Review: Evie Harper's "Collision (Portland Street Kings #1)."

Review: Evie Harper's "Collision (Portland Street Kings #1)." 

Amazon.com: http://amzn.to/1c7XaU2

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1NTiuZh

Synopsis:

When I was fourteen years old, I killed for the first time. That day I learned cruelty wasn’t only within the walls we had just escaped.

It hasn’t been easy growing up in the middle of a war. A struggle to find shelter. Fighting to protect our bodies against the corruption of the streets. Nobody cared about the street kids who had to beg and steal to eat.

We are the Portland Street Kings – A family forged through loyalty not blood. To get through this life of broken dreams alive, we’ve become hard, uncaring and merciless. We do what must be done to keep our family safe, we will harm those who stand against us.

We have it all, feared and respected by those on the streets. Then she collided into my world, and with her came demons from my past, back to haunt us all. 

Review-Jo Rushton

I've enjoyed previous books by Evie Harper so as soon as I discovered that this series was on it's way, I was eager to see what it was all about. The first book in the "Portland Street Kings" series got off to a good start and my interest was piqued. The story began with a prologue that took me back in time to how the Street Kings began. Slater (the head of the gang), had not been given a great start in life. I was immediately intrigued by this man and my heart went out to him. For someone so young, Slater had a lot to deal with and this came through in his attitude and his willingness to take on responsibilities that were way beyond his years. I was struck by how much older Slater appeared to be acting, it was as though he had lost his childhood somewhere along his horrific life and had skipped straight to adulthood. 

When you've lived in terror and waited for a hero who was never going to 

come to your rescue, you learn to become your own hero or villain.

Fast forward many years later and I was reintroduced to Slater and his gang. The Portland Street Kings were looked upon as the top street gang in Portland. At first appearances they appeared to be a nasty group, however as I got a closer look at them I discovered that they were just doing what they needed to do to survive. They had all been given a poor start in life and were now living it the only way they knew how. Through the rules of the street. 

"Our enemies are many and they are always close by."

This first part of the story mostly concentrated on Slater. I totally understood Slater's reasons behind his life on the streets but adult Slater was not a character that I warmed to, unfortunately. When he met Piper, I wondered if my feelings towards him would change but sadly they didn't. Slater and Piper were instantly attracted to one another and were soon getting to know each other a hell of a lot better!! This pair did not waste any waste any time with dating, preferring to skip straight to the good part. This soon became a regular arrangement for the pair and it looked as though something was beginning to happen between them. This was where things began to go wrong as Slater discovered he shared a connection with Piper. And it wasn't a good kind of connection, resulting in Piper being placed in the middle of a frightening gang war.

She's fucking perfect for my dick, but not perfect for my lifestyle.

Piper was a character that frustrated me, although I liked her, I just couldn't understand some of her actions. She was obviously an intelligent and independent woman with a responsible job. She didn't appear to be the kind of woman that would allow herself to be used for sex yet that was exactly what she was doing and in the men's toilet cubicle of all places!!! Not exactly a romantic environment!!! Piper then continued to return to that same toilet night after night to have sex with Slater and I began to wonder where her self-respect was. She must have been highly attracted to rough and ready bad boys like Slater and that was something I couldn't comprehend. 

He's all I want, who I feel I've waited for all of my life.

The story progressed and it was one that was filled with some drama, quite a bit of sex and some unexpected twists along the way but despite this, I just couldn't get into the story at all. I found myself beginning to lose interest and I feel that this was because I found it difficult to connect with the characters. Sadly this book was not as good as I had hoped. I liked the premise of the story and it did start off well but I am sorry to say that I was left feeling a little disappointed. 

I rated "Collision" ❤️❤️❤️