MAKE IT HURT (Texas Bounty #2) by Jackie Ashenden-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 6, 2016

Nora Sutcliffe enjoys having tough guys at her mercy—preferably in handcuffs. The best fugitive recovery agent in the business, Nora always gets her man. But when her latest pursuit leads her to a notorious biker hangout, she’s reunited with “Smith”: the one man who was too hot for Nora to handle. Once upon a time, she was a rich girl and he was a bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks. Now she needs his help, and she’ll do whatever it takes to get it.

Eight years ago, Smith let a pretty little Texas debutante break his heart. He picked up the pieces, went to hell and back with the army, then rode out of the darkness with a gang of outlaws at his back. The last thing he needs is a blast from the past like Nora, who has reinvented herself as a gun-toting badass with the stones to challenge him in front of the whole club. But if she thinks Smith will give up one of his brothers for a single night of pleasure, she’s in for a rude awakening.

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REVIEW: MAKE IT HURT is the second installment in Jackie Ashenden’s contemporary adult TEXAS BOUNTY erotic romance series. This is female bounty hunter Nora Sutcliffe, and president of the Graveyard Ministry MC Smith Tucker’s story line. MAKE IT HURT can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Nora and Smith) MAKE IT HURT focuses on the rekindling romance between bounty hunter Nora Sutcliffe, and MC President Smith Tucker. Eight years earlier Nora all but destroyed Smith’s life when a then eighteen year old Nora refused to defend Smith against a series of accusations that led to his enlistment in the army and eventual life with the Ministry MC. Fast forward to present day wherein Nora’s latest assignment is to ‘bring in’ Garrett ‘Dust’ Brook-Smith’s best friend and MC vice-president. What Nora didn’t expect was to find Smith Tucker, and a reawakening of her shattered heart. What ensues is the rebuilding of a romance when Smith makes several demands of the woman that broke his heart.

The relationship between Nora and Smith is one of a rekindling romance; a love that was destroyed by a young woman’s fear of betrayal and loss; and one man’s need to control every aspect of his daughter’s life. Smith has never stopped loving Nora Sutcliffe, and Nora has never forgiven herself for her inability to protect Smith from her father’s wrath. The $ex scenes are intimate, provocative and hot- there is definitely no lack of chemistry between our leading couple.

Quinn Redmond (Take Me Deeper #1) makes a cameo appearance as does Nora’s boss Lily ‘Duchess’ Hammond who were first introduced in Texas Bounty #1. We are introduced to Smith’s VP Garrett ‘aka Dust’ Brook-a man who is willing to sacrifice himself to save the Ministry MC.

MAKE IT HURT is a story of second chances, forgiveness, and letting go of the past. Nora Sutcliffe’s character is abrasive and acerbic, and presents as cold and uncaring throughout a good portion of the book- her bad a$$ bounty hunter persona felt contrived and a little over the top. Smith is a man determined to uncover the truth about the past-one way or another even if he has to blackmail the woman that he has always loved. The premise is entertaining but lacked some of the impact of an MC story, and the believability was limited as it pertained to the Ministry MC; the characters are somewhat idealistic; the romance is erotic and intense.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of TAKE ME DEEPER book 1

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy