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First impressions are everything…
Gabby Morgan packed her bags and ran for the cover of a small-town and the quiet life of a schoolteacher. She didn’t bank on becoming the nanny for the tough-as-nails, short-on-words, hot-as-hell biker who can’t seem to be on time to save his life.
Cleaning up his MC’s reputation is the least of his worries. Blake Mahone never planned on being the president of a notoriously violent MC, or a single father, but here he is, doing both. Then Gabby Morgan enters the picture. She’s flawless, refined, and as his kid’s teacher, way out of his league. She acts like she hates him, but her eyes tell a different story. Before he knows it, Blake finds himself hot for teacher, and he’s more than ready to learn all her secrets. Now all he has to do is convince her to give him a shot, while dealing with a rising threat to his crew and his town…all without getting them all killed in the process.
Fans of Jeanne St. James and Liv Brywood will go crazy for Grit, book one of J.C. Valentine’s Spartan Riders.
Scroll up and ONE-CLICK to start reading Blake and Gabby’s death-defying, thrilling, and steamy journey through love and redemption now!
Gabby Morgan packed her bags and ran for the cover of a small-town and the quiet life of a schoolteacher. She didn’t bank on becoming the nanny for the tough-as-nails, short-on-words, hot-as-hell biker who can’t seem to be on time to save his life.
Cleaning up his MC’s reputation is the least of his worries. Blake Mahone never planned on being the president of a notoriously violent MC, or a single father, but here he is, doing both. Then Gabby Morgan enters the picture. She’s flawless, refined, and as his kid’s teacher, way out of his league. She acts like she hates him, but her eyes tell a different story. Before he knows it, Blake finds himself hot for teacher, and he’s more than ready to learn all her secrets. Now all he has to do is convince her to give him a shot, while dealing with a rising threat to his crew and his town…all without getting them all killed in the process.
Fans of Jeanne St. James and Liv Brywood will go crazy for Grit, book one of J.C. Valentine’s Spartan Riders.
Scroll up and ONE-CLICK to start reading Blake and Gabby’s death-defying, thrilling, and steamy journey through love and redemption now!
374 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 23, 2016
324 people are currently reading
1088 people want to read
About the author
J.C. Valentine
79 books2,005 followersUSA Today bestselling romance author J.C. Valentine lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and their amazing children and fun-loving dogs. When she's not writing stories of love, laughter, and steamy scenes, you can find her editing for fellow authors or spending time with her family. J.C. has been penning stories since childhood, though thankfully her writing has improved since then. She loves bringing heart, humor, and happiness to readers through her vivid imagination and love of words.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 237 reviews
April 25, 2016
NOW LIVE!!!
*Amazon US*Amazon UK*Kobo*
This was my first book by J.C Valentine, and I was blown away with how much I enjoyed her writing. I'm already looking forward to getting more from this series and also the author.
The book follows Blake Mahone as he tries to settle into fatherhood, taking care of his kid at the same time he has to take care of his club. He fumbles around a bit in his responsibilities before meeting Gabby Morgan, his sons teacher. His son instantly takes a liking to her, but for Blake it's hard to trust another female in his life so he does his best to push her away. Gabby doesn't give up easily, though, not once she realizes what a special person Blake is.
I'm a huge fan of MC books but there are times where the actual story gets lost in all the going ons of the Club, and that definitely didn't happen with this book, which was refreshing. I really liked this story and how focused on the main characters it was. Their story never got pushed to the background, instead staying strong throughout the whole book. Gabby and Blake were both great characters and seeing their differences bring them together was very intriguing.
Overall, this author just became one of my automatic buys and is on my stalk-like-crazy list. I can't wait to see what direction she takes this series in but I already know it's going to be great.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
*Amazon US*Amazon UK*Kobo*
This was my first book by J.C Valentine, and I was blown away with how much I enjoyed her writing. I'm already looking forward to getting more from this series and also the author.
The book follows Blake Mahone as he tries to settle into fatherhood, taking care of his kid at the same time he has to take care of his club. He fumbles around a bit in his responsibilities before meeting Gabby Morgan, his sons teacher. His son instantly takes a liking to her, but for Blake it's hard to trust another female in his life so he does his best to push her away. Gabby doesn't give up easily, though, not once she realizes what a special person Blake is.
I'm a huge fan of MC books but there are times where the actual story gets lost in all the going ons of the Club, and that definitely didn't happen with this book, which was refreshing. I really liked this story and how focused on the main characters it was. Their story never got pushed to the background, instead staying strong throughout the whole book. Gabby and Blake were both great characters and seeing their differences bring them together was very intriguing.
Overall, this author just became one of my automatic buys and is on my stalk-like-crazy list. I can't wait to see what direction she takes this series in but I already know it's going to be great.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
April 28, 2016
Yassss JC Valentine, yassss! Loved, loved, LOVED this book. I loved it. A poem about my love for this frikking book:
Grit, how I love thee, let me count the ways:
How do I love Grit? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach , for the ends of being and ideal grace. – Because Bake Mahone is a very large man and he will need all of me.
I love thee to the level of every day’s most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. – Because if ever there were fictional characters that made domesticity seem attractive, it was Blake and his adorable as fuck son.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right. – Because Blake is not your typical biker. He may have had a violent past but the only thing he’s fighting now is a buch misconceptions.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise. – Because JC Valentine created characters with their own special quirks but somehow still felt real. Valentine just has a way of creating emotional characters who seem totally authentic and original in a stories that often touch on shocking and gritty subjects.
I love thee with the passion put to use in my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith. – Because these two certainly brought the passion. There were moments of hilarity in their journey but even in their confusion there was sweetness. A sweetness that quickly turned hot. A hotness that was turned to fire thanks to Blake and his dirty mouth and forceful ways.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose with my lost saints. – Because even though each of them had been hurt and broken and left with every reason never to trust in love again, you can’t fight an attraction when it’s as intense as it was between these two.
I love thee with the breath,smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death. –OK so maybe I didn’t love it THAT much. But this book was awesome. The characters were just quirky enough to make me love them. The suspense just enough to keep me interested and the darkness just enough to get me emotional. There was a lot of humour that had me chuckling and many sweet moments that had me swooning. The chemistry and tension between the characters was palpable and I adored their interactions. Just a really great MC romance!
(ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review)
Grit, how I love thee, let me count the ways:
How do I love Grit? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach , for the ends of being and ideal grace. – Because Bake Mahone is a very large man and he will need all of me.
I love thee to the level of every day’s most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. – Because if ever there were fictional characters that made domesticity seem attractive, it was Blake and his adorable as fuck son.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right. – Because Blake is not your typical biker. He may have had a violent past but the only thing he’s fighting now is a buch misconceptions.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise. – Because JC Valentine created characters with their own special quirks but somehow still felt real. Valentine just has a way of creating emotional characters who seem totally authentic and original in a stories that often touch on shocking and gritty subjects.
I love thee with the passion put to use in my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith. – Because these two certainly brought the passion. There were moments of hilarity in their journey but even in their confusion there was sweetness. A sweetness that quickly turned hot. A hotness that was turned to fire thanks to Blake and his dirty mouth and forceful ways.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose with my lost saints. – Because even though each of them had been hurt and broken and left with every reason never to trust in love again, you can’t fight an attraction when it’s as intense as it was between these two.
I love thee with the breath,smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death. –OK so maybe I didn’t love it THAT much. But this book was awesome. The characters were just quirky enough to make me love them. The suspense just enough to keep me interested and the darkness just enough to get me emotional. There was a lot of humour that had me chuckling and many sweet moments that had me swooning. The chemistry and tension between the characters was palpable and I adored their interactions. Just a really great MC romance!
(ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review)
April 28, 2016
Gabby is turning a new leaf, she has a new career as a teacher, she's back in her hometown, and she's swearing off romance. She's got a past she's determined to leave behind and her future certainly doesn't include a hot, bossy biker that's the father of one of her students.
Blake doesn't do relationship, he's got no desire to be stuck. He's doing what he can to keep his motorcycle club on the straight and narrow, raise his son the right way, and keep his crazy ex out of their lives. His son's teacher might be a problem though, her attitude says one thing and her eyes say something else. He's wants to show her there's more to him and he's willing to tear her walls down to get there.
I hadn't read anything from J.C. Valentine before, but she is definitely on my list of authors to watch now. Grit is the kind of book you pick up and then look up realizing hours have passed by. There are piles of MC Romances out there, but this one resonated with me. With a unique plot, complex characters, romance, and plenty of twists Grit was entertaining from start to finish. Both the main characters, Gabby and Blake, were incredibly well-developed characters, but the secondary characters, including Blake's adorable son, were as well. The plot, while focused around an MC, never got lost in the ongoings of the club, with the main focus resting on the two main characters. I really enjoyed the twists that were tossed into the story, making the romance a bit hotter and the journey there all the better. I am definitely looking for more books in the Spartan Riders series, they're a motorcycle club I'd definitely like to know more about.
While I read Grit in one sitting, and really enjoy it, I struggled with the female main character, Gabby, and with the lack of grit I expected. Gabby was judgmental, her upbringing clouding her view of the world, but I expected a lot more from a character that had a rough past. Sometimes I wanted to ring her neck and I had far less patience than Blake had, which is saying a lot. The twists in the book were really interesting and brought a new element to the book, but they could have played out in a much bigger way. I think bringing out the past of the MC, showing where they were at currently, and how the twists played out would have been more interesting.
I really enjoyed Grit by J.C. Valentine and I definitely suggest it to readers looking for a non-traditional MC Romance. The main characters have some great chemistry, there's a cute kid involved, and it definitely has the twists you're looking for!
Blake doesn't do relationship, he's got no desire to be stuck. He's doing what he can to keep his motorcycle club on the straight and narrow, raise his son the right way, and keep his crazy ex out of their lives. His son's teacher might be a problem though, her attitude says one thing and her eyes say something else. He's wants to show her there's more to him and he's willing to tear her walls down to get there.
I hadn't read anything from J.C. Valentine before, but she is definitely on my list of authors to watch now. Grit is the kind of book you pick up and then look up realizing hours have passed by. There are piles of MC Romances out there, but this one resonated with me. With a unique plot, complex characters, romance, and plenty of twists Grit was entertaining from start to finish. Both the main characters, Gabby and Blake, were incredibly well-developed characters, but the secondary characters, including Blake's adorable son, were as well. The plot, while focused around an MC, never got lost in the ongoings of the club, with the main focus resting on the two main characters. I really enjoyed the twists that were tossed into the story, making the romance a bit hotter and the journey there all the better. I am definitely looking for more books in the Spartan Riders series, they're a motorcycle club I'd definitely like to know more about.
While I read Grit in one sitting, and really enjoy it, I struggled with the female main character, Gabby, and with the lack of grit I expected. Gabby was judgmental, her upbringing clouding her view of the world, but I expected a lot more from a character that had a rough past. Sometimes I wanted to ring her neck and I had far less patience than Blake had, which is saying a lot. The twists in the book were really interesting and brought a new element to the book, but they could have played out in a much bigger way. I think bringing out the past of the MC, showing where they were at currently, and how the twists played out would have been more interesting.
I really enjoyed Grit by J.C. Valentine and I definitely suggest it to readers looking for a non-traditional MC Romance. The main characters have some great chemistry, there's a cute kid involved, and it definitely has the twists you're looking for!
May 11, 2017
I was bored. Like really bored, so bored that I started skimming after 50% -.-'
May 14, 2016
https://romanticcynicblog.wordpress.c...
Beware of Spoilers!
Star Ratings:
Heroine (Gabby): 4.5/5
Hero (Blake): 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Grovel: none
Cheating: none
HEA: HFN but no epilogue – I think it is the start of a series but also a standalone
Triggers: some OW drama
Average score: 4/5
Best Line: Ash: “I’m gonna marry her.”
Worst Line: “You wouldn’t be the first woman to get stupid around me.”
Personal Review:
This was a good romance between a kindergarten teacher (who is quite strong-willed!) and a hot single dad (who also happens to be a biker).
Random Ramblings:
•Poor Ash in the beginning
•There is something about single dads who are badass’
•The story behind Blake’s nickname had me laughing!
•I liked that Blake manned-up and went after her after warning her away
Overall Feeling:
Ash totally made the story for me
Beware of Spoilers!
Star Ratings:
Heroine (Gabby): 4.5/5
Hero (Blake): 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Grovel: none
Cheating: none
HEA: HFN but no epilogue – I think it is the start of a series but also a standalone
Triggers: some OW drama
Average score: 4/5
Best Line: Ash: “I’m gonna marry her.”
Worst Line: “You wouldn’t be the first woman to get stupid around me.”
Personal Review:
This was a good romance between a kindergarten teacher (who is quite strong-willed!) and a hot single dad (who also happens to be a biker).
Random Ramblings:
•Poor Ash in the beginning
•There is something about single dads who are badass’
•The story behind Blake’s nickname had me laughing!
•I liked that Blake manned-up and went after her after warning her away
Overall Feeling:
Ash totally made the story for me
April 18, 2016
Enjoy these sexy GRIT Teasers!
September 8, 2017
**this review covers books 1 through 3**
Motorcycle club romances are their own animals. They give me a peek into a world far removed from my own and tend to stretch my boundaries as a reader, since the level of misogyny and general WTFery can make me twitchy, but I need to shake things up from the fluffy and funny on occasion.
I like my MCs more on the lighter side of the WTFery scale. For those who don’t know my scale, it’s 1 to 5, with 1 like Kristen Ashley’s Chaos series (they just ride, yo) all the way up to a 5 like Madeline Sheehan’s Undeniable series, aka “oh dear Lord what the Holy Hell just happened, I need an adult.”
So, when I saw this series by JC Valentine, I snagged it, thinking it’s in the 1-2 range and cool. Then I realized it was three books into the series. *facepalm*
Kindle Unlimited. Now, I’m an OCD kinda gal when it comes to reading series in order. I have tried to just go with the flow, but it does bug me and leaves me with a case of FOMO that I’d rather not deal with. Since the earlier books were on Kindle Unlimited, I decided to read them all, in order, so this is more of a series review, rather than a single book. Yay, a three-fer!
So here’s the sitch. The Spartan Riders are an MC that used to be on the wrong side of the law until MC President Blake “Quick” Mahone turned things around and now they ride but they stay clean...ish. He’s a single father who meets Gabby, his son Ash’s schoolteacher and sparks fly in GRIT. The men in his club, like Tucker “Country” Abrams (who romances Talia McKinnon in METTLE) and Garrick “Repo” Stone (the hero of VIGOR), are the usual manly men, can be a-holes but when it comes to their women, they’re ...well, the domineering and stubborn but they love them.
Since the beginning of the series, it’s been crystal clear that Repo LOVES Ginger “Red” Mercury, an older bunny with a complicated history with him and his brothers. Yes, there’s been sex had with many of the brothers - definite a push on my boundaries, but not a dealbreaker, at least the way it’s handled here. Anyway, Repo has staked his claim on Ginger with his brothers (hands off or I’ll break them off, kind of claim). Ginger is NOT having it.
From there, eventually romance happens.
The characters are interesting to me. Ms. Valentine hooked me from Grit and while I had issues with the writing (more on that later), I like the tone of this MC series - the chemistry between the characters (sexual and non-sexual) works and there’s an edge of danger that keeps the action flowing.
The overarching storyline dominates this narrative. In VIGOR more than the earlier books, the tensions between the Spartans and the main villain family Cruiz takes over and sidelines the romance. I think that’s because Ginger and Repo don’t have alot of conflict between them. They butt heads but their internal obstacle isn’t strong, it’s resolved quickly, undone, then resolved again. It felt more drama for drama’s sake. The first third of the book, when it’s more focused on them, is a bit rough around the edges then turns towards the more tender and man, I needed that turn.
Diversity and stereotypes. I wasn’t a fan of the fact that the villains were the stereotypical Latino cartel folk and other than that, there is maybe one more ethnic character, also a stereotype. This needs work.
Attention to detail is an issue. There are continuity discrepancies (locations, ages, things that happened in one book that are changed in the next) that stood out to me, especially since I read the first three books back to back. The stories all have the same rhythm and while the individual romances give the books a sense of completion,the endings are all abrupt with that “to be continued….” feel to them. Ginger and Repo’s ending was the same - I think because it was clear they should be together that the ending felt rushed and just left open for more Spartan adventures.
Ultimately I am enjoying this series, though it’s hard to rate, so I gave all three books the same rating. I would say there’s potential here that would keep me coming back for more and I think Ms. Valentine can create chemistry between her characters, a skill that should be appreciated. I am hoping that the issues I had with the series so far get resolved and that it gets stronger because this is a cast of characters I wouldn’t mind visiting again.
For more reviews, visit
Motorcycle club romances are their own animals. They give me a peek into a world far removed from my own and tend to stretch my boundaries as a reader, since the level of misogyny and general WTFery can make me twitchy, but I need to shake things up from the fluffy and funny on occasion.
I like my MCs more on the lighter side of the WTFery scale. For those who don’t know my scale, it’s 1 to 5, with 1 like Kristen Ashley’s Chaos series (they just ride, yo) all the way up to a 5 like Madeline Sheehan’s Undeniable series, aka “oh dear Lord what the Holy Hell just happened, I need an adult.”
So, when I saw this series by JC Valentine, I snagged it, thinking it’s in the 1-2 range and cool. Then I realized it was three books into the series. *facepalm*
Kindle Unlimited. Now, I’m an OCD kinda gal when it comes to reading series in order. I have tried to just go with the flow, but it does bug me and leaves me with a case of FOMO that I’d rather not deal with. Since the earlier books were on Kindle Unlimited, I decided to read them all, in order, so this is more of a series review, rather than a single book. Yay, a three-fer!
So here’s the sitch. The Spartan Riders are an MC that used to be on the wrong side of the law until MC President Blake “Quick” Mahone turned things around and now they ride but they stay clean...ish. He’s a single father who meets Gabby, his son Ash’s schoolteacher and sparks fly in GRIT. The men in his club, like Tucker “Country” Abrams (who romances Talia McKinnon in METTLE) and Garrick “Repo” Stone (the hero of VIGOR), are the usual manly men, can be a-holes but when it comes to their women, they’re ...well, the domineering and stubborn but they love them.
Since the beginning of the series, it’s been crystal clear that Repo LOVES Ginger “Red” Mercury, an older bunny with a complicated history with him and his brothers. Yes, there’s been sex had with many of the brothers - definite a push on my boundaries, but not a dealbreaker, at least the way it’s handled here. Anyway, Repo has staked his claim on Ginger with his brothers (hands off or I’ll break them off, kind of claim). Ginger is NOT having it.
From there, eventually romance happens.
The characters are interesting to me. Ms. Valentine hooked me from Grit and while I had issues with the writing (more on that later), I like the tone of this MC series - the chemistry between the characters (sexual and non-sexual) works and there’s an edge of danger that keeps the action flowing.
The overarching storyline dominates this narrative. In VIGOR more than the earlier books, the tensions between the Spartans and the main villain family Cruiz takes over and sidelines the romance. I think that’s because Ginger and Repo don’t have alot of conflict between them. They butt heads but their internal obstacle isn’t strong, it’s resolved quickly, undone, then resolved again. It felt more drama for drama’s sake. The first third of the book, when it’s more focused on them, is a bit rough around the edges then turns towards the more tender and man, I needed that turn.
Diversity and stereotypes. I wasn’t a fan of the fact that the villains were the stereotypical Latino cartel folk and other than that, there is maybe one more ethnic character, also a stereotype. This needs work.
Attention to detail is an issue. There are continuity discrepancies (locations, ages, things that happened in one book that are changed in the next) that stood out to me, especially since I read the first three books back to back. The stories all have the same rhythm and while the individual romances give the books a sense of completion,the endings are all abrupt with that “to be continued….” feel to them. Ginger and Repo’s ending was the same - I think because it was clear they should be together that the ending felt rushed and just left open for more Spartan adventures.
Ultimately I am enjoying this series, though it’s hard to rate, so I gave all three books the same rating. I would say there’s potential here that would keep me coming back for more and I think Ms. Valentine can create chemistry between her characters, a skill that should be appreciated. I am hoping that the issues I had with the series so far get resolved and that it gets stronger because this is a cast of characters I wouldn’t mind visiting again.
For more reviews, visit
March 18, 2017
Overall rating: 3 stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Plot: 7/10
Ending: 2/10
Writing: 5/10
Hero: 7/10
Heroine: 6/10
Humour: 6/10
Steaminess: 6/10
HEA:
Recommend: Not really
Re-read: No
Read more from author: Don't think so
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Plot: 7/10
Ending: 2/10
Writing: 5/10
Hero: 7/10
Heroine: 6/10
Humour: 6/10
Steaminess: 6/10
HEA:
Recommend: Not really
Re-read: No
Read more from author: Don't think so
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August 10, 2017Available now!
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June 8, 2020
2 ⭐⭐ - Meh!
==========
Purchased on July 28, 2017
==========
Purchased on July 28, 2017
April 20, 2016
4 -- Teach -- stars
Gabby has been on the run since something horrible happened to her, but now she has moved in with her parents. She is the new teacher at a local school, a job she has always dreamed of doing. On the first school day, one child is late. Ash acts a little odd and too mature for his age. When school is done, Ash’s dad isn’t there and Gabby waits with him for his dad. When a biker stops close to them, she wants to walk away with Ash but Ash runs to the biker. That biker is Ash’s dad, Blake. Gabby doesn’t like bikers and judges Blake, just like Blake judges Gabby. Ash likes Gabby and asks her to come to the family barbecue. Gabby and Blake start talking there and realize their judgments are wrong. It’s the start of their relationship.
I liked Blake and Gabby a lot. Blake is an amazing father. He cares a lot about Ash and he would do anything for him. Blake is a strong and dangerous man, but he can also be sweet and kind. He doesn’t like Gabby at the beginning, but when he knows her, he wants her desperately and can’t imagine life without her. Gabby is afraid and doesn’t want to look over her shoulder anymore. She’s very excited to start as a teacher and she does an amazing job. She likes Ash a lot and eventually also his dad. She’s fascinated by Blake and realizes he isn’t like other bikers.
Blake and Gabby may seem unlikely as a couple, but they’re perfect for each other. There is a great chemistry between them. Gabby keeps her distant in the beginning, because of her past. She doesn’t want to put Ash or Blake in danger if her past ever comes back, because she cares about them a lot. When Gabby’s past does come back to haunt her, Blake wants to protect her.
Ash, Blake’s son, is so adorable! He’s smart and kind. He acts very mature for his young age, but he had to grow up fast. I also liked his ‘uncles’ who are actually Blake’s biker friends. They have Blake’s back and would do anything for him.
The start of their relationship felt rushed to me. They were attracted to each other, but couldn’t imagine being together. So one moment they were judging each other and not really liking the other person, and the next moment they were kissing and thinking about forever. I wished for more conversations between them in the beginning. From the moment they were really together, I really started loving the book.
The book ended too soon for me. There were things still unsolved. I know there will be more books in this series, so I hope there will be a sequel about Gabby and Blake. I also won’t mind books about the other bikers, but I need more conclusion about a certain character. I can’t wait to see what this author writes next!
-- ARC provided in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! --
Gabby has been on the run since something horrible happened to her, but now she has moved in with her parents. She is the new teacher at a local school, a job she has always dreamed of doing. On the first school day, one child is late. Ash acts a little odd and too mature for his age. When school is done, Ash’s dad isn’t there and Gabby waits with him for his dad. When a biker stops close to them, she wants to walk away with Ash but Ash runs to the biker. That biker is Ash’s dad, Blake. Gabby doesn’t like bikers and judges Blake, just like Blake judges Gabby. Ash likes Gabby and asks her to come to the family barbecue. Gabby and Blake start talking there and realize their judgments are wrong. It’s the start of their relationship.
I liked Blake and Gabby a lot. Blake is an amazing father. He cares a lot about Ash and he would do anything for him. Blake is a strong and dangerous man, but he can also be sweet and kind. He doesn’t like Gabby at the beginning, but when he knows her, he wants her desperately and can’t imagine life without her. Gabby is afraid and doesn’t want to look over her shoulder anymore. She’s very excited to start as a teacher and she does an amazing job. She likes Ash a lot and eventually also his dad. She’s fascinated by Blake and realizes he isn’t like other bikers.
Blake and Gabby may seem unlikely as a couple, but they’re perfect for each other. There is a great chemistry between them. Gabby keeps her distant in the beginning, because of her past. She doesn’t want to put Ash or Blake in danger if her past ever comes back, because she cares about them a lot. When Gabby’s past does come back to haunt her, Blake wants to protect her.
Ash, Blake’s son, is so adorable! He’s smart and kind. He acts very mature for his young age, but he had to grow up fast. I also liked his ‘uncles’ who are actually Blake’s biker friends. They have Blake’s back and would do anything for him.
The start of their relationship felt rushed to me. They were attracted to each other, but couldn’t imagine being together. So one moment they were judging each other and not really liking the other person, and the next moment they were kissing and thinking about forever. I wished for more conversations between them in the beginning. From the moment they were really together, I really started loving the book.
The book ended too soon for me. There were things still unsolved. I know there will be more books in this series, so I hope there will be a sequel about Gabby and Blake. I also won’t mind books about the other bikers, but I need more conclusion about a certain character. I can’t wait to see what this author writes next!
-- ARC provided in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! --
April 26, 2016
This was my first novel by Ms. Valentine, and I really enjoyed her style. She painted such an amazing world of real everyday life women ,sexy bikers and the two intertwine.
Blake was pure perfection. He was rough, dirty, sexy, and so damn sweet. You fall In Love with Blake rather quickly. He is a single father and just trying to make it with his head above water most nights. He struggles with his own issues and challenges like everyone else, however does it with patients and grace. He never complains. Never makes excuses. And makes sure to keep those he loves and cares for protected at all cost. Especially Gabby.
Gabby is Asher's (Blake's son) school teacher. She sees him on the first day of school, and has some preconceived notions about the young, slightly dirty and disheveled 5 year old. The push and pull between Gabby and Blake was so hot that I was yelling at my kindle to just " do her already!" And boy was it smoking when they did!!
This was was a ton of fun and I was on the edge of my seat for that last few pages. If you are looking for a milder ride in the world of MC's then this is your kinda book. The men are still hot and dirty. The women still sweet and in need of an alpha hero. There's villains and BBQ, and booze a plenty. I recommend this book to anyone who's ever dream of being an old lady.
** ARC was kindly provided by author in exchange for an honest review **
Blake was pure perfection. He was rough, dirty, sexy, and so damn sweet. You fall In Love with Blake rather quickly. He is a single father and just trying to make it with his head above water most nights. He struggles with his own issues and challenges like everyone else, however does it with patients and grace. He never complains. Never makes excuses. And makes sure to keep those he loves and cares for protected at all cost. Especially Gabby.
Gabby is Asher's (Blake's son) school teacher. She sees him on the first day of school, and has some preconceived notions about the young, slightly dirty and disheveled 5 year old. The push and pull between Gabby and Blake was so hot that I was yelling at my kindle to just " do her already!" And boy was it smoking when they did!!
This was was a ton of fun and I was on the edge of my seat for that last few pages. If you are looking for a milder ride in the world of MC's then this is your kinda book. The men are still hot and dirty. The women still sweet and in need of an alpha hero. There's villains and BBQ, and booze a plenty. I recommend this book to anyone who's ever dream of being an old lady.
** ARC was kindly provided by author in exchange for an honest review **
April 27, 2016
I received an ARC of this book from IndieSage PR in exchange for an honest review and as part of the book's blog tour promotions.
I lover biker romances. I mean, seriously. Give me a biker romance any day, and I'd gladly devour it. Really devour it. There's just something about the MC life that appeals to me. It's funny because I've always seen myself as this ice queen, prissy, always looking for comfortable things, and always choosing the easy way. But I love reading about the gritty, hard life within the MC. I love that these characters aren't the suave billionaires or CEOs. So, here I am again reviewing yet another book, this time, by JC Valentine. And let me tell you, I've read enough books from her to know that she really knows how to put a story together.
Now, as if a biker isn't enough, there's also a cute little kid to love in this book. Story-wise, I think this book actually has a simple plot. What I really enjoyed reading was the character development of both the hero and the heroine. I like the dash of suspense that was injected to the story. I also like the way that Ms. Valentine created two solid characters with interesting back stories. Most of all, I love the way this books makes a reader hungry for more. I, myself, am looking forward to the next book. Grit is a great way to kick off a series. I can't wait to read more.
I lover biker romances. I mean, seriously. Give me a biker romance any day, and I'd gladly devour it. Really devour it. There's just something about the MC life that appeals to me. It's funny because I've always seen myself as this ice queen, prissy, always looking for comfortable things, and always choosing the easy way. But I love reading about the gritty, hard life within the MC. I love that these characters aren't the suave billionaires or CEOs. So, here I am again reviewing yet another book, this time, by JC Valentine. And let me tell you, I've read enough books from her to know that she really knows how to put a story together.
Now, as if a biker isn't enough, there's also a cute little kid to love in this book. Story-wise, I think this book actually has a simple plot. What I really enjoyed reading was the character development of both the hero and the heroine. I like the dash of suspense that was injected to the story. I also like the way that Ms. Valentine created two solid characters with interesting back stories. Most of all, I love the way this books makes a reader hungry for more. I, myself, am looking forward to the next book. Grit is a great way to kick off a series. I can't wait to read more.
August 25, 2016
Hm. Very conflicting emotions on this one.
I loved how amazing Blake was with his son Ash and I also appreciated how quickly he accepted the fact that he was falling for Gabby and didn't waste time with pointless denial. But.. I just didn't feel like I connected with the H/h properly. I feel like it lacked that seemless connection, even though not all of it felt like that there was enough for me to feel disconnected from the story. I also didn't like the fact that Blake was a little bit hypicritical about Gabby hiding things when he was doing the exact same, Whether that be for her safety or not it still irked me that she had to apologise so publicly about it all when he was quick to tell her his shit wasn't her business.(and yes I get it the whole biker thing and their secrets and all but still) it pissed me off.
So yes I like it well enough that I read it, enjoyed some and even laughed, sighed and got pissed which is what I want when reading books... and it had great potential. But I proberly won't rush to pick it up again which saddens me because I wanted to love it.
I loved how amazing Blake was with his son Ash and I also appreciated how quickly he accepted the fact that he was falling for Gabby and didn't waste time with pointless denial. But.. I just didn't feel like I connected with the H/h properly. I feel like it lacked that seemless connection, even though not all of it felt like that there was enough for me to feel disconnected from the story. I also didn't like the fact that Blake was a little bit hypicritical about Gabby hiding things when he was doing the exact same, Whether that be for her safety or not it still irked me that she had to apologise so publicly about it all when he was quick to tell her his shit wasn't her business.(and yes I get it the whole biker thing and their secrets and all but still) it pissed me off.
So yes I like it well enough that I read it, enjoyed some and even laughed, sighed and got pissed which is what I want when reading books... and it had great potential. But I proberly won't rush to pick it up again which saddens me because I wanted to love it.
May 22, 2020
2 stars
What bugs me the most about this series is not the whiny h, or the insta family or that there was no conclusion of the book by the end or that the H found the h's lifeless body all soaking in blood wanting revenge and suddenly in the next chapter she's up and walking and he's offering her drinks... oh no... what bothers me the most is this line:
"“We’re not an MC. We’re a riding club.”
If you're not an MC then why use MC in the title? According to this Blake guy, MCs are trash, the worse of the worst, his guys are good "clean" guys they just belittle and degrade women and ride motorcycles... oh okay. 😒🙃
What bugs me the most about this series is not the whiny h, or the insta family or that there was no conclusion of the book by the end or that the H found the h's lifeless body all soaking in blood wanting revenge and suddenly in the next chapter she's up and walking and he's offering her drinks... oh no... what bothers me the most is this line:
"“We’re not an MC. We’re a riding club.”
If you're not an MC then why use MC in the title? According to this Blake guy, MCs are trash, the worse of the worst, his guys are good "clean" guys they just belittle and degrade women and ride motorcycles... oh okay. 😒🙃
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2016
I was sailing along to a 5 star read until I hit about 80% and then something happened to make me dial it down a notch. Don't get me wrong, this is a very good book IMO and I enjoyed the writing style, story line and the characters greatly. With that said, along about that 80% mark the h got a little stupid. I'll be checking out the next book in the series and recommend this one if you like a good romance with a single Dad that loves his child above all else.
June 22, 2016
The whole story was pretty good but i'm missing the angst,the drama,the feeling that keeps you reading no mater what .
I guess even bikers are not what are used to be.
I guess even bikers are not what are used to be.
September 10, 2016
I really enjoyed this book enormously and the interaction between the two main characters! If your looking for a sexy alpha motorcycle father figure then come read about "Quick" well worth it
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October 10, 2023FREE on Amazon today (10/19/2017)!
October 6, 2017
I stupidly started this series on book 3. Yeah yeah i hate those people too lol I'm on catch up with this one but i'm really glad i read it now.
Blake is newly single. His ex has gone and he's left with his young son Ash to care for on his own. Being the Prez of The Spartans and a single dad is not easy but he loves his son and is trying to juggle it all. His son's first day at school and Blake turns up late to pick him up. There he meets Ash's judgemental and scowling teacher Gabby.
Gabby is trying to escape her past by going home. She starts a new job at the local school and meet's Ash. First he's late for school then she has to wait with him when his father is late to pick him up. Annoyed by this when he eventually turns up on his motor cycle she gives him what for.
Blake doesn't like her but he can appreciate her curves. Ash takes a real liking to his teacher so Blake puts up with her for his sake. After Ash invites her to a BBQ Gabby realizes she may have got a few things wrong about the rough biker.
Gabby's past and Blakes past get twisted up together and they find themselves fighting the same enemy. Will their secrets destroy them before they even get a chance to be together?
I love Blake! I think his relationship with Ash makes him extra super hot! I mean yum! A man who's not afraid to show everyone the love he has for his son is a massive pant wetter for me!
Gabby is quite judgey at the start but seeing it from her point of view, ie her past and her lack of knowledge about bikers i didn't have a problem with her at all. I also loved how she not only fell in love with Blake but also Ash. In fact i think she loved Ash before Blake.
Then we have Ash. God that kid made this book for me. He's such a sweetheart i'm already thinking of his future book! He's gotta have one! He just has!
I loved the storyline and the plot. It kept me gripped and i also love the writing style. I like that it goes around different people as i'm generally a nosy person and like to know who everyone is lol.
Fab start to the series! Now onto book 2!
Blake is newly single. His ex has gone and he's left with his young son Ash to care for on his own. Being the Prez of The Spartans and a single dad is not easy but he loves his son and is trying to juggle it all. His son's first day at school and Blake turns up late to pick him up. There he meets Ash's judgemental and scowling teacher Gabby.
Gabby is trying to escape her past by going home. She starts a new job at the local school and meet's Ash. First he's late for school then she has to wait with him when his father is late to pick him up. Annoyed by this when he eventually turns up on his motor cycle she gives him what for.
Blake doesn't like her but he can appreciate her curves. Ash takes a real liking to his teacher so Blake puts up with her for his sake. After Ash invites her to a BBQ Gabby realizes she may have got a few things wrong about the rough biker.
Gabby's past and Blakes past get twisted up together and they find themselves fighting the same enemy. Will their secrets destroy them before they even get a chance to be together?
I love Blake! I think his relationship with Ash makes him extra super hot! I mean yum! A man who's not afraid to show everyone the love he has for his son is a massive pant wetter for me!
Gabby is quite judgey at the start but seeing it from her point of view, ie her past and her lack of knowledge about bikers i didn't have a problem with her at all. I also loved how she not only fell in love with Blake but also Ash. In fact i think she loved Ash before Blake.
Then we have Ash. God that kid made this book for me. He's such a sweetheart i'm already thinking of his future book! He's gotta have one! He just has!
I loved the storyline and the plot. It kept me gripped and i also love the writing style. I like that it goes around different people as i'm generally a nosy person and like to know who everyone is lol.
Fab start to the series! Now onto book 2!
March 28, 2018
4 MC stars!
Gabby Morgan is starting over, a school teacher. On the 1st day a students parent is late, very late, enter Blake Mahone, president of the Spartan Riders MC. He is total alpha and everything she needs to shy away from. Her ex was in an MC and he left her broken and burned. Still on the run and fearful, looking over her should.
Blake does women, he has no desire to date one or more, till he sees his sons hot as sin teacher and as they see more and more of each other their preconceived ideas of one another prove false. Hot sex, good action, an @$$%& ex, a rival gang and a few nice twist make for a good start to the series by JC Valentine.
Reason this aint a 5, the book is SA (standalone) but the action will be carried over. Also pet peeve, the MC is reformed....why? Make the MC a real MC make them 1%ers! I hate the wimpy MC's most authors clean up.
Gabby Morgan is starting over, a school teacher. On the 1st day a students parent is late, very late, enter Blake Mahone, president of the Spartan Riders MC. He is total alpha and everything she needs to shy away from. Her ex was in an MC and he left her broken and burned. Still on the run and fearful, looking over her should.
Blake does women, he has no desire to date one or more, till he sees his sons hot as sin teacher and as they see more and more of each other their preconceived ideas of one another prove false. Hot sex, good action, an @$$%& ex, a rival gang and a few nice twist make for a good start to the series by JC Valentine.
Reason this aint a 5, the book is SA (standalone) but the action will be carried over. Also pet peeve, the MC is reformed....why? Make the MC a real MC make them 1%ers! I hate the wimpy MC's most authors clean up.
February 6, 2017
The Spartan is now a Biker's Club as opposed to an MC. They are striving to stay on the straight and narrow, keeping their line of business legitimate but with the rivalry of another MC, this can soon change.
Blake is the prez of the Spartan Riders. He is a lone parent since his ex, Jodi walked out. She is a terrible character! No wonder that Blake is no longer interested in any relationships. He dedicates his time to the club and his son, Ash who is adorable.
Gabby is alive by the skin of her teeth. She is now living with her parents and has started a new life as a teacher. She has sworn off Bikers after her terrible ordeal but the first time that she sets eyes on the dark, handsome and broody Blake, something stirs within her.
Gabby and Ash start to form a bond whilst waiting for Blake who is late picking Ash up from school on more than one occasion! Gabby is furious with Blake, thinking that he is inconsiderate. Blake thinks that Gabby is very "stiff upper lip". When Ash invites Gabby to a family barbecue, she goes along and soon finds out that there is more to Blake than meets the eyes. Blake notices a few things that he likes about her too and just like that they start spending time together. Gabby starts to divulge her past to Blake and vice versa but just when they get comfortable with each other, the past comes crashing back.
Gabby is in terrible danger and Blake is frantic. It's during that time when her life flashes before her eyes that Gabby realises what she will be missing. Blake and Ash! Will Blake be able to save her? Then, there are other secrets that Gabby has been keeping from Blake. These can only complicate matters. To top it all, they have the same enemies in common.
I really like Blake's character. He is loyal and dedicated despite giving the tough impression. Gabby is compassionate, loving and tends to make the wrong decisions at times but it's those decisions that make this story what it is. It's a beautifully portrayed story. It has humour, love, passion, loyalty, betrayal, danger and some violence. I like the positive family atmosphere that it projects. The pace and suspense sure kept me on the edge of my seat and I would fully recommend to other readers. It's a great start to this new series.
I was kindly issued with a complimentary ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Blake is the prez of the Spartan Riders. He is a lone parent since his ex, Jodi walked out. She is a terrible character! No wonder that Blake is no longer interested in any relationships. He dedicates his time to the club and his son, Ash who is adorable.
Gabby is alive by the skin of her teeth. She is now living with her parents and has started a new life as a teacher. She has sworn off Bikers after her terrible ordeal but the first time that she sets eyes on the dark, handsome and broody Blake, something stirs within her.
Gabby and Ash start to form a bond whilst waiting for Blake who is late picking Ash up from school on more than one occasion! Gabby is furious with Blake, thinking that he is inconsiderate. Blake thinks that Gabby is very "stiff upper lip". When Ash invites Gabby to a family barbecue, she goes along and soon finds out that there is more to Blake than meets the eyes. Blake notices a few things that he likes about her too and just like that they start spending time together. Gabby starts to divulge her past to Blake and vice versa but just when they get comfortable with each other, the past comes crashing back.
Gabby is in terrible danger and Blake is frantic. It's during that time when her life flashes before her eyes that Gabby realises what she will be missing. Blake and Ash! Will Blake be able to save her? Then, there are other secrets that Gabby has been keeping from Blake. These can only complicate matters. To top it all, they have the same enemies in common.
I really like Blake's character. He is loyal and dedicated despite giving the tough impression. Gabby is compassionate, loving and tends to make the wrong decisions at times but it's those decisions that make this story what it is. It's a beautifully portrayed story. It has humour, love, passion, loyalty, betrayal, danger and some violence. I like the positive family atmosphere that it projects. The pace and suspense sure kept me on the edge of my seat and I would fully recommend to other readers. It's a great start to this new series.
I was kindly issued with a complimentary ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 25, 2016
Get this book.
I'd like to end this with "That is all" but maybe I should give you a few reasons as to why you should get this book.
If you like a gritty (no pun, promise) MC romance... this one might not be for you. I found it held more contemporary themes with slight suspense than a full-out, bunch of bastards on the back of hogs, MC romance type of story. But if you like a romance with a gritty (intended that time) man who has harsh, sharp edges, who has been done wrong, who loves his son above all else, and who isn't expecting love but when he finds it, he fights for it (even if it doesn't always seem that way to 'her'), this is your book.
Gabby's very first impression of Blake isn't the best, but her reasoning was completely justified. I loved watching her talk to him like he was one of her pupils during their initial meetings. But like the badass biker he is, Blake takes her disdain and simply growls and shows his teeth. It takes his kindergartener to truly bring these two together.
The Spartan's were a fun group of bikers; I found myself really enjoying this group. They're more than just bikers; they all have their 'real' lives outside of the club, making them easier to relate to. Blake, though... That man hides a few things behind his scruff and anger, but it's when he's completely open and vulnerable, in simply moments like Ash sleeping on his chest, that his full abilities as a great man are showcased. I absolutely fell in love with Blake throughout the book, and watching as Gabby slowly got glimpses of him, opened herself up to his world... I enjoyed her just as much.
The Spartans are fighting an oncoming battle against someone though. Add to that, Blake doesn't trust those who lie, and Gabby's holding some cards close to her chest... Just when you fall in love with the characters and their sweet, easy ways, the crux of if all will explode -- and rather than annoying me, that everything happens at once, I found it to be put into the romance formula just right.
I can't wait for the rest of these books to come out. 1, of course, for more glimpses of Blake, Gabby, and Ash, but also 2, because I love these people! There are some lines that need to be tied up still in the series, so I'm excited to watch those clean up some. Country is next; I loved Tucker and can't wait to watch him fall!
I'd like to end this with "That is all" but maybe I should give you a few reasons as to why you should get this book.
If you like a gritty (no pun, promise) MC romance... this one might not be for you. I found it held more contemporary themes with slight suspense than a full-out, bunch of bastards on the back of hogs, MC romance type of story. But if you like a romance with a gritty (intended that time) man who has harsh, sharp edges, who has been done wrong, who loves his son above all else, and who isn't expecting love but when he finds it, he fights for it (even if it doesn't always seem that way to 'her'), this is your book.
Gabby's very first impression of Blake isn't the best, but her reasoning was completely justified. I loved watching her talk to him like he was one of her pupils during their initial meetings. But like the badass biker he is, Blake takes her disdain and simply growls and shows his teeth. It takes his kindergartener to truly bring these two together.
The Spartan's were a fun group of bikers; I found myself really enjoying this group. They're more than just bikers; they all have their 'real' lives outside of the club, making them easier to relate to. Blake, though... That man hides a few things behind his scruff and anger, but it's when he's completely open and vulnerable, in simply moments like Ash sleeping on his chest, that his full abilities as a great man are showcased. I absolutely fell in love with Blake throughout the book, and watching as Gabby slowly got glimpses of him, opened herself up to his world... I enjoyed her just as much.
The Spartans are fighting an oncoming battle against someone though. Add to that, Blake doesn't trust those who lie, and Gabby's holding some cards close to her chest... Just when you fall in love with the characters and their sweet, easy ways, the crux of if all will explode -- and rather than annoying me, that everything happens at once, I found it to be put into the romance formula just right.
I can't wait for the rest of these books to come out. 1, of course, for more glimpses of Blake, Gabby, and Ash, but also 2, because I love these people! There are some lines that need to be tied up still in the series, so I'm excited to watch those clean up some. Country is next; I loved Tucker and can't wait to watch him fall!
April 21, 2016
Love J.C. Valentine books even all her MC series. Each one of her stories leaves you coming back for more.
Gabby is a young lady that has just recently graduated with her teaching degree and is looking forward to starting her teaching career as a Kindergarten teacher. Gabby is on the run from her previous life but we don't learn about that until a little later in the story. Gabby's enthusiasm about starting her new job is refreshing! On the first day of school, one of her students is late and she thinks it a little strange that he is late on the first day. When Ash shows up, Gabby accepts him into her class like nothing happened and helps him get settled in. Little did Gabby know that Ash's father would turn out to be one of her parent's that ran late on several occasions. When Gabby is sitting with Ash waiting on his father to come and pick him up, Gabby knows that there has to be something going on in this situation. Ash's father is the typical biker guy and Gabby judges him hard for that. Which I think is harsh.
Blake is a single dad trying to make a living all while keeping things going for his son Ash. All this is new to Blake so he is doing the best that he can do. Blake is also the president of the Spartan Riders MC that he is part of. When Ash's mom up and left Blake with him, he has to learn how to juggle life and keep everything balanced. When Blake meets Ash's teacher, Gabby, he never dreamed that he would fall for the prim and proper teacher type, but there is just no resisting the attraction that is there for these two.
I received this Arc free for an honest review and can't wait to read more.
Gabby is a young lady that has just recently graduated with her teaching degree and is looking forward to starting her teaching career as a Kindergarten teacher. Gabby is on the run from her previous life but we don't learn about that until a little later in the story. Gabby's enthusiasm about starting her new job is refreshing! On the first day of school, one of her students is late and she thinks it a little strange that he is late on the first day. When Ash shows up, Gabby accepts him into her class like nothing happened and helps him get settled in. Little did Gabby know that Ash's father would turn out to be one of her parent's that ran late on several occasions. When Gabby is sitting with Ash waiting on his father to come and pick him up, Gabby knows that there has to be something going on in this situation. Ash's father is the typical biker guy and Gabby judges him hard for that. Which I think is harsh.
Blake is a single dad trying to make a living all while keeping things going for his son Ash. All this is new to Blake so he is doing the best that he can do. Blake is also the president of the Spartan Riders MC that he is part of. When Ash's mom up and left Blake with him, he has to learn how to juggle life and keep everything balanced. When Blake meets Ash's teacher, Gabby, he never dreamed that he would fall for the prim and proper teacher type, but there is just no resisting the attraction that is there for these two.
I received this Arc free for an honest review and can't wait to read more.
April 13, 2016
Gabby Morgan is back home, trying to hide in plain sight. She hasn’t told anyone why she has come back home; they think it was because of a bad breakup. She will let them think that for now. She is doing what she wants, teaching kindergarten kids. On the first day one is late and he looks older than he is. At the end of the day, she is left when the same child that was last. His parents are late picking him up and all calls she has made have gone unanswered. When a man shows up on a motorcycles, she can’t believe her eyes. He is sexy as all get out, all alpha male and she is drawn to him.
Blake “Quick” Mahone knows he is late picking his son up, he lost track of time. When he pulls up as school, Ash’s teacher begins to chew him out for being late. Accusing him of not taking into account that she might have other things to do. Blake can’t believe Gabby is talking to him this way but his body is responding to her like it hasn’t before.
They both have a past but will Gabby tell him what happened to her? After she spends a little time with Blake and Ash, will she run for the hills? After all, he is the president of an MC? What will happen when Blake learns who is after her and why? Can he forgive her for what she has done?
I loved this story and Blake is yummy and Gabby knows how to handle him. JC Valentine has ventured into the MC world and I think she has landed with both feet and I can’t wait for more from this series.
**A copy provided by the author in exchange for my honest review**
Blake “Quick” Mahone knows he is late picking his son up, he lost track of time. When he pulls up as school, Ash’s teacher begins to chew him out for being late. Accusing him of not taking into account that she might have other things to do. Blake can’t believe Gabby is talking to him this way but his body is responding to her like it hasn’t before.
They both have a past but will Gabby tell him what happened to her? After she spends a little time with Blake and Ash, will she run for the hills? After all, he is the president of an MC? What will happen when Blake learns who is after her and why? Can he forgive her for what she has done?
I loved this story and Blake is yummy and Gabby knows how to handle him. JC Valentine has ventured into the MC world and I think she has landed with both feet and I can’t wait for more from this series.
**A copy provided by the author in exchange for my honest review**
April 12, 2016
Gabby has moved into her parent's basement after a bad break-up from her boyfriend that could have had them both killed. She is very aware that danger is still lurking and could come knocking on her door at anytime. That is not what she fears the most, it's that she has now put her family in danger too. You can't live your life in constant fear though so she is determined to move forward with a new life, albeit cautiously.
Blake Mahone is the sort of man that Gabby needs to steer clear of but when he pulls up outside the school she teaches at, to pick up his son, she gets all kinds of hot and flustered. A man like him reeks of danger and she already has enough of that in her life. However, under the influence of his sweet son Ash, she finds herself being pulled into their lives and is surprised to discover that her presumptions about Blake and his club were completely wrong.
'What a hypocrite she was, pointing fingers at him and shaming his lifestyle when in all actuality it was she who posed the real threat.'
In fact, his life seems to be tame in comparison to what she is running from. And damn a hot guy being a very sweet dad to his son is doing all sort of things to her heart and body. She wants this man but once he knows what she has run from will he still want to be with her? And this whole alpha male thing that he has going on is driving her crazy, yet she seems to be unable to resist submitting to him...
'You wouldn't be the first woman to get stupid around me. Don't know if you realised this, but I'm kind of hot' - Blake
Blake Mahone is the sort of man that Gabby needs to steer clear of but when he pulls up outside the school she teaches at, to pick up his son, she gets all kinds of hot and flustered. A man like him reeks of danger and she already has enough of that in her life. However, under the influence of his sweet son Ash, she finds herself being pulled into their lives and is surprised to discover that her presumptions about Blake and his club were completely wrong.
'What a hypocrite she was, pointing fingers at him and shaming his lifestyle when in all actuality it was she who posed the real threat.'
In fact, his life seems to be tame in comparison to what she is running from. And damn a hot guy being a very sweet dad to his son is doing all sort of things to her heart and body. She wants this man but once he knows what she has run from will he still want to be with her? And this whole alpha male thing that he has going on is driving her crazy, yet she seems to be unable to resist submitting to him...
'You wouldn't be the first woman to get stupid around me. Don't know if you realised this, but I'm kind of hot' - Blake
April 17, 2016
Grit (Spartan Riders, # 1) by J.C. Valentine is a sweet story of Gabby a kindergarten school teacher of the son of the president of the town’s local MC. Blake has found himself the sole parent of his son. His girlfriend who he had hoped to married has decided that he is dull, boring and she is sick of him. She decided she is leaving him and she wants to take her son but because of her condition Blake refuses to let him go. Now Blake, not only has to deal with being a single dad but a crazy ex while being the president of a MC that he has taken legitimate. Doing the best he can he has found himself at odds with his son’s school teacher because he has been late several times picking him up from school which means the teacher has to stay with his son. Gabby has taken to Blake’s son and his son is taken by his teacher. A relationship seems to develop between Gabby and Blake as she tries to see past her preconceived notions about the life of the MC and Blake tries to get past the hurt of being betrayed by his son’s mother. A cute story of the journey they both take trying to not give in to the feelings they are developing for each other while dealing with an ex baby mother, trouble from the past and a secret that could destroy them all. Sexy and sweet peppered with a little danger. Well told story by the author and I am looking forward to the next book in the saga of the Spartan MC plus a look at where Gabby and Blake are now. I was given an ARC of the book for an honest review. I give this story 4.5 stars.
May 25, 2016
Gabby Morgan is a new kindergarten teacher who isn't looking for a man or to fall in love. Trying to put a rocky padt behind her all she wants is to move forward.
Blake Mahone is a tough as nails MC president who is a single father of his son Ash. Determined not to get involved with another woman he can't trust he makes a point of staying away from Ash's prim and proper kindergarten teacher. But you know what they say about good intentions.
I really wanted to love this story but for some reason I couldn't connect with the characters. I did enjoy several aspects of it. The bond that is between Gabby and Ash was so sweet. I think she fell in love with him before falling for his father. I also thought the love between father and son was so heartwarming and the fact you had this hard biker showing his love and devotion for his child made Blake more human.
I just had a hard time with the main characters. I got whip lash from Gabby's feelings for Blake. Yes she was prejudice against bikers and had a reason but Blake showed her a different side time and time again. Even the sex scenes were hard to believe. Blake tells her he wants a warm willing woman, in his life, in his bed etc. But he never comes out and states he wants her not just any woman.
I did like J.C. Valentine's secondary characters and would definitely like to read more of the Spartan Riders.
May 1, 2016
Holy freaking hotness. Ahhhh, I want to take a moment to just think about how much I loved Blake in Grit.
So here's the deal. Gabby Morgan has some pretty serious secrets that she's running from - way more dangerous than anything Blake throws her way as being an MC President. You have no clue what troubles her as a reader, all you know is that she's stressed and trying to rebuild her life. Starting with her dream career as a teacher.
Which is how Blake came into her world. His son, Ash is one of her first students and their school year gets off to a bit of a rocky start. Eventually, you realize that he's just coming to terms with their new normal and that he really is a great dad. (Swooon!!)
The sexual chemistry from even the first moments is intense and captivating. You know that once they surrender to all that they're feeling - it's going to be incredible. Like melt your panties right off your body hot. And then it is. (Insert blushing emoji here)
It is awesome.
And so is Ash. Let me just comment on how cute he was - this little nug will steal your heart and was a fabulous addition to a charming romance. I can guarantee you will love him as much as his dad.
So basically what I am saying is that Grit was amazing!! So much fun to read and sexy as hell - definitely a must read MC book. The storyline is fast paced and entertaining - grab your copy today!!
So here's the deal. Gabby Morgan has some pretty serious secrets that she's running from - way more dangerous than anything Blake throws her way as being an MC President. You have no clue what troubles her as a reader, all you know is that she's stressed and trying to rebuild her life. Starting with her dream career as a teacher.
Which is how Blake came into her world. His son, Ash is one of her first students and their school year gets off to a bit of a rocky start. Eventually, you realize that he's just coming to terms with their new normal and that he really is a great dad. (Swooon!!)
The sexual chemistry from even the first moments is intense and captivating. You know that once they surrender to all that they're feeling - it's going to be incredible. Like melt your panties right off your body hot. And then it is. (Insert blushing emoji here)
It is awesome.
And so is Ash. Let me just comment on how cute he was - this little nug will steal your heart and was a fabulous addition to a charming romance. I can guarantee you will love him as much as his dad.
So basically what I am saying is that Grit was amazing!! So much fun to read and sexy as hell - definitely a must read MC book. The storyline is fast paced and entertaining - grab your copy today!!
March 3, 2019
It's no secret I am a HUGE fan of all things J.C. Valentine. So it should be no surprise to anyone that I LOVED this story. But I didn't just love it because she wrote it. Oh no, I loved it because it deserves to be loved!
Gabby Morgan is doing the best she can to move forward in her life. She's had some serious bad luck in the romance department so she wants to focus on herself and her career and not men. But then Blake Mahone happened. He's a fictional character and even I could not stop myself from wanting him! He was ridiculously gritty and alpha and gooey yummie all at the same time. ***swoon***
JC Valentine did a phenomenal job on intertwining the gritty MC world with that of the hearts and flowers world. If you get my drift. It was a perfect blend of the almost always dark world of an MC and the sweet side of the outside world. I had a smile on my face for both of these guys thru this whole story. Their relationship/journey was intense at times and sexy ALL the time. This is a really great read and what I hope is just the start to great new MC series!
ARC provided for blog tour review
Gabby Morgan is doing the best she can to move forward in her life. She's had some serious bad luck in the romance department so she wants to focus on herself and her career and not men. But then Blake Mahone happened. He's a fictional character and even I could not stop myself from wanting him! He was ridiculously gritty and alpha and gooey yummie all at the same time. ***swoon***
JC Valentine did a phenomenal job on intertwining the gritty MC world with that of the hearts and flowers world. If you get my drift. It was a perfect blend of the almost always dark world of an MC and the sweet side of the outside world. I had a smile on my face for both of these guys thru this whole story. Their relationship/journey was intense at times and sexy ALL the time. This is a really great read and what I hope is just the start to great new MC series!
ARC provided for blog tour review
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