Reviews and Giveaway: Reaper's Legacy: Joanna Wylde
Add to Goodreads
Buy Amazon/B&N
WELCOME TO THE CLUB
She may have lost her dignity that fateful night, but Sophie also gained something precious—her son Noah. Unfortunately, Zach’s a deadbeat dad, leaving Ruger to be Noah’s only male role model. When he discovers Sophie and his nephew living in near poverty, Ruger takes matters into his own hands—with the help of the Reapers Motorcycle Club—to give them a better life.
Living with outlaw bikers wasn’t Sophie’s plan for her son, but Ruger isn’t giving her a choice. He’ll be there for Noah, whether she wants him or not. But Sophie does want him, has always wanted him. Now she’ll learn that taking a biker to bed can get a girl dirty in every way…
Ruger has been around young Noah's life even at the time of conception, even though he wasn't the biological father...his brother Zach is. He was also there for the birth and vowed to always be there for his nephew, Noah. So when Noah needs him, Ruger takes over and moves seven year old Noah and his mom Sophie back home with him. Sophie has had a crush on Ruger for a long time. Her history with his brother Zach is unpleasant and she has severed ties with him. And her past with Ruger is also complicated. Ruger has the hots for her too, and has for years. But she has no clue about it since he hides it so well. And they are like oil and water. They can hardly be in the same space without annoying each other or making the other mad. She is no longer meek and talks back. She is not into club life. They argue, disagree, avoid, and resist. It is a serious game of cat and mouse. They are turned on by each other, but are trying to navigate their way between right and wrong both for themselves and for young Noah. The Reapers' life and business is a whole new world for her...a world that scares her and is hard for her to understand. She is not sure she is ready to be considered property. But Ruger is a man of control and usually gets what he wants. But also wants it all on his own terms. And they are both so stubborn and opinionated, that they never can seem to keep the peace between them for long.
And throw in dangerous club business, exes, fights, turf wars, crazy drunken parties, and events and there is a lot going on in the background.
I really liked Ruger more than I liked Horse in the first book Reaper's Property. He was still a bad as, bossy jerk at times, but it was obvious he had feelings under his tough facade. His care and protection of Sophie and Noah really showed that he had a softer side. He was strong, dependable, and fiercely devoted to taking care of them and the members of the club.
And Sophie was tough. She did not take any crap. She did in the past, but hos now found her inner strength and will to fight back. She wanted to have her independence and make her own way for her and her son. She was a good mother and determined to keep him safe at all costs. She was somewhat judgmental, but a lot was due to her worry about Noah and the dangerous environment.
Together they had a complicated past and present, but there was no denying the deep connection that neither could shake. For better or worse they were bound to be in each other's lives through Noah. But in what capacity was questionable. It was just a matter of who ultimately wins...or if they could find a way to both win.
I really liked this installment more than Reaper's Property. I felt more engaged in the story and more invested in the characters. I will admit that I was not a huge fan of Horse or Marie in the first book. But they did start to grow on me towards the end of their book. And I have to say that I really liked them more in this book. I loved seeing their support for the couple...Marie welcomed Sophie and Horse was a good friend. It was fun to see their relationship continue. This book kept me more interested because I did really like Ruger and Sophie together, and I am now more familiar with the side characters. We also got to see a story develop for Picnic's daughter, Em. She will be the subject of the next book Devil's Game and we already have a lead in to her upcoming story from the plot lines in this book. I am looking forward to it and it has all kinds of potential for drama.
This book did have dual points of view and I was really glad to get into Ruger's head. It really helped us see that he was caring and had feelings even when he might be acting outwardly like an ass. And we would see Sophie's real feelings while she was being stubborn and resisting. It was frustrating, suspenseful, violent, sexy, romantic and intense. There was action, intrigue, and danger. I enjoyed the characters and story line. I am becoming more attached to the Reapers and Old Ladies. Their camraderie and humor is fun, and their support and dedication to each other is strong. But this series is still pretty raw, rough, and edged with violence.
Thanks to Joanna Wylde and PENGUIN GROUP Berkley, NAL / Signet Romance, DAW, Berkley Trade and Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Reaper's Legacy is the second Reaper's story, but it reads a lot like a stand-alone. Horse and Marie from book 1 are involved, but it's not imperative to know their story to understand and enjoy this one. There was more focus in Reaper's Property to explain some of the hierarchy and cultural aspects of the club's organization, but again it wouldn't detract from Legacy to not have that background.
Sophie's situation had an unfortunate start, but the connection between her and Ruger that was forged early on held, even if weakly and from a distance. From early on, she shows an independent nature that we later learn was developed after her parents kicked her out and en event that for much of the story is just referred to as what went down 4 years before. She refuses to even consider a relationship of any kind with Ruger for a long time because of his connection to the Reapers, which she doesn't see as anything more than a criminal organization. As she gets to know the guys in the club, hangs out at their parties, and gets to know their women she slowly starts changing her mind, until club business lands right in her lap.
Ruger was hot from the start. He's tatted, pierced, and always coming to Sophie's rescue. When things go to crap with her boyfriend and Ruger's step-brother, Zach, Ruger continues to come to Sophie's rescue whenever she needs it even if she isn't calling for the help.
Because they had known each other for so long, the pattern in their relationship was set long before they had recognized there might be feelings from the other. Sophie lusted after Ruger while despising his way of life which caused her to never consider actually going through with a relationship with him. Ruger, for his part, recognizes that he is not a one-woman man and so never goes there with Sophie. But it's funny how everyone else always sees the attraction before the couple involved. Several of the people around them set up situations to force them both to recognize their feelings and act on them -- sometimes with a lot of humor involved.
I felt like it took a while for the "action" of the story to come in to play. It wasn't like Property where we knew something was going down with the club early in the story and the danger factor started almost right away. It almost felt like we were getting away with a straight romance until things with the Jack's picks up further. And boy did it pick up. In true Reapers fashion, there was plenty of drama, danger, and excitement.
As with Property, I liked that the women rallied around the newbie, showing her the ropes, although sometimes it was to rile Ruger up, but generally supportive and understanding about the culture shock a citizen would be feeling upon entering the Reapers' world.
This one didn't feel as gritty as Property, maybe because I was expecting it this time? But it was still like watching a tv show as everything played out. I found myself laughing out loud at a couple things Sophie's friend Kimber says and does, and there were several spots of pretty intense action that kept the plot moving and my interest held.
Thanks to Joanna Wylde and PENGUIN GROUP Berkley, NAL / Signet Romance, DAW, Berkley Trade and Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
.png)
Reaper's Property (Reaper's MC#1)
Add to Goodreads
Horse is part of the Reapers Motorcycle Club, and when he wants something, he takes it. What he wants is Marie, but she’s not interested in becoming “property of”.
Then her brother steals from the club. Marie can save him by giving Horse what he wants—at home, in public, on his bike… If she’s a very, very good girl, she’ll get lots more of those orgasms only he can offer, and he’ll let her brother live.
Maybe.
Devil's Game (Reaper's MC#3)
Add to Goodreads
Coming June 2014
Liam “Hunter” Blake hates the Reapers MC. Born and raised a Devil’s Jack, he knows his duty. He’ll defend his club from their oldest enemies—the Reapers—using whatever weapons he can find. But why use force when the Reapers’ president has a daughter who’s alone and vulnerable? Hunter has wanted her from the minute he saw her, and now he has an excuse to take her.
Em has lived her entire life in the shadow of the Reapers. Her overprotective father, Picnic, is the club’s president. The last time she had a boyfriend, Picnic shot him. Now the men in her life are far more interested in keeping her daddy happy than showing her a good time. Then she meets a handsome stranger—a man who isn't afraid to treat her like a real woman. One who isn't afraid of her father. His name is Liam, and he’s The One.
Or so she thinks.
.png)
Joanna Wylde Website/Facebook/Twitter/newsletter
One paperback copy of Reaper's Legacy. US ONLY
0 comments