noa_ashley_'s reviews
407 reviews

 "This woman had so many responsibilities she shouldered in everyday life, a lot of them all on her own. When she was with me, I’d make sure that weight was lifted. She could hand it all over for me to carry, and I’d be happy to do it." - Jake

The beginning was interesting, Clara was in bad marriage, she wasn't treated well, because of that she is scared to let someone new in her and her daughter's life. Jake is a single dad and he was very sweet for Clara and her daughter. Jake and his daughter fit perfectly in their lives. He was exactly what she needed and deserves. I really love the part where Clara helped Sage and Jake doing the girls' hair!

There was a third act breakup and that felt a bit pointless, they could've just talked like adults. I didn't feel connected to the characters or the story. It felt a bit all over the place.

I received an ARC copy of this book.

- Billionaire Romance
- Single Mom and Single Dad
- Office Romance
- Plus Size FMC 

"Jesse and I were always going to be like oil and water or gasoline and flamethrower." - Sebastian

"Sebastian wasn’t good for me, but our decades-long rivalry was one of the few things that made me feel anything at all."- Jesse

I really loved this book! And when I look back at all the information we got about how Jesse and Sebastian grew up, the time line really makes sense. They've been in each other's lives for so long that they build up a lot of "hate" for each other throughout the years and they like a challenge and they both want to win, so much that they got a bit lost in completed feelings. And even when they were annoying each other, they still asked if it was okay and gave each other time to say no. Jesse always helped Sebastian getting out of situations and never expected anything in return.

Annoying each other --> spicy time --> "This never happened" --> repeat

The vibes of the book

"Are you sure this is a good idea?”

“No.”

“At least we’re on the same page.”

I loved how they "told" their family that they were in a relationship, it was very original and it sounds exactly like something the characters would do.

I read this book in 2 days and ever really do that. I really love the writing. And I'm very excited for the other books in the serie! I received an ARC of this book. Thank you so much!

"No one ever chose me." - Jules

"I just know Jules will deconstruct everything about me and then build me back up." - Sterling

I really loved the beginning of the book, when Sterling explained to Jules why he didn't text him, that made me understand what happened in the past 2 years and I'm glad Jules didn't accept his apology right away, that he thought about his own feelings too.

The communication wasn't great, they both were too much in their heads and didn't talk about what they were thinking about, I hoped they could learn that the further they got into the relationship but they kept getting stuck in the same behavior. It took a long time to change that behavior but I also think that it has to do a lot with their own struggles and what they think about themselves. I really loved the little family that they created and the moments they spent together. They can help each other heal and grow, they can do that together.

There were a few things that the characters said that stayed unanswered, is there a story behind those thinks or not, for example

- Why does Jules feel like he's too much? Did somebody say that to him or does HE think that of himself. I feel like they could have talked about that.

- Why does Sterling not like it that Jules calls him by his first name but is okay with it if another person do that?

"We can be grief buddies." - Jamie

I'm glad that Jules has someone that he can talk to about someone that he lost and that they can share that grief together.

I'm glad that all the team members have Gab in their lives. She really is their best friend, mother figure and boss. Even if the team members didn't grow up in a loving household there is always Gab that they can talk to!

"Without bull riding, I don't know who the h*ll I am. There is no Colt Bishop without the rodeo." - Colt

"I hate how long It's been since I've been able to relax into anybody's touch. I crave it, and I think that's why I'm always week around Colt. I'm touch starved, and unable to deny him." - William
  
To be completely honest, I had a hard time getting through the book, the beginning was interesting and I understand that with a forbidden romance the characters need time to be okay with their feelings for the other, so I understand that it took longer for them to start dating. That is not a problem but the thing is, I felt like this book and the characters were missing something, There was a lot of inner monologue and not enough conversations for me. I didn't feel connected to the characters or the story.

I liked the side characters especially Colt's mother and William's father but I wished the main characters could talk to each other, that doesn't have to be in a romantic way. William had a hard time with the age gap and the fact that he is his best friend's son. It took him a longer time to do something for himself for once, he is a doctor so he is always thinking about other people but he was always thinking about what this "relationship" would mean for HIS career and not what it could mean for Colt's career. I kept waiting for something to happen and even after 70% William still didn't know if this was a good idea and at that point I was really like: "it's a yes or no but please make a choice! " Colt kept pushing William the whole book and at some point it got annoying, if you've tried so many times and someone else still can't make a decision, just stop and have some self respect. 3 stars is me being generous.

William knew Colt since Colt was born, William moved away so he wasn't there in Colts whole life. They had a one night stand when Colt was 21 and William 40+, this book takes place when Colt was 23 and William 40+. Best friend's son, Colt = Bull rider, William = Doctor 

I read this book as an ARC. Thank you for the opportunity.

"Teddy will show me exactly what he wants, and all I have to do is give it to him. It's a relief. " - Kipp

"Want to know a secret that's not really a secret? I like taking care of you." - Teddy

Kinda-kinky friends-with-benefits pseudo-marriage

I love how Alex (Tink) knows everyone's drama and that he is a really good friend to everyone, Alex helps everyone with their relationship and he even coupled some characters with each other, I'm glad he has his own grizzly bear (Rowan) and ginger bear (Finn) that gave him all the love he deserves!

“Teddy Bear, you’re always looking after others. You’re like a quiet sentinel, watching, checking in, making sure we’re all okay. You do that caretaker thing of yours, but you never let anyone look after you.” - Alex

Teddy and Kipp were drunk and got married and now they live together and are doing the whole "husbands with benefits" thing, they are always with each other, Teddy met Kipp's parents and brother. He stood up for Kipp but also let him do that for himself. They do all the things husbands do except for telling each other that they love each other because they weren't in love the moment they got married. But to be honest who wouldn't fall in love with someone like Kipp or Teddy! Their personalities fit together so well, they both have their past but they help each other heal those parts that still hurt.

"We did everything backwards." - Kipp

Teddy loves to take care of someone in a loving and protective way, he loves make people feel good but he also does it the right amount, they discuss everything together. Kipp never felt like Teddy was doing too much, he loves the feeling of someone taking care of him, they trust each other so much. And of course there are moments with Niko (Adonis) , Kipp's best friend, Kipp totally got adopted into Niko his family. They are so incredibly sweet and I'm glad that a lot of characters have Niko's family in their life.

"I didn't know a person could be in a marriage, and still get their heart broken."

This book is about Avery and Gabriel, part 1 is in Avery's pov. In part 1 you can read about her relationship and marriage with Gabriel, Gabriel struggles with addiction and at first it wasn't really a problem but later on it kept getting bigger and bigger, Avery sees her husband change from someone who loves his job (Firefighter) to someone who comes home completely drained and unhappy.

Avery also goes to therapy (on page) and along the way you learn more about their marriage. Part 2 of this book is in Gabriel's pov and then you follow his look on life.

This is a beautiful and painful book, it deals with a lot of heavy topics, so I recommend reading the trigger warning if you feel like you need them. This book focused more on character dealing with their own problems while being in a marriage, losing themselves, each other and finding themselves and each other again. The romance isn't the main focus and I really appreciate that.

I really loved the writing and the quotes, Avery is a therapist and the writer put a lot of time in including facts about mental health and the subjects Avery and her therapist talked about. I received an ARC of this book for a honest review. Thank you for the opportunity. 

"I've never had someone act so protective over me before, like they're genuinely concerned about my feelings." - Cas

"When it comes to this man, to Cas? No one else gets to touch him. They don't get the chance to hurt him. - Jason

I love this serie so much, I will be so sad when it's over, I've read the 1st, 2nd, 3th and 4th book this month. It's safe to say that this is a 5 star serie for me! The vibes at work are so good and the people that work there are really a family.

Jason was very shy at the beginning and I loved reading how that changed! That he found a safe place with Cas and that Cas finally has someone that wants all of him and looks further than his body. They were exactly what the other needed at the right time. And I love how Brad is part of Jason's life and how Cas also welcomed him as part of his. And the little things they did for each other were very heartwarming, they really listen to each other. They chose each other even while  the future was unknown. 


In my opinion: the demi representation could have been better, it felt a bit fast and would have loved more conversations about that and a slower connection on that subject. I've read a few book demi with representation that felt more realistic. I understand that this is different for everyone and that everyone does thing and have feeling in their own time.

I gave this book 4 stars because I love it more than Dix and there was more in Dix book that I wanted different and in this book the only thing I wanted different is the demi representation. 

“I see a regular guy who happens to have an incredible job.” - Rowan

"I like who I am when I’m with you." - Zachary

Zachary is trying to get out of a long toxic abusive relationship with Eva, he is struggling with that a lot because he keeps thinking about a time when the relationship was better, his fame went to her head. Zachary doesn't want to hurt anyone and she takes advantage of that. He is to sweet and too vulnerable, he is learning to stand up for himself, he really deserves so much better.

Rowan treats him like a person and not a celebrity. Rowan has her own past too, that she hasn't worked on, she feels guilty for something that happened 10 years ago that wasn't her fault. It was 10 years ago and she has been treating herself like she doesn't deserve to be happy all that time.

"Sometimes grief isn’t about the past, but the future. What might’ve been."

This book is about self growth, healing, breaking habits and forming healthier ones. There is romance but that isn't the main goal, It's character driven, this is really about two broken people, that try to help each other while finding themselves and getting the help they need, therapy (the therapy is on page). Sometimes they hurt/trigger each other because they don't know how to deal with themselves, this a new way of living for them and it is scary. But they do it in their own time. This book was so beautiful, with real emotions, I think a lot of people can see themselves in the characters in some way. I appreciate books where the focus is more on person growth then the romantic relationship, I can learn a lot about them, it makes me think about it.

This is the first book I read by Emma Scott and I'm definitely going to read more of her in the future! I read an ARC copy of this book. Thank you for the opportunity.

"You are so damn perfect, Dallas. I don't know how it's possible that you don't know that." - Colt

"I never thought I could have anything like this, I never let myself even dream of it." - Dallas

Dallas has a lot of moments were he was panicking and Colt told him "Just breath, baby." Colt was a stable person and that is exactly what Dallas needed and deserves. Colt showed him that he is loved and that there is nothing wrong with him. If you have read the "Kensley Panthers serie" then you already know about Dallas past and the "scandal" with him and Coach Leighton (book 4 in the Kensley serie) but if you don't know, that s totally fine because in this book you get the story in Dallas his own words. I really appreciate that we got both their stories in their words in both books.

Colt has always been Chloe's protective brother so it is no surprise that he wanted to get to know Dallas for her and Christian. I love the meaningful conversations between Colt and Dallas. This book felt very hopeful and especially for people that grew up the way Dallas did.

I love the small moments with the characters from the Kensley Serie and how the series tie together. I'm very excited to read about Benny, he is a great friend!

"What happened to Coach Leighton was wrong, but what happened to you was also wrong." - Benny

I read an ARC copy of this book, thank you so much for the opportunity.

"Beau has always been my constant, the person who can tell when I’m drowning on dry land. The one to know what I need before I need it." - Marley 

" I love this woman so much, every inch of her. Every piece of her soul is so woven into mine that I don’t think I can live without her for another moment." - Beau

This book was so beautiful, this is the second book in the Ivy Ridge serie. In the first book you follow Andrew and Josie,  this second book starts with their (Andrew & Josie) wedding. And after their wedding, Beau and Marley have a one night stand.

Marley and Beau have been best friends for a big past of their lives, if you already read the first book, you know that they secretly like each other A LOT and that their families and friends are trying to get them to start dating.