It Ain't Me, Babe by Tillie Cole Also in this series: Heart Recaptured, Souls Unfractured
Series: Hades Hangmen
Published by Self Published By Author on April 26, 2014
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Dark Romance, Motorcycle Clubs
Pages: 466
Format: eBook
Source: Self Purchased
Sinning never felt so good… A fortuitous encounter. A meeting that should never have happened.
Many years ago, two children from completely different worlds forged a connection, a fateful connection, an unbreakable bond that would change their lives forever…
Salome knows only one way to live—under Prophet David’s rule. In the commune she calls home, Salome knows nothing of life beyond her strict faith, nor of life beyond the Fence—the fence that cages her, keeps her trapped in an endless cycle of misery. A life she believes she is destined to always lead, until a horrific event sets her free.
Fleeing the absolute safety of all she has ever known, Salome is thrust into the world outside, a frightening world full of uncertainty and sin; into the protective arms of a person she believed she would never see again.
River ‘Styx’ Nash knows one thing for certain in life—he was born and bred to wear a cut. Raised in a turbulent world of sex, Harleys, and drugs, Styx, unexpectedly has the heavy burden of the Hades Hangmen gavel thrust upon him, and all at the ripe old age of twenty-six—much to his rivals’ delight.
Haunted by a crushing speech impediment, Styx quickly learns to deal with his haters. Powerful fists, an iron jaw and the skillful use of his treasured German blade has earned him a fearsome reputation as a man not to be messed with in the shadowy world of outlaw MC’s. A reputation that successfully keeps most people far, far away.
Styx has one rule in life—never let anyone get too close. It’s a plan that he has stuck to for years, that is, until a young woman is found injured on his lot… a woman who looks uncannily familiar, a woman who clearly does not belong in his world, yet a woman he feels reluctant to let go…
It Ain’t Me Babe is the first book in the Hades Hangman series and I haven’t read much of Tillie Cole, but what I have read I have really enjoyed. But she does write more darker, edgier reads, so fair warning, this book isn’t for you if you prefer lighthearted romances, its packed with some serious issues and I am thrilled that this author addressed these issues. Because I don’t think I have ever seen an author address “religious cults” before so I am really glad that Tillie Cole touched on this topic.
Our story begins with Styx and Mae who meet when Mae is 8 years old and Styx is 11. Styx is out working with his father and while in the forest, when he stumbles across a fenceline and see a girl who is crying and afraid. He is compelled by her beautiful “wolf” eyes and even though he can’t talk, he manages to speak to Mae just to know her true name. Now Styx and Mae are grown and their lives are very different from each other. Styx has taken over as the President of the Hades Hangmen MC and his lack of speaking hasn’t prevented him from being a good leader to the men he calls brothers.
Mae, however, has lived a life of fear, pain and humiliation most of her life. She grew up in a religious cult, and the men of the cult have raped her since she was eight years old. But when she finds her sister dying from wounds inflicted on it, she knows that everything she has been taught has been wrong. She manages to barely escape with a severe leg wound and finds herself being found by Styx and brought into their clubhouse to help her recover. But when Styx realizes that Mae is the girl that he saw all those years ago, he can’t let her go….and desires to protect her.
“I have only ever liked one boy in my life. I have only wanted one man to have as my own. I have only ever had one dream since I was eight. Styx, the dream is you. You stole my heart fifteen years ago and you still haven’t given it back.”
In “It Ain’t Me, Babe” is a dark and compelling romance that only Tillie Cole delivers and boy I had such a thrilling time reading this book. Now this book has some dark background elements, especially in the religious cult theme here. Now it also involves a MC, which offers its own dark like elements but in this book we see such a beautiful love story unravel. We see the horrible abuse that Mae has suffered and how she had to leave her sisters behind and how she awakens with her freedom and how she learns so much about herself and really grows into a strong and capable woman. I love how devoted Styx and Mae are to each other, of course, their relationship does have some bumps across the road but I love seeing them overcome those struggles and claim the love they have for each other and what they are willing to do for it.
Overall I found It Aint Me Babe to be a vibrant and edgy romance that delivers in every ways!!! A STUNNING TALE!
Another series I can’t wait to read! ?