Forbidden Protector

Serpent MC #1

by Tansy Rhodes

LYLA

He's my tattooed, biker boss who's fifteen years older and completely off-limits—so of course our one-night stand changed everything.

Ukiah Stone, the man who owns Underground Tattoo is pure temptation wrapped in leather and ink, haunted by ghosts from his violent past.

One night together was supposed to get him out of my system. Instead, it made me crave more of the dangerous biker who swore he'd never love again.

With my talent for art forgery, he pulls me into his Robin Hood-style criminal empire, stealing from corrupt elites. Then a rival MC puts a bounty on my head.

Ukiah forces me to live with him for protection, and suddenly we're together twenty-four seven. Late nights painting turn into whispered confessions that break down our walls.

The man who never wanted anything serious starts looking at me like I'm his salvation. I realize I'd follow him anywhere.

Now we're desperately in love, running a dangerous art fraud operation.

The worst part? We both know this kind of love never survives.

Romantic and steamy! Be sure to check out the PREQUEL for ideal reading order (Recommended, not required). This series is not standalone. HEA

Genres: Forced Proximity

271 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 31, 2025

Reviews

[Leigh]

DNF@32% So after reading and having issues with the Prequel, I decided to read book 1 and see if I just needed a longer story. Unfortunately, that was not the case because this book was not for me either. The book starts 15 years after the events of the Prequel with Ukiah now a tattoo artist that is a front for his real work. Layla is a young woman who is sent to Ukiah for a job interview from a mutual friend. So, my issues up to this point is that similar to the first one everything is going way too fast. For starters Layla shows up for her interview and of course catches Ukiah with his receptionist in a back room and stays to watch a bit. This doesn't bother me, but it just seemed so unoriginal. Second, they are both immediately attracted to each other again not an issue. What was an issue for me was that the same evening his receptionist takes her to a place where others from his group are and he is immediately acting like a jealous boyfriend and his inner thoughts are ridiculous for someone who just met the h. There was an attack and the place catches fire and what does Layla do, instead of following the rest of the people out she finds herself in an office in a building that is on fire. Sorry, that was a TSTL moment for me. Now she is forced to live in Ukiah's home because his enemies know she means something to him, like really, they just met. Also, Ukiah is still hung up on the woman he was going to betray who he hooked up with several times and fell in love. Her ghost is still haunting him 15 years later. Sorry but I'm done.

[Eileen Christie · Rating 1 out of 5]

As with all things there are pros and cons to this book.
Let’s start with the pros: there’s potential for growth with this book it’s not in this version, and there’s spice to it. Unfortunately that’s where my pro list ends.
The cons: 1. the style of writing needs some revision, it almost reads as a list of ideas with little to no description of dialogue or thought from the characters. For example, (SPOILER) “Someone pulls the bag off my head. Light blinds me. Blinking, squinting, trying to adjust.” Where are the complete sentences? The books reads like this for most of the book for all characters. Very odd and confusing.
Another example of reworking the flow of the book, the couple is tangled in sheets on the bed tangled in a paragraph, and then two paragraphs later they are dressed and standing with no description of dressing. Reading almost like they are beginning their spicy time together instead in between. This happens frequently, almost like it was added in and reworked without making adjustments.
Con 2. The repetition, whether of descriptions, ideas, or dialogue. We get one paragraph and then a revision of the same paragraph. We got it.
Con 3. The FMC is confused about a topic, then jumps to certainty it only a few paragraphs later with no explanation.
Con 4. Expect for easy troupes to gander attention from the author, this book has barely anything to do with a tattoo shop, tattoo artists, or a motorcycle club. Like very loose concepts of these troupes
Con 5. The instant love and possessive from the main characters. Like after hours of meeting each other they are possessive, and then after maybe 3 weeks (again maybe) they love each other. This was hard to believe and made reading this very difficult.
Con 6 (and the last). The disclaimer of needing to read the prior book is not needed at all, the author explains everything throughout and it’s not hard to get the idea of what happens, they repeat it A LOT!

[Jayne Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not expect to love this book but it really grew on me. Very complex (layers), original, dark, and I just could not put it down. You need to read this story. I need to read the next book in the series.