REVIEW: The Woman from Nowhere by Kristen Ashley

 

OUR REVIEW:

I think this may be my favorite novel in the Misted Pines series, so far. I found myself immediately engaged in the story of Mabel and her mountain man. Both of their backstories were interesting as was the co-mingling of their lives. It doesn't hurt that KA books are my catnip and as soon as I pick one up, I want to immediately reread every single series she's written. The Woman from Nowhere definitely provoked that reaction--luckily for me, she has a new book coming out in a few weeks.

If you love Kristen Ashley, you'll love this one too. A little mystery, a little thriller, a ton of romance, banter, and fun characters. Love!

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/4uESpZ9

SYNOPSIS:

After a heartbreaking betrayal, Mabel Adams reinvents herself for the fourth time. Regardless of the alarming reputation of the deceptively sleepy town of Misted Pines, she decides to move all the way across the country to start yet again.

Mabel has a one-night stand with a mountain man who rocks her world in bed but doesn't tell her his name.

The next day, after receiving a threatening note from her neighbors, she discovers she's living next to an extremist cult where the women go in and are never seen again.

After serving, former Navy SEAL Hutch Hutchison is living a peaceful life on his patch in the mountains outside Misted Pines. He's been burned so many times by women, he's happy to train his guard dogs, play his guitar, live remote, and most of all, quiet.

Until he hooks up with a beautiful woman who lives just down the way. And then he discovers she's been threatened by the cult next door.

Hutch's protective instinct sparks, and he decides his next mission is to keep Mabel safe at all costs.

But there's something even hinkier about that cult than Hutch or local law enforcement expect.

As Hutch executes the riskiest mission of his life—keeping Mabel safe at the same time keeping both of their hearts intact—Hutch and the Sheriff's Department try to unravel the mystery of The Lion and The Lamb before it's too late.

Because Mabel is in their crosshairs.

And Hutch is not about to allow her to disappear.

REVIEW: Avenging Angels: Bad Medicine by Kristen Ashley

 

OUR REVIEW:

Bad Medicine is the latest Kristen Ashley novel and you know we had to read it as soon as it went live. This series, Avenging Angels, has been a great companion to the Rock Chicks series and the more I get into it, the more I've enjoyed these characters. They have the zaniness of our favorites from the previous series, but they also have their own thing too. They're interconnected through work and their less than easy upbringings, which I like as a contrast to the Rock Chicks. In this book we get Willow and Gabe's (STARK...yes, related to THAT Stark) romance. And apparently Gabe's not one to deviate from his uncle's tradition of locking in early with his woman...much to Willow's chagrin (and eventual delight). These two are sweet and romantic and hilarious...all things that keep me coming back for more. Once a KA reader, always a KA reader. 

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/49bP6zG

SYNOPSIS:

Willow Knightley has just been through it with her ex-mooch of a boyfriend. But sadly, he’s just the latest in a long string of men (starting at birth) who didn’t treat her right.

She decides her only recourse is to give up on men forever.

The problem is, her friend/acquaintance/one-time bodyguard, member of the Nightingale Investigations & Security team, Gabriel Stark, has targeted her as His One.

Gabe’s been through it at the hands of women too, so he knows exactly what he wants.

And he wants Willow.

Willow states her case against them being an us, but she doesn’t count on the fact that not only does Gabe love a challenge, he lives for them.

Up against an onslaught from a man who rinses his own whiskers out of the sink, Willow might not stand a chance.

But then, while the Angels are trying to figure out what’s got one of their informants very jittery, she gets a hint that there are demons in Gabe’s history, and she has to know.

The bets are on…

And luck favors a Stark.

REVIEW: The Woman Left Behind by Kristen Ashley

 

OUR REVIEW:

Can you tell I was on a KA kick? I was....and have been. Anytime I find myself in a reading slump I start a reread of one of her series and immerse myself until I either read through her entire list of novels or am forced to read something else. I was so into rereading her previous works that I totally missed some of her newer releases and had to jump into her current books.

In the Misted Pines series, I find the books to be a little more serious or somber, a little more leaning into the mystery of it all, while still fully embracing the romance aspect. In The Woman Left Behind, we finally get to know more about Harry and get to see him fall head over heels with Lillian--someone right under his nose the entire time. From their very first encounter in this novel we know that they are destined to be together and within days are inseparable...initially for her safety, but eventually because of their attraction and care of/for each other. As Harry works on solving cold cases, primarily hers, we see the depth of the corruption the previous administration, see cases get solved, and watch two lonely people find love. All in all, a winning combination.

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/4lVA9qi

SYNOPSIS:

There are two dead bodies in Idaho, and the gun used to kill them has been traced back to a sixteen-year-old robbery in Misted Pines.

Sheriff Harry Moran has a broken heart and a stack of case files on his desk that the corrupt sheriff who came before him might have bungled.

Or he may have framed innocent people.

The first case Harry dives into, the woman left behind lives just a block away from his office.

When Lillian Rainier opens the door to the sheriff, Harry, who’s been a dead man walking since his wife died, comes back to life.

As for Lillian, she’s had a crush on Harry for forever, Harry showing at her door, and how he is when he does only makes her fall deeper.

As Harry and his team dive into these suspicious cases, Harry and Lillian have to figure out what to do with all they feel for each other, how hard it hits them, and how deep it goes.

But as a voice from the past becomes a witness in the present, and Harry and his crew dig deeper, they sense something sinister happened years ago.

As they weave together the threads of a cold case, they realize how messy it is.

Worse, the man behind the mess is desperately cleaning it up …

And no one in Misted Pines is safe.

REVIEW: Smooth Sailing by Kristen Ashley

 

OUR REVIEW:

It's been a minute since I was in the Chaos MC world and reading Smooth Sailing reminded me of how much I enjoyed being in it. Having some of my old favorites mixed in with new characters made the reading easy and comfortable and fun. I enjoyed Hugger's backstory and getting to know how and why he was the way he was and getting to know Diana. She was fierce and strong and funny and direct and all of the things I enjoy about KA's heroines. And of course, I enjoy a good 'how the hell are they going to get out of this situation' plot, so Smooth Sailing checked off lots of boxes, including the idea that we may see them again in the Avenging Angels series. 

Overall a fun read, filled with all the things KA fans love.

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/3GVXfOF

SYNOPSIS:

When the Chaos Motorcycle Club came to call, Harlan “Hugger” McCain wasn’t ready to be welcomed into the fold. They said he was a legacy. He felt like an outcast.

But he patched in anyway.

And he was all in to be a part of their not-quite-outlaw missions.

This takes him down to Phoenix, right into the orbit of Diana Armitage, a beautiful, green-eyed woman with a heart of gold and a scarily honed tendency to sacrifice for pretty much everyone she cares about, and some people she barely knows.

Hugger has been existing. Life has never given him much, now, he expects even less.

Diana lives life to its fullest. And she doesn’t keep it a secret she wants to drag Hugger right along with her.

But Hugger is certain he’s got bad blood. He’s got one foot in Chaos, one foot out. One foot in Diana’s life, one foot out.

Diana and his brothers in Chaos have their work cut out to show Hugger who he is.

That he belongs.

And he’s worthy to be loved.

REVIEW: Avenging Angels: Tenderfoot by Kristen Ashley

 

OUR REVIEW:

The Avenging Angels series is so much fun--it's Rock Chick adjacent, so we get the fun of getting to know new characters with the added joy of seeing glimpses of our old favorites, what could be better? In Tenderfoot, we get to see two seemingly opposite personalities, Harlow and Javi, get together, get to know each other better, fall in love, and get to the bottom of a unsolved case. As with all of KA's novels, we get a mix of scenes that showcase the necessity of loyal friendships, the fun and interesting path to love, and a wisp of fantasy in that we all get to imagine a world in which ordinary women become a form of Charlie's Angels. What's not to love? I couldn't tell you...because as is the norm, I love these books, these characters, and the world of Kristen Ashley. 

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/4nh722j

SYNOPSIS:

Harlow O’Neill is waiting for Javier Montoya to make his move. She has it bad for the gorgeous new investigator at Nightingale Investigations and Security. She’s sure he knows it. She’s also sure he’s just as into her.

And she’s read the Rock Chick books. She knows how those Hottie Squad men are supposed to win their women.

Javi is just not trying to win her.

Then one evening Harlow is undercover on a mission for the Avenging Angels, and Javi blows her cover. She’s not happy about it. They share words and some of the ones Javi uses aren’t all that great.

Harlow retreats. Javi goes on the advance.

And the man Harlow was investigating winds up dead.

The Angels go all in to discover what’s happening with a dating app scam that ended up with a dead guy. The Nightingale men aren’t fans of the women wading in on such a dangerous case, and they’re doing something about it.

It’s a race between the Angels and the Hottie Squad as to who’s going to solve the mystery.

While all of that happens, Javi’s not taking any chances with Harlow’s safety. He moves her into his place and Harlow learns firsthand what it means to be in the romantic crosshairs of a member of the Hottie Squad…and the heartbreaking reasons why Javi kept her at arm’s length.