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Desert Dogs #0.5
Drive It Deep
The author of Give It All and Lay It Down reveals a glimpse into the past in this blistering new Desert Dogs prequel about love gone wrong.
Jeremiah Church and Raina Harper have been close since they were kids, back when life was all about hot Nevada summers spent running wild on the backs of their motorcycles with their friends. Now in their thirties, their lives are changing, and so is the way Miah looks at Raina—a sizzling tension has begun to smolder, impossible to ignore.
Miah is a man of simple pleasures—after a long day overseeing his family’s cattle ranch, a cool drink in his hand and a barstool under his backside are all he needs. Except lately, Miah’s begun looking at his bartender differently. Raina is Miah’s polar opposite—she’s as hot-headed as he is self-possessed, as wild as he is steady. And though they’re a recipe for disaster, the mutual attraction brewing between them is too tempting to deny.
But when bottled-up desires hit this hard, this fast, after so long, the results are positively explosive. And while the affair is hot enough set the badlands on fire, when the flames burn out, will their lifelong friendship survive, or go up in smoke?
Jeremiah Church and Raina Harper have been close since they were kids, back when life was all about hot Nevada summers spent running wild on the backs of their motorcycles with their friends. Now in their thirties, their lives are changing, and so is the way Miah looks at Raina—a sizzling tension has begun to smolder, impossible to ignore.
Miah is a man of simple pleasures—after a long day overseeing his family’s cattle ranch, a cool drink in his hand and a barstool under his backside are all he needs. Except lately, Miah’s begun looking at his bartender differently. Raina is Miah’s polar opposite—she’s as hot-headed as he is self-possessed, as wild as he is steady. And though they’re a recipe for disaster, the mutual attraction brewing between them is too tempting to deny.
But when bottled-up desires hit this hard, this fast, after so long, the results are positively explosive. And while the affair is hot enough set the badlands on fire, when the flames burn out, will their lifelong friendship survive, or go up in smoke?
150 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 16, 2015
13 people are currently reading
406 people want to read
About the author
Cara McKenna
41 books2,238 followersSince she began writing in 2008, Cara McKenna has published nearly forty romances and erotic novels with a variety of publishers, sometimes under the pen names Meg Maguire and C.M. McKenna. Her stories have been acclaimed for their smart, modern voice and defiance of convention. She was a 2015 RITA Award finalist, a 2014 RT Reviewers’ Choice Award winner, a 2012 and 2011 RT Reviewers’ Choice Award nominee, and a 2010 Golden Heart Award finalist. She lives with her husband and baby son in the Pacific Northwest, though she’ll always be a Boston girl at heart.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
August 28, 2015
3.5 stars. Rating clarification see below. Review posted July 9, 2015
"I'm not choosy who handles me tonight," Vince said, and downed his shot. "Most any willing party will do."
Miah shook his head. "Know what's sexier than consent, Vince? Enthusiasm."
Rating clarification
Miah 4.5 stars
Raina 2 stars
Writing 4 stars
Overall rating 3.5 stars
"It's amazing, the red flags people manage to ignore in the name of getting laid. And Miah's worse than most; he's a romantic. Just make damn sure he knows where you stand. Don't just assume he does.
In case you decide to give this long novella a shot, then you should keep this in mind...
It was very clear that this "thing", or whatever you want to call it, wouldn't end well because Raina already got herman HEA in book #2 Give It All.
That means that Drive It Deep actually is a prequel to McKenna's Desert Dogs series. And going into this story, I knew that that "thing" between Miah and Raina wasn't for keeps. I give you a well-meant advice. Read Dive It Deep as some kind of prep work for Miah's book. There are no big revelations to be found in this long novella. Just some hot smexin', a good friend (Vince) looking out for Miah, the confirmation that motherhood isn't Raina's destiny and that Miah wants to get married and have kids eventually. Nothing we didn't already know.
"You wanna go on and slap me in the face for real?" he asked. "Because that sure is what this is feeling like."
I felt torn about that particular scene. On the one hand, Raina needed to be honest (I had to question the point of time, though). On the other hand, I thought she didn't handle it well and she came off as very egocentric and insensitive. I hurt for Miah and was once again so, so relieved that they were not compatible as a couple. I just had such a hard time warming up to Raina, ever since I met her in the first book and then also when she caught her man in Give It All. As a matter of fact, Give It All only worked out so well for me thanks to the very complex hero. Duncan, the hot mess, that is.
Frankly, I'm so goddamn glad that these two didn't end up together because Miah deserves much better. That man has a heart of gold and so much love to give, it makes me terribly emotional. I just know that he'd hang the moon in the sky for his future love interest. That's why he needs a woman who appreciates to be wooed, to be made the center of his life. Sex is great and so much fun but it's not going to replace a love that consumes your heart. I want the very best for Miah and, quite frankly, that could never be Raina. Besides, I thought that Miah fell much harder and I just didn't buy Raina's extremely feeble ILY. You know what Drive It Deep was good for also? It made me even more eager to read Miah's (love) story. Gawd, that guy is so handsome and down to earth yet serious and eager to give his heart to a woman whom he'll love to pieces. If Cara will do it right, it's going to be a thorough swoon fest. I honestly expect to be swept off my feet with Miah's story. Bring it on--I'm ready!
Even though I didn't love Drive It Deep, I still enjoyed parts of it; though I really love Miah and I always get a kick out of Cara's great writing. And last but not least, she does write the sex scenes so well.
Bottom line
A good enough read for in between. The fact that Miah and Raina being together did not feel right, kind of makes it more than all right to me because I want to see Miah getting his HEA with an A-mazing woman who will give him as much as he will give her.
"Thank you," she said softly. "For all this. I know I bitch about us always being outdoors, but you dress the badlands up real nice."
Recommended with reserve.
"I'm not choosy who handles me tonight," Vince said, and downed his shot. "Most any willing party will do."
Miah shook his head. "Know what's sexier than consent, Vince? Enthusiasm."
Rating clarification
Miah 4.5 stars
Raina 2 stars
Writing 4 stars
Overall rating 3.5 stars
"It's amazing, the red flags people manage to ignore in the name of getting laid. And Miah's worse than most; he's a romantic. Just make damn sure he knows where you stand. Don't just assume he does.
In case you decide to give this long novella a shot, then you should keep this in mind...
It was very clear that this "thing", or whatever you want to call it, wouldn't end well because Raina already got her
That means that Drive It Deep actually is a prequel to McKenna's Desert Dogs series. And going into this story, I knew that that "thing" between Miah and Raina wasn't for keeps. I give you a well-meant advice. Read Dive It Deep as some kind of prep work for Miah's book. There are no big revelations to be found in this long novella. Just some hot smexin', a good friend (Vince) looking out for Miah, the confirmation that motherhood isn't Raina's destiny and that Miah wants to get married and have kids eventually. Nothing we didn't already know.
"You wanna go on and slap me in the face for real?" he asked. "Because that sure is what this is feeling like."
I felt torn about that particular scene. On the one hand, Raina needed to be honest (I had to question the point of time, though). On the other hand, I thought she didn't handle it well and she came off as very egocentric and insensitive. I hurt for Miah and was once again so, so relieved that they were not compatible as a couple. I just had such a hard time warming up to Raina, ever since I met her in the first book and then also when she caught her man in Give It All. As a matter of fact, Give It All only worked out so well for me thanks to the very complex hero. Duncan, the hot mess, that is.
Frankly, I'm so goddamn glad that these two didn't end up together because Miah deserves much better. That man has a heart of gold and so much love to give, it makes me terribly emotional. I just know that he'd hang the moon in the sky for his future love interest. That's why he needs a woman who appreciates to be wooed, to be made the center of his life. Sex is great and so much fun but it's not going to replace a love that consumes your heart. I want the very best for Miah and, quite frankly, that could never be Raina. Besides, I thought that Miah fell much harder and I just didn't buy Raina's extremely feeble ILY. You know what Drive It Deep was good for also? It made me even more eager to read Miah's (love) story. Gawd, that guy is so handsome and down to earth yet serious and eager to give his heart to a woman whom he'll love to pieces. If Cara will do it right, it's going to be a thorough swoon fest. I honestly expect to be swept off my feet with Miah's story. Bring it on--I'm ready!
Even though I didn't love Drive It Deep, I still enjoyed parts of it; though I really love Miah and I always get a kick out of Cara's great writing. And last but not least, she does write the sex scenes so well.
Bottom line
A good enough read for in between. The fact that Miah and Raina being together did not feel right, kind of makes it more than all right to me because I want to see Miah getting his HEA with an A-mazing woman who will give him as much as he will give her.
"Thank you," she said softly. "For all this. I know I bitch about us always being outdoors, but you dress the badlands up real nice."
Recommended with reserve.
August 10, 2016
3.5 stars Going into a story where you know there won't be a happy ending is a tough thing. But weirdly enough, I actually like this prequel novella more than I did the full-length Raina book. (Though to be fair, I'm not a huge fan of the Desert Dogs series overall--they just aren't my thing as much as literally all of McKenna's other books.) For one thing, I never really warmed up to Duncan, the guy she eventually ends up with (and please, we're talking genre romances here so you'd know that just from reading blurbs), and I feel like there's way more sexual tension between Raina and Miah in both stories. Um...a lot of sexual tension.
It's so hard not to love Miah for being so into Raina, or to fault him for wanting forever with her. I'm live and let live socially, but on a personal level I'm pretty traditional, so seeing him pine after a family with Raina has me yelling "Take the guy up on it, girl!" But what's right for one person isn't right for another, and McKenna explores the right to feminine choice and the reversal of typical male/female roles with ease and conviction--as well as fairness to both parties.
This isn't the HEA I usually want in a romance, but I think it's interesting that the author chose to write this, and I'm glad she did. Your heart breaks a little for Miah, but it's supposed to. We don't always get what we want out of life, and I respect the author's taking the time to develop the complexities and futility of this particular relationship, just as she honors the more traditional fantasy ones in her other books.
It's so hard not to love Miah for being so into Raina, or to fault him for wanting forever with her. I'm live and let live socially, but on a personal level I'm pretty traditional, so seeing him pine after a family with Raina has me yelling "Take the guy up on it, girl!" But what's right for one person isn't right for another, and McKenna explores the right to feminine choice and the reversal of typical male/female roles with ease and conviction--as well as fairness to both parties.
This isn't the HEA I usually want in a romance, but I think it's interesting that the author chose to write this, and I'm glad she did. Your heart breaks a little for Miah, but it's supposed to. We don't always get what we want out of life, and I respect the author's taking the time to develop the complexities and futility of this particular relationship, just as she honors the more traditional fantasy ones in her other books.
July 10, 2015
I was so excited to read another book from one of my favorite series by Cara McKenna, one of my favorite authors only to realize after page 1 that this was a prequel to the series and is the story of Miah & Raina.
Okay, so this gives us their back-story but I just couldn’t get into their relationship here…I already knew that these two were not going to have a HEA…because Raina gets hers with some else in book #2, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... - that made it difficult for me to become involved with them.
I liked Miah from the start when he’s introduced in book #1, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... .
He has a deep quietness that got under my skin. And seeing his emotions and feelings being tossed around by Raina in this story just did not go well for me. I disliked Raina immensely for what she was doing to him…….yes, it was all sex for her but she knew it was more for Miah so why carry on!!!
I just felt that she was not good enough for him.
Then I kept thinking how much I liked Raina in her book, Give it All……see, I should have read this book first instead!!!!
However, I did like reading about these two characters and the town of Fortuity and its inhabitants. I love this author’s writing and she must be one of the best at writing amazing sex scenes.
I am now anxiously waiting for book #3, which comes out in November….jeez, seems like a very long wait!!!! But I am sure it’s going to be worth it!!!
And please can we get Miah’s HEA next!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Okay, so this gives us their back-story but I just couldn’t get into their relationship here…I already knew that these two were not going to have a HEA…because Raina gets hers with some else in book #2, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... - that made it difficult for me to become involved with them.
I liked Miah from the start when he’s introduced in book #1, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... .
He has a deep quietness that got under my skin. And seeing his emotions and feelings being tossed around by Raina in this story just did not go well for me. I disliked Raina immensely for what she was doing to him…….yes, it was all sex for her but she knew it was more for Miah so why carry on!!!
I just felt that she was not good enough for him.
Then I kept thinking how much I liked Raina in her book, Give it All……see, I should have read this book first instead!!!!
However, I did like reading about these two characters and the town of Fortuity and its inhabitants. I love this author’s writing and she must be one of the best at writing amazing sex scenes.
I am now anxiously waiting for book #3, which comes out in November….jeez, seems like a very long wait!!!! But I am sure it’s going to be worth it!!!
And please can we get Miah’s HEA next!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 28, 2015
1.5 stars
This is one of the times I really curse myself for being a non-blurb reader. A lot of times that leads to fun surprises. But, unfortunately, with Drive It Deep that wasn't the case and it's definitely one I would have avoided. I freaking love Cara McKenna's books. I rave about them often and they consistently get 4.5-5 stars from me but for the first time I'm not recommending one of her books. Which just guts me.
Drive It Deep takes place two years prior to the other books in the series despite being book 2.5. It's the story of the heroine from book two--Raina, who got a hea with another man in that book-- and one of her best friends hooking up in the past and then her breaking his heart. While the writing was impeccable, as always, and the sex scenes blisteringly hot a very nice man was hurt badly when he just didn't deserve it.
Had it been the 0.5 release and what kicked the series off...maybe. But at this point in the series it just didn't make sense and left me feeling sad and disappointed and a bit less in love with the series and a heroine who I had adored in her own book. There's obviously no HEA since Miah and Raina broke up (so she could eventually get together with her forever hero), things end badly and really while I'm perfectly fine with a heroine having a past of the sexual nature once she has her happily ever after and a hero of her own I don't want to hear or read about past hook ups. Same would apply to a hero.
So this was a big miss for me. And not one I would recommend. I WOULD recommend McKenna's other books. She's an amazing writer and her characters are always unique and interesting and the sex incredible. Both book one and two of this series were fantastic. I'd also add After Hours (5 stars) and Willing Victim to the list of ones to try out.
This is one of the times I really curse myself for being a non-blurb reader. A lot of times that leads to fun surprises. But, unfortunately, with Drive It Deep that wasn't the case and it's definitely one I would have avoided. I freaking love Cara McKenna's books. I rave about them often and they consistently get 4.5-5 stars from me but for the first time I'm not recommending one of her books. Which just guts me.
Drive It Deep takes place two years prior to the other books in the series despite being book 2.5. It's the story of the heroine from book two--Raina, who got a hea with another man in that book-- and one of her best friends hooking up in the past and then her breaking his heart. While the writing was impeccable, as always, and the sex scenes blisteringly hot a very nice man was hurt badly when he just didn't deserve it.
Had it been the 0.5 release and what kicked the series off...maybe. But at this point in the series it just didn't make sense and left me feeling sad and disappointed and a bit less in love with the series and a heroine who I had adored in her own book. There's obviously no HEA since Miah and Raina broke up (so she could eventually get together with her forever hero), things end badly and really while I'm perfectly fine with a heroine having a past of the sexual nature once she has her happily ever after and a hero of her own I don't want to hear or read about past hook ups. Same would apply to a hero.
So this was a big miss for me. And not one I would recommend. I WOULD recommend McKenna's other books. She's an amazing writer and her characters are always unique and interesting and the sex incredible. Both book one and two of this series were fantastic. I'd also add After Hours (5 stars) and Willing Victim to the list of ones to try out.
June 17, 2015
Cara McKenna is one of my autobuy authors so when this book came out, I got it without reading the blurb or even caring about who the book was about because I genuinely adore all the characters in the series. BUT what you should know about this story is that it’s actually a prequel even though it’s listed as book 2.5 in the series. It occurs a couple of years before the first book and actually features Raina, a heroine who already has her HEA in the previous book. So you’re probably thinking, who is the hero then?
Well, Jeremiah Church, or better known as Miah, is the hero. Readers who follow the series will remember him as the ex-lover to Raina and DRIVE IT DEEP is basically their story before the rest of the series happened.
I will say that I freaking LOVED Miah. I think he was just the prefect blend of hot and commanding and sweet and considerate so I’m actually quite bummed he only has a novella so far. Sadly the next book in the series is not his either (although I am absolutely thrilled to have Casey’s book). As you can guess because Raina already has her HEA with someone else that this book doesn’t really end in a traditional HEA. It’s really about their sweltering romance that heats up quickly and then combusts, burning out probably as quick as it had come on. That being said though, I still really loved this story, especially the idle banter and dynamics of the characters when they are all together so I do think it is worth the read.
But then again, I wish this were better presented as a PREQUEL NOVELLA because it really confused me as I was reading this book. I think the series would’ve been a lot stronger if it came out in order or perhaps wait until the series was over to give readers the option to read this “extra” at the end. But for this point in the series, I don’t think this novella really added anything new to the series.
Check out my alternate review at Fresh Fiction
June 19, 2015
Thank you to PENGUIN and Netgalley for providing a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Drive it Deep from Cara McKenna takes a heroine from a previous book in this series, Give It All, and delves into one of her past relationships. While tagged as book 2.5 in the series, it’s a prequel according to the blurb and several Goodreads reviewers. This was my first read of the series, and I didn’t feel like I was missing anything.
I thought Miah was a wonderful character. He was a nice man with a good head on his shoulders, and he was looking forward to future and family. Raina, on the other hand, was a fly by the seat of her pants type of gal, and she had no desire to make plans for her future. She only knew what she didn’t want for it. As you can imagine, this resulted in sparks outside of the bedroom as well as inside.
This was a bittersweet read from the get-go. Obviously Raina gets her happily ever after in a different book, so you know up front she and Miah aren’t going to make it. And so I found myself incredibly torn with this book. On the one hand, I absolutely adored Miah, and it frustrated me that while Raina was adamant about how strong her feelings were, there were some things she couldn’t change for him. On the other hand, I don’t think you should have to change for someone else, and Miah’s expectations of what she should change weren’t practical to me. I’m glad Raina stuck to her guns and reminded Miah that she wasn’t going to change who she was for him. I just hate that he was left so shattered.
This was a really quick read with a steady pace right up until the last page. It wasn’t quite as steamy as some of Cara McKenna’s other books. There was more of a sweetness to the love scenes this one, and I thought it was fitting for Miah’s character. Overall, I thought Drive It Deep was a decent story, and I think the author did a wonderful job solidifying why these characters didn’t belong together without making either one of them ‘the bad guy.’
This review was originally posted at Badass Book Reviews.
Drive it Deep from Cara McKenna takes a heroine from a previous book in this series, Give It All, and delves into one of her past relationships. While tagged as book 2.5 in the series, it’s a prequel according to the blurb and several Goodreads reviewers. This was my first read of the series, and I didn’t feel like I was missing anything.
I thought Miah was a wonderful character. He was a nice man with a good head on his shoulders, and he was looking forward to future and family. Raina, on the other hand, was a fly by the seat of her pants type of gal, and she had no desire to make plans for her future. She only knew what she didn’t want for it. As you can imagine, this resulted in sparks outside of the bedroom as well as inside.
This was a bittersweet read from the get-go. Obviously Raina gets her happily ever after in a different book, so you know up front she and Miah aren’t going to make it. And so I found myself incredibly torn with this book. On the one hand, I absolutely adored Miah, and it frustrated me that while Raina was adamant about how strong her feelings were, there were some things she couldn’t change for him. On the other hand, I don’t think you should have to change for someone else, and Miah’s expectations of what she should change weren’t practical to me. I’m glad Raina stuck to her guns and reminded Miah that she wasn’t going to change who she was for him. I just hate that he was left so shattered.
This was a really quick read with a steady pace right up until the last page. It wasn’t quite as steamy as some of Cara McKenna’s other books. There was more of a sweetness to the love scenes this one, and I thought it was fitting for Miah’s character. Overall, I thought Drive It Deep was a decent story, and I think the author did a wonderful job solidifying why these characters didn’t belong together without making either one of them ‘the bad guy.’
This review was originally posted at Badass Book Reviews.
July 16, 2015
Poor Miah!
It was a unique experience for me reading this novella and knowing that it won't end on a happy note. I absolutely loved Miah and Raina was just herself, totally different, out of the box!
This full review is also posted on my book blog - Ellie Reads Fiction
It's a novella telling Miah and Raina's story set two years before the events in the book 1 and 2. It was slightly weird reading it, because I knew there won't be any HEA for the characters, yet I was curious about them and their relationship.
The best thing in this short novella was Miah. I can't love the guy more, it's uncanny how close I felt to him, to his views on life, love, family. He is not perfect by any means and his little quirk (I wouldn't call it an issue) worked perfectly in the story, made him real and human.
We already know so much more about Raina, since Ms McKenna told her story in book 2, yet it was nice seeing her fall for Miah. At first it felt easy and natural and then it grew bigger and more passionate. Two life-long friends becoming lovers, having tons of chemistry, yet ultimately breaking up because they are not compatible in the long run. I respect Raina's honesty and strength but I also hated her for hurting Miah so much.
There was a lot of anger and hurt in this story. It was not a regrettable affair for both Miah and Raina, in a way it seemed a necessary part of their lives' journey but it was painful nonetheless.
This is a very vivid, well drawn story. I appreciate the insight we got into Miah's character, he was more elusive so far. Now I'm even more excited about his book which will be the last in the series, after Casey's story coming later this year.
It was a unique experience for me reading this novella and knowing that it won't end on a happy note. I absolutely loved Miah and Raina was just herself, totally different, out of the box!
This full review is also posted on my book blog - Ellie Reads Fiction
It's a novella telling Miah and Raina's story set two years before the events in the book 1 and 2. It was slightly weird reading it, because I knew there won't be any HEA for the characters, yet I was curious about them and their relationship.
The best thing in this short novella was Miah. I can't love the guy more, it's uncanny how close I felt to him, to his views on life, love, family. He is not perfect by any means and his little quirk (I wouldn't call it an issue) worked perfectly in the story, made him real and human.
We already know so much more about Raina, since Ms McKenna told her story in book 2, yet it was nice seeing her fall for Miah. At first it felt easy and natural and then it grew bigger and more passionate. Two life-long friends becoming lovers, having tons of chemistry, yet ultimately breaking up because they are not compatible in the long run. I respect Raina's honesty and strength but I also hated her for hurting Miah so much.
There was a lot of anger and hurt in this story. It was not a regrettable affair for both Miah and Raina, in a way it seemed a necessary part of their lives' journey but it was painful nonetheless.
This is a very vivid, well drawn story. I appreciate the insight we got into Miah's character, he was more elusive so far. Now I'm even more excited about his book which will be the last in the series, after Casey's story coming later this year.
June 23, 2015
If you haven’t heard already, this is not a romance with a ‘happy ever after’ so consider yourself warned.
It’s a prequel novella to the Desert Dogs series ( though books 1 and 2 have already been released) and takes place two years before book 1. It’s the story of two friends, Jeremiah (known to his friends as Miah) and Raina, who become lovers for a summer. Each of them will get their own HEA in the series but not with each other- in fact, Raina’s story has already been told in book 2, Give It All. I confess that I haven’t read that one yet though. I read and quite enjoyed book 1, Lay It Down, where it was obvious that Raina and Miah had a history, and as soon as I heard that their story would be told, I knew I was going to wait to read Raina’s HEA story until reading about her relationship with Miah.
So I guess the question is why would an author who writes romances, write a story about a couple that doesn’t end up together? In October of 2014, Cara McKenna wrote a post for the Wonkomance blog called “They Didn’t Work Out, But Man Was The Sex Hot”. In this post, Cara talks about writing this story, being given the opportunity by her publisher to tell Miah and Raina’s history and says (quoted with permission from her) ” To show a romance heroine’s past sexual relationship in a positive light, trusting that the fact that she’s had satisfying sex with a man other than her eventual hero doesn’t call into question anyone’s worthiness, or the validity of either relationship.” “This heroine gets to have an ex she loved, if briefly, and burned like a wildfire with—not some controlling asshat she caught boning her best friend, or who sucked in bed.” “Plus, why shouldn’t a heroine have a good man for an ex? A decent human being capable of giving her orgasms? Why give her exes that any old kinda-okay guy could stand next to and look like a dreamboat simply by contrast? Why shouldn’t the man she winds up with in the end have a fucking high-ass bar to clear, in order to find himself beside her?” With these thoughts in mind, Raina’s HEA with Duncan in Give It All is sure to be a great read. But that’s a story for another day.
So now that you know the motivation for writing Drive It Deep, let’s get on with the review! There’s a group of friends in this story, and though it’s mainly about Miah and Raina, we see other characters like Vince (hero of book 1), recently released from jail for disorderly conduct and Alex, the local deputy with a drinking problem. These 4 have been fast friends since early childhood, growing up together these past 20 years and changing (not always for the better) during this time. That last sentence quoted above by Cara is very apt because seriously, you can’t set a higher bar than Jeremiah Church. Miah takes the idea of loyalty and holds it to a higher ideal than any other man in his town. He is hard working, conscientious, sweet and super sexy. When his friend Alex is stumbling home drunk, it’s Miah who gets him home safely. When Miah’s father has medical problems, he doesn’t hesitate to take over the running of the family ranch, working from sunup to sundown daily to keep things going. When he starts to see Raina as more than just a friend (something she’s secretly seen in him since she was 16), he works up the courage to do something about it. He treats her like a queen, arranging romantic outings, clearly falling head over heels for her in no time and it’s hard, because you know that if he gets in too deep he’s going to get his heart broken. A woman couldn’t ask for anything more than a man like Miah – unless you are Raina. And she doesn’t want more from him. She just knows that she won’t ultimately make him happy.
Going from friends to lovers is not an easy transition. For Miah and Raina, it’s a chemistry that becomes explosive once they are both on the same page. The sex scenes are hot and emotional, and it seems hard to believe for the reader (and the characters) that they haven’t been doing this since they were teenagers. But the point of it all is that the sex isn’t going to sustain a relationship for the long haul, not if the fundamental beliefs you have are not compatible. In the case of Raina and Miah, their compatibility in the bedroom only takes them so far, and it’s not enough to last for long. They want different things for their future, and the reality is that at some point down the road, they are not going to end up together. What I really admired about Raina was her ability to lay it on the line for Miah, that she ultimately doesn’t want the marriage and family that she knows he needs to be happy for the long term. In part it makes her seem selfish, that she is adamant to Miah that she won’t change for him, or any man. But in reality, she is being selfless – because she’s not willing to be half a partner to Miah when he needs and deserves someone who will give him what he needs.
As their relationship reaches that turning point, you might wish that they would end up together but the truth is, they aren’t going to. But I loved seeing this glimpse into their characters, to understand their motivations, their past, what pulled them together and what ultimately broke them apart. The ending was a bit abrupt for me , though realistically, many relationships falter in the same way – once one person decides they aren’t willing to move forward, it’s game over. Having read Lay It Down, I know that their friendship recovers, that they are able to take this relationship, appreciate it for what it was, and keep a special place for each other in their hearts. And I would hope that readers learn something from this story about how relationships can still be good even if they don’t last. Like Cara said above, not all relationships end for lousy reasons. Sometimes they just end. 4 stars for this interesting and intriguing look at two lovers who remain friends.
Note: a copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
Note 2: this review appears as a blog post at : http://straightshootinbookreviews.com...
It’s a prequel novella to the Desert Dogs series ( though books 1 and 2 have already been released) and takes place two years before book 1. It’s the story of two friends, Jeremiah (known to his friends as Miah) and Raina, who become lovers for a summer. Each of them will get their own HEA in the series but not with each other- in fact, Raina’s story has already been told in book 2, Give It All. I confess that I haven’t read that one yet though. I read and quite enjoyed book 1, Lay It Down, where it was obvious that Raina and Miah had a history, and as soon as I heard that their story would be told, I knew I was going to wait to read Raina’s HEA story until reading about her relationship with Miah.
So I guess the question is why would an author who writes romances, write a story about a couple that doesn’t end up together? In October of 2014, Cara McKenna wrote a post for the Wonkomance blog called “They Didn’t Work Out, But Man Was The Sex Hot”. In this post, Cara talks about writing this story, being given the opportunity by her publisher to tell Miah and Raina’s history and says (quoted with permission from her) ” To show a romance heroine’s past sexual relationship in a positive light, trusting that the fact that she’s had satisfying sex with a man other than her eventual hero doesn’t call into question anyone’s worthiness, or the validity of either relationship.” “This heroine gets to have an ex she loved, if briefly, and burned like a wildfire with—not some controlling asshat she caught boning her best friend, or who sucked in bed.” “Plus, why shouldn’t a heroine have a good man for an ex? A decent human being capable of giving her orgasms? Why give her exes that any old kinda-okay guy could stand next to and look like a dreamboat simply by contrast? Why shouldn’t the man she winds up with in the end have a fucking high-ass bar to clear, in order to find himself beside her?” With these thoughts in mind, Raina’s HEA with Duncan in Give It All is sure to be a great read. But that’s a story for another day.
So now that you know the motivation for writing Drive It Deep, let’s get on with the review! There’s a group of friends in this story, and though it’s mainly about Miah and Raina, we see other characters like Vince (hero of book 1), recently released from jail for disorderly conduct and Alex, the local deputy with a drinking problem. These 4 have been fast friends since early childhood, growing up together these past 20 years and changing (not always for the better) during this time. That last sentence quoted above by Cara is very apt because seriously, you can’t set a higher bar than Jeremiah Church. Miah takes the idea of loyalty and holds it to a higher ideal than any other man in his town. He is hard working, conscientious, sweet and super sexy. When his friend Alex is stumbling home drunk, it’s Miah who gets him home safely. When Miah’s father has medical problems, he doesn’t hesitate to take over the running of the family ranch, working from sunup to sundown daily to keep things going. When he starts to see Raina as more than just a friend (something she’s secretly seen in him since she was 16), he works up the courage to do something about it. He treats her like a queen, arranging romantic outings, clearly falling head over heels for her in no time and it’s hard, because you know that if he gets in too deep he’s going to get his heart broken. A woman couldn’t ask for anything more than a man like Miah – unless you are Raina. And she doesn’t want more from him. She just knows that she won’t ultimately make him happy.
Going from friends to lovers is not an easy transition. For Miah and Raina, it’s a chemistry that becomes explosive once they are both on the same page. The sex scenes are hot and emotional, and it seems hard to believe for the reader (and the characters) that they haven’t been doing this since they were teenagers. But the point of it all is that the sex isn’t going to sustain a relationship for the long haul, not if the fundamental beliefs you have are not compatible. In the case of Raina and Miah, their compatibility in the bedroom only takes them so far, and it’s not enough to last for long. They want different things for their future, and the reality is that at some point down the road, they are not going to end up together. What I really admired about Raina was her ability to lay it on the line for Miah, that she ultimately doesn’t want the marriage and family that she knows he needs to be happy for the long term. In part it makes her seem selfish, that she is adamant to Miah that she won’t change for him, or any man. But in reality, she is being selfless – because she’s not willing to be half a partner to Miah when he needs and deserves someone who will give him what he needs.
As their relationship reaches that turning point, you might wish that they would end up together but the truth is, they aren’t going to. But I loved seeing this glimpse into their characters, to understand their motivations, their past, what pulled them together and what ultimately broke them apart. The ending was a bit abrupt for me , though realistically, many relationships falter in the same way – once one person decides they aren’t willing to move forward, it’s game over. Having read Lay It Down, I know that their friendship recovers, that they are able to take this relationship, appreciate it for what it was, and keep a special place for each other in their hearts. And I would hope that readers learn something from this story about how relationships can still be good even if they don’t last. Like Cara said above, not all relationships end for lousy reasons. Sometimes they just end. 4 stars for this interesting and intriguing look at two lovers who remain friends.
Note: a copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
Note 2: this review appears as a blog post at : http://straightshootinbookreviews.com...
June 17, 2015
3 Hopefully Miah gets his HEA soon stars!!
Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of Intermix | Penguin Group
Ugh! Up to this point I have loved this series and all things Cara McKenna but I have to admit that I didn't love this book. I liked the idea of it and of course I loved getting to know Miah more but there was just something about it that didn't completely grab me.
For starters it took me quite awhile to get into this book compared to the others. As well as it was hard to fully get into it knowing that Raina ends up with someone other than Miah. I know this is a bit of a prequel but I think it would have been better if I read it between book 1 & 2 versus after 2.
I admit that I have been curious about what happened between Raina and Miah so I wanted to read this but it fell flat at parts for me. With Raina it felt like a completely different character than when we get to know her in Give it all. Plus the way Raina handled poor Miah's emotions for her own needs did not gel with me. Her mismatched emotions made me like her less than make me feel for her and her torn emotions. Miah is the salt of the earth and she stomped all over him.
"He know that's all it is to you? Temporary?"
Miah falls hard for his best friend and thinks it's reciprocal but finds out quite harshly that's it not. For Raina she does love Miah and loves her sexual relationship with him but she won't change her ways. I felt like she knows Miah and how he goes all in to things with his heart that she was careless with his emotions. Especially when he wears his heart on his sleeve. Once she realizes that he may be into it more than her she breaks his heart but still wants the sex part. :(
Miah thinks he can give up a part of his dream for Raina but realizes that he too can't compromise especially with someone who's not willing to even think about change or compromise for each other.
"The second I'm the one laying out what it is I want? I listened to your demands- I listened to you tell me that I get no say in what happens if I got you pregnant. You know how goddamn much that hurts, Raina? Any goddamn clue?"
After I finally got into the book I was so excited that it was Miah that walked away. My fingers are crossed that Miah gets his own book and his own well deserved HEA. In this novella I fell out of like with Raina and fell in love with Miah. With this novella we get to see more about what happens with
Fortuity, Nevada before the casino rolls in and how deep these friendships are between all of them. It was good to see but like I said if I read it between 1 & 2, I would have liked it way better.
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January 2, 2016
2-1/2 stars.
This review also appears on Pretty Sassy Cool.
I have recently become slightly obsessed with Motorcycle Club stories, and I already love Cara McKenna. So when I saw her Desert Dogs series, I knew I had to read them.
This story confused me at first since it's numbered 2.5 in the series. I think it actually should be .5 as it occurs a few years before Lay It Down, the first book in the series. (ETA: This has now been changed) I read Give It All, the second book in the series, and I know that it's about Raina and Duncan--not Miah, so I don't really know how to feel about this one.
With that being said, pretty much no one writes smexy times like Cara McKenna. *fans self* I mean, really. Drive It Deep is a fast read and worth your time, but honestly, I wish she had just written this as a standalone novella or about different characters. I couldn't take my mind off of knowing who they were and they won't be together later, so I just couldn't get into this. I will be reading the other books in this series though--I just don't love Raina and don't think I ever can. :)
This review also appears on Pretty Sassy Cool.
I have recently become slightly obsessed with Motorcycle Club stories, and I already love Cara McKenna. So when I saw her Desert Dogs series, I knew I had to read them.
This story confused me at first since it's numbered 2.5 in the series. I think it actually should be .5 as it occurs a few years before Lay It Down, the first book in the series. (ETA: This has now been changed) I read Give It All, the second book in the series, and I know that it's about Raina and Duncan--not Miah, so I don't really know how to feel about this one.
With that being said, pretty much no one writes smexy times like Cara McKenna. *fans self* I mean, really. Drive It Deep is a fast read and worth your time, but honestly, I wish she had just written this as a standalone novella or about different characters. I couldn't take my mind off of knowing who they were and they won't be together later, so I just couldn't get into this. I will be reading the other books in this series though--I just don't love Raina and don't think I ever can. :)
July 20, 2021
2.5 Stars
(rounded up, because it's Cara McKenna)
This was mostly an unnecessary story in the Desert Dogs series. The novella was published after the first two books in the series. If the reader has read those, they already know the outcome. It’s a book with romantic elements, but not a romance. It’s basically an explanation of Jeremiah and Raina's romantic history.
I went into this with low expectations due to previous reviews, but was still disappointed. For me, this story lacked the luscious prose I’m used to from this author. Even when one of McKenna’s books isn’t a favorite, I can still find delight in the prose. The writing was good, but lacked that special something in an otherwise bland story.
What I did enjoy was getting to know Jeremiah's character better and his marshmallow of a man ways. That alone might have made the story worth finishing. Just barely. I'm still on the fence about Raina. Her characterization isn’t one of my favorites, but I’m still looking forward to her story with Duncan.
July 2, 2015
I didn't read the blurb, saw Cara McKenna/Desert Dogs and went "click". My Bad. Not bad in sense of total waste of time, just a little bad in that it takes place before the real stories of Desert Dogs - a prequel.
When you know how things already end up, it's about the journey and not the destination. In this case, the relationship between Raina and Jeremiah. It's an ok read with some good hot stuff, but not an essential to the great series of Desert Dogs.
Bring on book 3!
When you know how things already end up, it's about the journey and not the destination. In this case, the relationship between Raina and Jeremiah. It's an ok read with some good hot stuff, but not an essential to the great series of Desert Dogs.
Bring on book 3!
May 13, 2015
Drive it Deep will drive you crazy when you realize it is a prequel to Raina's story where she winds up with someone else. Let the church say WTF??
This is the story of Miah and Raina. Miah and Raina have been friends for years and years without any outbreaks of lust and/or freakyness. However, when Raina's father passes away, Miah starts to see her in a different light which quickly leads to seeing her butt naked.
Drive it Deep is all about reconciling who you presently are with what you could be or could want in the future...without the benefit of a crystal ball. I really felt the conflict in this story from Raina's perspective. None of us really knows where to draw the bright line in relationships between what we know for sure we don't want and where we need to compromise for the sake of love. In this book Raina sees herself as maintaining her identity by refusing to compromise. Even though I have mixed feelings about Raina's stubbornness, it's a good point of reference for all of us. Everyone has to find the boundary between reasonable compromise and absolute deal breakers and it's not easy to do when faced with love and great sex (especially the great sex, lol).
This is my first book by Cara McKenna and I was perfectly content until I realized that this book does not have a part 2 but is instead a PREQUEL to another book with Raina where she gets a HEA with SOMEBODY ELSE. Have you ever eaten a really good hamburger and then someone told you it was horse meat? Me either but I imagine that if I did, I would be having the same experience I am having right now. I just assumed this book was part 1 and that in part 2 Miah and Raina would work it out. I canNOT believe that there is another book but just no Miah. WHAT THEE EFF???
Cara McKenna is a great storyteller and prior to RIGHT NOW I liked this book because I just knew Miah and Raina would end up together. I really wish I had known that this was a prequel and not a part 1 because I would not have read it. Life is cruel enough without reading books with no HEA. That's like sex without an orgasm...ok, I'm being melodramatic but really I am just in a state of shock at the moment. Before 5 minutes ago I was going to say this book had compelling characters with their own brand of perfection and flaw and good parallel story lines (the town, the deputy, Vince, Miah's family).
I was also going to say that the story draws you in and evokes deep thoughts. But now I'm going to say read this story only if you don't care about HEAs. The only reason I put up with Raina's shenanigans throughout the book is because I figured she and Miah would have an HEA somewhere down the line but APPARENTLY NOT. For me HEAs are like kids for Raina in the book, deal breakers. If I don't get my HEA, I am not a happy camper and people, I am NOT happy right now.
What have we learned today boys and girls? Pay attention to blurbs and investigate any book that is a part of series. Make sure you know what part you are reading.
ARC provided by Intermix/Penguin Publishing (Honest review, all my usual bias but nothing extra)
This is the story of Miah and Raina. Miah and Raina have been friends for years and years without any outbreaks of lust and/or freakyness. However, when Raina's father passes away, Miah starts to see her in a different light which quickly leads to seeing her butt naked.
Drive it Deep is all about reconciling who you presently are with what you could be or could want in the future...without the benefit of a crystal ball. I really felt the conflict in this story from Raina's perspective. None of us really knows where to draw the bright line in relationships between what we know for sure we don't want and where we need to compromise for the sake of love. In this book Raina sees herself as maintaining her identity by refusing to compromise. Even though I have mixed feelings about Raina's stubbornness, it's a good point of reference for all of us. Everyone has to find the boundary between reasonable compromise and absolute deal breakers and it's not easy to do when faced with love and great sex (especially the great sex, lol).
This is my first book by Cara McKenna and I was perfectly content until I realized that this book does not have a part 2 but is instead a PREQUEL to another book with Raina where she gets a HEA with SOMEBODY ELSE. Have you ever eaten a really good hamburger and then someone told you it was horse meat? Me either but I imagine that if I did, I would be having the same experience I am having right now. I just assumed this book was part 1 and that in part 2 Miah and Raina would work it out. I canNOT believe that there is another book but just no Miah. WHAT THEE EFF???
Cara McKenna is a great storyteller and prior to RIGHT NOW I liked this book because I just knew Miah and Raina would end up together. I really wish I had known that this was a prequel and not a part 1 because I would not have read it. Life is cruel enough without reading books with no HEA. That's like sex without an orgasm...ok, I'm being melodramatic but really I am just in a state of shock at the moment. Before 5 minutes ago I was going to say this book had compelling characters with their own brand of perfection and flaw and good parallel story lines (the town, the deputy, Vince, Miah's family).
I was also going to say that the story draws you in and evokes deep thoughts. But now I'm going to say read this story only if you don't care about HEAs. The only reason I put up with Raina's shenanigans throughout the book is because I figured she and Miah would have an HEA somewhere down the line but APPARENTLY NOT. For me HEAs are like kids for Raina in the book, deal breakers. If I don't get my HEA, I am not a happy camper and people, I am NOT happy right now.
What have we learned today boys and girls? Pay attention to blurbs and investigate any book that is a part of series. Make sure you know what part you are reading.
ARC provided by Intermix/Penguin Publishing (Honest review, all my usual bias but nothing extra)
June 24, 2015
JavaGirl's review posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
I found this Desert Dogs prequel to be a bit of a disappointment. I’m not sure what I expected, maybe to get to know Alex--whose death the mystery/suspense element of this entire series revolves around—a little better. It felt strange to read about a brief sexual relationship between Jeremiah (Miah) and Raina, especially after reading Raina and Duncan’s story. I didn’t feel that I learned anything new about Raina; her unresolved issues with both her parents, her future in Fortuity, and her long-term relationship/life goals are nothing new for the reader. Even though we know how Miah feels/felt about Raina from the other books in the series, this book does delve deeper into his thoughts and feelings. Not just about Raina, but about Alex, Vince, and most importantly, his own future and what he wants for himself. Miah and Raina have a long, close personal history that began in childhood. However, embarking on a romantic/sexual relationship is a new direction for them. Raina is the more practical and realistic of the two, while Miah is the romantic. While we know they resolve any lingering issues left at the rather abrupt end to this book—an end that perfectly mirrors the end of their relationship—it’s hard not to feel sad that these two long-time friends could be destroying an important friendship.
I appreciate and applaud Ms. McKenna for writing Raina as such a strong, unconventional female character. She may not know exactly what she does want, but she knows for sure what she doesn’t want. Her adamant insistence that she doesn’t want children, and Miah’s equally adamant insistence that she doesn’t know that for sure, she might change her mind later etc. is an all too common response. As Raina points out, it’s unlikely that he would have that conversation with Vince or another man. There are some very emotional scenes; Miah struggles to understand Raina’s point of view, and his vulnerability and the depth of his feeling for her and what he believes the two of them could have together is heartbreaking. It nearly made me wish the two of them could find a way to make it work. But ultimately, I knew they couldn’t.
I came away from this novella with a deeper understanding of Miah, but it’s nothing I couldn’t have learned from his story. From what I already knew of these two characters, it was easy to understand why their relationship hadn’t worked—two very different people, with very different desires for their respective futures. I guess I’m still left wondering why this prequel was necessary.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
I found this Desert Dogs prequel to be a bit of a disappointment. I’m not sure what I expected, maybe to get to know Alex--whose death the mystery/suspense element of this entire series revolves around—a little better. It felt strange to read about a brief sexual relationship between Jeremiah (Miah) and Raina, especially after reading Raina and Duncan’s story. I didn’t feel that I learned anything new about Raina; her unresolved issues with both her parents, her future in Fortuity, and her long-term relationship/life goals are nothing new for the reader. Even though we know how Miah feels/felt about Raina from the other books in the series, this book does delve deeper into his thoughts and feelings. Not just about Raina, but about Alex, Vince, and most importantly, his own future and what he wants for himself. Miah and Raina have a long, close personal history that began in childhood. However, embarking on a romantic/sexual relationship is a new direction for them. Raina is the more practical and realistic of the two, while Miah is the romantic. While we know they resolve any lingering issues left at the rather abrupt end to this book—an end that perfectly mirrors the end of their relationship—it’s hard not to feel sad that these two long-time friends could be destroying an important friendship.
I appreciate and applaud Ms. McKenna for writing Raina as such a strong, unconventional female character. She may not know exactly what she does want, but she knows for sure what she doesn’t want. Her adamant insistence that she doesn’t want children, and Miah’s equally adamant insistence that she doesn’t know that for sure, she might change her mind later etc. is an all too common response. As Raina points out, it’s unlikely that he would have that conversation with Vince or another man. There are some very emotional scenes; Miah struggles to understand Raina’s point of view, and his vulnerability and the depth of his feeling for her and what he believes the two of them could have together is heartbreaking. It nearly made me wish the two of them could find a way to make it work. But ultimately, I knew they couldn’t.
I came away from this novella with a deeper understanding of Miah, but it’s nothing I couldn’t have learned from his story. From what I already knew of these two characters, it was easy to understand why their relationship hadn’t worked—two very different people, with very different desires for their respective futures. I guess I’m still left wondering why this prequel was necessary.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
August 17, 2015
3.5 Stars
April 16, 2022
When a series gets a prequel, I'm never sure if I should start with that or read things in publication order. I started with this one, but I'm not sure if I would have enjoyed the characters more if I had read book 1 first.
Miah and Raina have been friends since childhood, and while Raina has always had a secret crush on Miah, he only really started noticing her that way over the past year. They become lovers, but Miah doesn't do casual, and Raina has no interest in marriage or having children one day. So, not really a match made in heaven here.
What I appreciate about this book is how honest it is. Raina doesn't cave or pretend that she might change her mind about the future she wants. She stands up to Miah and stands behind her convictions that motherhood isn't for her.
But, this book really isn't much of a romance. Neither character seems to feel that strongly for the other. It feels more like "why not?" for both of them rather than a real romantic connection. Near the end, they claim that they're in love, but they don't really have anything besides sex, so it certainly doesn't feel like they're in love.
The book does a pretty good job of showing the life cycle of a doomed relationship, but I probably would have felt more of Miah's heartbreak if it had actually felt like they really did love each other.
And what's with all the motorcycle covers? When I picked this up I thought it was going to have something to do with a motorcycle club, but .....nope. Miah owns a motorcycle that they ride once, but that's about it. Weird. But I guess a picture of a group of friends hanging out at a bar isn't as exciting.
Miah and Raina have been friends since childhood, and while Raina has always had a secret crush on Miah, he only really started noticing her that way over the past year. They become lovers, but Miah doesn't do casual, and Raina has no interest in marriage or having children one day. So, not really a match made in heaven here.
What I appreciate about this book is how honest it is. Raina doesn't cave or pretend that she might change her mind about the future she wants. She stands up to Miah and stands behind her convictions that motherhood isn't for her.
But, this book really isn't much of a romance. Neither character seems to feel that strongly for the other. It feels more like "why not?" for both of them rather than a real romantic connection. Near the end, they claim that they're in love, but they don't really have anything besides sex, so it certainly doesn't feel like they're in love.
The book does a pretty good job of showing the life cycle of a doomed relationship, but I probably would have felt more of Miah's heartbreak if it had actually felt like they really did love each other.
And what's with all the motorcycle covers? When I picked this up I thought it was going to have something to do with a motorcycle club, but .....nope. Miah owns a motorcycle that they ride once, but that's about it. Weird. But I guess a picture of a group of friends hanging out at a bar isn't as exciting.
October 27, 2019
I was wary of reading this at first, as I hate reading about the past relationships of main characters I love, especially as I loved Miah’s HEA. But this wasn’t too bad. And thankfully - for readers who loved Nicki and Miah as I did - what Miah and Raina had didn’t even come close in terms of the intensity, love, care and commitment that Nicki and him had.
October 27, 2024
WARNING: NO HEA! Not a romance. A prequel for a romance series but not a romance. Like other reviewers, I didn't know that going in. And it really spoiled the rest of the series, which I'm not going to read, because it ruined a heroine and a hero (who get separate stories) for me. I usually 1-star only DNFs, but ...
June 16, 2015
Cara McKenna is one of my autobuy authors so when this book came out, I got it without reading the blurb or even caring about who the book was about because I genuinely adore all the characters in the series. BUT what you should know about this story is that it’s actually a prequel even though it’s listed as book 2.5 in the series. It occurs a couple of years before the first book and actually features Raina, a heroine who already has her HEA in the previous book. So you’re probably thinking, who is the hero then?
Well, Jeremiah Church, or better known as Miah, is the hero. Readers who follow the series will remember him as the ex-lover to Raina and DRIVE IT DEEP is basically their story before the rest of the series happened.
I will say that I freaking LOVED Miah. I think he was just the prefect blend of hot and commanding and sweet and considerate so I’m actually quite bummed he only has a novella so far. Sadly the next book in the series is not his either (although I am absolutely thrilled to have Casey’s book). As you can guess because Raina already has her HEA with someone else that this book doesn’t really end in a traditional HEA. It’s really about their sweltering romance that heats up quickly and then combusts, burning out probably as quick as it had come on. That being said though, I still really loved this story, especially the idle banter and dynamics of the characters when they are all together so I do think it is worth the read.
But then again, I wish this were better presented as a PREQUEL NOVELLA because it really confused me as I was reading this book. I think the series would’ve been a lot stronger if it came out in order or perhaps wait until the series was over to give readers the option to read this “extra” at the end. But for this point in the series, I don't think this novella really added anything new to the series.
*ARC provided by publisher
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November 25, 2020
Read my review on RomanceJunkies.com by clicking on the link below:
http://www.romancejunkiesreviews.com/...
DRIVE IT DEEP (DESERT DOGS #2.5) is a novella that is actually a prequel to the DESERT DOGS SERIES. It's edgy, dark with a lot of loving and just plain old S-E-X but never does it take place where you expect it! Miah is nothing if not creative.
McKenna's DRIVE IT DEEP has childhood friends Miah, Raina, Vince and Alex. who have a long history, finally being together again. But things sure have changed. Miah is finding himself attracted to Raina and she's reciprocating those feelings even though they've been friends a very long time and never felt any attraction - well maybe one of them hasn't! Alex is a deputy by day and a binge drinker by night and his friends are getting very concerned with the situation. Vince has just been let out of prison and has to acclimate himself back to the outside. Their interactions and actions are real when dealing with their friendships, their jobs and families along with the mundane and routine of their everyday life. Miah decides to take his attraction to Raina to the next level or two which puts things off kilter. He and she are definitely not on the same page as to what should come next since he's a third generation rancher and part of the wealthiest family in town and she's an alcoholic bartender's daughter that had to play the adult card way too young and never even graduated from high school. There are family and friends, some lighthearted and tender moments that get drowned out by the hot and heavy sex, vivid descriptions of the land, the town and the loving, arguments, reminisces, fear, caring, happiness, sadness and loss. There was a storyline interspersed between the loving but not enough for my taste. I did enjoy the interactions between Miah and his parents except when they were poking at his relationship with Raina. The ending is what I expected but it was too abrupt and I didn't get the closure I wanted. Can there be a happily ever after?
McKenna is a new to me author but I believe I may have read one or two of her books many years ago. I may give a couple of her other books outside this series a try to see if my interest is sparked more since this one was definitely out of my comfort zone.
http://www.romancejunkiesreviews.com/...
DRIVE IT DEEP (DESERT DOGS #2.5) is a novella that is actually a prequel to the DESERT DOGS SERIES. It's edgy, dark with a lot of loving and just plain old S-E-X but never does it take place where you expect it! Miah is nothing if not creative.
McKenna's DRIVE IT DEEP has childhood friends Miah, Raina, Vince and Alex. who have a long history, finally being together again. But things sure have changed. Miah is finding himself attracted to Raina and she's reciprocating those feelings even though they've been friends a very long time and never felt any attraction - well maybe one of them hasn't! Alex is a deputy by day and a binge drinker by night and his friends are getting very concerned with the situation. Vince has just been let out of prison and has to acclimate himself back to the outside. Their interactions and actions are real when dealing with their friendships, their jobs and families along with the mundane and routine of their everyday life. Miah decides to take his attraction to Raina to the next level or two which puts things off kilter. He and she are definitely not on the same page as to what should come next since he's a third generation rancher and part of the wealthiest family in town and she's an alcoholic bartender's daughter that had to play the adult card way too young and never even graduated from high school. There are family and friends, some lighthearted and tender moments that get drowned out by the hot and heavy sex, vivid descriptions of the land, the town and the loving, arguments, reminisces, fear, caring, happiness, sadness and loss. There was a storyline interspersed between the loving but not enough for my taste. I did enjoy the interactions between Miah and his parents except when they were poking at his relationship with Raina. The ending is what I expected but it was too abrupt and I didn't get the closure I wanted. Can there be a happily ever after?
McKenna is a new to me author but I believe I may have read one or two of her books many years ago. I may give a couple of her other books outside this series a try to see if my interest is sparked more since this one was definitely out of my comfort zone.
February 24, 2017
« Some things were just for pleasure, just for now. Just for however-long, and afterward, for the memories. Plenty of wonderful things ended—meals, parties, vacations. Nobody would ever suggest that you not bother experiencing them just because they were going to come to an end one day. »
February 24, 2017
Raina and Miah's short lived story. You know the story because it was written after the first two books. I was dreading the outcome and how bad it would be, but was surprised, still sad but an entertaining one! That is why read sometimes entertainment.
June 18, 2015
Review posted at: http://bookcrushbookreviews.com/2015/...
Rating: 4 stars
Jeremiah Church, rancher of Three C's in Fortuity, Nevada knows what he wants his future to hold. I loved meeting Miah on a deeper level, prior to the pain you could feel coming from him in previous installments. We find out early that Miah loves, he loves hard, with all of himself. Raina and Miah have been friends since they were young. This proof of their history, friendship and trust built on a steady foundation. We run into Alex and Vince in this novella, and we witness the excessive drinking Alex was partaking in on a regular basis when off duty prior to that horrific night (in a previous installment). The heat and compassion was off the charts. This novella aided in filling in some missing pieces for me, clearing up some question about what happened between Raina and Miah. I want more of Miah and I can't wait to see what Cara brings us next! Give Miah a try and find your next book crush!
Rating: 4 stars
Jeremiah Church, rancher of Three C's in Fortuity, Nevada knows what he wants his future to hold. I loved meeting Miah on a deeper level, prior to the pain you could feel coming from him in previous installments. We find out early that Miah loves, he loves hard, with all of himself. Raina and Miah have been friends since they were young. This proof of their history, friendship and trust built on a steady foundation. We run into Alex and Vince in this novella, and we witness the excessive drinking Alex was partaking in on a regular basis when off duty prior to that horrific night (in a previous installment). The heat and compassion was off the charts. This novella aided in filling in some missing pieces for me, clearing up some question about what happened between Raina and Miah. I want more of Miah and I can't wait to see what Cara brings us next! Give Miah a try and find your next book crush!
September 5, 2015
I get it, Cara McKenna doesn't "do" HEAs. It sometimes drives me nuts (seriously, are Laurel and Flynn married with babies in some alternate universe??) but generally I can deal with it because at least there's a HFN and I can let my imagination create the ending I really want. But I think this kind of story is a big miss - for me. The writing is fantastic, as it always is, and the sex is HOT. But if you need to have at least the possibility of a HEA in order to read a book, you shouldn't read this one. It could sour you on a character (like it did me) and potentially ruin one or more of the other books in the series, which would be sad because there is a lot to enjoy.
April 28, 2016
The beginning
"When people show you who they are believe them"-Maya Angelo
When we fail to believe what we see, we become vulnerable. Like our fingerprints, people are different and do not always respond to life's events in the same manner; therefore, the idea of love may not bring about the change we desire for others. This is Miah's and Raina's predicament.
With this novella, we know the end from the beginning, yet hope springs eternal that Miah will receive the desires of his heart.
This is a "good read" that challenges the reader to understand our stories began at home and not where we are.
"When people show you who they are believe them"-Maya Angelo
When we fail to believe what we see, we become vulnerable. Like our fingerprints, people are different and do not always respond to life's events in the same manner; therefore, the idea of love may not bring about the change we desire for others. This is Miah's and Raina's predicament.
With this novella, we know the end from the beginning, yet hope springs eternal that Miah will receive the desires of his heart.
This is a "good read" that challenges the reader to understand our stories began at home and not where we are.
June 22, 2015
this is somewhere in the 4 - 4.5 star range for me. If you are current with the series, you know this book isn't going to end well...at all. The way this novella is told is exactly what I wanted to know about Raina and Miah. It broke my heart and honestly, it didn't put it back together...and isn't that what happens sometimes? We already know she has her HEA and man o'man, I hope Miah gets his soon because old boy deserves some happy.
Here's my review over on Romance@Random
http://romanceatrandom.com/35742/
Here's my review over on Romance@Random
http://romanceatrandom.com/35742/
June 17, 2015
Full review at www.bookcrack.com. This novella made me re-read this series with fresh eyes and enjoy it more! This should be book 0.5 NOT 2.5! If you are NEW to the Desert Dogs series, or have only read book 1, I'd say -You'll love DRIVE IT DEEP which is a glance at 2 yrs PRIOR to book 1. It's a fantastic novella, pure McKenna smexyness BUT it needs to be labeled A SERIES PREQUEL as in 0.5... NOT 2.5. This is Miah (Jeremiah Church) and Raina's story BEFORE books 1 and 2. It's everything I would have wanted/not wanted for Miah and Raina before but not after book 2. Too many feels!!!
August 1, 2017
I got this novella from the library to see if I wanted to read on in the series. I guess it is a prequel introducing the town and its characters. None of them were very compelling. The main couple featured has grown up together as friends. They have distinct ideas about what they want in life and only one of them is willing to compromise at all. This is not HEA or even HFN. There is too much sex and not enough else.
I am not sure if there is or will be a motorcycle club or what the Desert Dogs are. The main guy does ride a motorcydle but this aspect is barely mentioned.
I am not sure if there is or will be a motorcycle club or what the Desert Dogs are. The main guy does ride a motorcydle but this aspect is barely mentioned.
August 30, 2015
Honestly, Raina has to be the luckiest person in Fortuity- she banged two hottest guys there.
So, if you heard anything about this novella, than you know what's the deal, but if you didn't - it's not traditional romance because it ends up with a heartbreak.
I, personally enjoyed it in context of whole series because 1)it confirmed that Duncan is the right guy for Raina and 2)because I love Miah even more now and want to see him happy.
March 24, 2019
A great prequel
Love Cara McKenna and all her stories...this story was a great insight to Raina & Miah. Looking forward to reading Miah's story now. (I have already read the first three in the series) Can't wait to see what other enticing stories and series this author has waiting for me!
Love Cara McKenna and all her stories...this story was a great insight to Raina & Miah. Looking forward to reading Miah's story now. (I have already read the first three in the series) Can't wait to see what other enticing stories and series this author has waiting for me!
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