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One Step Back
When you fall for a guy who's about to become your stepbrother, do you listen to your heart and risk everything? Or listen to your head...and take one step back?
In high school I had a hundred reasons to steer clear of my soon-to-be-stepbrother, Joe Beneventi. He was a hothead, and I was reserved. His life was football, mine was academics. He wanted to be out and proud, and I desperately needed to keep my orientation secret.
But when we fell in love, my heart took the wheel, and I took every risk to be with Joe. Then one horrible night our secrets shattered. Joe disappeared--wrecking our families and breaking my heart.
Eleven years later, I landed a challenging job at a premier PR firm. And the hotshot publicist who's been assigned to my first big account? Yep. It's Joe. Fate truly hates me because now Joe and I have three days to hole up in a Chicago hotel room and nail down a deal that could make or break our careers. He keeps distracting me, but I'm too jaded to fall for sexy smiles, bedroom eyes, and his impossible-to-ignore body. Except...
I like being close to him again. A little too much. Working together 24/7 is showing me sides of Joe I've never seen before. And when we touch, being together seems like the only step worth taking.
One Step Back is a stand-alone m/m romance of 95,000 words.
In high school I had a hundred reasons to steer clear of my soon-to-be-stepbrother, Joe Beneventi. He was a hothead, and I was reserved. His life was football, mine was academics. He wanted to be out and proud, and I desperately needed to keep my orientation secret.
But when we fell in love, my heart took the wheel, and I took every risk to be with Joe. Then one horrible night our secrets shattered. Joe disappeared--wrecking our families and breaking my heart.
Eleven years later, I landed a challenging job at a premier PR firm. And the hotshot publicist who's been assigned to my first big account? Yep. It's Joe. Fate truly hates me because now Joe and I have three days to hole up in a Chicago hotel room and nail down a deal that could make or break our careers. He keeps distracting me, but I'm too jaded to fall for sexy smiles, bedroom eyes, and his impossible-to-ignore body. Except...
I like being close to him again. A little too much. Working together 24/7 is showing me sides of Joe I've never seen before. And when we touch, being together seems like the only step worth taking.
One Step Back is a stand-alone m/m romance of 95,000 words.
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 23, 2018
29 people are currently reading
334 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
November 12, 2018
Awww, that was just about perfect in regards to what I was looking for this time around. : )
As the story began, we met introverted and socially-awkward Ash, and life-of-the-party Joe. It was summer and they were very much in love. Ahhh, to be 19 again and in that situation.
But as so often with young love, life happened and things fell apart, most dramatically, so when the story fast forwarded 11 years to present day, the pair had been estranged for over a decade.
Yet they were still very much in love, unbeknownst to one another.
I adored seeing Ash lose his proverbial shit when he finally met Joe again. Prepared, he was most decidedly not.
I loved watching the guys work through their past issues, slowly reconnecting, heading toward a future together, without any of the clichéd, done-to-death "Big Misunderstanding" bullshit so common to M/M romance.
Sure, shit got in their way, and they had to regroup a few times, but the reader could pretty much tell that both of the MC's weren't going to simply disappear from one another's lives again. Not. Gonna. Happen.
I enjoyed seeing how the flashbacks laid out all of the heavy, internal angst that had *already* happened, and while those dramatic, painful bits were, at times, difficult to read, they were in the past.
The real angst between the MC's in present day came from external sources, reinforcing that it was only their rocky *past* that they needed to overcome, and stresses from their careers could take a goddamn back seat when push came to shove, hallelujah, amen, praise da' lawd.
The steamy bits were verrrrrry steamy, without them hitting the sheets so often that I wanted to skim pages, because "OMMFG, they're fucking again???" Nope, just the right amount of steam, without tromping into gratuitous territory.
The only thing that annoyed me was that Ash which could have helped Joe & Ash instead of them landing in COLD-ASS because BRRRRR!
(Apologies in advance for my bone-deep hatred of snow and the cold.) heh
I'd rate this one at around 4.25 stars and recommend it to fans of "Unraveling Josh".
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October 3, 2018
~3.5~
Edie Danford writes hot sex and troubled characters who overcome the odds to be together. One Step Back is just angsty enough to be interesting, but the angst doesn't overtake the second chance romance between two men who meet as teenagers and reunite eleven years later.
Joe has always been irresistible. He was the troublemaker, the rebel, the kid who pushed boundaries but tried to clean up his messes the best he could. Joe loved life, and he loved Asher. But Asher pushed Joe away; he wasn't willing to take a leap of fate.
While I liked the push/pull between the men when they see each other again after more than a decade apart, I thought the plot was too focused on their jobs as public relations specialists for the same company.
The story is told in a dual first-person, present-tense POV. I typically abhor present-tense narration, but Danford pulled it off. I just wish there had been fewer internal monologues. The men's thoughts and musings went on for pages sometimes, breaking the flow of the story.
I'm also not a fan of flashbacks, and Danford flashes back several times to the last summer the guys spent together as teenagers on the brink of adulthood. I can see why the author did this, but I ended up skimming these chapters, eager to return to the present.
The blurb focuses on the stepbrothers trope, but it really doesn't play a big role in the story. There is nothing illicit about the men's relationship. Joe and Asher have never thought of themselves as brothers. They weren't raised together and didn't really live together except for vacations with their parents who dated and then got married when the boys were seniors in high school.
While there is no epilogue, the last couple chapters wrap up the story in a satisfactory way and leave us with a tentative HEA for Asher and Joey. I loved how Asher stood up for Joe at the end and how utterly committed he was to making the relationship work.
Edie Danford writes hot sex and troubled characters who overcome the odds to be together. One Step Back is just angsty enough to be interesting, but the angst doesn't overtake the second chance romance between two men who meet as teenagers and reunite eleven years later.
Joe has always been irresistible. He was the troublemaker, the rebel, the kid who pushed boundaries but tried to clean up his messes the best he could. Joe loved life, and he loved Asher. But Asher pushed Joe away; he wasn't willing to take a leap of fate.
While I liked the push/pull between the men when they see each other again after more than a decade apart, I thought the plot was too focused on their jobs as public relations specialists for the same company.
The story is told in a dual first-person, present-tense POV. I typically abhor present-tense narration, but Danford pulled it off. I just wish there had been fewer internal monologues. The men's thoughts and musings went on for pages sometimes, breaking the flow of the story.
I'm also not a fan of flashbacks, and Danford flashes back several times to the last summer the guys spent together as teenagers on the brink of adulthood. I can see why the author did this, but I ended up skimming these chapters, eager to return to the present.
The blurb focuses on the stepbrothers trope, but it really doesn't play a big role in the story. There is nothing illicit about the men's relationship. Joe and Asher have never thought of themselves as brothers. They weren't raised together and didn't really live together except for vacations with their parents who dated and then got married when the boys were seniors in high school.
While there is no epilogue, the last couple chapters wrap up the story in a satisfactory way and leave us with a tentative HEA for Asher and Joey. I loved how Asher stood up for Joe at the end and how utterly committed he was to making the relationship work.
December 3, 2021
All I need is the air that I breathe and Asher Smith.
help. i don’t think i have been so conflicted by a book in so damn long. this made me feel a lot and precisely nothing, simultaneously.
i liked this and i didn’t? it kept me intrigued and riveted immediately, and i wanted to read this in one sitting (if id had the time). i think it was bcos i was desperate to get to the moment the book finally clicked that had me speeding through this.
the amount of potential i think this could have had... *sighhhhh* it just wasn’t explored to fruition. the bones for a really deep, angsty, fun and beautiful story was there. but a lot of it felt rushed, surface level... easy? it felt like the author took the easy way out with everything.
an example would be the flashback scenes to Joe and Asher as teens when they were in love before their inevitable fallout.
we’re never shown them falling in love. they’re already in love in the flashbacks. their relationship is... odd. we find them grappling with their futures, individually and as a couple. they were serious, according to them, Joe wanting to tell their parents about their relationship, Asher waxing poetics about how deeply he loved Joe. but they didn’t feel all that serious? any conversations, bonding, memories and cute moments are all told to us, while we get shown sex scene after sex scene— i for sure would have preferred it to be the other way around.
bcos in the present and at times in the past, i felt this bone-deep love and longing between them. but the foundations of it were kinda rocky bcos we barely get shown any of it.
particularly the first flashback scene. they felt like strangers when they first interact, then it ends with Joe coming to Ash’s room for a blowjob, like Asher is some dirty little secret bcos they don’t kiss or talk, or even have any affection with one another. but then Joe is murmuring “love u so much” and i was super caught off guard😭 the following flashback scene several chapters later clears up they’ve had on and off encounters, feelings etc which they’ve been trying to withhold since they’re gonna be stepbrothers soon... but again, it was all told to me in a few paragraphs in a rather info-dumpy fashion.
i felt like i was dropped into the middle of a story with the beginning completely missing ad trying to scramble to fill in the blanks.
if the author had spent more time exploring the foundations of their relationship, then i think i could have loved this. bcos present Joe and Asher were so intriguing to me.
Joe and i were on rocky path for a while bcos his manwhorish ways kept getting brought up. again and again. please stop it, i beg. it’s information like that i could do without, thank u. but he had this ridiculous boyish charm to him that i found endearing as hell and begrudgingly liked him more than i wanted to ahaha. (and Asher had been in a long term relationship for like 7+ years so felt like it balanced out the manwhore behaviour lmao).
again, he had the potential to be so much more. he nonchalantly drops into an inner monologue he went to therapy after breaking up with Asher when they were kids, and briefly mentions how he spiralled and missed Ash so much... SHOW ME. EXPLORE IT! it would have given him so much more depth. his trauma was continuously hinted at and occasionally dropped into a conversation, but never actually explored. they allude to his dad being at the epicentre of his trauma but never acknowledge it properly and pick it apart.
while Asher, i liked well enough but he felt pretty indistinguishable. again, he had trauma involving his dad (which was a fraction more explored than Joe’s) and to do with his dead mother... and none of that was utilised. both Joe and Asher’s actions in the past were motivated by their trauma, but we don’t get told fully what this trauma is and how it affects them both. it was surface-level explanations that Joe and Asher seemed to understand deeply about one another, but i didn’t know about them? it was like bcos Joe and Asher knew, no one else needed to know... including the reader😭
but i was convinced they were soulmates, 100000%. they yearned for one another. they were deep and complicated. i felt their devastation at breaking up in the past and how they missed and longed for one another in the present. that is where the conflict lies lol. bcos i loved their love. and loved the way they loved each other.
but i felt like we barely scratched the surface of their relationship. there isn’t much build in their present relationship either. they’re already irrevocably still in love with one another when they meet again... so nothing truly changes, you know? there’s no rediscovering, not really. there’s no anger or resentment about how things ended, everything is pretty smooth sailing the whole time. idk, for a second chance romance i expected just more.
i imagine after 11 years, you’ve changed a lot as a person? especially from the age of 19 to 30. so, falling back into a relationship like you’re still 19 without discussing and exploring the changes, the ins and outs is... kinda dumb?
present Joe and Asher were 🥰🥺💥🔥
past joe and Asher were 🥱🤨🤷🏻♀️👋🏻
i feel like im rambling at this point bcos i am struggling to articulate my feelings since they’re all over the place, so i’ll just leave it here lol. even the well-rounded HEA felt unfinished, you know? we don’t really go on a journey or really see their futures... idk. so i liked this a lot, but was also disappointed af by it bcos it could have hit so damn hard if only the author had made some tweaks.
(the acknowledgments also are dedicated to other mm romance authors who were involved helping the author with the process— Eden Finley, Sarina Bowen, Garrett Leigh, Lily Morton, Annabeth Albert... you had all this input and still wrote like half a story?)
October 7, 2018
*4.5 stars*
So close! This book came so close to being a solid five star read for me. This is the good old "Unraveling Josh" or "Tru Smoke" Edie Danford. I loved a bunch of things:
The stepbrothers angle. This is a trope that I love and it was perfectly executed here. Joe and Asher meet as teenagers when their parents decide to get serious with each other. Both lonely and misunderstood for different reasons each, they hit it off immediately. First as friends, then as lovers.
The flashbacks. I usually don't care about those in my books but I loved them here. Almost as interesting as the present and pretty necessary. It's how we learn how much history there is between Joe and Ash. It's almost an epic love story that goes far beyond a teenage crush. It was the real deal! I also liked that the flashbacks are not in chronological order. It made things even more interesting.
Second chances. This is another trope that I adore. Joe and Asher haven't seen each other for eleven years. The way they broke up and drifted apart was a punch to the gut but meeting again after all these years brought all the angst and the feels.
Very solid characterization. These MCs were most definitely NOT perfect. But they were young and immature and in love, with the conviction they were never going to measure up ingrained into them. The author did a great job taking the reader through Ash and Joe's struggles and way of thinking. I definitely wanted to punch Asher's face once or twice but he more than made up for it in the end.
HAWT! So hot and sexy but romantic, intense and emotional at the same time.
The ending. HEA all the way. Really, it was the only choice for Joe and Ash.
The writing. I 've said before I'm a big fan of Danford's writing. It's straightforward, sharp and sweet at the same time.
The reason I'm rounding down is that I felt that the story dragged a little bit at certain points. The details about their job take a lot of space but I was actually ok -even intrigued- with that. It was their inner thinking and monologues, and maybe some of the dialogue in the end, that ended up a little boring for me.
Other than that, I have no complaints. Recommended for everyone, especially fans of second chances.
So close! This book came so close to being a solid five star read for me. This is the good old "Unraveling Josh" or "Tru Smoke" Edie Danford. I loved a bunch of things:
The stepbrothers angle. This is a trope that I love and it was perfectly executed here. Joe and Asher meet as teenagers when their parents decide to get serious with each other. Both lonely and misunderstood for different reasons each, they hit it off immediately. First as friends, then as lovers.
The flashbacks. I usually don't care about those in my books but I loved them here. Almost as interesting as the present and pretty necessary. It's how we learn how much history there is between Joe and Ash. It's almost an epic love story that goes far beyond a teenage crush. It was the real deal! I also liked that the flashbacks are not in chronological order. It made things even more interesting.
Second chances. This is another trope that I adore. Joe and Asher haven't seen each other for eleven years. The way they broke up and drifted apart was a punch to the gut but meeting again after all these years brought all the angst and the feels.
Very solid characterization. These MCs were most definitely NOT perfect. But they were young and immature and in love, with the conviction they were never going to measure up ingrained into them. The author did a great job taking the reader through Ash and Joe's struggles and way of thinking. I definitely wanted to punch Asher's face once or twice but he more than made up for it in the end.
HAWT! So hot and sexy but romantic, intense and emotional at the same time.
The ending. HEA all the way. Really, it was the only choice for Joe and Ash.
The writing. I 've said before I'm a big fan of Danford's writing. It's straightforward, sharp and sweet at the same time.
The reason I'm rounding down is that I felt that the story dragged a little bit at certain points. The details about their job take a lot of space but I was actually ok -even intrigued- with that. It was their inner thinking and monologues, and maybe some of the dialogue in the end, that ended up a little boring for me.
Other than that, I have no complaints. Recommended for everyone, especially fans of second chances.
October 12, 2018
What I looked liked reading One Step Back by Edie Danford:
I went into this book blind- all I knew was the title and author- no blurb or cover. It was kind of refreshing because it allowed me to enjoy the book without any expectations, and to say I enjoyed it is an understatement.
One Step Back is about two young men who are about two become stepbrothers. Joey is audacious- he knows what he wants and is willing to take risks to get it, but he's also kind and loving. Ash, on the other hand, is shy and suffers from anxiety. Despite their differences, they build a friendship that turns into love. Unfortunately, life and their inexperience get it the way of their future until fate steps in.
What I loved:
-The characters. Both characters had distinct voices, both flawed, and both showed growth throughout the book.
-The writing was sweet, effortless- it had a nice steady pace.
-Alternating first person POVs.
-The flashbacks were expertly placed throughout the story and for me never felt out of place or disruptive; they enhanced the story.
-Steam...HOT. DAMN! Smoldering without being porny.
-Second chance romance. There was angst but not an overwhelming amount, just enough to pull at your heartstrings without feeling like you were kicked in the gut.
-No epilogue, BUT these men are adults and have done a lot of growing up since their younger years, they're in it for the long haul.
**Also, if you're worried about them being stepbrothers. It's a none issue- it never held a taboo angle.
I highly recommend this book, guys. I found myself cursing work for taking me away from reading and losing sleep to catch up on what I missed.
5 Stars
October 13, 2018
Five brilliant stars.
This isn't my first Edie Danford novel but it's my favorite one so far. Wholly character driven, a pure romance plot. It's not one of those silly stepbrother comedic tropes. This one is pretty angsty. A second chance romance that had me rooting for an HEA early on.
The boys meet while their parents are dating. They are opposites. Joe is outgoing, gregarious. Ash is shy and suffers social anxiety. Somehow, when they are together, they complement and complete each other. A strong friendship in their teen years evolves into love in early adulthood.
Their parents' rocky relationship devolves into a canceled wedding when the two young men are caught "together" by Ash's uptight father. The boys aren't mature enough to survive the fallout.
Over a decade later they are thrown together accidentally on a job they're both working. Can they take the second chance? Outside forces work against them, so they have to decide, again, if they're strong enough to do the right thing --- the right thing for them this time.
I could feel the love oozing out of the pages of this novel.
Great writing! Great characterization! Great romance!
All the stars!
A huge thank you to Indigo Marketing Design for this ARC
This isn't my first Edie Danford novel but it's my favorite one so far. Wholly character driven, a pure romance plot. It's not one of those silly stepbrother comedic tropes. This one is pretty angsty. A second chance romance that had me rooting for an HEA early on.
The boys meet while their parents are dating. They are opposites. Joe is outgoing, gregarious. Ash is shy and suffers social anxiety. Somehow, when they are together, they complement and complete each other. A strong friendship in their teen years evolves into love in early adulthood.
Their parents' rocky relationship devolves into a canceled wedding when the two young men are caught "together" by Ash's uptight father. The boys aren't mature enough to survive the fallout.
Over a decade later they are thrown together accidentally on a job they're both working. Can they take the second chance? Outside forces work against them, so they have to decide, again, if they're strong enough to do the right thing --- the right thing for them this time.
I could feel the love oozing out of the pages of this novel.
My romantic heart wanted love to win so badly. These guys needed a second chance!
“I’ve never really held anyone else’s hand in my whole damn life except for yours, Joe. And maybe that’s a crying shame— that I didn’t do more hand-holding, you know? But if I have you in my life always, then it won’t be a shame . Because then I won’t need to hold anyone else’s hand.”
All I need is the air that I breathe and Asher Smith.I was so invested in getting them a HEA.
Great writing! Great characterization! Great romance!
All the stars!
A huge thank you to Indigo Marketing Design for this ARC
October 29, 2018
Entre tres y cuatro estrellas. La historia entre los dos protagonistas, tan diferentes, me ha gustado y a tramos me ha emocionado. Pero, todo lo relativo al trabajo de ambos, relaciones públicas, a momentos me ha aburrido y no soy nada fan cuando los libros se desarrollan a través de flashbacks, no me gusta leer las consecuencias de algo que ha ocurrido y todavía no conozco. Por otro lado, la autora se entretiene en detalles que no me parecen interesantes mientras que soluciona algunas cosas trascendentales en la vida de ambos de una forma muy facilona.
Ha estado bien, pero podría haber sido mejor.
Ha estado bien, pero podría haber sido mejor.
December 22, 2021
This is the Edie Danford I'm used to. The story-telling was reminiscent of Tru Smoke, so I was a happy girl!
I love a good second chance romance, and this one delivered. Our MCs were best friends and almost-stepbrothers until their parents split, back when they were teenagers.
The relationship development was done well, with some flashbacks but not too many.
The teenagers they once were acted like teenagers. Immature, rash, and with consequences. My favorite part was how the adult MCs acknowledged that. There was (eventual) open communication about what went wrong and how they've learned from their past mistakes.
Their current situation lends itself to possible mistakes that'll cost them their second chance, but they BOTH made efforts toward keeping the spark alive. It was refreshing.
And the sex? Steamy...………..
This one is a winner. Recommended.
I love a good second chance romance, and this one delivered. Our MCs were best friends and almost-stepbrothers until their parents split, back when they were teenagers.
The relationship development was done well, with some flashbacks but not too many.
The teenagers they once were acted like teenagers. Immature, rash, and with consequences. My favorite part was how the adult MCs acknowledged that. There was (eventual) open communication about what went wrong and how they've learned from their past mistakes.
Their current situation lends itself to possible mistakes that'll cost them their second chance, but they BOTH made efforts toward keeping the spark alive. It was refreshing.
"I finally found the cure for being too damn loud in the sack."
"You did?"
"Yeah. Go to bed with anyone but you."
And the sex? Steamy...………..
This one is a winner. Recommended.
January 10, 2019
That was a very enjoyable read! *Happy sigh*
Thank you Secret Santa for this awesome gift!!!!
Thank you Secret Santa for this awesome gift!!!!
October 28, 2018
4.25 Stars
October 9, 2018
Where do I even start with this one? Maybe I should hang my head in shame; this was just an ok read for me. Just a bit better, enough to stay out of that rating but just barely.
The story never grabbed me. I never really got it. I never really got them. I just didn’t feel anything while reading. If anything I felt like I kept waiting and reaching and hoping that when the past caught up with the present something was going to click and I was going to just feel.
That didn’t happen.
It could be the past and present storytelling but normally that kinda works for me. I just don’t know. I think at the end of the day they were just boys.
I dunno.
I am glad they got their HEA but I didn’t ever really see the why.
**This book was provided by the author via IndiGo Marketing & Design in exchange for an honest review.**
The story never grabbed me. I never really got it. I never really got them. I just didn’t feel anything while reading. If anything I felt like I kept waiting and reaching and hoping that when the past caught up with the present something was going to click and I was going to just feel.
That didn’t happen.
It could be the past and present storytelling but normally that kinda works for me. I just don’t know. I think at the end of the day they were just boys.
I dunno.
I am glad they got their HEA but I didn’t ever really see the why.
**This book was provided by the author via IndiGo Marketing & Design in exchange for an honest review.**
October 28, 2018
Boy, did this sneak up on me! Going straight to my favourites shelf too!
Asher and Joe’s story was truly epic. The author did a fantastic job fleshing out these characters, not only through vivid, deep analysis of feelings, thoughts, behaviours, but through showing their growth. The duality of seeing young Asher and Joe navigate a young adult secret relationship, with all the teen drama and heartache it entails, and their adult selves who are more mature and settled was mind-blowing. Not to mention, this was possibly my favourite second chance romance of all time. No silly attitudes regarding past regrets. The guys are truly meant to be together and the dialogue reflected that 100%, feeling so current and relevant.
The parts of the book that dealt with their job didn’t feel exaggerated to me at all. I loved seeing them and their evolving relationship within the context of real life issues. The relationship did not exist in a vacuum and as such, it was perfectly reasonable to me to get all the goings-on on that front. Plus, it always felt like they were front and centre through all of that as well.
The sexy times? Dear god, the author went above and beyond to portray how explosive these guys are together by providing so many emotional and sexy as fuck scenes between them -the emotion never staying out of it, mind you.
I honestly picked this up thinking it will be a run of the mill, sexy, contemporary romance. I don’t exactly know what happened, but I could not put it down. I loved every single thing about this book and the characters were so real, they will stay with me.
Highly, highly recommend!
Asher and Joe’s story was truly epic. The author did a fantastic job fleshing out these characters, not only through vivid, deep analysis of feelings, thoughts, behaviours, but through showing their growth. The duality of seeing young Asher and Joe navigate a young adult secret relationship, with all the teen drama and heartache it entails, and their adult selves who are more mature and settled was mind-blowing. Not to mention, this was possibly my favourite second chance romance of all time. No silly attitudes regarding past regrets. The guys are truly meant to be together and the dialogue reflected that 100%, feeling so current and relevant.
The parts of the book that dealt with their job didn’t feel exaggerated to me at all. I loved seeing them and their evolving relationship within the context of real life issues. The relationship did not exist in a vacuum and as such, it was perfectly reasonable to me to get all the goings-on on that front. Plus, it always felt like they were front and centre through all of that as well.
The sexy times? Dear god, the author went above and beyond to portray how explosive these guys are together by providing so many emotional and sexy as fuck scenes between them -the emotion never staying out of it, mind you.
I honestly picked this up thinking it will be a run of the mill, sexy, contemporary romance. I don’t exactly know what happened, but I could not put it down. I loved every single thing about this book and the characters were so real, they will stay with me.
Highly, highly recommend!
October 29, 2018
I've enjoyed everything I've read by Edie Danford so far and this was no exception. It had just the right amount of angst, steam, and feels. I liked the flashbacks from the past every few chapters or so. It gave important background information that shaped Joe and Asher into who they are today. It was never confusing jumping past to present.
Joe and Asher were "almost" stepbrothers when they were teens. Try as they might, after years of fighting it the two gave into their attraction. It was a love built upon the bonds of years of strong friendship. Asher was a shy, anxiety ridden book nerd, while Joe was always seen as the easygoing party boy who took nothing serious. It shouldn't have worked on paper, but it did. Their differences played upon each other making them a unit. That is until it didn't.
" Right when I’d needed to trust him the most, he’d detonated a bomb that had blown our family apart. And then he’d disappeared. I’ve never felt like I’ve found all the pieces that were shattered."
Fast forward 11 years later. Fate seems to intervene when Joe and Asher are thrown together on a job for the same firm they work for in separate states. Its jarring and surprising to say the least. It's also not exactly a great first meeting after so many years estranged. Hurt still lingers after all this time on both sides. Despite all that, the inevitable happens. The two fall into bed and into the vortex of feelings that never seemed to ever really go away. But just because they are older, doesn't mean its easier. There are new challenges in the way this time.
Ash, me, and complications are all old friends.
Both Asher and Joe have grown considerably as a person. Asher has worked to overcome his social anxiety and Joe has worked hard to be seen as someone other than a fuck up. But old habits die hard and when push comes to shove Joe will always do what he believes is right for Asher, even if it isn't right for himself. He once again pulls his famous disappearing act. Asher, however doesn't let him get away with it for long. He's learned from the mistakes of his youth and he's determined not to repeat them.
" I’m not missing those pieces of my heart. I know where they are. "
Communication that should have happened a long time ago goes a long way in convincing Joe that what he thinks is best for Asher isn't. It's easy to see that these two men are grownups now and not teenagers puttering along in a world without adult responsibilities yet. Relationships take work and they also take compromise. Compromise wasn't exactly their strong suit the first time around. It takes a bit of finagling, and Asher's big nerdy brain of his but the two find a way to work around the issues standing in their way and we end up with a solid HFN ending. Solid 4.5 stars from me.
Joe and Asher were "almost" stepbrothers when they were teens. Try as they might, after years of fighting it the two gave into their attraction. It was a love built upon the bonds of years of strong friendship. Asher was a shy, anxiety ridden book nerd, while Joe was always seen as the easygoing party boy who took nothing serious. It shouldn't have worked on paper, but it did. Their differences played upon each other making them a unit. That is until it didn't.
" Right when I’d needed to trust him the most, he’d detonated a bomb that had blown our family apart. And then he’d disappeared. I’ve never felt like I’ve found all the pieces that were shattered."
Fast forward 11 years later. Fate seems to intervene when Joe and Asher are thrown together on a job for the same firm they work for in separate states. Its jarring and surprising to say the least. It's also not exactly a great first meeting after so many years estranged. Hurt still lingers after all this time on both sides. Despite all that, the inevitable happens. The two fall into bed and into the vortex of feelings that never seemed to ever really go away. But just because they are older, doesn't mean its easier. There are new challenges in the way this time.
Ash, me, and complications are all old friends.
Both Asher and Joe have grown considerably as a person. Asher has worked to overcome his social anxiety and Joe has worked hard to be seen as someone other than a fuck up. But old habits die hard and when push comes to shove Joe will always do what he believes is right for Asher, even if it isn't right for himself. He once again pulls his famous disappearing act. Asher, however doesn't let him get away with it for long. He's learned from the mistakes of his youth and he's determined not to repeat them.
" I’m not missing those pieces of my heart. I know where they are. "
Communication that should have happened a long time ago goes a long way in convincing Joe that what he thinks is best for Asher isn't. It's easy to see that these two men are grownups now and not teenagers puttering along in a world without adult responsibilities yet. Relationships take work and they also take compromise. Compromise wasn't exactly their strong suit the first time around. It takes a bit of finagling, and Asher's big nerdy brain of his but the two find a way to work around the issues standing in their way and we end up with a solid HFN ending. Solid 4.5 stars from me.
Read
May 5, 2020DNF so not rating. I liked the parts of the book in the past but got bored of the present day parts of the plot. Oh well. 🤷🏻♀️Would maybe still be open to trying something else by this author. But this is the second book I’ve tried so maybe we aren’t a match.
October 26, 2018
I loved these guys. Joe is the type of character I love. He loves so big, but is not appreciated.
Asher was lovely also. He really grew up.
Teda: “[Asher] looks like that French dude from the movie.”
Timothee Chalamet? Am I right?
https://goo.gl/images/ZKPVG9
Asher was lovely also. He really grew up.
Teda: “[Asher] looks like that French dude from the movie.”
Timothee Chalamet? Am I right?
https://goo.gl/images/ZKPVG9
October 27, 2018
☆ 3.75/5 ☆
Awwww mais c'était trop bien !
Il y a de très jolies choses dans ce roman d'Edie Danford, et c'est avec la boule au ventre que je l'ai lu, mais j'ai adoré ça ! J'aime les histoires de seconde chance, et celle-ci est à mon sens vraiment réussie.
Entre Joey & Ash, c'est comme une évidence, ça l'a toujours été, cependant ... ça n'est pas si simple !
Leur amour crève les pages du livre tout au long de la fin de leur adolescence, à laquelle nous assistons grâce à des flashbacks judicieusement placés, tout comme lors de leurs retrouvailles, après un blanc de onze longues et douloureuses années.
Ces deux hommes m'ont fait fondre, ils m'ont émue et charmée, mon coeur s'est serré pour eux à de nombreuses reprises. J'aurais voulu encore plus de flashbacks, car ceux-ci sont vraiment poignants, et une scène cruciale m'a cruellement manquée, d'ailleurs.
Chez Joe, j'ai beaucoup aimé le contraste entre son apparence de jock dragueur, sûr de lui, beau gosse séducteur et beau parleur, et sa nature anxieuse, sa tristesse, la profondeur de son amour pour Ash. Sous ses airs tapageurs, Joe est une belle âme, qui s'attache à prendre soin de l'homme qu'il aime, à le faire passer en premier, à le protéger, à n'importe quel prix.
Le double pov prend tout son sens dans ce roman car sans cela, on pourrait passer complètement à côté de cet aspect de sa personnalité. Ici, on est au plus proches des deux hommes, on n'en perd pas une miette, on vit tout avec eux, on traverse tout avec eux.
Ash est un type de personnage que j'affectionne beaucoup. J'ai un faible pour les héros timides, pas forcément à l'aise en société, et là, Ash correspond vraiment à ce genre de mec adorable que j'adore retrouver dans mes romances. Il a gagné en force de caractère au fil des années, cette fois, il est prêt à se battre pour être avec Joe, et il ne laissera plus ses peurs l'envahir.
Je crois que les passages que j'ai préféré sont ceux de leur jeunesse, où l'on ressent toute la force de leur amour, mais qu'on lit avec la boule au ventre, parce que l'on sait que ça s'est mal terminé.
Un très chouette moment de lecture donc ! ♥
Awwww mais c'était trop bien !
Il y a de très jolies choses dans ce roman d'Edie Danford, et c'est avec la boule au ventre que je l'ai lu, mais j'ai adoré ça ! J'aime les histoires de seconde chance, et celle-ci est à mon sens vraiment réussie.
Entre Joey & Ash, c'est comme une évidence, ça l'a toujours été, cependant ... ça n'est pas si simple !
Leur amour crève les pages du livre tout au long de la fin de leur adolescence, à laquelle nous assistons grâce à des flashbacks judicieusement placés, tout comme lors de leurs retrouvailles, après un blanc de onze longues et douloureuses années.
Ces deux hommes m'ont fait fondre, ils m'ont émue et charmée, mon coeur s'est serré pour eux à de nombreuses reprises. J'aurais voulu encore plus de flashbacks, car ceux-ci sont vraiment poignants, et une scène cruciale m'a cruellement manquée, d'ailleurs.
Chez Joe, j'ai beaucoup aimé le contraste entre son apparence de jock dragueur, sûr de lui, beau gosse séducteur et beau parleur, et sa nature anxieuse, sa tristesse, la profondeur de son amour pour Ash. Sous ses airs tapageurs, Joe est une belle âme, qui s'attache à prendre soin de l'homme qu'il aime, à le faire passer en premier, à le protéger, à n'importe quel prix.
Le double pov prend tout son sens dans ce roman car sans cela, on pourrait passer complètement à côté de cet aspect de sa personnalité. Ici, on est au plus proches des deux hommes, on n'en perd pas une miette, on vit tout avec eux, on traverse tout avec eux.
Ash est un type de personnage que j'affectionne beaucoup. J'ai un faible pour les héros timides, pas forcément à l'aise en société, et là, Ash correspond vraiment à ce genre de mec adorable que j'adore retrouver dans mes romances. Il a gagné en force de caractère au fil des années, cette fois, il est prêt à se battre pour être avec Joe, et il ne laissera plus ses peurs l'envahir.
Je crois que les passages que j'ai préféré sont ceux de leur jeunesse, où l'on ressent toute la force de leur amour, mais qu'on lit avec la boule au ventre, parce que l'on sait que ça s'est mal terminé.
Un très chouette moment de lecture donc ! ♥
November 3, 2018
Dnf for the last 10 pages. After the situation at Essexs house, the story held no interest for me anymore. It was a bit anticlimactic, but I kept reading until it just plain out irritated me.
The rest of the book is a good read though. The walks down memorylane too.
The rest of the book is a good read though. The walks down memorylane too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2018
I had a little difficulty getting into the story. I have to say I liked Asher, but Joe was a little harder to connect with. It's obvious that Joe feels something stronger for Asher, but he wasn't willing to fight for Asher after they were caught by Asher's father when they were teenagers. But as they are assigned the same PR job and have to work together after 10 years apart, you can feel their intense attraction and I loved how Joe reacted when he saw Asher again. The story, while bogged down by the technicality of their jobs more often than I would have liked, made up for the slow parts by the connection between the two MC's. The sex was hot and the HEA was sweet. All-in-all a good story!
October 28, 2018
-4
Na początku tak dobrze żarło, że byłam przekonana, że będzie piąteczka. Żarło, żarło, a potem zdechło. Potem znowu zaczęło przeżuwać, więc w ogólnym rozrachunku minus 4 się należy.
Na początku tak dobrze żarło, że byłam przekonana, że będzie piąteczka. Żarło, żarło, a potem zdechło. Potem znowu zaczęło przeżuwać, więc w ogólnym rozrachunku minus 4 się należy.
March 21, 2021
Joe and Asher were thrown together because their parents started dating, but they became fast friends and eventual secret boyfriends. Asher was afraid to come out of the closet, and this caused a lot of friction and eventual break up of these two boys who were clearly in love with each other.
Fast forward 11 years later, and the two come face to face again. There are still so many feelings for the guys, and it takes a bit to wade through them to find their way back home to each other. The journey is beautiful, though, and you just know that once they commit to each other, this time it will stick. The bond and love they have for each other definitely stayed throughout time.
We got some flashbacks to see how they got together and how important they were to each other. We also got to see how they broke up and how broken each of them were at that time. I think it made them stronger now, and reading the flashbacks gave me insight and roots to cheer them on. I loved the writing style and the alternating POV. I loved the characters, and I was so happy to see them get their happy together. The only thing I wish I had was some scenes with Joe’s mom and Asher’s reunion with her. Loved this.
I am voluntarily reviewing an ARC provided by IndiGo Marketing & Design
Fast forward 11 years later, and the two come face to face again. There are still so many feelings for the guys, and it takes a bit to wade through them to find their way back home to each other. The journey is beautiful, though, and you just know that once they commit to each other, this time it will stick. The bond and love they have for each other definitely stayed throughout time.
We got some flashbacks to see how they got together and how important they were to each other. We also got to see how they broke up and how broken each of them were at that time. I think it made them stronger now, and reading the flashbacks gave me insight and roots to cheer them on. I loved the writing style and the alternating POV. I loved the characters, and I was so happy to see them get their happy together. The only thing I wish I had was some scenes with Joe’s mom and Asher’s reunion with her. Loved this.
I am voluntarily reviewing an ARC provided by IndiGo Marketing & Design
October 21, 2018
I received a copy to read and review for Wicked Reads
I'm probably in the minority but I wasn't fond of this book. I didn't like the first person POV in this book and the flashbacks didn't help. Plus all the inner monologue. I need dialogue!!! I felt like my connection with the characters was lost and never picked back up. I found myself skimming pages without dialogue and honestly not even worried if they got their HEA.
I'm probably in the minority but I wasn't fond of this book. I didn't like the first person POV in this book and the flashbacks didn't help. Plus all the inner monologue. I need dialogue!!! I felt like my connection with the characters was lost and never picked back up. I found myself skimming pages without dialogue and honestly not even worried if they got their HEA.
October 27, 2018
One Step Back
Edie Danford
This book was provided by the author via IndiGo Marketing & Design in exchange for an honest review.
Asher and Joe were teen sweethearts during their parent's engagement. Asher was a serious scholar, Joe a wild party boy. It could never work long term... After Asher dismisses Joe's feelings, and things come to an explosive conclusion, Asher breaks it off, and they spend the next decade missing the love and connection they lost.
This is a bitter-sweet love story. Smoldering, hot, sexy, slow burn second chance goodness. These two are the height of communication failure, but they're so in love it's ridiculous, and the sex scenes are lovely and intimate. This is one of those books you set down because you want to draw it out, only to pick it up five seconds later because you need to know what happens next.
I just want to hug Joe, you can feel how much it hurts him when Asher pulls back. Asher still tells himself Joe is a flippant party guy who isn't serious about them, and he's twisted by his relationship with his dad. Joe still wants to run from his problems. It takes the threat of losing everything again to evaluate what they really want. A must read. Not too often you get to follow a couple as they fall in love twice.
I'd love a second book, does Joe ever get his rare seashell back?
Themes: Second chances, matching tattoos, yearning, communication issues, hea.
5/5
Edie Danford
This book was provided by the author via IndiGo Marketing & Design in exchange for an honest review.
Asher and Joe were teen sweethearts during their parent's engagement. Asher was a serious scholar, Joe a wild party boy. It could never work long term... After Asher dismisses Joe's feelings, and things come to an explosive conclusion, Asher breaks it off, and they spend the next decade missing the love and connection they lost.
This is a bitter-sweet love story. Smoldering, hot, sexy, slow burn second chance goodness. These two are the height of communication failure, but they're so in love it's ridiculous, and the sex scenes are lovely and intimate. This is one of those books you set down because you want to draw it out, only to pick it up five seconds later because you need to know what happens next.
I just want to hug Joe, you can feel how much it hurts him when Asher pulls back. Asher still tells himself Joe is a flippant party guy who isn't serious about them, and he's twisted by his relationship with his dad. Joe still wants to run from his problems. It takes the threat of losing everything again to evaluate what they really want. A must read. Not too often you get to follow a couple as they fall in love twice.
I'd love a second book, does Joe ever get his rare seashell back?
Themes: Second chances, matching tattoos, yearning, communication issues, hea.
5/5
October 27, 2018
3.75*
Amatrice d'histoire de seconde chance, ce livre me tendait les bras surtout que ma première rencontre avec l'auteur ne m'avait pas déçue ! Une roman assez équilibré, on ne sombre pas dans le drama "en veux-tu en voilà" ni dans la lecture purement légère, c'est un bon compromis entre les deux !
Je ne vais pas blablater sur l'intrigue mais nos deux héros se connaissent depuis leur adolescence et sont destinés à devenir des demi-frères par alliance. Joey et Asher sont très différents tant physiquement que par leur personnalité, le premier est l'archétype du jock beau gosse rebelle qui fait chavirer les coeurs et le second celui du geek adorable mais timide et mal-à-l'aise en société. Pourtant, ils vont se rapprocher, tisser une amitié jusqu'à développer des sentiments amoureux... Mais cet amour de jeunesse sera contrarié... Onze ans plus tard, nos deux héros se retrouvent de façon inattendue mais sauront-ils capables de réparer les erreurs du passé ?
La construction de ce roman m'a beaucoup plu car certains chapitres sont des flashbacks qui nous permettent de découvrir comment tout à commencé, j'ai adoré remonter le temps avec les héros et découvrir leurs jeunes années... il m'a d'ailleurs manqué un moment clé de leur histoire, dommage .
Ce bond entre passé et présent permet de prendre la pleine mesure du changement qui s'est opéré en eux, Asher et Joe ont grandi, sont devenus plus matures. Malgré leur évolution, une constante nous saute aux yeux : l'amour qu'ils se portent n'a pas disparu et ont ressent parfaitement la force de leurs sentiments.
Et justement, l'autre point fort est que nous avons les points de vue des deux héros, c'est toujours un aspect que j'apprécie car je me sens plus proche des personnages tout en comprenant mieux leurs désirs et peurs.
Ash et Joe nous offrent aussi des passages particulièrement sexy, ces deux-là possèdent une vraie alchimie, leurs sens s'affolent très rapidement quand ils sont à proximité et l'air se réchauffe à vitesse grand V ! Mais la tendresse est aussi très présente, notamment dans la façon dont ils veulent se protéger l'un l'autre...
Mes seuls petits bémols tiennent aux quelques longueurs et aux redondances qui parsèment le roman... Le milieu professionnel dans lequel évoluent les héros est très présent et même si cet aspect est essentiel dans la trame du récit, j'ai trouvé que c'était parfois un peu lourd. Et puis aaarf je suis chiante mais j'aurais vraiment aimé plus de chapitres dédiés à leur passé, c'était si émouvant (un ou deux de plus et c'était parfait !).
La fin est pour moi irréprochable même s'il n'y a pas d'épilogue 😊
Amatrice d'histoire de seconde chance, ce livre me tendait les bras surtout que ma première rencontre avec l'auteur ne m'avait pas déçue ! Une roman assez équilibré, on ne sombre pas dans le drama "en veux-tu en voilà" ni dans la lecture purement légère, c'est un bon compromis entre les deux !
Je ne vais pas blablater sur l'intrigue mais nos deux héros se connaissent depuis leur adolescence et sont destinés à devenir des demi-frères par alliance. Joey et Asher sont très différents tant physiquement que par leur personnalité, le premier est l'archétype du jock beau gosse rebelle qui fait chavirer les coeurs et le second celui du geek adorable mais timide et mal-à-l'aise en société. Pourtant, ils vont se rapprocher, tisser une amitié jusqu'à développer des sentiments amoureux... Mais cet amour de jeunesse sera contrarié... Onze ans plus tard, nos deux héros se retrouvent de façon inattendue mais sauront-ils capables de réparer les erreurs du passé ?
La construction de ce roman m'a beaucoup plu car certains chapitres sont des flashbacks qui nous permettent de découvrir comment tout à commencé, j'ai adoré remonter le temps avec les héros et découvrir leurs jeunes années... il m'a d'ailleurs manqué un moment clé de leur histoire, dommage .
Ce bond entre passé et présent permet de prendre la pleine mesure du changement qui s'est opéré en eux, Asher et Joe ont grandi, sont devenus plus matures. Malgré leur évolution, une constante nous saute aux yeux : l'amour qu'ils se portent n'a pas disparu et ont ressent parfaitement la force de leurs sentiments.
Et justement, l'autre point fort est que nous avons les points de vue des deux héros, c'est toujours un aspect que j'apprécie car je me sens plus proche des personnages tout en comprenant mieux leurs désirs et peurs.
Ash et Joe nous offrent aussi des passages particulièrement sexy, ces deux-là possèdent une vraie alchimie, leurs sens s'affolent très rapidement quand ils sont à proximité et l'air se réchauffe à vitesse grand V ! Mais la tendresse est aussi très présente, notamment dans la façon dont ils veulent se protéger l'un l'autre...
Mes seuls petits bémols tiennent aux quelques longueurs et aux redondances qui parsèment le roman... Le milieu professionnel dans lequel évoluent les héros est très présent et même si cet aspect est essentiel dans la trame du récit, j'ai trouvé que c'était parfois un peu lourd. Et puis aaarf je suis chiante mais j'aurais vraiment aimé plus de chapitres dédiés à leur passé, c'était si émouvant (un ou deux de plus et c'était parfait !).
La fin est pour moi irréprochable même s'il n'y a pas d'épilogue 😊
January 7, 2019
3.5 stars
I very nearly almost gave up on this book multiple times before th maybe 35% mark? I thought it would be one of those 1D characters that frankly I would have loved a year ago. But having read so many awesome books since, I suppose I do have a higher expectation.
And honestly, this book took a while but it got there. I realised Joe and Asher’s relationship wasn’t quite so cut and cry. The more I read, the more I found layers to the characters that really satisfied my need for depth and substance.
Also, the more I read, the more I loved Joe. He was so complex, often misunderstood and definitely constantly dismissed as nothing more than a jock or impulsive or sadly, useless. Asher on the other hand, I should have probably liked more but honestly, I didn’t like him much. Maybe not even at the end?
He was painted as too much of a coward, in my opinion. He quite frankly threw Joe under the bus, even when he didn’t mean to. His insecurities harmed Joe so many, many times that I don’t know why Joe still loves him.
The chemistry was definitely there, after they worked out their past history. I just didn’t like Asher much. Joe was such a martyr. Poor guy...
I very nearly almost gave up on this book multiple times before th maybe 35% mark? I thought it would be one of those 1D characters that frankly I would have loved a year ago. But having read so many awesome books since, I suppose I do have a higher expectation.
And honestly, this book took a while but it got there. I realised Joe and Asher’s relationship wasn’t quite so cut and cry. The more I read, the more I found layers to the characters that really satisfied my need for depth and substance.
Also, the more I read, the more I loved Joe. He was so complex, often misunderstood and definitely constantly dismissed as nothing more than a jock or impulsive or sadly, useless. Asher on the other hand, I should have probably liked more but honestly, I didn’t like him much. Maybe not even at the end?
He was painted as too much of a coward, in my opinion. He quite frankly threw Joe under the bus, even when he didn’t mean to. His insecurities harmed Joe so many, many times that I don’t know why Joe still loves him.
The chemistry was definitely there, after they worked out their past history. I just didn’t like Asher much. Joe was such a martyr. Poor guy...
July 30, 2019
Maybe I’m just becoming cranky in my old age. This didn’t click. Step brothers, no contact for eleven years, they meet again because they have the same employer, and they’re all over each other. I’m sure it could happen, it just wasn’t convincing with the characters in this novel. Don’t forget, the characters suddenly change too. The anal guy becomes much less anal and the bohemian bed hopper settles down. It’s all very sudden, no real character development to lend an air of credibility. No, it just didn’t work for me. It’s not awful, just not great.
November 14, 2018
4 - 4.5 stars
November 4, 2018
I think I just have to accept that this author just doesn’t work for me. The premise of this book was good but the execution was... not. Joe and Asher are 30 years old in the present but they read like they’re so much younger. The chapters set in the past were much more engaging than those set in the present and I probably would have enjoyed the book more if the story was all about teenage Joe and Asher.
dnf
August 16, 2019Lo dejo en el 55%, no estoy conectando nada con la historia.
October 30, 2018
4.5 stars
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