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Wild Ones #5
When the River Rises
Cam has always had a soft spot for dangerous guys. Not that he gets much action, dangerous or otherwise. He never managed to outgrow his baby fat, and the most interesting thing about him is his 4.0 GPA.
When Jake shows up, tall, brooding, and in leather, he seems to have stepped straight out of Cam’s fantasies. Except he’s not here to ask Cam out—he’s a bodyguard sent by Cam’s crime-boss aunt.
Her enemies don’t care that Cam has no interest in the family business, so Cam reluctantly agrees to go into hiding, not realizing Jake’s safe house is a thousand miles away on a remote Nebraska farm, where Jake sheds his leather jacket and handgun for a cowboy hat and a horse.
Maybe Cam has no choice but to trust Jake with his safety. But as the summer wears on in this strange land of wild mustangs, old grudges, and thunderstorms, he doesn’t dare trust Jake with his heart.
When the River Rises is the fifth book in the Wild Ones series. Though the story can be read as a stand alone, the series is best enjoyed when read in order.
When Jake shows up, tall, brooding, and in leather, he seems to have stepped straight out of Cam’s fantasies. Except he’s not here to ask Cam out—he’s a bodyguard sent by Cam’s crime-boss aunt.
Her enemies don’t care that Cam has no interest in the family business, so Cam reluctantly agrees to go into hiding, not realizing Jake’s safe house is a thousand miles away on a remote Nebraska farm, where Jake sheds his leather jacket and handgun for a cowboy hat and a horse.
Maybe Cam has no choice but to trust Jake with his safety. But as the summer wears on in this strange land of wild mustangs, old grudges, and thunderstorms, he doesn’t dare trust Jake with his heart.
When the River Rises is the fifth book in the Wild Ones series. Though the story can be read as a stand alone, the series is best enjoyed when read in order.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 27, 2022
About the author
Rachel Ember
21 books203 followersRachel was born and raised in the midwest USA, and now lives there voluntarily, a life choice she only sometimes questions. On the small farm her menagerie calls home, she happily juggles her voracious reading and writing habits with caring for her kids and pets.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
October 16, 2022
It pains me to rate a Rachel Ember book only 3 stars but here we are. I think this is a case of it’s me not you since the story was beautifully written as usual, but several things just didn’t work for me. But let’s start with what did. The smut was hot as hell. The cameos by Bo and Dylan were great and I’ll always have a soft spot for them.
Now to the not so great stuff. Jake had intrigued me from book 4, but he ended up feeling a bit underwhelming here, and I was definitely underwhelmed by his relationship with Cam. They just didn’t do much for me as a couple. I’m not huge fan of second chance romances and it didn’t help that the time shifts were so jarring. The story was also sloooow. Although I usually love slow burns, I was more often than not bored and impatient to get to the next thing. So unfortunately this didn’t end up being the hit I expected.
Now to the not so great stuff. Jake had intrigued me from book 4, but he ended up feeling a bit underwhelming here, and I was definitely underwhelmed by his relationship with Cam. They just didn’t do much for me as a couple. I’m not huge fan of second chance romances and it didn’t help that the time shifts were so jarring. The story was also sloooow. Although I usually love slow burns, I was more often than not bored and impatient to get to the next thing. So unfortunately this didn’t end up being the hit I expected.
October 9, 2022
Rachel tugs on all the heartstrings here
I've loved each book in this series for multiple reasons, not least being the fact these men are flawed and have human frailties.
In When The River Rises we get some answers to the long running questions about the Ranch but we're still no wiser on what caused Matt to change from being the cute kid of Dylan and Bo's book.
However, that doesn't take away anything from the wonderful romance between Jake and Cam which stretches across two years with jumps in the narrative easily identified.
Jake's the 'perfect' anti-hero, he's moody, secretive, he's just Cam's type and their chemistry is clear from the off.
For all that they're relatively young, both under 25, their experiences in life make them more world weary and there's a sense of pending doom hanging around their early interactions.
I really liked the secondary plot here which sees Jake trying to get his life back on track helping to bring down his crooked boss.
Cameron is a sweetheart who doesn't want anything to do his dodgy family either and he's self-conscious about his need to chart rooms and make sure they're clean.
Together, though, they just work, they each provide a reassuring presence which each relies on until the crunch point comes.
There's some real heartbreaking moments in this book, as well as loving ones and I'm really hoping we get the rest of the answers we still don't have in Danny's book.
I've loved each book in this series for multiple reasons, not least being the fact these men are flawed and have human frailties.
In When The River Rises we get some answers to the long running questions about the Ranch but we're still no wiser on what caused Matt to change from being the cute kid of Dylan and Bo's book.
However, that doesn't take away anything from the wonderful romance between Jake and Cam which stretches across two years with jumps in the narrative easily identified.
Jake's the 'perfect' anti-hero, he's moody, secretive, he's just Cam's type and their chemistry is clear from the off.
For all that they're relatively young, both under 25, their experiences in life make them more world weary and there's a sense of pending doom hanging around their early interactions.
I really liked the secondary plot here which sees Jake trying to get his life back on track helping to bring down his crooked boss.
Cameron is a sweetheart who doesn't want anything to do his dodgy family either and he's self-conscious about his need to chart rooms and make sure they're clean.
Together, though, they just work, they each provide a reassuring presence which each relies on until the crunch point comes.
There's some real heartbreaking moments in this book, as well as loving ones and I'm really hoping we get the rest of the answers we still don't have in Danny's book.
September 28, 2022
This should not really be read as a standalone, the rest of the series is equally as good and as some of the characters overlap, you'd be missing out on a lot of background history. Rachel's writing was to die for as per usual, so elegant and descriptive. Jake and Cam made a cute couple, but the to-ing and fro-ing between timelines got to me unfortunately although I was more than happy to catch up with Bo and Dylan again.
November 3, 2022
Too many secrets;
not enough pining. Dull, rough,
confusing structure.
not enough pining. Dull, rough,
confusing structure.
September 29, 2022
This is another great book in the Wild Ones series. The writing is so unusual that it is simultaneously spare, focused, rich, and a tapestry of emotions and actions. In this book, Jake, an estranged member of the Chase family from Nebraska, is in California and protecting Cam, an honest and distant member of a crime family. Jake and Cam are instantly attracted, but circumstances launch them into situations that affect the development of their relationship.
The book is written in two time lines, one that is present day and one from two years prior. Stick with the book a while because in the beginning, if you haven't read the other books recently, it may be a bit confusing. As you get into the book, things become clearer and a family tree in the beginning is also helpful. The book is interesting because it overlaps with the timelines of other books in the series, but it told from the perspective of these MCs, shedding additional light on previous events. This is a book of grief, old familial rifts stemming from the actions of two to three generations prior, forgiveness, danger, healing, and the kind of love that lasts a lifetime. I was especially happy to read more about Dylan and Bo (Bk 3 and on) because we first met them in the 1970 as young men and they are now in their 70s with a relationship that just keeps going in love. I look forward to the next book in the series and Danny's story
The book is written in two time lines, one that is present day and one from two years prior. Stick with the book a while because in the beginning, if you haven't read the other books recently, it may be a bit confusing. As you get into the book, things become clearer and a family tree in the beginning is also helpful. The book is interesting because it overlaps with the timelines of other books in the series, but it told from the perspective of these MCs, shedding additional light on previous events. This is a book of grief, old familial rifts stemming from the actions of two to three generations prior, forgiveness, danger, healing, and the kind of love that lasts a lifetime. I was especially happy to read more about Dylan and Bo (Bk 3 and on) because we first met them in the 1970 as young men and they are now in their 70s with a relationship that just keeps going in love. I look forward to the next book in the series and Danny's story
October 23, 2022
They end up at a sort-of safe house...where Jake turns into a cowboy...
Cam wants nothing to do with his crime family run by his Aunt.
Jake is his tall, lean, leather clad bodyguard, who rescues Cam from a beating, and then they are on the run.
We see wild mustangs, thunderstorms, and family drama, as the men settle into their new surroundings.
This is an intense tale and romance, too.
ENJOY !
=====
January 1, 2023
While I liked both Jake and Cam I hated the time jumps between past and present. I never felt any real chemistry between Jake & Cam because of the way this was written. I loved the first two books in this series and Dylan & Bo’s novella but the other books just aren’t as good for me.
November 20, 2022
4,5/5
J'avais hâte de me plonger dans ce cinquième tome de la saga de Rachel Ember dont j'attends chacune des parutions. J'aime beaucoup cette saga, l'ambiance générale qui s'y dégage et toute cette grande famille dont on apprend à connaitre chacun des membres au fil des tomes. Ici, c'est au tour de Jake Chase, le fameux cousin, le vilain petit canard dont on entend parler depuis un moment, et on peut dire qu'avec ce que nous envoie l'auteur en fin de tome précédent, on sait qu'on va avoir certaines réponses !
Alors alors... Déjà c'est un tome bien différent des autres, ne serait-ce que dans la construction du récit, car l'auteur nous offre des éléments passés et présents. On alterne ainsi deux points de vue différents, celui de Jake et de Cam, à deux moments différents, celui du présent, et des évènements qui ont eu lieu deux ans en arrière.
Alors, j'imaginais qu'un certain personnage allait avoir un plus grand rôle, notamment aux côtés de Jake, vu la situation dans laquelle il se trouve... dommage oui et non, car à la place, nous avons droit à une belle histoire entre Jake et ce curieux Cam.
Jake trempe dans des trucs assez louches, présents et passés... Il va faire la connaissance de Cam par l'intermédiaire de la tante de ce dernier. Les deux hommes vont faire alors un petit bout de chemin ensemble, pour se séparer dans des conditions qu'on connaitra par la suite et enfin se retrouver, deux ans plus tard, encore une fois dans des conditions particulières.
Que j'ai aimé cette histoire de seconde chance ! J'ai tellement aimé les voir apprendre à se connaitre, à s'apprivoiser... On se demande comment leur séparation a pu se passer, et en même temps, on veut tellement qu'ils se retrouvent à nouveau... Rachel Ember a vraiment bien introduit Cameron à cette belle et grande fresque. J'ai adoré ce qu'elle a fait du personnage de Jake, j'ai adoré voir des passages avec son père, et tout ce qui se rattache à la famille Chase. On a droit d'ailleurs à certains passages se déroulant dans le tome précédent, mais du coup sous un autre angle.
L'auteur a bien mené aussi l'intrigue de fond avec Jake et ses activités passées et présentes. La romance est joliment décrite aussi. Il y a un bel équilibre avec notamment les histoires de famille qu'on connait depuis le début. L'auteur prend le temps dans ce roman... Certes nous avons un peu d'action par moment, mais j'ai aimé la lenteur avec laquelle elle a fait évoluer les deux personnages ensemble, leur environnement si paisible aussi, et ce, aux deux différentes périodes pour notre plus grand plaisir !
J'ai hâte de pouvoir lire le tome suivant, j'espère qu'il ne tardera pas trop longtemps <3
J'avais hâte de me plonger dans ce cinquième tome de la saga de Rachel Ember dont j'attends chacune des parutions. J'aime beaucoup cette saga, l'ambiance générale qui s'y dégage et toute cette grande famille dont on apprend à connaitre chacun des membres au fil des tomes. Ici, c'est au tour de Jake Chase, le fameux cousin, le vilain petit canard dont on entend parler depuis un moment, et on peut dire qu'avec ce que nous envoie l'auteur en fin de tome précédent, on sait qu'on va avoir certaines réponses !
Alors alors... Déjà c'est un tome bien différent des autres, ne serait-ce que dans la construction du récit, car l'auteur nous offre des éléments passés et présents. On alterne ainsi deux points de vue différents, celui de Jake et de Cam, à deux moments différents, celui du présent, et des évènements qui ont eu lieu deux ans en arrière.
Alors, j'imaginais qu'un certain personnage allait avoir un plus grand rôle, notamment aux côtés de Jake, vu la situation dans laquelle il se trouve... dommage oui et non, car à la place, nous avons droit à une belle histoire entre Jake et ce curieux Cam.
Jake trempe dans des trucs assez louches, présents et passés... Il va faire la connaissance de Cam par l'intermédiaire de la tante de ce dernier. Les deux hommes vont faire alors un petit bout de chemin ensemble, pour se séparer dans des conditions qu'on connaitra par la suite et enfin se retrouver, deux ans plus tard, encore une fois dans des conditions particulières.
Que j'ai aimé cette histoire de seconde chance ! J'ai tellement aimé les voir apprendre à se connaitre, à s'apprivoiser... On se demande comment leur séparation a pu se passer, et en même temps, on veut tellement qu'ils se retrouvent à nouveau... Rachel Ember a vraiment bien introduit Cameron à cette belle et grande fresque. J'ai adoré ce qu'elle a fait du personnage de Jake, j'ai adoré voir des passages avec son père, et tout ce qui se rattache à la famille Chase. On a droit d'ailleurs à certains passages se déroulant dans le tome précédent, mais du coup sous un autre angle.
L'auteur a bien mené aussi l'intrigue de fond avec Jake et ses activités passées et présentes. La romance est joliment décrite aussi. Il y a un bel équilibre avec notamment les histoires de famille qu'on connait depuis le début. L'auteur prend le temps dans ce roman... Certes nous avons un peu d'action par moment, mais j'ai aimé la lenteur avec laquelle elle a fait évoluer les deux personnages ensemble, leur environnement si paisible aussi, et ce, aux deux différentes périodes pour notre plus grand plaisir !
J'ai hâte de pouvoir lire le tome suivant, j'espère qu'il ne tardera pas trop longtemps <3
October 4, 2022
A romance between two secondary characters from previous books in the series. Both of the timelines in this book (several years ago, and present-day) overlap with the events portrayed in those other books, with said events presented from these characters' POV rather than the POV of the characters from the earlier books. The author takes for granted that readers will remember info/character backstory explained in those earlier books, and so doesn't bother to delve very deeply here; even though I've read (and enjoyed) those previous books, I kept feeling like Cam and Jake's characters, and their romance, were rather underdeveloped. Neither has much of a character arc, either. So, although Ember's writing is still enjoyable, and I liked both Cam and Jake, I didn't find their story, or their romance, as compelling as I did earlier books in the series.
February 22, 2023
When The River Rises - Wild ones Book 5
Cameron Kosta and Jake Falun are the featured characters in this book of the Chase Family in Nebraska.
Jake is the son of Matt who is related to the Chase Family from way back. There was a family estrangement in the previous generation to Matt and Matt still carries that hatred today. He wants part of what he believes is his by right.
Jake is no stranger to trouble himself and he has criminals and the FBI constantly on his back. He does shady work for Edith a woman who is a crime boss. She also is an Aunt to Cameron Kosta, as she was his fathers sister. But he never gets involved with her. Until of course he meets Jake Falun in a bar one night.
Their eyes bore into eye other across the room and Cameron eventually approached Jake to buy him a drink. He is flummoxed and disappointed when Jake brushes him off for some reason. Cameron slips off the stool and flees from the bar. Ends up outside in a side alley wondering what the heck just happened.
A minute later he is on the ground being punched and kicked by two thugs. Curled up in a ball on the ground the beating suddenly stops and he sees Jake beating off the two thugs.
What happened in Cameron’s life after this incident changed his quiet, OCD life forever.
No more as I don’t want to drop spoilers.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::
This one wasn’t my favourite from the Wild Ones Series, that one was Johnny and Owens story, by a long shot.
Here I didn’t like the constant switching back to two years earlier, it confused me, but I guess it was essential to the storyline.
The 2 MC were so opposites, Cam is a quiet School Teacher with huge OCD issues, Jake is involved with shady characters, stealing artefracts from museums for mysterious purposes. Their paths shouldn’t really have ever crossed but when fate interferes what can you do!!!
Cameron Kosta and Jake Falun are the featured characters in this book of the Chase Family in Nebraska.
Jake is the son of Matt who is related to the Chase Family from way back. There was a family estrangement in the previous generation to Matt and Matt still carries that hatred today. He wants part of what he believes is his by right.
Jake is no stranger to trouble himself and he has criminals and the FBI constantly on his back. He does shady work for Edith a woman who is a crime boss. She also is an Aunt to Cameron Kosta, as she was his fathers sister. But he never gets involved with her. Until of course he meets Jake Falun in a bar one night.
Their eyes bore into eye other across the room and Cameron eventually approached Jake to buy him a drink. He is flummoxed and disappointed when Jake brushes him off for some reason. Cameron slips off the stool and flees from the bar. Ends up outside in a side alley wondering what the heck just happened.
A minute later he is on the ground being punched and kicked by two thugs. Curled up in a ball on the ground the beating suddenly stops and he sees Jake beating off the two thugs.
What happened in Cameron’s life after this incident changed his quiet, OCD life forever.
No more as I don’t want to drop spoilers.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::
This one wasn’t my favourite from the Wild Ones Series, that one was Johnny and Owens story, by a long shot.
Here I didn’t like the constant switching back to two years earlier, it confused me, but I guess it was essential to the storyline.
The 2 MC were so opposites, Cam is a quiet School Teacher with huge OCD issues, Jake is involved with shady characters, stealing artefracts from museums for mysterious purposes. Their paths shouldn’t really have ever crossed but when fate interferes what can you do!!!
September 27, 2022
I love this series and have been looking forward to When the River Rises since finishing As the Tallgrass Grows (#4) it was great to finally clear up the mystery that we first encountered in The Long Winter (#1).
I liked finally getting to meet Jake, getting to know him, and learning more about the animosity between him and his cousins. And I loved meeting Cam and getting to know him too, it seems like an unlikely match, but Cam and Jake really hit it off and have big impacts on each other.
This book is told in two timelines, the present-day and two years ago. The chapters alternate between the two with Jake telling the present-day timeline and Cam the one from two years ago. While I usually enjoy dual timeline stories and it was needed to get the whole picture, I found myself wanting to keep focusing on each one and being disappointed when I got pulled out from each timeline.
Jake has so many hidden depths and I liked how Rachel Ember slowly peeled back the layers for us to see, his story and his family situation are not one of happy families, though his uncles Bo and Dylan do a good job of making up for some of the deficits while he was growing up. All isn't as it seems with Jake and we are left to wonder for most of the books what happened after he left Cam.
Cam's aunt is a criminal and the reason he meets Jake in the first place when Jake is charged with keeping him safe. Cam is so far removed from the criminal world and had a nativity to him that I hoped he wouldn't lose.
I thoroughly enjoyed When the River Rises and really hope we get to see the Chase family reunite and heal the rift that was created decades ago.
While this can be read as a stand-alone, I personally would read them in order, there are storylines that are overarching and they are all such great reads you won't be disappointed.
I liked finally getting to meet Jake, getting to know him, and learning more about the animosity between him and his cousins. And I loved meeting Cam and getting to know him too, it seems like an unlikely match, but Cam and Jake really hit it off and have big impacts on each other.
This book is told in two timelines, the present-day and two years ago. The chapters alternate between the two with Jake telling the present-day timeline and Cam the one from two years ago. While I usually enjoy dual timeline stories and it was needed to get the whole picture, I found myself wanting to keep focusing on each one and being disappointed when I got pulled out from each timeline.
Jake has so many hidden depths and I liked how Rachel Ember slowly peeled back the layers for us to see, his story and his family situation are not one of happy families, though his uncles Bo and Dylan do a good job of making up for some of the deficits while he was growing up. All isn't as it seems with Jake and we are left to wonder for most of the books what happened after he left Cam.
Cam's aunt is a criminal and the reason he meets Jake in the first place when Jake is charged with keeping him safe. Cam is so far removed from the criminal world and had a nativity to him that I hoped he wouldn't lose.
I thoroughly enjoyed When the River Rises and really hope we get to see the Chase family reunite and heal the rift that was created decades ago.
While this can be read as a stand-alone, I personally would read them in order, there are storylines that are overarching and they are all such great reads you won't be disappointed.
November 16, 2022
This has been my least enjoyed book in this series, although it's still a 3-4 star read, because Rachel Ember is a great writer. This one follows Jake, a cousin of the original Chase brothers, as he navigates shady dealings and tries to make amends with someone he really hurt in the past. It's dual POV, so we get to see things from Cam's (the other MC) perspective as well. It also shifts between past and present, which can be tricky, but worked here fairly well. It has forced-proximity and second chances tropes. The romance is slow burn-ish and the MCs have okay chemistry. I struggled a lot with the premise, I wasn't sure I understood why things were the way they were and Jake's story arc felt forced, like it didn't really fit with the rest of the series. But we do get some insight into things that happened with the Chases in the past, and there's a HEA. Not Ms Ember's best effort, but a solid read all the same.
October 19, 2022
2.5/5
I'm sad to say this didn't really work for me. 😕 I've enjoyed the other books in the series, especially the first three, but this one just failed to hold my interest.
I didn't warm up much to either Jake or Cam, or really buy the relationship. The time jumps were also really jarring and I kept confusing which timeline and whose POV I was reading. So it just became kind of tiring to try to follow the story. Also I honestly just didn't really care about anything that was going on with the plot/subplots, which just felt a bit too much, and stole away from the relationship building.
So overall it just all felt very meh to me, and I mostly kept reading to find out what went down with "that incident" that was discussed in book one. The epilogue(s) were also pretty disappointing, partly because all throughout the book there's some foreboding regarding "that incident", which gets resolved, but then we're robbed of any on-page interaction with Robbie when it's been previously underlined that this was kind of a big issue to him and the family... 🙄
I think I'm kind of over this family and every single guy in it having their own book, so I'll have to see whether I'll check out the next (last?) book or not. 🤷
I'm sad to say this didn't really work for me. 😕 I've enjoyed the other books in the series, especially the first three, but this one just failed to hold my interest.
I didn't warm up much to either Jake or Cam, or really buy the relationship. The time jumps were also really jarring and I kept confusing which timeline and whose POV I was reading. So it just became kind of tiring to try to follow the story. Also I honestly just didn't really care about anything that was going on with the plot/subplots, which just felt a bit too much, and stole away from the relationship building.
So overall it just all felt very meh to me, and I mostly kept reading to find out what went down with "that incident" that was discussed in book one. The epilogue(s) were also pretty disappointing, partly because all throughout the book there's some foreboding regarding "that incident", which gets resolved, but then we're robbed of any on-page interaction with Robbie when it's been previously underlined that this was kind of a big issue to him and the family... 🙄
I think I'm kind of over this family and every single guy in it having their own book, so I'll have to see whether I'll check out the next (last?) book or not. 🤷
September 27, 2022
This book was well worth the wait. Jake has secrets and his secrets have devastated Cam in the past and threaten to break him now. Their story is told across two timelines, which could have been difficult to understand. However, Ms. Ember writes so beautifully and so well, that it is easy to follow the dual timelines and understand how the story progresses across both.
Their origin story, set against the backdrop of the beautiful Nebraska prairie, is heartbreakingly gorgeous. It’s a slow burn amongst some headstrong horses, fossil hunting and worry that Cam’s crime-boss aunt’s enemies will find him and “eliminate” him.
The sacrifices that Jake makes broke my heart. How do you give up the person you love most in the world?
This book can be read as a standalone, however I highly recommend reading the other books in the Wild Ones series. You don’t need to read them first, but there is an ongoing Chase family story that is well worth the read. And you’ll get to meet other Chase family members that have incredible stories of their own.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.*
Their origin story, set against the backdrop of the beautiful Nebraska prairie, is heartbreakingly gorgeous. It’s a slow burn amongst some headstrong horses, fossil hunting and worry that Cam’s crime-boss aunt’s enemies will find him and “eliminate” him.
The sacrifices that Jake makes broke my heart. How do you give up the person you love most in the world?
This book can be read as a standalone, however I highly recommend reading the other books in the Wild Ones series. You don’t need to read them first, but there is an ongoing Chase family story that is well worth the read. And you’ll get to meet other Chase family members that have incredible stories of their own.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.*
September 26, 2022
Every book that comes out in this series I have enjoyed and this is another that just adds to it. The books don’t have to be read in order and all but the first has an ending but the characters do show up in other books. Its not a problem since the author is great at describing the characters each time.
Cam enjoys living a routine, boring life. He would like to be in a relationship but he knows about the more dangerous lifestyle associated with his aunt and he doesn’t want that. Then during a night out his life changes. He is attracted to Jake but does nothing about it until he has no choice.
Jake comes across as the bad boy. He is given the job of looking out for Cam. While doing so he is forced to take Cam to a safe place while waiting on Cam’s aunt who is also Jake’s boss to let them know it’s safe. I don’t want to give away anything but Jake’s story sure touched my heart. The guy has a hard time having anything go his way.
This story goes into the different lifestyles between big city and small community. Quite a bit of Jake’s family conflicts are brought out. Matt, Jake’s dad’s part in this story sure made me feel for Jake. Between his mom, who is a personality all her own, and his dad it’s a wonder Jake has become the man he is. The thing with this author’s stories, I can never help but like the main characters. These two just made me want the best for both of them together or apart. The only problem I have with this series is it is hard to wait for the next book.
Cam enjoys living a routine, boring life. He would like to be in a relationship but he knows about the more dangerous lifestyle associated with his aunt and he doesn’t want that. Then during a night out his life changes. He is attracted to Jake but does nothing about it until he has no choice.
Jake comes across as the bad boy. He is given the job of looking out for Cam. While doing so he is forced to take Cam to a safe place while waiting on Cam’s aunt who is also Jake’s boss to let them know it’s safe. I don’t want to give away anything but Jake’s story sure touched my heart. The guy has a hard time having anything go his way.
This story goes into the different lifestyles between big city and small community. Quite a bit of Jake’s family conflicts are brought out. Matt, Jake’s dad’s part in this story sure made me feel for Jake. Between his mom, who is a personality all her own, and his dad it’s a wonder Jake has become the man he is. The thing with this author’s stories, I can never help but like the main characters. These two just made me want the best for both of them together or apart. The only problem I have with this series is it is hard to wait for the next book.
November 12, 2022
I've given this a B at AAR.
When the River Rises is the fifth book in Rachel Ember’s Wild Ones series, and it’s a sweet and sensual second-chance romance between the mysterious Jake Chase and Cameron Kosta, the young man Jake is charged with protecting. The events of this book take place in two different timelines – one in the present (in Jake’s PoV), the other two years earlier (in Cam’s) – and because there is a little bit over overlap with some of the events in book four (As the Tallgrass Grows), we get to see a couple of the scenes from that book from Jake’s perspective and learn how they fit into the bigger pitcure. Although Cam and Jake’s story is self-contained, I’d strongly advise reading the other books in the series so as to gain a better understanding of the complicated family dynamics and the unresolved plotlines that are concluded here.
Despite the fact that his aunt Edith is head of the local motorcycle gang. Cam Kosta lives a quiet, routine kind of life; he keeps out of Edith’s way and she keeps out of his and that’s the way Cam likes it. He has good friends, is enjoying training to be a teacher and although he’s yet to find a special someone, his life is pretty good. He’s out with friends one night when the bad boy of his dreams – dark haired, wiry, leather-clad, hot – saunters into the bar he’s at; taking his courage in both hands, Cam approaches him, they get talking and a bit flirty, and Cam thinks things are going well – until the guy suddenly brushes him off. Embarrassed, Cam beats a hasty retreat intending to go home, but before he can get to his car, he’s attacked by two men. Terrified, Cam tries to avoid the kicks and punches when they stop suddenly and he sees Jake is fighting with them. When one of them draws a gun, Jake brazens it out, and the guys run off at the sound of distant sirens. Jake hustles Cam away, explaining that Edith sent him to keep an eye on him.
Jake takes Cam to his dad’s remote, dilapidated trailer in Nebraska, where they can lie low until such time as it’s safe for them to go back to LA. Cam slowly begins to adjust to his new surroundings, doing what he needs to do in order to feel comfortable (he likes things clean and precise, and was teased for it a lot when he was younger) and starting to enjoy the slower, simpler pace of life. He and Jake spend a couple of months there together, the spark of mutual attraction that had lit between them back in the bar that first night growing into something more lasting as their enforced proximity promotes a closeness and understanding that grows into love. But Cam’s dreams of happy ever after are shattered when he wakes up one morning to find Jake gone.
Two years pass and Cam doesn’t see Jake during all that time – not until the day he sees him being arrested and taken away in the back of a police car. In the intervening time, we learn (from Jake, in his PoV) that he’s working for the FBI as an informant or inside-man, and that he’s almost reached the end of his part of whatever bargain he’s made. While in custody, he receives the visit from Johnny Chase (his cousin) and Owen (his childhood best friend) we saw in As the Tallgrass Grows. He’s surprised to see them considering he’s the black sheep of the family (sort of) and has been estranged from Bo and Dylan for some time, but is annoyed at the same time, worrying they might screw up the operation and cause him to have to spend more time doing the FBI’s dirty work.
After Jake is released, he’s surprised to get a text from Cam giving him a time and place to meet, and although knows it’s a bad idea, the pull Cam exerts is as strong as ever, and he can’t not go. Cam is clearly still pissed over Jake’s disappearing act two years before, but even so, he invites Jake to stay at his place until everything blows over. Jake knows he doesn’t deserve Cam’s generosity and ruthlessly squashes any hope that maybe Cam might still feel some affection for him – he doesn’t deserve that either and still can’t tell Cam why he left or what he’s doing now. Their second-chance romance gets off to a rocky start, but it’s immediately clear that they’re still both hung up on each other, no matter how much they wish they weren’t.
Rachel Ember’s writing is understated and thoughful, her characters are complex, likeable and well-drawn and she has a real gift for scene-setting in a way that brings both landscape and community to life. I enjoyed getting to know Cam and Jake and watching their slow-burn romance unfold (twice!), and was pleased to finally have answers to some of the questions posed in the earlier books. The downside to that, though, was that I had to go back to them in order to refresh my memory!
I liked the alternating timeline/PoV structure, which helps to build tension and anticipation, although I have to admit that sometimes I was frustrated by it because I wanted to know what happened next in one storyline before switching to the other. That only happened once or twice though, and on the whole the structure works very well. My only major criticisms of the book as a whole are that the issues between Jake and his family are wrapped up a little too quickly and mostly off page, and I’d have liked more clarity as to why Cam was targeted and by whom – his aunt being a gang-leader is thrown in and kind of glossed over which made it feel a bit contrived.
But in the end, the well-crafted characters, their obvious chemistry and personal growth, and the skillful interweaving of plotlines and complex family relationships mean that, despite the reservations I’ve expressed, When the River Rises merits a strong recommendation.
This review also appears at my blog - Caz's Reading Room
When the River Rises is the fifth book in Rachel Ember’s Wild Ones series, and it’s a sweet and sensual second-chance romance between the mysterious Jake Chase and Cameron Kosta, the young man Jake is charged with protecting. The events of this book take place in two different timelines – one in the present (in Jake’s PoV), the other two years earlier (in Cam’s) – and because there is a little bit over overlap with some of the events in book four (As the Tallgrass Grows), we get to see a couple of the scenes from that book from Jake’s perspective and learn how they fit into the bigger pitcure. Although Cam and Jake’s story is self-contained, I’d strongly advise reading the other books in the series so as to gain a better understanding of the complicated family dynamics and the unresolved plotlines that are concluded here.
Despite the fact that his aunt Edith is head of the local motorcycle gang. Cam Kosta lives a quiet, routine kind of life; he keeps out of Edith’s way and she keeps out of his and that’s the way Cam likes it. He has good friends, is enjoying training to be a teacher and although he’s yet to find a special someone, his life is pretty good. He’s out with friends one night when the bad boy of his dreams – dark haired, wiry, leather-clad, hot – saunters into the bar he’s at; taking his courage in both hands, Cam approaches him, they get talking and a bit flirty, and Cam thinks things are going well – until the guy suddenly brushes him off. Embarrassed, Cam beats a hasty retreat intending to go home, but before he can get to his car, he’s attacked by two men. Terrified, Cam tries to avoid the kicks and punches when they stop suddenly and he sees Jake is fighting with them. When one of them draws a gun, Jake brazens it out, and the guys run off at the sound of distant sirens. Jake hustles Cam away, explaining that Edith sent him to keep an eye on him.
Jake takes Cam to his dad’s remote, dilapidated trailer in Nebraska, where they can lie low until such time as it’s safe for them to go back to LA. Cam slowly begins to adjust to his new surroundings, doing what he needs to do in order to feel comfortable (he likes things clean and precise, and was teased for it a lot when he was younger) and starting to enjoy the slower, simpler pace of life. He and Jake spend a couple of months there together, the spark of mutual attraction that had lit between them back in the bar that first night growing into something more lasting as their enforced proximity promotes a closeness and understanding that grows into love. But Cam’s dreams of happy ever after are shattered when he wakes up one morning to find Jake gone.
Two years pass and Cam doesn’t see Jake during all that time – not until the day he sees him being arrested and taken away in the back of a police car. In the intervening time, we learn (from Jake, in his PoV) that he’s working for the FBI as an informant or inside-man, and that he’s almost reached the end of his part of whatever bargain he’s made. While in custody, he receives the visit from Johnny Chase (his cousin) and Owen (his childhood best friend) we saw in As the Tallgrass Grows. He’s surprised to see them considering he’s the black sheep of the family (sort of) and has been estranged from Bo and Dylan for some time, but is annoyed at the same time, worrying they might screw up the operation and cause him to have to spend more time doing the FBI’s dirty work.
After Jake is released, he’s surprised to get a text from Cam giving him a time and place to meet, and although knows it’s a bad idea, the pull Cam exerts is as strong as ever, and he can’t not go. Cam is clearly still pissed over Jake’s disappearing act two years before, but even so, he invites Jake to stay at his place until everything blows over. Jake knows he doesn’t deserve Cam’s generosity and ruthlessly squashes any hope that maybe Cam might still feel some affection for him – he doesn’t deserve that either and still can’t tell Cam why he left or what he’s doing now. Their second-chance romance gets off to a rocky start, but it’s immediately clear that they’re still both hung up on each other, no matter how much they wish they weren’t.
Rachel Ember’s writing is understated and thoughful, her characters are complex, likeable and well-drawn and she has a real gift for scene-setting in a way that brings both landscape and community to life. I enjoyed getting to know Cam and Jake and watching their slow-burn romance unfold (twice!), and was pleased to finally have answers to some of the questions posed in the earlier books. The downside to that, though, was that I had to go back to them in order to refresh my memory!
I liked the alternating timeline/PoV structure, which helps to build tension and anticipation, although I have to admit that sometimes I was frustrated by it because I wanted to know what happened next in one storyline before switching to the other. That only happened once or twice though, and on the whole the structure works very well. My only major criticisms of the book as a whole are that the issues between Jake and his family are wrapped up a little too quickly and mostly off page, and I’d have liked more clarity as to why Cam was targeted and by whom – his aunt being a gang-leader is thrown in and kind of glossed over which made it feel a bit contrived.
But in the end, the well-crafted characters, their obvious chemistry and personal growth, and the skillful interweaving of plotlines and complex family relationships mean that, despite the reservations I’ve expressed, When the River Rises merits a strong recommendation.
This review also appears at my blog - Caz's Reading Room
September 28, 2022
I’ve read most of the books in this series, but I believe it would work to enjoy this as a standalone. Jake and Cam's story was not exactly as I expected. I had no idea what would be the reason for Cam needing someone to protect him. This fact definitely kept me turning the pages.
Since the book is written in third person, it took me a little bit to get used to, as many authors in this genre use first person. But that was just me adjusting, which is easy enough to do. The plot unfolds as chapters alternate between the present and two years in the past. Their relationship goes through a lot, and I wasn't sure how the HEA was going to be achieved. But never fear, it does and I was happy with the progression. I’m not wanting get into details, because I believe the story should be enjoyed as you go along.
Ember's writing is thoughtful and filled with the right amount of details to help immerse the reader to stay involved and care for the characters. I easily liked both Cam and Jake while believing the way their love grew, along with the reasons that made this a second chance romance. In addition, the book is well edited without annoying copy mistakes.
Since the book is written in third person, it took me a little bit to get used to, as many authors in this genre use first person. But that was just me adjusting, which is easy enough to do. The plot unfolds as chapters alternate between the present and two years in the past. Their relationship goes through a lot, and I wasn't sure how the HEA was going to be achieved. But never fear, it does and I was happy with the progression. I’m not wanting get into details, because I believe the story should be enjoyed as you go along.
Ember's writing is thoughtful and filled with the right amount of details to help immerse the reader to stay involved and care for the characters. I easily liked both Cam and Jake while believing the way their love grew, along with the reasons that made this a second chance romance. In addition, the book is well edited without annoying copy mistakes.
October 2, 2022
It was nice to go back to the Chases and this time with Jake, their cousin. Jake is paying off his father's debts with doing the dirty jobs his father should have done. With doing so he is fortunate to meet Cam, his boss's nephew who he needs to protect when someone wants to kill him. They have to hide back in the country where Jake crew up and surrounded with nature, horses and close by relatives they can't help themselves and fall in love. But then one day when Cams wakes his boyfriend is gone and it takes them two years to reconcile. When it finally becomes clear to Cam that Jake left only to keep Cam safe, he cannot longer deny his love for Jake and when Jake wakes in a hospital bed to Cams grinning face he can only hope that things between them will work out this time. Telling their story, the chapters switch between the present and what happened two years earlier. I love this series very much and can't wait for the next instalment of the Chases. The author knows how to reach your heart with her writing.
October 29, 2022
They may be my second favorite couple from this author.
I don't really think this can be read as a standalone unless you don't care about the references in the book at all. I kept wishing I had reread the previous book because I only partially remembered some of the things that happened, and it was making me a little nuts trying to remember what I was forgetting. I loved the flashbacks to them getting together (are we ever going to find out what was going on with Cam's aunt) but felt like there could have been more of them together in the present. I also would have liked more background on why Jake was in the position he was. I love that we keep getting to see Bo and Dylan in the books!
Also the blurb makes a point of Cam being, at least chubby, but that is literally not part of the story at all except for maybe three or four instances of him being slightly uncomfortable with his body. It really shouldn't be the lead in to the story.
I enjoyed this a lot, it's just a little uneven.
I don't really think this can be read as a standalone unless you don't care about the references in the book at all. I kept wishing I had reread the previous book because I only partially remembered some of the things that happened, and it was making me a little nuts trying to remember what I was forgetting. I loved the flashbacks to them getting together (are we ever going to find out what was going on with Cam's aunt) but felt like there could have been more of them together in the present. I also would have liked more background on why Jake was in the position he was. I love that we keep getting to see Bo and Dylan in the books!
Also the blurb makes a point of Cam being, at least chubby, but that is literally not part of the story at all except for maybe three or four instances of him being slightly uncomfortable with his body. It really shouldn't be the lead in to the story.
I enjoyed this a lot, it's just a little uneven.
September 24, 2022
I've been waiting for this book since the minute I closed the previous book in the series, As the Tallgrass Grows, although When the River Rises could be read as a standalone. (Don't do that, though. Read them all, in order, because they're just SO good.) There are appearances by my favorite of Rachel's characters, Bo and Dylan, but they're explained well enough you won't be lost if you haven't read all the books yet. (Their book, Burning Season, remains my favorite.)
I love Rachel Ember's understated style of writing, along with her lovely storytelling skills. When the River Rises combines opposites attract and forced proximity in a slow-burn, hot romance that I loved from beginning to end.
Cam and Jake made me swoon more than once, and I am looking forward to binge-reading the whole series when I reread.
I love Rachel Ember's understated style of writing, along with her lovely storytelling skills. When the River Rises combines opposites attract and forced proximity in a slow-burn, hot romance that I loved from beginning to end.
Cam and Jake made me swoon more than once, and I am looking forward to binge-reading the whole series when I reread.
September 28, 2022
Good addition to the series I was hooked up to from the first chapter of the Long Winter and it became one of my favourite series of all times. Great writing, slow burn with a just right amount of heat, but it can't be read as a standalone. There's too many complicated family relations and issues that we were all waiting to be resolved from the Signs of Spring - so start from the beginning and enjoy the ride.
This unlikely couple somehow just works against all odds. I loved the interchanging POW's and backflashes that explained a lot but not enough to read this as a standalone. Honestly I needed to backtrack to previous books at some times to refresh my memory. There's a HEA, but I think that Jake's issues with his family were wrapped too quickly and off page so I'm hoping for something more in the future. Highly recommended and that goes for the whole series.
This unlikely couple somehow just works against all odds. I loved the interchanging POW's and backflashes that explained a lot but not enough to read this as a standalone. Honestly I needed to backtrack to previous books at some times to refresh my memory. There's a HEA, but I think that Jake's issues with his family were wrapped too quickly and off page so I'm hoping for something more in the future. Highly recommended and that goes for the whole series.
September 30, 2022
Questions raised in the first book of the series and hovering in the background for the other books are finally answered. The story is told on two timelines: several chapters in the "current" and then several in the "past". This was confusing to me at first, but really fell together well as the story progressed. The reasons for past actions are slowly explained through the pages, and with each chapter the reader comes to care about them more and more. As with the other characters in the series, they are very well developed, and the resolution of so much of the mystery that had been building in the peripheral this book quickly became one of my favorites. Embers is a great story teller adding just the right amount of angst to the mix. I was provided a copy of this book by the author, and am leaving this review that reflects my opinion of the book voluntarily.
September 27, 2022
There are so many compelling elements here— not least the author’s gift for setting the scene that brings both landscape and community to life and the beautifully written characters with nuances and contradictions and complexities that feel deeply human. Jake and Cam’s story is one of opposites attracting, complicated events unfolding, irresistible chemistry and gradual emotional growth, bad decisions made for the right reasons and chances, finally, to get things right. It’s part of a series, but can work as a standalone (seriously tho, the other books are well worth reading). This is definitely a story I’ll want to read more than once, and that I’ll be thinking about for a while to come.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.*
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.*
September 29, 2022
This author is one of my favourites, and her Wild Ones series is a standout for me, and one which just keeps getting better and better. I loved Jake and Cam and really enjoyed their story. The intrigue kept me glued to the pages, and I enjoyed learning about their past as we shared their present. This story had it all, great characters, a great plot, intrigue, heat, glimpses of previous characters and a terrific epilogue. Highly recommended.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion.
October 5, 2022
WOW!! Another great book in this series!! This book is written differently as in "two" life events. One is present and the other is 2 years in the past. Once you have that concept..the amazing story unfolds where you have Jake an estranged member if the Chase family from Nebraska and Cam a honest teacher, but related to a crime family. Their journey will bring you their secrets along with angst also with witty banter and throw in the plots. Rachel always delivers page turners and this will not disappoint!!
I received this an an ARC this is my review.
I received this an an ARC this is my review.
September 26, 2022
Some long awaited answers to questions we’ve been mulling since the first book. I liked the split between Jake in the present and Cam’s perspective in the past. That structure let the protagonists be “honest” with the reader while maintaining the misunderstanding between them. I enjoyed this book, but Robbie and Lance are forever my favorites 💜 Honest review after the author generously provided an ARC. Sign up for her newsletter to read a bonus scene with Jake and his cousins.
October 27, 2022
These romances become a guilty pleasure, somehow a substitute for the best friend I’d always hoped to find and never have. This is book #5 in a series called Wild Ones. With this book we seem to have largely abandoned cowboys and ranch life and moved to an urban setting of fast food, fast cars, and undercover skulduggery.
The story jumps back and forth two years when first Jake assists Cam and then later Cam assists Jake.
The story jumps back and forth two years when first Jake assists Cam and then later Cam assists Jake.
March 10, 2024
3,5 🌟🌟🌟⭐️
4 ❤️❤️❤️❤️
4 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶
I enjoyed this one more than the 4th book in this series because there was a good part of suspense and angst, even if I still don't get why these men attacked Cam.
Up to the end I tried to understand and evaluate the role that Cam played in the first and second book. The explanation on the last two pages of the book feels more than a little uninspired and constructed.
4 ❤️❤️❤️❤️
4 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶
I enjoyed this one more than the 4th book in this series because there was a good part of suspense and angst, even if I still don't get why these men attacked Cam.
Up to the end I tried to understand and evaluate the role that Cam played in the first and second book. The explanation on the last two pages of the book feels more than a little uninspired and constructed.
September 27, 2022
Another wonderful addition to the Wild Ones series. It can be read as a standalone book but much more enjoyable to read the series in order. This book ties in with scenes from the previous book. This a sweet second chances story of Jake and Cam told in two different perspectives from two years in the past and the present. I have thoroughly enjoyed this series.
I received this book as an Advanced Reader's Copy.
I received this book as an Advanced Reader's Copy.
November 5, 2022
Intriguing and suspenseful.
I shouldn't have given this story a 5 star rating, but the story was filled with suspense and intrigue that I couldn't stop reading it. Cam and Jake have their baggage to contend with plus have to find their HEA. The was this was written bored and aggravated me with bouncing back and forth in time.
I shouldn't have given this story a 5 star rating, but the story was filled with suspense and intrigue that I couldn't stop reading it. Cam and Jake have their baggage to contend with plus have to find their HEA. The was this was written bored and aggravated me with bouncing back and forth in time.
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