Review: Rev It Up – Julie Ann Walker

Soldier. Hero. Ladies’ Man. He’s the one who broke her heart…

Career soldier Jake “The Snake” Sommers has made a few mistakes in his life, but none so terrible as forsaking the only woman he’s ever loved. But he’s finally conquered his inner demon, the one that thirsted only for blood. So, now he’s back. And he’s not leaving without Michelle. Unfortunately, her enemy has other plans. Plans to see her dead.

Mother. Warrior. Lover. She’s the one he left behind…

Michelle Carter has never forgiven Jake for abandoning her all those years ago. Now he’s suddenly back, after she’s finally begun to make a life for herself. But her safe, orderly world is about be blown apart. With a psychotic Las Vegas mobster gunning for her, she has no choice but to turn to Jake. Only there’s more at stake than her life. As they all head for a showdown, something that was never meant to be revealed is suddenly thrown into the light. And with a secret this hot, there’s bound to be an explosion

Series:  Black Knight, Inc #3
Release Date:  October 1, 2012
Publisher:  Sourcebooks
Source:  Provided by the Publisher
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Reviewer’s Thoughts:

Jake Sommers finds himself in Chicago looking for one thing:  the love of his life, Michelle Carter.  He’s discovered in the five years since he walked away from her and his best friend died that he wants nothing more than Michelle.  But when he finally sees Michelle again, it only to discover that her brother (and his ex-CO) has some Las Vegas mobsters after him and they plan to make him pay by taking out Michelle.  It’s up to Jake to protect Michelle and prove that he can be the man she needs him to be.

Jake and Michelle had a lot of baggage to work through, in addition to trying to out run mob hit men, that made their road to HEA extremely emotional.  Both Michelle and Jake had to deal with ugly childhood’s that molded them into who they were when they met.  Jake ran when he couldn’t deal with the realty of his feelings for Michelle, her marriage to her best friend and that same best friend’s death.  It took him a few years to work through his issues, but when he did, he came back for Michelle.  To me, that showed the strength of Jake’s character and his love for Michelle.  He worked through his issues and then he came for her…not knowing what he’d find, but determined to prove himself to her.  He didn’t count on Michelle’s own issues and one very big secret from almost getting in his way.

Michelle compared every man to the father that abandoned her and her brother and the mother that solved her problems through a bottle of vodka.  Despite what she felt for Jake, she kept waiting for him to turn out to be like one of her parents and let her down.  When he did, she wasn’t very willing to give him a second chance.  Despite what he told her about his demons and why he pushed her away, she still held onto the belief that he would let her down and especially Franklin.  Jake did many things to try to change Michelle’s mind about who he was, but it was ultimately his acts of love and his forgiveness that paved the way for their HEA.

I think Jake and Michelle’s story is my favorite of the three Black Knights stories so far.  Definitely one to pick up.

But added into the mix is Michelle’s four year old son and the discovery of his true parentage and Jake’s determination that he can be just what Michelle and Franklin need.