Amber to Ashes: Part One in the Torn Hearts Series

“I fell for the two loves of my life when I was nineteen. Yes, two. Plural. More than one. Immoral? Maybe. I say undeniable. Uncontained. Some say I am wrong to feel this way about two men. Most call me a whore, a skank, or the town slut. I don’t care. Simply put… they each took a piece of what I wanted to give.”I fell in love with Gail’s writing way back when I read the Collide and Pulse for the first time two years ago. I’ve been waiting for what seems like forever for her next book, and the wait was more than worth it. This book, what do you even say when you can’t seem to form thoughts and words about what you’ve just experienced? Well I’m going to give it a go, even though there is no way to do it justice. Not a chance in hell.Amber Moretti is a nineteen years old, and she’s had a lot of disappointments in her young life, suffered the type of loss you can never fully recover from. She’s closed herself off from the idea of experiencing love and loving in return, having lost her parents in the most horrendous way at a very young age; it’s left a permanent scar on her heart and soul. She uses her body and sex to forget and numb the pain, to stifle the loneliness of being an orphan, and to deal with the agony of feeling insignificant. Having been bounced around within the foster care system for years, Amber is now leaving her last foster home, and starting out on her own at Hadley University, where she will be studying Psychology, with the hopes of being able to help others in a way she never was.Amber has only just arrived when she lands in the lap of a man that is going to change her life forever. Ryder Ashcroft is one of the sexiest, most arrogant and cocky men she’s ever encountered. Problem being, she likes it, she’s drawn in by it. Amber doesn’t do relationships and she certainly does not do feelings. But from the moment they meet, Amber feels the very tight reign of control she grasps slipping, mere moments after meeting him. Oh but wait, it’s about to get even more complicated. Enter Brock Cunningham the equally sexy, arrogant and cocky best friend of Ryder. Can you say hot mess? I mean seriously…Both men make no attempts to hide their attraction to Amber and while she struggles with the intense, undeniable attraction to both men, she quickly realizes, it’s futile.“What the hell’s wrong with me today? I’m convinced the Frappuccino I inhaled earlier was laced with some kind of date-rape drug, because this is the second time in ten minutes that the opposite sex has made me feel high.”Brock and Ryder are loyal to each other, to a fault, have been for years, but it becomes clear very quickly that this situation is going to test the strength of their friendship in ways they’ve never before encountered. Both men have secrets, issues, and have suffered their own devastating losses in life. When Amber, Ryder and Brock collide, its’ going to get very messy. Passion, lust, longing, distrust, lies; omissions of truth, secrets, all make this already tedious situation more difficult than anyone would be able to comprehend. The chemistry that exists between Ryder and Amber is explosive, but the chemistry between Brock and Amber is just as powerful. As I was reading, I couldn’t choose between the two men, which never happens for me. I always have a favorite, one that I am rooting for to get the girl and this time, I was at a loss. Amber’s decision is a truly impossible one. I felt for her on every level, I understood her confusion and her desires. Having never experienced any real affection from a man before, and now confronted with two men who would do anything for her, makes an impossible situation even more impossible. One thing is certain though, as I read this book I became tenser with every passing page, I knew that we were heading for an explosive conclusion and I felt uneasy, but was unable to turn away. I needed to see how this story was going to end. I’d become so invested in the story and the characters, I was a mess. This cannot be healthy to become so involved in a book…“Other than my parents, I’ve never loved anyone. Love is the mighty evil fall, and I refuse to willingly jump of its ledge of destruction into a cesspool of nothing but hurt and pain. For in that cesspool are vultures lying in wait to eat me alive.”Gail McHugh wrote a book that is truly spectacular. Her writing is superb, the words flow effortlessly it’s polished and perfect. We get the story from: Amber’s, Ryder’s and Brock’s perspectives and it’s done perfectly; the timing is flawless and crucial in order to experience this story to its fullest potential. It’s never confusing; it only enhances the story in the best possible ways. You don’t get to feel one person’s feelings or hear one person’s thoughts, you get to feel and hear them all making it layered and even more poignant. Amber to Ashes is meticulous in its unapologetic truths and imperfections, this story is messy, raw, brutal, and extremely compelling, but it’s not pretty, be forewarned. Love triangles are never pretty and always emotional but this one is so much more. The truthful and unapologetic way the author bleeds her story on the page is irresistibly spellbinding. Prepare and brace yourself, this book is going to hammer the emotions out of you, one strike after another, after another, leaving you with an intense book hangover, and screaming for MORE MORE MORE!“…there’s one undeniable truth I can’t run from, one petrifying fact that’s about to change all of our lives: the hourglass is on the table, two beautiful hearts awaiting my decision…”

Seriously THE BEST. Hoping one day the next book will make its way out into the world." forgive the ghosts of your past. Sure, they’re going to pop their ugly heads into the life you currently lead, but never allow them to force you into becoming scared to death of your future. It’s yours, not theirs. "

Whoa, I'm still reeling from this storyline and the events that occurred. Don't go into this expecting something similar to Collide/Pulse because it's completely devoid of Gavin Blake's type of charm. That's not to say that you won't fall for a Brock Cunningham and/or a Ryder Ashcroft brand of charm instead because this is most definitely Gail McHugh's writing, with a darker and gritty tone. I was completely amazed at how the 3 main characters - Amber, Brock and Ryder - are college students, but yet their experiences are beyond their years of life. Each of them are flawed and have their own set of personal baggage. Amber is a new freshman on campus and literally stumbles when she meets Ryder in the dining hall, and then meets Brock a few minutes after. From there starts the story of how these characters' lives begin to intertwine with one another. Brock and Ryder are already best friends. They couldn't look more opposite on the outside but looks can be deceiving when it comes to the true person inside, Amber included.Amber is unfamiliar with feelings like love and trust, she's had enough experience to know that it either doesn't last or it's not real. She numbs herself by running away from a situation or through sex. After meeting Brock and Ryder, her world tilts on its axis because those unfamiliar feelings are challenged. They bring out a susceptible side in her and she's not quite sure how to process it all. At the same time, she's willing to get to know them and to explore whatever chemistry she has with them. Still, there's a part of her, including her heart, that she's not ready to give.Brock comes off as the all-American good guy, but he has heavy burdens that he shoulders along with activities he's involved in that are completely at odds with his seemingly pristine image. He's willing to give Amber every bit of himself and to help her heal. He's totally committed and persistent. He's sexy and caring. He says all the right things and he keeps his promises.Ryder is the typical bad boy to the extreme, but he's also intelligent and seductive. He hides behind his attitude, but Amber unhinges him anyway. He's a force to be reckoned with, but he's got a heart of gold underneath. He has responsibilities that weigh him down, but also make him plan carefully for the future and appreciate his family. He's a loyal friend and has no problems with pushing Amber's buttons. He feels an overwhelming need to protect her when he should really be protecting himself from her.I'm most definitely partial to one guy even though I liked the other one just fine, too. Amber is evenly torn between them, but to me, it's obvious which one is the better choice or match for her. There's true love, and then there's once-in-a-lifetime and can't-live-without love; and one of the guys is undoubtedly the latter.The book is told in alternating POVs and Gail did a brilliant job of showcasing their distinct personalities. You may think you know what this book is about, but you really don't. You may think you know what will happen, but you're wrong. You may think you know which guy Amber is going to choose, but unfortunately, you are not Amber. There's so much more to this story and the characters are loaded with surprises. Bad things have already happened. There's even worse stuff to come. In the meantime, there's a gamut of emotions and sexual tension with one particular scene that leaves you panting for more. There's also intimacy and vulnerability. As much I adored these characters and their relationships with each other - because it's filled with love, lust, angst, hurt and sacrifice - they are also toxic and co-dependent to some extent. This isn't easy reading with a sweet storyline. It's intense, everything about it, the feelings the characters have for each other to the things that they do. Real sh*t happens and it's the kind of stuff that changes people and impacts the people around them, a true domino effect. That ending - oh dear lord - Collide has nothing on the ending in Amber to Ashes so if you thought that was a cliffhanger, be ready to skydive, without a parachute. Can't wait to get my hands on the next book.

I think I just actually fell I love with a book.*WARNING - TRIANGLE - LUURRVVEE TRIANGLE*We are going to get married and have little book babies together and pollute the world with the offspring of this mind fu@k of a book.Be still my beating heart, I have 2 new book boyfriends and I think they are going to take some beating ♡♡♡♡What can I say about this book but WOWIt was a bumpy ride for 80% of the time, the other 20% well that was just HOT!We have Amber who has had a fu*ked up life, she has been moved from foster home to foster home, she is finally with parents who she loves.New home = new school, this is where we first meet Ryder when she literally bumps into him, after that we then meet Brock who again she is very drawn to and happens to be Ryders best friend.With lots of sexual tension between the 3 of them this story moves into the fast lane, and then takes over every car on the road!With the mother of all cliffhangers I can't wait to read the next book!

Disappointed disgusted ....I read this book could not fault it great characters great story ...what I’mdisgusted about this is a series ..read the first book 5 years ago ...where the hell is the second book !?! Sick of waiting if you aren’t doing the second book tell the people who brought the first book and are not going to get an ending !!!!!

Torn between two men and danger lurking around. How will Amber cope getting through life and choose one man to spend her life with. It all comes crashing down around them all. Brilliant read from Gail McHugh cant wait for more.

Interesting storyline a little confusing at first. Not an easy read, but well worth preserving

Nothing like her first books