With all the force of a revving engine, Kristen Ashley returns to her Chaos series with her third installment, Ride Steady. In this novel filled with plenty of motorcycle mayhem, Carson "Joker" Steele learns whether his high school crush, Cassie, can love the person he’s become or if the former prom queen is still blind to the flame he’s always carried for her.
Joker hasn’t had an easy life. Raised by an abusive father with a mother who left before he could walk, he was a loner in high school—a bad boy. On the opposite end of the spectrum was the untouchable Carissa, with her football-star boyfriend and spot on the cheerleading squad. Years later, however, Carissa is a single mom battling the high school sweetheart and former husband for custody of their son, while Joker has found a surrogate home in the Chaos Motorcycle Club. When Joker pulls over to help a stranded motorist, he recognizes the out-of-luck driver as Carissa the instant he sees her unmistakable curly hair, though Carissa can’t quite put her finger on why the bearded and built biker seems so familiar.
Seeing the lot Carissa was dealt in life, Joker knows that she deserves better. He’ll do anything in his power to help her, even when he knows he should stay away. Though his longing is palpable, he promises himself to simply remain cordial. However, Carissa is determined to get closer to the man who helped fix her car—and so much more.
Both Joker and Carissa struggle to move beyond their damaging pasts. Joker is afraid of telling Carissa who he really is, and it’s hard not to feel his torture. Given Joker’s rough exterior and life, his tender moments with Carissa and her son are made all the sweeter. Life hasn’t turned out as Carissa imagined during her good-girl high school days, and trust doesn’t come easily for her anymore. However, as she slowly opens her heart to Joker, her road to healing proves to be both captivating and emotional.
The brotherhood of the motorcycle club is truly what makes this book uplifting. The way members selflessly rally around each other and those in need is heartwarming, especially as they meddle and play matchmaker between Joker and Carissa. Fans of the Chaos series will also love revisiting characters from previous books.
Ride Steady is a modern-day Cinderella story for not only the heroine, but the hero, as well. Sometimes, the knight in shining armor rides a Harley, not a horse.
