Publisher: Penguin
Publish Date: Out Now
How I got this book: ARC from publisher
First there was Nauti and Wild. Now, New York Times bestselling authors Lora Leigh and Jaci Burton go one step further. Can you take it?
#1 New York Times bestselling author Lora Leigh returns to the relentlessly scorching backdrop of her Nauti Boys series with an all-new novella of a man—bad to the bone—and the one woman who knew he was trouble. That’s why she couldn’t let him go.
New York Times bestselling author Jaci Burton once again blisters the asphalt with an all-new novella in her Wild Riders series. A hot biker craves a life of passion and danger—and finds it with the woman he’s sworn to protect.
*Blurb from Goodreads*
I really liked the first Nauti and Wild anthology, so when I got the next one in the mail, I couldn’t wait to dive back into the Nauti and Wild series. And with two heroes both named Jed, I knew I’d be in for a wild ride! 🙂
Nauti Siren by Lora Leigh
Piper has lived under her brothers protective thumb for a year now, and she hates that her every move is scrutinized. So when the chance to get her clothing designs seen by a New York backer, she finds a way to sneak out of town and take the chance of a lifetime. The last thing she expected was to have to call Jed, her sexy neighbor and general badass. When trouble follows her home, Piper is forced to let her brother do what he does best: protect her at all costs.
I’ll admit that I haven’t read all the books in the Nauti series, but the few that I’ve read were decent reads. That being said, I felt so bad for Piper and her sisters, given the way their brother practically smothers them. I understand his protective nature, but his way of offering that protection was so overbearing and obnoxious. Had that been my brother, I would have smacked him upside the head and ran as fast a I could!
One of the things I really enjoyed most about this story was that Jed wanted so desperately to be with Piper, and although he is cut from the same cloth as her brother, he wanted to support her every dream instead of stifling it. While he was constantly on alert to keep her safe, he also wanted her to have the chance to chase after her dreams, as long as she was willing to bring him along for the ride.
I thought Piper was a little too resistant to what Jed was trying to tell her, and she was an extremely hard-headed woman. She refused to take Jed at face value, and then made him jump through hoops to prove himself to her. There were times I wanted to shake her and ask her why she was stringing him along, when it was so obvious that he was different from the other men in her life. But she did finally catch on, and once she did the sparks flew.
I give Nauti Siren a C+
Riding to Sunset by Jaci Burton
Jed is the newest member of the Wild Riders, and when the General asks him to go on a special mission, Jed finds himself having to guard someone the General holds dear: his niece. The mission is simple, keep Elena safe, and don’t let on that she is in danger unless absolutely necessary. Danger finds its way to Elena, and the person he least expects is the one behind it all.
I adore the Wild Riders series. They are over the top, and yet so much fun. I love that we got to see more of the General in this book, because I’ve always wondered about him. It was great to get to see more of his family, and get a little back story into his life. I love that he is completely devoted to keeping his love ones safe, regardless of the cost to his own life and sanity.
Elena was a wonderful heroine. She was sweet and although a little naive, she fought tooth and nail in order to save herself and her mother. She wasn’t one of those heroines who was TSTL, but she also wasn’t afraid to step up when she needed to in order to protect herself. And I thought Jed was great. He wanted to prove himself to the General, and although the man was like a father to him, he was also willing to risk The General’s wrath at the chance with Elena. I loved getting the chance to read about a hero sticking up to someone he respects greatly, for the chance to be with his woman. It was an awesome moment between those two alpha men.
I was blown away by the twists and turns in this short story as well. I was surprised to see who the bad guy was in it all. And yet, I loved the way it turned out. It’s always so special when people surprise you throughout the book.
I will have to say that the way this series ended was a little disappointing. We never got one last look into all the operatives in Wild Riders, so the chance to say goodbye never came. And while I liked that both the General and Jed decided to do something different with their futures, their choice came as a little left field to me.
All in all I really enjoyed the final installment of the Wild Riders series. I loved getting to see another layer to the General, and both Jed and Elena were wonderful characters to read and fall in love with. I’m sad to be saying goodbye to this series.
I give Riding to Sunset a B