Desertion

By: River Savage

Narrated by: Joe Arden, Lidia Dornet

Length: 11 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's Summary

Honor, courage, and commitment: three things that Jesse Carter has lost.

A former marine, Jesse used to stand proud of his achievements and live by the code. But when circumstance made him question everything he believed in, those most basic values didn't feel so important after all.

Sex, lies, and the Knights Rebels: three things that Jesse Carter has found.

Reborn into a brotherhood not so different from the one he left behind, Jesse finds it all too easy to block out his past and claim the role as the Rebels' fun-loving player - until he meets Bell.

Shy, awkward, and with troubles of her own, Bell Johnson is no stranger to hiding her pain. When Jesse forces himself into her life, she's at risk of her defenses crumbling. Does Bell have the strength to survive Jesse and his demons, or is she fated to become another casualty in the self-destruction of Jesse Carter?

Contains mature themes.

©2015 River Savage (P)2016 Tantor

River does it again!

I admit I love getting lost in my books, weather it is contemporary or classics , but this series is my guilty pleasure! Only twice In my life have a set down a book to cry, reading Bronte's Jane and the second my beloved Heathcliff- but Today marks a third time! The harsh words of Jesse's struggle after his father funeral made me have to put this one down- the unrequited love he allowed Bell to feel pushing her away....it just killed me. I love River's ability to drawn you into each characters pain and joy at the same time; the way she tells a story about societal issues through tales and struggles- well, I am impressed at her skill. I can't wait to read the story of Beau and Mack next!

3 people found this helpful

My favorite MC series

I was very intrigued by Jesse when he was mentioned in the previous. There seemed to be something more to the goofy, sex crazed biker. However, I was not ready for what I learned about him when I read this story. Jesse had been suffering for so long and he hid all of that pain though sex, liquor and jokes. I think Belle was good for him, only because she was s honest and transparent. She only wanted and expected the same for him; ironically that was the one thing Jesse didn't want to do. Yes he was an ass at times, but he was a very complex and well written character. I found Belle to be a breath of fresh air, so different from the other women in the series. Naïve but cute!

I'm happy the voice actors have been the same for the entire series. They are so good a capturing the characters.

2 people found this helpful

3.5* ENJOYABLE.... BUT SADLY NOT ONE OF HER BEST

At the start Jesse wasn't a particularly loveable character.... haunted by his abusive childhood and a mission gone wrong so his only way to smother the guilt he feels, and the memories that haunt him so vividly, is drink and copious amounts of willing women. Until he met Bell and he tried so hard to get a grip on his anger and change for her but no one could stop the downward spiral that he was free falling into..... and then he crossed the line that changed everything. Jesse was a typical Alpha Biker..... sharp commands, dirty talk, very possessive and sexy but underneath it all he was just an ex-Marine suffering from PTSD and he was slowly falling apart.

Bell is a Nurse, she's 23 sexy, shy and still a virgin living at home sheltered from harm because her younger sister Paige was kidnapped and, for 6 years, they've never given up hope. Her last chance is Jesse and The Knights Rebels who have connections so she asks for their help.... but she is instantly drawn to the brooding bad boy Jesse but his usual flirting doesn't seem to work and they get off to a bad start, however, it's not long before he's brutally telling her to bend over. Everyone welcomes her into the MC and sympathizes with her plight and they promise to do what they can. However, it's the moody, out of control Jesse who tries the hardest but unfortunately he's now sunk into the abyss of despair and self-hatred over the past and how he's fkd up badly with Bell leaving more heartbreak and regrets. He gets so bad that the MC have to take control before it's too late for him and they're forced to isolate him. Luckily his brothers have got his back, care and want him to win Bell back.... but Bell's not playing - she was hurt, humiliated and devastated by him however a lot of positives have come from it. In Bell's case absence doesn't make the heart grow fonder but how much sucking up is Jesse prepared to do to make things right with Bell and for how long?..... well, as much as it takes and for as long as it takes. And then Las Vegas happened.... and Jesse pulled off a miracle regarding Paige.

This was enjoyable but their connection was hard and harsh at the start.... pure lust in action but in the end, when Jesse's torment was so bad, I really felt for him... even if he came across as a thoughtless arrogant ass. Bell's character was weak in the start but she eventually grew a pair and manned up in the end by not taking Jesse's bullshit anymore. But as a pair I didn't feel the chemistry or connection, he was hot then cold towards Bell and she put up with it until Jesse's spectacular and devastating meltdown. There were a group of Old Ladies but no angst with Club whores at all.... the angst came directly from Jesse and Bell along with a bit of tension from a rival MC. Dual POV's and good narration.

Worth a credit? Yes it was still entertaining and enjoyable, but the romance was toxic and, IMO, it lacked the usual MC feel and it could have done with a few more descriptions to each scene. I've loved The Knight's Rebels so this has saddened me to only give it 3.5 stars.

5 people found this helpful

Bells part is distracting

What would have made Desertion better?

The book is good but either lidia or the editor make Bell's part so distracting. The sentences run together like one runon sentence whenever Bells part comes up.

Would you be willing to try another one of Joe Arden and Lidia Dornet ’s performances?

Joe Arden is really good not loving Lidia Dornets performance though

1 person found this helpful

SIX STARS!

My first SIX-STAR book of 2017 and definitely kicking off my TOP FAVORITE BOOKS OF 2017 list with a bang!!!!

WOW! This book WRECKED me! Holy guacamole!!! WHAT. A. BOOK!!!!!!!!

I loved Jesse since book one in the series. He was one of those secondary characters that I instantly liked and I knew had an interesting story behind him. And man, what heck of a story!

Jesse was a broken man who was only existing. Everything he'd been through truly SHATTERED my heart! Hearing his PAIN, his anguish, his REGRET brought tears to my eyes time and time again.

Pushing away Bell, the first woman to ever see him--truly see HIM--made this one hell of an angst-driven book. Their ups and downs had my emotions all over the place. ALL. OVER. THE. PLACE. The things they both went through had me craving to do nothing else but listen to this book. I was addicted and irrevocably hooked to their story.

And holy shit! Jesse's dirty-talking was off the charts which also made this one hell of a HOT book!!!! H-O-T-T HOT. That man was DELICIOUS!!!! Gosh!!!

EPIC!!!!

Now, onto the audio part...
EXCELLENT narration from Joe and Lidia once more. These two narrators have become top favorites of mine. They always do a phenomenal job bringing characters to life!!

TRUE PERFECTION AND A MUST READ! SIX STARS!!!

1 person found this helpful

Could not stop listen.

The is my introduction to this author & a motorcycle club.
Excellent.
Now on to the rest of this series of books.
Love the characters!!

1 person found this helpful

Possibly better than 1, 2, & 2 1/2

This novel is my favorite, of this series, so far. I would suggest having kleenex handy. There are so many touching scenes, in this book. Definitely worth a credit!
V from Kansas

1 person found this helpful

Excellent story

This entire series is great. I listened to this book out of order, last. I was apprehensive due to Jessie's lifestyle with women, I don't like a love interest being deliberately hurt by a womanizer. To my relief, that wasn't the case at all and I was so glad I gave this book a chance.
All of the characters in this entire series are respectable and honorable, and the female characters are equally strong and independent.
Entire series is well worth a listen, you will not be disappointed.

1 person found this helpful

Of Course I Love This Seris

Any additional comments?

This is a good listen some aspects I have heard before but, it doesn't take from the great narration and truly good story. I listened from beginning to end and when I can do that I know I enjoyed every word. GET IT 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

3 people found this helpful

that elevator scene!!

I love love love Jesse and his story. that elevator scene was everything!! best of the series!!

Love it

Loved reading the book and really loved listening to it. Will read and listen to again.