RESILIENT
By Gillian Archer
On Sale July 11th
Ballantine/Loveswept
Every loner needs a family—and a heart to call home—as a strong, silent type shows the right woman that he can speak the language of love.
With her lowlife father in prison for manslaughter, Nicole Walker keeps her distance from the biker scene—until she meets the stud running security at her best friend’s wedding. “Tank” is big, mean, and trouble from every direction. Yet Nicole can’t take her eyes off his chiseled body, or deny the pure electricity she feels when he returns her gaze. Guys like Tank are supposed to be a one-way ride to heartbreak. So why, after a scorching night in his bed, does Nicole only want more?
From his tour in the Marines to his sister’s disastrous marriage, Tank has seen the worst that life has to offer. Ever since his father’s death, Tank’s been fiercely protective of his family—and the True Brothers have always had his back. But nothing could prepare him for a woman like Nicole, who’s determined to break down the walls around his heart. When violence strikes, placing Nicole in harm’s way, Tank digs deep to find the courage to keep her safe—and the strength to love without limits.
4 Stars
Resilient is the third title in the True Brothers MC series. I have personally only read one of the previous titles in this series, but actually found this title to be more engaging.
Resilient is Tank and Nicole's story. This pair of characters are complex, damaged, realistic and like-able. Tank is a bad-ass, alpha, a strong take charge character, who has a soft caring side. Nicole on the other hand had a tendency to frustrate me at times, with her judgemental nature, but I did like her sassy personality.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the build up of sexual tension, and banter, and the evolving relationship and connection of this pair. The story is well written, and well paced and has an element of drama and emotion, that I wasn't expecting and had me close to tears. I will be looking forward to reading more of Gillian Archer's work in the future.
I shook my head. “It’s every club member’s duty to look out for the club. That’s all we’re doing.”
“Someone was listening all those afternoons we’d shoot the shit on my porch talking about the club and brotherhood.” Stitch grinned like a proud papa. “And here I thought you were just shining me on and were only there for my wife’s cooking.”
I smiled at the memory. “The scenery was pretty nice, too.”
“It’s gone now. Those fucking developers obliterated my view.” Stitch shook his head.
“I was talking about Brittany.”
Stitch scowled and slapped me upside my head while the other guys laughed. “Fucker.”
“Shit, you’re right—that is a mighty fine view.” Bumper laughed and danced away from Stitch’s raised hand. “But he’s not looking at Brittany now, he’s got his hands full with Nicole and all her fucking wildcat attitude.”
And there it was. I’d wondered how long it’d take the guys to give me shit over Nicole and the way we’d left the reception with me hauling her out of the room like a sack of potatoes over my shoulder.
Hatchet jerked his chin at me. “Yeah, what’s the deal there, Tank? Are you guys serious?”
I shook my head. “You guys know me better than that.”
“But it’s a possibility?” Hatchet asked.
“Fuck, I don’t know. This shit is too deep for me. Let’s go get a beer.”
“Oooooooh! Tank is in loooooooove.” Bumper taunted as he pantomimed a love-struck teen, clutching his hands over his heart. “Tank and Nicole sitting in a tree, f-u-c-k-i-n-g.”
I laughed. “I don’t think that’s how the song goes. Plus it doesn’t sound too comfortable. Give me a nice, warm bed any day.”
“Christ, I never thought I’d see the day when Tank settled down.” Bumper curled his lip in disgust. “First Zag then Reb and now you? Is it something in the water? Have the chicks spiked the club beer tap? Lemme know so I can avoid that shit like the plague.”
“Ain’t nothing better on this earth than the love of a good woman,” Stitch said quietly. “Makes you feel like Superman on top of the goddamn world.”
“Doesn’t hurt if she’s hot like Brittany or Nicole. Right, Stitch?” Hatchet shoved his fists into his jeans and rocked back on his heels.
“I’ve loved Brittany longer than some of our prospects have been alive. We’ll be married twenty-two years in February. I’d do anything for that woman. Ain’t nothing to joke about.” Stitch bit out. “Reb and Zag know what I’m talking about, and if Tank wakes up, he’ll get it, too. The love of the right woman makes life worth living. Nothing else matters. Nothing.”
We were all quiet for a moment as Stitch’s words sank in. I don’t think I’d ever heard him speak so passionately—even when he was trying to sell me on the True Brothers MC and their brand of brotherhood, he didn’t sound so heated. He loved Brittany so much we felt it when we were around the couple. But not in an uncomfortable, they’re-humping-each-other-every-spare-minute kinda way. More in a soft look, hand-holding, quiet contentment kinda way.
Shit.
Did I want what Stitch had?
“Fuck, man, that’s deep.” Bumper’s sardonic voice cut the silence.
“Fuck you. Your time will come too. There’s someone for everyone, right?” Stitch slapped Bump’s back. “That is if you pull your head out of your ass and some blind chick is willing to put up with your ugly mug and shitty attitude.”
“Aww, that’s the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me.” Bumper blinked puppy dog eyes at Stitch. “Maybe you’re my forever girl. Will you marry me, Stitch?”
I snorted. Leave it to Bumper to cut the tension with an inappropriate comment. “I am way too sober for this fucking conversation. Let’s go get a beer.”
Because I couldn’t think about Nicole or any woman that way. At least not sober. But as I followed my friends to the bar, I couldn’t help but wonder . . .
Nah, not me. I just wasn’t built that way.
Gillian Archer has a bachelor’s degree in mining engineering but prefers to spend her time on happily ever after. She writes the kind of stories she loves to read—the hotter the better! When she’s not pounding away on the keyboard, she can be found surfing the couch, indulging in her latest reality TV fixation, or baking something ridiculously tasty (and horrible for her waist line). Gillian Archer lives in the wilds of Nevada with her amazing husband, gorgeous new baby, and two goofy dogs.