Aching To Exhale by Debra Kayn Release Day Book Review and Cover Reveal

(I received a free copy from the author in exchange for review consideration.)

Blurb:

Raul Sanchez, president of the Lagsturns Motorcycle Club, proved himself over the span of eight years to lead the outlaw bikers. No longer able to distinguish right from wrong, the undercover FBI agent is after blood when he finds out the Mexican Mafia took his woman. When he finds out his other half is still alive, he sheds the badge, throws himself into chaos, and seeks biker justice. Because any man who touches his woman is going to die.

Swinging on a pole in a seedy lounge in Palm Springs, Crystal Rose works to keep herself one-step away from trouble.With a prior rap sheet of pissing off a rival MC president, shacking up with a crazed out drug addict who used her for collateral against the Mafia, she’s one day away from disaster. All she wants is the one man who rocks her world. But she can't go back, because loving Raul could get him killed.

Review:

Aching to Exhale picks up a year after the events of Breathing His Air, Debra Kayn's first book in the series, in which Crystal is depicted as a shrewish, jealous woman who slept with the president of a rival motorcycle gang at Raul's request, and then shacked up with a strung-out druggie errand boy at the end of the book.  So I was extremely curious to see how the author would redeem Crystal, make her seem more human, and give her a story and personality worthy of a romance heroine. 

And does Debra Kayn deliver!  Crystal blossoms in this book, and her brittle exterior and jealous, bitchy behavior is seen in a new light, as we learn more about her past and the reasons for her actions.  She is much more than the sum of her actions, and it was fascinating to see the layers peel back from her hard outer shell to reveal the woman beneath.

Crystal has always loved Raul, and done whatever he asked.  But when he turns her out of the motorcycle club in a harsh and secretive attempt to keep her safe from his enemies, she has nowhere to go but with a club errand boy who happens to be working for the Mexican Mafia.  Pretty soon Crystal is in serious trouble, and ends up back with Raul.  Although Crystal and Raul have both screwed up and hurt one another, they never stopped loving each other.  Both attempt to hide their secrets from the other in misguided efforts to be protective, jeopardizing their trust. 
Raul is very much a sexy caveman-style hero, strong, protective and forceful, demanding Crystal trust him and obey his instructions, but offering her no explanation.  Crystal's had enough of this behavior, and her strength in standing up for herself forces Raul to be honest with himself about his feelings for her.  Although Raul's behavior can be really annoying, his incredibly dangerous and stressful life as an undercover agent leaves no room for the niceties.  Crystal and Raul find themselves in a complicated mess of tangled biker loyalties, all while trying to put away the local kingpin of the Mexican Mafia and shut down his drug and sex-trade business.  Raul is walking an incredibly fine line between protecting his Langsturn bikers and bringing down the bad guys he's spent 8 years hunting.  The same bad guy who wants Crystal and has a price on her head.
The ending is the perfect twist on a happy-ever-after, and suits Raul and Crystal perfectly.
With non-stop action, intense and sexy relationship-building and secret-life-sharing, Aching To Exhale was an exhilirating, exciting and passionate ride.  Well- done!


Although Aching To Exhale takes place following the events of Breathing His Air, it's easily read as a standalone novel.



Click on the little cover to purchase at Amazon!

Visit Debra Kayn's website HERE.

Read my review of Breathing His Air HERE. 

Read my review of Seductively HERE.

                                                        

                            

Top Selling Romance Author, Debra Kayn, lives with her family in the beautiful coastal mountains of Oregon on a hobby farm. She enjoys riding motorcycles, gardening, playing tennis, and fishing. A huge animal lover, she always has a dog under her desk when she writes and chickens standing at the front door looking for a treat. She's famous in her family for teaching a 270 lb hog named Harley to jog with her every morning.
Her love of family ties and laughter makes her a natural to write heartwarming contemporary stories to the delight of her readers. Oh, let's cut to the chase. She loves to write about REAL MEN and the WOMEN who love them.
When Debra was nineteen years old, a man kissed her without introducing himself. When they finally came up for air, the first words out of his mouth were...will you have my babies? Considering Debra's weakness for a sexy, badass man, who is strong enough to survive her attitude, she said yes. A quick wedding at the House of Amour and four babies later, she's living her own romance book.
She loves to hear from her readers. Feel free to drop her an email: debrakayn@debrakayn.com Follow her on twitter www.twitter.com/DebraKayn and like her fan page at www.facebook.com/DebraKaynFanPage