The Hope We Dare by Scarlett Cole (writing as S. Cole) is live!

An emotional MC romance with a twist, where an in-the-closet MM couple turns into an MMF relationship with a somewhat traumatised ex club girl. The dramatic love story had me completely invested, with danger and suspense adding intensity, and I loved this story.

 

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Blurb

Isla

I wanted to be loved by a biker with my whole heart, but all they ever took was my body.
Somewhere along the way, I stopped recognizing the woman I’d become.
Inheriting my Nanna’s rundown house is the fresh start I need.
A life away from the club. Away from men who only ever take.
So the last thing I need is Jackal and Shade moving into the only other house on the street…and offering me more than just help with renovations.

Shade

I’ve never thought I was worth loving.
I’m grumpy, withdrawn, and come with baggage.
Jackal saw through all that and loved me anyway. For me, he chose monogamy.
Men like me don’t get one great love, let alone two.
But I’m looking at Isla differently now…and wondering if there’s a way to love her without destroying what we’ve built.

Jackal

I fell in love with Shade the day I met him, even though he had no intention of loving me back.
He wanted monogamy, and he was worth the sacrifice.
But now he’s looking at Isla the same way I am.
And I can’t stop imagining a life where the three of us choose each other.

Until violence hits, and we don’t know which of us is the target.
We’ve been given the kind of love you only dare to hope for.
And we’ll burn the world down to protect it.

 

 

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Review

4 stars

An emotional MC romance with a twist, where an in-the-closet MM couple turns into an MMF relationship with a somewhat traumatised ex club girl. The dramatic love story had me completely invested, with danger and suspense adding intensity, and I loved this story.

This is the final book in the Iron Outlaws MC: Colorado series, and though there is a lot of character crossover, you can read this book as a standalone. There is some history with the main characters in this book, particularly Isla, but honestly, I had forgotten most of those details from earlier books, and there’s enough background given in this one that you won’t feel lost.

Jackal and Shade are nomad Iron Outlaw members who have decided to settle in Colorado with the local chapter. They are in a loving, long term, committed relationship, though nobody knows, and they are settling into life as enforcers with their new chapter. Isla used to be a club girl. She’s been with most of the men in the club and previously caused problems by trying to come between other couples, but she’s had an awakening and walked away from the club, horrified by her past actions and is creating a new life for herself. Her first step is moving into and renovating her late grandmother’s remote farmhouse, but her fresh start is interrupted when Jackal and Shade move into the house across the street.

Isla wants nothing to do with the bikers across the street, but when she runs into trouble, Jackal and Shade are there to protect her. They get to know each other, become friendly, and feelings start to develop.

“We didn’t see you at the club because you were so masked up in what you thought being a club girl was that you never showed us who you really are.”

The shift to more comes quickly, and I would have liked a little more build-up, given that Jackal and Shade have only ever been monogamous and Isla is still traumatised by her experiences. That said, it’s functional, and the way it unfolds feels believable, especially as one of them has prior experience with polyamory. Jackal and Shade are an established couple, and they communicate so well that bringing Isla into their relationship feels natural. They’re open with her, making sure she knows what they want and offering their hearts without any pressure and ensuing she’s ok with it all at every step. Watching them earn her trust and win her heart while never undermining or diminishing their own relationship is really beautifully done.

I probably shouldn’t listen to their conversation, but I can’t help myself. I want to hear Kai fall in love. I want to watch him do it. I’ll always lead us in the bedroom, but in truth, he’s always known more about how to love and be loved than I do. I need him to show me the path to follow in this, because without him, I’m sure as fuck gonna get lost.

I am a prolific reader and usually forget the minor details of books I’ve read by the time the next in the series comes out. I don’t remember Isla’s evil deeds from previous books, which I think is a good thing because I went into this with fresh eyes, and could empathise with her from the very beginning. I could feel her pain, her disillusionment and anger with herself, and I appreciated how far she had come in her journey to accept responsibility for all that happened and slowly start to come to terms with what she subjected herself to, and why. I was impressed, but my heart ached for her.

I spent so long performing and faking. Pretending I was game for anything, when the truth is it broke a piece of me each time I did something I knew I didn’t want to, but smiled anyway.

Jackal and Shade are fantastic characters, and their romance is just gorgeous. Jackal is sweet and friendly, while Shade is this big, gruff guy who never knew love until Jackal came along and loved him unconditionally. Their relationship is strong, you can see that they’ve been through hard times, but they’re in love and deeply committed, and I loved their relationship.

I lean in and place my forehead to his. “Listen to me and listen well. I have spent years loving you in a way the world doesn’t always have room for. I chose you every single day when it would’ve been easier to disappear.” I breathe him in and kiss him. “You loving her doesn’t take anything away from you and me. It makes us bigger.”

The two men stole my heart with how they were with each other, and with Isla, and it’s so beautiful to see Isla accepted with such open hearts as she gains the courage to allow herself to trust her men and fall so completely for them. It’s an emotional connection (as well as a physical one – though not as steamy as I was expecting), and I loved seeing these three get their happy ending

Being in the MC world, there is action and violence, and heartpounding suspense. With all three of them seemingly under threat, the story kept me guessing and the ending is intense and exciting, bringing great opportunities for displays of protective badassery, and it makes the happy ending even sweeter.

The rest of the boys from the MC are a part of the story, and I loved seeing them again. Not only as continuation for their own stories, but also seeing their reactions to the new developments. They’re a great bunch with strong dynamics, and there is some really nice closure provided for the group as a whole.

I loved this book, and all of the characters from the Colorado chapter. I’m looking forward to seeing the action shift to Florida in the new Iron Outlaws MC series.

4 stars.

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

 

Iron Outlaws MC: Colorado

 

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Meet the Author

Scarlett Cole is a contemporary romance and romantic suspense author who calls both Toronto, Canada and Manchester, England home. A born city dweller, she periodically quashes the urge to live in the country by hiking up a mountain to remind herself that living away from people would terrify the pants off her.

She believes everybody deserves their love story to be told and loves her heroes on the rough and rugged side…and usually tall (because she married one of those 6ft 6” men you read about in romance!). She’s an A-type personality and Scorpio star sign, so good luck getting her to do anything she doesn’t want to.

When she isn’t writing, she’s happy to talk hot men and expensive shoes while drinking a cold gin and tonic. Don’t bring up olives. As far as Scarlett is concerned, they are the devil’s food. As long as you don’t bring up olives, she’s happy to hear from any time.

 

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