ashley_webb13's reviews
120 reviews

Every Promise Broken by Ashley James

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

4.5⭐️ rounded up

This was the story I’ve been waiting for since the beginning of the series. Overall I loved the story. However, I feel like there should’ve been more angst, more drama, more hurt…I was ready to shed tears over their heartbreak buuut that didn’t happen. Second chance stories are almost always hit or miss for me but this one fell kind of in the middle. 
Whit and Conrad’s relationship ended 4 years ago (sooner if you count before the divorce), however Conrad’s grandmother “doesn’t know” so when she decides to come visit Conrad has to convince Whit to play pretend while she’s there. 
Them rekindling their relationship was super sweet. The characters have amazing chemistry. We also get some cameos from our other favorite characters. But like I said before, I expected a little heartbreak or something? Also what about Reggie? Will we see him again? I really felt bad for him; he got straight trashed after 2 or more years with Whit. Overall though it was a good ending to the series.

A Little Bit by L. Waltree

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

4.5 ⭐️ 
This story was so freaking good. Warren is the son of a senator. Who has suffered serious trauma. He’s afraid to be himself until he meets Eli who is new at the University he goes to. Something about Eli draws Warren in and makes him want to do things he’s never really allowed himself to do.
Eli has some issues himself he’s working through. He’s as drawn to Warren as Warren is him. 
These two are so good together, their chemistry is off the charts. They agree to do things for just “a little bit.” The more they’re around each other the more they fall and the more they want more than a little bit. But someone has a secret and when the other finds out things hit the fan. 
Amazing story! Loved it.

Our Blood, Our Pain by Syn Blackrose

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Jules and Kai…lord have mercy 🥵.

I think this one may be tied for the number one spot, which was still Tied To You but now I’m not sure because this book was amazing! 

Kai is a bit of a trouble maker, mostly falls in with the wrong crowd, ends up arrested and his mom is like “enough is enough” and calls “Uncle Jules” who is her estranged step brother, to step in and take Kai under his wing. 

Kai’s character is bratty at times but he’s really just misunderstood…👀. He’s young and really does want more out of life than running around starting bar fights. He feels like a disappointment to everyone until Jules comes in. 

Jules works for the Kozlov brothers, where he takes Kai to come work with him. Jules character is slightly unhinged (not like Aaron and Lev unhinged) but he still has empathy and shows emotions, so I really liked that. 

Their chemistry was off the charts! This book was HOT. You get the possessive MCs, the dirty talk, the marking, but also the real connection between the characters. We also see some of our other favorite characters from previous books. 

Definitely recommend this book if love mm, dark romance, mafia vibes, and slightly unhinged/possessive  characters. I would recommend reading Tied To You and Kill For You first for better enjoyment. 

Their Wicked Ways by Willow Dixon

hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This was actually a pretty good MMM.  Poly romance is hit or miss for me. This story follows Jett, Wes, and Ez. Wes and Ez are in an established relationship and have been for nearly a decade. They’ve brought on a third several times but never had a repeat and never saw them again. Until Jett. Imagine your third being on the crew at your new job? 

I did feel like the relationship dynamic was pretty equal up until towards the end and then there seemed to be not as much of Wes and Ezra, it was more Ezra and Jett. I would’ve liked to see more of them as a triad. 

Pippin & Nacho by Courtney W. Dixon

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Pippin (Sam) and Nacho (Nate) were super cute. These two were foster brothers and best friends for around 7 years. They also have a ton of codependency going on. Nate was abandoned as a baby and Sam was forced to undergo conversion therapy as a young teen and ran away, ending up in foster care. 

Nate is fiercely protective of Sam. Always wanting to take care of him and do things for him. He just doesn’t realize he’s doing half of it for himself because he’s afraid Sam will abandon him.

Sam is ADHD, has horrible anxiety and likely some PTSD from what happened to him. He leans on Nate a lot. He’s also terrified of Doctors. 

This story as a whole was good but it wasn’t overly exciting. There’s a little drama but overall it’s basically navigating their relationship. 

Level Up by Max Walker

funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Jay and Ryan are adorable. These two meet at a party and end up being dorm mates. They’re attracted to each other but Jay refuses Ryan quite a bit because Ryan is the son of a man who owns an oil company, Ryan’s family is everything Jay stands against. 

Jay’s character is very headstrong. He believes in something and doesn’t let anything detour him from his set goal. Even Ryan, as attracted to him as he was he wouldn’t cross the line because of who Ryan’s family is.

Ryan I absolutely loved his character. Cute and a bit goofy. He wanted to prove to Ryan that he was more than his last name. 

Once these two got together their chemistry was explosive. 

Anyone But Me by J.D. Frost

emotional hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Omg this book! It was so good. Oakley and Asher are actually perfect for each other, similar in ways but polar opposites in others. 

Oakley has been going to school with Asher for about year, since his and his sister’s parents died and they had to live with their uncle. Oakley is a strong character. His uncle is physically abusive and Oakley is doing everything he can to save money to get him and his away once he graduates. I loved his character. His protectiveness over his sister. His drive and determination to get them out.

Asher was actually a quite adorable character. Yes he does bully Oakley around some in the beginning but it doesn’t last long. There was a lot more depth to his character than I expected. He goes through his own struggles albeit not quite the extreme of Oakley is experiencing.

Once Asher gets a taste of Oakley it is ON. They both fall hard and fast but it’s not without some heartache thrown in. They face quite a few obstacles along the way. The way the book is written everything really ties together and flows nicely. The only thing that got me was that Asher didn’t put it together that Oakley’s abuser was his uncle sooner.

I am so glad they got their extremely hard earned HEA. 

Burning the Midnight Oil by Ashley James

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

For me personally Burning the Midnight Oil is my least favorite book of the series so far. That’s not to say it isn’t good by any means. It’s a good story. 

Boone is Grady’s ex brother-in-law. They fall into the relationship quickly and everything happens when Boone is divorced (except maybe the first kiss, him and his wife may have just been separated) so the only taboo part is really the fact that Grady is Boone’s ex wife’s brother. 

There isn’t a lot of angst or forbidden moments. I guess went in and expected something different; more taboo, and more drama when things came to light. It just wasn’t super exciting.

Overall it’s still good and I definitely recommend reading. Now I’m very curious as to what Colt has in store for us after that snippet 🥵. 

Oleander: A Great Expectations Retelling by Scarlett Drake

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

There’s a lot to unpack here, you really just need to read it but go in knowing that it’s going to hurt to get to the HEA. This an MM, coming of age, Great Expectations retelling. The writing is amazing. The story was intriguing, I haven’t read Great Expectations in a long time so I had to brush up a bit. 

Jude and Caspien meet at the age of 15 when Jude’s brother-in-law (he lives with his sister and her husband) starts working at and eventually move onto Caspian’s uncles estate. They developed this strange sort of friendship that turns into more. 

I won’t lie, I did not like Caspien until closer to the end of the book. His character though had been raised to avoid love and then he met Jude. He was still quite horrible even once they were “friends.” Also the older man while he was only 16 made me cringe. 

Jude I felt for. When Caspien left he had to move on with life and it seemed every time he’d make a little progress Caspien would show up. Cas just kept hurting Jude and it made me ill. Jude was such an amazing character. His love for Caspien ran soul deep. 

I did start to feel for Caspien more towards the end, no one deserves that. 

The big reveal in the end kinda fell flat for me. I understand Caspien didn’t want Jude to resent him if he stayed when they were younger but I guess that’s how things had to be for Caspien to be able to understand what love is. He hurt Jude but also himself. Overall it’s a good read, it’s long and divided into three parts. This isn’t your typical romance so know that going in. 

Suddenly You by Cora Rose

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

How I’ve been waiting for Matt and Cooper’s story since Except You. Suddenly You starts off basically where Except You ends with their little snippet waking up together. 

Matthew is trying to do better but waking up married to a man, wasn’t on his list of things to do. Matthew wants a divorce like immediately but Cooper has other plans. He wants to stay married and for Matthew to live with him to “pay off the debt of divorcing.”

These two are so adorable. Matthew is so touch starved, it’s just the sweetest thing when they cuddle. Cooper has this intense need to care for Matthew. I just loved their story. The spice is kind of a slower burn but it truly fits their story. Their chemistry is intense and there is a bit of angst for the build up. I honestly didn’t dislike anything about this book. 

Now I’ll be patiently waiting for Mitch and I hope someone rocks his world and brings that man to his knees, I cannot wait!