Last Mile (Vicious Cycle #3)
   by: Katie Ashley

Publication Date: May 3, 2016
Publisher: Signet
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: Physical copy received via the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 336 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Katie Ashley, the New York Times bestselling author of Redemption Road and Vicious Cycle, returns to the dangerous and seductive world of the Hells Raiders motorcycle club…

After her father was murdered in the line of duty, ATF agent Samantha Vargas is determined to take down the scumbags of the drug trade. When her partner takes on a case to infiltrate the Hells Raiders MC, Samantha agrees to go undercover as his old lady but is surprised to find herself drawn to the very man she is investigating.

Benjamin “Bishop” Malloy has worked hard to carve a place for himself both in and out of the MC world. Working days as a mechanic, he spends his nights rebuilding motorcycles with the hope of one day owning his own shop. After taking one of the club’s new hang-arounds under his wing, Bishop is conflicted over his growing attraction for the man’s girlfriend.

Even though she’s determined to bring down the Raiders, Samantha discovers their world isn’t as black-and-white as she thought. And as the stakes grow higher, she’s in danger of losing more than her heart.

 

 

I have really enjoyed this MC series by Katie Ashley! I am sad to see it end, as I have grown really attached to the Malloy brothers, their family, and Raiders brothers. I was looking forward to Bishop's book and while I enjoyed it, I can't say it was my favorite of the three. I can't quite pinpoint why either. I liked that it was low on emotional drama (because we got quite enough of that in the previous book), but I don't know... it just felt a little lacking to me.

 

I really enjoyed Sam and Bishop's characters. Sam was quite the independent, strong-willed heroine and I had to give her props for her gumption. She doesn't back down and is determined to see her case through even after certain things transpire that make it off limits for her to do so. She ends up falling for Bishop, despite everything, and I liked seeing her come to that point. However, with the undercover premise and loyalty being a huge value for Bishop, you knew things weren't going to end well. It was a bit predictable in the end, but that didn't detract from my overall enjoyment.

 

I love Bishop's loyalty. He not only is loyal to his MC brothers, but also to his friends. He knew feeling the way he did for his friend's girl was wrong and he had immense guilt over it. He's just a good guy to the core and while I hated how he acted after things went south, I get how hurt he was too.

 

While they had some sexy, steamy scenes together, I felt like I needed to see more of a connection between the two. I don't doubt that they loved one another in the end, but I don't know... I just felt something lacking there.

 

While this wasn't my favorite of the Vicious Cycle books, I did still enjoy being back in the world. I loved seeing how happy Alex, Deacon, Willow, and little Wyatt are, as well as Rev and Annabel. These characters have been through so much... they deserve their happiness! I felt it was a satisfying end to the series and I'm glad I gave Katie Ashley a try!

 

Redemption Road (Vicious Cycle #2)
    by: Katie Ashley

Publication Date: Oct. 6, 2015
Publisher: Headline Eternal
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: Physical ARC received via the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 336 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4/5 stars

The New York Times bestselling author of Vicious Cycle plunges readers into a world of danger and desire in her newest in the Vicious Cycle motorcycle club romance series.

Looking for a walk on the wild side, Annabel Percy, the daughter of a powerful politician, starts dating a biker she knows is completely wrong for her. But she finds herself living a nightmare when she’s kidnapped and transported into a hell on earth she never could have imagined.

Born and bred into the Hells Raiders MC, Nathaniel “Reverend” Malloy lives and dies for his brothers. But when he becomes the unexpected savior of a rival club’s captive, Rev makes it his personal mission to nurse Annabel back to health—and to shelter her from the nightmares that torment her.

Once Annabel heals, she’s stunned to realize she is falling for the seductive man who saved her. Faced with their impossible attraction, can she accept the life he leads, or will Rev walk away from the only life he’s ever known for the woman he was never supposed to love?

 

 

Before I delve into my review, I want to make known that this book deals with some very heavy topics (namely rape). It was very difficult to read and while it didn't go into too much detail, I was unsure if I would be able to proceed. Having really enjoyed Ashley's first book in the series, Vicious Cycle, I knew I wanted to push through and I am glad I did because I really loved Rev and Annabel's romance.

 

Both of these characters have experienced horrors no person should ever have to go through in their life, and this is very much their story of healing. The title of this book is so very fitting, as both characters are seeking redemption from their pasts, even though what happened to them was not their fault. They will carry emotional scars with them for the rest of their lives and while they certainly anchor and ground the other, there is no magic cure to erase the past.

 

I am glad the book took on a lighter tone after the horrifying events of the beginning. It became about finding happiness and falling in love and with topics as delicate as the ones Ashley breached, I thought it was a good move on her part. I absolutely adored Rev and I love how dedicated and sweet he is to Annabel. He is unapologetic when it comes to protecting the ones he loves and I admire that about him. He isn't perfect though and he makes mistakes, but that endeared him to me. Letting Annabel go was the right decision, only because she was becoming too co-dependent on him and while I hate that she had to go back to her parents', I felt it was a move that made the two stronger in the end.

 

Annabel was a good female lead and I am glad she was able to take back her life and make her choices, considering she was stripped of that for so long. She really fit in well with Rev's family on the club's compound and I liked seeing her befriend Alexandra, Mama Beth, and Willow. Having never really had a true, close-knit family of her own, it was heartwarming to see so many people in her corner.

 

Overall, I enjoyed this one and I am really looking forward to Bishop's story. I really like motorcycle club books and seeing the brotherhood between members. It's more than just a club, it's another family, and I have really loved getting to know these characters.

 

Suddenly One Summer
    by: Julie James

Publication Date: June 2, 2015
Publisher: Jove
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: Physical ARC received via the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 304 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4/5 stars

From the New York Times bestselling author of It Happened One Wedding comes a novel about a man and a woman whose summer is about to get very, very steamy…

Divorce lawyer Victoria Slade has seen enough unhappy endings to swear off marriage forever. That doesn't mean she's opposed to casual dating—just not with her cocky new neighbor, who is as gorgeous and tempting as he is off-limits. But once she agrees to take on his sister's case, she's as determined to win as ever—even if that means teaming up with Ford…

Investigative journalist Ford Dixon is bent on finding the man who got his sister pregnant and left her high and dry. He's willing to partner with Victoria, despite the fact that the beautiful brunette gets under his skin like no other woman. He might not be looking to settle down, but there's no denying the scorching attraction between them. Still, the more time he spends with Victoria, the more he realizes that the one woman as skeptical about love as he is might be the only woman he could really fall for…  

 

 

This was my first Julie James book, but after reading and enjoying this one so much, it will definitely not be my last! I am excited to go back and reread about some of the couples that were mentioned in this book. I really liked both Ford and Victoria. Things do not get off to a very good start between them because of some miscommunication on her side, but I do love a good enemies to lovers story!

 

Ford and Victoria are next door neighbors and Victoria gets the wrong idea about the extremely good looking guy next door. Having seen him with multiple different women, Victoria makes the only assumption she can: he's a womanizer and she's not interested in becoming another conquest.

 

Victoria is very independent- she's had no other choice. Having grown up with a father who cheated on her mother and abandoned them, she had been left to deal with the fallout. Therefore, Victoria doesn't place much stock in lasting long-term relationships. Ford himself isn't looking for a relationship either, simply wanting to just have fun and live life as it comes. He also has felt the sting of abandonment as Victoria has, with his father being an alcoholic and presenting two very different faces in his life. Once the two are paired to work together to help Ford's sister, the sparks fly and both Victoria and Ford find themselves enjoying each others' company and the no-strings relationship attached. However, both are too stubborn to admit their true feelings for one another, once that relationship starts to feel too real.

 

I liked how much story we got with this one. Watching Ford and Victoria help Nicole was one of my favorite parts, aside from their romance. I was engaged from the get-go and wanted to see these two overcome their hang ups and find true love.

 

 

Vicious Cycle (Vicious Cycle #1)
    by: Katie Ashley

Publication Date: June 2, 2015
Publisher: NAL Trade
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: Physical ARC received via the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 336 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4/5 stars

New York Times bestselling author Katie Ashley revs up the danger and sexual tension in her brand-new Vicious Cycle romance series.

Deacon Malloy’s life is dedicated to the Hell’s Raiders motorcycle club. Tough, hard, and fast with his fists, he serves the group as sergeant at arms. But his devil-may-care approach to life is thrown for a loop when the five-year-old daughter he never knew existed lands on the club steps.

Alexandra Evans is devoted to all her students—but there’s always been something about Willow Malloy that tugs at her heart. There’s an aura of sadness about her, a girl in need of all the love Alexandra can give. When Willow stops coming to school, Alexandra’s search leads to a clubhouse full of bikers…and a father hell-bent on keeping his daughter always within sight.

The moment Deacon sees Alexandra, he has to have her in his bed—and he’s never met a woman yet who couldn’t be persuaded. No matter how attracted she is to Deacon, Alexandra refuses to be just another conquest. But it’s Deacon himself who could be seduced—into a brighter future for himself, his daughter, and the woman he’s falling for against all odds.

 

 

This was also my first Katie Ashley book and when I saw the review opportunity arise, I couldn't pass it up. Motorcycle clubs intrigue me and I loved the premise behind this one. I will say this book isn't for the faint of heart, though. It's definitely a rougher and tougher book and while I didn't jive with everything that was going on, I did still really enjoy it. I liked the romance between Deacon and Alex, even though there were a couple of physical instances between them that made me cringe. Deacon could be very hot-headed and he is definitely an act first, think later kind of guy. He is fiercely loyal and protective of his own though and once Alex joins that inner circle, things definitely heat up between them.

 

I loved Willow too. She is too cute for words and has been through so much in just 5 years. Her attachment to Alex was really sweet and it really melted my heart to see her open up to her. I also really enjoyed Deacon's brothers, Rev and Bishop, and I am super excited for both of their books. Rev has a softer, tender side and I really liked seeing that contrast between him and Deacon. Bishop is the playboy and isn't taken very seriously, which bothers him a bit. I am looking forward to seeing where Ashley takes both of their stories.

 

Overall, I did enjoy this one, even though some of the content was a bit hard to swallow. The Raiders do not tolerate disloyalty or other rival clubs encroaching on their territory, which has caused some serious animosity and tension. Amidst that tension, we see the bonds that tie these people together and they are not ones to be reckoned with.

After the War (Homefront #2)
   by: Jessica Scott

Publication Date: May 5, 2015
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC provided via the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 350 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4/5 stars

The second book in the emotional new Homefront series from USA Today Bestselling author Jessica Scott

A terrible loss…

Captain Sarah Anders lost her husband to the Iraq war and has nearly lost the career she loves. Sent to Fort Hood, she only wants to do her job and take care of the daughter she’s raising on her own. She never counted on running straight into a memory she’d tried to forget.

A love he never forgot...

Captain Sean Nichols never got over Sarah. He simply tried to forget her amidst the war and the chaos of combat. But when she’s assigned to investigate his unit, he comes face to face with the woman no war or any amount of time could make him forget.

A dark secret…

As Sarah gets closer to the truth, Sean must accept that actions he took during the war may end the tentative love building between them. And even if Sarah can forgive him, Sean may never be able to forgive himself.

 

 

Being a big fan of Jessica Scott's military romances, I knew I would have to give this one a go. I love second chance romances, so it was a no brainer I had to read it. The romance in this one takes a back seat to the actual storyline though. This didn't bother me because I was so engrossed in what was happening and seeing Sean and Sarah deal with the aftermath of a fight between soldiers. Still, what we do get of Sarah and Sean is really well done and I liked the slow building nature of their relationship.

 

Sarah and Sean have quite the past together and even though time has passed, they still remember the hurt they caused one another when they ended. Now, Sarah has been widowed by a good man whom she loved dearly and now has a daughter to care for. Sarah is hesitant to start something with Sean, as she feels it would be a betrayal to her late husband's memory. She has so much on her plate as it is, with dealing with her confusing feelings for Sean, being a single career mom, and dealing with an unforgiving supervisor. Sean is no different, with both of the fighting men being in his unit. It is hard for him to step back and look at the situation clearly, as he has served downrange with both, and one of which has been with him through some pretty dark times.

 

These last few books by Scott have been so enlightening as to what goes on between deployments and what it's like to be back on base, trying to acclimate. They are also incredibly heartbreaking, as some of them do not acclimate well and their drinking and drug use really become huge problems for them and their ability to do what is necessary for their jobs.

 

While the romance in this one is more on the subtle side, I did really like seeing Sarah and Sean find their way back to one another and giving the other some much needed hope that they can move forward and be happy.