It was innocent and erotic, all at once, and the dichotomy made her head swim - a thought from Kora Bellamy at one point in Kit Rocha’s Aswhin which to me exemplifies the world of Gideon’s Riders and Ashwin Malhotra.  Ashwin is the first book in a new series set in the O’Kane world after the O’Kanes “kicked the dystopia in the junk” (see @mostlybree tweet at https://twitter.com/mostlybree/status/838759784006418433). The world of Gideon’s Riders is a bit gentler, a bit kinder and a bit less orgiastic than that of the O’Kanes, mostly because the primary war with Eden is over and the sectors are trying to figure out what is next (and because nobody parties as hard as the O’Kanes).
 
Ashwin and Kora are characters that readers of the O’Kane books know well. I personally have been waiting most impatiently for these two to get their happily ever after for several books. Ashwin has been an fascinating character, one of Eden’s most elite soldiers, a Makhai or a genetically engineered weapon who isn’t supposed to feel. Yet. Kora has long been his weakness.
 
After the battle, Ashwin is still working for the military in Eden and is sent on a mission to Gideon’s sector which happens to be where Kora has made her home. But Ashwin’s true mission and loyalties are not clear. He has been reprogrammed since we last saw him; yet, he still seems to have feelings for Kora. The two get to spend time together, work together and fall in love. Their courtship is both innocent and erotic, a wonderful romance that had some twists and turns as Ashwin had to come to terms with his duty and his developing feelings. Ashwin is not a virgin, but he is not used to emotions, to having friends or to being part of a team of his choosing. He has always understood loyalty which is why I think he is able to fit in with Gideon and his family.
 
Ashwin and Kora’s romance was more than I expected it to be. Ashwin doesn’t really understand love or friendship. He has a great deal to learn and there is something wonderful about watching him learn - about love from Kora and about friendship from the Riders. This one perfectly marks the beginning of a new time in the sectors, one with a brighter future. There is certainly still darkness, intrigue and death, but there is hope for a world with greater cooperation and better opportunities. We also get to see a bit more of the inner workings of Eden after the walls have come down given that Ashwin still has strong ties there.
 
Gideon is one of the most intriguing people in Ashwin. He is a man who seems to see straight through Ashwin’s possible deception. Gideon has almost a God-like ability to know all and even plays a bit at matchmaker to give Ashwin and Kora time and space to fall in love. Gideon is also a reluctant leader, one who wears the cloak of responsibility with great care and burden. I am fascinated by him - and cannot wait until he gets a HEA (he gets one, right?). There has to be a mysterious story there.
 
Ashwin kept me glued to my ereader from the moment I started it. It is one of the best books that I have read in 2017. I wasn’t sure what to think when Kit Rocha announced that the Beyond Series was ending with a spin-off series to come, but I am hooked. As mentioned above, Ashwin is both innocent and erotic - a total delight.

a totally good story by Ms. Rocha. Enjoyed it. Can't wait to read more.

What a difference in series! Not better or worse, just different. So far, it's less saucy than the Beyond series. Don't get me wrong, it's still very sexy, but that's not the theme in this sector.

And I definitely think I'm gonna like this new group of people. Oh yes, I will. It's another deeply committed family that will do everything in their power to protect each other. Yep, these Riders are gonna be fun to watch.

Ashwin is the first book in the new Dystopian Erotica series by Kit Rocha. They write some of the best erotica out there in my humble opinion and while the <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1337000567?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1”>Beyond</a> series is not for the faint of smut this might be a little bit tamer but just as hot.

<b>General FYI’s </b>
<blockquote>1 – You do not have to have read any of the Beyond books to start this series. It is set in the same world and so there are some cameos from characters from the Beyond series in it but you don’t need to have read those books to enjoy this one.

2 – There is sex, some really hot sex BUT it was completely monogamous. <i>If you read the Beyond series you know that was a very sharing anything and everything goes kind of series.</i>

3 – There are a few religious undertones to Gideon’s Riders. I was worried about the mixing of religion of any kind with my smut. However it is more a cultural lifestyle and the Riders protect the community. I never felt like it was weird, everything worked for the set up of this story and series.</blockquote>
<b>Ashwin is my catnip</b>. He is so broken. Ashwin has trained his entire life to be an elite soldier and told that he has no capacity for emotion. He is highly intelligent and resourceful and has been sent in infiltrate Gideon’s Riders because the military is afraid that he will gain too much power and go bad like his Grandfather before him.

Kora and Ashwin have a past. She had been his doctor for years, cleaning up his scrapes and boo boos from different missions and she was sure that there was more to him than what the base tried to make him believe he was. Kora escaped the military base and is in hiding within Gideon’s inner circle. Ashwin didn’t think he would ever see her again and she believed he was dead. Now Ashwin is torn because he feels a great need to protect her but he also wants to complete his mission and he will have to chose just one. One path will lead to his destabilization and a possibility that he will go crazy, while the other means he will betray Kora the only person he has ever had any kind of connection with.

I loved this book. It is rare in erotica that I’m just as into the story as I am into the sex scenes or more into the story than sex scenes *gasp*. But this is one of those times that there is a great blend of story to sex that makes everything fantastic. Ashwin is so great!!!
<blockquote><i> “I want you in my bed, Kora. But not until you’ve considered all the risks. Not unless you know that the possibility is there.”
“Which one?”
<b>“That I’m empty,” he answered simply. “That I’m broken. That I can promise to protect your body, but I may never have the capacity to make the same promise about your heart.</b> That I might destroy it without meaning to.”</i></blockquote>
I liked the set up of the new series. There are a lot of possibilities and Gideon, well I’m totally interested in all the faces of that guy. He is like a new king in a Dystopian world and the people around him lords and ladies. But he also gets people and I think he was one of the most interesting characters in this world.
<blockquote><i> “Have a seat.” Ashwin crossed the room, but hadn’t yet sat when Gideon continued, <b>“And decide which conversation you want to have, too. We can have the one where we tell each other barely concealed lies and analyze the subtext of every word, or we can have the one where we tell the truth and make a wager.”</b></i></blockquote>
There are some really cool sub stories going on and I totally wanted to get to the other characters stories right after this one…but alas they aren’t written just yet. Deacon and Zeke are the ones I’m most interested in seeing next.

Very excited about this new series from Kit Rocha. But if you want something totally dirty with a great story line as well try out there other series Beyond.

Fantastic! Makes me feel a little better about the end of the O'Kane series that we still get to visit them now and again, and learn about a whole new sector.

I did not read the multi-book series that generated this spinoff, but I feel that this book didn't need an introduction. I didn't think that I missed anything or that the backstory would add to this particular story. The book was a decent read, and a fast one. Ashwin is a programmed soldier, one who feels no emotion. I thought that it was very easy, even after his reprogramming, for his facade to crack and the programming to fall away after he is reunited with Kora. Should I have been a little disappointed? Maybe, but the love story was cute and believeable. I don't know what the previous Base was like, but I envisioned them to be a bit ruthless, and was surprised at the sudden capitulation of letting Ashwin basically off the hook.
A good start to a new series, and I'm glad I didn't feel like I was missing pieces if I didn't read the previous books.

A great start to this new spin off series. I devoured the Beyond Series last year and was really intrigued by Ashwin, the genetically engineered soldier and Kora. So of course i was looking forward to their story.

This one opens a few months after the events of the final book in the Beyond series, and while you can probably read this as a standalone and not be too confused, I personally feel new people to the series should start with the Beyond books. IMO you'll get a better sense of Eden, the Sectors, some of the characters who were introduced in the previous series, and just get a generally better grasp of this world and what is going on!

Sector One is vastly different from Sector Four, but i feel readers will see that juxtaposition better if they read the previous 9 books of the Beyond Series (or i could just want people to read them because i love them and there are characters that i adore :P)

So we get to peel back the layers of Ashwin here, get a sense of who he is beyond what we saw of him in the other series, beyond the emotionless soldier. By the end we see that he's still struggling with the things he feels. And what i liked was that his emotions are shown to be as only a result of his interactions with Kora but with the Riders and the other people in the Rios family.

And what we learn about who (or rather what?) Kora really is? that added a whole other layer to their relationship!

Now as with the other books we get POV chapters from the MCs of book 2 (Deacon and Ana) and i'm already intrigued by these two. Ana's the first female Rider and a black woman so I'm definitely looking forward to their book.

I love when background characters (but let's be real Gideon aint no background character but i'll go with that for now lol) are so interesting that apart from being engrossed in the main MCs i just want to know alllll the things about the leader of Sector One. also who's he gonna be paired up with because we have no idea when his book will be >.> I have my suspicions of who his LI is but we'll see if i'm right.

We also get to meet some O'kanes whooo hoooo...i was thrilled to see a cameo of my fave Ace, though it was brief...more O'kane cameos please. i know this is about Gideon and crew but some visits to the other sectors from time to time couldn't hurt.

Anyhoo this has probably gone into rambly territory now so i'll wrap up by saying i'm waiting in anticipation for the next two books in the series and i'll just be over here trying to figure out who ends up with who. :)

I liked the world-building of Kit Rocha's Beyond series but found the sexual relationship between Lex and Dallas in [book:Beyond Control|16049677] to be disturbing and kind of gave up on the series as it seemed as though the next book was going to feature pain as pleasure. So it was with some trepidation that I requested Ashwin, particularly because it seemed to feature a religious MC club (and I loathe the trend for MC romances)! But I loved it.

This is set after the events of Beyond but (as you can tell from the above) I was able to follow the plot without having read the entire series. Suffice to say that the other sectors rebelled against and overthrew Eden in the previous series and this series deals with the aftermath.

Gideon Rios is the leader of Sector One. His family are considered Kings/ Gods but after his grandfather became a power-crazed maniac Gideon is a more considered and considerate leader. The people of Sector One are religious and peaceful but their peace is enforced by the Riders, a group of highly trained soldiers who ride motorbikes. Becoming a Rider is both a great honour and a terrible curse because by taking lives the people of Sector One believe that the Riders' souls can not enter heaven after death. Hence the Riders don't marry.

Ashwin Malhotra is a Makhai soldier, the greatest Makhai soldier. The Makhai are a group of bio-engineered soldiers and Ashwin has been tasked with infiltrating Gideon's Riders and potentially identifying if there is an opportunity to turn any of the Riders against Gideon, especially since some of the Riders are from rival families.

Dr Kora Bellamy used to be a doctor in Eden at the Base, working on the Makhai Project. She develped feelings for Ashwin and always believed that the Makhai were not the unfeeling robots that the leaders portrayed them as. When Eden fell Kora to Sector One where she has been adopted as a member of his family by Gideon.

What Kora doesn't know is that she too is the result of a bio-engineering project; the complement to the Makhai Project, the Panacea Project was developed to create super healers but the project was abandoned when most of the subject killed themselves or became addicts because they couldn't cope with the problems they saw and the orders they received from the Base. Kora's father somehow rescued her and brought her up under the noses of the Base.

I liked everything about this book. The world-building, the juxtaposition of the glass and chrome technology of Eden with the post-apocalyptic agrarian society of Sector One. The religious peaceful people combined with the vicious protectors of the people. The two bio-engineered souls who have escaped from the Base to Sector One. The hints of future relationships between the Riders and others in Sector One.

Whilst this is definitely not PG-rated it doesn't have the pushing the boundaries feel of the Beyond series. Dallas' Sector Four was full of bootleggers, partying and live sex shows - of course that was a reaction to the fake puritanism of Eden. Sector One is calmer, Gideon is a far different leader to Dallas and it shows in the book. So, if you were expecting more threesomes, foursomes, group sex etc you will be disappointed. But if you loved the plots more than the sex in Beyond then I think you will adore this.

I think Kit Rocha has created a fascinating new series and I am already anticipating the next novel.

Four and a half from me
Well the duo that form Kit Rocha are back and doing it in style! Having loved their Beyond series that unashamedly crossed boundaries I felt trepidation about this spin off. Sector One is so very different with its religious ideology and royal family that are anything but ordinary . This book features Gideon and his Riders , those who follow him whilst knowing their time is limited but the joy of serving their community is everything. Prepare for a new insight into everything that happened in and around Eden , whilst meeting new characters along the way oh and of course a sneak peek at what old friends are currently up to!
So Gideon might not rule through brutality but his is most definitely an iron fist in a velvet glove! He has taken in Kora the talented doctor whose empathy could be her undoing so when her past walks through the door it's clear life is about to get more complicated or is it? Ashwin is one seriously scary super soldier with his genetically modified body but he's starting to unravel around sweet Kora. His mission is to infiltrate Gideons Riders but as his cracks widen its Kora who holds his sanity in her capable hands. Problem is though too many secrets surround Kora and mission or no all Ashwin wants to do is protect the woman who has filled his heart and soul. Kora knows what she wants but sometimes it's possible to go a step too far!
So a terrifying super soldier and the most humane doctor ever come together to introduce this series and it's everything I'd hoped for and more. Sometimes life in Sector Four with the O'Kanes was too much about obtaining freedom through sexuality and if honest the exhibitionism and sharing felt gratuitous . Don't get me wrong as I loved those books and yes I believed in the emotional pull but I wanted something that felt less intense and more focussed on what a relationship truly is. This story felt intrinsically about the couple coming to terms with their feelings in a realistic manner and although trust me there's plenty of heat it's not a story that revolves around their passionate encounters. There is some referencing to previous events that fans who've read the Beyond books might find irritating but it does give background so that's relevant to new readers. Hurrah for this new series though and I'm so looking forward to learning much more about the Riders oh and of course catching up with the O'Kanes!
This voluntary take is of an advance reader copy and my thoughts are my honest opinion

The sectors all united under the leadership of Dallas O'Kane and brought down the walls of Eden a fitting ending for the Beyond series.   Now the winners need to deliver in their promise of a new tomorrow and create a world order that is more than surviving. Gideon Rios and Sector One have emerged as a powerful beacon of hope.  In this exciting spin off we explore a little more about the fascinating world of Sector One which is as different from Dallas O'Kane's world as chalk from cheese.
Gideon's riders are dedicated men and women who forsake all relationships to put their lives on the line to keep the innocent safe.  In this new series we start the next wave of adventures with these brave men and women as they conquer new threats and find redemption.
Ashwin Malhotra, the Makkai warrior who has his own moral compass and uses his  judgement in obeying certain orders which don't align as well as his obsession with healer Kora has fascinated me.  I am pleased that they are the couple chosen to launch this new series, If anyone deserves redemption and love, it's this brave warrior who has been disciplined to the pain of death to forsake all emotion and embrace logic.   Watching Kora and more importantly Gideon wage the battle for his soul is fascinating.
Kora is an exceptional healer with a great heart all of which is devoted to her patients.  We understand a lot more about who and what she is and how she's survived against all odds some of which have been evened out by the exceptional Makkai warrior who feels emotion even as he's trained to feel none. In her own way she's on a parallel journey to Ashwin's as she finally opens up her heart to truly embrace who and what she can be.  I read with bated breath as the story moves to a thrilling conclusion as her personal truths emerge and her new found family take the steps to keep her safe from Eden.
Ashwin is always calculating the odds and angles in every thing.  He uses logic to justify his emotional reactions except where Kora is concerned.  His assignment is to infiltrate the riders and if necessary eliminate Gideon Rios who's a rising threat to his bosses. What Ashwin get's in Sector One as a rider is acceptance and hero worship.  For the first time he has difficulty separating emotion and logic and clearly Kora and his growing love affair with her is a large part of the splintering of his control.
Life in Sector One is so very different from life in Sector four and yet we see the same level of camaraderie between the cast of characters.  The scenes in the church with the outlines of the riders both when the riders welcome Ashwin into their ranks as well as when they bid goodbye to their own have a strong emotional impact and sucked me right into the emotional connect with these characters.
I can't wait to read all the stories waiting to be told about the fascinating cast of characters I met between the pages of this book.  Along the way I'm looking forward to glimpses of some of some of the characters from the earlier series much in the same way as we caught up with Cruz, Ace, Rachel and their twin babies here.

Full review to be published online in mid March.

ASHWIN is the first book in the spinoff series to Kit Rocha's "Beyond" series. Sector 1 is quite different from Sector 4, however. The hedonistic, multi partner, in-your-face porn without much plot that marred the "Beyond" series almost beyond redemption is fortunately absent here. The writing here is much more reminiscent of the authors Moira Rogers persona; and for that, this reader says a hearty thank you.

The DNA enhanced Eden warrior Ashwin and Kira the doctor are already well known to the readers of the "Beyond" series. Here, however, the story is (mostly) all them, and their dance around each other finally comes to a head. As the first book of a new series, "Gideon's Riders", a lot of series subplots are thrown into the air; and there is some background on how Sector 1 works.

ASHWIN is a nice enough read; but I haven't yet decided if I will continue with the series. If the writing continues in the vein of this book, the authors may win back some of the multitude of readers they lost in the sexfest that was the "Beyond" series.