Author: Susan Fanetti
Date of publication: 7 Dec 2013
Genre/themes:
Author's links:
Synopsis
Lawrence Ellis, with vast wealth and power, has made it known that he wants control of Signal Bend, Missouri. He is a man who always gets what he wants; there are no limits to the lengths he'll go, and he has the means to pay all manner of people to do his dirty work for him. The Night Horde MC, led by its President, Isaac Lunden, is wildly outmatched but prepared nonetheless to defend their hometown to the last man, and they are willing to do whatever they must to protect their home. Lilli Accardo, Isaac’s old lady, with her own special skills and resources, stands with them, rebelling against Isaac’s need to shield her.
After toying with them for months, Ellis loses patience for the game and rains down destruction on the Horde, their families, and the town itself. Tested to their very limits, beyond anything they could have imagined, forced to travel dark roads, the citizens of Signal Bend fight a war no one—not even they themselves—thinks they can win.
Challenged constantly from without, beset by their own inner demons, Isaac and Lilli must find the true strength within their bond. Isaac needs to protect what is his; Lilli needs to stand on her own; but they are stronger side by side.
Even in the deepest darkness, love brings hope.
NOTE: dark themes; explicit sex and violence.
Review
This is the second book in the Singal Bend series and it continues the story of Issac and Lilli and follows the Horde MC throught he attack on its town and the aftermath.
This book had a different feel compared to the Move the Sun (my reivew). It was much more violent and the focus was not only Lilli and Issac but other members of the MC and the fate of Signal Bend.
The writing still has the same solid, strightforward and raw beautiy we saw in book 1. The journey of the main characters in their relationship was well down and convincing. Lilli appreared weaker than before but I think it's understndable since she was so out of her element - being an old lady, living with Issac, being pregnant and on top of it all being ivolved in some horrific act of violance both as a victim herself and as a witness.
The initial portion of the story was focused on Lilli and Isaac working things through in their relationship. There was depth to their characters and the journey they undego to their happily ever after.
The middle section was non-stop violence and was overwhelming at times, espcially Show's story and later Lilli's encounter with Ellis. I was quite taken aback by it and wish it was toned down a little.
My main issue is not with the violance itself - it can be expected when the Horde MC is involved in drug trafficking and other illegal activities. What bothered me was that the good guys were just as merciless and brutal in their retribution as the bad guys. I liked Issac and Show and Bart and most of the Horde brothers but still they resorted far too easily to physical violence and even torture to achieve their goals. I am not a big supporter of "The end justifies the means" philosophy.
Final qaurter of th story took us back to the personal level of things and focused on Isaac and Lilli's relationship again. There was some painful moments and some heart-warming oneswhich left me with tears in my eyes. I liked that things worked out for everyone in the end but if felt too good to be true. It can't be that easy for former criminals and people who were forced to
do or be involved in acts of cruelty and violance suddenly become
upstanding citizens and just forget everything that happened before. It
took away from the realistic nature of the rest of the story.
The next book in the series, Into the Storm, tells Show's story and after suffering the ultimate loss, he deserves happiness more than anyone else in this series.
