BUILT BY JAY CROWNOVER 

Genre: New Adult, Romance
“After everything the past has tried to bury us under, we owe it to ourselves to be brave, to do more than float.”
― Jay Crownover, Built
Series: Saints of Denver
Leveled (#0.5 Saints of Denver)
Synopsis:
Sayer Cole and Zeb Fuller couldn’t be more different. She’s country club and fine-dining, he’s cell-block and sawdust. Sayer spends her days in litigation, while Zeb spends his working with his hands. She’s French silk, he’s all denim and flannel.
Zeb’s wanted the stunning blonde since the moment he laid eyes on her. It doesn’t matter how many smooth moves he makes, the reserved lawyer seems determinedly oblivious to his interest—either that or she doesn’t return it. Sayer is certain the rough, hard, hot-as-hell Zeb could never want someone as closed off and restrained as she is, which is a shame because something tells her he might be the guy to finally melt her icy exterior.
But just as things start to heat up, Zeb is blindsided by a life altering moment from his past. He needs Sayer’s professional help to right a wrong and to save more than himself. He can’t risk what’s at stake just because his attraction to Sayer feels all consuming. But as these opposites dig in for the fight of their lives, battling together to save a family, the steam created when fire and ice collide can no longer be ignored.Sayer Cole and Zeb Fuller are as different as two people can be. She’s country club and fine-dining, he’s cell-block and kill it and grill it. Sayer spends her days in litigation, while Zeb spends his working with his hands. She’s French silk while he’s denim and flannel.
The differences between the two of them don’t stop Zeb from dropping every hint he can think of that he would like to get to know her on a more personal level, but Sayer seems oblivious to his interest or is just too nice to tell him to take a hike. To Sayer, a guy like Zeb could never be interested in someone as reserved and boring as she is. She’s never been with anyone that was hot enough to melt the icy exterior she’s had wrapped around hera since her awful childhood. But what if Zeb is the one who might finally thaw her out…?

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I was a little nervous starting this book because I have yet to finish the Marked Men Series, but the Saints of Denver series can be read completely separate of the other although it does mention people from the other series. I highly recommend reading the novella Leveled before starting Built.

I found Built a little harder to get into then the start of the Marked Men series, Rule. Zeb is trying to work on making up for a dark past and making a better life for himself. Sayer is dealing with the knowledge of a new found brother, Rowdy and picking up her life to move to Denver for him. She is also dealing with ghosts from the past by putting up the icy walls.

I thought that the romance was a little weird at the beginning. It is hard for my to explain, but I just found it to be insta-y and forced. Eventually  the romance caught me and I feel in love with Sayer and Zeb, it just took a majority of the book until I got there and the relationship felt real and natural. I definitely think that the relationship that stole the show was Hyde and Zeb! I was completely gushing over the two of them together and feel so in love with the little guy! I had a harder time falling in love with Sayer and I think that is the point. She is the “ice queen” and won’t let anyone in or get to close. I found her to be slightly relatable, but there were times her decisions made me so mad. I absolutely feel head over heels for Zeb! I think he is making his way to the top of my fictional crush list. He had served some time in jail, but the reason he did was admirable (at least in my eyes). Also all the things he is doing know to put his life right is amazing. He is filled with passion and is so caring. He had me swoonying every time he talked about second chances.

I love how although this is a story focused on Zeb and Sayer, you still get to see the other characters and how their lives are going. The secondary characters in this book were amazing and even with all their problems they added great complexity and issues to the story. I did find a lot of the story to be repetitive and it dragged. There were some issues that got brought up multiple times and I just did not think it was necessary because we already were told what was happening.

Overall I found this to be a heart warming, swoony and steamy novel. Crownover does a great job writing characters that contain all different problems and personalities. Her stories are filled with emotions and definitely sexy bad boys! I couldn’t help but fall for the boys in this book. I loved seeing the development of Sayer. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys bad boys and great new adult novels!

Make sure to also check out Samantha’s review of Built by Jay Crownover!