Nash: A Marked Men Novel

Jay Crownover’s Marked Men Series is one of my favorite series of ALL times. Jay is one fantastic storyteller. Her tatted up badass heroes and her tough as nails heroines are some of the best and most complex characters I’ve read. Rule will always be my favorite marked man; perhaps it’s because it all started with his story or that I’ve been able to witness his life with Shaw evolve, but he’s been it for me even though Jet and Rome are also at the top of my list of book boyfriends. But Nash gives Rule a run for his money. In the first three books, readers are given small glimpses into who Nash is and what makes him tick, but it isn’t until his world begins to crumble at the end of Rome that we see there’s so much more behind Nash’s tatted up body.Nash and Saint’s story will resonate with readers on so many levels. Both are dealing with insecurities because of their pasts and unconditional love is a term that neither can grasp – one due to parental neglect and the other because of a small number of men who have let her down and destroyed her self esteem and self perception. Nash and Saint share a past; they went to the same high school, and at that time, Nash was an angry guy who did nothing but smart off and get laid; he never felt good enough due to an absentee father and a mother who chose her new life over her son. Saint remained in the shadows, never feeling like she fit in because the “cool kids” made fun of her, and the one time she actually put herself out there, her dreams are crushed by the one person she thought saw her differently – Nash. Saint thought their story ended there, but it was only the beginning.Fast forward a few years and Saint is now a registered nurse and on duty the night Nash’s uncle is rushed to the ER. Seeing Nash’s face again brings back all of Saint’s old wounds, but despite the pain she felt/feels, she is still drawn to Nash, and she wants him desperately. Nash remembers Saint from high school, but he doesn’t understand her coolness towards him. He’s attracted to her and feels a connection to her that he’s never felt for any woman he’s been with, but how does he break through her walls and get her to see what he sees? How does Saint let go of a past that has tormented her psyche for so long? With all of the turmoil that’s happening in both of their lives, can they count on one another to help get through it all or will Saint’s insecurities drive them apart for good?Saint FordI can definitely see why some readers have a love/hate relationship with her. At first, she doesn’t seem like a strong heroine. She allows her insecurities, low self-esteem, and self doubt to dictate every action she takes. Nash needs a woman who will not back down when faced with difficult situations, and, at times, Saint doesn’t seem to be that person. She sends mixed signals, allows her mind to overwhelm her, and runs before thinking things through. But the best female leads are those who readers can witness evolve and transform into who they truly are, and Jay gives us that by the end of Nash.Nash DonovanHe’s not your typical tattooed bad boy; in fact, he’s an honorable and moralistic man who cares deeply and protects who he loves. He’s strong, passionate, and artistic and lives his life for himself and those around him. He was always the brooding laid back friend in the previous three books; the one who his friends turned to when they needed an ear or a shoulder. Nash is a complicated man, and Jay Crownover does a fantastic job of showing her readers who he truly is.Nash and Saint’s storyline is my absolute favorite because it covers many social issues that our society struggles with on a regular basis. Feelings of inadequacy run rampant in today’s world – self doubt and misperceptions are not easy to overcome, but if readers can learn anything from Nash and Saint, it’s that the love of someone who truly sees you can be the most freeing thing there is.Another kick ass aspect of the Marked Men series is that readers are able to keep in touch with the main characters from the previous books. You can’t help but fall in love with Jay’s Marked Men, so the fact that she keeps us up to date with all of their lives is what makes this series one of the bests, and what Rule says and does in this story solidifies his top spot in my list of book boyfriends.If you haven’t read this series yet, you need to head over to Amazon and one-click all four books because they are fantastic stories that have the right mix of sex, angst, and romance. With complicated plotlines and extremely dynamic characters, this series will have you from the first book and make you have to impatiently wait for the next one.A complimentary copy of the text was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.5+ poison apples! (The Fairest of All Book Reviews)

I am totally hooked on these Marked Men. I thought Rule, then Rome were my favorites, but dear lord, I have a soft spot for Nash.NASH – a good guy, passionate, sexy, tatted, gorgeous, sweet, loyal friend, surrounds himself with his friends “family”. His back story has been shared slightly through the other books, so we know that he doesn’t have a good relationship with his mother and doesn’t know his father – until a secret is revealed. It rocks Nash’s world, maybe a little more than Saint does.He goes through number of emotions from angry, confusion and hurt. I was hurting for him. With all he was going through, he had to also deal with Saint who wasn’t sure about what she wanted.SAINT – loving, caring, strong and confident at her job, but shy and insecure around people – especially people she has feelings for. She has a really low self-esteem and believes she is not beautiful or sexy. She also has a lot going on in her life with her father walking out on them and her mother having a break down.Most of the time, she does the only thing she knows how to do to protect herself and her heart – she puts up walls to keep everyone out.She and Nash have somewhat of a past from high school. One that ruined her, drove her low self-worth - even until the day fate brought them together again. A past that Nash has a hard time remembering. She has a hard time letting go of the hurt and pain that she has carried for so long.But in saying that - when they did meet again, her feelings came flooding back for Nash. And Nash was blown away by her beauty.Will Nash break those walls? Will she let him in?The ups and downs of her emotions were full on. I loved the fact that she was so strong in one way and the so weak in another. It was fascinating to see her struggle and figure out that Nash was perfect.She really was so confused about her feelings for Nash and about herself and what she went through as a teenager, that she just doesn’t know how to deal with it all.Nash is so attracted to her, but he is so gentle and patient. Waiting for her to decide if it’s right – because he knows there is nothing more he wants than her.He is taken away by her beauty. Her compassionate and caring way. The way she looks after her patients and cares for them. Especially helping Phil and what he’s going through.Nash’s heartache for Phil broke me. My heart ached for his pain. Losing him was going to leave a huge hole in his life. He was the only person to ever be a parent figure to him.I have to say the scenes between Nash and Phil were really moving and emotional. I shed a tear on more than one occasion - feeling what these two were going through really shattered my heart. Phil’s advice was invaluable. Convincing Nash that Saint was someone he should fight for.Nash is left with decisions to make, and needs to learn to move on. He really is a confused mess and doesn’t know what to do. He does know though, that he wants Saint. He wants her with his whole heart and soul.She wants him too, he’s the only man she has ever really loved. Who has ever made her feel the way he makes her feel and it really scares her to death. She doesn’t understand it, and her confusion over it is mind boggling. She is finding it difficult to understand or believe that Nash was that boy from school that shattered her heart.It just beautiful to see how she brings out the best in him and Nash makes her feel things she has never felt with anyone. She eventually begins to feel safe and secure with Nash but doesn’t understand why.Their struggle to understand each other was frustrating, but it felt so very real and beautiful. And Oh God – their chemistry is fierce. The relationship is full of drama and intensity. And Oh My Gawd - the sex is scorching.Saint needs to learn to take a risk, take that chance on Nash and more importantly she needs to free herself of the past and embrace the present and who she is today and look towards her future.Jay Crownover really knows how to captivate her audience. Her characters are all brilliantly developed with their own backgrounds and their own path forward. I absolutely adore the way she builds up the tension, the drama and the emotions through her stories. This wasn’t any different. Just brilliant. I couldn’t get enough of them.

Nash looks badass, he has flame tattoos on his neck that reach to cover the sides of his shaved head, he looks like you shouldn't mess with him, but inside, he's falling apart.His life, as he knows it, is changing completely, his family are pairing up, falling in love, settling down, starting families of their own; that's not for him. How can he love someone, and be loved back, when he's never been able to win the love of the one person that should love you unconditionally?Saint appears to have it all together, she's a nurse in the ER, she's kind, caring, considerate, she's beautiful and shy; but underneath she's full of self doubt and carrying worry about her mother, who is taking her separation from her father extremely badly. Her problems, she's convinced, stem from her high school days and one guy in particular, Nash Donovan.Nash is unaware of the reasons behind Saint's behaviour towards him, he just knows that when she's around life feels better. Has he lost the one girl who could ground him before the chase has even begun?Nash is a fantastic read, he is also a great, strong and well written character. We read the start of his story at the very end of Rome, and that was enough to draw you in to want to know more.His looks may scream keep away, but Nash is a good guy. He's caring and charming and finds himself falling hard for Saint, rather quickly! His tattoos say that he's not ready to conform to society, that he's an individual and, quite honestly, doesn't really care what people think.Saint is a little more complicated. Like a lot of young women she has hangs up about the way she looks, and her perception of herself is so different to what other people see.Again, like many young women, these feelings are rooted in her past, more specifically, high school. Words were said and over heard, and because of her low self-esteem, Saint immediately took that they were aimed at her, and so her insecurities worsened. Harbouring these feelings has caused relationships to be one sided and unenjoyable for her, until she runs into Nash, again!Jay Crownover weaves a good story. All of her characters are strong and really likeable, and Nash and Saint are no different. You want the happy ending for Nash, he so completely deserves it; you want the happy ending for Saint to, but along the way I found myself wanting to take her to one side and talk some sense into her!As with many serial books, you still read about the characters from previous novels, and Nash is full of details of Rule, Jet and Rome; which is not surprising as all of the characters form a band of friends that are their own, slightly dysfunctional, family!Nash is a must read, whether you've read the rest of the Marked Men series or not, but seriously, if you haven't, where have you been?

4.5/5Nash is a powerfully emotional book I’ve already read it a couple of times and still don’t think I can fully articulate the emotions it evokes while reading. The narrative poignantly portrays the adage you have to love yourself before you can fully love someone else. Bullying breeds insecurity and self esteem issues that can last a lifetime. Saying that ‘words can never harm’ you is the ultimate lie – words cut deep and the scars they leave behind are easily ripped open with just one word. From the epigraph through each and every word, Jay Crownover brings these themes to poignantly reality.With such powerful themes and emotions throughout the plot the dual narrative between Nash and Saint is an absolute must. Being able to see both sides of the story balances the plot while simultaneously providing in depth understanding of these complex characters. Perception of self is easily distorted especially if you have suffered through emotional trauma in formative years. While Nash and Saint’s suffering may have been caused by different reasons they are equally damaging especially where relationships are concerned.Having a good support system is essential to overcoming emotional damage, embracing the person you are and building positive self esteem. I absolutely adore the way in which Jay Crownover builds a true family formed by the bonds of friendship. Family isn’t about blood it’s about the people that love and accept you for who you are ♥ The progression of the other characters from the previous books was amazing to witness and added another dimension to the plot as a whole. I have to say it, the romance has that whole soulmate connection vibe about it; when it clicks it really clicks ;)Nash is a total snowball of emotion. The action is fast paced with an amazing depth to the plot as well a ingenious character development. Deep and meaningful have nothing on Nash.

Well well well! Bloody heck Jay, what a fantastic story! Nash was always the quiet, brooding, sensible one of the group, the boys are all solid friends, always had each others backs!So pleased we go it to be part of Rule and Shaw's special day, and also sharing the joy of Rome and Cora! Even though we didn't get too much of Cora, we did get to enjoy the sassiness we have come to lice about her!Great to catch up with Jet and Ayden, can't wait for their book! and really looking forward to learning more about Rowdy!So Nash and Saint, she is the sweet red headed nurse who has a great love of her work, with her hidden crush of Nash since high school, and after seeing him playing tonsil tennis with another girl and over hearing him say some nasty things, she ends up holding a grudge against him! She leaves town, gets the job she has been training for and really loves! Even though she was adamant that Nash had broken her heart, she rose above all that and went to help Nash when his world was falling apart, everything he thought he knew was a shambles.Saint had spent years thinking no one would want her, and when Nash who had held a candle for her since school tried to convince her otherwise!Everyone around them could see how they felt about each other but themselves! They were both harbouring issues, and as we go through the minefields that is their personal lives, dealing with lots of things, full of self loathing.It takes a lot for them each to realise their issues, and so much longer for Saint. They slowly became friends, and lovers who fitted very well with each other.Theirs was a story of finding true love, and self discovery, it was an emotional read, full of ups and down,

Jay Crownover's Marked Men have stolen my heart, but Nash definitely has to be my favourite by far. I knew as soon as I picked up Rule that Nash was going to be my favourite and I definitely wasn't disappointed.Nash is quite possibly the sweetest and most protective guy ever. He may not look it since he's cover in tattoos and piercings, but after 4 books of getting to know Nash, there's no way you could call him anything other than a big softie. My heart melts around Nash because he just amazing. He's had a tough upbringing - his stepfather hated him and his mother basically didn't give a s*** about him - so he was raised my his Uncle Phil. But now Phil has let a secret slip that turns Nash's life upside down. I just wanted something good to happen for Nash for once. He deserved it after everything life had thrown at him.I knew I was going to love Saint from the moment I met her. She's slightly awkward, neurotic and is clinging onto a moment in the past that broke her heart. Saint has been hung up on Nash since high school, but he hurt her, and Saint can't get past that. Her idea of love has been trashed by all of the awful guys she's been with and also by her father who cheated on her mother. Saint is uncomfortable in her own skin and never believes anyone when they pay her a compliment. Saint had a lot of s*** to work through in this book, the main thing being learning to love herself.Saint finds herself unable to stay away from Nash and she wants to help him. She vowed never to forgive him but as they spend more time together, Saint starts to realise that Nash isn't that bad of a guy. The main problem with their relationship was Saint. Saint had a lot of s*** to work through and she was basically building a wall between her and Nash. She wasn't sure what she was doing, wasn't sure of her feelings and she didn't know whether she could let herself love Nash. Saint's been through a lot, but there were times I wanted to shake some sense into the girl and make her see that Nash is the most perfect person for her ever.Nash's struggle with the big family secret that was revealed was hard to read about sometimes. His family screwed him over and my heart broke for him. He didn't have enough time to fully wrap his head around everything, and I just wish his mother hadn't been such a horrible human being and at least told him the truth before it was too late.I also really loved getting to see all of my old favourites as well. Rome and Cora had their baby and named her Remy (which had me squeeing!), Ayden and Jet are just as amazing together as ever and there was a scene with Rule and Shaw that had me tearing up (I just love those two so much). I'm really starting to warm up to Asa a lot more and Rowdy is still such a mystery! I also really loved meeting Royal. Saint may have been a bitch to her, but they became great friends and I'm hoping we'll get to see more of her in the rest of the series.The epilogue at the end has gotten me even more excited to read Rowdy! I can't wait to finally find out about his past and find out more about him. Overall, Nash was such a fantastic read and October better hurry up because I need more of these boys!

Nash is the fourth book in Jay Crownover’s Marked Men series. I stumbled upon the first book in the series – Rule – while browsing on amazon. It popped up in my “recommended for you” section as I had been looking for New Adult romance series at the time and I fell in love with the series after reading that first book.This is the story of Nash who we already know from the first book as he is the eponymous MC’s best friend. The other main character in the story is Saint and although we don’t really know her she was introduced to readers in book three when Rome (Rule’s brother and star of book three) lands himself in hospital.At the end of the third book we are given a glimpse into Nash’s personal life and how he’s found himself in his current situation after a rather massive plot twist which impacts all of the Marked Men we already know. Nash has just learned that his Uncle, his mentor and his friend Phil is actually his father and that he’s also really ill. That bombshell was dropped on an unsuspecting Nash and the story really goes from there including the growing importance of Saint in his life.I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about reading from Nash because from the first three books I tend towards falling for the bad guy and Nash is known by the good guy out of our tattooed bunch. However, I really did start to fall for him throughout. I loved his need for Saint to like him, his need for her calming influence over his life and I also really liked how his gentle demeanour started to win her over bridging the gap between their relationship and Saint’s comfort zone.Saint was a great complement to the entire story. Her job is the most important thing in her life which is great because she seems to be really good at it and the personality traits required to work in healthcare are exactly what Nash needs to have in his life but her story develops further as Nash starts to expose her to what a romantic and stronger familial aspect of her life could look like. Her weakness is opposed by Nash’s physical strength and I loved how they both grew as people throughout the book.The story is highly emotional and it was great to see the makeshift family coming together to hold up one of their own. Throughout the book you are given a little hint into what might be in store for the next two characters to have their own books and some of that is expanded on a bit more near the end of the book setting you up for book five, Rowdy.