Wild Ride (Rookie Rebels 9) by Kate Meader -review tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 26, 2024

Chicago Rebels hockey player Dex O’Malley has been a naughty boy … again.

Only his latest stunt isn’t quite like when he was caught with his pants down at a nightclub or was cited for drag-racing on Lake Shore Drive or even that time he said a few critical things about his teammates on a hockey podcast. Oops. This time, Dex is in real trouble, the kind that could get him kicked off the team and out of the league. And that cannot happen. Hockey is the only thing he’s ever been good at. The only thing he cares about. He’ll do whatever it takes to rehab his rep, even if it means cleaning up dog poop and suffering the steely-eyed disapproval of his new no-nonsense “boss” at the animal shelter, Ashley Adams.

Ashley has enough on her plate between her low-paying job, her high-maintenance family, and a love life she’s trying to resurrect after her divorce. She’s already mom to an amazing nine-year-old; the last thing she needs is mothering a celebrity volunteer with more money than sense. But the troublemaking f-boy needs Ashley to sign off on his good deeds so he can get back to what he does best: lighting up lamps both on and off the ice. And while a guy like that could never interest her mind, it seems her body is not on the same page. Sure, Dex O’Malley is too young, too hot, too flighty for Ashley to take seriously, but maybe a brief ride on the wild side might fit the bill …

Only that’s not enough for Dex. What happens when this notorious player decides the older, single mom is the hottest woman he’s ever met and that he wants to light her lamp … forever?

•••••••

REVIEW: WILD RIDE is the eight instalment in Kate Meader’s contemporary, adult ROOKIE REBELS erotic, hockey romance series- a spin off from the author’s CHICAGO REBELS series. This is twenty-five year old hockey player Dex O’Malley, and thirty year old single mother/ animal shelter manager Ashley Adam’s story line. WILD RIDE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from omniscient dual third person perspectives (Ashley and Dex) WILD RIDE follows in the wake of a PR nightmare for Dex O’Malley, and the Chicago Rebels. Dex O’Malley is the proverbial bad boy and his latest stunt has landed him with a suspension, an injury and possible jail time but ‘volunteering’ at a local no-kill shelter finds Dex up close and personal with his future in the guise of single mother Ashley Adams. Ashley is the manager of the local animal shelter and wants nothing to do with Dex and his reputation both on and off the ice but as Dex slowly winds his way around Ashley’s heart, their mutual issues of trust and low self-esteem begin to take a toll on their growing relationship. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Dex and Ashley, and the potential fall-out when Dex struggles with Ashley’s attempts to uncover the truth about his past.

The world building focuses on issues from the past; Dex’s career and probable jail time for assault, and the growing love Dex has for Ashley, and her daughter Willa.

The relationship between Dex and Ashley begins acrimoniously as Dex is forced to volunteer in an effort to clean up his reputation. Falling for Ashley was never in the equation but Dex finds himself falling for a woman that will break his heart. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, familiar and antagonizing secondary and supporting characters including several of the previous story line couples, management and friends. We are introduced to Ashley’s ex husband Greg, and their daughter Willa.

WILD RIDE is a story of secrets and lies, struggle and betrayal, family and friendships, acceptance and love. The premise is intriguing and captivating; the slow building romance is seductive and energetic; the characters are broken, determined and charismatic.

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Fore Player
Dear Roomie
Rebel Yule
Jock Wanted
Superstar Rookie

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Originally from Ireland, USA Today bestselling author Kate Meader cut her romance reader teeth on Maeve Binchy and Jilly Cooper novels, with some Harlequins thrown in for variety. Give her tales about brooding mill owners, oversexed equestrians, and men who can rock an apron or a fire hose, and she’s there. Now based in Chicago, she writes sexy contemporary romance with alpha heroes and strong heroines who can match their men quip for quip.