Reviewed by Cheryl K

TITLE: Addicted to Ashton

SERIES: Hawthorne Bluff #2

AUTHOR: RJ Peterson

PUBLISHER: self-publish

LENGTH: 175 pages

RELEASE DATE: August 6, 2024

BLURB:

Ashton Reynolds loves his job as a police detective in Hawthorne Bluff, but he’s getting older and looking for more in his life. He begins volunteering at A Helping Hand, a community kitchen in Plymouth, where he meets Walker Jennings.
Ker Jennings is a man with a past. He’s dealt with oxycodone addiction for most of his adult life but has been clean for years. He meets Ash at the community kitchen where he volunteers, and they begin a slow but steady friendship.
As friendship turns into more, Ash and Ker need to deal with Ker’s substance use disorder, his past, and his triggers.
Ker has agreed to spend Christmas with his family for the first time in many years and when his greatest fears are realized, he sinks to his lowest. Only Ash can help him find his way back. Perhaps being addicted to Ashton is just what Ker needs to get his life back on track.

Content Warning:
This book contains discussion of drug use, depiction of a Narcotics Anonymous meeting, and scenes involving opioid use and its aftermath. Discretion is advised.

REVIEW:

Disclaimer:  This is book two in the Hawthorne Bluff series, and you really should read this series in order.  Characters from the previous book appear in this one and it’s helpful to know the background. The subject matter tackled in this story is intense and heart wrenching, but the opioid crisis is real and devastating to all involved.  This, in my opinion, is RJ’s best book to date.

The worldbuilding is so well done. From Ashton’s job as a police detective to Ker’s harrowing experiences with opioids and alcohol and his road to recovery.   I want to express my sincere gratitude to RJ for his portrayal of addiction and the way he dealt with Ker’s addictions.  This story was definitely not one of RJ’s palate cleanser stories.  It was intense and disturbing in its portrayal of the life of an addict.  Being able to create a darker and seedier world, showcases his ability to adapt his story plots to all subject matters.

Which leads me to his character development in this beautiful story.  I can’t even imagine the research required to make these men jump off the page and just burrow their way into your heart.  This development is not limited to the main characters either.  We get in-depth dives into the side characters as well.  But the chemistry of Ash and Ker, just leaps off the page at you.

“So, how long have you been volunteering at A Helping Hand?” Ash asked.

“Just about a year now.” Ker debated in his head whether or not to say more. Ah well, better to get it out in the open now. “Look, I’ll be honest with you. I, um…well, I had some personal problems and did some things I’m not proud of. I narrowly escaped being terminated from my job only because I chickened out of doing something extremely stupid at the last minute. That’s when I decided to do better with my life. I started volunteering and seeing a counselor to help me with my issues; I love being able to give back to the community, and it helps to keep me busy and out of trouble.” Ker smiled shyly.

“Wow, that’s great.” Ash said. “Well, not that you had some problems, but that you got some help and figured out some options to turn things around. Not everyone can admit when they need help.”

“Yeah. I’m so grateful I’ve been given another chance.”

As a personal observation, I have enjoyed seeing RJ’s progress in writing style and coming into his writing voice. I feel this book, out of all the one’s he’s written so far has finally showcased his way with a turn of phrase, sex scene and plot progression.

So of course, I highly recommend this book and series.  So, get up, run to your favorite eBook purchasing site and snatch the book up.  I hope you fall in love with Ash and Ker, just like I did.

RATING:

BUY LINK:

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