Ash

AshHel's InkDJ Krimmer

May 23

Written By Ally Talley

Hel’s Ink #3

By DJ Krimmer

~ Can be read as a standalone ~

TheStory

After a mortifying one night stand with Sunday, Ash ran out of her room and never spoke to her again. When Sunday joins the Hel’s Ink gang, Ash now has to face the consequences of his idiotic choices that night. But rather than admit to his shame, Ash pretends that he doesn’t remember Sunday.

For Sunday, it wasn’t just a one night stand, it was the best date she’d ever been on and his failure to pleasure her didn’t ruin it. However, when Ash pretends not to know her, she embarrasses him right back by telling the group about their one night stand (or lack thereof). She’s hurt and he’s ashamed. When Sunday winds up living next door to Ash, they’re both just going to have to get over it as they navigate their circle of friends and Sunday’s son’s relationship with Ash.

TheReview

WOOF! These two have serious issues. Man, does that make for a great story.

Ash refuses to allow any woman to be close to him after his previous relationship with an abusive woman. After her last failed relationship, Sunday refuses to let anyone close to her or her son. They both have walls and want to be closed off to romantic entanglements but we all know that doesn’t go well. They’re both damaged similarly and have similar walls up, so they have a unique ability to understand each other even though they deal with their trauma in different ways.

The book sells as a fake wedding date trope but it isn’t quite as cliche as all that. Ash and Sunday build up a complicated relationship before the wedding, so when Ash asks Sunday to be his date, it’s not quite so cheesy and out of the blue as a normal fake date trope book usually is. Very organic.

Besides all the other characters that I know and love, Sunday’s son Wade was a great addition as well. The scenes with him and Ash felt just as organic as the rest of the book and their relationship felt real.

I read this book so freaking fast, I couldn’t believe it was already the end. It was adorable perfection. I REALLY wanted more of a “Suck on that!” moment with Ash’s ex, so that little teeny-tiny part left me wholly unsatisfied. But it was such a minor event, the book is still my favorite of the series so far. It just keeps getting better.