There’s nothing he wouldn’t do to save her. Now he’s about to prove it…
Riptide It only took one look to know I was a goner. I’d never be able to forget the sweet smile and sinful curves I’d only glimpsed before she’d been ripped away. The girl in the desert was a prisoner, and I was going to set her free. All it would take was infiltrating a dangerous cult. No big deal, right? Except I’d be going in alone. Without my motorcycle club brothers riding at my back, it was up to me to get her out. Getting into the cult will be easy. Convincing her to trust me will be something else entirely…
Sloane I stopped praying for someone to save me a long time ago. Daily beatings would crush the hope out of anyone. But there’s no quit in me. I’m going to save myself. Or I was, until he showed up one day all tall, handsome, and mysterious. My heart wants to believe he means it when he promises to free me from The Order. My mind knows better. I’ll bide my time until just the right moment… And hope I’ll be strong enough to leave him behind when I run…
Cathleen Cole currently lives in Utah with her husband Frank, their six dogs, four goats, and flock of chickens. Cathleen and Frank have nomadic souls, so they don’t expect to be tied down to one place indefinitely.
Animals, dog sports, traveling, scuba diving, and everything books are just a few of Cathleen’s passions in life. She measures her quality of life based off the different experiences and adventures she gets to have.
You’ll see every book written by either Cathleen Cole or Frank Jensen will always credit the other as co-authors and that is because they use each other as sounding boards during their writing processes as well as they are each other’s main beta readers. As husband and wife, they insist on sharing all successes and failures equally.
For Riptide undercover Operations hadn’t really been a thing for Green Berets. Their main function had been to train other troops… but here he was Volunteering to go undercover to join a dangerous cult to help the women and children that had been hurt by the Leader, which in my opinion is a psychopath and his followers just as bad
Death, rape and beating was an everyday occurrence within The Order, and Sloane put herself in harm’s way time and time again
Ethan, (The cult leader) Decided that the new member Riptide to show his loyalty was to marry Sloan the “outcast” of the cult
Another one of this author’s books that I could not put down, It had me on edge the entire time with all the suspense, action and all the twists and turns.
Another exciting story in the Tuscon Chapter of the Vikings MC! Rip goes undercover in a dangerous cult to help the women and children being hurt and controlled by them. As part of his initiation, he's forced to marry the girl who caught his attention on a previous mission in the area. Sloane always knew the day would come where she would be forced to marry, but never expects to 1) be attracted to her new husband 2) he has a plan to free them all!
Absolutely loved Sloane and Rip! Interesting storyline that got me invested in both of the two main characters. It's a bit of a slow burn and definitely a lower heat level than Ms. Cole usually writes, but definitely fell in line with the nature of the storyline. For some reason, I didn't get sucked in as much with this one, but it's still a solid read and an integral part of the overall plot/storyline of the series and definitely worth the read. Can't wait to see what happens with Ricochet!
This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Also my tags may have spoilers in them so be forewarned before checking out full review.
Book Evaluation: Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️ World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎 Cover:📔📔📔 Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻 Heroine:🦸🏻♀️🦸🏻♀️🦸🏻♀️🦸🏻♀️🦸🏻♀️ Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥 Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒 Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞💞 Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂 Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖 Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧 Overall View: ✨✨✨✨.5
First Impressions Riptide is the third book in the "Vikings MC Tuscon Chapter series". This is the book that was teased on from the most recent book. So you definitely want to read at least book 2 before reading this one. But really I do think this series is best in order. So for Riptide is a story where we see our hero 'Riptide who needs to go undercover into a cult to help bring its evils down. This takes in a mistaken identity, arranged marriage to the woman he has been drawn to since book 2, and the danger and mystery of taking down this horrible cult and it will cost him many sacrifices.
First Line I'd lost my mind. I was sure of it. But ever since I'd seen the beautiful woman out in the desert I hadn't been able to get her out of my thoughts.
The Main Protagonists The Hero: Riptide The Heroine: Sloane
Summary Riptide hasn't been able to forget Sloane's bravery in the desert and he was unable to save her. But now he is going to save her, no matter what it costs him. So he goes undercover to help bring down the cult posing as a financial advisor and investment broker. From his arrival, Sloane is his angel, keeping him centered, showing him compassion and grace. Sloane was raised in the cult and she hopes one day she can find a way to escape from it. But it isn't until she meets Brother Derek "Rip that she finds hope, affection in a way she never imagined. And when her father arranges a marriage with him, she finds love and intimacy and a future worth fighting for.
What I Loved I adored this one so dearly, in fact, I think it might be my favorite of the series so far. I absolutely adored this book, the romance, the plot and just about everything else in between. I really have enjoyed the endearing moments that we see in this story. The romance that develops between Rip and Sloane was beyond heartwarming. They have a instant connection and Sloane has never known kindness or affection and Rip gives that to her. The way in which the arranged marriage was implemented was everything. Seeing them connect, learn each other, in how they give to each other in and out of the bedroom and them fight for each other and what is right just hit deep on this one. I can't wait to see what happens next.
What I Struggled With Some of the cult aspects was a bit difficult at times to read but it was well worth it to get the end result. Not sure how I felt about the hero kind enforcing her to have a career right after she finds freedom though.
Overall View Riptide was a endearing, thrilling, keep you at the edge, deeply romantic story that I connected with on a resonating level!
Book Details (also in my shelves) Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense Character Types: MC Biker, Softer Heroine, Teacher, Doctor/Nurse Themes: Danger/Suspense, Cults, Motorcycle Club Tropes: Arranged Marriage, Forced Proximity
Book Perspective Duo POV
Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict Plot
If you like these authors, I recommend This Book Ryan Michele Rhenna Morgan
Recommendation For Reading Order Yes----due to some serial plot aspects, this is a series to read in order
Steam/Spice Explanations
Simmering cup of tea---soft warm touches and light intimacy Warmin' by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments. Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes. Blazing fire to the building-The prime focus is the sex scenes, scorching hot, and could burn one. Less focus on the emotional intimacy to the relationship.
I have to be honest... I didn't foresee the turn that this series was going to take, but I can't say that I'm disappointed. The only other experience I've had with reading about cults / religious fanatics is from the Hades Hangmen series by Tillie Cole, which I unexpectedly really enjoyed, so the fact that this series is starting to flow along the same sort of vein as that is not something I'm going to complain about. I think the atmosphere of the cult, the religious compound, the backwards teachings, the behaviors of the people there, the secrecy and taboo and the setting in general actually makes for incredibly interesting reading all on its own. The relationship between Riptide and Sloane, the involvement of the MC, the infiltration of the compound etc... all of that is just added goodness, in my opinion. It was fast paced, so it didn't feel like Riptide was in the compound for a million years, which I was thankful for, but not so fast paced that it felt unbelievable or rushed or like we were missing important aspects of it. It was very well written and admittedly I didn't see the twist at the end coming, which almost never happens because I am suspicious as hell and normally figure shit out quickly.
Cathleen does an amazing job at portraying her characters in this book. Riptide goes undercover in a hidden cult on the outskirts of town after witnessing a woman take a beating that was meant for a child. Sloan is the “outcast” of the cult because even though she’s born into it she knows something isn’t right and does what she can to protect others. Riptides' struggle to go against his true self so he doesn’t blow his cover is captured so beautifully; as well as Sloan struggling to understand the feelings Riptide brings out in her since the only relationships she’s witnessed are physical, mental and emotional abuse. I’ve never read anything having to do with cults but this book did an amazing job at capturing the dynamic and is absolutely worth the read!!
Riptide and Sloane were the cutest. Sloane was born and raised in a Cult and sadly her life has been anything but easy. However her experience within this cult, she’s never lost her warmth and kindness toward other. She is brave and courageous, which is exactly what Riptide see’s the first time he lays eyes on her.
Riptide is the one who is sent in to destroy this cult from the inside out. He is exactly what Sloane has been waiting for and needed.
These two together make the perfect team. There was dark areas within this read but they fit with the story and are big tools on defining Riptide and Sloane.
This was a fantastic read. Cannot wait for the next one.
Riptide je na tajne misi do kultu v horach, kde se snazi zjistit, kdo je hoden zachrany a kdo je ztraceny az na dne kultu... Setkava se tady ze Sloane, ktera ho zaujala uz poprve, kdy ji videl a to bylo pri hlidce v lesich, kde prijala trest místo jiné divky... Sloane je problémová divka podle vudce kultu, ale presto, ze ji udili jeden trest za druhym ji v kultu porad drzi a pritom ona planuje, jak utece a vezme sebou, co nejvíc lidi, co o zivot v kultu uz nestoji. Sloane nic jineho nez život v kultu nezná a přitom vim, ze to, co se tam deje neni spravne. Rip vstupuje do klubu jako nekdo jiny, aby mohl zjistit vše, co se da než se jim podari kult znicit. Co neceka, ze si z kultu odvede i něco navic...
This book was so much better than I ever could have anticipated! The way Riptide takes care of Sloane is by far my favorite thing about this story! The comedic relief helps contrast some of the darker scenes. I honestly think that this might just be my favorite story of the Tucson chapter! I can't wait to see how the rest of the chapters stories play out!
PLEASE make sure to read the trigger warnings for this book!
Excellent read, awesome. Absolutely loved Riptide and Sloane’s story ❤️❤️❤️ Sloane is such a resilient woman, a protector of people’s rights. Riptide loved her from the first look. Love all the MC family, they fought for her and her family, saved them from a religious nut job. Definitely read this novel it’s a fantastic 5 star read. 100% recommend this book to everyone ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Besides the typical HEA, a man who finds his soulmate, a woman who lives her best life ever no matter what the circumstances, justice, family and just enough tension to keep you turning pages!
Love this series. Love the Vikings mc Tucson Loved Sloane and Rils Broken heartstopping intense emotional twisted arrangement insta love Gripping All the feels Ready for Riccehet
Yup, this might be the best MC series yet. The relationships are so healthy and just perfect. And the whole plot how it all links up to the next relationship/characters is so well done. I was unsure if I would enjoy this one but my god did it prove me wrong, the cult and how they took it down all while protecting the people they care about beautiful.
I enjoyed this one more than book 2, but I didn’t love how the ending dragged on. It felt as if you for a bunch of epilogue chapters that weren’t labeled epilogue. Other wise had a good build and plot.
This was a catalyst of a book! The MMC Riptide looks like a surfer guy and has the chilled attitude, until you cross him and those he holds dear, then he’s not a man to be messed with, especially when that comes in the form of the FMC Sloane.
Sloane was born and raised in a cult, she hates everything about her life and her ‘leader’ but no matter how many times she steps in to take punishment to save someone else she can’t leave until she can take the other women and children with her. It’s a hard task alone, until she’s forced into a marriage with a man who turns out to be the one person in her life who not only supports her but is there to finally protect her for a change.
This book was great, if you’ve read the previous two, which I’d recommend, not necessary but does give a good insight into why Riptide chooses to do what he does this book was great for the full circle effect of the previous books as well as this one.
Loved how strong Sloane was and that Riptide was not her ‘knight in shining armour’ more like her knight to do battle alongside and help her take back control.
Let me say I adore these authors and thoroughly enjoyed reading books one and two. However, I DID NOT enjoy the beginning of this book solely on the storyline involving Ethan and the Cult!! I did NOT enjoy reading about the dynamics of a cult nor did I like how the women and children where beaten and treated as less than the men! The punishments were hard to read about and even the men where whipped for initiation but then they could beat, rape and do whatever they wanted to the women! I kept reading to find out how the Cult and its sadistic members eventually got what they deserved and to see Rip & Sloane's hea! Oh how Sloane deserved a huge hea!!! I loved the carryover characters and the conclusion of this part of the story that started in book one ( cult not front and center until this book) the MC are good characters and I love how they are a family and how you have men and women who love completely and possessively!! free with k.u. read in order✌
Mmm mmm if I lick him, is he mine? Coz who wouldn't want a man as lush as Riptide.
As a member of the Viking MC's and ex military, Riptide is used to dealing with difficult situations, joining a cult to infiltrate and rescue however, just might be the most difficult thing he has ever done. Especially when the woman he first saw in the desert and fell instantly in love with, is potentially in the most danger.
Sloane has been raised in a cult and longs to escape, but not without other innocents trapped there. Riptide is like no other man she has ever met and for reasons she can't initially fathom, he is protective and considerate of her. He is also causing a heated feeling deep in her belly.
But can they trust each other with their secrets, will a connection formed under forced circumstances survive long term?
Suspenseful, heartbreaking and heart warming at the same time. I loved Riptide's and Sloane's story.
Riptide immerses himself in a cult in order to bring them down from the inside but in doing so he has to separate himself from his MC club so we spend a lot of time away from the club which could have been detrimental to the story as the club and interactions make up so much of the stories usually however with the focus on Riptide and his love interest Sloane away from the MC it works so well and really helps us get to know the thoughts and feelings of both the characters as they learn to trust each other and fall in love.
Some of the things that happen inside the cult are depraved and disturbing and change peoples lives forever but they do eventually manage to escape from the cult and then Sloane has to learn a new life that differs from everything she’s ever known.
Beautifully written with some especially touching moments and from characters you wouldn’t normally expect it from. Just brilliant.
Riptide is book three in the vikings MC Tuscan chapter
I think this was one of my favs so far. Rip went undercover into a cult to help destroy them and to save those who could be saved. He laid eyes on sloane and knew she was guna be his. To be initiated in, he had to marry someone in the cult, that someone just so happened to he Sloane. Sloane grew up in the cult and knew one day her day would come were she was forced to marry, she just didn't know he would be the man to save her and those she lived and cared about and that she would fall for him in the process.
This book was amazing. Their story wasn't something I expected but very much enjoyed. Sloane amazed me with how strong and caring she is. If anyone deserved true happiness, it was definitely her. It was nice to read a slow burn. I'm glad Sloane found Rip. I couldn't have asked for a more gentle and kind souled man for such a courages and strong woman. Perfect
My first book by this author and it won’t be my last! It did not disappoint! The angst was on another level. Absolutely loved Sloane and Rip, seeing him struggle to go against his nature was captured so well! Seeing Sloane find it hard to understand her feelings towards Rip just made me warm to her even more! She is a resilient and protective women and I could relate to that.
The storyline had me invested so much, and the dynamic was captured Amazingly!
Thank you too @cathleen_cole_novels for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review! This book is out now, I recommend you go and read it.
This is definitely not what I was expecting from an MC series, but it certainly holds your attention. It may be lite as far as the shenanigans of a usual MC goes, but the violence is still present, especially in this book - the cult was eye-opening!
I had some questions around the compound being in the middle of a desert with access to utilities, etc and as Sloane was 'born' into the cult, there were a number of questions around her knowledge/understaning of the 'outside' world, but nothing that took away from the general plot/story.
Overall, it's another page turner, entertaining series so far.
Coming into book 3 I knew it was basic on a cult and for some reason I always feel funny about reading books based on them. I thinks it's because it's always the men mistreating the women and children and you wouldn't be wrong but in this story, sloane manages to work within the confines of the life she was born into and protect the innocent ones within the cult. Although it's at a great cost to herself she does it with her goal in sight. Riptide joining the cult only helps her, even though they are both tested and challenges bring close emotions it's an interesting read.
Riptide and Sloane's story I thought the storyline was original, and it also kept me interested. This book definitely gave me all the feels. At times I felt angry or sad, then moments of hope, love and humor. There was suspense, drama, steam and so much more. I loved both main characters. Sloane is a survivor. She is also, courageous, caring and so much more. Riptide he made me wanna swoon. He fell for Sloane pretty quickly and constantly proved his devotion. Together they were a perfect match! I can't wait for Ricochet's story.
This is the third book in the Vikings Rampage MC: Tucson Chapter. Each book builds a little on the one before it so it’s even better to read in order. Rip knew he had to have her but wasn’t sure how to go about it. He couldn’t just storm in and take her. Sloane was biding her time until she could make her move. Escape the hellish life she was forced to endure. She just needed a little more time to make it happen. You’ll be on the edge of your seat with this one. Absolutely amazing!
Cathleen Cole has quickly become one of my favorite authors. The books never disappoint and this one was no exception. I thought going into it that it would be very dark and hard to pull yourself out from, but she made sure she put some funny in there to keep you going. I will say it was a little hard to get into at first but it quickly picked up.
This was an amazing book. It was everything I could hope for in how Sloane and Riptide were able to build such a trust and love in such a cold dark place. Sloane is such a strong independent woman and can hold her own up against any odds as she has shown. Riptide and Sloane make such a cute couple how they compliment each others strengths and weaknesses. I can't wait to see what more can happen in the Tuscan MC!!!
I was excited to read Rips story after the ending of Priest! This was such a fantastic story! Rip has to go undercover into a cult to try to convince the mystery woman to help him save as many women and children as he can. Little did he know Sloane had a plan of her own to save herself from the cruelty she grew up in. Their journey is a hard one but so worth it! Can't wait to read Ricochets story next!
Riptide goes undercover, in a cult with the intentions of taking them down and saving the innocents. What he didn’t plan was falling in love with a follower… or so he though. This book again is full of action, adventure filth mouths and lovely smut. You bet I have the next books already marked on my calendar! I can’t wait to see where the rest of the series lead!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.