Review: Trigger by J.L. Drake (Devil's Reach #1)

Note: This ARC was provided by the author via Enticing Journey Book Promotions in exchange for an honest review.

"Raw" and "gritty" are two words that befit an MC romance book as well-written as the Devil's Reach series starter, Trigger. It gives us a glimpse at all the potential players in the motorcycle club, but its main focus is on the club president and the clubhouse's new bartender, Trigger and Tess. Theirs is a very volatile non-relationship and one that seems to have an equal amount of pros and cons. But what starts out as two people who have very little trust to spread around and who have even less love to give soon find themselves falling for each other. There aren't any hearts and flowers for these two, and if dark powers that be have their way, there'll be no happily-ever-after either.

I do love it when a new-to-me author manages to leave me stunned with just how good their overall writing skills are. I have no clue if J.L. Drake's other books showcase the same level of storytelling prowess as she does here in Trigger, but color me impressed. She pulls no punches when she uses words to help readers picture exactly what's happening, the surroundings, and how the characters are feeling and what they're thinking. Remember when I called this series starter raw and gritty at the beginning of my review? That's because that's exactly what this book is. There isn't a glamorous thing or fairy tale-like about Trigger's or Tess's back story nor is their love story swoony.

Fair warning: This book ends in a cliffhanger and it's a doozy. I got to the end and I nearly flung my e-reader in frustration, but I get why the author decided to go this route. Hell, I'm willing to wait until the second book even though I have absolutely NO clue when it's going to be released. Fingers crossed my patience lasts as long as necessary. I just hope we won't have to wait until next year because...gah! I need to find out what happens next with Trigger and Tessa and those twists that were thrown their--and our--way. I also need more of the rough and tumble brotherhood that is the Devil's Reach MC. Trigger is a five-star novel worth the read and cliffhanger anxiety. ♥

Date Read: 17 May 2017

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