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Kismet
Cash DeMarco
Five years ago, I gave my heart and soul to my professor. He made me fall for him, only to destroy me with his silence. I've never been the same. I finally have the chance to leave this town, start over, and try to move on with my life. But what happens when fate insists the chapter of your life that haunts you isn't over?
Stone Philips
He was the temptation I shouldn't have divulged in. The secret that ruined everything. He was the beginning to my end, and when I left, I left as the shell of the man I once was. Just like with the angriest of storms, when he walks back into my life, destruction and chaos are never far behind. The universe has a funny way of bringing everything full circle, opening old wounds, and forcing you to face your destiny.
*Kismet is a full-length, standalone, MM romance novel about missed opportunity, right person/wrong time, heartbreak, and second chances.
Five years ago, I gave my heart and soul to my professor. He made me fall for him, only to destroy me with his silence. I've never been the same. I finally have the chance to leave this town, start over, and try to move on with my life. But what happens when fate insists the chapter of your life that haunts you isn't over?
Stone Philips
He was the temptation I shouldn't have divulged in. The secret that ruined everything. He was the beginning to my end, and when I left, I left as the shell of the man I once was. Just like with the angriest of storms, when he walks back into my life, destruction and chaos are never far behind. The universe has a funny way of bringing everything full circle, opening old wounds, and forcing you to face your destiny.
*Kismet is a full-length, standalone, MM romance novel about missed opportunity, right person/wrong time, heartbreak, and second chances.
410 pages, ebook
Published November 4, 2022
330 people are currently reading
2943 people want to read
About the author
Ashley James
27 books1,398 followersAshley James is a romance author who enjoys writing (and reading) LGBTQIA+ books. She is from Washington State—and no, not Seattle—and currently resides in South Carolina with her two kids and hairless kitties, Goose, Maverick, and Houston. Ashley is introverted and slightly (okay, majorly) awkward. She refuses to make this section sound like a tacky dating app profile, so she won't be telling you how much she enjoys music, how she thoroughly enjoys dancing and singing in her kitchen, despite not being able to carry a tune, and she won't be telling you about her love of toxic and broken fictional men.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 464 reviews
November 10, 2022
*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. ***
Kismet is one of those stories that hits you right in the feels, breaks you fully apart then slowly puts your heart back together. I felt all the emotions while reading Kismet ranging from complete joy to utter heartbreak. This author has such talent in crafting stories where you root for the success of each character and devastation when things fall apart.
Kismet is a beautiful love story that takes both Cash and Stone by surprise due to the rabid intense chemistry that neither are prepared for, which sets both on the course of an unforgettable love story.
Cash and stone share an intense connection that appears otherworldly and inevitable due to their instant sense of comfort and sense of belonging to the other. Their story begins as a forbidden romance that evolves into a second chance romance.
Kismet is an emotional journey of a story that that haunts you with the beautiful relationship between Cash and Stone who really are perfect for one another.
Another flawless story by this author, who has me anxiously waiting for her next one!
Kismet is one of those stories that hits you right in the feels, breaks you fully apart then slowly puts your heart back together. I felt all the emotions while reading Kismet ranging from complete joy to utter heartbreak. This author has such talent in crafting stories where you root for the success of each character and devastation when things fall apart.
Kismet is a beautiful love story that takes both Cash and Stone by surprise due to the rabid intense chemistry that neither are prepared for, which sets both on the course of an unforgettable love story.
Cash and stone share an intense connection that appears otherworldly and inevitable due to their instant sense of comfort and sense of belonging to the other. Their story begins as a forbidden romance that evolves into a second chance romance.
Kismet is an emotional journey of a story that that haunts you with the beautiful relationship between Cash and Stone who really are perfect for one another.
Another flawless story by this author, who has me anxiously waiting for her next one!
November 5, 2022
"Kissing him is like coming home after too long. It's the feeling of sleeping in your bed for the first time after being exhausted and worn down. It's when it rains for weeks at a time, then you go outside, and that first ray of sunshine hits your face, and you feel warmth deep in your bones. He's sunshine after a storm."
I don't know where to start with Kismet by the divine Ashley James, it was just full of all the feels, so much so that I inhaled it in a day and I haven't been able to form the words to properly review it a week later. I still can't.
So...Kismet is a story in three parts, spanning more than 5 years in the relationship between Cash De Marco and Stone Phillips.
Kismet is a story of a forbidden, age-gap relationship (teacher/student/10 years), it's a story of broken promises and broken hearts, of loss and second chances, of a passion that burns so brightly it can't be extinguished because...it's kismet.
You need to read this. Be prepared to sob. And have a fan handy, because the steamy times are HOT.
Highly recommended.
5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I don't know where to start with Kismet by the divine Ashley James, it was just full of all the feels, so much so that I inhaled it in a day and I haven't been able to form the words to properly review it a week later. I still can't.
So...Kismet is a story in three parts, spanning more than 5 years in the relationship between Cash De Marco and Stone Phillips.
Kismet is a story of a forbidden, age-gap relationship (teacher/student/10 years), it's a story of broken promises and broken hearts, of loss and second chances, of a passion that burns so brightly it can't be extinguished because...it's kismet.
You need to read this. Be prepared to sob. And have a fan handy, because the steamy times are HOT.
Highly recommended.
5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
November 8, 2022
Yikes 😬 Since this book is a second chance romance I did NOT expect to actually get ALL of the first story on how they got together. I thought there would be flashbacks and what not. The first 150 pages are how they started to fall for each other which eventually leads up to the actual plot of the story - the second chance romance. This book felt like 2 stories, where the first story was not nearly long enough. For starters there was way too much smut. They did stuff like more than 5 times in the first 150 pages, like what???? Since the author decided to write their whole story from the beginning, it felt very rushed and things happened way too quickly.
Tropes:
✨forbidden romance✨
✨teacher-student✨
✨age gap✨
✨second chance romance✨
✨barely any grovelling✨
✨too much smut✨
It really started when Stone invited his student aide, Cash, to a convention where they'd have to drive a few hours to get there. Once they got there and they decided to go out to get something to eat, they went for pizza and started drinking a shit ton of whiskey shots??? Like who just does that with their own student? Like it wasn't even one, they kept going until they got drunk lmaooo. It just felt very unrealistic to me. I know I'm looking at this from an ethical side and I should really forget that when reading a book like this, but I just couldn't help it. Why couldn't they have gone out without the drinking, like you could already feel the tension between them, the author could have built on that. Like dude at least wait a little to give in lol😂
Since they were already fucking making out in the beginning of the book, the tension immediately fizzled out for me. Things happened so quickly that I didn't really get why they liked each other and I didn't feel the chemistry at all. Then when you get to the actual second chance romance part, I just hated it tbh. Stone left without any explanation, Cash even after 5 years is still absolutely heartbroken. Cash gave into him too quickly, not long after they met again they were making out and fucking around with each other. If I was in Cash's situation, I wouldn't touch Stone with a 10 foot pole.
After a while I just didn't get why Stone wasn't telling Cash the reason that he left 5 years ago, it just felt like the author was trying to prolong the book. Stone kept saying excuses like "Cash doesn't like me" "I've caused him enough hurt already, it's unfair to him" "I can't add more onto his shoulders" These were his reasons for not telling Cash like wtf??? Does he not realize Cash not knowing why is the reason he is upset in the first place and won't talk to you? Instead of Stone telling Cash, the author just put a bunch of smut in the story instead of them actually trying to communicate.
Also grovelling said goodbye in this one! Stone bought iced coffees for Cash everyday, that was it. I knew I shouldn't have read this book. I dnf'd the author's first two books in the other series she has due to insta lust-love, too much smut and not enough character development.
Tropes:
✨forbidden romance✨
✨teacher-student✨
✨age gap✨
✨second chance romance✨
✨barely any grovelling✨
✨too much smut✨
It really started when Stone invited his student aide, Cash, to a convention where they'd have to drive a few hours to get there. Once they got there and they decided to go out to get something to eat, they went for pizza and started drinking a shit ton of whiskey shots??? Like who just does that with their own student? Like it wasn't even one, they kept going until they got drunk lmaooo. It just felt very unrealistic to me. I know I'm looking at this from an ethical side and I should really forget that when reading a book like this, but I just couldn't help it. Why couldn't they have gone out without the drinking, like you could already feel the tension between them, the author could have built on that. Like dude at least wait a little to give in lol😂
Since they were already fucking making out in the beginning of the book, the tension immediately fizzled out for me. Things happened so quickly that I didn't really get why they liked each other and I didn't feel the chemistry at all. Then when you get to the actual second chance romance part, I just hated it tbh. Stone left without any explanation, Cash even after 5 years is still absolutely heartbroken. Cash gave into him too quickly, not long after they met again they were making out and fucking around with each other. If I was in Cash's situation, I wouldn't touch Stone with a 10 foot pole.
After a while I just didn't get why Stone wasn't telling Cash the reason that he left 5 years ago, it just felt like the author was trying to prolong the book. Stone kept saying excuses like "Cash doesn't like me" "I've caused him enough hurt already, it's unfair to him" "I can't add more onto his shoulders" These were his reasons for not telling Cash like wtf??? Does he not realize Cash not knowing why is the reason he is upset in the first place and won't talk to you? Instead of Stone telling Cash, the author just put a bunch of smut in the story instead of them actually trying to communicate.
Also grovelling said goodbye in this one! Stone bought iced coffees for Cash everyday, that was it. I knew I shouldn't have read this book. I dnf'd the author's first two books in the other series she has due to insta lust-love, too much smut and not enough character development.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 8, 2022
Kismet is an MM Professor/ Student book with a different twist on the trope that I found refreshing.
Here is what you will find
Forbidden
Age-Gap
Second Chance
Spice
Complaining love story
Addicting
Well written.
Kismet is written in several parts. The first part is about how Stone and Cash met and fell in love. The story is not all black and white; there is a ton of grey. Which I always love.
The next part takes place several years later. Ugh, the pain and secrets. It's a very bumpy road with a few speed bumps. One thing is for sure, their love never died.
Overall is a great read; it’s full of forbidden love, heartbreak, secrets, soulmates, second chances, and passion. Kismet is a must-read.
January 8, 2023
4 Heartbreaking Stars!! ❤️💔 This was an angsty love story that I just could not put down and it was loooong. 😍 This epic love story between Stone and Cash had everything I love, age-gap, insanely hot chemistry, forbidden relationship; and somethings I dislike, But the love story itself was both powerful and heartbreaking, sometimes the angst got to me 😢 but I soldiered on because I had faith in the HEA Gods..😍.
Overall the writing won me over; this is my first book by this author but it won't be my last for sure. Some of the quotes are of epic proportions.
“There are plenty of ways to die, but only love can kill you and keep you alive to feel it.”
There is no universe where he and I could be anything other than connected. Our hearts and our souls are strung together by some invisible life force that can’t be severed. It’s as unapologetic as it is unavoidable. My body was meant to be loved, to be worshiped by him, and him, me. It’s undeniable, like fate. Like kismet.
There were of course some things that are not really believable , but I won't nitpick. The result is a powerful love story 💖which will break your heart and then mend it again💞. It is also super steamy and HOT 🔥🔥. Highly recommended to all fans of angsty age-gap M/M romances!! 👍👍
Overall the writing won me over; this is my first book by this author but it won't be my last for sure. Some of the quotes are of epic proportions.
“There are plenty of ways to die, but only love can kill you and keep you alive to feel it.”
There is no universe where he and I could be anything other than connected. Our hearts and our souls are strung together by some invisible life force that can’t be severed. It’s as unapologetic as it is unavoidable. My body was meant to be loved, to be worshiped by him, and him, me. It’s undeniable, like fate. Like kismet.
There were of course some things that are not really believable , but I won't nitpick. The result is a powerful love story 💖which will break your heart and then mend it again💞. It is also super steamy and HOT 🔥🔥. Highly recommended to all fans of angsty age-gap M/M romances!! 👍👍
Read
July 26, 2025dnf @ 36%
“5 years later”? fuck that noise.
i never connected with this story or couple, and the writing and pacing have been really weird. just time to move on.
“5 years later”? fuck that noise.
i never connected with this story or couple, and the writing and pacing have been really weird. just time to move on.
May 16, 2025
I only ask two things of a second chance romance.
One.
The MC that committed the wrongdoing must be the one to initiate the reconciliation.
Two.
The grovel should be commensurate to the crime committed.
To me, this book fails on both criteria.
I try to be an understanding person but I don't understand why a man would ghost you for FIVE years after promising to leave his wife and STILL have you naked a few conversations after you find him again.
And I say 'find him' because he didn't come find you.
The bar is not on the floor. There IS no bar.
I am NOT a happy bunny.
What even is the point of reading someone the riot act after sex? Like, where were these balls before you let him suck on yours, bb?
Stone is incredibly annoying, too.
Has this supposed validating reason that he doesn't say because he 'can't let the words out' but somehow has the audacity to say, "I know him, once you let him down, that's it, there's no second chances"
Which is clearly cap, because, like I said, he had that man naked with no explanation provided.
So, CLEARLY, second chances are available.
Gets to a point where you can't feasibly SAY you don't want to hurt the person you 'love' because you're going out of your way to do that.
"I hate that I did that to him. I hate that I'm the reason he can't trust people now."
LEAVE HIM ALONE, THEN!!!!
There are situations in which a kiss mid-argument is hot.
Mid-argument when he's giving you a well deserved and LONG overdue lashing for ghosting him? NOT one of those situations.
"I hate you for what you did to me." and your dumbass MF self thinks 'You know what would truly elevate this moment? A kiss.'
Cash is a better man than me because I firmly believe violence was warranted here.
I hated Stone in this moment, and I hated Cash for not having more anger.
There's no rebuilding a bridge without knowing what caused it to capsize in the first place. It's insulting that anyone would try that with you and a betrayal of oneself to let them.
Also, this utilizes the 'evil unsympathetic wife' trope. I read books with cheating because the angst is delicious. If I'm rooting for the married MC to leave their spouse, it takes the enjoyment out of it. I want the MC to like his spouse but be unable to fight the connection with the other MC.
"I miss you so fucking much" doesn't really work when you went ghost and have never bothered to re-initiate contact.
Because if Cash hadn't landed in his orbit again, would Stone have ever sought him out? Sounds like a no. And, honestly? No great love story ever involved an offending partner who gave up.
That's some 'I forgive myself' bullshit. What happened to real lovers?
Cash is also lowkey an idiot with zero survival skills because if an unknown person is leaving you coffees, why on EARTH would you just drink them?
There's never been a better time to commit remote murder, folks.
People are not even trying to stay alive.
Also, EWWWWW to the fact that he's impressed by Stone doing this. 'It's a completely selfless act', my ass.
Still no explanation for the ghosting that rewrote your nervous system but you say he's been leaving you coffee?
Oh my God ✨🥰✨🥰✨🥰✨
🙄
Guys, we are not doing a good job. The kids are NOT okay.
Like??????
Stand the FUCK up, Cash. Even the Council of Bare Minimum Endeavors would find this insufficient.
Sorry but this is disgraceful.
You sort of figure out why Stone ghosted before he finally says it (68% in, btw) and not to sound like a callous bitch but......nah.
Not communicating that very night? Valid.
Not reaching out for a week or so afterwards? Believable.
Packing up literally everything you own and ghosting the man you said you love and promised the world, vanishing for five fucking years WITHOUT a word? Literally never, EVER reaching out? I'm sorry, but no.
It's a really sad story, and maybe I have unrealistic expectations but I don't know. Drop a text? Let him know you're alive somewhere? Let him know you can't be an 'us' right now?
I'm not even holding Stone to an expectation of immediate communication. I'm really not. But I'm not really buying that you walk away from someone you love, for five years (- and that's merely the start, he genuinely, deeply had no intention of ever reaching out) and never ONCE think, hey? Maybe I did a shit thing through no fault of my own but maybe my person needs to know what happened???
Maybe I don't just.....disappear off the face of the earth forever with no intention to ever return or explain?
But guess what Cash has for Stone after this?
Yep. A warm, velvety channel.
Sorry. I just can't.
DNF at 73% because I don't take either of them seriously.
Caveat: there are many things I can be objective about but ghosting isn't one of them. So my review was always going to end up this way, irrespective of Stone's reasoning/justification.
I have yet to find circumstances extenuating enough to warrant this.
Important to note since apparently a reminder is necessary.
Explanations ≠ Apologies.
One.
The MC that committed the wrongdoing must be the one to initiate the reconciliation.
Two.
The grovel should be commensurate to the crime committed.
To me, this book fails on both criteria.
I try to be an understanding person but I don't understand why a man would ghost you for FIVE years after promising to leave his wife and STILL have you naked a few conversations after you find him again.
And I say 'find him' because he didn't come find you.
The bar is not on the floor. There IS no bar.
I am NOT a happy bunny.
What even is the point of reading someone the riot act after sex? Like, where were these balls before you let him suck on yours, bb?
Stone is incredibly annoying, too.
Has this supposed validating reason that he doesn't say because he 'can't let the words out' but somehow has the audacity to say, "I know him, once you let him down, that's it, there's no second chances"
Which is clearly cap, because, like I said, he had that man naked with no explanation provided.
So, CLEARLY, second chances are available.
Gets to a point where you can't feasibly SAY you don't want to hurt the person you 'love' because you're going out of your way to do that.
"I hate that I did that to him. I hate that I'm the reason he can't trust people now."
LEAVE HIM ALONE, THEN!!!!
There are situations in which a kiss mid-argument is hot.
Mid-argument when he's giving you a well deserved and LONG overdue lashing for ghosting him? NOT one of those situations.
"I hate you for what you did to me." and your dumbass MF self thinks 'You know what would truly elevate this moment? A kiss.'
Cash is a better man than me because I firmly believe violence was warranted here.
I hated Stone in this moment, and I hated Cash for not having more anger.
There's no rebuilding a bridge without knowing what caused it to capsize in the first place. It's insulting that anyone would try that with you and a betrayal of oneself to let them.
Also, this utilizes the 'evil unsympathetic wife' trope. I read books with cheating because the angst is delicious. If I'm rooting for the married MC to leave their spouse, it takes the enjoyment out of it. I want the MC to like his spouse but be unable to fight the connection with the other MC.
"I miss you so fucking much" doesn't really work when you went ghost and have never bothered to re-initiate contact.
Because if Cash hadn't landed in his orbit again, would Stone have ever sought him out? Sounds like a no. And, honestly? No great love story ever involved an offending partner who gave up.
That's some 'I forgive myself' bullshit. What happened to real lovers?
Cash is also lowkey an idiot with zero survival skills because if an unknown person is leaving you coffees, why on EARTH would you just drink them?
There's never been a better time to commit remote murder, folks.
People are not even trying to stay alive.
Also, EWWWWW to the fact that he's impressed by Stone doing this. 'It's a completely selfless act', my ass.
Still no explanation for the ghosting that rewrote your nervous system but you say he's been leaving you coffee?
Oh my God ✨🥰✨🥰✨🥰✨
🙄
Guys, we are not doing a good job. The kids are NOT okay.
Like??????
Stand the FUCK up, Cash. Even the Council of Bare Minimum Endeavors would find this insufficient.
Sorry but this is disgraceful.
You sort of figure out why Stone ghosted before he finally says it (68% in, btw) and not to sound like a callous bitch but......nah.
Not communicating that very night? Valid.
Not reaching out for a week or so afterwards? Believable.
Packing up literally everything you own and ghosting the man you said you love and promised the world, vanishing for five fucking years WITHOUT a word? Literally never, EVER reaching out? I'm sorry, but no.
It's a really sad story, and maybe I have unrealistic expectations but I don't know. Drop a text? Let him know you're alive somewhere? Let him know you can't be an 'us' right now?
I'm not even holding Stone to an expectation of immediate communication. I'm really not. But I'm not really buying that you walk away from someone you love, for five years (- and that's merely the start, he genuinely, deeply had no intention of ever reaching out) and never ONCE think, hey? Maybe I did a shit thing through no fault of my own but maybe my person needs to know what happened???
Maybe I don't just.....disappear off the face of the earth forever with no intention to ever return or explain?
But guess what Cash has for Stone after this?
Yep. A warm, velvety channel.
Sorry. I just can't.
DNF at 73% because I don't take either of them seriously.
Caveat: there are many things I can be objective about but ghosting isn't one of them. So my review was always going to end up this way, irrespective of Stone's reasoning/justification.
I have yet to find circumstances extenuating enough to warrant this.
Important to note since apparently a reminder is necessary.
Explanations ≠ Apologies.
December 16, 2022
Don’t bother.
Professor/Student are one of my favorite tropes. Cash and Stone. I wished this would have been better but it wasn’t. I should have known when Stone’s pet name for Cash was Bambi I should have stopped reading?!? Really. Blech 🤢
This book is way more dude bro than the others by this author AND Cash is supposed to be the intellectual one.
Uh huh. It’s cringy.
Stone is very passive aggressive AND married. Unhappily because of course. I’m 19% in and I’m not invested in these characters at all. I’m hoping it will get better.
26% in and not only doesn’t it get better. It’s worse. Ugh. The sex is so cringy. All the Bambi stuff is awkward. Ewww. Plus, Stone is straight up cheating on his wife. Stone is not a good guy. They even have sex in the house while the wife is there. Ewww just gross. If cheating is a trigger for you, definitely do not read this book.
Cash gets ghosted and for 5 years he doesn’t know what happened. Like seriously WTH kind of book is this. It will be the last one I read by this author. Ugh. What a horrible plot device. You have to suspend disbelief. 1)Cash never reads a paper and all of his friends don’t either to know what happened to Stone. Pullman is a college town and this story with Stone would have made headlines for days. 2) Stone doesn’t do his own hiring as Dean of the college. And is shocked to see Cash is the new professor in HIS department. Uh huh. Sure.
68% in and this book is one epic eye roll 🙄 and I’m an idiot to still be reading it. Time to skim and get this over with. The thing I can’t get over is if Cash had never went to that Texas school for work, Stone would NEVER have contacted him. Run Cash. Run far away.
I know the dirty talk is supposed to be sexy but it still is SO awkward and Bambi is still being used. Ick.
I finished and I feel nothing.
These characters weren’t Kismet but they were a disaster like this plot was. Ugh
Professor/Student are one of my favorite tropes. Cash and Stone. I wished this would have been better but it wasn’t. I should have known when Stone’s pet name for Cash was Bambi I should have stopped reading?!? Really. Blech 🤢
This book is way more dude bro than the others by this author AND Cash is supposed to be the intellectual one.
Uh huh. It’s cringy.
Stone is very passive aggressive AND married. Unhappily because of course. I’m 19% in and I’m not invested in these characters at all. I’m hoping it will get better.
26% in and not only doesn’t it get better. It’s worse. Ugh. The sex is so cringy. All the Bambi stuff is awkward. Ewww. Plus, Stone is straight up cheating on his wife. Stone is not a good guy. They even have sex in the house while the wife is there. Ewww just gross. If cheating is a trigger for you, definitely do not read this book.
Cash gets ghosted and for 5 years he doesn’t know what happened. Like seriously WTH kind of book is this. It will be the last one I read by this author. Ugh. What a horrible plot device. You have to suspend disbelief. 1)Cash never reads a paper and all of his friends don’t either to know what happened to Stone. Pullman is a college town and this story with Stone would have made headlines for days. 2) Stone doesn’t do his own hiring as Dean of the college. And is shocked to see Cash is the new professor in HIS department. Uh huh. Sure.
68% in and this book is one epic eye roll 🙄 and I’m an idiot to still be reading it. Time to skim and get this over with. The thing I can’t get over is if Cash had never went to that Texas school for work, Stone would NEVER have contacted him. Run Cash. Run far away.
I know the dirty talk is supposed to be sexy but it still is SO awkward and Bambi is still being used. Ick.
I finished and I feel nothing.
These characters weren’t Kismet but they were a disaster like this plot was. Ugh
November 4, 2023
❝ Meant to be.. destiny.. fate. Call it what you want-he is mine and I am his until the end of time. And then for lifetimes after that. Souls don't meet by chance, and his soul speaks to mine in a language only they know. Our love was kismet. ❞
ashley james definitely mothered with this. there are tears in my eyes as i type this review. i loved it from start to finish. i thought i was getting this silly lusty straight-to-the-point forbidden romance between a married professor and his favourite student/teacher aide.... and it was more than that. the romance, the frustrations, the drama, all the ups and downs between cash and stone were perfectly written. everything was intense and i loved it.
December 16, 2023
Audio - 4.5 Stars
Story - 1 Star
Story - 1 Star
November 4, 2024
I can’t believe I waited so long to read this. I really don’t know why. I love this author and I love student/professor stories. Well I listened to the audio and absolutely loved it! Narrators were amazing and captured the characters so well!
I didn’t remember Cash too much from the Deepest Desires series but loved seeing all the past characters pop up! If you haven’t read that series no worries, you won’t be lost if you read this first. Cash was an awesome character. I totally understood all his actions and appreciated how he needed time and didn’t just jump right in with Stone after being hurt.
Poor Stone. So much went wrong for him all at the same time and I felt so much for him. One thing I loved about Stone (and Cash too) was how well they showed their emotions. They were not afraid to cry or thought they weren’t being manly enough. There were many situations their dialogue was full of sobs (both sad and happy ones). It’s not often I see that!
Overall if you don’t mind cheating (not a happy marriage), professor/student and big time gaps in the story then I highly recommend this book! Hope you enjoy!
I didn’t remember Cash too much from the Deepest Desires series but loved seeing all the past characters pop up! If you haven’t read that series no worries, you won’t be lost if you read this first. Cash was an awesome character. I totally understood all his actions and appreciated how he needed time and didn’t just jump right in with Stone after being hurt.
Poor Stone. So much went wrong for him all at the same time and I felt so much for him. One thing I loved about Stone (and Cash too) was how well they showed their emotions. They were not afraid to cry or thought they weren’t being manly enough. There were many situations their dialogue was full of sobs (both sad and happy ones). It’s not often I see that!
Overall if you don’t mind cheating (not a happy marriage), professor/student and big time gaps in the story then I highly recommend this book! Hope you enjoy!
November 8, 2022
So I have 'cheating' and 'no-cheating' tagged in this, because there is absolutely no cheating between our MC's, but they do have an affair while one of them is still married, even if said marriage is practically over and they're separated for part of said affair.
So, i absolutely loved this. It just pulled me in right the beginning and I couldn't put it down. I'd say this was this author's best work to date.
Cash and Stone had instant chemistry. Cash was 21/22 at the start of this and Stone 32, but they had a connection despite the age gap. Cash has been in classes with Stone from his freshmen year, but he didn't notice Stone until seeing him out of his professor get up at a bar at the beginning of his sophomore year.
It was then that Cash gained a seemingly hopeless crush on his older professor. Flash forward two years later at the beginning of Cash's senior year, and he's been a professor's aide to Stone since his junior year, and things change irrevocably between the two men soon enough.
Because for some time, Stone has had an attraction to Cash as well, and has tried to ignore it the best he could, what wit him being his professor, and having a wife. But while at a literary conference in the city one weekend in November, they kiss for the first time. Stone tries to stay away from Cash, but they end up kissing and almost more a second time some weeks later during a thunderstorm.
They stay away for weeks longer, but Stone is finally done with trying with his wife around winter break, and plans to ask her for a divorce soon. Before he does, though, he and Cash start having a full blown affair.
This happens for the last half of Chas's senior year, and they're even planning a life together after Cash graduates and Stone is no longer his teacher. But then just as they're planning that life together, something happens, and Stone vanishes without talking to Cash at all, without telling him why.
Cash is completely heartbroken, of course, and has no idea exactly why Stone vanished. He can only guess.
Fast forward 5 years, and Cash is done getting his phd and has gotten a job as a professor at a university in Texas.
And of course, who should be the Dean at the school, but one Stone Phillips.
This is their second chance, but first a lot of heartbreak, pain and anguish needs to be worked through before these two can really be together for the rest of their lives.
The chemistry is just as palpable between them when they meet up again, and despite Cash's better judgement, he can't seem to stay away from the man who stole and then broke his heart.
But things need to be done, things need to be said, before they can truly move forward with their second chance, and seeing them get there was well worth the pain and heartbreak we have to sit through to watch them get there.
I highly recommend this! It was just so so good. We got some good forbidden professor/student relationship trope-y goodness, with many spicy sex scenes that lived up to that forbidden trope.
This is also in the same world as The Deepest Desires and we see a few of the couples from that series in this book.
👍 Definitely two MASSIVE thumbs up from me! 👍
Can't wait to read more from this author!
So, i absolutely loved this. It just pulled me in right the beginning and I couldn't put it down. I'd say this was this author's best work to date.
Cash and Stone had instant chemistry. Cash was 21/22 at the start of this and Stone 32, but they had a connection despite the age gap. Cash has been in classes with Stone from his freshmen year, but he didn't notice Stone until seeing him out of his professor get up at a bar at the beginning of his sophomore year.
It was then that Cash gained a seemingly hopeless crush on his older professor. Flash forward two years later at the beginning of Cash's senior year, and he's been a professor's aide to Stone since his junior year, and things change irrevocably between the two men soon enough.
Because for some time, Stone has had an attraction to Cash as well, and has tried to ignore it the best he could, what wit him being his professor, and having a wife. But while at a literary conference in the city one weekend in November, they kiss for the first time. Stone tries to stay away from Cash, but they end up kissing and almost more a second time some weeks later during a thunderstorm.
They stay away for weeks longer, but Stone is finally done with trying with his wife around winter break, and plans to ask her for a divorce soon. Before he does, though, he and Cash start having a full blown affair.
This happens for the last half of Chas's senior year, and they're even planning a life together after Cash graduates and Stone is no longer his teacher. But then just as they're planning that life together, something happens, and Stone vanishes without talking to Cash at all, without telling him why.
Cash is completely heartbroken, of course, and has no idea exactly why Stone vanished. He can only guess.
Fast forward 5 years, and Cash is done getting his phd and has gotten a job as a professor at a university in Texas.
And of course, who should be the Dean at the school, but one Stone Phillips.
This is their second chance, but first a lot of heartbreak, pain and anguish needs to be worked through before these two can really be together for the rest of their lives.
The chemistry is just as palpable between them when they meet up again, and despite Cash's better judgement, he can't seem to stay away from the man who stole and then broke his heart.
But things need to be done, things need to be said, before they can truly move forward with their second chance, and seeing them get there was well worth the pain and heartbreak we have to sit through to watch them get there.
I highly recommend this! It was just so so good. We got some good forbidden professor/student relationship trope-y goodness, with many spicy sex scenes that lived up to that forbidden trope.
This is also in the same world as The Deepest Desires and we see a few of the couples from that series in this book.
👍 Definitely two MASSIVE thumbs up from me! 👍
Can't wait to read more from this author!
November 20, 2022
It was like a sequel to the deepest desires series. Because we've got little tidbits about the guys -Brandon, Luca, Knox, Aston and Weston.
Now I'm really wondering if Weston will ever get his HEA.
Now I'm really wondering if Weston will ever get his HEA.
March 1, 2024
2.25⭐
I intended to give it a 3 star or more until I reached the last 40%, The plot becomes more slower.. with empty smuty chapters.
And it really bothered me, cuz when I first read about this book I was expecting an emotional rollercoaster not to be like this, especially when the book started really good.
I hated Stone, his excuses to left Cash didn't feel right to me. His whole character didn't interest me at all, he was so toxic.. to his wife when he cheated on her without feeling enough guilt about it, and to Cash to keeping him in the dark for five years!!!
On the other hand I loved Cash at the beginning, but after that no.. he can't be like this.. cuz why I could sleep with someone who's married and I know it, and after he left me for years I run to take first sexual step with him when he never give me any justification. This is so embarrassing!
If I were searching for something spicy without plot I wouldn't hate it this much, but I ended up skipping most of the smut scene, and feeling nothing when I should. There were so many unnecessary details, about the places.. the emotions.. the characters, especially the characters because I didn't know that everyone had their own book so I was not understanding why I should read about them.
Whoever said home isn’t a place, it’s a feeling, is absolutely fucking correct.
He’s my home.
I intended to give it a 3 star or more until I reached the last 40%, The plot becomes more slower.. with empty smuty chapters.
And it really bothered me, cuz when I first read about this book I was expecting an emotional rollercoaster not to be like this, especially when the book started really good.
I hated Stone, his excuses to left Cash didn't feel right to me. His whole character didn't interest me at all, he was so toxic.. to his wife when he cheated on her without feeling enough guilt about it, and to Cash to keeping him in the dark for five years!!!
On the other hand I loved Cash at the beginning, but after that no.. he can't be like this.. cuz why I could sleep with someone who's married and I know it, and after he left me for years I run to take first sexual step with him when he never give me any justification. This is so embarrassing!
If I were searching for something spicy without plot I wouldn't hate it this much, but I ended up skipping most of the smut scene, and feeling nothing when I should. There were so many unnecessary details, about the places.. the emotions.. the characters, especially the characters because I didn't know that everyone had their own book so I was not understanding why I should read about them.
Whoever said home isn’t a place, it’s a feeling, is absolutely fucking correct.
He’s my home.
November 2, 2022
4.75
I'M MADLY IN LOVE WITH CASH AND STONE 😍😍😍
It's been a while since a book made me feel like i couldn't read fast enough, like i could skip sleep because the only important thing is reading the story... and that's what happened with Kismet.
When I signed up for it, I didn’t even fully read the blurb: knowing it was a student/teacher romance and that it was by Ashley James, was enough for me. BEST DECISION EVER!!
Ashley has a way to make you feel so much. Her stories are always deep and meaningful... and I've come to the conclusion she is a bit of a sadistic: her poor characters have to work really hard to get their happy ending 😂
There are many reasons Cash and Stone shouldn't be together. And it seems universe prove them right when they got separate ways, breaking their hearts in the process.
But how can two souls who belong together stay away from one another?
A second chance has never been so right and heartbreakingly beautiful 😍🥰
The bond Stone and Cash share is something unique, powerful and vivid. I could feel on my skin their feelings toward each other.
It's doesn’t hurt that they are also so damn filthy ... 🥵🥵😏
One of the things i loved the most, tho, is the fact that Ashley showed us Stone and Cash completely, at their better and at their worst.
It made them more real.
And I LOVED IT😍
Ps. Teasing us with some Weston and Enzo' action is evil and it's driving me crazy 🥵🔥
I'M MADLY IN LOVE WITH CASH AND STONE 😍😍😍
It's been a while since a book made me feel like i couldn't read fast enough, like i could skip sleep because the only important thing is reading the story... and that's what happened with Kismet.
When I signed up for it, I didn’t even fully read the blurb: knowing it was a student/teacher romance and that it was by Ashley James, was enough for me. BEST DECISION EVER!!
Ashley has a way to make you feel so much. Her stories are always deep and meaningful... and I've come to the conclusion she is a bit of a sadistic: her poor characters have to work really hard to get their happy ending 😂
There are many reasons Cash and Stone shouldn't be together. And it seems universe prove them right when they got separate ways, breaking their hearts in the process.
But how can two souls who belong together stay away from one another?
A second chance has never been so right and heartbreakingly beautiful 😍🥰
The bond Stone and Cash share is something unique, powerful and vivid. I could feel on my skin their feelings toward each other.
It's doesn’t hurt that they are also so damn filthy ... 🥵🥵😏
One of the things i loved the most, tho, is the fact that Ashley showed us Stone and Cash completely, at their better and at their worst.
It made them more real.
And I LOVED IT😍
Ps. Teasing us with some Weston and Enzo' action is evil and it's driving me crazy 🥵🔥
October 28, 2022
This is going to be one of those times I absolutely beg you to read the book! Because Cash and Stone’s story is one of those ones that will absolutely shatter you and then slowly stitch your heart back together.. and I’m telling you, every god damned second of pain is worth it.
It’s forbidden, it’s delicious and it’s steamy AF.. and Ashley’s ability (or cruelty) to throw in all the angst had me nearly dying and wondering what the bloody hell was going to happen.
Now, I don’t want to give away any spoilers so I’m just going to gush about the characters. And shag me sideways, Stone is the man of my bloody dreams! He’s hot as all hell and when the fuck did professors go from stuffy to god damn drool worthy, wrapped in leather, with combat boots AND straddling a bike?! Fan me down, you’ll love him because he is bad daddy vibes with a shattered heart of gold and I want more of him everyday!
Then Cash, this boys heart is pure and sunshine and I want to adopt him as my bestie. His intense connection to Stone is handled with such grown up actions for a college kid.. I feel like even when the situation hurt him he handled it with grace and maturity and we stan this kind of man.
I know I haven’t said much plot wise but I don’t want to give anything away.. I will say their story is told in parts, we get a couple of time jumps which is where the bloody angst comes in. There is cheating, although not on each other, so you’ve been warned.
If you like the hurty ones, the ones full of chemistry and the ones with the MC’s that steal your whole heart, then Kismet should be right at the top of your TBR.
It’s forbidden, it’s delicious and it’s steamy AF.. and Ashley’s ability (or cruelty) to throw in all the angst had me nearly dying and wondering what the bloody hell was going to happen.
Now, I don’t want to give away any spoilers so I’m just going to gush about the characters. And shag me sideways, Stone is the man of my bloody dreams! He’s hot as all hell and when the fuck did professors go from stuffy to god damn drool worthy, wrapped in leather, with combat boots AND straddling a bike?! Fan me down, you’ll love him because he is bad daddy vibes with a shattered heart of gold and I want more of him everyday!
Then Cash, this boys heart is pure and sunshine and I want to adopt him as my bestie. His intense connection to Stone is handled with such grown up actions for a college kid.. I feel like even when the situation hurt him he handled it with grace and maturity and we stan this kind of man.
I know I haven’t said much plot wise but I don’t want to give anything away.. I will say their story is told in parts, we get a couple of time jumps which is where the bloody angst comes in. There is cheating, although not on each other, so you’ve been warned.
If you like the hurty ones, the ones full of chemistry and the ones with the MC’s that steal your whole heart, then Kismet should be right at the top of your TBR.
dnf
September 20, 202369.2 and giving up. Of course when the two MCs finally communicate, it's all the idiot wife's fault, not the cheating but somehow perfect husband.
December 5, 2022
ＫＩＳＭＥＴ by @authorashleyjames
.
This is a story of Cash and Stone, and how they became companions under the stars, drifted apart, endured heartbreak and loss in solitude, and as was written in their Kismet, found their way back to each other years later.
.
Cash meets Stone at a bar while out for drinks with friends, and notices his usually suit & tie clad English professor in his biker element, wondering why he never caught his eye before. He thirsts for his hottie prof. and being Stone's TA, and their close proximity, didn't help with his growing lust either. Stone invites Cash for a convention, and as much as Cash yearns for his teach, he is totally unaware that Stone hungers for him as well. Blending all that sexual tension with whiskey, leads to a hot, passionate kiss. And over time, with heated glances, late night texts, secret rendezvous, and hopes for a future together, their connection blossoms into a precious thing.
Until Stone disappeared, just like that, without a word or any trace of him, shattering Cash's heart into a million pieces, just like the stars at night they used to sit under.
But what's gonna happen when their Kismet brings them back in each other's lives after 5 long years, will Cash finally get the answers he's been searching for, will Stone be able to face his demons and pour his heart out to his bambi, and if Cash will ever forgive and give Stone a second chance?
.
This book was such a whirlwind of emotions, and Ashley completely obliterated my heart with Stash's story. The growth she's been on as an author, delivering these unique stories and characters is admirable, and I loved it and Cash so freaking much, he was the sweetest sweet sweetheart🤍, with his manners and kindness, I loved that he didn't make it easy for Stone. And Stone's story took me by surprise, the sorrow he felt, the way he craved Cash's affection while crying in his room, and that couch scene where he revealed the real reason behind his disappearance, the whole description, I could feel the sadness Stone felt for that family🖤, and that's the power Ashley's writing. The smut 🥵💀💦, I wasn't ready for it. All the cameos 💟
.
Edit is mine, pics aren't
.
This is a story of Cash and Stone, and how they became companions under the stars, drifted apart, endured heartbreak and loss in solitude, and as was written in their Kismet, found their way back to each other years later.
.
Cash meets Stone at a bar while out for drinks with friends, and notices his usually suit & tie clad English professor in his biker element, wondering why he never caught his eye before. He thirsts for his hottie prof. and being Stone's TA, and their close proximity, didn't help with his growing lust either. Stone invites Cash for a convention, and as much as Cash yearns for his teach, he is totally unaware that Stone hungers for him as well. Blending all that sexual tension with whiskey, leads to a hot, passionate kiss. And over time, with heated glances, late night texts, secret rendezvous, and hopes for a future together, their connection blossoms into a precious thing.
Until Stone disappeared, just like that, without a word or any trace of him, shattering Cash's heart into a million pieces, just like the stars at night they used to sit under.
But what's gonna happen when their Kismet brings them back in each other's lives after 5 long years, will Cash finally get the answers he's been searching for, will Stone be able to face his demons and pour his heart out to his bambi, and if Cash will ever forgive and give Stone a second chance?
.
This book was such a whirlwind of emotions, and Ashley completely obliterated my heart with Stash's story. The growth she's been on as an author, delivering these unique stories and characters is admirable, and I loved it and Cash so freaking much, he was the sweetest sweet sweetheart🤍, with his manners and kindness, I loved that he didn't make it easy for Stone. And Stone's story took me by surprise, the sorrow he felt, the way he craved Cash's affection while crying in his room, and that couch scene where he revealed the real reason behind his disappearance, the whole description, I could feel the sadness Stone felt for that family🖤, and that's the power Ashley's writing. The smut 🥵💀💦, I wasn't ready for it. All the cameos 💟
.
Edit is mine, pics aren't
October 21, 2022
“I was homesick for so long, but it wasn’t a place I was missing. It was you.”
Can Ashley write anything other than a masterpiece? The answer would be no. You just can’t help but to fall in love with all of her characters. Including the best friend side characters.
This book really put me through all the emotions but I loved every second of it.
Stone didn’t just break Cashs heart. He broke mine too, twice over. But my god did he put it all back together again.
Their love, their life, their forever was inevitable. It was Kismet. There is simply no other word for it.
Can Ashley write anything other than a masterpiece? The answer would be no. You just can’t help but to fall in love with all of her characters. Including the best friend side characters.
This book really put me through all the emotions but I loved every second of it.
Stone didn’t just break Cashs heart. He broke mine too, twice over. But my god did he put it all back together again.
Their love, their life, their forever was inevitable. It was Kismet. There is simply no other word for it.
August 6, 2023
3.75 stars
- student x professor
- age gap (10 years)
- second chance
- cheating (not on each other)
- mutual pining
Cash had a brief but all consuming affair with his professor in college, believing that once he graduated he and Stone would live happily ever after. That dream comes crashing down when Stone up and disappears without a trace, leaving Cash broken and confused.
Five years later Cash has moved on, fulfilling his dream of getting a PhD and becoming an English professor at a college in Texas. Imagine his surprise when the dean of the university is none other than the man who completely wrecked him all those years ago.
There's a lot of hurt and anger, as to be expected, on Cash's side, and their first meeting does not end well. Stone knows he needs to tell the man he's loved for all these years the truth, but Cash wants nothing to do with him. Stone refuses to let things go between them, and when the truth finally comes out everything changes.
I honestly don't know what to say, Kismet was unlike anything I expected it to be, and not in a bad way. Cash & Stone's story is full of angst and heartache, longing and passion, and makes their happily ever after a bit sweeter because of it. Stone's profession of love for Cash is so beautifully written, and hands down one of my all time favorites. Their story isn't for everyone, but it was wonderful.
- student x professor
- age gap (10 years)
- second chance
- cheating (not on each other)
- mutual pining
Cash had a brief but all consuming affair with his professor in college, believing that once he graduated he and Stone would live happily ever after. That dream comes crashing down when Stone up and disappears without a trace, leaving Cash broken and confused.
Five years later Cash has moved on, fulfilling his dream of getting a PhD and becoming an English professor at a college in Texas. Imagine his surprise when the dean of the university is none other than the man who completely wrecked him all those years ago.
There's a lot of hurt and anger, as to be expected, on Cash's side, and their first meeting does not end well. Stone knows he needs to tell the man he's loved for all these years the truth, but Cash wants nothing to do with him. Stone refuses to let things go between them, and when the truth finally comes out everything changes.
I honestly don't know what to say, Kismet was unlike anything I expected it to be, and not in a bad way. Cash & Stone's story is full of angst and heartache, longing and passion, and makes their happily ever after a bit sweeter because of it. Stone's profession of love for Cash is so beautifully written, and hands down one of my all time favorites. Their story isn't for everyone, but it was wonderful.
February 8, 2023
I've wanted to read this book for a long time because forbidden love is a trope that I love, and this one will undoubtedly leave marks on my soul and heart.
Reading these two's struggle for a love that was predestined, but life happens, and the obstacles to getting to The End they deserved, made this a beautiful story with equal parts love and lust, broken hearts, and redemption.
The end of the first part left me in shock, and until I found out what had happened, I always felt on edge... I suffered with them, knowing that they deserved to be together, but that was going to take a long time to heal all those wounds.
Quoting a friend, this story consumed me, both in pain and in love!
The sex is just incredible.... 2 words: YOGA ROOM! "Jesus, take the fucking wheel.". And the dirty talk... Well, that was dirty, indeed.
The only reason for not giving 5 stars is that I thought that sometimes things happened out of context, like why bambi... Or Stone's sister having a sex club... ok, but why?
What I wished had happened: They were the two English teachers who loved literature but never discussed it. What were their favorite books? Love quotes... I wish they had that.
Reading these two's struggle for a love that was predestined, but life happens, and the obstacles to getting to The End they deserved, made this a beautiful story with equal parts love and lust, broken hearts, and redemption.
The end of the first part left me in shock, and until I found out what had happened, I always felt on edge... I suffered with them, knowing that they deserved to be together, but that was going to take a long time to heal all those wounds.
Quoting a friend, this story consumed me, both in pain and in love!
The sex is just incredible.... 2 words: YOGA ROOM! "Jesus, take the fucking wheel.". And the dirty talk... Well, that was dirty, indeed.
The only reason for not giving 5 stars is that I thought that sometimes things happened out of context, like why bambi... Or Stone's sister having a sex club... ok, but why?
What I wished had happened: They were the two English teachers who loved literature but never discussed it. What were their favorite books? Love quotes... I wish they had that.
May 15, 2024
3.5
I’m pissed off. Stone’s reason for leaving & ghosting was so stupid. Idgaf. I can’t understand it and I won’t. Stone is a weak fool and doesn’t deserve Cash. 😭 MF U SHOULD AND COULD have come back for yo man after all that therapy. Fucking useless!! UGHH, U LET 5 YEARS OF SEPARATION FLY BY WITHOUT NO EXPLANATION. I would have NEVER EVER forgive Stone. Cash u a better man than me. I wish Cash hold a grudge and made him grovel a little more. But it’s whateva, I can oversee. But I can never forgive. Cash u a naive fool, but youre my naive foolish idiot hero who I can’t help, but love. Stone, I can’t say the same. I hate you, “teach.” Anyway, end of the rant.
I’m pissed off. Stone’s reason for leaving & ghosting was so stupid. Idgaf. I can’t understand it and I won’t. Stone is a weak fool and doesn’t deserve Cash. 😭 MF U SHOULD AND COULD have come back for yo man after all that therapy. Fucking useless!! UGHH, U LET 5 YEARS OF SEPARATION FLY BY WITHOUT NO EXPLANATION. I would have NEVER EVER forgive Stone. Cash u a better man than me. I wish Cash hold a grudge and made him grovel a little more. But it’s whateva, I can oversee. But I can never forgive. Cash u a naive fool, but youre my naive foolish idiot hero who I can’t help, but love. Stone, I can’t say the same. I hate you, “teach.” Anyway, end of the rant.
Read
November 6, 2022Dnf at 46% This book should not have been as boring as it ended up being. I would have stopped reading much sooner if I hadn't read the reviews, which promised angst and intensity. I didn't particularly get any of that, the dialogue was a bit cringy in my opinion, the chemistry a bit lacking, the angst underwhelming and the main characters not particularly likeable or interesting. And "Bambi"?? Really? That was the cherry on top, lol!
June 2, 2024
I love a student professor forbidden romance so i enjoyed for the most part but the miscommunication in this was just not it. I cannot stand when a conversation can easily be had but instead the character says “i couldnt get the words out” youre like 40 spit it tf out sir.
The smut was hot
The book was much too long . Everything after the 60% mark couldve been edited
down !
The smut was hot
The book was much too long . Everything after the 60% mark couldve been edited
down !
February 24, 2023
Where to start? I did enjoy part one of this book somewhat, despite the evil wife cliche (I stupidly thought she was must have been mentally ill and this would redeem her to a degree), but the entire book started falling apart in part 2.
The two MCs were both English professors but neither ever had anything insightful or profound to say to each other or about each other. It felt like a wasted opportunity. I liked Cash enough, but for the most part I couldn’t stand Stone. I felt very little empathy for him, probably because his only personality trait that I could see, was being in love with Cash, which was reiterated over and over again.
At some point this book started to read like bad fan fiction and as though the author was checking off a list of cliches; daddy/boy interactions? Check. Bisexual character having engaged in a threesome? Check. Visiting a sex club? (Which happened very suddenly and seemed out of character for both of them) Check. Voyeurism? Check. Dubcon blow job while at work in a voice meeting? Check. Random, suddenly and poorly explained forced distance / separation at the 75-85% mark? Check.
This book is entirely too long, and repetitive and I got to the point where I was longing for it to end. - when you start skimming through the sex scenes, you know there’s something wrong - but because my brain will just not accept the sunk cost fallacy, I soldiered on (read: skimmed large chunks) until the protracted and cliched end. Maybe it will get better, I assured myself. It didn’t.
The two MCs were both English professors but neither ever had anything insightful or profound to say to each other or about each other. It felt like a wasted opportunity. I liked Cash enough, but for the most part I couldn’t stand Stone. I felt very little empathy for him, probably because his only personality trait that I could see, was being in love with Cash, which was reiterated over and over again.
At some point this book started to read like bad fan fiction and as though the author was checking off a list of cliches; daddy/boy interactions? Check. Bisexual character having engaged in a threesome? Check. Visiting a sex club? (Which happened very suddenly and seemed out of character for both of them) Check. Voyeurism? Check. Dubcon blow job while at work in a voice meeting? Check. Random, suddenly and poorly explained forced distance / separation at the 75-85% mark? Check.
This book is entirely too long, and repetitive and I got to the point where I was longing for it to end. - when you start skimming through the sex scenes, you know there’s something wrong - but because my brain will just not accept the sunk cost fallacy, I soldiered on (read: skimmed large chunks) until the protracted and cliched end. Maybe it will get better, I assured myself. It didn’t.
dnf
June 25, 2024Life’s too short for boring books. DNF
December 2, 2022
3.5 stars
April 16, 2023
dnf at 85%.
February 10, 2023
Kismet (Ashley James)
This has been a rollicking good story from start to finish. Well written and such well developed characters, even the side characters.
Cash DeMarco is a 20 year old Senior at WSU, he’s Majoring is English and his dream is to become a Professor of English and also a writer. His next step towards that goal is to graduate and become a teacher.
One night while out with his friends at a club his eyes are drawn to an older guy dancing with his girlfriend/wife. He stares and whips his eyes away when the guy looks over and stares at him too. After a moment he recognises the man as Stone Phillips, one of his Professors. A while later, the dancing couple have disappeared.
In order to gain some extra experience, Cash volunteers as an assistant to Teaching Staff for his final year. He would help them grade students papers and other stuff. He was very happy to hear that he was assigned to Professor Phillips in the English Department.
Thus began a working relationship between a Professor and a student, which became fraught with danger when both men develop inappropriate attraction for each other.
But these two just cannot stay away from each other. Sneaking out late at night to meet in field to look at the stars, attend conventions necessitating long weekend trip.
Student/ Married Teacher, no no no not good. Recipe for disaster in the making.
Grab a copy of Kismet and read this novel length story, you won’t regret it. There’s plenty of very steamy scenes, indoors and outside, plus an interesting storyline that will hold your interest till the end.
I don’t think I’ve read anything by Ashley James before but based on this book I’ll definitely look for more of her work.
This has been a rollicking good story from start to finish. Well written and such well developed characters, even the side characters.
Cash DeMarco is a 20 year old Senior at WSU, he’s Majoring is English and his dream is to become a Professor of English and also a writer. His next step towards that goal is to graduate and become a teacher.
One night while out with his friends at a club his eyes are drawn to an older guy dancing with his girlfriend/wife. He stares and whips his eyes away when the guy looks over and stares at him too. After a moment he recognises the man as Stone Phillips, one of his Professors. A while later, the dancing couple have disappeared.
In order to gain some extra experience, Cash volunteers as an assistant to Teaching Staff for his final year. He would help them grade students papers and other stuff. He was very happy to hear that he was assigned to Professor Phillips in the English Department.
Thus began a working relationship between a Professor and a student, which became fraught with danger when both men develop inappropriate attraction for each other.
But these two just cannot stay away from each other. Sneaking out late at night to meet in field to look at the stars, attend conventions necessitating long weekend trip.
Student/ Married Teacher, no no no not good. Recipe for disaster in the making.
Grab a copy of Kismet and read this novel length story, you won’t regret it. There’s plenty of very steamy scenes, indoors and outside, plus an interesting storyline that will hold your interest till the end.
I don’t think I’ve read anything by Ashley James before but based on this book I’ll definitely look for more of her work.
September 26, 2023
I love Stone and Cash!
I really enjoyed this story! I’m a huge fan of second chance romances and this is an example of it done right. Stone and Cash were everything!
They started off as a professor and student aide which gave us some forbidden elements. Also Stone was married. I love a cheating trope too 🤣 Despite all of these things stacked against them, I looooved these two together. Just when things seemed to be going forward, something happens, and Stone leaves without a word.
Fast forward 5 years later, as fate would have it, they are back in each others lives. Oh Cash definitely doesn’t make it easy on Stone. This story is right person wrong time. I loved the slow development of the second time around. There isn’t a quick turnaround. So much time has past along with a ton of hurt.
One critique that I do have is the amount of sex scenes. I’m a lover of all things smut but the sex scenes here were a bit long and overdone. The last 25% of the story there was a sex scene every few pages. It just prolonged the book and didn’t add anything to the story itself.
Beautiful story! Well written! Stone and Cash were amazing characters! I highly recommend this story!
I really enjoyed this story! I’m a huge fan of second chance romances and this is an example of it done right. Stone and Cash were everything!
They started off as a professor and student aide which gave us some forbidden elements. Also Stone was married. I love a cheating trope too 🤣 Despite all of these things stacked against them, I looooved these two together. Just when things seemed to be going forward, something happens, and Stone leaves without a word.
Fast forward 5 years later, as fate would have it, they are back in each others lives. Oh Cash definitely doesn’t make it easy on Stone. This story is right person wrong time. I loved the slow development of the second time around. There isn’t a quick turnaround. So much time has past along with a ton of hurt.
One critique that I do have is the amount of sex scenes. I’m a lover of all things smut but the sex scenes here were a bit long and overdone. The last 25% of the story there was a sex scene every few pages. It just prolonged the book and didn’t add anything to the story itself.
Beautiful story! Well written! Stone and Cash were amazing characters! I highly recommend this story!
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