Review: Best of the 3!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 21, 2014
It felt like all of the characters in this third installment really came into their own.  Dallas is learning her way into what it's like to be part of an MC,  she's relatable because she messes up at times,  but then faces things and learns how to make them right.  She's not one of those heroines that enters into a new environment and immediately handles it all with perfection,  frankly I liked this about her,  I could see the vulnerability that most of us would feel in certain situations and yet she handles it with courage.  She may get knocked down but she gets right back up again.Luke really shows what he's made of in this book, what makes him a leader.  He's not just a bada$$ on a power trip.  The author doesn't just tell, she shows how tough he can be if you cross him,  so you can believe that he can keep an entire MC in line.  How he handles the prospects is with a firm hand but his reasons are solid and he teaches a good lesson.  There is a theme of Luke keeping promises he makes and it's not to be taken lightly,  this is good in a man that leads an MC.  She also shows us a very loving side of Luke and a wisdom that comes from experience.One scene that stands out came when Dallas makes a mistake in how to handle another sister,  that was a hard scene, I was cringing on her behalf and felt her shame and embarrassment.  Yet, it all felt so very real,  we all make mistakes and say or do things we wish we hadn't -****"Ya feeling like you lost your best friend?"  Luke asked from behind me.  I nodded, my eyes still focused on the closed door.  "Wishing you'd done something different?" I nodded again, feeling my eyes burn,  as tears formed at the back of them.  "Is the shame so heavy in your chest that you feel like an elephant is sitting on it?"  This time, the tears spilled over my eyes as my bottom lip involuntarily poked out, trying to stop the sob that was soon to come.  Luke wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed my neck, resting his chin on my shoulder, and following my gaze to the closed door. "That's good, babe." I turned into his chest, letting my tears fall freely, as I searched his eyes for a reason."How is that good? How can anything about this feeling be good?"  I asked, choking back another sob. Luke smiled that unbelievably handsome smile that said he was proud of me, although he had no reason to be.  "Because it means you care." ***Lest you think Luke might be too soft a touch, there is a scene in this book in which Luke follows through on a promise he made to Dallas regarding using his belt for a spanking she would not enjoy if it ever came to it.  She does something really foolish,  sort of jaw dropping foolish,  and brings in two of her sisters in a way that puts them in danger as well.  Before this Dallas had been flirting with the idea of being spanked through the first couple books.  Let's just say she found the punishment as unpleasant as Luke warned her she would.  I'm pretty sure that took care of that little fantasy, haha  I never understood the idea of authors introducing spanking as a punishment in books and then having the heroine enjoy every moment of it,  I guess this would be a way to make it acceptable but I always wonder what the point is then?  It makes much more sense to me that this might not turn out to be so enjoyable and thereby would really be a deterrent.  In this again the author did not disappoint.Bringing this around to the sisters, yes they find this quite hilarious and it's not surprising they are more amused by it then outraged when you consider the MC environment of a woman's place,  these are all strong,  intelligent funny women but they recognize for the most part that in certain things their men are in charge,  this they knew going in.  I was glad the author didn't sugar coat it, not everything has to be perfectly feminist PC.  I'm sure the reality is that many woman are probably abused in these types of environments and I found the spanking to be far preferable to a man using his fists.  Some people might see it as the same thing but although this is not something that I think anyone would condone in real life with a straight face,  I didn't find it the same thing at all.Speaking of the sisters, they are so much fun in this book! The banter back and forth is a riot,  I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I also loved to see Dallas build a better relationship with Maddie.  Logan really isn't present but that's ok,  I'm not big on having children or babies play a big part in these kinds of stories.My only complaint would be that I really did not enjoy what happened to Dallas, in fact after reading the first chapter I almost didn't go on to finish any more of the book.  I really wish the author had not written in the torture, yet I can't find myself knocking stars for it because the puzzle and the players all fit so neatly into place.Well done Kim Jones!