Overall Grade: A
Tropes: MC romance; inter-connected worlds; forced proximity; romantic suspense; found family
Kristen Ashley’s storytelling magic continues to enchant readers in her latest novel, Smooth Sailing, part of the Wild West MC series. Her ability to captivate audiences across multiple genres—from fantasy to paranormal, MC to contemporary romance and romantic suspense—stems from two key strengths: her masterful use of the found family trope and her creation of emotionally intelligent heroines.
In Smooth Sailing, Ashley takes on the challenge of expanding her Wild West MC universe through Big Petey, Hugger, and Diana’s perspectives. The story follows Harlan “Hugger” McCain, a man haunted by his mother’s death who, despite being a member of Chaos, keeps himself emotionally distant from his brotherhood. It’s only when he meets Diana, the female protagonist, that he begins to understand the true meaning of family. Diana, like many of Ashley’s heroines, may not immediately recognize the dangers around her, but she serves as the catalyst for profound personal transformation. Through her own complicated relationship with her parents, she helps Harlan recognize and embrace the family he already has in his brotherhood. This emotional journey, particularly Harlan’s growing acceptance of his Chaos family, forms the heart of the narrative and elevates Smooth Sailing above Ashley’s recent works in terms of emotional depth and storytelling complexity.
However, the romance does present one challenge: its temporal distance from previous Wild West MC stories and Ashley’s broader universe makes it difficult to keep track of returning characters, even for devoted readers. While Ashley thoughtfully provides a character list for reference, readers might find themselves wanting to revisit earlier books to fully appreciate the interconnected nature of her world.
Despite this minor setback, Smooth Sailing reinforces why readers like myself remain devoted to Ashley’s universe: her unparalleled ability to demonstrate how a found family strengthens people and enriches romantic relationships. For those seeking stories with emotional resonance and powerful themes of belonging, Kristen Ashley’s universe continues to be an irresistible destination.
In love and romance,
Professor A
Professor Romance 