Ever make it your life goal to stay far, far away from sexy men who live and breathe vehicles? No? Just me?
Most of my life has been spent hiding behind one of the West Coast’s most infamous players in the automotive industry.
But when he unexpectedly dies and the family business falls under new management, I’m forced to step from the shadows. After being relocated across country, they demand I infiltrate the local street racing scene, find out who runs it, and aid in a takeover.
I convince myself there’s no other choice. Failing to carry out these demands will result in the unraveling of my darkest secrets… the unraveling of me.
Then, I meet them — the men who bring light into my otherwise spiraling dark existence.
They are intoxicating, dangerous, and irresistible. And, as if things aren’t complicated enough, they’re my only leads to the underground world of fast cars and dirty money.
Will I be able to unearth enough information to keep my secrets buried without losing these men who are quickly stealing my heart?
Buckle up for Fast & Furious meets Driven in this high-octane, edge-of-your-seat Reverse Harem Romance!
Adell Ryan is a hubby/wife pseudonym. Adell writes unconventional love stories about fierce women and their numerous male suitors. Because let's be honest, we need more than one to satisfy our multi-dimensional needs. Right? Ryan simply puts up with Adell's crazy fantasies and toots her horn regularly. Occasionally he'll add in a shoulder pat, and a deep, sexy "Damn that's good stuff."
That southern boy (bless him) stole this northern girl's heart and they live together in the deep south, raising their three boys. When Adell isn't writing she's homeschooling — primarily working on dictation, making sure they say 'creek' instead of 'crick' and 'fire' instead of 'fer.' She also dabbles in photography and graphic design. Oh yeah, and reading. Every. Night. Much to Ryan's dismay. Sometimes she puts the steamy stuff down and gives him a quick kiss on the forehead though.
3.5 Stars! This was pretty good but I wish the story was a bit more self contained. I know this is a first book in the series but this feels more like a prologue in some ways rather than a first book. The plot was very background and mostly didn't show up until the end and the relationship is still very underdeveloped. There is also a page about the content warnings for this book and definitely read those before going in.
I also want to say right up front that this book has some "not like other girls" issues. There's a lot of comments about how impressive and different it is that Remi knows stuff about cars and Remi talks about how she doesn’t own any skirts and I just found that really annoying. Books being published in 2020 should know by this point that this kind of thing is not acceptable. It's demeaning and those kinds of comments from the love interests don't make them seem more attractive. If you want to make your characters unique, give them interesting character traits don't just talk about how they know so much more compared to all other females .
The relationships in this book were pretty good, though underdeveloped. I read this book because I've been really into reverse harem romances lately and I basically got what I expected. I felt a little weird about the pacing of the relationship because it seemed to somehow progress very fast and very slow. Remi met and got with Trenton, Hayes, and Crow (sort of) pretty quickly but then they never progressed past referring to each other as a one-night stand which made the relationship seem very slow. I think it will probably develop a lot more in book two but I wanted a little more from this book.
There actually was less plot in here than I expected and also less car racing in here than I was expecting. I really wanted to read a story centered on street racing because that seemed very interesting as a backdrop for a romance but unfortunately we didn't actually see much. We know all the characters have a history of street racing and I would definitely like to see more of that in book two and maybe an actual street race as well.
I think I'll definitely be picking up book two because this book did leave me intrigued enough to want to read more and I do want to see how the relationship develops. This book ended really suddenly and I do wish there was a little more substance in this one but I do think it could be a really good set-up for the next part and I'm interested to see what happens.
I didn't have time for another ARC. I already had enough on my plate, combined with the other books I really wanna read right now. But I couldn't pass this one when it was still available when I woke up yesterday morning. And I don't even know why! I'm not a car girl. I know nothing about cars. I know nothing about racing. I have a drivers license, but didn't drive in over 10 years! But I started reading yesterday evening and already almost didn't wanna stop.
This book is, in a way, an amazing car ride in itself. It has a certain thrill, a certain vibe that fits the scene I envision when thinking of illegal street races. The love for cars AND the love for that thrill is so visible and there. It's in the way the characters think and feel and talk. It's in everything they do. It's in their choices, in how they spend their free time. It's everywhere. And I might not understand all the details, but I do understand passion when I see it. And I love a burning passion like this.
On top of that there are a lot of amazing layers in this story. Quite soon in the story we are already introduced to the abuse our heroine is enduring. I know it's a sensitive topic, but the way it's described here feels very realistic, and therefore raw and painful, to me. The scheming, planning and hidden agenda also adds a little extra thrill to everything and then there are all those little snippets of information slowly being revealed keeping me on the tips of my toes.
The true star of this book however was the chemistry between the characters. I don't think I read many books where the chemistry is so well done. I could feel it so clearly while reading! It was there in every conversation. It was there in every little touch and moment. It was there right from the start. I usually don't like insta-lust that much, but in this case even I could feel the tension in the air and counted down until the characters acted on it.
And I know that this is only the beginning. I can't wait to read the next book!
I’ve been searching for some crew racing books ever since I read Cala Riley’s Shadow Crew series and I’ve never found any that hooked me… until now!
Adell Ryan is a new to me author but when I tell you I binged the heck out of Smoke and Rubber and then immediately downloaded book two and jumped at right into that one, I mean, nobody talk to me, do not disturb, this series is EVERYTHING
I am only 66% in when I write some thoughts about this book down. I am still confused about the story line and what this is all about. I do not see any fast and furious type of things here. The girl know about cars and seems to know about motors or how to boost the speed of a car, whether it is custom made or just what the car dealer sells.
Now after finishing the book: I don't know wether I like the book or not. On the one hand, I like Remi, the harem guys also the topic car racing and the protective brother. But I did not like that there were so many things dropped without explanation: some we will get hinds at and some we will get no hinds. And I also disliked Remi (and like her). Because after being trained from Porter, being his girlfriend and the time after his rape victim and punching ball, you can't effort to be this naive. I get the victim trope that she thinks that she has to let it happen, when Porter wants, but on the other hand she never tried to say now or tried to ask her family for help. And I think her Dad and her brother would have been on her side. And she could have leaned self defence, which would have helped her with Porter and also in the men dominated field of car racing. And all comes back to the secrets she and Porter are keeping: didn't her Dad and brother know that Porter was her boyfriend? They sure never got that he trained her when she was a teenager. And why were Remi and Porter there when her Dad was killed? Was Porter somehow involved?
I think it annoys me the most that we actually do not get a lot information about all the questions we have. I like the relationship building of the harem. The book is a medium burn. So I enjoyed the relationship building, the bikes and cars and Remi and her harem.
The Characters: Names and descriptions of the persons
Smoke & Rubber is the first book in this new contemporary series by Adell Ryan. This book centers around Remi who has grown up in the world of cars and street racing. After the untimely death of one of the most important people in her life, Remi and her brother Jude move to the other side of the country to start fresh. This means they need to learn all the secrets of the highly unmentioned street racing scene in their new home. Remi is forced to join in the hunt and that is where things start to really get interesting.
First let me say that I absolutely LOVE Remi. She is quick witted, smart mouthed and fun. Yet she is carrying around some deep secrets. She's stuck in a situation she's working hard to get out of. We have three guys in this book. Crow, Hayes and Trenton. Each is different and has their own benefits and flaws. They all have this instant connection to Remi, even if they want to fight it. The easy banter they have with each other is great. I adore Trenton and his fun personality.
While Remi is trying to dig out their secrets and find the information she needs, she's also running from some hard truths. The more she learns about things in her life, the more she's unsure of herself and her objective. She finds herself in a situation where she's going to have to make a touch choice. I just hope she makes the right one.
We get multiple POV in this book which I always love. We also get a couple sexy times and even a little multiple player action if you know what I mean.
So I just want to address something about this book and it is mentioned in the forward of the book. Remi finds herself in a mentally and physically abusive situation. If this is a trigger for you then you may want to skip this book. It's nothing that is overly descriptive or terribly traumatizing to read. But there are a couple scenes where this takes place. It has a major part to play in the book and is there for a reason though. Remi wouldn't be in the situation she's in if these things hadn't happened. I can't wait to see that douchewaffle get what's coming to him. I have a feeling there is so much more than we even know yet.
And can I take a second to just say I LOVE this cover. It's actually one of the things that got me about this book. Not gonna lie, I never read the blurb. lol I do that sometimes when I know it's an author I love and the cover just really hooks me in. I mean, I obviously knew it had something to do with racing but that's it. This book was so much more than that though. Oh and great news for those of you like me. It doesn't end on a cliffhanger! It sets everything up for the next book and yea we want to know what happens and what Remi chooses to do. But we aren't left throwing the kindle across the room b/c of some major event that left us up in the air. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good cliffy on occasion but it's also nice to have the first book in a new series that doesn't leave us hanging.
So yea, there are so many good things about this book and I'm super invested in the story and the characters. I really feel like there are layers in this story we haven't even broken into really yet. Can't wait for Crash & Burn to get here even if I'm a little scared by the title!!
This was an OK start to a new RH series. I did struggle with getting into the book early on. It just wasn't (even throughout) as exciting as I thought it'd be. I was expecting lots of action, racing and thrills but everything was pretty muted and so I'm hoping it will pick up as the series goes on. There is a mild cliffy end that I'm not a fan of. The heroine has been given a literal golden ticket by her (3) men and she has the opportunity now to either betray them, stick with them or pick another as of yet unknown option. I'm still not 100% clear on what her goal has been through the whole book so I'm also hoping on some answers about that. She's moved into town with her brother and his bestie-also her ex-and has been going around town scoping/snooping for any signs of a racing community. There is also some rather unpleasant circumstances revolving around her ex and his mistreatment of her so beware of certain triggers when reading this. All in all I'm really hoping the next book will deliver all the action and excitement I'm hoping for.
Wowzer this book took me on one hell of a HOT sexy ride filled with some crazy twists. Remi arrives in the new town with her brother and his best mate who is also her ex (brother doesn't know). They ask Remi to find the local street racing club in which her research leads her to first meet Trenton who flirt like crazy to the incoming of Crow who distracts Trenton so she can make her escape of the bar to run into the sexy hot nerdy Hayes. With her number left behind Trenton texts and from here we see things grow hotter and hotter between Remi and Trenton and then followed by Hayes and Crow in their own way. Whilst also taking you on a fast paced ride of speed and hot cars to leave you wondering if Remi will fall into Crows trap. Totally a million percent recommend this mind blowing sexy hot, adrenaline rush of a ride. Wow just wow.
Let me start by saying that I don’t usually like Contemporary RH. There are a few series (like 5) i’ve really enjoyed but compared to the dozens of PNRH i’ve read contemporary usually falls pretty flat for me. This being said, I honestly really enjoyed this series. There was enough going on that it kept me entertained and invested, and wasn’t full of OW/ Miscommunication drama you tend to see as the main plot points for most Contemp RH.
I also have to admit that I don’t know ANYTHING about cars (besides the basics everyone else knows/ needs to know to have a car), so I was a little uneasy going into this book. I was worried I wouldn’t understand half of the scenes but I was pleasantly surprised! Most things mentioned you don’t need to understand to understand the story (although i’m sure having knowledge of this enhances reader experience) and some of it can kinda be understood through context clues and basic dialogue.
I also thought the relationship between the FMC and her abuser was very realistic. Usually for victims of abuse of any kind, it is someone they know/ are close to and don’t expect, and it steadily gets worse and worse over time. It often also starts out loving with quiet manipulation and then the abuser progressively gets more and more controlling, which is how it’s portrayed here with Remi.
I probably would’ve given this book 4 stars if it wasn’t for a few things: 1.) the scene with Crow, Porter & Remi at the Pier or harbor or wherever really put me off. It felt a lot like victim blaming to me, and that’s not ok at all. that whole scene really made me feel uneasy. 2.) I would’ve liked to see more of her brother and their relationship. If all these guys are noticing her bruises why the hell isnt her ‘protective’ older brother?? and porter is dropping read flags left, right, and center, even in front of her brother so wtf is going on here? 3.) there were some necessary details that slipped through the cracks for the whole ‘mysterious situation’ thing the author is trying to do, which don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed a lot, but there were too many things glossed over in order to keep readers intrigued. Like why was porter in charge of all of her dads affairs and made head of estate? I know this will probably be explained next book but it just doesn’t make sense to me.
Other than that, writing was great, there were little obvious errors, and the plot line flowed fairly well, so I would definitely recommend this book!
Smoke & Rubber is the first book in the adrenalin induced-street racing-RH series Burnout.
One of my favorite quotes not only can be about racing but also life in general. "See, that’s the thing about racing. Every decision is a chance taken. Every rpm a risk." That line is perfect quote to sum up this book with adrenaline rush moments and fast decision making situations. Readers should expect ; manipulation, betrayal, Abuse, friendship, loyalty and even lust. There is a villain the readers will love to hate, a street team to desire and a feisty lead female with a troubled past full of secrets to root for.
Will the secrets she hides be her undoing or will a hot street team be her salvation? Read to find out what happens when Remi has to decide where her loyalties lie and who she can trust.
I love me a good reverse harem, and on top of that street racing? Oh i was so damn excited to read this book.
Main Character Thoughts
REMI I loved the Remi was not clueless, her knowledge of bikes/cars and racing was super hot and the guys thought so too. I loved her easy banter with Trenton and Hayes seriously I would rate their banter 5⭐️'s. Remi has an abusive ex that trained/groomed her, not only is it her ex, but her brother's best-friend. Remi is very clearly in a victim mindset and has not asked for help at this point in the series.
TRENTON Trenton from the beginning is hard not to like, he has such an easy flow with Remi and the boys he calls best friends. I love all of his comments about Remi, genuinely made me laugh. When Trenton and Hayes offered their house to Remi in case she needed a safe space?? OMG I almost cried, these two are seriously so damn sweet.
HAYES Our cute little nerdy and awkward Hazerbeam. How can you not love Hayes blushing and stuttering? Seriously though Hayes is so genuine and sweet and I just adored him. It isn't fully revealed but it is clear that he has experience with abuse and therefore sees the signs in Remi and tries to reach out to help. I love his relationship with Trenton and Crow as well.
CROW Yes the classic brooding and grumpy tatted bad boy. I loved Crow and his attempt at denying the sparks and attraction that he feels towards Remi. Also the fact that even after Remi insisted she could drive home alone and he still followed her and therefore saved her from Porter was everything. I LOVED THAT PART. He is definitely in hardcore denial and anger mode at the end of the book which stresses me out, but I am excited for more.
❌Elements I didn't love❌ ▪️ Not a lot of racing in this first book? not sure if we will get more in later books? ▪️ Only 1 sex scene with all 3 involved, and even then crow wasn't fully involved. ▪️ I wanted a little more clarity in this first book with her past and history? felt like a long prologue that could have been combined with book 2 (maybe).
🖤Elements I did love🖤 ▪️ Multi-POV ▪️ Banter ▪️ Short Chapters ▪️ Cliffhanger for next book
Overall, I did enjoy this book and I am excited for the next one, it just felt like it was missing a little something. If you like reverse harems I would 8/10 recommend to you. I cannot wait to get more details from the next book and hopefully piece together more of Remi's past. I am also excited to see how this golden ticket and the car club plays out.
⚠️TW Include but are not limited to: Rape, Abuse, Sexual Harassment, Murder, Panic Attacks⚠️
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AVERTISSEMENT!! Ce livre est TRÈS CHAUD!!!! Translation: WARNING!! This book is HOT!) it Revs up from zero to sixty in the time it takes you to swipe the page!! you’re libel to jump the nearest & dearest or wear out the... well ya know.... make sure it’s recharged & you have a back up for you’re back up.... moving on.... I say this a LOT! I am not a fan of contemporary reads. I’ve always said if I’m gonna sit down & lose myself in a book, I’m gonna go to another planet, galaxy, world, para-universe, era, history, thriller/mystery FAR, FAR AWAY!! Every so often an author peaks my interest & am offered something special from the contemporary world....... Well this is one of them.....RH is definitely a different universe by far, & most are sooooo bogged down by the sex scenes that their is no story & it feels like straight up porn. Hey not knocking brain porn BUUUTTTT, if I want that I’m gonna just buy that & watch it with the hubby For fun with the release. Again if I’m going in to forget about my troubles, Fibromyalgia, this DAMN PANDEMIC (am a nurse sooo yeaahhh you think you’re tired!! I’ve been blessed & have been Neg throughout but I’ve lost some patients & it sucks) But I digress.....One hell of a heroine that gets herself in a situation & she doesn’t know how to get Herself out of. A brother she loves & is in business with but is ashamed of her secrets & wants to protect him & much as he does her. Enter some sexy men & their hot rods!! ( Am a huge HUGE fan of classic cars including muscle cars!!) So this is a girl after my own Tom-boy heart. Is it just me?? That its sooooo damn sexy the way a man can handle & control allllll that power under a hood??!! Drive a stick shift?!! As well as his own??! My hubby taught himself on one not far after me met.... sorry got lost.... Just totally sucked into this one!! I flew through it less than 12. That says ALOT!! Now I want to scream cause got to wait!!! HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Wow what a wild ride this book is. New series in a genre that I thought had everything and I've read a lot but this is with race cars and couldn't recall reading something like this. Remi moves across country due to a death someone close. Now needs to learn the rules and is asked to infiltrate in the street racing. I loved her smartmouth caracter and snarky attitude. Loved the guys too. They are distinct from each other and have the caracteristics of a real human which makes them relatable. All having secrets and some fight the attraction there is. Can't wait to see what book 2 brings! Need more of Remi and the guys.
This was one heck of a ride. It is jammed packed with action, drama, suspense and hot sexy scenes. It pulls you in and doesn’t let go. It is well written and has a magnificent flow to the story. It is addictive and has you so impatiently waiting to read the next book in the series. It does have some triggers that may affect some but I will also so that they were tastefully written. I love Remi's sassy and kick butt attitude. She is the epitome of what you expect with a racer chick. Trenton, Hayes, and Crow have these amazing personalities that are so different but mesh so well together. This is in fact a must read that doesn’t disappoint other than having to wait a bit to find out how this continues.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
My check engine light is on cause holy smoking Supra! That was so freaking good! I read the blurb and instantly knew I had to read it. The Fast and The Furious is my favorite movie so anything car/racing related, I have to read. I instantly loved the guys. Their personalities showed right away and I love when authors actually show us that. I’ve read books where you don’t feel like you know much about the characters and I can’t connect with that. Remi hit the jackpot for sure. I’m excited to see where the next book takes us and if any secrets will come out. I hope Remi will grow more confident and step up. I’m so glad you did decide to write this and share it with us. It’s only going to get better and the stakes are only going to get higher.
I read ALOT of books and it’s always nice when an author can draw me into something new and keep me guessing. The MC isn’t perfect, she’s tragically broken (and as in real life, unknowingly broken) and the author takes us along as a she struggles. Glad I came across this new series; can’t wait for the next one! *trigger warning* & *cliffhanger*
This was a great start to a new series. I have read nothing like this before. I find the world Adell has created with the cars and racing utterly fascinating. The guys are hot too. 😉😉 But, she doesn't stop there. This story also has some mystery, a whole heap of lies, betrayel, twists and turns. You have multiple POV's from Remi and her guys so the secrets and lies are known to you but, the underlying mystery is driving this story along. I can not wait to see what's "under the hood", in the next book.
I happened upon this book looking to complete a prompt that included a car or truck on the cover. I quickly was able to adapt it to plenty of other book club prompts. I need to warn a few though.
This book may be a Trigger. Trigger warning for domestic violence and rape.
Remi has just moved to a new town with her brother and his best friend. They were a big deal on the West Coast in the automotive industry, including racing. Now trying to set up shop on the East Coast, Remi is recruited to look into the local scene. When she gets involved with the competition, Porter (aka best friend) true colors shine.
Butterfly Stomach Clench: when your stomach clenches with excitement and feels like a heard of butterflies just took wing because the book you are reading has immersed you so deeply into its world you are going to combust.
This is my first book by this author and I am in love! I stumbled upon this book on Facebook read the blurb and decided to give it a chance!! I am so glad I did!! I loved the characters and the storyline of this book I just pre ordered book 2 I cannot wait
Hot guys, fast cars and secrets When moving trying to get intel leads to friendships that get tested. She holds many secrets and meets 3 hot guys that want to get to know her. Will the truth come out about why is sneaking around with them? Will she find safety with these three men or will she be in danger?
I didn't see a trigger warning before starting this book, the way the kindle opens the book to the first chapter meant I didn't see the author's note. I think there should be a trigger warning added after the blurb. Whilst it's not explicit the physical and sexual abuse isn't something you can ignore. It's apparent from the very start of the book, and made me pause before continuing.
That said I did still enjoy the book, once I adjusted to that content and I'm looking forward to seeing how Remi's story progresses in the rest of the series
I loved reading book 1 in this series. It was fast paced and an easy read. There are some sensitive subjects discussed here but all in all a great book to start this new series!
To start, I did not finish this book. I made it to page 115/307. There are a lot of triggers in this book.
Remi is blackmailed into infiltrating a group of street racers by an ex-boyfriend, Porter. In addition, Porter (her brother's best friend) started brainwashing her at 15 and took her virginity at 18. After they break up, he continues to rape her without consent. One time, he rapes and hits her, she goes the same night and sleeps with the guy she likes. Afterward, she is scared that Porter will find out and hurt her. This is the tone of this book. Physical and emotional assault is just a part of her day.
I have many problems. The biggest is that she lives with her brother, but there is nothing about what happens when he sees her bruise after she was hit in the face. Also, she states that she consented, which "gave her some power." There was no consent. Is this part of the brainwash???? Who sleeps with someone within an hour of being raped? I do not get it.
I could not continue to read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.