Overall Grade: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Okay, so I received an ARC for an honest review of Adriana Locke’s Reckless. I hate writing that phrase, and you’ll rarely see me write it into my reviews because…I don’t think it matters to say that. Anyways, I received this ARC kind of late, and I was worried that I wouldn’t finish it in time for its release day, but ever since meeting Hollis in Locke’s The Relationship Pact, I’ve become fairly obsessed with the Mason family. On finishing that book, I went back and read Holt and Blaire’s story which led me to Coy and Bellamy’s story, and honestly, I thought I’d like Boone’s story, but I had fallen in love with Coy and Bells so it seemed like jumping that high bar would be impossible. Except….except that it wasn’t.
To borrow from Boone Michael Mason…”Boone is my top Mason brother.” Seriously. There was an inkling, though, that I was going to fall in love with Boone because, as you read him in Hollis and Coy’s stories, there is a way about Boone. Yes, he’s erstwhile and seemingly impetuous, but there is a measure that Boone connects with people that the other Mason brothers can’t top. Adriana Locke’s Reckless takes the space to show the real Boone, the one who is offered in shades in earlier Mason family stories, and it’s glorious when Boone comes into the full realization of himself in this book. In fact, it’s the true joy of Reckless. Even more, it comes at the guidance of my favorite character of the Mason family, his mother Siggy. As a side note: I love how Locke has drawn Siggy in the Mason family stories. While she is the wizened mother, she is also cool, hip, insightful, and she cares deeply for her children and their significant others.
Now, back to my initial comment at the beginning of this review, I didn’t think that I would finish this book before its release date, but in true Locke form, it was IMPOSSIBLE to put it down. And let me tell you, my weekends are no longer bastions of freedom. Therefore, I had to sneak little reads here and there when I really wanted to sit and inhale Boone and his heroine, Jaxi. I will say that the beginning felt a bit slow; however, there is a moment early on when it’s too hard to put their story down. If you’ve spent any time with the Masons, then you know that their family unit is a melange of smarta$$ery, compassion, and love. All of these traits conspire to bring you some of Locke’s best stories, in my opinion.
Even more, Jaxi’s characterization does not pale in comparison to Boone. As he is working through understanding himself, Jaxi is doing the same. They just happen to do it together. There is so much I would love to say about her story, but to do so would divulge the secrets of this romance. I refuse to spoil this book for anyone.
On a final note, I will say that I adore the way in which Adriana Locke feeds angst and seriousness to her readers. I’ve found that those feelings tinge her stories, but never overpower them. Instead, they create the right amount of tension to keep her readers (readers like me) engrossed in her books. That seems to be Locke’s superpower, and you see it illustrated well in Reckless.
I’d like to say that Boone will maintain his spot at the top of the Mason Brothers list, but as we see in his own story as his brothers move up and down his list, I think Oliver and Wade Mason may give him a run for the top spot.
In love and romance,
Professor A
Professor Romance 