“Thank you for your service” is what we’re taught to say to military men and women in gratitude for our freedoms won at their expense. Less often do we thank their families, those left behind to hold down the fort, to manage the day-to-day struggle of keeping everything up in the air until their loved one returns.When you can’t count on anyone else to save you, there’s only one real choice.Amanda … choice.
Amanda lost her husband to war. Alex lost part of himself. Through a series of glancing encounters, Amanda and Alex find reasons to continue on. And together, they’ll discover hope and peace can be found in the most unexpected of places.
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What an amazing start to an MC series. This wasn’t like most of the MC’s books I read, but man did it ever pack a wallop and hit every emotional string in my body. The Boarder Freaks MC is made of of ex servicemen. Men who have all seen the best and the worst of times while serving. These men are all broken in their own ways but have found solace in their brotherhood. They don’t sell drugs or guns or deal in the things a lot of MC’s do but have banded together not only to help each other heal but they have found a purpose in helping the families of fallen service men and women who gave their all as well as others in need of a helping hand.
Amanda is a widow who lost her husband while serving. She is struggling with day to day life and can’t let go of what was to move on. She meets Alex, “Monk”, when the club stops for gas. Monk sees her tattoo, senses her pain and knows immediately that she has recently lost someone. He offers her kindness and comfort like no other, as he too understands. Their friendship grows through chance encounters and their brief times together helps them both to start healing in ways they never dreamed possible.
To say this MC book captured my heart and soul is a total understatement. There aren’t words to describe how heartfelt and tender this book was yet at the same had the mc vibe to it. Simply put this is as amazing book which is the start of what this reader feels is going to be one phenomenal series that I can see myself reading time and time again. Kudos to the author for taking a true to life issues and making it into one amazing storyline.
2 Thumbs up and 5 stars for a book worth way more but 5 stars but it is all they will let me give. I can’t wait to start book 2 titled More than Enough.
The first book in the new Borderline Freaks MC series from MariaLisa deMora had me in tears. Amanda is so heartbroken in the beginning of this book. She is still suffering from the loss of her soldier husband. I cried so hard for her. The emotions she was dealing with nearly broke my heart. Her gas station meeting with Alex made me hold my breath. His compassion and caring for a total stranger was amazing. I loved how he took so much care of her and she didn’t even realize it. This wasn’t a hot insta-love book. I think it was told perfectly. I floved how they both became FB stalkers on each others profiles. Thank you MariaLisa deMora for again shedding light on the hard things.
I really did love this book. Things involving soldiers and loss and returning home always hit me in my feels and this book definitely has it. The journey the both of them make in their recovery from loss really is an emotional journey. Had a couple teary moments and giggled a few times but I love how they in the end came to grips with their losses and then came together.
What a wonderful start to a new series. From the first word to the last, I greatly enjoyed this book. This is a beautifully written second chance romance. This author has many skills but the one that makes me giddy every time she releases a book is her phenomenal character development. Her characters aren’t simply a mixture of words on a page. She has the ability to reach out and yank me into the world that she painstakingly created full of characters that I laugh, love and mourn with. The characters she created here are relatable, whether a reader has experienced this level of loss before or not. This book has so much to offer it, I cannot imagine anyone not finding something to enjoy.
FanFreakingTastic start to a new series! I always thank service men and women for their service when I see them, past and present veterans.
I will start by saying just a couple of pages in, I was already ugly crying. Extremely touching and beautiful moment at least to me. Amanda is such a beautiful soul, struggling day to day. And then, Monk happens! This is an absolutely have to must read book!
I’m already in love and cannot wait for the next one!!!
This short read will hit your heart and soul with so much emotion at times you will not be able to stop the tears that will roll down your face. A beautiful story that represents appreciation for both the service by the servicemen and the sacrifice by their loved ones. Two people who have suffered at the hands of this who meet by chance and together form a bond and connection that helps both of them heal. Even though this is a quick read it is ultimately a slow burn romance, one that will heal the soul and free the heart. Monk and Amanda are characters that will have you thinking about them long after the last page has been read. A touching story that is affecting, poignant, passionate and inspirational.
Slow Burn. I loved the story of Alex and Amanda. Amanda is struggling to move passed her hubby’s death and seems frozen in time. Her vigilance in visiting his grave regularly is her only solace. Alex has a comfortable place with his club and a chance encounter with Amanda sets them both on a path that intersects their lives and changes them both forever.
As with all MLDM books, I just love her story weaving. She really knows how to pull you into the characters and immerses you into their lives. This story is a slow burn, and is akin to watching a flower bloom. I loved the blossoming friendship between Alex & Amanda that develops into more. It was endearing and sweet to experience. Such a great story!!
I enjoyed reading this book.
The story was quick and very well written
and held my attention until the end.
The characters had good chemistry.
I would recommend this book to others
who read this genre.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book
from an advanced reader copy.
I love when authors write about members of the military because they are touching stories. This one is a heartfelt sweet romantic read. Life is filled with happiness for a time and painful memories. One that Amanda and Alex know too well. They are both existing and getting by the best they know how– dealing with their pain. A chance meeting between the two starts a friendship of a sort that over time develops into a slow burn kind of love that neither were looking for but needed. Love, loss, pain, grieving, hope, healing all come to mind while reading this story. I recommend this book and can’t wait to read more in the series! (First read this story when it was part of the Twisted Tales of Mayhem 2019 MMM Special Addition Anthology)
This one will mark the beginning of a series with also having you ponder something even I did not think of much. The characters will bring it front and center touching on areas that for the most part those that are the support of the ones who do it also have their light to shine. This author had me connecting with Amanda and Alex pulling at different parts of the heart. They bare themselves to us but in the same time opening up to something more. One spark when meeting builds and unfolds until they consume us too. By the time you are finished you will have to take a minute to regroup yourself.
Service and Sacrifice is book 1 in the Borderline Freaks series and is a slow burn romance. Amanda is a heartbroken woman that misses her husband that was killed in action and she just goes through the motions to get by. A chance meeting leaves Amanda and Monk thinking that maybe more is possible this book is set over a period of time and shows how a beautiful love can survive. Looking forward to book 2.
Title: Service and Sacrifice
Author: MariaLisa deMora
Genre: Contemporary MC Romance
**RECEIVED ARC FOR HONEST REVIEW**
I really loved this novella. Love, loss, and happiness. Yeah it was military but for anyone who has lost a spouse or significant other this just helps to bring the point home love can and does come back around. The loss doesn’t have to be death. Monk was divorced. This was a very sweet and special book. Loved it. Think this will be a great series
Service and Sacrifice
Those two words mean so much. I never thought to stop and think about how “Thank you for your service” would be taken or that “Thank you for your sacrifice” should be given.
Alex is a member of the Borderline Freaks MC. This book focuses on the characters and not so much on the MC life. The struggles of Alex and Amanda due to their service and sacrifice are the focus of this story.
This book had me in tears for a lot of it. My parents and my in-laws are military. To watch as these two characters, Amanda and Alex, get to know each other was almost unbelievable. At first, I thought who would wait that long. Then, I thought, I would’ve waited for my husband; my mom waited for my dad; my mother-in-law waited for my father-in-law. Alex waiting for Amanda to be ready became believable.
I am speechless as to what to say about Monk and Amanda’s story, each having gone through their own hell at the hands of war .
Amanda lost her husband , he was her life and then the chance encounter of meeting Monk at the gas station meant their lives would never be the same.
I love how this author is not afraid to write about hard topics like suicide, military deaths and how hard it is to even try to get past.
loving this new series
Amanda and Monk grabbed my heart and squeezed
emotional beautiful heartstopping love story
ready for more
Amanda has heard the words, gotten the flag, and now lives without her serviceman husband. All their hopes and dreams destroyed by a sniper’s bullet.
Alex has delivered the words, handed off the flag, and lives with his service-related PTSD. His disability effects his hopes and dreams for the future. It manifest an unexpected way for a love story.
Their love story takes place over a time span of years. No love for first site for these two. It is a nice change. When they meet for the first time, it is the day before the 5th anniversary of her husband’s death. Alex goes beyond for a stranger and holds her. He then meets her at the cemetery and holds her while she cries. Over the years they met or nearly met there.
Social Media plays a large part in the advancement of the relationship. The motorcycle club is oddly enough in the background of the story.
I wished the story was stronger in the MC and more depth was given to the story. I loved it, but after reading RWMC, I wanted way more detail, not just surface details.
What a heartfelt story about loss for Amanda and Alex of his service and her sacrifice. Amanda lost her husband to war. Alex or Monk lost part of himself to war. What an emotional ride that left me sated, hopeful and happy that together they found a peace.
ML DeMora your writing always make me feel like I’m right there in the story. I can’t wait for the next book. One hell if a start for a new series!
This was a beautiful story about Amanda and Alex who have both lived lives shaped by war. Amanda lost her high school boyfriend and husband to it. Alex fought and had his life forever change both by what he saw and what he missed at home while away serving his country. It wasn’t an easy road, but Alex never gave up hope that Amanda would find her way through her grief.
This is the first book in this series and has me anxiously awaiting the next so I can find out what more is to come.
I didn’t actually like Monk at first. It took quite a while for me to warm to him. I could FEEL Amanda’s pain and discomfort and confusion through the words on pages during her interaction with the gruff biker and former Marine Alex “Monk” Waterman. Even after he manages to unmangle their first encounter I still was a bit salty. This is unusual for me. Generally speaking, I love the male characters right away and have a harder time connecting with the females, but Amanda just pulled at my cold heart and it broke for her pain.
But, don’t panic because I firmly believe that everyone is allowed to have a do-over and Monk does well enough to bring me around. Not only does Monk give Amanda something that she needed so desperately and didn’t really know it, but he gives himself something too. Time and human contact in the most innocent of ways seem to be the exact thing these two lost souls need. Throw in Monk’s bro0thers and we’ve got the makings for a fabulous read about love and life and heartache/break and learning to make a new, while not forgetting. Learning to give honor and still find that thing you need to fly.
MariaLisa is a heartbreaker but she knits and stitches her reader’s hearts back together so beautifully every time.
For a quick read, Monk and Amanda’s story was quite moving. It was emotional, inspirational and so sweet. The longing between the characters felt like a physical thing.
Service and Sacrifice was a story of exactly that. Amanda has mourned the loss of her husband for years and there is no end to how deep her sadness goes. It isn’t until a brief encounter with a biker and the moment of compassion he shows her that she begins to heal. This stranger provided so much comfort in the seconds it took to connect with her. As former military, he understands her sacrifice. His service was cut too short but he’s well aware of what her husband’s service meant to him and he’s seen the devastation reflected on the faces of those he had to inform when their loves ones weren’t coming home.
The depth of emotion in this story was beyond measure. I felt pangs of sadness almost immediately. Amanda’s sadness was palpable on so many levels. The way this story was written, in the short time it took to read it – I literally felt the time span of which the story was told. In just a couple of hours i was along the years journey that it took for Amanda and Monk to finally come together.
Deeply emotional and aww inspiring, this book was an phenomenal read.