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Under Locke
He was my boss, my brother’s friend, a Widower, an ex-felon, and a man I’d seen casually with a handful of women. But he was everything that gripped me, both the good and the bad. Worst case scenario if things turned awkward between us, I could go somewhere else. I’d gotten over epic heartbreak before, one more wouldn’t kill me.
After moving to Austin following six months of unemployment back home, Iris Taylor knows she should be glad to have landed a job so quickly... even if the business is owned by a member of the same motorcycle club her estranged father used to belong to. Except Dex Locke might just be the biggest jerk she’s ever met. He’s rude, impatient and doesn’t know how to tell time.
And the last thing they ever expected was each other.
But it was either the strip club or the tattoo shop.
… she should have chosen the strip club.
After moving to Austin following six months of unemployment back home, Iris Taylor knows she should be glad to have landed a job so quickly... even if the business is owned by a member of the same motorcycle club her estranged father used to belong to. Except Dex Locke might just be the biggest jerk she’s ever met. He’s rude, impatient and doesn’t know how to tell time.
And the last thing they ever expected was each other.
But it was either the strip club or the tattoo shop.
… she should have chosen the strip club.
654 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 19, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 10,218 reviews
February 9, 2022
A treasure trove of purpletastic prose.
The "love scenes" were simmering with so many beefy and meaty shafts, as well as mushroom and bulbous heads, that I wasn't sure if the characters were making love or cooking Beef Stroganoff.
They were also very combustible. Was it the Fourth of July?
Oh friggin’ hell. I could feel it. Feel that magical explosion of fireworks and rainbows in my toes.
Fireworks zipped up my spine for so long I thought I’d melt into him, or at least melt around his girth.
My entire body exploded with electricity and fireworks that couldn’t be described, blood pounded through my ears and I went deaf.
I loved the St Patty's Day analogy too...
Dex was like a man possessed, ripping an orgasm straight out of a pot of gold from me.
There were some other, awkward turns of phrases that were difficult to decipher:
The angry frown that curled over his mouth was the predecessor for those hazel eyes flicking back and forth between me and Dex.
Say what now?
And let's not forget H's uber romantic declaration that had me swoon:
Then he laid the atomic bomb on my very existence. “You are not a waste of time to me.”
Wish I could say the same about this book
:(
The "love scenes" were simmering with so many beefy and meaty shafts, as well as mushroom and bulbous heads, that I wasn't sure if the characters were making love or cooking Beef Stroganoff.
They were also very combustible. Was it the Fourth of July?
Oh friggin’ hell. I could feel it. Feel that magical explosion of fireworks and rainbows in my toes.
Fireworks zipped up my spine for so long I thought I’d melt into him, or at least melt around his girth.
My entire body exploded with electricity and fireworks that couldn’t be described, blood pounded through my ears and I went deaf.
I loved the St Patty's Day analogy too...
Dex was like a man possessed, ripping an orgasm straight out of a pot of gold from me.
There were some other, awkward turns of phrases that were difficult to decipher:
The angry frown that curled over his mouth was the predecessor for those hazel eyes flicking back and forth between me and Dex.
Say what now?
And let's not forget H's uber romantic declaration that had me swoon:
Then he laid the atomic bomb on my very existence. “You are not a waste of time to me.”
Wish I could say the same about this book
:(
February 14, 2014
If you hate women you will absolutely love this book.
Well since I'm not masochistic it was a downright disgusting and painful read, but I really wanted to rate it so I barreled through.
Iris is the shy, insecure victim who, in her almost 25 years of life, have never had sex.
Why? Why is it so important for the girl to always be a fucking virgin? I don't know why it's pissing me off except that it sends the wrong message to girls. That as soon as they have sex they're tainted and damaged goods or something. Womens worth is somehow wrapped up in how many sexual partners they've had.
And Dex, obviously he is a moody, possessive horndog. And since he is a guy the same rules does not apply to him. I just kept waiting for Iris to snap and tell him to fuck off. He gets to have casual sex with whoever but she's not even allowed to talk to guys? She's a fragile flower that can't go to the store without an escort and can't under any circumstances live alone. She's not allowed to make her own goddamn decisions about anything.
Iris, like many main female characters, have beer flavored nipples. She cannot leave her home without guys assaulting her left, right and center. And I hate how those moments (they're many btw) feel so incredibly choreographed, because it's only so Dex can show up and get in the guy's face and save the day.
When Dex told her to button up her cardigan because she was showing a little to much collarbone(?), I wanted to reach into the book a slap him silly. Iris already dress like a sixty year old librarian. Why not just demand that she wear a burka?
It's also one of those books where she hates him, he acts like an asshole, sexual tension and then floodgates of mushy love.
I guess it had a little potential. And had it been less cliché and Iris had been given a backbone, then maybe I would have enjoyed it. Maybe.
Oh, and I hate how much Iris felt sorry for herself. It made me feel less sorry for her because of it. Having gone through everything that she had, I would think she'd have a little tougher skin. But if someone so much as looked at her funny her lip started quivering. It just didn't feel believable that she could be that meek with that upbringing. I mean, I'm not even that meek and life hasn't handed me that many lemons.
And this was sadly just the tip of the iceberg. So anyway, rant over.
Well since I'm not masochistic it was a downright disgusting and painful read, but I really wanted to rate it so I barreled through.
Iris is the shy, insecure victim who, in her almost 25 years of life, have never had sex.
Why? Why is it so important for the girl to always be a fucking virgin? I don't know why it's pissing me off except that it sends the wrong message to girls. That as soon as they have sex they're tainted and damaged goods or something. Womens worth is somehow wrapped up in how many sexual partners they've had.
And Dex, obviously he is a moody, possessive horndog. And since he is a guy the same rules does not apply to him. I just kept waiting for Iris to snap and tell him to fuck off. He gets to have casual sex with whoever but she's not even allowed to talk to guys? She's a fragile flower that can't go to the store without an escort and can't under any circumstances live alone. She's not allowed to make her own goddamn decisions about anything.
Iris, like many main female characters, have beer flavored nipples. She cannot leave her home without guys assaulting her left, right and center. And I hate how those moments (they're many btw) feel so incredibly choreographed, because it's only so Dex can show up and get in the guy's face and save the day.
When Dex told her to button up her cardigan because she was showing a little to much collarbone(?), I wanted to reach into the book a slap him silly. Iris already dress like a sixty year old librarian. Why not just demand that she wear a burka?
It's also one of those books where she hates him, he acts like an asshole, sexual tension and then floodgates of mushy love.
I guess it had a little potential. And had it been less cliché and Iris had been given a backbone, then maybe I would have enjoyed it. Maybe.
Oh, and I hate how much Iris felt sorry for herself. It made me feel less sorry for her because of it. Having gone through everything that she had, I would think she'd have a little tougher skin. But if someone so much as looked at her funny her lip started quivering. It just didn't feel believable that she could be that meek with that upbringing. I mean, I'm not even that meek and life hasn't handed me that many lemons.
And this was sadly just the tip of the iceberg. So anyway, rant over.
January 17, 2025
4.5 stars after my reread this SLAYED
November 27, 2016
Please see more of my reviews at www.bookaddicthaven.com
Although this was not the raunchy, offensive, biker romance that I had anticipated, I really liked 'Under Locke'. Unlike most MC romances, this story does not focus heavily around the debauchery of the clubhouse and the biker lifestyle. There is a little danger and some club business, but it is more in the background vs. being the central focus of the story.
'Under Locke' is a very slow-burn romance. It did take some time for me to get into this story. However, once I did, I was hooked. This author definitely didn't rush anything. I thought I would combust long before these two even kissed. There was plenty of anticipation and sexual frustration with this one!
Iris Taylor, aka "Ritz", has recently moved to Austin. Iris is broke and looking for a fresh start, after death and disease have upended her life. She is staying with her half-brother, Sonny, who has hooked her up with a job at a tattoo shop owned by his friend, Dex.
In no time, Iris figures out why Dex is in need of help. The guy is a royal a$$hole! He has managed to chase off a string of assistants before Ritz with his rude, insulting behavior. Dex has a total lack of patience and a hot temper. He says what he's thinking before stopping to think about how nasty or inappropriate his comments might be. Yeah, it took me a while to warm up to this guy.
Iris is the polar opposite of Dex. She's sweet and innocent, having missed out on a lot of life's experiences as she was forced at a young age to become the sole provider for her younger brother after her mother fell ill. After her mother's health issues, Iris was faced with her own health crisis and then the death of her grandmother. Needless to say, her life was not easy and it didn't allow a lot of time for the usual parties and dating that comprised the social life of most young women her age.
That being said, this book does have one of the big romance genre clichés that will drive some readers crazy. Iris is the quintessential naïve, good girl virgin. Dex is anything but virgin-like. He's the stereotypical manwhore that has slept around with a large part of Austin's female population without discrimination. This isn't really a problem for me, but I thought I'd mention it because I know it is something that many readers can't stand.
Despite their differences, Iris and Dex find themselves attracted to each other. Dex tries to stay away from Ritz out of loyalty to her brother. She tries to deny her attraction to him because she knows that he is nothing but trouble.
What follows is a series of absurdly jealous actions by Dex, while a clueless Iris wonders why he is acting like such a jerk. Perhaps if I was in a different mood when I listened to this story, I might have been irritated. As it is, I found their back and fort antics to be highly amusing.
One thing that the two of them have in common is deadbeat fathers. When Ritz's sperm donor messes with some dangerous people, Sonny and her are placed in danger. This led to some interesting situations and a mild sense of suspense. However, I can't say that I ever had that "on the edge of my seat" anxious feeling.
In the end, things work themselves out. There was plenty of back and forth throughout the book, followed by plenty of groveling. That was a big plus for me. I love it when my heroes have to do some groveling!
Overall, it was a nice, sweet story. It was different from other MC romances that I've read, but that was okay. This was my first book by this author, but definitely won't be my last.
Although this was not the raunchy, offensive, biker romance that I had anticipated, I really liked 'Under Locke'. Unlike most MC romances, this story does not focus heavily around the debauchery of the clubhouse and the biker lifestyle. There is a little danger and some club business, but it is more in the background vs. being the central focus of the story.
'Under Locke' is a very slow-burn romance. It did take some time for me to get into this story. However, once I did, I was hooked. This author definitely didn't rush anything. I thought I would combust long before these two even kissed. There was plenty of anticipation and sexual frustration with this one!
Iris Taylor, aka "Ritz", has recently moved to Austin. Iris is broke and looking for a fresh start, after death and disease have upended her life. She is staying with her half-brother, Sonny, who has hooked her up with a job at a tattoo shop owned by his friend, Dex.
In no time, Iris figures out why Dex is in need of help. The guy is a royal a$$hole! He has managed to chase off a string of assistants before Ritz with his rude, insulting behavior. Dex has a total lack of patience and a hot temper. He says what he's thinking before stopping to think about how nasty or inappropriate his comments might be. Yeah, it took me a while to warm up to this guy.
Iris is the polar opposite of Dex. She's sweet and innocent, having missed out on a lot of life's experiences as she was forced at a young age to become the sole provider for her younger brother after her mother fell ill. After her mother's health issues, Iris was faced with her own health crisis and then the death of her grandmother. Needless to say, her life was not easy and it didn't allow a lot of time for the usual parties and dating that comprised the social life of most young women her age.
That being said, this book does have one of the big romance genre clichés that will drive some readers crazy. Iris is the quintessential naïve, good girl virgin. Dex is anything but virgin-like. He's the stereotypical manwhore that has slept around with a large part of Austin's female population without discrimination. This isn't really a problem for me, but I thought I'd mention it because I know it is something that many readers can't stand.
Despite their differences, Iris and Dex find themselves attracted to each other. Dex tries to stay away from Ritz out of loyalty to her brother. She tries to deny her attraction to him because she knows that he is nothing but trouble.
What follows is a series of absurdly jealous actions by Dex, while a clueless Iris wonders why he is acting like such a jerk. Perhaps if I was in a different mood when I listened to this story, I might have been irritated. As it is, I found their back and fort antics to be highly amusing.
One thing that the two of them have in common is deadbeat fathers. When Ritz's sperm donor messes with some dangerous people, Sonny and her are placed in danger. This led to some interesting situations and a mild sense of suspense. However, I can't say that I ever had that "on the edge of my seat" anxious feeling.
In the end, things work themselves out. There was plenty of back and forth throughout the book, followed by plenty of groveling. That was a big plus for me. I love it when my heroes have to do some groveling!
Overall, it was a nice, sweet story. It was different from other MC romances that I've read, but that was okay. This was my first book by this author, but definitely won't be my last.
July 10, 2017
4 stars!!!
Under Locke was another amazing read by the queen of slow-burn romance, Mariana Zapata. This was a little more than a slow-burn- it was a bit of a forbidden romance, an enemies to lovers story, and a brother’s friend story. Yes. A trifecta of awesomeness.
Iris Taylor’s life has been anything but easy. She’s had blow after blow since she was young, but that’s all in the past. She’s moving to Texas to start over. With the help of her older half brother, Sonny, she has a place to stay and a job to help get her back on her feet. The job is at a tattoo shop. That is where she meets Dex. Affectionately known as Dex the dick. Dex owns the shop, is friends with her brother, and a member of the MC her brother is a part of. And he’s a jerk to her at first.
I was not a fan of Dex to start out with, but he slowly made me warm up to him, and by the end, I ended up loving him. Iris was a character with so much strength and perseverance. There were moments I wanted to holler at her for keeping things, but overall I liked her so much! She and Dex made sort of an odd couple, but I loved them together!
Under Locke is not your typical MC book. It’s also a bit different than some of the other MZ books I have read. One of my favorite things about her writing is how she can make her books so different, yet the same in the way that makes me love them so much. As always, the audio book was fantastic. I flew through it looking for excuses to listen. I enjoyed this one lots! Recommended for all lovers of slow-burn romance.
Under Locke was another amazing read by the queen of slow-burn romance, Mariana Zapata. This was a little more than a slow-burn- it was a bit of a forbidden romance, an enemies to lovers story, and a brother’s friend story. Yes. A trifecta of awesomeness.
Iris Taylor’s life has been anything but easy. She’s had blow after blow since she was young, but that’s all in the past. She’s moving to Texas to start over. With the help of her older half brother, Sonny, she has a place to stay and a job to help get her back on her feet. The job is at a tattoo shop. That is where she meets Dex. Affectionately known as Dex the dick. Dex owns the shop, is friends with her brother, and a member of the MC her brother is a part of. And he’s a jerk to her at first.
I was not a fan of Dex to start out with, but he slowly made me warm up to him, and by the end, I ended up loving him. Iris was a character with so much strength and perseverance. There were moments I wanted to holler at her for keeping things, but overall I liked her so much! She and Dex made sort of an odd couple, but I loved them together!
Under Locke is not your typical MC book. It’s also a bit different than some of the other MZ books I have read. One of my favorite things about her writing is how she can make her books so different, yet the same in the way that makes me love them so much. As always, the audio book was fantastic. I flew through it looking for excuses to listen. I enjoyed this one lots! Recommended for all lovers of slow-burn romance.
There it was. That fierce loyalty. He didn't have a clue how that was the most attractive thing about him. It trumped his face, his ink, his body, everything. Dex Locke was true. He was grounded.
May 3, 2024
quite possibly my worst book of the year so far ???
September 16, 2021
2.75 stars
i could live without ever knowing that Dex (H) farted and what his junk looked like from the h’s unappealing descriptions, but his brand of alpha male-ness resembled that of KA’s heroes (he reminded me a lot of Tate from Sweet Dreams) and i kinda dug it. he might not be everyones cup of tea (especially if youve never read KA or an MC romance) with his rude, mean, and chauvinistic behavior, but i think his portrayal in regards to being a biker or a member of a motorcycle club was spot on.
the reason i didnt rate this higher was because of Iris (h). i think her character was meant to be that “shy, clueless, quirky” virgin girl whom we were supposed to think as cute, but she didnt pull it off. she was naïve, judgy with people she didnt know, and held grudges like no one else. she was of my age, and i like to think that i’d never make half the stupid decisions she did if i were in her position. she called Dex The Dick, but she was a hypocrite and i wish i could tell her to shove it up her ass.
(read as an audiobook)
i could live without ever knowing that Dex (H) farted and what his junk looked like from the h’s unappealing descriptions, but his brand of alpha male-ness resembled that of KA’s heroes (he reminded me a lot of Tate from Sweet Dreams) and i kinda dug it. he might not be everyones cup of tea (especially if youve never read KA or an MC romance) with his rude, mean, and chauvinistic behavior, but i think his portrayal in regards to being a biker or a member of a motorcycle club was spot on.
the reason i didnt rate this higher was because of Iris (h). i think her character was meant to be that “shy, clueless, quirky” virgin girl whom we were supposed to think as cute, but she didnt pull it off. she was naïve, judgy with people she didnt know, and held grudges like no one else. she was of my age, and i like to think that i’d never make half the stupid decisions she did if i were in her position. she called Dex The Dick, but she was a hypocrite and i wish i could tell her to shove it up her ass.
(read as an audiobook)
October 10, 2024
i’d fart dollar bills outta my ass if i got paid for everytime he said babe
January 22, 2014
HOLY crap!! Am I really the first person to review this book???
Well.... In case you were wondering, I got my money's worth on this book!!! It was long, not too long, loved the characters.
Iris was recommended to be a tattoo artist front desk lady by her half brother Sonny. Sonny is friends with the owner(?) of the tattoo shop, Dex. Now they definitely don't have any immediate sexual tension. Dex was an ass to her. Both Iris and Dex are bad with new people. Iris because she's just super shy, and Dex because he just doesn't like the process of people getting used to him, or that's what I gathered from his personality.
Though Iris was really shy, and a beginning.. a pushover, she never did get on my nerves. Recently, I've been feeling real judgy towards heroines. I just find something that always bothers me. Thinking about it now, I don't think I was ever like that with Iris.
Even though she's mousy, she's still really strong. She finds the positive in really shitty situations.
Dex is hawwtt! Sure in the beginning he was a dick to her, he had his reasons... not a reasonable reason, but a reason. I don't think he bothered me too.. GREAT CHARACTERS!!
This couple does have a somewhat slow buildup. They don't get intimate until the last half of the book. I didn't really mind that because the author didn't bore with unnecessary details. For an MC book, this book doesn't have much angst, and again I'm totally ok with that.
Overall, great read, worth my money, worth my time!!
Hopefully, you all enjoy this book as well as I did :D
Well.... In case you were wondering, I got my money's worth on this book!!! It was long, not too long, loved the characters.
Iris was recommended to be a tattoo artist front desk lady by her half brother Sonny. Sonny is friends with the owner(?) of the tattoo shop, Dex. Now they definitely don't have any immediate sexual tension. Dex was an ass to her. Both Iris and Dex are bad with new people. Iris because she's just super shy, and Dex because he just doesn't like the process of people getting used to him, or that's what I gathered from his personality.
Though Iris was really shy, and a beginning.. a pushover, she never did get on my nerves. Recently, I've been feeling real judgy towards heroines. I just find something that always bothers me. Thinking about it now, I don't think I was ever like that with Iris.
Even though she's mousy, she's still really strong. She finds the positive in really shitty situations.
Dex is hawwtt! Sure in the beginning he was a dick to her, he had his reasons... not a reasonable reason, but a reason. I don't think he bothered me too.. GREAT CHARACTERS!!
This couple does have a somewhat slow buildup. They don't get intimate until the last half of the book. I didn't really mind that because the author didn't bore with unnecessary details. For an MC book, this book doesn't have much angst, and again I'm totally ok with that.
Overall, great read, worth my money, worth my time!!
Hopefully, you all enjoy this book as well as I did :D
July 22, 2024
whenever life’s shity reread a mariana zapata (for the 3rd time)
May 30, 2022
This one had me at “He was my boss.” Iris has moved to Austin and is working for Dex. I was definitely expecting a bad boy and a good girl get-together story, and that is what this is. However, Dex was horrible. He didn’t deserve Iris at all. I liked that we learned a lot more about Iris. She has had a lot of family issues, mostly father issues, and personal challenges as well. I also liked that she sometimes stood up for herself.
Safe to say that I didn’t like the romance in this one. I haven’t read a lot of bad boy good girl romance like this in a while, because honestly I just stopped liking them. If you still enjoy those kinds of books, this might be for you. I also wasn’t a fan of a lot of the many cringy stereotypes in this book.
I’ve read amazing books by Zapata. In fact “All Rhodes lead here” is one of my favorite romance books I’ve read. This is an older book by her so I’m not going to stop reading her books or something.
Safe to say that I didn’t like the romance in this one. I haven’t read a lot of bad boy good girl romance like this in a while, because honestly I just stopped liking them. If you still enjoy those kinds of books, this might be for you. I also wasn’t a fan of a lot of the many cringy stereotypes in this book.
I’ve read amazing books by Zapata. In fact “All Rhodes lead here” is one of my favorite romance books I’ve read. This is an older book by her so I’m not going to stop reading her books or something.
January 13, 2020
“Babe, I've handpicked everythin' and everyone in here. I know what I want and I get what I want," he breathed. "And I keep what's mine.”
Fuck!!!!!!
What the fucking fuck am I going to do with my fucking dull life now!!!!
Why did it have to end!!!!!
Oh my Dex.
I went 30 years without ever knowing you and now I can’t handle even one minute away from you.
I’m fucking RUINED!!
When I read my first book by this amazing author about 3 weeks ago I thought to myself ‘Holy fuck! This chick can fucking write’ – The Wall of Winnipeg and Me hit my all-time favourite book list.
I was addicted and needed more of her words.
Then came Kulti. Another fucking book that hit my favourite list - This NEVER HAPPENS!
By this time I was missing Aiden and Van and Kulti and Sal were still on my mind but I needed to move on....
On to another Mariana Zapata book that is.
Then came Under Locke.
Then came DEX FUCKING LOCKE and cute as a button Iris.
I was a fucking goner.
I will read this fucking authors grocery list.
She’s THAT FUCKING good.
I had the most amazing time reading this story.
I literally am full of emotions right now because I very rarely feel this way about books anymore and I’ve missed it so much.
Mariana writes the BEST heroines and Iris was so fucking cute!
She had me laughing my arse off with her quirky ways and I just fucking loved her.
Dex, fuck, I can’t even think about that bloke without my vagina hurting.
He was POSSESIVE as fuck! He was a fucking ARSEHOLE and he made me do a little sex wee.
I LOVE HIM.
I loved his filthy mouth and the way he said ‘Babe’ had me panting.
One of my top book boyfriends ever and I'm not sharing him with anyone!!!
I loved it.
I’ll never forget it as long as I fucking live and I want to read it all over again.
Not only one of my favourite books of the year but an all-time favourite too.
Mariana, YOU ARE A FUCKING LEGEND.
January 10, 2020
Dex Locke:
"You've gotta be the best thing I never knew I wanted."
Iris Taylor: "I wanted to tell him that he was the best thing l never thought I'd have."
I met briefly Dex and Iris in Kulti's book. It was when Kulti went to Austin with Sal to have a tattoo and he had chosen the best shop, i.e. 'Pins and Needles'.
I loved Sal's description of Dex:
"I'd never been a fan of guys that looked like they'd gone to jail, but you'd have to be blind to not appeciate how good-looking the man was, even if he wasn't my type."
and
"My vagina didn't know what to do with itself."
And I loved Kulti's reaction:
"He's wearing a wedding ring."
Well, I had to read "Under Locke" after that. It turned out to be another amazing story by Marianna Zapata!
A slow burn romance story of course.
This time we have a biker with anger management issues (Dex) ... and a biker's daughter (Iris).
Iris knows nothing about Motorcycle clubs until she goes to stay with her half brother (Sonny) who is a member of the Widowmakers club, WMC.
Iris also does not know anything about piercings and tattoos until she starts working for Dex.
Finally Iris does not know much about sex until she starts sleeping with Dex.
Iris and Dex did not like each other from the beginning. Dex saw Iris as an obligation. Iris saw Dex as a brute who made her angry and sad all the time and as a result she wanted to quit, but she needed the money. It is a kind of 'enemies to lovers' story, but the hatred will not last long because the book is really long and before it finishes you will probably have forgotten that they hated each other in the beginning.
The book has its funny moments (Iris discovers the penis piercings), its painful moments (deaths, illnesses), its angst moments (Iris and Dex look for her douchebag father).
And of course my favourite grovelling moments (Dex has a lot to learn).
• I believe if you like Motorcycle Club stories, you will like this book.
• Also, if you don't like Motorcycle Club stories, most probably you will like the book
Win-win situation!
Iris Taylor: "I wanted to tell him that he was the best thing l never thought I'd have."
I met briefly Dex and Iris in Kulti's book. It was when Kulti went to Austin with Sal to have a tattoo and he had chosen the best shop, i.e. 'Pins and Needles'.
I loved Sal's description of Dex:
"I'd never been a fan of guys that looked like they'd gone to jail, but you'd have to be blind to not appeciate how good-looking the man was, even if he wasn't my type."
and
"My vagina didn't know what to do with itself."
And I loved Kulti's reaction:
"He's wearing a wedding ring."
Well, I had to read "Under Locke" after that. It turned out to be another amazing story by Marianna Zapata!
A slow burn romance story of course.
This time we have a biker with anger management issues (Dex) ... and a biker's daughter (Iris).
Iris knows nothing about Motorcycle clubs until she goes to stay with her half brother (Sonny) who is a member of the Widowmakers club, WMC.
Iris also does not know anything about piercings and tattoos until she starts working for Dex.
Finally Iris does not know much about sex until she starts sleeping with Dex.
Iris and Dex did not like each other from the beginning. Dex saw Iris as an obligation. Iris saw Dex as a brute who made her angry and sad all the time and as a result she wanted to quit, but she needed the money. It is a kind of 'enemies to lovers' story, but the hatred will not last long because the book is really long and before it finishes you will probably have forgotten that they hated each other in the beginning.
The book has its funny moments (Iris discovers the penis piercings), its painful moments (deaths, illnesses), its angst moments (Iris and Dex look for her douchebag father).
And of course my favourite grovelling moments (Dex has a lot to learn).
• I believe if you like Motorcycle Club stories, you will like this book.
• Also, if you don't like Motorcycle Club stories, most probably you will like the book
Win-win situation!
March 13, 2016
Mariana Zapata is an amazing storyteller! First, I was captivated by Kulti, then fell madly in love with The Wall of Winnipeg, and now Under Locke has stolen my heart.
Dex is a douche to start, but Riss - without even trying - brings him to his knees and it was a thing of beauty to behold. They're such a fantastic couple!
This story is definitely edgier than those others I mentioned, and it's the closest to "just like Kristen Ashley" I've read.
No doubt about it...Ms. Zapata writes awesome characters whose lives and stories reach through the pages and grab hold of your heart. I can't wait to read more!
Thank you for Kindle Lend, Alissa!!
Dex is a douche to start, but Riss - without even trying - brings him to his knees and it was a thing of beauty to behold. They're such a fantastic couple!
This story is definitely edgier than those others I mentioned, and it's the closest to "just like Kristen Ashley" I've read.
No doubt about it...Ms. Zapata writes awesome characters whose lives and stories reach through the pages and grab hold of your heart. I can't wait to read more!
Thank you for Kindle Lend, Alissa!!
December 17, 2022
2 Nothing Wrong With My Judgement Stars ⭐
Ten years ago I loved Under Locke; not so much today. It seems I've evolved. I mean a heroine that has endured so much both mentally and physically, yet one insult and the world has ended?! Honestly Iris, was all the non existent drama worth it?
Handling Dex Locke would be like handling a scorpion. You were gonna get that poisonous sting at some point. Unfortunately for me, that sting had a taste for Iris Taylor.
Dex Locke tattooist, part time biker. Complete gorgeous badass who has to apologize over and over and over again to his employee who accepts apologies, to only change her mind. Not surprisingly, he has the hots for her. However it takes thousands upon thousands of pages for them to acknowledge it.
"You've gotta be the best thing I never knew I wanted."
I get that MZ is the supposed Queen of Slow Burn, BUT fuck me, how many times must I read about melodramatic heroines who play the victim and men that are emotionally stunted? At times it works, and other times, it makes me grumpy and frustrated. Just once I'd love a story by this author that gets to the point.
Ten years ago I loved Under Locke; not so much today. It seems I've evolved. I mean a heroine that has endured so much both mentally and physically, yet one insult and the world has ended?! Honestly Iris, was all the non existent drama worth it?
Handling Dex Locke would be like handling a scorpion. You were gonna get that poisonous sting at some point. Unfortunately for me, that sting had a taste for Iris Taylor.
Dex Locke tattooist, part time biker. Complete gorgeous badass who has to apologize over and over and over again to his employee who accepts apologies, to only change her mind. Not surprisingly, he has the hots for her. However it takes thousands upon thousands of pages for them to acknowledge it.
"You've gotta be the best thing I never knew I wanted."
I get that MZ is the supposed Queen of Slow Burn, BUT fuck me, how many times must I read about melodramatic heroines who play the victim and men that are emotionally stunted? At times it works, and other times, it makes me grumpy and frustrated. Just once I'd love a story by this author that gets to the point.
July 8, 2024
My first steamy/slow burn from the slow burn queen
2021 Review; 2024 update down below
Yes, I said it: steamy right next to the words slow burn; because I don’t care what anyone says- the appetizers leading up to the main course are just as important (even if we don’t see any until the over 50% mark). Sure, we don’t get tons of smexy scenes, but I did NOT feel the slow burn like I normally would because of the emotional connection between Iris and Dex. And this was a home run for me. No more hesitation to read Mariana Zapata on my part any more!
This starts off by showing us Iris’s new life, in Texas, with her half brother Son/Sonny. Iris’s forced to move from Florida to be with her brother because she was recently let go, and she has less than $100 to her name. He gets her a job at a tattoo parlor, owned by Dex Locke, who desperately needs someone to help him with the paperwork and organizing of his business. He’s a grump and they kind of get off on the wrong foot, because he’s so impatient and doesn’t know how to censor himself. He’s part of an MC, just like her dad was and her brother too, and he’s also an ex-con.
On top of the tension she feels working with a grumpy HOT asf man, her no-good father’s debt is biting Iris and Son in the rear. Iris has survived a lot- her cancer battle, the fatal cancer battle of her mom, the death of her grandma and the abandonment of her father, and NOW she has to deal with the pressure of finding her father so he can settle his debts, before they continue threatening her and her brother.
At work, things start getting STEAMY, in such a SUBTLE way 👀. This is told ONLY in Iris’s perspective, which is why it adds to the angst because we feel EVERYTHING on her end😅: every flutter, every heartbeat, even inhale/exhale, every butterfly, every touch, every graze, every gesture, EVERY stare and INVASION of private space😅… jeeeezus… I’m winded just writing this all lol; the tension is tighter than guitar strings on a recently tuned guitar… IT IS THAT GOOD🥵, and this is all before they even kiss! When they finally do, DEX commands and OWNS her lips like it’s the only job he’s allowed to do 👏🏻🔥… I FELT every lick, hum, gasp, and bite 💦. And when they finally start rounding bases, I almost fainted 😅😂 (at this point, the TENSION was killing me lol it was about time 👏🏻😉).
The Home run happens in the mid 80%, and everything leading up to the magical scoring run was delicious. I really appreciated him finding out she’s a v the good ol’ fashioned way 😬😅🥵. What makes it all so magical is that he learns her body, he worships every inch, and he’s always about ensuring her pleasure, *sigh*, which is all we women ever want in our men during those times 🔥🥰.
Not only that but she’s the only one he’s ever been with that he’s completely BARE with, in EVERY way- from his body (no barrier needed 😉), to his mind, to his private collections of collectibles and memorabilia, to his inner turmoils and thoughts- no one else has gotten that from him, and they learn to trust each other- which means that when they finally move forward in their relationship, it is a SOLID foundation 🥰❤️. Gahhhh. I just love him.
Did Iris annoy me sometimes? Yeah, especially when she wasn’t always forthcoming with information, but then I tried to put myself in her position and I understood why.
I am sooooo looking forward to reading more books from MZ- I don’t know why I was so afraid before 🤦🏻♀️😂😅.
2024 Reread
I borrowed the old audiobook through Libby (the new one that’s DUET narration just came out).
Things I especially loved this time around:
—this is the steamiest MZ I’ve read (first kiss 58%, jp claiming kiss 64%, 🔥second and third base 70% and 79%, and full home run 84% followed by other 🔥 encounters)
—he stops smoking for her 🥹
—he’s never been in a committed anything before her 🫶
—he’s a grumpy AF man, but he tones it down for her
—he respects that she’s a vegetarian 🫶. I have two sisters and 3 nieces that are and people are constantly judging them or making rude comments about eating meat. This pisses me the F up! Sorry. I get easily triggered when it comes to this 🤬. I love that the club supports her for this (initially though they made comments about it, but then DEX made them change their tune 💁🏻♀️)
—he calls her baby, my girl, honey, and Ritz ❤️
—the library comments 💁🏻♀️🤣
—him being upset she won’t look at his face 🥹
—Dex gets soooo jealous 🤣
—he pieces her belly button
—he has a comic book collection 👏🏻
—he’s protective and is supportive of her going to college
—the epilogue ❤️
Things that annoyed me this time around
—the ow drama 😑. I hated that Iris will always be around women Dex has slept with 🤬. I really wish he hadn’t been such a manwhore (or that maybe Iris wasn’t a virgin 🤷🏻♀️). For some reason, I was extremely annoyed by the info we get about his past. Iris sees him with two different women early on (one is off page, the other is days after she starts working for him) and then we get reminded of his past throughout the book (one of those times, another member mentions that Dex and he would share women 🥴whyyyyyy do I wanna know this!?!?). Later in the book, there’s an MC barbecue where Iris sees the women she’s seen him with and is wondering how many others have also slept with him 🥴. Dex doesn’t have to worry about that since she’s a virgin 🤷🏻♀️ must be nice 😑🤬
—when she mentions to him, more than once, about her lack of experience and his manwhoring ways, I would’ve loved it if he had somehow reassured her 😒. He kind of does, but I wanted more. She ends up convincing herself to get over it since she can’t change the past (which is true), but I wanted DEX to be the one doing it more. He DOES mention that he regrets the last time he was with someone, but claiming it was a mistake cause he was too drunk and then slapping the ow’s ass playfully as she leaves the next day isn’t very convincing to me 😒🙄
—talking shit to him when he was being as ass to her 😒. I wish Iris had done more here. The last time he’s mean to her (when he tells her to get the f out), I wanted more from her. Going to watch movies and ignoring him was not enough to me. Yes, he was scrambling to find her, but it’s his fault she left like that 😒. While he was right to be upset, the way he reacted wasn’t cool to me 😐
-considering how jp Dex is, I don’t know why they’re not married by the epilogue 🤷🏻♀️. Make it make sense 🤦🏻♀️
Overall, I still enjoyed it, just not as much as the first time I read it years ago.
⚠️safety squad⚠️
-no cheating/sharing
-cancer journey recounted (the h’s)
-parental death recounted/cancer
-violence
-abandonment by parent
-owd: the H slept with a woman before the book begins/before meeting the h and the h saw them. After the MCs are working together, the H sleeps with a different ow and the h sees when they leave a room. The H’s reputation of being a manwhore is referred to
-omd: the h is kissed by rival OM
-HEA/epilogue/3 years later
2021 Review; 2024 update down below
Yes, I said it: steamy right next to the words slow burn; because I don’t care what anyone says- the appetizers leading up to the main course are just as important (even if we don’t see any until the over 50% mark). Sure, we don’t get tons of smexy scenes, but I did NOT feel the slow burn like I normally would because of the emotional connection between Iris and Dex. And this was a home run for me. No more hesitation to read Mariana Zapata on my part any more!
This starts off by showing us Iris’s new life, in Texas, with her half brother Son/Sonny. Iris’s forced to move from Florida to be with her brother because she was recently let go, and she has less than $100 to her name. He gets her a job at a tattoo parlor, owned by Dex Locke, who desperately needs someone to help him with the paperwork and organizing of his business. He’s a grump and they kind of get off on the wrong foot, because he’s so impatient and doesn’t know how to censor himself. He’s part of an MC, just like her dad was and her brother too, and he’s also an ex-con.
On top of the tension she feels working with a grumpy HOT asf man, her no-good father’s debt is biting Iris and Son in the rear. Iris has survived a lot- her cancer battle, the fatal cancer battle of her mom, the death of her grandma and the abandonment of her father, and NOW she has to deal with the pressure of finding her father so he can settle his debts, before they continue threatening her and her brother.
At work, things start getting STEAMY, in such a SUBTLE way 👀. This is told ONLY in Iris’s perspective, which is why it adds to the angst because we feel EVERYTHING on her end😅: every flutter, every heartbeat, even inhale/exhale, every butterfly, every touch, every graze, every gesture, EVERY stare and INVASION of private space😅… jeeeezus… I’m winded just writing this all lol; the tension is tighter than guitar strings on a recently tuned guitar… IT IS THAT GOOD🥵, and this is all before they even kiss! When they finally do, DEX commands and OWNS her lips like it’s the only job he’s allowed to do 👏🏻🔥… I FELT every lick, hum, gasp, and bite 💦. And when they finally start rounding bases, I almost fainted 😅😂 (at this point, the TENSION was killing me lol it was about time 👏🏻😉).
The Home run happens in the mid 80%, and everything leading up to the magical scoring run was delicious. I really appreciated him finding out she’s a v the good ol’ fashioned way 😬😅🥵. What makes it all so magical is that he learns her body, he worships every inch, and he’s always about ensuring her pleasure, *sigh*, which is all we women ever want in our men during those times 🔥🥰.
Not only that but she’s the only one he’s ever been with that he’s completely BARE with, in EVERY way- from his body (no barrier needed 😉), to his mind, to his private collections of collectibles and memorabilia, to his inner turmoils and thoughts- no one else has gotten that from him, and they learn to trust each other- which means that when they finally move forward in their relationship, it is a SOLID foundation 🥰❤️. Gahhhh. I just love him.
Did Iris annoy me sometimes? Yeah, especially when she wasn’t always forthcoming with information, but then I tried to put myself in her position and I understood why.
I am sooooo looking forward to reading more books from MZ- I don’t know why I was so afraid before 🤦🏻♀️😂😅.
2024 Reread
I borrowed the old audiobook through Libby (the new one that’s DUET narration just came out).
Things I especially loved this time around:
—this is the steamiest MZ I’ve read (first kiss 58%, jp claiming kiss 64%, 🔥second and third base 70% and 79%, and full home run 84% followed by other 🔥 encounters)
—he stops smoking for her 🥹
—he’s never been in a committed anything before her 🫶
—he’s a grumpy AF man, but he tones it down for her
—he respects that she’s a vegetarian 🫶. I have two sisters and 3 nieces that are and people are constantly judging them or making rude comments about eating meat. This pisses me the F up! Sorry. I get easily triggered when it comes to this 🤬. I love that the club supports her for this (initially though they made comments about it, but then DEX made them change their tune 💁🏻♀️)
—he calls her baby, my girl, honey, and Ritz ❤️
—the library comments 💁🏻♀️🤣
—him being upset she won’t look at his face 🥹
—Dex gets soooo jealous 🤣
—he pieces her belly button
—he has a comic book collection 👏🏻
—he’s protective and is supportive of her going to college
—the epilogue ❤️
Things that annoyed me this time around
—the ow drama 😑. I hated that Iris will always be around women Dex has slept with 🤬. I really wish he hadn’t been such a manwhore (or that maybe Iris wasn’t a virgin 🤷🏻♀️). For some reason, I was extremely annoyed by the info we get about his past. Iris sees him with two different women early on (one is off page, the other is days after she starts working for him) and then we get reminded of his past throughout the book (one of those times, another member mentions that Dex and he would share women 🥴whyyyyyy do I wanna know this!?!?). Later in the book, there’s an MC barbecue where Iris sees the women she’s seen him with and is wondering how many others have also slept with him 🥴. Dex doesn’t have to worry about that since she’s a virgin 🤷🏻♀️ must be nice 😑🤬
—when she mentions to him, more than once, about her lack of experience and his manwhoring ways, I would’ve loved it if he had somehow reassured her 😒. He kind of does, but I wanted more. She ends up convincing herself to get over it since she can’t change the past (which is true), but I wanted DEX to be the one doing it more. He DOES mention that he regrets the last time he was with someone, but claiming it was a mistake cause he was too drunk and then slapping the ow’s ass playfully as she leaves the next day isn’t very convincing to me 😒🙄
—talking shit to him when he was being as ass to her 😒. I wish Iris had done more here. The last time he’s mean to her (when he tells her to get the f out), I wanted more from her. Going to watch movies and ignoring him was not enough to me. Yes, he was scrambling to find her, but it’s his fault she left like that 😒. While he was right to be upset, the way he reacted wasn’t cool to me 😐
-considering how jp Dex is, I don’t know why they’re not married by the epilogue 🤷🏻♀️. Make it make sense 🤦🏻♀️
Overall, I still enjoyed it, just not as much as the first time I read it years ago.
⚠️safety squad⚠️
-no cheating/sharing
-cancer journey recounted (the h’s)
-parental death recounted/cancer
-violence
-abandonment by parent
-owd: the H slept with a woman before the book begins/before meeting the h and the h saw them. After the MCs are working together, the H sleeps with a different ow and the h sees when they leave a room. The H’s reputation of being a manwhore is referred to
-omd: the h is kissed by rival OM
-HEA/epilogue/3 years later
December 4, 2025
4.5 stars
I enjoyed this one more the second time around. Dex is 🔥❤️
I enjoyed this one more the second time around. Dex is 🔥❤️
November 26, 2023
5/5 ⭐️ x ♾️ Reading this for the second time just brought me so much comfort and joy. I loved it just as much as the first time I read it. It was just perfection! This is a slow burn but compared to other books by MZ, it was not that slow. Their first kiss was at 58% so that’s pretty early compared to her other books. I wasn’t complaining though 😮💨🤭
MZ sure knows how to write some grumpy men and I fall in love with them every damn time! There’s just something about her slow burn romances that I love so much. They are so addicting. And she’s one of the very few authors whose long books I can tolerate lol.
Dex was grumpy, broody, and an asshole (she even nicknamed him Dex The Dick hahaha.) And Iris was sweet, kind, and a bit shy. That’s literally one of my favorite pairings in a romance 😌 Their relationship was just so perfect. I loved how possessive and jealous Dex was 🤭
I also loved the close relationship that Iris had with her brother Sonny. He was protective of her but not in an obnoxious way or OTT.
There were some really cute scenes between Iris and Dex that I just adored.
The scene where Dex finds Iris sleeping on her couch and he carries her to bed lives in my head rent free 🥹. And he always made sure that whatever gathering they were going to, had vegetarian options for her 🥺❤️
And when he rejected her resignation letter and told her she wasn’t going anywhere 🤭. And that scene where one of the customers asked Iris out on a date and Dex murmured “over my dead body” hahahaha I loved that 🤭
This was just perfect. Their slow burn romance felt like it was written specifically for me. I even shed a few tears 😭. I just love this book so much!! ❤️
*1st read review* 03/2022⬇️
So good! 5/5⭐️
MZ sure knows how to write some grumpy men and I fall in love with them every damn time! There’s just something about her slow burn romances that I love so much. They are so addicting. And she’s one of the very few authors whose long books I can tolerate lol.
Dex was grumpy, broody, and an asshole (she even nicknamed him Dex The Dick hahaha.) And Iris was sweet, kind, and a bit shy. That’s literally one of my favorite pairings in a romance 😌 Their relationship was just so perfect. I loved how possessive and jealous Dex was 🤭
I also loved the close relationship that Iris had with her brother Sonny. He was protective of her but not in an obnoxious way or OTT.
There were some really cute scenes between Iris and Dex that I just adored.
The scene where Dex finds Iris sleeping on her couch and he carries her to bed lives in my head rent free 🥹. And he always made sure that whatever gathering they were going to, had vegetarian options for her 🥺❤️
And when he rejected her resignation letter and told her she wasn’t going anywhere 🤭. And that scene where one of the customers asked Iris out on a date and Dex murmured “over my dead body” hahahaha I loved that 🤭
This was just perfect. Their slow burn romance felt like it was written specifically for me. I even shed a few tears 😭. I just love this book so much!! ❤️
*1st read review* 03/2022⬇️
So good! 5/5⭐️
June 28, 2024
Audiobook reread 10/10 🤭
—————————
I could not stop smiling, blushing or laughing reading this. I could not read this with a straight face. The number of times I blushed and had to look away 🤭 Charles Dexter Locke. The man that you are 🫦😮💨
This was me the entire time reading: (lmao I don’t know why the gif is playing so fast on the app)
However, it took me a while to settle into the book. And I must note that I did DNF this last year (not that I remembered before picking this up again, and I thought I had deja vu reading this 😭). It felt a bit choppy at the start, and I didn’t entirely like Iris and Dex all that much, but that shows how amazing the book is with the growth they had!!
❥ Slow burn
❥ Grumpy x sunshine / bad boy x good girl
❥ Workplace romance (he’s her boss)
❥ Brother’s best friend
❥ Age gap (9 or 10 years I think?)
❥ Biker club (she’s the daughter of a biker, and he’s a member of a club)
❥ Terms of endearment (x1000 lol)
❥ Reread worthy (tbf which MZ book isn't?)
This is such an underrated book!! I can’t believe I had a 5 star book on my hands and DNFed it 😭 I’ve read something similar and couldn’t help but compare it to Kristen Ashley’s books/series “The Dream Man” regarding the romance/MMC. But this was so much better! It had the usual slow burn which MZ is famous for (but not quite as slow, I was pretty surprised at the point when they first kissed). Plus there was more spice, and it was steamier than the other MZ books I’ve read 🤭
The way Dex treated Iris gave me legit butterflies. Their chemistry is unmatched!! There were so many moments they had which had me blushing. The things he would say to her. The way he called her Babe or Baby. His acts of service. The forced proximity. The possessiveness. The jealousy. His tattoos and piercings. It was sexy. Just thinking about it whilst writing this review is doing all types of things to me 🥵
Honestly, this might be on par with Wait for It in terms of my fav MZ book! Not only was the romance amazing, but all other aspects were too! The side characters were great, and I loved the dynamic Iris formed with the rest of the tattooists and the biker club. It got a bit emotional at points as we learned more about Iris’s challenging times.
I am SO glad I picked this up. I didn’t think I’d enjoy it as much as I did. But why am I surprised? I always love MZ’s books, and this one is no different. It was perfect 😮💨
Few of my fav moments below:
❥ He paused for a minute, straightening up to his full height before leaning back down and over me. The hot heat of his skin radiated onto mine so intently the warmth of his skin seeped into my muscles. "Son would skin my balls if I let somebody take advantage of his pretty baby sister."
❥ As if that wasn't enough, I swear to Mary and Joseph I felt his bottom lip press to the skin over my right temple. “I like it when you're all cute and playful,” he added.
❥ “Baby, just 'cuz you're cute doesn't mean I wasn't bein' serious about spankin' your tight little ass for doin' dumb shit, Ritz. You do it again, and you're gonna get it.”
That’s it. I’m a goner. I’m done.
❥ Because honestly, my stomach was doing flip-flops at our proximity. At the feel of that long, sinewy body practically cocooning mine. Sweet baby lord.
you and me both honey
❥ I'd maybe chewed three times before two thoughts hit me simultaneously. I was eating a black bean burger because his sisters had found out I was a vegetarian. And Dex's hand was still on my thigh.
the way he always made sure there were vegetarian options for her 🥹
❥ “But I'm not a good man, and I'm gonna take everythin' you want to give me and everythin' you don't.” Strike me dead. Dead, dead, dead.
❥ A soft laugh made its way out of his throat. “I kinda think you’re a treasure.”
—————————
I could not stop smiling, blushing or laughing reading this. I could not read this with a straight face. The number of times I blushed and had to look away 🤭 Charles Dexter Locke. The man that you are 🫦😮💨
This was me the entire time reading: (lmao I don’t know why the gif is playing so fast on the app)
However, it took me a while to settle into the book. And I must note that I did DNF this last year (not that I remembered before picking this up again, and I thought I had deja vu reading this 😭). It felt a bit choppy at the start, and I didn’t entirely like Iris and Dex all that much, but that shows how amazing the book is with the growth they had!!
❥ Slow burn
❥ Grumpy x sunshine / bad boy x good girl
❥ Workplace romance (he’s her boss)
❥ Brother’s best friend
❥ Age gap (9 or 10 years I think?)
❥ Biker club (she’s the daughter of a biker, and he’s a member of a club)
❥ Terms of endearment (x1000 lol)
❥ Reread worthy (tbf which MZ book isn't?)
This is such an underrated book!! I can’t believe I had a 5 star book on my hands and DNFed it 😭 I’ve read something similar and couldn’t help but compare it to Kristen Ashley’s books/series “The Dream Man” regarding the romance/MMC. But this was so much better! It had the usual slow burn which MZ is famous for (but not quite as slow, I was pretty surprised at the point when they first kissed). Plus there was more spice, and it was steamier than the other MZ books I’ve read 🤭
The way Dex treated Iris gave me legit butterflies. Their chemistry is unmatched!! There were so many moments they had which had me blushing. The things he would say to her. The way he called her Babe or Baby. His acts of service. The forced proximity. The possessiveness. The jealousy. His tattoos and piercings. It was sexy. Just thinking about it whilst writing this review is doing all types of things to me 🥵
Honestly, this might be on par with Wait for It in terms of my fav MZ book! Not only was the romance amazing, but all other aspects were too! The side characters were great, and I loved the dynamic Iris formed with the rest of the tattooists and the biker club. It got a bit emotional at points as we learned more about Iris’s challenging times.
I am SO glad I picked this up. I didn’t think I’d enjoy it as much as I did. But why am I surprised? I always love MZ’s books, and this one is no different. It was perfect 😮💨
Few of my fav moments below:
❥ He paused for a minute, straightening up to his full height before leaning back down and over me. The hot heat of his skin radiated onto mine so intently the warmth of his skin seeped into my muscles. "Son would skin my balls if I let somebody take advantage of his pretty baby sister."
❥ As if that wasn't enough, I swear to Mary and Joseph I felt his bottom lip press to the skin over my right temple. “I like it when you're all cute and playful,” he added.
❥ “Baby, just 'cuz you're cute doesn't mean I wasn't bein' serious about spankin' your tight little ass for doin' dumb shit, Ritz. You do it again, and you're gonna get it.”
That’s it. I’m a goner. I’m done.
❥ Because honestly, my stomach was doing flip-flops at our proximity. At the feel of that long, sinewy body practically cocooning mine. Sweet baby lord.
you and me both honey
❥ I'd maybe chewed three times before two thoughts hit me simultaneously. I was eating a black bean burger because his sisters had found out I was a vegetarian. And Dex's hand was still on my thigh.
the way he always made sure there were vegetarian options for her 🥹
❥ “But I'm not a good man, and I'm gonna take everythin' you want to give me and everythin' you don't.” Strike me dead. Dead, dead, dead.
❥ A soft laugh made its way out of his throat. “I kinda think you’re a treasure.”
March 24, 2020
22/03/2020
Just re-read this because M. Zapata has it as a freebie on Amazon (in case anyone is interested) and I had it on KU last time.
Anyway, it was as good as I remembered. I’ve noticed things that escaped me before - or rather, I didn’t appreciate as much before. I was saying a million Hell Yes’es in my head while Iris was giving Dex some lessons in human interaction 101 lol.
But honestly, I totally loved Iris. She had loads of self respect. Was she insecure and naive at times? Sure. But at the core she was strong. Despite saying how hot Dex was about 10000x times she didn’t once act like she lost her brain cells because of it.
Dex was ... Dex. I mean I did like the guy. He gave me some really alpha male vibes, I’d just rather praise Iris cause she was the more interesting character for once. Sure, he had layers too, but this is one of those very few times in a romance book that I loved how the heroine acted, talked and held her own. (She did some pretty stupid shit at some point but I mean we all have our tstl moments - and it was just a moment, not a pattern of behaviour lol)
Also, I wanna mention that this might be the only book where I really don’t mind the 24 yr heroine being a virgin. I mean, I kinda get how that would happen in her situation. Could I do without that tidbit and the double standard it usually enforces? Sure. Was it perpetuating a trend where the heroines need to be pure to be more worthy? NO. It really did make sense for her and her individual situation.
Long story short... I need another Zapata slow burn and I think the time has come for From Lukov with Love.
Just re-read this because M. Zapata has it as a freebie on Amazon (in case anyone is interested) and I had it on KU last time.
Anyway, it was as good as I remembered. I’ve noticed things that escaped me before - or rather, I didn’t appreciate as much before. I was saying a million Hell Yes’es in my head while Iris was giving Dex some lessons in human interaction 101 lol.
But honestly, I totally loved Iris. She had loads of self respect. Was she insecure and naive at times? Sure. But at the core she was strong. Despite saying how hot Dex was about 10000x times she didn’t once act like she lost her brain cells because of it.
Dex was ... Dex. I mean I did like the guy. He gave me some really alpha male vibes, I’d just rather praise Iris cause she was the more interesting character for once. Sure, he had layers too, but this is one of those very few times in a romance book that I loved how the heroine acted, talked and held her own. (She did some pretty stupid shit at some point but I mean we all have our tstl moments - and it was just a moment, not a pattern of behaviour lol)
Also, I wanna mention that this might be the only book where I really don’t mind the 24 yr heroine being a virgin. I mean, I kinda get how that would happen in her situation. Could I do without that tidbit and the double standard it usually enforces? Sure. Was it perpetuating a trend where the heroines need to be pure to be more worthy? NO. It really did make sense for her and her individual situation.
Long story short... I need another Zapata slow burn and I think the time has come for From Lukov with Love.
August 28, 2018
Re-read 6/11/17, 28/8/18
4.5 stars
I might be late for the Mariana Zapata bandwagon but I finally got here! I wont do a full review as there are already many amazing ones out there.
If like me you haven't had a chance to read this fantastic author, I suggest you bump her books up your tbr list and pronto! If you haven't heard of her please check her out she is totally worth it. A master of the slow build romance. Do give her a try!
While reading this, Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls kept playing in my head. I don't know if it was because of her name or the meaning or if it was an inspiration but I found it fitting to the book.
And to my fellow pervs, closeted and not, I have two words for you : Dick piercing.
Go forth and enjoy!
4.5 stars
I might be late for the Mariana Zapata bandwagon but I finally got here! I wont do a full review as there are already many amazing ones out there.
If like me you haven't had a chance to read this fantastic author, I suggest you bump her books up your tbr list and pronto! If you haven't heard of her please check her out she is totally worth it. A master of the slow build romance. Do give her a try!
While reading this, Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls kept playing in my head. I don't know if it was because of her name or the meaning or if it was an inspiration but I found it fitting to the book.
And to my fellow pervs, closeted and not, I have two words for you : Dick piercing.
Go forth and enjoy!
May 3, 2017
I know Zapata books are famous for the slow-burn romances. I loved her other book Kulti which made me decide to read some of her other books.
Dex and Iris make a guest appearance in Kulti which made me select this as my next read as I really wanted to know more about them.
Even before I started with this one, I knew looking at some of the reviews this is not as good as Kulti and my verdict is the same. It is nowhere near as good as Kulti. It maybe unfair to compare it to another book even though they are by the same author but somehow as a reader, after reading Kulti certain expectations and standards were set.
Iris starts working in an Tattoo parlor under duress and her boss is Dex Locke. Iris and Dex start their work relation on the wrong footing:
"So in my head it made sense that my work day had been spent A)ignoring Dex, B)avoiding Dex, and C)getting to know my coworkers slowly."
Now after knowing the name of the main characters the title does sound a bit cheesy.
I liked that there was more to it than just the romance . The character of Iris is what made me continue with this story.
The romance aspect of it moved very slowly but it works well with the story. It is a very laid-back story without any angst.
I am not a fan of Biker Romances and this is what it is. That part of it somehow did not click with me.
Somethings were left unresolved even in the epilogue and I really want to know what happened
Overall a very average one time read and hence the 2 stars.
Dex and Iris make a guest appearance in Kulti which made me select this as my next read as I really wanted to know more about them.
Even before I started with this one, I knew looking at some of the reviews this is not as good as Kulti and my verdict is the same. It is nowhere near as good as Kulti. It maybe unfair to compare it to another book even though they are by the same author but somehow as a reader, after reading Kulti certain expectations and standards were set.
Iris starts working in an Tattoo parlor under duress and her boss is Dex Locke. Iris and Dex start their work relation on the wrong footing:
"So in my head it made sense that my work day had been spent A)ignoring Dex, B)avoiding Dex, and C)getting to know my coworkers slowly."
Now after knowing the name of the main characters the title does sound a bit cheesy.
I liked that there was more to it than just the romance . The character of Iris is what made me continue with this story.
The romance aspect of it moved very slowly but it works well with the story. It is a very laid-back story without any angst.
I am not a fan of Biker Romances and this is what it is. That part of it somehow did not click with me.
Somethings were left unresolved even in the epilogue and I really want to know what happened
Overall a very average one time read and hence the 2 stars.
February 20, 2024
2/5
I tried to read it again after two years and I don't know what happened that made me give it five stars then. It's crazy how your taste changes over the years.
I tried to read it again after two years and I don't know what happened that made me give it five stars then. It's crazy how your taste changes over the years.
March 10, 2016
I loved this.
Admittedly, it took me a couple of chapters to get into it, at first the writing seems a bit choppy and a cpl of times I had to go back a page or two to remind myself of a question a character had asked.
However, once it settles and who was who, what connected them and the history of the characters made itself known, it just flowed and I started to really enjoy it.
Iris Taylor has had a hard life. She has had to move across country and move in with her half brother who is part of the MC club their father used to be part of. Sonny gets her a job with a fellow Widow MC member at his tattoo shop.
Charles Dexter Locke (aka Charlie or The Dick) does not get off to the best start with Iris "Ritz".
On her second day in the job she hears him insulting her. And boy can this girl hold a grudge. It went on for a few weeks, but she is fully aware of how unreasonable it is in all honesty, she just cant help herself!
I was surprised by how nice everyone had been-with the exception of Dex's dumb face.
....
All of this assured me that I'd avoided having to interact much with my boss. The owner. The bleeding mouth sore.
The snot-faced ass hole that I only kind-of, sort-of hoped came down with an infectious illness in his private parts. But you know, something he could get medicine for.
....
Dex was a temperamental bag of beaver dung.
ooh, and my favourite, which I think will become my insult of choice for the next few months Duke Dickface
But it has been said there is a fine line between love and hate.
Iris, at first she took Dex's crap, while insulting him in her mind and giving knee capping rights to her brother, but soon she starts to stand up for herself and is not going to take his crap any more.
Over the next few weeks they slowly start to get to know each other, slowly becoming friends and then more. It was lovely to watch their relationship change and grow from where it first started.
There was no real angst in their relationship once it had grown to a point of being more than friends....any conflict was from outside their relationship...mainly Iris's deadbeat dad and his issues causing them trouble.
It is rare I like the heroine as much as the hero in a book, but I really liked Iris, with her insults and "That's what she said" jokes and high fives. There was just something very endearing about her.
And Dex, yes he was a dick at first, but as we get to know him better and how he interacts and deals with Iris, you could not help but fall in love with him too The Kindest, grumpy ass man in all of Texas
All in all, it was a hugely enjoyable read, and the slow build up of the relationship between Dex and Iris was beautiful to experience.
"you've gotta be the best thing I never knew I wanted"
.........
"Seen a lot of things in my life - But you" His nostrils flared "my sweet, sweet baby, have gotta be my favourite by far"
An excellent 5 star read for me.
I would love to read about Sonny, Tripp, the guys from the tattoo parlour and even Luther!
Admittedly, it took me a couple of chapters to get into it, at first the writing seems a bit choppy and a cpl of times I had to go back a page or two to remind myself of a question a character had asked.
However, once it settles and who was who, what connected them and the history of the characters made itself known, it just flowed and I started to really enjoy it.
Iris Taylor has had a hard life. She has had to move across country and move in with her half brother who is part of the MC club their father used to be part of. Sonny gets her a job with a fellow Widow MC member at his tattoo shop.
Charles Dexter Locke (aka Charlie or The Dick) does not get off to the best start with Iris "Ritz".
On her second day in the job she hears him insulting her. And boy can this girl hold a grudge. It went on for a few weeks, but she is fully aware of how unreasonable it is in all honesty, she just cant help herself!
I was surprised by how nice everyone had been-with the exception of Dex's dumb face.
....
All of this assured me that I'd avoided having to interact much with my boss. The owner. The bleeding mouth sore.
The snot-faced ass hole that I only kind-of, sort-of hoped came down with an infectious illness in his private parts. But you know, something he could get medicine for.
....
Dex was a temperamental bag of beaver dung.
ooh, and my favourite, which I think will become my insult of choice for the next few months Duke Dickface
But it has been said there is a fine line between love and hate.
Iris, at first she took Dex's crap, while insulting him in her mind and giving knee capping rights to her brother, but soon she starts to stand up for herself and is not going to take his crap any more.
Over the next few weeks they slowly start to get to know each other, slowly becoming friends and then more. It was lovely to watch their relationship change and grow from where it first started.
There was no real angst in their relationship once it had grown to a point of being more than friends....any conflict was from outside their relationship...mainly Iris's deadbeat dad and his issues causing them trouble.
It is rare I like the heroine as much as the hero in a book, but I really liked Iris, with her insults and "That's what she said" jokes and high fives. There was just something very endearing about her.
And Dex, yes he was a dick at first, but as we get to know him better and how he interacts and deals with Iris, you could not help but fall in love with him too The Kindest, grumpy ass man in all of Texas
All in all, it was a hugely enjoyable read, and the slow build up of the relationship between Dex and Iris was beautiful to experience.
"you've gotta be the best thing I never knew I wanted"
.........
"Seen a lot of things in my life - But you" His nostrils flared "my sweet, sweet baby, have gotta be my favourite by far"
An excellent 5 star read for me.
I would love to read about Sonny, Tripp, the guys from the tattoo parlour and even Luther!
February 3, 2014
3.5-4stars.
It started out as this...
At some point, it turned into this
Cue a decade later and the baby ended up like this...
There was nothing explosive in this book. The story arc resembled a
That's not necessarily a bad thing. In lieu of a roller coaster ride, we had a slow burn. I love it when attraction gradually evolves into love. This book had the makings of something great:
1. A well developed love story. The plot was brimming with unresolved sexual tension;
2. A cold asshole for the H - just like the ones we all eventually fall in love with; and
3. A funny h...She had golden nuggets of humor at certain moments. Not that common to turn this into a sorry comedy of a book.
But at a certain point, the story began to drag. If you are not going to incorporate peaks and valleys into your plotline, you need to make it concise. This one dragged out the story after awhile that even though the "deed" did not happen until closer to 80%, I was no longer that invested and resorted to skimming the last 20%. Bummer, really...
It started out as this...
At some point, it turned into this
Cue a decade later and the baby ended up like this...
There was nothing explosive in this book. The story arc resembled a
That's not necessarily a bad thing. In lieu of a roller coaster ride, we had a slow burn. I love it when attraction gradually evolves into love. This book had the makings of something great:
1. A well developed love story. The plot was brimming with unresolved sexual tension;
2. A cold asshole for the H - just like the ones we all eventually fall in love with; and
3. A funny h...She had golden nuggets of humor at certain moments. Not that common to turn this into a sorry comedy of a book.
But at a certain point, the story began to drag. If you are not going to incorporate peaks and valleys into your plotline, you need to make it concise. This one dragged out the story after awhile that even though the "deed" did not happen until closer to 80%, I was no longer that invested and resorted to skimming the last 20%. Bummer, really...
September 25, 2022
3.75 stars
can’t say i didn’t enjoy this but it was entirely forgettable. this is probably the only time i’ve rounded a book down despite give it a .75 star 🧍🏻♀️
the dialogue was cringey, the heroine was annoying (especially when she kept holding what the hero said over his head for so fucking long like...GET OVER IT GIRL!), and the plot was eh but it’s MZ sooo 👩🏻🦯
reading all the reviews about how people hate the hero kinda made me like him more. i love assholes (even tho he was pretty mild to me)
also, i got the ick when the hero farted causing the heroine to gag from the smell 🫠
without a doubt the hottest MZ book i’ve read but why did the heroine’s cherry when the hero fingered her 😭 that could have been left out of the final copy 🫶🏻
can’t say i didn’t enjoy this but it was entirely forgettable. this is probably the only time i’ve rounded a book down despite give it a .75 star 🧍🏻♀️
the dialogue was cringey, the heroine was annoying (especially when she kept holding what the hero said over his head for so fucking long like...GET OVER IT GIRL!), and the plot was eh but it’s MZ sooo 👩🏻🦯
reading all the reviews about how people hate the hero kinda made me like him more. i love assholes (even tho he was pretty mild to me)
also, i got the ick when the hero farted causing the heroine to gag from the smell 🫠
It started as a whisper, a hiss, a pssssssssst.
And then it grew progressively louder before the smell hit me.
[…]
“Oh my God," I wheezed, smothering my mouth with my hand. "Did you crap your pants?"
without a doubt the hottest MZ book i’ve read but why did the heroine’s cherry when the hero fingered her 😭 that could have been left out of the final copy 🫶🏻
June 18, 2022
TW for cancer and death of a loved one
I'm finally making my way through the rest of Mariana Zapata's backlist, and this was a solid read! I love an older, grumpy hero and Locke works in the tattoo shop that Iris just got a job at. He's in an MC, and I feel like this is a great introduction to MC romances. While they faced some danger with rival MCs, this wasn't super dark and the characters didn't talk like the darker MC romance characters talk. Instead, Locke was just very protective over Iris and wanted to make sure she was taken care of. There was a lot of forced proximity and it was sweet how Iris and Locke started to grow closer and had some inside jokes. Iris had to go through a lot when she was younger, and I loved how strong of a character she was. She was dealing with things with her brothers and just trying to take care of herself and her family. I loved how both Iris and Locke worked in a tattoo shop and how that was a big part of the storyline and what they did together. It was a long book and pretty slow burn, but that's what you expect from Mariana Zapata. While this isn't a new all-time favorite from Mariana Zapata, I had a lot of fun reading it!
I'm finally making my way through the rest of Mariana Zapata's backlist, and this was a solid read! I love an older, grumpy hero and Locke works in the tattoo shop that Iris just got a job at. He's in an MC, and I feel like this is a great introduction to MC romances. While they faced some danger with rival MCs, this wasn't super dark and the characters didn't talk like the darker MC romance characters talk. Instead, Locke was just very protective over Iris and wanted to make sure she was taken care of. There was a lot of forced proximity and it was sweet how Iris and Locke started to grow closer and had some inside jokes. Iris had to go through a lot when she was younger, and I loved how strong of a character she was. She was dealing with things with her brothers and just trying to take care of herself and her family. I loved how both Iris and Locke worked in a tattoo shop and how that was a big part of the storyline and what they did together. It was a long book and pretty slow burn, but that's what you expect from Mariana Zapata. While this isn't a new all-time favorite from Mariana Zapata, I had a lot of fun reading it!
July 30, 2025
3.5/5 ⭐
I’m so torn and confused by this book I swear to all the literary gods out there that I haven’t a clue what I really feel about it.
As a very important side note: I've decided that this is a solid 3.5- stars rating, no more, no less. But oh well, I'll just round it up to 4 because I have no other decent choice 🤷♀️
Under Locke is one of the early Mariana Zapata romances and it was really different from the other two I read and really loved ( Dear Aaron and From Lukov with Love ).
Even so, it had a similar vibe to Kulti , romance-wise (both early works in MZ’s portfolio). Under Locke definitely had a more erotic vibe to it, which – don’t get me wrong – was smut at its finest, but a little less would’ve been enough.
Not that I’m complaining, it’s simply an honest observation.
The story itself was exciting. Pretty much as exciting as tattooed men who are part of biker gangs could be. There was (surprisingly) a lot of action in here too, and one or two times I actually gasped lightly when something unexpected happened.
Unlike MZ’s other heroines, Iris was sweet and lost…at least for the first part of the book.
Her life had a chaotic turn to it, she was nearly homeless and alone and she desperately needed a job that will get her money, even though that meant to do things she didn’t like.
She also wanted to finish the studies she never had the chance to finish, so she was in a bad place when the destiny brought her and Dex Locke together.
Iris needed stability in her life and even though at first it did not seem so (but quite the opposite) Locke was the only one whom she trusted enough to give her what she was in the need of.
He was a very complicated character, in my opinion. I don’t know how he managed it, but his constant mood swings were happening so quickly that sometimes I managed to be confused in a paragraph about three times at least.
One moment, he was being a total dickhead. Then he was the most caring person in the whole wide world, sweet and all that. And then – back again to Captain Dickhead. I really couldn’t keep up with him!
My main problem was that…you know…he was kind of hot. And I wanted to like him. But when he was being impossible like that, there was something in me that simply pressed a red button and said nope.
And it was also the matter of his possessiveness.
I don’t really mind healthy possessiveness, but there is something about this primal, alpha, Neanderthal urge some men have that simply doesn’t sit with me.
In my opinion, it is all right to be possessive over your significant other (it’s your S/O after all, and you are theirs, it’s something that could definitely be justified). But when you go full-on caveman/cavewoman over your S/O and you also insert some anger issues to the mix. That’s where the line must be drawn because it simply becomes toxic.
I really liked the book as a whole. It was very well written, the characters weren’t two-dimensional cardboard humans and the whole atmosphere had romance (as the genre indicates) and surprisingly good action here and there.
And it’s definitely not one of the worst contemporary romance books I’ve read in my life, so it’s definitely worth a read!
I’m so torn and confused by this book I swear to all the literary gods out there that I haven’t a clue what I really feel about it.
As a very important side note: I've decided that this is a solid 3.5- stars rating, no more, no less. But oh well, I'll just round it up to 4 because I have no other decent choice 🤷♀️
Under Locke is one of the early Mariana Zapata romances and it was really different from the other two I read and really loved ( Dear Aaron and From Lukov with Love ).
Even so, it had a similar vibe to Kulti , romance-wise (both early works in MZ’s portfolio). Under Locke definitely had a more erotic vibe to it, which – don’t get me wrong – was smut at its finest, but a little less would’ve been enough.
Not that I’m complaining, it’s simply an honest observation.
The story itself was exciting. Pretty much as exciting as tattooed men who are part of biker gangs could be. There was (surprisingly) a lot of action in here too, and one or two times I actually gasped lightly when something unexpected happened.
Unlike MZ’s other heroines, Iris was sweet and lost…at least for the first part of the book.
Her life had a chaotic turn to it, she was nearly homeless and alone and she desperately needed a job that will get her money, even though that meant to do things she didn’t like.
She also wanted to finish the studies she never had the chance to finish, so she was in a bad place when the destiny brought her and Dex Locke together.
Iris needed stability in her life and even though at first it did not seem so (but quite the opposite) Locke was the only one whom she trusted enough to give her what she was in the need of.
He was a very complicated character, in my opinion. I don’t know how he managed it, but his constant mood swings were happening so quickly that sometimes I managed to be confused in a paragraph about three times at least.
One moment, he was being a total dickhead. Then he was the most caring person in the whole wide world, sweet and all that. And then – back again to Captain Dickhead. I really couldn’t keep up with him!
My main problem was that…you know…he was kind of hot. And I wanted to like him. But when he was being impossible like that, there was something in me that simply pressed a red button and said nope.
And it was also the matter of his possessiveness.
I don’t really mind healthy possessiveness, but there is something about this primal, alpha, Neanderthal urge some men have that simply doesn’t sit with me.
In my opinion, it is all right to be possessive over your significant other (it’s your S/O after all, and you are theirs, it’s something that could definitely be justified). But when you go full-on caveman/cavewoman over your S/O and you also insert some anger issues to the mix. That’s where the line must be drawn because it simply becomes toxic.
I really liked the book as a whole. It was very well written, the characters weren’t two-dimensional cardboard humans and the whole atmosphere had romance (as the genre indicates) and surprisingly good action here and there.
And it’s definitely not one of the worst contemporary romance books I’ve read in my life, so it’s definitely worth a read!
June 29, 2023
Another re-read and it was just as enjoyable but also easily forgettable. Kulti remains supreme.
The humor
The brother sister relationship
The giant grumpy growly H
The saucy fmc
Virgin h
Tattoo shop
Multiple pierced H
Other than Lingus, this has to be the steamiest MZ book. A kiss at 50%?!!
The beginning of this book, felt quite parallel to Sweet Dreams by Kirstyn Ashley. (Loud mouth mmc who says something hurtful, fmc overhears it, gets hurt, mmc says to suck it up.)
The humor
The brother sister relationship
The giant grumpy growly H
The saucy fmc
Virgin h
Tattoo shop
Multiple pierced H
Other than Lingus, this has to be the steamiest MZ book. A kiss at 50%?!!
The beginning of this book, felt quite parallel to Sweet Dreams by Kirstyn Ashley. (Loud mouth mmc who says something hurtful, fmc overhears it, gets hurt, mmc says to suck it up.)
April 30, 2023
- 2.5 stars
I might not have enjoyed this because I'm in a reading slump and Dex & Iris bored me to tears. Or it's also might just be Mariana Zapata's worst book tied with Hands Down 🤷🏻♀️
I might not have enjoyed this because I'm in a reading slump and Dex & Iris bored me to tears. Or it's also might just be Mariana Zapata's worst book tied with Hands Down 🤷🏻♀️
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