3.5 Stars
ARC received via Xpresso Book Tours.

I almost decided I wouldn't read this book after several of my reviewer friends gave lackluster reviews, but that cover just kept pulling me in. Can we say hot? So I gave in and read it anyway, turns out I am the opposite of some of my friends, because I really enjoyed this one!

Talon is a spin off of Sybil Bartel's Unchecked series, which I didn't read prior to reading Talon. Do I feel like I am probably missing something? Yes. However, it didn't take away from the story too much. Told from Talon's POV, this book is all alpha male all the time. He's possessive, bossy, and frankly very rude and crass, but he's protective and has a serious hero complex. Nicole, our damsel, is hard to read, I mean seriously hard to read. I almost wish I could've had her POV, because like Talon, I got really annoyed with not being able to follow her hot and cold attitude. The not-unique story line of ex-Military womanizer saving damsel in distress is done very well in this case. I loved the plot of Military versus motorcycle club, because there was a lot of action and suspense. While I normally don't say this, I really liked the instant connection between Talon and Nicole. Their personalities may clash, but his over-protectiveness and her need to get out of a bad situation causes them to lean on one another and hey, I happen to like when Talon get's all possessive and hot. On top of that, though it takes forever to happen, when the two start to open up it is like watching a flower bloom. Both have been holding onto some serious stuff for such a long time and seeing them really come out of their shells, and face some of their ghosts, makes for a really interesting read.

Unfortunately, it took a really long time for me to get into Talon. While it's a fast read, I didn't feel a connection to the characters until 45-50%. While Talon's off being rude, to everyone, Nicole is like a brick wall. Characters like this are just hard to understand, especially when we're missing important information, like what happened in their pasts, Talon's especially. There are a lot of secondary characters I would like to know about, because we're only given just glimpses of who they are and why and let's be real, I couldn't figure out why anyone would be Talon's friend until the very end. In this case, I think Talon would have been a lot better had I read the Unchecked series first.

If alpha males and action are your cup of tea, this is the book for you, add it to your TBR pile right now. There's no shortage of suspense in this book and the chemistry between Talon and Nicole just heats it up, plus there's some twists you won't see coming. ( )

Two people that seem to be one thing and are really a whole lot more are at the center of this first novel in the Uncompromising Series written by Sybil Bartel. At first glance Talon seems like a rather selfish hedonistic man who was once a medic in the military and is now a man-whore, beach bum, surfer dude with a savior complex. Nicole seems to be a battered woman without the strength or will to get herself away and into a better situation. As the story progresses it is revealed that both have experienced past events that have led them to be as they are when they meet and Talon nicknames Nicole “Siren” as he treats her wounds. From there the roller coaster ride begins with threats from a motorcycle club member backed by the club, involvement of a drug dealing Cartel and a whole lot more. Over time both Talon and Nic begin to show who they really are not only in the bedroom but outside of it. The only quibble I have is that with the wound Nic had on her leg it would probably need more than five stitches, slow her down more than it did and not do well with the stitches removed so soon after they were put in. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, look forward to reading the next book in the series and thank NetGalley for the ARC to read and review. ( )