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Hells Saints Motorcycle Club #2
Chasing Claire
Claire Winston knows she’s lucky to be alive—and even luckier to have the love and protection of a man like Prosper, her adoptive father and leader of the Hells Saints Motorcycle Club. Yet, try as she may, she can’t leave yesterday behind. She’s still haunted by Reno, the bad-boy biker her heart loves but her spirit fears. And she can’t seem to escape the terrifying memories of a night filled with blood, bullets, and brutality.
Hells Saints soldier Reno has tried everything with liquor and lace to get Claire off his mind. But he just can’t forget her freckles, her fierce fragility, and her tender heart. He knows he’s the only man who can give her the love she truly deserves.
As Claire and Reno spiral back into each other’s lives, they wonder if happiness is finally in their cards. But when violence once again explodes around them, Claire must decide if she really can trust Reno and commit to life with him—or if she’ll stay chained to her past forever.
Hells Saints soldier Reno has tried everything with liquor and lace to get Claire off his mind. But he just can’t forget her freckles, her fierce fragility, and her tender heart. He knows he’s the only man who can give her the love she truly deserves.
As Claire and Reno spiral back into each other’s lives, they wonder if happiness is finally in their cards. But when violence once again explodes around them, Claire must decide if she really can trust Reno and commit to life with him—or if she’ll stay chained to her past forever.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 7, 2015
325 people are currently reading
1661 people want to read
About the author
Paula Marinaro
11 books949 followersHey all,
Just a few quick words about me. I was raised on the North Shore of Boston and born in Salem. Yep that Salem! My childhood neighborhood was filled with kids and there wasn't one part of it that wasn't magical. I draw a lot on those memories when writing. My latest book, Trailer Park Girls, is dedicated to my first grade teacher.
When I finished college I settled in the beautiful Berkshires of Massachusetts where I raised my children and settled into a career in teaching. I wrote my first book, Raine Falling, in 2014, and have been writing ever since!
Just a few quick words about me. I was raised on the North Shore of Boston and born in Salem. Yep that Salem! My childhood neighborhood was filled with kids and there wasn't one part of it that wasn't magical. I draw a lot on those memories when writing. My latest book, Trailer Park Girls, is dedicated to my first grade teacher.
When I finished college I settled in the beautiful Berkshires of Massachusetts where I raised my children and settled into a career in teaching. I wrote my first book, Raine Falling, in 2014, and have been writing ever since!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 231 reviews
October 16, 2017
What on earth happened?
I enjoyed the previous book Raine Falling so much I’ve read it several times, this book has been sitting on my kindle and I’ve no idea why it’s taken me so long to read it.
Amazon UK has 16 reviews for this book 14 of these are 5* and 2 are 4* I mention this because this was the sole reason I continued reading well that and I was in shock.
It’s at this point I stopped, checked this book was by the same author (although I’m still not convinced she wrote it) and tried to work out what on earth was going on.
The problem was it wasn’t just Claire “the doormat” Winston or Reno “sulky baby” Biker that spoilt this. The first half of the book has nothing, it’s so boring, there’s no story the most exciting thing is an argument about risotto by two other characters.
Even skimming I was bored, what I wouldn’t have given for a tumbleweed to blow across the page.
Am I exaggerating?
No I don’t think so and when it does pick up it doesn’t last long.
I found the first half of this book dire and while it picks up briefly it wasn’t enough to save it, it wasn’t helped by the fact that I didn’t like either of the main characters.
I want to read Crows book but after this I need a drink, a break and a bloody medal.
I enjoyed the previous book Raine Falling so much I’ve read it several times, this book has been sitting on my kindle and I’ve no idea why it’s taken me so long to read it.
Amazon UK has 16 reviews for this book 14 of these are 5* and 2 are 4* I mention this because this was the sole reason I continued reading well that and I was in shock.
It’s at this point I stopped, checked this book was by the same author (although I’m still not convinced she wrote it) and tried to work out what on earth was going on.
The problem was it wasn’t just Claire “the doormat” Winston or Reno “sulky baby” Biker that spoilt this. The first half of the book has nothing, it’s so boring, there’s no story the most exciting thing is an argument about risotto by two other characters.
Even skimming I was bored, what I wouldn’t have given for a tumbleweed to blow across the page.
Am I exaggerating?
No I don’t think so and when it does pick up it doesn’t last long.
I found the first half of this book dire and while it picks up briefly it wasn’t enough to save it, it wasn’t helped by the fact that I didn’t like either of the main characters.
I want to read Crows book but after this I need a drink, a break and a bloody medal.
March 19, 2017
Review to come
MC Marathon
What a way to fuck up the beauty of this H/h in the last book...and then fill THEIR book with bullshit, other characters for future books, stupid meaningless plot, and an unrepentant manwhore with his doormat h.
Don't bother with this shit.
Total disaster and disappointment.
MC Marathon
What a way to fuck up the beauty of this H/h in the last book...and then fill THEIR book with bullshit, other characters for future books, stupid meaningless plot, and an unrepentant manwhore with his doormat h.
Don't bother with this shit.
Total disaster and disappointment.
March 18, 2015
Claire Winston is a survivor. Claire and her sister survived a troubled childhood, an abusive ex-boyfriend and she is still haunted by a brutal kidnapping. Trying to move on from her past, she goes to the one person who she knows can help, her adoptive father and President of the Hells Saints Motorcycle Club, Prosper. Of course Prosper's can help heal most of her troubles, he cannot heal her broken heart.
Claire
Reno is trying to forget about Claire with booze, women and long trips on his bike, but he still cannot forget how much he cares for her. He understands Claire is to be handled carefully, but she avoids him to save her heart. Just when things are looking up and Claire may finally be his, a life threatening event may tear them apart forever
Reno
I loved seeing how Claire and Reno relationship grows. To be honest, I thought Reno was a jerk in the beginning, but they finally are able to open up to each other and let go of the past. Their chemistry is off the charts and I loved the complete turnaround Reno has and tries to be the type of man Claire deserves
"You just have to be brave one more time, honey. You just have to stop being afraid long enough to let me love you."
"I got this, Prosper. I've got her. I'm there. I just have to keep it that way."
If you read Raine Falling, this is a must read. You get caught up with the Hells Saints Motorcycle Club, Crow, Jules, Glory, Prosper, Dolly, Diego and Raine. I wonder who the next book will be about?
**I was provided a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
Claire
Reno is trying to forget about Claire with booze, women and long trips on his bike, but he still cannot forget how much he cares for her. He understands Claire is to be handled carefully, but she avoids him to save her heart. Just when things are looking up and Claire may finally be his, a life threatening event may tear them apart forever
Reno
I loved seeing how Claire and Reno relationship grows. To be honest, I thought Reno was a jerk in the beginning, but they finally are able to open up to each other and let go of the past. Their chemistry is off the charts and I loved the complete turnaround Reno has and tries to be the type of man Claire deserves
"You just have to be brave one more time, honey. You just have to stop being afraid long enough to let me love you."
"I got this, Prosper. I've got her. I'm there. I just have to keep it that way."
If you read Raine Falling, this is a must read. You get caught up with the Hells Saints Motorcycle Club, Crow, Jules, Glory, Prosper, Dolly, Diego and Raine. I wonder who the next book will be about?
**I was provided a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
March 22, 2015
First let me say that Raine Falling (previously Game Changer) was one of my top 10 favorite reads in 2014. I fell in love with all of the characters and the author was able to drag me totally into the story. I did not want that book to end. I seriously had concerns about the author living up to my high opinion of book 1, but she did. Chasing Claire can be read as a standalone but the reader really misses so much of the back story if they do not read Raine Falling. I really liked how the author still gave me that feeling of family love and a close knit tight family group. Prosper still melts my heart with his love for Claire and Raine. I don't think anybody who liked book 1 will be disappointed in this one at all. Claire is a runner, she tries to run many times but Reno finally pins her down. Great love story that will pull at your heart.
Claire is a young woman who is dragging a big load of emotional baggage behind her. She closes herself off from the ones who love her and runs from bad situations. Reno grew up in the club and Prosper is also like a father figure to him. You'll love the way the author develops the romance between Claire and Reno and you will see both characters grow and overcome their barriers. You will not forget this romance and you will feel the love between Claire and Reno, as well as Prosper's continued love for his girls.
I am highly looking forward to the next book in this series.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Net Galley. I had already pre-ordered the book on Amazon and will most likely read it again when it is released.
Claire is a young woman who is dragging a big load of emotional baggage behind her. She closes herself off from the ones who love her and runs from bad situations. Reno grew up in the club and Prosper is also like a father figure to him. You'll love the way the author develops the romance between Claire and Reno and you will see both characters grow and overcome their barriers. You will not forget this romance and you will feel the love between Claire and Reno, as well as Prosper's continued love for his girls.
I am highly looking forward to the next book in this series.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Net Galley. I had already pre-ordered the book on Amazon and will most likely read it again when it is released.
July 10, 2015
I really enjoyed Chasing Claire over Raine Falling. Ms. Marinaro did a better job with editing, more story development, and didn't over do the steamy scenes.
Claire has demons to face from her past and recent choices- which really, these were choices she should never have had to make. She's in love with Reno, but she's also a runner. She needs to let go of her fears, open up to Reno - once and for all, and plant her feet firmly in one place with the man who can ground her for life.
Reno loves Claire, but he's got a case of STUPIDITIS - so stupid is what stupid does. He takes off for awhile before he realizes he's an idiot and comes back. He doesn't make it easy for Claire at first, or for himself, but he learns and does all he can to man up.
In the meantime, we have a little bit of a second storyline going with Jules and Glory. They have some issues to work through and she's going to need someone to lean on when life throws her a nasty wrench in her path. I can't wait to read their book, which I'm hoping is book 3.
Also, there's a side story glimpse at something possible with Dolly, Reno's mom, and Gianni, a head crime boss of his family. I'm definitely hopeful for their own book.
While all of this is going on, Claire makes a big life choice for her future, while some crazy bad people try to take away Reno and Dolly's future altogether.
In the end, everyone needs to band together, sort their junk out, and realize what they have and fight for it. Or maybe that's just Reno - as life flashing before your eyes can do that to a person.
When I first went into this, I was a bit nervous. I didn't love book one, as the couple was ruled by their libido's, and I felt the story line lacked a real story. I was pleasantly surprised by this story and glad I read it. I'm glad that the steam didn't over ride this book and that we had a few couple's going through some stuff, with a bit of crazy left over to be fixed from book one. Though, I do wish that more drama had happened because of some left over things from story one.
Also reviewed at:
Claire has demons to face from her past and recent choices- which really, these were choices she should never have had to make. She's in love with Reno, but she's also a runner. She needs to let go of her fears, open up to Reno - once and for all, and plant her feet firmly in one place with the man who can ground her for life.
Reno loves Claire, but he's got a case of STUPIDITIS - so stupid is what stupid does. He takes off for awhile before he realizes he's an idiot and comes back. He doesn't make it easy for Claire at first, or for himself, but he learns and does all he can to man up.
In the meantime, we have a little bit of a second storyline going with Jules and Glory. They have some issues to work through and she's going to need someone to lean on when life throws her a nasty wrench in her path. I can't wait to read their book, which I'm hoping is book 3.
Also, there's a side story glimpse at something possible with Dolly, Reno's mom, and Gianni, a head crime boss of his family. I'm definitely hopeful for their own book.
While all of this is going on, Claire makes a big life choice for her future, while some crazy bad people try to take away Reno and Dolly's future altogether.
In the end, everyone needs to band together, sort their junk out, and realize what they have and fight for it. Or maybe that's just Reno - as life flashing before your eyes can do that to a person.
When I first went into this, I was a bit nervous. I didn't love book one, as the couple was ruled by their libido's, and I felt the story line lacked a real story. I was pleasantly surprised by this story and glad I read it. I'm glad that the steam didn't over ride this book and that we had a few couple's going through some stuff, with a bit of crazy left over to be fixed from book one. Though, I do wish that more drama had happened because of some left over things from story one.
Also reviewed at:
September 4, 2022
3 ⭐⭐⭐ - OK, or decent reads.
========================
Reread in August 14, 2022
=====================
Read in September 5, 2016
Highlights:
-------------
"I couldn’t get the scene of him and Cherry out of my mind. As hard as I tried, I couldn’t. It hurt me every time I thought about it. The fact that I knew Cherry was a permanent fixture around the club didn’t help much."
---------------
"In a very poorly played, typical Hells Saints fashion, Jules started to pay a lot of attention to Bambi. Bambi was a twenty-five-year-old club whore with bottle-blond hair, skinny legs, huge tits, and eager eyes, and her only ambition was to snag a brother.
The first time Glory saw them together, Jules had stared hard at her. His eyes issued a challenge, his body language smugly signaled his ultimatum.
Glory took one look at Bambi pulled tight to her man’s side, and decided to let him go for good."
========================
Reread in August 14, 2022
=====================
Read in September 5, 2016
Highlights:
-------------
"I couldn’t get the scene of him and Cherry out of my mind. As hard as I tried, I couldn’t. It hurt me every time I thought about it. The fact that I knew Cherry was a permanent fixture around the club didn’t help much."
---------------
"In a very poorly played, typical Hells Saints fashion, Jules started to pay a lot of attention to Bambi. Bambi was a twenty-five-year-old club whore with bottle-blond hair, skinny legs, huge tits, and eager eyes, and her only ambition was to snag a brother.
The first time Glory saw them together, Jules had stared hard at her. His eyes issued a challenge, his body language smugly signaled his ultimatum.
Glory took one look at Bambi pulled tight to her man’s side, and decided to let him go for good."
December 8, 2015
3.25 RATING-I read Chasing Claire months ago but didn’t sit down to do a review until now. I guess I was a bit hesitant. I really liked the first book in the Hell Saints Motorcycle Club series, Raine Falling, and was looking forward to this one so much. Unfortunately, it fell flat.
The main complaint I have is that the author did a lot of “telling” and not a lot of “doing”. There were a lot of long monologues which made for a bit of a boring read. I was actually surprised by this because Raine Falling kept me hooked from beginning to end. I was pretty disappointed that this series I thought had so much potential was kind of just going to end up “meh”. I now can say with absolutely certainly that is not the case. I guess one of the great things about waiting so long to do a review is that I’ve had time to read the third book in the series, Taming Crow. I went in hesitantly and lowered expectations but it was a solid read, one of my favorites of the year.
So, did I love Chasing Claire. Nope. Not at all. It was solidly written but just lackluster. But the follow up was great and I'm once again excited about this series. I consider Chasing Claire a stepping stone for the author who obviously is very talented. Do I think a reader can skip it and read the other books? Sure. But some important things happen in this book that I think will come into major play in the fourth book of the series, as of now, unreleased. That's just a guess but for that reason alone, I'd advise readers interested in reading about the Hell Saints not to miss Chasing Claire.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 14, 2015
I absolutely loved Raine Falling and was a little scared about Chasing Claire because Claire was such a wild card with her past and addictions. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the direction Marinaro took in this story. Claire put on her big girl panties and took control of her life. Although Claire was still reeling from the violent events that occurred in Raine Falling, she is trying to find a semblance of normal for her life. And surprisingly, Reno, the sexy biker who she has a love/hate relationship with, helps her to find that normal. Reno and Claire begin Chasing Claire in a really ugly place. Like him being balls deep in another woman, ugly. Although the situation that drove him to that point was feeling rejected by Claire, she is no less than hurt. The couple lash out at one another with barbs and insults and a bigger wedge is driven between them because neither of them is willing to be open about how them feel. But a moment of serendipity occurs when Claire's n-used truck, a gift from her brother-in-law Diego breaks down and she needs a ride to her first day of college. Claire calls the MC clubhouse hoping that one of the biker brethren can give her a ride. But guess who answers the call? Good ole Reno. Reno takes Claire to school and is actually so sweet, giving her a pep talk and encouragement. He even waits around to make sure she gets around alright. And one sweet, but not so selfless, gesture by Reno provide he and Claire with a bit of a detente. I mention Reno's not so selflessness because although HE IS helping her by taking her to and from school, he loves her and he wants her in his life. He uses their time together to woo her in his gruff and sexy biker way. I love the push/pull relationship between the couple and Claire's ability to give as good as she got. She is definitely woman enough for Reno and doesn't let him steamroll over her.
As Reno and Claire settle into a revitalized relationship -- one that is VERY hot a heavy -- some of demons from Claire's past come back to haunt them and almost ends up costing Reno...BIG TIME. I'm intentionally being vague because I don't want to ruin the story for future readers. There are so many BIG moments in this story between Reno and Claire and an epic one with Reno and his mother, Dolly, while they are visiting his father's graveside. The moment with Reno and his mother changes everything. I both loved it and hated it because it left me sitting on the edge of my seat. Fortunately, that is not where Marinaro left us. Everything definitely works and new key players, surrounding Dolly, enter into the story. I'm going to love to see what Marinaro does with THAT storyline.
I really enjoyed the story and the glimpses we see into Raine's life--settled and happy--and Glory's life--still broken but on the mend. There is a devastating event that occurs in Glory's life in this story that left me a little broken-hearted. It will be a major game changer for Glory and I'm sure provides a nice set up for her story with Jules. I cannot wait for them!
Lovers of MC romance will definitely appreciate the depth of this story and the characters. I think they are all put together very well.
As Reno and Claire settle into a revitalized relationship -- one that is VERY hot a heavy -- some of demons from Claire's past come back to haunt them and almost ends up costing Reno...BIG TIME. I'm intentionally being vague because I don't want to ruin the story for future readers. There are so many BIG moments in this story between Reno and Claire and an epic one with Reno and his mother, Dolly, while they are visiting his father's graveside. The moment with Reno and his mother changes everything. I both loved it and hated it because it left me sitting on the edge of my seat. Fortunately, that is not where Marinaro left us. Everything definitely works and new key players, surrounding Dolly, enter into the story. I'm going to love to see what Marinaro does with THAT storyline.
I really enjoyed the story and the glimpses we see into Raine's life--settled and happy--and Glory's life--still broken but on the mend. There is a devastating event that occurs in Glory's life in this story that left me a little broken-hearted. It will be a major game changer for Glory and I'm sure provides a nice set up for her story with Jules. I cannot wait for them!
Lovers of MC romance will definitely appreciate the depth of this story and the characters. I think they are all put together very well.
May 23, 2015
Well let me begin by saying I never would have gotten to my HEA with Reno. There was a scene toward the quarter Mark of this book that would have been it for me in Claire's position. In fact I almost stopped reading and decided I needed a break from MC books. Reno was being a total a** and Claire was being stupid, stupid, STUPID!- my opinion of course. But it is very hard for me to quit a book. I'm just too curios; and must know what happens. I'm so happy I stuck with this one.
Reno totally stepped up. In fact he turned out to be just exactly the kind of man Claire needed. Exactly! Claire had some issues that caused her to run, and hide. She was delicate, but so sweet and kind. Reno was persistent when it came to her. He was also stubborn and straight forward. He did not let her hide from him and that push from Reno turned out to be just what Claire needed to get to her happy. I ended up loving them together. Reno had some of the sweetest lines I've read in a long time. He melted my heart and won me over completely.
Besides the romance between Claire and Reno, there was some very good club action and drama. This book potentially set up at least three more Hells Saints MC stories. Glory and Jules, Crow is still out there and please, please, please let Captain Hallelujah Thomas get a book! I can't stop thinking about him. When the Marines showed up I started bawling. I had to take a beat and get it together. I loved catching up with Raine and Diago and Prosper. I love Prosper.
I think I might have given this book 5 stars except for a few reasons. First Reno really was a jerk in the beginning. Second, the resolution of the conflict with the club and LosDiablos was very vague. I don't fully understand the resolution. Big question marks in my head. And third, the writing was a little choppy and sometimes wordy. Some scene were unnecessary and some others needed more elaboration. Again, my opinion.
Overall I enjoyed this book very much and I can not wait for more from the Hells Saints MC. I recommend this one to those that like MC reads. Happy reading!
Reno totally stepped up. In fact he turned out to be just exactly the kind of man Claire needed. Exactly! Claire had some issues that caused her to run, and hide. She was delicate, but so sweet and kind. Reno was persistent when it came to her. He was also stubborn and straight forward. He did not let her hide from him and that push from Reno turned out to be just what Claire needed to get to her happy. I ended up loving them together. Reno had some of the sweetest lines I've read in a long time. He melted my heart and won me over completely.
Besides the romance between Claire and Reno, there was some very good club action and drama. This book potentially set up at least three more Hells Saints MC stories. Glory and Jules, Crow is still out there and please, please, please let Captain Hallelujah Thomas get a book! I can't stop thinking about him. When the Marines showed up I started bawling. I had to take a beat and get it together. I loved catching up with Raine and Diago and Prosper. I love Prosper.
I think I might have given this book 5 stars except for a few reasons. First Reno really was a jerk in the beginning. Second, the resolution of the conflict with the club and LosDiablos was very vague. I don't fully understand the resolution. Big question marks in my head. And third, the writing was a little choppy and sometimes wordy. Some scene were unnecessary and some others needed more elaboration. Again, my opinion.
Overall I enjoyed this book very much and I can not wait for more from the Hells Saints MC. I recommend this one to those that like MC reads. Happy reading!
April 28, 2015
F me! I really enjoyed book one, but this one was a whole lotta shitty!
Woe Is Me
In book one, the woes
were real, palpable off the pages, and nothing was forced. I empathized with the characters and wanted them to solve their problems.
In this book, the woe of 'I killed them'... 'I'm so f'ing horrible'... OVER AND OVER for 12-13 chapters just wasn't believable. It's nothing but repetitively forced angst and woe.
Dickwad, Literally
The first book involved the MC's meeting and Diego screwing a girl thereafter, but in that case, the MCs had not screwed and DID NOT have a relationship yet. The characters kissed other characters during the outs of the relationship, but neither screwed anyone else.
In book two, the MCs have had a relationship for some time & have screwed for days at a time with some kind of push and pull standing in the way of making it official. They have an out. He screws around a lot. He comes back and jumps in bed with a club ho. Female MC walks in on him screwing ho. Male MC gets up and pins female MC to wall and finger fucks her {willingly} with ho still in his bed. He then offers her a threesome because he's pissed at her. I don't mind the dirty, gritty shit of Mclubs, but I don't want to read cheating shit nor MCs literally having their cock in one chick and two seconds later trying to stick it in the female MC that he supposedly "loves."
Story, What Story?
At 44%, literally nothing has happened. It's he loves me, he loves me not angst with no communication ; everyday school and work shit; and diatribe dribble about mundane shit that NO ONE CARES ABOUT! The most interesting thing to happen by 46% of the book is a fight between Jules and Glory, supporting characters mind you, that takes up an entire chapter. Earth to author, earth to author... When a fight over Rice-A-Roni and mobsters between secondary characters take up an entire chapter in your book, YOUVE GOT A LAME ASS STORY WITH YOUR MAIN CHARACTERS and should regroup vs using fill-in sub character drama. By the end, the only thing with any substance at all to happen was a shooting and an engagement.
NOT A Standalone
This is far from a standalone. No wedding with the MCs . Glory's f'd up shit and her brother are left hanging. Dolly and her weird relationship is hinted to, but then never mentioned again. It's alluded that some shady shit might be going in with Crow and Raine, but that two is just never mentioned again.
Honestly, this entire book should've been condensed to a few chapters in the last book or the first few chapters in the next book. It was boring as hell and didn't even offer up a satisfying conclusion.
MCs That Didn't Spark
I think Claire, the female MC said it best herself: "Sometimes I felt like he and I were a big puzzle to be solved and every time I got close to solving it, I discovered a new piece that just didn't seem to quite fit."
^ my sentiments exactly, Claire. The author tried to force these two MCs to fit a story, a romance that just DID NOT fit. Diego and Raine worked in book one; they were complicated and had out moments, but they were like the ocean and the beach...They just went together in a natural way. Claire and Reno were more like the clash of a dirty diaper and cheap floral spray.. Unappealing and stinky!
POV Structure Clusterfuck
In book one, POVs would switch without warning in both dialogue and thought from character to character. Even secondary character's inner thought processes we're thrown in to the story. It didn't particularly cause a problem because the story was engaging and kept you focused. However, because this book was filled with random & senseless dribble, long descriptions of mundane, etc.., it was EXTREMELY difficult to follow when the author wrote this from multiple POVS and included the inner thoughts of multiple characters. This is what you call a clusterfuck!
I've lost interest. I loved Prosper and I looked forward to Glory's story coming out, but this series is just too much hodgepodge for me; too many tiny bits and pieces of story and characters rooted under a massive amount of bs for me to waste my time trying to dig for gold:(
Woe Is Me
In book one, the woes
were real, palpable off the pages, and nothing was forced. I empathized with the characters and wanted them to solve their problems.
In this book, the woe of 'I killed them'... 'I'm so f'ing horrible'... OVER AND OVER for 12-13 chapters just wasn't believable. It's nothing but repetitively forced angst and woe.
Dickwad, Literally
The first book involved the MC's meeting and Diego screwing a girl thereafter, but in that case, the MCs had not screwed and DID NOT have a relationship yet. The characters kissed other characters during the outs of the relationship, but neither screwed anyone else.
In book two, the MCs have had a relationship for some time & have screwed for days at a time with some kind of push and pull standing in the way of making it official. They have an out. He screws around a lot. He comes back and jumps in bed with a club ho. Female MC walks in on him screwing ho. Male MC gets up and pins female MC to wall and finger fucks her {willingly} with ho still in his bed. He then offers her a threesome because he's pissed at her. I don't mind the dirty, gritty shit of Mclubs, but I don't want to read cheating shit nor MCs literally having their cock in one chick and two seconds later trying to stick it in the female MC that he supposedly "loves."
Story, What Story?
At 44%, literally nothing has happened. It's he loves me, he loves me not angst with no communication ; everyday school and work shit; and diatribe dribble about mundane shit that NO ONE CARES ABOUT! The most interesting thing to happen by 46% of the book is a fight between Jules and Glory, supporting characters mind you, that takes up an entire chapter. Earth to author, earth to author... When a fight over Rice-A-Roni and mobsters between secondary characters take up an entire chapter in your book, YOUVE GOT A LAME ASS STORY WITH YOUR MAIN CHARACTERS and should regroup vs using fill-in sub character drama. By the end, the only thing with any substance at all to happen was a shooting and an engagement.
NOT A Standalone
This is far from a standalone. No wedding with the MCs . Glory's f'd up shit and her brother are left hanging. Dolly and her weird relationship is hinted to, but then never mentioned again. It's alluded that some shady shit might be going in with Crow and Raine, but that two is just never mentioned again.
Honestly, this entire book should've been condensed to a few chapters in the last book or the first few chapters in the next book. It was boring as hell and didn't even offer up a satisfying conclusion.
MCs That Didn't Spark
I think Claire, the female MC said it best herself: "Sometimes I felt like he and I were a big puzzle to be solved and every time I got close to solving it, I discovered a new piece that just didn't seem to quite fit."
^ my sentiments exactly, Claire. The author tried to force these two MCs to fit a story, a romance that just DID NOT fit. Diego and Raine worked in book one; they were complicated and had out moments, but they were like the ocean and the beach...They just went together in a natural way. Claire and Reno were more like the clash of a dirty diaper and cheap floral spray.. Unappealing and stinky!
POV Structure Clusterfuck
In book one, POVs would switch without warning in both dialogue and thought from character to character. Even secondary character's inner thought processes we're thrown in to the story. It didn't particularly cause a problem because the story was engaging and kept you focused. However, because this book was filled with random & senseless dribble, long descriptions of mundane, etc.., it was EXTREMELY difficult to follow when the author wrote this from multiple POVS and included the inner thoughts of multiple characters. This is what you call a clusterfuck!
I've lost interest. I loved Prosper and I looked forward to Glory's story coming out, but this series is just too much hodgepodge for me; too many tiny bits and pieces of story and characters rooted under a massive amount of bs for me to waste my time trying to dig for gold:(
February 28, 2015
*This review may contain small spoilers( I don't think so but some may)
4 1/2 stars
The first book in This series( I read the original version and the edited version) was one of my all time favorite MC books, what the author was able to create not only with the story but the characters and their relationships was magical so of course I was ecstatic and impatiently waiting for Chasing Claire. When I found out that it was available on NetGallery and then that I had been given a copy I was overjoyed. Starting this book I had very high expectations.
Starting where book one left us, Claire is with the people she always considered her family and happy but she still carries the gilt of the night she and her sister almost lost their lives. What started rocky with Reno, then turned beautiful ended in disaster. When Reno left it was all too much and Claire has suffered from it. With the help of Prosper Claire soon finds peace. When Reno finally realizes what he did by leaving he gets home as soon as he can but what he finds isn't what he assumed it would be and Reno decides that he may have made a mistake coming home for Claire. Deciding that one of the club girls is what he needs Reno picks one quickly.
When Claire finds out Reno is finally home she goes to get her man back and walks into Reno and his friend. When Reno realizes what he's done he sets out to fix it and claim Claire permanently, but their story has never been easy and they will both have to decide if the relationship is worth it, and Claire will finally have to face her past to move forward with Reno and learn to open up and fully trust Reno. But when they think they are finally at a place they can make a future with, consequences to that fateful night come back to get revenge.
Again Prosper shines in this book and I ended up wishing he was in The book even more(as well as Pinky, who I also always loved) because he is a special character that most could only dream about creating. Paula Marinaro is an amazingly talented author who has a way with words and the story's she creates. She easily sucks you in and takes you on a journey that feels real and all consuming. I loved seeing Claire's growth and my heart broke for all she had been through but also at the same time I had so much respect for her because of her strength, and that she stayed true to who she was.
I loved Reno in book one and I loved him in His story but the man makes one stupid decision after another and I wanted to shake him and tell him to wake up. I have to admit their were several decisions he made that made me really mad at him and made me question him, in the end I loved him but I would have liked for more groveling by him to show us how sorry he truly was( I like my heroes to work for it).
We again get a plethora of spectacular characters that just makes this book that much more amazing, and we get more insight into Glory and her past. I can not wait for book three, I loved Glory and Jules in book one and I fell in love even more with them in this book. I will be getting book three the second I can, it can't come quick enough. After this book my list of books (for characters) I want Mrs. Marinaro to write about is very long( including Glory's brother.....,please). Overall this was a great second book in a series I quickly came to love.
*ARC kindly provided by NetGallery and Montlake Romance
4 1/2 stars
The first book in This series( I read the original version and the edited version) was one of my all time favorite MC books, what the author was able to create not only with the story but the characters and their relationships was magical so of course I was ecstatic and impatiently waiting for Chasing Claire. When I found out that it was available on NetGallery and then that I had been given a copy I was overjoyed. Starting this book I had very high expectations.
Starting where book one left us, Claire is with the people she always considered her family and happy but she still carries the gilt of the night she and her sister almost lost their lives. What started rocky with Reno, then turned beautiful ended in disaster. When Reno left it was all too much and Claire has suffered from it. With the help of Prosper Claire soon finds peace. When Reno finally realizes what he did by leaving he gets home as soon as he can but what he finds isn't what he assumed it would be and Reno decides that he may have made a mistake coming home for Claire. Deciding that one of the club girls is what he needs Reno picks one quickly.
When Claire finds out Reno is finally home she goes to get her man back and walks into Reno and his friend. When Reno realizes what he's done he sets out to fix it and claim Claire permanently, but their story has never been easy and they will both have to decide if the relationship is worth it, and Claire will finally have to face her past to move forward with Reno and learn to open up and fully trust Reno. But when they think they are finally at a place they can make a future with, consequences to that fateful night come back to get revenge.
Again Prosper shines in this book and I ended up wishing he was in The book even more(as well as Pinky, who I also always loved) because he is a special character that most could only dream about creating. Paula Marinaro is an amazingly talented author who has a way with words and the story's she creates. She easily sucks you in and takes you on a journey that feels real and all consuming. I loved seeing Claire's growth and my heart broke for all she had been through but also at the same time I had so much respect for her because of her strength, and that she stayed true to who she was.
I loved Reno in book one and I loved him in His story but the man makes one stupid decision after another and I wanted to shake him and tell him to wake up. I have to admit their were several decisions he made that made me really mad at him and made me question him, in the end I loved him but I would have liked for more groveling by him to show us how sorry he truly was( I like my heroes to work for it).
We again get a plethora of spectacular characters that just makes this book that much more amazing, and we get more insight into Glory and her past. I can not wait for book three, I loved Glory and Jules in book one and I fell in love even more with them in this book. I will be getting book three the second I can, it can't come quick enough. After this book my list of books (for characters) I want Mrs. Marinaro to write about is very long( including Glory's brother.....,please). Overall this was a great second book in a series I quickly came to love.
*ARC kindly provided by NetGallery and Montlake Romance
August 12, 2015
5 Claire (Ring)ing Reno's Neck Stars
Welp....Claire out shine Reno by a long shot. Claire been through a lot in this book. The endless nightmares that she have gone through made her stronger at the end. The fact that she pull her life together and gone back to school was a plus. She literally did a 180 with life.
Reno:
I'm still virtually flipping Reno off. Assclown. Such a douchey move for sleeping around.
Diego:
Barely there
Crow:
Barely there
Jules:
Mister Idiot. He better pull his head out of his ass soon.
Over all, it's ok. The author introduced a lot of potential characters or I'm hoping they are potential characters lol. Would I recommend this series, absolutely. The book itself, I'm at half/half.
Welp....Claire out shine Reno by a long shot. Claire been through a lot in this book. The endless nightmares that she have gone through made her stronger at the end. The fact that she pull her life together and gone back to school was a plus. She literally did a 180 with life.
Reno:
I'm still virtually flipping Reno off. Assclown. Such a douchey move for sleeping around.
Diego:
Barely there
Crow:
Barely there
Jules:
Mister Idiot. He better pull his head out of his ass soon.
Over all, it's ok. The author introduced a lot of potential characters or I'm hoping they are potential characters lol. Would I recommend this series, absolutely. The book itself, I'm at half/half.
March 27, 2015
The characters are better developed in this second book, the writing has also noticeably improved and I have a feeling this series will keep getting better and better. The secondary characters were great, I loved Prosper and Dolly.
February 14, 2015
Read this via NetGalley.
I absolutely loved Raine Falling and was a little scared about Chasing Claire because I didn't wanted the first book to be a one hit wonder, I really liked the author voice in the first one.
I shouldn't have worried, it was as good as the first, less drama, but still a page turner.
Reno and Claire have a few misunderstandings but work well through their obstacles.
I really enjoyed the story and the glimpses we see into Raine's life, she is happy and settled and Glory's life, she is still broken but on the mend. There is a devastating event that occurs in Glory's life in this story that left me a little broken-heart; and I hope that the next book will be about her.
I really enjoyed the depth of this story and the characters.
can't wait for the next... without any worries this time!
I absolutely loved Raine Falling and was a little scared about Chasing Claire because I didn't wanted the first book to be a one hit wonder, I really liked the author voice in the first one.
I shouldn't have worried, it was as good as the first, less drama, but still a page turner.
Reno and Claire have a few misunderstandings but work well through their obstacles.
I really enjoyed the story and the glimpses we see into Raine's life, she is happy and settled and Glory's life, she is still broken but on the mend. There is a devastating event that occurs in Glory's life in this story that left me a little broken-heart; and I hope that the next book will be about her.
I really enjoyed the depth of this story and the characters.
can't wait for the next... without any worries this time!
November 26, 2015
Chasing Claire follows the story of Claire and Reno. Claire is just taking one day at a time. She's lucky to be alive. No one knows this better than her, but she can't seem to let go of the guilt that surrounds a truly terrifying night. Not to mention that she's still dealing with the loss of Reno. He broke her heart when he left and she's just trying to pick up the pieces....
Reno has tried anything and I mean anything to try to forget Claire. But, try as he might, he just can't. Somehow she buried herself into his heart and now he's back to fight for what's his....As Claire and Reno reunite, they have to decide if the past can be forgotten and if their love is worth the fight?
This is my first book by Paula Marinaro and it won't be my last! I haven't read Raine Falling, but did not feel lost at all. I was hooked on Chasing Claire from the very first page. I wanted to know more about the characters and their stories. There was never a dull moment. This book had it all: angst, romance, steam, suspense, and action.
I loved Claire. She's been through so much in her young life. She's got a lot of issues and that makes her a little closed off at times and it's hard for her to let anyone in. But, once she does, all bets are off. Reno is a fantastic match for her. He's not perfect, but you can tell that he really does love her and want the best for her. I love how he challenged Claire and refused to let her go, no matter how many times she tried to push him away. And their chemistry!!!! Scorching! You just knew these characters were meant to be and given the chance, they could overcome anything that this crazy life threw at them.
Overall, I really enjoyed Chasing Claire. The story was well written and I was totally lost in the plot. I fell for the characters instantly. I really liked that this story was told from multiple points of view. I loved how real and flawed the characters were. This story did deal with some tough issues, but I was really pleased with the way the author handled them. Chasing Claire had some really great twists and turns and as I said before, there was never a dull moment. I am definitely going to have to go back and read the first book. And I can't wait to get my hands on the next book!
*I was provided a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Reno has tried anything and I mean anything to try to forget Claire. But, try as he might, he just can't. Somehow she buried herself into his heart and now he's back to fight for what's his....As Claire and Reno reunite, they have to decide if the past can be forgotten and if their love is worth the fight?
This is my first book by Paula Marinaro and it won't be my last! I haven't read Raine Falling, but did not feel lost at all. I was hooked on Chasing Claire from the very first page. I wanted to know more about the characters and their stories. There was never a dull moment. This book had it all: angst, romance, steam, suspense, and action.
I loved Claire. She's been through so much in her young life. She's got a lot of issues and that makes her a little closed off at times and it's hard for her to let anyone in. But, once she does, all bets are off. Reno is a fantastic match for her. He's not perfect, but you can tell that he really does love her and want the best for her. I love how he challenged Claire and refused to let her go, no matter how many times she tried to push him away. And their chemistry!!!! Scorching! You just knew these characters were meant to be and given the chance, they could overcome anything that this crazy life threw at them.
Overall, I really enjoyed Chasing Claire. The story was well written and I was totally lost in the plot. I fell for the characters instantly. I really liked that this story was told from multiple points of view. I loved how real and flawed the characters were. This story did deal with some tough issues, but I was really pleased with the way the author handled them. Chasing Claire had some really great twists and turns and as I said before, there was never a dull moment. I am definitely going to have to go back and read the first book. And I can't wait to get my hands on the next book!
*I was provided a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
November 12, 2015
2.5 rounded to 3 disappointed stars
Let me take a quote from Claire to explain my disappointment : "I just didn't know why we always had to be so complicated."
Right. Or in other words, both Reno and Claire are acting like little kids with inner monologues going : "it's his/her fault ...", "he/she should know how I feel ...", "he/she should be doing the first move ..."
And the first half of the book is only made of that , i.e. just too many monologues from both POVs and little action and they are so annoying that I spent my time inwardly telling them "why don't you just speak, or phone, or text ... instead of recriminating!".
Then we do get some action, except that the damage has already been done. For me Reno was already established more as a whining teenager rather than the badass / shrewd / take in charge man the author tries to make of him.
The only reason I rounded to 3 stars is because I like the way the author intertwines stories from "secondary" characters. I love Glory and Jules (although apparently it's a constant within this MC to act like a boy rather than like a man), I like that we're being introduced to Hal (hopes he makes it safe), I like that Dolly has guts (SHE acts like a man !).
I heard that book 3 is better than this one, so I'll probably read it.
Let me take a quote from Claire to explain my disappointment : "I just didn't know why we always had to be so complicated."
Right. Or in other words, both Reno and Claire are acting like little kids with inner monologues going : "it's his/her fault ...", "he/she should know how I feel ...", "he/she should be doing the first move ..."
And the first half of the book is only made of that , i.e. just too many monologues from both POVs and little action and they are so annoying that I spent my time inwardly telling them "why don't you just speak, or phone, or text ... instead of recriminating!".
Then we do get some action, except that the damage has already been done. For me Reno was already established more as a whining teenager rather than the badass / shrewd / take in charge man the author tries to make of him.
The only reason I rounded to 3 stars is because I like the way the author intertwines stories from "secondary" characters. I love Glory and Jules (although apparently it's a constant within this MC to act like a boy rather than like a man), I like that we're being introduced to Hal (hopes he makes it safe), I like that Dolly has guts (SHE acts like a man !).
I heard that book 3 is better than this one, so I'll probably read it.
March 22, 2015
Reno was a lot of things, manwhore, partier, outlaw and lets not forget bad ass biker. Fiercely loyal to those he calls family.
Despite making some monumental mistakes along the way, his unwavering love for Claire is breathing taking!
Reno wasn't hearts and flowers but he was man who'd help weather the storms in Claire's life, while offering shelter and solace.
Such a good emotional read, reminds what love is.
Despite making some monumental mistakes along the way, his unwavering love for Claire is breathing taking!
Reno wasn't hearts and flowers but he was man who'd help weather the storms in Claire's life, while offering shelter and solace.
Such a good emotional read, reminds what love is.
November 8, 2015
I liked it but I didn't love it. For the story and the main characters claire and reno I would give 3 stars, I couldn't feel the spark between those two. I enjoyed raine and diegos book much much more. My highlights of this one were the side stories about jules and glory (I'm so looking forward to their book), pinky and prosper (I love those two) and I'm very curious about this thing between dolly and gianni (I really hope they will get their own story someday), they all would get full 5 stars. So all in all the book gets solid 4 stars. And now I will re-read crows book, just so I can stay a little longer in this wonderful written world of the hells saints mc :)
October 30, 2015
About 50 % in, I just couldn't stay interested. Read 1 paragraph of every 4th page about 70% in. Too many POVs that weren't necessary. Author spent some time on other relationships in those other POVs and it was too much.
November 2, 2015
4 BIKERDOCIOUS, FEROCIOUS STARS!
I enjoyed this biker love story it had a bit of everything a MC romance story should have, I listened to the whole book and it held my interest, looking forward to Crows story ........!
Thanks Di for recommending it to me
I enjoyed this biker love story it had a bit of everything a MC romance story should have, I listened to the whole book and it held my interest, looking forward to Crows story ........!
Thanks Di for recommending it to me
June 4, 2015
This was a great story, but I still liked the first one better. Now I really need to read about what happens to Hal.
November 30, 2015
2.5 Stars
Found this story uneven and boring!
Found this story uneven and boring!
July 12, 2024
4.5 Stars
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review
Claire pulled at my heart strings in Falling Raine last year and I was keen to hear more of her and Reno's story. I just knew it wasn't going to be a relationship that fell into place easy. With so much baggage from their childhood Claire and Raine have turned out to be two strong women…well most of the time.
The Saints were all big and gorgeous in that bad boy kind of way - muscled, tattooed, and born to be wild. Every woman knew that draw, felt that pull, at least once in her life. Every good girl dreamed of being loved at least once by an outlaw man. Every bad girl lived for it.
Being part of the MC has it's advantages and disadvantages. Seeing more than you want to see can prove daunting! It's been a while since Reno has seen Claire and when he sets eyes on her again he reads the situation totally wrong and foolishly acts out in a way that does not go down well.
Self-preservation was screaming at me not to knock on Reno's door. Every instinct I had was telling me that opening that door would be bad for me, bad for him, and bad for any chance we had toward working things out for the better. The more I thought about it, the more I knew that for lots of reasons, this was a very bad idea.
Unbeknownst to Claire, she strolls into the clubhouse, straight to Reno's room planning on sharing her new plans. She hesitates. Then the decision is taken out her hands and it's not long before all hell brakes loose between Claire, Reno and his 'guest'. Predictably Reno and Claire aren't in a space that evokes roses and chocolates, it does eventually bring out the sweet but not until you get past the inevitable dramas!
Prosper was my dad by choice. Having his love and respect didn't mean just a little something to me. It meant every-thing.
You couldn't have a story with Claire that doesn't include Prosper and his Brothers, Dolly, Raine, Willow and Diago are there as well. The back stories that caught my attention were College life (I thought there was a major missed opportunity to focus on her tutor a little more closely) and of course Jules and Glory. There was angst between those two that left me wanting so much more!
"I can see by those leathers that your brothers are wearing that you boys don't exactly run with the choir boys"
A good blend of club and biker that included the brotherhood support with all the raw emotions. At times the story felt a little slow but never to the extent I wasn't happy to keep reading. The ending however had me flipping back and forward to make sure I didn't miss something! After double checking, I got it but it seemed there should have been another chapter. There was that 'event' that we didn't get to see. And of course that emergency trip overseas which I'm assuming will be the segway to the next book in this series! So a bit of a cliffy but not so bad that I'm full of what ifs that I can't wait for the next book.
What I loved:
• Non verbal communication between Reno and Claire
• Claire's tree tattoo and it's symbolism
• Prosper -he's a tough lovable father that gives good advice
• Reno being there for her on her first day at college
• Banter between Claire and her tutor - would have been fun to expand on that relationship
What I struggled with:
• The ending, I had to read it a couple of times...
• Reno misunderstanding Claire and his initial whoring ways of wiping her from his mind - yeah, that worked well...
Read February 2015
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review
Claire pulled at my heart strings in Falling Raine last year and I was keen to hear more of her and Reno's story. I just knew it wasn't going to be a relationship that fell into place easy. With so much baggage from their childhood Claire and Raine have turned out to be two strong women…well most of the time.
The Saints were all big and gorgeous in that bad boy kind of way - muscled, tattooed, and born to be wild. Every woman knew that draw, felt that pull, at least once in her life. Every good girl dreamed of being loved at least once by an outlaw man. Every bad girl lived for it.
Being part of the MC has it's advantages and disadvantages. Seeing more than you want to see can prove daunting! It's been a while since Reno has seen Claire and when he sets eyes on her again he reads the situation totally wrong and foolishly acts out in a way that does not go down well.
Self-preservation was screaming at me not to knock on Reno's door. Every instinct I had was telling me that opening that door would be bad for me, bad for him, and bad for any chance we had toward working things out for the better. The more I thought about it, the more I knew that for lots of reasons, this was a very bad idea.
Unbeknownst to Claire, she strolls into the clubhouse, straight to Reno's room planning on sharing her new plans. She hesitates. Then the decision is taken out her hands and it's not long before all hell brakes loose between Claire, Reno and his 'guest'. Predictably Reno and Claire aren't in a space that evokes roses and chocolates, it does eventually bring out the sweet but not until you get past the inevitable dramas!
Prosper was my dad by choice. Having his love and respect didn't mean just a little something to me. It meant every-thing.
You couldn't have a story with Claire that doesn't include Prosper and his Brothers, Dolly, Raine, Willow and Diago are there as well. The back stories that caught my attention were College life (I thought there was a major missed opportunity to focus on her tutor a little more closely) and of course Jules and Glory. There was angst between those two that left me wanting so much more!
"I can see by those leathers that your brothers are wearing that you boys don't exactly run with the choir boys"
A good blend of club and biker that included the brotherhood support with all the raw emotions. At times the story felt a little slow but never to the extent I wasn't happy to keep reading. The ending however had me flipping back and forward to make sure I didn't miss something! After double checking, I got it but it seemed there should have been another chapter. There was that 'event' that we didn't get to see. And of course that emergency trip overseas which I'm assuming will be the segway to the next book in this series! So a bit of a cliffy but not so bad that I'm full of what ifs that I can't wait for the next book.
What I loved:
• Non verbal communication between Reno and Claire
• Claire's tree tattoo and it's symbolism
• Prosper -he's a tough lovable father that gives good advice
• Reno being there for her on her first day at college
• Banter between Claire and her tutor - would have been fun to expand on that relationship
What I struggled with:
• The ending, I had to read it a couple of times...
• Reno misunderstanding Claire and his initial whoring ways of wiping her from his mind - yeah, that worked well...
Read February 2015
August 17, 2017
I loved book one in this series, Raine Falling, so I was beside myself with glee when I got an ARC for it. I liked Chasing Claire a lot, but I didn't love it as much as the first one. There were parts of the book that were beautifully written, but there was so much of this book that just felt like the author missed some opportunities that could have made a good book great.
I had a hard time with Claire's character. At the end of Raine Falling, it felt like she was rising above what she allowed herself to become and really growing into a strong young woman who you wanted to know more about. At the beginning of this book, she seemed to be backsliding and losing herself to being a fragile doormat again. She was way too far into her own head and maybe I'm just a bloodthirsty bitch, but what she was tying herself into knots over at the beginning was kind of ridiculous and overblown. Truthfully, she was too fragile for me. She did eventually find her backbone when she needed to which made her likable, but I didn't love her.
Reno was a first class douchebag for a good part of this book which meant that a lot of the time, I didn't feel like he deserved Claire. The good news is when he redeemed himself, he did it right, it just took him way too long to get there.
The lack of dialogue bothered me, but only to the degree that I kept thinking that it would be a better book with more talking. Although some of the inner dialogue was beautiful, I just couldn't help but think that this would have been a much better book with more interaction and less introspection. The lack of dialogue just added to the problem of there being a lot of telling going on, but not a lot of showing. Weeks would go by and we would be told things were going well, with no real explanations as to why. To me, this made the book feel like it careened from one thing to another instead of a smooth flow. All these things together made me feel that although I got a decent book, if things had been done just a bit different I could have had a great book.
I did love visiting with all my favorite characters from Raine Falling. Prosper will always be my favorite. He is a mixture of rough and sweet, and the way he treats Raine and Claire is just heartwarming. Glory, Jules, Pipe, Crow and the rest of the crew are as entertaining as ever. We were also introduced to Hal (short for Hallelujah which is a terrible name for a badass), Glory's brother, and I hope we get to see more of him. He is interesting to say the least. I also want to see what happens with Dolly and her mob guy.
Was I disappointed? Yes, but it still was a decent read that entertained me. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in the series, I just really hope we get to see the next story play out, not be "told" about it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Laurie's Rating: 3.5 Stars>
I had a hard time with Claire's character. At the end of Raine Falling, it felt like she was rising above what she allowed herself to become and really growing into a strong young woman who you wanted to know more about. At the beginning of this book, she seemed to be backsliding and losing herself to being a fragile doormat again. She was way too far into her own head and maybe I'm just a bloodthirsty bitch, but what she was tying herself into knots over at the beginning was kind of ridiculous and overblown. Truthfully, she was too fragile for me. She did eventually find her backbone when she needed to which made her likable, but I didn't love her.
Reno was a first class douchebag for a good part of this book which meant that a lot of the time, I didn't feel like he deserved Claire. The good news is when he redeemed himself, he did it right, it just took him way too long to get there.
The lack of dialogue bothered me, but only to the degree that I kept thinking that it would be a better book with more talking. Although some of the inner dialogue was beautiful, I just couldn't help but think that this would have been a much better book with more interaction and less introspection. The lack of dialogue just added to the problem of there being a lot of telling going on, but not a lot of showing. Weeks would go by and we would be told things were going well, with no real explanations as to why. To me, this made the book feel like it careened from one thing to another instead of a smooth flow. All these things together made me feel that although I got a decent book, if things had been done just a bit different I could have had a great book.
I did love visiting with all my favorite characters from Raine Falling. Prosper will always be my favorite. He is a mixture of rough and sweet, and the way he treats Raine and Claire is just heartwarming. Glory, Jules, Pipe, Crow and the rest of the crew are as entertaining as ever. We were also introduced to Hal (short for Hallelujah which is a terrible name for a badass), Glory's brother, and I hope we get to see more of him. He is interesting to say the least. I also want to see what happens with Dolly and her mob guy.
Was I disappointed? Yes, but it still was a decent read that entertained me. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in the series, I just really hope we get to see the next story play out, not be "told" about it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Laurie's Rating: 3.5 Stars>
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December 29, 2019Really? This is an example of a romance? This misogynistic, double-standard pile of horse shit with a weak-ass waste of space heroine and an immature, insecure, possessive twatwaffle hero?
How can a man-child who f*cks another chick because he's in a snit and then propositions his stunned girlfriend for a menage possibly be called a hero in the first place?
Reno was no hero and everything I hate in a leading character. He made me sick. Hell, all these people did. The women were proper slappers, the men perhaps a half-step up from neanderthals, if that. What a bunch of uncivilised, filthy pigs they all are. And there are nipple boners in here, too! Christ, a tonne of them! What is wrong with you people?
Yeah, for sure this book is so sexy and romantic 🙄. I can feel the love. Too bad the writer isn't creative enough to write something decent because the writing isn't terrible. Just the characters, the plot and the execution.
I've said it before and I'll say it again - actions speak louder than words. You cannot profess your love and then go bang a half-dozen women! What's wrong with these heroes? Ploughing everything with an orifice whilst claiming to be in love with the h doesn't make for s hero with any integrity. Just sayin'. If you can't control your c*ck, you should stay single.
Awful story, unlikeable characters, not safe. Would not recommend.
Dnf @ 48%. No rating.
How can a man-child who f*cks another chick because he's in a snit and then propositions his stunned girlfriend for a menage possibly be called a hero in the first place?
Reno was no hero and everything I hate in a leading character. He made me sick. Hell, all these people did. The women were proper slappers, the men perhaps a half-step up from neanderthals, if that. What a bunch of uncivilised, filthy pigs they all are. And there are nipple boners in here, too! Christ, a tonne of them! What is wrong with you people?
Yeah, for sure this book is so sexy and romantic 🙄. I can feel the love. Too bad the writer isn't creative enough to write something decent because the writing isn't terrible. Just the characters, the plot and the execution.
I've said it before and I'll say it again - actions speak louder than words. You cannot profess your love and then go bang a half-dozen women! What's wrong with these heroes? Ploughing everything with an orifice whilst claiming to be in love with the h doesn't make for s hero with any integrity. Just sayin'. If you can't control your c*ck, you should stay single.
Awful story, unlikeable characters, not safe. Would not recommend.
Dnf @ 48%. No rating.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2015
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I'm really sad to report that this book did not work for me. I was in a motorcycle club mood, so I was really excited to get my hands on this. I just wish I liked it more.
In the beginning, the chapters felt like they ended abruptly. Like maybe a few of them could have been combined. Not a huge deal though.
What was a huge deal was that I just never grew to care about Claire and Reno's story. They got together fairly early on and then it just felt like we were reading about the everyday goings on of their lives. Every time a potentially interesting plot point came up, it was resolved quickly, so I didn't get to experience the excitement that these situations could have brought to the story.
There was also a significant chunk of the book dedicated to Glory and Jules' story, which was confusing. I get the idea of introducing the stories of side characters that will eventually get their own books, but things had completely centered on these two without much regard for Claire and Reno at one point.
I'm in the minority here, though. Everyone else seems to love this book.
I'm really sad to report that this book did not work for me. I was in a motorcycle club mood, so I was really excited to get my hands on this. I just wish I liked it more.
In the beginning, the chapters felt like they ended abruptly. Like maybe a few of them could have been combined. Not a huge deal though.
What was a huge deal was that I just never grew to care about Claire and Reno's story. They got together fairly early on and then it just felt like we were reading about the everyday goings on of their lives. Every time a potentially interesting plot point came up, it was resolved quickly, so I didn't get to experience the excitement that these situations could have brought to the story.
There was also a significant chunk of the book dedicated to Glory and Jules' story, which was confusing. I get the idea of introducing the stories of side characters that will eventually get their own books, but things had completely centered on these two without much regard for Claire and Reno at one point.
I'm in the minority here, though. Everyone else seems to love this book.
August 25, 2015
Finally read this book. I liked it, granted I was a little worried in the beginning because Reno was an A-HOLE! Omg, the shit he did, and Claire, I teattered between love and hate for her. In the end, once I powered through, Both characters redeemed themselves. Got a bit emotional at certain parts of the book and laughed at others. Over all I would give this a solid 4 stars. I hope Glory gets her own book and Reno's mom Dolly!
February 11, 2015
Reno he's cocky, blunt, demanding, has a no care attitude, sexy and he can read his girl, "hey, you hungry?" I glared at him.then my stomach growled. "Yeah, you're hungry." He smirked." When he's in the mood for his woman he isn't playing around that boy gets serious, "pretty dress, babe." I smiled at him. "Now take it off." I enjoyed this book I loved Reno and Claire, at times though in round myself more intrigued with Jules and Glory, I'm hoping there's a book in the works for them.
February 20, 2015
Review to come
November 8, 2015
3.5 STARS
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