REVIEW: Wild Ride by Kate Meader

Wild Ride by Kate Meader: Hockey is all Dex knows, it is the one thing that truly makes sense to him, so when his wild ways of the ice get him into trouble yet again he has no choice but to clean up his act or he will have to kiss his hockey career goodbye. This time Dex is ready and willing to do whatever it takes to ensure his hockey dream stays alive, even if that means he needs to rehab his image starting with picking up dog poop while under the watchful gaze of his new no nonsense boss at the animal shelter Ashely Adams. Ashely has enough going on her life the very last thing that she has time to do is babysit a man child with a player complex, but with Dex reporting directly to her, Ashley has little choice in the matter, but hey at least he isn’t to hard on the eyes. As a divorced single mother maybe spending time on the wild side with Dex is just what Ashely needs to liven her nights up a bit… only problem is hockey playboy Dex has now decided to play for keeps and he wants to keep Ashley…

I love a cute sports romance and Wild Ride was most definitely that. This book was steamy, cute and filled with so much of banter. I loved every bit of this bad boy meets put together single mother romcom. The thing I loved the most about this book was the fact that it was so much more than just a romance, this was a story of resilience and finding ones self again. I loved that both main characters go through a journey of growth in this book.

I just loved Ashely, she was such a girl boss. Even though she had so much going on in her life and her heart and self confidence had taken a beating she was so full of life. I loved getting to see her find her groove again after feeling so self conscious about her failed marriage and really allowing Dex to sweep her of her feet in a way that she had mentally shut out. As for our hero Dex, well if you have been following this series then you would already know that he has a bit of a reputation for being a bad boy and getting himself into a jam, but I loved that we finally got to understand him and why he has been this way. I loved that even though he is very much the charmer and ladies man, Dex is actually a whole lot more, he is compassionate and kind and he has so much of time for the people that are important to him. I just loved seeing him bond with Ashley’s daughter Willa and getting to see this softer side of Dex come out. I also liked getting to see Dex work through his own insecurities and trust issues as he opens up to Ashely about his past.

“Nothing about you is forgettable and nothing about this should be quick”

The chemistry between Ashely and Dex was fire! I love that as much as Ashely tried to talk herself out of getting involved with Dex she just couldn’t help but feel drawn to him. And Dex for his part really knew how to lay on the charm! Gosh these two had just the right combination of banter and angst. I loved seeing them together, but more than this I loved that Dex was determined to prove to Ashely that she was special and how attractive he found her. I really liked that he made it his mission to show her that he was not going anywhere and that he was serious about her and Willa.

The supporting characters in this book were just lovely. I’m a total sucker for the furry side kicks and Wild Ride had a whole host of adorable fur babies. I loved that Ashely was so dedicated to her animal shelter and giving each creature the love and care that they deserve. I loved that we got to catch up with some of Dex team mates and their partners and getting to see Dex finally opening up and allowing friendships to build between his fellow Rebels.

Wild Ride was just sports romance perfection! I loved reading this book and if you are a fan of the single parent meets hot shot hockey player trope then this is a definite must read for you!

Book Info:

Publication: March 26, 2024 | Kate Meader LLC | Rookie Rebels #8

Chicago Rebels hockey player Dex O’Malley has been a naughty boy … again.

Only his latest stunt isn’t quite like when he was caught with his pants down at a nightclub or was cited for drag-racing on Lake Shore Drive or even that time he said a few critical things about his teammates on a hockey podcast. Oops. This time, Dex is in real trouble, the kind that could get him kicked off the team and out of the league. And that cannot happen. Hockey is the only thing he’s ever been good at. The only thing he cares about. He’ll do whatever it takes to rehab his rep, even if it means cleaning up dog poop and suffering the steely-eyed disapproval of his new no-nonsense “boss” at the animal shelter, Ashley Adams.

Ashley has enough on her plate between her low-paying job, her high-maintenance family, and a love life she’s trying to resurrect after her divorce. She’s already mom to an amazing nine-year-old; the last thing she needs is mothering a celebrity volunteer with more money than sense. But the troublemaking f-boy needs Ashley to sign off on his good deeds so he can get back to what he does best: lighting up lamps both on and off the ice. And while a guy like that could never interest her mind, it seems her body is not on the same page. Sure, Dex O’Malley is too young, too hot, too flighty for Ashley to take seriously, but maybe a brief ride on the wild side might fit the bill …

Only that’s not enough for Dex. What happens when this notorious player decides the older, single mom is the hottest woman he’s ever met and that he wants to light her lamp … forever?