Through good times, bad times and times of war, Cole “Rush” Allen grew up in the Chaos Motorcycle Club. Along this journey, he watched his father, Tack, and his MC brothers fight, sweat, bleed and die to steer the Club to legitimacy.And they’ve got one more battle on their hands.A battle they have to win.But when Rush meets the woman who put herself right in the thick of it, he knows he has to … of it, he knows he has to stop at nothing to get her out.
Rebel Stapleton has lost someone she loves to murder and she’s the kind of woman who’s going to do something about it. She puts her career on the line, and her life, to bring the man who did it to justice.
That is, she does this until Rush Allen intervenes.
Chaos is at war and they’re about to face the ultimate showdown. They’ll have to negotiate skeletons from the past, enemies becoming allies, and loved ones in the line of fire on their ride to be…
Free.
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I loved this series. Wish they could have more MC stories like this.
I liked the 2 main characters and how they were real with each other and had good communication and respect for one another. The story around the villain was extremely unbelievable and pretty silly.
Any book by Kristen Ashley is a winner. I wait for every one she writes to come out. This was a great ending to her series (maybe it might not be…?) She writes real and I love the dialog.
Love this book. Last one of the Chaos series. One of my favorite and have read them several times. Sorry this is the last book. Miee them already
FREE ( A Chaos Novel) by Kristen Ashley
This was the final book in the Chaos series, it was bittersweet. It is end of the Chaos journey so it was filled with characters from previous books as well as a grown up Rush meeting the girl of his dreams Rebel. Using Kristen Ashley’s word Redemption, forgiveness “righting the wrongs of your past” was at the center of this story. I personally loved it. I can’t say more without spoilers. I am sad to say goodbye to Tack, Tyra and the Chaos family.
Five years ago I began this series and I have to say I truly and utterly fell in love with Chaos MC. This series has strung me along behind their bikes and I welcomed EVERY moment of it… until now.
It really breaks my heart how I was highly anticipating an epic finale, instead I’m disappointed, confused and extremely frustrated. This is NOT how I wanted to say goodbye to Tack and the brothers.
Before I say the parts that dimmed the stars for this book, there were good moments. I liked how Rush and Rebel met which falls under the insta-love trope with an alpha twist. Because lets be honest, Kristen Ashley’s boys protect their women fiercely and that’s what basically lures her readers in. I loved all the Allen family moments, that was what helped me get through the book. If there was more Chaos/Allen scenes it would have gotten the ending it truly deserved.
NOW, where did the book go wrong, in my opinion:
Multiple Voices: So, after I finished, I went back and counted how many POVs. EXCLUDING the main characters, there were fourteen other voices…which brings us to a total of sixteen POVs. SIXTEEN! This was unbelievably distracting, confusing and extremely frustrating. This stole so much spotlight that was needed for the main characters as well as “club” business. And while I’m being honest, there were some POVs I could have gone without. One particular POV, I took a break afterwards because I needed brain bleach.
Crossover Salad: Okay so we had characters from the Dream Man series, Rock Chick series, Honey Series, and Unfinished Hero series. ALL these successful, powerful alphas and none of them “truly” helped bring justice. Also, characters from the Honey series were heavily involved in this book. Something I did not appreciate because I purposely refrained from reading that series.
Will the real villain please stand up?: Throughout most of this series, Benito Valenzuela was the evil mastermind. Then in the previous book there was a plot twist, which was welcomed and it made sense. But by the end of this book, there was more than two villains and they weren’t very good. Again, all these “bad guys” stole the spotlight from Rush and Rebel. Speaking of bad guys, I despised how they came to their end. I’m still processing this.
Warn your audience: This book had BDSM, I was not expecting that. This book had M/M, I sure as HECK was not expecting that. There was abuse and rape scenes (yes, more than one) and this needs to be told beforehand since it can be a trigger for some readers. In regards to the BDSM parts, I need to say this was NOT a good portrayal of it. To me, it was written from a negative stereotypical perspective. So if you’ve never read BDSM romance before this, please don’t think this is how things happen. Based on what I read here, BDSM, is not KA’s niche.
Redemption Granted: Two side characters (out of the sixteen) who wronged Chaos in previous books sought and were granted redemption. While one of them really worked out, their character could have been better explored in a novella. This character had a lot to say, in a book that did not belong to them. The other character redeemed… yeah… I’m still processing. I had made peace with disliking them and now.. now I have to forgive too and I really don’t.
Sooooo long…: How the book was broken down, I found myself reading at home, at work, waiting for my son in carpool, at the mall and twice I set my alarm for four in the morning so I can read before getting ready to go to work. Why? Because while it was divided by chapters, there were present time, past time, a week later, five minutes before, twenty minutes later, or two things happening at the same time. You really needed to pay attention or you would be lost. This brought me to needing a whole week to read this one book. Usually I’ve read a whole KA series in a week. (See Multiple Voices) Having too many voices, just made it longer.
In good faith, I can not recommend this book. I’m struggling with believing this was even written by Ms. Ashley herself because of how scattered it was. I’m so hurt. So disappointed and I really want my time invested back. I’ll respect those who loved this story, but from someone who is extremely generous with giving books five stars… I’m giving this book two stars only because she brought this series to an end.. and that’s me BEING generous.
I loved the ending to a great Chasos Series, so much love intrigue, romance just everything to keep your attention.
Free by Kristen Ashley was the perfect book to say goodbye & give closure to the end of this wild ride we have all taken with the Chaos MC. *****
I had to take some time to process & say goodbye before I could write my review but finally here it is. Like most of you I have been on this ride with KA & Chaos since the beginning & by beginning I mean way back to Mystery Man when I fell in love with Tack. (Side note: my girls call me Red for more than just my hair color. haha) I have followed every up & down that Chaos has ever seen. I’ve fallen for each brother & each old lady one by one. There hasn’t been one book that has not had me on the edge of my seat crying or laughing. That’s what I love so much about Kristen Ashley. Every book she puts out is sure to be entertaining from start to finish & I am never disappointed. But this one took the cake. I cried, I was scared, I was happy, I was screaming NO NO NO NO NO!!! I was laughing my ever loving ass off so much my husband kept giving me looks like “what the heck is up with you?” I’ll admit I ever snorted from laughing so hard. She laid this series out perfectly. We ended Mystery Man with Tack, started Chaos with the biker princess Tabby & ended it with Rush who will take over his father legacy. Rush is everything I hoped he would be & more. He is definitely his fathers son but also his own man is many ways. The way he loves & his loyalty knows no bounds. He knows what he wants & he goes for it which is exactly what he does with Rebel. Now Rebel though Rebel surprised me. Not because she was a red head because come on, we all knew Rush would totally take after his dad in that way. No, even though we met Rebel in Loose Ends I wasn’t prepared for how fierce she actually is. She has to deal with a lot throughout this book & she braves it all with immense strength. I knew Rush needed someone strong but Rebel went above & beyond. I fell in love with her spirit & strength. But the one thing I liked most about her was her give em hell attitude & her ability to give as good as she gets. She is definitely the perfect match for Rush in every way.
Check out my full review here: https://sincityromancereads.blogspot.com/2019/02/free-by-kristen-ashley.html
Spectacular series ending. I’m left smiling and feeling “Free”.
I love the men and women of Chaos MC. And I think it was perfect that Rush found himself an equal in Rebel; someone who will push back on his shit, make him laugh, give him a bigger family, and love him hard. She’s fiery and strong and eccentric and wholly good.
The story puts things right in so many ways. And so many of the characters I love made appearances. It made me want for re-reads (lots of K. Ashley re-reads).
And that ending? I can picture it now. *sighs dreamily*
Happy. Loved. Brotherhood/Sisterhood. Free.
Best book I’ve read in a while. A rollercoaster of emotions throughout. Loved,loved,loved it. So sad this series is done.
I’m completely torn. The promise of Rush’s story was so real, I couldn’t wait for it. The actuality of it was disappointing and that realization hurts. Rush and Rebel were done a significant injustice here. While their romance was sweet, perfectly KA’s style, and true to the heart of all Chaos relationships we’ve grown to know and love, their story was seriously undermined and I’m so sad about it.
Free, claimed as Rush’s story, feels underhanded when so much of the book was told from so many different points of view (and not just POV’s of Chaos members) and held crossovers from so many other series. The POV’s were the soul suckers though, so much so I skimmed through a good many of them as they seemed more like fillers because of such a lack of understanding as to why I was getting this information when I wanted Rush and Rebel and even more Chaos. It became about everyone, and I’m talking a multitude of characters heroes and villains alike, in a way that didn’t feel fitting or true to me.
There was even a secondary romance plot running through the whole thing that felt so bizarre to me even as much as I liked it. Give them a novella, a short story – whatever. I enjoyed the premise of that and maybe it would have been stronger there without those other fillers but it took too much away from Chaos. Is that the point? Showing the strength of Chaos and it shapes these other players? Maybe. But that’s a lot of assumption on my part, I guess it makes me feel better though.
With those unfortunate things said there were some definite highlights to the book in the scrapes we got of them that further tear me up because these moments left me in my usual KA glory – that is to say I LOVED them:
1. Rush and Rebel’s courting was fantastic. It was perfect for who Rush was and how we got to know Rebel. I just wanted more of the spotlight on them or maybe less of everyone else or even what we learned through those other weird POV’s to come from them or even Tack, or any member of Chaos – I digress again. How Rebel assimilates into the club and into the family with her career, her resilience, and her ethos and where that takes her was phenomenal. I actually did tear up a little bit regarding that in the epilogue because of she furthers Chaos in her own uniquely, beautiful way and what that solidified for her, Rush, and the entirety of Chaos. Likewise for Rush, fulfilling a legacy and watching him do that – he’s the man I thought he’d be and so much more.
2. Rush and Tack and the entire Allen clan – the glimpses into their lives as a whole was amazing and worth the sections of time we got to spend there. With the addition of Rebel the Allen clan feels complete and whole. The moments between Tack and his son were equally as mesmerizing and perfect for the story. The bond they share, their minds so much alike and the strength of their love for their people all beautiful and important.
3. The end for the club felt true and fitting. And the last lines of the book gave me chills indeed. Besides one small part of the epilogue, I really loved reading that ending making the long, strange journey to get there a bit sweeter.
And I think that leads me to where I’m at with Free. Feeling particularly strange. I don’t get it totally. Not getting it totally is driving me totally crazy. It felt, ironically, rushed. Too rushed. Was that the point? Like there was so much to say before the series could be truly finished that KA decided to pack it all into one book taking the focus off where it was supposed to be? The parts I did get, however, and where the whole of Chaos ended up were so triumphant that I absolutely adored them. Those weird interludes though, just … no.
Odd. Conflicted. Basking in the Chaos love. Crazy weird, that’s how I’m feeling about it. It took all of that word vomit to come up with feeling strange. But there it is. Read at your own risk. It’s a wild adventure – much like the entire series has been. I suppose there’s a lot to be said for that.
I loved this book. As always this author does not disappoint. What a way to end this series. I definitely recommend this book, this series and this author.
WOW.
I wasn’t sure about this in the beginning – Even with all the interconnectedness I know has gone into the story of Chaos, I was still expecting more of Rush & Rebel in the beginning. We don’t get a lot of them at the start, and that worried me for the first few chapters. I would definitely recommend a reread of at least the previous book in the series before diving in!
We’re taken on an amazing ride, tho. We get glimpses into so many of the players to wrap up the story began even before Motorcycle Man. We’re given insight into Beck – and OMH that was a boon. We’re given POVs from so many players – some, I admit, I could have done without, honestly. Still, Rush & Rebel do get their story told, and it fits them both! I enjoyed getting to know them as a couple and seeing just how well they fit (appropriate to Rush’s name, it happens FAST).
Overall, I enjoyed this story a lot! I’m so sad to see the end of our time at Chaos (we always have rereads, thank God!) but it was a beautiful tribute to the characters we’ve come to know and love throughout the years. We get to see Tack give Rush what he’s always wanted, and we get to see everyone ride free. : )
I loved Rush-who’s totally a mini Tack but sooo much more respectful and sweeter than his dad-and I like Tack, but he’s mellowed compared to his own book! Rebel had nurturer written all over her and could absolutely hold her own with pure sass and spunk! I got a kick out of the rest of Tack Allen’s family with their crazy love, support, and affection. There were a few wise and very wily women. Essence was hippie funny, Mama Nana-never make the matriarch mad, but Sixx…diabolical maneuvering. Seeing the rest of the Chaos crew with their spouses and families, while getting glimpses of the Unfinished Hero Gang and the Rock Chick guys, that was extra icing on the cake!
However, I would have loved more focus to be on Rebel and Rush instead of the fly by night moments! In a way, I feel like I spent half the book sitting in the villains’ heads (talk about ick) or Beck’s head and his need to fix his major screw-up over Rosalie rather then being immersed in Rush and Rebel’s crazy, quick relationship dynamics.
I loved most of Free. The storyline was huge and had the feel of an epic conclusion with a ton of detail that sometimes overwhelmed me. It was good, but man, I had to take a break, especially from some of the darker moments. This was not a stand alone read by any stretch of the imagination and took a few turns I wasn’t expecting at all! Even though I knew who everyone was, I was still bombarded by the sheer volume of POV’s peppering the pages. Free could have pulled the Harry Potter final film move and been split into two books for the massive amount of characters and information…but I’m happy that didn’t happen because a cliffhanger would have been horrid!
I really have no idea how to write this review, except to say it was amazing. This book was so much more than Rush and Rebel’s story, it was the end of a saga of Chaos’ story. It tied up so many lingering issues that have been going on in the previous books. There were so many poignant moments of redemption, forgiveness and karma. But most of all, the sense of family, and love.
I loved Rush and Rebel’s part of this book so much. Rush is definitely his father’s son, but softer. Don’t get me wrong, he is a possessive and protective biker and he has the makings of a great leader, but just gentler. Rebel is just awesome! She has such loyalty and heart; wanting to take care of so many people, even to the detriment to her safety. So you can imagine the sparks that flew between such strong personalities. What I truly enjoyed about their love story was that it seemed so much easier than the others. In the previous books, there was always something huge, a misunderstanding that would break them apart that would create such heartbreak, but with Rush and Rebel the attraction was instant and smoother. Don’t get me wrong this book is still filled with the violence and nail biting moments that is well known in Kristen Ashley’s MC books.
I really enjoyed this book, surprisingly there was so much humor in this one too, I want to be Essence when I grow up! The reactions from the other bikers of her were priceless! And to see so many of the characters from other books was really great! I did get a bit distracted and lost with all the different POVs but I can understand they were needed to conclude so many unanswered questions.
All in all, a wonderful conclusion to an amazing series.
WHAT A RIDE, KA…way to end the last series with a BANG!
TOP 2019 MUST READ for me!
I am completely and utterly gobsmacked by Free. Completely blown away on every level. This is Kristen Ashley’s coup de grâce that brings all things Chaos full circle. It is so much more than just Rush and Rebel’s story. It is her final love letter to Chaos MC and all of her readers. While I hope this is not the last we hear of Chaos, but if this is the end, I am content with all she gave us in this book.
This book is about forgiveness, revenge, redemption, loyalty, love, and the most important part of any KA book: family. No reviews should contain spoilers because this book you have to experience for yourself. Buckle yourself in, readers, because it will be a bumpy ride.
Free is the only title that this book could have ever had. The storyline is so all encompassing that it is so much more than I could ever put in this review. The book will make you feel everything under the sun. As you read the last page, you will not only feel free, but also immense gratitude for the talent that is Kristen Ashley. This book has joined the ranks of my Top 5 Books of all TIME. It is right up there with Public Secrets by Nora Roberts and Paradise by Judith McNaught.
Where do I even start?
I’m so out of my wits in love and still in shock that I just finished my last Chaos book!! OMFG!!!! HOT MESS HERE!!!
Free is a beautiful ending to one of my favorite all-time series!
Kristen Ashley brought Chaos series full forward with this final chapter! Just stealing a little more of me and making me fall harder for these badass bikers! The bond, the love, and the soul were utterly spellbinding. Just catapulting over you like a bald of love and a web of pure serenity!
I lived and breathed for every new Chaos releases. It’s almost as though a piece of my family will be lost forever!! But we still have the books and audiobooks to reminisce with, curl up!