“Wreck took me on a wild ride that I didn’t want to come back from. Raw, gritty, intense, & all-consuming. Wreck wrecked me in the best possible way.” – Claire C. Riley USA Today Bestselling Author Screw the rules.Army veteran Richie Tallin returns to South Dakota from a disastrous war with nothing to gain and nothing to lose. With no real home, his family in shambles, his dad’s old … shambles, his dad’s old motorcycle becomes the key to a new life as Wreck, the Road Captain of an outlaw motorcycle club. Now he’s living the life he’s always craved—freedom, good times, loyalty, no regrets, and, hell yes, no rules.
But when he finally gets a chance with Isi, a feisty girl he’s had his eye on for years, everything shifts. As fiercely independent as Wreck, Isi is determined to restart her life and keep her family’s business afloat while she hides a wounded past. She and Wreck light a fire in each other that’s unexpected and wild, and what begins as a casual fling becomes passionate and serious real fast.
Life is good.
But when a war of revenge, payback, and power breaks out, everyone gets caught in the crossfire. Choices are made. Sacrifices that can never be undone. In a crazy 80’s world of drug dealers, rock and rollers, and rival outlaws, Wreck and Isi are determined to hold on come what may.
And come it does.
Few know how the One-Eyed Jacks MC of Meager came to be. And fewer still, how the love of one woman changed the destiny of a small town in the Black Hills of South Dakota forever.
This biker saga / motorcycle club biker romance / romantic suspense / romantic adventure / small town romance / coming of age / women’s fiction / inspirational family saga novel takes place before the Lock & Key Series and is a standalone set in the late 1970s through the 1980s and can be read before OR after the four book series. This book contain adult language, sex, violence, drug use and is intended for mature audiences only
more
I set a level of distinction for Cat Porter’s biker books in my mind so high, and yet every time I read a new one, she blows all that away. She’s like the Shakespeare of mc romance and let me tell you why. She never shies away from writing the ugly and painful truths of life and love. Her imagery makes me sink so deep inside her stories I need a long rope and a grappling hook to find my way out again. She proves that what defines a romance isn’t inherent in the sex scene count but more on the characters, their world, in the relationships that form and dissolve. She rips your heart out in a sublimely beautiful way. That’s why I read romance, to feel…everything, the good, the bad, the brevity of a human life, how to live, love, fight, fu** and die. Maybe that’s just me, but I want it all in a story and this author always delivers the goods, and that’s why I love her stories so much. I recommend all her books but this one ticked all my boxes. It’s beautiful, so if you want to take a trip back in time and ride through the Dakota Badlands with Wreck all you have to do is buy this book and then in the immortal lyrics of Bob Seger…Turn the Page. I’m done fangirl gushing now, lol. Read this book!
This book seriously touched my soul. Cat Porter writes with so much passion and it resonates through my body like no other author. The story of Wreck and Isadora will stay with me forever. The love between them was like no other. They loved so hard during their short time together. I knew how the ending was going to be from the Lock & Key series but I couldn’t have asked for a better story for Wreck. I loved him in the Lock & Key series and loved him even more in this book. I loved we got to see a young Miller. Read about how he became who he was. I can’t preach enough how amazing Cat Porter is as an author. Her books are all so good, so passionate. The way she writes is like no other author I’ve read before and I can’t wait to read what’s next from her. I know it’ll be epic!
I’m wrecked! And so raw from reading this spectacular story. I want to keep this short but I don’t think I can. I could write an essay on my thoughts and feelings about this story. Even after a few days of finishing this book I’m still so overwhelmed with emotions and in awe of this author’s wonderful storytelling. I know I’m always going to get characters so beautiful and alive but Wreck and Isi are special. I haven’t read the other stories in this series yet so I went into this book with no knowledge of Wreck aka Richie and what he means to this MC and his brothers. I’m so glad I didn’t have any preconceived notions about this man. He is magnificent! Beautiful inside and out. Upstanding, loyal, brave and finally driven to viciousness. The opening scenes are a setup for things to come and so poignant. The start of a MC by veterans with only each other to lean on and the formation of a terrific brotherhood along with the moving love story between Wreck and his one and only, Isadora. Their romance is beyond beautiful and the author gives us hints of the tragedy that unfolds as the story progresses. You know what’s coming but when it happens it’s still gut wrenching and the aftermath provides no solace. In this case revenge is not sweet just necessary. There are so many phenomenal elements to this story. There’s the outstanding sweet and passionate love story, the tragic life of Native Americans and reservation life, the formation of a motorcycle club by Vietnam vets and its growth to a force in small town South Dakota, and the brotherhood between the MC guys and also Richie and his half brother. The author does a terrific job of telling the story of a shameful and turbulent time in this nation’s history through the eyes of one young man as he deals with his wartime demons and searches for his new place in a nation that shunned these heroes and a government unprepared and unwilling to help. I’m awestruck by her talent to give us something to sink our teeth into and come out the other side chewed up. Rarely does a story move me to tears but days later I’m still shedding a few. Thank you Cat Porter for this exceptional story and characters that are so real that I felt like I was living this story with them. And thank you for giving us a story that takes time to unfold and doesn’t cut corners with the characters or the realism. I love your writing and this story in particular. The Black Hills backdrop with the motorcycle culture is fabulous. I love that this author is brave enough to tell a love story that’s not the norm. I’m crying as I write this and I HATE to cry. Damn you for doing this to me but I wouldn’t have it any other way. My ears are roaring and my heart is dust. It does end on a high note about love and family and responsibility. I can’t wait to reread this story and enjoy its glory and sadness all over again. Now I’m on to the rest of the series so I can find out what happens to Wreck in his old age. I’m not so sure I’m going to like it but I know I will love it. Wreck is like his dad…a one woman man. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC.
“Even in the darkest of times, in despair and death, there’s always a gleam of brotherhood to light your way. It’s a promise, and it’s also a warning to never fuck with that.”
Damn, Cat Porter…you wrecked me with this one. I loved it so hard it’s gonna be hard to move on, I can’t get it out of my mind. That’s confirmation it’s a good book, right? It doesn’t happen often and I treasure those times when it does.
I really enjoyed the transformation of Richie into Wreck. The pain and the passage of time, the lessons learned, the roads traveled, the love lost and gained. I got attached to the support characters and feel very strongly that the author has lots of good stuff to build on for future books. I really hope she does.
Isi is perfect for him. A light that can’t be dimmed and hope for a better tomorrow. Her passion for life is inspiring and her passion for Wreck is more than he ever hoped for. She’s as wild as the mustangs she adores and he doesn’t want to tame her. She’s exactly the way he wants her to stay…as long as she’s his.
“Isi had made me poke my head of out of my cave and brought me out into her fresh sweet air.”
The future they want is in danger of being snuffed out by the danger that surrounds them. Being Road Captain for the One-Eyed Jacks MC of Meager is what he was meant to do, but can he risk her safety with the war that’s destined to break out? Will he have to choose? Is their love strong enough to withstand the dark cloud blowing in their direction?
This beauty deserves a special spot in my paperback collection. Every time I see the cover I’ll feel an ache in my chest and a smile in my heart.
I’m just wrecked by this love story.
I love Cat’s way with words. Love her character development. Love her story telling. The Dust and the Roar is where it all started. Love this series.
When I finished this book I had no words, I was a wreck over Wreck. What an epic love story. What a storyteller Cat Porter is. All the feels experienced in this book.
It’s one of those reviews were I honestly don’t know where to start, don’t know what to say other than this was a beautiful journey and I felt every high and low with these characters.
A biker named Wreck who is an ex veteran and a woman named Isi (Isadora) who feels the freedom in singing, together they give each other wings, freedom to follow their dreams while also living the dream with each other.
“When it’s my time to start singing, when the notes rise and I’m about to jump in, that moment—suddenly everything—and I mean everything—fits into place, and it’s a place I’m addicted to. Big, pure, full of every color—colors I don’t even know exist and don’t have words to describe. It’s intense and scary, but it’s where everything is true. When I sing, I’m the me I was meant to be, I’m the me I’ve been reaching for so long. You were so right. I wouldn’t be feeling all this, wouldn’t be right here if it wasn’t for you.” – Isi
This is a love story like no other I have read, an ending like no other I have read. Not all love stories have a happy ending, did THE DUST AND THE ROAR have a happy ending?, well, it depends on how you view it, I thought it did but I still had sadness in my heart.
You are taken on a journey from the 70’s when Isi and Wreck first meet, to how Isi begins her singing career and begins to go on tour, how Wreck starts up his Club and along with his brothers they become the One-Eyed Jacks MC of Meager in a small town in the Black Hills of South Dakota. With over 60 chapters this is one chunk of a book but honestly, I could have read on, I was completely lost in this story.
I don’t want to add spoilers but I do want to say read it and enjoy the journey, the laughter, the heartache, the development in the plot, the storytelling and beautiful words of cat porter, you need to read this book and I say that very few times.
– (standalone)
“Even in the darkest of times, in despair and death, there’s always a gleam of brotherhood to light your way. It’s a promise, and it’s also a warning to never fuck with that.”
I have to honest I wasn’t to sure how this book was going to go, I mean if you have read the series you know the ending for Wreck. I was very surprised at how sucked in and amazing this story of Wreck was.
I loved how we got the back story of Wreck, of the club, of Miller and the other characters. Most of all I loved the love story of Isi and Wreck. Two lost and damaged souls that came together to find their true love. Two beautiful disasters who overcame tragedy, heartache, sorrow and they came together to become to very strong people, not just physically, but also emotionally.
I laughed, I cried, I threw my ipad down and had to walk away a few times. This story took me on a wild ride that I never wanted to end. By far my favorite book in the series!!
I absolutely thought this prequel to the Lock and Key series was amazing. Everything I wanted and taken back to South Dakota and the One Eyed Jacks MC world. If you haven’t started the series, I feel like you can start here but I think I’d start with Lock and Key! Another great book from Cat Porter!
This book serves as an origin story–well, at least that’s how it felt to me–and takes place from the mid-seventies and onwards. It’s also part of the author’s Lock & Key book universe, so fans of the original series like me will consider this a wish fulfilled. However, if you’ve never read any of those books, you can still dive into The Dust and the Roar without any fear of feeling like you’re missing something. This novel truly is a standalone, and you can even think of it as an ideal start-off point should you decide to go ahead and read all of the prior books afterwards.
There was a motorcycle club–more than one, actually–and there was romance, but I wouldn’t necessarily classify this as an MC romance. This really was Wreck Tallin’s life story, and though we don’t get full-on details of his first twenty-two years of life, there are enough tidbits mentioned to show that he had a father who loved him and raised him into the man he is when we do meet him in the book. Cat Porter doesn’t make Wreck some mythical man who can do no wrong. He is fallible, and to be honest, I prefer the main characters in the books I read to be that way, making them far more realistic and easy to relate to. There are moments that will break your heart, but at the end of the day, The Dust and the Roar to me is about the resilience of one remarkable man. Five-plus stars.
The Dusk and The Roar was a great story. I loved the premise of this book and I like Wreck right from the start. He’s a gentleman in every sense of the word. That’s why I’m so happy for him when he met Isadora. A fierce, loving and independent woman. They compliment each other and what affections they were! Blazing hot! Everything seems perfect until the thing happened and I just can’t believe it. I cried over that scene… a lot. The emotion had me bursting at the seams. I felt like the characters were so well-written like I really knew them. I enjoyed everything about this book. Cat Porter never disappoints to deliver a great MC story. Highly recommended!
The Dust & The Roar is a total epic story of a span of years. A slow love story and was meant to be savored and enjoyed. Although I have to go back to ready the other books in the series, I didn’t miss anything by starting with this book first. The emotional rollercoaster I went through while reading this story was somewhat surprising. I thought I was picking up an MC story filled with bad boys and hot times. Even though this story contains these elements, it’s more than that. This has so much more depth and meaning. Love and brotherhood fill the pages of this story, but so much tragedy too. I guess that would be the life of an MC club.
Two people hiding from their pasts because of the harshness, but they find each other in a sea of people and take a chance on each other. Wreck (Richie) never tries to hold Isi (Isadora) back from what she was meant to be. Even if it takes her away from him he’s willing to let her be herself and soar. That is love of epic proportions. Wreck and Isi’s love knows no bounds and it’s demonstrated time and again. We get more background on Mick, Willy, Judge, Dig, Boner, Miller, Leo. Understanding on their base camp town of Meager. Just everything about the Lock & Key world.
I’ll tell you, I left this story with a heavy heart. I cried and cried for these characters and their experiences. But I do know that love was everything for Wreck and Isi and so is this story.
This book immersed me in depth, feeling, detail and grip. I get lost in Cat Porter’s writing because it has authenticity. These characters become real people, and she is treating us to their truth.
Having read the prior books in the series (and really, you should) it was incredible to see the world from Wreck’s side of the road. And didn’t Isi feel like a good friend, a part of me in so many ways.
Sweet, heart-soaring love, a love as strong as thundering wild horses, as majestic as the flying eagle. Aching, brutal truths. The strength of the family you make and the life you live. And live and live and live.
THIS BOOK has to be my new favorite from Cat Porter!! I’ve gotten to where I purposely avoid any sneak-peeks or any blurbs about up and coming books from authors that are automatically one-clicks purchases for me. Why? Well, they are my one-clicks so I’m getting it regardless, that’s just how much I trust in their ability to write. And I enjoy their books more going into them with no preconceived ideas of what to expect. And this book surprised the heck out of me when the main character’s name showed up “Wreck”, I was thrown for a loop. Wreck was a very important side character in Mrs. Porter’s Lock and Key series that intrigued me to no end. And NO you don’t have to have read that Series first because this is a stand-alone. This storyline predates the storyline of L&K. It gives you….. the beginning, the start, the prequel!!!! *can you tell how much this excited me?* It’s the start of an MC, a town that was almost forgotten, and Wreck’s relationships. I do guarantee you will so want to read the L&K Series after if you haven’t already, or even if you have, and I highly recommend it!
Wreck and Isi’s story is such a whirlwind of emotions… With its angst, pull at your heartstrings, and the depth of happiness…
Yet this story is more than just their love story.
It’s Wreck’s story…. of his passion for the relationships that meant the world to him.
It’s his story told only as Cat Porter can.
And for me, it was an amazing ride.
I also have to admit what made Wreck’s story, this book, come to life for me was the pull of emotions that this amazing author did to me by reliving an era I’d long forgotten. Capturing the freedoms that the youth craved along with their mistrust of the government. Along with the music and artist of that era. As well as the movies and TV shows….. so many memories and feelings….even now it overwhelms me causing my eyes to water as I write this.
Thank you, Mrs. Porter, for Wreck and Isi’s beautiful story but more importantly bringing Wreck’s story to life!
Where do I begin with this incredible story?
The Dust and the Roar has everything….
It’s a slow burn with depth and detail, it’s action and emotion and is full of heart. It is darkness and light, a story of struggles, soul touching passionate love and heart breaking tragedy. It’s history, of Meager and The One Eyed Jacks and the strength and loyalty of their brotherhood. I loved how we saw glimpses of some of our most beloved characters in their earlier days and how Wreck especially shaped the men they would become.
TDATR can absolutely be read as a standalone. If it’s your first Cat Porter book, prepare to be blown away by her epic storytelling. I can’t imagine you won’t want to go on and read the stories of the likes of Miller, Dig and Boner. If you are already a fan, this book will engage you in the full range of emotions and give you backstories and information you probably didnt realise you needed so badly!!
“When I least expect it, I will be expecting you. That’s the way this life has treated us, hasn’t it?”
Wreck and Isadora have touched my heart and left their mark. Eagle and Mustang, their roar set the pages alight and their will to be free to live their life their way will stay with me for a long time. 5 huge, highly recommended, absolutely loved it stars.
“You and all of me
In that quiet wild place that is ours Where we run free.”
“What we leave behind us counts…”
This book has me laid out flat on the floor with feels. I have cried, sighed, laughed, rubbed the chill bumps on my arms, and just experienced all the feels. I love these men. I love Meager SD. I love Wreck & ISI’s love with a fierce passion. They truly loved each other hard and well. It felt so good to be back in the Lock&Key world. Just seeing how each member of the One Eyed Jacks came to be, and just the brilliancy as to how Cat crafted them. I simply don’t have adequate words right now. I need to let these feelings set and marinate. My heart hurts so good right now, and I just want to FEEL. I know what I’ll be doing in a few days…starting the Lock&Key series again.
“My pulse beat a wild rhythm like it never had before, my blood a wild mountain river.”
The Dust And The Roar is about a man named Rich aka Wreck. He is a beloved character mentioned throughout the Lock & Key series, he’s also Miller’s older brother. You can read more about Miller in Lock & Key. This can be read as a stand-alone however the Lock & Key series will give you a more in-depth knowledge of Wreck’s impact on the people around him.
Wreck’s story is one of discovering where he belongs and finding a place to call home. Sometimes home is with a person, not a place. He finds that with Isadora aka Isi. The chemistry between them ignites like wildfire and their love is so strong and well written that I could feel it. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, this author writes emotion with such depth that it can be felt by the reader. It’s an amazing gift.
Wreck is a wonderful man, loyal, loving, steadfast, and true. He is the foundation of strength his brothers and loved ones stand on and rely on. The epilogue had me sobbing it touched me greatly. The Dust And The Roar is a fantastic book.
I read an arc and willingly posted my review.
I loved finally reading Wrecks story. It was a trip back in time that has us meeting Richie Tallin as he comes home from the war and experiences the first time he met Miller as a baby. I loved reading how he just wanted to have a simple life that allowed him to feel free & happy. But then he meets Isi in a chance encounter one night in a bar, her voice awakens something inside him. When they cross paths again years later Wreck vows to not let her get away again and he doesn’t. I loved how Wreck truly loved Isadora! He loved her & raised her up with everything he had. He encouraged her to chase her dreams & respected her decisions to help her brother even when it went against his gut feelings. They loved each other unconditionally and my heart broke when Wreck ‘s did. His heart & soul belonged to her & he never attempted to give it to anyone else. Isi still played a part in reuniting Wreck & Miller. It was great to read how the brothers came together & the beginnings of the One-Eyed Jacks. And as present as he was for those around him his soul waited to be with Isi again.
I was so excited and patiently waiting for Wrecks book. I cannot say enough of Cat Porter’s writing style.
I don’t know where to start with this review. We met Wreck first in the Lock and Key series and fell in love with him through Grace, Miller and Dig. I was so anxious to meet him though his words. My heart and emotions were so invested in him, I devoured every word, every emotion, turning page after page.
The story begins when Wreck returns home from Vietnam and you feel the turmoil in his heart, he lost his dad, had no relationship with his mom to speak of and he is trying to find where he fits and what he wants out of his life. He almost takes a job at the same gravel factory his father worked at. As he once said to Isi,
“There’s more to life than that, I want that more. I knew it’d kill me, Is. That dust he came home with every day, I didn’t want it on me. Dust from the road, though – hell, yeah. That’s where I live and breathe”
Meeting men who would become his brothers gave him purpose and direction. He knew he wanted to be free and nothing was more free than being on his bike. I loved reading how the One Eyed Jacks came to Meager and became the brotherhood we fell in love with in the Lock and Key Series.
Wreck meets Isi and they had this instant connection. I loved her and how their loved changed their lives. Their love story wasn’t perfect but it was real and took me on a beautiful journey.
This story reminds you that life is not just about the quantity of time you live, it’s about the quality of the life you live and the legacy that you build and leave with the people whose lives you touch.
Wow this book was EVERYTHING!!!!
I didn’t want it to end!!
You’ll laugh, cry, have your heart broken multiple times..
Gah, I’m speechless. It’s been so good being in the author’s MC world that she has created. I knew I had missed it, but I didn’t realise how much.
There are so many layers to this story their depth will leave you gasping for breath.
Wish I could give this masterpiece more stars.