She wasn’t mine, and never could be. She’d been claimed by someone else. The perfect woman who I could never have as my own.
I stepped up when she needed someone beside her. Held her when she needed a friend. That my brother was dead was something I’d help her accept.
The truth though, that hit the hardest. How could any of us deal with the knowledge that there was something worse than death?
Reading Order
Note 1:
Each book can be read as a standalone, but to get the best reading experience for the Satan’s Devils, read the books in the order above.
Note 2:
While the Blood Brothers series is completely separate to the Satan’s Devils series, there is some crossover. Turning Wheels continues the story of a minor character who appears in Second Changes, and some characters appear in both series.
Other Works by Manda Mellett
Blood Brothers – A series about sexy dominant sheikhs and their bodyguards
Stolen Lives (#1) Nijad and Cara
Close Protection (#2) Jon and Mia
Second Chances (#3) Kadar and Zoe
Identity Crisis (#4) Sean and Vanessa
Dark Horses (#5) Jasim and Janna
Hard Choices (#6) Aiza
Satan’s Devils MC - Arizona Chapter
Turning Wheels (Blood Brothers #3.5, Satan’s Devils #1) Wraith and Sophie
Drummer’s Beat (#2) Drummer and Sam
Slick Running (#3) Slick and Ella
Targeting Dart (#4) Dart and Alex
Heart Broken (#5) Heart and Marc
Peg’s Stand (#6) Peg and Darcy
Rock Bottom (#7) Rock and Becca
Joker’s Fool (#8) Joker and Lady
Mouse Trapped (#9) Mouse and Mariana
Blade’s Edge (#10) Blade and Tash
Satan’s Devils MC - Colorado Chapter
Paladin’s Hell (#1) Paladin and Jayden
Demon’s Angel (#2) Demon and Violet
Devil’s Due (#3)
#Coming Soon: Devil’s Dilemma (#4)
Glossary
Motorcycle Club – An official motorcycle club in the U.S. is one which is sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA). The AMA has a set of rules its members must abide by. It is said that ninety-nine percent of motorcyclists in America belong to the AMA
Outlaw Motorcycle Club (MC) – The remaining one percent of motorcycling clubs are historically considered outlaws as they do not wish to be constrained by the rules of the AMA and have their own bylaws. There is no one formula followed by such clubs, but some not only reject the rulings of the AMA, but also that of society, forming tightly knit groups who fiercely protect their chosen ways of life. Outlaw MCs have a reputation for having a criminal element and supporting themselves by less than legal activities, dealing in drugs, gun running or prostitution. The one-percenter clubs are usually run under a strict hierarchy.
Brother – Typically members of the MC refer to themselves as brothers and regard the closely knit MC as their family.
Cage – The name bikers give to cars as they prefer riding their bikes.
Chapter – Some MCs have only one club based in one location. Other MCs have a number of clubs who follow the same bylaws and wear the same patch. Each club is known as a chapter and will normally carry the name of the area where they are based on their patch.
Church – Traditionally the name of the meeting where club business is discussed, either with all members present or with just those holding officer status.
Colours – When a member is wearing (or flying) his colours he will be wearing his cut proudly displaying his patch showing which club he is affiliated with.
Cut – The name given to the jacket or vest which has patches denoting the club that member belongs to.
Enforcer – The member who enforces the rules of the club.
Hang-around – This can apply to men wishing to join the club and who hang-around hoping to be become prospects. It is also used to women who are attracted by bikers and who are happy to make themselves available for sex at biker parties.
Mother Chapter – The founding chapter when a club has more than one chapter.
Nomad – In an outlaw MC a nomad is typically a member who’s been given permission/instruction by the national president to enforce the laws of the club at other chapters.
Patch – The patch or patches on a cut will show the club that member belongs to and other information such as the particular chapter and any role that may be held in the club. There can be a number of other patches with various meanings, including a one-percenter patch. Prospects will not be allowed to wear the club patch until they have been patched-in, instead they will have patches which denote their probationary status.
Patched-in/Patching-in – The term used when a prospect completes his probationary status and becomes a full club member.
President (Prez) – The officer in charge of that particular club or chapter.
Prospect – Anyone wishing to join a club must serve time as a probationer. During this period they have to prove their loyalty to the club. A probationary period can last a year or more. At the end of this period, if they’ve proved themselves a prospect will be patched-in.
Old Lady – The term given to a woman who enters into a permanent relationship with a biker.
RICO – The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations Act primarily deals with organised crime. Under this Act the officers of a club could be held responsible for activities they order members to do and a conviction carries a potential jail service of twenty years as well as a large fine and the seizure of assets.
Road Captain – The road captain is responsible for the safety of the club on a run. He will organise routes and normally ride at the end of the column.
Ronin – A biker who travels alone, sometimes wearing a patch denoting he’s Ronin. Not affiliated to any club, but often bearing a token which will help ensure safe passage through territories of different clubs.
Secretary – MCs are run like businesses and this officer will perform the secretarial duties such as recording decisions at meetings.
Sergeant-at-Arms – The sergeant-at-arms is responsible for the safety of the club as a whole and for keeping order.
Sweet Butt – A woman who makes her sexual services available to any member at any time. She may well live on the club premises and be fully supported by the club.
Treasurer – The officer responsible for keeping an eye on the club’s money.
Vice President (VP) – The vice president will support the president, stepping into his role in his absence. He may be responsible for making sure the club runs smoothly, overseeing prospects etc.
Acknowledgments
When I was first persuaded to write Turning Wheels, I had no idea it would turn into an eleven book series and be the start of several other spin off series too.
I’d just written my third book in the Blood Brothers series, and had included a throwaway line that a minor character, who’d been put in a wheelchair, and had gone to an outlaw MC in Tucson for protection. What happened to her? Came the question from all quarters, including my editor and readers.
For a while I resisted taking it further, while the idea lurked at the back of my mind. I’d used the location of Tucson as it was a place I’d visited on more than one occasion, a place that I loved and could picture in my head. I knew what it was like to ride a bike, we’d owned a Harley for twenty-five years, but riding with the local Harley Owners Club did not qualify me for writing about an MC in the US.
But slowly Sophie and Wraith started living in my head, and the more I thought about them, the more they excited me. I could do this, perhaps, if it was a short novella, a one off.
What a joke! They had so much to tell me, and, as the characters in the Satan’s Devils MC began to gain life, Turning Wheels turned into a full length book. Not only that, Drummer started asking, what about me? Don’t I deserve a woman for myself? Then I wanted to write
about Slick and Ella, and explain why he claimed someone who then disappeared. One by one the stories began to unfold.
I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to know my boys have found places in so many people’s hearts. To every reader who’s taken the Satan’s Devils MC journey with me, thank you so much.
The main series has to come to an end, but I’ve written this final chapter with a heavy heart. I don’t want to leave my men behind. So I won’t. They belong to the mother chapter and will pop up from time to time in other books. There’ll be at least one more book about a character you’ve come to love.
I’ve already started the Satan’s Devil’s Colorado Chapter series, and the next book, Devil’s Dilemma, will be the fourth. After that I intend to stay with Colorado for at least one more book.
Where after that? Well, there’s that mysterious chapter in Utah which no one knows much about. Maybe Drummer should send someone there to investigate? How are Lost and Dart getting along with the San Diego club that suffered so much betrayal? Have they managed to hold it together?
I can’t forget Red and the boys in Las Vegas. We learned a lot about them in Joker’s Fool, and I know more than one of you want to know about Rope and Cuff.
There will be many more Satan’s Devils coming along.
I hope you liked Truck Stopped. It could never be a feel good book due to the trials Truck and Allie went through. I hope you enjoyed the glimpses into the future of the club, and how the new generation has panned out. Will I ever write about them? My gut feeling is no. But then, I was proved wrong when I first started out with the Devils, so perhaps the answer should be ‘maybe’ instead.
Now to the thank yous.
Readers, I am in absolute awe of the messages I get sent, the comments on Facebook and the reviews. While I’m sitting at my lonely desk it’s hard to imagine how each book will be received. I’m blown away how you love my bikers as much as I do. It’s you buying, reviewing and letting me know you enjoy my books that keeps me ploughing on. So a massive thank you to each and every one of you.
I wasn’t sure about Truck Stopped when I’d finished it. So uncertain I subjected only my editor and one beta reader to the first draft in case I had to tear it up and start again. I was amazed to receive the comment back that I had another winner on my hands. Wait, what? But the book’s all doom and gloom, isn’t it? So I sent it out to other beta readers, and got positive feedback back.
My wonderful team of beta readers – Danena, who read the first draft and who helped shape the final version and who is very good at picking up UK English terminology that sneaks in. We often have a laugh as I teach her the meaning of some words. Terra, Tami, Zoe, Nicole and Alex who also came back with amazing comments giving me the encouragement to press that publish button. I must give special thanks not only to Danena, but to Sheri who’s eagle eyes spotted something not in this book, but in Blade’s Edge.
A confession. I always had it in my head that Truck went with Allie the night before he left for California. Sheri pointed out that this was impossible for him to do, as she was manning the bar that night. One word change in Blade’s Edge sorted that out. It’s incredible that I have beta readers who go that extra mile, not just reading the current book, but having a better knowledge than I of what I wrote in a previous book.
Although it’s my name on the cover of the book, it takes a team to bring the final version to you. One very important member of that team is my editor, Maggie Kern. Sometimes she has a hard job translating my UK English to the US version. I enjoy working with her so much. Her suggestions are excellent and help shape the book. Maggie, thank you.
This is the second time I’ve worked with proofreader Melanie Darrow. Thank you, Melanie, and I’m grateful for your positive words about this series and so glad you enjoy proofreading these books.
Once again Lia Rees has come up with an amazing cover. Thank you.
My life is definitely made easier by my PA Tracy Wood. By taking over a lot of my social media tasks, she allows me to concentrate on writing. She also does my graphics for the teasers, taking far less time than I would. My skill is getting words on the page, so the more time I have to do this, the faster I can bring you more books.
My success is growing, slowly, but surely. Part of that is down to you readers who, without hoping for thanks, promote my series on social media. I promise I see you, and appreciate every single mention. It helps immensely to grow my audience.
Reviews obviously help authors, and I’m grateful for each and every one written. I love hearing what you think about my books, and there’s no denying, the more reviews a book gets, the more successful it becomes. So if you can see your way to leaving one, you’ll make this – and any other author you review – very happy.
Apologies for the acknowledgements being so long this time around, but I felt it important as I feel it’s the end of one thing, but the start of something new.
I do hope you’ll continue to accompany me on the Satan’s Devils’ ride.
There’ll be another Devil along very soon.
Stay in Touch
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.mandamellet.com
Sign up for my newsletter to hear about new releases in the Satan’s Devils and Blood Brothers series.
Facebook reader group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mandasbadboys/
About the Author
Manda’s life's always seemed a bit weird, starting with a childhood that even today she’s still trying to make sense of, then losing her parents in the late teens. Going from the tragic to the bizarre, who else could be unlucky enough to have had two car accidents, neither her fault, one involving a nun, and another involving a police woman?
There isn’t enough space to list everything that’s happened to Manda, or what she’s learned from it. But by using the rich fabric of her personal life, psychology degree, varied work experiences, and amazing characters she’s met, Manda is able to populate her books with believable in-depth characters and enjoys pitting them against situations which challenge them. Her books are full of suspense, twists and turns and the unexpected.
Manda lives in the beautiful countryside of Essex in the UK, the area’s claim to fame being the Wilkin’s Jam Factory at nearby Tiptree. She can usually find jars of jam which remind her of home wherever she goes. As well as writing books and reading, Manda loves walking her dogs and keeping fit. She lives with her husband of over 30 years, who, along with her son, is her greatest fan and supporter.
Manda is thankful that one of the more unusual, and at the time unpleasant, turns her life took, now enables her to spend her time writing. Confirming, in her view, every cloud has a silver lining.
Photo by Carmel Jane Photography
Truck Stopped: Satan's Devils MC #11 Page 39
