Ride Dirty (Raven Riders) – book review

Ride Dirty
by Laura Kaye
Release Date:  March 13, 2018
Publisher: Evil Eye Concepts, Inc
Book #4 in the Raven Riders series
Number of Pages:  170
Paperback
Source:  MelCat
Contemporary Romance
Ages 16 and up
CW: stalking, child abuse, child abandonment
———————————————–
Caine McKannon is all about rules. As the Raven Riders Sergeant-at-Arms, he prizes loyalty to his brothers and protection of his club. As a man, he takes pleasure wherever he can get it but allows no one close—because distance is the only way to ensure people can’t hurt you. And he’s had enough pain for a lifetime.

And then he rescues a beautiful woman from an attack.

Kids and school are kindergarten teacher Emma Kerry’s whole life, so she’s stunned to realize she has an enemy—and even more surprised to find a protector in the intimidating man who saved her. Tall, dark, and tattooed, Caine is unlike any man Emma’s ever known, and she’s as uncertain of him as she is attracted. As the danger escalates, Caine is in her house more and more – until one night of passion lands him in her bed.

But breaking the rules comes at a price, forcing Caine to fight dirty to earn a chance at love.

When I finished book #3 in this series, I seemed to have known there were more stories to go, but somehow I never continued. Even with as much as I love these characters and the world in which they live. I eventually got it in my head that there were no more books in this series. I’m so glad I came to my senses. I loved this story and couldn’t put it down.

Although Caine saves Emma from a mugger when they first meet, he doesn’t necessarily start off on the right foot. Caine’s not so good with his words, especially when he’s feeling high emotions. Which means he comes across as a bit course and as if he’s victim blaming at first. He quickly shows his true colors, which are insanely sweet and protective and not macho misogynist. Seriously, I had butterflies galore quite quickly with the awkwardly beautiful tension between Caine and Emma.

Caine has a whole lot of childhood (and adult) trauma to deal with that he’s always kept locked down. Unlike most of the other Raven Riders, he doesn’t share. He thinks of them all as brothers and they are the closest thing to family he’s ever had, but he has it in his head that he’s not deserving of nice things so keeps himself apart in order to not disappoint those around him. To Caine, he feels it’s inevitable he’ll disappoint those he cares for. This man broke my heart over and over. Luckily, Emma is the perfect person to help Caine see there is more to him than he sees.

Emma is kind and patient and open-minded. She knows there are ghosts in Caine’s past, but she doesn’t push him. She’s intuitive enough to know Caine is a good person, no matter what he may think. She works, very subtly, at getting Caine to see his worth. I really fell in love with this couple right along with them falling in love with each other.

This story isn’t very long, which is good because I read it in one sitting. It kept me engaged and had my heart soaring.

5 stars