Review of Saving Dallas Series by Kim Jones

[Barbara Ann RS]

If you enjoy biker romances, then you should consider reading the Saving Dallas series that centers around the erotic and intense love story of real estate mogul Dallas Knox and President of the Devil’s Renegades MC, Luke Carmical. These two individuals seem to live in completely different worlds and would most likely never have met until Dallas gets lonely after a recent break-up, goes out looking for company, and ends up as a damsel-in-distress until her knight clad in leather intervenes to rescue her and draws her into the fascinating but bewildering mc lifestyle that Dallas must accept and adapt to if she wants a life with the domineering, complicated man whose gentleness and love she desperately craves.

In the beginning, Dallas is a cold-hearted, self-centered, very conceited young woman whose wealth and success in real estate have given her everything that money can buy except love and family, which she doesn’t even realize she needs until Luke comes into her life. Needless to say, I did not like Dallas at all, and I kept wondering why Luke, who seemed so kind and gentle with her after they first meet, would want to keep seeing her. The connection between the two runs much deeper than even Dallas knows until secrets are revealed later in the story, and I soon realized that my initial characterization of both Dallas and Luke was much too simplified.

As President of a MC, Luke is used to women falling all over him, clamoring to become his ‘ol lady. He is attracted to the brassy young Dallas who has the confidence to stand up to him and is unimpressed by his status. Yet, one night with Luke isn’t enough for Dallas; she finds Luke intoxicating even though his constant mood swings are enough to give her whiplash.  Luke can be tender, loving, and playful one minute and harsh, dominating, and possessive the next as Dallas aptly describes him in Making the Cut:

 “Luke was a man who lived a lifestyle where he had to be two different people. If you took bipolar, mixed it with PMS, and added a touch of testosterone, you would get Luke. He was overbearing, intimidating, scary and unpredictable. He was also sexy, sweet and charming.”

Luke and Dallas have a complicated and rocky relationship that spans the course of both books. Dallas continually wavers back and forth over whether she can ever become a part of the club. Her assertiveness, confidence, and strong-will are all traits that have helped her to become so successful in her career, but they have no place in the MC world where women are treated as decorations and expected to be quiet and submissive to their men. No matter how much Luke loves Dallas, the future of their relationship is contingent upon her “making the cut”:  

 “I can’t just make you my ol’ lady. I refuse to do that…This  choice is entirely up to you. I will train you, the girls will help you, but you have to know that this is my lifestyle. I won’t have you around as just my girlfriend. I want you as my supporter and I want you to agree to this life and make it your life too.”

 “You are with me and everyone knows it, but before I put a cut on you-letting everyone know that you belong to me; you are gonna have to earn it. “

Saving Dallas is told from Dallas’s POV and the majority of the book focuses on her blossoming romance with Luke until the latter half where her life becomes endangered leading to an intense and suspenseful climatic outcome as secrets are exposed that make her question whether her relationship with Luke has been as genuine as she thought.  As soon, as the first book ended, I had to jump into the second book, Making the Cut, which I think is even better than Saving Dallas.

Making the Cut picks up with the aftermath of the first book’s dramatic conclusion that left me with lots of questions about Dallas’s significance to the MC club, and how she is connected to Frankie the Cutter, a dangerous man intent on destroying Dallas and anyone that tries to protect her.  Now, instead of just getting Dallas’s limited POV, we also get both the perspective of Luke and Red, a hard-core biker ol’ lady who tries to befriend and mentor Dallas. Having these multiple POVs adds depth and enriches the plot giving readers greater insight into life in the MC and the tough choices that are often made in the best interests of the club.

I really enjoyed watching Dallas’s character grow and soften over time as she spends more time around Luke and the MC family.  Dallas and Luke’s journey to be together is fraught with danger and full of complications that threaten to keep them apart. In order to find their way back to each other, they must be willing to make sacrifices that will forever change their lives.

I received ARC of both books from the author in exchange for an honest review. 

Full Review, excerpt & giveaway:

http://sunmountainreviews.wordpress.com/2013/11/22/blog-tour-review...