Elizabeth Knox gives us today’s MC book, Scarred. It’s the first book in a new series. I don’t always give trigger warnings, mostly because I tend to let y’all know if something is dark, but there are times when I think they are necessary. This is one of those times. There are graphic descriptions of domestic violence and sexual assault. If those things will trigger you, even if you like MC books, I would highly suggest that you not read this one.
Roxy has been with Rage since they were teenagers. She got together with him after her dad died. But now, after years of being his wife and punching bag, she regrets it. His name describes him all too well and the bad boy that she thought she married has turned into a monster who just gets worse every day. There hasn’t been in a day in years that she hasn’t undergone some kind of abuse, and no one in the club really stops it, and in fact, many of them have joined in. But now she’s pregnant and hiding it from Rage. She knows she should get away but she’s also terrified that if she does get away, Rage will hunt her down, especially if she has his child. But when he beats the ever-living shit out of her by beating her with a baseball bat and leaving her nearly dead outside the clubhouse, everything changes.
Tex is Rage’s best friend. He was involved with Roxy first, but then Rage decided he wanted her, so Tex stepped aside. He’s spent the years in the club trying to avoid Roxy as much as possible. He’s gone to do as many errands as he could just so he doesn’t stay around. When he’s around, Rage isn’t as bad, but Tex doesn’t know that. In fact, he doesn’t know the majority of what Rage has done to Roxy. But when he comes home to find her bleeding to death outside the clubhouse, he knows that he has to do something. He takes her to the hospital and then manages to get her away before anyone Rage can send can take her back to the club.
I felt like this was two books that got shoved into one. I think that the story would’ve been much better if it had been spread out into two stories, that way each part of what was going on would have gotten the attention that I thought that they deserved. The two parts of this book both have a very different feel, and they just don’t quite mesh as well as they could’ve. I did like the story, even with those issues. I thought Roxy was a pretty kick-ass character. She’s survived through all kinds of terrible stuff, and she’s still standing. I do think that everyone should’ve listened to her a little more than they did, but men. What are you going to do?
I have to say, if I were in Roxy’s place, I would’ve been really pissed off at Tex and I wouldn’t have forgiven him quite as easily as she did. I mean, he knew what she was going through. He knew that Rage was going off the rails, so why he didn’t step in before, I don’t know. I would’ve been angry with him for a good while, even if I loved him.
OK, that’s all I have to say today. Happy reading!
In Between the Pages 