Review: Jumping Jude by Lucy Lennox
SYNOPSIS:
Jude: Reaching the top of the country music charts brings out the crazy, and there’s no one crazier than my ex. Unfortunately, his threats to out me are escalating. Enter the bodyguard of my dreams.
I’d probably chafe under his constant presence if his attention to my body wasn’t so… ah… thorough. Now I have to worry about outing myself to millions of fans if I can’t keep my hands off him in public.
Derek: Now I’m an ex-Marine turned babysitter. If I have to hear Jude sing his mega-hit Bluebells one more time, I might murder him myself, and after 6 years in special ops, I know my way around a weapon. Unfortunately, so does he. Except his arsenal includes washboard abs and a killer set of pipes.
I’ve faced guns, knives, explosives and yet it’s Jude Marian who may end up bringing me to my knees.
Fair warning: Jude and Derek’s story contains frequent detailed scenes of man parts touching, little old ladies being inappropriate, and two lonely hearts coming together in perfect harmony.
REVIEW:
I think Jude and Derek’s story might be my favorite in the series thus far. While there is plenty of drama, the relationship between Jude and Derek really takes center stage. I loved all the tender moments shared between these two and how accepting the Marian family is. Now if we could just get rid of the God-awful, cringy, old ladies…the book would be prefect.
Jude and Derek have undeniable chemistry and I found them both dancing around each other for the longest time. But the slow burn to their relationship allowed for them to get to know each other and build a foundation before jumping into bed. They had an entire tour under their belts before they gave into the tension swirling around them. They each take a chance and show their vulnerabilities and something beautiful comes of it.
Jude has a fair amount of baggage, including an ex who shows up out of no where. Jude is also finicky and rightfully nervous about the media and his stalker. In contrast, Derek has a homophobic family who is so dreadfully toxic that they need to go. Both characters find their voices over the course of the story but man was it a long journey to get there. There is some wild drama that occurs at the end of the book and honestly, I was a little disappointed with how that ended. Was an arrest made? Were charges pressed? I want an answer on this front!
We also get glimpses of the family but Jude definitely flies solo a lot more. And a big part of this is because he spends the majority of his life hiding his identity from his family. I like that the family curses like crazy, Simone has endlessly bad luck with men, and the family is constantly placing bets and wagers on anything and everything. After attending several family dinners I am so excited for Griff’s story!
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