The Scarlett Legacy by K.N. Lee

ARC kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Wizards. Shifters. Murderers. 
Welcome to Woodland Creek where one family of wizards gives new meaning to organized crime. 

Evie Scarlett wanted two things: marry Parker Drake and leave Woodland Creek. 
But when Hugh Prince, a dangerous crime boss, is mysteriously murdered while awaiting trial for her father's murder, all eyes turn to the Scarlett family. 

The arrival of Hugh's youngest son, Avalon brings a century-old feud to a dangerous climax. This vengeful wizard gives Evie's older brother a choice: die or give Evie to him. 


When Evie's plans for escape are broken by familial duty, she must find a way to protect those she loves and win back her freedom. What she finds is an ancient power that she never knew she had. 

A power that might change everything she thought she knew about her family.

"Just like her mother, Evie transformed into a creature of myth, legend, and nightmare."

Evie was born into a family of wizards...or so she thought that she is entirely a wizard.  Caught in the war between two families , Evie tries to keep the love of her life and end the war between Scarlett and Prince . But on the road  discovers that her mother, brother and sister-in-law they all have another dark side .  Including Evie, she discovers new powers and her true form.  Deep buried secrets come out to light..

I really enjoyed this story, however I'm not  sure if we really have a a main character or characters as the book is written from both Evie and Olivia's sides and Evie didn't really do much in the book. She went to Avalon more because she was forced by her mother, then she got saved by her and the rest of her family.  Olivia pretty much did all of the dirty work. and her husband Wes, also Evie's brother,is no better than Avalon. Looking from outside, this entire war started because of the Scarlett family  and continued by Wes. 

But that is just how I see this story. just feel that the story didn't really had a happy ending. The good guys turn out to be the bad guys and vice-versa. Evie , Parker and Avalon Prince are the  innocent characters that crossed the path of war. Evie's mom, Wes and even Olivia. I believe they are the real bad characters in the story., I mean...even the book cover is suggestive.

Anyway, I have a weird way of seeing things.

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Six by Lissa Jay

ARC was kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

A chance encounter with Chloe, aka 'Nina', an erotic dancer at The Fox Hub, leaves Six, VP of Company of Sinners MC, wanting more. The passion that sparks between them is electrifying but their relationship, while hot and insatiable is also dangerous. 

If Six lets Chloe into his heart it could cost her life. If he doesn't it could send her into the arms of another man.

It was difficult to read because of the horrible spelling mistakes. I understand that this is an ARC and might be a rough copy of the book , although it was not specified , but to write every single word with one "l" when two are required (well, hell, sell,call,small,tell, etc) really gets on your nerves.Every. single .double L. word. I'm a lot into MC books and this is the reason why I accepted to read Six, but it did not worked for me. It isn't solid and has far too many unrealistic scenarios.

Characters are like two kids and I couldn't connect with them. Chloe is too naive, Six is too annoying . Six doesn't even belong in a motorcycle club . He is too docile and confused . He doesn't really know what he wants and takes rushed decisions.
The plot was ok, the story itself had its good parts but some parts were forced just for the sake of going on.The plot was easily predictable .
Sorry to say this but I was expecting something else...

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King (King #1) by T.M. Frazier

Homeless. Hungry. Desperate.

Doe has no memories of who she is or where she comes from.

A notorious career criminal just released from prison, King is someone you don’t want to cross unless you’re prepared to pay him back in blood, sweat, pu$$y or a combination of all three.

King’s future hangs in the balance. Doe’s is written in her past. When they come crashing together, they will have to learn that sometimes in order to hold on, you have to first let go. 

There is no secret that Frazier's The Dark Light of Day is one of my all time favorite book. And I proudly own it in my bookcase!

But the post that I'm about to write about King  might not be what most of you expected to read.

I mean...

my exact reaction while reading through the entire book.

King is not your average asshole. The asshole that every good girl would fall for. King is a freaking moron. Now put that gun away, I'm not finished yet. In fact I'm just getting started.

This is one of those rare book that makes me hate the  guy and love the girl. The more I read about King, the more I  dislike him. 

 I'll get right to the point and make a scheme out of the whole thing

The main characters

Doe

"We met on the night I decided to sell myself for a hot meal and a place to sleep. I was about to suck on this guy's d**k when he realized that I was being skittish about it and threw me out [...] . he brought me back to his house for a bath and a conversation about how I was now his possession and didn't have a choice about it. "

I really, really felt sorry for this girl.

King 

"I had the overwhelming urge to wrap my hands around her throat and strangle her. Better yet I wanted to unravel one of the belts and tighten it around her neck."

Their love story

King : Shut up.

Doe : But...

King : Shut up !

Doe : ...but...

King : SHUT THE FUCK UP !

***

King : You are mine ! Mine ! MINE ! You are gonna go there. You are gonna have the tattoo I designed for you.  Shut the hell up! You do what I say ! You eat now! You! Go to bed ! Now! SHUT THE FUCK UP ! Did I mentioned  yet that you belong to me? Just reminding you.

That possessiveness of his makes him sounds like a freaking psychopath.  In a non sexy way.

King's trustworthy friends

Bear

I don't even...want to read his story . I already hate him.

He first calls King and warns him about how his father is so pissed off and how he  is on King's tail. He advises King to move town, go hide for a while, whatever. The next thing you know he invites King at a party and tells him that his father wants to shake hands with him.

And King , being the idiot that he is ,  went straight into the lion's mouth.

It isn't enough that you took plain stupid decisions  twice, you have to do it the 3rd time. Just to make sure. 

King knew all along who Doe was, but he  decided to just have a little fun before she got "broken" and he decided to get rid of her. And a trade is planned.

And , oh the glorious ending! 

Yeah, the ending  was epic and King deserved it all the way   Karma is a bitch and will  come and slap you across your face when you are being plain stupid.  

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The Fractured Heart (Second Circle Tattoos #2) by Scarlett Cole

ARC was kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

All things, when placed under pressure, eventually break or leave a mark.

Tattoo artist Brody "Cujo" Matthews knows how to keep things simple. In life and in love. Abandoned as a child by a mother who refused to stick around to raise three boys she didn't want, he's intent on staying clear of complicated women. The only things complicated in Cujo’s life are the killer tattoos he designs and inks. That all changes when he’s asked to help organize his best friend Trent's engagement party, which means working with Trent's fiancée's best friend, Drea, the definition of high maintenance and sizzling curves. And the one woman he doesn’t want to walk away from.

Andrea "Drea" Caron is broke and tired. After years of caring for her ailing mom, she's at the end of her rope trying to manage the piling medical bills, two jobs, and a life placed on hold. She certainly doesn’t need the added frustration of a sexy playboy tattoo artist messing up her best friend’s engagement party or her carefully balanced life. But when Drea witnesses the abduction of a woman from the café she works at, she can’t help but turn to Cujo who’s determined to prove to Drea that he’s someone she can count on forever…but as they attempt to bring the truth to light, someone is working to bring that forever to a sudden, deadly halt.

This is the second book from the Second Circle Tattoos series. Yes, it can be read as a standalone.

This book tells the story of Brody "Cujo" , a tattoo artist who is in search for answers about his mother who left when he was eight years old..

"It reminded me of you...bitter, without a hint of sugar." - Brody

And Drea , a hard working girl who tries to take care of her sick mother. 

"For us to work, I need to come to you whole. Not in pieces, expecting you to be the glue." - Drea

The characters were alright., the plot was a little bit tangled and somehow you need to try and keep up with all the subjects. The author tried to blend in a romance story (between Brody and Drea) ,  crime/ mystery (the abduction of the woman from the cafe store, Brody trying to  find answers about his mother), detective / police (Drea trying to help find the missing woman and making her own investigations ) and also keep up with the romance story between the second characters ( Harper and Trent from book one, The strong steel ).All in one book!  It is difficult to pull up such a mix and it didn't quite worked out for me.

I did enjoyed the story and I really want to give it more stars but the rating will remain to 3, maybe  3.5 stars. Another reason would be because in some parts of the plot there are some mistakes and characters/ situations tend to contradict  - like the part when Drea notice that the internet was down and doesn't remember when was the last time she paid the bill, yet she goes online and makes some research. Then the second morning she was glad that the internet was back and the company didn't cut her off.

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Jersey Tough: My Wild Ride from Outlaw Biker to Undercover Cop by Wayne "Big Chuck" Bradshaw

ARC was kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The only patch-wearing outlaw biker to become a sworn police officer — and live to tell his tale 

In 1977, Wayne “Big Chuck” Bradshaw was Jersey tough. He was a member of the outlaw Pagans bike gang, a One Percenter, and had earned his colours in a world of boozing, bloody bar fights, and high-stakes crime. But after getting too close to extreme violence, Bradshaw made the life-threatening decision to change his path.

The toughness Bradshaw used to survive biker life led him to a distinguished and heroic career as an undercover narcotics officer for the same New Jersey police department that had once arrested him. Bradshaw tells his story with the truth of the streets, from his time in the U.S. Army to his decision to join the Pagans, to the wild adventures of working narcotic stings. He rode with truly dangerous criminals and then returned to those same places as a cop. He tracks down fugitives in Jersey’s toughest neighbourhoods, risks his life rescuing dozens from a fire in a seniors’ residence, and volunteers in the aftermath of 9/11.

Jersey Tough is an unflinching memoir of personal struggle, of battling with darkness, and ultimately of redemption.

Jersey Tough tells the story of Wayne "Big Chuck" Bradshaw , an Army veteran , former member and ex sergeant-at-arms in a notorious outlaw MC. After spending two wild years with the Pagans , Bradshaw decided to quit the club and made baby steps to rebuild his life and career. He is a 20-year veteran of the Middletown New Jersey Police Department and one of the very few people who were part of an outlaw MC, got out of it and lived to tell the story. 

This is one interesting read and having it on my shelves is a must !

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Rebel (Dead Man's Ink, #1) by Callie Hart

Sophia

Sometimes, you don't mean to become another person. Sometimes the choice is made for you, and pretending is the only thing that keeps you going. When Alexis Romera is taken and her kidnappers find her fake ID in her purse, she must become Sophia in order to keep her family safe. Revealing her real identity to the man she's sold to would be easy enough, but can she trust him? Hell bent on revenging the murder of his uncle, Rebel doesn't seem all that interested in playing things safe.

In fact, nothing about the secretive, dark and brooding MC president seems safe at all.

Rebel

What do you do when the man who raised you is murdered, and the only witness is kidnapped girl who's being sold as a sex slave? You buy her, of course. As president to the most powerful motorcycle club in America, Rebel isn't lacking in power. There are strings the man can pull, and entire criminal organisations and corporate businesses alike would fall to their knees. However, along with such power comes intense interest. The DEA have their eye fixed solely on the MC...and they're just waiting for Rebel to trip up.

Getting Sophia to testify is the only way to bring the Los Oscuros cartel down. The beautiful, dark haired, dark eyed woman is belligerent and uncooperative and unlikely to bend to his will, but Rebel has a few tricks up his sleeve to make her compliant--he'll charm her until she's bending over backwards to please him.

Of course, falling for her might cause a few hiccups along the way...

Rebel 

"I'm the guy who steals and breaks shit, and I'm the guy who enjoys it as I'm doing it. [...] I started out murdering people from a very early age, killing my mother as I made my way out of her body."

Rebel is not your typical MC president. He started out as a good guy, he was enrolled in the Marines and he  fought in Afghanistan twice . He is a very complex and highly intelligent man

Sophia

Or better said "Sophia" , as her real name is Alexis , is a pshychology student who unfortunately witnessed a horrific crime and gets kidnapped and sold by the Los Oscuros MC.  

 Rebel buys Sophia and hopes that she will help him to bring down the rival club who killed  his uncle  , but Sophia is desperate to protect her family back home .Soon she starts to reconsider her priorities as she slowly discovers the real man behind the nickname "Rebel".

Hector wants Rebel's head on a plate.

Maria Rosa takes revenge over Rebel by killing a DEA agent and makes it look as if the Widow Makers did it. 

Rebel's father hates him since he was born and would love to see him dead.

And if all these weren't enough the book ends with a big cliffhanger . The party just  got started .

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Hold Me Close (Paradise, Idaho #2) by Rosalind James

ARC was kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Kayla Chambers knows what love is—and what it isn’t. When her boyfriend turns abusive, she and her son escape to a new life in a place where he’ll never find them. The idyllic town of Paradise, Idaho, has everything she needs to get back on her feet. Survival is her only goal, and the last thing she wants is another man in her life.

But Kayla’s new neighbor, high school principal Luke Jackson, is determined to change her mind. Luke usually takes the fast lane with women, but he can see that Kayla and her son need help, and he wants to earn her trust—even if that means taking things slow. He strikes up a friendship that soon simmers into something passionate and real. But when Kayla’s past catches up with her, Luke knows he has to find a way to keep her safe…or risk losing her forever.

To make things clear from the beginning , Hold me close is the second book in the Paradise, Idaho series.  This book is about Luke and Kayla's love story. Luke is Cal's brother .Cal's story can be read in Carry me home,  the first book . Yes, even if we get to see Cal and Zoe in this book too, Hold me close can be read as a standalone 

Now I can move on.

Kayla is a widowed mother who lives with her nine years old son Eli and her abusive boyfriend Alan. One day she grabs Eli by the hand and they run away from Alan. The two of them start a new life in Paradise , Idaho.Here she reconnects with Luke , her childhood friend, who also happens to be the high school principal where Eli is about to start his classes.

Books focused on domestic violence creeps me up . Kayla's story was a sad one for me .Alan , as a highly influential person , and his ways of tracking Kayla down scared me. Evil people like him do exist.

So why only 3 stars? The intense beginning got me from the very first pages. Then things got a little too slow for my taste. Luke trying to gain Kayla's trust, Kayla having lots of trust issues .She interprets Luke's every gesture and word as a way of deliberately mocking her . She gets plain absurd at some point.Going back and forth between her desire to open up to a new life and her fears from the past.And Luke, Luke was just too perfect for a human being. His perfection almost annoyed me.

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Reaper's Fall (Reapers MC #5) by Joanna Wylde

ARC was kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.

He never meant to hurt her.

Levi “Painter” Brooks was nothing before he joined the Reapers motorcycle club. The day he patched in, they became his brothers and his life. All they asked in return was a strong arm and unconditional loyalty—a loyalty that’s tested when he’s caught and sentenced to prison for a crime committed on their behalf.

Melanie Tucker may have had a rough start, but along the way she’s learned to fight for her future. She’s escaped from hell and started a new life, yet every night she dreams of a biker whose touch she can’t forget. It all started out so innocently—just a series of letters to a lonely man in prison. Friendly. Harmless. Safe.

Now Painter Brooks is coming home… and Melanie’s about to learn that there’s no room for innocence in the Reapers MC.

Uh, oh. Don't panic people. 3 stars doesn't mean that I didn't liked the book ! I do like it. But I'm having a little bit of an issue with the characters.
I knew that Painter is a little twisted , the type of I-don't-know-what-I-really-want guy. But when you have two main characters who are acting and thinking like teens , well tell me you don't expect for the relationship to actually work. 
Both of them need to suck it up and grow up , put their pride aside and their issues together and get married.On second thoughts , I'm afraid that I fail to "feel" the love and compatibility between them. These two make the perfect couple, in a weird kind of way. 

As much as I love Joanna's Reaper's series (and believe me, I adore her MC stories ! ) I'm afraid that Painter's story didn't quite reached up my expectation. Mel is a little bit naive and Painter seems like everything that he is doing is doing it for the sake of Izzy , out of guilt that he missed the most important moments from his daughter's life. Their relationship is toxic with all that I-don't-know-what-I-want , I love you- I hate you , back and forth , back and forth., on and on and on.  I lived the intense stories between all the other Reaper's characters , the feeling was so strong. But with Painter and Mel's story...I really don't see them going too far with thier relationship.

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