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Wild And Free (2000)

by Kristen Ashley(Favorite Author)

4.3 of 5 Votes: 3

languge

English

genre

Romance

series

The Three

review 1: Despite the fact that I've been questioning KA's books recently, I was excited to see this one being published because I have been waiting for the conclusion to this series. Unfortunately, this book was a BIG disappointing.So, I'm lying in my high queen-sized bed with its big fluffy, white kick-ass comforter in my little upstairs corner bedroom that has a matching light beechwood dresser, bureau, and two end tables. These tables have drawers filled with knick-knacks and books and such. I'm wearing my favorite flannel pajamas because it's cold and I want to just enjoy cuddling up with my new book. I've just finished teasing my hair and putting all sorts of products in it... OK, so maybe I didn't do that. But this is an example of several things that have been really bo... morethering me about KA's books. The endless descriptions of rooms and interior decor just don't do anything for me. Why? Because it's not even necessary to set the scene. One description of Abel's basement to show how he's been living. OK. The description of the restaurant and the Biltmore and everywhere else? Who cares? Because quite honestly, based on KA's descriptions of characters' clothing? I'm so not interested in her opinions on interior decorating. Lilah thinks her mom sent her to therapy because of her "hole." Personally, I think her mom saw the clothes, jewelry, and hairstyle that Lilah was into and realized that the girl needed some serious professional hellp.Second, Delilah the "biker dog" to quote another reviewer. This biker theme is another thing that KA has been using lately and to each their own. Unfortunately, it does nothing for me. On top of that, Abel seems to be the dumbest of all KA's characters that I've met. Although, I never read any of her Chaos series so maybe there are dumber ones. But he pretty much just grunts, growls, and lowers my IQ every time he has any dialogue.Third, any reader of KA's books knows that she uses a type of sentence structure that would drive any grammar teacher crazy. Well, it seems to be particularly bad in Wild and Free. I can't count the number of times that I had to re-read and then re-read again a particular sentence because I could not understand it. Maybe I've just read too many of her books. Or maybe Abel really just is dumber than the others. But for some reason, the "sweet" message that Abel was trying to get across did not make up for the horrible run-on, rambling sentences. It also doesn’t help that KA is still using her bad (or non-existent?) editor because the spelling, grammar, and typos are just as prevalent in this book as in her earlier books.But as every reader of KA's books knows, these are things that you just put up with. However, there was no payoff with this book. The characters, as other have noted, are really dull and boring. No fight, no anticipation, no thrill of the hunt between Abel and Delilah. Instead, it's just insta-love with a lot of continuous crude sex. Hey, I like a little (or a lot) of hot sex in my romances, but there was nothing hot about Abel and Delilah. I'm surprised they didn't fall asleep, so boring was their sex life.Honestly, it's as though KA's publisher forced her to write this book to finish off the series. So KA finally took a break from writing about bikers to--you guessed it--write about a biker and his loser biker girlfriend. The only times the book was of any interest is when "supporting characters" were the focus: Lucien (hardly any), Callum (some, more than Lucien), Yuri, Gregor, etc. Abel and Delilah--not sure why they are the main characters. In fact, halfway through, I stopped reading and started reading Until the Sun Falls from the Sky because that was so much more interesting, even as a re-read, than this new book.Lastly, back to the issue of the bikers. While I understand that each person is attracted to different things, say, mullets, let's not gloss over this issue of the bikers. A motorcycle gang or club is a serious issue. Many deal in drugs, weapons, and human trafficking. So let's not just try to paint these bikers with a romantic brush. I think that in this day and age, bikers are a serious issue and I take issue with the fact that this book tries to make them "human" or loving. Which brings me back to the book and why an editor is so greatly needed here. I call Lilah a loser. Mean? Maybe, but definitely accurate. Abel and Lilah are supposed to be the strongest in this war of The Three. Yet, Abel himself is a lost loser who doesn't know anything and grunts and f***s his way out of anything and Lilah is his loser girlfriend with no substance to her character. Her dad and her family consists either of vicious bikers, or are loser bikers--bikers who only pose at the lifestyle because they are too stoned and too much of a loser to get a real life.
review 2: Okay so I should totally 'out' myself and mention that I'm a huge KA fan. Love her writing. In fact, I love it so much, I actually read a paranormal romance series from her (NOT my usual interest). That said, leave it to KA to keep her down-to-earth, biker-friendly vibe in the midst of a tale about paranormal beings saving the Earth. What's great - besides the steamy sex scenes and the entertaining banter - is that she keeps her sense of humor throughout the story, even calling out certain dialogue exchanges on their campy, kitschy sci-fi banality. She knows some of it sounds ridiculous, but having her characters nudge their shoulders against the fourth wall without breaking it helps us forgive some of these transgressions.In spite of utilizing some time-old devices found within paranormal lit, Wild and Free is still a love story - and a kick-ass, KA love story at that. If you love her writing, then you'll love this book. less

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