WELCOME TO THE CLUB
Eight years ago, Sophie gave her heart—and her virginity—to Zach Barrett on a night that couldn’t have been less romantic or more embarrassing. Zach’s step-brother, a steely-muscled, tattooed biker named Ruger, caught them in the act, getting a peep show of Sophie he’s never forgotten.
She may have lost her dignity that fateful night, but Sophie also gained something precious—her son Noah. Unfortunately, Zach’s a deadbeat dad, leaving Ruger to be Noah’s only male role model. When he discovers Sophie and his nephew living in near poverty, Ruger takes matters into his own hands—with the help of the Reapers Motorcycle Club—to give them a better life.
Living with outlaw bikers wasn’t Sophie’s plan for her son, but Ruger isn’t giving her a choice. He’ll be there for Noah, whether she wants him or not. But Sophie does want him, has always wanted him. Now she’ll learn that taking a biker to bed can get a girl dirty in every way…
The man was like heroin – seductive, addictive and a damned good way to wake up dead.
So what can I tell you after finishing this book?
It did not disappoint!
When Sophie decides to give her virginity to her high school boyfriend Zach, she doesn’t quite get the experience she hopes for. What can possibly be worse than a less than wonderful first time? Having your boyfriend’s dangerously hot brother catch you in the act. The only good thing that comes out of the experience is her son, Noah.
Now eight years later Sophie is struggling to make ends meet. Being a teenage mother wasn’t easy, but with Zach being a dead beat dad all the financial responsibility falls on her. The only male role model Noah has is Zach’s brother, Ruger. When Ruger gets wind of Sophie’s situation, he’s determined to protect her. But the last thing she wants is to be a part of his dangerous life and his MC.
I really loved Sophie. It’s great to get a tough and witty heroine with a backbone that can dish it out as well as she takes it. Ruger was growly and domineering but she never made it easy for him. The banter and sexual tension between them was utterly delicious. I devoured the first half of this book in one sitting. I simply couldn’t put it down until they finally got down to business. What? I never denied this 🙂
But I digress…
Ruger. What can I tell you about the complete deliciousness that was Ruger? He was just the kind of alpha I love; posessive, jealous, slightly (OK maybe a lot) domineering, sexy as hell, and good gawd but can the man get you all hot and bothered with the way he talks.
But you can only fight chemistry like that for so long and it’s not long before clothes start flying. The man is built and pierced for pleasure.
I found the metal bar piercing his glans- two hard, metal balls capped it, top and bottom.
“Imagine those deep inside you. Firs I’ll rub them against your clit, and then the’ll hit your G-spot the whole damned time I’m riding you. Un-fucking-believable, babe.”
What woman in her right mind can possibly turn down that?
But while the chemistry between them is undeniable, Sophie is looking for something that Ruger is not willing to give.
Right around the 50% mark of the book I started to get a little irritated with both Sophie and Ruger and the decisions and choices they made. There were times I wish I could reach through my kindle and shake some sense into both of them. But luckily, it didn’t end up bothering me too much by the end.
This book felt a little grittier to me than the first one. We got a much closer look at the MC life and the members, which I really enjoyed. We also got a lot more of all the side characters from the previous books.
The side characters introduced in this book were awesome. I loved Sophie’s friend Kimber. She was the comedic relief for most of the book. The banter between the women, and especially with Kimber was hilarious.
I shook my head and shrugged mournfully.
“I’m doing my part. I tell you everything.”
“And don’t think I don’t appreciate it,” she said, tearing up slightly. We gave each other a drunken hug.
This was a sexy, gritty, and action packed ride that you will never want to end. Joanna Wylde just seems to get better with each new book. The fact that it was in dual POVs only made it that much better for me.
As frustrated as I was with Sophie and Ruger at times, I think the ending is what fixed it for me. I found that to be a very fitting way for things to happen.
Then there was the set up for the next book. And now to wait until June 2014?!!! ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME??!!!
On a side note, for those that are wondering if there is cheating in this book: (Highlight to see)
NO
Quotes were taken from the ARC version of the book and may change upon publication
**ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review**
He’d hated her for so long, desired her at the same time, and it was time to stop the game of Ping-Pong they were both playing with their emotions.
I was a tiny bit excited.
Seeking solace sends her to the one place that still makes sense to her, her childhood home in Lauder Lake.
I can’t help it, this is the image that burned itself into my mind when I read about Adrian. Just give him lighter hair and blue eyes, and yup!
Jessica managed to write a love story for Kat and Adrian without taking away any of Kat’s love for her husband that passed away. It wasn’t downplayed at all. Kat loved her husband and grieved his loss every day. Yet you can completely understand what makes her fall for Adrian.
There was no unnecessary angst thrown into the mix. I honestly can’t think of anything I didn’t like in this book. It was so refreshing to read about 2 grown and mature MCs without any unnecessary drama thrown in to take away from their story.
As much as I enjoyed Hayden’s character, at times I did get irritated with the way she seemed to hit below the belt with her insults. I understood the why’s of it, but it did still grate with me a bit. I felt that there were times that she should have been going after Bret and smoothing things over, not the other way around.
5 Burning Stars
Love is like a series of improbable, lonely notes landing together in meaningful chaos. Where every channel carries a rhythm that conveys an expression of emotion. It doesn’t feel flat or fake or hollow. It’s not exaggerated with overtones. The complexity might feel organized, but the creation is never controlled.”
The one thing that I have loved in Lexi Blake’s books in the past was the super steamy love scenes. You could just feel the burning passion between the couples when you read it. I couldn’t seem to get the same thing here. The sex scenes between Ian and Charlie read almost mechanical to me at times. Like insert slot B into slot A, moan, breath, *insert dirty words here*, rinse and repeat. It took Ian pretty much the entire book to finally open up some. So maybe that was what was missing for me? I’m not even sure. Then again, this also might have been the case of my high expectations just being too high? Who knows. What I do know that is that in all the build up to Ian’s book, it didn’t quite meet my expectations in that.
Riker is a member of the renegade vampire MoonBound Clad. Despising all humans, Riker is haunted by nightmares of his own past. When a mission to rescue a captured vampire brings him face to face with the woman whose family he holds responsible for taking everything he loved, all he wants in revenge.
