Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Ride Rough by Laura Kaye - Review


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Author: Laura Kaye
Publication Date:  25 April, 2017
Publisher: Avon Books
Series:  Raven Riders, book 2
Genre:  Contemporary Romance, MC based
Age Recommendation: 17 and up
Rating: 4 Stars

Book Description:

Brotherhood. Club. Family.
They live and ride by their own rules.
These are the Raven Riders...

Maverick Rylan won’t apologize for who he is—the Raven Riders Motorcycle Club Vice-President, a sought-after custom bike builder, and a man dedicated to protecting those he loves. So when he learns that the only woman who has ever held his heart is in trouble, he’ll move heaven and earth to save her.

Alexa Harmon thought she had it all—the security of a good job, a beautiful home, and a powerful, charming fiancé who offered the life she never had growing up. But when her dream quickly turns into a nightmare, Alexa realizes she’s fallen for a façade she can’t escape—until sexy, dangerous Maverick offers her a way out.

Forced together to keep Alexa safe, their powerful attraction reignites and Maverick determines to do whatever it takes to earn a second chance—one Alexa is tempted to give. But her ex-fiancé isn’t going to let her go without a fight, one that will threaten everything they both hold dear.


My Review:

Laura Kaye always gives me a book I didn't even know I needed.  I fell in love with her through her Hard Ink series and I just fall deeper and deeper with each Raven Riders book.  There is just something about the way she writes her heroes that completely melts readers hearts.  These guys are heroes in the truest sense.  They're alphas out to protect the vulnerable, in fact this is the basis on which the Raven Riders live.  They protect those who are unable to protect themselves and they do it with so much heart and passion that they simply make the reader want to be a better person.

Maverick's world is the Raven Riders M.C.  He not only dedicated himself to his brothers, their way of life, their mission but after loosing the one woman he had ever loved because of the MC he sank deeper into his role as V.P.  Five years after losing the love of his life, Alexa returned bruised and broken.  Maverick's instincts scream out to protect her but its hard to protect someone who doesn't think they need it....that is until they do.

Alexa Harmon left Maverick and the Raven Riders M.C. after the death of her brother from a motorcycle accident.  Alexa can't stay and watch the other man in her life that she loves suffer the same fate and he since he can't/won't walk away from his brothers she has to walk away from him.  For 5 years Alexa has been building a life that will give her everything she thinks she wants, but it turns out that the grass really isn't greener on the other side, that money, 'normalcy', consistency...none of those things equal safety or in the end love.

As always the story that Laura weaves pulled me right in.  There is something extra special about the Raven Riders, much like the men of Hard Ink and as soon as you start reading you find yourself immersed into their world.  She 'paints' such a vivid picture it feels like you are right there watching it all play out in front of your eyes.  I loved Maverick and I loved him with Alexa.  He's a rough and tumble guy with a heart and soul of gold.  His love for his brothers, his mother, Alexa it is all right there laid out for everyone to see.  He may be a bad arse but that doesn't keep him from showing his soft side to those he loves.  My only challenge and what kept this from being a 5 star read for me was Alexa.  As much as I wanted to love her I just never truly clicked with her.  I understand the reason she left Maverick, I understand her hesitation to leave Grant her fiancé, what I didn't get was her solid belief that she had to keep working for him, or her apparently easy ability to jump from Maverick to Grant then right back to Maverick with out batting an eye lash.  Laura is always very careful about making sure her heroines (who are always kick butt women, even when they have been used and abused, figuratively and literally) have their time.  They are always given the respect that they deserve, they are always given the time that they need and while Alexa was afford that through Maverick I was completely taken aback by her rush to jump back into an intimate relationship or any romantic relationship with Mav so suddenly.

 Other than that throwing me a bit off this was another fantastic read for me from Laura Kaye.  I loved getting to catch up with all the other characters, even a quick hello from the Hard Ink team.  There are a few things in the book that are hard to read, the abuse in Alexa's relationship, the injury of some beloved characters, the 'illness' of Alexa's mother...there are several things that will have you wiping away tears but they all build a beautiful story of redemption, hope, and love.  If you are a Laura Kaye fan this is a must read.  If you are new to Laura, don't start here but definitely start.  I would suggest going all the way back to Hard Ink if you can but if not start with the crossover novella Hard as Steel and then get ready to have a new group of men and women etched on your heart.

~ HAPPY READING ~ 




Laura Kaye is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romance and romantic suspense, including the Hard Ink, Heroes, and Hearts of the Anemoi series. Laura's hot, heartfelt stories are all about the universal desire for a place to belong. Laura grew up amidst family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses, cementing her life-long fascination with storytelling and the supernatural. Laura 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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