Released On: December 19, 2013
One Ride
by Chelsea Camaron
Book 1 of The Hellions Ride
3.5 stars
Chelsea Camaron's first MC-themed romance novel is a good start for a new series. I'm giving it 3.5 stars though because it showed very little about the MC world. With shows like Sons of Anarchy and other successful biker books by Joanna Wylde, Bella Jewel and Madeleine Sheehan, us readers already have certain expectations for stories that feature bikers. We expect these stories to be gritty, sometimes morbidly graphic, intense in every sense of the word, and passionate. These are just some of the qualities that the word "biker" inspires in us readers.
I have no problem with the romance in One Ride
. In fact I think it was excellent! I was even thinking of giving the book 4 stars based on the romance alone, but then I remembered that this was promoted as a biker romance. Naturally, I expected to see plenty of the biker environment and dealings in this story. Although there's a legitimate explanation for this because as mentioned in the synopsis, the story is about taking the heroine away from her club for her own safety, I still ended up a little disappointed. It almost feels like the plot is a cop-out for not including much of the MC world into the story...
. In fact I think it was excellent! I was even thinking of giving the book 4 stars based on the romance alone, but then I remembered that this was promoted as a biker romance. Naturally, I expected to see plenty of the biker environment and dealings in this story. Although there's a legitimate explanation for this because as mentioned in the synopsis, the story is about taking the heroine away from her club for her own safety, I still ended up a little disappointed. It almost feels like the plot is a cop-out for not including much of the MC world into the story...
By the end I wished that this book wasn't packaged as an MC book, or set in an MC world... or that Tripp wasn't a biker (the president of his chapter, no less!). If that carrot wasn't dangled before me I could easily rate this 4 or 4.5 stars!
That aside, I think Ms. Camaron did a really good job building up the romance between Doll and Tripp. That's what I really enjoyed in One Ride! The story did not divert from them. Readers remain aware of what's happening to the Hellions left behind though because they are inserted smoothly into the narrative. So, while I was immersed in Doll and Tripps' developing relationship, I didn't feel completely detached from the club and the problems they were facing.
About the characters.. Doll was a little inconsistent for me. She started out completely badass. I even imagined her to be a bit like Gemma in SOA! By the second half of the story though, as she and Tripp figured things out, she became.. meek. And by the time she threw a punch at a woman near the end (which is more consistent of her personality at the beginning), it also seemed out of character. That aside, she's still a likable character.
Tripp isn't your perfect hero. He did things that infuriated me as a reader who's rooting for his HEA with Doll. On the other hand, I like that he was the first to admit that his lifestyle is not something he would want to push into the people he loves. There is always uncertainty and threat. He doesn't want to subject the people he cares for to the kind of pain that an MC lifestyle will inevitable bring.
It takes Tripp long to understand that Doll is born into the kind of life he leads. Yes, she wants a family and a loving husband, but that doesn't mean she wants white picket fences. She wants to be an old lady who's going to be loved and treasured by her biker love, a man whom she will support in return.
Doll and Tripp may not be perfect individuals, but they make sense together. They fit each other like pieces of a puzzle. It just takes Tripp a bit too long to accept and realize that.
There are very steamy scenes in this book. They are not acrobatic (LOL!) or very kinky even, but the hotness factor was definitely there! Ms. Camaron sure knows how to write them! =D
I am really looking forward to the next book in the series! It's going to be about Sass and Tank, two supporting characters in One Ride. Their story starts to build up in this book. Considering that by the end of One Ride Sass is moving in with another man and Tank is not in good shape, their book is bound to be explosive!
Another pair I'm interested in is Rex... and Caroline? I honestly felt that the sudden change of pairings was thrown out of the left field. You'll know what I mean when you read One Ride. For the record, I don't feel band saying all these things about Books 2 & 3 because they are mentioned in the synopses at Goodreads! =)
Ohh, and one last thing! There's a tiny bit in the story about a certain tattoo Doll wanted to get. I loved the coincidence of her choice and its significance in her relationship with Tripp! I wished it was mentioned again in the story. Maybe it will be mentioned again in the next books *crossing fingers*
So, this may have been a 3.5-star read for me, but I'll definitely be looking forward to the remaining books in the series. I recommend One Ride
for the very good writing and romance plot!
for the very good writing and romance plot!"We gonna do this, Doll?"
"Yes, Talon, we're gonna do this."
Buy links: Amazon
| Barnes & Noble
| Barnes & Noble
Synopsis:
Delilah “Doll” Reklinger never imagined her life with anyone that wasn’t a Hellion. She never imagined a Hellion would come along and prove himself worthy enough to her father, Roundman, Hellions Club President. Content in living in the bubble of safety the motorcycle club family has always provided, Doll never thought that danger surrounded her.
Roundman has kept the Hellions contained for the last thirty years by controlling the chaos surrounding their lifestyle. When the dangerous side to their business comes knocking on his door, he realizes his precious Doll isn’t safe. The Hellions code may be that women and children are off limits in any altercation or dispute, but that doesn’t mean their enemies follow that same moral compass.
His only child, now in danger from the association to him and his club, Roundman makes a decision. He sends her away to a charter club, in hopes that the trouble won’t follow.
One ride across the country. One simple ride. Talon “Tripp” Crews has been ordered to take Doll on one ride away and to keep her safe. She’s off limits, his head knows this, but his body can’t deny the sparks between them. She’s feisty, fierce, and fearless. Constantly in close confines together, can they deny the chemistry? Will they give into the attraction between them? Can one ride turn lust into love?
Excerpt:
I could have chosen a smoking hot excerpt, but I chose this because it shows Tripp's inner conflict regarding his future--or lack of it--with Doll.
The thoughts of having her like this for my lifetime brings warmth deep inside of me. Today, I bring her back to my house. Tonight, I will have her in my bed. Tomorrow, I return her to her world. Tomorrow, I say goodbye to my lifeline. Tomorrow, I say goodbye to my heart because when I leave, I leave it with her. As much as it’s going to suck, I’m going to leave her. It’s going to crush me, but I’m going to walk away. The other thing Pop’s always said, “Don’t give your woman unnecessary pain.” My life would be unnecessary pain for Doll.
I have all of today, tonight, and tomorrow’s ride to make sure Doll knows she’s my treasure. Starting in this moment, when I gently rub the back of my hand against her face. Knowing she’s asleep, I share what’s on my mind.
Whispering to her, “You’re everything, Doll. You’re the good in me. When the days get long, you’ll be what pulls me through. I’m gonna let you go, but I’m always gonna carry you with me.” I watch her breathing.
No longer able to contain myself, I move to kiss her forehead. Rolling her over, I kiss her cheek, then her neck. She’s waking up under me. I take my time trailing kisses over her neck and collar bone. She reaches up, running her fingers through my hair. Our eyes meet. The words are on the tip of my tongue, but unable to come out. I see the love this woman has for me in the depths of those piercing blue eyes. Does she see what I feel for her? Does she see the man behind the bike? Rather than speak the words, I spend my morning making love to her body. Taking in every second of this and committing it to my memory in a way to last me a lifetime.
Tomorrow, she’ll be home. Tomorrow, our ride will end. Tomorrow, I’ll be man enough to walk away. We’re in too deep. I never should’ve let this happen, emotions and entanglements are things I don’t do. Today, I’ll give her all of me. Today, I’ll take everything I can. Today, I’ll let my weakness for her consume me.
Giveaway!
About the Author:
Chelsea Camaron was born and raised in Coastal North Carolina. She currently resides in Southern Louisiana with her husband and two children but her heart is always Carolina day dreaming.
Chelsea always wanted to be a writer, but like most of us, let fear of the unknown grab a hold of her dream; she realized that if she was going to tell her daughter to go for her dreams, that it was time to follow her own advice.
Chelsea grew up turning wrenches alongside her father, and from that grew her love for old muscle cars and Harley Davidson motorcycles, which just so happened to inspired her ‘Daddy’s Girls’ series. Her love for reading has sparked a new love for writing and she currently has a few more projects in the works.
When she is not spending her days writing you can find her playing with her kids, attending car shows, going on motorcycle rides on the back of her husband’s Harley, snuggling down with her new favorite book or watching any movie that Vin Diesel might happen to be in.
She hates being serious and is still a big kid at heart. She is a small town country girl enjoying life and, Chelsea hopes that her readers remember not to take life too seriously and to embrace your inner five year old, because five year olds know how to enjoy the simple things in life and how to always have fun.
Blog tour organized by Dreams Come True Promotions
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