The Heart We Guard by S. Cole is live!

The fourth book in the Iron Outlaws MC: Colorado series, and it’s MC President, Butcher’s story in a close proximity, age gap, opposites attract romance with a surprise pregnancy and a fantastic redemption arc. This is such a great read full of emotion, and I loved this book so much.

 

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Blurb

From USA Today best selling author, Scarlett Cole, writing as S. Cole, comes a forced proximity, grumpy versus guarded, electrifying small town MC romance.

Greer

The night I quit as a surgeon, a dying man told me a secret I wasn’t supposed to hear.

Now someone wants me quiet—and a biker bleeding out in the parking lot might be my only escape.

I didn’t plan to take him home and remove his bullets on my dining table.

Yet, for seven days, he’s the calm in my chaos.

We break rules. Cross lines.

Then he’s gone.

But five weeks later, I find him at the clubhouse—and hand him a note with two words that change everything.

Butcher

I should’ve bled out.

Instead, I ended up in the care of a woman with haunted eyes and hands that didn’t shake—even when mine did.

But Dr. Greer Hansen is too soft for a man like me. Too bright. Too good.

So I leave while she sleeps.

Yet five weeks later, she finds me with news that hits harder than any bullet ever could.

And the only way to keep her breathing… is to drag her into my world.

Even if she hates me for it.

Even if it costs me the club.

She walked into my world by accident, and now I’ll rip it apart to keep what’s mine safe.

 

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Review

4.5 stars

The fourth book in the Iron Outlaws MC: Colorado series, and it’s MC President, Butcher’s story in a close proximity, age gap, opposites attract romance with a surprise pregnancy and a fantastic redemption arc. This is such a great read full of emotion, and I loved this book so much.

Butcher and Greer’s story was hinted at in the last book of the series with a very unexpected surprise pregnancy announcement. This book takes us back to their first meeting, when a critically injured Butcher is taken in by surgeon, Greer, and she treats him in her home to keep him out of hospital and therefore away from potential Police interference. Alone together while he recuperates, they get to know each other, and they hold nothing back. With nothing to lose they are open and honest and vulnerable in ways that they usually aren’t, and it was so, so good watching them form an unexpected friendship and that quickly turns into more.

The world stills until it’s just me and Greer, and all I can do is take in the comfort of her. Something I didn’t know she was capable of providing and didn’t know I wanted.
It’s as if the sum of the two of us just became something more, and I’m scared of it.
I’m scared it’s a magnet, trying to pull me away from who I am and what I know.

When Butcher returns to real life, they part ways, neither of them ready for a relationship. But when Greer shows up out the blue to let Butcher know that she’s pregnant, and she’s got a rival MC threatening her, their whole lives change as he brings her into his world, determined to protect her and their child, and maybe get the second chance that he never knew he wanted.

In those few days I spent with her, it consolidated the kind of man I want to be … I can’t imagine being anything more than I already am without her.

This book really surprised me. Honestly, I wasn’t a fan of Butcher in the beginning. He embodies the life of a biker – violence, alcohol, a wild lifestyle and a revolving door of club girls, and he’s completely unapologetic about it all. After seeing his difficult relationship with his daughter, Ember in her book (#2), I didn’t really like him, and the beginning of this book didn’t really endear him to me at all. With the things he says, does and thinks, he’s really not very likeable. But it’s just the starting point.

Greer, though, is just awesome. She’s worked so hard to get to where she is, but she’s so disillusioned by the bureaucracy of her chosen career. She just wants to help people, and her huge heart is such a big part of who she is. She brings out a new side of Butcher. She accepts him for who he is, but she doesn’t take any of his crap. She sees his vulnerabilities and encourages him to be better, and he can’t help but be swept up in all that she is, and it’s gorgeous to see!

“You changed me, Doc. You’ve made me want things I didn’t deserve, so I’ve been working to earn them. I’m ready for this, Greer. Right down to my boots. I want this.”

“If I said I was falling in love with you, Butcher, would it worry you?”
He smiles softly. “I’d just tell you catch up.”

For the first time in his life, Butcher thinks about his life, what he’s done and where he’s going, and it starts a real journey for him. He’s still fierce and a badass biker, but he’s owning his mistakes and working to fix them, allowing his heart to lead him for the first time ever, and it changes everything. It’s a beautiful story of redemption that sits side by side with a gorgeous love story, and the character development is so freaking good. Butcher and Greer’s relationship has its challenges, but it’s functional, honest and super passionate, and watching Butcher trying to be a relationship guy is so freaking sweet! And it’s not just Greer, his daughter Ember is a big part of his reason to change, and as he works on his relationship with his daughter, I loved seeing him make such an effort to be there for his girls.

“I’m winging this, Doc. Don’t know what I’m doing. But until we know each other better, if I’m fucking this up, you have to tell me.”
My eyes drift closed. “You’re doing fine, Butcher.” The words are mumbled as his lips brush my forehead.
“I need to do a whole lot better than fine.”

Meanwhile, the club is facing an enemy of old and there’s a whole lot of action and drama there. I loved seeing the boys in the club again and enjoyed the friendships, brotherhood, all of the club dynamics.

There’s a lot that goes on in this book, and the different elements are tied together so beautifully. There’s so much emotion and I felt it all, and I thought this story was so well told.

Such a great read, and a fantastic progression for the series.

I loved it – 4.5 stars!

An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author for an honest review.

 

Iron Outlaws MC: Colorado

 

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Meet the Author

The tattoo across my right hip says it all really. A Life Less Ordinary. Inked by the amazingly talented Luke Wessman at the Wooster Street Social Club (a.k.a. New York Ink). Why is it important? Well, it sums up my view on life. That we should all aspire to live a life that is less boring, less predictable. Be bold, and do something amazing. I’ve made some crazy choices. I’ve been a car maker, a consultant, and even a senior executive at a large retailer running strategy. Born in England, spent time in the U.S. and Japan, before ending up in Canada where I met my own, personal hero – all six and a half feet of him. Both of us are scorpios! Yeah, I know! Should have checked the astrological signs earlier, but somehow it works for us. We have two amazing kids, who I either could never part with or could easily be convinced to sell on e-bay.

I’ve wanted to be a writer for a really long time. Check through my office cupboards or my computer and you’ll find half written stories and character descriptions everywhere. Now I’m getting the chance to follow that dream.

 

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