BUY LINK: In the Crease (Assassins Book 11)
In the Crease by Toni AleoMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Reviewed by: Michelle
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review
I just melted in a puddle of mush. Seriously, Toni Aleo has me totally smitten with her newest hero, Jensen Monroe. Gahhhh, just thinking about him makes me think where the hell I can find my very own Jensen. Do they make guys like this anymore? Or is he truly a unicorn? Well either way if you are a romantic at heart, Toni Aleo will have you swooning like crazy as she reminds readers that it’s not the alpha male who will steal your heart but the sweet and kindhearted hero who has been waiting for his moment to shine. And boy oh boy, did this hero shine bright like a diamond.
And now, he was asking a girl to marry him. A girl who didn’t love him, apparently. A girl who didn’t want to be in a relationship. A girl who he had known his whole life. A girl who didn’t know he loved her. ”In the Crease is the twelfth installment of the Assassin Series and can most definitely be read as standalone. This book was just pure bliss. Yes, I am still swooning and smiling like crazy even though it’s been several hours since I finished the book. So what made this book stand out? Well for one, Toni Aleo gave her readers a story. It was slow-burning, raw, and palpable. Secondly, Aleo presented a hero and heroine who just felt relatable and vulnerable. She allowed readers to see that no one is perfect. We all have our insecurities, fears, and doubts but along this emotional journey of self-discovery and love, something beautiful and magical can transform. And in this case, it brought a beautiful woman to discover her sense of worth, strength, and courage to love with the help of a man who has a beautiful soul.
Wren Lemeire is knocked up and when her baby’s daddy brushed her off and told her that he doesn’t want anything to do with her or the baby, Wren has only one option left. Find someone to marry her before her brother’s wedding in order to get her inheritance since that was the stipulation her grandfather made of no baby out of wedlock. With not much options to choose from, Wren had to ask one of her close friends who also happens to be one her older brother’s best friend, Jensen Monroe to help her.
Jensen without a doubt has always loved Wren. Their timing to be together was never right. Everyone knew that Jensen loved Wren and would do anything for her. And so when Wren approached him with her temporary marriage plan, Jensen naturally agreed but on his terms. He made sure to inform Wren that he wants this marriage to work and he will be the baby’s father regardless if it is not his by blood. He wanted to make sure Wren’s baby would be loved and have a father figure around.
Jensen also hoped that Wren would eventually be able to see and love him. Not that friendship brotherly kind of love but real love. A kind of love that comes from the soul. Everyone warned Jensen that Wren would break his heart, but it was a risk that he was willing to take because this was his shot to win Wren’s heart.
It pissed him off that this amazing, beautiful, smart girl didn’t know her worth. That she was the light of his life. That he hadn’t started living until she’d asked him to be her fake husband.”As much as Wren tried to keep her heart guarded, it was inevitable. Falling for Jensen was never in her plan but it did happen. Jensen was able to show Wren what real love looked like. He showed her the difference between sex and love. He showed her happiness, beauty, honesty and most importantly, unconditional love. And in return, Wren was finally able to let go of her insecurities, doubts, and fears.
Witnessing the love between these two bloom was heavenly bliss. It was the kind of love story that you wanted to savor and cherish because their connection and bond was palpable and tangible from the start. It was the kind of love that connected two souls together.
As Wren and Jensen officially become a real couple, what happens when Wren’s baby daddy comes back into the picture? And what happens when Jensen discovers it is someone he knows? Will Jensen’s dream of claiming the baby as his own be ripped out from him? And can Wren show Jensen that she is in this marriage for the long haul and that everything that had transpired between them was real?
So yeah, this wasn’t real for you, but it’s been real for me since the moment I met you. And fucking hell, I want you to love me back. I want it so badly because I have loved you and will love you long after you’re gone. You’re it for me.”In the Crease was your feel good romance that had whole heapings of humor, friendship, loyalty, love, family and sweetness woven into the story line. Aleo did a remarkable job showcasing growth and love in such a beautiful fashion. While readers could easily praise and swoon over Jensen, I found Wren to be endearing and the backbone of the story line. Yes, she has major issues of insecurities but I loved that about her. She was real, honest, and vulnerable. She was human and I loved seeing her transformed into the person she is today with the help of Jensen. As far as writing and story line goes, Toni Aleo did a fabulous job. She allowed readers to connect with her characters and embrace their love and connection. So if you are looking for a love story that was sticky and sweet as molasses and full of heart and soul, then I highly recommend you to read this book.
She was risking everything: her professional reputation, her ethical boundaries, that tough-girl mask she wore so well. And Remy loved unlocking her . Loved how every lick through her sweet, sweet minou had her panting his name and straining for more. ”
RSS Feed