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Aces High MC - Charleston #1
The Other Princess
I was eight years old when I found out I had a father. It was the same day I held my dead mother in my arms while praying her life wasn't really over.
I was dropped into the middle of a new family not long after that. My dad, his wife, and their two kids to be exact. My new brother was ten years old and my sister was five. It doesn't take a genius to figure out I wasn’t supposed to be there.
My family ended up bigger than that though. My dad was a member of the Aces High Motorcycle Club. From the very beginning I was ostracized because of who my mother had been. The daughters of club members were generally known as MC Princesses. My little sister was one. My title was a bit different, and proved that my mom's sins would always be held against me. I was The Other Princess.
My family, both by blood and MC ties, did wrong by me so I walked away from them. That was until he came home from the Army.
He tried to fix everything.
He tried to win an unattainable heart that had shut down years earlier.
I would know since it was my heart he was after.
He didn't realize it would take a miracle.
Secretly, I hoped I could still believe in miracles.
*Note: The Aces High Charleston Series should be read in order.
While each book revolves around different members of the Aces High MC Family, they all follow along a timeline that will lead to spoilers if you skip around. They do not have to be read in any particular order with Aces High Books from other chapters (Dakotas, Cedar Falls, etc.)
Book 1: The Other Princess (available now)
Coming in 2019:
Book 2: A Love So Hard
Book 3: The Princess & the Prospect
Book 4: The Killing Ride
Book 5: A Twist of Fate
The Charleston Chapter Series of the Aces High MC Franchise deals heavily with internal family themes, and is not your typical MC against MC with romance thrown in book. This is a family drama. The family just so happens to live and breathe bikes and the MC lifestyle. The only things blown up in this book will be a few hearts. ;) You have been warned!
This is a full length novel at over 80,000 words for the story (not counting preview chapters for the next book).
I was dropped into the middle of a new family not long after that. My dad, his wife, and their two kids to be exact. My new brother was ten years old and my sister was five. It doesn't take a genius to figure out I wasn’t supposed to be there.
My family ended up bigger than that though. My dad was a member of the Aces High Motorcycle Club. From the very beginning I was ostracized because of who my mother had been. The daughters of club members were generally known as MC Princesses. My little sister was one. My title was a bit different, and proved that my mom's sins would always be held against me. I was The Other Princess.
My family, both by blood and MC ties, did wrong by me so I walked away from them. That was until he came home from the Army.
He tried to fix everything.
He tried to win an unattainable heart that had shut down years earlier.
I would know since it was my heart he was after.
He didn't realize it would take a miracle.
Secretly, I hoped I could still believe in miracles.
*Note: The Aces High Charleston Series should be read in order.
While each book revolves around different members of the Aces High MC Family, they all follow along a timeline that will lead to spoilers if you skip around. They do not have to be read in any particular order with Aces High Books from other chapters (Dakotas, Cedar Falls, etc.)
Book 1: The Other Princess (available now)
Coming in 2019:
Book 2: A Love So Hard
Book 3: The Princess & the Prospect
Book 4: The Killing Ride
Book 5: A Twist of Fate
The Charleston Chapter Series of the Aces High MC Franchise deals heavily with internal family themes, and is not your typical MC against MC with romance thrown in book. This is a family drama. The family just so happens to live and breathe bikes and the MC lifestyle. The only things blown up in this book will be a few hearts. ;) You have been warned!
This is a full length novel at over 80,000 words for the story (not counting preview chapters for the next book).
335 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 3, 2019
1053 people are currently reading
1321 people want to read
About the author
Christine Michelle
69 books729 followersChristine Michelle runs on coffee and giggles as she writes her angst-fueled romance stories (motorcycle club, rockstar, paranormal, college, & other contemporary as well as women's fiction and marriage in trouble novels).
She is a mom to four humans (2 girls, 2 boys – all grown now).
When she's not writing books, she enjoys reading, drawing, hiking, or feeding her soul with live music at concerts.
Christine is a traveler and has lived all over the USA (and other parts of the world). She currently lives in Rapid City, South Dakota with her two fur babies.
Universal links to everything
(website, social media, book links, and more)
https://linktr.ee/christinemichelle
She is a mom to four humans (2 girls, 2 boys – all grown now).
When she's not writing books, she enjoys reading, drawing, hiking, or feeding her soul with live music at concerts.
Christine is a traveler and has lived all over the USA (and other parts of the world). She currently lives in Rapid City, South Dakota with her two fur babies.
Universal links to everything
(website, social media, book links, and more)
https://linktr.ee/christinemichelle
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 450 reviews
February 27, 2021
Here’s a phrase I never thought I would write There was too much grovel in a MC book, but there was too much grovel.
Eight year old heroine is taken in by her father and his new family and things don’t go well. At first, her brother and his best friend (the love of her life) take care of her until puberty kicks in and the guys lose brain cells as the chicks come swarming and making up mean things about the heroine. More mean things are said by the male contingency including the biker gang and her dad. Poor biker form. Tack needs to come in and kick some biker butt, but I guess he has his hands full in his own fictional MC universe consoling the CHAOS crew for not getting to kill Benito Valenzuela after a million years of turf warfare. So the heroine ends up taking care of business by shutting down even more emotionally, moving out and going to work for a competing tattoo shop. Chick is stone cold.
Once the H, the older and much wiser brother to the love-of-her-life-that-is-now-dead-to-her rides into town and gets a hold of the situation he works to make it better for the grudge holding heroine and, man, can she hold a grudge. Can’t say I blame her, but the monologuing and lecturing wore me out after a while. I enjoyed most of it as who doesn’t want to see a hurt heroine do what we want so many heroines to do, grow a spine and make them suffer. But the crying finally got to me, and when I say crying I’m talking about the less-than-Alpha 1%ers.
Virginal, never-even-went-to-prom heroine finds true love with a really nice guy, and comes up with a nifty way to make her point to the beta bikers that was both fun to read and totally ridiculous.
Four stars for a heroine who knows how lay out an epic guilt trip, but sometimes less is more.
Eight year old heroine is taken in by her father and his new family and things don’t go well. At first, her brother and his best friend (the love of her life) take care of her until puberty kicks in and the guys lose brain cells as the chicks come swarming and making up mean things about the heroine. More mean things are said by the male contingency including the biker gang and her dad. Poor biker form. Tack needs to come in and kick some biker butt, but I guess he has his hands full in his own fictional MC universe consoling the CHAOS crew for not getting to kill Benito Valenzuela after a million years of turf warfare. So the heroine ends up taking care of business by shutting down even more emotionally, moving out and going to work for a competing tattoo shop. Chick is stone cold.
Once the H, the older and much wiser brother to the love-of-her-life-that-is-now-dead-to-her rides into town and gets a hold of the situation he works to make it better for the grudge holding heroine and, man, can she hold a grudge. Can’t say I blame her, but the monologuing and lecturing wore me out after a while. I enjoyed most of it as who doesn’t want to see a hurt heroine do what we want so many heroines to do, grow a spine and make them suffer. But the crying finally got to me, and when I say crying I’m talking about the less-than-Alpha 1%ers.
Virginal, never-even-went-to-prom heroine finds true love with a really nice guy, and comes up with a nifty way to make her point to the beta bikers that was both fun to read and totally ridiculous.
Four stars for a heroine who knows how lay out an epic guilt trip, but sometimes less is more.
May 2, 2019
Audiobook review. The emotions are crazy with this one. I found myself utterly indignant at how the heroine was treated. The story evoked a very real reaction. I was sad. I was mad. I was devastated. I was proud. I was happy. The book simply made me feel.
Our heroine is AMAZING. Her experiences could’ve easily made her bitter and resentful but she has the biggest heart. I loved everything about her. Even her flaws. Our hero could not have been more EXTRAORDINARY. He is her champion in every sense of the word and loves her in a way that is so very special. These two are #RelationshipGoals. Not perfect, but perfect for one another.
The plot hooked me off the bat. I actually sat at the barber with my kid getting his haircut and trying to hide the tears streaming down my face. 😭 It was very well written. The pace, imagery, characterization, development were on point. The use of secondary characters was very effective in keeping the story moving forward and interesting.
The narrators, Sarah Puckett and DC Cole, did a great job in their portrayal of the characters. The voices matched the image in my head. The tone, pace, and pitch were good. Transitions were smooth.
I totally recommend this book. It’s going on the Favorites shelf. I will definitely be on the lookout for more from this author.
Complimentary copy received and voluntarily reviewed.
Our heroine is AMAZING. Her experiences could’ve easily made her bitter and resentful but she has the biggest heart. I loved everything about her. Even her flaws. Our hero could not have been more EXTRAORDINARY. He is her champion in every sense of the word and loves her in a way that is so very special. These two are #RelationshipGoals. Not perfect, but perfect for one another.
The plot hooked me off the bat. I actually sat at the barber with my kid getting his haircut and trying to hide the tears streaming down my face. 😭 It was very well written. The pace, imagery, characterization, development were on point. The use of secondary characters was very effective in keeping the story moving forward and interesting.
The narrators, Sarah Puckett and DC Cole, did a great job in their portrayal of the characters. The voices matched the image in my head. The tone, pace, and pitch were good. Transitions were smooth.
I totally recommend this book. It’s going on the Favorites shelf. I will definitely be on the lookout for more from this author.
Complimentary copy received and voluntarily reviewed.
February 5, 2019
Weirdest MC story I've ever read.
It was basically a HUGE grovelfest. With a heroine that spent too much time feeling horrid about herself and making long elaborate monologues to a stoic audience who would tear up at her words... As if.
It didn't have a MC feel, and it didn't read like a MC book. The MC members didn't talk, act and work like MC members. This was about a girl who had to go live with her dad's family after her mom died. There, she is mistreated by the club and eventually by some of the members of her family. Aa a teen, she becomes autracized at the hand of the club, her school and her best friend. SO essentially, from the get go it was "BOOHOO, POOR ME!!!" And it goes on like this for the entire story.
Then that whole deal about the tattoos?
It was basically a HUGE grovelfest. With a heroine that spent too much time feeling horrid about herself and making long elaborate monologues to a stoic audience who would tear up at her words... As if.
It didn't have a MC feel, and it didn't read like a MC book. The MC members didn't talk, act and work like MC members. This was about a girl who had to go live with her dad's family after her mom died. There, she is mistreated by the club and eventually by some of the members of her family. Aa a teen, she becomes autracized at the hand of the club, her school and her best friend. SO essentially, from the get go it was "BOOHOO, POOR ME!!!" And it goes on like this for the entire story.
Then that whole deal about the tattoos?
December 18, 2021
This book started out emotionally gripping, and I thought for a minute this might be a five star read. I don't typically read mc romances, and I was encouraged by the author's disclaimer that this was not a typical mc romance. It's more character driven and focused on family dynamics. I felt the heroine's sadness to such a degree in the beginning, that I had to take a break from the book.
What I noticed immediately was that this author has a tendency to write run-on sentences, especially in the dialogue. Whenever a character gets a turn to talk, boy do they talk. This never let up. It ended up tiring me, and at one point became overwhelming. I would flip a page and just see dialogue upon dialogue. I've never seen so much dialogue in a book in my life before. This detracted from the authenticity of the story. People don't talk in run-on sentences constantly. On top of that, the deal with the heroine giving everyone tattoos as a way to heal from these deep hurts that had occurred for years felt unrealistic to me. The romance was a let-down. I felt no chemistry between the couple. The MMC shows up kinda late (30%) and we never see him and the heroine together for the majority of the book unless they're hashing out this past hurt the heroine went through while he was gone.
I do think this author has talent -- this book made me feel. Any author who can convey strong emotions is talented. If this is her typical writing style this author may not be for me though.
What I noticed immediately was that this author has a tendency to write run-on sentences, especially in the dialogue. Whenever a character gets a turn to talk, boy do they talk. This never let up. It ended up tiring me, and at one point became overwhelming. I would flip a page and just see dialogue upon dialogue. I've never seen so much dialogue in a book in my life before. This detracted from the authenticity of the story. People don't talk in run-on sentences constantly. On top of that, the deal with the heroine giving everyone tattoos as a way to heal from these deep hurts that had occurred for years felt unrealistic to me. The romance was a let-down. I felt no chemistry between the couple. The MMC shows up kinda late (30%) and we never see him and the heroine together for the majority of the book unless they're hashing out this past hurt the heroine went through while he was gone.
I do think this author has talent -- this book made me feel. Any author who can convey strong emotions is talented. If this is her typical writing style this author may not be for me though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2019
For once the guy the heroine had a crush on but who ultimately broke her did NOT get the girl...in fact HIS brother did!
This is a heartwenching story of a little girl who got hurt by those who were suppose to protect her. I enjoyed the flow of the story and I really enjoyed that Ever wasn’t a doormat. Yes, she kept quiet for a while but she didn’t let them roll over her. She didn’t even entertain them...she just distanced herself and when push came to shove had no problem standing up to the Prez and everyone else in the club. She repeatedly expressed her feelings to and about what they had done to her. She didn’t hold back AND she didn’t let them ruin her. She didn’t lock herself in a room and have a pity party. At 16 she got a job, saved all of her money, and when they pushed her too far she left. She had a life outside of the MC and true friends. Friends who defended her and had her back (which let’s face it is rare in books today). Her friends gave her good advice (another rarity)! Those friends became her family when her real family failed her. They were rooting for her...not trying to tear her down.
The Hero was great. He had been away in the army so missed all the bad things. When he came back he saw Ever and from that point on it was only her. He defended her and he was willing to walk away from everything he knew to be with her. He was appalled by the actions of his “brothers” and had no problem voicing it. HE worked on getting Ever the justice she deserved while also making all those involved pay and learn from their mistakes. He was frequently mad on her behalf and spoke up when Ever just walked away. He also treated her like a strong woman. He understood her pain BUT didn’t allow her to dwell, he also called her out on some hypocrisy. He was a good balance for her.
I did like the way Ever got her justice as the individuals involved would always carry it with them. The book was completely safe. Ever was a virgin and only the barest mentions were made of Decs past. Twice a club whore tried to hit on him but he wouldn’t even allow her to touch him because he belonged to Ever (both event happened before they were together in Evers eyes...she took a while to realize his seriousness and level of commitment). Ever had a crush on Decs little brother and everyone assumed they would end up together BUT nothing ever happened between them....there’s no ick factor at all BUT I do call it poetic justice.
Also, even though this is a MC it didn’t have a very MC feel to it. No OTT club parties, club business, or scandalous activity. While they were an MC very little time was focused on the actual MC.
Overall I enjoyed it but as with all books it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea.
This is a heartwenching story of a little girl who got hurt by those who were suppose to protect her. I enjoyed the flow of the story and I really enjoyed that Ever wasn’t a doormat. Yes, she kept quiet for a while but she didn’t let them roll over her. She didn’t even entertain them...she just distanced herself and when push came to shove had no problem standing up to the Prez and everyone else in the club. She repeatedly expressed her feelings to and about what they had done to her. She didn’t hold back AND she didn’t let them ruin her. She didn’t lock herself in a room and have a pity party. At 16 she got a job, saved all of her money, and when they pushed her too far she left. She had a life outside of the MC and true friends. Friends who defended her and had her back (which let’s face it is rare in books today). Her friends gave her good advice (another rarity)! Those friends became her family when her real family failed her. They were rooting for her...not trying to tear her down.
The Hero was great. He had been away in the army so missed all the bad things. When he came back he saw Ever and from that point on it was only her. He defended her and he was willing to walk away from everything he knew to be with her. He was appalled by the actions of his “brothers” and had no problem voicing it. HE worked on getting Ever the justice she deserved while also making all those involved pay and learn from their mistakes. He was frequently mad on her behalf and spoke up when Ever just walked away. He also treated her like a strong woman. He understood her pain BUT didn’t allow her to dwell, he also called her out on some hypocrisy. He was a good balance for her.
I did like the way Ever got her justice as the individuals involved would always carry it with them. The book was completely safe. Ever was a virgin and only the barest mentions were made of Decs past. Twice a club whore tried to hit on him but he wouldn’t even allow her to touch him because he belonged to Ever (both event happened before they were together in Evers eyes...she took a while to realize his seriousness and level of commitment). Ever had a crush on Decs little brother and everyone assumed they would end up together BUT nothing ever happened between them....there’s no ick factor at all BUT I do call it poetic justice.
Also, even though this is a MC it didn’t have a very MC feel to it. No OTT club parties, club business, or scandalous activity. While they were an MC very little time was focused on the actual MC.
Overall I enjoyed it but as with all books it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea.
August 8, 2020
.
I kept putting off reading this because I expected a super angst fest.
But no.
It was actually kinda boring after a while.
A LOT of repetition.
The story is kinda like high school meets sexy bikers.
With a heaping dash of Cinderella.
Ever's mom raised her on her own til she died suddenly of an aneurysm right in front of Ever when she was 8. She ends up going to live with her birth father's family (the VP of an MC) who knew nothing about her as her mother was a ONS when her father and Lucy were on the outs.
Lucy was pretty put out for a couple weeks but then, being a decent person, realized that Ever was an innocent and from then on was pretty much Ever's only supporter.
Because of Ever's mother she is branded the 'Other Princess' in a derogatory way by the Bike Club. Like she would eventually turn into her mother (Who, by the way, did not sound like that terrible a person, hmmmm).
But she has her new brother, Toby and his best friend, Jay (who she crushes on) in her corner. That is until high school when Jay takes the word of a skanky cheerleader he's sleeping with and Ever becomes vilified to a whole new level.
It's all very OTT and hard to believe. But then I think about a good friend of mine who was bullied by some girls at her high school. It got so bad that she had to change schools to get away from them.
So yeah, that kinda shit does happen, mores the pity!
Now 5 years later, Ever is 19 and has finally had enough. She's had a plan to leave and goes for it. But not before Jay's older brother Declan returns from the army.
I think the reason this isn't angsty is because Declan wasn't one of her tormentors and never believed any of the crap they said about her. As the reader, I didn't really care what most of the other characters thought.
I did like Declan's plan for forgiveness. Although I found it logistically hard to believe.
I do love the way this author can pick apart hurtful situations and have the characters respond how you would think they would. Not how would be most convenient for the story. No instant forgiveness or turn the other cheek. No instant return to trusting someone who has hurt you just cause they said they were sorry.
But I thought the dialogue devolved into speeches way too often, thereby reducing the power of those same speeches, til it became repetitive. Like couldn't the characters talk about something else for crying out loud??
One thing bothered me. Why didn't Ever stand up for her birth mother? She didn't sound that bad and it's not easy raising a kid on your own.
Safety is fine
I kept putting off reading this because I expected a super angst fest.
But no.
It was actually kinda boring after a while.
A LOT of repetition.
The story is kinda like high school meets sexy bikers.
With a heaping dash of Cinderella.
Ever's mom raised her on her own til she died suddenly of an aneurysm right in front of Ever when she was 8. She ends up going to live with her birth father's family (the VP of an MC) who knew nothing about her as her mother was a ONS when her father and Lucy were on the outs.
Lucy was pretty put out for a couple weeks but then, being a decent person, realized that Ever was an innocent and from then on was pretty much Ever's only supporter.
Because of Ever's mother she is branded the 'Other Princess' in a derogatory way by the Bike Club. Like she would eventually turn into her mother (Who, by the way, did not sound like that terrible a person, hmmmm).
But she has her new brother, Toby and his best friend, Jay (who she crushes on) in her corner. That is until high school when Jay takes the word of a skanky cheerleader he's sleeping with and Ever becomes vilified to a whole new level.
It's all very OTT and hard to believe. But then I think about a good friend of mine who was bullied by some girls at her high school. It got so bad that she had to change schools to get away from them.
So yeah, that kinda shit does happen, mores the pity!
Now 5 years later, Ever is 19 and has finally had enough. She's had a plan to leave and goes for it. But not before Jay's older brother Declan returns from the army.
I think the reason this isn't angsty is because Declan wasn't one of her tormentors and never believed any of the crap they said about her. As the reader, I didn't really care what most of the other characters thought.
I did like Declan's plan for forgiveness. Although I found it logistically hard to believe.
I do love the way this author can pick apart hurtful situations and have the characters respond how you would think they would. Not how would be most convenient for the story. No instant forgiveness or turn the other cheek. No instant return to trusting someone who has hurt you just cause they said they were sorry.
But I thought the dialogue devolved into speeches way too often, thereby reducing the power of those same speeches, til it became repetitive. Like couldn't the characters talk about something else for crying out loud??
One thing bothered me. Why didn't Ever stand up for her birth mother? She didn't sound that bad and it's not easy raising a kid on your own.
Safety is fine
September 14, 2021
Ugh. This story started out pretty good in the very beginning. I was really feeling sad for Ever and the sad experiences of her childhood. After the high school bullshit drama was introduced, and all of the male MC characters acted like high school bitches, this story swiftly went into the toilet. Then Ever was constantly crybabying about her "sad, sad childhood", and I went from feeling sad for her to feeling annoyed and wishing she'd quit whining. Then towards the ending, this author decided to emasculate all of the males in the story.
The story was bad, the characters didn't act like MC characters, they all acted like drama queens. And the males in this story turned into embarrassing women by the ending. I'm so sad. I adored the third story in this series, so I went back to start from the beginning. I would have never made it to the third story if I had actually started with this one first.
Yeah, it's that bad.
Read
April 10, 2022DNF@38%
Whether you enjoy this or not is going to come down to how much patience you have for Ever… because she’s a lot. I might’ve had more tolerance for her ginormous pity party had she actually experienced something warranting her reaction... probably not if I'm honest, but it would've helped.
Ok, the blurb gives a lot of the plot away. Ever comes to live with her bio dad when her mom dies, and she doesn’t feel welcome by the mc club her dad belongs to. Most of her heartache stems from an altercation that takes place when she’s 16…. **SPOILERS** STOP IF YOU DON’T WANT THE DETAILS…..
So, we know from the first chapter that her brother is two years older and that him and his BFF Jason vow to always have her back, and they’re really close. When they’re in HS, Jason’s (who she loves) jelly girlfriend makes up a story that Ever cornered her in the bathroom and said something along the lines of… “Back off, Jason’s mine. You better break up with him because you’re just a placeholder for me until I get older”… For some crazy reason, this INFURIATES him so he chews her ass in front of a school assembly along the lines of … “You stupid bitch. You stay away from Tiff. Placeholder?? You’ll never be good enough to ride my dick. Everybody at the MC hates you because your mommy was a whore and you’re crazy cuz you watched her die.”
Ever is understandably upset but then things go sideways because this one interaction makes the entire school gang up on her (hitting her, writing on her locker, calling her a home wrecking slut, etc.) and sets off a chain reaction of Ever basically declaring everyone is dead to her except her stepmom and BFF who believed her innocence immediately. (her father and bro believed Jason until the stepmom chewed their asses) This part is VERY OTT DRAMATIC , her musings are that they destroyed her and crushed her soul, but they’re in HS so I went with it.
My issue was that when we FFW three years later nothing has changed. Ever is just as bitter and still hates everyone. I can understand why she’d still be pissed at Jason, but the rage she has for her dad and bro felt like overkill. Her brother doubted her for all of like 4 hours then immediately apologized and started beating the kids that bullied her. To make matters worse, the author tells us about how miserable and hurt Ever is by numerous, preachy, monologues.
“You deserve nothing from me but my back. You will get nothing from me but these final words. You get nothing from me ever again except this goodbye. You get the same amount of respect from me that you’ve shown. You get the same loyalty you reaped, and nothing more. You are dead to me, Jason Donovan. I don’t have to believe a dead man’s words.
“Forgiveness isn’t for you. It’s closure for me, and it’s definitely not the same as forgetting. What’s broken can never be repaired with a ceremony that is more for your guilty consciences than my broken heart.”
Pages and pages of dramatic victim lectures… we got it… they did you wrong… enough with the speeches… It’s ok to have a normal conversation. The rest is Deck (Jason's bro) kissing her ass and trying to pull her back to the land of the living. 🙄
Bottom Line- Ever was too much for me. Her OTT reaction to a standard teen interaction was so beyond normal that it felt super juvenile and immature. I’ve read books with abused characters that didn’t boohoo as much as she did. Let’s breakdown her problems… her daddy played favorites and his work buddies were mean to her. Her childhood crush yelled at her and her brother believed his friend first. OMG- how does she keep going- pfft. The scene at the end with the tattoos… which was laughable... two of those assholes deserved them. For the rest, a sorry should’ve been sufficient. The blame and shame she put on her brother after he tried for years to make amends… I can’t even… and all the crying bikers… and the epilogue… if that’s her brother I hope she feels like an ass…
Whether you enjoy this or not is going to come down to how much patience you have for Ever… because she’s a lot. I might’ve had more tolerance for her ginormous pity party had she actually experienced something warranting her reaction... probably not if I'm honest, but it would've helped.
Ok, the blurb gives a lot of the plot away. Ever comes to live with her bio dad when her mom dies, and she doesn’t feel welcome by the mc club her dad belongs to. Most of her heartache stems from an altercation that takes place when she’s 16…. **SPOILERS** STOP IF YOU DON’T WANT THE DETAILS…..
So, we know from the first chapter that her brother is two years older and that him and his BFF Jason vow to always have her back, and they’re really close. When they’re in HS, Jason’s (who she loves) jelly girlfriend makes up a story that Ever cornered her in the bathroom and said something along the lines of… “Back off, Jason’s mine. You better break up with him because you’re just a placeholder for me until I get older”… For some crazy reason, this INFURIATES him so he chews her ass in front of a school assembly along the lines of … “You stupid bitch. You stay away from Tiff. Placeholder?? You’ll never be good enough to ride my dick. Everybody at the MC hates you because your mommy was a whore and you’re crazy cuz you watched her die.”
Ever is understandably upset but then things go sideways because this one interaction makes the entire school gang up on her (hitting her, writing on her locker, calling her a home wrecking slut, etc.) and sets off a chain reaction of Ever basically declaring everyone is dead to her except her stepmom and BFF who believed her innocence immediately. (her father and bro believed Jason until the stepmom chewed their asses) This part is VERY OTT DRAMATIC , her musings are that they destroyed her and crushed her soul, but they’re in HS so I went with it.
My issue was that when we FFW three years later nothing has changed. Ever is just as bitter and still hates everyone. I can understand why she’d still be pissed at Jason, but the rage she has for her dad and bro felt like overkill. Her brother doubted her for all of like 4 hours then immediately apologized and started beating the kids that bullied her. To make matters worse, the author tells us about how miserable and hurt Ever is by numerous, preachy, monologues.
“You deserve nothing from me but my back. You will get nothing from me but these final words. You get nothing from me ever again except this goodbye. You get the same amount of respect from me that you’ve shown. You get the same loyalty you reaped, and nothing more. You are dead to me, Jason Donovan. I don’t have to believe a dead man’s words.
“Forgiveness isn’t for you. It’s closure for me, and it’s definitely not the same as forgetting. What’s broken can never be repaired with a ceremony that is more for your guilty consciences than my broken heart.”
Pages and pages of dramatic victim lectures… we got it… they did you wrong… enough with the speeches… It’s ok to have a normal conversation. The rest is Deck (Jason's bro) kissing her ass and trying to pull her back to the land of the living. 🙄
Bottom Line- Ever was too much for me. Her OTT reaction to a standard teen interaction was so beyond normal that it felt super juvenile and immature. I’ve read books with abused characters that didn’t boohoo as much as she did. Let’s breakdown her problems… her daddy played favorites and his work buddies were mean to her. Her childhood crush yelled at her and her brother believed his friend first. OMG- how does she keep going- pfft. The scene at the end with the tattoos… which was laughable... two of those assholes deserved them. For the rest, a sorry should’ve been sufficient. The blame and shame she put on her brother after he tried for years to make amends… I can’t even… and all the crying bikers… and the epilogue… if that’s her brother I hope she feels like an ass…
February 3, 2019
3 odd stars.
This was a wild ride on the angst train. Emotions flying all over the place with lots of tears (from the heroine, not me.) At first this started off as a solid 4 stars, as the story telling was surprisingly fresh for a MC romance. But after 60% I found myself willing the book to end early.
This book deals with extreme bullying, emotional abuse, and almost attempted suicide... and yet everything was surface level deep. All the characters were sort of ridiculous and over the top. For example, these grown ass motorcycle club men were getting involved in high school drama? Everything was soooo dramatic and exaggerated like a TBS drama. There were alot of scenes where someone from the MC club would go to talk to her and she would say "why are you still trying to ruin my life?!?" and then just break down and cry. Strong, she was not.
I didnt hate it and I read all the way until the end which is saying something these days. BUT the thing that really ruined the book was the slut shaming and the club whores. As if the author didnt even try to make these background characters human. They just slither in the background waiting to fuck something and cause drama.
Idk, im still very confused about this book.
Safety:
-Heroine was a virgin- never went on a date, never been kissed
-Hero wasnt a manwhore but had a reputation in high school. He was with other women when he was in the army while also having a correspondence with the heroine via handwritten letters.
-OW drama in the form of one club whore. She's there so the hero can degrade her and let the heroine look like the saintliest woman on the planet
This was a wild ride on the angst train. Emotions flying all over the place with lots of tears (from the heroine, not me.) At first this started off as a solid 4 stars, as the story telling was surprisingly fresh for a MC romance. But after 60% I found myself willing the book to end early.
This book deals with extreme bullying, emotional abuse, and almost attempted suicide... and yet everything was surface level deep. All the characters were sort of ridiculous and over the top. For example, these grown ass motorcycle club men were getting involved in high school drama? Everything was soooo dramatic and exaggerated like a TBS drama. There were alot of scenes where someone from the MC club would go to talk to her and she would say "why are you still trying to ruin my life?!?" and then just break down and cry. Strong, she was not.
I didnt hate it and I read all the way until the end which is saying something these days. BUT the thing that really ruined the book was the slut shaming and the club whores. As if the author didnt even try to make these background characters human. They just slither in the background waiting to fuck something and cause drama.
Idk, im still very confused about this book.
Safety:
-Heroine was a virgin- never went on a date, never been kissed
-Hero wasnt a manwhore but had a reputation in high school. He was with other women when he was in the army while also having a correspondence with the heroine via handwritten letters.
-OW drama in the form of one club whore. She's there so the hero can degrade her and let the heroine look like the saintliest woman on the planet
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2019
I'd describe this book as "Group Therapy via Tattoo Art". It's equal parts drama and romance.
At 8, Ever watched her mom die and was taken by a social worker to live with her dad. She had never met him and he didn't even know he had a kid. After the initial shock wore off, her step mom took her in and loved her. But her dad was the VP in a MC and the rest of the club always treated her differently and looked down on her. As she got older their offenses become worse and worse until this poor girl is broken. When she's had enough, she pulls herself up by her boot straps and leaves.
I loved Ever. The author has written her story in a way that shows how those "little things" add up and keep piling on until this poor girl literally broke from the stress. The people around her are mostly good people but their apathy and disinterest cause so much harm. The only person who ever stood up for the h was her amazing step mom.
When the H comes back from 5 years in the military he finds the h a changed person and he sets out to make things right. This book spends a lot of time going over the many ways that Ever has been wronged. But she is a strong woman and she survived. Now that they see, truly see, how their actions (or lack of action) has hurt her, they want to make things right. The H Deck comes up with a way for her to show them her hurt by designing and inking the offenders with a custom tattoo that will be revealed at the end. I liked this part of the book and was very curious about what she was doing and what would happen at the big reveal.
While all of that is going on, the H is slowly wooing the h. It's a slow burn romance and I would say it shares the plot with the family drama of the hurt/forgiveness. The H is perfect and he fights for her, helps her, and loves her in a beautiful way that she deserves.
There were a few moments where the h felt too bitter and the MC members came off as either bitchy drama queens or wimpy and weak men who chose to bully a little girl. I dropped a few stars off my rating for those moments. There is a slight cheese factor, but I didn't mind. As far as an MC story, there is very little about this book that has to do with the motorcycle club. It's pretty MC-lite.
Overall, this was a great story that was basically all grovel. I really love me a "girl done wrong" story and the grovel to the end. The author did a great job building things up to the breaking point and I was so angry on the h's behalf. Ever gets in several really good zingers and shares her anger and hurt in an effective way that doesn't make her come off as a victim, but as a strong and resilient woman. The final meeting where she revealed the tattoos was well done and I truly felt like they all had a chance to heal and be better in the future.
I looked ahead at the rest of this series and I think I'll stop with this book as the others don't appeal to me.
Safety
At 8, Ever watched her mom die and was taken by a social worker to live with her dad. She had never met him and he didn't even know he had a kid. After the initial shock wore off, her step mom took her in and loved her. But her dad was the VP in a MC and the rest of the club always treated her differently and looked down on her. As she got older their offenses become worse and worse until this poor girl is broken. When she's had enough, she pulls herself up by her boot straps and leaves.
I loved Ever. The author has written her story in a way that shows how those "little things" add up and keep piling on until this poor girl literally broke from the stress. The people around her are mostly good people but their apathy and disinterest cause so much harm. The only person who ever stood up for the h was her amazing step mom.
When the H comes back from 5 years in the military he finds the h a changed person and he sets out to make things right. This book spends a lot of time going over the many ways that Ever has been wronged. But she is a strong woman and she survived. Now that they see, truly see, how their actions (or lack of action) has hurt her, they want to make things right. The H Deck comes up with a way for her to show them her hurt by designing and inking the offenders with a custom tattoo that will be revealed at the end. I liked this part of the book and was very curious about what she was doing and what would happen at the big reveal.
While all of that is going on, the H is slowly wooing the h. It's a slow burn romance and I would say it shares the plot with the family drama of the hurt/forgiveness. The H is perfect and he fights for her, helps her, and loves her in a beautiful way that she deserves.
There were a few moments where the h felt too bitter and the MC members came off as either bitchy drama queens or wimpy and weak men who chose to bully a little girl. I dropped a few stars off my rating for those moments. There is a slight cheese factor, but I didn't mind. As far as an MC story, there is very little about this book that has to do with the motorcycle club. It's pretty MC-lite.
Overall, this was a great story that was basically all grovel. I really love me a "girl done wrong" story and the grovel to the end. The author did a great job building things up to the breaking point and I was so angry on the h's behalf. Ever gets in several really good zingers and shares her anger and hurt in an effective way that doesn't make her come off as a victim, but as a strong and resilient woman. The final meeting where she revealed the tattoos was well done and I truly felt like they all had a chance to heal and be better in the future.
I looked ahead at the rest of this series and I think I'll stop with this book as the others don't appeal to me.
Safety
May 7, 2025
5/8/25 Reread because I forgot I had the second book downloaded, and I wanted to refresh my memory on the plot....
Good God man! How do did I even make it through the first time? The h Ever was insufferable. I mean shoot yourself in the foot, drag your nails across chalkboard insufferable. I know she may have had the title of "The Other Princess", and while yes she suffered a bit, but bitch was holding court and acting like she was the Queen. The groveling everyone did was OTT and just too much. The tattoos she did showing her grief. The ending with everyone crying and begging for her forgiveness. Give me a break. I had the image of Declan licking her feet. It was that OTT. Anyways, I stand by my two star review still. Hopefully the next one is decent. Which seems we'll be going back in time with the story of Ever's dad and stepmom Lucy. Pretty sure that one has cheating.
Hmmm..... this has been on my TBR for a while. And though I don't always vibe with this author's writing or story telling, I decided to give it a go. Well, I was not impressed. Ever was treated like shit by the MC she grew up in, and the grovelling was necessary, but 75% in I wanted to shoot myself in the foot. Yes, I know. This book brought out my violent side. 😂 Enough already. I started out liking Ever, but by the end I was ready to slap her silly. I know in the author's note, she wrote what we'd be getting into, but I didn't expect it to be this OTT on the grovel. And I like my grovel. I actually felt sorry for her blood brother Toby. Damn... And spoiler, he doesn't have a HEA in the living realm in later books. Which don't get me wrong I enjoy paranormal, but don't know if I can read it from this author. Only time will tell I guess if I continue with the series.
Good God man! How do did I even make it through the first time? The h Ever was insufferable. I mean shoot yourself in the foot, drag your nails across chalkboard insufferable. I know she may have had the title of "The Other Princess", and while yes she suffered a bit, but bitch was holding court and acting like she was the Queen. The groveling everyone did was OTT and just too much. The tattoos she did showing her grief. The ending with everyone crying and begging for her forgiveness. Give me a break. I had the image of Declan licking her feet. It was that OTT. Anyways, I stand by my two star review still. Hopefully the next one is decent. Which seems we'll be going back in time with the story of Ever's dad and stepmom Lucy. Pretty sure that one has cheating.
Hmmm..... this has been on my TBR for a while. And though I don't always vibe with this author's writing or story telling, I decided to give it a go. Well, I was not impressed. Ever was treated like shit by the MC she grew up in, and the grovelling was necessary, but 75% in I wanted to shoot myself in the foot. Yes, I know. This book brought out my violent side. 😂 Enough already. I started out liking Ever, but by the end I was ready to slap her silly. I know in the author's note, she wrote what we'd be getting into, but I didn't expect it to be this OTT on the grovel. And I like my grovel. I actually felt sorry for her blood brother Toby. Damn... And spoiler, he doesn't have a HEA in the living realm in later books. Which don't get me wrong I enjoy paranormal, but don't know if I can read it from this author. Only time will tell I guess if I continue with the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2023
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Liked it!
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♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
♥♥♥♥Rereading in 2023♥♥♥♥♥
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥���♥♥♥♥♥
I was horrified by the attitude of club members in harassing a child and committing verbal and physical abuse. And the lack of support and being treated as a second class person. Club members are weak and despicable men.
They lost my respect by not protecting her.
As our heroine grew, the abuse continued and never treated her with respect or affection.
The only person who welcomed her with an open heart was her stepmother.
She should have turned her back on them and left town and restarted life in a place where the memories weren't so heavy.
I liked the story and was absorbed until the end.
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♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
♥♥♥♥Rereading in 2023♥♥♥♥♥
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥���♥♥♥♥♥
I was horrified by the attitude of club members in harassing a child and committing verbal and physical abuse. And the lack of support and being treated as a second class person. Club members are weak and despicable men.
They lost my respect by not protecting her.
As our heroine grew, the abuse continued and never treated her with respect or affection.
The only person who welcomed her with an open heart was her stepmother.
She should have turned her back on them and left town and restarted life in a place where the memories weren't so heavy.
I liked the story and was absorbed until the end.
========================
“What if she’s a monster? I’ve heard horror stories about things like this,” my dad’s wife whined. “Really, Lucy?” My father’s voice boomed sternly.
“That is enough, Lucy! We are done with this bullshit. This is MY daughter we are talking about, and you are going to stop trying to make excuses for why she can’t be here with us.”
Looks like you were more fucked in the head from watching your whore of a mommy die all those years ago than any of us realized.”
Actually, I hadn’t done a single thing he was accusing me of. I was late to this particular assembly because his bitch-ass girlfriend had cornered me in the bathroom on my way here and informed me that I was going to regret remaining friends with Jay after she’d warned me off twice before. I guess she got her wish, after all.
The things he said couldn’t be unsaid, and I was not the only one to hear them. I had no doubt that I would walk into a brand new fresh hell when I got to school tomorrow. So, even if he saw the error of his ways overnight, things would never be the same for me. I was also done with my father and brother. I’d forgive them all eventually, but our relationships would never be what they once were, or what I’d hoped they could be. The fact that they both came in, storming the castle, fire in their eyes, and righteous indignation burning from their pores without a concern for obtaining my side of the situation first…
I had zero doubt the same scenario would have gone vastly different if it had been Anna instead of me.
I get it. The entire club thinks my mom was an evil, conniving, cheating whore. They’ve said as much around me.
I was literally known as “the other princess” meaning my little sister had the official title of the “MC Princess” out of all the kids who had been born to the older brothers. She had been the only girl before I came around.
Yep, because of Jay’s absolute faith in his lying cunt of a girlfriend I was deemed lower than a whore by the club’s standards, and treated thusly.
“You destroyed me with your words, you allowed everyone around us to continue where you left off, and it was all based on the lies of one of your whores. A whore over a friend. A whore over a sister. You believed a whore’s words over someone who never gave you one damn reason to believe they would ever do a fucking thing in this life, or beyond, to hurt you. Now, you beg for me to believe you?”
Momma-Luce ended up taking my brother’s place as my hero in the end.
The fact that the club members still seemed to hold everything against me, even though I was completely innocent, was the other. No point going where you aren’t wanted.
“He broke her trust, betrayed her, publicly humiliated her, and stood back and did nothing as the entire school bullied her for months without end. To top it off he ruined her relationship with her dad, Toby, and the club too. And all of that for the price of the whore’s pussy he chose over believing one of his best friends wouldn’t actually stab him in the back the way his lying cunt-ass girlfriend actually did. Only, the punishment he got for his mistake was to wait on being a patched member of your precious club. The punishment that girl got for his fuck up was that she lost everything. Literally, every damn thing a girl looks forward to in high school. Friends. Gone – except me. Prom – there was no prom for Ever. She had to drop out and do online school too so she didn’t even get to attend her own graduation like your punk-ass bastard of a brother did.”
“Newsflash, brothers, she’s not holding a grudge like you told me, she’s protecting herself.” “From what?” Toby barked in wild-eyed disbelief “From disloyal motherfuckers who once swore to protect her, yet had zero problem thinking the worst of her, throwing her under the bus, and running over her with it. Jesus, I can’t believe I even have to point that shit out. She doesn’t trust you anymore. Either of you.
“Stop.” The single word from her mouth had my dad biting his tongue. “She is an adult. She’s an adult who hasn’t been to a family or club function in almost two years. Look at her. Really look at what you’re doing to your daughter. Again. You basically just told her you choose having a good time with your brothers over having her present, and having to look out for her. Considering you fucked up with looking out for her enough to cause this rift in the first place, I think you need to swallow your words, and back the fuck off.”
“I’ll make sure he sees that I showed up and then I’ll call an Uber to come get me and take me to Erin’s so I don’t ruin anyone’s night with my unwanted presence.”
“You joke about me being ‘the other princess,’ Trunk. The others never have. It’s real to them, and it isn’t a nice name. I’ve always just been the daughter of a conniving whore, and they were waiting for me to turn out the same. Jay gave them all the excuse they needed.”
My dad was telling the guys that it was the worst mistake of his life – getting with my mom that one night – and that it almost ruined things with Lucy. He was telling them how me being there was a constant reminder of everything, and how it was hard to look at me some days because I wasn’t Lucy’s.”
My dad told me the only woman who got to ride on his bike was his old lady, of course, the next week my little sister had begged and pleaded her way onto the back of his bike too. So, it must have just been me that wasn’t allowed.
“How the hell have you spent all these years in an MC family and you don’t know how to mount a bike or where to put your feet?”
“I know that girl there has never been accepted by your fucking sorry ass biker family, and so I wouldn’t think a single one of those fucks would put her on the back of their bikes. Am I wrong sweetheart?”
How many more tiny little humiliations could my family continue to put me through without even having to be here to do it?
“I dated one woman seriously while I was away, and I’d come home earlier than expected from a temporary duty assignment to find her in bed with a man I’d considered my best friend at the time. I had come home with a ring, because I’d planned on asking her to marry me.”
.
November 4, 2021
3.25 stars
A pure angst fest
A pure angst fest
January 17, 2022
Get it here:
Amazon US * Amazon UK
Holy Emotions, Batman! This book was full of angst and heartbreak but also the growth that came from the trauma and the love that became stronger than the pain. In all honesty the romance wasn't the strongest, it was more of a background plot, but I was okay with it not being the focus of the book. Instead we got to see the absolute pain Ever was going through and feel every one of her emotions with her. It made for an amazing read and had me feeling so connected to her character that I felt like her pain was mine. Overall, this is a must read for angst lovers.
Amazon US * Amazon UK
Holy Emotions, Batman! This book was full of angst and heartbreak but also the growth that came from the trauma and the love that became stronger than the pain. In all honesty the romance wasn't the strongest, it was more of a background plot, but I was okay with it not being the focus of the book. Instead we got to see the absolute pain Ever was going through and feel every one of her emotions with her. It made for an amazing read and had me feeling so connected to her character that I felt like her pain was mine. Overall, this is a must read for angst lovers.
January 15, 2019
This was a very well writes story that tug at my heart strings. The real life topics the author touched on felt real, I felt Ever's pain, anguish, betrayal and desperation. There is much to be said on how the author was able deal with the closure without making it seem like an easy fix. Bullying is real and this book does not shield readers from the long lasting effects.
I loved that about this book, yes you can move on but that pain will always be there but it’s how the author chose to have the MC move on to a better place. Deck was the guy every girl dreams of and I loved how he’s bought into the female MC’s life and helps her rebuild, live and smile.
There were so many times I cried for Ever but there were also times that I would shout out YOU GO GURL!!!! I loved loved loved this book and can’t wait to see what else will come next. The epilogue the author added was perfect, it kept me guessing and I had to reread it 5 times!!! I am definitely one clicking this author
I loved that about this book, yes you can move on but that pain will always be there but it’s how the author chose to have the MC move on to a better place. Deck was the guy every girl dreams of and I loved how he’s bought into the female MC’s life and helps her rebuild, live and smile.
There were so many times I cried for Ever but there were also times that I would shout out YOU GO GURL!!!! I loved loved loved this book and can’t wait to see what else will come next. The epilogue the author added was perfect, it kept me guessing and I had to reread it 5 times!!! I am definitely one clicking this author
February 9, 2019
I tried, I really did, but this book just didn't work for me. With all the four and five star reviews I thought I had found a new author. I read the sample and decided to give it a try, I was very disappointed. I must be in the minority here, because I have a completely different view of this book then others. I thought the premise was good and that there was a lot of potential in the story, but felt the author dropped the ball on actual follow through.
There are editing errors that were distracting: words missing or incorrect word tense used. The main female character was whiney and overly dramatic. I understand her reasoning and felt she was mostly justified, but there comes a point when I stop listening because its the same whine over and over again with no action to change. I liked her relationship with her step mom and best friend but that was it. She also spoke too formal and introspective for a 8, 15 or 19 year old. The author tried to explain things using the characters dialogue and it just felt too textbook, too clinical at times.
The brother and best friend and (at times) the father and club brothers were just basic high school whiney men. Thinking that just because they wore a patch they didn't have to have facts, justification or reasoning for their actions ir word. I very much disliked them all. There were no redeeming characteristics.
The MC was like nothing I have ever read before. I am not sure the author knows anything about MC's in fiction because she made up all her own rules. This would not have been a problem for me if the rules made sense, but they felt too childish and high school-ish. The brothers had a ceremony to ask forgiveness from a high school girl because she was made fun of? Still not sure about this.
The book is slow to progress because of the constant re-telling of the same stories over and over again. As a reader, I have a pretty good memory and once an event in mentioned (in detail) I don't need it repeated to me another eight times. I get it. The author had trouble with this and every time a new character learned about the event or asked about it, the entire story was repeated. Got annoying fast.
While I really tried to enjoy this story there were just too many issues to ignore and I ended up not enjoying this read. I finished it, because I was hoping it got better but it really didn't. There is a HEA so there is that…
There are editing errors that were distracting: words missing or incorrect word tense used. The main female character was whiney and overly dramatic. I understand her reasoning and felt she was mostly justified, but there comes a point when I stop listening because its the same whine over and over again with no action to change. I liked her relationship with her step mom and best friend but that was it. She also spoke too formal and introspective for a 8, 15 or 19 year old. The author tried to explain things using the characters dialogue and it just felt too textbook, too clinical at times.
The brother and best friend and (at times) the father and club brothers were just basic high school whiney men. Thinking that just because they wore a patch they didn't have to have facts, justification or reasoning for their actions ir word. I very much disliked them all. There were no redeeming characteristics.
The MC was like nothing I have ever read before. I am not sure the author knows anything about MC's in fiction because she made up all her own rules. This would not have been a problem for me if the rules made sense, but they felt too childish and high school-ish. The brothers had a ceremony to ask forgiveness from a high school girl because she was made fun of? Still not sure about this.
The book is slow to progress because of the constant re-telling of the same stories over and over again. As a reader, I have a pretty good memory and once an event in mentioned (in detail) I don't need it repeated to me another eight times. I get it. The author had trouble with this and every time a new character learned about the event or asked about it, the entire story was repeated. Got annoying fast.
While I really tried to enjoy this story there were just too many issues to ignore and I ended up not enjoying this read. I finished it, because I was hoping it got better but it really didn't. There is a HEA so there is that…
dnf
December 26, 2024DNF @ 22% - the heroine is insufferable with all her self-righteous speeches. Also it’s obvious that the H is gonna be the one guy who isn’t even remotely involved in any of the drama which makes me wonder what the point of the drama is if it’s not a conflict for the MCs??? This just feels like manufactured drama. I’m here for the struggle between the h and H and don’t care about outside drama. 🤷🏼♀️
Want to read
December 18, 2025tbr: streets saying “too much grovel” I love too much grovel; my kind of jam.
October 9, 2024
2.5 ⭐️
The romance happened out of no where. I wanted more build up.
The romance happened out of no where. I wanted more build up.
February 28, 2019
Full disclosure, I read hard core biker books, the kind with outlaws doing really horrible things. Think Fanetti, Wylde, Cat Porter, Lauren Gilley, Madeline Sheehan, etc. I knew this was all about family and dysfunction set in the backdrop of a MC. I was ready and willing, chomping at the bit for a big cry fest. That is until I started reading the sample.
Poor Fredo!
Sorry, non sequitur, anyway....
So I was looking for an angsty read and well, this has angst but the the repetitive narrations about how Ever had been wronged and the biker vernacular was so over the top that I just couldn't read any more. I guess the kicker was the punishment the two 17 YO "prospects" received for treating Ever so horribly. They had to wait an extra three months for their bottom rockers. *yawn*
Let's chat about the biker's and their club. The men in charge act like a bunch of immature high school idiots and I have no idea if they are 1%ers or just a bunch of recreational riders. The very public incident at her high school brings Ever's father and brother rushing into the house to scream at her about what she did. WTF? My other issue was the writing. It reads like a transcribed episode of Teen Mom, see above mentioned outburst by bikers. I think the author could have a solid story, but she needs a
edit. Misspelled words, repetitive sentences and the need to add some depth to the characters and yikes, the peppering of biker slang...
Oh, and don't get me started on the description of her DDDs in a shelf bra tank top
I can't even imagine the pain. Girl, buy yourself some support!
All in all, I can't pan this author's work. One it isn't nice, but I believe she could have a good book with A LOT of editing and TLC.
Poor Fredo!
Sorry, non sequitur, anyway....
So I was looking for an angsty read and well, this has angst but the the repetitive narrations about how Ever had been wronged and the biker vernacular was so over the top that I just couldn't read any more. I guess the kicker was the punishment the two 17 YO "prospects" received for treating Ever so horribly. They had to wait an extra three months for their bottom rockers. *yawn*
Let's chat about the biker's and their club. The men in charge act like a bunch of immature high school idiots and I have no idea if they are 1%ers or just a bunch of recreational riders. The very public incident at her high school brings Ever's father and brother rushing into the house to scream at her about what she did. WTF? My other issue was the writing. It reads like a transcribed episode of Teen Mom, see above mentioned outburst by bikers. I think the author could have a solid story, but she needs a
edit. Misspelled words, repetitive sentences and the need to add some depth to the characters and yikes, the peppering of biker slang...
Oh, and don't get me started on the description of her DDDs in a shelf bra tank top
I can't even imagine the pain. Girl, buy yourself some support!
All in all, I can't pan this author's work. One it isn't nice, but I believe she could have a good book with A LOT of editing and TLC.
January 10, 2019
Let me start off with this P.S.A. You may need a box or two of Kleenex for this read.. This book broke my heart more times then I could count. However it was worth every single tear that dropped.. It was an amazing emotional rollercoaster of heart break and strength only a woman could truly understand. And through it all you just can't help but root for love to win out in the end.. I can not wait to review the next book in this series!! I hope you enjoy it as much as I have!
August 26, 2019
An MC book without any MC 🤦♀️ About a very hurt girl who is a tattoo artist... The beginning was great, but unfortunately it didn't work for me.
July 20, 2022
This is a case of it’s me and not the book.
The poor heroine has lived since she was 8 in a toxic environment because she was the illegitimate child of the pig hero and, even if her stepmother accepted and loved her with all her heart, her father, brother, and all MC club to which the father belonged rejected her and bullied her. Then her brother’s bf shamed her in front of all the school when she was a teenager causing all the school to bully her. Basically.
Of course she suffered a lot, because nor her father or her brother believed her at first and it was her stepmother who protected her and defended her.
But of course it was not enough.
Then years later the pig’s older brother comes home and he’s stunned at what she had to suffer by the hand of those ugly beasts that are the MC members.
Of course he’s also in love with her and tries to build a bridge between her and the Club.
She’s a very good tattoo artist and she should live a happy life but my if she holds a grudge.
Ok, it was bad that adult men treat that way an innocent child who had just lost her mother, but of course we are talking about a MC club not Mensa.
So she had to imagine that they would behave the way they were used to.
That is a without much sensitivity and affection.
And ok she suffered because she was bullied and it was bad enough because she was a sensitive teenager.
But as she grew up I hoped at least she would have chosen to live in another town where she could make new friends- real friends- because not all the world is a MC club where men are brutes and can’t deal with children. Thank god.
Nope.
She stays and gives the evil eye to all the members of the club each time she sees them and remembers them how cruel they were to her.
The poor hero who is in love with her was really good and nice, she was depressed and she wanted too much to be accepted by the club.
They were not worth the effort. Not everyone in the world has to like you, heroine! Find another place and more pleasant people! There are plenty.
The ending with all the drama was OTT.
Too angst too stressed for me.
I couldn’t enjoy it.
The poor heroine has lived since she was 8 in a toxic environment because she was the illegitimate child of the pig hero and, even if her stepmother accepted and loved her with all her heart, her father, brother, and all MC club to which the father belonged rejected her and bullied her. Then her brother’s bf shamed her in front of all the school when she was a teenager causing all the school to bully her. Basically.
Of course she suffered a lot, because nor her father or her brother believed her at first and it was her stepmother who protected her and defended her.
But of course it was not enough.
Then years later the pig’s older brother comes home and he’s stunned at what she had to suffer by the hand of those ugly beasts that are the MC members.
Of course he’s also in love with her and tries to build a bridge between her and the Club.
She’s a very good tattoo artist and she should live a happy life but my if she holds a grudge.
Ok, it was bad that adult men treat that way an innocent child who had just lost her mother, but of course we are talking about a MC club not Mensa.
So she had to imagine that they would behave the way they were used to.
That is a without much sensitivity and affection.
And ok she suffered because she was bullied and it was bad enough because she was a sensitive teenager.
But as she grew up I hoped at least she would have chosen to live in another town where she could make new friends- real friends- because not all the world is a MC club where men are brutes and can’t deal with children. Thank god.
Nope.
She stays and gives the evil eye to all the members of the club each time she sees them and remembers them how cruel they were to her.
The poor hero who is in love with her was really good and nice, she was depressed and she wanted too much to be accepted by the club.
They were not worth the effort. Not everyone in the world has to like you, heroine! Find another place and more pleasant people! There are plenty.
The ending with all the drama was OTT.
Too angst too stressed for me.
I couldn’t enjoy it.
August 24, 2021
I’m a bit conflicted with my rating for this book. It started as a solid 5 star read and it had me blown away. Reading along it became a pity party and I had to downgrade my rating. The storyline is still strong and had a trope I was cheering for, so I can’t go any lower than 4 stars.
This story is basically about a broken family and its drama. Ever looses her mother when she’s 8 years old and learns she has a father who she will be living with from now on. He has a family with a wife, a 10 year old son and a 5 year old daughter. Having another mother and being a middle child, everyone knows she doesn’t belong in that family. She’s called “the other princess” by his club members, when her sister is called “princess”. Her new step mother dislikes her at first, but she turns out to be the one that loves her most in the end and is her true hero and savior. Although her brother and his best friend Jay promise to protect her forever from day one, that’s not what happened. At the age of 15 she is betrayed in the worst way possible. Jay believes lies his girlfriend spread about Ever and he takes his girlfriends side. Her father and brother take his side as well, just as the whole club. The only person she has left is her step mother and her best friend Erin. What follows is 4 years of tormenting and neglecting. When she’s 19 she decides she’s done with her family and the club, giving her nothing but heartache. She’s going to stand on her own and goes through a healing process. For me this is where her pity party began. I understand her grudges and lack of trust, but for me she was acting more as a victim than a survivor. I wished some more bad ass and no tear wrecking bikers.
Now I have to praise this author for a trope she chose which you don’t read often. Ever was infatuated with Jay for years. She was pining for him and he didn’t even notice her. She has to see him flaunt girlfriends in front of her and even walks in on him having sex with OW. Her infatuation with him all ends the day he betrays her in front of the entire school. When most NA novels choose this same trope, those books end with the heroine having her HEA with this guy. Not in this book! In this book the guy’s older brother Declan gets the girl. The only thing that would’ve made it even better was if Jay realized he was in love with Ever and missed his chance. Unfortunately that didn’t happen.
While Declan was away in the army he wasn’t aware of all Ever’s tormenting. They kept writing each other but her letters ended the day Jay betrayed her. When he comes back from the army, he sticks up for Ever the way her own father an brother should’ve done. He helps her to let go of her past and how to forgive. He was a fantastic, honest, sweet and loyal hero. Definitely a slow burn romance, where the romance is more put to the backside so the family drama can take the spotlight.
Safe read. Ever was a virgin, Declan not a manwhore. He got around at school and had a serious girlfriend when he was away in the army, but she cheated on him. He intended to marry her, but realized that he never loved her because he never felt the same for her as he did for Ever. Ever and Declan were always meant to be. Declan got a bit jealous of Kane, but Ever was never into him and he didn’t cause any drama. He only pushed Declan to be with Ever. There’s also OW at the club that tries to come on to Declan, but he isn’t having any of it. No cheating or sex with OP.
Trigger warning: bullying, slut shaming and suicidal thoughts.
This story is basically about a broken family and its drama. Ever looses her mother when she’s 8 years old and learns she has a father who she will be living with from now on. He has a family with a wife, a 10 year old son and a 5 year old daughter. Having another mother and being a middle child, everyone knows she doesn’t belong in that family. She’s called “the other princess” by his club members, when her sister is called “princess”. Her new step mother dislikes her at first, but she turns out to be the one that loves her most in the end and is her true hero and savior. Although her brother and his best friend Jay promise to protect her forever from day one, that’s not what happened. At the age of 15 she is betrayed in the worst way possible. Jay believes lies his girlfriend spread about Ever and he takes his girlfriends side. Her father and brother take his side as well, just as the whole club. The only person she has left is her step mother and her best friend Erin. What follows is 4 years of tormenting and neglecting. When she’s 19 she decides she’s done with her family and the club, giving her nothing but heartache. She’s going to stand on her own and goes through a healing process. For me this is where her pity party began. I understand her grudges and lack of trust, but for me she was acting more as a victim than a survivor. I wished some more bad ass and no tear wrecking bikers.
Now I have to praise this author for a trope she chose which you don’t read often. Ever was infatuated with Jay for years. She was pining for him and he didn’t even notice her. She has to see him flaunt girlfriends in front of her and even walks in on him having sex with OW. Her infatuation with him all ends the day he betrays her in front of the entire school. When most NA novels choose this same trope, those books end with the heroine having her HEA with this guy. Not in this book! In this book the guy’s older brother Declan gets the girl. The only thing that would’ve made it even better was if Jay realized he was in love with Ever and missed his chance. Unfortunately that didn’t happen.
While Declan was away in the army he wasn’t aware of all Ever’s tormenting. They kept writing each other but her letters ended the day Jay betrayed her. When he comes back from the army, he sticks up for Ever the way her own father an brother should’ve done. He helps her to let go of her past and how to forgive. He was a fantastic, honest, sweet and loyal hero. Definitely a slow burn romance, where the romance is more put to the backside so the family drama can take the spotlight.
Safe read. Ever was a virgin, Declan not a manwhore. He got around at school and had a serious girlfriend when he was away in the army, but she cheated on him. He intended to marry her, but realized that he never loved her because he never felt the same for her as he did for Ever. Ever and Declan were always meant to be. Declan got a bit jealous of Kane, but Ever was never into him and he didn’t cause any drama. He only pushed Declan to be with Ever. There’s also OW at the club that tries to come on to Declan, but he isn’t having any of it. No cheating or sex with OP.
Trigger warning: bullying, slut shaming and suicidal thoughts.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2019
I’m torn on this rating.
Parts of the book were quite good, for example the heroine was strong and knew she could take care of herself. She also said the kind of things to the Hero (and others) that I want heroines to say but they so rarely do. No doormat here. Unfortunately, other parts of the book were not good. The author stated upfront that this is not a typical MC book and that wasn’t my issue. It was more the over-the-top drama by the men in the MC that was so unrealistic and fantasyland-wishful thinking that it had the feel of a Wattpad story written by a teenager. Maybe it was cathartic for the author?
I generally love stories wherein there is a scene where the Hero cries for his love, it’s usually a moment of power, but, in this story the extreme reactions left me feeling those weak emotional men were losers. Not the Hero, I liked him, but pretty much everyone else in the club.
Guess it’s really 3.5 stars and I will read the next book.
Parts of the book were quite good, for example the heroine was strong and knew she could take care of herself. She also said the kind of things to the Hero (and others) that I want heroines to say but they so rarely do. No doormat here. Unfortunately, other parts of the book were not good. The author stated upfront that this is not a typical MC book and that wasn’t my issue. It was more the over-the-top drama by the men in the MC that was so unrealistic and fantasyland-wishful thinking that it had the feel of a Wattpad story written by a teenager. Maybe it was cathartic for the author?
I generally love stories wherein there is a scene where the Hero cries for his love, it’s usually a moment of power, but, in this story the extreme reactions left me feeling those weak emotional men were losers. Not the Hero, I liked him, but pretty much everyone else in the club.
Guess it’s really 3.5 stars and I will read the next book.
November 3, 2020
If you like MC books then you have to read this series. I've been a huge fan of Christine Michelle for a long time and have read a lot of her books but this one is my favorite.
February 27, 2019
This is not an MC story, but one about the consequences of bullying. The h was bullied by her whole high school and by her family and the club, this book is her journey towards revenge and forgiveness.
-> not my cup of tea at all, but 2 🌟 for writing a storyline different from what you expect from an MC book.
Also, I don’t remember any reference to triggers in the blurb, but there are references to suicidal thoughts and a suicide attempt
-> not my cup of tea at all, but 2 🌟 for writing a storyline different from what you expect from an MC book.
Also, I don’t remember any reference to triggers in the blurb, but there are references to suicidal thoughts and a suicide attempt
August 15, 2022
DNF at 42%
Dear god this was a lot. It read like the kind of grovel-fest I would have written at 13. Everything was constant speeches and bitching. Like almost every scene we had to hear about how hurt Ever was.
I mean, I get that what happened to her was traumatic. Her best friend and crush confronted her in front of her whole high school (at an assembly, no less) because his girl-of-the-week told him that Ever said a bunch of stupid shit, in a private bathroom, with no one to witness it but girl-of-the-week's friends. In the overreaction of the century, her crush humiliates her in front of the whole school, opening her up to scorn and constant bullying from the whole student body. This leads to her rejection from not only her friend circle, but also her brother (the crush's best friend) and father (who gets way too into high school shit apparently). And eventually, the whole MC rejects her because they also get way too into high school shit, and also never liked her to begin with. All this rejection leads to (and this is all in the Prologue, so I'm not spoiler tagging) a suicide almost-attempt, and a general breakdown of her relationship with her father and brother.
And seriously, I get all of this. I'm there for it. I was in high school once and I remember genuinely wanting to kill myself over circumstances that were very different, but on a similar level of bad. Where the book fails is in the amount of overdramatization of every scene that follows. Ever's first bitch-out of the people who wronged her happened in this same Prologue and then continued in every confrontation scene she had. And considering how angry she was at everyone, that's pretty much every scene she has with anyone involved in her shunning.
Then the first chapter begins (no, I'm not kidding, that was all prologue) and when Ever is 18 (I think, it might have been 19), the love interest, Deck, the brother of the crush that started all of this (and I had totally read the blurb wrong because I thought it was the high school crush that would end up being the love interest), comes back from the military and finds out about all the shit that went down while he was away. And then we not only have Ever bitching everyone out about how terrible her life is, but also we have Deck doing it.
And it was So. Much. Drama.
Even my oft-referenced inner angst-whore, Violet was giving the book side-eye and going, Less is more!
I had to stop when, a little less than halfway through the book, in their burgeoning attempts to make up for all their great and varied wrongs (and let's be clear, I'm not minimizing the trauma of a small child being rejected by her father and his "brothers" because of who her mother was), the whole motorcycle club approaches her at the tattoo parlor she works at and offers to let her tattoo their sins on each of them.
Adult males. Motorcycle club dudes. Go to a 19 year old tattoo artist to let her ink a permanent reminder of their everlasting shame.
I mean yeah, they fucked up, but beyond her father and brother, I do not buy this level of wallowing from a whole group of supposedly tough biker dudes. And why is Deck involved? I get he thinks she's cute (did I mention that she apparently has a tiny "pin-up" waste and a DDD cup size because... sigh... just like everything else in this book, even her bras were over-the-top -- and btw, at that size, you're into F-cup territory, so just go to www.abrathatfits.org and read up) but he wasn't even there for any of this and his name wasn't even mentioned in that oh-so-packed prologue. I didn't even know Ever's high school crush had an older brother until he's suddenly on-page, checking her out at a mall.
Just bad, bad writing, all around. It read like something written by a Junior High girl who has been humiliated by the guy she likes. I wanted to go along with it, but I need the plot to proceed beyond:
"You humiliated me!"
"I know, I'm, like, sorry or something."
"You made me feel unwanted!"
"Okay, that's worse, you were a kid, I actually feel bad about that."
"My life has been shit because you are selfish!"
"You're not wrong."
"You made me want to kill myself!"
"GAAAH!" WAAAALLLLLOOOOOOWWWWWW!
"You're the reason my father didn't love me!"
"The pain! The agony of everything you went through!"
"You made me stub my toe and wrote the screenplay to Battlefield Earth!"
"Oh God, oh no! YEEEEESSSSS, that's true, L. Ron Hubbard and John Travolta had nothing to do with that! It was all meeeee!"
"Me me me me me me!"
"You you you you you you!"
Or something.
Dear god this was a lot. It read like the kind of grovel-fest I would have written at 13. Everything was constant speeches and bitching. Like almost every scene we had to hear about how hurt Ever was.
I mean, I get that what happened to her was traumatic. Her best friend and crush confronted her in front of her whole high school (at an assembly, no less) because his girl-of-the-week told him that Ever said a bunch of stupid shit, in a private bathroom, with no one to witness it but girl-of-the-week's friends. In the overreaction of the century, her crush humiliates her in front of the whole school, opening her up to scorn and constant bullying from the whole student body. This leads to her rejection from not only her friend circle, but also her brother (the crush's best friend) and father (who gets way too into high school shit apparently). And eventually, the whole MC rejects her because they also get way too into high school shit, and also never liked her to begin with. All this rejection leads to (and this is all in the Prologue, so I'm not spoiler tagging) a suicide almost-attempt, and a general breakdown of her relationship with her father and brother.
And seriously, I get all of this. I'm there for it. I was in high school once and I remember genuinely wanting to kill myself over circumstances that were very different, but on a similar level of bad. Where the book fails is in the amount of overdramatization of every scene that follows. Ever's first bitch-out of the people who wronged her happened in this same Prologue and then continued in every confrontation scene she had. And considering how angry she was at everyone, that's pretty much every scene she has with anyone involved in her shunning.
Then the first chapter begins (no, I'm not kidding, that was all prologue) and when Ever is 18 (I think, it might have been 19), the love interest, Deck, the brother of the crush that started all of this (and I had totally read the blurb wrong because I thought it was the high school crush that would end up being the love interest), comes back from the military and finds out about all the shit that went down while he was away. And then we not only have Ever bitching everyone out about how terrible her life is, but also we have Deck doing it.
And it was So. Much. Drama.
Even my oft-referenced inner angst-whore, Violet was giving the book side-eye and going, Less is more!
I had to stop when, a little less than halfway through the book, in their burgeoning attempts to make up for all their great and varied wrongs (and let's be clear, I'm not minimizing the trauma of a small child being rejected by her father and his "brothers" because of who her mother was), the whole motorcycle club approaches her at the tattoo parlor she works at and offers to let her tattoo their sins on each of them.
Adult males. Motorcycle club dudes. Go to a 19 year old tattoo artist to let her ink a permanent reminder of their everlasting shame.
I mean yeah, they fucked up, but beyond her father and brother, I do not buy this level of wallowing from a whole group of supposedly tough biker dudes. And why is Deck involved? I get he thinks she's cute (did I mention that she apparently has a tiny "pin-up" waste and a DDD cup size because... sigh... just like everything else in this book, even her bras were over-the-top -- and btw, at that size, you're into F-cup territory, so just go to www.abrathatfits.org and read up) but he wasn't even there for any of this and his name wasn't even mentioned in that oh-so-packed prologue. I didn't even know Ever's high school crush had an older brother until he's suddenly on-page, checking her out at a mall.
Just bad, bad writing, all around. It read like something written by a Junior High girl who has been humiliated by the guy she likes. I wanted to go along with it, but I need the plot to proceed beyond:
"You humiliated me!"
"I know, I'm, like, sorry or something."
"You made me feel unwanted!"
"Okay, that's worse, you were a kid, I actually feel bad about that."
"My life has been shit because you are selfish!"
"You're not wrong."
"You made me want to kill myself!"
"GAAAH!" WAAAALLLLLOOOOOOWWWWWW!
"You're the reason my father didn't love me!"
"The pain! The agony of everything you went through!"
"You made me stub my toe and wrote the screenplay to Battlefield Earth!"
"Oh God, oh no! YEEEEESSSSS, that's true, L. Ron Hubbard and John Travolta had nothing to do with that! It was all meeeee!"
"Me me me me me me!"
"You you you you you you!"
Or something.
July 16, 2022
This was a combination of justifiable angst followed by a series of extended lectures and airing of grievances by the h to the permanently-contrite wrongdoers. By the end of this, I think that everyone who had wronged her might have been considering wronging her again. Still, I found it enjoyable and even funny sometimes when I imagined the bikers docilely listening to her harangues while silently yearning for death.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2019
I rarely 5 star books- and I rarely believe people who 5 star and swoon over books. But I can’t lie and say this book doesn’t deserve the praise and 5 stars. Because boy does it ever!
Christine is an excellent story teller. The story flowed seamlessly, and I was wracked with so many feelings and emotions the entire ride- start to finish!! I pretty much, just about, cried - or ugly cried- in every chapter. My heart broke for the little girl who just wanted to be accepted, loved, trusted, and finally respected as everyone else in the Aces High clubhouse. Why wasn’t she worthy too?
But, thankfully, there were times where I could smile and laugh too.
Gosh! This book!!! It put me through the wringer, and it made me fall in love with Declan. If he wasn’t the best book boyfriend ever- then I don’t know anything! He went above and beyond the call of duty to put Ever back together and fix his whole family - and he was willing to give everything up for her. How many bikers have you read about who were willing to walk away from the club? Not many- and I’ve read over 300 biker stories. (That’s no lie).
This book was such a fresh breath in the biker genre- it’s truly a wonderful gem, and one I’ve been searching for, and came at the best reading time in my life. Praise you, Christine, for not making us live through plot devices such as: MC rivals, cop & Mc hate, club whore drama, baby mama drama, cheating, over the top alpha men, bikers who kill, the worst life story an H/h could ever have, and way too much sex.
Yes- what a shocker- you can write a good book with so much emotions, normal/family issues, a strong but not feminist or overly done heroine, and a spoonful of sex- and still get high praise!! I’m all about a story that you can lose yourself in, never roll your eyes over the stupidity of characters, invest your heart and time into, and cry your eyes out. Well done!!
This book made me feel like these characters were real. It made me feel. It made me cry. It made me mad. It made me laugh. It broke my heart. It put my heart back together. It made me live right there in the moment with the couple.
What I loved
1. Raw emotions evoked from this story
2. Declan- true hero of an H to me
3. Once a couple- always a couple
4. Humor
5. The resolution to healing
6. The ending
7. The epilogue - it leaves you with a tease- even if it irked me (ha ha)- and some good news.
8. The men of Permanent Marks. I hope they get a story!!
The reasoning for the book shelf tags:
1. Neglect- as the MC does that job too well. As does her dad.
2. Grief/Coping- Ever experiences those in spades as she navigates life as an 8-year-old and the death of her mom, as a 15-year-old when her life is ripped to shreds by those sworn to protect and love her. And as an adult as she mourns for her club family to just accept and love her - as well as her own blood family.
3. Abuse- which I decided to throw in under the moniker of being bullied, even if it’s not on the label/shelf, as she is bullied by teens and adults, even if we don’t always get to see it - it’s there at the start of the book. But also the emotional and mental abuse she is put through by the actions or words of others. There are some physical moments- by the teens- that we briefly see.
4. Hero’s/ ex-soldier: Declan is a hero in my book and he was an solider at one point.
5. Couples stay together/ bikers - self explanatory
Christine is an excellent story teller. The story flowed seamlessly, and I was wracked with so many feelings and emotions the entire ride- start to finish!! I pretty much, just about, cried - or ugly cried- in every chapter. My heart broke for the little girl who just wanted to be accepted, loved, trusted, and finally respected as everyone else in the Aces High clubhouse. Why wasn’t she worthy too?
But, thankfully, there were times where I could smile and laugh too.
Gosh! This book!!! It put me through the wringer, and it made me fall in love with Declan. If he wasn’t the best book boyfriend ever- then I don’t know anything! He went above and beyond the call of duty to put Ever back together and fix his whole family - and he was willing to give everything up for her. How many bikers have you read about who were willing to walk away from the club? Not many- and I’ve read over 300 biker stories. (That’s no lie).
This book was such a fresh breath in the biker genre- it’s truly a wonderful gem, and one I’ve been searching for, and came at the best reading time in my life. Praise you, Christine, for not making us live through plot devices such as: MC rivals, cop & Mc hate, club whore drama, baby mama drama, cheating, over the top alpha men, bikers who kill, the worst life story an H/h could ever have, and way too much sex.
Yes- what a shocker- you can write a good book with so much emotions, normal/family issues, a strong but not feminist or overly done heroine, and a spoonful of sex- and still get high praise!! I’m all about a story that you can lose yourself in, never roll your eyes over the stupidity of characters, invest your heart and time into, and cry your eyes out. Well done!!
This book made me feel like these characters were real. It made me feel. It made me cry. It made me mad. It made me laugh. It broke my heart. It put my heart back together. It made me live right there in the moment with the couple.
What I loved
1. Raw emotions evoked from this story
2. Declan- true hero of an H to me
3. Once a couple- always a couple
4. Humor
5. The resolution to healing
6. The ending
7. The epilogue - it leaves you with a tease- even if it irked me (ha ha)- and some good news.
8. The men of Permanent Marks. I hope they get a story!!
The reasoning for the book shelf tags:
1. Neglect- as the MC does that job too well. As does her dad.
2. Grief/Coping- Ever experiences those in spades as she navigates life as an 8-year-old and the death of her mom, as a 15-year-old when her life is ripped to shreds by those sworn to protect and love her. And as an adult as she mourns for her club family to just accept and love her - as well as her own blood family.
3. Abuse- which I decided to throw in under the moniker of being bullied, even if it’s not on the label/shelf, as she is bullied by teens and adults, even if we don’t always get to see it - it’s there at the start of the book. But also the emotional and mental abuse she is put through by the actions or words of others. There are some physical moments- by the teens- that we briefly see.
4. Hero’s/ ex-soldier: Declan is a hero in my book and he was an solider at one point.
5. Couples stay together/ bikers - self explanatory
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