Jackson

by LaQuette

Overview

From celebrated author LaQuette comes a sizzling contemporary romance that will leave you breathless, with:

• A hot-as-sin hero who's been burned before
• A confident, sexy, full-figured heroine determined to do some good
• Explosive chemistry in the bedroom...the kitchen...the living room...
• And a shocking finale that can't be beat.

Aja Everett longs to turn her old family home into a place where anyone can find rest and healing. But her big heart's bound to get her in trouble if she's not careful—someone wants her gone, and they'll do whatever it takes to drive her away from the land that's her lifeblood. Whether she's willing to admit it or not, she needs help.

She needs a man like Jackson Dean.

Jackson doesn't trust love. He once made the mistake of following his heart and all he'd gotten was pain in return. But when do-gooder Aja Everett asks for his help, he can't stay away...and as attraction sizzles and protective instincts flare, she may be the only woman able to restore his broken heart.

Sometimes oil and water were meant to mix.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781492694540
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	02/23/2021
Series:	Restoration Ranch , #1
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	NOOK Book
Pages:	360
Sales rank:	60,397
File size:	2 MB

Editorial Reviews

12/07/2020

A Texas Ranger falls for a do-gooder attorney in this sassy, suspenseful romance from LaQuette (Lies You Tell). Attorney Aja Everett transforms her family’s land in Fresh Springs, Tex., into Restoration Ranch, a retreat that will offer a second chance to ex-convicts. But when the ranch is vandalized and strange accidents on the property become increasingly dangerous and frequent, many try to pin the mischief on Aja’s ex-con employees. Aja refuses to believe her staff, who have become like family, could be involved, so Texas Ranger Jackson Dean and his team are sent in undercover to protect Aja and catch the true culprit. Physical attraction between Aja and Jackson is immediate, and emotional attachment soon follows, but they both have troubled pasts, and their lingering guilt and pain present roadblocks on their way to happily ever after. As their romance heats up, so does the mystery, with a vast list of subjects and a tangled maze of possible motives making it clear that all is not what it seems in Fresh Springs. Jackson and Aja are both headstrong and determined, making for an entertaining battle of wits, and LaQuette infuses the writing with Southern charm and humor. Readers will be eager to return to Fresh Springs. Agent: Latoya Smith, LCS Literary. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

"LaQuette consistently delivers smart, deeply passionate stories that will leave you breathless. An author not to be missed!" — Joanna Shupe, Awarding-winning author of the Uptown Girls Series

"Hot as a Texas summer, Jackson will have you swooning! LaQuette crafts a story layered with trust, vulnerability, and growth—and plenty of heat!—and all of it nestled in the middle of the sweeping Texas countryside. Come for the danger, stay for Aja's passion and vision, and the tough, tender ranger who aches to keep her safe. Five stars!" — Sierra Simone, USA Today bestselling author of Priest and Misadventures of a Curvy Girl

"LaQuette proves why she is one of the most celebrated voices in romance with JACKSON... Sizzling romance, passion, heartfelt emotion, themes of redemption and healing, and a thrilling mystery take center stage in this story of a strong woman fighting to keep and defend her legacy and the Texas Ranger hero determined to protect her." — Naima Simone, USA Today Bestselling author

"Jackson is the complete package—thrilling, tender, sexy. LaQuette cements her status as one of the best in romance. If LaQuette writes it, I'm reading it." — Eva Leigh, author of My Fake Rake

"Smart, sassy, proud to be curvy Aja meets her match in tough-talking Jackson, the sexy Texas Ranger who steals and heals her heart one daring rescue at a time. I loved this down-home, southern charm, sexy, steamy romance all the way to the climactic end." — Jennifer Ryan, New York Times bestselling author

"Once again LaQuette delivers! A steamy suspense and a reminder of the redemptive power of second chances. Jackson is my new imaginary husband!" — M. Malone, NYT & USA Today Bestselling Author, RITA™ Award Winner

"Gripping and passionate, LaQuette's Jackson delivers a thrilling ride. Confidently sexy, Aja is the perfect blend of intelligence and warmth, her Restoration Ranch a delightful slice of down-home. Jackson's integrity, strength, and protective instinct make for a delicious hero. Fans of romantic suspense will love this book!" — Karen Rose, #1 International Bestselling Author

"Jackson is chock full of feels and the kind of romantic suspense that I crave! This story is effortlessly woven romance and intrigue at its finest. Aja and Jackson are so joyfully written you can't help but glow after reading their HEA." — Nana Malone, Wall Street Journal & USA Today Bestselling author

"LaQuette infuses the writing with Southern charm and humor. Readers will be eager to return to Fresh Springs." — Publishers Weekly

"There's so much heart and soul–and delicious food!–in this book, I never wanted it to end. And the chemistry between Aja and Jackson burns up the pages. Grab a glass of sweet tea and prepare to be dazzled." — Xio Axelrod, USA Today Bestselling Author

"LaQuette writes strong, compelling characters and stories brimming with heat and drama." — Reese Ryan, Award-Winning Author of the Bourbon Brothers series

From the Publisher

2020-12-15
A Texas Ranger falls in love while on an undercover assignment.

Restoration Ranch has been in Aja Everett’s family for generations. Now, at 39, she's left her career as a prominent New York City lawyer to move to the Texas ranch full time, hoping to convert it to a retreat center. A series of escalating incidents including arson in the barn make it clear that someone is targeting Aja. The local sheriff won’t help because he disapproves of her participation in a program that creates jobs for ex-convicts. Her uncle, a powerful judge, asks the Texas Rangers to investigate. Jackson Dean and his team go undercover as ranch hands to investigate the crimes. Jackson has kept himself emotionally distant from women after his painful divorce, but he is drawn to Aja’s strong will and fierce independence. Aja is a calm, centered character. She knows her mind and agrees to a brief affair with Jackson even though she’s interested in more. LaQuette has an ear for dialogue, with lively banter between Aja and her friends and caring dialogue with her relatives; at other times, the narrative is weighed down by long paragraphs of interior monologuing. The mystery plot is rather quickly resolved and feels predictable. Jackson’s internal struggle to let himself love again is the major emotional thread in the novel.

This warm, placid romance will appeal to people who like to read about a man’s soul-searching.

Kirkus Reviews