Cover Image: Custom Built

Custom Built

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Member Reviews

Bronte Pierce had a very good job as a private investigator. However, she lost the job - and her dreams. When her uncle tells her he can get her a job at a motorcycle company called Fast & Fury she jumps at the opportunity. Along with that she learns that she has a cousin - as her uncle only just learned that he has an adult daughter. Things are looking up for Bronte - a job and more family, which has only been pretty much her father and her uncle, since she lost her mother years ago.

Bronte fits right in at Fast & Fury, with everyone but her boss Crow. He treats her rather coldly, which makes no sense to Bronte. But she tries to be unaffected by it, focusing more on learning about the business and her cousin. Things change quickly for her, however, when someone very close to her is found dead due to an apparent suicide She refuses to accept this and decides to hone in on her prior skills and investigate. Along the way, Crow steps in and the attraction that Bronte at first refused to acknowledge soon begins to show itself. Crow begins to change, quickly and in a large way/

Crow proves to be a champion for more than one reason. Not only Crow, but everyone else who belongs to the motorcycle club that is part of Fast and Fury. Crow and Bronte begin to hit it off, even with the stress and ultimate danger that comes with trying to get behind the death that occurred.

Custom Built is a very good book to start a new series. I loved meeting Bronte and Crow and see how well they matched each other. I like the suspense that was woven into the pages of this story and I also enjoyed meeting everyone in the club. The supporting characters lent a lot of balance to this well-written story, leaving me eager to read more books in this series.

Many thanks to Carina Press and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

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I wanted to like this book, since the description was intriguing, but it ended up being a bizarre Sons of Anarchy wannabe. I didn't love the first person POV, and some of the style choices were totally strange - the lack of contractions made everything sound super stilted. The moral compasses of the characters were...interesting, and the fact that Billie died and Cam barely seemed to care was wild.

The characters are one-dimensional; this is my first time reading Chantal Fernando, so it's very possible I missed some back-story that makes everyone have more depth. The narrative skipped around quite a bit, time wise, so I think we miss out on some crucial character development that would have made me care more about the characters.

If you love this author, you may enjoy this book, but I left it feeling kinda meh.

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Super easy read but clearly part of a larger series! I looked it up afterwards and Fernando has written multiple series within this world, which makes more sense in retrospect why all the characters seem to know each other (and why it felt like we should've known them already).

This is a good read for people looking for some spicy romance with uber masculine bikers and fairly strong female leads. I like the relationship between the two characters, but felt like the story moved really quickly at times (they basically sleep together and then BAM are together). I would've like more relationship development to make it feel more true. Also, the murders/drama moves SO fast, that it's hard to feel like it's as dangerous as it's supposed to be.

The ending was really sweet and I was so happy for this little family!

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The voice in this book was so compelling, and that drew me into the story and romance. Will keep an eye out for future books in this series!

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I was really excited to get my hands on this book because I loved her other motorcycle series. I sadly have to say this book just did not work for me. The pacing of the story just through me off. I also felt like there was just too many things going on. The main character dealt with so much that it didn't feel believable. I will keep an eye out for her other books.

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*3.5 Stars*

Custom Built by Chantal Fernando is the first book in her Fast and Fury series! This series starts with a suspenseful tale and a murder mystery, of sorts. This novel is told from Bronte Pierce’s point of view.

Bronte Pierce has a lot on the table and on her mind right now. She just got laid off from her job as assistant to a private detective and she got some unsettling news from her doctor that has the potential to rewrite her whole future. What else could go wrong?!... When her Uncle finds out she lost her job, he puts in a good word for her at a motorcycle shop, Fast and Fury, and she’s hired right on the spot and that’s where fate decides to step in and once again change the path she’s on. That is where she meets Crow.

When her father turns up dead, Bronte knows his death wasn’t caused by an overdose, deep in her gut she knows his death was caused by something more sinister. His death was a murder. SO with the help of Crow’s motorcycle club, Knights of Fury, she’s about to uncover secrets her father hid from her, but with Crow by her side, she can get through anything…. Or can she.

My Thoughts:

I’ve been a fan of Chantal Fernando’s ever since I devoured her Wind Dragon’s MC Series…. When I saw she was writing a spin-off to her Knights of Fury series I was beyond excited. I love these motorcycle men, I can’t get enough. One thing I've come to love about Fernando’s writing is the suspense she weaves through her romances. I love not knowing what is going to happen, while also knowing something is waiting around the bend. It’s a push and pull where my emotions are concerned.

Crow was such a sweetheart where Bronte was concerned. This man set his heart on one woman and he’s willing to do anything and be anything she needs him to be. And trust me when I say, Crow had his work cut out for him with all the baggage Bronte was carrying around. I can’t even begin to describe how much this man has touched my heart. I loved his soft side, but I also really enjoyed his fierce vibes.

Bronte, on the other hand, was a difficult nut to crack. I couldn’t get a read on her character. I wanted to like her so much, I think there was too much going on for me to catch up with all the emotions running rampant. I needed a bit of a slow down so I could reconnect with her character.

I was looking forward to Crow and Bronte’s story. I was looking forward to all the feels, and while I felt them all and I did enjoy this novel, I felt something was missing and I’m pretty sure it had to do with everything that was going on with this novel. In a way, that is why I rated this novel with a 3.5 star. I liked it and damn near loved it, but I needed a little more emotion and a little more connection for me to fall head over boots in love with it. It felt a bit cluttered.

Overall, I didn’t love this one like I was hoping and anticipating, It does lead me to wonder what is coming next with the Fast and Fury series and I am excited to continue on and hopeful that the next book will have me falling in literary love.

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This is the first in the Fast & Fury series. It's a spin-off of the Knights of Fury series. I enjoyed the romance in this one. Crow and Bronte had great chemistry and I loved their epilogue. The MC doesn't play a huge role in this one, but Bronte does find out some secrets about her father. The poor girl goes through a lot in this book, but handles it all with great strength. I definitely recommend this one.

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This wasn't a bad book at all, but it was just okay. I found myself putting this down over and over again. I just couldn't get into it. I think a lot of it were the bikers were just so darned sweet. There's nothing wrong with this book and I'm sure others will love it. It just didn't blow my socks off.

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Custom Built
By: Chantal Fernando

📚💕⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💕📚

Great at the get go!

In the first book in this MC spin off we get a book that starts with immense enthusiasm and great story line. We get two very strong personalities and it’s fun to read the back and forth. .

I really enjoyed this book and it kept me engrossed throughout. I really loved the characters and the way they interacted with each other. This is a fun, hot, romantic must read book and I would definitely recommend this book to anyone.

Authors Blurb: After losing her job, saying goodbye to a lifelong dream and having an all-around cruddy year, Bronte Pierce needs a break. A job at Fast & Fury might be just the thing to reset her life, even though she knows nothing about custom motorcycles. But taking a job isn’t the same as keeping it, and her fresh start quickly turns into a fresh nightmare.

Starting with her boss. Crow is hardheaded, stubborn and brutally honest. He may be easy on the eyes, but he runs with an MC and he’s anything but friendly to Bronte. She suspects he has a softer side—just not for her.
Her whole life, Bronte has known that the only person she can truly count on to save the day is herself. But when a single murder turns into a conspiracy and the threat to her life is more than she can handle alone, it’s Crow who comes through—and her newfound family might just become her greatest strength.

This book has everything I love in a book. Then you add that it's beautifully written and believable. It is easily a five star read. Written in dual POV my personal favorite this story flows so incredibly well that the next thing you know your 80% into the book and loving every second of it. The believable way the characters interact is perfect. Run, Hop, Jump or use your (1 click) finger to do whatever you have to do and get this amazing book. It'll break your heart, you'll want to scream with frustration and it'll let you discover that love just might conquer all. The chemistry is steamy and sweet and oh so romantic.

Thanks Netgally for letting me read and review.📚💕

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3.5 Stars

This is the first book in the Fast and Fury series introducing a new set of characters although some familiar faces make an appearance in the story. If you like your MC books on the darker side then this is not it, although there is some drama it never felt dangerous and out of control. The book is more focused on the relationship between Crow and Bronte. I liked the tension between them when they first met the banter and back and forth was funny. At times it was like they went from antagonistic to loved up a little quickly but with all that sexual tension it was inevitable but I felt like some parts of building a relationship was missing. I would have liked more involvement from the guys in the MC as I prefer these stories to have a darker edge. This was an enjoyable sometimes sweet romance.

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*I received this book as a gift in exchange for my honest opinion.

Oh how I've missed these Knights!!! I'm so happy that this author has created another series "spinoff"...and I can't wait for more!!!

Bronte just got laid off from work. Not because she sucks as an employee, but because her boss couldn't keep her for financial reasons. Asking her dad for a hand out is out of the question, but when her uncle mentions a job opportunity, she jumps at it since no one else is hiring right now. The only issue is that the job is manning the front desk of a motorcycle shop, a topic she knows absolutely nothing about. Good thing she's a quick learner...

Crow is the manager of the motorcycle shop Bronte has just landed a job at. He's also a member of the MC Knights of Fury. Although he needs the help, he wasn't expecting Bronte. Not only is she beautiful, but smart, kind and feisty. And even though he's trying to keep business and pleasure separate, it's becoming harder each day. Especially when her life is turned upside down and needs his shoulder for more than just support. And he's more than willing to give it to her.

This is NOT a damsel in distress situation. It's more of a partnering of two strong individuals who respect each other. There is absolutely NO self sabotaging in this which I found to be REALLY refreshing. I think that's why I really appreciated this story so much. That and the fact that we got to experience the Knights and their women again.

If you haven't read the Knights of Fury series, I highly recommend you do. Not just because the relationships in this book would make more sense, but because it's a kick ass series!!!!

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A first volume which sets the scene and presents us an endearing duo. Bronte and Crow offer us a rhythmic and passionate romance. The pages turn too quickly and the suspense rises over the pages. We're done too quickly ... we can't wait for the rest!

Un premier tome qui plante le décor et nous présente un duo attachant. Bronte et Crow nous offre une romance rythmée et passionnée. Les pages tournent trop vite et le suspens monte au fil des pages. On en finit trop vite ... vivement la suite !

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CUSTOM BUILT is the first instalment in Chantal Fernando’s contemporary, adult FAST AND FURY erotic, romance series-a spin off from the author’s KNIGHTS OF FURY MC series. This is twenty-four year old, PA Bronte Pierce, and mechanic/Knights of Fury MC member Xeno Crow’s story line. CUSTOM BUILT can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty but I recommend reading TEMPER (Knights of Fury 3) for back story and cohesion.

Told from first person perspective (Bronte) CUSTOM BUILT follows the building relationship between twenty-four year old, PA Bronte Pierce, and mechanic/Knights of Fury MC member Xeno Crow. Bronte Pierce was let go from a job she loved as the assistant to a private investigator. With no other job prospects in sight, she reluctantly tells her father and uncle about her struggles when her uncle comes through with a new source of employment. Enter mechanic/Knights of Fury MC member Xeno Crow, the manager of Fast and Fury Custom Motorcycles. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Crow and Bronte, and the potential fall-out as the sins of the father demand payment in full.

Bronte Pierce is the only daughter of Freddy Pierce, and as such is the apple of her father’s eye but family secrets run dangerous and deep, and Freddy is about to pay the price for sins of the past. Caught up in the mayhem, Bronte calls in her former boss to start an investigation into the who, how and why, only to discover that her father and uncle’s secrets run much deeper than she could have ever imagined.

The relationship between Bronte and Crow begins acrimoniously as Crow appears to take an immediate disliking to our story line heroine but a night out with friends finds Bronte on the dance floor with Xeno Crow, and all bets are off for the foreseeable future. Crow had struggled to keep his distance from our story line heroine but the heart wanted something more than a working relationship. The $ex scenes are passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are reintroduced to several members of the Knight of Fury MC: Temper and Abbie, Skylar and Saint, Renny and Izzy; mechanic and custom motorcycle designer Cameron, as well as Bronte’s father Freddy, and her uncle Neville; Bronte’s friend Billie; her former boss and PI Nadia, Crow’s sister Heidi; Jean and her daughter Anne.

CUSTOM BUILT is a story of family, secrets and sooooo many lies. Bronte Pierce was hit with the reality that everything about her life and the family she knew and loved was predicated upon a lie, and as such she was pulled into the fall-out of her father’s hidden life. The romance is seductive; the characters are colorful; the premise is intriguing but there was something missing. I felt disconnected from the characters; there was no palpable energy even though so many murders, deaths and threats to our story line heroine- it was like everyone was just going through the motions, like a bad B-movie.

As stated in a previous review for the author, I wish the story line was told in dual perspective as we are oblivious to Crow’s whereabouts on many occasions, and the behind the scenes happenings. Our hero would appear and disappear without explanation or reason, and in this I felt there could have been so much more detail to add the world building and the series.



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This was a DNF for me. The romance and storyline moved too fast and was way too unrealistic for me. From nothing to love in a non fantasy setting is just hard for me to understand.

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I was disappointed with this book. I thought going in it was going to be an enemies to lovers romance full of bad boy motorcycle club stuff. But in the end it was just an insta love romance with a very drama filled plot. I was begging for the author to stop for a second and put some filler stuff in. It seemed like once the conflict was solved they were thrown into another dramatic situation. Everything felt too rushed including the romance.

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Bronte & Crow
I love this couple. Didn't think I would from the beginning when they meet. The Crow that everyone seems to like and be friends with is downright cranky with Bronte when she starts work at the club's custom bike shop he manages.
Bronte lost her job due to a downturn in business. But her newly found cousin gave her one at the bike shop. Maybe Crow, the too-hot-for-his-own-good guy, resented she got the job so easily. At least that's what she thought until his real feelings came out. Yep, he wanted her and didn't like feeling that way one bit.
Their relationship might not have begun if life hadn't taken a real downturn for Bronte. Gonna have to give a tissue warning here. What turns into real danger for her and that means she needs protection. Crow is not going to let her get hurt.
They are a couple I loved watching grow and find love and a future. Will the danger chasing her let her live to find that future? Great characters and a family feeling with the club people, bad guys who just seem to keep coming, and lots of steam. Not to be missed. Reviewed for Words Turn Me On

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I always love reading any of Chantal Fernando's books. She has the gift in writing hot Alpha men falling in love hard. And she does it again with Bronte and Crow in Custom Built. 
Bronte definitely has no clue how to deal with the MC life when she agrees to work in the MC garage. And it does not help that her boss Crow is not friendly at all. Looks can be deceiving especially how cute Bronte is. Like I want to be besties with her. She is so cute and loyal that you don't want to break her heart at all. It's understandable why her family hid the real truth from her. It totally sucks. Bronte will soon discover the real truth, and with that comes more drama.
I truly like Custom Built but I did wish that Chantal Fernando did not rush the whole story. She needed to slow it down a bit. It would have flowed better than rushing big moments.

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I had such high hopes for this book and really liked the characters and the couple, but it left me needing more at times and less at others. The first big devastating event that happens to Bronte was good (for the reader as far as the storyline and conflict but, ya know, awful for the character) but then the hits just kept coming to the point it was overkill, and the details or emotions just didn't come through for me. I wanted more from the MC angle and the friendships as well. Lastly, I was really unhappy with how the dance instructor's storyline played out, It was a chance to point out how a woman who was abused and traumatized had been manipulated could find redemption or at least get away to start over but that's not at all what happened. I was angry with how that storyline ended. I know it wasn't a huge portion of the story but, like I said, the conflict was abundant, and this one side character was connected to 3-4 of the traumatic events. I'm rambling so overall, I felt like it had the potential to be much better but liked it enough that I would try another of this author's books to see if there is improvement for me.

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Chantal Fernando kicks off her new series Fast & Fury with a steamy, suspenseful and scintillating page-turner: Custom Built.

Bronte Pierce has had the year from hell. In the space of twelve months, her entire world had been turned upside down and her life has been upended and she’s been left unemployed, disappointed and disillusioned. With her lifelong dream having slipped through her fingers, Bronte decides to take a job at Fast & Fury in the meantime in order to keep the wolf from the door and figure out what she is going to be doing next with her life. Bronte knows next to nothing about motorcycles and even less about custom motorcycles, but she needs a job and cannot afford to be choosy. However, her fresh start immediately hits a snag when she finds herself clashing with her new boss, Crow.

Crow might look like every woman’s fantasy, but he also happens to be the most infuriating and aggravating man Bronte has ever clapped eyes on. He never seems to miss an opportunity to bite her head off and has made it abundantly clear that he does not and will not tolerate any mistakes or excuses. Crow can barely bring himself to be civil to Bronte, so she is not sure just how long she is going to last at Fast and Fury. But pretty soon, Bronte realises that it isn’t just her bad-tempered boss she has to worry about when her life is put in jeopardy.

Bronte has been self-sufficient for most of her life and she knows that in this cruel world, the only person you can truly rely on is yourself. But with her life under threat, Bronte realises that she needs to turn to someone in her hour of need – and much to her surprise, Crow is the one who offers her his protection. With fate having pushed the two of them together, Bronte and Crow find themselves spending more and more time together, and as their feelings for one another intensify, giving into temptation quickly proves inevitable. But will Bronte and Crow’s red-hot love affair be cut short by dangerous enemies? Or will they manage to find a way to be together…forever?

Custom Built is a red-hot contemporary romance that deftly balances danger and desire in one breath-taking and heart-stopping read that sizzles with passion, intrigue, action and smoking hot sensuality. Bronte and Crow are two fantastic characters readers will just fall in love with. They are believable, flawed, brave and resilient and their love story is sure to keep readers absolutely hooked from beginning to end.

Readers looking for a wild emotional rollercoaster ride need look no further than Chantal Fernando’s latest novel, Custom Built.

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I’m a huge fan of Chantal Fernando and I was so excited to get read this first book in her new series. This book didn’t disappoint. I loved the love/hate relationship. Crow was a character that I loved to hate and thought was perfect for her. I can’t wait til there is another book in this series. Hands down a must read!

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