Over the past weekend, I was reminded that Kristen Ashley’s new novel, Fast Lane was releasing and a tidal wave of nostalgia hit. Fast as I was able, I got my hands on one of my favorite KA books, from my favorite KA series, Dream Man- none other than Wild Man! After absolutely falling back in love with Tess and Jake/Brock/Slim all over again!

While filling the display case in her bakery, the bell over the door sounds and Tessa O’Hara looks up to see the man of her dreams. Within thirty seconds he asks her out for a beer. But after four months of dating, she discovers he’s an undercover DEA agent-and he’s investigating her possible role in her ex-husband’s drug business. For Tess, this means their relationship is over.

Brock disagrees. He’s committed to his anti-drug mission, but he’s fallen in love with the beautiful woman who’s as sweet as her cupcakes-and he’ll do anything to win her back. Standing between Tess and Brock are their own exes, one of them a drug lord who’s determined to get what he wants. Now as danger threatens, can Brock break the rules he’s lived by and let loose his wild side to protect the woman he loves?

What I remember loving the most about this series, specifically, this book was how warm and excited it made me feel. I loved their highs and their lows and simply could not get enough of either MC. Tess is a woman’s woman, funny and happy to have her dream man. Brock and his quick silvering eyes (swoon!) and rough edges was easy to root for. I love his hard line and unwavering devotion to Tess. I love that he called her out on her stuff in a very alpha way – but didn’t need to be an arsehole to get his point across. Easily one of my most cherished OG book boyfriends and his brand of hero definitely stands the test of time. Two stand out scenes rightfully occur at the beginning and end of Wild man, the former setting the tone for the Earth shaking surprise of Tess’ life and then a beautiful love declaration. Le freaking *sigh*

For us that dream of a wild man in bed…

“OH MY GOD” I breathed as I came, my mind blanking, every inch of my body tightening as bliss like I never felt before coursed through me. When I was done, my eyes slowly opened and I saw him still moving over me, in me, God, God, he looked good. Beautiful. And he felt good. Amazing. His gorgeous, silvery-gray eyes were locked to mine, heated, intense, glittering, searing into me, all of this in a way he’d never looked at me before.

Not once in the four months we’d been together. And I knew, feeling the burn of his eyes, what that look meant. I knew this man, this fantastic, striking, wild man, was mine. Mine. I felt it in my blood.

“Jake,” I whispered, my limbs gripping even tighter around him, one of my hands sifting up into his thick, dark, unruly hair. His eyes closed at my voice sounding his name and they did this in a way that seemed like he was in pain. Um… what?

Then he shoved his face in my neck, moving faster, thrusting harder, his breath labored against my sensitive skin and my mind turned to his body, my hands glided across his skin, my legs gripped him harder as I clenched his driving cock with my sex.

“Fuck, Tess,” he growled against my neck then I heard him groan as he kept thrusting and he came. I held him tight. He gave me his weight. I held on tighter. Then he pulled out and rolled off me, falling to his back. The instant he did, eyes on the ceiling, he lifted the butts of his palms, pressed them to his forehead, and closed his eyes. Um. Not good.

“Jake?” I called softly.

“Yeah?” he grunted, not soft and also not opening his eyes or moving his hands.

Okay, uh, what was going on?

Made for each other

“…I had it shit for a while and I found you.” He shook his head and his hand captured mine. He turned his head and pressed my palm to his lips where he kissed me and then his fingers curled around mine and he held my hand to his shoulder. “It isn’t the same. You’re made of sugar, Tess, and it’s a given you’d eventually get it good because people like you, sweet to the core, they deserve it. What I’m sayin’ is I’m glad I’m the one who gets to give it to you.”

Oh God. I loved this man.

“You’re sweet too.”

He grinned. Then he muttered, “I see, all this time, you still don’t know me.”

I didn’t grin. My hand tensed on his face as the other one clenched in his. “You’re a manly, macho, rough, wild, hot guy kind of sweet but you’re sweet. I’m a mountainous swirl of frosting with a moist, rich cake as my core but you’re smooth, delicious dark chocolate that tastes good from the second it hits your tongue and makes you want more the minute it melts away.”

His grin got bigger. “Shit, Tess, you’re makin’ me hard again.”

I took my hand from his face and slapped his shoulder, snapping, “I’m being serious.”

His grin faded clean away and his mercury eyes locked with mine. Then he whispered, “I know.” I stared in his eyes…it felt like I was touched by a rainbow. 

Wild Man is a terrific Thursday throwback romantic read. Regarding the book that brought me here today, Fast Lane, I haven’t read much about it and the blurb didn’t really spark my interest, but that too is in stores now!

Wild Man by Kristen Ashley

Fast Lane by Kristen Ashley