Review: Show Me The Way, A. L. Jackson

Title: Show Me The Way

Series: Fight for Me #1

Author: A. L. Jackson

Publication Date: October 2nd, 2017

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Ahhhh, this book!! I loved this so much! Rex totally won over my heart, no lie. I think I might end up enjoy this series more the Bleeding Stars and that's saying a lot. 

I'll try not to give any spoilers, at least major ones that should not be spoiled, but still read at your own discretion.

This books tells the story of Rynna, a woman who is coming back to the small town where she grew up in because her grandma passed away and left her the ownership to her restaurant, Pepper's Pies. She moves back into her grandma's house and meets her front door neighbor Rex and his cute daughter Frankie, instant sparks fly between them. Rex fights off those sparks for has long as he can, see, he has been scorned by an important woman in the past and has also lost his first love, so he's a bit f*cked up mentally and has a lot of issues with woman due to both those events.

Rynna also has her own ghosts, the people and events that lead her to run away from Gingham Lakes, Alabama 11 years ago. Ghosts that are still very much alive and still haunt her some. Ghosts that come back to town because of the same reason she did, but with other goals to execute.

So yeah, Rex is super attracted to Rynna but fights it with everything he has but his sweet daughter Frankie becomes enamored with Rynna, who knows how to bake her favorite Gran Corinne's pies, and so with this affection developing between Rynna and Frankie, Rex's resolve to stay away from his sexy front door neighbor goes to shit real fast. 

While Rynna is trying to get a loan to renovate and reopen Pepper's Pies, a lot of things happen, she meets Nikki and Lillith and they instanly become a trio, Rex decides to give the friendship thing a go with Rynna after talking to his awesome and sexy best friends Ollie and Kale, and then there's also this major thing that happens that makes Rex come to his senses when it comes to Rynna and their relationship. He finally caves and they start dating, first taking it slow in front of Frankie to not confuse her and then in full bloom because let's face it, Frankie fell in love with Rynna before her Dad did ahah.

“Because you change everything, Rynna. You walk in a room, it’s better. And when you walk away, everything grows dimmer. Colder. And I’m tired of living in the dark.” He brushed back the hair that fell against my cheek. “But that doesn’t mean I’m not terrified. That I’m not scared I’m doing something wrong. Making bad choices, the way I have all along. Last thing I want to do is hurt you.”

Even when he stops fighting it, he's so afraid of making a bad choice, of hurting her, of losing her, of also hurting his daughter if Rynna leaves like woman have left before. But Rynna shows him how much she cares for him, for Frankie, she shows him how they can be an us, a family and how much she wants them.

“And then there was you. There was beautiful you standing across the street, and every promise I’d made myself suddenly felt like a lie. You make me feel again, Rynna. You make me feel like every chance is one worth taking. Like you’re leading me out of the darkness that’s ruled my life. When I close my eyes, who I see is you. Show me the way, Rynna. Show me the way out of it. Fuck. Please, show me the way.”

“I knew the moment I met you that you were different. I fought it and fought it while you just continued to fight for me. To fight for us. But every time our paths crossed, I knew my life changed a little more. Truth is, I was terrified to take the chance. But like you said, it’s all about taking the right ones.”

One day, the morning after a sleepover at Rex's the door bell rings and when Rynna opens the door her jaw drops, the bitch from Rex's past was back! Worst is, that's not all, but I'm not saying no more because it's pretty epic for the plot, even though for me it was pretty predictable but still, it's heart wrenching to see their reactions and what happens after the door is open. I cried a lot on those parts, not gonna lie. 

I really really enjoyed reading this. It was so good, and sweet, even though there's heartache everywhere. I love seeing Rex opening his heart again, this time to the right woman and I swooned so hard every time he thought, talked about or was with Frankie. He is the best dad, even though he is super protective and panics a lot when it comes to his daughter, but with everything he's been through it is understandable. The love he has for that little girl is so strong, so beautiful.

I also loved the passion between Rex and Rynna of course, the love they started developing right from the beginning, and I loved watching it flourish and grow. 

“You’re so beautiful, Rex Gunner. Inside and out. Thank you for letting me see it. For trusting me with it. With who you are.”

Real and whole. His mouth brushed against mine. “You changed everything, Rynna. Where I found an end, you saw a beginning. You saved me. Called me from the shadows. You changed everything the day you walked into my life. You are my heart’s second chance.”

And the sex scenes, they were hottt! 

I gasped a breath, and he inched closer, a single knee wedging between my legs. He planted both hands on the door above my head. Caging me in. I felt it when he gave, the strangled sound that left him on a groan when he pressed against me. The man was so hard. So big. So overwhelming.

“Last two times I touched you nearly ruined me. Seeing you like this? Don’t think I’m ever going to be the same. Stealing my sleep. Stealing my breath. Stealing my sanity. Little thief.” 

Ugh, I loved when he called her little thief. It happened a lot, and I loved it every time, specially because it was always during a romantic moment. #swoon

“Gonna make you a moaning, sweaty mess, Rynna Dayne, then I’m going to do it all over again.” “I’m yours.”

I think it's pretty obvious that I loved this book, I loved everything about it, even all the drama going on, the book was amazing! I cannot wait for what comes next in the series, I'm hoping for a Ollie&Nikki book and a Kale&Macy one, I'm hoping really hard for them. 

I'll leave you with this piece of Rex:

“You and Frankie? You were the best chances I ever took. And I was terrified both times. But if something doesn’t scare you? Maybe it’s not important enough. You are my life. You and Frankie are what it means to be a family. Do you understand what I’m telling you?” My heart went wild, flailing against its boundaries. He dipped in and pressed his lips to mine. So sweet. Before he pulled back, pinning me with that mesmerizing stare. “I love you, Rynna Dayne. I love you so much, and I’m not ever going to let you go.”

Rate: 5 / 5 cherry pies

Blurb:

 Rex Gunner. As bitter as he is beautiful. 

The owner of the largest construction company in Gingham Lakes has been burned one too many times. His wife leaving him to raise their daughter was the last blow this single dad could take. The only woman he’ll let into his heart is his little girl. 

Rynna Dayne. As vulnerable as she is tempting. 

She ran from Gingham Lakes when she was seventeen. She swore to herself she would never return. Then her grandmother passed away and left her the deed to the diner that she once loved. 

When Rex meets his new neighbor, he knows he’s in trouble. 

She’s gorgeous and sweet and everything he can’t trust.

Until she becomes the one thing he can’t resist. 

One kiss sends them tumbling toward ecstasy. 

But in a town this size, pasts are bound to collide. Caught in a web of lies, betrayal, and disloyalty, Rex must make a choice. 

Will he hide behind his walls or will he take the chance . . .

**Arc generously provided by the author, in exchange for an honest review **

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