Review: It's not because I didn't like it, because I did like Jagged
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 12, 2013
Jagged is only the second book of Kristen Ashley's (and I've read lots) that I've given 4 rather than 5 stars. It's not because I didn't like it, because I did like Jagged ... a lot however it's not what I've come to expect when I sit down with a Kristen Ashley novel. Graham and Zara worked their way into my hearts just all the other characters of the Colorado Mountain series. Their story is uniquely endearing as the persons themselves. Graham, a typical Kristen Ashley alpha, could not get any more sweet. I find it fascinating that KA can make you love her men even when their being not so nice. Graham was definitely not so nice at times but this was during the heat of the moment. He totally made up for it. I really feel for Graham. His back story is gut wrenching and when he's feeling that he made a decade-long mistake I felt him for him too. This is testament to Kristen Ashley's writing; it absorbs you. You're sucked into the lives of these characters so much that you feel what they feel every step of the way. Zara is a typical Kristen Ashley female lead. She's funny, confident, beautiful, and a total spitfire even when her past dictates that she could be beyond repair. Zara proves she has risen and she amazes Graham with her strength. The secondary cast of Gnaw Bone is back in a big way. It was great catching up with Nina, Max, Mindy, Cotton, and Arlene. The sense of family KA created in Gnaw Bone makes you feel peaceful. I imagine just the way Graham felt when he decided to settle there. So why wasn't it 5 stars you ask? Two reasons. One, Jagged was not nearly as long as a normal Kristen Ashley book. The length and provided detail in her books is one of the reasons I enjoy reading them so much. Jagged goes to quick, I was not ready for it to end. And secondly, the epilogue. I was totally disappointed in the epilogue. It was a good epilogue but again too short and not enough detail. We always, always get an awesome eye witness show into the future of our favorite couples. I didn't get that with Graham and Zara. KA has set the bar too high of what I come to expect. However, if you like Kristen Ashley you'll like Jagged. Their story doesn't have a huge climatic chapter, more a small climatic episode at the end which is unusual for KA book but I didn't find it unwelcome. It's a nice change and seemed to fit the story, since it was shorter. All the usual elements of her stories are here, as well. Jagged is a great story with two amazing characters who will make you hurt, laugh, and smile.