Kari's 4 Star Review of The Will by Kristen Ashley

Summary: 

 Early in her life, Josephine Malone learned the hard way that there was only one person she could love and trust: her grandmother, Lydia Malone. Out of necessity, unconsciously and very successfully, Josephine donned a disguise to keep all others at bay. She led a globetrotting lifestyle on the fringes of the fashion and music elite, but she kept herself distant.

While Josephine was trotting the globe, retired boxer Jake Spear was living in the same small town as Lydia. There was nothing disguised about Jake. Including the fact he made a habit of making very bad decisions about who to give his love.

But for Josephine and Jake, there was one person who adored them. One person who knew how to lead them to happiness. And one person who was intent on doing it.

Even if she had to do it as her final wish on this earth.

What I loved:

In true Kristen Ashley fashion, this book was incredibly descriptive.  I can see Lavendar House when I close my eyes and am able to see the beauty that these characters find there.  I can also imagine exactly what these characters look like.  The story was quite a bit different that what I had first thought after chapter 1.  That was an awesome surprise.

  

The love story is yet another epic KA trait.  Jake, being the alpha who knows exactly what he wants.  Josie the somewhat shy, inexperienced woman who can’t resist the charms of one Jake Spear.  Together Jake and Josie fall harder and harder, and Josie’s Gran, Lydia, gets her way and helps Josie realize all her dreams. 

The secondary characters were yet again awesomely hilarious and essential to the story! Jake’s children were adorable and realistic.  Alyssa, Josie’s new friend and Junior’s wife, tells it like it is and does it with humor, love, and sometimes if need be, intensity.  I loved her!!  

Of course, no one can do an epilogue quite like Kristen Ashley.  Emotional, heart wrenching, and just all round beautifully done.

What I didn’t love:

I really can’t believe I am about to say this…but…there actually was something I didn’t like!! Josie’s proper vocabulary and the way she spoke was supremely annoying!!!  I know its part of who she is. I get it, I really do!! But it doesn’t mean that it didn’t annoy me any less.  I enjoyed her verbal slaps when they came out in her proper tongue.  But no one talks like that!!  Its all a part of her charm, apparently, for the first 50% of the book.  It let up a bit when she finally broke out of her own masks.  There was not a bunch of action.  I kind of missed the bombs and kidnappings in this book. That is why I had to give this 4 stars and not 5.  Kristen Ashley went old school in a lot of ways, but not in every way.

Overall:

It was a Kristen Ashley book so overall, did I love it? Of course I did, but I wanted to be honest so I was.  There are worst things that could happen than giving my fave author a 4 star rating, I guess.  Just know that I did absolutely enjoy this book.  It was true KA.  It was reminiscent of some of her older stuff, but it did lack some things.  I do love her descriptive nature in her stories though.  I was envisioning everything as I went along and was able to escape my own reality for Josie and Jake’s. I want my own Lavendar House, and my own Jake Spear!!!