5 "My Person Stars!
I'm doing my happy dance!!! I have been in a bad reading slump and this has hopefully pulled me out!!
I absolutely loved every single bit! I really don't know where to start with this review because this book went from a good story with two people I was already rooting for from the previous book, to a surprisingly personal and emotional trip down memory lane. It is definitely my favorite of the series so far.
I guess I will start with Slider. I am completely in love with Slider. In a general book loving gal kind of way, he is perfect in my opinion. In the beginning of this story and in the previous books, he was almost completely closed off and very emotionally damaged. The only two people he could muster any life for were his two sons. I love me an emotionally damages man. (In books! LOL!) He's a single father of two adorable little boys, dealing (not very well) with the loss of his wife to cancer. Or so everyone thinks that was the extent of the damage. Well, this was where the personal comes in. The other part of the situation with Kim, his deceased wife, he was trying to navigate. I observed the almost exact same situation happen between my own parents when I was 17. Only my father had cancer and my mother was the caregiver. I am so happy and thankful to say my father did not pass away at that time. He lived a full healthy happy 20 more years before The Big C took him away. However, because of the situation some of the early years after he was in remission were very strained between he and I. I am so happy we recovered our relationship before it was too late but in the beginning, even being so happy he was alive and well, it was hard. I told that personal story to say that, I may love Slider a little more than my normal book boyfriend love. I have the utmost respect for him because I have seen with my own eyes and felt with my own heart, the emotional tole that situation can take. The courage and strength it takes to set aside personal feelings to do what he did is significant. And it was written very well in this book.
So...
Slider was emotionally damaged, but what was hidden beneath his pain was a really funny, protective, loyal and super sexy man. He was alpha without being overbearing and he was a really great dad. All good and wonderful things! Cora had gone through and survived her own very significant trauma. She had some emotional scares as well, but she was very strong. She was so supportive and loyal to her bestie, Haven. She had a big caring heart for the people she loved, for animals, and she was very funny. Cora was the kind of girl that I'd like to be around. PLUS! She had no TSTL moments. I thought she was going to, but she reigned it in and was quite smart actually. Slider and Cora were absolutely perfect for each other. Their relationship evolved in a mature and authentic kind of way that I enjoyed reading. Sam and Ben, Slider's boys were very good characters and added a lot to the story. Loved them. (I'm a sucker for the kids.) They were pretty much the catalyst for Slider and Cora finding each other. Plus, again, I could relate to Sam.
This book can absolutely be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend the series because it is so good! Very low on the wtfery MC scale. The raven Riders have a mission to help, much more than harm. They try hard to stay on the right side of the law, though it may be crossed sometimes in order to completer their mission. I personally like that because MC book can get out of my comfort zone real fast. There was some intense club action in this one. Especially toward the end of the book, but it was mostly about Slider and Cora building their relationship. I hope this is not the end of the series. So many more Raven Rider brothers need to find their HEA. I'm all in! Happy reading!