Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Harvey James was as bad-ass as they came. A former enforcer for biker gang, he now owns the Rusty Nail Bar and Grill. He has firm rules about the kind of people he allows into his bar. So, when several of members of his former gang show up, he’s wary. His apprehension turns to outrage when he’s offered a beaten down man in exchange for free drinks on the house. Knowing he needs to rescue the young man, he accepts the deal, starting a series of events that tests his strength and strips him of his fine-honed control. Because Joey Baker isn’t just a man to be bartered, he’s a man Harvey wants to keep.

The last year of Joey’s life has been pure hell. Kidnapped and held captive by a man that derives pleasure out of torturing others, he finds himself being traded for a round of drinks. Rendered unable to speak due to the abuse he has suffered, Joey has no way to protest or ask for help, so when it comes, Joey doesn’t trust the help that is offered, or the man that offers it.

When Harvey and Joey are faced with an impossible situation, finding common ground may prove to be harder than they thought. The lack of communication combined with the growing desire between them adds tension to an already dangerous situation. When the man that took Joey comes back for him, learning to trust each other may be the only way to save them both.

 

Book Review

After the mention of a “ruckus” at the Rusty Nail Bar and Grill toward the end of the previous book, I was hoping to find out what that was all about in this volume. And indeed, this is the story of bar owner and ex-biker Harvey and Joey, the man he ends up rescuing from his former motorcycle club—even though he’d sworn never to have any dealings with them ever again. This is a story about physical and mental abuse and its consequences, and not for the faint of heart. While the brutality on-page is fairly limited, I found the things that were mentioned just as tough to deal with. At one point in the story Joey says he is surprised he survived, and I have to agree. He is a very lucky guy to have ended up in Cade Creek!

Harvey is a pretty tough guy. He used to be an enforcer for a biker gang, and that pretty much says it all. He is also a decent man with a conscience though, and that is one of the reasons he left. When he is suddenly confronted with members of his ex-MC appearing in his bar, he is ready to kick them out. There is only one problem: the bruised and beaten man they offer him as “payment” for a round of drinks. Harvey cannot sit by and let them mistreat him, so he gets involved. One thing leads to another, and Harvey ends up taking responsibility for Joey. There is only one problem: Harvey is insanely attracted to Joey and fears losing control—and that is the last thing Joey needs. Or so Harvey thinks.

Joey has barely survived the last year, and he has lost all faith in humanity. As far as he knows, nobody gives anything away for free, so when Harvey offers his help and asks for nothing in return, Joey is hesitant to believe he is serious. And just when he has begun to trust Harvey, and opens up to show him how he feels, Harvey pushes him away. He may say it’s for Joey’s own good, but Joey disagrees. Not that he can do anything about it, other than walk away. And when that ends up being an even worse disaster, Joey is ready to give up. Luckily Harvey gets his sh*t together just in time.
 
If you like stories about big, badass men riding to the rescue of the abused and mistreated, if you want to know more about two men from very different backgrounds who both need to learn how to trust themselves and their partner, and if you’re looking for an emotional read that is as suspenseful as it is hot, then you will probably like this novella. It shows the inhabitants of Cade Creek at their best!

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Siren Publishing for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format	ebook
Length	Novella, 133 pages/36766 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	25-June-2015
Price	$4.99 ebook
Buy Link	http://www.bookstrand.com/better-than-good