REVIEW: ROCK CHICK REVOLUTION BY KRISTEN ASHLEY (ROCK CHICK #8/SERIES FINALE)

If you've followed this blog for any amount of time, then you know that we are moderately...okay...okay...could get jail time obsessed with Kristen Ashley. The series that literally revolutionized us comes to an end in Rock Chick Revolution. It is truly much more than a book series to us, and it is like saying goodbye to some of our very best friends. *tear* Here is our farewell and review of the 8th book of one of the best series on the planet.

Ally Nightingale has secrets. Secrets she doesn't even share with the Rock Chicks. But two men know what she's up to. One has her back. The other has her heart, but he doesn't know it.

As Ally rewinds the last year of her life, she knows two things. One, she’s never going to get what every Rock Chick should have—her own Hot Bunch guy. And two, she’s a Nightingale through and through. She just isn’t sure what to do about that.

But as her secrets are revealed, the men in her life react. Darius Tucker, a lifelong friend, as usual takes her back. Ren Zano, the man she loves, isn’t quite so sure. The Rock Chicks, Hot Bunch and the entire gang at Fortnum’s weigh in, and a Rock Chick Revolution starts brewing.

It’s up to Ally to control it and prove what she knows down to her bones.

She’s a Rock Chick, she deserves her hot guy and she’s going to keep the one she wants…

Because she’s a Nightingale.

Where to find RC 8: 

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

Our Review: 

I cannot even begin to put into words how perfect the technically "series finale" is for Rock Chick through Rock Chick Revolution...but we will try! I was looking through some stuff and I saw that Shelley got me started on my Rock Chick journey on or about April 1st of this year. I think it is the fastest I have ever blown through one author's books...ever. AKA It didn't take long to read Rock Chick (while saving a couple because I didn't want to be 'done' ya know) then moving through the Dream Man series, and then the Chaos series (Rock Chick characters appear in those, FYI) . She interweaves the lives of these people to where they truly, genuinely feel like they are your friends and family and makes Denver a huge character in the book to the point that we are begging our husbands to let us all move there and start our own Rock Chick family. Shee-it, it would be epic. 

And epic it was, Courtney. I was so stoked to see that the Kindle fairy had delivered the book over night on Monday night that I was nervously tapping my fingers to clear out of work and get to reading. As Courtney tweeted her eagerness to start I was madly picking up my daughters, plying them with snacks and barricading myself in my hiding spot to get down the business of reading. I savored every word and am still in my Rock Chick haze.

Then she admitted, "I was beginning to get scared-me...Shirleen-that suddenly their fangs would come out and those vampires would lay waste to the entire guest list." - Shirleen

Rock Chick Revolution though is Ally Nightingale's story. Ally has been an amazing best friend through all of the other Rock Chick Ride's that we have been on, but we started to wonder if she would get her happily ever after. She never had her thing that she loved to do, or a love like the other Rock Chicks and her parents where the guy is just it. Enter Ren Zano, who we have met before in other series as well.

Ren. Wow. He was hot in Ava's story but Kristen Ashley held nothing back with him and Ally in RC Revolution. Ren was just perfect with Ally. He knew when to give and when to push; he could read her so well. And just as good as Ren was with Ally, Ally was with Ren. She knew her man and after she quit denying herself and him their shit got real...as in real good.

You know, just sayin', you said this shit to me like you just said it to me rather than yellin' at my ass until the only option I have to stop you from yellin' is to tap your ass, it might have penetrated about ten months ago." - Ren

"You've got your way, the way you are and the way you are with the ones you care about. And that tells me, a man gets in there, you give that to him, the children you give him, that man will be all kinds of lucky. And I've decided we're gonna see if that man is me" - Ren

Ren made me cry but even more than all of their relationships we get a little taste of wisdom from all of our favorite characters...and do you know how often I happy and sad cried in the last two days? A lot. Tex would be dubbing me Loopy-Loo instead of Jet, because the water works just wouldn't quit. Darius, Duke, Lee, and Hank were among many of my favorite scene stealers as they always are. It's just something about being a Hot Bunch Bad Ass I guess that when they speak, you shut up and listen. No words are wasted with those guys, but they love just as fiercely and the love for this girl who is their sister is just as powerful and beautiful as it is for their chosen Rock Chick.

This was like a reunion for me. The entire gang got these perfect little spotlights of time to remind me of exactly why I loved them. Tex and Duke and Darius and Smithie...even Roam and Sniff..and of course the Rock Chicks and their Hot Bunch were all present in this final episode (or what I consider a love note from Kristen to her characters) to see Ally not only get her man but find her niche in the bad ass world she inhabited.

"Since then, a load of shit has gone down. As it did, we always knew two things. One, we wouldn't be able to guess what mayhem would happen next. Two, Tex would be there." Lee pinned Tex with his eyes and stated, "We knew Tex would always be there." - Lee 

So if there was anything I wished for you, Tex" Lee continued. "The kind of man you are, the kind who deserves it, I wished that for you.." - Lee

One of my top 5 favorite parts, because there are seriously so freaking many, is Ally's scene with Jane. Jane is a Fortnum's staple just like everyone else, but she never gets in there with the drama even though she always witnesses it. Her words about the life of a writer, and sharing things with people that make them feel and help them through a time of need were seriously moving. I cried at this, because I just cry okay, but also because Kristen Ashley just get us as readers. *wipes tear*

I couldn't help but think of Jane's observations as Kristen's observations. I imagined her lovingly living this ride with her characters and I could feel the care and love she breathed into every word and action of these characters (or as I like to think of them...my friends). I really have too many favorite scenes--like the whole entire book is my favorite--but there was a fantastic scene with Duke, a heartwrenching one with Smithie, and Shirleen cracked my ass up more times than I'd like to count. Oh! And the epilogue was superb!!

"It's a gift," she said, her voice funny, deep with emotion. "Watching you all get close, witnessing all that happened making you closer, feeling that love. But it was another gift, maybe even a bigger one, precious, knowing that sharing it makes people I don't know laugh. It makes them happy. Some of them right to me. They tell me bad things are happening in their lives. But they read my book and it takes them away. It makes them smile. Laugh. Even if for moments, or better yet hours, they can forget the bad, be with us here at Fortnum's and laugh."  - Jane

"What happened, babe?" I asked. - "People..readers..they say it makes them laugh." She paused. "Out loud." Ally & Jane 

Dang right it makes us laugh out loud. And it will forever have it's place in my heart and my life as I will re-read it again and again. I honestly wish I had the time right now to do a full eight book read through...*eyes the schedule*.... :) 

These novels will always reside in special place in my heart. They are my chicken noodle soup or my warm chocolate chip cookie when I need to go that place where I feel safe and warm and happy and loved. I cannot wait to take the Rock Chick ride again--whether it be through rereading this series or reading about them as they pop up in future stories, I'll always be up for the ride. 

"How'd you get in? Ren asked instead of saying hello, and all eyes came to us. -- "Did a stint in juvvie 'cause of the skills I got to get us in." Daisy answered.

Courtney*Rock Chick for Life* 5 Billion Stars*
Shelley*Rock Chick Bad Ass for Life *5 Billion Stars times infinity

About the Author:

Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA. She nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn't taken her first breath!). 

Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.

Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland and existed amongst the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).

Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up. 

And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.