The Wait is Over - Chasing Simone is Going Live on Kindle Unlimited October 28th, 2022

Hello Lovely Reader,

Whether you’ve supported my writing since the beginning of the Mercy Ravens series, or have started at book five, it means the world to me you’re reading a steamy romance novel of mine, and I appreciate it more than words can express.

Just when I thought my previous book was the most challenging, this book proved me wrong. A concussion in January set me back six weeks. A spontaneous romance cover photo shoot for a future project had me halting work in May. And then I was slammed with COVID in July, delaying my editing schedule and forcing me to find new editors last minute. This book project was one battle after another.

But I’ve prevailed and Chasing Simone is available for you to enjoy on October 28th, 2022.

This book is the longest to date. I couldn’t condense it anymore if I tried—my characters had too much to share and their story deserved to be told at length. You can thank my alpha reader and my husband for telling me I had to add more Mercy Ravens brotherhood action early on in the book. Thus, a comical bar fight scene was added. Also, there’s a bonus scene at the end between Simone, Punk, and Jo which will give you more of the familial bonding you’ve all come to love in this series. It’s a little something extra for waiting patiently for this release.

To my loyal readers, thank you for coming with me on this writing journey. I know you’ve waited a long time for this romance novel, and I appreciate how supportive and patient you’ve been with me. Thank you for sticking with me this long and for all my future books in the Mercy Ravens Series.

If you haven’t read Lips on my Heart, Lips on my Soul, Lips on my World, and Engaging Opal in that order, I would implore you to start at the beginning before proceeding. Is it necessary? No, but to get the full scale of Chase and Simone’s complex relationship in Chasing Simone, start at the beginning of the series—I promise you’ll get hooked right from the first chapter of book one.

Chase and Simone’s love story is an intoxicating trope mashup of steam, instalust, opposites attract, Dom/brat, protective biker romance, with more progressive views than your traditional biker romances. It’s time we normalize the other 99% of biker culture into our steamy romance novels, because there’s nothing sexier than a man who values, appreciates, and supports his old lady while seeing her as his equal in all things.

Those who follow my social media closely are aware Simone is based on my sister, Samantha. When you read this story, you’ll get an inside look at the woman I’m lucky enough to have as a sibling. Heads up, the chapter involving a hair scalp mask is a true story of my sister. I have the screenshot text messages to prove it. LOL.

Saying goodbye to Chase and Simone as my main characters is difficult since I love them deeply (don’t worry, they’ll still be involved in the other books), but I’m excited to move on to my next MC couple.

My wish for you, dear reader, is that you get lost in the fantasy, place yourself in the characters’ shoes, and live a different life, if only for a moment.

Enjoy!

—M.J. Marino

Background Information and Content Warnings

This is the fifth book in the Mercy Ravens MC Series and the first book where Chase and Simone are the main characters. Their book is a standalone within the series. However, there are comments and scenarios within the book that correlate with events that occurred in the previous four books. This romance starts where the second book ended with Maceo and Jo’s wedding and goes past the end of the fourth book.

To get the full scale of what’s happening with supporting characters, I would suggest reading the previous four books in order. If you’re only concerned with the main characters in your romance reading, then you can proceed with this book with no problem.

This book is not a dark romance, but it does contain strong language, sexually graphic situations, and darker elements, as it did in the previous books. If you’re sensitive to stalker-drama, sexual assault (mentioned, not detailed), mild Dom/brat relationship, spanking, bondage, poisoning, hostage situation, cheating (not between main characters; previous relationship), domestic abuse (not between main characters), and vigilante justice, it’s best to stop reading. If not, press on.

This is a contemporary, steamy, instalove, opposites attract, Dom/brat, protective biker romance where the hero will go to great lengths to have his happily ever after with his woman. Hope you’re in the mood for equal parts steam, suspense, angst, and humor.

Are you still intrigued? Then hop on and enjoy the ride.

About this Book

Shawn "Chase" Brighton, head of intelligence for Mercy Ravens MC Security, is an ethical hacker who forages the dark web for predators and corruption. No one is safe from his cyberstalking skills as he tracks those who do evil things to innocence or have wronged his club.

The hipster biker loves his MC brotherhood as much as he loved being a Navy SEAL, content to live the rough and notorious playboy lifestyle. However, even bad boy heartthrobs can fall in love, and Chase has fallen hard for a woman he's only seen on his computer monitors.

Simone Holland was out of his reach until the day the sassy yet sophisticated accountant arrived at Mercy Ravens' headquarters, looking for a fresh start after a painful breakup. That day, Chase laid a silent claim on her—she would be his old lady, come hell or high water.

It doesn't matter if Simone is high-maintenance or as opposite to Chase as positive is to negative. When they come together, they mix better than cool ice and smooth bourbon. Their chemistry burns as much as it soothes.

The problem is Simone's unable to commit to a new relationship until she has moved on from the last. Chase has given her space and time, but the wait has ended. Simone is as good as his.

With a relationship forming on the horizon, Chase sees no harm in asking Simone to join the club's latest security case, where her accounting skills will help investigate a pilfering operation. But all goes belly-up when the accounting firm's liaison is none other than Simone's cheating ex-boyfriend.

Will old feelings resurface for Simone? Can Chase keep himself in check while Simone works closely with her ex? Does an edgy biker stand a chance of winning the heart of a white-collar queen?