Straight is the last word to describe me. But the club can’t know.And I’m not about to jump out of that closet. Cleaning up the motorcycle club’s act is dirty business, and Slim is the one person I trust. I can’t keep away, not when he’s the only man I’ve ever loved. The club can’t know that things are changing between us, but Slim doesn’t want to keep secrets for long.As betrayal hits the Iron … long.
As betrayal hits the Iron Hunters from every corner, I know I’m going to have to find a way to balance leadership and love … or I’m going to lose them both. But when my past comes back to bite me, it may already be too late.
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I’m reviewing the audio version. I love mc stories and this looked interesting. What I didn’t realize was that it is a cliffhanger. I don’t always read reviews or I would have know this. I love stories when the guy has to decide if he will admit he is gay or give up on a relationship. I love the romance that the characters go through. This story has a lot of denial but little romance. Maybe that’s to come later. I didn’t feel that the flow of this story was consistent. I thought it hopped from issue to issue without actually dealing with anything specific. I usually love J.P. Oliver stories but this one just didn’t seem to come together. Again maybe in the next book. I think Eric Umstott did a great job on the narration but the story just was missing somethings. I was given a free copy and this is a voluntary review
The Iron Hunters box set isn’t listed on BB. This review encompasses all 3 books. There aren’t any spoilers.
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I feel like calling this Books 1-3 is a little misleading. Really, this is a single book that follows the same characters and same storyline/plot that was broken into 3 parts with parts 1 & 2 ending on cliffhangers. Ride With Me, Together We Ride, & Forever We Ride were later packaged into this box set: Iron Hunters. As the complete set it’s a good deal.
This will be best enjoyed by folks who are looking for motorcycle club themed romance that’s a little lighter than typical. Which is exactly what I was looking for when I requested it. The whole central thriller/suspense aspect of the story revolves around Ward & Slim trying to make the Iron Hunters MC’s focus be legit business and income. There is an overall respect of women and without any dubcon or noncon situations (which isn’t always the case in darker MC books). That said, this isn’t without language, violence, illegal activities, or murder. Additionally, one of the legit businesses is porn though they make a point to describe how it will be as safe an operation as possible.
There is a lot of world building and the introduction of a lot of people packed into the first part that bogged the pace down a bit. As the story goes on there are also occasionally some inane conversations that don’t really move the plot forward. Outside of that, I enjoyed a unique take on Ward & Slim coming out (personally and as a couple) in what is generally considered a straight, traditionally homophobic environment. The fact that it wasn’t all sunshine and roses lent a credibility to it as well.
In addition to their personal struggles – they face several sets of enemies, blackmail, and betrayal from within the club. This makes for a nice mystery/suspense storyline in addition to the romance.
Narration:
This was my first time listening to Eric Umstott and it won’t be my last. He did a good job with giving a huge cast of male characters unique voices. I especially liked the way that he spoke in a different voice depending on whether it was Ward or Slims POV. This really helped differentiate the two characters.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from Gay Romance Reviews and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
The main characters (Ward and Slim) have been friends since boyhood and both are wrestling with the realization that they are gay and seriously attracted to each other. As motorcycle club members, being gay is NOT an option. Ward’s father dies leaving him head of the club and the book starts with the funeral with Ward’s reflection of the horrid treatment he got from his father all of his life. It is his desire to make the club legitimate and to pass off the illegal element of the club’s enterprise to the Mountain Crow Motor Cycle club. A pact is made but the leader of that club is responsible for beating up a couple of the club members, the clubhouse is set on fire, then Slim (and also Prospect Richard–a knowledgeable and talented prospect that is researching the purchase of properties for the club’s legitimate enterprises) are kidnapped and used as leverage. Audiobook narrated by Eric Umstott.
Disappointing it felt unfinished.
I mean, I guess you can call it a cliffhanger, but none of the ends were tied up. everything is flapping in the wind. there is no resolution. it just stopped.
Ride With Me – Iron Hunters Series Book #1
Let there be secrets! First installment and the story of Ward and Slim.
Ward becomes number one in the club after his father passes away. A complicated man of many secrets, being gay is one and a long burning passion for Slim, the club’s number three.
Slim has a secret of his own, being in love with Ward, but there’s a hitch. He has a wife and two kids. Naturally his preferences are used as a weapon to keep control.
The MC has not exactly been gay friendly but he’s never really tested the waters in his own circumstances. How can Ward legitimize the club’s business, love in the open, and worry about his father’s loyalists.
UGH! Its a good thing this was a bundle. I don’t handle cliffhangers well.
**I received a free copy of this book as part of a bundle via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.**
What a great start to the series. The authors did a good job of setting up the storyline and introducing the characters in it. The romantic aspect of it was more of a slow burn until the last third of the book. While these are not technically ‘good guys,’ they are likable. Ward, the chapter’s president, wants them to go legit, and he works hard to get everyone on board. Someone, though, is out to stop his club and his plans. This book ends in a cliffhanger, and cannot be read alone. It’s good enough, though, that you will want to know what happens next. I listened to the audiobook, and found the narrator does a good job portraying each character. This book is told in dual narration, so we get more of a broader viewpoint of the story.
A GOOD STORY WITH AN IRRITATING CLIFFHANGER
I received this book for free and am giving my honest and voluntary review
Ward has become the leader of Iron Hunters motorcycle club upon the death of his father. He is gay but keeps it in the closet because of the way the MC society looks upon gay people. He is changing the rules to make the club legitimate. He is in love with his best friend, Slim, and has no idea that Slim is in love with him. They find out and Ward wants it to stay in the closet. The story ends with a cliffhanger that leaves the reader on edge wanting to know what happens next.
The narration is good, but the audio is put together with a chapter from another book making it hard to follow the story because of the missing pieces.
Hanging On By a Thread!
This is an amazing beginning to what should prove to be a wonderful series. You have romance, rough and tumble bikers, threats, and so much tension you’ll find yourself speeding towards a terrific cliff hanger. I can’t tell you more of the plot because I don’t want to spoil it for you. Just be prepared to connect to the characters, fall in love with forbidden romance and hope for the best.
These two authors have written a story that will grab ahold of you and encourage you to hope the next book comes out soon!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Wade has cared for Slim since they were kids, first as his best friend but as they got older it became more. He can’t do anything about it because he’s just become president of the Iron Hunters MC. He wants to make changes in the MC. He wants to make it legal so he needs to keep his feelings to himself. Everything looks like he’ll get what he wants but then thing start falling apart. I really enjoyed this book.
Ward’s father was a founding member of the Iron Hunters MC. His sudden death leaves Ward to lead the group. Change is both needed and desired by him – and being a gay man does not help. Gay males ride with gay MCs – until now.
Funerals, kidnapping and threats to there families leave them all in an awful situation with more action to come in the next book in this series.
Loves, lives and loyalties are tested.
Intense outlaw MC action adventure
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.