Honor.
Courage.
Commitment.

Three things Jesse Carter has lost. A former Marine, Jesse used to stand proud of his achievements and live by the code. But when circumstance made him question everything he believed in, those most basic values didn’t feel so important after all.

Sex.
Lies.
Knights Rebels.

Three things Jesse Carter has found. Reborn into a brotherhood not so different from the one he left behind, Jesse finds it all too easy to block out his past and claim the role as the Rebels' fun loving player.

Until he meets Bell.

Shy, awkward, and with troubles of her own, Bell Johnson's no stranger to hiding her pain. When Jesse forces himself into her life, she’s at risk of her defences crumbling.

Does Bell have the strength to survive Jesse and his demons or is she fated to become another casualty in the self-destruction of Jesse Carter?

Jesse Carter is an ex-Marine, ex-firefighter, and Knights Rebels MC club member. On the surface he's a sexy, flirty, funny manwhore. But underneath he is dangerous, damaged man haunted by demons and pain. But he hides that away and does not let anyone truly see him. 

Bell is direct opposite. She's younger, shy, quiet, and awkward. She is a nurse and has a caring personality. But her life is affected by loss and lack of answers.

They are an unlikely pair, but are drawn to each other. She finally asks Jesse and the Knights Rebels for help with something important to her, but Jesse's price might be too high as he pushes into her life. 

He is a man in need of redemption and a connection, but he also lives in denial. He is so used to disappointment and guilt that he is afraid to try anything real with Bell. He pulls her close while pushing her away. He is a man torn between what he wants, what he thinks he deserves, and what he thinks she needs. Sometimes I loved him, sometimes I wanted to shake him, but all along I could feel his pain and insecurities. He really felt unworthy and was lost, guilt ridden, and  hard to reach.

They push each other's boundaries. They are out of each other's comfort zone. He doesn't think anyone handle who he really is and what has lived with. But she is relentless in trying to see the real man and help his understand his own worth. When he lets her in, those are the times he finds some inner peace. And he helps her begin to live her own life instead of following everyone else's expectations. Their sexual chemistry sizzles even as their emotions and fears try to put a damper on it.

I loved seeing the confused, vulnerable side of Jesse and he tries to reconcile what is happening. He is at war with himself and eventually his self sabotage is bound to catch up to him. Bell is struggling to find her own inner strength and learn to stand up for herself and what she wants. I enjoyed the growth in characters even when they were fighting themselves or each other.

This is a story of self discovery for two people from different worlds. Their need to figure out who they were and wanted to be, allowing themselves to open up and trust, and to fight for what is important. It is not an easy road for them. It is full of disappointments, heartbreak, and angst, but mixed with moments of connection, happiness, and humor. I will admit that the back and forth at times got frustrating as there was a lot of fight or flight. They had difficulty being on the same page at the same time and  alternated pushing the other away for self protection. But it all eventually contributed to the development of the characters and their relationship.

Underlying the self actualization and love story is some club business and a quest to find a missing woman using all the resources the club and Jesse has. That also includes his two stubborn, outspoken brothers, Jackson and Jay,  who have more law abiding connections.

It brings back Nix and Kadence and Sy and Holly and we get to see more progression in their relationships and lives. I love how tight knit a group the Rebels are and how they are a family who is not afraid to stand up to each other and for each other and also kick a** when needed. Some other club/family members Beau, Brooks, and Kelly are also featured. Elle has some sassy friends especially Lissy who added comic relief and more girl power (If Kadence and Holly were not enough).  I loved Jesse's recovering Marine buddy Conner and would love to see more with him. Beau's story was teased a bit more and I am looking forward to his book Infatuation. And another intriguing story line was introduced as well. 

I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Jess Carter is a former firefighter and Marine, and current member of the Knights Rebels MC. He considers the MC more of his family than he does his own family. He is sarcastic and quick to joke, covering the pain and anger from his past.

Bell Johnson lives under the shadow of her missing sister, remaining at home to keep the peace with her mother who can’t let go of her remaining children. A 23 year old virgin, she is living her life to please others and keep the peace at home.

When a friend suggests Bell look to the Revel Knights for help investigating her sister’s disappearance, she must face the attraction she feels towards Jesse.

Both characters are so driven by their pasts and their families’ reactions that it is no wonder they have such a push/pull relationship. Though they react in opposite directions to family expectations, it is a big part of how they view the people around them. Neither have had much experience in a committed relationship which also adds to the drama between them.

My biggest challenge while reading this was that they are both runners. Rather than face their feelings or work through problems, the default reaction is to run. The drama and the running got to the point where I forgot they were actually working together to find her sister.

The resolution to all the various plot arcs happened very quickly. I had a few things I wished we learned in this book, but it sounds like a future book will (I hope) fill in those blanks. There were points I wanted more information, and others I wished the story was a little tighter, but this was a quick read and it was fun to see Kandace and Nix, Holly and Sy, and the other couples that have been established through this series. 

I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Incandescent  (Knights Rebels MC #1)

Add to Goodreads
Buy Amazon/B&N/iTunes/Kobo

Phoenix ‘Nix’ Knight thought pulling his club out of the illegal shit his Pops got them into was difficult.

Until he meets Kadence. 

Kadence Turner has no business lusting over a student’s father, especially the president of the Knights Rebels MC. Nix is crass, obnoxious and dangerously sexy and for some reason, Kadence can’t seem to hate him for it. The bossy biker breaks down her defenses, but unlike the old Kadence, the woman she is today won’t give in without a fight.

The tension is undeniable, the attraction fierce. A man that wants what he wants and a woman that will fight him every step of the way.

River Savage is the author of Incandescent, the first book in the Knights Rebels MC Series.

An avid reader of romance and erotic novels, her love for books and reading fueled her passion for writing. Reading no longer sated her addiction, so she started writing in secret. She never imagined that her dream of publishing a novel would ever be achievable.

With a soft spot for an alpha male and a snarky sassy woman, Kadence and Nix were born.