Reaper's Fall

Kiss but don't tell is a good motto for narrators Nelson Hobbs and Saffron Martindale, who alternate chapters in this account of Melanie Tucker and Painter Brooks's motorcycle club romance. Both narrators provide solid narrative and nuanced intimate scenes. But dialogue is their downfall. Neither manages to competently convey dialogue from the other gender. Hobbs's voice for Mel is reedy and unconvincing, and he isn't at home with Painter's uncompromising ruthlessness. Martindale's voice for Painter repeatedly pulls listeners out of the intense romantic dialogue. Wylde's appealing biker world will keep listeners engaged, but more versatile narrators would have strengthened this audiobook. C.A. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine

October 5, 2015
Wylde’s fifth Idaho-set Reapers Motorcycle Club contemporary (after Reaper’s Stand) starts out strong but runs out of gas just shy of the end. Melanie Tucker was just a teen when handsome biker Painter went to jail. Her letters to him started just as a way to say thank you for loaning her his car, but they eventually turned into a lifeline for both of them. Once he’s released, they find their way to each other, despite everyone warning each of them away. The sparks predictably fly, but sometimes simple sparks are never enough. The world of the club is well developed and lovingly described, but some of the effort expended there might have been better used on characterization and a less stereotypical ending. There are several nice twists to keep things interesting, but Melanie and Painter both come across as somewhat flat. Fortunately, the supporting cast is wonderfully larger than life. Agent: Amy Tannenbaum, Jane Rotrosen Agency.