The Games We Play by S. Cole is live!

This is the second book in the Iron Outlaws MC series, and I am so in love with this book! A gritty MC romance with a sensationally swoony and sexy forbidden romance, I loved losing myself in this world with these characters, and I devoured this book in a day, unable to put it down.

 

Amazon  |  Paperback

 

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Blurb

Iris:
As a woman born into an Irish crime family, I’m expendable.
It’s why I’ve extricated myself from that life.
Only now, I’m wrapped up in another one when I witness the death of the president of a motorcycle outlaw club.
And the club’s sergeant at arms has declared himself as my protector… Or stalker.
And I can’t decide if he terrifies or excites me.

Spark:
Too many people have died on my watch in Kabul and New Jersey.
My conscience can’t carry the weight of one more. Especially a pretty young thing with eyes that pierce my truths.
But her family is our enemy. One of many.
And she hates the things I pride myself in standing for.
Until she needs me to play her family’s deadly game. A game to ruin us all.

 

 

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Review

5 stars!

I am so in love with this book! A gritty MC romance with a sensationally swoony and sexy forbidden romance, I loved losing myself in this world with these characters, and I devoured this book in a day, unable to put it down.

This is book #2 in the Iron Outlaws MC series. I was blown away by the first book in this series, The Sins We Hide, and this is a very worthy follow up. You don’t have to have read the first book in the series, though it will certainly help. And be aware that this book contains pretty big spoilers for the first.

Spark is an ex-Marine and the Sargent at Arms for the Iron Outlaws. In the last book, we saw him meet Iris, who was the only witness to the death of their club President, and when she got caught up in an incident with the club and was injured, Spark went into instant protective mode. Things became complicated when it was revealed Iris is the niece and god-daughter to an Irish crime family, and enemy of the club, so she was quickly whisked out of his life. But Spark’s protective nature and his strange connection to Iris is impossible to ignore, and he appoints himself her protector, following her, helping her out, and checking in to make sure she’s safe. Iris is well aware of her big, badass shadow, and though she should be scared, she’s intrigued and a little turned on by Spark’s continued presence in her life.

It’s a weird dynamic, but Spark is all in. His experiences as a marine have left him dealing with a lot of trauma which he is struggling to deal with, and his protective nature won’t let him walk away from Iris. But more than that, his instant connection with her knocked him on his ass, and he wants more from her. Sex, of course, but more than that, he feels something real for her, he finds peace and calm when he’s around her, and though he’s been told by his President to keep his distance, he can’t stay away.

My gut tells me Iris is important.
My head tells me she’s trouble.
And my heart…well, in the middle of the night, when I can’t sleep and the tequila hasn’t helped, I wonder if she may be the very glue to put me back together.

Iris has tried so hard to create a good life, distancing herself from her Uncle’s nefarious business, and wanting nothing to do with an MC, but she finds herself more and more drawn to Spark. Not only is he gorgeous and kind-hearted, but he’s sexy as all hell. When he makes it clear that he wants her, she’s torn between her head and her heart (and other body parts), but the man proves to be impossible to resist.

“I feel like resisting you is like trying to stand in the path of a hurricane, hoping it changes course.”
… “Done resisting?” I asked the question casually, but I need to know the answer more than anything else.
“Yes, Spark. I think I am.”

OMG, I was so invested in these two coming together! I could completely understand Iris falling under Spark’s spell, because he’s so freaking gorgeous and sweet, with a darkly wild and sexy edge. He holds nothing back from her, he tells her what he wants and he shows her in so many ways. He’s devoted, protective, smitten and completely committed, and I swooned so hard over him!

“I’d set fire to the whole fucking world for you, Iris, and protect you from the flames”.

Their relationship may have its challenges, but it feels so organic! It’s natural and easy, honest and functional, and so freaking sexy! Holy hot damn, Spark is filthy man with an even filthier mouth, he loves to dominate, and the sexy times are sizzling! Their physical connection is an important part of their relationship, deepening their connection and giving them the opportunity to open up completely to each other, and there are some really powerful moments between these two.

“This, you and me, feels like a fucking comet burning through the sky. Hot, fast, and so fucking beautiful it’s blinding.”

But while Spark and Iris are falling for each other, they’re also dealing with the fallout from their decision to be together. Not only the forbidden nature of them being together, but she is battling against her Uncle, who has strong ideas about how she should be helping the family, and the MC is facing a new threat which sucks both Spark and Iris into danger. It’s suspenseful and intense, and there are parts of this book that had me holding my breath in shock and terror, and it’s all so emotional! The way it all happens adds to the depth and mood of the series, and the world that the Iron Outlaws live in, and I was so completely captivated.

The story moves at a great pace, and there are fantastic moments of playfulness between Spark and Iris, as well as fun lightness with the MC boys, which balance out the dark really well. And though it’s definitely got that MC feel, it’s the love story which is the focus, and the romance owned my heart.

“Never thought I’d meet my reason for being, Iris. Yet here you are.”

That heartstopping ending brings a fantastic twist, and I am SO excited to see where things go from here. I’m falling so hard for the Iron Outlaw boys, and I’m so excited for Saint’s book up next!

An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

 

 

Iron Outlaws MC

 

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Meet the Author

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.

I am represented by Beth Phelan at The Bent Agency, NY.

 

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