Cover Image: Rough Ride

Rough Ride

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Member Reviews

Rough Ride by Gillian Archer is a good fit for readers looking for a fast-paced romance with a strong, protective hero and a heroine seeking answers about her father's death while navigating the dangerous world of motorcycle clubs.

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ROUGH RIDE - Gillian Archer

#4 True Brothers MC romance series

HOT! - 4 stars

Plot - 4 stars - After Amber's father (president of the True Brother MC) is killed, she and her mother fall on hard times. When Bam (a current member) finds out about their difficulties, he gets involved. Then he finds himself involved with Amber, on a personal level.

Writing - 4 stars - As always, I was caught up in this story right away. I've come to know Archer as a smooth writer who is able to grab my attention and keep things moving forward with interest. It was comfortable to sink right back into this scenario and group of characters that I've come to know.

Characters - 4 stars - This was a big win for me. Amber is strong but sweet, and I liked that she stepped up for her mother when her father is killed. They are used to the MC lifestyle, but they don't want to ask for help if they don't have to. Bam is also tough, having lived a difficult life until he meets his MC "family." But he's got a much softer side, especially when it comes to Amber. He doesn't feel he's good enough, but he doesn't dwell on it. They were good for each other, being supportive and leaning on each other when necessary. Secondary characters of other MC members as well as Amber's mom and best friend filled in the blanks.

Title - 4 stars - Amber and her mother have had a rough time since her father's death. And any relationship with a MC member is also going to be complicated. Great title that fits in several ways.

Cover - 3 stars - This is a great-looking guy, but Bam is supposed to be 6'6" and close to 300 pounds--this guy is definitely not that, so it's attractive but felt a little off.

Overall - 4 stars - Another good episode in this strong series. I'm not a fan of motorcycle clubs and their violent lifestyle, but it was nice to take a peek inside and see that there are normal relationships with normal family problems. Archer has built an interesting world within this group. The characters are well built and appealing, and I liked them in spite of my disapproval. The action was exciting, and the relationships made sense. I've enjoyed this series very much and am sorry to see it end.

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This was a quick paced, hot and steamy, and a some sexy time and more! And you know with bikers you are going to have some grit and alpha males!
Great characters, plot was good (just a few bumps here and there).
Definitely a beach read!

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This book was so entertaining. I was drawn into the story from the beginning and was involved until the end. The characters were complex and interesting. I found the story to be well paced and engrossing throughout the whole book. I was invested in the couple throughout the book and felt all the emotions through both the highs and lows of the story.The side characters were such an integral part of this story as well. This is the love story i needed to read at this time. If you want an entertaining and well written book this is it for you

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DNF @ 34%. No rating. The biggest issue I have with this book is how cliched it is and how quickly I know I'll forget it. It's just not grabbing me.

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Amber will do anything to find out who is responsible for her father’s death and even deal a little retribution herself. She holds her father’s motorcycle club responsible. I mean where have they been since her father died? Bam is seeking to right a wrong and ends up closer to his princess than he could have possibly imagined.

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I've enjoyed each and every one of these books. This one had me all wrapped up and reading into the wee hours. This was very well written and captivating.

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I read this book some time ago and do not remember how I felt during reading it. I would not be able to give it a proper review. I did give this book 5 stars on GoodReads.

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This book had its moments, but overall it just didn't connect for me. I found Amber difficult to connect with, the storyline didn't feel it had a strong climax, and overall it just seemed a bit blah. Maybe if I read the earlier books in the series I'd feel differently, but overall this wasn't my favorite.

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This was the first book I have read my Gillian Archer. It was true to form MC club and I love the romance! Recommend this for anyone who has a love for MC!

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Another great read by Gillian Archer. I’m a sucker for a good MC book. Bam and Amber gave everything I expected from this story. The beginning was a little hard to get into but once I kept going the story had me hooked and I couldn’t put it down until I finished. It is definitely an awesome read.

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Rough Ride by author Gillian Archer is the fourth book in the True Brothers MC series. This is the first time I have read the series and I was not lost. I loved the softer side of this story. Was a fresh change from the usual MC novels I have read in the past.
Bam and Amber are getting their story in this novel. I liked both characters. I could tell they had a history that was long as I read their story. They both are sweet loving and pretty intense.
Bam is a protector. He has a great heart and is very loyal.
Amber is super sweet, a tough cookie at heart, and very sassy.

I really liked them together. This story has plenty of action and fast-paced storytelling that kept me turning the pages. Also, the intense heat between the characters. When you want a different twist on the MC verse I would highly suggest this one. I liked it very much and will be reading the ones I missed now.

Five Shooting Stars

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Rough Ride by Gillian Archer is a hot, sexy romance in a motorcycle club setting. Definite good guys and bad guys in this one. Having no knowledge of the motorcylce club scene, I found it very chauvianistic (do they really have to petition the club to call a woman "my old lady"?) I found it difficult to get through. If this is your scene, then maybe you will enjoy it.

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Rough Ride is the 4th book in the True Brothers MC series but the first book I have read in the series. This is the story of Amber, who wants to know who killed her father, a member of the MC. After they fail to want to help her, she starts to seek answers in dangerous places. During her search she captures the attention of Ruslan a member of the Russian Mafia. She also finds the protection of Bam a newer member of the MC. The concept was good and it was a good book, I just felt it dragged in some places. Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book for me to review.

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Rough Ride is the fourth novel in Gillian Archer's True Brothers MC romance series, a series I've been following since the first book, and a series I've truly enjoyed, but for this reader, Rough Ride fell a little short of my high expectations. I'd given all of the previous 3 novels in this series 5-star ratings, but in my opinion, this one just didn't quite measure up to those earlier novels, and for that reason, I'm giving this novel 4 stars.

Rough Ride is Amber and Bam's story, told in alternating narration, a device I've come to truly appreciate, because it allows you a look into what each of the main characters are thinking and feeling. If you're new to this series, I'll backtrack to an earlier novel to let you know that Amber is the daughter of Stitch and Brittany, members of the True Brothers MC, and one year ago, Stitch was shot and killed in the MC parking lot. His wife, Brittany, was devastated by his untimely death and fell to pieces as she grieved losing him, turning to alcohol to numb her pain.

Amber, at age 20, was about to go away to college, but soon realized her plans would have to wait--she had to find a job to keep a roof over their heads, food on the table and pay off the bills her now alcoholic mother had ignored. Her younger brother was little help. The job she got was as a waitress, wearing a skimpy costume, and working at a casino run by the Russian mob. She had a reason for taking that job, it was a member of the Russian Bratva who killed her father and no one, not her mother or the members of True Brothers would tell her exactly how her father died and what had happened to his killer. It's at that casino where she meets Ruslan, a high ranking member of the Russian Bratva who runs the casino and who, Amber believes, will tell her about what happened the night her father was killed and how his killer was dealt with. Ruslan soon has his eyes on Amber, and will do anything possible to attract her and make her his.

When the True Brothers find out where Amber is working and for whom, they want to keep her safe, and that's especially true of a relatively new member, Bam, who's attracted to her. When they realize that their MC has so let down and ignored Stitch's family, they assign members the job of keeping an eye on Amber and her family, and Bam takes more than his share of that assignment. While Bam's attraction to Amber is growing, so too are Ruslan's attempts to answer her questions about her father's death, as do his attempts to woo her with flowers and a new SUV. He's also started leaving her photos of what the Bratva did to punish her father's killer, but it doesn't stop there, and Bam does what he can to keep her safe.

Amber has mixed feelings. At the outset, she blames the True Brothers MC for everything that happened, her father's death, her mother's alcoholism, the loss of her college plans, and the disintegration of her once happy family, and she wants no part of the biker lifestyle, but she finds herself increasingly attracted to Bam. Meanwhile, Ruslan's attempts to woo her become truly creepy, and start freaking her out, and Bam wants the True Brothers to take care of the problem. There's also a subplot about their ongoing feud with a rival MC, who tried to burn out their clubhouse and mechanic shop across the street. While it put a close to business handled in the previous novel, it just seemed like another distraction from an already complicated story.

While I thought the relationship between Amber and Bam was well written, sweet, and well paced, the sexual aspect of their relationship seemed like a bit too much too soon, and I found it hard to believe, especially considering Amber's virginity and her transformation from novice to sex fiend overnight. For some reason, the author also omitted much of the grittiness I'd come to accept from the goings on at the True Brothers clubhouse--no drunken revelry, no biker sluts, no infighting between the MC members, and it all seemed rather tame compared to the previous novels in the series.

For readers new to this series, I'd suggest you read this series in the order in which it was written. For this reader, it just didn't grab me the way the first three novels did, but although problematic, it was an enjoyable romance read with an HEA ending, it simply wasn't my favorite novel in the series.

I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.

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Great read, the story flows well and the characters are well developed. The plot kept my attention and I was unable to put the book down.

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A year ago Amber lost her father Stitch to a shooting. Frustrated that she can't get any information on his death, she takes matters into her own hand and gets the interest of Ruslan of the Russian Mafia. Bam seeing where things are headed picks her up literally and takes her out. Bam has noticed Amber from afar but up close he knows he would like nothing but to have her in his life. Will it be possible or will Ruslan get to keep what he has claimed? I voluntarily agreed to receive an ARC of this book for an honest review.

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A well written MC book.

Amber Bennett knows all about MC's, she's been apart of one since birth. Her father is a member and her mom is an "old lady." That happy family ends one night when her parents are out for the night and her dad is shot and killed by a rival club member. Amber's life changes overnight. She has to drop out out of college and get a job waitressing to pay the bills because her Mom has checked out; choosing to drink her grief away night and day. Her brother, Jackson, decided to join his dad's club and has never looked back at his remaining family.

Amber just wants answers about what happened to the man who murdered her dad. When she ends up at a Russian owed mafia bar seeking answers to her questions, she gets a lot more than she bargained for; in the form of a Russian admirer.

When she leaves the bar, her MC family shows up for a meeting with the Russian. Immediately they have a Brother escort her from the club.

Bam, aka Hunter Kincaid, is tasked with watching over Amber, making sure that she gets home safely. When the Russian shows his interest, Bam makes it his job to protect her. He knows that he isn't worthy of her, yet he's so attracted to her.

Amber can't stand the MC, they turned their backs on her family. She always promised herself that she would never get involved with one. But when the Russian steps up his gifts and begins to threat her, she has no one else to turn to but Bam.

Will these two completely opposite people give in to their explosive chemistry?

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Bam has his hands full in trying to keep Amber out of trouble. Yes, she wants answers why her dad was killed, but showing up at a mafia bar is not exactly inviting those answers. She is now on their radar, especially Ruslan, son to the head of the mafia. As Amber stumbles around looking for those answers, a relationship starts to blossom between her and Bam as he tries to keep her safe. A sexy romance with lots of action, some steamy scenes, and chemistry, Rough Ride is a standalone book in the True Brothers MC series. A read you won't want to miss, I would like to thank NetGalley and Loveswept for gifting me Rough Ride. My opinion is my own. This is mine. 4.25 Stars!

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Rough Ride, by Gillian Archer, is book four in her True Brothers MC series. I missed out on the first three and I’d like to think that had a little to do with my reading experience, but I suspect it really didn’t. This was easily read without reading the first three books, Ruthless, Rebellious, and Resilient. And while there is a significant event at the end of Resilient that impacts the plot of Rough Ride, the two main characters of this book didn’t play into it, at least not then and I was able to figure out all the important details.

Overall, I found Rough Ride to be kind of flat with a little bit of spark towards the end. While I really liked Bam, I had a tough time connecting with Amber even while empathizing with her situation. The forbidden MC Princess trope has been done many times before and sometimes really well (see Devil’s Game from Joanna Wylde and Own the Wind from Kristen Ashley), but Rough Ride never rang true to me, especially with the entire plot built on the premise that Amber was alone in supporting her mother both financially and emotionally. A true MC Princess would have never found herself in that situation and so everything that comes afterward seemed contrived.

But I really did like Bam. Archer does a good job of giving both him and Amber some depth. Bam’s insecurities were endearing and real and never interfered with his ability to be an alpha hero when needed. And, while some of things that Amber did really impacted how much I didn’t like her, they were true to her life experiences, which I really appreciated. And, while they were cute together, it never really felt like a true love match.
There’s some action towards the end, which was exciting, but there was a lot of suspenseful scenes that seemed to fizzle out into nothing.

2.5/3 Stars for Rough Ride. Heat level: 3

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