Must-read romances: 'Opening Up,' 'Vicious Cycle'

Opening Up by Lauren Dane

A charismatic, tattooed hero, hot cars and bikes, and a confident, classy heroine — are you intrigued? If these character attributes pique your interest, you will welcome Opening Up, the scorching-hot erotic romance that kicks off Lauren Dane's new, aptly named Ink and Chrome series. Twisted Steel, a car and motorcycle custom restoration and build shop, is a magnet for gearheads who are addicted to fast cars and bikes that catch the eye of those in the know. Asa Barrons (isn't that an awesome name for a hero?) and Duke Bradshaw are the manly men who co-own Twisted Steel and have worked tirelessly to build it into a well-respected and lucrative business.

PJ Coleman is a beautiful woman in her 20s who likes piercings and ink and frequently changes the colors in her hair, but her appearance and gender don't mean she shouldn't be taken seriously. This girl is a weapon, she knows cars and her specialty is custom paint. She has been networking and building a customer base and hopes to cultivate a business relationship with Twisted Steel. PJ's never met Asa, but he sure catches her eye at a car event and business is not on her mind.

There really was no other word for the man but dominant. Easily six foot three, he stood, feet apart, a beer in one hand as he spoke to Duke. This was a man you could dress in a tux and while he'd look fantastic, you'd know he could punch you in the face without losing a cufflink.

She wasn't entirely sure why that made him so hot, it just did. There was a sort of barely restrained…something about him that made her take notice.

Yum …

The sexual chemistry that arcs between these two is intense and breathtaking, but Asa is a decade older than PJ, which is a huge stumbling block for him. I really like the relationship development in this story and how Asa and PJ deal with minor and major conflict. It's refreshingly real. Lauren Dane writes red-hot love scenes, and Asa and PJ set the sheets ablaze. Asa likes kink and there is some light dominance/submission. PJ is sexually aware, and it impressed me that she speaks her mind and lets Asa know what she likes … and what she doesn't. There is a scene involving a quote from a science-fiction novel that had me hooting with laughter. The dialogue is smart. You can expect dirty talk and no shortage of sarcasm and banter. I absolutely loved these characters — they are multidimensional and complement each other.

Cars are in PJ's blood. Her family owns a tire company that is well known in the auto industry and has links to racing. Conflict within the Coleman family adds interest and depth to the narrative, and among the numerous standout secondary characters are PJ's three siblings, who call out for their own stories. Perhaps we'll see another of Lauren Dane's much-loved family-centric romance series in the future?

I've always liked Lauren Dane's voice, and Opening Up rocks! It's my favorite of her books so far. At the end of Opening Up, we are treated to an introduction to Falling Under, which is Duke's story, and I'm already hooked. It's scheduled for release in August.

Vicious Cycle by Katie Ashley

In the real world, a romance between a kindergarten teacher and a ruthless, hardcore biker would seem unlikely, but in a romance novel … why not? Getting such an odd couple together is the challenge, but Katie Ashley makes it happen thanks to a delightful little 5-year-old girl.

Deacon is the sergeant at arms of the Hells Raiders, an outlaw motorcycle club. Becoming a parent isn't something Deacon has ever remotely considered, so when 5-year-old Willow arrives on his doorstep accompanied by a birth certificate naming him as her father, he nearly chokes. Willow has been traumatized and is malnourished, and initially she won't speak. She remains quite withdrawn until she meets and bonds with Miss Alex, the young kindergarten teacher at the local public school.

The lovely Alexandra Evans is a natural with children, and she is instrumental in helping Willow gain confidence and emerge from her shell. When Willow doesn't turn up at school for a few days, Alex becomes worried and pays Deacon a visit. Walking into a gun store and pawnshop flanked by a bunch of intimidating bikers is frightening enough, but her first interaction with Deacon is terrifying — I would have been running for the hills. But Alex is made of tough stuff. She stands up to Deacon, and they reach an agreement regarding Willow's schooling.

The mention of Willow's mother sent a scowl across Deacon's face. "Look, you're an outsider, so I'm not going to tell you all of my business. But hear me when I say that I'm not comfortable letting Willow out of my sight right now. She needs to be here in the compound, where I know she's safe."

"Someone is threatening to hurt her?"

"Some people want to hurt me, and they'll use whatever means necessary to get to me, including hurting my kid."

I sucked in a harsh breath at the thought of anyone hurting sweet Willow. While I didn't agree with Deacon's world, I had to give him credit for trying, in his own misguided way, to keep his daughter safe. There had to be some solution to the problem.

Alex agrees to tutor Willow in her home — hence, a hardcore biker/kindergarten teacher romance, and it's a slow burn. Kate Ashley's characters are well formed, and I really liked how she gave dimension to the protagonists as they face major crossroads in their lives. At first Deacon is like a fish out of water with his daughter, but Willow and her annoying teacher gradually ingratiate themselves with him. Danger enhances the sexual tension in this one, and readers can look forward to intense and passionate love scenes ... this is a hot one.

Deacon and Alex's story kept me engrossed from the first page, but be forewarned: Kate Ashley doesn't hold back. Vicious Cycle is a violent, raw, gritty MC romance. I did see Deacon as an antihero. He is capable of brutality when dealing with his enemies. It's not all murder and mayhem, though. There are laughs to be had, and one scene in particular involving frilly pink boas is hysterically funny. Vicious Cycle offers thrills, chills, a few cringes and more than one surprise. Alex is a unique heroine … she will shock you.

I'm invested in this series and am looking forward to reading Redemption Road, the next novel in Katie Ashley's Vicious Cycle series, which features Deacon's brother Rev's story. It is scheduled for release in October.

Lea Franczak cannot remember a time when she didn't have a book in her hand. She's read and enjoyed multiple genres but is especially partial to contemporary and erotic romance, dark gritty romantic suspense, paranormal romance and has recently become a New Adult junkie. Lea has been blogging and reviewing since 2008 and is also HEA's Tweeter Extraordinaire. Follow HEA on Twitter (@HEAusatoday).