Sizzling attraction, strong characters, and danger on a Texas ranch with a capable and determined Texas Ranger on the job had me jazzed with excitement over a new series from an author I have enjoyed in the past.
Review

Jackson opens with Aja Everett nearly killed in the latest mishap to stalk her project to renovate the family ranch into a relaxing B&B. Someone doesn’t want her to succeed, but they aren’t scaring her into selling out. This land has been in her family for several generations right back to her freed slave grandfather who carved out a heritage that she intends to continue by giving second chances and new lives to her workers and a wonderful, relaxing environment to customers. She reluctantly lets her uncle call in a favor to a friend in the Texas Rangers when once again, the local sheriff shrugs off her complaint of sabotage. She is less impressed with the mulish take-charge Ranger who she wishes she wasn’t so infernally attracted to.

Jackson has a job to do and it doesn’t involve exploring that crackling chemistry he feels with the former high-powered lawyer who defends her workers and cares deeply for everyone’s welfare but her own. Butting heads with Aja must be some sort of flirtatious foreplay because his resistance to her is non-existent in short order. Meanwhile, he is on the spot when the latest attempt to attack is nearly lethal and is no accident. They have a suspect, but now they need to get proof. The property is huge and he gets his dad and brother out to install security even as Aja has a new contractor and team out working on the plans for her B&B.

Jackson doesn’t trust in love after his mom abandoned the family and his ex did a number on him and Aja is carrying around so much guilt about the past that it’s choking her and she has to punish herself by denying that she deserves happiness. The pair must find away to help each other and survive the troubles on the ranch.

I do love my cowboy and ranch romances, but plug in some suspense and I’m in heaven. Jackson as a Texas Ranger who can also work on a ranch like a veteran hand, draw so beautifully, and leap into action against an invader had this reader swooning right along with Aja. But, I was also swooning over that strong, smart and fiery plus-sized sexy gal. She was a successful defense lawyer and she champions the underdog, but she’s no dreaming idealist. She goes in where angels fear to tread for a scared teen who needs someone on his side and two women finishing up their parole who are trying to turn their lives around. And, she even fights for Jackson when he is still in pain from his past.

The suspense was a strong lead in the story and I had it figured out until that final reveal at the end showing there was a series mystery arc hiding behind the one that was resolved in this book. I’m looking forward to seeing what comes with that and hope that Jackson’s fellow Texas Rangers are still on the job with him and get their own stories.

All in all, this first in series was a sensational start and left me satisfied with the first book and impatient for the next one. This has a spicy and sensual romance, deep characters and situations, and a nice action suspense running through out. Romantic Suspense fans need to jump on this one.

My thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the characters in this one. It's a great romantic suspense story focusing on hijinks happening at Aja's ranch and her Uncle calls in the Texas rangers to help her out. Which is how the main characters meet. But I truly felt like the star of this book is the characterization and development of Aja and Jackson. Having strong leads who both butted heads but addressed each other as equals was a great addition to the suspense genre. I feel like, the surprise at the end hopefully leads us into book 2 in this series!

Jackson by LaQuette is an excellent romantic suspense novel. The author brings together two strong personalities in a great mix of these genres. Aja Everett was a high-powered celebrity defense attorney in New York until two years ago when she returned to her family ranch in Texas. She paid off the back taxes and is working to make it into a viable business for people who want rest and healing. When petty vandalism escalates, her Uncle Ricky calls in the Texas Rangers. Ranger Jackson Dean and his team go undercover on the ranch.

Aja is spirited, dedicated, kind, stubborn, generous, confident, and always taking care of others. Jackson is strong, opinionated, determined, committed to doing the right thing, and doesn’t trust love after being burned by his first wife and abandoned by his mother. Both have troubled pasts that affect their happiness as well as their opinions of themselves and others. Their flaws add to their believability. What could possibly go wrong when these two must live and work together to determine who is trying to sabotage the ranch? The suspense kept me on the edge of my seat and made this a quick read.

The author does a good job of transporting us to Texas and living the events along with the characters. They are the real stars of this story. Some are likeable, others aren’t. But which one of them is out to destroy Aja? Steamy scenes are peppered throughout the book, but will it be a happily ever after or just a momentary fling?

I loved the backstories of Aja, Jackson, and the ranch, but wanted some of the information to be divulged earlier in the book. Despite the ending being dramatic, it wasn’t a total surprise and not all threads were brought to a close. But the author led this reader there in such a way as to make it a fitting end to the book. One other thing the author does is highlight peoples’ biases and the lack of support for second chances.

This was a suspenseful and fast-paced book that was entertaining and kept my interest. This is the first book that I have read by this author, but it won’t be the last. Will this become a series? I hope so. If you enjoy steamy romantic suspense with strong charismatic characters and lots of action, then you may want to check out this novel.

SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca and LaQuette provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for February 23, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

Romance, Action, Stalker and Sabotage.

Aja Everett, Trial Lawyer for Celebrities, retires after a tragic family loss. Aja returns home to heal, and save the family ranch. Someone is stalking Aja, and isn't happy that she's hired ex cons to work on her, and begin sabotaging construction. Aja's uncle, Judge Henry calls in the Texas Rangers to investigate. Ranger Jackson Dean, feels instant attraction toward Aja. They both have trust issues, and aren't looking for a relationship. Danger increases on the ranch, and someone tries to kill Aja. The fear of losing Aja makes Jackson deal with his trust issues, and guilt, as an unexpected villain is revealed, and thinking everything is ok, there's another attempt on Aja's life. I loved the plot twist at the end. Will Jackson give love a try again, and will Aja share her quilt and pain of family heartache, and let Jackson in? I look forward to reading the next book in the Restoration Ranch series.

From the first words, LaQuette's story of a Texas Ranger fighting against his attraction to a beautiful, smart determined woman while trying to keep her safe grabs you and tugs at your heart. Her story is so beautifully created, you feel like you're watching everything unfold before your eyes. I love a good mystery and she definitely kept me on the edge of my seat, even when I thought I had everything figured out. I would highly recommend this story.

This is my first book from LaQuette and I'm certain not the last.

Strong-willed Aja returns to her family's ranch to turn it into a place for second chances. A few circumstances of vandalism have escalated into arson. Aja's uncle calls in a favor and asks that the Texas Rangers investigate.

Jackson is the lead Ranger on the case and he is instantly attracted to Aja. There was a lot happening in this story to keep me interested. Ready to see what is next up at Restoration Ranch.

After someone tries to kill ranch owner Aja, Texas Ranger Jackson plays bodyguard while investigating the crime. The attraction between them is immediate and palpable. Spending so much time together, they're bound to give in to their feelings. But Aja is focused on her career, and Jackson has been hurt in the past. Can they let down their guard and let love in?

This is a steamy romantic suspense with strong, well-developed characters. It's a good balance between the romance and suspense storylines. I loved how Aja stood her ground with Jackson, and how he listened to her concerns. They're mature characters dealing with real problems. It's clear that they're made for each other, if only they can overcome their wounds from the past.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Jackson is the first book in Restoration Ranch contemporary romance series by LaQuette. It’s set on a ranch with the same name near Austin, Texas, that’s been in the Everett family ever since their ancestor was freed after the Civil War. The current owner, Aja, a former hotshot defence lawyer from New York in her late thirties, wants to turn it into a holiday resort, but someone in her town opposes the plan. Accidents plague the construction, and when Aja is almost killed, her family intervenes and calls in Texas Rangers. Enter Jackson Dean, a ranger as protective as he is hot.

There’s instant attraction between the two, but this is a grown-up romance, where both parties bring in a lot of baggage, so neither of them intend it to last. Alongside the romance, there’s the mystery of who’s trying to harm Aja. There are some really hot scenes, but once the case is solved, they go their separate ways—only to realise they need each other after all.

I liked both Aja and Jackson, separately and together. She knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid of going after it, and he wasn’t afraid of letting her be who she is, provided he could be there to save the day and comfort her. The supporting cast remained a little distant and I didn’t really get a hang of them.

This wasn’t a bad book, but unfortunately it suffered from a clumsy execution. We plunge in with a brief action scene when the situation on the ranch has been going on for a while already—and then everything halts. We’re told about the troubles, but we never witness them, and the investigation takes place outside the narrative.

The narrative was on a constant holding pattern. It consisted of filler scenes between brief bursts of action when the bad guys made their moves and the characters reacted. The characters were never in charge of the plot, never proactive, and the reader was an observer. Even the romantic scenes felt emotionally distant. It made the book feel overly long, and even the twists at the end couldn’t really save it. But Aja and Jackson got their happily ever after, and it made the ending satisfying.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the chance to read an early copy of this book!

JACKSON is a contemporary romance with a heavy dose of mystery and suspense - but don't worry, nothing too gory! I had a great time reading this book and letting the story carry me along. Our heroine Aja and hero Jackson are both such strong, smart, admirable characters, and their strengths mean they butt heads at first despite their instant attraction - my favorite kind of story! As we progress with the mystery, we also learn more about the tough backstories that have shaped our characters, and in a particularly touching section, we learn about Aja's ancestry and their connection to this ranch. Along the way, there's some delicious food and some fun quips -- my copy was an unfinished ARC, but I sincerely hope they keep "Is their anything sadder than a vegetarian Texan?" I also adored the way that some of the laziest tropes in romance get tossed away with the flick of the wrist--Aja doesn't eat dessert because the sugar will keep her awake, not because she's concerned about weight, and at another time she automatically criticizes Jackson's ex then apologizes and says she doesn't want to villainize another woman just for being in his life.

This romance focused pretty tightly on Aja and Jackson, and I wanted to get to know her employees Brooklyn and Seneca better, as well as his fellow rangers Colton and Storm. The way it's set up, I wouldn't be surprised if their stories have some timeline overlap to give us other perspectives. Plus, the end of the book also comes very quickly, with plenty of loose ends to the mystery still waiting--no epilogue, which I'm always a sucker for. But I hope this means that there are sequels in the works to give us some answers, and soon!

I love a romance with a bit of a mystery or suspense included, and this one fits the bill. Two sexy characters who have to figure out how to let go of the past so they can move on and love in the future. I love when both characters have a story arc like this, it's a nice switch up to have them both handling the same kind of self-doubt and learning to trust. Aja is a strong woman, a nurturer, someone who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to take it, ask for it, speak it into existence. Jackson is the perfect hero for Aja, the strong Texas Ranger. There is a lot of heat on the page, plenty of sex times with these two and their on fire chemistry. For my tastes, those scenes could have been a little shorter, I didn't always feel like they were moving the plot, but that's a matter of my own tastes and I know a lot of readers will be here for it. It was the quieter moments that I loved more. There is a scene in the kitchen when Jackson watches Aja baking, and he basically says she's glowing. It's a sigh worthy moment of pure romance and I loved it. The side characters and family are all spot on and some have great potential for their own stories. Pacing is pretty good, I knew when Aja and Jackson were basically together at 80% that we had an additional twist coming, and that took a little longer to get to than I thought it needed to, but it all still worked. No surprises for me on the who done it/villain, but that's ok, the point is the romance. All in all an enjoyable sexy read.

I have been dying to read LaQuette's books for a while and was so lucky to receive an arc of Jackson. This book is steamy, it's suspenseful, it's magnificent and I really enjoyed the ride!

Aja is a big time lawyer who moved back to her home in Texas to open up a resort on her family's farm. But when scaffolding falls down and her barn blows up with her almost inside, Aja realizes that someone doesn't want her to succeed. Enter Jackson, a Texas Ranger who sets up at Aja's farm to try and find the culprit. Two attractive and successful people in close quarters means sexiness abound and Aja and Jackson have to figure out if their relationship is worth fighting for.

A few things I loved: not baby hero/heroine - Aja is 39 and Jackson is 40. I loved that they were older and not 23 years old finding love. It makes their relationship so believable because they have had their own lives before they meet. I also loved the focus on consent: Jackson is a CINNAMON ROLL but also kind of an alpha? He is a gentleman and I loved that he continually asked for Aja's consent during sex - and their discussions of condom usage! Yes for sex positivity. I also love the mystery and whodunnit. It was a but obvious but the different complexities were interesting to unweave. It does end on a bit of a cliffhanger so I need more now! Finally, I loved Seneca and Brooklyn, two women who work on Aja's farm as part of a Pathways Program due to prior convictions and parole. It was a great side story about second chances and now we are responsible for ensuring that one mistake doesn't derail a person's entire life.

This is a romance but there are so many layers, so much depth, and lots of complexity. But the STEAM! Jackson is a must read.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca for an arc to review

I always enjoy being introduced to a new author. Allow me to introduce to some and present to others, JACKSON written by LaQuette. The setting for the story is the small town of Fresh Springs, Texas and we meet Aja Marie Everette, the owner of Restoration Ranch, the home of those in need of rehabilitation and restoration. Even though it’s a noble cause that our heroine is endeavoring, some people are not happy about her reason for opening her ranch.
Because there have been some dangerous incidents that have occurred at the ranch, Aja’s uncle, a Judge, has called in a few favors to get her some protection. Enter Jackson Dean, a top notch Texas Ranger who is called in on the case and his team, Colton Adams, Storm Cordero. Jackson is assigned to the Restoration Ranch to protect Aja and her two resident ex-convict employees. The storyline takes the predictable direction of the protector who falls for the woman he’s protecting. Jackson, usually the epitome of professionalism and efficiency is thrown off his game by the alluring Aja.

This is the first book that I have read by LaQuette, and I liked it. I recommend JACKSON for your reading pleasure.

Hi, LaQuette! We are thrilled to have you on Fresh Fiction today. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hello, thank you so much for having me. I’m a Brooklynite, and I love writing emotionally gripping, sexy stories featuring multicultural characters living their best lives.

JACKSON is the first book in your new Restoration Ranch series. Will you set up the basic premise for this series and a little bit about JACKSON?

A woman, who is sponsoring two parolees as they work to rebuild her family’s ranch, is being threatened by an unknown person. To find out who’s trying to bring her harm, the Texas Rangers show up to investigate. Restoration Ranch is a place where everyone can find redemption, family, and love. I loved the idea of people having a place to lay down their burdens to find help, support, and a safe space to rebuild so they could have a second chance at life.

I love the opposites attract vibes between Jackson and Aja. How much fun did you have creating these two characters and their love story? What surprised you while writing this book?

Aja and Jackson were a hoot to write. Although I audibly laughed at their shenanigans, my favorite moments between them were when they both let their guards down to let each other in. They’re really more alike than either of them realizes. They both fiercely protect and support the people they love. The only difference is Aja loves out loud for the world to see while Jackson’s love is a grounded, quiet strength.
(FULL INTERVIEW CAN BE FOUND ON FRESH FICTION)

I loved this!
I’m constantly on the lookout for romantic suspense so when I saw this I had to give it a try. I’m so happy I did! This was exciting from start to finish. I was enthralled with the mystery and romance. Opposites attract isn’t usually my jam but the author makes the trope work here.
Can’t wait to read more!

Aja Everett seeks to transform her family ranch into an oasis for those needing recuperation. She loves taking care of others but who is going to take care of her when her life is in danger? Ranger Jackson Dean is not looking for love or entanglement but when he is hired to watch out for Aja, he finds himself battling an intense physical attraction that could lead to much more.
This is my first read by this author. First, LaQuette is a strong writer. Her skills are evident in her masterful storytelling and how she sets up the scenes. I enjoyed reading about a strong, plus-sized heroine. I loved Aja's willingness to stand up for others. Jackson was also a well-written hero.
I also loved second chance stories and I would love to read more about her secondary characters. The author also laid the stage for some sizzling love scenes. I find this author incredibly talented and can't wait to read more!
Memorable quote.
"Thinking you could save people from themselves was the quick road to despair she knew."
Thank you #netgalley

Unfortunately, this one just didn't work for me. Though I loved Aja and Jackson, the writing was weirdly formal. It's missing the prose and flow romance should have, at least in my mind. There's a whole lot of telling and almost no showing. The book was bogged down with inane details around how characters decided what to eat or what to wear, which took away from the romantic suspense.

The book felt like it could have wrapped up around 2/3 of the way in with just a few reunion scenes, but instead stretched on another third of the way. The "suprise" of the last third didn't even end up really being explained, it was like it was tacked on at the end just to make a word count. I don't think it's well explained who her attacker is, if it's her neighbor, why did he have a bracelet with Mat's phrase? If it was Mat, why did the neighbor confess? Why did Mat end up attacking her at the end?

Again, I loved the characters, and I loved the history and current purposes of the ranch, it just wasn't enough to save this one for me.

I really enjoyed the setting and character descriptions - they were rich and compelling. But I just couldn't get into the plot points. I felt like I was dropped into a narrative that was already established and while the history of the situation and the characters were revealed as the story went on, it took a little too long and I just wasn't invested in them early enough. The writing was excellent, but something about the pacing and sequencing of the plot points just didn't work for me. I would definitely read more by the author, this just wasn't a homerun for me.

I really enjoyed "Jackson" by LaQuette. It gives way to a true country setting with Texas Rangers and wide open ranches. Aja was a tough herione who meets her match in Jackson. He is brought to Aja's ranch to protect her from an unknown sources who is trying to eliminate her to get her land.

The back story of Restoration Ranch is lovely seeing how Aja's great great great grandfather worked to obtained the land. It also made we understand why she has works so hard to make it successful. We also learn that Aja is running away from a troubled past and tries to find redemption in helping newly released inmates in hopes of helping them to live better lives after incarceration. Many feel that the newly released are the ones responsible for Aja string of misfortunes, but she believes in them. Aja learns to trust Jackson as he vows to protect her and finds the guilty party or parties. Allowing him to do just that is a struggle for Aja but as she let's go (some) and allow Jackson to do so, their relationship develops into something special.

They both have troubled pasts that lies in the way of true happiness. But, both learns if they want fulfillment they must let go. I enjoyed learning about Aja, Jackson, Seneca, Brooklyn, Colton, and Storm. I was happy they stopped the immediate danger faced, but the end was a little troubling for me. Maybe it was sort of a cliffhanger with a opening to the next book. I truly hope so.

The book also did a good bit of wondering in the middle of the dialogue and it got annoying for me. If I attempted to skip it I missed valuable info. It took me about a week to finish because of that. Otherwise it was a decent read with a real life like setting. I will be interested in the next book in hopes that it is Seneca and Colton. It will also help if I receive the conclusion I seeked in "Jackson." I want say what it is because I don't want to spoil. So with that said I will give this read 4-stars. Thanks to Netgally and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for my free copy. This was my honest review of this title.

I need a fan and a glass of sweet tea on the front porch after reading this novel. I never realized that Texas Rangers were real until now (yep, 32 and thought they were only fictional), but man do I want a trip to Texas now.

If you want a mysterious-thriller-romance this is for you.

This was my first book by this author, and I'll definitely be reading more! Steamy, well-written, and very romantic.