Falling Under (Ink & Chrome #2)
by Lauren Dane
Blurb:
Duke
Bradshaw, co-owner of the custom motorcycle shop Twisted Steel, is great with
his hands and not afraid to get dirty . . . especially in his fantasies about
his redheaded neighbor Carmella Rossi.
Carmella
has been secretly lusting after her hot, tattooed neighbor for the last three
years. His gravelly voice combined with the throaty purr of his custom bike
never fails to send thrills down her spine. When Duke asks her to join him at
the shop, she can't say no. Soon their days together spill over into nights
that bring her pleasure beyond anything she imagined. But Carmella grew up with
bikers, and knows how bad a bad boy can be. Can she put herself at risk for
someone who has heart-breaker written all over him?
Themes: Contemporary, Bikers
Rating: 4.5 stars
Heat Rating:
Review:
Longtime
fans of Lauren Dane are in for quite a treat as we return to the sexy,
hard-edged world of bikes, tattoos and crazy relationships. I have enjoyed many different series by Dane
over the years, but consider myself really fortunate to have had the chance to
read these stories. The second
installment is no less emotionally stripped than the first in the series, with
lots of family drama, terrifying truths revealed and the intense relationship
between two passionate individuals. I
loved seeing Duke meet his match in Carmella even though he definitely made a
few bonehead moves that almost cost him the love of his life, but in the end
they found a way to get past everything between them to come together in a
truly loving and lasting relationship.
Dane' ability to bring together two people that are so very different on
the outside and prove to readers that all you really need is love, is beyond
measure and keeps us coming back for more.
I am really looking forward to the next story in the series--though I
understand it will be veering a bit from the mainstream with a Ménage
relationship for Mick. If you enjoy a
great, sexy, and emotional drama The Ink and Chrome series is right up your
alley, especially if you like a bit of kink along the way to go with the love
and devotion.
Duke
has been watching the sweet and sexy woman that is his neighbor for a couple of
years now and when an opportunity to get her to spend more time with him comes
up he jumps at it. Carmella is reluctant
to take the job as her beyond gorgeous neighbor's shop manager, but the draw of
a steady paycheck and fulfilling new opportunity is enough to trick her into
believing she can keep herself away from him--after all he doesn’t seem to want
her in anything more than a professional way, right? Wrong! As Carmella and
Duke spend more time together, both at work and at home, the mutual attraction
proves too intense for resistance.
Unfortunately, Carmella’s personal life has just gotten infinitely more
complicated and emotionally devastating.
Can Duke stand by her and convince her to lean on him or will her
stubborn insistence on independence push away the only man she has ever loved?
So
what to say about Duke?... well first I have to say he is so freaking sexy
there is really no way to describe him.
Tattoos cover his body, but not enough to hide the muscles, gorgeous
skin, or the sexy eyes that follow Carmella's every move. He is all man, proven again and again as he
makes stupid mistakes out of his concern; there were enough bonehead moments
that I found myself looking to the heavens for the patience not to want to kill
him for Carmella, but thankfully he pulls his head from his butt and becomes
her white knight. He is the type of guy
that makes the best hero; with enough flaws to keep him from being boring and
the infinite sweetness that proves he will be a good husband, and maybe father,
to his future family. When Carmella
needs him, whether she wants to admit it or not, he is right there to protect and
defend, even if all she needs is just to know he is there for her if she needs
him. His unyielding support in the end
is what pushes Carmella right into love with him, IMO, but the sexy and fun
nature he hides behind his brooding and protective outer shell could have a bit
to do with it too. And of course the way
he stands together with his brothers, brothers formed by the darkest of pasts,
is another big point in his favor.
Carmella
is an interesting woman and one that has never really been able to spread her
wings and try to fly. She has been the
one caring for her mother for most of her life, being the adult and parent more
than her mother ever was and never getting a single real thanks for it. Her inner strength and ability to care for
those that obviously don't appreciate all she does could have made her seem like
a sucker, but she is willing to stand up for herself and what she believes in
when push comes to shove. Her
interactions with her parent(s) and the way she stands up to Duke when he's
being a douchbag show the backbone she covers with sweetness and sensuality is
made of titanium and unbendable. I
enjoyed seeing her find a way to bring Duke to his knees and show him that love
and trust are the ultimate gifts. She
was gentleness to his fiercely protective nature, but she wasn't a woman to be
cowed in the face of adversity. I loved
the way she was able to find ingenious ways to bring Duke to his knees while
still lifting him up. Carmella is a girl
after my own heart.
In
the end this story brings to life its title as each of these two headstrong and
amazing individuals find themselves falling under love's spell. Duke and his
ass-hattery thankfully find a way to convince Carmella he’s worth the trouble
and to give him a chance to become the man she needs in every way. Duke is an amazing guy, though by no means
perfect, and when he is at his best there are very few men that compete with
him for Carmella's heart. Carmella has
had a rough life and she has issues with trusting in men or giving them the
chance to really capture her heart. When she is confronted with the immense
force that is Duke she will not be able to stop herself from falling in love
with him. Carmella and Duke were a
perfect match once they got over there issues and decided that being together
was more important that their hang-ups.
Not to be discounted is the burning passion and attraction they have
been fighting from a distance and try to keep from overwhelming them, even
though they fail miserably (or happily).
I cannot wait for the next in the series and wonder if there will be
more after that, but Mick's tale has been long in the making and to finally find
out the truth and see him find love will be immensely awesome. Dane has done it
again and there is no denying that Ink and Chrome will fill my heart and mind
for a long time to come.
*eARC provided by publisher (via
netgalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review. No compensation was provided.
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