Brotherhood. Club. Family.They live and ride by their own rules.These are the Raven Riders…Maverick Rylan won’t apologize for who he is—the Raven Riders Motorcycle Club Vice-President, a sought-after custom bike builder, and a man dedicated to protecting those he loves. So when he learns that the only woman who has ever held his heart is in trouble, he’ll move heaven and earth to save her.Alexa … and earth to save her.
Alexa Harmon thought she had it all—the security of a good job, a beautiful home, and a powerful, charming fiancé who offered the life she never had growing up. But when her dream quickly turns into a nightmare, Alexa realizes she’s fallen for a façade she can’t escape—until sexy, dangerous Maverick offers her a way out.
Forced together to keep Alexa safe, their powerful attraction reignites and Maverick determines to do whatever it takes to earn a second chance—one Alexa is tempted to give. But her ex-fiancé isn’t going to let her go without a fight, one that will threaten everything they both hold dear.
Ride Rough also contains the bonus Hard Ink e-original novella, Hard Ever After!
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5 stars – I loved it!
Maverick Rylan has spent the past five years missing Alexa Harmon. When he finds that she may be in an abusive relationship, he does everything he can to help her. As they spend more time together, they both realize that they never stopped loving each other.
“I. Fucking. Want. You. Us. A future. Our history, even the fucked-up parts. All of it.”
As someone who was in an abusive relationship for a while, I really connected with Alexa and her experiences. It’s so easy to ignore your instincts and make excuses, until it’s too late. Alexa was just a wonderful and caring heroine. Maverick was a surprisingly caring man. He was so supportive of Alexa and gave her plenty of space to work through her traumas. Yes, they do get together while she is still working through the issues with her ex, which I know for some people will be too soon, but I actually understood this perfectly. If you find the right person, they can really help you get through bad relationships.
“You’re my silver lining in the mess that is my life right now.”
The Raven’s are still dealing with the fallout from the shootout with Haven’s father in this book. More things happen that impacts their club but you can see how it just pushes these men to work together to fix the problem. The Ravens are a wonderful example of a found family and they are a true brotherhood. I adore them all and can’t get enough of this series.
Overall, this was a wonderful and emotional book. I adored these two and can’t wait to see what is going to happen in the next book with Cora and Slider.
Trigger Warnings:
– Alexa is engaged to an abusive and controlling man throughout most of this book and is trying to get away from him. She is also raped by him at one point, but she doesn’t acknowledge it as rape until later.
– References to her brother’s death in a motorcycle accident.
– Her mother is a hoarder.
There’s a part of me that is chomping at the bit for Cora’s story, but I was also looking forward to this Maverick/Alexa story to play out. And wow, what a roller coaster or emotions.
I like Alexa. She’s a good person and a very caring and patient daughter. But I also dislike a lot of things Alexa did in the past. It just doesn’t make sense to me. It was always Alexa and her brother against the world. Their mom loved them and is not a malicious person, but she is mentally ill. Having her brother by her side helped Alexa get through her childhood. Maverick was there, too. As her brother’s best friend, he often helped with any issues that came up because of their mom. So, when Alexa lost her brother, by pushing Maverick away she essentially left herself with nobody. That’s not Maverick’s fault, that’s her fault. I know we do crazy and inexplicable things when we’re grieving, but she sure dug her feet in and became stubborn to her own detriment.
That’s not to say I am victim blaming Alexa when it comes to her fiancé. This story is written in such a way that the reader is able to see and understand how Alexa got caught in her fiance’s web long before he showed his true nature. And, because of her sense of duty toward her mom, among other things, got really and truly caught in a situation that seemed to have no good end in sight.
For his part, Maverick is beyond understanding. Since the Raven Riders help so many people, most notably women and children in bad situations, he understood Alexa’s problem without judging her for falling into the trap that is abuse. He’s seen it time and time again with others so was able to offer compassion and a way out. Of course, he had some issues to work out with himself because of the way things ended with Alexa all those years ago. But he made it very clear he was there for her no matter what…relationship or not.
This story packed a punch when it came to corruption. I didn’t know who to trust, and I’m sure the Raven Riders were having the same issue. Some of the “fringe” people are sure to make for more great storytelling in the future. This author is amazing at writing thrilling twists and turns and off the charts chemistry.
Maverick is VP (Vice President) of Raven Riders MC (Motorcycle Club) he loves his biker brothers and would do anything for them.
He owns the custom bike shop that they all use and he gets a lot of outside customers. It’s the one thing he’s really good at.
They protect those who can’t protect themselves.
He knows all about that, coming from an abusive family background, he didn’t realise his dad beat his mum, she hid it until the bruising became too bad! So now he’s super protective of all those he loves. He won’t let that ever happen again!
But one love got away, Alexa Harmon, they hung out together as teenagers, they loved one another as young adults, but that love when tested failed, and they weren’t together anymore.
But that’s not stopped him from loving her, he regrets those five long years they were apart, and now given a second chance, he won’t screw it up…..
Alexa balances a lot on a daily basis, a sick mother, a demanding job, and a fiancée who is driving her crazy!
Trying to finish her schooling so she’s a qualified designer is proving difficult, she needs time to study and finish off, but with the wedding looming, Alexa feels like she’s running on empty.
She’s also noticing a change in Grant (her fiancée) more demanding, more controlling and just MORE!!
Is she just imagining things, or is he as bad as people say he is?
I liked this one, I’ve liked Maverick from the beginning, his mum is a biker “old lady” and he’s always felt guilty that he couldn’t protect her from his abusive dad. And in one of the earlier books, she got beaten up!! So his guilt is sky high!
I liked the second chance theme in this book. Misunderstandings, fear and just being too young kept this couple apart. But when Alexa needs him, he’s all over it.
Alexa was a character, she might have been beaten down, but she wasn’t ready to give up. Losing her father and her brother was hard. Having to fight her mum on her hoarding habits was proving challenging. But it’s what families do.
Love the interaction between the bikers, the solidarity, they’ll drop everything at a moments notice.
Then we have Alexa and Grant her fiancée, reading how little things weren’t adding up. It screamed control freak and a bully.
Again a beautifully written book. The story engages you and keeps you there.
Hoping more books will come along.
Read: 3/8/2020
Ride Rough was the second book in the Raven Riders series by Laura Kaye.
We met Maverick and Alexa in previous books. Maverick was Dare’s Cousin (book one, Ride Hard) and Alexa was Maverick’s lost love. Maverick’s best childhood friend, Tyler, was Alexa’s older brother. Tyler died five years prior and Alexa fell apart. She broke up with Maverick and began building a safe and stable life. All seemed well until it didn’t. And then Ride Rough began.
Kaye took us through the details of Alexa’s life. Maverick and Alexa had just crossed paths again and Maverick vowed his protection. Kaye took us through some emotional moments with a suspenseful vibe. For those needing to know about abuse triggers, be warned. Additionally, the whole gang came together again and demonstrated their loyalty, love, protectiveness, friendship and family bond. There were a few loose ends that weren’t fleshed out but hopefully we’ll get a few more details as the series progresses. Next up is Slider in Ride Wild.
4 ½ Stars! Book two in the Raven Riders series. Can be read and enjoyed as stand-alone. Full length told in dual POV with HEA. Each book about a different brother from the Raven Riders motorcycle club. There is some club business that is woven throughout the series but easy to follow. Maverick and Alexa have a history. They grew up friends with Maverick being Alexa’s brothers’ best friend. They dated for three years before Alexa broke things off five years ago when her brother died. With only two weeks until her wedding she is realizing that her chosen life path & partner are not what she thought they would be. Great second chance story with sweet Maverick coming to her rescue. I am loving this series!
Liked this book very much, loved the continuation of the characters from the previous book, especially Date and Haven. I will always be a sucker for a happy ending.
Wow! Demanding love, very sensual and hot! The attraction level is intense
Great second chance romance story
Great book, wonderful series.
Good stories. Love the characters
Loved this book and loved the second chance that Maverick and Alexa had. I hated to see everything that Alexa was having to face with her Ex, but sometimes the things that life throws at you only make your stronger. I loved seeing how much Maverick loved Alexa and wanted to protect her.
Laura has provided us with another great read and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
It’s impossible not to love Maverick
My new favorite book couple, Maverick & Alexa!
Such a beautiful second chance romance!!! Maverick clearly never stopped loving Alexa and will not give up watching over her. Alexa clearly doesn’t want to admit to herself how bad her relationship with Grant really is until one night reality smacks some sense into her. When Mav swoops in like the knight and shining armor he is, Alexa finally realizes that she made a big mistake leaving him all those years before. This was such an amazing read full of chemistry and action that it will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. Laura Kaye has given readers another outstanding story in the second installment of the Raven Riders Series. I can’t wait to see what’s in store next!
Loved this story. I will read the others.
Ride Rough is book two in the Raven Riders series by Laura Kaye. I loved this one.
Maverick and Alexa have a past, but they or I should say she broke it off. She just wasn’t ready and of course she’s moved own. Now she’s engaged to a man she thinks will give her everything she ever wanted. Maverick made a vow to watch over Alexa whether she is in his life or not. These two might just find a second chance.
WOW, it’s hard to read about abuse, of any kind, on anyone. The author vividly portrayed what was going on with Alexa, what she was thinking, and feeling. You can see and feel the abuse, but Alexa is not yet ready to see the signs, but when she does things get complicated; because her fiancé, Grant, has made it so her life is all wrapped up in his and their is no easy way out.
Maverick is such a sweet guy. I loved him. When he gets his chance to be with Alexa again he doesn’t push. He is just their to help and maybe; become something more, if they can discuss the past and keep her safe.
Their was just so much tenderness, passion, and warmth in this novel. I love the Raven Riders. They are a protective bunch and will do what they can to help Alexa out. The feelings Maverick and Alexa have for each other are deep and intense. The past was never resolved and they both have carried a torch for each other, even now, when they both tried to move on in their lives.
Two things that really stood out and made this one fun, sexy, and entertaining where the carnival and the sex scene on Maverick’s bike. Who can resist a splendidly well written sex scene on a motorcycle. Oh boy, it was hot and so sexy. The carnival was adorable and delightful. It was so great that the Raven Riders had this idea to put together a carnival to bring back business after the events in Ride Hard. The carnival brought back many memories from when I was a kid and all the fun times me and my friends had at the fair. It was well done and everyone had such fun.
The more I dive into the Rave Riders series the more I fall in love with the world, the club, and their ladies. I’m excited for Ride Wild, because it’s finally Cora’s turn. I’ve wanted her story since the moment she popped up in Ride Hard as Haven’s best friend.
Rated: 4 Stars
*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy provided by Avon via Edelweiss with the sole purpose of an honest review. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.