What do you think?
Rate this book
Marauders #4.5
Equilibrium: A Marauders Interlude
Sometimes life throws you a curve ball. Sometimes they’re minor league, a mild irritation. Sometimes they’re game changers, life-altering, knock ‘em out of the park kinda big. Eliza thought she knew what track her life was on, but then life threw her one of those major league style curve balls.
Roach isn’t even sure what normal is anymore, he’s been thrown so many curve balls in his life. The whole 2.4 kids, white picket fence is entirely beyond his realm of comprehension. He’s an ex-street kid who found a home in an MC. He knows survival. That’s all he needs to know.
Eliza thinks she’s surviving, but Roach knows what surviving looks like, and what Eliza is doing ain’t it. He should keep his nose out of the club princess’s business, but he can’t help but be drawn in. He’s not even sure how or why it happened, but there is something there. A spark, maybe the will to fight, and for some reason he wants to help her.
Eliza knows she’s adrift, but she’s so far gone she doesn’t know how to get back. She’s just getting more and more lost, until the new Marauder from New York calls her on her shit.
Eliza needs to find her equilibrium, and Roach can help her. But as he’s doing so, she shakes him to his core, and he realizes he needs to find his own balance again.
Roach isn’t even sure what normal is anymore, he’s been thrown so many curve balls in his life. The whole 2.4 kids, white picket fence is entirely beyond his realm of comprehension. He’s an ex-street kid who found a home in an MC. He knows survival. That’s all he needs to know.
Eliza thinks she’s surviving, but Roach knows what surviving looks like, and what Eliza is doing ain’t it. He should keep his nose out of the club princess’s business, but he can’t help but be drawn in. He’s not even sure how or why it happened, but there is something there. A spark, maybe the will to fight, and for some reason he wants to help her.
Eliza knows she’s adrift, but she’s so far gone she doesn’t know how to get back. She’s just getting more and more lost, until the new Marauder from New York calls her on her shit.
Eliza needs to find her equilibrium, and Roach can help her. But as he’s doing so, she shakes him to his core, and he realizes he needs to find his own balance again.
212 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 27, 2015
16 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
About the author
Lina Andersson
15 books481 followersLina Andersson was born and raised as far up north as you can go in Sweden. The long, dark winters were made for reading and writing, which is pretty much all she ever did. In her early twenties, she packed up her husband and son and moved to the slightly warmer climate of southern Sweden, where they still live, more than a decade later. When she's not writing, she's an avid gamer and film geek.
Keep an eye on the FCP website for updates on coming books and for Marauder short stories.
Keep an eye on the FCP website for updates on coming books and for Marauder short stories.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
November 25, 2015
**Equilibrium generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.**
5 ”Then aim those baby blues at me…” Stars
Equilibrium is another interlude in one of my favorite MC series, The Marauders by Lina Andersson. This interlude serves to tell the story of Eliza Baxter, daughter of Brick the Marauders respected President. While the story doesn’t continue the happenings of the MC it does need to be read after completing book 4, Resonance, as much happens to set the scene for Roach and Eliza’s story. Providing these interludes to her readers, Andersson compounds on her ideas of the values within the Marauders MC. They don’t carry forward the plot rather they enhance our beliefs in her story telling and the personal relationships within the club. Each interlude including Equilibrium are stories I have treasured reading.
I loved everything about Equilibrium. Tragedy struck the lives of all the Marauders whether directly or indirectly in Resonance. This particular story shows how Eliza and Roach reconstruct their own kind of normalcy after such devastation. It’s a friends to lovers, slow-burning romance type story. Eliza needs someone exactly like Roach in her life while unbeknownst to Roach he needs someone like Eliza just as much. The tone of the book, written in Andersson’s own unique style, starts off with a certain melancholy and gradually brightens as the story moves forward. The realm of characters from which we get points of view being Eliza, Roach, Brick, and Brick’s wife Mel, shows the healing power of family and love while showing us it’s ok to change and become a new normal. These traits within the rules and ethos of an outlaw MC such as the Marauders make the story that much more powerful to me.
Roach and Eliza are sweet together. Their banter and shy smiles warmed my heart all the way through the book. Their connection cannot be denied from the very beginning as their blossoming friendship breaks through each other’s shells. These characters perfectly complement each other and help embody the values within the Marauders MC. The friendship between the two truly feels real. Each of them is patient, damaged, learning new aspects of themselves, kind, and open. I really loved the strong friendship and trust they built with each other the most. They are two people for whom you crave that kind of honesty in your own life. It’s a beautiful relationship.
One of my favorites parts of the book were the memories introducing each chapter giving insight to certain qualities of specific characters and how they were shaped. Also, embedded throughout the book the author referenced classic literature and theater enhancing the symbolism and metaphors. I felt compelled to look up certain passages and quotes making my reading experience much richer.
Lina Andersson tells unique MC stories. Her tales of romance are one of a kind within the MC genre and always leave me with a smile on my face. Even through the hard times and the tragedy. There are parts of this book that are not easy to deal with as the reader being in the mindset of the character but they are real and the poignancy of those moments reflect in the strength of Eliza and Roach and in the strength of the beautiful bond they create with each other. Equilibrium is yet another Marauders must read and favorite for me. I loved every single word of it. If you haven’t tried Andersson’s MC series yet are a fan of this subgenre of romance, you’re really missing out.
My reviews of the previous books in the Marauders Series:
Short Story 0 M-Theory
Book 1 Arrow of Time
Book 2 Perfect Collision
Novella 2.5 S-Duality
Book 3 Center of Gravity
Book 3.5 Speed of Light
Book 4 Resonance
December 7, 2015
4.5 RATING- I'm not surprised that I enjoyed Equilibrium as much as I did, Lina Anderson is a strong writer that has rated high with me in the past. I am surprised at how invested I became in the relationship of these two characters and the healing of the heroine. Lina Anderson has a real talent for creating characters that I like and relationships that are easy to root for.
Readers expecting a lot of sex, action, or general MC drama may be disappointed or bored. The story was enjoyable but was focused mainly on the friendship that slowly develops between the two main characters, not blood and guts and mayhem. There aren't a lot of cameo's from characters from previous books, just mentions here and there. Brick and Mel do play a significant role in the story line though and were a reminder of how much I liked these two, especially Brick. Love him.
I’m surprised that more of my friends aren’t reading and enjoying Lina Anderson. I admit the Marauders series isn’t the most exciting MC series but it’s hands down, one of the best. While I tend to read mainly guilty pleasure wham-bam type reads I'm glad I came back to the Marauders. I would have hated to miss this one. The story was beautifully told and I highly recommend to readers that enjoy quality written, slower paced romances.
Note: At the time this review was posted, this book was available to borrow through Amazon's Kindle Unlimited program.
To see other books available to borrow through Kindle Unlimited or SCRIBD, check out the Subscription Addiction group
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Readers expecting a lot of sex, action, or general MC drama may be disappointed or bored. The story was enjoyable but was focused mainly on the friendship that slowly develops between the two main characters, not blood and guts and mayhem. There aren't a lot of cameo's from characters from previous books, just mentions here and there. Brick and Mel do play a significant role in the story line though and were a reminder of how much I liked these two, especially Brick. Love him.
I’m surprised that more of my friends aren’t reading and enjoying Lina Anderson. I admit the Marauders series isn’t the most exciting MC series but it’s hands down, one of the best. While I tend to read mainly guilty pleasure wham-bam type reads I'm glad I came back to the Marauders. I would have hated to miss this one. The story was beautifully told and I highly recommend to readers that enjoy quality written, slower paced romances.
Note: At the time this review was posted, this book was available to borrow through Amazon's Kindle Unlimited program.
To see other books available to borrow through Kindle Unlimited or SCRIBD, check out the Subscription Addiction group
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
February 7, 2017
I’ve been swimming in a sea of so-so books lately and Lina Andersson just threw me a life line.
You need to read the preceding books in the series before reading Equilibrium or continuing on with this review. Things that happened, especially in Resonance, have a huge impact on this book so spoilers abound. Also, if violence against women is a trigger for you, you should stop reading now.
I freaking adored Equilibrium. This was not a fun, light book to read and most of it wasn’t even romantic, but it’s going on my favorite book list. There is beauty to be found in this story about how one young woman and her family heal from a blow that many would never completely recover from and the help that came from the most unlikeliest of people, a young biker named Roach.
If you’ve read the Marauder’s series, like me you’ve “watched” Eliza grow up which made this story even harder to read. Tragedy struck at the end of Resonance, and at 17, Eliza became a victim of a brutal attack. What was left was a shell of a girl just going through the motions, a devastated father who blamed himself, a mother frantic about what will happen to her daughter, and a motorcycle club on the edge of war but brought to their knees with worry over their beloved princess.
As time goes by, Eliza seems to be healing, or that’s what she wants everyone to think. The entire club family is tiptoeing around her and killing her slowly with kindness. Desperate to believe she is going to be fine, they don’t see that she is existing but not living, and she certainly isn’t fine. Roach, a brother on loan from another club, as an outsider looking in, sees that she isn’t right at all. Before the kidnapping, he wasn’t impressed with Eliza who he considered a spoiled rotten brat. Finally fed up with her downward slide, he calls her on her shit. He’s the only one willing to confront her instead of pretending all is well. Having been through his own tragedy, he knows what she is going through and offers to help.
I adored Roach. I couldn’t believe how strong he was, especially for a man as young as he was. Generally I would never believe that a NA character could be as believably mature as Roach was, but LA pulled it off. As a street kid and recovering drug addict you saw where he got the maturity from. I loved that he didn’t even like Eliza, but saw someone in trouble and decided to step in though it would have been easier to ignore her.
This was a definite slow burn relationship. No immediately falling into bed for these two, obviously. We got to see them go from a somewhat adversarial relationship to friends, then to best friends. It was a slow, sweet relationship that would not have worked if presented any other way.
Eliza, always a favorite side character for me, grew so much in this book and her strength of character just shined through. She started a downward slide but that was to be expected. It was her realization that you can’t forget and shove it under the rug, you have to own it and conquer it to survive that made me come to respect her character, no matter how young she is.
Brick, another favorite of mine, had a hard battle on his hands too. He knows she was targeted because she was his daughter. The whole purpose was to bring him low, and it did. He was riddled with guilt and willing to do anything to help his daughter, even if it meant trusting Roach, who he wasn’t even sure he liked. This was almost as much his story, as it was Eliza and Roach’s.
Equilibrium deals with some hard topics beautifully. The Marauders Series is one of my favorites and books like this is why. Gritty, hard to read at times, but absolutely beautiful even when dealing with ugly topics.
Spice’s Rating: 5 Beautiful Stars.
For this review and more, check out http://edgyreviews.com
You need to read the preceding books in the series before reading Equilibrium or continuing on with this review. Things that happened, especially in Resonance, have a huge impact on this book so spoilers abound. Also, if violence against women is a trigger for you, you should stop reading now.
I freaking adored Equilibrium. This was not a fun, light book to read and most of it wasn’t even romantic, but it’s going on my favorite book list. There is beauty to be found in this story about how one young woman and her family heal from a blow that many would never completely recover from and the help that came from the most unlikeliest of people, a young biker named Roach.
If you’ve read the Marauder’s series, like me you’ve “watched” Eliza grow up which made this story even harder to read. Tragedy struck at the end of Resonance, and at 17, Eliza became a victim of a brutal attack. What was left was a shell of a girl just going through the motions, a devastated father who blamed himself, a mother frantic about what will happen to her daughter, and a motorcycle club on the edge of war but brought to their knees with worry over their beloved princess.
As time goes by, Eliza seems to be healing, or that’s what she wants everyone to think. The entire club family is tiptoeing around her and killing her slowly with kindness. Desperate to believe she is going to be fine, they don’t see that she is existing but not living, and she certainly isn’t fine. Roach, a brother on loan from another club, as an outsider looking in, sees that she isn’t right at all. Before the kidnapping, he wasn’t impressed with Eliza who he considered a spoiled rotten brat. Finally fed up with her downward slide, he calls her on her shit. He’s the only one willing to confront her instead of pretending all is well. Having been through his own tragedy, he knows what she is going through and offers to help.
I adored Roach. I couldn’t believe how strong he was, especially for a man as young as he was. Generally I would never believe that a NA character could be as believably mature as Roach was, but LA pulled it off. As a street kid and recovering drug addict you saw where he got the maturity from. I loved that he didn’t even like Eliza, but saw someone in trouble and decided to step in though it would have been easier to ignore her.
This was a definite slow burn relationship. No immediately falling into bed for these two, obviously. We got to see them go from a somewhat adversarial relationship to friends, then to best friends. It was a slow, sweet relationship that would not have worked if presented any other way.
Eliza, always a favorite side character for me, grew so much in this book and her strength of character just shined through. She started a downward slide but that was to be expected. It was her realization that you can’t forget and shove it under the rug, you have to own it and conquer it to survive that made me come to respect her character, no matter how young she is.
Brick, another favorite of mine, had a hard battle on his hands too. He knows she was targeted because she was his daughter. The whole purpose was to bring him low, and it did. He was riddled with guilt and willing to do anything to help his daughter, even if it meant trusting Roach, who he wasn’t even sure he liked. This was almost as much his story, as it was Eliza and Roach’s.
Equilibrium deals with some hard topics beautifully. The Marauders Series is one of my favorites and books like this is why. Gritty, hard to read at times, but absolutely beautiful even when dealing with ugly topics.
Spice’s Rating: 5 Beautiful Stars.
For this review and more, check out http://edgyreviews.com
September 5, 2022
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Liked it!
===================
Reread==> August 29, 2022 - add quotes
==================
Gostei muito!
Toda série é muito boa e este livro aborda um tema bem sensível. Nossa heroína é estuprada e tem várias dificuldades de adaptação após o ocorrido. É escrito de maneira sensível e bem realista. O herói é bem interessante e também passou por vários percalços durante a vida.
-------------
I really enjoyed!
The whole series is very good and this book covers a very sensitive theme. Our heroine is raped and has various difficulties of adaptation after the fact. It is written in a manner that is sensitive and realistic. The hero is very interesting and also went through several mishaps during life.
===================
Reread==> August 29, 2022 - add quotes
==================
Gostei muito!
Toda série é muito boa e este livro aborda um tema bem sensível. Nossa heroína é estuprada e tem várias dificuldades de adaptação após o ocorrido. É escrito de maneira sensível e bem realista. O herói é bem interessante e também passou por vários percalços durante a vida.
-------------
I really enjoyed!
The whole series is very good and this book covers a very sensitive theme. Our heroine is raped and has various difficulties of adaptation after the fact. It is written in a manner that is sensitive and realistic. The hero is very interesting and also went through several mishaps during life.
When I managed to open my eyes, I could see he was crying, and that wasn’t right. Dad didn’t cry. I’d never seen him cry. My big, brave dad wouldn’t cry.
Eliza wasn’t close to anyone anymore.
Then shit went to hell and the little princess was kidnapped and gang raped. Not that it was her fault. It was just luck that they hadn’t snatched more of the old ladies
Then shit went to hell and the little princess was kidnapped and gang raped. Not that it was her fault.
He’d had enough fucking misery of his own in his life to start dealing with other people’s shit.
It was my eighteenth birthday, and it was also exactly six months since I’d been taken.
After about a month or two of hiding in my room, Dad had sent Billie to me. She’d said, ‘Your dad seems to think I have some magic fix to make you feel better just because I’ve been raped, too, but I don’t. They don’t exist.’
“She was smiling.” “Who?” “Eliza. In the alley. She was with Roach, and she was smiling. A real smile.”
Brick was all for second chances; it was thirds he didn’t bother with.
“Maybe not. Just get the fuck out and stay out, or I’ll tell Brick why you really wanted this so-called job.”
“Because I like him, and I don’t want to be the one who tells him his precious baby girl is just like every other junkie who does whatever it takes for the next fix, even if it’s lying and stealing from her family. I just hope I’m far away when that shit blows up in his face.”
“I’m alive,” I repeated. It felt necessary to point that out. “Yeah, but having a heartbeat doesn’t mean you’re living. Like I said, let me know if you want to do something about that.”
He hadn’t bought her act for a second, her big blue eyes and wide smiles, and he couldn’t fucking believe they were all swallowing that shit down—hook, line, and sinker.
But once he’d started seeing it, it was impossible to stop seeing it. Like how she was stoned or tripping most of the time, that she wasn’t eating, and how her smiles died as soon as she didn’t think anyone was watching. As annoying as she was, she was in trouble, and apparently no one else was noticing it.
“I’m not Brick, Princess. If he tells someone to back off, they do. If I do it, it’s more likely to be considered a challenge. Has to do with where you are in the food chain, and I’m pretty far down.”
“You did a lot of drugs?” “Yes,” he laughed. “A lot. I’m a recovering drug addict.”
“If I get drunk, I’m a lot more likely to think a joint is a great idea. Before I fucking know it, I’ll probably be stabbing myself with a needle trying to find a good vein.”
“So… are you better?” I asked. “I mean… well?” I wasn’t sure how to put it. “No,” he answered. “I’m an addict. I won’t ever get ‘well’.” “What does that mean?�� “It means I’ll always be an addict.”
“I’ve been clean for over four years, if that’s what you were trying to ask.”
“It wasn’t sexual. A sexual experience isn’t something you have to survive.”
“Used it?” “Yeah, sometimes to get money, or just to be close to someone, get some comfort. So, no, it didn’t take me long, but I wasn’t as hung up on sex and virginity as you were.”
“The Bell Jar?” “Yeah. Mitch said it was a book for crazy feminists.”
“I was wrong about you,” he said. “How?” “I’ve always thought of you as Mel’s girl, but you are your father’s daughter.” “How’s that?” “You just peed on your rapists’ grave. Don’t think that’s something Mel would do. Your father on the other hand…”
If members were there as guests, or if the strippers found out there was a party, some of them usually ended up at the clubhouse after a shift. That was Roach’s free time, and on occasion he took one of them with him to his dorm. He wasn’t a monk, after all, and he liked sex.
One of them was Sapphire. She was a brunette in her early twenties who’d picked Sapphire as her stripper name since it was her birthstone, and she was really interested in astrology.
He’d been with her the night before, and when he woke up she was still in his bed.
Sapphire had apologized when she woke up. He told her it was okay and they left his room together, and she was still apologizing by the time they were at the bar, where he found Eliza waiting for him.
“Isn’t ‘Sweetums’ the big hairy thing on the Muppet show?” Brick asked, which made Bull laugh even harder, since he’d made the same observation. “With the flopping lower jaw.”
“Who’s Miss Silicone Tits?” Bull asked, once Brick and Eliza were out the door. “Sapphire. It was nothing.”
“She fell asleep, so she was still there this morning.” “They don’t fall asleep by accident,” Bull laughed.
I wasn’t an idiot, and that actually wasn’t what bothered me, it was how that… Barbie type… bitch had acted all possessive and kissed him before calling him Sweetums. How fucking stupid was that nickname?
“Okay, Sweetums. I’ll see you.” “See you, Princess.” She gave him the finger as she walked out.
December 7, 2015
My Rating says it all.. !!
February 14, 2024
If you're a fan of Lina Andersson's Marauders series then Equilibrium is a must read! We get to read about the journey of Eliza and what happened after the end of of Resonance. I don't think there is anyone in this series that I love more than Roach. Seriously, he's like the perfect most understanding human being and I want to read about him all day long. I'm curious to see who the next book will be about, I hope we get to see some of the evolution of Eliza and Roach's relationship!
Re-read 12/20/16.
re-read 2/14/24.
Re-read 12/20/16.
re-read 2/14/24.
December 7, 2015
*4.25* I'm not a fan of slow burn relationships, but it hit the spot in this one. I really liked how Roach and Eliza grew into their feelings. The father-daughter relationship was touching and my heart broke with what had happened to Eliza. That said this was not a gritty book, thank god, I wasn't ready for something like that at this time. It's more about recovery from the ordeal and it was handled well.
October 8, 2018
*3,5*
December 26, 2015
I wasn't so sure that I'd like Eliza after how she was described in the previous book, but I really enjoyed this book and Eliza. The character growth was great and the romance was paced perfectly. Roach was the perfect match for Eliza. I can't forget to mention the father-daughter relationship between Brick and Eliza because it was sweet, funny and at times very sad.
September 23, 2016
5 Stars. Excellent book, wish it was a full length novel, I absolutely love Roach!!
![Profile Image for Michelle [Helen Geek].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1448463806i%2F5557851._CR0%2C13%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
February 6, 2016
02/06/2016 -- 4 Stars
I liked Roach. I liked Eliza. I liked their stories and how they had the courage to move forward. Their friends first story was truly wonderful to see unfold. It was well written. Lina is consistent for me. I know I can count on her to tell a good story and write it with an intelligent audience in mind.
Happy Reading!
I liked Roach. I liked Eliza. I liked their stories and how they had the courage to move forward. Their friends first story was truly wonderful to see unfold. It was well written. Lina is consistent for me. I know I can count on her to tell a good story and write it with an intelligent audience in mind.
Happy Reading!
December 3, 2015
There are very few authors whos Books i read without reading reviews for it, there are even less authors whos Books i read without reading the Blurb for it but Lina Anderssons Marauders Series is one of those. And i loved Equilibrium!
And mostly i loved Eliza!
And mostly i loved Eliza!
March 7, 2025
🔹plot focused 🔹MC🔹r*pe🔹healing 🔹virgin
I read it with such pleasure. The best in the whole series.
Great story and told slowly until when the sex part came ito action and it went waaay too fast. I mean....
Unfortunately there were also mistakes with spelling/ grammar, some odd expressions as well. Sometimes I was left hoping that a certain thought was continued for a page or two... - it just needed one last edit I'm afraid.
I read it with such pleasure. The best in the whole series.
Great story and told slowly until when the sex part came ito action and it went waaay too fast. I mean....
Unfortunately there were also mistakes with spelling/ grammar, some odd expressions as well. Sometimes I was left hoping that a certain thought was continued for a page or two... - it just needed one last edit I'm afraid.
October 28, 2020
Fantastic!!
Eliza’s painful journey was so well written!! This was more than just a romance it was about her overcoming a tragic thing that she suffered. I love how her and Roach’s relationship grew from barely tolerant, to good friends and then to love!! This is such a great series!! I wish there was more!! It makes me sad that it’s over!!
Eliza’s painful journey was so well written!! This was more than just a romance it was about her overcoming a tragic thing that she suffered. I love how her and Roach’s relationship grew from barely tolerant, to good friends and then to love!! This is such a great series!! I wish there was more!! It makes me sad that it’s over!!
April 10, 2019
Damn this book is so so good!
Absolute favourite of all the series. Difficult subject matter dealt with sensitively.
Depth, plot, charters so well developed I didn't want it to end.
This is how you write a 5 star book!
Absolute favourite of all the series. Difficult subject matter dealt with sensitively.
Depth, plot, charters so well developed I didn't want it to end.
This is how you write a 5 star book!
September 2, 2019
Eliza and Roach
Really enjoyed this one. Reminded me of Vi and Mac. Eliza's been thru so much and Roach helps her find her way. Brick and the club complicate things a little, but Eliza makes it out ok.
Really enjoyed this one. Reminded me of Vi and Mac. Eliza's been thru so much and Roach helps her find her way. Brick and the club complicate things a little, but Eliza makes it out ok.
January 26, 2018
best one in this series!
October 21, 2018
Loved it! Can’t believe this was the end though I need more Marauders!
January 1, 2024
My favorite Marauder book, dealing with some heavy topics, but in an excellent way.
January 17, 2017
4 stars. Another great read in this series. Dark, emotional, sexy read.
February 23, 2016
I originally shied away from reading this book for reasons you might imagine. Here is Eliza, a lovely intelligent young girl who we've virtually watched grow into an incredible individual. Fortunately the author works hard not to make what happened to Eliza the focus of the book. She takes great pains to show how everyone deals with what happened from the perspective of Eliza, her family and community, both inside and outside the club. But more importantly, in Roach she introduces a hero who is both forceful and tender at the same time, and is everything and anything Eliza needs. I'm still not sure I agree with the catalyst but the individual who emerged from the other side was a fascinating person. It was a journey to recovery for all of the characters not just Eliza, and our author took us on quite a trip. Thank you Ms. Andersson!
May 1, 2021
Overall Opinion: WOW! What an amazing story. I enjoy this whole series but this one was heart-wrenching and beautiful. *Major Trigger: violent sexual assault*
Brief Summary of the Storyline: Eliza, the princess of the Mauraders MC, was kidnapped by a cartel and violently gang raped to break the MC. This happens before the book begins. The story is Eliza's journey to reclaiming her life with the help of Roach, a young man on loan to the Mauraders from New York.
POV: First person with alternating characters
Instalove: No, H & h are friends for quite some time
H rating: 5 stars.
h rating: 5 stars.
Descriptive sex: Yes, descriptive language used to describe both consensual sex and sexual violence
Safe sex: Condoms mentioned
OW/OM drama: Very minorly. Hero seen with another woman prior to becoming romantically involved with the h
Sex scene with OW or OM: Post-coital scene
Cheating: No
Possible Triggers: Very much so. Heroine violently gang raped. I feel the author handled this with such respect and care. We see how the assault has affected the heroine, her family, and those closest to her. We follow her journey of recovery.
Closure: Both main characters are still young, so more happily for now
How I got it: Kindle Unlimited
Brief Summary of the Storyline: Eliza, the princess of the Mauraders MC, was kidnapped by a cartel and violently gang raped to break the MC. This happens before the book begins. The story is Eliza's journey to reclaiming her life with the help of Roach, a young man on loan to the Mauraders from New York.
POV: First person with alternating characters
Instalove: No, H & h are friends for quite some time
H rating: 5 stars.
h rating: 5 stars.
Descriptive sex: Yes, descriptive language used to describe both consensual sex and sexual violence
Safe sex: Condoms mentioned
OW/OM drama: Very minorly. Hero seen with another woman prior to becoming romantically involved with the h
Sex scene with OW or OM: Post-coital scene
Cheating: No
Possible Triggers: Very much so. Heroine violently gang raped. I feel the author handled this with such respect and care. We see how the assault has affected the heroine, her family, and those closest to her. We follow her journey of recovery.
Closure: Both main characters are still young, so more happily for now
How I got it: Kindle Unlimited
December 10, 2015
Touching story of romance and the love and support of family members to a young woman who is struggling through the aftermath of a horrendous attack. The most unlikely person steps up to help Eliza through he down spiral into a world of depression would be Roach, the young member loaned to the club from the NY chapter. Roach, himself, is a rape survivor, ex drug addict and street kid. He doesn't pamper the "princess" and ends up being her savior. Emotional story for me while reading how much her family members love her and what extent they will go to help her. I don't usually care for the young adult romances but this one is one of the best overall romances about love between two people, and between family members I have ever read.
4.5 stars. Can be read as a stand alone.
4.5 stars. Can be read as a stand alone.
November 29, 2015
Five Star Worthy
This is an amazing book. It deals with the aftermath of a gang rape, not only on the actual physical victim, but also of her loved ones. And it does so in a positive way. Eliza is such a strong character throughout the story, even when she's not really dealing with everything. Roach is an awesome man. He's the only one who doesn't treat Eliza like a princess who might break at any moment and he helps her come to terms with what has happened to her, even though he doesn't particularly care for at first. You also see how her parents are dealing with it - her father's tremendous guilt and her mother's frustration and worry. This is a very quick read and despite the subject matter, a very satisfying story. I absolutely loved it.
This is an amazing book. It deals with the aftermath of a gang rape, not only on the actual physical victim, but also of her loved ones. And it does so in a positive way. Eliza is such a strong character throughout the story, even when she's not really dealing with everything. Roach is an awesome man. He's the only one who doesn't treat Eliza like a princess who might break at any moment and he helps her come to terms with what has happened to her, even though he doesn't particularly care for at first. You also see how her parents are dealing with it - her father's tremendous guilt and her mother's frustration and worry. This is a very quick read and despite the subject matter, a very satisfying story. I absolutely loved it.
April 29, 2025
Loved it
April 2025
A solid 5 star read this time around. Out of all the books in the Marauders series, this is my absolute favourite one.
Reading how Roach cared and allowed Eli’s to just be was up there with my favourite romance reads. While the reason he knew why and how to behave around Eliza was devastating, it was heartwarming to see unfold.
Brick and Mel’s journey as Eliza’s parents was just as challenging to read about.
All in all, Equilibrium was a fabulous moment to wind up the Marauders Series, but like the last time I read this, I would love to stay with these characters a little more!
2018
Equilibrium is a beautifully told story of survival and learning how to live again.
Hoping there is more to come in the Marauders series.
April 2025
A solid 5 star read this time around. Out of all the books in the Marauders series, this is my absolute favourite one.
Reading how Roach cared and allowed Eli’s to just be was up there with my favourite romance reads. While the reason he knew why and how to behave around Eliza was devastating, it was heartwarming to see unfold.
Brick and Mel’s journey as Eliza’s parents was just as challenging to read about.
All in all, Equilibrium was a fabulous moment to wind up the Marauders Series, but like the last time I read this, I would love to stay with these characters a little more!
2018
Equilibrium is a beautifully told story of survival and learning how to live again.
Hoping there is more to come in the Marauders series.
December 18, 2015
I was wondering how things would work out for Eliza after what she was subjected to. I felt so bad for her father who had no choice but to feel responsible for what had happened - not keeping her safe. All the phases she went through in her 'recovery' were spot-on and so true to life. Then add in 'Roach' who is himself a survivor; turning out to be her savior in so many ways. It was easy to see how they'd eventually fall in love.
I also loved all the MC interactions; all the family that love and protect their princess Eliza.
Wonderfully written and a fine addition to this series which has been one of my favorites. Thank you.
I also loved all the MC interactions; all the family that love and protect their princess Eliza.
Wonderfully written and a fine addition to this series which has been one of my favorites. Thank you.
March 23, 2017
Reread:3/26/16
Originally read:11/15
4.5 stars
This was so good! I absolutely loved Roach and Eliza, both separately and together. The only complaint that I have is that I felt like we were missing a lot from when they became a couple to when they ; it felt as if there was a huge chunk or gap missing. And I do wish that this would have been longer. For a character like Eliza's I'm pretty surprised that this wasn't a full length book.
And on a side note I hate the creepy ass cover.
Originally read:11/15
4.5 stars
This was so good! I absolutely loved Roach and Eliza, both separately and together. The only complaint that I have is that I felt like we were missing a lot from when they became a couple to when they ; it felt as if there was a huge chunk or gap missing. And I do wish that this would have been longer. For a character like Eliza's I'm pretty surprised that this wasn't a full length book.
And on a side note I hate the creepy ass cover.
November 28, 2015
I loved this book. In it Lina has handled really painful subject matter with her usual sensitivity and thoughtfulness. It's a wonderful story of growth, learning, survival, strength, and love. I love Lina's writing style and she hasn't written a book I haven't loved. I want to live in her written world with her wonderful characters. I strongly recommend this book and all the other book in the Marauders series.
December 7, 2015
impressive, sensitive and realistic portrayal of a gang rape survivor taking back her life and sexuality with the help of her family, old friends, a. very good therapist , and a young man who experienced it himself.. it's slow, painful with progress and setbacks. the young man accepts the changes the trauma left more easily than those who knew her before. he helps her slowly emotionally and eventually sexually as well. tender, raw, ugly, beautiful....very impressed.
January 25, 2016
4.5 Stars. Love this series and the MC, and although this doesn't have much MC action it is a fantastic read. If you have followed this series than you will know all about the MC Princess Eliza. This is her journey following the devastating attack that changed her life. With the help of her friends and family,but mostly newcomer Roach will she find herself again? and of course will she ever be able to trust a man, indeed fall in love!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews