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.

There was barely any plot to this, just pure. I’m not even sure who the main characters were (if there were any) because this book was shown from 4 pov’s. And what greatly annoyed me was it felt like the story was barely about Diesel and Delilah and more so Sedona and Duke. Which I didn’t really mind because their relationship had more history to it and felt a bit better developed than Diesel and Delilah which was insta-lust. I’m still not sure how old Diesel is, maybe I missed when it was mentioned, but there was a definite age-gap that was emphasized a lot.

Not only that, despite Diesel being older, he was pretty corny and immature for his grown ass age. It felt like Delilah had a better grip on her emotions than him which pissed me off for several reasons. Namely though, he was adamant that he wouldn’t have sex with Delilah because he needed to have control of himself. Then lo and behold when Delilah got tired of him being wishy washy with her, he snapped and finally did and he quoted “I don’t make love” which gave me major Christian Grey ick when I haven’t even read that book in like a decade. But I was just waiting for him to follow with “I fuck…hard” looool. Major ick because right after that he basically brutalized her to the point of bleeding. I’m sorry (not sorry), but if a book is going to include even a lick of BDSM in it, I need to see clear boundaries set and limits discussed before they could even indulge in anything. He didn’t give her the chance to consent to such brutality and basically limited it to just “rough sex”, even asking if she ever had it with anny other partners. Of fucking course not, dipshit because not even Delilah would call it rough sex. You didn’t even warn her much less gave her a proper chance to decide if she even wanted it. No way telling her to touch the keys on the bonnet if she wants him to stop is enough. Furthermore saying that he won’t stop if she tells him to, she must touch the keys for him to stop. Hell fucking no my guy, you need to do better. And the fact that she forced herself to enjoy it says enough.

To make it worse, after all of that, he basically alluded to the fact that they weren’t together or boyfriend and girlfriend despite her sleeping at his house every night in his bed, waking up to breakfast in bed because he felt like her trailer was too unsafe. Which it absolutely was because she only had a broken screen-door as a door and felt okay with it since the actually door broke off. So of course Delilah would take offense at that suggestion. And to add one final layer to this fucking shitshow of a cake, after all of this happened we get one scene with Diesel discussing it with Sedona and she told him like it is and that he was being really obtuse and then bam no more mentions of Delilah and Diesel for the next 15-20% of the book. What the fuck???? Maybe it was done to be left as a cliffhanger for the next book, but I hated it and it was not fleshed out well enough.

Then, the plot with Sedona made no sense outside of her relationship with Duke and was so choppy despite her pov taking up most of the book. I’m still so confused on what’s going on and what even is the point of it all. It felt so choppy and random that I really don’t get it. Honestly, truly, I’m shocked at the 4/5 ⭐️ reviews for this and one review mentioned something really important. This felt like the author was glamourizing poverty porn and the trailer park life heavily. I’m not used to reading books like this so maybe that’s why I haven’t enjoyed it as much. Yes the smut scenes were okay, but even those weren’t enough for me. Honestly, if you like talk about fast cars, desert life, no plot and lots of smut scenes, this book is for you.

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!

This is definitely original to the romance genre. It has more depth to the plot and romance is not the main point. The character backstory comes first and the plot which i appreciate greatly. And it is relatable
To people with trauma and darker sides to their minds that they are fighting. Well done.

Ashes Don’t Bloom is a gritty desert noir and erotica blend featuring two strong, unconventional female leads—Delilah Kensington and Monica “Sedona” Verona. The sex scenes are varied, well-written, and refreshingly realistic, with moments like Delilah’s back pain reminding us these characters are fully human.

The plot is pretty good and heading in an interesting direction, keeping the story engaging. However, the balance between plot and erotica isn’t always perfect. Sometimes, sex scenes come too close together, even with different couples, which can disrupt the pacing and make the story feel uneven.

The characters mostly have distinct voices, though their humour and quirks overlap more than expected given their age gap. The military-themed banter stays mostly between Sedona and Duke, missing a chance to deepen the wider group dynamic.

Told in dual POV, the novel combines sharp dialogue, a vivid desert setting, cartel threats, and themes of loyalty, trauma, and found family. While it leans on familiar outlaw romance tropes, Ashes Don’t Bloom delivers emotional depth and heat.

I’d especially recommend this to readers looking for a horny, feel-good phase read with plenty of spice and grit.

Super recommend Ashes Don’t Bloom if you’re in your ovulation phase, if you know you know!

Okay, a new anonymous debut small-town high-stakes romance!!

First of all, the world-building and characters are so thought out that they make you feel immersed, as if you are a part of the story. Additionally, the dual POV provided such intimate insight into our cast of characters, and I was pleasantly surprised. I loved the realistic interpretation of found family and PTSD related to military service - it kept me turning every page. This book had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.

Honestly, I can't wait for the next book, as this concluded on such a cliffhanger.

📖 / 4.5⭐️

Thank you to Victory Editing and NetGalley Co-op for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinions! All opinions are my own. #AshesDontBloom #NetGalley

FIRST OF ALL, I would like to thank NetGalley and the author for the opportunity of reading this book.
SECONDLY, please note that this is my subjective opinion. I believe each and every author has a right to and deserves fair, honest feedback from their readers, which I am aiming to provide. I adore every author's creativity, bravery and commitment to writing, finishing and publishing a work of art.

———

This is the type of book that gets a low star rating from me because it's just not my cup of tea. I can understand why someone might like it, but I wouldn't read it or something similar again.

Four characters—Sedona, Delilah, Diesel and Duke—are the main focus of the story, with their own POV chapters, and the two romantic relationships between them. ...Which wasn't necessary at all. We could've focused on one relationship, or just two POVs (I was prepared to read the two girls' POVs), which would've given more depth to the story, characters and relationship(s). I even noted this down in my little notebook, when I encountered a 'Diesel' chapter for the first time (chapter 11), that his POV didn't add anything to the story and was completely unnecessary to include. Furthermore, for a very long time I felt like the two women's personalities were basically identical, with maybe some light tweaks, which was confirmed for me the first time we entered Sedona's room—both of these girls even have coconut-smelling hair/room! Come on...Plus, I still don't get why the Monica tattoo thing was important to include, but okay, that might just be nitpicking.

In general, everything is very hot, very poor, and very dramatic. I like how the setting was painted; as a non-American, it was very interesting to read through this gang-driven Nevada/Arizona aesthetic. Although this vibe is not really my thing, it sure laid down the base feeling of the story.

I hadn't read smut before in an actual book (only fanfiction) and it seems like I'm not going to start now—the book is wound up on the typical "plot? what plot" idea, as I'm not sure I could recite what the story was about except for sex. I like some serious character development in books, as well as a plot I can at least begin to describe after having read the book, but neither of the two happened in this one.

Also, I wasn't satisfied with the ending—I understand it is the first book of a series, but as a rule of thumb, each book in a series should be good, whole and understandable, and I feel like this book wasn't. As a clear example, the vague idea of a plot introduced itself on the very last pages, and immediately two Big Dramatic Things happened, of which only one was resolved by the end of the book, the other was left hanging. Which would be fine for overarching themes (after all, we didn't get explanations/resolution to some of the other things happening in the world) that can unfold in the coming books, but I think that for a misunderstanding in a relationship, the same liberty cannot be taken so easily.

Therefore, given all of the reason I just listed, I must give Ashes Don't Bloom a low rating, but I understand that someone who likes reading smut, action for the sake of action, lots about cars and motorcycles, and/or 'poverty porn' would enjoy reading this book.

I really enjoyed the book. The spice was on point and I like how it reminded me of the show supernatural. Highly recommend it and can’t wait for book 2.
Thank you NetGalley for my ARC.

This is my first ‘wild west’ kind of book, it’s not cowboys, it’s guns and southern drawl. It takes some adjustin’. Let me start by saying that the spice in this… it’s spicing, it’s hot! The plot does start to pick up towards the end, where we finish on a cliff hanger, but I can’t pretend I knew what was happening most of the time. It felt like we were missing key bits of information. Like there’s a back story we’ve missed somewhere. I didn’t feel like the characters were consistent in who they were supposed to be. I liked following the story of two linked couples, although, again, I just didn’t understand where they were at. I had more questions than answers.
I enjoyed myself and I’d absolutely come back for book 2 - but I need to know what’s going on a bit more please!
Thank you NetGalley, Lenore Fox and Victory Editing for letting me read this book. #AshesDontBloom #NetGalley #LenoreFox

Gritty. Dangerous. Sexy as hell.

Set in the scorching heat of a small desert town, Ashes Don't Bloom takes us through dusty roads, dangerous dealings and characters you can't help but root for even when they're making bad decisions.
At the centre of the story we have four unforgettable leads: Delilah, Sedona, Diesel and Duke. Each flawed and complicated, and deeply human. It's a little light on plot at times, mostly vibes and atmosphere in this relationship driven book, but with some exciting scenes throughout. Themes of found family, trauma & PTSD with strong women, cartel dealings and plenty of spice. The depictions of PTSD and trauma, in this case stemming from military service, is handled with care and authenticity.

While I loved the tension between them, I couldn't help but feel Delilah and Diesel's relationship was a little rushed and would have loved more of their banter and electricity build up over a longer time. After their initial spark, they seemed to fall into the background a little more in comparison to Sedona and Duke's story as they have so much history and things going on, so really hope we get to see more of them in the future.

Having previously read Lenore's poetry, I wasn't sure what to expect from this in any way - but I was blown away. The writing is smooth, cinematic and full of that gritty realism. It already begs to be a TV series, I can already see the desert sunsets and hear the rumble of the engines.

Thank you to Lenore Nox & Victory Editing for this ARC read, absolutely can not wait for the next trip to Rattlesnake Ridge!

Heard one of the girls at Book Club talk about getting this on NetGalley and i knew I had to try for myself.


Characters: This follows four different characters, and 2 romantic relationships. I feel like it wasn't totally necessary, and I dont fully understand why we need to follow all four. I wish we only followed 2 of them (or one relationship) and got more background on them.

Plot: Until the last 15% it didn't feel like there was much plot. it was very slow building and initially thought it was gonna be all smut, no plot. BUT im glad it ended the way it did because im now super excited for book 2.

Setting: Takes place in a Cartel/Gang ran town/area in Nevada/Arizona. definitely not a place people want to end up in, but a place they do when they're running.

Target Audience: For fans of Mafia, military, cartel, and motorcycle gang romances. Not for someone that wants more plot than vibes.

Writing: The writing was easy to read, enjoyable, and quick paced. my only issue came with "out of a sudden" rather than "all of a sudden" being used a handful of times. both are correct, it just gave me the ick.

Pacing: Quick paced and easy to read. I think it would've been a more enjoyable pace if we followed 1 couple instead of 2.

Rating/Overall Thoughts: A solid 3/5 glad my friend mentioned it to me, and ill definitely pick up book 2 when it comes out!

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately this book wasn’t for me. I give it 2.5 stars. I enjoyed the characters and the different perspectives we got however, the plot of the book didn’t make much sense to me. There was little background for what was going on and there was a lot going on that just seemed kind of random. I’m not entirely sure what the plot is? We got way more context and background info on Sedona and Duke and hardly any on Delilah and Diesel. I am still grateful to have been able to read this even though it wasn’t for me!

This is such a gritty, emotional, gripping, heated book, and I enjoyed every ounce of it. The story follows two FMC's in a multiple P.O.V. They're both dealing with their own traumas, and running from it in their own ways. The way that mental health (PTSD) is represented is such an amazing thing and I wish there was more in books in general. I can't wait to see what the rest of the series has in store. Ashes Don't Bloom is very spicy, emotional, and a great read for someone who wants that dark romance feel without being super dark.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the eARC.