Carly's Book Reviews: Taming Ryder by Nicola Haken: Review & Excerpt

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Taming Ryder by Nicola Haken: Review & Excerpt

Taming Ryder

(Souls of the Knight, Book 2)
by Nicola Haken

Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance

You met Ryder Richardson in Being Sawyer Knight. Now, this is his story.

I’ve done it. I’ve stuck a whopping two fingers up at my parents, I’ve made a name for myself as one of the world’s biggest porn stars and I’ve finally found a family I belong in.

Life is amazing. I get paid to do all my favourite things. Fuck. Party. Travel the world. What’s not to love?

And then he comes along. Mason George – Back Door Studio’s newest exclusive model and the guy who has the potential to either fuck it all up, or take me on the best ride of my life. ~ Ryder

I’m desperate. I’ve got nothing and nobody left. Entering the daunting world of adult entertainment is less of a dream and more of a necessity. Signing as Back Door Studio’s latest model has the ability to either ruin or make me, but I made a vow at my first audition never to let myself regret it.

I continue to question myself each day, but no amount of what’s, why’s or what ifs will change where I am or where I’m heading. Am I strong enough to do this? To embrace it? To enjoy it? I have no idea.

The only thing I’m certain of, is that if anyone can teach me who I’m supposed to be, it’s Ryder Richardson. ~ Mason

“Because the most exciting things in life always happen via the back door”

Say you’ll go on a date with me?”

“A date? Me?” An involuntary smile crept onto my face at the ridiculous notion. “That’s never going to happen, Mase. I don’t date. Ever.”

“Why? Why won’t you let anyone in?”

“Oh come on, that’s taking things a bit far.”

“How so? I’m interested to know why you won’t date, why you won’t let anyone get close to you.”

“I never said I wouldn’t let anyone get close to me. You’re making this out to be far more serious than it is.”

“Then go on a date with me.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t want to be tied down. I like the life I have and I’m not going to fuck it up by having to justify myself to someone else.”

“Justify what? I’m not a stranger. I know who you are and what you do. Your life would still be the same.”

“It wouldn’t. Relationships are so…serious. Complicated. People expect trust, and monogamy, and for you to share shit. I haven’t got time for that.”

“Stop referring to me as ‘people’. I’m not ‘people’, I’m me. Of course I want you to share shit, how else am I supposed to get to know you? As for monogamy, I assume you’re referring to porn. In which case, I’m a porn model too, Ry. I might not have chosen it for the same reasons as you but I still get it. It’s a job. A job I’d never ask or expect you to quit. What you do on camera isn’t what you shared with me that night here, and I know you know that as well as I do. And trust? That needs to be earned. I’m asking for a date, Ryder. Not marriage.”

I let out a long breath in the form of a deep, confused sigh. Much to my surprise, I was almost considering the idea, until his hand that was still on my leg squeezed my knee gently and my heart leapt into my throat. I couldn’t control it. I couldn’t control the way my pulse raced or my dick swelled when he touched me and I hated that. I swore no one would ever have control over me and so I wasn’t about to give it to Mason.

“I said no,” I snapped firmly. “And I also think it’s time you looked for your own place.”

Mason’s back abruptly stiffened. His face paled and his jaw dropped slightly open.

“If that’s what you want, I’ll look into it tomorrow.”

“It is what I want. This was only supposed to be temporary, remember?”

“Sure,” he nodded, his voice wavering. “I’m sorry I’ve upset you,” he added, standing from the chair. My lips parted to say something, but when I realised I didn’t have a fucking clue what I should say, they closed again. Mason gave me one last glance, his eyebrows narrowing as if he were in pain. Then he nodded once and turned for his room, leaving me alone with tears stinging the back of my eyes and my fist itching to punch myself in my worthless fucking face.

Fuck.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed Being Sawyer Knight but wasn't blown away by the story line, so when TAMING RYDER was released I almost didn't read it, and that would have been a big mistake.

While technically Book 2 in the Souls of the Knight series, the only thing these two stories really have in common are mutual characters. We first met Ryder in BEING SAWYER KNIGHT and now we see Sawyer and Jake return as supporting characters in Ryder's story, which is pretty fun.

TAMING RYDER is a dramatic tale that contains humor, suspense, erotic sex scenes, romance and self discovery. The characters are superbly developed, and Nicola Haken built Ryder's world with vivid word pictures that are raw and realistic. TAMING RYDER packs an emotional punch that left me reeling more than once. Each and every time I thought that the story couldn't get any better, I'd turn the page and be taken by surprise all over again.

I would highly recommend this well written and fast paced story to fans of intensely emotional and dramatic M/M romance. While I do recommend reading this series in order due to character crossover, TAMING RYDER can also be enjoyed as a stand alone novel.

View all my reviews

Author of the New Adult/Contemporary novels Missing Pieces, Saving Amy and the Take My Hand series, and m/m erotic romance Souls of the Knight series.

I live in Rochdale, England with my wonderful family and when I'm not playing with my imaginary friends I can usually be found looking after my four adorable (sometimes!) children (six if you include the dogs, seven if you include the hubby!) or stalking gay porn stars!

All in all I'm just an ordinary mum with an addiction to reading about hot book guys, writing about hot book guys, tattoos and Pepsi Max! Oh, and if my kids ever ask... I moonlight as the Pink Power Ranger ;-)

*OVER

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Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Taming Ryder by Nicola Haken: Review & Excerpt

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