Title: Burning Ember
Author: Darby Briar
Series: Harbinger’s of Chaos #1
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: August 27, 2015
Genre: Contemporary Romance
More Info: Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon US
Purchase: Amazon UK
Purchase: Kobo
Purchase: Amazon CA
Purchase: Amazon AU

The last thing she needs after running from one monster is to land in the lair of the Devil.

Twenty-one year old Ember flees her past with soot on her face, ash in her hair, and a promise. She’ll never let another man take away her freedom and treat her like she means nothing.

But that is exactly what Maverick Gunn, leader of the notorious Harbinger’s of Chaos Motorcycle Club seeks to do from the moment his lethal gaze locks on her. He burns her with every look. Every touch. Every word.  

Ember’s only hope is to convince him she’s nothing like the woman who blackened his soul before he drags her down into the darkness with him.

Title: Burning Ember

Series: Harbingers Of Chaos #1

Author: Darby Briar

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: August 27, 2015

Prologue

July 2008

When your life burns to ash before you, it’s hard to find hope within the embers of what remains.

The overwhelming scent of gasoline invades my nose. The stench rises from my clothes and skin, blocking out the smell of the fiery inferno blazing before me. Heat licks at every exposed surface of my body and my eyes have grown as dry as the Mojave.

Still, it’s impossible to look away.

Not only is the contrast of the orange-yellow flames against the midnight sky mesmerizing, but I’m too desperate to witness every inch of the basement burn. With each second, the proof of the depravity I’ve lived through turns to charcoal, and a piece of his world crumbles, giving me peace.

The heavy cry of the fire truck siren grows louder, telling me I’ve run out of time. Even though ash falls like rain around me, blending me in with the night, it’s not enough. I need to disappear before they catch me here. Before they find out what I’ve done, and he discovers I’m still alive.

Stepping back into the shadows, I lift my hood, afraid my hair will draw too many unwanted eyes even in the dark. But as I lower my arms, the throbbing pain in my wrists registers. The gashes on each are now screaming for attention. Looking down, a ripple of awareness rockets through me.

No. God, no.

My gut twists on itself.

I’ve been so locked in this out-of-body daze, I hadn’t realized I’ve been leaving evidence of my escape all over the grass.

The siren wails in my eardrums saying, Go! Now! While there’s still time.

Sucking in a shaky breath, I pray I’ve given myself enough time to get out of the city, maybe even out of the state.

With one last look at the rising flames, I hitch my duffle over my shoulder, tuck my arms in close to my body, and walk away.

The warmth of the fire disappears and shivers race over my limbs as the cool, oceanic breeze rushes over me. For a moment, the air I breathe is filled with the scent of tropical flowers and salt water. But all too soon, it’s gone, replaced once again by the acidic smell of gas.

My heart feels heavy inside my chest as I say goodbye to the sunny place I’ve always called home. I’ll miss it. The beach, the bay, the hub of the city. The ocean and the sun on my skin. To think I may never return physically pains me.

How did it come to this? How did I slowly let him steal away everything important to me? My home? My family? My freedom?

I’ve asked myself a million times if I could have prevented this. Did I miss any warning signs early on? Hints that where I saw an angel, a monster lurked beneath.

There had to have been. However, I ignored or missed every single one.

Either way, it won’t happen again. I won’t be fooled by a pretty face and a gentlemanly facade a second time. And I sure as hell won’t allow anyone to control me like he did. For the rest of my days, however many there may be, I’ll have my freedom, if nothing else.

I won’t be locked up for one more second of my life.

Not. One. More. Second.

I may no longer be a saint, but at least I’m a survivor.

My Review

I knew from the moment I saw the cover, read the synopsis, and started seeing the gorgeous teasers I was going to fall in lust with this book. As MC books are my favorite sub-genre, that was never in question. Lost and broken female? Check. Broody and broken male? Check. Brotherhood built on loyalty and family? Check. A backstory with connections you never saw coming? Check. Jerk of an ex looking to make a reappearance? Check. Multiple scenes that make you simultaneously want to commit justifiable homicide and yet lick the side of his jaw? Double check. Yeah, suffice to say, this book had it all and then some. As it is the first in a new series, there was a lot of build up from side characters that I’m assuming will eventually get their own books. But what I loved about this author is that while too often this can be information overload, she executed it flawlessly! Not only was I clear on who everyone was, I’m already invested in them to the point I’m salivating to get the next book in my hands. There’s just SO much still to discover and I’m over here on pins and needles anxiously awaiting news. But I digress…

Time heals some wounds, while giving others the chance to fester and bleed until we’re never the same as we once were.

Ember is on the run from her past when she meets Lily. And this is really where our story starts. It’s where all the players come into contact for the first time and we really delve into the meat of the story. Call me a masochist, but I love when the main man is a jerk in the beginning. It just makes his road to redemption while he works out those demons all that more delicious. And in that department, Mav does NOT disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and cannot wait to see where this new author takes us next. I know I will be first in line for more!

I don’t think falling for him was ever a choice. More like an inevitability.

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