It's been a hot minute since I read a KA book and I'm not even sure why. She's pure comfort read for me. Sassy heroines, protective and possessive uber alphas, family dynamics and drama, and all the steam. And this book definitely packed all of that in.

Now admittedly, in my usual way of doing things back a$$wards, I read this book first before reading the rest of the series. And while I'll definitely be going back to rectify that, you can certainly enjoy this as a standalone. However, I can't help but feel I did myself a disservice by not reading at least After the Climb first. It did take a me a minute to wrap my mind around all the mixed family dynamics, but Ashley does a fantastic job summarizing the main details so I never felt lost.

I really loved Hale and Elsa. Hale is your typical KA alpha. He's a touch tortured, a splash broken, dirty talking, possessive and protective. His first impression of Elsa is not great but boy do sparks fly between them when they come face to face. Hale quickly comes to see that Elsa is not quite the vapid gossip news that he assumed she was. This is a woman with passion, drive, and clear morals.

Elsa was such a wonderful heroine. She is a driven career woman herself and doesn't take any $hit, even from Hale. Her family is one crazy ride and watching that crazy ride out was certainly entertain and frustrating at the same time.

The romance was satisfying as always, but I do wish we got to see Hale's dominant side a bit more. There was more alluding to it and this dirty bird just wished for more. It was still deliciously spicy, but the promise was more than the reality in parts. We do get the third act breakup, which had me wanting to punch Hale in all the painful places. And while he sees the error of his ways quickly enough, I also can't help but wish that Elsa made him grovel a bit more for her forgiveness.

There is a bit of suspense added in with a stalker that made it that much more entertaining and I enjoyed it so much! I will definitely now be reading the rest of the series!

I love reading Kristen Ashley’s stories. She has a beautiful voice when it comes to storytelling. The layers she gave this story kept me engaged. I think everyone should read this one.

If there is an author to count on knowing each and every book is going to be a great read-it’s Kristen Ashley. A dear friend introduced me to Rock Chick this year and wow did that book hook me. Do yourself a favor and read it. I think for me what stands out most in her books are the characters. They all have personalities that are larger than life and are unforgettable and that’s exactly what Fighting the Pull is- unforgettable. It was my first in the series but I liked it so much I’m going to start from the beginning. For those just jumping into the River Rain series like me, it would be helpful to start at book one, but you won’t be completely lost if starting here. Completely worth the read! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars

Tropes: Billionaire, contemporary romance, angsty

KA has brought all the emotions in this book. I have absolutely loved the River Rain series and Hale’s story might be my favorite. I loved the insight we got into Hale and his fathers life. It was so good! Oh and Elsa was absolutely fabulous! The chemistry and banter was perfect.

I would recommend reading After the Climb (book 1) in the series first. It is fantastic and gives the background on Hale’s life that we all wanted to know more about. Plus it is a really good book that I enjoyed just like all the others in this series. It was also written in Kristen Ashley style and told an amazing story

Thank you so much Kristen Ashley, Getredpr and 1001 Dark Nights Blue Box for the gifted copy!

I’ve been looking forward to Hale’s book in this series and I wasn’t disappointed! I got sucked in pretty quickly and didn’t want to put it down! This one played out like a movie in my mind! I felt like I was there watching what was going on! I loved Hale and Elsa. I was happy to see them both get their happy ending! This is a standalone in the series, but I think you would have a better understanding of the story and all the characters if the books were read in order! Overall a good read that I’d recommend!

Received a arc for a honest review.

Fighting the Pull was a truly exceptional story filled with so much feeling and emotion that there were times I just had to take a minute to catch my breath. I loved it all! Hale and Elsa were everything! I loved the details, the depth, all the amazing characters, and the build to an incredible ending. I was so excited to read this book and it did not disappoint.

I loved Elsa to her core. I liked her strength, integrity, and how hard she worked to make her dreams come true. I have loved Hale since the start of the series, he’s protective and low-key alpha and good to his soul but he had his demons. I loved how Hale and Elsa clashed in the beginning and the animosity between them. Underneath it all, you could feel that building attraction and sexual tension. I loved Elsa’s attitude and how she didn't roll over and do whatever Hale wanted, she challenged him. I loved when their walls started to come down and they really opened up. I could feel these small emotional breaks growing in Hale and I hurt for him. I was filled with so much anticipation waiting for things to boil over for him and when it finally happened, it was intense and painful. While there was a lot of emotion, there was also a good bit of drama, playful moments, and some super-hot ones too. Those lighter, fun scenes were super entertaining and helped to really round out the story.

I loved learning about Hale’s complicated relationship with his dad from both of their viewpoints. I loved the emotion as memories aligned for Hale and as he struggled with others. I loved feeling like I really got to know Corey and understand his actions and choices, some of his whys were heartbreaking. I loved all the characters involved in this story and enjoyed getting to see more of those relationships and bonds that I have come to know and love in the series. There were a lot of great moments that had me choking up. I loved seeing the fatherly side of Tom with Hale and getting hints about Jamie and Nora. There were so many great snippets of other characters including the very intriguing Rhys Vaughn that has me excited about what is to come in the series.

I love a story that makes me feel and this one definitely had me on an emotional rollercoaster. Hale and Elsa were wonderful characters who were flawed and real. This story was sweet and painful, and heart-wrenching and beautiful all rolled into one. I loved the pace, and how it really built and pulled me in, I felt captivated the entire time. I loved all the healing, love, hope, and found families. It felt like this story broke me a bit and then built me back up. I cannot begin to say enough good things about Fighting the Pull and the River Rain series, it was all fantastic!

There was no fighting the pull from the very start while reading this emotional upcoming Kristen Ashley read!

What You'll Find:
--Contemporary Romance
--Fake Date Leads to More
--Tortured Billionaire Hero
--Angst & Emotion
--Multiple POV

Hale doesn't have time for love. He's married to his work. Committed to doing better. And he does not plan to marry after seeing the hearts his father broke. He also hasn't faced the loss of his father. But Hale is sure intrigued by Elsa. The celebrity news journalist who has been reporting on his family. These two go head to head, until eventually the fireworks create a spark that can't be denied.

I really loved this story. I could be nit picky about a few little things, but why? Because this story captivated me and made me FEEL. And that's all that matters. Hale is tortured from a past and grief he hasn't dealt with. Despite that, he is such a good man. Gosh I loved him. So much swoon! The way he stood up for Elsa, and curvy women in general, mind you!!! That is just one example. And Elsa, while I adored her too, I did feel like this was Hale's story. And maybe even his father's too. The way the author shared flashbacks with his father-my gosh it broke my heart. It can get heavy. But the love surrounding Hale... filled my heart up.

I loved the MC's connection. The chemistry was undeniable. And while there is some steam, with a splash of dominance... the scenes are quick and not overly descriptive. It's a great aspect in the story, but not the focus. This story is about so much more than romance. It will make you laugh. And make you feel. Having read most of the books in the series, I knew the backstory for Hale and it made it all the more emotional. Of course the author still manages to surprise us too. A new favorite for me!


TW: Suicide

*Thank you to Get Red PR for the complimentary ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own and given freely.