3.5 stars
This was a good read. When I first read The Purest Hook and was introduced to Dred and his bandmates, I was hoping that Scarlett would give each member of the band their own book. So I was pleasantly surprised and excited about when I saw this was happening. The first book is about Jordan. From the glimpses that we got of him previously, I had a feeling his story would be heartbreaking. Getting to know more about him and his past and how it affects his present made the story emotional. I loved the love that the band had with each other. The family atmosphere was great and I enjoyed their interactions-it was fun but also had their touching moments. Lexi is a ballerina and she has had her own pain to live through. But she does her best to survive it all. When these two meet, there is a connection there that both can not ignore. I liked seeing the progress of Jordan and Lexi’s relationship. They connected on so many levels though they came from different backgrounds. They just fit and it was nice to read how everything would go. Jordan Reclaimed had great writing and was very character-driven. I really wanted these characters to have their happy ending. This story was full of both happy and sad emotions. A very nice read that will get your emotions racing.

As Jordan's family starts to go their separate ways his anxiety starts to get out of control. They are the only people he has ever felt safe with until he meets Lexi. After watching her dancing from outside a studio near his home he reaches out to her through music. To his surprise she contacts him to meet her. The chemistry between them is easily seen. Neither of them ready for a relationship due to the their own personal demons but they can't deny the need to be around each other.

Jordan and Lexi start to confide in each other about their past which brings comfort to both of them. After some small misunderstandings Jordan realizes he will be OK as long as he and Lexi are together.

Looking forward to more that is still to come.

*** Advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review. ***

Jordan Steele’s life began when he was ten. When he was taken from his parents and a house that was never a home. When he met his brothers, the other lost and abandoned boys in his group home. When he learned what friendship and family and love looked like.

Now he’s made good, touring the world with the band he and his brothers formed in that crowded group home. No one but his found family really knows the man under the fame and fortune, the scars he hides behind the rockstar lifestyle. Until he sees her through the windows of the National Ballet, dancing, and suddenly the world doesn’t seem so dark.

Aleksandra Artemov ticks all the ballet boxes. Father a legendary Kirov dancer. Check. Prepping since birth for classical ballet. Check. Compulsive control over the food she eats. Check. Principal dancer at The National Ballet of Canada. Check. But what she craves is freedom.

She craves Jordan.

Everything about him should terrify her. His size, his tattoos, his edge. But he doesn’t. He stirs her very soul. Jordan has nothing but himself to offer her, and he's never been good enough for anyone. Can he figure out how to face his own demons before he loses his light for good?

Review:

Loved this story of the ballerina and the Rocker!

This is the first in a new spin-off series from the Second Circle Tattoo series. This series features members of the band Preload. All the band members were from the same group home and pretty much still live together. While not touring Jordan and
Aleksandra meet, in one of the more interesting first meetings I have read in a while. From there the relationship grows and grows. Even though they seem so different they both have had rough childhoods that are still affecting their adult lives and ultimately throw obstacles into their romance. So many emotions ran through me while reading this story because of everything that has happened to them and is happening as the story progresses.

I have read this Author before and really love her writing and storytelling style. This is the first in the series so you can get on board now and not miss anything. I have no idea who is next, but will be waiting for the next story.

4.5Stars

*I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book provided by the publisher.*

oh, how I love Scarlett Cole's writing! She tells an amazing story that sucks you in and makes you fall in love with her characters, and not just the main ones. I loved each of the Preload guys as much as I loved Jordan (and Dred before LOL).

As a child Jordan lived a life no child should ever have to live. It's no wonder he was as protective of his band mates, which is his family, as he was. My heart went out to him. And when he saw Lexi, he knew she was the one who could bring light and joy to his life. They were beautiful together. They clicked from the beginning, knowing the other without words. His music and her dance talked to the heart of the other. I LOVED IT!

It was great seeing Dred and Pixie again, as well as the other guys. I am looking forward to reading each of their stories.

*thanks to the publisher for sharing a copy of this with me*

When I met Jordan in the Purest Hook I knew I wanted to know his story. There was just something about him that drew me in and wouldn't let go.

Jordan was living his life the only way he was comfortable with. Then he saw her..Lexi, the beautiful, princess ballerina. Then he started feeling so much more than he was used to.

Lexi is more than just a ballerina, she has hopes and dreams too. They may not be what others want for her and she has to find a way to balance everything in her life.

I loved how awkward Jordan is around Lexi to begin with. He's been cold for so long that he doesn't even notice until Lexi. Until she starts thawing him from the inside out. These two balance each other out, he's her strength and she's his light in the darkness. Love the way that the band is so much more than just a band but is a family to each other. How they have each other backs, no matter what. I absolutely loved this book and can't wait for Elliott.

This isn't my first time that I've read an amazing story by this author. She knows how to turn the most unbelievable situations into a beautiful love story that will make you feel like you want to be a part of the main character's life.

I've waited for this story to come out for so long. Since I've read the stories from secondary characters that appear in this book, I knew that Jordan's life wasn't easy or pretty. I also knew that whatever his journey in this book would be, it had to be an amazing read. And that's exactly what it was. I wanted to know the reason for his fears and in the end I really felt for him. He craved the feeling of not being alone and he wanted to hold onto the people that he saw as his family. And then of course the unexpected happened and he met 'his light'.

This is a story that will make your emotions come to life. It's a beautiful journey of love, hope and how you can overcome your fears. I'm not giving away any details about how the story unfolds, since I do believe you shuld make judgements for yourself by reading the book. I did not regret reading it in any way and I'm already looking forward to this authors next book.

First book of this author that I read and confess that I was fascinated with her way of handling psychological problems in such a playful way...

Jordan Steele spent a long time at the orphanage in Toronto.
He lived in several houses, as foster care, but never adapted to them. He preferred to be in the orphanage where Ellen took care of him and his "brothers".
When they grew up, they became famous with the metal band Preload.
Jordan always returned to the orphanage, with the other members of the band, to visit Ellen, her wife Maisey, and the other boys.
More than anyone, Jordan understood them. He had serious problems of adaptation and because of them, the boys of the band kept living under the same roof.
Now that one of them was getting married, Dred, the lead singer, the changing was coming, since Dred would want to have his own house with the fiancée, Petal.
Jordan was happy for his friend, but unhappy with the change.
Until at Christmas, walking in the street, Jordan passes in front of a dance studio and is enchanted with a ballerina.

Aleksandra Artemov - Lexi - was an exceptional ballerina. But her father, Alexei, demanded too much from her.
He had been a famous soloist, but when he applied for asylum in Canada, he saw his career plummet. So now, he wanted his only daughter to have eyes on the job.
The relationship between Lexi and her father was not good.
Her career paid for their expenses, but he behaved as if she owed him everything.
When she was watched by that tall, mysterious man, who left her a message with a link, she listened to his songs and was delighted.
The next time they met, she invited him into the studio and danced exclusively for him.
Jordan feels that for the first time someone had understood his soul.
But, unknowingly dealing with change, he prefers to stay away from her.
However, this doesn't last long.

Logically Lexi's father dislikes the approach of that rocker in his daughter's life, especially since Alexei was trying to find a Russian partner, for life!, for his daughter.

While Jordan had serious problems of confidence and changing, Lexi was experiencing an eating disorder. She thought she was too fat to do certain choreograph with her dance partners.

The couple would have to support each other and learn to deal with the changes that life demanded of them.
Their relationship grew beyond control. They would have to face certain people who were against them, and at the same time deal with the truth that not everything in life can be controlled...

"You can hear thunder but you can see lightning, as people hear your music but see me dance"

Amazing plot, great characters, good pace.
5 stars

Preload isn't just a rock band, it's a band of brothers. All survivors of their own personal tragedies and misfortunes in childhood, they bonded as foster children and haven't been apart since. Jordan is perhaps the most scarred emotionally in the group, and the most fragile. At the age of nine, he had already survived more than the average person does in their lifetime. The child abuse he endured is a horror story that is all too real in this world. The kind of history that one never really leaves in their past.

Jordan never really does well with change, especially when it comes to his bandmates. Having them all together in one house gives him a sense of safety and support. But now that one of his brothers is engaged and making moves to start his new life with his family, Jordan is overwhelmed with anxiety. Comfort comes from the least likely place, on a walk during a cold winter's night. Seeing a ballerina dancing through her studio window, he's struck by her beauty and talent. And a strange blend of unfamiliar emotions consume him.

To him, she is everything that is pure and good in the world. He couldn't even dare to hope that he was worthy of someone like her, but that doesn't mean he can stay away. What's even more surprising is that she sees him, really sees him. With the song he created and left for her, she choreographs a dance for him that seems to look right into his soul. All of his pain, fear, desperation, and darkness was right there before him in her every movement.

Right from the start, I loved how these two connected. They are both such opposites in almost every way, but yet they are able to understand and accept one another for who they are. He is severely emotionally wounded, and she is living her life for her father's happiness, not her own. Together, they immediately felt an inexplicable harmonious balance. It really felt effortless. Though he had his fears that he wasn't worthy and tried pushing her away a bit, she wasn't having any of it. There was no unnecessary drama, just two people trying to navigate their unfamiliar emotions and learn to trust each other.

Jordan is an extremely unique and complex character. Highly gifted musically, tall, bearded and tatted, he's a scary looking guy. But his intimidating surface just conceals a lost little boy. Someone who was abused, neglected, and unaccepted. Finding Lexi was like finding an oasis in the desert. He soaked up all the love she had to give and it flooded right back out at her.

Lexi was a girl with the world at her fingertips. She lives and breathes to dance and try to make her father happy. But it's a losing battle. He uses guilt trips and manipulation to mold her in whichever direction he wants her. Struggling for acceptance and trying to achieve perfection, she walks a dangerous path that could destroy everything she's worked for. I really felt for this girl. She never had anyone who was on her side, someone with her best interests at heart. Her desperation and isolation were things that I think she identified with in Jordan.

I thought this book was quite different than any other rockstar book I've read. It was an unusual coupling with these two, and I really appreciated how the author made them work so well. I enjoyed meeting the other bandmates and will be interested to see how they all overcome their own demons. The Preload boys have lots of interesting things in store for us.

I would like to Scarlett Cole, St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for giving me this book for my honest review.

Review By Stephanie

ANOTHER BOOK FROM MY FAVORITE SCARLET COLE…. And it’s about a rock star and a ballerina!!!!!

Jordan Steele was dealt a shitty hand at life which keeps him a hermit with walls built up all around him. The only people he lets in his life are his “brothers”. Then there is Aleksandra-Lexi, a prima ballerina who is trying too hard to get her father’s approval. But no matter how hard she tires it just never seem to be good enough for him. The first meeting these two were instantly drawn to each other no matter how much Jordan tried to fight his feelings.

This book was amazing!

Jordan Steele was almost destroyed by his biological family but with love of the brothers he chose in his group home he has reached astronomical levels of success in the world famous rock band they formed, Preload. Nothing that principal ballet dancer Aleksandra Artemov has ever done meets the high standards of her father or can erase the fact that he blames her for the death of her mother. On a cold and desolate night the two have a chance encounter and are uncontrollably drawn to each other only to find they might just hold the missing pieces of each other’s shattered soul?

Yes Jordan was broken but when Scarlett Cole rebuilt him she created a masterpiece. This writer's emotional well runs deep and her portrayals are hardcore and raw. Jordan and Lexi faced overwhelming odds against them in life yet Ms. Cole managed to bring their strength to the forefront as they clawed their way to the love and goodness they deserved. Watching the leads of this work barely stumbled through life, as past and present abuses continually barraged them, was hard but in the same moment epically inspiring as this author found a way to draw strength from their despair. A romantic connection so profound that it rescued two lost souls Jordan Reclaimed was full of tears, hope and exceptional writing!

This was a sweet romance with both light and dark under tones I wasn’t expecting. I love when an author surprises me and Scarlett Cole did just that. This was a touching love story with an instant connection between brooding Jordan and feisty Lexi.

This is literally a love at first sight story. I loved their first meeting, Jordan looking in from the outside as Lexi danced for him – it was an emotionally charged scene that set the tone for the rest of the story. Their connection was tangible, the emotion strong. Even before they officially meet, Jordan and Lexi knew each other on a more instinctive level that when they finally do get together, their chemistry was off the charts.

I'm a sucker for a damaged Hero and Jordan with his soft touch, heartbreaking lyrics and 100% devotion to his girl, had me glued to the pages. I loved watching him accept and even embrace change. For someone who had suffered such hardships and loved so deeply, he was so deserving of his own happy ending.

Jordan and Lexi are adorable together, the way they expressed themselves through different outlets yet were so in sync with each other was touching. I loved the behind the scenes of Lexi's dancing, the passion behind Jordan's music, the closeness of the guys and Jordan with Petal was the cutest. I loved both MCs, these two really were great together, each offering support, love and friendship in equal measures. Yes there were bumps on the road for each of them but it made their relationship stronger for it.

Safety Gang, this was a safe read (Although it is mentioned vaguely that Jordan was a bit of a man whore in the past, he’s burned out on that lifestyle and since meeting Lexi, there is no one else for him. So no OW drama). Neither are virgin, there is no OM drama or cheating. Ends with a HFN.

Triggers: this book does have a few triggers – Child abuse (past tense), suicide (past tense), eating disorders (present) and pushing away (by both H and h).

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Kris – ☆☆☆☆
Having read the other series by Cole, Second Circle Tattoos, I was more than ready for the guys from the band Preload to have their own stories! First book on this spin-off series starts with Jordan, the bass player from Preload. Jordan suffered some serious abuse and neglect before he ended up in the group home where he met his fellow band mates. He has horrible abandonment issues that made the guys live all together even after they made it big. Dred, the lead singer of the group, going out on his own with his wife and kid really has Jordan’s feelings left in a whirlwind. Walking in the cold, winter, Canadian streets, Jordan passes a ballet studio and stops to watch a ballerina dancing. Aleksandra sees the interesting stranger with his tattoos and side shaved head watching her practice and she's drawn to the dark and dangerous looking man. Dancing for him becomes something she longs to do more and the two begin to seek each other out. Deciding to see where a relationship might go, the two battle their own demons and the demands of being on the road apart. Jordan has to travel for the band, Alex for the ballet, but they try to keep it together. Alex's drunken father (an injured former ballet star) turns more abusive as the story unfolds. Alex's burgeoning eating disorder, along with Jordan's insecurities, make them both interesting characters to read. They also have some pretty great chemistry and when Jordan lets loose, the pages fly by. The ending was very abrupt and felt extremely rushed, so that left me feeling a bit stilted and thrown off, but these messed up boys turned rock stars are an intriguing bunch. I'd like to get to know them all better so I'm definitely reading #2!


Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
This is a dark and emotional read with lots of triggers involving child abuse.

Jordan was a victim of child abuse so severe that it still colors his everyday life. He has OCD tendencies that he can't seem to curb. He knows that he's still dealing with issues from his childhood, he just doesn't know how to come to terms with it.

Jordan is also a member of the successful metal band, Preload. Being a member of the band also causes him problems with his incessant need to make sure his brothers, his bandmates, are safe and secure every night.

Lexi is a dancer with her own set of issues. Her mother died when she was young and her father, a Russian immigrant, pinned all his hopes and dreams on her. She's a victim of verbal and mental abuse by her father, not only as a child, but also as an adult.

The chemistry between Jordan and Lexi is real and heartfelt. Jordan is unsure how to interact with Lexi but for the first time, he's willing to try to take something he really wants.

Lexi knows that Jordan's soul is bruised and she wants to help him into the light. The only problem is that Lexi tries to hide her issues from him, not wanting to cause him to worry for her.

I enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more about the boys, the brothers, that made themselves a family.


Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Romance
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

I believe that this book had a lot packed in for the length. I love how loyal Jordan is. He has had a very tough life, but he found his forever family and has stuck close. The secondary characters – his brothers and moms were a delight to read. I think that they helped to shape Jordan and without them, Jordan's character would have lacked a depth that was key to his story. When he sees Lexi, he's can't stop watching. He sees in her, a quality that just jumps at him.

Then you have Lexi. She is trying to find her own path, all while living under the shadow of her father. Her father is both physically and verbally abusive towards her and she is not well equipped to handle it. She loves dancing, but wants to dance something other than the classics. However, she is being told, by more than just her father, that her body type is not ideal for the types of shows she wants to dance. This starts her on a dangerous path.

When things come to a head with her father, she runs to Jordan, who does extremely well to hold himself in check. Jordan knows that Lexi is struggling, but doesn't really know how to help her. Both Jordan and Lexi have to struggle through their own insecurities and doubts, but eventually, they both find their way.

I hope that the brothers get their own stories too, as they were fun to read about.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
Romance writing just doesn’t get any better than this. Rock star and ballerina. Two angst filled artists still struggling to reconcile with difficult pasts, Jordan and Lexi are a perfect match. I’ve loved Scarlett Cole’s writing since the first Second Circle Tattoos book and I am thrilled with this spinoff series.

Jordan was introduced to readers in Dred’s book, The Purest Hook, along with the other members of the Toronto metal band. Of all the band members who met in foster care, Jordan always seemed the most damaged, but also the most elusive and private. His story is heartbreaking, but themes of healing and redemption keep his painful history from overwhelming his and Lexi’s story. In many ways, Jordan is a musical savant and his talent is inspiring.

Lexi is the child of a Russian defector, the father who needs her to realise his own failed aspirations. Her training regime is brutal and with her father also working as her teacher, Lexi has very little control over her life.

The scene when Lexi and Jordan first meet is absolutely magical. These two are perfect complements and they are bound together by their love of music. Theirs is an angst filled emotional journey and I loved it. Both Jordan and Lexi are controlled by people and events in their pasts and understanding themselves and each other takes trust and patience. While Scarlett Cole’s characters are never simple, these two might be her most complex couple yet.

This book might stand alone, but readers really need to go back to the very first Second Circle Tattoos story, or at least Dred’s story to fully understand the history of Preload and the relationships within the band. Over the past few months, I have become such a huge Scarlett Cole fangirl and I want to share her books with everyone I meet!


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆☆
Having loved Ms. Cole's Second Circle Tattoos series, I was delighted to get a chance to read this new series based on Dred's band members.

This is an absolutely beautiful story with a very considered ending. I love that it deals with the many elements that have gone to make up these two people's lives, and how the parallels are drawn. There is some great foreshadowing of what might happen, which keeps the tension up too. Jordan is a really lovely character, backed up by his band of brothers by choice, rather than birth. His story, as it is slowly revealed, is heartbreaking, and when he calls Lexi on her behaviour, so powerful. Such an amazing talent to be able to write about such difficult issues with love and care.

I love that we are given an insight into the world of a ballerina, the pressures, the contradiction of beauty and pain. Mix that with the incredible talent of Preload band member Jordan to write music, and how the connection between them works musically as well as emotionally.

Thank you Ms. Cole for another amazing read.

Jordan Reclaimed
Preload series book # 1
Release Date: February 28, 2017
Review copy provided by the publisher

Sometimes a book comes along that just wrecks you. It pulls all your heart strings, and drags every emotion from the depths of your soul. And sometimes you aren't sure you can get through it. You want to because the writing and story are brilliant, but the wreckage is almost too much to handle. This was one of those books for me.

I first "met" Jordan in, The Second Circle Tattoos series. From the moment he showed up on the page I knew he was special. I also knew that he was hurting...a lot. I was desperate to know his past and what his secrets were. Alas, I had to wait for his book, but I thought of him each time I read a Second Circle book.

Jordan has been to hell and back. And in some sense he still exists in that hell. He is rocked and dragged down by his memories on daily basis. I've read some pretty heavy books where the characters are survivors of child abuse, but this shredded my heart. I won't go into details because I think you should learn those from Jordan. It's his story to tell after all.

The moment Jordan spots Lexi dancing through a studio window he is transfixed by her beauty and grace. I could sense his curiosity of this almost ethereal creature. It was like a little of the heavy burden on his shoulders was lifted...just a little.

Lexi is a dedicated ballet dancer, a Principal Dancer for a prestigious Canadian company. She's pulled in many directions. Her heart yearns for something different in her career, but her sense of responsibility to her father and his idea of what her career should be is a constant battle.

I talk about chemistry between characters a lot in my reviews. It's an important component that I need in romance novels. But I think chemistry is too simple a word to describe what happens between Lexi and Jordan. Maybe it was fate. But even that seems inadequate. Whatever it was, it was beautiful to witness.

The path to their happiness is long and arduous. While I typically love a book that throws the characters into the sack very quickly, I loved watching the romance build. I loved watching Jordan pull at all his layers and discover things about himself that were buried deep. Jordan had to, in a sense, grow up. He was robbed of so many years and experiences. I had a huge smile on my face when he decided he needed a cell phone. It should have been a simple decision, but it wasn't. And the moment itself is pivotal in his healing. Not to mention the scene that followed his epiphany was hilarious!

Scarlett Cole wrote Lexi in such a way that I felt I could really see into the mind of a dancer. Her struggles with food and her weight felt real to me. I believed that she was a real person with these struggles. And you know what? She was! So many professional dancers, and ordinary everyday people, struggle with eating disorders and body image issues. So maybe Lexi isn't real, but there are people just like her in the world.

These two are struggling to find their footing in a relationship when their internal battles are eating them alive. It seemed like a recipe for disaster. I adored their strength. The determination to grab life by the balls was admirable.

The love scenes were, at times, heartbreaking. Jordan needed the physical connection to know that something in his life was good and beautiful. Don't get me wrong, Jordan is crazy hot and sexy in bed! It's just that the love scenes were something more. More than Pleasure. Does that make sense? It was a testament to survival.

The supporting characters in this book are so interesting. They leave me curious about their pasts. You get a wee glimpse of their stories, enough to make me hunger for more...Scarlett's good at that!
I know I'm going to be torn up by each of their books, too. These brothers by choice grew up in the foster care system. And we've all heard the horror stories of what growing up in the system can be like. Not everyone is lucky to end up in a home with caring adults...far from it. I can hardly wait to walk along on their journeys.

This book was dark. No doubt about it. But there's always an underlying feel of hope. One of my favourite things about this book was watching Lexi and Jordan blossom. It was exciting to see them really embrace life and fight for the happiness they wanted and so rightly deserved.

I have to have a happily ever after in my romance novels. It's a requirement or I feel cheated and left hanging. Jordan and Lexi definitely get that, but everything wasn't tied up in a neat bow. You know they're going to be together, that's a given. But I loved that there was room and a need for more growth, and most importantly, more healing.

I feel like these words I have written aren't enough. But until you go on this journey with Lexi and Jordan, you won't understand the struggle. They're love was beautiful, and that may sound hokey, but it was. It was a real privilege to read this book and I hope you'll give it a chance. I hope you'll let Jordan teach you what it's like to really live after a life in darkness.

"He simply wanted her with every fragment of his broken being."

I was introduced to the author in book #4 of her Second Circle Tattoos series. It was cool to revisit a few of the characters in that series in this new Preload series. I confess, I'm a sucker for a broken bad boy. I just can resist the damaged ones. There's just something about finding hope at the bottom and being able to climb your way back up, with love leading the way.

While I struggled slightly at the beginning, once the foundation was laid and I understood certain things, the story picked up for me and I was totally invested until the last word. And now, I'm excited to get my hands on Elliott's story.

Jordan wasn't looking for love, actually he was afraid of it. While he had the love of his 'found family" , he was also overly stressed by the fear of losing it. Having met his bandmates in a group home, they were his brothers, sharing his secrets and using them against him at times. They had his back, and they drove him crazy. He wouldn't have it any other way. Having spent their formative years together, they knew when to keep quiet and when to push. They looked out for each other, even living together when each could afford their own rockstar mansion. As the layers of his painful past is revealed as the story progresses, I fell deeper and deeper in love with Jordan. What he perceives as weakness, I recognize as incredible strength. As he struggles to keep his head above the pain, he walks the streets of Toronto, letting the exercise be his therapy. It helps him to relax, and to keep his demons at bay. That's how he spies Aleksandra the first time. Not face to face, but through a window. He can't hear the music, but he can see her dance. He doesn't know her name, but her graceful beauty and artistic expression calls out to him. It speaks to his soul, and he can't look away. He can't forget her.

Aleksandra, or Lexi as her friends call her, is a classical ballerina. She pushes herself daily with a strict rehearsal schedule and a domineering father who demands everything from her. No matter how hard she tries, she can't seem to earn his approval. While she yearns for freedom to choose her own style of dance, she submits to his control of her career and continues to do what is expected of her. As she is practicing late one night, she glances up and sees him watching her. She doesn't know who he is, but his soul calls out to her. She feels him. She performs for him, knowing that his presence is pulling the best out of her.

They are two beautifully broken characters that pulled my heartstrings as I yearned for them to find each other. And once they did, I yearned for them to find a way to overcome their demons enough to allow themselves to be together. I had no doubt they were capable of loving each other, but they each had so much baggage, it was weighing them down. Would they find the strength to let each other inside their secrets? Would their painful pasts steal their chance at a future together? Is love strong enough to heal a lifetime of hurt? Could they get past the belief that they had to fix themselves in order to be good enough for each other?

"Lexi just twirled into my life, and she's like the light I've been living without. I'm terrified that my darkness will dim her somehow. And I feel like I need to solve that before I can be with her."

I'm a lover of the arts, both dance and music, so this story combining both was a real treat for me. I enjoyed the behind the scenes look at a dancer and a rockstar's lifestyle. I also fell in love with the support characters and I'm really excited as I anticipate reading more about each of them in future books. I'm also excited knowing that when I do, I'll get to spend more time with Jordan & Lexi too.

Jordan is covered in tattoos and favors biker boots and a leather jacket. He wears heavy silver rings and wears his hair long. And to put icing on the cake, she is "secretly thrilled by the naughty way he talked to her.", and so was I. Yup, I can't resist a dirty-talker. Join me as I wait for more Preload, the line forms here...

4.5 Stars

“Lexi just twirled into my life, and she’s like the light I’ve been living without.”

Jordan might be a rich and famous rockstar, but he lived daily with his issues from a damaged childhood. As long as he has his ‘brothers’ with him and accounted for, he’s fine. Women are transient in his life and a relationship is something he’s never really thought he could have. One evening, he’s sees a ballerina dancing through the window of a dance studio. She is beautiful and wondrous. She’s like bright sunshine penetrating his dark existence. When their eyes meet, a connection is forged between them. It was as if she saw to the heart of him and he quickly becomes consumed by her.

“The connection between them couldn’t have been anymore real had they been touching. It was solid, and heated, and unlike anything Lexi had ever experienced.”

Lexi is a principal dancer with the Canadian National Ballet. She yearns to spread her wings beyond classical ballet but her obsessive father guides her life and career using guilt, cruel words, and a tough hand. Jordan, with his heavy metal background, and his black clothes, and tattoos, is the complete opposite of the type of person she would normally socialise with, but something about him calls to her and, for the first time in her life, she’s excited about something other than dance.

“You're my everything...Everything I didn't know I wanted or needed. Everything I didn't think I could have.”

I adored the connection between Jordan and Lexi. I loved how natural they were with each, and how quickly they came to care about the other. Apart, they were not quite whole, but together, they were really something special. I melted at how his desire for her and to have her in his life, had him looking closely at himself and the way he lived his life. Jordan is intensely sexual, whilst Lexi is sweet, although not inexperienced. I really enjoyed their journey together – Jordan revealing more about his past, as Lexi deals with her own issues in the present.

One last thing, I loved how Jordan got his name from his foster mother and the reasoning behind it! This was a fab story and I’m looking forward to reading more stories about the band.

4.5 beautifully heart breaking stars!! Another well written, heart wrenching, beautiful love story from Scarlett!!

This book is a spin off of secondary characters from the series "Second Circle Tattoos" but don't worry if you have not read those books you can start here. Though they will give you some background on the crew and how Dred and Pixie got together.

Jordan is one hell of a sexy alpha man. He has a horrendous past and is quite broken but even though he thinks he is unworthy he is quite the man. Jordan just needed someone to pull him out of the dark.

Lexi is a dedicated ballet dancer with issues of her own. With an abusive drunk for a father/manager she can't seem to catch a break. Until she spots this tatted up beef cake of a man watching her dance from the snowy street.

These two had such an uphill battle to get where they needed to be. This story took me on such an emotional ride that I felt my heart break for these characters and within the very next page another one would mend it all back together. This story hit on a lot of sore spots for some and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Jordan's story was so sad and heart breaking. But these two, well, I think this was a beautiful love story. But what you also get is this group of people who became a family and damn if I don't love each and every one of them. I can't wait to hear Lennon and Elliot's story. I love all those men. I am so happy Jordan found Lexi and visa versa.

I think my favorite parts were when he ran into Elliot's room wanting a phone. My heart just swelled. Same as when he made dinner...goodness I love this man. So many times the banter between them all had me laughing my ass off. Like when she looked in the audience and what she saw. Those guys were cracking me up. Everything Jordan did from the minute he met Lexi was all for her. He is perfect!! A very good read!!

**I received this book as an ARC and in return gave my honest review**

This is the first in a spin-off series for Cole and while it can very much stand on its own I would recommend reading The Purest Hook, Dred’s story, because you get a better understanding of the dynamic of this group of men. (Plus, the Second Circle Tattoos series is so amazing - why wouldn't you want to read great books?!?!) They’ve been together for years after they were placed in the same foster home and have been carrying around the scars of their childhoods for so very long. Here we concentrate on Jordan, who I was most curious about when I first got to know Preload, and on the one hand I’m thrilled that we get his secrets but on the other I’m a little sad that the other guys took such a back seat here. They are there to support him, which so fantastically shows their bond with each other and their places in the family, but we only got a few small glimpses into their issues. The upside, of course, is that they are all getting their own books and I’m so excited to get my hands on those stories!

Jordan’s past is SO messed up and I can’t imagine how he even managed to make it to this point in as good shape as he has. Every day is a struggle to overcome his fears and anxieties, but luckily he has an amazing support system within the band. Then one night he sees Lexi dancing thru the window of her studio. The connection he feels with her and the balm she provides him is instantaneous, but he’s so screwed up that he feels like he’s no good for him. He’s finding himself drawn to her with a power, though, that it’s hard to resist.

And Lexi is just as strong in spirit as she is in body so she’s not letting him run without a fight. She has her own battles, although they aren’t as apparent as his - she’s got a less than positive relationship with her father and, like most dancers, there’s a lot of pressure for her to keep her body in top form (low weight, no injuries, etc). Her life is hectic but she knows that they can’t ignore the feelings they have for each other and with patience and understanding they could have something amazing.

I can’t even imagine what a jackpot a therapist would find between these two! But Cole doesn’t pull any punches, always delivering characters of depth and complexity, however by being honest and laying everything out there these two figure out a way to work through every trouble point. They do it together, which is so important for the future of their relationship. Jordan Reclaimed is a deeply troubling look at abuse, in many forms, and the long term effects that it has on people but it's also heartwarming as they work hard to overcome it to be together. While not an easy book, it was a fast read for me because I just could not put it down. I think it took less than 24 hours from beginning to end and I wanted to keep going, to get to the next story now :)

4.5 of 5 - kellybookblog.com

Adult Romance

ARC provided for an honest review through NetGalley.

Jordan basks in the fame and fortune of being the bassist in a popular heavy metal/rock band, Preload. His life comes with many perks but it has not always been this way. Coming from a traumatic childhood, Jordan had to learn how to survive through the toughest of times but it’s still difficult. The most difficult of all? Change. As his friends and bandmates start to settle down and find their own lives, he is stuck… then he sees her. As he passes by a dance studio one night, he sees a ballerina dancing, leaving her heart and soul on the floor. He can’t take his eyes away from her. Who is she?

Aleksandra is the daughter of a famous Russian dancer and a principal dancer for the The National Ballet of Canada. She earns a living for her and her father through dance. Dancing is her life. To keep her controlling and overpowering father happy, she dedicates all her time and energy into being the best ballerina possible. She struggles to keep him happy because she must dance faster, lighter on her feet, she must lose 10 more pounds and skip meals but she just wants to be happy. To be free. When a stranger stops to watch her dance in the studio one night, everything changes. He could be her freedom.

WOW. This story is so emotional, tough and captivating! It deals with some deep and dark situations/issues but is executed well. I find it hard sometimes to read about abuse and disorders but when done well, it helps to bring clarification and understanding to these issues. Kudos to Scarlett for writing this story so well. What really made this story work were the characters, Jordan and Aleksandra. Both are well-developed and have detailed backstories that help make them real and relatable. They become more than characters in a story; they become real, someone who you could have passed on the street. By doing this, Scarlett has made a captivating story that I couldn’t put down!

Releases tomorrow! Preorder on Amazon.

Another magnificently written story, I love Dred, and never gave the others a thought, but reading about Jordan, I just know I'm going to be head over heals in love with them all.

Jordan has his issues, but finds his light in the shape of ballerina Lexi, follow them on their journey as they both have demons to vanquish.

I had thoroughly enjoyed the previous books in the Second Circle Tattoos series where the members of Preload were introduced and it is great to be able catch up on them - as well as Pixie and Petal - again. Having said that, the author does explain the scenarios and provides relevant background information to enable new-to-the-series readers to understand what has happened and putting everything into context.

Jordan is a musical savant, he also has problems coping with changes in his close knit group of friends and when Dred proposes to Pixie he knows more changes are on their way. He takes the teething Petal out for a walk and it is during that late night walk that he looks through a window and sees Aleksandra Artemov, a talented ballerina, rehearsing. The two may have a window between them but the connection is there and after that he secretly composes music for her, posting it on a private website and leaving a note for her, even though he doesn't even know her name. . . . .

This is a very emotive story, with an autistic lead male character struggling to cope with life and relationships, always feeling himself unloveable and needing routines and stability to help him cope with life and living. Aleksandra's life is full of routines, most imposed on her by her domineering and ambitious for her father who seems more concerned with her achieving his goals rather than helping her fulfil her own dreams. With two such contrasting characters connecting so strongly, you just know this will be a great read - and it is!

I love how the author brings the characters to life, how their emotions, anxieties, dreams and lives are portrayed so brilliantly. This is a story which takes the reader along an rollercoaster of emotions, so get the tissues ready and start reading it as soon as you can!

Many thanks to the publishers for gifting me a copy of this novel, via NetGalley, with no obligation. This is my honest review.