Ash was gone and nothing in my life would ever be the same. I was a ghost walking the earth and I had only one mission.
Revenge.
When I found the people who tore my life apart I was going to destroy them like they destroyed me. But nothing for me and Ash had ever been simple. Instead of revenge, I found the truth. And it shattered my world an changed everything I ever knew about love.
Up until this third installment, I've really loved this trilogy. The development in both plotting and characters was strong and held my attention from start to finish. Now comes the hard part to write. The finale was a big letdown with a weak finish. Yes, it all worked out just as I had hoped -- but it felt like an outline with bullet-points giving the highlights and leaving all the explanations, feelings and meaningful words left unwritten. And it wasn't difficult to see what was coming a mile off. After all these two had been through, this was just too easy and a little unbelievable, too.
Yes, Marc and Ash find a happy-ever-after -- and no reader will be unhappy with the way turned out. It just needed the extra fluff to go along with it. Overall, I can't say I didn't enjoy reading this trilogy -- because I did.
This trilogy kept my interest, and I actually liked it was short books that still felt pretty full of story. Unfortunately, I didnt care much for the MCs. Ash was such a pathetic like character when it came to Marc. I got what the author was trying to do, but it just didnt work for me. He was just so damn mean to her, and she just kept asking for more. I think I would have liked the story more if she had more moments where she felt like she deserved to be treated better. Even in the end when he is trying to win her over, she only isnt with him because she thinks he can never love her because she blames herself for everything he went through in the story. There was never a moment where I felt she built a backbone and stood up to him that she deserved better. She never had interest in any other man, but in his head we had to hear about all the girls he had fucked that were hotter than her, like come on. She saved her virginity for him (while he slept with a bunch of OW) which also is just an annoying plot choice that needs to end. So much focus on giving him her virginity, she practically begged him to take it, and of course he loved that he was the only one to touch her even though he let tons of OW touch him. I still cannot believe women write this sexist shit. Why not let her at least go on a date with someone else?
The inner thoughts of Marc also didnt soothe my annoyance at how mean he was to her. It wasnt till about 60% into the third book that he FINALLY tries being nice to her, and yet still all he focused on was having sex with her rather than emotionally soothing all the damage he had done to her self-esteem. I just wasn't impressed. Yes I understood why he was the way he was, but the cruelty he showed her was just too much, and paired with her pathetic need to take whatever crumbs he gave her just made me sad for her on top of her father being horrible to her too.
Some examples of things he told her:
“Are you serious right now? Are you that pathetic?”
“I didn’t. I’ve fucked already. Made girls come. Made girls suck me off. I’m going to be eighteen in a few months, and then, of course, you officially become jailbait. But here’s the thing, Ash. And I want you to understand this clearly. Even if you were eighteen and as hot as Kaitlin, which you’re not, I still wouldn’t touch you. Because you’re nothing but a useless, spoiled princess who doesn’t know shit about anything bad that happens in life.”
She probably thought she needed to lose her virginity to someone else, if for no other reason than to keep things equal between us. That made me smile because I knew she wouldn’t do it. I knew she’d wait for me. For a hell of a lot longer than she’d already waited.
All that was just glossed over, almost killed her bc she had an asthma attack from crying so hard, but she forgave him immediately because she was told he was hurting and didnt mean it, so she took that dumb advice to heart and let him continually talk to her like this.
The mystery angle is what kept most of my interest, but even that was wrapped up too neatly and easily.
I think these three books can be summed up by one quote from the heroine where she finally displayed some awareness she deserved better:
"I don’t know if I can continue to be this well of love you drink from, but never give back."
That was followed by one I love you from him, and she forgave him immediately 🙄 we read romance for the grovels and romance, it is not romantic to read a book about a guy who gets everything he wants, when he wants it and the heroine is just there to be his reward.
I think I will be avoiding this author from now on, because she has very sexist and antiquated ideas of women, and what they should have to subject themselves too for love, and that just doesnt work for me in a romance story anymore. It's time for us to expect more from romance authors, and support ones who want to evolve the genre more than keep churning out these sexist, tired, and cliche stories.
I should've just stopped when I had the chance huh 😐🤡.
Any semblance of the plot that I was interested in, or characters that I liked were just irrelevant for me now thinking about the series as a whole - because now looking back on it, I hated the route that this book had taken💀🙏.
This definitely had to be the worst one in the series for me, plainly because I couldn't connect with any of the characters. Up until I read this book, I didn't mind the series? I didn't love it, but I was definitely invested in the story. On a base level, I liked the writing and appreciated how short the books were- but this one kind of ruined it for me.
So much was glossed over and overall didn't work for me. The unthinkable however did happen: I actually like Marc now? His sudden personality switch was random, but I liked him nonetheless- a lot of it did come down to pity buy hey 🤷♀️.
However with this sudden like for Marc came my newfound dislike for Ashleigh. I was fine with her previously (aside from the need to see her stand up for herself), but I just didn't like her in this one- she completely switched personalities, and I genuinely didn't understand nor like her actions within the book.
I'm not going to go too into it but it just came down to personal preference 🤷♀️:
I thought this book had a lot of potential to be great as a conclusion, because there were so many different plot lines that needed to be dealt with- but it all felt unbelievably anti-climatic, and made little to no sense for the characters or story- and the lack of groveling, from both sides this time, was just so unbelievably frustrating to see yet again.
But yeah, this was not a fun experience like I was hoping it would be 💀- but I'm proud of myself for finishing the series. The ending was sweet, I just wasn't a fan of how they got there.
I absolutely loved this whole series! I had read the reviews and was nervous but turns out, I dont agree with a single negative one. This series was perfectly paced. Marc is not nice to Ashleigh the bulk of the series but if you really sit down and think about his character, it fits. In fact, nothing is insanely bad, there a few moments where he rips into her but those moments are driven by plot progression and twists in the story. I love that when things become bigger than the both of them, she sees the bigger picture and it forces Marc to finally admit his deepest feelings for her. It's got a lot of twists and was absolute perfection. So happy I didn't trust any negative reviews because what one person dislikes, you may interpret differently.
I've read other works by this author--I LOVED The Bride and The Alaska Dating Games series--so I truly was excited for this series. I wish I could say I loved it but it was only just okay for me.
I think my biggest issue was I just never fell in love with Marc. He was such a jerk to Ash all throughout their young lives and I just never felt a true transition from "jerky" little boy who doesn't know how to show emotion (due to his own tragic history) to adjusted adult male who is reserved but wants to do better. I suppose there was some display during the time he had to "win over" Ash after he found out he had a child with her but it was just a little too late for me. He just seemed to be a bit of a bully that only barely showed remorse for his abuse and this kept me from feeling emotional ties to him and, therefore, very difficult to root for a HEA between him and Ash.
The other bit that was hard to swallow for me was how flat all the other characters were--particularly Ash's father and Evan. To be such evil, self-serving men with such nefarious plans for the heroine's future, I feel like they were so very one-dimensional that I couldn't even feel satisfaction when they made their exits from the hero and heroine's lives.
All in all this was not the worst book (series) I have read this year but not my favorite. I would still try more by this author though because I know she has better stories to be told.
Huh?! One things for sure, I never thought the story would go that way. It’s definitely not predictable. It’s a little convoluted and confusing but...they still got their HEA.
It’s a forbidden relationship, rich h and poor H. He was an a$&hole to her ever since he was placed at his uncles at 12? Not certain of timeline. Anyway, treated her like crap while she took it all in stride. Her excuse was, she knew that he loved her all along. Didn’t matter that he treated her awful. Don’t worry, he redeemed himself in the end.
Meanwhile, Daddy dearest was conspired to marry her off to a creepy billionaire/politician. Terrible things went down and Marc was at the epicenter of the cluster$)@k. They were separated for a year and a half or so. But of course, things were resolved and got their HEA. Safety when the were separated: Safe, both were celibate and was reeling with life had thrown at them and were coping.
I just had one question because it was too freaking weird. How did he become a private investigator after going to Princeton for finance? That was so random. I guess, it’s better than insurance. Although, it is Florida after all. Lol
In the end, it was good. Could it have been shorter? Absolutely. The second book was a lot of fluff and it could’ve been easily a Duet. I probably would’ve liked the story better. The second book was dragging. DNF was in the back of my mind halfway through. But I still think it deserves 4 stars because it wasn’t predictable, a different twist to a common trope, and made me crave the HEA. I always thought that S Doyle is underrated. Excellent writing ability. The words flowed effortlessly, knows what the reader wants. A Good read and I recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Ugh, I can't believe after all they went through and survived, now Ashleigh's giving up on them. This just makes me mad. Also the whole solving the problem with Landen and Evan Sanderson was just super anti-climatic.
Never would have thought Marc would be a private investigator (I don't think that related at all to his Princeton degree), but sounds interesting so good for him. And apparently they invested their money so now they're well off?
Books 1 & 2 were better. I still wonder why S. Doyle doesn't combine these short books into one. Is it because she can make more money this way?? Or is it easier to write them like this? I mean, the titles for this series really did fit. Don't Hate Me was the end quote Ashleigh said to Marc, and he said to her "don't leave me" in this one.
This is a great book, it’s book three and all should be read in order to get all the emotional angst for this couple. I cried in all three books. Marc is in for a shock after he’s been devastated. Ashleigh (Ash) doesn’t think he’ll forgive her. Can he finally show that he loves her? When will he finally admit it? It’s a very heartwarming ending, so happy they finally get their happy ever after. I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy and I highly recommend this book.
Ash and Marc had such an interesting dynamic throughout the story, it was nice to see them switch places somewhat in the last book of the series. Book 2 had some killer plot twists, it was hard to imagine they would make it out together on the other side, but of course a great writer knows her characters and gave them a great HEA.
A great ending to this story and I love how very clever and brilliant Ashleigh was with how she faked her own death and yay for their precious baby boy Danny. Very glad also that Marc's prison record was cleared. Happy reading.
This is a review for all 3 books in the series. I give the series a solid 3 stars.
The first book, Don't Love Me, is a good 3-3.5 stars. It starts off well and draws you in with Ashleigh, a sheltered rich kid meeting Marc who comes to live with his uncle who works for Ashleigh's family, when they are 10 & 12, respectively. The characters have growth and I want to know what happens with the characters. It's mostly well written, and good character development. There are a few editing errors but nothing major.
The second book, Don't Hate Me, is slow and gets boring. The characters are no longer growing. The storyline becomes contrived. The editing errors are more frequent; the use of Even instead of Evan as in "Author and Even". Double negatives "I would never not ...", by the end it was starting to get sloppy: "'... It looks worse than it,' she said". The word "is" is missing, and it was the end of them talking so a period instead of a comma.
The third book, Don't Leave Me, is even worse, hardly a one star. Book 2 ends in a cliff hanger you saw coming and was easily able to figure out. The storyline is even more contrived, and now unbelievable. The drama and the main problem is solved and wrapped up too easily and too fast. Marc forgives too quickly, with no rhyme or reason, and since it's dual POV, we have access to his thought process, and he has no reason, just does. And now Ashleigh is the standoffish one, again without reason. Their characters switched ideals, but it's completely against their personalities, and we aren't privy to why, so it's unbelievable. More editing errors: "Marc did know. and, truly, I didn't know what that meant." It's like the author wasn't even trying and there was no editor.
Overall, the 3 book series could have cut out some of the fluff and made it into 2 slightly longer books, we really didn't need it stretched out in 3 books.
Even with the strong start, unfortunately, because of how the 2nd book is, and then the last book, I would not recommend starting this series.
Book three in this impassioned series and it has twists and turns I never saw coming! S. Doyle really put me off course not knowing just how Ash and Marc's story would end. I was gobsmacked more than once with events that had me pleasantly surprised and proud of our couple as they do anything and everything to rid themselves of all the evil that has plagued their young lives.
Ash takes a stand in a very brave way and I really loved her for her strength and her perseverance in the face of so much adversity. She's a tough cookie and I'm glad she now knows it too.
Marc. What can I say. He truly was an A$$ for most of the trilogy yet it was great to see what Ash always did and a few very raw and emotional scenes towards the end of this book had me tearing up as well. He becomes the man he was always destined to be and I was beyond happy to witness it.
The banter is still fresh between Ash and Marc and George continues to be a steadfast influence when everyone else has failed them. There is a ton of feels throughout and plenty happens before those last pages are read.
Well worth your time, this trilogy highlights the talent of S. Doyle beautifully with Don't Leave Me a great way to say goodbye to these well-written and compelling characters.
Marc gets out of jail and does everything he can to get revenge for Ash. He decides to go looking for his mother and find Ash using his mother's name and working at a bakery, and Marc realizes that he has an 13 month old son. With Ash's information on her ex husband, Marc gets him arrested. Her ex husband hangs himself in jail. Ash and Marc feels safe now that he is dead. The whole time, Ash was saving money buy replacing art work with fake and selling them. She owns a successful bakery. Marc is a Pi and is successful. He convince her that their relationship can be good. His relationship with his son Danny is so cute. Greg buys a house and moves to Florida by Ash and Marc. Marc proposes and she said yes. I liked Ash in this book better because I think she was more mature in it. It was a perfect ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
So I read all three books in one day. (For my review of the other two, look at book 2s reviews) This one was by far the worst of the three. The only reason I continued with the series is because I want to see how the big bads met their fate. Anticlimactic is how they met it. Literally these two very powerful people, whom have been built up the whole series, just to basically disappear with no repercussions? Not even like a final show down? Such a let down and quickly done at that.
*****SPOILERS****** Literally by chapter 4 (?) Or so all bad is vanquished and all that's left is for marc to convince Ash that he didn't mean it when he was horrible to her for 9 straight years. These two main characters need therapy desperately.
So I was not that big of a fan of book 3. Ash really annoyed me and as stubborn and acted childish. Marc is great! After everything he went through he still rose to the top. The ending felt a bit rushed but I’m glad this series is over. Great writing for sure but the story wasn’t my favorite. I will most likely read more from the author. Just don’t like characters like ash. She was really annoying and so naïve.
Best book series ever! Enough said, buy it!!! Just so it!!! Seriously, I love the coming on age aspect and being a bully book is just the cherry on top!