WRONG FOR ME (Motor City Royals #2) by Jackie Ashenden-a review

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About the book: Release Date November 29, 2016

After eight years in prison, Levi Rush is finally out and back on the gritty streets of Detroit to claim the future he was owed. A future that includes the one woman he’s wanted for years—his former best friend Rachel. She’s the reason he went inside and if getting her to do what he wants means buying the building that houses her tattoo studio and using it as leverage, then that’s what he’ll do. Because if there’s one thing he’s learned inside it’s that if you want to win, you have to play dirty.

Rachel Hamilton is a tattoo artist and one hell of a tough girl. Detroit is her home, and she’s determined to make it a better place. But her plans are threatened when her old friend Levi reappears and gives her an ultimatum: she gives herself to him body and soul, or else she and her business are out on the street. Levi’s got no room in his heart for anything but anger and the lust he’s been carrying around for so long. But the only thing stronger than the secrets of their shared past is their fiery attraction to each other.

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REVIEW: WRONG FOR ME is the second installment in Jackie Ashenden’s contemporary, adult MOTOR CITY ROYALS erotic, romance series focusing on a tight knit group of friends from Detroit. This is former inmate Levi Rush, and tattoo artist Rachel Hamilton’s story line. WRONG FOR ME can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Rachel and Levi) WRONG FOR ME is a friends to lovers/second chance storyline that follows the rekindling friendship between Rachel Hamilton and Levi Rush. Eight years earlier Levi was sent to prison for killing a man who had attacked his best friend Rachel. Fast forward to present day and Levi is an angry ex-con, h*ll bent on reclaiming all that he lost, and what he had lost were the eight years he could have been spending with the woman that he loves. Determined to renew his relationship with Rachel, Levi ‘blackmails’ Rachel for all of the wrong reasons ensuring Rachel remains by his side-one way or another. What ensues is an emotional battle between Levi and Rachel, and Levi’s dogged determination to prove he is worthy.

WRONG FOR ME is a story of family and friendship; heartbreak and love; moving forward and letting go of the past. Levi and Rachel, along with Gideon and Zoe come from the mean streets of Detroit, and it is their backstory and earlier years together that make up the emotional and protective relationships that encompass the series premise. Years of suffering and feeling unworthy find Levi Rush trying to prove he is deserving of the life that has passed him by.

The relationship between Rachel and Levi is one of emotional blackmail. Levi struggles with the loss of the previous eight years but more so with Rachel’s rejection and apparent lack of concern as it pertained to Levi and what happened years before.

All of the previous story line characters including Zee and Tamara (Dirty For Me #1), as well as Zoe James and Gideon Black play secondary and supporting roles. Rachel’s co-worker and fellow tattooist Xavier is ever protective of his friend and colleague. Zoe and Gideon’s story is next in Sin For Me (March 2017).

The world building continues to focus on five friends (Gideon, Zoe, Zee, Levi & Rachel) and the difficulties of growing up poor on the mean streets of Detroit. We are witness to the plans for redevelopment that may or may not have approval from the people who live and struggle to survive.

WRONG FOR ME is a dark and gritty look at endurance; at existing one day at a time; at struggling to succeed in a world that is continually pushing you down. The premise is startling ; the characters are passionate but tragic; the romance is emotional and disconcerting. At times, Levi’s treatment of Rachel and his need to recover years of lost time is misguided, vengeful and questionable. I also a couple of issues with questions that were never addressed and left unresolved.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one-DIRTY FOR ME

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy