Deva Landry is relieved to be rescued from the MC princess life. But now the angel who saved her is back to collect payment.The cost? Deva is assigned to babysit bad-boy cage fighter Aleksei Voronov, forcing her back into the murky underworld of Chicago. Prepared for the worst, she’s shocked to uncover a kindred spirit, a wounded soul like hers. Chaos strikes and the two are thrown together on an … together on an impromptu mission to stop a city-wide massacre.
Deva’s always prepared for battle, but can she overcome the burning desire for the inked deviant who represents everything she thought she left behind?
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Out of a wish to help and to honour an old debt, Deva is forced to return to a life she had tried (and succeeded) to leave behind. Promising herself this return would only be temporary as she was catapulted back into the world she’d removed herself from, she worryingly found herself falling in love with Aleksei – who was involved in all the things she didn’t want and feared this would be her downfall.
I’m not going to give the plot away, but I will say this was a superbly written story, a gripping page-turner, with a good helping of grit, angst and smouldering scenes. A fabulous read for those who love the genre and I will very much look forward to reading more.
A nice contemporary thriller.
Fast paced. Full of twists and unexpected paths. I could write the whole review with short statements like this. This is a well written story with a number of convoluted layers. The characters are complex and the story line covers knowledge I wouldn’t know where to begin to research. I am impressed with this page-turner and look forward to reading other books in this series.
Lost Bastard was a steamy, hot read about an MC club masterfully called Dark Sparrow. This book was unlike any MC romance I’ve ever read before because it was thrilling and addictive without the bloody carnage. Kudos to Ms. Kells for penning a sought after trope but putting her own spin on it.
Deva and Aleksi had a heart-stopping chemistry that leapt off the pages and immediately grabbed the readers attention. Great start to this series and I can’t wait to dive into book two. I highly recommend Lost Bastard to all MC lovers out there.
Loved how this book didn’t cut any corners. Motorbike gangs and caged fighting are not for the faint hearted, but the author does a brilliant job of making you turn the pages. Loved the characters too. Deva is brilliantly portrayed. No wimpering girlie stuff here. She’s as hard as a nut and not easy to crack. Alexski is dark and dirty and so easy to love! the attraction is palpable and his pain almost heartbreaking when he thinks he’s going to lose the woman of his dreams. Such intense scenes!
This is such a great series. I’ve read them out of order but it really doesn’t detract from the story. Loved it and can’t wait for the next in the series!
Wow! Don’t hesitate to pick Lost Bastard for your next read. I got sucked into this one and read it in a day. Deva is strong and brave, admirable. There are a few twists that will keep you at your seat. Just a great read!
Even though this isn’t the type of romance novel I usually read, this story captured my attention and kept it all the way through. The characters are believable—flawed and vulnerable while at the same time strong and very likeable. The author gives a glimpse into the underworld of motorcycle clubs and mafia without the use of graphic violence and gore (which I very much appreciated.) The romantic aspects of the book were also very well done.
I very much enjoyed reading this novel and gave it 5 stars in spite of too many editing errors. I’m a big fan of indie authors, but often find myself taken out of the story by mistakes that would be easily corrected by a good editor.
Lost Bastard is a unique, action packed, suspense filled, sexy story. Although the story is full of peril and exciting adventure, it was the sexy romance that left me unable to put it down. The story is well written with an intriguing plot and well developed characters.
A thoroughly gripping tale.
Escaping the motorcycle gangs once, Deva finds herself drawn back in.
She risks everything she is to repay a debt to a woman who once helped her.
Amongst the fear and steel-like determination, Deva finds true love.
The intensity of the love she finds is breathtaking.
This is an extremely well-written hot-romance book.
This story held my interest. It is a unique tale and I enjoyed this read immensely. Quite the wild tale.
The story or Aleksi and Deva is dark, haunting, and hot as hell. I felt like I held my breath the whole book and there were many moments I jumped up! The start of the book had me going from the get go! It was another tale I couldn’t rip my mind from. I am definatelt looking forward to more from India Kells! Great book!
Lost Bastard is the first book in the Dark Sparrow series. India Kelly’s has created a world in this book that I have completely fallen in love with! Deva was saved from her past but now she must return the favor. Aleksei is dark and dangerous and a bastard. Can they overcome all the obstacles standing in their way? Do they even want to? There is so much action in this book. I could not put it down. I am so glad I get to live in this world in the books to come!
Deva Landry is a woman with a dark past, she ran away from it and barely survived, but she had some help, in return for a favour which could be called upon any time and now the person who helped her has come calling, but it isn’t all as straight forward as it seems. Aleksei Voronov is a man covered in tattoos who is an MMA fighter with a dark past as well, but he is the one that Deva is sent to watch over, much to her annoyance.
Deva has found a place in a rehab centre for veterans as a physiotherapist and is finally feeling settled when out of the blue an old friend comes calling and asking to call in a favour, she wants her to use her skills as a physiotherapist and knowledge gained from her days as an MC Princess in Chicago to move back there to where it all started and try to observe and protect a man. As they discuss the mission and she meets the man in charge who explains the situation and as soon as she agrees to help, she is put up in an apartment in the north side of Chicago. Her neighbours are lovely, albeit an odd couple and very eccentric but whom endear themselves to Deva pretty quickly and a couple of days of settling in later, she heads over to the gym she will be working in as the new physiotherapist with a mission to keep the MMA fighters who train there fit and ready to fight. However, when she arrives there on her first day, she is surprised to see that the gym is filled with who normally wouldn’t be seen dead around each other, but when she eyeballs the one she is looking for, she is taken aback and that reaction is not normal for her in the slightest.
As Deva becomes part of the furniture at the Gym, she hasn’t officially run into Aleksei and she is worried that she won’t be able to fulfil her mission or her promise, that is until one night when he sneaks into the gym after hours asking for a treatment, but when things get heated between them while Deva is treating him, things get a little spicy, but once Deva cottons on to what is happening, she stops what she is doing and leaves, it is when she realises that it isn’t the kind of treatment he was after. The next day the gym owner is not himself and when she asks what is wrong, it turns out that Aleksei was injured in a fight and needs to get better for his next one in a few days and he asks Deva if she knows anyone who can help, thankfully she does and her mission truly starts when she ends up staying at his apartment to treat him.
This triggers more than a professional relationship when neither of them can deny the burning attraction between them and as they get to know each other more, things get complicated and Deva and Aleksei are thrown together on a mission to protect more than just each other. Will Deva be able to keep her past and present separate, or will it come back to haunt her again? This is a romantic suspense with more action than you can throw a stick at which will dig in its claws and keep you reading until the end.
So this is my first book/series I’ve read by India Kells and boy… you will experience emotions. I did anyway. The writing is so vivid and easily transported me to her world. Aleksei and Deva both tore at my heart throughout the book. I LOVED their characters and interactions. Lazarus King is a favorite too. Who doesn’t like a silver fox? At least that’s how I imagine him. If anyone is looking for a sexy, thrilling, romance- check this out! Onto the next!
Absolutely loved this book. The chemistry between the two main characters is on fire. Deva who escaped her life as a Mc princess is called in to pay off a debt and to her distaste it is babysitting Aleksi the sexy, bad-boy cage fighter. Both finding the last thing they thought they would find, true hardcore love and nothing will stand in the way. Cannot wait to read the next installment.
WOW WOW WOW!!! This book had me on the brink throughout. This is the first book I have read from this amazing author India Kells. I will certainly be reading more. This book is based on the mob underworld and has so many twists and turns you will not be able to put it down. Lots of lack of sleep with this one. The character building is phenomenal and you get very attached to the main characters as well as sub characters. I loved Deva and her bravery and outspoken attitude. She is a woman that has come into her own after coming back to Chicago. Is there anyone that can be trusted? I got to a point in this book where there would be a happily ever after or would make me cry my eyes out. India Kells, bravo as this was an amazing read.
I’ve really been enjoying books Chicago lately, and this was no different. This is a great romance thriller with plenty of angst and suspense. I loved the writing style and I loved all the characters. Highly recommend!
Deva, a strong and independent woman who has to return to a life she left behind to repay an old debt. She meets and begins to fall for Aleksei, who is an MMA fighter and deeply involved in the life Deva promised to never return to.
I don’t normally enjoy MC novels, but India’s writing brings these characters to life. Highly recommend this for steamy, dark romance lovers.
I went into this series backwards and started with the 4th book. While they can all be read as stand-alones, I will say that this is such an enjoyable ride when you start at the beginning! I love the world that India has built here. This is the first I’ve really read of her novels and I can’t wait to sweep through her entire list.
I’ve got a real weak spot for suspense mixed in with my romance and this book hit that craving. Deva was such a strong heroine, and Aleksei stole the show with his devotion and love for her. I can’t wait to see what book 2 holds!
When you get drawn back into the life you thought you have left behind, will she have the courage to loss everything for love.
Deva owes everything she has to one woman who she promised in return one favour, but she she receives a phone call activating “Dark Sparrow” Deva gets worried that she will be drawn into the world she left behind.
Alexsei has fought hard in life literally as he is involved within the underground MMA fighting scene, until one day with the gym he sees her from the ring. He doesn’t know why he is so attracted to this formidable woman but he needs to get closer to her. The only problem is he is dangerous and she is innocent how can he involve her within his world.
Until one night when both worlds collide and will they ever be able to pursue the love and attraction which is there for both of them.
I loved this story as the first in the series it lays some of the groundwork for the series but it is gripping from the first word written. The story is full of twists and turns with gangs and mobsters, killings, manipulation in buckets.
The secondary character provide a great arc within the story and I loved how they all interacted with each other and love the way the story weaves and finishes off brilliantly. This is not the first book I have read by this author but this maybe the best series I have read in a longtime. I recommend this book if you love Mob bosses, strong men but even stronger female heroines.
This is an intense story. I love how strong of a character Deva is. She hits a great balance of fierce and feminine. I enjoyed the way the layers of backstory were dripped throughout. The timing of it added depth and emotion. There is an emotional moment in chapter thirty-seven. Not going to lie, I teared up. Lost Bastard is a stellar read. You won’t be able to put it down.