Axle: War Brothers MC, Book 1

War Brothers MC #1

by Bianca Lee Ward, Tasha Morgan (Narrator), Benjamin Sands (Narrator)

She’s a wager, a game…

I’ll pretend she’s mine, such a pretty little lie.

I’m exactly the type of guy Elena should stay away from.

Sweet, innocent women like her don’t look for relationships in motorcycle clubs. Especially one as classy and out of my league as Elena.

I can’t resist swiping right on her dating profile for fun. I never imagined we’d be a match. I know I’d only be a quick thrill for her, but I’m getting tired of the women at the clubhouse anyway.

Then my club brother Viper goes and ups the he bets me one thousand dollars that I won’t be able to have a relationship with Elena.

With my wicked smile and flirty charm, she won’t be able to resist me. And like my other hookups, I can’t let it get personal.

Until I let my guard down and she becomes my ride or die.

Which means I’ve got to make sure as hell that Elena never finds out about our bet…

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Audiobook, Dark Romance, Amazon, Dark, Steamy

Audible Audio

Published April 15, 2025

About the author

Bianca is an Australian romance author with a love of culinary adventures and a playlist for every mood. She enjoys exploring themes of identity, personal growth, and resilience in her work—with a little spice on the side. When she isn’t lost in storytelling or absorbed in her latest read, Bianca can be found watching true crime stories and documentaries.

Bianca's previous pen name was Bianca Lee.

Reviews

[Juniper · Rating 2 out of 5]

‼️SPOILERS‼️SPOILERS‼️SPOILERS‼️

Safety Info: Pretty safe I guess. Neither are virgins. Shes been with 1 guy before. He’s in an MC so he’s been with club girls and many others. Minimal details and no sex scenes with anyone besides the h. He doesn’t touch any other women once he meets h. There is OW and OM drama but neither of them are interested.

Hero: Axle, early twenties, MC member/mechanic

Heroine: Elena, early twenties, waitress

OW Drama: Yes. He’s been having sex with a club girl who he dumps after meeting Elena. She is jealous and causes trouble. There is also a roommate of Elena’s who had sex one time with Axle in the past and then he ignored her and she’s salty about it and gives Elena attitude.

OM Drama: Yes. Elena’s boss is interested in her and is pushy towards wanting to spend time with her. He starts to SA her at a party but Axle intervenes before anything can happen. There is a bit of jealousy from Axle because she is still friends with her ex and they text sometimes but he never makes an appearance.

Intimacy: They kiss around 30%, fool around a bit after that and then have sex around 75%.

3rd Act Breakup/Separation: Yes, for a few days, maybe a week? No other partners while separated.

HEA/Epilogue: HEA with them getting married but no epilogue. It’s an interconnected series so I’m guessing they are seen in future books.

My Thoughts: Apparently I pre-ordered this book but I have no memory of it. I only found out about it because I had a receipt in my emails. It was only 99 cents and I’d like my 99 cents back. It’s not horrible writing but it’s pretty basic, kind of Wattpadish. The characters and world building was surface level and rushed.

Elena is annoying. She moved away from her controlling, religious parents to be able to experience life more fully. Yet, she resists any attempts to make friends and just wants to hide in her room and read books. Why bother moving if you’re too scared to leave your room? She’s shocked and appalled by pretty much everything. I get that she’s written to be this sheltered and innocent girl but she came off as an annoying prude.

Axle was whatever. I didn’t hate him, didn’t like him…he was just written in a surface level way as what he was supposed to be…a bad boy MC member.

The premise is that Axle and his MC brother make a bet that Axle can get a “good girl” to fall in love with him and let him have sex with her. Of course you know it’s going to be revealed to the h at some point and that’s supposed to be the big gut punch drama and then subsequent grovel. Only, there was no gut punch because the writing isn’t that good and there is no grovel because Axle has the emotional depth of a worm. He earns his way back into her good graces by saving her from being raped by her boss.

One thing that really stuck out to me for some reason is one particular scene. Axle was taken in and mentored by a guy named Victor who is now dead. Axle kept Victor’s bike displayed inside the club so that it doesn’t get damaged. One night, another MC member and a club girl start fooling around and accidentally knock into the bike. As it starts to fall over, Elena jumps in and catches the bike with her shoulder and gets hurt. Axle rushes over to push the bike off her and then….checks the bike over for damages. Not Elena. He doesn’t check his girlfriend who just caught a heavy bike from falling with her body for any injuries. He doesn’t even mention it until later when they start to fool around and he kisses her shoulder. 🙄 I’m sorry but if the girl gets hurt and he’s more concerned about a damn bike, he’s not worth shit. He didn’t even thank her! 😂 After that, I just wasn’t invested in him as the H. Also, I have no idea what he looks like. Maybe there was a description of him and I just don’t remember.

Overall, it’s not the worst thing I’ve ever read but I won’t be continuing with the series even if they were free.

Page Length: 223

POV: Dual first person

Purchased for 99 cents through Kindle

[Athena Que Será, Será · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tags: alphalicious, betrayal, biker-mc-club, hero-hurts-heroine, heroine-leaves, heroine-waitress-bartender, hurtful-words-overheard, manwhore-philanderer, mean-mean-girls-women, military-exmilitary-romance, om_drama, ow-drama, poor-heroine, possessive-mine-mine-mine, read, shy-heroine, small-town

[Angelina · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story starts with a bet, so the whole relationship is built on a lie from the beginning, which could’ve been very emotional — but it felt too obvious and didn’t hit as hard as it should.
The romance develops too quickly, and I didn’t fully believe the connection between them. Elena felt a bit passive, and Axle’s behavior made it hard to root for him.
There’s a lot of drama — jealousy, toxic situations, tension — but instead of adding depth, it just felt messy and surface-level.

[Daria Li · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
У книги був такий хороший потенціал... прям відчувається що не вистачає розвитку стосунків та і взагалі герой якесь нещастячко. Героїня заслуговує на кращого чоловіка. Але не жалкую, що прочитала. Для настрою на легке клішоване читання - саме то

[Oksi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️

П’ятнадцятирічна Оксана тільки й читала фанфіки з тропом «парі». Тому очікування були в мене великими. Але мені вже не 15, і це не фанфік 😂

Аксель - такий собі місцевий бабій, майже кожна дівчина мріє бути з, переспати. Але знайомий з Еленою тільки пару тижнів і вже нафантазував собі, що вона його дівчина і, що він може вирішувати за неї. Щось занадто швидко з’явилися почуття, вже і про парі вже забув. Ох ці чоловіки з мотоклубу😒

Загалом книга читалася легко й досить швидко, але вау-ефекту не було. Історія непогана, але чогось особливого мені все-таки не вистачило.

[yoo ira]

"Я вирішу за тебе все твоє життя"
Dnf 66%
Сюжет кудись не туди завернув
Троп "торкнись її і ти помреш" перетворився на гіперопіку та маніпуляції

[FD · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is alternately entertaining and cringeworthy. The summary appealed to me, that's why I started it. There were certainly parts in it that I found amusing, and as a reader I also felt involved with the main characters.

The way the club members interact with each other is humorous. The development of Axl and his relationship with Elena was also nicely described What I didn't like was the writing style. It seems a bit simplified. The characters are a bit cliché, the innocent Elena, who can be fooled so easily by the people around her, her colleague who uses her, the bad boss, the jealous ladies of the MC, they are all very caricatured. On the other hand, that also seems to be part of the genre, so maybe it's just that I don't like it. It certainly has entertainment value as well.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[QuinnReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Betting on the Nun

Jake "Axle" Evans is a fool who lucks into the girl of his dreams, Elena. I do agree that she's too trusting, and her aversion to conflict has me grinding my teeth a time or two. That said, I respect that she does stand up for herself with her parents and Axle.

She does surprise me when it comes to intimacy. The way these two take to the sheets is a treat. She doesn't say it, but I guess witnessing Viper's activities gives her some ideas. I'm sticking with this idea.

“You want to make a bet on that? I guarantee I can get into a relationship with her, and I’ll take it one step further and make her fall in love with me.”
-- Axle Evans

I do like that Axle's careless bet gets him sent to the doghouse. The fact that she doesn't quickly forgive him is a point in her favor. This is a good start to a series that I already know gets better (I started with Demon and am circling back).

I read along with the audio book. I like the narrators, Benjamin Sands and Tasha Morgan. They provide a good listening experience. 🎧💜🎧

Story: 4 stars
Narration: 3.5 stars
Listening Speed: 1.8x

H = 30s?; h = early 20s

[Kathleen Lemke (Kathy Page) · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rating: 3.75 Stars

What I loved: I loved how protected Axle(H) was over Elena(h). It was great how him and Demon took care of the boss.

What I didn’t like: I wish we got to see the roommates be put in their place especially how the one allowed the boss to take Elena up to her room when she was drunk. I also needed to see Elena stand up for herself and tell off her so called friends and the sweet butts.

***Major Spoilers/ Details/Triggers: MC, OW Drama, h is a bet. h just moved into town. She wanted to live life away from her parents. h moves in with a bunch of woman and got a waitress job at a fancy seafood restaurant. There she meets a coworker that puts the h’s picture up on a dating website. H is part of a MC. He is tired of being with the same type of women and wants a sweet innocent woman. He sees the h’s picture on the dating site and wants her. His MC brother bets him that she will never go out with a biker. He takes him up on that bet and starts texting the h. The coworker, pretending to be the h, links up with the H. The h at first is upset, but decides to take a chance and text him. They start a friendship and with a very charming persistent H it turns into more. H during this time is not with anyone else and is all in with the h. One of the sweet butts is jealous because she always thought that the H would make her his old lady. Also, the h’s boss wants the h and is always trying to get her to hang out with him and the roommates. H finds out that the boss sexually assaulted another woman and makes sure someone takes the h to work and picks her up, keeping an eye on the h while she is working. H and h exchange I love you’s and later the sweet butt makes sure the h overhears her talking to the H about the bet. They also make the h believe the H was with other woman. h gets upset and breaks up with the H. H tries talking to the h and explains how he made the bet before he met her and that his feelings are real. h tells him she doesn’t believe him. A week later, the h gets drunk at a party the roommates are having and the boss tries to assault her. H comes and saves her, taking care of the boss. HEA with the H and h getting back together, she moves in with him and shortly after they get married.

Final thoughts: I saw this was a free book and gave it a go and I’m glad I did. Definitely will read the next one about her sister and Reaper.

[Curvy Girl Book Nerd (Jen S) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Axle is Book 1 of the War Brother's MC series. It's a spicy, instalove, OTT, opposites-attract, girl gets her biker romance. Axle is a hunky, charming, sexy inked mechanic with a playboy reputation and biker. Elena is a shy, innocent, and somewhat nerdy bookworm who was raised by strict religious parents.

The two meet in a dating app as Axle thinks she's cute but too good for him. but Axle is challenged by a mc brother who bets him $1000 that he can't have a relationship with her and the game is on.

But real feelings develop. What happens when she finds out about the bet?

I had a hard time connecting with these characters. The chemistry was just ok for me. We do end on a happy note, but there is a lot of drama first. Be sure to read the trigger warnings, too, as there are some sensitive topics. 3.5☆s.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Doris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Betting on Love

It all started with a bet regarding a dating app. Axle found a woman he wanted to meet and when finding out she was an innocent Viper bet him he couldn’t get her to fall in love with him. Elana moved away from her overbearing parents to start fresh and hopefully come out of her shell. She lived in a house with other girls and got a job as a waitress in an upscale restaurant with a sleazy boss. A “friend” from work set her up on a dating app and Axle was persistent in pursuing her.

Club girls…what can you say. They always seem so catty and wanting to stir things up. Elena was their target because one was into Axle and since Elena, he left her at the side. I loved watching Axle and Elena discovering each other and watching real love bloom all as she was coming out of her shell. I will definitely be reading more books from this author.

[Terra Drynan-Werder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a bit confused why this is book 1 but it is the 4th book to come out, however it was a good, quick read. Elena and Axle were basically obsessed with each other from the start much as Elena doesn't want to admit that. I am really enjoying the MC series and the characters and love how they always come together for each other. There was lots of club and other drama in this book, but i felt it really added to the overall story. Looking forward to the next book. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.

[Magic book club · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

I'm a little confused about the order of this series, but ok, I got the hang of it. The book was light and I read it in a couple of hours. Axle is a little too pushy for my taste, Elena is too withdrawn. That's probably why they make a good couple and are perfect for each other. Overall the book was solid and kept me relaxed for a few hours.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Chante · Rating 5 out of 5]

Axel by Bianca Lee Ward isn't just a book – it's a heart-pounding, soul-stirring experience that completely consumed me from the very first page. I’m honestly in awe. If I could reach through the pages and live in the world Bianca created, I would in a heartbeat. This story owns me.

Let’s talk about Axel and Elena – where do I even begin? Their relationship progression was nothing short of extraordinary. It wasn’t rushed, it wasn’t cliché – it was real. Raw. Emotional. The slow burn between them was delicious, but what truly set this story apart was the depth of their connection. You could feel the tension simmering beneath the surface, and when it finally spilled over? Fireworks. But it wasn’t just about the heat – it was about the trust they built, the walls they broke down, and the healing they found in each other.

Axel is everything you want in a hero – broody, broken, fiercely protective, and underneath all that armor, a heart of absolute gold. His struggles were portrayed with such authenticity, I felt every ounce of his pain, frustration, and love. Elena is a queen in her own right – resilient, compassionate, and beautifully layered. She doesn’t just play the part of the love interest; she’s the soul of this story. Watching her rediscover herself while navigating her feelings for Axel was incredibly moving.

Bianca Lee Ward’s writing is chef’s kiss. Her ability to weave emotional depth, suspense, romance, and healing into a seamless story is unmatched. The dialogue felt so natural, the inner monologues so raw, I had to pause multiple times just to breathe and soak it all in. There were moments that broke me, others that healed me, and so many that made me smile like an idiot.

The supporting characters were also wonderfully crafted and added dimension to the world without taking the spotlight off Axel and Elena. Everything had a purpose. Every scene pushed the story forward in a meaningful way.

This book lingered in my mind long after I finished it. I kept thinking about Axel’s quiet strength, Elena’s bravery, the way they found light in each other despite the darkness they'd both lived through. Axel is a book that doesn’t just entertain – it stays with you. It makes you feel.

Final Thoughts:

If you're looking for a romance that makes your heart race, tears at your emotions, and leaves you completely satisfied yet craving more – Axel is it. This book is everything I love about romance and then some. It’s passionate, heartfelt, and written with incredible care and emotional intelligence. Bianca Lee Ward, you’ve gained a forever fan.

Rating: 10/5 stars. Yes, I’m breaking the scale – and I’d do it again.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave this book a try based on its blurb it sounded really interesting. It wasn't the worst thing ive read and the story was good. Its an MC book so the good girl/bad boy dynamic was expected (no virgins) yes there's OW/OM drama but of no interest to the main characters. There's love and heartbreak with redemption which is all good. But what let it down was the writing. It felt very juvenile or it came from one of those PPC websites.
What did really annoy me was the how many warnings the FMC had that the MMC was no good but completely ignored all the warning signs. Plus don't tell someone at for the majority of the book that you are not going to be sleeping with them and acting like you are some kingdom of virgin to then turn around and throw that all out the window first chance you get in his bed 🙈🙈

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I liked it. And loved the ending. I read some other reviews. Agree not the best writing. But sometimes more important is how book makes you feel. And I wasn't bored, enjoyed the feel good story with a happy ending. Backgrounds are very surface level. I hate his cocky personality...like he thinks he's so great. But I liked them together. And relationship with the club helps. Great line....“He broke me, Viper, and it hurts all the way to my soul, knowing I can’t trust him or be around him anymore.” MC and Savior trope go hand in hand. And it works. Hence happy ending.

[BeaC · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book  0.5 of the War Brothers MC series and if you are new to the series it would be great if your journey starts here, because each of these men are just perfect book boyfriends and their ol' ladies are resilient feisty things!

I've been a fan of this series since book 1, so reading this prequel was absolutely fantastic, I think Elena and Axle deserved their story to be told.

Another engaging story that follows Elena and Axle since they first met. and I loveeeeed it! I need more War Brothers MC stories asap!

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Axel was both wild and lovingly protective. Elena was so innocent. I found it hard to read how nasty the girls who should have been her friends were. The MC became a safe and loving family for Elena.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bianca Lee Ward's Axle is a thrilling ride into the world of motorcycle clubs. It's a quick and easy read that'll keep you hooked from start to finish.
The story follows Elena, a regular girl who gets swept up in the dangerous and exciting world of the War Brothers MC. She falls for Axle, the club's vice president, who is tough, brooding, and undeniably sexy.
The book is full of sizzling chemistry, intense drama, and plenty of action. Ward does a great job of balancing the romance with the thrilling world of motorcycle clubs. It's a perfect blend of love and danger.
If you're looking for a fast-paced, heart-pounding romance, Axle is definitely worth checking out.#biancaleeward #NetGalley

[Allana Bush · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow I think this book has jumped to my number 1, I could not put it down! Elana’s personality definitely didn’t start out the way I was expecting but I love how her character evolved during the story. Axel has a troubled past, as do most of the brothers, but we see him learn how to love and be loved, be it very unexpectedly. A must read from Bianca Lee Ward, and I cannot wait for the next one.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved reading this story, yes Axle is a player but oh how the mighty will fall when least expected.

Axle has had a lot of women, so when he is challenged by Viper to make someone fall in love with him the best is on. He picks Elena who is a shy virgin who has just come to their town and has been under thumb of Mum and Dad.

But he's soon in for a surprise because it all backfires on him, he becomes her man.

But others mainly the club women are jealous and jealousy knows no boundary when it comes to them wanting who they want. Can Elena get over how Axle has tricked and lied to her?

This was a great book to read and certainly will be interested in reading other books by this author

[Becca T · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the beginning of the book, I wasn’t sure… innocent girl, bad boy biker… here we go again…

BUT

I was wrong, Axle quickly draws you in, and Elena makes it hard not to like her. Their relationship is a little insta-love but there’s so much going against them, they’re complete opposites, Elena’s striving for independence and Axle is trying to lock her down to win a bet… but inevitably they fall, and they fall hard.

I *hated* the confrontation with Grace and Axle, how the girls set Elena up to witness the bet conversation, it was so painful, and the circumstances that follow were hard to read, but Axle is her knight in tin foil striding in to save the day, and we all breathed a sigh of relief at that, am I right?!

A really sweet, quick read that grips you from the beginning

[Amy Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome Book!!
I really enjoyed reading Axle, it was a great story and it sucked me in and kept me engrossed from the start of this book until the very end.

[Natalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, fluffy with great side characters.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I kinda liked the interaction between the motorcycle club guy and the nerdy girl. It was sweet.

[Patricia Lord · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is full of sizzling chemistry, intense drama, and plenty of action, Club girl drama. What starts off as a bet between Axle and his brother that turns into something unexpected. This opposites attract, fast paced read romance.

[Tracy Drews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could not put this book down. I had to know more about Elena and Axle.

Elena moves to a coastal town to escape her strict parents and be more independent. She gets a job at a restaurant where her friend signs her up for a dating app so she can "meet more people" - she matches with Axle who in his profile picture is very attractive and is a huge flirt. Little does she know that he's a member of the War Brothers Motorcycle Club.

This opposites attract book is so satisfying to read. It made me interested in reading more in the series, let's see what these other MC brothers have to offer!

[Mary Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

like book it is intense

I received a free copy of this book via Hidden Gem books and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

This is where I say the author gives enough information.
So, I do not give anything away.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yin and Yang

Loved this book so much. You can never judge a book by its cover and also in this case a person. Love the loyalty between all the War Brothers. Elena and Axle make a good match and love the banter between them. Looking forward to Demon’s book.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought the book was really enjoyable. I would not change anything about the book. I did not want to put the book down because it was good and I didn’t want the story to end. I wanted the book/ story to continue. I love the characters’ growth.