Ride Steady (Chaos #3) by Kristen Ashley @KristenAshley68

Advance copy received in exchange for an honest review Euphoric feelings consumed me as I queued Ride Steady on my kindle, knowing I’m about to visit a world I dearly missed…On a forecourt off Broadway sits RIDE and the brothers of the Chaos Motorcycle Club. It’s home to my FAVORITE bikers. This time, it’s Joker’s story. He, as well as Carissa, took my hand and led me on a profound journey chock-full of everything I cherish from a Kristen Ashley novel. Heart-racing drama. Hardship and despair. Love of family, brother-hood and sister-hood. Hope and healing. And most importantly…undying desire and passion. No one pens a story like this author. She has the power to bring me to an entirely different level. Ride Steady was one of those reads I could not put down, grabbing me from the first word, then rocking my world with an overwhelmingly emotional epilogue. It was an absolutely remarkable experience. Carson Steele… In the prologue we see a young Carson and let me tell you, his suffering made my heart bleed. Treated terribly by an abusive bastard of a father, very little joy cut through the darkness that suffocated his life. The only gentleness that touched his world were a handful of friends, a concerned teacher, observing a lovingly playful father and son in the shadows of a mechanic’s garage and a lovely young girl - who fueled Carson with hope and whose light served as a means of escape from his horrors. For years, Carson worshiped Carissa from afar and believing he was unworthy of her beauty completely destroyed me. When deciding to free himself from his father’s tyranny, Carson sees Carissa one last time, and she foretold the unimaginable – a future filled with hope. How I desperately hoped Carson would find exactly what he deserved – he made my heart ache. His childhood left him emotionally scarred and feeling worthless and me a blubbering, tearful mess.  Joker… Working hard to turn his life around, Chaos eventually became his family. With Tack as their leader, they took Joker on as one of their own, offering brotherhood, freedom and the beginnings of a ‘beautiful life’. However, Joker held his cards close and remained mysterious. I freaking love a damaged, broken hot guy and Joker was seriously emotionally wrecked. He’s a fighter, a survivor, but the demons of his past still haunt his gorgeous steel gray eyes.  And on a chance encounter, on Interstate 25, this badass biker finds himself facing beauty from his past…Carissa. Butterfly… The once cheerleader and homecoming queen, now recently divorced (from a major dirt bag son-of-a-bitch ass that I freaking loathed) and new mom to the super adorable Travis, finds herself in a bind. Life has not been kind to Carissa and she too pulled on my heartstrings. Stranded, all alone and overcome with insecurities, I just wanted to embrace her and make all her woes disappear. Her life takes a turn when she encounters the uber-sexy bad boy biker who saves the day…Joker.  I simply loved Carissa. She was beyond sweet and her character radiated an aura of gentleness, compassion and kindness. She loves to a fault and is funny in a cute, quirky kinda way. I adored her courage and optimism despite the constant blows she’s endured.  Her character, for me, possessed a hint of innocence – especially when entering the world of Chaos MC, where she is lovingly welcomed. I adored her tenacity. Carissa wanted Joker and was determined to insert herself into his life, not allowing him to freeze her out. Their scorching romance was amazingly moving and their back and forth chit-chat was hysterical. Joker is a supreme bad ass with an icy cold exterior freezing out all from seeing his inner turmoil. But once Carrie and baby Travis broke down his walls, I fell in love with his tenderness. How he loved her and their off the charts passion, had me swooning and melting. I fell deep for all things Joker – his grittiness, his passion, and his torments – he was the perfectly shattered hero I wanted to see healed. As with all of KA Alpha’s – Joker’s edgy side remained raw, unbelievably sexual, dominant and demanding. And that’s exactly what I crave from her men. They never loose their sense of command and control. What touched me the most was the blossoming relationship between Joker and Travis. It was so endearing witnessing an insanely sexy man take-on such a sweet, loving little boy. Their moments together swelled my heart with joy. I’m completed hooked on Kristen Ashley’s writing style and the way she tells a love story, it’s become an obsession. Ride Steady was THE PERFECT fix for my addiction. And HOLY SHIT! KA kicked my Alpha fix up a notch with an EPIC, all-out badass fest. One thing I look forward to (aside from her hot sex scenes, gorgeous macho men, and HOT sex scenes) is seeing some of my old loves pop into a new story. I was elated…they were crawling all over this read and it was scrumptious. Needless to say, my man Tack was heavily involved in this story (YIPPIE)!! No spoilers as to what other dudes made cameo appearances, but I will say that a certain character, that I’ve hungered to see join forces with the Chaos crew, finally came into play. I was in total Alpha-heaven and bubbling with delight. Ride Steady was a brilliant 5-star read for me. Page after page, I fell hopelessly in love with this story as Joker, Carissa and Travis burrowed their way deep with in my heart. I never wanted the ride to end. It could be read as a standalone, but honestly, it would be a disservice not to read the series in its entirety. With great sadness, I had to say goodbye to my Chaos loves, but not for long! The Chaos saga continues with High’s story – Walk Through Fire.

When We Collide by A.L. Jackson

4 heart-breaking stars 

ARC received courtesy of InkSlinger PR in exchange for an honest review

Holy WOW. I was not prepared, at all, for William and Maggie’s love story. I've read and enjoyed melancholy romances before, but this was by far the most somber read…EVER. I had no clue jumping in that it involved a victim of abuse – and was absolutely taken aback by the severity of it. My poor, sweet Maggie. Her woes brought me to cry ugly tears.

Her circumstances caused my blood to boil. I was so consumed with RAGE and ANGER; I wanted nothing more than to strangle her abuser. This was by no means a lighthearted read, but one that twisted and turned my feelings.

This is not a romance I will soon forget. It was not an “enjoyable” read for me per se, but an extreme heart wrenching experience that caused my emotions to collide. The way in which A.L. Jackson penned this story, I really felt each of the main character’s anguish. William and Maggie’s love and life experiences were difficult to take.  Envisioning Maggie’s horrific life and the extreme cruelty towards her, broke my heart into pieces and infuriated me beyond reason. Her character was so gentle and kind, for most of the read, I was wishing for her to finally find the peace and happiness she so deserved.

William…I liked his character, but his wallowing in self-pity and the way his six-year absence negatively affected so many lives, exasperated me. Yeah, I felt bad that Maggie crushed his heart, but it ticked me off that he gave up on her so easily and took his sweet time to fight and win her back.

 And Troy, the sick bastard…

I don’t think I’ve EVER despised a character more than him. He was despicable. His reign of terror and abuse towards Maggie shredded me.

All in all, When We Collide was a good read, but also very dark, intense and emotionally draining. That being said, I would have liked more insight into William and Maggie’s relationship beginnings. The flashbacks gave me an “insta-romance” feel, and for them to share such a great and powerful love, I wanted more time spent diving deeper into their love affair.  This is not for the faint of heart, but a good recommendation for readers who enjoy tales filled with turmoil and angst.

Let it Be Me ~ By Barbara Speak

  3.5 ~ 4 Stars

ARC received from author in exchange for an honest review 

Barbara Speak gives us a heartwarming story of two people, both victims of circumstance, whose paths have joined them together. Arianna Dubray, a likeable yet overly dramatic young girl, finds herself in a new town and a new life – none of it is welcomed or of her choosing. Her character had my sympathies as she greatly suffers from the secrets she carries, an abusive stepfather, a neglectful mother and the forced changes in her world. Arianna’s saving grace is a sexy and sweet cowboy I’ve come to adore…Canyon Michaels.

He’s hot, charismatic, patient and amazingly kind. Canyon offers a friendship to Ari when she is at the lowest point in her life. Both main characters struggle with emotional pain and the only comfort they find is within each other’s arms. I enjoyed seeing their friendship grow and blossom into love.

Let it Be Me was a slow moving read at first, but the storyline picks up during the second half as secrets begin to unravel and the bonds of their relationship deepens. I found myself constantly guessing as to what troubles were buried in Ari’s past. There’s lots of drama in this read and a cast of characters I’ve come to adore, especially Shelby (Ari’s cute little sister), and some I totally despised, that added the element of angst to the story. Some laughable moments and times I found myself frustrated – mainly with Ari’s melodramatic persona. But all in all, the heavy dose of heartache and heart mending, laced throughout the story, was emotionally touching. Happy there’s no cliffhanger, and looking forward to Canyon and Ari’s continuing saga in Let it Be Us.

Kane's Hell by Elizabeth Finn

 4 Stars

ARC received from author in exchange for an honest review

Kane’s Hell was an emotionally gripping tale that absolutely gutted me. Elizabeth Finn has the ability to weave incredibly beautiful love stories with such intensity, angst, heartache and drama.

I have to confess, found myself stepping away from this read a few times, because it was difficult to absorb all the tragedies the main characters, Kane and Helene, endured as teenagers. It sent me reeling. Terror befell this couple and it saddened me greatly to see how it destroyed their lives and drove them apart. One night changed the course of their lives and their relationship, as they experienced a taste of hell at the hands of a madman. And be warned, some flashback scenes were disturbingly graphic, yet necessary to connect with each character’s pain.

My heart ached for both, when seeing their jovial spirit and friendship destroyed, especially Helene. Seeing her pain touched me. Although she is a strong heroine, it was tough witnessing her struggles, dealing with the aftermath and her solitude. Barely surviving, her only coping mechanism was to throw herself into her studies and her job. Kane’s abandonment left her with no other option, until he returned and fell back into her life.

Kane is a beautifully broken hero. At first, his man-whorish ways ticked me off and it took some time for me to look beyond his gritty and sometimes brutish character. I was angered that he left Helene alone to suffer silently for over eleven years. But that all changed when I dove deeper into his persona to see how guilt utterly consumed him. My adoration for Kane grew as I saw the extent of his pain and his journey towards healing. In a way, he suffered alone just as much as Helene. Above all, I wanted to reach in, grab hold and make all of Kane’s guilt, shame and troubles disappear.

Kane’s Hell is a deep, powerful love story of suffering devastation, forgiveness, hope and the healing power of love. There were moments of sadness, and moments of off the charts passion. The main character’s horrific tragedy brought me to the brink of tears and emotionally devastated me…only to be slowly pieced back together through Finn’s story telling magic.  As always with this author’s tales, be prepared for an intense ride.

 

 

 

One to Save by Tia Louise

I really need to catch up on this series. Derek is one hell of a sexy Alpha and I fell in love with him in the first installment, One to Hold.  One to Save gives a glimpse into the continuing story of Melissa and Derek’s passionate romance. Tia Louise did not disappoint in laying out a storyline filled with steam, mysteries and angst. I just go weak in the knees and all swoony when a hero goes above and beyond the pale to protect his woman. Derek is my kind of knight in shining armor. Sexy, domineering and possessive, nothing will stop him when it comes to Melissa’s wellbeing. He would move heaven and hell to assure no harm comes her way. Derek stands in the line of fire to eliminate all threats at all costs…to the point of sacrificing himself for her and their child. Guarding her from danger, Derek manages to wound her heart by keeping secrets. Information that he holds near to shield Melissa has affected their relationship. Not disclosing certain information creates a rift between this couple, endangering a happy future together. I can’t fault Melissa for being upset with Derek’s intention to keep her in the dark regarding what lengthens he went through to protect her. But sometimes given his business, certain actions are necessary. Melissa has a tendency of taking things to an extreme and causing excessive drama. She’s stubborn and unreasonable in creating more hurdles for this pair to overcome, hurting Derek needlessly in my opinion. However Derek remains strong. The intensity of his love for Melissa is heartwarming. He is true and dedicated. That’s what I admire about his character aside from all his sexiness - his overwhelming commitment to shield his lover and family, especially given Melissa’s background. I enjoyed catching up with this sexy couple. Derek, as usual, was alluring and charming. One to Save was a quick enticing read jam packed with hot sex, drama and suspense. I can always count on Tia for a deliciously spicy tale.

Deep (Stage Dive #4) by Kylie Scott @KylieScottbooks

Why…WHY does it have to end? Stage Dive is one of my favorite rock-star reads and I hate – absolutely LOATHE the fact that Ben’s book marks this series’ finale. Kylie Scott has the knack of writing the most delicious, lighthearted romances that combines sizzling sexy bad-boy rockers, sassy chicks, laugh out loud antics and steamy passionate moments which always leaves me breathless. Reading Deep was bittersweet because I’ll sincerely miss this loony crew, especially my man, Mal. I’m a total Stage Dive fan-girl groupie. Poor Lizzy. Being Anne’s little sister and Mal’s sister-in-law, she easily fell into this band’s family and caught sight of Ben…the sexy, bearded bass player. After lusting and drooling over this bad ass for what seems like forever, she finally gets her shot at one night of unbridled passion, the likes of which were not only earth shattering, but also life altering – in a HUGE way. However, their one time Vegas fling did not end so well, which left her utterly crushed. All hopes of putting their tryst behind her is now impossible...She’s knocked up. Young, single, alone and preggers, Lizzy manages to suck it up, lay out a new plan for her future, break the news to Ben  (Cue in major freak-out - dude did not take the news so well) and face the possibility that she will take on parenthood all on her own.   Liz was a heroine that I could not help but admire. She’s the master of sarcasm and I loved the back and forth banter between her and Ben through their texts and phone conversations. She’s got attitude, but has a sweet and gentle loving side.  And it goes without saying - Lizzy is patient, especially dealing with Ben and his standoffish manner. I felt heartbroken at times because I sensed her affections towards the likes of Ben were one sided and her character struggled. Between raging pregnancy hormones, pent up horniness, meddling friends/family and a less than enthusiastic baby daddy, Liz has her hands full, yet never lost her sense of self and sense of humor. She is my favorite heroine of the series. Oh Ben, seriously, I wanted to knee you in the nuts and smack some sense into you. I really wanted to love Ben from the start, but he pissed me off…the big bearded relationship and commitment phobe jerk. Ugh! He flat-out frustrated me with his aloof demeanor and being scared shitless of Lizzy's situation. Yeah, he was sexy in a brooding panty melting way and his dirty talk was hot, but he’s a bit too self absorbed. That didn’t give me the warm and fuzzies towards his character. HOWEVER, when he FINALLY pulled his head out of ass and dropped his guard, he was sweet, loving and affectionate. Near the bitter end of the story, his gentle side broke through in the way he cared for Liz, and the seductive rocker won me over. It wasn’t easy, with all the drama he created, but I was so happy he was able to turn my feelings for his character around. I walked away adoring Ben. All in all, I enjoyed Deep and truly sad to see these characters’ stories come to an end. I will miss them, especially Mal’s crazy shenanigans. The ending was a bit too rushed for me. Letting go of these characters was difficult enough; I wanted to savor each and every one of them a little longer. Nonetheless, I absolutely love Scott’s clever mix of sex and humor, which flowed throughout each one of her tales. Her witty writing style places her high on my ‘must read’ authors list.