Custom Built by Chantal Fernando book review

Custom Built is the first in Chantal Fernando’s Fast & Fury series but has some of the characters from the Knights of Fury series. I have not explored too much in other MC stories, but this one definitely holds my attention and I’ve enjoyed all of them so far. 

Our two main characters are Bronte and Crow. Bronte was really having a hard time with life in general. The book starts off with Bronte having some medical issues and then she had to be laid off of a job that she really loved. It was even harder because her boss was also a good friend. But I would say that it’s a realistic element to the story that may resonate with a lot of readers because life is tough right now. Bronte then has to tell her dad that she lost her job and is looking for something new. She doesn’t like asking for help. Fortunately, when she is visiting her dad, her Uncle Neville puts her in touch with a custom bike shop that needs some help. 

Turns out Crow is her boss and he is not very nice at first. Crow is trying to keep a waaaay too distant professional relationship. Things start to pick up a bit because as she starts her new job, she meets a cousin that she never had. Motorcycle Club is a whole new world for Bronte and Abbie can help her a bit with the ins and outs of knowing men in a motorcycle club. She’s not really “in” but she just works for an affiliated business. 

As Bronte begins to settle in, the drama goes up a notch. There is a murder, drug running, mysterious disappearances, and some shooting. Poor Bronte just can’t catch a break! But the flirty fun starts as Bronte tries to make the best of things. Turns out Crow is full of surprises and is quite charming. I think that Crow and Bronte do have some great chemistry. To me, one of the hottest things that Crow did was take care of Bronte when she needed it. *fans self* The story is fast-paced. It focuses on friendship, family, and helping each other out. There is a lot of action and I had to keep reading to find out who the bad guys were. The suspense will keep you up until you finish. If you are looking for your next contemporary romance or are new to MC books, give this one a try.

Title: Custom Built

Author: Chantal Fernando

*new* Series: Fast & Fury, #1

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Imprint: Carina Press 

On Sale: November 24, 2020

Format: Mass Market Paperback (ebook and audio also available)

Price: $8.99 U.S.

ISBN: 9781335200136

Book Description: New York Times bestselling author Chantal Fernando brings you Fast & Fury: A sexy new series fully loaded with intense emotions and edge-of-your-seat suspense.

After losing her job, saying goodbye to a lifelong dream, and having an all-around cruddy year, Bronte Pierce needs a break. A job at Fast & Fury might be just the thing to reset her life, even though she knows nothing about custom motorcycles.  But taking a job isn’t the same as keeping it, and her fresh start quickly turns into a fresh nightmare.

Starting with her boss. Crow is hard-headed, stubborn and brutally honest. He may be easy on the eyes, but he runs with an MC, and he’s anything but friendly to Bronte. She suspects he has a softer side—just not for her.

Her whole life, Bronte has known that the only person she can truly count on to save the day is herself. But when a single murder turns into a conspiracy and the threat to her life is more than she can handle alone, it’s Crow who comes through—and her newfound family might just become her greatest strength.

Buy Custom Built by Chantal Fernando

IndieBound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781335200136 

Harlequin.com: https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/9781335200136_custom-built.html 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Custom-Built-Fast-Chantal-Fernando/dp/1335200134 

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/custom-built-chantal-fernando/1136925128 

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/custom-built/id1510111810 

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Chantal_Fernando_Custom_Built?id=3PfeDwAAQBAJ 

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/custom-built 

About Chantal Fernando

Chantal Fernando is the New York Times bestselling author of the Wind Dragons Motorcycle Club series, the Cursed Raven Motorcycle Club series, and the Maybe series, along with several other novels. She lives in Western Australia, where she is working on her next book. 

Connect with Chantal Fernando

Website: http://www.authorchantalfernando.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorchantalfernando

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChantalFernando

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7056719.Chantal_Fernando

Check out this excerpt:

Stepping inside the warehouse is like a whole other world. There’s beautifully done graffiti on the walls, and the workspace shows off brand-new, sparkling bikes. The main room leads into a wide spacious garage, and it has a cool, urban vibe. There’s music playing over the speakers, and it doesn’t look like they have spared any expense with the interior design. In the middle, there’s a reception area with a large, expensive-looking wooden desk and a little staircase leading to another level, one with bikes in various states of being rebuilt. It’s a pretty awesome space.

“Hello?” I call out when I see no one around. Apparently, they really do need staff. I’m assuming I’m supposed to be meeting Crow, but I have no idea what to expect right now.

A door opens from behind the reception area, and a tall, muscular blond man walks out. He’s very handsome. He’s covered in tattoos and looks good even bowing shirt with a white top underneath. I wonder if this is his usual look.

Even with the shirt, he screams bad boy.

The bright pattern isn’t fooling anybody.

Blue eyes lock on me. “Bronte Pierce?”

“That’s me,” I say, shaking his hand as he offers it. “Nice to meet you.”

“I’m Crow, and I’m in charge here. We have two mechanics coming in and out to help Cam put together the bikes. But it’s a small group since we only do custom pieces.”

So this is who messaged me yesterday.

“So are you Abbie’s partner?” I ask, since Uncle Neville said he owned the place. If he is, she has done very, very well for herself.

He gives me a confused look, then laughs. I don’t want to admit what the sound of his laugh does to me; it’s deep and all-consuming. Great, now I’m having weird feelings about my cousin’s partner and I haven’t even met my cousin yet. Way to build a relationship. Oh yeah, and he’s my boss.

Snap out of it, Bronte. You’re here to work, and that’s it.

Once he’s done laughing, he still has a smirk on his face. I’m not going to lie; it kind of annoys me. “No, Temper is Abbie’s partner. Don’t let him hear you ask me that.”

“But you said you’re in charge. I was told Abbie’s partner owns the place.”

His smirk is gone and now he just looks annoyed. 

“Yes, Temper technically owns it, but I am in charge here. Is that going to be a problem?”

Shit. Great, first I was attracted to the boss, and now I’m pissing him off. “Nope. Not a problem. Sorry, I just found out about Abbie, so I’m playing catch-up. You’re in charge. Got it.”

And apparently not a topic I will bring up again.

He looks at me skeptically but gives me a brief nod. “We basically need someone to man the reception, answer phones, order parts and stay on top of all the bookkeeping. Sound manageable?”

I decide that honesty is the best policy. “I have done some admin work before, but I don’t know anything about bikes or ordering parts. But I’m a quick learner and I’m sure I can pick it up.” I give him my best I-am-confident look.

I hope he buys it.

It’s the truth, though. I’ve done work more complicated than this, and I’m eager to learn and be the best at whatever job I am doing. I’m someone who takes pride in her work, and I know that I’m going to be an asset to his team.

“Abbie said you were a private investigator?”

“I was an assistant to one, yes.” I nod.

“Huh. I would have guessed a librarian,” he comments, making my eyes widen. I mean, I was only just thinking the same thing based on how I dressed today, but it’s rude of him to mention that, especially after only just meeting me. “I hope you’re able to handle the job, and don’t expect any special treatment just because you’re Abbie’s long-lost cousin.”

My jaw drops. His comment really gets to me, even though I don’t want to let him see that. “I don’t expect any special treatment.”

“That’s good, but not true, because special treatment got you this job in the first place,” he replies casually, as if his words aren’t hitting every damn nerve.

I should have known that this job was going to come with a catch, and it looks like I’ve found it. An annoying, smart-ass boss.

Copyright © 2020 by Chantal Fernando