Marcos Rivera is a fighter. A gang member. Someone who has
seen the dark side of humankind and survived. He has lost family and gained
enemies. He has stolen cars and destroyed hearts, stripping one for money and
the other for pleasure. His past is haunted and his future is bleak.
Until her.
Katie Foster is a high school history teacher. Smart, strong, and sexy. She is a woman Marcos shouldn’t want. Shouldn’t touch. Shouldn’t love. He met her in Garnet, a backwards, hick town that’s the last place in the world he wants to be, but he finds himself going back for a taste of the forbidden.
Katie represents all that is good in the world, and Marcos knows he’s nothing but trouble for her perfect life. He fights and he screws. He commits crimes and he breaks the rules. He will never change and he will never escape his gang lifestyle.
Or can he?
What happens when two different people from two very different walks of life risk it all by giving into the passion that threatens to consume both of them? Can a woman who only knows how to play it safe give her heart to a man who lives hard and loves harder?
Will she survive The Viper?
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Until her.
Katie Foster is a high school history teacher. Smart, strong, and sexy. She is a woman Marcos shouldn’t want. Shouldn’t touch. Shouldn’t love. He met her in Garnet, a backwards, hick town that’s the last place in the world he wants to be, but he finds himself going back for a taste of the forbidden.
Katie represents all that is good in the world, and Marcos knows he’s nothing but trouble for her perfect life. He fights and he screws. He commits crimes and he breaks the rules. He will never change and he will never escape his gang lifestyle.
Or can he?
What happens when two different people from two very different walks of life risk it all by giving into the passion that threatens to consume both of them? Can a woman who only knows how to play it safe give her heart to a man who lives hard and loves harder?
Will she survive The Viper?
Buy Links
Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon Au ~ Amazon Ca
AllRomance ~ B&N ~ Kobo ~ Loose Id
“You’re stubborn, cariño.”
Katie flipped her hair back. She crawled over Marcos and straddled him once more. She reached for her coffee and took a sip. She noticed he didn’t have a complaint this time. He seemed a little too relaxed to bother as she admitted, “I am very stubborn. Ask anyone. It’s usually their chief complaint about me.”
“I like it.” He tugged a long strand of her hair. “A lot.”
“That’s why you’re perfect.” She grinned, enjoying how completely unselfconscious she was around him. It was such a rare commodity in her life. For some reason, she didn’t question for one minute that he liked her just as she was. She felt the same about him as she eyed his body under hers. She reached out and touched one of the stars on his shoulder. There was a matching one on the other shoulder. “What do these mean?”
He winced. “If you knew, you wouldn’t think I’m perfect.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Try me.”
“They mean I’m a thief,” he said simply, as if daring her to judge him.
“Of what?” She took another sip of her coffee as she studied the strange stars that decorated each of his shoulders.
“Of anything left unattended long enough for me to take advantage of.” He laced a hand behind his head, still studying her thoughtfully. “Cars. Houses. Pretty, innocent gringas with talented mouths.”
She laughed. “I’m not that innocent.”
“That’s what you think.”
“Mmm,” she hummed rather than argue, and took another sip of her coffee that was extra creamy and sweet, making it the color of Marcos’s tan skin. She studied him again, and ran her hand over the tattooed cross on his chest with the names of his mother and cousin above and below it. Then she touched the inked black tribal tattoos on his right biceps. It covered so much skin, and the left side matched. “What about these?”
He looked amused with her exploration of him. “They mean nothing.”
“Then why get them?”
“I dunno, ‘cause I was young and vain and had a lot of disposable income.”
“From stealing things.”
“Yup.”
“Where’s your disposable income now?”
He laughed. “On my arms.”
“So you must not be stealing things anymore,” she said, because she suspected as much.
“Not right now, no.” He took her coffee from her and leaned up, stealing a sip before he put it back on the nightstand. “Soon, maybe.”
“Once a thief—” she mused.
“Always a thief,” he finished for her as he laced his other hand behind his head. “You’d be smart to remember it, chica.”
“Why did you get the tattoos?” she asked as she touched his right arm again. She didn’t believe for one minute he did them just for vanity. Every marking on his body had a meaning. It was like an illustration to the history of his life, and she found it fascinating. “The truth.”
He looked away from her. His body stiffened all of a sudden, and she got the impression she may have pushed too far before he admitted in a low, raspy voice, “Because they hurt.”
“Huh?”
“I just wanted something to hurt me. To make me forget. To make it sting so bad I couldn’t think about anything but the needle digging into my skin.”
“Did it work?”
“No.” He looked back to her, the pain glimmering in his light eyes. “If it did, I would have a lot more.”
She laid down over him and let her head rest on his shoulder over one of the stars that marked him as a thief. He stroked her hair and together they shared a quiet moment where she didn’t judge him, and he let her be still and ache for him.
Katie flipped her hair back. She crawled over Marcos and straddled him once more. She reached for her coffee and took a sip. She noticed he didn’t have a complaint this time. He seemed a little too relaxed to bother as she admitted, “I am very stubborn. Ask anyone. It’s usually their chief complaint about me.”
“I like it.” He tugged a long strand of her hair. “A lot.”
“That’s why you’re perfect.” She grinned, enjoying how completely unselfconscious she was around him. It was such a rare commodity in her life. For some reason, she didn’t question for one minute that he liked her just as she was. She felt the same about him as she eyed his body under hers. She reached out and touched one of the stars on his shoulder. There was a matching one on the other shoulder. “What do these mean?”
He winced. “If you knew, you wouldn’t think I’m perfect.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Try me.”
“They mean I’m a thief,” he said simply, as if daring her to judge him.
“Of what?” She took another sip of her coffee as she studied the strange stars that decorated each of his shoulders.
“Of anything left unattended long enough for me to take advantage of.” He laced a hand behind his head, still studying her thoughtfully. “Cars. Houses. Pretty, innocent gringas with talented mouths.”
She laughed. “I’m not that innocent.”
“That’s what you think.”
“Mmm,” she hummed rather than argue, and took another sip of her coffee that was extra creamy and sweet, making it the color of Marcos’s tan skin. She studied him again, and ran her hand over the tattooed cross on his chest with the names of his mother and cousin above and below it. Then she touched the inked black tribal tattoos on his right biceps. It covered so much skin, and the left side matched. “What about these?”
He looked amused with her exploration of him. “They mean nothing.”
“Then why get them?”
“I dunno, ‘cause I was young and vain and had a lot of disposable income.”
“From stealing things.”
“Yup.”
“Where’s your disposable income now?”
He laughed. “On my arms.”
“So you must not be stealing things anymore,” she said, because she suspected as much.
“Not right now, no.” He took her coffee from her and leaned up, stealing a sip before he put it back on the nightstand. “Soon, maybe.”
“Once a thief—” she mused.
“Always a thief,” he finished for her as he laced his other hand behind his head. “You’d be smart to remember it, chica.”
“Why did you get the tattoos?” she asked as she touched his right arm again. She didn’t believe for one minute he did them just for vanity. Every marking on his body had a meaning. It was like an illustration to the history of his life, and she found it fascinating. “The truth.”
He looked away from her. His body stiffened all of a sudden, and she got the impression she may have pushed too far before he admitted in a low, raspy voice, “Because they hurt.”
“Huh?”
“I just wanted something to hurt me. To make me forget. To make it sting so bad I couldn’t think about anything but the needle digging into my skin.”
“Did it work?”
“No.” He looked back to her, the pain glimmering in his light eyes. “If it did, I would have a lot more.”
She laid down over him and let her head rest on his shoulder over one of the stars that marked him as a thief. He stroked her hair and together they shared a quiet moment where she didn’t judge him, and he let her be still and ache for him.
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆☆
I really enjoyed this novel, which successfully introduced changes in pace depending on which character was the lead in the story. By the end it had smoothed out in a really natural way. The premise of the story being good quiet woman meets off the rails gorgeous man is not new, but the twists and turns make this a very fresh read.
Engaging from the beginning; torridly steamy in places, and telling a meaningful story; Ms Moon has written a hit. I highly recommend it to you.
Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
Kele Moon has written another fabulous romance.
The book commences with Garnet native Katie getting into a car accident and meeting Marcos, the cousin of Chuito who we met in the Battered Hearts series.
Marcos, a Miami native and a gang member, is struggling to go straight after serving a prison sentence. I loved Marcos right from the start - the way he faces everything head on. He is honest. He knows who he is and doesn't try to hide it.
Katie has an instant connection with Marcos and I loved her character as well. She is trusting, open, compassionate, strong and goes after what she wants.
I really enjoyed Katie and Marcos' journey and seeing how two people from very worlds come together and ultimately, made each other better people.
The Viper is a spin off from Kele Moon's Battered Hearts series but it isn't necessary to have read the previous books in order to enjoy this one. I would recommend you read them too, if only because they are great reads as well.
Angela – ☆☆☆☆☆
It’s been a while since I read Ms. Moon’s work and I am so glad I got the opportunity to read The Viper. It reminded me why I enjoy her writing so much. She creates realistic characters that you can’t wait to spend time with and don’t want to be interrupted while you’re with them. I told myself when I started the book today that I would read for an hour and then do some work and come back and read some more. I did manage to take my first reading break, but when I picked the book back up I didn’t put it down until I finished it. Yep, it sucked me right in.
Katie and Marcos do NOT meet under the best of circumstances. Despite the situation and the fact that Katie should be frightened of Marcos, he is the only thing that keeps her from losing it that awful night. Once her life return to normal, everyone seems to be stonewalling her when she attempts to contact Marcos – telling her he’s too dangerous and she’s better off leaving well enough alone. I have to say that I absolutely loved the way in which Marcos learned of her attempts to contact him and exactly how long she had been trying. And his reaction to it, well that’s the kind of thing that makes a girl’s heart flutter. Even though Marcos truly is a lover and not a fighter, circumstances force him back to his old life and he finds himself walking a fine line between life and death.
The Viper is a romance through and through and it is a great start for the Untamed Hearts series. Ms. Moon has created a hero in Marcos that is strong, loyal, loving, and passionate. It is these characteristics that make him perfect for Katie – who has just enough temper and attitude to challenge Marcos without making him feel judged. They complement one another and their chemistry is obvious and translates into some smoking hot sex scenes. I am looking forward to the next book in the series and really hope that it’s Chuito’s story. Until then, I’ll be revisiting Ms. Moon’s other books.
I really enjoyed this novel, which successfully introduced changes in pace depending on which character was the lead in the story. By the end it had smoothed out in a really natural way. The premise of the story being good quiet woman meets off the rails gorgeous man is not new, but the twists and turns make this a very fresh read.
Engaging from the beginning; torridly steamy in places, and telling a meaningful story; Ms Moon has written a hit. I highly recommend it to you.
Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
Kele Moon has written another fabulous romance.
The book commences with Garnet native Katie getting into a car accident and meeting Marcos, the cousin of Chuito who we met in the Battered Hearts series.
Marcos, a Miami native and a gang member, is struggling to go straight after serving a prison sentence. I loved Marcos right from the start - the way he faces everything head on. He is honest. He knows who he is and doesn't try to hide it.
Katie has an instant connection with Marcos and I loved her character as well. She is trusting, open, compassionate, strong and goes after what she wants.
I really enjoyed Katie and Marcos' journey and seeing how two people from very worlds come together and ultimately, made each other better people.
The Viper is a spin off from Kele Moon's Battered Hearts series but it isn't necessary to have read the previous books in order to enjoy this one. I would recommend you read them too, if only because they are great reads as well.
Angela – ☆☆☆☆☆
It’s been a while since I read Ms. Moon’s work and I am so glad I got the opportunity to read The Viper. It reminded me why I enjoy her writing so much. She creates realistic characters that you can’t wait to spend time with and don’t want to be interrupted while you’re with them. I told myself when I started the book today that I would read for an hour and then do some work and come back and read some more. I did manage to take my first reading break, but when I picked the book back up I didn’t put it down until I finished it. Yep, it sucked me right in.
Katie and Marcos do NOT meet under the best of circumstances. Despite the situation and the fact that Katie should be frightened of Marcos, he is the only thing that keeps her from losing it that awful night. Once her life return to normal, everyone seems to be stonewalling her when she attempts to contact Marcos – telling her he’s too dangerous and she’s better off leaving well enough alone. I have to say that I absolutely loved the way in which Marcos learned of her attempts to contact him and exactly how long she had been trying. And his reaction to it, well that’s the kind of thing that makes a girl’s heart flutter. Even though Marcos truly is a lover and not a fighter, circumstances force him back to his old life and he finds himself walking a fine line between life and death.
The Viper is a romance through and through and it is a great start for the Untamed Hearts series. Ms. Moon has created a hero in Marcos that is strong, loyal, loving, and passionate. It is these characteristics that make him perfect for Katie – who has just enough temper and attitude to challenge Marcos without making him feel judged. They complement one another and their chemistry is obvious and translates into some smoking hot sex scenes. I am looking forward to the next book in the series and really hope that it’s Chuito’s story. Until then, I’ll be revisiting Ms. Moon’s other books.
A freckle faced, redhead born and raised in Hawaii, Kele Moon has always been a bit of a sore thumb and has come to enjoy the novelty of it. She thrives off pushing the envelope and finding ways to make the impossible work in her story telling. With a mad passion for romance, she adores the art of falling in love. The only rules she believes in is that, in love there are no rules and true love knows no bounds.
So obsessed is she with the beauty of romance and the novelty of creating it she’s lost in her own wonder world most of the time. Thankfully she married her own dark, handsome, brooding hero who had infinite patience for her airy ways and attempts to keep her grounded. When she leaves her keys in the refrigerator or her cell phone in the oven he’s usually there to save her from herself. The two of them now reside in Florida with their three beautiful children who make their lives both fun and challenging in equal parts–They wouldn’t have it any other way.
Connect with Kele
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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of The Viper by Kele Moon to read and review for this tour.
sounds like a great book to add to my TBR pile
ReplyDeleteLol I can never post comments from my phone... If you have two I apologize! But thank you so much for the reviews! So thrilled you're part of the tour!
ReplyDeleteI loved the Eden books, but that is all that I have tried from Kele Moon so far. I need to read more.
ReplyDelete