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Avenging Angel #1
Avenging Angel
Rachel Armstrong has a burning need to right the world’s wrongs. Thus, she becomes the Avenging Angel.
And maybe she’s a bit too cocky about it.
While riding a hunch about the identity of a kidnapper, she runs into Julien “Cap” Jackson, who was trained by the team at Nightingale Investigations in Denver. Now he’s a full-fledged member at their newly opened Phoenix branch.
It takes Cap a beat to realize Raye’s the woman for him. It takes Raye a little longer (but just a little) to figure out how she feels about Cap.
As Raye introduces Cap to her crazy posse of found family and his new home in the Valley of the Sun, Cap struggles with his protective streak. Because Raye has no intention to stop doing what she can to save the world.
But there’s a mysterious entity out there who has discovered what Raye is up to, and they’ve become very interested.
Not to mention, women are going missing in Phoenix, and it seems like the police aren’t taking it seriously.
Raye believes someone should.
So she recruits her best friend Luna, and between making coffees, mixing cocktails, planning parties and enduring family interventions (along with reunions), the Avenging Angels unite to ride to the rescue.
And maybe she’s a bit too cocky about it.
While riding a hunch about the identity of a kidnapper, she runs into Julien “Cap” Jackson, who was trained by the team at Nightingale Investigations in Denver. Now he’s a full-fledged member at their newly opened Phoenix branch.
It takes Cap a beat to realize Raye’s the woman for him. It takes Raye a little longer (but just a little) to figure out how she feels about Cap.
As Raye introduces Cap to her crazy posse of found family and his new home in the Valley of the Sun, Cap struggles with his protective streak. Because Raye has no intention to stop doing what she can to save the world.
But there’s a mysterious entity out there who has discovered what Raye is up to, and they’ve become very interested.
Not to mention, women are going missing in Phoenix, and it seems like the police aren’t taking it seriously.
Raye believes someone should.
So she recruits her best friend Luna, and between making coffees, mixing cocktails, planning parties and enduring family interventions (along with reunions), the Avenging Angels unite to ride to the rescue.
498 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 2, 2024
About the author
Kristen Ashley
128 books39k followersKristen 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.
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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April 9, 2024
⤅ I have a real love-hate relationship with KA's books.
Like, I love Rock Chick Renegade and Rock Chick Revenge (five-star reads) but I hate Dream Man with the fire of a thousand suns. I also really slated the last new book of hers I tried, Dream Maker.
But I picked up this one because the Rock Chick series has always been KA's best and I still have a genuine fondness for all the characters. This is what I think of as her 'young' series - unlike many of her other books, the characters are all in their late twenties or early thirties; none of them have divorces or kids under their belt yet; and the humour in that series is genuinely top-notch. We've known for years that KA planned to write a spinoff series where Mace and Stella move to another city and start their own version of Nightingale Investigations, and now it's finally here. (Laughing at how Lee is franchising his business…)
This is a very long review, mostly because I have a lot of thoughts but also because it's been a quiet day at work, so bear with me.
⤅ Plot
Mace and Stella have opened a new office in Phoenix, Arizona, which Google tells me is just a two-hour flight away from Denver. Our first new hero is 30-year-old Julien 'Cap' Jackson, better known to us Rock Chick readers as the 15-year-old street kid Sniff whom Jules essentially adopts. He's grown up, done a stint in the Army, and joined Mace's team. I am going to tell you now that his reason for being called Cap is stupid with a capital S. Apparently his Army buddies nicknamed him that because he looks like Captain America??? And the heroine successfully GUESSES that's the reason??? I have it on good authority that men's nicknames for each other tend to be more along the lines of 'Pocket' and (yes) 'Sniff', not a remark on the guy's resemblance to a physically attractive actor…
Other than that, Cap was a decent hero - actually too decent, but I'll get into that later. Let's move onto the heroine. 27-year-old Rachel 'Raye' Armstrong is a classic KA heroine, a curvy gorgeous blue-eyed blonde with plenty of 'T&A' and, superficially, a lot of attitude. The first chapter filled me with a lot of hope - it felt like it could have slotted easily into the Rock Chick series, with Raye stupidly-but-bravely breaking into the house of a known kidnapper to rescue a little girl and being saved in turn by Cap.
But it quickly degenerates into what I can only describe, in bafflement, as 'idiocy'. So Raye is a vigilante, and she ropes in her best friend Luna, but then suddenly she gets an invitation from a high-powered lawyer to join 'the Angels'? And her job is to keep doing vigilante justice, the Angels HQ will supply her with stun guns and vehicles and information and basically everything she needs? Her, a totally untrained 27-year-old with no qualifications except working as a barista? This made absolutely zero sense. It was like reading a really, really badly plotted spy novel, and normally KA's plots have more coherency than this. I just don't even understand this plot at all. What benefit is there for a wealthy, well-resourced organisation like the Angels to recruit completely untrained random women?
And I mean untrained, totally. We saw Jules get plenty of shooting and defence practice, but Raye has absolutely nothing going for her, and the Angels literally tell her they won't even give her real guns. I mean, I am British so obviously I don't think anyone should own a gun, but if they happen to be legal you should of course get one for self-protection, particularly if you're a bloody vigilante!! What is the point of having some 27-year-old blonde barista running around wildly with a stun gun when ex-armed forces and ex-Agency women exist and would be more helpful to your cause? Why can't KA just write more competent heroines like Sylvie and Jules instead of the waste of time that is Raye?
As a corollary to the confusing and frantic plot, KA has tried to insert wayyyy more characters than necessary into this novel, to the point where Jules does not appear on page in this book ONE. SINGLE. TIME. I genuinely find this unacceptable for a book that's about a man who literally NAMED HIMSELF AFTER HER because she had such a massive positive impact in his life. That's not on, at all. Jules was also a vigilante, she's spent time with Lee and his boys - and yet she's totally erased and Vance gets more of a look-in than she does??
Which reminds me, at one point Raye gets to come along when Lee rides out somewhere, and my blood boiled at how everyone colluded to stop Jules doing that but Raye gets the red-carpet treatment. And then doesn't even devote enough attention to Jules. In general there are far too many old characters stuffed into this book, at the expense of Raye meeting people like Jules - like, why on earth did Raye need to meet Sadie? And for the love of God, do you still need to hammer it into us that she 'looks like a fairy princess'? Tex and Nancy also played a massive role that should have been taken up by Vance and Jules, or even Roam, and it was ultra-disappointing.
Also, the constant meta references to the Rock Chick published books is SO ANNOYING. It was a terrible gimmick in the first place, but keeping it alive by telling Raye to just 'read the books' as a shortcut to learning about her boyfriend is SO MUCH WORSE.
⤅ Characters
I think this is a good time to discuss the fact that I think one of KA's biggest problems, as a writer now, is that she is really struggling to 'place' her books in a concrete time setting. Let me explain what I mean.
Rock Chick came out in 2008, and one of the reasons that it's so great is because the whole series has no embarrassment or confusion about what it's meant to be; it's a 2000s-set series complete with flip phones and noughties outfits, totally confident in its status as a CONTEMPORARY contemporary romance series. Since then, there have been some identity crises noticeable in KA's writing. For example, Dream Maker has a millennial heroine and we were literally beaten over the head with issues like environmentalism and feminism, because by 2019 KA felt like she had to update her books to the time she was actually writing in, rather than the time (it seems like) she felt most comfortable setting her books in.
Usually an author will just keep writing the time period they prefer, without dropping in a bunch of time markers, and it comes across as so natural that it's barely even noticeable if the book is more 2000s vibes than 2020s. Those books largely transcend time periods, as good books should. But because KA wants her books to be 'modern', she keeps 'modernising' her characters, and it doesn't work. Evie as a millennial heroine wasn't at all convincing or believable, and the same applies to Raye - who's now supposedly Generation Z like me, being three years older than me. In reality she, and Cap, are an off-putting composite of various conflated worldviews.
Let's take dialogue as an example. Slang is one of the easiest ways to date a book, since it moves so quickly, but the slang patterns in this book are so all-over-the-place it's obviously a book written by a 1960s-born author trying to create a 1990s-born heroine living in the 2020s. That is: a mess. Raye and her friends (cringily, her 'posse') constantly and unironically say things are 'totes' awesome, things are 'rad', and most bizarrely of all, that something 'rawks', which made me want to gouge my eyes out. What does that even mean??? Is that meant to be 'rocks'?!? I have NEVER seen this before, in fact I just had to Urban Dictionary it and the entry was from 2005… so again, if only KA would let herself write 2000s-era books, she would be sorted.
But she isn't letting herself write those books, because at the same time as she's voicing 1990s/2000s dialogue, she's stuffing 2020s social commentary down the reader's throat. I should probably preface this next bit by saying that I tend towards the centre-left politically and support many of those positions, like gun control and reasonable access to abortion. However, I neither want nor expect the characters I'm reading about to agree with me. One of the wildest scenes in this book is when Cap spends THREE SOLID PAGES speechifying, literally one unbroken speech, on every single position he holds and they're all ultra-progressive. Like, WTF? This was SO preachy and completely inorganic to his character. I am reading a romance novel, I genuinely do not care whatsoever about the fact Cap thinks assault rifles should be banned or that 'people should be able to identify how they want'.
But maybe more importantly, we are adults - we can handle reading about characters who explicitly do not hold the same views as us, especially when that is natural to their character. Like, Cap is a veteran, grew up surrounded by macho men who almost certainly vote Republican - I would actually be totally fine with him not being all-out on gun rights and gender identity and illegal immigration. Him not being so progressive would a) make more sense for his background and b) provide a more interesting relationship with Raye, where they could actually debate and discuss some of these issues. Instead all potential nuance is swept aside in favour of him declaring his progressive credentials in one long rant, with the added benefit of literally lecturing the reader about how to be a good person. This level of didacticism is insane and that's not how relationships work - you don't recite your political views on every topic to each other in one go like that! What a lost opportunity for relationship development.
This inorganic dynamic is one of the reasons why Ray in particular, as a new character, felt totally flat and hollow to me. Even the whole past trauma thing didn't ring true. She was essentially a Mary Sue, because practically everything she did was perfect or worked out, and I've realised that's even more annoying than the unthinking TSTL actions of the OG Rock Chicks. She and Cap had no drama at all, because the characters are WAY too well-adjusted and communicative, to the point they're actually boring. Cap and Raye don't have a single real fight because he suppresses all his alpha tendencies and she's just an open book. They're both totally clear from the start they're into each other and there's zero tension because they act like Barbie dolls. Some people will like that dynamic, but I prefer the heroine to play a little harder to get.
Cap is what I'd call a Gary Stu: he's literally the perfect partner, and it was… not as good to read about as you might think. Like, the heroine informs him she's going to go out with her friends tracking down a clue or whatever, and HE JUST LETS HER DO THAT??? Doesn't follow her, tell her not to go, nothing??? Does he not care about her at all? There is a middle ground between letting the untrained and unintelligent heroine do whatever she wants, and stifling her spirit by keeping her locked up; Vance had this middle ground, because he always had Jules's back but didn’t stop her doing what she wanted to do once he ascertained she was competent. He also instantly made sure she got the backup she needed. I used to be disappointed Jules stopped haunting the streets, but I've since recognised that it was entirely her decision and he never pressured her into it, even though he was glad she gave that up for her own safety. That's how it should be, not Cap literally losing all claim to being an alpha hero by letting his so-called woman out without even a token attempt to lay down the law.
This next point isn't about the perfection of the characters specifically, but Raye's living and employment circumstances also irk me. She basically has the perfect job: she's literally a barista, and has been for almost a decade, but she happens to work for the best employer on the planet - who pays her enough to rent a decent flat, have a decent car, a decent pension, have plenty of clothes, at the same time doesn't care if she's late, she doesn't really have a boss or any responsibilities other than making basic coffees, and she hardly seems to work. Considering KA is trying to modernise her books with all the preachy social commentary I mentioned, it feels grimly amusing that somewhere she could actually have made a social point - i.e. the horrific state of the labour market nowadays - she lets her heroine coast by with a job that really only exists to let the heroes and heroines of this series have somewhere to hang out.
Because yes, all of Raye's best friends also work at this amazing coffee shop with her, and they're shaping up to be the next heroines in this series. It won't surprise any of you to know that they're all extremely basic variations on the same type - all white, three out of four are blonde, all gorgeous. Unlike with the Rock Chicks, where they honestly all felt like different people and their friendships actually felt solid, Jessie and Luna and Harlow are just poorly-sketched-out sequel bait and the lack of heroine diversity is beginning to get annoying. (Cap's friends are also poorly-sketched-out sequel bait, and sad to see KA seems to have got really into beards).
Raye also happens to live in the most amazing accommodation ever, in a complex that's cheap but safe and beautiful and close to her workplace. Eyeroll. She's so sweet and forgiving that she falls into the arms of the father who abandoned her after 0.5 seconds of apology. The Mary Sue-ness is just turned up to the max.
⤅ Romance
As an extension of the whole fact that KA is modernising her books, the romance lacked a serious amount of chemistry. I'm rereading the Rock Chick series now, and genuinely impressed by how on point the alpha heroes were in that series - Vance breaking in to sleep next to Jules, Hank confiscating Roxie's car, Luke handcuffing Ava to him… yes it's all 'call the police in real life', but it totally worked for those couples, and to be honest that's the kind of edge I want and expect from a KA alpha hero. It helps that most of the time the heroines put up a good fight - Indy going off at Lee for telling her what to wear is one of my favourite scenes in the series because she actually gets a decent apology out of him, and Jules plays so hot and cold with Vance that I don't even care she's a virgin and he's a player. You can totally see how the heroines make the heroes work for it.
In contrast, Raye and Cap basically look at each other, decide to get together, and then that's it. I miss the OG Rock Chicks much more than I expected, actually. The heroes were perfect, tooth-grindingly overbearing but usually the heroines called them on it, and there was so much more humour and realistic action packed in. I reread those books quite a bit, but I'm never rereading this one. Cap is not a patch on the original Hot Bunch, and Raye is not a patch on the original Rock Chicks. (Cringily, they appear to be calling themselves the 'Rock Chick / Hottie Squad' and they unironically call the OGs the Rock Chick/Hot Bunch, which also makes me want to gouge my eyes out).
So why three stars? Mostly it's rounded up from two, but it's also two stars because the writing was at least compelling enough to make me finish the book. KA also undoubtedly has a very distinctive style, and with her being a romance author I cut my teeth on, going back to that style felt quite nostalgic. Not nostalgic enough to really save the book though.
___
Pre-review:
Like, I love Rock Chick Renegade and Rock Chick Revenge (five-star reads) but I hate Dream Man with the fire of a thousand suns. I also really slated the last new book of hers I tried, Dream Maker.
But I picked up this one because the Rock Chick series has always been KA's best and I still have a genuine fondness for all the characters. This is what I think of as her 'young' series - unlike many of her other books, the characters are all in their late twenties or early thirties; none of them have divorces or kids under their belt yet; and the humour in that series is genuinely top-notch. We've known for years that KA planned to write a spinoff series where Mace and Stella move to another city and start their own version of Nightingale Investigations, and now it's finally here. (Laughing at how Lee is franchising his business…)
This is a very long review, mostly because I have a lot of thoughts but also because it's been a quiet day at work, so bear with me.
⤅ Plot
Mace and Stella have opened a new office in Phoenix, Arizona, which Google tells me is just a two-hour flight away from Denver. Our first new hero is 30-year-old Julien 'Cap' Jackson, better known to us Rock Chick readers as the 15-year-old street kid Sniff whom Jules essentially adopts. He's grown up, done a stint in the Army, and joined Mace's team. I am going to tell you now that his reason for being called Cap is stupid with a capital S. Apparently his Army buddies nicknamed him that because he looks like Captain America??? And the heroine successfully GUESSES that's the reason??? I have it on good authority that men's nicknames for each other tend to be more along the lines of 'Pocket' and (yes) 'Sniff', not a remark on the guy's resemblance to a physically attractive actor…
Other than that, Cap was a decent hero - actually too decent, but I'll get into that later. Let's move onto the heroine. 27-year-old Rachel 'Raye' Armstrong is a classic KA heroine, a curvy gorgeous blue-eyed blonde with plenty of 'T&A' and, superficially, a lot of attitude. The first chapter filled me with a lot of hope - it felt like it could have slotted easily into the Rock Chick series, with Raye stupidly-but-bravely breaking into the house of a known kidnapper to rescue a little girl and being saved in turn by Cap.
But it quickly degenerates into what I can only describe, in bafflement, as 'idiocy'. So Raye is a vigilante, and she ropes in her best friend Luna, but then suddenly she gets an invitation from a high-powered lawyer to join 'the Angels'? And her job is to keep doing vigilante justice, the Angels HQ will supply her with stun guns and vehicles and information and basically everything she needs? Her, a totally untrained 27-year-old with no qualifications except working as a barista? This made absolutely zero sense. It was like reading a really, really badly plotted spy novel, and normally KA's plots have more coherency than this. I just don't even understand this plot at all. What benefit is there for a wealthy, well-resourced organisation like the Angels to recruit completely untrained random women?
And I mean untrained, totally. We saw Jules get plenty of shooting and defence practice, but Raye has absolutely nothing going for her, and the Angels literally tell her they won't even give her real guns. I mean, I am British so obviously I don't think anyone should own a gun, but if they happen to be legal you should of course get one for self-protection, particularly if you're a bloody vigilante!! What is the point of having some 27-year-old blonde barista running around wildly with a stun gun when ex-armed forces and ex-Agency women exist and would be more helpful to your cause? Why can't KA just write more competent heroines like Sylvie and Jules instead of the waste of time that is Raye?
As a corollary to the confusing and frantic plot, KA has tried to insert wayyyy more characters than necessary into this novel, to the point where Jules does not appear on page in this book ONE. SINGLE. TIME. I genuinely find this unacceptable for a book that's about a man who literally NAMED HIMSELF AFTER HER because she had such a massive positive impact in his life. That's not on, at all. Jules was also a vigilante, she's spent time with Lee and his boys - and yet she's totally erased and Vance gets more of a look-in than she does??
Which reminds me, at one point Raye gets to come along when Lee rides out somewhere, and my blood boiled at how everyone colluded to stop Jules doing that but Raye gets the red-carpet treatment. And then doesn't even devote enough attention to Jules. In general there are far too many old characters stuffed into this book, at the expense of Raye meeting people like Jules - like, why on earth did Raye need to meet Sadie? And for the love of God, do you still need to hammer it into us that she 'looks like a fairy princess'? Tex and Nancy also played a massive role that should have been taken up by Vance and Jules, or even Roam, and it was ultra-disappointing.
Also, the constant meta references to the Rock Chick published books is SO ANNOYING. It was a terrible gimmick in the first place, but keeping it alive by telling Raye to just 'read the books' as a shortcut to learning about her boyfriend is SO MUCH WORSE.
⤅ Characters
I think this is a good time to discuss the fact that I think one of KA's biggest problems, as a writer now, is that she is really struggling to 'place' her books in a concrete time setting. Let me explain what I mean.
Rock Chick came out in 2008, and one of the reasons that it's so great is because the whole series has no embarrassment or confusion about what it's meant to be; it's a 2000s-set series complete with flip phones and noughties outfits, totally confident in its status as a CONTEMPORARY contemporary romance series. Since then, there have been some identity crises noticeable in KA's writing. For example, Dream Maker has a millennial heroine and we were literally beaten over the head with issues like environmentalism and feminism, because by 2019 KA felt like she had to update her books to the time she was actually writing in, rather than the time (it seems like) she felt most comfortable setting her books in.
Usually an author will just keep writing the time period they prefer, without dropping in a bunch of time markers, and it comes across as so natural that it's barely even noticeable if the book is more 2000s vibes than 2020s. Those books largely transcend time periods, as good books should. But because KA wants her books to be 'modern', she keeps 'modernising' her characters, and it doesn't work. Evie as a millennial heroine wasn't at all convincing or believable, and the same applies to Raye - who's now supposedly Generation Z like me, being three years older than me. In reality she, and Cap, are an off-putting composite of various conflated worldviews.
Let's take dialogue as an example. Slang is one of the easiest ways to date a book, since it moves so quickly, but the slang patterns in this book are so all-over-the-place it's obviously a book written by a 1960s-born author trying to create a 1990s-born heroine living in the 2020s. That is: a mess. Raye and her friends (cringily, her 'posse') constantly and unironically say things are 'totes' awesome, things are 'rad', and most bizarrely of all, that something 'rawks', which made me want to gouge my eyes out. What does that even mean??? Is that meant to be 'rocks'?!? I have NEVER seen this before, in fact I just had to Urban Dictionary it and the entry was from 2005… so again, if only KA would let herself write 2000s-era books, she would be sorted.
But she isn't letting herself write those books, because at the same time as she's voicing 1990s/2000s dialogue, she's stuffing 2020s social commentary down the reader's throat. I should probably preface this next bit by saying that I tend towards the centre-left politically and support many of those positions, like gun control and reasonable access to abortion. However, I neither want nor expect the characters I'm reading about to agree with me. One of the wildest scenes in this book is when Cap spends THREE SOLID PAGES speechifying, literally one unbroken speech, on every single position he holds and they're all ultra-progressive. Like, WTF? This was SO preachy and completely inorganic to his character. I am reading a romance novel, I genuinely do not care whatsoever about the fact Cap thinks assault rifles should be banned or that 'people should be able to identify how they want'.
But maybe more importantly, we are adults - we can handle reading about characters who explicitly do not hold the same views as us, especially when that is natural to their character. Like, Cap is a veteran, grew up surrounded by macho men who almost certainly vote Republican - I would actually be totally fine with him not being all-out on gun rights and gender identity and illegal immigration. Him not being so progressive would a) make more sense for his background and b) provide a more interesting relationship with Raye, where they could actually debate and discuss some of these issues. Instead all potential nuance is swept aside in favour of him declaring his progressive credentials in one long rant, with the added benefit of literally lecturing the reader about how to be a good person. This level of didacticism is insane and that's not how relationships work - you don't recite your political views on every topic to each other in one go like that! What a lost opportunity for relationship development.
This inorganic dynamic is one of the reasons why Ray in particular, as a new character, felt totally flat and hollow to me. Even the whole past trauma thing didn't ring true. She was essentially a Mary Sue, because practically everything she did was perfect or worked out, and I've realised that's even more annoying than the unthinking TSTL actions of the OG Rock Chicks. She and Cap had no drama at all, because the characters are WAY too well-adjusted and communicative, to the point they're actually boring. Cap and Raye don't have a single real fight because he suppresses all his alpha tendencies and she's just an open book. They're both totally clear from the start they're into each other and there's zero tension because they act like Barbie dolls. Some people will like that dynamic, but I prefer the heroine to play a little harder to get.
Cap is what I'd call a Gary Stu: he's literally the perfect partner, and it was… not as good to read about as you might think. Like, the heroine informs him she's going to go out with her friends tracking down a clue or whatever, and HE JUST LETS HER DO THAT??? Doesn't follow her, tell her not to go, nothing??? Does he not care about her at all? There is a middle ground between letting the untrained and unintelligent heroine do whatever she wants, and stifling her spirit by keeping her locked up; Vance had this middle ground, because he always had Jules's back but didn’t stop her doing what she wanted to do once he ascertained she was competent. He also instantly made sure she got the backup she needed. I used to be disappointed Jules stopped haunting the streets, but I've since recognised that it was entirely her decision and he never pressured her into it, even though he was glad she gave that up for her own safety. That's how it should be, not Cap literally losing all claim to being an alpha hero by letting his so-called woman out without even a token attempt to lay down the law.
This next point isn't about the perfection of the characters specifically, but Raye's living and employment circumstances also irk me. She basically has the perfect job: she's literally a barista, and has been for almost a decade, but she happens to work for the best employer on the planet - who pays her enough to rent a decent flat, have a decent car, a decent pension, have plenty of clothes, at the same time doesn't care if she's late, she doesn't really have a boss or any responsibilities other than making basic coffees, and she hardly seems to work. Considering KA is trying to modernise her books with all the preachy social commentary I mentioned, it feels grimly amusing that somewhere she could actually have made a social point - i.e. the horrific state of the labour market nowadays - she lets her heroine coast by with a job that really only exists to let the heroes and heroines of this series have somewhere to hang out.
Because yes, all of Raye's best friends also work at this amazing coffee shop with her, and they're shaping up to be the next heroines in this series. It won't surprise any of you to know that they're all extremely basic variations on the same type - all white, three out of four are blonde, all gorgeous. Unlike with the Rock Chicks, where they honestly all felt like different people and their friendships actually felt solid, Jessie and Luna and Harlow are just poorly-sketched-out sequel bait and the lack of heroine diversity is beginning to get annoying. (Cap's friends are also poorly-sketched-out sequel bait, and sad to see KA seems to have got really into beards).
Raye also happens to live in the most amazing accommodation ever, in a complex that's cheap but safe and beautiful and close to her workplace. Eyeroll. She's so sweet and forgiving that she falls into the arms of the father who abandoned her after 0.5 seconds of apology. The Mary Sue-ness is just turned up to the max.
⤅ Romance
As an extension of the whole fact that KA is modernising her books, the romance lacked a serious amount of chemistry. I'm rereading the Rock Chick series now, and genuinely impressed by how on point the alpha heroes were in that series - Vance breaking in to sleep next to Jules, Hank confiscating Roxie's car, Luke handcuffing Ava to him… yes it's all 'call the police in real life', but it totally worked for those couples, and to be honest that's the kind of edge I want and expect from a KA alpha hero. It helps that most of the time the heroines put up a good fight - Indy going off at Lee for telling her what to wear is one of my favourite scenes in the series because she actually gets a decent apology out of him, and Jules plays so hot and cold with Vance that I don't even care she's a virgin and he's a player. You can totally see how the heroines make the heroes work for it.
In contrast, Raye and Cap basically look at each other, decide to get together, and then that's it. I miss the OG Rock Chicks much more than I expected, actually. The heroes were perfect, tooth-grindingly overbearing but usually the heroines called them on it, and there was so much more humour and realistic action packed in. I reread those books quite a bit, but I'm never rereading this one. Cap is not a patch on the original Hot Bunch, and Raye is not a patch on the original Rock Chicks. (Cringily, they appear to be calling themselves the 'Rock Chick / Hottie Squad' and they unironically call the OGs the Rock Chick/Hot Bunch, which also makes me want to gouge my eyes out).
So why three stars? Mostly it's rounded up from two, but it's also two stars because the writing was at least compelling enough to make me finish the book. KA also undoubtedly has a very distinctive style, and with her being a romance author I cut my teeth on, going back to that style felt quite nostalgic. Not nostalgic enough to really save the book though.
___
Pre-review:
April 3, 2024
DNF - I loved her writing..The Burg series, Chaos, Fantasy Land, etc. I buy her newer writing with hope in my heart. This is my 4th DNF. It’s like her newer books are caricatures of her previous work. Please please find that original voice again & write a book that wows, not just another meh read.
June 29, 2024
4 stars
Avenging Angel was such a fun book! It made me so nostalgic for KA’s Rock Chick books. Don’t be surprised if you see me re-reading that series sometime soon…
Raye and Cap were the best together. Raye had that Rock Chick vibe and you can tell these are spin-offs in the best way. Cap is a character you will recognize if you’ve read The Rock Chick series ;) I loved seeing so many familiar favorites. This book kept the biggest smile on my face.
I’m excited there will be more from this series because this felt like old-school KA in the best way! I had such a blast reading it.
Avenging Angel was such a fun book! It made me so nostalgic for KA’s Rock Chick books. Don’t be surprised if you see me re-reading that series sometime soon…
Raye and Cap were the best together. Raye had that Rock Chick vibe and you can tell these are spin-offs in the best way. Cap is a character you will recognize if you’ve read The Rock Chick series ;) I loved seeing so many familiar favorites. This book kept the biggest smile on my face.
I’m excited there will be more from this series because this felt like old-school KA in the best way! I had such a blast reading it.
Audio book source: Audible
Story Rating: 4 stars
Narrators: Stella Bloom
Narration Rating: 4.5 stars
Genre: Romance
Length: 11h 16m
July 18, 2024
4.5 stars
THIS is the Kristen Ashley i fell in love with! i know she released several books this past few years, but i didn’t really connect with any of them. i was getting worried that maybe it was time to find a new favorite romance author. not anymore😮💨
i thoroughly enjoyed this story and absolutely LOVED the characters. Cap, the hot, bossy, protective alpha hero to be expected of KA and Raye, the sweet, strong, no BS, compassionate heroine. they fit each other perfectly and i loved that there was no back and forth about their relationship— they never tried to run away from each other; they stood by each other from the very beginning and fought their fights together. it was a bit refreshing to have a break from separation drama and relationship doubts.
there were a lot of RCHB cameos and it was a blast to see the old gang again especially Tex! we also get to meet tons of great new side characters that we will fall in love with just as much as the mains. i am ecstatic to read the next book in the series, i know beyond a shadow of a doubt that i’m gonna love this series just as much as i had the Rock Chick series. 🫶🏻🫶🏻
⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆
pre-read:
MY FAVORITE ROCK CHICK SERIES IS GETTING A SPIN-OFF SERIES????
god forgive me for the person i'll become when this comes out🙌🏻🙌🏻
THIS is the Kristen Ashley i fell in love with! i know she released several books this past few years, but i didn’t really connect with any of them. i was getting worried that maybe it was time to find a new favorite romance author. not anymore😮💨
i thoroughly enjoyed this story and absolutely LOVED the characters. Cap, the hot, bossy, protective alpha hero to be expected of KA and Raye, the sweet, strong, no BS, compassionate heroine. they fit each other perfectly and i loved that there was no back and forth about their relationship— they never tried to run away from each other; they stood by each other from the very beginning and fought their fights together. it was a bit refreshing to have a break from separation drama and relationship doubts.
there were a lot of RCHB cameos and it was a blast to see the old gang again especially Tex! we also get to meet tons of great new side characters that we will fall in love with just as much as the mains. i am ecstatic to read the next book in the series, i know beyond a shadow of a doubt that i’m gonna love this series just as much as i had the Rock Chick series. 🫶🏻🫶🏻
⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆
pre-read:
MY FAVORITE ROCK CHICK SERIES IS GETTING A SPIN-OFF SERIES????
god forgive me for the person i'll become when this comes out🙌🏻🙌🏻
April 1, 2024
I have been waiting a LONG, long time for the Rock Chicks universe spin-off series. It's here.
…and it was AWESOME. My heart is full.
Characters: ★★★★★
Plot/Pacing: ★★★★
Enjoyment: ★★★★★
From the Blurb:
Rachel Armstrong has a burning need to right the world’s wrongs. Thus, she becomes the Avenging Angel. And maybe she’s a bit too cocky about it.
While riding a hunch about the identity of a kidnapper, she runs into Julien “Cap” Jackson, who was trained by the team at Nightingale Investigations in Denver. Now he’s a full-fledged member at their newly opened Phoenix branch.
It takes Cap a beat to realize Raye’s the woman for him. It takes Raye a little longer (but just a little) to figure out how she feels about Cap. As Raye introduces Cap to her crazy posse of found family and his new home in the Valley of the Sun, Cap struggles with his protective streak. Because Raye has no intention to stop doing what she can to save the world.
But there’s a mysterious entity out there who has discovered what Raye is up to, and they’ve become very interested. Not to mention, women are going missing in Phoenix, and it seems like the police aren’t taking it seriously. Raye believes someone should.
So she recruits her best friend Luna, and between making coffees, mixing cocktails, planning parties and enduring family interventions (along with reunions), the Avenging Angels unite to ride to the rescue.
When you've waited a long time for something, it builds up in your head. Expectations, memories, that nostalgia of the past growing in effect over time... The whole nine yards. That's why sequels and spin offs are so tough for me—both in my books and in television/movies.
Based on that, you could definitely say I was nervous for Avenging Angels.
How could a new spin-off give me that same rush of pure joy that the original Rock Chick series gave me??
Will the vibes resonate??
Can I let go enough of my old favorites and their memories and let in a new generation??
All of those questions and others made me anxious. But y'all—when in doubt, it's always best to trust the process. KA delivered.
From that very first chapter, I was hooked. Rachel, or "Raye," leapt right off the page and into my heart with her drive, her shenanigans, and her Phoenix found family. It was like no time had passed and yet, still, something fresh and new unfolding on the page. Raye might be an Angel, not a Rock Chick, but dang does she stand mighty fine next to our original leading ladies.
And then there's Cap. Who I was most nervous about—I'm being honest!—mostly due to the fact that I wasn't sure if I, as a reader, could make that transition from seeing him as a young teen named "Sniff" in the original series to the badass leading man energy of a KA love interest. Again, I don't know why I ever doubted... Cap, nicknamed because of his physical similarities to a yummy bearded Chris Evans, was perfect. Assertive without being an alphahole. Competent without being annoying. Supportive of Raye's journey without being a background wallflower. He just...worked. And that worked for me in a big way.
There's no other way to say this: I felt like I was coming home to this novel after being away for several years.
Home might look a little different for us Rock Chick fans—we're in Phoenix, not Denver, and the cast of characters is largely new—but it was still home. I thought the balance of old to new was done perfectly in Avenging Angels. It's a new cast, but the old cast is there too in a realistic way. And the shenanigans?? OH BOY, hang on to your hat. Ridiculous in that classic KA way. Lovable in that KA way. Just... home. (At least for this KA and Rock Chick mega fan.)
Can't wait for more of the Angels to get their happy endings!
Thank you so much to the author for my advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Blog | Instagram | Libro.fm Audiobooks
…and it was AWESOME. My heart is full.
Characters: ★★★★★
Plot/Pacing: ★★★★
Enjoyment: ★★★★★
From the Blurb:
Rachel Armstrong has a burning need to right the world’s wrongs. Thus, she becomes the Avenging Angel. And maybe she’s a bit too cocky about it.
While riding a hunch about the identity of a kidnapper, she runs into Julien “Cap” Jackson, who was trained by the team at Nightingale Investigations in Denver. Now he’s a full-fledged member at their newly opened Phoenix branch.
It takes Cap a beat to realize Raye’s the woman for him. It takes Raye a little longer (but just a little) to figure out how she feels about Cap. As Raye introduces Cap to her crazy posse of found family and his new home in the Valley of the Sun, Cap struggles with his protective streak. Because Raye has no intention to stop doing what she can to save the world.
But there’s a mysterious entity out there who has discovered what Raye is up to, and they’ve become very interested. Not to mention, women are going missing in Phoenix, and it seems like the police aren’t taking it seriously. Raye believes someone should.
So she recruits her best friend Luna, and between making coffees, mixing cocktails, planning parties and enduring family interventions (along with reunions), the Avenging Angels unite to ride to the rescue.
When you've waited a long time for something, it builds up in your head. Expectations, memories, that nostalgia of the past growing in effect over time... The whole nine yards. That's why sequels and spin offs are so tough for me—both in my books and in television/movies.
Based on that, you could definitely say I was nervous for Avenging Angels.
How could a new spin-off give me that same rush of pure joy that the original Rock Chick series gave me??
Will the vibes resonate??
Can I let go enough of my old favorites and their memories and let in a new generation??
All of those questions and others made me anxious. But y'all—when in doubt, it's always best to trust the process. KA delivered.
From that very first chapter, I was hooked. Rachel, or "Raye," leapt right off the page and into my heart with her drive, her shenanigans, and her Phoenix found family. It was like no time had passed and yet, still, something fresh and new unfolding on the page. Raye might be an Angel, not a Rock Chick, but dang does she stand mighty fine next to our original leading ladies.
And then there's Cap. Who I was most nervous about—I'm being honest!—mostly due to the fact that I wasn't sure if I, as a reader, could make that transition from seeing him as a young teen named "Sniff" in the original series to the badass leading man energy of a KA love interest. Again, I don't know why I ever doubted... Cap, nicknamed because of his physical similarities to a yummy bearded Chris Evans, was perfect. Assertive without being an alphahole. Competent without being annoying. Supportive of Raye's journey without being a background wallflower. He just...worked. And that worked for me in a big way.
There's no other way to say this: I felt like I was coming home to this novel after being away for several years.
Home might look a little different for us Rock Chick fans—we're in Phoenix, not Denver, and the cast of characters is largely new—but it was still home. I thought the balance of old to new was done perfectly in Avenging Angels. It's a new cast, but the old cast is there too in a realistic way. And the shenanigans?? OH BOY, hang on to your hat. Ridiculous in that classic KA way. Lovable in that KA way. Just... home. (At least for this KA and Rock Chick mega fan.)
Can't wait for more of the Angels to get their happy endings!
Thank you so much to the author for my advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Blog | Instagram | Libro.fm Audiobooks
April 5, 2024
A generous 3.0 stars. Sadly, this book totally missed the mark for me. Sure, there are cameos from the Hot Bunch, Shirleen, Tex & Nancy, with a brief mention of the Rock Chicks. However, this is not like the previous Rock Chick series we loved so much, if that's what you were expecting. (I was. My bad). There's no Rock Chick/Hot Bunch pursuit. Cap (Sniff) was all in from the get-go. 🤷♀️ Where was the chase? The dedicated pursuit? That was a trademark of the RC series. And was it just me? I totally couldn't picture a grown-up Sniff as "Cap".
A huge annoyance for me was almost an entire page of Cap spouting the author's political opinions on current day issues as his own out of the clear blue. Why was that necessary? Whether I agree or not, I'm sooo not a fan of authors injecting their political 2 cents in their books. Not cool.
I never really warmed up to Raye/Rachel. Skimmed a lot of this book. Too much of her and her friends (and there are so many) and their yada-yada, and rambling. So much so that I just kinda zoned out on the uninteresting parts. I'm sure it was mostly just laying the groundwork for the series rather than filler.
I ventured into this story, hoping it would grab my attention like the good ole days. I could get my jollies with a bit of reminiscence of the past. But what the heck, I'll always have the old RC books in my library as favorites to enjoy when I need a bit of the good times.
A huge annoyance for me was almost an entire page of Cap spouting the author's political opinions on current day issues as his own out of the clear blue. Why was that necessary? Whether I agree or not, I'm sooo not a fan of authors injecting their political 2 cents in their books. Not cool.
I never really warmed up to Raye/Rachel. Skimmed a lot of this book. Too much of her and her friends (and there are so many) and their yada-yada, and rambling. So much so that I just kinda zoned out on the uninteresting parts. I'm sure it was mostly just laying the groundwork for the series rather than filler.
I ventured into this story, hoping it would grab my attention like the good ole days. I could get my jollies with a bit of reminiscence of the past. But what the heck, I'll always have the old RC books in my library as favorites to enjoy when I need a bit of the good times.
April 2, 2024
Avenging Angels & Hottie Squad = Lots of FUN!
Move over Rock Chicks & Hot Bunch and get ready for the Avenging Angels & Hottie Squad!
This spin-off series is off to a great start and I for one cannot wait to get more of the AAHS! I have been a fan of Kristen Ashley's for years and I absolutely LOVED the Rock Chick Series so when I heard she was doing a spin-off I couldn't wait to see what she had in store for us and to say that I was giddy with joy when this little baby arrived would be an understatement. This is like a next gen series, although most of the kids from the Rock Chick Series are too young there are a few that aren't, like "Cap" for instance. You may not recall who he is and there is a good reason for that, he wasn't called "Cap" back then he was known as Julien Jackson or "Sniff", and he is Shirleen Jackson's adopted son!
Continue reading my review and ENTER A GIVEAWAY here ➡ https://bit.ly/NBReviewAA
**I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with Books
You can find me here: https://linktr.ee/NadineBookaholic
Move over Rock Chicks & Hot Bunch and get ready for the Avenging Angels & Hottie Squad!
This spin-off series is off to a great start and I for one cannot wait to get more of the AAHS! I have been a fan of Kristen Ashley's for years and I absolutely LOVED the Rock Chick Series so when I heard she was doing a spin-off I couldn't wait to see what she had in store for us and to say that I was giddy with joy when this little baby arrived would be an understatement. This is like a next gen series, although most of the kids from the Rock Chick Series are too young there are a few that aren't, like "Cap" for instance. You may not recall who he is and there is a good reason for that, he wasn't called "Cap" back then he was known as Julien Jackson or "Sniff", and he is Shirleen Jackson's adopted son!
Continue reading my review and ENTER A GIVEAWAY here ➡ https://bit.ly/NBReviewAA
**I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with BooksYou can find me here: https://linktr.ee/NadineBookaholic
March 17, 2024
"Fucking hell, it's happening again."
Lee Nightingale speaks no lies. Kristen Ashley has absolutely delivered on the first book of an all new series. A spin off of the Rock Chick series, Avenging Angel was like coming home to find all the comforts you'd expect, but with fun new upgrades too. And I loved every minute of it!
It's years later, Sniff, now Cap is all grown up. Following in the footsteps of the hot bunch men he looked up to-he works with Nightingale Investigations & Security. Sent to Phoenix Arizona to set up a new location, it's there he meets Raye. And like much of the Rock Chick stories-he finds her when she's found herself in some trouble and he needs to wade in.
Cap has grown up so well. The life he had, could have made him hard, and he definitely comes off as such at first, but he is total swoon and swagger with a heart of gold. Raye is this ball of sunshine. She is who she is and she sure brings the sass. Their connection is quite instant, in true rock chick fashion. And it brings some heat! They both have painful pasts that connect them on a deeper level. Making them solid. They just fit so well. I loved how the drama wasn't them, it was outside them. And they grew in working through it together.
Of course, what also made this story so fabulous was all the cameo's from the rock chick series. I was giddy and smiling so wide. The 'jean on jean' part had me cracking up- gosh that character never disappoints. How the author set the scene for us, so reminiscent of the rock chick series but complete with the it's own new setting vibes and characters, I just couldn't get enough. This book has everything I love in a Kristen Ashley read: romance, mystery, suspense, humour, action, spice, banter and shenanigans. Complete with protective and supportive hot alpha men, fierce female friendships, unique side characters, and found family vibes. It's got Charlies Angels vibes too that are so fun.
The author leaves us with a bit of a mystery of unanswered questions and that makes me so excited for more in this series. When I tell you I am excited for the next book after that sneak peak- it is a major understatement. I seriously CAN'T WAIT!! Think the office and 'it's happening' level of excitement vibes. SO happy the author brought us here, this is going to be a fantastic ride!
*Thanks to the author and her team for the complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own and given freely.
Lee Nightingale speaks no lies. Kristen Ashley has absolutely delivered on the first book of an all new series. A spin off of the Rock Chick series, Avenging Angel was like coming home to find all the comforts you'd expect, but with fun new upgrades too. And I loved every minute of it!
It's years later, Sniff, now Cap is all grown up. Following in the footsteps of the hot bunch men he looked up to-he works with Nightingale Investigations & Security. Sent to Phoenix Arizona to set up a new location, it's there he meets Raye. And like much of the Rock Chick stories-he finds her when she's found herself in some trouble and he needs to wade in.
Cap has grown up so well. The life he had, could have made him hard, and he definitely comes off as such at first, but he is total swoon and swagger with a heart of gold. Raye is this ball of sunshine. She is who she is and she sure brings the sass. Their connection is quite instant, in true rock chick fashion. And it brings some heat! They both have painful pasts that connect them on a deeper level. Making them solid. They just fit so well. I loved how the drama wasn't them, it was outside them. And they grew in working through it together.
Of course, what also made this story so fabulous was all the cameo's from the rock chick series. I was giddy and smiling so wide. The 'jean on jean' part had me cracking up- gosh that character never disappoints. How the author set the scene for us, so reminiscent of the rock chick series but complete with the it's own new setting vibes and characters, I just couldn't get enough. This book has everything I love in a Kristen Ashley read: romance, mystery, suspense, humour, action, spice, banter and shenanigans. Complete with protective and supportive hot alpha men, fierce female friendships, unique side characters, and found family vibes. It's got Charlies Angels vibes too that are so fun.
The author leaves us with a bit of a mystery of unanswered questions and that makes me so excited for more in this series. When I tell you I am excited for the next book after that sneak peak- it is a major understatement. I seriously CAN'T WAIT!! Think the office and 'it's happening' level of excitement vibes. SO happy the author brought us here, this is going to be a fantastic ride!
*Thanks to the author and her team for the complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own and given freely.
April 4, 2024
Dec 7th
Guys, this is Julien's book! As in Julien Jackson... as in Shirleen Jackson's adopted son!!! There's a new generation of Rock Chick/Hot Bunch couples coming our way and I. Can't. Wait!!
Guys, this is Julien's book! As in Julien Jackson... as in Shirleen Jackson's adopted son!!! There's a new generation of Rock Chick/Hot Bunch couples coming our way and I. Can't. Wait!!
Shelved as 'dnf'
June 21, 2024She was scared for her life, thinking she was about to die, but it was ok because the guy was hot.
No thank you, DNF - 5%
No thank you, DNF - 5%
Read
June 10, 2024What Namera wrote (and perfectly): https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Only I couldn’t force it down my throat.
There’s stupid and then there’s stupid… this goes beyond event that….
I add to Namera’s words: she has no idea what to write about anymore. Here she’s reusing the same type of characters of hers (and that is kinda understandable) and the idea from a 1970’s tv series, Charlie’s Angels. And it does not work. Not only because they were some kind of professionals, while Raye is a barista… (no offence to barista worldwide) with no brain/training/you name it.
And this is when I stopped reading, because this set up wasn’t that strong in the tv series, but was totally lame here.
I’m sincerely sorry I bought this book. I’m not even giving it one star, it would be one too many..
There’s stupid and then there’s stupid… this goes beyond event that….
I add to Namera’s words: she has no idea what to write about anymore. Here she’s reusing the same type of characters of hers (and that is kinda understandable) and the idea from a 1970’s tv series, Charlie’s Angels. And it does not work. Not only because they were some kind of professionals, while Raye is a barista… (no offence to barista worldwide) with no brain/training/you name it.
And this is when I stopped reading, because this set up wasn’t that strong in the tv series, but was totally lame here.
I’m sincerely sorry I bought this book. I’m not even giving it one star, it would be one too many..
April 6, 2024
Another mess of a story with 2000000 useless characters and too many storylines to keep up, without a real plot.
It seems that nowadays KA keeps repeating the same schemes from her previous books, mixing them all without a purpose.
So, we have a bit of dysfunctional family issues, the usual idiotic bunch of girlfriends improvised vigilantes, with a touch of erotic scenes (pretty tame, at least she spared us the BDSM crap) and lots, and lots, of long descriptions of clothes, furniture, pets and food.
I counted about 4 pages about compost…🙄
Another let down from KA. If you’re expecting to read another rockchick story, spare your self the disappointment.
It seems that nowadays KA keeps repeating the same schemes from her previous books, mixing them all without a purpose.
So, we have a bit of dysfunctional family issues, the usual idiotic bunch of girlfriends improvised vigilantes, with a touch of erotic scenes (pretty tame, at least she spared us the BDSM crap) and lots, and lots, of long descriptions of clothes, furniture, pets and food.
I counted about 4 pages about compost…🙄
Another let down from KA. If you’re expecting to read another rockchick story, spare your self the disappointment.
April 3, 2024
I liked this one, a new series with Rock Chick vibes. If you liked Rock Chick it's worth giving this a try.
I liked it, laughed a few times. It's a bit nuts and bit just go with it, just like the Rock chicks series.
There were a few things that if you aren't familiar with things KA is interested in you'd puzzle over, I think very USA based so if you live outside the US and haven't grown up with certain tv shows or food chains you might miss the reference. A malt? A gummie?
Lennys? I worked it out but I imagine if it's local to you it would have more meaning.
Tv series Burn...
A quote from the heroine
'She was yin to my yang, Ethel to my Lucy, Shirley to my Laverne, Louise to my Thelma. Dorothy to my Rose/Sophia/Blanche (and yes, I could be all three, dingy, sarcastic and slutty, sometimes all at the same time, I considered it my superpower).'
No explanation which tv series is which. Not everyone watched the Golden girls.
And I don't know anything about Phoenix.
The heroine is another Jules from the Rock Chick series and this is Sniff (Rock Chick Renegade), or Cap.
There is obviously something in her past, connected to the first mystery she's involved in, which is a 6 year old abducted by a guy, no details of anything, it didn't get that far, but it triggers the heroine to something from her past, involving her sister.
There is a girl posse, they work together. And the investigation office team. So we are introduced slowly to possibilities for future books in the series.
We do have the usual long, long winded descriptions of deco, outfits, rooms and did I say outfits. As it's a new destination KA has a field day. And we do get a few preachy views on a few topics put as the character's POV but it feels a bit like a lecture on issues of society.
They meet and within a few hours he's all about her. Their relationship moves pretty fast, lightning speed, first date last something like 61 hours. That said they hold off a bit on the physical stuff, KA does this well, there is just so much going on, between work and family/friend issues things are on the back burner.
They both have messed up family backgrounds, KA readers will know his history from the Rock Chick series.
Something I like about KA is you think you must be near the end then realise you have only read 40%, she packs book full, there is loads going on.
There are lots of secondary characters but they are introduced slowly so it's not too confusing, though this may be because I've read her previous work.
No intimate scenes other than the Hero and heroine.
HEA.
Epilogue in form of let me get you up to date end chapter.
I liked it, laughed a few times. It's a bit nuts and bit just go with it, just like the Rock chicks series.
There were a few things that if you aren't familiar with things KA is interested in you'd puzzle over, I think very USA based so if you live outside the US and haven't grown up with certain tv shows or food chains you might miss the reference. A malt? A gummie?
Lennys? I worked it out but I imagine if it's local to you it would have more meaning.
Tv series Burn...
A quote from the heroine
'She was yin to my yang, Ethel to my Lucy, Shirley to my Laverne, Louise to my Thelma. Dorothy to my Rose/Sophia/Blanche (and yes, I could be all three, dingy, sarcastic and slutty, sometimes all at the same time, I considered it my superpower).'
No explanation which tv series is which. Not everyone watched the Golden girls.
And I don't know anything about Phoenix.
The heroine is another Jules from the Rock Chick series and this is Sniff (Rock Chick Renegade), or Cap.
There is obviously something in her past, connected to the first mystery she's involved in, which is a 6 year old abducted by a guy, no details of anything, it didn't get that far, but it triggers the heroine to something from her past, involving her sister.
There is a girl posse, they work together. And the investigation office team. So we are introduced slowly to possibilities for future books in the series.
We do have the usual long, long winded descriptions of deco, outfits, rooms and did I say outfits. As it's a new destination KA has a field day. And we do get a few preachy views on a few topics put as the character's POV but it feels a bit like a lecture on issues of society.
They meet and within a few hours he's all about her. Their relationship moves pretty fast, lightning speed, first date last something like 61 hours. That said they hold off a bit on the physical stuff, KA does this well, there is just so much going on, between work and family/friend issues things are on the back burner.
They both have messed up family backgrounds, KA readers will know his history from the Rock Chick series.
Something I like about KA is you think you must be near the end then realise you have only read 40%, she packs book full, there is loads going on.
There are lots of secondary characters but they are introduced slowly so it's not too confusing, though this may be because I've read her previous work.
No intimate scenes other than the Hero and heroine.
HEA.
Epilogue in form of let me get you up to date end chapter.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
April 5, 2024****ETA wait did some people actually rate the book but yet have never read it 🙄
Paused/DNF
While KA and I have a complicated love/hate relationship I've never DNF a book by her but this?! Just pure drudgery! I fell asleep 4 times and I'm not even halfway through.
Overly descriptive
Way too wordy
Typical KA doublespeak
Preachy
I made it a little less than halfway, thankfully the MCs didn't play any stupid games and were into each other from the start.
******Who the heck is Cap? Is cap Sniff? Wasn't that what he was called? I'll have to do a re-read of that book for sure
Anyway paused for now because I'm bored out of my mind
Paused/DNF
While KA and I have a complicated love/hate relationship I've never DNF a book by her but this?! Just pure drudgery! I fell asleep 4 times and I'm not even halfway through.
Overly descriptive
Way too wordy
Typical KA doublespeak
Preachy
I made it a little less than halfway, thankfully the MCs didn't play any stupid games and were into each other from the start.
******Who the heck is Cap? Is cap Sniff? Wasn't that what he was called? I'll have to do a re-read of that book for sure
Anyway paused for now because I'm bored out of my mind
April 3, 2024
DNF. I got to around 150 pages which I started skiping by then. There is no chemistry betwen main caracters and almost no interaction. He is into her, she is into him, he is hot, that is about it. The whole book is about her friends, to many caraters so I got completly lost, to many side stories and no romance or hotness.
April 7, 2024
3.75 Stars ⭐️
April 4, 2024
The hero "Cap" aka "Sniff" was introduced in Rock Chick Renegade(which is an absolute favorite of mine). I couldn't picture him in RCR and in AA he's described as Chris Evans hence the nickname "Cap" but it's not who I pictured as "Cap" Am I making sense? So I couldn't get a visualization for his character. I did enjoy his "glow up" and he was good for the h, Raye who went through something traumatic for her to end up in Cap's radar. I liked them together but we didn't get enough of them together for me to really get them together. Am I still making sense?
I enjoyed the storyline and when characters from the Rock Chicks show up, I was smiling all the way through. There's this one word that a character says and never fails to make me laugh and when this word is mentioned, I laughed way too hard.
Of course I'll continue with the series so I can see how everything plays out.
I enjoyed the storyline and when characters from the Rock Chicks show up, I was smiling all the way through. There's this one word that a character says and never fails to make me laugh and when this word is mentioned, I laughed way too hard.
Of course I'll continue with the series so I can see how everything plays out.
May 13, 2024
First and foremost, let's clear the air: this book isn't flawless, nor is it a personal favorite of mine. However, diving into the audiobook was an absolute blast, and despite a few tiny imperfections, the story boasts so much greatness that I'm more than willing to overlook them. I'd give it a solid 4.5 stars without hesitation. There's just something about Kristen Ashley's writing that draws you in with its magnetic charm, surprising twists, and an ensemble of side characters that rival any other. Plus, her knack for the found family trope is unparalleled!
"Avenging Angel," nestled in the vibrant backdrop of Phoenix and intertwined with characters from her Rock Chick series, introduces us to Julien Jackson, aka Cap, and Rachel "Raye" Armstrong—a character I'd love to call a friend. Admittedly, diving into this without prior knowledge of the Rock Chick series made the excessive name-dropping a tad overwhelming. Still, it piqued my curiosity enough to consider giving them a shot.
Now, I know that Kristen Ashley has faced criticism for her stereotypical steamrolling alpha hole characters. So, I could clearly see the “adaptation” here because Cap definitely embodies a new breed of hero—protective yet respectful of his partner with a stronger focus on mutual respect, collaboration, and support. While I enjoyed this very much, it was rather annoying that Raye continuously called Cap, the least alpha hole of them all, caveman! It was fun for the first two times, but then it felt like a forced agenda that I didn't want or need displayed (we got the message!).
What truly stood out to me was Ashley's ability to tackle weighty topics like human trafficking while maintaining a delicate balance between the lighthearted humor, the heart-wrenching main plot, and the characters' emotional backstories. The seamless interplay between these elements kept me engaged throughout.
In a time when strong female characters are more vital than ever, Ashley's portrayal of an empowered girl posse with supportive partners feels incredibly relevant. Her nod to Charlie’s Angels adds an extra layer of depth, celebrating women who embody both beauty and brilliance.
Overall, Avenging Angel was a triumph that left me hungry for more. It has all the KA magic with a more up-beat deliverance, witty and quirky characters and is a great start to a great new series!
"Avenging Angel," nestled in the vibrant backdrop of Phoenix and intertwined with characters from her Rock Chick series, introduces us to Julien Jackson, aka Cap, and Rachel "Raye" Armstrong—a character I'd love to call a friend. Admittedly, diving into this without prior knowledge of the Rock Chick series made the excessive name-dropping a tad overwhelming. Still, it piqued my curiosity enough to consider giving them a shot.
Now, I know that Kristen Ashley has faced criticism for her stereotypical steamrolling alpha hole characters. So, I could clearly see the “adaptation” here because Cap definitely embodies a new breed of hero—protective yet respectful of his partner with a stronger focus on mutual respect, collaboration, and support. While I enjoyed this very much, it was rather annoying that Raye continuously called Cap, the least alpha hole of them all, caveman! It was fun for the first two times, but then it felt like a forced agenda that I didn't want or need displayed (we got the message!).
What truly stood out to me was Ashley's ability to tackle weighty topics like human trafficking while maintaining a delicate balance between the lighthearted humor, the heart-wrenching main plot, and the characters' emotional backstories. The seamless interplay between these elements kept me engaged throughout.
In a time when strong female characters are more vital than ever, Ashley's portrayal of an empowered girl posse with supportive partners feels incredibly relevant. Her nod to Charlie’s Angels adds an extra layer of depth, celebrating women who embody both beauty and brilliance.
Overall, Avenging Angel was a triumph that left me hungry for more. It has all the KA magic with a more up-beat deliverance, witty and quirky characters and is a great start to a great new series!
May 18, 2024
I Like It
Turning Pages At Midnight Buddy Read
START DATE: MAY 15
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
4 Solid Stars.
Came real close to being 5 stars but lost its way there a couple of times.
I loved Rachel a.k.a. Raye. And I loved Cap a.k.a Julien a.k.a Sniff.
Loved that Cap backed Raye up with her Avenging Angels. Respected her abilities and helped her in other ways.
The steam was well done. Just enough good solid intimate sex scenes to fire it up.
While I liked the Rock Chick connections it went a bit to far. Some of that should have been saved for book #2. That is one reason the star rating fell. They just became a bit redundant.
The other reason for it not being a 5 star for me is the areas that dragged. There's a couple of them.
That said, I mostly thoroughly enjoyed this. The good was SO GOOD I was tempted to 5 star it. Had 5 Stars in my head a few times. But then those areas that dragged took me so far out of the story I knew I couldn't 5 star it.
I will definitely be continuing this series. It's a crossover with the Rock Chicks Hot Bunch a.k.a RCHB and this one apparently is going to refer to themselves as AAHS Avenging Angels Hottie Squad.
Turning Pages At Midnight Buddy Read
START DATE: MAY 15
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
4 Solid Stars.
Came real close to being 5 stars but lost its way there a couple of times.
I loved Rachel a.k.a. Raye. And I loved Cap a.k.a Julien a.k.a Sniff.
Loved that Cap backed Raye up with her Avenging Angels. Respected her abilities and helped her in other ways.
The steam was well done. Just enough good solid intimate sex scenes to fire it up.
While I liked the Rock Chick connections it went a bit to far. Some of that should have been saved for book #2. That is one reason the star rating fell. They just became a bit redundant.
The other reason for it not being a 5 star for me is the areas that dragged. There's a couple of them.
That said, I mostly thoroughly enjoyed this. The good was SO GOOD I was tempted to 5 star it. Had 5 Stars in my head a few times. But then those areas that dragged took me so far out of the story I knew I couldn't 5 star it.
I will definitely be continuing this series. It's a crossover with the Rock Chicks Hot Bunch a.k.a RCHB and this one apparently is going to refer to themselves as AAHS Avenging Angels Hottie Squad.
April 4, 2024
Avenging Angel by Kristen Ashley
First in a Rock Chick Spin-Off Series. RomCom/Suspense.
Review copy provided by the author, but my reviews are always FREE and HONEST. I am an Amazon affiliate.
****SIGNED GIVEAWAY ON MY FB & IG****
"F*cking hell, it's happening again."
Kristen Ashley has written a love letter to the Rock Chicks and to her fans. Avenging Angel is the first in a Rock Chick spin-off series and if you loved the Rock Chick books, I guarantee, you will love Avenging Angel, a cross between Rock Chicks (The Next Generation--this could be the name to this series) and Charlies Angels with all of the campiness of both.
I didn’t realize there would be SO MUCH crossover. It was clear Kristen was not able to leave the Rock Chicks in the past (or in Denver) because all the major players show up in Avenging Angels. It was like a big camp reunion.
“Babe, you gotta read those Rock Chick books.”
I got about 45% in to the book and there were so many references to the original books that I decided to go back and listen to Rock Chick Renegade, where the hero of Avenging Angel was first introduced. Remember Roam & Sniff? Well this is about Sniff! He’s been in the army and he’s certainly grown up. Now he’s called Cap because he looks like Captain America, and he’s helping to set up the new branch of Nightingale Investigations in Phoenix. His “real” name is Julian Jackson: Julian for Jules, Jackson for Shirleen.
Rachel “Raye” Armstrong's tragic past drove her to investigate a series of missing women as well as find a young kidnapping victim. When she ran into a little predicament while rescuing the young girl, two of the hottest guys she’s ever seen showed up.
“It’s okay,” I whispered to her. “You’re okay. You’re safe now. Okay?” She said nothing. I turned to Chris Evans and his hottie partner. “Is he neutralized?” I asked. “Yes,” the hottie partner answered.
“Chris Evans” turned out to be Cap. And basically , if you’ve read the Rock Chick books, you know what happens next!
“Waited fifteen years to find you.” My breath left me with a whoosh. So it was a wheeze when I repeated, “What?”
“One of a kind,” he replied.
Raye lived in an amazing apartment building with a central courtyard and pool. She knew and loved everyone there and we got to meet them all. She also has a best friend group I loved and I think they may each get their own story. We also meet all of the new (and old) hot guys in the Phoenix office and all the RCHB (Rock Chick Hot Bunch) make an appearance. So there were a LOT of characters to keep straight. Kristen knew that and provided a whole list of characters at the end and I loved that!
I pressed closer, asking, “How did you get so smart?” “Wait until you meet Shirleen,” he murmured. “And Jules. Indy. Jet. Ally. Ava. Roxie. Sadie. Daisy. And Stella.”
While re-reading Rock Chick Renegade, I have to say, as much as I still loved it, the forcefulness of Vance and the lack of consent just doesn’t fly nowadays. Avenging Angels was a Rock Chick for 2024. They’re still alpha to the max but not quite as forceful.
“But I gotta ask that you let me look after you. It’s what I’ve been waiting for for fifteen years. A woman I can call mine who’s beautiful and fierce and strong and vulnerable and has a fracture, she turns to me to help her hold it together. I need to know she gets that from me. I need to know I give that to her. I need to know she can count on it. It’s what I need.”
Likes:
•It’s everything I loved about the Rock Chick books but updated for the times.
•I loved Rachel and her friends and family.
•Sniff grew up into a FINE man.
•The campiness and fun. We know it’s goofy and silly but still so emotional and super hot.
•TEX and Tito.
•The new generation being called the AAHS: Avenging Angels Hottie Squad instead of RCHB: Rock Chick Hot Bunch. This was goofy but fun.
•Seeing all of the players from the Rock Chick series.
•I grew up loving Charlie’s Angels, so that was a fun aspect of the story.
•The Oasis and all the residents.
•The amazing character list in the back! (We need this for every book!)
•The way Kristen made fun of herself by pointing out how silly it is and how crazy fast they all move in together.
“I know you’re into me, Cap, you’ve told me and shown me. But we haven’t even been seeing each other for two weeks.” He cracked a smile. “Really, straight up, babe, you gotta read those Rock Chick books.”
Dislikes:
•I can’t think of one.
The Down & Dirty:
Though Avenging Angels is the first in a new series, it leans HEAVILY on the old. I’m not sure a new reader could dive into this and follow it due to sheer volume of characters between the old and new. Luckily Kristen put a cast of characters at the end that can help keep it straight. However, if you are a fan of the Rock Chicks, you will LOVE Avenging Angel. These books are romcom suspense with lots of emotion. As long as you know they are meant to be fun and campy, you can’t help but fall in love.
This is the reason I love Kristen Ashley so much. We had a great girl group, lots of friends, all of my favorite characters as well as new ones to love, funny moments, scary moments, hot moments and a lot of emotional moments. Now I want to go back and reread all of the Rock Chicks because I’m just not ready to leave this world again.
I can’t imagine any Kristen Ashley fan not loving Avenging Angel.
"Well done, Angels"
Rating: 5 Stars, 3 Heat
Purchase Avenging Angel by Kristen Ashley
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April 29, 2024
Get it here:
Amazon US * Amazon UK
Lately KA has left me feeling very on the fence about her books and more often than not her newer releases don't even interest me. That sounds harsh but despite that, I think I'll always consider her a go-to author since she holds a lot of fond memories for me. She was the first author that made me want to read First-Person POV and now that's almost exclusively what I read.
This book was fun to read since we got to see some past characters and of course our Hero was a beloved character from the Rock Chick series now all grown up and that made me happy to see. But I wish we had actually gotten to see more of him and learn more about him. He was one of main characters and yet by the end I was left wanting to know more about the years between where we last saw him and now. We didn't even get to see him fall in love in my opinion since he and Raye got together so fast. It was like they met and suddenly that was it, they were together and he was all in. KA has always had some insta-love aspects to her characters but this felt more sudden than her usual and I can't say I loved it.
Overall, getting to see past characters was worth reading this book even if we didn't get to see Jules and Cap together which I personally found kind of odd since she was mentioned so much and had so much to do with his life. And the new character we got to meet have me definitely wanting to read more from this series and I hope eventually Roam will get his own story too.
Amazon US * Amazon UK
Lately KA has left me feeling very on the fence about her books and more often than not her newer releases don't even interest me. That sounds harsh but despite that, I think I'll always consider her a go-to author since she holds a lot of fond memories for me. She was the first author that made me want to read First-Person POV and now that's almost exclusively what I read.
This book was fun to read since we got to see some past characters and of course our Hero was a beloved character from the Rock Chick series now all grown up and that made me happy to see. But I wish we had actually gotten to see more of him and learn more about him. He was one of main characters and yet by the end I was left wanting to know more about the years between where we last saw him and now. We didn't even get to see him fall in love in my opinion since he and Raye got together so fast. It was like they met and suddenly that was it, they were together and he was all in. KA has always had some insta-love aspects to her characters but this felt more sudden than her usual and I can't say I loved it.
Overall, getting to see past characters was worth reading this book even if we didn't get to see Jules and Cap together which I personally found kind of odd since she was mentioned so much and had so much to do with his life. And the new character we got to meet have me definitely wanting to read more from this series and I hope eventually Roam will get his own story too.
April 3, 2024
This author is an auto buy for me and I tend not to read the blurbs. So I went into this one not realizing it's basically Rock Chicks in a different city with new people, the regulars showing up and quite a few of the "teens" from Denver now all grown up. When I first realized Cap was sniff, I stopped what I was doing and just looked at my speaker, like that could explain things for me. I did a quick rewind and listened again and suddenly became much more interested in the book and I already really liked it.
Raye is a bit of a nut and I wondered why she had her mission. But as her history is revealed, you could see why she did what she did and why she would never stop. It was fun to see Cap fall and fall hard, fun to see Raye sort of stunned, eyes wide, wondering if what happened just happened with Cap, so many times. Even when they fought, things were resolved pretty quickly, as Cap took the time to explain why he was mad and then Raye explained why she was. They quickly learned if they fought, they needed to do this.
I really loved that as Raye was working her missions she was able to help out the little girl and the ladies of the evening. I have a feeling the latter will help her earn some good allies in the future.
The drama with Raye's father was crazy a couple of times, but once things were out in the open, they set about repairing their relationship, a great thing as they needed each other with some news that came, news that was long past time knowing.
It was nice to see how this one ended. Raye and Cap being happy, surrounded by their crazy crew, getting larger every day. I look forward to reading more in this series.
Raye is a bit of a nut and I wondered why she had her mission. But as her history is revealed, you could see why she did what she did and why she would never stop. It was fun to see Cap fall and fall hard, fun to see Raye sort of stunned, eyes wide, wondering if what happened just happened with Cap, so many times. Even when they fought, things were resolved pretty quickly, as Cap took the time to explain why he was mad and then Raye explained why she was. They quickly learned if they fought, they needed to do this.
I really loved that as Raye was working her missions she was able to help out the little girl and the ladies of the evening. I have a feeling the latter will help her earn some good allies in the future.
The drama with Raye's father was crazy a couple of times, but once things were out in the open, they set about repairing their relationship, a great thing as they needed each other with some news that came, news that was long past time knowing.
It was nice to see how this one ended. Raye and Cap being happy, surrounded by their crazy crew, getting larger every day. I look forward to reading more in this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
April 7, 2024I have a hard time rating this book.
It’s very much like everything else that Ashley has written. So much so, that this is nothing new.
The pacing, characters, dialogue, story… if you have read the rock chick series, this is nothing new.
Some readers love the familiarity of authors storytelling, me too, but lately I have come to find Ashley’s becoming more of the boring category unfortunately. It can be just me personally. She has a great way of writing mature good couples, that learn how to communicate. And her readers always get to know her characters as couples rather than ending just by the HEA-mark, which I appreciate. But I’m getting tired of the connections between her books, that creates this extreme network of characters to the point that I totally loose who’s who by now.
But this is just MY OPINION, the book itself is entertaining and a classic Ashley-work. It’s not bad by any means, just nothing new.
27-year old Rachel “Raye” Armstrong is some kind of wannabe detective, and when she comes across a missing girl she also cross pass with badass Cap.
I really liked this part of the book! Entertaining and fun!
Cap decides that Raye’s worth some trouble, and they become a couple pretty quickly. By now we also are introduced to old and new characters, that remind of each other. There is a case that needs solving, Cap’s working on NOT releasing his overprotected side, and Raye’s enjoying all the new badass friends.
Pretty standard story by Ashley.
- OM/OW drama: nah
- No cheating
- Triggers: missing child, talks about abuse, death of parent
«But I gotta ask that you let me look after you. It’s what I’ve been waiting for for fifteen years. A woman I can call mine who’s beautiful and fierce and strong and vulnerable and has a fracture, she turns to me to help her hold it together. I need to know she gets that from me. I need to know I give that to her. I need to know she can count on it. It’s what I need.»
It’s very much like everything else that Ashley has written. So much so, that this is nothing new.
The pacing, characters, dialogue, story… if you have read the rock chick series, this is nothing new.
Some readers love the familiarity of authors storytelling, me too, but lately I have come to find Ashley’s becoming more of the boring category unfortunately. It can be just me personally. She has a great way of writing mature good couples, that learn how to communicate. And her readers always get to know her characters as couples rather than ending just by the HEA-mark, which I appreciate. But I’m getting tired of the connections between her books, that creates this extreme network of characters to the point that I totally loose who’s who by now.
But this is just MY OPINION, the book itself is entertaining and a classic Ashley-work. It’s not bad by any means, just nothing new.
27-year old Rachel “Raye” Armstrong is some kind of wannabe detective, and when she comes across a missing girl she also cross pass with badass Cap.
I really liked this part of the book! Entertaining and fun!
Cap decides that Raye’s worth some trouble, and they become a couple pretty quickly. By now we also are introduced to old and new characters, that remind of each other. There is a case that needs solving, Cap’s working on NOT releasing his overprotected side, and Raye’s enjoying all the new badass friends.
Pretty standard story by Ashley.
- OM/OW drama: nah
- No cheating
- Triggers: missing child, talks about abuse, death of parent
«But I gotta ask that you let me look after you. It’s what I’ve been waiting for for fifteen years. A woman I can call mine who’s beautiful and fierce and strong and vulnerable and has a fracture, she turns to me to help her hold it together. I need to know she gets that from me. I need to know I give that to her. I need to know she can count on it. It’s what I need.»
April 13, 2024
Fun, entertaining and very Rock Chick like. Rachel had me laughing right from the start. I did struggle a bit with Julien. I remember him as that kid in the original Rock Chick series and I jut couldn't envision him as gown up and becoming the Alpha hero I love from this author. My brain just kept picturing him as the kid. Totally a me problem. Still, I very much enjoyed this and I'm happy to get this new series.
April 4, 2024
I’ve been waiting for this spin off series forever, and while I enjoyed having the cameos from many of the Rock Chick series in AA, the vibe just wasn’t the same. There wasn’t enough humor, banter, action, and alpha demands. There wasn’t enough action and danger. I thought there might be some danger with the purchase of Raye’s apartment building, but that didn’t pan out The characters in AA weren’t as vibrant as those in the Rock Chick series. It’s like trying to catch lightning in a bottle for the second time. I really had hoped the series would have been in LA with Mace and Stella’s security, as I think we all expected. Since the Rock Chick series is in my top five all-time favorites, I’ll continue with this new series, but to say it was a disappointment is an understatement. Three stars is generous.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2024
It's not like her older stories, but still great. I missed the Rock Chick bunch very much.
June 29, 2024
Avenging Angels is a spinoff of the Rock Chic series. The Avenging Angel is Raye & Cap's story. I've only read the first book in the Rock Chic series over a decade ago. I might have to give them a go.
KA plans to have at least 7 books in the Avenging Angels series.
A lot of the upcoming heroes and heroines we meet in book 1.
KA plans to have at least 7 books in the Avenging Angels series.
A lot of the upcoming heroes and heroines we meet in book 1.
Audiobook source: Audible
Narrator: Stella Bloom
Length: 11h 16m
October 26, 2024
Avenging Angel was fresh, new, and exciting yet familiar and nostalgic. Three chapters in and I knew this was going to be one of my favorite books of the year. This story had all the Rock Chick goodness I've come to know and love but it is its own version that fits perfectly into the world. I was hooked immediately. I loved the new crew and found families, and was excited about everything I was reading. This was filled with so many fantastic moments, fun scenes, drama and intensity, and hotness. I loved it all! This book felt like coming home!
I loved Raye immediately, she was a shining light. I loved learning her history and what drove her. I loved her and her best friend Luna and learning about all their crazy antics, they were so entertaining. I loved Cap, seeing the man he’s become, and learning about his life. He's his own brand of alpha and a total badass! I always thought he was great, but 15 years later, Sniff is all grown up and he’s absolutely book-boyfriend material. I loved how Raye and Cap met, their instant connection and undeniable chemistry, and the development of their relationship. It was heartfelt, real, sexy, and sweet.
I love this whole new world that's been introduced and all of Raye’s crew, as well as the men in the Phoenix branch. I loved the development of the Avenging Angels and how Raye was helping people, it was exciting. I really liked all the characters that are a part of Raye’s found family and learning all about them. I was thrilled to see old favorites and how they were incorporated into this new story. There were just so many great things and connections involved, every time a new situation was introduced I was beyond excited. I was overjoyed to see Tex (because he is everything!) and I adored the dynamic between him and Raye’s boss, Tito. There is definitely more to come and I have questions about some things that have been set up for future stories and people, I cannot wait to find out!
As a longtime fan of the original series (which I have read countless times!), I had unrealistically high expectations for this spinoff. Kristen Ashley exceeded every single one of them! This world and the characters in it have grown and changed because years have passed and the world itself is different now, and I adore what it has become. This was a fantastic series starter and an awesome spinoff. It was outright fun, entertaining, and heartwarming, filled with love, healing, and growth. If you're a fan of the original Rock Chick series, you're going to love this. If you are new to the world, you're going to love this. It’s officially a new favorite for me!
Complimentary copy received.
I loved Raye immediately, she was a shining light. I loved learning her history and what drove her. I loved her and her best friend Luna and learning about all their crazy antics, they were so entertaining. I loved Cap, seeing the man he’s become, and learning about his life. He's his own brand of alpha and a total badass! I always thought he was great, but 15 years later, Sniff is all grown up and he’s absolutely book-boyfriend material. I loved how Raye and Cap met, their instant connection and undeniable chemistry, and the development of their relationship. It was heartfelt, real, sexy, and sweet.
I love this whole new world that's been introduced and all of Raye’s crew, as well as the men in the Phoenix branch. I loved the development of the Avenging Angels and how Raye was helping people, it was exciting. I really liked all the characters that are a part of Raye’s found family and learning all about them. I was thrilled to see old favorites and how they were incorporated into this new story. There were just so many great things and connections involved, every time a new situation was introduced I was beyond excited. I was overjoyed to see Tex (because he is everything!) and I adored the dynamic between him and Raye’s boss, Tito. There is definitely more to come and I have questions about some things that have been set up for future stories and people, I cannot wait to find out!
As a longtime fan of the original series (which I have read countless times!), I had unrealistically high expectations for this spinoff. Kristen Ashley exceeded every single one of them! This world and the characters in it have grown and changed because years have passed and the world itself is different now, and I adore what it has become. This was a fantastic series starter and an awesome spinoff. It was outright fun, entertaining, and heartwarming, filled with love, healing, and growth. If you're a fan of the original Rock Chick series, you're going to love this. If you are new to the world, you're going to love this. It’s officially a new favorite for me!
Complimentary copy received.
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