Amy's 4.5 star ARC review of Ryker (Steele Brothers #1) by Cheryl Douglas

Synopsis 

Mackenzie Steele assumed she’d be with her husband forever. He's still her best friend and the father of her children. But when weeks turn into months without intimacy, she realizes she's too young to feel so old. She wants to feel desirable again, to find the woman Ryker fell in love with twenty years ago. And there's only one way to do that… by asking him to move out.


Ryker's blindsided when his wife tells him she wants to separate. He knew they’d hit a rough patch, but he’d never allowed himself to imagine his life without her. Now he has no choice. She seems happy without him, living life on her own terms, and he knows if he doesn’t find a place for himself in her new life, it will be too late to save his marriage.

4.5 stars

Cheryl Douglas gave us “Deacon” one of my favorite books thus far. Just like Deacon, her new book Ryker is a fast easy read that is realistic to the readers. 

Ryker Steele loves his wife but lately things are strained; or maybe not even lately. He worked his way out of having nothing building an empire for his first and only love Mackenzie along with their two boys Zane and Cole. Ryker had nothing growing up so being someone was something he was not going to let pass him by. 

Mackenzie Steele fell in love with Ryker the minute she laid eyes on the bad boy in highschool. He was from the wrong side of the tracks running with an MC getting into trouble. Mackenzie saw more; she saw a man who was going to be her husband. Never did she think that would change. Ryker works long hours, their love life is nonexistent, she is twenty five pounds heavier, a housewife and has lost herself. She knows asking Ryker to move out is going to kill him and her boys but its time. Too many lonely nights and too many things have gone sideways. 

This is a story about fighting to find yourself back and in return finding what you lost. I LOVE this book. Its so true to life in so many ways. So many women are lost after getting married and being Mom for so long. The passion gets pushed to the side, you become a shadow of who you were and there is no time for yourself. 

Ryker is an exceptional man. Wow ... He has his flaws; both characters do; but losing themselves was upsetting to both. There was no cheating, nothing like that which I also love. It was a story about sacrifices for those you love but in turn what those sacrifices end up costing in the end. What do you ignore unintentionally? What do you not see? Did you say I love you enough? Its going to make you take a step back and look at your own life. LOVE THAT! 

Ryker is a man that we all would love to have beside us. He is a fighter, dedicated and committed. Although Mackenzie’s self confidence keeps her pulling away from Ryker he never once found her unattractive or fell out of love with her. His family was his prize and the thing that kept him going. Mackenzie and Ryker have a long road to travel. How will they get there and will they lose or win their family back? 

All I can say is read it …. You might find some of yourself in this excellent story. I also love the drama of raising teenage boys. Living that one right now! Grab it up and while you are at it grab up Deacon and the rest of the Starkis family too. Cheryl has a lot of things on tap for us and I cant wait! 

A few things coming soon --- Nex (Steele Brothers #2 – Rykers brother) -- Kara (Starkis Family #4)

 Thank you Cheryl!