Gunnar

A Bones MC Romance (Kiss of Death MC, Book 1)

By: Marteeka Karland

Narrated by: Umi Markkanen

Pippa is the unexpected twist in my life, a complication I never saw coming

Pippa - My life has been shaped by some kind of underworld scheming I don’t really understand. Or maybe I don’t want to know. But now I’m living in darkness and violence, unable to break free but unwilling to succumb to the drug induced stupor my captives force on me. Then Gunnar, a fierce man with a dark relentlessness, charges to my rescue like a black knight, taking vengeance on those who have hurt me. Our first meeting isn’t a rescue out of a fairy tale -- it’s pure chaos. Gunnar may be an ex-con, but he protects me with a ferocity I never knew existed.

Gunnar - Pippa’s quiet resilience clashes with the violent life I know. With just a look, the woman claims my heart and life takes on a brand new meaning. I’ve done time -- fifteen long years behind bars, to protect my sister. Now I’ll protect Pippa with a ruthlessness she can’t even imagine.

My past is dark, my future uncertain, and every moment with Pippa makes me realize the lengths I’ll go to keep her. Fate has brought me to the one woman I know I can’t live without.

©2025 Marteeka Karland (P)2025 Marteeka Karland

Deceptively sweet.

Hm … opens up with a 16 year-old having just unal!ved someone via multiple st4bs to the k!dney and letting her brother take the fall. Playing loose with plausibility again but, I’ve learned to roll with it for Karland’s MC reads—it tends to pay off.


Wrongfully imprisoned … ish.
SA.
Abduction.
MC gangs.
Arranged ‘marriage’ (MC style).
Protector romance.
Trafficking.
He’s a v!rg!n.
She’s also a v!rg!n.

This one packed a few little twists, so it’s even sweeter than it seems on the surface.
A quick, fun listen.

4 stars.

🎧 Audio:
Fantastic audio production, as always. I love this narrator! 5 stars.

So good

You absolutely outdid yourself at the story I love the storyline, the characters the beginning the end I love the dynamics of the fathers and the back spy type of story. I love it. Can’t wait for the next one.

Excellent

I liked that Gunnar was at peace with his decision to take the fall for his sister and go to prison. A more common reaction would be resentment and anger, but Gunnar has it taped out. He rescues Pippa from traffickers at her father’s, his cellie, request. He leaves Bones MC because his older brothers, who are Prez and VP, are being d-bags about him bringing trouble in the form of Pippa to their club. And he heads to Kiss of Death. Thus a new series is born. I enjoyed this book and thought that Gunnar and Pippa were made for each other.
Cat’s Stats
MMC/FMC- Gunnar and Pippa
Genre- MC Romance
Heat- Open door, explicit, double v-cards
Series? Y
Safety? Y
Triggers- violence, trafficking, discussion of attempted SA (no details), language
Tropes- Dysfunctional Family FTW, Instalove, Ex-Con, Taking the Fall, Double V-Cards, Age Gap, Damsel in Distress, Daddy’s Little Princess.

Gunnar

Gunnar took the fall for his sister when she murdered someone. He wound up in prison.
When he got out of prison at the request of his cell mate he rescued Pippa his cell mates daughter from human traffickers.
The dynamic between Pippa and Gunnar was amazing.
As always Umi did an amazing job narrating

Great Start!

I've listened to several books by this author, and I think this was my favorite so far. I'm excited to see what the rest of the series brings. Gunnar went to jail to protect someone he loves. When he gets out of jail the first thing he's supposed to do is rescue Pippa. The fact that Gunnar and Pippa are perfect for each other and only met because her dad needed a favor was kismet. Entertaining and quick listen!