Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: Not Alone
AUTHOR: Christie Gordon
PUBLISHER: Extasy Books
LENGTH: 366 pages
RELEASE DATE: August 27, 2021
BLURB:
Ash is a rock star. Micah is a broken man. Neither one wants to be alone.
Ash Oakley has spent his life making music and doing what it takes to reach the top, along with his best friend (with benefits) Wells by his side. After a year of touring and opening in stadiums for rock legends across the globe, he needs down time and rents an apartment in a beach town outside of foggy San Francisco. He decides to take up surfing. His first time out, he discovers a rude, but mysterious man on the beach who captivates him in a way he didn’t expect. The man is clearly grief stricken, something Ash knows a lot about after losing his guitar-playing brother to a drug overdose.
Micah Knowles left his friends, his family, and his high-tech job to sit on the beach, day after day, struggling to heal from a devastating event he can’t even speak of out loud. He doesn’t deserve friendship and certainly doesn’t deserve love, not after what he did.
When their worlds collide, Ash must uncover the truth about the man he’s falling for and decide if he can handle it. Micah must face his demons to heal and let Ash in. But after all that, Ash’s very public world and lifestyle might be the thing that tears them apart.
REVIEW:
A new rockstar book by a new-to-me author and I really liked it.
Ash Oakley is the lead sing of The Swarm, an up-and-coming indie rock band, that just came off a year of touring. He decides to take his time at Pacifica, California in a beachfront condo to unwind and learn to surf since he already looks the part. What he doesn’t expect is the broody and rude drop-dead gorgeous, dark haired, porcelain faced neighbor across the hall. When Micah keeps showing up at places he’s at he has to get to the bottom of his crush’s story. But what will happen next when he finally cracks Micah’s hard shell?
Both Ash and Micah’s backstories are heart wrenching. The tragedies that they both have endured have shaped the men to the way they have become. Ash doesn’t seem to trust things to be as they are and Micah doesn’t believe he’s worthy of anyone’s friendship…let alone their hearts and love. Both men are majorly damaged in the heart department.
I do believe that West truly wanted Ash more completely and permanently that he ever let on. But, when he finally realized that Ash and Micah were the real deal, he was able to let go and move forward. I am really hoping that this is the start of a whole new series. I think we need to see where West and Noah’s story goes next. The author left it so that it’s the perfect segue way into their relationship and still keeping us informed on where Ash and Micah are and how they are doing. I totally see wedding bells in those two boys future. And what is up with Dolan and Justin???
I will say that this book is filled to the brim with angst upon more angst. These boys have had a lifetime of tragedy and sorrow already crammed in their young lives. The things they have endured would crumble most people and almost did Micah. How he survived sane from his horrific experience without winding up in a mental institution is beyond comprehension. But he showed he was strong and, with Ash’s and the therapist’s help, could survive and resume his life. I will admit I was skeptical and leery, both with Micah’s recovery and Ash’s ability to go on the road without Micah. They kind of are a bit co-defendant to each other to obtain true happiness. In the end Micah surprised me more than Ash in his resilience.
I really did live this story and are looking forward to reading more of her books. As I stated earlier, I do believe this should become a series about at least West but also the rest of The Swarm members. I think their stories are being to be told!
A bit of a warning: This book contains talk/description in somewhat graphic detail of past suicide and drug overdose. If these are triggers for you this might not be the book for you.
RATING: 
BUY LINKS:
Amazon