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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt
I wasn't sure how to rate this one. There are parts of the story I really enjoyed, or hated but FELT. But there are aspects that I really didn't like. For example, so I'll just stop the series here.
Spoiler
daddy kink is just NOT my jam.. so even minor aspects of it (like in this story) are just... blah. Not for me! I tried to look past it. But even if I just ignore those parts, I just didn't really like their connection or relationship. Again, probably a case of me not the book. So.. to split the difference, I'll leave it as 3 stars. And I suspect book 3 will be way too far past the line for me...
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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:
Yes
Where does one start with Bodhi and Jules? I blew through the book, cried nearly the entire way through – even messaging Ashley at one point to let her know that I was a mess over her beautiful men. Bodhi’s story was so well-written, so raw and so devastating that you understand why he feels like the world would be a better place without him. His incredibly low opinion of himself makes you want to protect him from everything and anyone that has ever hurt him or may hurt him in the future. His family, older brother and father in particular, is awful and his brother made me want to choose actual violence.
Then there’s Jules. He’s not without flaws, but he is everything that Bodhi needs. He stays. That is the most important thing I can say about Jules. He. Stays. Nobody has ever stayed for Bodhi. They’ve come back, used him, left him, hurt him and broken him, but they have never stayed. They’ve never tried to make him feel like they see him and not his body or the fake face he wears to protect himself, but Jules did. He continued to show up for Bodhi no matter how many times he pushed him away. If you can handle the triggers within the book, I highly recommend reading Bodhi and Jules’ story. Their age-gap, ex-best friend’s father/son’s ex best friend, hurt/comfort story is so beautiful, and I am honoured to have had the chance to read it ahead of release.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and, as always, my review is honest and unpaid. The purchase of the paperback was my own and done voluntarily.
[b:Storm Clouds and Devastation|123009006|Storm Clouds and Devastation (Hidden Affairs, #2)|Ashley James|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1680981165l/123009006._SY75_.jpg|144293342]
[a:Ashley James|22092409|Ashley James|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1640557225p2/22092409.jpg]
Merged review:
Where does one start with Bodhi and Jules? I blew through the book, cried nearly the entire way through – even messaging Ashley at one point to let her know that I was a mess over her beautiful men. Bodhi’s story was so well-written, so raw and so devastating that you understand why he feels like the world would be a better place without him. His incredibly low opinion of himself makes you want to protect him from everything and anyone that has ever hurt him or may hurt him in the future. His family, older brother and father in particular, is awful and his brother made me want to choose actual violence.
Then there’s Jules. He’s not without flaws, but he is everything that Bodhi needs. He stays. That is the most important thing I can say about Jules. He. Stays. Nobody has ever stayed for Bodhi. They’ve come back, used him, left him, hurt him and broken him, but they have never stayed. They’ve never tried to make him feel like they see him and not his body or the fake face he wears to protect himself, but Jules did. He continued to show up for Bodhi no matter how many times he pushed him away. If you can handle the triggers within the book, I highly recommend reading Bodhi and Jules’ story. Their age-gap, ex-best friend’s father/son’s ex best friend, hurt/comfort story is so beautiful, and I am honoured to have had the chance to read it ahead of release.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and, as always, my review is honest and unpaid. The purchase of the paperback was my own and done voluntarily.
[b:Storm Clouds and Devastation|123009006|Storm Clouds and Devastation (Hidden Affairs, #2)|Ashley James|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1680981165l/123009006._SY75_.jpg|144293342]
[a:Ashley James|22092409|Ashley James|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1640557225p2/22092409.jpg]
Then there’s Jules. He’s not without flaws, but he is everything that Bodhi needs. He stays. That is the most important thing I can say about Jules. He. Stays. Nobody has ever stayed for Bodhi. They’ve come back, used him, left him, hurt him and broken him, but they have never stayed. They’ve never tried to make him feel like they see him and not his body or the fake face he wears to protect himself, but Jules did. He continued to show up for Bodhi no matter how many times he pushed him away. If you can handle the triggers within the book, I highly recommend reading Bodhi and Jules’ story. Their age-gap, ex-best friend’s father/son’s ex best friend, hurt/comfort story is so beautiful, and I am honoured to have had the chance to read it ahead of release.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and, as always, my review is honest and unpaid. The purchase of the paperback was my own and done voluntarily.
[b:Storm Clouds and Devastation|123009006|Storm Clouds and Devastation (Hidden Affairs, #2)|Ashley James|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1680981165l/123009006._SY75_.jpg|144293342]
[a:Ashley James|22092409|Ashley James|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1640557225p2/22092409.jpg]
Merged review:
Where does one start with Bodhi and Jules? I blew through the book, cried nearly the entire way through – even messaging Ashley at one point to let her know that I was a mess over her beautiful men. Bodhi’s story was so well-written, so raw and so devastating that you understand why he feels like the world would be a better place without him. His incredibly low opinion of himself makes you want to protect him from everything and anyone that has ever hurt him or may hurt him in the future. His family, older brother and father in particular, is awful and his brother made me want to choose actual violence.
Then there’s Jules. He’s not without flaws, but he is everything that Bodhi needs. He stays. That is the most important thing I can say about Jules. He. Stays. Nobody has ever stayed for Bodhi. They’ve come back, used him, left him, hurt him and broken him, but they have never stayed. They’ve never tried to make him feel like they see him and not his body or the fake face he wears to protect himself, but Jules did. He continued to show up for Bodhi no matter how many times he pushed him away. If you can handle the triggers within the book, I highly recommend reading Bodhi and Jules’ story. Their age-gap, ex-best friend’s father/son’s ex best friend, hurt/comfort story is so beautiful, and I am honoured to have had the chance to read it ahead of release.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and, as always, my review is honest and unpaid. The purchase of the paperback was my own and done voluntarily.
[b:Storm Clouds and Devastation|123009006|Storm Clouds and Devastation (Hidden Affairs, #2)|Ashley James|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1680981165l/123009006._SY75_.jpg|144293342]
[a:Ashley James|22092409|Ashley James|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1640557225p2/22092409.jpg]
Wow
I’m not sure the blurb adequately prepares the reader for what they are about to dive into. I read this in one sitting. Should I have done that? Probably not. Could I have stopped myself. NO. I have said this before in reviews, especially in review for Ashley James, it’s the mark of an excellent author when they can make the reader feel what the character is feeling. And it’s not often that I feel those emotions, and there’s not many authors I have found who can do this. But Ashley can. I felt (nearly) every emotion Bohdi felt. I felt Jules’ desperation, heartbreak and rage. My husband asked me multiple times why I was reading a book if it was ‘rough’, but I had to see Bohdi and Jules get their happy ending, but we had to crawl through the trenches first to get there. I keep zoning out while I’m writing this review, and I know this book is going to stay with me for a long time. ABSOLUTELY MIND THE TRIGGER WARNINGS IF YOU HAVE ANY!!!!!! 5 hard won and tear filled stars!
One thing I will point out that made me furious that is spoilery, turn back now if you haven’t read yet
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Ryan absolutely DID NOT deserve any sort of redemption arc. He was a shitty friend, a shitty son, and a shitty person. He knew about the brother and the family the whole time and USED THAT AGAINST BOHDI! Not to mention everything else! I wanted to rage at that point oh my lawd.
I’m not sure the blurb adequately prepares the reader for what they are about to dive into. I read this in one sitting. Should I have done that? Probably not. Could I have stopped myself. NO. I have said this before in reviews, especially in review for Ashley James, it’s the mark of an excellent author when they can make the reader feel what the character is feeling. And it’s not often that I feel those emotions, and there’s not many authors I have found who can do this. But Ashley can. I felt (nearly) every emotion Bohdi felt. I felt Jules’ desperation, heartbreak and rage. My husband asked me multiple times why I was reading a book if it was ‘rough’, but I had to see Bohdi and Jules get their happy ending, but we had to crawl through the trenches first to get there. I keep zoning out while I’m writing this review, and I know this book is going to stay with me for a long time. ABSOLUTELY MIND THE TRIGGER WARNINGS IF YOU HAVE ANY!!!!!! 5 hard won and tear filled stars!
One thing I will point out that made me furious that is spoilery, turn back now if you haven’t read yet
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Ryan absolutely DID NOT deserve any sort of redemption arc. He was a shitty friend, a shitty son, and a shitty person. He knew about the brother and the family the whole time and USED THAT AGAINST BOHDI! Not to mention everything else! I wanted to rage at that point oh my lawd.
Nesse eu posso ser um tanto mais generoso, aborda temas que posso me identificar bem mais, oq torna a história um tanto mais pessoal devido a familiaridade.
Pesado em diversos aspectos é difícil dizer gostar mas sim admirar a evolução do personagem na sua jornada de recuperação e superação.
Pesado em diversos aspectos é difícil dizer gostar mas sim admirar a evolução do personagem na sua jornada de recuperação e superação.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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:
Yes
This book is…darker than you’d expect. I knew this series had some heaviness to it just because of how Ashley James writes and how Brazen Affairs went. But this… surprised me. If you have any (literally any) triggers, please check the trigger warnings.
This book is about sweet, sweet Bodhi and our fierce Jules. Jules is the father of Bodhi’s ex-bff Ryan. They reconnect after Jules hired “Jamie” as an escort without knowing it would be Bodhi. Bodhi is dealing with some heavy stuff and tends to shut in on himself. Everyone tries to be there for him but depression is a hoe.
There are some super intense themes but Ashley writes so well that, while it hurts, the support the reader feels for Bodhi never wavers. Do I think they could have made better choices? Absolutely. But hindsight will always be 20/20. I loved this book so much and I wish I could just hug him
This book is about sweet, sweet Bodhi and our fierce Jules. Jules is the father of Bodhi’s ex-bff Ryan. They reconnect after Jules hired “Jamie” as an escort without knowing it would be Bodhi. Bodhi is dealing with some heavy stuff and tends to shut in on himself. Everyone tries to be there for him but depression is a hoe.
There are some super intense themes but Ashley writes so well that, while it hurts, the support the reader feels for Bodhi never wavers. Do I think they could have made better choices? Absolutely. But hindsight will always be 20/20. I loved this book so much and I wish I could just hug him