Book Review
Title: One Taste of Angel
Series: Iron Norsemen MC #1
Author: Violetta Rand
Genre: Contemporary MC Romance
Publication Date: May 30, 2017
Cliff Hanger: No

4 Stars

*This story is for mature audiences only. Contains explicit scenes and language intended for adults 18+

Synopsis:
Their love was the stuff of Shakespeare - two star-crossed lovers from rival MC's, divided by their families' bloody history, but fate has given Eagle and Serafina a second chance. Can the biker and the stripper find their redemption in Violetta Rand's sexy standalone romance, One Taste of Angel?

Eagle
I’ve bled for my club. Taken four bullets. Buried eight brothers in six years. Screwed a hundred women. And only loved one. The one I lost. But there's something about Serafina that reminds me of just exactly what was taken from me. Not just because I can't resist a damsel in distress.

Serafina
To Eagle, I’m dead. Murdered and cremated, my ashes interred at the local cemetery. Part of a past I left long ago to save his life. Seeing him now, touching him again makes me weak, even if he doesn't recognize the woman I've become. Since my escape from Holly Beach five years ago, I’ve lived by my own rules. And no matter how much I love Eagle, he’s not going to break those rules.

"Riveting, gritty cast of characters! I was captivated by this intimate glimpse into the volatile MC world. Violetta Rand's ability to portray the essence of true love is enjoyable. Great read!" -USA Today Bestselling Author D.L. Roan

My Thoughts:
Good start to a new MC series! Loved the lost first love, found first love, second chance romance and MC life all in one book! Great plot. This is the first time I have read this author and I definitely will be continuing on with this series.

Serefina (Angel) had a terrible family life after her father died and her brothers joined the rival MC to the Iron Norsemen MC in their town. My heart hurt for her. Eagle is everything you want in an MC romance hero. Alpha, sexy, caring, a born leader and respected by his MC.

This MC romance had all the components that I love in an MC book. Rival club angst, great family dynamics in the club, awesome hot chemistry between the hero and heroine and a solid story to back it all up. I blew through this book and I can’t wait for more!

ARC kindly provided by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an honest review.

Violetta Rand is a new-to-me author and after reading the blurb to One Taste of Angel, I knew I had to give her books a try. I honestly haven't always been a huge fan of MC books, but found myself enjoying the first book in the Iron Norsemen series.

I overall enjoyed the romance between Eagle and Serafina/Angel. I will say it made me laugh That Angel changed her name to Serafina. Serafina made me immediately think of Seraphim angels, and kinda felt like it blew her name change cover. I honestly don't know much about the MC world, but I felt like Angel's return happened a little too easily. Especially once we learned that some of the brothers had died directly due to Angel's faked death.

I enjoyed watching Angel and Eagle reconnect and become a couple again. They had amazing chemistry from the moment they saw each other again. One Taste of Angel is a super sexy and steamy romance. While I didn't love the violence that occurred a few times during the book, I do get that is a big part of a MC book. As I really liked so many of the characters in the Iron Norsemen MC, I feel like I will give other books a try in the series.

Rating: 3 Stars (B-)

Angel gives up everything for love, sacrificing her own happiness even while shattering, Eagle, the man she loves heart thinking she is saving him from murder at her deranged brothers hands and a life filled with abuse for herself. Eagle has spent his time since losing Angel devoting himself to leading the Iron Norseman MC and drifting through meaningless sex. When fate gives you a second chance at love can the past be forgiven?

Violetta Rand brings the consummate star-crossed lovers story to a happy conclusion but not without navigating through some seriously deadly curves and tortuous twist in the first book of her Iron Norsemen MC series, One Taste of Angel. When Angel in deep cover as Serafina unexpectedly runs into her true love Eagle their predestined attraction flares up terrifying Angel and intriguing the unaware Eagle for the first time since he lost Angel. The agony of this couple as their hearts were reawakened was intense and dramatic. Ms. Rand took command of emotions that could easily have resulted in hysteria and chaos and gave them a structure and purpose to grow into an incredible love story. This couple’s past was reconciled beautifully for the kind of love most of us only hope to achieve. One Taste of Angel will leave readers revved up and shouting out for more of Violetta Rand's Iron Norsemen!

This was a slow starter and a difficult read to get into for me. By chapter thirteen, this story started to grab me, just when I was ready to give up and quit reading. This story pulled me in . You can feel the connection these two have. Their sexual chemistry comes off the pages and the sex scenes are quite hot. There are some things that they have to work out in order to be together, but their love is strong and they get past the past and get their HEA. Once this story caught my interest, the story got better. This was just an okay read for me.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

Angelique Marie Orani (Angel) was a beautiful girl from a horrible family, her brothers wanted to sell her at sixteen. The only real joy she had was the two years she spent with Caleb Laramie (Eagle) but then aged just sixteen she left Eagle and her entire life behind, faked her death, underwent reconstructive surgery and started again.
The question is why?
What drove a young girl that had finally found love and happiness to give it up?

Her 'death' caused a war resulting in the death of her brother Reggie and Eagle spent three years wallowing in his grief unable to accept life without her.

“Angel had a great life with you.”
"Two years,” I say, rage boiling inside me.
"Think what would have happened if she didn’t get those two happy years, Eagle. She would’ve been sold off to some piece of shit Dead Dog who raped and beat her. The two of you were meant to be together. Even if it was for a short time.”

Five years later they meet again and while Angel or Serafina as she is now recognises Eagle immediately with the surgery and coloured contacts he doesn't recognise her but he's attracted to her like he hasn't been to anyone since Angel.

Serafina intrigues him to the extent where Eagle wonders if he can finally put Angel behind him and move on.

I struggled a little early on with Serafina, she seemed a bit harsh and prickly making me unsure if I'd warm to her enough to fully enjoy this book. But I stuck with it because I assumed whatever occurred to make her give up the love of her life and start again was probably enough to make her defensive and prickly and it was.

I loved Eagle instantly and really wanted everything to work out for him.
As I continued reading my only real worry was would Angels reason for leaving be enough, a something and nothing reason would have spoilt the whole book for me.
Was she justified?
When it finally all came out then yes I felt she was.
Obviously she would have been much better confiding in Eagle and getting the Iron Norsemen MC on board but she was only sixteen years old at the time and I had to ask myself faced with her life what would I have done?
I'm not sure I'd have made the right choice and I'm not sure I'd have the courage to do what Angel did.

I really enjoyed this book and I'm looking forward to 'One Chance With Starlet' Brick's book.

I voluntarily read a review copy kindly provided by NetGalley and St. Martin's Press

One Taste of Angel is the first book in the explosive Iron Norseman MC. This second chance MC romance is full of action, romance, and passion.

Eagle is the President of the Norseman MC. Years ago he lost the love of his life Angel. Angel was a member of a rival MC. Loosing her caused him to serve a sentence of wasted years full of women and drinking. When Eagle attends a party and witnesses a girl being threatened, he steps up to offer her assistance. He is instantly attracted to the young dancer.

Serafina has been through hell. She has spent years struggling to make a way for herself to survive. When a rough night on the job lands her in the arms of Eagle the President of a local MC, her whole life is sent into a tailspin. Again. Serafina and Eagle share an instant connection and bond quickly forms. Serafina is terrified to get close to Eagle and Eagle wants nothing more than to make her his. Both have secrets, and the demons from their past threaten to tear them apart. With rival MC gangs and a broken past, is it possible for these two to find their way?

Told in dual POV, One Taste of Angel has a unique plot, strong characters, a beautiful romance, and smoking hot passion. The journey for both Eagle and Serafina is difficult, and yet, when they finally realize the depth of their connection, it is utter perfection. I thoroughly enjoyed the dynamics between the characters and the pacing of the story is driven by the action and tension that is deeply explored throughout each moment.

I highly recommend One Taste of Angel to all of my MC Romance fans. I look forward to reading more from this author and certainly excited for more Norsemen action to hit my Kindle!

One Taste of Angel by Violetta Rand
An Iron Norseman Novel #1

Caleb “Eagle” Laramie is president of the Iron Norsemen Motorcycle Club. He lost his true love, Angelique “Angel” Orani, years before the story begins so when she was 15 or 16. He grieved for her. When he meets Serafina Scala she is working as a stripper at a bachelor party BUT there are a few men not toeing the line so Eagle steps in to keep her safe. There is instant attraction and he begins to think that he might be able to move on with his life and this new woman…only to find out that she is a whole lot more than he thinks she is. There is some violence, a kidnapping, a wedding, steamy sex, loss of virginity, fights, murder, mayhem…and love. The MC members seem to be close and caring. At the end of the book Brick arrives, new enforcer, looking for Starlet Vega – these two will be have their story told in book two of the series.

My feelings about the story are mixed. I don’t like first person narrations and this story is told in first person from dual perspectives. I often felt that Serafina was “stupid” when mouthing off and making some life choices. More backstory would have helped me know both Eagle and Angel better. Perhaps more time with MC members/activity would have helped make it feel more like a typical MC romance. The couple was solid and definitely in love so I was glad they ended up with their HEA. Not my favorite MC romance but I did enjoy it and will read book two of the series when it comes out.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press-Swerve for the ARC – This is my honest opinion.

3.5 Stars

Eagle rescues Sarafina from her current lap dance at a bachelor party. He’s instantly taken with her but she’s keeping a closely guarded secret that prevents her from giving in to him.

This couple didn’t really work for me. Early on their words, actions and internal dialogue were never in sync and it kept feeling like I was suffering from whiplash. By the half way point the worse of that had passed but I never felt invested in either character. Sarafina was just too abrasive and Eagle wasn’t centered on his woman in the way I like for my heroes to be.

This has a little MC action that I thought was pretty realistic. Although passarounds are mentioned they are never in any of the scenes. This is told in dual points of view and has some triggers and would not be considered safe in my opinion.

ARC provided for honest review

Yah! a book that finally caught my attention. I love this author and enjoyed her historical romances. I think this is her first foray to MC.

I loved the storyline. It kept you guessing on how it was all going to pan out.

I like Serafina. She was tough and strong even when it cost her love. She risked so much to keep everyone safe.

Eagle was interesting. He was commanding enough but not a enough to be a jerk. I didn't like his reaction to things at first, but I think that it was a natural reaction. We react by what we feel at times without thinking. So a very real reaction. He is dirty talking...hot!

The sexy times are hot.

It did speed up and was a tad rushed at the end. We got to meet the new enforcer at the end...interesting

Received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Eagle has led his MC group for a few years. He's been in it most of his life and has the emotional and physical scars to prove it. He believes he has nothing to lose because, the love of his life, Angel, was murdered by her own family while she was still so very young. After 5 years, Eagle meets Serafina, a woman he is instantly attracted to. There is something about her that makes her special and, the only women he has ever been attracted to since Angel died.
Serafina sees Eagle for the first time in 5 years and fights with every breath to hide from him and her feelings for him. She never wants him to know who she is because, she did what she felt she had to in order to keep him safe. Forces beyond their control keep throwing them together and making circumstances more dangerous for them both.
This story truly makes you believe in soul mates and the fact that they are meant to be together.

I liked the story overall as a whole.

I like that Eagle and Seraphina really felt like they loved each other.

I liked the instant attraction that built a nice heat.

I would have liked more from the characters and a bit more back story as I felt like I should have read something beforehand.

All up a good story and a quick read. I would like to continue on with the series.

If you like a really good romantic story with an amazing connection between two people then this is the book for you. I could not put this down. This is the first book in this new series and it is all about Eagle. The motorcycle clubs president who has come to accept the fact that he will spend his life with his club brothers after losing the love of his life. That is until he meets Serafina, the woman he cannot resist. She has secrets that could destroy both of them or could they heal both of them.

I received an early copy in exchange for an honest review. fun book from start to finish. really sucks you in.

Fantastic story of a soul deep connection between two people. This one is steamy, raw, and rough. I couldn't put it down. This is the first in a new series but I will definitely be back for more. This is Eagle's story. The MC's prez has accepted he'll live his life with just his brothers. After losing the love of his life he can't see himself with anyone else. That is until Serafina comes along. There is just something about her that he can't resist. She has secrets though. Secrets that could shatter both their lives. Or perhaps heal them.....

I highly recommend this one.

The past needs to be put to rest. Eagle lost his first love to violence and he has tried so hard to put it in the past and now is the time as he has met someone new. Serafina hopes that she doesn't have to run again, she has just settled down but she fears that Eagle will find out who she is and war is come again. Eagle knows that he needs her but he just hasn't figured out that she is his past & present and if he isn't careful she will b e taken again. Can they ever find peace together? What will Eagle do when he finds out the girl that he is seeing he is long last love and that she was hiding all this time? Can he ever forgive her and understand why she left? She knows that her heart can't lose him again but this might be the last time for them both. A really easy read, family is so complicated.

A sweet story of lost love, found love and bikers thrown in. Angel and Eagle were so cute together (not what you would normally say regarding an MC book, but they were). Even though Angel was doing what she thought was right, I wanted to push her into confessing but sometimes that is what makes a story interesting. I would have liked more of the story – it is a very short read but was enjoyable for a lazy afternoon.

I wanted to love this book. I ended up giving up on it 3/4 of the way through.
The writing was choppy, the interaction between Angel and Eagle was crazy inconsistent.... one minute she's praying he never finds out who she is, the next minute she's sticking her tongue down his throat.
This didn't hold my interest at all, unfortunately.

This is Book 1 on the Iron Horsemen MC series. We meet Eagle as he’s about to die. Then he decides to fight for his life and he lives for another day. Go forward 5 years and we meet Serafina, she’s a stripper in trouble while working at a private party. Eagle steps up and saves her. But here’s more between them than we know. This was a great book! There’s a lot going on that Eagle doesn’t know about but when he accidently finds out. Well, the crap hits the fan and we find out exactly how bad he’s hurting. This book has so much pain and suffering in it but it turns out so good. I can’t wait to read more about the Iron Horsemen. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this book that I received from Netgalley.

I LOVE a good MC novel. Serafina is on the run from her old life, but her past and present collide when she’s booked for a party hosted by a good friend of her past love, Eagle.
Eagle hasn’t gotten over the loss of his first love, Angel. Her death sent him into a spiral and he’s never been able to really move on. He meets Serafina at his friend’s bachelor party and saves her from an overzealous party guest. He’s intrigued by her strength and bravery right from the beginning. She’s definitely not afraid of the rough crowd and she’s the first woman who has sparked his interest in years.
As Eagle chases Serafina and tries to get past her walls, she’s terrified he’ll find out who she really is.
This was a MC novel done right! The rough and tumble characters seemed to true to life. There was definitely no sugar coating the lifestyle. Eagle is a straight up alpha and it’s smoking hot! There was so much suspense that it kept me turning the pages. I just wanted to find out what would happen not just when Eagle finds out Serafina’s secret but when the rival club does as well. It was all handled perfectly and I loved every second!