Riding the Night [Paperback]

The suspense/action plot of Riding The Night is somewhat different from the other "Wild Riders" stories because AJ and Pax are on a road trip vacation riding their Harley's. AJ wants to return to the town where he grew up to see if any old acquaintances still live there, in particular his childhood sweetheart, Teresa. Readers learn from the book's Prologue that AJ had left town 10 years earlier, leaving a 18 year old Teresa brokenhearted. He did this with the best of intentions because he was a young, in trouble youth and didn't want to ruin her chances for a good life.

AJ and Pax met and bonded as friends when they were recruited into the Wild Riders covert government agency by General Grange Lee. As part of their training they were required to share details of their difficult upbringings often laced with childhood abuse. AJ and Pax learned they had similar backgrounds and as they spent more time together their personalities and interests meshed extremely well. As part of the path to what became a special friendship they found they were attracted to the same types of women and began to enjoy 'threesomes' with the opposite sex. Both these men have major commitment issues, Pax especially has no intention of entering into a 'forever' relationship with a woman. Falling in love just isn't part of the equation. Love equals hurt after all. This is why both he and AJ always entered into their sexual encounters with a no strings attached expectation and make sure the lady in question is of the same mindset.

Then along comes AJ's childhood sweetheart Teresa who the guys learn has bought a failing bar on the outskirts of town and turned it into a lucrative business. Pax is immediately attracted to the raven haired beauty and AJ of course can't help but feel drawn to his old love now that she has matured into a striking woman. The waters are muddy however because 5 years previous to the book's opening Teresa endured a horrible physical and emotional assault, leaving deep scars. She hasn't been sexually attracted to a man since and while she keeps up a brave front and has learned to protect herself, she suffers a deep seated fear. Then AJ and Pax walk into her bar and things change.

What I really liked about Teresa, AJ and Pax's romance is that Jaci Burton crafts their story with painstaking delicacy over the course of the narrative. She doesn't just throw these three people into bed together for hot sex from the get go. AJ and Pax allow Teresa the space and time she needs to trust them enough to want to be with them. Essentially both the guys give her time to get used to the other before they share her sexually. And, after learning what happened to her they make VERY sure she wants them as much as they want her. What I also loved about this story was the relationship between AJ and Pax, the depth of trust and commitment is palpable, they have worked through any issues with respect to jealousy concerning women and it just isn't there. Each knows the other better than himself and they know when push comes to shove on the job they will protect each other to the death.

Teresa's brother Joey is the leader of the "Thorns" a biker group that is on the up and up, in other words they not involved in illegal activity. A rival gang called the "Fists"are trying to move into Thorn territory to obtain access to the town's waterway so they can import drugs with ease. Ms. Burton develops a thrilling, suspense sub-plot involving the murder of the Fists's leader in Teresa's bar during a fight. Teresa's brother is falsely accused of the murder and she is the only eye witness as to who actually committed the crime. AJ and Pax's vacation therefore becomes an unexpected dangerous, treacherous mission that uncovers a conspiracy, and very nearly costs all their lives. The story is packed full of Wild Rider hot lovin, fast action and nail biting suspense!

There is one scene at the end of the story where Ms. Burton brings all the Wild Rider guys and their gals together at the Headquarters in Dallas. It was a nice way to finish up the series and let readers know how everyone is faring. As for Rick and AJ? Well, whether or not they can get past their issues and finally commit to one woman is the big question and not revealed until the final pages. I will say, readers finally learn what "AJ" stands for - poor guy! lol

I thoroughly enjoyed "Riding The Night", and hope everyone who chooses to read it will too. I think this one can easily be read as a standalone story, it would certainly whet the appetite for the other books in the series.

AJ loved Teresa, but left town because he knew he was not good enough for her. A decade later, he is no longer that insecure troubled teenager as he has become a Wild Rider federal agent. He returns to Missouri on vacation, accompanied by his partner Pax.

Teresa never forgot the boy who deserted her. She owns the Greasy Rider bar that AJ and Pax stop at for a drink. She is elated her AJ is back, but also finds she wants Pax too. They reciprocate as AJ never stopped loving her and Pax is falling in love with her. However, a brawl at the bar leaves one dead and Teresa's brother Joey accused of murder. The two Wild Riders accompanied by Teresa head to South Dakota for the big bike shindig to find the real killer and each other.

The latest Wild Riders erotic romantic suspense (see Riding on Instinct and Riding Temptation) is a delightful entry as the three key players and their interrelationships feel genuine. The story line is fast-paced in and out of the sack (and some other places) as the dynamic trio seeks to identify who the killer is; not one of them believes Joey did it. Fans will enjoy Riding the Night with this ménage a trois while wondering how their triangle will end.

Harriet Klausner

I am usually leery about erotica novels due to the fact that they tend to suffer from a lack of interesting plotlines, and sometimes they lack a plot entirely. I am doubly leery about stories involving ménage relationships because they often come off as tacky, and just not romantic at all. I have followed the Wild Riders series by Jaci Burton from the first installment and have really enjoyed the series. It is erotica but the plotlines are excellent and there is a lot of grit and emotion in her characters. I decided I would give this book a chance since I have always found the characters of AJ and Pax interesting and it seems to be the last book in the series. I am so glad I did.

Like the rest of this series, Riding the Night has a cast of characters with a depth of emotion not often seen in erotica and sometimes not even in regular romance novels. The characters are complex from the start, but then we get to see them grow and mature throughout the story as well. These are truly wonderful characters that stay with you long after the book is over. AJ and Pax did not disappoint, and their leading lady Teresa was wonderful as well. All of them had traumatic past and were dealing with their situation in ways that were not necessarily healthy to their emotional stability. Coming together for them was an epiphany of sorts, as they learn to get past their traumas and move forward to a life that, while certainly unconventional, allows them the peace and happiness they always needed. The plot in this book is just as entertaining and fast paced as the rest of the series. It is suspenseful and has just enough twists so that it is not entirely predictable. The love scenes, and they are love scenes not just sex scenes, are very graphic but not gratuitous. The book is just as emotional as it is physical and that sets this series apart from many other books in its category.

I highly recommend this book for people who enjoy erotica and romance novels. Be forewarned that the book is about a ménage relationship, strictly heterosexual in nature, with two men falling for the same woman. Once again, the sex scenes are graphic and the heat level high as it is an erotic romance book. If this is not something you can handle, then don't read the novel. That being said, this is the best ménage story I have ever read and I usually don't like ménage stories. There is true emotion here and it is extremely well written considering the genre.

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