Who would you become if you could finally break free?
By all appearances, Ava seems perfectly content living her life under the radar in her new home of Las Vegas. Or so she thought until her old pickup leaves her stranded in the desert. Her chance encounter with a rough and rowdy mechanic feels innocent enough, but later leads Ava to question if solitude is truly her sanctuary.
Hudson’s wild yet considerate ways chip away at Ava’s walls, but the dismantling of her barriers is short-lived. When a magazine featuring a missing socialite puts Ava on edge, she questions if she can count on the few friends she has made in her new home. Hudson may give the impression that he is a good guy, but Ava isn’t sure if his friendship is enough to keep her in Vegas, or from going on the run, again.
Black Rose is a romantic suspense of finding oneself and fighting with everything you got to hang onto it.
Author’s Note For additional story information please see author’s website
Kate Prada is not a role model. Thanks to years of minimal impulse control, a poor sense of self preservation, and many a rough morning (usually following a good night) Kate has mastered the art of spinning her shenanigans into a good tale. She believes there is always a way to find the bright side, lesson, or punchline, and if we can’t laugh at ourselves, then what’s the point? Kate settled down (slightly) as she began the slow descent into middle age, but never lost her love of storytelling. It wasn’t until the stories got so loud, they kept her up at night (or as the professionals call it–insomnia) that she started to write them down. Several gritty, yet graceful characters were born, along with the loveable lugs that put up with their nonsense. She loves these characters with all her heart but is always blown away when her readers love them just as much. When Kate isn’t story crafting, she’s networking and collaborating with fellow authors on the Romance Riot Discord, gardening, trying to convince her kid that their house is not a set for the latest Jackass movie, and sewing. You can find Kate Prada Story times highlighting many of her past shenanigans on her TikTok @katepradawrites, hamming it up on Instagram as @katepradaauthor or on her blog http://katepradawrites.wordpress.com
I was lucky enough to read this book in advance of the release. I was IMMEDIATELY sucked into this story! This debut is probably the best I've read. I am trying to not give anything away since the basis of the story is suspense so I will say this: Ava's backstory is crazy and you are given nuggets throughout the book to fill in just how bananas! But her tenacity, growth, and strength have you rooting for her the whole time! Hudson is total book boyfriend vibes. He is a tatted up, rugged, biker dude but is a total teddy bear sweetheart and just is smitten with her and wants to protect her, but she keeps him at arms length. Still, the two form a bond and as things come to light and unravel, the bond only strengthens. Their chemistry is chefs kiss and the story is so wild! It was a longer book for a romance but I read it in less than 24 hours because I could not put it down! I can't wait for more books from this new author and especially hope to see a story for Lox! He was such a great side character!
I stalled with two chapters left. Not because I was disappointed with the story. No, wasn't that. IT WAS BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT IT TO END. I loved so much about this story. I loved the strength and growth of the female main character. I loved the support without smothering of the male main character. I loved the easy acceptance and support from her friends/found family. And a lot more I won't get into because I don't want to spoil it for anyone. But if you like a good suspense with a strong female lead who learns and grows into who she really is and believe that family has more to do with support than blood, you need to read this book. I absolutely can't wait for more stories with this cast of characters.
And slight spoilers... who doesn't like tattoos? I mean... yum.
It’s finally pub day for “Black Rose” the debut novel from @kateprada! I’m so so excited for you to meet these characters! Especially Ava- a strong, independent woman who isn’t afraid of starting over, over and over again.
I don’t want to give too much away- I’ve been involved with this one for a long time. So grateful for the time I was able to get lost in these pages. The way Kate writes truly allows the reader to imagine being in the story. The rich character development had me hooked from the start. She provides background and details so you’re fully invested in the outcome.
Socialite Madison Carrington has it all- a degree from Yale, a group of girlfriends dubbed The Blondtourage and a rock on her finger courtesy of her fiancé, Graham Aldrich, a senator’s son with political aspirations of his own. She even has a horse- could life be any better?
Ava Grace has a laundry list of waitressing/bartending jobs, a dog named Quint and an old truck that barley gets her out of one city and into the next before it’s too late. Until it doesn’t. Along comes Hudson, a muscly, tatted up biker whose own luck seems run out. Will he care enough to stop or leave her to her own devices stranded in the desert?
This book has it all- romance, drama, suspense- even a sprinkle of humor. It’s the beginning of a long list of titles I expect from Kate in the future.
Get your copy now on Kindle and watch for the paperback release! Its also available on Kindle Unlimited.
This was a very well written, well paced, and exciting read. There were many characters I absolutely adored—Lox and Quint being my favourite (yes the dog can be classed as a character, he deserves it!) Kate Prada has a lovely writing style and is a great storyteller. It’s was easy to follow and had a great flow to the plot. Just when I started questioning something it was answered soon after. I had some literal laugh out loud moments (effin burpees man), and some teary moments. Everything I could ask for. A great romantic suspense story. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
This was a really great romance. Ava keeps to her self works two jobs and is determined to not let any one close. Hudson helps her when she is stranded on the roadside and is determined to chip away Ava's defenses.
I love Ava, Hudson and Ava's boss/ Hudson's cousin Lachlan. They are great characters that work well together. I also loved the side characters like Brittany and Lachlan's dad and of course Quint Ava's dog.
The story line was exciting, romantic and just a really good read. So many interesting tales woven together to make a page turning good book.
This book is fantastic! You gotta love a strong FMC. All the characters were intriguing and relatable. Or hate-able depending on the character. She puts a lot of heart in her characters. I loved Ava because she showed the emotions that any real life person would feel going through what she did.
Kate’s writing is superb. She really knows how to grab your attention and hold it for the entire book. I didn’t want to put my kindle down. She made me feel all the feels. I think she belongs on my one click author list!
Ava goes from riches to rags by choose when she finds out her ex cheat and her family has done her dirty. She runs to Vegas after making a few stops along the way picking a cuddly guard dog and a hunk who helps her along the way with help his cuzin her boss. This must read you wont want to put down. Lox her boss at the tattoo shop is my favorite cant wait for his book
Quite simply...this book was everything I wanted. I loved the characters, the story, the backstory, the chemistry, and the dog! This novel made me want to go to Vegas, drink bourbon, and get a new tattoo- and I hate Vegas! I have no doubt this book will be in the top five of the books I read this year. It's that good!!!
Ava is everything! This book is so real and raw and Ava just blows me away! This is the strongest, most badass, powerful, courageous main female character I have read in years! Her journey to where she is is so relatable, and it just made me want to hug her. Hudson is the perfect man for her. He sees her strength, and is not shaken by it. I just loved everything about this story!
This was a delightfully atmospheric book! Kate Prada's use of language truly transports you right to the hot desert, and to the even hotter rough-and-tumble connections to the men of Black Rose. I loved watching the mystery unravel and can't wait to read more works by this author!
I loved the story and chemistry within this book!! You get bits and pieces throughout the book that all make sense at the end! For me, I had a hard time getting into it the first few chapters but It picked up and I really enjoyed it!
This book kept me engaged the whole way through! When I wasn't reading it I was thinking about it and couldn't wait to get back to it to continue reading 😊 I loved it!
Black Rose was such an enjoyable read — the kind of story that completely pulls you in and makes you forget about everything else. I adored Ava and Hudson! Ava was so relatable and easy to root for, and Hudson… well, let’s just say he was a yummy main character in all the best ways. Charming, protective, with just the right amount of edge — total book boyfriend material.
The chemistry between them was amazing, and I really appreciated the “diet spice” vibe. It wasn’t prudish at all — the tension and emotions were definitely there — but it didn’t need explicit scenes to make the romance work. It was all about the feelings, the slow build, and those perfect little moments that make your heart flutter.
The plot never dragged, and there was always something going on to keep me hooked. It had a great balance of emotion, tension, and heart without ever feeling too heavy. The writing was smooth and engaging, and I could really picture every scene like a movie playing out in my head.
By the end, I was fully in love with the characters and didn’t want it to be over. Kate Prada did such a great job, and I’m already looking forward to whatever she writes next.
Highly recommend if you love strong, swoony MMCs, smart and relatable heroines, and romance with heart (and just the right amount of spice)!
This was my first "diet-spice" romance novel, but I LOVED this story.
Our FMC is pretty tough, and you see her struggling through some tough things in a way to get her life back under her control. Your really feel for her as she goes through this, and so does the MMC! Their chemistry is so sweet and he is so patient with her as she works through things. Seeing them form their bond was such a fun read.
The ending was bananas, and I loved it! I'll definitely add book two to my growing TBR :)
I had an issue I couldn’t get past with Hudson. [This is a spoiler.] She asks him to give her time and not tell Lochlan who she is. Then he immediately calls Lochlan and tells him. This is her biggest secret and it could get her in serious trouble, but he immediately does the opposite of what she asked him to do. And that’s never addressed. She just goes on with life when she finds out. I didn’t like that. It made me not like/ trust him as much.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This book drew me in from chapter 1. FMC held onto her beliefs throughout the story and I was happy to see the POS ex's got what was coming to them. Can't wait to read the next book and see what's to come for Lox.