Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Shadow Riders MC #1

Inflamed: Shadow Riders MC

Rate this book
"I'm nothin' but danger, darlin'. I'm no more than death. I'm somebody that you don't wanna f%&kin' mess with in the middle of the goddamn night or even in the daytime. I'm your worst f%&kin' nightmare – your greatest enemy. I'm every f%$kin' thing you never wished I was and every f%$kin' thing you ever wanted me to be."

Their worlds collided like a pair of rocket ships in midair.

Eight years ago, Mia Sullivan was known in and around her small town just outside of Crescent Beach, Florida as the 'good girl'. The 'preacher's kid'. The one who never stayed out late, always turned in her homework on time and never, ever said a word in front of anyone else that she couldn't say in front of her parent's first. She didn't drink. She didn't smoke. And sex before marriage was completely off the table. Her world was perfect. Her life plans were laid out in front of her. Everything was set in place. Until one night with the wrong man sent a girl well on her way to the top of the hill, sinking straight down to the bottom of the river like a stone.

Eight years ago, Jacob 'River' Hawkins was just a man looking to finally catch a break in his life. Born into a world of drugs, booze, sex and bikes, he had long ago given up on his dream of winning the UFC World Championship title after snapping his opponent's neck during a staged cage fight. As a result, his mother encouraged him to finally become an official member of the only family he ever knew growing up, the Shadow Riders MC. A few years in was all it took before he was made VP and forced to help make decisions about a club that while saving him from the streets, was also draining away parts of his soul day by day. Parts he never thought he'd get back until the morning he found a girl almost half his age beaten, broken and laying half dead right outside his club.

Eight years ago changed the course of two lives forever, connecting two souls that never believed in needing someone else until they had a need for each other. Neither of them knew just how much that need would eventually turn to lust, followed by love. Neither of them knew just how much that kind of love would almost destroy them both.

***"Inflamed" is a complete story told in first and third person POVs. It is around 180k words, meaning YES, it is VERY, VERY LONG. This is an IR romance and I can in fact guarantee an HEA. HOWEVER, you need to know that the road to that HEA will not be paved with pretty flowers along the way. At all. Due to some serious hardcore language and deeply intense sexual situations, this book should **NOT** be read by anyone under 18 years of age or those easily offended by coarse language. I strongly, strongly suggest checking the LOOK INSIDE for detailed specifics regarding exactly what the book entails, and downloading sample pages prior to purchase so that you know the kind of story you will be getting here. Thank you!***

590 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 24, 2016

55 people are currently reading
429 people want to read

About the author

Kiki Leach

24 books35 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
51 (34%)
4 stars
60 (40%)
3 stars
21 (14%)
2 stars
5 (3%)
1 star
11 (7%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
Profile Image for B*tchy.
270 reviews53 followers
May 30, 2016
EVERYTHING IS AWFUL

Seriously, what did I just read? This is the dumbest shit I've ever read in my life. Mind you, I've actually read "Mein Kampf", and I can unequivocally say that HITLER is a better writer. And trust me that he wrote as well as he painted. Seriously. In this book, EVERYTHING IS AWFUL.This story is an overall hot mess, and for some reason I stuck around until the end.

Everything in this was breaking in half thanks to our Neanderthal hero. This dude broke 2 bottles, 1 plate, 2 shelves, 2-3 door frames, 4 phones, 2 tables, 1 pool table including the legs, the Earth itself, and I know I'm missing more. Even worse, bikers just sounded like Juggalos. This group of Juggalos on bikes ARE NOTHING like real MCs. Seriously, no one curses like that! The cursing was so unnatural and very awkward for normal sentence structure. OH, and the long soliloquies and redundant conversations during dire situations were plain annoying. And the heroine? LAWD JESUS. I wanted to like her, but she can't tell the difference between a green and a yellow squash- her words, not mine. Also, for a chick who's so worried about her daughter, she sure pawns her off a lot. Did anyone else notice that she kept dumping her kid off with people she barely knew? WHO DOES THAT?!

This book is in dire need of an editor and should have been no longer than 200 pages for the content delivered. Everything was super predictable and plain not well researched. I can't. I won't. I shan't.
Profile Image for Rosie.
1,652 reviews32 followers
January 31, 2018
3.5 Stars

Kiki Leach, the author of this book is kind enough to warn potential readers about the graphic nature of this book and strongly encourages potential readers to read the synopsis. This is a hard-core MC Story, so there is an excessive amount of foul language used throughout the story as well as graphic violence. People die.

8 years ago Blue finds the bruised and bloody body of a young black woman, she's been beaten and left for dead at their gate. They do the right thing and take her to the hospital with no further contact until ...

Mia again shows up at their gate looking very healthy, sexy and very much alive. She survived her attack and so did her unborn baby she was carrying at the time. Her ex-boyfriend Ricky is the man that left her for dead and he's scheduled to be released from prison in two weeks. Mia throws herself upon the mercy of River and the Shadow Riders for safety and in return she has evidence that can help them set the record straight on a house fire that killed adults and children. Though no charges were ever filed, the strength of the accusation damaged their reputation and killed off their auto repair business. So River sees helping her as an act of redemption and all he has to do is to convince the rest of the Shadow Riders.

This story is about world and character building. It is a very slow burn love story and I think this helps the story a great deal. The hero meets the heroine early on and then many years pass and he doesn't meet her again until eight years later. Because these are two very different people with preconceived notions about MC's and the other about black folks. Each has to get to a place of acceptance. Part of the reasons we are who we are is due to DNA and environment. If that is all you know, then that is all you believe. Until you are exposed to a new way of seeing and thinking.

This story is extremely long, so long that the River and Mia don't fall in bed with each other right away. They take the time to get to know one another. Mia demands respect from River before it can even get to the bedroom and she makes it clear she doesn't appreciate the use of the word BITCH. River doesn't come around to what everyone sees and what Mia needs until well past the half way point of this story, but when he does ... PURE FIYAH ... like a moth to a flame! Think 'Fire We Make' by Alicia Keys and Maxwell.

Prior to River coming to his senses, his best friend Blue steals this book away from him. Blue is a ride or die MF (see below) and he is hilarious! Happily, we meet him again in his own book called 'Code Blue: A Shadow Riders MC'.

I've decoded the foul language used in this book so you can insert a more acceptable word, if you need it.

The word BITCH means: female or woman
The word MOTHERFUCKER means: brother (through kinship, not blood related)
The word ASSHOLE means: asshole☺

Some of you may be curious if The N Word is used and it is used one time and two letters. I'll explain ... the hero gets as far as ni- before he censors himself while telling the story of how his mother was attacked by two men when she was 17 years old. Later in the story, the heroine uses the complete word to recount the note to leave town that was left for her father by the KKK.

This story is long and there is some repetitiveness in the story which could be trimmed for a more succinct story. Simply put, at times these characters talk too damn much. There is no doubt that the characters spoke to this author and she put pen to page to tell an epic MC story. My gripes are few but I would have liked to have seen more interaction between River and Mia's daughter Avery. Also, there were important people missing from the ending. It was such a natural leap that I'm surprised the author opted not to go that route.

Don't forget to read Blue's Story in Code Blue.
Profile Image for TinaNoir.
1,892 reviews337 followers
May 31, 2016
Nope.

I started out thinking I would like this. But it went downhill for me and I began to skim.

The plot surrounding the main characters became so Byzantine and murky that it just made me tired.

People monologued to death. These are some of the talkingest bikers. Jeez. Late in the book, River, the hero, gets a frantic phone call from the wife of his President of his club. She's sent him several 911 texts. It is an emergency, she needs his help. Does he rush out? Well he does, but first he talks for about 20-some pages. I was sure she'd be dead by the time he got there.

The heroine Mia suffers a really horrific personal trauma at the start of the book. There is an eight year time jump so it makes sense that she is physically recovered from it. And yet, as the book goes on I couldn't help but feel that the initial trauma was presented mostly for shock value to damsel her. There is never any reference to her receiving any real counseling or how she recovered psychologically from it. The personal trauma is instead transmuted into an issue of physical safety. The villain is after her again and she wants to run away from him, but we are never treated to any insight into Mia's though process about how this is affecting her psychologically, no flashbacks, no PTSD, no nightsweats...nothing. Her tormenter is basically reduced to a stalker.

After awhile the dialogue just felt repetitive.

I lost engagement rather quickly.

On a fun note, though, some version of the word 'Fuck' was used 1,068 times in this book. Awesome! (not really because most of the dialogue was just the word fuck strung together with a couple of 'shits' and 'goddamns'). But still, my profanity loving heart kinda loves the fact that fuck was probably the most commonly used word in this book after 'the'.
Profile Image for Elle1986.
456 reviews31 followers
July 30, 2016
Okay... the thing is this... this was rough.... like really really rough to get through and not even because of the content... because of the language. I am no prude at all and cursing doesn't bother me much at all... but I am sure that I read over 3000 curse words with the main one being GD... like okay curse a million times fine... but did it have to be the repeated GD?

However though I am annoyed with it, it would be unfair for me to rate it low due to the language when there was a warning in place from the start ( I think next time the warning should be "including over 3000 curse words")... could have been a less then 3k but felt like it to me. Anywho... the story line was rather interesting.. kept me wanting more. I was a little shocked that they didn't make things official until 65%.... thought draws would drop sooner than that actually.

Probably would have rated it 5 stars.. however the ending was rushed..like I would have rather just skipped the whole scene at the end and the pussy parties and had more of the "normal" couple with the kids. and I promise avery was shipped off so damn much.. I was thinking it would be soo cute to see River and Avery bond some...but oh well


Interesting read... would I read it again... probably not but it did serve it's purpose and it was exactly what I needed at the time!
Profile Image for Danielle.
642 reviews
Read
August 14, 2016
I've left unrated and was a DNF, not my style of writing, even though MC's probably talk more like this author portrays it seems to distract you from any storyline, I think it's because to create a good story lots of words needs to be used instead of thousands of F and Jeffing.
Just to clarify im not objecting to the swearing because there is a warning, I am also a huge user of swear words. I just didn't think it worked for me.
Profile Image for Lynnai .
626 reviews
July 8, 2017
Light my fire

This was my first read by this author and I don't typically read the MC genre, but gave this one a try because I liked the sample. I really enjoyed it and was glad that it was a longer read. The storyline and characters had time to develop. It was a good thing that the warning was printed in the beginning of the book because if it hadn't been you would be in for a shocked the amount of times that b***h was used. I really liked River and how he struggled with his feelings for Mia, the club, and future. Mia proved to be stronger than she seemed and definitely surprised me at times. Really enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more by this author.
37 reviews3 followers
August 6, 2017
Best M.C book!

Wow, I have to say this was one of the best M.C books I have read. I stumbled upon this book while looking in kindle unlimited and am so glad. This book is a must read and is wonderfully written. I loved how long it was and all the details that make you get lost while reading. I will definitely be reading the next book as well as all of Kiki Leach's books she is an amazing new author!!


Profile Image for Rosa.
158 reviews6 followers
January 30, 2018
This is a MC's story that I can tolerate and I easily falling in love while reading it.Although its too long to read it and Im a fan of short read book but this story for me suprisingly didnt feel dragging (With dialogues take 2,3,4 pages long)and I really enjoy it.Cant wait to read second series of the book!
Profile Image for lisa jung.
5,439 reviews46 followers
July 11, 2018
River

This is a compelling book told by River MC Vice president and Mia who is looking for protection from an old problem. Enjoyed the great characters in the book and looking forward to Blue book
Profile Image for Marcia Carter.
405 reviews3 followers
September 16, 2019
Great

I really liked this story but it ran a little long. This story was really well written and the main characters were really likeable. Some dialog rambled on but the story in general was really good.
7 reviews
April 18, 2024
Great book, I will read , more from this author.

This was a great story, with elements of surprise, action, romance and so much more. I will definitely recommend this author to others.
Profile Image for JB.
375 reviews
October 3, 2018
Very much enjoyed this book, looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Kia.
119 reviews
December 28, 2020
First book I read from this author and I was hooked!!! I loved this book!! I have all the MC books by this author and have never been disappointed!
886 reviews12 followers
Read
June 9, 2024
DNF, after barely starting. Yikes on every level.
Profile Image for Sherry Molock.
1,069 reviews
April 29, 2016
Wow!!!!

This book is almost indescribably great. I have read a LOT of MC romance books and many are unforgettable but this is one book I'll never forget.

So, I agree with most of the reviewers that the profanity is a little over the top and the book is a tad bit long but still, wow! This is the story of Mia, an African American woman who was left for dead at the doorsteps of an MC club and River, the young MC VP that found her and took her to the hospital. Flash forward 8 years later and we find Mia at the MC's doorstep asking River to help her bc the man who tried to kill her before is after her again. This guy, Ricky, has been in jail the last 8 years and he's coming out soon to reclaim the daughter he has with Mia. River reluctantly agrees to help her when he realizes it will help the MC.

I won't give any more of the plot away but there are lots of twists and turns and surprises along the way. The book is aptly named bc the relationship between River and Mia is combustible. It takes a while for them to get together and the author does an agonizingly great job in building up the sexual tension between the two, but trust me, when they finally do the "nasty", it's well worth the wait!

What I really liked about this book is that it dealt honestly with the racial differences between River and Mia. Most romance novels, particularly the MC genre depict Kumbaya like worlds where race either doesn't matter or where everyone loved every body regardless of their cultural background, which just isn't realistic. While I realize these books are fiction, and there is a lot of other stuff that isn't realistic either, it always feels like ignoring race is a cop out. This book dealt with it realistically and honestly. I also liked the book bc even though the profanity was a bit much at times, it was also realistic. The author didn't sugarcoat the lives of the MC's. Most MC books have the heroes trying to steer the club into legit businesses, and I often wondered, are there any authors who are willing to let the MC characters be a gang and not a social club? Well here is one author brave enough to develop complex characters who do really bad things but can also have good hearts to the people they love.

I hope there is a part two and I hope the next book features Blue, the BFF of River.
2,670 reviews23 followers
April 8, 2016
All Fire!!

Well I am just speechless!To say this was one pulse pounding action romance,mc romance is just an understatement.When I chose this book I read all the warnings and I thought for a moment that maybe it could be a little to much.There are times when it does become a bit much,but River and Mia bring you back to earth with all the heat they throw each other's way.Not to mention Blue has moments in this story are down right hilarious.This is such a really good story and it's raw in the way its being told and it works because this is a hard life they are living and they have had some horrible things happen.I love the fact that at first Mia comes off as the damsel in distress but that is not the case.This lady does not only show you she is a survivor but a fighter as well,and she is also a woman that will not take half measures.Now River is the man,and boy do we get this man full frontal!The writer not only makes hate River but love him as well.We get to see a alpha male who is not afraid to let his guard down.I love that the writer gives a look in on the doubt that men have about love as well.This was one fast paced well written story that you are going to want to read and pass along.If you are a little wobbly about rough talk and action then this book is not for you,but if you are then get prepared to go from zero to hundred!
942 reviews11 followers
April 5, 2016
**possible spoilers**

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Please heed the warning at the start of the this book, as it is indeed very true. There's ALOT of bad language, ALOT of sex, and talking about sex and it's a IR romance, so if this doesn't sound like your idea of a good book then best to skip this one.

Overall I really enjoyed the book. It is quite lengthy, but it probably needed it as there is a lot going on with our H River and our h Mia.

Mia and River meet under horrific circumstances, where Mia ends up on the front doorstep of Rivers MC. She has been beaten, raped & is basically on deaths door, left there by her boyfriend. There's the obvious good vs. bad dilemma with what they should do with her & luckily for her they drop her off at a hospital.

Fast forward 8 years and Mia is back on Rivers doorstep for his help. What ensues is a lot of back & forth between these 2, and they technically don't get together until about 70% of the way in. IMO that was probably one of my peeves of this book. I would have liked to seen the Together a bit sooner, but once they commit its most definitely on!!

Lots of action, grit, steam & romance in this book. I'd recommend if you like your MCs on the rougher side. Well done Kiki!!


Profile Image for Gina Martin.
765 reviews11 followers
May 4, 2016
I absolutely loved it. Great story!!! River and Mia had some major chemistry going on in this book. It took River forever to tell Mia how he felt about her and I loved how Mia would not back down until he said it. I also love how Mia demanded respect. Once he finally came clean, the love and passion between him and Mia intensified. River loved him some Mia and vice versa. River had a huge heart, but he really did have issues and a "giant cage around his heart", and it took a woman like Mia to set it him free.

I loved me some Blue! He had River's back all day every day and gave River some good advice and some food for thought regarding Mia. I loved it. I can't wait to read his story.....Styx too.

Anyway, it was just a really great story and really worth the time that it took to read it, because the book was extremely long. If you are a person who cannot handle a lot of profanity or dirty talk, this is NOT the book for you, because the things being said in this book will definitely have you "clutching your pearls". I really appreciate the author being thoughtful enough to her readers by putting out a disclaimer. I commend her for that.
17 reviews
Read
April 21, 2016
Another Fantastic Read

This is another one of the best books I have ever read. Wonderful character in a beautiful storyline. A page turner. Really loved her characters Mia a wonderful strong heroine who took a chance finding help for her and her daughter in the most unlikely person who was a racist biker, a mindset ingrained in him because of a horrible situation in his past Mia also had self dignity, she loved the man but made him give on his end. And River, oh River was fantastic and a smoking hot alpha male who gave his all for Mia a women that was not the kind of women he would help. To me the profanity actually helped me to understand the mentality of this biker club. Again it amazes me how female authors do such a wonderful job with their male characters allowing us to see their persona. Definitely loved me some River, he was definitely raw but his relationship with Mia was beautiful and his words that came out of his heart had me riveted. Excellent writing Mimi. Will definitely be reading more from you. A loyal fan. :)
1,264 reviews
April 29, 2016
This book is amazing and I am a huge fan!

If you are a fan of Sons of Anarchy then you will love this book. It is fast paced, dirty and gritty but you cannot stop reading it or put it down. I loved it! I would highly recommend and I could not quit reading it! River and Mia make a great couple and heal the hurts and wrongs in each other’s lives. I did not want to give too much away but the book stays fast paced and violent but in a gripping way. I love the hero-River and heroine-Mia so much and I want to know what happens next? Great book-at first I was a little put off by the cussing but it is a biker gang and fits for the story. I highly recommend!
Profile Image for LaTanya Galloway.
326 reviews6 followers
April 20, 2016
The language.....whoa!

This was a hard story to get into in the first couple of chapters because of the language. I totally get it is a story about a hard way of life but they way the Lord's name was taken in vain like in every other sentence was a bit much. Now with that being said...... it was a great story. Don't wanna give away the story but the way Mia and River come back into each other lives only to realize everything and I mean everything from their past comes into play. But when River and Mia finally got together.......it was explosive!
Profile Image for Tyera Evans.
27 reviews3 followers
April 12, 2016
Holy Sh!t

This story was absolutely amazing. I laughed, teared up and everything....it felt 100% real. It is very rare that I would give a book 5 stars. But this book both earned it and deserved it. There aren't a lot of interracial stories that have substance, and give you a full story. Now a days authors are worried about getting as many stories out as possible without building the story. Thank you for taking the time to develop this story, it was DEFINITELY WORTH IT.
130 reviews
April 17, 2016
Hot and steamy

This story is most definitely long, but that's what makes it unique. The author takes you into a world most would only happen on television. The love between River and Miami is unbelievable! The author also brings you into the lives of the supporting characters as well. It's very descriptive and deals with topics many authors are afraid to touch. Great read. Great job.
Profile Image for Nancy cagle.
162 reviews3 followers
June 27, 2016
Wow....

This is a new Author to me but gotta say this is one heck of a MC book I love MC book's tell you the truth right now that's all that I read just like the warning label says lots of dirty talking bikers don't miss reading this book this is a true mc book just the way their suppose to act now I'm so in need of Blues story please ......Thank you so much Kiki for the great entertainment of this book!!
75 reviews1 follower
April 7, 2016
Good book with twists, turns and great details

I really enjoyed this book and the disclaimer before I read it. The protagonists were flawed but honest and likeable. The twists, turns and complications were believeable. This book was so enjoyable to read - the length of it was necessary. Entertaining piece of fiction and a well developed romance!
21 reviews
April 23, 2016
Wow

This was different but a GREAT different. If you can get pass the language then you'll find a great story. Me personally the language made it real and not some fairytale. My 1st read from this author and it won't be my last. One of the good reads in a really, really long time.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.