Review: Ricochet by Skye Jordan (Renegades #3)

Ricochet is the third book in the Renegades series by bestselling author Skye Jordan (aka Joan Swan). The two previous books, Reckless and Rebel, featured the owner and lead stuntman (Jax Chamberlin) and the second top stuntman (Wes Lawson), respectively, of the Renegades group. This third installment spotlights the office manager of the company and the best friend of another stuntman who's going to come on as a specialist for a particular stunt.

Rachel Hart loves working for Renegades. She does more than pick up the phone and make the schedules for each of the men she now considers family. She's smart and sassy and puts the guys in their places when need be but treats them like her brothers, knowing she's loved and respected by each one of them. When she's tasked to go to the airport and pick up Ryker, the military veteran coming in to help with one of the stunts, she shows up very late but finds solace in meeting Nathan at the airport bar.

Master Sergeant Nathan Ryker returns stateside on forced leave after enduring the loss of nearly all of the men on his team. He's still suffering through post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but decides to say "yes" to his best friend when asked if he can help out with a stunt the company his buddy works for is signed on to do. After all, blowing things up is his specialty so it shouldn't be too difficult. Then he meets Rachel at the airport and decides to throw all caution to the wind.

From the time Rachel and Ryker have their first phone conversation in book two, it's pretty clear that these two were going to get together in a future book. ^.^ Rachel has experienced the kind of betrayal that would be difficult to get back from and simply wants one night with someone without having to worry about the consequences. When she meets Nathan, she has no clue that he and Ryker are one and the same, and he doesn't really make too much of an effort to clear things up. After a night spent together, they both think they won't see each other again...and then they do.

Ryker has serious issues he doesn't really want to deal with. The guilt that he carries is weighing him down but he's hoping that working with Renegades will help distract him for a few weeks. Instead, he's distracted by Rachel but pushes her away. He realizes that he needs to work on his PTSD if he wants any hope of a future with her but wonders if it'll be too late when he asks for forgiveness and a chance at forever.

Okay, I know that I said that Rebel was my favorite book in the series but Ricochet comes an extremely close second. The story had depth and originality and the lead characters had that extra something that made you want to cheer them on because they both deserved happiness. While their beginning was all about hooking up, they do start to have a better understanding of each other as they spend more time together, so it's not as if their relationship is simply based on sex alone. ^.^

I'm giving Ricochet five stars and am keeping my fingers crossed that the series continues with the stories of the other guys in the group. ♥

Date read: 16 September 2014

Learn more about Skye Jordan here.

Grab a copy of Ricochet and Ms. Jordan's other books on Amazon | Barnes & Noble.