Hemlock (Cerberus MC: Tennessee Chapter 1) by Marie James-review
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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 18, 2024
I might be the first man to join the Cerberus MC and not love it.
Instead of leaving, I bide my time, knowing that I burn every bridge I cross.
When an opportunity plucks me from the desert of New Mexico and transplants me in East Tennessee I feel a little better about the path my life has taken.
The new job isn’t as solitary as I expected it to be.
Instead of doing reconnaissance alone I’m stuck sitting at a bar, trying to determine if they’re using the business as a human trafficking hub.
Everything would be fine if it weren’t for the bubbly bartender who can’t take a hint.
Doesn’t this woman know what I’m capable of?
She wouldn’t be smiling at me if she had a glimpse into my history.
Maybe giving her the attention she thinks she wants from me is exactly what she needs to start keeping her distance.
••••
REVIEW: HEMLOCK is the first instalment in Marie James’ contemporary, adult CERBERUS MC: TENNESSEE erotic, MC romance series-a spin off from the author’s CERBERUS MC series. This is former US Marine Pax ‘Hemlock ‘ Hart and bartender Zara Hailey’s story line.
Told from dual first person perspectives (Zara and Pax) HEMLOCK follows Pax ‘Hemlock ‘ Hart as he starts a new life with Tennessee chapter of the Cerberus MC. Struggling to find a place, a direction in life, former US Marine Pax ‘Hemlock’ Hart is desperate for a change of scenery, and finds himself transferred to Tennessee with the new chapter of the Cerberus MC but Hemlock’s first assignment is to infiltrate a bar suspected as a front for human trafficking, a bar where he will meet Zara Hailey, the woman with whom Hemlock will fall in love. Under cover as Owen Clark, Hemlock will take advantage of a naive Zara Hailey as he tries to uncover the truth about the secrets at the local bar. What ensues is the building but tempestuous relationship between Zara and Hemlock, and the potential fall-out as Hemlock believes he is not worthy of his own happily ever after.
The world building follows the building but reluctant relationship between our story line couple as Hemlock goes in undercover to ferret out a potential human trafficking ring. The members of the Cerberus MC are all former military men, and in this, their duty to serve and protect is often counterproductive when the heart wants something more.
The relationship between Hemlock and Zara is forbidden by Hemlock’s current handler; a relationship predicated on a lie; an affair of which Hemlock wants nothing more than information and a good time. Zara claims she doesn’t want love but the more time spent together finds our heroine falling for a man who is hard to love. The $ex scenes are intimate and provocative but I dislike the use of a certain four-letter word.
We are introduced to several members of the newly established Cerberus MC: Tennessee, as well as Roman ‘Jersey’ Parker; ICE Special Agent Eddie ‘Ace’ Yarrow and some familiar faces from the original Cerberus MC including Kincaid.
HEMLOCK is a story of struggle and obsession, secrets and lies, friendships and family, acceptance and love. The fast paced premise is intriguing, dramatic and captivating but the ‘take down’ of the bad guy was mostly behind the scenes; the romance was aggressive and intense; the characters were dynamic yet broken.
Copy supplied for review
Reviewed by Sandy
Let’s see…where to begin…
I’m a full-time author, mother of two boys, and wife of 18+ years. Dog Mom to four great danes: Maximus, Nala, Freya, and Hagrid.
I’ve spent almost my entire lifetime living in central Texas, with only short stays in South Carolina, Alabama, and Florida. Currently residing in a sleepy little town in East Tennessee.
Writing is my passion, and I absolutely love being able to sit down and put all of my thoughts and emotions into my stories.
I love dogs, coffee, making handmade cards, and steamy romance novels!
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