Wanted Review

Book Review April 12th

Wanted

by: Kelly Elliott

★★★★★ 5 Stars

Blurb: Verbally abused by her mother for years, 18 year old Ellie Johnson always believed she would never be loved or wanted by anyone. She focused all of her attention on her grades and getting into the University of Texas to start a new life away from her mother.
The last thing Ellie expected was to fall in love with Gunner Mathews, a starting linebacker for the University of Texas football team and not to mention, her brothers best friend.
Gunner only had two passions in life, football and his grandfather’s ranch, until he falls for his best friends little sister. He will stop at nothing to show Ellie how much he wants her, even if it means he has to move faster than she would like.
Gunner knows they are meant to be together forever, but Ellie keeps denying her feelings out of fear of being hurt again. Every time he gets close to winning her love, something pushes her away again. Will Ellie ever be able to let go of the past and let him into her heart and will Gunner be patient enough to wait for her?
What will it take for them to realize they are all each other have ever WANTED?

REVIEW 

So this was my second time reading Wanted. I’ll admit I’m a sucker for a beaten down girl with a hot buff hero coming to her rescue. Cliché I know, so sue me. There are faint elements represented such as this in Wanted, as Ellie has suffered to severe emotional and verbal abuse her whole life at the hands of her mother. Gunner is her noble knight galloping to her rescue if you will. I loved Wanted the second time around once I got over the almost nauseatingly repetitive bodily needs of the characters when they first meet. Every time their eyes meet Gunner’s dick goes hard or Ellie feels a tingling in her girly-bits. A few times is enough, I got the point, but after awhile I got annoyed. Over time this lessons and I forgot about is because there is enough tension and drama to keep your mind boggled and fascinated.

I’m not usually one to enjoy multiple POV’s aside from the main characters. However, Kelly Elliott makes it work. In fact these secondary characters become just as important and their drama just about kills you.

 

Ellie meets Gunner when he and her brother Jeff come to pick her up from school. Ellie had just caught her boyfriend screwing another girl, but when she sees Gunner, even her throbbing hand is forgotten. The two have insta-love like you wouldn’t believe, not that everything runs smoothly for them. Gunner is hesitant because he is BFF’s with her brother and Ellie is scarred by her mother’s harsh words over her lifetime and the fact that all her past relationships ended in heartache. The two slowly begin their relationship and Gunner has got to be one of the most unbelievably romantic book boyfriends ever. I swear some of his gestures blew me away, being over the top is not a thought for him its life. Let’s just say Ellie is beyond lucky.  

“I know Jeff said I needed to give her time and be patient. Fuck that. It was on. I was going to do everything in my power to win Ellie’s heart, starting right now.” – Gunner

The relationship between Gunner and Ellie goes fairly smoothly. At times her mother’s constant judgments pass through her head and cause her to falter. After the fifth time, it got a bit repetitive but it did help explain Ellie’s hesitancy towards Gunner and his feelings.

I think reading this before Saved is crucial because we get to see more of Jeff as Ellie’s brother plus the start of the tumultuous relationship that is Ari and Jeff. Even Josh and Heather have sparks flying and though their HEA is a few books off it gives readers a inside look at what’s to come. We get an preview of Ari’s strength and determination and even some of Jeff’s idiotic male tendencies.

The story does seem a little long at points but it’s because of how much set up is being down for the following books. We meet Gunner’s grandparents who are both great and still married after fifty years. They serve as not only great role models for all the couples but as central plot points since their farm serves as a constant setting within the story. His grandmother Emma is like a teenager still in her own right and surely acts like one too. She stays one step ahead of everyone and is there to lend a helping hand or shoulder to cry on when the situation warrants it. 

What I really enjoyed about Ellie and Gunner is their similarities. I swear most times, they are thinking the same thoughts, as if they are literally one being separated in two. Gunner really makes their romance one of the fairy-tale variety.  His gestures know no bounds and vary from carriages, to practically ordering a shop’s entire stock of daisies just to make a moment and place more special for Ellie.

I will admit I am a bit disappointed because this version was updated and yet the editing is still horrendous. And yet, at the end, the great story, sort of, makes up for it. There is also one point in chapter sixty-two that starts off as Gunner’s POV and then suddenly is in Ellie’s, threw me for a loop for a bit. 

Overall

Even with the horrific editing I still love Wanted. It fits right into the New Adult category and though it is not suspenseful or dangerous, the drama and interactions between the characters will leave you on the edge of your seat, and wishing/dreaming of a Gunner of your very own. The ending was romantic and beautiful and sets you up even more for Saved. The cliffhanger will make you want to scream though, so be warned!!!!