Run to Me

by Ashlynn Mills

He's a monster they say.

Dangerous.

Exactly like his criminal father.

A ticking time bomb who doesn't understand right from wrong.

Too damaged to ever be like the rest of us.

None of this is what I see when I look at Jace. He's not only my stepbrother, he's my best friend. Whatever else is happening between us can't seem to slow down, no matter how much we need it to.

I look at him and I see love, safety and somewhere I belong. They can say all they want. They can keep trying to pull us apart. But even their best efforts will never stop me from running to him.

Genres: M M Romance, Dark Romance, Mental Health, Friends To Lovers, Dark, Second Chance, Emotional

249 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 22, 2025

About the author

Ashlynn Mills is a Latina from Texas who currently resides in Missouri with her family running a farm. She enjoys reading and writing all genres about people falling in love.

Reviews

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jace + Nate 🖤
Stepbrothers | First times | Hard won HEA | Broken boy


Mind blown. This was a lot more than I was expecting. I just loved Jace and Nate together. This book gives you true love, stepbrothers, tons of swoon, a victim turned vigilante, plot twists... The plot twists I definitely wasnt expecting and they were 🤯


....


"Why do I enjoy looking at him so much? Maybe because he's like sunshine after a rainstorm."

"I wish I could see only what you see when you look at me."
"I wish you could too."

"Go ahead and come for me, and never forget who took you there. Who can do it again and again so easily if you beg prettily enough."

"You taste so good. I want to do this to you all the time, to show you how much you deserve his things."

"You know I've always been curious about what it's like to kiss in the rain."

"Make love to me, Jace. I want all the first times with you I can have. I want all of you, all you're willing to give me."
"Everything, I want to give you everything, baby."


....


⚠️ possible spoilers below in detailed tropes and trigger warnings






Tropes:
Stepbrothers
Best friends
Hurt/comfort
Broken boy
Victim turned vigilante
Each other's first everything (kiss, virginity)
"You're not a bad person like your dad"
Bareback
Begging
Strict roles
Nate makes Jace a notebook to remind him why he's good and not bad 🥺
Needy bottom
Cheating to be together
Second chance
"You deserve good things"
Secret relationship
"Mine"
Jealousy
Possessiveness

TWs:
Trafficking
Violence
Torture
Childhood trauma
Child abuse
Kidnapping
Nightmares
Self harm
Mom catches them and forces them apart, sending Jace states away to live with his uncle resulting in 7 year separation between MCs

[Renae Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!!! I loved this story so much. Jace and Nate have an incredible bond and seeing it transform and grow so significantly throughout this story was amazing. Jace needed unconditional love and Nate needed strength and protection, they both offered so much to one another, and seeing their relationship grow into something so moving and personal made for the perfect story.

Overall I loved this story from beginning to end and cannot get enough of these two. They both have so much heart, which makes the more challenging and emotional moments have so much longing. Together they are dynamic with incredible chemistry. So happy for their HEA, that was hard-won.

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

[Yelena · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5✨
Oh to be loved like that 😩 These characters have my whole heart Nate and jace are the definition of love I can't even tell who fell harder ,I love both of them so much they literally live rentfree in my mind.
This is my first mm romance and i can tell it won't be the last.
i started this book with no expectations , I didn't know what was I getting myself into wich was a fetal mistake cause it was SOOOOO PAINFUL I'm sure that my body is dehydrated from the amount of tears I cried 😭😭😭(not kidding) but it was so good ,I also loved the writing (even though it can use more editing but i just decided to ignore it)and the way this characters spoke about each other everything is just .. amazing.

If my review didn't convince you to read it sure this will:🖤🥀
Jace: " I need you to stop me"
Nate: "I've never been good at it before what makes you think I would be now?"
Jace: "and I've never been able to resist you"
Nate: "I never asked you to"

[Ariana (mostly offline)]

No rating
DNF, but not because I didn't like it.

This is, no doubt, a great book. The reviews certainly seem to say so.

I got caught up in it immediately, but then a few chapters in I simply could not read on.
Jace and his plight got to me so much, I could not stand another second of it.

Darn.
What on earth!?!? I'm annoyed at myself, and maybe one day I will complete the rest.

Most definitely a case "It not you but me".

[peoniesandmm · Rating 5 out of 5]

more of that, please and thank you.

[NitaBee · Rating 3 out of 5]

What was with that timeline?

All that angst , especially with the mum and then that ending ???

I feel like more time and effort needed to go into this book to even the rough edges and it would’ve been a 4-5 star read.

[Sjoukje]

Dnf at 50%. This was not good at the beginning and it goes down even further pretty rapidly. The writing is not great but the story itself is just really weird. And the characters don’t feel real at all. Not my type of book, despite the interesting premise.

Oh well, quickly on to the next.

[Ash · Rating 1 out of 5]

ETA: Author is a “proud conservative” 🙄

2.5. Spoilers

Outside of the frequent formatting and proofreading errors, it was a cute story. I just don’t think it was for me. There were frequent time jumps with zero explanation. Lots of important stuff was just washed over. The timeline was all over the place.

I genuinely think that if it would have had one more round of accurate editing, it could have been a 4 star. But it was riddled with inconsistencies and page jumps and missing POV labels. It just felt rushed and incomplete. Like the author had originally written 450 pages but needed to cut 150 or something. They go from separation, 6 months later, maybe 3 years later and then boom, 7 years later. The beginning timeline is also not explained at all. The MC escapes and then the next chapter is 4 years later with only a vague idea of where he’s been and he’s acting like he’s just now meeting his family and they don’t know how to “handle” him. He was homeschooled by his mom but also in a group home?

I am 100% not the kind of person that usually cares about formatting and timeline issues and all of that but it was so frequent that it was just frustrating and kept taking me out of the story.

ALSO: you’ve got me genuinely f*cked up if you think I am going to believe that in the middle of a marriage proposal, Nate is sitting there telling this man that he doesn’t love him and never will and then has to be convinced to say yes and DOES? And 12 hours later is macking down with his brother. I’m just…whew. That was kind of my breaking point. Then the last 30% covered so much and yet nothing at all. There was more information about the house than there was about the conflict resolution.

It just felt rushed, at the end of the day. Almost as if the author ran out of time and had to throw something together. I usually like their books but this fell flat for me.

[˗ˏˋ mckenna ˎˊ˗ · Rating 1 out of 5]

time of death: 39%

this book was poorly written, poorly edited and honestly just all over bad.

as someone who is diagnosed with pstd i hate hate HATE when a character only shows symptoms of trauma without their love interest and once the characters are together suddenly they’re “”fixed””.

fuck.
that.
shit.

[Maisha Farzana · Rating 1 out of 5]

Excuse me Ms Mills! But cheating isn't sexy!!

[Lindsey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Spoilers galore.

I'm not entirely sure if I got the same book everyone else did, but the editor left this book a mess honestly.
We kept getting Jace's POV except he would talk to Jace and same with Nate in his POV. You'd think an editor would point out the names at least?
The time jumps were also really weird and poorly placed. So you're saying this kid goes from helping his dad abduct men and keep them hostage until they're sold, gets beaten and tormented, and then... time jump to 4 years later with zero filler? We just assume he's been there, chillin?
I- What?
Why is his family acting like he just arrived with them being absolutely terrified of him and such if he's been with them for a few years and later when he gets older? Also, the mom keeps telling him she wishes she knew and she missed him... why the fuck didn't she KEEP him? Why was he stuck to live with the abusive dad? I mean, she divorced him for a reason? Left him for a reason? But also just left her kid behind? That part was super confusing to me. Honestly, why was this kid not put into therapy of some sorts? Constant therapy? I mean, seems like the parents didn't give a shit about him so at least then he'd have someone to talk to. Well, before he becomes besties with Nate.

Also, her threatening to have him sent to a group home at 18 or live on a farm in a different state until college. lol. Alrighty then. You don't like that your kid is banging your step kid and so you're set on punishing... your kid who you left behind in an abusive and traumatic home, then put MORE trauma on him by saying he's bad and can't be influencing the angelic, precious step kid? Like... Does this lady even live in the same house? She knows he has zero friends, doesn't go anywhere and such without Nate pulling him around. Who is influencing who?

Nate also annoyed the shit out of me. He knew why Jace got shipped off and for knowing him the best out of everyone, he should have known that disappointing his mom would have made him stay away, especially when she shoved that shit of him being a bad person on him. It makes sense he wouldn't come back. Especially with knowing his punishments and rule breaking. This one would be a HUGE breaking of the rules.

I think this story wouldn't have been so bad if a different editor would have taken a look at it. There were so many inconsistencies, name changes, time jumps that made no sense, and repetition that it just dragged for me. I also don't understand WHY we needed the reconciliation from the parents. They treated Jace like absolute shit for years and let OTHER family members treat him like shit for years and didn't cut them out? You literally showed your own child that he doesn't matter. He absolutely does not need them in his life, especially with the mom blubbering about how she shouldn't have separated them because she didn't know how madly in love they were. O...kay. You saw them grow up stuck to each others side and didn't see this when they were younger? No. Absolutely not.

Also, the dad kidnapping Nate, Nate's fiancé being planted and such? It was just beyond ridiculous at that point. Also, how is a dude that was convicted of trafficking multiple men get out in less than 10 years? And no one knows his dad has been released? There's no way his mom or him being a minor, wasn't signed up to receive notifications from the Department of Corrections, the prosecution, or hell, even the parole board. Everything was just too convenient.
The planted fiancé was even more confusing. You're saying this dude stuck around for YEARS just incase the stepbrother might come in handy? Tracked all his movement, informed the dad of everything, and no one noticed? Blegh.

Once again, I've been sucked in by a gorgeous cover

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

[Cynthia M Brow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Run to Me is the story of Jace and Nate who are stepbrothers. This was just the perfect dark romance. I understand that some people would think of this story a forbidden love but to me it's not. I love the characters so much because they needed each other in different ways. I loved the chemistry between the guys. Ashlynn Mills really knows how to make you fall in love with her characters. I loved this book from beginning to hard won happy ending. I would definitely recommend this book.

[B Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

If mediocre was a poor edited book, this would be a perfect representation. It honestly was somewhat good for the first half, but apparently the author must have gotten in a hurry to finish because that last half was a hot mess. I’m not just referring to the typos either. So many plot holes and timeline issues that I would’t even know where to begin.

[Georgia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This felt very 2012 wattpad. The characters were poorly developed, the time jumps felt clunky, the relationship went from 0 to 100 without any real build up, the ending was abrupt and just overall messy. It read like an editor hadn’t even glanced at it before it was published.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Final Rating: 3 / 5

I am so disappointed. This book had so much potential to be great. It started off so strong, like from it drew me in from page one.

Jace and Nate are perfectly made for each other. But my god I I don’t even know where to begin with the last 50% of this book.

The pacing at some point just goes completely off the rails. Like it was already kind of choppy in the beginning, but I was able to look past that because I know that we were getting important backstory and build up. But around the 50% mark, you get like four or five different time jumps. And I know Mills was trying to illustrate how much time was passing but I feel like they went a little overboard. Little did I know that was just the tip of the iceberg because when you hit those last 30 pages…. I don’t even know how to explain it. Those last 30 pages could have been or rather should have been at least 150 pages if not an entirely separate book.

There’s also a lot of stuff (plot wise) that just seems to be thrown in for the hell of it. And by the time I reached the end of the book, I was just like what the fuck.

Now, you may be asking why I still gave this three stars… and honestly..it’s because the book crosses into that “it’s so bad it’s good” territory. Like it’s still an enjoyable read, and it had no problem, keeping my attention the entire book. But man does it have its problems.

Definitely give it a read if you just want some fun entertainment, but keep your expectations low.

📋Notable Tropes📋
- Step Brothers
- Hurt/Comfort
- Spans Multiple Years
- "It's always been you."
- First Times

⚠️ ⚠️ ⚠️ CWs/TWs: Murder, References to Sex Trafficking, Attempted SA (Unsuccessful and by a Side Character), Violence, Bullying, References to Child Abuse

[rko · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was an interesting book that's was a relatively quick read in two sittings.

It's a bit of a new take on older "step brothers in love".

It started out to with Nate helping his "older brother," Jace, by a few months after he was found in bad condition by his father that was a human trafficker at 11 or 12. His mom who father said she moved on had him in psychiatric care and group homes to help him adjust to outside life. So he really be a member of the family at 16. Jace would have nightmares and find Nate sleeping with him holding him in comfort? Nate also pushed boundaries where Jace could have soda or other things if he's good, explaining that they'd go to waist if they aren't used and other simple life pleasures. It seemed like they were close but it was apparent Nate fell first and they had a week together so they explored themselves. With Jace initially guilty but falls quick. That is until their parents came home a day early


The only thing I didn't understand was why Jace who didn't want to be like his father ended up hunting and torturing the undesirables? Save for the final scene where he kidnaps a man, to save Nate and the others.

Nate's fiance Glen of several years Glen's real name is Devin was he playing a long game? It did not sound like he initially knew of the engagement until the scene At the doc based on Nate's reaWctjon? My gut was that Devin must of been hired by the group running around with Jace's father to get to Jace via Nate. Andy the driver must of tipped them off.

The first spoiler is where I'd knick a half star.

[Zee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yeahhh it was an okay read, tbh I kinda liked the first part of the book up till the part where Jace was kinda forced to leave but omg whyyyyy o whyyyyyy does “denying feelings” makes me wanna be so angry and like hit someone 🌚 I get like denying feelings to a certain extent but when it’s pop and clear you can’t do without them, whyyyyy do you make yourself go through all that unnecessary stress and pain just to come back and be like “oh no I realize that, Oh, I can’t really survive without you anymore, you’re the air that I breathe blah blah blah” ……that’s just BS.
And then tbh I feel like Nate didn’t have enough self respect because what the actual freak……somebody ghosted you and blocked you even, just for him to come back just for a few days and you’re already rolling over, bending backwards just so that he can choose you, come on Man, have some dignity!.
Oh yes the love you have for him is strong and all but come on man, let the man chase you ffs 🤦🏽‍♀️ but noooo you still followed him back to wherever after you promised not to follow😭 ughh I literally hurled my phone.
And then the self righteous Jace, “oh no he’s deserves better than me, I’m too damaged for him, I’m doing the right thing by ghosting him” God No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That’s just messed up, what happened to allowing him choose for himself????? Like why? Just to come back 17 years later and still with that dirty mindset? God no😭😭😭😭 I legit wanted to smack Jace.
To be honest, Nate deserved better but oh well 🙄

[Gale MR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Run to me is a story about what life is with all the ugly, all the bad, a touch of good and a lot of duplicity, hidden beneath what seems to be perfection, but isn't. It's also a story about Choices - the ones that can build us up, erase who we are or alter the flow of our lives to the point where we don't recognize ourselves anymore. Ashlynn Mills writes heart-touching and thought provoking books, dressed like pretty romance novels, but containing a lot more. And this one isn't an exception, definitely crossing the line in quite dark direction. In the grand scheme of things, Jace and Nate as characters are showcasing what life is from two completely different perspectives - the light and the dark so different from each other, but intimately entwined. I love complex characters like Jace, watching the layers that form their personalities. The plot line spans from Jace's first formative years to adulthood. No, this isn't a boring biography, on the contrary. The way the story evolves through all these years helped me fully enjoy what's happening on page and it was a lot. Abandoned by his mother, raised by a father, fully embroiled in human trafficking and groomed by him to help from early age, all Jace ever knew was the sting of betrayal, the taste of punishments and the bitter realization that no matter what he does, he won't ever be enough, taken care off or wanted.
But despite his grim reality and the fact that everything he received was under some sort of requirement or condition, Jace managed to survive and retain a spark of humanity that people often lose more easily even in circumstances less dire than his. Nate is the exact opposite - he brings the light where Jace's darkness lingers. The perfect son, living the perfect fairytale in a stable home, surrounded by everything he has ever wanted, shielded by the ugliness life has dumped all over Jace, with an easy smile and soft personality, Nate is a genuinely good guy, compassionate, giving and emphatic. What starts as an uneasy co living arrangement between step brothers, morphs into hesitant friendship and later deepens more and more until romance blooms and lines blur. It was fascinating to read and heartbreaking to experience because life just refused to give Jace a break and let him have a spoon of happiness. Like a greedy shark that has tasted blood, Jace's blood, darkness keeps coming back for a bite, taking away the little Jace had, offering only pain and loneliness in return. And once again that spark of internal goodness - battered and bruised, shined through, putting Jace on a new path and me in a very cranky mood. Because, let's face it, there is only so much a person can take without breaking.
Time and time again, twisted and thorny,
the story spins again and again, revealing new challenges, more heartbreak, hard choices and unexpected crossroads.

[Anne Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a book 4.5 stars
I don’t even know where to begin. I found this book really emotional, listening to what Jace childhood was like, to the kind of man that he turned out to be. It’s just a journey in itself. Jace had been abused by his father, who made him part of a sex trafficking ring, kidnapping and sell. Thankfully, when he escaped, he went to live with his mother, her new husband and his son Nate. Jase found it difficult when he was around others as everyone knew who he was, but thankfully Nate always had his back. And the more time that they spent together, the more obvious it became of this connection and attraction to one another. Nate was very good for Jace. And he would notice the changes and be there to help him come back from the nightmares, and the fact that he still heard his father‘s voice in his head. Jace never let him down. They were always touchy-feely but everything changed when they shared a kiss. The passion for one is electric, it made my heart sing and then something happened that ended with Jace moving to live with his uncle and auntie at the farm would this be the end for them??
Wow, this was a real rollercoaster of emotions for me, but what a book thoroughly enjoyed. He just can’t let that passion be lost , and in the eyes of the law, these two have done nothing wrong and are not related And I’m glad they got there happiness together in the end.
I received an arc from the author, and this is me, leaving my honest reviews.

[Guardian.angel54 · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Ashlynn Mills dark romance will take you on an emotional journey to the very edge of the precipice, let you gaze into the inky depths ... and then pull you back, wrap you in a warm blanket and give you cuddles!

This book does all that and more! To say that the characters are put through mental and emotional wringers would be an understatement. I agonized with both Jace and Nate as they struggled to find their happily ever after - despite all the obstacles in their way. Poor Jace has endured the most horrific childhood and it has left its mark on him - body and soul. Nate is the light in the darkness and I loved his unwavering acceptance and support for Jace. Being brothers, strictly through the marriage of their parents, turns out to be only part of their struggle to be together. Jace's inner demons fight to overcome all the good things that he has found with Nate and just when I thought I could see light at the end of the tunnel, the author throws in the curve ball of all curve balls and I was left gobsmacked! 😲

I don't want to give away too much of the story here because it's really best experienced for yourself but I can honestly say that this is one of the best dark romances I've read in a long time. I absolutely recommend this! 5/5*

[Sam Vautier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jace has grown up with his father making him do terrible things to help him with his dodgy side business in human supplying. When he finally is convinced by a prisoner that he can get out he finds out his mother has been looking for him.

He joins her, and her new family. His new stepbrother Nate becoming his best friend, his everything, people don’t like him and are wary of him because of his father but not Nate.

As they get older, their feelings become more than brotherly, excited about their future, heading to college to be in their own place when their mum catches them in bed. She sends Jace away, telling him that it’s what’s best for Nate. With how messed up Jace is, he realizes that must be true, he doesn’t want his darkness and monsters to corrupt Nate. But Nate won’t give up, messaging and calling for YEARS.

Jace finally corn shine for the first time in seven years when Nate gets engaged - but they both are still so in love with each other. They fall back into their old ways so easily and Nate follows Jace back to the farm.

But Jace has more secrets that Nate doesn’t know about from why he has stayed away.

𝒲𝒽𝓎 𝒹ℴ ℐ ℯ𝓃𝒿ℴ𝓎 𝓁ℴℴ𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒶𝓉 𝒽𝒾𝓂 𝓈ℴ 𝓂𝓊𝒸𝒽? ℳ𝒶𝓎𝒷ℯ 𝒷ℯ𝒸𝒶𝓊𝓈ℯ 𝒽ℯ’𝓈 𝓁𝒾𝓀ℯ 𝓈𝓊𝓃𝓈𝒽𝒾𝓃ℯ 𝒶𝒻𝓉ℯ𝓇 𝒶 𝓇𝒶𝒾𝓃𝓈𝓉ℴ𝓇𝓂.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ashlynn Mills has a way of taking romance through some dark and twisted turns. In Run to Me, we get an emotional rollercoaster winding its way to a hard-earned happily ever after.

Jace was dealt a rough hand, left with a monster of a father. Now, he struggles to escape the darkness that pulls at him constantly and the judgment of those around him who think he’s just like his father. Nate is that escape. His breath of light. Nate accepts him and defends him without question. Nate is there, reminding Jace of all his good. Together, they must overcome all the people and the obstacles that stand in their way, as well as Jace’s demons.

The story is an agonizingly emotional one. It’s got twists and turns and surprises, and it definitely kept me wondering. As soon as I saw a resolution, something else popped up. But, the story also has heat. The chemistry between Jace and Nate is fire. There is also a beauty to it. Their connection and the way they find strength in one another is a gorgeous thing to read.

[Kathy Seabrease · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only Ashlynn can take something dark and evil and incorporate a beautiful love story.
Jace and Nate had one of those loves. No matter what was was thrown at them, it was meant for them to be together.
Nate was the light in Jace's darkness. Only Nate could free him from his inner hell. Jace came from a world of monsters and demons... human ones that drug him into the world of human trafficking. Once he escaped that life it was only in exchange for a life of judgement and hate. Meeting Nate was his only true happiness, the only person who accepted him as who he is.
Ashlynn takes us on their journey, which starts as friendly stepbrothers into so much more. Fighting them being together, only on Jace's end, even over years, just couldn't keep them apart... the little twist of Glen made for a surprise... but Jace's surprise for him made it even a better ending. In the end Jace's Dad and Glen got what they deserved. So did our boys.

[Claire Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

This book had my emotions on a bit of a rollercoaster ride. I loved Run to Me and I loved Jace and Nate so much. Poor Jace though, he had already been through so much, but instead of compassion and unconditional love from his mother he got suspicion and doubt, his stepfather was more supportive than his mother. I was so happy when Nate stepped up and gave him the unconditional love and support he needed and deserved. And when their relationship became more, well I was totally on board with it, their connection was strong and they gave each other what they needed.

When they were ripped apart my heart ached for them both, I wasn't sure there was a way back for them after this.

They both had a journey to go through, alone and together and I was there for all of it and couldn't put this book down.

I felt the ending was a bit rushed and tied up too quickly but I was so glad it ended with a HEA.

I can't wait to see what Ashlynn Mills writes next because she never disappoints.

[Asia Farrar · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

The journey that this book took me through, I have no words. This was a good love story filled with pain and trauma, and I just wanted the MMCs to be happy.
I honestly wanted the mother to have been put her place because what she did was so messed up and she had no right, I really wanted some kind of Face off with her. I do think the book wrapped up the conflict way too easily, and it should’ve been flushed out more. That is the reason that I’m giving it 3.75 stars because it should’ve just been more to the conflict with the dad and with another character who I don’t wanna say because it will be a spoiler. The conflict just didn’t feel like a real conflict because of how quickly it was resolved. However it was still a good book and I was satisfied with HEA. I would definitely recommend.

[Elaine Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Run to Me is a beautifully written emotional story. Jace endures a childhood filled with pain and trauma before being removed from his life and sent to live with his mother and stepfather. There, he meets Nate, his stepdad's son, and the two become inseparable, always defending one another. As Jace grows into adulthood, the loneliness and trauma he carries are only soothed by Nate’s compassion and understanding. Over time, their bond deepens into a love that society deems forbidden. Despite years of separation, filled with pain, violence, and suffering, their love endures. The story is emotionally intense, a heartbreaking and captivating journey that keeps readers gripped through its dark, compelling themes.

[ੈ♡˳ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure how I fully feel about this book yet. I definitely did enjoy it but I guess I wasn’t as connected to either Jace or Nate as I like to be with the main characters. Because of this it meant I didn’t really feel anything whenever something big happened; like the first time they got together, when they got separated and then seeing each other again seven years later when Nate was getting proposed to by the pos Glen and even right at the end when they could finally be together without any consequences.

I’m happy they eventually got their HEA and their Mom understood their love in the end but even then I feel like everything fell flat. I am glad Jace’s real dad was killed by him too after causing all that trauma.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jace has a childhood filled with pain and trauma before he is removed from his life and sent to live with his Mom and Stepdad. Nate is his Stepdad's son and the boys become inseparable, become each other's defender. Your heart hurts for Jace, the loneliness and trauma he carries into adulthood, only relieved by Nate's compassion and understanding. They fall in love, one the world would think is forbidden. So many dark elements run through this and years keep them apart, pain, violence, suffering but their love holds strong. It's a catch your breath, fight a tear, hold your attention, fascinating and horrifying book you become enthralled with. Unforgettable.

[Book Lover · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝐑𝐔𝐍 𝓉ℴ ℳℯ // 𝒜𝓈𝒽𝓁𝓎𝓃𝓃 ℳ𝒾𝓁𝓁𝓈 // RELEASED 1.22.25 // ARC

💜 Review 💜

The level of excitement I had for this book I can’t even really put into words 🤭. This is a book I have been reading chapter by chapter on Ashlynn’s Patreon and I was ready for the whole book.

With the wait I was not disappointed. Only one thing I was 🤔 about and when speaking to Ashlynn it was all cleared up 😉.

The level of trauma this sweet summer child Jace went through just broke my heart. The fact that Nate saw past what everyone else could tells you how much Nate truly loved Jace. From stepbrothers to lovers and when I tell you a really hard earned HEA but they got there.

Just enough dark with the smut let me tell you. If that’s what you’re looking for just jump right in head first 😉.

FYI THERE IS CHEATING IN THIS BOOK (NOT BETWEEN MCs) SO IF CHEATING ISN’T YOUR THING THEN MOVE IT THE
f¥€k ALONG. BUT IF YOU WANT A BEAUTIFUL WRITTEN STORY THEN JUMP RIGHT IN.

Please ✔️ TRIGGER WARNINGS before jumping in. If you have none then just jump in 😉.

🏳️‍🌈 MM Romance
💜 StepBrothers to Lovers (hard earned HEA)
🪻 Co-Dependency
😈 Touch Him & 💀
💜 Childhood Trauma
🪻 Second Chances
😈 They Can’t Keep Us Apart
💜 1st Times
🪻 Dirty Talk
🔝 Strict Top // ⬇️ Strict Bottom

Find Edit 👇🏼
🦄 IG: @love.2.readallmmromance