My Book Boyfriend Monday ~ Carson 'Joker' Steele #MC #bookbf @KristenAshley68

Oh! Boy! It has been quite awhile since I found myself a book boyfriend.  Thankfully I have completely fell in love again and found one worthy of My Book Boyfriend Status .  The honors this week go to Carson 'Joker' Steel of the Chaos MC from Ride Steady by Kristen Ashley

How did Joker win my heart?  It's easy ...

1. He's a survivor
2. Even though he had a bad upbringing he still learned to love.  And love did he do. 
3. He's a brother.  Which makes him loyal.  And loyal he is.  To his brothers, his friends, his pseudo family and of course Carissa & Travis

Some of the reasons I love Joker :

All quotes and phrases from eARC of Ride Steady by Kristen Ashley courtesy of Forever via NetGalley.

Ride Steady (Chaos #3)

by Kristen Ashley (Goodreads Author)

The ride of her life . . . Once upon a time, Carissa Teodoro believed in happy endings. Money, marriage, motherhood: everything came easy---until she woke up to the ugly truth about her Prince Charming. Now a struggling, single mom and stranded by a flat tire, Carissa's pondering her mistakes when a vaguely familiar knight rides to her rescue on a ton of horsepower.

Climb on and hold tight . . .
In high school, Carson Steele was a bad boy loner who put Carissa on a pedestal where she stayed far beyond his reach. Today, he's the hard-bodied biker known only as Joker, and from the way Carissa's acting, it's clear she's falling fast. While catching her is irresistible, knowing what to do with her is a different story. A good girl like Carissa is the least likely fit with the Chaos Motorcycle Club. Too bad holding back is so damned hard. Now, as Joker's secrets are revealed and an outside threat endangers the club, Joker must decide whether to ride steady with Carissa---or ride away forever . . .

ADD TO GOODREADS 

Pre-Order June 30/15 : AMAZON (US) | AMAZON (CAN)

Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of Forever via NetGalley

Genre: Adult MC Contemporary Romance

Part 3 in an ongoing series

My Ride Steady Review ...

It has been so long since I have completely LOVED a book.  And of course it was another Kristen Ashley book which I'm not surprised, as she's ALWAYS my go to author when I want something more from a book.  I always know what I'm going to expect from her books, and she rarely disappoints me.  She has a gift a writing amazing bad ass alpha men with minimal dialogue, but oh boy when the do speak its always a doozie that warms your heart.  Well sometimes they have asshole moments but that always ends up being part of their charm.  Not only do we get amazing men but we also get kick ass females who are strong.  They aren't weak and whiny. (Thank god!)  And with this series we also get the MC which takes it up another notch in my world, as I'm a complete sucker for that genre.  There's just something about that dark gritty MC world and the women that tame them or help balance their dark with light. 

Carson Steele has had a shit life but has always loved Carissa Teodoro.  Even though throughout high school she didn't know he even existed. 

Carissa Teodoro may have been in a relationship and had 'friends' but she always wanted more.  She had always crushed on Carson Steele but was sad that he never noticed her.  She too has had a tough past with the loss of her mother and sister but she's has always dreamed of something bigger. 

After a brief interlude before graduation they have a moment with hope of something more .

"Okay, Carson,"  she said softly, "Go after you beautiful Life."

Now 7 years later and both of them didn't get their HEA.  Carissa's steal reeling after her nasty divorce but the only thing that matters to her, is her son Travis.   While Carson's now 'Joker' and for the first time feels like he has a family with his MC brothers of Chaos.  Joker loves this new life but hasn't taken advantage of all there is being a part of Chaos.  

Carissa is down on her luck on the side of the road until a gorgeous biker steps up to help her.   Not only is he good with cars, he's good with her son.  This biker however seems familiar to her but she can't figure out why.   Joker knew the minute he pulled over that it was Carissa that he was helping out.  But since she didn't recognize him, he chose not to tell her the truth. 

" . . . Thought you had secrets.  Way you're holdin' back with this girl, think I'm wrong.  You don't have secrets.  You got demons." 

Now that Carissa is free in clear and drawn to Joker, she makes it known that she wants more.  However, she keeps coming up to a brick wall that is Joker.   Thankfully all that are Chaos and everyone associated with them also see the goodness in Carissa and the potential of what could be with Joker.  So they take her and Travis under their wings and make them part of their family.  Until Joker gets his head out of his ass and claims what is rightly his.  His past made him think he doesn't deserve someone like Carissa and Travis.  Thankfully there were good moments of his past that are now becoming part of his present, making him realize that he's so much more worth then he ever realized.   With this new found feelings he finally gives in to Carissa and makes his play. 

"Figure your father didn't give you this so I will.  A man is defined many ways.  One of those is the woman he picks to be at his side."

I absolutely loved Joker and Carissa together.  They were perfect.  They were a complete balance to each other with all their strengths and weaknesses.  Now add Tack, Cherry, Tab, Shy, Lanie, Hop, the rest of Chaos,  some of the Nightingales, Mitch, Brock, Hawk and more and we get a perfect KA experience. 

I LOVED this book.  The only nitpick I have is that Carissa didn't recognize Joker for such a long time.  Sure I get her reasons of why, but everyone else recognized him and yet she was the only one who had a crush on him for years, so if you think anyone would recognize him it would be her.  Other than that it was amazing and exactly what I needed.  Lately, since I read so much I'm getting bored and frustrated with same recurring theme occurring in the romance genre.  So when an author can break that mold I'm freakin' thrilled. 

"No, you feel it, you share it.  Don't hold back with me, Butterfly."  That was good advice.  Good advice for a relationship two people were building. (Phew! Good advice Joker. We almost had another heroine not communicate and assume again. )

As with all KA books we know that Joker and Carissa aren't going to have an easy ride but they have a beautiful one.  As Joker starts to become more human again, we fall deeper and deeper in love with him.  We knew there was something hidden within him but what comes out was pure joy the way he grows and becomes the man he has always wanted to be.  With the help of his new family, Chaos, Carissa and Travis he becomes the one thing he never thought was possible ... happy.

" . . . But I know this and you gotta know it too:  No matter what happens, I will never, not ever, not fuckin' ever, Carissa, regret riding down that shoulder to help you and your boy.  It's the best decision I ever made in my life, and I know that in a way I know I'll feel that until the day I fuckin' die."

 Loved it!  I absolutely love this series and all things KA.  I can't wait for more from this series and anything KA.

5 Joker Loving Thumbs up!

 

Lauren


 Pre-Order June 30/15 : AMAZON (US) | AMAZON (CAN)