REVIEW: "The Retreat" by Jay Crownover (Romantic Suspense)

RETREAT by Jay Crownover
	Publisher: Jay Crownover Genre: Romantic Suspense Publication Date: December 28th 2016 Series: The Getaway, #1 Standalone: Yes
Description from Publisher:
Every once in a while, you need to get away from it all. I was a woman on the edge, shaken and shattered after a breakup that felt like it tore my entire world apart. My best friend, sick of watching me drown in misery and melancholy, harassed me until I agreed to go with her on a week-long wilderness retreat. She promised days spent bonding and getting in touch with our inner bad-asses. It was supposed to be all about the two of us roughing it and making do with the bare minimum. She assured me we were going to be pushed to our limits in ways that were unimaginable. Neither one of us could have ever guessed just how right she was. Nowhere in the glossy brochure did it say anything about the fact I was going to have to battle the insufferable but deliciously rugged and sexy trail guide instead of the elements. The brochure also forgot to mention the part that warned when you left civilization behind, there was no place to pack your inhibitions and fears. I was told that I would be facing a week where the only thing I should expect was the unexpected. However, no one mentioned that I was going to have to fight for my life…and my heart as soon as I ventured into the unknown. I was a pro at hiding from my feelings but when it came time to face a real threat, one that could change everything, I learned I was more of a no surrender, no retreat kind of girl. Retreat is a standalone novel, the first in the Getaway series which centers on the hardheaded and brokenhearted Warner brothers and the women that dare to love them. These boys are very good at putting the wild in wilderness.
My Rating:	Heat Rating:
My Musings:
I was excited to read this, having heard really good things about Jay Crownover (but never having read anything she had done previously). I didn't exactly know what to expect going in. What I discovered fairly quickly was that Crownover has a lot of talent, but I don't think her books are really for me. The suspense was good and the characters seemed fairly deep, but I wasn't a big fan of Cy and Leo's instalust and then instalove. At about 15-20% in, the first naughty scene happens, and it is most definite erotica, with details like "slick" lips, a "velvet rod" and "pearly liquid" being mentioned as Cy jerks off in front of Leo while in the communal shower. Well-written, but just a bit too on the dirty side for me. Also, it seemed out of character for Leo, and even for Cy, and a bit too fast considering they practically just met. Aside from the sex, I didn't get a sense of a lot of connection between Leo and Cy, and I was disappointed at the lack of build-up I had hoped for with the way these two started out at odds with one another. We don't actually get a lot about these characters, despite the amount of introspection and inner monologue throughout, especially from Leo. There were some decent reveals, but they were sort of dumped on the reader unceremoniously. After the biggest suspenseful part, this dragged even though several days (that seemed important) were skipped past. Then, it mostly turned into what felt like a lead-in for the next book. Which was also a bit too blatant - I could see the setup already for the next 3 books' couples. All in all, this was something that was enjoyable enough to read, but was just a miss for me.
My Source: I received a digital ARC from the publisher to voluntarily review. This in no way influenced my review. My opinion is unbiased and my own.

About the Author: Jay Crownover
ay Crownover is the International and multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men Series, The Saints of Denver Series, and The Point and Breaking Point Series. Her books can be found translated in many different languages all around the world. She is a tattooed, crazy haired Colorado native who lives at the base of the Rockies with her awesome dogs. This is where she can frequently be found enjoying a cold beer and Taco Tuesdays. Jay is a self-declared music snob and outspoken book lover who is always looking for her next adventure, between the pages and on the road.