Evander Lennox doesn’t do anything he doesn’t want to do. At least, that is, until he’s sent to prison. The four years he’s incarcerated, he’s had no choice but to do the things he’s asked to do, when he’s asked to do them. And now, if he doesn’t, it will mean a one-way ticket straight back to hell. 

Once he’s free, it takes him twenty-four hours to get his old job back, his dog at home where he belongs, and an understanding that people aren’t as forgiving as he once thought them to be. He’s just about given up hope of ever integrating back into society when a woman slams into his heart, literally and figuratively. 

*** 

Kennedy Swallow just wants to belong somewhere. 

When she was younger, her parents divorced, and chose to separate her from her twin. Fast forward fifteen years, and she’s finally getting to meet the family she’s always wanted to be a part of. To make that happen, she uproots her life and moves to the tiny town of Hostel, Texas—giving her almost everything she’s ever wanted. 

Just when she thinks she’s making progress in winning her family over, she finds out that her twin is ill, and the only reason her family tolerates her is due to the convenience of having a free caretaker whenever they might be in need of one. 

After a few eye-opening experiences, she quickly realizes that she’s being used. Vowing to herself that she’ll make the best of the situation, she begins to steel her heart. What she doesn’t prepare for is a man named Evander who sees that barrier as a challenge. 

*** 

It takes Evander all of ten seconds while watching the woman on the floor, bleeding from her jaw, to realize that maybe life isn’t as bad as it could be. 

This woman with her thrill for life, a crazy obsession with chickens, and a desire to be wanted, changes everything he thinks he knows. 

But it doesn’t take long for him to realize that just by being around her, the people of the town have judged her guilty by association. 

Her business suffers, and soon after, she realizes what it will mean to have him by her side—the loss of everything she’s worked so hard for. 

Kennedy knows that Evander is worth it. Evander, however, decides that he’s not letting another person get hurt because he was stupid enough to care. 

     

Hail No (Hail Raisers, #1) by Lani Lynn Vale
Rosa’s rating: 5 of 5 iScream Cones

Hail No = Hell Yes!

I was thrilled to jump into this new Hail Raisers series from the beginning. And what a beginning it was. My introduction to Evander was sad. He was incarcerated for four years and when he finally got out of prison, there was no welcome home party. The only one thrilled to see him was his dog.

Kennedy is surprisingly in the same situation as far as family goes. She’s learned the hard way that unconditional love is not guaranteed just because you share the same blood as your relatives. She has a big heart and she’s willing, and actually has, given her few possessions to her family to make their lives easier while sacrificing her own comfort. Just once she’d like to be on the receiving end. All she wants is to be loved and put first in someone’s life. But it seems that her pets are the closest she will come to the affection she craves. She’s got a dog, some goats, and some chickens. And yes, she names every single one of them. She finds herself at the feed store every week buying supplies and tries to convince herself that she doesn’t need one more cute chicken. When she has an accident and the chickens escape from their container, she tries to catch them and then discovers that, “A big, sexy man like Evander holding tiny, fluffy baby chickens was enough to cause every hormone in my body to start firing.”

It’s very cute how bubbly Kennedy tries to get big bad Evander to share himself with her when he usually doesn’t speak more than a few words. He’s rough and gruff and rarely smiles, but she somehow without even trying, manages to amuse him. He tries to stay away from her. He knows the town is unforgiving and she will pay for how they feel about him if she’s seen with him. But it’s a small town and they keep ending up at the same place at the same time. She wants to be around him, but at what cost?

I loved Hail No. I got caught up in the danger and suspense of the situation that put Van in prison, and his frustration and inability to let it go when he got out. I fell in love with Kennedy and her pets. I raged at the people that were supposed to support them, but instead repeatedly let them down. But at the same time, I recognized that having that in common drew them together even more. I couldn’t wait for them to give up the fight and give in to their attraction. The slow build was delicious and the wait was worth it. They were very creative and very entertaining when they let their passion loose. I also enjoyed the other Hail Raisers and I can’t wait to get to know them better in future installments. I confess that Travis is the one that has me the most intrigued right now, I need to know his story. Whichever one is next, I’ll be there. The line forms here…

 

 

 

“Hail No = Hell Yes!”

`iScream Book Blog

 

 “As always, Hail No is an addictive book that will instantly suck you in and leave you unable to step away for even a second.”

`Britt Red Hatter Book Blog

 

 “The first book of this new series was amazing, and had me going through all the feels.”

`MJ’s Book Blog and Reviews

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

I’m a married mother of three. My kids are all under 5, so I can assure you that they are a handful. I’ve been with my paramedic husband now for ten years, and we’ve produced three offspring that are nothing like us. I live in the greatest state in the world, Texas.