Ashwin (Gideon's Riders #1)
by Kit Rocha
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Pub Date 07 Mar 2017 | Archive Date 17 May 2017
Description
The first book in a sexy new series from the author of the popular Beyond series...
Lieutenant Ashwin Malhotra is a Makhai soldier—genetically engineered to be cold, ruthless. Unfeeling. His commanding officers consider him the perfect operative, and they’re right. Now, he has a simple mission: to infiltrate Gideon’s Riders, the infamous sect of holy warriors that protects the people of Sector One.
He’s never failed to execute an objective, but there’s one thing he didn’t anticipate—running into Dr. Kora Bellamy, the only woman to ever break through his icy exterior.
When Kora fled her life as a military doctor for the Makhai Project, all she wanted was peace—a quiet life where she could heal the sick and injured. The royal Rios family welcomed her like a sister, but she could never forget Ashwin. His sudden reappearance is a second chance—if she can manage to touch his heart.
When the simmering tension between them finally ignites, Kora doesn't realize she's playing with fire. Because she’s not just falling in love with a man who may not be able to love her back. Ashwin has too many secrets—and one of them could destroy her.
Welcome to Gideon's Riders
ASHWIN is very first book in
Gideon's Riders, a new series from Kit Rocha set in the same
post-apocalyptic world as their first bestselling series. The war
between Eden and the Sectors (covered in the Beyond series) is over, but
victory brings its own challenges...like deciding what their new
society should become.
Enter: Gideon Rios, grandson of a prophet
and leader of Sector One, and his fanatically devoted personal army--a
highly trained group of warrior bikers known as Gideon's Riders. Sector
One might believe in love, but someone has to fight and bleed to protect
those who want to live in peace.
Dozens of Riders died in the
war, battling for the right to build a freer world. Those who remain
face the hardest choice of all: whether they're willing to keep dying
for love, or if they want to start living for it.
Do I have to read the Beyond series first?
No!
While several of the characters in the new series first appeared in the
Beyond series, they'll be living very different lives now that the war
is over. Old and new readers alike will have a chance to discover the
shape of this new world together.
Available Editions
EDITION | Ebook |
ISBN | 9781942432241 |
PRICE | $4.99 (USD) |
Featured Reviews
5 Love Conquers All Stars
Ashwin Malhotra was "bred" for one purpose, to be the best, most loyal, most efficient soldier he could be and he is feared by all, as only a dog trained only to kill can be feared. As a Makhai soldier, emotion should have been tortured out of him long ago. And it is... or so he tells himself. The one true exception to that rule is the most forbidden of them all.... Dr. Kora Bellamy.
Kora is everything a Makhai soldier isn't. Emotional and compassionate to an extreme degree, she is the best at what she does, saving other people's lives. Being naturally kind, she sees in Makhai soldiers what other people overlook... emotion may be hidden deep within after someone teaches you to relay it with pain but it doesn't really go away. And in Ashwin'so case, she needs to believe that the emotions he stirs in her aren't one-sided.
But a relationship between them isn't simple... Ashwin is a man not allowed to love and Kora is a woman many would kill to have. But the worst enemy may not be outsiders but Ashwin's fierce need to protect her, no matter how much protecting her may damage them...
I was curious how Kit Rocha would go about spinning off the Beyond series. I was both hopeful that it would be as awesome as the original series and apprehensive that it would be exactly the same and have nothing fresh to offer. I shouldn't have to worry. Sector One is just as complicated as Sector Four, just as interesting, just as captivating but also completely different. The cult-like political structure isn't something we see often, at least not on the good guys' side, but it has great potential. Mostly because the people in power are actually nice people.
Unlike Dallas who ruled his sector with brutal strength but also complete loyalty to his people, Gideon doesn't need strength or brutality to rule. In Sector One, Gideon Rios is god and his word not only law, but also followed with complete faith that it is right. A man with that much power could have easily been corrupted but Gideon is well aware of the burden of being worshipped as he is. Insightful, and compassionate but ruthless when the situation demands it, Gideon is what a leader should be. It will be a treat watching his character development.
The romance aspect was as expected my favorite part. While I enjoyed the Beyond novels, the romance sometimes felt... completely sex-based. Don't get me wrong, the emotions where there but most of the times I thought that they were too widely spread with all the different partners and public sex. I'm not against it, hell, I loved Beyond, but this felt more real. Probably because I can't imagine wanting to share someone you're in love with. And the "only you can make me feel" storyline always hooks me. There's just something incredibly romantic in managing to bring a man trained to feel nothing to his knees. Not to mention that both characters were beautiful people, and I don't mean externally.
And then we have the secondary characters... The Riders are just yummy! And the women sufficiently sassy and independent to satisfy my high expectations. I can't wait for Zeke's, Deacon's and Maricela's books. And of course, creating a female strong enough to be with Gideon and all the responsibility he carries on his shoulders will definitely be a challenge for the author but I have every faith in them. We also had a few cameo appearances of characters we know and love... our favorite O'Kane trio.
All in all, this was a great start to the series. I look forward to seeing what comes next!
*************************************
I was so happy when I saw this on Netgalley, my fingers went on autopilot requesting it. But, it being Friday, I thought I'd have to wait for Monday at least. So here I was, browsing my shelves, trying to find something interesting to read, when I get my reply... less than 10 minutes later!!!
I'm so happy to see what Kit Rocha have done with this spin-off!!
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