Add Love And Mix by Sean Michael


Add Love And Mix by Sean Michael
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (197 pgs)
Other: M/M, Anal Play
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Firefighter Jason “Jase” Weller and EMT Scott Bronson are living the perfect life. They work together in jobs they love, they live together, and in their downtime, they still can’t get enough of each other. It’s been six amazing years. Then on Christmas Eve, Jase’s former lover Elsa shows up with a six-year-old girl in tow. The strung-out junkie claims Kerry is Jase’s daughter and it’s his turn to care for her, and then she walks out.

Shocked at both the fact that Elsa is now a junkie and that he has a daughter he never knew about, Jase nonetheless steps up to the plate as her father and Scott offers his full support. Having an instant family comes with plenty of challenges, and the two men work to deal with sweeping changes in their lives and to make things right for Kerry.
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It’s not going to be easy, and their new circumstances test them and their relationship like nothing ever has. They’ll need all the love they have for each other, and the love they discover for their daughter, to keep from breaking apart.

Jase is a fireman, and his lover Scott is a paramedic. They’ve been together for six years and are both blissfully happy. On Christmas Eve though, Jase’s ex-lover finds him and dumps a small girl on him, claiming the child is his daughter. Can Jase and Scott work things out while juggling the needs of a little girl as well?

I am a huge fan of Sean Michael’s but haven’t read many of his straight M/M contemporary romances. This one was wonderful and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Jase and Scott are a long term, solidly committed couple who have their entire world turned upside-down when Jase’s young daughter is brought into their lives. I found the whole story really well paced – time moves forward, but not so fast that the reader isn’t exposed to all the many, massive changes in both Jase and Scott’s lives. And while everything is not glittering rainbows of happiness, I did love how the entire story had a positive focus and spin on everything.

I quickly became very emotionally attached to Scott, Jase and Kerry. I wanted to see how they worked through all the changes and problems that arose. I loved seeing them trying to reconfigure their family and relationships both together and as couples – Jase with Kerry, Kerry and Scott etc – and this lent the whole story a feeling on a warm, fuzzy and family-focused story. While there is plenty of very steamy sex between Jase and Scott, I truly felt like the main focus of the story was the three of them building and forging a strong family dynamic.

Readers who enjoy these kinds of character based stories with plenty of ups and downs should love this book as much as I did. I liked how the author didn’t shy from pointing out all the pitfalls, problems and concerns both Jase and Scott found in this new road of theirs, but at no point did I feel like these issues were over-dramatized or like there was overwrought emo put in for no reason. This read like a very realistic, interesting and enjoyable story and one I could easily see occurring in real life.

A brilliant, warm hearted story and one I greatly enjoyed and can recommend.

In the Shadow of Lakecrest by Elizabeth Blackwell


In the Shadow of Lakecrest by Elizabeth Blackwell
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (284 pgs)
Rated: 4 stars
Reviewed by Snapdragon

The year is 1928. Kate Moore is looking for a way out of the poverty and violence of her childhood. When a chance encounter on a transatlantic ocean liner brings her face-to-face with the handsome heir to a Chicago fortune, she thinks she may have found her escape—as long as she can keep her past concealed.
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After exchanging wedding vows, Kate quickly discovers that something isn’t quite right with her husband—or her new family. As Mrs. Matthew Lemont, she must contend with her husband’s disturbing past, his domineering mother, and his overly close sister. Isolated at Lakecrest, the sprawling, secluded Lemont estate, she searches desperately for clues to Matthew’s terrors, which she suspects stem from the mysterious disappearance of his aunt years before. As Kate stumbles deeper into a maze of family secrets, she begins to question everyone’s sanity—especially her own. But just how far will she go to break free of this family’s twisted past?

Katherine Moore makes no bones about letting us know what she is after: a better life than she had. She’s quick to take on whatever role (and name) will get her there. She’s frank and genuine though, and readers will find they understand her initial choices. In those first couple chapters, she’s someone who seizes the day, takes a risk…

Yet, for all she’s decisive and headstrong, she suddenly gives in and lands at ‘Lakecrest.’ Its one of those moves where we spectators are shouting ‘don’t do that!’ Katherine/Katie seizes us too you see, right from the start.

Author Elizabeth Blackwell has created incredible, dynamic characters, and will hold readers enthralled. Even those of us who do not like our heroine’s choices…even though this story does not seem to lead us (or her) to a better life. America in the 40s- fashion, culture, and news of the day all become backdrop for Katie’s story.

Impeccably written, In the Shadow of Lakecrest is unpredictable and not entirely pleasant. It is worth reading but its story is…disconcerting. Do put this on your reading list, but don’t look for it to lift your spirits.

His Holiday Miracle by Candace Sams


His Holiday Miracle by Candace Sams
Publisher: Wild Rose Press
Genre: Action/Adventure, Holiday, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Short Story (70 pgs)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Aloe

Rorn T’Kar, Commander of Earth ship Verdon, returns home after battling Earth’s enemies for five long years. His one regret is that the woman he still loves, and who broke their engagement, was killed in battle.

Lyra Dench broke her engagement to the handsome Rorn so she could join the Infiltration Corps. Due to the secrecy of her mission she couldn’t tell Rorn why she left him almost at the altar.
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Five years later Rorn finds himself home again on Armistice Day. The allies have won, but he’s lost his heart. For him, homecoming is a bittersweet experience until the love of his life suddenly arrives back home, on his front lawn. Rorn makes a vow. Whatever it takes, he’s not letting her walk away again. He’s got the second chance he’d hoped for; he’s got his holiday miracle.

Rorn has finally completed his tour of duty and has helped win the war and bring by peace. If only he could find peace for himself…

Imagine losing the one you love. First she blows him off in a public place and throws his ring back at him. Then she disappears. And then she dies. All he can do is go home, be with his family in their new home on a new planet and try to find an interesting and challenging job. He wants no women in his life. He’s done with that.

Wars are always bad things and even in the future with more planets settled and more aliens around, war is still bad. The warriors carry baggage in the form of memories of men lost and battles both won and lost. After all, the planet that Rorn’s parents lived on was destroyed and they just barely got away.

Both Rorn and Lyra saw and did things they don’t want to talk about or just plain can’t talk about. When you go undercover, you protect yourself by keeping secrets. Happily that is all behind them now.

Ms. Sams writes a tale that flows well, it’s short and sweet and it’s touching. It skims the war, talks about his family and his shock at finding Lyra alive. It’s an entertaining read (do you want to survive by eating lizards?) and it’s also sweet. The ending made me happy. It’s a good thing they talk to each other. This was a feel good story and I liked it.

A Mistletoe Christmas by Hebby Roman


A Mistletoe Christmas by Hebby Roman
Publisher: Estrella Publishing
Genre: Historical, Holiday
Length: Short Story (147 pgs)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

Ginny Brown is a poor seamstress’ daughter who worships the ground Chad MacKillian walks on… from afar. For as long as she can remember, she’s been in love with the prominent rancher. Befriended by Chad’s sister, Ginny overcomes her shyness when Chad finally notices her.

Unknown to Ginny or his sister, Chad is already engaged to the neighboring rancher’s daughter, but their engagement is a business arrangement. The more time Chad spends with Ginny, the more he questions his future plans. Torn between honoring his engagement and his growing feelings for Ginny, he avoids making a decision.

When Chad’s fiancée catches him kissing Ginny beneath the mistletoe, she breaks their engagement. Chad is relieved to be free, but Ginny is humiliated and has had enough of his inconstancy. Faced with losing Ginny and fighting off outlaws bent on revenge, Chad begs Ginny to marry him. But can Chad convince Ginny he really loves her and is eager for her to be his wife?

This story was a treat to read. The main love story was between Chad and Ginny but there was a minor or side romance between Chad’s sister, Lindsay, and his ranch partner, Bart. As small as it was, it’s relevant to the whole story and needs to be mentioned.
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I thought the story was nicely written and flowed smoothly. The plot was intriguing and the characters were well developed. My interest was captured immediately and never faltered throughout the story.

I prefer stories with an epilogue and when I find a story that includes a prologue as well, that’s a definite bonus. It makes me feel more connected to the characters. This story had both. Chad and Ginney’s story is a sweet romance. I was torn between Chad being honorable and a coward but that is what hooked me. Thankfully, at the end he was redeemed and they concluded with their happily ever after.

I enjoyed reading the developing “Best Friend Forever” friendship between Lindsay and Ginney. They were there for each other when they most needed each other’s support. They both were kind and generous women. Bart and Chad were quite lucky to be the recipients of their love.

There was a trace amount of suspense threaded throughout the story with Chad and Bart fighting off outlaws bent on revenge which ended in a clever twist.

One thing that stood out for me was this being the first story I’ve ever read that was set on a sheep ranch. I had no idea how hard and dirty of a job it was to shear their wool.

The title was slightly misleading. This isn’t a traditional holiday book. There was only one epic Christmas scene which changed the course of the story.

I only wish the story was stretched out to be longer because there were a few things I would have enjoyed reading more about. I can easily recommend this book for a quick, easy and entertaining read.

Trust by Sam Crescent


Trust by Sam Crescent
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (138 Pages)
Other: M/F, Light BDSM
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Tulip

From the first moment Knuckles saw Beth, he had to have her. He saw the demons in her eyes, and the fear. There was no one else that would ever have the patience for a woman like Beth. She was broken and it would take time for her to heal. Knuckles waited, being the constant in her life, waiting for the time that she’d be strong enough to give him a chance.

That time is now.
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Beth has loved Knuckles for a long time, drawn in by the patience he has shown her. She trusts him, and even though he has a reputation for being a dominant man, she’s not afraid.

Even with Daisy breathing down his neck, Knuckles knows he’s the best man to love and take care of Beth. She will be his old lady forever. Even as an outside source draws in a new threat, nothing can stop them from coming together. Knuckles will protect her with his very life.

I love this series! Sam Crescent’s Trojans MC remains a favorite series for me. I’m so glad she decided to revisit this edgy biker world. Trust is the sixth book and a great addition to the series. The author tells a fabulous story that I couldn’t put down until it was finished and yet still has me on the edge of my seat in anticipation of the next book.

Knuckles and Beth were an unlikely couple who had an immediate raw connection but because of the conflict it was a slow simmering romance. That’s how fires rage sometimes rage out of control like this one almost did. I absolutely adored Knuckles. Who knew that he could be so sweet and caring? Certainly not me since Daisy kept going on and on about his dark side and all. Well, I did see some light BDSM but nothing like I’d expected. He knew that he wanted to claim Beth from the first moment he saw her. He also realized that the time wasn’t right. So he became her friend; the one who didn’t treat her differently because what had happened to her. He was patient and waited for her to move past being date raped in college. Then there was some conflict from her overprotective brother Daisy who just happened to be his best friend. At times it seemed like everyone in the club family was warning Knuckles not to hurt Beth when that was the last thing on his mind. His frustrations were clear. It took Beth standing up to her brother to finally put an end to the tension.

I believe the Trojans MC is probably the most naughty series that Sam Crescent writes. It’s definitely different. It has a special kink and is populated by seriously alpha bikers. Hot sex scenes are this author’s niche and this book fulfilled all of those expectations. My favorite aspect, though, was the complex secondary plots. I’m happy to say that Sam Crescent puts a lot of things in motion with this book. I never suspected the super huge twist that was coming at the end of this book. I can’t wait for the next chapter.

I loved everything about this book. It had a fluid pace and engaging plot that made it easy to read without putting down. I was consumed by the story until the end. I loved Knuckles and Beth and catching up with the rest of the club family. I loved that the writing was edgy and sexually charged and that it had loads of drama unfolding. The future looks promising indeed for the Trojans MC Series.

Luxury Model Wife by Adele Downs


Luxury Model Wife by Adele Downs
Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Group
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (166 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Camellia

Antiques expert Steve Carlson must face the mistakes of his past to discover a treasure he never imagined: the heart of a vulnerable yet determined widow. TRUE RICHES Twenty-eight-year-old Victoria Van Orr just lost everything. With the death of her billionaire husband went his mature patience and warm encouragement…and the veneer of acceptance from everyone else. His friends and colleagues now ignore Victoria, and if her stepson succeeds she just might be forced back to the streets upon which she was raised. But money was never her goal. All she wants is love. Real love. Antiques expert Steve Carlson knows the value of everything. Pain and betrayal? Those he gave away—and now they’re coming back. His worst mistakes were all with one man: an old friend, the son of a father figure and now the stepchild of a beautiful young widow who wants Steve to help auction off the family estate. To help Victoria, Steve must face his past and become a better man. To find true love, he will discover her surprisingly pure heart, vulnerable yet determined. And beyond price.

Victoria Van Orr, Steve Carlson, and a wealth of minor characters come alive as Adele Downs weaves an intriguing story that has LOTS of surprises in it. Luxury Model Wife lures in, then takes the reader on a vicarious adventure that is breath-holding at times—filled with suspense, mystery, danger, humor, and love.

This happens because of a stretch, wellbeing, female viagra 100mg and physical issue or restorative response. The hallmark characteristic is the self-esteemed of such leaders. seanamic.com purchase viagra online The complete cleansing of levitra price seanamic.com your colon is highly necessitated as it is directly connected to your digestive system. 22. Capsule with blue lotus extract is another option.Blue lotus can viagra brand also be found in perfume and oils, though searching for these products might be difficult. Victoria’s back-story is a rags-to-riches one, while Steve’s story is one of a young man’s, not always good, decisions as he struggles to find a place where he fits. When their lives come together emotional sparks ignite, but big trouble also moves in to make life difficult.

The primary antagonist Jimmy Van Orr, a former good friend of Steve’s and Victoria’s stepson, is the catalyst for all kinds of havoc. His back-story, from his point-of-view, is a real eye-opener and his motivation for his actions astonish.

Other characters like Steve’s competition in the antiques business, a website builder, a nerdy rookie cop, an antiques restorer who practices psychometrics, and a very observant cockatiel that talks, plus another pair of antagonists (won’t tell who they are, that would be a spoiler) keep the story humming with action.

How a foundation for social good and a happy-ever-love for Victoria and Steve come out of all the chaos make a story with unusual happenings that captivate.

While Luxury Model Wife is not a long story, it is filled with emotional events, some that repel and others that sizzle with love. All of them grip the reader’s attention.

GOOD READING!

His Needs by Kris T. Bethke


His Needs by Kris T. Bethke
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: Contemporary, Holiday
Length: Short Story (113 pgs)
Other: M/M, Anal Play
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

When State Trooper Travis Kinslow is injured right before Thanksgiving, the only positive is that for once he won’t be working during the holidays. Since he has no family, Travis was absorbed into his best friend, Joe’s, and he considers them as good as his own. Everyone except Joe’s brother Noah. Travis has been in love with the younger man for much of his life, but he’s always kept his distance.

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When faced with opposition and a Christmas nothing like they imagined, will their hopes for the future be enough to carry them through?

Travis is a decorated state trooper, but after he gets hit by a speeding car during a routine traffic stop he wakes up in the hospital, in a lot of pain. Noah, the brother of his best friend, is a nurse in the hospital and the man Travis has yearned for, for almost twenty years now. Can Noah and Travis finally push past the brotherly relationship they have, now Travis truly needs Noah’s help?

I really enjoyed this story. It is a slow, well paced romantic story of two men who have known each other forever, and been as close as family, but when their circumstances change they can each finally admit to feeling far deeper about the other than they’ve ever admitted. I loved how the slower pace of the story really let me get a feel for the characters and enjoy their situations. This is all told from the first-person point of view by Travis, but I really loved how the author showed through small hints and gestures exactly how Noah was feeling too. I never once questioned the deep love was felt equally by both men, even though we never actually see anything from Noah’s perspective.

The build-up and chemistry in this story was phenomenal. I really loved how Noah and Travis came together, both growing and still learning and discovering things about themselves and each other. The sex – when it finally arrived – was smoking hot and deliciously written. I was already heavily invested in the relationship and both men by then so the graphic intimacy was just the icing on the cake for me. I really feel that this is such a wonderful, well paced and emotional, romantic story that readers of all heat levels should enjoy it. Only readers who strictly avoid M/M romances might not enjoy this story.

With a huge extended family, and plenty of interesting and vibrant characters and plot I found this to be a well rounded story. With a strong, heartwarming and family centered theme, this slow building romance between Travis and Noah was an excellent story and I one I expect to happily re-read a number of times in the future. An excellent story.

Asmodeus: The Legend of Margrét and the Dragon by Brooks Hansen


Asmodeus: The Legend of Margrét and the Dragon by Brooks Hansen
Publisher: Star Pine Books
Genre: Historical, Sci-Fi
Length: Full (272 pgs)
Rated: 4 stars
Review by Rose

…Here again, his natural figure crouched beside her in the dank darkness of the cave, watching her in silence as she slept, struggling with cravings which were new to him, both tender and violent, and which he could only really compare to hunger… (from ASMODEUS)

On the cusp of the Great War, an even more pitched battle is waged in the furthest corner of the Nordic highlands, the final chapter of a centuries-old rivalry, pitting a troubled bloodline of thieves, journeyman, and politicians against the last and greatest dragon of the hemisphere, Asmodeus.

Until now, the source of this antagonism has been a single gemstone, the fabled shamir, whose history traces to the coffers of King Solomon. The present clash, however, has been sparked by the emergence of an even more desirable, more defiant, and more powerful force than that.
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Inspired by the golden legend of St. Margaret, Brooks Hansen’s Asmodeus is a masterfully woven tapestry of history, myth, and fantasy, in the tradition of J.R.R.Tolkien, Bram Stoker, and C.S. Lewis. By turns a romance, an adventure, and the darkest imaginable Gothic, his tale is also, as seen through the eyes of the maiden Margrét, an unflinching exploration of our divided nature — what makes us beasts, what makes us human, and what makes us divine.

Mr. Hansen offers a retelling of the legend of St. Margaret of Antioch. In his version, we get “the other side of the story.”

He explains how the dragon (Asmodeus) originally loses his special jewel (the shamir) and how the family that stole it from him regarded it as something almost sacred; something to be protected for all time.

Centuries pass and it’s the early 20th century– and a young shepherdess named Margrét comes to the attention of the Provost of the area, and he steals the shamir from his brother in order to use it to seduce her.

The book is well-written and the author tells a good story– I say “tells” because it was like reading a story from mythology. There’s plenty of detail, and we get to see what the various characters are thinking, but I didn’t really get the sensation of being lost in any of the characters.  The story-telling was a little distant for me.

The story itself is very interesting, however. It has some moments of slowness as the author sets up the story, but once I got past those areas, I really enjoyed the story itself. And there was some beautiful, lyrical writing.

One thing the book accomplished was to awaken my interest in St. Margaret herself… I would like to learn more about her. And, I will be looking for more of this author’s books.

Pedal by Louis K. Lowy


Pedal by Louis K. Lowy
Publisher: Panoptic Books, an imprint of Assent Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Holiday, Inspirational
Length: Full Length (301 pgs)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Stargazer

Voted BoM by LASR Readers 2013 copy

Forty-nine and single. Fired from her lifelong passion: teaching music. Stripped of her self-worth. Can she reclaim her life through bicycle racing?
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Joanne Brick’s thirty years as an elementary school music teacher evaporated into the rising sea of layoffs. A lifetime of dedication gone. At forty-nine, single with an ailing mom and bitter divorced sister, the future looked bleak. Family relationships soured as conversations moved to “the lettuce zone”-cold and crisp. Then one day, while cleaning out the garage for a yard sale, inspiration struck as she dusted off an old long-forgotten bicycle. And when she took her first ride she knew it was time to sink or pedal. “Onward! That was the answer that had eluded her earlier. There was dignity in that word. There was hope.” Never a sports fanatic and sorely out of shape, Joanne was barely able to ride straight, but she took up bicycle racing because it added purpose to her life. “Joanne increased her own speed. The wind whipped her face. The whirring of the spinning spokes and chains rose in pitch as she spun faster. She was flying again, beyond failed careers, spurned lovers, regrets, and mistakes. She spun even quicker. Her breath came in swift, hard grunts.” She pedaled past unemployment, failed relationships, family drama, and career loss. Her life began to fill with new friends, an inspirational Desert Storm vet turned cycling coach, and a sleek new physique from all the training. Then she ran into a brick wall in the form of Sheila Dominary, a women’s bike racing adversary. Will Joanne regain her confidence as she pedals toward redemption, romance, adventure, and life beyond unemployment? Pedal is an inspirational journey. It is a contemporary story that deals not only with family relationships, but also with life’s turning points and how ordinary people handle them.

When you lose everything you’ve ever worked for, what is there to push you forward again?

Joanne Brick loses her career as a music teacher after thirty years due to the district budget cuts. What is even worse is “music teacher” was her identity. Joanne finds herself out of a job, without money and at a loss as to who she is any longer. Joanne finds herself in a struggle that she never expected-to identify her inner passion and recollect her life.

Louis K. Lowy does an amazing job of showing how devastating life can be as well as intertwining how amazing life can be. Joanne is focused on the big picture, but like many of us, can miss out on what is happening in the right now. When life shakes her up, Joanne keeps pushing forward towards the goal. When the unthinkable happens and then the unimaginable happens shortly after that, Joanne proves that she is a fighter and refuses to give up.

Louis K. Lowy draws the reader in with a simple plot, to see Joanne put her life back together. Yet, what truly happens is that the reader becomes one in Joanne’s life, feeling her exuberance in training and then the crushing defeats that life hands her. The reader cheers for Joanne’s success and cries when she is down. All of this Louis K. Lowy draws in vivid detail, causing the reader to fully understand and see the life of Joanne Brick being shaped.

The ending of the book is one that many would not have imagined. Yet, when we look back at our own personal lives, we are often astonished to see where we are from where we began. This story is simply that, astonishing. I urge you to pick up a copy of Pedal and see if you have what it takes to make it to across the finish line!

Without Aiden by Dianne Hartsock


Without Aiden by Dianne Hartsock
Publisher: Etopia Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (58 pgs)
Other: M/M, Anal Sex, Masturbation
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Is a gift of love enough to open Aiden’s heart and let Tris back in?

After the car accident that killed his parents and left his sister paralyzed, Tris is left with nothing. His family is destroyed. His reputation is shot. And all he has is the guilt of knowing it was all his fault. People in town know he’d been drinking that night, and know he should never have gotten behind the wheel. And even Aiden, the man he thought he’d be with forever, blames him too much to stay.
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But Tris can’t let him just disappear. After months of loneliness and isolation, Tris brings Aiden a gift on his birthday, a hawk he’s carved from a chunk of wood they’d found in the forest during an afternoon of love. A small chink seems to open in Aiden’s heart, the first sign of forgiveness. With renewed hope, Tris takes a job renovating one of the older homes in town and tries to rebuild his life. But the townspeople have long memories, and when his sister’s condition worsens, forgiveness—and Aiden—seem to slip even further out of reach…

The poor guy can’t catch a break.

I’m a sucker for Dianne Hartsock’s books. The characters are usually well-rounded and dimensional. In this book, that was the case. From page one, I was hooked. I had to know what would happen for Tris and Aiden. I’ll admit it. I wasn’t sure how this one would end. I had my suspicions, but for a few moments here and there… I just wasn’t sure.

Tris is one heck of a guy. He’s been through the wringer and still hasn’t given up. Ms. Hartsock wrote him with just enough darkness to make his depression believable, but without causing pity. I rooted for the guy. My heart broke for him and…wow. Yeah, I rooted for him. The only thing that took away from my enjoyment of the story was his constantly going back into the past in his thoughts. I needed a couple of rereads early on, but once I got the cadence of the story, I was fine. Besides, the flashbacks were important.

The whole book is from Tris’ point of view, which makes sense, but I kind of wanted to get into Aiden’s head in a few places. Still, I’m glad I read this book.

Without Aiden is a white hot story of redemption, love and never giving up.