Smexy Books would like to welcome Amy, reviewer extraordinaire and crack smut reader, from Fiction Vixen
She’s joining me (Tori) today to talk about the most addictive crack like appeal ofKristen Ashley’s books. I knew that if I wanted to extol the virtues of Kristen Ashley and her unbelievable books, I had to get my buddy Amy over here. It was because of her that I started reading her. At the beginning of 2012, Amy emailed me and told me I had to read this new author she found. She directed me to Ashley’s Sweet Dreams, #2 in her Colorado Mountain series, and I was a goner. Is it the exceptional writing? Nope. The fantastic editing? Not a chance. Is it the superb storylines? *giggle* Not quite. What the appeal is for me is the heroes. Or the “alpha-holes”, as I like to call them. Her heroes are so in your face. There is no subtlety. No games played. They tell it like it is. And once they set their sights on you…watch out.
Kristen Ashley has six established series, (with more in the works), that all written in a similar manner yet display distinctly different traits. Her Rock Chick series is humorous with low key sexual overtones. The ‘Burg series is a romantic suspense series all based on residents of a small town in Indian. Serious and heartbreaking with injections of humor and some very nice sexy times. The Colorado Mountain series is romantic contemporary. Funny and sexy, it too revolves around a small Colorado town and it’s crazy residents. The Dream Man series and her Unfinished Heroes series are both darker romantic contemporaries that feature anti heroes. VERY hot, very sexy, very WOWZA. The Fantasyland Series takes place in our world and a parallel universe where fantasies are true… but perhaps not all you would expect. Amy says they remind her of the Game Of Thrones show.
Tori: So, welcome Amy Cakes! So glad you were able to visit with me today and talk smut. Today we are going to talk about the wonderful Kristen Ashley and why on earth we can’t seem to give her up. What first drew you to Kristen’s books?
Amy: Well thanks Torilicious for letting me escape one smuthole and visit another, errrrrr, I’m mean lovely blog. At the first of the year my Goodreads feed was flooded with Kristen Ashley comments, reviews, etc. so naturally I had to check out what the buzz was about. I thought I would read one book and move on. Little did I realize that Ashley is pretty much like potato chips, no one can inhale just one!
Tori: They ARE like potato chips. Such a rambunctious blending of interesting storylines and eccentric characters. she reminds of Jennifer Crusie and Shelly Laurensten. Brash characters, cray cray plot lines, and crude humor and dialogue.
Tori: Amy, I know you love her “alpha holes” and their interesting personalities. Who is your favorite alpha-hole from her books?
Amy: OMG, now that’s a difficult one there. There are so many and I have not discovered them all. I would probably have to call a tie at the moment with Dax Lahn from The Golden Dynasty and Kane “Tack” Allen from Motorcycle Man. Both of these brutes nailed the A in a hole! The Golden Dynasty is in Ashley’s Fantasyland series and I loved it because it has a similarity and feel of the popular television show, Game of Thrones. Motorcycle Man is the final book in the Dream Man series and Tack is the crass, badass leader of the Chaos Motorcycle Club.
Tori: I have to say I’m partial to the men in her Colorado Mountain and The Burg series. Both Tate and Max grew on me quick. As did Colt and Joe. They were just as brash as all her men, but they don’t treat their women as bad as, in say, her Dream Man series. Now THOSE are some alpha-holes.
Amy: Oh I agree! My favorite in that series is Ty Walker from Lady Luck, the ex-con. What is it with my thing for ex-cons? My favorite Pamela Clare character is an ex-con, lol.
Tori: Gee Amy, I don’t know why you’re fascinated with ex-cons. Something you want to share with us? *wink-wink* I think you just like your bad boys extra bad!
Tori: What do you like best about her alpha-holes?
Amy: I think there caveman mentality is somewhat mesmerizing, lol. I mean they are total no compromise, it’s my way, shut up, end of story. They have a hard time listening to their women or the ability to talk out problems in a normal fashion so it’s both infuriating and addictive to watch the dialogue unfold.
Tori: I agree. They are 100% bad boys! Sexy, sexy bad boys. They are honest, brutally honest in some situations, yet you can’t help but admire that. In 100% of the books, I’m always like, “Dude, just TALK/LISTEN TO HER!!” lol While I could never date a man like that in real life because I’d have buried him 6 feet under real quick-I can appreciate it in fiction.
Amy: You said it sister! I’d be dancing on his grave!
Tori: What do you like least?
Amy: A lot of her heroes are paired with the TSTL-To Stupid To Live- heroines and that does get annoying at times. I have a difficult time with ignorant heroines That is why I try to pace myself with the crack but sometimes it’s a lost cause.
Tori: Amen. I relate to the men so much better in here. The women in some of them are doormats and it’s very hard to watch. I want to reach through the book and do some smacking! Though I did like Nina from The Gamble. She had a low esteem but she wasn’t stupid acting.
Amy: I agree. I really enjoyed Tessa O’Hara from Wild Man. She was in her forties and a very strong heroine with a no bs attitude. I could relate and appreciate her no games mentality about life and her relationship with hero, Brock Lucas.
Tori: I need to read that one next. *nodding head*
Tori: Her storylines are pretty tame actually, a combination of an erotic romantic contemporary with a large realistic base. Do you think this is part of the appeal?
Amy: I think the fact that the setting and circumstances of real life are so authentic in the story that you get sucked in and have to see how their lives will pan out. Also the fact that she writes all her heroes like they are starved for their women sexually. The fact that they notice the little things, their idiosyncrasies, how they walk, what they wear, how they act and react, it’s sexy that her heroes are so observant because most men are not. It’s also sexy that they all want the heroines to see themselves in such a positive manner and realize they are women of worth and in the end the heroes are lucky as hell to have them and the heroines end up feeling the same way about their sexy, bossy alpha-holes, lol.
Tori: Now one thing I love about her books is the raw, dirty talk. These men and women have mouths like sailors, but it works. What do you think? A plus or a minus?
Amy: Girl, it’s definitely a plus! I can’t even repeat some of the crass, x-rated talk Tack spews in Motorcycle Man as I would like to be invited back to Smexy, not banned, but as you know I love a filthy talking hero that loses a little of his sanity in a love scene so that is like icing on the crack, lol! I definitely think it’s an enhancement to both the sex and intimacy of the couple.
Tori: A to the Men. I’m never been big on dirty talk, but in here…*whew* It works. It seriously works. I think it also keeps in character with the heroes. These men aren’t rocket scientists. I’m not saying they aren’t smart, because some of them are, but they are rough cut, burly men who walk the walk and talk the talk. In explicit details. :)
Tori: Now on to the smexy times. The hotness factor in these books are off the chart. How would you rate the love scenes on a hot scale of 1-10? 1 being boring and 10 being OMG I need to read this in a cold shower.
Amy: I would say the love scenes vary in each series. Rock Chick (not having finished all of the books) being a very tame 3, Colorado Mt. ranking a solid 7 and Dream Man sizzling in the dirty 9 category. I mean come on, I can’t count how many times Tack talked smack about Tyra’s “greedy pussy”!
Tori: LOLOL I remember your tweets. I agree Rock Chick is pretty tame; can’t wait to read the rest of that series though. Colorado Mountain series is a 7-8. I haven’t read Dream Man series yet but from your tweets-I’m agreeing with your 9.
Amy: Well Torilicious, I think it’s pretty evident that we are crack hores, lol. There is no end to the cracktastic need for Kristen Ashley and fabulous or meh, we will continue to get our fix!
Tori: Agreed Amy Cakes! So if you’re looking for some “cracktacular” summer reading, then Amy and I vote unanimously for Kristen Ashley.
Tori: Amy, Thanks so much for making such a long journey from Fiction Vixen to Smexy Books and chatting about the delicious smutty goodness of Kristen Ashley. xoxo
Amy: My pleasure. Now I better skedaddle before Sophia cracks her whip!
*waving bye to Amy*
Wait! What about your thoughts on Knight? I just bought it a few weeks back and it is coming up on my to read pile. Is it good? I am curious about the Mountain series though…might have to purchase them soon.
I have yet to read Knight. The excerpt and reviews haven’t had me rushing to read it even though I bought it. I’m not big on controlling males, especially those who need control 24/7. It makes me stabby. :) I’m going to finish the ones I have and then see.
I have to say Knight was one of my least favorite of Ashley’s to date. It was very over the top with the plot and characters. I didn’t really care for the hero or heroine BUT it was still cracktastic!
Ah, I love people that share my KA addiction. I read Knight as my first by her and almost didn’t pick up another one. It has been my least favorite book of hers. Since then I have read 13 in a row and am currently reading The ‘Burg series.
My favorite heroes have been Tack, how awesome was he? And Luke from Rock Chicks.
I DNF’d Knight – but now maybe I need to pick up another one?? What was the second one you read? Do you remember?
It was the first one in the Dream Men series. There was something about the hero that was irresistible.
OMG Jen I LOVE Luke from Rock Chick series! I want a Luke Lip Fog something fierce!
See, I’m not looking forward to Knight at all now. lol I am almost through with Rock Chicks and then I start the Dream Man series. Ty from Colorado series owns my heart right now.
She said Knight was something new for her. Maybe the next one will be better?
I soo agree.. I hated Knight!! I actually deleted it from my kindle. Couldn’t even finish it. I’m not sure how I feel about her and this anti-hero concept. With anyone else, I’d agree but KA’s males are already borderline douche .. Not sure they need to get any worse. I like the concept, good guys doing bad things. We all watch movies where we’re rooting for the drug dealer/pimp/thief or whatever .. American Gangster anyone? .. But Knight as a character I just couldn’t get with. My favourite is still the first I read .. Sweet Dreams. Amaze! The falling in love was believable, even his douche-baggery was understandable. Lady Luck was another fabulous one. Breathe, Motorcycle Man, the Three series (so far) and Mathilda are good. I find the Rock Chicks okay, it wasn’t really that believable. The heroines irritated me a lot, they were often irrational or clueless. The Burg series mainly pissed me off, not even the stories themselves but the general thread of lost love. I read romancey novels to be happy, not depressed over time wasted, often extremely foolishly! The couples would lose 20 years for some daft-ass reason! Colorado series definitely my best all in all. I’m now out of things to read so I’m considering trying Creed. sigh*
Sorry for the long comment lol .. Just needed to fully rant, haven’t found any fellow KA lovers.
Have to agree love all kristen ashley books! Rockchicks by far are my fav but I love all her books. Vance, lee, and all the men in rockchick are great its hard to pick one :)
I don’t think I’ve rated a Kristen Ashley book above three stars yet but I keep coming back for more. They are addictive and the heroes draw me even though I feel like they shouldn’t. Lol.
I know! I have yet to rate one five stars but they still hook you all the same. Total addiction!
I am officially unable to put them down. BAD AMY!!! lol
Dear god after Amy mentioned KA on fictionvixen I have been reading ALL her books. Seriously, this author is my gateway drug to reading crack.
PS Golden dynasty is my Game of Throbe crack.
KC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *smooches*
KC *tackle hug*!!! I’m with you girl, love me some Dax Lahn!
Oh dear God. My binge. It burns. I’ve read 17, yes 17 Kristen Ashley books since I reviewed Knight for Dear Author in early May. 17 books. I have exactly ONE left. I only read one Rock Chick book because the heroine’s voice aggravated me. And I only read the first in the fantasy series because I thought it was extremely mediocre.
Seriously, the woman writes crack. I read three (3!) of her books this weekend. At the same time, I continuously roll my eyes at the piss poor grammar (passed vs. past – learn the difference, lady, they DO NOT mean the same thing). The terrible copy editing. The endless clothing and household items descriptions. Every heroine owns an LBD and stilettos. Every one wears one and then comes home and has drunken sex with the hero. Heroes who constantly act like total asses. And yet, when I get low on my Kindle, I order three more, just to have them.
The shame. The everlasting shame…
Yes I’m convinced its the same heroine in each book but with a different name. Sigh. I complain and yet I still glom those books up. LOL
I share your shame. lolol
Arghhh…the agony of going thru an Ashley book… I find myself reading while mentally corecting the grammars and skipping thru repetitious sentences, n yet I’m moving on to my 5th book of a 2days non-stop KA readathon. I’ve only found out about her on Sunday n now I can’t seem to stop…. n it’s gud to know I’m not alone in this bizarre addiction
I feel so happy to read all these comments. I am not alone! Although my GR front page already told me that!
Your not alone.
Love my Kristen Ashley addiction. I’m currently trying to enjoy other books after a 3-4 week nothing but KA reads and re-reads –alas, nothing else is hitting the sweet spot.
KA books are so loaded with FEELING and they are funny as all get out plus the secondary characters shine (Daisy, Tex, Elvira, Smithy and Shirleen all make me smile and sometimes cry every time they show up.)
@ Kati: the first Fantasyland book was my least favorite of all her books, but “Golden Dynasty” is in my top 5. I also didn’t care much for “Until the Sun Falls From the Sky”. Other than that though, I’ve gotta say, I’m pretty much hooked. I can’t wait for the next Colorado Mountain book “Breathe” to come out (starring Chace and Faye) which is supposed to be at the end of this month.
I can’t wait to get the complete layout of Chace’s house + a detailed description of all Faye’s pajamas! ;)
Oooh. Her books are total crack! I try very hard to pace myself with them so I don’t get bored with them. I haven’t read the Rock Chick series. her books are PERFECT when you get in a reading funk. They make you laugh, cry, obsess and get turned on all at the same time! Knight was great if you’re into the BDSM thing. He was more “grunty” than her normal heroes though.
Kristen Ashley’s books are definitely a reader’s form of crack. When I first stumbled across her books last year (also thanks to GR), I inhaled her backlist in 2 weeks. And then went into withdrawals when I realized I had no more to read. And I totally agree that her alpha-holes are what make the stories so addictive. I do like how the settings and characters are more everyday – despite some of the ridiculous plots in the Burg series or the hero who was an ex-footballer/spy. I happily hit buy everytime she releases a new book. I always preface my recommendation of KA’s books with her need for an editor but once you start (and I wouldn’t recommend starting with KNIGHT) you won’t be able to stop at one. *prepares to stalk KA’s FB page for news of upload of BREATHE*
I can’t WAIT for Breathe. She also has a new Burg book coming. Not sure when.
Just wanted to say, Breathe is fabulouso!!!
My first KA book was Motorcycle Man and I picked that up last month. I’ve since gone through most of her books…I only have four left to read! No doubt she’s my crack too.
Knight was my least favorite book of hers. I’ll most likely read the next book in the series but I don’t anticipate it.
I am about to start Golden Dynasty. I am sort of nervous to read it because of the rape scenes?!
I’m still howling over the cat sitter in Rock Chick
Tex rocks the Rock Chick series
Golden Trail and Games of the Heart are my absolute faves of KA! I discovered her last December and quickly read through all of her books.
The first book in the Fantasyland series was my least favorite.
I can’t wait for Breathe. She posted a tentative release date of July 25th on FB today.
Many times instead of a new book, I would rather reread KA.
Tori, I’ve you to blame for my addiction. On my 3rd book this week and no work done. Cracktastic!
I decided to give her books a try after hearing lots of talk about them. I couldn’t do a steady diet of them, but there is something about her alpha-holes that’s compelling. At least, I find Tack to be so. Perhaps I’ll have to read Golden Dynasty next. Anything that seems like it could remind me of Game of Thrones has to be interesting!
Can someone tell me if the Dream Man series needs to be read in order?
Love the Alpha-holes!
They can be read stand alone but I think they work better when read in order.
OMG, I checked out the Colorado series after reading this post and have became hooked. I cant stop myself for reading KA now! I don’t know if I should thank Tori and Amy or throttle you for opening up this can of worms in my life. LOL! J/K – thanks for my latest addiction.
OBESESSED! OMFG What have you done to me?! I cant stop reading. Im not sleeping normally. I cant concentrate at work. My husband wants to know when we are going to ever have dinner again! I am flying through ALL of her books. LOVE LOVE LOVE THEM!