When I was ten, my father indoctrinated me into the family.
A brotherhood who would fight, protect, and give their lives for one another. A club whose ties ran thicker than blood, murkier than the dirt and grime that tainted my soul. Stronger than the bonds that connected me to my own family.
A band of brothers, where loyalty was kept and paid in a currency of blood.
When I was twenty-seven, I betrayed that brotherhood.
I’ve spent every day since running, avoiding paying back that debt.
My name is Daniel Johnson. I have betrayed everyone I ever loved.
And I’ll betray her too.
This is my story—if you’re screwed up enough to want to read it.
This is one of those books, where I have no clue if I actually liked it or not. I didn't find it spectacular, but I didn't hate it either. The story and characters are complex, to put it mildly. A lot of really bad stuff happens, the violence is off the charts, the abuse is explicit, and the emotional drama might drive you insane.
It's an insanely heavy read. Kick is not a redeemable character, the rest of the MC might be worse, but that doesn't mean that there is any good in him. There is a fine line at the tipping point of cruelty, and he drunkenly criss-crosses it. He has done horrible things, some you may be able to justify somewhat, and the thing is that Kick's a guy that will never change. He was shaped by his father, his MC and all that entails. You might have read MC books, where you had the feeling of an undertone of goodness, that's absolutely not the case here. They are vile, cruel and explosive people.
There is a warning at the beginning of the book, and it's there for a reason. Though for me it's written in a way that I can handle it. There are certain subjects, like abuse, which I have trouble reading about. Still in the way it is portrayed in this story, is sick yes, but there is a certain casualness around it that helps you through it. Casualness might not be the right word, but seeing it in the context and with all that you have read before, it's not a surprise and it's such a part of the characters' daily life that's just sad.
Kick is supposed to be read as a standalone. Now I read the first Sugartown when it came out, but never read the sequels. It's in one of the sequels that some of Kick's backstory happens, and while we get the flashbacks, I still felt that need to read the other book first. I feel like it would still have explained things better for me, and helped me understand Kick's history better.
As for the love story (and I use that term very lightly) part of this book, like everything else concerning Kick, it isn't pretty. I mean she is gorgeous, but her story will leave you at a loss of words. He's her non-traditional savior, though I would never call him a hero. The aftermath of it all is just another clusterfuck.
Couple of words to describe this story and Kick; raw, brutal, dark, emotional, abusive, asshole, graphic, jerk, profane... I feel like I need to point out again that Kick has no good side to him, he has never and will never say the words "I love you" or even "I like you". Carmen Jenner has managed to reach what she set out to do (I'm referring to the author's not at the beginning of the book). I did enjoy the story, though I feel enjoy isn't the right word to use. More like I was able to make it through, but not unscratched. If you want to read this book, and I can recommend it, take heed of the warning, so you can prepare yourself for what's coming.
Carmen Jenner is a thirty-something USA Today best selling author, doctor, pilot and CIA agent.
She's also a compulsive, flagrant prevaricator who gets to make things up for a living.
While Sugartown may not technically exist, Carmen grew up in a small Australian town just like it, and just like her characters, she always longed for something more.They didn't have an Elijah Cade, though. If they did, you can be sure she would have never left.
It's an insanely heavy read. Kick is not a redeemable character, the rest of the MC might be worse, but that doesn't mean that there is any good in him. There is a fine line at the tipping point of cruelty, and he drunkenly criss-crosses it. He has done horrible things, some you may be able to justify somewhat, and the thing is that Kick's a guy that will never change. He was shaped by his father, his MC and all that entails. You might have read MC books, where you had the feeling of an undertone of goodness, that's absolutely not the case here. They are vile, cruel and explosive people.
There is a warning at the beginning of the book, and it's there for a reason. Though for me it's written in a way that I can handle it. There are certain subjects, like abuse, which I have trouble reading about. Still in the way it is portrayed in this story, is sick yes, but there is a certain casualness around it that helps you through it. Casualness might not be the right word, but seeing it in the context and with all that you have read before, it's not a surprise and it's such a part of the characters' daily life that's just sad.
Kick is supposed to be read as a standalone. Now I read the first Sugartown when it came out, but never read the sequels. It's in one of the sequels that some of Kick's backstory happens, and while we get the flashbacks, I still felt that need to read the other book first. I feel like it would still have explained things better for me, and helped me understand Kick's history better.
As for the love story (and I use that term very lightly) part of this book, like everything else concerning Kick, it isn't pretty. I mean she is gorgeous, but her story will leave you at a loss of words. He's her non-traditional savior, though I would never call him a hero. The aftermath of it all is just another clusterfuck.
Couple of words to describe this story and Kick; raw, brutal, dark, emotional, abusive, asshole, graphic, jerk, profane... I feel like I need to point out again that Kick has no good side to him, he has never and will never say the words "I love you" or even "I like you". Carmen Jenner has managed to reach what she set out to do (I'm referring to the author's not at the beginning of the book). I did enjoy the story, though I feel enjoy isn't the right word to use. More like I was able to make it through, but not unscratched. If you want to read this book, and I can recommend it, take heed of the warning, so you can prepare yourself for what's coming.
The Author
She's also a compulsive, flagrant prevaricator who gets to make things up for a living.
While Sugartown may not technically exist, Carmen grew up in a small Australian town just like it, and just like her characters, she always longed for something more.They didn't have an Elijah Cade, though. If they did, you can be sure she would have never left.
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