Anytime Darlin'

Professional Reviews

5 STARS: "Wow. This book blew me away. I expected romance, and I received so much more. This is a story with true heart and grit, and the spectacular romance just puts icing on the cake. I was drawn in immediately within the first few words and found that I was not able to put it down for a minute. The characters will be impossible to forget, and I wouldn't even want to. I truly enjoyed that this story had so much "meat" to it. I got a bit of some of my favorite things: romance, suspense, and superbly written characters. The romance is sweet as well as spicy. The suspense kept me wondering what would happen, and my emotions were in full drive throughout the book due to the evilness of the villain. The characters are simply wonderful. Devlin has a strength we all wish we had. She is a victim, yet we also see that she embraces her strength in order to overcome being a victim. I enjoyed her both as a teenager as well as a woman. Ms. Barrett brought her to life. Jake is any woman's dream man. He is hardworking, sexy, and his compassion is almost as welcoming as his passion. I felt like cheering him on at times for his chivalry, yet he wasn't a softy pushover. The combination worked extremely well. I must also mention the secondary characters. While they were very important, they didn't overshadow the main characters, they added superior depth to an already outstanding story. Ms. Barrett has an uncanny ability to get my emotions in high gear, and her descriptions and stories come to life. As I have said before, she has a fan in me, and I will be waiting impatiently for more of her wonderful stories." -- Tegan S. Boyd, Book Wenches

5 TEA CUPS: "Anytime Darlin’ is a great read! Devlin is a girl who had a lot to overcome, and with the help from her hero, Jake, she does. Devlin was found beaten and raped and near death. She had nothing to live for except the man who kept her sane while she was in a drug induced coma. With Jake’s help, she was able to live and tell what her uncle had done to her. Jake was older, he had to be the one to step back and wait for Devlin to get over what happened to her and to grow up. Jake was a man that few women would say no to, if any. He was handsome and kind, a man who you would want to rescue you. Four years passed before they were meant to be. He gave Devlin the time to grow up, get over what was done to her, and take charge of her life. Meeting at a wedding of two friends, Devlin and Jake start their relationship on a whole new level. The sexual tension that they have held for each other comes to the surface. Their openness to love each other and accept that they were meant to be together was astonishing. Past terror comes to tear them apart, but with them together, they would not be overcome by an uncle who couldn't or wouldn't allow Devlin to live her life with love and security, instead of fear and terror. Julia did a wonderful job of transforming a horrific event into something that turned out wonderful and unique." -- Wendy, Happily Ever After Reviews

5 ANGELS: "When paramedic Jake McKenna responds to a call, he never expects to find an unconscious girl, beaten and fevered. Wide, terror-stricken eyes meet his and their hands clasp as he works to save her. It's soon discovered that the girl, Devlin, has recently lost her immediate family to a car accident. The man who did this to her was her own uncle and guardian, a ruthless man who will do anything to get a hold of Devlin's trust money, including taking her life. Jake doesn't understand why but they connect on a deeper level and he doesn't leave Devlin's side until she's better. After a kiss between the two that leaves him spooked, Jake takes off to his family's ranch to help with calving. Almost five years pass before they see each other again, but neither has forgotten the feelings they have for one another and soon they're together every day. Devlin loves being with Jake but never feels quite safe; she knows her uncle is still out there and will stop at nothing until she's dead. Anytime Darlin' is a fabulously suspenseful story of one woman's path from tragedy to joy. There is a part of the story where Devlin chronicles her ordeal at the hands of her uncle, and she includes the telling of her rape. While disturbing, it endears the reader to this character, and we're able to more fully appreciate the anger of the hospital workers and other characters in the story, to share in their emotions. Jake is a thoroughly compassionate, delicious sexy hero. At a time when Devlin had no family in her life, Jake's presence is a calming balm. Although Devlin is several years younger than him, they make a delightful couple and their smoldering sensuality fairly melts the digital pages. The secondary characters also round out this story, making a decent story even more robust. This is the first story I've read by this talented author. It certainly won't be my last." -- Bella, Fallen Angel Reviews

4.5 LIPS: "Paramedic Jake McKenna responds to an ambulance call and finds Devlin Barre emaciated, raped, and beaten to near death. He instantly feels a connection to her and becomes a constant support during her stay at the hospital while she recovers from her trauma. However, he’s 24 and she’s only 17, so he knows they cannot have a relationship and decides to put some distance between them. When Jake doesn’t call on her 18th birthday, Devlin realizes that she needs to get over Jake and learn to take care of herself. Although her uncle, who raped and beat her, got away, she knows she can’t live in fear forever. She has no family left, but she leaves her new friends and heads back home to go to school and find out what she really wants in life. Four years later when Jake and Devlin reunite at a friend’s wedding, the sparks fly. They realize that the feelings they had for each other never went away, only this time there’s no reason to deny it. But Jake isn’t the only one hoping to reunite with Devlin; her uncle is still looking for revenge. Can Jake and Devlin forge a life together or will it be too late? The sizzling hot sex scenes burn up the pages and you can definitely feel the attraction between them. I almost didn’t read Anytime Darlin’ because of the rape of the main character, but I’m so glad I did. I thought Julia Rachel Barrett did an excellent job of touching on this sensitive subject but not making it the central focus. Devlin is a memorable main character who has a series of tragic events happen in her life that she overcomes with strength and grace. Jake is the perfect hero for this story because although he knows he could be with Devlin when he first meets her, he does the honorable thing and lets her go. This book has it all, suspense, real life characters, and a heart-warming love story. It will make you think and will stay with you long after reading it. Definitely a recommended read!" -- Clare, TwoLips Reviews

4 STARS: "When paramedic Jake McKenna finds Devlin, she is unconscious and badly beaten. When Devlin opens her eyes and finds Jake staring back, there is an unspoken commitment made between the two of them, Jake will be there for her in her time of need. Neither one can explain the immediate connection between them, but they both know the time is not right for either of them. Devlin needs time to heal from the brutality she lived through. Five years later Devlin returns and Jake is waiting for his second chance with the woman who stole his heart. The man who tormented Devlin years ago has returned as well, ready to reclaim what he believes is his right and that is Devlin. Powerful story that takes you through an extremely delicate subject matter with compassion. Devlin, although young in the beginning, is a survivor and has found an attachment to Jake who has never felt anything like he does with Devlin. Julia Rachel Barrett is sensitive to the age difference and handles it gracefully, giving Devlin the distance she needs to find her way in life." -- Emily, Sensual Reads

"Anytime Darlin’ grasped me from the first page and didn’t let go until the last. I didn’t want it to end! I don’t usually care for romantic suspense but I cared about this one. Ms. Barrett crafted an intelligent, well thought out story that made you care about the characters: Jake and Devlin. It would have been real easy for Jake and Devlin to give into their feelings right from the beginning but these characters had morals and values. They knew they needed to wait until Devlin grew up and dealt with the traumas of her past and for Jake to reach the settling down point in his life, but once they reached that point...the fireworks went off!!" -- Vanessa, Joyfully Reviewed

Excerpt

ADULT EXCERPT

Hell, he thought, his jeans growing more uncomfortable, if he didn’t stop picturing everything he wanted to do with her, he’d come in his pants. Only Eleanor Devlin Barre, with her sparkling aquamarine eyes, her lips that demanded kissing, her infectious laugh, her keen mind, and her long, lithe body, had the power to do that to him. He just hoped he could hold out until they got to the hotel. Making love to Devlin for the first time in the backseat of his Jeep was not what he had in mind.

* * * *

Devlin thought it was just as well she walked behind Jake. She wasn’t sure she could keep a straight face if he looked at her, and she knew she wouldn’t be able to keep her hands off him if he was by her side. She had been laughing so hard when they stood at the baggage carousel that she couldn’t speak, merely point, when her suitcase came around. Though Jake tried to hide it with her hanging bag, it was pretty hard to ignore the bulge in the front of his jeans. She just hoped everyone else was in too much of a hurry to notice. She felt a twinge of jealousy at the thought ofanother woman feeling what she’d felt when he pressed her against him. She didn’t even want them looking at what she’d felt back at the gate.

Devlin wasn’t inexperienced. She and Jason had been an item for a year and a half. They tried hard to make it work, but their close friendship got in the way, and both of them discovered they felt more comfortable with each other when they no longer shared a bed. She’d dated several men she’d met at school, and while she’d found the sex to be satisfying for a while, she’d never known anything, any man, like Jake. One look from him, one word, one touch, and she melted like butter left out in the hot summer sun.

Devlin had long legs, and she matched him stride for stride, admiring the flex of his tight buttocks as he walked six feet in front of her. Her stomach flip-flopped once again as she imagined those firm buttocks naked, moving beneath her hands, as Jake thrust into her. The picture was so vivid that her steps faltered, and she came to a complete stop.

Against her will, a soft moan escaped her. Jake stopped in midstride. Devlin knew she had betrayed herself, and her cheeks warmed. She covered her face with her hands, embarrassed that her desire for Jake was so obvious, so close to breaking free. She was afraid she’d humiliate herself by jumping him in his car.

Suddenly she felt Jake directly in front of her. Her luggage dropped to the pavement, forgotten. He pried her hands away from her face, threading his fingers through hers and holding them to her sides. He kissed her then, hard, as if staking a claim. There was nothing Devlin wanted more than to be claimed by Jake McKenna. She moaned into his mouth, making no effort to hide her need for him. He let go of her hands then, moving them to her waist. In agonizingly slow motion, Jake tugged her tee shirt free of her jeans. His warm palms pressed against her bare belly. Dev pulled her mouth away from Jake’s. Tossing back her head, she gasped at the skin-to-skin contact. His left hand moved to the small of her back, supporting her as she arched toward him, feeling his right hand slide upward, toward her breast. Jake’s palm felt wonderfully rough against her sensitive skin. Her nipples burned for his touch, and Devlin thought she would explode if he didn’t reach them soon.

Then his hand was there, covering her naked breast. Holding it, kneading it.

“Oh. God. Jake,” was all she could manage as his thumb flicked across her nipple. He pinched it, and Devlin almost screamed. She would have if Jake hadn’t backed her into a nearby pickup truck and taken her mouth with his. Devlin was out of control now as Jake thrust against her, each movement of his hips pressing the length of his stiff cock along her aching slit. She was so far gone she didn’t realize he’d unzipped her jeans until she felt his strong fingers slip between her folds and rub slow circles around her clit. Jake released her mouth and buried his face in her neck. The fingers of one hand twisted her nipple while he moved his other hand lower and slid a finger inside her. His teeth were on her neck, and he bit down, hard.