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Roadmap to Your Heart #1
The Darkest Flame
Vaughn O'Keefe has been part owner of the Hog's Den for years. Privy to plenty of Disciples of the Road business, he's never been more ruffled as when a new recruit named "Smoke" walks through the door. Something about the man gets his blood pumping, but he knows to keep his preferences under wraps around the club.
"Smoke" Callahan has done a couple of rehab stints and is finally clean, thanks to help from the Disciples. He's on the right path and isn't about to get sidetracked, no matter how much the guy who manages the bar gets beneath his skin. Besides, his last relationship with a man left him scared, alone, and with a nightmare of an addiction.
When the Hog's Den becomes shorthanded, and Smoke is ordered to help out the one man he can't have, his longing for the bartender reaches blistering proportions. Vaughn figures a night together should be enough to satisfy their mutual attraction. But neither banks on just how scorching hot it might be.
As Smoke's past unravels and the one person he hopes never to lay eyes on again messes with all he holds sacred, it's time to involve the Disciples. Problem is, he'll have to risk his membership, his heart, and his own hide to keep everyone he cares about safe.
"Smoke" Callahan has done a couple of rehab stints and is finally clean, thanks to help from the Disciples. He's on the right path and isn't about to get sidetracked, no matter how much the guy who manages the bar gets beneath his skin. Besides, his last relationship with a man left him scared, alone, and with a nightmare of an addiction.
When the Hog's Den becomes shorthanded, and Smoke is ordered to help out the one man he can't have, his longing for the bartender reaches blistering proportions. Vaughn figures a night together should be enough to satisfy their mutual attraction. But neither banks on just how scorching hot it might be.
As Smoke's past unravels and the one person he hopes never to lay eyes on again messes with all he holds sacred, it's time to involve the Disciples. Problem is, he'll have to risk his membership, his heart, and his own hide to keep everyone he cares about safe.
232 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 17, 2015
199 people are currently reading
1291 people want to read
About the author
Christina Lee
55 books2,147 followersChristina writes romance in different sub-genres, mostly with LGBTQ characters, not only because she's part of the community, but because representation matters, and everyone deserves a happily-ever-after.
You can find more info on her website: www.christinalee.net. From there you can link to her Facebook reader group as well as her IG account and newsletter.
You can find more info on her website: www.christinalee.net. From there you can link to her Facebook reader group as well as her IG account and newsletter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 280 reviews
May 11, 2016
4 Stars.
Thrusting,gyrating,licking,sucking....forbidden.........
Panting.....that was just me reading this.
Two sexy Bikers getting down and dirty...delicious.
I really enjoyed this one....
Vaughn is part owner of the Hog's Den bar.The other half is owned by the Disciples MC president.With the MC conducting club business in the bar,Vaughn has been very aware of one particular club member....Smoke.
Smoke used to be a member of a rival MC.He was heavily into drugs and his life was a mess until the president of the Disciples stepped in.He's got himself clean and is now a member of the club.
These two men are both bi and there have been lots of lingering looks and smouldering sexual tension going on for a while before they get down and dirty.
My,oh my....when these two get together it's just so damn hot.It's raw and dirty but also very passionate between them.I couldn't read it fast enough.And the bar scene with the over the table sex was just delicious....I think I actually squeaked.I definitely made some kind of noise because my husband asked what was wrong with me.
If I can drag myself away from the sex,their relationship was actually quite sweet.I loved how protective they were over each other.
This isn't a typical Biker book.There is club drama when someone from Smoke's past enters the picture but it's not overdone drama,thankfully.
What's not to like....
An MC element and two sexy as sin men getting it on frequently and in the filthiest ways.
Recommended........
Thrusting,gyrating,licking,sucking....forbidden.........
Panting.....that was just me reading this.
Two sexy Bikers getting down and dirty...delicious.
I really enjoyed this one....
Vaughn is part owner of the Hog's Den bar.The other half is owned by the Disciples MC president.With the MC conducting club business in the bar,Vaughn has been very aware of one particular club member....Smoke.
Smoke used to be a member of a rival MC.He was heavily into drugs and his life was a mess until the president of the Disciples stepped in.He's got himself clean and is now a member of the club.
These two men are both bi and there have been lots of lingering looks and smouldering sexual tension going on for a while before they get down and dirty.
My,oh my....when these two get together it's just so damn hot.It's raw and dirty but also very passionate between them.I couldn't read it fast enough.And the bar scene with the over the table sex was just delicious....I think I actually squeaked.I definitely made some kind of noise because my husband asked what was wrong with me.
If I can drag myself away from the sex,their relationship was actually quite sweet.I loved how protective they were over each other.
This isn't a typical Biker book.There is club drama when someone from Smoke's past enters the picture but it's not overdone drama,thankfully.
What's not to like....
An MC element and two sexy as sin men getting it on frequently and in the filthiest ways.
Recommended........
August 11, 2015
4.5 stars rounded up because SMOKING HOT SEX!
Before I get started, I have to admit that I have no idea what a Motorcycle Gang really is. From real-life understanding, it is usually a group of men up to no-good. Various illegal activities abound, heavy drinking, driving big motorcycles as a group and usually opposing a heavy-handed US government. But that is just my uneducated perception. The motorcycle gang in this book called Disciples and it's leader "Prez" is actually trying to clean up the gang and help keep his "turf" safe from harm and illegal activities. So, for the sake of actually liking Disciple's member Smoke, I bought into the Motorcycle-Gang-with-a-Heart spiel.
Vaughn O’Keefe is the owner and bartender of The Hog's Den, Disciple's public/social hang-out. When his investment partner and boyfriend skips town for greener pastures, Vaughn is left with a bar he can no longer afford. Enter Disciple's president Malachi AKA Prez who offers to invest in the bar on the condition it can be used as a place to conduct official Disciples business. Vaughn agrees and business is now booming and he is considered an honorary member of the gang. Vaughn is bisexual but prefers the company of men and is in the closet with his family, friends and especially the members of Disciples.
Enter Disciples member and sex-on-legs Reed AKA Smoke, also bisexual with a preference for men. Devastated by the fire that killed his father and burned down his family bar, Smoke finds himself in a dysfunctional relationship and giving in to the numbing effect of hard-core drugs. Prez pulled him out of a rival gang and sends him to rehab for the nasty drug habit. Smoke comes out the other side clean and sober and joins Disciples.
The book is told from Vaughn and Smoke's POVs, so we know that both men have the serious hots for each other. The sexual tension here is thick and delicious. Every time Vaughn and Smoke are in the same room, the temperature goes up. When the tension has finally reached unmanageable levels, they literally throw themselves at each other. Glory hallelujah is it hot! Rough, wall-slamming grinds, deep-throating blow jobs, lip stinging, deep, wet kisses and eventually power fucking each other into the mattress.
I loved Vaughn and Smoke. These boys were incredible together and while the sex is some of the hottest I've ever read, the emotions were here and the need they had to be in each other's lives was incredibly romantic. While the story line is a touch silly, with both men in the closet because they are afraid of what other people will think, it did make for some awesome clandestine fucking.
If you are looking for a story about men with perfect sexual compatibility, this is your book. Loading with sexual tension and paint-peeling sex, I absolutely loved it.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
NOTE: This book is from the Between Breaths universe and characters Cory and Jude from There You Stand are included sporadically in the Darkest Flame.
Galley copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
This review has been crossed posted to Jessewave
Before I get started, I have to admit that I have no idea what a Motorcycle Gang really is. From real-life understanding, it is usually a group of men up to no-good. Various illegal activities abound, heavy drinking, driving big motorcycles as a group and usually opposing a heavy-handed US government. But that is just my uneducated perception. The motorcycle gang in this book called Disciples and it's leader "Prez" is actually trying to clean up the gang and help keep his "turf" safe from harm and illegal activities. So, for the sake of actually liking Disciple's member Smoke, I bought into the Motorcycle-Gang-with-a-Heart spiel.
Vaughn O’Keefe is the owner and bartender of The Hog's Den, Disciple's public/social hang-out. When his investment partner and boyfriend skips town for greener pastures, Vaughn is left with a bar he can no longer afford. Enter Disciple's president Malachi AKA Prez who offers to invest in the bar on the condition it can be used as a place to conduct official Disciples business. Vaughn agrees and business is now booming and he is considered an honorary member of the gang. Vaughn is bisexual but prefers the company of men and is in the closet with his family, friends and especially the members of Disciples.
Enter Disciples member and sex-on-legs Reed AKA Smoke, also bisexual with a preference for men. Devastated by the fire that killed his father and burned down his family bar, Smoke finds himself in a dysfunctional relationship and giving in to the numbing effect of hard-core drugs. Prez pulled him out of a rival gang and sends him to rehab for the nasty drug habit. Smoke comes out the other side clean and sober and joins Disciples.
The book is told from Vaughn and Smoke's POVs, so we know that both men have the serious hots for each other. The sexual tension here is thick and delicious. Every time Vaughn and Smoke are in the same room, the temperature goes up. When the tension has finally reached unmanageable levels, they literally throw themselves at each other. Glory hallelujah is it hot! Rough, wall-slamming grinds, deep-throating blow jobs, lip stinging, deep, wet kisses and eventually power fucking each other into the mattress.
I loved Vaughn and Smoke. These boys were incredible together and while the sex is some of the hottest I've ever read, the emotions were here and the need they had to be in each other's lives was incredibly romantic. While the story line is a touch silly, with both men in the closet because they are afraid of what other people will think, it did make for some awesome clandestine fucking.
If you are looking for a story about men with perfect sexual compatibility, this is your book. Loading with sexual tension and paint-peeling sex, I absolutely loved it.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
NOTE: This book is from the Between Breaths universe and characters Cory and Jude from There You Stand are included sporadically in the Darkest Flame.
Galley copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
This review has been crossed posted to Jessewave
August 24, 2015
I actually liked this one. A lot more than I thought I would.
Yeah, I was pretty shocked too.
It did have a bit of an NA vibe to it. Which is okay, as long as it doesn't have all of the dumb drama that comes with MF NA books. And thankfully this one was low on the angst and drama!
I hadn't read an MC book in a while, so that was a nice change. And I liked both Smoke and Vaughn. It was fairly predictable. Had some good steam.
I did notice quite a few grammatical errors--missing words, typos, etc.--which were distracting at times. But overall, this one was good. Kept me interested.
Yeah, I was pretty shocked too.
It did have a bit of an NA vibe to it. Which is okay, as long as it doesn't have all of the dumb drama that comes with MF NA books. And thankfully this one was low on the angst and drama!
I hadn't read an MC book in a while, so that was a nice change. And I liked both Smoke and Vaughn. It was fairly predictable. Had some good steam.
I did notice quite a few grammatical errors--missing words, typos, etc.--which were distracting at times. But overall, this one was good. Kept me interested.
August 21, 2017
Scorching & tender, with some seriously angsty scenes (trigger warning: drug abuse), The Darkest Flame is aptly titled, since it truly is darker than the rest of the series. Not to worry though, there's a HEA!
I loved Vaughn and Smoke together, and the way Vaughn called Smoke by his real name. With Vaughn, Smoke was more than the punk kid who couldn't hold it together after his father's death. And Smoke gave Vaughn a purpose in life other than his bar.
These two couldn't stay away from each other. Is there anything hotter than two rough guys getting it on?
*thinks hard*
Clearly, that's a rhetorical question.
I loved Vaughn and Smoke together, and the way Vaughn called Smoke by his real name. With Vaughn, Smoke was more than the punk kid who couldn't hold it together after his father's death. And Smoke gave Vaughn a purpose in life other than his bar.
These two couldn't stay away from each other. Is there anything hotter than two rough guys getting it on?
*thinks hard*
Clearly, that's a rhetorical question.
Read
August 16, 2019**PLEASE NOTE, these two characters were first introduced in my MM, KICKFLIP (formerly called THERE YOU STAND).
Here's the reading order of this series and only the first two are MC club related:
THE DARKEST FLAME
THE FAINTEST SPARK
THE DEEPEST BLUE
THE HARDEST FALL
THE SWEETEST GOODBYE
Here's a teaser:
Here's the reading order of this series and only the first two are MC club related:
THE DARKEST FLAME
THE FAINTEST SPARK
THE DEEPEST BLUE
THE HARDEST FALL
THE SWEETEST GOODBYE
Here's a teaser:
August 12, 2016
***3.5 Stars***
I hate to start with a negative, but alas I feel I must.
This book should come with a serious disclaimer at the beginning:
WE NOW JOIN THIS STORY ALREADY IN PROGRESS.
I was so lost and confused for the first 25%(ish) of this book. So much backstory being rehashed to me that I had to go and double-check that I got book 1 of the series. Then I went to double-check the blurb to see if it made any mention of this being a spin-off. Then I went and checked the author's website to see if she made any mention of anything there.
FINALLY...I found the author's note on her "review" for this book. This is a spin-off about secondary character first introduced in There You Stand, which is book 5 of another series. PHEW! Too much investigative work for me.
I have no problem reading a book that has secondary characters from another story...hell, that's how most series work nowadays. However, the way the background information is delivered here is not in a way where you feel like you're being caught up, but in a way where you feel like you're missing out. Does that make sense?
Short story, long...it really affected my enjoyment of the book.
You know what I really enjoyed the most here? THE SEX. Vaughn and Smoke were hot as hell together. The sexual tension. The lust. The chemistry. The passion.
Oh yes....I loved it all.
If you're picking up this book because you like the gritty MC vibe, let me warn you right now....you're not going to get that here. This is pretty MC light (wasn't that a 90's rapper?).
If I had to put my finger on it, this book had more of an NA vibe to it. The romance between Vaughn and Smoke was more on the sweet and awwwww side. It had a healthy dose of cheesy lines and saccharine filled proclamations of feelings. I would have gobbled this up (and primarily did), until I remembered that this was a book with an MC driven plot....and then it felt out of place.
Overall, this was a book that I did enjoy but still had some issues with. One of which, I'll repeat for a second time, was NOT the sex. That was fabulous!!
Would I read more from this author? You bet. I just hope I don't have to do any investigating with my next read from her.
***I have to make note that this book could use a heavy editing hand. There are PLENTY of instances where there are either missing or extra words in a sentence. Nothing pulls me out of a moment quicker than that.
June 10, 2017
3 Stars
This was a motorcycle club lite story with a good amount of sexy that just might be what you're looking for.
Vaughn is joint owner of a bar with the Disciples, a motorcycle club, automatically making him an honorary member and all but family. Because the bar is often used for conducting MC business while providing a convenient hangout, this also means he's well entrenched with the goings on, putting him often in the path of recruit Smoke. Smoke is quiet, mysterious, a loyal and hard worker - not to mention so damn easy on the eyes that Vaughn can barely rein it in. He tries desperately to hide his attraction until he surprisingly, realizes Smoke feels the same way. This obviously leads to trouble. Trouble of the good kind. Well... mostly.
Being in an MC club with hard rules and loose morals, definitely doesn't make for the best situation for either to voice their sexual preferences. Both Smoke and Vaughn realize too late that scratching an itch, never gets rid of the problem. Throw in club politics and a crazy ex, and these guys have plenty on their plates, on top of trying to work out an impossible situation - especially when feelings inevitably evolve into wanting more than just the physical.
Plenty hot with a little dirty, this missed the mark for me just a bit, and I can't pinpoint why. It had feels, the story flowed and made sense - it should have been a slam dunk. Regardless of my opinions, I really do think many will like this sexy read. Easy and enjoyable.
This was a motorcycle club lite story with a good amount of sexy that just might be what you're looking for.
Vaughn is joint owner of a bar with the Disciples, a motorcycle club, automatically making him an honorary member and all but family. Because the bar is often used for conducting MC business while providing a convenient hangout, this also means he's well entrenched with the goings on, putting him often in the path of recruit Smoke. Smoke is quiet, mysterious, a loyal and hard worker - not to mention so damn easy on the eyes that Vaughn can barely rein it in. He tries desperately to hide his attraction until he surprisingly, realizes Smoke feels the same way. This obviously leads to trouble. Trouble of the good kind. Well... mostly.
Being in an MC club with hard rules and loose morals, definitely doesn't make for the best situation for either to voice their sexual preferences. Both Smoke and Vaughn realize too late that scratching an itch, never gets rid of the problem. Throw in club politics and a crazy ex, and these guys have plenty on their plates, on top of trying to work out an impossible situation - especially when feelings inevitably evolve into wanting more than just the physical.
Plenty hot with a little dirty, this missed the mark for me just a bit, and I can't pinpoint why. It had feels, the story flowed and made sense - it should have been a slam dunk. Regardless of my opinions, I really do think many will like this sexy read. Easy and enjoyable.
August 18, 2015
Ohhh I really liked this one.
Vaughn and Smoke are both bisexual. Vaughn is part owner and bartender at Hog's Den. A bar partially owned by the MC Disciples. Smoke is a recruit for the Disciples.
Both hot alpha men, but both afraid to give into their attraction because of the world they live in. When Smoke is ordered by his Prez to help out Vaughn at the bar, they can no longer hold back (hell yeahhh).
Their fooling around has to stay a secret, because both men don't want the MC to know. But when Smokes past comes looking around for him, he needs to make some decisions to keep the man, for whom he's feeling more and more everyday, safe.
I know this is a bikerbook, but don't go in expecting a lot of MC shit. This book doens't really focuss on the MC but more on the two hot men getting it on in secret. It wasn't very angsty, there was some susence near the end, but it was very very delicious. I did feel the ending was a bit rushed, I would have liked to read more about the reaction of all the bikers and Vaughns father, but other than that....this was a nice solid read for me.
4 stars from me
Vaughn and Smoke are both bisexual. Vaughn is part owner and bartender at Hog's Den. A bar partially owned by the MC Disciples. Smoke is a recruit for the Disciples.
Both hot alpha men, but both afraid to give into their attraction because of the world they live in. When Smoke is ordered by his Prez to help out Vaughn at the bar, they can no longer hold back (hell yeahhh).
Their fooling around has to stay a secret, because both men don't want the MC to know. But when Smokes past comes looking around for him, he needs to make some decisions to keep the man, for whom he's feeling more and more everyday, safe.
I know this is a bikerbook, but don't go in expecting a lot of MC shit. This book doens't really focuss on the MC but more on the two hot men getting it on in secret. It wasn't very angsty, there was some susence near the end, but it was very very delicious. I did feel the ending was a bit rushed, I would have liked to read more about the reaction of all the bikers and Vaughns father, but other than that....this was a nice solid read for me.
4 stars from me
Read
May 8, 2017DNF en el 25%. No lo voy a valorar, la principal culpable soy yo porque habiendo leído el plot sabía que no era muy probable que me gustara. Mucho alfa, mucha erección por allí y por aquí, un club motero que son unos santos, nah, no es lo mío para nada.
August 22, 2021
1.5 stars
Apart from Vaughn and Smoke having a great chemistry, I didn't really enjoy reading this.
There was no character development, throughout the whole story their connection was mostly physical.
I found the plot weak, unconvincing and ridiculous at times. Especially the eye-rolling drama at the end.
Apart from Vaughn and Smoke having a great chemistry, I didn't really enjoy reading this.
There was no character development, throughout the whole story their connection was mostly physical.
I found the plot weak, unconvincing and ridiculous at times. Especially the eye-rolling drama at the end.
Want to read
November 17, 2017Kindle freebie 11/17/17!
February 24, 2017
3.5 Stars
There's not much to say. I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Not only was this my very first Christina Lee story but it was also my very first book about bikers - which may be shocking to some readers because it seems like the whole biker club thing is kind of big in the erotic romance department, but somehow I've remained shamefully innocent on this front, until now. Needless to say, I enjoyed this trope for the bad boy aspect. Plus, this story was about two hot dudes illicitly getting it on, and who doesn't love sneaky wall-banging man-on-man sex!?
There's not much to say. I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Not only was this my very first Christina Lee story but it was also my very first book about bikers - which may be shocking to some readers because it seems like the whole biker club thing is kind of big in the erotic romance department, but somehow I've remained shamefully innocent on this front, until now. Needless to say, I enjoyed this trope for the bad boy aspect. Plus, this story was about two hot dudes illicitly getting it on, and who doesn't love sneaky wall-banging man-on-man sex!?
August 10, 2015
This was exactly what I wanted for this couple and more. I'm so happy she wrote their story. Vaughn & Smoke FTW!
could-not-finish
August 27, 201764% cnf
July 12, 2024
Usually, I'm not especially interested in books that take place in Motorcycle Club culture. I've nothing against the clubs or motorcycles...it's just not something I'm interested in. However, with this one, I was immediately captured with the couple, Smoke and Vaughn. They had this smoldering tension that was intoxicating....and that could have been 95% due to the voices of the two narrators.
Vaughn runs The Hogs Den, a biker bar. He also cares for his disabled father, so between those two activities, this pretty much sums up Vaughn’s life. He was in no way prepared for the attraction he feels for the Disciples of the Road Motorcycle Club recruit, Smoke. Smoke is a mystery within a mystery that shouts that he is incredibly hot but unmistakably off limits. Smoke owes everything, including his life, to the Disciples Motorcycle Club. He's been clean and sober for over 2-years now and all he wants to do is to serve the club that saved him and maintain his sobriety. What he doesn’t need or want is the undeniable attraction he feels for the man that runs The Hogs Den. The two guys end up working in very close proximity...and soon the plan to avoid one another goes out the window. What starts as a one-time only thing, ends in both men feeling a connection neither can, nor wish to deny. Amazing is the only word I can think of to describe how they are when together.
The author kept the story along the lines of all the good things the club did for the community and how they cared for and protected one another. This one was diffidently on the straight and narrow. That may be a unique aspect to this type of club culture.... I'm not judging...I'm just saying what it appeared to be. There’s lots of goodness in this book…two men with a crazy attraction, loyalties, drama, crazy ex's, hot sex, and a little bit of angst. What more could you ask for?
I enjoyed this one so much I'm going for the second book in the series...same two narrators who did a marvelous job.
Vaughn runs The Hogs Den, a biker bar. He also cares for his disabled father, so between those two activities, this pretty much sums up Vaughn’s life. He was in no way prepared for the attraction he feels for the Disciples of the Road Motorcycle Club recruit, Smoke. Smoke is a mystery within a mystery that shouts that he is incredibly hot but unmistakably off limits. Smoke owes everything, including his life, to the Disciples Motorcycle Club. He's been clean and sober for over 2-years now and all he wants to do is to serve the club that saved him and maintain his sobriety. What he doesn’t need or want is the undeniable attraction he feels for the man that runs The Hogs Den. The two guys end up working in very close proximity...and soon the plan to avoid one another goes out the window. What starts as a one-time only thing, ends in both men feeling a connection neither can, nor wish to deny. Amazing is the only word I can think of to describe how they are when together.
The author kept the story along the lines of all the good things the club did for the community and how they cared for and protected one another. This one was diffidently on the straight and narrow. That may be a unique aspect to this type of club culture.... I'm not judging...I'm just saying what it appeared to be. There’s lots of goodness in this book…two men with a crazy attraction, loyalties, drama, crazy ex's, hot sex, and a little bit of angst. What more could you ask for?
I enjoyed this one so much I'm going for the second book in the series...same two narrators who did a marvelous job.
August 11, 2015
I love biker novels and I was really looking forward to this story. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite deliver what I expected.
Vaughn is tending bar at the Hog’s den, owned by the Disciples of the Road motorcycle club. He’s hot, muscled, funny, and the perfect look-but-not-touch eye candy for Smoke. Smoke is a recent addition to the club, ever since the biker club president helped him kick his drug addiction. Both are bi. Both are closeted. Both lust after each other. The UST was indeed off the charts. When Mal, the club’s president, asks Smoke to help Vaughn at the bar, things get hot really fast. One hook-up (to get it out of our system) becomes two, then the guys can’t keep their hands off of each other. The sex scenes were smoking hot with these two and the dirty talk helped steam things up considerably.
But.
There are several issues that curbed my enjoyment of this book.
The plot. The relationship development didn’t feel natural to me. Mal conveniently asked Smoke to help Vaughn with the bar and when Vaughn’s place was broken into, guess whose house Mal asked Vaughn to stay at? Also, there was some club business going on parallel to the relationship stuff, with Smoke acting as sort of a spy for his old club where Mal saved Smoke from. I found it incredibly boring and I even skimmed the few pages every now and then where that stuff was mentioned. This will be a spoiler-free review, so I can’t go into detail about the who-dunnit part of the breaking in and all that but I will say that it seemed very far-fetched and unconvincing. The ending, when the mystery part came to a close, was honestly quite ridiculous. The love declarations didn’t come early but I was still not convinced these guys had anything going for them besides infatuation and very strong sexual attraction.
The writing. Right off the bat, I could tell this was not going to be my kind of book because of the massive info dump. I enjoy inner monologues, but when they’re used for the author to simply relay info on the characters and their background without incorporating it into dialogue, it bores me pretty quickly. Not only did both MCs reminisce randomly about their whole life story in the middle of a conversation with each other, but they gave each other cues so the inner monologue could conveniently follow the intended path. This telling not showing thing is something that affects my reading experience quite strongly and it was abundant here.
That MMF scene. That’s right. There’s a mmf ménage scene in this book. My problem was not the ménage scene itself or the fact that it was with a woman. The justification for it was very weak and it felt very gratuitous to me. The scene happened because the guys wanted to play the straight part and decided it would be good for Vaughn to take up a hook-up offer from one of the regulars at the bar. She started hitting on him, implied she’d be happy to be with both of them, and there you have it. The guys were too afraid that she would blab her mouth about them and didn’t even touch each other. There were hot looks and blue balls at the end of it sure, but how did that scene serve the plot or relationship development again? Oh wait. It didn’t.
There were also some editing issues that were pretty hard to ignore. The story was told in alternating POVs. At some point, a chapter began with Vaughn’s POV, and the “voice” was Smoke’s, even though that was corrected back to Vaughn a little further ahead. Also, s+ ome chapters ended quite abruptly, right after a scene that could have used more exploring in my opinion.
Overall, I did not enjoy reading this but I will give the author points for the awesome sex scenes. The characters were interesting and their backgrounds had good stories, but the execution didn’t do them justice.
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Reviews by Jessewave
Vaughn is tending bar at the Hog’s den, owned by the Disciples of the Road motorcycle club. He’s hot, muscled, funny, and the perfect look-but-not-touch eye candy for Smoke. Smoke is a recent addition to the club, ever since the biker club president helped him kick his drug addiction. Both are bi. Both are closeted. Both lust after each other. The UST was indeed off the charts. When Mal, the club’s president, asks Smoke to help Vaughn at the bar, things get hot really fast. One hook-up (to get it out of our system) becomes two, then the guys can’t keep their hands off of each other. The sex scenes were smoking hot with these two and the dirty talk helped steam things up considerably.
But.
There are several issues that curbed my enjoyment of this book.
The plot. The relationship development didn’t feel natural to me. Mal conveniently asked Smoke to help Vaughn with the bar and when Vaughn’s place was broken into, guess whose house Mal asked Vaughn to stay at? Also, there was some club business going on parallel to the relationship stuff, with Smoke acting as sort of a spy for his old club where Mal saved Smoke from. I found it incredibly boring and I even skimmed the few pages every now and then where that stuff was mentioned. This will be a spoiler-free review, so I can’t go into detail about the who-dunnit part of the breaking in and all that but I will say that it seemed very far-fetched and unconvincing. The ending, when the mystery part came to a close, was honestly quite ridiculous. The love declarations didn’t come early but I was still not convinced these guys had anything going for them besides infatuation and very strong sexual attraction.
The writing. Right off the bat, I could tell this was not going to be my kind of book because of the massive info dump. I enjoy inner monologues, but when they’re used for the author to simply relay info on the characters and their background without incorporating it into dialogue, it bores me pretty quickly. Not only did both MCs reminisce randomly about their whole life story in the middle of a conversation with each other, but they gave each other cues so the inner monologue could conveniently follow the intended path. This telling not showing thing is something that affects my reading experience quite strongly and it was abundant here.
That MMF scene. That’s right. There’s a mmf ménage scene in this book. My problem was not the ménage scene itself or the fact that it was with a woman. The justification for it was very weak and it felt very gratuitous to me. The scene happened because the guys wanted to play the straight part and decided it would be good for Vaughn to take up a hook-up offer from one of the regulars at the bar. She started hitting on him, implied she’d be happy to be with both of them, and there you have it. The guys were too afraid that she would blab her mouth about them and didn’t even touch each other. There were hot looks and blue balls at the end of it sure, but how did that scene serve the plot or relationship development again? Oh wait. It didn’t.
There were also some editing issues that were pretty hard to ignore. The story was told in alternating POVs. At some point, a chapter began with Vaughn’s POV, and the “voice” was Smoke’s, even though that was corrected back to Vaughn a little further ahead. Also, s+ ome chapters ended quite abruptly, right after a scene that could have used more exploring in my opinion.
Overall, I did not enjoy reading this but I will give the author points for the awesome sex scenes. The characters were interesting and their backgrounds had good stories, but the execution didn’t do them justice.
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Reviews by Jessewave
September 3, 2015
3.5 stars
I am, by no means, an expert on motorcycle clubs or books written about them. But…I have read a few. And…I have seen ALL of Sons of Anarchy (holy sh*t!), so I dabble. I figure the ones that feel the most…authentic, in ways…are the ones that have a certain level of darkness to the story. It’s not a pretty life.
For what it’s worth, I feel like The Darkest Flame did a pretty good job of this, but really leaned more towards the lite version of this world. There was grittiness and danger. But it wasn’t overwhelming and it didn’t punch me in the gut over and over again like some other books (anyone read “Undeniable” by Madeline Sheehan? Talk about taking a beating by a book! Relentless in it’s bite.)
This story had a nice slow build between the two characters, Vaughn and Smoke. I liked the hidden looks of longing and stolen moments between the two. And when they finally hook up…HOLY COMBUSTION…it was hot! Vaughn, the bartender and Smoke, the club member with a past. There was a serious chemistry there and I FELT it down to my toes!
I had a couple things that didn’t work for me. There were times that we were in either character’s head and it didn’t read…masculine?…enough. Their thoughts, their words…it lacked the edge that I’d expect from a big, bad motorcycle-ridin’, danger-skimming guy. And I hate saying that. Because these same types of guys can, of course, be sensitive and emotional. But there were times it didn’t quite…fit…the tone. Does that make sense without sounding awful?
The other thing, and I hate bring this point up too…but…there were a LOT of proofing errors. I’ve come to accept that this happens. No book can be perfect all the time. But, there was a string at the 80%+ mark that there were errors almost every paragraph and I had trouble understanding what I was reading. It completely took me out of the story. And it went on for pages…almost like the proofreader gave up by the end of the book. Enough times that I HAVE to mention it.
Anyhooo…the book makes up for it with a climax of danger in the plot that had me glued to my seat! Now THIS had me riveted and damn if I didn’t tear up a bit just wanting everyone and everything to turn out ok.
Yeah, so overall, I did enjoy this book. I would recommend it for a gritty’ish read with some HOT attraction between the MC’s.
January 13, 2017
DNF at 25%.
Gawd, the writing was just so weird! The descriptions and dialogue:
"One last glance, his gaze fueled with molten heat. I nearly melted to the ground in a pile of my own come."
Really? Melt in a pile of come??
"If only I could get him out of my brain."
I would think "head" or "mind" is a better word fit.
“Did you not feel my raging hard-on stroking against your groin?”
Smoke momentarily shut his eyes. His hands bunched into fists as if to get a hold of himself. His eyelashes were like golden wings that cast faint shadows on his cheekbones.
I like dirty talk, alright, but this was just comical in my opinion. Erotic (?) dirty talk romanticized with "golden eyelashes?
“You a top or a bottom?” I asked.
A dark look crossed over his features. “A top, man. Always a top. You got a problem with that?”
Damn, there was definitely a story there somewhere. “No problem here,” I said, shrugging. “I would never complain about getting it on with someone as hot as you.”
So, what? You're just fine with whatever because he's so hot? *rolls eyes* Hotness trumps preference?
"As the clocked ticked past midnight."
*wince* Annoying typo!
"my cock lying hard against my thigh."
To the best of my knowledge a hard cock does not lie against a thigh when hard... Semi yes, hard no.
Gah! I can't take anymore of this writing. DNF
Gawd, the writing was just so weird! The descriptions and dialogue:
"One last glance, his gaze fueled with molten heat. I nearly melted to the ground in a pile of my own come."
Really? Melt in a pile of come??
"If only I could get him out of my brain."
I would think "head" or "mind" is a better word fit.
“Did you not feel my raging hard-on stroking against your groin?”
Smoke momentarily shut his eyes. His hands bunched into fists as if to get a hold of himself. His eyelashes were like golden wings that cast faint shadows on his cheekbones.
I like dirty talk, alright, but this was just comical in my opinion. Erotic (?) dirty talk romanticized with "golden eyelashes?
“You a top or a bottom?” I asked.
A dark look crossed over his features. “A top, man. Always a top. You got a problem with that?”
Damn, there was definitely a story there somewhere. “No problem here,” I said, shrugging. “I would never complain about getting it on with someone as hot as you.”
So, what? You're just fine with whatever because he's so hot? *rolls eyes* Hotness trumps preference?
"As the clocked ticked past midnight."
*wince* Annoying typo!
"my cock lying hard against my thigh."
To the best of my knowledge a hard cock does not lie against a thigh when hard... Semi yes, hard no.
Gah! I can't take anymore of this writing. DNF
October 30, 2023
Woah, so many twist and turns. Just when you get an handle on this budding relationship. Another issue makes its presence known.
July 18, 2018
No relationship development whatsoever, not that there was much room for that between one sex scene and the other. And that's what this book was: sex after sex after sex. I get it, they are attracted to each other, but sexual attraction and ILYs out of nowhere do not make a romance. Just like dudes on motorcycles calling each other "brother" don't make a motorcycle club book.
Also, for the first time I get what people mean when they refer to m/f authors writing m/m and failing.
Also, for the first time I get what people mean when they refer to m/f authors writing m/m and failing.
September 14, 2017
*** Not an ordinary M/M romance. ***
These guys are in the motorcycle club world. Amidst the wild activities, the Disciples want to clean up their image, go legit, and there are creepy guys everywhere. How will Smoke and Vaughn be able to be together. We see the men struggle to stay apart, but the pull is too much. Each has finally found what they want and need. There's an evil ex, also a possible traitor in the mix, and we wonder if they will get the acceptance they crave. The guys have super hot sex, raw and powerful sexy times. Nothing is off limits.
No cheating nor a cliffhanger. There is an exciting twist at the end.
ENJOY !
==========
These guys are in the motorcycle club world. Amidst the wild activities, the Disciples want to clean up their image, go legit, and there are creepy guys everywhere. How will Smoke and Vaughn be able to be together. We see the men struggle to stay apart, but the pull is too much. Each has finally found what they want and need. There's an evil ex, also a possible traitor in the mix, and we wonder if they will get the acceptance they crave. The guys have super hot sex, raw and powerful sexy times. Nothing is off limits.
No cheating nor a cliffhanger. There is an exciting twist at the end.
ENJOY !
==========
Want to read
August 13, 2016
ARC PROVIDED FOR AN HONEST REVIEW
May 10, 2016
Smoke and Vaughn the whole book was full of sexual tension..
And it was smoking hot. Did I say smoking hot? Yep a nice story and smoking hot..
Amen
And it was smoking hot. Did I say smoking hot? Yep a nice story and smoking hot..
Amen
October 25, 2022
After reading Kickflip, I was very curious about Vaughn and Smoke's story. They were so mysteries.
And it was worth the wait. We learned a lot about their past.
However, I couldn't understand why prez knew all this and caused that scene at the end. Especially when he says he considers Smoke as his brother.
Nevertheless, despite everything I loved the book. Next up is Mal's novella. When I read the summary I was shocked, cause I didn't expect it at all. So I'm gonna go and read it right now!
And it was worth the wait. We learned a lot about their past.
However, I couldn't understand why prez knew all this and caused that scene at the end. Especially when he says he considers Smoke as his brother.
Nevertheless, despite everything I loved the book. Next up is Mal's novella. When I read the summary I was shocked, cause I didn't expect it at all. So I'm gonna go and read it right now!
October 8, 2022
The only good thing about this one was the sex…
…the rest of the book didn’t impress me much.
What you get:
A little UST
A biker
A bar owner
Beef between gangs
Crazy ex
HFN
Triggers: drug use (forced)
My rec? Read if for the sex.
…the rest of the book didn’t impress me much.
What you get:
A little UST
A biker
A bar owner
Beef between gangs
Crazy ex
HFN
Triggers: drug use (forced)
My rec? Read if for the sex.
April 21, 2024
I enjoyed Smoke and Vaughn's story. It had a pretty somber feeling to it, as both characters were hiding parts of themselves from the outside world. It always makes me sad when someone feels like they can't truly show the world who they really are. For these 2 guys it was doubly hard, considering they were both involved, directly for Smoke and indirectly for Vaughn, with a motorcycle club- which might not be the most accepting group.
But sometimes you're pleasantly surprised by the reactions of others, and I liked how this story turned out.
2024 Audiobook review:
Overall 4 out of 5 stars
Performance 4 out of 5 stars
Story 4 out of 5 stars
Somber
This was my second read of this story- I first read it in 2019, but actually forgot I had! I guess that's what happens when you've read 1000+ books in between.
Here's my original review, which still holds true after listening to the audiobook. I enjoyed both narrators, I thought they captured the characters personalities quite well.
I enjoyed Smoke and Vaughn's story. It had a pretty somber feeling to it, as both characters were hiding parts of themselves from the outside world. It always makes me sad when someone feels like they can't truly show the world who they really are. For these 2 guys it was doubly hard, considering they were both involved, directly for Smoke and indirectly for Vaughn, with a motorcycle club- which might not be the most accepting group.
But sometimes you're pleasantly surprised by the reactions of others, and I liked how this story turned out.
But sometimes you're pleasantly surprised by the reactions of others, and I liked how this story turned out.
2024 Audiobook review:
Overall 4 out of 5 stars
Performance 4 out of 5 stars
Story 4 out of 5 stars
Somber
This was my second read of this story- I first read it in 2019, but actually forgot I had! I guess that's what happens when you've read 1000+ books in between.
Here's my original review, which still holds true after listening to the audiobook. I enjoyed both narrators, I thought they captured the characters personalities quite well.
I enjoyed Smoke and Vaughn's story. It had a pretty somber feeling to it, as both characters were hiding parts of themselves from the outside world. It always makes me sad when someone feels like they can't truly show the world who they really are. For these 2 guys it was doubly hard, considering they were both involved, directly for Smoke and indirectly for Vaughn, with a motorcycle club- which might not be the most accepting group.
But sometimes you're pleasantly surprised by the reactions of others, and I liked how this story turned out.
August 17, 2015
3.5 stars
The biker world isn't always a hearts and flowers, open and accepting place. They usually don't stray from their norm.
Both Smoke and Vaughn struggle with their openness in the club.
They also struggle with their attraction to each other.
There's a somewhat melancholy feel to this story, without the actual tears.
Imagine being a big, rough and tough biker, in a biker gang and being bi-sexual. Having to keep your sexual preferences to yourself.
Both of these men finally feel as though they belong somewhere, with a 'family' of sorts, yet they can't be their true selves. That sucks!
And their true selves? Lusting after each other!
There's heat, there's steam and there's get down on your knees and take me sex.
There's also mystery and intrigue.
Something is going on, someone is threatening one of their own.
This story to me, ultimately is about discovery and acceptance.
Feeling part of a family, a brotherhood and not wanting to mess that up.
Finding your happily ever after, a place where you belong and they've both found that in each other.
Rough and tough bikers want love too!
*arc provided by author in exchange for honest review
The biker world isn't always a hearts and flowers, open and accepting place. They usually don't stray from their norm.
Both Smoke and Vaughn struggle with their openness in the club.
They also struggle with their attraction to each other.
There's a somewhat melancholy feel to this story, without the actual tears.
Imagine being a big, rough and tough biker, in a biker gang and being bi-sexual. Having to keep your sexual preferences to yourself.
Both of these men finally feel as though they belong somewhere, with a 'family' of sorts, yet they can't be their true selves. That sucks!
And their true selves? Lusting after each other!
"Maybe people should be free to love whoever and however they want." "And it shouldn't be anybody's business."
There's heat, there's steam and there's get down on your knees and take me sex.
There's also mystery and intrigue.
Something is going on, someone is threatening one of their own.
This story to me, ultimately is about discovery and acceptance.
Feeling part of a family, a brotherhood and not wanting to mess that up.
Finding your happily ever after, a place where you belong and they've both found that in each other.
Rough and tough bikers want love too!
*arc provided by author in exchange for honest review
August 23, 2015
4 - 4.5 Stars!! Loved this passionate and very tender story. Full review to come soon!
September 12, 2016
It seems I need to go back to the "Between breaths" series because I didn't have a clue who Cory and Jude are.
dnf
July 25, 2018DNF at 30%. I can't get past the awful writing. So many authors attempt to write in 1st person but can't keep the verb tenses and verb agreement straight. This effort was particularly bad. In addition to those errors, there are incorrect word uses, odd descriptions, repetition, and generally juvenile writing. I'm not sure that hiring an editor would have helped this one enough to make it worth reading.
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