REVIEW: FIRE INSIDE (CHAOS #2) by KRISTEN ASHLEY

 

As some may notice, I've dedicated a week (more or less) each month to a Kristen Ashley series. Up this month is the Chaos Series.

Series: Chaos #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Grand Central
Publication Date: 6/4/13
Format: Kindle
Pages: 528
Source: Purchase
Rating: 5 stars

Lanie Heron isn’t looking for love—no surprise, considering her last serious relationship nearly got her killed. So when Lanie propositions Hop Kincaid, all she wants is one wild night with the hot-as-hell biker who patrols with the Chaos Motorcycle Club...

For Hop, Lanie has always been untouchable. She’s too polished and too classy for his tastes. But when she gives Hop the once-over with her bedroom eyes and offers him a night in paradise, he can’t say no. And he doesn’t regret it when he finds that Lanie is the best thing that’s ever happened to him—in or out of bed. Now the trick will be to convince her of that.

If you'd told me - back when I read Motorcycle Man - that Hop Kincaid would be a leading man, a great one at that, I would have been hugely skeptical. And then, if you'd told me that the glamorous, high-class Lanie Heron was his leading lady, I would have given you the side eye. Hop was a rough, badass biker who appeared to be a cheater. Lanie was a fun and dramatic chick with an admirable sense of loyalty, but questionable choices. But true to form, Kristen Ashley made it work, and delivered a beautiful and captivating love story.

Fire Inside is a story that ran fairly parallel to Own the Wind, which I really enjoyed. It was easy to see that something was up with Hop and Lanie in that book, and boy, was it ever fun to dig in and find out exactly how it all went down with Hop and his Lady. And like Own the Wind, this was not as much a story of the MC world, but more about people who happen to be in the biker world. Fire Inside was the story of a man and woman who appear to be complete opposites, but behind closed doors, they discover-and work for-a beautifully powerful love.

Once again, Kristen Ashley is the master of characterization. Hop and Lanie were alive. With Ashley's books, you never wonder why a character makes their choices or says or reacts the way they do. You're never left feeling a disconnect from the characters. I personally have never felt a lack of connection with any of her characters. Whether I can see pieces of myself in a character or not, I know and understand them. Every single book is a fantastic experience for me. I feel as if I've stepped into her world and made new friends. Every single time, I am so sad to end the story, but so happy for the experience.

On a side note: This might not seem relevant, but does play a large part in Fire Inside. In the Acknowledgments, Kristen Ashley mentioned how much she was inspired by Bob Seger, in Hop and Lanie's story and in general. His music was mentioned several times throughout the story and Hop even sings one of his songs.  I've always been a fan of Seger's, but what really got me was that all the mentions reminded me of my super cool uncle. He was the ultimate cool dude to me as a kid. He was/is a big fan of Seger's, and had as badass 'stache, not unlike Hop's. Needless to say, this made me a very happy reader. Anytime a book takes you to a happy memory is a great experience.


Favorite Quotes:

  No man looked good in jewelry. No man except a biker in a motorcycle club that had great chest hair, zero body fat, and flame tattoos up his arms could carry off that jewelry. The man in my bed."


  "You breathe easy if you take a chance on me. What I do, I do. What the Club does, it does. You'll learn to trust me, the brothers, Tack. I don't use you as a shield. I am the goddamn shield."  


  It was the pain of finally having something you wanted. Something you’d longed for. Longed for since you had memories. Something life taught you to believe you’d never have. Something, if you lived without it, it left a void in your soul you knew would never be filled. Something, without it, you knew you’d never be whole. It was something you needed .It was as necessary as breath. It was what was required to complete you.


  I watched him, thinking, a badass biker in faded jeans, a faded black Henley and beat up motorcycle boots. He needed a haircut and a shave. He used profanity way too often. And there were shadowy things in his life he had to protect me from. But, yes. All that was perfect. Absolutely.


  You don’t say words like ‘gig’, lady.”
   “My man’s a biker. Shit rubs off.

Chaos Series

 

(covers lead to GoodReads)

Purchase Fire Inside

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About Kristen Ashley
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.

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