Whiskey Nights and Neon Dreams

by Ashley James

The memory of Josiah DeMille has haunted me for close to a decade.

The way he looked.

The way he smelled.

The way his lips felt pressed against mine, even when they shouldn’t have been.

The one person I’ve never been able to get over.

The one singular part of my past I’ve never been able to move on from.

In every lyric sung into the microphone, in every chord strummed on the guitar, in the bottom of every single whiskey bottle, he’s there.

His memory has me in a chokehold.

His absence a gaping hole in my chest.

I gave up years ago wondering if I’d ever stop thinking about him.

Josiah DeMille is the ghost of my past. A past I left behind after my rock bottom.

Now he’s back, and he’s everything I remember him to be and more.

As mesmerizing as ever, a malt perfectly aged in an oak barrel.

But there are dark secrets and shameful lies between us, blurred lines, and an underlying temptation that we’ve never been able to ignore.

It’s a recipe for disaster, an imminent train wreck.

Where will we sit once the dust settles and the truth comes out?

Genres: M M Romance, Second Chance, Romance, Friends To Lovers, Slow Burn, Mental Health, Audiobook

377 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 27, 2023

About the author

Ashley James is a romance author who enjoys writing (and reading) LGBTQIA+ books. She is from Washington State—and no, not Seattle—and currently resides in South Carolina with her two kids and hairless kitties, Goose, Maverick, and Houston. Ashley is introverted and slightly (okay, majorly) awkward. She refuses to make this section sound like a tacky dating app profile, so she won't be telling you how much she enjoys music, how she thoroughly enjoys dancing and singing in her kitchen, despite not being able to carry a tune, and she won't be telling you about her love of toxic and broken fictional men.

Reviews

[Noa · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Going after what makes you happy, or what could make you happy, is so important."

Segan Bradley is a famous country music star.
He has everything he has ever wanted. His dreams came true.
Until the past comes back to haunt him.
The person he thought he would never see again.
The one person he's never been able to get over.
The one person all of his songs are about.
And he's here in Nashville.

"I like having his attention. I always have. And that thought is enough to fuck me up all over again."

Josiah DeMille didn't expect to see him in Nashville.
It's been years since that one tragic accident.
The one that left them both in shock and both angry.
Both doing things that they regret.
But now they're here, together.
What will happen when everything comes back?
And will they be able to overcome it?

"We'd suppressed our feelings for too long, but they wouldn't hide forever."

💫 4.25 stars 💫

I received an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

"When it comes to Segan, I've quickly learned he's a weakness I never knew I had."

Segan never planned on seeing him again. Josiah needs Segan to listen to him. When the truth comes out and everything settles what will happen?

"As much as I've tried to forget about him, my brain chemistry is altered because of him. He's burrowed in my soul, no matter how much I wish he wasn't."

Ashley James is becoming one of my favorite authors to read and this book is another amazing example!!
The connection between Segan and Josiah, the plotline, the spice. Everything was just mesmerizing. I was hooked!

"He represents everything I left behind. Everything I've had to overcome. Everything I could never have."

Segan drowning in himself was hard and heartbreaking. Especially learning everything we did. Seeing his journey and everything was so great to see. He got into my heart and I just want to give him the biggest hug!!
And Josiah. I mean talk about hot car mechanic am I right? The way he wants Segan to listen to him. It's just so addicting to watch TBH.

"You're such a good boy when you use your manners."

The playlist for this is really mixed but I think it turned out SO GOOD!!
(Link: https://spotify.link/R0EEDRAOWDb)

🎛️ "Oxytocin" - Billie Eilish
🎛️ "Blood Sport" - Sleep Token
🎛️ "I Walk The Line" - Halsey
🎛️ "Mentally Cheating" - Natalie Jane
🎛️ "parents" - YUNGBLUD
🎛️ "stacy's brother" - Mad Tsai
🎛️ "Too Close" - Alex Clare
🎛️ "Fake Fiction" - Picturesque
🎛️ "Saint of The Sinners" - The Faim
🎛️ "Neon Lights (Rock Version)" - Demi Lovato, The Maine
🎛️ "Bad Nature" - Nerv
🎛️ "Wish I Never Met You" - Loote
🎛️ "Dancing With The Devil" - Demi Lovato
🎛️ "Electricity" - Ashley Jana
🎛️ "Bad For Me" - FNKHOUSER
🎛️ "you broke me first" - Tate McRae
🎛️ "that way" - Tate McRae
🎛️ "If I Didn't Know Better" - Sam Palladio, Clare Bowen
🎛️ "I feel everything" - Amelia Moore
🎛️ "Achilles Come Down" - Gang of Youths
🎛️ "sugar honey ice & tea" - Bring Me The Horizon
🎛️ "Tourniquet" - Evanescence
🎛️ "Drinking With Cupid" - VOILA
🎛️ "Monsters" - All Time Low, blackbear
🎛️ "I'm Not The Only One" - Sam Smith
🎛️ "CHRONICALLY CAUTIOUS" - Braden Bales
🎛️ "Therapy" - VOILA
🎛️ "In Your Love" - Tyler Childers
🎛️ "Stuck In Your Head" - I Prevail
🎛️ "MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT" - Loveless
🎛️ "Secret Love Song" - Little Mix, Jason Derulo
🎛️ "Someone Else" - Loveless
🎛️ "Forget Me" - Lewis Capaldi
🎛️ "Shameless" - Camila Cabello
🎛️ "Haunting Me" - Loveless
🎛️ "Train Wreck" - James Arthur
🎛️ "Anyone" - Demi Lovato
🎛️ "Lightning" - Little Mix
🎛️ "forget me too" - Machine Gun Kelly, Halsey
🎛️ "All I Wanted" - Paramore
🎛️ "heartLESS" - You Me At Six
🎛️ "Dirty Thoughts" - Chloe Adams
🎛️ "Going Ghost" - Jeris Johnson
🎛️ "Need You Now" - Lady A
🎛️ "I Want It All" - Cameron Grey
🎛️ "telepatia" - Kali Uchis
🎛️ "It's Over When It's Over" - Falling In Reverse
🎛️ "Little Toy Guns" - Carrie Underwood
🎛️ "Touch" - Little Mix
🎛️ "Bring Me To Life" - Evanescence

And just in case you wanted to know how the spice was spicing:

"Over there. Face the mirror, hands on the vanity."

"You gonna come with me, baby?"

🎸 Tropes 🎸

🥃 Girlfriend's Uncle
🥃 Forbidden Romance
🥃 Country Music Star x Car Mechanic
🥃 It's always been you
🥃 Second Chance Romance
🥃 Slow Burn

[TrippyBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 a really good hard hitting emotional romance . This starts taboo but is mostly dealing with mental health. I love these characters so much they belong together.

Will definitely be reading the cowboy boys spinoff

[haletostilinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐︎ 4.5 Stars Rounded Up! ⭐︎

This was so good, it was hard to put down.

Segan and Josiah grew up in Utah, in a highly religious community. But they both never conformed to what the hyper religious community wanted.

Segan grew up with Lana, and when they were 14, they became girlfriend and boyfriend. Lana has an uncle, Josiah, who is only 3 years older than them. A 'whoosie' baby, a lot younger than Lana's father, who is Josiah's brother, and who is hyper religious and who Josiah does not get along with.

But he's wanted to protect Lana as well, as much as he could, because she's just like them. She doesn't conform to the ultra religious ways either.

When Segan is 16 and Josiah 19, and they actually spend time alone when Lana is drunk and falls asleep when all three were handing out, their connection is formed.

For almost a year after that night, he and Josiah get closer, slowly falling for each other as they try not to. As Segan is Lana's boyfriend. Segan can't want her uncle and her uncle can't want her boyfriend.

But Lana herself is diving more and more into destruction, as she becomes addicted to drugs. Her downfall is a slow, gradual thing. But while Segan has had his own shitty life, it doesn't truly get worse until Lana, in her own pain and destruction, drags him down too.

Josiah, while having his own pain too, is really only 3 years older than them, and can't do much. Especially when he's falling for Segan, and knows more will happen with them than a kiss they share, and he can't do that to his niece. He's also an out gay guy having to deal with living in a small, religious town and being the only out queer person.

But mainly Josiah ultimately leaves so he doesn't do more with - lets be real, sleep with - Segan, and heads to Nevada, somewhere close to Vegas. He tells a then 17 year old Segan not to come with him, to look after Lana.

In a way, Josiah is unintentionally responsible for things getting even shittier for Segan after that. That eventually, 2 years later, he'll try to take his own life.

But Josiah had no way of knowing exactly what would happen. And he was young, and idiotic. I love how, in the future, he realizes his mistake, and what he put on Segan's shoulders. That makes me a lot more forgiving of Josiah's leaving Segan back then. He made a mistake, and we later learn that he regrets leaving him, and how he put looking after a spiraling Lana on 17 year old Segan's shoulders.

This is a difficult read, to be sure. There is a TW for on page depiction of attempted suicide in this so be aware of that going into this. It is not easy to read in the least. So don't read this, if that is triggering for you.

But there is the other side of all the darkness, the rock bottom. When Segan is saved - we all know who saves him, but we're not told until later - he has a tough time, but he makes it through. He moves to Nashville and over the years becomes a big country music star.

And when Josiah, years later, leaves Nevada and comes to Nashville, they meet up again, and get to make things right.

These two go on a very painful journey, but the pain is worth in the end for these two to finally get their happiness.

Segan, understandably, takes awhile to trust Josiah again, to let down his walls, to be so vulnerable and trusting with him. I do think the transition from him being like that to letting that go and being all in with Josiah wasn't handled the best. It was like one minute Segan was still holding Josiah and arms length, and then he wasn't. Or more accurately, it didn't take much work on his part to let his hang ups go enough to let Josiah in all the way.

It felt a little rushed, near the end. Like Segan wasn't letting up until late in the game, and then he just...was. Hence my .5 stars off. Also for the ending being a bit too abrupt for my liking. They're in a happy place, a great place at the end, but we don't get to seem them settled into it, really. About a month or so has gone by, but that's it. I would have liked an epilogue with maybe some months or years later just to see them in an even stronger, more settled place. I was a little bummed we didn't get that, and it didn't feel 100% complete to me, so those two things had me giving this .5 stars off.

Otherwise I absolutely loved this. Their journey to a happy ending isn't an easy one in the least, but they get there by the end, and it's wonderful.

The chemistry was so good between these two, and the pining and longing for each other was so good. They go years without seeing each other, but it doesn't take long for those feelings to resurface the minute they see each other again. No matter how much they (Segan) try to deny it.

This is definitely worth a a read and I'm so happy I picked it up. One of this author's best, I'd say.

Can't wait to read more from this author, especially if they're more stories like this (although, maybe not always this level of angst, of course.)

Onto the next! 🥰 😘

[Aricka Decker · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You’re doing so good, baby.” Segan smiles around my dick. I swear I could come from that sight alone. “Look at you sucking cock so well.”

Back again with another Ashley James book which is a far cry from The Deepest Desires Series which was her first series which left me a little underwhelmed with the whole writing and what not, compared to her Copper Lake Series which I enjoyed a lot. We get a sneak peak of that series with Shooter showing up in this book, which is also fun. The book was kind of a mixed bag for me, because it had a lot of stuff I liked in it. I enjoyed the relationship between Segan and Josiah, and their very complicated relationship. It has a lot of heavy stuff in it and some pretty great sexual scenes between our characters. Where is left me somewhat unsatisfied was the lack of depth. There was a lot of stuff that happened during this book but nothing happened at all. There was a lot of great ideas and situations which were introduced and I felt like it should of all been delved in deeper. More about their relationship while Lana was alive and the whole drugs and mental health thing should of been dived into deeper, to really cut you to the core and make you emotional. Then when we fast forward to the present I feel like I needed just some more. There was a lack of any real drama and it felt like we just picked up with a little bit of butthurtness and just left it slide of their backs and them slide right into each other. I wanted more drama, more emotional moments between the characters because I feel like with everything they went through together and separately they should of been having way deeper and emotionally driven conversations with one another. It felt like everything just worked out with out and real fighting for one another or their relationship they will eventually be entering into. Then it just ended and I was left thinking, "this is it?". I mean dont get me wrong it was a great read and I enjoyed it but it just lacked a lot of what I was wanting it to give when it offered up so many heartbreaking information. Give me another 100 pages of them working and talking through all this stuff to make me cry, thats what I really wanted. But that is just me. So I cant say its a bad book in any way, because I really did enjoy it and I feel like this could be a good book for a lot of people and I enjoyed it but I wanted more emotion and I wanted, because I thought I would, to cry a river and have my heart ripped out. I was looking forward to crying in bed. Damn it.

[Dani (Daniiireads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

- country music star x mechanic
- girlfriend's uncle
- forbidden romance
- queer awakening
- second chance

CW: religious trauma, death/overdose, grief, suicidal ideation, on page suicide attempt, substance abuse/use, cheating, one mmc is HIV+

Segan & Josiah have a magnetic chemistry that crackles between them despite Segan dating Lana, Josiah's niece. As Segan and Lana start to drift apart, he and Josiah drift closer, and it's the intensity of the feelings between them that has Josiah hightailing it out of town before more lines get crossed.

Things only go down hill from there for Segan after Josiah leaves. Lana ODs, Segan battles with depression and alcohol abuse because of it, and eventually attempts to commit suicide because he feels like he has nothing left without her.

Fast forward seven years though and Segan is thriving after his attempt. Now a famous country music star in Nashville, Segan is finally living his dream and has everything he ever wanted. & then he runs into Josiah (literally) and every feeling and memory he'd done his best to forget comes rushing back.

Oof Segan and Josiah's story is not at all an easy one. Both of them have been through the wringer, and their story was heavier and more angsty I was expecting, but it made their hard earned love story that much better. On top of that, Ashley did an amazing job touching on the sensitive topics in WNAND, and I was blown away at how different this was compared to the other books I've read by her.

[Rainbow Shelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always find myself deeply moved by Ashley James's stories and falling in love with her characters. Her second chance stories are always must-reads for me.

"Whiskey Nights and Neon Dreams" is a touching tale about Josiah and Segan as they try to repair their relationship after years of hardship. Josiah, Lana's uncle, met Segan through this connection. They resisted their feelings for a while, not wanting their attraction to interfere, but one night they gave in to their emotions. Realizing he had to end their attraction, Josiah left Segan and their Utah home behind.

From the start, their relationship felt natural; they connected instantly. Both have had very challenging lives, and I'm happy that after all those years, they finally found each other. No matter how I describe it, it doesn't compare to the experience of reading the book.

So if u love:
🎤Spicy MM Romance
💜Girlfriends Uncle
🎤Grief with a hefty side of Hurt/Comfort
💜“It’s always been you”
🎤Second Chance
💜Rockstar—but make it country music—and a hot mechanic
🎤Slow-ish burn

This is the perfect book for you💜

Thanks to the author and The Author Agency who send me this Arc.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good but so heavy. Segan and Josiah are both struggling to find any kind of happiness in their oppressive hometown and unwittingly finding it in one another but understanding they can't be together for so many reasons. They have to go through so much pain to find each other again but it's so worth it.

[Miss S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Every time I’m on stage, it’s you on my mind. An endless loop of Josiah.”

❥ Dual POV
❥ MM Romance
❥ Small Town
❥ Bi-Awakening
❥ Girlfriend’s Uncle
❥ Second Chance
❥ Found Family
❥ Hurt/Comfort
❥ Country Singer x Mechanic

I received a free copy of Whiskey Nights and Neon Dreams, but I also had the audio book, so I switched back and forth between reading and listening. The audio is amazingly narrated by Aaron Shedlock and Teddy Hamilton. Teddy Hamilton being the reason I got the audio book in the first place, he could read the bible, and I’d listen to it. I never listened to Aaron Shedlock before, but he was really great as well.

Anyhow. This book had me sobbing like a baby. Please make sure to check the author’s note for the heavy themes featured in this book. The grief, the hurt/comfort, it all takes up a lot of the story, and with good reason. So much sadness and hardship.

Segan captured my heart right from the beginning, and my heart broke for him so many times. It’s hard to say much about the book without spoiling it, and the book was nothing like I expected from the blurb and tropes I’ve read, so I don’t want to take that away from others, because I was really pleasantly surprised. I had expected more cheating, age-gap and angst, but it wasn’t that at all. Well, the angst was there, I always get that when a book spreads over several years, and with how Segan and Josiah grew closer just to fall apart, very intense.

I also loved Josiah, even though I wanted to punch him in the face a couple of times, but things weren’t easy for him either.

And holy smokes, the spice in this one 🔥🔥🔥

There is so much standing in Segan and Josiah’s way of a happy life together, and their road to a HEA is heartbreaking, but so well-earned once they get there.

OH! And how I loved seeing our Copper Lake boys ♥

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Read the full review on my blog here with edits and quotes.

[Judy Portelles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first Ashley James book and I definitely want to read more from her. What you can expect in this book.

✔️Girlfriends Uncle
✔️Grief with a hefty side of hurt/comfort
✔️It’s always been you
✔️Second chance
✔️Rockstar but make it country music and a hot mechanic
✔️Slow-ish burn

This was such a beautiful second chance romance. There was so much angst, heartbreak and sadness but to see what both Segan and Josiah go through and their journey to their happy ending was definitely well deserved.

Highly recommend. Check TW before reading.

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just want to hug Segan Bradley forever and ever. This was heavy and my heart was hurting for everyone. There are some great moments, mentions sensitive topics that I personally appreciated but I think it lacked love and passion, I wanted more, much much more of Josiah and Segan together.

[Juliana · Rating 1 out of 5]

too much telling, not enough showing. this felt like it was more about Lana than Segan&Josiah. sorry, but I didn't care about her drama.

[Angela I. · Rating 5 out of 5]

🥃 Bi Awakening
🎸 Girlfriend's uncle
🥃 Uptight and religious small town
🎸 Music artist / mechanic
🥃 Second Chance

Whiskey Nights and Neon Dreams is a standalone where we get to meet Josiah and Segan.

They both live in a very religious small town, and they both feel out of place.
Segan is dating Josiah's niece, and think he's "as straight as uncooked spaghetti noodles" (as Josiah would say 😅) and Josiah is openly gay.

I’d like to say that I don’t lie beside my girlfriend for hours, thinking about her uncle in a way that’s inappropriate before I finally fall asleep. But to say that would be a bold- faced lie.

Even being "the uncle", Josiah is only 3 years older than Segan and they start spending a lot of time together.
But soon tragedy strikes and what follows is a lot of back and forth, push and pull over the following years...

This book made me feel so much... love, lust, raw heartache, sadness.... I felt everything and loved every minute of it (especially a few spicy scenes that left me panting...).

They say you have to know darkness before you can truly appreciate the light.

I don't want to spoil anything so I won't go into details, but fucking hell I wanted to strangle everyone in that small town, especially their useless parents...

As much as I’ve grown, as much as I’ve healed, I can’t help but wonder if I’m still the same broken boy I once was, who can’t accept love, who can’t let him in, who can’t move beyond the past.

Please check TW before reading. While I don't consider this a dark book, there are still heavy subjects and situations that can trigger some people.

✧˖°Instagram°˖✧

I received a free copy of this book via The Author Agency and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Shelby | Spicy.booknook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Contemporary MM
Forbidden Crush
Right Guy, Wrong Time
Hurt/Comfort
Found Family
Second Chance
Slow Burn
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥

Well this was a heavy read but I blew through it. The first half was just gut wrenching. Please check those TW because there are a lot of heavy topics and events that take place on page.

Aside from all the heartbreak the author puts you through, I thought the romance between our two MCs was really nice. Segan and Josiah definitely suffered from right guy, wrong time and early on these two just have so much stacked against them. Living in a small town with small minded parents, an age gap at an age where even three years makes a huge difference and a forbidden element that keeps them apart. There is an HEA but there a long way to get to it, but sometimes that’s makes it so much sweeter.

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ 2🌶️

It’s maddening to know that something so wrong can feel so utterly right. That something I can’t have can taste so good.

Wow, this story really moved me. To date I haven’t truly connected with any of Ashley’s books, but this one took hold of me, strong. It has so many good tropes: hurt/comfort, forbidden, broken boy, right person/wrong time

My heart broke so many times for Segan.
First for what he suffers at home with his parents.
Then for what he suffers seeing his best friend/girlfriend succumb to addiction, supporting her through it and then ultimately living through her death and other life changing consequences 🥺
And lastly for having to live with the pain of not being with the person he loved (Josiah)
In spite of the ups and downs, Segan’s strength and resilience was beautiful

And Josiah…I loved and disliked him at times, but in the end I understood everything he went through as well. It’s not as clear early on how much Segan is a part of him as we clearly see from Segan’s POV how Josiah is to him, but I did feel it and she showed it, being a rock for Segan, fighting for him when he needed it and being his savior when he didn’t even realize it.

The push and pull and hurt and trauma that they’ve been through seems overwhelming, too much to overcome. But their journey was so worth the angst and emotions I experienced 💔❤️‍🩹

Healing from trauma comes in waves, I think. It’s really nice to not have to ride them alone anymore, though.

[Mal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ashley James writes beautiful stories and this might be my favourite from her yet. Her characters are layered, complex and beautifully flawed, dealing with their trauma in different ways and fighting so hard for their deserved HEA

Expect:
* Girlfriend’s uncle
* Hurt comfort
* “Meant to be mine” vibes
* Pining
* Slow burn
* Second chances
* Country Music Star
* Found family
* Mental Health rep
* Bi- awakening

Josiah and Segan’s story is not at all an easy one. The book spans years and so many phases of the characters lives, encompassing facets of growing up, sparking attraction, inherited burdens, devastating separations, painful losses, finding their feet, healing…. laying bare their struggles on deeply impacting experiences that are quite heavy. To me it felt like the author bravely pushes the limits and unspoken boundaries usually seen in a romance (even an angsty one) to tease out the nuances in the occurrence and the reconciliation of these subjects.

This book was heartbreaking in so many parts but I absolutely loved the way the journeys come full circle with themes of acceptance, support, repair, self love, deserved happiness, communication, love. The pacing is so spot on and tightly controlled.

Trying to keep this as spoiler free as possible but this book deals with heavy and possibly triggering subjects so I recommend checking out the trigger warnings

Quotes:

“I feel like Josiah and I were a tragic example of ‘right person, wrong time”

“Josiah DeMille was my teenage crush and my queer awakening, all wrapped up in one tight, sexy, coverall wearing package. And now, almost a decade later, he’s still where all my dirty thoughts go when I’m alone and need a release.”

Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Angst: ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥

[Trista :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐

ARC Review: Whiskey Nights and Neon Dreams - Ashley James

OUT NOW - ON KU

Please Check Trigger Warnings

***Yes, I know this is a late ARC review since it is already released but life and mental health got in the way of reading this in time.***

Anyways onto my thoughts:

Y'all should know how much I love Ashley and her books. Every time I read a book from her I am never disappointed! She will always make you go through every emotion possible. I love that for me and her 😌

I adored Segan and Josiah's story! It tugged on the heart strings. They went through so much but finally got their HEA. Their story gave me vibes of Illicit Desires and Storm Clouds and Devastation in a way to me personally. What Segan had to go through in his teenage years and early adult life was heart breaking. My heart went to him and his struggles. Don't get me started on Josiah. That man was just amazing. So fucking caring and selfless. Ugh, these two are amazing! 💜

If you want a hurt/comfort, slow burn, angsty, Country Music Star × Hot Mechanic story, this book is for you! I'd definitely recommend!

[caffeinated.crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Wow. Wow. What an incredible story. Whiskey Nights and Neon Dreams drops October 27th, THIS FRIDAY.

If you're looking for a feel-good story, this ain't it. The trigger/content warnings are real with this one. 💜 right person, wrong time 💜 is one hell of a trope. The PINING in this book is top tier.

This is Segan and Josiah's story. It's really best if you go in blind. There are multiple BIG moments and story points that you'll want to avoid spoiling for yourself.

Just know going into it: SEGAN IS A TREASURE. And I love him.

Segan and Josiah 😭😭😭😭 their story will make you sad, but in a good way.

Oh, and one more thing,  in the dressing room, at the Ryman... the conversation between Segan and Josiah during [redacted] is PERFECTION. That kind of communication and this kind of storytelling is what keeps me coming back to Ashley James over and over again.

This story was brilliant.

[Gustaf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book!
It absolutely broke my heart for the longest time. Then it slowly built it back together. I honestly sobbed through the first 30 % or so. It was that painful. My heart was bleeding for Segan and what he went through.
Segan and Josiah were meant for each other, but not then and not there. Their happy ever after was hard earned and when they finally got it, it felt so, so good.

Please do read the trigger warnings before deciding to read this book though!

[Olivia Wenzel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tropes/Themes:
💜M/M contemporary romance
🖤forbidden (girlfriend’s uncle)
💜second chance
🖤country star x mechanic
💜“it’s always been you”
🖤hurt/comfort
💜dual pov
🖤 standalone

Thanks so much to The Author Agency for this review copy! All thoughts/opinions are my own.

I was so excited to get my hands on a copy of this release, as I’ve read a few books from Ashley James in the past and really liked them. Whiskey Nights and Neon Dreams is an emotional second chance romance with strong mental health/AODA themes, so be sure to do your own research on content warnings before diving into this.

Segan and Josiah first met when they were younger, growing up in the same religious small town in Utah. Oh, and Josiah also happens to be Segan’s girlfriend’s uncle (I’m pretty sure they’re only like 3 years apart though). Segan starts finding himself unconsciously drawn towards Josiah (who is openly gay). Segan had never questioned his sexuality prior to Josiah, but can’t deny what he’s feeling. When the two are on the brink of exploring their connection, a tragedy rips their world apart and completely changes the trajectory of their lives irrevocably. 8 years later, they eventually cross paths again. Segan is now a successful country music star battling his own demons and Josiah owns several mechanic shops.

I ended up enjoying this for the most part! I’m always a sucker for an emotional romance, and this really delivered on the hurt/comfort vibes. Of note, this does include a slight cheating element to it but it’s not over the top or anything. They technically first kissed when Segan was still with Lyla, and Segan also acknowledged that emotional cheating was likely occurring before that. As someone completely adverse to cheating in my romances, it didn’t really bother me here. My only critique was that I felt like things progressed a little too quickly throughout the story. It would have been nice to have a little more time spent with them rekindling their connection after their subsequent reunion. Regardless, these two had such an interesting dynamic and solid chemistry. I'll definitely pick up more books from Ashley James in the future.

CWs for cheating (with each other), religious trauma, death/overdose, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt (graphically depicted on page), substance abuse, life altering medical diagnosis

[read_romance.withgloria Gloria Worlikar · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This story was about two beautiful characters, who I loved from the first chapter itself ( Segan a little more 🤭 ). Ashley has written another beautiful story and it made me love her more for how she has portrayed the characters' feelings, their hurt & anger, at times I was in awe of her writing, and I loved this story so much.

Segan & Josiah's story starts when they were young and you could feel their chemistry and the tension between them, but they didn't try to act on it because Segan was Josiah's niece ( Lana ) boyfriend. Segan & Lana had plans to leave their small town because they wanted bigger things and they couldn't be what their parents wanted from them. But when things started to change for Segan & Josiah, Josiah decided to leave town alone and move to Nevada. The pain & betrayal was so beautifully written you could feel it.

Segan & Josiah's journey towards happily ever after was not so easy because they both had their traumas and they both were healing. I loved how Josiah was there for him always and even when they meet again after many years he is patient with him because he is the only one for him. I don't want to spoil this story for you so I'll just say I loved this story & all the characters who were there with Segan & Josiah. And Segan & Josiah has my heart, the story had a perfect pace which makes you want to know more and keep turning pages.

I recommend you check this book out as it is a complete standalone with a second-chance trope with a perfectly imperfect couple.

* I received an ARC copy from The Author Agency and this is my honest review *

[Shannon Rugg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listen, we’re all aware I’m a huge fan of Ashley’s, and all of her books are my favorite, but this book? These characters? Literally take the top spot for me on the long list of my favorites from Ashley!

In typical Ashley James fashion, she wrecks us, rips our hearts out, and then puts us back together. Ashley holds nothing back with Josiah and Segan. This one is an emotional rollercoaster that will have you wanting to go back, and take the ride again! I beta read this book and it was extremely difficult for me to put down because I fell absolutely head over heels for Josiah and Segan.

I don’t want to delve too much into the plot and what happens in this book because there are major spoilers, and because of that, go. in. blind. You NEED to experience all things Josiah and Segan with no outside influence or spoilers in the back of your head! That being said, please do read the warnings prior to diving in. This one IS going to make you feel all the feels.

Josiah and Segan have known each other for quite some time, as Segan was dating Josiah’s niece. These two have history; history that has ripped them open, and left them raw and aching. They both have their baggage they carry, and it has left them both guarded from the world.

Ashley wrote the story of Josiah and Segan in such a way that you can TELL her heart is on those pages. You can TELL how much these two mean to her, and how important their story is for her. Ashley worked freaking magic across the pages of this book and you will not convince me otherwise. The care she took with the mental health representation, the REALNESS of the struggle and healing that she portrayed with Josiah and Segan was heart wrenchingly beautiful! I have never read another story like this one, and I love that Ashley wasn’t hesitant to put something like this out!!

Ashley, I am so thankful to be a beta reader for you—you have written some of my favorite love stories, filling them with emotional damage and hard fought HEA’s, and this is no different. You’re carving your place out in the book world and I love that I get to be along for the ride! YOU are a phenomenal author and I cannot wait for people to experience all things Copper Lake!!

[Amberly Hays · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was long and tough road for Segan and Josiah. They had something special from the beginning and you are cheering for them the whole time. This one left me with a lot emotion’s and I enjoyed the ride.

[Brittany St Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh, the ride this story takes you on. There is so much to unpack in this story. Segan and Josiah are the embodiment of "right person, wrong time" and their story has so many ups and downs. From the beginning, they have a connection, but there are things in the way of them being together. The biggest being Josiah's niece - Segan's girlfriend.
There is so much emotional turmoil in this story. Hard topics are brought up and something you think about throughout the book.
They push and pull from each other, trying to do the right thing by all parties in their lives. Years of hurt, longing, and unrequited love all come crashing back with vengeance. Their love for each other is easily felt through the story. You feel their pain, their happiness, and everything in between. I loved the journey they went on to get to their HEA. They experienced so much more than any couple should, but they didn't let that stop them. Segan was able to see just how much Josiah cared about him when certain things were revealed. These two are soulmates.
I loved the side characters we've been introduced to as well and I can't wait to see what comes of those relationships. Everything about this book was phenomenal.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, that was a rough ride

An excellent story, but not for the faint of heart or for those with certain triggers.

Josiah and Segan are a lot of a mess. Their history is fraught with darkness and it taints their interactions until they finally start to work their way through them.

Josiah is a character that it took me a while to like. He isn’t bad exactly and I understand why he made the choices he did, but he was selfish in my opinion, and that rubbed me the wrong way since I knew dark times were coming. He and Segan are separated and doing the best they can to realize their dreams on their own. They’re apart for eight years before they literally bump into each other again.

Life handed Segan an utterly ridiculous hand. Our boy has trauma folks. It was so hard to read certain parts of his story because I wanted to wrap him up in so much love he’d never feel like he did ever again. He finally hit rock bottom and he eventually reached for the stars and caught them. Still, Josiah was never really gone from his heart or mind.

Their road is rocky but their HEA is sweet. I loved seeing them overcome their pasts, more Segan than Josiah, but I would have liked to have seen more of the relationship building between them. As it stood, it was nothing, then some spice, with pulling away, then its wham bam I love you. Their backstory was important to be sure, but the present got shafted in the process of learning about the past.

Even with that, I still enjoyed their story and would recommend it.

Dark scale rating: 6 for drug and alcohol use, drug abuse, semi descriptive death of a main side character, described self harm, and serious illness.

[Linda Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 40% I couldn’t stand to hear anymore about Lana! This was so boring and way too slow for me…sorry!

[Cait · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to this book after loving Say My Name as much as I did, but unfortunately it just fell a little flat to me.

It started out great and really hooked me so I was excited to keep going. I was really enjoying the little bit of cheating trope we were getting and the forbidden aspect of girlfriend’s uncle, but I noticed that the more I read, the more it seemed to be like Ashley was telling us the way the boys were feeling and what they were experiencing, instead of showing us.

I really enjoyed the descriptiveness and the draw between the characters in Say My Name, but it just felt a bit lacking here. I felt like some things were glossed over and then by the time we got to the second chance, I was just kind of bored.

I did end up skimming a lot of the interactions between the boys and their friends while they were separated, I just really wanted to get to the reunion and didn’t really care about what happened in between.

There were a few moments that I felt like I should be feeling sad or upset and I just wasn’t. The writing in the second half just wasn’t hitting me in the feels like I thought it should be. It definitely hit me a lot more in the first half. I loved the tension and the pining but I just didn’t feel like there was enough of it. It all kind of comes back to us being told, not shown.

I did enjoy the first half and the premise of the book, and I liked meeting a few of the boys from Ashley’s upcoming Copper Lake series.

Read this if you like:
- forbidden (girlfriend’s uncle)
- bi-awakening
- second chance
- hurt/comfort

I was sent this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

[Naz.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 ⭐️ 3/5 🌶️
- MM romance
- Second chance
- Small town
- Girlfriend’s uncle
- Country music star X mechanic

This was my very first Ashley James book and I can say that it won’t be my last. I love her writing, it’s filled with lots of emotion. This story had some very dark parts (addiction, mental health issues, and a suicide attempt, please check trigger warnings) that were heartbreaking but getting to the happy ending was worth it and lovely to see.

Segan’s journey is rough but there is light at the end of the tunnel. After all of his struggles like living with and in a toxic family and small town, to dealing with heartbreak, grief and being all alone, to overcoming his mental health issues and wanting a better life for himself and chasing his dreams. He betters himself for himself alone and I really admired that.

Although he’s now living his dream, he still misses the man who broke his heart and walked away from him. Seeing him several years later in his new hometown disorientates him and he’s determined to leave him in his past but Josiah doesn’t make that easy for him. He also misses Segan and believes it’s fate they’ve found each other again. He’s always regretted leaving him and doesn’t plan on making that mistake again.

Seeing them pick up where they left off was beautiful. There was so much hurt and anger but they overcome it and their lives are finally fulfilled when they have each other. They were always meant to be but it just started with “right person, wrong time”.

If you love second chance MM romances, filled with heartbreak and struggles I think you’d enjoy this one.

[Fifi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book . Segan & Josiah ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ wow what a story 🥹. This book was a journey of different emotions and feelings , it covers first love, mental health, religious expectations, family dynamics , addiction, sexuality , trust , second chance at love , self doubts & discovery and finding that HEA.

I felt so much pain for Segan and what he was going through 🥹, the way the book was written you just feel so tuned in with him all his pain and sadness but also the feelings of joy & his recovery when he experiences these & Uncle Josie was just 😍.

There were parts of the story that get very heavy but the way the story progresses gives a good balance which I enjoyed and appreciated at one point I wasn’t sure how this story would end so that kept me hooked and I couldn’t stop reading as there were so many emotion from page to page.

✨Contemporary MM romance
✨Spicy/Open door
✨Forced proximity
✨Slow burn
✨Second chance ish
✨Country music star / Hot mechanic
✨Mental health rep
✨Hurt/comfort

I liked the cross overs with the Cooper Lake series and I want to reread the books again in readiness for the next book.

Do check all the TW as listed by the author as this story covers certain topics and situations in detail.

I received an ARC of this book . All reviews and comments are in my own words and of my own views and opinions

[Katkejt ☾. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Segan • Josiah

….

“Maybe us finding each other again is something much larger than him or I.”

💜.
….

You just feel how the pages are embraced with Ashley’s love for Segan and Josiah.

Go in with an open mind and heart. Feel.

I felt it all. The longing, the redemption, the power of meant to be, the solace.

Not many words from me. But the book speaks for itself. Just feel.

….

Tyler Childers - In Your Love

.

Troye Sivan - Still Got It

….

chin dimple. // “When I first started feeling this way, the guilt was overwhelming.” // “Now, it’s like I don’t even care. I want what I want.” // “His hot breath fanning my skin mixed with the feel of his cold nose on my flesh sent a chill down my spine.” // “We’d suppressed our feelings for too long, but they wouldn’t hide forever.” // “It seems to me like I skipped over denial, parked right in anger, and never left” // “I’d never ached for a kiss like I had that night. I’d never craved the taste of something I had never experienced like I had in that doorway, with only the night sky as our witness.” // “This kiss seals the deal. It wrecks me. Destroys me wholly.” // “As much as I’ve tried to forget about him, my brain chemistry is altered because of him. He’s burrowed in my soul, no matter how much I wish he wasn’t.” // “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.” // “There were so many nights I needed you, but you weren’t there.” // “I’ve never done this before.” // Copper Lake. // “I’d like to think if they have heard it, he’d know it was about him.” // “He brings me back to life.”

….

*I received an arc directly from the author. Thank you Ashley.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Segan and Josiah, these two men have my whole heart and may just be my favourite release from Ashley now. Their story is full of beautiful moments.. but damn, in between those beautiful moments is such despair. Segan is the epitome of a soul utterly broken, his loneliness was truly felt in every chapter as he claws his way out of one horrible situation after another. The strength he has is amazing to follow and I genuinely love him with my whole heart. His journey with Josiah is painful and their second chance seems almost impossible. The hurt, their past and the torment of missed chances, it is a LOT but true to Ashleys way she finds a way for them to have these beautiful little moments, the ones that give you hope. It’s very much opposites attract with the direction their lives have gone whilst apart but with some shared common ground - that common ground is rife with regrets and trauma though, so prepare for an emotional ride that is worth the hard times.