14 June 2015

ARC Review - Vicious Cycle


Vicious Cycle - A Vicious Cycle Novel #1
by Katie Ashley



Released June 2nd 2015
Publisher: Penguin Signet
ISBN: 0451474910/B00OQS4DMI




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New York Times bestselling author Katie Ashley revs up the danger and sexual tension in her brand-new Vicious Cycle romance series.

Deacon Malloy’s life is dedicated to the Hells Raiders motorcycle club. Tough, hard, and fast with his fists, he serves the group as sergeant at arms. But his devil-may-care approach to life is thrown for a loop when the five-year-old daughter he never knew existed lands on the club steps.

Alexandra Evans is devoted to all her students—but there’s always been something about Willow Malloy that tugs at her heart. There’s an aura of sadness about her, a girl in need of all the love Alexandra can give. When Willow stops coming to school, Alexandra’s search leads to a clubhouse full of bikers…and a father hell-bent on keeping his daughter always within sight.

The moment Deacon sees Alexandra, he has to have her in his bed—and he’s never met a woman yet who couldn’t be persuaded. No matter how attracted she is to Deacon, Alexandra refuses to be just another conquest. But it’s Deacon himself who could be seduced—into a brighter future for himself, his daughter, and the woman he’s falling for against all odds.


I received a copy from the publisher (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review!


What I say: I often find with Motorcycle Clubs books that they are either really good (like Joanna Wylde's Reaper's series) or really bad (no naming and shaming here). With Katie Ashley's Vicious Cycle I have to admit I wasn't sure what to expect or where it would fall - But I liked Alex's and Deacon's story and found myself drawn in their complicated world. 


For David 'Deacon' Malloy life is about the Hells Raiders MC, his brothers, women and survival. This all changes when he unexpectedly finds himself responsible for Willow, the traumatised younger daughter he didn't know he had. It's the introduction of Willow's bossy, challenging and extremely attractive teacher Alexandra Evans aka Miss Alex/Alex/Lex which really alters things. 


Alex throws Deacon through a loop and he doesn't know what to make of her. Add in a vengeful enemy, along with club politics, and Deacon has quite a battle to protect his girls. I wasn't always convinced by some of Deacon's actions. I felt his reaction to having a daughter, and then to how he treats Alex were pretty shady (at times). But once I accepted his shock at the situation and factored in how unusual it must be for a woman to stand up to him (like Alex does) I softened towards him and his behaviour.

One of my favourite elements of the story was the relationship between Alex and Willow - I loved how she was prepared to take on all those big scary bikers to protect her student.  Alex's attraction to Deacon was hilarious and I liked how she couldn't decide whether she loved or hated him. I did want to shout at her for being so judgemental at the beginning (although she was justified a lot of the time) and I appreciated how accepting came to be of the MC members.

The secondary characters were an interest mix. Mama Beth, Rev and Bishop were my favourites and I have to say I was on team Rev for a while. For the most part I liked the plot although there were some parts of the story where it lost it a little bit for me because events happened really quickly and I wasn't entirely sure about certain character's actions and motivations. Deacon also changes a lot throughout the course of the series which I both appreciated and found infuriating. The naughty scenes were intense and I liked the good girl and bad boy element.


I can't go into the plot too much without giving anything away, so be prepared for a few shocks and unexpected events. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next with Rev and where Katie Ashley will take her bikers.


3.5 - 4 Stars in my Sky!





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She lives outside of Atlanta, Georgia with her two very spoiled dogs. She has a slight obsession with Pinterest, The Golden Girls, Harry Potter, Shakespeare, Supernatural, Sons of Anarchy, Downton Abbey, Designing Women, and Scooby-Doo. 

With a BA in English, a BS in Secondary English Education, and a Masters in English Education, she spent 11 1/2 years educating the Youth of America aka teaching MS and HS English until she left to write full time in December 2012.


She is represented by Jane Dystel of Dystel and Goderich Literary Management. 




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