For fans of the Reapers and the Silver Bastards, this anthology is just a sweet little morsel to whet your appetite until the next book is released. And it was a treat! ~ Leigh, Guilty Pleasures
Description:
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Reapers Motorcycle Club and Silver Valley series comes an anthology of extras and never-before-released material, including a new short story featuring fan favorites Horse and Marie.
Charming Bastard: A Novella
I first met Riley Boone when I was four years old. We moved to Callup, Idaho after my dad blew out his back and had to go on disability. Boonie’s family lived next to ours. Every afternoon he’d swagger off the school bus after kindergarten like a conquering king. For the first week he ignored me, until I impressed him by climbing nearly thirty feet up in the tree behind his trailer. They had to call the fire department to get me down, but it was worth it to see the respect in his five-year-old eyes. He gave me a worm in honor of my accomplishment. I fell in love. The next day he made me eat the worm and our relationship has been complicated ever since.
(Until now, this novella has been exclusively available in the paperback edition of Silver Bastard.)
Sticky Sweet: A Short Story
Horse and Marie met for the first time in Reaper’s Property. Now experience this moment through his eyes. (Originally available on the author’s website.)
NEW Skunked: A Short Story
Marie has some BIG news to share with Horse—news that will change both their lives forever….
NEW Sugar and Spice: A Short Story
A prequel to Reaper’s Fall, this story features Painter and Melanie’s first meeting.
PLUS: Becca’s Huckleberry Pie recipe, Marie’s Bread recipe and Emergency Skunk Cleaning recipe.
As I wait (rather impatiently I might add) for Reaper’s Fall to be released, this new anthology is just what the doctor ordered to get me through! With four quick and dirty little stories to build anticipation for a new Reaper’s novel, Reaper’s and Bastards is a sneak peek at the lives of several characters…those that are our favorites, and those that we can’t wait to read more about!
Charming Bastard
This story was how Boonie and Darcy got together, and it was an absolute treat. I never even realized I wanted to know the backstory of these characters, and now that I’ve read it, I’m sorry there wasn’t a whole book devoted to them.
We met Boonie and Darcy in Reaper’s Property when Horse and Marie came to a party with the Silver Bastards. As the old lady of the Silver Bastard’s president, Darcy was sweet and understanding to Marie when she was confused over her relationship with Horse. Here, we get to see Darcy and Boonie in their early years, before we ever see them in Reaper’s Property, and all of the heartbreaking events that led up to their happy ending.
My only complaint about this story was that it ended so abruptly. I chalk it up to the fact that it was intended to only be a short story about these peripheral characters, but I obviously wanted so much more. So, anything short of a full novel was going to “end so abruptly” in my opinion!
Sticky Sweet
In Reaper’s Property we got to see Horse’s and Marie’s first meeting through her eyes. Now, with this short story, we get to see how Horse viewed this same incident. And if possible, it only makes me love this big, crass guy even more. There are no surprises here, just more of Horse to love.
Skunked
Speaking of more of Horse to love, this story is a little vignette into Horse and Marie’s life when they need to have an important discussion (that I hope we see more of in the coming books!) But between Horse jumping to conclusions and Marie’s unfortunate timing to coincide with the “skunking” of their dog, it just adds that much more to the conversation. I love this couple and I’ll take any peeks into their lives that I can get.
Sugar and Spice
Yes, now this is what I came here for! Chomping at the bit for Reaper’s Fall, we get a prequel to this new book and see Painter and Melanie’s first meeting through her eyes. It’s short and simple, but we get to see these two interact when they met and also get to see Picnic and Puck again. I feel like these are friends I haven’t seen in a while and I’ll take whatever I can get!
For fans of the Reapers and the Silver Bastards, this anthology is just a sweet little morsel to whet your appetite until the next book is released. And it was a treat!
Thanks for the review Leigh