Rating: 4 out of 5.

4.5 stars

I absolutely LOVE the Winston Brothers series, so when I saw this book set in the same world focused on two side characters, I couldn’t wait to read it. This book is about Jason “Repo” Doe, the finance guy for the Iron Wraith motorcycle club that the brother’s abusive father belongs to, and Diane Donner, Jennifer “the banana cake queen’s” mother and owner of the local lodge and bakery. Diane is divorced from her despicable husband and has decided to take back her power. She strolls into the Iron Wraith’s dive bar looking to talk Repo into a one-night stand. Who knew that one night wouldn’t be enough for either of them?

I despised Diane in the previous books, so I really enjoyed learning how she became the horrible mother and cutthroat businesswoman she is. Her backstory was very surprising and it’s no wonder she turned out that way. Now that she’s free of her husband, she can reflect on how controlling he was and how lost she became in his shadow. It was empowering to see her come into her own and take control of her life. Sometimes she took baby steps, and sometimes she leapt, but either way she was at least going in the right direction.

Repo, or Jason as I began to think of him the more I learned about him, was also a big surprise. In the previous books he’s basically a monosyllabic thug trying to force the Winston brothers to do the gang’s bidding. Here we learn he is so much more than that. Most of his backstory remains a mystery, but the peeks we are given were so interesting I hope the author revisits the couple in the future. I really want to know more about him. He is smart, dedicated, honest, protective, and loyal. Once he cares about you, you know you can count on him.

In addition to the unlikely romance between Diane and Jason, there is an underlying mystery that forces the couple to make some difficult decisions that have long-term ramifications for many people. I loved and hated the ending equally. My only hope is the author writes another book, or at least has the couple appear in another book, so I learn what happens next.

I can’t say enough good things about this author or book series. It took me by complete surprise and once I listened to book 1, I was obsessed. I couldn’t stop listening until I finished the entire series. I don’t think I’ve ever blown through a book series that fast. That’s due in part to the fantastic writing (there’s a reason the author’s imprint is titled “Smartypants Romance”), but also to the incredible narrators. Joy Nash and Chris Brinkley do a phenomenal job. They bring so much life to the characters and their timing and inflections are everything. Not to mention Jason’s narrator, Chris Brinkley, has one of the sexiest voices I’ve ever heard. Once he starts talking, I’m mesmerized and lost to the world. I wish he could narrate my life – although I doubt I’d get anything done!

If you haven’t discovered this series yet, I encourage you to drop everything and start it right now. While the books are great to read, I highly, highly recommend you listen to the audiobooks.