Amber to Ashes by Gail McHugh ~ Review & Quote-tastic

This was an amazing book first book in the Torn Hearts series! Amber to Ashes sucked me in and left me wanting the next book now! It is released today... go get it now!!

Title: Amber to Ashes

Author: Gail McHugh

Series: Torn Hearts #1

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: June 9th 2015

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From the New York Times bestselling author of Collide and Pulse comes a gritty new novel about a shattered young woman who unexpectedly falls for two best friends as she struggles to overcome the trauma of her tormented childhood.

They were a storm I never saw coming, an unforeseen heartbreak on the edge of a dangerous cliff.

Amber Moretti's life changes in the span of minutes. An orphaned outsider, she is desperate to start fresh the moment she walks onto campus. In the time it takes to cross the university’s dining hall, she meets two men who bring color, air, and light to her darkened world.

They became my addiction, each a needle to my next hit, my high.

Brock Cunningham’s appeal is dizzying, a potent force Amber can’t deny. A green-eyed smooth talker, he instantly attracts Amber. It doesn’t take long for him to consume her every thought, her every breath.

Ryder Ashcroft, a blue-eyed, tattooed, and pierced bad boy, turns Amber off immediately—that is, until he kisses her, stealing a piece of her heart, her soul.

They were as opposite as fire and ice, yet I ached for them equally.

Never knowing she could be broken down in so many unexpectedly beautiful yet petrifying ways, Amber finds herself falling for both men.

Immoral? Maybe. I say undeniable. Uncontained.

But one event changes everything, shattering each of their lives…and Amber isn’t sure she can come back from it.

This book totally took me by surprise and I loved every moment of reading it! I found it so hard to put the book down, wanting to get back to it to keep reading. I was pulled into this amazing and complex world, getting to know Ryder and Brock through Amber’s eyes and understanding how each of them have a piece of her heart.

Ryder oozes that bad boy persona: he’s covered in tats, is extremely confident and sure of himself. His first encounter with Amber is quite entertaining and I cracked up laughing at the slap and what happened next! I liked him more each time I met him and saw that he was not afraid to go after what he wanted. He opened up to Amber more than anyone before and I was able to see his vulnerable side.

Brock seemed like the perfect guy; he was sweet, honest and wants to do everything he can to win Amber over. But after a while I saw that he was more than the nice boy he portrays. He has a dark issue in his past that has set him on the path he is on, and he’s dealing in something that affected Amber in her past. He treats Amber so well and I loved how he was able to get her to open up and relax around him.

Amber, well she began a little reserved. She’s in college to make a better life for herself after her tragic and sad start to life. She is quickly thrown into the lives of these two best friends and finds herself attracted to both of them. She is quick to buckle under pressure in some circumstances, when I wanted her to voice her feelings. But there were other times where she spoke what she felt and never backed down! It was great to see her put these dominant men in their places.

I loved watching the relationships between all of the characters develop. The passion between them was undeniable and sex scenes in this story were scorching hot. Amber bought out the softer sides in these guys and they all found love in one another that they have not experienced before.

Gail McHugh has created a dark and gritty world that I was easily swept away in. The characters are broken in their own ways and do what they can to live their difficult lives. There are many elements that can unsettle readers, delving into the world of drugs, money and death, but I found it intriguing and could not get enough. Along with Amber’s perspective, there are a few chapters that we get from Brock and Ryder’s POV too, so know that the relationships in this book are not so black and white. The ending though… be warned! You will be on the edge of your seat and demanding the next book now!

Complimentary copy provided by Simon & Schuster Australia in exchange for an honest review.

"I don't know how you did it, but you did," he says into my ear, his voice soft, sincere. "I know telling you this in the middle of rush hour traffic isn't cool or romantic, but I love you. I love you something fierce, and it scares the fuck out of me, but I couldn't keep it in any longer. I don't expect you to say it back, or even feel the same way about me, but I wasn't about to let another day go by without letting you know that I love you, Amber Moretti."

Paperback Arc Pg 220

Hosted by Anna @ Herding Cats & Burning Soup

A self-proclaimed chocoholic, married mother of three, and a lover of writing for as far back as she can remember, Gail McHugh is the author of two New York Times bestselling novels. The COLLIDE series, which includes COLLIDE and PULSE, was acquired by Atria Books on September 17th, 2013.

“The first of two sexy contemporary romances about a woman torn between her seemingly perfect boyfriend and a dark, mysterious stranger who will stop at nothing to have her.” – Publishers Weekly on COLLIDE, a Top 10 Romance pick!

Gail’s next novel, also publishing through Atria Books, AMBER TO ASHES: Part One in the Torn Heart Series, is slated to release June 9th, 2015.

You can follow Gail on the below social media sites:

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