Book Review! Finding Jordie by H.J. Harley (plus Amazon, B&N, and ebook giveaway)

[button link=”http://www.tobethode.com/pr-is-welcome-here/disclosure-policy” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow” color=”D”]Sample Received[/button]

One book I was sent recently for review that really blew me away was Finding Jordie by H.J. Harley.  I can’t say what exactly I was expecting but maybe something a bit more subdued and sad due to the nature of the story.  But, and not that it would have been bad that way, this book is nothing you can call subdued or sad.  Finding Jordie is a contemporary romance/suspense available for purchase now!

Synopsis

Jordie is a survivor, tough and independent. She’s had to be, since her husband was killed in Iraq. For the last eight years, raising her daughter and owning a popular New York City bar has kept Jordie plenty busy, leaving her no time for much of anything else. Aside from her sassy yet squirrely best friend Rachel, Jordie’s social life is bare bones and her love life nonexistent. Truth be told she wouldn’t change a thing; she’s never been happier.

Then she meets Nathan, and he changes everything with one crooked smile, triggering a chain of life-altering events for the two of them, filled with romance, chaos, and deadly peril. Neither of them could ever imagine their relationship would resurrect an unknown darkness from Jordie’s past, lurking in the shadows, just waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Jordie has never needed to be stronger for all of them to make it out alive.

Sensuality Level: Sensual

Buy Finding Jordie

Excerpt (with language)

“Fuck!” I blurted out as I reached my steps. Nathan was perched there halfway up and, my Lord, he was looking fine.
“Is that a statement or a request?” He grinned mischievously at me, a grin that touched those amazing blue eyes.
Oh shit, he’s here … on my front porch. My heart slammed into my throat and I was pretty sure I had lost the ability to form a coherent sentence.
“Hi?” was all I could manage to say. What was he doing here at three A.M.?
“I wanted to make sure you made it home safely,” he said, as if answering my silent question.
“Nut. Job,” I mouthed slowly to him.
He laughed, unveiling that beautiful, perfect, white-toothed smile that made his eyes even brighter. Then it happened. With that one smile, I surrendered to whatever it was inside of me I was fighting. I could no longer worry about how this story would end
when all I wanted to do was start it. I walked past him. “Want to come up for a beer or something?” I unlocked the door and waited for the impact of the rejection.
“Or something.”
I could hear the smirk in his tone.
“Is that a statement or a request?” Ugh, what are you doing? Is this flirting? I silently sighed. Rachel had never been more correct — it had been too long. “Lock the door behind you, please.” I started the two-flight journey to my apartment. We reached my door, and I took a deep breath while I unlocked it. We walked in and I tossed my crap on the table as usual. He closed the door, and I heard the click of the
lock.

“Want some breakfast?” I asked him, walking past the large sectional in my living room into the kitchen. Nathan followed but stopped in the dining room and took a quick glance around my place as he leaned against the wall. “Assuming I will be here for
breakfast?” he asked in a sultry voice full of humor.
Flushed, I popped my head out from behind the fridge door. “Smart ass, I meant now. I’m starving. Yes or no?”
“Sure.” He got dimples when he smiled.
“Can you make some coffee?” I pointed to the pantry closet door.
“Yes, ma’am.” He stepped into the pantry. “Pop Tarts? You eat Pop Tarts?” His muffled words became clearer as he walked out, holding coffee in one hand and a box of Pop Tarts in the other. He closed the door with his foot.

“I enjoy a good Pop Tart.” I pouted, crinkling my eyebrows.
“Seriously? Strawberry? I thought you said you enjoyed a good Pop Tart.” He eyed me suspiciously.
“Shut up — it’s the sprinkles. They make me happy.” I quickly looked back down to the pan, trying not to stare at his amazing blue eyes.

“Do you know what these are made of?” He sounded appalled, as if I were eating a cockroach instead of an artificial pastry.
“No, please enlighten me.” I noticed my cheeks hurt because I had been smiling for the past five minutes.
“All right, sassy pants, I will.” He was attempting to be serious, but began to laugh while he poured water into the coffee maker.
“C’mon educate me, I need a good schooling, and have you ever made coffee before?” I playfully grabbed the coffee from his hands, swiftly dumped four scoops into the top of the machine, closed the lid, and pressed the start button.
“Impressive.” He hopped onto the counter holding the box of Pop Tarts again, watching me. “It’s a sugar coma is what it is. I can’t explain it. I just know anything that has a shelf life of fourteen years and is still edible after a nuclear winter can’t be good for you.” He held his head high and tightened his lips as if he was triumphant in convincing me.
I stared blankly at him, trying my damnedest not to laugh, but the corners of my mouth betrayed me as they tightened. We both burst out in laughter.
“Really? That’s all you got?” I snatched the box from his hands and put it back on the counter. “Like I said, it’s all about the sprinkles, so if there is in fact a nuclear winter, at least I’ll be happy.” I tossed him a loaf of bread.
“Can you make toast?”
“Can I make toast?” He hopped off the counter. “Of course I can make
toast.”
When I turned to look at him he was standing at the toaster with a confused look on his face.
“You’re kidding me, right?”
My mouth popped open wide in shock and he laughed.
“Gotcha.” He winked, pushing down the lever.
Oh my, no no no. I won’t survive this night if he keeps shit like that up.

My Thoughts

Like I said, I was so pleasantly surprised by this book.  The character development was amazing.  From the very beginning you know there is something up with Nathan.  You know he has some major issue or cause for secretiveness.  You can sense that it is something HUGE and will change the outcome of their relationship.  It isn’t until you get to know them both and fall in love with both him and Jordie that you find out what that characteristic is.  At that point, you can forgive his hiding it and want to get past it with Jordie.

Jordie is quite an amazing woman, if not a bit reckless.  I say that because her attitude throughout the story seems so “whatever”.  From her feelings to Nathan and how she falls for him to her complete lack of safety when it comes to herself (as seen by her not-s0-great use of her mouth and words).  I wanted to just hug her for getting so far in her life and not learning the value of when to “shut the hell up!”.  I think that she is a good mom even if I found her supposed-9 year old daughter to act way too mature (even when trying to say she acts mature).  If I were to complain about anything with Finding Jordie it would be her daughter’s imposed maturity level.

Nathan is an all-around good guy and you can see that from the first encounter he had with Jordie until the very end.  I was completely thrown off when he loses himself (please just accept that for what it is and read the story).  It made me ache for Jordie and her daughter. I was so hoping for that HEA I crave so much.  I almost didn’t think it was going to happen… or at least not in the way I had wanted.  To this day I question whether I could take him back the way Jordie did.  It seems so much was lost of their love and relationship; from time not from them.  H.J. Harley tries to bring it all back and she does a great job.  I think it is more in my head that I would have trouble.  It is not in the character’s behaviors.

The suspense was great.  It wasn’t overdone and I was waiting not-so-patiently for the shoe to drop.  I knew it was coming and I had an idea of what was going to happen.  What is beautiful though is that H.J. Harley was able to take the one little aspect that I guessed and make it so much more.  I was so happy to see such a huge storyline come out of this book.  In essence, you almost have the background story taking place the whole time that you see this budding relationship with Nathan and Jordie.  In the end it all comes crashing together in a fantastic display of writing!

Final verdict… I gave this book a strong 4.5-5 stars.  It is really good and the story has stuck with me over the past few weeks since I read it and am now writing my review.  I want you to check out this book and author.  I don’t think you will be disappointed!

About H.J. Harley

HJ is just a Jersey girl surviving in the good ol’ South. She’s a fan of sunglasses, good coffee, original stories, her pets, and laughing with friends. Most importantly, she loves being a mother to her beautiful daughter.

Connect with H.J. Harley

Facebook  |  Twitter

The Giveaway

Up for grabs are the following awesome prizes:  (1) $15.00 Amazon/B&N Gift Card, (1) $25.00 Amazon/B&N Gift Card, (1) Digital Copy of FINDING JORDIE

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: ToBeThode was given a copy of the book mentioned for the purpose of review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and no compensation has been received. ToBeThode is not responsible for giveaway or distribution of prizes.