4.5 stars 
 Carissa sweet, sassy, and a bit of a goof as she begins to let Joker into her life. The picture we get of her in high school and before the story begins is of a quieter, doormat who just wanted a family, and put up with a lot in order to get her dream, only to have her dream smashed. Struggling to keep her son, and not let the hurt caused by her ex drown her or keep her from caring for her son. 
 Joker was raised in an abusive situation. Seven years later, he has returned and put his past behind him, found a family in Chaos, and has everything he wanted as a kid. But a chance encounter with a blast from his past has him softening in order to help an old friend. 
 This is a sweet second chance of sorts. While they knew of each other in high school, they didn't move in the same circles. As Joker, Carissa doesn't recognize him as the boy she knew so long ago. There is a comfort and attraction between them that makes her feel safe, and gives him a steady feminine presence, but secrets (and his real identity) are like a ticking time bomb between them. 
 As soon as Joker claims her as his, even before he recognizes that that is what he had done, Chaos and their women rally around to help Carissa before she can hit rock bottom. I love both the fact that Chaos offers this, and that Carissa really does want to make it on her own. She doesn't want to be beholden to anyone anymore. 
 There is not as much club business running in the background, but I have a feeling some of the things that did pop up related to the club will have ramifications later. This was a lighter, more family feeling personal story versus a straight up MC story, but with the MC as Joker's family the club life isn't far from anyone's minds at any given time. 
 Ride Steady is filled with great cameos by the entire Denver area group of KA characters. Tack & Tyra, Elvira, the whole Chaos brotherhood, and Hawk, Lee, Mitch, and Hank, Knight. There were actually some really great plot additions that included some of these guys that made this feel like an extended family looking out for each other and their community rather than a group of men who happen to run into each other over the course of their business dealings. 
 This was such a great comfortable read. Kristen Ashely's books, especially her series set in Denver, feel like I'm home and part of the action at the same time. I love the feeling I get when I read them -- settled, engaged, part of the family. 
 I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.