Jackal (Destiny’s Enforcers MC: Atlanta 3) by April D Berry-review & interview

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 30, 2025

Opposites attract. But is attraction enough?

Jackal’s been a nomad for years, but proud to call himself part of Destiny’s Enforcers. When his long-time friend and president of the Atlanta chapter was assassinated, he immediately goes to help find who did it and support the club. Falling for someone was the last thing on his mind.

Shivana finds herself in the right place at the wrong time when she goes to visit her old friend. After a harrowing ordeal and having to jump into action to save her friend’s man once they discovered she was a doctor, she decided to stick around a while longer. The idea of a new state and a new start excites her. Not to mention, she has her eye on one of the bikers at the clubhouse.

Jackal can’t help the undeniable attraction to Shivana but being so much older than her and just a roughneck biker, he believes she’s better off leaving town and tries to keep her at arm’s length. But Shivana is ready to start fresh, and she doesn’t see what a little fun with the older, and gorgeous biker, would hurt.

When a new revelation about who may have killed the president come to light, tensions run high and the future of the club, and its members, is at stake. He will do anything to keep her safe, but he can’t seem to resist the young doctor. But can she really be with him, and part of this dangerous life?

•••••

REVIEW: JACKAL is the third instalment in April D Berry’s contemporary, adult DESTINY’S ENFORCERS MC: ATLANTA erotic, MC romance series. This is forty-seven year old nomad turned MC enforcer Jacob aka Jackal, and thirty year old Dr. Shivana Raja’s story line. JACKAL can be read as a stand alone but I recommend reading the series in order for backstory and cohesion as there is an ongoing premise throughout.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there WILL BE triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Shivana and Jackal) JACKAL follows in the wake of a betrayal by one of their own. Jacob aka Jackal is a nomad but the recent death of the club’s enforcer finds Jackal on the precipice of becoming a full-fledged member of the Destiny’s Enforcers MC, and the possibility of claiming the woman with whom he will fall in love. Dr. Shivana Raja hasn’t left the compound since her rescue , a rescue that has made Shivana an honorary member of the ol’ ladies club but her attraction to Jackal comes with a caveat-Jackal believes he will never settle down, and Shivana proposes a friends with benefits relationship until he is gone . As the club continues to search for the man who betrayed family and friends, the planning of a wedding takes center stage as the MC prepare to hunt down the killer of one of their own.

The relationship between Jackal and Shivana is one of immediate attraction but Jackal doesn’t expect to put down roots until an offer from the MC forces Jackal to make a decision about his future. Shivana is determined to prove she is worthy of Jackal’s friendship and love, only to realize Jackal may have fallen first. The $ex scenes are erotic and intense without the use of over the top,sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of familiar and energetic secondary and supporting characters including the previous story lines couples, and members of the Destiny’s Enforcers MC, as well as the return of Mama Hen, and Bratva member Nikolai Petrov Jr. Once again, the requisite evil has many faces.

JACKAL is a story of betrayal and vengeance, power and control, jealousy and madness, acceptance and love. The premise is gritty and dramatic; the romance is limited but seductive; the characters are charismatic and determined.

Reading Order and Previous reviews
Falcon
Eagle

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

TRC: Hi April and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the release JACKAL.

We would like to start with some background information. Would you please tell us something about yourself?

Social Media: Goodreads/ Facebook/ Bluesky Social/ Website /Amazon Author Page/ Instagram/

April: I’m a steamy romance author that got a later start. I’m a bit of a mood reader, so it makes sense that I also am a bit of a mood writer! I was born and raised in GA, am married, and have two teens (send help).

TRC:Who or what influenced your career in writing?

April: So many things and people. I will say, I’ve been a writer since I was able to hold a pencil but I let life and preconceived notions from others that writing is a hobby, not a career, keep me from pursuing it. Then I thought I’d missed the boat. That was until I went down an Outlander rabbit hole and learned that Diana Gabaldon was 36 when she wrote the first of that series. I was 38 at the time and thought, “Oh my gosh, it’s not too late! I can still do it!” My hubby told me to go for it and he we are, over four years and sixteen books later!

TRC:What challenges or difficulties did you encounter writing and publishing this story?

April: This is an MC series, but my writing style is very character driven. I really have to work at adding the expected action and even violence that readers have of this genre. I have a great team behind me that gives me valuable feedback but honors my style and that helps, but I still always wonder, “Was it enough?”

TRC:Would you please tell us something about the premise of JACKAL?

April: Jackal is book three of my DEMC series. The series follows a plot of betrayal and a bit of suspense as the club tries to find who assassinated their president. In the meantime, these women who have never been around bikers in any capacity swoop in and chaos usually ensues. Jackal is one of the longstanding members of the national club who was a nomad but ends up being patched into Atlanta. A younger, and particularly sassy, doctor was introduced in book two and she decides to stick around for some excitement. Definitely opposites attract and there’s a bit of an age gap (30/47). She thinks she wants a fling, he thinks she too good for that life. And while they work that out, they are encountered with even more questions and hurdles in finding out what happened to their president.

TRC:What kind of research/plotting did you do, and how long did you spend researching /plotting before beginning JACKAL?

April: I don’t plot which is probably not the best tactic for a series (lol) but it’s my process. Like I said before, I’m very character driven so I let them lead the way. My brain usually knows what’s supposed to happen, and I do know who the ultimate bad guy is so I just write until I fill in the gaps. I have a little experience with some clubs, but also have an “insider” that helps me with the overall lifestyle to keep it somewhat realistic. Of course, I take a few liberties to fit the story and keep it exciting. And for any of the “medical” moments, my alter ego is in that field and one of my team members is also a nurse and that helps.

TRC:How do you keep the plot unpredictable without sacrificing believability or content?

April: Sowing even a tiny seed of doubt can make the readers second guess what they think. Also, if there is a bit of predictability, I don’t mind really because it’s more about the execution of whatever is happening. I will say, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed all the wrong guesses at the bad guys! Some I didn’t even intend to plant as potential villains but somehow they still came off that way.

TRC: JACKAL is the third instalment in the Destiny’s Enforcers MC series, how many books do you have planned ?

April: For the main series, book four will wrap up this storyline. However, there will be stories with other members in the series, but they’ll be more standalone focused. Then we move onto the Bristol chapter which is mentioned in book one, and will be brought up again in book four. Lots of folks have asked when Lynx gets a story, and I believe his will be the first of the new chapter.

TRC: Believability is an important factor in writing story lines especially stories of mystery and suspense. How do you keep the story line believable? Where do you think some author’s fail?

April: I love some crazy action and out there events, so I can’t say I’ve seen a lot of failures as long as it all ties up in the end. My process is to create enough to pass the possibility not probability check. Like would this really happen? Maybe not. But COULD it happen…absolutely. Also, even if something seems super far out there as long as you circle back and explain the why in a way that makes sense for the plot/character, I’ll allow it (lol).

TRC: Do you believe the cover image plays a deciding factor for many readers in the process of selecting a book or new series to read?

April: Absolutely. I have a variety of covers and different books and the bare man chest outsell the rest by FAR! I am about to put bare man chests on my romcoms! But I think the MC covers depict what you’re getting and match the genre, so readers know what’s about to go down.

TRC: When writing a storyline, do the characters direct the writing or do you direct the characters?

April: The characters lead the way. I just write down the stuff they do while yelling at them, crying, and shaking my head a lot!

TRC: The mark of a good writer is to pull the reader into the storyline so that they experience the emotions along with the characters. What do you believe a writer must do to make this happen? Where do you believe writer’s fail in this endeavor?

April: There’s so many ways. It’s one of the reasons I write in first person. I feel like I pull readers into the emotions much easier that way when I exhibit what’s going through the characters mind and how their body reacts. However, I’ve read some great third person stories that get me in a chokehold! It’s been said a million times but showing vs telling is a biggie that can knock a reader off the page, so I try to be careful about that.

TRC: Do you listen to music while writing? If so, does the style of music influence the storyline direction? Characters?

April: Yes, and it absolutely influences me and the characters. When I look over my most played songs during drafting, I’m always like, “Oh yeah. This all makes sense now.” I like a lot of rock, and classic rock is my fav followed by alternative.

TRC: What do you believe is the biggest misconception people have about authors?

April: That we have lots of money or look by business-professionals while we write. I’m a hobbit and dress as such.

TRC: What is something that few, if anyone, know about you?

April: I’m kind of an open book. I think most folks would be surprised to know that I am actually super shy and I guess an extroverted introvert. Social media and being in person are very different!

TRC: On what are you currently working?

April: I am drafting book one of my Royal Bastards submission that’s due out in August!

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

April: Just how much I truly adore my readers. I can’t be an author without them, and their support means the world to me.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food–Mexican

Favorite Dessert–Brusters Ice Cream

Favorite TV Show-Outlander

Favorite Sport-Braves Baseball!

Last Movie You Saw-Thunderbolts (so good)

Dark or Milk Chocolate-chocolate lol

Secret Celebrity Crush-Stevie Nicks

Last Vacation Destination-PCB (annual family thing)

Do you have any pets? Bruno (doggie), Ginger and Luna (kitties)

Last book you read-Hell Bent by Roux Cantrell (excellent read)

TRC: Thank you April for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on the release of JACKAL We wish you all the best.-

April: THANK YOU SO MUCH!