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4.24 AVERAGE
4.24 AVERAGE
Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.I found myself completely lost in this sweeping saga of a motorcycle club family. It’s not all macho-man-club-bunnies-drugs and violence. Yes, it has those elements and it is VERY violent, but there is an overwhelming feeling of being safe with this family. These characters are flawed, genuine, gritty, broken, warm, and deeply caring. I know there will be some readers bothered by the age difference between Ava (17) and Mercy (30), but their love, and this story absolutely melted me.
Give this book a few chapters to get settled in. The five year flashbacks and multiple POV’s can be a little distracting. Soon after that, it takes off and *phew*, hang on to your bitch seat!
Felix Lécuyer, aka, Mercy, isn’t like other young men when he joins the Lean Dogs MC at 21. He’s been homeschooled by his Cherokee grandmother and taught to hunt gators by his Cajun father. His mother left when he was a little boy, we don’t know much about her, except Mercy freezes up when she’s mentioned. Mercy works for the MC as an ‘extractor.’ He is a deeply sensitive young man and a giant at six foot five. When he’s put in charge of the safety of his VP’s Old Lady, Maggie, and their 8-year-old daughter, Ava, he feels like he’s finally worth something.
One of my favorite characters is Maggie, now in her mid 30’s. She is such a beautiful, smart, sensitive mom. She met Ghost (VP) when she was 17, and he, 28. I loved the little bits of their story folded into this one. Maggie is such a badass of a women and mother. When her daughter Ava, falls in love with a much older man, Maggie gets it. Yes, it bothers her, but she also understands.
“She grew up dogging Mercy’s heels. He’s a bigger part of her life than you are. Of course she fell in love with him. Of course he loves her back. Of course it went too far. That’s natural - even if this whole mess is fucked up, it was unavoidable. So stop acting like it blindsided you.”Maggie always speaks her mind and holds her own. The love and deep connection between her and Ghost was so beautiful to read.
“She is seventeen”
“So was I!”
Once it starts, the chemistry between Mercy and Ava is off the charts!
Never before had he said such long strings of sentences in French before, like he did now. In the sheltering dark, his thrusts were slow, deep, sure, his hands digging bruises into her hips, the French rolling in thick purrs off his tongue; she had the impression it was sexual, whatever he said, the way the words caressed and encouraged her.Mercy wants so much more for Ava than he feels he can give her. (And that makes me love him even more) He consistently puts Ava first, even to his detriment.
“Thirteen years is a big gap when I’m me and you’re you.”There are too many wonderful, multidimensional side characters to name but I will say that Aidan, Ava’s brother, stood out. He made an incredibly difficult choice at the end of the story and I was so proud of him!!!!
There were a few things that bothered me (mostly the violence), but nothing that would keep me from rereading or continuing this series.
I've been on the search for age-gap romances, because that's my newest niche interest, and this book popped up during my search. I was a little hesitant because a) it's an MC romance and b) this book is loooong. But the idea of this epic, expansive romance was too appealing to pass up. While the book was good from the start, I will say the first 30% felt endless. I kept checking my page/% count and was worried that I may decide to no-go it because I tend to get distracted easily. I always worry I'm wasting time that could be better spent elsewhere. It's an anxiety issue of mine and why I can't really do book series. Anyhoo. At some point, though, I stopped caring and let myself be swept away by the story. Having read no other MC books, I have no idea how it ranks within the genre, but I have to say I kind of loved it. It felt like so much more than just a romance in the best way possible. I became completely invested. It did take me a minute to warm up to the idea of a romance between Mercy & Ava. When Mercy meets her for the first time, she's 8 and he's 21. From the ages of 8-16, Mercy is basically a stand-in father figure and protector for Ava while her dad takes care of the club. There's love and affection there, there always has been. But when she turns 17, that dynamic shifts. It's still almost that paternal fondness, but that fondness is now laced with lust and desire for the nearly adult Ava (and it's not one-sided). The book plays out over 3 timelines: 14 years ago when they first meet, 5 years ago when they inevitably cross the boundary in their relationship, and present-day when they are reunited after the fallout from 5 years ago. There's SO much story and history here. I do think it could have been edited to fill fewer pages, but I don't regret reading a single one. If this is what I've been missing, then I think I might have to dig a little deeper into the MC genre
***INITIAL THOUGHTS***
I've never in my life read an MC romance. Of course, prior to 2022, I never really read contemporary romances period. Now that I'm on the search for age-gap romances, because that's my newest niche interest, this may very well end up being my first foray into the MC world. Fingers crossed!
***INITIAL THOUGHTS***
I've never in my life read an MC romance. Of course, prior to 2022, I never really read contemporary romances period. Now that I'm on the search for age-gap romances, because that's my newest niche interest, this may very well end up being my first foray into the MC world. Fingers crossed!
Love a good Biker read? Pick this one up you will not be dissapointed!
okay so I am not good at writing reviews, and it won't be a long one but here we go.
This one one of the best biker books I have read and I haven't read any books from Lauren Gilley but I will now and I am gonna start real soon.
Ava and Mercy their love for each other was just spilling from the pages I just loved them together the sweetness the hotness the way the could just look at each other and knew exactly what the other was feeling or thinking, like Ava's mom Maggie and Ghost had. Even though this book was about Ava and Mercy's story, it think maybe half the book was just about them the other characters were as much on the forefront (if that is what you call it? english not my first language so sorry)as Ava and Mercy.
That is also maybe my only fault in this book. Not that they are as much in the book but that sometimes you need to read a few lines again to see with which character we were dealing with the switch from Ava or Mercy to Maggie Or Ghost to Aiden to Maggie etc.... some names or some *** would make it a easier read for me maybe that is just me. So even though it was Mercy and Ava's story and what a ride it was it was more about Club and Family and having each others back. Maggie she really is the Biker Queen the love she has for her family and accepting everything that comes with it. No questions asked.. I cannot wait for the second and I hope and believe that after reading this one Ava and Mercy will be a permanent fixture in the 2nd and we can read about their road ahead and their new lives.. I Think that what Aiden did is eating him up and we will see a more distressed Aiden.. he defied his fathers orders because he had a conscience but still like a said he defied his dad basically betrayed him by club standards and I can not wait to read what will happening next. I wish I could have giving it more than 5 stars and This one is def number 2 in my top 5 of biker reads.
okay so I am not good at writing reviews, and it won't be a long one but here we go.
This one one of the best biker books I have read and I haven't read any books from Lauren Gilley but I will now and I am gonna start real soon.
Ava and Mercy their love for each other was just spilling from the pages I just loved them together the sweetness the hotness the way the could just look at each other and knew exactly what the other was feeling or thinking, like Ava's mom Maggie and Ghost had. Even though this book was about Ava and Mercy's story, it think maybe half the book was just about them the other characters were as much on the forefront (if that is what you call it? english not my first language so sorry)as Ava and Mercy.
That is also maybe my only fault in this book. Not that they are as much in the book but that sometimes you need to read a few lines again to see with which character we were dealing with the switch from Ava or Mercy to Maggie Or Ghost to Aiden to Maggie etc.... some names or some *** would make it a easier read for me maybe that is just me. So even though it was Mercy and Ava's story and what a ride it was it was more about Club and Family and having each others back. Maggie she really is the Biker Queen the love she has for her family and accepting everything that comes with it. No questions asked.. I cannot wait for the second and I hope and believe that after reading this one Ava and Mercy will be a permanent fixture in the 2nd and we can read about their road ahead and their new lives.. I Think that what Aiden did is eating him up and we will see a more distressed Aiden.. he defied his fathers orders because he had a conscience but still like a said he defied his dad basically betrayed him by club standards and I can not wait to read what will happening next. I wish I could have giving it more than 5 stars and This one is def number 2 in my top 5 of biker reads.
There are some spoilers in this review. If you haven’t read this book yet, and want to do it, watch out. They’re hidden and I’ve made them as vague as possible, but I had some things to say.
Well. Fearless was one wordy motherfucker of a book. First volume in a series? This read like a complete series on its own (and had me just as — if not more — invested)! And there are eight more full-length novels, plus some short stories? *faints from excitement*
Okay, seriously now. This book was a rollercoaster ride in the best sense of the word. Gilley’s one of my favorite authors, and she was in fine form when she wrote this; I can only hope the rest of the series is this good. The characters, the romance, the plot, the action — all the important things that make up a story were on point here. The writing… this was Gilley at her finest, I think. I mean, who else could describe a freaking swamp, down to these minute, mundane details, in such a poetic way? The woman is a genius.
Now, I’m not saying this was perfect. The good parts were SO FREAKING GOOD it hurt, but then came the (few) not-so-good parts that threw me off and, imo, disturbed the flow as well as my overall enjoyment of this story.
⚠️Here come the spoilers.⚠️
Starting with a minor niggle — Ronnie.
My biggest problem, though, the one that blew my mind and one I had the most trouble getting over was
Well. Fearless was one wordy motherfucker of a book. First volume in a series? This read like a complete series on its own (and had me just as — if not more — invested)! And there are eight more full-length novels, plus some short stories? *faints from excitement*
Okay, seriously now. This book was a rollercoaster ride in the best sense of the word. Gilley’s one of my favorite authors, and she was in fine form when she wrote this; I can only hope the rest of the series is this good. The characters, the romance, the plot, the action — all the important things that make up a story were on point here. The writing… this was Gilley at her finest, I think. I mean, who else could describe a freaking swamp, down to these minute, mundane details, in such a poetic way? The woman is a genius.
Now, I’m not saying this was perfect. The good parts were SO FREAKING GOOD it hurt, but then came the (few) not-so-good parts that threw me off and, imo, disturbed the flow as well as my overall enjoyment of this story.
⚠️Here come the spoilers.⚠️
Starting with a minor niggle — Ronnie.
Spoiler
He was a dummy character, a plot device if ever there was one. I have zero problems with cheating if it doesn’t involve the main couple, and little more if it does, as long as I know where the things are heading, so it’s not even about that, but goddamn, I hated how Ava treated the guy! I know Gilley needed Ronnie’s character, but couldn’t she make that ‘relationship’ just a little more believable, just for a while? There was no spark, no chemistry, no friendship not to mention ‘love’ there. None. Zero. And Ava brought him home? To meet her family and club? Wtf?? And then she — and everyone else — insulted him repeatedly, out loud and in their thoughts, from the very beginning. I liked him just about as much as they did, and I get it, he didn’t belong — so then, why the fuck bring him there?? Not ONE scene in here made them seem like a couple. Total waste of pages (A LOT of pages, too!), in my opinion.My biggest problem, though, the one that blew my mind and one I had the most trouble getting over was
Spoiler
that first pregnancy. Ava was supposedly such a smart girl, didn’t she have a biology class at school? I understand slipping one time, getting swept up in the moment (just kidding, I don’t, it’s not the eighties ffs), but having regular unprotected sex, and then being surprised by the outcome? Wtf?? And Mercy… a sexually active man who gets around, and he doesn’t use condoms? Wtf??!
If this was 200 pages shorter I probably would have liked it more. Gave up at 75%
I will read just about any book about anything.
That being said I am very picky about my paranormal as well as rockstar and bikers. After reading Madeline Sheehan's biker books I have high expectations. I want them to always be gritty and on the darker side. (A tad like SOA)
THIS book...it is a long one and it was good. I enjoyed reading it! It had a dark and gritty feel to it and I loved that. I will be adding this one to my list of biker books that I will be reading.
If you are looking for a good biker series this is a good one!!
There is steaminess but not too much, which is good. I like more story about the club and what they do vs. sex sex sex only. I know that is what happens in MC's but that isn't ALL I wanted to read about. I like the brotherhood of them and we get that.
I recommend it to all who are looking for a good biker series. :)
That being said I am very picky about my paranormal as well as rockstar and bikers. After reading Madeline Sheehan's biker books I have high expectations. I want them to always be gritty and on the darker side. (A tad like SOA)
THIS book...it is a long one and it was good. I enjoyed reading it! It had a dark and gritty feel to it and I loved that. I will be adding this one to my list of biker books that I will be reading.
If you are looking for a good biker series this is a good one!!
There is steaminess but not too much, which is good. I like more story about the club and what they do vs. sex sex sex only. I know that is what happens in MC's but that isn't ALL I wanted to read about. I like the brotherhood of them and we get that.
I recommend it to all who are looking for a good biker series. :)
A fantastic read. Gilley weaves a solid, believable and many-layered world within this series. Superb characters, a clever plot and beautifully written, I'm hooked for sure.
7++++++ fillette stars
Gushing and Long Quotes ahead.
Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same
GAAAAAHHH!!!!! This one is AMAZING!!
The Writing is flawless. Butterflies, butter-freaking-flies. GAAAAAAHHH!!!!
800+ pages of pure gold. I loved the descriptions, Lauren paints a clear picture with her writing. It sucked me in from the first chapter.
Others: This is the bayou at night, so beautiful and I can see a gator.
Lauren: It was a gorgeous night on the bayou. The sun fell in hazy shafts through the cypress trunks, glimmered on the dark surface of the water, bold stripes that rippled as the spreading wake of the boat lapped toward the banks. Moss hung in thick drifts. Amongst the knobby knees of cypress roots, a white egret was startled and took flight, winging silently above them. Turtles sunned themselves on half-submerged logs. And…there, there was one. A gator at ten o’clock, its eyes and tip of its snout all that were visible above the water. To a tourist, it would go unnoticed; Mercy could spot a gator like it was glowing neon.
I felt like I was there with these characters, I have a clear picture of everyone and every place in this book. The club, the school, the shops, the bikes, the library. GAAAAAHHH!!! I could go on and on. I am one of those people who likes descriptions, I love to be painted a picture and to feel I am there. Lauren's writing made me feel the way Greg’s writing makes me feel. I love prose, prose that are actually PROSE. GAAAAAAHH!! Lauren! you got a fan, possibly a future stan. I hope the writing doesn’t change. Pretty please, it may appear to be too wordy as other readers have stated but I think that is the spark, it feels so good to read.
The Characters
Main MCs – Ava and Mercy – Lawd! What amazing characters. These two practically grew up together, Mercy the protector of Ava and Ava the friend that Mercy needed. The character development so good. Ava and Mercy evolve as the book progresses. Their love is the forbidden kind and that added to my enjoyment. I love me some taboo but it didn't dwell on it. They had so many swoon moments. Their chemistry is off the charts, the cozy moments, their long talks about books and poetry and the sex scenes. Lawd!!!! Phantom Orgasms…….
I love Ava, what a strong amazing Heroine. She is no pushover, I loved that she spoke her mind. What an amazing non- damsel in distress female lead. She was mature and felt that way, no big baby here considering she was raised at/by the clubhouse and with a mother like Maggie, I wouldn’t expect anything less. Lawd this woman rocks.
“Didn’t anyone ever teach you how to be a girl?”
She twitched a thin smile.
“No. I was raised by Dogs and the women who take care of them.”
I love, love Felix/Mercy, my Cajun king. This guy is everything I love in my book boyfriends, loyal, a dangerous monster killer and he loves with all his heart. GAAHH!! A drunk Mercy is the best. What’s not to love.
His nose was a little too large and sharp, his jaw narrow, his lips thin. His eyes were dark and deep-set, staring at her with rapt attention from beneath straight, black brows. His hair was black and fell in silky, straight hanks across his ears and forehead. His eyelashes, she noted when he blinked, were long and black and curled.
He was beautiful, in the way that a Doberman was beautiful: better looked at through a fence
Maggie and Ghost!!! GAAHH!! I wish I could dive straight into their book. Their way of parenting is so unconventional and interesting, they love to the sun and back and are loyal to each other and the club. I value loyalty so much. Maggie is the rock of this family. What an amazing woman.
The other supporting characters fit so well into the story, I feel like they are family now and I am so invested in knowing all their stories.
The violence – This one is bloody! It is gritty, unapologetic and to my surprise there were so many laugh out loud moments. Clearly Lauren got the memo.
Overall, It was bloody fucking amazing. Thanks so much Jan for the rec and for holding my hand. See you in the next one.
This is one of my favorite scene description.
Daisy was a tiny rectangular shop, the center packed with displays of vases, balloons, baskets, grapevine wreaths, florist foam, glass jars, and wooden boxes: things to put your flowers in. There were big bins of glass beads of every color, smooth river stones, bright rough gravel; tubs of faux Spanish moss, green moss, yellow moss. Spools and spools of ribbon, the ends lolling like tongues, fluttering in the drafts of AC. The cut flowers were in the coolers that lined the side and back walls. And the desk sat dead center, the shop’s proprietress standing behind it, arranging calla lilies in a narrow, fluted vase trimmed in blue ribbon.
GAAHH!! I was there at the shop with Maggie.
GAAAAAAAAAHHH!!! I am so high on this book.
Gushing and Long Quotes ahead.
Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same
GAAAAAHHH!!!!! This one is AMAZING!!
The Writing is flawless. Butterflies, butter-freaking-flies. GAAAAAAHHH!!!!
800+ pages of pure gold. I loved the descriptions, Lauren paints a clear picture with her writing. It sucked me in from the first chapter.
Others: This is the bayou at night, so beautiful and I can see a gator.
Lauren: It was a gorgeous night on the bayou. The sun fell in hazy shafts through the cypress trunks, glimmered on the dark surface of the water, bold stripes that rippled as the spreading wake of the boat lapped toward the banks. Moss hung in thick drifts. Amongst the knobby knees of cypress roots, a white egret was startled and took flight, winging silently above them. Turtles sunned themselves on half-submerged logs. And…there, there was one. A gator at ten o’clock, its eyes and tip of its snout all that were visible above the water. To a tourist, it would go unnoticed; Mercy could spot a gator like it was glowing neon.
I felt like I was there with these characters, I have a clear picture of everyone and every place in this book. The club, the school, the shops, the bikes, the library. GAAAAAHHH!!! I could go on and on. I am one of those people who likes descriptions, I love to be painted a picture and to feel I am there. Lauren's writing made me feel the way Greg’s writing makes me feel. I love prose, prose that are actually PROSE. GAAAAAAHH!! Lauren! you got a fan, possibly a future stan. I hope the writing doesn’t change. Pretty please, it may appear to be too wordy as other readers have stated but I think that is the spark, it feels so good to read.
The Characters
Main MCs – Ava and Mercy – Lawd! What amazing characters. These two practically grew up together, Mercy the protector of Ava and Ava the friend that Mercy needed. The character development so good. Ava and Mercy evolve as the book progresses. Their love is the forbidden kind and that added to my enjoyment. I love me some taboo but it didn't dwell on it. They had so many swoon moments. Their chemistry is off the charts, the cozy moments, their long talks about books and poetry and the sex scenes. Lawd!!!! Phantom Orgasms…….
I love Ava, what a strong amazing Heroine. She is no pushover, I loved that she spoke her mind. What an amazing non- damsel in distress female lead. She was mature and felt that way, no big baby here considering she was raised at/by the clubhouse and with a mother like Maggie, I wouldn’t expect anything less. Lawd this woman rocks.
“Didn’t anyone ever teach you how to be a girl?”
She twitched a thin smile.
“No. I was raised by Dogs and the women who take care of them.”
I love, love Felix/Mercy, my Cajun king. This guy is everything I love in my book boyfriends, loyal, a dangerous monster killer and he loves with all his heart. GAAHH!! A drunk Mercy is the best. What’s not to love.
His nose was a little too large and sharp, his jaw narrow, his lips thin. His eyes were dark and deep-set, staring at her with rapt attention from beneath straight, black brows. His hair was black and fell in silky, straight hanks across his ears and forehead. His eyelashes, she noted when he blinked, were long and black and curled.
He was beautiful, in the way that a Doberman was beautiful: better looked at through a fence
Maggie and Ghost!!! GAAHH!! I wish I could dive straight into their book. Their way of parenting is so unconventional and interesting, they love to the sun and back and are loyal to each other and the club. I value loyalty so much. Maggie is the rock of this family. What an amazing woman.
The other supporting characters fit so well into the story, I feel like they are family now and I am so invested in knowing all their stories.
The violence – This one is bloody! It is gritty, unapologetic and to my surprise there were so many laugh out loud moments. Clearly Lauren got the memo.
Overall, It was bloody fucking amazing. Thanks so much Jan for the rec and for holding my hand. See you in the next one.
This is one of my favorite scene description.
Daisy was a tiny rectangular shop, the center packed with displays of vases, balloons, baskets, grapevine wreaths, florist foam, glass jars, and wooden boxes: things to put your flowers in. There were big bins of glass beads of every color, smooth river stones, bright rough gravel; tubs of faux Spanish moss, green moss, yellow moss. Spools and spools of ribbon, the ends lolling like tongues, fluttering in the drafts of AC. The cut flowers were in the coolers that lined the side and back walls. And the desk sat dead center, the shop’s proprietress standing behind it, arranging calla lilies in a narrow, fluted vase trimmed in blue ribbon.
GAAHH!! I was there at the shop with Maggie.
GAAAAAAAAAHHH!!! I am so high on this book.
Lots of layers, was able to become emotionally invested and I loved the supporting characters.
Definitely a win for me, in my MC novel categories this series is one of my top three.
Definitely a win for me, in my MC novel categories this series is one of my top three.