Great story line fantastic read! Wish I had started reading it a lot sooner, couldn’t put it down!

Wow this book was a lot more intense than I was expecting, with the plot taking some dark and disturbing turns, but was handled by the author in a way that kept me enthralled the whole time. This is saying something because if this particular content was not treated carefully it could have been a quick noping out for me. There was also some really good twists that, while I would not say completely blindsided me, were really good additions to the plot.
Turning to the characters and their relationships, I absolutely loved Gretchen's character and how feisty and strong she was. I also really like that Nystrom made it clear she was not a stick-figure with model looks and included that she was deaf. Her characters really came to life for me and it felt to me like it was based on someone real. I also really enjoyed that Gretchen was an editor, and that the author took the time to even come up with some hilarious lines that Gretchen was editing--some of them were freaking hilarious and I could totally see being included in some badly written romances! While I would say that Gretchen was my favourite character, Rail was also really well done. His struggle with his past, trying to accept love, and turn the club to better and more legitimate means was great. There were parts where he was a definite asshole, but that was tempered by his sweet moments and was understandable based on his backstory. Ultimately you will end up loving him, and his ability to communicate with Gretchen through ASL and his love for his "Grams" will endear him to any reader. Ultimately, the content included in this book may be a trigger for some people and was disturbing, but overall still made for a really good read. Thank you to Hot Tree Publishing and M.L. Nystrom through Library Thing for providing me an ARC of this book and this honest review is provided voluntarily.
CW: sexual assault, female subordination, white supremacy, & cults ( )

This was a really easy read and I got sucked in right away. I enjoyed the romance and liked the MCs - the cultish aspect was interesting. I did feel the uncertainty of the club and it’s strength impacted the way I felt about Rail in some ways, as I wanted him to be more domineering and put together. It was still a good read - perfect for fans of Kristen Ashley and Tillie Cole as it reminded me a lot of their stories, a sort of blend of two I know. ( )

This is my first book by N L Nystrom. I may have missed a little by not reading the first book in this Dutchmen’s Motorcycle Club series, The Price of Redemption, but I think I picked up on most of what was going on. This is an extremely intense story of that club. If you’ve read this author before, you’re somewhat familiar with her writing. She didn’t pull any punches and told the story of not just that MC but others as well and how they do business. The story also explains what some of that business was, which is what Dutchmen MC had it’s past in too. Railroad has inherited leadership and sees the club falling in multiple directions that he’s not sure how to pull together. To honor the previous MC president, he feels the need to go legit but hears out all the members as is their custom. In the meantime, they are searching for another MC guy who set up a blood bath that severely affected not only the Dutchmen but several other MC’s. In order to find that guy, they seek out his half-sister, Gretchen, who is deaf. At that first meeting, Railroad sees a very strong woman and she becomes someone he’s drawn to and feels protective of. This tells of women who hang out at the MC and how they’re treated. Nystrom tells of failures and successes in club business but also in the potential for growth in relationships. It also tells the important relationship Rails has with the woman he calls Grams and what a meaningful impact she's had in his life. There’s a lot going on and the truths known and unknown will draw you into the story. ( )

After the death of Iceman, Railroad must take over leadership of the Dutchmen MC. In their efforts to find the traitor, Piglet, four of the Dutchmen, including Rail, visit the home of Piglet's half sister, Gretchen. As a book editor, Gretchen has never needed her hearing to do a good job, but she is stunned when she finds herself surrounded in her own home. She hasn't seen her half brother in years and doesn't want to, especially now that she knows he is on the run. The Dutchmen leave, but Gretchen and Rail share a spark that doesn't go out. Piglet has found himself a new home on a farm where he discovers his talent as a mechanic is appreciated. He is enjoying clean living for the first time in a long while, but Brother Mathias creeps him out, and there is something wrong in what he sees going on at this farm.

The Price of Forgiveness puts a twist on the MC trope by adding a commune/survivalist community/cult to the mix. The character of Railroad is well developed as we see his interactions with several others including his "Grams," members of the Dutchmen, and Gretchen, even though her character is not as well developed. Much of this book deals with the politics of the MC, Piglet's new home, and Rail's "Grams," leaving only a little space in this short book for the romance between the two protagonists. Overall, The Price of Forgiveness contains a few interesting elements, but lacks a compelling romance.
*Content warning for sexual abuse and incest. ( )