If you’ve been reading my Weekly Roundups and Weekends Reads recently, you will know I have been on a complete biker romance reading fest. I have also discovered a fab new author – Joanna Wylde. I have got completely submerged into her Reapers series and have read the current four published books in the series back to back. It’s been a while since I have done that and I have really enjoyed getting into a writer’s world and staying in it. The writing has definitely got better as the series progressed, so much so that when I finished book four – Reaper’s Stand – I immediately downloaded book one from the spin-off series the Silver Valley series – Silver Bastard.
The biggest thing I struggled with in the first two books was the over-alpha-ness (shh I know that’s a made-up word) of the heroes. They are completely arrogant and over-bearing, but…. I was completely drawn to them never-the-less. Wylde’s writing is really compelling, it’s the type of writing that leads you to read much longer into the night than you ever intended to.
All of the men are violent, and they’re not always nice. This took me a little while to adjust to in the first book, but as the stories progressed I took it as part of the world I was reading and I just fell into the stories. I love Kristen Ashley’s biker series, but while Wylde’s writing is as addictive it is much, much darker. I also had to get over the terminology ‘old lady’ and realise it was just part of the world I was reading and not read it like the insult it would be in the normal world.
A great theme is these books is one of sisterhood and I like the relationships between the other ‘old ladies’ in the stories. They help balance some of the uber alpha-maleness. The stories are un-apologetically violent and in all of the books I’m surprised how easily the heroines become immersed in this aspect of the biker world. But all of the stories make for a hell of a ride.
Reaper’s Property #1
Escaping the clutches of her cheating, violent husband, Marie returns home to life in a trailer with her brother. Unbeknownst to her, her brother has got himself into trouble. Working for biker gang – The Reapers – he then betrays them. In order to save his life, Marie volunteers to become property of the reapers as collateral.
The love story between Horse and Marie had me gritting my teeth a couple of times. The romance was building quite nicely at the beginning, then I felt like it kind of got wrenched away and taken to a much darker place as Marie becomes Horse’s ‘property’. At first the sex scenes (which were completely hot) felt slightly uncomfortable. I felt a bit squirmy about reading them when I knew that Marie ‘belonged’ to Horse, although it was consensual.
Luckily, Wylde moves the story along quite quickly and Marie has plenty of spark and can match the over-bearing Horse giving him as good as he gives. The trust is a big issue and the way it shifts about over whether can they trust each other or not – which isn’t always one of my favourite plot devices – did irritate me a little, but not enough to spoil my enjoyment of the book.
The ending delivered plenty of action and a fab romantic conclusion and certainly had me hooked ready for book two. 3.5 Stars.
Reaper’s Legacy #2
I think Ruger might be the biggest arse and man whore of the men in this series. But you are endeared to him because of his love for his nephew Zach (Sophie’s son).
Despite Ruger’s is a total a*****le, what makes it work is you as the reader can see (even if he can’t), that is completely in love with Sophie. The prologue really sets up the story, leaves you completely intrigued for the pending romance between the two main characters.
Despite all of this, there were times when I really, really didn’t like Ruger. While I wanted him and Sophie to get together I also wanted him to suffer a bit first.
As with all the books things do take quite a dark turn for a while in a way that only a outlaw biker can resolve. I said earlier prepare for murder and mayhem in these books and Reaper’s Legacy is no exception.
Sophie is an interesting character, she is quite hot and cold. She has reason to be of course, but the chemistry positively crackles between her and Ruger keeping you hooked. As things progressed, Ruger grew on me and went on his own journey, learning to some extent at least the error overbearing and ways. I liked the ending and their happy ever after. 3.5 Stars.
Devil’s Game #3
I think Devil’s Game is probably my favourite book in the series. Wylde herself describes it more like a New Adult story because of the age of the characters. Em, the heroine is Picnic’s (the biker club President) daughter. She is young, and a virgin because all of her love interests are scared off by her biker family protectors.
The first part of the story is a re-telling of part of Reaper’s Legacy – we see the kidnapping from Em’s point of view. Because I read the books back to back, there were a couple of moments where I found the repetition a little annoying. But I did still really enjoy seeing things from Em and Hunter’s side.
There is an added element in this story in that Hunter is from a rival MC group, so there was a slight Romeo and Juliet aspect to the romance. As well as how are they ever going to make this work. Having grown up in an MC Em was an easier heroine understanding how the ‘old lady’ rules worked, but because they are a younger couple I much preferred their open approach to their relationship than what we have seen in the previous two stories.
Em is a proper tough cookie and I love how you wouldn’t want to mess with her. Hunter is seriously hot and this is most definitely my favourite book of the whole series so far. I particularly enjoyed the much more balanced relationship between them and the new adult feel to the story. 4 Stars.
Reaper’s Stand #4
Reese (Picnic) has such a huge character through the series that there was a lot of expectations for his story. Although knowing his history as a widower and a caring father of two daughters, despite his violent background, made me really want to see his happy ending.
London is a great match for Picnic. Tough, and ready to meet him head on. But also, maternal and caring. Picnic comes across as a complete arse in the opening of the book, you kind of want to reach in and give him a massive slap. The opening scenes made me wonder how on earth they were going to have a romance because I am pretty sure I wouldn’t end up with a guy who treated me like that.
Some of themes we have seen introduced earlier in the series with the drug cartel are really developed in Reaper’s Stand and this book probably takes the darkest turn of all of them. Really dark and I wasn’t sure where this was going to take Picnic and London’s relationship. I wasn’t sure how it was going to end, but London comes through and shows once again why she is a fab heroine. Also trust in the sisterhood Wylde continues to weave into the stories. But there were some scenes where I felt slightly uncomfortable and wondered how far she would take things. However, it really was a cracking ride of a read. When I found out Puck a new character introduced in the story was the lead of her new book and spin-off series Silver bastards as I mentioned earlier, I went and downloaded it straight away.
There is also so much hinted at for book 5 – I cannot believe I have to wait until November for Painter and Mellie’s story! 4 Stars.
Verdict
Wylde has a really addictive writing style, that meant to compulsively read from one book to the next. The men in these books are over-bearing and some times a little too much so for my tastes, but I also couldn’t put the books down which says something for the writing style. Devil’s Game is most definitely the best and Reaper’s Property probably my least favourite – the whole property thing wasn’t my favourite narrative technique. But these were great books I read one after the other and book five is already on pre-order.
Series Rating: 4 Stars
Reaper’s Property / Reaper’s Legacy / Devil’s Game / Reaper’s Stand by Joanna Wylde
(Reapers MC #1-#4)
Contemporary/MC Romance
Ellora’s Cave (2013-2015)
Ebook: 250-400 pages
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