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Ashy Holler #1
Ashby Holler
Sergeant at Arms for a deadly club of drug traffickers doesn’t sound like the ideal job for a nineteen-year-old girl… But Sasha Ashby has never been typical, and she’s waited her entire life to sew a club patch on her leather jacket. Raised on violence and crime as part of Ashby Holler Trucking, while hiding her own dirty little secret, Sasha knows she can handle anything. Now there’s a spot open at the table, and Sasha will do anything to secure it—including betray herself… Her best friend and fellow prospect, Vinny, devises a stupidly brilliant plan—they fake a relationship. It’s a match the club president, who happens to be Sasha’s mother, has longed to see. It’s a good idea, in theory. Vinny knows she’s into girls, and what’s a little sex between friends? The ruse works well, elevating her in line for the coveted position, until Vinny’s older brother Dez gets out of jail and breezes into her seat. There’s something about Dez that Sasha can’t shake… She should hate him. It’s only natural after he snatched away her opportunity of a lifetime. But the instant Dez locks his fierce gaze on her, Sasha’s world turns upside down. In the midst of a war with a rival biker gang, Sasha must figure out what she needs most. Is it the gentle touch of her best friend Vinny, the savage hold of his dangerous brother, or the soft skin of the many women who crawl into the cab of her semi? The timing couldn’t be worse, but the lies, deceit, and death that dwell in Ashby Holler wait for no woman.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 14, 2016
29 people are currently reading
204 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 12, 2023
TW: Murder, organized crime, human trafficking, homophobia, gun violence, torture, threats of sexual assault, pregnancy, drug use
(Transparency: This review was commissioned by the author, however this does not at all affect my rating)
I'm giving this a 3.5. I think that this will REALLY appeal to people who liked the show Sons of Anarchy or any other character-driven organized crime tv show where you know every one of the characters are not good people, but you want to see what happens to them. In the way that you don't excuse the behavior of anyone on shows like Shameless or Breaking Bad or Dexter, but you want to see how far some people are willing to go in certain situations.
Our main character is Sasha, a young queer woman living in the 1980s and her mother is the president of the trucking (organized crime) organization she's in. And listen, this girl has major mommy issues. And books that have girls with mommy issues will keep me reading. The way she KNEW her mom was terrible and hated her most of the time but wanted SO BADLY to be loved by her. That is a dynamic i love seeing explored in books. I loved it here and my only wish is that it ended differently and we had gone into even more depth.
Sasha (i think) is bisexual but leans more towards women and deals with a lot of homophobia, but mostly from her mom. Again, mommy issues abound.
Sasha has a very strong personality, in fact the author did a great job making everyone have very distinct voices and personalities. None of them are good people, i want to reiterate that, they're all pretty terrible but sometimes I enjoy consuming media where i can watch bad people be terrible and see the consequences. I don't excuse anyones behavior in this, just like i don't excuse anything Walter White does in BB, but I am intrigued to see what theyre doing and how it all falls apart. And even though theyre bad people, i actually felt for them when they experienced losses. The author did good work there.
The prose here is good, it all makes sense, descriptions are good and I was able to visualize everything the author was trying to convey. This is easier to do in non-fantasy books but can easily be poorly done (looking at you After by Anna Todd) where nothing is described and you're just left to figure it out on your own.
The sex scenes were not badly written. From me, this is a compliment because i get icked out very easily depending on what verbiage is used in sex scene descriptions.
The only thing i really didnt enjoy was the ending. It was shockingly abrupt and I felt like Sasha did stuff so suddenly that didnt make much sense to her character, it gave me whiplash. Other than that though, I didnt really have any complaints and if you like books that remind you of Sons of Anarchy you should read this.
(Transparency: This review was commissioned by the author, however this does not at all affect my rating)
I'm giving this a 3.5. I think that this will REALLY appeal to people who liked the show Sons of Anarchy or any other character-driven organized crime tv show where you know every one of the characters are not good people, but you want to see what happens to them. In the way that you don't excuse the behavior of anyone on shows like Shameless or Breaking Bad or Dexter, but you want to see how far some people are willing to go in certain situations.
Our main character is Sasha, a young queer woman living in the 1980s and her mother is the president of the trucking (organized crime) organization she's in. And listen, this girl has major mommy issues. And books that have girls with mommy issues will keep me reading. The way she KNEW her mom was terrible and hated her most of the time but wanted SO BADLY to be loved by her. That is a dynamic i love seeing explored in books. I loved it here and my only wish is that it ended differently and we had gone into even more depth.
Sasha (i think) is bisexual but leans more towards women and deals with a lot of homophobia, but mostly from her mom. Again, mommy issues abound.
Sasha has a very strong personality, in fact the author did a great job making everyone have very distinct voices and personalities. None of them are good people, i want to reiterate that, they're all pretty terrible but sometimes I enjoy consuming media where i can watch bad people be terrible and see the consequences. I don't excuse anyones behavior in this, just like i don't excuse anything Walter White does in BB, but I am intrigued to see what theyre doing and how it all falls apart. And even though theyre bad people, i actually felt for them when they experienced losses. The author did good work there.
The prose here is good, it all makes sense, descriptions are good and I was able to visualize everything the author was trying to convey. This is easier to do in non-fantasy books but can easily be poorly done (looking at you After by Anna Todd) where nothing is described and you're just left to figure it out on your own.
The sex scenes were not badly written. From me, this is a compliment because i get icked out very easily depending on what verbiage is used in sex scene descriptions.
The only thing i really didnt enjoy was the ending. It was shockingly abrupt and I felt like Sasha did stuff so suddenly that didnt make much sense to her character, it gave me whiplash. Other than that though, I didnt really have any complaints and if you like books that remind you of Sons of Anarchy you should read this.
December 9, 2016
This was a pretty good book it was dark and dirty and I loved it. Sasha Ashby wants to be Sergeant at Arms for the MC that her mother is president of so she and her best friend Vinny come up with a plan to pretend to be together Sasha has a secret she likes girls. When Vinny's brother shows up he takes her spot and stirs something deep in her. This was a good read. I didn't like her mother she treated her bad. Sasha was in charge of running goods for Ashby Trucking. While their entire business seems legit the goods that they transport are not. Sasha's conscience starts getting to her when she finds a truckload of women and kids. The sex scenes in this book were hot. This was my first time reading this author. This book was well written with no errors in grammar or spelling. I am looking forward to reading more from this author.
June 7, 2017
Oh, Sahsa Ashby. You are one kick a** chick!
Ashby Holler was dark, twisted, funny, and absolutely one of the best books I read this year. Jamie Zakian is a new-to-me author, but I can promise that this book won;t be the last book I read by her. Her writing style was flawless and easy to read. Vinny, Candy, and Sahsa are characters I will never forget. They are bad, the are honest, and they are kick butt. Everything yu could want in a book like this. The characters fit so well into this plot and storyline. Nothing feels out of place.
Now, I'm going to read the rest of this series because the first book has me HOOKED!
Ashby Holler was dark, twisted, funny, and absolutely one of the best books I read this year. Jamie Zakian is a new-to-me author, but I can promise that this book won;t be the last book I read by her. Her writing style was flawless and easy to read. Vinny, Candy, and Sahsa are characters I will never forget. They are bad, the are honest, and they are kick butt. Everything yu could want in a book like this. The characters fit so well into this plot and storyline. Nothing feels out of place.
Now, I'm going to read the rest of this series because the first book has me HOOKED!
June 22, 2016
Holy fuck, this is an amazing book. The writing is snappy and there were so many beautifully written lines about life and pain and love. REAL...life, pain, love and struggle. This book has made my to be reread list (which given how voraciously I read is hard to manage.) Ms. Zakian has made my auto-buy list which is incredibly short. If you've ever coped with real pain, finding and accepting your honest self, your sexual identity...my gods, read this book and be prepared to feel. I did not want to put it down. I honestly can't find fault with it...I'm picky...so that's saying a lot!
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October 3, 2016So I have to start by saying that I had forgotten that the protagonist was gay (not an issue of course) and i'm not a usual reader of gay fiction...however the storyline was so fantastic that it made me love the book that much more!
The book was fast paced, romantic, hard and dark all at once and this is what i enjoy from a fiction such as this. The drama caused by the side stories along with the gruesome detail about deaths and murders, really adds to the tension.
It had me hooked and i wish there was another that had continued on, but it does have a clear ending that doesn't leave room for doubt. Although the ending did make me sad and a little bit like it had to be ended, i love books that finish and you know its finished...none of this cliff hanger stuff if theres no sequel.
Definately a great read for anyone loving drama, action and a bit of gruesome horrors!!
The book was fast paced, romantic, hard and dark all at once and this is what i enjoy from a fiction such as this. The drama caused by the side stories along with the gruesome detail about deaths and murders, really adds to the tension.
It had me hooked and i wish there was another that had continued on, but it does have a clear ending that doesn't leave room for doubt. Although the ending did make me sad and a little bit like it had to be ended, i love books that finish and you know its finished...none of this cliff hanger stuff if theres no sequel.
Definately a great read for anyone loving drama, action and a bit of gruesome horrors!!
August 24, 2016
The thump of boots rattled the porch. A chill traveled up Sasha’s spine, locking her in place. She could only stand there and stare at the brick shithouse of a man who’d walked into the clubhouse, at the last face she saw before passing out after the lesson her mother had the club teach her when she was fourteen. Desmond Archer. Sasha crept forward, watching his long hair tap the holler’s emblem of his leather jacket. “Your brother’s out of jail,” she muttered, glancing at Vinny.
Crime will always be in existence, whether it comes in the form of drugs, trafficking, robbery or murder. The act itself takes life from others grasp in the name of the operation until one day—the doers wake up and try to identify where their life went wrong. Most of the individuals doing the crime fall into this stage, but not all. This particular book sheds light on all of these crimes and the emotional turmoil that the characters face. Zakian has an entertaining and dangerously wicked novel that will leave her readers fixated on this story for days.
Sasha is one of the most respected—well known—women in the club that makes up Ashby Trucking. While their entire business, from the outside, seems legitimate, the goods that they transport are anything but that. Sasha’s responsibility is to go on runs to retrieve and deliver, but somewhere along the way—she gains a conscience, especially after finding one delivery is a truckload of starved women and children. With her mother, the head of the business, always giving her instructions and berating her for the ways that she lives her life, Sasha slowly becomes unhinged. Only one man can calm her down and help her think rationally—and her best friend so wants to be that person, but can’t. That one person, her best friend’s brother, just got out of jail and is now gunning for her forgiveness in the beat down that happened years ago, brought on by the business leader because her daughter was attracted to a girl instead of a boy. With everything blowing up in her face, Sasha is determined more than ever, to find a way out. As attacks from a rivaling club heat up the tension, how can Sasha get out for good without losing her life?
Zakian has a superb story-line, one filled with creativity, danger and original content. The criminal aspect of this novel is very compelling, but readers will sympathize with the well-defined characters that this author has created. The pace is fast, making it an easy and entertaining read; however, it is not recommended for children or teens due to content. If you are a reader of crime and suspense, this may be perfect for you.
A free copy was exchanged for an honest review of this fictional piece.
Crime will always be in existence, whether it comes in the form of drugs, trafficking, robbery or murder. The act itself takes life from others grasp in the name of the operation until one day—the doers wake up and try to identify where their life went wrong. Most of the individuals doing the crime fall into this stage, but not all. This particular book sheds light on all of these crimes and the emotional turmoil that the characters face. Zakian has an entertaining and dangerously wicked novel that will leave her readers fixated on this story for days.
Sasha is one of the most respected—well known—women in the club that makes up Ashby Trucking. While their entire business, from the outside, seems legitimate, the goods that they transport are anything but that. Sasha’s responsibility is to go on runs to retrieve and deliver, but somewhere along the way—she gains a conscience, especially after finding one delivery is a truckload of starved women and children. With her mother, the head of the business, always giving her instructions and berating her for the ways that she lives her life, Sasha slowly becomes unhinged. Only one man can calm her down and help her think rationally—and her best friend so wants to be that person, but can’t. That one person, her best friend’s brother, just got out of jail and is now gunning for her forgiveness in the beat down that happened years ago, brought on by the business leader because her daughter was attracted to a girl instead of a boy. With everything blowing up in her face, Sasha is determined more than ever, to find a way out. As attacks from a rivaling club heat up the tension, how can Sasha get out for good without losing her life?
Zakian has a superb story-line, one filled with creativity, danger and original content. The criminal aspect of this novel is very compelling, but readers will sympathize with the well-defined characters that this author has created. The pace is fast, making it an easy and entertaining read; however, it is not recommended for children or teens due to content. If you are a reader of crime and suspense, this may be perfect for you.
A free copy was exchanged for an honest review of this fictional piece.
July 22, 2016
F/F F/M everyone does everyone.
This is a well written story. However!!!! The story is confusing. The heroine is sexually confused.
I am left feeling very confused.
I don't even know what genre this story would be a part of. It does not fit any standard genre I can think of. So many times during this story I thought I was reading a biker story/MC story, it does have those elements. The characters actually belong to a Trucking Company that is extremely shady.
The people in this story rarely if ever have any redeeming qualities. They lie, cheat, steal, engage in human trafficking. This is not a feel good story. Everyone will literally have sex with anyone and everyone.
This is a gritty, hard, cruel world you are about to enter. Sasha can be called the lead in this story. I don't feel comfortable saying she has a romantic lead-this is not a romance!!! I can't emphasize that enough. There are no hearts and flowers here. There are two brothers who both feel something for Sasha, Dez and Vinny. The real conflict is that Sasha likes women. Although she has sex with men, and with her mom in charge of the company-she has to have sex with men. Ellen, Sasha's mom called for her to be savagely beaten. Some attempt to beat the gay out of her.
Things get very Trucker Telenovela, the most extreme nonsensical drama you could never imagine. Sasha gets pregnant but doesn't know by which brother, Ellen and Dez have sex *slow blink
Ellen is a Narcissist with clear Sociopathy, every thing she does is horrendous. There is an ugly underbelly to this story. I really recommend this book to people who like to be shocked by human depravity. If you love paternity test Tuesday, if you love to watch the stage fights on the Jerry Springer Show, if you love a good freak show- step on up, come one come all and see the freaks!! I didn't like this story, but I couldn't stop reading it.
It's so horrible. I have to know what happens next. Omg. I can't. The story isn't over, which I can't believe. I really INSIST that authors let readers know this is book 1, the story will continue. It's not that hard to do. If there is no book 2? I will lose my Fraking mind. Just saying.
#StillConfused #GluttonForPunishment
Reviewed for HeadTripping Books by A. Bookhooker
This is a well written story. However!!!! The story is confusing. The heroine is sexually confused.
I am left feeling very confused.
I don't even know what genre this story would be a part of. It does not fit any standard genre I can think of. So many times during this story I thought I was reading a biker story/MC story, it does have those elements. The characters actually belong to a Trucking Company that is extremely shady.
The people in this story rarely if ever have any redeeming qualities. They lie, cheat, steal, engage in human trafficking. This is not a feel good story. Everyone will literally have sex with anyone and everyone.
This is a gritty, hard, cruel world you are about to enter. Sasha can be called the lead in this story. I don't feel comfortable saying she has a romantic lead-this is not a romance!!! I can't emphasize that enough. There are no hearts and flowers here. There are two brothers who both feel something for Sasha, Dez and Vinny. The real conflict is that Sasha likes women. Although she has sex with men, and with her mom in charge of the company-she has to have sex with men. Ellen, Sasha's mom called for her to be savagely beaten. Some attempt to beat the gay out of her.
Things get very Trucker Telenovela, the most extreme nonsensical drama you could never imagine. Sasha gets pregnant but doesn't know by which brother, Ellen and Dez have sex *slow blink
Ellen is a Narcissist with clear Sociopathy, every thing she does is horrendous. There is an ugly underbelly to this story. I really recommend this book to people who like to be shocked by human depravity. If you love paternity test Tuesday, if you love to watch the stage fights on the Jerry Springer Show, if you love a good freak show- step on up, come one come all and see the freaks!! I didn't like this story, but I couldn't stop reading it.
It's so horrible. I have to know what happens next. Omg. I can't. The story isn't over, which I can't believe. I really INSIST that authors let readers know this is book 1, the story will continue. It's not that hard to do. If there is no book 2? I will lose my Fraking mind. Just saying.
#StillConfused #GluttonForPunishment
Reviewed for HeadTripping Books by A. Bookhooker
January 29, 2017
Fantastic!
June 21, 2016
Oh my god, what did I just read?!?
I read MC romances, I love MC romances, this book was suggested because I like MC romances.....this book is not MC and this was no romance. I am completely blown away by this book, it was so good, but this was not a f*cking romance.
So if you have problems with drug use, violence and indiscriminate sex, DO NOT read this book. If what you like is a badass, kinda crazy, and damaged heroine then Sasha is definitely your woman. Sasha is a trucker for her family's trucking company/club, which is a lot like an MC, just without the M. The club's Pres is Sasha's mom who happens to be more badass, completely crazy and totally damaged.
I really do not want to expand on the story any more than this and there is always the blurb to read, but this book is such an experience and I don't want to spoil that. The story kept me completely enthralled, but this was just not what I was expecting.....and the end, oh man the end!!!!! I can't say anything except for really?!? Aaaahhhhhh! Half of me wants a sequel and half of me wants it to be left with the wtf feeling I have right now. I am so confused by why I loved this book, but I did.
I read MC romances, I love MC romances, this book was suggested because I like MC romances.....this book is not MC and this was no romance. I am completely blown away by this book, it was so good, but this was not a f*cking romance.
So if you have problems with drug use, violence and indiscriminate sex, DO NOT read this book. If what you like is a badass, kinda crazy, and damaged heroine then Sasha is definitely your woman. Sasha is a trucker for her family's trucking company/club, which is a lot like an MC, just without the M. The club's Pres is Sasha's mom who happens to be more badass, completely crazy and totally damaged.
I really do not want to expand on the story any more than this and there is always the blurb to read, but this book is such an experience and I don't want to spoil that. The story kept me completely enthralled, but this was just not what I was expecting.....and the end, oh man the end!!!!! I can't say anything except for really?!? Aaaahhhhhh! Half of me wants a sequel and half of me wants it to be left with the wtf feeling I have right now. I am so confused by why I loved this book, but I did.
October 23, 2017
Almost a hillbilly underbelly world
This book is rough,rocky and full of underbelly schemes and tactics,I despise most of the characters yet I had to keep reading to see how much worse they could get on backstabbing,under cutting and following a woman that just needs to drop dead or be put permanently in a hole and the ending blows,I was really hoping Sasha would grow a set
This book is rough,rocky and full of underbelly schemes and tactics,I despise most of the characters yet I had to keep reading to see how much worse they could get on backstabbing,under cutting and following a woman that just needs to drop dead or be put permanently in a hole and the ending blows,I was really hoping Sasha would grow a set
October 26, 2016
Suspense, violence, romance, sex, drugs, and coming-of-age, all with a strong female lead, this is action-packed new adult with attitude to spare.
Sasha knows what she wants: girls and the Sergeant at Arms position. Too bad she can't have either, thanks to her position as an Ashby and the return of her best friend's brother, Dez. But Vinny, her best friend and pretend lover (for club appearances only, obviously. Or is he?) has other plans. As do the rival gang that are encroaching on Ashby territory. And so the fun begins.
The pace on this was of the high-octane variety, of the type that kept you turning the pages to find out what happens next. The characterisation was strong, despite the pace, and was of the type that had you invested in Sasha and her messed-up lifestyle and aims from the first page. The plot was straightforward but told with passion and urgency. Recommended.
*I received a review copy from the New Adult Book Club on Goodreads. This is my honest review.
Sasha knows what she wants: girls and the Sergeant at Arms position. Too bad she can't have either, thanks to her position as an Ashby and the return of her best friend's brother, Dez. But Vinny, her best friend and pretend lover (for club appearances only, obviously. Or is he?) has other plans. As do the rival gang that are encroaching on Ashby territory. And so the fun begins.
The pace on this was of the high-octane variety, of the type that kept you turning the pages to find out what happens next. The characterisation was strong, despite the pace, and was of the type that had you invested in Sasha and her messed-up lifestyle and aims from the first page. The plot was straightforward but told with passion and urgency. Recommended.
*I received a review copy from the New Adult Book Club on Goodreads. This is my honest review.
August 22, 2016
Two trucker gangs rival for reputation and the product they move. Sasha, the woman who's perspective the story is mainly told from, is struggling with her sexuality and her rank in the group. With her best friend by her side, his brother in her bed, her female lover in the shadows, and her mother trying to decide her life for her, Sasha has some tough decisions ahead of her.
While I wasn't found of the trucking parts, I loved the people-to-people interactions and back stories. I also love when we get different perspectives from the different characters. Good writing and an awesome story, overall. I didn't like the abruptness of the final chapter ... there was a disconnect in transition for me, but I still couldn't put it down and would love to know what happens next!
While I wasn't found of the trucking parts, I loved the people-to-people interactions and back stories. I also love when we get different perspectives from the different characters. Good writing and an awesome story, overall. I didn't like the abruptness of the final chapter ... there was a disconnect in transition for me, but I still couldn't put it down and would love to know what happens next!
June 25, 2016
This book is...whoa. The characters are realistic and relatable, which makes it even worse how completely over-the-top brutal this book is. I mean, yeah, gang warfare certainly can get this brutal, but thank God I've never seen it up close an in person, other than through this book.
The characters are complex. Their motivations are human. The writing is spectacular. The book has everything: complex mob drama, heartless murder, 80's hairdos, and tough-ass women who know how to get theirs. You won't be able to put this down, so be prepared for a rough ride
The characters are complex. Their motivations are human. The writing is spectacular. The book has everything: complex mob drama, heartless murder, 80's hairdos, and tough-ass women who know how to get theirs. You won't be able to put this down, so be prepared for a rough ride
September 30, 2016
Shockingly amazing. Don't get me wrong, I expected the writing to top notch, but this book was outside my preferred genre and going into it, I wasn't sure what to expect. What I found was an edgy story, deep, wild, emotional... I intended to just squeeze a few quick chapters of reading in, but I devoured it in one sitting. My brain is STILL spinning from all it took in. Well done, Jamie. Well done!
April 24, 2017
WHAT THE FUCK
I don't even know what just happened. I need like month to go through everything this is just insane. It went from crazy to insane in a good way?
I don't even know what just happened. I need like month to go through everything this is just insane. It went from crazy to insane in a good way?
October 16, 2016
Nice
This is a good book, lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing, plus a cliffhanger that will make you want more
This is a good book, lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing, plus a cliffhanger that will make you want more
January 10, 2017
It's a hit
Awesome read! I ran a gamut of emotions while reading this book, and can't wait to read Sasha's story as it continues in the next one.
Awesome read! I ran a gamut of emotions while reading this book, and can't wait to read Sasha's story as it continues in the next one.
February 3, 2022
Dark reads aren’t usually a problem but this one twisted every chapter. The ending was a cliff hanger to buy the next book…insert eye roll…a coma for 4 years, so concerned about a child your now running from 😡 I’m not buying the conclusion book
March 8, 2019
Gritty, realistic and downright fantastic. Read it!
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