I’ve never known the calm after the storm.Thunder has always raged inside me.My worst nightmare struck at seventeen. My girlfriend? Dead.My daughter? Missing without a trace.Ruthless Kings MC was my salvation.The brotherhood that shaped me from a boy to a man. But they don’t know the demon within. My hands are blood-stained,Retribution is my only craving. My life isn’t worth living without them. … blood-stained,
Retribution is my only craving.
My life isn’t worth living without them.
Until her.
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I love MC romance series. I especially love them when they are inclusive like the Ruthless Kings. This is the part where I say (again) these books are not standalones. I’m sure most of you realize that, but I think it needs to be said every time for the people in the back 🙂
Now that that is done, can we talk about the title? LOL Some of you might see it and be thinking what in the world the author was thinking but if you know your MC lingo, then you know that’s a road name and then knowing that, who isn’t going to #oneclick this book to find out how this poor soul got his road name? lolol
Okay, now that the *fun* is out of the way … You guys, this series keeps getting better and better as we get deeper into it. I mean it started with a bang for me and just kept that momentum ever since. Poodle and Melissa are going to tear you up! I honestly don’t think there’s an emotion I did not feel while I read this journey. SO MUCH! Both Melissa and Poodle have history that is heavy and dark but it did not consume the story. There is still the signature lightheartedness of the MC’s shenanigans that we have grown to love and appreciate throughout the series but the story, at its core, is a story of growth and healing. I can’t really say this story was unpredictable, but I also wouldn’t say it was predictable in any way. GAH, I just love this series!
I simply delight in discovering when this author has another one out and ready to devour. Her MC world becomes alive fast and hot with the characters taking over in no time as the pages are turning. In this one she brings healing and life back to a dead heart with it having its bumps of course with this being the kind me the sap loves to get into. He was torn apart first then that kind that leaves a heart frozen and dead like. This leaves a mask in its place as the body continues living like in Poodle. It takes a strong one to take on him with this one having to have a woman that can in Melissa. Her journey has had trips to Hell with her still living with light. They both though have a monster to connect them with you holding your breath to see if the monster can be vanquished. You burn the pages to find the answers which only the one reading get to find. This author has given a bit of blood and soul in this one consuming the reader.
I totally had Poodle pegged all wrong! He was the jokester, always made people laugh with his fun-loving personality with the previous stories but when we get to his book he is dark!! 13 years prior his life imploded so I know why he does things he does. Melissa is one of the ladies rescued from the New Jersey chapter and she has issues but that makes her perfect for Poodle he just doesn’t see it yet. She really balances out his darker tendencies. Both of their paths come back to haunt them, will they be strong enough to slay their demons? I can’t wait for the continuation of this highly addictive and gripping series!!
I loved this book. You have Poodle who is the fun loving person on one side and brutal killer on the other. Then you have Melissa who was brutally robbed of her innocence and life. When Melissa is rescued from the life she didn’t want she fell for Poodle. Poodle is the man. I love his road name too. Their is so much to love about this story. You start reading and then your in the zone until the very end. And you like no I want more it’s that good.
Things are not what they seem in this book.
Poodle is known as the funny, make everyone laugh kind of guy but that is only what he wants you to think. In fact Poodle has endure enough heartache and tragedy for 10 people in his life. Melissa has suffered at the hands of men all of her life. When she was freed by the Ruthless Kings her life began to change. Poodle and Melissa are drawn to each other but Poodle feel that he does not deserve to more on and find happiness. Can Melissa help him heal? Can they both find happiness?
Once you start reading you will not be able to stop! This is an AMAZING book with a HEA!
*Spoiler Alert*
Ive yet to read a book in the Ruthless Kings series that i havent liked and this one is no different. Melissa (FMC) popped up in Boomer’s book as one of the girls that was held captive by another MC. Now shes living with the Ruthless Kings trying to get her life back. Poodle aka James has had a lot of heartbreak in his life & its made him a bit cold and a loner. Although he doesnt want to him & Melissa have an attraction that neither are prepared for. Theres a fragility that they both carry throughout this book. With a darkness too Poodle finds it hard to let anyone near him especially women. These two characters just broke my heart.They just had so much happen to them that they found it hard to cope with it. I so wanted them to get a HEA together in the end. Another great read in this series. Im really loving reading it
I loved Poodle and Melissa’s story. These two have such tragic pasts and even though Poodle fights it, their pasts draw them to eachother. Their relationship had many emotional obstacles to overcome but they had amazing chemistry. The story was well-written with a well-developed storyline that grabs your attention from the beginning. There was plenty of action, drama, secrets, danger, emotional turmoil, suspense, great secondary characters, humor, steam and love. I really enjoyed this addition to the “Ruthless Kings” series and can’t wait for the next book.
I received an advanced readers copy of this book through Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a honest review.
The author has, once again, given us a wonderful look into the lives of the Ruthless Kings MC members. We are given the backstories of Poodle and Melissa so that we can understand how they became the people they are now.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The Ruthless Kings find themselves in a situation again, thanks to one of their own.
James “Poodle” has a dark deep secret that he hasn’t shared with his club and he feels that he can’t share it. The only problem with keeping secrets, they come back to haunt you and could get you killed by those that should be able to trust you. Poodle’s past can’t be let go of, and it’s about to be laid to rest, finally.
Melissa has not had a good life, her “father” never showed her any kindness, only destroyed her and her life. Being rescued from the New Jersey club saved her life and gave her new lease on life. Her attraction to Poodle surprises her and she’ll find her way out of the hell she has lived in most of her life.
Poodle and Melissa have no idea that their lives are intertwined and that when they lay one’s past to rest, they’ll be laying both of their pasts to rest. I love the Ruthless Kings and Poodle’s story was just as good as the other three. Poodle is not at all the person he lets others see. His devotion to his poodle, Lady, is entertaining. I love reading these books, they make me laugh, cry, and sit on the edge of my seat waiting for the suspense to ease. Poodle’s story is dark, but it’s a great read. The way that Reaper deals with insubordination or trust with his members is dark and lethal, but his men seem to take it and deal with it. I give this story a 5-star review and look forward to more. I really NEED Tongue’s story, but I look forward to Skirt’s story next.
Poodle is the funny guy the one you can always count on for a joke or a smile but underneath all that is a world of pain that no one knew about. Melissa is one of the girls they rescued from a sex trafficking ring and has since been staying at the MC. Somehow Melissa finds strength to live with the horrible things that have been done to her in her life. No one really knows what she has gone through either. She is in love with Poodle but he is holding back afraid that the demons of his past won’t let him show his real feelings to Melissa. Their story is a wild ride with lots of drama. Will their love survive or will the secrets of the past tear them apart? The author did a fantastic job with Poodle and Melissa’s story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This series just keeps getting better and better and I am loving the titles and covers! If you haven’t read the previous stories, there’s no need as they do stand alone but some things make more sense if you read them in order. However, previous characters pop up and enough is told that you don’t miss anything important. There is danger, steam, and just a great story.
5 Stars
Brilliant book in the Ruthless Kings MC series. This story can be read as a standalone but you’ll want to get to know these remarkable characters!
Poodle tells the story of James and Melissa. James hides unspeakable pain behind humor and antics but inside he’s broken. Like recognizes like and therefore he’s sees the pain Melissa lives with. Both had their innocence and dreams ripped away while just kids themselves. James has dedicated his life to righting the wrongs and avenging the innocent he lost while building a family in his MC brothers. Melissa was rescued from unthinkable conditions and utter brutality. As she begins rebuilding her life, she falls for the closed off and enigmatic James. They are itensely attracted to each other but James seems dead set to remain in his shell and behind the massive walls he’s built. But you can’t fight fate…
Awesome installment in this series! James and Melissa are incredible characters who have overcome so much and deserve a happily ever after! It deals with a very difficult subject matter (murder and sexual assault, etc) but the author also brought the snark to keep it moving. It is badass and sexy as can be, this book was dynamite!
AnnMarie – Alphas Do It Better Book Blog
After reading Tool and the series thus far, I expected Poodle’s book to be lighter- for us to get some good MC humor with our intriguingly frivolous MC character- the orderly one who has a show poodle that he dotes on quite humorously.I mean, an MC main named POODLE, come on, that has to be the sillier and more light hearted story of the batch. By wow, were my expectations ever subverted- Poodle is the most emotionally complex moving of the series, the most unexpected, and the best writing from KL Savage yet.
The first chapter immediately told me this story was going to be very different than what I expected- it was emotional, sweet, heartbreaking, and visceral- a tone that carried through this entire story. We have two characters who’ve experienced horrific trauma, two characters who’ve been the victims of unspeakable violence that has robbed them of their lives, parts of themselves, aspects of their humanity. Like the reader, Poodle’s club knows little of his dark past- and he likes it that way. He camouflaged his pain behind his light hearted, peaceful club persona to escape his past but also hide parts of his present, his secret activities.. But Melissa sees him, because she too has survived unthinkable trauma- she recognizes a kindred suffering. And Poodle has made her feel safe, she’s drawn to him when she never thought she’d consider that again. Both characters already have feelings for each other as this book opens, which means our plot really focuses on how those feelings evolve, and most interestingly how those feelings intersect with their pain and trauma. That element gives this story so much heart, so much emotional impact.
This is really the best character development in the series thus far. That first chapter with Poodle was so emotional, we immediately see a nuanced character with so much heart, so many tightly packed layers of depth. KL brilliantly rattles him by introducing Melissa (they met in a prior book)- and this story picks up where his world is already off kilter. Both characters have such a richly constructed past, and both are well defined in the current- there is a really sweet and unspoken intimacy between them, this shared understanding they have because of their shared pain. And each character is trying to cope while battling the tensions and complexities of the “after.”
MC shenanigans aside (and we’ve got that, too- the club politics and antics alongside some MC danger) this is really a story about healing. And I loved how KL made Poodle just as vulnerable as Melissa- the interesting way she had a big, burly, scary biker needing emotional support and strength from the tiny little survivor. He’s been her rock, her salvation as she’s tried to recover and live, and now she’s his. And to Poodle, that is really bittersweet- as he explores if embracing and loving her means letting go of another.
Per usual, we have that MC drama and a big climatic moment not just for these characters but the club in general- this felt a bit hasty, but I wouldn’t have wanted it to drag out because we had so much good emotional fodder to explore. The twist I saw coming, and it felt a bit convenient, but I also don’t know how my heart would have taken a different outcome. But these characters and their emotional connection, the sweet relationship of this story is the true surprise, the true twist- a real series high.
You might not think there would be a lot of intensity from a hero with the road name Poodle, but he brings it! If you’re looking for a light, fluffy romance, then K.L. Savage is not your author. She writes stories in which the characters find their beauty through the ashes of their pasts. Poodle and Melissa help heal each other through unconditional love, loyalty, and acceptance of all the broken places within themselves. Add in some danger, a whole lot of sexy, pure alpha badassery, and you have yourself a dang MC fairytale! I loved every second of their journey!
An emotional journey well worth reading…
by and1515
Simply OMG… This is one of those stories that immediately hooks you with its outstanding drama and it keeps reeling you in chapter after chapter and I seriously can’t wait for another amazing book to devour.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
So so good! Poodle and Melissa have both have troubled and tragic pasts. My heart just broke for the two of them. Poodle hides his pain behind his humor, then he sees Melissa and he can’t get his mind off of her. Poodle and Melissa have an amazing connection and chemistry. This story is brilliant and captivating from beginning to end. A definite must read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Book 4 of the Ruthless Kings is a story of betrayal, vengeance, love, hate, and brotherhood. Finally we see all of the beautiful and dark layers that simply make Poodle, Poodle. Seen as the jokester amongst his MC brothers everyone is shocked to discover he has been hiding some dark secrets. With fractured hearts and blackened souls Poodle and Melissa’s story is dark, raw, twisted emotional, utterly heartbreaking and beautifully heartwarming. The secondary characters are deliciously dark, strong, twisted, merciless and oh so quirky you can’t help but love them all. A truly captivating story that I devoured. My heart ached, I shed some tears, I held my breath as I sat on the edge of my seat devouring every word desperately wanting to know what would happen next and how it would end. I simply need more of these guys and can’t wait to see what’s next.
I always knew Poodle had a story and one that was worth telling. I could not put this book down. Poodle had become a dad at a young age. His girlfriend was killed and his daughter stolen. For years he looked for her. He met Melissa and something changed. They had lots to over come. This book has it all action love and surprised. I absolutely recommend this book and I can’t wait to see what happens next
The story line was good, the character work was great and the book had a fairly smooth flow to it. This was another great addition to the series and I was hooked from beginning to end. I look forward to seeing what happens next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is the 4th book in this phenomenal series and is Poodle / James and Melissa’s story. Poodle is the prankster and funny man in the group, but this front hides the darkness in his soul and the brutal killer who is avenging his family. Melissa was rescued from a sex trafficking ring where she endured a horrific experience, and chose to stay with the MC. Melissa sees through Poodle’s façade but will he let her get close to him to heal? This is a well written heart-wrenching, raw and gritty story, which is an emotional roller coaster, and is filled with heartbreak, twists, secrets, betrayal, and is a humorous, entertaining, powerful, and poignant love story. I was completed hooked throughout this addictive page turner, and I cannot wait to read more form this author whose work I recommend for all MC lovers.