Tabs’ review of Walk Through Fire (Chaos MC, Book 4) by Kristen Ashley
Contemporary Romance published by Forever 27 Oct 15

This is the fourth book in Kristen Ashley’s popular Chaos series involving the members of the Chaos motorcycle club and it’s a reunited lovers story between two characters in their early 40’s. It’s also a really frustrating Kristen Ashley book. On the one hand, there are the characteristic passion, great sex, and feels all over the place that Ashley usually delivers. On the other hand, there are also asshole leads, overwrought melodrama, would-be-selfless martyrs, and cartoon villains all over the place as well.

Twenty years previously, Millie Cross shattered Logan “High” Judd’s heart into a million pieces but she didn’t tell him the real reason she broke things off. Walk Through Fire starts with Millie catching sight of Logan, running away before he can see her, but then deciding that she needs to finally come clean with him. Because it’s totally unselfish to disrupt someone’s life in order to unburden yourself. Suuuuuure.

Things are just really painful to get through for a while. Millie is a pretty unsympathetic character with all of her sulking, playing the martyr, and secret-baiting. Logan and his club brothers are no better with the gigantic twenty-year-old chips on their shoulders. Watching everyone interact together with so much regret and misunderstanding between them just stinks, especially when the reader knows most of them don’t have all of the facts. It isn’t sexy and it isn’t fun. It’s just the pits.

Millie’s damn secret is one of the most frustrating aspects of the book. It’s such a cliché reason and the execution is extremely poorly done. It is also explored in only the vaguest terms and none of the many options available in such a situation are mentioned even offhandedly. Millie’s over-reaction as a 21-yr old is understandable to a degree but the twenty years of wallowing in her own misery that follow are less so.

What is really frustrating about this book is that parts of it are genuinely good once the drama settles. Millie and High are actually really a great match together and watching them navigate domestic bliss – living together, getting his kids settled, etc is really satisfying. But the parts that are bad and rage-inducing are really bad.

Overall, I thought this book was a mess and there was much eye-rolling and throwing of hands in the air while I read it. Why yes, I CAN be just as dramatic as a KA character. It’s a gift, really. Let’s be real, though, I just can’t quit Kristen Ashley and I wouldn’t want to even if I could. I am intrigued by the apparent set-up for the next book and I’ll totally be making grabby-hands as usual when it releases.

Grade: C-

The flame never dies . . .

Millie Cross knows what it’s like to burn for someone. She was young and wild and he was fierce and even wilder-a Chaos biker who made her heart pound. They fell in love at first sight and life was good, until she learned she couldn’t be the woman he needed and made it so he had no choice but to walk away. Twenty years later, Millie’s chance run-in with her old flame sparks a desire she just can’t ignore. And this time, she won’t let him ride off . . .

Bad boy Logan “High” Judd has seen his share of troubles with the law. Yet it was a beautiful woman who broke him. After ending a loveless marriage, High is shocked when his true love walks back into his life. Millie is still gorgeous, but she’s just a ghost of her former self. High’s intrigued at the change, but her betrayal cut him deep-and he doesn’t want to get burned again. As High sinks into meting out vengeance for Millie’s betrayal, he’ll break all over again when he realizes just how Millie walked through fire for her man . . .

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series: