Born Again Sinner (Spruce Texas Romance Book 2) Kindle Edition

Author/composer Daryl Banner graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in Theatre and Psychology. His writing includes new adult romance, M/M romance, post-apocalyptic fantasy, and dystopian. According to his brief biography he is ‘most inspired by the smart and unlikely hero, but urges you (the reader) not to fall in love with them; they may deceive you with their innocence.’The difference, or at least one difference in Daryl’s books – and there are now many of them – is that in addition to managing the erotica arena he adds sufficient character psychology to make his players not only interesting and exceptionally physically attractive but also variations on extremes of social behavior.BORN AGAIN SINNER wastes no time getting right to the reason for composing the romantic erotic little novel – even the Prologue is hot: ‘Two months ago, I opened my heavy eyes and found a round, beady-eyed face hovering over mine like an insect. “Good morning, Cody. Do you know where you are?” Every appendage was wrapped up like a taco. The last thing I remembered was Pete shouting at me to move. “MOVE!” His urgent voice, that one stupid word, echoed ceaselessly up and down the long empty hallways of my ears for weeks on end. The guy would not shut up. “Do you know where you are?” And neither would this nurse. “Buzz off,” someone spat back, far, far away from me. Someone. I didn’t even recognize my own voice. I remember trying to move, but everything was so slow. I felt like a bug trapped in a honeyed Petri dish. “Where’s Pete?” “You’re at Prairieland Medical. Do you remember—” “I know where I am. Where is Pete?” MOVE! It wasn’t until four days later—four days later—that I learned exactly where Pete was, and it wasn’t any place I’d be returning to anytime soon. He was back at the base. He suffered scratches. That lucky guy stood two feet away from me and suffered scratches. And there I was, plugged into machines in a bed with metal in my left leg and arm. Yeah, maybe I should’ve moved. They don’t waste any time either, these insects called nurses. They had me rolling left or right on my bed every day, sitting up, lying back down, doing pull-ups on the hand grip over the bed—all sorts of circus stuff to see what needed attention, to see what was broken. Long story short: everything. I heard the phrase “embedded shrapnel” about a hundred times too many a day. And: “Now try this”. And my favorite: “Does it hurt?” How could anything hurt when all I felt was anger? MOVE! Who had time to care about any “embedded” anything when I couldn’t move my left leg without screaming out in pain? MOVE!’The plot synopsis suggests the depth of the story romance – ‘”Cody Davis is gonna make a sinner out of me." Yes, I know exactly who he is. The wounded soldier at the end of Willow Street. Intimidating. Devastatingly handsome. Muscular body chiseled from stone. Deep dark eyes that dare you to come near. Attitude for days. And I just became his caregiver. Everyone warned me to stay away from him - including my father, the respected minister of our small town of Spruce. But clearly I'm too stubborn to heed good advice, especially when Cody Davis is as frustratingly attractive - and persistent - as they come. As the preacher's son, I have strict morals I must live by. But each day spent with that aggravating hunk makes me question them. My safe and fragile world is turning upside-down, and I'm not sure I have the strength to stop it. And even worse: I'm not sure I want to. Temptation this bad never looked so good. This soldier is gonna make a sinner out of me.’Fine Southern atmosphere and a terrific romance. Read this one twice for all the character details. Grady Harp, June 18

Trey and Cody have a ton of baggage between them. Their attraction takes backseat to the baggage for a slow burn.The heavy topics and ever changing emotions did give me a bit of whiplash. But I definitely rooted for this couple and loved how the town and characters from the first book impacted their romance.I want more of this couple and hope to see them in Jimmy’s book!

Trey and Cody were wonderful.A man who was discharged from the military after an accident oversees and the preachers son. Definitely two different individuals brought together when Cody’s mom hires Trey to be his caregiver once he returned home from the hospital. Cody was as stubborn as a mule and had a terrible attitude when we first meet him. I understood where it was coming from since the military was all he knew and that was his family and then suddenly had it taken away from him so quick.Trey was so cute and somehow put up with Cody and his nonsense. Being the preachers son wasn’t easy for him, especially being gay on top of that. He felt he had to be a certain way and act a certain way. Getting to watch him grow and find who he truly is and what his path truly is was wonderful. Cody brought out the real Trey and I loved every second of it.I loved watching their relationship progress. Seeing their real struggles together and as individuals. They grew and people and found love with each other and with themselves.I enjoyed getting to see cameos from Billy, Tanner, and some other characters from book one

Since the first book in this series was okay I figured I'd go along and read the second. It started off okayish. But it quickly sank into something that didn't quite live up. Basically, it was more of the same as the first except this one had even more chances to be gritty deep and interesting while still being hilarious and erotic at the same time.Cody starts off just mostly annoying, still I found him to be the most likeable. Mean isn't a bad thing per se but when coupled with his ignorance about his injuries it was hard to go along with. No man that upset about not being what he used to be wouldn't do all he could to get that life back. It was hard to fall in line with his anger when he routinely did things to make him permanently damaged just to prove a point.Something about his sheer determination to act like he was pain-free when everyone could see he wasn't didn't gell well with how I was expect to sympathise with him. I honestly only started to like him when the sex started happening. My biggest gripe with that, of course, was constantly saying he wants consent but never waiting for it. Eye roll. But at least the this Cody phase was interesting.I probably liked Cody the most because Treys character was hard to enjoy. He made zero sense. Me being someone raised in church around ministers who are never going to marry a gay couple to this day, his justifications for trying to be good pastor's son held little weight. His father had married a SSC and was actively preaching about equality.This book is set in the same religious small town where no one seems to care about one's orientation. So more of the same unbelievable acceptance. This made his dad unrelatable as well.His monologue while laying in bed after one particular org$£% was juvenile at best. There are loads of closeted Christians who don't think this way let alone out loud after an org***. That one justification speech really took me out of the story. I was more than thrilled when Cody stalled it for another round. Especially with Trey being an out gay boy. Why is he thinking like this? And if he must, can't he think about it on a level that fits his age.Just like with the first book this one reads a bit too juvenile for the content it's giving the readers and Trey's dilemma with his desires and being a Christian didn't hold up. His belief that his father had changed seemed to be all in his head as well. There was no evidence of this so when the confrontation at the end of the book happened I couldn't attach to it. Without any fights or discussions or obvious dealings with this idea that's all it was. An idea.All in all, it was hard to believe that an out gay pastor's son, who's dad openly preaches acceptance would be struggling in even the slightest with desire towards a man. If he was struggling with s** before marriage fine. But that ship would've sailed after the first encounter with Cody. And it wasn't as funny as the first book. I really wanted to get into this. A damaged soldier, a good boy turned bad, and the steamy encounters inbetween them but the depth wasn't there. And Trey's thought processing didn't make sense to me He'd have to be someone in completely different circumstances for it to work. Like be a man with a control-freak father who doesn't like gays and is also a Christian fanatic for me to buy Trey's thinking. And most importantly, Trey would have to be not out.I really only like Cody because of his sex appeal and how much better he got once he wasn't angry for no reason. The problem there was it made Trey's flaws stick out even harder as the book progressed. It's a shame cause if Trey was written better the rather good ending would've had the weight it needed. If Cody was also written better this book would be amazing.Lastly, if I as a reader can somewhat sympathise for Cody, the way the town treats him is a little much. It's like when it comes to being gossipy and standoffish they fit the small-town mould but when it comes to their outlook on homosexuality they are all peace, love wins rainbows and weddings. I couldn't make sense of this logic.This book had a better plot set up than the first but didn't deliver. It suffered from the same juvenile writing feel as the first one. Trying to be a serious in-depth read but not reaching it. And most of it I can't remember because a lot of Trey's ill-placed thought processes are still swimming in my head. There were so many places, dark and gritty places this book could've gone. Matched that with the southern sass and humour found in the first book and this book would've been amazing. Sadly neither of those things happened so it was mostly annoying, hard reading. Most of that being Trey's fault.

I'm not a church going kinna girl but I used to be. I'm just happy this book can show people that LOVE is LOVE pure & simple

I am a huge fan of Daryl Banner's books and Born Again Sinner did not disappoint. I really enjoyed this book.Cody Davis, returned from active duty in the army with a medical discharge after being injured. Cody struggles with his injuries and refuses physical therapy. He is known as the town bad boy with most of the town scared of him. He slips into a state where he doesn't leave his house and drinks away his feelings.Trey Arnold, the preachers son, has struggled with his own issues, but came out to his father as gay after he officiated the town's first gay wedding, and the town and his father showed how accepting they were. But is his fathers acceptance only for public show and can he cope with his son's sexuality behind close doors. This is something Trey is still trying to work out.When Cody's mother hires Trey to be Cody's nurse neither of them could envisage the road they would end up taking together. Cody was not willing to accept help, and had already scared away five nurses, but Trey saw something in Cody, apart from the fact he was super hot, something that made him want to keep helping him. and thus began the rollercoaster ride Trey and Cody would take to find each other.Once I started this book I didn't want to put it down. Daryl's writing had me on the edge of my seat. This book has a bit of everything, but ultimately it is a beautiful story of two people finding each other, while also finding themselves, and the lengths one will go to for love.

Such an amazing book, and one that I literally had to finish right when I started it and do almost nothing else!!! It was all the right amounts of funny, sexy, heart wrenchingly sad, and overwhelmingly happy!!! Cody and Trey are honestly such a great pairing of characters that I just had to how their story would end!!! 100% would say that you NEED to read this book!!! You will no regret it, I promise you that!!!

Loved it! The guys had a great connection and the humour added so much to the story. Dear Author, write faster!

This was an enjoyable and fun read. Set in the same world as Football Sundae, we see many of the same characters from that book, although they are older than Trey, and Cody as well from what I can gather. This book had a different undertone than Football Sundae which was light and flirty. This one had a little more grit, but not as much as I was expecting. I had hoped Cody's injuries would be explored more, as well as what I can only assume was some PTSD as well. While well written, I felt Trey's caretaking disappeared behind their lust and sexual activities. It became more about 'Corrupting Trey' than helping Cody.Still a great read and I did enjoy the connection that grew between them. I like this writing style and look forward to exploring more books by this author.