Title:  Hidden Heat
Series:  Brothers of Mayhem #1
Author:  Carla Swafford
Genre:  Romance, MC Romance
Published:  February 16, 2016
Publisher:  Loveswept
My Rating:  3.5 stars
Source:  NetGalley
Cover Description:

Cassidy Ryder refuses to be intimidated by anyone, even the hell-raising, hard-drinking Brothers of Mayhem. The daughter of their former president, she’s not above smashing a few heads to keep her teenage brother safe. But when Cassidy’s big mouth gets her in trouble, the only thing that saves her is some quick thinking from the Brothers’ bartender. He’s commanding and strong, and as smooth as the whiskey he pours: the ultimate temptation for a girl who swore she’d never be a biker’s plaything.

But Thorn Savalas is no ordinary biker. He’s a cop, and he’s worked too hard earning the Brothers’ trust to blow his cover over a female—even one who rocks a pair of jeans like Cassidy. The only way to protect her is by claiming she’s his old lady. Trouble is, Thorn can’t just pretend. He wants Cassidy, and every scorching touch tells him she feels the same. But acting on their hottest fantasies could leave them both exposed . . . even if nothing else has ever felt so real.

Read on for my thoughts on Hidden Heat.  No true spoilers, promise.

Cassidy has good reasons to hate the biker club that destroyed her family – and she’ll fight any member of the club in order to keep her brother out of that life and safe.  Not one bit afraid of the men in charge now, Cassidy charged in demanding answers and perhaps bit off more than she could handle alone.

Some days Thorn just had to curse his luck.  In strides heaven in blue jeans, proud, angry and in over her head.  The last thing he needs is a woman like Cassidy in his life.  He’s deep undercover and he will bring this dirty club down… but he couldn’t resist stepping in and rescuing one feisty lady and claim her as his own.  The real trouble comes when they both realize that the claiming isn’t just for show and they could have something very special between them… if it wasn’t for all of those secrets.

I liked Hidden Heat and gave it a 3.5 star rating (which will round up on Goodreads and Amazon)… it just wasn’t the style of MC Romance that I enjoy.  And that, of course, is on me not the author.   Hidden Heat is an engaging story with a couple who send sparks flying anytime they’re close.  There was not the bantering, bickering but always got your back kind of feel to this club.  This one was more cutthroat all around and, aside from a few secondary characters that I hope to see again in this series… I simply couldn’t care about the club members in general.  An MC is a family, often times closer and thicker than your given family – and I just didn’t get that feel.  Yet – this is the first story in the series, so that feel may change over time as we get deeper into the club.  And I’ll pick up the next novel in the series.

If you enjoy Motorcycle Club Romance, then pick up Hidden Heat and decide for yourself.  It’s a good solid story, and one I would recommend to anyone who enjoys this genre.

*I received an e-ARC of Hidden Heat from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*

Available for the Kindle