Cate Ashwood

Alaska (Sawyer’s Ferry Book 1) by Cate Ashwood: Quick Review

November 5, 2018 by Denise

Nobody says no to a Prescott.

Not even one of their own.

Holden:
Living up to expectations had never been easy, but when I went after something, I got it. Success. Money. Victory. I was standing on the doorstep to having it all. There was only one thing standing in my way.

Gage:
Power and prosperity are overrated. Especially when they come at a price. When enough became enough, I walked away. Nothing had ever tempted me to look back, until one day the past showed up in my back yard.

I’m not so sure I can walk away a second time.

Title: Alaska

Series: Sawyer’s Ferry

Release Date: April 26th, 2018

Author: Cate Ashwood

Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance

Length: Novel

Cover Artist: Cate Ashwood

Goodreads Link

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

I have to admit, I was a little bit adamant in the beginning, after reading how Holden’s dad treated him.
I could literally write an entire monologue about how awful this man is, but in no way would I do him justice… He’s that terrible and you will hate him. Be prepared for that.

Holden Prescott is a skilled surgeon with his own department and lab to study chemical trials and everything he thinks he’s ever wanted. Only problem is, his dad – the older, other Dr. Prescott is holding his strings because he was financially helpful making sure Holden got to where he is thus far….
So, when the older Dr. Prescott wants the partner he sold out to come back and work for him, he does what he does best and threatens to take everything Holden has unless he brings him back to New York to work.
Sending him to Sawyer’s Ferry, Alaska is his only shot to get Gage to come back and if he doesn’t, his whole life is ruined. No job, no money, no home, nothing…. Yep, that’s how evil his father is. Did I mention how badly I hated him?

Gage was happy to leave New York two years ago when his mentor and partner got money hungry and sold out…
Finding a home in the tiny town of Sawyer’s Ferry, he liked the small community and having his best friend close… even if the two of them were 2 of the only few surgeons at the small hospital they ran. So, imagine his surprise when the younger, gorgeous Prescott shows up unannounced because he’d ignored the older Dr’s attempts to contact him.

It’s a little rocky at first, what with Holden having everything riding on him getting Gage to come back and Gage not wanting anything to do with anything that has to do with either Dr. Prescott’s or their business.
What neither man was expecting was their instant attraction to one another and the way they made each other feel.
Their chemistry was immediate, and I loved it. No matter how hard the both of them knew it couldn’t be anything, except maybe a night or two of fun… it was fun to watch them go back and forth, learning about each other and going from enemies to bone buddies, to friends, to in a relationship, to being in love.

Gage is sweeter than I expected him to be, and Holden is charming and nothing like his father. They were perfect for each other, and I loved their back and forth as well as their steamy times…. which were indeed, really hot.
When an emergency situation has Holden staying in town longer than he planned, he not only falls in love with the temporary job and the charming little town…. but he falls in love with Gage too… And it…. is…. SWEET!

I kind of figured that Holden’s dad was up to something, after being so desperate to get Gage back after he’d bought him out two years previous… but it was a little twist when we got to why.
I liked that Holden got closure and a tiny little piece of karmic justice… but I’m petty in a way that I wish he’d have done more damage, and his father would’ve gotten it rubbed in his face that not only did he land on his feet, but that he was actually happy, doing well and WITH Gage. That would’ve been fun to see…
And then if he could’ve just beat him up or something equally as painful…. that would’ve been nice to see too…
But, ya know… it was more realistic the author’s way, I reckon LOL Not everyone is all about Angry Vengence Life, like me haha

I also loved the secondary characters, both Frankie who Holden’s best friend and Logan who was Gage’s….
I loved the townspeople and the guys’ co-workers.

And I loved, loved, loved the ending! I cannot wait to see more of these two and I really hope something great happens with Logan and Frankie…. even if it’s not together.
This was an excellent start to what I hope will be an even sweeter series.

5 pieces of eye candy from me!

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All He Ever Needed by Cate Ashwood: New Release Review

November 1, 2018 by Denise

Some secrets are too heavy to hold on to forever.

For Ethan, pretending has become second nature. After all, he’s spent the last decade pretending to be straight, pretending to be happy, and pretending he isn’t desperately in love with his best friend. But in a single moment of raw honesty, all those lies come crashing down around him and he’s left wondering what to do next.

When Jase learns his best friend is going through a breakup, his first instinct is to come to Ethan’s rescue, and he knows just the thing to help. The cabin where they spent summers as kids is sitting vacant, and a week there is the perfect remedy to start healing a broken heart.

In the seclusion of the mountains, long-buried fears and emotions take their friendship into unexplored territory that will either bring them closer together… or tear everything apart.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

What an emotional, loving, sexy story. I love Cate Ashwood’s writing, and this book was no exception. It had so many raw moments, but so many sweet and loving moments. These two men loved each other, not just as lovers, but as best friends.

Being best friends with a guy for more than two decades forged a kind of love I’d never experienced anywhere else. We were closer than brothers, and now that he was hurting, I’d do whatever I could to take care of him.”

It was obvious how much Jase was willing to risk to help Ethan through what was such a devastating time. He didn’t question it, he literally picked up Ethan, packed the car and drove away with him for a week. Giving him time to heal, time to tell him exactly what happened, and then time to figure out that what they really needed was each other, as lovers, and as the most important person in each other’s lives.

It created such a touching dynamic for Ethan to be as devastated as he was, knowing that part of it was that he knew without a doubt (as did Allison) that he was gay, had been hiding it, and was in love with his best friend. At the same time, Jase’s only concern was picking up the pieces, and making Ethan whole again. It was obvious that their devotion to each other had been melded over many years, and yet, the final piece remained stubbornly out of reach for both of them.

This book had so much heart, and so much caring, not just for the two MC’s, but also for the other important people in these two men’s lives…including their ex’s. I loved that! No one walked away from this story without their own version of a happy ending (and speaking of which…oh my, there were some seriously HOT sexy times!), and that made this reader very happy.

Highly recommended! 4.5 pieces of eye candy

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When the Devil Wants In by Cate Ashwood & J.H. Knight: Release Day Review

January 30, 2018 by Denise

John Turner has been living a lie most of his life. Growing up in the rural Georgia town of Magnolia Ridge, he’s only ever let one person truly know him: his best friend, Chloe. To the rest of the world, they’re the perfect couple, but just between them, she’s helping John hide in plain sight.

Matt Kinsley, a cop from San Francisco, moves to town looking for a slower pace and to reconnect with his Southern roots. Starting over in Magnolia Ridge means taking a step into the closet, but Matt finds that with John for company, he doesn’t mind so much.

As the two start to explore a possible relationship, a horrific murder rips the town apart but brings John and Matt together in ways neither could’ve imagined. Matt must decide where his loyalties lie while John resists the urge to run again. Together, they have to discover who the real devil is before another life is destroyed.

Release Date: January 30, 2018
Word Count: 90,000 words
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: Contemporary m/m romance with some suspense elements
Cover Artist: Cate Ashwood

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Kobo Books

California native, Matt is in for a culture shock when he moves from the big city of San Francisco into a tiny backwoods town in Georgia. In a place where everybody knows you AND your Mama .it takes a bit of getting used to…especially how backwoods some of them seem. There were a couple, *who I suspect, and hope will come out in the next book, and I hope its Santiago that blows him wide out in the open!!* But, anyway…I did not like the use of the word Fag and nobody calling anyone out on it, but that was really the only problem I had with the whole book…

So, now that Matt was in town, he decided one night to take a drive, too hot to stay in his apartment, he didn’t plan on going a couple towns away, or having a random hookup with the only guy hes felt attracted to in while…Having the guy run out on him afterwards wasn’t something he was used to. Still…they had a connection and were left wanting more for them…Or I was at least!

Wouldn’t ya know it…Small world and all that, the hookup must’ve had the same idea, because a week later, with his partner, he runs into the guy he hadn’t been able to keep off his mind. Only one problem…he had a fiancé! A woman fiancé…

But, of course, not everything is as it seems.. not for any of them. Matt wasn’t out at work and who could blame him, especially with that A hole, Jay…. I wasn’t fond of him and I never warmed up to him…tho I do suspect he’s the one Santiago was talking about…Fingers crossed…Santiago is Matt’s old partner from the force in San Fran…but, still very much apart of his life.

Now, things get a little muddy because everyone, including Johns family thinks hes been with his bestie Chloe for the last decade and since neither of them dispel the rumors, neither of them say otherwise. Its just easier for everyone…Until something happens to Chloe and everyone seems to blame John…

Well, not everyone…I was kind of upset by that too…How everyone had known him his entire life and yet, some didn’t believe his innocence or nonability to do something like that. He loved Chloe, she was his best friend….more than that really, they were all each other had. Sure, they both had family, but not ones that knew them heart and soul like they did about each other. I loved their relationship and I was gutted by what happened and how and who did it…Cuz I gotta be honest, who I swore done it the whole time was nowhere near accurate… I love that. It kept me on my toes, that’s for sure! It was a page turner for sure!

One thing though, Matt never lost faith in John and eventually, John gave in and stopped running from Matt…Well, and everything else really as well. There were a few unanswered questions that I would’ve liked the answer to, but I’m really hoping for another story after this one and maybe that’ll shed some light on a few things.

Other than that though, it was a fantastic, suspenseful story and I really, really enjoyed it!

4 pieces of eye candy from me

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Textual Relations by Cate Ashwood: Quick Review

August 21, 2017 by Denise

Evolutionary psychology professor Henry Hathaway is ready to spend his birthday the same way he does every year: a good teeth cleaning followed by lunch with his brother. But when he receives a wrong-number text confirming the details of a date, he does what any considerate person would—he goes to meet them and explain why they’ve been stood up.

Asher Wescott hadn’t expected his blind date to go well, because when do they ever? Henry shows up instead, and things are suddenly looking up. Socially awkward and attached to his routines, Henry is nevertheless one of the most charming and kind men Asher has met in a long time.

Too bad he’s not Henry’s type.

An accidental date, an impulsive kiss, and a few conflicted feelings later, can Asher get Henry to see the world—and him—in a different light?

Release Date: August 10th, 2017

Title: Textual Relations
Author: Cate Ashwood
Publisher: Cate Ashwood
Genre: Contemporary m/m romance (GFY)
Length: Novella – 32,500 words
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35668308-textual-relations

Amazon-Kindle Unlimited

This is a super sweet, quick read. But it doesn’t skimp on the hotness factor either!

A wrong number, total opposites and someone discovering they weren’t as straight as they thought. This could have been a very formulaic romance. But it was really well written.

Often times a shorter book doesn’t have character development and relies quite heavily on sex scenes to move through the story. And while there are sex scenes- both characters were really great. Henry is completely “adorkable” and Ash is a bit of a wild child. They complement each other really well. This definitely wasn’t a forced opposites attract story.

Ash teaches Henry to go off script sometimes. To have adventures- big or small. Once Henry realizes that taking a risk brought him to Ash, he understands that letting go of structure sometimes is fine. And Henry does the same for Ash- shows him that sometimes structure is good.

I chuckled with Henry researching his newfound attraction to men (or at least Ash) as completely scientific. It just made perfect sense to him.

It was the perfect palate cleanser after reading a big heavy novel and gearing up for another.

Definitely give this a read. I will absolutely add this author to my list of books to look for.

4 pieces of eye candy

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A Forced Silence by Cate Ashwood : Blog Tour, Excerpt, Review and Giveaway

December 19, 2015 by Denise

For paramedic Adam Carson, his world is lights and sirens and saving lives. Pressures at work keep him firmly in the closet, and life is too busy to contend with the complications that come with dating and relationships. When a familiar face from his past turns up where he least expects it, Adam starts to question whether or not there is room in his life for those complications.

The last person forensic pathologist Sam McKenna expects to see at pub night is Adam, the guy who made his life hell in high school. The attraction is instant, but Adam isn’t gay and Sam has no interest in pursuing him. Still, the leftover animosity from their teenage years isn’t enough to extinguish the lust growing between them. After both are called to the scene of a horrific murder, Adam admits he’s not as straight as he led Sam to believe and they seek comfort and distraction in each other’s arms. One night becomes many as the murder investigation intensifies, but when Adam is faced with losing Sam, he is forced to make a choice: to break his silence, or to give up everything for the job he loves.

Author Name: Cate Ashwood

Book Name: A Forced Silence

Series: Zero Hour

Book: One

Release Date: December 11, 2015

Pages or Words: 200 pages

Categories: Contemporary, Crime Fiction, Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Romance

Goodreads Link

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Cover Artist: Melody Pond

This was my first book by Cate Ashwood, and I will say that immediately after finishing A Forced Silence, I went an grabbed Tasting Notes to read that as well. It seems I have some books to catch up on to get through her library.

The story of these two men began in high school, with Sam (aka Dex) and Adam being at odds, an enemies to lovers story. Dealing with not only the murder of a young man, both the paramedic who dealt with it at the scene and the forensic pathologist who gave voice to the young man who died, had to find a way to not only co-exist, but quickly gave into their passion.

One thing that was exceptional to me was Adam being in the closet. Now, this is nothing new, quite often we read about characters struggling to get out of the closet, wondering how it will affect their family, friends, co-workers, etc. However, in the case of Adam, I loved how Sam reacted. He let it be. He didn’t try to force Adam out of the closet. He didn’t tell him he was silly for being in the closet. He respected his decision, and let him know that if and when he was ready to come out he would be there, but he wasn’t going to be the one to push him out.

Their relationship was well connected, as these were two very fleshed out characters, with not only history between them, but passion, and both with a need to help people.

I did find the ending rather abrupt. It had a little bit of a cliffhanger (not with the relationship), but it just felt slightly unfinished. There were a few questions that should have been dealt with, and its entirely possible the next book may deal with them. However, I did feel that at least one or two needed to be dealt with in this book, as it was specific to these characters, and not the overall arc of the secondary storyline.

In the end, I still found it an enjoyable read.

4 pieces of eye candy.

“Ah, here they are,” Ford said, turning his head toward two men who were making their way to the table.

“Adam, John, this is Sam. Sam, these are two of the city’s ugliest heroes, John and Adam.” Ford made the introductions as John slid into a chair across from him, lifting his head in greeting.

Sam swallowed hard, barely registering anything other than the man still standing in front of him. Adam Carson. He watched as recognition dawned in Adam’s eyes and a slow smirk appeared on his face. It was the same familiar cocky expression he wore when Sam knew him a billion years earlier.

“You sure have grown up, Dexter,” Adam said, exercising the nickname he had used for him all through school.

Sam lifted one eyebrow. “It seems you haven’t.”

“You two know each other?” Ford asked, eyebrows lifted in question.

“Oh, me and Dex go way back,” Adam supplied, never taking his eyes off Sam.

“Dex?”

Sam rolled his eyes. Ford was his friend, but that didn’t mean he wanted to rehash the shit that happened back in high school. That name was one that haunted him right through the twelfth grade. When he moved, he tucked it safely away, but tonight, it seemed, it had followed him.

“Long story,” Adam said. “It’s good to see you. It’s been a long time.”

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

ARe

Cate Ashwood wrote her very first story in a hot pink binder when she was in the second grade and found her passion for writing. Her first successful foray into romance writing came five years later when she wrote her best friend, who was experiencing a case of unrequited love, her own happily ever after.

Cate’s life has taken a number of different and adventurous roads. She now lives a stone’s throw from the ocean, just outside of Vancouver, British Columbia with her husband, son, and two cats. Her life is filled with family and friends, travel, and, of course, books.

Where to find the author:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cate.ashwood

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/Cate-Ashwood-Author-288329491267435/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cateashwood

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/cateashwood/

Newsletter: http://www.cateashwood.com/contact.html (Sign-up on the right hand side of the blog)
Tour Dates & Stops:

Parker Williams, Bayou Book Junkie, V’s Reads, Book Reviews and More by Kathy, Cate Ashwood, KathyMac Reviews, Just Love Romance, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, The Hat Party, The Jena Wade, Carly’s Book Reviews, BFD Book Blog, Happily Ever Chapter, Iyana Jenna, Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings, Molly Lolly, Divine Magazine, MM Good Book Reviews, Foxylutely Book Reviews, Inked Rainbow Reads, Sassygirl Books, Alpha Book Club, Two Chicks Obsessed With Books and Eye Candy, Andrew Q. Gordon, Velvet Panic, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Cheekypee Reads and Reviews, My Fiction Nook, 3 Chicks After Dark, Kirsty Loves Books

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Tasting Notes by Cate Ashwood: Release Day Book Blast, Excerpt and Giveaway

October 26, 2015 by Denise

West, a venture capitalist, has paid for his wealth and success with long hours at the office and no personal life to speak of. Meetings, conference calls, and paperwork dominate his waking hours and have kept him from honoring the promise he made to his late grandfather years before.

After leaving the Marines, Rush returns to his hometown and settled in as a Christmas Tree farmer. His life is quiet and simple, and he likes it that way. When West arrives in town and buys Rush’s parent’s vineyard on a whim, that simple life is turned upside down. The animosity between them is palpable, but Rush shelves his preconceived notions in order to protect his parents’ legacy. He agrees to help West learn how to run the vineyard, and Rush soon realizes that love doesn’t necessarily come in the package he expected.

Author Name: Cate Ashwood

Book Name: Tasting Notes

Series: Canyon Creek

Book: One

Release Date: October 26, 2015

Pages or Words: 64,000 words

Categories: Contemporary, Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance

Goodreads Link

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Cover Artist: Anna Sikorska

The drive over felt the same as it always did. Rush thought his truck probably could have found its way anywhere in town, but the trip to Lennox Hill was one he’d made at least a few thousand times. It was weird to think the property no longer belonged to his family. Enough of his sweat had soaked into the soil that a part of him lived in that land.

He parked his truck in the same place as always and opened the door, calling to Casper to jump out before closing the door behind him. The door to the main structure was closed and locked. Rush peered through the windows of the wine room as he walked past, but the lights were off and the space was abandoned. Rush and Casper followed the pathway toward the house. Casper sat down as Rush knocked, waiting patiently for an answer. When none came, he knocked again with a little more force. West’s car was parked in the driveway, so unless he had decided to walk somewhere, he should be here.

A moment later, the door swung open and West stood there, naked from the waist up, his hair disheveled and his cheeks pink.

“What the fuck?” he asked.

Rush saw red, which was a blessing because it kept him from seeing the way West’s body looked beneath his clothes. The guy was sleeping, and it was nearly noon. He’d owned the vineyard for less than a week, and he was already slacking off.

“Can I come in? I want to talk to you.”

West stepped to the side to let Rush enter. He looked around. Everything was the same as he remembered it. The house was warm and comfortable, begging you to come in and stay a while. Rush had always loved this house. He peered into the living room, noting the two empty wine bottles on the coffee table.

“Is that a fucking wolf?” West demanded, breaking Rush out of his train of thought.

“What? No. That’s Casper. My dog.”

With a subtle nod from Rush, Casper sat next to his master, his eyes glued to West, but quiet.

West narrowed his eyes. “Why are you here?”

“I came to offer my help. You said you needed help, and my mom told me you didn’t know a fucking thing about running this place, so I figured I’d bail you out.”

“Why?” West looked awfully mistrustful. Rush couldn’t blame him. He didn’t trust West either.

“Because they’re my family, and you’re the dickhead who bought the place they poured their hearts and souls into. I’m not going to let you run it into the ground because you have some romantic fucking idea about being all sophisticated and worldly, owning your own vineyard. Not going to happen.”

“Look, what is your fucking problem with me?” West asked, crowding Rush’s space. “You’ve been nothing but a complete bastard to me since the moment you laid eyes on me. I haven’t done shit to you, and you’re giving me a rough time for no goddamn reason.”

Casper growled, but Rush calmed him with a gentle pat to the head. “Sue me if I don’t like spoiled little rich kids. You blow into town in your tricked-out sports car and think you can do whatever you want here because you have a shit ton of money. You take what you want without any regard for the people around you.”

“You don’t know a thing about me, but you think you’ve got my number. Well, you can go fuck yourself. You saw my car, and you made a snap decision about me. You didn’t bother talking to me or getting to know me at all before you rushed to judgment. Maybe you should give me the benefit of the doubt before you tell me who I am.”

“I don’t need to. I know exactly who you are. I’ve met guys like you. You’re arrogant, spoiled, and selfish. You put on a good front, pretending to be this philanthropic nice guy, but when it comes down to it, you’ll choose your money over everything else.”

“Oh, for fuck sakes. You storm in here, waking me up and screaming at me. In case you missed the memo, this is my home now. You’re on my property. What gives you the right to show up and give me shit about something you know nothing about?”

“Your name may be on the deed, but that’s as far as it goes, asshole. Lennox Hill is in my blood, and the last thing I want is for you to completely destroy it out of sheer ignorance.”

“Well, then there’s something we agree on. It’s why I came to your house in the first place, in case you need reminding about that. I don’t want this place to fail any more than you do, so how about you get your head out of your ass, stop being such a fucking prick, and help me?”

Rush stared at him, not saying a word. He hadn’t anticipated the conversation taking this turn. Hell, he hadn’t anticipated this conversation period. There was something there, behind West’s eyes, a kind of rawness Rush hadn’t expected. He stepped forward, his eyes locked on West’s. He felt drawn to him like a compass to north, locking onto that flicker of something unnamable.

He was not in control of his body. He pulled a quick intake of breath as the space between them evaporated. He was close enough that he could feel the crackle of electricity between them, as tangible as if West was statically charged.

“Fine, I’ll help,” Rush said, knowing West could feel his breath as he spoke.

“But this doesn’t mean I like you,” Rush growled.

“Understood,” West replied. “I don’t like you either.”

“As long as we’re clear.”

Cate Ashwood wrote her very first story in a hot-pink binder when she was in the second grade and found her passion for writing. Her first successful foray into romance writing came five years later when she wrote her best friend, who was experiencing a case of unrequited love, her own happily ever after.

Cate’s life has taken a number of different and adventurous roads. She now lives a stone’s throw from the ocean, just outside of Vancouver, British Columbia with her husband, her little boy, and their two cats. Her life is filled with family and friends, travel, and, of course, books.

Where to find the author:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cate.ashwood

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cate-Ashwood-Author/288329491267435?fref=ts

Twitter: @cateashwood

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/cateashwood/

Other: https://instagram.com/cateashwood/

Tour Dates & Stops: October 26, 2015

Parker Williams, Divine Magazine, Happily Ever Chapter, Just Love Romance, Sinfully Addicted to All Male Romance, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, MM Good Book Reviews, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Cheekypee Reads and Reviews, Louise Lyons, Jessie G. Books, BFD Book Blog, Iyana Jenna, 3 Chicks After Dark, The Jena Wade, V’s Reads, Havan Fellows, Bike Book Reviews, Molly Lolly, Two Chicks Obsessed With Books and Eye Candy, Andrew Q. Gordon, Sassygirl Books, Bayou Book Junkie, Unquietly Me, Inked Rainbow Reads, The Hat Party, Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My, QUEERcentric Books, Open Skye Book Reviews, S.A. McAuley