Sparks collide when Outlaw Royles MC President Leon Martinez and tattoo journalist Sara Devlin run into each other at a ski resort.
Leon doesn’t have time for love. His club is in dire straits and he’s single parent to a daughter he doesn’t want anywhere near the outlaw life.
Sara has been burned before and is determined not to let the wishes of any man dictate her career. She is a nomad, moving from place to place, chasing each job.
Their worlds collide at Black Bear Lodge resulting in a weekend of debauchery that leaves both Leon and Sara wondering if they have what it takes to go the distance.
If you love fiercely independent women who know their worth and the strong, badass men who support them, then one click this insta love novelette! King of Clubs can be read as standalone romance, HEA guaranteed.
Donna Costello is the author of several short stories including No 1 Bestsellers in Amazon’s 15 Min Romance Reads ‘Sunglasses’ and ‘The Coast’.
Her work has featured in Upwork!Magazine, Flash Fiction North, Tim Saunders’s ‘A Collection of Short Stories’ Anthology and in the Paul Cave Prize Anthology 2023.
She has a Master’s degree in Creative Writing and is the founder of Luna Creative Academy, a company that specialises in writing coaching, book editing and marketing.
When she is not writing, she is trawling library shelves for books to read, sewing her heart out and attempting to learn the ukulele with mixed results.
King of Clubs (Outlaw Royales, #1) by Donna Costello
3/5 stars
King of Clubs is a short story by Donna Costella. It's a fun and enjoyable story told in third person. Leon is the president of the Outlaw Royales. And one night he meets the independent Sara. They instantly hit it off and they spend an amazing night together. Sara is expecting a quick and fun encounter but Leon really takes his time and takes care of her every need.
Sara needs to leave the next day and Leon asks her casually if she wants to send him postcards while she is traveling the world as a photographer. And that's how they stay in touch and get to know each other better and better. Eventually they start to text, call and video call.
Leon is a devoted father and he respects Sara in every aspect of her life. And Sara basks in the attention he showers her with. She grew up in the foster system and affection isn't something she expects from other people. Hence her need for not being able to settle down.
They are both kind and generous towards each other. They care but don't open up easily. I love how sweet and kind they are. And how gentle and accepthing they are. Nothing is rushed or forced. And their love grows organically.
While I really enjoyed the story I missed the intimacy of the story being told in first person. It felt like someone was telling me a love story and gave me an overall summary of their love and timeline. I never felt anything they felt. I wasn't able to fully connect with either Leon or Sara. I wish it was told in first person and I wish it was longer. Longer so there was time to genuinely feel them fall in love. More time to see them grow closer and more time to make the ending more emotional- and impactful.
So that is why I am settling on 3 stars overall for this beautiful story. ♥ I still recommend it to those who love short stories. It is a beautiful story and the ending made my heart thump with joy and satisfaction for all the characters. I just wish I could have celebrated it with them. Instead of beside them.
Super short and very easy read! It was great to see such a grown up MMC, he for sure went to therapy as a kid cause he is just perfect with his words and actions.
Sarah has been burned by love and as a result she is really independent. She meets Leon and sparks fly. This is not your typical MC romance Leon is smart, attentive and in no way controlling. There relationship blooms even though many would say it is not a typical relationship or works for them. A short fantastic read
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ARC Review: King of Clubs by Donna Costello
King of Clubs is the perfect weekend escape—short, steamy, and utterly addictive. It’s the kind of romance you can devour in one sitting with a glass of wine in hand.
Leon, the strong and protective MC president, and Sara, the fierce, independent journalist, light up the page with instant chemistry. What begins as undeniable physical attraction quickly grows into something deeper and surprisingly tender. Their connection feels genuine, even in this bite-sized novella format.
What I loved most was Sara’s character. She’s strong, independent, and refuses to let her rough past define her. Leon doesn’t just admire her strength, he supports her passions, respects her independence, and cherishes her exactly as she is. Their postcard exchanges while Sara travels the world for her photography career were such a sweet, unique touch. I also really appreciated how jealousy was never part of their dynamic—just mutual respect, admiration, and love.
While this isn’t a book heavy on detailed spice scenes or dark, morally grey MC drama, it still delivers plenty of drama, passion, humor, and heart. It’s fast, fun, and satisfying, perfect if you’re looking for a cozy, no-commitment mood read.
King of Clubs works beautifully as a standalone, but with nine more short stories planned in the Outlaw Royales MC Series, there’s so much more to look forward to. If you love independent heroines, badass heroes, and insta-love that actually feels genuine, this novella is definitely worth the read.
Thank you to @donna.costello.author for the opportunity to read and review this ARC! 💕
This was a quick and fun read to get this series started! I’m excited to read more from it.
My con is the POV isn’t my personal favorite but it didn’t hinder me from continuing the book!
BLURB: Sparks collide when Outlaw Royles MC President Leon Martinez and tattoo journalist Sara Devlin run into each other at a ski resort.
Leon doesn’t have time for love. His club is in dire straits and he’s single parent to a daughter he doesn’t want anywhere near the outlaw life.
Sara has been burned before and is determined not to let the wishes of any man dictate her career. She is a nomad, moving from place to place, chasing each job.
However a weekend of debauchery at Black Bear Lodge leaves both Leon and Sara wondering if they have what it takes to go the distance.
If you love fiercely independent women who know their worth and the strong men who support them, then one click this insta love novelette! King of Clubs can be read as standalone romance, HEA guaranteed.
This was super short and cute novella. I was expecting darker elements since this was an MC romance, but it had none of the usual dark content I expect for a motorcycle club.
I liked the first meeting between Leon and Sara. Leon is the President of an MC and single dad. Sara is constantly traveling as a photographer and lives a nomad type of life. They start a long-distance relationship after they hit it off during their one-night stand.
This was cute, but I was thrown off with it being written in 3rd person POV. I think it would have been better in first person since it is a contemporary. I also thought they spent too much time apart for such a short novella.
I've never read anything by this author before so I'm not sure of her writing style. But MC books I do know and I don't think this is it. I get that we know Leon is president but we don't know anything about his club really or the members. I think the book would have done a lot better as just a romance book as after halfway into the book I forgot MMC was in an MC and felt it was just a short and sweet romance book. Not to say I didn't like it because I did, it just could have been more.
This was truly short and sweet at only 55 pages! It was such a great palate cleanser since I’ve been reading fantasy nonstop, and it was such a great segue into my next romance.
This truly was super cute, and I love how the time jumps happened, showcasing how long Sam and Leon made it work. Him telling her that her home is with him at the end made me swoon. It was the perfect ending!
the only thing I missed was the first person sensation. but even without this short story was so powerful I cried midway through. the longing and missing each other was so well written. the intimacy was so cute and the fun to read. I am in love with this single dad and Independent Confident woman so bad I might reread again and again to feel that cozy feeling of love they have to infinity💕
I enjoyed this book it’s part of 4 book series called Outlaw Royales Motorcycle Club. This book is on 54 pages but I defo want to read more of this series
Blurb
Sparks collide when Outlaw Royles MC President Leon Martinez and tattoo journalist Sara Devlin run into each other at a ski resort.
Leon doesn’t have time for love. His club is in dire straits and he’s single parent to a daughter he doesn’t want anywhere near the outlaw life.
Sara has been burned before and is determined not to let the wishes of any man dictate her career. She is a nomad, moving from place to place, chasing each job. However a weekend of debauchery at Black Bear Lodge leaves both Leon and Sara wondering if they have what it takes to go the distance.
If you love fiercely independent women who know their worth and the strong men who support them, then one click this insta love novelette! King of Clubs can be read as standalone romance, HEA guaranteed.
This was a sweet, MC romance novella without much tension. It doesn't get too deep into any politics in the club, if that's not your thing. Leon and Sara establish a long distance relationship that works for them and their lives, and at the end she finally finds her home.
Thank you to Donna for providing this copy to me to read & review.
Donna never misses! 😍 King of Clubs, from the new Outlaw Royales series, is one of those short stories that really hit hard! She honestly has the talent to give us emotion, drama, and even a little life lesson in just a few pages. How she does it, I have no idea but I love it!
Of course, it always feels too short (I swear I’m going to spend my life begging: Donna, give us more pages, please! 😂), but that’s exactly what makes these novellas so addictive. It’s like a literary snack: quick, intense, and leaves you instantly wanting more.
And I swear, one day I will read a full-length novel from her, because if I’m this hooked on her short stories, I can only imagine what a whole book would do!
In short: King of Clubs is a fast read, full of feels, and totally worth it!
"𝙆𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝘾𝙡𝙪𝙗𝙨" 𝙗𝙮 𝘿𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙖 𝘾𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙤" "𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬" @donna.costello.author . . Tropes: Single Dad Opposite Attracts Insta-Love Forced Proximity Alpha Male Strong and Independent Heroine . . This is my first book of hers and damn, this book is a rollercoaster for me. This book is short and so emotionally connected.
This book is basically about a single dad who is a Motorcycle Club King, I mean President 😊 Leon.Who meet our FMC Sara , she is a fiercely independent tattoo journalist who travels the world for her work. They meet in a bar, where they talk and feel connected like some divine power telling them to meet again and again and wow he fell in love.He helps her to heal for her past and she helps him to manage his life.
As I said before, this is a short book but its a very good story with positive vibes and not a dark romance. I really love Donna's writing style and I would love to read her books in future❤️
When Donna approached me and asked me if I would be interested in reading her book, I was hesitant, why? Because it was a damn short read. Like 50 pages long. I don’t know what I was thinking when I agreed because I always end up mega frustrated that it’s not a full length book! I want more! The characters have a great story to tell I can feel it!!! But boom it’s finished and now I don’t know what to do with myself 🤣🤣
Tropes: single dad tattoos motorcycle club photographer FMC
King of Clubs is a short story that shows us the expected places that an instant connection can take us. Leon is the President of us MC and while out of town, he meets Sara, a freelance photographer. What should have been a one night stand, turns into a long-distance friendship, and instant connection between 2 persons.
I thought this was a beautiful short story. I loved reading how Leon and Sara would connect when she was state-side, and how they continued their relationship long distance with phone calls, postcards, etc. It was super sweet. I really enjoyed how Leon was a present father to his daughter, you don't see that as often in MC books/stories. I found Sara's interest in tattooing, the topic she was covering in her photography to be cool too.
I definitely think this would be enjoyable as a palette cleanser between books. It’s not dark and it’s super short and quick. It give you a taste of what MC books are like without the actual MC Trope being heavily focused.
It’s more like, yep that’s his job and that’s all. It’s not so much his lifestyle and at certain points it was like he wasn’t particularly a fan of being a part of the MC world or president.
I really liked the concept of it and the two characters.
I’ve read a lot of MC books and I devour them. They are literally my guilty pleasure. I loved the brotherhood, sense of family, suspense, gritty nitty and how love can change things but also how it can strengthen the bonds between two characters.
It’ll be interesting to see how the other novellas in this series play out too.
This short story is a quick motorcycle club romance that is the perfect mix of passion and plot.
Leon is the President of his MC, but he's also a father, and balancing the two leaves little time for a relationship. Sara is too busy traveling the world with her job as a photographer. She has never stopped to put down roots, so a little fun with Leon seems perfect for both of them.
This is an enjoyable story that can be read in one sitting, and I found it to be the perfect palate cleanser before diving into another full length novel. Sometimes, I'm just in the mood for a short story, and I'll be sure to check of more of this author's quick reads.
Thank you, Donna, for sending me this book for my honest review.
This is a really nice short read at only 54 pages. It can be read as a standalone as well as book 1 of the Outlaw Royales series.
I loved Leon and Sara and the spice 🔥🔥. I just wanted the story to keep going and find out more about them and their life's. It gave me SOA (sons of anarchy) vibes, so if you like that or just mc romances in general, you should definitely check it out.
I look forward to reading the rest of this series.
Something that I have would never think I would say about a MC Romance novela or book in general is that it was cozy and sweet. Leon is definitely a golden retriever wrapped in tattoos. That's definitely a first for me when it comes to a MC Romance most of them are dark and gritty this was not and that was interesting.
I thoroughly enjoyed this captivating and fast-paced read! It was infused with just the right amount of excitement and showcased charming instant love that perfectly matched its short format. As someone who appreciates the single dad trope, I can confidently say this story truly exceeded my expectations!
Thank you to the amazing author Donna Costello for an ARC.
This short story novella was such a cute read! A single dad and motorcycle club president falls head over heels for a traveling artist in a quick, unexpected love story. A little bit spicy, and a whole lot of sweet — the perfect bite-sized romance.
I really enjoyed this short story about two different people who find their match in the other. I love that it isn't a traditional love story but that they still get a perceived hea. I would have loved for it to be a bit longer with more detail, but it was good!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
MC romance. Sara is a tattoo journalist specializing in tattoos, living a nomadic life, moving from city to city, from one tattoo exhibition to another. But when she arrives at a mountain lodge, she doesn't expect to meet Leon, a gorgeous biker. Leon is a prez of a biker club and a single father. While treating his daughter to a mountain vacation, he meets Sara, a beautiful, independent woman he falls for. Will Leon and Sara have a beautiful romance, or will Sara prefer traveling to her love…
ARC Review of King of Clubs by Donna Costello * * * * * A steamy novella that is fast in the chemisty and wary in the love department, but as time passes and a bond grows, taking a chance on love can make a home you never thought you'd find.
Sara was a hard working woman, always on the move for the next job, keeping men at a distance - anyone at a distance really. Then one little top shelf drink from a tatted up biker president started a domino effect in her life. Leon was a busy man. Being a dad to an amazing daughter, keeping a healthy relationship with his ex, and making sure his MC kept on the road and in one piece. Relationships and dating weren't really in the cards for him, but Sara was different. He wanted her around, but knew like him, something was keeping their bond from being too serious. One night of passion steamed into a few, then a promise of postcards and phone calls. They cannot deny their feelings, but will they take the chance on something more?
A great introduction from this author and hints of what could come from this series! The growing relationship between our lovers is interesting, with Sara's foster background and her impact on those around her - specifically to those she inspires - and how Leon begins to understand why she keeps others at arm's length. Sara doesn't get weird or nervous about Leon having a daughter, and is very relaxed around Leon in a way she may not be with other people. Very interested to see who else could get their time to shine in this series.
I will admit I usually don't care for motorcycle romance stories because I didn't know if they could end up romantic because of what I have seen on tv about them but that changed when I read my first one from one author and now this story. It is nice reading about one who isn't a jerk and treats women with respect. Leon is the kind of man who doesn't hide who he is. He knows of past mistakes and he knows the businesses he helps with aren't safe. He is also a great father when it comes to his daughter which truly shows his real character. Sara is a girl who doesn't develop any relationships with anybody around her. She travels and moves towards her dream. When Leon and Sara met, it was only meant to be a one night stand until they couldn't stop thinking about each other. Finding out she was once a foster kid breaks my heart because I can't imagine being in that situation. It is what shows where her trust issues come from. It is amazing how patient Leon is with Sara on long distance and supportive of career. I'm glad towards the end where Sara knows where she stands. She wants to find a place to call home, she wants to be with Leon, and learn to embrace life in a different way. Leon is the only person who has shown her that. They both get what they want for their happiness.bI hope to see a second part to this. I want to see if they ever go further with their story.