Stevie‘s review of Reaper’s Fall (Reapers MC, Book 5) by Joanna Wylde
Contemporary Romance published by Berkley 10 Nov 15
I particularly enjoyed the previous book in this series, although I was less taken with the first book in the spin-off series, the main difference being the age of the protagonists. So, I was slightly cautious when I picked this latest book up to discover that the hero and heroine are once again at the lower end of the age range for most romances: he’s the best friend of the hero in the spin-off book, and she’s one of the young women taken in by the heroine of this series’ previous instalment. Nevertheless, I made sure that I gave the pair of them a fair chance.
Picking up on events taking place alongside the stories in the other two books, which are set more or less five years apart, this one charts the relationship of Melanie, a college student abandoned by her mother and with a deadbeat father, and Painter, one of the younger members of the Reapers Motorcycle Club, who grew up in foster-care and has been in trouble with the law since he was first old enough to be arrested. The Reapers have given Painter a degree of stability in his life, but Melanie wants nothing to do with them. When Painter is imprisoned, however, he allows Melanie to use his car – enabling her to keep her job and college place – and so she begins writing to him.
Once Painter’s out on parole, he tries to encourage Melanie to find a life for herself without him – and with someone safer – but there’s a strong attraction between the two of them and their paths keep crossing, especially since Melanie is best friends with the club president’s woman and her niece – and through them becomes friends with the president’s daughters.
Melanie and Painter end up in a rocky on-off relationship, which he eventually wants to take further – including claiming Mel as his ‘old lady’ – but she’s dubious, especially when he misses a number of important events in both their lives, either through club business or due to spells in prison. I do feel that a lot of the issues in the relationship could have been overcome had someone sat the pair of them down and persuaded them both to take a ‘belt and braces’ approach to birth control/safe sex, but I admire Mel’s determination to cope with the consequences of her actions and forge a career for herself.
I am also intrigued to see new enemies for the club and hope that somehow the repercussions of this book’s big showdown get played out in future books. However, I’m less happy with the resolution of Mel and Painter’s issues and would like to see more stories in which children and conventional family life are seemingly held up as the only reward for a couple sticking together through bad as well as good times.
All in all, not my favourite out of this series, but intriguing enough in terms of story arcs for me to continue following the Reapers and their allies.
Grade: C
Summary:
He never meant to hurt her.
Levi “Painter” Brooks was nothing before he joined the Reapers motorcycle club. The day he patched in, they became his brothers and his life. All they asked in return was a strong arm and unconditional loyalty—a loyalty that’s tested when he’s caught and sentenced to prison for a crime committed on their behalf.
Melanie Tucker may have had a rough start, but along the way she’s learned to fight for her future. She’s escaped from hell and started a new life, yet every night she dreams of a biker whose touch she can’t forget. It all started out so innocently—just a series of letters to a lonely man in prison. Friendly. Harmless. Safe.
Now Painter Brooks is coming home… and Melanie’s about to learn that there’s no room for innocence in the Reapers MC.
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
