This is book one of the rattlesnake trilogy and can we just say ahhhh! Also check out the amazing cover. I’m a sucker for a pretty book!

I tried so hard with this one, picked it up and put it down repeatedly, but finally got through it and I'm glad I did!

I think the main issue for me is not being familiar with the setting. I didn't fall in love with it because there were things I didn't understand, so I had to reread some paragraphs to really immerse myself in what I was reading.

The characters were amazing, there were so many personality traits differentiating both our FMCs, from each other obviously but also from all the other characters I usually see. They're badasses, healing and finding themselves in a really hard world. Mad respect!

I'm always happy when we get multiple POVs, as we get to see into different characters perspectives, and this book did that pretty well.

All in all, I liked it and will probably continue the series, just will have to wait to be in the right mood for it.

I can’t wait for book 2, the book has me gasping and fanning myself with the spice. The books starts by telling you who the characters are and then dives into a small plot. The book is not all plot but it does have some topics that pull at your heart strings. Overall a great read.

I received this book as a eARC from NetGalley.

"It was illuminated by a single neon sign that read 'Danger', casting a dim red light over the cracked walls."

"Ridge was Ridge and it didn't matter what prefix stood before it. All battered up, misery seeping through the cracks."

A young woman, escaping her past in Alabama, finds herself in the middle of the Mohave. Right where she wants to be, in Rattlesnake Ridge. Where there is nothing but rundown trailers, red sand and rogues. Hard times and hard living aren't just her history, as she soon finds out. After gaining employment at the local bar, she soon finds that she isn't the only broken soul looking for survival and companionship as she finds camaradarie with 3 ex-Marines. But there's more than meets the eye in this desert.

Thank you so much to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for letting me read and review this book. I really enjoyed this one. My opinions are my own. Oh where do I begin? I absolutely love books that are Multi POV, Romance and have a long list of trigger warnings. Normally I don't read to many books that have military or ex military characters/aspects in them, but I actually enjoyed those elements in this one. That characters struggles and backstories gave them the perfect amount of depth. I loved all four of the main characters. Sedona is has a strong, fiery, take no shit from anyone personality. Daphne is spicy, quick-witted and knows exactly what she wants. Her chemistry and banter with Diesel is pretty entertaining. But Duke might have the most depth in his character overall. The spice between the characters was top notch as well, though at a certain point it starts to deter from the plot a little too much for me-it could've had a slightly better balance. (That's the only reason I didn't give it a five.) Overall I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to get my hands on the next one in the series, that ending has me itching for the continuation.

This book was hot!!! I was immediately pulled into this story and I didn't want to leave. And that cliff hanger.... I need book 2!

This was so much fun. The western theme is new to me in book format so I really enjoyed the setting. The characters are interesting and I care about them. Need more!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Gritty, dusty, dark, and sometimes dirty - the atmosphere so immersive you may feel like dusting yourself off when you finish. Rattlesnake Ridge, the kind of place you end up and either make it or leave, one way or the other. Characters you will root for and a storyline that will hook you - don't plan on doing anything until you finish ... and wait for the next one.

Not my usual genre, but I was hooked from page one! A perfect slow burn with top-tier Western vibes, unforgettable characters, and a romance that completely stole my heart. I’m already counting down to the next book in the trilogy—Lenore is officially on my auto-buy list. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

2.5⭐ 2.5🌶️
Gritty Rustic Contemporary Romance
4 POV Sedona, Duke, Delilah, Diesel
In this gritty romance between to couples who are all hiding from previous trauma. The setting takes place in the desert that the author describes so well you feel like you are there. I felt like I was missing the hook at the beginning of the story to keep me interesting in the plot. The story was more about the dynamic of the couples. I wanted to know more about Boone and why they all followed him with some back story or maybe more interaction. The spice in this was on point and well done.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I had such a great time reading Ashes Don’t Bloom! From the very first chapter, the gritty atmosphere and raw setting of Rattlesnake Ridge pulled me right in. Dark, tense, and dripping with suspense.

This book dives deep into themes of survival, loyalty and found family. I loved Delilah and Diesel's chemistry—it’s intense and addictive. Diesel easily became my favorite character; he's layered, dangerous, and surprisingly tender in his own way.

There were a few too many technical details about car mechanics for my taste—they took me out of the story at times. But the emotional depth and vulnerability of the characters made up for it and kept me fully invested.

The ending left us on a cliffhanger and I can't wait for the next one. I’m dying to also see how Delilah and Diesel’s relationship evolves from here.

Highly recommend to fans of dark romance with grit, heat, and danger.

This is not a face paced, action packed, twisty book. It's life. It's life moving at the pace of regular people.
We have Delilah who is running as far as possible from something in Alabama and this tiny town in the middle of nowhere is where she ended up.
There's a dark undercurrent though the town and the people. You see it in glimpses. It's mentioned in asides or inferred from conversations or actions.
You have 3 ex soldiers. 1 dealing with PTSD, 1 dealing with lingering injuries that resulted in her discharge from service, and one who seems to be a quiet usurper.
The novel starts broad, Delilah arriving to Mojave, finding a place, getting a job and getting to know Diesel. We see how that grows, develops and changes. Then we have Sedona and Duke, both damaged in different ways, but he's the only one who can soothe her damage. The book follows them more closely likely due to Sedona's job.
The seedy underbelly unfolds slowly throughout before it's outright named and major players are seen and named. There seems to be off-page power plays that are eventually going to turn into on-page wars.
I need to reiterate, this book is slow. The pace of the book matches the pace of the town. There are more average days than, "something is going down" days and I found that oddly relatable. The book engrossed me in a manner I didn't expect but am wholeheartedly grateful for!

This was a doozy to get through. These main characters were all chain smokers which I super didn’t care for. The writing itself is good and that’s honestly why I was able to get through it at all. The spice was done well too. The big gripe I have is that the book doesn’t seem to have a point, a direction, a specific story or plot it was telling. It just kind of meandered through some events but they don’t really hold weight in the grand scheme of the book. The author is skilled at writing and maybe future books in the series will tie things together hopefully!

I really enjoyed this book. It was definitely different from any other I've read lately. You have four MCs, three that have known each other for a long while after serving in the military together, which you get subtle flashbacks - just enough to fill in the gaps of where it matters in the storyline. Then you have the newcomer into town. One who is not afraid to make herself a name and fits well with the others. There are talks about the cartel and potential takeover and this is where two of our MCs are out gathering Intel and are found and tried to be taken out, but this is where the first book in the series leaves us on a cliffhanger bouncing to grab the second in the series to find out what's going to happen. It does take a bit for the story to actually take shape, but once it did it moved at a steady pace. Spice levels were very well written and descriptive.

This was a bit of a strange book for me, with their being two romantic story lines happening this made the book confusing sometimes. I felt like maybe it would have been better as two separate books to not confuse the characters and plots. But I have seen a lot of people loved this book so it might just be me.

✨Arc Review✨

Thank you to the author Lenore Nox And Netgallery for sending me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

-All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Immersive and Gritty, But Left Me Wanting More

Ashes Don’t Bloom was one of those books that snuck up on me. It was weirdly immersive—I found myself completely pulled into its desert-soaked setting, drenched in noir ambiance, tension, and heat. The world Lenore Nox has crafted feels raw and lived-in, full of grit and mystery, and the character dynamics kept me intrigued from the beginning.

There’s definite spice here, and it works—dark, sultry, and layered with emotional complexity. The relationships aren’t clean-cut or easy, and that added depth to the story. The tone walks the line between romance, danger, and moral ambiguity in a way I really appreciated.

That said, while the immersion was strong, I couldn’t shake the feeling of unfinished business. So many threads were introduced and then either dropped or lightly brushed aside. I kept waiting for key moments of resolution or clarity that never quite arrived. I get that it’s the first in a series, but the lack of closure felt less like a cliffhanger and more like a pause mid-thought—and that left me feeling a bit frustrated.

Still, that frustration is probably a testament to how invested I was. This world got under my skin in all the right ways, and I do care enough to want answers—which says a lot.

If you’re into dusty, dangerous worlds, morally gray characters, and slow-burn tension with heat and shadows, Ashes Don’t Bloom is definitely worth checking out. Just go in knowing that the story is only beginning—and not everything blooms by the end.

Delilah Kensington shows up with a beat-up ’67 Impala, no plan, and serious main character energy. She lands a job at a seedy bar in Rattlesnake Ridge and immediately catches the eye of Diesel - ex-Marine, ex-con, a100% trouble. The chemistry between them is instant and intense. It moves fast, but somehow it works. Delilah’s not here for anything soft, and Diesel is definitely not that guy.

But Sedona is the real standout for me. Ex-military, pistol-packing, and emotionally complex, she’s layered and compelling. Her storyline, especially her connection with Duke, brings a deeper edge to the book. Her POV adds serious emotional weight, and I loved watching her past and present collide.

The desert noir atmosphere is vivid, the pacing quick, and the spice level very high. Think desert racing, military flashbacks, cartel threats, and a whole lot of heat - both emotional and otherwise. It leans hard into its genre mix, and while it doesn't shy away from kink or violence, it balances both with surprising tenderness.

My only reason for dropping a star? I wanted more from Diesel’s backstory. It felt like a lot was bubbling under the surface that didn’t quite break through. Hoping book two delivers on that front.

Still, this was a wild, sexy, emotional ride and a fresh take on found family and survival in a brutal setting. Highly recommend for fans of gritty romance with a kick of adrenaline.

I do love this book a bit of thrill with the plot, I thought m! It was wonderful. It did take me a bit to actually get into it though, that was my only problem.

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing an ARC of Ashes Don’t Bloom by Lenore Nox.

This book completely hooked me from the first page. Ashes Don’t Bloom follows two POVs from Sedona and Delilah and I absolutely loved that it felt like two stories seamlessly woven into one. It was like getting double the romance and tension in a single book without needing to wait for a second installment to dive into a new love story. Both women exist in the same timeline and know each other, which made the pacing and character development even more enjoyable.

Delilah was my favorite. She is bold, unfiltered, and never afraid to speak her mind. Both female leads were total badasses and I loved seeing strong, layered women at the center of this story.

This book is super spicy and packed with tropes I love: age gap, BDSM, slow burn, and small town romance. The desert setting added a unique atmosphere that made everything feel intense and grounded at the same time.

Lenore Nox’s writing is gripping and addictive. I couldn’t put this book down and ended up reading it all in one sitting. Just a heads up, it ends on a cliffhanger so I’m already counting down the days until the next book in the trilogy drops.

This was the first time I read a book where the characters in the story, have two separate stories happening at once. There were some moments I had to remind myself of that, but overall I was able to keep up with the story just fine. This is definitely more on the grey side then any other color. The characters all had their own battles both together and apart. Some spice, and overall I enjoyed this. The story pretty much immediately captures you, so if you're in a slump, this would be a good book to pick up.

This story sucked me in! The characters feel real, with solid back stories and fully fleshed out personalities. The setting is authentic and fits the gritty feel of the story. The story follows 4 main characters as they survive in this place and struggle through figuring out tier relationships. Car races, drug and gun smuggling, deceit, death, spice... this book has it all!