Grit by J.C. Valentine Pages: 374
Series: Spartan Riders #1
Genres: Romantic Suspense
Also in this series: Mettle
Also by this author: Mettle
Goodreads
Gabby Morgan isn’t looking for love. Not even a little romance. Following a rocky past that she’d just as soon forget, she’s determined to focus on the future. One that most certainly doesn’t involve the tough-as-nails, short-on-words, hot-as-hell biker…or his kid.
Blake Mahone may not be done with women, but he’s finished with relationships. Then Gabby Morgan enters the picture. She’s flawless, refined, and as his kid’s teacher, way out of his league. She acts like she hates him, but her eyes tell a different story. Before he knows it, Blake finds himself hot for teacher, and he’s more than ready to learn all her secrets. Now all he has to do is convince her to give him a shot…without getting them both killed in the process.
Grit
JC Valentine
Grit is my first JC Valentine book! I enjoyed her writing style and thought the plot was good and moved along at a good pace. The romance between Blake and Gabby didn’t feel rushed. There was the obvious lust but the actual romance moved at a normal pace, which is nice. Y’all know I love me some insta-love but sometimes its nice to see a more normal relationship.
Gabby was a bit judgmental but also, she kind of had reason to be. Blake was late dropping Ash off on his first day of school, and late picking him up several times. As a teacher, I know that I would assume he wasn’t giving his child the attention he deserved. So, was she judgmental? Yes, but I think that judgment was based on evidence! Blake was kind of a hot mess as a parent. Poor Ash! Also, the more you learn about Gabby, the more you realize her judgement is from previous experience and not a good one. So, I was much more forgiving with Gabby’s behavior than some other reviewers were. Blake could be a bit boorish at times as well. I get the whole ‘club business’ thing and that you can’t talk about it (first rule of fight club and all…) but he could have explained that to her. He gets made at her for making assumptions about him, but then never talks to her! Men…
All that being said, I must say I enjoyed this book! I loved Ash and I loved that Gabby didn’t want to just move in, get married, and be Blake’s ol’ lady. She had her reservations, she was unsure, and she was really not keen on being someone’s property. Um, yeah, thats what I always think when I read MC books!! Perhaps that is why I was less critical of Gabby…I can’t wait to read more of the series.
- POV: 3rd
- Tears: no
- Trope: MC, single parent
- Triggers: human trafficking mentioned
- Cliffhanger: no
- HEA: View Spoiler »
Lawless/Soulless by TM Frazier, Combative by Jay Mclean, Redemption and Regrets by LA Cotton…then you will probably like Grit!
J.C. Valentine is the USA Today and International bestselling author of the Night Calls and Wayward Fighters Series and the Forbidden Series. Her vivid imagination and love of words and romance had her penning her own romance stories from an early age, which, despite being poorly edited and written longhand, she forced friends and family members to read. No, she isn’t sorry.
J.C. earned her own happily ever after when she married her high school sweetheart. Living in the Northwest, they have three amazing children and far too many pets and spend much of their free time together enjoying movies or the outdoors. Among the many hats she wears, J.C. is an entrepreneur. Having graduated with honors, she holds a Bachelor’s in English and when she isn’t writing, you can find her editing for fellow authors.
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From Grit:
A shadow eclipsed the sun and Gabby looked up, mouth running dry, as Blake headed her way. Apart from his bike, he towered over her. His shoulder-length hair was drawn back into one of those man buns that had recently become so popular, but she suspected he’d made it his thing before it was a “thing.” Once again he’d opted for a pair of worn jeans that fit his body to perfection, with a black leather vest, otherwise known as a cut, sporting a president patch, his name, and the name of their township.
He strode up to her with absolute confidence, his expression set in what she decided to dub constipated. When he reached her, only stopping when they were nearly touching from shoulder to thigh, he folded his arms across his broad chest and stared her down.
“Didn’t think you’d show.”
Seeing right through his macho posturing, Gabby canted her head to the side and smiled sweetly. “Well, you did invite me.”
“Ash invited you. I was simply being nice.”
Gabby snorted. Nice wasn’t a word she would use to describe him. “I didn’t realized that word was part of your vocabulary.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”
“If you want me to go, just say so.”
“You’d like that, I’m sure.” His lips pressed together and his jaw clenched. “Ash wants you here, and here you are. What more is there to say.”
“How about welcome to the party for starters.”
“My manners don’t extend that far. Look, lady, we’re not friends. You’re my kid’s teacher and for some reason he likes you, so I’m going to play nice. Grab yourself a plate, mingle, whatever. It’s no sweat off my back what you decide to do. Just don’t piss anyone off.”
Any more than she clearly already had him? Mirroring his stance, Gabby narrowed her eyes on him, her irritation piqued. “Look, Mr. Mahone, I’m not here to pick a fight with you, so how about you dial down the snarky attitude a few notches.” One of his dark brows winged up making him appear far more intense than usual. Undaunted, she pressed on. “Furthermore, you claim that I gave you an unfair shake, and maybe I did. So this is me extending an olive branch. I came here, curious to see if you would prove me wrong, but so far you’re only succeeding in proving me right.”
She watched as his gray eyes grew hard and a muscle in his jaw pulsed. Whatever he wanted to say, he didn’t. “Suit yourself, teach. I’d stick around and introduce ya, but I’ve got other shit to do.”
With that, he turned and marched away, his shoulders stiff and his long strides eating up the patchy lawn faster than a herd of cattle.
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