Mini Book Reviews: Raven Riders Series by Laura Kaye

As I received the last in this series – Ride Wild – for review, I thought it would be a really good idea to read the first two books. While this doesn’t need to be done as each new book deals with a new protagonist. I thought it was wise because it all deals with the same world and the same Motorcycle Club – The Raven Riders.

While my review for Ride Wild is coming later this week. I wanted to share my thoughts on both Ride Hard and Ride Rough. And in what better form than mini-reviews. So here we go.

Ride Hard by Laura Kaye

Pages: 320
Publish date: April 26, 2016
Publisher: Avon
ISBN: 9780062403339
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – QBD

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 . . .

Ride Hard:

Motorcycle club books are my new thing! There I said it. Over the past couple of months, I have been reading more and more Romance books and I love it! And now that I have started reading books with motorcycle clubs – um yes, please.

Ride Hard follows Raven Riders Club president Dare Kenyon. He is tough, silent and values loyalty above anything else. But, he also runs a club that makes sure that people good homes, that people are safe. And that is what Haven Randall needs.

After being saved from kidnappers, Haven and her best friend are brought to the Raven Riders club for safety. They are clothed, feed and most of all protected. But when the reasons why they were both running away and capture start to surface, so do the dangers.

Ride Hard was such a good read, I was intrigued by the characters, by the world, and by the plot. This book definitely took me on a ride. Both protagonists took me by surprise and I enjoyed being inside their heads. Dare while he seems hard on the outside, really cares what happens to his club and the people within it. Haven while being very vulnerable because of the situations she was brought up in, was still a very strong female character – and wasn’t exactly the ‘damsel in distress.’

And when you brought these two very different people most of the time together – it was sweet and smokey all at the same time. You understand the hesitation from both of them, but I really liked how they both broke each other walls. And while it was a really quick romance, it wasn’t exactly insta-love.

Ride Hard wasn’t all that I was expecting and I think that’s why I loved it so much. As a romance book, I thought there was going to be a lot of sex, but I was so surprised when there wasn’t much at all.

Overall, Ride Hard was such an enjoyable read. I loved the strong and while the plot was a little out there – it was still believable. Ride Hard deals with finding yourself, believing in yourself and letting yourself fall. It’s heartbreaking, sexy and played with my heart.

Ride Rough by Laura Kaye

Pages: 480
Publish date: April 25, 2017
Publisher: Avon
ISBN: 9780062403391
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK –Amazon US – Amazon AU– QBD

Maverick Rylan won’t apologize for who he is—the Raven Riders Motorcycle Club Vice-President, a sought-after custom bike builder, and a man dedicated to protecting those he loves. So when he learns that the only woman who has ever held his heart is in trouble, he’ll move heaven and earth to save her.

Alexa Harmon thought she had it all—the security of a good job, a beautiful home, and a powerful, charming fiancé who offered the life she never had growing up. But when her dream quickly turns into a nightmare, Alexa realizes she’s fallen for a façade she can’t escape—until sexy, dangerous Maverick offers her a way out.

Forced together to keep Alexa safe, their powerful attraction reignites and Maverick determines to do whatever it takes to earn a second chance—one Alexa is tempted to give. But her ex-fiancé isn’t going to let her go without a fight, one that will threaten everything they both hold dear.

Ride Rough:

One of my favourite romance tropes is past lovers/long lost lovers, and so Ride Rough just drew me right in from the get-go. Even before I picked it up I knew I was going to love this book. And I was right.

Ride Rough follows Maverick Rylan, Vice-President of the Raven Riders and while he has a tough exterior, all he wants to do is protect those he loves. And one of those people is Alexa. She was his best friends younger sister and ex-girlfriend. But when her brother died, she both left the world of motorbikes and Maverick Rylan. With a horrible ex-finance, Alexa is in need for help – and she knows where to go.

I loved Maverick so much. I loved his fierceness and willingness to protect both Alexa and his mum, Bunny. His the type of guy that you might move away on the street because of his all ‘macho-man,’ but in reality, he is really sweet. It was tough seeing him love Alexa so much and she does not always reciprocate those feelings.

While at times I really want to just show Alexa what she could have, I thought the situation was dealt with very well. It’s always hard getting out of bad relationship, so Alexa struggle and denial was very true. I really enjoyed her character arc the most as the reader is really able to see her grow. They are able to see her believe in herself.

I adored Mav and Alexa together – they were like fire together. It’s really nice seeing a past relationship come together again and work. They both care so much about each other and a tragedy did rip them apart, but I think it also brought them back together.

Overall, again I really liked Ride Rough. It was sexy and heartbreaking. But, also uplifting and put a smile on my face. Mav and Alexa were made for each other, and I loved how they both realised that, together. Ride Rough brings another layer to these Raven Riders and I cannot wait for more.

Have you read Ride Hard or Ride Rough? What did you think of them? Are you planning on reading them? Have you read any other books by Laura Kaye? Let’s Chat!