Early last week I read an MC book called Sinner’s Creed, and now almost 2 weeks later, I still can’t seem to stop thinking about it. I read a lot of MC books and I can safely say I’m picky as all hell about them. I don’t like the fluff and I don’t like the Disney version of MC…and yes, you know what I’m talking about, admit it. Give me real, give me gritty, spare no detail and make me really feel it, you know? Well, ask and you shall receive because wow! Sinner’s Creed was unlike anything I’ve read before and boy did it make me feel.
You can read my full 4.5 star review HERE
You may have seen this book all over Goodreads and Facebook and it’s sparked many a discussion. As for me? I can tell you that yes, it’s different, but it’s also beautiful. No, it’s not quite the conventional MC you’re used to reading, but that’s the beauty of it. But you can read all about that in my review that’s linked above.
Today I’m super excited to have Kim Jones at DGR blog, answering my questions and talking all things Sinner’s Creed, Dirk, and the much talked about ending of the first installment in Sinner’s Creed!
DGR: Hi Kim! Thanks so much for being here at DGR blog today! I’m super excited to have you
KJ: So excited and honored to be here!
DGR: Let’s start simple. Can you introduce yourself to readers that may not be familiar with your books?
KJ: This is always the hardest question to answer! I’m not very interesting, lol.
I’m 30.
From south Mississippi.
No kids.
1 husband.
I write MC books.
My first series, Saving Dallas, is centered on the Devil’s Renegades–a 3 patch MC. My newest series, Sinner’s Creed, introduces the life of a 1%er, which is much darker and more dangerous than my other novels.
I’m addicted to Mountain Dew.
My favorite food is fried chicken.
I like puppies, kittens and babies—until they pee on me.
And I get sweaty and nervous at just the thought of sky diving.
See? I’m lame. And I could never, ever write a biography…obviously.
DGR: Now let’s dive right into it. Sinner’s Creed marks book 1 in your brand new Sinner’s Creed MC series. What can you tell us about it?
KJ: Unlike my other MC novels, this book is much darker. The story is centered around Dirk, National Nomad for the Sinner’s Creed MC. He’s troubled, dark, deadly and has only one purpose in life—to uphold the legacy of the SCMC. But life has other plans for Dirk, and soon he finds himself completely captivated by a girl he’s had a few encounters with—Saylor Samson. The book is about their journey together in search of love and hope. And of course, a whole lot of club action MC readers love.
DGR: I have to say, Sinner’s Creed is unlike any MC book I’ve read in a long while…and I’ve read my fair share of MC books. Was it your intent to write something different?
KJ: Absolutely. I’ve been writing MC since the beginning. I wanted something different. Something that would take readers beyond the traditional “hot biker falls in love with a girl” story line we’re so used to. I wanted something more in-depth. I feel this book does more than give you the love story you crave, it gives you an insight into the lengths a brother will go for his club.
DGR: Dirk is a very tortured hero and yet there’s something so incredibly endearing to him. Was it difficult being in his head considering the book is written in his POV?
KJ: At first, yes. I actually rewrote this book numerous times. I have just as many words in deleted scenes as I do in the book. But once I got the feel for him, it was easy. The transition from who he was to who he ended up being was the hardest. It’s tough going from one extreme to another.
DGR: What would you say was the hardest part about writing this book for you?
KJ: It probably sounds crazy, but it would have to be the sex scenes. It was difficult to incorporate them into such a strong, emotional story. At times, it didn’t even feel right. But you can’t have a story about a hot biker without a little bit of hot sex. 😉
DGR: And what about your favorite?
KJ: This too probably sounds nuts, but the final chapter. I know it’s unconventional, but it worked for me. And because it worked so well for my characters, it felt amazing.
DGR: Oh I loved the last chapter. It really SO Dirk and Saylor. I cried like a sap. It was beautiful.
If you had to describe Dirk to readers that haven’t met him yet, what would you say?
KJ: He’s…complicated. Dark, unforgiving, rugged, harsh and sexy as hell. Of course he isn’t always like that. Sometimes he’s sweet, caring, nurturing but still…sexy as hell.
DGR: How would you describe Saylor?
KJ: Innocent, sweet and very spiritual. But she’s got a fire about her. She’s not intimidated by Dirk and his harshness. She embraces it.
DGR: Admittedly, it’s been a long while where a book has affected me on such a visceral level and that ending definitely got me. Would you say an ending like that sets the tone for the rest of the series? Or do you plan something different for the other books?
KJ: No. This ending was for these particular characters only. Can we bold and italicize that? Lol! It affected me too, and I don’t think I’m up for another one quite like it. The rest of the series and characters will have their own ending. And much like Dirk and Saylor, it will be solely for them.
DGR: I have to agree that the ending fit the story and the characters. I couldn’t imagine it any other way. So on that subject, Sinner’s Creed has a very satisfying and realistic though not exactly conventional HEA. What can we expect from the rest of the series? Same?
KJ: I’ve already written Sinner’s Revenge that will come out in July. The HEA is THERE (I promise!), although the story is filled with plot twists, angst and a few OMG moments. With each book in this series I want it to be something different. But none will be like Sinner’s Creed.
DGR: You wrote an incredibly gritty story that pulls no punches and gives readers front row seats to the violent underbelly of MC. Was Dirk’s story difficult to write? He doesn’t exactly lead an easy life…
KJ: The MC part of the story wasn’t difficult at all. I have a very creative imagination. I was also inspired by several people who lived the MC lifestyle back in the 70s when outlaws lived up to their names. Of course times have changed and the club has evolved, but there was something I found intriguing about how things used to be. This story and every scene in it is fiction—none of it was inspired by true events. But from what I learned, I created something darker and grittier to hopefully pull people in.
DGR: What can we expect from the rest of the series?
KJ: A whole lot of surprise. Sinner’s Creed is just the beginning. Be ready for a lot of action, suspense and plot twists.
DGR: Shady will be getting his story next in Sinner’s Revenge. Any hints as to what we can look forward to with his books?
KJ: He’s so different from Dirk, and judging from reader’s response to SC, a character favorite already. I feel like Shady’s lightheartedness and humor contradicts Dirk’s seriousness and darkness. His book revolves around not only his position in the club, but a feisty young woman named Diem. It’s a love-hate story filled with a lot of laugh-out-loud moments and surprises. I’m really excited for his story, and I think it’s something readers will definitely enjoy and deserve. Especially after the emotional rollercoaster they experienced with Sinner’s Creed.
DGR: Did you have a mental picture in mind of any actor or model in mind as you wrote Dirk and Saylor?
KJ: Dirk’s look was inspired by one of my MC brothers. His sexy swagger and overall badass appearance spoke to me. Saylor was a figment of my imagination, until my friend said to me one day, “Hey, I found Saylor.” A photographer in my hometown had some images of this girl with thick, curly blond hair and green eyes posted on her page. It was surreal. I was like, “Omg… there she is!”
DGR: If you had to describe Sinner’s Creed in 5 words, what would they be?
KJ: Raw, emotional, dark, gritty, entertaining.
DGR: Anything you’d like to leave the readers with?
KJ: I wrote this book because I wanted to share with people my definition of brotherhood and true love. Sinner’s Creed is my sunset. My rainbow. My clear blue sky. It’s everything I wanted it to be. And I wouldn’t change it for the world. So for the readers who felt something, whether it was good or bad, thank you so much. With every comment, review and discussion, be it positive or negative, you make my dream come true all over again.
Don’t forget to check out the Sinner’s Creed series
SINNER’S CREED (available now)
First in a new series—welcome to the Sinner’s Creed Motorcycle Club, where hard bodies and hot leather are made for each other, and love gone wrong is the most irresistible of all…
“I was the demon-possessed monster and she was the innocent, naïve angel. But none of that matters. She asks, I give and right now, I’ll kill anyone who tries to stop me from giving this woman what she wants—me.”Dirk lives in the shadows—performing hits, maintaining order, and upholding the no-holds-barred legacy of the Sinner’s Creed Motorcycle Club. A nomad with a restless spirit and a cold heart, the open road is his world. One of the few constants in his life: his desire for the one woman who has consumed his thoughts for years.
Saylor Samson grew up far from the harshness of Dirk’s world. But ever since she was seventeen she’s been drawn to this dark and mysterious man who always seemed to show up just when she needed him.
After years of fated encounters, he’s back. This time he’s taking her. This time she’s ready for the ride. But just when the darkness in Dirk’s life begins to fade, Saylor reveals a secret that puts them both to the ultimate test. Now, Dirk has to make a decision: submit to his destiny with the MC, or choose his own.
SINNER’S REVENGE (releasing July 19, 2016)
The sizzling second book featuring the Sinner’s Creed Motorcycle Club, bikers bent on riding chrome and meting out mayhem…
Shady has spent the last eight years of his life dedicated to the Sinner’s Creed Motorcycle Club. But after losing the man who was both his brother and his best friend, he has a new purpose—to avenge the death of the greatest nomad in Sinner’s Creed history.
His plan is flawless. His mission is simple: seek and destroy. There is no room for distractions—especially a distraction like Diem.
She’s infuriating. Demanding. Complicated. Impossible. And for some reason, Shady can’t stay away. But he only has space in his heart for one love: Sinner’s Creed. And the club always comes first. Always.
My father had sinned. But I was to be punished.
Sparrow Raynes grew up the daughter of a drunken father who happened to work for one of the most feared men in the Boston underground. But now that man is dead, and his son who’s known to be even more ruthless is to be her husband…and she has no idea why other than it’s been arranged and her father agreed to it. So she’ll do it, but she won’t like it. In her eyes it’ll be a marriage in name only because no way can she give her heart to the devil with the steel-blue eyes that’s known as The Fixer. He’s ruthless, he’s cold-blooded, but she refused to cower from him like even the most deadly of the deadly underground seem to…
Sparrow was exactly the kind of gritty anti-hero that I needed. L.J. Shen was not afraid to stick true to her characters and pulled no punches to do so, and I respect the hell out of her for this. Yes, Troy did some things that may not sit right with some readers, but for this reader, I loved to hate it. See I love when an author takes risks to stay true to the characters and that was definitely the case here. This is no insta lust, insta-love, or insta-anything. Troy and Sparrow’s connection formed over time and it felt authentic because of that. Considering how Troy is and where he came from, I wouldn’t have bought it any other way.
L.J. spared no detail to make her story gritty and real. It was action packed, super sexy, and filled with twists and turns. It was enough to keep me at the edge of my seat the whole time and eagerly turning the pages to see what will happen next. The romance was sizzling hot and together with the plot it all came together perfectly.
My only minor quibble with the book was that it went a little much and too creative with the analogies at times. But that was such a minor thing compared to everything that I loved about it that I barely batted an eyelash at it.
I’m a huge Nashoda Rose fan. Whatever this woman writes, I’ll read. But there’s just something about her Scars of the Wraiths PNR series that has hooked me to the point of addiction. Each time I finish a new installment, I find myself rabidly salivating for the next. I’m absolutely hooked on this unique world that Nashoda built with her characters. Her writing maintains it’s signature grit and if possible her alphas are even more alpha in this one. Something to do with the PNR aspect, I’m sure, and I eat it all up with a squirming sort of glee.
While the romance between Rayne and Kilter is the primary focus, there’s a lot happening around that. So much so that at times they almost came in second. That’s not necessarily a bad thing because everything that was happening was incredibly entertaining. Though having said that, they did get a little bit lost in the shadow of everything else that was going on at times.
I’ve been sitting here for two days trying to put all my convoluted thoughts in words. Did I like this book? I don’t know. Did I DISlike it? I don’t know. I really just have no idea how I feel about the book, the characters, or the story. None. And isn’t that a bitch? The entire story is one mystery hidden behind another, and there’s quite a few things at work here that managed to leave me with more questions than answers now that I finished. Am I curious enough to read the next book to see where the story is going? I AM curious. But it’s more of a “I wish someone else would read it and tell me” sort of curiosity. It’s just that middle of the road book that I really don’t know how I even feel about. But I’ve digressed. Allow me to try to sum-up my thoughts somewhat in a semblance of a spoiler free review here…
I couldn’t understand X’s behavior or decisions. She’s a strong and captivating woman, but at times her naivety was a bit too much. Yes, I understand that since this is all she’s known for over 6 years that mostly rules her actions…but to a point. This is particularly true for the direction the ending of the book took. I was not at all a fan of that particular direction. While I do plan on reading the second book to see what happens, I’m not exactly anxious at a chance to jump into it either.
Seven books. Seven erotically charged and deliciously addicting books. All of it leading up to this glorious moment; Drake. I’ve been anxiously anticipating for the leader of the Guardians and constantly growling and smoke billowing dragon shifter to get his book, even before his heroine was introduced. And when the author did reveal who the heroine would be in one of the biggest twists ever? Let’s just say on a scale of 1 to ten, I was somewhere around rabid. I wanted it BAD is what I’m trying to tell you here.
Have you ever read a book that touched you on such a visceral level you almost felt like you were living it along with the characters. Where you felt every emotion, every painful revelation, every bruise and emotional scar? A book that gutted you and at the same time you can’t stop thinking about? A book that you just know will stay with you for a long while yet? Sinner’s Creed was that book to me.
Dirk is a nomad National for Sinner’s Creed MC. He’s the shadow that you don’t see coming, and only see right before your final breath. He’s a third generation, and the MC life is all he knows. He grew up with violence and blood. The club is his life and his salvation. He rides for it, he kills for it, and he knows that eventually he’ll die for it. But then a blonde beauty rocks his world to its very core.
Dirk and Saylor’s relationship may have started off from 60 right away, but there was always something so fateful about it. I was totally buying what the author was selling and man oh man but she sold their love to me. I felt it to my very core. It could have been cheesy or OTT, but it never was. It was beautiful, and real, and authentic. I was eating it up with a spoon and loving every second of it.
