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Adrenalin #3

Persistent

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Some thrills you chase. Others blindside you in a red plaid skirt and combat boots.

Axel - It was probably a little stalkerish to follow him to this office and pin him up against the wall before knowing his name, but in my defense, red is my favorite color.
And he made it look so good I found myself tempted to try eggplant for the first time.

Besides, it’s not like I was the only one looking.
He’d been not-so-discretely ogling me all afternoon, I just made the first move.
And the second.
And pretty much all the others until tragedy struck his hometown and he sought me out for comfort.

I knew after that first night one wouldn’t be enough, but when he turned to me in his moment of need, I was done for.
Too bad forever is the one thing Lennon doesn’t believe in.
He’s spent years building a life he controls—running his restaurant, protecting his heart, keeping everyone at arm’s length.
And me? I’m a professional dirt biker with no fixed address and no idea how to stay still.

We don’t make sense.
Not on paper. Not in real life.
But when he’s in my arms, nothing’s ever felt more right.

He thinks our timing’s all wrong.
But I think I finally found the place I want to land—and the man I want to stay for.

This spicy queer romance features a workaholic who channels David Rose's fashion sense - and emotional neurosis; a daredevil who thrives on challenges - including his first-time attraction to a man; A+ dirty talk; stolen underwear; a restaurant that functions as part therapy space, part relationship bootcamp;and a quirky small town that's got that nowhere-on-a-map vibe, but somehow becomes the place where people find themselves and fall in love.

260 pages, ebook

Published July 22, 2025

12 people are currently reading
53 people want to read

About the author

Michele Lenard

33 books151 followers
Michele writes contemporary romance that is both sweet and steamy. Her goal is to make you fan your face as you wipe a tear from your eye. Several of her books have been named as finalists in the MARA Fiction From the Homeland contest. Her books are part of a series but there are no cliffhangers so each can be read as a standalone. When she isn't reading or writing she enjoys the outdoors, something that pops up in her books from time to time.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
Profile Image for Naz.reads.
258 reviews146 followers
September 21, 2025
3.75/5 ⭐️ 3/5 🌶️

- Small town
- Queer awakening
- Workaholic, wears genderless clothing & lace underwear MMC
- Motocross racer MMC
- Fling to lovers
Profile Image for Julia Toth.
437 reviews8 followers
December 14, 2025
This story hooked me from the start. The tension, chemistry and banter between Axel and Lennon is soooo good! Lennon is the owner of Murphy's while Axel is a dirt bike rider visiting Katah Vista. I loved their meeting. It was great to see Axel not even bat an eyelash at being attracted to Lennon and having an awakening. I loved how their feelings developed while both of them tried to fight it. I loved the tenderness they exhibited towards each other, but I also really enjoyed their chemistry. I loved Axel's persistence. They both had their issues and I was glad they could open up to each other and talk about them.
I really enjoyed the small town feel, and everyone being nosy and trying to help Lennon realize that there is more to life than work.

This was a fun read, and I really enjoyed every moment of this story between Axel and Lennon.
737 reviews5 followers
July 24, 2025
It was a good story line but I said this in my last review and I’ll say it again…fourth act breakups (at 89%) are fucking ridiculous! Seriously no point since they are back together a few pages later! 🙄
Profile Image for fortheloveofmmromancebooks.
321 reviews32 followers
Read
January 15, 2026
Lennon is the owner of Murphy’s. His restaurant is in the small ski town of Katah Vista. He loves his job. While working one day, he feels eyes on him, and is not sure who it is until he finds him in his office. Lennon loves to explore how he dresses, some days in skirts, but always in lacy underwear.

Axel Olsen has always been in love with his bike and has been lucky to make a living out of riding them. He considers himself very straight, until he goes for a drink in Murphys and sets his eyes on Lennon. He wants him, and follows him to his office and propositions him.

The one time hookup, happens time and time again, until they cannot keep away from each other.
Axel travels from state to state to take part in competitions. Lately he has been feeling less and less like he wants to do it day in day out. He wants to settle, and he would love to do it in one place. Lennon could be the catalyst to make up his mind.

This is Michele Lenard’s third book in the Adrenaline series. Personally, I think this is her best series she has written so far, and I have loved the others.
I just love Axel and how he never once questioned himself or worried about his attraction to Lennon. Lennon played hard to get initially, and you could feel him slowly soften towards Axel and was won over.
The writing is beautiful as always with Michele’s books. The town is described perfectly.
I am looking forward to the next book, ‘Brave’ in the series.
Profile Image for Dee Your TBR Wrecker.
498 reviews5 followers
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December 14, 2025
The banter and chemistry between Axel and Lennon is top notch. It makes for such a fun story.
Profile Image for Ashley Carrillo.
310 reviews
December 3, 2025
What do you get when you pair a workaholic who can rock a skirt and a daredevil who likes a challenge but may start to need more stability? Add in some family trauma and you have a delicious push and pull that leaves you wanting to punch a pillow and some delicious filthy words and acts with some heart to top it all off. Axel and Lennon are gas and a lighter that creates an inferno when they're together but also a calmly flickering flame. Lennon is married to his restaurant and learned the hard way to never rely on someone fully and to only count on himself. He's set on staying in his small town that he loves and building up his buisness. He doesn't take the time to touch grass or smell the fresh air until a persistently hot dirt biker whose never even been with a man before sets his sights on him. And the feeling is mutual. Lennon may be determined to deny it but his body and his heart don't lie. He starts to realize that the cocky daredevil that reads him like a book is more than he gave him credit for.

Axel loves biking more than anything even sex. He gets to travel and see the world all the while doing what he loves. He's at the top of his game and is filming a movie with his crew before the season starts and happens to stop in small town. And if he's been a bit restless and tired of always moving around and considerng possibly setting down some roots that's no one's business but his own right? In the heart of all of that he meets Lennon who challenges him and peaks his interest in more than just the bedroom. One night turns into two then more and when the independent Lennon comes to Axel for comfort after a tragedy the feelings both men have been pushing away start to cement even further. But they can't possibly work out right? Well read this book and find out how they navigate all the obstacles meant to keep them apart and the love that takes hold without being given permission and keeps bringing them back together. Axel helps Lennon take a second and actually live his life. And Lennon gives Axel love and parts of himself he doesn't give others easily. They were hot af, sweet and frustrating at times (I'm talking about you Lennon) but ultimately they were meant to be and I loved their story.
Profile Image for Deb Kel.
2,461 reviews8 followers
December 3, 2025
A fantastic addition to the series—fun, sexy, heartfelt, and brimming with all the delicious tension you could hope for. These two stole my heart, and I couldn’t have loved their journey more.
This instalment of the series might just be the most addictive yet. Lennon and Axel spark off each other from the moment they collide—quite literally—and the chemistry between them practically hums through every scene that follows. What begins as an impulsive, lust-fuelled encounter quickly turns into something far more complicated, tender, and ultimately irresistible.

Lennon, with his sharp fashion sense, rigid boundaries, and ironclad need for control, is the kind of character who invites both sympathy and exasperation in equal measure. He’s carved out a life that feels safe, predictable, and fully under his thumb… which is exactly why Axel turns his world inside out. Axel is all spontaneity and adrenaline, a dirt-bike daredevil who lives out of bags and thrives on motion. Yet for the first time, he finds himself slowing down—not because he has to, but because he wants to.
Their dynamic is wonderfully messy in all the best ways: heated glances, blistering dirty talk, moments of surprising vulnerability, and a growing emotional pull that neither man knows quite how to handle. The novel does an excellent job balancing the spice with genuine character development, showing how both men begin dismantling their own fears and long-held assumptions. Lennon's reluctance to risk his heart is heartbreakingly understandable, while Axel’s determination to stay—even when staying is the one thing he’s never been good at—makes him impossible not to root for.

The quirky small-town backdrop adds another layer of charm, with its restaurant-slash-therapy-zone and a cast of locals who feel both chaotic and comforting. Watching Lennon and Axel navigate desire, denial, and the possibility of something real is deeply satisfying.
I received a free arc copy and this is my honest review
225 reviews4 followers
November 24, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5-Star Review – Adrenalin: Persistent

This book is chaos, charm, and pure emotional adrenaline, and I loved every reckless, heart-thudding second of it.

Axel and Lennon are magnetic in the most gloriously unhinged way. From that bold, unforgettable first encounter to the slow realisation that what they feel might actually mean something, their connection crackles with energy. Axel is fearless, wild, and beautifully unfiltered, while Lennon is tightly wound, guarded, and quietly aching beneath his perfectly curated exterior. Watching those opposites collide felt electric and strangely tender all at once.

The banter is sharp, the heat is incendiary, and the emotional undercurrent hits far deeper than I expected. Beneath the spice, the stolen underwear, and the deliciously outrageous moments lies a story about grief, vulnerability, fear of permanence, and the terrifying hope of choosing someone anyway. The way Lennon struggles with control and Axel wrestles with the concept of staying still makes every moment they share feel earned, messy, and painfully real.

This is one of those romances that makes your heart race and your chest ache in the best possible way. The small-town setting hums with personality, the restaurant-turned-emotional-refuge adds so much soul, and the push and pull between them kept me utterly hooked.

It’s bold, funny, deeply sincere, and surprisingly soft beneath its sharp edges. A love story that feels like speed and stillness colliding, like finally finding home where you never meant to stop.

I devoured this with the kind of joy only a true book lover knows. persistent didn’t just entertain me, it thrilled me, moved me, and left me completely obsessed. Absolute five-star perfection. 🏍️🔥📖✨
Profile Image for Pontiki.
2,531 reviews9 followers
November 23, 2025
Lennon is determined to not make the same mistakes as his Mom relying on her husband, who left them high and dry after Lennon started wearing skirts. So, he works at his restauarent and never takes time off, even though he’s so succcessful he’s going to open a second location.

He notices a guy and his friends, likely a team working on a video, and the guy notices him back. It turns out he’s a dirt biker and is doing a movie for 10 days in town.

They hook up, and the next day both still want more, so Axel, biker extraordinaire, goes after Lennon, though it’s the first time he’s interested in a man.

Neither can get enough of the other, and they begin sharing their histories with bad Dads, Axel’s leaving when he was young but continuing to hassle his Mom about where he is so he can ask for money. Hence, his constant travelling with his team competing, and winning, dirt bike tournaments.

He leaves for a competition but doesn’t have his head in the game and afterwards returns to tell Lennon how he feels, and that he wants to make a relationship work. But Lennon won’t give up his career plan and compromise, so they break up.

Both realize they want to be with each other, and Axel already had a plan to retire, while Lennon decides he can travel with Axel sometimes. While Axel is away, his Dad shows up and beats up Lennon and is finally charged and behind bars, so Axel can settle down in one place, perfect for them both.

This is a fun story about two guys with lots of Dad baggage, busy lives as loners, and realizing they need each other more than anything else.

I received this ARC for free and am pleased to provide my honest review with appreciation.
Profile Image for Sabrina.
1,461 reviews119 followers
July 23, 2025
This was definitely my favorite of the series so far! The chemistry between Lennon and Axel is undeniable the moment these two are the on page. From the moment these two meet, they can feel the spark between them. And it doesn’t take them long to explore their chemistry in the bedroom. But what surprises them both is how one night isn’t enough. Because even after they hook up, they just want to be around one and talk. Not that Lennon will admit it! Lennon grew up watching his mom flounder after his dad left her. And he swore never to be put in a position like that. Work is his life and he won’t stop his career for anyone. But Axel threatens to bring down his walls bit by bit. Is Lennon willing to let go even a bit for him? Axel has never felt what he has felt for Lennon. The fact that he was a guy didn’t even bother him. All he sees is Lennon and wants to be closer to him. And he’ll fight for him if Lennon lets him. Axel’s career takes him on the road a lot but for the first time he is truly thinking harder about calling a place home. He may have thought it before but Lennon gives him a whole new reason to consider it more. But can he convince Lennon that what they have is worth some compromise? Adored these two! They had a great connection and a lot more in common than either thought. But they fit so well together and balance one another out. I loved seeing them grow together and work their way to fighting for one another. Like I said, favorite of the series!
Profile Image for Mir Jak.
509 reviews1 follower
December 7, 2025
Love this series !! Small town with a very close knit group of friends/family/found family. You could actually read this one as stand-alone... though there are cameos from previous characters, reading in order will give you more indepth details of backgrounds and the small town setting (especially about the costumes !!!). Anyhoo, this one is intense from the get-go? Passionate and sweet - it's just adorable really. I loved the bi/new awakening of MC and the fact he just dives straight (hehehehehe) in ....there's no identity crisis or anything. Just acknowledges the feeling and went for it. But then those pesky emotions come in and both MC's have some past issues to work through and not let it sabotage what is happening between them. Plenty of emotions and angst that'll take you through tears and caring and onto romance ....but also, plenty of laughs and an undeniable connection. Brilliant read !!
Profile Image for Virginia Lee.
2,480 reviews34 followers
December 17, 2025
There’s an easy tension and quiet chemistry between Axel and Lennon, paired with moments of banter that feel natural rather than overwhelming. Axel brings pieces into Lennon’s life that have been missing for a long time, slowly opening his world and encouraging him to step outside his carefully controlled routine. In his own way, Axel helps Lennon experience life differently—even if it’s only for a brief moment. Watching them find their way toward each other is both heartfelt and engaging.
Axel is a professional dirt biker who spends most of his life on the road, running not just from places but from the complicated relationship he has with his father. During one of his stops, he finds his way into Lennon’s restaurant, and something about the moment lingers. What begins as a simple attraction grows into a brief but meaningful connection—one neither man expects to matter as much as it does, yet it leaves its mark on them both.
3 reviews2 followers
July 31, 2025
Lennon and Axel were well worth the wait ❤️❤️

This book is what brought me to the series. I have to read them in order and it killed to me wait for their story. It was all worth it! These two are drawn together at first sight. There’s a push and pull between them through out the book due to childhood trauma. We finally find out why Lennon works so hard. We also get to know sexy dirty mouthed Axel who really is just a sweet marshmallow of a man with a rugged exterior. They compliment each other so well. Axel brings everything Lennon is missing in his life and opens up his world. He’s able to do the one thing no one else has accomplished so far….get Lennon to live life, even if only for a day. It was a wild and yet endearing ride watching these two find the right path to each other. We also finally know what men wear under kilts and it couldn’t be sexier. ;)
144 reviews1 follower
November 28, 2025
This is the third book in the series, but it works perfectly as a standalone. That said, Michele is such a talented storyteller that skipping the earlier books would be a disservice.

Axel and Lennon’s first meeting sparks instant, electric chemistry. Axel’s untamed energy collides with Lennon’s need for control, creating a fiery yet tender dynamic. For Axel, it’s also a genuine bi-awakening, an emotional and physical clarity that surprises him.

The story shines in the emotional growth they navigate. Lennon struggles with his fear of losing independence and the idea that love means sacrificing his ambitions. Through his relationship with Axel, he learns that partnership isn’t about giving up—it’s about compromise, balance, and building a future together.

A bold, heartfelt romance with plenty of heat, humor, and heart—I absolutely loved it.
Profile Image for Traci S.
2,046 reviews12 followers
December 3, 2025
Thank you for the book; here is my honest opinion:
3.5⭐️Really well done characters in this series, and that goes for Lennon and Axel- both are well written and dimensional. I appreciated Axel’s chill vibes bi-awakening and how he allowed himself to pursue the aloof Lennon with much hesitation. Lennon is also an interesting blend of hard and soft, he is smart and kind as well. Success and security are vital to Lennon which because the main roadblock to these two getting their HEA. The couple if fun to follow, Axel and Lennon have chemistry for days and an authentic connection. I enjoyed it, though it did drag a bit for me and the eleventh hour break up was a disappointment- and felt forced. That unfortunately had this ending of a bit of a low point as it wrapped up pretty quickly after the inevitable reconciliation.
Profile Image for Ana Silva.
567 reviews9 followers
December 5, 2025
This whole series has become one of my favorites.

Axel and Lennon were just so good together even though they hit some bumps in the road. Axel being straight and Lennon not having time for more than a hookup, they really had some things to work out.

Lennon’s only goal in life was the success of his restaurant and wouldn’t allow anything or anyone to deter him from it. While all Axel wanted was to find someone to call home.

Lennon was the only person who made him want to want more than his career. The only person for whom he was willing to give it all up.

Compromising didn’t come easy for Lennon. He promised himself he wouldn’t repeat his mother’s mistakes and in the process he almost lost his happiness.

I’m glad they both found balance and realized what they felt for each other was more important than anything else.
3,557 reviews38 followers
December 2, 2025
Michele has quickly become one of my favorite authors.
Her plots are seeped in emotions, her characters relatable, and the romance is beautiful to experience, as the loving relatioships develop.

Axel, a professional athlete, follows the path the circuit takes him on.
Lennon, owns a restaurant, that has helped him be independent.

Now that they've met will these very desparate careers be what pulls them apart?

I totally recomment this book and the entire series.

Plan on falling in love, over and over again.
You will not be disappointed and your life will be richer for the experience.

Thanks to GRR and Michele for this very special ARC.
Profile Image for Alix .
1,235 reviews43 followers
December 10, 2025
Well, this book grabbed me from pretty much page 1 and didn't let me go! I loved the instant attraction between Lennon and Axel! I especially loved how Lennon had all the feelings/intuition before even seeing who Axel was! Also, I enjoyed how Axel was just all in and how he was so insistent with Lennon. Such a good read, though I could have done without the last minute breakup before they found their HEA.

What to Expect:
*pro Dirt bike rider + restaurant owner
*both have Dad issues
*MC wears skirts
*MC wears lingerie
*undies thief
*bi awakening
*insta-lust
*spice starts hot and gets hotter
*dirty talk
*hookup to more
*claiming/marking
772 reviews7 followers
November 23, 2025
Book three adds wonderfully to this series. The blurb says you can read as a standalone, and you can, but you will love it way more if you read all three in order to get the full impact. Axel and Lennon aer so different. Axel is a foul mouth dirt bike rider, and Lennon is all about control---to point he controls everything in his life. Both men have experience trauma and while they are different they are the perfect compliment to one another. This series, and this book, is emotional with complex characters that draw you in. A spicy read with low angst.
Profile Image for TUKricker.
323 reviews5 followers
November 30, 2025
Narrative: 📕📘📗📓
Angst: Moderate
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶🌶
Humor: 😆😆
Heart: 💧💧💧💧
Romance: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Burn Time: Moderate

Welcome back to Katah Vista, idyllic Colorado where everyone is family and outsiders roll through on a regular basis. In this installment our favorite Pan, fluid dressing, restaurant owner who is all work and no play finally stumbles over from hook up to more. And boy is it more.

There is also a death that occurs off page, that may become more in one of the future books, not sure if im reading more into that then I should but I guess we will find out.
Profile Image for Ida Umphers.
5,545 reviews48 followers
December 10, 2025
I loved Lennon with his great sense of fashion, his determination to make his restaurant a success and his fierce protection of his heart so he can't be hurt again. He was totally unprepared for Axel to come in and sweep him off his feet before he had time to react. These two were perfect together from the first, but when the stepped back to think things through, old habits and fears kept coming up and making their path more difficult. Current events and family didn't help, but they found a way to be there for each other that was wonderful to watch.
1,582 reviews12 followers
December 11, 2025
Axel and Lennon's story was so good. I read a sneak peak ages ago at the end of the previous book and have been hanging to see the whole book! It exceeded my expectations! It bought a favorite from this series, Lennon out from behind his bar. Axel comes to see that Lennon is what he wants and where he wants to be. The secondary characters in this book, some of which have already had their stories all add to make this entertaining. I loved it! I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Profile Image for Saskia Veldhuis .
1,945 reviews15 followers
November 30, 2025
A good combination of characters, one who is used to travelling onwards every few days while the other is very much permanently attached to his work place. Lennon's clothing choices were wonderful. Axel had a really relaxed bi-awakening. Having a short break up at 89% was unusually late, although it did make sense in the storyline.
Profile Image for Amanda Grange.
773 reviews5 followers
December 4, 2025
This is the first book that I've read in this series AND by this author. It was really good but both men were getting on my nerves towards the end. It felt really drawn out at some points. Like it was 500 pages instead of 250ish. Until the very end. That was a little rushed for me. I loved it anyway. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
Profile Image for b00ks_in_nature.
902 reviews13 followers
December 14, 2025
I've loved the other books in this series, and this was no exception. Axel and Lennon are great characters, and the plot kept me invested throughout. I adore stories with a MMC who wears lingerie/skirts or other traditionally femme clothing. This has great spice, but it's not at the expense of the character/relationship development. This author is becoming one I'm going to follow closely!
Profile Image for Bkwrm24.
1,891 reviews14 followers
December 22, 2025
Axel and Lennon ❤️

4 Stars ⭐️

So far this is my favorite book in this series. I loved the banter and chemistry of this couple so the relationship build was that much better. I wasn't a fan of some unnecessary drama toward the ending but seeing these two get to their hea was worth it.

* I received an ARC from GRR, this is my open an honest review *
Profile Image for Liza Broadaway.
1,009 reviews16 followers
July 24, 2025
These guys were a sweet low angst read! I loved that they were both unapologetically themselves but still finding common ground. Their quick attachment to one another was sweet because it’s always great when one fights it so hard!!!
Profile Image for Amanda Reeves.
3,656 reviews36 followers
July 25, 2025
Persistent is the third book in the Adrenalin series, each can be read as a standalone. This is a steamy, queer awakening, low angst read about Axel and Lennon. This was a wonderful book and I loved the characters, I can't wait for the next one.
Profile Image for Crisana.
1,022 reviews46 followers
July 28, 2025
I liked it but not as much as the first two and my favourite is still book one.
I think my main issue with this one is how it started and the characters first interaction. It did not feel organic at all, instead it felt forced and I had a hard time believing their connection because of this.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews

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