A hardened older man finds himself drawn to a younger woman in need of a hero in this age-gap romance full of action, suspense, and intense emotions. Keep reading to get a tantalizing taste of The Souls We Claim by S. Cole, along with getting my impressions of it, then add this seventh installment in the Iron Outlaws MC series to your bookshelf too!
Arianne
Leaving my abusive husband was hard. Attending the funeral of my murdered sister is harder.Especially when I find myself face-to-face with a stern Iron Outlaw biker holding a baby he says is my niece. I have no money, no home, and no way to take care of her, no matter how badly I want to.
Until Jackson 'Halo' Flynn offers me a deal that sounds too good to be true.
Live with him and care for my niece while he takes care of the men who killed her parents.
Halo
Vengeance is the only thing on my mind, not the sweet young woman with a busted face who claims to be the aunt of my half-sister, Lola.
Relationships weren't in my game plan. Neither was becoming a dad to Lola.
Yet, somehow our three lost souls stumble their way into becoming a family.
Until the man who killed my father decides to wipe out my father's line.
Which means me...and my girls.
But as a former Navy SEAL, I know there are no lengths I won't go to to protect the family I've claimed.
BUY here.
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
Another emotional gem in a series that continues to captivate readers as a dedicated bachelor finds himself the sudden guardian to his half-sister upon learning of his father's murder. Add in his surprising introduction to the little girl's aunt, Arianne, and readers get to see a family forming from the ground up. It's an emotionally intense journey to HEA, a heartbreaking yet uplifting romance of overcoming abuse and preconceived notions, and I was captivated by every word and each turn of the page.
Jackson 'Halo' Flynn is an older hero, one who's set in his ways and happily without any relationship ties when readers first meet him. He's a real man's man, rough around the edges, with an air of danger surrounding him that made for one drool-worthy morsel. Once little Lola came into his life though, a softer side emerged, one that warmed my heart. When another female comes into his life at the same time, a woman who Halo knows he should stay away from, fate shows that she has other plans for him after he gives Ari a place to rest her head in exchange for taking care of Lola. He starts off keeping Ari at arm's length, but before long the chemistry between them can no longer be ignored in a compelling romance that becomes more and more powerful.
Arianne is a woman who's been beaten down, physically and emotionally, by a man who kept her from living life to the fullest. He stole her self-esteem and left bruises and scars behind, but trying to keep her from her sister's funeral through one last beating, was the last straw. Seeing Halo for the first time is an intimidating moment for her, but him showing a softer side by holding Lola gives Ari a bit of reassurance. The more time this trio spends together, the stronger the bond grows between them. Halo slowly comes to realize that he has quite a lot to offer a woman, particularly Ari...who he wants to commit to wholeheartedly. Time spent with Halo becomes empowering for Ari, helps her self-esteem, and encourages her to deal with her ex head-on. The unconditional love and support of Halo is just what Ari needs in a beautiful romance that was built from dark roots. Neither of them knew what they were missing until they came into each other's lives...and together it all added up to a match made in heaven.
This family in the making kept me glued to the pages and rooting for them every step of the way. Theirs was a beautiful balance of love, support, and steam. Their journey fit in perfectly with the romantic journeys of past couples in the Iron Outlaws MC and gave Ari an even bigger support system. Just when everything seems to be going the Club's way though, the author upends everything with that gut punch conclusion that's now left me clamoring for the next book in this series!
My rating for this is an A.
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
AUTHOR INFO:
The tattoo across my right hip says it all really. A Life Less Ordinary. Inked by the amazingly talented Luke Wessman at the Wooster Street Social Club (a.k.a. New York Ink). Why is it important? Well, it sums up my view on life. That we should all aspire to live a life that is less boring, less predictable. Be bold, and do something amazing. I’ve made some crazy choices. I’ve been a car maker, a consultant, and even a senior executive at a large retailer running strategy. Born in England, spent time in the U.S. and Japan, before ending up in Canada where I met my own, personal hero – all six and a half feet of him. Both of us are scorpios! Yeah, I know! Should have checked the astrological signs earlier, but somehow it works for us. We have two amazing kids, who I either could never part with or could easily be convinced to sell on e-bay.
I’ve wanted to be a writer for a really long time. Check through my office cupboards or my computer and you’ll find half written stories and character descriptions everywhere. Now I'm getting the chance to follow that dream.
