Taking The Leap (River Rain 3) by Kristen Ashley-Review & Excerpt Tour
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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 15, 2022
Alexandra Sharp has been crushing on her co-worker, John “Rix” Hendrix for years. He’s her perfect man, she knows it.
She’s just not his perfect woman, and she knows that too.
Then Rix gives Alex a hint that maybe there’s a spark between them that, if she takes the leap, she might be able to fan into a flame. This leads to a crash and burn, and that’s all shy Alex needs to catch the hint never to take the risk again.
However, with undeniable timing, Rix’s ex, who broke his heart, and Alex’s family, who spent her lifetime breaking hers, rear their heads, gearing up to offer more drama. With the help of some matchmaking friends, Rix and Alex decide to face the onslaught together…
As a fake couple.
••••••••
REVIEW:TAKING THE LEAP is the third instalment in Kristen Ashley’s contemporary, adult RIVER RAIN erotic, romance series. This is thirty four-year old former smoke jumper/firefighter John ‘Rix’ Hendrix, and twenty-eight year old, Alexandra ‘Alex’ Sharp’s story line. TAKING THE LEAP can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. Rix and Alex’s story line begins in book two Chasing Serenity.
SOME BACKGROUND: River Rain, owned by businessman Duncan Holloway, is a large chain of stores concentrating on outdoor life including camping, hiking, rock climbing and trail walking, that has ventured into philanthropy and camps for children and youth.
Told from first person perspective (Alex) and dual third person (Rix and Judge) TAKING THE LEAP focuses on the building but fake romance and relationship between thirty four-year old former smoke jumper/firefighter John ‘Rix’ Hendrix, and twenty-eight year old, Alexandra ‘Alex’ Sharp, and the upcoming wedding of Alex’s sister Blake. Alexandra Sharp is descended from royalty but refuses to play the games her mother sets into motion. Estranged from her family- her distant father, controlling mother, and the questionable sanity of her older sister, Alex has always preferred to remain in the background but her sister’s wedding is about to place the spotlight on our story line heroine when she brings co-worker and amputee John ‘Rix’ Hendrix as her plus one. Alex has crushed on Rix for as long as she can remember but Rix has a dark history, a past mired in betrayal and loss, and a reputation with the women as a one-night stand kind of guy. Working together for River Rain Outdoor Stores and their Kids and Trails programs forces our couple to dwell on their mutual attraction but Alexandra remains unconvinced in the face of history, and the ‘fake’ aspect of their relationship that will quickly turn into something more.
Alexandra Sharp is a beautiful, intelligent, shy and somewhat withdrawn woman who has spent most of her life on the sidelines watching as the world, and her family continue to implode. Alex is not naïve; she is not a fool nor a door mat but a woman who is willing to speak up when needed, and defend herself against those who are hoping to tear her down including several members of her immediate family but Rix Hendrix is all about protecting the woman with whom he will fall in love, a woman who does not need protecting when all is said and done. Rix is offering a friends with benefits relationship with our story line heroine, a relationship that co-workers and close friends see as a prelude to disaster.
The relationship between Rix and Alex is one of mutual attraction but Alex’s overt shyness is a detriment to her personal and social life. Rix often mistakes Alex’s awkwardness as not interested, but her ambivalence and uncertainty is but a side effect of her family history of distance and control. Alex is determined to prove she is worthy of love but Rix’s past is hoping for a second chance, a chance that brings with it too many memories of betrayal and negligence. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and passionate but I dislike the use of a certain four-letter word in my romance story lines.
There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, energetic and sassy secondary and supporting characters including Chloe and Judge (Chasing Serenity), Judge’s father Jamie, and sister Dru. We are introduced to Alex’s family-her sister Blake, Blake’s fiance Chad, and their parents Helena and Edward, and her friends Katie and Gal, as well as Rix’s ex Peri, and his brother Josh, Hailey and Kinsley. Adding commentary is gossip columnist Elsa Cohen.
TAKING THE LEAP is a story of love and acceptance, betrayal and loss. Kristen Ashley pulls the reader into an emotional tale of dysfunctional dynamics wherein one family is unable to accept the world as it is, preferring live in a world of their own making. The premise is edgy, dramatic and tragic; the romance is provocative and intimate; the characters are heart breaking yet inspiring.
Reading Order and Previous reviews
After the Climb
Chasing Serenity
Copy supplied for review
Reviewed by Sandy
I could have lied, and when I saw him at the office, said I was driving when I got the text and that was why I didn’t answer.
But there was a part of me that was so excited to get my very first text from Rix, and that part was strong.
So strong, that thought didn’t even occur to me before I texted back with oodles of curiosity, Why?
Because I’m buying you a coffee, babe.
Another babe.
That was three.
Highly inappropriate, even infantilizing.
I said not one word about the “babe.”
Instead, I texted, Iced Chai.
Once I sent that, I texted, Mocha latte, iced or hot.
And on its heels, I sent, For just hot, flat white.
Then I got nervous that I might be sounding like a goof.
So nervous my thumbs couldn’t seem to stop tapping letters, and I therefore texted, I assume you want to know what I want right now, rather than all that I like. So just to say, I tend to be a coffee explorer, since I like coffee. And caffeine on the whole. That means the list is kinda long. But if you’re asking for right now, which you are, because it’s chilly this morning, flat white.
After I sent that, I realized that I was absolutely sounding like a dork in sending it, all of it, including the three before. As such, I watched in agony as Rix’s three dots cycled and cycled and then they did it some more.
Until I got, How much coffee have you already had?
This would have been funny if it wasn’t so mortifying.
Just one, I responded miserably.
Try to cycle down cuz you’ll have another when you get to work. Later.
I decided I’d texted enough, so I let that lie.
It didn’t lie for long.
Rix showed at my desk at River Rain (which wasn’t going to be my desk at River Rain for very long, it’d be my desk at Trail Blazer since we were moving the next day, Judge’s office furniture, mine, and some unused stuff they had sitting around was all going to the new offices for temporary use because the telephones and Internet were being hooked up that day and it was time to occupy Trail Blazer).
Rix set my flat white down while I valiantly attempted not to blush, he made no attempt whatsoever to hide he totally did not miss I failed at this endeavor, smiled a smile that I wanted to think was friendly, but instead it seemed sexy, this thought being exacerbated when he muttered under his breath so I almost couldn’t hear it, “Only you could make a rambling coffee order adorable.”
I sat frozen.
Rix winked at me and said in his normal voice, “Bottoms up, Alex.”
With that, seeing as he was in his chair that day, he wheeled away.
Since there was a lot going on with packing for the move and tech hookups and such, I only had to deal with Rix in passing for the rest of Monday.
However, Tuesday morning, I was shoving stuff into my bag at home, preparing to head down the mountain to dig into the move, when my phone chimed.
OK, I have ten minutes, explain today’s coffee order.
Yes.
Another text from Rix.
A startled laugh escaped from me because he was being funny.
I then texted back, You don’t have to buy me coffee.
To which he texted, I know I don’t.
Then I sent, I’m just saying, we’re good. We had a blip last week. But now we’re great.
We’re great?
Damn.
Why did reading those two words texted by him make my breasts swell?
Good. Great. I mean, things are fine. You don’t have to butter me up with coffee.
So coffee is a way to butter you up?
Oh God.
What was that?
Was it flirty?
Or was it just being funny and friendly?
Or was it just a kind of getting-to-know-you, valued co-worker, but in a jokey fashion?
Tell him what you want and stop texting, Alex! I admonished myself.
I did not stop texting.
Well, yeah. Kinda. Like I said, I like coffee.
You did say that, so maybe you’ll tell me what kind you want this morning.
Time to get beyond this.
Iced Chai.
That’s tea.
Oh my God!
Flirty?
Or jokey?
I’m feeling tea today, I replied.
Right. And then he sent, That only took five minutes. I’d fill the other five by asking you what kind of donuts you like, but we got a lot to get accomplished today. I’m sure I’ll enjoy your dissertation on that, but I’d prefer to sort out my office so I can start doing the shit I’m getting paid to do.
He one hundred percent did not need my views on donuts then.
Therefore, I noted, Good call.
He sent a smirk emoji, which shared the impossible.
Rix could even make emojis sexy.
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Kristen 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.
