ARC Review: Illicit by M.N. Forgy

Illicit is the 4th installment in the Sin City Outlaws MC series. I read the book before this but I have not read any of the other books in the series. So, let's start there. I do NOT recommend you read these books out of order or as standalones. I also suggest that you take my opinion of these books with a grain of salt for the reason that I did read them out of order and don't have the best context for understanding all the background information. When I write reviews like this I try to separate the things that are objective from the things that are just the result of my history with the series or other personal bias. I'll try to do that here. But don't read this review if you want to get into this series and you haven't read the books before this one, there will be spoilers of past books.

We met Raven in book 3 and Machete, a member of Sin City Outlaws in prior books. Raven is the "bad guy" from book 3 but it's kind of hard to say that because the lines between good and bad don't really exist between Raven and Machete. Raven is seriously out of her skull. She's a trained killer who was taken as a child and placed in a survival compound where it was hurt somebody else or starve. Raven learned from an early age to give pain, to take it and to push her emotions way down deep. In other words, she's crazy as all hell. If you read the last book (which I assume you did if you're reading this review) then you know that Raven held a grudge against Alessandra who was also at the kiddy killer compound. That didn't end well and as a result, Raven is now the prisoner of the Sin City MC club. 

Machete is...a total psycho. He's sexy but in past books we learned that people are generally scared of him and those people are smart because he's scary. Machete is drawn to Raven because he sees the darkness inside of her and it's a total turn on for him. When I say a total turn on, I really mean that. The crazier Raven is and the more she is unaffected by the "torture" Machete is supposed to be doling out, the more he wants her.

Ok, so here are the issues. There was a lot of redundancy in the book, especially at the beginning. I felt like I was reading the same scene over and over again. Machete couldn't figure out how to get through to Raven by torture and then he would want her and there would be endless internal monologue about how drawn he was to her darkness. Another thing is that it seems like this book is going to be really hot and there are all these lusty morsels dangled but it takes a long time to get down to the actual business. I was also just mystified by the length of time it took for Raven to choose sides. I felt from the beginning of the book that she had absolutely no reason to be loyal to Cross. At one point pretty early in the story, Raven realized that she wasn't really on team Cross but she still refused to give in to Machete and tell him what he needed to know. My last thing is that there isn't the traditional amount of MC club stuff you might expect if you are a fan of MC romance.

In the end, I felt like the book was pretty good but I just needed to be much more invested in the series to really enjoy it.

**ARC provided by TRSoR Promotions**

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ARC Review: Retaliate by M.N. Forgy

Retaliate is the third entry in the Sin City MC series but it's my first read. If you want to start here in the series, you can. This book had a lot going for it if you are a reader like me. A like things a little rough, a little dark and a lot dirty. This book delivered all of that. 

I normally do not like books about cops. I prefer my hero and heroines on the other side of the law.  In this case Alessandra is a police officer and it worked out ok. I think the reason it works in this book is because there is something about Alessandra that is much more criminal than it is law and order.Alessandra's BFF is in a relationship with the president of the Sin City MC. Through her friend, Alessandra meets the vice president of the club Felix.

Felix is just the flavor of bad ass that I love. Felix is basically running the MC while the prez takes care of family business.  Felix has a dirty mouth and a terrible attitude.  He is also the type of guy who doesn't take BS and doesn't have time for it. He immediately has his version of a soft spot for Alessandra but for someone like him, it really ain't that soft.

What I love about this book was just all of the action, the plot twists and the chemistry between the characters. I'm always up for a 'hate you so much I have to bang your brains out journey.' I loved the hate/lust thing that Felix and Alessandra had going on in this book. What I didn't love and found kind of weird was the whole mystery with Alessandra's background. I don't know if that is talked about in other books and I was just lost because I skipped the first two books in the series. I feel like, though, that the issue just comes up in this book and I was lost because it wasn't dealt with very well. It wasn't a huge issue but there were a few times in this book where I felt like the author was kind of rushing the plot and making leaps that were too big to make logical sense. 

Beyond that issue this is a good book that I think MC fans who like action romance will enjoy.

**ARC provided by TRSoR**

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ARC Review: What Might Kill Us by M.N. Forgy

I really went back and forth with what numerical rating to give this book.  The first half of this book is maybe 3 stars but the last half really picks up and is more like 4 stars.  The sticks my rating at about 3.5 stars.  In the end, because the writing is good and I really like the characters, I went with 4 stars.

What Might Kill Us is the fifth installment in the Devil's Dust MC series.  If you know me, you know I love an MC series.  I have not read any of the other books in the series and you don't have to either. You can start the series right here.  This is the story of Bull, the MC president Anahi, a Mexican cartel princess. The first half of the book is almost a different story from the second half of the book.  In the first part of the book, we learn of the lives of Bull and Anahi separately.  Bull is struggling with alcohol addiction and finding a purpose in life. He's trapped in his own misery and weakness.  Anahi is also struggling.  She is basically the prisoner of the Mexican drug cartel.  Anahi is forced into becoming a drug mule and both smuggling and dealing drugs in the states.  She literally runs into Bull one day while trying to escape the cartel.  From that moment forward, Bull is committed to doing whatever it takes to make Anahi his.

There were parts of the first half of the book that I found confusing and not quite consistent with what seems to be the M.O. of both MC clubs and cartels.  For example, Anahi is bound to Alavaro who is like her cartel drug boss.  Alavaro is obsessed with Anahi but does not appear to be having a sexual relationship with her in the states.  As far as the MC, there is a whole issue with a prospect who cannot seem to follow orders. Kane brings a civilian on the rescue mission, a woman no less.  That is just not the sort of thing that is ever tolerated in MC clubs.  Also, the actual rescue of Anahi (the first time) made almost no sense to me.  I didn't get how the MC invaded the cartels territory with no apparent repercussions. The other problem with the first half of the book is that Bull and Anahi spend too much time apart.  I just wanted them to be together more. My favorite parts of this book are when we get to see Bull and Anahi together.

In the second half of the book, Bull and Anahi finally get to be together.  I love them as a couple.  Bull is gruff and damaged.  Anahi is perfect for Bull but she also has some inner darkness that she is struggling to keep in check.  Anahi is able to help Bull heal and bring sweetness and purpose to his life.  Bull is able to show Anahi that she has a place in the world even with some of her darker impulses. I loved that Anahi was tough and a survivor.  She wasn't just getting pushed around by life, she was fighting back and I love to see that in heroines. I was very happy for Bull and Anahi in the end.  Because I walked away with such positive feelings about Bull and Anahi that I went with a four star rating.  I do recommend this book, especially for all you action romance MC club fans.

**ARC provided by TRSoR Promotions**

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ARC Review: Mercy by M.N. Forgy

Mercy is the second book in the Sin City Outlaws series by M.N. Forgy. This book is not a standalone and should only be read after Reign as it continues Jillian and Zeek's story. After the cliffhanger in Reign, I couldn't wait to get my hands on Mercy! I really enjoyed getting more of Jillian and Zeek, and I think readers are really going to enjoy the conclusion to Zeek and Jillian's story. 

Mercy picks up right where Reign left off. Zeek and Jillian are on the run following the murder of her father. Zeek knows that if they are found, they will both be killed. Jillian is used to relying on the law and thinks that they need to turn themselves in. But neither of them know exactly who they can trust. Used to living on opposite sides of the law, both Zeek and Jillian can't fight the connection they share and both will have to step outside their comfort zones if they want to be together and stay alive. 

I love Zeek and Jillian together. These two are so different, and yet the connection between them is so strong! Zeek is so tough, so it was great to see him here with Jillian. She brought out this whole other side to him that was so unlike what he has ever been like before. Jillian is just as strong and tough as Zeek, but in a completely different way. She thought that cops were good and serving justice, and when faced with the reality that they aren't always like that she struggled. She didn't want to believe Zeek, and yet she had to face that he was right and things weren't always as she had thought they were. As much as both of them had tried to fight what was developing between them, their connection and feelings were undeniable. 

Overall, this was a great ending to their story. I really enjoyed seeing how things would play out for them, and this one kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. I will say that Jillian annoyed me a bit at the beginning of this book though. While I understood how big of an adjustment her situation was to everything she knew, she came off as pretty naive. She just couldn't seem to grasp the fact that cops she knew could be dirty and I just had such a hard time believing that anyone could continue to fight that when there was so much evidence to the contrary. It was still a really great story though, and one I would definitely recommend. Reign and Mercy were a lot of fun to read, and I look forward to more from M.N. Forgy.

**ARC Provided by TRSOR Promotions**

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ARC Review: Reign by M.N. Forgy

Reign is my first book from M.N. Forgy. I have wanted to read her books for awhile since I love MC books, but I just never seemed to take the plunge. I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait to read more. Though I did have some moments where I had a few issues in this story, I couldn't put it down and I ending up really liking the story. I will warn potential readers that Reign is the first book in the Sin City Outlaw series, and it does end with a cliffhanger. I know I will be stalking Forgy for details on the next book because I can't wait to find out what happens next!

Growing up with the president of the Sin City Outlaws for a father taught Zeek to embrace the MC lifestyle from a very young age. As the current president of the club, Zeek is used to women and power as well as violence. He reigns over Vegas with his uncle, until a deputy sheriff changes everything. The attraction between Zeek and Jillian is instant, but they both know the danger of starting something together. But when they find themselves unable to fight it any longer, they both know the danger that awaits them after crossing that line.

I really liked Zeek and Jillian. I had moments where each of them frustrated me, yet I couldn't get enough of them. I really liked them together, and it was definitely a case of opposites attract. Jillian didn't go out and she was known for following all the rules, yet her attraction to Zeek was clear from the start. Though she tried to fight it and deny it, you could tell that she just couldn't help herself or stay away. Zeek had grown up only knowing one life, and he had some issues because of that. He didn't believe in love and never let women get under his skin. But Jillian was different from the moment he laid eyes on her and it was really interesting to see how he dealt with that. These two were super hot together and I loved the chemistry between them.

Overall, great start to their story. I couldn't put this book down and I need to know what happens next. I was sucked right into this one, and I can't believe I have never read a book from M.N. Forgy before. I will definitely be looking for more from her in the future, and I hope we don't have to wait too long for the next book in this series. I need to know what happens next for Zeek and Jillian! I think fans of MC stories and those that like a little grit with their romance will enjoy this one and should definitely give it a shot.

**ARC Provided by TRSOR Promotions**

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ARC Review: Relinquish by M.N. Forgy

Relinquish is my first book by M.N. Forgy, but I was drawn in right away with it's cover and blurb. This one sounded really interesting and I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. I have to say that I was a bit torn with this one, and I was left not really sure how I felt. While I did like some things and I kept reading to see what would happen, this one also was not what I had been expecting and I had some issues with it. 

When Charlie turns eighteen she can't wait to get away from her foster home. She hasn't had an easy life, and anything will be better than staying where she is. Her and Jayden, another of the foster kids, head to Las Vegas to make a life for themselves. Needing to make money, they find themselves turning to the streets to do whatever it takes in order to have a roof over their heads and food in their fridge. When Charlie meets a handsome stranger named Landon, they are instantly drawn together. Though Landon tries to save her, things don't work out as planned when Charlie's past begins to catch up with her.

I don't want to say too much about this story or the characters so as not to give everything away. There was a bit of a twist to the story, a predictable one if I am being honest, so I don't want to give any of that away. What I will say is that I had a lot of issues with Charlie's character. I honestly could not get over some of her stupidity. Charlie was 18, but she had lived a tough life and I would have thought that that would have given her a little more maturity that it seemed to have. Some of her decisions were beyond ridiculous, and I just had a tough time ever really connecting with her because of it. She shouldn't have taken Jayden with her, I couldn't get over how she was with Chasen right away and how quickly things became physical for her and Landon right after what had happened to her. It just seemed to sort of go downhill from there. I will admit that because that all happened at the start of this story, I almost gave up on this one. But I was curious and wanted to see what would happen. Landon had his moments for me, and for most of the story I didn't know whether to like him or hate him. 

While it was clear that Landon and Charlie felt drawn to one another, I never really understood their relationship. Landon was hot and cold, and it was a constant switch in personality with him. I never knew which one was the real him, and I could understand that Charlie would be confused by that. I didn't get why she kept allowing him to treat her like that and how she could give in to him so easily. Because of the issues with the characters and the way this book started, I found it tough to really get into this story. I wanted to see what would happen, but I just wish that some things had been done differently. Overall, this one was a bit of a disappointment for me and yet I did finish because I was interested enough to want to keep reading. I think that this one had a lot of potential and there were some really good parts, but it just fell a little flat for me personally.

**ARC Provided by TRSOR Promotions**

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