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Tarnished Angels Motorcycle Club #4
Thrust & Throttle
My childhood best friend is a big, bad biker—and an animal in the bedroom.
I should know because we’ve been hooking up in secret for weeks.
We crossed a line we swore we’d never cross, but the lust we’d buried for years finally culminated in a night of heated passion.
I know the taste of Duke’s lips, but this is more than just desire. When we’re together I see the promise of forever in his eyes.
Duke is the only man who makes me feel safe enough to be vulnerable, but I’m terrified I’m going to screw it up and lose it all.
He won’t stop until he has every piece of me, including my heart. He wants me on the back of his bike, my name inked on his skin.
He wants me to be his Old Lady.
He wants me pregnant.
I should know because we’ve been hooking up in secret for weeks.
We crossed a line we swore we’d never cross, but the lust we’d buried for years finally culminated in a night of heated passion.
I know the taste of Duke’s lips, but this is more than just desire. When we’re together I see the promise of forever in his eyes.
Duke is the only man who makes me feel safe enough to be vulnerable, but I’m terrified I’m going to screw it up and lose it all.
He won’t stop until he has every piece of me, including my heart. He wants me on the back of his bike, my name inked on his skin.
He wants me to be his Old Lady.
He wants me pregnant.
462 pages, Paperback
First published January 31, 2023
710 people are currently reading
7605 people want to read
About the author
Emma Slate
29 books2,003 followersWall Street Journal & USA Today bestselling author Emma Slate writes romance with heart and heat.
Called “the dialogue queen” by her college playwriting professor, Emma writes love stories that range from romance-for-your-pants to action-flicks-for-chicks.
When she isn’t writing, she’s usually curled up under a heating blanket with a steamy romance novel and her two beagles—unless her outdoorsy husband can convince her to go on a hike.
Called “the dialogue queen” by her college playwriting professor, Emma writes love stories that range from romance-for-your-pants to action-flicks-for-chicks.
When she isn’t writing, she’s usually curled up under a heating blanket with a steamy romance novel and her two beagles—unless her outdoorsy husband can convince her to go on a hike.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 259 reviews
January 30, 2023
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Trope: friends to lovers, found family
Angst: 😱😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥.5
Fantastic addition to the Blue Angels Motorcycle Club! Willa's two best friends, Duke and Savage, have gotten her through all the hard times. From her negligent mother to having to raise a rebellious younger sister. They've been there for her. Endlessly. But Duke wants more. He's always wanted more and inch by inch he's getting her there. Willa feels like she's standing on the precipice of something big, but how will their evolving relationship affect their friendship with Savage? How can she risk the best thing she's ever had for something that "could be"?
Thrust and Throttle was really a super cute story about courage, resiliency, and the bravery required to forge your own family when blood doesn't. Duke is really the best. He never wavered, just waiting for Willa to be just close enough to the edge for a bit of a push to make her fall. Willa is both strong and vulnerable, a risk taker and a scaredy cat. I think I have a little bit harder time when the book starts after they're already involved, but as a fan of the series the chemistry between them has been smoking us out for the past 3 books, so that definitely helped. I did wish the pacing was a bit more evened out. It seemed a bit slower up front, became super fast paced, and then slowed down again, but regardless, I loved the story and the HEA for these characters is so well deserved and an integral part of the series progression. I also love how Emma always finds way to answer unanswered questions from the previous books into little nuggets in the new one. Just can't wait to see what's next!
⛔️ My bookshelves can sometimes be spoilers
Trope: friends to lovers, found family
Angst: 😱😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥.5
Fantastic addition to the Blue Angels Motorcycle Club! Willa's two best friends, Duke and Savage, have gotten her through all the hard times. From her negligent mother to having to raise a rebellious younger sister. They've been there for her. Endlessly. But Duke wants more. He's always wanted more and inch by inch he's getting her there. Willa feels like she's standing on the precipice of something big, but how will their evolving relationship affect their friendship with Savage? How can she risk the best thing she's ever had for something that "could be"?
Thrust and Throttle was really a super cute story about courage, resiliency, and the bravery required to forge your own family when blood doesn't. Duke is really the best. He never wavered, just waiting for Willa to be just close enough to the edge for a bit of a push to make her fall. Willa is both strong and vulnerable, a risk taker and a scaredy cat. I think I have a little bit harder time when the book starts after they're already involved, but as a fan of the series the chemistry between them has been smoking us out for the past 3 books, so that definitely helped. I did wish the pacing was a bit more evened out. It seemed a bit slower up front, became super fast paced, and then slowed down again, but regardless, I loved the story and the HEA for these characters is so well deserved and an integral part of the series progression. I also love how Emma always finds way to answer unanswered questions from the previous books into little nuggets in the new one. Just can't wait to see what's next!
⛔️ My bookshelves can sometimes be spoilers
March 19, 2025
I liked it but it kinda dragged at the end
January 30, 2023
I devoured this book. Like finished it the night I got it. Willa and Duke have my whole heart, oh my goodness. They’re the sweetest—they’re so meant to be and have such a strong connection, which makes sense considering they’ve been best friends for more than a decade! There’s a familiarity between the two of them that I really enjoyed reading, and everyone (except maybe Willa) knew Duke has always loved her. I hate how much Willa had to take on from such a young age; she hasn’t gotten to have much for herself, so I was happy to see everyone pushing her to go after what she wants. Not only has Duke always been there and supported Willa, but he’s also more than happy to be there for Waverly, too. I also absolutely loved the glimpses of everyone else. Seeing everyone together constantly had me cracking up 😂 There was a comfort and an ease to Willa and Duke (and plenty of spice 🔥), and the ending left me needing so much more of the Blue Angels world (when does the next one come out?!). I need to know more about Viper 👀 You can’t go wrong with the Blue Angels series!!
March 9, 2023
This whole book just kind of bored me…. The book starts with them already hooking up so you don’t experience them going from friends to lovers and are thrown in the middle. Willa’s hesitancy feels like a weak tool to find a reason to drag out the start of the book. There was absolutely no reason for this to be over 400 pages. It was a fine book but it just feels a bit purposeless. The couple never has any real struggles that threaten the relationship and have issues that could have been complex and made the story more compelling are comically underdeveloped. For instance, Duke and Willa need to get married apparently for custody and then we don’t experience any of the actual hurdles it would take for Willa to gain custody of her sister. The small suspenseful act towards the end is resolved within a handful of pages that is clearly just a plot device for future books.
September 15, 2024
2.5 ⭐️
This book has no stakes, not really any stakes just vibes of two friends getting together in MC world setting...
This book has no stakes, not really any stakes just vibes of two friends getting together in MC world setting...
March 3, 2023
I loved this one. It was amazing. Best friend to lovers. I love Willa and Duke together they are made for each other. And Savage is just an amazing friend. I can't wait for the next book!!!!
August 31, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
world building/plot: 🌎🌎🌎
tropes: mc biker romance, dark romance, childhood friends to lovers, promotion to parent, semi-slowburn
pov: singular (fmc’s pov except for epilogue)
🌶️🌶️🌶️
rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
world building/plot: 🌎🌎🌎
tropes: mc biker romance, dark romance, childhood friends to lovers, promotion to parent, semi-slowburn
pov: singular (fmc’s pov except for epilogue)
February 5, 2023
She did it again I love the found family trope and can’t wait for the next book!!!!
January 31, 2023
This is book 4 in the Blue Angels MC series, and it's also told from the FMC point of view. We know Willa, her sister, and her two bikers best friends from the previous book, but we didn't know that she had a past with one of them and he's in love with her. With a lot of drama going onin her personal life, Willa is a bit wary of taking the relationship public, but her man is patient and supportive, all in from the begining - like a good alpha biker.
They're hot together and the transition from friends to lovers goes pretty smooth. The author does a great job with all the characters. We see a lot of the previous characters popping up, and while it can be read as a stand-alone, you'll enjoy it more following the series.
***I received an ARC in exchange of an honest review***
They're hot together and the transition from friends to lovers goes pretty smooth. The author does a great job with all the characters. We see a lot of the previous characters popping up, and while it can be read as a stand-alone, you'll enjoy it more following the series.
***I received an ARC in exchange of an honest review***
February 1, 2023
Missing the MC element
I struggled with rating this book. It was good, but like the last book in the series, it focused too much on the h and only about 10% of the book towards the end focused on the club. If this was the author’s intention to take the series in this direction, she really should have called the series the Blue Angels Old Ladies, because we see plenty of them and almost none of the club. Book one was a great example of a MC story, and if the author would have continued the series in the same fashion this would have easily been a 5 star book.
I struggled with rating this book. It was good, but like the last book in the series, it focused too much on the h and only about 10% of the book towards the end focused on the club. If this was the author’s intention to take the series in this direction, she really should have called the series the Blue Angels Old Ladies, because we see plenty of them and almost none of the club. Book one was a great example of a MC story, and if the author would have continued the series in the same fashion this would have easily been a 5 star book.
January 30, 2023
My heart is so full right now.
Whilst this book absolutely brings the danger, intrigue and suspense you expect from an MC series, it’s actually a little lighter in a lot of ways than the previous books.
The author always give us such rich depths to her love stories between the MC’s but this one felt next level to me.
Duke was so deep from the get go, he knew what he wanted and was willing to wait Willa out for it, knowing her so well that he knew she needed to come to this in her own time. His 🔥 rating is spicy and boy does he do his best to sell her on the advantages of being together all the time!!!
Willa has never had easy. Everything has come to her so hard, even the nice things she has fought for so when more bad stuff happens then this girl just rolls with the punches.
Most of this story is about them and the story of finding their way truly to each other, hiding (ha!) from the rest of the MC what had changed and then moving forward rapidly to where they always should have been.
It’s the last part that gets pacy and heartstopping, rapidly moving from a comfortable love story to dangerous ground and introducing a storyline that will no doubt mean big, bad, emotionally devastating things for the books to come.
I’m totally here for it and can’t wait for this series to continue. So many awesome characters, so many relationships hinted towards and others I just love reading more about (Darcey and Gray are my favourite peripheral couple here, I’d love to read more about them)
Highly recommended, fab read.
Whilst this book absolutely brings the danger, intrigue and suspense you expect from an MC series, it’s actually a little lighter in a lot of ways than the previous books.
The author always give us such rich depths to her love stories between the MC’s but this one felt next level to me.
Duke was so deep from the get go, he knew what he wanted and was willing to wait Willa out for it, knowing her so well that he knew she needed to come to this in her own time. His 🔥 rating is spicy and boy does he do his best to sell her on the advantages of being together all the time!!!
Willa has never had easy. Everything has come to her so hard, even the nice things she has fought for so when more bad stuff happens then this girl just rolls with the punches.
Most of this story is about them and the story of finding their way truly to each other, hiding (ha!) from the rest of the MC what had changed and then moving forward rapidly to where they always should have been.
It’s the last part that gets pacy and heartstopping, rapidly moving from a comfortable love story to dangerous ground and introducing a storyline that will no doubt mean big, bad, emotionally devastating things for the books to come.
I’m totally here for it and can’t wait for this series to continue. So many awesome characters, so many relationships hinted towards and others I just love reading more about (Darcey and Gray are my favourite peripheral couple here, I’d love to read more about them)
Highly recommended, fab read.
March 18, 2023
Did I just become a friends to lovers fan??? Idkkkk but I loooveeeddd this story so much.
One: As a little sister with 2 amazing big sisters I loved Willa so much. She would do anything for Waverly and their sister relationship was so beautiful.
Two: Duke, Savage and Willa’s friendship was adorable, they really would all do anything for each other (and Waverly).
Three: Duke??? LOVE HIM. He is so patient and so kind to Willa, like I need that. He basically waited all this time for her to realized that he loves her so much 🥹 I could cry b/c of how understanding he is.
The only complaint I would say is that I wish there was a bit more build up to Duke and Willa’s relationship, as the book started with them already hooking up. Other than that, I really like this book, and I really love this series.
One: As a little sister with 2 amazing big sisters I loved Willa so much. She would do anything for Waverly and their sister relationship was so beautiful.
Two: Duke, Savage and Willa’s friendship was adorable, they really would all do anything for each other (and Waverly).
Three: Duke??? LOVE HIM. He is so patient and so kind to Willa, like I need that. He basically waited all this time for her to realized that he loves her so much 🥹 I could cry b/c of how understanding he is.
The only complaint I would say is that I wish there was a bit more build up to Duke and Willa’s relationship, as the book started with them already hooking up. Other than that, I really like this book, and I really love this series.
January 30, 2023
In true form Slate not only shines her light on the featured characters, but she keeps us up to date with characters from the previous three books and hints at who could be in the next book. Willa has an extremely messy life because of her negligent mother but Willa and her two best friends do their best with her strong-willed younger sister, Waverly. Duke knows his best friend and his words melted my heart. This was a great story about resilience and "found family." Trouble still brews in Waco TX with the bad guys from all the previous books and we can see earlier characters still struggling with PTSD.
Don't think this is a fluffy contemporary romance novel with people who ride motorcycles sometimes—violence, vigilante justice, lingering trauma, crappy parents, and troubled teens throughout. But loyalty and love help everyone along this journey called life. 18+ Can't wait for the next one!
Don't think this is a fluffy contemporary romance novel with people who ride motorcycles sometimes—violence, vigilante justice, lingering trauma, crappy parents, and troubled teens throughout. But loyalty and love help everyone along this journey called life. 18+ Can't wait for the next one!
January 29, 2023
PERFECT from start to finish!!! I truly loved every moment and aspect of this story. To say it it met all my expectations is and understatement, it gave me MORE.
Duke and Willa stole my heart and ran with it. Their story had my heart beating faster with every page. They simply breathtaking, enticing and heart-melting characters with a highly engaging, touching and profound storyline.
Overall this book will give you all the FEELS. Beyond the spicy and romantic elements of this OUTSTANDING story I was captivated by the incredible friendships and family relationships presented within this romance.
The whole Blue Angel MC series is immensely addictive and it utterly consumes me. The same goes for Duke and Willa’s book. From the very beginning I was connected to these characters and their personalities.
Congratulations Emma!! This book is undeniably MEMORABLE and REMARKABLE🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
Duke and Willa stole my heart and ran with it. Their story had my heart beating faster with every page. They simply breathtaking, enticing and heart-melting characters with a highly engaging, touching and profound storyline.
Overall this book will give you all the FEELS. Beyond the spicy and romantic elements of this OUTSTANDING story I was captivated by the incredible friendships and family relationships presented within this romance.
The whole Blue Angel MC series is immensely addictive and it utterly consumes me. The same goes for Duke and Willa’s book. From the very beginning I was connected to these characters and their personalities.
Congratulations Emma!! This book is undeniably MEMORABLE and REMARKABLE🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
February 4, 2023
Outstanding
Omg I was on the edge of my feet the whole book though the last book almost did me in, please please don't let anything happen to savage please. Will and Duke so worth the wait
Omg I was on the edge of my feet the whole book though the last book almost did me in, please please don't let anything happen to savage please. Will and Duke so worth the wait
February 5, 2023
Omg this series is bloody brilliant, can't wait for book 5, these just get better and better and I love how all the characters intertwine with each other
January 26, 2025
Can’t explain why, but this might be my favorite so far! I say that a lot, I but always mean it.
April 20, 2025
Ik had een ander soort verhaal verwacht, maar het was alsnog een prima boek om te lezen. Het leest lekker door en het is leuk dat alle personages telkens terugkomen in elk deel. Wel heb ik het idee dat er met elke vrouw in elk deel iets ‘moet’ gebeuren, waardoor er veel herhaling is.
December 25, 2023
not what I expected but good
After the first 3 books I think I was expecting something that was just as hard hitting. This book seemed to be about acceptance of their problems and the changing dynamics between our main couple. These stories are more of what couples face every where and the author skill fully integrated them into an MC book without making it to softer story. There was one main bit in the story that was totally MC but it was kept really simple so you lost most of that but as it is an ongoing part of the series baseline I’m sure it will come up again. It’s nice to read the more human / easier side of the MC life but missed the power plays.
After the first 3 books I think I was expecting something that was just as hard hitting. This book seemed to be about acceptance of their problems and the changing dynamics between our main couple. These stories are more of what couples face every where and the author skill fully integrated them into an MC book without making it to softer story. There was one main bit in the story that was totally MC but it was kept really simple so you lost most of that but as it is an ongoing part of the series baseline I’m sure it will come up again. It’s nice to read the more human / easier side of the MC life but missed the power plays.
October 6, 2023
I am really loving this series! Each new couple becomes a favourite, though in reality I like them all.
This book was a little lighter on the MC side of things but still a great read. It has all the feels we want and expect of an MC romance.
This is book is about three people who became friends at nine years old and were inseparable through the years no matter what happened. It started out so it actually would have been good as a triad though that was not ever the intent.
While three people formed a bond and friendship two of them fell in love but due to life's trials and tribulations they could never declare or move forward not wanting to hurt the 3rd friend.
This is their story.
A great read!
This book was a little lighter on the MC side of things but still a great read. It has all the feels we want and expect of an MC romance.
This is book is about three people who became friends at nine years old and were inseparable through the years no matter what happened. It started out so it actually would have been good as a triad though that was not ever the intent.
While three people formed a bond and friendship two of them fell in love but due to life's trials and tribulations they could never declare or move forward not wanting to hurt the 3rd friend.
This is their story.
A great read!
August 4, 2023
What was happening in this story.
1. It was kind of boring, barley, any MC stuff, just poor Willa drama.
2. How rude and selfish Waverley was.. she watched her sister take her in with nothing, couldn't afford to replace her clothes, barely enough for a mattress or chest of drawers, has 2 jobs and was considering a 3rd, she gets sad she can't go to New York for her birthday making her sister feel bad and that girl has $4k hidden behind the toilet and doesn't offer to help!!!!,
3. Willa (insert forever eye roll) the back and forth on making the relationship public went on way too long it was annoying.. but then like 2 days of making it public they have to get married for a stupid reason (colt and Mia only needed a piece of paper, beat the dad a little and they got guardianship of a non related person.. MAKE👏SENSE👏OF👏THAT👏MAKE👏SENSE), but then they are talking about having babies and want to start ASAP.. YOU CAN'T AFFORD THE CURRENT CHILD YOU ARE TRYING TO GET GAURDIANSHIP OF what the actual F is the rush. They are 24, and they don't need a child straight away. (But of course, it only took them like a month and boom)
I lost complete interest when the marriage of convenience came up and then went off Birth Control straight away.. what a joke.
There was barely any drama.. there was a chapter of it, and they made it out that it was like the worst thing to happen.. im sorry, but DOCs story was the worst.
This was the worst book so far as it just had no point.. so disappointing.
*The best character was Savage who gave off complete Joey from friends vibes.*
1. It was kind of boring, barley, any MC stuff, just poor Willa drama.
2. How rude and selfish Waverley was.. she watched her sister take her in with nothing, couldn't afford to replace her clothes, barely enough for a mattress or chest of drawers, has 2 jobs and was considering a 3rd, she gets sad she can't go to New York for her birthday making her sister feel bad and that girl has $4k hidden behind the toilet and doesn't offer to help!!!!,
3. Willa (insert forever eye roll) the back and forth on making the relationship public went on way too long it was annoying.. but then like 2 days of making it public they have to get married for a stupid reason (colt and Mia only needed a piece of paper, beat the dad a little and they got guardianship of a non related person.. MAKE👏SENSE👏OF👏THAT👏MAKE👏SENSE), but then they are talking about having babies and want to start ASAP.. YOU CAN'T AFFORD THE CURRENT CHILD YOU ARE TRYING TO GET GAURDIANSHIP OF what the actual F is the rush. They are 24, and they don't need a child straight away. (But of course, it only took them like a month and boom)
I lost complete interest when the marriage of convenience came up and then went off Birth Control straight away.. what a joke.
There was barely any drama.. there was a chapter of it, and they made it out that it was like the worst thing to happen.. im sorry, but DOCs story was the worst.
This was the worst book so far as it just had no point.. so disappointing.
*The best character was Savage who gave off complete Joey from friends vibes.*
February 18, 2023
I really really wanted to like the is more, as I’m digging this series. But….don’t like Willa. She’s seriously THE most weak and whiny female I’ve ever read. I just wanted to stop reading this cause of her wussiness (is that a word?). The only saving graces: I like her relationship who her sister, I love the relationship between Duke and Savage, I love the camaraderie in the club. Just wish Willa could have grown a set waaayyyy before long. I have a feeling that the next installment in the saga is going to get hella-serious. Didn’t care for that turn in the story but I guess it needed that drama to pull you in for more. Wondering if Waverly will get her own story in the future.
February 5, 2024
This definitely wasn’t my favorite of the series but still quite enjoyable.
By about 75 % the author suddenly seemed to realize that this is supposed to be an MC book so she added a bit of drama. That came a bit out of left field.
By about 75 % the author suddenly seemed to realize that this is supposed to be an MC book so she added a bit of drama. That came a bit out of left field.
May 8, 2025
How did I not review this the first time I read it? I do love the Blue Angels stories and hate that she changed the name. Tarnished Angels is dumb.
April 30, 2023
This series has my whole heart, but this is the worst of the series. So boring.
January 14, 2025
I don’t like friends to lovers but I still read this under 24h so 🤩
September 20, 2024
Probably the most boring one of the series....but keep going, the others are better
October 15, 2024
I felt like something was missing
But that didn’t made me stop reading and the sister relationship was just so cute
But that didn’t made me stop reading and the sister relationship was just so cute
Displaying 1 - 30 of 259 reviews