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The dusty roads of Edgewood, New Mexico are etched in my biker veins

I’m Hawk, the road captain of the Guardians of Mayhem and I lead the charge on the road.

That fateful day when I walked in the general store I thought I was rescuing Tara, but turns out she was rescuing me.

Two and half years on from the bloody rival gang shootout and we’re more united than ever as a club.

Tara’s abusive past is unfinished business.

Meanwhile the city of Edgewood is under strife with a rampant drug problem that Hawk is tackling with a Special Operations Unit.

The Guardians get an old nomad blow-in; Wildcard Willy who was a friend of the founder reconnects with the club, but what are his motivations?

The wives and girlfriends are making their presence felt, and the world of the Guardians has forever changed.

With her hair as dark as midnight and her face as white as snow, Tara is one I have to protect.

Will Tara’s abusive past block a beautiful future for Hawk and Tara? Or will the rise of the club plummet with her arrival?

317 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 15, 2021

365 people are currently reading
229 people want to read

About the author

Hope Stone

61 books337 followers
Hope Stone is avid reader and writer of dark and gritty romance books. Hope's pulse pounding stories are filled with intense action, heat, irresistible alphas and feisty women. Grab a FREE copy of the Guardians Of Mayhem MC Prequel --> https://hopestonereaders.com/guardian...

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5 stars
164 (55%)
4 stars
63 (21%)
3 stars
45 (15%)
2 stars
16 (5%)
1 star
8 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
Profile Image for Cat H.
1,972 reviews219 followers
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January 2, 2024
DNF@5% p18/317 Chapter 2(Tara)
Yeah, no.
I know im not even 20 pages in but, like I’ve said before, I know what I like.
And this is just not doing it for me.
Profile Image for Doris.
3,621 reviews138 followers
January 15, 2021
A Great Addition to the Series!

Hawk's book was much longer than the previous books in this series and I loved how it gave the author more time to pull us into this story. I felt more connected to Hawk and Tara's story which made me love them even more.

The Guardian's of Mayhem had been through a lot and were now hired by the Arizona Drug Task Force to help bring down some of the ever growing meth houses in Edgewood. Hawk had taken it upon himself to rescue a women when he witnessed her being physically abused. He had brought her back to the clubhouse and was an integral part of helping her recover both physically and mentally. Hawk handled Tara with the utmost care and respect for everything she had gone through. I also loved what he did to help his little cousin out as well.

One of my favorite people had to be Bell because she was ever the bad*ss who helped Tara back to being a stronger person. I loved all of the club dealings and the set up for upcoming books in this series which I'm really looking forward to.
Profile Image for Edi.
192 reviews7 followers
March 3, 2024
I kinda liked it, but to be honest I'll probably forget about this in 2 weeks tops. Spicy scenes weren't all that spicy, I enjoyed the overall arc of drug dealers, Hawk was fun, Tara was getting there, but had it not been for Bell, I'd probably facepalm a lot.
Also
So yeah. Not sure if I'll reach for next books in the series. Probably not, but since I already have them - who knows.
597 reviews6 followers
January 12, 2021
Wow!!! I have really loved reading this series Guardians of Mayhem MC. This particular book was about Hawk and Tara. This story was so intense and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading it. It was fast paced and intense and steamy. Things are definitely heating up with the Guardians and I wonder how it will all play out in the end. I received an ARC of this story in exchange for an honest opinion. I loved it and would recommend reading the series and this book.
7,813 reviews65 followers
January 10, 2021
I enjoyed Tara and, Hawk together their connection and chemistry is really strong throughout the pages. Hawke does a great job of keeping his mc strong and United. The storyline is well written and engaged me from the start.

I received a copy and am voluntary leaving my honest review.
Profile Image for Cynthia.
2,383 reviews8 followers
January 15, 2021
I loved this! It was longer than the previous books and it touched on some of the other relationships from previous books. This book had love and friendship and drama. It also showed the heroine grow and become a stronger person. I started reading this and couldn't put it down until it was finished.
1,043 reviews21 followers
March 31, 2025
Edgewood, New Mexico, is full of dusty roads, and they are etched into his biker veins.

Hawk, road captain of the Guardians of Mayhem, he leads the charge on the road.

Then fate turns the tables on him, and he walks into the general store, where he thought he was going to rescue Tara. He quickly realizes that she was actually rescuing him.

She has been on the run for two and a half years from our bloody rival gang, and now our club is more united than ever.

Tara's past is her own unfinished business. She comes from her own abusive past.

Now Edgewood is under strife, rampant with a drug problem, and Hawk is working with a Special Operations Unit to tackle the drug problem.

Then the Guardians get an old nomad arrive; Wildcard Willy, a friend of the founder who reconnects with the club, but no one really knows what his motivations are.

Now wives and girlfriends are arriving, making their presence felt, and the world that the Guardians built is forever changed.

Hawk knows that Tara is the one he has to protect. With her hair dark as midnight and snow-white face, she needs his help.

Is Tara's past, as abusive as it is going to block a possible beautiful future that Hawk and Tara could have? Or will the rise of the club fall with her arrival?

Hawk: Guardians of Hayhem is such a phenomenal addition to this series.

I loved that this book was so much longer than the previous books in the series, and I really enjoyed that aspect. It allowed Hope to pull us deeper into the story and really give us a deeper connection to the characters and the storyline. And this just made me love the story all that much more.

The Guardians have already been through so much, as we have learned through the previous books. Now, they have been hired by the Arizona Drug Task Force to help clean up the drug problem and the growing meth houses in Edgewood. During this time, Hawk decides to rescue a woman he had seen being abused, and after rescuing her, he brought her back to his club house to keep her safe. He was an important part of her recovery, both mentally and physically. Hawk treated Tara with tender care and utmost respect after everything she had been through. And how he helped his younger cousin out was another thing that just made me love him all that much more.

While Hawk will always be my favorite MMC in this book, I think my favorite FC in this book will have to be Bell. The way she helped Tara find her own power, find her strength, and realize that she was so much stronger than she ever realized was just so badass.

I seriously loved all the club dealings and how this book set things up for the next book in the series. I can't wait to read it and find out what happens next and where the club goes from here.
5 reviews1 follower
February 14, 2024
I liked this book overall, I liked the world of the MC and its surroundings. The characters were mostly well fleshed out, their lives had some detail, with references to things in their history which I assume were incidents in previous books in the series. These were mentioned quite often by the characters but for someone who hasn’t read those previous books, it would have been good if their significance was explained in a little more detail for, say, Tara who also wasn’t present at the club during them. Detail is often limited to ‘there was a shootout. Hoagie died.’ Between who? Why? How did this happen?

There were a few things that weren’t quite cleared up in the course of the story: did Wildcard actually steal the money? Was he in contact with Clint? Were the cops using the members as cannon fodder for the meth labs? Things hinted at but never fully explored to satisfaction. Good to have different strands and threads but sometimes they were just distractions.

As for the main love story, it seemed too easy for them to fall in love. Maybe Tara was too scared to live with the strange biker after being abused? No, she slotted right in. Was she scared to be touched by another man again? Nope, it didn’t take that long.
There was a lack of depth to their feelings. Hawk might have been unwilling to get into something serious after being single for long, or there could have been a bit more detail into him just wanting to drop by and check on her without knowing why etc, just to build tension or anticipation. I’m not really sure how other readers can call this intense, because I found it quite pedestrian at times. Although the grey area around ‘are we official/in a relationship’ seemed to mirror real life conversations!

At times, the writing is difficult to follow- dialogue is associated with the wrong character more than once making conversations difficult to follow. Words seemed to be missing out of sentences so it became a jarring read.
Actions are also unclear- Maverick and Mustang seemed to swap actions in later chapters with no real understanding of who is meant to be doing what during the raids.
Also, Tara takes off a tank top during a steamy moment, then Hawk tells her that he likes wearing his hoodie, which she also has on (under the tank top?!)? Next moment, she’s naked…?
Little mistakes like this interrupt enjoyment of the story, so I’m unlikely to read any of the rest of the series unless they’re free. Great if you’re able to overlook these though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Nicole.
1,330 reviews24 followers
January 29, 2021
The Guardians of Mayhem had defeated The Vipers and The Devils of Destruction they have proven that they're the superior bikers in town. It has been two and a half years and they're are now enjoying peace after a hard fought battle, brothers was loss on that fateful night, and now the club dynamics will be forever changed. Because some of the members lives have changed some has become husband, others fathers or boyfriends. Hawk is the road captain of the club and he got shot during the shootout in his leg. He almost died that from his injuries he had to undergo a lot of physical therapy in order for him to walk. As the road captain, it is his job to ensure that the club was prepared for problems of the road, the route, any obstructions, detours, and enemies. Hawk and his team is working with the Edgewood Sheriff department along with the Albuquerque Task Force to get rid of the meth labs that has been popping up all over place and taken the lives of countless Edgewood residents.
While coming back from a mission Hawk decided to go to the store to grab some beer. He walked in on the store owner beating his girlfriend. Hawk intervened on the girls behalf and beat the guy up. He took girl back to the club where to give her solace. He offered her his guest bedroom until back on her feet. Tara Webb is twenty five year old woman in a bad abusive relationship, where she was mentally, physically and emotionally broke down. She was looking for a way to get out but couldn't. Hawk came at the right time and gave her the opportunity to leave. Tara is now working for the Guardians with Dutch as their bookkeeper since he needed the help after the loss of Hoagie. She was getting herself back together and trying to give relationship a break but she couldn't help but to be attracted to Hawk. It was a slow burn between the two with tons of flirting and when they got together it was total combustion. It was a slow burn with tons of antsy, push and pull with lots of heat. It's filled with emotion, passion, healing and love. Hawk and Tara story was wonderful with great secondary characters interconnected that interwoven in the story that made it fun to read. The Guardians can never enjoy peace for long as they have a long time nomad member whose intended on causing trouble for them.

I received an free advanced early copy of this book from the author via Bookfunnel and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Kaye.
7,177 reviews70 followers
January 15, 2021
🛡️🛡️ONE HEART POUNDING TREAT🛡️🛡️
Blazing boxers boo! Hope delivers one turbulent, earth quaking tilt-her-world, unleashing one heart pounding smackdown with this tantalizing rollercoaster, hooking you from start start and holding you prisoner till the end, jetting this jewel to incredible heights. Attributes and mannerisms in layer upon layer that you peel back with each page your drawn into this tangled web so intricately and precise till nothing else exists, observing the separate struggles and challenging triumphs, exposing the gut-wretching twists and stunning turns unfold, reaching deep for every ounce of strength in a fierce surge of determination, secrets confessed, blasting this baby into the eye of the hurricane, blowing it into a frenzy with an astonishing culmination, launching this gem to life spectacularly. The attraction and chemistry ignites with such intoxicating intensity showcasing the explosive emotions and infinite affection, drawing our characters closer, binding them to one another perfectly. The characters are complex, genuine and realistic with traits and qualities that balance and blend, with amazing depth and diversity and enough spice to add an extra kick to the mix. The scenes are strikingly sharp with abundant details and graphic descriptions creating an elaborate backdrop that feels as though you were transported to ground zero with them. Remarkable job Hope, thanks for sharing this amazing thrill with us.
32 reviews
October 25, 2021
Good Story if You Can Get It

Plot? Good.
Characters? Likable.
Readability? Eh.

This book has good characters and a good plot (although one conflict was wrapped up way too quickly for how long it was drawn out). The problem lies in the editing, or lack thereof.
There's no way this is a final draft. Either someone got lazy or the wrong file was uploaded.
The first 20% of the book was so disjointed, it was difficult to follow. It did get smoothed out, but other issues continued. Run-on sentences were rampant, punctuation necessary for clarity was missing, pronoun usage was sloppy, etc. It became a chore to read this book because I had to keep rereading to figure out who said what or which character did what. Punctuation was missing or used incorrectly, so rereading became necessary again to figure out the intention of the sentence. Lastly, I know the author bio says Stone is from NC, but I'm pretty sure whoever wrote this story is actually Canadian. That's fine, but it doesn't mesh well with a story set in NM.
Profile Image for Phyllis Wolford.
1,848 reviews
January 17, 2021
This is a great book that gives insight into the lives of the Guardians after the shoot out.
Hawk and the club are just now getting back on their feet after the trouble the Viper’s put them through.
He meets a girl who need his help and take her to the club. It is an instant attraction and the sparks fly.
Tara was at her wits end when Hawk came into the store and recued her from her abusive boyfriend. She is shy and scared, but builds herself up and starts to take her life back. With the help of the Guardian and their women, she comes out a strong beautiful woman, who is going to get her man.
They work together to make their relationship work, and in the process build a strong foundation for their future.
Profile Image for blueyed_cntry_girl.
1,583 reviews4 followers
February 20, 2021
What an intense, edge of your seat book in this Guardian of Mayhem series!! Hawk ha been promoted to road captain and he takes his job very series. He comes upon a woman, Tara, being beat by her boyfriend. Needless to say that didn’t go over well as Hawk stepped in to help her out. He has now become her protector from her abusive ex while taking down meth labs. But what happens when Clint, her ex, decides to show up at the Guardians place to kill Tara? Where is Hawk and will he be able to save Tara? Will someone else have to save her? Or will Clint succeed in his mission? Like I said, edge of your seat marvelous book!!
Profile Image for Raecharmed.
9,298 reviews70 followers
February 27, 2021
Hawk and the mc are just settling back to normal when he meets Tara. Tara is in an abusive relationship and doesn't see a way out. When Hawk sees this he ends up becoming her protector and wants to take her soon to be ex down in the process. However when her ex decides he chooses how she leaves and comes to the clubhouse looking for her. Will Hawk be there to save her this time? Will Tara survive her ex's plan for her this time?

This is an amazing story that will have you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. This is a well written and very entertaining story. I would recommend this book to any book lover.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book.
Profile Image for Susan Anderson.
1,033 reviews4 followers
January 15, 2021
I am so glad that Ms. Stone wrote this book - it shows us what happened after the "war." This book specifically deals with Hawk and Tara and her past, however, we do see most of the characters from previous books. This deals with drugs and what is taking place in Edgewood. It was nice to see how much each of the characters, especially Hawk change with the women they are in love with. This was a great read - full of suspense. I highly recommend this book. I did receive an arc for an honest review.
2,690 reviews32 followers
January 16, 2021
Wow! Loved this book! I really liked how it was longer than the others because it allow me as the reader to be more informed and involved with the story. Hawk and Tara had amazing chemistry and their dynamic was really great to read. Tara having come from an abusive background certainly finds the right guy to help her recover. He was caring and aware of what she had gone through and ready to make concessions for her. This was just a fantastic book and great addition to the series.
This was an ARC and this is my honest review.
351 reviews3 followers
January 17, 2021
This book in the Guardians of Mayhem series is the best one yet! Hawk walks into a convenience store to Tara being abused. He immediately comes to her rescue. Tara comes a long way in dealing with an abusive relationship and finds comfort in Hawk. Hawk is dealing with protecting Tara and running missions against drugs. They develop a strong bond through it all. Hope Stone has written a book filled with suspense, friendships, and passion.

I received a copy of this book as an ARC Reviewer and am giving my honest opinion.
213 reviews1 follower
January 17, 2021
You will not want to stop reading this story.
Hawk is a hot but deadly Road Captain for the Guardians, that taps it and moves onto the next woman. That all changes when he walks in and finds Tara being beaten. Tara has no one but Hawk and the Guardians are there for her. Who would have guessed Hawk would be tamed by a broken and bruised woman trying to rebuild her life. One which Hawk is along for ever step of the way. You will enjoy following their journey to figuring out they are made for each other.
1,707 reviews12 followers
July 12, 2025
Hawk meets Tara under horrible circumstances but realizes that no.matter what happens in the future he wants to be with Tara.
Tara is not use to being treated so decent as the Guardians have treated her since she set foot in the clubhouse. She is taken care of and given a job. She is happy to spend time with Hawk as well as the guys and their ladies, she especially liked Bell who was a kick butt fighter. An entertaining romantic, suspense. The characters are informative. I read an Arc without obligation. I volunteered an honest review.
519 reviews4 followers
January 15, 2021
Really enjoying this series. This book is longer than the previous ones, and allows for a more detailed exploration of both Hawk and Tara’s characters and their developing (instant?) romance. Chemistry is off the wall between them. The book almost finishes with a HEA, but an unexpected threat of possible exposure out of the blue leaves the reader curious, tantalised...
I received this book as an arc and this review is entirely voluntary.
Profile Image for Sammye.
4,405 reviews30 followers
January 15, 2021
Every time a book in the Guardians of Mayhem series is released, I say it’s my favorite. They are all just that good. I loved Hawk and Tara’s sweet love story. He was so patient with her and their chemistry was awesome. I enjoyed every page. I highly recommend this series. It’s one of the best MC series out there I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and this is my honest review
Profile Image for Linda Elliott.
1,582 reviews9 followers
February 3, 2024
Good bones for an outstanding book

This book started out great I noticed there was some missing words in the sentences where they just dropped off, so I think a little bit more editing proof reading would help. The character characters were well writen And you eventually fell in love with the characters, all of them. Except for willy. I've read other MC books And that's why this 1 got 3 stars.
1,749 reviews9 followers
March 16, 2024
Simplistic

Although this is listed as book one in a series, apparently there are "seasons" in this series and it's like the first episode of season two or three--you can read it as a standalone, but there are characters and situations that the read is expected to be familiar with. I found the writing to be simplistic and conversations stilted. I won't be reading any more of these.
Profile Image for Afolasade.
651 reviews3 followers
January 17, 2021
Wow! I love this book. It's a great addition to the series. Hawk rescued Tara from her abusive ex. He's really nice to her, though he's not looking for a relationship but they couldn't resist each other and it all worked well for them. Lovely book, great addition and wonderful characters. I received an ARC for my honest review
Profile Image for Scarolet Ellis.
7,445 reviews53 followers
January 18, 2021
Hawk: An MC Romance Novel (Guardians Of Mayhem MC Book 8) by Hope Stone is a great story to read. This is book number eight out of ten in this great series. I recommend this story to everyone who likes reading about romance.

I read a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy of this book & am voluntarily leaving an honest and unbiased review.
Profile Image for Kathy Mccalmon.
3,721 reviews28 followers
January 15, 2021
This is the start of the second volume of the guardians of mayhem. You will understand more if you read the first volume set. This is an action packed MC romance. It has great characters and storyline. I voluntarily reviewed this ARC
Profile Image for Lenora Price.
219 reviews
January 23, 2021
The Guardians of Mayhem series continues with Hawk and Tara's story. Please be advised that this a much longer read than the other stories. This story is fast-paced with plenty of action and emotion. Other members are revisited briefly. Good job Ms. Stone.

This is an honest review of an ARC.
Profile Image for Toria.
152 reviews1 follower
February 7, 2021
Difficult read

Story line was good. However, there was lack of character development. Writing was choppy. Conversations were stilted and sometimes very juvenile. Poor sentence syntax and poor grammar. Was hard to get thru and confusing at times.
Profile Image for Mary Bowers.
271 reviews1 follower
March 9, 2021
Mayhem At Its Best

The mayhem the guys dish out on their missions is the best. The tension between Hawk & Tara is nerve racking, but the tenderness Hawk has for her is every woman's dream.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews

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