Revenge is the name of the game in the second book of the Viking Bastards MC series but I'm pretty sure anyone could come to that conclusion based on the title lol. Much like the first book, it starts out at Odin's, the bar frequented by the MC but this time the Viking Bastard that is getting the spotlight is its owner, Gage Reynolds. And who has their sights on Gage, in a I-want-to-make-you-pay kind of way, well that would be Amelia Crane, or for undercover purposes Amelia Davis, who has gotten a job at Odin's as a bartender. Her plan was to get close to Gage so that she could get information on how to bring his MC down. The only problem with this plan... well it might have something to do with the fact that she thinks he is freakin' hot and that her body seems to react whenever he is around her. Getting close to Gage won't be hard, it is the whole trying not to put her hands on him or have his hands on her that might be a little more difficult. Of course, if Amelia just remembers that it was Gage's father who killed her father, who was part of the Silver Wolves MC, then it might make the whole no touching thing a lot easier.

The chemistry between Gage and Amelia is what really drew me into this book. They both had their own reservations as to why it couldn't happen but in the end that didn't stop them whatsoever. Gage is very much an alpha who goes after what he wants and uses whatever means necessary to get it. You can clearly see that in the excerpt above where he manipulates the situation in his favor by agreeing to only kiss Amelia but he is allowed to use his hands as well. The result is pretty explosive especially since Amelia may have grown up in the MC lifestyle when she was younger but the guys she has date before are NOTHING like Gage. Gage opens up Amelia's world as she gets a taste of someone who is a bit more dominant but that does not mean she fully allows it. Amelia is headstrong and has come here for a purpose, to exact revenge for her father's death, and even though things start to shift as her feelings for Gage get stronger she still holds her own when with Gage. Amelia may be swayed by Gage in some instances but in others she  stand by her beliefs and does not let Gage push them aside. It was those qualities that allowed me to love Amelia just as much as Gage.

While the beginning half of this book was hot and the sexual tension radiated off the pages between Gage and Amelia, the second half fell flat for me. Overall, I thought it moved way too fast. As a reader, I was so caught up in Gage and Amelia's relationship, until the conflict that was building in the background just popped up and was dealt with way too quickly. I wish the second half was fleshed out a little bit more so it didn't feel so rushed. Another thing that bothered me was how little what Amelia did as a career was talked about in the story. I understand that this is a MC romance so that is going to be the main thread running through the story but this happened in the first book as well where we get only a glimpse of what both the heroines do and nothing more. Both Amelia and Grace from the first book, Hooked, had such wonderful passions but they were only showcased for what felt like a moment. With the amount of angst that occurs in this book after secrets are revealed, if the second half was just fleshed out more I would have enjoyed this book a lot more as a whole.

Overall, though, this book did continue to fuel my love for MC romances. The sexual tension and sparks between Gage and Amelia were addicting. Gage is such a sexy delight, going after what he wanted and showing Amelia that she was just as affected as he was. The connection they had was hot as hell and so strong that you are left a little heartbroken when certain secrets are revealed and feelings get hurt. I can't wait to continue on to the next book in this series! (Crossing my fingers that it is Kat's story, Gage and Zach's sister)

This is book two in the series but can be read as a stand alone. I really enjoyed this book. I loved the chemistry that Gage and Amelia had together. It lead to some pretty steamy scenes. I have read some other books by this author and I always enjoy her books. Can't wait for the next book in this series.

This book reminded me of another book I had just read and I had accidentally written the review on that one for this one and had to go back and edit places, but it's because they were identical. I didn't like the storyline as much as the first book.

I was given an ARC from the publisher/author/NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own and do not reflect anyone else's.

This book was just okay for me. I enjoyed the twist of what really happened vs what everyone thought had happened. I don't really see this as a true MC book though because very little involved the current MC. It was more about what happened in the past and with MCs that weren't active in this book.

Not a bad book overall. I liked that both characters fought what they felt for the other person.

Yep, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

It was darker yet so appealing and captivating. Payback was a great book with a very hot, sexy romance between what would consider rival characters.
Amelia and Gage are definitely going to stick in my mind for sometime to come.
We also have some really wonderful secondary characters which I'm sure will continue over to the next book.
After reading books like this one I am hopefully addicted to the MC books.
I can't wait to see what happens next.

Payback was an excellent story. Some aspects were a tad predictable, but the story was super good.

Amelia lost her father tragically and she never got over it. When she gets approached by the man her father used to work for she thinks it’s the perfect plan to get back at the men who took her from him, and Gage is front and center on her revenge plan. Except as soon as she meets him she begins to fall for him. Gage doesn’t have sex with the women he works with, but he knows he HAS TO HAVE Amelia. She pushes him in ways no one else does and he has to work for it to get her.

I enjoyed reading Payback. Biker stories seem to follow a similar path and Payback was no different. Never the less the writing was phenomenal and compelling, as were the characters.

Gage can have any woman he wants but when Amelia pushes him to date her first his world is kind of spun on his axis. He’s never had a woman who doesn’t just want to have sex with him. It’s kind of cute the way he’s so surprised she won’t sleep with him right away.

Amelia was an interesting character. She deals with a lot in this story and has to understand a lot about her family and the truth behind what happened to her father. Despite her wanting a happily ever after she isn’t weak and takes care of herself really well.

Payback was a nice quick and enjoyable read that I enjoyed from start to finish.

Love this series about revenge and deception. There was an instant attraction between Gage and Amy when they met. Amy has a secret and when revealed puts a rift in their relationship. Recommended read

Amelia/Amy had taken a job at a bar Odin’s. Amy’s dad had been dead ten years but it still crushed her when she thought about it. Guys always seem to think that Amy was dumb until she put them straight. But this time she would take it if it helped. Her bring down the man who was behind the murder of her dad. Amy reminded herself about one hundred times since Rex told her about one week ago about this job, this is a once in a lifetime a chance for payback. Until Amy was thirteen she grew up around tough bikers she thought they were a part of her extra family [ Silver Wolves M C ]. Since leaving school Amy had several part time job of waitressing during the day and tending bar at night and occasionally fast food. Aidan has owned Odin.s for five years and keeping the books up to date drives him nuts. Gage has a no screwing the staff rule for everyone. Gage sees Amy and feels he has to fire her. Any girl that can get him hard just by looking at her. Has to go. Amy had given a guy the eye and it turns out unfortunately it’s her new boss Gage was the son of the man- Axel Reynolds- who killed her dad. Rex told her the Viking Bastards - M C. are involved in large scale gun distributors and since AMy’s dad was put inside for handling illegal weapons for the wolves , it’s a trigger so all Amy needs is proof she can pass to Rex and he can let his police contact Gage turns Amy on just by being near. Gage was everything I never wanted in a guy since she was thirteen. Gage and Amy end up in the apartment above the bar and she decided to kiss Gage and be alone with him. But Gage said it wasn’t more than just a kiss for him. Amy said it didn’t matter what she wanted. A kiss was all he would get. Amy had been the daughter of the Silver Wolves Enforcer . Amy loved writing stories that crowds her head and fall in love with guys who’re never going to break her heart or crush her world. Gage’s older brother Zach said he had seen Rex Abbott hanging around outside Odin’s earlier that night. For ten years the Wolves and the Bastards had been allies Gage was fifteen when Rex’s father was President for the Silver Wolves and ordered Gage’s dad murdered while he was in prison. There was bad blood between Rex’s father and Gage’s family and Rex was crazy. Gage showed up at Mama’ Coco the diner where Amy worked. I was rooting for Amy and Gage. I loved the way their romance was built and I felt bad the way Gage handled her being who she was. I just loved this story. I loved the ending. I loved how Gage’s brother stood by him and Amy’s sister stood by her. This choked me up at times and made me chuckle at times. I loved the characters and all the ins and outs of this story. I highly recommend.

I'm not sure about this series. It has potential but I don't feel the MC part of it. Sure the heroes are members of the MC but we don't get to see the raw and gritty part of the MC only the romance of the couple which is cute but very predictable.

I like aspects of it but didn't love it

Payback was such a good read and a wonderful second book in the Viking Bastard MC series. While I liked the first novel “Hooked”, after reading Payback I can’t wait to see what comes next. While the novel was darker than the first one, it also had plenty of heat, even pace, and deep emotions. I loved the writing style and all the characters were likeable. Amelia starts out with revenge and avenging in mind but she quickly changes her mind when she meets the hero. Gage is sexy, funny, and protective who’s focus is his brothers and the brotherhood of the MC, that is until he meets the heroine. Priorities change all the time and Payback is a beautifully written novel of characters with evolving priorities. This novel is an easy 5 star read.

Payback was a absolutely great read. I am so in love with MC Romance books. Gage and Amelia had such fantastic chemistry together. I love a book that is intense, sexy, rough, has secrets and has plenty of twists and turns to keep you wanting to more. Amelia is a strong and beautiful woman who's only mission is to take down the person who killed her father. Gage is a sexy bad boy to the core and works at the bar. His only rule is to not get involved with the girls that works for him. Will Amelia be able to get revenge? Will Gage and Amelia be able to forget? If you love MC romance i suggest you pick up a copy of this book you will not be disappointed.

3.5 stars
ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoy MC books however I had not read any in the Viking Bastards MC series. This is the second book in the series. Even having not read the first book I was not behind or confused. But I do now need to go back and read the first one.

This is the story of Gage and Amelia. Amelia is out for revenge over the murder of her father.
The key to that revenge is getting close to Gage, the murders son. However, it doesn't take Amelia long to decide she cannot go thru with it and the info she got on Gage cannot be correct.

Gage doesn't have girlfriends, however there is something about Amelia that he cannot deny himself of, so soon he realizes he is ready to change everything in order to keep her. However when pasts and secrets come to life it is their choices that may break them apart.

This is a pretty quick read, and I really liked these characters. There is a little angst but not much just a hot romance with bikers. Whats not to like about that.

I really liked this book. Both MCs were the perfect amount of sexy, caring, and had a take-no-crap attitude. Perfect for each other.

Thanks Netgalley

Payback by Christina Phillips was on my list of books on my radar in May, and was it a great pick?

I loved everything about it! Both Amy and Gage are strong, well-developed characters, with ideas of what they'd like but fall for what they really want. Neither one expects the twists life has in store for them until they're faced with the shocking reality they've fallen heads-over-heels with their enemy and there's not much they can do about it.

The way in which Gage struggles to make sense of the things Amy makes him feel is touching and hilarious at the same time. He has no clue how to deal with his feelings and tries his best in the only ways he knows how.

Amy knows whose son Gage is, but she changes her mind about him and the reason she's there the moment she meets him. I think her attraction for him and his for her is off the charts. The chemistry between the two is fantastic. She's funny in her own way. She's fully aware of what she's getting into, and what I like most about her is how she isn't afraid to give Gage a piece of her mind.

I'm not a fan of MC, I just can't buy into the brotherhood thing and all, but this was a fabulous read. Payback was a lot more fun that I'd expected it to be.

Revenge! Well, at least some satisfaction, that's what Amelia is looking for when she agrees to spy on the Viking Bastards MC to try to catch them in some of their illegal activities - payback since she believes that Gage Reynold's deceased father was the man responsible for her own father's death. Not that her father was squeaky clean, an enforcer for the Wolves, but she loved him. Getting a part time job at the Bastard's bar Odin's is the first step to her plan - and puts her right smack dab in the eyes and eventually arms of Gage who runs the place. Gage is intrigued by his new bartender and though he usually enforces a no fraternization policy with the help, his attraction to Amelia overrules that. Amelia's conscience makes her take things slowly, trying to keep distance between her and Gage. It doesn't work and soon enough they are engaged in a heated affair. But a relationship of secrets never lasts long - will her plan for revenge backfire when Gage finds out the truth of who she is and destroy any chance of them reaching a happy ending together?

I enjoyed the first story in this series and have been looking forward to reading more about this Motorcycle Club featuring tough guys with heart. I really liked the characters here, and felt like Gage was true to his upbringing and his place in the club. Loyalty is key, but so is family and he has a good relationship with his brother Zach (hero of book 1 ) and his sister Kat (whom I hope will get her own story!). Amelia and Gage are both familiar with life in the club, though Amelia's mother left that life when her husband died so Amelia has had a more 'normal' life since, while Gage is still fully immersed in it. The truth of what happened between Amelia and Gage's father is at the crux of Amelia's decision to look for revenge, but she soon discovers it isn't as straightforward as she's always believed.

I liked Amelia's character too, her beliefs about Gage changing as she discovers he's not the man she believed him to be, but someone better. She and Gage are clearly attracted to each other from the start, and they share some very steamy scenes together. Since it's a novella length story, we go from insta-lust to insta-love quite quickly and there is the requisite reveal of secrets to make Gage question how deep his feelings for Amelia go (spoiler - pretty deep). All in all it's an easy read with likable characters, hot sexy scenes and a happy ending for the couple. Looking forward to reading more in the series!

Review has been posted on Amazon, BN, Kobo and Goodreads.

Christina Phillips brings the world of the Motorcycle Club to life with her Viking Bastards. We learn about the workings of an MC as we get to know Gage and Amelia as they navigate a world of murder, betrayal, revenge and love.
While I love the MC world Ms Phillips has created with the Viking Bastards, I had a hard time with Amelia and the whole revenge plot. I think the fact that I knew there was a revenge plot and that was what motivated Amelia in the first place really put me on my back foot with connecting with her as a character. And even though that revenge plan falls by the wayside quickly and Amelia tries to come clean with Gage numerous times (well handled, by the way, Ms Phillips!) I had a hard time with her. For me, it felt like I kept waiting for the hammer to drop and that sat ominously over my head as I read the book heading into the black moment. It was exhausting and probably more an indication of my personal feelings and psyche than anything to do with Ms Phillips' writing.
As for the MC world Ms Phillips has created, I love the combination of the hard as nails men who get brought down by the right woman. I like the core of solidarity and strength these men who belong to the MC have and how they have always put the MC first, but for the right woman, they are willing to put the MC second. That's another thing that I didn't like about Amelia. She never gave Gage the chance to show her that he was putting her first when he did, she just assumed that just because it was what she was brought up to believe, that would be the case with Gage. I didn't like her painting Gage with the same general broad brush as her rather biased upbringing. That said, Gage was probably help matters by getting angry and shooting off at the mouth.
And speaking of Gage ... I loved Gage. He's such a macho alpha male. If I had to try to imagine what an MC member would be like, it would be Gage. He's tough, no nonsense and about as much of a hard ass as I've ever met, but at the same time, I loved how his feelings for Amelia softened him. I also loved that he went to bat for her even when he didn't have all the facts simply because of what he felt for her and that he trusted her. Of course, like most bull-headed males, he also doesn't listen properly and really puts his foot in it. It was nice seeing him dig himself out of the hole he got himself into, but I think Amelia was equally at fault and felt like she should have met him halfway rather than have him take all the responsibility for messing up.
All in all, I'm enjoying this MC world. I love the whole "me man, you my woman, no one can touch" possessive thing going on. :-)

This is a low rating for me (2 or 2.5) I really liked Gage, but I just didn't connect with Amelia/Amy. I wanted to, and the beginning scenes were hot. But when I got to the part where he destroys his place in a fit, I just didn't buy that he was that connected to her. Obviously, we will still promo, but the review is too low for the tour. As such, we will run a promo but not a review tour post.

3.5 Stars

Payback was my first time reading anything written by Christina Phillips, it features the Viking Bastards MC, a romance genre that I generally love. As much as I enjoyed this book, the concept for the story line was nothing new or entirely original. This is the second title in the Viking Bastards MC series, and although I haven't read the previous title I had no trouble following the plot in Payback.

I found both characters to be like-able, but found Amelia to be particularly endearing. I liked her strong and sassy nature and that she didn't compromise her principles or cow-tow to an alpha male.

There was a small amount of angst in this story and I expected more interaction with the MC.

Overall a well written, entertaining and quick read.

Amelia is out for vengeance. Her chosen weapon is her mouth, used to brand information that should for sure put the Bastards (Viking, that is) responsible for her dad’s death away for a long time. Thanks to her father’s brother (by association of the MC), she was finally getting justice.
Gage doesn’t shit in his own backyard. No way he’d want to have to deal with that mess. He has a bar to run; but when he gets a look at Amelia, he knows he’ll have trouble following his own rules. Good thing for him he’s the boss.
In this 2nd to the Viking Bastards series (after Hooked, which I loved), Phillips has continued her gift of packing a lot in a few pages. This is no novella, but it is short, sensual, and full of fire. The brutality of MC life is hinted at, without taking the spotlight. Gage is rough, but has a sweet side, despite his protests to the contrary. I like Amelia’s strength. She understands what he is, and what a life with him could entail; but she explores her wild side anyway. Although the decision can be considered questionable, its also admirable.
The relationship starts out being based on sex. They quickly connect to one another, but under the surface, they genuinely like each other. The flames do fly high when it comes to sex, but Phillips has a way of making the kink seems like something special, even before it is. Weird, but true. Sort of like a right of passage to the heart.
I was glad to get a bit of Zach (and Grace was mentioned). I wished there had been a little more relationship development for Gage and Amelia – don’t get me wrong, I like them both. However, their relationship wasn’t as…well…developed as well as Zach and Grace’s.
I do love Phillips writing style. The dialogue is my favorite part. Raw, real, and to the point. Just like life.

copy received through Netgalley for review
This is the 2nd story in the series. The guys are brothers but the stories are not connected other than you get a scene or two with the brothers.
While the MC side of the story is still a little lite, we do get more involvement.More drama and more action in this book.The story is fast paced with a quick road to love. I actually liked this book a little better. Amelia and Gage are instantly attracted to each other but there are secrets that can tear them apart. Amelia is strong and sassy. Gage sometimes comes off as an insensitive jerk. To her confusion, Amelia changes him. He does things and says things that are way out of character for him. It was fun to watch him fall.