Stevie‘s review of Knuckle Down (Cursed Ravens MC, Book 2) by Chantal Fernando
Contemporary Action Adventure Romance published by Pocket Star 09 Jul 18
I think I like the idea of biker romances a lot better than I enjoy most of the books themselves. Somehow the women are hard-boiled enough and the men aren’t shifty enough to give me what I want from the story; nevertheless, I’m always happy to try new-to-me authors within the genre, even if it means diving in partway through a series. This time I started with the second book in the Cursed Ravens series, and while it stood alone very nicely, there were possibly more references back to the previous book (in an ‘as you know, Bob’ kind of way) than I really needed. Our introduction to the club at the heart of the series, for this book, comes via the cousin of the previous book’s heroine.
Celina Hutton is an up-and-coming journalist on a local paper and so has professional as well as personal reasons for wanting to meet her cousin’s new man and the rest of his club. Having secured an invite to a birthday party at the clubhouse, her first thought is how normal everything seems. When the introductions are made, Celina’s attention is grabbed by the club’s sergeant at arms, Jack ‘Knuckles’ Chester, and he seems equally struck by her. As the party turns into a double celebration – of an engagement as well as a birthday – Celina finds herself more than a little inebriated. Fortunately, a totally sober Knuckles has managed to purloin her car keys and offers to drive her home. Now I know things are a little different over the other side of the pond, but I really don’t like to see a supposedly upstanding protagonist drive to any kind of gathering and then not watch how much (if anything) they have to drink. Don’t drink and drive, kids.
I was prepared to forgive Celina her first lapse, but she never really managed to endear herself to me as the book progressed. I found her whole attitude to investigative journalism a little off. She wants to write positive stories about the club and is angry when her words are twisted by a vindictive editor, yet she’s never curious enough to find out just what the club’s members are doing when illegal activities are hinted at.
Knuckles wasn’t much better in some respects: neither tough enough nor enlightened enough to appeal to me as a hero, he falls out with Celina over the story published in her name, yet is prepared to throw lots of money at her situation when life starts to get tough for her. Another hint, kids: don’t entirely trust blokes who tell you they’ve had a vasectomy, and certainly don’t have unsafe sex with a near-stranger. Just saying.
All in all, this book was a bit of a let-down. One day, however, I’m sure I’ll find biker romances that appeal again.
Grade: D
Summary:
A single father struggles to change for his daughters and the woman he loves in this second book in the Cursed Ravens Motorcycle Club series from New York Times bestselling author Chantal Fernando.
As a single father of two girls and the sergeant at arms for the Cursed Ravens Motorcycle Club, Jack “Knuckles” Chester doesn’t have much free time. And having earned his road name from his reputation as a fighter, Knuckles isn’t one to back away from a challenge.
But what he’ll never admit out loud is that his two daughters have changed him irrevocably, softened him even. And these two girls are the only women who will ever hold his heart forever. That is, until he meets Celina.
Celina is nothing like the women Knuckles used to date. She’s a journalist for the local newspaper, and basically just has her life together. And the last thing she wants is to be involved with a Cursed Raven. But when the ripped, badass biker worms his way into her heart, she has trouble remembering all the reasons they would never work.
But when a shocking story is published her newspaper, it breaks the thin trust she has with Knuckles. Will she lose him forever? Or will Knuckles fight to keep Celina in his life?
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
