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Unchained Hearts #1
Affliction
Cilla
Cilla St. James never believed in fairy tales until she fell in love at first sight with a man who was everything she ever wanted. Awkward, barely scraping by as a waitress, and as plump as a Christmas ham, she never thought anyone would ever look at her twice. She didn't think anyone could ever make her believe that she was worth loving. But he did.
Patriot
Johnny "Patriot" Smith spent 15 years serving his country, only to come home with a soul so tainted, not even the Devil could look upon it. Now, the VP of the Unchained MC, he's dedicated his life to a new brotherhood. A man so tainted could never expect to experience the beauty of true innocence. But then he saw her. And she changed everything. She became his affliction... his redemption, his obsession. He just had to convince the skittish Cilla that what they had was real... and hope that the bite of poisonous deception doesn't destroy the one thing he'd sell his soul to keep.
Affliction is the first book in the Unchained Hearts series. While the men in this book are members of an MC, these books will focus on the men, their women, and overcoming obstacles to find their happily ever after. Affliction is an age gap, instalove, other woman drama romance, featuring an ex-Army biker and a plus-sized heroine. There is no cheating, no cliffhangers, and a heartwarming HEA.
Cilla St. James never believed in fairy tales until she fell in love at first sight with a man who was everything she ever wanted. Awkward, barely scraping by as a waitress, and as plump as a Christmas ham, she never thought anyone would ever look at her twice. She didn't think anyone could ever make her believe that she was worth loving. But he did.
Patriot
Johnny "Patriot" Smith spent 15 years serving his country, only to come home with a soul so tainted, not even the Devil could look upon it. Now, the VP of the Unchained MC, he's dedicated his life to a new brotherhood. A man so tainted could never expect to experience the beauty of true innocence. But then he saw her. And she changed everything. She became his affliction... his redemption, his obsession. He just had to convince the skittish Cilla that what they had was real... and hope that the bite of poisonous deception doesn't destroy the one thing he'd sell his soul to keep.
Affliction is the first book in the Unchained Hearts series. While the men in this book are members of an MC, these books will focus on the men, their women, and overcoming obstacles to find their happily ever after. Affliction is an age gap, instalove, other woman drama romance, featuring an ex-Army biker and a plus-sized heroine. There is no cheating, no cliffhangers, and a heartwarming HEA.
216 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 31, 2024
423 people are currently reading
280 people want to read
About the author
Eve Black
20 books326 followersEve Black is the sexy contemporary romance-loving alter-ego of a sweet historical romance author...who also writes dark, sexy medieval romance under another name. Eve is one of several personalities in one crazy package. When Eve isn't writing books, she is editing other people's books, freelance writing marketing content, or wrangling her children. For fun, Eve loves to read (obviously) sexy contemporary and historical romance books, binge-watch old Supernatural, Burn Notice, Leverage, and Lucifer episodes on Netflix, and play mind-numbing games on her tablet.
Eve lives in an untidy house on a little over an acre in rural Northeast Pennsylvania with her husband of 17 years and their four children, three cats, and one chicken.
Visit Eve online at: www.EveBlackBooks.com
Eve lives in an untidy house on a little over an acre in rural Northeast Pennsylvania with her husband of 17 years and their four children, three cats, and one chicken.
Visit Eve online at: www.EveBlackBooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
November 22, 2024
Patriot and Cilla
How many times in a book can the fmc be called fat in a book? This one has to take the cake.This fmc is also referred to as a pig so many times its mind boggling. The H also allows the quad of mean girls to call the h who he is in love with a fat pig and so many derogatory and Insulting names. This is one of the most demeaning books I’ve read. I can think of two others that are in the trifecta. Mile High by Liz Tomforde and The wrong wife by Maya Alden. I’m going to have to come up with a new shelf for these books. What could it be? Author can’t stop calling the h a fat pig? I mean say it once if you have to but my god I wanted to grab the authors keyboard and smash it over her head. Meanwhile the H does say she’s beautiful but also makes a reference that his friends will think he’s slumming… charming. Anyway Patriot is one dumb mfkr… no wonder he got a bunch of people killed when he was in the military. He can’t even figure out the simplest shenanigan. He is NOT Harry Bosch for sure! His porno hacker friend who he thinks is dumb is smarter than Patriot. He is literally clueless. The ow Jamie fools him Into pretending he’s her bf because she wants to scare away her stalker ex. Patriot puzzles for pages—enlisting his porno hacker friends help trying to discern the identity of Jamie’s ex… FINALLY his porno loving pal says— why don’t you ask Jamie her ex boyfriends name??? THANK YOU Captain obvious! He also tells Patriot this probably is just a ploy by ow Jamie to get him back in her bed. Wow! No shit Sherlock but thanks for helping out dumb as dirt Patriot. Anyway if you want to read page after page after page of your heroine being called a fat pig then this is the book for you.
How many times in a book can the fmc be called fat in a book? This one has to take the cake.This fmc is also referred to as a pig so many times its mind boggling. The H also allows the quad of mean girls to call the h who he is in love with a fat pig and so many derogatory and Insulting names. This is one of the most demeaning books I’ve read. I can think of two others that are in the trifecta. Mile High by Liz Tomforde and The wrong wife by Maya Alden. I’m going to have to come up with a new shelf for these books. What could it be? Author can’t stop calling the h a fat pig? I mean say it once if you have to but my god I wanted to grab the authors keyboard and smash it over her head. Meanwhile the H does say she’s beautiful but also makes a reference that his friends will think he’s slumming… charming. Anyway Patriot is one dumb mfkr… no wonder he got a bunch of people killed when he was in the military. He can’t even figure out the simplest shenanigan. He is NOT Harry Bosch for sure! His porno hacker friend who he thinks is dumb is smarter than Patriot. He is literally clueless. The ow Jamie fools him Into pretending he’s her bf because she wants to scare away her stalker ex. Patriot puzzles for pages—enlisting his porno hacker friends help trying to discern the identity of Jamie’s ex… FINALLY his porno loving pal says— why don’t you ask Jamie her ex boyfriends name??? THANK YOU Captain obvious! He also tells Patriot this probably is just a ploy by ow Jamie to get him back in her bed. Wow! No shit Sherlock but thanks for helping out dumb as dirt Patriot. Anyway if you want to read page after page after page of your heroine being called a fat pig then this is the book for you.
June 3, 2024
My rating: 3 1/2 stars
What I loved: The ow drama!! I loved how the ow and her friend got what they deserved. I also liked how the one twin came to Cilla(h) at the end.
What I didn’t like: I wished Cilla made Patriot(H) suffer a little bit more after everything came out. Also, It would have been great to see Cilla stand up more for herself to the ow and her bullies.
***Major Spoilers/ Details/Triggers: OW drama. H is the VP of a motorcycle club and the h is close friends with one of the brother’s girlfriend. h is self conscious of her looks and weight. H and h both like each other but are just friends. When h hears ow and her friends talk about her, she puts distance between her and the H. H isn’t having that and pursues the h. Unfortunately, their relationship starts at rough time because H is also helping a “friend/ow”. This ow causes problems for the H and h. When everything comes out, H finally gets his act together and they get their HEA. Breadcrumbs for the other MC brother’s stories.
Final thoughts: This author definitely knows how to write ow drama (which I love to read). Can’t wait to read the other MC brothers especially the president and his wife.
What I loved: The ow drama!! I loved how the ow and her friend got what they deserved. I also liked how the one twin came to Cilla(h) at the end.
What I didn’t like: I wished Cilla made Patriot(H) suffer a little bit more after everything came out. Also, It would have been great to see Cilla stand up more for herself to the ow and her bullies.
***Major Spoilers/ Details/Triggers: OW drama. H is the VP of a motorcycle club and the h is close friends with one of the brother’s girlfriend. h is self conscious of her looks and weight. H and h both like each other but are just friends. When h hears ow and her friends talk about her, she puts distance between her and the H. H isn’t having that and pursues the h. Unfortunately, their relationship starts at rough time because H is also helping a “friend/ow”. This ow causes problems for the H and h. When everything comes out, H finally gets his act together and they get their HEA. Breadcrumbs for the other MC brother’s stories.
Final thoughts: This author definitely knows how to write ow drama (which I love to read). Can’t wait to read the other MC brothers especially the president and his wife.
August 5, 2025
I really liked the potential of the story but what bothered me most was the heroine. She really got on my nerves as she was ALWAYS whining oh I'm fat, oh I'm ugly, oh, oh, oh. I get that the author wanted to project the heroine's insecurities but in my opinion she made it look like a doormat. And the last one was that the gave up too easily despite the hero not having apologised properly yet. Like Jesus woman, let him work for it for a while.
June 11, 2024
So much fat shaming. I just wanted to tell the heroine to please eat a vegetable.
Anyhoo, read for the smackdown of the evil women, yes women, but not before they go Full Metal Jacket on the heroine in front of the hunky, do-nothing hero.
Anyhoo, read for the smackdown of the evil women, yes women, but not before they go Full Metal Jacket on the heroine in front of the hunky, do-nothing hero.
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October 23, 202511% UPDATE
I’m confused. The FMC wasn’t in a relationship with the MMC but she is crying like he betrayed her. They only talked with each other AND she would see him going to his room with the OW on the regular with the understanding that he was having sex with someone. So why is this story making it seem like he promised her something? If you let yourself fall for a dude you knew was sowing his oats in front of your face then that makes you careless with yourself. Being young is not the definition of stupid. It’s just sometimes an excuse. Plenty of young people know not to get involved with someone as standoffish as this MMC is. So I don’t get it. Maybe I expect more from someone that age because when I was that age more was expected of me than what the reality of life is nowadays. Smdh. Idk but this might not be for me. TBC.
25% UPDATE
The FMC has started avoiding the MMC because of an obviously setup overhead bullying situation to undermine her confidence by third party nonentities happened. If you are an ADULT you would have a conversation with the MMC to confirm if what was said was true. So far, nothing much has happened other than the constant “I want her but she’s too pure for me”, by the MMC and “he’s too gorgeous and amazing for my fat lame self”, by the FMC. They had like half a page of conversation between them up to this point. Everything is before the book opens or in their heads. It is truly boring.
35% UPDATE
To be brutally honest this book is childish. A 37 year old man who is a self proclaimed “monster “, is being manipulated by a wannabe club who’re of a little sister of his best guy friend with nothing more than a flimsy secret, that he slept with her while her brother (who abandoned her I might add) is away “finding himself/dealing with his own demons”, and he can’t see any way out of it?!? Man, give me a break. I feel like this is very high school.
And another thing, there is ZERO conversations happening in this book. I’d say like two pages worth of dialogue has happened up to this point. It’s fucking boring! Reading about two cowards’ inner thoughts of unworthiness with no actual engagement of the characters happening is a complete waste of my time.
FINAL UPDATE
Well I finished it. Making it to the end is an achievement I guess. Last man standing in a way. Idk. This book had Sam Crescent style vibes. So if you like that author you might like this book. Personally, I love SM but ALOT of her stuff is pure crap. And this story could fall into that category as NOTHING actually happens in this book. The main characters inner monologued through 80% of this book. Then the only smut scene I remember is when they finally had sex somewhere after 60% with one dream sex scene that was so out of place considering there was no other dream sequence anywhere else in the book. It was there literally to give another sex scene because the couple were still separated at the 80% mark.
You can check out my highlights if you want more clarity on where things happened in this book. Nothing ever really did though. I was bored as I mentioned more than once in the above updates. I was frustrated with the material and maturity levels of supposedly a bad ass MC being manipulated over really nothing. Side characters are mentioned, like the scary dude in the confrontation scene that never gets a name or reason for having so much description for him. The confrontation was lackluster at most. The entire story is fluff at best and shallow at worst. There’s no epilogue, which for the first time ever I am actually glad about because I was beyond done with this pointless book. And lastly, I have no idea what the MMC’s “Affliction” was supposed to be!
The title doesn’t match the story. I can only assume it was one of two things. 1) That the affliction was the MMC’s interest in the FMC. Which I immediately discounted as the MMC does the exact opposite of someone suffering from an obsessive affliction for the FMC would do. They were only together on page for like 10% of the story. And talked even less than that. As I mentioned before there was very little dialogue in this entire book let alone between the main couple.
2) The other possibility for the “Affliction” being the nightmares or night terrors the MMC might have been having from his possible PTSD from his military service. But again none of this is a hundred percent clearly addressed in the book so I am speculating. The MMC thought a few times about needing the FMC with him as she kept the bad dreams away. But since nothing is ever really delved into I just don’t know for sure. That is not how a story should leave you. Unsure what was actually happening with the characters.
Either way, I don’t really want to but I will finish this series just to see what happens with the Prez and Tornado. It’s unfortunate, that those aren’t the very next stories in the series but the last once’s instead. I might just skip to those books but I’m not sure how interconnected these books are and I hate when things happen in one book to a couple that is four books later. I wish authors didn’t do this because then the reader can’t just read the stories they want to without important content missing because it was in another book. If your writing is strong enough you don’t have to trap your readers with this tactic. They would read out of order and still come back for more because it was that good.
Finally, the story needs more editing as grammar and continuity issues were present. The author did have some interesting lines that I wish there had been more of. While this plot line did NOT work for me it had some potential to be better given some more perspective. Just like a lot of Sam Crescent’s books, lol. So try it or don’t try it, that’s up to you. I will never read this book again and that’s my only definition of a good book, if I’m left wanting to reread it again and again forever. While annoying to me this book was entirely forgettable. Good luck.
I’m confused. The FMC wasn’t in a relationship with the MMC but she is crying like he betrayed her. They only talked with each other AND she would see him going to his room with the OW on the regular with the understanding that he was having sex with someone. So why is this story making it seem like he promised her something? If you let yourself fall for a dude you knew was sowing his oats in front of your face then that makes you careless with yourself. Being young is not the definition of stupid. It’s just sometimes an excuse. Plenty of young people know not to get involved with someone as standoffish as this MMC is. So I don’t get it. Maybe I expect more from someone that age because when I was that age more was expected of me than what the reality of life is nowadays. Smdh. Idk but this might not be for me. TBC.
25% UPDATE
The FMC has started avoiding the MMC because of an obviously setup overhead bullying situation to undermine her confidence by third party nonentities happened. If you are an ADULT you would have a conversation with the MMC to confirm if what was said was true. So far, nothing much has happened other than the constant “I want her but she’s too pure for me”, by the MMC and “he’s too gorgeous and amazing for my fat lame self”, by the FMC. They had like half a page of conversation between them up to this point. Everything is before the book opens or in their heads. It is truly boring.
35% UPDATE
To be brutally honest this book is childish. A 37 year old man who is a self proclaimed “monster “, is being manipulated by a wannabe club who’re of a little sister of his best guy friend with nothing more than a flimsy secret, that he slept with her while her brother (who abandoned her I might add) is away “finding himself/dealing with his own demons”, and he can’t see any way out of it?!? Man, give me a break. I feel like this is very high school.
And another thing, there is ZERO conversations happening in this book. I’d say like two pages worth of dialogue has happened up to this point. It’s fucking boring! Reading about two cowards’ inner thoughts of unworthiness with no actual engagement of the characters happening is a complete waste of my time.
FINAL UPDATE
Well I finished it. Making it to the end is an achievement I guess. Last man standing in a way. Idk. This book had Sam Crescent style vibes. So if you like that author you might like this book. Personally, I love SM but ALOT of her stuff is pure crap. And this story could fall into that category as NOTHING actually happens in this book. The main characters inner monologued through 80% of this book. Then the only smut scene I remember is when they finally had sex somewhere after 60% with one dream sex scene that was so out of place considering there was no other dream sequence anywhere else in the book. It was there literally to give another sex scene because the couple were still separated at the 80% mark.
You can check out my highlights if you want more clarity on where things happened in this book. Nothing ever really did though. I was bored as I mentioned more than once in the above updates. I was frustrated with the material and maturity levels of supposedly a bad ass MC being manipulated over really nothing. Side characters are mentioned, like the scary dude in the confrontation scene that never gets a name or reason for having so much description for him. The confrontation was lackluster at most. The entire story is fluff at best and shallow at worst. There’s no epilogue, which for the first time ever I am actually glad about because I was beyond done with this pointless book. And lastly, I have no idea what the MMC’s “Affliction” was supposed to be!
The title doesn’t match the story. I can only assume it was one of two things. 1) That the affliction was the MMC’s interest in the FMC. Which I immediately discounted as the MMC does the exact opposite of someone suffering from an obsessive affliction for the FMC would do. They were only together on page for like 10% of the story. And talked even less than that. As I mentioned before there was very little dialogue in this entire book let alone between the main couple.
2) The other possibility for the “Affliction” being the nightmares or night terrors the MMC might have been having from his possible PTSD from his military service. But again none of this is a hundred percent clearly addressed in the book so I am speculating. The MMC thought a few times about needing the FMC with him as she kept the bad dreams away. But since nothing is ever really delved into I just don’t know for sure. That is not how a story should leave you. Unsure what was actually happening with the characters.
Either way, I don’t really want to but I will finish this series just to see what happens with the Prez and Tornado. It’s unfortunate, that those aren’t the very next stories in the series but the last once’s instead. I might just skip to those books but I’m not sure how interconnected these books are and I hate when things happen in one book to a couple that is four books later. I wish authors didn’t do this because then the reader can’t just read the stories they want to without important content missing because it was in another book. If your writing is strong enough you don’t have to trap your readers with this tactic. They would read out of order and still come back for more because it was that good.
Finally, the story needs more editing as grammar and continuity issues were present. The author did have some interesting lines that I wish there had been more of. While this plot line did NOT work for me it had some potential to be better given some more perspective. Just like a lot of Sam Crescent’s books, lol. So try it or don’t try it, that’s up to you. I will never read this book again and that’s my only definition of a good book, if I’m left wanting to reread it again and again forever. While annoying to me this book was entirely forgettable. Good luck.
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December 21, 2024DNF at 26%
I just can’t with all the internal monologue. You get one line of dialogue and then 2 pages of rambling annoying internal monologue before you get any kind of dialogue response…at which point I’ve already forgotten what the conversation is supposed to be about.
Note to self: author is not safe. Avoid.
I just can’t with all the internal monologue. You get one line of dialogue and then 2 pages of rambling annoying internal monologue before you get any kind of dialogue response…at which point I’ve already forgotten what the conversation is supposed to be about.
Note to self: author is not safe. Avoid.
May 22, 2024
Eve Black hooked me in the first chapter!! The story begins with our heroine, Cilla, overhearing others talking about her, her weight, and her unrequited love for the Hero, Patriot. It broke my heart to hear how much self doubt Cillia felt and those terrible words from the club women. There intent to hurt her could be felt and it makes you Team Cilla from the very beginning of the story. However, I was so happy that Patriot actually loved her curves and thought she was his peace. I love a book with OW drama and this did not disappoint. So happy that Patriot knew Cilla was his future and would do anything to have her.
Loved Cilla so much and a big thanks to Eve Black for incorporating a great plus size woman into her story. Glad Cilla and Patriot got a HEA.
I received a free ARC copy of the book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Loved Cilla so much and a big thanks to Eve Black for incorporating a great plus size woman into her story. Glad Cilla and Patriot got a HEA.
I received a free ARC copy of the book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 17, 2024
OTT fat shaming, start to finish.
October 9, 2024
I'm kind of the odd man out on this one. The issues that most people had with the heroine's self deprecation and low self esteem, I loved. The fat shaming too. Man, that created some really gutting angst while experiencing those evil mean bitches verbally and emotionally abusing this heroine. Those bitches were so horrid.
My only issues in this story was the sex scenes with graphic description of ALL the giggly bits. 😳
All of the cottage cheese divots in her thighs, poochy fat rolls jiggling, and the hoohaw that was described as weeks beyond needing a razor (right before her dude goes down on her). It was all just a bit too much.
And the way this heroine went on and on about her super tight clothes and her endless fat rolls showing through the way too tightness. I'm not fat shaming here, I just know that I wouldn't want people seeing my own rolls outlined in that much skin tightness, while wearing clothing that was so many sizes too small for me. I'm pretty sure I'm just way too insecure myself to pull that off, so it was uncomfortable for me all of this so graphically described.
I liked this story though. It had a decent amount of angst for me, with this poor abused heroine believing and feeling that she is the Hero's dirty secret that others can't know about, while her Hero is just about to claim another woman who he truly loves. Such angsty goodness. And those awful bitches getting some comeuppance for their evil deeds was perfection too!
May 22, 2024
Stars: ⭐4.0⭐
Main characters:
- Cilla: ❣️❣️❣️❣️
- Patriot:❣️❣️❣️❣️
POV: From Cilla and Patriot's POV, in third person
Writing: ✍️✍️✍️✍️
Romance/tropes: MC romance, Friends-to-Lovers with feeling "love at first sight", Plus sized h, OW drama, Age gap (older H-younger h), Opposites attract
Chemistry: 🔥🔥🔥
Angst: 😱😱😱
OW/OM drama: Yes, OW drama (Jaime)
Love triangle: No
Cheating: No
Triggers: No
Funny moments: Well, no
Sad/painful moments: Hmm, yes
Happy ending: Yes
************************************************
Liked: good writing, sweet story, painful moments for the h, OW drama
Didn't like: touch of insta-love and age gap
Wish for: more angst, longer story, suspense, more groveling from the H and a little bit more story about his brothers and their friendship
************************************************
I recived an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Eve 😊 I really enjoyed and now I'm waiting for the next book! ❤️ Maybe Tornado's? 😁
Main characters:
- Cilla: ❣️❣️❣️❣️
- Patriot:❣️❣️❣️❣️
POV: From Cilla and Patriot's POV, in third person
Writing: ✍️✍️✍️✍️
Romance/tropes: MC romance, Friends-to-Lovers with feeling "love at first sight", Plus sized h, OW drama, Age gap (older H-younger h), Opposites attract
Chemistry: 🔥🔥🔥
Angst: 😱😱😱
OW/OM drama: Yes, OW drama (Jaime)
Love triangle: No
Cheating: No
Triggers: No
Funny moments: Well, no
Sad/painful moments: Hmm, yes
Happy ending: Yes
************************************************
Liked: good writing, sweet story, painful moments for the h, OW drama
Didn't like: touch of insta-love and age gap
Wish for: more angst, longer story, suspense, more groveling from the H and a little bit more story about his brothers and their friendship
************************************************
I recived an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Eve 😊 I really enjoyed and now I'm waiting for the next book! ❤️ Maybe Tornado's? 😁
Read
May 31, 2024DNF 50%. I don't mind instalove if done right, but I couldn't do it. This is just too immature for me. Everyone is dumb. Lot's of telling and not enough doing. Every other page is about her weight, fat shaming, and not feeling pretty enough. It's just too much. It's obvious the H likes her, but she acts like she has no clue. And him being 37, ex military hardass, isn't vibing with how's he's acting. They're adults, but it feels like high school 🤷. And then there's the H's best friend's little sister Jaime... Yeah just no
October 21, 2024
It was okay. The body “fat” talk was a bit much. Very wordy. A lot should have been eliminated by a professional editor. I thought the beginning had a great start, but then it started to lose me. I found myself skimming.
Misunderstanding overload. Great premise, but the execution could have been better.
Misunderstanding overload. Great premise, but the execution could have been better.
October 5, 2024
3.5
Wasn’t a fan of ow drama much. The end “surprise” for the h also didn’t make sense to me much. When she is already so vulnerable, you’ve brought her to a party and let her assume you are going to claim ow just for showmanship. I would have liked her to say no and humiliate him in front of everyone. And then after a good number of weeks of suffering, accept his apology.
Oh right he never apologised at the party.
Overall safeish, good angst
Wasn’t a fan of ow drama much. The end “surprise” for the h also didn’t make sense to me much. When she is already so vulnerable, you’ve brought her to a party and let her assume you are going to claim ow just for showmanship. I would have liked her to say no and humiliate him in front of everyone. And then after a good number of weeks of suffering, accept his apology.
Oh right he never apologised at the party.
Overall safeish, good angst
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2025
This book felt like an excuse for the author to blast egregiously fatphobic rhetoric as much as she wanted. Sure, the FMC was plus size. But the level of hatred spewed about her size was wild. And it was almost worse coming from her inner thoughts.
Then there’s the romance. Patriot did not put his foot down fast enough for me with the OWD. He toggled the line between the OW and FMC way too much to the point that I just couldn’t give a shit about the couple when they did get their HEA.
I’m glad I read this series out of order because I doubt I would’ve kept going if this had been my first book to read. Thankfully, I do think the others are better and worth reading. I’ll just have to be weary of more fatphobia with any future books by this author.
Then there’s the romance. Patriot did not put his foot down fast enough for me with the OWD. He toggled the line between the OW and FMC way too much to the point that I just couldn’t give a shit about the couple when they did get their HEA.
I’m glad I read this series out of order because I doubt I would’ve kept going if this had been my first book to read. Thankfully, I do think the others are better and worth reading. I’ll just have to be weary of more fatphobia with any future books by this author.
May 24, 2024
This story started off with Cilla our heroine, who was the subject of quite nasty comments and behaviours from some nasty women, I love OW drama!. She was lacking some self esteem, but it didn’t stop her from developing feelings for our hero Patriot. Patriot had a lot going on in his life and was a loyal brother, sometimes too loyal but it all stemmed from the time he was in service, a promise was made. This was a great story, a page turner, enough angst that I was happily giving the heroine my own personal opinion of how I would deal with certain situations! I could have done with a bit more depth (but I am an angst lover) with feelings from the hero, but as usual that’s the sign of a good story! I always want more 😁
I received a free ARC copy of the book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free ARC copy of the book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 26, 2024
I know that Patriot never actually cheated on her physically and I guess not emotionally either but he did treat her poorly by not sticking up for her and letting those skanky ass bitches call her names and abuse her. To me that is almost worse. But the thing that bothered me the most is that she just gave in to him at the end without even making him suffer. Not even a token hesitation on her part. She was not the kind of h I like to read about. They have to get some sort of “revenge” or make them work for it a little. Overall it was a pretty good book but I could not get behind this h, she had not spine at all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 23, 2024
3.5 stars
I really enjoyed this book. It was an mc book but there wasn’t any dark or heavy mc related topics. It had a story line and wasn’t complete smut either. That’s a positive in my book. The hero had a betrayal/grovel arc in the book and I think it was done perfectly. It wasn’t over the top or drawn out. It was done right. The ow drama was there and I really enjoyed it. I’m a sucker for all the ow drama. The writing and editing was great and I have nothing but good to say about the book.
I really enjoyed this book. It was an mc book but there wasn’t any dark or heavy mc related topics. It had a story line and wasn’t complete smut either. That’s a positive in my book. The hero had a betrayal/grovel arc in the book and I think it was done perfectly. It wasn’t over the top or drawn out. It was done right. The ow drama was there and I really enjoyed it. I’m a sucker for all the ow drama. The writing and editing was great and I have nothing but good to say about the book.
September 8, 2025
The couple: Patriot and Cilla
Romance trope: MC; ow
Series: Unchained Hearts
Length: 216 pages
Plot: Cilla has such a crush on Patriot but is she he could never love her. She doesn't realize that he is already in love with her. But the club girls have no intention of letting them ride off into the sunset.
Commentary: Well, Patriot was some special sort of dumb. It was so obvious that Jamie was manipulating him. He just didn't want to upset her so didn't bother to get the very basic of information, such as her "stalker's" name. So much of the story would never have happened if he had been the tiniest bit smarter. Poor Cilla - she deserved better than ever being a secret. I could never.
Next book in the series: Treachery
Romance trope: MC; ow
Series: Unchained Hearts
Length: 216 pages
Plot: Cilla has such a crush on Patriot but is she he could never love her. She doesn't realize that he is already in love with her. But the club girls have no intention of letting them ride off into the sunset.
Commentary: Well, Patriot was some special sort of dumb. It was so obvious that Jamie was manipulating him. He just didn't want to upset her so didn't bother to get the very basic of information, such as her "stalker's" name. So much of the story would never have happened if he had been the tiniest bit smarter. Poor Cilla - she deserved better than ever being a secret. I could never.
Next book in the series: Treachery
October 5, 2024
3.5
Johnny "Patriot" Smith has been waiting for the chance to show Cilla St. James how he really feels about her. So far they have been friends and he has enjoyed every moment with her, but his duties as VP of the Unchained MC has kept him on the road. Now that he is ready to make her his Ol' Lady, a favor for his best friend is in the way and he has to keep his relationship with Cilla on the down low.
Cilla is a full figured woman, working as a waitress and doing the best she can. She is head over heels for Patriot but the club bunnies and one of the sisters of an MC member know just where to make it hurt when it comes to her and her feelings for Patriot. Cilla is beginning to feel like a dirty little secret and unless Patriot mans up they will be over before they even begin.
I liked the story, the issue I had with Patriot was he got played and I just had a hard time believing he was that obtuse. I liked Cilla she is so sweet and gets bullied for most of the book. Had it's moments but one cringe worthy moment soured it a bit for me.
Johnny "Patriot" Smith has been waiting for the chance to show Cilla St. James how he really feels about her. So far they have been friends and he has enjoyed every moment with her, but his duties as VP of the Unchained MC has kept him on the road. Now that he is ready to make her his Ol' Lady, a favor for his best friend is in the way and he has to keep his relationship with Cilla on the down low.
Cilla is a full figured woman, working as a waitress and doing the best she can. She is head over heels for Patriot but the club bunnies and one of the sisters of an MC member know just where to make it hurt when it comes to her and her feelings for Patriot. Cilla is beginning to feel like a dirty little secret and unless Patriot mans up they will be over before they even begin.
I liked the story, the issue I had with Patriot was he got played and I just had a hard time believing he was that obtuse. I liked Cilla she is so sweet and gets bullied for most of the book. Had it's moments but one cringe worthy moment soured it a bit for me.
May 31, 2024
4 - 4.5 stars
I love this author and all her work. I absolutely LOVE that most her books have other woman drama (guilty pleasure!) but no cheating.
In this book she straight up says, it's a MC book but more MC adjacent and I loved it for that. Sometimes MC books have too much sideline stories going on rather than focusing on the couple and this delivered without getting convoluted down by random MC crap.
The story begins with our heroine, Cilla, hiding in a bathroom while overhearing club wh)res talking about her, her weight, and her unrequited love for the Hero, Johnny aka Patriot (road name). We find out Cilla has been not so secretly crushing on Patriot for the 7 months since they met, have been developing a friendship and both seem into each other. She's a bigger girl which I always LOVE to see Eve write about and has a lot of self-esteem issues.
Patriot to his credit has no eyes for anyone but Cilla but due to a dark military past he feels unworthy of "tainting" Cilla at first and feels she's too young for him. We also find out quickly he has a woman in his life, Jamie, who is actually his best friend's little sister and is over the top obsessed with him.
Lots of drama, angst, a mild who done it plot, some nasty body shaming, some hot sex and a very believable connection between the H and h. Even when Patriot is being stupid for the better of the club (and he's real stupid) you know the entire time he's always thinking of Cilla.
For once, I didn't give her book a 5 star only because of two small reasons.
1. I love that Eve is a proud supporter of BBW and loving your body. I felt like this book and it's fat shaming (pig, gross, fatty, disgusting) was a little overdone though. Cilla became almost TOO sad and pathetic. Her inner monologues and body shaming of HERSELF along with what felt like every other person in the entire book detracted from the story. I would have liked to see literally anyone else but Patriot tell her she was attractive or sexy or have her see a counselor.... anything to work on that negative self image. Or it just done a little less. It was a little too thrown in your face the whole book.
2. A tiny bit of grovel or more fight back from Cilla. We know she's head over heels in love with Patriot. But he still fucked up. I would have liked to see a bit more resistance or her telling him to wait a few days for her to accept his kutte (like he made her wait and ghosted her) more than just like okay I've spent days crying over you but you love me yay!
MC romance 🤩
Alpha male biker🤩
Curvy and sweet heroine 🤩
Other woman drama 🤩
This book checked all the boxes for me regardless of those little quirks!
I love this author and all her work. I absolutely LOVE that most her books have other woman drama (guilty pleasure!) but no cheating.
In this book she straight up says, it's a MC book but more MC adjacent and I loved it for that. Sometimes MC books have too much sideline stories going on rather than focusing on the couple and this delivered without getting convoluted down by random MC crap.
The story begins with our heroine, Cilla, hiding in a bathroom while overhearing club wh)res talking about her, her weight, and her unrequited love for the Hero, Johnny aka Patriot (road name). We find out Cilla has been not so secretly crushing on Patriot for the 7 months since they met, have been developing a friendship and both seem into each other. She's a bigger girl which I always LOVE to see Eve write about and has a lot of self-esteem issues.
Patriot to his credit has no eyes for anyone but Cilla but due to a dark military past he feels unworthy of "tainting" Cilla at first and feels she's too young for him. We also find out quickly he has a woman in his life, Jamie, who is actually his best friend's little sister and is over the top obsessed with him.
Lots of drama, angst, a mild who done it plot, some nasty body shaming, some hot sex and a very believable connection between the H and h. Even when Patriot is being stupid for the better of the club (and he's real stupid) you know the entire time he's always thinking of Cilla.
For once, I didn't give her book a 5 star only because of two small reasons.
1. I love that Eve is a proud supporter of BBW and loving your body. I felt like this book and it's fat shaming (pig, gross, fatty, disgusting) was a little overdone though. Cilla became almost TOO sad and pathetic. Her inner monologues and body shaming of HERSELF along with what felt like every other person in the entire book detracted from the story. I would have liked to see literally anyone else but Patriot tell her she was attractive or sexy or have her see a counselor.... anything to work on that negative self image. Or it just done a little less. It was a little too thrown in your face the whole book.
2. A tiny bit of grovel or more fight back from Cilla. We know she's head over heels in love with Patriot. But he still fucked up. I would have liked to see a bit more resistance or her telling him to wait a few days for her to accept his kutte (like he made her wait and ghosted her) more than just like okay I've spent days crying over you but you love me yay!
MC romance 🤩
Alpha male biker🤩
Curvy and sweet heroine 🤩
Other woman drama 🤩
This book checked all the boxes for me regardless of those little quirks!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2025
Loaded with Spoilers. My review has some critiques but I do like this series and author. These books are like crack with me because in the end, these couples just adore each other. The road is gonna be bumpy, so buckle up.
Ok, so I read book 4 first and there is a theme.
These guys love their women and they are near perfect, sexy, loving, but they have this one major flaw. They lose all common sense when a mean girl club ho starts scheming, lying and setting them up. Seriously, it's in their face obvious who is behind all the shenanigans but they blindly believe and fall for all the lies. Not to the point of actual cheating (though book 4 guy did some emotional cheating) but you just want to pat them on the head, sigh and say "You're so pretty".
These mean girls are out of control mean. This H is in the midst of this mess (he allowed himself to get duped into) and puts his girl in the position of the nastiest bullying any girl gang ever pulled. It was painful and I really wanted the author to dial back a bit on the whacko behavior. At this point, she grew a backbone and I was so happy because she really was a sweet girl despite the thing that drove me nuts in the next paragraph.
And this h, she gave me whiplash with her back and forth one minute I love him the next minute he cant' like me I'm a fat girl (cue the water works). he was having the biggest pity party. I know we are trying to tell a story here but she did this over and over and over. Going over her hard childhood and low self esteem. Way too much internal dialogue that was repetitive but him too with, I can't be with her, I'm too dark, my past in the military (which never really got revealed) I'll tell her what's going on but not now.
Just a couple on points for me. When he told her they had to keep their relationship secret I was glad he was pretty honest about why but I really wished she would have told him no. That she had more respect for herself but, it was a plot point for what was to come later I guess.
He did not need to put her through that anguish when the the big scene where the bad girls are exposed and get their comeuppance. I wanted to cry for her.
Lastly I wish when there is a plus size heroine she is JUST, a plus size heroine. There doesn't need to be bullying and fat shaming. Lets just describe her as she is like beautiful, voluptuous, curvy, sexy. If her size is brought up let it be handled with grace and confidence. We all have something about us we'd like to change, other peoples comments don't define us.
Ok all that (which I know sounds super critical) but these books have heart and characters I can like.
Ok, so I read book 4 first and there is a theme.
These guys love their women and they are near perfect, sexy, loving, but they have this one major flaw. They lose all common sense when a mean girl club ho starts scheming, lying and setting them up. Seriously, it's in their face obvious who is behind all the shenanigans but they blindly believe and fall for all the lies. Not to the point of actual cheating (though book 4 guy did some emotional cheating) but you just want to pat them on the head, sigh and say "You're so pretty".
These mean girls are out of control mean. This H is in the midst of this mess (he allowed himself to get duped into) and puts his girl in the position of the nastiest bullying any girl gang ever pulled. It was painful and I really wanted the author to dial back a bit on the whacko behavior. At this point, she grew a backbone and I was so happy because she really was a sweet girl despite the thing that drove me nuts in the next paragraph.
And this h, she gave me whiplash with her back and forth one minute I love him the next minute he cant' like me I'm a fat girl (cue the water works). he was having the biggest pity party. I know we are trying to tell a story here but she did this over and over and over. Going over her hard childhood and low self esteem. Way too much internal dialogue that was repetitive but him too with, I can't be with her, I'm too dark, my past in the military (which never really got revealed) I'll tell her what's going on but not now.
Just a couple on points for me. When he told her they had to keep their relationship secret I was glad he was pretty honest about why but I really wished she would have told him no. That she had more respect for herself but, it was a plot point for what was to come later I guess.
He did not need to put her through that anguish when the the big scene where the bad girls are exposed and get their comeuppance. I wanted to cry for her.
Lastly I wish when there is a plus size heroine she is JUST, a plus size heroine. There doesn't need to be bullying and fat shaming. Lets just describe her as she is like beautiful, voluptuous, curvy, sexy. If her size is brought up let it be handled with grace and confidence. We all have something about us we'd like to change, other peoples comments don't define us.
Ok all that (which I know sounds super critical) but these books have heart and characters I can like.
September 4, 2024
This is what I called a "juicy guilty pleasure book".
The h loves the H. The H loves the h. The H is a 37 years old MC VP, former military. He's a manly man you know. He thinks he's too dark and damaged for the h. The h is a 22 years old waitress, she's oversized and insecure about her looks. She only has one friend who's the girlfriend of ones of the MC's dudes. They dance around each other for 6 months when the book begins.
The H's BFF has a sister (the mean OW of the book) and he asked the H to look after her while he ride alone around the US because he has ISSUES. Three years before the story begins, the H fucked the sister. They were both drunk af and he never gave her any hint he was into her. She is obsessed with him. He never told his BFF, he feels guilty and she takes advantage of this.
Now, the plot begins: the OW receives some stalkish notes and threats from a man and she asks the H to become her "fake boyfriend" so the other can leave her alone. Her age is never mentioned but I think she's late 20s or early 30s. The H agrees because he wants to keep her safe until her brother comes back. Obviously, he doesn't give a crap about her but the OW and her mean girls clique like to tease the h about it. The H and the h begin a relationship, he finally tells her about the OW and how they're fake together and how the h is the one.
The H finally realises the OW played him, she never was threatened, she actually asked someone to send her notes and she even asked him to kill the h. YES SHE DID!
At this point, the H and h aren't together because he humiliated her in public in front of the OW.
His plan to get the h back is to, basically, becoming Hercules Poirot, invite everyone in one place and reveal the OW's cruel plot. What he does is humiliate the h more before saying to her "I did it for you". Like LOL. So the OW and one of her mean girls are banished form Pennsylvania. The H gave his cut to the h. The end.
This was such a silly book. Would have been less cringe if all the characters were 18. In what world a 37 years old MC VP guy accept to play fake boyfriend? So ridiculous!
The h loves the H. The H loves the h. The H is a 37 years old MC VP, former military. He's a manly man you know. He thinks he's too dark and damaged for the h. The h is a 22 years old waitress, she's oversized and insecure about her looks. She only has one friend who's the girlfriend of ones of the MC's dudes. They dance around each other for 6 months when the book begins.
The H's BFF has a sister (the mean OW of the book) and he asked the H to look after her while he ride alone around the US because he has ISSUES. Three years before the story begins, the H fucked the sister. They were both drunk af and he never gave her any hint he was into her. She is obsessed with him. He never told his BFF, he feels guilty and she takes advantage of this.
Now, the plot begins: the OW receives some stalkish notes and threats from a man and she asks the H to become her "fake boyfriend" so the other can leave her alone. Her age is never mentioned but I think she's late 20s or early 30s. The H agrees because he wants to keep her safe until her brother comes back. Obviously, he doesn't give a crap about her but the OW and her mean girls clique like to tease the h about it. The H and the h begin a relationship, he finally tells her about the OW and how they're fake together and how the h is the one.
The H finally realises the OW played him, she never was threatened, she actually asked someone to send her notes and she even asked him to kill the h. YES SHE DID!
At this point, the H and h aren't together because he humiliated her in public in front of the OW.
His plan to get the h back is to, basically, becoming Hercules Poirot, invite everyone in one place and reveal the OW's cruel plot. What he does is humiliate the h more before saying to her "I did it for you". Like LOL. So the OW and one of her mean girls are banished form Pennsylvania. The H gave his cut to the h. The end.
This was such a silly book. Would have been less cringe if all the characters were 18. In what world a 37 years old MC VP guy accept to play fake boyfriend? So ridiculous!
April 1, 2025
Cilla and Patriot
I really enjoyed this book and it’s a great introduction to the Unchained MC! I will definitely be continuing the series! I loved Patriot and Cilla and can’t wait to read more of the brothers’ stories! I definitely recommend this series! Eve Black did great building the world of the Unchained and has me eager to learn more about the characters around Patriot and Cilla as well.
I loved Cilla! My heart hurt for her, though. Women are cruel and no one should have to deal with the level of bullying that she did. Her inner dialogue made me sad. I’m not sure how anyone could sit be and listen to people talk to her the way the club girls did. Seriously, how was Stephie the only one that stuck up for her? How did the brothers allow it?
Patriot seemed to follow a playbook of what not to do when it came to Cilla. I won’t lie, I wanted to smack him on multiple occasions. He was not so bright on occasion and had a blindness where Jaime was concerned. I think he was the only one that didn’t see her game. I think he still has some groveling to do for Cilla. He can spend the rest of eternity making up for his behavior and treating Cilla like the queen she is! I think he plans on that!
Like I said above, great start to the series and I can’t wait to read more. I definitely want to know more about the brothers and their stories! I’m dying to know what is going on with Frost. Tornado is kind of intriguing as well. I’m looking forward to Locust and Nadia’s story!
I really enjoyed this book and it’s a great introduction to the Unchained MC! I will definitely be continuing the series! I loved Patriot and Cilla and can’t wait to read more of the brothers’ stories! I definitely recommend this series! Eve Black did great building the world of the Unchained and has me eager to learn more about the characters around Patriot and Cilla as well.
I loved Cilla! My heart hurt for her, though. Women are cruel and no one should have to deal with the level of bullying that she did. Her inner dialogue made me sad. I’m not sure how anyone could sit be and listen to people talk to her the way the club girls did. Seriously, how was Stephie the only one that stuck up for her? How did the brothers allow it?
Patriot seemed to follow a playbook of what not to do when it came to Cilla. I won’t lie, I wanted to smack him on multiple occasions. He was not so bright on occasion and had a blindness where Jaime was concerned. I think he was the only one that didn’t see her game. I think he still has some groveling to do for Cilla. He can spend the rest of eternity making up for his behavior and treating Cilla like the queen she is! I think he plans on that!
Like I said above, great start to the series and I can’t wait to read more. I definitely want to know more about the brothers and their stories! I’m dying to know what is going on with Frost. Tornado is kind of intriguing as well. I’m looking forward to Locust and Nadia’s story!
June 18, 2024
I am wavering on whether this is a 3 or 4 star read for me personally, but I think I have to come closer to 3 stars because there was a LOT of repetitive inner monologuing, and not enough active communication between the characters here, but primarily because the FMC was ..... honestly on the pathetic side more than not in this story, and that made me sad, because there was/is so much potential for her to be more than her own inner demons and the author delivers just a bit too much self-shaming and cringe-worthy body image issues. I wanted to read this because I expected there to be some of that and I love it when things are realistic, but this character just feels brow-beaten to me, and it was a bit too much. The drama with Jaime was entertaining, and the story as a whole was good; the writing was good, but I think for ME, as a new reader of this author, this main character was not fully baked or realized in a healthy or even just on the way to healing way, and it falls flat. I would still recommend the story, and I would certainly read others in the series, but I wish the author had given her character more backbone.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 15, 2024
UGH! The grammatical errors were terrible: incorrect words, duplicate words, missing words. The fat shaming was disgusting, and it was through the ENTIRE book, including from the h herself. This wasn't a book where she grew to lover herself and said F the ppl fat shaming her, nope. She just kept beating herself up about it. The mean girls weren't even like funny caricatures of the movies; they were just beyond rude and gross, and I still can't understand why no one ever stopped them from treating Cilla the way they did. If all the guys wanted Cilla, but Patriot called dibs, you're telling me no one ever heard what went down and said anything?! Also, I'd say spoilers but seriously, if you can't figure out the OW is behind the "threats" then I feel sorry for you. Anyway, this made-up drama was so beyond ridiculous I just had to roll my eyes. And WTH was with the party at the end when Cilla suddenly starts calling Patriot Johnny?! I had to go back and forward to make sure there wasn't an issue with the book where it skipped to a different book for some reason. Cilla and everyone called him Patriot through the entire book, so I was totally thrown off and wondering who Johnny was.
September 19, 2025
Affliction is the kind of book that sneaks into your chest and leaves bruises. Eve Black writes heartbreak like a gut punch, you don’t just read Cilla and Patriot’s story, you feel it.
Cilla’s insecurities and quiet pain are so raw and relatable, and Patriot… god, he’s both her salvation and her downfall. The missteps, the silences, the moments he doesn’t see her worth, they hurt. They cut deep. But that’s also what makes the eventual redemption so incredibly satisfying.
There are scenes that tighten your gut and steal your breath. Watching Cilla’s self-worth erode, not always from others, but from her own reflections, is devastating. And when Patriot lets things slide, lets others wound her, or allows assumptions to cloud his feelings, it feels like a betrayal of trust, not infidelity, but still deeply wounding.
Cilla deserves someone to see all of her: her fears, her doubts, and her beauty the way she longs to see it herself. The heartbreak is strongest when she’s dismissed or undermined, or when Patriot doesn’t immediately step in. Yet even in the midst of that pain, there are sparks of hope: moments when Patriot does fight for her, and moments when Cilla refuses to stay invisible. Those were the scenes I absolutely loved.
Another one of Eve Black’s books that I will definitely read again….
Cilla’s insecurities and quiet pain are so raw and relatable, and Patriot… god, he’s both her salvation and her downfall. The missteps, the silences, the moments he doesn’t see her worth, they hurt. They cut deep. But that’s also what makes the eventual redemption so incredibly satisfying.
There are scenes that tighten your gut and steal your breath. Watching Cilla’s self-worth erode, not always from others, but from her own reflections, is devastating. And when Patriot lets things slide, lets others wound her, or allows assumptions to cloud his feelings, it feels like a betrayal of trust, not infidelity, but still deeply wounding.
Cilla deserves someone to see all of her: her fears, her doubts, and her beauty the way she longs to see it herself. The heartbreak is strongest when she’s dismissed or undermined, or when Patriot doesn’t immediately step in. Yet even in the midst of that pain, there are sparks of hope: moments when Patriot does fight for her, and moments when Cilla refuses to stay invisible. Those were the scenes I absolutely loved.
Another one of Eve Black’s books that I will definitely read again….
September 26, 2025
3.5 star MC-lite Romance
This MC-lite novel (MC without the extreme violence etc) is about the VP Patriot and a woman named Cilla. It's an age gap romance starring a plus sized FMC. I am a true fan of plus sized FMCs and prefer to read about them, so I was curious to read this book.
First, the positives: Patriot thinks Cilla is gorgeous. Drop dead gorgeous. Loves her curves. Cilla's best friend Stephie is a true ride or die and ready to fight for her. The spice is spicing. The angst was tense enough that I wanted to put my Kindle aside multiple times.
Negatives: typos. So many typos. Was this even edited or just run through a spellcheck? Cilla doesn't stand up for herself and hates her body 98% of the book. She lets mean girls literally make her cry but doesn't say a word to them. Doesn't show a backbone. Patriot doesn't do enough to stick up for her and the grovel? Yeah. There's not nearly enough grovel.
I get what Eve the author was aiming for, but I think they fell a little short of the goal line. There's promise, but it's not my favorite MC romance. 3.5/5 stars.
This MC-lite novel (MC without the extreme violence etc) is about the VP Patriot and a woman named Cilla. It's an age gap romance starring a plus sized FMC. I am a true fan of plus sized FMCs and prefer to read about them, so I was curious to read this book.
First, the positives: Patriot thinks Cilla is gorgeous. Drop dead gorgeous. Loves her curves. Cilla's best friend Stephie is a true ride or die and ready to fight for her. The spice is spicing. The angst was tense enough that I wanted to put my Kindle aside multiple times.
Negatives: typos. So many typos. Was this even edited or just run through a spellcheck? Cilla doesn't stand up for herself and hates her body 98% of the book. She lets mean girls literally make her cry but doesn't say a word to them. Doesn't show a backbone. Patriot doesn't do enough to stick up for her and the grovel? Yeah. There's not nearly enough grovel.
I get what Eve the author was aiming for, but I think they fell a little short of the goal line. There's promise, but it's not my favorite MC romance. 3.5/5 stars.
June 19, 2024
The start to the Unchained Hearts series hang on once you start you won’t want to put it down until the last page has been turned. Cilla is sweet curvier than most girls, has been picked on most of her life damaging her self esteem but when she overhears the women, she thought were her friends body shaming her, talking about her really broke her heart they were supposed to be her friends, and it causes her to second guess everything especially ghosting the man that she has always crushed on. Patriot sexy as all get out MC VP, retired military he is loyal brother, friend to a fault and has an interest in only one curvy girl but realizes he has ghost from his past time in the military that he fights but it hurts him when she ghosts him forcing him to put all in attention on gaining her attention but an he convince her that she is beautiful just the way she is, will he understand why she decided to walk away, will they put a stop to the shaming the other women do in the club, and can these two find happiness somewhere within the craziness?
August 7, 2025
Interesting, it was lacking a little something for me to completely obsessed but still loved it. The OW drama was perfect. I am desperate to know what's up with the prez and his wife. Gonna have to read that one for sure but it's not out till October 2025. Only two months but I'm excited to read about a marriage in trouble.
I am a huge lover of betrayal books and OW drama books and this delivers on both. In a satisfying way that I would probably read again.
Not a fan of the excessive fat shaming. It was over done. I get showing an honest view of what bigger girls have to face on a daily basis but it was overkill on the amount of insults every woman threw at the FMC. I wish we could have found some more clever insults and maybe spread the focus on things other than just her weight. But that's just my opinion and for someone else it might have been absolutely perfect.
either way I love this author and I will always read her work. still desperate for her to finish her WIP on wattpad.
I am a huge lover of betrayal books and OW drama books and this delivers on both. In a satisfying way that I would probably read again.
Not a fan of the excessive fat shaming. It was over done. I get showing an honest view of what bigger girls have to face on a daily basis but it was overkill on the amount of insults every woman threw at the FMC. I wish we could have found some more clever insults and maybe spread the focus on things other than just her weight. But that's just my opinion and for someone else it might have been absolutely perfect.
either way I love this author and I will always read her work. still desperate for her to finish her WIP on wattpad.
August 3, 2024
This was hard to get through
Way way too much repetitive thought life. This book got bogged down with repeated thoughts that went on and on and not enough dialogue. Not enough interaction. It's hard to read a conversation when after every spoken word there's a big gap of thought life. Repetitive no less. There were some spots that you get a taste of some good back and forth conversation but it was rare. I also liked that we didn't have to wait for the main female lead to be up front with the main male lead on confronting him on what the deal was. It would not have been good for her to keep putting it off and off. I'm not sure if I am going to invest in this series if all the books are like this. It had potential but I can't keep wading through so much "dead space" with word fillers. It was nice to read about a plus size woman. Up to you to decide.
Way way too much repetitive thought life. This book got bogged down with repeated thoughts that went on and on and not enough dialogue. Not enough interaction. It's hard to read a conversation when after every spoken word there's a big gap of thought life. Repetitive no less. There were some spots that you get a taste of some good back and forth conversation but it was rare. I also liked that we didn't have to wait for the main female lead to be up front with the main male lead on confronting him on what the deal was. It would not have been good for her to keep putting it off and off. I'm not sure if I am going to invest in this series if all the books are like this. It had potential but I can't keep wading through so much "dead space" with word fillers. It was nice to read about a plus size woman. Up to you to decide.
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