Redemption.

Redemption is the second installment in Stephanie Tyler’s Defiance new adult series and will be released Nov 18th. I recommended the first book a few days ago and talked a bit more about the world there.  This book opens up the world a bit, bringing in more information about its politics and plants a few questions about what its future might hold. But it centers on Matthias and Jessa and their story. 

Matthias and Bishop, his best friend, were introduced in the first Defiance novel. They were two outsiders who rode into a motorcycle club amid a power struggle and they backed the man trying to take over and make changes. The excerpt available on the author’s website does a great job of introducing these two men who were bound together in childhood and who have survived the Chaos (this world’s version of the apocalypse) together. Their relationship is part of what makes this book extraordinary. I won’t go into it too much, because I don’t want to take away any of the pleasure of the read, but these men really made the book for me. 

Jessa is no less special. She’s a girl born with a strong soul then trampled on by circumstance and her family. Matthias sees both her strength and her pain from the beginning and makes a decision to stand with her no matter the cost. Even when he knows just how special she is and how high those costs could be. I recommended this book in my column in the SFR Quarterly and that part about bleeding onto the screen, hyperbole? Not by much. 

The author drew me into the story and into the characters’ hearts. I lived the story with them, loving when they loved, hurting when they hurt, agonizing with them over their choices when it seemed there were no good options. I sat on the bed eating French-fries with them, enjoying the happiness of sharing simple moments of complete acceptance and unconditional love. 

Okay, enough hinting at stuff I don’t want to spoil for you. Some of the non-spoilery things I loved in this book:

MUTENESS.  Mathias can’t speak. The author handles this amazingly well, demonstrating amazing skill with her craft. It also adds a new dimension to the relationship between Mathias and Jessa.

MYSTICISM.  Mathias and Bishop were raised in the bayou. Mathias believes his inability to speak is because of curse on his family. He’s pulled together bits of superstition, Voodoo and symbolism that are woven into the story beautifully.

MUSIC. Both Mathias and Jessa are very connected to music and music is a part of every chapter.

I’ll wrap things up with a warning that the story world is one that is violent and male-dominated. The science is a minor part of the story, though what there is all held together for me. As post-apocalyptic stories often are, this is a story about people and survival. If that and an unforgettable romance are what you’re after, I highly recommend Redemption.

Available for preorder at Amazon,  B&N,  and  iBook.

Genre: New Adult, Post Apocalyptic, Romance

Primary Format: eBook

Publication Date: Nov 18, 2013

Publisher: Carina Press

Blush Quotient: Red

An ARC of this book was provided by the publisher. 

The blurb:
Matthias Robichaud is looking for an alliance. The Defiance motorcycle club is a stronghold in the dangerous world that’s become the new norm and he’s driven to prove he’s tough enough to be sworn in as a full member. But when he sees a beautiful, spirited girl abducted by a rival MC, rescuing her jeopardizes all he’s worked for.

Politician’s daughter Jessa Everson knows what’s expected of her–obedience, loyalty and silence–but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t fight when she’s kidnapped by the Lords of Vengeance. Having Matthias save her is like gaining an avenging angel in leather and tattoos. But Defiance is known for brutal justice, and she may have just traded one bad situation for another.

Matthias’s urge to protect is too strong to ignore, no matter how much trouble Jessa brings to Defiance’s gates. There’s no room in the post-Chaos world for weakness so if Matthias and Jessa have any chance of surviving, they’ll need to put their full strength behind the MC…and hope that the MC will do the same for them.

A special shout out to Sun Mountain Reviews for making Defiance a book of the day based on my recommendation. Barbara Ann is clearly a wise woman and you should stop by to see what else she’s up to.  😉