Blaze & Ajax

Alpha's Rejects #3

by Courtney W. Dixon

This is not a shifter/Omegaverse romance

I didn’t want him, but I had to have him.


Blaze (Aiden)

I ruined my cush life five years ago. I came from wealth and was kicked out with nothing but the clothes on my back. Even the man I’d been with, who had mastered my mind and body, turned his back on me. Since then, I haven’t found anyone who could meet my… needs. That is, until Jaxon ‘Ajax’ Kean. We hate each other. No way around it. He’s the last person I want, but he’s the only one who can give me what I need. How do I convince him to help me without tossing my pride into the garbage?

Ajax (Jaxon)

Aiden ‘Blaze’ Reese is a prick. Just looking at him makes me want to punch things, especially his face. Ever since he hurt my best friend Stix, I’ve wanted him to pay. But after a nearly violent kiss one night, I can’t get him out of my head. Two weeks later, he pushes me to do something I want to regret but don’t. Blaze, of all people, needs me. Can I give in to him? Can my mental health take it? Does he even deserve it?

This book is the third in a series, but like all my books, it can be read as a standalone.

Please read the triggers before picking up this book.

CW: Grooming of a teen, drug dealing, drug use, parental abandonment, parental suicide (off page), sibling abandonment, bipolar disorder, suicidal ideations, bullying, consensual camcording, explicit language, violence, and sex.

⭐ Enemies to Lovers
⭐ Quick Burn
⭐ Grumpy/Grumpy
⭐ Urban Romance
⭐ Skater Boys
⭐ Found Family
⭐️ Size Differences
⭐ Hurt/Comfort
⭐ Redemption Arc
⭐ Touches of Dom/sub

Genres: Enemies To Lovers, M M Romance, BDSM, Romance, Found Family, Mental Health, Abuse

305 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 17, 2024

About the author

Courtney W. Dixon loves to write steamy hurt/comfort romance, giving her characters challenges, struggles, and sometimes trauma... Fine, a LOT of trauma. Her team teases her about charging her for their therapy bills after reading one of her books.

She loves to add variety and multiple tropes in her stories along with different types of dynamics/relationships. And she writes her characters as having flaws, imperfections, and who don't always do the right thing. Humans are sometimes frustrating, never perfect, and make a lot of mistakes in their lives. Courtney enjoys pushing her characters, making their HEAs so much more worth it when they get there. Mental health is a big feature in her books.

She loves her coffee ice cream and popcorn a little too much. And her cat, Olly, is her co-writer, where he sleeps on an ottoman under her desk as her muse. Actually, he's rather useless, but he's adorable.

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Reviews

[Emna · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @51

NO JUST NO , IM SO DONE AND DISAPPOINTED . I think this one isn't for me , i actually devoured the first 50% of this book but all of sudden it was all ruined for me ( i just can't stand the idea of sharing your private moments with your partner or whoever with the whole worldddd noooooo I WOULD RATHER KILL MYSELF , idc if they will do it or not but the fact that they are so fine with it ughhh nooo im not reading this shit sorry NOT SORRY) if you liked it , good for you , i REALLY hoped to love it too . STILL LOVE THIS SERIES AND STONE AND STIX GONNA BE MY FAV TILL DEATH.

[Kati *☆･ﾟ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t know what it is with me and audios lately… like, somewhere around the half-way mark my excitement and interest just frizzles out.

Still, I finished it and objectively it was decent, hence the four stars. No further notes.

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️ 3 stars ⭐️

“Do you think it’s possible to hate someone and then fall in love, anyway?”

I struggled with this one. I loved Stix & Stone, so I just don’t understand what went wrong here.
Spoilers ahead

The ‘enemies’ bit seemed forced, hating each other for very childish reasons. The hooking up was also out of the blue. Let me summarize the plot real quick.
They’re full-on fighting, ‘oh I know, I’ll kiss him. That’ll show him!’. And it works?? The end?

My lips suddenly landed on his, intending to shock him into silence.

That lovely enemies spark was extinguished right at the beginning, the romance after that lacked the passion and fire I was expecting from dudes who were supposed to hate each other.

“Do you like to get fucked, Kitten?”

Same goes for the spice. The D/s dynamic they were trying to pull off didn’t work here. Like shoving a cube into a star shaped hole — it just won’t fit, babe. [unrelated side note, I’m rewatching for the gazillionth time the Office so had to put this in here: ‘That’s what she said!’ ]



I love books that try to enlighten and bring more representation to various mental illnesses, and I love what this book was supposed to be and what it tried to be. I’m not personally familiar with bipolar disorder so I have no idea if it was done correctly, but I can appreciate the backstory from the author, the effort to represent it in a non-harmful way.

That being said, the angst was a little brushed over here. There’s drama coming from every direction but not really focusing on anything, just a jumble of hurt-broken-trauma that I’m not really sure worked together.
And unfortunately the romance didn’t have enough feeling to make up for it.
Ajax & Blaze are over here at i love you already, and I’m still trying to figure out why they hated each other to begin with.

The found family vibes are nice and I’m glad Ajax & Blaze found their happy ending, but both the writing and the story just lacked something to really pull me in.

“I never imagined you’d be my forever person, yet here we are.”

I received a copy of this book from the author and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

CW and tropes (spoilers):
- Enemies to lovers (debatable)
- Found family
- Skater boys
- Size difference
- Grooming/mention of previous relationship between a 16 yo and a 51 yo
- Mentions of cheating (not between MCs)
- Parental abandonment
- Parental suicide (off page)
- Bipolar disorder
- Suicidal ideations & SH
- Violence
- Strict top/bottom
- D/s themes
- Restraints
- Degradation & praise kink
- Rimming
- Spanking

Pre-review feelings

[Bettina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️ Blaze & Ajax, these two are meant to be! We quickly learn that these two don't get along, and that they have had a straind relationship for quite some time. But when they one evening suddenly are in a situation none of them ever imagned to be in, they can't seem to stay away from each other.

I liked the banter between the twwo characters, like they could never really decide if they liked each other or not, and due to the trauma that Blaze had experienced, some of the scenes were also quite rough to read. When we realise that Ajax is dealing with some mental health issues as well, thats when I think the story really went in the right direction, and I really liked the way Courtney W. Dixon wrote the scenes where we knew that something wasn't right with Ajax's behavior.

But what lacked a little for me was that this book stated very strongly that this was true enemies to lovers story, and in my opinion, it was not. Things went from hate to love very quickly for me, and I forgot that they were supposed to hate each other pretty fast. At times it also felt too rushed, and after reading a few books from this author, I had hoped for more "depth" to this story. But overall it was a good read, and I enjoyed my time with it. I'm looking forward to read more from this series, and more books form the author!

[readingwithmiaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars!⭐️
3.5🌶️




YALL! This Book Was Everything I Wanted It To Be And More. Aiden & Jaxon Were Just Everything My Heart Wanted For Them. These Broken Boys Just Both Wanted To Be Loved So Bad And So Hard. And When They Find That With Each Other, It Was Honestly Pure Magic. I Loved This Book With All Of My Physical Being And Aiden And Jaxon Are One Of My Favorite Couples Ever. Also The Bipolar Disorder Representation, It Was Done SO WELL. I Don’t Really Know What Living With Bipolar Is, But Let Me Tell You That This Representation Was Done SO Well And Courtney Knew What She Was Doing With It. Also The Found Family, It Was SO Much Better And Stronger In This Book Because It Just Established That This Is The Best Found Family I’ve Ever Seen In A Book Series EVER And That This Is My Favorite Found Family Ever. I Don’t Want To Say Too Much, But Just Know That The 5 Month Wait Was SO Worth It And This Book Exceeded My Expectations. I Cannot Wait For Harley & Alpha’s Book Because Something Is Cooking With Him And Harley Because Of The Animosity He Had With Him And I Cannot Wait To See Him Falling In Love Because He Is Just Everything. Please Read This Series If You Haven’t Already Because Trust Me When I Say That This Series Is Everything You Want And More. Courtney, I Don’t Know How You Do It But Keep On Doing It Because You’re Literally Amazing.🫶💕




Thank You So Much @courtneywdixon For Sending Me The Arc For This Book Because It Was SO Wirth The Wait💕

[Paulina | bitofabookcase · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite book in Alpha's Rejects so far! I was so invested I even forgot to go to sleep :D Like the others in the series, this one deals with mental health issues. I feel like this is the strongest one on the theme, since both Blaze and Ajax are... well, boys are not okay at all.

Their story starts as enemies and while we've already seen enemies to lovers in Stix and Stone's book, this one is very different. The 'lovers' part don't come easy to Blaze and Ajax. I was so invested in touch of D/s dynamic, it's not even funny. It's not my first book with it by any means, but maybe the first one where it's shown how damaging it could be when you kinda don't know what are you doing, and most especially, why. Loved that outlook on the situation.

The build up to Ajax's mental health problems was perfect. We get to see glimpses of it, until it crashes so hard you have to hold yourself. It was portrayed realistically (I have a close experience with BP, so I've seen stuff through the years) and handled with care.
Loved Blaze's character arc too! Poor guy was so broken and when he finally let himself to be cared of, he was like the whole better version of himself. His love for Ajax warmed me up. I love therapy in my books, but kinda loved that Blaze didn't get it (for now). Okay, that's a weird thing to say. But he was in that stage in his life where he felt good and healed a bit, so maybe that's okay too. It's not the same path for everyone.

I got really invested in these characters emotionally, and that's why it's a 5 star read for me. It's a great story to read, even if you haven't read two previous books – it would perfectly make sense anyway. Give Blaze and Ajax a chance.

[Monikat · Rating 5 out of 5]

No matter when I read the text,
books that are on my TBR list the longest are the best.
Monikat.😁☺️✨✨✨✨✨

🪄Finally, I'm reading this. It's been on my to-be-read list for ages.

And I loved it. Fast paced, interesting, sexy and with all that found family, loving.
As per the series status quo, we have two more gorgeous problematic boys who find the love they weren't looking for. They both carried deep rooted histories and needed special care to navigate them to a safe place. Both issues were handled with great care by the author and gave us a beautiful HEA.
Can't wait for Alpha's book!!!🙃☺️✨🌈♥️

[Christina Sturgill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5/5 🌟
Spice: 2.5/5 🌶️
Characters: Blaze and Ajax

Reread on 5/15/2025 via audiobook
Audio released on 4/7/2025.
Narrator: Harley Chase

Harley did a really great job narrating this. It was easy to determine the POV we were in because he made both characters have a specific sound. He was also great at showing their emotions through their voices.
I really enjoyed the book while reading the ARC/e-book but I love the audiobook even more. It really felt like it brought the characters to life more and the emotional parts hit harder.

-----------------------
Original Review:

These two are from two different sets of friend groups that are sort of put together. Relationships were formed between them over the previous two books. It's also clear in this book that a few things happened previously to make Blaze a sort of villain. You do not need to read the previous two books in the series to understand everything or enjoy this book. I haven't read them yet and it did not affect my experience. Though I do think it will be a richer experience if you do. I'm definitely going to go back and read them.

Blaze is on his own without any of his documentation and is struggling to get by. He has to resort to selling in order to make money to eat and keep a roof over his head. He was cut off from his mother a few years back and only seems to really have one friend. He used to live in a bit of a luxury life with money and possession but no emotions, love, or affection so those things are a bit foreign to him. He also went through something that caused his mom to kick him out. Please read the TW's because it's a bit of a heavy topic.

Ajax is a good friend, has a loving family, and works two jobs to get by. He's also struggling a bit and doesn't quite understand why. The build up to him finally seeking out the help he needs broke my heart. As someone with the same diagnosis I knew his story all too well. I knew what was coming and that there was no way to stop it and even knowing that didn't help when it finally happened. There is a bit of a tough scene later in the book between him and Blaze and the rest of the friend group that made me tear up.

These two were so good together. They each provided the other with what they needed at the time and then grew together and separately as they got closer. I adored the way they supported each other and did everything they could to be there for each other. There was so much compassion and understanding between them even when they each felt lost or helpless.

It's a beautiful and heartwarming love story between two boys struggling with their mental health. I absolutely adored it.

[Laura Lou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blaze & Ajax is book three in Alpha’s Rejects series. This MM enemies to lovers urban romance story is about Blaze & Ajax.

We met Blaze (Aiden) and Ajax (Jaxon) in the first two books of this series. While they did hate each other, I wouldn’t classify them as true enemies. Blaze was the biggest brat and Ajax hated Blaze for trying to hurt his friend Stix. The hate doesn’t last too long and we see how an unexpected kiss changes everything for Blaze and Ajax.

As we learn about Blaze and Ajax’s backstories, we get a better understanding of what has made them who they are today. These two broken boys both had abandonment issues among other struggles they faced.

Blaze was groomed as a teen, and he was looking for Ajax to give him punishment and praise. I had a hard time with this Dom/sub dynamic. I feel that type of sex requires complete trust and communication, and they just weren’t at that point with each other yet.

The more time Blaze and Ajax spend together, the more we see their feelings change, and we see how they truly care for each other. When Ajax was trying to deal with his mental health issues, Blaze was there to support him. I loved that they were both there for each other, especially during their time of need. Blaze and Ajax’s friends were also there to support them. It was great to see the guys from the previous books. Their found family was everything.

I admit I was not a fan of Blaze, but in the end I started to come around. He overcomes a lot, but I would have liked to see him get therapy. My heart went out to Ajax and I was so relieved he got professional help before it was too late. I wanted to hug both of these grumps, and I am happy they were able to grow and repair themselves together.

[Katkejt ☾. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aiden (Blaze) • Jaxon (Ajax)

….

“I never imagined you’d be my forever person, yet here we are.”

….

There’s one thing about Courtney’s writing that has me coming back for more, it’s her authenticity. I feel it within each book.

Within the world of the Alpha Reject’s this time we get two complicated boys with very established pasts that hunt them step by step. A bit broken but still searching for some sort of salvation. One, that will do anything to be seen and understood. The other, struggling with an undiagnosed bipolar disorder.

What happens when the enemy doesn’t only become your lover but your redemption, your lifeline, your hope, your heart, your best friend, your forever person. Read Aiden’s and Jaxon’s story to find out.

Stix and Stone have that little special place in my heart as the og babies but Aiden along with Jaxon are not far behind, I dare to say they became my favorite of the bunch. I just love when the bad boy act turns out to be so sensitive inside. You make mistakes, you have faults. When everything gets exposed, you really look and see that all along there’s no one who could compliment you more… a forever kind of understanding. A forever kind of love.

….

Memphis May Fire - The Fight Within

.

Pat Benatar - Love Is A Battlefield

….

“And what do I have to do for you in return? Call you a good boy again?” // “I’m seeing you so differently, Aiden. You’re so beautiful when you’re raw and open. Like all that anger you have washes away whenever we’re together. Like you open yourself up just for me.” // “Trust me.” - “I’m afraid.” // “Your guy?” - “Yeah, my guy.” // “I’m going to kiss you now.” // “And that right there suddenly made me realize he was my one person.” // “All I knew was that I needed to keep running as fast as possible so it would never catch me.” // “Ajax’s head rested against my shoulder as he played with my fingers.” // “I’m so proud of you, Precious.” …

….

*I received an advance copy directly from the Author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

….

[Lauri MissDysfunktion · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blaze and Ajax is book three in the Alpha's Rejects series.

This is your vibe if you like:
Broken boys
Skater boys
Size difference
Mental Health Rep
Hurt/Comfort
Found Family

Right from the beginning of the series in Stix and Stone's book I was really curious about both Blaze and Ajax with their simmer hate towards each other I knew there would be some great chemistry underneath it.

I have to say that this book really didn't head in the direction I anticipated that it would. Am I disappointed by this? Not at all. I actually enjoyed how Courtney gave us a different direction and pathway from the expected.

The growth and development of these characters within this book and the found family is really my fave part of this series. I also enjoyed getting some snips from our previous couples.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved loved loved Blaze and Ajax!!! I love the depths Courtney W Dixon goes to in her writing.Mental health is so real and I love the way she explores so many different issues within this series.Alphas rejects are such a lovable bunch of troubled people & i love how they are family & that family keeps growing.I felt so sorry for Blaze throughout most of this book he really had everything against him from the moment he was born, but he proved how strong he was.Ajax seemed so strong & mostly together,but my heart broke for him.

[Books_withtish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc Review: Ajax & Blaze Alpha Rejects Book 3 I adore the hell out of this series, it’s a bunch of rejects trying to get by through life and it’s a series that represents many different mental health issues and done so with so much grace! This book is now my new fave out of the series! Both boys deal with very different issues and I loved reading about them both and how they supported one another after they finally caved and started a Dom/Sub relationship which was super hot 😮‍💨🥵 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[San Lemonade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blaze & Ajax by Courtney W. Dixon
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars
📚 Third Book in the Alpha's Rejects Series

⬆️ Ebook ARC

👉 Adult M/M Contemporary Urban Romance
👆 Hurt & Comfort
🔀 Dual First-Person POV
🔥 Tattooed Punk & Brat Hot Guy 👅
X
🌃 Big & Sexy Chocolatey Eyes Skater Guy 🛹🔥
😤 Hate to Love 😍
🤨 Grumpy x Grumpy
👌 Bickering & Snapping Over Each Other
😏 Size Difference (I love it🥵)
🚦🪢Mild BDSM (ass spanking... 🖐)
😏🗯🔥 Dirty Talk /Name-Calling
🥵👀 Exhibitionism
🥵 Insta-Lust & Fast-Burn (... hot damn) 🥵🥵🥵
🥵 Spicy: 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶

MC's:
👉🛹🏍 Jaxon ‘Ajax’ Kean (Precious) 23yo: Cis Man & Gay (he/him)

A strong yet gentle, protective friend with undiagnosed bipolar disorder and abandonment issues.
With his steady presence and quiet strength, Ajax battles emotional turbulence while slowly uncovering his capacity to love and forgive... even the prickly, guarded Blaze... His a teddy bear. 🐻

By day, he works as a cashier at a hardware store, and by night, he’s a bouncer at Alpha’s Rejects bar, managing both jobs with determination.

🛹 Ajax loves riding his motorcycle and skating, and he’s exceptionally skilled, fluid and smooth despite his size. He’s big and muscular, strong and defined but not broad, with brown hair and warm, expressive, chocolatey eyes.

👉💔😡 Aiden ‘Blaze’ Reese (Kitten) 24yo: Cis Man & Gay (he/him)

His profoundly dark eyes and jet-black hair contrast sharply with his pale, silky skin. Covered in tattoos and an array of jewelry, rings on his fingers, gauges, a septum piercing, chains around his neck, and leather bands on his wrists.
Blaze’s style is striking and captivating, I love him so much.

Blaze struggles with past trauma, which has left him grappling with self-loathing and a deep yearning for connection.

Forced into drug dealing by circumstances such as homelessness and a lack of options, Blaze has had to navigate a harsh reality.

Lives with his roommate and best friend, Cueball.
He channels his pain through rebellion, snark, and unapologetically bratty behavior. 🤭
His heart-wrenching journey toward vulnerability and self-discovery is profoundly moving. 🤧

TW 👉 Reading them may cause spoilers:

⚠️ High-Angst
😢🤧 Tears & Heartbreak
👉 No Cheating Happens
💔 Broken Trust (Past)
⚠️ Trauma Bonded
👉 Descriptions Of Meals
⚠️ Alcohol Consumption
⚠️ Underage Drinking
⚠️ Drug Use
👉 Poverty
👉 Homeless
👉 Illegal Activities (drug dealing)
⚠️ Bullying
⚠️ Insomnia
⚠️ Mental Health Issues
⚠️ Bipolar Disorder
⚠️ Self-Loathing
⚠️ Suicidal Ideations & No Expectations for Living
⚠️ (Past) Parental Suicide (off page)
⚠️ (Past) Sibling Abandonment
⚠️ (Past) Parental Abandonment
⚠️ (Past) Grooming of a Teen
⚠️ (Past) Mind Games
⚠️ (Past) Psychological Manipulation
⚠️ Emotional Abuse
⚠️ Violence
👉📹 Consensual Camcording
👉Explicit Language

🛹 Skaters Found Family
👏 Solid Character Development
💯 Best Side Characters👏👏👏
👉 Can Be Read As A Standalone
⭐ Redemption Arc
😍 Love The Ending
😍 HEA

Cover: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars

👏 This book is beautifully written, it takes you on an emotional journey filled with angst, raw vulnerability, and sizzling chemistry. Blaze and Ajax’s chemistry leaped off the page, making every interaction between them captivating and deeply moving. It’s a powerful tale of love, redemption, and the strength required to face life’s challenges.

🥰 With complex characters, a gritty urban setting, and a cast of unforgettable side characters, the found family dynamic in this third book of the Alpha's Rejects series was both heartwarming and gripping.

❤️‍🩹 The portrayal of mental health struggles was handled with authenticity and care, especially Ajax's experience with bipolar disorder.

🌶 The Dom/sub dynamic felt genuine and steamy, while still deeply connected to their emotional growth.

🏍 They share similar past traumas, particularly abandonment, but also bond over shared passions like motorbikes. I loved the scenes where they rode together, whether it was Ajax’s bike or Blaze taking a turn, their connection in those moments was palpable and added a tender layer to their story. 😍

▪︎FAV QUOTES▪︎

■ Blaze: "Me: How the duck did you get this number?
Fucking autocorrect. I quickly plugged his details into my contacts list.
Ajax: Quack Quack LMAO!"

■ Ajax: “Are we being a brat, Kitten?”
Blaze looked up at me defiantly, tilting his head, rain dripping down his face. “Maybe.”
The corner of my mouth curled up, and I grabbed his chin. “Does someone need to get punished?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
My grin was now a full-blown smile."

■ "Blaze : I craned my head back, and he gave me a peck on the lips. “I’m proud of you, Precious. I wish I were as strong as you.”"

👍I'm definitely going to read this again and I recommended for fans of gritty, emotional M/M romances with found families and complex, broken-but-beautiful characters.

💯 Can’t wait for Alpha’s story next!
I'm looking forward to reading the following books in this Series, I'm so excited for Cueball book, and Blondie... I want so bad his book!

😉 Thanks for reading hope this helps you out!

I received this book as a gift from the author and am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book surprised me. I thought Blaze was going to be the one with the most issues but I was wrong. This book gave an interesting perspective into a mental illness I was unfamiliar with. This was a beautiful book about two broken boys mending each other.

[A.E. Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

💚🖤 ARC REVIEW 🖤💚 BLAZE & AJAX 💚🖤 By Courtney W. Dixon 🖤💚

This is the highly anticipated book three in the Alpha’s Rejects Series. Needless to say that expectations were blazing high because I loved the two previous books.

Here’s the thing you need to know about Courtney W. Dixon: she doesn’t do mainstream and conventional and thank the Universe for that!

She might take a very popular theme like enemies-to-lovers but then she completely flips it around and does something you haven’t expected. And I love that about Courtney! 💚🖤

And I did NOT see Blaze and Ajax coming! Since I don’t read blurbs I had no idea that Courtney would take on one of my favorite kinks: sub/dom with a generous sprinkling of praise! I cannot tell you how happy it makes my poor depraved heart to read dominance, praise and glorious aftercare. What an unconventional take on the enemies-to-lovers theme that often fails to offer a valid dynamic. This worked!

There’s a heavy background to the story: both MCs have a lot on their plate but they deal with it together. I’m so grateful that Courtney did not go down the miscommunication road with Blaze and Ajax but offers communication, empathy and friends as a support system.

Growing up with a bipolar parent I’m always grateful when authors write about mental health issues and do so in an informed and sensitive way. It was evident that Courtney had taken great care to research this topic. 💚🖤

Stix and Stone are still my forever babies but Blaze and Ajax are right behind them. Especially Blaze won me over with his pseudo-bad boy act! In the end he turned out to be real book boyfriend material and just what Ajax needed! 🥹🥹🥰🥰

Now I’m ready for Alpha to get his HEA! The guy who is there for everyone else finally needs his own love story.

Highly recommend to check out this series 💚🖤 make sure to check the TWs because the books deal with heavy topics.

[C. Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s official, Blaze has redeemed himself in my eyes. Who knew this guy, who went through some tough shit, could be such a softie?!?! And Ajax, he is absolutely amazing. I love these two so much but then again I love the whole crew. I can’t wait for Alphas book next!! 🖤🔥🛹🔥🖤

My favorite quotes:

• Ajax: “Good. The last thing we need is for you to pass out on me or something.”

We.

We were in this together now. We were intertwined and always had been. Bad or good, we had some sort of strange relationship, and I didn’t hate it. I didn’t hate him anymore, either.

• Ajax: After I got cleaned up and dressed, I sat at the kitchen table and pulled Aiden onto my lap. If he were still Blaze from before we got along, he would’ve bitched at me. Perhaps he would’ve punched me. Now, he rested his head on my shoulder as I sipped my coffee. Where did this sweet man come from? I loved this version of him. But I liked the old version, too, despite him being a feral fucking pain in the ass. I wouldn’t have fallen for him had I not accepted all of him, faults and all.

• Nacho: “Sam really likes you and Cueball. You took care of him when he needed someone.”

I picked at my food, unable to look at him. “I didn’t do shit. That was all Cueball.”

Nacho shrugged. “That’s not how Sam sees it. Anyway, he likes you, and that means I like you. We all hated you for a while, but you’ve eased into our hearts. We’ll protect you with everything we have. That’s a promise.”

[Gina Roma · Rating 5 out of 5]

BLAZE & AJAX by Courtney W. Dixon
(Alpha's Rejects #3)

Another Alpha's Rejects book that takes your breath away! 💚🥹

Since I read about Stix and Stone in the first Alpha's Rejects book, I’ve been dying to get to Blaze (Aiden) and Ajax (Jaxon). That push-and-pull, that undeniable chemistry disguised as hate... I just knew when their time came, it would be explosive. And did they deliver! Sparks fly right from the start.🔥

Blaze and Ajax aren’t just characters, they’re two broken souls who completely wreck you with their vulnerability. Adorable and heartbreaking all at once, they’re pure magic.
I couldn’t help but want to hug them on every single page as they fight to be seen, accepted, and most of all, loved.

Courtney W. Dixon handles heavy topics like abandonment, fear, and bipolar disorder with such sensitivity, it really hits deep. You can’t help but connect with these two on such an emotional level.

And that unexpected twist in the story? It left me absolutely floored. I didn’t see it coming, but it was so, so perfect.

This series just keeps pulling me in deeper. Every book somehow tops the last, and what I love most is how each couple gets their moment to shine while keeping that found family vibe that has me utterly obsessed.
Blaze and Ajax are everything I hoped for and more. I’m so happy they found each other, and despite their scars, they’ve built something so beautiful together. They deserve all the love and happiness in the world. Seriously, all of it.

And that ending... finding out who’s next? It completely surprised me. It wasn’t who I expected, but I’m thrilled because it means more books are coming. Honestly, I never want this series to end. Every broken boy in this family has stolen my heart.

If you haven’t started this series yet, go read it, because Blaze and Ajax will break you, heal you, and make you fall in love in the best way possible.

[Precious · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has got to be my favorite book in the series. I was all for the enemies-to-lovers trope. Aiden and Jaxon's story felt a lot longer than what was given in their book and I think that made their journey a lot more enjoyable. There was this anticipation of what was going to happen in the first and second book and finally we get the banger we've been waiting for in the third.

Aiden is the brattiest brat that ever bratted. He comes from a family of wealth but was thrown out and had to fend for himself. He is bitter and angry about his situation and his past and happens to direct all that brattiness to Jaxon who equally can't stand him. I love both Blaze and Aiden. Though they are different, the one wouldn't have been able to exist without the other. They are like to sides of a coin to be honest.

Jaxon is like a rollercoaster. He'd be at his highest of highs then at his lowest of lows. The reason for the initial hate he has for Aiden is a lot more complex than what meets the eye. I loved how overprotectiveness and earnest he is with his friends and, later, Aiden.

These two are like a volcano meets an atomic bomb; both explosive, both impactful but love just as fiercely.

[Yuki · Rating 1 out of 5]

À 18% , j’ai lâché l’affaire fuck!! Je lis pas avec mon cul donc non!! L’auteure est médiocre et manque de talent. J’ai passé l’âge pour ces conneries. Tu es incapable de mettre un minimum de profondeur et de discernement dans ta narration c’est que tu sais pas écrire et donc comprendre ce qu’est l’exercice d’écriture.
Il suffit pas de donner des passés malheureux et des personnages shakespeariens avec des thèmes sans savoir les traiter et exécuter correctement.
Pour ces personnages je n’ai rien ressenti, rien du tout. Même pas un frisson. Leurs débuts d’histoire ne m’a rien inspiré. Et le fait d’avoir arrêté à peine 8 chapitres et n’avoir aucun souhait de connaître la fin parle en volume.
Cette histoire me fait penser aux chocapics nutriscore A lol 😂 c’est du gros n’importe quoi 😐 !!

[Nova Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

May be my new favorite of the series. Which is saying something considering how much I loved Stix and Stone. There's just something about Blaze and Ajax that had my heart. Both of them were just so precious. Both had their own faults and insecurities, but it didn't stop them from falling in love with each other. That doesn't go to say that their story was short and happy. No, that would be a lie. They started off hating each other, after all. It's a hard earned HEA you will love. And I found it so worth it.

The mental health rep, the way they stayed by one another even when things got especially hard, the way they came to trust one another, etc. I loved every second of it.

[Sabina Rois · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book with bipolar character that I read

It was interesting to read about a character with bipolar disorder, I don't know much about it and I didn't realize it can hit that hard. I do like the energy of the both main characters and their group of friends, it was fun to be in their skating universe. I haven't read the other books of the series, but it got me curious and maybe I will read Stix and Stone story. I could've used a bit more BDSM touch in this book, but I get it that this wasn't supposed to be the main focus.

[Jordan Conway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Courtney W. Dixon does. it. AGAIN. God this series keeps getting better and.l better. SOOOO GOOOOOD!!!! “Blaze & Ajax” have been on my radar since we met them in Stix and Stone’s story in book 1 and I couldn’t love them any more if I tried. Ajax is sneaking awfully close to top spot of my Alpha’s Rejects favorites 🤣

This urban romance series has taken me on a full blown roller coaster ride! “Blaze & Ajax” took a turn I didn’t expect but ABSOLUTELY loved. I was emotionally broken the entire book but in the best way. This story really tore my heart out and then put it back with the HEA these two MCs desperately deserved! Both Blaze & Ajax have dark backstories and when we meet them they’re have fully developed a STRONG HATRED for each other. Talk about true enemies to lovers trope!

I say it again and again but Courtney knows how to write a damn book, yall. Especially ones that are so emotional-heavy. The subjects aren’t easy but she does it with such care and respect… ugh, it’s amazing!

If you HAVENT started this series, I am not sure why not! 🤣 It’s giving urban romance, it’s giving MAJOR found family vibes, it’s giving soul-mate-ish vibes, it’s giving broken boys vibes, I mean it’s everything! and Blaze & Ajax!? You don’t want to miss out on them! period.

[Crex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly believe the so-called "enemies" weren’t really enemies—if that’s even the right word to use. It felt more like they just disliked each other for reasons only they fully understood. That said, I absolutely loved how well they came together despite everything. The moment Ajax realized Blaze wasn’t going to tell him why he was using him the way he did—his reaction was just so raw. I still didn’t fully feel the love between them, but I suppose being there for each other during their lowest moments is a form of love. And they definitely cared for each other deeply.

I was so relieved when Blaze finally got his act together, though it seemed like it took having someone in his life to care for to make that happen. I’m not entirely familiar with how bipolar disorder works, but Ajax’s mental health struggles were so intense—they genuinely scared me. I kept checking how much was left in the book, worried something terrible might happen.

When Blaze said he didn’t want therapy, I could understand that. Not everyone chooses therapy, and that’s a valid reality. As for the stepdad, I hated him so much, and I felt like the storyline with the mother and her "madness" was a bit rushed—but maybe that’s just me.

What really pulled me into this book was the theme of found family, and the characters truly embodied that. I haven’t read the first two books yet, but I hope I get the chance to. I absolutely adore Curbell for so many reasons and can’t wait to read his story.

Oh, and for some reason, I feel weird calling Blaze "Blaze"—probably because his man warned us not to, and it’s stuck with me! 😂👩‍🦯

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 🌟
Enemies to lovers? You don't have to convince me. I live for that statics energy between mmc's where they don't really know if they want to kiss or kill each other, lol
It was only natural to carry on with Alpha's Rejects book 3, which was only released a couple of days ago. So it's all fresh!
Please check TW just to be safe as again there might be some things that could be potentially triggering.

If you are familiar with the series, you know these two and how much they both dislike each other. There were definitely some strong, negative emotions that motivate them to snap and fight. No matter what it was, they were drawn to each other. When they've shared the unexpected kiss, it was only a matter of time when the full collision happened.
Blaze comes as a feisty "little gremlin," but it's just a facade he puts on to hide his pain. To keep people at arm length. When strip raw, we will see his vulnerable side. Ajax will also have to face the demons that lurkers inside of him.
This will be a story of how to learn to trust and love one another. How to understand that sometimes you can be powerless when your mind is your own worst enemy but also the story of bonds strong then blood.

The relationship between these two didn't start as the healthiest, but over time, when the walls were down, they were what they needed the most to peace each other back again.

We got some little teasers here and there about Alpha's book. I can't wait for it!

[annas.bookcase · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely my favourite book of the series! This was enemies to lovers with of course found family and mental health rep touching on bi polar disorder. This one got me emotional but I loved the character growth and the healing they were able to find in each other. Their hate for each other starts right from the first book and it comes from both sides. But even that isn’t enough to fight this pull between them.

“Is that what you want? To be f**ked? To be owned? Are you that desperate for me?”

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

This is one of my favorite books from Courtney W. Dixon! Enemies to lovers, especially when coupled with mental health rep, is such a great trope and this author has created such a beautiful depiction of both in Blaze and Ajax.

Blaze is such an angry person but it’s difficult not to love him. As we learn more about his back story he becomes so much more than expected. There is a vulnerability to him that is both beautiful and sad and I love how he only shows it to those he cares about deeply.

And then there’s Ajax – a person I was not expecting to like very much but one who completely stole my heart. There is a kindness to him I was not anticipating, even in his struggles he never stopped displaying that to the people in his life.

The mental health representation is so well done in this book! Both Blaze and Ajax are deeply broken and I love how the author does not shy away from that in any way. The attention to detail and research are obvious in every aspect of this book and I am so thankful for that honesty in the representation.

As always, please check your triggers, but I highly recommend this book!

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting book dealing with bipolar disorder, something I knew nothing about, so it was educational for me to see the escalation of the manic side, then the sinking into the depression, almost like flipping a switch. I am not aware of knowing anyone who is bipolar, so I probably wouldn’t know what I was seeing any more than Aiden did, just knowing something wasn’t right (although I thought the almost hyper-activity, not eating or sleeping, and OCD cleaning behaviors seemed to be off, also). I also found it interesting that Jaxon knew something wasn’t right, but didn’t know what it was either. I thought that when he was spiraling out of control with the depression, he was still able to make the connection to his mom and what she might have been feeling, which was an encouraging sign that also helped Jaxon realize he needed help. The trepidation he felt going to the hospital seemed very true and real, he knew that there could be a chance of being put on a 72 hour hold and separated from Aiden, but he still faced it head on. Even realizing he needed to visit his boss and go to his required therapy appointment on his own, and that those types of things would now be a part of his life , showed an amazing strength and awareness of this new, life-changing aspect of his life. He also faced the possible complications from the disorder on his relationship with Aiden in a very mature way, although I hadn’t really thought about him in that light before.
Aiden also grew in so many ways. He had been hurt and angry for so long, and the way he began to understand himself, his actions, and his feelings better came about when he faced up to what he needed and decided to ask for it himself. Placing that trust in Jaxon went a long way toward Aiden growing up and letting himself care for someone else, rely on them, and then ultimately be what was needed when Jaxon needed help himself.
The book held my interest and flowed very smoothly, making it hard to put down. I was invested in these characters and the strength, caring and love they were to find with each other once Aiden let himself try. The fact that Jaxon researched to learn more about what Aiden was asking of him spoke to his strength of character and his nurturing side. I was also glad we learned what was behind Aiden’s mother’s treatment of him. It was not what I expected at all.
It was not a sweet romantic story but one that seemed real and true to life. I plan to read Stix &Stones’ story as well as Pippin and Nacho’s, then Alpha’s and Cueball’s when those come out. Looking forward to learning more about the men in this found family of apparent misfits, now brothers/friends for life.

[Lex · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart broke for these men

4.5 out of 5 and oh man where to start. This book broke my heart and I shed some tears for these men as we went on their journey of confronting their past, dealing with mental health issues, navigating adulthood, healing, and finding their HEA. As Courtney Dixon said this was an enemy to lovers book and it was wonderfully done. You could feel the tension between these men and the hatred Blaze and Ajax had for each other. You could also see the how confused they were when their feelings began to change as they kept trying to keep their situation in the box they thought it belonged in. I initially was not Blaze’s biggest fan from what we’ve seen in the previous books, and man can I say he is the perfect example of don’t judge a book by its cover. His story and growth in this book was heart breaking and healing for him. Learning to accept kindness and love from those around you can be incredibly hard. Learning to talk about uncomfortable and painful topics to get what you want is not an easy feat. Blaze became on of my favorite Alpha Rejects along with Ajax. I was really curious about Ajax and this man did not disappoint. Courtney Dixon has this fantastic ability to make these characters so real and humanly flawed, but it’s done so beautifully. These men made mistakes and owned up to them. They helped each other heal and accepted life and love aren’t always hallmark moments and bliss. It’s handling what life throws at them together and choosing to love and care for each other despite the everyday challenges they face especially when dealing with mental health issues. It’s accepting each other’s choices which I love that Ajax did that for Blaze and how Blaze choose to handle his own journey and being their to support them. This book was full of honesty human moments and struggles. From Ajax and Blaze learning how to be what each other needs and learning to communicate. How they had to adjust and accept that “roles” in a relationship can change. Sometimes it’s 50/50, 20/80, 90/10 between partners and what one normally does can change due to circumstances; which happened in this book, and knowing that just because those changes happen doesn’t mean the relationship is over or that partner is failing - they just have to adjust and support each other like Blaze and Ajax did and continue to communicate during those times. Leaning on a found family of friends and each other to find their perfect HEA.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book and this is my honest unbiased opinion.

[Sara Husser · Rating 5 out of 5]

💚I wanted to punch that smirk off, the septum piercing gleaming as much as his demon-colored eyes🛹

"As always, he looked at me with his pierced nose in the air. He was almost a foot shorter than me, and still, he thought he was bigger and better."

"I quickly learned that there were two different Blazes. One was a defiant prickhead, and the other was desperate to submit."

"I'm seeing you so differently, Aiden. You're so beautiful when you're raw and open. Like all that anger you have washes away whenever we're together."

"His acceptance of me helped push away the last bit of fear inside me, and for the first time in years, I was filled with hope."

"You can pretend all you want that you don't need this, but we both know you do. Right, Kitten?"

This series keeps getting better and better. This was probably my favorite book of the series so far. This was a true enemies to lovers story. There was so much animosity, hate, tension, and fighting between these two. I was cackling loud at their insults to each other 😂😂😂. Feral gremlin 🤣. Both these boys were angry grumps but Blaze was such a brat lol. The spice in this one was top tier 🔥🔥🔥🔥. I loved seeing more of Cueball in this. He is one of my fav characters and I can't wait for his story!!!

The mental health struggles in this story hit home for me and I related to this way too much. The bi polar/manic episodes were detailed so realistically and worded perfectly. The sexual grooming/sexual therapy and healing really added to this story and plot. This author has a way with words that evoke so much emotion into the story. I was definitely in my feels for this one 😭.

This story follows Blaze and Ajax. These two hate each other but want each other bad. There was so much sexual tension 🥵. I love the different personalities they each had. Toxic, violent, sweet, caring, protective, and hesitant. These two were made for each other. They each battled some serious mental health issues. I loved the flow and different stages of their relationship. Good lord their chemistry was off the charts as well 🔥🔥🥵🥵. Ajax and his dirty mouth 🤭😏. My heart broke for both of these boys and how much they struggled. Ajax dealing with his bipolar/mania/depression and Blaze dealing with his self loathing/abandonment issues. I love seeing their friends intervene and help guide them. This found family is everything. These two fought so hard for their HEA. Onto Alpha's book next!