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Not So Simple #3
A Simple Distraction
Bradley Walsh has everything—money, charm, and a last name that opens every door in Chicago. As the golden heir to the Walsh & Wilde empire, he’s used to getting what he wants…except when it comes to love.
Kenzo Carter-Volsky lives for discipline. A rising pro hockey star with a career on the line, he’s spent years building defenses no one gets past—and he plans to keep it that way.
But now temptation lives next door.
From the moment Bradley meets his new neighbor, he knows he’s in trouble. Kenzo is exactly the kind of man Bradley falls gorgeous, complicated, and impossible to ignore. And Bradley does what he always does—falls fast for the one he can’t have.
Kenzo has never let anyone close enough to break through his walls. He can’t afford distractions, and he definitely can’t afford the beautiful, charismatic heir who keeps showing up on the other side of the terrace with a smile that feels like a challenge. But stolen glances turn into lingering conversations and temptation this close is harder to resist than either of them expected.
Because falling is easy.
Letting someone in is harder.
And some people are impossible to keep out.
A high heat MM romance about temptation next door, vulnerability, found family, and choosing love even when it feels like the most dangerous play of all.
Kenzo Carter-Volsky lives for discipline. A rising pro hockey star with a career on the line, he’s spent years building defenses no one gets past—and he plans to keep it that way.
But now temptation lives next door.
From the moment Bradley meets his new neighbor, he knows he’s in trouble. Kenzo is exactly the kind of man Bradley falls gorgeous, complicated, and impossible to ignore. And Bradley does what he always does—falls fast for the one he can’t have.
Kenzo has never let anyone close enough to break through his walls. He can’t afford distractions, and he definitely can’t afford the beautiful, charismatic heir who keeps showing up on the other side of the terrace with a smile that feels like a challenge. But stolen glances turn into lingering conversations and temptation this close is harder to resist than either of them expected.
Because falling is easy.
Letting someone in is harder.
And some people are impossible to keep out.
A high heat MM romance about temptation next door, vulnerability, found family, and choosing love even when it feels like the most dangerous play of all.
- GenresM M RomanceHockeySports
349 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 9, 2026
About the author
Ash Jackson
3 books48 followersAsh Jackson grew up just outside of Chicago’s Chinatown and now calls the suburbs home, where she lives with her high school sweetheart—now husband of over 16 years—and their three endlessly energetic boys. Ash is a lifelong storyteller and romantic at heart.
When she’s not writing, she’s usually baking things her kids won’t eat, knitting yet another scarf that she won’t wear, or binge watching six seasons of a show instead of committing to a three hour movie.
When she’s not writing, she’s usually baking things her kids won’t eat, knitting yet another scarf that she won’t wear, or binge watching six seasons of a show instead of committing to a three hour movie.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 6, 2026
4.5 stars
A sweet story. A well written good read. Semi spicy, semi angsty, full of hockey about a closeted hockey player falling in love with his rich neighbor.
We've all read this type of story before and this book is a great iteration of the trope.
A sweet story. A well written good read. Semi spicy, semi angsty, full of hockey about a closeted hockey player falling in love with his rich neighbor.
We've all read this type of story before and this book is a great iteration of the trope.
May 16, 2026
Ice Hockey Romance
‘ A Simple Distraction gives us a new pair of MC’s from Ash Jackson who were side characters in another book ‘ About to Bloom’. Bradley Walsh and Kenzo Volksy apartments share a balcony. After their first meeting and a few ups and downs they become an item, even though they are only together in either of their apartments. Bradley is an openly gay man from an extremely wealthy family who has recently recovered from a nasty breakup, Kenzo’’s heritage is Japanese/Russian, he is a deeply closeted gay man, not even his sister Hana is aware of even though Kenzo has taken care of her since their parents died and now they share an apartment.
I liked these two guys, especially Bradley, Kenzo’s indecisiveness annoyed me at times and I felt sympathy for Bradley. They break up and get back together a few times.
When Kenzo suffers a serious injury and is out of action for months, and someone from Bradley’s past blackmails him, they are forced into making long overdue decisions .lots of drama and intrigue.
I’m still hoping that Hana gets her own book and the man she’s had her eyes on, Avery, who is Kenzo’s young teammate also featured in ‘About to Bloom’.
Both books worth adding to your WTR list.
‘ A Simple Distraction gives us a new pair of MC’s from Ash Jackson who were side characters in another book ‘ About to Bloom’. Bradley Walsh and Kenzo Volksy apartments share a balcony. After their first meeting and a few ups and downs they become an item, even though they are only together in either of their apartments. Bradley is an openly gay man from an extremely wealthy family who has recently recovered from a nasty breakup, Kenzo’’s heritage is Japanese/Russian, he is a deeply closeted gay man, not even his sister Hana is aware of even though Kenzo has taken care of her since their parents died and now they share an apartment.
I liked these two guys, especially Bradley, Kenzo’s indecisiveness annoyed me at times and I felt sympathy for Bradley. They break up and get back together a few times.
When Kenzo suffers a serious injury and is out of action for months, and someone from Bradley’s past blackmails him, they are forced into making long overdue decisions .lots of drama and intrigue.
I’m still hoping that Hana gets her own book and the man she’s had her eyes on, Avery, who is Kenzo’s young teammate also featured in ‘About to Bloom’.
Both books worth adding to your WTR list.
March 11, 2026
I liked the story itself. Bradley was so sweet and I loved him immediately. Some of the lines felt very repetitive and it seemed like the author was trying to get a higher word count with the very intense lengthy descriptions and brand names of clothing everyone wore, which for me took away from the actual story since it happened so frequently.
March 15, 2026
Simple
I really enjoyed reading this book. I will give it a 5/5. The story is about Bradley, a grocery executive, and Kenzo, a hockey star. Bradley and Kenzo are neighbors and they meet when Kenzo locks himself out of his apartment. The two men are attracted to each but don’t act on their attraction at first. Bradley is worried about someone wanting him for his money and Kenzo is not out at all. Kenzo put his dating life on hold to raise his sister and be good at hockey. Well the two men start dating in secret but Kenzo has issues with not being enough for Bradley and they break up. Bradley has an ex that still wants him but only for sex. Kenzo and Bradley decide they want each other but then Kenzo is injured. Will the two men be able to overcome their internal issues to be happy?
The only downside about this book is the casual designer name dropping. I thought it was a tad much. Also I enjoyed the interracial aspect of the book. I thought it was authentic and positive. I will be on the lookout for more books by this author.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I will give it a 5/5. The story is about Bradley, a grocery executive, and Kenzo, a hockey star. Bradley and Kenzo are neighbors and they meet when Kenzo locks himself out of his apartment. The two men are attracted to each but don’t act on their attraction at first. Bradley is worried about someone wanting him for his money and Kenzo is not out at all. Kenzo put his dating life on hold to raise his sister and be good at hockey. Well the two men start dating in secret but Kenzo has issues with not being enough for Bradley and they break up. Bradley has an ex that still wants him but only for sex. Kenzo and Bradley decide they want each other but then Kenzo is injured. Will the two men be able to overcome their internal issues to be happy?
The only downside about this book is the casual designer name dropping. I thought it was a tad much. Also I enjoyed the interracial aspect of the book. I thought it was authentic and positive. I will be on the lookout for more books by this author.
March 20, 2026
so good
Yay for diverse characters!!!!! This was such a good book. I loved everyone. Watching these two characters grow not only as people but in their relationship was a joy to watch. It’s scary coming out. And the world isn’t great about it especially in sports still to this day. I loved watching the courage one must have and the love. The writing was great. The spice was yum, and the side characters were everything. Thank you for writing about a Black hockey player. They are out there so it’s nice to see that in a book.
In the know:
Dual pov
No cheating/sharing
No om/ow drama
We love diversity
Relationship before spice
Yay for diverse characters!!!!! This was such a good book. I loved everyone. Watching these two characters grow not only as people but in their relationship was a joy to watch. It’s scary coming out. And the world isn’t great about it especially in sports still to this day. I loved watching the courage one must have and the love. The writing was great. The spice was yum, and the side characters were everything. Thank you for writing about a Black hockey player. They are out there so it’s nice to see that in a book.
In the know:
Dual pov
No cheating/sharing
No om/ow drama
We love diversity
Relationship before spice
April 12, 2026
Way way WAY too fucking much useless inner dialogue. Seriously it was just words on a page. Like the author was just rambling to get a word count. I skimmed over all of it. Which was numerous pages in a row of useless bullshit! Way too much over explanation of things. Like what people were wearing down to the brand. Like who gives a shit?! I mean Jesus, I think we got Bradley’s 10 step skin care routine at least twice! All 10 steps! Fucking duh!
The banter was good! I just found myself reading the conversational pieces. Take out all of the filler bullshit and repetition and this book could have been a 100 page novella! Which would have gotten a way higher rating from me!
The banter was good! I just found myself reading the conversational pieces. Take out all of the filler bullshit and repetition and this book could have been a 100 page novella! Which would have gotten a way higher rating from me!
July 13, 2026
Lazy writing!
There is so much to unpack here, but I’m going to keep it to the basics. This writer is what I call a “lazy writer” … after the fifth laundry list type description, I finally stopped being disappointed and got angry. Throwing out a bunch of adjectives when describing the way someone is dressed or how a room is decorated is simply NOT good writing. It’s just plain lazy and boring. Stop “telling” us … SHOW us instead (I’d thought this was creative writing 101, but apparently a lot of authors getting published missed the class that day). My second, and probably more important complaint, is the absolute nonsense of “scissoring” … for the last time ladies (and yes, this is something I see female writers of MM doing much more frequently than male writers in the genre), scissoring when preparing a partner for anal intercourse is NOT A THING GAY MEN DO. So please stop that insanity … talk to some gay men, do the research, and get it right!
There is so much to unpack here, but I’m going to keep it to the basics. This writer is what I call a “lazy writer” … after the fifth laundry list type description, I finally stopped being disappointed and got angry. Throwing out a bunch of adjectives when describing the way someone is dressed or how a room is decorated is simply NOT good writing. It’s just plain lazy and boring. Stop “telling” us … SHOW us instead (I’d thought this was creative writing 101, but apparently a lot of authors getting published missed the class that day). My second, and probably more important complaint, is the absolute nonsense of “scissoring” … for the last time ladies (and yes, this is something I see female writers of MM doing much more frequently than male writers in the genre), scissoring when preparing a partner for anal intercourse is NOT A THING GAY MEN DO. So please stop that insanity … talk to some gay men, do the research, and get it right!
June 12, 2026
3.5/5⭐️
Very sweet and well written! Kenzo and Bradley are adorable and although I had moments of frustration, their view points were easy to understand and well founded.
My only critique really is that at times the pacing felt a bit odd, but overall it was quite good, albeit fairly predictable and simple in plot - but sometimes that’s all you want in a book.
On the spicy scenes - I’d give it a 3/5 for spicy content, and like a 4.5/5 for the quality of the writing of the smut scenes.
Very sweet and well written! Kenzo and Bradley are adorable and although I had moments of frustration, their view points were easy to understand and well founded.
My only critique really is that at times the pacing felt a bit odd, but overall it was quite good, albeit fairly predictable and simple in plot - but sometimes that’s all you want in a book.
On the spicy scenes - I’d give it a 3/5 for spicy content, and like a 4.5/5 for the quality of the writing of the smut scenes.
July 5, 2026
As always, no spoilers.
So I read the ice skating/hockey player book first and these two are side characters. I WAS SO JAZZED TO FIND OUT THEY HAD A BOOK ALREADY.
It was everything I could have wanted for them and more. The story line was perfect. Love me a little will they won’t they commit situation. Loved seeing Hana again. And the rest of the team even though it was backwards for me 😂😂
10/10. Loved it.
So I read the ice skating/hockey player book first and these two are side characters. I WAS SO JAZZED TO FIND OUT THEY HAD A BOOK ALREADY.
It was everything I could have wanted for them and more. The story line was perfect. Love me a little will they won’t they commit situation. Loved seeing Hana again. And the rest of the team even though it was backwards for me 😂😂
10/10. Loved it.
July 11, 2026
Loved it
New to me author and loved every word.
Great MCs in Kenzo and Bradley - their relationship had obstacles in Kenzo being closeted and Bradley risking his heart - but everything worked out with minimal heartbreak. Loved the supporting characters as well, Hana, the hockey team, Bradley's family and friends. Had a great time reading this.
New to me author and loved every word.
Great MCs in Kenzo and Bradley - their relationship had obstacles in Kenzo being closeted and Bradley risking his heart - but everything worked out with minimal heartbreak. Loved the supporting characters as well, Hana, the hockey team, Bradley's family and friends. Had a great time reading this.
August 26, 2026
This was a nice read. I liked both Kenzo and Bradley, though it wasn't as cohesive as it could be (I felt like Jackson left out some things -- just a few nebulous aspects). But overall, I enjoyed their relationship and how it progressed, even though Kenzo definitely struggled with some internal homophobia (I thought).
February 16, 2026
super sweet with just enough spice
Love love love!! Super sweet story with the perfect amount of juiciness! Was so sad when it was over because I definitely could’ve hit another few chapters lol
Love love love!! Super sweet story with the perfect amount of juiciness! Was so sad when it was over because I definitely could’ve hit another few chapters lol
July 6, 2026
Very good!!!!it was worth reading,you should read it too!
I loved this story,Bradley isn’t stuck up and hence as a couple Kenzo and Bradley make sense.Am glad I stumbled upon this author.Can’t wait to read other books .
I loved this story,Bradley isn’t stuck up and hence as a couple Kenzo and Bradley make sense.Am glad I stumbled upon this author.Can’t wait to read other books .
April 2, 2026
It was an easy sweet quick read with light drama and you knew how it was gonna end but it was a delight to read.
June 14, 2026
4.5 stars
September 5, 2026
Love them- like cuties
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews