ARC REVIEW (Thanks NETGALLEY!)

Uh I didnt get it? It was like a religious Truman Show kinda thing? Collin kills some dude in his house when he was 18 after he caught him trying to kidnap his sister. I guess he got some kind of bloodlust after that and fucked off into the marines. He ditches his girlfriend Lowyn in the process. While in the marines he’s enlisted for some like black ops kinda stuff? Idk. Anywho he’s back in religious town to build a security team and starts back into the religious side show. Honestly this book made no sense to me or it was written in such a way that I didn’t give a shit about anyone or anything. The way everything was built up to be some big ass mystery when things got revealed it just seemed so anticlimactic. And some of the bigger mysteries are never revealed, I guess that’s why it’s the beginning of a series? Idk I dont care enough to continue. Also, book is marketed as enemies to lovers and it’s really not. Lowyn is pissed at him for like 1 page in the book and that’s it.

Title: The Rumble and the Glory by JA Huss

Release Date: June, 27th, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars

The Rumble and the Glory by JA Huss is a cinematic and spicy small-town secret, second-chance romance wrapped in a cloak of mystery and suspense. Set deep in the hills of West Virginia, this book delivers a powerful punch with its unique setting and intriguing characters.


What I Enjoyed:

* Unique Setting: The three towns of Disciple, Bishop, and Revenant are fascinating. Each town has its own distinct personality, from the side-show tent revival to the colonial lifestyle and the sin-filled dive bars. This sacred trinity worshiping the almighty dollar sets the perfect backdrop for the story.

* Complex Characters: Collin Creed and Lowyn McBride are not your typical romance protagonists. Collin, with his dark past and black-ops background, and Lowyn, who has a few secrets of her own, create a compelling dynamic. Their reunion is charged with anger, desire, guilt, and shame.

* Second-Chance Romance: The emotional intensity of Collin and Lowyn's second-chance romance is palpable. Their history and the secrets they carry add depth to their relationship, making their journey towards reconciliation both heart-wrenching and satisfying.

* Morally Grey Anti-Hero: Collin Creed is the epitome of a redemptive anti-hero. His morally grey character and the touch-her-and-die vibes make him an unforgettable protagonist. He’s complex, haunted by his past, yet undeniably magnetic.

* Suspense and Mystery: The book is filled with twists and turns, keeping you on the edge of your seat. The secrets of the hills and the characters' hidden pasts add layers of suspense and intrigue to the narrative.

* Themes of Found Family: The book beautifully explores themes of found family and redemption. The characters' relationships and their growth throughout the story are both touching and inspiring.


The Rumble and the Glory has all the comforting feels of a small-town, second-chance romance mixed with the intense allure of an anti-hero and morally grey characters. JA Huss has crafted a story that is as thrilling as it is heartwarming, filled with deceit, redemption, and love. If you're a fan of romance with a twist of mystery and suspense, this book is a must-read!

Thank you to the Author JA HUSS & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

The Rumble and the Glory is the first title in a new series written by J.A. Huss. This title has all the comforting feels of small town, second chance romance mixed in with the anti-hero, morally grey, touch her and die vibes that we love!

It has been a while since I have read anything from this author but I am so happy that I received this book! It was so good! After her Rook and Ronin series, as well as The Company series, I knew that this new book would lead to another amazing world of mystery and romance.

Format: NetGalley ebook
Genre: Contemporary fiction, Romance

Collin (MMC)⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Former military

Lowyn (FMC)⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Retro shop owner

Overall score:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley, and the author, for the opportunity to read and review this title!

I was so pleasantly surprised by this book. It has all the things that I love in a romance book: small town, enemies to lovers (more like second chance romance if I'm honest), suspense/mystery and some steamy moments in the mix. I did not guess the twists in this book and they came as a surprise to me but what I did count on is Collin being an amazing partner and I was right. He's not perfect, and he has a sketchy past but the way he treats Lowyn is perfection. Touch her and die vibes get me every time. I can't believe this is my first time reading this author but it most definitely won't be my last.

Thank you NetGalley and JA HUSS for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I'm off to add more of this author's books to my TBR :)

The Rumble and the Glory
Rating: 4/5
Release Date: 27 June 2024

Nestled deep in the hills of West Virginia, three small towns thrive amidst widespread poverty. Disciple hosts a lucrative side-show tent revival, while Bishop preserves colonial traditions, drawing urbanites to a slower lifestyle. Revenant offers a sinful escapade, complete with tattooed bikers and dive bars. It’s a trio that worships the dollar, each person playing their part like seasoned actors.

Yet, these hills harbor secrets, as do the people.

Twelve years ago, eighteen-year-old Collin Creed, envisioning a future with his high school sweetheart, uncovered a disturbing truth about himself, prompting his abrupt departure from Disciple to join the Marines. Congressional hearings halt his military career, compelling Collin’s return home to reconstruct his black-ops empire.

Lowyn McBride’s world shattered when Collin vanished without explanation, just as they planned their future. Her mother’s subsequent death forced Lowyn to assume parental responsibilities for her sister while forging her own path as a specialty antiques dealer, forgoing university.

Collin’s mysterious return stirs the town and awakens conflicting emotions in Lowyn—anger, desire, guilt, and shame. However, Collin isn’t the sole bearer of secrets. Beneath Lowyn’s veneer of innocence lies a past as complex as anyone else’s in the hills.

TROPES:
🏡Small Town Secrets
⚔️Touch Her and Die
💕He Falls First
😤Enemies to Lovers
😠Morally Grey
👭🏼Found Family
👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨Second Chance
👩‍❤️‍👩Childhood Sweethearts
🥷🏻Anti-Hero

"The Rumble and the Glory" is a tantalising blend of flair and spicy small-town intrigue, delivering a second-chance romance entwined with secrets and suspense. This tale pays homage to the themes of found family and redemptive anti-heroes, featuring morally complex characters set against a backdrop of deceit and deception.

The story keeps you guessing until the very end, unraveling its secrets layer by layer. Prepare to be drawn into a world where nothing is as it seems, and where the truth remains elusive until the final pages. With its first-person narration and dual points of view, this tale promises to keep you guessing until the very end.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, and the author, JA Huss, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Lowyn Mcbride & Collin Creed were together as teens until something happened and changed Collin. He then left to enlist in the marines and ghosted Lowyn in the process so imagine her surprise when he reappears back home 12 years later. Collin isn’t home to see Lowyn but he can’t seem to get away from her either. Why did he leave all those years ago and why is he back? In this small town not everything is as it seems. This is a second chance romance mixed with secrets, mystery and a “tent revival” that is anything but normal behind the scenes. You will not know what is going on until the end. I really enjoyed the conversation and connection between Collin and Lowyn. Get ready to twist and turn through these pages until you try to figure out the truth. Told in first person and dual POV.