Review: Fire Inside

Reviewed by Carrie
 

FULL DISCLOSURE: I am a Kristen Ashley fan girl. So even though her writing might not be technically sound, her characters are so compulsively readable that I excuse any other shortcomings.

While this book can be read as a stand-alone, reading Motorcycle Man will give the proper backstory to not only this book, but the whole series. Fire Inside is the 2nd book in Ashley’s Chaos series about a biker motorcycle club (MC) where the men are all leather-clad alphas who pursue their women with a single minded determination. We first met Lanie Heron back in Motorcycle Man when her fiancé, Elliot, foolishly got involved with the Russian Mob. Elliot’s misdeeds catch up with them which resulted in Lanie and her best friend Tyra suffering grave injuries, while Elliot paid the ultimate price.

Eight years later, Lanie shuffles through her days still mired in guilt and loneliness. After watching Hopper (Hop) Kincaid strut around the Chaos compound for years, Lanie decides to jump start her stalled out life with a one night stand with the sexy biker. One night turns into many more as Lanie and Hop find that they can’t give up the explosive sex.

“Lady, we’re not sleeping, we’re resting then we’re fucking some more. Last time I’ll say it. Not done with you, got things I want to do to you and I’m doin’ them.”

Lanie is not only dealing with survivor’s guilt but also dealing with a dysfunctional family consisting of a philandering father, an alcoholic mother and a sister has divorced herself from the family drama.

I must say that Lanie is not one of my favorite of Ashley’s characters. In Motorcycle Man, she comes off as brash and judgmental and these behaviors persist in this book with Hop. Because of this, it hampered the desire to sympathize with her plight. Lanie’s broken family provides the framework for her behavioral motivations which does facilitate some understanding. In the end, I did come around to her.

Hop is the one who really makes the book for me. Even though he can be commanding, he is never high handed. He consistently gives Lanie support and backs up his words with actions. He’s not perfect, but willing to apologize when he is in the wrong. AND…not only is he a sweet smoking hot biker, he plays guitar and dedicates a song to Lanie! SWOON!!

There is more interaction with outside people than in the previous Chaos book although it is still limited. I was hoping for a girl’s night! What is really out of place is the Benito storyline. So far, all that is known after 2 books is that he’s a drug dealer encroaching on Chaos territory and there might be a war. Is this a plot device to show how rough and tumble Chaos bikers are or will there be actual suspense to follow? I hope we can see more Hot Bunch/Chaos interaction!!

Fire Inside is yet another fun ride by Kristen Ashley and I can’t wait to be on the back of the bike again soon!

Grade: B

Click to purchase: Amazon

Fire Inside

by Kristen Ashley

Release Date: June 4, 2013

Publisher: Forever