Ride Rough
(Raven Riders #2)
by Laura Kaye
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: April 25, 2017
Genre: Romance
Rating:
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 thoughts…
We met Alexa briefly in the last book when she showed up at the MC club shaken and bruised. However, she didn’t stick around long and wound up going back to her fiance. Ride Rough starts off with Alexa fretting over being late to get home and have dinner waiting on the table for her fiance. Right away you are aware that something isn’t right. She’s worked a full day at his company and she’s in a panic that she won’t be presentable and have dinner on the table by the time he walks through the door. The first quarter of the book is of Alexa sort of in denial that she’s in an abusive relationship. I mean, it’s not like her fiance has actually raised his hand and hit her. So, everyone’s concern is for nothing, right? Thankfully, Maverick has been tailing her and keeping an eye on her since she randomly showed up at the clubhouse, and is there for her in her time of need.
One thing I want to point out is that these two had a relationship prior to her being engaged. They actually sort of grew up together since her brother and Maverick were the best of buds. However, when her brother died in a motorcycle accident she ups and leaves him and falls right into the arms of Slater, her now fiance. For me, I just didn’t fully grasp her reason for leaving him and immediately getting in a relationship with someone else. Sort of like I didn’t fully understand how you can hit your limit with the abuse you’ve endured, decide to leave them, and then just about immediately sleep with someone else. To say Alexa’s character was all over the place is an understatement. I get that they had a history but the way she flips partners was a little off-putting and to not use a condom with the new guy when you’ve just had sex sans condom with the other guy creeped me out. I’m not overly sure if Alexa was just naive and thought her birth control pill covered her and in turn Maverick from STD’s or if she was in lala land that her abusive fiance couldn’t possibly cheat on her. I mean, the abusive jerk has some pretty good morals after all. *total sarcasm there*
Regardless of my issues with Alexa, I really liked Maverick’s character. I almost wish we just had his POV because I just couldn’t stand Alexa. He’s caring, passionate, protective, and easy going. He seems like the kind of guy that you can count on when you’re in a pinch. Plus, I LOVED that when he takes Alexa and her cat in after she leaves her fiance, he goes out of his way and buys her cat a crap ton of stuff, even a skull and crossbones sweater. I’d also like to say that Lucy the cat was probably my favorite character in this book. I loved that the author included a bath time scene with Lucy where the cat plays in the water. I mean, I’ve watched a couple videos of sphynx cats enjoying their bath time and I loved that we got to see Lucy play in the water too.
While Ride Rough wasn’t my favorite, I still enjoyed seeing the gang. I still love that it’s not a bad-boy MC biker gang like all the other MC romances out now. One story I’ve been dying to get my hands on since the first book is Slider and Cora’s story. Thankfully their book is next and I don’t have to wait too long. I’ve been watching their story continue to be stagnant for two books now and I’m ready to see the fire light under their butts.
Favorite quote…
“Abuse is insidious, Alexa. That’s why it’s so effective at tearing you down and stripping you of your defenses, you support system, your independence.”
Previous reviews from Raven Riders
Ride Hard
I think for most of these stories, they just worry about pregnancy since they can imagine the way out of STDs. 🙂 I haven’t read a Laura Kaye book in a while now and I do think I need to pick up this series.
I loved her Hero series. I actually think those were the first books by her that I read but it had been a while since I picked up her newer stuff.
These types of reads are always good for a weekend read when you just want to escape for a little bit. Wonderful review for this!
It’s a shame that you didn’t like Alexa very much, it really ruins the read when you can’t stand one of the main characters. At least, Maverick made up for it, right?
I love Kaye, but wasn’t sure I would enjoy this MC spinoff. Maverick sounds great. What a bummer about Alexa though.
A shame that you had issues with Alexa. It does sound like a good read though.