This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖
Narration:🎧🎧🎧🎧
Ending:🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨

First Impressions
Asa is the finale in the "Marked Men" series. This is a story that features a truly opposite couple and their story has been building slowly throughout the series so this was my most anticipated story and I really did enjoy it for the most part. I will always be drawn to the opposites attract trope and you don't get more opposite than a cop/ex criminal pairing. There is some powerful chemistry that builds between these two but the sweet pining between them was so magnetic and Jay Crownover really delivered in that aspect.

First Line
Not too long ago when I watched a girl purposely get as drunk as this pretty one did, I would've moved in for the kill.

The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Asa
Bad boy, Tattoed, ex criminal and working on redeeming his past.

The Heroine: Royal
Working in Law Enforcement, dealing with some emotional trauma and pining for a man that would be her most unlikely match

Summary
Royal Hastings has been working in law enforcement with her best friend. But when her partner is almost killed, she blames herself and is working through the shame and guilt she feels from it and starts second guessing her own abilities. Then jumps into the mix is Asa Cross, who is working on his own path of redemption. The easy way is his old way of being a criminal but Asa is determined to make his sister proud of him and forge a new life for himself. But being with a woman like Royal will push his limits and may be too much of forbidden fruit.

What I Loved
There were many elements to this story that I DID enjoy quite a bit. The way in which Asa rescues Royal in the beginning was so heartfelt. She is on a path of emotional self destruction, and he is there, a steady rock for her and determined to save her from herself if necessary. The journey that Royal goes on in healing and learning to accept things she can't change was powerful. I adored her growth and seeing her find her own place in her career as a officer. I had a blast seeing the chemistry build between Royal and Asa. They are such an unlikely match, but they really fit so well together. They are the epitome of why opposites attract works so well.

What I Struggled With
So there was done factor in this story that completely ruined the book for me and that was in the third act. I didn't really understand what the author was trying to do here because you build up a conflict and then it leaves you mad as a hatter. I coudn't even enjoy the epilogue like I wanted to because of how the conflict was resolved. I did not feel satisfied in any way. I get the motivations on both sides but I just felt like I was given this big meal of promise and expectation and it was ripped away at the last minute lol

Narration
This duo team did a superb job in narrating this story and I really had a fun time doing most of this series in audio. The narration really brought the characters to life.

Overall View
Asa had a powerful match up that delivers strong emotional connection, a vibrant sexual attraction and a pairing that you can fall head over heels in love with!

Favorite Quote(s)
What I want to do is love the Asa that’s here with me now. You need to let go of those boulders weighted with all the bad things from the past that are dragging you down before you get crushed under them

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult
Character Types: Law Enforcement, Business Owner
Themes: Tattoo's/Piercings, Secrets, Pining Heroine
Tropes: Opposites Attract

Book Perspective
Duo POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Relationship Conflict

Song This Book Inspires
Only For You by Hearless Bastards

Recommendation For Reading Order
Yes

Steam/Spice Explanations

Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.

Narrators:
Christian Fox, Kendall Harper ( )

Full Review on my blog!

I put this book off as long as possible, because I didn’t want this series to actually be over. I didn’t want to say goodbye, even though there’s the Saints of Denver series, which is a spin-off of the Marked Men.

Jay Crownover killed it with Asa! She came in with a bad boy BOOM with Rule and ended this oh-so-amazing series with a BANG! From Rule to Asa…pure perfection from beginning to end. This series is, without a doubt, one of my favorites ever! I’ve fallen in love with these heroes and heroines throughout their six book journey.

I was really happy that he got paired up with his Royal. I always loved Royal and I knew she’d be the perfect person for Asa. Trust me when I tell you that Crownover delivered a perfect conclusion to this series, this book was sexy and heartfelt full of trust, forgiveness and redemption. This book had an unlikely pairing with the sexy Southern Charmer who is an ex-criminal with the gorgeous and feisty cop.

Asa always felt the intense guilt and self-loathing about his past and he just never seen the good in himself, he thought he would mess up again, But with a near death experience, he stated to change his ways. Royal was the perfect balance to Asa’s dark nature. She grew a lot over the course of the novel, and I think that the majority of that was due to both her job (and the circumstances surrounding her job during the story) along with her relationship with Asa. Asa helped her realize things about herself that she didn’t know before, and it allowed her to grow into a stronger person. Throughout the story, Royal has such a caring, compassionate spirit and nature, and that helps Asa realize things about himself as well. As I said, together Royal and Asa balanced each other out, and helped each other in ways that neither could have imagined at the beginning of their relationship. They have a very steamy relationship, and I loved every second of it!

All in all, an amazing series and perfect ending. I highly recommend it! I can’t wait to get my hands on the Saints of Denver series!

Check out my reviews of the rest of the series:
Rule | Jet | Rome | Nash |Rowdy | Asa

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3.5 stars.
This is difficult for me to rate. I LOVED Rule. I LOVED Jet. I liked Rome and Rowdy and Nash. I struggled to really feel any connection with Asa and Royal. First, I felt like Royal was a bit desperate and needy chasing after Asa all the time. It wasn't like the determined, get your man kind of chasing. And even though Asa is a good person now, I struggled to really 'get' him. I just felt really disconnected from this book. The best parts were when the other characters made a cameo and that is not what you want from a book. I love Jay Crownover and will always have a special love for this series but this book just didn't click for me.
Full Review at http://www.thebookdisciple.com ( )

I read this series from beginning to end – no breaks. Having read Built (Saints of Denver, #1) the mention of previous characters and some story lines that obviously had been started in the Marked Men series had me wanting to go back and read it. I am so glad I did as I had not only missed a great series but also meeting many of the secondary characters and their issues which is who the Saints of Denver is about. This series mainly takes place around a Tattoo shop where a man called Uncle Phil took in a group of men who were walking the line and gave them a job and purpose.

As I read these back to back I am going to write one review for them all. This is what I call an ensemble series – each book builds on the next one. Each book does have its own couple that get their HFN/HEA but some things started in one book may not get a resolution until another.

Rule (Marked Men #1) – This book is one that starts a side plot/story that isnt finished until the 3rd book in the series. The Archer family had three boys – oldest Rome and twins Rule and Remy. Even though Rule and Remy were identical twins they couldnt be more different. Remy was the good one and Rule broke all the rules. Shaw Landon entered their lives when she was 13 and they became her surrogate family. Shaw and Remy were very close but Rule is the one she has secretly loved since first meeting him. Even though they are all adults now Rule is still wild and out of control. That got worse when Remy died. Remy's death fractured the Archer family and Shaw is doing her best to try and keep it together. She does not succeed. But Rule finally see's her and does his best to try and make up for his past and be the man she deserves.

Jet (Marked Men #2) - Jet Keller doesnt work at the Tattoo shop but he is good friends with the men who work there. He is the lead singer of a band and writes songs for both his band and others. He is very talented but has refused to leave town to expand his career due to trying to protect his mother from his father. Problem is she doesnt want his help and has no plans of ever leaving him. Ayden Cross (best friend of Shaw) is a woman with ugly past she doesnt want anyone to find out about. She left her past behind in Kentucky and wants to just finish college. One thing she doesnt want is the attraction she has for Jet. He tempts her inner bad girl too much and scares her that she could easily go back to that person she is trying so hard to forget. In this one we met her brother Asa who has no redeeming qualities (until his book which is the last in the series)

Rome (Marked Men #3) – Rome we met in his brother book. He has always been the glue in the family and in on his 8th year of 10 in the Army. During that book he didn't deal well with a family secret when its revealed and that left him estranged with his family. When he gets done with his last tour and leaves the Army he is lost and suffering from PTSD and dealing with all his demons in a bottle and being angry at the world. Cora Lewis runs the front desk of the Tatoo shop along with doing body modifications. She is a fouled mouth take no crap little pixie who also plays the role of momma bear. These two were an odd pairing but fit together perfectly once they worked through some big issues.

Nash (Marked Men #4) – This was the weakest of books to me. Neither Nash who works at the tattoo shop and Saint Ford who is a ER nurse were as interesting as the other characters but it does introduce us to Royal Hastings a cop that is the main heroine in the last book of the series.

Rowdy (Marked Men, #5) - I think this was my favorite book because it introduced us to the cast of characters that are in the new series Saints of Denver. Rowdy ended up in foster care at a early age after his mother died. The foster home was next door to Salem and Poppy Cruz. Salem's father was a fire and brimstone Texas preacher that was a tyrant at home. Rowdy, Salem and Poppy all became close with Rowdy putting all his hopes and dreams into them. When Salem who is a couple years older finally takes all she can take with her father and leaves home she breaks Rowdy's heart and he then hitches all his happiness on Poppy. That also ends in heartbreak and now as a grown man Rowdy still uses his broken heart over the Cruz sisters and a reason to never thinking he will ever find the one. When Uncle Phil on his deathbed decides to play matchmaker and offers Salem the position of running a new Tattoo branch she waste no time in taking the job hoping to get a fresh start with Rowdy. Problem is he wants nothing to do with her. But its not long before these two start a sexual relationship but trust is a huge issues between them and when Poppy shows up in bad shape all the secrets from years ago come to light. I cannot wait for Poppy's story which will be told in the Saints of Denver series. She soo deserves a HEA. This is where we also meet Zeb Fuller and Sayer Cole (Rowdy's sister) who are the couple in Built (Saints of Denver, #1)

Asa (Marked Men, #6) - Asa Cross has gone through quite the transformation from the book Jet. He was almost killed and since coming out of a coma is trying to live on the right side of the law. Rome took a chance on him and gave him a job as a bartender. Asa beats himself up a lot through out this book and doesn't think he is worthy of happiness and thinks he is just one con away from returning to his old self. Royal Hastings is the cop we met in Nash's book and she has always had the hots for Asa but he turns her down every time. After her childhood friend who also happens to be her partner on the force is shot multiple times Royal goes into a tailspin over the guilt. Asa finally gives into Royal but doesn't know how a cop and an ex criminal are going to work out.

Through out each of the books we get previous couples weddings and births of children. Every book had great epilogue. I really enjoyed this series and this author is defiantly a must buy. ( )

Ive not always been partial to earlier cover art for the series. But this new cover? Nailed it.

Im a little partial to redheads.

This book is a standalone in the Marked Men series but ties together all the stories to date. You know how fitting a crucial piece to the puzzle allows you to envision the big picture? Asa's book managed to pull all the books together in one go while still making it about Asa and Royal. Southern drawl was a bonus.

This was a racier one for the series. I did more skimming on the saucy bits than earlier books. Im up for more verbal sparing and the chase...either way, Jay Crownover writes excellent stories that arent too dark or heavy, solid characterization, and include a sense of fun and family. ( )