Blog Tour: Fully Automatic by Jade C. Jamison + Playlist & Giveaway

Fully Automatic

by Jade C. Jamison

Book 4 of the Bullet Series

4.5 stars

Oh my goodness, this book had me in an emotional blender. This is a really well-written alternative POV for a book. We get so much more than just a new perspective for events that transpired in Bullet (and a few from Rock Bottom). Without bias at all, I think readers really loved Bradley Payne from the very first book in the series. Apparently, we've only seen the tip of the iceberg! That speaks volumes of how good a person this man is. I think it's also because of that that Jade Jamison was able to write such a very good book.

Let me tell you how I was while reading it. I felt so restless! I couldn't sit still for long. There were times when I couldn't even go through an entire chapter right away because it hurt too much. I had to put down my kindle several times and like, rub my chest, lol! I'm an emotional reader to begin with, but this was an entirely new experience.

To those who haven't read at least the first two books in the Bullet series yet, I urge you to go get them before reading Fully Automatic. The book is still very good on its own, but you do get the feeling that certain events in Bullet and Rock Bottom were glossed over. This technique isn't harmful to the book because it concentrates on Brad's emotions and thoughts during those events as opposed to narrating the tale once again. Reading the first two books will make you appreciate Fully Automatic and Brad even more.

So, here's the cheat sheet for the series. I do apologize for those who haven't read Bullet yet because the following will contain spoilers. I suggest you stop right now and skip to the very last paragraph of my review!

Fully Automatic starts a bit earlier than Bullet. From the very beginning we find out that since childhood, Brad considered his best friend Ethan as a brother. He is also extremely passionate about forming a band and making it big in the music industry. Instead of going to college, he worked and saved for his end goal. 

We also find out that he had his heart broken very early on. His high school girlfriend had no intention of extending their relationship when she leaves for college, and that just sucked. Brad remained a gentleman though. Because of that painful experience, he swore off relationships. He made do with flings and friends-with-benefits arrangements.... especially when Valerie entered the picture.

Now this was where all that hurt feels started. We find out exactly what was going on in Brad's mind and heart the moment he set eyes on Valerie. He immediately sensed a connection, which he later confirmed to be reciprocated. It hurt for me as a reader because I know what's going to happen next: a series of events that will break Brad's heart into smaller, and smaller, and smaller pieces until it turned to ash. 

I know many readers hated Ethan in Bullet (he redeemed himself in Rock Bottom though, when we finally get into his head and see what's truly happening to him), but I hated Valerie even more. Okay, and Ethan as well. That anger I felt in Bullet returned in Fully Automatic. Imagine, seeing the person you love make out with someone else... worse yet, hear them go at it in the room next door... goodness!!! Each time was a pinch in my heart, and I REALLY hated it.

Payne, you are a fucking idiot if you think she sees you as anything more than a distraction.

Whatever Val's feelings for Brad, they were no match for the gravitational draw of Ethan. He didn't stand a chance. And he was tired of throwing his heart out there to be shredded by this girl whom he had grown to love. He couldn't let it happen anymore.

And he prayed for strength. Strength to let her go so she could live her life and the will to live his own. He hd to find a way.

... he wondered when the woulds would start to scab over so he could get on with his life.

If only it were that easy to tell one's heart to stop, right? :( Why is it that this man who will give his all to the woman he loves, this man who is an excellent leader who is largely responsible for the success of four other people, this man who is unconditionally generous and giving to his brothers and the only woman he's ever going to love, is the one who has to suffer so much heartache? Now I'm getting riled up again, urgghh... Time to emotionally distance myself again, gahhh...

***searching for cute cat videos.. looking at Sherlock gifs and memes...***

LOL! Yep, I had lots of breaks like this while reading. Did I say I really dislike Valerie? Oh yeah, already... Well, it bears repeating. And it's just my opinion, others might disagree with me of course, but I did wish AGAIN that Brad would not accept her that final time. It broke my heart every time Brad felt like it's finally his chance, only to be sideswiped by the train wreck that is Ethan. She knew, she knew their relationship is toxic, but she freaking kept on going back! I especially hated Valerie when, after their first night together, she went back to Ethan and freaking married the guy!!! An OD doesn't justify that. I screamed then, and I screamed again with this book. 

**deep breath** Goodness... Brad has always been the gentleman in this nasty love triangle. Never did it cross his mind to make Val cheat on Ethan. He waited for his time.. a long wait which he certainly did not deserve.

I know you're into Ethan, and as long as you are, nothing's gonna happen between us. But I want you to know I'll wait.

He might appear like a doormat by now, but actually he is not. While nursing his broken heart, he never broke down in front of his band. He accepted his loss whenever Valerie entered a relationship. He spent his time working hard to make Fully Automatic (the new name for Bullet) successful. He worked to earn money to finance the band even when the rest of the guys didn't bother to work themselves. He was an excellent leader. He is everything positive, truth be told! I'm really happy that in the end, he got the ending that he wanted: he got Valerie (which isn't exactly a win for me... LOL, but that's just me), his band is successful, and Ethan finally turned his life around.

Fully Automatic doesn't delve very deep into Brad's emotions, but the brief sentences and direct words are nevertheless effective in relaying his hurt, pain, worries and happiness. It's a very man thing, I guess, less loquacious but piercing. This is a must-read if you have started the Bullet series. Reading this might have hurt a lot, but I can tell you this: Bradley Payne will not easily be forgotten, no matter how many books you read in the future.

  Buy links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon Can

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