Overall Grade: A
Two truths are self-evident about Kristen Ashley and her brand of romance: she writes the found family trope better than just about everyone, and she is the queen of writing a girl gang. Over and over again, whether it’s the Rock Chicks, her Dream Team ladies, or MC babes, Ashley wins her readers over with the characteristics of her writing that matter to her readers: community and depth of storytelling. Her latest book, Avenging Angel, of her spinoff Rock Chicks series, Avenging Angel, is no different. If you’ve read her Rock Chick/Hot Bunch series or her Dream Team series, you’ve read this story before: quirky, independent FMC, attractive, protective MMC, and a plot infused with past characters, suspenseful moments, and pure romance. Avenging Angel is no different. Well, except that it is in a way.
Reading Avenging Angel was like going home after a long stay away. Ashley recognizes the interests of her readers, and the Rock Chicks/Hot Bunch/Dream Team have been her bread and butter, so to speak. While she has written several novels in that series, there are beloved characters, the next generation, that have piqued the curiosity of her fan base. Sniff aka Julien Jackson aka Cap has found keen interest from readers. To grant us access to his story, set it in Phoenix (also connecting us to her River Rain series…), and bring back characters such as Mace, Lee, and the rest of the Hot Bunch, is a dream to many of us, her dedicated readers. Here’s where Ashley deviated with this story, where I think she has listened to readers or read reviews. It can be hard to accept a true alpha hero today. Some might consider it toxic masculinity. While she could write that type of hero ten or so years ago, it’s a hard pill to swallow today. This is where her genius lies with this new series. Julien (“Cap”) has learned from the best: the Hot Bunch but also his adopted mother, Shirleen. As such, Ashley gifts us with a modern-day hero, one who is both protective and possessive but also acknowledges and respects Rachel aka Raye’s choices. Cap and Raye work together acknowledging each other’s strengths and personal choices. We can still fall in love with Cap’s want to protect Raye, while also recognizing her autonomy and authority. This reads like growth in these beloved Kristen Ashley universes. And I’m here for it.
Even more, Ashley has gifted us with more of her universe. The rest of the Angels are coming, Tito and Tex as protective father figures, and the potential for connections to the River Rain gang means an opportunity for more stories like Cap and Raye’s. The overall story behind this series, a dangerous element threatening the local community, is the thread between the books. Ashley’s focus on the plight of $ex workers and human trafficking lends gravity to her newest romance. Her allusion to Charlie’s Angels makes for a titillating read especially if you were raised on Kelly Garrett, Jill Munroe, and Sabrina Duncan. These were women who were both beautiful and intelligent. And this is the foundation of Kristen Ashley’s Avenging Angel series. In 2024, a romance such as this one is needed, showcasing the strength of women with men at their backs to support their choices.
Thank you, Kristen, for reminding me, once again, why your stories are supreme. Avenging Angel did not disappoint. It holds all the best of the Rock Chick/Hot Bunch world with its own signature of female authority and power.
In love and romance,
Professor A
Professor Romance 