Found Through Fire: Singed Lies #1

by J. Addison Wahl

381 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2026

Reviews

[BedRot.Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

YES YES YES!

🗡️Bad ass FMC
🖤Found family
🗡️Cocky MMC #1
🖤Broody MMC #2
🗡️ Why choose
🖤TENSION!!!
🗡️Biker / Mercenary

This book pulled me right in! I truly fell in love with Willow she is such a bad ass with such a soft heart!
Everyone loves Willow! She will lay her life on the line to protect anyone in need.
She deeply cares about everyone in her life but she will not hesitate to cut you down if you threaten the things she loves most!
Her brothers
Her peace
Or her coffee 😂

Willow is trying to build a relationship with her long lost brother when she finds herself locked in the sights of his best friend Flame.
Flame knows that Willow will be his wife, he just hasn’t told her yet 😏
She doesn’t have time for men, between her freelance rescue missions and opening up her own shop the only male company she has are the men her father sends with her on her missions. She gets along with all of the men her father employs…. Except for Grey.
Little does she know Grey only wants what’s best for her 😝

[Megan Lee ❤️ Bushey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I decided to step out of my comfort zone and comfort tropes and try something new. I had never read a motorcycle club book… and had read very few why choose. I love supporting indie authors and I found out this author was releasing a book and I decided to give it a read. Thank you to the author for allowing me to arc Found Through Fire.
Now I am normally a Romantasy/romance reader in general and so I had no idea what terms like MC stood for at first or what “church” referred to 😅
Now with all of this being said, I have discovered that I do not particularly like “why choose” as a trope, but I did like the plot. I enjoyed the story all the way up until the literal. “Why choose” moment if you get my drift lol. It’s just not the trope for me… I am more of a love triangle reader. (I’m kinda hoping it will transform into a love triangle in the future books after the ending that it had and the featured characters …but that’s just a me thing 🤣😅🤭)
So anyways I will be doing my review based solely on vibes, characters and the plot in general since I was fully aware that it was a why choose and it’s unfair to rate a book off a trope I don’t like when I knew beforehand, it was in the book upon reading it. (My dislike of the why choose trope will have no bearing on my rating) Now that’s out of the way, let’s talk about the plot.
I enjoyed the story line and the characters. This story is about a young woman who’s essentially a hired hit woman/vigilante due to a traumatic history. She is very close with her family and connects with her long lost brother. This story has multiple POVS. It also has the two MMCs that she has an attraction to. It also has a POV from her actual long lost brother. The FMC is a total bad a** who gives the men in her life a run for their money and is very independent. She has endured a lot of trauma and life altering events for someone her age that has made her into the person she is today. She is eventually faced with a threat that she finds herself not being able to face alone. This new threat has her finding herself accepting help and protection from two very different men that she is drawn to and ends with a plot twist that has an unexpected cliffhanger 🤯 and leaves you with so many questions…
Considering I am not a fan of the Why choose trope as it turns out… I enjoyed the character and the dynamics of the character Flame and our FMC. He is snarky, cocky and hilarious which is a nice match to her independent wit and exuding confidence.
There is another MMC as well. He has a can’t be bothered personality and can be humorous in that overbearing protective type of way.
My favorite character particularly would probably be Smoke out of them all. I would have loved more of him as well. (Maybe a future spin off with a love triangle lol 😜)
So If why choose and motorcycle clubs are your jam especially, here is a new book for you to check out!
The FMC in this book is the MVP of the story imo💅
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
RELEASING AUGUST 11,2026

I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes from the book..
“Fuckin’ adorable. My little Fox is shy. “It’s cool, Smoke will need directions,” I say, trying to get her to look up at me again so I can have those gorgeous eyes on me.”

✨TROPES✨
✨Why Choose
✨Motorcycle Club Mercenary
✨Enemies to Lovers
✨Slow Burn
✨Kick-Ass FMC
✨Age Gap
✨Found Family

[enchantedmelreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

What to expect
✨Why choose
🖤Mercenary
✨Motorcycle club
🖤Enemies to lovers
✨Slow burn
🖤Strong FMC
✨Age gap
🖤Found family


This right here is EXACTLY how I like my why choose romances.

The slow burn? Perfection. The character development? Incredible. The relationships? Everything I could have asked for.

Willow was an absolute powerhouse of an FMC. She was fierce, independent, and never backed down, making it impossible not to root for her every step of the way.

And the guys? I loved every single one of them for completely different reasons. Flame/Knox had me kicking my feet from the moment he laid eyes on Willow. The instant obsession? The protective energy? Him staking his claim immediately? Say. Less.

Then there’s Grey… the grumpy, tortured soul who slowly worked his way into my heart. Every chapter peeled back another layer of him, and I found myself loving his character more and more.

What I appreciated most was that this story focused on building the relationships instead of relying on spice. Every interaction, every conversation, every little moment mattered, which made all of the connections feel so much more meaningful.

That cliffhanger should honestly be illegal. I’m completely obsessed with these characters now, and I already know book two is going to consume my entire personality. I need it immediately!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am absolutely screaming after that ending! I finished this book with literal chills.

This story had everything I love: an incredible found family, witty banter that had me smiling, and one of the most badass FMCs I’ve read in a long time. And don’t even get me started on the two MMCs..one broody, one cocky, and both very yummy! The chemistry, angst, and slow-burning tension between the characters had me completely hooked.

The action never let up, and I was constantly on the edge of my seat, wondering what was going to happen next. Every chapter raised the stakes, making it nearly impossible to put down.

That ending completely wrecked me in the best way possible, and now I’m desperately counting down the days until I can get my hands on book two. If you’re looking for a book packed with action, unforgettable characters, found family, and heart-pounding tension, this one absolutely delivers.

[Spencer Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not going to lie… when I started Found Through Fire, I realized I had forgotten what the arc was about, so the first chapter had me feeling a little lost.

But then this book absolutely found its footing.

Once the story got going, I was completely hooked. The relationships and character dynamics are so layered that every new revelation adds another piece to the puzzle. One of my favorite aspects was the multiple POVs. Getting to experience the story through more than just Willow’s eyes gives so much depth to the world and lets you truly understand each character’s motivations.

What really stood out to me was the relationship between Flame, Grey, and Willow. Instead of the typical rivalry you see in a lot of why choose romances, Flame and Grey both recognize that neither of them is enough for Willow on their own. Watching them come to that realization—and seeing their own relationship evolve because of it—made the romance feel refreshingly mature and emotionally satisfying.

And that ending…

What. Just. Happened?!

That cliffhanger completely caught me off guard and left me staring at the page trying to process everything. I genuinely have no idea where this series is headed next, but after that ending, I need the next book immediately.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will never turn away a book with a badass FMC that turns the men around her into puppy dig simps. I just really like a good reverse harem with a well written woman and men who don't try to smother her with their useless personalities. Found Through Fire was exactly that.

I really liked how richly the characters were written in this. Willow was fierce, capable, and could beat anyone's ass. I loved that she didn't need the men for anything but she allowed them to be around her. It's such a nice take to have a badass FMC stay just as independent throughout the book. The MMCs were also so well done. I liked that Knox and Grey were so completely different both in their personalities as well as the way they originally thought of Willow. They fit so well in the little polycule.

The pacing to the plot is well done. The romance between all the characters is fairly slow burn, slower for the Grey x Willow mashup, but Knox was immediately a simp once he saw video evidence of Willow's contract killing capabilities. I like that we have a slow build up of a suspense plot too; it gives a lot of forward momentum without overpowering the relationship building.

The real shining star for me though was all of the POVs. We aren't just getting POVs for the main characters, we also had a few from friends and family close to our characters. It gave a lot of depth to the story and provided a lot of foundation to our characters' backstories and relationships outside of the polycule.

This does end on a cliffhanger and it kills me that because I'm reading an ARC, I have to wait even longer for a resolution. I will be waiting though, however impatiently, because this was such a great read.

[Jaclyn Marie Jax · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you the Author for the ARC of her book. You are the real Rockstar Sister

Great book Babe💋

I came in expecting an MC romance, but Found Through Fire delivered so much more. Willow is fierce, hilarious, loyal, and the kind of FMC you can't help but root for. The banter had me snickering, and the emotion in this story runs deep. The action never lets up, and that ending? I closed the book and immediately needed the next one.

If you love found family, motorcycle clubs, badass heroines, and stories that can make you laugh one minute and punch you in the heart the next...don't sleep on this one. 😉

[Rhonda Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am going to say this book is by far one of my top 5 favorites of 2026. I was provided this as an arc read and let me say I am so glad I said yes. I adore Motorcycle Club stories and every single one of these characters are fantastic. This had me crying and giggling the next minute. You have Willow along with her brothers who are bada**! Jackson/Smoke who is the next VP of the MC chapter learns about a family he thought didn’t want him. Grey the older spotter of Willow who is grumpy but lovable. Knox/ Flame is Jackson’s best friend who wants Willow as his Ol lady. One thing is these brothers are protective of their sister. This book will end off on a cliffhanger so get ready to dive into book 2. I do can not wait to read more.
Thank you J. Addison Wahl for letting me be a post of the Singed Lies series!

[Jamachia Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ MOTORCYCLES AND MILITARY MEN

This was SO good—I literally could not put it down.

If you’re looking for a story with a strong, badass FMC, look no further because she delivered everything she needed to give and then some. I was hooked on her from the start and just loved watching her step into her power.

And can we talk about the reverse harem for a second? Because YES. Both men had me completely hooked. They each brought something different to the table, and I loved how they balanced each other out while giving her exactly what she needed.

Honestly, there wasn’t a single thing about this book I didn’t enjoy. The characters, the dynamic, the energy—it all just worked for me. This is one of those reads that pulls you in and doesn’t let go until the very last page.

[Christina Blanco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Advanced Copy received from Author

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️- 🌶️🌶️ (only a couple open door scenes)

If you want motorcycle club mixed with mercantile marines, veterans and a kick ass fmc, This is the book for you!!!!

I consumed this book in 24 hours. I could not put it down. From the beginning the fmc is kicking ass. I’m not normally a fan of why choose romance but I enjoyed how this was written. The romance is secondary to the main action taking place in the story in my opinion. I kept wondering how the author was going to end the book, going back and forth in my thoughts on who I thought the end villain would be. I still am not 100% sure but I definitely didn’t see what was presented coming! Now I need more!!!

Thank you to the author for this early copy, I thoroughly enjoyed it 🖤

[Spicy Book Confessions · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Panty Meter: 💦💦💦
Emotional Damage: 💔💔💔💔

Thank you to J. Addison Wahl for trusting me with an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review!

I went into this knowing it was a slow-burn, why choose, found family romance with an MC and some mercenaries, and that’s exactly what I got.

I’ll admit…I started getting a little nervous during the first hundred pages because the only POVs were from Willow and her long-lost biological brother. They don’t know each other, but I was over here wondering if we were headed into some weird backwoods sibling romance. 😅 Thankfully, the moment Flame showed up, all of those fears disappeared. I immediately knew, okay…there’s the love interest.

And can we talk about Flame? I loved him from his very first chapter. His personality had me smiling instantly, and he quickly became one of my favorite characters.

Then there’s Grey. Since Willow comes from a family of mercenaries, her father insists she always has someone watching her back on missions. Grey gets stuck with that job, and the constant bickering between them was so much fun. You just know there’s chemistry simmering beneath all those arguments.

Yes, this is a slow burn, so if you’re someone who needs immediate romance and spice, consider this your warning. But honestly? I wasn’t bothered by it at all. The story itself was so engaging that I never felt like I was waiting for something to happen. The writing kept me completely invested.

The world J. Addison Wahl created played like a movie in my head. I could picture every scene so vividly that I genuinely found myself thinking, Someone needs to adapt this into a movie. It’s one of those stories that pulls you in and doesn’t let go.

Fair warning: this book ends on a cliffhanger! Thankfully, I talked with J. Addison, and she told me she’s already working on book two. That made the ending a little easier to survive…but I still need that sequel ASAP because I have to know what happens next!

I absolutely loved this story, and I always appreciate getting the opportunity to connect with authors and experience their stories before they’re released. Thank you again, J. Addison, for trusting me with Willow’s story. I can’t wait to see where this series goes next!

If you enjoy why choose, found family, mercenaries, an MC, slow-burn romance, and incredible world-building, this is definitely one to add to your TBR!

[Star Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into Found Through Fire almost completely blind as an ARC reader, and I’ll admit, the first chapter took me a minute to get my bearings. I wasn’t entirely sure where the story was headed or how all the pieces fit together, but once everything clicked, I was absolutely hooked.

Willow is such a badass protagonist. She’s a mercenary who’s more than capable of taking care of herself. But I loved that alongside everything else, there was such an emotional focus on family and finding where you belong.

One of my favorite parts was the romance setup. This is a true why choose/reverse harem, and I really appreciated that it never fell into the typical love triangle drama. Willow has two love interests, and the story lets those relationships develop naturally without forcing unnecessary drama. It was refreshing to read a romance that embraced the dynamic instead of treating it like someone had to “win.”

By the end, I was completely invested in Willow, her journey, and everyone around her. If you enjoy strong female leads, motorcycle clubs, mercenary groups, found family, action, and a refreshing take on why choose romance, I’d definitely recommend picking this one up.

I’m already looking forward to seeing where this series goes next after that ending!!

[LiAnna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found Through Fire by J. Addison Wahl is a contemporary why-choose romance with just the right amount of darkness, danger, and emotional chaos!

First of all, the MMCs? One is tied to a motorcycle club, the other is former military, and both are absolutely HOT, but beneath all that badassery, they’re carrying some serious scars. Then there’s our FMC, who is just as badass in her own way. She’s a little shy, a little awkward, a lot stabby, and somehow completely lovable. Watching these three navigate their attraction while dealing with everything they’re dealing with made for a seriously compelling read.

I loved that all of the characters have been through hell and back. There’s a rawness to their stories that gives the plot more depth and the darker elements add an extra layer of tension that kept me turning pages.

And THAT ENDING. WHAT?! I genuinely did not see that coming, and I still don’t know how I’m supposed to process it. Like… excuse me?!

Overall, this was a high action, high stakes, emotional, darker why-choose romance with characters I’m already invested in. Highly recommend, and I absolutely cannot wait to see what happens in book two!

[bookishadventuresHaley · Rating 5 out of 5]

First thank you so much for a letting me read an eARC of this book!

Willow is strong and fierce but also soft and caring for the people she loves. She finds her lost brother and starts building a relationship with him. Through him is how she finds Flame/Knox. Or he finds her 😛

I didn’t know I needed this book, but wow. I absolutely did!! Motorcycle club, mercenaries, why choose?!?! 🥵 Grey is broody and grumpy and Knox is Cocky, and somehow it works!

I started off thinking who the heck is this dude Grey, but by the end I love him and understand why he’s grumpy.

I loved the story, I loved the romance. The tension had me giggling and kicking my feet at so many places. I really felt like I was in this story.

The ending?!?! AHHHHH!! Knox, Lochlan?! I literally said “ahhhh, a cliffhanger!! I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED?” As I finished it this morning.

🏍️ Biker
🌟 mercenary
🏍️ strong fmc
🌟 why choose
🏍️ broody mmc
🌟 slow burn
🏍️ age gap

If any of these sound good to you, absolutely check this one out! It released on Aug 1st!

[FeliciaoftheTwistedPlot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ohhh-kayyy I am obsessed with Willow (FMC)!!! This book blew past my expectations. I cannot believe this is J. Addison Wahl’s first book!! I went in pretty blind knowing it was a Motorcycle Club/Mercenary romance. I was never sure where we were going and I loved every second of it!

‼️ Slight spoilers ‼️

The FMC is a badass!! She is a contract killer who’s found family runs a mercenary business and her long lost brother is set to be the next VP of a motorcycle club. The first half if the book had me questioning who the MMC would be! It is a slow slow burn! They talk about spice but the spice doesn’t hit until 90%. And when it hits it hits!! I’m obsessed with the ending! She best be in the middle of writing book 2! Because I need it asap!! 😍🤣🤣

Tropes 👇🏼👇🏼
Slow burn
Found family
Grumpy x Sunshine
He Falls First
Only Soft for her/him
Forced Proximity
Brother’s Best Friend
Boss’ Daughter
Stalker

❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

[Sammie Striar · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8ndyQPW/
Full review on link.
This book has something for everyone trope. A Y-Choose romance with action, family, loss, found family, hot military men, hot bikers, a baddie for an FMC, and a spicy payoff! There is a lot of plot and world building to this book. It is the first in a series. The world building is all about continuing the series and future plots. The author keeps you guessing even until the last page. Definitely the beginning of a great series with action, adventure, revenge, justice, payback, and spicy romance. The last 30% is pure fire. I could not put it down!

[Charity Riddle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so glad this book was recommended to me. Man, was it good. I am an MC girl through and through. And have found a new author to quench my thirst.
This is a slow-burn for one guy, insta obsessed for the other one, why-choose, age gap, found family, MC romance. For being a why choose, it was very light on the spice. But that's completely ok. Because the dynamics pulled everything together amazingly. And I absolutely loved that Willow wasn't timid and docile.
I did want to throw my Kindle at the end. Why would you leave me hanging like that?
Needless to say, this is a definite recommendation for me.

[Jessica Cam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This why chose, MC romance was giving everything and more! Willow is such a baddie. She has been through some things in her short life and she has the biggest heart, smartest brain and will not hesitate to ☠️ if needed. She may be tiny, but she is fierce and proves it over and over again. She may also be inexperienced in certain areas…but then enters Knox (her brothers best friend) and Grey (her dad’s employee). There is not a lot of spice in this book, but there is tension 🫠

I am impressed in what this indie author has created and I’m eagerly awaiting book two.

[Tiffany Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC read from local author.
Thanks to the author for the opportunity to read and review Found Through Fire.
I really enjoyed this one. The action was great and super detailed. Badass FMC. Banter was great. Gave SOA and Alias vibes. Not a huge fan of an inexperienced FMC.

Overall… 4⭐️ and “patiently” waiting for the next book!

‼️Warning‼️
🧗🏻‍♀️It does end on a cliff hanger.
🌶️minimal spice and at the very end.

Tropes:
3️⃣Why choose (poly relationship)
🏍️MC romance
🏡Found family
❤️He falls first
😡❤️Enemies to lovers
👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻Age gap (she’s 24, he’s 36)

[Lottie · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG, what an absolute wild ride!
Willow is such a badass FMC. She's fierce, hilarious, and so incredibly likeable. I absolutely loved the rich backstory surrounding her and her family, it added so much depth to the story. And the triplets? They completely stole every scene they were in. They had me laughing out loud!
My favourite moment has to be when Flame watched the body cam footage for the first time and immediately decided he was going to marry her. I was crying with laughter! It was such a perfect introduction to their dynamic.
Grey completely caught me off guard. I was expecting him to stay the broody, mysterious one, but watching him slowly reveal his softer, sweeter side had me absolutely swooning.
And that ending... WHAT?! I genuinely wasn't prepared for it. Now I'm desperately counting down the days until book two because I need answers, and I need them immediately!

[Emily Nading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talk about a wild ride! I was hooked immediately and devoured this book. The characters, the plot, the banter; everything was so so good.

Getting to the last line, that cliffhanger, I think took years off my life in the best way possible. I am going to be frothing at the bit for the next book in this series!!

If you like a slow, and I mean slow, burn and love a why choose as much as me; this is definitely a book for you. The plot is so good and the slow burn is done so well, it leaves you wanting in the best way.

[Jacqueline Barnow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was honored to be a Beta Reader/ARC for this book. Absolutely could not put it down. The writer brought Willow, her bothers, her parents, and the rest of the characters to life. I felt like I knew them. I don't want to give away any spoilers. Let me just say, the burn is slow but hot. The end....well, yall just going to have to read it. I won't give it away. The book makes me want to know more, dying to know what is to come in Book 2. READ THIS BOOK! You won't regret it.

[Samantha Christo · Rating 4 out of 5]

- Bad ass FMC
- Found family
- Cocky MMC #1
- Broody MMC #2
- Why choose
- Biker / Mercenary

Willow, AKA The Fox, loves 3 things: her family, her coffee and her peace. She will lay her life down for those that she loves. Through in a long lost brother who is in a MC. Then add in Flame, the brother’s best friend who knows willow is his future wife. But wait, can’t forget Grey, who is her dad’s employee. Loved this book so much!

[Kimberly Sheffield · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an ARC read for me and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s a slow burn, MC/why choose romance. The FMC is badass and I like the found family aspect. There are enough twists and turns to keep you guessing and I enjoyed the story line. It ends on a cliffhanger so now I’m left wondering what’s next!

[Raegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unique spin to why choose.
All three MMCs have different careers and focus.
Flame (Knox) pres in training of a MC club
Grey mercenary
Lochlan TBD
You also have the FMC who is a solo mercenary herself with a loving family (triplets for step brothers)
This book spends a good deal building character and dynamics and leaves you with a cliffhanger

[Nyx Hollow · Rating 5 out of 5]

To start off Willow is a badass!!! This book does tend to have a lot going on and a lot of moving parts but overall I enjoyed it. Why choose, MC, and mercenaries. Such a great story that leaves you wanting more!

[Paige Remak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please read this

I was absolutely hooked into this book. 5 stars through and through. You really get to see the characters delvop and establish their relationships. That cliff hanger ??? Will a 💯 be reading the next book.

[Sara Przemielewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Loved the book so much, great characters and story line. Each page left me wanting more. Can't believe the cliffhanger...hoping the next book comes out soon.

[Anais Reyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC

I can definitely say this was new for me. I loved the FMC she is amazing literally a badass with the most beautiful heart. I enjoyed the why choose not use to this trope but I enjoyed it. I loved the found family and willow family. I love how her father and brother protect her with no cost. Flame is funny with the whole “she my baby but she doesn’t know it” had me laughing. I would definitely recommend can’t wait to see how far this series goes.

[Jazzie A · Rating 1 out of 5]

Review Advanced Copy from Author

My review is late I know, it was supposed to be done before the first of August but the way...

Listen I'm not going to dog on the book but I'm also not going to sugar coat my review.

It should not have taken me this long to finish a less than 400pg Why Choose Book because not only do I absolutely love Why Choose but I can devour a less than 400pg book in one sitting.

Now you must be wondering why did it take me so long to read it then and I will tell you dear reader, it's because this book is boring. Thats right boring absolutely boring.

The way nothing absolutely nothing of significance happened until the end of the book.

I was so bored out of my mind reading this book I wanted to DNF believe me I did but I felt bad because I promised the author I was going to read it.

I should have DNF'd because my following words are what some might consider mean.

Let's start with the plot -

There is no plot, genuinely I couldn't tell you what the plot is of this book. I'm not even kidding, there's like mini plots sure in the background but the overall main plot of the book I couldn't tell you what it is honestly.

I would want to say the relationship is the main plot holder but genuinely that doesn't even start to take off till the end of the book.

So for like 95% of this book we are literally just watching(reading) Willow live out her life and that would be fine if it wasn't for the fact that it was absolutely boring. So boring I had to take multiple breaks in between because I was so bored out of my mind.

Now moving onto the characters -

Willow, I didn't like her she gave major Pick Me and 'not like other girls' and 'I only hang out the guys', I wanted to like her believe me I did but she gave me so much ick and her spiels and little comments about womanhood and men felt so performative and cringe. This is going to sound so mean to but you could tell a millennial wrote this book because of those comments.

And don't even get me started on the dynamic between her brothers and all those other guys it gave major MAJOR Y/N & CEO.

And with the brothers it felt very weird in the sense like you know that weird sibling trope in Anime/Mangas, yea thats what their relationship gave because why when referring to her brothers she always uses MY like the my insinuates a possessiveness there and that would be fine if she didn't refer to her brothers as MY Idiots EVERY SINGLE TIME.

Look maybe its just me and how I don't have a good understanding of what a normal family is and they work but that is what the sibling relationship gave. It just felt so weird to me.

Moving on to the romance aspect -

It felt flat honestly, their relationship felt so forced and there was no chemistry at all.

Because Knox first of all only lusted for her, like yea he was like shes going to be my wife but every single time this dude talked about her in his POV it was only about how he wanted and couldn't wait to duck her.

As for Grey, that felt so forced way more forced than Knox because genuinely Grey and Willow had no chemistry at all. It felt more like the author wanted the bodyguard trope.

Moving on to other comments I have about the book -

I found it so very annoying with how many times people mentioned how little Willow is, like yea we know she's short you don't have to mention it almost EVERY SINGLE PAGE.

There were so many moments that I found very cringe to the point that all I could do was roll my eyes and deep sigh because god and again this going to sound so mean but you can tell this was written by a millennial.

Also another thing it was definitely a choice giving Jackson and the Uncle chapters because those felt like the author wanted a third person perspective on what was happening in the background but it didn't give what the author was trying to do.

Because for their chapters although it was first person present tense it read as third person past tense.

Alot of the actions were very over explained to, it wasn't bad per se I just found it very weird in the sense of what felt again like trying to hard. It sounds mean I know but it was just, like I know the author was trying to paint clear pictures but to me it didn't read like that. I just thought it was so weird.

Also the whole trying to play of Willow being 'innocent' in the sense of relationships, I found very like they were trying to infantalize her. It gave major creep and pdf file vibes to me.

Also the whole thing with Lochlan was very predictable.

Also why did Knox get mad Willow for speaking out? Like homeboy should've known she wouldn't keep her mouth closed. Like genuinely what did he expect?

I'm glad Willow did call out the fact that Lochlans poems were bad because they were bad. It didn't give mysterious at all, it read as that one cliche 'nice guy' that talks like his nose is stuffy and hasn't gone through puberty yet.

I did notice very few grammatical and sentence structure errors though, there was some but not alot.

Also there were so many moments that felt very 'trying to hard to look cool', those moments honeslty besides the other stuff it annoyed me because again this is going to sound mean but you can tell a millennial wrote this.

I don't mean that in a bad way with the whole 'you can tell a millennial wrote this' but my god dude it just fed into the cliche weird millennial joke that's all over social media. Like alot not all of it but alot of it the writing read as trashy wattpad fanfiction.

Also because the whole thing with the coffee to felt very millennial, like that weird cliche millennial joke on social media.

Also the moment when Willow was saying and explaining to the other guys about the events and their Ol' Ladies, it didn't give what the author was trying to do because to me it gave that Willow is a male centered women and we know for a fact that she isn't but thats what it gave.

My predictions for the next book are as follows -

- Griz is obviously selling out the club to the Knight Repears or whatever their clubs name was

- The Ol' Lady sleeping with the Pres or whatever the one feeding the info to the Repear Guys is either going to be Griz's wife, daughter or that other girl Brandi I think her name was, the one that was sleeping with Knox.

- Lochlan will obviously be joining the relationship

Moving on,

Look I wanted to like this book I did but I was so disappointed by it.

Maybe its just me and maybe I am the problem because clealry I was not the target audience, but I can see how someone could like this book. It has all the necessary tropes and everything a average reader would like.

But I did not like this book and I will not be picking up the second, I am done.

Sorry but not sorry,
1/5 ⭐️

Edit - So future me has done some thinking, this review stays on my mind because of how unkind I was. I realize I didn't need to be mean as I was, I realized I let my emotions get the better of me because of how much I ended disliking this book.

Yea, I still disliked it that hasn't changed but I didn't need to be as mean as I was in my review. So for that I apologize, this was the authors first book and I'm sure it was very disappointing to read someone didn't like it especially since I was mean as I was.

I am truly and sincerely sorry to the author if you have this review and your feelings were hurt, I let my emotions get the better of me. It's not an excuse I know but still I am sorry.