Released! Desertion by River Savage

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wake up to the heat of someone’s palm against my shoulder. Twisting around, my hand moves faster than my brain, and I snatch it off me.

“Jesse, it’s me, Bell,” she rushes out before I can take it any further.

“Fuck.” I release my grip on her arm and sit up, forcing myself back to the here and now.

“Did I hurt you?” I reach for her searching for any sign of a mark left by me.

“It’s fine. You barely touched me.” She holds her arm out letting me inspect it. I check it over one more time before releasing her and relaxing.

“You wanna talk about it?” I study her face, eyes calm, soft mouth. She’s not freaking out.

“Just some shit that visits my dreams sometimes, nothing that needs to touch you,” I reply, shocked I’m not retreating.

“I don’t mind, Jesse,” she pushes, and I almost cave. Almost.

“The last thing I want to do is talk about this shit, Bell.” She doesn’t argue or press, and I’m grateful for it. I don’t think I’d be able to keep my cool if she did.

“Come back to sleep.” She lies back down and I follow her. She doesn’t ask me any more questions, or make me feel like I need to tell her everything.

“That ever happens again, don’t wake me,” I warn. A menacing thought strikes through me picturing what could have happened if I didn’t wake in time. She’s lucky I didn’t hurt her, like the last time a woman touched me while I had a nightmare.

“You don’t always have to be so brave, Jesse.” Her hand moves to my dog tags. I don’t stop her. I’m starting to like the feeling of her hands touching them.

“Never tried to be, Bell. But talking doesn’t help me. Never has.” I think back to the time when I did try and it forced me out of control. Talking about those triggers only amplified my insecurities. When death sits afar, mocking you in the dangerous confines of your surroundings, it fucks with your head; nothing was going to change it.

Besides, my issues weren’t what I had done. They were what I had survived. My conscience wasn’t clear and my honor wasn’t clean.

“Promise me you won’t touch me.” I keep my tone even, controlled.

“I promise.” I take her hand in mine and bring it to my lips. Maybe one day I will let someone in. Let her in.

Today isn’t that day.

But today, I didn’t push her away.

That has to count for something.

 

Review by Lita Thomas: 5.0 ★★★★★

Desertion (Knight Rebels MC, #3) by River Savage is the next installment in the Knight series. I was provided an ARC of this book for an honest review. This is the story of Jesse and Bell.  Jesse is the wise cracking Casanova of the club. As the manager of Liquid he has a buffet of woman to pick from and a different woman each night is his MO. We didn’t get to know his whole story in the previous books but now we get to meet the real Jesse. He is having a hard time reconciling his time in the Marines and the accident that resulted in the death of many and the injuries not only to himself but to his best friend Conner. Jesse also has issue with a father who we knew he didn’t like but we see the full extent of what life was like in the Carter house. Bell was the nurse who Jesse first hit on after the incident when saving Kadence and Holly. One night at Liquid Jesse sees Bell out with her friends and he comes over to the table to once again flirt with her. Bell is quiet and has issues of her own. 6 years ago her sister went missing and her family doesn’t believe she ran away.  Dealing with her sister’s disappearance has not only taken a toll on her but her family. Bell decides to see if Jesse and the Rebels can help find her. Jesse says yes but he wants one date with Bell. She agrees but that one date turns into the start of 2 dysfunctional people going down the rabbit hole. They both do not know what to call what they are doing but Jesse’s demons take a toll on their relationship. I can say I didn’t realize how much I had really missed these set of characters and was happy to reunite with them. Jesse and Bells is a story of struggle. I enjoyed the entire ride and by the end of the book I was wanting more of their story. I am sure I will see them again in the next installment of the Knight Rebels. I give Jesse and Bell 5 O’s.

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Tanya Rae’s Review: 5.0 ★★★★★

Another great book by River Savage!  I love this series Knights Rebels MC and Desertion is the 3^rd book in this series.  Desertion is Jesse’s & Bell’s story.  I learned about them in the previous book Affliction.

Jesse & Bell each have their own troubles.  Jesse Carter is an ex Marine now a “fun loving player” in the Knights Rebels MC.  Bell Johnson is an ER nurse that treated Jesse for an injury.  Bell has her own troubles, her sister has been missing for the last 6 years and after a chance meeting Jesse out in a night club her friends convince her to seek out the Knights Rebels MC help.  And, the story goes on from there.  I can’t say more because I don’t do spoilers.

Just know that Jesse can definitely be an a**.   Especially when he told Jay an MC brother that “You should tap it, Jay.  When Jesse was talking about Bell.   And there is an Elevator scene that was sooooo indescribably HOT!

There was another scene that Holly asked Bell.  “He hid his sausage in your muffin yet?  Holly asks with a straight face”. I started chuckling when I read that. 

I loved reading more about Holly and Sylas as well as Kadence & Nix it was great getting to read more about both couples that were in the earlier books, Incandescent & Affliction.

I can’t wait to read more about Knights Rebels ALPHA men!   I sure hope there will be more books to come!

Desertion was gifted to me for an honest review.