#Review: Leveled – Jay Crownover

Orlando Frederick knows what it is to be leveled by pain. Instead of focusing on his own, he’s made it his mission to help others: sports stars, wounded war vets, survivors of all kinds. But when Dom, a rugged, damaged, sinfully attractive cop, makes his way into Lando’s physical therapy practice, he might be the biggest challenge yet. Lando loved one stubborn man before and barely survived the fallout. He’s not sure he can do it again.
Dominic Voss is a protector. The police badge he wears is not only his job, it’s his identity, so when he’s sidelined because of an injury, the only thing he cares about is getting back on the force. He expects Lando to mend his body, he just doesn’t realize the trainer will also have him working toward a hell of a lot more. As attraction simmers and flares, Dom sees that Lando needs repair of his own...if only the man will let him close enough to mend what's broken.

Leveled has me questioning why I haven’t read a Crownover series before now! I was enchanted, and she now has a new fan! Lando and Dom were both characters that made me feel, and their development through this story was truly well done.

I read Leveled as part of my Can You Read a Series in a Month challenge, and I have read all the Saints of Denver series in June. I enjoyed the characters, the story, the secrets, and also the very strong sense of family and friendship. Dom and Lando both thought they weren’t deserving of love and a real relationship. Until there was no way for either of them to resist any longer.

Lando lived with a secret that had kept him from being fully happy before, but when he started to have feelings for Dom, everything kind of changed for him. Leveled brought him some much needed closure, and it was really nice to see that he had met someone who loved all the parts of him, and who could be proud to be seen with him everywhere.

Leveled also showed a different side of the Marked Men, which was a very good one, in my opinion. Dom and Lando slowly built a new relationship, while also keeping up with their various friends, some of whom they had in common. A great start to the series, and one that also made me go back to read the whole Marked Men series as well.

Written in first person past tense, dual point of view from both Lando’s and Dom’s perspective, Leveled brought out the feels big time.

I always played my cards close to my chest. Being a cop was already a hard job. Being a gay cop made the job that much more challenging, so I learned early on that my personal life wasn’t a topic of conversation I wanted open for discussion.

He rolled his heavy shoulders and turned to walk over to the hooks on the wall that held his discarded clothes. “Most things that are easy aren’t worth much. It’s the thing you have to work for that matter the most.”

I leaned forward so I could kiss him, so I could show him that I didn’t care who or what or why just as long as it was me and him. He kissed me back, but it was softly, reverently. It was a kiss that said thank you for something I didn’t even know that I did. 

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• Read a Series in a Month

About Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms

Linda is an English as foreign language teacher and has a Master's degree in English Language and Literature. She's an avid reader, blogger, compulsive one-clicker and a genre omnivore. Ever since she learnt how to read she has been seen with a book or two in her hands everywhere she goes.

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