Publisher: Berkley
How did you get the book: e-ARC from publisher
Reviewed by: Lou, MinnChica & E
Release date: Out now
First in the new Silver Valley series from the New York Times bestselling author of the Reapers Motorcycle Club Novels
Fourteen months. For fourteen months, Puck Redhouse sat in a cell and kept his mouth shut, protecting the Silver Bastards MC from their enemies. Then he was free and it was time for his reward—full membership in the club, along with a party to celebrate. That’s when he saw Becca Jones for the first time and set everything in motion. Before the night ended he’d violated his parole and stolen her away from everything she knew.
Five years. It was five years ago that Puck destroyed Becca and saved her all in one night. She’s been terrified of him ever since, but she’s even more terrified of the monsters he still protects her from… But Becca refuses to let fear control her. She’s living her life and moving forward, until she gets a phone call from the past she can’t ignore. She has to go back, and there’s only one man she can trust to go with her—the ex-con biker who rescued her once before.
Puck will help her again, but this time it’ll be on his terms. No more lies, no more tears, and no more holding back what he really wants…
This edition only: A new Silver Valley story*blurb taken from Goodreads*
**Trigger warning: This book deals with sexual violence against women.**
Thoughts on heroine
E: I had mixed feelings about Becca. I felt horrible for her then I loved how she reclaimed her life, then I wanted to shake her and I was afraid I might grow to strongly dislike her, then she grew as a character and I ended up really liking her. Becca grew up with too much intimate knowledge of the ugly underside of MCs, the seedy aspects of life, and the havoc drugs can cause on lives. I understood why she wanted to resist her attraction to Puck and tried to stay away from MC members, but it was almost impossible in the small town. It didn’t help that Puck continued to keep an eye on her mostly from a distance. I liked how Becca was willing to admit when she was wrong and I thought her ability to get angry also meant she was allowing herself to feel instead of just going along with things. But she couldn’t think at all when she was angry and that led to some awkward situations. Another thing I loved about Becca was her conversations with her best friends and those she trusted. They really fleshed her out as an individual for me and as someone who wasn’t trapped in the past. I will admit I struggled with Becca about halfway into the story because I could not understand some of her actions and choices so I was very glad to see Becca grow and become a character I enjoyed reading.
Lou: Becca I loved and it’s because of all her flaws. After everything she had been through, I understood her thinking and her reactions because her and Puck’s history was a part of her abusive past but also what saved her. At twenty-one years of age, she’s got baggage that no women or child should have had to carry for so long. Her attraction to Puck was so full of passion that it shone through despite Becca resisting and pushing down the attraction for so long. She didn’t know how to deal with it. I loved her personality and I loved the scenes Becca had with her friends, Danielle and Blake. She found herself a knit-tight group and their reaction to being fired was hilarious. Becca was fun, confident in herself but when she was around Puck and bikermen, her fear came out. I wondered how she would react when Puck made his move. Becca for me was a well developed character and though some of her actions were rash and impulsive thanks to her temper, to me it felt organic in her character arc because of what she had gone through. Becca might be one of my favourite Wylde heroines.
MinnChica: Poor Becca went through hell and back, and at an age where she should have been worrying about boys and getting her license! I thought the way she reacted around Puck was super believable given their past, but at the same time I wanted to smack her every now and then. For all the attraction she had for Puck, she treated him like crap at times, and even though she knows the biker way of life (probably more than any should have to), she doesn’t seem to get it. But, like E said, she grows so much as a character that I couldn’t help but like her by the end.
Thoughts on hero
E: Puck was rough, tough, didn’t try to pretty anything up but he did have his standards and a moral code. When he realized he had unknowingly violated his code and the law he promptly took action to fix the situation. He also took responsibility for ensuring Becca remained safe and guarded. I really liked how he continued to have a serious thing for her over the years despite never approaching her. He did everything he could to make sure Becca not only knew it was her choice but also knew what she was choosing. He was willing to tell her when her temper was getting the best of her and he was also willing to accept her apologies. It was also interesting seeing his interaction with Painter and some characters new to the scene. They were rather different from the other inter-Club interactions Wylde has published in the past. Those scenes made me think there was the possibility of peace if only because they faced a potential common enemy. I liked Puck as a hero more than I have liked the previous ones because he actually appeared to respect Becca’s thoughts and choices even after he announced she was his. He really wanted to see her safe and happy.
Lou: Like E said above, Puck was rough and tough. Like all of the other Wylde heroes, he stands by his own morals and that of his brothers. Puck went to prison for not giving up the Silver Bastards and it’s on the night when he’s released with Painter that he meets Becca. Puck’s first meeting with Becca was a mixture of mind-blowing sex and horror. It’s only after the fact Puck released Becca’s step-father was pimping her out and that she was only sixteen years old. Puck goes to town on Becca’s stepfather beating the shit out of him, and he, Boomer, and Picnic rescue Becca. Puck has never been able to forget that night or Becca. The sexual attraction between these two was off the charts. Puck doesn’t do nice and Becca understands that because she has the same feelings towards Puck.
MinnChica: I was on the fence about Puck from the previous books. He was a total A-hole, and I wasn’t too sure that he would be redeemable in my book. But I’m glad to say that Wylde goes above and beyond when it comes to Puck. By the end of the book, I adored him. Sure, he was still an a-hole, but I got it. I understood where he was coming from, and I kinda loved him for it. 🙂
Your favourite scene in this book
E: My absolute favorite scene involved Becca’s conversation with the Silver Bastard Old Ladies and Sisters. She learned how the “right” decisions were made (hilarious story) and also how good it could feel to support someone else when they were hurting. I liked how the Silver Bastard ladies handled things and felt in a sense they were a more “progressive” MC.
Lou: I loved how passionate and dirty Becca and Puck were towards each other. The romance was central in Silver Bastards with a side-serving of action of MC stuff. I also loved the scenes with Becca, Danielle and Blake. E is right. This book felt so much more progressive in terms of how the Silver Bastards treated women, especially with their older ladies.
MinnChica: E stole my favorite scene. I can just imagine all the old ladies out getting manis and pedis while the guys sit at the clubhouse complaining about not getting sex because of some archaic rule or decision they made. *giggle*
What did you dislike
E: I really really had problems with the initial chapter and almost stopped reading there because of what happened to Becca and how those who should have been protecting her instead profited. To me, it summed up everything I have problems with regarding the MC culture. Those who get involved, a lucky few are mostly treated well otherwise…
Lou: I don’t have any dislike in this book! I understood why Becca acted the way she did.
MinnChica: While I didn’t necessarily dislike the first chapter of this book, it was extremely difficult to read! Becca went through some horrific stuff, and Wylde didn’t pull her punches. It was tough to read, and definitely needs to come with a trigger warning.
Summary and grade
E: I think this is probably the best balanced of Wylde’s MC books to date. Even though I didn’t quite understand the mine tie-in (I might have missed it) and I struggled with some of the subject matter the overall romance was quite nice. Puck made amends for the role he played in the beginning and gave Becca a chance to grow and learn how to be happy. Becca started figuring out who she was, what she could do, and what she enjoyed even as she struggled to reject everything associated with her past in the small heavily MC influenced community. I really had the sense that Puck loved Becca and would do just about anything for her except let her ruin her life. Becca had to seperate the past from her chance at a future and it made total sense it was with Puck because she didn’t have to hide things from him. I still dislike the attitude towards women but found Silver Bastard an engrossing read.
I give Silver Bastard a B
Lou: I really enjoyed Silver Bastard! Becca and Puck had such vivid back-history and their romance was unbelievably raw and full of emotions packed with history they had to come to terms with. Puck never pushed Becca despite their overwhelming sexual chemistry. He did turn into asshole mode with Becca’s mother but I could understand why he didn’t get the reason why Becca couldn’t cut ties with her mother. I thought their romance was perfect and it got really romantic towards the end, MC style! I really wasn’t keen on Picnic’s book but Silver Bastard made me fall back in love with the series.
I give Silver Bastard an A.
MinnChica: All in all I really enjoyed this book. I was a little hesitant to see where it would go after starting with such a shocking entrance, but I really liked the way the book progressed. Wylde really took the time to focus more on Puck and Becca, and less on the overall club. I enjoyed that we got to see the more personal aspect of MC relationships, and hope this trend continues in her books.
I give Silver Bastard a B