Jackson Steele and Sylvia Brooks are back in the powerful finale of a provocative, sizzling-hot new erotic trilogy set in the world of J. Kenner’s beloved Stark novels: Release Me, Claim Me, and Complete Me.
He’s the only man I’ve ever loved, and the one man I can’t bear to lose.
Jackson Steele is my light in this world. Charismatic, bold, and always in control, he knows what he wants and how to get it—and absolutely nothing stands in his way. His hold on me is magnetic, his claim on me complete, his kiss my ultimate escape.
We both harbor dark secrets that could tear our lives apart. Though we’ve tried to bury our pasts, there are certain people who won’t let us forget. But the closer danger comes, the brighter the fire between us burns—our ecstasy consuming and soothing us both.
There’s no telling what lies ahead, but I know that Jackson never gives in without a fight. I’d do anything he wants to keep him safe, give him anything he needs. And now that we’re in deep, nothing can make me run.
Under My Skin is intended for mature audiences.
4 1/2 out of 5 hearts
I love the way this trilogy was wrapped up in this book...I love that the drama continued and that they didn't have to fight it alone this time. They had family and friends to back them up and really help them through some of their darkest hours.
This book is definitely full of some dark times. The struggles are very real for them in this book. The past is proven to be haunting and tries so hard to take away from them, but Jackson and Sylvia prove to be strong and overcome so much.
The fact that Jackson is a suspect in a murder that he all too easily could have done is overwhelming for Sylvia, but I so appreciate that she has his back and isn't going to let anything get in the way of her love for her man. However, I was a little disappointed that she was always worried she wasn't strong enough on her own. That she felt she had to have him beside her to really be strong.
I was so glad that Sylvia's brother, Ethan, came back from London and really helped Sylvia see herself as the stronger of the two of them. She has lived with so much guilt surrounding him and I'm glad he can help alleviate some of that....but he also added a little to her struggles, but you'll have to read for yourself to see all of that.
I loved this quote from Sylvia about Jackson and her love for him:
Jackson Steele. The man I love. The man I once foolishly tried to leave. The man who grabbed hold and pulled me back, then slayed my demons, and in doing so claimed my heart.
i love the way that Ms Kenner wrapped up this trilogy and I think Jackson and Sylvia will be a book couple that will live a long, long time in my heart. Their story wasn't easy, but they fought through and persevered. I'm so glad I got to be a part of that for them.
4.5 out of 5 stars
I haven’t read a single book by Ms. Kenner that I haven’t loved. I was lucky enough to meet her at RT in Dallas in 2015 and she was so sweet -- she even sent me an old copy of a book she had because a friend that I loaned the book to let their dog eat it. All of that being said, Say My Name was no different. Syl and Jackson have become so much more to me than just characters in a book. They still have demons to fight and secrets to share, but they will survive and I love them for it!
The book starts out with intense passion between the two. Five years ago they had a very short thing and then Syl walked away scared to face the truth. Now she needs his help and he has revenge on his mind. I loved this line to introduce us to Jackson from Syl’s point of view:
I have seen that same fire, that same determination. I have seen joy and rapture. I have held him close and felt his heat, and I have been burned by the intensity of this man.
You can tell from just those words that this relationship is slated for craziness...and the story didn’t disappoint.
Then there’s the swoon-worthy factor of Jackson himself:
“I want to touch you and please you. I want to hold you and caress you and make you laugh and come and hope and dream. I want to watch your eyes when you soar with me. And then I want to hold you while you sleep and stand guard against your nightmares. I can’t change your past, but I will stand with you to fight your battles now.”
Seriously, if a guy ever said those words to me, I’d never let him get away!
The story isn’t all hearts and flowers though and the way that Ms Kenner can do drama without making it dramatic is amazing. I love that these people aren’t perfect and that they aren’t always where they need to be - with each other or on their own. It’s just a wonderful story of love and loss and love again.
4 out of 5 stars
Drama is sometimes overrated, but Ms Kenner does drama so well that I can't wait to dive into each book of hers I read. Sylvia and Jackson are definitely not the typical couple and the fact that they keep leaving each other only to return solidifies the fact that they should be together. In fact, Sylvia tries to stay away from Jackson, but she's finally starting to understand that there really isn't a way to keep them apart.
And as slumber finally sweeps me away, my last thought is that I was a fool. Because I should know better than to think that even the most potent pain would keep me out of Jackson's arms.
I liked that in this novel, we got a better glimpse into the thoughts of Jackson. The story was still mainly told from Sylvia's POV, but once in awhile, we'd get to see things like Jackson was seeing them. This made me very happy as I like to know how the story is developing from all the people involved.
Because they neither one had ever had a real relationship, they weren't keen to title things in this book, but this one thought from Jackson was really the way they both felt and I was so happy to see them finding themselves with each other...of course, they were a long ways from being out of trouble:
Dating. The word sounded too thin to hold the depth and power of the emotions he felt for Sylvia.
I enjoyed the fact that this relationship was definitely two sided with the protection and fierce feelings they had for each other. Often times the guy is the alpha male and wants to protect his woman, but in this book, even Sylvia goes all mother bear and fights for her man. I love the love, protection, honesty that they have for each other and couldn't get enough. I'm glad this was a trilogy because no way would I Have had enough of them in just one book....in fact, I don't know if three books will be enough. :)
I also love that Jackson always, always has the right thing to say to just make me swoon...I need a Jackson Steele in my life:
"I've said it every day since I saw you. I say it in the way I look at you. The way I touch you. The way I never stop thinking about you. I've said that I love you a million times, Sylvia. This is just first the time I've said it out loud."
I was so disappointed that the story ended in such a dramatic cliff hanger, BUT I knew going in it was a trilogy and that the next book was available soon so it didn't kill anything for me. BUT I can't wait to read the last book and finally get a little closure for Jackson and Sylvia.
J. Kenner (aka Julie Kenner) is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal and International bestselling author of over seventy novels, novellas and short stories in a variety of genres.
Though known primarily for her award-winning and international bestselling erotic romances (including the Stark and Most Wanted series) that have reached as high as #2 on the New York Times bestseller list, JK has been writing full time for over a decade in a variety of genres including paranormal and contemporary romance, “chicklit” suspense, urban fantasy, Victorian-era thrillers (coming soon), and paranormal mommy lit.
Her foray into the latter, Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom by Julie Kenner, has been consistently in development in Hollywood since prior to publication. Most recently, it has been optioned by Warner Brothers Television for development as series on the CW Network with Alloy Entertainment producing.
JK has been praised by Publishers Weekly as an author with a “flair for dialogue and eccentric characterizations” and by RT Bookclub for having “cornered the market on sinfully attractive, dominant antiheroes and the women who swopn for him.” A three time finalist for Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA award, JK took home the first RITA trophy awarded in the category of erotic romance in 2014 for her novel, Claim Me (book 2 of her Stark Trilogy).
Her books have sold well over a million copies and are published in over over twenty countries.
In her previous career as an attorney, JK worked as a clerk on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and practiced primarily civil, entertainment and First Amendment litigation in Los Angeles and Irvine, California, as well as in Austin, Texas. She currently lives in Central Texas, with her husband, two daughters, and two rather spastic cats.
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