4.75 stars
If you love MC Romance, then this anthology is going to be right up your alley. I have written a short review under each title.
Thunderstruck by MariaLisa deMora:
This is the first time that I have read this author but it sure won’t be the last time. I am a little mad at myself that in the 900 + books that I have read this year or even last year that I had never read anything by this author. Her writing style intrigued me and sucked me in right away. Even in this short story, I wanted more. Into even about the main character Wildman or the heroine Justine. It intrigued me enough that when I am done with this anthology, I am going in search of other works by this author in order to see if there are stories about the other characters and their MC’s. This was heavy on action, intrigue, and hot steamy times (that surprisingly enough for being a novella still had a story. A story that I wanted expanded on.
Out of Sight by Giana Darling
I discovered this author this year and am hooked. If you haven’t read her other works then I implore you to do so ASAP. There is just such a simple yet poetic way that she uses her words to create an image. For example, “The customers were seedy but interesting, with art painted, punched, and punctured into their faces and bodies, exposed by leather, lace, and cheap cotton.” So much more eloquent than saying they were tattooed and pierced and dressed opposite of the elite class. It was wonderful to see Zeus and Bat from The Fallen MC series make an appearance in this short novella. Matt and Tayline fit right into the mix of what that MC stands for. This novella was only five chapters and I may (totally did) have cursed that it didn’t go on longer because anything this author writes I want to consume.
Hellraiser’s Reckoning by Amo Jones
This is a first time read from this author in which I find myself mad at myself about this because I have had several of this author's books on my TBR for a while. I will rectify that as soon as this anthology is done. Holy hell, this story left me with soooo many questions that I needed answered. There were so many characters that I wanted to know more about (Umm Hello Ade. Not sure where he came from, but I think he might be my future baby daddy). Especially, the relationship between Melissa and Hella. I wanted to know their backstory. From the prologue to the ending was just gold. I NEED more.
Hollow Heart by Anne Malcolm
I discovered this author this year too and when I say that I need her words like I need air I am not joking. Whether it is PNR or MC romance her words are truly the personification of sublime bliss. She writes words that stick with me for days, “… Graveyards aren’t for the dead, they were built by the living to fuel their delusions about comfort in the face of loss.” They are profound and usually come from a scene that is often so horrifying that it is a punch to the gut. Yet, she somehow manages to show how beauty can (and often does) live in the darkness. To be back in the midst of The Sons of Templar world was a dream come true. This is one of the grittiest and heart-wrenching MC series that I have ever read. It is violent and real, and heartbreaking. However, this brotherhood somehow still becomes family. When they hurt, I hurt, when tragedy strikes, I feel their loss. That is a gift. I loved these characters. Cain and “Scarlett”. I knew there was a story there in regards to Scarlett and boy was there. I wanted to know more about Cain. A large part of this was probably because I wanted this to go on and not end. I have missed this family. I can’t wait for more and this book definitely paved the way to opening that door as they get vengeance.
Long Time Coming by Chantal Fernando
This is a new to me author and again one I will be looking forward to catching up on in the future. Zach and April were sweet together in this second chance romance. This story was not a hard and gritty MC life. Instead, it was more focused on what had happened in the past with these two and building on how to fix the mistakes that had gotten the two of them where they were now. I wanted to know what was in store for them in the future and to know more about the secondary characters.
