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VOW (a Bayonet Scars novelette) + a sneak peek at BURN-- releasing July 23, 2015! (Bayonet Scars, No. 5) + Where Souls Spoil & Hearts Rot (The Guide to the Forsaken Motorcycle Club)

Mature Content Warning: The Bayonet Scars novels are a dark romance series which features graphic sexual content, sexual and physical violence, and foul language that is intended for a mature audience only. Each novel features a different couple, though it's not recommended that they be read out of order due to the series story arc.

Vow (a Bayonet Scars novelette, No. 4.5)

HE REFUSES TO GIVE IN. SHE REFUSES TO GIVE IT UP.
Alexandra Mancuso knows all about regrets. She talked to the wrong person and started a war that’s ravaged her newly adopted motorcycle club family and threatens to cost Alex her life. Now, she’s cautious with the commitments she makes.
Ryan Stone, road captain for the Forsaken Motorcycle Club regrets nothing—except putting Cub in danger one time too many. The Forsaken Motorcycle Club has a plan to end the war with the Mancuso crime family and they need everyone’s head in the game. But Ryan can’t focus on the club when he’s so distracted by a certain reckless brunette. She gives him everything except for what he really wants.
Today, he refuses to take no for an answer and maybe, just maybe, this time Alex won’t be able to stand her ground.
True love always defies the odds.

Ride #1 (Ryan and Alex)
Thrash #2 (Duke and Nic)
Rev #3 (Grady and Holly)
Crush #4 (Jeremy and Cheyenne)
Vow #4.5 (Ryan and Alex)
Burn #5 (Ian and Mindy)

72 pages, ebook

First published June 25, 2015

20 people are currently reading
336 people want to read

About the author

J.C. Emery

23 books1,250 followers
As a child, JC was fascinated by things that went bump in the night. As they say, some things never change. Now, as an adult, she divides her time between the sexy law men, mythical creatures, bad-ass bikers, and kick-ass heroines that live inside her head and her Netflix addiction. JC is a San Francisco Bay Area native, but has also called both Texas and Louisiana home. These days she rocks her flip flops year-round in Northern California and can't imagine a climate more beautiful. Her dream is to own her own Harley and she feels compelled to tell you that she is Team Peeta all the way.

JC is the author of the Men with Badges series, The Birthright Series, and the Bayonet Scars series.

Find JC Emery on the web...

http://www.jcemery.com
http://twitter.com/jc_emery
http://www.facebook.com/jcemeryauthor
http://www.goodreads.com/jc_emery

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5 stars
212 (38%)
4 stars
202 (36%)
3 stars
114 (20%)
2 stars
17 (3%)
1 star
4 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
Profile Image for Lauren at Live Read and Breathe Reviews.
2,374 reviews179 followers
July 26, 2015

4 Make the leap stars!

Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of Author and Inkslinger PR

I absolutely adore this series, so this was a great little snippet with Ryan & Alexandra. In Ride, which is book 1 in the Bayonet Scar Series we first fall in love with Ryan and Alex. At first Ryan is a bit of an ass but Alex wins his heart.


It takes awhile for Alex to start to feel like she fits in with Ryan and her new MC family. After living the life of a mafia princess she wants her freedom yet still wants to be with Ryan and be a part of his world.


Ryan has a lot of stress on him these days but what would help him is Alexandra finally agreeing to be with him in an official way.



Alex has strong views but it doesn't mean she doesn't want forever she's just having a hard time finding peace with her wants, needs and desires in this new world. I adore Ryan and Alex together so I loved to get to see them more in this capacity. I know Alex may have made a bad choice in the past but I hope in the future once all the shit settles that Alex can be finally accepted as an old lady within the club. However club or not Ryan is ready to make his vow to Alexandra no matter what.


This novelette was super short and super sweet in an MC kind of way. Plus included is a excerpt from Burn, which makes me giddy with excitement that we finally get the misunderstood Ian's and the very broken Mindy story soon. July 23 can't come soon enough.

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Profile Image for Nadia Debowska-Stephens (Obsessed by Books).
1,078 reviews28 followers
July 1, 2015
~*~ Obsessed by books copy given in exchange for an honest review ~*~

"He's my everything. And he always will be. it's not the commitment that I fear - it's the title. Wife."

Alex, shamed daughter of the Mancuso, feels she has a lot to prove. After trusting the wrong person she's found herself in the middle of a war between her Mafia family and her MC family. Buried secrets and a life as a Mafia Princess has left her instilled with some crazy ideas of her self worth. Desperate to have a purpose and be more than a trophy wife Alex wants to make Ryan proud.

Ryan has stepped up and allowed his Cub in. Breaking all his own rules he can be someone softer, someone that dares to love when Alex is near. Wanting to have just a little taste of the happiness his Pops and Ma have he knows Cub is his forever. Needing her to give him what he needs he can't see how he is pushing her away. Their own personal demons threatening to put distance between them.

This short novella read is a perfect snap shot into their story and we see how they are coping with all the recent changes. Ryan is still the enigma, brooding and dominant. The need to protect his club, his brothers and his woman paramount. Alex is still the mafia princess we all love but has a new MC brat edge that is sassy and adorable. Together they are a swoon worthy couple. We also catch up with Ma, Duke and Ian. This story is like a skype session before a long over due family get together. It's warm and enchanting, wetting our appetites for the next one in the series - Burn.

A four star can't wait for Ian's story read.
Profile Image for Marie Vasquez.
1,598 reviews78 followers
May 16, 2016
A short and sweet continuation of Alex and Ryan's story. Ryan's is still the same broody biker, but Alex shows her growing strength. Her stubbornness fuels her desire to become just as tough and strong as the other old ladies that have been joining the Forsaken family. She wants to prove herself to Ryan and the others with learning to shoot and defend herself. Tired of being seen as the fragile "princess", she works hard at it.

She asks to join him on a run so she can understand and see what they do, so Ryan reluctantly agrees.

That trip helps bring them closer and gives her the chance to show her strengths.

I just adore these two. They are so opposite yet, it works.
Profile Image for itsmeesahara❤️.
294 reviews
June 25, 2018
4 ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮

I love that we get to read more about Alex and Ryan this maybe a super short story about but still its good to know that Alex is trying and she is maturing as the series progress. Love them 💕

Favorite Quote/Line from the book:
“True love always defies the odds.”

“You are everything that matters in my life.”
1,441 reviews2 followers
December 12, 2015
TOO SHORT

Not sure why this story was written. I didn't understand the relevance to the series or contribution to the arc of the story. Trigger takes Alex on a run - T h e End - What?
Profile Image for Stacey.
31 reviews
January 27, 2018
3.5

This would have been better suited as out takes in Ride, (Alex and Ryan), while I enjoyed it, it didn't add to the over all story arc enough to warrant it's own novella which was only 4 chapters and is my reason for the 3.5 rating.
Profile Image for M Robinson .
2,350 reviews
February 26, 2019
Learnt nothing from this book n frankly it didn't expand or add to Ryan n Alex's story! Very frustrating!

Absolutely would recommend passing over this one!
Profile Image for books are life .
Author 54 books1,767 followers
July 24, 2015
Check out more of my reviews on my blog http://gemmareadstoomuch.co.uk

Vow is book #4.5 in the bayonet scars series, I’ve been lucky enough to get advanced copies of all of the books in this series so far to read for Gemma Reads Too Much and I’m really hoping to carry on that tradition for the books that follow.

Vow is and incredibly short novella perhaps we should call it a bob it really is that short.

I love Ryan and Alex and I’m soooooo glad that this book was a snippet into their relationship again.

This story is full of fear, the tension in the run up to mancuso’s defeat is at full mass and I felt the pressure they are all under.

I love that Alex is finding some back bone in this story. Let’s be honest it was about time!!! The girl is half Mafia half biker she should the baddest badass bitch you ever met!!!!

I struggled to like Ryan in this story, he was more jackass than adorable and personally I needed more sweet to balance out the douche!!!

This is such a short glimpse into the bayonet scars world but it has seriously whetted my appetite for Ian and Mindys book.

I need the next book like NOW pretty please!!!!

Vow gets 4 far too short stars from me.
Profile Image for Jennifer Guffey.
1,113 reviews41 followers
November 22, 2015
Vow (Bayonet Scars #4.5)
By: JC Emery
4/5 stars


Vow is about Ryan & Alex and moving forward with their relationship. Ryan wants a more permanent union between the two of them. Ryan wants the stability & the permanence of marriage. He’s continually been pushing Alex for marriage, but she continues to push back, saying she’s not ready.

Alex is cautious of making a lasting commitment because of how she grew up and how women were viewed within the mafia life. She wants to be an equal partner in her marriage, like her birth mom Ruby is with Jim. She doesn’t want to just be a possession or someone who requires constant protection. Her life right now is in extreme danger, so she spends her days at Ruby & Jim’s home, living with Ryan and under protection at all times.

While this novella was supposed to show a more loving side of Ryan and have him not be such a jerk, I don’t think this novella did that. He still had his straight up jerkwad tendencies, thoughts & word vomit. But it did show that he’s willing to compromise for Alex and not just bully her into doing what he wants.

This novella is like all the books in this series, in that it overlaps in timeframe
Profile Image for Mignon Mykel.
Author 86 books686 followers
June 27, 2015
Received a review copy in exchange for an honest review. Original post can be found at:
http://mnonmklreviews.blogspot.com/20...

I loved VOW so much more than RIDE. Don't get me wrong, I loved watching Ryan fall for his Cub, but this little extra snippet into their lives was so fun to read. Alex has her insecurities and wants truth from Ryan at times other than when he's satiated (he's always agreeable then) but he's holding back on her -- he wants his ring on her finger and she keeps saying she's not ready.

In VOW, Ryan learns just how strong his Cub is. Alex wants nothing more than to make Ryan proud, and Ryan wants nothing more than to keep Alex safe. They both learn a lot about the person they love in the few hours this story takes place.

Ryan wants to have what Pops and Ma have -- and maybe, just maybe, he and Alex can recreate that.

Absolutely, hands down, enjoyed this novelette. And as an added bonus? J.C. Emery has included a ton of background on the club, the members, and a snippet for the next story!
Profile Image for Desirae (Dee).
1,074 reviews59 followers
July 24, 2015
There are times when I look back at the story of Alex's story and I get mad at Ryan. Not only in this novella but also in their first book. I get mad for how he treats her. I get mad for her. I know she gets mad, but I just wish that backbone would be a little stronger. Then we get these little snippets, little things he does and I find myself saying "hey, looks he's not a complete asshole. " And in reading this I'm actually kind of proud of Cub. I can't wait til she finds her backbone, and I mean full fledge finds it, til she is this really strong woman. Til she has the balls to stand up and people take notice of her strength. That's what I can't wait for.

I love that JC gave us yet another look into the life of Forsaken. I love that we get Duke, Jeremy and Ryan, even if it's just for a little bit. JC manages to suck us right back into the life of Forsaken and I am not the least bit upset. Who doesn't love these bad boys?
Profile Image for Judy Miracle.
1,198 reviews12 followers
July 1, 2015
I'm loving JC's books. this is a short read but the way its written is just amazing.

Alex and Ryan those two i tell ya. this book still had me somewhat not liking ryan at times but there were also times he would do something and i would think okay maybe hes not a complete jerk. Alex still needs to learn how to stand up for herself and grow a backbone. But over all i love these characters together.

Alex wants to make Ryan proud and Ryan just wants to protect her. Alex wants honesty at all times not just when they are in the after effects of hot sex which ryan will fess up to about anything during that time. But when they are not beneath the sheets it seems Ryan kind of keeps her at a distance and doesnt tell her anything. Both Ryan and Alex learn a lot about one another in this short story. Can they make it to the HEA?

This is a MUST READ book/series.
Profile Image for Sue.
1,943 reviews22 followers
July 3, 2015
This short was a treat to read in the Where Souls Spoil box set and for those who loved Alex and Ryan and just couldn't get enough of their crazy dysfunctional relationship...then this is a must read for you. Ryan is still and probably always will be a bossy and stubborn man but it is clear he loves Alex and has fought to make his "princess" part of his club and his world. All he wants is a happy home life like his parents have and whether she admits it or not, of course Alex does as well. If only they can get it without killing each other....
We get pieces of other members in this novella as well and it only whets my appetite for more of the Forsaken MC to come and honestly Burn can't get here soon enough for me!

**** 4 **** "just give in already" stars
Profile Image for Tonya.
2,055 reviews10 followers
December 29, 2015
This is an awesome short read that gives us just a little bit more of Ryan and Alex. I love both of these characters.

Yes, Ryan can be a complete douche nugget, but you can see how much he really does love Alex. He's a sucker when it comes to her though. She wants to go on a run to see what they do, he brings her along while knowing she shouldn't come. He needs to keep her safe.

Alex is changing, she's still the same, but she's starting to get a backbone. I was actually surprised with what she did to the target at the beginning. I can't wait to see her get her backbone completely! I understand why she doesn't have it now, look how she grew up.

I love the Forsaken boys!
Profile Image for Belinda Peters .
46 reviews8 followers
August 12, 2016
Short and sweet but enough to give us an insight on the relationship between Alex and Ryan. While reading 'Ride' I found that we didn't see much of them together as a couple - happy and In love - until the last 10-ish-percent. So to be able to see more of them was brilliant.

Ryan isn't as much as an asshole in this short story but he's still bad and alpha and all he wants to do is protect his Cub. Alex wants nothing more then to be more involved instead of sitting around and being little miss housewife.

Again, a short and sweet story, enough for us to see how fiercely Alex and Ryan love each other.
Profile Image for Shaly.
1,198 reviews
July 31, 2015
Eh...I still don't like these two characters. Not sure why there were requests for more of Ryan and Alex, all he does is bitch and act like an asshole and all she does is whine and cry. Nothing changes with these two. I also don't understand what was the point of this novella, I thought this novella was necessary in order to understand Ian and Mindy's story in book 5 but this is not needed at all. So for those of you who would rather skip this 30 page novella, that was basically about nothing except Alex whining, you can. Save your $.99...
Profile Image for Ashley  Hayes.
263 reviews17 followers
July 31, 2015
I read book 1 and then jumped to this book because it's the continuation of Alex and Ryan's story. I was at an absolute loss on how to deal with how much of a jerk that Ryan was being to everyone in sight. What little bit that I did like him from the previous book morphed into me saying NOPE and feeling sorry for Alex that she loved such a douche. In this book, I liked Alex best again out of all the other characters. This book was less of a complete story compared to the previous one and seemed to jump around a lot.

Book provided in exchange for review.
Profile Image for Julie.
1,001 reviews6 followers
August 1, 2015
Oh how I loved getting more of Ryan!! I have loved Ryan from the beginning and this just made my day! Ryan and Alex are perfect together and I love seeing the badass biker being brought to his knees by his love for Alex. You can tell how much he loves her and wants to make her his for good. I like how Alex stands her ground but you can tell she is still unsettled with her new family. She feels she has much to prove and I like seeing how much Ryan continues to show how much he loves her. I'm still in love with Ryan!!
Profile Image for Colleen Oppenheim.
416 reviews38 followers
Read
May 13, 2016
I think that this was my least favorite book of the series. While I like Ryan and Alex and enjoyed their story, I didn't need more of Alex's little girl lost whining.

Vow is a novella, super quick to read, so it has that on it's side. I don't think I would have read this otherwise. It did answer questions and give a little insight into their relationship, but I personally felt it really didn't do anything to move the story forward.
Profile Image for Anna.
1,887 reviews8 followers
August 9, 2015
Novella--a peak at the evolution of the relationship of Alex and Ryan, the subjects of the first book in this series, Bayonet Scars.

In all honesty, they are my least favorite couple of entire MC but their original story captured me enough that I kept reading. And I've read every book in the series, some multiple times.
Profile Image for Janet Hammons.
1,986 reviews8 followers
July 7, 2015
5 stars

Was so excited to get more of Ryan and Alex's story. They are the main characters in the first book. And although they are back ground characters in the rest of the series it was nice to get an update on their relationship. Love this series. Can't wait to read Burn.
Profile Image for Lisa Cullinan.
569 reviews28 followers
July 30, 2016
Cub gets her way

Extra added story about Cub (Alex) and Ryan's tumultuous relationship. Alex wants more freedom so Ryan takes her on a run. I always thought club business was just that ~ club business. I love this series but this one wasn't necessary.
Profile Image for Kathy Knight.
411 reviews
June 29, 2015
I live this series and this was a good filler until the next book. However it was shorted that I would of hopes and a little disappointed with that. But still can't wait for the next book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews

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