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cinnamonroll216's review against another edition
5.0
Huge Christine Feehan fan I don't like her Drake Sister and the Sisters of the Heart series Torpedo Ink. This is a series with bikers and romance I can get behind.
astrodish's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book for what it was.
I think that people read this and thought it was "too dark" and I can see that with the material given. But also the book talks about on the back motorcycle Russian assassins like of course it's going to be messed up.
Some people said that the marketing team dropped the ball but reading the back I think it got the point it was going to be a darker book across.
I think it could have been 100 pages or so shorter and I think it was a little too much on the miscommunication but it was fine.
Also can we talk about a pet peeve of mine when people say what happened to her writing? "I liked her older stuff what happened to it" and "she MUST have a ghost writer because this doesn't feel like her work at all."
Really?
People grow the more they write it's natural. So going on from that angle you should want change not the same thing over and over for 20plus years. Also I think romance writers in particular write about whatever strikes their fancy more so than authors of a different genre.
She writes vampires to leopard people and weird scientific experiments to motorcycle clubs. I think she writes with the same intention of "you know what would be hot? Bikers with paranormal powers"
(snort)
it seems out there and silly because it is. And that's ok we should be entertained. This is a romance right ? We want crazy intense situations with drama and love and sex.
Also yes it does seem like her writing. People like to bring up her dark series the first few books and Does anyone remember them or do we all have the nostalgia glasses on?
I mean they are awful! Those 'alpha male' tropes go ham in those books. I reread the first two recently and they're so much abuse that gets wrapped up with co dependency and overstepping boundaries it's insane.
I can look past these things because it's FICTION a FANTASY of a strong dominant male that can save the day and true love can win it all.
That's just the way she writes and it's in this book. I think that people felt triggered because of the male love interests past and I ABSOLUTELY understand. You should know your limits and not read anything that makes you uncomfortable. Seriously. Not everyone wants to read about that kind of situation and I can understand that but I also don't think that by taking a chance to write something like this makes her a bad author or something.
I'll continue on with the series as it's written
Thanks for reading
SJ
I think that people read this and thought it was "too dark" and I can see that with the material given. But also the book talks about on the back motorcycle Russian assassins like of course it's going to be messed up.
Some people said that the marketing team dropped the ball but reading the back I think it got the point it was going to be a darker book across.
I think it could have been 100 pages or so shorter and I think it was a little too much on the miscommunication but it was fine.
Also can we talk about a pet peeve of mine when people say what happened to her writing? "I liked her older stuff what happened to it" and "she MUST have a ghost writer because this doesn't feel like her work at all."
Really?
People grow the more they write it's natural. So going on from that angle you should want change not the same thing over and over for 20plus years. Also I think romance writers in particular write about whatever strikes their fancy more so than authors of a different genre.
She writes vampires to leopard people and weird scientific experiments to motorcycle clubs. I think she writes with the same intention of "you know what would be hot? Bikers with paranormal powers"
(snort)
it seems out there and silly because it is. And that's ok we should be entertained. This is a romance right ? We want crazy intense situations with drama and love and sex.
Also yes it does seem like her writing. People like to bring up her dark series the first few books and Does anyone remember them or do we all have the nostalgia glasses on?
I mean they are awful! Those 'alpha male' tropes go ham in those books. I reread the first two recently and they're so much abuse that gets wrapped up with co dependency and overstepping boundaries it's insane.
I can look past these things because it's FICTION a FANTASY of a strong dominant male that can save the day and true love can win it all.
That's just the way she writes and it's in this book. I think that people felt triggered because of the male love interests past and I ABSOLUTELY understand. You should know your limits and not read anything that makes you uncomfortable. Seriously. Not everyone wants to read about that kind of situation and I can understand that but I also don't think that by taking a chance to write something like this makes her a bad author or something.
I'll continue on with the series as it's written
Thanks for reading
SJ
melsbookshelf24's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book in less than a day and I enjoyed it immensely!
Torpedo Ink motorcycle club has hooked me!! Each character introduced was quite interesting and their relationships go so far back that nothing can break them apart it’s one big family that I can’t wait to get to know no further!!
Torpedo Ink motorcycle club has hooked me!! Each character introduced was quite interesting and their relationships go so far back that nothing can break them apart it’s one big family that I can’t wait to get to know no further!!
adhuskinson's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, and Trafficking
dragnfary's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Vomit, and Trafficking
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Pedophilia
birdloveranne's review against another edition
5.0
Super good!!! And great narrator.
2nd listen August 2021. Well after I listened to it I realized I skipped a series so I went back and read/listened to all six Sea Haven books, and when I finished Blythe's book I just had to read (listen) to this one again. It's super amazing even 7 months later I just love it!
2nd listen August 2021. Well after I listened to it I realized I skipped a series so I went back and read/listened to all six Sea Haven books, and when I finished Blythe's book I just had to read (listen) to this one again. It's super amazing even 7 months later I just love it!
hollsbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
mistysreads's review against another edition
5.0
I am glad to see the Torpedo Ink characters to start having their own books. After seeing them in Czar and Blythe's book I was excited at the prospect of getting to know them better. Anya and Reaper are great for each other, she brings out the best in him and he is her protector. I loved this book and love Reaper even mpore now after getting to know him. I can't wait for the next story in this series.
lux_klara's review against another edition
2.0
So, this book could have been good. I actually enjoyed the characters and I was also enjoying the story. Was it amazing? No, it wasn't.
To be honest, Christine Feehan has a writing style that, while it doesn't really captivate me, it is still able to entartain me and make me want to read a series even tough I often end up not liking several of her books and sometimes even make me enjoy books that I feel like I shouldn't enkoy. It's very weird. Because it's not that I LOVE her writing style. But it still akes me interested and invested in the overall arch.
But this book was shaping up to be one of those books that I actually did enjoy.
And THEN it happened.
Basically there is a scene where Reaper and his MC Club tortures the heroine. What happens is that she never told them any of her past, is very vague about it and at the same time, there are people abducting the wives of the MC club's meber so they fear she is a spy.
So, instead of Reaper trying first to ask her privately and explaining the situation (so that she could maybe tell him her past) they directky decided that it's better if they ask her questions while another memeber "Absinthe" held her hand. Absinthe has a power that makes sure he always know if the person he is helding the hand of is saying the true and if they refuse to answer the question they feel pain.
She refuses to answer. To make it clear, if she had answered them immediately she would have never felt anything but, because of her own reasons and fears, she refuses to tell them anything for hours...so she end up getting tortured.
To be clear, my problem isn't that they actually immediately jumped to question her using Absinthe (instead of having Reaper try to get the answer firsts) because, given the way they grew up it's actually very realistic and understandable. Especially consdering that if she had immediately answered the questions, she wouldn't ahve felt anything so I coulsee them thinking "hey, if she isn't a spy she shoudl answer immediately".
So, I don't blame the MC Club (or even Reaper) for immediately going that route instead of the one any other normal person would (they just aren't nornal and, due to their own upbringing, they are paranoid and the way they end up dealing with situation is rarely ideal).
I don't even blame Anya for her resitance. She had legitimate reasons to fear for her own safety and having people you don't really know that well torture you (while being seemingly unaffected by it) isn't really something that would incite trust and confidence. So yeah....Ican understand that.
What completely ruined the book was how the AFTERMATH of the torture was handled. It was just plain terible.
In one day she was already ready to stay with Reaper. Sure, she wasn't comfortable, but it was already obvious in the morning that she wouldn't run away.
THAT'S NOT OKAY.
And I honestly dislike the way it was treated by everyone, not only herself. Blythe (Czar/Victor's wife, the one they feared would be getting kidnapped) telling her their past as if to justify their action and trying to convince her to give Reaper a second chance (tough she was, at least, delicate in doing so).
Victor (Torpedo Ink's president) was sorry but still said that "she was shutting them out for one mistake". That wasn't one mistake. That was torture.
Feehan said/wrote that they regretted their action but their words and the way they acted confutes this. It showed that they didn't truly, and I mean truly, understand what they did to her and, tbh, it seemed as if Anya herself wasn't aware of it.
Her own body language seemed to seek comfort in Reaper and, while I may understand that a bit more, it pissed me off because at the end of the day, he didn't have to really regain her trust because she had already given it to him (again).
The only thing I appreciate about the situation is that it was reiterated that it was everyone's fault. Reaper could have walked away with her, could have insisted they used another method. The other made the mistake of standing by the choice of Victor. They really didn't need to do that, they could have brought her in a room, explained WHY they were doubting her and, ONLY IF she didn't give them the answer, they would have to question her using Absinthe power. That was it. Instead they immediately decided for the method that could hurt her.
And Feehan treated the situation as if sex was the answer or their past was. And I mean, Yes, given their terrible past it makes sense why they did it, BUT it doesn't mean that there shouldn't be consequences for their mistake or that they shouldn't face them.
And Anya wasn't just compassionate about "their past", she though of Reaper as if the fallen angel because of this immediately after the torture. She really didn't seem traumatized and hurt enough. Hurt yes, but not as much as she should have been considering the circumstances. And she really acted as if sex could solve their problem because "they are attracted to one another" (which just isn't a justifucation). So Anya immediately returns to Reaper and get friendly with all of the MC members again. Because of course, it's so easy to get over it (just talking about it makes me angry). So yeah, consequennces? We don't know them in this book.
Overall, I know there is another situation that I know could trigger people: - Reaper hates to be touched and gets violent so, for fear of hurting Anya he ALMOST cheats on her getting a blowjob in hope to get used to being touched while simultanously making sure that he would never hurt Anya herself. He doesn't go through it but almsot blows his relationship with her (again).
Personally, despite the terrible reasoning I could get over it relatively easily.
BUT the aftermath of the torture just ruined the book. So yeah, it's a shame.
To be honest, Christine Feehan has a writing style that, while it doesn't really captivate me, it is still able to entartain me and make me want to read a series even tough I often end up not liking several of her books and sometimes even make me enjoy books that I feel like I shouldn't enkoy. It's very weird. Because it's not that I LOVE her writing style. But it still akes me interested and invested in the overall arch.
But this book was shaping up to be one of those books that I actually did enjoy.
And THEN it happened.
Basically there is a scene where Reaper and his MC Club tortures the heroine. What happens is that she never told them any of her past, is very vague about it and at the same time, there are people abducting the wives of the MC club's meber so they fear she is a spy.
So, instead of Reaper trying first to ask her privately and explaining the situation (so that she could maybe tell him her past) they directky decided that it's better if they ask her questions while another memeber "Absinthe" held her hand. Absinthe has a power that makes sure he always know if the person he is helding the hand of is saying the true and if they refuse to answer the question they feel pain.
She refuses to answer. To make it clear, if she had answered them immediately she would have never felt anything but, because of her own reasons and fears, she refuses to tell them anything for hours...so she end up getting tortured.
To be clear, my problem isn't that they actually immediately jumped to question her using Absinthe (instead of having Reaper try to get the answer firsts) because, given the way they grew up it's actually very realistic and understandable. Especially consdering that if she had immediately answered the questions, she wouldn't ahve felt anything so I coulsee them thinking "hey, if she isn't a spy she shoudl answer immediately".
So, I don't blame the MC Club (or even Reaper) for immediately going that route instead of the one any other normal person would (they just aren't nornal and, due to their own upbringing, they are paranoid and the way they end up dealing with situation is rarely ideal).
I don't even blame Anya for her resitance. She had legitimate reasons to fear for her own safety and having people you don't really know that well torture you (while being seemingly unaffected by it) isn't really something that would incite trust and confidence. So yeah....Ican understand that.
What completely ruined the book was how the AFTERMATH of the torture was handled. It was just plain terible.
In one day she was already ready to stay with Reaper. Sure, she wasn't comfortable, but it was already obvious in the morning that she wouldn't run away.
THAT'S NOT OKAY.
And I honestly dislike the way it was treated by everyone, not only herself. Blythe (Czar/Victor's wife, the one they feared would be getting kidnapped) telling her their past as if to justify their action and trying to convince her to give Reaper a second chance (tough she was, at least, delicate in doing so).
Victor (Torpedo Ink's president) was sorry but still said that "she was shutting them out for one mistake". That wasn't one mistake. That was torture.
Feehan said/wrote that they regretted their action but their words and the way they acted confutes this. It showed that they didn't truly, and I mean truly, understand what they did to her and, tbh, it seemed as if Anya herself wasn't aware of it.
Her own body language seemed to seek comfort in Reaper and, while I may understand that a bit more, it pissed me off because at the end of the day, he didn't have to really regain her trust because she had already given it to him (again).
The only thing I appreciate about the situation is that it was reiterated that it was everyone's fault. Reaper could have walked away with her, could have insisted they used another method. The other made the mistake of standing by the choice of Victor. They really didn't need to do that, they could have brought her in a room, explained WHY they were doubting her and, ONLY IF she didn't give them the answer, they would have to question her using Absinthe power. That was it. Instead they immediately decided for the method that could hurt her.
And Feehan treated the situation as if sex was the answer or their past was. And I mean, Yes, given their terrible past it makes sense why they did it, BUT it doesn't mean that there shouldn't be consequences for their mistake or that they shouldn't face them.
And Anya wasn't just compassionate about "their past", she though of Reaper as if the fallen angel because of this immediately after the torture. She really didn't seem traumatized and hurt enough. Hurt yes, but not as much as she should have been considering the circumstances. And she really acted as if sex could solve their problem because "they are attracted to one another" (which just isn't a justifucation). So Anya immediately returns to Reaper and get friendly with all of the MC members again. Because of course, it's so easy to get over it (just talking about it makes me angry). So yeah, consequennces? We don't know them in this book.
Overall, I know there is another situation that I know could trigger people: - Reaper hates to be touched and gets violent so, for fear of hurting Anya he ALMOST cheats on her getting a blowjob in hope to get used to being touched while simultanously making sure that he would never hurt Anya herself. He doesn't go through it but almsot blows his relationship with her (again).
Personally, despite the terrible reasoning I could get over it relatively easily.
BUT the aftermath of the torture just ruined the book. So yeah, it's a shame.
gailxoxo's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.5
I am sure that in the far and distant past I enjoyed books by this author, however this was not one. I did not enjoy any of the characters. The fmc is anaemic and entirely forgettable as well as being a doormat. The mmc is hateful. There is an effort to make him less so, by giving him a horrific back story. BUT this is supposed to be a romance, and although a couple got together I would not call it a romance.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Kidnapping