Down \u0026 Dirty: Axel (Dirty Angels MC, #5) by Jeanne St. James

Down \u0026 Dirty: Axel (Dirty Angels MC, #5) Reviews

• 
  Erth

  I gave this book 5 stars because I really did love this story but there were a few things that I was disappointed about. I had such high expectations for the epilogue and then it didn't turn out really like I had hoped. I wanted Bella and Axel to go to dinner at Axel's parents house and have that confrontation just like they had when Axel went to the DAMC Christmas party. I really hoped that their relationship would have progressed further along in this book.
• 
  ~*~Princess Nya~*~

  So the ongoing plots are getting deeper and more intriguing for me. And Bella's story was very heartbreaking. Her past was at least.
  
  Still not sure how her and Axel can make their love work, but it should be interesting to watch. I wasn't sure, before their book, how I felt about them together. But I like them together. Just their story feels like a HFN and not an HEA. Cause again, I have no idea how this is going to work or last with how things that are surrounding them; stands at this time.
  
  A good addition to this series. I would recommend it.
• 
  Leslee

  Axel has known Bella almost his entire life and wanted her from the moment he understood what desire meant. But he is a cop and she is a part of the Dirty Angels MC till death. Like oil and water, the two just aren't going to mix. He was there at the worst moment of her life and can't seem to move on without her in his arms, in his bed, in his life. Bella doesn't want a relationship with anyone, especially a biker. She doesn't trust herself or any man for that matter beyond the men of DAMC, and them she only trusts so far. But she has wanted Axel for so long, loneliness and longing combine till they both give in. But just because you love someone doesn't mean they fit into each other's lives, right?
  
  I have been a big fan of Jeanne St James since the first Down and Dirty: Zak! Axel's book has been a long time coming. He and Bella have been eyeing each other so hard its a wonder they didnt burst into flames. Axel is Zak's brother and a cop. Axel and his dad Mitch had turned their backs on Zak when he joined the MC and abandoned him completely when he went to prison for a crime he didn't commit. So that is a major strike against him in having any kind of relationship with Bella. Bella has scars from her marriage and Axel tries to tread lightly. She figures he can never accept the reality that she is part of the Dirty Angels MC and won't give it up. These two have so many obstacles, its a wonder they can even move! Ms St James is an amazing storyteller and I really admire how she handles her characters. There are no magic fixes for some of the issues they face and she doesn't try to make everything nice and neat. There are going to be struggles and tough times. But the love and commitment it takes to get through all that makes it worth it. That is what makes her characters feel real. Their relationships within the club and within the couples are changing and evolving over each book in the series. Another 5 star read from the talented Jeanne St James!
• 
  Whitley Cox

  I was graciously given the opportunity to beta-read this book and can honestly say it hits you in the feels... HARD! It's not like the other four MC books in that hero is an articulate cop with a lot on his plate and even more in his heart. This is such a modern day Romeo and Juliet story (without the whole suicide and pre-teen marriage thing). You can really feel the strain that these two are going through, feel the pull of their lives and families who seem determined to keep them apart, and yet you know and THEY know that they are what is best for each other. Two halves, only a whole when with the other. I really like Axel. And to be honest, in the first four books, I wasn't sure about him. Was he going to be this super cocky cop with his head up his ass who thinks his shit doesn't stink and people just need to do as he says and women everywhere swoon when he walks into a room? I kind of thought he might be. But he wasn't. This man has everything you want in a partner, fierce loyalty, that alpha protective instinct, integrity, and honesty. He loves Bella SO DAMN HARD you just want to grab the woman by the shoulders and shake some sense into her until she realizes it too. Loved book 5. Loved. It!
• 
  Deb B

  wow!!!! i loved it. this is a brilliant series with hard, strong men taken down by their sassy counterparts who have the hearts and souls of the toughest of warriors. love and family are the underlying strengths of the story but there is danger, heartbreak and tragedy threaded through each story providing a perfect counterpart. watching these men fall makes for great reading. love the writing style and everything about these books
  
  june 2020 - a reread of the whole series and the guts & glory boys as well as the dark knights and blood fury. thoroughly enjoy this authors work
• 
  Debbie

  Disappointment
  
  What made this a piss poor read was:
  
  1. Diesel and his barbaric ways
  2. Get gone as it is the end of all ends...should have used it on my abusive ex husband to see if it would have worked
  3. Stupid female lead characters who think they are invincible to a group of large beefy criminals even after her own personal ordeal
  
  This was a plain overall terrible read for me...the grammar was terrible and many editing mistakes...I really am starting to question if some of the high star reviews are fake.
  
  This could have been a much better read...the author missed her mark on this one
• 
  Jae

  DNF @51%.
  
  I have been skimming. It was that boring. Same ole same ole. Don't think I'll be interested in Slade.
• 
  Darcy

  For most of this series so far we have seen Axel and Bella dance around each other. There has also been hints of something bad happened to Bella in her past related to the club. With this book we got to see it all. I hated learning about what happened to Bella, wished that she would have talked to those she trusted in the club and she could have escaped all the bad that happened.
  
  I liked Axel and Bella together, but man...did they go back and forth in this one a lot. They had a big issue, both of them having strong feelings about the club, both of them connected to the club, one embracing, the other pushing away. It was huge, how do you get past that, especially when Axel basically cut off contact with his own brother over the MC. I think how things ended was a good way for them to be together, for the men in the MC to know Axel was serious and for Bella to know that Axel really wanted her, no matter what. I found myself very hopefully for them as the book ended, that they could find a way forward, together.
• 
  Wminbc

  Axel isn’t DAMC...but he soooo is.... Bella’s story was heart breaking but Axel fixes it all! 😘😘😘
• 
  Andi

  I have loved all of the books in Jeanne St. James' Dirty Angels MC series. Even when I wanted throat punch a couple of the brothers, I've still loved them. That's part of what makes St. James' series so amazing, all of her characters are beautifully flawed. All of the brothers and their ol' ladies are real, visceral, gritty and loyal to their bones.
  
  That being said, I had my doubts going into Down & Dirty: Axel. Oh I knew I loved Bella from the moment she appeared in Zak's book. She's one of the strongest characters St. James has created, across all of her series. I have been dying to get her story.
  
  But Axel. I have volatile relationship with my brother, and we've gone long stretches with out being on speaking terms. But I can't imagine just walking away, not supporting him while he was in jail. Heck, when my brother went to jail, I didn't visit him because we live half way across the country, but I still talked to him on the phone when he would call. So the fact Axel, and the rest of Zak's family turn their back on him, really bothered me.
  
  I should have known that it would be that simple or easy. Axel is now my favorite of all of the books. I think I'm more than half way in love with him myself. And it has nothing to do with speaking if full sentences, but that was really weird. I was just getting really fluent in grunts, and to go back to real sentences!! Axel is the alpha you really want. I think he's been weak for not standing up to his father about Zak, but hey - something for him to work in during the rest of series.
  
  I could wax poetic about Axel for pages, but really, I'll save you trouble and just tell you read the book! St. James has out done herself in this installment of Dirty Angels. Each book as been just a little better, so now I'm really looking forward to what she's got in store for us!
• 
  Miljana

  As the lucky winner of the author's giveaway, I really looked forward to reading Axel's book.
  Axel is a breath of fresh air among MC heroes, sweet, kind, and not a rumbling beast of a man (I'm looking at you, Diesel), still he is protective and jealous in a completely healthy kind of way, without being overbearing and controlling (again not a typical characteristic of MC heroes, but then again not many of them are cops at the same time).
  Bella. I honestly don't know what to say about her. She's a strong, but vulnerable DAMC woman.
  One of the things she did annoyed me a lot, unnecessarily putting herself in danger, especially after what happened to Kiki and Jazz. I kind of understood Diesel's reaction, and would probably react even worse than he did to some of her actions.
  From the previous books it was already pretty clear how much they love each other, they only needed a push in the right direction.
  Diesel plays an important part in this book. It was great reading about him, and the entire group, actually. I love their banter (especially between Bella and Crow).
  Can't wait for Slade and Dawg and Crow and...... :)
  Oh, yes, the conversation between Mercy and Bella certainly increased my curiosity about the man, but who has the patience to wait for his story?! Well done, Jeanne.
  
• 
  K. Ramjohn

  Down and Dirty: Axel is the 5th book in the Dirty Angels series.I have enjoyed every book so far in this series with these alpha bikers and the tough sassy women with them, and I could not wait for Bella and Axel's story. I was not disappointed as this novel was intense, heart-breaking and engrossing with non-stop action and some very steamy scenes.
  
  You really feel for Axel and Bella in this book, these two were flawed and complete opposites but they had such a strong chemistry between them and from early on you would be rooting for their relationship to succeed against all the odds stacked against them.
  The secondary characters all added to this story and I loved that we get to see the other characters from the previous novel and all the guys in the DAMC. The plot will evoke a range of emotions from you as the story progresses and you will love the HEA ending.
  
  I listened to the audible version of this novel which was narrated by Ava Lucas and Teddy Hamilton. These two did a fabulous job with the different characters and brought so much emotion to the story, however Ava's portrayal of Bella was outstanding. I loved listening to these two and really enjoyed the story.
  Down and Dirty Axel was another fantastic continuation to this series and I would highly recommend it to all lovers of MC romance.
• 
  Kim Brewing

  I have been looking forward to this book since the series began and I was not disappointed!
  
  An alpha male that is protective but not overbearing and speaks in full sentences - no grunts here! Axel and Bella have always had eyes for each other but timing and life choices have never made it possible for the two to connect. She's DAMC and he's a cop, how could a relationship ever survive?
  
  I really really enjoyed this one. When we get all the details to what Bella has survived you get a bit more of an understanding of why the club is a bit protective. I was a bit disappointed in Axel at one point, even if I understood the reasons behind his choice. There are no guarantees with love, but you have to go all in - anything less and you're destined to fail. Can these two find a way to meld their worlds?
  
  Great addition to the series
• 
  Shirl

  She wants nobody and belongs to no one. Never will she fall in love again. Her first love was kept to herself because that was an impossibility... they came from two different worlds that can never mix.
  If you have read the previous books you know something bad has happened to Bella in the past but it was never told what. In this book we find out what and it was horrible, heart breaking and disgusting. Something that D. Has blamed himself for because it's his job to protect the club. I'm not going to tell what happened to her... that is a spoiler I'm not spoiling.
  Only one person knew everything that happened to her. He only knew because he was the first responder. Alex. Alex is the brother of the MC president but they don't associate with each other. You see their father is a cop and Alex followed in his father's foot steps while his brother followed in their grandfather's. Alex has loved Bella ever since he can remember but knows it can't work out. He's a cop and she is DAMC .
  Alex decides to pursue Bella no matter the cost. He thinks he can find a way. Bella has always loved Alex but knows it's impossible. Can they find a way and maybe start healing the gap between the families?
  
  Adult content, violence and domestic abuse.
• 
  Patty

  Sometimes a series comes along that you cannot get enough of, and this series is it for me. Each book has something in it that keeps me riveted to the story and makes me feel like I am part of the club experiencing it all with them. Jeanne St James explores the relationship between Axel and Bella this time and while I thought Diesel was the one I loved the most, Axel is the ultimate hero. Axel has the club running through his veins, but circumstances throughout his life have kept him away. With his job as a cop and his brother as the president of DAMC, things are definitely at odds. Bella is part owner of the town bakery and is DAMC straight through. Nothing will pull her from the club, but her feelings for Axel are strong. Will these two be able to overcome their issues? This modern day Romeo and Juliet had me listening all night to see how their story would turn out. Bella is a strong woman, has lived through a horrific attack and needs to decide if a relationship with the man she loves will work out. Axel is clear on what he wants, but will he be able to live with the love of his life being in the club? St James masterfully weaves the tale with love and care with these two. Axel is not only honorable and hot, but he is determined to make things work. Bella has some self confidence and trust issues she may not be able to work through. Add in the men of DAMC and Axel's dad fighting the relationship and things are not looking good! The best part of these stories is nothing is easy. The couples have to work through their problems, it may get worse before it gets better, but there is no immediate fix. It's true to life and makes the stories so much better. Love this one, hoping we get to see where these two go in the future in the next installment.
  
  Ava Lucas and Teddy Hamilton are a narration team like no other. This particular narration I found incredibly moving. Lucas gives voice to all the women in the club, but her portrayal of Bella is emotional and full of feeling. Bella has been through a lot, and you can feel her struggle in this story. While you want to shake her, Lucas gives her the voice so you can feel compassion and hope for Bella. Hamilton is the perfect voice for Axel. He needs that clean cut sound that Teddy has for him, but also gives him that alpha feel. He pulls it off without a hitch making Axel the man to love.
• 
  Quen Barlow

  YES YES YES if you don't read nothing else this year this is a must read book. Axel is cut from a different cloth and he maybe a cop but he is a gangster. Axel has loved Bella since he was a kid and though he messed up and let her go he never stopped loving her. I loved the fact that Axel never gave up on Bella and is there when she needs him. Now Axel is no saint he has his demons that he deals with on a daily basis and the biggest one is his brother who he turned his back on. I want give away anything but I will say Jeanne did a fantastic job with dealing with Zak and Axel relationship. Now Bella is one tough cookie she has been though hell and back and has managed to put herself back together again. Now only if she can allow her heart too be strong enough to love again as much as she wants Axel she has demons that will not allow her to move on. I love the relationship they have it's not easy are perfect but they fight together and it's beautiful. This book is well developed and well written and the characters are well developed and have great chemistry I highly recommend this book. The whole series is fantastic if you are looking for a real MC series this is it you will definitely not be disappointed.
  I voluntarily read a arc copy
• 
  Lee-anna Dunk

  Love this series.
  
  This series just keeps pulling me in .
  Axel and Bella gave me the feels .
  After what Bella went through at the hands of her old man Rebel to find love again when she has been so lost yet putting on a brave face all these years
  But secretly behind closed door's she was just surving . Axel has loved Bella most of his life but him being a cop amd her being a DAMC it could never work between them both their loyalties lie in different directions yet the pull between them was just to strong.
  But with people on both sides against them getting together and Bellas own insecurities about her body their relationship was nearly over before it began. I would have liked to have seen more in put from Mitch Axels dad and his mum she seems to be really under Mitch's thumb and with Bellas meltdown in the cake shop i would have liked to have found out the outcome of that and what sophia thought and why none of the other DAMC girls didnt go to Bella .
  And also why Peirce wasn't in this book because surely being ousted as the president of the MC he would want retribution? . But all in all i loved the chemistry between Axel and Bella and i hope to see more of them and how theire relationship unfolds in future books .
• 
  Erica

  OMG!!!! I want MORE!!!!
  
  Loved it!!!
  
  Bella has been one of my favourites from the beginning her story has always been on my cant wait to read list and was so glad when her story was announced. I love her strength and tenacity. I love the way she just completely fits in and stands out at the same time. Axel is an interesting choice for Bella and I can completely see why they click and why she would choose the most complicated of relationships to be in.
  
  Axel is graceful and cautious and I love his tolerance of everything the MC, Bella, the past the future everything. He absolutely steps up as a man in this installment and I hope we get more from him in the future.
  
  As a couple wow sizzling with a side of sweetness.
  
  There was a lot more involvement of the MC as a whole in this story as there was much to cover in the "blood" family side. Although not quite resolved as yet I hope to read more in the future of this development.
  
  All up incredibly awesomely good and I cannot wait to continue on with the series. My next to watch out for is Slade that guy is a MIST EERRR EEEEEE!!!!
• 
  Reva Parks

  The love story of Axel and Bella is a real tear-jerker! Axel has loved Izabella since they were in school together in the snall town of Shawdow Valley but he knew she was DAMC and that his father had made a conscious decision to become a police officer and turn his back on rearing his children with their cousins, aunts and uncles in the motorcycle club. He followed his father into the police force and worked under him. It was really hard when Izzy married Rebel, but only Axel knew the true devastation that resulted from that marriage. But he loved her through her name change to Bella, through her withdrawal from all men, 'property of no one', and the tattoo of a floweral bouquet cross her left shoulder and upper arm so she could feel beautiful again. He knew where every scar was and loved her anyway, secretly protecting her by following her home from the bakery every night. How could this ever work with her being DAMC and them hating pigs like Axel? Read this great love story to see what he suffers for Bella!
• 
  Pam Nelson

  Axel almost, almost, kicked my man Diesel from his number 1 perch. This book for me really gave me perspective into a non Dirty Angels MC character and what it’s like to be on the outside. That doesn’t mean Axel is any less Alpha or possessive because of he sure as heck isn’t.
  It was just nice to see the other side.
  
  Bella’s story broke my heart as it would anyone but her strength in the face of it all really draws you to her character. I can completely see why she didn’t want to start anything with Axel because they are from two different sides of things. But isn’t that what makes the best love stories.
  
  I swooned, I teared up, I laughed and smiled. This book really shows you all the emotions of having a tragic past but a hopeful future if you have the gut to put yourself out there to have it.
  
  What do I say about the narration that I haven’t already said about these two fantastic narrators? Ava and her man voice I swear she gives me the shivers in a great way and Teddy, oh sweet Teddy when you say the naughty words I am a pool of mush I tell ya.
  
• 
  Kari Hansen

  Axel has wanted Bella from the moment he saw her however she is part of the Dirty Angels MC and he is a cop who wants to keep his distance not only from the MC but from their President, his brother Zak.
  
  Bella has survived a horrendous marriage which has left both physical and emotional scars. Axel was there for her on the worst day of her life but she is not prepared to let anyone get that close to her again.
  
  Axel watched her marry another man once and this time he is determined to get the girl but first he must not only help her heal but he must also mend the rift between him, the MC and his brother or they will never be truly happy.
  
  Axel and Bella are perfect for each other and it was great to catch up with the characters from the previous stories. This is an emotional story about healing, forgiveness and new beginnings. I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
• 
  Amber J.

  Axel and Bella grew up together but have been kept at a distance because Axel an his Dad are both part of the police force and Bella is 100% a part of Dirty Angels MC. However, during a tragic time in Bella's life Alex is there to help her which strengthens their bond and begins Axel's pursuit of having more than friendship from a distances.
  
  Of course Axel is a smoking hot cop and Bella is a beyond beautiful biker babe so their sex is off the charts sexy and their growing relationship is off the charts sweet, endearing and the perfect blend of push and pull.
  
  As with the rest of this series, Jeanne St. James gives us characters with strength and depth. Bella is feisty and tough, wearing her "Property of No One" tee shirts. Her hurt and pain from her past runs deeps and when she breaks down it not only gutted Axel but it gutted me too. He is just the right mix of tough and sweet to help Bella put the pieces of her broken heart back together.
• 
  Amber Fueston

  There were some really good moments in this story, especially between Diesel and Axel and Zak and Axel. Some parts of it were frustrating though. The whole Warriors stealing the toys for tots thing seemed a little weak. They go from kidnapping, assault, and rape to stealing toys and pawning them? It was just weird. I also didn't care for how dumb the author made Bella out to be. For someone who claims to be 100% DAMC, she makes some really dumb choices. She risks the relationship with another club by going into their territory uninvited and without giving them a heads up. She gets close to the Warriors even though she knows what happened to Jazz and kiki and the others, not to mention her own past. I just don't get it. Until this story she struck me as a smart woman. That being said I did love how she never wavered in her loyalty to the club. It will be interesting to see how Axel fits into things going forward.
• 
  Sharon Jones

  I love this series and I couldn't wait to read this book about Axel and Bella. These two are complete opposites, but they have a connection that goes back a couple of generations.
  Axel belongs to an MC, just a completely different type to the one Bella belongs to. But even though they have many obstacles in their way, they seem to always fight to stay together.
  Axel is the right man to heal Bella. He sees past her scars, and easily declares his love for her which he has felt for so many years.
  As with all the women of DAMC, Bella is one strong woman who fights for all the people who matter in her life. This couple shouldn't work, but for some reason they just do.
  Jeanne has written another fabulous addition to what I believe is the best MC romance series, and I cannot wait for Slade's book next.
  I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book