He’s been waiting for a storm for years. Well… she has finally blown into town.
He’d always been good at starting over. That had been his job for a long time. New country, new identity, new scumbag to track down, and bring to justice. It was just the job. Until, suddenly, someone made it more. But life had plans that didn’t involve white picket fences and happily-ever-afters. And there was no choice but to move on. That didn’t mean ghosts of the past didn’t plague him, follow him no matter how many times he changed his name, how many places he ran to. Eventually, he traded one world for another. The past seemed as far behind him as it was possible. Until one day, it was there. She was there. Life didn’t offer many second chances. And he was hellbent on making things right. Even if she didn’t want anything to do with him ever again.
Jessica Gadziala is a USA Today bestselling author who lives in rural New Jersey with her parrots, dogs, and an ever-growing collection of houseplants. A lifelong dreamer, she’s been writing stories since childhood and published her first book in 2015. When not at her desk, she’s usually feeding backyard birds, rewatching crime dramas, period pieces, and 90s supernatural TV shows, or adding to her towering stacks of unread books.
kTitle: ➳ ❤-Roan Series ➳ The Henchmen MC Series 17# Author: ➳ Jessica Gadziala ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Publication May 20th 2019
ღ Roan, well, he was the older man, the slightly silver fox, the one who got all the girls with daddy issues to come a-running.
Roan and Mack's story
Roan is our mysterious resident ex-Spook … the one all the younger Henchmen’s tease, cuz he spends all his time in that room waiting for something he knew would be coming one day. Lil did he know his wait was nearly over
Oh sure he see all from his glass box in the sky! But he can’t remember enjoying life since her! Now he seeing ghost in the night, one that he thought die 15 long years ago
I must say that, I always enjoy a good second chance romance book, but let’s be honest here, I am not huge fan of flashbacks… it felt like at times that it was every other chapter that we were took back in time…. Other than that, I loved every aspect of this story
You’d think I’d be sick to death of The Henchmen by now, but nope JP keep me on my toes with every new book! You always find a different array of characters in her books…. She has one hell of imagination & it is on point
💖 Hope you enjoy this read 💖
⬇Always remember⬇
📚 Hope you enjoy this read & also always keep in mind this is just my opinion+ Also I wouldn’t never discourage anyone from reading this book.
On to the next book, I believe The Middle Man (Professionals Series) is up next in the Navesink Bank Universe
Yay I’m slowly but surely making my through this Navesink Bank Universe
This is the 17th instalment in the Henchmen series, while it wasn’t one of my favourites out of the series, I still loved being in the Navesink Bank world again! It’s amazing to me that after I have been reading so many of these books, I still remain hooked on them! I am not tiring at all from being in this interesting universe! I love all the characters that are introduced, and I love how they are all one big happy and loyal family!
I have never been a big lover of second chance romances, especially when a big chunk of the story is going back and forth from past to present. This was Roan’s book in a nutshell! I did find it a bit harder to connect with the main couple because of the back and forth. Even so, there were still parts I loved... mainly when I got to see the interaction between the Henchmen! I love how they joke around, and how they support one another!
I can’t wait to see what else is coming for my beloved Henchmen!! Next up is Camden.. and I’ve been dying for his story!!!
Life is not lost by dying; Life is lost minute by minute, day by dragging day, In a thousand small uncaring ways.-Stephen Vincent Benet.
I seen that quote ^ during one of my many pointless fb newsfeed scrolls and thought it was fitting.
I mean we're all well aquatinted with my kind of crazy rambles right?. So of course you can expect the same crazy with this review.
Roan
I love all Jessica's characters for a tonne of different reasons. However, Roan has pretty much since the beginning of time been that niggle that's irked me. I wanted to know his damage. I NEEDED his story. As time passed my imagination just got the better of me and I was expecting the WORST. Colour me hella surprised that it was in fact nowhere near any of the possibilities I had considered. In fact it was so far from my expectations its like comparing mars to earth.
The beginning throws you right into deep feels.
Roan In quiet moments, I could confess it to myself. That I was getting sick of this room, this existence, this stand still life.
I don't think it matters the sex, the stength of a person or their integrity. Given enough time and isolation, your past will catch up with you. The skeletons will crawl their bony asses out of the deep dark depths of your soul. Roan's never really hid. He couldn't put it to bed for later. It haunted him always.
I just walked away from the wreckage. And her. In doing so, I had left something vital of myself behind. Something only she ever had.
His instincts are dangerously sharp. He senses things coming. He weathers the storm. This was no different in that sense. However, the kind of shitstorm he was facing?. Not even he could've anticipated. I mean the dead don't come back right?. Haunt you maybe?. But definitely not come back to life.
Mack At the time I felt like such an adult. Looking back, though, I was a child. A child. And he put his sights on me, sank his claws into me, ripped vital things away never to be seen again.
All I'm going to say is the girl got fucked. Leave that here and let you find out what really happened. Just think on that.
ohh Lordy I love me a second chance romance. It's one of the very few times I can handle angst. The history is so fucking important. when done right you don't need to imagine them together because through that raw emotion you can feel them. You're living through the agony of their past. Struggling through the pain of having to face what happened. Reliving the nightmares. Raging through the betrayal. Hurting from what could of been. All those negative emotions bubbling on the surface. The funny thing about feeling something, it means you still care. Boy did they crash with a bang. They hit through all that storm right down to rock bottom where you push all the good because you'd rather feel the bad. The bad gets you through the pain. The good just reminds you of what you lost.
Roan and Mack's story isn't pretty. Theirs an unforgettable history there that will forever stain them. Lives were changed and lesson learnt. You get all the ugly. The flashbacks into the past are so important to this story, to their journey because without them, you will not understand nor appreciate truly how far they come in the end.
The story unfolds in a way that is designed to hit you deep emotionally. You question motives, you will question people. You'll second guess everything because you don't really know anything. As the story develops you realise that this goes so much deeper than a burnt ex. Expect the unexpected.
The characters!!. The growth between Roan and Mack is incredible. Seriously!. That instant connection was legit fireworks!. You could feel the raw emotion busting through the pages. The chemistry. OUTOFTHISWORLD. Their beginning or middle isn't easy. They fight, I really mean fight to get their HEA. They work hard to clear any misconceptions. The truth is laid bare and it's a bitter pill to swallow. However for that ending and those epilogues... so fucking worth it.
As per this author always gives us delicious snippets of side characters and possibilities into the future. This universe is a family and it shines through. The banter and bickering. The heartache and tragedies. The love. It's all their as clear as day between them all. This is a family unit always. You get that just from reading the pages. But delving deeper, between the lines there is so much more to them all.
This is a different one for me because I can as clear as day say that this is my favourite. Absolutely no doubt about it. It's a big say... I've read every book. When I invest in authors I love them hard. I'm in total awe of how a person can write something that's pure fiction and make you feel so much emotion. There's been many a times I've said I loved it!. But it's hard when you've built up a hugely anticipated character for so long, for it to meet expectations. This surpassed them absolutely. The history, the development of the story and characters. The emotion. Everything. It's taken all my favs from this author and jumped right to the top spot for sure.
That being said... a shit storm is brewing. I can feel it. It's not ready to hit just yet. But when it does, I know it's going to blow a gasket. Ferryn is coming.
Also I need Cam. I know his story isn't ready yet either. But I want it.
For now I'm finished rambling.. I may be back later to add more though.
I’ve been intrigued by Roan since he first appeared in Navesink Bank. And yes I enjoyed this one but…. I know, I know the dreaded but. Logic told me his story would spend a lot of time in the past. So I knew that going in but I struggled to connect to these two. Mainly I think with all the back and forth. It’s still a good read so maybe my expectations were just too high. So I’m sorry to say it wasn’t quite the book I’d wanted. But it’s straight onto Cam’s book now.
I devoured this book...couldn't put it down..&& said forget sleep because Roan & Mack their story was just everything 🖤 Mack was so fierce; (she kind of gave me low key Lo vibes) which I LOVED. Every new powerful female character that we are introduced to in NB quickly becomes my new favorite and this was no exception. And Roan GAH! ...I wasn't sure about him at first because honestly he's been a literal mystery in Henchmen books past but man...I went back and forth between wanting to junk punch him and swooning all over the place with all the heart eyes 😍😍😍 SO GOOD! 🖤
OK..📣Confession time; "Second Chance Romance" & "Flashbacks" of any kind are just not my thing...I don't hate them but I never really end up enjoying these types of reads but leave it to Jessica Gadziala to make me love both! Seriously, the flow of this book the balance between past and present was flawless. You go on this epic journey thru time with Mack & Roan and I couldn't have loved their story more. 🖤
Navesink Bank is one of my absolute favorite book worlds to visit and I'll be waiting anxiously to find out where we go next in this legendary fictional town. 🖤🖤🖤
Mysterious loner Roan spends most of his time up in the bulletproof glass observation room atop the Henchmen MCs compound, watching and waiting. His back story has been long - and eagerly - anticipated, and Jessica Gadziala truly delivers! What did we know about Roan? Not much, other than he's multi-lingual and is strongly protective with great instincts. And yeah, those rumors about him being a former spook. When his vigilance catches the glint off something metal INSIDE the locked compound grounds, his gut screams that something big, something dangerous is about to happen. But little did he suspect that the bada$s beauty firing the gun at him is a blast from his murky past: his greatest regret, his most painful failure. The one woman he has ever loved. The one he thought he had killed. OMFG, so good!
Guys this book!!! Jessica really put to paper the perfect story for Roan. Roan our mysterious resident ex-Spook from the glass box in the sky. His gut had been telling him for a while that a “storm was brewing. He always learned to follow his guts. Patience and perseverance.
It didn’t take no time at all to have me falling for Mac. I loved her characters personality. She was simply put badass. But when have we ever been let down by any of Jessica’s heroines? That would be never!!!!
I really can’t or won’t give anything away. I don’t want anyone to miss out on reading this book without spoilers. All of you Henchmen fans Roan is finally here and his story is epic!!! You must one-click him!!! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
{cue mission impossible theme} Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to read the story of an CIA agent that got a burn notice and ended up joining a arms dealing motorcycle club called the Henchmen. There he sat in a glass enclosed room waiting for something he knew would be coming one day. After years of waiting that something has finally arrived and it was the one thing he wasn't prepared for, a past mark and the one regret he hasn't gotten over.
Roan has been an enigma since he was first introduced in the series many books ago. It was thrilling to finally get his story and his woman was just as mysterious and kickass.
Finished Roan. I always had a thing for Roan, you know a soft squishy part in my heart just for him. I wanted to know his story and to understand him ... JG gave it to me. I love Mack, and like the other women in her books, want to be friends. The story flowed wonderfully and the flashbacks (as much as I usually hate them), really brought the story together. Thank you for another fabulous well-written story.
SO GOOD!!! Roan has quite a few flashbacks in the story, and normally that isn’t my thing. But the way these were written fit perfectly into the story, and added exactly what it needed to make it perfect. The conflict between Roan and Mack kept me very intrigued. I definitely didn’t want to put the book down. The love between Roan and Mack was touching and sweet. They way they were came together and were torn apart was not easy to read at some points because it was heartbreaking for both characters. The intensity of Roan and Mack was written in a way that it draws the reader into their world and their minds. Absolutely amazing! And of course the hints to other story lines just makes me want so much more!
4 stars for a great second chance romance ... h truly is kickass and H is a great guy ... their love story back 15 years is so sweet and tender ... Events and things that happened make sense and there is no doubt H feels very guilty and loved h still even after so many years ... So worth reading ...
Roan’s story is “that” story, the one you just need to read to understand! Mack and Roan have a history unlike any other couple and it is simply heartbreaking, anger-inducing and completely wonderful. Sure, Jessica Gadziala still knows how to grind out a romance with some grit, but this one has a real history, a backstory that just makes it one of my favorites!
From that first sexual encounter to their “reunion,” one cannot help but get caught up in the passion, the real emotion and the changes from the sweet innocence in Mack to the fierce, hardened and slightly brittle warrior she had become. And Roan? Just wow!
ROAN is just further proof that real men, real women and real love will always exist and Jessica Gadziala knows how to make us believe her characters are real!
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Jessica Gadziala!
Series: The Henchmen MC - Book 17 Publication Date: May 19, 2019 Publisher: Jessica Gadziala Genre: MC Romance Print Length: 230 pages Available from: Amazon For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
I'm not a fan of flashbacks I prefer the past to be summarised in a prologue and the story to flow from there and this one had a lot of flashbacks Roan is a former spy who had no problem being with woman to get info. He was with the h when she was a 19 year old virgin college dropout living in a foreign country and he was in his 30's working her for info on her uncle. After the op blew she spent 15 years tracking him for revenge then couldn't do what she'd planned
Blown away! I have waited for Roan’s story for a long time and JG did not disappoint. To me he has alway been the mysterious man in the glass room and I am glad we finally have his story. Mack is as badass as I imagined she would be and she has to be to be the woman that would be the other part of this duo. Worth the wait and must read of the year!
Living this thing we call life, our experiences shape us into who we are and the things we put in our hearts ultimately result in our actions as humans.
Buddha once said, “Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”
Well apparently Buddha never had the type of anxiety that made you replay something you wish you never said to someone 800 times, six years later, still fretting about it. He also must never have made a life altering mistake that cost him everything. That or he made a great habit of not taking his own advice.
Roan has been our watcher in the glass tower on the roof, waiting for the storm he knows is coming for a long time now. Boy did it ever blow in. But like the house built on the rock and not sand, his foundations of who he is left him standing amongst the best of them. For fans of The Henchmen we knew little of the details that made up the ex-spy until this point, but he was worth the wait.
Normally I would give the leading lady a quick moment to shine but I want you to read her details for yourself. There is a Mack in all of us. Something, someone, some circumstance or situation that has irrevocably changed the path we took to get us to where we are today. We all deserve to let go of the chains that hold us back and cling to our second chances. You deserve to be happy, Mack deserves to be happy, and I’m so glad this book gave us an (extreme) example of life after pain.
As always Jess gives us glimpses of the biker family we all know and have loved for so long. We even get the faintest glimpse, tease, morsel, wisp of the man we all hope Ferryn is coming home to (see The Fall of V). I can’t wait to watch Henchmen life mold Vance from a young man into a leading hero.
All in all, with second chances, lessons to learn, and older hero, and amazing sexual tension throughout, this isn’t a Henchmen you want to miss. Every time we get a new one, a favorite new hero is born.
I know this can be read as a standalone but you will miss out on so much meaning if read that way.
Okay on to the review.
One of the best second chance romances I have ever read. The heart I felt in this book was amazing! I have wanted to know Roan's story for awhile now. He was so mysterious always in the glass room, so wise and dark. I didn't think the story would go this way but that's why I dont write books just enjoy the hell out of them. Mack is the perfect addition and their relationship is well deserved. After 17 Henchmen I am still craving more! Bring on the next JG!
Top quote: I would let myself grieve, mourn that loss, feel the way that a life taken too soon strips you raw, made you sensitive to anything that touched you, removed any sense of good or God in the world. It ripped your defenses off, then slipped deep inside, scooped everything out until you were hollow, just a shell, just a void where joy and light and love had once been. 😭
So glad to be back in the Henchmen family!! Roan’s story is just as riveting as the rest! There are twists and turns and oh holy heck moments. Also in true JG awesomeness the door is open for a few more stories.. Vance or maybe a prospect? You can’t go wrong with the NB Universe and the love that Mack gets to work with Lo. This is another must read!
What an awesome story. Honestly I have no idea how she does it but each characters story is so unique you just can’t put the book down.
Some old friends come back in to play, I wonder if we will be getting the story of a bit older couple? Of course they wouldn’t see it coming so I’m likely totally wrong. But anyway, as always looking forward to the next Henchmen to settle down.
Male lead- Roan Female lead- Mack Intrigue, espionage, love suspicion, seduction, revenge All this & more. A must read for anyone who loves second chance romance with a twist. Loved it.
I have been fascinated by Roan for so long, and this book did not disappoint. I knew he would have a rough history and he almost broke my heart. Mack is amazing, from soft innocent girl to a tough, resourceful bad@$$. I couldn't see either of them with anyone else. And I'm dying to hear more from Not-Alice...
Roan did not disappoint, in fact it exceeded all my expectations! Another wonderfully written story by JG, if I can give more than stars I would! I couldn’t put this book down.
Are you looking for a second chance romance with an age gap, strong heroine, action-packed that ends in a HEA? Those are all the things that you will get with Roan, the 17th book in The Henchman MC series by Jessica Gadziala. JG is known for the fantastic way she interconnects series and the strong band of secondary characters that keep the reader wanting more. In Roan, she gives us the new with the old, bringing out a character that has always been a bit in the background to the forefront but still weaving in all the past characters we know so well. One of my favorite things about JG's writing is that she doesn't mess around. In Roan, she gets right to the point from the beginning. Yes, you still get background, you aren't going to miss out on any information that you need, but there aren't chapters of pointless details. I loved Roan's character, and even though he is private, we got to see him interact more with the club. It was nice to find out more information about his background, which has been a secret up until now. Mack, the heroine of the story was so relatable for me. The way that she felt hurt and angry was something anyone in her circumstance could understand. I wanted revenge for her, but more than anything wanted her to find a way to let go of that and have peace. I am always in awe of how well JG can write a badass woman in such a way that you still want to be her best friend. Be ready for an emotional battle because this one will have you on your toes then take a sharp turn and start to break your heart before patching you back together.
This may go down as one of my faves in the Henchmen MC Series. Roan is a spy who is assigned a job to get Mack to trust him so he can get info from her. But soon after meeting, this becomes more than a job. Fast forward 15 years and now Roan has a second chance. I can’t say enough good things about this book, I loved every single page, the cat and mouse game they played. And then let’s talk about that epilogue...Jessica is the queen of epilogues and she dropped a bomb in this one. I can’t wait to see where she takes us next!
Ok, so yet again you made me love flashbacks in a book. Ahhhh, the story with these two was sooooo crazy and angsty. I loved it! And Vance?!?!?! What!?!?! I can't wait to see where that goes.
I couldn’t wait for Roan the mysterious Henchman. I’ve wanted to know his story from the beginning. Jessica did not disappoint. Roan and Mack’s story was long overdue.
Method:ebook Rating:5/5 stars H rating: 4/5 - Roan h rating:4/5 - Mack Drama:3/5 Thoughts: I LOVED this book. This storm that Roan was so sure was coming, came, and boy was it unexpected. I would have never imagined it would have gone down the way it did, but I cannot even begin to explain how happy it made me that Jessica went with this route for this book. Mack, man I felt for her so much, and I was so proud of her, for being so strong, for being so loving, and for being a kickass woman. Roan..my heart broke for him, I cried for his loss, I cheered with his revenge, and I cried for his happiness. Such a great story for them, I am so happy that JG waited for Roan to tell her this story because even though I hate waiting for stories, I know that sometimes waiting makes it all the much better and sweeter. Amazing job (again!) Jessica, you are such an amazing writer, I am forever grateful that I ran into your books a year back. Now I cannot wait for more of your stories, and for this book to come out in paperback, because I NEED this in my personal library too. I am hoping that by the year's end I will have all of the rest of the paperbacks I need to complete my JG library. Excitement level: 10000
WOW, my addiction for Jessicas books was stilled again (probably not for too long 😉). Yes, I'm without doubt addicted to her books 🤷🏻♀️ It's really simple to be, because she writes how and what I love. 😍 Always the unicorn author that she is ❤😘 Roan story is a little bit different how I imagined it. Yes, he was a spy in his former life, but the story is so heartbreaking sad and gripping, that it absolutely makes sense now, why he was always withdrawn and secluded. Why he didn't let anyone in. I love his calm and patient nature. How he never lets himself be raffled and never loose his focus, not even when his brothers tease him about his obsession with the "fearful" future. Not even with Mackenzie, although it was killing him to see her in pain and how she suffered because of his betrayal. He tries to be giving and not like in the past selfish. He tries to win her with honesty and love. Mackenzie is the incarnation of a female warrior, a wild amazon. I love her determination and urge to improve herself. Her need to help other people, despite the fact that she thinks that she had no purpose in life. I love how the story develops and that Jessica always give us a part of the future in her books. A emotional, exciting and nerve wracking story about a second chance in love and life. I loved every second of this beautiful book 🥰🤩 Definitely a must-read for all romantics and HEA lovers.