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The Leander Welles Series #2
The Rationale of Leander Welles
Murderer.
Madman.
That’s what the newspapers call wealthy recluse Leander Welles after he is accused of killing four people in his picturesque hometown. Little do they know they’re half-right. Sent to Parkview Psychiatric for an assessment before the trial can begin, Leander falls under the care of Dr. Lorelei Clayton, an up-and-coming criminal psychiatrist. She is the one unknown element of his elaborate plot, the one game piece he has no control over.
Believing he’s innocent, Lorelei works tirelessly toward his freedom. But there’s just one problem — he’s not innocent. The harder she tries to prove it, the harder he falls for the one person he never expected to. Haunted by his past, Leander tries to envision a future with Lorelei, but the truth keeps getting in the way. If she ever learns his secret, not only could she destroy everything he spent years planning — she could destroy him.
This is a companion/alternate point-of-view book to THE MYSTERY OF LEANDER WELLES, featuring Leander Welles' perspective instead of Lorelei's. Each book can be read as a standalone, or together. If you're a MM fan, I suggest skipping MYSTERY and starting here. There's FTB/vague MF sex scenes, but the MM angst starts in this book before continuing into DAMNATION.
* A warning to the reader. This book contains references to abuse, self-harm, and suicide.
Madman.
That’s what the newspapers call wealthy recluse Leander Welles after he is accused of killing four people in his picturesque hometown. Little do they know they’re half-right. Sent to Parkview Psychiatric for an assessment before the trial can begin, Leander falls under the care of Dr. Lorelei Clayton, an up-and-coming criminal psychiatrist. She is the one unknown element of his elaborate plot, the one game piece he has no control over.
Believing he’s innocent, Lorelei works tirelessly toward his freedom. But there’s just one problem — he’s not innocent. The harder she tries to prove it, the harder he falls for the one person he never expected to. Haunted by his past, Leander tries to envision a future with Lorelei, but the truth keeps getting in the way. If she ever learns his secret, not only could she destroy everything he spent years planning — she could destroy him.
This is a companion/alternate point-of-view book to THE MYSTERY OF LEANDER WELLES, featuring Leander Welles' perspective instead of Lorelei's. Each book can be read as a standalone, or together. If you're a MM fan, I suggest skipping MYSTERY and starting here. There's FTB/vague MF sex scenes, but the MM angst starts in this book before continuing into DAMNATION.
* A warning to the reader. This book contains references to abuse, self-harm, and suicide.
366 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2020
26 people are currently reading
287 people want to read
About the author
Ashlyn Drewek
20 books930 followersInternational best-selling and award-winning author Ashlyn Drewek has always been fascinated by "weird" things like Edgar Allan Poe, Halloween, and witchcraft. Not necessarily in that order. But she's also a hopeless romantic who lives for stories about true love conquering all. Since variety is indeed the spice of life, she writes a mix of MM tropes and subgenres to satisfy her rapidly changing whims.
For information on upcoming releases, go to ⇢ https://www.ashlyndrewek.com/upcoming
Have a question? I might have an answer! ⇢ https://www.ashlyndrewek.com/faq
Looking for links? Go here ⇢ www.ashlyndrewek.com/main
For information on upcoming releases, go to ⇢ https://www.ashlyndrewek.com/upcoming
Have a question? I might have an answer! ⇢ https://www.ashlyndrewek.com/faq
Looking for links? Go here ⇢ www.ashlyndrewek.com/main
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
February 15, 2022
Wow, this was so well done, I enjoyed it so much.
Which is saying a lot because it was not an MM romance and I haven't read a non-MM romance in literal years.
But I wasn't in this for the romance, even though it was there. (I mean, I was in it for the hints of MM romance we get, which are there. Whenever Bennett is mentioned I felt a zing, especially if/when Leander had some thoughts about him. And we even get a fuller picture of what happened between them near the end. AND we get to see Bennett briefly at the end. Lets just say that, to me, that single interaction held far more chemistry than Leander ever had with Lorelei in this book.)
But other than those small parts and hints to MM romance, it isn't really present in this one, and it's entirely MF.
Thankfully the MF sex scenes were entirely Fade to Black and I only had to endure some kissing/making out, heavy petting and some allusions to said sex. I could get through it with it being this way.
Because I didn't much care for Lorelei, or for her and Leander's romance, I did give this one star off. I just wasn't into it.
Maybe that's because I know they aren't endgame, maybe it's that and the fact that I know the MM romance (that is endgame) is coming, or maybe I just genuinely couldn't feel much between them (or maybe they were intentionally written that way? Maybe so, seeing as they aren't the endgame couple this author is writing towards)
Whatever it is, I just didn't understand why Leander fell for Lorelei. Maybe it made more sense from Lorelei's POV in her book, but from Leander's POV, he just never came across as actually in love with her.
He felt attracted, I got that much. He lusted for her. Maybe he has feelings, but love? Nah. At best I'd say he likes her, but he wants to love her so he's deluding himself that he does.
I mean, once these two get together, they have a honeymoon period of a few weeks, but pretty soon real life shoves into their life and Leander refuses to let her in. Things get strained, they fight (which they resolve with sex and absolutely no talking. Because that always works. You'd think a licensed psychologist would know better, even in a personal relationship. And that she'd have better tactics than a firm "no more lying to me." Because sure, that works out swell.)
Also, on the Bennett/Leander relationship:
Honestly, what kept me going through this story through the lack of MM romance was Leander himself.
The plot was definitely interesting too, with it centering around Leander being put on trial for 4 murders (that happened at different times. I thought, early on, they happened all at once. But they are for 4 that have happened over the years). We learn that he and Bennett concocted a plan over time to get him out of these charges, and this story centered around him getting out of those charges (and then afterward when he's with Lorelei, but some other problems arise.)
So I was definitely interested in the plot and it kept me hooked. But the thing that kept me in this story the most was Leander himself. He's such an interesting character and I loved his character. He can be sweet and kind, but also absolutely ruthless and cold. I loved that duality of him.
Leander is a broken man who hides it behind a cool, calm and collected exterior. In this he goes days and days, over a week or more, without sleep because he can't handle his nightmares, they're that bad (I can't imagine. The longest I've gone without sleep is around 28 hours and it was awful.)
At first he's fairly superficial with Lorelei - I mean, there's always a level of superficiality he has with her - and I think that contributed to me not feeling it between these two. I honestly didn't get how this went from nothing - maybe some attraction on his part, maybe at times - to Leander "falling in love" with her.
I just didn't get more from them. When Leander would think about how her presence would brighten his day, I was thinking why? She never made him feel better about his life or made him smile or laugh or anything like that. Maybe he'd smirk, but a genuine smile? I don't remember that. So I didn't get how he felt happier when she was around. It just didn't connect.
Really all they knew about each other was what was in his file and the stuff in their sessions, which was half-truth stuff. He never went full on in depth with her about real shit. (Also she was supposed to be his psychiatrist so there was a professional distance at first.) It just never made sense, beyond physical lust and attraction, how they could love each other.
I just got a "meh" feeling throughout their scenes. It was all style, no substance. Looks good on the outside, but inside it's not much of anything. It was based more on sex than anything. Lorelei might have thought she was getting the real Leander, but Leander wasn't actually giving her much. Just hints of the real him. That doesn't make for a forever type of relationship.
Even with how this ends, with things seemingly good between these two, I'm just excited to get in the prequel with Bennett and Leander and hopefully at some point in the book, we'll get back the present where Bennett will come back into Leander's life and Leander will be going "Lorelei who?"
I can't wait to dive into the next one and get the MM romance I've been so craving. The subtle set up of these two was really good in this one, and I'm excited to truly dive into their love story.
I would recommend this, either to read before the next two or after (It'd be up to you), if only to get a sense of who Leander is and exactly what his relationship with Lorelei is like (I'm sure she'll be an obstacle in the present time for these two) and just why it's actually such a weak relationship, and what happens to him when he and Bennett are apart for months on end. Also this sets up the continuation of the present timeline (whether we'll get that in #3 at some point or #4, I don't know) and ends kind of on a cliffhanger, a little bit. So it's good to read to get the lead up to the present timeline, whenever we get that.
So overall, a definite two thumbs up from me. Diving straight into the third one and Leander and Bennett goodness 😁
Which is saying a lot because it was not an MM romance and I haven't read a non-MM romance in literal years.
But I wasn't in this for the romance, even though it was there. (I mean, I was in it for the hints of MM romance we get, which are there. Whenever Bennett is mentioned I felt a zing, especially if/when Leander had some thoughts about him. And we even get a fuller picture of what happened between them near the end. AND we get to see Bennett briefly at the end. Lets just say that, to me, that single interaction held far more chemistry than Leander ever had with Lorelei in this book.)
But other than those small parts and hints to MM romance, it isn't really present in this one, and it's entirely MF.
Thankfully the MF sex scenes were entirely Fade to Black and I only had to endure some kissing/making out, heavy petting and some allusions to said sex. I could get through it with it being this way.
Because I didn't much care for Lorelei, or for her and Leander's romance, I did give this one star off. I just wasn't into it.
Maybe that's because I know they aren't endgame, maybe it's that and the fact that I know the MM romance (that is endgame) is coming, or maybe I just genuinely couldn't feel much between them (or maybe they were intentionally written that way? Maybe so, seeing as they aren't the endgame couple this author is writing towards)
Whatever it is, I just didn't understand why Leander fell for Lorelei. Maybe it made more sense from Lorelei's POV in her book, but from Leander's POV, he just never came across as actually in love with her.
He felt attracted, I got that much. He lusted for her. Maybe he has feelings, but love? Nah. At best I'd say he likes her, but he wants to love her so he's deluding himself that he does.
I mean, once these two get together, they have a honeymoon period of a few weeks, but pretty soon real life shoves into their life and Leander refuses to let her in. Things get strained, they fight (which they resolve with sex and absolutely no talking. Because that always works. You'd think a licensed psychologist would know better, even in a personal relationship. And that she'd have better tactics than a firm "no more lying to me." Because sure, that works out swell.)
Also, on the Bennett/Leander relationship:
Honestly, what kept me going through this story through the lack of MM romance was Leander himself.
The plot was definitely interesting too, with it centering around Leander being put on trial for 4 murders (that happened at different times. I thought, early on, they happened all at once. But they are for 4 that have happened over the years). We learn that he and Bennett concocted a plan over time to get him out of these charges, and this story centered around him getting out of those charges (and then afterward when he's with Lorelei, but some other problems arise.)
So I was definitely interested in the plot and it kept me hooked. But the thing that kept me in this story the most was Leander himself. He's such an interesting character and I loved his character. He can be sweet and kind, but also absolutely ruthless and cold. I loved that duality of him.
Leander is a broken man who hides it behind a cool, calm and collected exterior. In this he goes days and days, over a week or more, without sleep because he can't handle his nightmares, they're that bad (I can't imagine. The longest I've gone without sleep is around 28 hours and it was awful.)
At first he's fairly superficial with Lorelei - I mean, there's always a level of superficiality he has with her - and I think that contributed to me not feeling it between these two. I honestly didn't get how this went from nothing - maybe some attraction on his part, maybe at times - to Leander "falling in love" with her.
I just didn't get more from them. When Leander would think about how her presence would brighten his day, I was thinking why? She never made him feel better about his life or made him smile or laugh or anything like that. Maybe he'd smirk, but a genuine smile? I don't remember that. So I didn't get how he felt happier when she was around. It just didn't connect.
Really all they knew about each other was what was in his file and the stuff in their sessions, which was half-truth stuff. He never went full on in depth with her about real shit. (Also she was supposed to be his psychiatrist so there was a professional distance at first.) It just never made sense, beyond physical lust and attraction, how they could love each other.
I just got a "meh" feeling throughout their scenes. It was all style, no substance. Looks good on the outside, but inside it's not much of anything. It was based more on sex than anything. Lorelei might have thought she was getting the real Leander, but Leander wasn't actually giving her much. Just hints of the real him. That doesn't make for a forever type of relationship.
Even with how this ends, with things seemingly good between these two, I'm just excited to get in the prequel with Bennett and Leander and hopefully at some point in the book, we'll get back the present where Bennett will come back into Leander's life and Leander will be going "Lorelei who?"
I can't wait to dive into the next one and get the MM romance I've been so craving. The subtle set up of these two was really good in this one, and I'm excited to truly dive into their love story.
I would recommend this, either to read before the next two or after (It'd be up to you), if only to get a sense of who Leander is and exactly what his relationship with Lorelei is like (I'm sure she'll be an obstacle in the present time for these two) and just why it's actually such a weak relationship, and what happens to him when he and Bennett are apart for months on end. Also this sets up the continuation of the present timeline (whether we'll get that in #3 at some point or #4, I don't know) and ends kind of on a cliffhanger, a little bit. So it's good to read to get the lead up to the present timeline, whenever we get that.
So overall, a definite two thumbs up from me. Diving straight into the third one and Leander and Bennett goodness 😁
February 14, 2022
Okay, it's no secret that I adore Leander.
Yes, he is an absolute psychopath and yes, there's the small issue of a murder or four and yes, his treatment of Lorelei is questionable. BUT I STILL ADORE HIM 🖤.
This companion book to The Mystery of Leander Welles, from Leander's POV, is literary gold. I'm soooo glad I went back and re read The Rationale of Leander Welles once I'd finished books 3 and 4. Honestly, I have no idea how Ashlyn Drewek spliced these first two books together, but she has done a magnificant job.
And seeing Lorelei from Leander's POV TOTALLY CHANGED EVERYTHING.
Bring on my boy Bennett.....
5 crazy AF stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Yes, he is an absolute psychopath and yes, there's the small issue of a murder or four and yes, his treatment of Lorelei is questionable. BUT I STILL ADORE HIM 🖤.
This companion book to The Mystery of Leander Welles, from Leander's POV, is literary gold. I'm soooo glad I went back and re read The Rationale of Leander Welles once I'd finished books 3 and 4. Honestly, I have no idea how Ashlyn Drewek spliced these first two books together, but she has done a magnificant job.
And seeing Lorelei from Leander's POV TOTALLY CHANGED EVERYTHING.
Bring on my boy Bennett.....
5 crazy AF stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
August 28, 2021
Reread 7/11/21: I had to come back and reread this one first with the overlapping scenes in Lorelei's book, and then more importantly, the overlapping scenes with Bennett's book, and also to find every single Bennet reference possible.
I think you could start the story with this book, without losing either the plot threads or romance threads. Really, the main romance starts here. I was fascinated to learn that the change from Lorelei as the main love interest to Bennett happened in this book, after the first was already published! It worked so well!
---
original review:
I don't usually read companion books, but I needed to learn what Leander was thinking and doing during the first book. And it's so good!
--spoilers ahead--
There were a lot of open questions at the end of Lorelei's book, and many were answered in this book. Leander does like to play his cards close to his chest. There were still some hanging threads at the end of this book, but it's clear they'll be addressed in the next book. There was also an increase in emotions and angst compared to the first book.
One of the big questions in the first book was, of course, if Leander had legitimate feelings for Lorelei or if it was all manipulation. As I was reading the first book, I felt like he wasn't totally invested. Like he wanted to be invested, but his attention was elsewhere. Well, after finishing this one...she's totally a rebound. He's lying to himself. Look at all those hints of Bennett! The most emotional and angsty moments occur when Bennett comes up! Even the one time he thinks of hazel eyes, it's a huge emotional hit. All that bitterness over a lost love! I love it. give me bennett!!!
A surprising facet of being in Leander's perspective is how he viewed Lorelei - I don't remember her being very aware of using sex appeal as a tactic, but Leander sees it as happening a lot. In fact, I don't remember much about her appearance at all in the first book. There's a lot more focus in general on her appearance in this one, Olivia (I love Olivia) calls her Malibu Barbie. It really highlights how bad of a match she is for Leander.
I liked how Leander was with Martha in the psych ward too, his conversations were hilarious. Martha was a point where there was a big difference between Lorelei and Leander's POV - Lorelei is dismissive of Martha, to the point I don't think she realizes how coherent Martha is. The outdoor scene where Leander and Martha are arguing about hot dogs as a sandwich, and Martha draws a rectangle at Lorelei based on the argument, Lorelei sees as a jerky wave. Such a big difference.
An amusing point was Greta. She went psycho-stalker, but there wasn't a whole lot of reason why from Lorelei's perspective. From Leander's...well, it sure makes a lot more sense. I think the whole Greta thing also points towards Leander's emotional distance from Lorelei. He didn't care enough to not bang Greta, and he certainly never told her about Greta.
I have this tagged in both MF and MM - plenty of focus on Lorelei-Leander relationship, though I found it low emotional involvement and very low steam...and then the hints of Bennett that make it the beginning of their MM love story.
Overall...so incredibly good! The first book had my attention, and this one was absolutely mesmerizing. You could read it without the first one, but I think reading the first book elevates this one even more.
I think you could start the story with this book, without losing either the plot threads or romance threads. Really, the main romance starts here. I was fascinated to learn that the change from Lorelei as the main love interest to Bennett happened in this book, after the first was already published! It worked so well!
---
original review:
I don't usually read companion books, but I needed to learn what Leander was thinking and doing during the first book. And it's so good!
--spoilers ahead--
There were a lot of open questions at the end of Lorelei's book, and many were answered in this book. Leander does like to play his cards close to his chest. There were still some hanging threads at the end of this book, but it's clear they'll be addressed in the next book. There was also an increase in emotions and angst compared to the first book.
One of the big questions in the first book was, of course, if Leander had legitimate feelings for Lorelei or if it was all manipulation. As I was reading the first book, I felt like he wasn't totally invested. Like he wanted to be invested, but his attention was elsewhere. Well, after finishing this one...she's totally a rebound. He's lying to himself. Look at all those hints of Bennett! The most emotional and angsty moments occur when Bennett comes up! Even the one time he thinks of hazel eyes, it's a huge emotional hit. All that bitterness over a lost love! I love it. give me bennett!!!
A surprising facet of being in Leander's perspective is how he viewed Lorelei - I don't remember her being very aware of using sex appeal as a tactic, but Leander sees it as happening a lot. In fact, I don't remember much about her appearance at all in the first book. There's a lot more focus in general on her appearance in this one, Olivia (I love Olivia) calls her Malibu Barbie. It really highlights how bad of a match she is for Leander.
I liked how Leander was with Martha in the psych ward too, his conversations were hilarious. Martha was a point where there was a big difference between Lorelei and Leander's POV - Lorelei is dismissive of Martha, to the point I don't think she realizes how coherent Martha is. The outdoor scene where Leander and Martha are arguing about hot dogs as a sandwich, and Martha draws a rectangle at Lorelei based on the argument, Lorelei sees as a jerky wave. Such a big difference.
An amusing point was Greta. She went psycho-stalker, but there wasn't a whole lot of reason why from Lorelei's perspective. From Leander's...well, it sure makes a lot more sense. I think the whole Greta thing also points towards Leander's emotional distance from Lorelei. He didn't care enough to not bang Greta, and he certainly never told her about Greta.
I have this tagged in both MF and MM - plenty of focus on Lorelei-Leander relationship, though I found it low emotional involvement and very low steam...and then the hints of Bennett that make it the beginning of their MM love story.
Overall...so incredibly good! The first book had my attention, and this one was absolutely mesmerizing. You could read it without the first one, but I think reading the first book elevates this one even more.
February 2, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔎🔎
BR with my girl Cass!
I know Ashlyn said reading both books wasn’t required, but after reading both I’m not sure I agree. I feel like both sides of the story are necessary but two books are not. I wish that this has been one book with dueling POV’s. Simply because a lot was repetitive and I understand why. Idk, that’s really my only misgiving.
Leander surprised me. I caught on pretty quickly that’s he’s calculating but I honestly thought he was a sociopath but I don’t think that’s the case. You could see his mind warring with his heart, especially where Lorelei is concerned. In her book, I really didn’t know if his affection for her was only a means to an end. But no, he really wanted her, had affection and dare I say love for her?
The second half is very fast paced and even though I knew what was coming, it still kept me on the edge of my seat.
I’m so excited to read the next one. The biggest question I have is… what happens to Lorelei?
🔎🔎
BR with my girl Cass!
I know Ashlyn said reading both books wasn’t required, but after reading both I’m not sure I agree. I feel like both sides of the story are necessary but two books are not. I wish that this has been one book with dueling POV’s. Simply because a lot was repetitive and I understand why. Idk, that’s really my only misgiving.
Leander surprised me. I caught on pretty quickly that’s he’s calculating but I honestly thought he was a sociopath but I don’t think that’s the case. You could see his mind warring with his heart, especially where Lorelei is concerned. In her book, I really didn’t know if his affection for her was only a means to an end. But no, he really wanted her, had affection and dare I say love for her?
The second half is very fast paced and even though I knew what was coming, it still kept me on the edge of my seat.
I’m so excited to read the next one. The biggest question I have is… what happens to Lorelei?
March 19, 2022
Love seeing all of the easter eggs of Leander's feelings towards Bennett.
This is a fascinating story of Leander's complicated psyche.
This is a fascinating story of Leander's complicated psyche.
February 16, 2022
Leander and Lorelei had zero chemistry. their relationship is a clusterfuck makes sense they won’t be endgame.
May 17, 2023
Should I feel sorry for Lorelei? yeah I don't think so. I'm so ready for Leander and Bennett, l literally don't give a damn about her lol.
March 16, 2022
Leander is completely insane. I absolutely adore him! 🥰
December 23, 2023
This is all MFR with FTB sex scenes, thank goodness. In my opinion if you are into MMR like me, you don't have to read this book before starting with book 3.
January 1, 2021
1/1/2021 - I've decided to re-rate this book as 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I rated as 4 originally because it didn't get me in the same way as the first book did & the ending frustrated me because it threw a spanner in the works. Plus I wanted some kink 🤣
However, I've since read some books that people rate really highly, that I didn't rate at all and, since Ashlyn writes a million times better than those people, I've decided she should get the recognition she deserves.
*****************
This book is the follow up to The Mystery of Leander Welles, which gave me a hangover! I was really looking forward to this book because I wanted to solve the mystery that is Leander by getting his perspective on things.
The only disappointing part is that there are parts that are still a mystery!! I've already had words with Ashlyn on this. 🤣🤣
This book is the same story but told from Leander's perspective and therefore giving insight into what happens when Lorelei isn't around and his connection with the few close friends that he has.
I like Leander. He's dark broken and unique. He's cutting, inpatient...
“No.”
“No?”
“Did I stutter, Doctor?” I leveled a glare at her, an eyebrow arched to drive home my question.
If you're on his shit list then duck. Run. Hide. If you're on his good list, then you can breathe a sigh of relief.
I shouldn't like him, but his good parts make up for his darkness. I've never read a character like Leander before, he's so unique and Ashlyn's writing style is so good.
I was frustrated by the ending, because you know from the first book how Lorelei feels and what she risks and gives up, so I was hoping that she would at least be safe with him, but now I'm not sure she is!!
I know Ashlyn plans to add more to the story, but in the form of a prequel, as opposed to putting me out of my misery! GAH!
I think the one thing I think I would have liked is some actual sex! 🤣 There's a lot of reference to sex and Leander is getting more than you know from the other book (because Lorelei doesn't know) but it always stops and then goes to what happens next. Sex isn't detailed in the first book, but I wondered if there may be extra insight this time! What can I say... I like a bit of kink! 🤣🙊
I've delayed writing this review because I didn't know what star rating to give. I gave the first book five stars because it really gripped me and had me all over the place!
This is still a fab read, but I think because of how amazing the first one was for me, I feel like I need to rank it higher.
I rated as 4 originally because it didn't get me in the same way as the first book did & the ending frustrated me because it threw a spanner in the works. Plus I wanted some kink 🤣
However, I've since read some books that people rate really highly, that I didn't rate at all and, since Ashlyn writes a million times better than those people, I've decided she should get the recognition she deserves.
*****************
This book is the follow up to The Mystery of Leander Welles, which gave me a hangover! I was really looking forward to this book because I wanted to solve the mystery that is Leander by getting his perspective on things.
The only disappointing part is that there are parts that are still a mystery!! I've already had words with Ashlyn on this. 🤣🤣
This book is the same story but told from Leander's perspective and therefore giving insight into what happens when Lorelei isn't around and his connection with the few close friends that he has.
I like Leander. He's dark broken and unique. He's cutting, inpatient...
“No.”
“No?”
“Did I stutter, Doctor?” I leveled a glare at her, an eyebrow arched to drive home my question.
If you're on his shit list then duck. Run. Hide. If you're on his good list, then you can breathe a sigh of relief.
I shouldn't like him, but his good parts make up for his darkness. I've never read a character like Leander before, he's so unique and Ashlyn's writing style is so good.
I was frustrated by the ending, because you know from the first book how Lorelei feels and what she risks and gives up, so I was hoping that she would at least be safe with him, but now I'm not sure she is!!
I know Ashlyn plans to add more to the story, but in the form of a prequel, as opposed to putting me out of my misery! GAH!
I think the one thing I think I would have liked is some actual sex! 🤣 There's a lot of reference to sex and Leander is getting more than you know from the other book (because Lorelei doesn't know) but it always stops and then goes to what happens next. Sex isn't detailed in the first book, but I wondered if there may be extra insight this time! What can I say... I like a bit of kink! 🤣🙊
I've delayed writing this review because I didn't know what star rating to give. I gave the first book five stars because it really gripped me and had me all over the place!
This is still a fab read, but I think because of how amazing the first one was for me, I feel like I need to rank it higher.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2022
I don't think I'm that happy with this one. I knew going in that it was going to be a retelling of the book I just finished, just from Leander's POV, but what I didn't expect, was that being all it was.
Yes, of course we got Leander and his thoughts, but now, now I feel like I've just read two M/F books where I thought for sure that was going to change and this was going to be M/M. I expected something to propel this past what I read in the first book, not for it to end at the same spot. Fade to black or not, they have a shit ton of sex, two books of it, and I don't know. That isn't what I thought I was here for in this book. It is definitely categorized/shelved wrong for sure.
And yes, I know we have now met Bennett but what is that even when Lorelei is still in Leander's life, in his house, and, well, in it to win it so to speak?
In his way he loves Lorelei and I didn't really want that or expect it. I really thought she was a surprise, unexpected but still just a piece on the board. She's not. I thought she'd be gone by the end of this one. It's kind of funny how much I ended up disliking her when she gave in. Weird, even for my brain but I am also sure terribly influenced by the thought this was going to end up being M/M.
How about Jake though? That was a fun revelation. Poor Jake.
Anyway, I feel a little/a lot duped on this one but I can't seem to stop and I need to know what happens next. This is very fucked up and I just have to keep going. How are we getting rid of Lorelei?
The writing again was stellar but there were a bunch of editing errors. It happens but they could have/should have easily been cleaned up.
Yes, of course we got Leander and his thoughts, but now, now I feel like I've just read two M/F books where I thought for sure that was going to change and this was going to be M/M. I expected something to propel this past what I read in the first book, not for it to end at the same spot. Fade to black or not, they have a shit ton of sex, two books of it, and I don't know. That isn't what I thought I was here for in this book. It is definitely categorized/shelved wrong for sure.
And yes, I know we have now met Bennett but what is that even when Lorelei is still in Leander's life, in his house, and, well, in it to win it so to speak?
In his way he loves Lorelei and I didn't really want that or expect it. I really thought she was a surprise, unexpected but still just a piece on the board. She's not. I thought she'd be gone by the end of this one. It's kind of funny how much I ended up disliking her when she gave in. Weird, even for my brain but I am also sure terribly influenced by the thought this was going to end up being M/M.
How about Jake though? That was a fun revelation. Poor Jake.
Anyway, I feel a little/a lot duped on this one but I can't seem to stop and I need to know what happens next. This is very fucked up and I just have to keep going. How are we getting rid of Lorelei?
The writing again was stellar but there were a bunch of editing errors. It happens but they could have/should have easily been cleaned up.
August 24, 2022
I skipped the first book in this series because I seriously wasn’t interested in reading the M/F aspect of things – I’ve read three MF books recently that reminded me quite strongly of why I prefer MM. And it clearly states in the blurb that you should start here if you are an MM fan. But this book was full of Leander’s relationships (or rather relations) with women and I felt duped. Yes, we meet Bennett and there are delicious indications of what he and Leander could/will be to each other. But that is the extent of it and I thought that there would be more.
I didn’t feel any chemistry between Leander and Lorelei, even less between him and Gracie. I have awarded the two stars for the look into Leander’s inner psyche, as well as the machinations/planning of the group to handle the whole thing about Leander being on trial for four murders. The twists, turns and background stories were very interesting, but the overlay of Lorelei and Gracie made this book a bitter experience for me, especially coming straight from Roan Sinclair to this.
I do have the next book in the series lined up on my kindle because I want to know about Leander and Bennett after meeting them in the Roan Sinclair duology, but I can’t in all honesty recommend this to fans of MM because although there are hints of it, this didn’t strike me as a MM book. Disappointed and wary going into the next one. 2/5 from me.
I didn’t feel any chemistry between Leander and Lorelei, even less between him and Gracie. I have awarded the two stars for the look into Leander’s inner psyche, as well as the machinations/planning of the group to handle the whole thing about Leander being on trial for four murders. The twists, turns and background stories were very interesting, but the overlay of Lorelei and Gracie made this book a bitter experience for me, especially coming straight from Roan Sinclair to this.
I do have the next book in the series lined up on my kindle because I want to know about Leander and Bennett after meeting them in the Roan Sinclair duology, but I can’t in all honesty recommend this to fans of MM because although there are hints of it, this didn’t strike me as a MM book. Disappointed and wary going into the next one. 2/5 from me.
May 13, 2024
If you're a MM reader, I suggest skipping this book and book 1, both of which feature the MF part of the story. It feels like a writing exercise in which the author wanted to write the same scenes from diferent perspectives. And the character of Lorelei becomes an awful caricature of a TSTL heroine. This perspective is actually a fascinaing psychological study of Leander, and I read and enjoyed the most of the first half until I couldn't take Lorelei (DNF'd at 42%), and then I read parts of the end of this book, only to try to gain insight into Leander's mindset and motivations behind eventually going back to Bennett, the real hero he ends up with, but, there's no insight, and it's also a major miss in the otherwise wonderful book 3, The Damnation of Leander Welles. Books 3 and 4 are the way to go for MM, even though book 3 has a ton of emotional cheating with the events of this book in the midst of it. Which I utterly hated. But, the relationship/connection between Leander and Bennett is incredibly compelling, despite the missteps and weirdnesses that, unfortunately, aren't resolved. I recommended books 3 and 4 as a duet, and you won't miss any crucial info starting there.
December 13, 2021
What a ride! I highly recommend reading Books 1 and 2 together (the order doesn't really matter) because the full brilliance of Lorelai's character journey can only be experienced if you read both books. I talked about Lorelai in Book 1's review so I'm focusing on Leander here.
The reason I took off 1 star is because this book suffered from the opposite problem Book 1 did: instead of no emotions from the characters, I felt Leander was overly emotional at times with his emotional reactions not matching the events that precipitated them, like in the therapy sessions where generic questions randomly make Leander have an internal break down. It felt forced, like the author didn't know another way to share personal information about Leander with readers.
One of my favorite parts of the book was a small thing, but it was brilliantly done. I loved the careful way Leander carried out the burial of his grandmother, making sure every step went against her wishes and the people who had supported that vile creature throughout Leander's long years of suffering. The whole thing was sneaky, brilliant, so deliciously cruel and so perfectly Leander and it gave me a huge sense of satisfaction (just like it gave Leander). Kudos to the author for taking the time to think of all those details because every single part was amazing!
I adored Leander's relationship with Martha and also with Calvin. His friendship with Martha was wonderful and I loved that he wasn't put off by the limitations of her mental illness (like being mute) and figured out how to have a meaningful friendship with her. I especially loved that Martha remains important to him in the rest of the series, even after he leaves the asylum. . I also loved Calvin and the way he treated Leander and the other patients. While having abusive staff members served the plot well and was a continued thread in Books 3 and 4, I appreciate that the author didn't turn the entire staff into evil abusers, which wouldn't reflect reality. Like with Martha,
The biggest question everybody has going into this book is: does Leander actually love Lorelai? Leander tells us that he does and we're given lots of contradictory information in Books 1 and 2 that made me spend hours thinking about it. I finally decided the answer is no, he doesn't really love her and here's the evidence to support my 'theory':
We're told he loves Lorelai but despite a huge focus on Leander's emotions in the book, there's never any romantic or love vibes coming from him towards her. He does get angry/upset whenever she leaves or if she's in danger, but I think that's more because he doesn't want to lose the idea of her, rather than her as a person. But if he knows where she's at, he absolutely doesn't care what she's doing with her time or if she's happy. When she's quit her job, cut off the people in her life and moved in with Leander, she spends days by herself with nothing to do. Leander's off working and socializing with his friends and it never occurs to him to wonder how she's keeping busy or if she's happy. In contrast, after Bennett moved away without explanation shortly before the events in the book, there are multiple times when Leander is reminded about Bennett and thinks about him and wonders where he is and what's doing. Not because he's worried about Bennett's safety, but because Bennett being happy is important to him. The way the author describes Leander's emotional reaction whenever Bennett is brought up is in direct contrast to his mediocre emotions when Lorelai is around.
Another piece of evidence: if you only read Book 2, you know exactly as much about Lorelai as Leander does. Namely: her favorite type of tea. That's it. Leander never asks her about her life (asides from trying to use such questions as a diversionary tactic during therapy sessions, which Lorelai dodges), he doesn't seem to care that Lorelai is now estranged from all her friends and family members due to their relationship and he isn't curious about her past, her likes or her hobbies. After the elaborate Leander never even considers that Lorelai might be upset about the situation due to her father having committed suicide when she was young. He knows about it, but he doesn't think about it because he doesn't care. In contrast, Leander knows a huge amount about Bennett and spends time thinking about how to incorporate the information he knows about him to make their very limited interactions more meaningful. More importantly, this happens from both sides. There's a constant theme of Bennett giving Leander flowers in all different ways, which have deep meaning between them. Leander calls Bennett and leaves him a heartbreaking goodbye voicemail in case and he ends the voicemail by saying 'I miss you' in Italian. He doesn't speak Italian in any other part of the book and he admits he doesn't practice it a lot, but he's memorized and retained a phrase like that because he knows it's important to Bennett. These actions are how one demonstrates that they care about somebody and Leander never does anything like this with Lorelai.
More evidence: Leander purposefully avoids telling her about Bennett or anything else. When she tries using sex to get him to talk, he sees through the tactic and still goes through with having sex (because why pass up on sex) but refuses to talk to her. He justifies this by claiming that he's 'protecting her' by keeping her in the dark, but if he truly cared about how upset and isolated she feels, he would take the time to come up with an intermediate story that would satisfy them both. But he doesn't. He treats her attempts to get information from him as an annoyance and has no regard for why she wants to know and how not knowing is making her feel. Even at the end, he doesn't volunteer information - Lorelai stumbles onto the truth without him saying a word.
This lack of respect for Lorelai is heavily contrasted by the author showing Leander's relationships with multiple female characters in the book: Olivia (his personal assistant), Martha (a mute patient from the asylum) and Annabel (a stray cat he adopted). With all three, he goes out of his way do things out of his comfort zone to make them happy. He tolerates Olivia manhandling him and yelling at him like he's her little brother, he spends hours posing for Martha's sketches and he brushes it off when Annabel knocks over his coffee cup and spills coffee all over his clothes. With all three, he makes an effort in the relationship, but he doesn't with Lorelai.
In fact, his relationship with Lorelai is much more similar to his relationship with Greta. Both women have fallen for Leander because they're attracted to his charm and looks and they become fixated on him. On first glance, I thought the author was using Greta as a way to showcase how mature Lorelai is in contrast, but if the author was being as clever as I think she was throughout these books, I think there's a lot more to it. Lorelai (and readers) dismiss Greta as being the perfect example of an immature, annoying heroine. She's the standard rom-com heroine: quirky, has verbal diarrhea, clumsy, immature and becomes a brainless ninny when in the company of a hot guy. Lorelai dismisses her as being stupid and although she doesn't know that Leander's sleeping with Greta, I think readers were supposed to assume that Greta is the stereotypical stupid heroine and Lorelai is the Strong Female Character. But in reality...I realized they both fell into Leander's trap. They both allowed his charm and good looks to blind them, they ignored all the red flags and they ended up in the exact same situation: both of their lives were completely ruined by their infatuation with Leander and their desire to be with the hot bad boy. When viewed in such a way, it's even more clear to me that Leander doesn't truly love Lorelai.
My theory only got shaky when it came to two things: It would easy to say that this is evidence that he loves Lorelai, but after spending even more time thinking about it, I decided Leander would do the same thing for anybody he cares about and it's not a sign of romantic love. Leander takes care of the people he cares about, especially people who care about him. Having grown up in an abusive household where nobody gave him any kindness or love, he appreciates it whenever somebody gives him love and kindness and he rewards them with loyalty and protection. Lorelai has now become part of the Protected-By-Leander-Welles group, but that's it. There's no romantic love there.
I can't believe how well plotted this series is so far and how interesting and complex these characters are! I've never read a series where I'm so invested in the characters and I'm left spending hours trying to figure out what direction the author is going in and what her intentions are. All of this can only be achieved by excellent writing and excellent storytelling and I'm so excited to continue the series!
The reason I took off 1 star is because this book suffered from the opposite problem Book 1 did: instead of no emotions from the characters, I felt Leander was overly emotional at times with his emotional reactions not matching the events that precipitated them, like in the therapy sessions where generic questions randomly make Leander have an internal break down. It felt forced, like the author didn't know another way to share personal information about Leander with readers.
One of my favorite parts of the book was a small thing, but it was brilliantly done. I loved the careful way Leander carried out the burial of his grandmother, making sure every step went against her wishes and the people who had supported that vile creature throughout Leander's long years of suffering. The whole thing was sneaky, brilliant, so deliciously cruel and so perfectly Leander and it gave me a huge sense of satisfaction (just like it gave Leander). Kudos to the author for taking the time to think of all those details because every single part was amazing!
I adored Leander's relationship with Martha and also with Calvin. His friendship with Martha was wonderful and I loved that he wasn't put off by the limitations of her mental illness (like being mute) and figured out how to have a meaningful friendship with her. I especially loved that Martha remains important to him in the rest of the series, even after he leaves the asylum. . I also loved Calvin and the way he treated Leander and the other patients. While having abusive staff members served the plot well and was a continued thread in Books 3 and 4, I appreciate that the author didn't turn the entire staff into evil abusers, which wouldn't reflect reality. Like with Martha,
The biggest question everybody has going into this book is: does Leander actually love Lorelai? Leander tells us that he does and we're given lots of contradictory information in Books 1 and 2 that made me spend hours thinking about it. I finally decided the answer is no, he doesn't really love her and here's the evidence to support my 'theory':
We're told he loves Lorelai but despite a huge focus on Leander's emotions in the book, there's never any romantic or love vibes coming from him towards her. He does get angry/upset whenever she leaves or if she's in danger, but I think that's more because he doesn't want to lose the idea of her, rather than her as a person. But if he knows where she's at, he absolutely doesn't care what she's doing with her time or if she's happy. When she's quit her job, cut off the people in her life and moved in with Leander, she spends days by herself with nothing to do. Leander's off working and socializing with his friends and it never occurs to him to wonder how she's keeping busy or if she's happy. In contrast, after Bennett moved away without explanation shortly before the events in the book, there are multiple times when Leander is reminded about Bennett and thinks about him and wonders where he is and what's doing. Not because he's worried about Bennett's safety, but because Bennett being happy is important to him. The way the author describes Leander's emotional reaction whenever Bennett is brought up is in direct contrast to his mediocre emotions when Lorelai is around.
Another piece of evidence: if you only read Book 2, you know exactly as much about Lorelai as Leander does. Namely: her favorite type of tea. That's it. Leander never asks her about her life (asides from trying to use such questions as a diversionary tactic during therapy sessions, which Lorelai dodges), he doesn't seem to care that Lorelai is now estranged from all her friends and family members due to their relationship and he isn't curious about her past, her likes or her hobbies. After the elaborate Leander never even considers that Lorelai might be upset about the situation due to her father having committed suicide when she was young. He knows about it, but he doesn't think about it because he doesn't care. In contrast, Leander knows a huge amount about Bennett and spends time thinking about how to incorporate the information he knows about him to make their very limited interactions more meaningful. More importantly, this happens from both sides. There's a constant theme of Bennett giving Leander flowers in all different ways, which have deep meaning between them. Leander calls Bennett and leaves him a heartbreaking goodbye voicemail in case and he ends the voicemail by saying 'I miss you' in Italian. He doesn't speak Italian in any other part of the book and he admits he doesn't practice it a lot, but he's memorized and retained a phrase like that because he knows it's important to Bennett. These actions are how one demonstrates that they care about somebody and Leander never does anything like this with Lorelai.
More evidence: Leander purposefully avoids telling her about Bennett or anything else. When she tries using sex to get him to talk, he sees through the tactic and still goes through with having sex (because why pass up on sex) but refuses to talk to her. He justifies this by claiming that he's 'protecting her' by keeping her in the dark, but if he truly cared about how upset and isolated she feels, he would take the time to come up with an intermediate story that would satisfy them both. But he doesn't. He treats her attempts to get information from him as an annoyance and has no regard for why she wants to know and how not knowing is making her feel. Even at the end, he doesn't volunteer information - Lorelai stumbles onto the truth without him saying a word.
This lack of respect for Lorelai is heavily contrasted by the author showing Leander's relationships with multiple female characters in the book: Olivia (his personal assistant), Martha (a mute patient from the asylum) and Annabel (a stray cat he adopted). With all three, he goes out of his way do things out of his comfort zone to make them happy. He tolerates Olivia manhandling him and yelling at him like he's her little brother, he spends hours posing for Martha's sketches and he brushes it off when Annabel knocks over his coffee cup and spills coffee all over his clothes. With all three, he makes an effort in the relationship, but he doesn't with Lorelai.
In fact, his relationship with Lorelai is much more similar to his relationship with Greta. Both women have fallen for Leander because they're attracted to his charm and looks and they become fixated on him. On first glance, I thought the author was using Greta as a way to showcase how mature Lorelai is in contrast, but if the author was being as clever as I think she was throughout these books, I think there's a lot more to it. Lorelai (and readers) dismiss Greta as being the perfect example of an immature, annoying heroine. She's the standard rom-com heroine: quirky, has verbal diarrhea, clumsy, immature and becomes a brainless ninny when in the company of a hot guy. Lorelai dismisses her as being stupid and although she doesn't know that Leander's sleeping with Greta, I think readers were supposed to assume that Greta is the stereotypical stupid heroine and Lorelai is the Strong Female Character. But in reality...I realized they both fell into Leander's trap. They both allowed his charm and good looks to blind them, they ignored all the red flags and they ended up in the exact same situation: both of their lives were completely ruined by their infatuation with Leander and their desire to be with the hot bad boy. When viewed in such a way, it's even more clear to me that Leander doesn't truly love Lorelai.
My theory only got shaky when it came to two things: It would easy to say that this is evidence that he loves Lorelai, but after spending even more time thinking about it, I decided Leander would do the same thing for anybody he cares about and it's not a sign of romantic love. Leander takes care of the people he cares about, especially people who care about him. Having grown up in an abusive household where nobody gave him any kindness or love, he appreciates it whenever somebody gives him love and kindness and he rewards them with loyalty and protection. Lorelai has now become part of the Protected-By-Leander-Welles group, but that's it. There's no romantic love there.
I can't believe how well plotted this series is so far and how interesting and complex these characters are! I've never read a series where I'm so invested in the characters and I'm left spending hours trying to figure out what direction the author is going in and what her intentions are. All of this can only be achieved by excellent writing and excellent storytelling and I'm so excited to continue the series!
March 24, 2024
3.5 stars. No I don’t except MF relationship here bc ik the better ones upcoming. But the writing is good and the plot thickens every chapter
January 17, 2025
i can't believe i read the same mediocre ass book twice.
(this one was better i think, but half of it is literally the same so that got old quick)
(this one was better i think, but half of it is literally the same so that got old quick)
February 8, 2022
DNF 39%
The more I think about it, the more issues I have with the Leander Welles quartet.
That first book is not a romance at all, dark or otherwise. Leander is completely opaque to the reader and to Lorelei. It does not have the beats of a romance plot and does not end with a mutual emotional commitment between the MCs.
The second book has massive chunks of repeated dialogue from the first book. This is the much needed Leander POV but it really only shows that each book is only half a story.
The third and fourth books (from what I’ve heard) contain events that took place before the first two. So it’s backstory. A new MC comes out of nowhere.
This is ONE story that got away from the author as she was writing it. Which happens, sure. But what she should have done was go back and restructure it as one story instead of selling her first draft in four parts with a total sticker price of $26. All this makes me feel like Drewek doesn't know what she's doing, or she doesn't care. I'm not spending any more time on this.
The more I think about it, the more issues I have with the Leander Welles quartet.
That first book is not a romance at all, dark or otherwise. Leander is completely opaque to the reader and to Lorelei. It does not have the beats of a romance plot and does not end with a mutual emotional commitment between the MCs.
The second book has massive chunks of repeated dialogue from the first book. This is the much needed Leander POV but it really only shows that each book is only half a story.
The third and fourth books (from what I’ve heard) contain events that took place before the first two. So it’s backstory. A new MC comes out of nowhere.
This is ONE story that got away from the author as she was writing it. Which happens, sure. But what she should have done was go back and restructure it as one story instead of selling her first draft in four parts with a total sticker price of $26. All this makes me feel like Drewek doesn't know what she's doing, or she doesn't care. I'm not spending any more time on this.
November 14, 2023
The way this said it could be read as a standalone yet it barely made sense… I felt like I was missing half the story but then again maybe I was since this is the second book in the series (but it’s just the first book from Leander's perspective instead of Leonie's or whatever the Doctor's name is). I’ve liked all the books I’ve read of Ashlyn’s so far but this shit was too confusing… fingers crossed the next one makes more sense but also I’m hesitant since its meant to be a PREQUEL!
August 30, 2021
I don't think I've ever read a book where the author takes the same story and tells it from the opposite point of view but this one worked. Since I was way more interested in Leander than Lorelei, I liked seeing his side of things and seeing how the plot unfolded and how he pushed people around. Just like in the first book, trying to guess if he's a killer or not, this one kept me guessing if he's crazy or not and if he is crazy, how crazy is he? Plus this is the book that introduces Bennett in a roundabout way which is pretty much the whole reason I started this series because I read bits about him on Insta and was hooked.
June 22, 2022
This was not a good read for me.
First, it didn't really feel like a stand alone even though the writer said if you are not into FM you should skip book #1. it felt things were missing, no one introduced the other characters and TBH I couldn't tell them apart.
The most thing that didn't work for me was the main characters.
Leander was supposed to be crazy, but he wasn't acting crazy at all. he was acting non consistent and very secretive but he wasn't acting crazy.
He was a man with a plan. we didn't know the plan, we didn't understand the plan (why do that? was it such an amazing plan that was suppose to blow our mind?) but he had a plan who was eventually made some kind of a sense.
He new what he wanted and he went for it. were exactly is the crazy here? Leander thoughts were "The daemons in my head hissed in agreement" at 95% into the book. this was the first and only referring to inside daemons I have noticed.
I didn't like the fact he sometimes acted as if Lorelei was just a pion "the plan" but sometimes acted like she was the reason for it all. come on, make up your mind.
I didn't like Lorelei character at all and didn't get what was there to like. she was coder than a freezer, being helpful since its "her job" and always in some demand from Leander.
I didn't get the appeal and couldn't care less for the relationship.
This brings me to the point I mostly object to. THIS IS NOT AN MM ROMANCE IN ANY WAY.
The writer says: If you're a MM fan, I suggest skipping MYSTERY and starting here. There's FTB/vague MF sex scenes, but the MM angst starts in this book before continuing into DAMNATION.
There was no MM interaction here what so ever, none. this is an FM book with only a reminder of a male character which will show up in book#3 and only showed up for seconds in the few last pages.
Sorry but this one was not for me.
First, it didn't really feel like a stand alone even though the writer said if you are not into FM you should skip book #1. it felt things were missing, no one introduced the other characters and TBH I couldn't tell them apart.
The most thing that didn't work for me was the main characters.
Leander was supposed to be crazy, but he wasn't acting crazy at all. he was acting non consistent and very secretive but he wasn't acting crazy.
He was a man with a plan. we didn't know the plan, we didn't understand the plan (why do that? was it such an amazing plan that was suppose to blow our mind?) but he had a plan who was eventually made some kind of a sense.
He new what he wanted and he went for it. were exactly is the crazy here? Leander thoughts were "The daemons in my head hissed in agreement" at 95% into the book. this was the first and only referring to inside daemons I have noticed.
I didn't like the fact he sometimes acted as if Lorelei was just a pion "the plan" but sometimes acted like she was the reason for it all. come on, make up your mind.
I didn't like Lorelei character at all and didn't get what was there to like. she was coder than a freezer, being helpful since its "her job" and always in some demand from Leander.
I didn't get the appeal and couldn't care less for the relationship.
This brings me to the point I mostly object to. THIS IS NOT AN MM ROMANCE IN ANY WAY.
The writer says: If you're a MM fan, I suggest skipping MYSTERY and starting here. There's FTB/vague MF sex scenes, but the MM angst starts in this book before continuing into DAMNATION.
There was no MM interaction here what so ever, none. this is an FM book with only a reminder of a male character which will show up in book#3 and only showed up for seconds in the few last pages.
Sorry but this one was not for me.
February 20, 2022
a few reasons I gave this one star:
1. There was no good reason for this book to exist. Book 1 and 2 could have been combined w/ changing pov’s from lorelei to leander if the writer really wanted to give us leander’s pov. Separating them into two books is just making reader read the same story twice. There were still elements of the actual story I didn’t like but at least combining the two books would have spared me a few hundred pages.
2. How tf did leander not get caught? Everyone around him conveniently gets killed off right in time for his murder trail? That didn’t set off major alarm bells for anyone? Specifically lorelei?
3. The romance between lorelei and leander was blanddd. I liked them a bit in book 1 but here I just could not understand why they fell for each other. Any chemistry they had in book 1 was no where to be seen from leander’s pov, so as a character with a ton of trust issues I just did not buy how enamored he was with lorelei towards the end.
4. Lastly, Greta’s character was so dumb. I don’t even have the words for it. Her character was just bizarre.
Anyways, Idk if I will be reading book 3 because I still like Leander’s character and am hopeful I’ll enjoy his and bennett’s story since they displayed more chemistry in the two scenes we got of them together then lorelei and leander had over the span of two books but idk if this series is for me
1. There was no good reason for this book to exist. Book 1 and 2 could have been combined w/ changing pov’s from lorelei to leander if the writer really wanted to give us leander’s pov. Separating them into two books is just making reader read the same story twice. There were still elements of the actual story I didn’t like but at least combining the two books would have spared me a few hundred pages.
2. How tf did leander not get caught? Everyone around him conveniently gets killed off right in time for his murder trail? That didn’t set off major alarm bells for anyone? Specifically lorelei?
3. The romance between lorelei and leander was blanddd. I liked them a bit in book 1 but here I just could not understand why they fell for each other. Any chemistry they had in book 1 was no where to be seen from leander’s pov, so as a character with a ton of trust issues I just did not buy how enamored he was with lorelei towards the end.
4. Lastly, Greta’s character was so dumb. I don’t even have the words for it. Her character was just bizarre.
Anyways, Idk if I will be reading book 3 because I still like Leander’s character and am hopeful I’ll enjoy his and bennett’s story since they displayed more chemistry in the two scenes we got of them together then lorelei and leander had over the span of two books but idk if this series is for me
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 14, 2023
I was grateful for the fade to black scenes.
November 19, 2024
Leander had more chemistry with the 2 minute Bennett cameo than with Lorelei in the entirety of this book.
June 3, 2021
Typically I’m not a fan of a repeat of a story but I NEEDED to know what Leander was thinking in book one. This was a perfect POV book. Another one day read.
April 8, 2021
Leander is accused of 4 murders and Lorelei is tasked with assessing his mental state for trial, but something else developed between the two. This story is written from Leanders POV so questions will be answered that are left from book 1. The book draws you in with the complex but also simplicity of Leander mind. Its twisting tale keeps you engaged and the characters draw you from the get go. There's so much more to Leander story and I cant wait to dive in more!
March 8, 2021
Oh Leander...
You poor broken boy...
This was an excellent companion piece to The Mystery of Leander Welles. Some questions were answered, some plot lines wrapped up, but still leaving the reader wanting more... I hope there is a finale in the works.
You poor broken boy...
This was an excellent companion piece to The Mystery of Leander Welles. Some questions were answered, some plot lines wrapped up, but still leaving the reader wanting more... I hope there is a finale in the works.
July 21, 2024
I genuinely wasn’t sure how to rate this one, as it was very much out of my wheelhouse. But it kept me absolutely gripped the whole way through and I’m gonna be thinking about it for a long time, so 5* it is!
This is the second in the Leander Welles series, although I skipped book one and started with this one. This definitely wasn’t the MM romance that I have come to know and love from Ashlyn Drewek… although the main couple in this, Leander & Lorelei, are MF, this didn’t feel like a romance at all, and not just because all the sex scenes are fade to black. It just didn’t read as romantic at all - manipulation and misplaced obsession, certainly. It felt claustrophobic and coercive; I was completely intrigued.
Literally every character in this book is toxic AF - Leander is up to his eyeballs in lies and deceit and we as readers are kept in the dark, only learning about his lies along with the other characters (although maybe I’d have known more if I’d have read book one? Not sure, either way the secretiveness really works for me!). Leander is in prison, accused of murdering 4 people, and the story follows his journey from prison, to psychiatric hospital, to house arrest… We also have Lorelei, who I struggled to get a read on (again, maybe my fault for not reading book one, which was her POV). In this, Lorelei is just the worst type of FMC character in my opinion, a high flying doctor who is willing to risk her career and everything she stands for for her sexy patient… ugh. The pair of them are absolutely toxic together and the way they cling to each other just seems like repressed trauma rather than actual attraction.
We also get a brief introduction to Leander’s associates, all who are caught up in the criminal empire that he owns and runs. I hope I get more from them in the next book!
It also had some horror elements, with Leander’s cloying nightmares and hallucinations. There were a lot of gothic elements and callbacks and references to gothic writers such as Poe and Mary Shelley. I loved these being woven in as it made the story feel that much darker and more claustrophobic.
So overall I loved this book but hated these characters. But I am so intrigued and invested at this point that I will absolutely be carrying on with the series. I wanna know what happens to these toxic assholes. I’m also aware that Leander and Lorelei are not endgame, so I’m intrigued to see how they extricate themselves from each other so that Leander can end up with his true partner 👀
This is the second in the Leander Welles series, although I skipped book one and started with this one. This definitely wasn’t the MM romance that I have come to know and love from Ashlyn Drewek… although the main couple in this, Leander & Lorelei, are MF, this didn’t feel like a romance at all, and not just because all the sex scenes are fade to black. It just didn’t read as romantic at all - manipulation and misplaced obsession, certainly. It felt claustrophobic and coercive; I was completely intrigued.
Literally every character in this book is toxic AF - Leander is up to his eyeballs in lies and deceit and we as readers are kept in the dark, only learning about his lies along with the other characters (although maybe I’d have known more if I’d have read book one? Not sure, either way the secretiveness really works for me!). Leander is in prison, accused of murdering 4 people, and the story follows his journey from prison, to psychiatric hospital, to house arrest… We also have Lorelei, who I struggled to get a read on (again, maybe my fault for not reading book one, which was her POV). In this, Lorelei is just the worst type of FMC character in my opinion, a high flying doctor who is willing to risk her career and everything she stands for for her sexy patient… ugh. The pair of them are absolutely toxic together and the way they cling to each other just seems like repressed trauma rather than actual attraction.
We also get a brief introduction to Leander’s associates, all who are caught up in the criminal empire that he owns and runs. I hope I get more from them in the next book!
It also had some horror elements, with Leander’s cloying nightmares and hallucinations. There were a lot of gothic elements and callbacks and references to gothic writers such as Poe and Mary Shelley. I loved these being woven in as it made the story feel that much darker and more claustrophobic.
So overall I loved this book but hated these characters. But I am so intrigued and invested at this point that I will absolutely be carrying on with the series. I wanna know what happens to these toxic assholes. I’m also aware that Leander and Lorelei are not endgame, so I’m intrigued to see how they extricate themselves from each other so that Leander can end up with his true partner 👀
November 12, 2022
Edge of your seat...must read!
The Rationale of Leander Welles
Book Two, The Leander Welles series
By Ashlyn Drewek
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'s
How do authors make you completely choose the dark side, fall for the bad guy, make you justify the not so nice things they've done, etc etc?🤣
I don't think it's a spoiler to say one of the mc's (well in truth the main character), Leander Welles, has been charged with 4 counts of murder and is about to go to trial for this. The second mc is Dr. Lorelei Clayton, a criminal psychiatrist, that is trying to evaluate him on whether he can stand trial, etc.
One thing I'd like to say is that this book played out like a movie in my head. I seriously think it could be a movie. I love the criminal elements and suspense. Plus not only trying to figure out Leander's mindset, motives, plans...but also trying to figure some of the other secondary characters, their reasonings for doing or acting a certain way. There's not alot of steamy scenes (as the author has previously mentioned) but tbh I didn't even miss it (much) because there's so much other stuff going on you just want to know what's going to happen next.
So I have to ramble off about a certain side character Greta 🤦♀️. Which brings me back to my original question so to speak of why we choose the psycho murderer over what should be a normal person but actually is nutcase herself lol. I was like "no don't go there" on so many various things that I was like she deserves whatever she gets and was kinda cheering for Leander take her out!! (Ashlyn's books tend to bring this side of me out😂.) But also scolding Leander for his part in some of that mess.🙄 I guess I could understand Lorelei's interest better as she had to be enthralled with his psyche and wanting to know what makes him tick as I was and you more than likely will be too!
Anyways, you'll need to read the book to even just begin to get a glimmer of who Leander Welles is...and I'm off to book three to hopefully learn more about the elusive Bennett Reeve. I can't wait to see them together!!
As always please read the CW's most especially if you have any triggers.
The Rationale of Leander Welles
Book Two, The Leander Welles series
By Ashlyn Drewek
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'s
How do authors make you completely choose the dark side, fall for the bad guy, make you justify the not so nice things they've done, etc etc?🤣
I don't think it's a spoiler to say one of the mc's (well in truth the main character), Leander Welles, has been charged with 4 counts of murder and is about to go to trial for this. The second mc is Dr. Lorelei Clayton, a criminal psychiatrist, that is trying to evaluate him on whether he can stand trial, etc.
One thing I'd like to say is that this book played out like a movie in my head. I seriously think it could be a movie. I love the criminal elements and suspense. Plus not only trying to figure out Leander's mindset, motives, plans...but also trying to figure some of the other secondary characters, their reasonings for doing or acting a certain way. There's not alot of steamy scenes (as the author has previously mentioned) but tbh I didn't even miss it (much) because there's so much other stuff going on you just want to know what's going to happen next.
So I have to ramble off about a certain side character Greta 🤦♀️. Which brings me back to my original question so to speak of why we choose the psycho murderer over what should be a normal person but actually is nutcase herself lol. I was like "no don't go there" on so many various things that I was like she deserves whatever she gets and was kinda cheering for Leander take her out!! (Ashlyn's books tend to bring this side of me out😂.) But also scolding Leander for his part in some of that mess.🙄 I guess I could understand Lorelei's interest better as she had to be enthralled with his psyche and wanting to know what makes him tick as I was and you more than likely will be too!
Anyways, you'll need to read the book to even just begin to get a glimmer of who Leander Welles is...and I'm off to book three to hopefully learn more about the elusive Bennett Reeve. I can't wait to see them together!!
As always please read the CW's most especially if you have any triggers.
May 9, 2023
3.5 stars.
For disclosure: I skipped book one in this series. I did some research and found that if you want the MM of it all you can skip the first book, so I did that. This book is basically the same as book one but from Leander's POV instead of Lorelei's. I ended up not liking Lorelei so skipping book one was the right move for me.
If you want the MM part of this series just know you won't really get it in this book either. It is alluded to towards the end but this book is basically Leander's plan to get out of the murder charges by manipulating Dr. Lorelei Clayton & others. I could not stand Lorelei, which helps in the next two books. I almost thought about skipping this book too but it really was needed to set up the rest of the story. Just a side note the MF scenes are fade to black so if you don't like reading them you will be ok in this book.
I love a good psychopath so I really liked Leander and his band of misfits: Cole, Elijah, Olivia, Jake, & Bennett.
“No, I meant the part where you said love is a choice. I cannot argue against the scientific explanation for the sensation of love, but sometimes there is no choice — not a conscious one… I don’t believe you can help it when someone stirs something within you. I don’t know anyone who would willingly choose to torment themselves the way the love-sick do.”
For disclosure: I skipped book one in this series. I did some research and found that if you want the MM of it all you can skip the first book, so I did that. This book is basically the same as book one but from Leander's POV instead of Lorelei's. I ended up not liking Lorelei so skipping book one was the right move for me.
If you want the MM part of this series just know you won't really get it in this book either. It is alluded to towards the end but this book is basically Leander's plan to get out of the murder charges by manipulating Dr. Lorelei Clayton & others. I could not stand Lorelei, which helps in the next two books. I almost thought about skipping this book too but it really was needed to set up the rest of the story. Just a side note the MF scenes are fade to black so if you don't like reading them you will be ok in this book.
I love a good psychopath so I really liked Leander and his band of misfits: Cole, Elijah, Olivia, Jake, & Bennett.
“No, I meant the part where you said love is a choice. I cannot argue against the scientific explanation for the sensation of love, but sometimes there is no choice — not a conscious one… I don’t believe you can help it when someone stirs something within you. I don’t know anyone who would willingly choose to torment themselves the way the love-sick do.”
December 20, 2024
3⭐
All that we see or seem / Is but a dream within a dream.
Science has not yet taught us if madness is or is not the sublimity of the intelligence
'In secret we met- / In silence I grieve, / That thy heart could forget / Thy spirit deceive.'
The plot was strong but at the end of the book there was so many things left unsaid. So many half conversations. The book was intriguing as it will left you guessing what part is truth and what are lies. But overall the story was abrupt at times and sometimes so slow.
Greta was so irritating I could cry. And to some extent, I found Lorelei irritating too. She was sort of desperate, if I dare say. And I couldn't understand Leander either. At times he played the role of a psychopath. In the midst of it all, he'll just start pretending to be someone else. Actually, pretending, I could understand. What bothered me was that he seemed to actually be opposite of his real personality sometimes. As I said, everything was written half-assed in the book. Even the murder mystery wasn't detailed to my liking.
But I'm hoping next book will clarify all the things so here's to hoping for that!
All that we see or seem / Is but a dream within a dream.
Science has not yet taught us if madness is or is not the sublimity of the intelligence
'In secret we met- / In silence I grieve, / That thy heart could forget / Thy spirit deceive.'
The plot was strong but at the end of the book there was so many things left unsaid. So many half conversations. The book was intriguing as it will left you guessing what part is truth and what are lies. But overall the story was abrupt at times and sometimes so slow.
Greta was so irritating I could cry. And to some extent, I found Lorelei irritating too. She was sort of desperate, if I dare say. And I couldn't understand Leander either. At times he played the role of a psychopath. In the midst of it all, he'll just start pretending to be someone else. Actually, pretending, I could understand. What bothered me was that he seemed to actually be opposite of his real personality sometimes. As I said, everything was written half-assed in the book. Even the murder mystery wasn't detailed to my liking.
But I'm hoping next book will clarify all the things so here's to hoping for that!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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