{Review} Vicious Cycle (Vicious Cycle #1) by Katie Ashley

Posted by Donna
Release Date: June 2nd, 2015
Finished Date: June 22nd, 2015

Publishers: Headline Eternal 
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Source: For Review
Format: Paperback

Pages: 336
Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US / The Book Depo

New York Times bestselling author Katie Ashley revs up the danger and sexual tension in her brand-new Vicious Cycle romance series.

Deacon Malloy’s life is dedicated to the Hell’s Raiders motorcycle club. Tough, hard, and fast with his fists, he serves the group as sergeant at arms. But his devil-may-care approach to life is thrown for a loop when the five-year-old daughter he never knew existed lands on the club steps.

Alexandra Evans is devoted to all her students—but there’s always been something about Willow Malloy that tugs at her heart. There’s an aura of sadness about her, a girl in need of all the love Alexandra can give. When Willow stops coming to school, Alexandra’s search leads to a clubhouse full of bikers…and a father hell-bent on keeping his daughter always within sight.

The moment Deacon sees Alexandra, he has to have her in his bed—and he’s never met a woman yet who couldn’t be persuaded. No matter how attracted she is to Deacon, Alexandra refuses to be just another conquest. But it’s Deacon himself who could be seduced—into a brighter future for himself, his daughter, and the woman he’s falling for against all odds.

The Review: Vicious Cycle is the first book in a new adult series surrounding a motorcycle club. This being the first book I've read by author Katie Ashley I went into this having no expectations whatsoever but, in then end I found myself pleasantly surprised by what I'd read. 

A dark and gritty story, Vicious Cycle grips you by the very first page mainly because the first chapter is told in a third person narrative but it's about 5 year old Willlow, where we see the struggles that she has faced by living with her mother and of course, the events that happen leading up to her mother's death which Willow witnesses. This chapter for me was probably the best out the story. It was a very smart way to open the story in my opinion. It really dragged you in and automatically gave me a connection to Willow. As a mother myself, it really pulled on my heart and I just wanted to see the best for this little lady. The remainder of the story is dual narrative between Alexandra, Willow's school teacher and Deacon, Willow's biological father and I really liked their voices. 

Alexandra is a very likable character, she's smart, independent and knows what she wants out of life. I loved that she was so likable at the start but, in my eyes there are two Alexandra's because she really does change throughout this book. It's once she meets Deacon that she changes and yes, I still liked her but I started finding her very unpredictable and some of the things she did to get Deacon's attention were far too over the top. So yes she was like two different characters. As for Deacon, he's a hard guy to like but somehow I did like him. He's your typical biker guy and whenever I read a story about biker's I always approach with care because they're so unpredictable and just in all, hard and mean. Deacon was like that but underneath he was a likable guy. I liked the two together but I just wish Alexandra didn't change so much in order to fit into Deacon's world. 

The story itself was quite enjoyable. It's dark and has a interesting plot and some great secondary characters. So in all, a good introduction to a new series.

3.5 flowers! 

Thank you to Headline Eternal for giving me the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review.