ARC Review: Rough Ride by Kristen Ashley

Series:	Chaos #4.5
Pub. Date:	Feb. 13, 2018
Publisher:	1,001 Dark Nights
Length:	273 pgs
Source:	InkSlingrPR

Rough Ride is the latest book in Kristen Ashley’s Chaos series, and you definitely don’t want to skip this novella in the course of your reading.

If you have been following the series, you may remember Rosalie from early on, as the ex-girlfriend that Shy scraped off when he got with Tabby. Hurt and looking for her slice of happy, Rosie got involved with another motorcycle club, Bounty, through her new man, Throttle. Only Bounty is not on the right side of right like Chaos, and they have gotten embroiled in crazy ol’ Benito Valenzuela’s crime syndicate. In an effort to get her man free and clear of the mess, Rosie began informing on the club to Chaos. As you can imagine, things did not go well for Rosie when Bounty discovered her perfidy. On the mend and vowing off men, Rosie is not ready for the whirlwind of the Chaos family. I liked Rosie and what we learned of her character. This was a short novella so there was not a ton of character development, but I liked what I did see. She was loyal to her family and had good role models in her parents. It seems like Rosie’s dad was something special, and she was looking for a man to follow in the same footsteps. Like many of us, Rosie made some wrong choices, but she recognized the good when it was finally in front of her. I was glad that she didn’t try overhard to push it away, and was brave enough to accept what Chaos and our hero were offering.

ARC Review: Judgment Road by Christine Feehan

Series:	Torpedo Ink #1
Pub Date:	Jan 23, 2018
Publisher:	Berkley
Length:	462 pgs
Source:	NetGalley

I have been totally excited about this new series from Christine Feehan. I was a little worried as its a spinoff of the popular Sea Haven series and, despite my work on reading her back list, I haven't read this entire series yet. While there were a few areas where I wished I had the backstory, for the most part I was fine reading this without reading that earlier series.

So... Torpedo Ink. A motorcycle club and family forged in horrific circumstances. Seriously, the back story on these guys (and girls) is so sad and intense and sometimes hard to read. So it was emotional as hell y'all. In addition to their tortured background, these guys are trained assassins and most have some special ability. There were only light paranormal elements, not enough to really classify this as a paranormal romance, but a nice blend of fantasy and dark reality to make our characters more interesting.

ARC Review: Ride Rough by Laura Kaye

Series:	Raven Riders #2
Pub. Date:	April 25, 2017
Publisher:	Avon
Length:	320ish pages
Source:	Edelweiss

Laura Kaye is back with her next installment of the Raven Riders series... the biker gang that is more altruistic than outlaw, using their collective power for good by helping abuse victims. Ride Rough picks up shortly after Ride Hard left off, and I recommend you read the books in order so you have the back story on the characters, MC club and past events.

ARC Review: Rough & Tumble by Rhenna Morgan

Series:	Haven Brotherhood #1
Pub. Date:	Feb. 20, 2017
Publisher:	Carina Press
Length:	432 pages
Source:	NetGalley

I have been wanting to try this author since I got to hang out with her a little last year at the RT Convention (FYI - she is cool people)... but I just haven't been able to get a lot of personal reading on the calendar in the past year. Being more of a urban fantasy and paranormal fan, I expected to start with the Eden series, I even went on a one-clicking spree buying up the series with grand intentions to start ASAP. As my plans fell through in that regard, I was excited to see this new series, even though I don't read as much contemporary these days. Now I am just kicking myself for not reading her work sooner.

There's the family you''re given by birth, and there's the family you choose for yourself.

So let's start with the Haven Brotherhood. Five brothers (and two mothers) that are family, not by blood but by loyalty and obligation. They are not just rough and tumble bikers, but each brother seems to have hidden depths that the reader will love to discover as they fall in love (and lust) with these swoonworthy men. 

It's not where a man comes from, or what he wears, that matters. It's what he does with his life that counts.

Jace Kennedy is the first brother offered up for our reading pleasure, and he is an alpha male, intelligent businessman and co-founder of the Haven Brotherhood. He is also charitable and active in his community with at-risk youth, his philanthropic side being inspired by his childhood. But for all his alpha maleness, Jace has a vulnerable side that draws the reader in and, for me, created a strong emotional connection to his character. I was drawn to his character from the get-go and felt myself getting offended on his behalf when business deals tanked or were sabotaged by petty and ignorant people more worried about appearances than the good he provided for the community and his business partners.

The sooner you figure out who the hell you are on the inside, the happier you'll be.

Vivienne Moore is outwardly a straight-laced buttoned-up event planner, dressing in prim and proper business suits and living in a sterile environment. Viv didn't have the easiest childhood with an uppity mother, a drunk father, and a sister following in his footsteps. So she thinks that by suppressing her nature (and wild curly hair), she will go through life safe and bored out of her mind. Needless to say, Viv was in dire need of someone to come and mess up her perfectly boring existence. I found her to be a tolerable heroine... I usually have such a hard time with heroines in contemporary romance, they tend to get on my nerves by being overly dramatic or running away from adult situations/responsibilities, etc. However, I commend Viv on her mostly reasonable ability to stick it out with Jace even when she wasn't absolutely sure what she was doing. I think any negative feelings I had toward her were out of jealousy because I would have scooped up that man in a heartbeat so I didn't identify with her hesitance. 

The relationship was definitely the main focus of this story, so it got going pretty fast from the start. Jace is a man that knows what he wants and goes after it... but it was nice to see that he respected Viv and reined in his alpha nature so he wouldn't spook her and send her running the opposite direction. But O-M-G, the sexual tension between these two! It was off the charts. Rhenna did a great job with the build up and wrote some exceedingly steamy sexytime that is sure to satisfy any smut lover. (You know who you are!) These two interacted and communicated like mature adults, which made me happy. I hate seeing unnecessary drama these days - my drama llama tolerance is quite low.

Never underestimate a high-caliber wingman, let alone a trio.

But back to this brotherhood... man these are some yummy dudes. I think Jace may be my favorite, but he is going to have some strong competition with Axel and his playful nature and Scots brogue. Next up is Zeke's story in Wild & Sweet.

Haven Brotherhood

ARC Review: Ride Hard by Laura Kaye

Series:  Raven Riders #1

Pub. Date:  April 26, 2016

Publisher:  Avon

Pages:  320

Format:  eARC

I love the premise of this new MC Club series which is modeled after the charitable organization, Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA). Perhaps between the light being shined on the organization from Laura Kaye (and Kristen Ashley) more funds can be raised to assist those in need.

So the Raven Riders MC are a group of bad ass men (and some old ladies) who, instead of trying to be an outlaw gang, use their power, numbers and resources to help those in need, particularly women in violent situations. I liked all of the club members, who ranged from big teddy bear like characters to flirty playboys to mother figures. I think Laura has created a good foundation here for a longstanding series of swoonworthy heroes and those they protect.

This first installment is the story of the club president, Dare Kenyon, finding his HEA in the midst of turmoil. Dare has a tragic past involving an abusive father (a member of a 1%er type MC), and the loss of his mother and brother. Dare's backstory really tugged on my heartstrings and added a depth to his character that you could sink into. At 37 years old, he is quite a bit older than our heroine, but he has an immediate attraction to her beauty and vulnerability. 

Haven Randall has a tragic past of her own, being raised by a mid-level crime boss father, who treated her like a commodity to be bossed and punished at will. Haven is on the run and hiding when she is taken into the Raven Riders fold with her best friend, Cora. Unfortunately I didn't have a great connection to Haven's character. I think most of that was due to her age (22), and these younger heroines of late making me feel the need to see how many gray hairs I may be sporting. I think her personality and maturity level were on par with her age though, so it's just a personal preference thing and nothing to do with the writing style or character development. My heart did ache when Haven recounted some of the things her father put her thru, particularly the reason why she is afraid of thunderstorms. 

While the book took place only over the course of a month, this did not feel like a story of insta-love. Haven and Dare grew closer together at a steady pace, which accommodated Haven's past experience and naivety. I loved that Dare wanted to be the one to introduce her to new experiences, but sometimes I felt like his maturity level dropped to match hers. But again that could be me wishing for older heroines, particularly when the hero is my age.

All-in-all, this was a solid start to the series and I was glad to get in on the front end so I can follow the new releases as they come out. I received an advanced copy of this book from Avon via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. 3.5 stars / 3 flames.

About the Author

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over twenty books in contemporary and paranormal romance and romantic suspense, including the Hard Ink and upcoming Raven Riders series. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

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Review: Soulless by T.M. Frazier

Soulless 
by T.M. Frazier
Series:  King #4
Pub. Date:  Feb. 17, 2016
Publisher:  Self-Pub
Pages:  279
Format:  eARC
Source:  TRSOR Promotions


My Rating:  
Sultry Scale:

The finale to Bear and Thia's epic love story.

I have come to expect one thing from T.M. Frazier, and that is to expect the unexpected. She always throws some crazy twists in that I never see coming. And Soulless was no different, there were definitely some W-T-F eyebrow-raising moments.

Review: Strip You Bare by Maisey Yates

Strip You Bare 
by Maisey Yates
Series:  Deacons of Bourbon Street #4
Pub. Date:  Jan. 5, 2016
Publisher:  Loveswept
Pages:  200
Format:  eARC
Source:  NetGalley


My Rating:  
Sultry Scale:

Sparks fly when a society belle and a biker with a troubled past get down and dirty in the Big Easy. Maisey Yates turns up the heat in the sizzling finale of a series co-written with Megan Crane, Rachael Johns, and Jackie Ashenden.

Micah Carpenter hates New Orleans. Hell, after ten years he no longer has much affection for the Deacons of Bourbon Street motorcycle club, either. But when the brotherhood calls, Micah answers. Joining the hunt for their mentor’s killer, he crosses paths with a Southern belle who exudes class—and sex appeal. Micah knows better than to mess with ice princesses: No matter how hot things get, they never melt. And yet he can’t stop himself from offering her a taste of the wrong side of the tracks.

Sarah Delacroix understands that reputation is everything. The daughter of a prominent family rocked by scandal, she’s desperate to restore their good name. Micah’s exactly the kind of man she should be avoiding. Behind his sleek and sophisticated exterior beats the heart of a predator—and she knows it. But, like the tattoos beneath his tailored suit, his rough edges are irresistible. And all too soon Sarah finds him getting under her skin . . . and living out every one of her hottest fantasies.

This is the final installment of the Deacons of Bourbon Street series. I would recommend that you read the series in order as it involves a continuing story line wherein 4 badass bikers are searching for who killed their club president. Each book has followed one of the bikers to claim their women while investigating the seedier side of New Orleans to find the one responsible for Priest's death.

Micah "Prince" Carpenter is not like the other Deacons. For starters, he rides his bike in a very expensive suit. He also owns several hotels in California, New York and London. But he is still a big bad tattooed biker, and throws on his persona when necessary.

The woman Micah will claim is southern debutante, Sarah Delacroix. If you read the earlier books, you will recognize the Delacroix name. Sarah is Leon "Blue" Delacroix's cousin. Sarah is always perfectly coiffed and composed, and wouldn't dare do a thing to slight the family name. When confronted by this alpha biker sitting in her house like a king in his castle, it takes every bit of her learned grit to not let him ruffle her feathers.

Unfortunately, I ended up skimming a lot of this book. While I liked the concept of both characters, I just couldn't connect to either one. While I wanted to find out what happened to Priest, I also was not as invested in the storyline. I don't know what happened - it could be a reading slump coming on. It was definitely interesting reading a series where each book was written by a different author. I won't say that all the writing styles meshed perfectly, but it was a good opportunity to find and sample new authors.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

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Deacons of Bourbon Street

Review: Hold Me Down by Jackie Ashenden

Hold Me Down
by Jackie Ashenden
Pub. Date:  Dec. 8, 2015
Publisher:  Loveswept
Pages:  216
Format:  eARC
Source:  NetGalley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


My Rating:  
Sultry Scale:

When the biker who broke her heart rides into town, a woman must choose between passion and duty. Jackie Ashenden ups the ante in a seductive series co-written with Megan Crane, Rachael Johns, and Maisey Yates.

Leonidas “Blue” Delacroix might be the prodigal son of New Orleans aristocrats, but the Deacons of Bourbon Street are his real family. And with their patriarch murdered, Blue wants nothing more than to unleash hell on the motorcycle club’s enemies—even if it means taking up arms against the girl who used to be his best friend. She’s done quite a bit of growing up, and suddenly their chemistry is red-hot. But where’s the line between ruthless seduction and sweet temptation?

For Alice Day, loyalty is everything. When Blue skipped town, she had no choice but to adopt a new family: their rivals, the Graveyard Ministry. Seeing him again reawakens old feelings . . . and fiery fantasies. Alice could never forget the scent of leather on his skin—just as she could never forgive the sting of his betrayal. But while the Ministry has treated her like one of their own, Blue is part of her soul. And as their liaisons hit the boiling point, Alice trusts her heart with the deadliest choice of her life.

This is my first read by Jackie Ashenden, and I can definitely say that I will be reading a lot more. She does raw and gritty very well, which fits perfectly into this series set in New Orleans. When I first started the Deacons series, I wasn't sure how I would feel about each book being written by a different author. But I have to say that I have really enjoyed getting to know all of these new authors!

So the series is continuing with the Deacons of Bourbon Street back in New Orleans following the suspected murder of their former president, Priest. So far, the series has revolved around four main Deacons - Ajax, Cash, Blue and Prince. The first two books follow Ajax (President), Cash (kinda the Treasurer I would say), and this book features Blue (Vice-Pres) as the group investigate the death of Priest, and claim their women in the process.

Leon "Blue" Delacroix is not your average biker. I mean he has all the rough and tumble alpha qualities... but there is more. He comes from family money and the Delacroix name seems to be well-known around town. But after his father shattered Blue's illusions about family and relationships, Blue patches in with the Deacons. But not long after, a Deacon deal goes bad and Priest sends them out of the city in exile. They left everyone and everything... and now 10 years later they are back in a big way. One of my favorite aspects of Blue's character (other than his gruff alpha male yumminess) was his FIDELITY! Yes, you read that right. A biker that doesn't sleep around and takes relationships seriously. Where can I find one???

Alice "Red" Day was childhood friends with Blue - her mother used to clean the Delacroix home and Ally would tag along to help and hang out with Leon. Ally was devastated when Blue left without a word, and she suffered a couple other tragedies in short order after he left. Seeking family and safety, she joined the Ministry. No matter her reasons, she is now a traitor in the eyes of the Deacons. But that magnetic draw to Blue is still there, and her loyalties are being pulled in every direction. Ally was definitely not your average heroine - she preferred leather pants to short skirts, and she is a mechanic. I liked that she was part tough chic but still had a vulnerability that I could identify with.

There was a lot of angst and drama in this romance, a lot of push and pull. Normally that can get on my nerves - but I actually enjoyed it in this book. Jackie Ashenden did a good job of drawing you into the story so I was feeling the emotions right along with our main characters. This book also reminded me of how much of an a$$hole Ajax really is - I had forgotten that about his book. We didn't see much Cash, but got a few glimpses of Prince. I am looking forward to seeing what Maisey Yates does with his character. A biker in a suit is definitely going to be interesting.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

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Deacons of Bourbon Street