Nash by Jay Crownover

Nash by Jay Crownover
Series: Marked Men #4
Publisher: Harper
Publication Date: April 24th 2014
Source: Bought

Nash Donovan, tattooist and good-time guy, never knew his father. Instead, he was brought up by his Uncle Phil, the best role model and mentor a guy could have. But when Phil is rushed to hospital and reveals he’s at the end stages of lung cancer, he wants Nash to know the truth. Reeling from the family secret Phil has let slip, Nash needs something to hold on to – and the nurse with the beautiful grey eyes taking care of Phil seems remarkably familiar...

Saint Ford doesn’t know what to think when Nash crashes back into her life. They went to school together what feels like a million years ago and although she feels – and looks – very different, she can’t tell if Nash is still the same guy: the guy who teased and bullied her way back when and who she vowed never to forgive.

But Nash is impossible to stay away from. From his flame-tattooed head to his multiple piercings, and his all-round good guy attitude, he’s unlike anyone Saint has ever known – does she still carry a flame for the first guy to steal her heart? And can she forgive him – and herself – for the mistakes of the past?

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 shit 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 shit 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 shit 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. Also, did anyone else have the same reaction that I had when Rule mentioned that Shaw was ill? SPOILER (Is Shaw pregnant? Cora seemed to think so! And I kind of thought so too). Overall, Nash was such a fantastic read and October better hurry up because I need more of these boys!