Foxylutely Books!: Taming Ryder (Souls Of The Knight #2) by Nicola Haken: Blog Tour | Excerpt | Review

Monday, 13 October 2014

Taming Ryder (Souls Of The Knight #2) by Nicola Haken: Blog Tour | Excerpt | Review | Giveaway

Book: Taming Ryder

Series: Souls of the Knight #2

Author: Nicola Haken

Genre: M/M Romance

Release: September 29th 2014

You met Ryder Richardson in Being Sawyer Knight. Now, this is his story.

I’ve done it. I’ve stuck a whopping two fingers up at my parents, I’ve made a name for myself as one of the world’s biggest porn stars and I’ve finally found a family I belong in.

Life is amazing. I get paid to do all my favourite things. Fuck. Party. Travel the world. What’s not to love?

And then he comes along. Mason George – Back Door Studio’s newest exclusive model and the guy who has the potential to either fuck it all up, or take me on the best ride of my life.

~ Ryder

I’m desperate. I’ve got nothing and nobody left. Entering the daunting world of adult entertainment is less of a dream and more of a necessity. Signing as Back Door Studio’s latest model has the ability to either ruin or make me, but I made a vow at my first audition never to let myself regret it.

I continue to question myself each day, but no amount of what’s, why’s or what ifs will change where I am or where I’m heading. Am I strong enough to do this? To embrace it? To enjoy it? I have no idea.

The only thing I’m certain of, is that if anyone can teach me who I’m supposed to be, it’s Ryder Richardson.

~ Mason

“Because the most exciting things in life always happen via the back door”

*Not suitable for under 18s due to language and explicit sexual situations.

**Trigger Warning: This book contains scenes of self harm which may act as a trigger for people experiencing similar issues.

“Say you’ll go on a date with me?”

“A date? Me?” An involuntary smile crept onto my face at the ridiculous notion. “That’s never going to happen, Mase. I don’t date. Ever.”

“Why? Why won’t you let anyone in?”

“Oh come on, that’s taking things a bit far.”

“How so? I’m interested to know why you won’t date, why you won’t let anyone get close to you.”

“I never said I wouldn’t let anyone get close to me. You’re making this out to be far more serious than it is.”

“Then go on a date with me.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t want to be tied down. I like the life I have and I’m not going to fuck it up by having to justify myself to someone else.”

“Justify what? I’m not a stranger. I know who you are and what you do. Your life would still be the same.”

“It wouldn’t. Relationships are so…serious. Complicated. People expect trust, and monogamy, and for you to share shit. I haven’t got time for that.”

“Stop referring to me as ‘people’. I’m not ‘people’, I’m me. Of course I want you to share shit, how else am I supposed to get to know you? As for monogamy, I assume you’re referring to porn. In which case, I’m a porn model too, Ry. I might not have chosen it for the same reasons as you but I still get it. It’s a job. A job I’d never ask or expect you to quit. What you do on camera isn’t what you shared with me that night here, and I know you know that as well as I do. And trust? That needs to be earned. I’m asking for a date, Ryder. Not marriage.”

I let out a long breath in the form of a deep, confused sigh. Much to my surprise, I was almost considering the idea, until his hand that was still on my leg squeezed my knee gently and my heart leapt into my throat. I couldn’t control it. I couldn’t control the way my pulse raced or my dick swelled when he touched me and I hated that. I swore no one would ever have control over me and so I wasn’t about to give it to Mason.

“I said no,” I snapped firmly. “And I also think it’s time you looked for your own place.”

Mason’s back abruptly stiffened. His face paled and his jaw dropped slightly open.

“If that’s what you want, I’ll look into it tomorrow.”

“It is what I want. This was only supposed to be temporary, remember?”

“Sure,” he nodded, his voice wavering. “I’m sorry I’ve upset you,” he added, standing from the chair. My lips parted to say something, but when I realised I didn’t have a fucking clue what I should say, they closed again. Mason gave me one last glance, his eyebrows narrowing as if he were in pain. Then he nodded once and turned for his room, leaving me alone with tears stinging the back of my eyes and my fist itching to punch myself in my worthless fucking face.

Fuck.

Foxy Rating = Five stars

*Copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review for the book tour.

This is the second book in the Souls of the Knight series and we first met Ryder in the first book, Being Sawyer Knight. Ryder was the hair stylist for the band but decided on a new avenue of being a porn star.

This was a ‘sit your ass down we aren't going anywhere until we finish it’ type of book. Loved it!

Ryder is an over the top, sex obsessed, fun flirting, laugh a minute guy. He oozes his ultra-extrovert persona and people swarm to him like moths to a flame. But underneath all that brash and sparkle lies a deeply wounded young boy. He has never got over the pain inflicted when his parents disowned him at a tender and impressionable age, when he needed their love and support. Especially when he ‘came out’ but then this was the reason they abolished him from their home. Ryder fell into a never ending pit of self-destruction involving drugs but then Elle came into his life and saved him.

He has been working as a stylist to the stars for Elle for the last few years but with the contacts he made he is now an established porn star. But the company he works with are like an extended family, a family he found with Ivan, Elle, Sawyer and Jake. Not the blood related family but family in the true sense of the word – love and support.

When Mason comes in for an audition with him and Ivan, Ryder sees something in Mason and right away he offers him a place to stay, extending out that hand of support he had been given.

Straight away I could feel the chemistry between Ryder and Mason, the instant rapport was believable. I loved how they both, initially pulled away from each other, more so from Ry’s side, after all he had the most horrific past to relay that not even his closest confidants knew about. Mason wasn’t without his own tragedy and the story he divulges was a heart wrenching. What was so sad for both of them was they came from happy childhoods but it was in that one moment of time that they both lost something so devastating it would change their lives forever. I like to think it was fate that brought them together to heal each other. It was a beautiful if angst driven journey that eventually lead them to their happy ever after.

There is some serious issues undertaken in the storyline that in some parts made me so angry to think this does happen. Although hard hitting, it is necessary to highlight these issues and I commend Ms Haken for raising the awareness in her book. I would however sometimes love to read an m/m book that had supportive parents in them. They are out there I know but most are of bigots for parents. Grr.

I did think that both main characters being porn stars, the reader would be taken on a smut feast a plenty but although yes there was some steam and passion, it was the intensive emotional and sensuality that made this book for me. The tenderness between Ryder and Mason was gorgeous and I just found them both so cute but sexy!

This is another triumph for Ms Haken and this series is seriously a hot contender for one of my all-time favourites. I am so looking forward to the next book which will feature Matt. I just know his hanging out with Alex was so not as innocent as he made out. That man is definitely hiding something!

A beautiful m/m romance, but also highlighting serious issues such as abuse, homophobia, mental illness and drug dependency. A love story with a hard hitting theme, just the kind of depth I love to find in my books. A Fabulous Five stars.

Author of the New Adult/Contemporary novels Missing Pieces, Saving Amy and the Take My Hand series, and m/m erotic romance Souls of the Knight series.

I live in Rochdale, England with my wonderful family and when I'm not playing with my imaginary friends I can usually be found looking after my four adorable (sometimes!) children (six if you include the dogs, seven if you include the hubby!) or stalking gay porn stars!

All in all I'm just an ordinary mum with an addiction to reading about hot book guys, writing about hot book guys, tattoos and Pepsi Max! Oh, and if my kids ever ask... I moonlight as the Pink Power Ranger ;-)