Sinner’s Creed

Romance hits the road in this overblown tale of a hardcore biker who finds his soulmate just when he least expects to. Jones (Saving Dallas) introduces readers to Dirk, a cold-blooded, roving troubleshooter for the Sinner’s Creed Motorcycle Club. When his path repeatedly crosses with the beautiful, innocent Saylor Samson, he discovers an inexplicable connection; before he knows it, she’s joined him on his travels and their mutual attraction blossoms first into passionate encounters, then into love. In his line of work, any sign of weakness can be fatal, and an encounter with a rival MC threatens to destroy Dirk and Saylor’s newfound happiness. Dirk’s voice is profane and raw, his tone uncompromising, as he accepts the grim reality of his existence as a soldier and killer for the only family he’s ever known. Filtered through his perceptions, Saylor comes off as a passive enigma much of the time, more of a plot device than a full-fledged partner. When Dirk says, “Nobody could be as perfect as she seemed to be and still want something to do with an imperfection like myself,” the reader is forced to agree. The looming sense of inevitable tragedy undermines the strength of the core romance and leads to an unsatisfying ending. Agent: Amy Tannenbaum, Jane Rotrosen Agency. (Mar.)