Avenging Angels: Bad Medicine by Kristen Ashley

Fourth in the series. I recommend reading in order, but the romance stands alone.

Thank you to Kristen Ashley and her team for an early copy for review purposes. This does not affect my review, nor does the advertising on my site. This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

“You can lie to yourself,” he went on. “You can lie to me. You can fight this. Fuck, I want you to fight it. But we both know, you are not gonna win.”

That giddy feeling when you pick up a Kristen Ashley book… there is nothing that compares. The Avenging Angel series has quickly become one of my favorites from her recent releases. It feels like Rock Chicks modernized, but still deeply tied to the original world, especially in this book. Avenging Angels: Bad Medicine features Gabriel Stark, Luke Stark’s cousin, and believe me, he absolutely has that Stark blood. Rock Chick Revenge (Luke’s book) is one of my all-time favorites, and this one gave me very similar vibes. A reread of that book is definitely happening soon.

If you’re new to the series, Avenging Angels follows the next generation of Rock Chicks. It takes place in Phoenix, where the new Nightingale Investigations office has opened. The Angels all live in the same cool apartment complex and work at the Surf Club Café, now owned by Tex and Tito. They’ve been recruited into a very Charlie’s Angels-style operation, complete with funding from a mysterious benefactor.

We’ve known Willow throughout the series. She’s a baker by day and a crime-fighting Angel by night. In the previous book, Tenderfoot, her ex turned out to be the bad guy, so Willow is dealing with a lot of emotional fallout and self-doubt after a lifetime of bad men, starting with her father. Gabriel Stark has been into her for a while, but he’s given her time to process what she went through. That said, we all know the Hottie Squad, or Hot Bunch, guys. When they decide they want someone, they go all-in, and they do it fast. Willow puts up one hell of a fight, but Gabe loves the challenge.

“Not one thing in this life is worth it if you don’t have to put in the work to earn it. So keep going, baby, because the more you try to keep me out even knowing you’ve already let me in, the harder I’ll work to show you what you’ll get when you get me.”

Bad Medicine is more character-driven and relationship-focused than the earlier books in the series. While there is still a case the Angels are working, the emotional center of the story is clearly the couple. What really stood out was how well Willow and Gabe communicated. I loved how openly they shared their pasts and healed together as the story unfolded.

“Every inch of you, mine, Willow. You hear me?”

Likes:

I love the friendships. The girl gang is incredible, and they are all true girls’ girls.
The campy, fun Charlie’s Angels parallels.
Cameos from the original Rock Chicks, especially Luke and Ava.
The glimpses into what’s going on with previous couples, along with hints about upcoming ones.
TEX. Need I say more?
This one goes deeper emotionally than the earlier books. I cried.
I love the character list in the back.
The case they were working on was fun.
The Pretty Woman side story. This would make a great novella.
I love that in this series the men aren’t constantly fighting the women about doing dangerous things. They support the Angels and have their backs.
My ex-husband used to call me cupcake, and I always thought it was sweet. I loved that detail in this book.

Dislikes:

Her alter egos, Dreamer and Logic, confused me at times because I kept thinking she was referring to the character Dream. With so many characters, similar names can get tricky. Tito and Titus, anyone?
There were quite a few smaller details from earlier books that I didn’t remember but sometimes felt like I was supposed to or needed to.

The Down & Dirty:

Avenging Angel is my favorite Kristen Ashley series from this decade. I love how it continues to give us glimpses of beloved Rock Chick characters so we can catch up, while still delivering new, modern stories that feel unmistakably KA. Making Gabriel Stark Luke Stark’s cousin was genius, and I loved how clearly that Stark intensity runs through both men. Willow and Gabe’s story is quieter and more relationship-focused than some of the earlier books in the series, but it delivers on every emotional level. Their connection, communication, and healing felt earned, intimate, and deeply satisfying. This book hit me right in the heart, and I cannot wait for the next one, Avenging Angels: Ambush. I need it now.