This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Genres: Motorcycle Club Romance
Published by St. Martin's Publishing
Released on June 2, 2015
Pages: 382
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley, Publisher
After reading the first book in the series, I found myself on the fence on whether I wanted to continue with this series. Having met Dawn in the first book, I really wanted to know more about this woman who had twin girls, divorced from a rival biker and trying to survive. Boy, she is a fighter stuck in a bad situation that just never gets better.
Dawn and Cade hooked up in the first book for a lusty night of fucking. Yep, that’s what it was, but afterwards they both wanted more knowing they really should just go their own ways. Dawn has the fight of her life on her hands getting custody back from her ex who framed her for a drug deal. Her kids now live with her sister-in-law who is extorting money for Dawn to get extra time with them. Thus, Dawn can’t break out of the bad cycle of working hard and getting no where.
Cade knows his loyalty is to the club so he leaves Dawn alone as much as he can until her ex fucks with him. Now he is trying to control his need for revenge against the rival club, his desire to protect Dawn and following the orders handed down by his club not to retaliate. Fighting all his demons isn’t easy when all he wants to do is tear apart the one who messed with him, claim his woman and remain loyal to his brothers.
Now, I know there are club laws. But they were preached to me at the beginning of each chapter to the point I wanted to if there was in freedom at all within the club. Cade couldn’t protect the woman who he felt was his because of the club. And Dawn didn’t want to be a MC old lady again. Been there. Done that. Escaped. But Cade is different. He never hurts her (at least physically). He’s good with her girls when she can get them. Along with her wild side, these two are really made for each other.
There is a mess of merging clubs, fighting clubs, dissension in the ranks and secret deals. I don’t know if anyone could trust anyone in this story. Back stabbing seemed to be the norm and violence just part of the day. It got old fast.
While I wanted Cade and Dawn to get together and get her girls out from under her ex, I was exhausted at the end of the book by what could and couldn’t be done, that I lost the love of the story. Maybe I am not cut out reading MC romances. Just not into the outlaw life and harming people. The lust was full flamed, the violence while not over the top, was constant and you get to see the entire gang back together to ride again. Just an ok book, nothing I think I would ever re-read again.
Shari
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I just started getting in to MC reads and I’ve been on the fence about reading this series. I know there is a level of grit, violence, and drama that comes along with most of the MC romances but I’m not a fan of plots that have so much drama that I just feel exhausted by the time the books over.
The biggest reason I stayed with this series is that it is written in 3rd POV and not 1st like so many others. But that can’t fix what I didn’t like. Being 1%ers just got old. Breaking the law just isn’t my kind of thing to read about.
Hmm, you’ve written really good reviews for this series pointing out the pros and cons, and I definitely don’t think this is for me either. Not getting a HEA an having to put up with all the repetitiveness wouldn’t work for me. That’s strange the biker father got the kids and not the mother when she has a job and is clean.
The biker father frames her for a drug deal and buys off the officials. He really is a dirty biker that pimps her out. Not a nice guy. There is a HEA, but I just can’t get into the MCs where outlaw killing is just a way of life. Getting club rules each chapter got on my nerves as the hero abides by them, but lets his woman get into danger over them. Just got old how he put the club before his woman.
MC Books, like BDSM, follow a formula. If I read too much of it I get bored. I mean I love gore and intrigue but throw me a curveball so I get something else aside from the usual.
Good point about the formulaic plots, Braine!
I don’t read a ton of MC romance for various reasons. Joanna Wylde is about the only one I keep returning too.
I read the first book in this series and it was just okay for me too. This one sounds disappointing, and exhausting. There are many MC romances out there that aren’t all that great. My two favorites are the Reapers Series by Joanna Wylde and the Chaos Series by Kristen Ashley.
Lindy@ A Bookish Escape
Those are two of my favorites, too, Lindy. I haven’t tried this series yet, but I think I’ll put it off for a few others that I want to try after reading Shari’s review.
Love the Reapers Series after I was so on the fence with the first book (Horse and Marie). I haven’t read the Chaos series and don’t plan on it. Just not getting into many new MC romances.
Those are two of my favorites, too, Lindy. I haven’t tried this series yet, but I think I’ll put it off for a few others that I want to try after reading Shari’s review.
At least you gave it a try after the first one and still had the same feeling about the experience. I’ve noticed the club rules, but they usually aren’t harped on that much in the other series I’ve read. Think I’ll pass on this one for now.
I think I am done with this series. Just not my cup of tea to have outlaws with hearts I don’t really know can even care for a woman even it they treat them right.
Hmm, you’ve written really good reviews for this series pointing out the pros and cons, and I definitely don’t think this is for me either. Not getting a HEA an having to put up with all the repetitiveness wouldn’t work for me. That’s strange the biker father got the kids and not the mother when she has a job and is clean.