Still Standing

So this book turned me completely around with the last 30% of the story. I knew it would happen, I had complete faith, but I was getting frustrated with Clara for not speaking out and I was getting mad a West for his actions. Let me back up though, because I loved the story, even up to the point, and I was glued to the pages. Clara and West were together from the moment they met, loved it. She had concerns and doubts, and enough baggage to sink a ship, and he just wanted to look after her, loved it. Great cast of supporting characters, wonderful feelings of family and comradery, loved it all. Now, some things happened that made me mad at West, a couple of times, and then it seemed like Clara just didn’t want to rock the boat, or gave in too easily, hence, needing the turnaround. When it did though, it was like the clouds parted, the sun shone through, and the angels sang, because it brought all the pieces together. And when those pieces came together, a few more of the wrongs were righted. I love this new MC club, and the characters in it, and can’t wait for more. p.s. and I might have squeed a bit when Resurrection was mentioned 😊

STILL STANDING is the first instalment in Kristen Ashley’s contemporary, adult WILD WEST MC erotic, romance series. This is thirty-two year old, former librarian Clara Delany, and thirty-nine year old Aces High MC president West ‘Buck’ Hardy’s story line. The WILD WEST MC is a companion series to the author’s CHAOS MC, and there is a slight cross-over with the mention of, and connection to some of the other series’ characters. Told from first person perspective (Clara Delany) with one final chapter in third person, following several paths STILL STANDING focuses on thirty-two year old, former librarian Clara Delany as she becomes the messenger for drug kingpin Enrique Esposito, in an effort to protect her best friend and fellow foster care child Tia, Enrique’s much abused wife. Clara’s latest target is West ‘Buck’ Hardy, the president of the Aces High MC, and the man with whom Clara will fall in love. What ensues is the building relationship between Clara and Buck, and the potential fall-out as Clara finds herself West ‘Buck’ Hardy knows quite a bit of history about our story line heroine including the break down of her marriage, and her current predicament with a notorious drug kingpin but Buck, for all his resources had no idea about Clara’s earlier life, of the fall-out of her ex-husband’s illegal dealings and how they have affected our story line heroine. Buck Hardy and the Ace High MC refuse to get involved in the drug running business, and with it comes the pressure to protect the woman with whom he is falling in love. Keeping Clara out of the direct line of fire becomes difficult as our heroine refuses to give up her independence in the face of trouble, and potential death. Meanwhile, Buck’s teenaged son and daughter from his first marriage have differing views of their father’s relationship with our story line heroine, and in this, Clara must tread carefully as it pertains the children Buck so dearly loves. The relationship between Buck and Clara begins when Clara is forced to deliver a message to the Aces High MC. Seeing the potential for Clara to become collateral damage, Buck offers, or forces, Clara the protection of the High Aces MC but when Clara’s friend Tia goes missing, Clara refuses to sit back and wait for more news. Within a few hours of meeting, Clara and Buck’s relationship becomes sexual, and not without some questions of concern from fellow members and old ladies of the High Aces MC. The $ex scenes are erotic and intense; the sexual tension is palpable and high. We are introduced to a large colorful and entertaining group of secondary and supporting characters including several members of the Aces High MC, and some of the old ladies, women and club wh*res: Ink, Driver, Gash, Cruise, Dr. Lefty Lefkowitz, Lorie, Minnie, Pinky, and club who*re Nails; Buck’s ex wife Kristy, and their children-seventeen year old Gear, and sixteen year old Tatiana; Detective Rayne Scott; Clara’s former neighbor Mrs. Jimenez; Enrique and Tia Esposito: Clara’s ex-husband Rogan Kirk, his attorney Nolan Armitage; Bosnian criminal Imran Babic. STILL STANDING is a story of betrayal and revenge; power and control; family and friendships; ill-fated relationships, romance and love. The premise is exciting and engaging; the romance is provocative and steamy; the characters are lively, fascinating and spirited.

A new MC series begins. I’m a huge KA fan. I’ve read almost every book she’s ever written. Some are better than others. West “ Buck “ Hardy is your typical KA alpha male hero. Hot older MC President. And this was because what he did was immediately dip a shoulder, plant it in my stomach, wrap his arm around the backs of my thighs, heft me up and stalk away. Clara Delany has had some really bad luck lately. No More Men!! “Happiness is Pop-Tarts. I wish he got that.” I felt Buck’s body move against mine, and I lifted my head and looked down at him to see he was what I thought he was. Laughing. “What’s funny?” I asked. “Happiness is Pop-Tarts?” “Absolutely.” Lots of great secondary characters to look forward to reading about it future books. There were a couple of things that happened in this book I wasn’t ok with. That’s why I gave it 4 stars and not 5