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The Essien Series #3
Riding Rebel
Seen as the rebel Essien, Tony has always felt like an outsider. With a daredevil lifestyle, he’s more at home in leathers than in a suit, and more likely to be seen gracing the red carpets at a movie premiere with a starlet draped on his arms than in a boardroom. Still, he’s determined to prove himself to his family and build a successful movie business. Spotting Rita Dike at an event, he sees the potential star of his new movie and his next pleasure conquest.
Rita is a journalist looking for her big break. When she inherits the journal of a late friend which claims Tony is not an Essien through the hands of her boss, a man with a shady past, Rita spots the perfect scoop. Her acting classes come in handy when she has to pose as an actress to get closer to Tony. Succumbing to the charms of dark and brooding Tony might just be the only way to get through the close ranks of the Essien family.
But as she gets closer to the truth, Rita risks losing the riding rebel who’s raided her heart. Can love heal hearts or will deceit break them?
Rita is a journalist looking for her big break. When she inherits the journal of a late friend which claims Tony is not an Essien through the hands of her boss, a man with a shady past, Rita spots the perfect scoop. Her acting classes come in handy when she has to pose as an actress to get closer to Tony. Succumbing to the charms of dark and brooding Tony might just be the only way to get through the close ranks of the Essien family.
But as she gets closer to the truth, Rita risks losing the riding rebel who’s raided her heart. Can love heal hearts or will deceit break them?
360 pages, Paperback
First published January 23, 2015
18 people are currently reading
364 people want to read
About the author
Kiru Taye
63 books340 followersAs a lover of romance novels, Kiru wanted to read stories about Africans falling in love. When she couldn’t find those books, she decided to write the stories she wanted to read.
Kiru writes sensual stories featuring African characters whether on the continent or in the Diaspora. When she's not writing you can find her either immersed in a good book or catching up with friends and family. She currently lives in the South of England with her husband and three children.
Kiru is a founding member of Romance Writers of West Africa. In 2011, her debut romance novella, His Treasure, won the Book of the Year at the Love Romances Café Awards. She is the 2015 Romance Writer of the Year at the Nigerian Writers Awards and 2017 Author of the Year at the Ufere Awards.
Kiru writes sensual stories featuring African characters whether on the continent or in the Diaspora. When she's not writing you can find her either immersed in a good book or catching up with friends and family. She currently lives in the South of England with her husband and three children.
Kiru is a founding member of Romance Writers of West Africa. In 2011, her debut romance novella, His Treasure, won the Book of the Year at the Love Romances Café Awards. She is the 2015 Romance Writer of the Year at the Nigerian Writers Awards and 2017 Author of the Year at the Ufere Awards.
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January 28, 2015Riding Rebel is out now. Don't miss this explosive finale to the series.
Read more teasers http://kirutayewrites.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Riding%20Rebel
Read more teasers http://kirutayewrites.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Riding%20Rebel
January 25, 2015
Like I've done quite a few times since I started reviewing I've jumped into a series without reading in order. Firstly this is a fantastic read. Secondly I'll certainly be going back and reading the others on this series as this was a great read.
Tony and Rita are fantastic characters. Tony is a bad boy who goes after what he wants. Rita's an innocent girl!!!
Jump aboard and see how Tony and Rita fight to fit in. Great read.
Tony and Rita are fantastic characters. Tony is a bad boy who goes after what he wants. Rita's an innocent girl!!!
Jump aboard and see how Tony and Rita fight to fit in. Great read.
January 24, 2015
I have always loved the Essien Trilogy having read the previous two and the final book in the series didn't disappoint. Tony Essien is an arrogant, take no prisoners 'bad boy' who knows what he wants and makes no apologies for that, while Rita is your typical fish out of water innocent girl thrown into a situation way above her head. The story of these two is about two young adults battling their demons whilst trying to fit into a world where expectations are high and pit falls abound. It's about betrayal, deceit, manipulations and finding hope, trust and redemption in the unlikeliest of places. Any true Kiru Taye fan will absolutely love this. Good one Kiru. You've once again demonstrated why you're on top of your game.
February 12, 2015
Tony Essien is the youngest of the uber rich Essien brothers. He’s a no-holds barred kind of bad boy with a screw you, can-do attitude. Both literally, and figuratively. As he sees it, people can either take him the way he is, or leave him. He likes a party, he likes women, and he likes making movies. When Rita Dike steps into his line of sights, Tony can’t help but get knocked back a few steps at the effect the woman has on him. She isn’t like his usual flings, and he doesn’t want to treat her like one. Unfortunately, there’s a lot going on behind the scenes for Rite, like the fact she’s a reporter trying to figure out if Tony is really an Essien at all. As it always does, love plays one heck of a dirty game. Getting clean is never an easy thing.
I was ridiculously excited for Tony’s novel. I loved his brother’s stories, and hoped that his would be just as good. I’m teetering on a 3.5 stars on this story, and because there’s no such place you can do halfsies, I’m just going to go ahead and round the official mark as a 4.
First off, Tony Essien. My God … Is he the quintessential Bad Boy? I don’t know. Maybe, maybe not. He certainly likes to act like one, and everything about his appearance and behavior would certainly suggest that’s what he thinks he is … but frankly, that’s an image better suited for his public self than his real one. Sure, he’s got an attitude and can be a bit of a womanizer, but for Tony, it’s just another means to another end. There’s so much about his past and things in this story, and it really made me like him. Because he learned from his choices, he prides on honesty, and all the things that happened to him, I liked him. Some people might think he’s a bit of a jerk, especially at first. Everything given at face isn’t always the value. Something important for people to remember.
Rita Dike … Well, she’s a woman motivated by revenge, mainly. She believes her father’s death was basically caused by lost investments (pension plans) made by Tony’s family. So, when she’s “approached” (yeah, I put quotes on this because as far as I’m concerned, Kris basically manipulated her into it, so …) about getting closer to Tony, she’s all for it. It doesn’t take long at all for her to realize Tony isn’t the person she first thought, and he’s certainly not responsible for the things his family does. She’s a very innocent, naive, and trusting girl. For Tony being such a womanizer, he was good with Rita—especially about her heart, which was nice to see.
There’s so much about the plot in this story I can’t talk about without giving it away. A lot of it I really enjoyed and thought it was a refreshing look at a bad boy style hero. Seriously, just to get an inside look at Tony Essien and his extensive past, not to mention some of the skeletons in his family’s closest, the book is worth it. I did think his family needed to back the heck off because recovery is a lot of things, but it has to be independent. In my opinion, they made him dependent with their demands and nonsense.
Nonetheless, there was really only one thing that kept this from being a five star for me and that was a piece closer to the end. Something awful happened to the heroine and it seemed like a page flip and it was over and she was over it. She was "sad" but not much else. Another page flip and we were onto something entirely different. I guess it left the ending with a rushed feeling for me. Someone else might feel differently.
All in all, I liked it. I knew the Essien brothers’ stories would be a trilogy, but by the end of this one, I couldn’t help but wonder if “Blood or not, family is family …” why Kola wasn’t getting his story.
THEN I FLIPPED THE PAGE.
Hahaha. He is. And I am ridiculously excited for it, too.
I was ridiculously excited for Tony’s novel. I loved his brother’s stories, and hoped that his would be just as good. I’m teetering on a 3.5 stars on this story, and because there’s no such place you can do halfsies, I’m just going to go ahead and round the official mark as a 4.
First off, Tony Essien. My God … Is he the quintessential Bad Boy? I don’t know. Maybe, maybe not. He certainly likes to act like one, and everything about his appearance and behavior would certainly suggest that’s what he thinks he is … but frankly, that’s an image better suited for his public self than his real one. Sure, he’s got an attitude and can be a bit of a womanizer, but for Tony, it’s just another means to another end. There’s so much about his past and things in this story, and it really made me like him. Because he learned from his choices, he prides on honesty, and all the things that happened to him, I liked him. Some people might think he’s a bit of a jerk, especially at first. Everything given at face isn’t always the value. Something important for people to remember.
Rita Dike … Well, she’s a woman motivated by revenge, mainly. She believes her father’s death was basically caused by lost investments (pension plans) made by Tony’s family. So, when she’s “approached” (yeah, I put quotes on this because as far as I’m concerned, Kris basically manipulated her into it, so …) about getting closer to Tony, she’s all for it. It doesn’t take long at all for her to realize Tony isn’t the person she first thought, and he’s certainly not responsible for the things his family does. She’s a very innocent, naive, and trusting girl. For Tony being such a womanizer, he was good with Rita—especially about her heart, which was nice to see.
There’s so much about the plot in this story I can’t talk about without giving it away. A lot of it I really enjoyed and thought it was a refreshing look at a bad boy style hero. Seriously, just to get an inside look at Tony Essien and his extensive past, not to mention some of the skeletons in his family’s closest, the book is worth it. I did think his family needed to back the heck off because recovery is a lot of things, but it has to be independent. In my opinion, they made him dependent with their demands and nonsense.
Nonetheless, there was really only one thing that kept this from being a five star for me and that was a piece closer to the end. Something awful happened to the heroine and it seemed like a page flip and it was over and she was over it. She was "sad" but not much else. Another page flip and we were onto something entirely different. I guess it left the ending with a rushed feeling for me. Someone else might feel differently.
All in all, I liked it. I knew the Essien brothers’ stories would be a trilogy, but by the end of this one, I couldn’t help but wonder if “Blood or not, family is family …” why Kola wasn’t getting his story.
THEN I FLIPPED THE PAGE.
Hahaha. He is. And I am ridiculously excited for it, too.
January 27, 2015
This is my first book by the author so I didn't know what to expect. I didn't even know there was 2 other books in the series until now. Anyway, I really liked this book. It gave you hint of a different culture along with the evilness that goes with it. This book gave you a hint of mystery, deceit and a romance. While i wasn't crazy for her reason to meet Tony, she did get to know him on a personal level and form a bond with him. It was dirty of her boss to even plan this but that what happens when jealously rules your life. This book kept my attention from beginning to end and the flow was so so good. I can't wait to read more from this author.
January 29, 2015
This is my first book by the author so I didn't know what to expect. I didn't even know there was 2 other books in the series until now. Anyway, I really liked this book. It gave you hint of a different culture along with the evilness that goes with it. This book gave you a hint of mystery, deceit and a romance. While i wasn't crazy for her reason to meet Tony, she did get to know him on a personal level and form a bond with him. It was dirty of her boss to even plan this but that what happens when jealously rules your life. This book kept my attention from beginning to end and the flow was so so good. I can't wait to read more from this author.
Reviewed by: Amy
Reviewed by: Amy
January 28, 2015
*An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review*
Great read! I unfortunately didn't get to read books 1 & 2 but I am officially intuited to read them. I enjoyed bk 3 and getting to see what these two characters had to deal. Let me just say that it wasn't a walk in the park.
Great read! I unfortunately didn't get to read books 1 & 2 but I am officially intuited to read them. I enjoyed bk 3 and getting to see what these two characters had to deal. Let me just say that it wasn't a walk in the park.
December 17, 2022
Too rushed and ridiculous
I wss introduced to this author by reading the 1st book in this trilogy which ked to the 2nd, but THIS one was awful, unrealistic, full of vulgarity, rushed and ridiculous. First off falling THAT deeply in love so quickly after being such a Playboy, even in a romance novel, was unbelievable.
Secondly it jumped around too much and seemed rushed. Thirdly not enough information was supplier at pivotal points.
Lastly, the language was so vulgar and there was NOTHING romantic about the sex scenes. How a Virgin who put up with such a terrible fiance could so easily give herself to a stranger is beyond me. I hate that I purchased the next three about the bodyguards if this is any indication. It took me a LONG TIME to finish this book when I read the other 2 in quick succession. If book number 4 starts off as this 1 did, I will NOT bother with it or 5 or 6.
I wss introduced to this author by reading the 1st book in this trilogy which ked to the 2nd, but THIS one was awful, unrealistic, full of vulgarity, rushed and ridiculous. First off falling THAT deeply in love so quickly after being such a Playboy, even in a romance novel, was unbelievable.
Secondly it jumped around too much and seemed rushed. Thirdly not enough information was supplier at pivotal points.
Lastly, the language was so vulgar and there was NOTHING romantic about the sex scenes. How a Virgin who put up with such a terrible fiance could so easily give herself to a stranger is beyond me. I hate that I purchased the next three about the bodyguards if this is any indication. It took me a LONG TIME to finish this book when I read the other 2 in quick succession. If book number 4 starts off as this 1 did, I will NOT bother with it or 5 or 6.
January 8, 2021
The Essien Trilogy about Tony Essien
The Essien Trilogy about Tony was the best! The story about revenge and then falling in love continues with Tony. The Essien sons love hard. From the first book I was wondering who would take down Kris Petersen and it was Tony. Another great novel about falling in love and a family coming together to heal the hurt that sometimes love causes. Make sure you start with The Essien Trilogy Book 1. Can’t wait to read the The Essiens: Bodyguards.
The Essien Trilogy about Tony was the best! The story about revenge and then falling in love continues with Tony. The Essien sons love hard. From the first book I was wondering who would take down Kris Petersen and it was Tony. Another great novel about falling in love and a family coming together to heal the hurt that sometimes love causes. Make sure you start with The Essien Trilogy Book 1. Can’t wait to read the The Essiens: Bodyguards.
November 25, 2017
Very Stimulating
There was so much in this story, it gave me life. It showed the sex life of a virgin with a sex addict. I loved that a man was so giving and understanding. It was just raw and it went there. You had just about everything in this one story. Wow.
There was so much in this story, it gave me life. It showed the sex life of a virgin with a sex addict. I loved that a man was so giving and understanding. It was just raw and it went there. You had just about everything in this one story. Wow.
August 29, 2018
Another Great Read!
This book was so Hott! There was action and suspense in this book and I can't wait for more! I know everyone who reads this book will enjoy it! I will definitely recommend this book to others!
This book was so Hott! There was action and suspense in this book and I can't wait for more! I know everyone who reads this book will enjoy it! I will definitely recommend this book to others!
January 27, 2017
Great!!!
The Essien Trilogy (all 3 books) were absolutely amazing. I love the sex, love, passion and the excitement. I would recommend to all my family and friends to read.
The Essien Trilogy (all 3 books) were absolutely amazing. I love the sex, love, passion and the excitement. I would recommend to all my family and friends to read.
May 4, 2020
Amazing
I’ll say more after I finish all 7 books. Onto book 4. Can’t wait to read Kola’s story. Bye bye
I’ll say more after I finish all 7 books. Onto book 4. Can’t wait to read Kola’s story. Bye bye
September 6, 2020
The story of Tony and Rita was filled with teist and turns. It kept me ready for more. Definitely didn't see this outcome.
July 25, 2015
Riding Rebel by Kiru Taye, is the last installment in The Essien Trilogy. This book told the story of Tony, the youngest of Chief Essien’s sons. In the first two books we got a glimpse at the family dynamics among the three sons, Felix, Mark and Tony and their parents Chief and Angela. These dynamics were crucial to the plot of this book.
To discover the troubled past of Tony and how it is directly related to his position in the family and his attempt to live up to their expectations, without losing himself, was the main point of the book. This book definitely did not make me like Angela, Mark and Tony’s mother, any more. I did not like her in Making Scandal and definitely do not like her character after reading this book. The way she treated Rita, Tony’s love interest, just like the way she treated Faith, shows that she herself was a gold-digger and expects all women to act like her.
As I felt when reading the first two installments, I loved how Ms. Taye infused Nigerian and some other African cultures into the book. From some of the language, to the village marriage customs, to meals, it made this book more authentic. I use the term authentic because most books I read are written by American authors, or in an attempt to portray an American reality. Ms. Taye is Nigerian and writes her books from that reality. This perspective allows her readers to see a glimpse of another world, but not a made up fantasy.
The only part I did not enjoy was the handling of the rape. I felt it was glossed over and did not accurately portray how the woman would have reacted after the fact.
This book is part of a trilogy and is best read in order with the other two.
-Reviewed by Selina
To discover the troubled past of Tony and how it is directly related to his position in the family and his attempt to live up to their expectations, without losing himself, was the main point of the book. This book definitely did not make me like Angela, Mark and Tony’s mother, any more. I did not like her in Making Scandal and definitely do not like her character after reading this book. The way she treated Rita, Tony’s love interest, just like the way she treated Faith, shows that she herself was a gold-digger and expects all women to act like her.
As I felt when reading the first two installments, I loved how Ms. Taye infused Nigerian and some other African cultures into the book. From some of the language, to the village marriage customs, to meals, it made this book more authentic. I use the term authentic because most books I read are written by American authors, or in an attempt to portray an American reality. Ms. Taye is Nigerian and writes her books from that reality. This perspective allows her readers to see a glimpse of another world, but not a made up fantasy.
The only part I did not enjoy was the handling of the rape. I felt it was glossed over and did not accurately portray how the woman would have reacted after the fact.
This book is part of a trilogy and is best read in order with the other two.
-Reviewed by Selina
December 27, 2016
Reading this book has been a challenge for me. Coming From a french speaking country I am not used to read english book but as a fan of Nigerian culture and willing to read some romance books so badly I went over my fears and read it ( then sorry for the orthograph faults I try my best to surpass myself in english :-)
Then come the book… Firstly I did not know the action happens in Nigeria I thought it was in the USA, I was so overjoyed when i found out it was in nigeria. What i love the most about this book was the fact that Rita didn’t hide her feelings towards Tony, she expressed herself, her wants. Contrary to others romance books where women are a fragile thing who wait for men to take all in charge regarding their love.
And and and I was not ready for the sex scenes dammn , it was so hot, so well writing . The fact that Tony was willing to satisfy her needs before him dammmn I thought one moment that i could change also a bad guy too . But I remember that it was fiction only fiction gurllll bye . While reading this book I embody Tony as a mix between the singers Techno miles the nigerian and Alkaline the jamaican … maybe because of their badtness dont ask me why But i didn’t manage to put a face on Tara. Cool story sister.
I was too confortable reading this book until the apex came and dammmn I didn’t expect it and the way they dealt with it.
Coming from a recent heart break dammn this book made me believe in sweet things( usually i'm not romantic) now i'm addicted to Kiru Taye's Books. For the last weeks , she took my sleep, my time and my money but I regret nothing.
She gives me what i want and i am addicted. I know it will over soon but i try my best to not think about it yet >_<
Then come the book… Firstly I did not know the action happens in Nigeria I thought it was in the USA, I was so overjoyed when i found out it was in nigeria. What i love the most about this book was the fact that Rita didn’t hide her feelings towards Tony, she expressed herself, her wants. Contrary to others romance books where women are a fragile thing who wait for men to take all in charge regarding their love.
And and and I was not ready for the sex scenes dammn , it was so hot, so well writing . The fact that Tony was willing to satisfy her needs before him dammmn I thought one moment that i could change also a bad guy too . But I remember that it was fiction only fiction gurllll bye . While reading this book I embody Tony as a mix between the singers Techno miles the nigerian and Alkaline the jamaican … maybe because of their badtness dont ask me why But i didn’t manage to put a face on Tara. Cool story sister.
I was too confortable reading this book until the apex came and dammmn I didn’t expect it and the way they dealt with it.
Coming from a recent heart break dammn this book made me believe in sweet things( usually i'm not romantic) now i'm addicted to Kiru Taye's Books. For the last weeks , she took my sleep, my time and my money but I regret nothing.
She gives me what i want and i am addicted. I know it will over soon but i try my best to not think about it yet >_<
June 15, 2019
It would appear the #MeToo movement arrived a few years too late to have a possible affect on Riding Rebel’s storyline. I know this book falls under the contemporary romance umbrella with a heavy lean toward erotica. Nevertheless, I had difficulty reading about a male boss preying on his female employee with such impunity and self-entitlement.
I’ve finished the two previous offerings in the Essien series and remain impressed with author Kiru Taye’s skill in writing visual scenes. In particular, the sexual encounters depicted here are quite scorching though most of them don't involve PIV penetration.
Still, her embrace and depiction of what I guess is Nigerian culture’s profound misogyny provoked my feelings of disgust. I also didn’t appreciate the random nods to the Fifty Shades books. A helicopter flight used as part of a courting effort? No. Just no.
The British word spellings (e.g.,jewellery) surprised me since I was unaware that Nigerian English comes from the Brits versus the Yanks. Of course.
Finally, Riding Rebel wraps up too neatly and it seemed like Taye’s tale had suddenly tuckered out. I likely won’t continue to read her work.
I’ve finished the two previous offerings in the Essien series and remain impressed with author Kiru Taye’s skill in writing visual scenes. In particular, the sexual encounters depicted here are quite scorching though most of them don't involve PIV penetration.
Still, her embrace and depiction of what I guess is Nigerian culture’s profound misogyny provoked my feelings of disgust. I also didn’t appreciate the random nods to the Fifty Shades books. A helicopter flight used as part of a courting effort? No. Just no.
The British word spellings (e.g.,jewellery) surprised me since I was unaware that Nigerian English comes from the Brits versus the Yanks. Of course.
Finally, Riding Rebel wraps up too neatly and it seemed like Taye’s tale had suddenly tuckered out. I likely won’t continue to read her work.
February 5, 2015
I couldn’t wait for the third installment of The Essien Trilogy. I knew it would passionate, dramatic and a hang onto your seat type of story. I wasn’t disappointed.
To be honest I didn’t like Tony when I first met him in this book. Sure I found him sexy as hell, but his arrogance and live-life-for-himself manner, annoyed me. Everything changed during one scene where he came to Rita’s defense. The more I got to know the real Tony, the more I liked him. One thing I appreciated about the heroine, Rita, was that when it was time to be strong she was.
This story had the steamiest sex scenes of the whole trilogy and yet the heart of it shone through ensuring that it maintained balance.
To be honest I didn’t like Tony when I first met him in this book. Sure I found him sexy as hell, but his arrogance and live-life-for-himself manner, annoyed me. Everything changed during one scene where he came to Rita’s defense. The more I got to know the real Tony, the more I liked him. One thing I appreciated about the heroine, Rita, was that when it was time to be strong she was.
This story had the steamiest sex scenes of the whole trilogy and yet the heart of it shone through ensuring that it maintained balance.
July 6, 2015
The Rebel without a cause until...
Tony grew up privileged, but had no clear life direction or plan. This lack of vision caused him massive (borrowed this from the story lol) pain and suffering. It also hardened his heart. Tony thought using and dogging groupies was the way to go until he came across Rita. Rita was a struggling professional who was trying to do the right thing, but her naïveté and low self-esteem made it easy for her to be mistreated. The two lost souls are able to connect on the same level of vulnerability, which is a beautiful thing. Be ready for a rollercoaster ride with this one. Strong language, sometimes harsh -- it fits the storyline though.
Tony grew up privileged, but had no clear life direction or plan. This lack of vision caused him massive (borrowed this from the story lol) pain and suffering. It also hardened his heart. Tony thought using and dogging groupies was the way to go until he came across Rita. Rita was a struggling professional who was trying to do the right thing, but her naïveté and low self-esteem made it easy for her to be mistreated. The two lost souls are able to connect on the same level of vulnerability, which is a beautiful thing. Be ready for a rollercoaster ride with this one. Strong language, sometimes harsh -- it fits the storyline though.
April 12, 2015
I can proudly say that I have read the complete Essien story. Riding Rebel is hot. A hot headed dude and a damsel set to take revenge, you have a story full of emotions and energy. I totally love Tony the youngest of the Essien brothers. He is the soul of the story. Great job Kiru!
January 27, 2015
Freaking fantastic. Loved Tony Essien!!!
Full review coming soon
Full review coming soon
March 11, 2016
I loved the entire series. The brothers love hard. Their women get all that each has to give.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews