Rebel

Renegades, Book 2

By: Skye Jordan, Joan Swan

Narrated by: Piper Goodeve

Length: 13 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

Sassy, smart, and sexy, former supermodel-turned-tech guru Rubi Russo has it all: looks, money, confidence and freedom. Her life is a whirlwind of fast cars and fleeting affairs, and she likes it that way. With a past like Rubi¹s, forever isn¹t part of her vocabulary. So when studly Renegade stuntman Wes Lawson wants to take their friendship to the next level, she¹s all out.

Raised a simple country-boy, Wes knows the brazen Rubi isn't his type. But after spending time with her, he discovers she's everything he's ever wanted in a woman. To win her wild rebel heart, he¹ll have to prove he sees behind her smokescreen to all the goodness she tries to hide. Then it's just a matter of crushing her fears, shattering her barriers, and convincing her that loving him is everything she's been missing in her life, too.

Piece of cake.

©2014 Joan Swan (P)2014 Joan Swan

A rating....

My Review:
Overall.... 4.75
Performance... 5.0
Story.... 4.5

This book was literally audiobook and narrating perfection. The story was amazing, too, and my problem with a good book on audio is that I usually can't stick with the audio because I can read so much faster and I want to know what happens in the story. But the narrator was so good on this one that I simply had to stay with it in that version. And that's also a sign of incredible writing too because it all had such a natural flow to it. Someday I want to be able to write like Skye Jordan.

But back to the book...Rubi Russo is all that is dysfunctional when it comes to relationships. She's rich, she's beautiful, she's incredibly intelligent, but she's emotionally stunted because of childhood neglect all through her developing years. She grew up in a house of riches, but no one was ever there for her when she was a little girl. So she has no idea how to love and be loved and to have a true relationship. The one person who has managed to break through that wall with her is her best friend, Lexi, the heroine from book #1 in this series.

Wes is one of the stuntmen from Renegades. He's been friends with Rubi for a while and they have been playing with flirting for just as long. He really wants her, but Rubi doesn't do anything besides just sex...for a single night, no do-overs. Wes grew up in middle america (missouri) and is from a wholesome family. He doesn't understand Rubi's dysfunction, but I loved his character for how much he works to understand and not push her too far, too fast, no matter that he's ready for everything immediately after they hook up because it was so phenomenal.

Rubi is blown away too and so she tentatively gives him a chance. The best thing about this book, next to the absolutely incredible sizzling chemistry between these two, is at just how intelligent Rubi is. She knows she's broken, but has never met a guy worth trying to overcome that. Wes is worth it, but that doesn't stop her knee-jerk reaction to him and his emotions. The difference between this and most books though is that she's smart...she thinks about what she's doing and calls herself out when she's just reacting the way she's been taught to over her life.

I LOVED her and I LOVED Wes. OMG, they are so absolutely perfect together. This is one hot, smexy book, but not once did I feel like the sex or flirting or by-play got to be too much. I believed every single moment of their explosive passion...and there's a lot of it. The whole story is fabulous. It's sexy and smart and has such a great balance of story, backstory, and romance. I LOVED IT!!

And the narrator...PERFECTION! If you have a chance to listen to this one on audio, I highly recommend it. But be warned...this is one seriously smexy book. You will probably want to listen with headphones so someone doesn't walk in during one of the many, hot scenes which could prove to be embarrassing. ;o)

Reminds Me of K. Bromberg's Slow Burn

Okay, so I really liked this book, however, as I am listening, I keep thinking to myself this all sounds too familiar. Wes and Rubi reminds me so much of Beckett and Haddie from Slow Burn by K. Bromberg. From the guy wanting to be all in to the girl being skiddish. But I loved Slow Burn, so this was a good listen. I do feel like the ending was too rushed. The problems and insecurities went on and on, and just like that in two chapters Rubi was ready to put them aside and move forward. It could have been a little more balanced. But all in all, good book.

Renegades More Please!!

If you saw my review of Reckless, you know that I fell head over heels in love with the Renegades. In Reckless we got glimpses of Wes and Rubi's flirtatious nature and I was instantly intrigued. Well... Rebel upped the game in the Renegades series and absolutely blew me away. As in, if I had jumped on the bandwagon to name my favorite books of 2014, Rebel would have made it in the top 10. Easily. Rebel solidified this series as strangely unique and mind blowing. Skye Jordan wraps up freaking hot chemistry with an intellectually stimulating story and throws in continuous laugh out loud moments in one amazing little package.

When we catch up to the Renegades, Rubi and Wes have become best friends but, with a quirky dynamic. They are not above flirting to that dangerous edge that separates friends from lovers. But, that's as far as Rubi will let it go. With no basis for having a functional and long-lived relationship she refuses to muddle up what she has with Wes. Losing him would devastate her more than anything. Wes, however, is a head-strong country man who can't give up on trying to push for more when he know they would be combustible together. With neither one willing to back down it is a push and pull game that will drive you crazy until it makes you fan yourself, because when these two give in... it's hotter than hell. Aside from the raunchy, orgasmic bliss Rubi and Wes find in one another they have also found another common ground. Rubi is a genius when it comes to technology and Wes, a genius when it comes to engineering. So they put their heads together to come up with a solution for Wes' brother who has just underwent surgery and may have trouble walking again. Along the way, they end up meeting each other's family and see just how different they were raised. It is a constant battle for Wes to convince Rubi they could have a future together, and a heartbreaking journey for Rubi to come to accept that.

Rebel is one of those books that's worthy of sitting on my iPod as well as my Kindle. The overall concept may have been told before but, the real meat of the story is refreshing and completely captivating. Wes stole my heart with his charm and dirty mouth. And Rubi had me has her "Yeah! girl" from the first page. They both show so much passion and love but, still have a perfect blend of quippy remarks and real emotions, as well. Skye Jordan weaves an irresistibly seductive web around her readers and there will be no denying your love for this book or its characters. Rebel is a must listen for anyone who loves a fantastically written, steamy and engaging story!

Piper Goodeve was outstanding again with the delivery of the story.

Love this series!

I have listened to this series many times waiting on my next credit. Love all the renegades men!

AWESOME Narrator!

Have you listened to any of Piper Goodeve’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, she is a great narrator - so many of them on audible.com are inaudible!!

Any additional comments?

Lots of steamy sex! Easy read - great narrrator!

An amazing Story where Lust and Love Succeed

Any additional comments?

Wow ! This is a Highly addictive, Hot and Sexy listen where barriers are put up and torn right down...and beautifully Narrated by the wonderfully expressive Piper Goodeve... In this awesome second book of the Renegades Series, Skye focuses on the next member of the team, Wes, (Oh so Yummy) whom we met in RECKLESS (Book 1). The uncomplicated, easy going farm boy, who grew up in a warm and close family, has played it fast and loose for years, loving the edge of danger his work as a stuntman provided him. He never really considered things in terms of permanency or the future, but Rubi made him consider all of those things, without the need to lose that little edge he loves...

Rubi, is the best friend from RECKLESS, who transformed herself from supermodel to techno-wiz, and loved a little 'living on the edge' herself. Plagued by crippling trust and abandonment issues stemming from a messed up childhood, she has shaped herself into someone rather aloof and unreachable to safeguard herself from further hurt and damage. That is, until Wes starts cracking through her mask and slowly earns her trust...

This is a novel with quite a few different layers to it. At first sight perhaps more superficial, the hunky stuntman, the successful and gorgeous model, but look deeper and there is so much more going on. Sky Jordan succeeds in lifting the outward appearances and letting us see the living, breathing, hurting and damaged people underneath the pretty picture they make. Shows us the struggle to create a semblance of normalcy in a life that has been anything but. Show's to us the courage it takes, not to hurl yourself over a cliff or parade around half naked in front of cameras, but to expose the most fragile parts of you to someone and trust them not to break you. "To reveal your Soul"... :)

Happy or mad

I do love the story line of Ruby & Wes.
But just when she says I love you it is cut off like a rug pulled out from under you. It did drag on with the story line of Wes's family & not enough of there story after. I wanted more of Ruth with Wes at least a I love you sexapaid even an epilogue or happily ever after, neither was given. It left me mad!
So happy she said I love Wes but not directly to him & mad it didn't have an epilogue. I wished I didn't listen to it at all left me feeling bad confused or left out! I thought for a minute I missed a chapter....

Best Book Ever

Loved Hotel scenario, HOT
All Fabulously Performed
Couldn't Put it down, had to listen.

Wes and Ruby, are so perfect

These 2 are perfect together, their push - pull relationship is tough, but finally doable. I love the story and narration is fabulous. Keeping up with the guys of renegades is keeping this series interesting... can’t wait fir the other guys story..

Sexy romantic continuing love series

What about Piper Goodeve’s performance did you like?

I really like Pipers voice. I do wish the editors would be a little more careful. For example between chapters. And either Piper or editors can smooth out the occasional robotic sound. But over all, terrific listen

Any additional comments?

I listened to the audio version.
The narration is terrific. Really enjoy Piper Goodeve.
This is Wes & Rubis story.
What a pair. haha
Wes, a great guy from a good family. The kind of guy that could find himself a nice girl and settle anywhere. Do his stunts. Make a happy life.
Rubi, is a terrific friend. If you read book one, you know what she and Lexi mean to each other. She came from money. But she missed out on everything else in the family dept. Rubi is perfectly fine living on her own. Not getting attached to any man. Just taking care of herself.
But we don't get to pick who we love.
There are parts of the story that are really unnecessary. And other areas that I wish would have been more examined.
Overall, it is a good story. The characters are good. The story well set up.
I would recommend it.