My gift has always felt more like a curse. Standing up and speaking the truth when nobody wants to hear it is terrifying. But the truth doesn't erase the horrors I've seen.
It doesn't silence the whispers, or blind me to the fingers pointed my way. Doing the right thing never brought me anything but trouble.
So finding myself held captive by a sexy-as-sin duo who loathe me on sight doesn't come as a shock. What does surprise me is how quickly my anger for them burns out, leaving a ferocious need in its place.
A need to belong, to be seen, to be loved.
But when every wall I built begins to crumble, exposing my dark and sordid past
Will there be anyone left standing to pull me from the wreckage?
I enjoyed book two slightly more than its predecessor, though I did rate them both the same, it just had a bit more angst and drama in terms of the developing relationship and that appealed to me. It's another ménage and again it was done well and this one continues from the events that took place at the end of book one.
Astrid has a gift, the same as Salem but her ability is less tangible and not as easy to prove so she has faced a lifetime of being disbelieved and discarded. Practically every person in Astrid's life has let her down in some way and being the afterthought has become her default setting. For the past few years she's locked herself up tight, isolating herself as a form of protection, because of this she naturally doesn't trust others easily and now expects others to believe the worst of her as that is all she's ever known.
But even she is shocked and hurt when her act of altruism backfires so badly and instead of the expected thank you and being sent on her way she is instead taken hostage and forcibly refused every plea to just return home. Her selfless act is met with suspicion and distrust and she now finds herself a reluctant guest of the Apex tactical team she now has two beefy jailors in Jagger and Slade.
So this one isn't as insta as the previous book all three of these individuals have some sort of leftover baggage and the lack of communication didn't help in bringing them any closer in more than the physical. There were also times when I wanted to shake some of these characters and my heart especially broke for poor Astrid especially as she got to witness perfect Salem being handled with such kid gloves whilst she again is the afterthought, something she has come to expect. I'll be frank it even made me feel very affronted on her behalf that she was held up against such a perfect paragon of sainthood that is Salem and I do actually like her it just seemed so unfair. Astrid was treated as guilty till proven innocent whilst Salem was treated as fragile from day one.
Also, these men were just trying to justify their attitude in any way they could but it just didn't wash and left me so mad at them. I'm not even sure they did enough grovelling to satisfy my stabby vengeful soul. I was that mad at Jagger and Slade especially. They just didn't have her back when push came to shove they believed the worst even after they knew her and then threw her to the wolves.
Despite my vengeful thoughts this kept me on my toes and invested in what was unfolding. This series is for sure addicting and I'm planning on reading book three next. So yeah I definitely recommend reading this series it's quite the page-turner.
Book two of the Apex Tactical series picks up where book one ‘The Brutal Strike” left off only from Astrid's (the Heroin of this book) POV if you have not read book one I’d highly recommend doing so before this one. This is a Ménage Romance, as I think the entire series will be, though I’m not 100 percent sure on that. There are trigger warnings, but I would not call it a dark romance.
Astrid is gifted with a gift that has brought her nothing but trouble for as long as she can remember. Still, she tries to use it for good to help people. When she shows up at Apex ranch to try and do just that, she is met with a whole lot of hostility from a group of gorgeous men. Jagger and Slade the Hero’s of the book are task to keep her locked uo and under watch until the team digs into who she might work for and why she had come. A seemingly easy task if that is they didn’t find her stunning and irresistible….
Candice Wright is one of my favorite authors, and I jump on any new book she releases. This series is so incredibly interesting and intriguing to me, and I love how the stories are interwoven and all of the characters bring so much to the overall read. Astrid was such an incredible character. She was so layered that she had such a huge heart but kept walls up to protect it. She was sassy, sarcastic, and incredibly smart. What she had gone through in her life was devastating, and my heart broke for her more than once. I enjoyed the budding friendship between her and Salem and Evander as well as Greg and hers friendship. Jagger, Slade, and Astrid had great chemistry, and the spicy parts were very hot!! Both Jagger and Slade had their own issues and pasts to work through, and I loved that they opened up to Astrid. My one and only complaint about this one is to be honest. I thought the guys of Apex minus a couple of them, but including Slade was just overly cruel to Astrid. I get the lack of trust and the protectiveness of Salem, but it was a little over the top imo.
I really did enjoy this book even with my one complaint about it I’d still give it 4 stars all day and highly recommend it. I’m looking forward to the next in this series!
I started this book really excited about it with all the amazing reviews, and to dig into learning about the gift Astrid has and see how she uses it etc, and also having a romance with hot men and join their close-nit group. But that is not at all how this story goes down. I am a really big fan of dark books, I love morally grey men and woman and all sorts but this book just didn’t do it right for me. The characters have no real chemistry, when you think their relationship is finally progressing one of the guys proves that he’s pretty much just using her for sex and doesn’t actually trust or respect her at all. The other girl in this scenario has apparently been through a kidnapping and mistreatment and seemingly was hurt by this experience but doesn’t do anything to help Astrid. The other men in this group are just as bad as the love interests barring E and G but are still complicit. When she got away from them the book was at its most interesting and I was crossing everything I have that she doesn’t take those losers back. When those idiots do come back for her even after everything the dialogue in Astrid’s head is still why anyone would want her etc when she should be telling them to go to hell. This book was awful. The men had no redeeming qualities at all and used sex as a weapon to control, confuse, and easily manipulate this woman into agreeing to their mistreatment. I might have given this book 5 stars if she left them in the dust, and told them to go to hell and never give them the time of day again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Jesus fuck, I suck at dieting. I promised myself I’d be good, and now all I can think about is being the filling in a double-dick burger.
The Harsh Bite is an entertaining contemporary romance with light fantasy vibes (a few individuals within the population have special powers). This is an enemies-to-lovers story where the MMCs make multiple bad choices before the HFN.
I really enjoyed the plot and action – a continuation of the overall story from book one, but I wasn’t a fan of the relationship between the FMC and MMCs. I felt their relationship was 100% based on physical attraction without emotional connection. In fact, I would have been entirely content if they hadn’t coupled/throupled up. There were other male characters whom I thought were a better fit for the FMC and whom I would have preferred matched up with her.
I was impressed by the FMC’s resilience and strength despite years of parental neglect and public ridicule and abuse due to her powers. She holds a deep sadness and level of hurt but grows throughout the story.
The MMCs fulfilled the role of alphaholes who became overly possessive and protective once they were all-in with the FMC. I love these types of characters; I just felt their claiming of the FMC outweighed getting to know her on a personal level.
This is a fast-burn, high-steam read with slower-building relationships. The characters give in to physical desires with some hate sex and possessive claiming before emotional connections. Dirty talk is in abundance throughout. All scenes are MF or MFM (no sword crossing).
The throuple’s story is complete here, ending in a HFN, but the overarching story continues in the next installment of Apex Tactical, following a different set of main characters. This is not a standalone, you must have read The Brutal Strike to get a full understanding of the story.
Genre: Contemporary Romance Tropes/Features: light fantasy elements, romantic suspense, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, emotionally damaged FMC with a misunderstood power, mercenary MMCs, emotional scars for all, secrets, found family, moderate angst, curvy FMC, Size differential, OTT J/P Narrator: Multiple 1st Person POV Relationship Type: Why choose – MFM, fast-burn, spicy Book Type/Ending: Book Two in Apex Tactical series, HFN TW/CW: Official list not available – includes captivity, mentions of the kidnapping of FMC, and rape/murder (not of FMC)
Astrid has a gift. A terrible and complicated life that has made a life one hardship after the other. When doing the right thing means danger and betrayal, how do you keep on finding the strength to trust ?
« Do me a favor. Don’t aim for normal. Aim for exquisite because you, my dear, are far too good for normal. You deserve something magical-something breathtaking »
I want to be friend with Astrid. Her sass and sense of humour as well as her loyalty just drew me in. She could have stopped trying to do the right thing, especially after all the trouble it caused in her life, but she didn’t. She gave and gave and was so forgiving… I wanted to stand up for her after the way the guys treated her. She was an amazing FMC.
« All love has the ability to become toxic. Something that starts out sweet inevitably rots away in the end »
As for the guys, it took a while but they grew on me. They frustrated me to no end and I honestly believe that they don’t deserve Astrid but they did the work and they made for a great trio. I understood where Slade was coming from but I can hold a grudge and he pushed my buttons. Still, I really appreciated his relationship with Jagger.
Great chemistry, likable characters, new pieces to the bigger mystery… I laughed, I teared up, I got frustrated and may have threatened a character or two. I was hooked from beginning to end.
Candice Wright is weaving a very intriguing tale with this series and while i’m completely tangled with no clue what’s up, I’m along for the ride. I definitely recommend.
Another amazing read. I love this series. Astrid, Slade and Jagger story is about all three of them learning to trust and move on from the past. I also love that the whole Apex team is in this book as well as the first.
This has a sort of HEA but more open ended to lead right into the next book. That I have to wait for 😫.
Candice is a master storyteller! I loved this book so much!! The writing! The relationships between all the men on the team!! The continuation is Salem's story and Astrid!! Love these FMC!! LOVE the slightly supernatural twice and I can't wait for more.
This could have been so good, but it completely flopped in the last handful of chapters. Don’t get me wrong—I think this is the best book I’ve read by this author so far. It had great angst and tension, and I didn’t even mind how absolutely terrible Slade was treating Astrid in the beginning, or how the entire group made her feel so unwelcome, because I was so sure it would lead to some amazing groveling. Well, jokes on me—that never happens, and i really do mean never.
When they finally track her down after they betrayed her trust, they use sex against her to manipulate her body so Jagger can “finally claim” her and show he’s all in. (ew)
Slade then gives her a bath and apologizes, which I guess is nice… except for the part where he says he’s angry with her for leaving them in the first place and asks if he’s not worth fighting for?! I’m sorry, what the actual fuck do you mean, you literal piece of trash? You treated her like the dogshit under your shoe for the first 30% of the book and never did any proper groveling for it. Then, after him and Jagger completely broke her trust, he called her a bitch and threw her away without even giving her a chance to explain. And this is the same guy whose trauma stems from being treated exactly like that, from being accused and no one believing when you tell the truth! Yet here he is, doing the exact same thing to her and then acting pissed that she left?!
Then, after that one chapter with the barest minimum of groveling (if you can call forced sex, a bath and an apology mixed with an accusation groveling), there’s a two-week time jump where it’s just mentioned that they’ve been working hard to rebuild the bridges they burned. So basically, the groveling I desperately wanted—and not just wanted but needed—to stay invested and believe this was a quality romance was skipped. And for what? Some boring-ass chapters where Astrid talks to a random lady on a bus and an old detective who, conveniently, is the one person in her life who ever believed her? I’m sorry, but I don’t give a fuck about any of that or how it helps her “develop as a character.” The only thing I wanted was to see these two men on their knees, groveling for her forgiveness.
And the final fucking straw was when the other Opus Tactical guys came to apologize to her, and instead of actually apologizing, they scold her for leaving. Apparently, they’re all “family,” and family fucks up but doesn’t leave, so she should have stayed and worked it out with them? I’m gonna say it again: what the actual fuck? They never—not once in the entire book—made her feel like she belonged or that they wanted her there. She was not part of their family, and they never trusted her. And yet here they are, angry with her for leaving? The only person who had her back was Greg (God bless his soul). And then, of course, Astrid ends up apologizing to them for leaving. I hate everything about the last couple of chapters.
Especially considering how everyone kept telling Slade and Jagger that they’d have to work for her forgiveness and that it would take more than just an “I’m sorry.” Lies. Fucking lies. Because the second Astrid sees them again, she spreads her legs, and all that “supposed” work is skipped in a two-week time jump. To say my disappointment is immeasurable would be an understatement.
This could have easily been a 5-star read for me if all the unnecessary bullshit with the cold case detective had been cut out, the last boring chapters with the Halloween stuff were removed, and the groveling actually had the time and space to unfold. Because let’s be real—those cute little “family” scenes of them all being together are pointless if they’re not deserved, and in this case, they’re just not. I’m a broken record at this point, but there just wasn’t enough groveling, and now this book is ruined because of it.
💌 Reverse Harem 💌 Slade & Jagger are Ex- military 💌 Astrid has a special gift 💌 Paranormal vibes 💌 Traumatic past 💌 Spicy Romance with dramatic twists 🔥
𝑴𝒀 𝑹𝑬𝑽𝑰𝑬𝑾: 📝
I absolutely loved reading book 1, The Brutal Strike and the ending in that one had left me shocked and shaken. I needed this book after reading that crazy ending.
We meet Astrid who comes to the Apex tactical team after relentless searching to give them a message that can save Salem.
Astrid gets a glimpse/ vision of a person's future especially if something dangerous is going to happen to them.
But her good intention of helping out comes to bite her back when she's held back hostage and is looked upon untrustfully.
I was so annoyed and wanted to slap Slade with how much of a Grade A jerk he was to Astrid. Jagger, I liked him as even though he had his doubts yet he was good to her and I found him hot right from the start.😉
The story takes us further into the different pasts that all three of them have had and along with action packed drama and a plethora of shocking twists, keeps us hooked onto it.
The stolen moments of irresistible passion and temptation were fire and had me melting (excluding what Slade does, I just wanted to slap him when he did something in one scene).
But yes both Slade and Jagger won me over just like they do Astrid and yes, I loved how they make themselves emotionally open and out there but I have to say I more than loved the other ways in which they win Astrid over.🥵😉
Astrid, that girl just melted my heart for all that she has gone through only because she was special. Even the way she still goes out of her way to help save someone, that girl won my heart time and again.
The twists are crazy and suspenseful and kept me turning the pages. I so couldn't put it down. Mind-bending shocking turns for sure.😯
And That Ending....OH MY FREAKING GOODNESS.... YEP... NEED THE NEXT BOOK. SO EXCITED FOR IT. 😍😍 Loved loved this one.
Hold onto your seats because it will be one helluva bumpy ride! The ex-soldiers turned mercenaries of Apex Tactical are all hot, swoon-worthy men and form their partnerships in triads. Slade and Jagger are best friends who need someone special to be with them, and Astrid is the woman who fits the description perfectly. There are a lot of strong emotions that come with this one. I laughed, cursed, sighed, and cried while reading this volume in the series. I cheered for Astrid, Slade, and Jagger when they finally got their act together. A sense of suspense hung over each page, waiting for that one pivotal moment to hit. And when it does, mind freaking blown!
Astrid brings a lot of baggage with her when she sneaks onto the private grounds of Apex Tactical. She's come with a particular purpose - she's here to save Salem's life using her talent. All her life, this ability has done nothing but cause her trouble, and once again, it lands her in hot water. While the resident techie confirms her identity, Slade and Jagger take Astrid to their home to keep her under surveillance. Being treated harshly isn't new to Astrid, but she had hoped for better treatment from those who protected someone like her. Try as they may to harden themselves, Jagger and Slade can't resist the white-haired, violet-eyed little hellion. She's feisty and doesn't back down from the two larger men. Astrid has to protect her heart from the two men as nothing good has ever come from opening up to others. Just when they are all starting to get to know each other, a situation develops that has the potential to tear them apart. Will Slade and Jagger be able to see past the damning data, and can Astrid forgive them for their assumptions?
Three hearts are on the line, and it could spell their ending before they get a chance at a beginning.
The Harsh Bite is book two in the Apex Tactical series. I liked the first book when I took a breath and I brought my expectations down a notch or two. Because of prevous books I have read by this author I was expected a darker, more developed story, but it was good after readjusting my expectations. So I came into this one with a bit lower expectations already, which I think that helped the story's likability for me. It's definitely a lite RH, paranormal, contemporary romance. It hits a few grey areas, but it's not what I would call dark.
Astrid travels across the country to warn Salem about the vision she had. Astrid has had visions her whole life and has been persecuted for them to the point that she is very shy, timid, insecure and reclusive. However, she does have a pretty sharp tongue, and can hold her own in a conversation when it becomes heated. That is one thing I did like about Astrid. The banter between the characters was very good.
When she shows up at Apex no one believes her, as expected, so Jagger an Slade take her to their house to hold her until they can sort her out. Again, this was sort of an insta-love, insta-hate relationship between the three. By 32% shes in bed with both men. Also again, it's pretty lite RH, as one watches as the other....well most that is up to your imagination as well. I did feel like the character development was better in this book.
There were some good twists in this one. More than the first book. However, it was still pretty predicable, and at times cringy-cheesy. I felt like the guys were very pushy and there were some grey areas of consent/nonconsent, as Astrid was manipulated pretty effortlessly.
All in all, I did enjoy the story even with the times I sort of wrinkled my nose at the story. So I am giving this one 3.5 stars. I am going to see if book three stays the course, or maybe even gets a bit better. Fingers crossed.
The Harsh Bite: Codename Spithra (Apex Tactical #2) by Candice Wright . This is not a standalone, so please read book 1 first, The Brutal Strike. It is a good story and I recommend it. The story picks up with Astrid trying to find Apex Tactical so she can deliver a message. Because of Astrid showing up, she is instantly under suspicion, and when she delivers her message, the guys are on high alert. Because of this, Astrid finds herself being held against her will and being baby sat by Jagger and Slade. Each has their own demons, but Slade's are more than Jagger's. Once Astrid is left in their care, they do not want to like her, but the attraction is too strong. Her spicy mouth and physical attributes have the guys coming and going. Each has their own secrets, and it is those secrets and apprehension that make for a good story. The relationship between the three of them also made for a good read. The other members of the group enhanced the story as well. Astrid's life was something else, and what she went through would break anyone. She was more than resilient. She was this story. Slade's story was interesting, too. I do have to say I like how the author ended the story. However, she left me with too many questions, and I ended up wanting more. I wonder if she did that on purpose. Time will tell. A 4 star read for me.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review for Stephanie's Book Reports.
Apex Tactical is a group of ex-soldiers who have turned mercenaries. They are all strong alpha males who generally find a partner to be in a triad with them. This is the story of Jagger, Slade and Astrid. Jagger and Slade are the very best of friends and have been for a very long time. They are also in the market for someone very special to share their lives with. Astrid is a lady of special talents and she has made her way onto the private grounds of Apex Tactical to save Salem's life using her special talent. However she soon finds herself in hot water. However when she is caught she is taken home with Jagger and Slade so that they can constantly keep an eye on her. She is one heck of a feisty little lady and gives them a run for her money. She for sure doesn't back down from them and they no matter how hard they try to harden their hearts but they just can't resist her. This is the journey of them discovering things about one another. About opening up to someone when everyone has always betrayed your trust. Just when things seem to be going well things happen that could tear them all apart. I really liked reading this book. It keeps you on the edge of your seat a lot of the time and will have your emotions on a roller coaster you just don't want to get off of.
I'm not normally down for menage because I don't like to share my toys, but every once in a while, I find a great story with it in there. See, the ex-military men of Apex Tactical have triad relationships, and best friends, Slade & Jagger are looking for their third. Astrid is a strong woman with a gift that helps people, but she's been hurt a lot because of said gift, and I wanted to hug her more than once throughout this story. She won't ever stop trying to help other people even if it's at a high cost, and this is how she came face to face with Slade & Jagger. She comes to their neck of the woods to help someone out, and of course it has been met with suspicion, so I got a little pissy about her treatment, especially after she was taken home with Slade & Jagger to keep a constant eye on her. That's the reason why it took me a little longer to warm up to the men as they didn't always seem so nice despite the fact that she was perfect for them so I went through more than one emotion. On top of this, there's also the underlying suspense plot that is keeping me guessing so I'm dying inside for more. I couldn't get enough of this story at the end of the day, and cannot wait for more in the series so I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
Review of The Harsh Bite by Candice M. Wright * * * * * Another steamy and action backed book from a fabulous author that just fits right in with this series. A girl in some deep trouble, stubborn men, tons of sexual tension, and a whole lot of crazy!
Astrid has had a bit of trouble in her life, and her 'gift' does not really help her that much even as she uses it to help others. Turning up to Apex, wanting to save Salem from a horrible demise, it's not a surprise that men like those in Apex are calling on her bull and not liking her in their business. Hello Slade and Jagger. These rough and tough men will be looking after her. As trouble starts to really come for Astrid, she's find herself in a place she did not expect with people he was not prepared to have in her life.
Another hot book for the series, and a great addition as well. Loving seeing some old faces, and cannot wait to see who gets their time to shine in the spotlight next! The bantering happens right off the bat when the search and frisk and near fondling happens. Spicy! Astrid is sassy and has her guard up due to her valuable little ability, which has her sharp wit ready for smarta** responses. Specifically aimed towards two certain men. Slade and Jagger are A-holes...but hot ones so it's fine.
"The Harsh Bite" by Candice Wright is an emotional rollercoaster that had me hooked from start to finish. This book takes you on a thrilling journey with Astrid, Jagger, and Slade, diving deep into their pasts and uncovering layers of drama, action, and unexpected twists. Astrid is such an amazing FMC—her wit, sarcasm, and unwavering determination to do the right thing despite all the trouble it causes in her life make her a character you can't help but root for. I laughed out loud at her sass and humor, and my heart broke for her as I learned more about her painful past.
Jagger and Slade, though total asshats at first, eventually won me over just as they did Astrid. Their initial misjudgment of her added to the tension and made their eventual acceptance and love for her even sweeter. The chemistry between them is electric, with stolen moments of irresistible passion that are absolutely fire. The plot is packed with crazy twists and suspenseful turns that kept me turning the pages, unable to put this book down. Astrid’s journey is a testament to resilience and the power of love. Her story is both heartbreaking and inspiring, showing that life isn't black and white but filled with shades of gray.
I’m really enjoying this series so far! I really love how Candice is giving us a mostly contemporary story with a little PNR twist. We were first introduced to Astrid at the end of Salem’s story and I was very cool how it all tied together.
So far the series has been ménage romance and in this book Astrid is involved with Jagger and Slade, who are tasked with guarding her to see if she is up to no good when it comes to Salem. They are instantly attracted to each other but trust is a major issue. I was really loving the dynamic between Astrid and Slade. Jagger is a fun and sexy character but he is often left feeling like he is on the outside looking in and I felt the same way. I liked his character but I didn’t feel as much of a connection between him and Astrid and I would have liked to see more development with him.
The side characters in this book are also a lot of fun and I love the way they all interact with each other. As was the case with the first book, we are left with a crazy cliffhanger that leaves an opening for the next book. I look forward to seeing how everything untangles with this next group!
The Harsh Bite - book 2 in The Apex Tactical series and it kicks off right where the first one ended with Astrid turning up with information that turns them all on their heads. What they find out puts Astrid under suspicion from all of them. Astrid's backstory is not a happy one and as the book progressed with more being uncovered about her I found it hard not to be a bit tearful. You couldn't not feel for her. Still even with everything that she went through in this book she was still full of sharp retorts, quick wit and a genuine need to help people. She was a cracking character that I really liked. Her dynamic with Slade & Jagger (who had their own demons) was a roller coaster ride with all of the up's and down's that they went through. I understood their reasons for their distrust of Astrid but some of what they did I really wanted to slap them for!! Still I did enjoy reading their story and I wanted them to get their HEA ending. I'm looking forward to more books in this series because I'm loving reading it so much.
The Harsh Bite is book 2 in The Apex Tactile series from Candice Wright. In this book we get introduced to Astrid who has visions of people’s death. She travels across the country to give book 1’s FMC a heads up about a vision she had of her and her welcome party is anything but. There are a lot of big differences from book one. In this book we spend most of it actually at the Apex Ranch instead of in the Jungle so you really get to see the dynamic of all the guys and the family they’ve created. Salem is just as wonderful in this book as she was in hers. Astrid is exactly what I have come to expect from a main FMC from Candice Wright. Often underestimated but badass in their own unique ways or just bananas crazy in general. Not the first time I’ve wanted to reach through one her books to slap the Male characters. They definitely have a lot to work through as does Astrid. Astrid’s banter with Oz would have been reason enough for me to read this book 😂 can’t wait for book 3 🖤
Candice Wright has done it again. Picking up right where Brutal Strike left off. This story follows Apex Tactical and Astrid taken hostage until the team can discover if she is a threat to Salem or not. Everyone is skeptical and once again for Astrid it’s guilty until proven innocent. Unfortunately how is she supposed to prove it when everyone is against her. Slade and Jagger become her and the battle lines are drawn. Astrid is taken on one helluva an emotional rollercoaster. I absolutely love this book and the ending had me in tears. As always Candice sucks you in from the first sentence and keeps you hanging on every word until the very end of the story. I read this all in one sitting because I could not put it down. If I could give this more than 5 Stars I definitely would. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.
Do you like multilayered characters that just get better as you peel those layers back? Do you like a little action, some suspense and a why choose thought process? Do you like strong female heroines?
If the answer is yes to any of those questions then run don’t walk and pick up the latest from Candice Wright!
The Harsh Bite is book 2 in the Apex Tactical series and it’s amazing. Picking up right where The Brutal Strike left off, THB takes off running and just doesn’t stop. I’m not going to tell you what happens, just expect the unexpected, go in blind and enjoy!
Candice writes steamy, action packed stories with strong female leads and swoony men who love to share. Don’t miss out on this one!
Wow, another amazing book from Candice, loved the first book and this one is just as good. The story continues from where we left it with our gifted FMC Astrid stumbling upon the Apex compound to warn the team about a premonition. Love that we again meet Luna’s crazy brothers Oz and Zig and catch up with them and the rest of the team, so love crossover characters. Slade and Jagger need a serious slap, so many issues and past trauma. My heart bleeds for Astrid, so difficult to be different and have no one in your corner. Plenty of non stop action, a fantastic plot and some sizzling scenes with the guys. That ending tho, definitely plenty to ponder on and set us up for the next book. This is such a fantastic series that sticks in your mind, it’s that good it makes its own space, can’t wait to see where the next book takes us.
Astrid is a great FMC, Candice writes the most resilient women I have ever met and Astrid's back story is just as emotional as any of her other leading ladies. The supernatural element she is adding into this series takes a bit of getting used to when you generally like your contemporary and supernatural in entirely different books.
Slade and Jagger, I wasn't overly keen on them and after book one I was excited to see more of the team. Yes they grow on you a bit throughout the book but I don't think the relationship was developed enough for me. Slade had the bigger story I guess and Jagger felt a bit like an afterthought or an outsider.
These books are written as stand alones like the rest of Candice's books and centre on a specific trio but you definitely need to read book one before picking this one up. It has action and fun and all the things you expect from a Candice Wright read.
Book two in the Apex Tactical series was not as easy to get through as the first book. I really loved The Brutal Strike, and The Harsh Bite just didn’t hit the same. While Oz and Zig had their douchey moments, they weren’t outright inappropriate in the same ways that Slade and Jagger were. I have several times where I cringed at the crap they pulled.
I’m not saying they didn’t have moments of redemption, but it was a lot harder to find redeeming qualities in them, and it was a lot harder to stomach the things that Astrid was put through. Sure, her backstory was a hot mess, but would you be up front with people from the jump when that has been your life? Probably heckin not!
I struggled with where to rate this one, falling anywhere from 3.5 to 4.5, so a solid 4 seems like a good place to land. Here’s hoping Avery, Hawk, and Creed’s is better in book three!
This second book in the Apex Tactical picks up right where the first book left off. When Astrid takes the risk to travel all the way to the Apex complex in the hopes of warning people she’s never met of a tragedy coming their way she’s prepared for them to be skeptical. But she has no way to prepare for just how protective the Apex guys are of Salem and what she now means to the group. Because Astrid can see the tragic deaths of people around her, she’s had to deal with a lot of harsh treatment and chose to keep to herself after way too much unwarranted abuse. But by taking this chance on sharing this latest warning she ends up finding something special with not only Slade and Jagger but with the whole Apex family. The journey is definitely not easy but well worth it. Great read! And of course we get another great tease right at the end for what’s coming in the next book.
this book follows Astrid who shows us at Apex unexpectedly to deliver some interesting news when she’s bombarded and made some prisoner that Slade and Jaggar are in charge of keeping an eye on.
Astrid uses her raging bitchiness as a defense mechanism and does let Slade bully her around and Jaggar has the softer approach with her.
Along the way they learn a lot about each other and there are twists and turns in this plot heavy story with heartfelt characters.
I enjoyed getting updates and seeing Zig, Oz and Salem again from book 1!
Is Astrid just a damaged rich girl or does she have more to her than we think?
The Harsh Bite is the second book of the Apex Tactical series of interconnected standalones. I do recommend reading the first book in the series before this one so you have a better understanding of this world. Astrid has a vision and it has her traveling to Apex to warn them of what is to happen. When they think she is there for nefarious reasons they hold her as a prisoner and Slade and Jagger are her guards. I have to say the I really disliked the Apex team at times in this one…especially Slade and Jagger! My heart broke multiple times for Astrid and I just wanted to reach into the book and knock some heads together! This book had me laughing, crying, fuming, and swooning and I couldn’t put it down…read it in one sitting! And with that ending I can’t wait for book three now!
The Harsh Bite by Candice Wright is book Two in the Apex Tactical Series. This is Astrid, Slade and Jagger story. This is a interconnecting series so you should read the first book 'The Brutal Strike' first I felt. Astrid has a gift that has only been a curse to her so far but she still goes to warn Salem Harris whose story was in the first book. When Astrid had tried to sneak onto the Apex Tactical she was caught and when she delivered her message they didn't fully believe her. This lead them to hold her and she was being held at Jagger and Slade's house. Jagger and Slade are very best friends who know that they want a special women to have but is that Astrid? Enjoyed this book and I can't wait to read more from this author.
This is the second book in this incredible series, and is Astrid, Slade, and Jagger’s story. Astrid has a tough past, but she is resilient and strong, as well as being gifted with visions of things which will happen in the future. When Astrid arrives with a message for Apex tactical, she is met with suspicion and hostility. Being held against her will Astrid finds herself being babysat by Slade and Jagger. This is a well written story which is an action packed, emotional roller coaster, with mystery, secrets, danger, suspense, redemption, forgiveness, and is an entertaining, unpredictable, and twisted menage romance. I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.
dNF wtf is this crap? Why the hell would anybody come out of that first 3 chapters and have anything to do with either of those assholes? Cuz this is actually gross. Abusive. Ok I finished it. Still stupid...Slade needs a lobotomy..ooooh poor me I had a bad time in prison..so that means I can abuse women. Jeggers like ahh I wanna sex her up but Ill let Slade mess her up a bit first.. Oh people I respect are angry with me...I guess I should be nice to her since Greg might steal our toy. Gag. This is NOT romance. Freaking Dumb.no Greg...I do not want to stay here..I'm not that desperate. I will buy a dildo and a puppy when I get home. Problem solved is what ya should have said Astrid...but noooo you had to have Stockholm.