Review: It's A Homecoming Just Like The Waltons, Except With Guns, Drugs, Sex, and Club Hookahs
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 24, 2014
Loved it!  By the time I finished reading UnBeloved, I felt as if I had just hopped off a roller coaster. This book had me crying, nervous, laughing, and filled with excitement.UnBeloved is the 4th book in the saga of Hell's Horsemen Motorcycle Club. I think it's safe to say that this series has moved from just being an MC romance genre to an MC story. This installment deals primarily with the aftermath and dealing with the wounds, both physically and emotionally, from the relationship between Jase/Dorothy/Hawk from years earlier, betrayal from one of the brothers, the spiraling downfall of a former brother, the Russian Mafia, and finding redemption and hope in places that one doesn't expect to find it. If this story feels different than previous stories, that's because it is different. This story doesn't deal with a new love, rather it is dealing with the aftermath of two love affairs that span nearly 20 years.Before I launch into a full review of UnBeloved, I want to talk about the UnDeniable series as a whole. Only a few books have connected with me in such a way that I want to experience them over and over. The in-depth writing of Madeline Sheehan provokes my imagination and connects me to characters that I never thought I could relate. This series is pioneering because the author has taken a band of outlaws, old ladies, and club bunnies; characters so varied, and gives them each a unique voice. At times their tale is sad and tragic, yet we see humor, loyalty, and undying love. Sheehan portrays their beauty and flaws honestly, never apologizing or pleading with the reader to embrace them. Also trailblazing is that the characters are allowed to age, and it's never been so evident than in this fourth book. Whether or not it was the author's intent, she is breaking new ground because the reader watches as the young, flighty women from the earlier books progress from their 20s and 30s , into their 40s and 50s. *gasp* Book characters having a life and sex after 40; I thought at that age, they were supposed to be lead out into a pasture to wait for the Grim Reaper; never to be seen again in the story.UnBeloved is the story of Dorothy, Jase, and Hawk, and how the actions of each affected not only them, but the lives of their families. If I could only use a few words to describe UnBeloved, they would be "redemption", "forgiveness" AND "homecoming". In UnBeautifully, we saw how their love turned into an F5 tornado, creating a path of destruction for not only them but everyone around them. Chrissy, Jase's wife, was convicted of first degree attempted murder for shooting a very pregnant Dorothy, Dorothy shunning both men and the club, Jase losing his mistress and family, and Hawk leaving his brothers and going nomad. Seven years later, the trio still haven't addressed the carnage left by their love vortex, until an emergency has everyone coming home, and the trio is finally forced to walk through the broken mess, and assess the damage and rebuild. The story begins with Dorothy being called back to Miles City, Montana due to an emergency. Once she is inside the clubhouse, she is informed that one of the Horsemen isn't who he has claimed to be and has been covering up his past. So the entire club is reeling from this betrayal, and also from one of their own being held hostage. In dealing with the dire situation, Dorothy is forced to a day of reckoning, seven years after surviving the gunshot, she has to deal with the issues from her past. Jase is also forced to come to terms with the poor choices made years ago. Instead of hiding from the issues like Dorothy did by moving away, Jase has hid from them inside a liquor bottle. Jase's road to redemption comes from the most unlikely source. When he finally comes face-to-face, he knows that he has to make amends and stop the vicious cycle. Hawk has literally ran from all the problems from the past, going nomad and seeking refuge in the road. Now all the running and hiding comes to an abrupt halt. As in any family, when there is an emergency and the chips are down, everyone comes together, and this MC family is no different.Once again I get to see my favorite character, "DEEEEEEEEUUUUUUCCCCEEEE!". What can I say, I've loved him since UnDeniable; even when he was an a-- hole at times. My love for Deuce has not wavered, if anything, it has grown. Deuce is still a force to be reckoned with, and it is never more evident than the scene on the highway between he and Preacher, and when he and Ripper pay a visit to Hawk. Cox and Kami are still fighting as usual, and Cox's humor has grown even more vulgar and dirty, as impossible as that seems. OMG, that one scene had me laughing and gagging at the same time. Eva's influence on the club is evident in how everyone, including the women, views it not as a club, but rather another home. The women have formed tight bonds, and just like the Horsemen being brothers, the gals also have a sisterhood.*******CAUTION BELOW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS, READ AT YOUR OWN RISK ****I have to talk about my two favorite scenes: 1. the highway scene and 2. the Vegas arena scene. The highway scene, oh that highway scene, that one is my favorite. Sheehan's writing is pure perfection, from her description of the surroundings to the bantering between the characters, if I felt anymore immersed in that scene, I would have needed to throw on my coat and gloves. The spoken dialogue and unspoken thoughts from each character is profound, beautiful, and insightful. That scene showcases how the men have progressed since the beginning of the series; it's powerful and serene at the same time. The Vegas scene, let's just say that I had goosebumps when Sheehan first walks us through the arena, that scene is dark and scary. I didn't know what to expect. Okay, no more, because I don't want to give away a spoiler......As the characters find reckoning, redemption, forgiveness, and peace during their homecoming; some say a sad goodbye. Like a regular family, sometimes we lose members, and this story is no different: one deciding to take the road that leads to home, one's path taking him to jail where he doesn't pass GO and collect $200, and ZZ's route, let's just call Z's road "psycho path", and a couple of bikers that take the journey on that eternal highway through the Harley Davidson's pearly gates. In the words of Dorothy Kelley Matthews "This is the story of us all...all our fates intertwined, and for that reason alone, pain and death be damned, I wouldn't change a thing." As for me, I wouldn't miss the ride on a rocky road with this band of outlaws, old ladies, and club hookahs for anything. Vroom, vroom!!