REVIEW: Ride Hard by Laura Kaye

 
In Ride Hard (Raven Riders #1) by Laura Kaye, As President of the Raven Riders MC, Dare Kenyon gladly puts his life on the line to protect his brothers and those who come to the club in need of help from abusive situations. Knowing only too well how it feels to be in that place after his harrowing childhood, he’s more than happy to take Haven and her friend Cora under their protection. But as the club sorts out a way to keep them safe, Dare falls a little more each day for Haven, which may prove problematic as the truth about what she’s running from comes out.

“You’re the only man I’ve ever known who wanted to stand up for me,” she said, tears making her eyes glassy for the first time. “The only man I’ve ever really known who didn’t want to hurt me.”
…”I would protect you with my life,” he bit out, surprised by the vehemence of the declaration, but meaning it deep down into his soul.

Haven Randall knows to trust her gut instinct after years of being mishandled by her crime boss father’s goons. And everything inside her is telling her to trust Dare and the rest of the Ravens. She longs to find a place where she belongs, where she can be herself and do everything a normal woman does. Like fall in love. And that is exactly what Haven does as she gets to know Dare better. But with her father still looking for her and the safety of the Ravens on the line, is giving in to her desire the right thing to do?

…”You think you’re not wanted? I want you. I want you so much I don’t know what I’m doing half the time. Every minute of every day, all I can think about is you.” Breathing hard, eyes flashing, Dare loomed over her, the words hanging in the tight space between them.
And they were the most amazing, life-giving words anyone had ever said to her. Which made her know exactly what to say. “Then have me.”

Ride Hard is the first full length novel in Laura Kaye’s newest series, Raven Riders, a spin-off of the popular Hard Ink series. Bad boy bikers with huge hearts dominated this steamy romance, showing us their protective alpha side.

“I need you to try to judge me on my actions and my words, not on the actions and words of the people who came before me in your life.”

This was not a typical MC story to me. In a good way. Sure the Ravens were tough bikers who played on either side of the straight-and-narrow and they had been forced to defend themselves in the past, doling out their own justice. But I loved that their mission was to help those who could not help themselves. Mainly women and children who were domestic abuse victims. As a cause near and dear to my heart, I thought this was a great (positive) spin for an MC series.

The other thing to mention right off is the age difference. Some readers might be taken aback that there’s a fifteen year difference between Dare (37) and Haven (22). I was a little weirded out at first myself and worried how it would play out. But leave it to Laura Kaye to smooth things over. I think where Dare and Haven had both been through similar trauma in their past, not only were they kindred spirits, but they were both old souls. Haven may not have had a lot of fun life experiences, but she was much older than her twenty-two years in terms of drama and pain, giving her a very mature manner.

Where this was the first book in the series, there was a bit of a long introduction to the Ravens, their background and the logistics of where the series is headed. So it may not be as action-packed at first as we got used to in the Hard Ink series. Speaking of which, they guys from Hard Ink did make a couple of appearances, so we had a bit of a reunion. Not enough that readers who are not familiar with that series wouldn’t understand. But it was great to get glimpses of Nick Rixey and the rest of the crew. Love those guys!

I loved Dare and Haven together. And I think that their tumultuous journey to their HEA was a nice way to start off the Raven Riders series. It even had a little bit of something for everyone: MC brotherhood, family drama, romance, and heart-stopping action.

Book Info:

Michele H| 4.5 Stars | HJ Recommends | No |
Publication: Expected publication: April 26th 2016 | by Avon | Raven Riders #1

A shy and distrustful woman running from a controlling father seeks shelter with an outlaw motorcycle club with a tradition of protecting those who can’t defend themselves, and falls under the watchful eye of the club’s mysterious and intense leader who’s intent on discovering all her secrets

Brotherhood. Club. Family.

They live and ride by their own rules.

These are the Raven Riders . . .

Raven Riders Motorcycle Club President Dare Kenyon rides hard and values loyalty above all else. He’ll do anything to protect the brotherhood of bikers—the only family he’s got—as well as those who can’t defend themselves. So when mistrustful Haven Randall lands on the club’s doorstep scared that she’s being hunted, Dare takes her in, swears to keep her safe, and pushes to learn the secrets overshadowing her pretty smile.

Haven fled from years of abuse at the hands of her criminal father and is suspicious of any man’s promises, including those of the darkly sexy and overwhelmingly intense Ravens’ leader. But as the powerful attraction between them flares to life, Dare pushes her boundaries and tempts her to want things she never thought she could.

The past never dies without a fight, but Dare Kenyon’s never backed down before . . .