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missmeek1's review
4.0
The book was fantastic. Unfortunately, I once again fall for a book that has no ending. Freaking cliffhanger and no book 2 in site. This is the 2nd time this has happened to me. I hate everything!
devansbooklife's review
3.0
Okay so I have mixed feelings about this book. My first complaint is about the guys. They both are kind of scum bags. Ryder had more motive to be doing the illegal activities he was, but Brock just seemed to need a therapist. Then there is the whole world changing insta love thing after like two encounters. I dunno. There's definitely some steam thrown in the pages, like fan your face while you read steam. But overall I was skimming and really not that interested. But the ending! Wowza! Now I want to endure book 2.
caseroo7's review
5.0
Review originally posted at Ramblings From This Chick
OMG I don't even know where to start with this review. Amber to Ashes by Gail McHugh is one of those books that you cannot stop reading or thinking about after you have finished. As I have been sitting here trying to figure out what to say, I can't help but ask myself what I just read! I had read Collide and Pulse by McHugh, but I have to say that besides the love triangle, Amber to Ashes was completely different! This book is not like Gavin and Emily's story at all, but was a completely different experience. I will warn potential readers that this is the first book and it does end with a cliffhanger, and when I say cliffhanger I mean EPIC! I have no idea when the next book will be out, but I need it yesterday.
Amber Moretti hasn't had an easy life, and she has been trying to move forward the best that she can. When she trips and stumbles in the dining hall at her new university, she ends up meeting two guys that will forever change her life. Ryder Ashcroft is the one that initially catches her, but they get off on the wrong foot. Ryder is charming and blunt and Amber is instantly attracted to his tattooed and pierced bad boy appearance. But Ryder's All-American captain of the football team best friend, Brock Cunningham, is the one that is able to smooth-talk his way into dating Amber. But the more she gets to know about each of them, the more she finds herself falling for both of them and knowing that the road they are headed down is bound for heartbreak and destruction.
One thing that was clear to me right away with this book is that readers will definitely pick a side when it comes to who Amber should be with. Yes that typically happens in books with love triangles, but I don't know that I have ever felt as strongly as I did here about which team I was on. Right from the start I had made up my mind about who I thought would be the one she should be with, and the more the story progressed the more that solidified. While I liked both Brock and Ryder for different reasons, I felt like only one of them was the perfect match for Amber. I just felt like she had more chemistry and connection with one of these guys than the other, and no matter what happened that didn't seem to change. I don't want to say who I believe is the right one, because I don't want to influence anyone that hasn't read the book. But to me one of the guys just seemed to be a little off, and I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was that made him seem sketchy to me. While the other one seemed to truly care about her despite everything that happened and how things were. He seemed to be a much better guy, and I really liked him. I will say that I did see how Amber could be torn, and each of these guys could have been good with her. But I still believe that there is an obvious right choice here.
The one thing that I didn't quite understand in this book is how Amber could really have any kind of relationship with these guys knowing her past. I guess she was able to get over everything that had happened, but it just seemed as though what she learned about Ryder and Brock would have hit a little too close to home. I do think at that point she did start to have feelings for these guys, but it really seemed as though it was almost no big deal to her and that just didn't ring true for me. I will say that I absolutely could not put this book down though, and I was captivated right from the start. I knew something was going to happen after the prologue and I found myself devouring this one to see what would happen. I didn't know about the cliffhanger before starting, so suffice it to say that beyond the epic cliffhanger I was already shocked. But even if I had known to expect something, it never would have been that ending. I need the next book, and I need to know what happens next! I really hope that Amber winds up with the right guy for her, and I hope that after everything that all these characters have been through that they somehow find a way to end up in a better place than where they have been with their pasts. I definitely would recommend this book if you are looking for something different and I really think that this is one of those books that will leave you as anxious for the next one as I am. I just hope that we don't have to wait too long to get more of these characters. I can't wait to read more from Gail McHugh starting with the next book in the Torn Hearts series.
**ARC Provided by Publisher**
OMG I don't even know where to start with this review. Amber to Ashes by Gail McHugh is one of those books that you cannot stop reading or thinking about after you have finished. As I have been sitting here trying to figure out what to say, I can't help but ask myself what I just read! I had read Collide and Pulse by McHugh, but I have to say that besides the love triangle, Amber to Ashes was completely different! This book is not like Gavin and Emily's story at all, but was a completely different experience. I will warn potential readers that this is the first book and it does end with a cliffhanger, and when I say cliffhanger I mean EPIC! I have no idea when the next book will be out, but I need it yesterday.
Amber Moretti hasn't had an easy life, and she has been trying to move forward the best that she can. When she trips and stumbles in the dining hall at her new university, she ends up meeting two guys that will forever change her life. Ryder Ashcroft is the one that initially catches her, but they get off on the wrong foot. Ryder is charming and blunt and Amber is instantly attracted to his tattooed and pierced bad boy appearance. But Ryder's All-American captain of the football team best friend, Brock Cunningham, is the one that is able to smooth-talk his way into dating Amber. But the more she gets to know about each of them, the more she finds herself falling for both of them and knowing that the road they are headed down is bound for heartbreak and destruction.
One thing that was clear to me right away with this book is that readers will definitely pick a side when it comes to who Amber should be with. Yes that typically happens in books with love triangles, but I don't know that I have ever felt as strongly as I did here about which team I was on. Right from the start I had made up my mind about who I thought would be the one she should be with, and the more the story progressed the more that solidified. While I liked both Brock and Ryder for different reasons, I felt like only one of them was the perfect match for Amber. I just felt like she had more chemistry and connection with one of these guys than the other, and no matter what happened that didn't seem to change. I don't want to say who I believe is the right one, because I don't want to influence anyone that hasn't read the book. But to me one of the guys just seemed to be a little off, and I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was that made him seem sketchy to me. While the other one seemed to truly care about her despite everything that happened and how things were. He seemed to be a much better guy, and I really liked him. I will say that I did see how Amber could be torn, and each of these guys could have been good with her. But I still believe that there is an obvious right choice here.
The one thing that I didn't quite understand in this book is how Amber could really have any kind of relationship with these guys knowing her past. I guess she was able to get over everything that had happened, but it just seemed as though what she learned about Ryder and Brock would have hit a little too close to home. I do think at that point she did start to have feelings for these guys, but it really seemed as though it was almost no big deal to her and that just didn't ring true for me. I will say that I absolutely could not put this book down though, and I was captivated right from the start. I knew something was going to happen after the prologue and I found myself devouring this one to see what would happen. I didn't know about the cliffhanger before starting, so suffice it to say that beyond the epic cliffhanger I was already shocked. But even if I had known to expect something, it never would have been that ending. I need the next book, and I need to know what happens next! I really hope that Amber winds up with the right guy for her, and I hope that after everything that all these characters have been through that they somehow find a way to end up in a better place than where they have been with their pasts. I definitely would recommend this book if you are looking for something different and I really think that this is one of those books that will leave you as anxious for the next one as I am. I just hope that we don't have to wait too long to get more of these characters. I can't wait to read more from Gail McHugh starting with the next book in the Torn Hearts series.
**ARC Provided by Publisher**
rodeorocks13's review
5.0
I read and am reviewing an arc of this book.
Most of amber to ashes I was thinking I like this book, it has a good story but it didn't totally grab me I'd say it's about 4 stars. I wanted things to go more in depth in the story, really grab me. But then I got to the 2/3rds mark and I was in total shock. This book grabbed me so deep and picked up the intensity level up to 10 out of 5. I couldn't put it down at that point, wanting more and more until I reached an extremely unexpected end I would never have seen coming when I started this book. And ends with the type of ending that will dig its claws into you making sure to never be forgotten. Amber to ashes is a can't be missed book for anyone looking for something new and exciting in this genre.
Most of amber to ashes I was thinking I like this book, it has a good story but it didn't totally grab me I'd say it's about 4 stars. I wanted things to go more in depth in the story, really grab me. But then I got to the 2/3rds mark and I was in total shock. This book grabbed me so deep and picked up the intensity level up to 10 out of 5. I couldn't put it down at that point, wanting more and more until I reached an extremely unexpected end I would never have seen coming when I started this book. And ends with the type of ending that will dig its claws into you making sure to never be forgotten. Amber to ashes is a can't be missed book for anyone looking for something new and exciting in this genre.
mckayla_haesch's review against another edition
dark
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
3.0
I say this with all the respect in the world - this is one of the most unique, twisted, turbulent, “what did I get myself into”, book I have ever read. This is my first read that has a true love triangle, and I can’t say that I’m disappointed. All three of our main characters have experienced different levels of trauma, and from their brokenness comes their unity. Amber has feelings for Brock and Ryder, and the two men have feelings for Amber. This story follows the choices all three of them have to make, as they battle for a future. The angst in this book took me out for weeks at a time, and I really had to dig deep to finish it. It’s harsh and it’s dark and the love is a front for intense infatuation. It’s very wordy and too descriptive when it came to dialogue and inner thoughts/feelings. There was no “proper” timeline for how quickly the three fell; and they fall hard. There is a cliffhanger ending and unfortunately a sequel will not be happening, so it is up to the reader to determine what happens when the pages stop turning and the words stop flowing. Don’t read this to read, read this to experience a rollercoaster that wants to throw you off. It’s your choice whether you want to stay on it or not.
courtneydumont's review
2.0
This one just wasn't for me. I wasn't a huge fan of any of the characters and the story was far fetched. I did really want to know where the story would go so that took it from a 1 to a 2 star read for me. I want to know what ends up happening but I'm not sure I can continue on with the next book.
booksncurls's review
3.0
this book was an interesting read. I loved the story line. the only issue I had was there were times when someone was driving the car and suddenly Amber was sitting in the guy's lap. like when did the car stop?!!
other than that I look forward to reading the sequel to see who she chooses!
other than that I look forward to reading the sequel to see who she chooses!
aimxxgarcia's review
3.0
I really wanted to love this book the way I loved Collide and Pulse. But I motherfucking can't.
I think this has a shallow plot flourished with poetically-smartassy dialogues. Although I gave 2 stars for those lines. And 1 star for Ryder because I can't not acknowledge his whole point in the story. Raw and pure. I'd chose him.
Block was too ruggedly polished for me. Manipulative at some point.
And I don't even like Amber. I tried to understand her but she's just too stubborn and too limited (?). That's probably because I don't agree most of how she handles things.
I think this has a shallow plot flourished with poetically-smartassy dialogues. Although I gave 2 stars for those lines. And 1 star for Ryder because I can't not acknowledge his whole point in the story. Raw and pure. I'd chose him.
Block was too ruggedly polished for me. Manipulative at some point.
And I don't even like Amber. I tried to understand her but she's just too stubborn and too limited (?). That's probably because I don't agree most of how she handles things.
cherryredsreads's review
5.0
I was warned before reading this book that I would be addicted to this story.
Yep so right! I am still having withdrawals since reading this book. Talk about an emotional rollercoaster. I think I ate about 10 packs of Twizzlers as I devoured this story. I will now always associate Twizzlers with this book.
Amber is a woman who has a hard life and when she literally stumbles into the arms of Ryder and Brock, her world is never the same. I liked how Gail McHugh immediately captured my mind into the dark and tortured past Amber has had.
Ryder is a man who always gets what he wants with just his looks alone. He knows how to get without being emotionally attached but when he meets Amber, he can't believe he is starting to have feelings he can't control. I really fell hard for Ryder once I started to find out that he is more than what he appears to be. He is not what he appears to be and Amber soon finds out that there is way more to him then he leads on. I seriously loved Ryder with his stubborn ass and there were times I wanted to smack him just like Amber did in the book!
Awe Brock! He is not your typical jock! He is way more twisted and tormented as Amber and Ryder. He has a past that is dark like Amber's and he instantly syncs into their connection of it. Amber learns to open up with Brock but she is always second guessing whether he really is who he says he is.
Lies, secrets, passion, thoughts of what if become reality for these three.
Chapter 18:
That is all I am going to say! And yes I went back and read it like 3x times cause I like to torture myself that way!
The raw emotions of these characters came to life as I read. It was beautifully written. You will feel, you will cry, you will ache, you will just be a mess! Yes you read right! This is why I love Gail McHugh books. It's pure raw emotional mind fuck! I love it!
So the question is can you love 2 men at the same time? I say yes!
Now asking me to pick Team Ryder or Team Brock?
I can't decide!! I lean towards team Ryder more but Brock has a way to suck me in too!
I really enjoyed this book & can't wait for what happens next!
Bring it on Gail McHugh!
**ARC kindly provided by Publisher in exchange for an honest review**
5 Cherries Popped
