Synopsis:
Sinning never felt so good…
A fortuitous encounter.
A meeting that should never have happened.
Many years ago, two children from completely different worlds forged a connection, a fateful connection, an unbreakable bond that would change their lives forever…
Salome knows only one way to live—under Prophet David’s rule. In the commune she calls home, Salome knows nothing of life beyond her strict faith, nor of life beyond the Fence—the fence that cages her, keeps her trapped in an endless cycle of misery. A life she believes she is destined to always lead, until a horrific event sets her free.
Fleeing the absolute safety of all she has ever known, Salome is thrust into the world outside, a frightening world full of uncertainty and sin; into the protective arms of a person she believed she would never see again.
River ‘Styx’ Nash knows one thing for certain in life—he was born and bred to wear a cut. Raised in a turbulent world of sex, Harleys, and drugs, Styx, unexpectedly has the heavy burden of the Hades Hangmen gavel thrust upon him, and all at the ripe old age of twenty-six—much to his rivals’ delight.
Haunted by a crushing speech impediment, Styx quickly learns to deal with his haters. Powerful fists, an iron jaw and the skillful use of his treasured German blade has earned him a fearsome reputation as a man not to be messed with in the shadowy world of outlaw MC’s. A reputation that successfully keeps most people far, far away.
Styx has one rule in life—never let anyone get too close. It’s a plan that he has stuck to for years, that is, until a young woman is found injured on his lot… a woman who looks uncannily familiar, a woman who clearly does not belong in his world, yet a woman he feels reluctant to let go…
My Review:
2.75 stars — Welp, this was my second chance for both Tillie Cole and MC books. And while this book did better for both aspects, I was still seriously underwhelmed. So looks like all those books I bought from Tillie Cole will now be going into my cloud to get lost and dusty. 🙁
Soooo…. I was actually super intrigued with the prologue. The meeting between those two children was quite sweet and I already felt their connection. And the circumstances surrounding both main characters intrigued me. I’m somewhat fascinated with cults (in a bad car accident, just can’t look away kind of way), so I actually enjoyed the look into that aspect (even if it was quite horrific at times). And the concept of a feared MC leader who has a speech impediment? Seriously interesting. (And I just realized that that’s a disability, so hey — almost another diversity read!)
And I didn’t mind either character at first — they weren’t overly annoying, and while the crude language and basic den of iniquity that surrounds a MC was pervasive, I was too intrigued by the characters to let it bother me. But at some point I lost that fascination, and the little things started pecking at my brain. As Mae described him (IIRC), Styx really was like two completely different people. Which could be kind of hard to believe. And I’m generally not into falling for a guy who’s a psychopathic murderer who actually enjoys and is proud of his torture techniques. (Though what’s strange is that I was fascinated by the WAY MORE PSYCHOPATHIC Flame character — and was quite disappointed that he wasn’t the focus of book 2 which I already own)
As for Mae, she let me down in a few areas. (Warning: a bit spoilery, so read this paragraph with caution) First — if someone you truly loved was beat to all hell and barely able to stand, and you go in to help clean them up, would you really stand there and get wet for them just b/c it’s the first time you saw them naked? Am I the only one that would be more concerned with their welfare, and less focused on my lustful feelings? I don’t know. Didn’t sit right with me (and yes I know it’s a tiny part). Second — the whole Rider shezzizle. Once she figured out he was in love with her, what kind of selfish cow must she be to want him around to be her best friend?? Like seriously, it’s causing him pain, but she just keeps confronting him and rubbing it in his face??? Bad form. Seriously heartless and cruel. I didn’t really like how she wavered around Rider at all in the end…and frankly didn’t even like Rider that much, even before he became cranky obsessive Rider (never really trusted him).
And this seems to be a trademark of Ms. Cole’s — but I really don’t like how she makes her characters talk. It wasn’t too bad in this book, though I read a review or two of the next book and it seems to get worse. I’m not talking about the b*tch stuff (though that got tiring)…I’m talking about the…I don’t know…almost way she was portraying Texans? It just seemed really stereotypical, not authentic.
Was going to maybe give the second book in this series a try thinking it would be Flame and Maddie, b/c I am sooooo curious what’s up with Flame (he’s f’d up yo). But turns out it’s Kyler and Lilah, and they just did not interest me at all. So I’m officially giving up on Ms. Cole. Apparently her writing is just not for me (putting me in the minority).
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