Saturday, May 5, 2018

It Ain't Me, Babe (Hades Hangmen #1) by Tillie Cole ~ Review

It Ain't Me, Babe (Hades Hangmen, #1)Source: Purchased.

It Ain't Me, Babe (Hades Hangmen #1) by Tillie Cole


Sinning never felt so good… A fortuitous encounter. A meeting that should never have happened.

Many years ago, two children from completely different worlds forged a connection, a fateful connection, an unbreakable bond that would change their lives forever…

Salome knows only one way to live—under Prophet David’s rule. In the commune she calls home, Salome knows nothing of life beyond her strict faith, nor of life beyond the Fence—the fence that cages her, keeps her trapped in an endless cycle of misery. A life she believes she is destined to always lead, until a horrific event sets her free.

Fleeing the absolute safety of all she has ever known, Salome is thrust into the world outside, a frightening world full of uncertainty and sin; into the protective arms of a person she believed she would never see again.

River ‘Styx’ Nash knows one thing for certain in life—he was born and bred to wear a cut. Raised in a turbulent world of sex, Harleys, and drugs, Styx, unexpectedly has the heavy burden of the Hades Hangmen gavel thrust upon him, and all at the ripe old age of twenty-six—much to his rivals’ delight.

Haunted by a crushing speech impediment, Styx quickly learns to deal with his haters. Powerful fists, an iron jaw and the skillful use of his treasured German blade has earned him a fearsome reputation as a man not to be messed with in the shadowy world of outlaw MC’s. A reputation that successfully keeps most people far, far away.

Styx has one rule in life—never let anyone get too close. It’s a plan that he has stuck to for years, that is, until a young woman is found injured on his lot… a woman who looks uncannily familiar, a woman who clearly does not belong in his world, yet a woman he feels reluctant to let go…




I bought the first three books of this series a while ago while the ebooks were on sale. They've sat on my kindle for...goodness, it's been years. But finally a few days ago I picked up this introduction to the Hades Hangmen series to give it a try -- and now I am so hooked.

The big thing about this book is that the premise is so interesting. A mute prez of a biker club? A girl who's just escaped a terrible religious cult? A romance between them? Wow. The idea is teeming with possibility. And honestly, this book delivered. As far as entertainment and addictive value go, It Ain't Me, Babe is high ranking.

The characters are also a big draw. That mute prez, Styx, and his innocent and flustered Mae. The book is told from both of their POVs so we get a firsthand look into their internal struggles as they get to know each other -- and grow into a couple. And I enjoyed them as a couple. I'm a few books into the series at the point when I'm writing this so I know they're not my favorite couple in the series, but they're a good one. Solid. Sweet. I am definitely a fan.

But speaking of further in the series and what drives it all, the REST of these characters. More than anything, that is what hooked me most on this book (and series). Mae's sisters are intriguing. Ky is fun. Flame...I am obsessed with Flame. And I just know as the series continues and the stories go on that I'm going to get drawn in by more. I love it -- it's so FUN.

All that said, I will admit that it took me a little ways into this book to fully get INTO it. Namely this was because Styx was being resistant of his attraction to Mae. And he's a biker so I'm sure y'all know what that means -- what he did with others while he was not yet devoted to Mae. *sigh* I don't hold it against him and it didn't take away from me enjoying the couple once they got together, but it made the beginning chunk of the book tougher to get into. It just also took me a while to buy into the world. I don't know exactly why...maybe I don't fully see Styx as a prez? Or maybe the club as a whole wasn't convincing enough to me? I can't quite put my finger on it, but there was SOMETHING that took away from it all for me. Not enough to turn me away from the series (obviously, says me as I sit here about to start book 5), but enough that it took my rating down a little.

Overall, It Ain't Me, Babe is a solid beginning to the addictive Hades Hangmen series. It's interesting, it's entertaining, and the romance is pretty darn good. Definitely a book I'd recommend giving a try!


4 stars - A great introduction to an addictive series!


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