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Hawks MC Caroline Springs Charter #3
Down and Out
Large Print Paperback Edition
***Down and Out focuses on relationship and personal struggle for Dive, more than the MC side of things, you'll find out why in the first few chapters***
Stricken by grief, Kalen “Dive” Brooks drifts away from his MC brethren, only having room in his life for his child. Worried for his son, he’ll do anything necessary to protect him, even if it’s admitting he needs help.
Alone and vulnerable, Philomena “Mena” McAdams has lost it all: her parents, her husband, her job and her home. Living out of her car, she’s learned life isn’t worth regrets. When Mena takes the job of nanny and housekeeper for Dive, she doesn’t know what she’s getting into, but neither does Dive.
Can they learn to love again when things are so down and out?
***Down and Out focuses on relationship and personal struggle for Dive, more than the MC side of things, you'll find out why in the first few chapters***
Stricken by grief, Kalen “Dive” Brooks drifts away from his MC brethren, only having room in his life for his child. Worried for his son, he’ll do anything necessary to protect him, even if it’s admitting he needs help.
Alone and vulnerable, Philomena “Mena” McAdams has lost it all: her parents, her husband, her job and her home. Living out of her car, she’s learned life isn’t worth regrets. When Mena takes the job of nanny and housekeeper for Dive, she doesn’t know what she’s getting into, but neither does Dive.
Can they learn to love again when things are so down and out?
308 pages, Paperback
First published June 17, 2016
344 people are currently reading
1214 people want to read
About the author
Lila Rose
56 books3,974 followers Lila Rose is also known as L. Rose.
Lila Rose has moved about Australia a lot of her life. Currently, she lives in country Victoria Australia with her husband and two children.
Lila is addicted to coffee, chocolate and reading.
She also loves to write humorous romance. For all novels that come from her weird brain, check out her website!
Lila Rose has moved about Australia a lot of her life. Currently, she lives in country Victoria Australia with her husband and two children.
Lila is addicted to coffee, chocolate and reading.
She also loves to write humorous romance. For all novels that come from her weird brain, check out her website!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 204 reviews
May 25, 2021
I read this because I am a sucker for heroine overhearing the hero saying something mean about her, but then having to make it up to her. It had a high rating and was fairly short so I gave it a try. It wasnt good to me.
For one it opens up with him in love with his ex and losing her, dead ex is ugh. The heroine also had a husband but of course didnt love him like that, god forbid she be in love with someone outside the hero. Only heros are allowed that plot choice 🙄 Also I found the mean thing he said about her was MEAN, talking about her appearance and weight, when in the prologue he talked about how stunning his ex Simone was, and how it was love at first sight. That dictomy didnt work for me, and was a very poor writing choice. Lastly, the fact he called both the OW ex and the heroine "my woman" was extremely tacky and did not convince me of his love for her. More he found a replacement Simone for his son and he could just pretend it was her still.
This is why I dont read MC books, lesson learned.
For one it opens up with him in love with his ex and losing her, dead ex is ugh. The heroine also had a husband but of course didnt love him like that, god forbid she be in love with someone outside the hero. Only heros are allowed that plot choice 🙄 Also I found the mean thing he said about her was MEAN, talking about her appearance and weight, when in the prologue he talked about how stunning his ex Simone was, and how it was love at first sight. That dictomy didnt work for me, and was a very poor writing choice. Lastly, the fact he called both the OW ex and the heroine "my woman" was extremely tacky and did not convince me of his love for her. More he found a replacement Simone for his son and he could just pretend it was her still.
This is why I dont read MC books, lesson learned.
August 23, 2025
This is the third book in the series, but so much of it takes place outside of the mc that I didn’t feel lost. I can’t say how much the dead ex was around in the previous books, but we get a brief summary in the prologue/first chapter of their history.
It shouldn’t be a spoiler, since the blurb tells us, the baby mama (BM) dies leaving Dive with a newborn, and Mena comes onto the scene as the new nanny. She’s also recently widowed and down on her luck. The two have an instant attraction, but Dive is hung up on the BM.
Unlike the last book that also happened to be about a widow (ish), this book was very streamlined. There weren’t unnecessary bits, but I still found it sort of boring at times because we never leaned into the drama that should’ve been generated from Dive’s hot and cold/ “still hung up on his ex” attitude.
Bottom Line- Ok. A very slow burn, like making a fire with rubbing sticks together. This had the potential for deeper emotion and feels, it just never got there. It was believable but repetitive as we circled the same holding patterns for multiple chapters at a time. Comfortable but lacking flavor… like watered down chicken noodle soup.
It shouldn’t be a spoiler, since the blurb tells us, the baby mama (BM) dies leaving Dive with a newborn, and Mena comes onto the scene as the new nanny. She’s also recently widowed and down on her luck. The two have an instant attraction, but Dive is hung up on the BM.
Unlike the last book that also happened to be about a widow (ish), this book was very streamlined. There weren’t unnecessary bits, but I still found it sort of boring at times because we never leaned into the drama that should’ve been generated from Dive’s hot and cold/ “still hung up on his ex” attitude.
Bottom Line- Ok. A very slow burn, like making a fire with rubbing sticks together. This had the potential for deeper emotion and feels, it just never got there. It was believable but repetitive as we circled the same holding patterns for multiple chapters at a time. Comfortable but lacking flavor… like watered down chicken noodle soup.
June 15, 2016
3.5 stars
Good. Some parts felt really slow and it made the book feel like it was dragging. I liked Dive and Mena as characters and thought they had good development. Full review at The Book Disciple
Good. Some parts felt really slow and it made the book feel like it was dragging. I liked Dive and Mena as characters and thought they had good development. Full review at The Book Disciple
June 17, 2016
This is Dive's story. I thought about this a lot when I finished the book yesterday and I am not going to write a blurb. I wanted to read the book just because it was Lila Rose and one of my favorite, Hawks MC, bikers series. I had not read the blurb just knew I had to read and I am so glad I did.
From page one you are hooked. This is my favorite thus far in the series. You will shed a few tears, want to pummel Dive at times, laugh out loud, and smile a lot while reading Down and Out. What I love about this author is each book is completely different, you don't know what is going to happen next. Plus you get a chance to see what your other series favorites are up to. A must read.
From page one you are hooked. This is my favorite thus far in the series. You will shed a few tears, want to pummel Dive at times, laugh out loud, and smile a lot while reading Down and Out. What I love about this author is each book is completely different, you don't know what is going to happen next. Plus you get a chance to see what your other series favorites are up to. A must read.
January 17, 2022
The couple: Kalen (Dive) and Philomena (Mena)
Romance genre: MC
Series: Hawks MC Caroline Springs Charter
Length: 184 pages
Grovel level: Words - 1/5; Actions - 4/5
Plot: Kalen lost the love of his life in childbirth and is now raising his infant son on his own. His mother suggests hiring a nanny, and he finds one in Mena. Mena is desperate for a job, finding herself broke and homeless because of her late husband's financial mismanagement. She loves Koda, Kalen's baby boy, and working for them is allowing her to get back on her feet. However, her relationship with Kalen is tense and she finds him not just grumpy but downright mean. But Kalen's attitude begins to change and Mena has to decide if what he's offering is worth it.
Commentary: This book is full of drama - the heroine overhears the hero saying something mean about her, but of course, it's the exact opposite of what he really thinks; he's trying to put the other guys off the scent. But a lot of what happened felt New Adult-ish (and if you've ever read any of my other reviews, you know that's my least favorite trope). For example, Kalen once declares "As long as she never thinks she can take the place of Koda's mum" even though she's barely started the job and he hasn't even told her that the mom died. She was just being nice to the baby. It was a lot of hot and cold, back and forth, and that annoyed me. I was fully on board with the idea that he wasn't ready for a relationship - Koda's mom had died just six months before. In fact, I appreciated the little time jumps that allowed them to put some time in between the mom's death and the beginning of the relationship. That felt more realistic. But Kalen was a surly bastard and I didn't feel like he ever proved that he wouldn't be forever. He was basically, "Okay, you're mine now, I decided" and she was a doormat who said "okay." I will say that once he found out her circumstances, he did right by her in a big way, and I think that was how he apologized for his earlier nastiness.
I wasn't sure that I liked the beginning of the book either. It was the story of how Kalen met Koda's mom and their hot and heavy relationship. I think the point was to prove that it wasn't as good a relationship as the one with Mena - baby mama lied to him, kept things from him, ghosted him, and in the beginning he even cheated on her. But it was not really my thing to see how deeply he had fallen for someone else and how much he wanted her.
So I think all in all, while the plot was coherent, and for someone who read the previous books, it would have been nice seeing the other characters in the MC, it wasn't really for me. Decently written, but too new adult in attitude. Just my opinion - no harm, no foul.
P.S. I really hate the use of the word "fucktard." It's ableist and there are a million other words that could do the same job.
Previous book in the series: Hiding Out
Next book in the series: Living Without
Romance genre: MC
Series: Hawks MC Caroline Springs Charter
Length: 184 pages
Grovel level: Words - 1/5; Actions - 4/5
Plot: Kalen lost the love of his life in childbirth and is now raising his infant son on his own. His mother suggests hiring a nanny, and he finds one in Mena. Mena is desperate for a job, finding herself broke and homeless because of her late husband's financial mismanagement. She loves Koda, Kalen's baby boy, and working for them is allowing her to get back on her feet. However, her relationship with Kalen is tense and she finds him not just grumpy but downright mean. But Kalen's attitude begins to change and Mena has to decide if what he's offering is worth it.
Commentary: This book is full of drama - the heroine overhears the hero saying something mean about her, but of course, it's the exact opposite of what he really thinks; he's trying to put the other guys off the scent. But a lot of what happened felt New Adult-ish (and if you've ever read any of my other reviews, you know that's my least favorite trope). For example, Kalen once declares "As long as she never thinks she can take the place of Koda's mum" even though she's barely started the job and he hasn't even told her that the mom died. She was just being nice to the baby. It was a lot of hot and cold, back and forth, and that annoyed me. I was fully on board with the idea that he wasn't ready for a relationship - Koda's mom had died just six months before. In fact, I appreciated the little time jumps that allowed them to put some time in between the mom's death and the beginning of the relationship. That felt more realistic. But Kalen was a surly bastard and I didn't feel like he ever proved that he wouldn't be forever. He was basically, "Okay, you're mine now, I decided" and she was a doormat who said "okay." I will say that once he found out her circumstances, he did right by her in a big way, and I think that was how he apologized for his earlier nastiness.
I wasn't sure that I liked the beginning of the book either. It was the story of how Kalen met Koda's mom and their hot and heavy relationship. I think the point was to prove that it wasn't as good a relationship as the one with Mena - baby mama lied to him, kept things from him, ghosted him, and in the beginning he even cheated on her. But it was not really my thing to see how deeply he had fallen for someone else and how much he wanted her.
So I think all in all, while the plot was coherent, and for someone who read the previous books, it would have been nice seeing the other characters in the MC, it wasn't really for me. Decently written, but too new adult in attitude. Just my opinion - no harm, no foul.
P.S. I really hate the use of the word "fucktard." It's ableist and there are a million other words that could do the same job.
Previous book in the series: Hiding Out
Next book in the series: Living Without
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2016
ARC received in exchange for an honest review
This book started off with me like this
When I started this book I was like what how can this happen, what happens now after this :-(
I just wanted to stop there and not read on. I mean how do you cope with that, losing someone and being responsible for a little baby.
Dive was so heartbroken and lost, but he had to get up and take care of his son. And that what he did for the next couple of months he just lived for his son.
Until he needed a nanny, and in walked his light! Mena is going through a tough time, also no stranger to loss, but she is trying to move on and live her life. And she found Dive and little Koda. But unfortunately Dive was being a total tool to her but she just kept coming back and taking care of his son and taking care of him.
But Mena was exactly what he needed to move on for himself and his son.
And when they were together it was so sweet. I loved the way Dive was with Mena eventually when he couldn't deny the attraction.
This was an emotional ride for them, but the ending will be so worth it. Lila Rose knows how to write a story with angst and sadness and make you feel so many things, that all you want to do is:
But you move passed it and just keep reading cause you want to see what happens:
And we get to see some of the Hawks with the wild women.
And the ending. WoW! A bit of a cliffhanger but you will be satisfied :-)
Thank you for this awesome book Lila and can't wait to see what happens next
This book started off with me like this
When I started this book I was like what how can this happen, what happens now after this :-(
I just wanted to stop there and not read on. I mean how do you cope with that, losing someone and being responsible for a little baby.
Dive was so heartbroken and lost, but he had to get up and take care of his son. And that what he did for the next couple of months he just lived for his son.
Until he needed a nanny, and in walked his light! Mena is going through a tough time, also no stranger to loss, but she is trying to move on and live her life. And she found Dive and little Koda. But unfortunately Dive was being a total tool to her but she just kept coming back and taking care of his son and taking care of him.
But Mena was exactly what he needed to move on for himself and his son.
And when they were together it was so sweet. I loved the way Dive was with Mena eventually when he couldn't deny the attraction.
This was an emotional ride for them, but the ending will be so worth it. Lila Rose knows how to write a story with angst and sadness and make you feel so many things, that all you want to do is:
But you move passed it and just keep reading cause you want to see what happens:
And we get to see some of the Hawks with the wild women.
And the ending. WoW! A bit of a cliffhanger but you will be satisfied :-)
Thank you for this awesome book Lila and can't wait to see what happens next
March 15, 2019
UPDATE: Reread March, 2019
3 ⭐⭐⭐ - OK decent reads.
===========================
Read:September, 2016
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Liked it!
Very good!
I jumped straight into this book and you understand everything perfectly.
3 ⭐⭐⭐ - OK decent reads.
===========================
Read:September, 2016
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Liked it!
Very good!
I jumped straight into this book and you understand everything perfectly.
June 15, 2016
Down and Out perfectly describes Kalen “Dive” Brooks and Mena McAdams’ lives – both suffering from losses that threaten to consume them, and they probably would have if not for a beautiful baby boy who brings sunshine and laughter into their lives and helps them to continue living despite the pain…despite the darkness…despite the loneliness that’s always burning beneath the surface.
Dive is a cold-hearted bastard for a majority of the book, and while I understand why he turned into the harsh, emotionless man that he did, I seriously wanted to throat punch him because his treatment of Mena was reprehensible. But because Lila Rose provides readers with Dive’s perspective, I was able to witness his conflicting feelings and the guilt and rage that prompted every hurtful word and thoughtless act, and as Mena’s brightness and his son’s innocence allows Dive’s heart to start beating again, he makes amends and starts to live again, knowing that laughter and love are meant to be experienced fully without the darkness overshadowing the light.
Lila Rose definitely knows how to write strong and sassy heroines, and Mena fits into that category perfectly. Despite everything that she has had to deal with, she remains pure and sweet. She gives so much to everyone else, not asking for anything in return, even though she could desperately use some help. Regardless of Dive’s treatment of her, she remains Koda’s nanny because she loves that little boy and wants to be there for him, and as Mena fills Dive’s home with as much love and light as she can, she allows a man to find his way out of the darkness and gives them both a chance to heal from their pasts and move forward.
Dive and Mena’s story is an emotional journey that is both heart breaking and heartwarming, and it demonstrates the effect loss and guilt have on people and the slow process it takes to learn to let go of the past and let a little sunshine into one’s life.
A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 Poison Apples (The Fairest of All Book Reviews)
Dive is a cold-hearted bastard for a majority of the book, and while I understand why he turned into the harsh, emotionless man that he did, I seriously wanted to throat punch him because his treatment of Mena was reprehensible. But because Lila Rose provides readers with Dive’s perspective, I was able to witness his conflicting feelings and the guilt and rage that prompted every hurtful word and thoughtless act, and as Mena’s brightness and his son’s innocence allows Dive’s heart to start beating again, he makes amends and starts to live again, knowing that laughter and love are meant to be experienced fully without the darkness overshadowing the light.
Lila Rose definitely knows how to write strong and sassy heroines, and Mena fits into that category perfectly. Despite everything that she has had to deal with, she remains pure and sweet. She gives so much to everyone else, not asking for anything in return, even though she could desperately use some help. Regardless of Dive’s treatment of her, she remains Koda’s nanny because she loves that little boy and wants to be there for him, and as Mena fills Dive’s home with as much love and light as she can, she allows a man to find his way out of the darkness and gives them both a chance to heal from their pasts and move forward.
Dive and Mena’s story is an emotional journey that is both heart breaking and heartwarming, and it demonstrates the effect loss and guilt have on people and the slow process it takes to learn to let go of the past and let a little sunshine into one’s life.
A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 Poison Apples (The Fairest of All Book Reviews)
May 19, 2016
Wow... All I can say it's wow. Lol. But seriously! The beginning, the ending... Both are with a bang.
At the beginning I was barely holding back my tears. My heart was torn with each page, with each word. All I wanted to do is hug Dive and hold him tight. There was not a glimpse of the biker we meet and loved through Hawks journey. Dive was broken and shattered to pieces. All was left a shell of a man. What was holding him from completely be down and out, was his son. For him Dive continued to breath and try to move on. But even though his child was a saving grace, Dive wasn't fully living. He continued to grief and be lost in fear. Fear to lose another person he loved. He continued to live in the darkness. Until one day sunshine knocked on the door.
I really loved Dive. He was different and more matured after hits life gave him. Well, okay, he wasn't so matured at the beginning with Mena. He was a complete dick. And I'm not joking. But I understood why he was like that. He was scared and full of guilt. To feel something for another person after you loved someone before and lost them, it can feel like a betrayal to you. Not to mention Dive wasn't ready at that time. But after he turned new page in his life or even despite his assholish ways, I loved him. I loved how he was with his son. It was sweet. It was bewitching. And then his sweetness with Mena, when he finds out about her situation... Yeah, Dive stole my heart.
And talking about Mena. I can't say much about her, but that she was a sunshine Dive needed to be full of joy again. She was sweet, silly and full of heart, ready to share her love. And I loved her for it.
But be warned. The ending... It's kind of a cliffy. Don't worry. Dive and Mena has a sweet and sexy HEA. But shit hit the fan in Caroline Springs Charter. OMG! I'm so dying from anticipation here. I need the next book ASAP!
At the beginning I was barely holding back my tears. My heart was torn with each page, with each word. All I wanted to do is hug Dive and hold him tight. There was not a glimpse of the biker we meet and loved through Hawks journey. Dive was broken and shattered to pieces. All was left a shell of a man. What was holding him from completely be down and out, was his son. For him Dive continued to breath and try to move on. But even though his child was a saving grace, Dive wasn't fully living. He continued to grief and be lost in fear. Fear to lose another person he loved. He continued to live in the darkness. Until one day sunshine knocked on the door.
I really loved Dive. He was different and more matured after hits life gave him. Well, okay, he wasn't so matured at the beginning with Mena. He was a complete dick. And I'm not joking. But I understood why he was like that. He was scared and full of guilt. To feel something for another person after you loved someone before and lost them, it can feel like a betrayal to you. Not to mention Dive wasn't ready at that time. But after he turned new page in his life or even despite his assholish ways, I loved him. I loved how he was with his son. It was sweet. It was bewitching. And then his sweetness with Mena, when he finds out about her situation... Yeah, Dive stole my heart.
And talking about Mena. I can't say much about her, but that she was a sunshine Dive needed to be full of joy again. She was sweet, silly and full of heart, ready to share her love. And I loved her for it.
But be warned. The ending... It's kind of a cliffy. Don't worry. Dive and Mena has a sweet and sexy HEA. But shit hit the fan in Caroline Springs Charter. OMG! I'm so dying from anticipation here. I need the next book ASAP!
June 20, 2016
☆☆Reviewed by CherryOBlossoms Promotions ☆☆
I gave this book 4.5 stars!
From the first word to last you will go on an emotional roller coaster with Dive, Mena and the secondary characters. You will see two people from totally different world's come together for a little boy. Hearts will be broken and mended . Dive is all bad boy biker with a little boy he is raising. Mena has lost everything but has such a beautiful outlook on life. When these two collide will there feelings be strong enough to resist each other or will they say Damn to the world and take a chance?
This was my first book from this author and I know this is part of series. I did have a hard time figuring out who was who but as the story went on it was easily to figure it out. I highly recommend this very emotional, love story. It's one of the best I have read in awhile. I definitely will be checking out others in this series.
I gave this book 4.5 stars!
From the first word to last you will go on an emotional roller coaster with Dive, Mena and the secondary characters. You will see two people from totally different world's come together for a little boy. Hearts will be broken and mended . Dive is all bad boy biker with a little boy he is raising. Mena has lost everything but has such a beautiful outlook on life. When these two collide will there feelings be strong enough to resist each other or will they say Damn to the world and take a chance?
This was my first book from this author and I know this is part of series. I did have a hard time figuring out who was who but as the story went on it was easily to figure it out. I highly recommend this very emotional, love story. It's one of the best I have read in awhile. I definitely will be checking out others in this series.
July 23, 2022
Reread but I remembered so little that it felt like a first time read. I do remembering liking it and I liked it this time around too.
October 17, 2018
OH MY GOD!!!! SO GOOD!!!! I was crying by the second chapter!!! This book is so freaking good!!! I can't even... Lila Rose you gutted, put me back together, had me laughing out loud, crying again, & the end, OH MY GOD!!!! Can't wait for Nary & Saxon's story!!!!
December 16, 2022
Dead baby momma that the hero pines for. The heroine will always be second. You can’t compete with a dead woman.
Read the sample and it was all about the baby momma. His love and his heart for the “selfless” dead baby momma. Ugh.
Pass. Good luck.
Read the sample and it was all about the baby momma. His love and his heart for the “selfless” dead baby momma. Ugh.
Pass. Good luck.
June 18, 2016
3.5 stars
March 25, 2017
I've been keeping this book for a rainy day. I knew it was going to suck me in. I expected it to be very angsty and emotional so I saved it for when I felt ready to read it.
I was right. This had me crying within the first couple of pages. Not the cute kind, the real ugly sobby face you'd rather not have a audience for kind.
This took me on a real emotional rollercoaster. I genuinely felt so much heartbreak and sorrow, I felt hope that things would get better. I laughed, I sighed and I fell in love with all the characters. What a heartbreakingly beautiful story.
Kelan aka Dive starts off as the Dive we have all come to love. The turn of events happened so quickly it sucks you right in. A broken man is the only way to describe him. What happened left him with so much heartache and a sense of betrayal. The only light in his life was little Koda. That was enough for him to survive the pain but he wasn't truly living. He became a dick to be honest but you can't help but feel his pain and understand his reasoning. He truly is a sweet loving man behind the alpha badass and broken asshole. I love that he didn't take things with Mena anywhere until he knew he was ready to commit to her with everything. He showed her what being loved should be like and it just made me love him all the more.
Mena aka Philomena Adams is a survivor. She's a broken women doing what she can to survive. She's not your typical biker babe by any means. She softer, gentle and a little timid. Do not mistake that for weakness. She has lived her very own nightmares that haunt her. She has absolutely nothing but a few belongings and a shitty car yet she never complains. She's definitely a light amongst all the darkness and I can't help but admire her strength. I loved how gentle and loving she was with Koda without trying to be his mum. I loved that she welcomed Simone as a part of their life. Honestly she was all round a fantastic heroine to read. I also loved that she never used her heartbreak to get anything out of Kelan. He didn't even know how bad her life was until late in the story. It just shows her character.
Together their story truly is heartbreakingly beautiful. It's not insta love of getting right down to it. It's very slow and at parts very painful. It mending broken hearts and trust. Building new friendships and relationships. It's overcoming battles and it is not an easy journey but my god it's worth the read a million times over.
The story is always seamless but this one for me is special. The characters are truly some of my favourite ever and as per usual we get that magic humour Lila is so brilliant at. The chemistry is definitely hot!! And good Lord the scenes at the end leave you needing to be doused for a cool down.
I'm easy to please with books.. I'm just looking for that escape from reality. But on an emotional level honestly I'm about as emotional as a rock so for me to feel so deeply about a story means it truly is magic on paper.
I just want to say thank you Lila Rose for creating something so special.
I would definitely recommend this to others.
I was right. This had me crying within the first couple of pages. Not the cute kind, the real ugly sobby face you'd rather not have a audience for kind.
This took me on a real emotional rollercoaster. I genuinely felt so much heartbreak and sorrow, I felt hope that things would get better. I laughed, I sighed and I fell in love with all the characters. What a heartbreakingly beautiful story.
Kelan aka Dive starts off as the Dive we have all come to love. The turn of events happened so quickly it sucks you right in. A broken man is the only way to describe him. What happened left him with so much heartache and a sense of betrayal. The only light in his life was little Koda. That was enough for him to survive the pain but he wasn't truly living. He became a dick to be honest but you can't help but feel his pain and understand his reasoning. He truly is a sweet loving man behind the alpha badass and broken asshole. I love that he didn't take things with Mena anywhere until he knew he was ready to commit to her with everything. He showed her what being loved should be like and it just made me love him all the more.
Mena aka Philomena Adams is a survivor. She's a broken women doing what she can to survive. She's not your typical biker babe by any means. She softer, gentle and a little timid. Do not mistake that for weakness. She has lived her very own nightmares that haunt her. She has absolutely nothing but a few belongings and a shitty car yet she never complains. She's definitely a light amongst all the darkness and I can't help but admire her strength. I loved how gentle and loving she was with Koda without trying to be his mum. I loved that she welcomed Simone as a part of their life. Honestly she was all round a fantastic heroine to read. I also loved that she never used her heartbreak to get anything out of Kelan. He didn't even know how bad her life was until late in the story. It just shows her character.
Together their story truly is heartbreakingly beautiful. It's not insta love of getting right down to it. It's very slow and at parts very painful. It mending broken hearts and trust. Building new friendships and relationships. It's overcoming battles and it is not an easy journey but my god it's worth the read a million times over.
The story is always seamless but this one for me is special. The characters are truly some of my favourite ever and as per usual we get that magic humour Lila is so brilliant at. The chemistry is definitely hot!! And good Lord the scenes at the end leave you needing to be doused for a cool down.
I'm easy to please with books.. I'm just looking for that escape from reality. But on an emotional level honestly I'm about as emotional as a rock so for me to feel so deeply about a story means it truly is magic on paper.
I just want to say thank you Lila Rose for creating something so special.
I would definitely recommend this to others.
June 13, 2021
This was a slow building romance, with many ups and downs between the two. They had both lost someone very close to there hearts so trying to move on with someone else is hard. Especially with guilt holding you back from taking what you want.
Going in to this book i understood with in the fist moment that this was going to drag out and not be a first moment kind of love story. With deep emotions and heart breaking moment but what I didn’t not expect was have funny this book was.
I mean the other books was hilarious with so much dirty language and swearing in. It was just amazing but I though this book would take a more serious Direction but I was so wrong. I couldn’t be happier about it with all the hilarious thing that happened it lightened up the book more giving it more life that just to people getting to fall in love with each other meanwhile getting to deal with their grief.
The one with her waxing her Private area and getting stuck so she had so seek help was so hilarious and could stop laughing.
Over all this book was a amazing book with a wild ride emotionally.
Going in to this book i understood with in the fist moment that this was going to drag out and not be a first moment kind of love story. With deep emotions and heart breaking moment but what I didn’t not expect was have funny this book was.
I mean the other books was hilarious with so much dirty language and swearing in. It was just amazing but I though this book would take a more serious Direction but I was so wrong. I couldn’t be happier about it with all the hilarious thing that happened it lightened up the book more giving it more life that just to people getting to fall in love with each other meanwhile getting to deal with their grief.
The one with her waxing her Private area and getting stuck so she had so seek help was so hilarious and could stop laughing.
Over all this book was a amazing book with a wild ride emotionally.
June 13, 2017
The best one in the series so far!
May 18, 2018
Dive and Menas love story grabbed my heart and wouldn't let go.So looking forward to Vicious and Narys story
August 27, 2016
So I mentioned in my review of Josie, Pick and Billy’s book my dislike for Simone and this one really didn’t help me with that, at all. I hate that happened to her but seriously what a sorry ass thing to do to Dive, I just hate it when women make that decision for a man….I mean really hate it.
Dive was a total dick to Mena in the beginning but in this case I guess I could see why due to what he was dealing with after all that happened to him. (I will add I still couldn’t get the feels for Simone after what she did to him, just saying.) But I got where he was coming from with all the things he said and did, even though it annoyed me…I got it. Thankfully once it really came to a point where he almost completely screwed it up he got his head out of his ass about that misplaced loyalty to Simone and how he was feeling about Mena. Although he would have his work cut out for him after that mess. But prove himself he did and I loved him for it.
I really liked Mena, she was great for Koda and Kalen. She put up with him because she was smart enough to see through his crap, even after he went too far. I hated to see her having to deal with that but she was smart and she was strong so it didn’t keep her down long. Oh and I absolutely loved the waxing scene that was beyond hilarious, poor girl….and I got me some Julian to go with it. Mena was an awesome heroine probably the best one for me in any of the Hawk’s books. She was smart, no TSTL moments, and she even stated she wanted to keep their business, their business…which I loved...since the others are entirely too intrusive and annoying as hell at this point.
Also surprisingly I floved Kalen’s mum, Judy, she was a hoot. I loved it when she told Kalen off about how he was treating Mena over her caring for Koda. She was involved without being an invasive annoyance like some of the previous characters in both of the Hawks series…..
I also really liked that it focused on Dive, Mena, and Koda. I did miss some of the MC drama and excitement but being without that also meant being without a bunch of annoying twits all up in their business all the time. I only had to suffer through minimal amounts of the twit posse and it wasn’t enough to ruin how great the rest of this story was.
I am glad that Nary and Saxon are finally up next, hopefully that one will live up to the wait. This series has been real hit and miss for me but it’s the hits that keep me coming back because they are worth it.
Dive was a total dick to Mena in the beginning but in this case I guess I could see why due to what he was dealing with after all that happened to him. (I will add I still couldn’t get the feels for Simone after what she did to him, just saying.) But I got where he was coming from with all the things he said and did, even though it annoyed me…I got it. Thankfully once it really came to a point where he almost completely screwed it up he got his head out of his ass about that misplaced loyalty to Simone and how he was feeling about Mena. Although he would have his work cut out for him after that mess. But prove himself he did and I loved him for it.
I really liked Mena, she was great for Koda and Kalen. She put up with him because she was smart enough to see through his crap, even after he went too far. I hated to see her having to deal with that but she was smart and she was strong so it didn’t keep her down long. Oh and I absolutely loved the waxing scene that was beyond hilarious, poor girl….and I got me some Julian to go with it. Mena was an awesome heroine probably the best one for me in any of the Hawk’s books. She was smart, no TSTL moments, and she even stated she wanted to keep their business, their business…which I loved...since the others are entirely too intrusive and annoying as hell at this point.
Also surprisingly I floved Kalen’s mum, Judy, she was a hoot. I loved it when she told Kalen off about how he was treating Mena over her caring for Koda. She was involved without being an invasive annoyance like some of the previous characters in both of the Hawks series…..
I also really liked that it focused on Dive, Mena, and Koda. I did miss some of the MC drama and excitement but being without that also meant being without a bunch of annoying twits all up in their business all the time. I only had to suffer through minimal amounts of the twit posse and it wasn’t enough to ruin how great the rest of this story was.
I am glad that Nary and Saxon are finally up next, hopefully that one will live up to the wait. This series has been real hit and miss for me but it’s the hits that keep me coming back because they are worth it.
October 6, 2016
Let The Games Begin
Dive is the manwhore of the MC. When he met his woman Simone for the first she brought him to his knees and they were happy. Then tragedy strikes and Dive is left alone raising his son as a single parent.
Unable to deal with his memories Dive and his son Koda move away.
While interviewing nannies for Koda, Dive meets Mena. She rattles his nerves ( in other words he's attracted to her and treats her like carp thinking he's being disloyal to Simones' memory).
Mena is desperate need for a job. Circumstances have her homeless and living in her car. She loves Koda, but the father is driving her nuts. His mood swings are giving her a case of whiplash and she wonders if the job is really worth it.
The road to romance for these two is extremely bumpy. It takes the Hawks, Dives' mother and of course Koda to get these two together. When they do prepare for the fireworks.
Usually the Hawks stories are about them and the drama surrounding them, but this is just about Dive and Mena. The rest fades into the back ground.
If you're looking for a sweet hearts and flower story then this is not the story for you. It's hard, steamy and occasionally funny. If you like your heroes strong, fierce and loyal and your heroines feisty and take charge then this is the story for you.
Dive is the manwhore of the MC. When he met his woman Simone for the first she brought him to his knees and they were happy. Then tragedy strikes and Dive is left alone raising his son as a single parent.
Unable to deal with his memories Dive and his son Koda move away.
While interviewing nannies for Koda, Dive meets Mena. She rattles his nerves ( in other words he's attracted to her and treats her like carp thinking he's being disloyal to Simones' memory).
Mena is desperate need for a job. Circumstances have her homeless and living in her car. She loves Koda, but the father is driving her nuts. His mood swings are giving her a case of whiplash and she wonders if the job is really worth it.
The road to romance for these two is extremely bumpy. It takes the Hawks, Dives' mother and of course Koda to get these two together. When they do prepare for the fireworks.
Usually the Hawks stories are about them and the drama surrounding them, but this is just about Dive and Mena. The rest fades into the back ground.
If you're looking for a sweet hearts and flower story then this is not the story for you. It's hard, steamy and occasionally funny. If you like your heroes strong, fierce and loyal and your heroines feisty and take charge then this is the story for you.
June 12, 2016
Lila freaking Rose knows how to start off a book with a bang, she she slowly wraps around your heart, warming it…..and then she unleashes the inferno. Your battered heart only just makes it out, struggling to breathe, slowly suffocating you...slowly a flicker of a breath gets let in, then another, then another, now it's manageable. You're finally on the mend, growing stronger with each word. She teases you like a girl on a diet holding a Tim Tam just out of reach. Then there's light, you can breathe, your heart is back and filling with lust. BOOM… Your heart is live and pumping hard so hard is about to burst with the steamy, sexy, DIRTY and swoon worthy moments.
Dive aka Kalan and Mena’s journey will keep you entranced. Together their story is filled with heartbreak, survival, lust, anticipation, humor and love. I just adored these two broken souls finding each other and trying to survive each day after the devastations they both endured. The love and adoration they shared over Koda was heartwarming.
I can't wait for Nary and Saxon’s story, and I'm really hoping Dallas follows on he has me intrigued, there is something about him...
* ARC provided in exchange for an honest review
Dive aka Kalan and Mena’s journey will keep you entranced. Together their story is filled with heartbreak, survival, lust, anticipation, humor and love. I just adored these two broken souls finding each other and trying to survive each day after the devastations they both endured. The love and adoration they shared over Koda was heartwarming.
I can't wait for Nary and Saxon’s story, and I'm really hoping Dallas follows on he has me intrigued, there is something about him...
* ARC provided in exchange for an honest review
June 4, 2017
So, so happy I didn't skip this book! I REALLY wanted Nary & Saxon's in my hand before Dive's story but his & Mena's book was great!!
Mena was all sorts of awesome. The way she cared for Koda was super sweet & the way she kept on truckin' despite her circumstances was inspiring.
Dive... He couldn't pull his head out of his a** fast enough for me. I get that what he went through was heavy but he was pretty dang mean to Mena in the beginning. Thank gods he made it up to her & more after that. They made for such a cute & sexy couple together.
The waxing scene... That was totally PRICELESS. Loved that Mena tried to give herself a day of pampering (because she so deserved it), loved that Low & Julian helped her out (every book needs a memorable Julian moment) & abso-frakin'-lutely loved that the guys walked in on it!
That ending though... Gah! Can't wait to get my hands on Living Without, featuring Nary & Saxon!!
Side Note: Thanks for finally including a tiny detail about how Zara became pregnant for Mattie & Julian! Now I'm curious if the egg was implanted in her from a clinic or if it was one of her own... #DetailsWh*re
Mena was all sorts of awesome. The way she cared for Koda was super sweet & the way she kept on truckin' despite her circumstances was inspiring.
Dive... He couldn't pull his head out of his a** fast enough for me. I get that what he went through was heavy but he was pretty dang mean to Mena in the beginning. Thank gods he made it up to her & more after that. They made for such a cute & sexy couple together.
The waxing scene... That was totally PRICELESS. Loved that Mena tried to give herself a day of pampering (because she so deserved it), loved that Low & Julian helped her out (every book needs a memorable Julian moment) & abso-frakin'-lutely loved that the guys walked in on it!
That ending though... Gah! Can't wait to get my hands on Living Without, featuring Nary & Saxon!!
Side Note: Thanks for finally including a tiny detail about how Zara became pregnant for Mattie & Julian! Now I'm curious if the egg was implanted in her from a clinic or if it was one of her own... #DetailsWh*re
June 16, 2016
Dive is a bad boy biker with a sweet side and he has found the love of his life. However, tragedy strikes and she is taken from him without any warning, leaving him to raise their baby boy all alone. He decides to leave his MC and move closer to his mom so she can help with the baby. Before long it is evident that he needs a job and mom needs a break. Enter Mena, the nanny from a totally different way of life than Dive. Her life has put her through trial and error, but she still looks at the world with a positive attitude, and she quickly falls in love with the baby boy. Will these two ever put their differences aside and use their love for a baby to bring them together?
I have never read this author before and this book is part of a series. Reading the rest of the series will give more insight into the characters, but I was able to piece things together reading this as a stand alone. It took me on a ride and had me smiling and crying within pages. A very good way to spend a couple of evenings. I am now hooked and want to read the rest.
Reviewed for Hot Books and Sassy Girls book blog.
I have never read this author before and this book is part of a series. Reading the rest of the series will give more insight into the characters, but I was able to piece things together reading this as a stand alone. It took me on a ride and had me smiling and crying within pages. A very good way to spend a couple of evenings. I am now hooked and want to read the rest.
Reviewed for Hot Books and Sassy Girls book blog.
June 23, 2016
Kelan ("Dive") and Mena meet when he has to hire a nanny for his son, Koda. Mena is homeless and really down on her luck. Mena is too proud to let Dive know what her situation is so she pretends to get on the bus and go home, instead of walking to her car and living in there. Kelan does not treat Mena well at all in the beginning. He was rude and just plain mean at points. Mena sucks it up and treats Koda like he is her own and tries to move forward with her life. When Mena overhears Dive speaking to one of his brothers about her, she is devastated at what she hears and decides to put him in the employer only category and not try to be friendly anymore. Dive finally gets his head on straight and begins to plan what he is going to do to get her back. Mena's secret comes out and Dive's response shocks her. She was not expecting anyone to put her first, let alone him. It was well done and showed the pain of recovering from the loss of a loved one for both of them. Dive did a great job of slowly getting Mena to see him in a new light, without overwhelming her into running. I liked the ending and can't wait to see what happens in the next book with Nary.
May 29, 2016
It's obvious Kalen aka Dive does not have a bashful bone in his body, "oh, sweet boy. It's okay. We'll get cleaned up." She turned to me, "Do you—" She gasped and closed her eyes. "Kalen." My name was a moan. Looking down, I realised in my panic, I'd run from my room naked." You could tell Kalen was a dominant man, "a low rumble started behind me. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw Kalen's eyes zoned in on my hand on the doctor's arm. I quickly removed it and opened the door." I really loved when Kalen was all bossy, "get your cute arse to bed, woman," I ordered and quickly slid my boxers off..." I loved this book, I love this series, it's always good to see past characters and see the men become whipped by the women they fall in love with.
June 17, 2016
Doing right by those you love is a hard thing to do when you are part of and MC. Dive's no one concern is his son, but he needs help.
Mena has lost everything but has a heart bigger than most. Hired as a nanny for Dive is her saving grace. Little did she know it would be more than she thought.
This book will have you in tears as these two come together. Hot sexy and more emotion than you can bare makes this read perfection!
Mena has lost everything but has a heart bigger than most. Hired as a nanny for Dive is her saving grace. Little did she know it would be more than she thought.
This book will have you in tears as these two come together. Hot sexy and more emotion than you can bare makes this read perfection!
August 16, 2021
The last 5 chapters were a little romantic but H is an idiot and said some really nasty things to her and his friend about her! He didn’t said sorry enough in my opinion, he didn’t even went after her and try to apologise… awful hero for me and she is really weak wich I hate even more than the bad things he said about her!
I’d love to see her run away for a while and find a real man!
Sorry but not for me…
I’d love to see her run away for a while and find a real man!
Sorry but not for me…
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 19, 2016
It's one of those books that you happen to stumble upon and that makes you feel strangely warm inside.
It was a great read. The hero was kind of a jerk. But I love me some jerk heroes ;)
The heroine was so sweet and warm and she kind of reminded me of myself. She is a giver and I connected so well with her. That's probably why I cried so much when she cried.
I loved it!
It was a great read. The hero was kind of a jerk. But I love me some jerk heroes ;)
The heroine was so sweet and warm and she kind of reminded me of myself. She is a giver and I connected so well with her. That's probably why I cried so much when she cried.
I loved it!
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