worried about the secret that I know...and he doesn't. Whew! I'm exhausted now.

I really enjoyed Justified and I'm so excited to go back to Loveless, Texas. There are some very colorful and sexy characters that need more of my attention and I can't wait to give it to them! The line forms here...

So much emotion with this one, in the best way possible. A true enemies to lovers romance, Justified tells the story of Case and Aspen, two people who have known each other since high school, and have gone from friends to strangers to enemies over the years. When Aspen moved to a new school as a teenager, Case was the only one to make her feel accepted and normal. But life didn’t work out the way Case would’ve hoped, and years later he finds himself fighting for custody of his son while going through a nasty divorce. Unfortunately, Aspen is the lawyer who represented his ex-wife and effectively took his son away from him. Aspen had her reasons for doing so, but it damaged their relationship beyond repair. Years later, as Aspen’s own life begins to fall apart, she must rely on Case - the sheriff of their small town - to help her figure out who is threatening her. Thrown together with plenty of unresolved feelings between them, Case and Aspen have to decide what they really are to each other.

It took a little while for me to get into the story, but once I did there was no stopping me from flying through the pages. Case and Aspen have such complicated feelings for each other, they really had to scratch beneath the surface to see the love beneath it all. They’re both likeable characters who have experienced a lot of struggle in their lives, coming together at a time that is not ideal for either one of them. The elements of suspense in this book were also great, moving the story along and forcing our couple to spend time together despite their wishes. And once I got invested in both the romance and the suspenseful storyline, I really started to love the book. It’s a slow burn romance done just right, with plenty of heat once our couple finds their way to each other. Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I loved reading about the small town of Loveless and look forward to the next book in the series.

Amazing! I just loved this book and the enemies to lovers story between Case and Aspen. These two had so much animosity between them it was hard to see them interact with each other. But once the gloves were off and they quit fighting their feelings it was awesome. I can't wait for the next book in this series. Absolutely a Must Read!!

This book was full of love, action, and most of all it was simply a great story. I enjoyed reading about these two characters and I look forward to the next book in this series. I definitely recommend this author, this book, and this series.

I very much so enjoyed Justified! It was emotional, surprising, and interesting. I liked how Loveless is connected to other books of Jay's and how she includes little mentions of them. Case is an interesting character. He can be hard headed and rude, but he can also be very protective and caring. He carries a lot on his shoulders and thinks about everyone else before him. He's a good guy at heart he just sometimes makes some poor decisions and gets caught up in other things. He opens up more as the book goes on and we get to see the good, real side of him. Aspen has a really rough time throughout this book; she can't catch a break. She's a good person who doesn't get enough credit for what she does and definitely doesn't deserve the type of treatment she receives. She's one tough cookie to survive everything and be willing to go toe to toe with Case. Their relationship has many ups and downs, so it was interesting being in both their heads and understanding where they were coming from and their feelings for each other. I liked seeing how their relationship developed more over time. Hayes is another great character. He's a great kid with a good head on his shoulders and clearly takes after his dad. Loveless seems like an interesting town and I can't wait for more!

3.75 enemies to lovers stars. A good read with a suspense element that lay seeds for the next book in the series.

Ahhhh! Even though I think this story is considered a slow burn, the story is extremely interesting enough to keep me page turning. I also loved how it kept me guessing. I loved the authors note at the end about the characters that have crossed over from her other series. Even though I haven't read all of them but it was still cool to see. Needless to say I need to move more if Jay's books up my tbr. She has a way with words.

I also hope Kady gets her story bc that one sounds seriously interesting!

I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I voluntarily received a copy of this book for an honest review!

First I’m going to tell you that Jay Crownover has been a favorite of mine for a long time. So to be able to receive this advance was awesome. But I’m a judgmental hoochie. To be honest the bugging was slow for me, but when it picked up it went with a bang and I can forgive anything once it picks up its pace. I immediately loved Hayes. He is a sweetheart and give his honest unfailing opinion. Smart boy! Case sounds amazingly hot but stubborn and maybe biased but he does his job very well. And the. We have Aspen, although she comes off to everyone as weird and yet hardcore, she actually is a great person and lawyer. Her life wasn’t easy but she made the most of it.

In a turn of events we have shoot outs, loony parents, burned out homes and losers with edge...sounds like where I come from.

Jay’s characters are strongly written and described I love this new series and really can’t wait to read more.....can there be another out tomorrow just I can keep from the suspense.

Rated 3.5 Stars

I liked the premise of Justified and certain aspects of the story, that it was enemies to lovers, the characters both main and secondary were interesting, the sex scenes were steamy among other things. However there were parts that felt off to me almost forced that took away from my overall enjoyment of the story, like the suspense, some of the things Case did didn't ring true as someone in law enforcement and there was a scene where Aspen acted totally out of character. That said I'm still looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Jay Crownover returns to Loveless, Texas with “Justified,” a suspenseful and drama filled romance between Case Lawton, the sheriff of Loveless and his sworn enemy Aspen Barlow, the attorney who cost him custody of his son.

When Aspen moved from Chicago to Texas, she was the weird high school girl who didn’t fit in and the only person who made her feel like she belonged was golden boy Case Lawton. She had a crush on him, but his life was set on a different course. Years later when they crossed paths again, Case’s life was falling apart and Aspen had a hand in the destruction when she represented his soon to be ex-wife and took away custody of his son.

Almost a decade later, Case’s life had turned around. He had his son back and was actively working to correct the wrongs the former sheriff – his prejudiced, corrupt and abusive father – had done to the town of Loveless. He’s reluctant to help Aspen when he’s called to investigate a felony at her office, but as the town’s by-the-book sheriff he’s compelled to protect her from the threats she’s facing.

As the two are forced to work together to find her would be assassin, Case is forced to reassess his resentment towards her in the face of her strength and resilience especially after she reveals distressing past secrets. While houses are set on fire and bullets are flying, they both learn to trust each other and explore the new feelings that bloom between them.

I’ve been a longtime Jay Crownover fan. She expertly writes stories with the perfect blend of drama and romance with complex characters and a suspenseful, well-paced plot. Justified was no exception. I was instantly hooked when I read the prologue. I couldn’t fathom how two people who hated each other could find love together. I loved how their story developed and transformed into what had seemed like an impossible happy ever after.

Even though he was a bit of a douche canoe in the beginning, Case was a good father and a good man and Aspen came into his life to fill the cracks with happiness they both deserved. I loved reading about Crew and Della from the past book, and getting to know Kody Lawton – Case’s younger sister – who will hopefully be in the next installment of this series.

Justified is book #1 of the Loveless, Texas series by Jay Crownover. It’s a standalone, cowboy romance, told from both points of view with a happy ending.

Jay Crownover has done it again! I’m normally not one for second chance romances or enemies to lovers, but I took a chance on this one because I love Jay Crownover. Plus, the boom is set in Texas and I love anything to do with Texas. I also love a good romantic suspense. I loved Case and Aspen together. They were able to overcome their past together and develop a loving relationship. From the description of this book I was expecting something totally different that what I read. I will say the ending felt a little rushed, but I can’t wait to read more in this series.

This author is an insta buy for me. I have mixed feelings on her recent interest in cowboys. I'm not the biggest fan of cowboys. In this particular book you almost forget he's a cowboy. Thanks to the title I kept picturing Raylan from the TV show Justified even though that doesn't match the character description in the book. I love the suspense elements in this book with a splash of romance. Honestly it would have been just as good of a book without the sex scenes. At one point I have to admit I started skipping them.

Justified is a good and solid read from Jay Crownover. I have read some of her other titles and this was a bit better than my expectations. Case was a good male lead that you can relate to his situation though he takes it a little farther than necessary. I loved Aspen. I loved that she had history with Case that wasn't more than a childhood crush for a guy that showed her a little attention. I loved that she decided to take control of her life and do what she always felt driven for. In the same aspect, Case has always been the nice guy despite his misguided hatred for Aspen and due to his niceness their relationship builds. The suspense was on point and the twist was so good! I would definitely recommend this book.

4.5 The Power of Words and Actions Stars
* * * *1/2 Spoiler Free
How to address this book and themes...Jay Crownover has taken the pain of a "Son Bearing the Sins of the Father and Righting These Wrongs and mixes it with the "One Who Worked to Protect Him" be the one he thinks hurt him the most. And that is just the tip of the iceberg of this tale.

In Loveless Texas, there were a couple of things to know. Years ago, you never crossed the Sheriff if you knew what was good for you. Especially if your skin was a little too different or if he thought you were a good target for his ire. Don't be a woman looking for protection from an abusive husband, good ole boys rules applied. Don't complain if drunks started to take advantage, you were begging for it...And please, please do not be the woman who gave him his three kids because she got pushed, struck and hurt in her own home.

Case worked to erase everything his father did when he was a kid. Polite, good and looking out for others like his mother taught him, he was the golden boy of Loveless. Soon to be Top College pick as the star football player on his high school team, school hero and good guy others wanted to hang with, and girls wanted him to be theirs. He had his girl, her sights set to be the Classic football girlfriend and then wife with all the perks expected.

But life doesn't turn out exactly how one plans. Football scholarships disappear when Case was injured during a game. Girlfriend's sneaky pregnancy got Case to marry her but she didn't get the perks she expected. Instead, she was married to a man who went off to war to support his new family and country. When Case returned, he thought he left hell back in the desert...but no, he had just another type here in Loveless. As part of the sheriff's department, he had a to deal with all the crap his father did to the people of the town. He had a disgruntled wife who blamed him for all her lost dreams. The only light in his life was his son who he would do anything for...

Aspen Barlow was brought to Loveless Texas as a young teen and it was traumatic. Coming from Chicago to small-town Texas would blow anyone's mind let alone starting high school and knowing no one. Her tastes, looks, and thoughts were nothing like the kids at school. There was only one person who was actually nice to her. Case was that one person who made sure the new girl felt welcome.

And that was all it took, Aspen crushed on Case and it never went away.

As I said, life happened and Aspen went to law school back in Chicago and became a savvy attorney, sharp and very astute to the needs of her clients. She had returned to Loveless with the idea to help the helpless in the system, put there by the corrupt Lawton Sherriff. She was wooed by another Loveless Social High School Star, found herself in the in-crowd for the first time and married the man. It turned her head a bit, making her lose focus of her original legal goals. She was brought in to the family practice, did the country club stuff and handled cases she had no passion for.

It was the ugly "Perfect Storm" when these two people cross paths again. Case is served the divorce papers at the station when Aspen is there for another client. He is furious and Aspen makes the critical error of acknowledging what is happening and suggests he get a good lawyer. In his pain and fury, Case lashes out and addresses Aspen's comments with the taunt his wife's crowd use to say during those horrible high school years. Says he knows what he is doing and doesn't need her type of advice. With pain and a bruised ego Aspen turns away. And as the "Perfect Storm" continues, she is forced to represent the witch during the divorce.

The crux of the relationship these two have becomes this:

Although Case's words had hurt Aspen, she always believed in him. She knew in her core, he would never be anything like his father. The witch was determined to hurt Case and having full custody of his son would do the trick. Hearing all of the venom spewing from this woman and what she was determined to do, Aspen took it on to do as best as she could to protect Case and his son.

From Case's view, it didn't look that way when he lost his rights. All he could see was Aspen being an accomplice in his pain. His family hated her and this was the way things were left. Over the years, Aspen worked to make the visitations the best she could and when the son was of age to request he live with his dad, Aspen was finally released from the torture of representing the woman. She was fired.

Aspen took a good look at her life and wanted to be released from her marriage as well. She filed for divorce, pushed for her ex to finalize the papers and left the family practice. She found a cute little home to fix up her way, opened her own practice to help the people her original goals encompassed. She would have a fresh start and finally be in control of her own life.

Time doesn't stop and children grow. Case was finally able to kick his father out of the department and took over the head position with a vow to do right by the people. Case's son is now getting ready to go away to college. Case still holds the pain and grudge of all the time he missed with his son and anytime he can make things difficult for Aspen he does. His son tells him to cut her a break because she tried to always make things better for him and his dad.

With all this backstory, the meat and potatoes of this tale start with Aspen's office destroyed and vandalized. Cruel ugly words are written across the front for all to see and all of her files, furniture, and windows are broken and shattered. As the Sheriff, Case comes to investigate. He is taking everything in; she is being strong as she can waiting to hear him make some comment like usual but it doesn't come. Instead, he is steady for her and as he is walking her out he is there when her ex comes and demands Aspen return back to his home so he can watch over her. Aspen says hell no, sign the papers and the ex gets pushy. Case, stepping forward tells the ex to let go of her arm and move away.

This story takes this love/hate relationship between Aspen (past crush/pain/caring) and Case (hate, pain, and confusion) and creates something alive and pulsating. Aspen is in danger and the cause needs to be found. There are too many possibilities. Case is drawn into this situation, sees more of Aspen as a person rather than this evil idea he has carried for all these years. With the threats becoming more dangerous, the chemistry and care for each other surfaces and they finally see what should have been clear from the start.

This story had many layers and worked to keep the intrigue vital. The other family members were a concrete part of the story and added the extra flavor Crownover is known for. I know another entry must be coming, as Kody the sister and another lawman have a history that begs to be told.