Book Review: Avenging Angel by Kristen Ashley

This book was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it was absolutely worth the wait! I loved all the characters, new and old, the location, the humor and drama, all the amazing details that pulled me in, and the incredible build. Avenging Angel was a fantastic start to a new series and I'm already excited for more!

Avenging Angel (Avenging Angels #1) by Kristen Ashley

Rachel Armstrong has a burning need to right the world’s wrongs. Thus, she becomes the Avenging Angel.

And maybe she’s a bit too cocky about it.

While riding a hunch about the identity of a kidnapper, she runs into Julien “Cap” Jackson, who was trained by the team at Nightingale Investigations in Denver. Now he’s a full-fledged member at their newly opened Phoenix branch.

It takes Cap a beat to realize Raye’s the woman for him. It takes Raye a little longer (but just a little) to figure out how she feels about Cap.

As Raye introduces Cap to her crazy posse of found family and his new home in the Valley of the Sun, Cap struggles with his protective streak. Because Raye has no intention to stop doing what she can to save the world.

But there’s a mysterious entity out there who has discovered what Raye is up to, and they’ve become very interested.

Not to mention, women are going missing in Phoenix, and it seems like the police aren’t taking it seriously.

Raye believes someone should.

So she recruits her best friend Luna, and between making coffees, mixing cocktails, planning parties and enduring family interventions (along with reunions), the Avenging Angels unite to ride to the rescue.

5 out of 5 stars

Avenging Angel was fresh, new, and exciting yet familiar and nostalgic. Three chapters in and I knew this was going to be one of my favorite books of the year. This story had all the Rock Chick goodness I've come to know and love but it is its own version that fits perfectly into the world. I was hooked immediately. I loved the new crew and found families, and was excited about everything I was reading. This was filled with so many fantastic moments, fun scenes, drama and intensity, and hotness. I loved it all! This book felt like coming home!

I loved Raye immediately, she was a shining light. I loved learning her history and what drove her. I loved her and her best friend Luna and learning about all their crazy antics, they were so entertaining. I loved Cap, seeing the man he’s become, and learning about his life. He's his own brand of alpha and a total badass! I always thought he was great, but 15 years later, Sniff is all grown up and he’s absolutely book-boyfriend material. I loved how Raye and Cap met, their instant connection and undeniable chemistry, and the development of their relationship. It was heartfelt, real, sexy, and sweet.

I love this whole new world that's been introduced and all of Raye’s crew, as well as the men in the Phoenix branch. I loved the development of the Avenging Angels and how Raye was helping people, it was exciting. I really liked all the characters that are a part of Raye’s found family and learning all about them. I was thrilled to see old favorites and how they were incorporated into this new story. There were just so many great things and connections involved, every time a new situation was introduced I was beyond excited. I was overjoyed to see Tex (because he is everything!) and I adored the dynamic between him and Raye’s boss, Tito. There is definitely more to come and I have questions about some things that have been set up for future stories and people, I cannot wait to find out!

As a longtime fan of the original series (which I have read countless times!), I had unrealistically high expectations for this spinoff. Kristen Ashley exceeded every single one of them! This world and the characters in it have grown and changed because years have passed and the world itself is different now, and I adore what it has become. This was a fantastic series starter and an awesome spinoff. It was outright fun, entertaining, and heartwarming, filled with love, healing, and growth. If you're a fan of the original Rock Chick series, you're going to love this. If you are new to the world, you're going to love this. It’s officially a new favorite for me!

Complimentary copy received.