Taking the Heat

By: Scott Hildreth

Narrated by: Sarah Jennings, Shannon Gunn

Length: 8 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's Summary

After serving half a dozen tours in Afghanistan and Iraq as a US Marine, Cambio Todelli - known as Toad to his MC brothers - is left with a penchant for violence and no emotional attachment between his heart and his groin.

As the Sergeant at Arms for the Selected Sinners MC, Toad has one assignment and he takes it very seriously. Keeping his Brothers safe from harm at any cost.

Although he believes he ultimately stands for what is moral and justified, he admits sometimes the lines simply become blurred. In short, Toad is a walking contradiction. The descendant of a long line of prideful Italian American US Marines, he is now living a far cry from his upbringing in the Catholic church.

Sydney Shephard is an orphan, and has recently lost her only sibling, an older brother, to a lifelong prison sentence. After losing her job, she is now homeless, penniless, and without any form of family or friend.

As easy as it may be to do so, she refuses to lose her spirit, her spunk, or her sense of humor.

After having been in multiple abusive relationships in her past, Sydney has vowed to either live a life of solitude, or find a man who will treat her as an equal.

When a bank robbery goes awry, leaving Toad on one side of the bank, and Sydney on the other, Toad must make a decision and make it quick.

And when Toad decides to do something, heaven help anyone who tries to stop him.

Author's Note: Taking the Heat is a stand-alone love story. No other book is required to tell this tale. It does contain explicit language, sexual situations, and the intricacies of being in an Outlaw Motorcycle Club. All sexual partners in this MC Erotic Romance are over the age of 18. Stand-alone love story. HEA. No cliff hanger. Taking the Heat is Book II in a series of stand-alone MC Erotic Romance novels.

©2015 Scott Hildreth (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Two Broken Souls ~ Complete & Unbreak Each Other!

I enjoyed the second book in the Selected Sinners series much more than the first. It has a captivating plot, with a few heart breaking moments, filled with drama, humor, excellent character development and a sex scene that truly push boundaries, but when It's all said and done, you are left with a touching love story.

Some Spoilers;
I really liked Toad's character, he was fascinating, strong, complex, and had many facets to his personality. After a few tours in war, he suffers from PSTD, survivors guilt, and no longer desires normal intimacy but uses what some would consider sadistic sex acts to cope and get off. He's developed his own code and morals and only does what he can justify as right, from helping those in need to killing those who deserve it. While he can be hardcore, he also has a softer compassionate side with a poetic touch. Deeply rooted in his beliefs, he has strong ties to the Selected Sinners MC and his family, especially to his deceased Nonno. He's honed his instincts on who he can trust, and helps those who truly deserved it. Toad was an intriguing character.

Sydney may be down on her luck, not wanted by her family but she's resilient, and no pushover or a stranger to the MC lifestyle. After Toad botches a bank robbery Sydney's involved in, he throws her a life line and a way out before the police make it to the scene. With no other options, she takes the life line and leaves with another MC member before the cops can arrive. Later that day, Toad finds out she's homeless and doesn't have any money, he offers her a job, and a place to live and she jumps all over the opportunity. For Sydney this is a new beginning.

There's something about Sydney that draws Toad to her like a month to a flame and Sydney craves Toad and looks forward to every visit. Individually, they were both broken in their own way, but together they piece each other back together and become stronger.

The narration was great! My first audio narrated by Sarah Jennings and Shannon Gunn, and I enjoyed both of their performances.

A slightly dark but captivating MC, with diverse characters, heart breaking animal rescue, excellent character growth, but be warned there's a sex scene towards the beginning that may turn some people off. This scene does not define or set the tone for the rest of the story. Once passed, you'll enjoy the story! For true MC Romance fans this is well worth a credit!

10 people found this helpful

Talk about a trashy romance

As a veteran, I’m irritated by the hero, who is a total sociopath who clearly isn’t getting help for PTSD if he’s abusing women the way he does in the opening chapter. I’m also irritated by the 18 year old overweight black male supporting character and how he sounds like he walked off a Virginia plantation in the year 1860. I DNF’d this and I’m really disappointed this is the kind of book audible is picking up as an exclusive.

1 person found this helpful

I don't know, but is the author racist?

Um the N-word in the 1st book was a no-no, so I opted not to try that one, only to witness the fuckery in this one. I don't think I heard the N-word in this one, but my god ,the character known as "Junior" was just, unnecessarily coonish. This is 2020 not 1920 with the "Isa sir, no sir" speech from a kid who's like 18 years old. That's just ridiculously, offensive dialog from an asshole author, that's obviously never met a person of African decent. Despite how upsetting that concept was, the narrators were both top notch. I don't know whats up with people in the comments section, but the male narrator is awesome, he's the one bringing the story to life and he's hella sexy doing it. Looking forward to trying more novels with his narration. 3 star read, Would've been more if the author didn't always try to sneak in the obvious racist views of my culture.

Toad and Sydney

Love this book and the first one. This is a truly a twisted love story love it any way. Hope next book is as much enjoyable as the first two.

Give it a chance.

WOW!
what a book. It took me a few trys to get past the Saran wrap beginning but once I did (2 trys), I fell in love with the characters and the book. Way better than book 1 in my opinion.

Great book but a little disappointed.

I read the book before and decided to listen to the audiobook. Although the story was still great I didn't care much for the person doing the male voice. The voice just seemed off to me. I know he was supposed to be Italian but it the voice was a little much. Plus, I was really looking forward to finding out something about Sydney's brother. This is only the second book so I don't know if he comes up in another book.

Remarkable

What a wonderful surprise. Taking The Heat is absolutely fantastic. Another hit in this series to go along with all the others!

Marine Biker Memoir, Not A "Romance"

The story and the narrators were good. This was essentially a well written novel that had a lot of depth and introspection and bawdy humor about a Marine turned biker and a homeless, down on her luck but plucky woman.

Yes, there's a love story, sex, and an HEA, but it doesn't really fit in the romance category to me. That's OK, I like all kinds of books, but it throws me because it's in Audible's Romance Package. Million times better than book one and well worth my time. Just go into it knowing it's not an "MC Romance"!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

although this book is very long but I've got to say the narrators did great, would I recommend this book? absolutely!

Toad is my fave Selected Sinner!

Another great book in the Selected Sinner MC series! This book is Toad's story...you know, Sargent-at-arms, quiet, scary guy...yep that one. Toad is ex military, serving several tours of duty in Afghanistan and carrying the weight of survivor's guilt. He's a broken guy...then he meets Sydney. Sydney has had a tough life...orphaned at a young age, losing her older brother/guardian to prison, many abusive relationships...and now she's lost her job and is homeless. But this is one spunky woman and she just gets back up, knocks off the proverbial dust, and fights back at life. What will happen with these two broken souls meet? I love a good MC book and this series does not disappoint. Each character is well thought out and the story line is well developed. Enjoyable book. Will definitely continue with the rest of the series.