Sammy’s review of Judgment Road (Torpedo Ink, Book 1) by Christine Feehan
Paranormal Romance published by Berkley 23 Jan 18
I really love the Sea Haven series. Some of those books are still comfort reads for me. I wasn’t as enthusiastic about the spin-off series. I started Book 1 and never finished. Flash forward to the spin-off to Torpedo Ink. I’d been on a paranormal romance kick and decided to give it a go. I was actually hooked from the first page. Color me surprised, because, one, I am not a fan of motorcycle gang books and, two, I knew going in that Feehan writes some seriously tortured characters. Considering the political fires of late and the amount of press coverage about sexual assault, I wasn’t too sure. I will say if you are triggered in any way, please back out now. This story deals with rape as well as physical and emotional abuse. It wasn’t easy to read, but the story was in the hands of one of the most talented writers within the romance genre. The book doesn’t gloss over or use the circumstances as a crutch. It was well written and extremely respectful. I don’t say that lightly. I figured out really fast that I missed their club president Czar’s book. I will, however, remedy that. With that said, I was not lost and the sprinkle of older characters from Sea Haven was a great walk down memory lane.
“For the first time in his life, his body chose. He chose. His choice was her. Anya Rafferty. She should have left when she could.”
Anya Rafferty is working in Torpedo Ink’s biker bar. She’s very good at tending bar, and everyone loves her. She keeps her head down and the customers happy, except Reaper. There’s just something that keeps rubbing him wrong. Every time he hears her voice or her laughter, he’s irritated. He keeps asking Czar to fire her, but the other members are kinda fascinated by his response to her. The members of the club consist of men and women. As children they were taken by really bad men and women from Russia and trained to kill and seduce on whim. They were very much abused from toddlers on. It’s the background of these people that really tear you up as the reader. While they are all killers, they also possess a strong family tie; they all possess survivor instincts; and they all possess a lot of heart, even though they possess psychic abilities. They are all scary in one way or another, and while they have every right to be closed off and untouchable, they also deserve peace and kindness. Something none of them were ever raised with.
Anya is living in her car while she works for the bar. She overhears Reaper state he wants her gone and she flips out. She stalks into Czar’s office and confronts Reaper. It’s from this point on that you understand Reaper’s problem is he has serious feelings for her and for him that’s a huge problem. He doesn’t have sex with anyone. It triggers him to the point of lashing out and killing his partner. He’s afraid for Anya. In the meantime, there are numbskulls in the bar hitting on her. Reaper is not too happy about that. Anya leaves the bar after her shift and is accosted in the parking lot by those jerks. Reaper, of course ,comes to her defense and so does his brother-in-arms. He puts her on his bike and escorts her to her place. What Reaper doesn’t know is that she is homeless and living inside her car no longer works.
Reaper takes her back to the clubhouse to stay. They are both attracted to each other, but neither are aware of their secrets. Anya is in hiding. Reaper is hiding from his past. This, my dear readers, made this book extremely hard and yet compelling to read. While this is going on, someone is kidnapping the old ladies from some prominent biker clubs. It’s starting to trickle into the Torpedo Ink’s stronghold. Mind you, Torpedo Ink is not only a motorcycle club, but they also help and rescue people in dire circumstances. They are extremely wealthy and their psychic abilities give them all the leverage they need, not being one of the bigger biker clubs. They get pulled into this and things start unfolding. While all this is going on, Anya and Reaper are trying to navigate their new feelings. On a side note, I have been reading Feehan for a long time. This is one of the hottest books written by her to date. Holy shit, I needed a fan and a cold shower. I’m talking about anal sex, other people watching while they are getting it on, walking around naked among the club members. Seriously hot stuff. The introduction of the female members is a welcome surprise among all that testosterone. Alena, in particular, with a retired Navy SEAL in an opposing biker club. I mean, every aspect of this book was not wasted.
Reaper really struggles with his issues. It’s these moments that will break you. It’s raw and gritty, but also powerful and beautiful. Reaper and Anya face an enormous amount of crap and they somehow come out smelling like roses. Mistakes are definitely made. The good guys absolutely prevail. What makes this book stand out the most for me is their will to be better, do better, and not let the past dictate who they are. That these broken people were not damaged goods, but human beings that need and deserve the very best life could offer, in spite of the tragedy of their past. This book will linger for me. It is a book I will read again. The subject matter is hard, but the underlining message it conveys is way more powerful. So readers of The Pond, this book has jagged edges, but it’s those edges that make this story one to reckon with. Beautiful, powerful, sexy, determined, and, most of all, it’s about love and the love of family, yours by blood or by bond. Ms. Feehan has outdone herself. Bravo.
Grade:A
See Sandy’s review here and Veena’s review here.
Summary:
As the enforcer of the Torpedo Ink motorcycle club, Reaper lives for riding and fighting. He’s a stone-cold killer who turns his wrath on those who deserve it. Feelings are a weakness he can’t afford—until a gorgeous bartender gets under his skin…
Near Sea Haven, the small town of Caspar has given Anya Rafferty a new lease on life. And she’s desperate to hold on to her job at the biker bar, even if the scariest member of the club seems to have it out for her. But Reaper’s imposing presence and smoldering looks just ratchet up the heat.
Anya’s touch is everything Reaper doesn’t want—and it brands him to the bone. But when her secrets catch up to her, Reaper will have to choose between Anya and his club–his heart and his soul.
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
