Review: Riding Steele – Opal Carew

Posted 2 March, 2015 by Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms in Reviews / 5 Comments

*I received a free copy of Riding Steele from St. Martin's Griffin via Netgalley. This has in no way influenced my voluntary review, which is honest and unbiased *


Warning: This book includes mature content such as: sexual content, and/or drug and/or alcohol use, and/or violence.
Review: Riding Steele – Opal CarewRiding Steele by Opal Carew
Series: Ready to Ride #3
Published by St. Martin's Griffin on 17 March 2015
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Erotica
Pages: 288
Format: eARC
Source: Netgalley
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3 Stars

Being kidnapped by bikers is a harrowing experience, but for some reason, Laurie doesn’t feel as terrified as she should. The leader’s steely eyes soften when he looks at her, and the others in his gang clearly know she’s hands off. But does that include Steele's hands? Her brain resists him, but her body insists she wants those big hands all over her.

Steele doesn’t know how he wound up in this mess—with a kidnapped woman on his hands and the police hot on their trail. Now he and Laurie are in hiding at an isolated cabin, and Steele has to figure out how to extricate himself...and steer clear of his accidental captive whose tight, slinky clubbing attire is making him think all kinds of dangerous thoughts…

Riding Steele is a fast and hard ride, with gritty but loveable characters, a despicable ex-boyfriend and the open road ahead.

My Riding Steele review:

Both Laurie and Steele are interesting characters to follow, and Riding Steele had a very hard edge to it. Both because Laurie was trying to get away from her abusive boyfriend, Donovan, and because one of Steele’s rider buddies saved her, only to kidnap her in order to keep her safe. Needless to say, Laurie thinks she’s gone from one bad situation to a worse one – being held by a group of bikers in the middle of the woods is not her idea of being saved.

The chemistry between Laurie and Steele is scorching hot throughout Riding Steele, and it takes quite a while before anything really happens between them. Steele is very good at making sure Laurie knows she has a choice, even when he feels like he could never let her go – having this sassy woman around only makes him crave things he never thought he wanted.

The sole reason why Riding Steele didn’t get a higher star-rating from me – because really, the characters are well done, the writing is good and the overall storyline is intriguing as well – is because I didn’t find any of the sexy or erotic scenes either sexy or erotic… I think a lot of other erotica readers will love this story, though, and I’ve seen several who found everything to be hot, sexy and well executed.

Some of my favorite Riding Steele quotes:

 But there was something about him and his intimidating way. He hadn’t started out this way. He used to be kind, generous, and thoughtful. But the more she got to know him, the more his dark side came out. and much as she hated it, when he used his controlling, authoritative tone, she fell into line. She barely even knew herself when she became like this. Letting a man control her.

Steele stared at the woman lying in his bed. The sight of her long, shapely legs and slim, but curvy body sent blood straight to his groin.

The scent of him filled her nostrils, and the memory of waking up snuggled close to the big man, his arm around her, jolted through her.

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms

About Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms

Linda is an English as foreign language teacher and has a Master's degree in English Language and Literature. She's an avid reader, blogger, compulsive one-clicker and a genre omnivore. Ever since she learnt how to read she has been seen with a book or two in her hands everywhere she goes.

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5 responses to “Review: Riding Steele – Opal Carew

  1. Hmm…I admit I was wondering about the 3 stars after reading the first few sentences of your review. I like a gritty story – and Riding Steele sounds like it’s really well written. And the characters sound compelling. I have to wonder about the lack of sexy you felt, though. Have you read other Carew books? I don’t think I’ve read anything by her, so… It’s sad that an erotic story missed the mark. But I’m glad you enjoyed the story overall.

    Happy Monday! *BIG HUGS*

    • I love a gritty story, as you know, so that’s no trouble… but throbbing plum-colored things just aren’t sexy to me :O
      I haven’t read any of her other books yet, but I will one day, maybe because this was supposed to be pretty dark it also had some other descriptions that I’m not very used to.
      Happy reading, my dear *BIG HUGS*

  2. I’m not much of an erotica reader but even I know an erotica book has a certain expectation and a level of ‘sexy’ that it’s meant to reach. While it sucks that this one didn’t quite reach it, i’m glad you still found yourself enjoying the story Lexxie 🙂

    Lily recently posted: Bone Gap: Review
    • Yeah, there are certain expectations I have when I pick up an erotica book, Lily, you’re completely right 🙂 It’s the same with a lot of genres, I think – while we enjoy being surprised, we also want some things to show us we’re reading the genre we picked.

  3. I haven’t read anything by this author, but I would like to. You know I read erotica and this one sounds appealing, although you might not agree with that statement for the sexy scenes. Anyway, I read your reply to Brandee and, if that is because it was ‘too dark’, perhaps it could still work for me since I’m used to dark reads. So yes, you definitely piqued my curiosity! 😉

    Silvia @ Darkest Sins recently posted: "Married to the Viscount" by Sabrina Jeffries

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