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Rolling Thunder #1
Dog Days of Summer
He had love and passion to give, but her experience with love equaled heartache.
Love can be hard in the best of times, but Jocelyn James has had more of the worst of it. Despite raising her son on her own and building a successful business she still can’t bring herself to believe in love. Even after meeting the sexy bike builder who turns her head.
After losing his best friend in Iraq, Jeremiah Sheppard spent his life making sure his friend’s family was taken care of, usually at his own detriment. Despite that, he’s managed quite well.
A chance meeting with a beautiful graphic designer has him taking stock in his past decisions and has her threatening to run for the hills as the family he’s protected his entire life works to keep them apart. Just when it looks like they might make it, a terrible accident threatens to destroy it all.
Moving to Love is the first book in the exciting Rolling Thunder series. If you like sizzling sex scenes, adventure and triumph, you’ll love PJ Fiala’s page turning series.
Love can be hard in the best of times, but Jocelyn James has had more of the worst of it. Despite raising her son on her own and building a successful business she still can’t bring herself to believe in love. Even after meeting the sexy bike builder who turns her head.
After losing his best friend in Iraq, Jeremiah Sheppard spent his life making sure his friend’s family was taken care of, usually at his own detriment. Despite that, he’s managed quite well.
A chance meeting with a beautiful graphic designer has him taking stock in his past decisions and has her threatening to run for the hills as the family he’s protected his entire life works to keep them apart. Just when it looks like they might make it, a terrible accident threatens to destroy it all.
Moving to Love is the first book in the exciting Rolling Thunder series. If you like sizzling sex scenes, adventure and triumph, you’ll love PJ Fiala’s page turning series.
300 pages, Paperback
First published July 29, 2014
860 people are currently reading
2378 people want to read
About the author
P.J. Fiala
69 books825 followersI was born in a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri named Bridgeton. During my time in Missouri, I explored the Ozarks, swam in the Mississippi River, played kickball and endless games of hide and seek with the neighborhood kids. Spending summers in Kentucky with my Grandmother, Ruth, are the fondest childhood memories for me.
At the age of thirteen, my family moved to Wisconsin to learn to farm. Yes, learn to farm! That was interesting. Taking city kids and throwing them on a farm with twenty-eight cows purchased from the Humane Society because they had been abused, was interesting. I learned to milk cows, the ins and outs of a breeding schedule, feeding schedule and the never ending haying in the summer and trying to stay warm in the winter. Our first winter in Wisconsin, we had thirty-six inches of snow in one storm and were snowed in our house for three days! Needless to say, I wasn’t loving Wisconsin.
I am now married with four children and three grandchildren. I have learned to love Wisconsin, though I still hate snow. Wisconsin and the United States are beautiful and my husband and I travel around by motorcycle seeing new sites and meeting new people. It never ceases to amaze me how many people are interested in where we are going and what we have seen along the way. At every gas station, restaurant and hotel, we have people come up to us and ask us about what we are doing and offering advice on which roads in the area are better than others and great rides others have been on if we are interested.
I come from a family of veterans. My grandfather, father, brother and two of my sons and one daughter-in-law are all veterans. Needless to say, I am proud. Proud to be an American and proud of the service my amazing family has given.
At the age of thirteen, my family moved to Wisconsin to learn to farm. Yes, learn to farm! That was interesting. Taking city kids and throwing them on a farm with twenty-eight cows purchased from the Humane Society because they had been abused, was interesting. I learned to milk cows, the ins and outs of a breeding schedule, feeding schedule and the never ending haying in the summer and trying to stay warm in the winter. Our first winter in Wisconsin, we had thirty-six inches of snow in one storm and were snowed in our house for three days! Needless to say, I wasn’t loving Wisconsin.
I am now married with four children and three grandchildren. I have learned to love Wisconsin, though I still hate snow. Wisconsin and the United States are beautiful and my husband and I travel around by motorcycle seeing new sites and meeting new people. It never ceases to amaze me how many people are interested in where we are going and what we have seen along the way. At every gas station, restaurant and hotel, we have people come up to us and ask us about what we are doing and offering advice on which roads in the area are better than others and great rides others have been on if we are interested.
I come from a family of veterans. My grandfather, father, brother and two of my sons and one daughter-in-law are all veterans. Needless to say, I am proud. Proud to be an American and proud of the service my amazing family has given.
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October 13, 2014DNF @4%. Review posted October 13, 2014. I fast-forwarded to 14%--their first sex scene. Make that a big fat NO.
100 x beautiful
What in the ever lovin' fuck?
Once upon a time there was a woman
who met the most beautiful man on earth.
Well-built, broad shoulders support
the most beautiful head and face
Joci had ever seen on a man.
His mile was breathtaking. Beautiful, straight
teeth surrounded by full, shapely lips.
His green eyes shone with light flecks
of emerald green she hadn't noticed before.
Jeremiah was magnificent
Of course she made his cock twitch, jump…and thicken.
Better yet...
His cock started dancing in his pants again.
Once upon a time there was a man who
met the most beautiful woman on earth.
Her tongue darted out and moistened
her full lips as she looked at him with
the most beautiful gray eyes he had ever seen.
Framed by thick lashes, he had noticed her eyes
the second she stepped through the door.
When he stood in her space to shake her hand,
her perfume filled his senses and caused
his brain to short-circuit for a few beats,
which also caused his cock to thicken.
She was breathtaking.
Her palms wer sweaty, and her underarms
were moist. She could feel her scalp dampen
and prickle. His aftershave was still teasing
her nostrils as she walked down the stairs
to find Gunnar.
Jeremiah walked into the garage at that moment,
and Joci's breath caught. Walking toward them,
she could see him fully. Striding with purpose
toward them, she could see the muscles bunch
in his thighs as he walked. His broad shoulders
and chest stretched the t-shirt he was wearing
to its limits.
Tall, broad and beautiful, wow. But, clearly
a player, not wow.
WTF? 3 % in, she just met him, she doesn't know
him for crying out loud and can tell he's a player!?!?
---> tad writing? *shudder*
Great insight into human nature, Joci. *applause*
A smile and laugh here and there and every-fucking-where
200 x smile, smiled, 99 x laugh, laughed, laughing, laughter
And a little helping hand from above can't harm either, right?
---> 87 x God
He discovers a tattoo on Joci, a delicate little vine with
pretty, delicate flowers.
The tattoo manages to unleash a well of emotion.
*sob*
Does it get any cheesier?
Slowly, oh soooooo slowy she undresses him.
Did you get that? Slowly. S-L-O-W-L-Y (67 x to be precise)
Good lord, she figured he would be well endowed,
based on the rest of him, but never in her wildest dreams
would she have thought this. She stood there looking
at him. His cock seemed to move by itself.
As if reading her mind, Jeremiah said, "I'll fit, Joci."
*good grief*
He vows to kill anyone who tries to separate them
because she was his now.
They have awkward sex and I assume that, by the end of the book,
they lived happily ever after.
*cue in dramatic music and a couple dozen major eye-roll moments*
Honestly, I couldn't have cared less.
When I feel my blood starting to boil (for all the wrong reasons of course) and my eyes start to twitch because I'm so worked up, then it's time to call it quits. I don't want to impair my health by reading yet another crappy book.
100 x beautiful
What in the ever lovin' fuck?
Once upon a time there was a woman
who met the most beautiful man on earth.
Well-built, broad shoulders support
the most beautiful head and face
Joci had ever seen on a man.
His mile was breathtaking. Beautiful, straight
teeth surrounded by full, shapely lips.
His green eyes shone with light flecks
of emerald green she hadn't noticed before.
Jeremiah was magnificent
Of course she made his cock twitch, jump…and thicken.
Better yet...
His cock started dancing in his pants again.
Once upon a time there was a man who
met the most beautiful woman on earth.
Her tongue darted out and moistened
her full lips as she looked at him with
the most beautiful gray eyes he had ever seen.
Framed by thick lashes, he had noticed her eyes
the second she stepped through the door.
When he stood in her space to shake her hand,
her perfume filled his senses and caused
his brain to short-circuit for a few beats,
which also caused his cock to thicken.
She was breathtaking.
Her palms wer sweaty, and her underarms
were moist. She could feel her scalp dampen
and prickle. His aftershave was still teasing
her nostrils as she walked down the stairs
to find Gunnar.
Jeremiah walked into the garage at that moment,
and Joci's breath caught. Walking toward them,
she could see him fully. Striding with purpose
toward them, she could see the muscles bunch
in his thighs as he walked. His broad shoulders
and chest stretched the t-shirt he was wearing
to its limits.
Tall, broad and beautiful, wow. But, clearly
a player, not wow.
WTF? 3 % in, she just met him, she doesn't know
him for crying out loud and can tell he's a player!?!?
---> tad writing? *shudder*
Great insight into human nature, Joci. *applause*
A smile and laugh here and there and every-fucking-where
200 x smile, smiled, 99 x laugh, laughed, laughing, laughter
And a little helping hand from above can't harm either, right?
---> 87 x God
He discovers a tattoo on Joci, a delicate little vine with
pretty, delicate flowers.
The tattoo manages to unleash a well of emotion.
*sob*
Does it get any cheesier?
Slowly, oh soooooo slowy she undresses him.
Did you get that? Slowly. S-L-O-W-L-Y (67 x to be precise)
Good lord, she figured he would be well endowed,
based on the rest of him, but never in her wildest dreams
would she have thought this. She stood there looking
at him. His cock seemed to move by itself.
As if reading her mind, Jeremiah said, "I'll fit, Joci."
*good grief*
He vows to kill anyone who tries to separate them
because she was his now.
They have awkward sex and I assume that, by the end of the book,
they lived happily ever after.
*cue in dramatic music and a couple dozen major eye-roll moments*
Honestly, I couldn't have cared less.
When I feel my blood starting to boil (for all the wrong reasons of course) and my eyes start to twitch because I'm so worked up, then it's time to call it quits. I don't want to impair my health by reading yet another crappy book.
July 2, 2014
I really liked this book. Jeremiah (Dog) Sheppard, owns Rolling Thunder Motorcycles, Inc. He raised his twin sons on his own while growing his business.
Joci is a single mother and graphic designer. Her son, Gunnar, works for Dog. They meet when Joci agrees to help organize the annual Veterans Ride. Joci isn't interested in getting involved with anyone as she has been cheated on in the past. But, Dog is relentless in his pursuit.
The family relationships are heartwarming. The sex is steamy and the love is undeniable.
Joci is a single mother and graphic designer. Her son, Gunnar, works for Dog. They meet when Joci agrees to help organize the annual Veterans Ride. Joci isn't interested in getting involved with anyone as she has been cheated on in the past. But, Dog is relentless in his pursuit.
The family relationships are heartwarming. The sex is steamy and the love is undeniable.
June 22, 2021
Of course I loved this book.
Jeremiah is a hot bike shop owner with a heart. He served in the Marine Corp. during Desert Storm, where he suffered loss. He gets a trashy biker-bitch pregnant and comes home after the war to raise his twin sons. He opened Rolling Thunder Motorcycles, Inc. and began building some of the hottest bikes around.
Joci is a hot biker babe who lost her parents at an early age, went through a little wild streak, got pregnant and got dumped. She raised her son, Gunnar on her own while building her graphic design/marketing business.
Coming together to put together a charity ride for Veterans, they meet. But, it isn't all sunshine and roads! Follow Joci and Jeremiah as they ride the roads, fight, love and try to build a life together.
Jeremiah is a hot bike shop owner with a heart. He served in the Marine Corp. during Desert Storm, where he suffered loss. He gets a trashy biker-bitch pregnant and comes home after the war to raise his twin sons. He opened Rolling Thunder Motorcycles, Inc. and began building some of the hottest bikes around.
Joci is a hot biker babe who lost her parents at an early age, went through a little wild streak, got pregnant and got dumped. She raised her son, Gunnar on her own while building her graphic design/marketing business.
Coming together to put together a charity ride for Veterans, they meet. But, it isn't all sunshine and roads! Follow Joci and Jeremiah as they ride the roads, fight, love and try to build a life together.
July 26, 2014
Great 5 Star Read!
Dog has raised his twin sons with the help of his mother and sister-in-law. He built his motorcycle business, Rolling Thunder Motorcycles, Inc. from the ground up. He's a veteran and believes in supporting other veterans. What he didn't know, was when he met Joci, his life would change. He became obsessed with her and getting to know her.
Joci was enamored with Jeremiah from the moment she met him but, because of past hurts, she just couldn't get involved. They worked together organizing a Veteran's Ride for Rolling Thunder. Getting to know him as a person, was paramount to becoming involved with him.
As they finally start their relationship, the ride begins. LuAnn has always thought Dog would be hers. What she doesn't realize is that she is nothing that Dog wants. But her jealousy of Joci will test their budding relationship in more ways than one. Can they survive LuAnn's shenanigans?
This is the story of a relationship we all want to have. A devoted man, great kids, businesses that are thriving and family members that support at any cost. Happily ever after is a definite, and the drama is kept to a minimum. It's really nice to read a story where the angst is at a minimum and the love abounds. To read about families that aren't at each other's throats all the time and truly love each other. That doesn't mean there aren't times that I wanted to see what would happen next. The roller coaster that Dog and Joci go on is believable, endearing and utterly sigh worthy.
Dog has raised his twin sons with the help of his mother and sister-in-law. He built his motorcycle business, Rolling Thunder Motorcycles, Inc. from the ground up. He's a veteran and believes in supporting other veterans. What he didn't know, was when he met Joci, his life would change. He became obsessed with her and getting to know her.
Joci was enamored with Jeremiah from the moment she met him but, because of past hurts, she just couldn't get involved. They worked together organizing a Veteran's Ride for Rolling Thunder. Getting to know him as a person, was paramount to becoming involved with him.
As they finally start their relationship, the ride begins. LuAnn has always thought Dog would be hers. What she doesn't realize is that she is nothing that Dog wants. But her jealousy of Joci will test their budding relationship in more ways than one. Can they survive LuAnn's shenanigans?
This is the story of a relationship we all want to have. A devoted man, great kids, businesses that are thriving and family members that support at any cost. Happily ever after is a definite, and the drama is kept to a minimum. It's really nice to read a story where the angst is at a minimum and the love abounds. To read about families that aren't at each other's throats all the time and truly love each other. That doesn't mean there aren't times that I wanted to see what would happen next. The roller coaster that Dog and Joci go on is believable, endearing and utterly sigh worthy.
July 23, 2014
An endearing book with characters that will captivate your mind and pull your heartstrings. Every relationship has challenges but dog and Joci's has more than their fare share. The secondary storylines are just as fantastis as the primary ones.
The author positively portrays the biker community, the veterans, and the family dynamic.
By the end of this book I was crying happy tears. It touched my very soul.
The author positively portrays the biker community, the veterans, and the family dynamic.
By the end of this book I was crying happy tears. It touched my very soul.
July 11, 2014
Damn, what wasn't there to like about this book. I think that Jeremiah is the hottest book boyfriend right now. He's committed, attentive, a business owner, gorgeous, and he knows what he wants and he's patient enough to get it. His only flaw was wanting to take care of someone who was obviously toxic to him and his business. But sometimes it takes something drastic to make people actually see what others are doing to them. I loved this book from start to finish. Jeremiah is so understanding, and the relationship that he and Joci build over the year that they get to know each other is fantastic. They do encounter a few stumbling blocks, one I already mentioned. The other main one is Joci's trust issues because of what's happened to her in the past. Jeremiah and Joci manage to work through this a little at a time, with the exception of that one person who Jeremiah feels he has an obligation to. Joci can only take so much, and honestly, I don't blame her. I absolutely loved this book. My favorite part was where Joci explained to Jeremiah the significance of the vine tattoo on her foot. It was beautiful the first time, and brought tears to my eyes the second. 5 stars isn't enough for this book in my opinion, but it'll have to do for now. I can't wait for more in this series - I'm hooked!
July 30, 2014
This is a Great Story!
Dog is a 45 year old, single father of grown twins sons. He raised the boys alone, built his motorcycle shop, Rolling Thunder Motorcycles, and being a veteran himself, set out to help other veterans. Life was good. Business was thriving, his sons were working with him. Then, one day he met Joci.
Joci walked into Rolling Thunder Motorcycles, as a favor to her son, Gunnar, and her life changed. She met Jeremiah (Dog), and was smitten. After being cheated on by two men, she decided to steer clear of Jeremiah. She turned him down, four times, but, what Dog wants, Dog gets.
I believed in these characters. I wanted them to be together and be happy. Relationships are hard, and Dog and Joci had to learn to grow their relationship on their own terms. I recommend this book to anyone who loves mature characters and steamy love scenes.
Dog is a 45 year old, single father of grown twins sons. He raised the boys alone, built his motorcycle shop, Rolling Thunder Motorcycles, and being a veteran himself, set out to help other veterans. Life was good. Business was thriving, his sons were working with him. Then, one day he met Joci.
Joci walked into Rolling Thunder Motorcycles, as a favor to her son, Gunnar, and her life changed. She met Jeremiah (Dog), and was smitten. After being cheated on by two men, she decided to steer clear of Jeremiah. She turned him down, four times, but, what Dog wants, Dog gets.
I believed in these characters. I wanted them to be together and be happy. Relationships are hard, and Dog and Joci had to learn to grow their relationship on their own terms. I recommend this book to anyone who loves mature characters and steamy love scenes.
May 29, 2014
Joci has been burned twice in her life by two men that she fell for so when she meets Jeremiah (Dog) Sheppard she keeps a wall built around her heart so she doesn't get hurt again. Joci's son Gunner works for Rolling Thunder Motorcycles where Jeremiah is the owner so when the yearly Veterans Motorcycle run comes around Joci designs the logo this year for the t- shirts and hats and she tries to stay her distance from Jeremiah even thought she can't keep her eyes off of him because he is HOT ! Little does she know that Jeremiah has felt the same way about her since he first laid eye on her a year ago. Jeremiah isn't going to let this cat and mouse game go on any longer and the night before the run he take matters into his own hands.....but will Joci let the walls come down from around her heart or will people from both of there lives try and step in to keep them from falling in LOVE ? How many obstacles do they have to climb so they can be together or will they be two many for them to keep it together before one say enough ......
Joci is looks for a man that will love her completely, doesn't let her down, doesn't betray her, keeps her safe, holds her when she is sad, shares her happiness and wants her and no other.....can Jeremiah be that man ?? You will have to read there incredible journey as they discover love for the first time !!
My favorite quote is when they were at the meeting the night before the bike run when Dog is giving instructions and thanking people for helping when he says to Joci without her knowing and says " Thanks Babe" .... My heart melted for her.
The story line and writing were fantastic in this book !! I couldn't wait to turn to the next page to see what lied a head for the two incredible individuals !! I Loved this book and can't wait for more in this series !! Truly Amazing !!
Joci is looks for a man that will love her completely, doesn't let her down, doesn't betray her, keeps her safe, holds her when she is sad, shares her happiness and wants her and no other.....can Jeremiah be that man ?? You will have to read there incredible journey as they discover love for the first time !!
My favorite quote is when they were at the meeting the night before the bike run when Dog is giving instructions and thanking people for helping when he says to Joci without her knowing and says " Thanks Babe" .... My heart melted for her.
The story line and writing were fantastic in this book !! I couldn't wait to turn to the next page to see what lied a head for the two incredible individuals !! I Loved this book and can't wait for more in this series !! Truly Amazing !!
September 6, 2016
Owning Rolling Thunder Motorcycles, Inc. and raising his twin sons was top priority in Dog’s life. Until he met Joci, the sweet, loving, single mother of Gunnar, a young man who works for Dog.
Joci raised Gunnar alone all of his life after being dumped by a jerk she called her boyfriend.
The chemistry is undeniable. The passion is incredible. The family bond is like no other. This is an amazing, 5 star read!
Joci raised Gunnar alone all of his life after being dumped by a jerk she called her boyfriend.
The chemistry is undeniable. The passion is incredible. The family bond is like no other. This is an amazing, 5 star read!
May 30, 2014
I received a copy of this from the author for an honest review.
Jeremiah (Dog) Sheppard is a hot biker with a heart of gold and fierce loyalty. Joci is a woman full of love and hope if only she can find the right man to trust.
They meet through Joci's son and after a long game of cat and mouse finally get together.
Will Dog be able to prove he is trust worthy and will they make it?
I loved this story. The characters are amazing and relatable. I could barely put the book down long enough to deal with real life lol and nearly burnt my tea. I really enjoyed this book and hope there will be more stories to follow.
Simply amazing :)
Jeremiah (Dog) Sheppard is a hot biker with a heart of gold and fierce loyalty. Joci is a woman full of love and hope if only she can find the right man to trust.
They meet through Joci's son and after a long game of cat and mouse finally get together.
Will Dog be able to prove he is trust worthy and will they make it?
I loved this story. The characters are amazing and relatable. I could barely put the book down long enough to deal with real life lol and nearly burnt my tea. I really enjoyed this book and hope there will be more stories to follow.
Simply amazing :)
July 16, 2016
I LOVED THIS BOOK!!
P.J. Fiala writes about family units at their finest, working together to support Veterans and each other. The hero, Dog, is a guy in his mid-40's, strong, and tall with long sandy blonde hair. In other words, he's pretty hot! And, he's a biker, too! The heroine, Joci, is a petite, loving, single mother who is looking for anything but a relationship. But the attraction is there, and Dog has his work cut out for him if he wants to make a go of it with her. Is she worth it? You'll have to read the book to find out. No spoilers here!
This is a wonderful, fun, summer read that I know you'll enjoy - and, by the way, the sex is pretty hot, too!
P.J. Fiala writes about family units at their finest, working together to support Veterans and each other. The hero, Dog, is a guy in his mid-40's, strong, and tall with long sandy blonde hair. In other words, he's pretty hot! And, he's a biker, too! The heroine, Joci, is a petite, loving, single mother who is looking for anything but a relationship. But the attraction is there, and Dog has his work cut out for him if he wants to make a go of it with her. Is she worth it? You'll have to read the book to find out. No spoilers here!
This is a wonderful, fun, summer read that I know you'll enjoy - and, by the way, the sex is pretty hot, too!
June 28, 2014
What a great book! The only time I put it down was to go to work. Dog & Joci are perfect for each other. I loved how everything came together for very deserving people. What a unique story of true love, respect, & honor.
June 13, 2014
really enjoyed this book...it has an amazing storyline with even more amazing characters...two adults come together and love again...its not always easy...but its worth it...happy reading..
May 26, 2014
I was fortunate to receive a copy of this book from the author for an honest review.
As someone who has never ridden a motorcycle, I have always been fascinated by those who do and also work in the field of all things motorcycle-related. This story grabbed my attention from the first page and felt like I was reading about friends of mine. The heroine Joci is a hard-working single mother who has an easy-going personality and is devoted to her son, Gunnar. After being cheated on by Gunnar's father and a few other men in her life, Joci is very hesitant to get involved and risk heartache. She first meets the hero Jeremiah "Dog" Sheppard at the Rolling Thunder Motorcycles where Gunnar is employed.
From their first meeting, Jeremiah and Joci are totally taken with each other though this is a relationship that requires some time to develop. They do spend a lot of time together and Joci uses her business skills to assist in their upcoming fundraiser for the Veteran's Ride.
As their relationship becomes close and exclusive, there is a problem from another woman who feels that Jeremiah is hers for the taking. This woman is a problem throughout the book and she is just way too easy to despise. Fortunately, the secondary characters step in and side with Jeremiah and Joci as they continue to be a couple. Because Jeremiah and Joci are such caring and loving people, the reader really cheers that they will overcome all the external conflicts in their relationship.
What will happen to this happy couple? Will they have a forever love? Please read this book to find out.
Below are my three favorite quotes from this book:
"Really? It didn't seem like he (Jeremiah) was yours when he asked me out," Joci met LuAnn's stare with one of her own.
"My name is Jeremiah. I'm single with two grown boys. I work hard and I'm honest. I ride motorcycles, eat hamburgers and brats, drink beer, and love my parents. And you are?"
"Hi. My name is Joci. I'm a single mother with a grown son. I'm a graphic designer and often have my head in my latest project. I'm honest and dependable. I ride motorcycles, eat hamburgers, drink wine coolers, love my son and my sister. Nice to meet you, Jeremiah."
Due to the nature of sexual scenes in this book, the reader should be over the age of 18.
As someone who has never ridden a motorcycle, I have always been fascinated by those who do and also work in the field of all things motorcycle-related. This story grabbed my attention from the first page and felt like I was reading about friends of mine. The heroine Joci is a hard-working single mother who has an easy-going personality and is devoted to her son, Gunnar. After being cheated on by Gunnar's father and a few other men in her life, Joci is very hesitant to get involved and risk heartache. She first meets the hero Jeremiah "Dog" Sheppard at the Rolling Thunder Motorcycles where Gunnar is employed.
From their first meeting, Jeremiah and Joci are totally taken with each other though this is a relationship that requires some time to develop. They do spend a lot of time together and Joci uses her business skills to assist in their upcoming fundraiser for the Veteran's Ride.
As their relationship becomes close and exclusive, there is a problem from another woman who feels that Jeremiah is hers for the taking. This woman is a problem throughout the book and she is just way too easy to despise. Fortunately, the secondary characters step in and side with Jeremiah and Joci as they continue to be a couple. Because Jeremiah and Joci are such caring and loving people, the reader really cheers that they will overcome all the external conflicts in their relationship.
What will happen to this happy couple? Will they have a forever love? Please read this book to find out.
Below are my three favorite quotes from this book:
"Really? It didn't seem like he (Jeremiah) was yours when he asked me out," Joci met LuAnn's stare with one of her own.
"My name is Jeremiah. I'm single with two grown boys. I work hard and I'm honest. I ride motorcycles, eat hamburgers and brats, drink beer, and love my parents. And you are?"
"Hi. My name is Joci. I'm a single mother with a grown son. I'm a graphic designer and often have my head in my latest project. I'm honest and dependable. I ride motorcycles, eat hamburgers, drink wine coolers, love my son and my sister. Nice to meet you, Jeremiah."
Due to the nature of sexual scenes in this book, the reader should be over the age of 18.
July 31, 2014
This story is unique in that it's a sweet, tender love story without a ton of drama. Dog and Joci find each other and have to learn how to build a relationship around past hurts, current obsessions, dual businesses and their grown children. The characters are believable, and frankly, people that I would love to know. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read about lovable, flawed characters, a great cause and steamy sex. Must be 18 or older.
I received an advance copy for a fair and honest review.
I received an advance copy for a fair and honest review.
September 29, 2014
4 Take me on a ride stars!
This is one of those little gems that has completely flown under the radar! I can't even remember how I ended up clicking on it.. but so glad I did! We've got a mature Gulf War veteran that owns a custom bike shop with his twin sons. Jeremiah is in his 40's.. he's a good man. Love's his sons and loves his shop. His nickname is "Dog", but I will continue to call him Jeremiah. I do not like that nickname at all.. so I ain't using it! Fortunately, his woman Joci only calls him Jeremiah. Only those that work for him and some friends call him Dog. Thank Gawwwwd! The bitch mom is out of the picture and only shows up once in this book so no drama there. One of the things I liked most about the character of Jeramiah is that he loves to ride and he owns a custom cycle shop but he is not in any sort of MC club and this book does not at all try to show him as any sort of MC guy. He is part of a group of friends that just love bikes and love to ride....
Jocie... a completely likeable character that is also in her early 40's. Her son Gunnar works at Rolling Thunder Motorcycle's, Jeremiah's shop, with Jeremiah. She's is a freelance advertising and marketing specialist. She also has her own bike and loves to ride. She does not try to be any type of biker babe at all. She's a beautiful grown woman that works and raised her son right.. she just also happens to love riding with her son. I loved everything about Joci. She does have super major trust issues though. Gunnar's dad cheated on her repeatedly with women that were very close to her. He's been absent from their lives for 25 years though. However.. the hurt was so strong that trust is a problem for her... big time.
Jeremiah's shop sponsors a Veteran Charity Run every year to raise money. He is brining in Gunnar's mom to help revamp his shop and help make this charity run bigger than ever. When Joci and Jeremiah first meet the attraction is immediate. Over the course of several months Jeremiah and Joci work close together without ever going out or acting on their feelings. Joci thinks that he's a player and Jeremiah is aware of her trust issues.. so he just gives her plenty of time. Showing her that he's not like other guys. But he's got a time limit set. He plans on making Joci his no matter what and when it finally comes time for the Charity Run he lets her know that when they make it back to the shop that night.. she belongs to him. He's not waiting any longer to make her his. And wow! Does he put his stamp on her big time!!!
They were hot! Their chemistry was just through the roof! And once they had a taste of each other-- Dayuuuuum! There were more than enough sexy times in this book! These two could not get enough of each other. They had been dancing around each other for almost a year so when they finally got together. Well.. it was combustible.
I almost felt like Jeremiah was little OTT with his throwdown that Joci was from that moment on HIS. I mean.. dude has been planning a year for her. Not hooking up with anyone else at all.. he knew she was the one right away so he had been planning for her to belong to him that whole time. He went so far as to already stocking his house up with her in mind! OK... little creeperish--- but I rolled with it..
So.. they want each other and they are gonna make a go of it.. but there's one super bitch that just doesn't want to believe that Jeremiah doesn't want her.. Jeremiah feels a loyalty to her due to him losing one of his best friends in the war..the bitch's brother. Throw this crazy skank ass in front of Joci that has trust issues.. and that's were we get some drama. Just the right amount though... it was believable..
Yep, I really liked this one! I will say, I think the title of this book doesn't do it any favors. It just doesn't fit with the book at all in my opinion. Sure, Jeremiah's nickname is Dog ( which also doesn't help).. but the title--- as much as I liked this book I just really don't care for the title. And I you can't judge a book by its cover..but I think a different name would draw more people to it IMO.... I'd love to see her change it to Rolling Thunder or something like that. I think it would help so much and she should totally remove the name "Dog" from the blurb. Joci never called him Dog and only a few actually call him that. I never thought of him as "Dog" and I honestly think the name of the book and his nickname are probably a turn off for a lot of people.... So let me tell you this as a reader.. forget the name "Dog" ! I promise when you read this, you wont ever think of Jeremiah as "Dog". I didn't and I don't think you will either.
I am definitely looking forward to more from P.J! She knows how to write a smart and sexy mature couple and some serious smokin' sexy times. She doesn't skimp on the details and I LOVE THAT. I love that she didn't try to make this an MC book, but rather showing that there is such a thing as riding ... just for the ride.
This is one of those little gems that has completely flown under the radar! I can't even remember how I ended up clicking on it.. but so glad I did! We've got a mature Gulf War veteran that owns a custom bike shop with his twin sons. Jeremiah is in his 40's.. he's a good man. Love's his sons and loves his shop. His nickname is "Dog", but I will continue to call him Jeremiah. I do not like that nickname at all.. so I ain't using it! Fortunately, his woman Joci only calls him Jeremiah. Only those that work for him and some friends call him Dog. Thank Gawwwwd! The bitch mom is out of the picture and only shows up once in this book so no drama there. One of the things I liked most about the character of Jeramiah is that he loves to ride and he owns a custom cycle shop but he is not in any sort of MC club and this book does not at all try to show him as any sort of MC guy. He is part of a group of friends that just love bikes and love to ride....
Jocie... a completely likeable character that is also in her early 40's. Her son Gunnar works at Rolling Thunder Motorcycle's, Jeremiah's shop, with Jeremiah. She's is a freelance advertising and marketing specialist. She also has her own bike and loves to ride. She does not try to be any type of biker babe at all. She's a beautiful grown woman that works and raised her son right.. she just also happens to love riding with her son. I loved everything about Joci. She does have super major trust issues though. Gunnar's dad cheated on her repeatedly with women that were very close to her. He's been absent from their lives for 25 years though. However.. the hurt was so strong that trust is a problem for her... big time.
Jeremiah's shop sponsors a Veteran Charity Run every year to raise money. He is brining in Gunnar's mom to help revamp his shop and help make this charity run bigger than ever. When Joci and Jeremiah first meet the attraction is immediate. Over the course of several months Jeremiah and Joci work close together without ever going out or acting on their feelings. Joci thinks that he's a player and Jeremiah is aware of her trust issues.. so he just gives her plenty of time. Showing her that he's not like other guys. But he's got a time limit set. He plans on making Joci his no matter what and when it finally comes time for the Charity Run he lets her know that when they make it back to the shop that night.. she belongs to him. He's not waiting any longer to make her his. And wow! Does he put his stamp on her big time!!!
They were hot! Their chemistry was just through the roof! And once they had a taste of each other-- Dayuuuuum! There were more than enough sexy times in this book! These two could not get enough of each other. They had been dancing around each other for almost a year so when they finally got together. Well.. it was combustible.
I almost felt like Jeremiah was little OTT with his throwdown that Joci was from that moment on HIS. I mean.. dude has been planning a year for her. Not hooking up with anyone else at all.. he knew she was the one right away so he had been planning for her to belong to him that whole time. He went so far as to already stocking his house up with her in mind! OK... little creeperish--- but I rolled with it..
So.. they want each other and they are gonna make a go of it.. but there's one super bitch that just doesn't want to believe that Jeremiah doesn't want her.. Jeremiah feels a loyalty to her due to him losing one of his best friends in the war..the bitch's brother. Throw this crazy skank ass in front of Joci that has trust issues.. and that's were we get some drama. Just the right amount though... it was believable..
Yep, I really liked this one! I will say, I think the title of this book doesn't do it any favors. It just doesn't fit with the book at all in my opinion. Sure, Jeremiah's nickname is Dog ( which also doesn't help).. but the title--- as much as I liked this book I just really don't care for the title. And I you can't judge a book by its cover..but I think a different name would draw more people to it IMO.... I'd love to see her change it to Rolling Thunder or something like that. I think it would help so much and she should totally remove the name "Dog" from the blurb. Joci never called him Dog and only a few actually call him that. I never thought of him as "Dog" and I honestly think the name of the book and his nickname are probably a turn off for a lot of people.... So let me tell you this as a reader.. forget the name "Dog" ! I promise when you read this, you wont ever think of Jeremiah as "Dog". I didn't and I don't think you will either.
I am definitely looking forward to more from P.J! She knows how to write a smart and sexy mature couple and some serious smokin' sexy times. She doesn't skimp on the details and I LOVE THAT. I love that she didn't try to make this an MC book, but rather showing that there is such a thing as riding ... just for the ride.
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February 24, 2016
Joci, a single mother of a grown son Gunnar, meets Jeremiah aka Dog, owner of Rolling Thunder Motorcycles. They’re thrown together when Gunnar brings Joci in to help RTM prepare for their next ride. Joci and Dog are both older, they love to ride. Then, really quickly, romance happens.
-Kindle Unlimited: love trying out new authors through my subscription.
-Like the setup: Veterans ride brings together a mature couple. I’m pro-older leads and I liked the idea of two mature leads finding their way to each other. Bonus, it’s not often that the heroine also has a love of motorcycles that isn’t tied to a motorcycle club or being someone’s property.
-It’s a very sweet romance: Sometimes sweet romance and really flowery prose can engage me, and sometimes not. I wanted to like this book, and I’d seen plenty of love for it from various GR peeps and it’s been on several “Best” lists. Unfortunately, this was one time that didn’t quite work for me. Dog is borderline stalker-y but he is sweet to Joci, even when she pulls away at every opportunity. I will say I liked the story behind the vine tattoo.
-And then the plot happened: or should I say lack of plot. I thought it was unfortunate that the plot seemed to revolve around Dog being possessive and Joci being scared of being burned. The main obstacle of LuAnn, felt very cartoon villain-like and I didn’t even understand why she was there in the first place, except to create some type of external angst for Joci and Dog.
-There’s alot of sex, but it didn’t work for me: I would have liked to have seen more time spent in developing the attraction between them. By 8% in, they’re already headed towards sex and a year has passed (which is stated more than once to remind the reader), but I didn’t quite buy into it because it was all “told” to me instead of shown through scenes/dialogue.
The conversation preceding the sex would have been better served in bite sized morsels, even as short scenes to display the passage of time to allow the reader to feel as if they’re getting to know the characters as they get to know each other. As a consequence, when the big first love scene happens, it was a payoff to a relationship that I didn’t connect with in the first place.
-The prose is stiffer than Dog’s enormous you-know: There were grammar and spelling errors, that I usually ignore in self-pubs, but in this case, since I wasn’t connected to the story, they stood out a bit more. I have to admit I started to skim towards the end because I struggled with the flow.
Unfortunately it didn’t quite work for me, but if you like mature leads in a romance where motorcycles are featured but not because they’re in a club, you may like this better than I did.
For more reviews, visit
-Kindle Unlimited: love trying out new authors through my subscription.
-Like the setup: Veterans ride brings together a mature couple. I’m pro-older leads and I liked the idea of two mature leads finding their way to each other. Bonus, it’s not often that the heroine also has a love of motorcycles that isn’t tied to a motorcycle club or being someone’s property.
-It’s a very sweet romance: Sometimes sweet romance and really flowery prose can engage me, and sometimes not. I wanted to like this book, and I’d seen plenty of love for it from various GR peeps and it’s been on several “Best” lists. Unfortunately, this was one time that didn’t quite work for me. Dog is borderline stalker-y but he is sweet to Joci, even when she pulls away at every opportunity. I will say I liked the story behind the vine tattoo.
-And then the plot happened: or should I say lack of plot. I thought it was unfortunate that the plot seemed to revolve around Dog being possessive and Joci being scared of being burned. The main obstacle of LuAnn, felt very cartoon villain-like and I didn’t even understand why she was there in the first place, except to create some type of external angst for Joci and Dog.
-There’s alot of sex, but it didn’t work for me: I would have liked to have seen more time spent in developing the attraction between them. By 8% in, they’re already headed towards sex and a year has passed (which is stated more than once to remind the reader), but I didn’t quite buy into it because it was all “told” to me instead of shown through scenes/dialogue.
The conversation preceding the sex would have been better served in bite sized morsels, even as short scenes to display the passage of time to allow the reader to feel as if they’re getting to know the characters as they get to know each other. As a consequence, when the big first love scene happens, it was a payoff to a relationship that I didn’t connect with in the first place.
-The prose is stiffer than Dog’s enormous you-know: There were grammar and spelling errors, that I usually ignore in self-pubs, but in this case, since I wasn’t connected to the story, they stood out a bit more. I have to admit I started to skim towards the end because I struggled with the flow.
Unfortunately it didn’t quite work for me, but if you like mature leads in a romance where motorcycles are featured but not because they’re in a club, you may like this better than I did.
For more reviews, visit
August 8, 2014
If you like a sweet romance filled with family values and a strong h, this book will fill those needs. I really liked the story line and the secondary characters. Rather than recount the story line I'm going to list some of the things I liked a lot and some not so much.
Liked a lot:
-Mature characters who have lived life. Both Jeremiah and Joci are early 40's with grown sons. Being mature takes nothing away from the steamy, hot sex scenes of which there was an abundance.
-Not your usual insta love/lust. It took a year to get to the point where Joci and Jeremiah actually become a couple.
-Family love, support as well as strong, true friends who are always there to support the characters when needed.
-Good story line with and most of the events were believable.
Not so much:
-While the author kept Jeremiah a true to form alpha possessive male, at times he seemed almost too sweet. I can't remember a single instance of him getting mad with the h; he always seemed to go into the scared mode of worrying about what to do to fix whatever happened
-I like to see even the most strong alpha male show emotion but at times it got almost sappy to me
-Why couldn't Jeremiah grasp the negative impact of Luann's behavior and why did he let so many instances happen? For him to love Joci as much as he did, at times I wanted to throw my kindle when the next and the next situation with Luann came up and he still didn't get rid of her. FYI - Luann is an employee that has a love interest in Jeremiah that is not returned and is an employee of his bike shop. He served with her brother in Desert Storm and the brother saved Jeremiah's life, so Jeremiah feels a responsibility to take care of Luann. But it just seemed OTT to me sometimes.
-A little too much filler. Sometimes the details got down in the weeds and I would find myself skipping a page or two.
With that said, I still enjoyed the book. After reading quite a few biker/MC books ranging from 5 to barely 3 stars, it was a nice, refreshing break. I do recommend the book if you want a sweet romance and some hot alpha males. I truly wish there were more romances out there with the mature characters since all of the romance readers are not still in their teens/twenties. That is one point that drew me to this book.
Liked a lot:
-Mature characters who have lived life. Both Jeremiah and Joci are early 40's with grown sons. Being mature takes nothing away from the steamy, hot sex scenes of which there was an abundance.
-Not your usual insta love/lust. It took a year to get to the point where Joci and Jeremiah actually become a couple.
-Family love, support as well as strong, true friends who are always there to support the characters when needed.
-Good story line with and most of the events were believable.
Not so much:
-While the author kept Jeremiah a true to form alpha possessive male, at times he seemed almost too sweet. I can't remember a single instance of him getting mad with the h; he always seemed to go into the scared mode of worrying about what to do to fix whatever happened
-I like to see even the most strong alpha male show emotion but at times it got almost sappy to me
-Why couldn't Jeremiah grasp the negative impact of Luann's behavior and why did he let so many instances happen? For him to love Joci as much as he did, at times I wanted to throw my kindle when the next and the next situation with Luann came up and he still didn't get rid of her. FYI - Luann is an employee that has a love interest in Jeremiah that is not returned and is an employee of his bike shop. He served with her brother in Desert Storm and the brother saved Jeremiah's life, so Jeremiah feels a responsibility to take care of Luann. But it just seemed OTT to me sometimes.
-A little too much filler. Sometimes the details got down in the weeds and I would find myself skipping a page or two.
With that said, I still enjoyed the book. After reading quite a few biker/MC books ranging from 5 to barely 3 stars, it was a nice, refreshing break. I do recommend the book if you want a sweet romance and some hot alpha males. I truly wish there were more romances out there with the mature characters since all of the romance readers are not still in their teens/twenties. That is one point that drew me to this book.
January 18, 2020
Joci had learned the hard way never to trust a man, it didn't mean that she didn't give herself wholeheartedly to her son, but when it came to dating and relationships it was always a bust. Joci has built a comfortable life for herself with the freedom of riding her bike and running her own marketing firm, she is a strong independent woman.
When Jeremiah "Dog" finally meets Gunnar's mom Joci, he is smitten. She is the epitome of everything he wished he had in a woman. A father of twins himself, Dog knows how hard it is to be a single parent. He asks Joci out right away, but she can't. Dog sets out to win Joci, he does everything in his power to make sure she is comfortable with him and continues to pursue her and when she finally agrees he knows he is never going to let her go. Dog hadn't expected an infatuated employee to cause ripples in his relationship though and if something doesn't change he may lose Joci after all.
I was swept off my feet by this story. There is a naughty side to Dog that leaves you spellbound, he is hard and soft all wrapped into one. I loved that Joci is vocal about her feelings and Dog navigates through them like a champ. Wonderful story, anxious for more in this new series.
When Jeremiah "Dog" finally meets Gunnar's mom Joci, he is smitten. She is the epitome of everything he wished he had in a woman. A father of twins himself, Dog knows how hard it is to be a single parent. He asks Joci out right away, but she can't. Dog sets out to win Joci, he does everything in his power to make sure she is comfortable with him and continues to pursue her and when she finally agrees he knows he is never going to let her go. Dog hadn't expected an infatuated employee to cause ripples in his relationship though and if something doesn't change he may lose Joci after all.
I was swept off my feet by this story. There is a naughty side to Dog that leaves you spellbound, he is hard and soft all wrapped into one. I loved that Joci is vocal about her feelings and Dog navigates through them like a champ. Wonderful story, anxious for more in this new series.
January 27, 2015
I'm so confused how this book has such a high rating...it was terrible.
dnf
April 30, 2023This started cute but gave me the ick real quick. The MCs are in their late 40s yet there’s consistent OW drama. I understand being bikers there’s women around but he allows this one girl to basically do what she wants. He says no to her and doesn’t make any boundaries so she keeps invading his space and causing issues. Even after the woman he actually wants as his has told him how it makes her feel. The FMC has a lot of trust issues as well which is fine but she has this poor me attitude and expects others to fix things instead of fixing them herself. Don’t waste your time.
December 8, 2014
A corker of a read!
Whilst most of the action in ‘Dog Days’ takes place in Rolling Thunder Motorcycles and on the various ‘rides’ organised by the owner Jeremiah, this is not Sons of Anarchy by any stretch of the imagination. (Actually most of the action takes place in the bedroom between Jeremiah and Joci, the mother of one of his mechanics).
My brother-in-law is a senior Harley Technician in Montana, and his kids have been riding and dirt-biking since they were seven years of age, but it’s my wife’s other brother, Matty, who’s the real natural on a bike. In fact, my wife’s cousin, uncle and both brothers are nutty bikers, so I understand the location this book’s set in.
P.J. Fiala has a talent for writing about likeable people. Almost everyone is amiable and treats everybody else with cordiality, and Jeremiah runs his business in a firm, fair and friendly manner. This is a cracking story to read, and the jealous LuAnn with the large, and often almost-exposed breasts, adds to the tale as she plays up to Jeremiah, exposing Joci’s insecurities. The situation isn’t helped by the fact that Jeremiah refuses to say why he keeps her around.
In this manner, P.J. Fiala draws us in, and the reader will find themself stuck in the middle, wanting the relationship to work but siding with Joci in that Jeremiah really should man up and get rid of what she sees as a temptation. This is skilful writing by the author.
I’m a humourist by nature and the comedy in life often jumps out at me. I found it in these few lines which caused me to chuckle to myself; It had been hot all day and they had been sweating for hours now. Joci was exhausted and needed a shower. Everyone else agreed.
The picture came to my mind of everyone else holding their noses saying, “Yeah Joci, you smell like the effluvium of a decomposing billy goat.” “Doesn’t she! She stinks like the trapped air of a fat man’s duvet in the morning.” “Yeah, I didn’t want to say anything Joci, but your underarms are like the open sewers of Kabul.”
All in all, this is a corker of a read and hard to put down. Romance isn’t really one of my favourite genres, but even I’m looking forward to reading her next offering. Perhaps I’m approaching my mid-life crisis.
Whilst most of the action in ‘Dog Days’ takes place in Rolling Thunder Motorcycles and on the various ‘rides’ organised by the owner Jeremiah, this is not Sons of Anarchy by any stretch of the imagination. (Actually most of the action takes place in the bedroom between Jeremiah and Joci, the mother of one of his mechanics).
My brother-in-law is a senior Harley Technician in Montana, and his kids have been riding and dirt-biking since they were seven years of age, but it’s my wife’s other brother, Matty, who’s the real natural on a bike. In fact, my wife’s cousin, uncle and both brothers are nutty bikers, so I understand the location this book’s set in.
P.J. Fiala has a talent for writing about likeable people. Almost everyone is amiable and treats everybody else with cordiality, and Jeremiah runs his business in a firm, fair and friendly manner. This is a cracking story to read, and the jealous LuAnn with the large, and often almost-exposed breasts, adds to the tale as she plays up to Jeremiah, exposing Joci’s insecurities. The situation isn’t helped by the fact that Jeremiah refuses to say why he keeps her around.
In this manner, P.J. Fiala draws us in, and the reader will find themself stuck in the middle, wanting the relationship to work but siding with Joci in that Jeremiah really should man up and get rid of what she sees as a temptation. This is skilful writing by the author.
I’m a humourist by nature and the comedy in life often jumps out at me. I found it in these few lines which caused me to chuckle to myself; It had been hot all day and they had been sweating for hours now. Joci was exhausted and needed a shower. Everyone else agreed.
The picture came to my mind of everyone else holding their noses saying, “Yeah Joci, you smell like the effluvium of a decomposing billy goat.” “Doesn’t she! She stinks like the trapped air of a fat man’s duvet in the morning.” “Yeah, I didn’t want to say anything Joci, but your underarms are like the open sewers of Kabul.”
All in all, this is a corker of a read and hard to put down. Romance isn’t really one of my favourite genres, but even I’m looking forward to reading her next offering. Perhaps I’m approaching my mid-life crisis.
March 27, 2017
I liked that the story is focused on an older couple, and that Veterans are prominent throughout. But, I just couldn't finish the book. I made it about 70% before abandoning.
I did not care for the lead characters. As has been noted by many reviewers, the lead male "Dog" is an alpha-male who possesses so much self-assurance that he crosses over to being annoying (some have even used the word "creepy"). Every single time he talks to Joci (which is a lot), he uses her name. Has anyone done a count on how many times "Joci" appears in the text? Thousands, at least. I find this extremely condescending. Try talking to someone and saying their name every time you say anything.
The writing style was overly simplistic. The author seems to have a dislike for pronouns (he, she, it, etc.). Pronouns are important for flow. Otherwise you get this kind of writing: "Jeremiah and Joci lay back against the headboard...Jeremiah couldn't stop looking at Joci..Joci looked at Jeremiah...Joci looked at Jeremiah and furrowed her brow...Jeremiah's lips formed a straight line...Joci cocked her head to the side...Jeremiah leaned over and kissed Joci..." All of this on two pages. What's the matter with "he" and "she"? Also, I can't count the number of times Joci "cocks her head". Can she tilt it or turn it or lean it or do something besides cocking it?
In addition, it's confusing when the author jumps between voices from one paragraph to another, which is probably why she has to use their names so often. Otherwise, we'd have no idea whose head we were in.
I love a good romance, but this story is mainly a story about two people having sex--often very explicit sex--with a little bit of story sprinkled in between. I found the sex scenes to be uncomfortable, at best. I just didn't sense any true romance in the way they were described. It should be noted that there are a number of sex scenes involving Joci's behind, including eating a Danish "from the seam of her butt". Yuck.
Finally, the typos! They're not horrible, but it's unusual to see so many in a published work. I had to pay money for this book. I have some expectations that it would be carefully proofread before publishing.
I did not care for the lead characters. As has been noted by many reviewers, the lead male "Dog" is an alpha-male who possesses so much self-assurance that he crosses over to being annoying (some have even used the word "creepy"). Every single time he talks to Joci (which is a lot), he uses her name. Has anyone done a count on how many times "Joci" appears in the text? Thousands, at least. I find this extremely condescending. Try talking to someone and saying their name every time you say anything.
The writing style was overly simplistic. The author seems to have a dislike for pronouns (he, she, it, etc.). Pronouns are important for flow. Otherwise you get this kind of writing: "Jeremiah and Joci lay back against the headboard...Jeremiah couldn't stop looking at Joci..Joci looked at Jeremiah...Joci looked at Jeremiah and furrowed her brow...Jeremiah's lips formed a straight line...Joci cocked her head to the side...Jeremiah leaned over and kissed Joci..." All of this on two pages. What's the matter with "he" and "she"? Also, I can't count the number of times Joci "cocks her head". Can she tilt it or turn it or lean it or do something besides cocking it?
In addition, it's confusing when the author jumps between voices from one paragraph to another, which is probably why she has to use their names so often. Otherwise, we'd have no idea whose head we were in.
I love a good romance, but this story is mainly a story about two people having sex--often very explicit sex--with a little bit of story sprinkled in between. I found the sex scenes to be uncomfortable, at best. I just didn't sense any true romance in the way they were described. It should be noted that there are a number of sex scenes involving Joci's behind, including eating a Danish "from the seam of her butt". Yuck.
Finally, the typos! They're not horrible, but it's unusual to see so many in a published work. I had to pay money for this book. I have some expectations that it would be carefully proofread before publishing.
October 5, 2014
HAMMER DOWN and HOLD ON!
This book was incredible! From the very beginning I was taken by Jeremiah, aka 'Dog' and his rugged sexy ways. From the moment he laid eyes on Joci, he adored and worshipped her. It just took her a while to kick her insecurities and let this hot man into her life. His 'never take no for an answer' spirit and her tenacious drive for independence, coupled for a hot steamy ride.
She was dealt a bad hand in her past relationships. The only bright side to her struggles was her son, Gunnar.
I love how the veterans and love of country were written into the pages of this book. The author has nailed it in her attention to detail and has painted such a beautiful love story while giving us some steam in the sex department. Suffice it to say that if Jeremiah told me to assume the position, I definitely would;)
I also loved how the importance of friends and family were weaved into the story line. A good romance to me is one that captures your attention from the first page and hammers down to a phenomenal finish. Kudos to PJ Fiala! You've won yet another fan and I cannot WAIT to see whats next in the pipeline.....You've definitely gotten my motor running and I'm heading out on the highway following you!
'
This book was incredible! From the very beginning I was taken by Jeremiah, aka 'Dog' and his rugged sexy ways. From the moment he laid eyes on Joci, he adored and worshipped her. It just took her a while to kick her insecurities and let this hot man into her life. His 'never take no for an answer' spirit and her tenacious drive for independence, coupled for a hot steamy ride.
She was dealt a bad hand in her past relationships. The only bright side to her struggles was her son, Gunnar.
I love how the veterans and love of country were written into the pages of this book. The author has nailed it in her attention to detail and has painted such a beautiful love story while giving us some steam in the sex department. Suffice it to say that if Jeremiah told me to assume the position, I definitely would;)
I also loved how the importance of friends and family were weaved into the story line. A good romance to me is one that captures your attention from the first page and hammers down to a phenomenal finish. Kudos to PJ Fiala! You've won yet another fan and I cannot WAIT to see whats next in the pipeline.....You've definitely gotten my motor running and I'm heading out on the highway following you!
'
February 12, 2017
Nunca tinha lido nada da autora e achei interessante a história.
Heróis maduros e com filhos adultos tem segunda chance no amor. Alguns conflitos familiares e interferência de uma mulher que cobiça o herói. Boa leitura que me prendeu até o fim.
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I didn't know this author and I found interesting the story.
Mature heroes with grown children both have second chance in love. Some family problems and interference of a woman who covets the hero. Good read that kept me interested until the end.
Heróis maduros e com filhos adultos tem segunda chance no amor. Alguns conflitos familiares e interferência de uma mulher que cobiça o herói. Boa leitura que me prendeu até o fim.
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I didn't know this author and I found interesting the story.
Mature heroes with grown children both have second chance in love. Some family problems and interference of a woman who covets the hero. Good read that kept me interested until the end.
July 24, 2014
3 Trust Me Stars
The story starts off with Joci, helping The Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Shop with the annual charity Veterans Ride. She's a Graphic Designer and also helps with some of the marketing for not only the ride but the shop also. Her pride and joy shines through as she looks at her son, Gunnar and at the family that has adopted him into their folds. This is where she meets non other than Jeremiah 'Dog' Sheppard, owner and facilitator of everything related to Rolling Thunder MC.
Jeremiah is an ex-marine, father of twin boys, and a virile and endearing man. Seems odds right?! Sometimes, the wrapping misguides the present. He's a big ole ball of sweetness. And so soft and gentle. Think, teddy bear.
Joci James has been a single mother since her teenage days. She has been through the grinder for a long time, working hard whilst suffering with trust issues, low self esteem and general discomfort towards men. After two lovers cheated and left her 'high and dry,' Josi has fortified the walls around her heart. She's not sure she can handle being the jilted lover again. Especially, when their's a busty blond, who's fighting for Jeremiah's affections. Josi can't and won't compete with that.
Jeremiah has been trying to get Joci to date him for an entire year. Joci always brushes him off and says "I can't." Keeping him at arms length while they interact daily. He's finally had enough and decided to stake his claim.
"When I was younger, casual sex was all I wanted. No ties, no entanglements. But, you've been on my mind so much- I haven't been with anyone. I've been waiting for you. It isn't casual for me either. I need you, I want you"
"Don't say anything. I don't give a fuck what anyone thinks. You're mine tonight, do you understand? From this point on.
As their relationship progresses, Joci and Jeremiah face the troubles of a jealous female employee, coupled with Joci's trust issues and all her self doubt. Jeremiah is and continues to be the ROCK that Joci desperately needs. At every turn Joci finds different reasons not to trust Jeremiah, albeit, LuAnn doesn't help the situation either. But, Jeremiah has been nothing but honest and protective of Joci and her heart from day one.
Jeremiah stands strong and firm in helping Joci work through her trust issues, making her know, she is unique and loved. By asking her to marry him, Joci has finally found her family. One she so desperately needed and one that needs her.
All Joci ever wanted was for someone to believe in her. A family to nurture and to be nurtured in return.
This really was a sweet tale, especially where Jeremiah is concerned. He's so lovable and cushy. lol. It's great to see a story with forty years olds falling in love and being fierce with their feelings. Why not 4 or 5 satrs? well, it just seemed tooo unreal and LMNish for me. Everyone being so happy happy, Gunnar all of a sudden calls Jeremiah, Dad, and everyone wanting to adopt the kids legally and changing of the kids surnames. It just didn't work for me there. I also wished their could have been more development and the story needed more complexity. Too 'cut and dry.'
*ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review* Thanks!
December 6, 2021
This was actually a 2.5 star read for me
The couple: Jeremiah and Joci
Romance genre: MC (kinda - there were motorcycles, but not a club - it was a shop)
Series: Rolling Thunder
Length: 344 pages
Plot: Joci's grown son, Gunnar, has started working for Jeremiah, and he brings his mom in to help Jeremiah's motorcycle shop with some graphic design. Jeremiah would like to get to know her a lot better, but Joci's been hurt in the past and is reluctant to let him in. He waits for about 10 months and then she finally goes out with him. Things would be good, except that one of his employees, LuAnn, has an aggressively inappropriate crush on him and is interfering in their relationship every chance she gets. Why does he keep her around? Can Joci trust him? And when it comes down to it, who is the most important person in Jeremiah's life?
Commentary: I just could not connect with any of the characters. Both main characters were in their forties, but relationship-wise might as well have been teenagers. Joci was hurt by two past relationships: Gunnar's father cheated on her when Gunnar was a baby, and then she had a later relationship where he cheated on her a few months in. So a guy she had barely started dating cheated on her, and her ex from over 20 years ago cheated on her. Those are the two reasons that have so devastated her that her friends act like she has PTSD. Seems a little melodramatic. Jeremiah has never had a real relationship. These two are a mess.
Also, the story indicates that the children (Gunnar and then Jeremiah's twin sons) are in their 20s, but the parents treat them like they're younger. And they act younger. Gunnar starts calling Jeremiah dad and cries in his arms - these are spontaneous. Maybe I'm jaded because I feel like this should be sweet, but to me, it was a little sad. He needed a dad so badly (even though he had Connor and at least one uncle) that he glommed on to his boss/mom's boyfriend of less than a year, and started calling him dad. And then the twins did the same to Joci, calling her mom. It's nice I guess. They became a blended family. It just played out like they were much younger children.
Now - LuAnn. I'm not reading any more in the series, but I see that LuAnn has a redemption story in the seventh book of the series, if you're interested. But Jeremiah's reason for keeping her around. Yikes. I understand he felt guilty. But a few things occur to me. Would the brother that Jeremiah served with have supported LuAnn her entire adult life? Because that's essentially what Jeremiah was doing. Was Jeremiah expected to allow her to drive off the love of his life? I mean, he kept her around despite all the nastiness, up until she . He said things like "cut it out." He could have said, "LuAnn, I've always supported you, but this is the woman I love and if you do one more thing, you're fired." And then follow through. But nope, wishy-washy all the way. So I think he was right to feel some guilt there at the end in the hospital.
The characters irritated me. All of them. They all seemed stunted. I read this for the OW drama, but that was such a caricature of a mustache-twirling villain with a healthy dose of misogynistic slut-shaming that I definitely didn't enjoy it.
Next book in the series: Moving to Hope
The couple: Jeremiah and Joci
Romance genre: MC (kinda - there were motorcycles, but not a club - it was a shop)
Series: Rolling Thunder
Length: 344 pages
Plot: Joci's grown son, Gunnar, has started working for Jeremiah, and he brings his mom in to help Jeremiah's motorcycle shop with some graphic design. Jeremiah would like to get to know her a lot better, but Joci's been hurt in the past and is reluctant to let him in. He waits for about 10 months and then she finally goes out with him. Things would be good, except that one of his employees, LuAnn, has an aggressively inappropriate crush on him and is interfering in their relationship every chance she gets. Why does he keep her around? Can Joci trust him? And when it comes down to it, who is the most important person in Jeremiah's life?
Commentary: I just could not connect with any of the characters. Both main characters were in their forties, but relationship-wise might as well have been teenagers. Joci was hurt by two past relationships: Gunnar's father cheated on her when Gunnar was a baby, and then she had a later relationship where he cheated on her a few months in. So a guy she had barely started dating cheated on her, and her ex from over 20 years ago cheated on her. Those are the two reasons that have so devastated her that her friends act like she has PTSD. Seems a little melodramatic. Jeremiah has never had a real relationship. These two are a mess.
Also, the story indicates that the children (Gunnar and then Jeremiah's twin sons) are in their 20s, but the parents treat them like they're younger. And they act younger. Gunnar starts calling Jeremiah dad and cries in his arms - these are spontaneous. Maybe I'm jaded because I feel like this should be sweet, but to me, it was a little sad. He needed a dad so badly (even though he had Connor and at least one uncle) that he glommed on to his boss/mom's boyfriend of less than a year, and started calling him dad. And then the twins did the same to Joci, calling her mom. It's nice I guess. They became a blended family. It just played out like they were much younger children.
Now - LuAnn. I'm not reading any more in the series, but I see that LuAnn has a redemption story in the seventh book of the series, if you're interested. But Jeremiah's reason for keeping her around. Yikes. I understand he felt guilty. But a few things occur to me. Would the brother that Jeremiah served with have supported LuAnn her entire adult life? Because that's essentially what Jeremiah was doing. Was Jeremiah expected to allow her to drive off the love of his life? I mean, he kept her around despite all the nastiness, up until she . He said things like "cut it out." He could have said, "LuAnn, I've always supported you, but this is the woman I love and if you do one more thing, you're fired." And then follow through. But nope, wishy-washy all the way. So I think he was right to feel some guilt there at the end in the hospital.
The characters irritated me. All of them. They all seemed stunted. I read this for the OW drama, but that was such a caricature of a mustache-twirling villain with a healthy dose of misogynistic slut-shaming that I definitely didn't enjoy it.
Next book in the series: Moving to Hope
April 20, 2022
My rating: 2 1/2 stars
What I liked: I picked this book because of the ow drama and it definitely had it. I just wished Joci(h) would of made Jeremiah grovel (especially when she asked him not to take the ow on his bike but he did anyway or when he didn’t tell her about the pregnancy.
What I didn’t like: It really annoyed me that the author used the word giggle so much. I also didn’t like how Jeremiah’s word seemed feminine instead manly or alpha. Lastly, I wished Joci made Jeremiah suffer some especially with some of his choices. He knew she had trust issues but still did things he shouldn’t have.
Descriptive Sex: Yes
Major Spoilers/Details/Triggers: h goes to help her son at his job with the marketing. She meets the H who is the boss and owner of the garage. H and h feel the attraction but H has ow who hangs all over him and h thinks they are dating. 10 months goes by with the h fighting the attraction she feels because her ex cheated on her and she doesn’t want to deal with the ow drama even when the H tells her that the ow is just a friend. H finally puts his foot down and tells the h that he wants her and he isn’t taking no for an answer. H and h start a relationship. Unfortunately, the ow is not happy and causes issues. H puts up with it because the ow is the sister of a close friend that lost his life in the war and the H feels obligated to help her. At first the H doesn’t tell the h the story but after the ow starts causing more issues (kissing the H when she sees the h coming out of the bathroom) he finally tells the h. Also, a male friend of the h’s has feelings for the h which the H notices right away but the h tells the om she doesn’t have feelings like that when om tells h that he loves her. Ow keeps causing issues and shows up with om when the club goes away for the weekend by almost causing an accident with the h. H tells ow and the om to leave. A different ow that H had sex with comes to the garage and tells the H that she is pregnant with his baby. H doesn’t tell h but she finds out (H didn’t tell her because he didn’t want to upset her and knows that the baby can’t be his because he hasn’t had sex with her within the time frame). Another time, ow gets drunk and her ride leaves her so the H needs to take ow on the back of his bike and h asked him not to but he still does it. h shuts down but again she forgives the H easily. Towards the end h finds out she is pregnant, ow finds out and cuts the h’s brake line on her bike. Ow causes a scene and H tells h to leave. h leaves and gets into an accident because of the brakes. H gets the call and rushes to the hospital. H finds out that the h never brakes and when he takes a look at the h’s bike sees that the brake line was cut and looks at the camera’s in the garage. He sees that the ow cut the brakes. He also finds out the the ow told the different ow to say that he was the father of the baby coming but the H wasn’t it was actually her boyfriends (we never really get a reason why she lied other than the ow asked her too) HEA with H and h getting married.
Final thoughts: This was rough read for me. A lot of repeating and the use of the word giggle really annoyed me.
What I liked: I picked this book because of the ow drama and it definitely had it. I just wished Joci(h) would of made Jeremiah grovel (especially when she asked him not to take the ow on his bike but he did anyway or when he didn’t tell her about the pregnancy.
What I didn’t like: It really annoyed me that the author used the word giggle so much. I also didn’t like how Jeremiah’s word seemed feminine instead manly or alpha. Lastly, I wished Joci made Jeremiah suffer some especially with some of his choices. He knew she had trust issues but still did things he shouldn’t have.
Descriptive Sex: Yes
Major Spoilers/Details/Triggers: h goes to help her son at his job with the marketing. She meets the H who is the boss and owner of the garage. H and h feel the attraction but H has ow who hangs all over him and h thinks they are dating. 10 months goes by with the h fighting the attraction she feels because her ex cheated on her and she doesn’t want to deal with the ow drama even when the H tells her that the ow is just a friend. H finally puts his foot down and tells the h that he wants her and he isn’t taking no for an answer. H and h start a relationship. Unfortunately, the ow is not happy and causes issues. H puts up with it because the ow is the sister of a close friend that lost his life in the war and the H feels obligated to help her. At first the H doesn’t tell the h the story but after the ow starts causing more issues (kissing the H when she sees the h coming out of the bathroom) he finally tells the h. Also, a male friend of the h’s has feelings for the h which the H notices right away but the h tells the om she doesn’t have feelings like that when om tells h that he loves her. Ow keeps causing issues and shows up with om when the club goes away for the weekend by almost causing an accident with the h. H tells ow and the om to leave. A different ow that H had sex with comes to the garage and tells the H that she is pregnant with his baby. H doesn’t tell h but she finds out (H didn’t tell her because he didn’t want to upset her and knows that the baby can’t be his because he hasn’t had sex with her within the time frame). Another time, ow gets drunk and her ride leaves her so the H needs to take ow on the back of his bike and h asked him not to but he still does it. h shuts down but again she forgives the H easily. Towards the end h finds out she is pregnant, ow finds out and cuts the h’s brake line on her bike. Ow causes a scene and H tells h to leave. h leaves and gets into an accident because of the brakes. H gets the call and rushes to the hospital. H finds out that the h never brakes and when he takes a look at the h’s bike sees that the brake line was cut and looks at the camera’s in the garage. He sees that the ow cut the brakes. He also finds out the the ow told the different ow to say that he was the father of the baby coming but the H wasn’t it was actually her boyfriends (we never really get a reason why she lied other than the ow asked her too) HEA with H and h getting married.
Final thoughts: This was rough read for me. A lot of repeating and the use of the word giggle really annoyed me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2017
IDK which book people were reading that they gave 5 stars to... not this this one. The first 4 chapters cover one year in the book, and we see 2 interactions between H and h in this time. Everything else, we are told about. We don't see the H and h getting closer in any way, or him wooing her. Then, after a year, the H flat out tells the h "how it is going to go" (i.e. getting intimate right this day). The h has no words, but keep stammering like an inexperienced teenager (I really disliked her at that point). Everyone else knows what's going to happen, winks and cheers her on. Gah.
And that's just 11% into the book.
I don't want to find out how the remaining 89% are going to go.
Good thing this was a kindle freebie, or I'd be seriously p'ed off.
And that's just 11% into the book.
I don't want to find out how the remaining 89% are going to go.
Good thing this was a kindle freebie, or I'd be seriously p'ed off.
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