Knights in Black Leather 1
By:
Ronnie Douglas
Published:
Sept. 15, 2015
Publisher:
William Morrow PB
Add to Goodreads
Source:
eARC from publisher in exchange for a honest review
Synopsis:
Being fearless has never looked so good . . .
Aubrey Evans needs to get her life back on track after her father is indicted for embezzlement. All she has to do to hightail it out of small-town Tennessee is save up money for college tuition and steer clear of hard-muscled boys on motorcycles. Yet there's no ignoring someone like Zion. A knight in black leather, Zion looks like every bad idea she's been told to avoid, but she can't resist him. Whenever she's in trouble, he's there. Appealing as his rough exterior may be, it's the protective, principled man beneath who tempts her like crazy.
Zion knows Aubrey doesn't intend to stick around. She claims to want only friendship, but he senses there's a naughty girl hiding on the inside—one whose intense desires match his own. For now, he'll be patient and play by her rules. But he knows it's just a matter of time before he weakens her resolve.
As they join forces to figure out who's behind a local crime spree, it's clear that the danger goes deeper than Aubrey guessed. And when she needs someone tall, dark, and undaunted to keep her safe, Zion intends to be there—now and always.
My Thoughts:
I couldn't wait to read Undaunted, because I am a huge fan of MC Club Romance. This is the first book that I've read by Ronnie Douglas. It is the beginning of the Knights in Black Leather Series.
Aubrey Evans moves to Williamsville, Tennessee, to live with her beloved 65 year old Grandma Maureen, a strong, fun-loving woman, and unconventional grandmother. She leaves Oregon after her father is indicted for embezzlement, her mother files for divorce and consequently, she lacks the tuition to resume her college education. Aubrey is tired of being put in the middle of her parents drama. Therefore, she makes a plan to get a job, save up money, and attend the local junior college, until she can afford to move back to Oregon and return to her college.
However, life gets complicated when there are break-ins and vandalism in her grandmother's neighborhood. Then, she meets the sexy and very tempting MC Club enforcer, Zion. Aubrey plans to stay away from him. She refuses to stray from her plan, and get involved with anyone; especially a criminal. Yet, circumstances put Zion in her path time and time again. Will Aubrey be able to resist this sexy bad boy? Or, will Zion eventually wear her down?
Undaunted fell a little flat for me as far as MC Club Romance is concerned. I enjoy learning about the MC Club sub-culture, and I would have liked to see more about the rules, norms, and everyday practices of club life. I really liked Zion's character. He became a reformed bad boy, and was willing to do what it took for Aubrey to give him a chance. He was charming, and very good to Aubrey, Ms. Evans, and his MC Club. However, Aubrey was a frustrating character. She kept changing her mind about whether she wanted to pursue a relationship with Zion, and I just wanted her to make a decision and stick with it. She also wasn't the best decision maker.
The plot was steady. I was curious about the criminal activity in the neighborhood, and to see how everything would play out between Aubrey and Zion. I enjoyed secondary character's Noah (Zion's cousin), and Ellen (Aubrey's friend.) The two of them seem to have a past history, which really piqued my history. I loved Noah's charm, and the way Ellen was a strong, independent, and confident lady. She knew her worth, and demanded respect. I think Noah and Ellen would make a really good story.
My Rating:
I give, Undaunted, by Ronnie Douglas, 3 Sweet Motorcycle Club Bad Boy Filled Stars!
Guest Post:
Ronnie Douglas talks about music and writing
Music is how I get into any mood. Writing romance is part of writing most of my books, so I have a few years of trying out different strategies. Often, though, I just turn on my music and let go. I don’t need a special room. In fact, for the sequel to Undaunted, I wrote the sexiest scene in the book while I was at a layover in Iceland. It made me giggle out loud at one point to realize that I was in a lounge with all these businessmen in their suits, and I was curled up in a chair sipping my tea and writing a sex scene.
My default was Lana Del Rey, but I use music to tweak my moods, so depending on what mood I needed, I’d swap out to a specific song and just play that song on repeat for the emotion I needed to call up. A few of the ones I used were:
A. Beyoncé “Crazy in Love”
B. Rihanna “Pour it Up”
C. Rihanna “Rude boy”
D. Missy Elliot “Get Ur Freak on”
E. Leon Else “Cheap Hotel”
F. Train “Bruises”
G. Charlie Worsham “How I Learned to Pray”
Book Excerpt:
“You’re safe, Red,” he said in a softer voice. “I’ll take you to grandmother’s house.” He watched me, obviously waiting for something.
The best my drunken brain could offer was, “The Big Bad wolf eats Red.”
He paused, grinned, and patted the seat. “You’re too drunk for that too.”
I blinked at him. Then his words sunk in, and I gasped. I hadn’t meant that, but now that he planted the idea in my mind, I couldn’t speak.
“You’re safe with me,” he promised, and then he patted the tiny seat behind him.
I wanted to tell him that I didn’t want to be safe, not after he’d planted such forbidden images in my mind. I yanked my mind out of the gutter and climbed onto the motorcycle, wrapped my arms around his waist, and tried not to shiver. I shouldn’t like the way he talked, but I did. I liked the whole package: the rescue, the insinuations, the motorcycle.
Maybe alcohol and fumbled petting with Quincy just skewed my judgment so severely that Zion seemed more tempting than he actually was. I wasn’t sure. I also didn’t think it mattered. By tomorrow, I would be too sober to think about kisses or any of the other things he might be good at doing.
He pulled my arms tighter around him, holding my hands together on his very taut stomach. It was a little embarrassing that being on the back of his Harley was doing far more for my libido than all of Quincy’s—and every other man’s before him—effort.
“Hold on, Red.”
About Ronnie Douglas:
Ronnie Douglas is the writing name for a multiple New York Times bestselling author. Drawing on a lifetime love of romance novels and a few years running a biker bar, she decided to write what she knew—dangerous men with Harleys and tattoos. Her debut “Ronnie book” was indie-published as part of a series she created and wrote with friends in 2014.
Giveaway:
That excerpt sounds really good, plus that playlist is sexayyy! It sucks the romance is kinda sucky, but I'm still curious. Great review!
ReplyDeleteBlessie @ Mischievous Reads
I wish you had liked the book more, Lindy, seeing as you are a fan of the series. Nonetheless, I'm still glad to know you liked it just about enough to give it such a lovely review! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteSarika @ The Readdicts
You enjoyed this one more than I did. It got on my nerves.
ReplyDelete