What I love most about fiction is anything goes. Anything out of the realm of the norm can happen. The good, the bad and the ugly. That's what I truly love. That's the escape I look for. Author H.J. Marshall gave me that in spades and then some!
WOW! Skid by author H.J. Marshall is everything I hoped it would be and so much more. It's an incredibly powerful and at times painful story to read. It's a 5-Star Romance that delivers an amazing, unforgettable story that will stay with me for years to come. My favorite book by this author to date.
She delivers a "Hero" worthy of that title. A hero that would give his life for the one woman he covets, protects and loves even if it's from a distance, and worthy enough to be his obsession. Add to that a beautiful but broken, lost and troubled Heroine, the one woman who trusted him enough to open her heart, let down her guard to let him do just that.
We previously met Dalton in Gunner, book one in the Death Hounds series. Since then, he's become a patched member of the Death Hounds MC and given the road name Skid.
Skid or I should say the author attacked my heart again and again. Man, she kept poking the bear. The mama bear in me that wanted nothing better than to wrap my mama bear arms around Grace and keep her safe from harm. Safe from the wolves in sheep's clothing. Safe from the predators, the scum that needed to be extinguished from this earth.
Skid was Grace's dark knight. A man who vowed to slay all her dark demons. Sending each and every one of the jackals straight back to hell where they all came from. But of course they will suffer greatly for their sins before departing this life.
Skid had a sweet tooth for yummy confections. That included a certain woman he dedicated his life to that loved to bake. A taste of her would be a sweet reward at the end of the day. But for now, he'd settle for keeping a close watch on her and bide his time until she was ready.
OMG the atrocities that were bestowed upon a little girl named Grace Parker were utterly depraved, unforgivably despicable and so terribly cruel it brought me to tears. It's so unfathomable that it cut me to my core and left me bleeding.
Even years later after she ran for her life, ran towards freedom, toward a safe haven with no familial ties and most importantly, to a place where "THEY" couldn't find her, she is so affected by what happened to her, and rightly so. To this day she is still very vulnerable, frightened, and untrusting. Not to mention her lack of any self worth due to all the betrayal in her young life.
A little girl's dreams turn into an unimaginable nightmare. Her world is turned upside down where she fell and landed hard in her new world of filth. Where the lowest form of depravity resides. She's faced with what can only be described as a sickening betrayal beyond measure. But she didn't know. She had no understanding of what being a good girl to daddy really meant.
An innocent little girl with hopes and wishes of being wanted, accepted and loved in a family ends with the rug being ripped from underneath her little self where her 12 year-old life suddenly spirals into madness. Madness no child should ever be subjected to.
The twisted perversions, and depraved indifference to Grace as a child would prove to be the perpetrator/s undoing if Skid had any say about it. And make no mistake, THEY... WILL... PAY! I got great joy and satisfaction to have witnessed their descent back into the bowels of hell where they belonged.
How did Skid come to know Grace Parker? Well, I just can't give that away. But years after her nightmare ended information became available to Skid that hit close to home and he made it his mission to find this woman, make sure she is okay and living the life she deserved. Feeling safe, accepted and loved. Anything less was completely unacceptable. He would hunt down and destroy the ones responsible for her past and her present life and give her a future worthy of her.
Their connection is so strong that she can't understand why. To quote the book, "He cared deeply, loved fiercely, and was protective to a fault." I couldn't have said it better myself.
With the help of Grace's best friend Eddie who helped her and took her in years before after running, who I just adored so much and of course Skid, she slowly comes out of her shell, out of the darkness only to fall victim again once more. The difference this time is that her man Dalton was there to bear witness and that could have deadly consequences. That event has him reaching out to a friend for help.
Grace leaves with Skid and heads to Portstill where she meets Skid's family and brothers of the Death Hounds and starts to rebuild her life with him.
What will Grace do when the truth is revealed concerning Skid and how found her? Will she run from the man she trusted with her heart, who in her eyes betrayed her or will she stay and fight the demons that haunt her dreams by his side taking her life back? Hmm sorry no spoilers! But I'll give you a little hint...
HOLY COW! It's intense, suspenseful and nearly had my heart failing. Everybody steps up their game! It's one of my book favorites..
Then just when I thought things couldn't get any better, the author delivered the icing on this beautiful romance cake. She topped it off with one of my most favorite things in romance... and his name is Devlin Callahan. Yup! You heard me right. He's back and I'm tongue tied catching my breath all over again.
Devlin is still "taking out the trash" in the Portstill Flats in his own special Devlin way. And let me tell you he is still the swoonylicious, very dangerous, very deadly man who will slit the throat of any depraved demon who hurt the innocent without batting an eyelash. But don't you worry ladies and gents, he's still the drool-worthy man who lovingly softens when he's near his lamb.
We also catch up with his brother James as well. I mean hello!!! Holy heart stopper! Talk about heart palpitating testosterone overload to which I happily cheered on and said keep em coming!
Some of my favorite things about the book.
I could go on and on on this subject. So many things I loved about the book and so much excitement. Here is a small sample.
* I loved the way Skid protected and loved Grace. As he put it, when he's around Grace he is nothing but a marshmallow. He really is soft and gooey on the inside but make no mistake, he's as tough as they come and you wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of his wrath and rage when provoked. He's chivalrous all the way.
* Eddie. I have no words to describe him. He's a gift that was sent by the heavens to be her guardian angel. What he did for Grace?... He's a hero in his own right.
* Devlin. The madman of the Portstill Flats returns and I loved how he didn't change one iota. He still gives me full on body shivers. Actually all the men in this book except for the demons, are a force to be reckoned with.
* Seeing the whole gang again and the way they embraced and welcomed Grace to the family. It moved me, the lengths they go to for family.
* A surprising badass fight or two. I was so freaking proud!
* Grace's enthusiasm when on the back of Skid's bike. You can't help but smile and giggle.
* An escape and a chase. The intense excitement and a harrowing getaway. This will get your heart pumping for sure.
* Favorite line in the book:
“If you ever put your hands on me again, God himself won’t know where to find you during the rapture.”
I think an honorable mention is in order for a girl named Kelly. That's all I can give you on that.
Favorite funny part:
The interactions between Dalton and Rhys just cracked me up!
My #1 favorite part of this book:
When two men fall to their knees. It was so unbelievably moving that I wept. I literally wept.
Skid is a perfect example of what romance and love is all about and is the very reason why I love to read romance, especially dark romance. Skid was her dark knight, riding in on his chrome and steel horse determined to save a woman he doesn't even know and Grace was his angel, HIS saving Grace and nobody else's. ... A match made in MC heaven.
The incredible love story that started out as a patient seedling in the distance grows into a beautiful, bountiful love by the second, by every word and page I turned.
I've always loved the author's writing style. She never disappoints. She's eloquently descriptive down to the minute details and I always felt I was right there in the scenes with the characters. She transported me right smack dab in the pages of this book and straight into Portstill.
By the time I tapped the very last page and my heart beat returned to its normal pace I felt so rewarded. My mind, my heart, and my soul felt complete. So, I took a deep breath. A very satisfying breath. I understood what Grace must have felt by the end of the story. Hopeful, healed and happy. Thankful that she took a chance on love. On the one man who helped her slay her demons and showed her what love is all about. Showered and blanketed her with that love. So swoony.
Contrary to my lengthy review, when I reached the end I was left speechless and in awe. I have no idea how H.J. Marshall put it all together but it is FREAKING BRILLIANT! If you have read the Embattled Dreams series as well as this series, you will understand what I'm referring to. If not, you should get on it pronto. Read these series'.
Go along the harrowing road with twists you won't see coming. There are many of those too. One twist, one secret that took me completely by surprise involving ties to the past. The ties that bind in this twist had me grinning from ear to ear and fist bumping the air. Skid has the worst of the worst villains and the best of the best heroes... So many heroes. Even better, they are growly heroes! To the likes which I've never seen and glad I did here in this book.
The ending was magnificent!
Join Grace and Dalton, as well as Eddie and the rest of the gang on their amazing journey towards discovering love, healing and family. Believe you me, this powerful 5-star romance is worth it! It will leave you crying happy tears. At least it did for me.
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- Anja PatersonReviewed in the United Kingdom on March 9, 2024
Loved the second installment
