Give Me a Reason: A Single Dad, Enemies-to-Lovers Romance (Redemption Hills) Paperback – August 26, 2021

This author is brilliant! The most incredible world building and characters I’ve come across in a good while. MC romance yes but SOOO much better. Don’t sleep on these books! I’m trying to make them last but once you dive in you can’t put them down! 👏👏👏👏

AL, my friend, you have an edge to you! And I like it.So apparently I've starting reading this all wrong - somehow I read book #2 (Jud's book) first, and a while ago at that, and I just now was able to circle back and start at the beginning with Trent and Eden's book - and what a beginning it is. Talk about opposites - the good and the bad. At least that's how AL wants us to think if we believe Trent. But Trent isn't a bad guy... OK maybe he's done some bad things, but at his core he's not a bad person - kind of... sort of... but not really. Regardless, we REALLY like him! What's not to like? The guy is a little alpha (mmm), smart, capable, devoted, family man, sexy, and can we take a minute to compare and contrast the written description while we ogle the cover model? Cut me off a piece of that!... But back on point, Trent believes himself a bad man, undeserving. And in walks Eden, the definition of all that is good. Oh sweet Eden, so pure and honest and good. His angel. She's beautiful, smart and fierce - and everything that he never knew he needed.This is an opposites attract, forbidden love, workplace romance - it's hitting up those good tropes. The angst is really good here, too. Mmhmm, the buildup. Oh yeah... the heat, the steam, the attraction - just pure fire. For me that pure fire mixed with the devotion to family that is portrayed in this book is what I loved the most. Getting to know this group of characters and the love that is there was quite beautiful. It just goes to show what family will do.Now, it's hard to dive too much into this story without giving it away, because AL throws us some surprises, some loops, and some "gotcha's" that were quite enjoyable. The writing is good, her style is a little different from the norm - but that helps to create this edge that she's got to her writing. There's a gritty nature to the story and characters, and her writing style helps to enhance that. The story is good, but the character development is one of my favorite parts and the banter between characters - the moments of humor are wonderful! The one scene in the kitchen between Eden, Gage and Trent's youngest brother - OMG pure humorous gold! Loved it.So one might then ask, if I loved all of these things about the book so much, why not give it a perfect score? Well, this platform won't allow me to rate with points, because I'd rate this somewhere between a 4 and a 5, so I feel that a score of 4 isn't quite right - it's more like a 4.5 out of 5. And my not-totally-perfect-score is due to it took me a minute to get used to the writing style, it's totally a me thing - an adjustment that I had to make. But about a third way in, I felt that the battle Trent was having within himself became slightly repetitive - sure it was a theme carried throughout the book and an important point of contention - and it is the demon he carried with him and battled - I get that! I totally get that. But at a few points I just felt that it was slightly repetitive and about a third though it took a little bit away for me - but AL was quick to turn it around after that. But I just feel I wouldn't be 100% honest if I didn't explain that - again, it's totally a me thing. But AL ends this thing with a bang and a few surprises. What an ending! Phewww. I needed a minute to catch my breath after that! But reading this, it made me want to re-read Jud's story now that I had the whole background and was introduced to Jud here!

I never left a review for a book before but it's like I'm compelled to do so. We'll written the character on this are amazing. Damn gookokd book and storyline. Loved how it all come full circle but not in a predictable way but a *wtf ooh my gosh* way. I truly recommend ths book.

First time reading this author and what a great book! I loved Trent and Eden's story and I couldn't stop reading once I started. So glad I came across this book. I would definitely recommend reading this.

I was warned going in that this writing style wasn’t for everyone. And they weren’t kidding. There are words, lots and lots of words, too many extra words in my opinion. About 30% of the way in I started skimming those extra words.Now, this could’ve been a five star read. It has one of my favorite tropes, grumpy/sunshine. We have the damaged hero. And let’s face it, you can’t get much more damage than Trent. And then we have Eden, the sunshiny dancer/school teacher. Together they’re quite the combustible combo. Trent tries to run from her to protect her as he does everyone in his life. But Eden is not having any of it. True to her sunshiny character she believes she can save him.The story was great. Loved the characters and little Gage just stole the show. The side characters were interesting enough to want to read their stories.This is where my five star review comes down a few stars. Not only do we have the extra words. But we have an over abundance of missing words. There are so many sentences missing the first word. Usually the word I. Nearly every single time Trent starts a sentence that should start with the word I, he doesn’t use it. This frustrated me to no end. By the end of the book I was truly wondering if there were two different authors. One writing Trent and one writing Eden, as this didn’t happen when Eden was talking.Example: “Feeling is mutual”. Missing the word “the”. “Shouldn’t be the one.” “Know that.” Both missing the word “I”.It’s almost like she did a search for the letter I at the beginning of every sentence and hit delete. This makes the conversation seem stilted.Also, something that began to catch my attention when they finally hooked up and bugged the crap out of me is his use of “the girl” and any iteration of it. Made me think I was reading a Daddy book and it felt slimy reading sex scenes between the two when these words were over used. There is no real mention of ages, but it’s assumes he’s around 30-32 and I’m guessing she’s at least late 20’s, early 30’s. So why he keeps referring to her as the girl is beyond me. He calls her kitten and temptress and those are sexy, but the girl? No, just no! She’s a freaking woman and reading ‘I carried her toward my bed while the girl writhed over me.’ Just doesn’t do it for me. Use she or Eden. A ton of it was used in their first sex scene and it grossed me out. Now if that’s your jam, fine. But some of us are expecting to read a sex scene between two adults of the same age.Just a few things that took the pleasure of reading this book away from me. I truly enjoyed reading Trent and Eden’s story and will read the rest of the books, but the writing style is really hard to get used to.

Omg what can i say about this OG legendary couple that just completely had me hooked from page 1! I loved the romantic suspense, angst, tension and little Gage! I loved the Grumpy X Sunshine vibes and Eden is my girl! She has such a good heart and is the light in Trent‘s darkness! He needs her! They complement each other and he becomes better bc of her and the way she embraced Trent & Gage is heart-warming! The twist at the end i didn‘t see coming was a surprise and omg explained everything! I love how obsessed Trent is with Eden and their love

Ahhhh! I read this entire story in one sitting, that’s how excited I was to start this fabulous new A. L. Jackson series. I seriously couldn’t put it down!The dynamic between main characters, Eden and Trent, leaves you wanting more after (and during) every chapter. 😩💕 Their soul-wrenching past(s) and heartache, passionate and emotionally tension-filled romance, and (eventual) hope-filled devotion to each other was truly breathtaking. The obstacles the two characters faced along the way just made their happy ending all the sweeter, not to mention the fact that they came out all the more strengthened and bonded because of them. On top of the perfect pairing that is Eden and Trenet, little Gage was so freaking adorable! I just wanted to say that A. L. did a wonderful job depicting that lovable and sweet little boy. 😊💗🥰You can truly experience every intense moment and emotion in each word that A. L. Jackson writes. She depicted a perfect balance of strengths and weaknesses in these characters, giving them real life emotions, pains, heartaches and struggles. A truly fantastic job of making these characters come alive on the page. Plus, the sexual tension and chemistry was present from the first moment these two main characters met! Such a brilliant combination!This entire novel was written with such deep tones and emotions embedded into every scene but all the ache that accompanies the story leads to an incredible ending that really leaves the reader wanting more. I only just finished the book and I’m already missing the entire family! 😩🥰 Although, I’ll be honest, any book A. L. Jackson writes will automatically be absolutely phenomenal in my mind!Like I just said, I enjoyed every word of this book and couldn’t put this story down from the second I received it. It has absolutely lived up to the utter perfection that usually encompasses this author’s work! This mix of beautifully broken (and rebuilt) heroes and heroine(s) are hands down some of the best characters I’ve ever read. Absolute perfection! 👌🏻❤️Long story short, A. L. Jackson (once again) did such a fantastic job and I cannot wait for more! Love, love, love this book, and love, love, love this author! “Give Me a Reason” deserves all the stars and more! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I can’t wait for the next instalment in this incredible new series!

✨ "Give Me a Reason" by A.L. Jackson is the first book in the Redemption Hill series, and I'm so happy that I finally started with this series! 📚💖 This was such a great read—so emotional! I had tears in my eyes till the very end. 😢✨Trent and Eden were so broken but beautiful together. Trent is a single dad and bike club owner, while Eden works as a waitress to support her father and also as a teacher for Trent's son. 🏍️📚 The moments with Trent's son, Gage, were so sweet that I literally had tears in my eyes. 🥹❤️ Trent was such a broken, hot, protective hero. 🔥💔 Eden supported him and shone like a diamond in his darkness. 💎✨The romance, mystery, love, angst, bonding, suspense—everything was there in this book, which I thoroughly enjoyed and loved! 🌹❤️💔🌟

A most wonderful story that was truly heart felt and inspired thay made me wish fir my own Warrior. Great characters and well written, truly enjoyable with a trio of hot brothers, a small town girl with a crazy friend and a runaway sister. Really enjoyed and recommend. Great for those who love a little spice With their reading

Obsessed!I love Trent and Eden so muchSo their story and chemistry is utterly incredible, they way they fight with everything they have to protect and love one other *sigh*Single dad ✔️Sons teacher ✔️Tough as nails yet sweet FMC ✔️Obsessed and protective MMC ✔️Cute as heck little boy ✔️