Fully Automatic Tour Stop! ~ Crystal's Many Reviewers

You might think you know Brad’s story, but think again. There’s so much more to his story than what Valerie told. See Brad before Valerie came into his life and, when he was playing back burner to Ethan, see what Brad was up to when no one else in the band was looking.

Valerie might have thought she and Brad were inevitable and maybe, in the back of his mind, Brad might have felt that way too, but he didn’t just sit around waiting for her. See the secret side of Brad that you had no idea existed. What kept the driving force behind Fully Automatic focused even while his heart was breaking?

I will admit I am a Bullet virgin when it comes to this series. I had heard a lot of talk about this author and the characters in her book, so once I learned that Fully Automatic could be read as a standalone I jumped on the chance to read and review it. I think I can honestly say I understand the thrill of the readers for this series.

While this book does give me enough background for the story and characters, I still feel a bit lost when I hear how some are in love with Ethan, trust me I have no fond feelings for this man, but Brad? Oh geez could there be a more perfect man in the fictional world? Val, well let me just say, in the beginning I wasn’t sure she would ever redeem herself with me but by the end of the book I can say I understand her better now.

So for you Bullet virgins out there like I was, let me fill you in. With this book you will see how the band started, from the garage to the top of the charts, so to speak. Brad is a man of honor and love. When he makes a promise to someone he keeps it, when he sets a goal he reaches it, when it comes between breaking the heart of someone he loves or crushing his own heart, he will sacrifice his own heart. This is what we see over and over again, Brad silently suffering while picking up the pieces for Val and Ethan over and over.

Brad fell in love with Val when they were very young adults, he told her he would wait for her and he sure did. He waited while she fell in love with Brad’s band brother Ethan, he waited as Ethan and Val broke up and went back together. While he waited he tried to love other women, but the heart couldn’t let go of Val. He even invited Karen to come live with him, hoping that it would give him a connection to a life without Val but once again, nothing worked out for him unless Val was part of the plan. Finally the final straw broke, Brad watched Val in tears and he knew it was time to take action. Ethan had been lacking as a band member, husband and father and Brad couldn’t take it any longer. I honestly loved seeing Brad let go for once and allow his emotions to take over his actions. Brad was a man of self-control but he could only be pushed so far.

Since I didn’t have the strong connection to the characters and story as many readers did who have read the whole series I can honestly say, this author gave us characters that it didn’t take long to understand and love. I know I will be going back to read the whole series just from this book. The story line is very interesting and grabs you, yet there are moments that it seems to drag in the book, the author always rewards us for a huge event. I love the character named Brad; he was in such turmoil, keeping the band on top of the charts, loving a woman who is married to one of your band members. Seeing them together, knowing what he is abusing was supposed to be yours to cherish. Brad walked a fine line through most of the book, keeping his desires and what was best for the band balanced. I have to say, she kept the story very realistic in my opinion. I would recommend this book all readers, and just say this book alone was enough for me to want to purchase the series. I have a feeling by the end I will be having another must read series on my list.

That was when it was time to make his move. He let the confident feeling surge through his veins, and he stepped closer to her, close enough to touch her. “That’s not the main reason why I came back here, though.” He waited a few seconds to let his words register with her and then he said, “We have a little unfinished business.”

She seemed so innocent in that moment. “We do?”

Yes, innocent maybe, but not unwilling. He leaned over and took her face in his hands, lifting her lips to his. He kissed her, as gently as he could allow himself to, but, goddamn, it was difficult. He’d been imagining this moment for months now, and he wanted her badly. Way too badly. Fuck. He should have jerked off in the shower, because controlling himself was going to be harder than usual. Would losing his load have helped? He didn’t know, but he had to stop thinking about that right now.

It was hard, though, because she tasted so sweet, and her response was just as he’d imagined. She parted her lips and took him in. Yeah, she was willing and eager, and all that did was fuel his fire. She was feeling it too, that weird attraction between them igniting into something bigger than he’d expected, something he knew he’d be lucky to control. Still…he kept his breathing (and his cock) under control for the meantime and ended the kiss. Oh, fuck. And she placed her hands on his pecs as though to steady herself. It took her a few seconds to open her eyes, as though she’d been transported. When he had her full attention, he said, “Unfinished, right?”

She gave him a tiny smile, sweet and naïve, and seemed to give the tiniest of nods. Well, she wasn’t pushing him away. In fact, she seemed breathless and expectant. He wasn’t going to disappoint her, so he kissed her again, and he would have sworn it was magic. Okay, so he never would have said something like that to one of his friends. Ethan would have called him a pussy if he’d even known Brad had been thinking something like that. But it was, though—it was more than just a kiss. It felt like they deepened their connection in that moment, like he could see inside her soul and, yes, she was pure and light and everything he could ever want.

He knew her response was a sign to move forward, so he wrapped his hands around her waist and pulled her close. Fuckin’ A. She smelled so goddamn good and felt so right up next to him. She moved her hands onto his neck and then slid them up into his hair, driving him insane. Jesus…he wanted to fuck her right there, but he knew a girl like Val would need finesse. And he wanted to give that to her. He wanted her to know she wasn’t just a cheap lay for him. Still, he wanted to move the proceedings forward, so he slid his hands down to her ass, using it as an excuse to press her harder into his body.

And her fingers in his hair. Shit. She was driving him fucking crazy.

Her breathing got deeper, so he knew he was on the right track. He couldn’t hold it back anymore and just let the blood flow straight to his cock…like he’d be able to stop it anyway. He moved his lips to her neck and not only did she let out a sigh, he could have sworn he heard a moan. Fuck, yeah. He didn’t know that a girl had ever done that before they’d actually engaged in the real deal. He moved a hand up underneath her shirt, feeling the bare skin above her jeans, and he heard her breathing quicken again.

It was then, though, that she took a hand out of his hair and placed it firmly on his chest. No. Fuck, no. If he was reading her right, she was putting on the brakes.

“Brad…please stop.”

He opened his eyes and looked in hers. “Stop?”

“Yeah.”

Why was she changing her mind? Was that really what she wanted? He had to try one more time. He kissed her again. Yeah, there were those sparks. Could she deny them? “Stop that?”

She blinked. “Yes.”

“You don’t seem so sure…” He pressed his forehead on hers and bore into her eyes with his. He wanted to understand. “What’s wrong?”

She moved both hands to his chest. She wasn’t pressing against him as if to push him away, but they seemed to ground her. “I…It’s not you, Brad. Oh, God, it’s not you. I swear. I want you bad.”

That’s what he’d thought. “So why not? If you’re worried about birth control…” He wasn’t going to be irresponsible. She had to know that.

She hesitated. “No. I’m…um… I’m a…”

“Virgin?” He knew it even before she nodded her head. “Oh.” He nodded too as if to process the information. “Oh. Yeah. Uh…your first time should be…special, right? At least, for girls. I didn’t give much of a shit.” He didn’t know how to do that for her, not right now, anyway. He was nearly out of his mind with desire, and she was pulling the plug. He needed a bathtub of ice water to jump in. She giggled and, in spite of his feelings of desperation, he found it endearing. But then it dawned on him. Fuck. He had to know. As much as it was gonna hurt, he needed to know. Her eyes all but said it, but he needed to confirm it. “That’s not it, though. It’s Ethan, isn’t it? You still care about him.” She didn’t say a word. She didn’t need to. It was written all over her face…

Jade C. Jamison was born and raised in Colorado, moved from one city/town to the next, and she’s decided she likes it so much she wants to stay…although travel is not out of the question. She lives in a big town in Colorado (not unlike Winchester!) with her husband and four children. She is working on becoming a crazy cat lady. Okay, so maybe not.

Still want more? Jade has a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Theater, a master’s degree in English, and a master of fine arts in Creative Writing. Obviously, she loves school and the student loan folks love her. She works in human services by day, teaches English and creative writing at night, and—in between playing soccer mom and community leader—writes like a friend. Someday soon, she’ll narrow it down to just writing, but let’s get all those kids off to college first.