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Blurb

In a tangled mess of betrayal and chaos, I was moved almost overnight onto rival territory under the protection of the one man I never wanted to be a burden to.

Jameson King.

In order to keep me safe, he handed me a ring and told me I’d become his wife. It’s a marriage made of convenience, but there’s a thread of truth neither of us want to examine. The past we’re ignoring, the almost we could have had if our lives were different.

If I hadn’t chosen wrong.

I keep trying to convince myself it doesn’t matter, not when we hold hands or sleep in the same bed. Because Jameson has always held me at arm’s length, and my ex is coming for me…we’re just biding our time before this all comes to a messy end.

This is where we promise to hold, honor, and cherish…but what are vows made from lies?

Jameson will stay long enough to ensure I’m safe, and then he’ll let me go, just like he always did before.

 

 

 

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Review

5 stars

I love this book! An angsty, emotional, sexy and dramatic almost-second-chance-romance with a pregnant heroine, a badass, soft-hearted, and all the feels. Jameson and Penelope’s story had me hooked from the very start, and it was everything I was hoping for!

This is the third book in the Stone Riders MC series. Though each story is about a different couple, I don’t consider these standalone books. There has been some build-up to this book, and a lot has gone on in the previous two books that continues in this one. To fully appreciate the complexity of the world, I would definitely recommend reading these books in order.

Jameson is the President of the Chaos Kings MC, but his club is in disarray after a bitter betrayal and attempted coup. In the desperation, the only thing Jameson wanted was to protect his childhood friend, Penelope. She is pregnant with the baby of his Vice President, but has been brutally rejected and left to fend for herself, and Jameson is pulling out all the stops to look out for her. Not only has he set her up in a safe house with the Stone Riders, but in order to truly protect her, they need to get married.

Jameson and Penelope have a complicated past. They met as teenagers in the club – Jameson was the son of the President, and Penelope was the daughter of an old lady. There were feelings there from the very start, and though Jameson always looked out for Penelope and they became close friends, they just couldn’t get it together to act on their attraction.

“I don’t belong there.”
His thumb traced my bottom lip. “You do. You’re the only thing there that feels like home.”

Their past is told in flashback chapters, and it’s an angsty series of missed chances and broken hearts, but it creates an emotional situation for them in the present where they are both secretly in love with the other, but too afraid to act on it or speak it out loud because there’s so much hurt and confusion from their past.

“I know the idea of being married to me doesn’t hold that much appear, but it’s only temporary.”
“Stop it—” I snapped, “don’t act like I wouldn’t be honored to have you as my husband, Jameson. That was never our issue, and you know it.”

And then they get married, complicating everything even further as they fake a relationship, living together in a small house, while Penelope is pregnant with another man’s baby. Every moment sizzles with tension, and I was feeling every look, every touch, and every sweet moment. They’re both battling their feelings and their mad lust, and they’re losing.

We broke apart, and his eyes clung to mine as if he felt it too.
This wasn’t fake, and whether he agreed to it or not, I’d claim a piece of him by the end of this. Some part of that gave me hope. If I could finally find a way inside his heart, then maybe he’d let me stay there.

It’s a fantastic set-up for Jameson and Penelope’s story, and I was feeling everything right along with them. Though it’s awkward, you can see how much they care for each other, and Jameson’s protectiveness and sweet nature is so, so beautiful to see as he does everything he can to provide for Penelope in every way. Of course it eventually leads to wildly passionate sexy time, undeniable feelings and heartfelt declarations, and though it’s a bumpy ride, I loved watching them figure it all out.

“It’s always been you, Jameson … You were always in my dreams when I thought of forever.”

“You’re mine, Penny. For fucking ever.”

At the same time, there’s drama happening with Jameson’s club, and it’s spilling over to the Stone Riders, and another club, the Death Raiders. Events from previous books continue to unfold, and there is danger and intrigue, which add to the story, making everything more intense. We see lots of the characters from previous books, which I loved, and the stage is set for Death Raiders President, Silas, and Natty’s story to finish off the series. And after all of that build-up, and the massive ending to this one, I cannot wait for their book!

This is such a beautiful story, and a fantastic addition to the series. I loved Jameson and Penelope so much, both strong but quiet, and after a tumultuous start, they’re finally ready to fight for what they want, and I loved every moment of watching them find their happiness. The pregnancy/baby storyline is so well done (big, bad biker, little tiny baby… *dreamy sigh*), and is just the cherry on the top of this gorgeous story.

I loved it so much – 5 stars.

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

 

Stone Riders MC