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Iron on Iron #4
The Evening Wolves
Every victory comes at a cost. The trail has gone cold. For months now, Emery Hazard and John-Henry Somerset have been trying to find something—anything—that might help them uncover the truth about the criminal organization operating out of the Cottonmouth Club. But every lead has turned out to be a dead end, and every step forward has cost them two steps back. Until, one night, John-Henry is arrested for a terrible crime. As their friends gather again in Wahredua, Emery and John-Henry must rush to prove John-Henry's innocence. The falsified evidence used to implicate him provides them with fresh clues, but as the charges against John-Henry ripple out into the community, they find themselves without their usual resources, and facing new and unexpected opposition. Putting an end to this evil, they discover, might be possible. All it will cost them is everything.
373 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 31, 2024
41 people are currently reading
222 people want to read
About the author
Gregory Ashe
133 books1,805 followersI'm a long-time Midwesterner. I've lived in Chicago, Bloomington (IN), and Saint Louis, my current home. Aside from reading and writing (which take up a lot of my time), I'm an educator.
While I enjoy reading across many genres, my two main loves are mystery and speculative fiction. I used to keep a list of favorite books, but it changes so frequently that I've given up. I'm always looking for recommendations, though, so please drop me a line if you have something in mind!
My big goal right now is one day to be responsible enough to get a dog.
While I enjoy reading across many genres, my two main loves are mystery and speculative fiction. I used to keep a list of favorite books, but it changes so frequently that I've given up. I'm always looking for recommendations, though, so please drop me a line if you have something in mind!
My big goal right now is one day to be responsible enough to get a dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
February 5, 2024
happy release day! when GA announced this crossover series with his first ever Kickstarter last June, little did i know how much these books would become a sort of lifeline in the chaos of adulthood. it’s a true honor to be a full-time GA promobot, wholly powerless against the hold he has on my psyche and all the better for it.
until we meet our favorite 8-person sleuthing squad as a complete entity again, Hazardverse fam 👋🏼 i’ll be off distracting myself with all that is cozy over in Mystery Magnet land and that sweet, pair-the-spares deliciousness in the ongoing Follows with Intent serialization shortly.
⚠️ blurb contents mentioned ⚠️
i've been rendered useless. i am incapable of sufficiently explaining what this book in its, by turns, vicious and cathartic flaying of Somers’ past and present meant to me.
the confessions, the symbolism, the circle backs to H&S’s youth drawn under the illuminating haze of perspective - it was so diabolically brilliant. a masterpiece, even.
is my Greg o' Meter officially broken? in the face of an author who knows no bounds, continuously dethroning his own magnum opus with another, the answer is resoundingly: yes.
The Evening Wolves was, in many ways, what i envisaged for Wayward, but ratcheted in intensity and consequence to heights only high stakes and a heavy sentence can achieve. it's serious allegations knocking at the door. it’s the same town that put you on a pedestal and sang your endless praises turning its back overnight. it’s unprecedented helplessness, a target over your head, a public call for your execution.
my heart was ripped to shreds at the injustice of it all.
i think disillusionment is one of the most earth shattering human experiences. i’ve always struggled with the reality that life rarely goes as we foresee it, and when good isn’t always repaid with good, and karma doesn’t always succeed in meting out justice, it’s a nauseating turbulence of fear and uncertainty.
but cosmic indifference also lends itself to life’s beauty.
the history that we so often let define us is just that: the past. as much as we’d like to think so, there will never be enough self-loathing or self-sabotage in the world to balance out scales that simply don’t exist. we’re in a constant state of flux, sometimes slaves to circumstance, but always pioneers of our untrodden paths. it’s impossible to know what awaits on the other side of that car accident, that missing foster brother, enrolling in that college, or returning home with one’s head hung low - but it can very well be an offshoot ready to grow and house the grandest flower.
only by powering through his darkest nights, Somers sees with blazing clarity that he isn't alone, far from it, and recognizes who is worthy and deserving of his love. there’s so much to be chronicled in essays and poems for the courage (and mourning) it takes to reclaim himself and his resolve.
Iron on Iron was over far too soon. i cannot believe we have made it to the end of this bloodbath circus, with the last remaining Good Vibes Only collection to spare. only time will tell what implications the ending spells for the future of our daring warriors, but i will be here for every single moment of it.
i beg someone (Shaw? Master Hermes?) to please hook GA up with the elixir of life and us readers with an afterlife subscription to read his work forevermore.
Thank you to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book; this is my honest review :)
---initial reaction---
HYPERVENTILATING. YOU CAN’T JUST DROP A BLURB LIKE THIS AND SKEDADDLE UNTIL FEB 5. THINK OF OUR COLLECTIVE MENTAL STABILITY 💀
i need my security blanket. and a nice stock of soft tissues and my favorite comfort snacks. my Hazardverse senses are tingling and telling me this is going to be one heckuva doozy…
until we meet our favorite 8-person sleuthing squad as a complete entity again, Hazardverse fam 👋🏼 i’ll be off distracting myself with all that is cozy over in Mystery Magnet land and that sweet, pair-the-spares deliciousness in the ongoing Follows with Intent serialization shortly.
⚠️ blurb contents mentioned ⚠️
i've been rendered useless. i am incapable of sufficiently explaining what this book in its, by turns, vicious and cathartic flaying of Somers’ past and present meant to me.
the confessions, the symbolism, the circle backs to H&S’s youth drawn under the illuminating haze of perspective - it was so diabolically brilliant. a masterpiece, even.
is my Greg o' Meter officially broken? in the face of an author who knows no bounds, continuously dethroning his own magnum opus with another, the answer is resoundingly: yes.
The Evening Wolves was, in many ways, what i envisaged for Wayward, but ratcheted in intensity and consequence to heights only high stakes and a heavy sentence can achieve. it's serious allegations knocking at the door. it’s the same town that put you on a pedestal and sang your endless praises turning its back overnight. it’s unprecedented helplessness, a target over your head, a public call for your execution.
my heart was ripped to shreds at the injustice of it all.
i think disillusionment is one of the most earth shattering human experiences. i’ve always struggled with the reality that life rarely goes as we foresee it, and when good isn’t always repaid with good, and karma doesn’t always succeed in meting out justice, it’s a nauseating turbulence of fear and uncertainty.
but cosmic indifference also lends itself to life’s beauty.
the history that we so often let define us is just that: the past. as much as we’d like to think so, there will never be enough self-loathing or self-sabotage in the world to balance out scales that simply don’t exist. we’re in a constant state of flux, sometimes slaves to circumstance, but always pioneers of our untrodden paths. it’s impossible to know what awaits on the other side of that car accident, that missing foster brother, enrolling in that college, or returning home with one’s head hung low - but it can very well be an offshoot ready to grow and house the grandest flower.
only by powering through his darkest nights, Somers sees with blazing clarity that he isn't alone, far from it, and recognizes who is worthy and deserving of his love. there’s so much to be chronicled in essays and poems for the courage (and mourning) it takes to reclaim himself and his resolve.
Iron on Iron was over far too soon. i cannot believe we have made it to the end of this bloodbath circus, with the last remaining Good Vibes Only collection to spare. only time will tell what implications the ending spells for the future of our daring warriors, but i will be here for every single moment of it.
i beg someone (Shaw? Master Hermes?) to please hook GA up with the elixir of life and us readers with an afterlife subscription to read his work forevermore.
Thank you to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book; this is my honest review :)
---initial reaction---
HYPERVENTILATING. YOU CAN’T JUST DROP A BLURB LIKE THIS AND SKEDADDLE UNTIL FEB 5. THINK OF OUR COLLECTIVE MENTAL STABILITY 💀
i need my security blanket. and a nice stock of soft tissues and my favorite comfort snacks. my Hazardverse senses are tingling and telling me this is going to be one heckuva doozy…
June 7, 2024
Story - 4.5 stars
Audiobook - 3.5 stars
Audiobook - 3.5 stars
May 24, 2025
This book was the absolute best birthday present 😂 Yes, I may have spent the day in floods of tears reading this, but what a fucking book!
I know I rant about John in my reviews for his and Emery's story arcs, but I do love his character so much, and to see what he goes through in this one was absolutely devastating. I was bawling my eyes out and my heart hurt so much when John and Emery were both struggling that hard. The moments where they reminded each other how much they loved each other and just how far they'd come, were absolutely everything. This found family is also one of the best I've ever read.
I hadn't really been paying all that much attention to the ongoing crime throughout the series because I was more interested in seeing the relationships and shenanigans between all of these characters, but then suddenly about a quarter of the way through this book it just clicked in my brain! I actually jump scared my kid when I suddenly burst out with 'I know who did it!!!!' 😂😂
The way these eight guys came together for this series and formed these lifelong friendships is the absolute best part of this whole hazardverse. I'm officially obsessed with Gregory Ashe's writing and I will not hesitate to read anything he publishes, even his shopping list at this point.
There has to be more books for each of these couples though. Tean and Jem have this huge gap between the end of their series and the beginning of this one. I want to see Ammon finally get what he deserves, and I want to see them get married. Auggie and Theo's series ended on a cliffhanger and nothing was mentioned about it here, plus what happened to Cart? North and Shaw's second arc also ended on a cliffhanger! And I'm sorry, but I absolutely need to see John-Henry and Emery after the events of this book. I need to see them choosing what they do with their lives instead of being forced into the situation they were left in! Basically I'm saying I would happily read another thirty something books about these character's because I'm never going to be ready to let go of them.
I'm beyond excited to read all of the Kickstarter stories for the series now too! Plus I need to see how attached my husband is to his wardrobe because I need space for a bookshelf entirely dedicated to Gregory Ashe's books...😂😂😂
I know I rant about John in my reviews for his and Emery's story arcs, but I do love his character so much, and to see what he goes through in this one was absolutely devastating. I was bawling my eyes out and my heart hurt so much when John and Emery were both struggling that hard. The moments where they reminded each other how much they loved each other and just how far they'd come, were absolutely everything. This found family is also one of the best I've ever read.
I hadn't really been paying all that much attention to the ongoing crime throughout the series because I was more interested in seeing the relationships and shenanigans between all of these characters, but then suddenly about a quarter of the way through this book it just clicked in my brain! I actually jump scared my kid when I suddenly burst out with 'I know who did it!!!!' 😂😂
The way these eight guys came together for this series and formed these lifelong friendships is the absolute best part of this whole hazardverse. I'm officially obsessed with Gregory Ashe's writing and I will not hesitate to read anything he publishes, even his shopping list at this point.
There has to be more books for each of these couples though. Tean and Jem have this huge gap between the end of their series and the beginning of this one. I want to see Ammon finally get what he deserves, and I want to see them get married. Auggie and Theo's series ended on a cliffhanger and nothing was mentioned about it here, plus what happened to Cart? North and Shaw's second arc also ended on a cliffhanger! And I'm sorry, but I absolutely need to see John-Henry and Emery after the events of this book. I need to see them choosing what they do with their lives instead of being forced into the situation they were left in! Basically I'm saying I would happily read another thirty something books about these character's because I'm never going to be ready to let go of them.
I'm beyond excited to read all of the Kickstarter stories for the series now too! Plus I need to see how attached my husband is to his wardrobe because I need space for a bookshelf entirely dedicated to Gregory Ashe's books...😂😂😂
May 15, 2025
5⭐️♾️ perfection. The Hazardverse series has been my absolute favorite literary experience. I’m 30 books deep and it just never gets old. I could read 100 books about these characters, they feel like real people and I miss them whenever I’m not reading about them.
This series finale really brought everything full circle, back to that locker room with John Henry forced to face his past and the question of who he was and who he’s become.
This story was heartbreaking and I cried for him and for Emery. The overarching mystery of this series also came together in one of the most suspenseful moments GA has written. I was on pins and needles waiting for the resolution.
Again, the friendship between all the couples was lovely and brilliant and hilarious. I love these books with my whole heart.
Tristan James’s narration was amazing per usual.
This series finale really brought everything full circle, back to that locker room with John Henry forced to face his past and the question of who he was and who he’s become.
This story was heartbreaking and I cried for him and for Emery. The overarching mystery of this series also came together in one of the most suspenseful moments GA has written. I was on pins and needles waiting for the resolution.
Again, the friendship between all the couples was lovely and brilliant and hilarious. I love these books with my whole heart.
Tristan James’s narration was amazing per usual.
January 21, 2024
Of course I’m sad that this series is over but what a delight it was! Ending it with the characters that started it all, Emery and John-Henry, I was totally sucked in from the first page.
This mystery spanned four books but evolved in many ways. Out of all the books this one was probably the one with the most angst for me. I felt so horrible for what John was going through. Just when you think Gregory Ashe has put his characters through everything he gives John the worst possible situation right before not only Christmas but his birthday! But of course, being the sucker I am for this type of angst, I happily soaked it all in and loved every minute of it.
One thing I am extremely happy about was the way Emery and John handled their fights. In the past they have had some extremely unhealthy arguments and the way they each dealt with those between massive anger and drinking and everything in between. If you’ve read all of the Hazard & Somerset books you understand. While there was anger and a tiny bit of drinking I thought that they patched things up in a more reasonable way and given the situation they were behaving how I would expect almost anyone to. They have definitely come a long way and their commitment to each other is just a beautiful thing.
The case itself and the mystery was well done, even if I thought it lost a bit of steam throughout all four books. The conclusion was not surprising to me but I felt that the story was more about the characters and how their lives were upset by this case and how they had to fight for what was important to them. Seeing Emery and John working together again always makes me giddy. I love their dynamic. Add in the other couples and how they all work together and I am in Heaven.
I love how these men, all eight of them, came together and built relationships that will bind them for life. They are like family now and given how horrible John’s family is there is nothing like having friends who become family. That theme ran throughout these books for me and seeing them all together at the conclusion brought it full circle.
I feel like there were some loose ends, what will become of John? Will he pick up where his life was before he had it all turned around? This is something that will have far reaching consequences and I don’t see how he will just bounce back. The town turned on him and I think we should get an entirely new series about the outcome. I will never say no to reading more of these characters.
Thank you to the author for this ARC
This mystery spanned four books but evolved in many ways. Out of all the books this one was probably the one with the most angst for me. I felt so horrible for what John was going through. Just when you think Gregory Ashe has put his characters through everything he gives John the worst possible situation right before not only Christmas but his birthday! But of course, being the sucker I am for this type of angst, I happily soaked it all in and loved every minute of it.
One thing I am extremely happy about was the way Emery and John handled their fights. In the past they have had some extremely unhealthy arguments and the way they each dealt with those between massive anger and drinking and everything in between. If you’ve read all of the Hazard & Somerset books you understand. While there was anger and a tiny bit of drinking I thought that they patched things up in a more reasonable way and given the situation they were behaving how I would expect almost anyone to. They have definitely come a long way and their commitment to each other is just a beautiful thing.
The case itself and the mystery was well done, even if I thought it lost a bit of steam throughout all four books. The conclusion was not surprising to me but I felt that the story was more about the characters and how their lives were upset by this case and how they had to fight for what was important to them. Seeing Emery and John working together again always makes me giddy. I love their dynamic. Add in the other couples and how they all work together and I am in Heaven.
I love how these men, all eight of them, came together and built relationships that will bind them for life. They are like family now and given how horrible John’s family is there is nothing like having friends who become family. That theme ran throughout these books for me and seeing them all together at the conclusion brought it full circle.
I feel like there were some loose ends, what will become of John? Will he pick up where his life was before he had it all turned around? This is something that will have far reaching consequences and I don’t see how he will just bounce back. The town turned on him and I think we should get an entirely new series about the outcome. I will never say no to reading more of these characters.
Thank you to the author for this ARC
February 5, 2024
Gregory Ashe brings his compelling
Iron on Iron
series to a close with The Evening Wolves, a gripping and gut-wrenching read that ties up the overarching plot while also circling back round to where-it-all-began for our beloved Hazard and Somerset.
The story picks up several months after the events of The Spoil of Beasts, when it looked as though the guys were never going to get to the bottom of exactly what was going on at the Cottonmouth Club. Someone – who always seemed to be one step ahead - had been doing an exceptionally good job of cleaning up and disposing of any loose ends and the trail had gone cold. And then, one day just before Christmas, John-Henry is accused of being in possession of child pornography, and arrested. Obviously, he’s been set up, and obviously it’s somehow tied to their investigations into the trafficking operations run out of the club – but with no real leads, how is Emery (and, by extension, North, Shaw, Theo, Auggie, Tean and Jem) going to prove it and find out who is behind it all?
This is very much a Somers book (which suited me down to the ground because while I love Hazard, John-Henry Somerset has always held a special place in my bookish heart) – and it’s a tough one. He’s come such a long way since we first met him in Pretty Pretty Boys, and in this series in particular, he’s shown just how good he is at what he does, treading a very fine line between being chief of police, husband, father and friend (especially when some of those friends are somewhat… lively!) But he’s always known, deep down, that he’s led a charmed life – courtesy of his parents’ wealth and position, and the good looks and charisma that have always bailed him out of the tight spots he got himself into – and wrestles with a tightly-lidded sense of self-loathing because of how easily he’s been able to coast through life. So when he’s accused of a truly horrendous crime there’s a little voice lurking at the back of his mind telling him that now he’s paying the price for all those years of using his privilege and popularity to get away with all the shit he pulled.
I’ve said several times in reviews that one of the (many) things that continues to impress me about this author’s work is the way he continues to find new ways to explore an established romantic relationship and to have his characters working through things in a completely organic way, because the issues that arise are never manufactured and are always there because of who the characters are. After thirteen full-length H&S books, several novellas and short stories, and the four books in this series, this still holds true for Emery and John-Henry, and in this novel, with his life crumbling around his ears, Somers is forced to examine what it means to be John-Henry Somerset in ways he has never done before, to think about the man he was raised to be, the man he’s needed to be and the man he wants to be. The high point of the story is the way it revisits – with a more mature, experienced perspective – Emery and John-Henry’s origin story, while also showing how they’ve grown as men and as a couple.
My heart broke for John-Henry as his deepest fears become reality and he goes from respected and well-liked member of the community to pariah overnight. His sense of self, his career and his reputation are in tatters, and the author’s descriptions of his feelings of despair and helplessness are intense. But despite the pressure this brings to their relationship, his and Emery’s love and commitment to one another doesn’t waver. Seeing them working together so seamlessly was one of my favourite things about their first story arc, so it was wonderful to see them slipping so easily back into that dynamic.
Of course, as soon as the news reaches North and Shaw and Jem and Tean, they all make their way back to Wahredua to do whatever it takes to prove John-Henry’s innocence and support him and Emery however they can. Their interactions bring some much needed lightness and love to the story, and as has been the case throughout the series, the scenes that feature all eight of them are an absolute delight. I love seeing the smaller groups and pairings – North teasing Auggie, the quiet, introspective moments between Emery and Tean… these guys have become family and you just know that they’re going to be a constant part of each others lives from now on.
(And that scene near the end with Emery and .... (spoiler!) was completely unexpected and breathtakingly brilliant.)
The Evening Wolves is painful to read at times – the emotions are raw and close to the surface and it was very hard to read about someone as essentially decent and kind as John-Henry going through what he goes through in this book - but it’s completely gripping and had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. It’s an outstanding finale to what has been an absolutely fantastic series.
The story picks up several months after the events of The Spoil of Beasts, when it looked as though the guys were never going to get to the bottom of exactly what was going on at the Cottonmouth Club. Someone – who always seemed to be one step ahead - had been doing an exceptionally good job of cleaning up and disposing of any loose ends and the trail had gone cold. And then, one day just before Christmas, John-Henry is accused of being in possession of child pornography, and arrested. Obviously, he’s been set up, and obviously it’s somehow tied to their investigations into the trafficking operations run out of the club – but with no real leads, how is Emery (and, by extension, North, Shaw, Theo, Auggie, Tean and Jem) going to prove it and find out who is behind it all?
This is very much a Somers book (which suited me down to the ground because while I love Hazard, John-Henry Somerset has always held a special place in my bookish heart) – and it’s a tough one. He’s come such a long way since we first met him in Pretty Pretty Boys, and in this series in particular, he’s shown just how good he is at what he does, treading a very fine line between being chief of police, husband, father and friend (especially when some of those friends are somewhat… lively!) But he’s always known, deep down, that he’s led a charmed life – courtesy of his parents’ wealth and position, and the good looks and charisma that have always bailed him out of the tight spots he got himself into – and wrestles with a tightly-lidded sense of self-loathing because of how easily he’s been able to coast through life. So when he’s accused of a truly horrendous crime there’s a little voice lurking at the back of his mind telling him that now he’s paying the price for all those years of using his privilege and popularity to get away with all the shit he pulled.
I’ve said several times in reviews that one of the (many) things that continues to impress me about this author’s work is the way he continues to find new ways to explore an established romantic relationship and to have his characters working through things in a completely organic way, because the issues that arise are never manufactured and are always there because of who the characters are. After thirteen full-length H&S books, several novellas and short stories, and the four books in this series, this still holds true for Emery and John-Henry, and in this novel, with his life crumbling around his ears, Somers is forced to examine what it means to be John-Henry Somerset in ways he has never done before, to think about the man he was raised to be, the man he’s needed to be and the man he wants to be. The high point of the story is the way it revisits – with a more mature, experienced perspective – Emery and John-Henry’s origin story, while also showing how they’ve grown as men and as a couple.
My heart broke for John-Henry as his deepest fears become reality and he goes from respected and well-liked member of the community to pariah overnight. His sense of self, his career and his reputation are in tatters, and the author’s descriptions of his feelings of despair and helplessness are intense. But despite the pressure this brings to their relationship, his and Emery’s love and commitment to one another doesn’t waver. Seeing them working together so seamlessly was one of my favourite things about their first story arc, so it was wonderful to see them slipping so easily back into that dynamic.
Of course, as soon as the news reaches North and Shaw and Jem and Tean, they all make their way back to Wahredua to do whatever it takes to prove John-Henry’s innocence and support him and Emery however they can. Their interactions bring some much needed lightness and love to the story, and as has been the case throughout the series, the scenes that feature all eight of them are an absolute delight. I love seeing the smaller groups and pairings – North teasing Auggie, the quiet, introspective moments between Emery and Tean… these guys have become family and you just know that they’re going to be a constant part of each others lives from now on.
(And that scene near the end with Emery and .... (spoiler!) was completely unexpected and breathtakingly brilliant.)
The Evening Wolves is painful to read at times – the emotions are raw and close to the surface and it was very hard to read about someone as essentially decent and kind as John-Henry going through what he goes through in this book - but it’s completely gripping and had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. It’s an outstanding finale to what has been an absolutely fantastic series.
February 11, 2024
My review didn't save! Lets try this again:
I am so in love with this world Ashe has created and will never stop reading everything in it. This book was everything I wanted and so much more. Throughout this series, a lot of emphasis was put on Emery and his relationship with all the different couples. So I was so pleasantly surprised that this really felt like a John-Henry story! Their relationship is 100% solid and we get some really great romantic moments peeking through (as well as the amazing humor that make this couple one of the best ever). The mystery is finally solved after so many twists and turns, but the true light was the amazing friendships that were built throughout the series. John-Henry has always put great value in friendships, but you really get to see the true brotherhood here and it is beautiful.
_______________________
After:
3 Tean and Jem books
5 Auggie and Theo books
7 North and Shaw books
18 Hazard and Somerset books
AND 3 crossover books....
FINALLY. My most anticipated book of the year, and it was was absolutely everything I wanted (although I wouldn't complain if I had more lol). Full review to come a little closer to release day just to avoid any incidental spoilers.
I am so in love with this world Ashe has created and will never stop reading everything in it. This book was everything I wanted and so much more. Throughout this series, a lot of emphasis was put on Emery and his relationship with all the different couples. So I was so pleasantly surprised that this really felt like a John-Henry story! Their relationship is 100% solid and we get some really great romantic moments peeking through (as well as the amazing humor that make this couple one of the best ever). The mystery is finally solved after so many twists and turns, but the true light was the amazing friendships that were built throughout the series. John-Henry has always put great value in friendships, but you really get to see the true brotherhood here and it is beautiful.
_______________________
After:
3 Tean and Jem books
5 Auggie and Theo books
7 North and Shaw books
18 Hazard and Somerset books
AND 3 crossover books....
FINALLY. My most anticipated book of the year, and it was was absolutely everything I wanted (although I wouldn't complain if I had more lol). Full review to come a little closer to release day just to avoid any incidental spoilers.
January 28, 2024
My god, this was perfection. RTC.
April 24, 2024
Wow!!! 🤩 RTC!
January 22, 2024
Amazing!!!
This is by far my favourite of the series and I think this particular story is very special to us readers who have been there from the beginning.
Greg manages to keep us readers constantly interested with his well thought out and often very dark plot but what I personally find the most appealing about these books, and this one in particular, is the constant dive into the psyche of the characters. I love seeing how far they’ve come and how much their lives and choices have been shaped by the early factors in life.
I will never not love anything Gregory Ashe writes but this one really knocked it out of the park for me.
Such an enjoyable read!
This is by far my favourite of the series and I think this particular story is very special to us readers who have been there from the beginning.
Greg manages to keep us readers constantly interested with his well thought out and often very dark plot but what I personally find the most appealing about these books, and this one in particular, is the constant dive into the psyche of the characters. I love seeing how far they’ve come and how much their lives and choices have been shaped by the early factors in life.
I will never not love anything Gregory Ashe writes but this one really knocked it out of the park for me.
Such an enjoyable read!
February 13, 2024
4.25 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Can you say bleak, my friends? I read a few reviews that warned about this installment being angst city, (and this is Ashe so when is that not the case?) but I still felt unprepared for the emotional onslaught. The Evening Wolves is the 4th and final installment of the Iron on Iron series which has quite masterfully combined Ashe’s 4 main duos into an overarching mystery.
Now you may call me crazy, but this was not my favorite of the series. In fact if I’m being totally honest it probably ranks 🥉for me 🫣 Don’t get me wrong it was still a great book chalk full of emotional turmoil and upheaval, but I found it to be great for the Hazard & Somerset arc and weak when concluding the Iron on Iron mystery. To put simply John-Henry is going through IT in this book. The Wahredua Golden Boy has fallen from grace and the existentialism is hitting him hard. Everything he’s known his whole life is slipping away and it was heartbreaking to watch. As I mentioned above, it was great for the Hazard & Somerset arc and I can’t imagine we won’t get another series for them following that finish.
Regarding the actual mystery surrounding John-Henry’s framing and the overarching Iron on Iron mystery it fell flat for me. I found the conclusion to be too rushed with no real explanation as to the motives behind the Big Bad they’ve been chasing for 4 books. I think had this book not been the final installment I would have less issues, but everything ended in a way that felt unfinished. Again, I still enjoyed it but was hoping for more with the climax of the story.
Things I loved were of course the camaraderie amongst the guys. A wonderful display of found family, and their humor, support, and vulnerability with each other is absolutely the star of this series. Something I think Ashe doesn’t get enough credit for is how funny he is! The banter always has me LOL’ing and I feel like a fly on the wall of these real, tangible conversations. Above all, the writing is always top notch. Every character encountered, big or small, feels like a fully developed person and there is such an art in creating such a vibrant, real, universe.
I can’t wait to see what’s in store for these guys! ❤️
Can you say bleak, my friends? I read a few reviews that warned about this installment being angst city, (and this is Ashe so when is that not the case?) but I still felt unprepared for the emotional onslaught. The Evening Wolves is the 4th and final installment of the Iron on Iron series which has quite masterfully combined Ashe’s 4 main duos into an overarching mystery.
Now you may call me crazy, but this was not my favorite of the series. In fact if I’m being totally honest it probably ranks 🥉for me 🫣 Don’t get me wrong it was still a great book chalk full of emotional turmoil and upheaval, but I found it to be great for the Hazard & Somerset arc and weak when concluding the Iron on Iron mystery. To put simply John-Henry is going through IT in this book. The Wahredua Golden Boy has fallen from grace and the existentialism is hitting him hard. Everything he’s known his whole life is slipping away and it was heartbreaking to watch. As I mentioned above, it was great for the Hazard & Somerset arc and I can’t imagine we won’t get another series for them following that finish.
Regarding the actual mystery surrounding John-Henry’s framing and the overarching Iron on Iron mystery it fell flat for me. I found the conclusion to be too rushed with no real explanation as to the motives behind the Big Bad they’ve been chasing for 4 books. I think had this book not been the final installment I would have less issues, but everything ended in a way that felt unfinished. Again, I still enjoyed it but was hoping for more with the climax of the story.
Things I loved were of course the camaraderie amongst the guys. A wonderful display of found family, and their humor, support, and vulnerability with each other is absolutely the star of this series. Something I think Ashe doesn’t get enough credit for is how funny he is! The banter always has me LOL’ing and I feel like a fly on the wall of these real, tangible conversations. Above all, the writing is always top notch. Every character encountered, big or small, feels like a fully developed person and there is such an art in creating such a vibrant, real, universe.
I can’t wait to see what’s in store for these guys! ❤️
January 24, 2024
We need an option for a 6-star rating that we can give out once or twice a year for books that are extra special, because giving this 5 stars is just not enough. I finished it a couple days ago and have not stopped thinking about it since.
This was my favorite installment in the Iron on Iron series. It's a remarkable feat that we now have 17 full-length Hazard & Somerset novels, and Gregory Ashe still finds new and compelling ways to delve into these characters as individuals and as a couple. In this one, John-Henry Somerset is accused of a terrible crime which uproots his life and makes him think about the man his parents raised him to be, the man he's had to be for the town, and the man *he* wants to be. Every time I think we've uncovered all there is to know about how Hazard & Somerset's history and past traumas inform their present-day characters, Gregory Ashe peels back another layer and offers new insight. No spoilers, but there is an especially poignant scene in this book that feels all the more satisfying because it's happening in the 17th book of this married couple.
I appreciated the way the crossover characters were included in this one. They were a part of the investigation just the right amount, and added humor in just the right moments. I love how they feel like one big family now - it's wild to think that a few short months ago, Jem and Tean had never even met the others. All eight of them feel bonded for life now.
This was a great end to the crossover series, but more than anything, it has me dying for another Hazard & Somerset arc. The mystery is resolved, and there aren't any cliffhangers, exactly, but there is one thread left open-ended which (depending on how it goes) could have a life-changing impact and I am dying to know what will happen!!
This was my favorite installment in the Iron on Iron series. It's a remarkable feat that we now have 17 full-length Hazard & Somerset novels, and Gregory Ashe still finds new and compelling ways to delve into these characters as individuals and as a couple. In this one, John-Henry Somerset is accused of a terrible crime which uproots his life and makes him think about the man his parents raised him to be, the man he's had to be for the town, and the man *he* wants to be. Every time I think we've uncovered all there is to know about how Hazard & Somerset's history and past traumas inform their present-day characters, Gregory Ashe peels back another layer and offers new insight. No spoilers, but there is an especially poignant scene in this book that feels all the more satisfying because it's happening in the 17th book of this married couple.
I appreciated the way the crossover characters were included in this one. They were a part of the investigation just the right amount, and added humor in just the right moments. I love how they feel like one big family now - it's wild to think that a few short months ago, Jem and Tean had never even met the others. All eight of them feel bonded for life now.
This was a great end to the crossover series, but more than anything, it has me dying for another Hazard & Somerset arc. The mystery is resolved, and there aren't any cliffhangers, exactly, but there is one thread left open-ended which (depending on how it goes) could have a life-changing impact and I am dying to know what will happen!!
April 17, 2024
This is my favourite Ashe series I have read. All the guys together, great mysteries, great character development, really funny and sweet. I think it was kind of perfect and it's left me with a big book hangover.
February 5, 2024
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
This is the last full-length book in the Iron on Iron series and it ends with the characters that started all of my Ashe reading, Emery Hazard and John Somerset. Ashe has made these men suffer in countless and horrific ways and he’s not finished with them here. When John is accused of a horrible crime, it alters him down to his soul. There are so many levels to John’s arc here, both professional and personal. Although most of Ashe’s series rely heavily on mysteries, when he digs deep into character development, he hooks me every time. The personal moments between Emery and John always shine and there are some sparkling moments here showing the evolution of their relationship and the deep commitment they have to each other.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
This is the last full-length book in the Iron on Iron series and it ends with the characters that started all of my Ashe reading, Emery Hazard and John Somerset. Ashe has made these men suffer in countless and horrific ways and he’s not finished with them here. When John is accused of a horrible crime, it alters him down to his soul. There are so many levels to John’s arc here, both professional and personal. Although most of Ashe’s series rely heavily on mysteries, when he digs deep into character development, he hooks me every time. The personal moments between Emery and John always shine and there are some sparkling moments here showing the evolution of their relationship and the deep commitment they have to each other.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
April 15, 2024
This book stressed me the fuck out and gave me nightmares, 5 stars.
No equivalent of the card trick-juggling scene or the Pretty Pretty scene, but just tons of love and loyalty between these guys the whole way through. "I'm going to spend tonight with my family." 😭😭😭😭
No equivalent of the card trick-juggling scene or the Pretty Pretty scene, but just tons of love and loyalty between these guys the whole way through. "I'm going to spend tonight with my family." 😭😭😭😭
April 5, 2024
Intense action, pain.
J-H didn't deserve it.
Hazard brings him home.
J-H didn't deserve it.
Hazard brings him home.
February 5, 2024
Now, the sound of steps on the porch made him stop his pacing, and a moment later, the door swung open. John stood there, dressed in jeans and a sweater, eyes smudged with fatigue. He smiled when he saw Emery and said, “Thank God.”
It was John’s smile. It was John’s voice.
Emery reached him in two steps and wrapped him in his arms. John hugged him back. He smelled like cheap soap and day-old clothes, but also like John. His body was John’s, fitting to Emery’s the way it was supposed to.
john-henry somerset ❤ john-henry somerset ❤ john-henry somerset ❤ john-henry somerset ❤ john-henry somerset ❤ john-henry somerset ❤ john-henry somerset ❤ john-henry somerset ❤ john-henry somerset ❤
Ah, end of an era! It took me a while to get my thoughts about this book straight because there are so many different angles I wanted to comment on.
Hazard and Somers of it all... They are genuinely the most satisfying romantic couple I have ever read. I'm always in awe of how Gregory Ashe addresses something seemingly new but so authentically entrenched in their individual character arcs and their relationship with each new installment. Where many first sequels fail with the drama and the angst feeling fabricated and forced, the way GA approaches Somers and Hazard's relationship always makes me go "of course! of course this is something bearing on the characters we haven't addressed yet, that we need to address." This installation finds Somers dealing with a terrible accusation which becomes a means to him examining what it means to be John-Henry Somerset like he had never before. He's truly the character of all time, he's so so perfect to me in how a character construction should be done. And it is immensely gratifying to see how he and Hazard deal with this wrench thrown in their way together now. Their development is so beautiful but also so real, still charged with tension born out of two strongly drawn and fleshed out characters with their own quirks and traumas and backgrounds. It is hard for me personally to enjoy a couple for so long after they get together but H&S still hold so much dynamism. This is GA's superpower in my opinion. Strong characters carrying dynamic relationships even after the I-love-yous and the wedding vows and the kids.
The other guys are, as they've been throughout this entire series, a joy. Maybe it is the effect of my Somers goggles eclipsing everything else but they didn't feel as involved - on a personal level - in this book to me though the levity they brought on was as always appreciated. Just a bunch of gay men (and one bi Somers) being blorbos together, solving a huge crime, and loving each other! What else could I want? I'm already upset about the fact that I probably will never see North being an ass to Jem and Auggie again and Tean being the calmest sweetest person to Hazard and Shaw both shocking and impressing everyone with his Shawisms.
Talking about the crime aspect of this book, however, I felt like the resolution fell a bit short of my expectations. Or maybe it would be better to say it felt a bit restricted in execution. I would love to see the final act of this book to provide more of a breathing room for the resolution of the mystery as we've been building it for four books on so many different levels. While this book wraps up some plot (and character) threads left from even Pretty Pretty Boys, it didn't give that "this is the end" feeling I always have with the last books, especially last books in H&S arcs. To me, Criminal Past could be a great last H&S book, so could The Keeper of Bees, and of course Final Orders. I actually have been saying before this book came out how we could have no other H&S books and I would be satisfied but The Evening Wolves doesn't feel that way. Maybe it is not as on the nose as North and Shaw being set up for a third Borealis arc, but I feel like we have to go somewhere from here? Am I just supposed to leave Somers like this? I need to know what happens after all this, I didn't have enough pages at the end of this book to process all that, please!
Thank you to Gregory Ashe for providing me with an ARC in exchange of an honest review.
P.S.: Thank you to whoever gave him the feedback that Somers thinking of Hazard as "Ree" in the prose didn't flow well in those short stories. Or maybe he thought of that himself. I'm just glad he changed it to Emery and John.
P.S.2: Not to be spoilery but
July 22, 2025
2024: 5.0
2025: 4.5
Average: 4.75
2025: This was even more stressful the second time. I had so much second hand anxiety I wanted to vomit.
2024: Why do John Henry and Emery always give me the worst anxiety of my life 😭😭😭
Seriously, these two stress me out so much!!!
Love it though
2025: 4.5
Average: 4.75
2025: This was even more stressful the second time. I had so much second hand anxiety I wanted to vomit.
2024: Why do John Henry and Emery always give me the worst anxiety of my life 😭😭😭
Seriously, these two stress me out so much!!!
Love it though
January 16, 2024
Emery Hazard and John Henry Somerset are, in many ways, the underlying heartbeat of Gregory Ashe's books. Although the other characters are just as important and just as wonderful, everything circles back to Hazard and Somerset in the end and it makes perfect sense: it started with them, and now it "ends" with them (though my heart desperately hopes this isn't truly the end because now I just have even more questions I need answers to).
The final book in Gregory Ashe's Iron on Iron crossover series, The Evening Wolves is nonstop from beginning to end. The very first chapter - which takes place several months after the end of the previous book - ends with the infuriating arrest of John Henry for a crime nobody should ever believe he would be capable of committing, something so outrageous that it left me momentarily speechless with the injustice of it all. From then on, it's an absolute roller coaster of emotions and intensity as everyone comes back together to try and prove John Henry's innocence, and Emery tries to keep his family from falling apart.
The true beauty of this book is the way that it circles back to the origin of John Henry and Emery in way that isn't so much revisiting the past as it is looking at it from a new point of view, with all the years of experience and life now behind them. You can see, quite clearly, the way each of them has grown and matured, the way they have learned to love, the way they have learned to care. In something as seemingly simple as referring to them as "Emery" and "John Henry" instead of "Hazard" and "Somers" as they have for so many books now, Greg brings to light their shifting lives and the new and tentative paths they are taking to become better people. Where Emery's temper would have previously resulted in vicious arguments and ferocious defensiveness, he now takes care to reel his emotions in, to focus on the things that matter. It's John Henry this time - golden, perfect, elegant John Henry - who has to face the past that he has tried so hard to move on from. While it could potentially seem repetitive to revisit, it's handled in a way that is delicate and emotional, careful in its portrayal of breaking cycles and starting anew. There are many scenes that could be considered "my favorite" but one in particular, taking place about 3/4 of the way through the book, sees the culmination of all of the previous books as John Henry and Emery come to an understanding about each other, both separate and together, and the tenderness and sweetness with which its handled is breathtaking. The two of them have always been my favorite, and this book makes it clear to me that its a position well deserved in my heart.
There are a few cases in which the descriptions seem almost a little overwhelming, but they are then tempered by dialogue or character interactions, which balances everything out. With a cast of characters this large, it's only natural that it can be difficult to maintain, and sometimes the writing teeters on the precarious edge of being too much before tipping back safely into "just enough." There are some truly hysterical interactions (North and Emery especially) but there are also some incredibly surprising ones which I can't mention without spoiling (That Scene close to the end had me completely flabbergasted on so many levels). A surprise cameo by a beloved character also makes me that much more excited to see where his story goes in the future.
The Evening Wolves is a satisfying conclusion to the Iron on Iron crossover, but there are still many unanswered questions that have sprouted as a result of the ending and I am begging Greg to not leave us hanging for my own selfish reasons. It's a fantastic, thrilling, suspenseful book that had me on the edge of my seat the entire time.
Thank you to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The final book in Gregory Ashe's Iron on Iron crossover series, The Evening Wolves is nonstop from beginning to end. The very first chapter - which takes place several months after the end of the previous book - ends with the infuriating arrest of John Henry for a crime nobody should ever believe he would be capable of committing, something so outrageous that it left me momentarily speechless with the injustice of it all. From then on, it's an absolute roller coaster of emotions and intensity as everyone comes back together to try and prove John Henry's innocence, and Emery tries to keep his family from falling apart.
The true beauty of this book is the way that it circles back to the origin of John Henry and Emery in way that isn't so much revisiting the past as it is looking at it from a new point of view, with all the years of experience and life now behind them. You can see, quite clearly, the way each of them has grown and matured, the way they have learned to love, the way they have learned to care. In something as seemingly simple as referring to them as "Emery" and "John Henry" instead of "Hazard" and "Somers" as they have for so many books now, Greg brings to light their shifting lives and the new and tentative paths they are taking to become better people. Where Emery's temper would have previously resulted in vicious arguments and ferocious defensiveness, he now takes care to reel his emotions in, to focus on the things that matter. It's John Henry this time - golden, perfect, elegant John Henry - who has to face the past that he has tried so hard to move on from. While it could potentially seem repetitive to revisit, it's handled in a way that is delicate and emotional, careful in its portrayal of breaking cycles and starting anew. There are many scenes that could be considered "my favorite" but one in particular, taking place about 3/4 of the way through the book, sees the culmination of all of the previous books as John Henry and Emery come to an understanding about each other, both separate and together, and the tenderness and sweetness with which its handled is breathtaking. The two of them have always been my favorite, and this book makes it clear to me that its a position well deserved in my heart.
There are a few cases in which the descriptions seem almost a little overwhelming, but they are then tempered by dialogue or character interactions, which balances everything out. With a cast of characters this large, it's only natural that it can be difficult to maintain, and sometimes the writing teeters on the precarious edge of being too much before tipping back safely into "just enough." There are some truly hysterical interactions (North and Emery especially) but there are also some incredibly surprising ones which I can't mention without spoiling (That Scene close to the end had me completely flabbergasted on so many levels). A surprise cameo by a beloved character also makes me that much more excited to see where his story goes in the future.
The Evening Wolves is a satisfying conclusion to the Iron on Iron crossover, but there are still many unanswered questions that have sprouted as a result of the ending and I am begging Greg to not leave us hanging for my own selfish reasons. It's a fantastic, thrilling, suspenseful book that had me on the edge of my seat the entire time.
Thank you to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 20, 2024
“The Evening Wolves” is a masterful culmination of so many storylines from the Iron on Iron series and many of Gregory Ashe’s previous series. While the previous three books in the series presumed a fair bit of background knowledge, Greg does a wonderful job here of making the connections more explicit, which I appreciated.
It was delightful to be in the heads of Emery and John-Henry again and remember why I fell in love with them. We get to revisit the unique aspects of their personalities and their history together, while also experiencing the significant development of their relationship. It’s wonderful to see them interacting as partners, as parents, and as friends to their ever-growing found family.
Greg set a difficult goal for himself of giving voice to 8 fully fleshed-out main characters over the course of the 4 Iron on Iron books. While Emery, North, Theo, and Tean share an intensity, John-Henry, Shaw, Auggie, and Jem share a lightness. Yet they are far from carbon copies of each other. Greg has created 8 distinct people, and “The Evening Wolves” allows each of them to contribute meaningfully to the plot’s development and resolution.
If you are looking to experience deep emotions, this book definitely delivers. John-Henry’s career, reputation, and sense of himself all seem to disintegrate, and the book’s depiction of what that feels like is intense. While Emery’s history of a similar experience years ago gives him a unique perspective, he feels impotent to help John-Henry. More than anything, Emery wants to protect John-Henry, their son Colt, and everyone else in his life, but that protective instinct leans more toward controlling than simply compassionate. Extreme events put tremendous pressure on John-Henry and Emery’s relationship, but their commitment to each other doesn’t waiver.
John-Henry does a lot of soul-searching in this story, and that allows Greg to take the reader on a trip through aspects of the previous Hazard and Somerset novels. It also shows how John-Henry has developed from the troubled golden boy of “Pretty Pretty Boys” through 16 novels to the introspective man of this book.
I finished “The Evening Wolves” with mixed emotions. It was such a satisfying end to the series, and at the same time, I’m so sad the ride is over! Greg has populated my world with so many endearing people, and whenever I read about any of them, I want more. It's a good thing (for me) that he’s such a workaholic, so there’s always more to look forward to.
It was delightful to be in the heads of Emery and John-Henry again and remember why I fell in love with them. We get to revisit the unique aspects of their personalities and their history together, while also experiencing the significant development of their relationship. It’s wonderful to see them interacting as partners, as parents, and as friends to their ever-growing found family.
Greg set a difficult goal for himself of giving voice to 8 fully fleshed-out main characters over the course of the 4 Iron on Iron books. While Emery, North, Theo, and Tean share an intensity, John-Henry, Shaw, Auggie, and Jem share a lightness. Yet they are far from carbon copies of each other. Greg has created 8 distinct people, and “The Evening Wolves” allows each of them to contribute meaningfully to the plot’s development and resolution.
If you are looking to experience deep emotions, this book definitely delivers. John-Henry’s career, reputation, and sense of himself all seem to disintegrate, and the book’s depiction of what that feels like is intense. While Emery’s history of a similar experience years ago gives him a unique perspective, he feels impotent to help John-Henry. More than anything, Emery wants to protect John-Henry, their son Colt, and everyone else in his life, but that protective instinct leans more toward controlling than simply compassionate. Extreme events put tremendous pressure on John-Henry and Emery’s relationship, but their commitment to each other doesn’t waiver.
John-Henry does a lot of soul-searching in this story, and that allows Greg to take the reader on a trip through aspects of the previous Hazard and Somerset novels. It also shows how John-Henry has developed from the troubled golden boy of “Pretty Pretty Boys” through 16 novels to the introspective man of this book.
I finished “The Evening Wolves” with mixed emotions. It was such a satisfying end to the series, and at the same time, I’m so sad the ride is over! Greg has populated my world with so many endearing people, and whenever I read about any of them, I want more. It's a good thing (for me) that he’s such a workaholic, so there’s always more to look forward to.
June 18, 2024
I felt the whole gamut of emotions with this finale.
Rage.
Devastation.
Terror.
Hilarity.
Love.
Tenderness.
Relief.
Joy.
The overarching mystery was a real whodunnit and held my interest throughout the series. I was at a loss until the very end, which was a very satisfying one I might add.
And as for the guys, what can I say? I have no words to express how much my heart was bursting with love for Somers and Hazard, North and Shaw, Jem and Tean, and Theo and Auggie throughout the book. The way the guys came together and moved heaven and earth to help Somers fight vicious trumped up charges put me through the emotional wringer. I’m going to miss these guys dearly.
The impromptu Christmas get-together/Somers’ birthday party at the end featuring beloved side characters from other series was pure icing on the cake.
Rage.
Devastation.
Terror.
Hilarity.
Love.
Tenderness.
Relief.
Joy.
The overarching mystery was a real whodunnit and held my interest throughout the series. I was at a loss until the very end, which was a very satisfying one I might add.
And as for the guys, what can I say? I have no words to express how much my heart was bursting with love for Somers and Hazard, North and Shaw, Jem and Tean, and Theo and Auggie throughout the book. The way the guys came together and moved heaven and earth to help Somers fight vicious trumped up charges put me through the emotional wringer. I’m going to miss these guys dearly.
The impromptu Christmas get-together/Somers’ birthday party at the end featuring beloved side characters from other series was pure icing on the cake.
October 17, 2024
Story : 5 stars
Audiobook: 5 stars. Another wonderful narration by Tristan James.
It is the final book in the series, I still have to read the side stories, but it was a little too short, I need more, especially of Jem and Tean and John and Emery.
From the beginning you suffer, there is only one chapter of peace until the drama begins. It has been a hard book for John, but he has managed to come clean with Emery about some unresolved issues, get rid of his father's influence (I don't think I ever said I hated him) and solve the case that started four books ago.
I really liked how the four couples worked together.
Audiobook: 5 stars. Another wonderful narration by Tristan James.
It is the final book in the series, I still have to read the side stories, but it was a little too short, I need more, especially of Jem and Tean and John and Emery.
From the beginning you suffer, there is only one chapter of peace until the drama begins. It has been a hard book for John, but he has managed to come clean with Emery about some unresolved issues, get rid of his father's influence (I don't think I ever said I hated him) and solve the case that started four books ago.
I really liked how the four couples worked together.
Read
May 8, 2024I don’t know what I’m rating this yet, but I finished it.
May 17, 2024
February 2024, Incredibly belated post for this phenomenal 5 star read! “The Evening Wolves,” the final novel in the Iron on Iron MM romance mystery quartet was incredible, and the accompanying short stories collection was a hilarious, light, and occasionally heartfelt set from various perspectives of our 8 Hazardverse characters, taking place between the various stories.
Cannot recommend highly enough. And bonus! Part of the Kickstarter I did let me pick a moment as a minor character cameo, so I’m in a story as “Chief of Shawnanigans,” the head of a fan club for the gay library erotica written by Shaw, one of the characters, and I get to meet Emery Hazard in it. Absolutely loved that moment, no notes. That is in a short story in the short story collection "Good Vibes Only"
Cannot recommend highly enough. And bonus! Part of the Kickstarter I did let me pick a moment as a minor character cameo, so I’m in a story as “Chief of Shawnanigans,” the head of a fan club for the gay library erotica written by Shaw, one of the characters, and I get to meet Emery Hazard in it. Absolutely loved that moment, no notes. That is in a short story in the short story collection "Good Vibes Only"
February 18, 2024
Boy...Greg really put us through it with this one.
We pick up the investigation that went cold after North and Shaw found themselves at a literal dead end, and Hazard and Somerset are trying to pick up the pieces and put them back together.
When John is arrested for the most heinous of crimes they know they've triped a major wire, and that these people will stop at nothing to make sure they're never caught. As the investigation unfolds, John and Emery find that the past is never that far behind, and if they want a chance at a future, they'll need to pull the skeletons from their closet and take them out to the trash together. John has relied on his clout his entire life, but with no one left on his side but our other 7 heros, and a few other characters we all know and love, there's nothing to save him from the damage his privileged life has done to him. He's at a loss, ready to give up, and in the depths of despair. It's going back to the very place his life went off the tracks that puts things back in motion, and leads to his redemption.
Emery is just trying to hold on to hope. Not that he believes in the intangible, but being helpless is a new low for him that even the great Hazard isnt prepared to fight. He can't protect John from the things that have happened to him and has to learn that sometimes walking beside John is the best way to lead him back to the light.
Add in a threat to Colt, and it'll take the entire Hazardverse to end this nightmare
I loved how everything came full circle for John and Emery in this book. How the action they faced was balanced with intense and tender moments that kept you engaged in both the case and their character development. Everything had an equal and opposite reaction in this book, and it wasn't always an easy read.
But it was worth it.
We pick up the investigation that went cold after North and Shaw found themselves at a literal dead end, and Hazard and Somerset are trying to pick up the pieces and put them back together.
When John is arrested for the most heinous of crimes they know they've triped a major wire, and that these people will stop at nothing to make sure they're never caught. As the investigation unfolds, John and Emery find that the past is never that far behind, and if they want a chance at a future, they'll need to pull the skeletons from their closet and take them out to the trash together. John has relied on his clout his entire life, but with no one left on his side but our other 7 heros, and a few other characters we all know and love, there's nothing to save him from the damage his privileged life has done to him. He's at a loss, ready to give up, and in the depths of despair. It's going back to the very place his life went off the tracks that puts things back in motion, and leads to his redemption.
Emery is just trying to hold on to hope. Not that he believes in the intangible, but being helpless is a new low for him that even the great Hazard isnt prepared to fight. He can't protect John from the things that have happened to him and has to learn that sometimes walking beside John is the best way to lead him back to the light.
Add in a threat to Colt, and it'll take the entire Hazardverse to end this nightmare
I loved how everything came full circle for John and Emery in this book. How the action they faced was balanced with intense and tender moments that kept you engaged in both the case and their character development. Everything had an equal and opposite reaction in this book, and it wasn't always an easy read.
But it was worth it.
February 13, 2024
5 adoring stars.
As I've put down the last book of Iron on Iron, I was overcome by that sense of hollowness and apathy that can only creep in when you've immersed yourself so far into something you love and you don't really know what to do with yourself and your life now. I loved this book, I loved the guys together, the cameraderie of them, I love every single story crafted by Gregory Ashe, and I'll be here curled up into a fetal position yearning for more stories with John-Henry and Emery, my fave two MCs, that I absolutely just refuse to say goodbye to.
As I've put down the last book of Iron on Iron, I was overcome by that sense of hollowness and apathy that can only creep in when you've immersed yourself so far into something you love and you don't really know what to do with yourself and your life now. I loved this book, I loved the guys together, the cameraderie of them, I love every single story crafted by Gregory Ashe, and I'll be here curled up into a fetal position yearning for more stories with John-Henry and Emery, my fave two MCs, that I absolutely just refuse to say goodbye to.
March 15, 2024
In the 30 some books that feature two or more of the characters in this universe, this one is my favorite - exactly as I expected. I loved so much seeing everyone interact together and the obvious growth that has happened with all of the characters. I wish this series could be ten more books long and I really really hope it’s not the last we’ve seen of them.
In the meantime, I look forward to reliving all the best moments while listening to the each series in audio.
In the meantime, I look forward to reliving all the best moments while listening to the each series in audio.
March 27, 2024
“…I can’t promise that what comes next will be better than the life you envisioned for yourself. All I can say is that I’ll be there John. With you. For you. And there will be a future. And things will get better.”
“He sat there under a map of stars. And he remembered reading somewhere, a long time ago, that all our mourning, we do for ourselves.”
GA really saved the best couple til last… but like how could he not? Emery and John-Henry forever <333 Was this my favourite ending ever… no but it did make me tear up. The mystery finally came to a close with everyone safe and sound. I love this universe and it’s characters so damn much. The way these men have grown from colleagues to friends makes me so happy. I seriously never want GA to ever stop writing stories set in the Hazardverse…
“He sat there under a map of stars. And he remembered reading somewhere, a long time ago, that all our mourning, we do for ourselves.”
GA really saved the best couple til last… but like how could he not? Emery and John-Henry forever <333 Was this my favourite ending ever… no but it did make me tear up. The mystery finally came to a close with everyone safe and sound. I love this universe and it’s characters so damn much. The way these men have grown from colleagues to friends makes me so happy. I seriously never want GA to ever stop writing stories set in the Hazardverse…
August 26, 2024
This is an emotional, dangerous rush, as one should expect with these characters in this mess at the end of the series. I couldn't finish reading the Hazard and Somerset series, but I like these two in their married stage, quite a lot. And I really liked the ending. It's been great fun seeing all eight of them together, being guys, being themselves, bonding. Gregory Ashe should be proud of himself. :)
Now, on to the collection Only Good Vibes.
Now, on to the collection Only Good Vibes.
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