He was my boss, my brother’s friend, a Widow, an ex-felon, and a man I’d seen casually with a handful of women. But he was everything that gripped me, both the good and the bad. Worst case scenario if things turned awkward between us, I could go somewhere else. I’d gotten over epic heartbreak before, one more wouldn’t kill me.
—
After moving to Austin following six months of unemployment back … of unemployment back home, Iris Taylor knows she should be glad to have landed a job so quickly… even if the business is owned by a member of the same motorcycle club her estranged father used to belong to. Except Dex Locke might just be the biggest jerk she’s ever met. He’s rude, impatient and doesn’t know how to tell time.
And the last thing they ever expected was each other.
But it was either the strip club or the tattoo shop.
… she should have chosen the strip club.
—
“Babe, I’ve handpicked everythin’ and everyone in here. I know what I want and I get what I want,” he breathed. “And I keep what’s mine.”
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I have loved every Mariana Zapata book that I’ve read and Under Locke is no exception.
I kind of hated Dex and that crazy temper of his at first, but I think Iris really softened him up and he was so sweetly protective of her!
“If I did something wrong, he wouldn’t hesitate to correct me and I wasn’t planning on asking him beforehand. As it was, I already had ‘virgin moron’ tattooed on my forehead.”
There was a great dynamic in Dex’s shop. Everyone was so accepting of Iris (and each other). They took her right in and under their wings.
My very favorite thing about this and all the MZ books I’ve read is the really quirky phrases. Like…
“The urge to go visit Lanie was right smack on my forehead, but I knew I shouldn’t.”
I listened to most of this book on audiobook and the narration was perfect! Callie Dalton did an amazing job with all of the characters.
5 Stars!
* audio book review *
This was a great enemies to lovers story. I can’t express enough how much I enjoyed it. Iris is down on her luck and moved to Austin to live with her half brother Sonny and he gets her a job with a fellow MC member of his Dex. He owns a tattoo shop. Right away Iris and Dex butt heads. Dex is grumpy, rude and says things he doesn’t mean. Iris has been through hell in her life and she isn’t going to put up with anyone treating her wrong. I loved the animosity between these too. It made for some funny moments. Right away we see the connection with these two characters. As things progress we see their walls come down and their hearts start to defrost towards each other. In this mix of this there are men who Iris’ dad owes money too. Sonny is attacked and now Iris is in danger. This had me on the edge of my seat. I really didn’t know what was going to happen next. Que the swoon time. Dex is all things alpha and oh my god were those scenes hot between them. This has to be one of my favorite MC books now. I was sad this isn’t a series. I want more Dex and Iris. But that is my only complaint. This book is everything MC romance fans want: humor, MC drama, bad boy, feisty woman & lots of blush worthy scenes.
This was a great read. I definitely recommend this book and this author.
I liked this. It’s different than any other “MC” book I’ve ever read in a refreshing way. There were parts of it that drug and some I thought were a bit forced but the characters were good and the development of each of them is equally as good. The plot was interesting and the values of the club unique in how each of those things drove the plot forward. A solid read.
This was my first novel by Mariana Zapata and I loved it. Iris and Dex did not have a great beginning but the sure did have a great ending. This novel had it all, tattoo artists, bikers, friendship, family, shady characters and a hea ending.
The story was told from Iris POV but I thought she was immature at times and had too much internal conversations going on in her head.
I loved Dex. Inspite of his temper and grumpy attitude, he was sweet and charming and very much Alpha. I also loved Iris relationship with her brother Sonny.
This slow burn story was full of drama and some angst. It was a sweet and funny MC story and I loved it. I listened to the audible version of this novel. It was Narrated by Callie Dalton, who did an amazing job with the characters.
I absolutely loved this story and would highly recommend it.
Under Locke by Mariana Zapata is one of my favorite books by this author. Ms. Zapata is a master with slow-burn romance. Every book she writes has a happy ever after, a must for me. Her characters are quirky, sometimes dark, always so entertaining. As long as she continues to write these page-turners, I’ll keep reading them. So good…
The queen of epic slow burn romance
Iris had survived everything that life had thrown at her. It had been a bumpy ride but now she is in another transition, moving from Florida to Austin, Texas. Her brother, a biker in an MC, gets her a job as receptionist in a tattoo parlor owned by Dex Locke.
Dex is a man who has a temper, it is a legendary temper and no one escapes his wrath. He is curt and takes no prisoners and when he meets Iris he knows she is all wrong for the shop but he is doing a brother a favor. Iris normally doesn’t shy away from rude people but Dex makes her nervous and finally he pushes her too far. She lashes out and a friendship ensues that leaves her confused where Dex is concerned. Are they building something or is he just protecting her from a mess her long lost father has caused?
I liked this a lot, it is not an insta-love story by any means. Dex keeps everything close to his chest and has Iris on her toes trying to figure him out. Had great supporting characters and was a book I wondered why I did not pick up sooner. Look forward to reading more by this author.
This story about Dex & Iris is so good! Dex is all kinds of surly & growly in the beginning. And hot, holy smokes all tattooed, blue eyed hot! Iris has moved to Texas after losing her job & in with her brother Sonny. Side note, Sonny totally needs his own book! Sigh, I’m in love… Ok, focusing. Dex & Sonny are in the same MC & Sonny talks Dex into giving Iris a job at his tattoo shop. The rest of the book is slow burn at its best with these two circling each other, arguing, & falling. You really need to read this book!
One of the best sexy badass biker books I’ve ever read. Loved the storyline and characters, the chemistry between Dex and Iris. This is one of those books I can read over and over. Can’t wait for more from this author.
I knew after I read Kulti I had to go back and read this book with the glimpse of Dex and Iris I got! This wasn’t as slow of a burn as the other Mariana books I have read, but it was still pretty unhurried. Dex and Iris are both very guarded characters and I loved how they came together through it all. Iris doesn’t take any crap from the big biker guys and definitely holds her own. Dex made me love him besides his harsh exterior.
I am under the impression Marianna Zapata is the ultimate tease. Her books light a fire in the reader and Under Locke is no exception!
This gorgeous, “patient”, tattooed behemoth will have you melting in no time. Be advised he will also have you raging, shaking, and ready to does words sailors haven’t yet come up with!
Dexter Locke is a crime and punishment. Male beauty like that is a crime. His temper is the punishment. There’s no Dex without trouble. And yet, it’s Iris who seems to be the magnet.
Callie Dalton once again lulled me to a land where I was a part of the story instead of listening to it. The author created a place I want to be and long to return to.
My favorite of all MZ’s books!
I love everything Mariana Zapata writes, but this one was so amazing. I loved it from beginning to end. Her writing is addictive and you can’t help falling in love with all her characters. Iris was an amazing character, his innocence was refreshing and funny. Dex is a sexy tattooed bad boy who has his world rocked when Iris comes to work for him. They were a great match.
This book is a lot sexier, funnier, and steamier than her other books. Set in Texas behind the doors of a tattoo parlor and a close knit family of MC members, this book had all the things I love to read about, including Mariana’s infamous slow burn romance that builds between her main characters. Under Locke is just amazing.
This was an enjoyable romance. Iris & Dex have a lot of serious stuff going on, but still find time for humor, and they really work on building their relationship, and becoming a good match for each other.
This is a longer book, and feels longer as the larger plot looms in the background, and needs to get resolved.
I like that both characters needed to grow over the course of the book. Dex is perfectly beautiful, but he needs to learn how to negotiate with Iris. Iris is in some ways immature because life foisted a lot in her plate, but I never found her sliding into whiny or annoying.
3rd book I’ve devoured by this author.
I adored this book. The charachters are written with such detail and depth, they are so flawed and real and human and likable.
Charles dexter Locke….DAMM!!!! Just dammmmmm
Iris was brilliant how she started off as shy and retiring and I confident and her gradual evolution through the book was so beautifully written. Together they make a fantastic read.
I was gripped from the start and enjoyed every word.
The story of Dex and Iris, two different souls, one love..
wow i couldn’t stop laughing with Iris lol her internal dialogue was amazing, she was funny and strong and she had so many things to give.. she didn’t let people give her sh..t but also she was sensible and sensitive and alway made a point when someone made her feel less.. Iris had a very hard illness when she was a kid and had a pretty big scar on one of her arms.. she dressed in long sleeve shirts to covered so people will not question her or make her feel akward.. she spend lot of time working to be able to cover for her treatment and now that she has been almost fully recovered for more than 5 years, she is ready to live her life..
Iris is looking to have normal life out of the shadows of her father… her father Curt belonged to a club or “gang” that not only destroyed the life of her mother but also the love and respect of his family. watching how her mother suffered all these years, Iris decides to look for a new life somewhere else with her half brother Son..
Dex is an ex comb who is trying to straighten his life and working hard on his tattoo shop, where he hires Iris just as a favor to Son, her brother and good friend of Dex.. things between Iris and Dex don’t start smoothly.. as iris being so sensitive and feeling out of place.. she over hear him talking bad about her over the phone, making her so mad to him and shy around him even wanting to quit her job.. but days go by an Iris and Dex started to develop feelings. their connection is different, she is afraid to fall for him, she doesn’t want to make the same mistake as her mother did and fall for some gang member who will eventually leave her for someone else or will cheat on her.. Dex will have to prove her wrong.. he will have to fight those memories and also her brother who is not going to be happy about their new developed relationship..
Iris and Son are having a hard time keeping away off the bad people, some rivalry gangs are threatening them and making their lives hard as Curt their father owns them so much money.. not only they have been shadowing them and making rounds around their house to make a point.. but also they’ve done something that crossed the line and will make Dex, loose his control and even his mind…
The love story between Iris and Des is beautiful because we can see how slowly their love start, even thou we can somehow see how much Dex wants her even dough, he knows, he should stay back and keep her out of reach as Son has warned him to kept his hands off.. but love has another plans for these two.. no matter the past or the warnings.. love always conquer..
Dex is a gentleman, in this story you can see how over protective he is for Iris, not only he is always looking to make her feel good and be safe and comfortable but he is always making a point when he get jealous.. the way he talks about her, the way he treats her, how he is always taking care of her.. he is just as sweet but also a dominant man.. he will do everything to keep her safe and no matter who he will be against them not even his friend Son.. or her father Curt.. Iris and Dex meant to be together…
so many great things about this story.. and the main characters are hilarious you are going to laugh
a lot with Dex and Iris.. the secondary characters are great too, sonny and the whole gang at the tattoo shop are amazing!! ..