Aaron ‘don’t ever call me Fatbaby’ Sims is lucky to be alive. Or at least that is what everyone keeps telling him. He doesn’t feel lucky, though.He’s scarred, has more than a little bit of a bad attitude, and there isn’t a single day that goes by that he doesn’t wish his wife would’ve just finished off the job.After being denied his old position at the fire department, he leaves, and doesn’t look … and doesn’t look back. He heads straight to Alabama and into the semi-welcoming arms of The Dixie Wardens MC. There he becomes a part of a brotherhood that forces him to get back in the land of the living.
—
Imogen is a smart girl. A girl who doesn’t always make the best decisions.
Her heart is in the right place when she walks into that prison, but it doesn’t take long for her to realize that her heart shouldn’t have had any say so in the matter. Especially when one wrong move lands her in the arms of a scarred man that looks frightening enough to scare any sane woman away.
Immediately enthralled by the angry man, she tries to get closer to him. But the harder she tries to get to know him, the further he pushes her away.
—
The only thing Aaron wanted to do after his now ex-wife was sent to jail was escape. Escape the awful memories. The pity-filled eyes. The curious glances.
He does a damn fine job at ensuring he draws as little as attention as possible, but then that annoying woman with her startling blue eyes starts hammering away at his resolve. Makes him feel when he doesn’t want to feel.
Imogen comes into his life and carves out a place for herself, obliterating his defenses one heated kiss at a time.
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i felt bad for Aaron when the truth about his bitch of an ex-wife came to light. then when he couldn’t return to the job and friends that he loved. now he is in a place that he can start over. then Imogen shows up in his world and now he can also have a chance at actually finding love. Imogen is just working and doing what she can to raise her nephew. and she is drawn to the man that is Aaron because of the man that he is, but also because she loves his scars that he carries with him.
i knew that one day that Aaron was going to be able to finally find that one person that will see him, not the scars left behind from his past. and Imogen was just that girl. hey chicks dig scars and beards.
After Aaron faces a horrific accident and betrayal he has sworn off women and just wants to live his life in peace but when he is faced with tough decisions and fighting his feelings towards an amazing woman, life is anything but peaceful. Wow, this book broke my heart so many times. Tank was just heartbreaking. Imogene was simply amazing and such force to be reckoned with, but Aaron and all he goes through was so moving and I loved every word of his story. Truly loved how Lani Lynn Vale leads us into another series but doesn’t leave previous characters out. Highly recommend every book I have read by her and I love how she puts family, love and humor into all her stories.
When I heard Aaron was going to be getting his own book, I started the count down till it came out. This first book in this new series was great. Aaron and Imogen’s story is funny, sad to where you can’t help but cry and a bit of some drama. After reading these two become one of my favorite couples. I just loved how easy being together was for them even with the ups and downs, they had a good solid friendship foundation.
I would recommend reading this book, it won’t disappoint.
Great Start to a new series! Elizabeth @ Carolina Chic’s Read
Aaron & Imogen have a beautiful story together with lots of chemistry and so much love! Both Aaron & Imogen both get injured & get to have retribution. Fantastic ending, I laughed so much!
5 Stars !
I laughed, I cried, and I swooned. This was an exhilarating, emotional, and sweet journey to go on with Imogen and Aaron. I enjoyed this story.
Like all books written by Lani Lynn Vale they are a guaranteed five star read. Was a big fan of the original Dixie Warden MC series (still my favourite series of all books to date) so was super excited with the spin off The Dixie Warden Rejects MC. Have been waiting for Aaron’s story since we first met him in The Kilgore Fire Series and his story has it all. Absolutely fell in love with Aaron and this book keeps you gripped from the first page and won’t let you put it down.
This is the first book in the Dixie Wardens Rejects MC. This is another spin off, but it is a complete stand alone.
We’ve met Aaron in a previous book. I’ve read them all, so I can’t remember which book exactly. I believe it was a Kilogre Fire one though. I could be wrong. What his ex-wife did to him is horrible. He is scarred because of her. He couldn’t go back to the fire department. That’s how he found himself a member of the Dixie Warden Rejects and a medic at the prison for the disabled criminals.
He’s a great guy.
Another tragedy happens, and now he is a k-9 officer. I am still mad at Lani for what happened!
Imogen is awesome. She’s a feisty, pixie of a mechanic. She crushed on Aaron in highschool. But he never noticed her…
Or did he?
This is yet another great read by Lani. I look forward to her release every month. Once I see it on my kindle, I get so excited and have to start as soon as I can. I don’t stop until I’m finished. Then I’m forced to wait another month.
Of course there were some great quotes at each chapter.
“Milk is good for your teeth. So is minding your own goddamned business.”
~Note to self
“I’m just a girl, standing in front of a salad bar, wishing it was an all you can eat buffet.”
~Imogen’s secret thoughts
I just have to say Big Papa’s story of Sean’s “accident” had me cracking up.
Truth was so funny.
I’m really curious about Ghost, especially when he was drunk and talking to Imogen.
Great book to listen too from page one to the last page. Imogen was smart and watching her sister’s son while she was in the Marines and the father was in jail. Aaron was trying to put his life back together after his ex-wife tried to kill him.
As with all of Lani Lynn Vale’s previous stories. To fully enjoy this world that she has created, to love these characters the way they deserve, you should really read from the Freebirds series onward.
So last we saw Aaron, he was understandably unhappy, very grouchy, and moving away from his friends and the family to a little town in Alabama where his mama lives. He gives up on the dream he had at one time and now works in the prison. He pretty much just avoids everyone, except the brothers of the MC that he is prospecting with.
Imogen’s life has been a bit of a mess lately, and she has no time to notice how sexy the neighbor looks, she is busy helping raise her nephew while her sister is deployed. But he looks so freaking hot on his bike, so Imogen will admire from afar, but it seems that they keep getting thrown together in all kinds of situations. Aaron doesn’t want to trust another woman again, the last time almost killed him; but he just keeps thinking about Imogen. Will he give her a try or just keep pushing her away?
Lani Lynn Vale has a way of taking your soul and twisting it and tearing it up, but then somehow, some way making sure that the book still makes you have a goofy freaking happy smile, and all in love with her by the end of it. Its truly a gift! I don’t want to say more than I have already have, some drama, lots of violence and the freaking sexy times that just leave you panting for more. It was great getting to check in on Booth and Masen again, and I have a feeling that LLV has some really HUGE plans coming up soon and I can not freaking wait! I give this 5 stars, but seriously if I could give more I really would!
Aaron will never trust a woman again after his ex-wife tried to light him on fire, the scars are still there and it causes others to stare at him in disgust. That is until he begins to talk to Imogen, the woman has gotten under his skin. She sees more than his face and after initially denying his feelings believing it would never work, he takes a chance.
Imogen is a whirlwind and has caught Aaron’s eye, she intends to keep it but is worried about his residual feelings for his ex and if he would be able to trust her. Aaron is fully invested but with a gang living in the same apartment building things are heating up.
Had a huge surprise if you follow the series that I did not see coming. Loved this one, was completely enchanted by these two. Excellent way to start a new series.
A wonderful start to a new series. Aaron has a horrible wife. i really hate her. Imogen is funny sassy and just what Fatboy needed to put him back together.
I really enjoyed this book. I liked both the main characters. Imogen wasn’t your typical heroine, she served in the military, works on cars, and isn’t really girly. But she also doesn’t look at Aaron differently, has no problem looking him in the eyes despite his scars, and actions surprised me at every turn. She was perfect for Aaron and exactly what he needed. I also really liked Aaron. He was a really cool and laid back character. This book was also very hot and had some really funny moments in between the suspense.
My only issue with this book is that some of the story wasn’t thought out fully. It all happened so fast and I didn’t understand some things that were going on or how they came to certain conclusions. Someone is targeting the cops and the Dixie Warden Rejects, but it was never fully explained why or I just missed it. I’m not sure it made a whole lot of sense to me. While this is an MC novel, I got less life in an MC and more of just Aaron’s life doing his other day to day job. I still enjoyed this book though.
Beard Mode is book one in The Dixie Wardens Rejects MC series which is a spin off of the Dixie Wardens MC series.
Do you need to read the other series to get into this one?
No.
Do I highly recommend it?
Hell yes.
If your not familiar with Lani Lynn Vale then buckle up and enjoy the ride, I can assure you once you’ve read one you will want to devour everything she’s written.
This is Aaron’s story. It starts as the life he knew, the life he wanted was changed and he now has to find a new normal.
After he’s told he won’t work as a firefighter again he packs up and heads to Alabama. To the Dixie Wardens and a job he’s not thrilled with working at a prison.
He’s crawled inside himself in a way, he’s not social, is a different person. The men of the Dixie Wardens try to change that, they help him to regain a little of himself, to find who he is after his accident.
Imogen is his nosy neighbor. She tries to get close to Aaron but everytime she tries he pushes her away. She’s a good woman, raising her sisters son while she’s deployed. She tries to do what’s best for everyone and that includes her scarred, cranky neighbor. She doesn’t really have time for him, to admire how hot he is so she attempts to overlook the fact that she can’t keep her eyes of him. Fate though has other plans it seems as their constantly thrown together due to circumstances beyond their control.
For Imogen it’s simply adjusting to the fact that she wants Aaron, for Aaron it’s learning to trust again. Falling for, giving any control to another woman is something he can never see happening, not after what his wife did to him, but Imogen want’s to change that, to show him he can trust her and that loving someone doesn’t have to cause him pain.
Holy freaking wow.
Let’s be honest, I love this author so I knew I’d enjoy the new series but as a spin off I wasn’s sure what exactly we’d get. I’m happy to say that after the first book in I’m completely addicted and will be waiting to inhale each and every additional book in this series.
Another amazing read by Lani Lynn Vale every time one of her books comes out I need to have it and this being a new series with more hot alphas and hilarious women . Characters from other series are in this witch I love we get to see how they are doing and what they are up to . Aaron is first appears in flash point he is that characters brother it so sad what happens to him he becomes a different person and then Imogen comes along she shows him that his scars are beautiful she doesn’t judge him . Something sad happens in this one it truly broke my heart I had to take a break because I could not stop crying , we also get to meet semi new characters and also a character who is back from the dead but we don’t know who he is witch is killing me . So if you haven’t read any of Lanis books you really should start binge reading like now .
hero = 10+
heroine = 10+
secondary characters = 10
chemistry = 10+
steam = 9
character development = 10
pacing = 10
enjoyment =10+
writing style =10
storyline =10
romance =10+
darkness level =5
humor =9
pov= heroine
ending = HEA
cover =10+
stars = 5+
author = 10+
would I recommend this book =yes yes yes
would I re read this book = yes
would I read future books by this author = yes