Smoke and Steel (Wild West MC #2)(120)

Have you used a dating app? If not, and you’re unattached, would you? If you have, have you run into a scam artist/catfisher? What did you do?

And how would/do you protect yourself or friends and family from the scam artists and other unsavory folks who populate those apps?

4. Repeating the sins of a parent is a prevalent concern for both Core and Hellen. Core is afraid of the violence learned by his abusive father infiltrating his behaviors, and Hellen and Liane are both averse to the idea of marriage based on their relationship with their father.

Were you surprised to learn Core’s tragic backstory? Does it surprise you that Hellen and Liane are not “white dress” type of women, even after watching their mother and Andy’s love story?

5. No matter how hard they may wish to try, there are no perfect parents or parental decisions. Obviously, some instances are more traumatic than others, for example, the history of Core’s parents and the fallout and trauma Core experienced because of that.

How do you navigate coming to terms with these less-than-great parenting adventures? Have you or someone you love entered into therapy of any sort as a result of childhood drama? Have you found yourself in a relationship with someone with unhealed childhood wounds? What do you think is the best way to exist in a relationship when one or both of you has unresolved trauma that affects their relationship or bonding styles?

6. Traditionally, women are expected to slot themselves into a man’s life. What are your thoughts on that? If you have a daughter, have you discussed this with her? Did it seem unnatural to you that Core was willing to navigate their togetherness the other way around, living his life around Hellen’s work, goals and ambitions? Were you relieved when Hellen made the effort to confront Core about this and balance their lives so that Core was not losing himself in the relationship?

7. As Hellen suffered in this book (Bree vs. Bryan), is it your experience that the loss of a friendship is sometimes harder than the loss of a romantic partner?

8. After reading Smoke and Steel, do you have a favorite part? A most relatable character? A favorite secondary character you’d like to see get an HEA?

9. The Wild West MC series is heading back to Chaos next, who do you think will be the main character?





ACKNOWLEDGMENTS





I have to shout out to my girl Malia Anderson for our text discussion on The Tinder Swindler. Specifically, her comment about how the women he’d swindled needed a good friend or an auntie to step in and tell them what’s what. Her wisdom led to that plotline for Hellen and Core, and since it was the impetus for them to get together, I’m grateful for it.

Many thanks to Donna and Liz for reading along, and to Jillian for being excited about all that was Hellen, which made me fall in love with her even more.

Also, thanks to my girl Hellen Fernandez for having a kickass name I could steal and give to a heroine.

And more thanks to Donna, as well as Kelly Brown, Lillie Applegarth and Amanda Simpson at Pixel Mischief for keeping my shit tight and making me look good.

Last, as ever and always, much love and gratitude to all my readers whose support and loyalty allows me to continue to do the best job in the world.





HEAD BACK TO THE CHAOS COMPOUND





Own the Wind

Chaos Series #1





Tabitha Allen grew up in the thick of Chaos—the Chaos Motorcycle Club, that is. Her father is Chaos’s leader, and the club has always had her back. But one rider was different from the start. When Tabby was running wild, Shy Cage was there. When tragedy tore her life apart, he helped her piece it back together. And now Tabby’s thinking about so much more than friendship.

Tabby is everything Shy’s ever wanted, but everything he thinks he can’t have. She’s beautiful, smart, and as his friend’s daughter, untouchable. Shy never expected more than friendship, so when Tabby indicates she wants more—much more—he feels like the luckiest man alive. But even lucky men can crash and burn…

Click here to read the Prologue.





OWN THE WIND





PROLOGUE





You Don’t Know Me





His cell rang and Parker “Shy” Cage opened his eyes.

He was on his back in his bed in his room at the Chaos Motorcycle Club’s compound. The lights were still on and he was buried under a small pile of women. One was tucked up against his side, her leg thrown over his thighs, her arm over his ribs. The other was upside down, tucked to his other side, her knee in his stomach, her arm over his calves.

Both were naked.

“Shit,” he muttered, as he lifted and twisted himself out from under his fence of limbs. He reached out to his phone.

He checked the display and touched his thumb to the screen to take the call.

“Yo, brother,” he muttered to Hop, one of his brethren in the Chaos MC.

“Where are you?” Hop asked.

“Compound,” Shy answered.

“You busy?”

Shy lifted up to an elbow and looked at the two women passed out in his bed.

“Not anymore,” he replied.

Knowing Shy and his reputation, there was humor in Hop’s tone when he stated, “Tabby Callout.”

At this news, fire hit his gut, as it always did when he got that particular callout. He didn’t know why, it made no sense, he barely knew the girl, but always when he heard it, it pissed him way the hell off.