(Until Mayhem) An International Bestseller She was my princess.I was her psycho.Two worlds colliding with a BOOM.There was a sh*tstorm brewing. Whispers. Rumbles. A rot—fueled by greed and protected by corruption—that’d seeped like sewage, eating away at everything it touched. The only people I trusted were my brother by blood, my brothers by patch, and the crazy Irish-Scottish bastard I did jobs … Irish-Scottish bastard I did jobs for.
That was why, when the hot-as-hell blonde started trailing my brothers and me, I had to act.
Maybe Ophelia Kline was working with the enemy—playing me with lies from that damn mouth. Or maybe she was innocent—caught in the spread of toxic rot.
Either way, she was mine. And when push came to glock-in-the-face, I wouldn’t let her go.
Because all good relationships start with a BOOM and a little kidnapping… right?
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This is a Happily Ever Alpha novella featuring crossover from the Hyde Series and Aurora Rose Reynolds’ Until Series. It can be read as a standalone, but it’s recommended you read Until Nox first since a certain accented someone shows up often.
Warning: Not recommended for readers under the age of 18 due to alllll the good things: Adult language. Adult situations. Biker hotties who work in the gray. And an OTT hero who knows what he wants when he gets hit by the BOOM.
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Ophelia and Judge’s (I stinkin’ love their names) story gave me the feel-goods of a good old fashioned pirate bodice ripper – our hero who skirts the edge of good vs evil with his own code of honor saw his damsel (who, btw, wasn’t truly in distress… well, not *all* the time), captured her, and claimed her as his, through whatever means necessary! And Ophelia was no fainting flower! They were the perfect challenge and compliment to the other.
With the exception of us not sharing a violent streak, I really connected to Ophelia – loved her mix of sweet and spicy, strength and femininity. She’s strong enough to stick up for herself, but at the same time, smart enough to know how to choose her battles and accept help when it’s needed.
Judge with his power, confidence, attitude, honor, and control had me deeply appreciating and admiring (read: almost coveting) his bad-man self (because he was definitely not a bad-boy in any way of thinking). I loved how he was observant of Ophelia and had a mind to her, protecting her, but at the same time, giving her everything she needed.
I loved how this was such a slow tension-filled build up for them but at the same time, they knew there was something huge (that BOOM) between them from the start. Combine that with some genuine laughter filled moments, a touch of a suspense plot line, great cameos from the Maysons and Nox, Until Mayhem quickly became one of my favorite LF stories that I look forward to revisiting again. Definitely worth the late nights and the stolen moments to experience!
I. LOVE. THIS. BOOK!
I adore this story from Layla! This book is definitely in my 2019 favorites and will be with me for a while! I loved everything about Judge and Ophelia. From the way they met to the way they found their HEA! They balance each other beautifully.
You MUST read this story!
So usually when I write a review about a book I love, it is always the hero that I gush about. In Until Mayhem, it’s the heroine, Ophelia that I am head over heels for. Ophelia is smart, strong, snarky, dorky, and just freakin perfect (and not in a Mary Sue way either). She is the quintessential Layla Frost heroine and as sexy AF as Judge (the hero) is, I would totally choose being O’s best friend over being Judge’s girl (It doesn’t hurt that Kase from Layla Frost’s “Best Kase Scenario” is still my #1).
The meet cute was more a meet-WTF due to some not so covert eye ogling which results in a serendipitous kidnapp……err temporary restraining situation, and allowed the story to showcase how amazingly caring Judge is as well as how NOT TSTL Ophelia is. She rolled with the punches without being spineless, stupid or unreasonable.
I loved the chemistry and banter between Judge and Ophelia. The story allowed a reunion of familiar faces from the Hyde books while introducing new characters from Mayhem in a natural way that didn’t feel like it detracted from the overall story plot, which is a huge feat in a story this length.
I would, of course, love to see this story expanded so that more of the plot tangents could be explored (like the background for the Tennessee trip) and find out more about the rest of the brothers of Mayhem. I am reeealllllyyyyy hoping that we see further stories in the (very near) future. *ahem* *cough*
Overall, I loved this book, and may have let out a fangirl sqee when I received the ARC for review. So ’yes’, I am a huge fan of Layla Frost, and ‘yes’ I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review, HOWEVER if the story wasn’t her usual level of excellence, I wouldn’t hesitate to state it (in a nice way).
This book rocked, just like Piper’s cupcakes.
Talk about turning a terrible first impression into HEA! Judge and Ophelia meet in…let’s just say less than desirable circumstances. He thinks she’s something she’s not, she knows he’s psycho for how he handles it. But what do you expect from a guy who hangs around his biker brethren and works with Nox (from Until Nox)? Flowers and hearts and rainbows? No. Instead, he all but buys out a place to give Ophelia new toiletries, cosmetics, and underthings, and then finds that he loves her unique brand of crazy and that Nox brought the Boom phenomenon to Boston. Ophelia, on the other hand, falls for Judge and his psycho hotness and comes to understand the Boom herself.
Add in questionable deeds, ball-busting (of the literal variety), cupcakes, booze, and goodness from the rest of Layla’s Boston world, and you’ve got a fantastic story that I didn’t want to put down but also didn’t want to end. I can’t wait to see what comes next for the men of Mayhem!
A sassy, pink-loving, kickass, and kindhearted heroine.
A sexy, protective, take-charge alpha.
A misunderstanding turned kidnapping.
Until Mayhem is an absolute must-read: sweet, sexy, beautiful, and the romance is definitely the BOOM.
So many stars, I am a huge, huge Layla Frost fan. Pretty sure this is not a secret, she knows, everyone knows, so no super secret here. I am talking, if she writes about trash bags….yup, I am totaling reading the book. She has a way of pulling you in and making you feel that you are a part of the story, that you could totally hang out with the characters in her books. They are relatable in the world she has created and you just want to be in it with them. The Hyde series is one of my all-time favorite series…ever. This is a group of characters that I love and adore, so when she does a Crossover book with the Until series, in the Happily Ever Alpha World, I am in book heaven….because for me this is like a dream come true. This book had most of the Hyde crew, with my men Kase and fookin Nox…MY KNOX…yup that claim was made last year, with Nico Mayson thrown in. I’m not sure my reviews could ever do justice to her books…but, *shrugs* I review anyway.
Ophelia AKA Princess happens to be ogling Judge, the Holy. Biker. Hotness., at the wrong place and wrong time. Judge aka Tattooed Hottie aka Psycho Tattooed Asshole (yes, he has many catchy names throughout the book), oh and Judge is his birth name, his brother is Jury…so cool, sees his Princess “following” them and then it all gets very real. From the moment he sees her…boom, his words, not mine. And the chemistry between these two….whew baby, with her sarcastic whit and his dirty talking, they make for a sexy af combination. And he doesn’t try to hide what he wants, right from their first conversation, and I loved it. One thing I wanted to give a huge shout out to Layla Frost for, is the way she shut down the MC stereotype, this made me beyond happy. Thank you Layla for that.
Great storyline with a little suspense. This was a safe read, with no ow drama, a tiny om incident, but they handle him. I love her quirky humor, as always the whole book is highlighted with possible teasers, love it. Loved, loved the Hyde gang, funny AF, “Slap a fookin’ beard on ya, shove a cigar in yer mouth, and yer fookin’ Nox: US Edition.”…I can’t even. Complete with my dreamy Kase and even dreamier Nox…my very own Kase & Nox sandwich . Lots and lots and lots aka a shit ton of sexy hot af times…like you’re gonna need a fan hot times. Epilogue with multiple time lines and an hea. Just one more thing…next book please.
Until Mayhem is a Happily Ever Alpha World novel which was unbelievably hot, passionate, rough around the edges, reading euphoria. I fell for Layla Frost’s writing style, the amazing and eclectic characters, and the arousing stories that are relentlessly entertaining and unforgettable.
I adored Ophelia and was more than excited by the alpha leading man. With never ending spirit and tenacity, Ophelia tackles adversity head on and is quite the handful. A never say die attitude makes her more desirable, and the story that surrounds these characters is one I will think of with contentment, adoration, and a lot of desire. A stunning and wickedly great story that i would suggest everyone reads. It is that good. 5 stars.
4.5 Stars! Until Mayhem takes us back into Layla Frost’s Hyde world, with hint of the Maysons thrown in. You’d be crazy not to want to read that.
Summary:
Ophelia Kline just needed to make a quick trip to the grocery store. Arriving there at the same time as several sexy-as-sin bikers just made the trip more bearable. She’ll get in, hopefully remember everything she needs, and get out with a little bit of eye-candy as a bonus. She had no way of knowing just how much her life would change. Judge Hawkins has to be alert all the time. If he isn’t, it could mean losing his or one of his brother’s lives. It’s just that, something big is about to go down. Lots of whispers and quiet rumblings about the greed, corruption, and plain old evil that’s spreading. Besides his blood brother, his brother’s of the cut, and his sometimes Irish-Scottish partner, it’s hard for Judge to know who to trust. So he notices Ophelia right away. Not only because she’s gorgeous, but because she’s been trailing and eyeing them since they arrived. Judge may be overreacting, but he can’t be too careful. Good looks doesn’t mean she’s not working for the enemy. No matter the situation, Ophelia is his and he can’t let her go. Even if that means temporarily restraining her against her will.
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I don’t know about anyone else, but after reading Until Mayhem I’m totally okay with being kidnapped. As long as it’s a Mayhem (maybe Jury) brother doing it. I really enjoyed Judge and Ophelia’s story. It didn’t feel like a novella at all, and we got to catch up with some of our favorite characters. I adored Ophelia. She was sweet, feisty, independent, and funny. I love that Layla’s heroines are strong and have a backbone. It makes it easy to like them, and makes for an entertaining read when watching them go toe-to-toe with their men. Judge **swoon** was so much of all the good things that his cockiness was both sexy and justified. He certainly rocked the part of the dirty-talking, possessive, protective, alpha biker that shows his woman gentleness and thoughtfulness. But that doesn’t mean he couldn’t be cold and ruthless if the situation called for it. As a couple, Ophelia and Judge were a good match, even if it wasn’t recognizable at first glance. The chemistry flared immediately, establishing a strong and undeniable connection between them despite the situation and heightened emotions. Their witty banter added humor and a sense of comfort to the relationship. I thought Judge and Ophelia had a good balance. He’s bossy and protective but not domineering, and she wasn’t afraid to stand up to him. Their intimate scenes were well-written and seriously hot, too. In the end, I didn’t want to put this book down. It’s a fast-paced read with a little action and hint of danger. It didn’t feel rushed and had a wonderful cast of supporting characters. Not only do we get to catch up with the Hyde boys and see a bit of the Maysons, but we are also officially introduced to some intensely sexy bikers I hope to see more of. I suggest a read of Until Nox if not the entire Hyde series as the conflict with the bad guy starts in the earlier books. It’s a fantastic series, so this won’t be a hardship. What will be is waiting for the next book which looks to be Lars’s.
I’ve actually been on an enforced way-longer-than-expected leave from reading and reviewing but I just had to pop in and gush about Layla Frost’s Until Mayhem. I knew whatever she gave us was going to be fun and I was not disappointed.
I could not have asked for a better pick me up than this book. Judge made a serious error in judgment when he met Ophelia, but good golly did he make up for it. As for Ophelia, she was pretty dang kickass considering the circumstances.
I loved getting a check in from my favorite Hyde and Seek characters. Even better, since it’s a crossover novella with ARR’s Until series, Ms. Frost not only gave us a boom, she gave me a whole heck of a lot of bang too… wink wink.
This was sexy as hell, funny, and gave me some hot biker sweet too.
Bravo, Ms. Frost!
Rating: 5 Bangilicious Stars
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Omg this book is phenomenal! When Judge found his BOOM there’s hell to pay. She salivated when she saw him but he had other ideas. Not the best way to win her heart. However, he has responsibility to his family first.She is a spitfire of the first order and she’s not going down without some blood shed; namely Psycho! highly recommend.
He only kidnapped her once…
I’m going to raise my hand and nominate myself for a kidnapping. I know I shouldn’t joke about something like this but geez my life is busy at the moment; I could do with a break. If I could put in a request though…could you make it a comfy kidnapping. See, I like the sound of someone picking me up, dragging me to a house in the middle of nowhere and leaving me alone. If the kidnapper could make a decent excuse to my boss to get me out of work, that would be helpful too. If my kidnapper could also manage to keep my household alive and moving, that would be spectacular. As I said, I know I shouldn’t joke about it but I wouldn’t mind being kidnapped…and dropped off at an undisclosed location (preferably beside a beach) with a decent stock of coffee, chocolate and my Kindle.
I really enjoyed Until Mayhem and was a little jealous of Ophelia’s kidnapping. Sure, she was petrified but the worse of it was being left with a very full bladder and being a wee bit hungry. The advantages definitely outweighed the disadvantages. Her kidnapper gave her fancy toiletries, new clothes AND books. She was also fed yummy food and had access to a coffee machine. Are you seeing why this doesn’t look like a bad thing to be kidnapped? But, I haven’t even told you the piece de resistance…Ophelia’s kidnapper was HOT!!!
Yes, I can hear you all gasp at my shallowness, but come on, if you’re going to be forced into close proximity with your kidnapper, it helps if he’s eye candy.
Judge never believed in love at first sight and to be honest, he still doesn’t. It took him at least a couple of days to fall for Ophelia. Everything about this woman is attractive, even when she brings out her violent streak. Judge knows he probably shouldn’t have kidnapped her but there’s so much craziness going on in his life that he just went with his gut instinct. Turns out his instincts were right. His kidnapping turns into protecting his little princess and by the end, he’s not sure he’ll let her go.
I absolutely LOVE Layla Frost’s writing. Her humour, characterisation’s and settings always manage to suck me into her stories. Until Mayhem is full of lovable, original and interesting characters and it was great to catch up with some old friends and meet some new ones too. Layla really knows how to write her steamy scenes and the connection jumps off the pages. Her heroines are always a little quirky and the heroes a little rough around the edges. As you get the lay of the land, you struggle to imagine the tutu wearing girl falling for the tatted-up muscle man. In the end, you question how you ever had a doubt.
All jokes aside…KIDNAPPING IS BAD!! But, if I sweet talk hubby, maybe he could kidnap the kids and leave me for a few hours with a decent stock of coffee, chocolate and my Kindle.
If you’re looking for an entertaining read with a touch of mystery, plenty of sexy times, and a love story that’s a wee bit quick, I definitely recommend giving Until Mayhem a try. Saying that, if you haven’t tried a Layla Frost, I suggest you…start at the very beginning, a very good place to start…
Stacey is Sassy, received an advanced copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.
Awesome book!! Loved it so much!!
Judge and Ophelia are amazing and their chemistry is off the charts and so steamy.
Love Ophelia so much. It all started when she saw a hot biker and his friends in a supermarket. She was amazing. Strong , sassy and dorky.
And Judge..love that he knew what he wanted and went for it. He was so possessive and protective and dominating.
I loved reading about Nox, Gus and the characters of Hyde and also Nico and James Mayson. It was awesome to read about some of my favorite characters in one book.
Now I want more and can’t wait for the stories of the other Mayhem brothers.
STARS!!!