Hey y’all… Welcome to another Blogger Buddy Read!

I was supposed to post this last week but I’ve procrastinated till today. So sorry! 🙄 Regardless, I do enjoy doing buddy reads with people, it gives an extra layer of insight to stories, a different perspective. Plus, it’s fun to discuss books with like minded friends! Do you do buddy reads?

Thanks to Sophie @BewareoftheReader and Caro @cjrthebrit for inviting me to do this BUDDY READ!💜

When Clara Delany walks into the Aces High Motorcycle Club’s hangout, she’s hit rock bottom. She’s hiding her car from the repo man, she has less than two dollars in her bank account and the only employment she can get is delivering messages for a criminal.

All because of a man. Therefore, she’s sworn off them.

And then she meets West “Buck” Hardy, president of the Aces High MC.

Buck also meets her, and the minute he does, he makes it clear (to everyone but Clara) that they’re starting something. Since Clara doesn’t get that message, she decides to leave Buck and sort out her life in order to come back to him clean.

She’s not gone but hours before life hits Clara with another blow. Which means Buck and his boys have to ride in and save the day. After that, Buck makes no bones about where they stand.

But does he?

Welcome to the first novel in the Wild West MC series which will tell the stories of the brothers of the Aces High MC, the Resurrection MC and the Chaos MC…and the women who love them.

Still Standing by Kristen Ashley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Still Standing is the first book in the Wild West MC Series by my unicorn author, Kristen Ashley! It’s a steamy, biker standalone…

Clara Delany and West “Buck” Hardy meet when Clara goes to deliver a message to Buck at his club. Buck instantly decides he wants Clara for himself and she finds herself caught between saving her best friend or her own life.

First, ICYMI, I’m a major fan of Kristen Ashley, have been for a long time. Having said that…this one was a mere 3.5 stars for me. Here’s why:

* having read the entire Chaos series and it’s start with Motorcycle Man and absolutely loving it’s characters, Tack and Tyra… Clara and Buck’s story felt too rinse and repeat for me

* there’s a specific scene that blew my freaking mind because I never thought I’d see that in one of KA’s books! No details, you’ll definitely know it when you get there. Let’s just say it really ticked me off!

* I liked Clara but I wanted to shake her at times too…she was so hard on herself!

* I liked Buck but he did some serious shady stuff and I’m still not sure if I forgive him?

Now having said all of THAT, would I still recommend this book? YES. Because as with any of her other books, you’ll also find:

* loyal friends and fantastic secondary characters
* a hot, possessive alpha male (who does stupid stuff but still…)
* off the charts chemistry between the main characters
* a heroine who discovers her self worth (mostly)

This is one of those books that I liked but didn’t love! It has a bit of suspense, a touch of humor, a darker side, a lot of steam and great side characters. I AM looking forward to the next installment in this series! Told mostly from Clara’s POV. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book.

View all my reviews

Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA. She nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn’t taken her first breath!).

Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.

Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland and existed amongst the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).

Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.

And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.