Jenna is a girl on mission: become an independently wealthy gallery owner selling her sculptures. She has fought hard for this dream scrimping to make ends meet in college and living on a scholarship. See, she knows not to depend on a man; her father and grandfather didn't stick around much past the birth of their kids, and she and her mother grew up in poverty. So, there's no chance Jenna's gonna change plans for a man who'll undoubtedly just leave her when the going gets rough. 
 That's why she struggles with Jack. He's her friend-the closest male friend she's ever had-and they did the deed once, back in December. Seven months have passed, and yet, that night still holds its place in Jenna's heart. She can't deal with the tenderness Jack showed her, and they both walked away changed-not that Jenna will admit it. She doesn't want a boyfriend...ever. But, she can't stop feeling more than she wishes for Jack. 
 Jack is exasperated. With Jenna, and his family. Jenna loves him, he knows this, and he loves her-so why the heck is she being so stubborn? When the opportunity arises for Jenna to take a road trip back to New Orleans to visit her sick grandma, Jack jumps at the chance to got with her-he's needed back home, too. Seems his brother, Drew, has gone missing and it's up to Jack to ferret out the situation. 
 Jack's past was a rough one, if his scars have anything to say about it. He worked hard to keep his mother and brothers out of trouble with the gang life in their small Louisiana town, but it seems trouble found them anyway, and from the most reprehensible source possible. Jenna has a front row seat to the seedy side of Jack, and though he frets that she'll run for the hills, it is his steadfast devotion to his family-he people he loves-that causes Jenna to rethink her hardcore 'no romance' stance. 
 This is a mature read with some serious steam and occasional, okay ONE, stabbing. The characters are interesting and fun, though I sometimes got overwhelmed with all the names-between Jenna's three cousins, three sisters, grandma and mom, there were too many Lacombes to keep track of. I liked Jack a lot-outwardly, he was steady and sure even when he seriously struggled on the inside. He was kind and compassionate and unafraid to put himself out there, for the people he loved. And, he really pushed all the right buttons with Jenna. He showed her it was safe to let her control slip, once in a while. 
 The Finding Fate series interleaves with each book, giving glimpses of characters from other stories (Pixie, Daren, Kayla and Levi) as secondary characters. Nonetheless, each reads as a standalone. This is fun, quick read with a likable heroine and a lickable male lead. The smexytimes are interesting, but not overblown, with a clearly respectful tone throughout. Jack woos Jenna hard-and that makes for some delicious interactions. I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for the purpose of review.