Synopsis
After eight years in prison, twenty-four year old Jordan Kane is the man everyone loves to hate.
Forced to return to his hometown while on parole, Jordan soon learns that this small town hasn’t changed since he was carted off to juvie all those years ago. He is the local pariah, shunned by everyone, including his own parents. But their hatred of him doesn’t even come close to the loathing he feels every time he looks in the mirror.
Working odd jobs for the preacher lady, Jordan bides his time before he can leave this backwards town. But can distance erase the memories that haunt him? Trapped in the prison of his own mind Jordan wonders if the pain of living will ever subside?
Torrey Delaney is new in town and certainly doesn’t behave in a way the locals believe a preacher’s daughter should. Her reputation for casual hook-ups and meaningless sex is the talk of the town. Add that to her budding friendship with the hardened ex-con handyman, and the good Reverend is less than thrilled with her estranged daughter’s path.
As friendship forms, is it possible for two damaged people who are afraid to love take their relationship to the next level? Can Torrey live with Jordan’s demons, and can Jordan break through Torrey’s walls? With the disapproval of a small town weighing heavily on them, will they find their place in the world? Can they struggle against the odds, or will their world be viciously shattered?
Is love a life sentence?
Due to scenes of a sexual nature, not recommended for under 18.
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18929979-lifers?ac=1
After eight years in prison, twenty-four year old Jordan Kane is the man everyone loves to hate.
Forced to return to his hometown while on parole, Jordan soon learns that this small town hasn’t changed since he was carted off to juvie all those years ago. He is the local pariah, shunned by everyone, including his own parents. But their hatred of him doesn’t even come close to the loathing he feels every time he looks in the mirror.
Working odd jobs for the preacher lady, Jordan bides his time before he can leave this backwards town. But can distance erase the memories that haunt him? Trapped in the prison of his own mind Jordan wonders if the pain of living will ever subside?
Torrey Delaney is new in town and certainly doesn’t behave in a way the locals believe a preacher’s daughter should. Her reputation for casual hook-ups and meaningless sex is the talk of the town. Add that to her budding friendship with the hardened ex-con handyman, and the good Reverend is less than thrilled with her estranged daughter’s path.
As friendship forms, is it possible for two damaged people who are afraid to love take their relationship to the next level? Can Torrey live with Jordan’s demons, and can Jordan break through Torrey’s walls? With the disapproval of a small town weighing heavily on them, will they find their place in the world? Can they struggle against the odds, or will their world be viciously shattered?
Is love a life sentence?
Due to scenes of a sexual nature, not recommended for under 18.
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18929979-lifers?ac=1
Review
Gah! I loved Lifers, and enjoyed reading Jordan and Torrey’s story SO much. It’s a beautiful and emotional tale of two people who better one another. Jane Harvey-Berrick did a great job of bringing her characters to life and grabbing you from the beginning. She doesn’t let go until the very last page.
First, there's Torrey – She’s feisty, spunky, a bit wild, but has a good heart. She’s badass, says exactly what is on her mind, and doesn’t have a care in the world whether people approve of her or not. She has a past and is trying to get far away from it. She moves to Texas to live with her mother, mainly as a stepping stone to more in life. That stepping stone just happens to include a lot of one night stands and wild behavior. She ends up finding much more than she expected by coming across Jordan. (I kinda want to be Torrey when I grow up, or parts of her anyway.)
Then there's Jordan – Ahh, I want to hug him. He’s such a good guy, but one night of crazy, fun, teenage normalcy changed his life forever. After 8 years in prison, he’s released, but his life doesn’t get any better. Everyone in his town knows what he did, and they make his life a living hell because of it. He believes he deserves the horrible treatment from past friends who used to be close to him, or people he used to know. He lives and breathes the guilt from the accident. He won't allow himself even a smidge of happiness. Then there is the rough relationship with his parents who don’t side with him, as you would assume. They’re very open about not approving of him being in their house, and don’t want him near. It’s just so heartbreaking to see him living that way, when he should be surrounded by people who love him and welcome him home with open arms.
When Jordan and Torrey meet, *sigh* (there’s a sigh somewhere in all of my reviews. I just can’t help it) To see how much Torrey helps him is amazing. She brings him out of the darkness and makes Jordan see that he CAN be happy. She shows him that he doesn’t deserve to be treated badly, and it takes a bit for him to finally understand, but when he does, you breathe a huge sigh of relief. I loved seeing the change in their relationship, and how much they helped each other. Jordan went from this sad, lonely guy trying to figure out his way in the world, to a guy who smiles, laughs, and jokes around. When you meet him in the beginning, you would have never expected that he could change so much. As much as Torrey changes Jordan, he does the same for her. He breaks through her walls. She was just this wild child who had no intention of letting someone close to her again, yet she couldn't help but fall in love with him.
Their relationship isn't ALL serious, there is a ton of fun between Torrey’s smart mouth and Jordan’s wittiness. They mesh together unbelievably well. There are so many funny or sexy moments, you kind of forget how sad Jordan’s life is for a split second. Their morning coffee dates, interactions with friends, and even their arguments are all fantastic.
Jane leaves it in such a happy place, but I really want to know more. What are they doing now? Where are they? Are they still as happy as they appeared? I kept swiping my screen with my finger, thinking surely book 2 would miraculously appear. No such luck. Yet. Come on Jane! Please! I need more Torrey and Jordan!
I do want to mention that the dialect bothered me a teeny tiny bit. I understand being from the south, but it seemed to be over exaggerated. It wasn’t such a problem that I’d want to put the book down, because I loved the story way too much for that. You do get used to it, and it’s not a big deal. Just a little thing that stuck out.
This probably seems so silly, but you know how they say not to judge a book by its cover, especially with this genre because so many have half naked guys on the front? But with Lifers, REALLY look at the cover. It tells you everything about this story. The colors, the clothes, the background, the mirror imaging. It was perfect, and I LOVE it. Good job Hang Le and Jane Harvey-Berrick!
Overall, I was completely enthralled with this story. Between the blog, work, and kids, it takes quite the book for me to really get so sucked in that I cannot put it down. Lifers did that for me. I can’t recommend it enough. You’ll fall head over heels in love with Jordan and Torrey. It's no secret that I LOVE Jane, and Lifers didn't disappoint.
<3 Erin
Gah! I loved Lifers, and enjoyed reading Jordan and Torrey’s story SO much. It’s a beautiful and emotional tale of two people who better one another. Jane Harvey-Berrick did a great job of bringing her characters to life and grabbing you from the beginning. She doesn’t let go until the very last page.
First, there's Torrey – She’s feisty, spunky, a bit wild, but has a good heart. She’s badass, says exactly what is on her mind, and doesn’t have a care in the world whether people approve of her or not. She has a past and is trying to get far away from it. She moves to Texas to live with her mother, mainly as a stepping stone to more in life. That stepping stone just happens to include a lot of one night stands and wild behavior. She ends up finding much more than she expected by coming across Jordan. (I kinda want to be Torrey when I grow up, or parts of her anyway.)
Then there's Jordan – Ahh, I want to hug him. He’s such a good guy, but one night of crazy, fun, teenage normalcy changed his life forever. After 8 years in prison, he’s released, but his life doesn’t get any better. Everyone in his town knows what he did, and they make his life a living hell because of it. He believes he deserves the horrible treatment from past friends who used to be close to him, or people he used to know. He lives and breathes the guilt from the accident. He won't allow himself even a smidge of happiness. Then there is the rough relationship with his parents who don’t side with him, as you would assume. They’re very open about not approving of him being in their house, and don’t want him near. It’s just so heartbreaking to see him living that way, when he should be surrounded by people who love him and welcome him home with open arms.
When Jordan and Torrey meet, *sigh* (there’s a sigh somewhere in all of my reviews. I just can’t help it) To see how much Torrey helps him is amazing. She brings him out of the darkness and makes Jordan see that he CAN be happy. She shows him that he doesn’t deserve to be treated badly, and it takes a bit for him to finally understand, but when he does, you breathe a huge sigh of relief. I loved seeing the change in their relationship, and how much they helped each other. Jordan went from this sad, lonely guy trying to figure out his way in the world, to a guy who smiles, laughs, and jokes around. When you meet him in the beginning, you would have never expected that he could change so much. As much as Torrey changes Jordan, he does the same for her. He breaks through her walls. She was just this wild child who had no intention of letting someone close to her again, yet she couldn't help but fall in love with him.
Their relationship isn't ALL serious, there is a ton of fun between Torrey’s smart mouth and Jordan’s wittiness. They mesh together unbelievably well. There are so many funny or sexy moments, you kind of forget how sad Jordan’s life is for a split second. Their morning coffee dates, interactions with friends, and even their arguments are all fantastic.
Jane leaves it in such a happy place, but I really want to know more. What are they doing now? Where are they? Are they still as happy as they appeared? I kept swiping my screen with my finger, thinking surely book 2 would miraculously appear. No such luck. Yet. Come on Jane! Please! I need more Torrey and Jordan!
I do want to mention that the dialect bothered me a teeny tiny bit. I understand being from the south, but it seemed to be over exaggerated. It wasn’t such a problem that I’d want to put the book down, because I loved the story way too much for that. You do get used to it, and it’s not a big deal. Just a little thing that stuck out.
This probably seems so silly, but you know how they say not to judge a book by its cover, especially with this genre because so many have half naked guys on the front? But with Lifers, REALLY look at the cover. It tells you everything about this story. The colors, the clothes, the background, the mirror imaging. It was perfect, and I LOVE it. Good job Hang Le and Jane Harvey-Berrick!
Overall, I was completely enthralled with this story. Between the blog, work, and kids, it takes quite the book for me to really get so sucked in that I cannot put it down. Lifers did that for me. I can’t recommend it enough. You’ll fall head over heels in love with Jordan and Torrey. It's no secret that I LOVE Jane, and Lifers didn't disappoint.
<3 Erin
Q&A with Jane
What inspires you to write and when did you start to write?
Everything inspires me: places, people, conversations, things I see, just my own imagination.
Apart from writing what other activities do you enjoy doing?
Walking my dog, swimming, bodyboarding (but only in good weather these days), ogling surfers changing in the car park.
Out of all your characters in your books, who would you like to go out with on a date (male only)?
OMG! Seb could take me surfing, Daniel could sing to me, Miles could take me to a movie premiere… and Hallen could take me right here and now : ) Oooh, mustn’t forget Jordan—I’d like to give him a big hug, but I expect Torrey would wrestle me off him!
Do your family/friends know you write and have they read your books?
My husband hasn’t read any of my books. My mother has. Some of my friends say they can’t because they KNOW me. I remind them… it’s f-i-c-t-i-o-n, but then again, there is a lil bit of me in every story…
Do you write full time or do you have another job?
I have the best job in the world – I write full time, and have done for a year now.
What did you use to do?
I worked for a sexual health charity, an art gallery, and I trained as a high school teacher. I used to run a drama group for kids, but that was for fun.
What is your biggest ambition as a writer?
To always feel like I’ve written to my best ability and that each book brings something different. Oh yeah, and to have one turned into a cooool movie!
What are you working on right now?
At Your Beck & Call. It’s about a male escort – I’m at second draft stage.
Who is your favorite character you’ve created?
Great question! Impossible to answer. It’s usually the one I’m working on, but then I go back and re-read my books and fall in love with those characters again. It sounds ridiculous, but they’re family. I can’t choose one. Can’t. I’m very fond of ‘Hulk’ in Lifers even though he only has a minor role.
I'm aware that you are a British novelist but most of your books are in an American voice. Was that difficult and how did you overcome it?
Surprisingly it wasn’t difficult, although I still include Britishisms without realizing it. My fabulous beta reader ruthlessly cuts them out!
What inspires you to write and when did you start to write?
Everything inspires me: places, people, conversations, things I see, just my own imagination.
Apart from writing what other activities do you enjoy doing?
Walking my dog, swimming, bodyboarding (but only in good weather these days), ogling surfers changing in the car park.
Out of all your characters in your books, who would you like to go out with on a date (male only)?
OMG! Seb could take me surfing, Daniel could sing to me, Miles could take me to a movie premiere… and Hallen could take me right here and now : ) Oooh, mustn’t forget Jordan—I’d like to give him a big hug, but I expect Torrey would wrestle me off him!
Do your family/friends know you write and have they read your books?
My husband hasn’t read any of my books. My mother has. Some of my friends say they can’t because they KNOW me. I remind them… it’s f-i-c-t-i-o-n, but then again, there is a lil bit of me in every story…
Do you write full time or do you have another job?
I have the best job in the world – I write full time, and have done for a year now.
What did you use to do?
I worked for a sexual health charity, an art gallery, and I trained as a high school teacher. I used to run a drama group for kids, but that was for fun.
What is your biggest ambition as a writer?
To always feel like I’ve written to my best ability and that each book brings something different. Oh yeah, and to have one turned into a cooool movie!
What are you working on right now?
At Your Beck & Call. It’s about a male escort – I’m at second draft stage.
Who is your favorite character you’ve created?
Great question! Impossible to answer. It’s usually the one I’m working on, but then I go back and re-read my books and fall in love with those characters again. It sounds ridiculous, but they’re family. I can’t choose one. Can’t. I’m very fond of ‘Hulk’ in Lifers even though he only has a minor role.
I'm aware that you are a British novelist but most of your books are in an American voice. Was that difficult and how did you overcome it?
Surprisingly it wasn’t difficult, although I still include Britishisms without realizing it. My fabulous beta reader ruthlessly cuts them out!
Author Bio
I started writing contemporary romance two years ago. Before that, I didn’t think I could write a sex scene. Turns out I can!
My lucky number is 13 because I was born on the 13th and live near a haunted castle by the ocean. My number one past-time is watching hot surfers get changed into (and out of) their wetsuits.
My husband doesn’t read my books. My mother does.
Writing is my love, my hobby, my total addiction. All my characters are important to me and whisper their stories, even when I’ve finished writing their books. That’s why you’ll often find bonus chapters/out-takes from various books, because those voices just won’t be quiet.
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6458246.Jane_Harvey_Berrick
Website - http://jhbauthor.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jane.harveyberrick
Twitter - https://twitter.com/jharveyberrick
I started writing contemporary romance two years ago. Before that, I didn’t think I could write a sex scene. Turns out I can!
My lucky number is 13 because I was born on the 13th and live near a haunted castle by the ocean. My number one past-time is watching hot surfers get changed into (and out of) their wetsuits.
My husband doesn’t read my books. My mother does.
Writing is my love, my hobby, my total addiction. All my characters are important to me and whisper their stories, even when I’ve finished writing their books. That’s why you’ll often find bonus chapters/out-takes from various books, because those voices just won’t be quiet.
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6458246.Jane_Harvey_Berrick
Website - http://jhbauthor.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jane.harveyberrick
Twitter - https://twitter.com/jharveyberrick