Custom Love

CUSTOM LOVE is the third and final instalment in Chantal Fernando’s contemporary, adult FAST AND FURY romance series focusing on the men and women who work for Fast and Fury Custom Cycles. This is single father Trade, and private investigator Nadia’s story line. CUSTOM LOVE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalments is revealed where necessary. The FAST AND FURY series is a spin off from the author’s KNIGHTS OF FURY MC series.

Told from first person perspective (Nadia) with a final chapter from Trade,CUSTOM LOVE follows Nadia’s private investigation into the murder of Trade’s girlfriend. One year earlier, Trade lost the love of his life, leaving him a single father to four children. A local man was arrested, charged and found guilty of the murder but fast forward to present day wherein Nadia, a private investigator, is asked to reopen the case in the belief that the man in jail is taking a fall for someone else. The problem, Nadia is friends with the dead woman’s sister, boyfriends and extended family at the Knights of Fury MC, and unwilling to betrayal their love or their trust, Nadia reveals her investigation, only to be shunned by the man with whom she will fall in love.Enter former MC member, single father Trade. What ensues is the building but struggling romance and relationship between Trade and Nadia, and the potential fall-out when Nadia’s investigation begins to take a personal turn with everyone involved.

Trade has struggled in the year since the murder of his girlfriend. As a single father, Trade has had the help and assistance of family and friends but our hero has never thought about moving on until Nadia drops into his life. Battling between head and heart when Nadia reveals the direction of her investigation, Trade must chose between the past and the present, hoping to avoid a lonely future alone. Nadia knew taking the case would open up a proverbial ‘can of worms’ but never thought she would lose her friendship with Trade. Recusing herself, Nadia would struggle with the information she knows, pulled back in when the FBI and police begin another investigation of their own.

The relationship between Nadia and Trade is slow to build as Trade struggles to move on from the past. Nadia is reluctant to fall for a man who is unable to let go of what was especially when she may always be second choice, now and in the future. Trade never thought he would find someone else to love, and guilt begins to override his need for our heroine. The $ex scenes are passionate but mostly implied.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including several from the Knights of Fury MC. We are introduced to Trade’s children, their aunt Izzy, and Detective Decker.

CUSTOM LOVE is a story of family, friendships, relationships and love; a story of betrayal and vengeance; second chances and the future. The premise is engaging and entertaining but not quite as edgy as the previous instalments- I expected a little more drama and conflict when it came to the resolution; the romance is sweet and gentle; the characters are energetic and enterprising.

This book is sad, suspenseful, shocking and sexy! Trade has been dealt a really crappy hand in life, but he keeps moving forward ... for his kids. Nadia is a strong woman who knows how to take care of herself, but still wants the love of a good man. I as rooting for Trade and Nadia ... and the kids to have their happily-ever-after, but there are lots of obstacles in their path. It was refreshing that the writer brought the kids into the books in real life ways ... not everyone is happy about this new romance. I just found that there was so much going on in the book that the actual love story seemed to be in the background. And the twist at the end had my jaw hitting the floor! A great addition to the series.

I received an early copy courtesy of Harlequin - Carina Press through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.