*** REVIEW *** STAND by A.L. Jackson

From NYT & USA Today Bestselling Author A.L. Jackson comes the next seductive, unforgettable Bleeding Stars Stand-Alone Novel…

Zachary Kennedy has never been known as a fighter, but he’ll never regret fighting for her…

I’m Zee Kennedy.

Quiet. Reserved. Predictable.

When my brother died, everyone thought I was just the good guy who stepped up to take his place in the band.

No one knew what I was hiding. The one thing I’ve been fighting for.

For seven years, I’ve never lost focus.

Not until one chance encounter with Alexis Kensington.

Now she’s become my greatest temptation.

I knew better than to touch her, but now that I’ve had a taste, I can’t get enough.

Her kiss becomes my air. Her body my salvation.

She needed a savior and somehow she became mine.

Taking her was a betrayal. But keeping her means risking everything.

One look at Alexis Kensington, and I know she’s worth the fight.

Will my past continue to keep me down or will I finally find the strength to pull myself up and Stand

My first thought as I finish Stand by A.L. Jackson is how have a missed this author.  Stand is the sixth and final book in the Bleeding Stars series focuses on Zachary “Zee” Kennedy, the drummer in the band Sunder. 

Zee is surviving seven years of pain and guilt after the death of Mark, his brother, and the original Sunder drummer.  Zee grows up as a music prodigy with his goals taking him down an entirely different musical path than rock and roll.  Unfortunately, a series of mistakes and misunderstandings change his life when Mark dies alone after making a call to Zachary for help. 

Alexis Kensington appears into Zee’s life when he happens upon her in an unsafe part of town getting harassed by an unsavory character.  Alexis is completely smitten with the drummer and her hero.  There is an immediate attraction. However, she isn’t sure if it is the mystic of rock and roll or something real.  There is no doubt that a relationship of any kind will not be simple and her heart could be crushed irreparably. 

Ms. Jackson is an excellent writer.  In Stand, the prose flow like a lovely ballad that stays with the reader for some time after closing the book.  There is so much in both the main characters’ past that can impact a long-term relationship, but the pull is undeniable.  Several scenes pulled out an extra-long Ohhhhh Nooooo from my lips.  There are also a couple times that a tear slipped out of my eye in anticipation of what will happen next.  There is also a very satisfying ending that works perfectly for me. 

There are times that I don’t understand Zee’s actions and, in turn, they make me angry.  At the same time, I must admit that I run into people every day who make me shake my head at some of the things they do.  Zee’s guilt and bad decisions are the reasons for his caution, but I will never wrap my head around the Liam excuse.  It didn’t click for me at all, and I couldn’t control my anger and need to lash out at Zee.  That move almost made me spit tacks at my Kindle. 

I can attest that Stand works as a standalone novel since this is the only book in the series I read.  I do wonder if some of the previous books prepare the reader with a little history.  I am excited to read the series from book one because Zee’s bandmates sound like a group of guys I want to know better.  Stand is a must read and an excellent introduction to A.L. Jackson.  I’m definitely signing up for notices of Ms. Jackson’s future books.  A must read add Stand to your TBR today.

4 STAMPS 

DOWNLOAD NOW

Amazon: http://smarturl.it/StandAmzn

iBooks: http://smarturl.it/StandiBooks

Kobo: http://smarturl.it/StandKobo

Nook: http://smarturl.it/StandNook

Google Play: http://smarturl.it/StandGooglePlay

A.L. Jackson is the New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance. She writes emotional, sexy, heart-filled stories about boys who usually like to be a little bit bad.

Her bestselling series include THE REGRET SERIES, CLOSER TO YOU, as well as the newest BLEEDING STARS novels. Watch for the next installment STAND, coming Spring 2017.

If she’s not writing, you can find her hanging out by the pool with her family, sipping cocktails with her friends, or of course with her nose buried in a book.

Be sure not to miss new releases and sales from A.L. Jackson - Sign up to receive her newsletter http://smarturl.it/NewsFromALJackson or text “aljackson” to 24587 to receive short but sweet updates on all the important news.

Connect with A.L.

Newsletter: http://smarturl.it/NewsFromALJackson

Facebook: http://smarturl.it/ALJacksonPage

Reader Group: http://smarturl.it/AmysAngelsRock

Amazon: http://smarturl.it/ALJacksonAmzn

Bookbub: http://smarturl.it/ALJacksonBookbub

Twitter: @aljacksonauthor