What do you think?
Rate this book
EPIC
Andrew Atler has learned the hard way, fiction is far better than real life. In his romance novels the world is safe, predictable, and there is always a happy ending. Best of all, he can safely fall in love and the person will never know. There he can weave a tale of perfect passion plus pay the bills.
Matt Grimm flies the colors of Hell’s Legion. When he’s not riding his chopper, he’s working as a bouncer for the Six. Matt’s life consists of drinking, playing in a band, and burning the midnight oil in the dungeon. He lives hard, plays hard, and rides even harder.
Two people who would never be a part of the same EPIC love story.
But sometimes those fairy tale clichés have a way of working magic.
And sometimes…sometimes those happy endings do come true.
Matt Grimm flies the colors of Hell’s Legion. When he’s not riding his chopper, he’s working as a bouncer for the Six. Matt’s life consists of drinking, playing in a band, and burning the midnight oil in the dungeon. He lives hard, plays hard, and rides even harder.
Two people who would never be a part of the same EPIC love story.
But sometimes those fairy tale clichés have a way of working magic.
And sometimes…sometimes those happy endings do come true.
328 pages, Paperback
First published June 15, 2017
74 people are currently reading
368 people want to read
About the author
Adrienne Wilder
50 books1,793 followersGeorgia born and bred, I am an artist, a writer, and a general pain in the ass.
I spend most of my days working on my next book or bettering my art.
Writing is my identity and I love every minute of it. It's work, lots of work (sometimes I work 12+ hours a day and I never get a vacation) but I don't regret doing it.
I currently share my house with a myriad of dogs, a few cats, a saltwater aquarium filled with coral and fish, as well as my partner who's great at giving hugs when the day's been rough.
And of course, my editor and PA, who helps me keep life reasonably organized. At least so I won't walk out the door without wearing pants.
I spend most of my days working on my next book or bettering my art.
Writing is my identity and I love every minute of it. It's work, lots of work (sometimes I work 12+ hours a day and I never get a vacation) but I don't regret doing it.
I currently share my house with a myriad of dogs, a few cats, a saltwater aquarium filled with coral and fish, as well as my partner who's great at giving hugs when the day's been rough.
And of course, my editor and PA, who helps me keep life reasonably organized. At least so I won't walk out the door without wearing pants.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
June 18, 2017
~2.5~
The prologue shows us Andrew basically sitting back and watching as his long-term, live-in boyfriend dumps him for a woman. Andrew supported Phillip, wrote songs that Phillip used to make his band famous (without giving Andrew credit of course), let Phillip treat him like a piece of ground-in shit, and came back for more.
I hate, hate, HATE doormat behavior. I have never been passive, and watching people take shit and bend over backwards to please the asshole dumping on them makes me ragey.
When Matt, who's in a biker gang, meets Andrew, he thinks Andrew is plain and "normal." But after Matt has sex with Andrew, he can't get Andrew out of his mind.
I didn't mind the dynamic between the men initially. Matt likes to dominate, and Andrew takes it, but Matt cares for Andrew and gives Andrew a safe word and everything. Lots and lots of rough sex ensues.
Wilder likes to write crazy plots with a lot of twists and action. This one's no different, but none of the plot points really gelled together. Everything was just so frantic and random. There's crime, kidnapping, violence, and . . . WHOA, wait, WHAT?
It seemed like the only thing keeping the guys together was the sex. The MCs were one-dimensional and didn't really change much as the story progressed. I was waiting for a grand epiphany that never came.
I started skimming around the halfway mark and found myself frustrated and losing interest in the story. The epilogue provides some closure, but it's still just all about the sex, and I needed to see more.
I had high hopes for this one, but it didn't deliver.
The prologue shows us Andrew basically sitting back and watching as his long-term, live-in boyfriend dumps him for a woman. Andrew supported Phillip, wrote songs that Phillip used to make his band famous (without giving Andrew credit of course), let Phillip treat him like a piece of ground-in shit, and came back for more.
I hate, hate, HATE doormat behavior. I have never been passive, and watching people take shit and bend over backwards to please the asshole dumping on them makes me ragey.
When Matt, who's in a biker gang, meets Andrew, he thinks Andrew is plain and "normal." But after Matt has sex with Andrew, he can't get Andrew out of his mind.
I didn't mind the dynamic between the men initially. Matt likes to dominate, and Andrew takes it, but Matt cares for Andrew and gives Andrew a safe word and everything. Lots and lots of rough sex ensues.
Wilder likes to write crazy plots with a lot of twists and action. This one's no different, but none of the plot points really gelled together. Everything was just so frantic and random. There's crime, kidnapping, violence, and . . . WHOA, wait, WHAT?
It seemed like the only thing keeping the guys together was the sex. The MCs were one-dimensional and didn't really change much as the story progressed. I was waiting for a grand epiphany that never came.
I started skimming around the halfway mark and found myself frustrated and losing interest in the story. The epilogue provides some closure, but it's still just all about the sex, and I needed to see more.
I had high hopes for this one, but it didn't deliver.
Read
June 20, 2017Unfortunately it wasn't Epic
Rating and review to come.
Rating and review to come.
June 17, 2017
I'm not sure what I just read. This is definitely not the Adrienne Wilder that I'm used to.
Andrew is the biggest doormat I've read in years, he cried no less than every chapter, and he was just downright pathetic.
Matt is marginally more likeable, though he fell into insta-like (love) way too soon with only telling instead of showing.
These MCs were completely two-dimensional, completely clichéd, and downright cringe-worthy.
Even the sex couldn't save this one. The only reason it gets two stars instead of one is because I finished it....barely.
Andrew is the biggest doormat I've read in years, he cried no less than every chapter, and he was just downright pathetic.
Matt is marginally more likeable, though he fell into insta-like (love) way too soon with only telling instead of showing.
These MCs were completely two-dimensional, completely clichéd, and downright cringe-worthy.
Even the sex couldn't save this one. The only reason it gets two stars instead of one is because I finished it....barely.
June 21, 2017
The way this one started out did not bid well for the rest of the book. In the prologue Andrew came off as weak with no backbone. I stopped reading so many MF books because so many of the female characters were being written this way. I have a huge pet peeve for characters/people allowing themselves to be treated like shit by other people. I have been known to have quite the mouth on me when it comes to saying what I want. I have lost many friends because of this. But I only speak and give truth and I will always stick up for those I see being shit on. I can't stand people who feel they are more entitled than other's because of the money they have or their status. I will cut your ass down to the quick if I see you treating others horribly. I don't like it. So it was hard for me to read how Phillip was behaving and how Andrew was just taking it. I wanted to go through the screen of my kindle and beat the crap outta Phillip and give Andrew a good talking to. But some people didn't have other people around to help build up that kind of tough skin. Some were raised by assholes who verbally beat them down so much that their confidence just doesn't exist. So with that in mind and still thinking the blurb sounded good, I forged on. Plus I already read the damn prologue which in my mind is starting a damn book which therefore means I have to finish the damn thing. lol Welcome to my crazy. It's not so bad here. =p
ANYWAYS, As the book went on I found myself interested in the characters, their relationship, and how it would all end. I won't say it wowed me because it didn't. But it did keep my interest and me turning the pages.
Andrew was quite the crier and usually this kind of shit bother's me, but he was just such a sad freaking character that it just made me feel all kinds of sad feels for the guy. I loved the way Matt treated Andrew. I know a lot of what they had together was based on the sex they were having, but I don't care. I liked them together. I liked how Matt made Andrew feel. I liked how Andrew made Matt feel. I even enjoyed the craziness that was happening in the story. It was just an enjoyable read that did its job of letting me escape real life for a while.
Happy reading dolls! xx
ANYWAYS, As the book went on I found myself interested in the characters, their relationship, and how it would all end. I won't say it wowed me because it didn't. But it did keep my interest and me turning the pages.
Andrew was quite the crier and usually this kind of shit bother's me, but he was just such a sad freaking character that it just made me feel all kinds of sad feels for the guy. I loved the way Matt treated Andrew. I know a lot of what they had together was based on the sex they were having, but I don't care. I liked them together. I liked how Matt made Andrew feel. I liked how Andrew made Matt feel. I even enjoyed the craziness that was happening in the story. It was just an enjoyable read that did its job of letting me escape real life for a while.
Happy reading dolls! xx
dnf
June 18, 2017I couldn't even get through the sample.
A doormat and a pushy biker dude are not my idea of a good time...
A doormat and a pushy biker dude are not my idea of a good time...
November 29, 2017
Andrew is an author of gay romance/erotica books. He’s plain, over-weight and suffers from low self-esteem. That didn’t bother me too much because not all characters can be feisty and brave. I appreciate that the author writes about a variety of characters in her books. She isn’t a cookie cutter.
Matt is a bouncer and a dom. He’s also part of a motorcycle club and a music band. He’s the man Andrew has fallen in love with after watching and studying him for years. He is the man Andrew has based the main character of his novels on.
I would have enjoyed Andrew and Matt’s story so much more if it had been a slow burn. Instead, Matt goes from looking at Andrew and admitting to himself that he is not his type, that he’s not attractive and very plain to kissing him and suddenly not being able to get enough of him. This all happens within a few short pages of the first chapter. The sex was hot but the chemistry was not. There was no relationship development. Something would happen, then they would have sex. Something else would happen and they would have more sex and so it went. The somethings in between that were happening were issues they were dealing with outside of any relationship development (Matt’s family, the club, an ex-boyfriend, etc.).
I can only hope that Ms. Wilder will write a story for Christian and Danny and that it won’t be as boring as Andrew and Matt’s.
Matt is a bouncer and a dom. He’s also part of a motorcycle club and a music band. He’s the man Andrew has fallen in love with after watching and studying him for years. He is the man Andrew has based the main character of his novels on.
I would have enjoyed Andrew and Matt’s story so much more if it had been a slow burn. Instead, Matt goes from looking at Andrew and admitting to himself that he is not his type, that he’s not attractive and very plain to kissing him and suddenly not being able to get enough of him. This all happens within a few short pages of the first chapter. The sex was hot but the chemistry was not. There was no relationship development. Something would happen, then they would have sex. Something else would happen and they would have more sex and so it went. The somethings in between that were happening were issues they were dealing with outside of any relationship development (Matt’s family, the club, an ex-boyfriend, etc.).
I can only hope that Ms. Wilder will write a story for Christian and Danny and that it won’t be as boring as Andrew and Matt’s.
Read
July 23, 2017Sorry, not enjoying this. Why spend time reading it when there are so many others in the Q...and I'm really disappointed that for the first time in a long time, I can't finish a story let alone one of Adrienne's 😕, but Andrew just annoys the hell out of me, and I don't like Matt that much either. As for Andrew's ex....well, is killing him too lenient??
Read
July 13, 2017Review to come at Sinfully.
3.5 stars
I don’t like motorcycle club books and that made me hesitate at first, but it’s Adrienne Wilder and couldn’t resist. The club storyline isn’t at the forefront of the story so that worked out for me. This is also not nearly as dark or intense as his other contemporary books I’ve read; in fact this is probably what I’d consider a light erotic romance from him.
This is an opposites-attract romance between writer Andrew and bouncer/musician/Dom Matt, a member of the local MC Legion. Andrew, I wanted to smack the moment I met him. Doormat is a cliché but it’s the only way to describe him. NO sense of self-worth. But hey, there are people like that who base their worth on others’ perceptions of them and allow that to dictate how they view themselves.
Matt I liked. He’s not taking crap from anyone. He’s living life on his own terms. His family has no use for him and yes, it still hurts, but he knows it’s a lost cause even as he still makes a bit of effort. He joined the Legion MC to feel like a part of something, but he’s never been able to fully commit to them. In fact, he’s not really fully committed to anything. He may look like the big, bad, dangerous biker, but he’s not quite what he seems.
Matt is Andrew’s fantasy and muse. Their relationship starts off as sex, but quickly Matt sees something underneath Andrew’s plain, almost forgettable exterior and is drawn to the emotion underneath. Andrew has watched Matt for quite some time and his feelings for the man are already much more complex. Andrew comes as a big surprise to Matt and has him seriously thinking commitment for the first time, but that opens up a whole new set of problems.
Their relationship may have revolved around sex, but it did grow into more and Matt did have feelings for Andrew, even if he couldn’t recognize them at first. They have both been rejected by and suffered the loss, to some extent, of their families, and have searched out that acceptance from others. Andrew’s need to be loved is a bit more self-destructive and even as he found his strength when it came to his horrible ex, Phillip, he still allowed Matt to manipulate him into doing things he didn’t want and that never sat right with me even knowing Matt would never hurt him.
One way that Matt and Andrew fit perfectly is when it comes to sex. Andrew wants it rough and his conflicting desire for it and embarrassment by it flips all of Matt’s switches. The sex, is hot, rough and plentiful, with some BDSM elements.
Outside of the relationship there are some other things simmering. There is the return of Andrew’s ex who is up to no good, Matt is being pressured to show up at the family Christmas party and “be normal” and he is also reconsidering both his position in the Legion, when a job that comes up doesn’t sit right with Matt at all, and staying with the band he put together just as it seems they may have a shot at being noticed.
There were some flaws that I haven’t seen in the author’s other books. Some plot points that weren’t fully fleshed out or seemingly came out of nowhere, going from zero to WTF? (Matt’s parents and brother mostly) without really connecting smoothly, and I wanted to see just a little more of the depth in the relationship. It was definitely there and for the most part I adored the way Matt cared about Andrew.
That being said, despite some of the craziness or maybe because of it, I did enjoy reading this book and found myself wanting to go back to it and see what would happen next whenever I had to put it down. It kept me wondering if Andrew would grow a backbone, if Matt could convince Andrew that he sees him differently than Andrew’s own poor perception of himself, and just how things would go down with Matt and the Legion? If you’re looking for an escape from reality with a lot of very hot, kinky sex, two broken characters that work together despite their differences and a storyline with a bit of craziness I think this could be a fun read for you.
3.5 stars
I don’t like motorcycle club books and that made me hesitate at first, but it’s Adrienne Wilder and couldn’t resist. The club storyline isn’t at the forefront of the story so that worked out for me. This is also not nearly as dark or intense as his other contemporary books I’ve read; in fact this is probably what I’d consider a light erotic romance from him.
This is an opposites-attract romance between writer Andrew and bouncer/musician/Dom Matt, a member of the local MC Legion. Andrew, I wanted to smack the moment I met him. Doormat is a cliché but it’s the only way to describe him. NO sense of self-worth. But hey, there are people like that who base their worth on others’ perceptions of them and allow that to dictate how they view themselves.
Matt I liked. He’s not taking crap from anyone. He’s living life on his own terms. His family has no use for him and yes, it still hurts, but he knows it’s a lost cause even as he still makes a bit of effort. He joined the Legion MC to feel like a part of something, but he’s never been able to fully commit to them. In fact, he’s not really fully committed to anything. He may look like the big, bad, dangerous biker, but he’s not quite what he seems.
Matt is Andrew’s fantasy and muse. Their relationship starts off as sex, but quickly Matt sees something underneath Andrew’s plain, almost forgettable exterior and is drawn to the emotion underneath. Andrew has watched Matt for quite some time and his feelings for the man are already much more complex. Andrew comes as a big surprise to Matt and has him seriously thinking commitment for the first time, but that opens up a whole new set of problems.
Their relationship may have revolved around sex, but it did grow into more and Matt did have feelings for Andrew, even if he couldn’t recognize them at first. They have both been rejected by and suffered the loss, to some extent, of their families, and have searched out that acceptance from others. Andrew’s need to be loved is a bit more self-destructive and even as he found his strength when it came to his horrible ex, Phillip, he still allowed Matt to manipulate him into doing things he didn’t want and that never sat right with me even knowing Matt would never hurt him.
One way that Matt and Andrew fit perfectly is when it comes to sex. Andrew wants it rough and his conflicting desire for it and embarrassment by it flips all of Matt’s switches. The sex, is hot, rough and plentiful, with some BDSM elements.
Outside of the relationship there are some other things simmering. There is the return of Andrew’s ex who is up to no good, Matt is being pressured to show up at the family Christmas party and “be normal” and he is also reconsidering both his position in the Legion, when a job that comes up doesn’t sit right with Matt at all, and staying with the band he put together just as it seems they may have a shot at being noticed.
There were some flaws that I haven’t seen in the author’s other books. Some plot points that weren’t fully fleshed out or seemingly came out of nowhere, going from zero to WTF? (Matt’s parents and brother mostly) without really connecting smoothly, and I wanted to see just a little more of the depth in the relationship. It was definitely there and for the most part I adored the way Matt cared about Andrew.
That being said, despite some of the craziness or maybe because of it, I did enjoy reading this book and found myself wanting to go back to it and see what would happen next whenever I had to put it down. It kept me wondering if Andrew would grow a backbone, if Matt could convince Andrew that he sees him differently than Andrew’s own poor perception of himself, and just how things would go down with Matt and the Legion? If you’re looking for an escape from reality with a lot of very hot, kinky sex, two broken characters that work together despite their differences and a storyline with a bit of craziness I think this could be a fun read for you.
August 19, 2017
4.5 rounded up because I loved Andrew. Epic was…epic! I really enjoyed In the Absence of Light by this author but other books were too dark for me. I think Epic falls between the two styles, but more on the lighter side. Shifting POV’s helped in understanding the motivations of each MC. Andrew made my heart hurt from the start. Some might see him as weak or spineless but when someone with no sense of self worth or confidence is emotionally manipulated and abused, breaking that cycle takes tremendous effort. Adrienne conveyed that dynamic between Andrew and Phillip to me, in the prologue. I was disappointed that there wasn’t quite enough retribution for Phillip later on.
Matt, initially, appeared to be the ultimate bad-boy, biker stereotype. Yes, he steamrolled over Andrew at first, but I saw Andrew knowing what he wanted and unable to admit to it. Matt was actually pretty careful with him, demanding safewords and understanding from Andrew, and his character gained so much depth as he learned to cherish Andrew, assuring him of his worth and encouraging him into new experiences. And dear god, the sex! The wall, sofa, bed, dungeon, but there wasn’t a lot of BDSM, mostly just rough sex. Matt dominated Andrew and it was seriously hawt! The obstacle to the relationship, for Matt, was the violence and demands of the biker club that had been Matt’s support when his family turned their backs. The secondary characters were well drawn too. His brother Todd was a hypocritical ass, in spite of eventually redeeming himself a little. I loved Patty, Andrew’s agent, who knew how to kick butt and take names!
The last part of the book was surprising, with suspense and danger that I never saw coming, at least not like it did. There is some violence in the story but it wasn’t described too graphically. When I get emotional about characters, it’s a good book in my estimation and this one was great. If you like biker stories, some hurt/comfort, an MC who’s just an average guy and a dose of moderate BDSM, I would highly recommend this story!
*An ARC was provided by the author via Jessie G Books Reviews, to read in return for an unbiased opinion*
Matt, initially, appeared to be the ultimate bad-boy, biker stereotype. Yes, he steamrolled over Andrew at first, but I saw Andrew knowing what he wanted and unable to admit to it. Matt was actually pretty careful with him, demanding safewords and understanding from Andrew, and his character gained so much depth as he learned to cherish Andrew, assuring him of his worth and encouraging him into new experiences. And dear god, the sex! The wall, sofa, bed, dungeon, but there wasn’t a lot of BDSM, mostly just rough sex. Matt dominated Andrew and it was seriously hawt! The obstacle to the relationship, for Matt, was the violence and demands of the biker club that had been Matt’s support when his family turned their backs. The secondary characters were well drawn too. His brother Todd was a hypocritical ass, in spite of eventually redeeming himself a little. I loved Patty, Andrew’s agent, who knew how to kick butt and take names!
The last part of the book was surprising, with suspense and danger that I never saw coming, at least not like it did. There is some violence in the story but it wasn’t described too graphically. When I get emotional about characters, it’s a good book in my estimation and this one was great. If you like biker stories, some hurt/comfort, an MC who’s just an average guy and a dose of moderate BDSM, I would highly recommend this story!
*An ARC was provided by the author via Jessie G Books Reviews, to read in return for an unbiased opinion*
July 4, 2017
The puzzle pieces never quite fit together. From the very beginning to the very end.
Andrew is a writer and lyricist and from all accounts a very good one. Yet, he constantly struggles with self worth issues. It doesn't make a lot of sense. Andrew has moments of perfect clarity and strength followed up with weepy eyes. It was disjointed.
Matt is a biker, a drummer and a bouncer. A man of many talents I guess though we don't see him with his bouncer's hat on, never practices his drums for the band he's in and never rides with his biker brothers, just goes to some meetings. Lots of pieces and none of them fit.
The biggest ball of hooey is Matt's policeman brother Todd. The dude is a meany and homophobe who turns out to be in a 3-way with a guy and his sister and they're going to have a baby and they're at Christmas dinner and everyone is happy. Sure, I can believe that.
The writing wasn't so bad though I did catch a lot of editing errors.
There is weak and then there is unbelievable.
The sex was acrobatic and repetitive. I read the same scene over and over. The whole sex swing thing. I kept seeing those old metal swings from when I was little. They were real high with the curved leather seat and when you sat in them your thighs squished together. You got a lot of height with those! Yeah, my mind wandered. Not a good thing for the book but some fun memories for me.
Bleh.
Andrew is a writer and lyricist and from all accounts a very good one. Yet, he constantly struggles with self worth issues. It doesn't make a lot of sense. Andrew has moments of perfect clarity and strength followed up with weepy eyes. It was disjointed.
Matt is a biker, a drummer and a bouncer. A man of many talents I guess though we don't see him with his bouncer's hat on, never practices his drums for the band he's in and never rides with his biker brothers, just goes to some meetings. Lots of pieces and none of them fit.
The biggest ball of hooey is Matt's policeman brother Todd. The dude is a meany and homophobe who turns out to be in a 3-way with a guy and his sister and they're going to have a baby and they're at Christmas dinner and everyone is happy. Sure, I can believe that.
The writing wasn't so bad though I did catch a lot of editing errors.
There is weak and then there is unbelievable.
The sex was acrobatic and repetitive. I read the same scene over and over. The whole sex swing thing. I kept seeing those old metal swings from when I was little. They were real high with the curved leather seat and when you sat in them your thighs squished together. You got a lot of height with those! Yeah, my mind wandered. Not a good thing for the book but some fun memories for me.
Bleh.
August 1, 2017
I'm not exactly sure how I feel about this book. Epic had quite a few pros and cons for me. First off, I'm not a huge fan of biker stories. I've tried them and found them to be not my cuppa. Too much testosterone and violence. However, this is Adrienne Wilder and every book I have read by this author has either blown me away or left my jaw on the floor. So despite the MC theme, I knew I had to read it.
The next thing I had me unsure of, Andrew and Matt. I found Andrew to be a bit pathetic and too much of an (I hate to say it) doormat. In the beginning of the book, his time with his soon-to-be-ex had me screaming. And Matt with that chip on his shoulder, all anger to his brother, Jerkface! These were definitely not the type of characters I normally want to read about.
But then it all began to change. I get why Andrew is the way he is, why he has no self-worth. As well as Matt, the rejection of his family hurt him and he found a way to cope. What started out as just sex, well, really hot smutty page burning sex, slowly turned into something more. A relationship built out of two opposites and the story of how they got there pulled me in. At times it was sad, others quite funny. I LOVED how Matt finds out about Killian and Matt's dirty little secret. Hee-hee!
There came a point where eventually I forgot why I wasn't too happy with the beginning. Epic needed its beginning and while I'm not a fan of it, it did serve its purpose. It gave me a basis of what stage these characters were in their lives, how they could evolve and how much they deserved an HEA. Okay a little bit of it was predictable (Hello Phillip!), and some not so predictable (O.o Todd you have some explaining to do!) but I enjoyed the ride the other took me on. All and all Epic was a great read.
I received this book from The JeepDiva prior to release with the express purpose of an honest review. The opinions, contents, and rating of this review are solely mine
Stars - 4, Flames - 5
The next thing I had me unsure of, Andrew and Matt. I found Andrew to be a bit pathetic and too much of an (I hate to say it) doormat. In the beginning of the book, his time with his soon-to-be-ex had me screaming. And Matt with that chip on his shoulder, all anger to his brother, Jerkface! These were definitely not the type of characters I normally want to read about.
But then it all began to change. I get why Andrew is the way he is, why he has no self-worth. As well as Matt, the rejection of his family hurt him and he found a way to cope. What started out as just sex, well, really hot smutty page burning sex, slowly turned into something more. A relationship built out of two opposites and the story of how they got there pulled me in. At times it was sad, others quite funny. I LOVED how Matt finds out about Killian and Matt's dirty little secret. Hee-hee!
There came a point where eventually I forgot why I wasn't too happy with the beginning. Epic needed its beginning and while I'm not a fan of it, it did serve its purpose. It gave me a basis of what stage these characters were in their lives, how they could evolve and how much they deserved an HEA. Okay a little bit of it was predictable (Hello Phillip!), and some not so predictable (O.o Todd you have some explaining to do!) but I enjoyed the ride the other took me on. All and all Epic was a great read.
I received this book from The JeepDiva prior to release with the express purpose of an honest review. The opinions, contents, and rating of this review are solely mine
Stars - 4, Flames - 5
July 23, 2017
3 to 3.5 stars. Liked the story, and feel like there is potential for follow-up books. (Would like to know more about Christian, and if there is any possibility of Danny making a move on the ethereal vocalist.) I am always in awe of authors, and I hate to say anything negative, but I was surprised by the number of editing errors in this book. (Missing words seemed to be the most frequent "oops".) Having said that, I'm a huge Adrienne Wilder fan, and plan to continue reading though all the author's available books.
June 20, 2017
4.5 stars
Would ya look at that? Even a "doormat" gets an HEA. Except I didn't view Andrew that way. And he didn't always act that way. So I'm glad I ignored the reviews that complained of the Doormat MC. Not knowing what to expect, (because, hello, Adrienne) I went in. Two broken MCs, a bumpy ride, some really sexy (OMG hot) scenes later and... yeah. Proof yet again that if Adrienne writes it, I will devour it. I wish she'd get a little better with the editing, but hell, I loved it anyway.
Would ya look at that? Even a "doormat" gets an HEA. Except I didn't view Andrew that way. And he didn't always act that way. So I'm glad I ignored the reviews that complained of the Doormat MC. Not knowing what to expect, (because, hello, Adrienne) I went in. Two broken MCs, a bumpy ride, some really sexy (OMG hot) scenes later and... yeah. Proof yet again that if Adrienne writes it, I will devour it. I wish she'd get a little better with the editing, but hell, I loved it anyway.
October 8, 2022
I liked that one of the MCs is fluffy and lacks defined abs, chiseled features, and looks average. The story was a little OTT but great fun anyway.
June 19, 2017
Hmmm....Ok, so Andrew is a bit of a doormat and the prologue really doesn't paint him in a very appealing light, at all. Matt is more lost soul then hard ass biker really, which was a bit of a let down when I was expecting an EPIC biker book.
That said, Andrew does have his moments when he fights back and Matt has his moments when he doesn't fight back. And as a team together, they seem to prop each other up nicely.
Some of the flaws in this book were just trying to portray Matt as a bad (good) guy and doing it in a way that the reader felt manipulated. The whole hit for hire plot was stupid and stupidly portrayed. Everyone got what they deserved in that situation.
The song writing thing was again, poorly executed and all the coincidences leading up to the discovery of Andrew's contribution to the band were unbelievable.
Additionally, there were a few bad guys that had no redeeming qualities (which made them waaaay too two dimensional and cliche) and hypocrite brother Todd's relationship when revealed was just eye rollingly ridiculous.
Now, all that said, there were a few twists I didn't see coming, the writing is good, the sex was pretty hot and DESPITE some editing errors, all the plot issues, character development issues and heavy handed attempts at emotional manipulation of the reader, I read this book without stopping and stayed up way to late to finish it.
It's not a five star read but it was better than average.
That said, Andrew does have his moments when he fights back and Matt has his moments when he doesn't fight back. And as a team together, they seem to prop each other up nicely.
Some of the flaws in this book were just trying to portray Matt as a bad (good) guy and doing it in a way that the reader felt manipulated. The whole hit for hire plot was stupid and stupidly portrayed. Everyone got what they deserved in that situation.
The song writing thing was again, poorly executed and all the coincidences leading up to the discovery of Andrew's contribution to the band were unbelievable.
Additionally, there were a few bad guys that had no redeeming qualities (which made them waaaay too two dimensional and cliche) and hypocrite brother Todd's relationship when revealed was just eye rollingly ridiculous.
Now, all that said, there were a few twists I didn't see coming, the writing is good, the sex was pretty hot and DESPITE some editing errors, all the plot issues, character development issues and heavy handed attempts at emotional manipulation of the reader, I read this book without stopping and stayed up way to late to finish it.
It's not a five star read but it was better than average.
August 15, 2017
I’ve said it before—I’m not generally a fan of MC romance; the grittiness and lawlessness I’ve found in these types of stories tends to be a turn-off for me with very few exceptions. Exceptions like Epic. This story does get off to a bit of a rough start, but once you really get deeper into the story, it does finally grab on to you until you won’t want to put it down until you find out if Andrew and Matt can truly find their happily ever after.
Andrew is the epitome of the inexperienced, naive, too-trusting young man…and at the start of the story yes—he is basically a doormat for his ex. That’s another thing I’m not fond of—main characters who are not strong enough to avoid being a doormat for an emotionally abusive partner. But when the story follows their journey to becoming a stronger, more self-reliant person, one who can stand up for himself and give back just as good as he gets? That gets my attention, and Andrew latched on to my heart early on in the book to where I just had to follow his story to the very end.
Matt is not your typical MC member, at least not what I would consider typical. He keeps away from the less savory jobs the club handles, using the club more as a way to find structure in his life. Matt and Andrew are nothing alike, and viewing their characters independently of each other you would never think that the two of them could come together successfully. Lesson? Don’t assume, don’t place expectations, and always keep your mind wide open…otherwise you may just miss the best thing to ever happen to you—like Matt and Andrew with each other.
One thing that is a definite—the scorching scenes between the two will be plenty to send tingles through you as you read. And while their relationship starts out as just physical, as things progress it becomes a lot more than that—not at all what you might expect given the last differences between the two characters, and I’m pretty certain Matt never expected it at all…until he just couldn’t fathom being without Andrew. Both of them grow and develop throughout the story; Andrew from the cliched doormat that he was into a stronger man who pushes back and puts himself first, and Matt from the rough biker Dom to someone who can step away from the unsavory MC life and focus on what—or who—is most important to him.
The story does have its rough edges, and at times it can seem like there’s a lack of focus with the multiple plot points going on, but overall I did enjoy Epic, and my rating is hovering between 3.5 and 4 stars. This book is meant strictly for readers 18+ for adult language, explicit sexual content (including some BDSM and erotic), and the mention of the expected illegal activities you’ll usually find in MC-centered stories.
Andrew is the epitome of the inexperienced, naive, too-trusting young man…and at the start of the story yes—he is basically a doormat for his ex. That’s another thing I’m not fond of—main characters who are not strong enough to avoid being a doormat for an emotionally abusive partner. But when the story follows their journey to becoming a stronger, more self-reliant person, one who can stand up for himself and give back just as good as he gets? That gets my attention, and Andrew latched on to my heart early on in the book to where I just had to follow his story to the very end.
Matt is not your typical MC member, at least not what I would consider typical. He keeps away from the less savory jobs the club handles, using the club more as a way to find structure in his life. Matt and Andrew are nothing alike, and viewing their characters independently of each other you would never think that the two of them could come together successfully. Lesson? Don’t assume, don’t place expectations, and always keep your mind wide open…otherwise you may just miss the best thing to ever happen to you—like Matt and Andrew with each other.
One thing that is a definite—the scorching scenes between the two will be plenty to send tingles through you as you read. And while their relationship starts out as just physical, as things progress it becomes a lot more than that—not at all what you might expect given the last differences between the two characters, and I’m pretty certain Matt never expected it at all…until he just couldn’t fathom being without Andrew. Both of them grow and develop throughout the story; Andrew from the cliched doormat that he was into a stronger man who pushes back and puts himself first, and Matt from the rough biker Dom to someone who can step away from the unsavory MC life and focus on what—or who—is most important to him.
The story does have its rough edges, and at times it can seem like there’s a lack of focus with the multiple plot points going on, but overall I did enjoy Epic, and my rating is hovering between 3.5 and 4 stars. This book is meant strictly for readers 18+ for adult language, explicit sexual content (including some BDSM and erotic), and the mention of the expected illegal activities you’ll usually find in MC-centered stories.
June 7, 2018
Surprisingly it was a good read! I usually avoid read books related to motorcycle club and choose to read it for book challenge. I
t was nice to read how two different personalities bond together. Good paced story. It has way too much of hot steamy sex plots but not repetitive.
t was nice to read how two different personalities bond together. Good paced story. It has way too much of hot steamy sex plots but not repetitive.
June 8, 2019
A four star read in a three star book.
For one I don't agree with the many reviews that called Andrew variations of a wet blanket, doormat, etc. He's actually one of the better written archetypes of this kind I have read and I am definitely one to DNF a book with a whiny wet blanket with prejudice. But with Andrew it's actually a lot more complex and his behaviour and reactions are incredibly believable to me. He has the kind of issues with self esteem, unsolved grief and generally shitty romantic experiences that should be relatable to a lot of readers.
Matt is also a great execution of another trope. It's so fun that Adrienne Wilder isn't even trying to hide the fact that Matt is basically a walking, talking Romance Hero. Tall, dangerously good-looking in a rugged way, obviously dangerous and in a biker gang. He's a criminal but draws the line at murder and also he's actually ready to leave the bad life behind. Also he's an experienced Dom with a huge c*ck. I mean COME ON :)
And yet Matt falls in believable lust with mousy Andrew, they overcome the usual obstacles with a few implausible coincidences thrown in and everything turns out just fine. And along the way they have A LOT of mindblowing sex. Seriously, I had to take reading breaks because a girl can read only so much hot porn. I think the balance of porn and plot here was perfect but YMMV.
What took this from four to three stars was actually the thing Adrienne Wilder probably spent a lot of time patting herself on the back for. Andrew is not 'conventionally' pretty after all. He's not your typical Romance hunk. He's an average guy with an average body. And neither Matt nor Andrew miss an opportunity to hammer that message home. It was too much of a probably well-meant thing. I do admit - I read these kinds of books for the mental eye candy. I don't necessarily WANT to picture an average dude because it's my escapist fantasy and I don't owe anyone an explanation about what I like. But I also understand why a character like Andrew would be important and I actually really enjoyed him.
I just don't think that jumping up and down on his issue like this was necessary. We get it - he's chubby and thinks lowly of himself. I did appreciate Matt making it clear over and over again that his interest was in the whole package though. He's not into Andrew despite his looks.
Overally I really like this a lot and now I kind of want a sequel to this more than one to NOX.
For one I don't agree with the many reviews that called Andrew variations of a wet blanket, doormat, etc. He's actually one of the better written archetypes of this kind I have read and I am definitely one to DNF a book with a whiny wet blanket with prejudice. But with Andrew it's actually a lot more complex and his behaviour and reactions are incredibly believable to me. He has the kind of issues with self esteem, unsolved grief and generally shitty romantic experiences that should be relatable to a lot of readers.
Matt is also a great execution of another trope. It's so fun that Adrienne Wilder isn't even trying to hide the fact that Matt is basically a walking, talking Romance Hero. Tall, dangerously good-looking in a rugged way, obviously dangerous and in a biker gang. He's a criminal but draws the line at murder and also he's actually ready to leave the bad life behind. Also he's an experienced Dom with a huge c*ck. I mean COME ON :)
And yet Matt falls in believable lust with mousy Andrew, they overcome the usual obstacles with a few implausible coincidences thrown in and everything turns out just fine. And along the way they have A LOT of mindblowing sex. Seriously, I had to take reading breaks because a girl can read only so much hot porn. I think the balance of porn and plot here was perfect but YMMV.
What took this from four to three stars was actually the thing Adrienne Wilder probably spent a lot of time patting herself on the back for. Andrew is not 'conventionally' pretty after all. He's not your typical Romance hunk. He's an average guy with an average body. And neither Matt nor Andrew miss an opportunity to hammer that message home. It was too much of a probably well-meant thing. I do admit - I read these kinds of books for the mental eye candy. I don't necessarily WANT to picture an average dude because it's my escapist fantasy and I don't owe anyone an explanation about what I like. But I also understand why a character like Andrew would be important and I actually really enjoyed him.
I just don't think that jumping up and down on his issue like this was necessary. We get it - he's chubby and thinks lowly of himself. I did appreciate Matt making it clear over and over again that his interest was in the whole package though. He's not into Andrew despite his looks.
Overally I really like this a lot and now I kind of want a sequel to this more than one to NOX.
August 18, 2017
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
Okay, so admittedly Andrew is a bit of a hot mess and, yes, a crier. He is a sensitive man who has never really gotten over the loss of his twin brother who, in many ways, was his true other half—bolder, an emotional stabilizer for Andrew, and much like the ying to his yang. Hence, Andrew is so easily used by scumbags like Phillip, his former lover and lead singer of a rising band. After stealing Andrew’s lyrics and using them to propel himself to fame, Phillip dumps Andrew in order to preserve his image and leaves Andrew heart broken. But Andrew is a survivor and continues to write his rather steamy m/m novels based on a biker dude he observes at a café he likes to frequent while attempting to put his past behind him.
It’s on one such excursion that Andrew actually meets Matt Grimm, upon whom Andrew has based his novel, and who has a strange proposition for him. Matt wants Andrew to pretend to be his boyfriend for a family get-together so that Matt can assuage his rather homophobic brother and see his ailing dad. Here is where the story begins to get interesting, for even though Andrew is not your perfectly fit, handsome man, Matt is drawn to him and so begins a relationship that really defies a typical romance. For one thing, Andrew likes being submissive but has never really explored being one and Matt is all about being a Dom. There are some decidedly sexy, hot scenes between the two men as they discover that there may very well be more than simple lust at play.
Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.
4 stars
Okay, so admittedly Andrew is a bit of a hot mess and, yes, a crier. He is a sensitive man who has never really gotten over the loss of his twin brother who, in many ways, was his true other half—bolder, an emotional stabilizer for Andrew, and much like the ying to his yang. Hence, Andrew is so easily used by scumbags like Phillip, his former lover and lead singer of a rising band. After stealing Andrew’s lyrics and using them to propel himself to fame, Phillip dumps Andrew in order to preserve his image and leaves Andrew heart broken. But Andrew is a survivor and continues to write his rather steamy m/m novels based on a biker dude he observes at a café he likes to frequent while attempting to put his past behind him.
It’s on one such excursion that Andrew actually meets Matt Grimm, upon whom Andrew has based his novel, and who has a strange proposition for him. Matt wants Andrew to pretend to be his boyfriend for a family get-together so that Matt can assuage his rather homophobic brother and see his ailing dad. Here is where the story begins to get interesting, for even though Andrew is not your perfectly fit, handsome man, Matt is drawn to him and so begins a relationship that really defies a typical romance. For one thing, Andrew likes being submissive but has never really explored being one and Matt is all about being a Dom. There are some decidedly sexy, hot scenes between the two men as they discover that there may very well be more than simple lust at play.
Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.
June 17, 2020
This book was definitely not epic. None of the characters were likable in any way so there was no reason to root for them to get any kind of happy ending. At one point I thought I liked Andrew, but when he was around Matt he turned into a babbling idiot who couldn’t communicate. There were so many errors throughout the book, from punctuation to grammar to using the wrong name for a character.
October 7, 2017
Decided to check out another book by this author after reading WILD. Like before, the sex scenes were hot! Smoking, even! But, once again, this author annoyed me by having too many coincidental plot points. . This author is a genuinely good writer who needs an editor (or good beta readers) to help her avoid the pitfall of moving stories forward via easy plot points.
May 24, 2019
3.5 raw, dirty stars. Everything you would expect from a biker who loves sex in all positions, places and as often as possible.
Andrew did irritate me in the beginning but I kind of got how beat down his douche of an ex had him. It took Matt and his never ending confidence and need for Andrew to make Andrew believe Matt when he call him beautiful. To not shit down or second guess why someone who looked like Matt would want him. When he finally got that Matt loves who Andrew WAS, and that’s what made him beautiful...it was like I release a “finally” breath.
Andrew did irritate me in the beginning but I kind of got how beat down his douche of an ex had him. It took Matt and his never ending confidence and need for Andrew to make Andrew believe Matt when he call him beautiful. To not shit down or second guess why someone who looked like Matt would want him. When he finally got that Matt loves who Andrew WAS, and that’s what made him beautiful...it was like I release a “finally” breath.
March 12, 2022
Andrew is such a relatable character! He’s an ordinary man with so much to give and it was amazing to be part of his journey to believing in his own self worth! Meeting Matt.. all tough, handsome and belonging to a biker club. Andrew feels he has nothing to give! But a sexual awakening and exploration with this very sexy biker. Gives Andrew the confidence to see him self more positively. The emotions are high and so is the heat. Both have to go through some emotional discoveries. Another fantastic love story by Wilder! It was absolutely Epic!
July 23, 2017
Loved it
Loved the main characters, Andrew and Matt, 2 beautifully flawed, perfect for each other men. This is storytelling at its finest and OMG, the loving was hot, sexy and very naughty( Fanning myself). A must read. Highly recommend.
Charo
Loved the main characters, Andrew and Matt, 2 beautifully flawed, perfect for each other men. This is storytelling at its finest and OMG, the loving was hot, sexy and very naughty( Fanning myself). A must read. Highly recommend.
Charo
June 28, 2017
4.5 Hearts
I love Adrienne Wilder stories. I just friggin do. This author doesn’t do much fluff and that’s what I really love about her writing. Her stories are always so unique, real, painful, and unbelievably emotional. They’re never too heavy; however, she balances it all so well. She creates these characters that are usually deeply hurt and love so incredibly hard. As a reader and a lover of her books I fall in love with her characters almost immediately. EPIC is no exception. This was a good book, amazing story telling, with fantastic characters.
Andrew Atler’s self esteem is basically non-existent. After years of emotional abuse from his ex a lot of the internal scars are still clearly visible. Andrew believes no one would ever want to be with someone like him so he immerses himself in his story telling, living through the characters and books he writes.
On a strange bet, Matt Grimm comes barreling into Andrew’s quiet life and makes him want things he thinks he could never have. It’s surreal for Andrew because Matt is essentially one of his characters come to life and Andrew struggles greatly with his lack of self esteem.
Andrew and Matt come together and it’s more than either of them could have thought possible. They just fit in and out of the bedroom. Their wants and needs align which makes them explosive in bed.
Outside forces, a psycho ex, biker gang ties, and other machinations test the unstable bonds Andrew and Matt have formed. Both men know they want to other but both have a hard time believing they deserve happiness.
This story is amazing in the fact that with every chapter both characters grew stronger on their own and as a couple. I loved seeing the transition and the empowerment of knowing ones worth.
Really great story.
Recommend.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
I love Adrienne Wilder stories. I just friggin do. This author doesn’t do much fluff and that’s what I really love about her writing. Her stories are always so unique, real, painful, and unbelievably emotional. They’re never too heavy; however, she balances it all so well. She creates these characters that are usually deeply hurt and love so incredibly hard. As a reader and a lover of her books I fall in love with her characters almost immediately. EPIC is no exception. This was a good book, amazing story telling, with fantastic characters.
Andrew Atler’s self esteem is basically non-existent. After years of emotional abuse from his ex a lot of the internal scars are still clearly visible. Andrew believes no one would ever want to be with someone like him so he immerses himself in his story telling, living through the characters and books he writes.
On a strange bet, Matt Grimm comes barreling into Andrew’s quiet life and makes him want things he thinks he could never have. It’s surreal for Andrew because Matt is essentially one of his characters come to life and Andrew struggles greatly with his lack of self esteem.
Andrew and Matt come together and it’s more than either of them could have thought possible. They just fit in and out of the bedroom. Their wants and needs align which makes them explosive in bed.
Outside forces, a psycho ex, biker gang ties, and other machinations test the unstable bonds Andrew and Matt have formed. Both men know they want to other but both have a hard time believing they deserve happiness.
This story is amazing in the fact that with every chapter both characters grew stronger on their own and as a couple. I loved seeing the transition and the empowerment of knowing ones worth.
Really great story.
Recommend.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
October 22, 2017
Wow this is certainly epic, smoking hot, but at the same time a depth to the characters, what makes them tick, their pasts, and them over coming their pasts and making a life together, loved it
avoid
August 8, 2019NTS: See Dani's and Judith's review.
Read
July 31, 2017Review to follow... Too tired. Would you look at the time? Ugh!
September 17, 2017
Epic was...well, epic! You have the nondescript practically virginal guy who is epically romanced by a hot, tattooed biker...what's not to like? Seriously though, all kidding aside? This is one of the better books that I've read this year.
October 25, 2017
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder
A really good story that kept moving. Matt is a great character and I loved him! Andrew is sadly put together. While I love that Matt could fall in love with what is on the inside, the Author didn't leave much for the reader to fall in love with. Yes he loved Matt and it really is what Matt loved about him and he was into kink. Again what Matt likes about him but other then that there really isn't anything else. He's a great writer...and he is not a coward when it comes to protecting Matt but then there is nothing...it might sound shallow but I don't want to read about flabby men and man boobs... You would think he would have at least dressed better being that he lived and hung around a rock band for years while dating and living with Phillip but he doesn't even fit in with the world around him at all. You don't like your hair, then you cut it or use something that makes it less frizzy...he went to the gym, ran everyday and ate healthy...even had constant sex but his body never improved....it just doesn't fit. He is also a doormat and a cries constantly which is really a turnoff...Matt's brother is a complete jerk and his parents are ridiculous in there reasoning about what they will accept from their sons. Matt joins a biker club where he can't stand half the members and yet calls them his brothers of choice... The only real member he loves is Joe the leader and a few of the guys he works with. The rest are criminals...
A really good story that kept moving. Matt is a great character and I loved him! Andrew is sadly put together. While I love that Matt could fall in love with what is on the inside, the Author didn't leave much for the reader to fall in love with. Yes he loved Matt and it really is what Matt loved about him and he was into kink. Again what Matt likes about him but other then that there really isn't anything else. He's a great writer...and he is not a coward when it comes to protecting Matt but then there is nothing...it might sound shallow but I don't want to read about flabby men and man boobs... You would think he would have at least dressed better being that he lived and hung around a rock band for years while dating and living with Phillip but he doesn't even fit in with the world around him at all. You don't like your hair, then you cut it or use something that makes it less frizzy...he went to the gym, ran everyday and ate healthy...even had constant sex but his body never improved....it just doesn't fit. He is also a doormat and a cries constantly which is really a turnoff...Matt's brother is a complete jerk and his parents are ridiculous in there reasoning about what they will accept from their sons. Matt joins a biker club where he can't stand half the members and yet calls them his brothers of choice... The only real member he loves is Joe the leader and a few of the guys he works with. The rest are criminals...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews