Genre: Contemporary
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay, Bisexual
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
Caden Flanagan
32, Bouncer, member of the Shadow Vipers biker gang.
Bikers have the best life. Being a member of the Shadow Vipers comes with certain perks and privileges. First, everyone fears you. Nobody wants to mess with a member of a local biker gang, especially one with a certain reputation. Secondly, everyone finds you sexy as… Well, let’s just say we have no problem finding company. I’ll admit, I’ve had my fair share of the ladies. But all that changed the moment I bumped into him. I don’t know what it is, but something about him has got me thinking all sorts of dirty thoughts. It’s new and exciting, but the more I get to know him, the more I realize he’s hiding something. I’m not sure what, but it’s clear that something has him… scared.
Lucas Braden
24, Busboy, major weakness for big beefy biker dudes who have a bit of a possessive side.
Working at a biker bar is torture. The customers are loud, rude, and out of control. So are the workers. But that’s not the worst part. The worst part is being hardcore attracted to the smoking hot bouncer, who is covered in tattoos and has muscles the size of my head. How can I be so attracted to someone yet totally afraid of them at the same time? Oh, did I mention that the guy is straight? Yup. Leave it to me to fall for a guy who is totally unattainable. Well, it’s a good thing that I’m not looking for love. Right now, I am just trying to stay two steps ahead of my past.
The Review
Lucas Braden had two choices – go on the run, or end his life. He chooses the first option, and finds his way to the small town of Baton, just outside of Roswell, New Mexico. He can’t depend on help from his parents, as they had moved to Peru. To contact anyone else for help would put his life in danger from his abusive ex, Darryl. Nowe he’s was truly on his own.
He finds himself working at an out of the way biker bar called “Ride ‘Em Hard.” With this job, he’s able to rent a barn, where the top space has been converted into a living quarters. It’s not anything fancy, but it’s the best he can do for right now.
“Ride ‘Em Hard” is owned by Marcus, the leader of the Shadow Vipers MC gang. There’s also Ace, his younger brother by marriage, who he raised from the age of three. All the club members work for Marcus at the bar and also have more serious jobs to do for him. They deal in drugs, weapons, rare antiquities and some unique items – anything for a price. Marcus, at the age of forty, is a fair boss but he has a reputation. He parties with the best of them, but no one dares to get on his bad side.
Caden Flanagan is one of the bouncers at the bar. Caden has had his share of trouble. Because of his father, he experienced coke and weed usage. That was the way his father’s mind worked, in order for Caden to become a man. His father thought it useless for Caden to always have his nose in a book, learning and studying.
Caden’s mother had run off soon after he was born. How his father had raised him and kept a roof over their heads, Caden would never know. His father had always had a drug problem, even in his fifties. Crime got his father arrested and jailed. Cade went to stay with Mrs. Warden until he turned eighteen and found work with Marcus and the Shadow Vipers.
Lucas has been keeping his head down and just doing his job. He has to be careful. He doesn’t want to get involved and have his ex find him. Unfortunately, he can only stay out of the way for so long, and then he physically runs into Caden, who is just his type. He likes big muscled guys and Caden fits the bill, but he is disappointed too, as he is sure Caden is straight.
Caden is just as curious about Lucas. Gradually they get to know each other. But just when things seem to be looking up, danger comes calling. Will Lucas take a stand or will he give in to an evil, controlling man?
Dante takes a chance on something different with Primal Urges, and is starting a new series called “Bikers of Mayhem.” I liked Lucas – he’s dealing with low self esteem and making hard decisions about the future that he would still like to have. He also struggles with his feelings for Caden. He knows he was with a woman and they had a daughter together named Lizzy. Caden is a good dad, and takes care of his daughter, and she brings a lot of joy to Lucas too.
I highly recommend Primal Urges. it’s not as dark as Dante’s other two series. This first book has just the right amount of danger, suspense, and sexuality. It’s very entertaining and kept me wanting to see where Lucas and Cade would end up.
Well done!
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.
