Book Review – Raid (Unfinished Heroes #3) by Kristen Ashley

4.5 stars

‘Cause all you gotta know is, it’s gonna be you and only you until the day I die… You’re not just enough for me. You’re everything I want.”

The Queen of Alpha Males strikes again!

Ohhhhh the ANTICIPATION of starting a Kristen Ashley book!! Its like Christmas and birthday all rolled into one. I saw there for a good several minutes with my heart pounding just starting at the first page. Starting a KA book gives me the same feeling as jumping off a diving board – its exciting, thrilling, and you just KNOW that once you jump, there’s no turning back…

And I jumped.

I loved Raid, loved Hanna, loved their dynamic together, love the writing style (but of COURSE). But I will say this – and its not a complaint, just an observation – this book felt a little “muted” compared to some of KA’s other reads (and I’ve read all but 5 of them). Again, this isn’t a bad thing, but it just seemed be muted in every respect – like a photo that has been slightly desaturated. There were all the elements that we all LOVE and adore and live for in a KA book, but at the same time, they were just a little… muted.

Raiden “RAID” Miller is a man’s man – tall, muscular, gorrrrrrgeous – and Hanna has been in love with him ever since she first met him. He was nine. Unfortunately, he never seemed to notice her and despite being utterly gone for him by the time they were in high school, they lived in their separate worlds and still, he didn’t notice her. After high school, he went straight off to become a badass Marine and no one had really seen him since. Until he came back.

Fifteen years later, after most of his squad was tragically killed, Raid returnes to the town of Willow — a hero responsible for saving the lives of everyone from his squad who survived… and this time, Hanna catches his eye.

A few dates, much flirting and some misunderstandings later and the sparks begin to flyyyyy!!

First of all, I seriously can’t even TELL you how much KA’s writing affects me. All she has to do is write the word “badass” and my heart flutters. Make that “badass Marine” and I’m pretty much just reduced to a hyperventilating pile of goo 😛 Add chin lifts to the equation and seriously, my heart just melts. A badass Marine doing a chin life to his girl = **MAJOR HEART FLUTTERS**

Raiden — what can I say, I’m in love with him. Here’s your visual: think tall, muscular, cargo pants, tight tee, aviators pushed back into his thick dark hair, gorgeous green eyes and a deep sexy voice. Add that to his uber Alpha male protectiveness and a seriously BOSSY and self assured attitude and … **MELT**

“Whether you got that in your bed before you go or hope to find it when you get back, that’s why you do it. You do it for her. You do it to keep her safe…. You get home in one piece, she’s your reward.”

His body pressed into mine…

“You’re my reward, Hanna.”

I loved Hanna too! She had a wonderful voice – the beginning of the story was told in her POV and her voice was fun, sassy and totally relatable in many ways. She was an open book – cute and goofy and lovable.

It was a shorter KA book than most of them – maybe even the shortest one that I have (judging by those little dots on my Kindle). At first I have to say that it didn’t really feel like it fit in with the Unfinished Hero “feel” of the series, but there is more to the story than meets the eye. You get little hints of it here and there. Its a subtle feeling. And when it all comes out, coinciding with a switch to Raid’s POV, that’s when you start seeing more of the Unfinished Hero feel begin.

When the secrets come out, Hanna is thrown right into his world. Raid doesn’t hold back and doesn’t keep secrets from her. He is upfront and honest – expecting her trust, but also giving it.

This book was smoking HOT! Like I said, Raid was bossy. Demanding. Controlling in the bedroom. But… he never pushed her. He was ALL about equal enjoyment. He tried out a few things that were beyond her (and my) comfort zone but the moment he sensed her uncertainty, it was off the menu. I loved that about him. But yeah… bossy! 😛

“Right now, its just you and me.”
“Okay, Raiden.”
“And you’re not leaving.”
My belly flipped.
“Okay,” I breathed.

“I need you to trust it all to me.”
I was again confused. “Trust all what to you?”
“This,” his hands slid up my ribs and tightened. “You. All of you. I want you to trust it all to me.”

Seriously – KA just “gets” interactions. Dynamics. To the core. There is something just so RIGHT about them. Her words – everything – has WEIGHT. Depth. Just hits you right in the heart ♥

I loved that Raid did have a few epic screw ups but he also had epic apologies (I love a man who can say sorry!!). The thing about KA guys is that they always have some weird logic to their crazy actions… lol, its Alpha male logic. But I loved that he wouldn’t let anything get between them. He screwed up once but after that he wasn’t going to let anything get in their way.

“I give you shit, you do not eat it. Like today, you give it back to me. We’ll work it out, Hanna.”

This book had me squeeing out loud, grinning and fanning myself! There’s this huge feeling of being torn between wanting to read every world as slowly as you can to make it last and reading as fast as you can to just get more more more. It was very character focused. There’s less action in this story that most KA books and no actual bad guy. I’m really going with the term “slightly muted” on it though. I found it a little slow in certain parts and I didn’t connect “quite” as strongly to it as I did to some of the other KA books but I did still love it. I loved being in the KA world, I loved revisiting some of the characters (yes, Knight and Creed have cameos!) and I loved meeting yet another gorgeous, swoony Alpha to add to my book boyfriends list.

Overall I give it 4.5 stars.

• Buy RAID (Kindle)

** SERIES READING ORDER **

Note: Each book can be read as a standalone and is about a different couple

#1 — KNIGHT
Buy for Kindle | Buy in Paperback | Read my Review

#2 — CREED
Buy for Kindle | Buy in Paperback | Read my Review

#3 — RAID
Buy for Kindle | Buy in Paperback | Read my Review

COMPLETE SERIES READING ORDER FOR ALL KRISTEN ASHLEY BOOKS