It's not the book, it's me.

Poodle was the jokester in all the previous books, who never failed to cheer other guys on, or liven up the atmosphere and make everybody laugh when the times got tough.

I knew what I was getting into after reading the blurb but I really, really wanted this to be a sweet romance. Even Melissa had a traumatic, dark past and I wasn't able to enjoy even the little warm scenes in this book to the fullest. I loved Sarah's and Juliette's characters in the previous books but Melissa and Poodle didn't make me happy. Plus, the plot became predictable when I got to know that

Spoiler

Melissa had a sister

. Not my favorite book of the lot and after reading this, I'm praying that Skirt's book has more fluffier moments.

This book just broke my heart! All that loss and pain made me cry when I was reading. The Ruthless Kings are amazing and Poodle does an MC read justice. So many times I start to read an MC book and it's too soft for me, but these authors live up to their name... SAVAGE.... because this book and this series is savage and ruthless. I love it!

Poodle's childhood sweetheart and mother of his child was murdered when he was 17 years old his 4 month old daughter was stolen from him, he's spent the last 13 years searching for her and avoiding emotional entanglements(telling no one about them or his search) until Melissa comes to live with the Kings. Melissa is one of the women that were rescued during the raid in Jersey, but even before being abused by the members of the rogue chapter her father had been selling her to every one and using her himself since she was 15/16 years old so big TW for sexual abuse(not on page).
Poodle is so afraid to let anyone in because he's afraid he'll forget Holly and Ellie, Melissa wants to be near him but is not sure she wants to try because she's never had a choice before and the idea is terrifying. These 2 are intense and angsty and the whole story is emotional starting with the prologue and Poodle finding Holly's body and realizing Ellie is gone. MMC has only been with one person and has been celibate since her death, which you don't see often.

3.5 stars

Have I talked about how much I enjoy this series? I'm so glad I've been able to read every single book's ARC so far. I don't think there's another MC world I have been this invested in before.

I felt so bad for everything Melissa has gone through. She's so kind and sweet and then her crush of course says something that really hurts her. Melissa has never even felt what it was like to be free. I loved to see Melissa wanting to make friendships instead of just wallowing in self pity.

Poodle is usually all jokes, smiles and laughing but you were able to also see his darkness in this book. 

I enjoyed the romance. It was a second chance romance. I was a little worried about Poodle acting like certain Black Dagger Brotherhood character but besides few incidents he rarely talked about his ex (I really hated that one scene he did) and you could easily see his feelings for Melissa. He clearly didn't try to replace his dead ex-girlfriend and even thought of being unworthy of Melissa. I liked that Poodle is the only man she could really trust. She had the worst experience with men but before even knowing him that well, and especially after knowing his secrets she still trusted him.

I have talked about my love for Tongue and now I want him to have his own book than before. I also enjoyed Eric. I don't remember him from earlier books but I hope he appears in next books.

I don't really like dogs. I don't know why but I don't get why people love them so much? I can't deny that I found Poodle's poodle hilarious, though. Especially Poodle's reactions to it.

All in all I decided not to give full four stars this book because I guessed the big reveal from mile away and I wanted to scream at Poodle to just tell his brothers, and Melissa what really was going on instead of pushing them away.

Wow

5 stars ⭐⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3 spice

After reading Tool and the series thus far, I expected Poodle’s book to be lighter- for us to get some good MC humor with our intriguingly frivolous MC character- the orderly one who has a show poodle that he dotes on quite humorously.I mean, an MC main named POODLE, come on, that has to be the sillier and more light hearted story of the batch. By wow, were my expectations ever subverted- Poodle is the most emotionally complex moving of the series, the most unexpected, and the best writing from KL Savage yet.

The first chapter immediately told me this story was going to be very different than what I expected- it was emotional, sweet, heartbreaking, and visceral- a tone that carried through this entire story. We have two characters who’ve experienced horrific trauma, two characters who’ve been the victims of unspeakable violence that has robbed them of their lives, parts of themselves, aspects of their humanity. Like the reader, Poodle’s club knows little of his dark past- and he likes it that way. He camouflaged his pain behind his light hearted, peaceful club persona to escape his past but also hide parts of his present, his secret activities.. But Melissa sees him, because she too has survived unthinkable trauma- she recognizes a kindred suffering. And Poodle has made her feel safe, she’s drawn to him when she never thought she’d consider that again. Both characters already have feelings for each other as this book opens, which means our plot really focuses on how those feelings evolve, and most interestingly how those feelings intersect with their pain and trauma. That element gives this story so much heart, so much emotional impact.

This is really the best character development in the series thus far. That first chapter with Poodle was so emotional, we immediately see a nuanced character with so much heart, so many tightly packed layers of depth. KL brilliantly rattles him by introducing Melissa (they met in a prior book)- and this story picks up where his world is already off kilter. Both characters have such a richly constructed past, and both are well defined in the current- there is a really sweet and unspoken intimacy between them, this shared understanding they have because of their shared pain. And each character is trying to cope while battling the tensions and complexities of the “after.”

MC shenanigans aside (and we’ve got that, too- the club politics and antics alongside some MC danger) this is really a story about healing. And I loved how KL made Poodle just as vulnerable as Melissa- the interesting way she had a big, burly, scary biker needing emotional support and strength from the tiny little survivor. He’s been her rock, her salvation as she’s tried to recover and live, and now she’s his. And to Poodle, that is really bittersweet- as he explores if embracing and loving her means letting go of another.

Per usual, we have that MC drama and a big climatic moment not just for these characters but the club in general- this felt a bit hasty, but I wouldn’t have wanted it to drag out because we had so much good emotional fodder to explore. The twist I saw coming, and it felt a bit convenient, but I also don’t know how my heart would have taken a different outcome. But these characters and their emotional connection, the sweet relationship of this story is the true surprise, the true twist- a real series high.

I loved this book! It captivated me from beginning to end. I enjoy the way characters from previous books are woven into each story. Poodle just wet my appetite for more books.