REVIEW: Destroyed by Jackie Ashenden

Destroyed by Jackie Ashenden is the second story in her steamy biker club romance series Knights of Ruin. It’s an insta-lust/insta-love romance with a woman in hiding and the man she turns to for protection.

Summer Grant is hiding out from her controlling father, the Sheriff of their town. She has plans to go away to school and knows her father will do whatever he can to prevent that from happening. Some years back, her father had hired Jake ‘Tiger’ Clarke as a security guard for her when her family had been under an external threat. Summer had developed a crush on Tiger, but at sixteen, she kept her feelings to herself. A few years later, she finds herself at the Knights of Ruin clubhouse with the notion that it’s the last place her father might look for her. When a club member starts getting handsy with her, it’s Tiger who comes to her aid.

Tiger never looked twice at Summer when she was a teenager but she sure has blossomed into a beautiful and capable adult, even if she is on the shy side. Hiding her physically with his body sparks a flame between them, one that neither wants to quench. Tiger is willing to offer her his protection but will it lead to something more?

I always enjoy Jackie Ashenden’s sexy and intense romances, and her bikers are definitely on my favorites list! They are the bad boys with a good heart, men who enjoy sex and parties but don’t stray too far down the line of illegality so as to make them still hero material. Tiger has a room at the clubhouse and plenty of women willing to be his good time girls, but once he comes across Summer hiding out he becomes a one woman man. He’s got a large open plan residence with a workshop in one corner where he uses his mechanical skills to modify and fix motorbikes (also his favorite mode of transportation). When he brings Summer home with him, she expresses interest in his job, something other women tend to ignore. It’s clear that Summer is interested in all of him, which is why he shares with her his big secret, one that Summer takes in stride. He’s smitten with her pretty quickly from then on.

If Tiger is a typical Jackie Ashenden hero, Summer fits her standard heroine. Petite, young, innocent but with a fighting spirit, she has a hidden strength but isn’t above taking on Tiger’s offer of protection. Because she’s a virgin, Tiger is careful to get consent from her at every turn, and to make sure her first sexual experience is a pleasurable one. The sex scenes are definitely steamy, and the emotional connection between them is swift. Of course it’s not long before her father finds her and the gig is up but how Summer handles it will determine her future. The story takes place over a short period of time so insta-love is definitely present, but all works out to give them a happy ending. I’m really enjoying this biker romance series and can’t wait for more!
 

Book Info:

Publication: June 18, 2018 | Harlequin Dare | Knights of Ruin #2

‘You’ll let me do whatever I want?’ How can he resist…?

Why would a hot–as–hell biker put everything on the line to help the police chief’s nerdy, innocent and very off–limits daughter? Simple – Summer Grant is offering Jake ‘Tiger’ Clarke something he can’t refuse: her! It means playing with deliciously wicked fire, but Tiger is prepared to risk everything for what he really wants – even if it destroys them both…