What do you think?
Rate this book
Moonlight and Motor Oil #2
The Slow Burn
12 hours, 16 minutes
Tobias Gamble knew from a young age precisely the kind of woman he was going to make his. She was not going to be like his mother. She was going to be like the mother he claimed.
In other words, she was going to be just right.
And when Toby returns to his hometown of Matlock, Kentucky and claps eyes on Adeline Forrester, he knows she’s the one.
The problem is, his brother Johnny has a new girlfriend. And Addie is her sister. Last, Toby would do nothing to hurt Johnny’s chance at happiness.
Toby hangs around town to get to know the woman Johnny fell in love with. He also hangs around to get to know Addie.
But he’s fallen hard, and he knows the best thing for him—and Addie—is for him to leave.
Addie Forrester is thrilled her sister Eliza found a good, solid man. Johnny Gamble is the salt of the earth. The best guy in the world.
The best except for his brother, Toby.
Toby doesn’t know it, but Addie’s fallen hard too. He’s perfect, except for the fact that he’s hands off and it’s torture, being friends with Toby when she wants so much more.
Addie also has a lot on her mind. She’s got bills to pay, her young son needs food, Christmas is coming and her job at the grocery store just isn’t cutting it.
Toby is steering clear of Addie. Addie is steering clear of Toby. But everyone around them knows this is the slow burn.
Because just like Eliza and Johnny, Addie and Toby were made for each other.
Tobias Gamble knew from a young age precisely the kind of woman he was going to make his. She was not going to be like his mother. She was going to be like the mother he claimed.
In other words, she was going to be just right.
And when Toby returns to his hometown of Matlock, Kentucky and claps eyes on Adeline Forrester, he knows she’s the one.
The problem is, his brother Johnny has a new girlfriend. And Addie is her sister. Last, Toby would do nothing to hurt Johnny’s chance at happiness.
Toby hangs around town to get to know the woman Johnny fell in love with. He also hangs around to get to know Addie.
But he’s fallen hard, and he knows the best thing for him—and Addie—is for him to leave.
Addie Forrester is thrilled her sister Eliza found a good, solid man. Johnny Gamble is the salt of the earth. The best guy in the world.
The best except for his brother, Toby.
Toby doesn’t know it, but Addie’s fallen hard too. He’s perfect, except for the fact that he’s hands off and it’s torture, being friends with Toby when she wants so much more.
Addie also has a lot on her mind. She’s got bills to pay, her young son needs food, Christmas is coming and her job at the grocery store just isn’t cutting it.
Toby is steering clear of Addie. Addie is steering clear of Toby. But everyone around them knows this is the slow burn.
Because just like Eliza and Johnny, Addie and Toby were made for each other.
Audible Audio
First published April 30, 2019
1497 people are currently reading
4709 people want to read
About the author
Kristen Ashley
139 books39.5k followersKristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA. She nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn't taken her first breath!).
Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.
Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland and existed amongst the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).
Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.
And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.
Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.
Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland and existed amongst the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).
Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.
And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,025 reviews
May 10, 2019
2 Stars
All right, ya'll...here we go...
First of all, I would like to apologize to...myself.
Yes, that's right. To myself. Cause, truly, I should have known better. We ALL know that.
In my defense, however, I was feeling nostalgic or something this week and decided to re-read Broken Dove - I have NO idea why, but you know how it is.
Then I decided to re-read Wildest Dreams. And then the nostalgic feels got the better of me and I remembered Slow Burn, which has been like a syringe of heroin taunting me from afar for months now.
So I rationalized to myself that, hey, maybe it will be like a surprise Kaleidoscope or Hold On and NOT a Bounty or Wild and Free...And so I pulled the one-click trigger.
Well, all I can say is that I should have remembered I am VERY middle class. Cause this was, well...
Now, to be clear, I truly read this to love it. This was NOT a hate read. As such, even though I am rating it fairly low, I'm not going to be tearing it apart here.
For those who have read my reviews for a while, you already know my history with KA - a history shared by many others. If you don't, and are bored, you can "catch up" by reading the following reviews:
The Promise
Deacon
Wild and Free *This is one of my most read/liked reviews, FYI
Bounty
So all that said, I am going to keep this short.
This was fairly decent and reminiscent of what I love about KA for about the first 35-40 percent or so. And then who the hell knows what happened.
It became a wishy-washy hot mess about parental mistakes, dead mothers, the demonization of men who prefer to drive, and how it's ok to grow up poor...that life can still be "rich" with family HEA moments...but especially if that family lends you ten grand, leaves you millions of dollars, buys you $2000+ in Nordstrom/Crate and Barrel/Sephora gift cards for Christmas, and lets you redecorate the bathroom. But, in the meantime, let's demonize anyone carrying a designer purse.
But, hey, at least there only about 25 "honeys." And I didn't outright hate it.
All right, ya'll...here we go...
First of all, I would like to apologize to...myself.
Yes, that's right. To myself. Cause, truly, I should have known better. We ALL know that.
In my defense, however, I was feeling nostalgic or something this week and decided to re-read Broken Dove - I have NO idea why, but you know how it is.
Then I decided to re-read Wildest Dreams. And then the nostalgic feels got the better of me and I remembered Slow Burn, which has been like a syringe of heroin taunting me from afar for months now.
So I rationalized to myself that, hey, maybe it will be like a surprise Kaleidoscope or Hold On and NOT a Bounty or Wild and Free...And so I pulled the one-click trigger.
Well, all I can say is that I should have remembered I am VERY middle class. Cause this was, well...
Now, to be clear, I truly read this to love it. This was NOT a hate read. As such, even though I am rating it fairly low, I'm not going to be tearing it apart here.
For those who have read my reviews for a while, you already know my history with KA - a history shared by many others. If you don't, and are bored, you can "catch up" by reading the following reviews:
The Promise
Deacon
Wild and Free *This is one of my most read/liked reviews, FYI
Bounty
So all that said, I am going to keep this short.
This was fairly decent and reminiscent of what I love about KA for about the first 35-40 percent or so. And then who the hell knows what happened.
It became a wishy-washy hot mess about parental mistakes, dead mothers, the demonization of men who prefer to drive, and how it's ok to grow up poor...that life can still be "rich" with family HEA moments...but especially if that family lends you ten grand, leaves you millions of dollars, buys you $2000+ in Nordstrom/Crate and Barrel/Sephora gift cards for Christmas, and lets you redecorate the bathroom. But, in the meantime, let's demonize anyone carrying a designer purse.
But, hey, at least there only about 25 "honeys." And I didn't outright hate it.
May 3, 2019
4.5 stars
The Slow Burn is the second book in Kristen Ashley's 'Moonlight and Motor Oil' series and I loved it even more than the first. The reason I enjoy these books so much is they give me that old school KA vibe. From the writing, the setting, and the characters, there is just something about these books. And I am totally here for it!
Addie Forrester is a single mom and the younger sister of Eliza. Tobias Gamble is the free spirited younger brother of Johnny. There is something about this Gamble boy/Forrester girl pairing that just works. It was apparent from the moment Addie and Toby first met that there was a spark between them. But because Toby loves his brother and doesn't want to mess with what he has going on with Eliza and their happiness, he stays away. He stays away until he cannot stay away a second longer. Then, all bets are off. Because when a Gamble man falls, he falls hard.
Addie is one of the most hard working women out there. She will do anything she has to do to support her son and make it on her own merit. It's how she was raised. She's stubborn and doesn't want help from anyone. Toby struggles with breaking down those stubborn walls she has up, but if anyone can do it he can.
Toby is protective, sweet, and loves Addie and Brooklyn with everything he has. What more could you want from a hero? He and Addie are both a little too stubborn for their own good, but they still make it work. I love their relationship and I adored the relationship Toby had with Brooklyn. Nothing could make me swoon harder than this man loving this little boy like he was his own. It was so genuine and precious.
I listened to the audio book of The Slow Burn and it was narrated by Lance Greenfield and Stella Bloom. Both narrators did a fantastic job of voicing Toby and Addie and really brought their characters to life. This audio book was a little on the lengthy side, but I found myself listening to it in just 2 days because I didn't want to push pause. If you're an audio listener, I highly recommend you pick it up in that format.
I'm not sure who's book will be next in this series, but regardless, I'm excited to read it. The Slow Burn is a beautiful romance with a focus friendship, family, and so many heartwarming moments. There were plenty of scenes that brought me to tears, but by the end I had a huge smile on my face. I loved this one so much!!
The Slow Burn is the second book in Kristen Ashley's 'Moonlight and Motor Oil' series and I loved it even more than the first. The reason I enjoy these books so much is they give me that old school KA vibe. From the writing, the setting, and the characters, there is just something about these books. And I am totally here for it!
Addie Forrester is a single mom and the younger sister of Eliza. Tobias Gamble is the free spirited younger brother of Johnny. There is something about this Gamble boy/Forrester girl pairing that just works. It was apparent from the moment Addie and Toby first met that there was a spark between them. But because Toby loves his brother and doesn't want to mess with what he has going on with Eliza and their happiness, he stays away. He stays away until he cannot stay away a second longer. Then, all bets are off. Because when a Gamble man falls, he falls hard.
Addie is one of the most hard working women out there. She will do anything she has to do to support her son and make it on her own merit. It's how she was raised. She's stubborn and doesn't want help from anyone. Toby struggles with breaking down those stubborn walls she has up, but if anyone can do it he can.
Toby is protective, sweet, and loves Addie and Brooklyn with everything he has. What more could you want from a hero? He and Addie are both a little too stubborn for their own good, but they still make it work. I love their relationship and I adored the relationship Toby had with Brooklyn. Nothing could make me swoon harder than this man loving this little boy like he was his own. It was so genuine and precious.
I listened to the audio book of The Slow Burn and it was narrated by Lance Greenfield and Stella Bloom. Both narrators did a fantastic job of voicing Toby and Addie and really brought their characters to life. This audio book was a little on the lengthy side, but I found myself listening to it in just 2 days because I didn't want to push pause. If you're an audio listener, I highly recommend you pick it up in that format.
I'm not sure who's book will be next in this series, but regardless, I'm excited to read it. The Slow Burn is a beautiful romance with a focus friendship, family, and so many heartwarming moments. There were plenty of scenes that brought me to tears, but by the end I had a huge smile on my face. I loved this one so much!!
October 10, 2021
3 Stars
Really, this is slow-burn?
This is the insta-loviest example in the entire history of insta-love. The only thing that is slowly burning is my hope that I'll ever have a chance again to read the awesomeness that is old KA.
And where the hell is the plot? Cause I was waiting and waiting and waiting for shit to hit the fan and… nothing.
Anyway, the good news is the book isn’t so bad. It's a sweet story, albeit a tad too cheesy for my liking, but it has depth, it's meaningful and heart-warming. And I loved that some of the elements are based on KA's personal memories.
All in all, it's good.
Oh, who am I kidding, I want the old KA back!!
Really, this is slow-burn?
This is the insta-loviest example in the entire history of insta-love. The only thing that is slowly burning is my hope that I'll ever have a chance again to read the awesomeness that is old KA.
And where the hell is the plot? Cause I was waiting and waiting and waiting for shit to hit the fan and… nothing.
Anyway, the good news is the book isn’t so bad. It's a sweet story, albeit a tad too cheesy for my liking, but it has depth, it's meaningful and heart-warming. And I loved that some of the elements are based on KA's personal memories.
All in all, it's good.
Oh, who am I kidding, I want the old KA back!!
May 2, 2019
READ MY REVIEW ON THE BLOG - Live soon!
TITLE: THE SLOW BURN
AUTHOR: Kristen Ashley
SERIES: Moonlight and Motor Oil #2
GENRE: Contemporary Romance
TROPES: single mom, smalltown romance
RATING: ✭✭✭✭✭
CLIFFHANGER: No
I don't know about you guys but when Addie and Toby met in THE HOOKUP it wasn't only obvious that they had some serious chemistry it was OBVIOUS, so I couldn't wait to get my greedy hands on THE SLOW BURN. I'm happy to report that Kristen Ashley didn't disappoint.
Both Gamble men are an entirely different species from KA's usual alpha male - they both are sweeter, not as rough around the edges. We know KA's heroes to be protective, sometimes a little overbearing, and definitely bossy. Toby has all that down pat. When Addie and Toby meet it's pretty much love at first sight for both of them - but since the older Gamble man is going to marry Addie's older sister Toby doesn't want to go there. The family dynamics would take a serious hit if it went south. And Addie? She's completely oblivious to Toby's feelings for her.
Addie barely makes ends meet. It goes as far as her not eating properly although she has a great support system and people who would fall over themselves to help her out but while she doesn't have money, she has buckets full of pride. The situation escalates into a huge fight almost causing Toby to throw the towel and leave Matlock, KY. This argument is the catalyst that gets their relationship going and on the right track. From then on it's pretty much smooth sailing for them (their make-up sex is pretty spectacular and SCORCHING).
In most of KA's books there is always a bit of a lull when the relationship is building and running. Most of the times it works very well for me because the author packs lot of sweet stuff into that pause. It definitely worked this time around because Addie and Toby are all kinds of funny and sweet together. Especially this man, who gives Addie everything she wants and needs, who loves her so openly and says the sweetest things in the most unexpected times. And if the scene in which he feeds the little toddler doesn't melt your ovaries then I don't know what would.
She gave him another soft look before she hid it and sassed, “You’re into me too.”
“Totally into you,” he admitted openly.
Both of them understand that life is full of compromises and Addie in particular learns that pride, while it has its place, shouldn't come first, especially if you have a child to care for. I loved Addie, she was a firecracker with a heart of gold and true dedication to her son and family. She was independent and strong but she learned that sometimes pride and independence may just be in your way of the truly important things.
"Today, I went to the Fair with you and my boy and doing it, I remembered who I am. I stopped walking the path I’d veered onto and got back to the path that’s me.”
While this story is pretty low in angst it has its heartbreak and emotional parts - especially in the last few chapters - that will have your heart in your throat and it's then when all of these characters, main and side cast, truly shine. In these scenes the main theme of this story is the strongest: family is the most important thing. No matter what riches you gather, they won't make you happy, if you don't have anyone to share them with. So it's pretty awesome that we get to hang out with Johnny and Izzy, Deanna and Charlie, Margot and David.
And in that moment I knew Toby was wrong. Life wasn’t about disappointment. Life was a journey. The journey of finding what I’d seen on my sister’s face the night before. Finding your place. Finding your people. And settling in so when those cold winds blew, you had warmth to see you through.
THE SLOW BURN was one of my most anticipated books this year. I adored THE HOOKUP but I think that this installment is even better by a tiny margin - in my opinion it's Kristen Ashley at its best. She is a master at writing family dynamics and stories to make you dream. This book starts with a poignant foreword - make sure you read it - and ends on an uplifting, sweet note.
“‘I wonder what the poor people are doing?’”
April 26, 2019
<3 5 STARS <3
From page one I fall in love with The Slow Burn, for some reason it touched me in so many ways!It was exactly what I needed this period!Toby & Addie's story was intense,sweet,romantic and sexy.
Toby is a swoon worthy hero, he wants to take care of Addie and her son!He has a soft heart and he make me melt for him all the time, I loved him!!Addie is a strong heroine,who wnts to do whatever is needed to keep her son happy and take care of him!I liked her a lot and I could easily relate with her!Together they were perfect, I loved the slow burn at the beginning I have a smile in my face!
Kristen Ashley did again , she delivers a heartwarming and sweet romance!The writing was phenomenal and it was fast paced with amazing and well developed characters.Get ready for The Slow Burn!!
From page one I fall in love with The Slow Burn, for some reason it touched me in so many ways!It was exactly what I needed this period!Toby & Addie's story was intense,sweet,romantic and sexy.
Toby is a swoon worthy hero, he wants to take care of Addie and her son!He has a soft heart and he make me melt for him all the time, I loved him!!Addie is a strong heroine,who wnts to do whatever is needed to keep her son happy and take care of him!I liked her a lot and I could easily relate with her!Together they were perfect, I loved the slow burn at the beginning I have a smile in my face!
Kristen Ashley did again , she delivers a heartwarming and sweet romance!The writing was phenomenal and it was fast paced with amazing and well developed characters.Get ready for The Slow Burn!!
May 5, 2019
2 Stars
Overall Opinion: I'm in pain friends! I'm in pain because I F-love Kristen Ashley. In pain because I love her so much that I instantly buy her new releases (and for my cheap butt that's saying something 😜). And I didn't like this book and hate that I'm rating it so low. I struggled with it from after the first 1/4ish. I felt like it was all these fluffy "we are perfect for each other, and let me tell you why" monologues that went on and ooooonnn. The characters were likable and their connection was fine, but it was way too mushy for my liking especially because they were supposed to be "Bad-A Toby" and "Wild Child Addie". I felt like there was no real conflict. Even something that I was expecting to get emotional about (because it hits close to home with personal experience) felt anti-climatic. I won't go on a long rant, like I'm kinda feeling I need to right now, and just say -- those of you that like the fluffy, mushy, easy-peasy (with some heavier subjects that don't get too heavy) story about a down-on-her-luck single mother... this might be the very book for you!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Addie and Toby's story. Addie is down on her luck and is leaving her husband with her new baby when she meets Toby. Toby is her sister's boyfriend's brother, so any type of relationship could get messy quickly. Once Toby realizes the extent of Addie's struggles as a single mother, he pushes away all his reasons for hesitation and strongly pursues her. There is some family drama on both sides, a few sad moments, and some sexy times...and they get a HEA ending.
POV: This alternated between Addie's POV (mostly) and focusing on Toby in 3rd person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Slow. Too slow. I sadly skimmed a few parts. See overal opinion section above for more.
Instalove: Kind of. They already had some dormant feelings when the story really begins.
H rating: 4.5 stars. Toby. I really liked him. He was ah-may-zing with the h's son -- so that alone sold me!
h rating: 3.5 stars. Addie. I liked her, but she also was a little too prideful at times where I wanted to shake her.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW/OM drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: Not between mcs
Separation: No, once they're together they stay together.
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This had pretty good closure with what I would call a HEA , and a pretty decent epilogue.
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
Overall Opinion: I'm in pain friends! I'm in pain because I F-love Kristen Ashley. In pain because I love her so much that I instantly buy her new releases (and for my cheap butt that's saying something 😜). And I didn't like this book and hate that I'm rating it so low. I struggled with it from after the first 1/4ish. I felt like it was all these fluffy "we are perfect for each other, and let me tell you why" monologues that went on and ooooonnn. The characters were likable and their connection was fine, but it was way too mushy for my liking especially because they were supposed to be "Bad-A Toby" and "Wild Child Addie". I felt like there was no real conflict. Even something that I was expecting to get emotional about (because it hits close to home with personal experience) felt anti-climatic. I won't go on a long rant, like I'm kinda feeling I need to right now, and just say -- those of you that like the fluffy, mushy, easy-peasy (with some heavier subjects that don't get too heavy) story about a down-on-her-luck single mother... this might be the very book for you!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Addie and Toby's story. Addie is down on her luck and is leaving her husband with her new baby when she meets Toby. Toby is her sister's boyfriend's brother, so any type of relationship could get messy quickly. Once Toby realizes the extent of Addie's struggles as a single mother, he pushes away all his reasons for hesitation and strongly pursues her. There is some family drama on both sides, a few sad moments, and some sexy times...and they get a HEA ending.
POV: This alternated between Addie's POV (mostly) and focusing on Toby in 3rd person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Slow. Too slow. I sadly skimmed a few parts. See overal opinion section above for more.
Instalove: Kind of. They already had some dormant feelings when the story really begins.
H rating: 4.5 stars. Toby. I really liked him. He was ah-may-zing with the h's son -- so that alone sold me!
h rating: 3.5 stars. Addie. I liked her, but she also was a little too prideful at times where I wanted to shake her.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW/OM drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: Not between mcs
Separation: No, once they're together they stay together.
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This had pretty good closure with what I would call a HEA , and a pretty decent epilogue.
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
May 7, 2019
3.5 Nice Stars
Well this is a hard one to rate for me. The story was nice, the characters were nice and I liked the small town feel but nothing really happened, I felt it needed more.
I did like the heat level in this one, I thought it was hotter than KA's more recent books. All in all this was just an average nice romance.
Well this is a hard one to rate for me. The story was nice, the characters were nice and I liked the small town feel but nothing really happened, I felt it needed more.
I did like the heat level in this one, I thought it was hotter than KA's more recent books. All in all this was just an average nice romance.
August 10, 2021
#1 The Hookup — 3.75 Stars
#2 The Slow Burn — 4.5 Stars
It’s been a while since I read the first book, but I know that this one was even better. If before was so sweet it gave me diabetes and had a little bit of fairytale-like quality, this book had more spice — more angsty, emotional, meaningful, sexy, tear-jerking, and I guess just overall mature. It showed not only in the way of how open & honest the relationship that grew between the MCs were but also in how they were individually as a person. The two of them (with baby Brooklyn) made a great team. Not to mention, the family aspect here was one of the best that KA’s ever written. This book showed you the meaning of family and what happiness looked like in its simplest form. Out of all the 40+ KA books I’ve read, this was the first one that I didn’t listen as an audiobook. I could’ve made better decisions, but first thing for everything, right?
PS: This is awkward. I didn’t check the reviews for this book until I was about to post mine, and I was shocked to see the mixed reactions. I was going to (confidently) up the rating to 5 stars, but now people’s opinions have me doubting mine lol.
#2 The Slow Burn — 4.5 Stars
It’s been a while since I read the first book, but I know that this one was even better. If before was so sweet it gave me diabetes and had a little bit of fairytale-like quality, this book had more spice — more angsty, emotional, meaningful, sexy, tear-jerking, and I guess just overall mature. It showed not only in the way of how open & honest the relationship that grew between the MCs were but also in how they were individually as a person. The two of them (with baby Brooklyn) made a great team. Not to mention, the family aspect here was one of the best that KA’s ever written. This book showed you the meaning of family and what happiness looked like in its simplest form. Out of all the 40+ KA books I’ve read, this was the first one that I didn’t listen as an audiobook. I could’ve made better decisions, but first thing for everything, right?
PS: This is awkward. I didn’t check the reviews for this book until I was about to post mine, and I was shocked to see the mixed reactions. I was going to (confidently) up the rating to 5 stars, but now people’s opinions have me doubting mine lol.
February 19, 2025
Spoilers
Reread 18/02/25
My original reviews are always interesting to me, to see how my thoughts, feelings and tolerances have changed. This book could've been a novella, something covered in the loose ends book....it absolutely did not need to be so long. Addie annoyed me so much because of her refusal to accept help. I get pride, I understand independence but when you have a child depending on you there's just no place for that. They got together early and stayed together, I liked Brooks but then kids in my romances are almost always a sure thing for me. The family drama was definitely unnecessary and tbh given what their dad put their mother through I hated that they forgave him. Toby was a manwhore, Addie was a womanwhore in their pasts but since they met no others. Eh not quite a fan of this one tbh
Reread
On a reread I'm more accepting of this book, yes nothing much happened and Toby's mother as well as the girls father showing up felt like it was just added to create a touch of angst BUT there were some really cute and sweet moments as well. The fact that the couple got together and stayed together has to be appreciated.
All in all while this wasn't a favorite still an enjoyable read
I'd definitely read Brooks and Margot Jr's story
No cheating
Both mcs were quite experienced
We open with Toby with OW but this was before he met Addie
Death of a beloved secondary character
Slight OW drama
Both celibate in the months between meeting each other and actually getting together
2.5* hesitantly rounded up and spoilers ahead
We met Toby and Addie in book 1,Toby was the younger brother of Johnny Gamble known for his inability to committ to anything be it job,woman or home. He was known as a player and this book actually starts with a drama with him and a woman though it's before he actually met Addie.
We also know from book 1 that Addie was the female version of Toby, she was a wild child who had a phase of hooking up with the wrong types of guys and living the party life until she got married and had a child. In book 1 she appeared in town left Brooks with her sis and had a hookup with a stranger at the town fair. We later find out her husband was scum and a cheater and though from the moment Addie met Toby there was an attraction she'd only recently separated from her husband so nothing happened.
This book starts with the two fighting the attraction between them until they get into an argument about Addie's refusal to accept help as she struggles financially as single parent. After that argument, at about 30% they finally have sex and that's it. They got together and stayed together making this an over long, unnecessary read. Toby and Addie's story could've been completed in a novella because they honestly just weren't interesting enough to fill a whole book. Their estranged parents show up out of the blue and especially in the case of Toby and Johnny's mother it felt like filler because I have yet to understand her reason for showing up this late in their lives. I kept reading expecting something to happen but nope, just pages and pages of Addie and Toby settling into their relationship with interspertions of incomprehensible baby babble from Brooks. This was nothing more than a disappointment!
The last line of the book raised it a star for me, I loved the idea of Brooks and Margot jr getting together. The fact that both Toby and Addie were celibate during the months before they actually got together was another plus for me. Had this been much, much shorter I'd have rated it at least 4* but it was just too long and boring to rate any higher.
OW drama from an ex hookup of Toby's
Both celibate
Both got around quite a bit in their pasts
Reread 18/02/25
My original reviews are always interesting to me, to see how my thoughts, feelings and tolerances have changed. This book could've been a novella, something covered in the loose ends book....it absolutely did not need to be so long. Addie annoyed me so much because of her refusal to accept help. I get pride, I understand independence but when you have a child depending on you there's just no place for that. They got together early and stayed together, I liked Brooks but then kids in my romances are almost always a sure thing for me. The family drama was definitely unnecessary and tbh given what their dad put their mother through I hated that they forgave him. Toby was a manwhore, Addie was a womanwhore in their pasts but since they met no others. Eh not quite a fan of this one tbh
Reread
On a reread I'm more accepting of this book, yes nothing much happened and Toby's mother as well as the girls father showing up felt like it was just added to create a touch of angst BUT there were some really cute and sweet moments as well. The fact that the couple got together and stayed together has to be appreciated.
All in all while this wasn't a favorite still an enjoyable read
I'd definitely read Brooks and Margot Jr's story
No cheating
Both mcs were quite experienced
We open with Toby with OW but this was before he met Addie
Death of a beloved secondary character
Slight OW drama
Both celibate in the months between meeting each other and actually getting together
2.5* hesitantly rounded up and spoilers ahead
We met Toby and Addie in book 1,Toby was the younger brother of Johnny Gamble known for his inability to committ to anything be it job,woman or home. He was known as a player and this book actually starts with a drama with him and a woman though it's before he actually met Addie.
We also know from book 1 that Addie was the female version of Toby, she was a wild child who had a phase of hooking up with the wrong types of guys and living the party life until she got married and had a child. In book 1 she appeared in town left Brooks with her sis and had a hookup with a stranger at the town fair. We later find out her husband was scum and a cheater and though from the moment Addie met Toby there was an attraction she'd only recently separated from her husband so nothing happened.
This book starts with the two fighting the attraction between them until they get into an argument about Addie's refusal to accept help as she struggles financially as single parent. After that argument, at about 30% they finally have sex and that's it. They got together and stayed together making this an over long, unnecessary read. Toby and Addie's story could've been completed in a novella because they honestly just weren't interesting enough to fill a whole book. Their estranged parents show up out of the blue and especially in the case of Toby and Johnny's mother it felt like filler because I have yet to understand her reason for showing up this late in their lives. I kept reading expecting something to happen but nope, just pages and pages of Addie and Toby settling into their relationship with interspertions of incomprehensible baby babble from Brooks. This was nothing more than a disappointment!
The last line of the book raised it a star for me, I loved the idea of Brooks and Margot jr getting together. The fact that both Toby and Addie were celibate during the months before they actually got together was another plus for me. Had this been much, much shorter I'd have rated it at least 4* but it was just too long and boring to rate any higher.
OW drama from an ex hookup of Toby's
Both celibate
Both got around quite a bit in their pasts
May 11, 2019
I'm a fan of this author and normally feel swoony after I read her stories, but I was a little confused. Book 1 in the series is about Johnny and Izzy, but are they the same characters in this story? This was just ok and I had hoped for a good follow-up but the story seemed to go on longer than necessary.
December 29, 2024
For the most part I loved this. I do struggle with some of the characteristics of a Kristen Ashley male. This usually keeps her books from being a 5 star read for me. But, I also like them enough that I can see myself re-reading them.
One of the things I hate about her males is when they lecture their women. It always comes off as if they are treating them like a child and that just gets under my skin. They also judge pretty quickly. Depending on how much of that stuff is in a book, will measure how much I can enjoy it. Thankfully, it was minimal with Toby.
What I do love about a Kristen Ashley male is how protective and possessive they are. In this series I'm also a fan of the gentleman behavior.
Addie was a respectable heroine for the most part. I didn't not enjoy her melt down in the beginning but after that, she was a pretty strong character.
I recommend the audiobook for this one. Stella Bloom is one of my favorite narrators.
One of the things I hate about her males is when they lecture their women. It always comes off as if they are treating them like a child and that just gets under my skin. They also judge pretty quickly. Depending on how much of that stuff is in a book, will measure how much I can enjoy it. Thankfully, it was minimal with Toby.
What I do love about a Kristen Ashley male is how protective and possessive they are. In this series I'm also a fan of the gentleman behavior.
Addie was a respectable heroine for the most part. I didn't not enjoy her melt down in the beginning but after that, she was a pretty strong character.
I recommend the audiobook for this one. Stella Bloom is one of my favorite narrators.
May 23, 2019
I didn't read Eliza and Johnny's novel, The Hookup, but I had a chance to read The Slow Burn in between my ARCS. The end result: I'm disappointed.
The title of this novel has the perfect name. I found the narrative to be slow, rambling and repetitive. I lost count of how many "Babes", "Honey" and "Let-me-tell-you-how-things-are-going-to-go-because-I'm-the-alpha-here" there were. I just don't see the conversations coming from a guy's mouth to go the way KA writes them in this book.
There was absolutely no major drama or obstacle for this couple. The first time they meet, they are already half in love with each other. So kind of an insta-love situation.
For me, The Slow Burn was saved by some specific scenes. Toby with Addie's child, Brooks. Toby with Johnny talking about the "mother" they had growing up. Eliza and Addie's interactions as sisters, the Gamble brothers listening to their women talking over the phone with their estranged dad and the Epilogue.
I just can't believe this is the same writer who wrote FOUR of my favorite series, Rock Chick, Dream Man, Chaos, and Colorado Mountain.
What happened to KA? Or is it me who just can't connect with her writing anymore? I have to tell you, for a book lover, there's nothing worse than disliking one of your favorite writer's novels.
Cliffhanger: No
2/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
May 3, 2019
4.5 ❤️ Stars
April 1, 2019
4.5 STARS
It's kind of ironic that this Kristen Ashley novel is titled The Slow Burn when, in actuality, Tobias Gamble and Adeline Forrester's story is more accurately one of love at first sight. It might've taken these characters a bit of time to admit it, which is why I'd insist you read this two-book series in order, but Toby and Addie owned each other from the moment they set eyes on the other. In true Kristen Ashley form, this romance is much more insta-love than slow burn in all the very best ways!
Toby Gamble is the fucking SWEETEST. He and his brother Johnny both are two of the most delicious heroes Kristen Ashley has penned. So unlike her bikers, her mountain men, her Denver crime fighters, the Gamble brothers are gentlemen in the old school sense of the word. Toby is absolutely an alpha... protective, loyal, fiercely determined... but there's nothing about him that screams steamrolling, bossy jerk like the Tates and Tacks and Lee Nightingale's of Kristen Ashley yesteryear. He's a different kind of alpha hero, a gentler, calmer version that's not above setting up a baby stroller or buying matching dishware. He's a refreshing yet equally captivating hero compared to all the others I've come to expect from KA and I loved him to pieces.
If you're a fan of Kristen Ashley's work, you know she's not an author you can devour in one sitting. Her books are lengthy, full of vibrant detail, insane drama and steamy romance and they are meant to be savored, not eaten for lunch. Well The Slow Burn is definitely all of those things, but I absolutely did devour this book faster than any KA novel before. I couldn't read fast enough. It had such a different vibe than her other books and I enjoyed every page so much. The family dynamics these characters come from, the way their personalities contrast with their siblings yet also make them perfect for each other, all of it is woven into the most addictive, romantic storyline and I seriously loved all of it.
This book is light and fun, super sweet and sexy. It checks off all the must-have KA boxes but with a lower dose of angst than I expected and a richer depth of emotion than I anticipated. The Slow Burn is very much a testament to family, to what it really means to be wealthy that has absolutely nothing to do with money. It's a story of finding your people, of appreciating all of life's riches, of taking the lot you're given and deciding what to make with it. This was a gem of a romance, an unexpectedly different kind of love story, and another Kristen Ashley favorite!
It's kind of ironic that this Kristen Ashley novel is titled The Slow Burn when, in actuality, Tobias Gamble and Adeline Forrester's story is more accurately one of love at first sight. It might've taken these characters a bit of time to admit it, which is why I'd insist you read this two-book series in order, but Toby and Addie owned each other from the moment they set eyes on the other. In true Kristen Ashley form, this romance is much more insta-love than slow burn in all the very best ways!
Toby Gamble is the fucking SWEETEST. He and his brother Johnny both are two of the most delicious heroes Kristen Ashley has penned. So unlike her bikers, her mountain men, her Denver crime fighters, the Gamble brothers are gentlemen in the old school sense of the word. Toby is absolutely an alpha... protective, loyal, fiercely determined... but there's nothing about him that screams steamrolling, bossy jerk like the Tates and Tacks and Lee Nightingale's of Kristen Ashley yesteryear. He's a different kind of alpha hero, a gentler, calmer version that's not above setting up a baby stroller or buying matching dishware. He's a refreshing yet equally captivating hero compared to all the others I've come to expect from KA and I loved him to pieces.
If you're a fan of Kristen Ashley's work, you know she's not an author you can devour in one sitting. Her books are lengthy, full of vibrant detail, insane drama and steamy romance and they are meant to be savored, not eaten for lunch. Well The Slow Burn is definitely all of those things, but I absolutely did devour this book faster than any KA novel before. I couldn't read fast enough. It had such a different vibe than her other books and I enjoyed every page so much. The family dynamics these characters come from, the way their personalities contrast with their siblings yet also make them perfect for each other, all of it is woven into the most addictive, romantic storyline and I seriously loved all of it.
This book is light and fun, super sweet and sexy. It checks off all the must-have KA boxes but with a lower dose of angst than I expected and a richer depth of emotion than I anticipated. The Slow Burn is very much a testament to family, to what it really means to be wealthy that has absolutely nothing to do with money. It's a story of finding your people, of appreciating all of life's riches, of taking the lot you're given and deciding what to make with it. This was a gem of a romance, an unexpectedly different kind of love story, and another Kristen Ashley favorite!
February 26, 2020
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
Let’s get real honest. There’s only one reason I read Kristen Ashley . . . .
If you don’t like alpha men and caveman style dialogue featuring few words and a lot of growling she’s not going to be for you. Ashley is an author who most definitely is a believer of the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mindset and follows a formula featuring the same sort of language, fella, instalove, and much of the sexytimes in each of her books. This time around the leading male was Tobias (the brother of Johnny from book #1 The Hookup). The leading lady was Addie (who just so happened to be the sister of Izzy from that same book). She’s a single mother struggling to make ends meet and his attraction to her is somehow verboten because stupid trope rules and all. Rest your pretty heads, though, because despite the title indicating this to be a “slow burn” these two end up banging by the quarter mark. Basically it’s a matter of if you like the damsel in distress being rescued by a knight on a white horse. That’s not my fave, but bottom line is it still gets the job done if you know what I mean . . . .
Way to keep it classy, huh? Good thing I didn’t post this on a major religious holiday or anything . . . wait, whoops ; )
Let’s get real honest. There’s only one reason I read Kristen Ashley . . . .
If you don’t like alpha men and caveman style dialogue featuring few words and a lot of growling she’s not going to be for you. Ashley is an author who most definitely is a believer of the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mindset and follows a formula featuring the same sort of language, fella, instalove, and much of the sexytimes in each of her books. This time around the leading male was Tobias (the brother of Johnny from book #1 The Hookup). The leading lady was Addie (who just so happened to be the sister of Izzy from that same book). She’s a single mother struggling to make ends meet and his attraction to her is somehow verboten because stupid trope rules and all. Rest your pretty heads, though, because despite the title indicating this to be a “slow burn” these two end up banging by the quarter mark. Basically it’s a matter of if you like the damsel in distress being rescued by a knight on a white horse. That’s not my fave, but bottom line is it still gets the job done if you know what I mean . . . .
Way to keep it classy, huh? Good thing I didn’t post this on a major religious holiday or anything . . . wait, whoops ; )
April 29, 2019
Since their dramatic introduction in The Hookup, Tobias Gamble and Adeline Forrester haunted me. I wanted more from these characters, and I just knew that as a couple, their chemistry would be explosive. It certainly was. Even though their sexual attraction was instantaneous, the journey from friends to lovers was not only complicated but a delicious slow burning inferno. So happy to revisit Matlock, Kentucky where this author once again overwhelmed me with another heartwarming emotional tale. If you're craving a contemporary romance with all "the feels" from the golden age of KA, look no further. With a sizzling hot story-line and a cast of endearing characters, Kristen Ashley delivered a fantastic read reminiscent of her earlier works with The Slow Burn.
Tenacious, sassy and loving, the wild-child Adeline became one of my favorite heroines. A single mom who struggled financially, she faced each obstacle with incredible strength and determination. Seeing her exhaustion from juggling a low paying job as a cashier and crafting homemade greeting cards for extra cash, to trying her best to provide for Brooks, tugged at my heartstrings. I adored and admired everything about Addie, especially her witty sense of humor despite her difficult circumstances. Proud to a fault, she stubbornly refused to burden others with her troubles, striving to be as strong as her late mother.
But it was an eye-opening confrontation with the equally obstinate Toby, the man she was secretly attracted to, that changed her life for the better.
I fell hard for the rambling man and former womanizer known as "Take 'Em and Leave "Em" Toby." He was edgy, growly, controlling, excessively broody and protective ~ A bearded hottie with a huge heart who fiercely loved his family. He was unyielding at first, hiding his true feelings from Addie for the sake of their friendship and his brother Johnny's relationship with Izzy (Addie's older sister). But his heart eventually won that battle, and together this couple's passion was beyond scorching.
His intense love, dedication and the tender way he cared for his woman and her son melted me. The way they supported one another to resolve all issues, especially the baggage each carried from childhood, warmed my heart. Toby, in true KA Alpha style, had some asshole-ish moments that ticked me off, but I quickly forgave his transgressions seeing the sincere way he made amends. All-in-all, he was the perfect KA hero, with a gentler side, that I completely adored.
The Slow Burn was a seductive and sweet romance that had me laughing and swooning from beginning to end. Aside from savoring Toby and Addie’s passionate relationship, giggling over Brooks’ antics, and surviving the extremely emotional last few chapters, there were some notable secondary characters that I absolutely loved. The charming Dave, the larger than life Margot as well as beloved Daphne, Addie's deceased mother, left an incredible impression on me and made this read even more enjoyable. I will miss them all. As always, KA emphasizes the importance of family and bonds of friendship. The dynamics of these relationships were just as much a part of this story as this couple's journey.
In the end, another amazingly sexy novel from the one and only Kristen Ashley that I highly recommend. Also suggest if you haven't already, jump into Johnny and Izzy's love story featured in The Hookup, book one of the Moonlight and Motor Oil series.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this publication
April 26, 2019
“Life wasn’t about disappointment. Life was a journey. The journey of finding what I’d seen on my sister’s face the night before. Finding your place. Finding your people. And settling in so when those cold winds blew, you had warmth to see you through.”
Like many of my fellow Kristen-Ashley-obsessed, I’ve been waiting for Toby and Addie’s story ever since we were first introduced to them in The Hookup, so being back in Matlock, Kentucky was nothing short of a delight. Brimming with Ashley’s penchant for evoking ALL the feels, this is a tale of second chances—the kind that comes when life has beat you down so much that you’re hesitant to give love another shot—and of two people working hard on themselves so that their pasts don’t define their future together. As always, Kristen Ashley’s strong character portraits and lush narrative deliver an irresistible cocktail of romance, passion, and close-knit family ties, a story that takes the reader on a rollercoaster ride of emotions—reaching in and touching all the heart’s most breakable places—before soaring to its romantic, tear-jerking conclusion.
Continue reading this review...
Follow me on Facebook! | Follow me on Twitter!
May 30, 2019
Better than Free! Woohoo. High praise. I liked The Hookup as the H was very appreciative of his shabby chic, Johnny-loving heroine, and while I may have moved on from Shabby Chic I still like it. A lot. So the sequel was a must, and I am a pathetic masochist.
This wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t what I was hoping for. The H and h are cute in a way, in love or lust and have the EQ of middle schoolers and say the “F” word A LOT. They are way too cool for school for me. Yeah, he has a hunky beard, but he wears an emo beanie, and she wears cowboy boots and mini-skirts. Hey, I’m old school, and I am shallow.
The heroine is/was a less-than-discriminate-with-her-sex-partners kind of chick before she married and got pregnant by a cheating jerk. Ever since she moved to Smalltownville, she and the H have danced around their attraction.
Manufactured angst and some sad times with secondary characters from the first book had me heading to a 2 star rating. The first half had me rolling my eyes at some sentences that I am still trying to decipher and some kind of icky sex. The latter half improved as KA remembered to include a plot that evolved around more than the heroine teasing her hair, having sex being too cool, and obsessing about her bills.
One issue I can’t ignore is the H’s smackdown of an ex-ONS. I love, revere and yearn for more evil OW smackdowns, but when it comes at the expense of either the H turning into a total creep by publicly humiliating a character it wasn’t so much fun, but I am being picky.
This wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t what I was hoping for. The H and h are cute in a way, in love or lust and have the EQ of middle schoolers and say the “F” word A LOT. They are way too cool for school for me. Yeah, he has a hunky beard, but he wears an emo beanie, and she wears cowboy boots and mini-skirts. Hey, I’m old school, and I am shallow.
The heroine is/was a less-than-discriminate-with-her-sex-partners kind of chick before she married and got pregnant by a cheating jerk. Ever since she moved to Smalltownville, she and the H have danced around their attraction.
Manufactured angst and some sad times with secondary characters from the first book had me heading to a 2 star rating. The first half had me rolling my eyes at some sentences that I am still trying to decipher and some kind of icky sex. The latter half improved as KA remembered to include a plot that evolved around more than the heroine teasing her hair, having sex being too cool, and obsessing about her bills.
One issue I can’t ignore is the H’s smackdown of an ex-ONS. I love, revere and yearn for more evil OW smackdowns, but when it comes at the expense of either the H turning into a total creep by publicly humiliating a character it wasn’t so much fun, but I am being picky.
September 28, 2022
So boring!!!
I haven't been happy with KA's recent books. Her writing seems to have gone downhill from her earlier books. There doesn't seem to have the humor in them, the drama, or the excitement. Even the sex scenes were a bit of a yawnfest. This particular book evened seemed a bit preachy to me.
I would've given this book a 1 star rating,but she pulled out another star because toward the end of the book for a bit better with the Margot part - not much better, but just enough for me to give 2 stars.
I haven't been happy with KA's recent books. Her writing seems to have gone downhill from her earlier books. There doesn't seem to have the humor in them, the drama, or the excitement. Even the sex scenes were a bit of a yawnfest. This particular book evened seemed a bit preachy to me.
I would've given this book a 1 star rating,but she pulled out another star because toward the end of the book for a bit better with the Margot part - not much better, but just enough for me to give 2 stars.
April 30, 2019
I want the old KA back please :(
Read
May 3, 2019I really wanted to finish this book but I couldn't. It was one of those books that offend you early on and no matter what happens good or bad from there on out, it won't change the fact that it pissed you off before. Instead of pushing my way through it, I gave up.
Remember to follow all things messy. . .
Remember to follow all things messy. . .
Subcribe/Listen to my podcast
May 1, 2019
So, when I read the title of this book for the first time, I though maybe KA was planning on doing something a little different. He characters tend to fall in love early and spend a decent portion of the book learning to live with each other's strong wills, which is kind of nice sometimes. But it's also pretty formulaic. So I was thinking maybe this would be a different formula.
It was not.
Make no mistake: this book is not a slow burn. In fact, it is one of KA's faster burns, because the characters are already in love from page 1, and they get together and have their relationship almost entirely settled by 30% into the book. The rest of the book is family drama, and it draaaaaagged. I was so bored by the last 20% of the book, that even though big family stuff was happening, I mostly skimmed it. I was not emotionally engaged.
Some of KA's books will forever be on my re-read list. In fact, I really liked Izzy and Johnny's story and have reread it a couple times. But I have no interest in re-reading this one. There is nothing new in it. You can find anything in this story in her other books: alpha males who sometimes slip into alpha-hole territory; deep conversations that repetitively hash out the right way to live a happy life; more deep conversations where two characters talk ad nauseum about how amazing another character is and how that character is a survivor; first sex that happens at the same time the first kiss happens; style-conscious women, usually blondes with big hair, who are soft on the outside but steely on the inside; toddlers who produce really bad, unrealistic baby talk; characters with really neat first names that get turned into really annoying and infantile nicknames; arguments where one person rants and the other can't get a word in edgewise; absentee or abusive parental figures who swoop in unexpectedly and demonstrate how self-centered they are; and the odd speech patterns that ALL KA characters share, even though they live in entirely different regions across the US, from Maine to Kentucky to Phoenix to the Carolinas to Colorado to Indiana and I think even the Dakotas.
(And can someone please tell this best-selling author - and her editor - that "Perry and my marriage" is grammatical nonsense? It's "Perry's and my marriage," and she makes this mistake in every book. I can deal with long, rambling sentences and adjectives that get turned into nouns, but someone has to draw a line.)
I like some of KA's books enough to keep giving them a try, but I don't want to read the same characters with the same qualities and basically the same plot, with very little actual falling in love, over and over.
It was not.
Make no mistake: this book is not a slow burn. In fact, it is one of KA's faster burns, because the characters are already in love from page 1, and they get together and have their relationship almost entirely settled by 30% into the book. The rest of the book is family drama, and it draaaaaagged. I was so bored by the last 20% of the book, that even though big family stuff was happening, I mostly skimmed it. I was not emotionally engaged.
Some of KA's books will forever be on my re-read list. In fact, I really liked Izzy and Johnny's story and have reread it a couple times. But I have no interest in re-reading this one. There is nothing new in it. You can find anything in this story in her other books: alpha males who sometimes slip into alpha-hole territory; deep conversations that repetitively hash out the right way to live a happy life; more deep conversations where two characters talk ad nauseum about how amazing another character is and how that character is a survivor; first sex that happens at the same time the first kiss happens; style-conscious women, usually blondes with big hair, who are soft on the outside but steely on the inside; toddlers who produce really bad, unrealistic baby talk; characters with really neat first names that get turned into really annoying and infantile nicknames; arguments where one person rants and the other can't get a word in edgewise; absentee or abusive parental figures who swoop in unexpectedly and demonstrate how self-centered they are; and the odd speech patterns that ALL KA characters share, even though they live in entirely different regions across the US, from Maine to Kentucky to Phoenix to the Carolinas to Colorado to Indiana and I think even the Dakotas.
(And can someone please tell this best-selling author - and her editor - that "Perry and my marriage" is grammatical nonsense? It's "Perry's and my marriage," and she makes this mistake in every book. I can deal with long, rambling sentences and adjectives that get turned into nouns, but someone has to draw a line.)
I like some of KA's books enough to keep giving them a try, but I don't want to read the same characters with the same qualities and basically the same plot, with very little actual falling in love, over and over.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2019
The Hookup, but with different names
I wasn’t expecting much goodness out of this book, what with the mess that was Free and just about every other book from this author in the last few years, and I got about what I expected. Not much. It’s not really a new story (since we already knew where Addie and Toby ended up in The Hookup), but it IS a slow burn...just not in the way I’d hoped. It’s a slow burn of rambling details and a KA man who actually says more than “babe” for everything at first (which was a nice change). Then, it morphs into what I’ve come to see in every book since the Magdalene series. Drama tossed at us left and right for no reason other than to have drama, the use of “babe” as punctuation, and the now-requisite “taboo” bedroom activity. The ONLY thing saving this from being a 1⭐️ read is the fact that she didn’t drag Lee Nightingale into it...but we couldn’t leave without some connection. Oh, no. We have to have a slight link to Justice Lonesome (Bounty) and the Rock Chick series via the Blue Moon Gypsies. Granted, it was just a mention of them, and it wasn’t the usual tie-in, but it was still a reminder that the KA world is apparently super small, no matter the state or town involved.
I WILL say that the epilogue was reminiscent of her older works and did make me cry. It was sad and somewhat beautiful and heartbreaking all by itself. I’m angry at how it went, but I guess she can’t give sweet without the sour and bitter. The author’s note before the prologue was also sad and sweet. I get the feeling that the Forrester girls were near and dear to her own heart and childhood, so I’ll give her credit for being real with readers and giving a glimpse into her own childhood.
I don’t know if I’m willing to give her another-nother chance at this point. Honesty, I’m afraid of what Lottie’s story will be. I’m afraid that this author has lost her spark. I’m afraid that the next read will be the one that turns me off of this author for good.
I wasn’t expecting much goodness out of this book, what with the mess that was Free and just about every other book from this author in the last few years, and I got about what I expected. Not much. It’s not really a new story (since we already knew where Addie and Toby ended up in The Hookup), but it IS a slow burn...just not in the way I’d hoped. It’s a slow burn of rambling details and a KA man who actually says more than “babe” for everything at first (which was a nice change). Then, it morphs into what I’ve come to see in every book since the Magdalene series. Drama tossed at us left and right for no reason other than to have drama, the use of “babe” as punctuation, and the now-requisite “taboo” bedroom activity. The ONLY thing saving this from being a 1⭐️ read is the fact that she didn’t drag Lee Nightingale into it...but we couldn’t leave without some connection. Oh, no. We have to have a slight link to Justice Lonesome (Bounty) and the Rock Chick series via the Blue Moon Gypsies. Granted, it was just a mention of them, and it wasn’t the usual tie-in, but it was still a reminder that the KA world is apparently super small, no matter the state or town involved.
I WILL say that the epilogue was reminiscent of her older works and did make me cry. It was sad and somewhat beautiful and heartbreaking all by itself. I’m angry at how it went, but I guess she can’t give sweet without the sour and bitter. The author’s note before the prologue was also sad and sweet. I get the feeling that the Forrester girls were near and dear to her own heart and childhood, so I’ll give her credit for being real with readers and giving a glimpse into her own childhood.
I don’t know if I’m willing to give her another-nother chance at this point. Honesty, I’m afraid of what Lottie’s story will be. I’m afraid that this author has lost her spark. I’m afraid that the next read will be the one that turns me off of this author for good.
October 21, 2020
I tried to care but I just couldn't..
both books in this series were just not for me...
both books in this series were just not for me...
May 12, 2019
I loved this book so much. This is just what I needed and why I love Kristen Ashley so very much. This book was amazing from beginning to end. I loved Toby and Addie and I loved seeing them fall in love. I may have loved his family even more though its really a close tie. The bond this entire family has in this book is so special. Now I'm going to tell you this book had me bawling thats really not an exaggeration. When my husband ran into a fast food restaurant to get himself food I picked this book up so I could get more reading in(yes it's that good that I didn't want to put it down at all and found every moment possible to read it) and I got to a part that literally made my heart hurt and I cried so hard and couldn't stop and a man next to me kept looking at me lol he probably had no clue of what to make of me. I can't recommend this book enough it's one i will read again and one I'm sad Ive finished.
November 22, 2021
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗻 is the second book in the Moonlight and Motor Oil Series featuring the irresistible Gamble brothers. This is Toby and Addy’s story. As a reader, it’s best that you read this series in order.
This is my type of Kristen Ashley romance novel! I can’t get enough of this type of novel from her. The one where the man is everything, you feel love and heartbreak and the couple is together for a large part of the novel.
Her leading men are intuitive, caring and go all out for their women doing anything they have to do to make her happy. Toby is so perfect! Since book 1 where Toby and Addy met in a crazy way, we’ve been rooting for these two behind the scenes.
Being that Toby is Johnny’s younger brother. Addy is Eliza (Izzy)’s younger sister. Johnny and Izzy are engaged. That being said, things would get complicated if the two hooked up.
No one wants Johnny to hurt Addy and being that she’s a single mom with a dead beat as her child’s father, the last thing she needs is to be strung along. It’s clear to everyone though, these two are perfect for each other. I felt for Addy and her financial struggle. It’s so difficult being a single mother.
This book is all about life lessons, the beauty and simplicity in what really matters and giving the reader all the feels. I love Kristen Ashley.
November 24, 2020
This is second in a series and some of the events of the first spill over into this one. Also, the two protagonists meet in the first. Yeah, Ashley warps back and revisits some of that, but I still think it's better to read both in order.
This book was a bit extra, like Ashley was trying to outdo herself or become extra KA. And I'm not even sure exactly what I mean by that except that Toby was more macho while being extra articulate about it and Abbie was double-plus free-spirit groovy chick with all the responsibility because single mom. So while I still liked the reinforcement around their found-family core dynamic I found myself less patient with the demanding alpha and thrashing around male/female relationship dynamics.
Anyway, if you're familiar with KA, or have just read one and remember the experience, you'll know mostly what you'll get with this book. Not that she's lazy or that it's all the same story over and over. But there's definitely a template and range of experience and this one drives that flavor home rather heavily. Personally, I found myself getting impatient with characters a little bit.
Alleviating that a bit was Toby with Abbie's son, Brooklyn. After the weird scene where Toby behaves completely out of character by ignoring him, I mean. That scene was very strange because his inattention was oblivious to the point of cruelty and seemed forced so that he'd have to commit to Abbie early and strongly and explicitly. But after that, he was very sweet and completely melty with Brooks and I loved every one of those interactions and the protective, nurturing side of the alpha personality.
Anyway, this comes in at a disappointed three stars. I just wasn't as engaged as I expected and found myself too often picking at details because I wasn't gripped enough by the story. It wasn't bad, precisely, but it wasn't that good, either.
A note about Crude Language: It's all in the bedroom, but the sexual language dipped past merely profane into simply crude, including a single use of the unforgiveable c-word.
A note about Steamy: There are five or six or seven or . . . there was lots of explicit sex, putting this on the high end of my steam tolerance and I suspect it might have blown past it if I hadn't started skimming. And some of it was extra, too. Like, KA was testing her porn chops by "going there", and you can just about pick a there to go with that. Seriously, there's and maybe I'm showing my constrained upbringing or getting tiresomely conservative in my old age, but some of it just icked me out. And that's unusual for me because I'm generally in a "whatever" frame on the specifics of steam content...
This book was a bit extra, like Ashley was trying to outdo herself or become extra KA. And I'm not even sure exactly what I mean by that except that Toby was more macho while being extra articulate about it and Abbie was double-plus free-spirit groovy chick with all the responsibility because single mom. So while I still liked the reinforcement around their found-family core dynamic I found myself less patient with the demanding alpha and thrashing around male/female relationship dynamics.
Anyway, if you're familiar with KA, or have just read one and remember the experience, you'll know mostly what you'll get with this book. Not that she's lazy or that it's all the same story over and over. But there's definitely a template and range of experience and this one drives that flavor home rather heavily. Personally, I found myself getting impatient with characters a little bit.
Alleviating that a bit was Toby with Abbie's son, Brooklyn. After the weird scene where Toby behaves completely out of character by ignoring him, I mean. That scene was very strange because his inattention was oblivious to the point of cruelty and seemed forced so that he'd have to commit to Abbie early and strongly and explicitly. But after that, he was very sweet and completely melty with Brooks and I loved every one of those interactions and the protective, nurturing side of the alpha personality.
Anyway, this comes in at a disappointed three stars. I just wasn't as engaged as I expected and found myself too often picking at details because I wasn't gripped enough by the story. It wasn't bad, precisely, but it wasn't that good, either.
A note about Crude Language: It's all in the bedroom, but the sexual language dipped past merely profane into simply crude, including a single use of the unforgiveable c-word.
A note about Steamy: There are five or six or seven or . . . there was lots of explicit sex, putting this on the high end of my steam tolerance and I suspect it might have blown past it if I hadn't started skimming. And some of it was extra, too. Like, KA was testing her porn chops by "going there", and you can just about pick a there to go with that. Seriously, there's and maybe I'm showing my constrained upbringing or getting tiresomely conservative in my old age, but some of it just icked me out. And that's unusual for me because I'm generally in a "whatever" frame on the specifics of steam content...
April 16, 2022
4 Gamble Men and Forrester Women Stars
* * * * Spoiler Free
KA reading can be an addiction...I happened to have enjoyed the first book of Moonlight and Motor Oil, The Hook Up, so when this came out, I clicked to see what was next. This series felt more like vintage KA with the men strong and could be very charming. The women had their own issues which meshed with the men and over the course of the book, KA was able to tell her theme of how money does not mean wealth.
I think having read the author's comments about her memories of her childhood, of holding it together with very little, and still feeling loved and fed emotionally helped my mindset for the book. Was this the KA of old...Sort of but not exactly. There were terrific moments and yummy epilogues. I read it and the series felt complete. I still have my addiction to KA and will always see what is next.
The Hookup (Moonlight and Motor oil, #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Slow Burn (Moonlight and Motor oil, #2)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
* * * * Spoiler Free
KA reading can be an addiction...I happened to have enjoyed the first book of Moonlight and Motor Oil, The Hook Up, so when this came out, I clicked to see what was next. This series felt more like vintage KA with the men strong and could be very charming. The women had their own issues which meshed with the men and over the course of the book, KA was able to tell her theme of how money does not mean wealth.
I think having read the author's comments about her memories of her childhood, of holding it together with very little, and still feeling loved and fed emotionally helped my mindset for the book. Was this the KA of old...Sort of but not exactly. There were terrific moments and yummy epilogues. I read it and the series felt complete. I still have my addiction to KA and will always see what is next.
The Hookup (Moonlight and Motor oil, #1)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Slow Burn (Moonlight and Motor oil, #2)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
May 1, 2019
Review to come!!
May 7, 2019
A fantastic audio, but...
I finished listening to The Slow Burn on my way to work this morning and I was left very troubled. There was a scene towards the end that had me completely flabbergasted. I can't tell you what happened in that scene because it would be a HUGE spoiler. When you listen to certain words you can't always tell the right context, while reading makes it clearer. I came home and opened up my Kindle version (that I had preordered) read the same section and it all made sense. I'm glad I got the opportunity to confirm because if I hadn't, it would have been bothering me FOREVER. In some cases, reading just makes more sense.
Reading or listening to a Kristen Ashley generally leaves me in my reading happy place. The Slow Burn took me on an emotional journey with Tobey and Addie. There were plenty of highs and a few lows to deal with too. Sure, this was a "slow burn" but luckily we didn't have to wade through the "slow burn" to get the good stuff. I'm not necessarily talking about the sexy times, I'm talking about the good stuff being them fighting their battles together. Independence has its place, but a partnership will always work better when you work as a team.
Addie has just ended her relationship with the father of her child and she's looking for a new path. Tobey has been on a meandering path for years, and now that his brother Johnny has settled, he's thinking about settling too. Their first meeting was not under good circumstances but it did suck me in. Addie is vulnerable and Tobey is her protector...YIPPEE!! I love it that when she was at her worst, she finds the best.
The Moonlight and Motor Oil series gave us two stories that packed a punch. Both Johnny and Tobey are far from angels when we first meet them, but it doesn't take long to love them. Izzy and Addie have had their fair share of hard times but they're the kind of women who makes the most of what they've got. Both couples have pasts that were bumpy but their strength was in how they moved on from their rocky rides. I loved that two sisters fell in love with two brothers.
I liked the audio version of The Slow Burn but I didn't completely love it. It flowed well and was easy to listen to most of the time, it's just that I prefer Stella Blooms narration and wished she'd done it solo. She's just so easy to listen to.
I loved all the characters I met in The Slow Burn and was sad to say goodbye at the end. The story flowed in a way that made it easy to believe that Tobey, Addie and Brooklyn (Addie's son) would be together forever. Addie was a fantastic mother and I loved her fierce protectiveness. Tobey, while it took me a while to warm up to, ended up being a strong, sexy and dedicated hero I could admire. This story was fun, sexy, emotional and at times heartbreaking. Just the right mix of emotions.
The Slow Burn was everything I was hoping for and more. I definitely recommend.
I finished listening to The Slow Burn on my way to work this morning and I was left very troubled. There was a scene towards the end that had me completely flabbergasted. I can't tell you what happened in that scene because it would be a HUGE spoiler. When you listen to certain words you can't always tell the right context, while reading makes it clearer. I came home and opened up my Kindle version (that I had preordered) read the same section and it all made sense. I'm glad I got the opportunity to confirm because if I hadn't, it would have been bothering me FOREVER. In some cases, reading just makes more sense.
Reading or listening to a Kristen Ashley generally leaves me in my reading happy place. The Slow Burn took me on an emotional journey with Tobey and Addie. There were plenty of highs and a few lows to deal with too. Sure, this was a "slow burn" but luckily we didn't have to wade through the "slow burn" to get the good stuff. I'm not necessarily talking about the sexy times, I'm talking about the good stuff being them fighting their battles together. Independence has its place, but a partnership will always work better when you work as a team.
Addie has just ended her relationship with the father of her child and she's looking for a new path. Tobey has been on a meandering path for years, and now that his brother Johnny has settled, he's thinking about settling too. Their first meeting was not under good circumstances but it did suck me in. Addie is vulnerable and Tobey is her protector...YIPPEE!! I love it that when she was at her worst, she finds the best.
The Moonlight and Motor Oil series gave us two stories that packed a punch. Both Johnny and Tobey are far from angels when we first meet them, but it doesn't take long to love them. Izzy and Addie have had their fair share of hard times but they're the kind of women who makes the most of what they've got. Both couples have pasts that were bumpy but their strength was in how they moved on from their rocky rides. I loved that two sisters fell in love with two brothers.
I liked the audio version of The Slow Burn but I didn't completely love it. It flowed well and was easy to listen to most of the time, it's just that I prefer Stella Blooms narration and wished she'd done it solo. She's just so easy to listen to.
I loved all the characters I met in The Slow Burn and was sad to say goodbye at the end. The story flowed in a way that made it easy to believe that Tobey, Addie and Brooklyn (Addie's son) would be together forever. Addie was a fantastic mother and I loved her fierce protectiveness. Tobey, while it took me a while to warm up to, ended up being a strong, sexy and dedicated hero I could admire. This story was fun, sexy, emotional and at times heartbreaking. Just the right mix of emotions.
The Slow Burn was everything I was hoping for and more. I definitely recommend.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,025 reviews