Review: Drive It Deep by Cara McKenna

Title: Drive It Deep (Desert Dogs #2.5)Author: Cara McKenna
Genre: Romantic suspense, Bikers
Release Date: 16 June 2015

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My rating: 4 Stars
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Synopsis

Jeremiah Church and Raina Harper have been close since they were kids, back when life was all about hot Nevada summers spent running wild on the backs of their motorcycles with their friends. Now in their thirties, their lives are changing, and so is the way Miah looks at Raina—a sizzling tension has begun to smolder, impossible to ignore.

Miah is a man of simple pleasures—after a long day overseeing his family’s cattle ranch, a cool drink in his hand and a barstool under his backside are all he needs. Except lately, Miah’s begun looking at his bartender differently. Raina is Miah’s polar opposite—she’s as hot-headed as he is self-possessed, as wild as he is steady. And though they’re a recipe for disaster, the mutual attraction brewing between them is too tempting to deny.

But when bottled-up desires hit this hard, this fast, after so long, the results are positively explosive. And while the affair is hot enough set the badlands on fire, when the flames burn out, will their lifelong friendship survive, or go up in smoke?

Review

It's a novella telling Miah and Raina's story set two years before the events in the book 1 and 2. It was slightly weird reading it, because I knew there won't be any HEA for the characters, yet I was curious about them and their relationship. 

The best thing in this short novella was Miah. I can't love the guy more, it's uncanny how close I felt to him, to his views on life, love, family. He is not perfect by any means and his little quirk (I wouldn't call it an issue) worked perfectly in the story, made him real and human. 

We already know so much more about Raina, since Ms McKenna told her story in book 2, yet it was nice seeing her fall for Miah. At first it felt easy and natural and then it grew bigger and more passionate. Two life-long friends becoming lovers, having tons of chemistry, yet ultimately breaking up because they are not compatible in the long run. I respect Raina's honesty and strength but I also hated her for hurting Miah so much. 

There was a lot of anger and hurt in this story. It was not a regrettable affair for both Miah and Raina, in a way it seemed a necessary part of their lives' journey but it was painful nonetheless. 

This is a very vivid, well drawn story. I appreciate the insight we got into Miah's character, he was more elusive so far. Now I'm even more excited about his book which will be the last in the series, after Casey's story coming later this year.

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