The first look at Cora Reilly’s next book in the Sins of the Fathers series!
Coming Soon! #ByVirtueIFall 💛
Cover design: Hang Le | Photographer: Michelle Lancaster | Model: Chase Mattson
•••
— BLURB —
A standalone forbidden bodyguard romance!
Love is an inconvenience Anna Cavallaro doesn’t have time for.
She only has one goal: to become a fashion designer. Chicago’s elite already copies her style religiously, not least because she’s the daughter of the city’s notorious mafia boss.
When she’s accepted at a world-famous fashion institute in Paris, her father’s condition is to take her bodyguard along.
Anna definitely wouldn’t mind a few weeks of no-strings-attached fun with her brooding protector. Santino Bianchi became the Outfit’s enforcer because he liked the thrill of the hunt and kill.
Babysitting his capo’s daughter is an honorable assignment he can’t refuse. His thoughts about Anna?
Not so honorable.
Santino’s ignored Anna’s persistent flirting for years. Now, far away from home boundaries begin to blur. But Santino doesn’t have any intention to be the reason for a failed engagement and the ensuing scandal.
CoraReilly is the author of the Born in Blood Mafia Series, The Camorra Chronicles and many other books, most of them featuring dangerously sexy bad boys. Before she found her passion in romance books, she was a traditionally published author of young adult literature.
Cora lives in Germany with a cute but crazy Bearded Collie, as well as the cute but crazy man at her side. When she doesn’t spend her days dreaming up sexy books, she plans her next travel adventure or cooks too spicy dishes from all over the world.
•••
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When I’m asked to do a favor for an employee and pick up her eighteen-year-old kid sister from high school, I don’t realize I’ll soon be up to my neck in trouble. Come to find out, she’s the lone witness to a murder by the Santorini crime family.
Now the mob wants her dead, and I’ve got to decide if I risk stepping up to help her.
This isn’t the MC’s business and getting involved could put a target on all our backs. The only problem is I’m her only hope.
The more time I spend with this chick, the more I’m starting to fall for her. And the more miles on the road we spend together, the more this shy girl with her OCD tendencies is turning into a take-no-prisoners badass.
Now I’m determined to save her in spite of the fact that the mob is doing everything it can to stop me.
If I have any chance of saving us both, I’ll have to outsmart them every step of the way.
Nicole James is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author who loves writing about hot alpha men who’ll do anything for the women they love! Her stories are filled with struggle, conflict and real human emotion. She is the author of the Evil Dead MC series, the Brothers Ink Tattoo series and more.
Nicole loves to hear from her readers! You can contact her via e-mail, her website contact form or on her social media accounts.
When I’m asked to do a favor for an employee and pick up her eighteen-year-old kid sister from high school, I don’t realize I’ll soon be up to my neck in trouble. Come to find out, she’s the lone witness to a murder by the Santorini crime family.
Now the mob wants her dead, and I’ve got to decide if I risk stepping up to help her.
This isn’t the MC’s business and getting involved could put a target on all our backs. The only problem is I’m her only hope.
The more time I spend with this chick, the more I’m starting to fall for her. And the more miles on the road we spend together, the more this shy girl with her OCD tendencies is turning into a take-no-prisoners badass.
Now I’m determined to save her in spite of the fact that the mob is doing everything it can to stop me.
If I have any chance of saving us both, I’ll have to outsmart them every step of the way.
Nicole James is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author who loves writing about hot alpha men who’ll do anything for the women they love! Her stories are filled with struggle, conflict and real human emotion. She is the author of the Evil Dead MC series, the Brothers Ink Tattoo series and more.
Nicole loves to hear from her readers! You can contact her via e-mail, her website contact form or on her social media accounts.
When a serial killer rocks a small town in Oregon, a young woman with special powers might be the only person able to stop him. As part of a secret branch of the FBI, Tessa is sent on a mission to impersonate Madison, a local teen and the last victim of the brutal attacker, to find the killer before he strikes again.
As if absorbing the DNA of someone else and pretending to be them wasn’t hard enough, Alec, the guy she’s been in love with for years, is joining her on the dangerous mission. Tessa knows she can’t let her feelings for him get in the way, especially as her crush seems hopeless. Not only is Alec her self-defence teacher but he’s also taken. If only the attraction between them would stop complicating everything!
Will Tessa find the killer before another person falls victim to him? Or will she lose herself in a life she’s always longed for but never had?
•••
• MY REVIEW •
For those who are only familiar with Cora Reilly’s work through her mafia romance books need to know that she’s an author who’s dabbled in other romance genres— dark, contemporary, sports romance… and now her latest? Supernatural fiction meets Crime Thriller. I can tell you after having read Deceitful, it went straight to my list of all-time fave Reilly books, and I am itching with anticipation to read the next book! 😍
“She is the perfect spy—the ultimate weapon.”
It took a little settling into but when I got into the groove, it was complete and utter smooth sailing with the storyline and getting to know these characters. Their special abilities and the purpose they’ve been given could easily have been overwhelming to learn about that you start to lose interest or focus, but Cora eases you into this new world she has created.
It’s effortless to follow, from the introductions of all the characters, to their backstories, to the relationships they have with one another. The storyline had a nice flow that keeps you in suspense from start to finish. There were three outstanding elements that stood out for me that ultimately made this a winning read:
The strong friendships that provided such contrast and dynamic to the cast of characters.
The excruciating love Tessa had for Alec, the bond they shared, and the rollercoaster of emotions they took me on.
And finally, the plot’s constant unpredictability throughout the book. As a crime enthusiast (both true and fictional), it was a real treat feeling like you’re working this case right alongside Tessa. Being suspicious of anybody and everybody, but never quite figuring out who the culprit is before the big reveal. I was on tenterhooks and it was such a buzz! 😄
I couldn’t help but think that it gave me such X-Men vibes with these characters having their own unique abilities— Tessa in the forefront with her ability to shapeshift into anyone she touches. They’ve formed somewhat of a diverse substitute family unit, and seeing their interactions were just as fascinating as seeing them use their abilities.
Cora has introduced world-building that honestly has so many possibilities and potential for growth. It already has great bones with Deceitful setting the tone, not just what we can look forward to seeing from Tessa, but from the rest of the superhuman operatives under the FBI’s secret branch.
I initially would’ve liked dual POVs but I quickly discovered that Tessa as the sole narrator was more than enough as this is her story to tell, her experiences, her journey. Whilst I fell in love with a few other characters in this book, it’s hard to overlook Tessa. Her inexperience and lack of emotional control made her such a raw, genuine, and relatable character. You may not agree with all her decisions and actions, but with her history, you can’t quite hate her for them either.
But I’m not going to lie… I’m excited to see more of the secondary characters introduced. There’s already a couple of characters that caught my eye that I’m eager to see more of in future books. There were a few things that I felt needed to be elaborated on, but with how this book ended, I’m hoping to eventually get in-depth details later.
I should point out that it does contain graphic violence that may be triggering for some readers. Although the majority of the story takes place in a high school backdrop, it’s new adult fiction with mature content.
Overall, a relatively quick but punchy read! As I mentioned earlier, it’s become one of my favourite books Cora has written. I undoubtedly recommend it to readers who are fans of murder-mystery/ crime fiction with supernatural themes. There’s certainly romance, and despite Cora mentioning it being on the light side, I beg to differ. I thought there was just the right amount of romance weaved throughout that not only had me swooning, but it also had me craving to see more. It’s somewhat of a slow-burn but trust me when I say, there’s plenty of heat to keep the romance side of things nice and toasty! 😉
“He might keep me safe from the killer, but who the hell would protect me from my feelings for him?”
With how this book concluded, I’m actually hoping to see if another romantic bond forms. *whispers* Let’s just say this particular pairing is giving me vibes similar to Kiara/Remo but whilst theirs will never happen… I can only hope this one has a fighting chance… (For those who’ve read the book, I’m talking about a certain “brother”) *cough cough* 🤞🙏 I can’t be the only one who saw potential!
This is a high quality debut for Cora into the supernatural/ crime fiction genre! Action-packed. Thrilling. Complex. It’s a must read! You won’t be disappointed. I’m already counting the days until Renegade!
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Thank you Cora Reilly and Emily Alice for the opportunity to read an advanced copy! 💚
Rocker Charlotte Justice longs to escape her hectic life. Her estranged twin sister, Scarlett, owns Badlands, a biker bar outside Vegas, and has always wanted a chance at the limelight she feels was stolen from her.
On a whim, they decide to switch places like they did when they were kids.
What harm could it do?
Charlotte had no idea that the escape she planned would leave her on the receiving end of creepy texts, phone calls and “gifts” left at her door. Flying blind in her new role, pretending to be someone she’s not, Charlotte learns more about her secretive sister than she ever imagined.
On top of all of that, she’s doing everything she can to escape the sexy-as-sin MC President demanding she pay back the debt she owes him–that or sell him the bar.
Could the person stalking her also be the President of the Evil Dead MC’s Las Vegas Chapter? An alpha male who’s come-on to her in a won’t-take-no-for-an-answer kind of way that has her wondering just how badly she wants to say no.
Does he want Badlands badly enough to scare her into selling out?
Or is he the only one who can save her from a madman?
Charlotte will have to solve the mystery if she’s going to save the bar, and possibly her very life.
•••
• MY REVIEW •
“For a girl like you, I’m willin’ to put in the effort.”
I’m flailing my arms in excitement and in desperation of the next book! Eeeep! Nicole James has smashed it again! See, this is why she is an auto-buy author of mine. She never fails at keeping her readers engaged with her stories and invested in her characters— and this little reader right here was hooked from the second Charlotte and her twin sister Scarlett started swapping clothes and spontaneously decided to temporarily trade lives!
Nicole has plenty of books under her belt and all the ones I’ve read so far have had some pretty amazing storylines. This one stood out with its intriguing premise. It’s a trading places storyline weaved into a light MC romance. It has a more contemporary romance feel in comparison to Nicole’s other MC romance books. With its small town setting, the world-building heavily revolves around the protagonists, Charlotte and Daytona. There was an immediate connection between the two that automatically had me sitting up in attention. Despite some serious tension and danger in the air, the story still had an overall light atmosphere to it.
Similarly to Nicole’s other books, this one had plenty of heated banter between its hero and heroine, alongside some lighthearted comic-relief ribbing courtesy of the secondary characters— who so happens to be the brothers from the bright and shiny new Evil Dead MC Las Vegas Chapter! 😍😍
If you’ve read her Evil Dead MC series, then the introduction of a brand, spankin’ new Chapter would make your eyes pop-out-of-its-socket giddy! It practically means new blood, and I for one, am all for it!
Daytona is the President of this chapter but right off the bat I discovered he’s different from the other Evil Dead MC Chapter Presidents. He may be a badass alpha biker, but he’s openly affectionate, straightforward, and doesn’t play games. He knows what he wants, and it’s evident when he first lays eyes on Charlotte.
Charlotte is rightfully skeptical of Daytona and his motives, especially considering she’s currently living life as her sister. I would’ve loved to have seen more character development from both (especially Charlotte) but with how the story played out and especially how this book concluded, I’m hoping there’s a lot more to reveal in the next book.
The story is told from first person, dual points of view, and progressed in a relatively fast-pacing. There’s a lot of things happening that’ll keep you on your toes. It’s insta-romance with a layer of crime thriller added. There’s lots of suspense and second-guessing that it was hard to predict where the story would lead.
Please note, there are certain sensitive subject matters within the story that may be triggering for some readers. Besides the mature sexual content, it also contains violence, stalking, and kidnapping. This book is for mature audiences 18+ only.
The romance elements are swoony and had just the perfect amount of sweetness. It might have been on the insta-love side as far as romantic relationships go but it wasn’t at all unconvincing. They may have gotten together relatively quickly but there’s genuine interest in getting to know each other in more depth. You get Daytona’s backstory and an understanding of his mentality and how he lives his life. And with the arrival of this new Evil Dead MC Chapter, I was instantly curious about all the new club members who were introduced right alongside Daytona in this book. They may have only had minor roles in this story but they definitely made quite an impression! 😊
It’s a relatively shorter full-length novel but it was jam-packed full of detail and dimension, and the story didn’t stray away from its initial narrative. Nicole created a vivid world that I was effortlessly transported to. These characters go through a whirlwind of emotions and a rollercoaster of drama that you can’t help but sympathize. Even though this is fictional and some of the plots are dramatized, the situations that Charlotte and Daytona find themselves in are real-life, relatable experiences. Their lives are complex and their feelings are understandable and seem realistic.
Overall, I found it to be a hearty story and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. There was constant buzz and build-up throughout that it was hard not to be gripped by it all. I was truly bummed to see it end and knowing I’d have to wait a little while for the release of book two. It ends on a cliffhanger but I’m relieved to see it concluded in a way where this particular part of Charlotte’s and Daytona’s story was somewhat settled…? Their relationship may be up in the air for the time being but the cat’s outta the bag and now we’ll just have to see how it all plays out from there. *dun dun duuuuun* Eeep.
If you enjoy reading about alpha heroes who have a gentlemanly side to them, and fiery heroines with backbone, then I recommend you give this one a try.
Definitely a must read for any Nicole James fan. I think this story is a great introduction for romance readers wanting to try MC romance books— whilst it certainly contains MC romance elements, it’s not completely MC heavy. It’s also technically an age-gap romance but it’s hardly noticeable, in my opinion.
Ramona knows pain and she wears it behind a perfectly made-up mask of laughter, sass and a personality that makes most men weak at the knees.
Emphasis on most men.
Because there happens to be one man her charm doesn’t work on…Adan.
Member of the gorgeous biker club who took over the garage next to her best friend Eve’s café. Oh, and there’s one more tiny little thing…he’s now her patient.
After suffering burns in a fire, Adan lost the ability to use not one, but both of his hands. Enter Ramona. Registered nurse on her first job since completing her degree. And of course she’s put with the gorgeous, grumpy, rough biker who wants nothing more than for her to leave him the hell alone.
But, alas, she simply cannot.
Stuck together, there is nothing Ramona can do…except her job.
The problem is Adan is making her job very difficult. Not only does he live like he’s running a brothel, but the man refuses to do anything she asks him. He’s irritated and barely speaks, and when he does speak, it’s usually to insult her.
Not going down without a fight, Ramona does everything she can to keep her spirits high, including tormenting the poor man at every chance she gets. She’ll get him to laugh before her time with him is over.
Adan will like her.
And she will complete this job with a glowing review.
Not matter the cost.
No matter the game.
He’ll get a Heart-On for her…and she’ll make damned sure of it.
•••
• MY REVIEW •
Ooo Wee! This was a such an improvement from the first book! So, so much more gripping and hits you in the feels! 😍 I can’t help but think Bella has gone through the reviews for Biker Schmiker and made some tweaks to ensure Heart-On would be better perceived. And boy, just like that, she has made this series loads more exciting now!
The lightheartedness is still very much present. The contemporary romance aspect is still more prominent than the MC element but it’s still a swoon-worthy MC romance story! Just like in the previous book, this one had plenty of entertaining banter between the protagonists. You get a snippet of their chemistry in Biker Schmiker but by the start of this book, that chemistry has turned electric due to Ramona’s and Adan’s forced proximity.
First off — the premise was intriguing as hell. After Adan gets caught up in a freak accident involving arson resulting in his hands being badly burnt and now in need of constant medical care, in comes Ramona, a newly licensed nurse, and her first job? Yep, being Adan’s personal home care nurse! *mic drop*
The heated exchange from these two were on a level a smidge more entertaining to see than Eve and Riggs (not going lie). They butt heads, are constantly challenging one another and throughout it all they battle the sexual tension between them.
Similarly to Riggs in Biker Schmiker, Adan is a bit of womanizer. He’s not a complete manwhore but he’s definitely indecisive when it comes to who he wants. There’s a bit of love triangle going on here. Some angst. Some drama. And, most certainly some racy scenes!
Please note: It contains violence and sexual content suitable for readers 18+ only!
This book also contains cheating. If you have issues with this matter in your romance stories, then you might want to give this one a miss.
Whilst I enjoyed Ramona’s and Adan’s story a lot, there were some questionable decisions made and situations that had my eyebrows raising and my jaw dropping with disbelief. But don’t get me wrong, it’s all to do with the fact that I got so invested in their story. It was a rollercoaster ride that had me on the edge of my seat eager to see what would happen next because I can tell ya… bomb after bomb just kept on dropping! 😱
Another relatively quick read. I wished it was longer, but on the other hand I like the fact the Bella is consistent in keeping each book in this series a certain length. They’re short but action-packed, full of suspense, and the romantic elements will have you hooked. There’s also a secondary story or two happening simultaneously that adds dimension to Ramona’s and Adan’s story and enhances the world-building.
The rest of the MC members are back to add more fun to this already light, romcom-ish story, and you get to see appearances from Eve and Riggs from the first book too! This may only be the second book in the series but I already adore the friendships and the extra oomph they bring into each story.
I love that with each new couple we get to know a bit about more about their backstory and see their character growth further. Ramona is an in-your-face, independent, and fiery heroine. She’s loud, proud, and confident. Adan is man who’s not only a badass biker, but who knows his strengths. He’s cocky and arrogant at times but in a easy-going funny way that makes you giggle. His inability to read women—or should I say Ramona was a hilarious bonus to see!
They have a quirky hate/love relationship going on there, but somewhat of a caring friendship has formed too where they got to know each other on a deeper level. I thought their emotions were relatable and realistic, and the frustration and second-guessing from Ramona was totally spot-on for the situation she found herself in with Adan.
Ugh. Such a fun read that I will undoubtedly reread over an over whenever I’m in need of a mood-booster! I highly recommend this book, and whilst it can be read as a standalone I would still recommend you start with the first one as the characters are linked and some of the context included do lead up to the next story in the series. You’ll also have a better understanding of how the characters interconnect and the level of their relationships.
If you enjoy hate-to-love romances that have an element of game-playing between the protagonists, then give this one try. The MC element is there but it’s more contemporary romance. It’s well paced, and like the first book, told solely from the heroine’s point of view. Whilst I would’ve liked to have Adan’s as well, in comparison to the first book, the hero’s POV wasn’t as strongly needed in this one. It’s character driven as the majority of the story revolves around Ramona’s feelings and perspective.
It had so many elements I so truly hoped to find in my romance books:
Hate-to-love/ Enemies-to-lovers
Romantic Comedy
MC Romance
Suspense
Interesting world-building
Gripping storyline
Lovable characters
The world-building has expanded a smidge more by introducing Ramona into these bikers world. And with Ramona and Eve already being friends, a nice little girl club has formed as a strong counterpart to the club. Overall, it left me wanting more and excited to read the next book with the next swoon-worthy couple to be! Another amazing read from Bella Jewel!
Evelina has worked hard to get where she is in life. At the young age of twenty-five she became the proud owner of the town’s most infamous café, Wildflowers. Not only does this café make the best cakes in town, but it hosts the most successful open mic nights, bringing singers from far and wide to own the stage and take their dreams to the next level.
Coming from an Italian background, Evelina has a large family, a bubbly personality and the kind of drive that makes her café the best of the best. She prides herself in her witty personality, bubbly demeanor and strength to take her dreams by the horns. She is unstoppable and determined.
That is, of course, until a biker club moves into the empty garage she shares a parking lot with. For years, that garage has been empty and Evelina has had the space entirely to herself. Now, there are cars, motorbikes, parties, half naked women, alcohol and a President that is rude, gorgeous and refusing to keep the noise down.
Her café is going to struggle if she doesn’t do something right away.
The problem is, they are refusing to move.
Evelina is going to have to dig deep and find any way she can to get them to leave…even if things have to get messy.
She’s worked too hard.
This is her lot. This is her town.
That gorgeous biker and his club are going to find themselves in the midst of a war…a turf war.
And Evelina plans to win.
*Contains Adult Content*
•••
• MY REVIEW •
Ooh. Okay. I think this might be the first MC romance book of Bella Jewel’s that I’ve read where it was definitely a lot more lighthearted, less MC and more contemporary romance.
When I first discovered Bella Jewel’s books, she quickly became an auto-buy author for me. Her dark MC romances have been some of my all time favourite reads. I’ve read enough to know what I can expect from her stories…
So it came as a bit of shock that this particular new MC series was a lot more lighthearted, more comic relief added, and certainly felt more contemporary in theme. The MC elements were evident but it wasn’t the complete focus. Biker Schmiker is character driven with 100% full of fiery banter between the hero and heroine.
I admit I have mixed feelings about this story and there was some getting used to in comparison to Bella’s other books. I felt like it was a little choppy— it alternated between a serious situation to lightheartedness, and then back again all throughout that it felt like a stop-start journey. Whilst the banter was entertaining and at times raunchy, the storyline was a little confusing and a bit much. So many plot points were in this one that it felt like one thing after another popped up for Eve and Riggs to deal with.
The story had amazing potential, especially with how Riggs and his club were first introduced into the small town Eve resides in. The chemistry between Eve and Riggs was zingy and kept me invested in seeing where the story would head to next (coz for the love of the book gods it was fucking unpredictable)! 😅
What confused me about this story was some of the crazy plotlines that seemed a little unbelievable. Not to mention some of the characters’ reactions were somewhat far-fetched (specifically the protagonists) in regards to said situations. It fringed on over-the-top madness. But I got to hand it to Bella for giving “crazy” a good crack! 😜
It was well-paced storytelling, action-packed, and full of dramatics. It’s told solely from Eve’s POV, but I really would’ve liked to have seen Riggs’ perspective as well, just so we can get an in-depth insight to his feelings too— especially considering he did some pretty shady things that I was surprised Eve would want anything more to do with him. But in saying that, there’s a good amount of character and relationship development that I grew to like Eve and Riggs more and more as I progressed through their story.
Both the leads are down to earth, relatable characters. Putting aside their cruel plotting to destroy one another, it’s clear they are caring, decent people. The overall atmosphere is modern and lighthearted. If you enjoy heated enemies-to-lovers/ hate-to-love romance stories with MC elements, then give this one a go. There’s plenty of game-playing that’ll have you turning those pages whilst grinning!
But I must point out that Riggs and Eve’s relationship was a bit of rollercoaster with tons of push and pull. For a good chunk of the story, their relationship was on-again-off-again unsteady, in which Riggs hooks up with other women. This type of trope is not a hard-no for me personally but I know it can be a bit of a no-no for other readers when it comes to their romance reads, and it’s why I included this bit of spoiler as a warning for those considering to read this book.
Please also note that it contains sensitive subject matters that may be triggering for some readers. It contains violence, assault, and strong sexual content. Readers 18+ only.
In my honest opinion, it’s a rocky start to a new series but it did hold my attention. Besides the constant sexual frustration coming off of Eve and Riggs that was all-out giddy to witness, the secondary characters were equally entertaining additions in keeping the story and their world appealing.
The friendships felt genuine and downright fun to see. There was plenty of comic relief within, but the banter, jokes, and little chats amongst the friends were some of the highlights.
The overall execution fell a little short for me, but it had a budding world-building and enough likable elements that by the end of the book I was looking forward to reading the next one. It’s a relatively short but sweet read. Bella’s effortless writing style and talent for creating quirky and engaging characters was delivered in this one no matter how complicated the storyline was.
As I mentioned earlier, tons of potential. I’m looking forward to seeing where Bella takes this series and how she plans to expand their world. An overall lively and playful MC-lite romance story between two fierce, strong-willed people!
I’m no longer the little girl he once knew, one who believed in fairy tales.
And he’s no longer the white knight I believed him to be.
How can he be when he shows up on a black Harley wearing leather and biker boots?
I didn’t want this, but the decision is out of my control.
Now I’m his.
I have to remember this is only temporary.
I can’t let the way his predatory gaze sets fire to my body fool me.
Because I’m just a debt he’s paying, and I can’t risk my heart by letting myself believe it can ever be more.
Not with a man like him.
He’s dangerous, and only focused on one thing—securing his place with the baddest MC in town.
He’s no longer the boy I remember when I was nine years old—the one who helped me when I got stuck in a tree. The one who climbed up, wrapped an arm around me and hauled me down to safety, calling me short cake.
He was my savior then—a childish crush—but we’re no longer children.
Now he’s a stranger.
Now he’s my husband.
Saint—
I took her with me because I had no choice.
If I owe a debt, I pay it.
I owed her mother a favor, but I never expected the repayment to include marrying her seventeen-year-old daughter. When she begs me to take Kami with me to protect her, do I have a choice?
Besides, it’s only temporary. Just until she turns eighteen.
Only 90 days to go.
I can resist her that long, right?
•••
• MY REVIEW •
👏👏👏 Nicole James has done it again! Saint is a phenomenal read — one that I will reread over and over again!
The main thing that stood out the most was the world-building in this story and the further you delve in, the more you get invested in Saint’s and Kami’s story. Not just with the unique situation they both signed on for, but also with their own personal lives. They were heading in completely different directions and all of a sudden they’re thrust into a marriage of convenience. Saint has wanted nothing more than to be a full-fledged member of the Kings of Carnage MC. Having to balance out his duties and loyalties to the club and ensuring Kami is taken care of and protected was what kept me engaged throughout.
Once I started this book it was unputdownable! The storytelling is well-paced and told from dual points of view. I loved witnessing their developing relationship from the instant connection they had to each another. In spite of their situation and the fact that they hadn’t seen each other since they were kids, it didn’t deter from the sense of comfort and familiarity between them, even in the beginning when they first reunite.
I’ve always found James’ writing style to be effortless to follow with her charming (and at times entertaining) characters and hearty plotlines. I just know I’m gonna hunker down and enjoy what’s ahead of me. It’s hard not to get addicted to this book because James has created truly relatable and down to earth characters with a gripping storyline. There’s also a great balance of light and shade within adding comic relief in-between the gritty moments. The atmosphere flowed well from goodness to darkness and back again with ease.
Saint and Kami have a slow burn romance that kept me both in suspense and excitement to see develop. I absolutely adore Kami and relieved to see that although she’s still a teenager, she’s mature and has a sweet nature about her that meshes well with Saint’s personality. He’s got the protective gentlemanly vibes down pat with just the right amount of alpha. To be honest, this entire story gave me such Dirty Deeds vibes, but I think that has a lot to do with the fact that both stories have amazing world-building with a strong and constant structure to its storyline. They both have young, innocent heroines that you can’t hate, and who’ve managed to worm their way into the hearts of these hot-as-sin bikers!
I’m not going to lie when I first discovered how young Kami was, I was a smidge anxious to see how the romance element with Saint would come into play, what level of it I could expect, and how soon? But as I mentioned earlier it’s a slow burn, and whilst I was itching to see them finally reach the romantic stage of their relationship, I adored seeing them get reacquainted first. In my opinion, with Kami being young and Saint only a few years older, the steadiness of their relationship was fitting. It felt substantial and all the more authentic, especially when it came down to their emotions.
Both Kami and Saint grew up in close-knit relationships with their parents, and whilst somewhat of the storyline revolved around Kami’s, I was kind of expecting to see more of those familial moments with Saint’s also — especially considering what they’d ventured into is something his parents have strong values and beliefs over. But nevertheless, I found the conclusion to be a sweet HEA and in my mind, Saint’s family are just as happy as Kami’s with how things played out. 😉
Besides the romance element, there’s a generous amount of the MC side of the story where you get to see Saint’s role in the MC and how much of it consumes his life. As well as meet the rest of the members/ prospects of the club. In comparison to James’ other MC stories, I found this one leaned more towards the lighthearted side of MC romances. There’s some suspense and a few plot twists to keep you on your toes, but I absolutely went nuts for the unexpected but swoon-inducing crossover James has cleverly included into the plot.
This book is part of the Kings of Carnage MC: Prospects series and can be read as a standalone story. It has all the elements I always find winning in MC romances:
Lovable characters
Vivid world-building
Strong storyline
Suspense and unpredictability
Equal amounts of MC and romance elements
Banter and lighthearted humour
I undoubtedly loved it! It’s now one of my fave MC romances of James’ and I highly recommend it to fellow MC romance readers. I found the story of an MC prospect a refreshing alternative from reading one who’s already a member. James provides a cool and detailed description of what is expected of a prospect, and how much trust, commitment, and loyalty it takes to make it as a member in the club. By the end you’ll not only swoon over the romance, but you’ll feel like you have some know-how of the world of motorcycle clubs. It’s a must read!
“Kings forever, forever Kings.”
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Thank you Nicole James for the opportunity to read an advanced copy! ❤
The authors of the Twisted Steel anthology have decided to come back with a second edition. They heard how much you loved it and listened to the readers. But, that’s not all. A few new faces have been added as well.
These USA Today and International Bestsellers have collaborated once again to bring you brand new biker stories that’ve never been published before. A combination of full-length novels and novellas are within the pages of this edition.
A couple of these authors have written about characters in their clubs you already adore, while others are launching a brand new series.
Each story takes place in a separate club, but you can always count on copious amounts of danger, suspense, angst but most of all – chemistry.
We ask you again: will these men and women put everything on the line for their brotherhood, or will they risk it all for love?
This collection includes stories from Dani René, April Canavan, Elizabeth Knox, Addison Jane, Claire Marta & Nia Farrell, E.C. Land, Erin Osborne, Amy Davies, Kristine Allen, Chelle C. Craze & Eli Abbott, Claire Shaw, Rae. B Lake, & Scarlett Black.
•••
• MY REVIEW •
Please note this review is NOT for the entire anthology. It’s ONLY for The Biker’s Second Chance!
I’m a huge fan of James’ Evil Dead MC series and this story is a much anticipated one from a much loved character: Green!
And lemme tell you… it doesn’t disappoint in regards to making me swoon more-so over Green! His story was short and sweet, and shows a completely different side to him that I hadn’t expected (in a good way)! For those who aren’t familiar with this Evil Dead MC brother, Green is considered the guy who doesn’t really take himself or anything too seriously. He’s warm fuzzies and funny to boot but was never into wanting to settle down. Until of course… his story! 😉
He’s older now, most of his fellow MC brothers have settled down and started families of their own, and it’s made him really think about his future. Opportunities to get his life in order come through in the way of moving back into his childhood home, and receiving an invitation to his high school reunion. The possibility of seeing Sara, his old high school girlfriend in this reunion has him reminiscing their time together and how their relationship ended all those years ago. It’s given him the mindset that seeing her in this reunion and catching up could be their second chance to reconnect romantically.
I’m hoping when James releases his book later in the year that it’s extended a little more. I love Green but his story was way too short! It was addictive and I couldn’t read it fast enough, but I also think there were a lot of things that could’ve been more in-depth.
I’m not always a fan of flashbacks to the past in storylines as it can get a bit tedious and slow the pacing down but the flashbacks provided in Green’s story elevated the moments and gave their relationship layers. Despite the length of the story being on the shorter side, James managed to get me invested in Green’s and Sara’s relationship. I was already a big fan of Green but Sara was a completely new character. In a short span, I already found myself liking her personality and overall presence.
I do adore the fact that Green had history with Sara. It makes their relationship believable especially with how quickly things progressed in the story. I love that they were so in sync with one another like no time has passed.
– MC Romance – High School Sweethearts – Second Chance Romance
This was more MC-lite in comparison to the previous books from James’ series. I didn’t necessarily mind it because it certainly sets it apart from the other brothers’ stories where theirs had some dark elements. Green’s and Sara’s definitely centred more on the romance side of this MC romance story. I love the second chance aspect and that it was Green who ended having this trope — it provided Green with more dimension from his usual lighthearted, jokey side that we constantly saw in the series. He was always the comic relief amongst the brothers in the MC and whenever he made an appearance in any of the books his scenes were instant LOL moments, so his story was much anticipated. I’m happy to say it lived up to what I hoped it would be. It was swoon-worthy. We get to learn more about Green outside of the club. We get to meet the chick who snagged Green’s heart. And overall, it completely hooked my attention from start to finish. I’m looking forward to his official book release later in the year! #TeamGreen #TeamIrish 🍀
A nice, quick MC-lite romance story you can easily read in one sitting, and will have you happy sighing by the end. The world James has created and expanded never ceases to amaze me, and this story is a fab addition to her series! It’s a must read for her fans, and avid fans of her Evil Dead MC series. It can technically be read as a standalone but your experience with Green and his club would be so much more heighted if you read the series from the beginning.
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
FYI: Nicole James will re-release this story as an Evil Dead MC series standalone with a bonus epilogue, and re-titled as GREEN. Release date is November 18!
Marry a man I barely know to save my family from ruin.
It might’ve been simple, if my betrothed were anybody else.
On our wedding day, my husband-to-be arrived at the courthouse like a black cloud rolling over Manhattan. Walt didn’t crack smiles or pepper in pleasantries as we exchanged hollow vows in front of the judge.
His disdain for me was so palpable I assumed we’d walk out of that ceremony and resume our regularly scheduled programming. But then fate was like, Hold my beer. I got this.
In desperate need of help and with nowhere else to turn, I had no choice but to ignore a crucial rule in our contract: I shall only contact Mr. Jennings II in case of emergency. But hey, what’s a little fine print between husband and wife?
Turns out, Walt’s a stickler for legalese—I think it might be his love language. Oh, and his attitude at the courthouse wasn’t a put-on. My so-called husband is a jerk. He takes what he wants without giving any consideration to other people—specifically ME, his blushing, contractually-obligated bride!
I knew life with Walt would be no honeymoon, but a marriage of any sort should still come with a few standard guarantees:
To have and to hold.
For richer or poorer.
In sickness and in health.
But after experiencing Walt’s version of wedded bliss, I say let’s forget about all that lovey-dovey crap and just take me straight to death do us part.
•••
• MY REVIEW •
Well now… I stand corrected. Guys named “Walt” can be someone very hot, very appealing, and very dreamy! *fans self* 😉😅
When I first read the blurb I was expecting a full-blown hate-to-love/ enemies-to-lovers romance story weaved through an arranged marriage. What I ended up getting was actually a miscommunication between two self-conscious individuals who don’t know what to do with their developing feelings. I found it adorable to see play out that I’m not even in the slightest bit disappointed that there was hardly any witty banter. Because I tell ya… seeing bumbling characters trying to not get in each other’s way was too entertaining to put down. Hehe.
Grey never seems to fail at lifting my mood up with her light-hearted, good natured plotlines and quirky characters! A very chick-lit, romantic comedy atmosphere that’ll have you smiling from beginning to end. Although in my case with this book, there were a couple of times I did get teary-eyed. It’s so easy to get invested in Grey’s characters. They’re always full of hilarious inner monologues that give you such insight to their lives and the type of people they are. Their mannerisms, personality traits, and reactions to things are so relatable and at times eerily realistic that you can’t help but LOL. As the oh-so wise Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory once said, “It’s funny because it’s true!” —and it is soooo friggin’ true when it comes to Elizabeth and Walt and their unusual arrangement!
Grey also has a knack for getting her readers to fall for her secondary characters too, and I was no exception. There were a couple of prominent characters in this story who had me perking up. This is a standalone book, but I do wish one guy in particular would get his own story. I’m not going to lie, I was a little bummed to see that by the epilogue a few things were left unanswered (at least in my opinion). Whilst I adored seeing where Elizabeth and Walt’s life had ended up, some things were not mentioned at all—for example; the current status of certain relationships, situations regarding their careers, things like that. It just felt like whilst some things wrapped up beautifully, there were certain aspects (that were strongly focused on in the storyline) that were left up in the air by the end.
Nevertheless, I love the gradual development between Elizabeth and Walt. From complete strangers, to an odd sort-of friendship, to finally being intimate—all whilst trying to navigate through their arrangement, of course. Although it’s a bit of a slow burn, so be aware.
The world-building took off with a bang right from the get-go putting you right alongside Elizabeth and the situation she’s gotten herself into with Walt. From there it gradually grew as the characters and their new life together developed. It’s a character-driven storyline. They don’t stray too far away from one another so the majority of the world-building is within Elizabeth and Walt’s little bubble. But this is not some sappy fluff read, there’s some hearty moments included, accompanied by a range of personalities to really give the overall story some depth.
Without giving too much away, I have a love/ hate relationship with the families included. Seeing how they interact with our protagonists was quite a sight. Elizabeth and Walt are likable characters, but I do wish at times that Elizabeth didn’t back down so easily. But there is an overall sense of balance between these two leads. They’re complete opposites yet they complement each other’s personalities so well and it’s evident throughout.
What started out as duty that needed to be carried out, became one full of growth, independence, love, acceptance, and such heart. You can bet there’s always a good ol’ life lesson to be learned from one of Grey’s books! 😊
Overall, such a quality read! *chef’s kiss* Perfect for hopeless romantics and contemporary romance fans. Great escapism that’ll have you happy sighing by the end. It’s well-paced storytelling, told solely from Elizabeth’s (first person) point of view. It’s a New Adult/ Adult romance book with some saucy scenes. Nothing too raunchy but it brings some heat! 🔥
If you love the whole arranged marriage trope in your reads, then I highly recommend this to you. Bonus! Elizabeth and Walt have a bit of an age gap, so if you also like an older man/ younger woman trope, then you definitely need to grab this book!
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you Rachel and Inkslinger PR for the opportunity to read an advanced copy! 💗
Cora Reilly is the author of the Born in Blood Mafia Series, The Camorra Chronicles and many other books, most of them featuring dangerously sexy bad boys. Before she found her passion in romance books, she was a traditionally published author of young adult literature.
Join Cora Reilly’s Facebook Group! Cora always post the latest news, teasers, and book covers in that group first! Lots of fun to be had with tons of bonus surprises!
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