Title: The Ballerino and the Biker
Series: The Hedonist: Book One
Author: Rebecca James
Publisher: Self-Published
Length: 186 Pages
Category: Contemporary
At a Glance: The Ballerino and the Biker is an interesting story that I enjoyed reading. I can barely wait for the next book in this series.
Reviewed By: Ky
Blurb: Most of his young life, Morgan Wentworth has dreamed of becoming a principal dancer in a prestigious corps de ballet. After years studying the art in Milan, Morgan comes home to New York City to apprentice with the Manhattan Ballet Company only to be hit by the unexpected death of his older brother, Jake. The grieving dancer learns his life is threatened by a dangerous rival motorcycle gang and that pierced, tattooed, HOT biker Zeke Ivers has been assigned by Jake’s MC to guard him. Saddled with the constant presence of the infuriating man, Morgan juggles the demands of an exhausting dance schedule as well as his new responsibilities as CEO of his family’s multi-million-dollar company. He never expects to develop an attraction for the straight, obnoxious biker, but that’s exactly what happens.
Estranged from an abusive family, Zeke Ivers has lived at the Sentinel’s club house and worked on cars since he was a teen. When fellow club member Jake Wentworth and a rival club president’s girl are killed on Jake’s bike, the Sentinel’s president delegates the protection of Jake’s little brother, Morgan, to Zeke. Zeke would do anything for the club that pulled him off the streets, but Morgan’s a ballet dancer, for Christ’s sake, as well as annoying as hell. Still, Zeke finds himself inexplicably drawn to the young man. The more attracted Zeke becomes to Morgan, the more the biker is forced to examine his sexuality and decide whether two people from opposite sides of the tracks could possibly have a future together, or if Zeke should do what is fast becoming too painful to consider: let Morgan go.
Warning: This book contains a scene of mild assault and battery.
Review: Just reading the title for this book immediately grabbed my attention, and I rushed to see the blurb. After that I had to read the story and find out more about these intriguing characters.
Our ballerino is Morgan. He’s nineteen-years-old and has been living in Milan, away from his family, for years, trying to make his dream of dancing at a big ballet academy come true. His parents died two years ago, and the only family member he has left is his estranged brother, James, who is part of a MC, and who he hopes to get to know now that he’s back in the States. Fate has other plans for them, though, and the book starts with Morgan attending James’ funeral. Right after that, his life turns upside down when a rival motorcycle club seeks revenge for the death of one of their own. Morgan is James’ brother, so he’s going to have to pay for their loss.
The Biker is Zeke, twenty-seven and already a member for years. He comes from a rough background, and now, as far as he’s concerned, his family is the club. Zeke gets the role of the bodyguard and shadows Morgan for as long as it takes, until they can guarantee he’s not in danger anymore. Zeke struggles with his sexuality and his attraction to Morgan, but as they spend time together, he becomes more relaxed and starts to get attached to Morgan in a way he didn’t expect.
The relationship between Morgan and Zeke was a bit messy, with a lot of ups and downs. They could spend a day together followed by weeks of silence and then get together again. There were arguments and disappearing acts but, ultimately, they suited each other. They were good together and it was obvious they had a future together, if only Zeke got his act together and got over his issues about the difference in their social status.
What bothered me in the story is that Morgan always seemed to be in danger of some kind, and it was always something completely different than the last time. If, in the space of a few months, he was in danger so many times and for so many different reasons, how can he feel safe in the future? Since he seems to attract danger, it’s almost certain it’s going to happen again in the future. It wasn’t just one thing that go resolved and that was that. Each time it was something else and it appeared out of nowhere.
Rebecca James is a new-to-me author—this is the first book I’ve read by her, but I’m certain there will be more in the future. First of all, I can barely wait for the next book in this series. I’m excited to read more about the rest of the club’s members. Let’s hope Swish and Dante are next, because they seem to have an interesting story to tell and a lot of frustration between them. They were both very likeable and I’m rooting for them to get together.
All in all, The Ballerino and the Biker is an interesting story that I enjoyed reading. I hope Morgan and Zeke will appear again in the next books in the series so we can get a glimpse at how their life turned out to be.
You can buy The Ballerino and the Biker here:
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