Blowing Smoke: A Small-town Firefighter Gay Romance (The Wilds Book 2) by Ashton Cade

 

Amazon Link - Available in KU
Goodreads Link

Sometimes even the strongest men need saving.

Hunter:

As an Alaskan smokejumper, I'm used to palling around with tough guys. My best friend Jared just became Chief of Police here in Gateway, and the whole town relies on him to keep them safe. I've realized I want to serve and protect him in an entirely different way. When he's forced to vacate his sick apartment building and takes the apartment on my property, we get close. When he's out taking care of Gateway's people in a snowstorm and his patrol car gets snowed under and he is struck with pneumonia, we get closer. I'm the one to come to his rescue.

Sure, he's the one who is unconscious, but Jared has become my fever-dream.

Can reality compare to the fantasy I have of us together, forever? 

My Rating - 4 Stars!

Blowing Smoke is a riveting friends to lovers romance. The second book in The Wilds series, this Ashton Cade book is easily read as a standalone. 

I love friends to lovers romance, and this one is spectacular, as Jared and Hunter take tentative steps towards facing their new found feelings. 

The two have been friends with benefits for years. I enjoy the storyline that brings them closer. I definitely got annoyed with Jared's stubbornness and wanted to give him a quick kick in the ass though. 

Their tale includes a health issue, job issues, and family obligations. The men have a strong connection and I have no doubt they belong together. 

I definitely enjoy their budding relationship, but then, damn, when the action/danger hits, I was pulled into the scene with Jared. I felt every single thought. I felt every second of the cold. And the heat. I saw every thing he saw. Basically, the writing is all consuming at that point, completely impressing me.

Blowing Smoke is a nice romance that sucked me in from the start. I enjoyed this Ashton Cade read and am glad to have discovered it. 

BOOK TOUR & GIVEAWAY - Six Nights in Paradise by Ashley Cade

Title: Six Nights in Paradise

Author: Ashley Cade

Genre: New Adult/Contemporary Romance

Release Date: July 16, 2020

She was off limits.

My best friend’s little sister.

He warned me away from her once and I’d respected his wishes, but six nights alone with her in a tropical paradise tests my loyalties.

When my fiancé calls off our wedding with only days to spare, I’m left with two non-refundable tickets to our honeymoon. The only person available to take her spot: Taylor Wesley.

I try to keep my word and keep my hands to myself, but some temptations are too hard to resist. The passion between us explodes like a stick of dynamite. With a connection this hot, someone is bound to get burned.

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Ashley is an author and book lover living in Ohio with her husband and two sons. She's loved reading since childhood and has always enjoyed creating characters and stories. She finds inspiration everywhere: a song on the radio, a person she passes on the street, a place she's visited on vacation. She lets her imagination run wild and her fingers do the typing.

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Daiquiris and Dreams (Hearts of Snow Lake Book 7) by Ashton Cade

Amazon Link - Available in KU

Goodreads Link

Blurb

Taylor:

Pretty much everyone in my life has teased me about my crush on the boss at this point. I figured Noah knew and was just saving me some embarrassment by playing dumb. Hard to believe an astute guy like him could be so clueless, but I’ve heard crazier things, I guess.

Since the accident, he's just in shock. He’s always been a man of few words, which I've chalked up to him being ex-military, but this is on another level. This is a man shutting down, and I’m trying my best to keep him from slipping under the surface. It’s not like I have any comforting words to offer⁠—there’s not much of a bright side here. No silver lining to losing your brother and sister-in-law in a horrific bus accident. His little niece Bailey’s alive, but babies are so fragile, so unpredictable.

Who's going to take care of her? And who's going to take care of Noah? I guess I'll step up. But ... who's going to take care of me?

Noah:

After a long day tending bar, it’s really nice to come home to a friendly face. Nicer than I really want to admit. And it’s not just any friendly face, it’s Taylor. The guy that’s way too young for me. Way too sweet for me too.

Ever since the accident, he's been more amazing than I could ever dream. Even though I don't know what I would do without him, I have to think of his welfare. I just know it’s better for him if I keep my distance, don’t get involved. I’m a cranky old son of a bitch with too much baggage for someone with an uncomplicated life like his. I’ve never had anyone other than my brother, and to be honest, I wasn’t always great at being there for him. First chance I got I joined the Army to get away from the bullshit of our life, leaving him to figure out his own way.

I don’t deserve to even be having thoughts about a guy like Taylor, a guy with such a big heart. The kind of guy that sees a curmudgeon like me and thinks there’s something worth saving.

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Ashton Cade's Daiquiris and Dreams, the seventh book in the Hearts of Snow Lake is an emotionally riveting story.

Noah's haunted by his past, drowning in grief as well as pain from his PTSD. Taylor, who's long crushed on his boss Noah, suddenly finds himself hired to be his manny. I love the way their story starts. It's emotional, full of pain and grief, yet firmly sets the stage for this wonderful boss/employee romance. Taylor is super sweet and sensitive, and I love the ways in which Taylor helps to bring Noah back to life. 

As for Bailey, well, if you like babies, you will love her. She is the cutest and I absolutely adore her.

This is a story of surviving one's grief, fears, and doubts. It's a story of finding love through pain and loss.

The outside forces that cause angst is probably a little forced for some people. For me, I enjoyed it a lot and just went with it. It's definitely emotional, both scary and creepy.

I enjoy the sooth writing, the intriguing characters, and the well developed storyline. There is fantastic character growth for both men and a whole lot of romance. It's written in first person, present tense, which I usually hate, but I didn't even notice it until well into the book. 

Overall, Daiquiris and Dreams is a splendid romance. The entire Hearts of Snow Lake series is captivating. If you love small towns, these books are a must read. 

Hearts of Snow Lake series - 

Book 1 - Motorcycles and Macarons

Book 2 - Sidearms and Spareribs

Book 3 - Piñatas and Paintbrushes

Book 4 - Trifles and Treasures

Book 5 - Six-Packs and Snowshoes

Book 5.5 - Gratitude and Gravy

Book 6 - Stethoscopes and Spirits

Book 6.5 - Stockings and Sugarplums

Stockings and Sugarplums (Hearts of Snow Lake #6.5) by Ashton Cade

Amazon Link

Goodreads Link

Blurb

Phineas:

I’m not just attracted to Pastor Liam. I don’t only think he’s a great guy who I want to spend more time with. There’s more to it. Feelings I have never felt toward any guy, no matter how much I wished I would. As crazy as it sounds, Liam’s the total package. I didn’t even believe in this kind of nonsense before him, but I feel like he might be The One. 

Yeah, insane. I know. I never bought into that fairy tale, soul-mates bullsh!t before, but there’s this indescribable tug to be nearer to Liam, to get to know him better, that has never existed for me. What else could it be? Just one little problem with that though: I’m almost positive Liam’s not gay. He's a pastor, for crying out loud.

When push comes to shove in Liam's life, I start to understand exactly why the ministry is a calling for him. He can’t help himself. Self-preservation isn’t even part of the equation when there’s someone hurting and in need. That is what makes him so special. Not only has he made me believe in love, but he's also rekindling my faith in humanity. He's just so... good.



Liam:

Phineas has this air of sophistication and experience about him that I could never aspire to. He’s way out of my league. But he has me completely wrapped around his finger. 

I haven’t dated a lot, mostly because of my own awkwardness about the whole religious thing. Looking for a boyfriend in seminary seemed hopeless, and once I became a pastor, that made me undateable to a lot of the gay community. I’m attracted to him, that much is plain as day, but it’s more than that. It’s the way he looks at me, the way he jumps to help me whenever he’s got the chance. That’s not something I’ve ever really had before. And it's something I really need now that I'm juggling not only my ministry and my mother, but also a huge, new life-change that has fallen into my lap just in time for Christmas.

I need a man I can count on, who loves me. Could Phineas Molleni be the answer to my prayers?

Stockings and Sugarplums is a special holiday novella in the Hearts of Snow Lake series. It builds on the Thanksgiving book, Gravy and Gratitude. Happy Holidays from Ashton Cade and the town of Snow Lake!

Review 

My Rating - 4 Stars!

Stockings and Sugarplums is a quick paced, fast holiday romance by Aston Cade. This adorable story is part of the Hearts of Snow Lake series.

This is a great story, Liam, the new pastor, and Phineas fall in love. With just 113 pages, there isn't a whole lot to their storyline, but there are definitely some strong emotional moments.

The author once again creates a delighful read with great, fluid writing. The characters are both strong and interesting. The theme of found family is strong, and they find a homeless teen who perfectly adds to this storyline.

Liam and Phineas are so darn perfect together. Stockings and Sugarplums is a fun insta-love read that is perfect when you're in the mood for a sweet, fluffy romance. And if you haven't yet met the characters of the small town of Snow Lake, go back and start with Motorcycles and Macarons. You won't regret it.

Stethoscopes and Spirits (Hearts of Snow Lake #6) by Ashton Cade

Amazon Link

Goodreads Link

Blurb

Jasper:

Simon's off-limits. Off-limits in so many ways I can’t even keep track of them all. And I think he’s oblivious to how much I want him. 

At least I hope he is. I’ve been trying to keep it to myself, trying not to cause any issues with my job or his internship at my clinic. It’s the kind of thing that could be a lot of trouble for us both, and not just because his dad, one of my closest friends, would have my head and lock him in a closet for safekeeping.

Simon might be cute, he might be charming and good at his job, but he’s not worth losing focus for. 

Nothing is.

So we make some bad decisions. Call it casual.

I’m not supposed to be feeling above-the-belt things for Simon Blunt. I’m especially not supposed to be feeling this wild need to claim and protect him.

Simon:

I don’t know how I’m going to deal with this crush that’s still alive and well after all these years. At first I figured it was just a stupid kid thing and when I saw Dr. Twill again I’d have easily outgrown it.

Of course that didn’t happen.

Shadowing him, seeing how he interacts with people, how much he cares about his work, I know this isn’t the same horny teenage crush I had a decade ago.

Jasper’s an older man, a doctor, former military, insanely fit. Who wouldn’t have a crush in those circumstances? But with us, there’s an extra level--the history, the nostalgia… the wrongness. I know my dad would flip his lid if anything happened between me and Jasper. 

But... is that enough of a reason to stay away?

Review 

My Rating - 4.5 Stars!

The sixth book in Ashton Cade's Heart of Snow Lake series, Stethoscopes and Spirits, is a great age gap romance.

At almost twice Simon's age, Jasper can't help but to fall for his friend's son. 

In town for an intership with Jasper, Simon discovers he's still attracted to his father's friend, the handsome older doctor. What follows is a relationship full of doubts, fears, and a whole lot of sexy times. Seriously, I love the conflict involved with falling for each other. That's always an aspect I enjoy in a romance, and the author does a god job with this one, without it being too angsty.

It's a good, passionate romance that also happens to have a stalker storyline. And damn, it's intense, as the guy is completely unhinged. It's also a relationship with a time limit, hot chemistry, and sizzling scenes.

The only flaw is the ending seems forced and wraps up a little too quickly. 

I absolutely love this series, and Stethoscopes and Spirits is a perfect addition to it. I highly recommend this series to anyone looking for a small town romance. And with this book, it's one of my favorites so far.