Built by Jay Crownover establishes a solid foundation for the rest of the Saints of Denver series to build upon.

About ‘Built’

Sayer Cole survived a cold, detached childhood thanks to a father who subjected his only daughter to a life full of criticism and emotional abuse. Years of enduring the harsh reality have nearly crippled Sayer emotionally. It wasn’t until he died and Sayer discovered that he had left half his estate to a son that she was even aware Rowdy St. James existed.

She packed up her entire life, broke off her engagement, and moved more than a thousand miles away for just the chance at a family. Despite her successful career, Sayer knows that something is missing from her life, she just doesn’t know exactly what it is or how to go about getting it.

Zebulon Fuller, better known as Zeb, has had a few struggles of his own. While his childhood was also minus one parent, the family life he did have was full of love and warmth. His bond with his mother, Melissa, and sister, Beryl, was sealed tightly. So tightly, in fact, that when he learned that Beryl was being abused by her boyfriend years before, he didn’t hesitate to beat the man into submission. That beating landed him in prison, a two year sentence that would change the rest of his life.

Enter Hyde, an adorable five-year-old boy that is the spitting image of his father. Zeb discovers that he needs Sayer for more than just personal reasons, and Sayer is more than happy to help a little boy find peace in a home with a loving father.

‘Built’ Book Review

Sayer and Zeb first stole our hearts more than a year ago when we first saw them interact in Rowdy. Her instant acceptance of his colorful past had us all suspicious that there was a promising future for these two. We didn’t know at the time that they would get an entire book to themselves, but after reading Built, we couldn’t be more grateful.

Their relationship was a slow build, as Built began after Zeb had successfully restored that Victorian she told him about in Rowdy. While Zeb knew the moment he met Sayer that there was something special between them, she needed time to even begin to see him in the same way. They were both missing an integral piece to the puzzle that is true happiness, but neither knew exactly what it was.

The drastic differences in their lives make them the perfect complement for each other. Zeb’s belief in the power of love and understanding is critical to handling the distrust and standoffishness that Sayer radiates. Sayer’s ability to see beyond people’s mistakes and know that a person is not defined by their past is a quality that anyone interested in Zeb needed to have. Each of them came equipped to handle the struggles of the other before they even knew the details of each others’ lives.

Watching their story unfold is not easy. Sayer pulls away at every opportunity, especially when us as readers want nothing more than for her to reach out and simply accept the love and devotion that Zeb is offering. At the same time, we applaud Zeb’s ability to stay patient and accepting of her difficulties. The more he learns about her, the more his patience comes into play.

And we couldn’t review this book without mentioning the most adorable plot twist you’ve ever read. Hyde was the missing piece. Sayer and Zeb were not able to merge their worlds all on their own. They needed a force greater than each of them to pull their halves into a whole. Neither of them could resist loving Hyde. Zeb had the obvious connection to the boy, but Sayer found herself drawn in by Hyde’s infectious personality. Their dedication to making every day better for Hyde drew them closer until nothing could separate them.

We couldn’t have asked for a greater story to begin the Saints of Denver series. Zeb and Sayer may have taken the toughest road to each other, but now, hopefully, we will see how their love continues to blossom as we embark on the rest of the series. We all loved the magic of the chosen family of the Marked Men, and we hope that the Saints of Denver will create a family all their own.

Built is available now. Try adding it to your Goodreads list, or pick up your copy at Amazon or Indiebound.