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Wild West MC #2
Smoke and Steel
She wasn’t a white dress type of girl…
Hellen Moynihan didn’t have dreams. She had goals. She knew who she was and what she wanted. She also knew what she didn’t. So when her long-term boyfriend didn’t make the grade, she moved on. And when her best friend’s boyfriend showed signs of being a scam artist, Hellen was on the case.
And he wasn’t a white hat type of guy…
Dustin “Hardcore” Cutler didn’t have dreams or goals. A troubled past led Core to do something irredeemable. The only thing he and the men of the Resurrection MC could do was vow to live their lives making up for an unforgiveable act.
And they did.
This duty leads Core to being a part of a covert protection detail, looking after Hellen Moynihan when trouble is coming to town.
At first, Core finds this dynamo of a woman intriguing, but he’s decided she’s off-limits.
Then Hellen and her friend wade into a multi-state swindling scheme.
Suddenly, off-limits for Core is out the window.
He’s got no choice but to get up close and personal.
Hellen Moynihan didn’t have dreams. She had goals. She knew who she was and what she wanted. She also knew what she didn’t. So when her long-term boyfriend didn’t make the grade, she moved on. And when her best friend’s boyfriend showed signs of being a scam artist, Hellen was on the case.
And he wasn’t a white hat type of guy…
Dustin “Hardcore” Cutler didn’t have dreams or goals. A troubled past led Core to do something irredeemable. The only thing he and the men of the Resurrection MC could do was vow to live their lives making up for an unforgiveable act.
And they did.
This duty leads Core to being a part of a covert protection detail, looking after Hellen Moynihan when trouble is coming to town.
At first, Core finds this dynamo of a woman intriguing, but he’s decided she’s off-limits.
Then Hellen and her friend wade into a multi-state swindling scheme.
Suddenly, off-limits for Core is out the window.
He’s got no choice but to get up close and personal.
477 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 6, 2022
About the author
Kristen Ashley
127 books38.9k followersKristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA. She nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn't taken her first breath!).
Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.
Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland and existed amongst the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).
Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.
And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.
Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.
Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland and existed amongst the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).
Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.
And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 308 reviews
December 29, 2022
Sorry, not for me.
I hate everyone and each of these guys and I can’t get over the Rosie beating thing.
I barely reached the end of the book, with an increasing sense of nausea.
Core is still a violent, abusive, manipulative liar.
They all are, the worst being their dear President Beck, A.K.A. Throttle (he tried to strangle his girlfriend, Throttle indeed)
Go and read again the opening scene in Rough Ride and then later, when Rosie goes to see him in jail , and tell me that such a monster could really atone and find redemption.
It simply doesn’t stand.
How can someone believe that eight a**holes can go from merrily gang beating, kicking and punching in the face with their rings on, a defenseless girl, who got 29 stitches thanks to their effort, to being good Samaritans saints protectors of unknown women, is beyond me.
Oh wait, yes. They spent some days camping in the woods? Oh well, surely that changes everything….
It’s almost funny because the leading female broke up with her boyfriend because he’s messy , negligent and forgets to close the cabinet (causing her to conk her head on it)… and should we forget that the hero took part in a gang beating against a defenseless woman?
The heroine rightfully doesn’t forgive her careless boyfriend but she’s ready to forgive the hero for something infinitely worse.
She should run away, thinking that maybe one day she could suffer from something more painful than a conk in her head…
I don’t care about Core’s sad and dramatic past, some things are just unforgivable.
He should be in prison, with all his brothers.
And no woman should trust a man who was capable of beating a helpless girl and let his friends do the same.
They all are monsters.
I don’t care how much time they spent in the woods …smoking pot probably.
I need to go and reread Rough Ride to enjoy Chaos’vendetta again.
I hate everyone and each of these guys and I can’t get over the Rosie beating thing.
I barely reached the end of the book, with an increasing sense of nausea.
Core is still a violent, abusive, manipulative liar.
They all are, the worst being their dear President Beck, A.K.A. Throttle (he tried to strangle his girlfriend, Throttle indeed)
Go and read again the opening scene in Rough Ride and then later, when Rosie goes to see him in jail , and tell me that such a monster could really atone and find redemption.
It simply doesn’t stand.
How can someone believe that eight a**holes can go from merrily gang beating, kicking and punching in the face with their rings on, a defenseless girl, who got 29 stitches thanks to their effort, to being good Samaritans saints protectors of unknown women, is beyond me.
Oh wait, yes. They spent some days camping in the woods? Oh well, surely that changes everything….
It’s almost funny because the leading female broke up with her boyfriend because he’s messy , negligent and forgets to close the cabinet (causing her to conk her head on it)… and should we forget that the hero took part in a gang beating against a defenseless woman?
The heroine rightfully doesn’t forgive her careless boyfriend but she’s ready to forgive the hero for something infinitely worse.
She should run away, thinking that maybe one day she could suffer from something more painful than a conk in her head…
I don’t care about Core’s sad and dramatic past, some things are just unforgivable.
He should be in prison, with all his brothers.
And no woman should trust a man who was capable of beating a helpless girl and let his friends do the same.
They all are monsters.
I don’t care how much time they spent in the woods …smoking pot probably.
I need to go and reread Rough Ride to enjoy Chaos’vendetta again.
January 13, 2023
#1 Still Standing — 3 stars
i think im slowly approaching the end of my KA Obsession Era, and its the saddest thing ever. how does one deal with such grief? 😩
i still dont understand the whole ‘Rosie beating’ backstory. idk if its me subconsciously refusing to comprehend how a group of grown men could mercilessly beat the shit out of a defenseless woman and im now supposed to believe that theyre ‘changed’ individuals OR i simply felt disconnected because i havent read Rosies book (which is part of the Chaos MC series). in any case, this book was lackluster.
its supposed to be a redemption story, but it didnt feel like one? its part of an MC series, but this book was rather tame and not dark at all. the hero was supposed to be alpha, but just like any of KAs recent alpha heroes, he lacked the alpha magic/qualities that her classic alpha heroes have. the romance was... eh, and i dont have an opinion on the heroine. even the side characters didnt interest me. the only thing that did was the Rock Chick cameos.
i wish KA just stops writing cause i still feel excited everytime she releases a new book and idk when and how to quit her. 😭
(read as an audiobook)
i think im slowly approaching the end of my KA Obsession Era, and its the saddest thing ever. how does one deal with such grief? 😩
i still dont understand the whole ‘Rosie beating’ backstory. idk if its me subconsciously refusing to comprehend how a group of grown men could mercilessly beat the shit out of a defenseless woman and im now supposed to believe that theyre ‘changed’ individuals OR i simply felt disconnected because i havent read Rosies book (which is part of the Chaos MC series). in any case, this book was lackluster.
its supposed to be a redemption story, but it didnt feel like one? its part of an MC series, but this book was rather tame and not dark at all. the hero was supposed to be alpha, but just like any of KAs recent alpha heroes, he lacked the alpha magic/qualities that her classic alpha heroes have. the romance was... eh, and i dont have an opinion on the heroine. even the side characters didnt interest me. the only thing that did was the Rock Chick cameos.
i wish KA just stops writing cause i still feel excited everytime she releases a new book and idk when and how to quit her. 😭
(read as an audiobook)
January 17, 2023
4 stars
I was a bit hesitant to read this book as I didn't love the first book, but I'm glad I gave it a chance. This was so much better than the first book in this series! Hellen is the stepsister of Archie (Jaggers girl) so we get a bit of Chaos in this book. Core is a member of Resurrection MC (formally known as Bounty) and is helping do a job where they cross paths.
I loved Core and Hellen together. The conflict didn't bother me and it was an all around good read. Core is a bit more of an anti-hero rough around the edges guy and I loved that. Hellen was mature for her age and I enjoyed their romance. KA does biker so good!
I was a bit hesitant to read this book as I didn't love the first book, but I'm glad I gave it a chance. This was so much better than the first book in this series! Hellen is the stepsister of Archie (Jaggers girl) so we get a bit of Chaos in this book. Core is a member of Resurrection MC (formally known as Bounty) and is helping do a job where they cross paths.
I loved Core and Hellen together. The conflict didn't bother me and it was an all around good read. Core is a bit more of an anti-hero rough around the edges guy and I loved that. Hellen was mature for her age and I enjoyed their romance. KA does biker so good!
Audio book source: Audible
Story Rating: 4 stars
Narrators: Regan Linton & Joseph Discher
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance (Biker)
Length: 12h 4m
January 9, 2023
I don’t even know where to start with this review. I finished this almost too long ago to actually now post a review but it’s still on my mind.
I’m so freaking conflicted.
I knew what I was getting with this one. I mean, the books MC is from Resurrection MC. There can’t be a story about Resurrection without Rosalie so yeah. I knew I was getting that. Unfortunately that isn’t the worst of my conflict and yeah, Rosalie is about the worst.
I’ll start with what seems to be KA’s new way of storytelling. She’s preaching to me. She’s getting all her rights and wrongs out there and I get it, these are her stories, but man, some of it is KILLING me. I’ve mostly been able to kind of give a side eye to some of this but it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere and if anything it seems to be more. I’d say I’m not exactly sure how I feel about it but that wouldn’t be the truth.
Next, something that seems kind of the opposite of being politically correct, fashion and designers. I never minded KA’s crazy descriptions of clothes or homes or whatever but she’s crossed into a world I just don’t get. It’s all high end designers. Brand names. Wealth. It all screams money, money, money and it’s funny, funny, funny how this seems the opposite of her preaching the rights and wrongs. I don’t understand $1500 handbags when you are living in an apartment. I don’t understand $1500 handbags when you are living in a mansion actually. It’s just getting so over the top. It fits when she’s writing about the super wealthy celebrities but here, it was just in my face. THIS IS A MC STORY!
And that will lead to my biggest issue with the story, just not the last one. Hellen. She’s twenty three. TWENTY THREE. She didn’t act twenty three (all the time) and it was absolutely to me, the way she acted, what she has, unbelievable. Now, don’t get me wrong, there are probably a few twenty three year old people out there that act like Hellen but I bet just a few. If she had just been written, I don’t know, twenty six, twenty seven or let’s just say THIRTY, I’d have found her more believable. I hated this part of the story and it was there for me THE ENTIRE READ. It just didn’t jive.
And last but not least, where was the real drama? How come no one was kidnapped? How come nothing happened? Where was the grittiness I expect from an MC book. The first book ended with a new bad guy but there was no forward movement on that here. Nails was the setup for this story and her behavior seemed so contrived. Insert evil cousin here. Who comes to someone’s office and acts like that? What was her endgame? Why did she even feel like she had to come see a cousin she has no relationship with to stir the pot? It just didn’t make any sense. The whole thing that went down with the best friend was drama but this too seemed odd. Why do this at all? How did this person change their personality like this? Add to that that the entire “mission” was because of her and could have added some real danger to the story but that too just happened. More it seemed KA wanted everyone to know she loved some show she watched.
I have so many other thoughts. Why did we never see Core on a motorcycle? How is possible that this MC book has no motorcycles in it? There was one mention that Hellen actually had been for a ride but it was just a mention. This was odd. I actually liked Core, his talk, his look but Hardcore? I don’t know. He seemed just so nice and so domestic. Hellen’s Mom. Why would she continue to try to get her girls to have a relationship with their Father when he was part Devil? Why would you ever want to put your children through that over and over and over again? I’m from divorce. My Mom never said a bad word about my Dad, she didn’t say anything at all. But I bet if he treated me like shit she would have. Hellen's behavior once she moved in with Core was also fucked. Didn't she just break up with a long term boyfriend for his messes? Gah! I'm just going to quit here.
I don’t know. It had a lot of what I do love about KA’s books but there was so much that I just didn’t like.
And now, the third book is going back to Chaos. Who? What? Why? I don’t know if I even want her to go back to Chaos. I don’t what the greatness of that series to be all about red soled shoes and preaching to me what is right and what is wrong.
So, this is a huge disappointment to me. I didn’t want to dislike this story. I didn’t want to be so bothered by things that I couldn’t look past them. I didn’t want to be part of the group who talks about how she used to write but this was a struggle and now that I’ve typed all this up I’m thinking I won’t round up.
I’m so freaking conflicted.
I knew what I was getting with this one. I mean, the books MC is from Resurrection MC. There can’t be a story about Resurrection without Rosalie so yeah. I knew I was getting that. Unfortunately that isn’t the worst of my conflict and yeah, Rosalie is about the worst.
I’ll start with what seems to be KA’s new way of storytelling. She’s preaching to me. She’s getting all her rights and wrongs out there and I get it, these are her stories, but man, some of it is KILLING me. I’ve mostly been able to kind of give a side eye to some of this but it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere and if anything it seems to be more. I’d say I’m not exactly sure how I feel about it but that wouldn’t be the truth.
Next, something that seems kind of the opposite of being politically correct, fashion and designers. I never minded KA’s crazy descriptions of clothes or homes or whatever but she’s crossed into a world I just don’t get. It’s all high end designers. Brand names. Wealth. It all screams money, money, money and it’s funny, funny, funny how this seems the opposite of her preaching the rights and wrongs. I don’t understand $1500 handbags when you are living in an apartment. I don’t understand $1500 handbags when you are living in a mansion actually. It’s just getting so over the top. It fits when she’s writing about the super wealthy celebrities but here, it was just in my face. THIS IS A MC STORY!
And that will lead to my biggest issue with the story, just not the last one. Hellen. She’s twenty three. TWENTY THREE. She didn’t act twenty three (all the time) and it was absolutely to me, the way she acted, what she has, unbelievable. Now, don’t get me wrong, there are probably a few twenty three year old people out there that act like Hellen but I bet just a few. If she had just been written, I don’t know, twenty six, twenty seven or let’s just say THIRTY, I’d have found her more believable. I hated this part of the story and it was there for me THE ENTIRE READ. It just didn’t jive.
And last but not least, where was the real drama? How come no one was kidnapped? How come nothing happened? Where was the grittiness I expect from an MC book. The first book ended with a new bad guy but there was no forward movement on that here. Nails was the setup for this story and her behavior seemed so contrived. Insert evil cousin here. Who comes to someone’s office and acts like that? What was her endgame? Why did she even feel like she had to come see a cousin she has no relationship with to stir the pot? It just didn’t make any sense. The whole thing that went down with the best friend was drama but this too seemed odd. Why do this at all? How did this person change their personality like this? Add to that that the entire “mission” was because of her and could have added some real danger to the story but that too just happened. More it seemed KA wanted everyone to know she loved some show she watched.
I have so many other thoughts. Why did we never see Core on a motorcycle? How is possible that this MC book has no motorcycles in it? There was one mention that Hellen actually had been for a ride but it was just a mention. This was odd. I actually liked Core, his talk, his look but Hardcore? I don’t know. He seemed just so nice and so domestic. Hellen’s Mom. Why would she continue to try to get her girls to have a relationship with their Father when he was part Devil? Why would you ever want to put your children through that over and over and over again? I’m from divorce. My Mom never said a bad word about my Dad, she didn’t say anything at all. But I bet if he treated me like shit she would have. Hellen's behavior once she moved in with Core was also fucked. Didn't she just break up with a long term boyfriend for his messes? Gah! I'm just going to quit here.
I don’t know. It had a lot of what I do love about KA’s books but there was so much that I just didn’t like.
And now, the third book is going back to Chaos. Who? What? Why? I don’t know if I even want her to go back to Chaos. I don’t what the greatness of that series to be all about red soled shoes and preaching to me what is right and what is wrong.
So, this is a huge disappointment to me. I didn’t want to dislike this story. I didn’t want to be so bothered by things that I couldn’t look past them. I didn’t want to be part of the group who talks about how she used to write but this was a struggle and now that I’ve typed all this up I’m thinking I won’t round up.
December 11, 2022
Preview chapter available.
https://www.kristenashley.net/titles/...
Click bonus material.
AUTHOR’S CAUTION
In a previous book in the Chaos series, an event occurred that framed who the Resurrection MC is today. All the brothers of that MC are struggling with past actions, specifically this event. These actions might be distressing for some readers. If you have issues around violence against women, I hope you find someone to provide help and support. But if you choose to read this book, I hope you view Core and his brothers with an open mind and an open heart as they work for redemption.
First of all the Hero is 'Core' Dustin “Hardcore” Cutler.
I don't understand why she doesn't branch out with names or keep a wall chart or something so she doesn't repeat names.
The dead guy in her recent book with the girl who thinks she's french is Corey, grrr yes Chloe.
It bugs me that her characters have to have names so similar.
At the start of the book the author explains that her other MC series, Choas, is referenced to in this book.
She says that she won't be rehashing details of the storylines, this is good and bad.
It's good not to have too many spoilers for a different series, incase you are a new reader and want to read the author's back catalogue.
That said if you are a new reader, even as an older reader of the author's previous work it can be hard to remember of piece together the 'easter eggs'.
In the past I have been a bit frustrated the author has been very blatant about her mentioning previous characters , that she thinks are popular so I suppose she can't win.
But I wasn't 100% on what some things referred to were.
'My cousin, or my second cousin, Eleanor. She lives in Phoenix. She’s my dad’s uncle’s daughter. She’s bad news'.
Cousin?? Not sure.
It also refers to an incident that the Hero was involved in, so they owed Choas, I assume, taking into account the author's warning, this could be Rosaline.
They beat her up for telling Choas about club stuff. Hence redemption needed.
If redemption is possible after that?
About the beating of Rosaline, this is from her book
'Her beautiful face was blown up, eyes swollen shut, lips inflamed, nose huge, broken, so taped. Red and mottled had given way to deep raisin-purple black, mostly around the eyes. There were livid scrapes and deep cuts that shared some of Bounty didn’t bother taking off rings. There was flesh stitched together above and through her left eyebrow, along that side’s jaw, and he knew, under the bandage at her nose, down the left side of the bridge.
Her throat was stippled with angry jam-colored bruising. Along the left side and at the top of her windpipe, there were distinct heavier discolorations where Throttle had dug the pads of his fingers in cruelly, positioned like he wanted to tear her throat out.'
Redemption after that?
The heroine dumps a guy who laughs cos she hit her head on a cupboard door he left open for a guy involved with this?
But it's okay he has his head on straight as he and his buds had a chat in the woods....
The heroine is a woman the Hero is watching out for, Hellen Moynihan, Jagger’s sister-in-law, character from Choas series.
The story starts with the heroine and her friend 'investigating ' their friend's new man who is borrowing money from her.
This gave me the Rock Chick vibes, which I actually didn't mind, especially if the author returns more to her old writing style.
The Hero is a real charmer.
'That said, if the woman he was watching, Hellen Moynihan, Jagger’s sister-in-law wasn’t thirteen years younger than him, and if she gave him an opening, he wouldn’t hesitate to give her a pop.
The way she worked that ass and the attitude that slithered off her wrapped around your **** and gave it a tug, he’d give her more than one.'
The Hero has his dark demons, so he is thinking she won't look twice at a guy like him.
I was a bit confused with him, in one of the early chapters he says to himself he's all in with her, then he is thinking he's too dark and has too many demons so they can never be.
I can't understand which it was.
At the start the heroine is breaking up with her boyfriend and he'd like to reconcile, so there is a bit of other man drama, he offers various things to get her back.
Part of his demons is an ex, his ex was friends with Rosaline and after the attack, she left him. He loved her and was with her for 3 years. He hasn't had anything serious since, doesn’t feel he deserves it.
On the whole it was okay. Better than previous new books.
Still bit lengthy in descriptions at times,especially and designer labels and eating places, that mean very little to me as I don't live in the USA and with how hard people are finding things financially at the moment, I'm not impressed that you can eat at some named place.
Overall it was ok.
Bit rock chick vibe but heroine not as stupid.
Huge lecture on women in society, provide for themselves and no white dress dream.
A bit boring tbh, relationship on/off, very mixed signals from him at the start, I felt even KA was confused, 'im all in' then ' I know it can't be that'.
Ex drama, redemption for violence to Rosalie, 🤔 I'm not sure you can come back for that one.
I ignored all 'ripples' it's got to the point I don't read KA intimate scenes at all.
The cousin drama was a bit of a build up to not much and I was totally confused with the family and past connections.
She said this series was connected to choas but it was very ambiguous.
I think she was trying to drum up interest without telling the reader the plot but it was so connected I needed a bit more as I didn't remember anything.
I think Free traumatized it out of me.
I know he is supposed to have a childhood/teen trama, PTSD thing but I'm not a fan of him shouting in her face but it's okay as she can take it and shout right back.
He did warn her step back though so she is fine, and knows what she's getting into.
I know he's supposed to be dark but these people need therapy.
And not going into the woods to talk it through with his buds.
HEA.
Epilogue.
Including some mind reading from pensive looks between the Hero and the wronged (beaten to a bloody pulp) Rosaline from the Choas series, she has forgiven him. Let's hope they read each others minds correctly.
https://www.kristenashley.net/titles/...
Click bonus material.
AUTHOR’S CAUTION
In a previous book in the Chaos series, an event occurred that framed who the Resurrection MC is today. All the brothers of that MC are struggling with past actions, specifically this event. These actions might be distressing for some readers. If you have issues around violence against women, I hope you find someone to provide help and support. But if you choose to read this book, I hope you view Core and his brothers with an open mind and an open heart as they work for redemption.
First of all the Hero is 'Core' Dustin “Hardcore” Cutler.
I don't understand why she doesn't branch out with names or keep a wall chart or something so she doesn't repeat names.
The dead guy in her recent book with the girl who thinks she's french is Corey, grrr yes Chloe.
It bugs me that her characters have to have names so similar.
At the start of the book the author explains that her other MC series, Choas, is referenced to in this book.
She says that she won't be rehashing details of the storylines, this is good and bad.
It's good not to have too many spoilers for a different series, incase you are a new reader and want to read the author's back catalogue.
That said if you are a new reader, even as an older reader of the author's previous work it can be hard to remember of piece together the 'easter eggs'.
In the past I have been a bit frustrated the author has been very blatant about her mentioning previous characters , that she thinks are popular so I suppose she can't win.
But I wasn't 100% on what some things referred to were.
'My cousin, or my second cousin, Eleanor. She lives in Phoenix. She’s my dad’s uncle’s daughter. She’s bad news'.
Cousin?? Not sure.
It also refers to an incident that the Hero was involved in, so they owed Choas, I assume, taking into account the author's warning, this could be Rosaline.
They beat her up for telling Choas about club stuff. Hence redemption needed.
If redemption is possible after that?
About the beating of Rosaline, this is from her book
'Her beautiful face was blown up, eyes swollen shut, lips inflamed, nose huge, broken, so taped. Red and mottled had given way to deep raisin-purple black, mostly around the eyes. There were livid scrapes and deep cuts that shared some of Bounty didn’t bother taking off rings. There was flesh stitched together above and through her left eyebrow, along that side’s jaw, and he knew, under the bandage at her nose, down the left side of the bridge.
Her throat was stippled with angry jam-colored bruising. Along the left side and at the top of her windpipe, there were distinct heavier discolorations where Throttle had dug the pads of his fingers in cruelly, positioned like he wanted to tear her throat out.'
Redemption after that?
The heroine dumps a guy who laughs cos she hit her head on a cupboard door he left open for a guy involved with this?
But it's okay he has his head on straight as he and his buds had a chat in the woods....
The heroine is a woman the Hero is watching out for, Hellen Moynihan, Jagger’s sister-in-law, character from Choas series.
The story starts with the heroine and her friend 'investigating ' their friend's new man who is borrowing money from her.
This gave me the Rock Chick vibes, which I actually didn't mind, especially if the author returns more to her old writing style.
The Hero is a real charmer.
'That said, if the woman he was watching, Hellen Moynihan, Jagger’s sister-in-law wasn’t thirteen years younger than him, and if she gave him an opening, he wouldn’t hesitate to give her a pop.
The way she worked that ass and the attitude that slithered off her wrapped around your **** and gave it a tug, he’d give her more than one.'
The Hero has his dark demons, so he is thinking she won't look twice at a guy like him.
I was a bit confused with him, in one of the early chapters he says to himself he's all in with her, then he is thinking he's too dark and has too many demons so they can never be.
I can't understand which it was.
At the start the heroine is breaking up with her boyfriend and he'd like to reconcile, so there is a bit of other man drama, he offers various things to get her back.
Part of his demons is an ex, his ex was friends with Rosaline and after the attack, she left him. He loved her and was with her for 3 years. He hasn't had anything serious since, doesn’t feel he deserves it.
On the whole it was okay. Better than previous new books.
Still bit lengthy in descriptions at times,especially and designer labels and eating places, that mean very little to me as I don't live in the USA and with how hard people are finding things financially at the moment, I'm not impressed that you can eat at some named place.
Overall it was ok.
Bit rock chick vibe but heroine not as stupid.
Huge lecture on women in society, provide for themselves and no white dress dream.
A bit boring tbh, relationship on/off, very mixed signals from him at the start, I felt even KA was confused, 'im all in' then ' I know it can't be that'.
Ex drama, redemption for violence to Rosalie, 🤔 I'm not sure you can come back for that one.
I ignored all 'ripples' it's got to the point I don't read KA intimate scenes at all.
The cousin drama was a bit of a build up to not much and I was totally confused with the family and past connections.
She said this series was connected to choas but it was very ambiguous.
I think she was trying to drum up interest without telling the reader the plot but it was so connected I needed a bit more as I didn't remember anything.
I think Free traumatized it out of me.
I know he is supposed to have a childhood/teen trama, PTSD thing but I'm not a fan of him shouting in her face but it's okay as she can take it and shout right back.
He did warn her step back though so she is fine, and knows what she's getting into.
I know he's supposed to be dark but these people need therapy.
And not going into the woods to talk it through with his buds.
HEA.
Epilogue.
Including some mind reading from pensive looks between the Hero and the wronged (beaten to a bloody pulp) Rosaline from the Choas series, she has forgiven him. Let's hope they read each others minds correctly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2023
4.5 'Excruciating care' Stars!
Kristen Ashley is one of my top favorite authors and her Chaos series is on my top MC romance list. Well, the thing is it's been almost two years since my last read from hers and last weekend I decided to go back to her and read her latest installment in her newest MC series. I read Still Standing (the first book) when it came out and I have to say, while I enjoyed some aspects of it, it's not my favorite from KA. So yes, I was a bit worried to start the second book (called Smoke and Steel).
But I am happy to say, this one brought back that feeling that made me fall in love with KA's MC romance. Hellen and Core are just so adorable together. I loved their relationship, how Kristen developed their personalities, the growth and changes in Resurrection and how that affects this couple. I definitely loved this one since I devoured it in a single day! So, if you want to give Smoke and Steel a chance, it's a good one to read!
Kristen Ashley is one of my top favorite authors and her Chaos series is on my top MC romance list. Well, the thing is it's been almost two years since my last read from hers and last weekend I decided to go back to her and read her latest installment in her newest MC series. I read Still Standing (the first book) when it came out and I have to say, while I enjoyed some aspects of it, it's not my favorite from KA. So yes, I was a bit worried to start the second book (called Smoke and Steel).
But I am happy to say, this one brought back that feeling that made me fall in love with KA's MC romance. Hellen and Core are just so adorable together. I loved their relationship, how Kristen developed their personalities, the growth and changes in Resurrection and how that affects this couple. I definitely loved this one since I devoured it in a single day! So, if you want to give Smoke and Steel a chance, it's a good one to read!
December 11, 2022
3.5 stars — I liked it. I didn't love it but also I read it in less than a day so there is that.
Still, I enjoyed this more than this author's last dozen releases. Not much of a plot beside the mundane getting to know each other and getting over past trauma. So don't come expecting MC dudes riding at dawn flipping shit up. It's very... domestic, lol. I really liked Core and Hellen and their dog and their HGTV channel 😄 IYKYK
The name dumping in this book was worth a warning preface by the author. Yeah you can read this as a standalone, I haven't read book 1 of the same series but I did read the other MCs book published years before and STILL the names were too much for me to compute. I'm reading a MC romance, not historical biography for post graduate thesis, I just skimmed over the names and didn't bother trying to remember who was whom from where. This was highly confusing, honestly, don't worry about knowing and understanding the ramifications between everyone. You can enjoy the story without.
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Still, I enjoyed this more than this author's last dozen releases. Not much of a plot beside the mundane getting to know each other and getting over past trauma. So don't come expecting MC dudes riding at dawn flipping shit up. It's very... domestic, lol. I really liked Core and Hellen and their dog and their HGTV channel 😄 IYKYK
The name dumping in this book was worth a warning preface by the author. Yeah you can read this as a standalone, I haven't read book 1 of the same series but I did read the other MCs book published years before and STILL the names were too much for me to compute. I'm reading a MC romance, not historical biography for post graduate thesis, I just skimmed over the names and didn't bother trying to remember who was whom from where. This was highly confusing, honestly, don't worry about knowing and understanding the ramifications between everyone. You can enjoy the story without.
More reviews and book talk at :
You can find me here too ☞
December 1, 2023
2.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown
The Good: The characters and side characters.
The Not-So-Good: The emotional connection amongst the characters and for me towards the characters.
The Bad: The ending. Not at all KA level closure or HEA.
Overall: This was...underwhelming. I keep on living in a dream world, obviously, where I expect to get a book similar to the old KA that I love so much and reread way too often. Sadly, it is a dream world, because this was not that. It wasn't bad or anything, but I didn't connect in a way that it made me feel and if I was to assign one word for it, it would be "flat." I'm not quite sure why that word comes to mind, but it was the first one I thought of when I started writing this review.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Hellen and Core's story. Core has been assigned to keep an eye on Helen because her bad news cousin that has a rocky relationship with a fellow mc gave them the heads up that she's on her way to cause trouble. When Core finds Hellen and her friends getting into trouble, he makes his presence be known. They dance around each other but eventually give in to their attraction. There is some past baggage they have to work through, some secrets revealed, and some sexy times...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Hellen's POV and focusing on Core in 3rd person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: Kind of. They move pretty quickly.
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Core. I liked him and how he didn't hesitate to show how much he cared for the h.
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Hellen. I liked her but wanted to shake her at times to communicate better.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Alright. They have some alright tension and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story. I thought it was a little lacking in chemistry tbh.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends in an alright place but not with nearly enough closure or even close to the amount I've come to expect from KA , so I would call this a HFN.
Safety: This one should be either Safe with exception or Not Safe for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences
Opinion Breakdown
The Good: The characters and side characters.
The Not-So-Good: The emotional connection amongst the characters and for me towards the characters.
The Bad: The ending. Not at all KA level closure or HEA.
Overall: This was...underwhelming. I keep on living in a dream world, obviously, where I expect to get a book similar to the old KA that I love so much and reread way too often. Sadly, it is a dream world, because this was not that. It wasn't bad or anything, but I didn't connect in a way that it made me feel and if I was to assign one word for it, it would be "flat." I'm not quite sure why that word comes to mind, but it was the first one I thought of when I started writing this review.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Hellen and Core's story. Core has been assigned to keep an eye on Helen because her bad news cousin that has a rocky relationship with a fellow mc gave them the heads up that she's on her way to cause trouble. When Core finds Hellen and her friends getting into trouble, he makes his presence be known. They dance around each other but eventually give in to their attraction. There is some past baggage they have to work through, some secrets revealed, and some sexy times...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Hellen's POV and focusing on Core in 3rd person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: Kind of. They move pretty quickly.
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Core. I liked him and how he didn't hesitate to show how much he cared for the h.
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Hellen. I liked her but wanted to shake her at times to communicate better.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Alright. They have some alright tension and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story. I thought it was a little lacking in chemistry tbh.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends in an alright place but not with nearly enough closure or even close to the amount I've come to expect from KA , so I would call this a HFN.
Safety: This one should be either Safe with exception or Not Safe for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences
December 8, 2022
“You love someone, you love them, past sins and all.”
The intensity and grit of every one of Kristen Ashley’s Motorcycle Club Romances might always be a given, but every time she returns to this alpha world of bikes and brotherhood, you never know what you’re going to find. Her latest novel takes us into the heart of Resurrection MC, formerly known as Bounty, with a somewhat less action-driven story of two people hell-bent on not repeating the sins of their fathers, but every bit as compelling for the raw emotion and sheer badassery that it offers. It’s a story about love and the power of family—both those we are born into as well as those we choose—just as much as it is a subtle challenging of traditional gender roles and stereotypes where a woman can be both a devoted life partner and remain the architect of her own life, while a man is no less of a ‘man’ just because he is willing to tailor his life to meet his partner’s career demands. Kristen Ashley’s love stories continue to celebrate relationships that buoy women emotionally without breaking their spirit, and when she throws a protective alpha biker into the mix, you’ve got pure magic.
Continue reading this review...
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January 27, 2023
Full review to come!!!
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December 7, 2022
Smoke and Steel is the second installment in the Wild West MC series. This is a long-awaited novel that KA fans have been eagerly anticipating since "Still Standing" was released a couple of years ago. I was really drawn into the cover, and due to that I had certain expectations on what would be experienced within this novel, and unfortunately, while I enjoyed the story as a whole, it didn't meet up to what I expected at all. But it was still a solid novel and had hints of classic KA but wasn't fully immersed in her style of writing that has been so well loved over the years.
Smoke and Steel is a story that is an instant love attraction and it's pretty much a rebound relationship. I was a bit confused about why the heroine broke up with her boyfriend, it seemed like first impression-wise that she was more concerned about recycling than having a relationship with him. And yes the author does push her own agenda in this book as she sometimes does, I almost felt like I was in a lecture hall for the environment. But I have come to expect that from some of her more recently released books. While this was to be an MC romance and a big redemption story it definitely didn't feel like it in some ways. I loved the cover that was chosen, but this is not DARK at all, not even close. It didn't even have her typical MC vibes to the story. Yes, the hero is part of the Redemption club, and yes years previous they had done some wrongs, but have been redeeming themselves. There was a focus on healing and working on redeeming themselves in the later half of the story which I liked. However, what I didn't like was the focus was more on other clubs and not the Redemption MC. We also get lots of cinnamon rolls in this book. The hero is NOT an alpha in my book, maybe a bit in the bedroom, but even in the bedroom, the heroine seemed to be more alpha than the hero at times. Now I don't mind a good cinnamon roll, but not with KA. I come to KA to read her alpha males. My theory is that she overcompensated for the backlash she received on "Still Standing". If you are looking for a story with the "classic KA" vibe, this book isn't it. It felt more like her "Rain " series only with MC characters and these MC characters are tamer than a kitten haha. So I would say know what you are getting into with this one here and lower your expectation and you will enjoy it more than I did.
Now I did enjoy seeing some side characters from previous books, and it was quite fun seeing their interactions with our current cast of characters in this book. I did enjoy the emotional undertones in the story and the way that the hero is so tortured and is working on redeeming himself and coming to terms with his past. There is some solid character growth in this one that was endearing at times. I did like some aspects of the relationship itself, but honestly, it felt a bit lackluster in some ways. It wasn't as satisfying as I was expecting it to be.
Overall, while it had its issues that I struggled with and my expectation were higher than it should have been, it was still a solid win of a story and I think contemporary romance fans will enjoy this one here. But fans of classic KA style, might feel a bit of a disappointment with it. Very curious to see where she plans on taking the series and I will be along for the ride.
Smoke and Steel is a story that is an instant love attraction and it's pretty much a rebound relationship. I was a bit confused about why the heroine broke up with her boyfriend, it seemed like first impression-wise that she was more concerned about recycling than having a relationship with him. And yes the author does push her own agenda in this book as she sometimes does, I almost felt like I was in a lecture hall for the environment. But I have come to expect that from some of her more recently released books. While this was to be an MC romance and a big redemption story it definitely didn't feel like it in some ways. I loved the cover that was chosen, but this is not DARK at all, not even close. It didn't even have her typical MC vibes to the story. Yes, the hero is part of the Redemption club, and yes years previous they had done some wrongs, but have been redeeming themselves. There was a focus on healing and working on redeeming themselves in the later half of the story which I liked. However, what I didn't like was the focus was more on other clubs and not the Redemption MC. We also get lots of cinnamon rolls in this book. The hero is NOT an alpha in my book, maybe a bit in the bedroom, but even in the bedroom, the heroine seemed to be more alpha than the hero at times. Now I don't mind a good cinnamon roll, but not with KA. I come to KA to read her alpha males. My theory is that she overcompensated for the backlash she received on "Still Standing". If you are looking for a story with the "classic KA" vibe, this book isn't it. It felt more like her "Rain " series only with MC characters and these MC characters are tamer than a kitten haha. So I would say know what you are getting into with this one here and lower your expectation and you will enjoy it more than I did.
Now I did enjoy seeing some side characters from previous books, and it was quite fun seeing their interactions with our current cast of characters in this book. I did enjoy the emotional undertones in the story and the way that the hero is so tortured and is working on redeeming himself and coming to terms with his past. There is some solid character growth in this one that was endearing at times. I did like some aspects of the relationship itself, but honestly, it felt a bit lackluster in some ways. It wasn't as satisfying as I was expecting it to be.
Overall, while it had its issues that I struggled with and my expectation were higher than it should have been, it was still a solid win of a story and I think contemporary romance fans will enjoy this one here. But fans of classic KA style, might feel a bit of a disappointment with it. Very curious to see where she plans on taking the series and I will be along for the ride.
December 11, 2022
4 stars ⭐️
December 11, 2022
I appreciated the fact that KA began this book with a note to the reader: “That said, I don’t want to bog the narrative down with a lot of information about history that has spanned, essentially, over twenty books.” Because there are a LOT of references to characters and events in this book. The story can standalone but a newbie KA reader is not going to fully understand the Chaos mentions or even why “the redhead” and Tex at Fortnum’s are the way they are.
BUT I have to say that (as a long time KA fan) this book is kinda underwhelming. Not that it’s bad. It just doesn’t have the same magic for me as her older books.
I also felt like certain parts (especially some paragraphs) were very long, preachy, and almost defensive. But maybe that’s me.
BUT I have to say that (as a long time KA fan) this book is kinda underwhelming. Not that it’s bad. It just doesn’t have the same magic for me as her older books.
I also felt like certain parts (especially some paragraphs) were very long, preachy, and almost defensive. But maybe that’s me.
December 12, 2022
Usually with a KA book I can knock it out in a day or two but with this story it took almost a week. I skimmed through the details(as I've been doing lately with her books). The story wasn't great but it wasn't bad. It was just there. I didn't feel any connection with the mc's or the other characters. It was nice to see some Chaos characters. The next book is going back to Chaos and I have no idea who it'd be about.
Now. These set of men are getting redeemed for beating the ever loving shit out of Rosalie from the Chaos series. I don't know how to feel about it. I mean, I absolutely love Dax Lahn even though he raped and back handed his Circe(from The Golden Dynasty). Maybe I'm just in a mood but I don't think these men should be redeemed. Yeah, they're on the good now and are doing great things but eh. I know I won't be rereading this series. There's nothing that has popped out that makes me want to reread again and again. I will finish the series cause I want to see how everything plays out.
Also, this book ended at 90%. The rest was a Q&A and the prologue to Own the Wind which I will be rereading again soon cause that story was fantastic.
Now. These set of men are getting redeemed for beating the ever loving shit out of Rosalie from the Chaos series. I don't know how to feel about it. I mean, I absolutely love Dax Lahn even though he raped and back handed his Circe(from The Golden Dynasty). Maybe I'm just in a mood but I don't think these men should be redeemed. Yeah, they're on the good now and are doing great things but eh. I know I won't be rereading this series. There's nothing that has popped out that makes me want to reread again and again. I will finish the series cause I want to see how everything plays out.
Also, this book ended at 90%. The rest was a Q&A and the prologue to Own the Wind which I will be rereading again soon cause that story was fantastic.
March 25, 2023
4.5 Stars
Gifted by Ho Ho Ho Hottie
December 10, 2022 Amz
I very much enjoyed this one and looking forward to the next!
TPAM BR DECEMBER 6
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
I liked it but it moves a bit slow. Better than the first book in the series.
Looking forward to reading the next once it comes out.
Gifted by Ho Ho Ho Hottie
December 10, 2022 Amz
I very much enjoyed this one and looking forward to the next!
TPAM BR DECEMBER 6
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
I liked it but it moves a bit slow. Better than the first book in the series.
Looking forward to reading the next once it comes out.
December 28, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up. I’m so confused by this book and this series. There were parts that I really enjoyed about this story, and in truth, it felt a little like vintage KA, which I am sooooo here for. But then there were things I didn’t jive with— but I think that was, in part, due to my own expectations for how this would play out. Which is my bad, not the author’s. So I’m settling on 4 confused stars.
For starters, this book will not be for everyone. KA loves an anti-hero and Core is def that. He and his club have done some terrible things in the past. Things that KA spoke about in a previous book when Resurrection was Bounty. Massive content warnings here (which KA does address in the beginning of the book). But, I think a lot of people will find what was done unforgivable. KA has some massive balls trying to write a redemption arc for these guys.
This book has A LOT of chaos in it. Not a bad thing. I love those brothers. But there is so much reference to the brothers and past happenings between the clubs, it might be really difficult for someone not familiar with this world and that series to follow along. I’ve read the books and still needed a refresher.
And the last really important thing to note— I have no idea how this fits in with book 1 in the series. Book 1 kind of left with a bunch of KA badasses from previous books meeting up to band together to discuss issues with a new bad guy. Yeah… none of that was touched upon in this book. There also weren’t really any bad guys? Except some tinder swindlers (yes, KA was really into that as a plot line). I kind of love the heroine (or hero) in danger kind of aspect the chaos books, and book 1 in this series, had. But that was missing from this book. Which bummed me out. So yeah, this book and the plot just felt like a different series from book 1. I also am not sure how I feel about each book jumping to a new MC. I feel like I just get to know the guys and then we move on to a different club. But now I wanna know the rest of the Resurrection boys, and that won’t be happening in the next book.
So with all of that, it probably feels like I hated this one. But I really didn’t. If I view this as it’s own book, there was a lot I enjoyed. Core was a complex character with a deeply troubled past. And he was all KA alpha, which I’ve missed. I actually really appreciated Hellen and her boss bitch attitude. She had some really quality friends and a lovely family. I liked that she didn’t really let Core walk all over her with his alphaness. We got some great scenes with Tex, which I will never not enjoy. And honestly, it’s been a while since I’ve read KA and I just missed her writing, characters, and stories. So, I do recommend this. But not for people that are new to KA’s writing and books. You def don’t need to read book 1 first, but the chaos series would be helpful. And if you’re sensitive to certain content, maybe this one isn’t for you.
For starters, this book will not be for everyone. KA loves an anti-hero and Core is def that. He and his club have done some terrible things in the past. Things that KA spoke about in a previous book when Resurrection was Bounty. Massive content warnings here (which KA does address in the beginning of the book). But, I think a lot of people will find what was done unforgivable. KA has some massive balls trying to write a redemption arc for these guys.
This book has A LOT of chaos in it. Not a bad thing. I love those brothers. But there is so much reference to the brothers and past happenings between the clubs, it might be really difficult for someone not familiar with this world and that series to follow along. I’ve read the books and still needed a refresher.
And the last really important thing to note— I have no idea how this fits in with book 1 in the series. Book 1 kind of left with a bunch of KA badasses from previous books meeting up to band together to discuss issues with a new bad guy. Yeah… none of that was touched upon in this book. There also weren’t really any bad guys? Except some tinder swindlers (yes, KA was really into that as a plot line). I kind of love the heroine (or hero) in danger kind of aspect the chaos books, and book 1 in this series, had. But that was missing from this book. Which bummed me out. So yeah, this book and the plot just felt like a different series from book 1. I also am not sure how I feel about each book jumping to a new MC. I feel like I just get to know the guys and then we move on to a different club. But now I wanna know the rest of the Resurrection boys, and that won’t be happening in the next book.
So with all of that, it probably feels like I hated this one. But I really didn’t. If I view this as it’s own book, there was a lot I enjoyed. Core was a complex character with a deeply troubled past. And he was all KA alpha, which I’ve missed. I actually really appreciated Hellen and her boss bitch attitude. She had some really quality friends and a lovely family. I liked that she didn’t really let Core walk all over her with his alphaness. We got some great scenes with Tex, which I will never not enjoy. And honestly, it’s been a while since I’ve read KA and I just missed her writing, characters, and stories. So, I do recommend this. But not for people that are new to KA’s writing and books. You def don’t need to read book 1 first, but the chaos series would be helpful. And if you’re sensitive to certain content, maybe this one isn’t for you.
December 23, 2022
Welp. Here we are again, with me 'splaining why I keep reading KA's MC series lol.
This may be a long one so
Up front, I was NOT a fan of the first book (a 1 star for me), so I wasn't sure I would read this but I couldn't help myself. I'm so addicted to KA when she's good. And when she's bad...well, it's a hellscape but I find myself reading anyway. This is a mixed bag that's a bit of in-between. Let's suss out why I feel this way, shall we?
The Good: What brings me back to KA, over and over again, is her ability to build those family relationships and friendships, to really delve into the emotional beats of a romance and when she's on her game, I cannot stop reading. The family she's building with this Resurrection crew has good potential that I'm interested in. Her characters aren't perfect, by any stretch (which makes them more interesting), and she's good at building those scenes so you can understand their affection for each other. I'm also going to give her props for not settling into HEA epilogue status halfway through, but actually keeping the internal conflicts alive to keep that narrative tension taut. The FMC here, Hellen, feels like your standard KA FMC. She's sassy, adorable in her sassiness, occasionally preachy, and a bit of an emotional runner yet generally likable. But really, this story was always going to focus on the MMC, Core, and his sins. Speaking of....
The Bad: This section's going to be wordy, so buckle up.
First, I am a fan of redemption arcs. I am fascinated by taking a villain in one person's story and slowly but surely, showing them acknowledge their villainy, suffer for their actions, learn from their mistakes and move on until they earn their own HEA. I think it's a great tried and true storytelling concept. So I did come into this open to the idea of redeeming these characters. I'm just not sure that it's working.
I also think the problem here is you only get part of a redemption arc. I didn't see these guys suffer for their errors, and them flinching if someone mentions Rosie getting beat isn't suffering to me. Seeing them do a bunch of vigilante justice bits is just leaning into their villainy-for-good mantra, which...again, ok.
KA doesn't want to burden new readers with a lot of backstory and gives the bare minimum to understand that the Resurrection crew did a horrible thing. But it's so removed from the original horror that when she focuses on Core's backstory - the physical/emotional abuse suffered by his mother and the tragic ending of his parents - THAT gets conflated with the tragedy of Rosie's beating and earns him forgiveness in this story that falls a bit flat for me, a longstanding reader. I've read the fallout of Rosie's beating and that was pretty damn horrific, enough that I've got a higher bar to clear before I believe in this MC crew's redemption.
I do think one thing is to Core's benefit - the focus of Rosie's beating was always Beck, and while I was annoyed that I even saw Beck get a HEA even before the other men in his crew (but that's a separate rant that I've made in my review for Free, the final book in the Chaos series), time and distance from the crime have made it a little easier for me to be open to the idea of these bikers getting their chance at HEAs.I appreciate that these MMCs are going to have to acknowledge what they did and continue to do their work to balance out their own personal scales. But that doesn't mean I don't want them to see them work for it, not told about it after the fact.
At the end of the day, I'm not sure that KA was really ready to delve into that darkness, so we only get told about their path. She tells the reader that the men basically went on a camping trip to hash out their demons, which....um, ok. That kind of scene doesn't have the same emotional punch when I don't see it, I'm only told it in passing. But it undoubtedly is a hard scene to write, but a crime of this magnitude...well, it deserves that emotionally cathartic scene to balance it out. I still really haven't seen that. I think this story still pulls back from any hard-hitting scenes about that beating and that will always make it feel a little incomplete to me. But YMMV, especially if you're a new reader, this may be just enough.
Everything in Between: Ok, enough of that! When in doubt, KA is going to lighten up the story by describing every piece of furniture and there will be shopping! LOL I'm used to it by now, and while it can get out of hand, it's almost a comfort of reading her writing tics. Oh, and seeing the little references to beloved characters from other series? Another comfort bit. It's nice.
The Bottom Line:
I didn't hate this, but I didn't love it and I think there's so much that could have made this better, so it's only a qualified recommendation for hardcore KA fans. But if you're not into redemption arcs at all (esp if you've read the Chaos series), this is definitely not the series for you.
This may be a long one so
Up front, I was NOT a fan of the first book (a 1 star for me), so I wasn't sure I would read this but I couldn't help myself. I'm so addicted to KA when she's good. And when she's bad...well, it's a hellscape but I find myself reading anyway. This is a mixed bag that's a bit of in-between. Let's suss out why I feel this way, shall we?
The Good: What brings me back to KA, over and over again, is her ability to build those family relationships and friendships, to really delve into the emotional beats of a romance and when she's on her game, I cannot stop reading. The family she's building with this Resurrection crew has good potential that I'm interested in. Her characters aren't perfect, by any stretch (which makes them more interesting), and she's good at building those scenes so you can understand their affection for each other. I'm also going to give her props for not settling into HEA epilogue status halfway through, but actually keeping the internal conflicts alive to keep that narrative tension taut. The FMC here, Hellen, feels like your standard KA FMC. She's sassy, adorable in her sassiness, occasionally preachy, and a bit of an emotional runner yet generally likable. But really, this story was always going to focus on the MMC, Core, and his sins. Speaking of....
The Bad: This section's going to be wordy, so buckle up.
First, I am a fan of redemption arcs. I am fascinated by taking a villain in one person's story and slowly but surely, showing them acknowledge their villainy, suffer for their actions, learn from their mistakes and move on until they earn their own HEA. I think it's a great tried and true storytelling concept. So I did come into this open to the idea of redeeming these characters. I'm just not sure that it's working.
I also think the problem here is you only get part of a redemption arc. I didn't see these guys suffer for their errors, and them flinching if someone mentions Rosie getting beat isn't suffering to me. Seeing them do a bunch of vigilante justice bits is just leaning into their villainy-for-good mantra, which...again, ok.
KA doesn't want to burden new readers with a lot of backstory and gives the bare minimum to understand that the Resurrection crew did a horrible thing. But it's so removed from the original horror that when she focuses on Core's backstory - the physical/emotional abuse suffered by his mother and the tragic ending of his parents - THAT gets conflated with the tragedy of Rosie's beating and earns him forgiveness in this story that falls a bit flat for me, a longstanding reader. I've read the fallout of Rosie's beating and that was pretty damn horrific, enough that I've got a higher bar to clear before I believe in this MC crew's redemption.
I do think one thing is to Core's benefit - the focus of Rosie's beating was always Beck, and while I was annoyed that I even saw Beck get a HEA even before the other men in his crew (but that's a separate rant that I've made in my review for Free, the final book in the Chaos series), time and distance from the crime have made it a little easier for me to be open to the idea of these bikers getting their chance at HEAs.I appreciate that these MMCs are going to have to acknowledge what they did and continue to do their work to balance out their own personal scales. But that doesn't mean I don't want them to see them work for it, not told about it after the fact.
At the end of the day, I'm not sure that KA was really ready to delve into that darkness, so we only get told about their path. She tells the reader that the men basically went on a camping trip to hash out their demons, which....um, ok. That kind of scene doesn't have the same emotional punch when I don't see it, I'm only told it in passing. But it undoubtedly is a hard scene to write, but a crime of this magnitude...well, it deserves that emotionally cathartic scene to balance it out. I still really haven't seen that. I think this story still pulls back from any hard-hitting scenes about that beating and that will always make it feel a little incomplete to me. But YMMV, especially if you're a new reader, this may be just enough.
Everything in Between: Ok, enough of that! When in doubt, KA is going to lighten up the story by describing every piece of furniture and there will be shopping! LOL I'm used to it by now, and while it can get out of hand, it's almost a comfort of reading her writing tics. Oh, and seeing the little references to beloved characters from other series? Another comfort bit. It's nice.
The Bottom Line:
I didn't hate this, but I didn't love it and I think there's so much that could have made this better, so it's only a qualified recommendation for hardcore KA fans. But if you're not into redemption arcs at all (esp if you've read the Chaos series), this is definitely not the series for you.
December 7, 2022
Smoke and Steel by Kristen Ashley
I was provided an advanced reader's copy from Kristen Ashley's publicist in exchange for an unbiased review. This post contains affiliate links. My reviews are NEVER influenced by ads or links.
4.25 Stars
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I got a very early copy of Smoke & Steel by Kristen Ashley and had time to read it twice. I needed that because a lot was happening and I wanted to make sure I soaked it all in. In preparation for this read, I re-read Still Standing, the first in the series, but they are not really relevant to each other except the character "Nails". What I should have re-read was Rough Ride, Free and Wild Wind. I also re-read all of my reviews to refresh my memories (that’s actually why I retell the beginning of the story in my reviews, it’s to jog my own memory.) You can see them all in my Complete Guide to Kristen Ashley.
In the prologue, Kristen lets you know that Smoke & Steel is not really for newbies:
“Interspersed in this series will be a lot of lore that refers back to the stories of Tack and Tyra (Motorcycle Man), Tabby and Shy (Own the Wind), Hop and Lanie (Fire Inside), Joker and Carissa (Ride Steady), Millie and High (Walk Through Fire), Hound and Keely (Wild Like the Wind), Rush and Rebel (Free), Snapper and Rosalie (Rough Ride), Dutch and Georgie (Wild Fire) and Jagger and Archie (Wild Wind).”
Smoke and Steel is about the Resurrection MC. They used to be called Bounty, but after they did something so heinous they couldn’t forgive themselves, they disbanded. A group of the ex-Bounty members decided to resurrect themselves anew as a vigilante MC to try to make up for past sins, hence the name Resurrection.
“You could wallow in the hurts done to you and use them as an excuse to live your life hurting other people. Or you could fight the cycle and find ways to do better.”
Hellen, Jagger’s (Wild Wind) sister-in-law is smart and driven, running her own social media company. She broke up with her boyfriend because he didn’t respect her enough, and I loved her sass. (And OMG, her break-up speech was so spot-on and EPIC.) She has a cousin, “Nails” who is trouble, and Nails is headed to Denver. Resurrection is assigned to watch Hellen to see if Nails contacts her. And Core, Resurrection’s VP likes what he sees while watching her.
“I’d been stricken by that look on Core’s face because no one had ever looked at me like that. Stricken and moved. Something velvet glided through me as we locked eyes, and it was a feeling I’d never felt in my entire life.”
Core can’t forgive himself for the part he played in Rosalie’s beating (See Rough Ride and Free) He doesn’t think he deserves Hellen, but he doesn’t want to lose her and continually holds back such an important part of who he is. I loved how Beck stepped in to offer advice. In the end I really loved how healthy and HOT Core & Hellen turned out to be.
“Woman, I’ll trip on your shoes every fucking day of my life, if it means you’re in my life.”
The best part of Smoke & Steel is the family and brotherhood aspect. Though it sometimes felt a little corny to have men open up to each other so much, it shows the importance of family whether you are born into it or it's found along the way. The Resurrection bikers have been to hell and fought their way back together, and I loved the redemption in the story.
Likes:
•I loved Hellen’s character. She’s smart, independent and sassy.
•The whole side story involving Bree’s “Tinder Swindler”.
•Being back in Denver and especially visiting Fortnum’s and Tex.
•The meshing of her girl posse and the biker chick posse.
•The way Core respected Hellen's career and drive.
•Beck’s guidance for Core.
•Seeing how the group paid for past sins and changed their lives.
•There is nothing like a KA read to suck you in!
Dislikes:
•Rough Ride (Rosalie’s story) and Free both play heavily into this story, and they were released 4 & 5 years ago. I don’t remember yesterday, let alone details of a story I read 5 years ago.
•The guys aren’t the most realistic characters: They talk through their personal problems!
•I think her worlds are getting a little too big with too many crossovers. Though I love finding Easter eggs, her books are getting harder and harder to keep track of all of the characters & crossovers.
The Down & Dirty:
Smoke & Steel by Kristen Ashley kind of brings all of her MC books together. There is a lot of history as well as a few crossovers from other books. I absolutely loved Core & Hellen’s romance, but I think to really get the most out of this book, you need to refresh your memory of all of her MC books, especially Rough Ride and Free. As long as you do that, I think you’ll enjoy Smoke & Steel as much as I did. I love being back in Kristen's MC world and Kristen's redemption of Core was done beautifully.
Rating: 4.25 Stars, 4.5 Heat
Purchase Smoke & Steel by Kristen Ashley
I highly recommend you read the Chaos Series before The Wild West MC Series.
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December 12, 2022
Well, I have to say this one was a pleasant surprise. After the dog's breakfast of the first book in this series (infamously going down as the only KA book I'll never read again, though some I have felt a bit meh about, most are 5⭐ reads for me) this book redeemed the series somewhat.
This series deals with three MCs: Aces High (book 1) Resurrection (this book) and Chaos (apparently book 3 and the previous Chaos series). KA does a good job in the intro explaining the link and if you haven't read Chaos or book 1, fear not, you'll be fine with this one.
Resurrection used to be Bounty MC. If you have read Chaos, you will know how awful they were, how things ended with them and a little about why they do what they do now (and this is explained through this book so don't worry if you didn't know that). I say this because when I realised this book was about Resurrection, I was ALL IN! Because this would have to be one hell of a redemption arc to make me like the MMC. And KA delivered.
Core is assigned to shadow and protect Hellen from her no-good cousin who has appeared in Denver. Though they don't immediately meet (he's pretty good at surveillance) when they do, sparks fly. Core is trying hard to be a better man but he knows, deep in his soul, that he will never be good enough for Hellen because of what he's done and what he's come from (just like all good KA Hs.) But, Core is sweet, thoughtful, protective and f*cks like a God so, of course, Hellen can't help but fall for him and she falls hard. Core, of course, fails to tell her about his past so when it does come to light, there is much angst and despair. Happily for the reader, this doesn't last too long before their HEA.
what I liked
- a MC with no club bitches (such a relief); so MC lite
- a MC that is all in to redeem themselves
- some appearances from a few recent Chaos characters (and not in a way it would matter as I hadn't read some of those books yet anyway and it didn't affect the story line)
- a strong, focussed FMC
- a bit of a teddybear MMC
what I was a bit meh about:
- the proselytising about the role of gender in society in the FMCs dialogue (OK that might be a bit strong but it was just kind of boring and I was like "yeah and...?")
- her ambition kind of getting in the way of things (this is a me thing. I'm just not that kind of girl)
- the whole 'my parent is a certain way thus genetics make me at risk of these behaviours...' form both MCs
Overall, I really enjoyed this. It was sufficiently different from the other MC books I thought (in so far as any MC books anywhere are sufficiently different from each other) and a bit more of a return to form for KA.
This series deals with three MCs: Aces High (book 1) Resurrection (this book) and Chaos (apparently book 3 and the previous Chaos series). KA does a good job in the intro explaining the link and if you haven't read Chaos or book 1, fear not, you'll be fine with this one.
Resurrection used to be Bounty MC. If you have read Chaos, you will know how awful they were, how things ended with them and a little about why they do what they do now (and this is explained through this book so don't worry if you didn't know that). I say this because when I realised this book was about Resurrection, I was ALL IN! Because this would have to be one hell of a redemption arc to make me like the MMC. And KA delivered.
Core is assigned to shadow and protect Hellen from her no-good cousin who has appeared in Denver. Though they don't immediately meet (he's pretty good at surveillance) when they do, sparks fly. Core is trying hard to be a better man but he knows, deep in his soul, that he will never be good enough for Hellen because of what he's done and what he's come from (just like all good KA Hs.) But, Core is sweet, thoughtful, protective and f*cks like a God so, of course, Hellen can't help but fall for him and she falls hard. Core, of course, fails to tell her about his past so when it does come to light, there is much angst and despair. Happily for the reader, this doesn't last too long before their HEA.
what I liked
- a MC with no club bitches (such a relief); so MC lite
- a MC that is all in to redeem themselves
- some appearances from a few recent Chaos characters (and not in a way it would matter as I hadn't read some of those books yet anyway and it didn't affect the story line)
- a strong, focussed FMC
- a bit of a teddybear MMC
what I was a bit meh about:
- the proselytising about the role of gender in society in the FMCs dialogue (OK that might be a bit strong but it was just kind of boring and I was like "yeah and...?")
- her ambition kind of getting in the way of things (this is a me thing. I'm just not that kind of girl)
- the whole 'my parent is a certain way thus genetics make me at risk of these behaviours...' form both MCs
Overall, I really enjoyed this. It was sufficiently different from the other MC books I thought (in so far as any MC books anywhere are sufficiently different from each other) and a bit more of a return to form for KA.
December 15, 2022
Ms. Ashley is a “comfort” author for me. My first choice if I’m in the mood for a love story with uber alpha males and strong, feisty females. And this story is filled with every single thing Ashley fans have come to expect from this talented author.
For me this specific story was… good… nothing terribly wrong with it, but nothing that really stood out as great either. The plot and conflict was EXTREMELY predictable with nothing new to offer. It was also one where the amount of page time devoted to the sex rode the line of overwhelming the rich emotional relationship. Still, the core story was lovely, heartbreaking and touching all in one and, as usual, the ending was EPIC! I can’t pick a favorite thing about Ms. Ashley but her satisfying endings and epilogues are assuredly one.
For me this specific story was… good… nothing terribly wrong with it, but nothing that really stood out as great either. The plot and conflict was EXTREMELY predictable with nothing new to offer. It was also one where the amount of page time devoted to the sex rode the line of overwhelming the rich emotional relationship. Still, the core story was lovely, heartbreaking and touching all in one and, as usual, the ending was EPIC! I can’t pick a favorite thing about Ms. Ashley but her satisfying endings and epilogues are assuredly one.
March 29, 2023
3 ⭐⭐⭐ - OK or decent reads.
December 6, 2022
Redemption
I always love how Kristen Ashley wades into the difficult issues with grace and compassion in a way that causes the reader to stop and think. Smoke and Steel is a great story of love and redemption and owning who you are, what you’ve done, and where you go from there. I love the story of Hellen and Core and can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
I always love how Kristen Ashley wades into the difficult issues with grace and compassion in a way that causes the reader to stop and think. Smoke and Steel is a great story of love and redemption and owning who you are, what you’ve done, and where you go from there. I love the story of Hellen and Core and can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
January 19, 2023
Smoke and Steel was an excellent read! To say I had a lot of feelings is an understatement but I loved the emotional rollercoaster I was on. It was a seriously fantastic redemption story!
Hellen was such a strong character and I loved how hardworking and dedicated she was. I loved that she knew her self-worth and that she wouldn’t let a man disrespect her or make her feel like some things should just be accepted. I couldn’t get enough of Core. He was sweet and flirty and he and Hellen had a lot of fun scenes together. I loved that spark between them and their undeniable chemistry and how it ignited into so much heat. And this baby had some serious steam!
I liked learning about Core, his traumatizing past, and his personal journey of finding redemption and the build to Hellen finding out about his past choices and how they moved on from there. It was emotional and filled with so much pain, it felt like a slow burn to this intense, poignant moment. I loved the overall growth and healing that happened and the moments when you can see Core being a good man, the man Hellen needed him to be. I loved the epilogue, the meaning behind it, and the statement it made.
I am a huge Kristen Ashley fan and I really like how this series has been set up, each story focusing on a different MC, but how their worlds are still connected and intertwined. I like how the characters have been brought to life, all the different bonds that have been formed, the found families and friendships, and how they all tie together. I also really liked learning about the new path Redemption is on and how the brothers are there for one another.
This story was filled with emotion, heat, passion, and love. It’s pretty low-key in the drama department and I was all about that since I was caught up in Core and Hellen getting to their HEA. There are some serious subjects involved but I like how KA had the characters move on and heal, change, and grow from them. I thought it was incredibly well done. Loved it!
Hellen was such a strong character and I loved how hardworking and dedicated she was. I loved that she knew her self-worth and that she wouldn’t let a man disrespect her or make her feel like some things should just be accepted. I couldn’t get enough of Core. He was sweet and flirty and he and Hellen had a lot of fun scenes together. I loved that spark between them and their undeniable chemistry and how it ignited into so much heat. And this baby had some serious steam!
I liked learning about Core, his traumatizing past, and his personal journey of finding redemption and the build to Hellen finding out about his past choices and how they moved on from there. It was emotional and filled with so much pain, it felt like a slow burn to this intense, poignant moment. I loved the overall growth and healing that happened and the moments when you can see Core being a good man, the man Hellen needed him to be. I loved the epilogue, the meaning behind it, and the statement it made.
I am a huge Kristen Ashley fan and I really like how this series has been set up, each story focusing on a different MC, but how their worlds are still connected and intertwined. I like how the characters have been brought to life, all the different bonds that have been formed, the found families and friendships, and how they all tie together. I also really liked learning about the new path Redemption is on and how the brothers are there for one another.
This story was filled with emotion, heat, passion, and love. It’s pretty low-key in the drama department and I was all about that since I was caught up in Core and Hellen getting to their HEA. There are some serious subjects involved but I like how KA had the characters move on and heal, change, and grow from them. I thought it was incredibly well done. Loved it!
December 21, 2022
Devoured this book!!!! One sitting, no breaks, because I did not want to put it down!
Classic KA. Alpha male, protective, possessive, and oh so dirty 😈
I loved this book in its entirety. I really couldn’t get enough of it.
“Sweetheart, I’m into you. Which means I want this from you. Your bad nights and your good ones and you wanting me with you. You got nothing to thank me for.”
Classic KA. Alpha male, protective, possessive, and oh so dirty 😈
I loved this book in its entirety. I really couldn’t get enough of it.
“Sweetheart, I’m into you. Which means I want this from you. Your bad nights and your good ones and you wanting me with you. You got nothing to thank me for.”
January 15, 2023
It’s so funny cause I can read this and recognize how harmful this authors rhetoric is. Like it’s so blatantly white woke woman who is a reformed boomer writing this but I will read it every time.
This story is just another one of prime examples of that hehe.
This story is distinctly different from the rest because this series is focusing on a different MC that beat up a woman for spilling secrets. I think we could have gone a different route with this or used maybe ANY other plot device but hey, that’s just me. So while the MMC is “inherently male” we’re told to sympathize with him for his messed up background. That’s so crazy lmaoo.
I like the route she went for the FMC who breaks up with her boyfriend in the beginning for being a shit partner by not offering her any support and recognizes she would have a better time alone. I think we could have made this way simpler and still keep that KA enjoyable flare but a lot of her books recently feature an act of violence against women that is soon forgiven for a very shallow reason.
Will I read the next installment ? Yea probably hehe
This story is just another one of prime examples of that hehe.
This story is distinctly different from the rest because this series is focusing on a different MC that beat up a woman for spilling secrets. I think we could have gone a different route with this or used maybe ANY other plot device but hey, that’s just me. So while the MMC is “inherently male” we’re told to sympathize with him for his messed up background. That’s so crazy lmaoo.
I like the route she went for the FMC who breaks up with her boyfriend in the beginning for being a shit partner by not offering her any support and recognizes she would have a better time alone. I think we could have made this way simpler and still keep that KA enjoyable flare but a lot of her books recently feature an act of violence against women that is soon forgiven for a very shallow reason.
Will I read the next installment ? Yea probably hehe
October 17, 2023
Hellen and Core
Good solid story, but it didn't really wow me. If I loved a book I'd be reading it non-stop, but I was able to put this one down multiple times for days. I miss KA's older books. The writing now just seems so blah.
Good solid story, but it didn't really wow me. If I loved a book I'd be reading it non-stop, but I was able to put this one down multiple times for days. I miss KA's older books. The writing now just seems so blah.
April 19, 2023
I loved everything about this 😭
December 6, 2022
Overall Grade: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Tropes: MC romance; opposites attract; romantic suspense
“You could wallow in the hurts done to you and use them as an excuse to live your life hurting other people. Or you could fight the cycle and find ways to do better.”
For almost two years now, I’ve been trying to understand the magic of Kristen Ashley’s storytelling. I thought it was due to her capacity to write meaty stories, detail after detail poured over her pages. I’ve also considered her gift at drawing characters you love from their first moment on the page. You love them; you hate them; you love them again. Maybe it’s crazy, out-of-control women or emotionally stunted, alpha males; it doesn’t matter because you can’t help but love them all. It’s even possible that it’s her engaging plotlines that hold you captive. I do believe it has to do with the communities she carefully crafts into her stories. But, after reading Smoke and Steel, her newest book, I started pondering it, and I realized that the thing I love the most about a story such as Smoke and Steel and the menagerie of other stories she’s written is the way that her stories are like our memories: nuggets of moments that comprehensively embody a life. That’s the gold, I think, of her romances. Stephen King wrote a book entitled On Writing, and the first part is called “CV”. It’s vignettes of moments in his life that forged his writerly identity. In many ways, Kristen Ashley's stories are the same: vignettes of moments in her characters’ lives that make up the totality of their story. It’s comprehensive and weighty. It allows her to weave different messages into her books. In Smoke and Steel, she interrogates the dangers of dating sites, weaponized incompetence in relationships, the generational trauma of abuse and its impact, impetuous choices, the consequences, and the need for self-forgiveness, and societal expectations about relationships and marriage. All of these points reside in one book, woven through tethered moments in the lives of her characters. And it makes it difficult to leave her books because you want more moments with them, more opportunities to get lost in their existence in the pages of a book.
For me, I picked up Smoke and Steel expecting a journey, as I always do with Ashley’s books. Since she gives so much in her stories, I’m used to needing a few days to finish them. That was not the case with Smoke and Steel. I picked it up and read it in a day and a half. I only stopped reading it for my job, but Hellen and Core were impossible to leave.
Let’s make connections. We’ve met both of these characters previously. Hellen is the half-sister of Archie, who is married to Jagger from Wild Wind, part of the Chaos series. Core is a member of the Resurrection MC. This is the MC born out of the now-defunct Bounty. We met him in Free. He and his MC still live in the shadows of their poor choice from that book.
Everything you love about Ashley’s Chaos series and her book from the Wild West MC series, Still Standing, is found in Smoke and Steel. If you’re like me and you love her gruff, delectable alpha male with a broken spirit, then you’ll fall in love with Core. He is a complex rendering, carrying two great marks of trauma in his soul, and he hides it behind an implacable wall. It’s Hellen, an independent, knows her mind and makes no excuses for it heroine, who “sees” him when she finally knows his secrets. This is my favorite romance theme: the idea that there is one person on this planet who accepts us as we are because they can rationalize our “why”. I love Hellen because she asks for what she needs, and she doesn’t make excuses for it. She doesn’t explain it away even when her “friend” criticizes her for not eating the sh*t of past men. There is so much on social media focused on the idea of men and weaponized incompetence, a loaded term. But Kristen Ashley highlights it in such a way to say, “women, don’t settle for anything less than you need and want.” And Hellen embodies this idea beautifully. It’s a heroine like Hellen that we need to read more of and view more on our screens. It’s because of her strong sense of self that she can and wants to accept Core and his past beyond any measure.
In the end, Kristen Ashley’s Smoke and Steel is pure divinity. Her capacity to remind us that there is more to people, more than what we see on the outside, that we are a culmination of our moments but that we shouldn’t be judged by just one of them is profound. It’s why I will continue to devour her books because they mirror life while also shading them in the positivity and happy endings of the romance genre. To see one’s self reflected in a story, but made stronger through the power of fiction, that’s the genius of Kristen Ashley’s books.
Tropes: MC romance; opposites attract; romantic suspense
“You could wallow in the hurts done to you and use them as an excuse to live your life hurting other people. Or you could fight the cycle and find ways to do better.”
For almost two years now, I’ve been trying to understand the magic of Kristen Ashley’s storytelling. I thought it was due to her capacity to write meaty stories, detail after detail poured over her pages. I’ve also considered her gift at drawing characters you love from their first moment on the page. You love them; you hate them; you love them again. Maybe it’s crazy, out-of-control women or emotionally stunted, alpha males; it doesn’t matter because you can’t help but love them all. It’s even possible that it’s her engaging plotlines that hold you captive. I do believe it has to do with the communities she carefully crafts into her stories. But, after reading Smoke and Steel, her newest book, I started pondering it, and I realized that the thing I love the most about a story such as Smoke and Steel and the menagerie of other stories she’s written is the way that her stories are like our memories: nuggets of moments that comprehensively embody a life. That’s the gold, I think, of her romances. Stephen King wrote a book entitled On Writing, and the first part is called “CV”. It’s vignettes of moments in his life that forged his writerly identity. In many ways, Kristen Ashley's stories are the same: vignettes of moments in her characters’ lives that make up the totality of their story. It’s comprehensive and weighty. It allows her to weave different messages into her books. In Smoke and Steel, she interrogates the dangers of dating sites, weaponized incompetence in relationships, the generational trauma of abuse and its impact, impetuous choices, the consequences, and the need for self-forgiveness, and societal expectations about relationships and marriage. All of these points reside in one book, woven through tethered moments in the lives of her characters. And it makes it difficult to leave her books because you want more moments with them, more opportunities to get lost in their existence in the pages of a book.
For me, I picked up Smoke and Steel expecting a journey, as I always do with Ashley’s books. Since she gives so much in her stories, I’m used to needing a few days to finish them. That was not the case with Smoke and Steel. I picked it up and read it in a day and a half. I only stopped reading it for my job, but Hellen and Core were impossible to leave.
Let’s make connections. We’ve met both of these characters previously. Hellen is the half-sister of Archie, who is married to Jagger from Wild Wind, part of the Chaos series. Core is a member of the Resurrection MC. This is the MC born out of the now-defunct Bounty. We met him in Free. He and his MC still live in the shadows of their poor choice from that book.
Everything you love about Ashley’s Chaos series and her book from the Wild West MC series, Still Standing, is found in Smoke and Steel. If you’re like me and you love her gruff, delectable alpha male with a broken spirit, then you’ll fall in love with Core. He is a complex rendering, carrying two great marks of trauma in his soul, and he hides it behind an implacable wall. It’s Hellen, an independent, knows her mind and makes no excuses for it heroine, who “sees” him when she finally knows his secrets. This is my favorite romance theme: the idea that there is one person on this planet who accepts us as we are because they can rationalize our “why”. I love Hellen because she asks for what she needs, and she doesn’t make excuses for it. She doesn’t explain it away even when her “friend” criticizes her for not eating the sh*t of past men. There is so much on social media focused on the idea of men and weaponized incompetence, a loaded term. But Kristen Ashley highlights it in such a way to say, “women, don’t settle for anything less than you need and want.” And Hellen embodies this idea beautifully. It’s a heroine like Hellen that we need to read more of and view more on our screens. It’s because of her strong sense of self that she can and wants to accept Core and his past beyond any measure.
In the end, Kristen Ashley’s Smoke and Steel is pure divinity. Her capacity to remind us that there is more to people, more than what we see on the outside, that we are a culmination of our moments but that we shouldn’t be judged by just one of them is profound. It’s why I will continue to devour her books because they mirror life while also shading them in the positivity and happy endings of the romance genre. To see one’s self reflected in a story, but made stronger through the power of fiction, that’s the genius of Kristen Ashley’s books.
December 13, 2022
2.5 "excruciating care" stars
"Why did you read this?" my conscience asks.
I didn't think I'd say this, but Still Standing was slightly better, even though it felt like a watered-down Motorcycle Man.
Gawd, I love KA's MC world, even that world mixed in with Dream Men and Commandos, but maybe she should leave it, because it feels like it has run its course. Unless, she does Next Gen, and make the Denver offspring, and perhaps others kids from our fave couples, crossover, connect worlds, and do some new adult romance with them. Idk, but Smoke and Steel was not it.
I give two stars for the redemption aspect, with these MC bros as vigilantes, and for Hellen's (the heroine) independence and openness to love. The hero, Core, aka Dustin, wasn't bad either, though his appeal fizzled quickly, and Idk why that was; he was kind-of the tortured hero...but he didn't make me swoon; neither did I melt with West “Buck” Hardy, president of the Aces High MC, in Still Standing, but West had a little more presence. Bottom line is that neither West nor Dustin can hold their own to KA's older/original badboys, not the Hot Bunch, the Colorado men, or the Dream men. Idk what she can do to make the next ones more unique if she keeps writing in this world, but something's got to give.
Smoke and Steel presented a romance couple with an age gap, which didn't add to or take away from the story, as the element wasn't really touched upon. The hero also had been formerly a part of a villain MC in previous books, but the turn-around of his club and good deeds that followed to start his redemption happened well beforehand, very "pre-Hellen," so reading this as a stand-alone is doable but to newbies or to those who haven't read the last few books, the character development and backstory, and overarching conflict, may feel stilted. Incidentally, this is why it was a flop for me. I thought it relied too heavily of previous plot lines.
As a romance reviewer once said, KA "writes from the Id." This is why her stories can either hit you in th gut and drive you through good cray-cray or pass by you without stimulation and leave you doing a lot of...
"Why did you read this?" my conscience asks.
I didn't think I'd say this, but Still Standing was slightly better, even though it felt like a watered-down Motorcycle Man.
Gawd, I love KA's MC world, even that world mixed in with Dream Men and Commandos, but maybe she should leave it, because it feels like it has run its course. Unless, she does Next Gen, and make the Denver offspring, and perhaps others kids from our fave couples, crossover, connect worlds, and do some new adult romance with them. Idk, but Smoke and Steel was not it.
I give two stars for the redemption aspect, with these MC bros as vigilantes, and for Hellen's (the heroine) independence and openness to love. The hero, Core, aka Dustin, wasn't bad either, though his appeal fizzled quickly, and Idk why that was; he was kind-of the tortured hero...but he didn't make me swoon; neither did I melt with West “Buck” Hardy, president of the Aces High MC, in Still Standing, but West had a little more presence. Bottom line is that neither West nor Dustin can hold their own to KA's older/original badboys, not the Hot Bunch, the Colorado men, or the Dream men. Idk what she can do to make the next ones more unique if she keeps writing in this world, but something's got to give.
Smoke and Steel presented a romance couple with an age gap, which didn't add to or take away from the story, as the element wasn't really touched upon. The hero also had been formerly a part of a villain MC in previous books, but the turn-around of his club and good deeds that followed to start his redemption happened well beforehand, very "pre-Hellen," so reading this as a stand-alone is doable but to newbies or to those who haven't read the last few books, the character development and backstory, and overarching conflict, may feel stilted. Incidentally, this is why it was a flop for me. I thought it relied too heavily of previous plot lines.
As a romance reviewer once said, KA "writes from the Id." This is why her stories can either hit you in th gut and drive you through good cray-cray or pass by you without stimulation and leave you doing a lot of...
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