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Ready to Ride #3
Riding Steele
In the arms of an outlaw, she found the freedom to live out her wildest fantasies. Don't miss this scorching erotic romance from New York Times bestselling author Opal Carew, now available for the first time as a complete novel!
When Laurie is kidnapped by bikers, she has no idea her life is about to change forever. From the moment she meets Steele—their sinfully sexy leader—she can't deny their fierce attraction. Even though she's completely at his mercy, his eyes soften when he looks at her, and the others in his gang know she's strictly hands off. But the more time she spends with Steele, the more her body insists she wants his powerful hands all over her.
Now she's about to discover a new life on the open road…and what it means to be part of a gang that shares everything. At first their wanton lifestyle shocks her senses—but once she's had a taste of life on the edge, will she ever want to leave?
When Laurie is kidnapped by bikers, she has no idea her life is about to change forever. From the moment she meets Steele—their sinfully sexy leader—she can't deny their fierce attraction. Even though she's completely at his mercy, his eyes soften when he looks at her, and the others in his gang know she's strictly hands off. But the more time she spends with Steele, the more her body insists she wants his powerful hands all over her.
Now she's about to discover a new life on the open road…and what it means to be part of a gang that shares everything. At first their wanton lifestyle shocks her senses—but once she's had a taste of life on the edge, will she ever want to leave?
288 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2015
27 people are currently reading
1278 people want to read
About the author
Opal Carew
166 books1,892 followersNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Opal Carew loves cats, Zentangle, and wild nail polish!
http://www.opalcarew.com/
http://us.macmillan.com/author/opalcarew
http://www.opalcarew.com/
http://us.macmillan.com/author/opalcarew
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
May 8, 2015
This novel is the updated, combined parts of the Riding Steele series (Kidnapped, Untamed, Collide, Wanted, Crossroads, Aftershock). Although this is the third novel in the series it can be read as a standalone – therefore you won’t be confused going in.
Storyline: Laurie has just realised how abusive and psychotic her boyfriend, Donovan, is but she’s too afraid to get on his bad side. Her brother, Craig, steps in and hires an MC gang to keep an eye on her, to keep her safe until he comes back. Her brother actually suggests to kidnap her but it’s against Steele’s code of honour. But that all blows to hell when her boyfriend steps it up in his sick little game. Therefore, being blamed as kidnappers Steele, Laurie and his gang need to figure a way out to their situation.
My thoughts: First off this book is…
And this will definitely be happening!
This mc gang are full of very masculine men. They are dangerous, are a couple of bad asses AND they share EVERYTHING. Ladies and Gentlemen I do mean everything *wink, wink, nudge, nudge*.
Laurie as per her past/present has become a traumatised individual after being abused by her boyfriend in and out of the boudoir. She’s innocent and naive. She’s like a sponge that soaks up things around her from being submissive to being able to survive in her world.
I loved that at the beginning the author showed a realistic view to being kidnapped. Laurie is of course frightened and tries at many times to escape. She shows true resistance to it all.
Steele is one sexy and possessive leader of an mc gang. Steele had a sister named Chrissy who died at the age of eighteen. He continuously feels guilty for not protecting her more and blames himself for her death. As such, he feels responsible for helping women in Laurie’s shoes. He's a leader who devotes, respects and will protect his men no matter what.
Seriously people this man is masculine in every meaning of the word. Come on! He has the looks, the dominance, the menace, the gang, the hot bod, the sweet side and the side that can rock your world until you’ve had your own little electric jolt…
Hot damn!!! I think I am having a heart attack!
SERIOUSLY who wouldn’t want a man that brings you hot chocolate when feeling like a sad case...
Warning: If you haven’t already noticed this novel involves mmf, mf, mm, mmmf, voyeuristic romps, and some group participation. Yes, this was pretty damn steamy, I mean YUMMY. However, I felt like Steele should have been more possessive of her and not put her into some situations, especially because of what she has been through with Donovan.
At times the whole chemistry, plot and falling in love felt very rushed and that everything was happening fast. However, this didn’t deter from the story.
I also enjoyed the realistic premise of when her boyfriend
Overall, a 4 star rating. I will definitely be checking up on the other novels in the series.
ARC kindly provided by St Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review (**above quotes taken from the ARC given).
Storyline: Laurie has just realised how abusive and psychotic her boyfriend, Donovan, is but she’s too afraid to get on his bad side. Her brother, Craig, steps in and hires an MC gang to keep an eye on her, to keep her safe until he comes back. Her brother actually suggests to kidnap her but it’s against Steele’s code of honour. But that all blows to hell when her boyfriend steps it up in his sick little game. Therefore, being blamed as kidnappers Steele, Laurie and his gang need to figure a way out to their situation.
My thoughts: First off this book is…
And this will definitely be happening!
This mc gang are full of very masculine men. They are dangerous, are a couple of bad asses AND they share EVERYTHING. Ladies and Gentlemen I do mean everything *wink, wink, nudge, nudge*.
Laurie as per her past/present has become a traumatised individual after being abused by her boyfriend in and out of the boudoir. She’s innocent and naive. She’s like a sponge that soaks up things around her from being submissive to being able to survive in her world.
I loved that at the beginning the author showed a realistic view to being kidnapped. Laurie is of course frightened and tries at many times to escape. She shows true resistance to it all.
Steele is one sexy and possessive leader of an mc gang. Steele had a sister named Chrissy who died at the age of eighteen. He continuously feels guilty for not protecting her more and blames himself for her death. As such, he feels responsible for helping women in Laurie’s shoes. He's a leader who devotes, respects and will protect his men no matter what.
Seriously people this man is masculine in every meaning of the word. Come on! He has the looks, the dominance, the menace, the gang, the hot bod, the sweet side and the side that can rock your world until you’ve had your own little electric jolt…
Should he slide his cock in her sweet, luscious mouth first, or glide into her hot, melting pussy?
Hot damn!!! I think I am having a heart attack!
SERIOUSLY who wouldn’t want a man that brings you hot chocolate when feeling like a sad case...
Warning: If you haven’t already noticed this novel involves mmf, mf, mm, mmmf, voyeuristic romps, and some group participation. Yes, this was pretty damn steamy, I mean YUMMY. However, I felt like Steele should have been more possessive of her and not put her into some situations, especially because of what she has been through with Donovan.
At times the whole chemistry, plot and falling in love felt very rushed and that everything was happening fast. However, this didn’t deter from the story.
I also enjoyed the realistic premise of when her boyfriend
Overall, a 4 star rating. I will definitely be checking up on the other novels in the series.
ARC kindly provided by St Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review (**above quotes taken from the ARC given).
December 28, 2015
Review copy provided via NetGalley
Note: Riding Steele is a serialized novel in the Ready to Ride series that is being released in 6 installments, and will also be published in one volume. I am reviewing this serial as one complete piece of work.
Why I Read this Book: First, I have a confession to make: I am not a fan of serials. It feels like a marketing ploy to get more money for what is essentially ONE book and I do not have the patience to wait for the next ‘installment’, especially when being left with cliffhangers. With Riding Steele being the 3rd book in a series, I don’t understand why the decision was made to chop this book up into 6 parts. However, I couldn’t resist reading Riding Steele because it’s an MC Romance and I’m a sucker for those.
What I Liked: I had only requested the first installment, as this is a new-to-me author and I wasn’t sure what to expect being that this is part of a serial, but the writing captured my attention enough for me to quickly request the rest of the installments. Riding Steele has an interesting premise, and I was curious to find out why the bikers would kidnap Laurie, and what would happen with her once they had her in their hold.
There was some interesting backstory with Steele and with Laurie. There’s a sad and unfortunate event that took place in Steele’s life. Laurie is trying to break things off with her overbearing boyfriend. These elements shaped who these characters are.
I really liked and appreciated how each installment started off with the last scene that took place in the preceding installment. While I pretty much read these installments back-to-back, readers who choose to read this serial in installments as they come out will surely appreciate this.
What I Didn’t Like: There was no real hierarchy in the ‘club’ so it didn’t really feel like an actual MC to me. Steele is referred to as the “leader”, not president, and none of the other members had a role in the club. It was just a group of guys, and a woman, who hang out and ride together. Not exactly the type of foundation I look for in a MC romance but I’ll take it. And the way the guys funded their simplistic lifestyle was a bit farfetched. None of the guys had a job, that I recall.
Let’s talk about the sex. I like smut but this was a bit too much for me. Not necessary a bad thing, just not my thing as I prefer one-on-one relationships while Steele doesn’t mind sharing his woman. I hadn’t read either of the other two books in this series, and the blurb didn’t give any hint of how erotic this story is, so I had no idea until about 1/3 of the way into the 2nd installment.
Also, giving someone not one, but two safe words doesn’t sound like a good idea to me. Laurie is not experienced in BDSM, so for Steele to give her two safe words with two different meanings to remember didn’t make sense to me.
And for all the boinking going on, nobody used a condom nor did anyone talk about birth control of any sort. After seeing an orgy take place before her very eyes, I’d have thought Laurie would have insisted on protection. She doesn’t know any of these people, and they’re casually swapping and sharing sexual partners.
Lastly, Laurie and Steele’s relationship was an insta-love, which is not my favorite.
Overall Impression: Riding Steele was a good read though it was a little too bow-chicka-wow-wow for my liking, which I was totally unprepared for as there was NO indication to the level of erotica mentioned in the blurb. But for those who enjoy extremely erotic romance (we’re talking orgies, sharing partners, BDSM elements, and M/M action) and enjoy MC romance, I’d say this is the book for you.
Let’s talk price: If you’re a fan of serials and love the anticipation that comes with them, and don’t mind paying more to be able to read each installment as soon as it comes out ($1.99 for about 35-40 pages, which comes to about $12 for all 6 installments), then I would say to get them as they come out. There were minor cliffhangers at the end of each installment but nothing too extreme that I couldn’t wait a week for the next installment. But if you’re like me and would rather read Riding Steele in its entirety all at once, then wait until the complete novel releases in March 2015 and get it at the discount price of $3.99. [Note: Prices noted were taken from Amazon when this review originally posted on 11/4/2014.]
Note: Riding Steele is a serialized novel in the Ready to Ride series that is being released in 6 installments, and will also be published in one volume. I am reviewing this serial as one complete piece of work.
Why I Read this Book: First, I have a confession to make: I am not a fan of serials. It feels like a marketing ploy to get more money for what is essentially ONE book and I do not have the patience to wait for the next ‘installment’, especially when being left with cliffhangers. With Riding Steele being the 3rd book in a series, I don’t understand why the decision was made to chop this book up into 6 parts. However, I couldn’t resist reading Riding Steele because it’s an MC Romance and I’m a sucker for those.
What I Liked: I had only requested the first installment, as this is a new-to-me author and I wasn’t sure what to expect being that this is part of a serial, but the writing captured my attention enough for me to quickly request the rest of the installments. Riding Steele has an interesting premise, and I was curious to find out why the bikers would kidnap Laurie, and what would happen with her once they had her in their hold.
There was some interesting backstory with Steele and with Laurie. There’s a sad and unfortunate event that took place in Steele’s life. Laurie is trying to break things off with her overbearing boyfriend. These elements shaped who these characters are.
I really liked and appreciated how each installment started off with the last scene that took place in the preceding installment. While I pretty much read these installments back-to-back, readers who choose to read this serial in installments as they come out will surely appreciate this.
What I Didn’t Like: There was no real hierarchy in the ‘club’ so it didn’t really feel like an actual MC to me. Steele is referred to as the “leader”, not president, and none of the other members had a role in the club. It was just a group of guys, and a woman, who hang out and ride together. Not exactly the type of foundation I look for in a MC romance but I’ll take it. And the way the guys funded their simplistic lifestyle was a bit farfetched. None of the guys had a job, that I recall.
Let’s talk about the sex. I like smut but this was a bit too much for me. Not necessary a bad thing, just not my thing as I prefer one-on-one relationships while Steele doesn’t mind sharing his woman. I hadn’t read either of the other two books in this series, and the blurb didn’t give any hint of how erotic this story is, so I had no idea until about 1/3 of the way into the 2nd installment.
Also, giving someone not one, but two safe words doesn’t sound like a good idea to me. Laurie is not experienced in BDSM, so for Steele to give her two safe words with two different meanings to remember didn’t make sense to me.
And for all the boinking going on, nobody used a condom nor did anyone talk about birth control of any sort. After seeing an orgy take place before her very eyes, I’d have thought Laurie would have insisted on protection. She doesn’t know any of these people, and they’re casually swapping and sharing sexual partners.
Lastly, Laurie and Steele’s relationship was an insta-love, which is not my favorite.
Overall Impression: Riding Steele was a good read though it was a little too bow-chicka-wow-wow for my liking, which I was totally unprepared for as there was NO indication to the level of erotica mentioned in the blurb. But for those who enjoy extremely erotic romance (we’re talking orgies, sharing partners, BDSM elements, and M/M action) and enjoy MC romance, I’d say this is the book for you.
Let’s talk price: If you’re a fan of serials and love the anticipation that comes with them, and don’t mind paying more to be able to read each installment as soon as it comes out ($1.99 for about 35-40 pages, which comes to about $12 for all 6 installments), then I would say to get them as they come out. There were minor cliffhangers at the end of each installment but nothing too extreme that I couldn’t wait a week for the next installment. But if you’re like me and would rather read Riding Steele in its entirety all at once, then wait until the complete novel releases in March 2015 and get it at the discount price of $3.99. [Note: Prices noted were taken from Amazon when this review originally posted on 11/4/2014.]
May 30, 2015
Overall Hotness Rating 5 out of 5
Riding Steele is the 3rd book of the Ready to Ride series by Opal Carew. It is also split up in six parts installments. I will review each installment individually, but give an overall view of the book, as well.
Riding Steele: Kidnapped
Hotness Rating 3 out of 5
First off, warning this first installment Kidnapped is very mild overall. It quickly turns into a hotness rating of 5 and boy is it spicy. Expect your Kindle or e-reader to smoke. I also must advise that each of these installments are very short stories, but you will be hooked from the very first chapter. I couldn't read it fast enough.
Riding Steele: Kidnapped the first part of the Riding Steele book is a great introduction to our super hot, alpha leader of the local MC. Steele is everything you could want in a bad*ss biker and he delivers in a big way.
We also get to meet Laurie and the douchebag that she's currently dating. Her brother jokingly mentions to Steele and his guys that he's leaving on a trip and maybe they should kidnap Laurie while he's gone for her protection. He doesn't trust Donovan the douchebag and is worried what may happen while he's gone.
Steele and his bad*ss bikers just happen to be at the bar where Laurie and Donovan have stopped at to celebrate their anniversary. Although, he can tell that Donovan is indeed an *sshat he makes it very plain to his men that Laurie is not to be kidnapped as he walks out of the bar.
However, things didn't go as planned. He comes back later to find the sexy and scared Laurie handcuffed to his bed.
"How the hell did you miss that the plan was NOT to kidnap the woman?"
Riding Steele: Untamed
Hotness Rating 5 out of 5
If you read the first installment and have never read an Opal Carew book before this installment may very well make you gasp. Expect your Kindle or e-reader to smoke. Expect group sex and steaming hot, alpha males that have no problem sharing. I also must advise that each of these installments are very short stories, but you will be hooked from the very first chapter. I couldn't read it fast enough.
Riding Steele: Untamed is the second part of the Riding Steele book and gives us more insight into the members of the MC that kidnapped Laurie and their individual personalities.
In this part, Laurie is still scared for her safety thinking she escaped a potentially horrible situation with her boyfriend to only find herself in a more dangerous spot. Although, she does admit that she's been treated as nothing short of a welcomed guest. Well, except the handcuffing and such, but that's to keep her from running away. She just doesn't trust that things aren't going to change to bad really quick. She will stop at nothing to make her escape, break up with Donovan, and get back to her life.
Steele has gone to great lengths to make Laurie feel safe, but he knows that she's always looking for a chance to escape. It's all adding to his stress. First, he is constantly battling his attraction to her and now he's having to hold her against her will for her own good.
Riding Steele: Collide
Hotness Rating 5 out of 5
By the time you've gotten to this third part you are familiar with Opal Carew's spicy, off-the-charts graphic sex scenes. I realize some have huge issues with how Opal writes these scenes. They are very open and not-so-safe practices. Normally, this would bother me, but I think it doesn't because this MC is a very intimate group that doesn't expand or accept new members on a whim. It's almost more like a steady relationship amongst the entire group with one man being the actual boyfriend. Hard to explain, but easier for me to deal with.
Riding Steele: Collide is the third part of the Riding Steele book.
In this part Laurie comes back to the house with a police escort. Just her luck she happens to find the one cop who knows her brother and has ties to the MC.
Laurie admits to the pull she feels towards Steele and really the group as a whole if only to herself. She also begins to see that her situation with Donovan could have ended much worse than just being slapped around a little bit. Not that that's even okay.
Steele gets the heads up from law enforcement saying that Donovan is pressing charges stating that Laurie has stolen a very expensive necklace from him. The very same necklace that he gave her at the bar on the night of their anniversary dinner. He knows it's a trick to get her back in his hands. Which leaves him no choice, but to go on the run with Laurie to keep her safe.
Riding Steele: Wanted
Hotness Rating 5 out of 5
Riding Steele: Wanted is the 4th part of the Riding Steele book and this one just keeps getting spicier and spicier. And you would think it couldn't get any hotter!
In this installment Laurie and Steele are on the run. Laurie is accused of stealing Donovan the douchebag's diamond necklace and the police are looking to bring her in. That's the least of her problems. If she gets back into Donovan's hands she has no doubts that she won't live to tell about it. Hence the whole running from the law part.
Steele and Laurie have begun to explore the attraction between them and sparks are flying like someone threw firecrackers into a fire. It moves quite fast in this part. First, Laurie is too shy for the group sex that seems to be the norm amongst the MC and then all of a sudden the group meets up with them and she's offering herself up. Don't get me wrong this doesn't bother me so much (see above comment in Collide review) it just was kind of rushed from "I can't do that to jump on guys". I was thinking maybe she would first explore with Steele and one of the guys and then slowly work up to the entire group, I guess.
Steele gets mad at Laurie and takes off on his bike leaving Laurie with the other bikers and on the run feeling very alone and confused. Heck, I'm confused. He's good with the sharing. He even encouraged it, but then gets all jealous and leaves her. Men! *big sigh*
Riding Steele: Crossroads
Hotness Rating 5 out of 5
Riding Steele: Crossroads is the 5th part of the Riding Steele book and boy is it a doozy. Expect dark and disturbing in this short installment.
Steele has run off because of jealousy leaving Laurie in the hands of his guys. The police have contacted them saying if Laurie just brings the necklace and drops it off at the police station all charges will be dropped. With no way to get ahold of Steele it's left in the hands of Rip to make the decision.
He takes Laurie to the police station in what amounts to a set-up that anyone could see coming from a mile away. Laurie is back in the hands of a very pissed off Donovan hell-bent on making her pay for all that she's done to him. I have to say his creativity and depravity knows no bounds.
Meanwhile, Steele has checked back in and sets out to save his woman. After finding her it's clear that there are more than just physical scars that need to heal.
Riding Steele: Aftershock
Hotness Rating 5 out of 5
Riding Steele: Aftershock is the sixth and final installment of the Riding Steele book. Aftershock is aptly named, that's for sure. Steele has rescued Laurie and is trying to help her deal with the PTSD from her abduction and torture at the hands of her once boyfriend.
Before Laurie was abducted she had a lot of anxiety about having a real relationship with Steele. She was raised in a home that never had roots and her memories of that time weren't great. All she ever wanted was to make a home and stay there. That is definitely not Steele's kind of life. However, things have changed now. She is ready for a life with Steele no matter where that takes her.
Unfortunately, he's taken that choice out of her hands by making the decision for both of them. Steele makes me so mad in this installment. He justifies his actions by saying he's doing what's best for Laurie. And in his head it very well may be. But, he gets over his "doing what's best for Laurie" period when he sees her with another man.
Thoughts about the entire six books
Hang onto your booties. This book will take you on a wild ride and you won't want to get off. It had it's weak points, but as a whole I loved it! I'm not sure if reading it broken into six parts helped it or hurt it, but it worked for me. Beware though, if you don't have all six books at the ready you will regret it! Huge cliffhangers await you at the end of each part.
You can find this review and others at www.riverinaromantics.com
Riding Steele is the 3rd book of the Ready to Ride series by Opal Carew. It is also split up in six parts installments. I will review each installment individually, but give an overall view of the book, as well.
Riding Steele: Kidnapped
Hotness Rating 3 out of 5
First off, warning this first installment Kidnapped is very mild overall. It quickly turns into a hotness rating of 5 and boy is it spicy. Expect your Kindle or e-reader to smoke. I also must advise that each of these installments are very short stories, but you will be hooked from the very first chapter. I couldn't read it fast enough.
Riding Steele: Kidnapped the first part of the Riding Steele book is a great introduction to our super hot, alpha leader of the local MC. Steele is everything you could want in a bad*ss biker and he delivers in a big way.
We also get to meet Laurie and the douchebag that she's currently dating. Her brother jokingly mentions to Steele and his guys that he's leaving on a trip and maybe they should kidnap Laurie while he's gone for her protection. He doesn't trust Donovan the douchebag and is worried what may happen while he's gone.
Steele and his bad*ss bikers just happen to be at the bar where Laurie and Donovan have stopped at to celebrate their anniversary. Although, he can tell that Donovan is indeed an *sshat he makes it very plain to his men that Laurie is not to be kidnapped as he walks out of the bar.
However, things didn't go as planned. He comes back later to find the sexy and scared Laurie handcuffed to his bed.
"How the hell did you miss that the plan was NOT to kidnap the woman?"
Riding Steele: Untamed
Hotness Rating 5 out of 5
If you read the first installment and have never read an Opal Carew book before this installment may very well make you gasp. Expect your Kindle or e-reader to smoke. Expect group sex and steaming hot, alpha males that have no problem sharing. I also must advise that each of these installments are very short stories, but you will be hooked from the very first chapter. I couldn't read it fast enough.
Riding Steele: Untamed is the second part of the Riding Steele book and gives us more insight into the members of the MC that kidnapped Laurie and their individual personalities.
In this part, Laurie is still scared for her safety thinking she escaped a potentially horrible situation with her boyfriend to only find herself in a more dangerous spot. Although, she does admit that she's been treated as nothing short of a welcomed guest. Well, except the handcuffing and such, but that's to keep her from running away. She just doesn't trust that things aren't going to change to bad really quick. She will stop at nothing to make her escape, break up with Donovan, and get back to her life.
Steele has gone to great lengths to make Laurie feel safe, but he knows that she's always looking for a chance to escape. It's all adding to his stress. First, he is constantly battling his attraction to her and now he's having to hold her against her will for her own good.
Riding Steele: Collide
Hotness Rating 5 out of 5
By the time you've gotten to this third part you are familiar with Opal Carew's spicy, off-the-charts graphic sex scenes. I realize some have huge issues with how Opal writes these scenes. They are very open and not-so-safe practices. Normally, this would bother me, but I think it doesn't because this MC is a very intimate group that doesn't expand or accept new members on a whim. It's almost more like a steady relationship amongst the entire group with one man being the actual boyfriend. Hard to explain, but easier for me to deal with.
Riding Steele: Collide is the third part of the Riding Steele book.
In this part Laurie comes back to the house with a police escort. Just her luck she happens to find the one cop who knows her brother and has ties to the MC.
Laurie admits to the pull she feels towards Steele and really the group as a whole if only to herself. She also begins to see that her situation with Donovan could have ended much worse than just being slapped around a little bit. Not that that's even okay.
Steele gets the heads up from law enforcement saying that Donovan is pressing charges stating that Laurie has stolen a very expensive necklace from him. The very same necklace that he gave her at the bar on the night of their anniversary dinner. He knows it's a trick to get her back in his hands. Which leaves him no choice, but to go on the run with Laurie to keep her safe.
Riding Steele: Wanted
Hotness Rating 5 out of 5
Riding Steele: Wanted is the 4th part of the Riding Steele book and this one just keeps getting spicier and spicier. And you would think it couldn't get any hotter!
In this installment Laurie and Steele are on the run. Laurie is accused of stealing Donovan the douchebag's diamond necklace and the police are looking to bring her in. That's the least of her problems. If she gets back into Donovan's hands she has no doubts that she won't live to tell about it. Hence the whole running from the law part.
Steele and Laurie have begun to explore the attraction between them and sparks are flying like someone threw firecrackers into a fire. It moves quite fast in this part. First, Laurie is too shy for the group sex that seems to be the norm amongst the MC and then all of a sudden the group meets up with them and she's offering herself up. Don't get me wrong this doesn't bother me so much (see above comment in Collide review) it just was kind of rushed from "I can't do that to jump on guys". I was thinking maybe she would first explore with Steele and one of the guys and then slowly work up to the entire group, I guess.
Steele gets mad at Laurie and takes off on his bike leaving Laurie with the other bikers and on the run feeling very alone and confused. Heck, I'm confused. He's good with the sharing. He even encouraged it, but then gets all jealous and leaves her. Men! *big sigh*
Riding Steele: Crossroads
Hotness Rating 5 out of 5
Riding Steele: Crossroads is the 5th part of the Riding Steele book and boy is it a doozy. Expect dark and disturbing in this short installment.
Steele has run off because of jealousy leaving Laurie in the hands of his guys. The police have contacted them saying if Laurie just brings the necklace and drops it off at the police station all charges will be dropped. With no way to get ahold of Steele it's left in the hands of Rip to make the decision.
He takes Laurie to the police station in what amounts to a set-up that anyone could see coming from a mile away. Laurie is back in the hands of a very pissed off Donovan hell-bent on making her pay for all that she's done to him. I have to say his creativity and depravity knows no bounds.
Meanwhile, Steele has checked back in and sets out to save his woman. After finding her it's clear that there are more than just physical scars that need to heal.
Riding Steele: Aftershock
Hotness Rating 5 out of 5
Riding Steele: Aftershock is the sixth and final installment of the Riding Steele book. Aftershock is aptly named, that's for sure. Steele has rescued Laurie and is trying to help her deal with the PTSD from her abduction and torture at the hands of her once boyfriend.
Before Laurie was abducted she had a lot of anxiety about having a real relationship with Steele. She was raised in a home that never had roots and her memories of that time weren't great. All she ever wanted was to make a home and stay there. That is definitely not Steele's kind of life. However, things have changed now. She is ready for a life with Steele no matter where that takes her.
Unfortunately, he's taken that choice out of her hands by making the decision for both of them. Steele makes me so mad in this installment. He justifies his actions by saying he's doing what's best for Laurie. And in his head it very well may be. But, he gets over his "doing what's best for Laurie" period when he sees her with another man.
Thoughts about the entire six books
Hang onto your booties. This book will take you on a wild ride and you won't want to get off. It had it's weak points, but as a whole I loved it! I'm not sure if reading it broken into six parts helped it or hurt it, but it worked for me. Beware though, if you don't have all six books at the ready you will regret it! Huge cliffhangers await you at the end of each part.
You can find this review and others at www.riverinaromantics.com
February 24, 2015
3.5 Guilty stars
ARC generously provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This is what I refer to as a Junk Food read. There isn't anything really substantial to the story, the writing is good, the story line (instant love) a bit far fetched, but one you just can't seem to get enough of.
Laurie has found herself in a bad relationship, one that she needs to end before it gets anymore abusive. However when she does that she sees what her boyfriend is really like. The last thing Laurie expected was to be rescued by some biker and then be kidnapped by him.
The next thing Laurie knows is that she is being kept in a house by a group of bikers who keep telling her they are watching her for her own good. She doesn't know what to think. Then when she tries to escape she witnesses a scene between several of the bikers and the one female that rides with them. Laurie can't help but to watch and be distrubed by how much it turns her on.
Steele, the leader of the bikers, wants Laurie more then he has ever wanted another woman, but he knows she doesn't trust him and doesn't belong in this world, however that doesn't stop the urges. Soon Steele and Laurie give in to their lust, which opens doors to Lauries sex life she never knew she wanted open. However their bliss is cut short when her ex is determined to get her back and hurt her.
Soon Laurie and Steele are finding themselves experiencing things they never thought possible.
So like I said this is pure junk food for the brain, however it is fun and hot and you can't help but to love the characters. It is a quick fun read.
Links
ARC generously provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This is what I refer to as a Junk Food read. There isn't anything really substantial to the story, the writing is good, the story line (instant love) a bit far fetched, but one you just can't seem to get enough of.
Laurie has found herself in a bad relationship, one that she needs to end before it gets anymore abusive. However when she does that she sees what her boyfriend is really like. The last thing Laurie expected was to be rescued by some biker and then be kidnapped by him.
The next thing Laurie knows is that she is being kept in a house by a group of bikers who keep telling her they are watching her for her own good. She doesn't know what to think. Then when she tries to escape she witnesses a scene between several of the bikers and the one female that rides with them. Laurie can't help but to watch and be distrubed by how much it turns her on.
Steele, the leader of the bikers, wants Laurie more then he has ever wanted another woman, but he knows she doesn't trust him and doesn't belong in this world, however that doesn't stop the urges. Soon Steele and Laurie give in to their lust, which opens doors to Lauries sex life she never knew she wanted open. However their bliss is cut short when her ex is determined to get her back and hurt her.
Soon Laurie and Steele are finding themselves experiencing things they never thought possible.
So like I said this is pure junk food for the brain, however it is fun and hot and you can't help but to love the characters. It is a quick fun read.
Links
April 9, 2016
What a rush! Carew’s hot & steamy writing combines with this intensely suspenseful story to create something unforgettable. She takes the world of Ready to Ride to a whole new level with this novel, developing the plot far beyond what we’d seen in the previous novellas, and giving readers the fast paced ride of a lifetime. Sensuality and sexuality rule the day, adding to the intensity of the story.
I loved getting to know Steele better. The events in his past come to light in a way that really highlights who he is today. His caring nature wars with his need to be dominant, creating the ultimate, alpha biker. Laurie’s personal growth and self-discovery throughout was quite enlightening. It made her seem so real. Her vulnerability contrasts with and highlights Steele’s strength like nothing else could. Carew also delves deeper into the rest of the bikers in this first full length novel of her Ready to Ride series. I appreciated how much fuller the story became once the others were more well-rounded individuals.
Carew had me hooked from beginning to end with this one. It was a complex and fascinating tale that was also hot as sin.
I loved getting to know Steele better. The events in his past come to light in a way that really highlights who he is today. His caring nature wars with his need to be dominant, creating the ultimate, alpha biker. Laurie’s personal growth and self-discovery throughout was quite enlightening. It made her seem so real. Her vulnerability contrasts with and highlights Steele’s strength like nothing else could. Carew also delves deeper into the rest of the bikers in this first full length novel of her Ready to Ride series. I appreciated how much fuller the story became once the others were more well-rounded individuals.
Carew had me hooked from beginning to end with this one. It was a complex and fascinating tale that was also hot as sin.
June 2, 2015
3.5 stars
NOTE: I originally read RIDING STEELE as a 6 part serial. You can find my full review of each part on GR here: https://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8...
What you see below are my final thoughts !!
**
RIDING STEELE is not your typical MC storyline. Yes, there are moments of questionable acts, some graphic language and shared beds, but overall it reads more vanilla in nature than many of the MC tropes I have previously read. The writing style is simple; there were no anxious moments or questions of intent; the storyline is predictable with a happily ever after. I am not even sure if the small biker gang went by any other name.
So, if you are new to the MC storyline, RIDING STEELE is more fluff than substance. It is a simple read; the characters and personalities are not too deep-what you get is mostly on the surface. Any and all potential problems are easily solved without too much drama.
NOTE: I originally read RIDING STEELE as a 6 part serial. You can find my full review of each part on GR here: https://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8...
What you see below are my final thoughts !!
**
RIDING STEELE is not your typical MC storyline. Yes, there are moments of questionable acts, some graphic language and shared beds, but overall it reads more vanilla in nature than many of the MC tropes I have previously read. The writing style is simple; there were no anxious moments or questions of intent; the storyline is predictable with a happily ever after. I am not even sure if the small biker gang went by any other name.
So, if you are new to the MC storyline, RIDING STEELE is more fluff than substance. It is a simple read; the characters and personalities are not too deep-what you get is mostly on the surface. Any and all potential problems are easily solved without too much drama.
December 26, 2015
Holy Hot
I really enjoyed this book. I liked the premise of the book and felt the author delivered on a hot biker hot. Opal Crew did a great job drawing the reader into Steele and Laurie's world. I
I liked the suspense and felt that it contained the right level of drama for the book. Steele didn't want to get involved but thanks to Wild Card he has no choice . He must protect Laurie at any cost.
It was also one smoking hot read. The author certainly knows how to write a sex scene.
Certain aspects of the book aren't believable, who falls in love after 1 day, but I liked the connection between the characters and it kept me entertained
I was gifted a copy for a honest review
I really enjoyed this book. I liked the premise of the book and felt the author delivered on a hot biker hot. Opal Crew did a great job drawing the reader into Steele and Laurie's world. I
I liked the suspense and felt that it contained the right level of drama for the book. Steele didn't want to get involved but thanks to Wild Card he has no choice . He must protect Laurie at any cost.
It was also one smoking hot read. The author certainly knows how to write a sex scene.
Certain aspects of the book aren't believable, who falls in love after 1 day, but I liked the connection between the characters and it kept me entertained
I was gifted a copy for a honest review
September 24, 2016
Riding Steele : Untamed is starting to get interesting, even though I find it hard to read each installment one at a time. It picks up directly where the cliffhanger from book #1 left off.
Read More. . . http://www.romanceswithalittlekick.co...
Read More. . . http://www.romanceswithalittlekick.co...
October 15, 2014
review to come
December 30, 2018
So I won this book many moons ago as a Goodreads Giveaway. This one made it to the top of a pile, so I read it. There are a ton of them I haven't gotten to yet, but 2019 will be my year to halve the pile I hope!
My oh my... the write up for this one does not even come close to describing everything that is in this book. I'm not squeamish about what I read most of the time (with the exception being graphic horror) but this book just wasn't really my cup of tea. I did not, however, rate this book based on my dislike of the subject matter, but based on the book itself.
My first complaint is that the book is so repetitive. The same stuff is said over and over ad naseum, with little deviation. From reading the blurb, I see that this book I received was originally published as a 6-part serial, but that doesn't excuse it being present. I hate reading a passage and then an hour later coming across another passage that was almost verbatim what I read earlier.
My second complaint is the characters and their motivations. I REALLY hate books where one only one character is expected to make dramatic life changes as demanded by another. There needs to be give and take by both sides. And then on top of that, the demanding character flies off in a huff (er rides?) when the other person doesn't immediately comply. Let's completely forget the whole Dom-sub aspect of this relationship and just focus on the fairness of it.
Okay, and now let's focus on the Dom-sub aspect... I really don't like books where the sub goes from one Dom (usually it's someone like Donovan, who is a violent Dom with no morals) to another Dom without enough cool off time. I'll give the author some credit, Laurie showed enough PTSD-type reactions, but still. This is just a pet peeve of mine.
And the whole Sharing-is-caring thing... I don't know... I just can't see someone in Laurie's situation going into that hornet's nest so blindly and willingly so quickly. It's just too implausible to me.
My oh my... the write up for this one does not even come close to describing everything that is in this book. I'm not squeamish about what I read most of the time (with the exception being graphic horror) but this book just wasn't really my cup of tea. I did not, however, rate this book based on my dislike of the subject matter, but based on the book itself.
My first complaint is that the book is so repetitive. The same stuff is said over and over ad naseum, with little deviation. From reading the blurb, I see that this book I received was originally published as a 6-part serial, but that doesn't excuse it being present. I hate reading a passage and then an hour later coming across another passage that was almost verbatim what I read earlier.
My second complaint is the characters and their motivations. I REALLY hate books where one only one character is expected to make dramatic life changes as demanded by another. There needs to be give and take by both sides. And then on top of that, the demanding character flies off in a huff (er rides?) when the other person doesn't immediately comply. Let's completely forget the whole Dom-sub aspect of this relationship and just focus on the fairness of it.
Okay, and now let's focus on the Dom-sub aspect... I really don't like books where the sub goes from one Dom (usually it's someone like Donovan, who is a violent Dom with no morals) to another Dom without enough cool off time. I'll give the author some credit, Laurie showed enough PTSD-type reactions, but still. This is just a pet peeve of mine.
And the whole Sharing-is-caring thing... I don't know... I just can't see someone in Laurie's situation going into that hornet's nest so blindly and willingly so quickly. It's just too implausible to me.
June 12, 2017
Laurie has been seeing Donovan, but he has been getting more and more demanding in the bedroom to the point of abuse. Her brother is worried about her and asks his biker friends to kidnap her in order to keep her safe from Donovan. It takes Laurie a while to warm up to the bikers who have kidnapped her, but she definitely feels attracted to Steele, the leader of the bikers. As she begins to understand their lifestyle, she realizes that being dominated doesn't mean giving up the power of choice or free will.
Opal Carew always manages to write enticing erotic scenes in her books, but sometimes, as in this book, some of the events seem contrived and unrealistic. Overall, however, this was a good quick read.
Opal Carew always manages to write enticing erotic scenes in her books, but sometimes, as in this book, some of the events seem contrived and unrealistic. Overall, however, this was a good quick read.
September 27, 2022
Gave this one a shot even though I do not like motorcycle romances… Still not my cup of tea but I liked this more than other ones I’ve read. What I liked though was that there is mm action even though it is a motorcycle romance…
In short:
Heroine 3/5 => She is naïve and innocent
Hero 3/5 => Too possessive even though he likes to share.
Plot 3/5 => The plot was okay. Wished for more…
Secondary Characters 3/5 => They liked to share and shared they did.
Humor 1/5 => There was no humor if you asked me.
Drama 2/5 => The Drama is there but it is not significant.
Heat 5/5 => Just whew… hot howt hoooottt! The action is over the charts.
Romance between characters 3/5 => Is there romance or just lust?
In short:
Heroine 3/5 => She is naïve and innocent
Hero 3/5 => Too possessive even though he likes to share.
Plot 3/5 => The plot was okay. Wished for more…
Secondary Characters 3/5 => They liked to share and shared they did.
Humor 1/5 => There was no humor if you asked me.
Drama 2/5 => The Drama is there but it is not significant.
Heat 5/5 => Just whew… hot howt hoooottt! The action is over the charts.
Romance between characters 3/5 => Is there romance or just lust?
December 17, 2020
This story is my favorite by this author. Steele and his biker gang are tough but they are so great and willing to rescue Laurie from an abusive guy. I love Steele's tenderness and protectiveness toward Laurie though she attempts to run away from him & his gang multiple times. I just cannot comprehend the sex part with multiple partners but never once mention protection when Laurie only knows the group for short amount of time? Laurie's lucky to find Steele who truly loves her and rides with the group in the end. The story is somewhat unbelievable in some areas but overall, it's a fast-paced and satisfying read.
December 4, 2016
This was only my second book by Opal Carew. Riding Steele started off a but rough. Instead of feeling like the start of a story, I got that some feeling when you start watching a movie that you had never seen before half way through. It was interesting but all of the characters had already been established.
Steele overall was a nice guy, but like any typical bad boy he was a bit of a dick. Laurie was nice, if a little naive.
Steele overall was a nice guy, but like any typical bad boy he was a bit of a dick. Laurie was nice, if a little naive.
October 26, 2020
This is a good book.
When I first started reading I thought this was more like the other MC novels I have read in the past, but I was wrong. This group of bikers are nomads and there is only one woman that rides with them, well...so far anyways. Laurie is stuck in a bad situation, but her brother is trying to look out for her.
This story was hot and I loved how Laurie found what she was really looking for in a man and in life.
When I first started reading I thought this was more like the other MC novels I have read in the past, but I was wrong. This group of bikers are nomads and there is only one woman that rides with them, well...so far anyways. Laurie is stuck in a bad situation, but her brother is trying to look out for her.
This story was hot and I loved how Laurie found what she was really looking for in a man and in life.
October 16, 2017
So I'm slowly getting into the MC
sub-genre. It's a culture I grew up around (not in an actual club), so I'd always been leary of reading what others fantasized it might be like. Other than the blatant sharing, this one hit home. And I love the tattoo image in the back; might have to save that one to add to mine.
sub-genre. It's a culture I grew up around (not in an actual club), so I'd always been leary of reading what others fantasized it might be like. Other than the blatant sharing, this one hit home. And I love the tattoo image in the back; might have to save that one to add to mine.
December 27, 2017
I liked this one but sort of had to suspend belief in a few areas. I did like how close Steele's crew was, loved that from the first they all tried to protect Laurie and accepted her quickly. I especially loved the bonding moment at the end with Laurie, Raven and Shock.
March 18, 2022
This just wasn't realistic. The way these characters act seem so forced and awkward. And Laurie's reactions to intimacy after going through an abusive relationship just seemed odd. The entire book just felt choppy and repetitive. 😕
December 20, 2019
The only thing ickier than this book is the fact that a WOMAN actually wrote this crap.
June 10, 2022
Everything about this book annoyed me. The characters were just meh. There was no character development. They kept mistaking Laurie for Raven. It took a lot of will power to finish this one.
October 3, 2022
No plot what’s so ever. Not good 😅
November 21, 2024
It had a trope in it that I'd never understood until this book. Now, perhaps
June 21, 2022
DNF 50%. It's just too painful to listen to a story when an author has no idea what they're writing about.
March 17, 2015
ARC provided by St. Martin's Press via NETGALLEY for an honest review.
I first got to read this really sexy and thrilling story when it was published as 6 installments. It was fantastic then and even better when I read it as a novel. Part of the appeal of the installment is the thrill the cliffhanger gives you just by being a cliffhanger (if that makes any sense lol) and I thought for sure when I read the novel, that thrill would be gone. But it wasn't. If anything, I felt even more anxious when I read this novel and I just couldn't put it down! It's not like I didn't know what was going to happen, but of course the small details that make up Laurie and Steele's relationship I didn't recall as vividly so it was FANFRIKKINTASTIC reading it again! My girlie parts were at FULL ATTENTION every time these two were together! ***fans myself*** just recalling ....
Here's how the story goes .....
So the story starts out with Steele celebrating his birthday at the same bar that Laurie is meeting her then boyfriend Donovan. One of the MC members witnesses Laurie being roughed up in the parking lot by Donovan and knocks him out and basically kidnaps Laurie. But Laurie is not exactly grateful, she's actually even MORE scared now and doesn't quite comprehend what's happening to her. She of course tries to escape the MC gang to no avail a few times. Her attraction to Steele grows every day, but she's still very apprehensive. They are absolute polar opposites in everything! Which of course is what makes for a very exciting and juicy read! The MC gang has zero problems with sharing partners, multiple partner hook-ups and all kinds of other juicy :) sexual acts ... but that's not Laurie...or maybe it is?! ;)
Laurie is really messed up in the head from her relationship with Donovan. The man is a GRADE-A asswipe and very abusive! She has serious trust issues with not only herself, but trusting Steel. Will she finally give in to her growing desire to this man who seems to only want to keep her and protect her? Will everything blow-up in her face if she does? (hint: she gives in and it is SCORCHING FRIKKIN HOT in all kinds of different manners) ~~ I must tell you that Steele's growth as a man and lover is one of the most heart-wrenching and warming reads I have had the pleasure to be a part of in a while!
But that's not all Laurie has to deal with! In the mist of all of this, she's wanted for theft! Yes kids, Donovan has told the cops that she stole from him a high value piece of jewelry. SO the MC gang has no choice but to go on the run with Laurie until they can figure a way out of this mess because Laurie is now one of THEM :) and they protect their own! Their attempts at fixing this little problem blow up in their faces and doesn't go well at all! SO Laurie ends up kidnapped again, but this time by Donovan himself. And let's just say that boy is one depraved soul! But Laurie's grown some much needed balls since he's last seen her so she doesn't take what he dishes out quietly (you go girl!)
Will Steele and his guys be able to save the day? Do Steele and Laurie have a future together?
I think I've told you enough of this story that I should at least leave the end for you read :) I will tell you that because of Laurie's past, she craves stability and normalcy in her life and because of Steele's background, the open road is the only thing that gives him solace. Will love be able to conquer them?
I shed a few tears in this book, especially at it's conclusion. It was a really great conclusion to this very scorching story!
I first got to read this really sexy and thrilling story when it was published as 6 installments. It was fantastic then and even better when I read it as a novel. Part of the appeal of the installment is the thrill the cliffhanger gives you just by being a cliffhanger (if that makes any sense lol) and I thought for sure when I read the novel, that thrill would be gone. But it wasn't. If anything, I felt even more anxious when I read this novel and I just couldn't put it down! It's not like I didn't know what was going to happen, but of course the small details that make up Laurie and Steele's relationship I didn't recall as vividly so it was FANFRIKKINTASTIC reading it again! My girlie parts were at FULL ATTENTION every time these two were together! ***fans myself*** just recalling ....
Here's how the story goes .....
So the story starts out with Steele celebrating his birthday at the same bar that Laurie is meeting her then boyfriend Donovan. One of the MC members witnesses Laurie being roughed up in the parking lot by Donovan and knocks him out and basically kidnaps Laurie. But Laurie is not exactly grateful, she's actually even MORE scared now and doesn't quite comprehend what's happening to her. She of course tries to escape the MC gang to no avail a few times. Her attraction to Steele grows every day, but she's still very apprehensive. They are absolute polar opposites in everything! Which of course is what makes for a very exciting and juicy read! The MC gang has zero problems with sharing partners, multiple partner hook-ups and all kinds of other juicy :) sexual acts ... but that's not Laurie...or maybe it is?! ;)
Laurie is really messed up in the head from her relationship with Donovan. The man is a GRADE-A asswipe and very abusive! She has serious trust issues with not only herself, but trusting Steel. Will she finally give in to her growing desire to this man who seems to only want to keep her and protect her? Will everything blow-up in her face if she does? (hint: she gives in and it is SCORCHING FRIKKIN HOT in all kinds of different manners) ~~ I must tell you that Steele's growth as a man and lover is one of the most heart-wrenching and warming reads I have had the pleasure to be a part of in a while!
But that's not all Laurie has to deal with! In the mist of all of this, she's wanted for theft! Yes kids, Donovan has told the cops that she stole from him a high value piece of jewelry. SO the MC gang has no choice but to go on the run with Laurie until they can figure a way out of this mess because Laurie is now one of THEM :) and they protect their own! Their attempts at fixing this little problem blow up in their faces and doesn't go well at all! SO Laurie ends up kidnapped again, but this time by Donovan himself. And let's just say that boy is one depraved soul! But Laurie's grown some much needed balls since he's last seen her so she doesn't take what he dishes out quietly (you go girl!)
Will Steele and his guys be able to save the day? Do Steele and Laurie have a future together?
I think I've told you enough of this story that I should at least leave the end for you read :) I will tell you that because of Laurie's past, she craves stability and normalcy in her life and because of Steele's background, the open road is the only thing that gives him solace. Will love be able to conquer them?
I shed a few tears in this book, especially at it's conclusion. It was a really great conclusion to this very scorching story!
May 31, 2015
I'm very picky when reading books about motorcycle clubs, but Riding Steele was an interesting read for me. There are some pretty dark events that take place, but there are also some very sweet moments, which I didn't expect. Also, the epilogue is actually pretty cute. Although there are a few predictable elements, the book surprised me at times and I liked it.
Laurie is in danger. She has been trying to break up with her boyfriend Donovan, who has turned out to be a sadistic, abusive creeper who won't take no for an answer. In an effort to protect Laurie, her brother Craig has contacted his good friend, who in turn is close with a group of bikers. The idea is proposed to kidnap Laurie to keep her safe.
Steele is the leader of the club and is opposed to the kidnapping. But when it becomes clear that Laurie is in imminent danger, Wild Card (one of Steele's crew) actually does kidnap Laurie and saves her from Donovan.
When Steele and Laurie first meet, there's a case of mistaken identity. After they get things sorted out, there's a lot of insta-lust between them and they hook up pretty early on. (Never mind that they're on the road, fleeing trumped-up criminal charges brought on by Laurie's crazy ex, because there is sexing to be had, okay?)
Speaking of which, there's a lot of sex in this book in various forms (m/f, m/f/m, m/m/f/m...I think I've lost track at this point, but you get the idea). So if you're bothered by sex that's all over the map, you probably should avoid this book.
Steele is actually a pretty nice guy when he wants to be. But Laurie has spent the past six months under Donovan's thumb, so it's hard for her to trust Steele fully at first. There's also the issue of what it means for her to ride with this club. At first, Laurie is resistant to the idea of being "shared" between the various men in the club. But she changes her mind rather quickly--too quickly, I thought, especially considering she's just coming out of her relationship with her ex. I didn't find her change of heart that believable, but I just went with it.
It also seems like a contradiction that Steele would be willing to share Laurie. As his feelings for her intensify, he does become more possessive of her, yet he's still willing to share her. But then he has moments when he gets jealous, too. I found that confusing.
As I mentioned, there are some dark and disturbing moments involving Laurie's ex, but not so bad that I felt like I couldn't keep reading. Those scenes definitely made me uncomfortable, though (and rightly so).
Overall, I liked the book. It has an interesting mix of suspense and tenderness. Even though there are some events that frustrated me, I liked the main characters. This book is actually #3 in an ongoing series, but I read it as a standalone and I didn't feel lost as far as the plot goes. I plan on going back and reading books #1 and #2. Lastly, the author is a very good storyteller--the narrative is written in such a way that made me want to keep reading. I'll be reading her more in the future.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my review.
Laurie is in danger. She has been trying to break up with her boyfriend Donovan, who has turned out to be a sadistic, abusive creeper who won't take no for an answer. In an effort to protect Laurie, her brother Craig has contacted his good friend, who in turn is close with a group of bikers. The idea is proposed to kidnap Laurie to keep her safe.
Steele is the leader of the club and is opposed to the kidnapping. But when it becomes clear that Laurie is in imminent danger, Wild Card (one of Steele's crew) actually does kidnap Laurie and saves her from Donovan.
When Steele and Laurie first meet, there's a case of mistaken identity. After they get things sorted out, there's a lot of insta-lust between them and they hook up pretty early on. (Never mind that they're on the road, fleeing trumped-up criminal charges brought on by Laurie's crazy ex, because there is sexing to be had, okay?)
Speaking of which, there's a lot of sex in this book in various forms (m/f, m/f/m, m/m/f/m...I think I've lost track at this point, but you get the idea). So if you're bothered by sex that's all over the map, you probably should avoid this book.
Steele is actually a pretty nice guy when he wants to be. But Laurie has spent the past six months under Donovan's thumb, so it's hard for her to trust Steele fully at first. There's also the issue of what it means for her to ride with this club. At first, Laurie is resistant to the idea of being "shared" between the various men in the club. But she changes her mind rather quickly--too quickly, I thought, especially considering she's just coming out of her relationship with her ex. I didn't find her change of heart that believable, but I just went with it.
It also seems like a contradiction that Steele would be willing to share Laurie. As his feelings for her intensify, he does become more possessive of her, yet he's still willing to share her. But then he has moments when he gets jealous, too. I found that confusing.
As I mentioned, there are some dark and disturbing moments involving Laurie's ex, but not so bad that I felt like I couldn't keep reading. Those scenes definitely made me uncomfortable, though (and rightly so).
Overall, I liked the book. It has an interesting mix of suspense and tenderness. Even though there are some events that frustrated me, I liked the main characters. This book is actually #3 in an ongoing series, but I read it as a standalone and I didn't feel lost as far as the plot goes. I plan on going back and reading books #1 and #2. Lastly, the author is a very good storyteller--the narrative is written in such a way that made me want to keep reading. I'll be reading her more in the future.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my review.
March 19, 2015
Ok...
because...
...there is not much more other than that in this book.
Pros:
-hot biker dudes
-HOT biker dudes who are also very sweet
-really hot sex scenes
-the cover
Cons:
-there isn't a strong plot that gives a sense to the book
-during the story the main characters lose consistency
-really HOT and heavy sex scenes that can be too much for someone
Laurie is having a bit of a predicament seeing that her boyfriend is out of control and is trying to take charge of every aspect of her life... in and out of bed. Especially in bed where he has started to show interests that are more those of a psychopath than that of a lover. A situation that is starting to scare her badly and from which she wants to get away quickly.
The solution comes in the form of a nomad MC Club to whom Laurie's brother has asked help.
When one of the Club assist to Laurie getting beaten by her boyfriend, he didn't find other way to save the day than to kidnap her and bring her to where the club is currently staying, a country house nested in the woods.
However, is Laurie happy to be safe (and almost sound)? Oh no! She wants only to escape the people who helped her and are trying to protect her.
Ok, I can understand that in the beginning it could have seemed to her to have gone from a bad situation to another even worse. Even so, after the first night when no-one tried to hurt her in any way she should have changed her mind. Especially because, finally, she has someone who can help her getting rid of the asshole who is making her life a living hell. Another bonus is that she finds the leader of the group, Steele, very attractive... so why leave!? Try, at least, to gain something good from the mess you're in.
The rest of the book is nearly only scenes of "group sex" or "couple sex" (more of the former). Dressed with a burst of jealousy (from Steele) that has not really sense seing that "what is mine is yours" in the code of the Club, much confusion (from both of them), another kidnapping and almost rape (from the ass****) and...other sex (from all of them).
Then, near the end, the author start to speak of Steele as dominant...but she doesn't make him do things that can make you see him as one (≪Woman, do as I say!≫ is not one of those things). He is "only" a big, gorgeous, sexy man who is very free in his interest for sex and has a strong will. There is nothing about a relationship dom-sub between the two and speaking of it is too much and too late.
In conclusion, if you are in search of something that doesn't have a strong plot but has many heavy sex scenes and whose only purpose is to make you pass a couple of hours of fun, this is the book for you. Otherwise it's better if you go find something else.
http://azurestrawberry.altervista.org...
because...
...there is not much more other than that in this book.
Pros:
-hot biker dudes
-HOT biker dudes who are also very sweet
-really hot sex scenes
-the cover
Cons:
-there isn't a strong plot that gives a sense to the book
-during the story the main characters lose consistency
-really HOT and heavy sex scenes that can be too much for someone
Laurie is having a bit of a predicament seeing that her boyfriend is out of control and is trying to take charge of every aspect of her life... in and out of bed. Especially in bed where he has started to show interests that are more those of a psychopath than that of a lover. A situation that is starting to scare her badly and from which she wants to get away quickly.
The solution comes in the form of a nomad MC Club to whom Laurie's brother has asked help.
When one of the Club assist to Laurie getting beaten by her boyfriend, he didn't find other way to save the day than to kidnap her and bring her to where the club is currently staying, a country house nested in the woods.
However, is Laurie happy to be safe (and almost sound)? Oh no! She wants only to escape the people who helped her and are trying to protect her.
Ok, I can understand that in the beginning it could have seemed to her to have gone from a bad situation to another even worse. Even so, after the first night when no-one tried to hurt her in any way she should have changed her mind. Especially because, finally, she has someone who can help her getting rid of the asshole who is making her life a living hell. Another bonus is that she finds the leader of the group, Steele, very attractive... so why leave!? Try, at least, to gain something good from the mess you're in.
The rest of the book is nearly only scenes of "group sex" or "couple sex" (more of the former). Dressed with a burst of jealousy (from Steele) that has not really sense seing that "what is mine is yours" in the code of the Club, much confusion (from both of them), another kidnapping and almost rape (from the ass****) and...other sex (from all of them).
Then, near the end, the author start to speak of Steele as dominant...but she doesn't make him do things that can make you see him as one (≪Woman, do as I say!≫ is not one of those things). He is "only" a big, gorgeous, sexy man who is very free in his interest for sex and has a strong will. There is nothing about a relationship dom-sub between the two and speaking of it is too much and too late.
In conclusion, if you are in search of something that doesn't have a strong plot but has many heavy sex scenes and whose only purpose is to make you pass a couple of hours of fun, this is the book for you. Otherwise it's better if you go find something else.
http://azurestrawberry.altervista.org...
February 15, 2015
This was a fun read, it was so hot the pages just melted by. Laurie is dating Donovan but isn't happy at all and when she decides it's time to break things off with him he convinces her to go out and celebrate their 6 month dating anniversary...hmmmm I bet after the events of that night he wishes they didn't go out...LOL Anyway Steele and his crew of bikers have gotten themselves involved with Laurie in ways they didn't expect. This book is made up of the six part mini-series. Riding Steele: Kidnapped Riding Steele: UntamedRiding Steele: CollideRiding Steele: WantedRiding Steele: CrossroadsRiding Steele: Aftershock I actually prefer reading it this way without having to wait for each subsequent book to come out and it is totally worth the read. You have solo f, solo m, m/f, m/f/m, m/m/f/m and all kinds of sexual shenanigans going on....very hot!
ummm....
***given to me by St. Martin's Press through netgalley in exchange for my honest review***
ummm....
***given to me by St. Martin's Press through netgalley in exchange for my honest review***
March 3, 2015
Riding Steele is a super-hot, super-exciting novel that was originally released as a six part series. Now the series has been updated and combined into this novel, which is released on March 17 2015. Riding Steele is book three in the Ready to Ride series, but can be read as a standalone with no confusion at all. This is the first book I've read by Opal Carew and to be honest I was expecting a erotic romance with not alot of substance - but boy was I wrong! Yes this book is erotic (and I mean seriously erotic) but it is a whole lot more besides. It has a strong storyline about bad boy bikers with soft hearts, who kidnap a woman to save her from her abusive boyfriend. The ensuing drama is a roller-coaster ride that will keep you hooked until the end.
Steele and Laurie are both fantastic, well written characters. I completely fell in love with Steele (and all of his biker gang). They are tough, rough, tattooed bikers but they are caring, protective and sexy as hell. They are very close and share everything - and I mean everything! I will warn you that this book includes scenes of sex with multiple partners, so if you aren't comfortable with this then this book is probably not for you. If like me you don't mind reading about smoking hot bikers enjoying and pleasuring the women in their lives together, then you are in for a fantastic ride.
Laurie is planning on ending her relationship with her abusive boyfriend, but things don't go to plan. When she is in danger a member of Steele's MC gang rescues Laurie by kidnapping her. Laurie is understandably frightened and frequently tries to escape from the gang of bikers. Despite her harrowing treatment by her now ex boyfriend, she remains strong throughout her ordeal. As her relationship with Steele deepens the sparks really fly. The chemistry between them is amazing and the resulting scenes are steamy.
There is alot of suspense and danger in this book which creates a book that you can't put down. I don't want to give anything away about the storyline, so I won't say anymore, except that I one hundred percent recommend this book. Opal Carew has crafted a compelling story which was a pleasure to read. I will definitely be looking at other books in the series as I loved all of the bikers in Steele's gang and really want to find out more about them. Riding Steele definitely deserves five out of five stars.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Steele and Laurie are both fantastic, well written characters. I completely fell in love with Steele (and all of his biker gang). They are tough, rough, tattooed bikers but they are caring, protective and sexy as hell. They are very close and share everything - and I mean everything! I will warn you that this book includes scenes of sex with multiple partners, so if you aren't comfortable with this then this book is probably not for you. If like me you don't mind reading about smoking hot bikers enjoying and pleasuring the women in their lives together, then you are in for a fantastic ride.
Laurie is planning on ending her relationship with her abusive boyfriend, but things don't go to plan. When she is in danger a member of Steele's MC gang rescues Laurie by kidnapping her. Laurie is understandably frightened and frequently tries to escape from the gang of bikers. Despite her harrowing treatment by her now ex boyfriend, she remains strong throughout her ordeal. As her relationship with Steele deepens the sparks really fly. The chemistry between them is amazing and the resulting scenes are steamy.
There is alot of suspense and danger in this book which creates a book that you can't put down. I don't want to give anything away about the storyline, so I won't say anymore, except that I one hundred percent recommend this book. Opal Carew has crafted a compelling story which was a pleasure to read. I will definitely be looking at other books in the series as I loved all of the bikers in Steele's gang and really want to find out more about them. Riding Steele definitely deserves five out of five stars.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 5, 2015
Court: So, I started this series in two parts, reading the first three and then reading the last three together...and each part is seriously an awesome display of sexuality in all forms, and a motorcycle club of badass men (and woman) who are just making their way in the world that they want to. It was refreshing and sexy, and the writing made it that much more enjoyable. I liked it a lot.
Shel: I'm just gonna put this out there...do with it what you will...this is word porn. There's a plot that involves Laurie (see Court's assessment below) and a gang of good guy bikers (and one in particular, Steele)...but really, I think many readers will find that the sexuality of this series is what will have them flipping the next page to read. And guess what? There's no shame in that at all.
Court: So, Laurie's brother is looking out for her, as brothers are wont to do...to get her away from this sadistic bastard of a boyfriend that she got under the thumb of. Then! She's kidnapped, and things go awry, and things get sexy and then they go awry again...and get sexier, and sexier and sexier...And Steele is definitely a great name for this big, badass biker. Whew. Hot tamales, y'all.
Court: Steele has a conflict of his own. He's wild and free in all things, and there is a lot of conflict in him to be what Laurie needs and be himself. Laurie and Steele have an insane amount of stuff to go through, both in life, and in sexual inhibitions...so that was an interesting. I really enjoyed this one, and definitely relish that it is an escape.
Shel: If you're looking for a quick series that is a more creative porn flick brought to the pages, this one will easily fill that need.
Shel: I'm just gonna put this out there...do with it what you will...this is word porn. There's a plot that involves Laurie (see Court's assessment below) and a gang of good guy bikers (and one in particular, Steele)...but really, I think many readers will find that the sexuality of this series is what will have them flipping the next page to read. And guess what? There's no shame in that at all.
Court: So, Laurie's brother is looking out for her, as brothers are wont to do...to get her away from this sadistic bastard of a boyfriend that she got under the thumb of. Then! She's kidnapped, and things go awry, and things get sexy and then they go awry again...and get sexier, and sexier and sexier...And Steele is definitely a great name for this big, badass biker. Whew. Hot tamales, y'all.
Court: Steele has a conflict of his own. He's wild and free in all things, and there is a lot of conflict in him to be what Laurie needs and be himself. Laurie and Steele have an insane amount of stuff to go through, both in life, and in sexual inhibitions...so that was an interesting. I really enjoyed this one, and definitely relish that it is an escape.
Shel: If you're looking for a quick series that is a more creative porn flick brought to the pages, this one will easily fill that need.
May 2, 2015
Wow! This was a HOT and fun read!! Steele and his MC gang are recruited to kidnap a friend’s sister to protect her from her sketchy boyfriend. Donovan, the boyfriend, is controlling, manipulative, and abusive to Laurie and shows his true colors when confronted by Wild Card (one of the gang). Steele just wanted to keep an eye on the girl, but Wild Card has no choice but to save her from further abuse and takes her to a deserted cabin the guys are all staying at. She tries to escape multiple times to no avail.
Steele comes home from celebrating his birthday and thinks the girl in his bed is his present. But, no, it’s Laurie and she is handcuffed and scared to be alone in the room with the big, sexy biker. The sexual tension between the two is off the charts!! Steele tries to prove that he is not going to hurt Laurie, but she doesn’t believe him. On one of her escape attempts, she goes to the swimming hole where Raven, Rip’s girlfriend (but everyone is allowed to play with her) and thinks Raven is being attacked by 2 men. She runs to Steele for help and the scene turns SPICY! LOVE that particular scene the most in this book!
Steele has to keep Laurie safe until her brother gets back to town. While, this may seem like a typical good girl/bad boy love story, their chemistry is off the charts and they eventually have some fun while waiting.
This is a fantastic read! I recommend it to anyone that loves a quick, spicy, fun story!
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Steele comes home from celebrating his birthday and thinks the girl in his bed is his present. But, no, it’s Laurie and she is handcuffed and scared to be alone in the room with the big, sexy biker. The sexual tension between the two is off the charts!! Steele tries to prove that he is not going to hurt Laurie, but she doesn’t believe him. On one of her escape attempts, she goes to the swimming hole where Raven, Rip’s girlfriend (but everyone is allowed to play with her) and thinks Raven is being attacked by 2 men. She runs to Steele for help and the scene turns SPICY! LOVE that particular scene the most in this book!
Steele has to keep Laurie safe until her brother gets back to town. While, this may seem like a typical good girl/bad boy love story, their chemistry is off the charts and they eventually have some fun while waiting.
This is a fantastic read! I recommend it to anyone that loves a quick, spicy, fun story!
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews