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My husband’s dead and I've been kidnapped.

Years ago, I stole money from the Dragons MC club and ran. Against all odds, I picked myself up. Became sober. Got married.

But then he found me.

Now I belong to Cain—a ruthless, loveless man who’s intent on making me his obedient slave. He’s done unspeakable things to my body, tortured me, and broken me down so that I’ll never betray him. And I wouldn't have...

Until Spike came along.

He’s rough around the edges, but warm. When he kisses me, I feel alive. I’ve never been in love, but Spike is all I've ever wanted. When I’m around him, all bets are off. I’m falling for him and I can’t hide it anymore.

If Cain finds out, he’ll kill us both.

Author's Note: This is a dark romance novel, it contains themes of violence and mature situations that could make readers uncomfortable.

313 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 21, 2014

29 people are currently reading
1022 people want to read

About the author

Vanessa Waltz

36 books1,489 followers
Vanessa Waltz is an author of Dark Bad Boy Romance and lives in Seattle with her two ill-behaved cats.

Before she settled in Seattle, she lived in Northern California where she studied English Literature at San Jose State University. She pursued a career in medicine before making an about-face to write full-time. She also pens psychological thrillers as Rachel Hargrove.

She enjoys beer tasting, live music venues, and singing her heart out at horrified bar patrons.


Vanessa is represented by Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

Email: info@vanessawaltzbooks.com
Website: www.vanessawaltzbooks.com
Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/2JQ4PZ9
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2JQ7i5R
Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor...

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5 stars
133 (19%)
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197 (29%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
Profile Image for Beverly.
1,005 reviews788 followers
June 26, 2014
4 Dark MC Stars

Julia hasn’t always made the best decisions, but after walking away from Dragons MC she decides to get clean. Oh and by walking I mean running with a large sum of money she stole from them.


Julia reformed and off drugs marries and starts a new life, but you can’t hide from your past forever.


Once they catch up to Julia they kill her husband, and are about to kill her when Cain steps in and decides to take responsibility for her.

Julia thinks this is her lucky break until she realizes Cain is a crazy fuck intent on breaking her.

Spike, a newly patched in member, takes an interest in Julia…


From here things take a turn into crazy town so hold on to your handle bars, its going to be a rough ride.


Overall, I really liked this book. It is gritty, dark, suspenseful, and sexy…basically everything I think an MC book should be. I was impressed with how quick a read it is, and how much I did not want to put it down. I became very invested in the characters.

Why not 5 stars, there were some parts that were not believable. I know what you thinking…have I lived in the MC world? What do I think I am an expert? Well, actually….no I am kidding - I am not expert but some of the “medical” stuff didn’t seem believable. Normally, I read right over crazy things like this, but this one actually had me stopping to think…Really?? Um…yeah…no.

That aside I really enjoyed this and would definitely recommend to a friend looking for a dark MC book.

Live: http://www.amazon.com/Ruthless-Dark-R...

ARC courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for Jennifer Kyle.
2,611 reviews5,400 followers
June 26, 2014
Julia is a former pool hustler and old lady of the Dragon MC Club on the run for stealing money. She has been hidden away, married and trying to live the suburbia lifestyle when her past comes a knocking and she is propelled back into the Dragon MC Club claimed by the new VP Cain who is INSANE

"There were few things in life that made me more excited than a human being completely at my mercy."

description

Julia is tortured, abused and her cocaine habit is reinstated all the while the hot prospect Spike has caught her eye. Spike is a really likable character and he lands in good favor with Cain and quietly gets close to Julia.

Cain is hell bent on selling this new drug called Red which makes a user go crazy and costs a pretty penny. Things go amuck within the Dragon organization and Cain is on the warpath.

Can Julia and Spike make it out alive?

Overall this story moved at good pace and was action packed. One scene towards the end of the book with the transfusion was totally unbelievable. Still the story was entertaining for the most part.

ARC courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for Kelli C .
1,053 reviews361 followers
October 28, 2014
*copy provided by author in exchange for honest review*
So a dark tale involving bikers you say? Well, Hell YES, I am in! I was prepared for your typical MC club read with the danger, the drama, and the taboo behavior, however Vanessa Waltz went outside the box and added a bit of complete craziness to a very tortured love story!

I will start by saying that I struggled with my overall rating, not because I didn't enjoy this but I had to be honest as I sat and tried to really figure out what I read! If I could, I would give a spit rating.

To start this was a good story, dark and twisted and completely my cup of tea! This messed up club tale brought all the badness to the table. I liked it...the dark behavior, the club strife, the bike riding dirty boys. Told from a triple POV...Julia is found in a twisted battle between a possessive sadistic club VP, Cain, and a bad murdering yet soul-touched, Spike.

So this is where I found it a complete clusterf*** of WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON? You see there is this girl, Julia, at the heart of the story only I have no idea really where she came from...how she got to be who and where she is...and most importantly how in the hell is she gonna play tennis at the country club on Monday and then snort lines of coke with a psychotic MC VP who is hell bent on "breaking her."

What ensues is a wild ride of survival for Julia...she has hustled men her whole life so honestly it is really hard to say I "got her." Yes she was a survivor because how in the hell she did what she did was beyond me! Too bad she could not get under the psyche of Cain. He tortures her daily. Keeping her doped up she is his puppet and it seems as if her fear is not enough to make her walk away. That is until Spike sees more in her...he is kind to her and he makes her want, truly. The more time they spend together the attraction builds...it is inevitable what progresses next.

Oh SNAP...someone forgot to tell them that CAIN is a complete crazy ass! Let the war begin...the game playing...the "do anything it takes to survive actions"...and let the bloodshed occur!

This was Nail biting to the end, it was not pretty, it was not romantic, but it was really f'd up fun!

Profile Image for Allison ❤️Will Never Conquer Her TBR❤️.
1,045 reviews1,535 followers
August 14, 2016

Four Dark, Suspenseful MC Stars!

Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos

Ruthless is no fluffy MC read, if there is such a thing. It delves into the ugliest of ugly in biker club ruthlessness. This book is not for the faint at heart. Be prepared for drug use, rape, torture, and murder ahead. It ranks up there in most graphic MC books I've read, which says something.

Julia is not unfamiliar with the Dragons MC. She was an old lady back in the day...before she stole thousands of dollars from them and blew it on her blow addiction. She knew they'd come looking for her, she just didn't realize her quiet life in suburbia would be literally blown away when they took her back...and made her pay.

Cain is the VP of the Dragons. He's out for revenge against Julia. She owes his club money and he will torture her and make her pay it back...in some way. He just didn't bank on her tough will to survive and his desire to make her his old lady...all while abusing her.

Spike is a new member of the Dragons, young, lanky, and just an all around nice guy (for a biker). He stays back and watches his VP fuck with this beautiful chick Julia...but when he finds the wounds on her torso, he finds his protective side wanting to protect her from Cain. He's a sick fuck, off the hook violent when he's high on drugs...Spike sees nothing but darkness coming their way for the club or Julia unless he's stopped.

As I stated, this is not light biker reading. Julia is far from an innocent, she's the queen of pool hustling, a cocaine addict, and tough as nails. She knows she needs to get away from Cain's clutches but has nowhere to go...he will find her...again.

I ate up the first 80% of Ruthless. I think it would've been an easy 4.5 stars for me. It had all the elements I need in MC books...darkness, suspense, grit, tough old ladies. But the last 20% was the climax and resolution of the book and it just didn't 100% do it for me. There's a part towards the end I just couldn't believe..I'm a nurse and if you read the book, you'll know what I mean. It's just not something that can be done in real life nor was it a believable scene for me. The only other (picky) issue I had was the use of BLONDE man to describe Cain throughout the entire book. I mean, he's blonde, I get it. But upon looking it up, the word blonde is used 29 times in the book! His pale blonde hair. The tall, blonde man. The blonde man sat... His blonde eyebrows... The blonde man allowed.... We get it.

Overall, I really enjoyed it. Ruthless appears to be a standalone and I'd recommend it for those looking to the uglier side of the human (MC) race.


Arc received by author in exchange of an honest review.
Profile Image for ♡kitten♡.
214 reviews355 followers
April 5, 2015
3-3.5 Dark & Gritty Stars.

Well, holy shit. I f*cking love dark MC books!

And this has got to be one of the most suspenseful MC novels ever written in the history of MCs. It's full of angst and almost 90% of the book is action-packed. Oh and that bizarre love triangle... I'm hesitant at first to read this because I'm not really a fan of love triangles in books. I'm kind of worried that there's an MFM scene or menage here like other MC novels, but I'm surprised there's none.

Of all the books I've read, quite frankly I don't think I've ever read a heroine more horrible than Julia. I wouldn't go into details since I don't want to spoil the book, but just so you know, Julia isn't your average heroine.

And Cain, the insanely sadistic VP of the Dragons MC, I hated this man's fucking guts. The only bright, good thing about this book is Spike, the club's prospect . This man, I fucking love. I just love that whenever he's around, he always try to make the mood light. His character is the light to the darkness in this book. Even though he often go with Cain with their killing sprees, this guy still has a big heart in him. He doesn't hurt women unlike Cain, and I love that he is willing to do anything to protect and save Julia from the hell they live in.

Now, what I didn't like...

To be perfectly honest, I am not very fond of the author's writing style in this book.



Hmmmm meh. I just find the writing style confusing and at times, annoying. There's just too many damn inner thoughts in italic form coming from the POVs of either Julia, Cain, or Spike *sighs* I really think that it's not necessary to italicize those one-sentence inner thoughts since the story is written in 1st person POV of the 3 MCs. Sorry for making this an issue! *hides face and runs away*

That being said, I would say that I still enjoyed reading this book. I liked the whole premise of the story, though I find some scenes too over the top. And the ending was slightly unrealistic. This book wasn't that amazing, but it wasn't that bad either. I was basically torn in between and I find this an "okay" read. It didn't pull me in that much, but I still liked the dark elements and the intensity of most scenes.

This isn't your average MC book. It's dark, brutal, violent, and will definitely have you gripping at the edge of your seat the entire time. This author can sure-as-hell write an awesome dark book, and I'll definitely read more of her works.

What more can I say? Lovers of dark biker novels will surely enjoy this one!
Profile Image for DKristin.
494 reviews224 followers
July 20, 2014
This was definitely a 4.5 star maybe even 4.7 star read for me. I love reading MC Romances and honestly most of those that are out there are pretty dark. So when I saw the warning I wasn't sure what to think of it.

Then I started meeting the characters and one in particular by the name of Cain and then I understood fully why the author warns you about this one. This isn't dark because these guys are in a MC and badass and as shit... This is dark because Cain, your main antihero, is a fucking psychotic antisocial piece of work. For those who are thinking the socialized term for antisocial, that is not what I mean. He has absolutely no empathy or concern for others. He doesn't understand nor does he want to conform to social norms. He was all about torturing and killing animals as a child, and in his free time as an adult he likes to torture and break people. He has sex to relieve a physical need not because there is any kind of meaning behind it. He does what he wants and the only reason why he hasn't been arrested or locked away from society is because he was adopted by the current President of the MC. Who told him if he wanted to remain out and able to do as he pleased he couldn't do things like kill women and children. So this is DARK!!!!

_CAIN_

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The heroine in this book has actually done heroine, when we meet her she is going to therapy. She is married and she has kicked her drug habit for the time being. She has a really fucked up past and she is not very likeable. She is a hustler, and a survivor, and when she is found by the MC that she ran from years ago she does what she has to do to avoid being murdered. As the book progresses you do start to route for her and there are a few scenes in particular where I wouldn't trade being in her position for a million dollars!!!

_JULIA_

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Spike is the hero of the story. He found his way to the MC out of need and not having anyone else to turn too. They had his back, and so he feels a huge sense of duty. When he meets Cain's new old lady Julia he starts to worry about that sense of duty. As time goes on, and Spike starts to learn who the people around him really are he knows something needs to be done.

_SPIKE_

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When all the shit hits the fan you get one hell of a climax. This book has so many great things in it, and it will stick with you for awhile after you read it. This was done very well!



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Profile Image for Paganalexandria .
1,464 reviews
December 10, 2014
description

Once upon a time, there was a bad girl named Julia that did a very bad thing, to an extremely bad group of people, the Dragons MC. She ran away, married a handsome prince, to live happily ever after in the suburbs. Unfortunately for her this is a dark romance, and not a fairytale. The Dragons found her, burned that life to the ground, and took her hostage in retribution. I suggest that readers please pay attention to the warning in the blurb. Don't come in here with Disney princess expectations. That goes double because of the biker theme.


The Dragons gift her to their sadistic V.P. Cain, as both tribute, and the worst punishment they can imagine. I am unsure how to describe him due to my confusion over the exact differences between a sociopath and psychopath. Can you be both? Strangely he becomes enamored with his new toy, and quibbles at being forced to break it right away just because the club expects it. He didn't even think himself capable of the feelings only Julia is able to pull from him. Her pain and degradation is this homicidal maniac’s heaven. The only bright spot in this new dark landscape is the tormentor’s protégé Spike. Spike admires his mentor’s ruthlessness on the streets, but finally begins to questions it, after seeing it applied to the fair Julia. There are no heroes, or heroines in this book. It’s a tale of greed, addiction, power, submission, treachery, and the power of beauty itself. Julia’s physical beauty is the weapon, which constantly slays all these Dragons on her behalf. I have a hard time finding any of this romantic. This doesn’t take anything away from my enjoyment of it, mind you. The lack of likability affecting these people was entirely purposeful, and effective.

I loved everything about this book until we got to the 60% mark, and my real life experience with a subject intruded. Normally it would have been a small annoyance if it didn’t play into most of the things that unfolded later.

Excluding my one issue, this was an engaging read. Cain was fascinating in his pathology. Julia too because I found it really hard to believe anyone could make her happy for long. Your cynicism level might be the determining factor on if the ending is happy or not. I would have given this 3 ½ stars if allowed.







Profile Image for Lorrie.
2,267 reviews28 followers
June 26, 2014
3.5 stars. This was definitely one of the darker MC books I've read. I can't say that I really connected with Julia, Cain or Spike - I think it's almost impossible to connect with Cain
With the exception of the prologue, which I really didn't care for (it was a bit confusing and didn't flow well IMO), I did like the book. It was well written and I raced through it. There were moments I felt for Julia, but it was hard to like her. I was happy with the way it ended.
Profile Image for ✿kawehi.reviews.
1,453 reviews428 followers
August 3, 2016
☆I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!!☆

3.75 "darktwisted" stars!✪✪✪✪

description

“I am going to break you. You’ll never be the same again.”

Ruthless was basically as the title ensues: dark, gritty, relentless, and violent.

Julia made a very, VERY bad mistake. After stealing thousands from an MC club, she thinks she can walk away from her past and escape unscathed.

--How very wrong she is!—

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Julia soon finds out that you can’t always run or hide from your problems and that not all actions come without consequences.

With Dragon MC hell-bent on making her pay, they murder her husband in front of her while, Cain, their most violent and sadistic member requests to spare Julia's life with plans of breaking her and making her his before he potentially kills her.

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But then…in steps Spike, a newly initiated member who becomes enraptured with the blue eyed blonde ex hustler/drug addict

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and things take a turn for the unimaginable!

Get ready for a bumpy ride guys as alliances are tested, blood will be spilled, and all bets are off in the game of love and war!!

So, my thoughts: To be honest, Julia irritated the crap out of me with her stupid actions.

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I mean, did she really not think that she would be caught eventually after stealing that much money? Not to mention, her husband made a good sum of income a live in and she resided in a neighborhood on the high end of town. She basically put a bulls eye on her forehead that said,

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As for what happens with Cain and Spike, well, that’s where things grow testy and where a lot of the stakes lie besides the fate of Julia.

After all, with a war on the brink with another MC club, that's just the tip of the iceberg with their problems. With loyalties up in the air and tensions rising, how will this all end? Alive? Or six feet below?

#A great take on MC literature with much more edge, heat, and suspense! All and all, a good, decent read!! Just keep a watch out for Julia because she can be such an idiot! lol#
2,090 reviews24 followers
July 24, 2016
this book was something else so dont read any further as there are going to be spoilers.

***SPOILER***

I am all for dark reads but I need to get something out of them - I got nothing much from this and I sometimes wonder if authors introduce some MEH situations just for the sake of it.

so the blurb.

She stole money from the Dragong MC club years ago and her past caught up with her. She was found and the penalty was the death of her husband and returned to the Dragons. She spent part the beginning of her captivity locked in the cellar as part of her punishment.

She belonged to Cain now who wanted to break her and of course make her his slave. She endures torture and we are led to believe the he"breaks her down" so that she will never betray him.

Cain also has competition if the form of Spike - a very different man. VP of the Dragons he doesnt want to have anything to do with drugs or Cain's hair-brained schemes.

He introduces her to coke an other narcotics and of course she becomes dependent on them. He also finds out another one of her weak spots - fear of rats - so yeah you get where this is going. So after spending one night shackled to a bed tied up for revenge in a room full of rats, she watches the rat sleeping on her body and all of a sudden her fear of them dissipated. yep it was a simple as that.

At 81% into the book I rolled my eyes so much it was a dnf. I picked it up 2 days later and read through to the end.

Julia was a weak character and we got that her life sucked but she did nothing to change it. She caved in very easily and took to cocaine like a duck to water. She could have chosen differently several times but she didn't.

overall not a great read for me. Too predictable and rather cliched.
Profile Image for Riz.
1,262 reviews139 followers
February 6, 2016
3 Stars

First time I read the blurb, I was so intrigued, and got really high expectation for this book. But unfortunately, I was pretty let down with it. I felt the plot is too rush for some points, and I hardly felt the connection between Julia and Spike.
Profile Image for Nanci **Warning**IWasASailor⚓️MyMouthisDirty.
521 reviews163 followers
August 25, 2015
3.2 crazy MC ⭐️⭐️⭐️. If I was rating this book solely on a dark, gritty, holy hell did that just happen, gotta love MCs. I would give tthis book 4-4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

Unfortunately, it wasn't based on that, but on our lovely Heroine Julia. (Can she get a round of applause?)


Julia is not in anyway likeable. She was just selfish, the whole book. No one mattered but her. She was awful to her husband, her friends and she was completely ungrateful. I couldn't get past her and how unbelievable she was. Really, the first two pages her personality jumps out and screams:


Julia spent the book as a junky, selfish cow. She wanted you to feel sorry for her and her predicament with Cain but I couldn't do it. She's the one who put herself in all the situations she was in. She wanted Cain in the beginning because she wanted to use him to get what she wanted. Just like she did everyone else. 85% of the book She thought only of herself and if/when she could get her next hit. I personally wanted her with Cain, he was a huge POS and that's what she deserved.

Don't get me wrong, I totally enjoyed Cain! I'm so not sorry for that. He was the perfect anti-hero. A sadistic, ruthless fuck who totally kept me on edge. He was an MC badass! Half of the book I'd be like
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Loved the Hero Spike. He was had his dark moments but most of the book he was all heart. I never felt like Julia loved him and honestly I never felt their connection either. I think Spike did love her but she didn't deserve it. In the end I'm glad he got his HEA, even if I didn't agree in his choice of female.
Profile Image for Texas.
524 reviews4 followers
January 8, 2015
Cain and Spike both want, desire Julia!

Which one gets the girl?
in the beginning Julia is in Los Angeles and she's married, you will need to remember she ran away and stole from the Dragons MC and was trying to start a new life..
soon all will be explained, HEA..enjoyed this one!!!
Profile Image for Aղցela W..
4,521 reviews320 followers
March 13, 2017
This was a pretty good dark read that I liked. Julia is a hustler. She settles into a quite like with her husband Bryan unbeknown to him after cheating a biker club out of lot of money. When they find her they kill Bryan and kidnap her. Cain is evil and dark dirty and twisted he is told to break her but wants her for himself. Cain didn't think he could feel anything for anyone he also has an addiction to a new drug Red and he forces Julia to take it. Spike who is Cain's protégé but he doesn't like how he treats Julia. This book was full of greed, addiction and submission. Spike fell for Julia right away and so did she. These two have some really hot sex scenes. At times I really did think that Cain was going to kill Julia. I have read this author before and with that being said this book has a few errors in it. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series
Profile Image for Now I Read Book Blog.
170 reviews2 followers
June 29, 2014

This is the first book in the "Dark MC " series from author Vanessa Waltz .

As I sat down started reading this book I was hooked right away . This book is full on so much drama and action that it had me on the edge of my seat from the first page all the way to the every end . This book is full of all kinds of emotional roller coaster of emotions that had me gasping at times. This book at times was so raw with emotions that had my heart aching for the characters . This book is over full of hot as hell Alpha biker that had me needing a ice cold shower by the time I was done reading this book. The sexual chemistry is this book should come with warning labels saying "Warning this book may combust as you read it".

Julia is a formal pool hustler and old lady of the Dragon MC club . She is on the run from the Dragons after steeling some money. She decide to get married and hide in the suburbia lifestyle but when her past comes back .The want their money back. When she tell them she does not have it. They kill her husband and take her with them . When back at the club she is put in the hell hole . When Cain shows up she think this is the end but what she does not know is that would not be the easy way . After Cain claims her as his Old Lady that when her yell starts. He will take her to the most darkest place that she has never been. But When she meet Spike can he save her or will Cain take her to far past the gate of hell .

Cain is a ruthless and heart less man how enjoys giving out pain. he is know with in the MC of doing unspeakable things to other body. He is know for torturing others . But when he meets Julia he feel some thing he has never felt .Once he see her he know that she is his and not one else can have .He try's to control his hunger but you cant change who you really are . But after he loose control he will lose so many things . Will he be able to keep her as his or will some one else get to keep her.

Spike lost this parents at a young age and was force to fight his way through the foster care. But when he becomes Dragons he feel like he has a family know. But when Julia comes into the picture it makes him rethink every thing. He try's to fight what he feel for her but when he realize how Cain is treating her . He then decide all beats are off and he will claim her as his . But this will not be easy . Can he find away for him and Julia to have a happy ever after or will Cain win.

Who will end up with Julia at the end .

Their is so very, very much more juiciness to this book I did not share . I cant wait to read more from this author in the future .
63 reviews2 followers
June 27, 2014
I was sent a copy by the author and asked to give my honest opinion. This was the first time I have ever read a book by Vanessa Waltz. I am now a FAN for ever. Of course it's an MC Dark Romance but it is so very good and terrifying for Julia. Julia, She's tough, beautiful, and a Pool Hustler. She's good but she has a dark past.She was addicted to drugs, stole money from an MC and ran, spent it all on drugs. However, she found help in someone named Bryan who helped her get clean and married her, he just wants a perfect wife...she just wants out. The MC comes for her and it doesn't go well, especially for Bryan.

She is taken back to the MC she robbed and they want their money or they are going to kill her, but first she is given to the VP, CAIN who is a handsome, sadistic, cruel maniac. OH MY GOODNESS he is her worst nightmare manifested in human form, simply terrorizing. He wants her mind, body, and soul and will do anything to make her WANT to give them to him. Then there is SPIKE, OH YES!!!!! SPIKE, with the dimples, he's sexy, strong, outspoken, and a brother within the MC. He has his own issues but he is gentle and sweet to her at a time when she only knows cruelty, fear, and hopelessness. Ms. Waltz' writing style is powerful and very descriptive down to every detail...you are literally in the moment with the characters. I could not put this book down it picks you up and takes you on this roller coaster crazy, powerful, enthralling, awesome ride. And gives you a HEA, truly my type of book. LOVED IT!!! I highly recommend this book and I will be reading more by Ms. Vanessa Waltz. Ruthless is very much worth reading. WOW!!!


Profile Image for Angie.
1,382 reviews121 followers
September 15, 2014
**I received an ARC courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review**

Wow! Heed the warnings. Ruthless was pretty violent. There were several cringe-worthy moments. But Waltz pulled me in right away with her writing. The story was original which is always a plus in my book, but I still thought it was just okay.

Julia stole thousands of dollars from the Dragons MC which she immediately blew on drugs. Her current husband got her off the streets and helped her get clean. Now she's trying to live a life filled with country clubs and designer clothes. As grateful as she is, it's still a daily struggle to resist a line of coke and she still longs for the excitement of being a part of an MC. Plus she's constantly looking over her shoulder wondering when the Dragons will find her.

And find her they did. Now she belongs to Cain, the Dragons sadistic VP. She's also allowed to live because she's a pro pool hustler so she convinced the club she can make them money. But life with Cain is almost worse than death. Cain was crazy! If I didn't read the blurb first I would have been confused who the H of the story was. Spike was finally introduced as a prospect. He is immediately smitten with Julia but he doesn't have the power to help her.

Cain and Spike discover the rival Tigers MC with vials of a new drug called, Red. They confiscate it and after Cain gets hooked he becomes even more of a monster. Can Spike save Julia and his MC? I would still recommend this book if you are a fan of MC books and can handle the violence.
Profile Image for Jenny Harris.
4,396 reviews33 followers
June 25, 2014
I received this book as an ARC for an honest option. Holy cow this book was amazing. If you are looking for a hearts and flowers MC book this is not the one for you. This is a story about a woman who hasn't known much love in her life. She was once the old lady of the Dragon's president before she got hooked on drugs, stole money from the club and ran away with it. The club is looking for their money back and will come get it any way they want. Julia wanted to change her life after leaving the Dragons but with her drug addiction it was hard. She was lucky to meet a kind guy named Brian who took her in helped her get clean and married her even though she didn't really fit into his social circle. Julia tries hard but knows it is not really the life she wants and is bored that is until the dragon's come back. Cain is the enforcer/VP of the dragons and everyone knows him by reputations alone. When Julia and Cain meet not only does Cain think Julia is beautiful but there is something about her, she isn't afraid of him and for that alone he wants to possess her. There is one more player in this game though a man named Spike when Julia looks at Spike she sees all the things that could be but when you are with a ruthless killer like Cain you don't dare try and bring anyone else into your circle. There are quite a few twist and turns that keep this story interesting. I would recommend this book because it grabbed my attention from the first page and held it till the very end.
Profile Image for ★ Belle The Bibliophile ★.
876 reviews272 followers
June 1, 2015
2.5 / 3 RUTHLESS STARS.

I neither love or hate this book -- it's somewhere in between them for me. I was very annoyed with our Heroine, Julia at first, because her recklessness killed her husband. She was also unfeeling towards his death -- that caused unintentionally. She never loved him, like he did her and I thought it was pretty shitty of her to latch on an innocent man like that and then she inadvertently 'caused his death. It was dumb.

Cain is a piece of shit. I think he's nothing but a psychopath. He used people, and once he's sucked them dry of their purpose, he discarded them like a toy. I questioned his ability to emphathy. I think in a way he could, just maybe, feel emphathy. There were times in the book where he kind of seemed to regret what he did to Julia, albeit, it was merely a flash and then he was back into his sadistic mode.

Spike, I liked him. I think he's cute and charming. But that's about it, to be honest. And I don't believe he was truly in love with Julia. That's too far-fetched.

The author's writing is okay. Overall, it's between 2.5 and 3 for me.
Profile Image for lynn❤️lynn.
409 reviews1 follower
June 23, 2014
I was given this book free by the author for review, but despite this I would still say that I loved this book, I am not one for rating a book good, just because I was given it for free.

I loved the storyline which is about a MC. I loved what Cain did to Julia in the cellar, and being a dark person myself, I found him hot!, I loved him right to the end, and can see why his demise came about, but he was so hot until he went seriously off the rails. I know he was disturbed from the outset, but wow that was so hot..sensory deprivation!, and I loved " sweet dreams Julia ".....

Spike too was hot, but a bit of a softy for me. I know he was slightly dark, but Cain did it for me.
This is a standalone, and very well written, with only minor typos which is unusual for books I've read recently. My only critisum would be that I got a bit confused in some of the fight scenes, but apart from that I loved the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Sue.
1,945 reviews25 followers
June 28, 2014
I have read Vanessa Waltz's other romance books and really enjoyed them...and since I am a HUGE MC romance book reader, I just HAD to read this one!
It did not disappoint at all...it was everything a good gritty biker book should be.
We had a woman stuck in the middle of a terrible situation that was partly her own fault and partly the fact she got involved with/conned the wrong people! Spike and Cain...two club members, once close brothers in the organization, both rivals for her affections...one a crazed, violent abuser who becomes even more so when under the influence and the other, a gentle man with a conscience and no respect for the monster his friend hides inside.
Plenty of action, violence, steamy and some not so normal sexual encounters and really dark, sinister and twisted psychotic tendencies.
A really different and definitely darker romance that is not for the sqeamish.

**** 4 **** "you can run but you can't hide" stars
Profile Image for Sleepy.
358 reviews18 followers
July 7, 2014
~COPY PROVIDED BY AUTHOR FOR HONEST REVIEW!~

3.5 -4 stars

Pretty crazy fucked asshole Cain, but SPIKE, what a sweety.
I enjoyed thisone.

Cain is a crazy sick motherfucker and hes also VP of his club,
Spike is a prospect who just recently was patched in, and he was friends with Cain until he realized who Cain really was,
And he also falls for the one person he shouldnt want.

Julia is the hustler and she gets in deep with all these. Fuckers.

Crash is the president and he basically created the man Cain became but he helped Spike get justice.


I will say though there were times I felt it didn't flow very well or it was confusing but overall it was good. Its a crazy read but worth the read, different from other MC books ive read but still good
Profile Image for deedee.
40 reviews6 followers
July 8, 2015
Note to self ...always read blurb first ... That being said this book was something that I wouldn't read my feels were 50/50 characters were just ... Not for me lets put it that way ...story was ok ...annoyed me at times but overall an ok read....


Julia stole thousands of dollars from a previous MC she was with years ago and blew it on her drug addiction
Cain is the VP of the Dragons ...he wants his revenge back by finding her and torturing her and making her pay it back... He just didn't bank on how tough she will be or his desire to make her his new play toy...

Spike is a new member of the Dragons, young, lanky, and just a nice guy ...He stays back and watches his VP fuck with this beautiful Blond...they end up getting close and he finds himself vowing to protect her from Cain ...why are the hot ones always crazy, abusive, heartless maniacs ...Spike sees nothing but darkness coming their way for the club or Julia unless he's stopped.

Profile Image for Christine.
537 reviews37 followers
July 2, 2014
3.5*
I really wanted to love this book but have to say I just liked it. Finding hard to put into words how I feel about it. I couldn't connect with the characters at all. I enjoyed Julia doing the hustling and Cain was the true evil bastard everyone loves to hate. It felt there was too much going on and not enough detail. It all seemed so matter of fact. All the action was over too quick and so didn't feel any tension building and so I didn't get that angsty feeling in my gut at all. Too many silly unbelievable parts for me. Who keeps blood in there fridge in case they get shot?
Disappointed.
Profile Image for Linda.
Author 46 books231 followers
July 16, 2014
This was my first MC romance, and wow, what an experience! Vanessa took me on a gripping, action-packed journey that had me furiously turning the pages. Julia, the kick-ass heroine, got herself into so much trouble with the MC that I seriously doubted she was going to survive, much less get her HEA. I really loved Spike, the tough, hot, yet appealingly sweet hero. He helps her get away from Cain, her crazy, abusive old man.

There's a lot going on in this story, and much more at stake than Spike and Julia's romance. It's a taut gritty thrill ride. Highly recommended for dark romance and/or MC club readers.
September 17, 2014
This was supposed to be a dark mc romance. It wasn´t. It was a boring ass story that tried to portray a supposed psychopat. Well, I´ve read several psycho books and this one in particular has a long way to go to become one. He wasn´t smart, as the writer wanted to make you believe. He was plain, and dumb. And the heroine... well other than spreading her legs and moping around, she didn´t do much. Waste of time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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