Wife Number One

Saint View Slayers vs. Sinners #1

by Elle Thorpe

Forced to marry a notorious cult leader, I became wife number one.

The other women watch me with envy, but they know nothing of the beatings and punishments I endure. He hides them with a veil. One I must wear until I give him a son.

But when I fail, he threatens the only good things in my life. My sister, Alice, and the daughter he ripped from my arms for another family to raise.

I thought running back to Saint View would save us. I thought wrong.

Now my sister is dead, left strangled in an alleyway, and my ex-husband isn’t the only suspect.

To catch a killer, I move in with the local biker gang that promises to keep us safe. But my new life as a single mom delivers more than I ever could have bargained for, and three men I never saw coming.

Hawk, the club VP who doesn’t want me there. Except his green eyes flicker with desire at every curve of my plus size body.

Chaos, ex-gang leader and part owner of an after-hours nightclub. The connection between us is undeniable, except for one small problem. He’s Hawk’s sworn enemy, so completely off-limits.

And Grayson, the doctor who couldn’t save his wife from a brutal attack. He’s funny and sweet but has his own desperate reasons for wanting the killer found.

With every lie we uncover, every secret we expose, the danger mounts. Until there’s only one thing we know for sure.

The killer is still out there. And we’re his next targets.

Wife Number One is a why choose romance, meaning the main character has more than one love interest. This book contains romantic suspense / dark themes that may trigger some readers. It is the first book in a trilogy.

Genres: Dark Romance, Why Choose, Romance, Dark, Audiobook, Forced Proximity, Suspense

450 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 15, 2024

About the author

USA Today Bestselling author Elle Thorpe is the author of over thirty romance titles, including Amazon top ten books, Start a War and Locked Up Liars. She is best known for her dark reverse harems, and sexy small town romances.

When she's not writing, she's probably out on her family's alpaca farm in rural Australia.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ellethorpebooks
Instagram: www.instagram.com/ellethorpebooks
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ellethorpebooks

Reviews

[Noa · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Forced to marry a cult leader, I became wife number one."

There was no other way.
She had to get out.
She had to leave.
Forced to marry a cult leader. The first one. Wife number one.
Kara had to take her daughter out of there.
She had no choice.
She ran to Saint View.
But she learns she can't outrun the past.
She can't run away from the three men who want to protect her.
And she isn't sure she wants to.

"We were out, but that was only the beginning."

Oh Elle Thorpe how I missed you!!
Little background - Elle Thorpe is one of my all-time favorite authors - hands down.
She brings you into a world that you're immediately obsessed with! All of her series I have binged in days I could not put them down and I have a feeling this series will be no different!!

"He wasn't my husband. He wasn't one of the lord's favorites. I could disobey him. And yet, I couldn't."

I have CRAVED Kara's story since the Rebel series and Elle Thorpe I will pray at your altar because this book was absolutely amazing! Kara's backstory, Saint View as a whole, the mystery, and the new MMCs to obsess over!!!
I cannot wait to continue this series - I am absolutely obsessed💚💚💚
You have Hawk - the classic MC MMC
Hayden - think of Carmie in "The Bear" but make him an ex-MC leader
And Gray who I cannot wait to find out more about but he's a doctor (and yes I just realized I sound like a mom trying to fix up her daughter but we move on).
Anyway to summarize - another amazing banger masterpiece by Elle Thorpe

"Something had clicked between us that couldn't be undone."

This playliist is giving grunge religious trauma feminine rage vibes and honestly I was living for every second of it thank you very much 💚💚

(Link - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5x7...)

🎶 "LABOUR - the cacophony" - Paris Paloma
🎶 "Us and Pigs" - SOFIA ISELLA
🎶 "Saint Bernard" - Lincoln
🎶 "SWINE" - Demi Lovato
🎶 "I Want Out" - LOWBORN
🎶 "No Return" - Alanis Morissette
🎶 "BREATHING UNDERWATER" - Hot Milk
🎶 "Enter Sandman" - Alessia Cara, The Warning
🎶 "The Village" - Wrabel
🎶 "Burning Down - Alex's Version" - Alex Warren
🎶 "Run Boy Run - Instrumental" - Woodkid
🎶 "Harder To Breathe" - Letdown.
🎶 "Judas" - Cage The Elephant
🎶 "Not All Men" - Morgan St. Jean
🎶 "Icarus" - Bastille
🎶 "The Violence" - Asking Alexandria
🎶 "V.A.N." - Bad Omens, Poppy
🎶 "as good a reason" - Paris Paloma
🎶 "I Disagree" - Poppy
🎶 "Seven Devils" - Florence + The Machine
🎶 "Moth To A Flame" - Swedish House Mafia, The Weeknd
🎶 "On My Mind" - Ellie Goulding
🎶 "River" - BRKN LOVE
🎶 "War Pigs" - Eva Under Fire
🎶 "doomsday" - Lizzy McAlpine
🎶 "Take Me to Church" - MILCK
🎶 "Church" - Fall Out Boy
🎶 "I'm Not Okay" - Citizen Soldier
🎶 "Panic Room - Acoustic" - Au/Ra
🎶 "Lonely" - Justin Bieber, benny blance
🎶 "Sinners" - Ari Abdul, Thomas LaRosa
🎶 "Heaven" - Julia Michaels
🎶 "Way down We Go - Slowed Down" - Kaleo
🎶 "I Ran (So Far Away) - Epic Trailer Version" - Hidden Citizens
🎶 "Smells Like Teen Spirit" - Malia J
🎶 "forget me too" - mgk, Halsey
🎶 "My Immortal" - Evanescence
🎶 "Paralyzed" - Sueco
🎶 "nameless" - Stevie Howie
🎶 "Survivor" - 2WEI, Edda Hayes
🎶 "eyes don't lie" - Isabel LaRosa
🎶 "Talking Body" - Tove Lo
🎶 "Body" - Rosenfeld
🎶 "Devil Devil" - MILCK
🎶 "Paranoid" - Palaye Royale
🎶 "Nightmare" - UNDREAM, Neoni
🎶 "Doomed" - Bring Me The Horizon
🎶 "Like You Mean It" - Steven Rodriguez
🎶 "Ride for Me" - Daniel Di Angelo
🎶 "greedy" - Tate McRae
🎶 "Suffocate City" - The Funeral Portrait, Ice Nine Kills
🎶 "Rain" - grandson, Jessie Reyez
🎶 "sugar honey ice & tea" - Bring Me The Horizon
🎶 "Sugar" - Sleep Token
🎶 "I Want It All" - Cameron Grey
🎶 "Fallin' (Adrenaline)" - Why Don’t We
🎶 "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)" - Rezz, fknsyd
🎶 "F.I.N.E." - Too Close To Touch
🎶 "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)" - Lo Spirit
🎶 "Skeletons" - New Years Day
🎶 "Parasite Eve" - Bring Me The Horizon
🎶 "Ain't No Rest for the Wicked" - Cage The Elephane
🎶 "Ain't No Love In Oklahoma" - Luke Combs
🎶 "It Will Come Back" - Hozier
🎶 "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" - Joseph William Morgan, Shadow Royale

And you know Elle Thorpe knows how to bring the spice EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

"So fucking wet for me, Little Mouse. You’re such a good girl. I knew you would be."

"Wrap your legs around my head. Take what you need."

"Stop fucking saying you're sorry. Do you have any idea how sweet your pussy is, fluttering like that, wet and dripping?"

✝️ Tropes ✝️

🏍️ Why Choose / Polyamorous Romance
🏍️ Plus Size FMC
🏍️ Single Mom
🏍️ MC Romance
🏍️ Cult
🏍️ Dark Romance
🏍️ Murder Mystery

Book Edit - https://www.instagram.com/p/DBMVcaKAU...

[Mikayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

If Elle Thorpe has a million fans, I am one of them.
If Elle Thorpe has one fan, it is me.
If Elle Thorpe has no fans, I am dead.
If Elle Thorpe stops making Saint View books, I will have grippy socks.
If these YUMMMMMMY men were standing in front of me, I am naked.
If they asked to hand me to the ceiling fan by my nipples, I will be dizzy.

YALL, I beg of you to start reading the Saint View universe books. The dynamic between these characters is so top tier is sick. the humor, mysters, SPICE, plot twists etc etc etc is fucking delicious.. i read through these books too fast 😭, fuck it, ill do an immediate re read…for science lmfao

I thought I hated Calebs ass, turns out JOSIAH IS PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE BROTHER. Smutheads unite. fuck him, twat.

also Hayden can get it every day of the week and thrice on sundays okay. Hawk can get it while im doing a damn handstand, like bro tell me how you want me…. Dr Gray…i need more information.

💚PLUS SIZE ROMANCE
💚SINGLE MOM
💚SPICY CLUB
💚REVERSE HAREM
💚CULT & BIKERS/MC
💚MM ENEMIES TO LOVERS
💚DARK ROMANCE
💚MURDER MYSTERY

BEWARE OF THE CLIFFHANGER QUEEN

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wife Number One is book one in the Saint View Slayers vs. Sinners trilogy by Elle Thorpe. This is the trilogy that I first saw promotions for and wanted to read. But then realized that the trilogies in this Saint View World are better read in order. So I started from the beginning and am FINALLY here! And wow, this first book is filled with so much! I’m so glad, though, that I did this properly and started at the beginning because I understand all the relationships between all of the characters and have already gotten to know most of the main characters in this series.



Kara is Rebel’s younger sister whom we have met before. Now she is going to get her story and hopefully a chance at the happiness she so deserves. Five years previously, she had taken her newborn baby daughter back to the commune her parents lived at in Texas. She was forced to marry the cult leader, Josiah. And after she failed to get pregnant, her baby was taken from her and given to another woman to raise. She was also forced to wear a heavy veil so others wouldn’t look upon her failures. She endured five years of abuse from Josiah. When she finds out what other plans Josiah has, she, her younger sister Alice and her child, Hayley Jade, run.



Hawk Robinson is thirty five years old and is the VP of the Saint View Slayers MC. We’ve gotten to know him in previous series as a tough guy who cares about nothing. But, when Kara comes back to Saint View and is brought to the MC for her and Hayley Jade’s protection, he falls hard. For the first time ever.



We also met Hayden Whitling previously as Chaos, the leader of the Saint View Sinners MC, who is the Slayers sworn enemies. Now Hayden is out of the club, trying to make a decent life for himself. All he really wants to do is cook. It’s his passion. He and Kara have a past, one that puts himself as both her enemy and her savior. He’s never forgotten her for even a day. They had a connection despite the circumstances.

The third man is Dr. Fredderick Grayson or Gray. I don’t know him well yet. Only that he has lost his wife previously and the case was never solved. He is the only new character to this book and I’m anxious to get to know him better.

Kara has no where else to go but back to Saint View and her sister, Rebel. She knows Josiah will never just let her go. And that he is beyond dangerous. But, her own daughter barely knows her, having been kept away from her. And she is trading one prison, the cult, for another, the MC. Even though the MC is trying to protect her.

So, we’re off and running. It’s funny because I KNOW the cliff hangers are coming. I’m well aware how these trilogies work. But still, when they get here, it’s still a complete shock, every single time! This one is a doozy. But of course, I have the next book downloaded and ready to go. So I might be rushing through this review a bit so I can start it. All I can say at this point, is READ THESE TRILOGIES. If you haven’t, you are so missing out on something amazing!

For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...

[Mysti · Rating 1 out of 5]

well that didn't take long...... I normally wouldn't rate a book that I only got to page 38 of; however, somebody needs to pay for the time I suffered.

Sure - I didn't finish it - but I literally hate everything about it.

So the FMC is a dumb bitch. I don't know all the details because I obviously didn't finish, but so far the author has decided to start this book with a 5-year time jump ahead (and you know I hate time jumps).

Anyway - apparently, 5 years ago the FMC escaped the cult she was a member of. During her time in the "outside world", she fell in love with the MMC and got pregnant. We don't know why she leaves the MMC, but she refers to the outside world as being "cruel to her and having nowhere to go" when she was pregnant, so she RETURNED to the cult. She's now married to the cult leader, along with several other women, and he rapes all of them on the regular. Apparently, it's their heavenly duty to produce babies with this holy man. They TAKE her child from her and give it to another woman to raise and never let her have any contact with the child.

So, from this point, we know she escaped long enough to know that being in the cult is NOT normal. She had sex with someone else, but apparently never told the MMC she was pregnant because we briefly get his useless POV and he doesn't know. I fucking HATE when an FMC keeps a child from the MMC. HATE. IT. It's fucked up. And instead of trying to find a way in the outside world, she returns to the cult!!!! Shitty mom! Hello Lori Daybell. Anyway- now the cult leader and his other "holy men" are sitting around a campfire with the 5-yo child sitting on a man's lap, while they discuss selling the child for sex.

At this point I was like FUCK. YOU.

I hate kids in books - but what do I hate more?? SHITTY FUCKING PARENTS. I've read plenty of books with child sexual abuse has happened or is discussed, so that's not my trigger. It's that the FMC escaped and then returned to a dangerous situation and took a child with her. I will never like this FMC. Hopefully she dies, but I highly doubt it.

Hate this so much that the author made my "banned authors" list.

[Danny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. God!!! Another absolutely AMAZING Saint View trilogy!! Wife Number One, book 1 of the trilogy, already set the tone for how good the rest will be! I could not put this down, I devoured it and I loved every second of it!!
Saint View is one of my favorite book series and this one couldn’t have started it in a better way!

Kara and her men. Hawk, Hayden and Grayson. Wow. These 4 have soooo much going on and will have to go through so much to find their peace that I already know I’ll be crying a lot during this trilogy. Wife Number One wrecked me, I laughed, screamed and cried with it and it’s only the beginning. Seeing each of these characters grow and change throughout the story is beautiful, to see Hawk open up to his dreams and his feelings, to see Hayden deal with the guilt from his past and to move forward with a better future, to see Grayson finding his reason to fight again and, finally, to see our beautiful Kara see herself in the way these men see her, like the Queen she is, is one of the most heartbreakingly beautiful things ever.

“𝑵𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒅𝒊𝒅 𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝑰’𝒅 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝑯𝒂𝒘𝒌 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍’𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕,” 𝑸𝒖𝒆𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒆 𝒎𝒖𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝑨𝒍𝒐𝒉𝒂 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒅. 𝑨𝒍𝒐𝒉𝒂 𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒔 𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒆𝒕𝒍𝒚. “𝑯𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝑲𝒂𝒓𝒂’𝒔 𝒅𝒂𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒘.”

I can’t wait for September 15th to be here, Torn in Two (book 2 of the trilogy) will bring me to tears of joy and sadness, I can already feel it and I’m so excited for it!! I’m obsessed with it all!! 😮‍💨🔥

𝑰 𝒔𝒍𝒊𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒓𝒂 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒑𝒔 𝒐𝒇𝒇 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒔. 𝑼𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒑. “𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒑𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒅, 𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝑴𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆. 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝑰 𝒑𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰 𝒅𝒐 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒆𝒙𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒚 𝒕𝒐𝒖𝒄𝒉. 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒂𝒔 𝒇𝒂𝒕.”

💚 Plus Size fmc
💚 Single Mom
💚 Spicy Club
💚 Motorcycle Clubs
💚 Found Family
💚 Dark Suspense
💚 Mûrder to solve
💚 Cûlt
💚 Touch her and 💀
💚 Jealous/Possessive mmc

[McKayla · Rating 1 out of 5]

Let me preface this by saying I do like dark romance. I can handle dark themes, I can handle a lot of things.

I can’t, however, read multiple pages about men wanting to buy the FMC’s five year old daughter, and making her kneel at their feet to see if she’s obedient. This made me sick to my mf stomach. There is a line between what is dark and what is just absolutely not okay. I had to go back and redownload this book and there is not a listed TW against this. In the blurb, it just mentions dark themes. Personally, there is a way to convey worry for a daughter without writing pedophiles like that. It made me absolutely sick to my stomach.

DNF

[Vea]

DNF.

[Shanna Ferris · Rating 5 out of 5]

• Woman on the run
• Single mom
• MC romance
• Why choose
• He falls first
• Enemies to lovers
• Touch her and die
• Forced proximity
• Dark romance

🎧 Audiobook Review 🎧
Duet multi cast narration
Narrated by
Michelle Price as Kara
Sean Crisden as Hawk
Lee Samuels as Hayden
E.M. Wylde as Grayson
& Troy Duran as additional voices

What an incredibly well casted series! Each of these narrators stole the show in their own ways! Michelle's narration for Kara is absolutely beautiful!! every emotion. Every fight. Michelle captured it all so well! This was my first time listening to Sean and EM and I was absolutely HOOKED. These guys absolutely nailed Grayson and Hawk!! Lee is an all time favorite of mine, so I found out he was voicing Hayden I was absolutely stoked!! I can't wait to listen to the next book!!

Review:

Ahhh! I am finally getting to Kara’s story and wondering why the heck it took me this long to start Wife Number One! I started this book and finished it in one sitting. I was absolutely hooked. Which seems to always be the case when it comes to something Elle writes! I am so eager to see where she takes the rest of this series. And with the first book in the new series coming out, I knew that I couldn’t keep putting this one off!

Kara’s story is BRUTAL. Absolutely gut-wrenching, and my heart broke so many times listening to Michelle narrate her POV! She did such an outstanding job bringing sweet Kara to life, and I just can’t wait to see where Elle takes her character, especially after that brutal cliffhanger! You best believe I am diving into the next book right NOW!!

I absolutely loved getting to know each of her guys and can’t wait to watch them all come together!

Hawk definitely stands out in this book, and getting to see his vulnerable side was exactly what I needed.

We also got to learn more about Hayden, sweet, sweet lost Hayden! His character was one I was most excited about learning more about, and Elle did such an incredible job with how she handled pulling them all in.

Grayyyyy! Now he is one we only meet briefly, and I’m very eager for more of his character!

All in all, I just know these four are going to completely steal my heart, but not before Elle breaks it first!!

And of course I loved getting to see each of the pervious characters in Elle's Series!!!

[Meegz Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

*5 Stars*

ARC kindly received for an honest review.

I have been waiting for this book and have been so keen to see how Kara's story would play out. I absolutely am obsessed with the Saint View world that Elle Thorpe has created so it's always a joy to come back to it when new books are released.

Now, this book really truly shows the struggles Kara has gone through with life under Josiah and the commune's thumb and rules - so many terrible things right from the start of this book just highlight it all. Once Kara and Hayley Jade are back with our SV friends, I love how she slowly starts to learn how free she can actually be, even though she is truly so brainwashed by what she's been put through. Hawk is a huge part of that, and I liked him a lot more than I thought I would.

There's a bunch of stuff going on with Hayley Jade which I'm really interested to see how that plays out in the next two books of this story, and I do love the part Queenie is playing in this too. She's a huge sweetie and mother hen in the Slayers. Hayden's character is definitely turning out to be one that will be redeemable I think, I've liked him so far, although he has made some questionable choices which start playing out right at the end of this one and have a part in the cliff hanger slightly too. Grayson, well we don't know much about him yet but I am definitely intrigued.

And the inevitable cliff hanger we get because this is part 1 of a trilogy? Well lets just say I did not see that coming. Excuse me Elle, with that ending?!? I'm seriously wondering how this is going to turn around in book 2 and I will be hanging for September so I can continue reading!

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[Kim BookJunkie ~ Editor & Proofreader]

I wouldn’t read this until after meeting Kara, Hawk and Hayley Jade in Thorpe’s St View Rebels series!!!!

[Zen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

I enjoyed this more than I thought I was going to. I was leery about the whole religious cult demeaning women thing as it is usually makes me too angry to enjoy a novel, bit I didn't have as much trouble with this one.

[Baron]

DNF 15% - This is a 100% a me issue. I think I need to just admit that I'm slumping.

[Casey Velasquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️
2.5 🔥
Dark Romance
Why Choose
Single Mom
Plus Size FMC
Cult
Rival Biker MCs
Murder Mystery
Cliffhanger
Great on Audio! 🎧
⚠️This is a dark romance & contain dark subject matter. Please check content/trigger warnings.⚠️
Back in Saint View for another series! I have loved all of Elle’s series in the Saint View world & this one is no different. Wife Number One is book one in the new series and you don’t need to have read any of the other series of Saint View to enjoy. But I do highly recommend reading all the series of Saint View, in order, to understand the overall plot of the Saint View world, and to get introductions to this group of characters. This book is about rival MC members (one ex member) Chaos (Hayden) & Hawk, with a small introduction to a third man, doctor Grayson & our main girl Kara. Kara is Rebel’s sister, if you have read the other series, & is the wife of a cult leader. She also has a daughter, that she was forced to relinquish to another woman to raise because the child was from another man, outside the cult. We see some of Kara’s story in previous Saint View books, and she has had an overall rough go at life. She escaped from the cult once, only to end up pregnant with a horrible man’s baby & lumped into a trafficking ring. She chooses to go back home to her family & the cult with her newborn baby, only to be forced to marry the cult leader & endure more abuse. But when her little girl is being put in danger, she decides that it is time to leave again. The last time she left, things did not go well for Kara, but she has to try & fight for a better life for her & her little girl.

Thank you Elle Thorpe for the ALC!

[Jessica Kane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me on a wild ride of emotions! So, our girl Kara starts off in this crazy cult situation where she's forced to be wife number one to some mega-creepy leader. But she learns some things and for the safety of her daughter goes “Nope, I'm out," and makes a run for it with her kid. Smart move, right? But hold up, because things get real messy real fast when her sister ends up dead in an alley.

This plot is everything! You will feel every emotion while reading and be hooked right from the start!

Can we talk about the SPICE? 🌶️🥵 Elle Thorpe doesn't hold back and I'm living for it. The chemistry is off the charts!
But it's not just about the hot stuff. The emotional punches hit hard. My heart was breaking for Kara and her daughter Haley Jade. You just want to reach into the book and give them a hug.

Oh, and the banter? chef's kiss Top tier stuff.

I listened to the audiobook and it was FIRE. Multiple narrators bringing their A-game. Michelle Price, Sean Crisden, E.M Wylde, Lee Samuels, and Troy Duran – take a bow, y'all. 👏

Fair warning though, it ends on a cliffhanger that had me like 😮. I need book 2 like, yesterday.

Tropes that stood out:
💚 Plus size FMC
💚 Single mum
💚 Cult & MC
💚 Why choose
💚 Dark Romance
💚 Murder Mystrey
💚 MM enemies to lovers
💚 Touch her and die
💚 Found family

[Taylor Jefferson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

Not a great start but I know Elle Thorpe has good series in her. I don’t love these characters as much as ones from past series. Even though I’m intrigued by the plot I found myself skimming a lot. The group is very separate right now. Hoping things come together in book two.

[tiff · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.83

Wow! There was a lot going on in the book. A cult. Motorcycle gangs. Women trafficking. It was a lot to take in.
I loved Kara. She has been through so much and deserves a happy ending. Hawk is so rough and I’m loving him. Hayden is the man Kara named her baby girl after. That ending was crazy!
Can’t wait to see what book 2 brings.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dude. I swear to god. If I never get to read another Elle Thorpe book again it has to be because I fucking DIED. The insanity of these books is my catnip. No one bother recommending anything to me anymore. I have found my nirvana.

[Thea™ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I waited with reading until the Saint View Slayers vs Sinners series was complete....... however, while reading Wife Number One I found out I better should have read Saint View Rebels series first, before starting this series. 🤬 Potverdikkeme....!! Now, I'm too far into Kara's story to quit, maar ik baal er wel van!! 🥴
That aside: I really liked this book!! ❤️ Leest errug lekker weg.... 😆
Loved the teasers. Most of the time when authors write about 'fat' girls, they are still rather slim in my eyes. 🤨 But the Kara in the teasers is indeed a beautiful big woman! 🥰 That's refreshing! 👍🏻



Saint View series
➡️ https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

added at the end of this book.



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[Avery · Rating 5 out of 5]

“My body might have been here, but my head took me somewhere else.
Not somewhere. Someone. Dirty-blond hair. Tattoos winding their way up and down strong arms. Gray-blue eyes that even now, five years later, I couldn't forget. I buried my face in the blankets, breathing easier at the thought of him.”

Saint View is a very divers world when it comes to its characters and their stories, they truly come from all walks of life. Wife Number One is really across the board with Kara being in a cult and a very strict religious upbringing, Hawk as a born and raised MC member, Hayden who has gone from criminal to getting out of that life, and Grayson who is a doctor still grieving his loss. Add in the rest of Saint View and it’s an amazing setup again.

“Never in a million years did I think I’d see Hawk holding a little girl’s hand like that.” Queenie muttered to Aloha.
“He’s never had Kara’s daughter to hold before now.” He whispered back.”

All the different dynamics between the characters is what pulls me into these stories and gives me the need to binge read them every single time.

Kara and Hawk make no sense in the way they make every sense. You would never put them together but they work. Hayden was always one of my favorites, even in his bad guy era, and to see him change to the man he is now, just gives me so many wishes for his future in the next two books. Grayson is still a bit of a wild card to me. He is new to the Saint View world, and the glimpses we got of him have me very intrigued.

Hawk with Hayley Jade was the most precious thing ever! The brute of a man turned into such a protector bear with serious dad vibes. I can’t wait to see how their relationship progresses throughout the books with the added dynamic of Hayden and Grayson.

When Elle writes in the Saint View world, you can always expect amazing stories, plots and steam. But all that is tied together by these amazing, complex characters that I keep falling in love with over and over again.

“It felt a lot like having something to lose, and in this world, that was a liability I didn't want to have. And yet I couldn't lie to her. I couldn't pretend I hadn't been terrified. I was still terrified, and she was right here.
Right in my arms. I was terrified she didn't want me the same way I wanted her.”

I couldn’t put it down, and ended up saving the last chapter for the next day because I could handle the cliffhanger I knew was coming.

I can’t wait for the next two books, I know they will blow my mind, the setup in Wife Number One has given me so many theories and ideas. I need to know where it will all go. And how will Hayden and Hawk progress from ‘enemies’ to sharing Kara? I know it will be the most delicious page turner!

I received an ARC from Elle in exchange for my honest review.

[Trystin · Rating 5 out of 5]

If it is by Elle Thorpe and has Saint View in the title, I’ll be reading it, and I’ll be guaranteed to love it! This ARC read was no exception, and I just want to thank you again for allowing me to be a part of this team!

This is a much different structure than in the previous trilogies, with more focus on just one of the MMCs, with a dusting of the second one and a teeny sprinkle of the third. I’m curious and excited to see all the relationships pan out!

Wife Number One has Kara, whose conditioning was hard to handle at times, but MMC1 Hawk does it beautifully. She’s still got a long way to go, but I’m here for it!

“I don’t just want you in my f*cking bedroom, Kara. I want you everywhere…All these people, especially those b!tches staring at us…Let them f*cking watch.” —Oh, Hawk. Elle’s talent is shining through with this one because I mostly love him now (first introduced in Saint View Psychos, IYKYK 😅😉)! He was so great with Kara and Kara’s daughter.

I’m so ready for more Hayden “Chaos” Whitling and Kara! I’ve been waiting on his story since he was first introduced in Saint View Prison. While having pieces from his point of view was awesome, I. Need. More! 😍

We haven’t gotten to meet much of Grayson yet 🥹, but I can’t wait to see how his career is going to aid in Kara’s overall healing process.

And after that cliffhanger, Torn in Two cannot come fast enough!

[Paige · Rating 1 out of 5]

My problem was the fact that she was getting raped and was held captive but once she got with the guys she was so willing to fuck and do as they want with her.

[Lee Zee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wife number one… this is the 4th series in Ella Thorpe’s world of Saint View and Providence that I have read.

I waited what seemed like forever for this one. I wanted to see more of Hayden and Cara and Hawke. This one was mostly about Hawk and his relationship with Cara, although there were strong Hayden and Hawk moments too, and I loved it.

I read this on Kindle, but I also barrowed the audio book from Libby, which I was very happy about because the reading cast was wonderful. Who doesn’t enjoy Troy Duran talking about being a good girl? Just sayin… I'm not sure if it was him who voiced Hawk or one of the other narrators, but they did a great job with his growls voice!

I f**king hated Josiah and wanted him to show up to the MC clubhouse so he could be pulverized by the entire MC… But of course, that was asking too much, and if I learned one thing by the other installments in this world (Caleb) its that punishment and death doesn’t come that quickly…

Maybe it's because of my own raising in a very religious community and family, but Josiah and his indoctrination of his ‘flock’ and especially how warped Cara was…. Mmm, it was probably the most triggering thing I’ve read in a minute, and I feel like I’ve read some pretty dark crap.

Every time she apologized or talked about "assuming the position," I wanted to commit murder 🔪 on a fictional character.

I can't wait to get more from Hayden and see him build his relationship with both Cara and Hawk. I’m looking forward to reading the next books. Especially considering the cliff hanger we got in this one.

My hopes for the next book are that we start seeing a bit more of a backbone from our female lead. I know she’s been beaten down, brainwashed, abused, and had all of her confidence and self-identity stolen, but I want to see her take back a little power. I want her to get back a little fire. And I want her to have the relationship she’s always wanted with her daughter. My heart broke for her every time that little girl pulled away from her.

And I’m not gonna lie, I’m curious to how the guys will come together, Ella Thorpe has always been good about bringing them men together, if not in a MM way, in a way that suits the reverse harem dynamic. So I’m looking forward to seeing that.

I’m also looking forward to seeing more of Grayson. Maybe because he was a new character, but I was not as interested in him as the other guys. He just wasn’t as interesting to me personally, but I'm sure we'll get more from him as the story progresses. Ella has a way of making me really like the guys she writes. I really thought Hayden would be my fav of Caras men, but Hawk is probably going to win that spot after reading this one. Although I do like Hayden and his steadfast feelings for Cara.

And as always, I loved seeing characters from the past in this story, like Rebel and her guys, Liam, and War. I'm hoping to get a little more from Scythe as he is one of my all-time fans.

Let me wrap this up though, I gotta go grab that second book so I can get back to the story.

[mels ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

rating — ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ / 5 ⭐️

❝𝘪 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘪 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘪 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘪𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦. 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘯𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘦.
𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪’𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵.
𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦.❞

i just want everyone to know i experienced the end of this book while simultaneously listening to 𝗘𝗫𝗜𝗧 𝗠𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗖 (𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗔 𝗙𝗜𝗟𝗠) by 𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗢𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗗 & i’m not coping well AT. ALL.

after reading the 𝗦𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗧 𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 𝗣𝗦𝗬𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗦 series a few months back, i haven’t left this world since. if 𝗘𝗟𝗟𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗥𝗣𝗘 has zero fans, i’m dead. after finally recovering from 𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗦 & all her men, i’m once again right where i started!

THIS STORY? CAPTIVATING.
MY ANXIETY? HIGH.
THE SPICE? HOT.
THE MEN? DRENCHED.

i just know this series is going to absolutely RUIN me and i’m going to be chasing this high till the end.

𝗞𝗔𝗥𝗔: the woman men would go to wars for (no, seriously.)

full transparency, as someone who is quite literally on a journey to discover what religion could mean to me, 𝗞𝗔𝗥𝗔 hit me like a ton of fucking bricks. i was so torn between feeling incredibly sympathetic for the way she couldn’t help reasoning everything wrong about her with what her faith believed and just wanting to scream that she was so much more than what they made forced her to think! i’m so interested in how 𝗞𝗔𝗥𝗔’s character development is going to play out, especially when it comes to her faith.

my favorite little detail throughout the book was noticing the way 𝗞𝗔𝗥𝗔 barely/if not at all said any vulgar words up until the last couple of chapters. (and after she had the STEAMIEST s3x with 𝗛𝗔𝗪𝗞 for the first time…. coincidence? i think not)

speaking of the devil, i had my beef with 𝗛𝗔𝗪𝗞 since 𝗦𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗧 𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 𝗣𝗦𝗬𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗦 BUT i’m happy to report i’m officially a #HAWKGIRL 🙂‍↕️

𝗛𝗔𝗪𝗞 is the typical dirty, rough, and dick-ish MC guy who also (surprise, surprise) is the most caring and protective human being on the planet. i’m a SL!T for the “i hate everyone else, but you” trope and 𝗛𝗔𝗪𝗞 was the perfect embodiment of that! 😮‍💨😻

he was the perfect amount of protective, jealous, caring, mean with a side of comfort, and a CRAZY mouth on him, my god.

i’m slowly, but surely, loving 𝗛𝗔𝗬𝗗𝗘𝗡 as a character and even MORE as a partner for 𝗞𝗔𝗥𝗔. i mean, the guy hasn’t touched a single person in five years because he could not imagine anyone else making him feel even remotely close to the way 𝗞𝗔𝗥𝗔 did when he met her. LIKE. HE’S PERFECT.

i can’t wait to see more scenes between 𝗞𝗔𝗥𝗔 and him, and even with 𝗛𝗔𝗪𝗞 because those two have some WILD energy together. i’m starting to think denial is a river……..

ALSO 𝗚𝗥𝗘𝗬𝗦𝗢𝗡 ? still need to know more about him before i can say anything else, but i’m SO curious how he’s going to make his way into the group.

i’m excited to see the rest of this series goes and i’m even more excited to just see everyone together and happy and in love because i forgot how painful angst makes me feel (but i’m masochist i guess so here i am !)

[Jacklyn B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook Review

If Elle Thorpe writes it, I want to read it and this book did not disappoint! I love the Saint View universe and was so excited for Kara’s book.

The multi cast narration on this book is epic!! I was blown away. Michelle brings such vulnerability and strength to Kara. Sean, Lee, E.M. And Troy did an amazing at the male voices. Hawk, Hayden and Grayson were truly brought to life.

I LOVED this book and all the characters.
Kara had been through so much with the cult and Hawk is everything she needs in her life!! I love how he slowly helps build her confidence.Hayden (Chaos) adds so much tension to this story. Grayson is sweet and caring but also has an ulterior motive??

The scenes with Hayley Jade and Hawk were so touching. I love the way the Slayers MC really rallied around Kara and her daughter. The mystery of who the serial unaliver is has me stumped!

This book is emotional and steamy you won’t be able to put it down. It does end on a cliffy (but the next book is out in print!!)

✨What to Expect:
🖤Dark Romance
❤️‍🔥Why Choose
🏍️Cults/MC’s/Gangs
💚Single Mom
💋Plus Size FMC
💫Found Family
🔥Spicy Club
🔍Unsolved Murder

[Our Fiction Addiction · Rating 5 out of 5]

she does it again!

This is the 3rd series in this world that I just can’t put down. I started with Psychos no knowing there was so much more. So well written with fantastic pacing and not a filler word in sight! Authors take note! We don’t have time for babble and 4 hours of internal monologue. Let’s keep this moving! Give me the time to read the entire backlog, not get exhausted on 1 book. OK! Back to the review. I have no idea how all this is going to come together. But one things for sure. I’m not sleeping or getting anything done while I read any Elle Thorpe book. ♥️ 15/10

[Onilee Hembree · Rating 4 out of 5]

PAGE TURNER! I devoured this so fast, it's almost embarrassing. I love a lot about this book: The love triangle, the spice 🥵, and the rivaling motorcycle gangs (very Sons of Anarchy).
Cliffhanger ending, so I'm definitely reading the rest of the series. I wish I had read other Elle Thorpe books first in the Saint vs. Sinners world because this book hints at backstories that I know nothing about. It says this is book one in this series, and it is, but I'm assuming there are other books before this one that have some of these same characters. This book is so enjoyable and understandable, but I know there is more to the story.
Will I go back and read all her books? Probably. Especially if they're all like this.

If you're into smut, this one is for you.

[Phylicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Tell me the truth, Little Mouse. Did. You. Like it?”


4.5⭐️So much feels straight away! At like 10% I was on the verge of tears. It’s so full of emotions. I caught feelings bro, hardcore! It feels like we’ve been skirting around this darkness for a while in this world and this one smacks you straight away, so intense at times.

This story is so encompassing and feels like it’s been a long time coming in this series. I love the delicate pilot pieces that have formed over the past few trilogies in this world and how they’re all coming together here. Gah! It’s literary perfection.

I was waiting for a murder mystery plot to drop because every other series in this world has had a murder mystery thing. It didn’t come for ages and I was like oh no it’s not gonna happen and then it did so I was very excited!

The spice is so taboo and sinful. I love it! You get the real tension aspect between the main characters which hold true to their values which I really appreciated. Sometimes with the taboo aspect in books, they don’t have enough of this for me, so I loved this balanced approach which added integrity to the plot.
That cliffy though?! Gahhh I need the next book now.

[Kimberly Howe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good!! Who wouldn’t want a man who loves them for all their flaws and insecurities and is willing to help them work through them. But man her life has been messed up from the beginning. You think your parents are the ones that should be the ones that should love and protect you but to be sold and forced to marry a monster is unforgivable! I still find cult living baffling and crazy but I can see how brain washing is truly the workings of evil men. I am loving Hawk and Hayden and I can’t wait to see what is going to develop there.

[Lilbit · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let me help you out-if you haven’t read any of the other previous series, don’t start here. This was my intro to her books and it was a convoluted mess. I kept trying to find something to like about the characters but I am guessing all of that could be found in other series. It was crazy trying to sort through everything without all of the history. The plot was frustrating-the relationships never went anywhere and made no sense

[Solace Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one comes after the Rebel trilogy and it's been a few years in the universe since then. This "Why Choose" doesn't follow the formula of the previous ones, which is good. She continues to keep things fresh in the trilogies.

This one has a lot of questionable moments of religion, and women are still being trafficked, which has been a heavy theme in the last two trilogies as well. The trigger list keeps growing.