Broken

Unlucky 13 #1

by Andi Jaxon

Welcome to Black Diamond Resort and Spa… After years of drowning myself in parties, hook ups, and pain, all it takes is one viral sex tape to get me thrown on a remote island to disappear for a while. That or lose my trust fund. Having to share a room with the one man I let hurt me is my worst nightmare. I’m the broken shell of the boy he walked away from on the single worst day of my life. I hate him almost as much as I hate myself. This island was supposed to be a place I could rest but instead I’m running. From Asher Vaughn. From myself. From the scars on my heart that never healed. It hurts to look at him and see all the things we never got to have. But how am I supposed to keep him at arm's length when he watches me the way he used too? When he touches me? When he calls me his? We can’t be together, not off this island. The straight football star and the gay femme son of famous parents. The media would rip us apart and ruin his career. I barely survived the last time he left me, can I live through being deserted again? Broken is a brother’s best friend, mm romance with some praise kink, and a broken boy in desperate need of love. This story has triggers which you can find on my website.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Second Chance, Sports, Forced Proximity, Friends To Lovers, Contemporary

322 pages, Paperback

Published June 7, 2023

About the author

From Dyslexic kid with a love of Algebra to a published author, no one is more surprised to find me here, than I am. I love to write about tortured pasts and hot sex, a happily ever after that has to be worked for. My stories tend to be a little dark but with some comic relief, typically in the form of sarcasm.

What to know more about me? Follow me on social media or subscribe to my mailing list to receive the latest information on new releases, sales, and more!

Amazon: http://bit.ly/AndiAmazon
BookBub: http://bit.ly/AndiBookBub
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andijaxonauthor
Pinterest: http://bit.ly/AndiPinterest
Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/andis...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andijaxon
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorandijaxon
Website: http://www.andijaxon.com
Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/e42677cb7ccd/andin...

Reviews

[Mila · Rating 4 out of 5]

***4.0 rating***

"The only boy I ever wanted, ever loved, loves me back. And not only does he love me, he wants the world to know."

TW: Contains themes of self-harm, verbal and emotional abuse

Broken, is the first book in the Unlucky 13 series. The first book revolves around Asher and Eli (Elliot). Asher and Eli, have known each other all of their lives. Asher was Eli's brother's (Marcus) best friend. Asher is three years older than Eli. When Eli is 17, something ignites between them. Romance. Asher becomes the first boy that Eli has ever loved. His first love. No one knows about him and Asher. Unfortunately, tragedy strikes Eli's family and Asher leaves without a goodbye.

Fast forward six years later, Eli is 23 and Asher is 26. Eli who has celebrities as parents, becomes involved in a sex scandal that goes viral. Asher who is now a football player also finds himself in a scandal that could put his athletic career in jeopardy.

Unbeknownst to either of them, they get shipped off to Black Diamond Resort and Spa for a few weeks, until their scandals are nonexistent. Black Diamond Resort and Spa, is where the wealthy and elite escape to (for whatever reason). So what better place for these two to escape to until their controversies cool down?

Forced proximity, forces Eli and Asher to face their feelings for one another, that is deep-seated feelings and words that have gone unsaid for many years.

It is not easy for these two to be together at Black Diamond. Both have a lot of unresolved trauma and issues that are yet to be dealt with. Both also have had insufferable and unsupportive parents in their life. Asher and Eli, really only have one another. Their time at the resort is also a reflective period, where they realize how they feel about one another.

Broken was surprisingly an angsty read. The angst tugs at your heartstrings. Eli's character particularly makes you sympathize with him. He is truly broken and Asher makes him whole. Before Asher, he thought he was unworthy and unlovable. I absolutely adored Eli, you just want to hug him and tell him that everything is going to be okay. Andi Jaxon has a way with words that makes you not only sympathize with her characters but also root for them to finally be together and have their HEA. The book is angsty, sure, but it's about two broken men that not only find their way back to one another but also realize that happiness and love are possible for them. I enjoyed the first book in this installment. Can't wait to read the rest of the books in this series!


I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jay H (Hiatus) · Rating 2 out of 5]

The hate I have for this book!!! ahhh it made me wanna rip my hair out. I am gonna write a proper review when I have the time.

What I hated most about this book is the relationship. The author gives us nothing she just says oh these two love each other then bam tragic shit happens they get separeted then they meet again and have hate sex every single time till the end. And am not saying there's something wrong with hate sex I don't mind it but I hate it when there is no romance to balance it out. It's like all they had was the sex. I am fine with it if there's a romantic connection to go with it bit in this book It was basically 'Oh Elliot are you broken and sad and depressed well here's my dick it will make you feel a lot better.😘' I just wanted cuddles and kisses is that too much to ask for??!! 😭 I know am not making much sense but I am just so freaking mad. The only thing I loved about this was the wedding and am talking about Elliot's outfit not the couple. Am just gonna wait for the book about their divorce when it comes out. First It was Hidden scars now this book. Maybe it’s time that I stop reading this authors books.

[Lilly [Hiatus due to School] · Rating 4 out of 5]

"He’s mine. I’m his. Asher and Elliot Vaughn. Forever."

Broken is the first book in the multi-author series Unlucky 13. This series centres around an exclusive resort and spa- Black Diamond - on an island in which the rich and famous go for various reasons when they need to disappear from the public eye.

Broken is the story of Eli and Asher. At one point, they were not only childhood friends but lovers as well. Eli and his brother grew up with famous parents who only cared about themselves. They were left on their own with nannies. They form a bond with Asher , whose mother takes the boys in as her own. Asher and Eli's friendship becomes romantic, and they have a secret relationship.

Asher is a rising footballer and knows that his relationship becoming public will cause issues. However, tragedy happens when Marcus finds out about Asher 's relationship with his brother. Asher is filled with guilt and disappears, leaving Eli to deal with the aftermath of his brother's death alone.

Years later, Eli is still consumed by pain, drowning himself in drugs, alcohol and sex as he tries to cope with being alone. Asher is riddled with years of guilt and shame but decides to reach out to Eli again. They both ended up going to the resort, one for anger issues and the other for a viral sex tape.

This was one angsty read. Eli and Asher are both suffering, but goodness; my heart broke for Eli. He truly feels alone and betrayed when he loses the two most important people in one day. Asher literally disappears on him, leaving him behind for years. His parents are narcissistic hurtful beings; only one person in his life, his best friend, is there for him. His self-confidence and self-worth are in tatters.

Andi Jaxon writes some heavy and angsty stories, and this one was no different. The two have so many years of hurt on Asher 's side - lots of work to rebuild the trust he destroyed with Eli. Eli loved and still loves him so much, so you get why he keeps rejecting Asher due to fears of abandonment and getting hurt once more.

He was my home. My safety. My comfort. But he took it away and left me to fend for myself at seventeen, heartbroken, mourning, and lost. I loved him more than I loved myself or my brother, and he walked away with nothing but a fucking text.

Asher had a lot of work to do. I liked that he was fully aware of the hurt he caused Eli and focused on trying to fix his errors and take responsibility.

"My boy is broken, and that breaks my heart. I caused some of this self-doubt, but I'll fix it. I'll make sure he never has a reason to question his worth again."

The spice! Andi Jaxon writes very steamy and filthy sex scenes. I loved the praise kink and Asher calling Eli "My Boy"? Perfection. The ending was lovely, their HEA is hard-earned and well-deserved.

Overall, I really enjoyed Broken and can't wait to read the next books in this series!

[Julia (bookish.jka) · Rating 3 out of 5]

"My life is jumbled shades of gray and has been for so long I don’t remember what anything else feels like. I don’t know how to find the bright colors anymore. The ghosts of my past dim the light of the flowers and the sun until all I see are the shadows left behind."

Broken: A Black Diamond Novel by Andi Jaxon is an angsty start to the Unlucky 13 series, which is set around an all inclusive, private resort built exclusively for the troubled elite. This is Elliot and Asher's story. Be sure to check the author's TWs if you have any issues with trauma, because there is a lot of it in this one!

Key Tropes:

🌶️brother's best friend
🌶️opposites attract
🌶️size difference
🌶️second chance
🌶️forced proximity
🌶️hard won HEA

3-3.5 angsty stars

[haletostilinski · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not completely sure how to feel about this one.

One the one hand, I enjoyed it. Asher and Elliot had good chemistry and the sexual tension was high between them. I felt the connection that way.

The story kept me invested and I read it very quickly.

But I had some problems as well.

A big one was that I don't know that I felt much a romantic connection between these two. We don't really get build up at all to them being in love when they're teens before all the angst goes down, and then we're six years later and Elliot is rightfully angry at Asher, and once they have sex it's very...not intimate feeling.

Which, romantic couples can have the rough sex, don't get me wrong. And it's very hot and very steamy, no doubt about it.

But it felt like that was all the sex they had. And that out of the bedroom we weren't getting the romance to balance out the rough sex.

I don't want to take away from couples in love who mainly like more rough sex than vanilla sex, because that can be done and done well.

But...it just felt very much about the sex more than love. If that makes sense? Instead it could be rough but have moments of tenderness between them. Like holding each other close during and after, holding hands, kissing all over, just...there's thing that can show how much it means between them as more than just the sex.

I don't know if I'm explaining myself well. It's just that I felt the sexual chemistry, but didn't get as much as the romantic chemistry as I wanted.

And if there was nothing while having sex, I would have been fine with outside of the bed, but with Elliot being so angry and Asher being very...idk, alpha dominant, I should say? He didn't have a lot of vulnerable moments, or getting much of the emotions behind the facade, and when they came they were nice, but very few and far between.

I guess I was just missing that connection and it dampened my enjoyment of this story.

We were kinda just told these two had an epic love without really getting to see much of it.

Also, these two massively, massively needed therapy and they never get it. It bothers me more now than when I was younger, when characters are this messed up and yet it's mainly just their love that heals them? Nah, therapy is needed.

Especially for Elliot, who has been cutting himself for years....and yet with Asher's love he just stopped? I'm to assume, because we're never told that. We don't get any follow up on that. Also with Elliot's drug use...was it just casual and so no big deal that he'd be on cocaine sometimes and stuff? Or did he stop using when he was happy and in a better place again?

He was like clinically depressed for years, that doesn't just go away, even with the love of your life back in your life, ya know?

I don't know, it just didn't feel quite earned to have them so happy and in love without some therapy. Even just mentioning they're going is good enough, we don't need more than that.

Also these two lost Marcus, but I never felt a lot of grief connected to him? I felt more grief for Asher's mother, who we never get to meet. And yes, we only meet Marcus briefly at the start, but still.

It made it feel more like he was used as a plot device more than anything. Which, all deaths of characters are, of course, but if you make it feel like they were a real person who the character loved very much and very much feel their loss, it won't feel like that, you know?

A great example is the book I just read, Addicted, where Liam's parents die and yes, it's a plot device, but he was so devastated by their death that it never felt like it.

These two have moments where they're clearly missing Marcus, of course, and there are moments of grief between them. But we don't get to see the aftermath of them losing Marcus and so it's just 6 years later and while they're sad at times, they're not devastated. And in losing Marcus in such a way.

Although Asher does have a PTSD moment that shows there's more under the surface that he's kept in in regards to Marcus, so I'll give the story that point. But from Elliot, we don't get a moment like that at all.

It just felt like...what was the point other than to propel these two into their separation?

I don't know, there was just too much that bothered me to give this more stars. It took me a bit to settle on this rating, as I did enjoy quite a bit in this, and again it was engaging throughout and I never felt bored reading it.

And despite the lack of feeling a romantic connection, the sexual chemistry was there and those scene were scorching hot.

And I enjoyed these characters at times and there was potential there. I just...there was too much that bothered me to give this more, unfortunately.

Maybe not the best first outing with this author, but there is enough potential there for me to give this author a chance with her other works.

This was, unfortunately, just not the strongest to start with.

I'm excited to read the other authors' works in this story, though, as there's so many good authors to come. So, can't wait!

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andi really knows how to bring the angst/hurt/comfort. The prologue just about wrecked me.

Elliot and his brother Marcus were Asher’s neighbors growing up. Asher and Marcus were best friends and, once they got a little older, Asher and Elliot had a secret budding attraction to one another. Right before Asher was heading back to college one year, tragedy struck and Asher left Elliot with only a text message saying goodbye.

I can’t see him. I can’t do it. Face the man who ripped my heart out and left it on the floor to rot. I was forced to pick up the tattered shreds he left and stitch myself back together. I can’t do it again. I’m not strong enough.

They haven’t seen or spoken to one another in person in 6 years. Asher sends Eli a text on holidays, but Eli always ignores them. Elliot it so depressed that he barely goes out or does anything except occasionally hanging out with his only real friend Jordan.

I’m tired of fighting. Tired of fighting to be seen, fighting to be enough, fighting to be loved or even just liked.

Both Eli and Asher are basically forced to go to the resort. Eli by his parents after a recent scandal and Asher by his agent due to getting into too many fights in order to try to save his football career. A random booking error causes a one bed situation, which doesn’t go over well at first for Eli, but Asher manages to wiggle himself back into Eli’s good graces.

I let him turn me and cup my face. Asher leans his forehead against mine and slides his thumb over my bottom lip. Our eyes meet, and he lowers his lips to mine, giving me plenty of time to turn or pull away. More tears fall as his mouth takes mine. It’s a soft pressure, but it’s everything. It’s all I’ve wanted for years. To be the center of his attention, to matter, to be worth it.

These two only want each other, but there is so much past hurt to get over. Elliot is still scared Asher will never come out publicly to be with him in the open. While at the resort, they do manage to connect sexually though and it’s fire.

I’m not sharing him with anyone, and this was not a one-time thing. I need him, and this time, I’m not walking away without a fight.

I’m hard, aching already. Lust mixing with the high to shut down any and all inhibitions. This is Asher. My Asher. I love him even when it hurts. I can’t tell him no. Nothing matters but him, this moment, when he touches me.

Once they both get back home, tragedy strikes again. But this time it helps to bring Asher and Eli back together. Through this they learn that they can be together and there are plenty of people to support them. A found family.

He’s my entire world. My boy. Mine. Nothing matters but him and the way he fits against me. I can’t let him go. Never again. We need each other. Our heartstrings are woven together, and once we touch, we’re helpless against it.

There are some heavy topics in this one. Check the TWs if necessary.

Check out my reviews for some of the other Unlucky 13 books:
#3 - Unfortunate
#5 - Exception
#7 - Consumed
#8 - Abysmal
#9 - Splintered
#10 - Scandal
#11 - Exiled
#12 - Reckless
#13 - Shattered

*** I received an ARC of this book from the author and this is my honest opinion. ***

[Renae Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Broken is an incredible story of second chances, grief, trauma, and the slow process of forgiveness. Both Asher and Elliot are scarred from their shared past and after 6 years are reunited and forced to confront and share their true feelings for one another.

This story is a gut punch at times, leaving me emotionally wrecked after the first chapter. The writing perfectly encapsulates the conflicting emotions both main characters have for themselves and each other.

Asher and Eli share an intense connection, there are each other's first love and due to a heartbreaking accident have been separated for over six years. Their reunion is dramatic and their slow rebuilding of trust takes its time and both have a lot to work through for their relationship to fully heal.

Broken left me mesmerized by the story and rooting for both these characters to find a way to make their relationship work. I loved this world and was saddened when it ended. Both Asher and Eli warmed my heart and I loved getting to see their second chance.

*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this story***

[♡ cal ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

my biggest issue with broken is just how unexciting the majority of the story was. the topics are heavy, yeah i got that, but my previous book from this author was also heavy but that book was captivating to read. when i read romance books, i want to swoon, i want to be aroused etc. overall, it was okay read. the premise of a closeted footballer secretly inlove with this best friend's younger brother who is a femme caught me not gonna lie. i wish the story went in a different route idk. i want to be gagged and this one didn't. still trusting miss jaxon though.

[Ro {semi-hiatus} · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 17% i don't like the writing. idk what it is specifically but it's a no from me

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

- brother's best friend
- size difference
- hurt x comfort
- second chance
- praise kink
- forced proximity

After not having seen each other in six years, Asher & Eli run into each other again after a room mixup at Black Diamond, the resort island they have both been forced to go to escape scandal.

At first being together on the island isn’t easy, Eli has a lot of anger towards Asher for breaking his heart and abandoning him, but the pair eventually hash out their issues/past, and attempt to move forward. Too bad real life is bound and determined to pop their bubble.

I knew going in that their story was going to be emotional af and super angsty, but I still wasn’t prepared for it. It is not a sweet and fluffy romance, but Asher and Eli deserve all the happiness they got in the end after everything they had been through.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Damn, at one point I thought this was going to be a solid 4 stars but then it just kept going downhill. They both endured so much trauma but they really didn’t talk it through enough. Sex scene after sex scene, “good boy” and “you’re mine” every other page, Eli constantly running away from Asher, Eli’s shitty parents random appearances.. I just wanted it to end. Still excited for the other books in the series but we’re not off to the best start.

[D.L. Howe · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

BR with my friend Amy!

This started with a bang, inundating you with not only in your face characters but high emotions and lots of drama. I don’t want to give too much away about that, so I’ll stop there.

Six years pass in which our two MC’s haven’t seen neither hide nor hair of each other after that explosive prologue. Elliot wants nothing to do with Asher while the ladder wants things to start up where they stopped, but that dude not only burned his bridges, but any resource to build another.

But it seems fate has different plans as they both not only end up on the same exclusive pleasure island, but in the same villa.

The chemistry between them is an inferno, I actually preferred the animosity and fighting over the steam. I found it more relatable and I understood all of Eli’s fears. I also found Asher slightly manipulative and I personally didn’t like his explosive, at times violent personality. But that’s a me thing that boils down to my own past and fears.

I did find the heat and sex they shared to be pleasurable. They really did burn up every surface they came together on. I would’ve loved it even more had there been more of a variety.

My favorite character in this whole shebang was Jordan. I love how protective and in your face she is. I’m a sucker for a strong woman and she had the charming personality to match. I know Andi doesn’t do MF or FF but I can’t help but hope she and Brit get a story of their own.

Overall a good read that never left a dull moment.

#booklover #romancebooksofinstagram #bookstagrammer #bookish #bookreview #booksedit #bookwhore #bookaesthetic #goodreads #bookstagramromance #mmromance #pride #lgbt

[Megan [At The Cottage] · Rating 4 out of 5]

MM Romance
Second Chance/Forced Proximity
4 Stars ⭐️


🎧Included with my Audible Subscription🎧
🎵Narrated by Iggy Toma and Darcy Stark🎵 Always love Iggy but I’m not sure I’ve listened to Darcy Stark before and I have been missing out! Definitely going to look into what else they’ve been narrating.


This has been on my TBR since it first dropped 2 years ago but Andi Jaxon and I have a love/hate relationship so I was apprehensive and when someone said this felt like Bully King, I was like fuck no, hate that book, never mind. But I kept eyeing it like the masochist I am and once I saw it was included with A+, I decided why the fuck not. The only other book I enjoyed by this author was Hidden Scars and I ended up liking this one more than that one because it made me feel more and it was nothing like Bully King, not even close, thank fuck. In fact, total side eye to whoever told me it was 👀👀👀

So every book in this multi author series can be read as a stand-alone but at some point in each book the characters will go to The Black Diamond Resort and Spa. It’s on a private island and is one of those places celebrities go for “exhaustion” or to get out of the public eye after a scandal. In this one we have Eli and Asher who get sent to the island after they both fuck up after a night out and are accidentally put into the same room. Cue eye roll 🙄 Like that would happen in a fancy place like this for celebrities 🤣🤣 And if that’s not bad enough, these two used to be in a secret relationship years ago until a tragedy separated them. 🙄🙄 But I obviously got over how ridiculous the setup was because I really enjoyed this.

I enjoyed the relationship between Eli and Asher especially the fuck hot sex scenes and their absolute need for each other but I almost felt like what happened in the prologue wasn’t made as big of a deal as it should have been. The saddest scene in this for me was what happened at the waterfall on the island because I cannot imagine having that kind of guilt on your conscious and then having Eli experience it first hand? 😭😭😭 The other part of this I really enjoyed was that all the shitty family members stayed shitty. It’s my pet peeve when authors try to redeem shitty parents instead of just letting the characters say good riddance. None of these parents deserved to have their son in their lives and the found family aspect was well done because I absolutely loved Jordan and Asher’s football friend. I did think this got a bit corny at the end but after all these two had endured, I liked seeing them both happy.

[LifeReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an emotionally angsty second romance that is surrounded by grief.

Asher really tried his best to make things right with Elliott. Elliott is falling apart and as forced proximity tropes do, it makes the MCs have to deal with their hurt.

This book has all the emotions, grief, anger, hurt, depression, guilt and devotion. Its a rollercoaster where cosmic forces clearly had a plan to get these two back together.

[Sheena · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5 stars

I think it was interesting. The whole situation was just something. Personally I would not be able to forgive, but that’s just me. I also think the writing was all right, nothing too exciting. I thought I was gonna love this since I loved Hidden Scars, but it didn’t work out that way.

[yaishin · Rating 3 out of 5]

unnecessarily angsty. I'm all for angsty though so I'll excuse it.

[Jess Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andi Jaxon never fails her readers by making them feel with every ounce of their souls, but this book was an entirely different entity. For me it was like she put part of her soul into it with the beautiful and brokenness of Eli. From page one I was rooting for him and that feeling never wavered. Even when he was at his darkest, I just wanted him to get his happily ever after and while I knew that wouldn’t be an easy road it was beyond worth it.

“I don’t know how to help you but I’m here to sit in this dark place with you for as long as you need.”

Loving someone you shouldn't is what Asher has been doing for years and now that he has seen Eli again, he can no longer say "someday" because there he is. And he is a shell of the boy he once loved. Those moments years ago he used to steal away with Eli were some of the happiest times of his life and then tragedy struck and the only thing he could do for Eli was to leave. Leave the boy he so desperately loved because if the secrets of that summer were to come out then he would end up hurting the one person he ever loved.

Eli hasn't been the same since he lost his brother or since Asher walked away. He never expected to see him here, in this moment. Now, old feelings are rearing their head, but he can never let them penetrate because Asher broke him. He knows they could never be what they once were much less more than that because Asher's career won't allow it.

“Hey sweet boy, you’re okay.”

When these two souls end up in the same place together practically away from the rest of the world will they be able to sort through their differences or will old ghosts continue to haunt them.

“Your skin is so fucking pretty with my handprint on it.”

The steam, babes!! The dirty talk gods were looking down on Andi when she wrote this because Asher's mouth was filthy. Charge those batteries because you are going to need them, especially that one scene....

A football player desperate to make amends with the boy he loves and a broken-hearted boy still aching for all the moments that could have been get their second chance in this gorgeous story from the Unlucky 13 a multi-author series starting with Broken by Andi Jaxon.

*ARC received from author in exchange for my honest review. *

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eli + Asher
Best friends brother | Size difference | Broken boys


I felt like this would be a 5 star read the second I finished the prologue. I was sucked in from the start. This is my second book by Andi and I'm a fan.

Eli and Asher are so beautiful together. Soulmates since childhood who finally made it through to get to their hard fought HEA.

....

"He's my entire world. My boy. Mine. Nothing matters but him and the way he fits against me. I can't let him go. Never again. We need each other. Our heartstrings are woven together, and once we touch, we're helpless against it."

"His touch heals a part of me I didn't know was broken."

"My good boy... So perfect for me."

"You're mine. Only mine. I don't fucking share"
....


****Possible spoilers below in tropes and triggers


Tropes:
Brothers best friend
Best friends little brother
Forbidden
"Good Boy"
Boy who likes skirts
Size difference
Sports - Football
Found family
Second chances
Broken boys
Posessive

TWs:
Self harm
Death of a brother
Parental death
Emotionally abusive parents
Cancer
Grief
Low self worth

[m · Rating 2 out of 5]

I haven’t read a ton of Andi’s work, but the shorts I’ve read I really enjoyed. This sounded like something I was going to love - femme boy + jock, forced proximity, and set at a private island resort.

Unfortunately there was SO much trauma, SO much running away, SO much sex (never thought I’d complain about that but it was mostly meh for me), and literally ZERO having an actual conversation 🤷🏼‍♀️

I thought maybe this was just a “mood read” that I wasn’t in the mood for but it just kept going and I nearly DNF’d. Also there’s some graphic self harm that just existed and went nowhere.. like Asher takes away Elliot’s knife and that’s pretty much the end of aside from Asher kissing his scars. They all need therapy.

I received an advanced copy for review - all opinions are my own.

[oritty: books and i (tilayov) · Rating 5 out of 5]

#arc reading
Black diamond resort is built on an isolated island aimed to enable the rich and famous away from public and paparazzi eyes. It has sports activities' massage, delicious meals, room service, beautiful beach, a bar with an attractive bartender but mainly it gives an opportunity to be yourself with no judgment and a chance to clear your head.
Asher is a football star with tendency to blonds with blue eyes and bar fights and his agent can not cover more bad publicity
He finds no peace of mind
Six years ago, something happened that drove him away from all he loved. Feeling unworthy he left and hurt the one holding his heart. The one who never forgave him. He had to cling to football – the only stable in his life.
Eliot is alone. Apart from his friend, Jordan, he is lost, has no purpose, isolated and believed he deserves to be treated as temporary event.
Six years ago, he was abandoned by the love of his life and he is hurting himself to deal with the pain. He is also the target of bad publicity to his estranged famous parents so he is sent to the resort for a break.
A mistake forces them to share a villa…
Old memories come back to life, old secrets are revealed and the love that was pushed aside comes back to life…
Eli opens up. He is talented, friendly and possessive and he can be himself in the open and asher remembers how much he needs Eli in his life
But the island is a bubble and Eli doesn't trust Asher's publicity to let them be. He will be nobody's secret…
But Asher, no longer carrying a secret, is a brae partner and follows his passion and his heart
I loved them so much. Their love and way back to each other and mind you this book is hot!
a-nd I loved so much the support they get from Aaron (A's friend), Jordan (E's friend) and most of the team
this book is part of a world related to the resort (see pic attached), all standalones with cute inter connections
trops: childhood friends/ love, praise kink, hurt/ comfort, second chance
Broken / Andi Jaxon

[Marilla ☘︎ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yzma and Kronk have more of an emotional bond than these two had.

- Shallow emotions.
- Weak chemistry.
- Superficial love.

This book contains some heavy subject matters as well. Sadly, that all felt like an afterthought. Because the main focus of this story seemed to be about lust and all the physical aspects of a relationship. Which made it difficult to get emotionally invested in this story and these characters.

I wish I did, but I couldn't care less if I tried.

[Moon ☾]

I'm just gonna say that this book wasn't to my taste. The OTT drama had me rolling my eyes more often than not and I found it very hard to connect, relate or care about the characters. Personally this was a bust for me, but if you've read the authors previous works and enjoyed them, give this one a try as well.

[Crystal (Crystalreads2) · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I really had to think of how to write this review. Don’t get me wrong I liked the book and some parts I loved and adored.


The Book starts off strong and with a tragic event that ripped Asher and Eli Apart.
Now several years later they reunite. The grief, hurt, and betrayal are still there.

About sixty percent in is when for me I started to lose interest. Didn't get me wrong about the sex scenes are well written. My concern is some parts are repetitive and seemed prolonged.

[readingwithmiaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️
3.5🌶️



YALL, This Book Was Fantastic. Elliot And Asher Have My Heart And I Absolutely Love Them And Will Always Till I Die. Elliot Is Definitely One Of My New Favorite MMCS Ever Because I Related To Him So Much And How He Went Through Depression Is How I Went Through Mine A Couple Years Back And I Just Felt SO Much For Him. Asher Is SO Down Bad For Elliot Because UGH! The Pinning And His Love For Him Was SO Beautiful I Absolutely Loved It. And The EPILOGUE! Made This A 5 Star Because It’s Just SO Beautiful And My Heart Was So Full And So Happy. Also Jordan And Aaron Were Just Amazing Friends To Asher And Elliot I Lived Them So Much I Would Kill For Friends Like Them. This Is SUCH An Amazing Way To Start The Unlucky 13 Series And I Cannot Wait To Read Damaged, Volatile, Consumed, Exiled And Reckless. If You Haven’t Started This Series Yet Y’all PLEASE Do Because I Have A Feeling I’m Gonna Absolutely Loved The Rest Of The Books I Want To Read. This Is Definitely One Of My Favorite Reads This Year And Definitely A Book A Would Reread💕🫶

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!
Loved these characters from the start, and how Andi Jaxon does angst is spectacular. Just the right amount of heartbreak and emotion that make the HEA feel deserved.
The twist at the beginning! I was not expecting it, left me completely shocked. Had to put the book down to process.
Definitely going to pick up the rest of the series. 5 out of 5 stars!

CW and tropes (spoilers):
- brother’s best friend
- second chance
- hurt/comfort
- death of side characters
- size difference
- closeted bi jock vs out gay femme
- forced proximity
- mc with panic attacks, depression
- touch starved mc
- praise kink
- self harm
- strict top/bottom
- shitty parents (yes, I’m putting this as a cw because I’m upset)

POV: dual, 1st person

[Crystal Kersey · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

“The only boy I ever wanted, ever loved, loves me back. And not only does he love me, he wants the world to know.”

It’s clear that Andi enjoys my tears! This book hurt my heart 😫 but it also made it feel better, by the end.

Eli & Asher have really been through it and both of them are in such a dark place. Their past is heartbreaking. Ending up in the same cabin at Black Diamond is literally the best thing that could have happened for them!

This story will have you feeling SO MUCH. And the spice 🥵👌🏻 Such a great way to start off this series!



There are a LOT of triggers, so as always, check your content warnings!

[Lb [worlds longest slump] · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 75% (I can’t believe I’m DNFing AGAIN)

Nope nope nope nope can’t do it. I can see what the author was trying to do here but it just wasn’t it.

This was just a bit of a mess tbh. If you hadn’t read a lot of gritty, gut wrenching reads before you’d probably find this okay, but that shit is my bread and butter so this didn’t hit the mark for me.

The writing is meh and the storytelling is eh at best. The pacing was just wild and all over the place. I couldn’t get over the fact that we just jumped right into or even completely OVER very large plot points without a moments notice. It’s giving ✨whiplash✨

The prologue honestly should have tipped me off (well it sort of did but I persisted anyway) because that shit was wild. It was so short and yet contained a scene that went, almost verbatim, like this:
“What the fuck, you’re fucking my brother?”
“I love him”
*fights*
“Oh no my best friend who just found me kissing his brother cracked his head open while we were fighting and fell off a cliff”
*jumps in*
“Oh no he’s dead what should I do? Nothing probably”
*texts the brother/his lover* “sorry”
*leaves and doesn’t contact the brother again for 6 years*
THE END

Like I’m so sorry but what the literal fuck? You wanna cram ALL OF THAT into the space of about 5 pages and just call her good? Nah fam sorry that’s gonna need a little more fleshing out. ALSO the guys love interest (the brother) doesn’t even know old bud was there when his brother drowned and then when he finds out it is ENTIRELY GLOSSED OVER AND NEVER ONCE MENTIONED AGAIN! Sorry to have outrageous expectations or whatever but I thought that was going to be the big hurdle for them to get over? Cause one would be upset to find out about that, no? Well apparently, no. It’s completely chill and they fuck .1652 seconds later.

Honestly, reading this review back, how I made it 75% through this book is actually beyond me. This isn’t even the half of the issues.

Sorry let me just include this line that rocked my whole world because it should never have been published:
“The horrors of my past are raw-dogging me” LMAO WHAAAAAAT

Pffffft, NEXT 📢

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This left me shattered in little pieces! The emotional wreckage!! But holy shit it was amazing from start to finish. I kept crying - there was just so much to unpack with these two but the emotion in this book - on every page - was overwhelming (in the best way)!

I don’t know what I was expecting from this book/series but I was not prepared for that prologue! I was literally sitting with my mouth open wondering what to do! But Damnit if Andi didn’t set us for the most gut wrenching, heart crushing story of soul mates!

Elliot and Asher were young love torn apart by tragedy. The way they were separated for 6 years, neither fully living during that time and desperately needing each other was just devastating.

The passion in this book was another level! It was filled with anger, disappointment, sadness, loneliness, longing, hope, betrayal, joy, fear - it was also filthy and wildly intimate. Their bodies connecting in ways their minds and hearts wouldn’t allow them to was powerful!! Their happiness was truly wrapped up in having the other in their life - it was borderline toxic but at the same time they saved each other.

[Book Binge: Reviews by Melissa DaSilva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t even begin to describe how excited I am to read all the books in this shared world series by a ton of amazing authors. This is the first one I’ve read in the series and it was amazing. While reading I of course had to make notes about any side characters I think might be in the others books and I can’t wait for their stories if they are.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with this book. I figured it would be some light, fluffy beachy romance. Not sure why I thought that as I’ve read Hidden Scars and I should have known this book would be heartbreaking as well. The first chapter ripped my heart out and it wasn’t put back together again for a while. If you need to please check out the trigger warnings as there are some tougher topics in this book.

Both Eli and Asher go through hell and I couldn’t have been more happy for their HEA. The best friends that these two had were amazing and I loved seeing how supportive they were. This book was fantastic and I absolutely recommend it, and make sure to have tissues on hand!

[Jen (Fae_Princess_in_Space) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh. What can I say, I just think this one wasn’t for me. It had the pages and pages of internal monologuing that I just haaaate in romance novels. Like okay, we get it, he’s your everything, I don’t need 8 pages of you monologuing about it, you’re not a Shakespeare villain.

I also found some of the sex scenes pretty gross (and trust me, I have read a lot of sex scenes, MF, FF, MM, MMF, MMFMM… I read a lot, no judgement) - but like how is describing Eli’s asshole as ‘sloppy’ and ‘stretched out’ (eww eww eww) sexy in any way? Yikes.

I liked the descriptions of the Black Diamond spa and I liked the found family vibes at the end. But overall this one was an absolute miss for me.

I know the series overall has good reviews but I’m really not sure if I can read the rest (although I know all the books are by different authors, so maybe some others will be more up my street?). Anyway, for now I’m gonna leave the series and read some good wholesome YA to clear my brain 🤣