Where We Started
By: Ashley Munoz
Series: Stone Riders MC
Book # in Series: 1 of 4
Trope(s): Motorcycle Club, Second Chance, Small Town, alpha-hero
Publisher: Self Published
Publication Date: November 3rd, 2023
My Rating: ✮✮✮✮½
My Reading Format: kindleunlimited
Synopsis:
Usually, watching a notorious biker club mourn the loss of their beloved president would be a dangerous choice.
Ten out of ten do not recommend.
Unless of course, you’re family.
I didn’t really consider myself part of my father’s legacy, until I found out what he left behind in his will. Property, ten acres to be exact, which included the headquarters for his beloved motorcycle club.
I had no idea that by accepting the terms of my inheritance it would thrust me into a battle with the new club president.
Wesley Ryan was unfathomably handsome, menacing and formidable in every way. But his derision toward me only made me cling that much tighter to my birthright.
That is until he decided to play dirty.
Wes didn’t just taunt me by bringing up our past, he wanted us to go all the way back to where we started.
Back to when we were nine and I was just the girl next door who snuck into his treehouse.
Back to when he’d fight the boys who made me cry.
Back to when he first kissed me and stole my heart.
I had to remember Wes wanted to claim my father’s property, not me.
I walked away once, I just had to prove I was strong enough to do it again.
Ashley Munoz is a new to me author and I’m being completely honest when I tell you this was a cover purchase. I normally don’t base my reading list off of book covers, this has never worked out for me in the past, so why would fate decide to switch the script and have this work out for me now. HAHA! Jokes on me, because the cover love actually worked! I loved the cover and I loved the story behind the cover. I now have a watchful eye on author Ashley Munoz! Now, let’s get started with this review.
I have to say, I loved the fact that this Motorcycle club romance was on a slower side of the spectrum. I loved how the characters weren’t immediately thrown into the story with guns blazin’. Ashley Munoz took a different approach with the sub-genre that is known as one of my favorites. Instead, I sat back and watched as a little girl fell in love with a boy in a treehouse. I watched as a little boy gained acceptance in a home outside of his religious household. I watched as two teenagers, so desperately in love with one another, made promises of their future. And I watched as two new adults suddenly wanted different things and sadly grew apart. So when I say, this novel is packed with emotional baggage, please don’t take that statement lightly. This book had me ‘almost’ crying. I felt a couple tears, but I held my composure and I didn’t let those bastards fall!
Let’s talk about the characters now, starting with the heroine of the story, Callie Stone. Callie Stone was born into the Stone Rider’s MC, a club her grandfather formed back in the day. Her home has always been in Rose Ridge. But from the moment she can remember, she always saw something more for herself outside of the club life. I loved Callie’s constant need for independence. I loved her fierce backbone and I love her spirit. Here is a woman, who knows what she wants from life, and she’ll do everything in her power to make all of her wishes come true. My heart broke for her when she realized she’d be making that life journey alone…. And my heart broke for her when she was called back home due to a death in the family.
And then we have Wes. Wes grew up in a religious household, homeschooled and feeling completely distanced from the lives of other children. Until the neighbor girl, Callie Stone sneaks into his treehouse late one night. He realizes from that first sleep, he’ll do everything in his power to protect her. Little does this little boy know, the only person he has to protect an older Callie from, is himself. When Wes slipped his cut on for the very first time, I felt like curling up into a ball and crying for a future he flushed down the drain with one article of clothing. When I say my heart broke, I meant my heart BROKE! Even though I knew what had initially occurred. this novel lives in the present with a few flashback scenes, I still felt my heart break for this magical couple.
And then, if a fantastic tale of romance isn’t enough, Ashley Munoz goes and throws a hint of suspense into the mix. I’ve been trying to keep this review as spoiler free as possible where this aspect is concerned. But HOLY CROW! I did not see this curveball coming at all!! And that is all I’m going to say about that…
If you’re new to the sub-genre that is Motorcycle Romance, I would highly recommend starting your journey with Ashley Munoz’s Where We Started. There are several reasons why I would start my journey into the sub-genre with this book. First, it’s sexy and spicy.. But not over the top sexy and spicy. Mainly the sex and spice revolves around the romantic interests, Wes and Callie, and nobody else. Some MC romance novels have group sexy time scenes that can get a little intense. The second reason why I would recommend this book to start your journey is the fact that this novel isn’t heavy on the violence. Sure, there are violent scenes.But unlike other MC romance novels on the market, this romance novel tends to focus more on the relationship aspect than the shooting/fighting/and killing aspect. Let it be known, there is a scene towards the end that, if you read MC romance novels, has to happen. And the third reason you should start your journey into the MC sub-genre with this novel. The club isn’t the main component of this novel. This novel is about one girl’s journey to live her life as far away from the Motorcycle Club she was born into. One fact I loved with this novel is Callie was born into the club life and detested it. She lived her life on a mission of separating herself from her father (the president of the Stone Riders MC) and his club. Fate has a way of intervening when her beau, Wes, feels like he has no other choice but to put the cut on and save Callie. So if you’re wanting to start a motorcycle club romance, and have no idea what to read, I’d start with this swoony second chance romance!
Overall, I was quite impressed with my FIRST EVER read from author Ashley Munoz! This book has been sitting on my kindle for far too long, and I’m a tad bit embarrassed to admit it now that I’ve read it! I’m intrigued and I plan to read the second book just as soon as I finish this review! Ashley Munoz’s story writing skills are out of this world! She threw a couple curveballs in, and I didn’t see them coming at all! I’m intrigued to see where she takes this series next. As for Wes and Callie, their book has come to a close, and there couldn’t have been a more spectacular ending granted to them! I loved Where We Started from the very beginning all the way to the end!
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Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3KFAhK4
Amazon World: https://mybook.to/wherewestartedam
Peace Love and Happy Reading,
