Genre: Contemporary
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay, Bisexual
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
Blade
33, Blade thrower, member of the Shadow Vipers biker gang. Oh, and sexy as sin.
Being part of a biker gang means living a certain kind of lifestyle. Men need to be tough, rugged, and always on the prowl. For the most part, I live up to that expectation. Women constantly throw themselves at me. What can I say, I’ve got the attitude and the goods that women desire. My only weakness? A five-foot-ten, mouthy twink who also happens to be our leader’s younger brother. No matter how hard I try, I just can’t stay away. I watch him and follow him—yes, some may consider this behavior borderline “stalker,” but I like to think of it as making sure my friend is safe and protected. I know I have to ignore my feelings because if his brother ever found out… I’d be a dead man.
Ace
25, outspoken, bossy, and searching for love. Oh, and I’m the younger brother of Marcus… the leader of the Shadow Vipers.
My brother is a bully! No one will date me because they’re worried about what my brother might do if they ever break my heart. Yes, he’s my older brother and also the leader of the Shadow Vipers biker gang, but that doesn’t give him the right to scare off every potential guy I go out with. Argh, this is so frustrating. If only I could be with the man I really want, but unfortunately, he’s friends with my brother… and I don’t want him to die.
Content Warning: Violence, alcohol, past physical and emotional abuse, foul language, and, of course, loads of hot and steamy scenes.
The Review
The “Ride ‘Em Hard” bar is in Baton, New Mexico and is owned by Marcus, the leader of the Shadow Vipers MC gang. Ace is his younger brother by marriage. At the age of sixteen, Marcus not only became a brother, but a father figure to three year old Ace. As their parents didn’t want to deal with parenthood, it was all up to Marcus. But he and Ace survived, and Marcus is still protective of the now twenty-five year old Ace.
All the Vipers work for Marcus at the bar, and also have more serious jobs to do for him. They deal with drugs, weapons, rare antiquities and some unique items – anything for a price. Marcus, now forty, is a fair boss, but he has a reputation. He parties with the best of them, but no one dares got on his bad side. One thing for sure – they are all family.
Blade Corrigan is an expert blade thrower. He learned at the young age of thirteen, traveling with the Winter Brothers Circus. His father Bruce performed for fifteen years with the circus, and eventually they became a father/son act. But Blade’s father was mean and had anger issues, toward life and his son.
Bruce also wasn’t liked by the thirty circus people. When Theon Winter, the owner/ring leader of the circus, praised Blade for his knife throwing talent, his father wasn’t happy. He could see himself being replaced by Blade.
As a teenage boy, Blade found himself experimenting with another boy. Unfortunately for Blade, his father caught them, and he kicked Blade out. Blade was filled with anger at his father for not understanding, and at the boy who ran off. Even now, he’s kept his secret to himself, for fear others would never understand. He found a new family in Marcus and the Shadow Vipers, and decided that he would hold on to his secret forever.
Ace loves his big brother Marcus, whose done so much for him. But Marcus is still treating him like a child. At twenty-five, Ace is looking for someone special. But dating is hard when your older brother might shoot that someone in the face. He sees Lucas and Caden and he wants what they have. Ace is enthusiastic, snarky and definitely can hold his own around any of the big, burly bikers. Lately, he’s had his eye on the “straight” Blade, and the angel/demon tattoo on his back.
Blade’s also had an eye-out for Ace for a very long time. When he finds that Ace has a date and Marcus doesn’t seem too concerned, Blade decides to follow him. Ace looks bored to him, and when his date gets too handsy Blade steps-in. Ace has a lot to say to Blade – he thinks he can take care of himself. Now, with no ride home, he will have to ride with Blade.
As their friendship starts to grow, have they made a mistake? Blade doesn’t want to loose Marcus and the family he has come to love, and he certainly doesn’t want to face Marcus’s wrath.
When Marcus gets a call from a former Viper, Chester Milzner, they’re off to Vegas. Milzner’s son Steven was found dead in the desert with a four inch blade in his left eye.
Ace reserves rooms for the guys, and he and Blade wind up sharing one, which leads to some hot discoveries. Now, they have to watch out for Marcus. Things turn into a brawl when Marcus catches Ace and Blade in their hotel room. Then Ace goes missing, and Blade finds himself up against an evil and insane enemy. Just what does this madman want of Blade? And what will happen when the Vipers go up against the Cyanyd Kings?
Dante brings heat and danger with the second installment of “Bikers of Mayhem” with Hidden Desires, an exciting ride that brings out a little more of the dark side with Blade, who is tough and very dangerous, as well as closed off. Ace brings out his fun side, and provides the calm he needs. It’s hard to not like Ace with all of his enthusiasm, caring for the Vipers, and his strength. He has a great respect for Marcus, not only in the brotherly sense but as a father figure. For his part, Marcus needs to protect Ace and will always think of him as a kid.
I highly recommend Hidden Desires. With Blade and Ace, this second installment just made the series better. The first book is Primal Urges, where Marcus and Ace and Caden and Lucas are introduced. I expect this series will only become more exciting, with more darkness around it. Can’t wait for book three!
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.
