Ruled

Hard Riders MC #1

by Anne Marsh

The Rebel vs. The Princess

Complete opposites who share the same burning passion!

Jaxon Brady of the Hard Riders MC has sworn to protect Evie Kent from a rival gang. His hard muscles and black leather motorcycle boots are a sharp contrast to the girlie dresses Evie wears for her successful party-planning business. Their instant attraction is magnetic, and their lust keeps them glued to each other’s side…but is it a dangerous distraction?

“Dare is Harlequin’s hottest line yet. Every book should come with a free fan. I dare you to try them!” —Tiffany Reisz, international bestselling author

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Fiction

169 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 25, 2018

About the author

Anne Marsh is a sucker for a grumpy hero who falls hard, a sunshine heroine who won't back down, and small towns where everyone knows your business (but shows up with casseroles anyway).

A New York Times and USA Today bestselling author with 30+ romance novels, Anne writes contemporary and paranormal stories full of banter, steam, heroines navigating real challenges (chronic illness, anxiety, all the messy parts of being human), and happily-ever-afters you can believe in.

Perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood, Talia Hibbert, and Olivia Dade.

Anne lives in rural North Carolina with rescue cats who barely tolerate her and neighbors who are real-life heroes—fixing cars, hauling mulch, pulling you out of ditches without even being asked. Her books are love letters to small-town kindness and big-hearted romance.

COMING SOON: Hot for Preacher (Harlequin Afterglow) - February 24, 2026
Grumpy preacher. Sunshine country singer living with rheumatoid arthritis. Second chances. Small-town meddling. So. Much. Heat.

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TikTok: Coming soon!

Reviews

[Lana ❇✾DG Romance❇✾]

DNF

Just not my cuppa. Didn't click with the characters or their connection that seemed to come out of nowhere.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC received for review

It was just okay. It felt forced and rushed in places, and the ending was unbelievable. Lot of MC drama and sex. Eve sure didn't take any of Rev's junk, but her brother was all kinds of stupid.

[Jessica Alcazar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay ... so I'm just gonna go ahead and just say the main story plot that really just didn't work: Rev and Eve's journey to HEA was just wham bam done. I don't know any other way to put it. It was quick and instant for sure. That usually is no problem in romance fiction, but with this story, that wasn't the only thing going on in it. We have an entire MC world happening with suspense and drama that also has to fit into the plot. So basically, the story doesn't work in this length. It needed time to develop, both romantically and suspensefully. At-least it did for me. It's not an all together bad story-line, but it could have been great with a little more depth and a little less drama. It felt like it was trying to do too much .... so I'm very middle of the road here. I see a lot of potential as an MC series and hopefully as the series progresses, we'll get to see more of Rev and Eve to solidify their romantic journey a bit better. Who knows ... we shall see.

Copy provided for blog tour review

[Tzelina]

Nope..... unfortunately dnf!!
I couldn't connect with the characters 😔

[Lisa (Remarkablylisa) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I honestly wanted to like this book but I didn't connect with the characters, it was slightly slow paced, and the plot wasn't exactly something I would be interested in. I'm still in the search for MC books with bad boys and good girls.

[Katrin Schäfer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lust auf einen Ritt?
CLUB #4
von Anne Marsh
HarperCollins Germany
Mira Taschenbuch
Cover:
Erotisches Cover passend zur THE CLUB Serie
Rezension:
"Lederjacke. Zerrissene Jeans. Tätowierungen auf beiden Armen. Rev verströmt eine Aura der Gefahr, aber er löst in Evie ein herrliches Kribbeln aus, das sie seit Jahren nicht mehr verspürt hat. Wenn sie auf seinem Motorrad durch die Wüste rasen, fühlt sich Evie frei und wild. Ihr Herz hämmert, ihre Knie zittern, und am liebsten würde sie ihn hier und jetzt nehmen. Leider gehört Evies Bruder einer rivalisierenden Rockergang an, und schon bald gerät sie zwischen die Fronten …"
Dies ist der vierte Band der Club-Serie. Jeder Teil ist jedoch für sich lesbar und stammt von einer anderen Schriftstellerin. Das Lesen war schnell und einfach, auch wenn es mir bei diesem Buch an der Story und der Tiefe mangelte. Wahrscheinlich ist dies aber auch der Kürze des Buches geschuldet. Mir hat es definitiv an Handlung und mehr drum herum gefehlt. Ohne dies liest es sich für mich wie eine flache Geschichte, reduziert auf die beiden Protas und selbst diese haben meiner Meinung nach nicht genug Beachtung gefunden. Schade, denn dieses Buch hätte sicher viel mehr zu bieten. Daher war es nicht so ganz mein Fall, weil mir einfach zu viel gefehlt hat um mich vom Hocker zu hauen. 2/5 Sterne
Vielen Dank an Netgalley und den Mira Taschenbuch Verlag für das Rezensionsexemplar.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jaxon "Rev" and Evie are not a match made in heaven. He is a biker and she is a princess. Literally. Ok, she runs a company where she throws parties and dresses up like a princess, but the meaning is there. And, he really is a biker, in a rival gang of the one her brother is a part of.

So, this is not a simple relationship, and she is determined to have nothing to do with Rev. But, she is attracted to him, and he is attracted to her...so, staying away from one another isn't exactly working out.

I loved that Evie tells Rev that, if he wants to be with her, he needs to date her and follow her rules. And, I loved that he followed them, in his own way. I liked the way the author handled the meshing of their characters, and their lives. They come from different worlds, and believing that it would work out and that they would get a happily ever after required me to believe that they were able to meet in the middle, and I believed it.

The characters were interesting and I believed in their attraction. I did enjoy this overall and I recommend it.

[Rachel-RN · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why did I read this?
Evie running a (princess) party planning business. Her brother Rocker provided the funds for her to get business off the ground and is her business partner. He also happens to be in a MC gang. Rocker gets involved with illegal things and Rev, part of a rival gang, steps in to help "protect" Evie.
I didn't like anyone in this one. I didn't like or appreciate the dynamics of their relationship. Rev was too Alpha-hole and the brother too much a selfish jackass. There's kidnapping.
"She's this biker's property." "You're my property now."
Oh hell no.

[☆☆Hannah☆☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given an ARC copy of this.

I did enjoy this book. I felt bad for Evie. She had to be involved in her brothers nonsense. Even though she had nothing to do with any of it. Although, if it hadn't happened then she wouldn't have met Rev. Thankfully he protected her and they got to be together.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

“He’s not Mr White Picket Fence and he’s not promising me happily ever after.”

“I feel free. Free and somehow safe at the same time because whatever Rev does to me, I trust him not to hurt me.”

“I can’t think when I’m around him–all I do is feel. Feel wonderful. Alive. On fire for him.”

It’s been a while since I’ve read a good biker romance, so when I heard that the new Dare Line from Harlequin was featuring one, I couldn’t be more excited to check it out.

Ruled may be a short read, but I promise you this book packs a punch. The story-line was a lot of fun. I loved the danger and romance that this story had. The characters were engaging and kept me quickly turning the pages. From the moment I met Evie’s character I just knew she was a force to be reckoned with. She understood the MC life better than most and wanted nothing more than to leave that part of her life behind. And Rev..He couldn’t be more her opposite. Dedicated to the MC life and 100% dangerous. But, the moment he lays his eyes on Evie, he swears to protect her and make her his…

Overall, I thought this book was a quick and fun read. I enjoyed every second of it and couldn’t stop myself from devouring it. For me, this book checked off all the boxes and had just the right mix of danger, drama, action and some seriously sinful moments. This is my first book by this author and I’m excited to check out more from her in the future.

*I was provided an ARC copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review*

[Dani (Dani Reviews Things) · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can't even write a proper review for this because I'm just so appalled at the ending.

There was no way at all for this couple to end up together in my head. The things he did to her, and the fact that she did not want anything to do with the biker life, made this the case.

AND YET. She did a complete 180º for a guy she'd had sex with a few times, calling it "love". THE MOTHERFUCKER KIDNAPPED HER, TORE UP HER CLOTHES, AND TRIED TO CONTROL HER. Rage.

So yeah, the sex was hot but this was a mess. The ending didn't even try to make sense.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Deb Schwartz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruled is the second book in the Hard Riders Series, it is no less intense s the first book. Anne Marsh created a brilliant series.

Rev is a retired seal and a member of the Hard Rider MC, his job whatever is needed to be done at the time. This man is built hard, sexy and under all that has a soft spot for princesses. Being the enforcer is never easy especially when the enforcing needed to be done on a cute package wrapped up in pink who is all glittery with sunshine and rainbows.

Evie's life has never been easy, so why is now any different? Evie has raised Rocker to the best of her abilities after their parents were no longer around. The proud owner of her princess party mobile service has given her what she need to support her and Rocker. Rocker drew trouble, and this trouble came in a six-foot plus sexy package. She is one lady who knows what she wants, but is what or who she wants good for her in the long run?

Things heat up between Rev and Eve both in and out of the bedroom. Issues arise when they find themselves on different sides. Eve does not do MC life or members, she may not be able to control what Rocker does, but she knows how to say "NO". Right? Rev and Evie are unlikely pair and I have to admit I was not sure about them as a couple at all, but opposites attract.

The supporting characters add fun and intense moments through out Ruled. I can't wait to see what Anne Marsh has in store for Rocker, Vik and the other Hard Riders MC members. Ruled is the first book in the Hard Rider Series Hot, sweet and about as sexy as one can get. The plot is just about what you would think of a MC romance, but with a added edge. Anne Marsh delivers on a intriguing, fun read with stellar characters. The banter between both levels helps keep the edge from getting to overwhelming.

Rated 41/2 Stilettos by Deb!

[Maria Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruled by Anne Marsh is one of the first entries in the new Dare imprint from Harlequin. As a biker club romance, it definitely fits this new category line. One should expect that stories in this line will have the heat factor of a Blaze, turned up a notch. Kinky sex (such as threesomes, BDSM, toys etc.) and crude language are definite possibilities so readers should not be surprised to find stories that may push their comfort zone, if they don’t normally read erotic romances. Your best bet is to read the synopsis before picking up a story, if you’re not sure if they are for you. I, on the other hand, am a fan, and am ready for the wild ride of the Dare line!

Evie Kent has a successful party planning business, with princess dresses, a dragon and any other number of delights for young girls. Her silent partner is her younger brother Rocker. As young children, she became Rocker’s protector when their father, a member of a motorcycle club, was arrested and jailed for life. She knows about the lifestyle, and has tried to stay clear of it but her brother has fallen in with the Black Dogs who are involved in the drug trade. She doesn’t want to believe that he’d be dealing drugs and guns but when a rival gang member approaches her to try to make contact with Rocker, she must accept the truth. What she doesn’t expect is the intense sexual attraction between her and Rev, full fledged member of the Hard Rider MC.

Jaxon Brady, a.k.a Rev, is a former SEAL, and all the members of Hard Rider are ex-military who came out of their one time careers looking for another place to belong. They keep their territory drug free and protect their own. To stop the flow of illegal goods through their streets they are willing to talk with the Black Dogs before upping to a more violent solution. When Rev meets Evie, he finds himself adding her to his list of people to protect, knowing that her brother’s dealings could spell trouble for her personally. A steamy affair ensues. But Rev’s loyalty is always to his club first. When he is forced to choose between them, will it spell the end of what they’ve been building together?

For more of this review please visit Harlequin Junkie: http://harlequinjunkie.com/review-rul...

A copy of this story was provided by the publisher for review.

[Caitlyn Lynch · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second of the new Harlequin Dare books I'm reviewing this month, Ruled by Anne Marsh is a Motorcycle Club (MC) romance.

Evie’s princess party business is booming. The only cloud on her horizon is her brother’s involvement in the Black Dogs motorcycle club - and Rev, the enforcer from rival club Hard Riders who keeps turning up to poke his nose into her life. It would be an awful lot more convenient for Evie if she didn’t find Rev sexy as sin, because she’s vowed she wants nothing more than to stay away from MCs forever.

The chemistry between Evie and Rev was both off the charts and very believable, with some superbly written sex scenes, but there were a few continuity errors in the book that really got to me - anyone can accidentally write putting on a condom twice in the same sex scene, but Rev stating that the club ‘saved him’ when he was seventeen, when we’ve already had a long explanation for the Hard Riders being strictly for former serving members of the military, threw me off quite badly. Additionally, I didn’t care for the way things finished up with Evie’s brother and I felt she compromised her principles a bit too readily considering by the end of the book, she still didn’t know if Rev even had a regular job and paycheck.

There were some exceptional parts about this story - the hot sex scenes and the fun of Evie’s party business being among them - but there were a few too many annoying parts as well. I can’t say any more than ‘it was okay’ and therefore I’m giving it three stars.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review through NetGalley.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ruled was a bit of an uneven read. There were things I liked--Rev and Evie's internal dialogue was LOL at times, and I highlighted quite a few passages that tickled my funny bone. Evie's grand gesture at the end was all kinds of fun--plus, her whole princess party business (especially the sparkly pink RV) was just fantastic.

But...

Their relationship, while all kinds of steamy, was pretty much insta-everything. Evie's brother didn't deserve her loyalty...At. All. OMG, he was an ungrateful jerk, and one who makes bad business decisions to boot. I'm still not 100% convinced that Rev and Evie have thought their obstacles through...but still, they are good together so I'm going to keep my fingers crossed.

MC books tend to be hit or miss for me, and this one's kind of in the middle...so if you're a fan of the subgenre, give it a try--I'm more than willing to say this could be a case of it's not you, it's me.

Rating: 3 stars / C+

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Miranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Although I liked this first in the series book, I didn't love it like I was hoping. I felt, at times, the book was too centered around the sex scenes and made the storyline lack a bit. I mean this was supposed to be about what Rocker's actions did to Evie and Rocker was barely a secondary character. I wish there would of been more happening with that and not left me wondering and guessing throughout the book and bam...its the end of the book and it's resolved. Evie and Rev were hot together. Great sex and sexual chemistry but for an independent woman, Evie sure does let him do some crap and get away with it. Overall good book just wish there was a bit more to it.

[Yvette89 · Rating 3 out of 5]

RECEIVED COPY FOR HONEST REVIEW
A good first book, it was ok. Eve grants little girls their ultimate princess party. She and her crew dress in full capacity and grant all the dreams come true. Rev is the MC enforcer. Opposites attract in this sexy story. Eve was raised in the MC world and her brother is neck deep in the life. she hates all things MC but loves her brother unconditionally. She was blind to his faults and it took a lot for her to finally see them. Rev was no nonsense and gave it to her pretty straight. I loved him. he was true to character. Even though Eve grew up around the MC she seemed a little naive about what was going on. Her character did not quite fit. The story felt a little rushed, especially the ending.

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expected more of a storyline to go with this MC book. Maybe it was the length of the book but it needed something else besides steamy sex. I also struggled with my connection to the characters. The Insta love Didn't necessarily bother me but afterwards I need something more to build on.

I am willing to see if book 2 is an improvement.

*ARC provided to me in exchange for an honest review*

[Rachael Orman · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.

I have to say this book had a lot of potential and I did enjoy it. However, the plot was just okay. It had some really weak parts that could've been beefed up and really grabbed us more what with the girl in the princess dresses who hates bikers, yet has a big weak spot for that same type of man.

Then there was all the biker club drama that was sort of built up to be something huge... and it was a let down.

A lot of the book could've been better with just more meat. I mean, I certainly felt the sparks between the main characters but that was the only thing that kept me going. But at times even their relationship felt forced with rushed feelings.... And the end, it sort of came out of left field for me because it really didn't feel like they'd reached that point before then.

And last but not least, there were many, many times when the story had errors (like putting on a 'raincoat' only to put on another one as if it hadn't been donned the first time half a page later or clothes that magically disappeared).

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads

I completely enjoyed this story. It was quick moving and fast paced with lots and lots of steamy goodness. I found Eve a bit all over the place pushing Rev away, then pulling him back. Rev's character was quite interesting, he claims not to be a nice guy and proves that chasing after prey is a fun past time that gets his motor running more than once. He's sworn to protect Eve and ends up kidnapping her to make an exchange with Eve's brother who's in a rival MC. Eve is sort of clueless to her brother's dealings and defends him at every turn. It's up to Rev to prove to Evie that her brother isn't the innocent she thinks him. There's some weird character lobotomies at times...a scene in particular in the bathroom where Eve's being held kidnapped by Rev. I'm not sure Rev would trust a hostage's mouth in certain places! For me the two do have some pretty good chemistry and a lot of "i want him but shouldn't" goes on, which I enjoy. So all in all I was easily drawn in & entertained.

[K Reynolds · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not a bad book. For me it was just okay. The writing wasn’t bad but I never fully connected to the story or the characters. Being a novella it felt rushed. I felt like the I was being explained the story and not living in the story, which held me off from becoming attached. I’m not going to say don’t read because it’s a good novella and I’m sure the style is more in line with other readers.

I requested and received an arc copy of this book. This review is my true, honest, and voluntary opinion.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.

I really tried to get into this book, but it was not an easy read for me.

The action between the motorcycle clubs was almost non-existent and what was mentioned lack the depth of knowledge that I've seen in other books.

Rev and Evie's relationship seemed to start out okay, but Evie's constant theme of "I don't date bikers" was overshadowed by her inability to say "no" to Rev.

The ending to me seemed rushed and I'm not sure I'm invested enough to read the second book in this series.

~~Wicked Reads Review Team~~

[Ida 'Yuki' · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a little disappointed when I looked forward to reading the book. And when I have read it, you feel that the book ends up between bad and good.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Info
Kindle Edition
Expected publication: February 1st 2018 by Harlequin Dare
ASIN B0723GHZNH
Edition Language English
Characters Jaxon Brady, Evie Kent
Other Editions None found
Source:Netgalley EARC

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BOOK BLURB

The Rebel vs. The Princess

Complete opposites who share the same burning passion!


Jaxon Brady of the Hard Riders MC has sworn to protect Evie Kent from a rival gang. His hard muscles and black leather motorcycle boots are a sharp contrast to the girlie dresses Evie wears for her successful party-planning business. Their instant attraction is magnetic, and their lust keeps them glued to each other’s side…but is it a dangerous distraction?

My Thoughts

Not a book for everyone but for those of us who enjoy the intrigue that MC life holds it may just be the ticket.

Jaxon Brady/Rev finds himself for the first time torn between his total loyalty to the Hard Riders MC when he and Evie Kent cross paths and start a relationship that neither one expected to be more than hooking up for hot sex.

Although these two are from different worlds they soon find themselves ignoring those details and taking a chance with each other as friends and lovers. That may come to a screeching halt sooner than later when Rev's MC and Evie's brothers MC decide to get involved.

Filled with the delightful image of Evie in her full Princess regalia while entertaining a group of giggling girls or boys for their birthdays to the horror of flying bullets and multiple brushes with danger this story has the needed elements to make it an easy to enjoy read. With of course the added bonus of having the two main characters butt heads with each other all the way to the ending as neither one has an ounce of give when it comes to what should and should not be withheld within a committed relationship.

For Evie she has to overcome a lifelong aversion to all things MC, stemming from childhood because of her own experience thanks to her father and mother. Her other worry of course is fear for her younger brother as Rocker is more like a son than a sibling.

Jaxon/Rev has to make up his mind whether his MC is still the most important constant in his life or whether Evie is worth defying his brothers for so their relationship can truly become solid the way they both would like it to be.

The thing for me when finding a new MC read is my liking of other works of a particular author, the synopsis sounds like the story has some interesting twists and once start the book it has more to offer than just sex scenes alone with very little content that follows any kind of cohesive plot.

I found all three points in this first book of author Anne Marsh as have other contemporary genre penned by her found it to be exactly the thing to entertain me from start to finish.

Looking forward to getting to follow the series when next book becomes available for review, I hope.

[EArc from Netgalley]

[Girl Reading Books Too · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ruled is a rocky ride across the world of motorcycle clubs, the ties that bind a man to the club and the woman who becomes a part of his life. It's edgy, gritty and dirty.

I have very mixed feelings about Ruled. It's hot as heck and the dirty, sexy times between Rev and Evie will burn up the sheets. However, it's also filled with rough edges and frustration, and it's not very romantic. I supposed it's unreasonable for me to expect a hard-edged biker to have a softer side and get all romantic but the romantic in me wants that. Even when Rev is declaring his feelings for Evie, it's not very romantic. It's more of a take it or leave it kind of a situation. I would have liked it more emotional and mushy but that's just me.

I liked Rev. He's the Hard Riders MC's enforcer and he fixes problems. Evie's brother is a problem and that lands Evie in his sights. In all his dealings with Evie, he shoots straight. He's honest and truthful, and he does not hide who he is, what he does or where his loyalties lie. He's also rough around the edges and tough as heck. There isn't a gentle bone in his body but he's loyal, honorable and protective.

Evie was a difficult heroine for me to like. She liked her rules a little too much and she was also tough and unbending. I guess you need a spine of steel to deal with someone like Rev on equal footing or you'd get run over by him. She certainly held her own with him. I admired her for that but I didn't like the way she blinded about her brother and how that jeopardised her relationship with Rev. I understand unconditional love for family but I think she was very naive about her brother even when the evidence was right before her eyes. At least she finally came to her senses about her brother and about Rev but by then I was already majorly annoyed with her so even though she did something to redeem herself, I was not feeling too kindly towards her.

Although I enjoyed the story, I'm not sure if the whole MC world is for me. I love a tough, protective hero but I want them with a softer side to them. These MC heroes seem to be just all toughness with no softness. Vik's story is next and he's an interesting character. I might dip my toe back into the MC world for him.



See more from Deanna's World

[Mari Cardenas · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars!

Evie has a children party planning company and so far she's doing fairly well with it, so long as she can keep her MC rider brother away so he doesn't scare the clients. After her brother gets in trouble with a rival MC and she meets Rev, she has a new problem since he self-appoints himself as her bodyguard to protect her against the guys who her brother was dealing with.

I really liked Rev. He was dashing and swoon-worthy. A knight in leather on a mean motorcycle. As heroines go, Evie was likable. She was hard-working and nice and didn't irritate me all that much, although there were a few instances when she was defending the good for nothing brother of hers in which I really wanted to slap some sense into her. The chemistry between them was electric and my kindle sizzled with how hot they were together.

I will admit that I haven't read all that many MC books, that's generally my co-blogger Jaymie's area, however, I found Ruled to be quite entertaining and fast-paced. It was fun and hot for the most part, a really good start to the series. I really disliked Evie's brother and really would've liked him to have a more fitting ending, though. I felt that part of the story was a bit rushed, but other than that I recommend this book and will keep an eye on the next titles in the series.

*** Copy provided to the reviewer by Harlequin via NetGalley, a review wasn't a requirement. ***

[Donna Repsher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ruled is the second novel I've read in the new Harlequin Dare imprint, and I've read and enjoyed several other novels by its author, Anne Marsh, but sadly, for several reasons which I'll explain, I can't give this novel more than a 3-star rating.

First, this is an MC romance, a trope which certainly works for me, yet aside from several mentions and a few secondary characters, we don't spend any time at or inside the club. It's mentioned often enough that, as a reader, I wanted to see it, and too also see some interaction among the club members, but it just wasn't there.

Next, the main characters. We first meet Eve (Evie) Kent, the heroine, whose business travels with her to various venues in and around Las Vegas. It's a big, pink RV, covered in sparkly rainbows and unicorns. Her business is called Perfectly Princess Parties. Evie and her employees/friends throw princess-themed parties for little girls, complete with angel wings, more sparkles, balloons, and even a large inflatable castle, complete with an inflatable dragon.

Evie has a younger brother, Rocker, for whom she feels responsible. Growing up, their home life wasn't great. Their father was a member of an MC, and is doing 25+ years in prison, and Evie knows that Rocker recently patched in as a member of the Black Dogs MC, but he swears to her that they aren't into anything illegal or dangerous--of course they aren't. To say that Evie isn't a fan of MC clubs is putting it mildly. What Evie doesn't know is that there's trouble on the horizon, in the person of the hero, Rev.

Rev is a big, hunky, dominant former Navy SEAL and a member of the Hard Riders MC--it's members are all ex-military, and supposedly they are not into anything illegal. They are trying to contain the flow of drugs into their territory, east Last Vegas. The mission he's been given is to keep an eye on Evie, and when he first sees her in her princess get-up, complete with tiara, wings and sparkles, it's lust at first sight. The reason he's been given this assignment is that his club president is aware that the Black Dogs MC is heavily involved with a Colombian drug cartel, and Evie's brother, Rocker, is in the thick of it, although she'd deny it with her last breath. The Hard Riders can't find him, and are hoping that Evie can get a message to him. She's not at all impressed by Rev's leathers, but the man wearing them is a totally hot alpha, and although she hates the idea of MC members in general, and has sworn never to involve herself with one, she's about to make an exception for Rev--and what an exception it is.

While I expected that the Harlequin Dare novels would follow in the footsteps of their former Blaze imprint, the heat and sheer number of sex scenes in this novel are off the charts, and go where no Blaze novel has gone before. The explicit sex scenes didn't bother me but there were a few things that did. First, Evie knows that Rev is an MC member, and at the outset, she seems to have a good, sensible head on her shoulders, but she throws all of her good sense out the window so quickly when she meets Rev that it just seemed like too much, too intense, and way too soon.

There are other inconsistencies as well. Rev claims that the Hard Riders saved him when he was 17, yet we also know that he was a Navy SEAL, yet we never learn exactly how the club saved him or why he needed saving at all. We also know that all the club members are ex-military, SEALs, Special Ops, and the like, but what led them to form an MC club? Do they all have PTSD? How exactly do the club members earn a living, since none of them seem to be gainfully employed outside of club business? Then we get a snippet of information about the club women, and we learn that Rev hasn't been with any of them in a very long time, because they want to talk or be paid in some way after sex--paid? MC club women may be hangers-on and groupies, and they may have no problem having sex with any or all of the club members, but if they want payment, they are hookers, and we've already been told that the Hard Riders aren't into anything illegal--except that they all carry guns too, and they aren't afraid of a little thing like kidnapping.

Rev, as alpha male as it gets, doesn't seem to have a problem talking to Evie, and he has even less trouble when the only thing they seem to do when they spend time together is have sex, and if they're not having sex, they're thinking about having sex. I just wish the author had spent a little less time on their sex lives and instead given us more of a backstory on Rev as well as allowing us to see some relationship-building between these two characters. What happened to him when he was 17? What happened during his stint as a SEAL that made him want to leave the military and join the Hard Riders? His background and motives are a mystery that really should have been and needed to be explored.

Yes, I did mention kidnapping, but I won't include a spoiler about it in this review. Yes, there is an HEA ending to this novel, but it isn't as HEA as one would expect from a romance novel because there are simply too many things we still don't know, too many uncertainties, and too little information about where Rev and Evie go from there.

This novel isn't badly written, Ms. Marsh has skills, and it was an enjoyable, if incomplete, read, but I think this would have been a much better novel had it not been forced into a short series romance page count, which certainly limited the author's options when it came to fully fleshing out these characters, their backstories and their future.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Heather andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rev is a naughty man, “You’ve got words. Effing use them.” Not as if she’s held back in the mouthy department before, so she can tell me if something I do fails to get her off." Evie does not beat around the truth, "she hands me a glass of tea and launches her opening salvo. “You can’t send me underwear.” I really loved this book, Rev was one determined man.

[Tracie R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruled is Book 1 in the Hard Riders MC series and introduces us to Jaxon. A promising start to this new series I liked Jaxon and Evie and look forward to reading more

[joy’s reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️