| Title | : | Always His (Crazed Devotion #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 149 |
| Publication | : | First published May 9, 2016 |
It isn’t always as easy as it sounds.
Becoming a Marine had been Ryker’s dream, but that dream faded when it led to losing the one girl who held his heart.
Returning to Alabama after being gone for more than five years was going to be hard, but he couldn’t continue to live without her.
His world seemed empty and there was only one thing that could heal that void.
Find Nicole…
Beg for her forgiveness…
And never let her go again.
She would always be his...
Always His (Crazed Devotion #1) Reviews
-
I really enjoyed this one. Which surprised me because usually second-chance romance is not my thing.
Did Ryker make the right decision back then, 5 years ago? No, not really. Dumb man!
Did he make up for it when he returned? Yes, I think so. Possessive and alpha, yes!
He was relentless when he comes back and continued to pursue Nicole. I absolutely LOVED how he accepted Tori no questions asked. He loved her immediately. He says and does some of the sweetest things to them both.
Nicole was a great heroine even if I thought she gave in to Ryker a little too quickly. Usually I have the opposite problem and think the heroine holds out too long. She was a wonderful mother and I love how, even though he didn't deserve it, she continued to try to get Tyler to man up and be a father to Tori.
There's a sweet little epilogue and I look forward to more stories in this series. Even Tyler. I love to see a "villain" change his ways. -
H broke the h's heart when he left her 5 years before after promising her he would be back for her. she was devastated. A couple years after he leaves, being still heartbroken, has a drunken ONS with a guy from their small town. That night produces a beautiful little girl who her father has little to no contact with. Now, 5 years later, H gets out of Marines and comes back for the woman he has never stopped loving. He wasn't about to take no for an answer. This was a sweet love story once he was back. My heart broke for her when she was missing him so much even 5 years later. No mention if he was with other women during those 5 years or not.
-
https://romanticcynicblog.wordpress.c...
Beware of Spoilers!
Star Ratings:
Heroine (Nicole): 4.5/5
Hero (Ryker): 4/5
Plot: 3/5
Grovel: yes!!
Cheating: none
HEA: yes
Triggers: some OM drama
Average score: 3.5/5
Best Line: “If going home to beg her for forgiveness made me a pussy, then I would be happy to have that title.”
Worst Line: none that stood out to me
Personal Review:
This was a solid second chance romance between a single mother and a marine. It didn’t hit me in the feels so much but I enjoyed the H’s determination to get the h back.
Random Ramblings:
•It was refreshing to read a story where the H tries to win over the h and the h does not immediately fall for him again…it took 11 chapters before they slept together again
•Loved how the h made him work for it even after they slept together! What can I say, I’m bloodthirsty
•Tori’s ring was an adorable gesture
•Tyler’s turnabout was too convenient
Overall Feeling:
-
*****spoiler****
So...I choose this book because I'm a sucker for a second chance love story but I have to admit I didn't like it a bit.
I was annoyed by the fact that she already slept with him around the 29%.
I mean, he left her 5 years ago, stopped any contact for 4 years and came back to town like nothing happened.
The only original thing here is that the h had a one-night-stand with a local idiot that obviously ended up with a little girl (about 2 years after the H left).
I was enjoying the fact that the H was actually jealous because FOR ONCE the h was the one "not celibate during separation".
And then, at 54%....
“But you can’t sit here and pretend you didn’t sleep with other women over the last five years. The difference is those women aren’t here and she doesn’t have to face them.” I understood what he was saying, but it still felt like a punch in the nuts every time I imagined them together.
After that I couln't give a s**t about the story at all. -
She cheats on him but he leaves her high and dry for no real reason. He was an asshole that made up for it by being a stand up guy to the little girl she had with another guy. I am all about equality here I would have hated it even if it was him who had a kid. She was manipulated into the kid situation and I don't like how that happened as it read like a rape situation to me personally. She was drunk and he was trying to get into her pants. That's textbook rape to me. That's why I did not like this book at all. I would have been ok if she had been so sad and decided to find comfort in another mans arms. This was not a good read for me and I will not be reading it again. Guys need to stop thinking that getting a woman drunk is an ok way to get her in bed. This story just accepted this as a fact. ITS NOT OK TO GET A WOMAN DRUNK TO GET HER INTO BED...THATS JUST RAPE HERE. Not me thing at all.
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A sweet story about a second chance! I loved Ryker and his determination to win back his girl.
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2nd time
RYKER, **drool** as soon as I started reading I thought dang this sounds familiar. I got so far and knew without a doubt I had read it. A LONG time ago. Appearantly I forgot to rate it. I really am beginning to believe C.A. Harms writes stories and creates characters I love. -
ok - no cheating - om drama
----------------------
Herói vai embora da cidade e termina o relacionamento com nossa heroína. Ela fica desesperada e acaba transando com um cara e engravidando.
Ele volta 5 anos depois e quer reatar o relacionamento.
Tem cenas de confronto com o pai da filha dela, cenas de ciúmes e ela aceita ele de volta rapidamente.
No final tudo acaba bem. Nada demais.
Eu demorei muito para acabar a leitura do livro e confesso que tinha esquecido que estava lendo.
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Hero leaving town and ends relationship with our heroine. She gets desperate and ends up having sex with a guy and being pregnant.
He goes back 5 years later and wants to resume the relationship.
It has scenes of confrontation with the father of her daughter, scenes of jealousy and she accepts him back quickly.
In the end everything turns out well. Not a big deal.
I took long to finish reading the book and I confess that I had forgotten that I was reading.“What are you doing here, Ryker?” I asked as I shifted Tori on my hip. “I came back to make up for walking out on you. I never should have left. It was a mistake.”
-
Another great story by C.A. Harms! I can always count on her books to draw me in and this one is no exception. Always His is a really quick read that had me hooked til the end.
Ryker and Nicole were teenage sweethearts and thought they would make it through anything. As Ryker is preparing to leave for the Marines he promises Nicole that he will be back for her. Life takes them on a different path but five years later Ryker is determined to make Nicole his again. Nicole was devastated after not hearing from Ryker after he left and her life took an unexpected turn. She now is a single mother to a little girl and her life revolves around making sure she provides a good home for her daughter.
I loved seeing how these two still had so much love for each other after all these years. It's not an easy road ahead for these two but Ryker is determined to finally have the future they have always dreamed about. -
Although it was never 100% confirmed, pretty sure the hero wasn’t celibate during the five year separation:
“But you can’t sit here and pretend you didn’t sleep with other women over the last five years. The difference is those women aren’t here and she doesn’t have to face them.” I understood what he was saying, but it still felt like a punch in the nuts every time I imagined them together.
So the H gets all mad about the h sleeping with one, but this leads me to believe he slept with multiple others and apparently that’s ok.
Would’ve been a four or five star had he been 100% confirmed to be celibate -
Review by Lisa Kane
I love a second chance at romance story. There is always something to forgive but the love has endured in spite of the time and distance.
Nicole loved Ryker for years. He wanted to join the service, but promised her that things would still stay the same-he would be there for her. But when he left, his emails and calls get less and less until they just stopped. He cut her off without any explanation. She was devastated.
My heart left with Ryker the day he boarded that bus. The day he chose to let go of what we had. He had sworn I would have him forever, but I knew differently.
Living in a small town, Arab, Alabama just about everyone knew about her heartache. Her dad owns the local bar Lucy's and it's pretty much the town's watering hole. Nicole being dumped was never a secret. She turned to Tyler Murphy one night when the loneliness got to be too much and got her daughter Tori from that one night stand. She may have wished things had been different, but she has no regrets since that night gave her a precious baby girl. Tori was her reason to go on with her life.
Three years later and Tori's dad is still a drunken deadbeat. He rarely sees their daughter and his best friend is a bottle of beer. But Nicole's whole world is about to change. After five long years, Ryker is coming home. He's been stationed in Germany and he's not reenlisting. Instead, he's going back home to claim the girl he left behind. (This is about the time I wish I had a dart board with his face on it!) He knows that his desire to follow his dream to join the service became his prio rity over his love for Nicole. But he honestly thought that cutting things off would be the fair thing to do. They could never maintain a long distance relationship. He had asked her to leave with him when he enlisted, but he knew she would never leave her dad.
Nicole deserved a chance at a future, and I knew I'd only be holding her back if I didn't let her go..
Ryker knows about Nicole and Tyler-his parents still live in the same town and have kept him up to date. But he also knows there is nothing between them and he thinks he can win her back.
Hearing Tyler Murphy and Nicole had a child together had fucked with my head for a long time. But from what I also had heard their relationship wasn't solid, so maybe I still had a chance for redemption.
He didn't count on this new, more independent woman who is wiser and isn't willing to risk her heart again. She's been involved with two men and both have hurt her. She won't make that mistake again.
There were so many times I had wished for his return. So many times I dreamed of how it would feel to be in his arms again. But seeing him only made all the hurt from the past come rushing back like a tidal wave.
Always His is a sweet, short read about forgiveness and maturity and compromise. Two people who have loved and lost and somehow still managed to find their way back to each other again. And yes, Ryker redeemed himself. -
5 Stars!
I love C.A. Harms. She is one of my top favorite, go-to, automatic one-click authors. She is brilliant when it comes to penning a novel. Her heroes are damaged, real and swoonworthy. Her heroines are smart, strong, and loyal. And now we have a brand new series by her that shows the power of second chances, healing and true love. I fell hard and fast for the Crazed Devotion series just from book one.. and good bonus, it is a standalone.
This book was amazing. Smart, sexy, sweet, intense, passionate, and super steamy, this book takes you on a journey from past to present as we find that sometimes we have to go back to where we came from to get our happy ending. This was a fast read that sucked me in from the very start and didn't let go until the last word was writing on the page... even then I wanted more. I laughed. I smiled. I swooned. I cried. I fell head over heels in love.
This is Nicole and Ryker’s story. They were once in love and had the world at their feet.... until Ryker left and never came back. He broke Nicole and she never healed from the loss of him. Years have passed and nothing is the same. Nicole's life is different, busy, and... complicated. Now Ryker is back and he will stop at nothing to claim Nicole. Will she forgive Ryker? Will he be able to prove he is here to stay and all in this time?
I highly recommend this book.
Review Post--->
http://reneeentress.blogspot.com/2016... -
Actual rating 3.5
This is the second book I've read by this author now. I found Always His to be a sweet, heart-warming read, that held my interest so that I sped through it.
I dived into this book the minute it appeared in my kindle and had finished it within a few hours. This author has a gentle style of writing that's great for purely escaping from the real world. It draws you in and keeps you hooked.
Always His is a cute romance about Ryker returning home after a stint in the Marines to fight for the girl he left behind. The romance is sweet, and there's definitely a connection. I did feel things moved a little too quickly and were a bit drama-less at times. Everything just seemed too easy and I wanted Ryker to have to work harder to win Nicole over.
Saying that though, that's what made it a great escape read. It remained light-hearted for most of the book and kept a smile on my face.
Overall, this was another good read. I enjoyed it and will most likely be looking out for book two. -
I was given a free copy for an honest review.
I loved this look, Ms. Harms has out done herself.
Nicole and Ryker grew up in small town Alabama and seemed to always be together the whole town new it.
But, when Ryker leaves for the Marines and Nicole can't go with him.... She is desperately lost without him.
5 years pass and Ryker is headed back to Alabama to claim what he's stupidly left behind. Will Nicole be available and want Ryker back after all this time?
Will she truly always be his?
**Spoiler of sorts***
How many times does a sexy, hot as hell marine, who obviously loves you have to grovel and apologize to win you back? -
This book will move you to the core. You will want to punch Ryker out one moment then want to ravish him in the next. My heart really went out to Nicole. I can't image the heartbreak she went through. Even though Tori was not conceived by the man that held her soul, she is the only light that penetrated the darkness that Ryker caused.
I was really glad that Nicole made Ryker work for her affection. If she would have accepted him back with open arms, I would have had to bitch slap her. She did it well.
Another fabulous book by CA Harms. More....I need more!!! -
This is an endearing and hopeful story that shows no matter the time or distance if people are meant to be they will find a way to be together. The leading man’s character’s persistence in making sure he girl he lied and left is also the one he gets to forgive him and lives happily ever after with what hooked me in this book. Add in the complication of a baby daddy and a child which only makes the story more complicated and of course heartwarming. I Cannot wait to read the next installment in this series.
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ERIN'S REVIEW
6 STARS
Every once in a while, you come across a book that touches all the little places in your heart. It finds all those little nook and crannies and shines the brightest light on them. I am a huge fan of CA Harms. I read every book she puts out. I don’t even have to read the blurb anymore. I love her work and know that I am never going to be disappointed in anything she writes. She has the ability to put words and thoughts together just the right way to pull you into the lives of her characters. Ryker and Nicole are no different. Right from the beginning, I was completely invested in the outcome of their story. There are so many different elements to this story. But it is not overdone. They all blend together to make an incredible love story. Not just the hot and steamy kind of love. I am talking about the deep, committed, forever kind of love. I was so emotional reading this story. Nicole is a strong, independent woman who has never gotten over Ryker. She has made the best life she possibly could. Ryker is my new favorite BBF. He knows how he messed up and is determined to prove he is worth taking a second chance on. His capacity for love is astounding. I loved everything about this book and hope that everyone takes a chance on Ryker and Nicole.
KIM'S REVIEW
4 STARS
Oh, this book will break your heart and make your heart melt all at the same time!
Nicole holds onto a promise made to her by someone that holds her heart. Only the one person she thought she could trust...breaks her.
And because of it and a drunken mistake she gets one of the best gifts ever.
Ryker wants to find his way in life. He follows his heart and doesn't ask the girl to 'wait' for him. It's one of the hardest things he's ever done.
After his obligations he heads home to reclaim what he lost.
It's a battle that he's not willing to loose.
This book is full of hurt feelings and a sexy man who knows what he wants and isn't willing to take the word no to heart.
Ryker pulls out all the stops to convince Nicole that he's serious. And it's sweet as hell to read.
Though sometimes Nic's excuse of.."But you left me", gets a little tiresome.
And the little person in this book is cuteness overload.
Always His is the first for me by this author and I'm sure won't be my last.
LEEANN'S REVIEW
4 STARS
This is a book that is all about making mistakes & getting 2nd chances.
Nicole thought she had lost the love of her life. So she attempted to move on. This wasn’t the greatest plan she ever had, but she chose to deal with the
hand she was dealt. And she has never once regretted her decision.
Ryker chose to let her go. He chose to walk away. He knows her life is very different all these years later. He is back..
He wants his woman back & everything that comes with her.
This story is pretty cust & dry. This is 2 young people who thought they would be together forever, but life had other plans. Now years later they have a chance to
start over and get their happy ever after. There is just one thing standing in their way. Nicoles big mistake, Tyler. He has the power to make their lives hard & not.
This is one of those books where you think you can see exactly where it is going & then when there is a little twist or turn it throws you for a loop.
I don’t want to give any spoilers so I am not going to tell you what the surprise is, but I have to say I did not see it coming. I really thought I knew
what was coming. How wrong I was. This is what makes it such a good story. It keeps you wanting to read & keeps you interested in the characters & where
there lives are going.
4 well deserved stars for this latest C.A Harms release. -
I love this author. She can get anyone out of a book funk with her writing. Her books are always a quick and easy read with just enough umph, to keep you guessing. I love that this book wasn't any different. It was light, easy and refreshing. Her characters always seem to just jump off the pages. And I love that there wasn't a cliffhanger, yep that's right this is a standalone but a series starter as well.
Ryker and Nicole had a great love, one that people dream about. Even though they were young kids when they feel in love, they both made promises to love each other forever. But sometimes forever may not happen. Life changes, it gets messy and in the way. And sometimes hearts are broken in the process. We never get a choice in when and where or who we fall in love with, but we do get a say in how long we hold out hope that that love will return. Sometimes it comes back and sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes we love someone so much that letting them go is the only option.
That was Rykers option, he let Nicole go to let her live her life. Only she wasn't living, she was slowly dying. But someone made her live and love again. A love like she never knew existed.
But Ryker is back. He is ready to face the fact that Nicole may not love him anymore but he is bound and determined to reunite with her and show her that he has always loved her and she has always been his and he has always been hers.
Can love be enough? -
6 stars
Every once in a while, you come across a book that touches all the little places in your heart. It finds all those little nook and crannies and shines the brightest light on them. I am a huge fan of CA Harms. I read every book she puts out. I don’t even have to read the blurb anymore. I love her work and know that I am never going to be disappointed in anything she writes. She has the ability to put words and thoughts together just the right way to pull you into the lives of her characters. Ryker and Nicole are no different. Right from the beginning, I was completely invested in the outcome of their story. There are so many different elements to this story. But it is not overdone. They all blend together to make an incredible love story. Not just the hot and steamy kind of love. I am talking about the deep, committed, forever kind of love. I was so emotional reading this story. Nicole is a strong, independent woman who has never gotten over Ryker. She has made the best life she possibly could. Ryker is my new favorite BBF. He knows how he messed up and is determined to prove he is worth taking a second chance on. His capacity for love is astounding. I loved everything about this book and hope that everyone takes a chance on Ryker and Nicole.
Reviewed for FMR Book Grind -
Ryker Daniels always wanted to be in the Marines and this chosen path in life would risked being with his one and true love, Nicole Russell. Knowing that she would not be able to go follow him wherever he goes he ends up leaving the only girl who will forever hold his heart. His reasoning behind his decisions was one he has kept to himself in hopes that she could live a happy life without him. Little did he know that he got more than he bargained for.
When he returns to his hometown of Arab, Alabama he is determine to win Nicole's heart back regardless of the life she has already created while he was away in service.
"I love you, Nicole. I never stopped. It's always been you in my heart. I meant what I sad all this years ago: I'm forever yours, baby."
This was such a sweet read of first loves and a different take at getting a second chance at being together again. The connection towards one another is clearly present but is it enough to try again? It is worth the risk? Ryker and Nicole's story will have you believing hope in fate and that if things were meant to be it will work out at the end regardless of the challenges that they may face. -
Always His by C.A. Harms is the first book in the Crazed Devotion Series. A book about love lost and finding it in your heart to forgive. This books was a HEA type read that will have you smiling by the end. I hope Ben and Liz's book is next!
Nicole and Ryker were in love, making promises to each other that Nicole believed were true. But when Ryker enlists in the marines and leaves her behind with no explanation, Nicole is behind devastated and heartbroken. One night looking for comfort provides her with the greatest gift, her daughter but there is still something missing from her life...until one day he knocks on the door and barges his way back in.
Ryker made a major mistake walking away from Nicole when he was stationed in Germany with the marines for the last five years. Being discharged and returning to fight for the only women he has ever loved is the only plan that he has. Nicole doesn't make it easy but Ryker knows that he is in it for the long haul.
You will laugh, get teary eyed and swoon while reading this book but it is definitely worth every page turned! To see if Nicole and Ryker make it...well you will have to read to find out!
3.5 stars -
Oh, this book will break your heart and make your heart melt all at the same time!
Nicole holds onto a promise made to her by someone that holds her heart. Only the one person she thought she could trust...breaks her.
And because of it and a drunken mistake she gets one of the best gifts ever.
Ryker wants to find his way in life. He follows his heart and doesn't ask the girl to 'wait' for him. It's one of the hardest things he's ever done.
After his obligations he heads home to reclaim what he lost.
It's a battle that he's not willing to loose.
This book is full of hurt feelings and a sexy man who knows what he wants and isn't willing to take the word no to heart.
Ryker pulls out all the stops to convince Nicole that he's serious. And it's sweet as hell to read.
Though sometimes Nic's excuse of.."But you left me", gets a little tiresome.
And the little person in this book is cuteness overload.
Always His is the first for me by this author and I'm sure won't be my last.
Reviewed for FMR Bookgrind Blog. -
5 star
I was pulled right into this story. The story has laughs, suspense, pain, and heartbreak.
This is Nicole and Ryker’s story. Nicole and Ryker we in love but Ryker wanted to become a Marine. After going away he stopped all contact as he could not expect Nicole to wait for him. But Nicole was heartbroken and angry that Ryker could just throw away her and her love. Now years later they are different people. Ryker comes back to town to claim the one he has always wanted. Things have changed but he will do anything to make it up to her. Can Nicole let him back into her life when she was so broken before? Can these two get there second chance or is one person determined to keep them apart? Can Nicole forgive Ryker for letting her go? Will they finally get their chance at forever?
I felt I was able to connect with the characters and the story was a great read.
I highly recommend this book. -
* * ARC given on behalf of obsessed by books for an honest review * *
Ryker and Nicole had a love that everyone wants even at a young age they knew that forever with each other was there for future, but then there is life it always seems to get in the way. When Ryker left to be in service he thought he was doing right by giving Nicole the chance to live but people change and life goes on. Five years later and Ryker is back to claim what's always been his Nicole but the hurt she felt when Ryker left, she's not sure if she can let that go no matter how much she loves him but it's just not her anymore. I loved this story, CA did an a amazing job. Nicole made Ryker work a little to prove himself but the chemistry between the two was as strong five years later as it was from the beginning. I loved it. -
Absolutely one of the most romantic love stories I have ever read.
Ryker had a dream, he wanted to join the Marines. And so he did, But the problem was that his heart remained in Alabama with Nicole. The girl he feel in love with in high school. Promises were made and then broken leaving Nicole with a shattered and broken heart.
Fast forward 5 years and Ryker is back home. He served his country, had 2 tours in the middle east. He was also in Germany. Time came to reenlist and he opted not to.
He came home to re claim his life and the woman he left behind........I have no words to say how much I truly loved this book. I cant wait for the next one
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*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*
*Bookaholic Confessions*
4.5 Devoted Stars
Ryker and Nicole's story was heart wrenching and hopeful. Loved it and I love C.A. Harms writing.
I love a man in uniform. Couple that with his love and devotion for Nicole and I was a goner.
To see my full Review, click
here -
I loved the romance between Ryker and Nicole. I also loved that he was protective of her daughter Tori and not just Nicole.
Being gone for five years and letting the love of your life go was a hard thing for Ryker to do. Coming back home after being in the military for five years he vowed to win his love back. He did everything he could and he showed he loves her and her daughter.
