Member Reviews
The Men of Haven Series is one of my favorites and all of the brothers are handsome, sexy and loyal to their women. I had been patiently waiting for Axel’s book and it was all I had hoped for, and more.
Axel McKee is my favorite Haven man with his deep voice and sexy accent, his chiseled body, stylish clothes and long, tousled hair. He is a man’s man who knows what he wants and goes after everything with a vengeance. He is a protector, a savior and a lover who knew the first time he saw Lizzy that she was special. Lizzy sings like a rock angel and has such a command of her audience that they hang onto every word and guitar riff until the last note is played. Lizzy is her own person and has trouble trusting people and when she met Axel, she was confused by his forwardness and his motives. Was he interested in more than just a business relationship? Lizzy was scared to get too close to Axel but as she got to know him, she saw his kinder and loving side and knew she had made the right decision. She could trust him with her music and with her heart.
As I was reading “Down & Dirty”, I could feel Axel’s emotions and anger radiating from the pages and it tugged at my heart. I wanted to read faster, but I couldn’t, because I needed to savor every word of their journey. I always knew that Axel would be romantic, caring and deeply devoted to his soulmate, and he certainly found his home with Lizzy. Rhenna Morgan is a very talented writer and she brought Axel to life in these pages, and I know that he will be with me forever.
Down & Dirty is gripping, sensual, and a glide across the senses. It's like drinking a sinfully rich hot chocolate on a cold winter's day curled up in front of a roaring fire with fuzzy socks and a warm blanket. Hot, sexy, warm, and comforting.
I adore the Men of Haven. Have from day one. Have from the moment I met Jace and his questionable sense of right and wrong. I love the family they have built for themselves. Their love, their care, their protectiveness, their willingness to do whatever it takes to ensure no harm comes to those they love, and the right kind of retribution is handed out when called for. What these men do might not always fall on the right side of the law but their sense of honor, and right and wrong gets me every time.
** “What the hell would you take on that might backfire on us?” And there it was. The last bridge to cross served up as simple as could be. “Whatever we need to. Business interests or protecting one of our own. Or, like you’ve seen, promoting one of our own. At the end of the day, we play by our own rules. Rules founded on our own sense of honor. Sometimes that falls within the law, sometimes it doesn’t. But you, our moms and the other wives—you all stay safe. At any cost.”
Lizzy took a little while to warm up. She started off wary and twitchy after a terrible upbringing and a painful past. She's been hurt and burned before and she's guarded when it comes to trust and letting go. But when she does, it frees her to finally grasp the things she's always wanted. Her trust and her love are a gift.
** She didn’t want to want someone so close. To crave the sound of their voice. The feel of their eyes on her and the anticipation of physical contact. She’d embraced that craving before and look what it had gotten her. Lost and broken. Trapped in a sick and twisted place that had taken her months to resurface from.
** ...it seemed like the whole world was poised and alert. Waiting for her to wake up and take her chance.
Axel was not my favorite of all the Haven men. He always came across as a bit of a man whore but this Axel is solid. There's no other word to describe it. He's a force to be reckoned with and when he sets his sights on something, he doesn't give up until he gets what he wants. His patience with Lizzy is almost saintly, and equally shows a man who is focused, plans for what he wants, and goes after it. He's such a wall of safety and protection for Lizzy. A safe place she can land on. A place she can call home. A beacon of love and comfort. All the things she never had in her life and didn't know she needed. Axel is the kind of man you know you can depend on for anything. And he's sexy as heck with his dominating side too.
** He was everything she’d never known she’d wanted. Honest. Tender even in his ferocity. Loyal to a fault and insanely sexy. And he was hers. Her champion. Her partner. The other half of her heart.
It took me a while to get round to reading this book and I had forgotten how lush and rich the experience is. I loved most every minute of this. Axel was a joy. Lizzy took a little warming up to. But the family, all the other men and women. It was like visiting with old friends to see them again. I hope this is not the last of the series. Danny and Ivan still need their books.
Finally Axels's story. Axel and Lizzie. I like this series but it still confuses me what the Men of Haven are. They act like an MC but they aren't an MC.
All the other men have settled down, except Axel. He acts like that is not his thing, but truly he was waiting for the one whom challenges him. Because now Axel is not just a business man he's also a past musician and a new music manager. Anyways seems a bit random but here he sees Lizzy whom is stubborn and independent and doesn't trust easily for good reason. But once Axel wants something he doesn't back down, like all the men of Haven.
"The question for you is if you're gonna be brave enough to take it"
I think its the banter and camaraderie between the family of Haven that I love most about this series.
"Well, that wasn't awkward and intense overshare for the new girl on her first day or anything."
I liked how the series ended and everyone got their HEA and it had elements of suspense, intrigue and surprise.
I have LOVED this entire series but this one fell a little flat. The heroine was a little too perfect for me and there was too much sexually explicit stuff in here. All the other books I have are on audible and ebook, so for this to be a little underwhelming was a bit disappointing. Would I still read it? Yes because I love this author and I'll read the next one.
I was very anticipating the next book in this series and was not so positively surprised. I felt a little bit disappointed. The book was slow, nothing much happened the relationship with Axel and Lizzy was like Cinderella. All of a sudden the man in her life gives her everything and is not expecting anything. Luckily for Axel Lizzy has feelings for him too. Their relationship is also slow burn at start, is hot and has light elements of BDMS. I was glad to see al other members of the family and was glad to see how are they doing. I just expected some more doing, some action.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for Netgelly
Have I mentioned that I just finished reading more than one book that finished a series in the past couple of weeks? Add Down & Dirty to that list. I’ve really loved the Men of Haven series from the beginning and if the series had to end, Axel was the perfect Haven alpha to feature. After all, the series began with started with one of the co-founders in Rough & Tumble, it was only fair to end it with Axel, the the other co-founder. (Especially since Axel gave Jace such a hard time about finding his HEA with Viv.) 😉
To be honest, I’ve been curious about Axel since the beginning of the Men of Haven series. He hasn’t exactly been an “open book,” although readers learned a little bit more about him with each book in the series. He took his devotion to his family very seriously. Once he set his sites on Lizzy, I wasn’t surprised that he planned on encompassing her not just devotion, but the family he realized she desperately needed.
Lizzy might not have known it, especially since she kept her circle small, but she craved the kind of love that Axel offered. It was a little overwhelming, to say the least and trust was a HUGE issue for her. Axel had a lot of traits and giving up wasn’t one of them. His patience and persistence with Lizzy made me fall in love with him just a little bit more.
Although I’m sorry that this series has come to an end, the author did a wonderful job with Lizzy and Axel. I’ve loved spending time with this family of brothers and the rest of their family, but I have a feeling that we haven’t seen the last of them. At least I hope not 😉
Rhenna Morgan continues her “Men of Haven” series with Down and Dirty, a tale of Scottish bad boy who put his dream of being a musician on hold many years ago and is now determined to win the heart of a talented woman who captivated him on sight and share the spotlight with her.
Elizabeth Hemming, an up and coming rock singer, would love to make it big in the music industry. Her previous manager and lover made it close to impossible for her to trust anyone. When a bar owner tries to pull a fast one, Axel McKee steps up to save the night and the damsel. If only Lizzy would let him.
He’s got a plan, not just to help launch her career but to win her over completely because he glimpsed his destiny the moment he saw her on stage. She only needs to realize it, but what will happen when her past comes back to haunt her?
Axel and Elizabeth’s attraction is palpable, but it takes time and effort to get her to realize she can trust him. When their relationship moves from tempting to scorching hot Axel must also prove the depth of his devotion to her. Swoon!
In addition to creating a sexy, sweet, and heartwarming romance, Morgan has once again woven in a group of warm, welcoming and supportive family who are perfect for a gal like Lizzy. You will fall in love with them every bit as much as you’ll fall with the romance.
Axel and Lizzy were an appealing couple. Even though I felt Axel was a bit heavy handed and sometimes went over the top, I was swept away by their story.
Down & Dirty is book #6 of the Men of Haven series by Rhenna Morgan. It is a sweet and sexy standalone contemporary romance, told from both points of view with a happy ending.
Finally. The book I know we’ve all been waiting for… smooth-talking, sex machine, hottie Scot Axel.
Okay, first things first, This book totally sucked me in almost immediately and kept me turning pages. Then Axel got comfortable and decided it was time for Lizzy to have a cutesy love name.
"
Axel must have noted it, too, because he steadied her with a hand at her hip. His warm breath whispered against the tender skin behind her ear. “Easy, pet.”
Ugh. I hate when the hero uses the pet name Pet. Almost as much as I hate a heroine calling her lover Daddy. The thing is…. no matter how much I love Axel or how long I’ve been waiting for his story or even how cool I think his rock star heroine is, the Pet thing was always going to throw me out of the story every time it was used. It’s not a Men of Haven or Rhenna Morgan thing, it’s an Angela thing.
Axel lived up to every expectation I had going into this book. He was just as over the top alpha as I expected. Just as growly and just as protective. I didn’t remember the exact details of he and Jace’s backstory, but thankfully the author reminded readers and added some important information about what Axel gave up to make sure his mom had a secure future.
His backstory ties in well with why Lizzy would catch his eye. Lizzy is a struggling artist with a troubled childhood, a chosen family and who is just recently working to pick herself back up again after an awful experience with a ex-boyfriend/band manager. Axel sweeps in and takes over her career and pretty much decides that they are going to be a couple. It’s just a matter of time. Because that’s what alphas do. Lol. Lizzy seems dazed and confused at first, but she goes along with it and Axel gains her trust and that’s that.
There wasn’t a huge amount of conflict in this book. There is a minor external conflict concerning Lizzy’s hated ex, which allowed Axel to let his protective side take over and show Lizzy how family has your back. There is no real drama between Lizzy and Axel. None. Even the BDSM/I’m a sex machine/we’re doing this bareback conversation was super easy.
I enjoyed this couple, although I didn’t quite completely believe them as a couple. Maybe because Axel is so larger than life and his personality sort of overshadowed Lizzy. I was so-so about the BDSM aspects of their sex life, I expected it to be a little more hardcore, but whatever. I am glad I followed this series to the end. I enjoyed it quite a bit.
Final Grade- B-
I started Rhenna Morgan's Men of Haven series late in the game, with book 5, Stand and Deliver. I really liked it, and picked up a few of the previous titles as well as the next in the series, Down & Dirty. Each book is designed to be read as a standalone but there are are glimpses of secondary characters throughout. Accordingly the hero in Down & Dirty, Axel, is one who has been seen from the beginning and fans of the series have been waiting for his turn at an HEA. Unfortunately, while he definitely fits the alpha male type of the heroes in this series, some of his actions come at the expense of the heroine making this one an okay read but not as enjoyable as I'd hoped.
Lizzy and her band are still working their way through dive bars in the hopes of making it big. When a bar owner tries to renege on their agreed upon contract, she gets an unexpected helping hand from a handsome and commanding stranger, a man who gives her the good kind of shivers.
Axel McKee has been waiting for his opportunity to introduce himself to Lizzy, a woman whose career he has been shadowing for several months. He's seen her potential, not just for her music career but also a woman who could be the perfect match for him. Offering to put the weight of his name and business acumen (and money) behind her to give her a career a leg up is an easy choice. But Lizzy has been burned by a man before, her manager slash boyfriend having nearly destroyed her once lofty ambitions. Can she find it in herself to trust again and is Axel the key to her happy ever after?
This is a music themed Cinderella type story, with a heroine who is working hard to make a name for herself suddenly offered the resources that can boost her up complete with a handsome prince at her side. It sounds great – so why do I feel conflicted about Axel as a hero? Maybe it's a bit of resentment that a man has to be the one to 'rescue' her, instead of Lizzy making it on her own. When they first meet, Lizzy introduces herself as Lizzy but Axel insists on calling her Elizabeth, ignoring that she doesn't like to be called that. Running roughshod over her objections was the first clue that Axel wasn't going to be the man of the hour for me.
Axel is a dominant man in all facets of his life, including in the bedroom. From the first moment he'd seen Lizzy he'd been aware of her 'submissive' side (his conclusion about her, not her own) and he takes it upon himself to show her that side of her personality, as though he knows better than her what she likes. Everything happens with her consent and their sex scenes are definitely hot. They flirt with some BDSM themes, particularly bondage and Dominance/submission. Despite Axel's arrogant assumptions that he knows best about everything for Lizzy and his tendency to take charge, he has a sincere desire to help her achieve stardom and show her a loving and supportive family structure (the men of Haven and their partners). In the end it's Lizzy's feelings about Axel that matter the most, and he proves with his actions towards her and her band partners that his intentions are genuine and that he is trustworthy.
Axel's drive to promote Lizzy's musical success comes from his own aborted career. Instead of focusing on himself, he and his brother by choice Jace had done everything they could to help their mothers lift themselves out of poverty. Their mothers live together at the Haven compound and all of the men's financial success has been for them, and to create a safe environment for the other male friends who've proven their worth and their partners. The men of Haven will stop at nothing to protect their found family, and when Axel finds out just what Lizzy's former manager did to her and to other young and naive performers, he and his friends take action. For Lizzy, having new female friends and two moms who adopt her as their own are equally as important as her feelings for Axel. Lizzy gets a happy ending in all sorts of ways, not just romance and it's Axel that's made it possible. Perhaps readers familiar with Axel from other books will overlook the issues I had with his behaviour and be glad to see him finding the woman of his dreams. I still plan to catch up on other books in the series and maybe they'll soften me up more for Axel. Time will tell. In the meantime if you're looking for an alpha male led story with a Cinderella theme and lots of sexy times, this one will do.
This review has been posted at All About Romance and feedback updated with the link.
Even though this is book 6 in the series, this is my first foray into the Men of Haven series and my first by author Rhenna Morgan. This book is hot!! Axel is an alpha from the top of this head to the tips of his toes and it shows from page 1. He’s fallen hard for Lizzy (Elizabeth), the lead singer of a band, and stops at nothing until she’s signed by his company and firmly in his bed. He’s also protective and caring, like a true alpha should be with his woman. Lizzy’s had a rough life, mistreated by her parents, and then stolen from, beaten, and taken advantage of by her ex. She’s more than a little gun shy, but she falls for Axel and his over protective family. The sex scenes are hot. This is a BDSM book and there’s elements discussed by the main characters and the scenes are done in a way that it highlights the pleasures that lifestyle can have for those that follow it.
The writing is good, it kept me engaged for the most part and kept me turning pages, wanting to see what would happen next.
**I received a review copy from Netgalley and this is my honest and voluntary review**
QueenZany 4.5 Star Review
Down & Dirty
Rhenna Morgan
Down & Dirty is a sexy heartstopping out of this world, angsty wonder!!!
That will have your heart mixed up with so much emotion you will not know where to turn.
No, lie Izzy and Axel’s story will keep you on your toes and make you gasp!
OMG!!!!!! So, worth the devilish wait!!
GoodReads Review
Welp. Here's another book for my favorites shelf. That's not really surprising given how much I have been raving about this delicious hero as we waited for his story throughout the series. It killed me to not be able to devour this book in one sitting - but work kept getting in the way and this review is way later than I expected it to be. But it was kinda nice to spend a little time with the book each night before I fell into bed... too bad I didn't have an Axel there to "run lines" with. ;)
So our hero in this story (finally) is Axel McKee... and Rhenna certainly built the anticipation for this character throughout the first five books. Axel is an alpha male with a Scots brogue, long hair, and GQ wardrobe. Oh yeah, and he can sing. And he likes all things kink. Phew, are you fanning yourself yet? Cause let me tell ya, I need a man like Axel in my life. (And this is probably why I'm still single, I have these incredibly unrealistic expectations thanks to fabulous authors like Rhenna Morgan and Kristen Ashley. Thanks ladies.) I loved Axel's intuitive way of handling our heroine - he knew when to push her to try new things, and when to step back and offer comfort or whatever else was needed. You also have to just swoon over the way he takes care of his mama, and Jace's mama, and the rest of the Haven family. It can't get much better than Axel McKee.
The heroine in this installment... do we really care? We are all imaging ourselves here, right? But in all honesty, I liked Lizzy. Or, at least I did when I wasn't seething with jealousy. ;) Lizzy is a talented musician and songwriter, with a large dose of vulnerability due to some shady dealings in her past - both personally and professionally. But I liked how Lizzy opened up to Axel and trusted him, and she experienced lots of new and interesting (and steamy) things as a result. But if Axel was the reward, who wouldn't try that raw fish or eel or whatever the heck was put in front of you? I liked that with Axel's support, Lizzy came back to herself... a stylish rock chick we'd all want to hang with.
The Men of Haven series has been stellar, an I'm sad to see it ending (or maybe there are some new brothers in our future?!?). I feel like I need to go back and re-read this series in audio, particularly if this last book will have a Scots brogue from the narrator!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from the publisher via NetGalley.
The sixth book in the Men of Haven series is a realistically gritty romance that brings this series to a wonderfully satisfying conclusion. Axel and Lizzy are strong, bold characters that readers can’t help but fall more and more in love with, the more they get to know them. Lizzy is strong but guarded heroine that is fierce and determined not to let anyone get the better of her ever again which adds emotional depth and realism to the character and the story. Axel is one sexy hero that exudes –alpha bachelor male, but then surprises readers with the strength of the protective vibe he gives off in regards to Lizzy and then there is his uber strong conviction in Lizzy’s talent and his determination to see that she has ever chance to reach for the stars. The chemistry sizzles between them with lots of electricity but the clash of wills between them has sparks flying throughout Axel’s stealthy courtship.
The author brought the story to vivid realistic life with clever twists and wording while, the steady paced plot keeps readers glued to the pages with the suspense of the captivating and heartwarming path toward happily ever after and a realistic and gritty dialogue which ensures that this romance is one that readers can relate too and believe in.
Sexy alpha, a feisty female who been burnt before, fabulous chemistry and a great story. Sums the great book up to the T! Really loved it and looking forward to more Haven brothers stories in the future. Totally recommend
Oh my gosh! Axel just blew me away. He has been one of my favourite characters right from the beginning of this series and I’ve been really looking forward to his book. I did not expect him to be such romantic. Elizabeth didn’t stand a chance. He dove right in and made all her dreams come true. And loved her exactly as she needed to be loved to. Oh God I melted into a puddle of goo with the way he begins their first night together. Perfect guy! I wish he was real.
In the age of A Star is Born and DAISY JONES & THE SIX, I was excited to jump into a book about an up and coming female rockstar. Down & Dirty was a fun rockstar romance that kept me invested from page one.
This was my first book by Rhenna Morgan and I kind of feel like I jumped in the deep end with this series. I could tell this was a much anticipated series end and there were a lot of characters. Ms. Morgan did a good job of making sure the reader was never completely over whelmed with the cast though. I also appreciated the Lizzy and Axel were absolutely the center of the story and, for the most part, the secondary characters didn’t take over.
What worked: Lizzy was awesome. She had made mistakes in her youth but she really worked to get where she was. I loved her self-awareness and willingness to stand up for herself. Her ability to overcome her fears and take a chance with Axel was lovely to read. I really rooted for her the whole book. I also want to be her best friend.
What didn’t work: I thought Axel was a little pushy for my tastes occasionally, especially right at the beginning. I love a good alpha as much as the next romance reader, but he was edging the line of too much for me sometimes. I get that there was instalove on his side, but it was unreasonable for him to expect Lizzy to fall in love with him right away. Plus it rubbed me the wrong way that when Lizzy asked for them to not have a personal relationship while they’re having a professional relationship, Axel basically blows this off. Plus some of his early “sexy” lines either came off as completely creepy or I actually laughed when he said them. Luckily, he DOES get better as the story
Overall, this was a good rockstar romance with some fun steamy scenes to keep things interesting. I would like to go back and read more of the books in the series because while Axel wasn’t my favorite, I really enjoyed Ms. Morgan’s writing style.
Side Note: That cover. WHY does the cover model have a mullet? Just, no. I can’t deal with the cover at all.
**I received an ARC of this book in order to provide an honest review**
If you’ve been following my reviews, you’ll know I’m a big fan of the Men of Haven series for the underlying themes of family and doing what’s right. You might also have noticed I’ve expressed concern about the edge of risque behavior they mention but which occurs off screen. Well, that’s thrown out the window with Axel and Lizzy’s story.
I state this up front because I’m not the only one leery. I didn’t quit the book because Morgan is a talented writer, and she brings the emotional connections to life during those scenes. While Lizzy is introduced to this behavior in the book, Axel makes sure he has consent and takes care to confirm she’s still willing at all points. It also doesn’t go into any of the violent aspects beyond a bit of rope. It’s not my thing, but thanks to the writing, I was able to accept it was theirs even though the dominance play was very much front and center in detailed description.
Nor was this the only way Down & Dirty differs from the rest of the series. Instead of discovering Lizzy is in imminent danger and helping her solve the problem, the trouble rose from her past. When the psychological abuse became physical back then, her good friend Rex pulled her out, but the effects still linger.
What starts as a revenge plot turns a little more current as her ex-manager and lover tries the same tricks. Axel is not one to stand back and let this happen, but the brothers do their homework. They find a way to make the man pay not just for his crimes against a younger Lizzy but also those he continues to perpetuate.
While it is different in those two aspects, otherwise, the book holds to the same principles as the rest of the series. They have a family of choice that supports and backs them. This is true even before Lizzy is willing to admit she’s bonded with Axel because of her history with the ex-manager. The brothers even adopt her friend Rex because he’s as much or more her family than anyone with blood ties.
The mothers take Lizzy under their protection, attempting to make up for everything she’d been denied in her family life. Lizzy growing comfortable with female friends is lovely as is her acceptance of how she trusts Axel’s character no matter what appears to be going on. That trust is confirmed in the best way possible at the climax, solving the one niggling aspect of the series for me in a beautiful way. I’ll say only that accepting the friendship of the other women in the Haven group is one of many changes she makes. You must read the book to find out the others.
It’s a testament to the strength and complexity of the characters and the story that I enjoyed this novel despite it going a little beyond my comfort zone. Rhenna Morgan could have lost me here, but she has not. It’s a beautiful story that asks a lot of both Axel and Lizzy while giving the Haven family another chance to demonstrate how family should come together and do the right thing. They protect their own members, but also help any others affected by the same wrongdoing. The series holds true to its themes and offers clear examples of making the right choices even when they are tough ones.
P.S. I received this title from the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Searingly emotional and powerfully written, Down & Dirty is an intense, visceral and captivating contemporary romance that tugs at the heartstrings and keeps readers on the edge of their seat.
Axel McKee is passionate about music and he had once dreamed of becoming a musician. However, he had soon learned that a musical career was not for him. Axel had come to the conclusion that being a power player in the music business was where his future lay and so he had put his dreams of being an artist on the back burner and focused instead on becoming a force to be reckoned with away from the unforgiving glare of the spotlight. Axel might no longer yearn for stardom, however, working with his Haven brothers and helping to build their empire is enough for him. Axel knows that he is better off being far removed from the excesses, challenges and stresses of being a musician. Yet, little does he realize that his entire world is about to be turned on its axis when he meets a woman who gets under his skin and makes him feel things he hasn’t experienced in a long time: Lizzy Hemming.
Lizzy’s career means everything to her. When she is up on stage singing her heart out, Lizzy feels like she is on top of the world, however, recently she has grown weary of playing in dives and dingy pubs and trying to get nefarious bar owners to pay her her dues. Lizzy knows that she has what it takes to make it and is desperate for her big break – and a chance encounter with brooding Scotsman Axel McKee could provide her not just with the career boost she has been desperate for, but also a chance to get up close and personal with this intriguing man she simply cannot stop herself from thinking about…
Axel had been immediately blown away by Lizzy’s stage presence and charisma and when she is performing, he simply cannot tear his gaze away from her. Getting her to perform at one of his venues was a no-brainer, but the more he gets to know her, the more he finds himself intrigued by her. Axel finds himself drawn to Lizzy not just physically, but also musically. Axel wants to help her and collaborate with her – and he also wants to be with her. However, getting Lizzy to open up to him proves easier said than done.
While Lizzy cannot deny the attraction that sizzles between her and Axel, she has been burnt before and is determined to keep things strictly professional between the two of them. But when succumbing to temptation proves inevitable, will Lizzy take a chance on Axel? Or will she continue to be held hostage by the past?
Down & Dirty was my first Rhenna Morgan, but after devouring this book, I can safely say that it will not be my last. Captivating, engrossing and scorching, Down & Dirty is a spellbinding romance about second chances, letting go and healing that is absolutely impossible to put down. Rhenna Morgan has penned a heart-wrenching, dramatic and satisfying romance that pushes the envelope with its beguiling blend of gritty realism, believable characters and powerful sensuality.
Lizzy and Axel’s journey to their happy ever after is tempestuous, affecting and passionate and guaranteed to linger in the reader’s mind and heart long after the last page is turned.
A compulsively readable contemporary romance I highly recommend, Down & Dirty should not be missed!
The hero in this motorcycle club romance sounds like he is going to knock my socks off. I can’t wait to see how he convinces the prickly heroine to lower the walls around her heart.
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆☆
M/F Romance
Triggers: Some BDSM aspects
Axel's story was fantastic. While reading the previous books, Axel didn't really seem like someone who wanted the happily ever after. But once he set his sights on Lizzy, there was no turning back and nobody else for him. Axel loves his family fiercely and once they all meet Lizzy, they envelop her into their family, no questions.
Lizzy has had a tough go of it. She was raised by people who didn't really notice her and when she thought she had found someone who cared for her, her trust was broken and she was shattered. She has stood on her own for so long that when Axel comes along, Lizzy is wary and guarded. I loved Lizzy's bandmates and thought that they balanced her well. While Lizzy was guarded, Morgan wrote her well. She was developed and the reader was able to see Lizzy come out of her shell and accept that she now had more family that had chosen to love her and accept her.
I really enjoyed watching the dynamic between Axel and Lizzy. I thought that he complemented her well and even though she was feisty, Axel needed a woman who had a strong backbone. I am sorry to see this series ending but hope for more from Morgan.
Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆☆
I have loved every single one of the books in the series, and cannot really believe that this is book six! I really recommend that you read them in order – and I can say that these are in my Absolute-must-reread list, as I am sure that reading one after the other will be a delicious experience.
Lizzy is about to experience what being part of the Haven family is all about, and we can catch up with them all in the process. She really can't believe what is happening, and having been burned once, she is wary of trusting again, but as she gets to know them all, it is impossible to resist. The Mums, in particular, remain such a force of nature, and their wish to see Axel happy and to give Lizzy the support that she missed out on from her own parents.
Axel has always been a bit aloof, and so seeing him find the woman of his dreams is the perfect finale for the Haven family. The fact that he can fulfil his dream of succeeding in the music business through her is just the icing on the cake. I loved the whole storyline, and the showdown which both gave Lizzy a harsher view of Axel, but also the guarantee of his love for her.
Perfect epilogue to a wonderfully romantic and action-filled story. Thank you so much, Rhenna Morgan, for sharing the Men of Haven with us.
Mary – ☆☆☆☆☆
This is the sixth book in the Men of Haven series. With each book about one of the men, we also get a glimpse of the other men of the Haven family too. This is Axel McKee's story and the one I have been waiting for.
Axel has been watching Lizzy and her band for a while now, but he never felt the need to step in and give her assistance until the night he overheard the bar owner trying to underpay her for the gig they just finished. When he first saw her, he could not believe the way he was drawn to her. And all he wanted was to keep her safe and make her career take off.
Lizzy can't believe this sexy stranger has stuck his nose in her business. Who does he think he is? Can she trust him at what he is telling her? She is drawn to him and she wants to believe he just wants to help her but with her past, she doesn't have many people she trusts in this world.
Can Lizzy learn that with Axel comes a family that she has never known and will grow to love as her own? Will Axel be able to take things slow so he doesn't scare her off? What happens when her past comes back to haunt her? Will Axel catch her if she falls? Is there a chance that she and the band can get better gigs much less an album recorded?
I have loved each book, but I think this one is my favorite; we learn more about Axel's love for music and his past and his own secrets. I loved how he was with Lizzy, that he knew what was going through her head even before she did and he knew just what she needed to get out of her own head.
I can't recommend this series enough, just read them in order, you don't want to miss a thing. Thanks, Rhenna Morgan, for sharing the Men of Haven with us.