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Rook and Ronin Spinoff #2
Taut: The Ford Book
Ford Aston is known for many things. Being an emotionless, messed up bastard, a freakishly smart social outcast, and a cold, domineering master who keeps "pets" instead of girlfriends.
And after Rook broke his heart, he plans to keep it that way.
Ashleigh is known for nothing, and that's exactly what she's got going for her. She's broke, stranded in the mountains with a three month old baby, and Ford Aston is screwing with her head.
Big. Time.
And she plans to mess with his right back.
It's a coy game at first, filled with flirting, and innuendo--but Ford soon realizes something is not quite right with Ashleigh. In fact, something is seriously, seriously wrong and the closer they get to their final destination, the closer Ford gets to the truth.
One night of devastation, self-loathing, and emptiness turns into the best thing that ever happened to Ford Aston. But one day of in-your-face reality threatens Ashleigh's whole existence.
Ford first appears in Rook and Ronin #2, Manic. He has a bigger role in Panic, R&R #3, and then he has a novella, called SLACK. This TAUT book is only FORD. It's not really part of the R&R series, as that plot has all been sidelined for this one romance book.
And after Rook broke his heart, he plans to keep it that way.
Ashleigh is known for nothing, and that's exactly what she's got going for her. She's broke, stranded in the mountains with a three month old baby, and Ford Aston is screwing with her head.
Big. Time.
And she plans to mess with his right back.
It's a coy game at first, filled with flirting, and innuendo--but Ford soon realizes something is not quite right with Ashleigh. In fact, something is seriously, seriously wrong and the closer they get to their final destination, the closer Ford gets to the truth.
One night of devastation, self-loathing, and emptiness turns into the best thing that ever happened to Ford Aston. But one day of in-your-face reality threatens Ashleigh's whole existence.
Ford first appears in Rook and Ronin #2, Manic. He has a bigger role in Panic, R&R #3, and then he has a novella, called SLACK. This TAUT book is only FORD. It's not really part of the R&R series, as that plot has all been sidelined for this one romance book.
422 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2014
About the author
J.A. Huss
143 books8,632 followersJ.A. Huss never wanted to be a writer and she still dreams of that elusive career as an astronaut. She originally went to school to become an equine veterinarian but soon figured out they keep horrible hours and decided to go to grad school instead. That Ph.D wasn’t all it was cracked up to be (and she really sucked at the whole scientist thing), so she dropped out and got a M.S. in forensic toxicology just to get the whole thing over with as soon as possible.
After graduation she got a job with the state of Colorado as their one and only hog farm inspector and spent her days wandering the Eastern Plains shooting the shit with farmers. After a few years of that, she got bored. And since she was a homeschool mom and actually does love science, she decided to write science textbooks and make online classes for other homeschool moms. She wrote more than two hundred of those workbooks and was the number one publisher at the online homeschool store many times, but eventually she covered every science topic she could think of and ran out of shit to say.
So in 2012 she decided to write fiction instead. That year she released her first three books and started a career that would make her a New York Times bestseller and land her on the USA Today Bestseller’s List eighteen times in the next three years. Her books have sold millions of copies all over the world, the audio version of her semi-autobiographical book, Eighteen, was nominated for a Voice Arts Award and an Audie award in 2016 and 2017 respectively, her audiobook Mr. Perfect was nominated for a Voice Arts Award in 2017, and her book, Taking Turns, was nominated for an Audie Award in 2018. Johnathan McClain is her first (and only) writing partner and even though they are worlds apart in just about every way imaginable, it works.
She lives on a ranch in Central Colorado with her family.
After graduation she got a job with the state of Colorado as their one and only hog farm inspector and spent her days wandering the Eastern Plains shooting the shit with farmers. After a few years of that, she got bored. And since she was a homeschool mom and actually does love science, she decided to write science textbooks and make online classes for other homeschool moms. She wrote more than two hundred of those workbooks and was the number one publisher at the online homeschool store many times, but eventually she covered every science topic she could think of and ran out of shit to say.
So in 2012 she decided to write fiction instead. That year she released her first three books and started a career that would make her a New York Times bestseller and land her on the USA Today Bestseller’s List eighteen times in the next three years. Her books have sold millions of copies all over the world, the audio version of her semi-autobiographical book, Eighteen, was nominated for a Voice Arts Award and an Audie award in 2016 and 2017 respectively, her audiobook Mr. Perfect was nominated for a Voice Arts Award in 2017, and her book, Taking Turns, was nominated for an Audie Award in 2018. Johnathan McClain is her first (and only) writing partner and even though they are worlds apart in just about every way imaginable, it works.
She lives on a ranch in Central Colorado with her family.
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April 20, 2015
5 Ford stars!
While reading J.A. Huss’s Tragic series, there was one character that stuck out to me more than any of the others. One guy that was a little odd, a little weird, but someone I found endearing. This guys name is Ford Ashton. He made the story for me. I was so happy when I saw that he was getting his own book. This was one of those books that kept me smiling the whole time I read- I LOVE FORD <3 Seriously love the guy! He’s so quirky and funny. And crazy hot... did I mention that? This was by far my favorite Huss book to date!
Ford has to leave Denver before he does something he knows he shouldn’t. He has very few friends, and Ronin is one of them. He won’t go there. Rook is the first girl he’s wanted more with, but it’s not happening. She’s taken. Anyone else, he wouldn’t give a shit about, but it’s Ronin. So he leaves. Drives his old bronco to LA. On the way there, he gets stuck in his hometown of Vail. There is a snow storm and he has to stay over night. That’s where he meets Ashleigh. Ashleigh is also on her way to LA. She’s stuck in her car in the snow with a three month old newborn. She’s at the end of her rope. Ford finds her and for some reason, decides to help. She’s not sure why, but she’s not in a position to turn down anyone willing to help her. This Ford is something else. He’s a little strange, but she kind of likes it.
“You’re a weird guy, Ford.”
“Tell me something new, Ashleigh.”
Ford and Ashleigh are attracted to one another. They’re playing a game. It’s flirty, fun and hot. They both want each other, but Ford has an aversion to touching. He’s used to the pets, and Ash is far from obedient.
“You have no idea what I like and if I were you, I would be careful what you agree to. Because I like it dirty and if I decide to fuck you, I’ll expect compliance.”Ford doesn’t need anymore complications in his life. A woman with a baby is something he definitely does not need. But there is something about Ashleigh. He sees something in her. He wants her. Even if it’s just for one night. And she wants him too. Will one night be enough?
I love that Ashleigh is the type of girl that can appreciate a guy like Ford. She is strong. Even with everything she has going on, she makes it through. She finds his strangeness attractive and captivating just like I do.
Ford... Fucking Ford! What can I say about Ford? Just when I thought it wasn’t possible to love him more, I found that I did. Ford is uber intelligent, cunning, sexy, complex, peculiar and lovable. He shows his sweet side. But most of all, this guy is funny! I seriously laughed out loud through so much of this book!
I like smart girls. I’ll fuck a dumb one, but I prefer them smart.
I smile. A dimpled smile , but not a creepy one that says ‘I’m gonna fuck you’. It’s a sincere one that says, “You are fucking beautiful.”
I have a thing for throats. Maybe some guys like tits and pussy. I like tits and pussy. But throats. Fuck. That shit turns me on.
The only person in this fucking world who gives a shit about me is my mother. And she has to care about me. It’s like, the law.
He knows he’s a bit of a different character and he accepts it.
I know I’m odd. I do, I admit it. I understand this. What canI say. I was just born this way.And did I mention just how HOT Ford was???
What I really loved was seeing Ford finally open up to someone. Ford was able to tell Ashleigh things he’s never told anyone. Just spending a week or so with her and her baby, he knows he doesn’t want to let them go. They have changed him. She has changed him. But she doesn’t make it easy on him.
“I want to be won, Ford. If you can win me, you can have me. I’ll be yours and you’ll have earned it.”They both have a lot of baggage from the past, Ash even more than Ford. But he wants to be there for her. He’s starting to realize what Ash is to him is something special, even more than Rook. It’s scary, but he wants to take that chance with her. Ford is there. The question is... is Ash there with him?
Not only do I highly recommend this book, I highly recommend the entire Tragic series! I am crazy about this guy and these books! Filled with love, passion, laughs and sizzling hot moments, this is a book you won’t want to miss out on!!!
**ARC kindly provided by author in exchange for an honest review**
August 15, 2017
★★★★ 1/2! Taut (Duet). Ford Aston, while running from his problems, runs into a mother & baby. Together they take a journey filled with reflection, growth. mind-blowing sex and.. the possibility of more?!
“I’m not looking to punish people. I just like to be in control. I don’t want to hurt you. I’m not into whips, I don’t want to humiliate you or piss on you for fuck’s sake. I just like to call the shots and I like to fuck girls who let me do that.”
This Duet is a spinoff of the Rook and Ronin trilogy. Ford Aston first appeared in trilogy, but you don’t have to read in order to enjoy his story. Here is reading order:
Prequel: Slack
Book 1: Taut
In Slack (Prequel) we spent Christmas day with Rutherford Aston, Ford. He is the anti-social guy in the threesome of Ronin (trilogy), Spencer (spin-off) and Ford. Diagnosed with Asperger syndrome (AD) as a child he grew up privileged and very much loved and nurtured by his parents, but a bit of the social outcast amongst his peers.
Ford had settled into the lifestyle of a Don with his assistant sending subs aka “pets” to his home to play with. But Ford wasn’t happy. He was frustrated because he’s in love with his best friend Ronin’s girl, Rook.
Taut opens up to the cliffhanger of Slack with Rutherford Aston, Ford running away in his old Bronco. He needs to be in LA to get started on his next production so he might as well drive there. Unfortunately he gets caught in a snowstorm and his car breaks down just a few miles down the road from his family’s ski house.
Ashleigh Li, Ash and her 3-month old daughter, Kate have been caught in the same snowstorm. It’s clear she is on the run; to or from what will unfold with the story. Ford takes pity on her sitting out in her car in the snowstorm, with no more hotel rooms. Before he knows it Ash and her daughter are tagging along on his road trip.
Of course there are many twists and turns along the way with both Ford and Ashleigh having to reflect and come to terms with their pasts. Ford with his Aspergers finds himself with many new “first” as a bond is formed between him and Ash as well her baby daughter. But much stand in their way; Secrets, family, complications and most importantly their pasts…
RUTHERFORD ASTON, FORD:
25 years/con-man/hacker/film producer/$$$$/brown hair/dark eyes/genius/Asperger syndrome/Dom.
Rutherford Aston, Ford is a compelling hero. He wrapped himself around your heart quickly in spite of or maybe because of his anti-social ways, which of course are attributed to his Asperger. He will open up about himself on this journey and I saw some amazing growth!
Eight words to describe Ford: Vulnerable, reflective, blunt, introvert, private, commanding, perceptive and extremely smart..
“I’m not defective. I want to be touched. I’ve denied myself this most basic of human comforts my whole life and I’m ready to move on.”
ASHLEIGH LI, ASH: 23 years/student/mom/black-brown hair/brown eyes/5’2”.
Ashleigh Li, Ash remained an enigma for most of the story. That’s how it had to be. Seven words to describe Ashleigh: Lost, broken, reflective, wise, smart, compulsive and secretive.
“And I’m not a worthless person. Maybe I’ve got a lot of problems and pretty much everything is going wrong for me right now, but I’m not worthless.”
Taut took us on a journey (both literally and figurately) all the way to a sweet and satisfying end for Ford and Ashleigh. I hope to see some flashes into their future in next-coming books. The unfolding of story and mystery became a little anticlimactic for me as I had figured it out early on. That said, I see no other way for story to have played out. Besides Ford and Ashleigh’s journey transpired over a few days, so it’s very plausible.
Off-the-charts sex! Commanding, compelling and memorable hero! Excellent story-telling! I am highly recommending? I’d like to see Tony get his own story! What? Well it’s possible….
“When my life is unraveling, and everything about it is slack, my poems are taut. My poems take the fray and wind it back together.”
***
Hero rating: 5 stars
Heroine rating: 3.5 stars
Sex scenes rating: 5 stars
Sex scenes frequency: 4 stars
Storyline concept rating: 4.5 stars
Storytelling skills rating: 5 stars
Story ending rating: 4 stars
Book editing rating (5 = no edits spotted): 5 stars
************************************************
Overall rating: 4.5 stars
Would I recommend this series: Yes.
Would I re-read this series: Maybe later.
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.
January 11, 2014
**5 "I'm in" stars**
TAUT can be read as a standalone even though the last scene of Manic is the prologue for the this book. If you have never read the Rook & Ronin series the author does an excellent job of letting you know what is happening so that you don't feel lost when you dive into TAUT.
Ashleigh is down on her luck and stranded in a snow storm when an angel of mercy offers her a helping hand. Even though she has a lot of self respect and isn't going to allow anyone to make her feel worthless she has to learn to put her trust in this stranger.
Ford has been hurt by the only girl he has ever wanted. He's on the run to escape his former life when he gets stuck in a snow storm.
Ashleigh has the best description of a young Ford - a nerdy little prankster.
Ford's description of his well loved first vehicle best describes the type of relationship he wants.
*My pre-review*
*********************************************************
Rook & Ronin Series is the main series that these next two 'spin offs' are connected with: The Ford Book and The Spencer Book. Ford's spin off can be read as standalone.
Timeline between these three series:
{#1 R&R} Tragic | My review
{#2 R&R} Manic | My review
{#3 R&R} Panic | My review
{#.5 Ford} SLACK: A Day in the Life of Ford Aston | My review
{#1 Ford} TAUT: The Ford Book
{#.5 Spencer} BOMB: A Day in the Life of Spencer Shrike
{#1 Spencer} GUNS: The Spencer Book
SERIES:
SLACK - prequel | TAUT - Ford's book
Both can be read as a standalone
**ARC courtesy of author J.A. Huss in exchange for an honest review.**
TAUT can be read as a standalone even though the last scene of Manic is the prologue for the this book. If you have never read the Rook & Ronin series the author does an excellent job of letting you know what is happening so that you don't feel lost when you dive into TAUT.
Ashleigh is down on her luck and stranded in a snow storm when an angel of mercy offers her a helping hand. Even though she has a lot of self respect and isn't going to allow anyone to make her feel worthless she has to learn to put her trust in this stranger.
Ford has been hurt by the only girl he has ever wanted. He's on the run to escape his former life when he gets stuck in a snow storm.
Ashleigh has the best description of a young Ford - a nerdy little prankster.
Ford's description of his well loved first vehicle best describes the type of relationship he wants.
But I wanted to earn my first vehicle, to make it worth something to me. I wanted to be invested in it and I didn't want it to be perfect. It wanted it to be flawed. I wanted it to be a work in progress. I wanted to rescue it."I love Ford. He was perfectly flawed in this book. Ms. Huss does an excellent job writing his POV. A lot of times when authors write the male POV they make his inner thoughts girly. Ford holds to his true personality in and out of his head.
*My pre-review*
*********************************************************
Rook & Ronin Series is the main series that these next two 'spin offs' are connected with: The Ford Book and The Spencer Book. Ford's spin off can be read as standalone.
Timeline between these three series:
{#1 R&R} Tragic | My review
{#2 R&R} Manic | My review
{#3 R&R} Panic | My review
{#.5 Ford} SLACK: A Day in the Life of Ford Aston | My review
{#1 Ford} TAUT: The Ford Book
{#.5 Spencer} BOMB: A Day in the Life of Spencer Shrike
{#1 Spencer} GUNS: The Spencer Book
SERIES:
SLACK - prequel | TAUT - Ford's book
Both can be read as a standalone
**ARC courtesy of author J.A. Huss in exchange for an honest review.**
June 8, 2015
5 I'M FORD FUCKING ASTON STARS
ARC received from the author. Seriously love this woman! BRING ON FORD!
I am going to really try to sort out the feelings that are bouncing around inside my head, because this was just such a fantastic book. I was not expecting to get such a complex view into Ford, I know that sounds weird, since this was his book after all, but I expected to see a bit of the Ford we saw in Manic & Panic. We get a bit of that, but we start to see the layers get pealed back throughout this story. We get to see Ford, how he grew up, what matters to him, how he handles the way he is viewed and in the end we see realize what he wants, which proves just how normal he is. His wants and desires are normal, he may have a few kinks and a few issues with personal space but he is human just like everyone else.
So let’s get down to the story...
The book starts off with the farewell from the epilogue from Panic, Ford saying goodbye to Rook and walking away. This felt so much more emotional reading this the second time, not sure why. Maybe it’s because that little bit of insight I got in Slack gave me perspective in to just how much Ford was feeling this time around. So yeah, we start with a little refresher and JA Huss ensures we get to see Ford at a low point so we can watch him climb.
Ford’s going to leave town, he has a flight to catch the next morning to LA, but tonight he just wants to drive. But the weather gods have other plans in mind, stuck in a blizzard, he ends up on the side of the road in Vail. But his night just gets a bit more interesting when he extends an offer to a stranger.
Ashleigh is alone with her three month old infant in the cold, with no money and a broken down car. She’s stuck between running away and running to something. Everything that she ever wanted has escaped her and she has lost all hope. This trip was supposed to heal her, to bring her closure but instead it brings her to a man that might just be as fucked up as she is.
When Ford offers the spare bed in his room to Ashleigh he had no idea that his life was about to change. Since Ford’s already missed his flight and he isn’t quite ready to face life after having to walk away from Rook he decides to make the drive to LA, bringing Ashleigh and baby along for the ride.
The feels...
These two have instant chemistry, but it goes so much deeper than that. Ford has a way of reading people, seeing what they are thinking and breaking down all that information trying to figure out each piece. He knows she is broken but he also sees someone that is feisty, watching her care for her baby gives Ford a glimpse into feelings he has never understood before. But those feelings evoke a bit of a new feeling in him as well.
They have one hell of a road trip, filled with revealing moments of Ford’s past and some vague insight into Ashleigh. And once we get to the final 20% of the story, things start to get a bit intense. Revelations, new developments and so many new dimensions to Ford.
To say I loved this story is putting it lightly. JA Huss created one intriguing character when Ford graced the pages of Manic, giving us just enough of him in Panic to get us hooked, but nothing that we had previously seen prepared me for the feels that came flooding out during Taut. I was a little interested in seeing how a baby would be worked into this story, of all the guys Ford seem the most anti-baby so throwing this dynamic into the story was certainly unexpected. But if I would to remove all traces of Baby Kate from this story, it would lose so much. One little bundle of cute baby allowed Ford to show yet another brilliant side to his screwed up personality.
But make no mistake, Ford is the way he is because he was born that way. Yeah he might be able to learn to be more social, bite his tongue, but he is not going to be able to rid himself of the things that just make him who he is. Those are the things we all fell in love with.
In conclusion, this book gave us a great love story and insight into one of the more complex characters I’ve read. I swooned, I melted, I cried a little, even got a bit pissed at him a few times and there might have been a few moments where a panty change was needed. The story was just about as perfect as you can get. I think a lot of us readers built Ford up in our heads and that can be both a positive and a negative thing. But he lived up to everything I wanted and so much more.
==============================================
SLACK - Ford Novella available 12/18...SIGN UP HERE!
Book Trailer
ARC received from the author. Seriously love this woman! BRING ON FORD!
I am going to really try to sort out the feelings that are bouncing around inside my head, because this was just such a fantastic book. I was not expecting to get such a complex view into Ford, I know that sounds weird, since this was his book after all, but I expected to see a bit of the Ford we saw in Manic & Panic. We get a bit of that, but we start to see the layers get pealed back throughout this story. We get to see Ford, how he grew up, what matters to him, how he handles the way he is viewed and in the end we see realize what he wants, which proves just how normal he is. His wants and desires are normal, he may have a few kinks and a few issues with personal space but he is human just like everyone else.
So let’s get down to the story...
The book starts off with the farewell from the epilogue from Panic, Ford saying goodbye to Rook and walking away. This felt so much more emotional reading this the second time, not sure why. Maybe it’s because that little bit of insight I got in Slack gave me perspective in to just how much Ford was feeling this time around. So yeah, we start with a little refresher and JA Huss ensures we get to see Ford at a low point so we can watch him climb.
Ford’s going to leave town, he has a flight to catch the next morning to LA, but tonight he just wants to drive. But the weather gods have other plans in mind, stuck in a blizzard, he ends up on the side of the road in Vail. But his night just gets a bit more interesting when he extends an offer to a stranger.
Ashleigh is alone with her three month old infant in the cold, with no money and a broken down car. She’s stuck between running away and running to something. Everything that she ever wanted has escaped her and she has lost all hope. This trip was supposed to heal her, to bring her closure but instead it brings her to a man that might just be as fucked up as she is.
When Ford offers the spare bed in his room to Ashleigh he had no idea that his life was about to change. Since Ford’s already missed his flight and he isn’t quite ready to face life after having to walk away from Rook he decides to make the drive to LA, bringing Ashleigh and baby along for the ride.
The feels...
These two have instant chemistry, but it goes so much deeper than that. Ford has a way of reading people, seeing what they are thinking and breaking down all that information trying to figure out each piece. He knows she is broken but he also sees someone that is feisty, watching her care for her baby gives Ford a glimpse into feelings he has never understood before. But those feelings evoke a bit of a new feeling in him as well.
They have one hell of a road trip, filled with revealing moments of Ford’s past and some vague insight into Ashleigh. And once we get to the final 20% of the story, things start to get a bit intense. Revelations, new developments and so many new dimensions to Ford.
To say I loved this story is putting it lightly. JA Huss created one intriguing character when Ford graced the pages of Manic, giving us just enough of him in Panic to get us hooked, but nothing that we had previously seen prepared me for the feels that came flooding out during Taut. I was a little interested in seeing how a baby would be worked into this story, of all the guys Ford seem the most anti-baby so throwing this dynamic into the story was certainly unexpected. But if I would to remove all traces of Baby Kate from this story, it would lose so much. One little bundle of cute baby allowed Ford to show yet another brilliant side to his screwed up personality.
But make no mistake, Ford is the way he is because he was born that way. Yeah he might be able to learn to be more social, bite his tongue, but he is not going to be able to rid himself of the things that just make him who he is. Those are the things we all fell in love with.
In conclusion, this book gave us a great love story and insight into one of the more complex characters I’ve read. I swooned, I melted, I cried a little, even got a bit pissed at him a few times and there might have been a few moments where a panty change was needed. The story was just about as perfect as you can get. I think a lot of us readers built Ford up in our heads and that can be both a positive and a negative thing. But he lived up to everything I wanted and so much more.
==============================================
SLACK - Ford Novella available 12/18...SIGN UP HERE!
Book Trailer
January 6, 2022
5 There.Are.No.Amount.Of.Stars.
High.Enough. Stars **********************
There are certain authors who just “take you there”. We as readers have our favorites; we devour their books; wait feverishly for the next; talk endlessly about the characters from them…. I think you get what I am saying…
Well, of this group of authors for me, J. A. Huss is in the top ten. She came to my attention with a little book I found on Amazon call Tragic.
She introduced me to this girl, Rook. She was not cookie cutter romance material… she was fighting to be independent, showed intelligence and major street smarts. We met her in survivor mode and took a journey which was unlike anything I had ever read before. I was extremely lucky as the next book, Manic, was already out, so I click clicked and was right back where I was drawn… with the crew… Ronin, Rook, meeting Spencer and this questionable fella Ford…
As I completed Manic… I learned the next book, Panic, was coming and had to learn a new skill…. Waiting. I learned how to play the game of anticipation… of revisiting the crew… of re reading certain passages to keep it fresh so when my peeps returned to me… I would be right there.. The joke was I didn't need to catch up with the story of the people in it; the minute I picked up the book, I felt I had never left them... that they had been around the corner the whole time. And although the story was still focused on Rook and Ronin... there was this draw to Ford… he would enter the room, be there for Rook; pushing and prodding her to see herself as the warrior she was and live up to her best potential… which in turn made Rook love and see Ford for the good person he hid from everyone.
Because Ford had “quirks”…. Ford came across as cold, not user friendly at all and he had this thing with “pets”…. No, not the 4 legged kind… I am talking female, sexual partners with no names; who were not allowed to touch or speak; who were disposable. Ford was so comfortable having these “pets” he brought one to a party with the crew as if it was an everyday thing.
So this was the Ford Huss introduced us to… but she also teased us with sparkling glimpses of vulnerability; of longing; and even of humanity so intense in their showing… they would ripe your heart out and you would fall for this Ford, quirks and all.
Huss is brilliant in her laying the foundations for her books… and so at the end of Panic…. Any devout reader of the series would be like the character in Oliver shouting, “Please sir, I want some more” about Ford….and like the savvy writer she is…. She promised more… she gave us a place holder in Slack, A Day in the Life of Ford Aston, a taste, a morsel which was so packed with intricate layers of goodness, it was staggering in its briefness.
The promise of more continued in the dangling of Ford’s complete novel Taut… and again… the waiting.
But this type of waiting I could do… this was the waiting you did for the limited addition sports car; the numbered coveted handbag or the priceless bottle of wine up for auction… this was an experience I knew would be like no other, that was how confident I was about Huss and Ford.
Well, I can testify it was everything I thought it would be and then became one of the most emotional experiences I have had with a book. We may have thought we knew who he was revealed in Slack… we saw softness and kindness with his interaction with a young girl… and we already knew of his loyalty to his crew of Ronin and Spencer, but in this book… Any preconceived notion you may have about Ford; everything is laid bare.
The players primarily are Ford, leaving and going to Los Angeles, and a woman with child he helps on the road, Ashleigh and her baby girl. What transpires with this meeting of these two is a work of art in writing. The way we are taken through the peeling of layers, the cat and mouse game, the revealing of who these people are and what has caused them to be the way they are defies any description from me.
I can only say you will think you know where this book is going, be excited for what is happening and what you are learning about our Ford, experience great joy, heartache and then be sucker punched. You will recover and it will be good only to be spun and twisted so tight you cannot breathe ….
Oh, and the sex…. Well, people this is FORD… it is off the fucking charts… it is hot, caring, controlling, orgasmic… and that is just the first few encounters…..
There is so much more to say, such as the baby is beyond wonderful and Ashleigh is the most fully formed woman … this character is everything I wish most female characters were in books…. She is strong, has such presence in who she is…even in her most vulnerable moments and ballsy… there were times she was so strong she almost… only almost stole the book from Ford….
But you see…. That is the beauty of J. A. Huss…. She is so confident in her writing … in her telling of the tale and knowing her characters… she can do that without harming the integrity of these people or story.
So if you wish to go on an amazing journey and experience the beauty of life with all of the ugly, sadness and redemption which can be found everyday…. Then please read Taut.
In order to really appreciate this journey, though, in my opinion, the other books should be read first. You can come to this without reading them though, as Ms. Huss has provided enough back-story to give the reader a reference of it all.
The good news is Ms. Huss is not leaving us high and dry…. Oh no, Spencer's story is coming and it looks to be just as complex and intriguing in his way… the biker, gun obsessed way….isn’t that so Ms. Huss…. I shall be waiting patiently…..
Arc provided in exchange for an honest review
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
High.Enough. Stars **********************
There are certain authors who just “take you there”. We as readers have our favorites; we devour their books; wait feverishly for the next; talk endlessly about the characters from them…. I think you get what I am saying…
Well, of this group of authors for me, J. A. Huss is in the top ten. She came to my attention with a little book I found on Amazon call Tragic.
She introduced me to this girl, Rook. She was not cookie cutter romance material… she was fighting to be independent, showed intelligence and major street smarts. We met her in survivor mode and took a journey which was unlike anything I had ever read before. I was extremely lucky as the next book, Manic, was already out, so I click clicked and was right back where I was drawn… with the crew… Ronin, Rook, meeting Spencer and this questionable fella Ford…
As I completed Manic… I learned the next book, Panic, was coming and had to learn a new skill…. Waiting. I learned how to play the game of anticipation… of revisiting the crew… of re reading certain passages to keep it fresh so when my peeps returned to me… I would be right there.. The joke was I didn't need to catch up with the story of the people in it; the minute I picked up the book, I felt I had never left them... that they had been around the corner the whole time. And although the story was still focused on Rook and Ronin... there was this draw to Ford… he would enter the room, be there for Rook; pushing and prodding her to see herself as the warrior she was and live up to her best potential… which in turn made Rook love and see Ford for the good person he hid from everyone.
Because Ford had “quirks”…. Ford came across as cold, not user friendly at all and he had this thing with “pets”…. No, not the 4 legged kind… I am talking female, sexual partners with no names; who were not allowed to touch or speak; who were disposable. Ford was so comfortable having these “pets” he brought one to a party with the crew as if it was an everyday thing.
So this was the Ford Huss introduced us to… but she also teased us with sparkling glimpses of vulnerability; of longing; and even of humanity so intense in their showing… they would ripe your heart out and you would fall for this Ford, quirks and all.
Huss is brilliant in her laying the foundations for her books… and so at the end of Panic…. Any devout reader of the series would be like the character in Oliver shouting, “Please sir, I want some more” about Ford….and like the savvy writer she is…. She promised more… she gave us a place holder in Slack, A Day in the Life of Ford Aston, a taste, a morsel which was so packed with intricate layers of goodness, it was staggering in its briefness.
The promise of more continued in the dangling of Ford’s complete novel Taut… and again… the waiting.
But this type of waiting I could do… this was the waiting you did for the limited addition sports car; the numbered coveted handbag or the priceless bottle of wine up for auction… this was an experience I knew would be like no other, that was how confident I was about Huss and Ford.
Well, I can testify it was everything I thought it would be and then became one of the most emotional experiences I have had with a book. We may have thought we knew who he was revealed in Slack… we saw softness and kindness with his interaction with a young girl… and we already knew of his loyalty to his crew of Ronin and Spencer, but in this book… Any preconceived notion you may have about Ford; everything is laid bare.
The players primarily are Ford, leaving and going to Los Angeles, and a woman with child he helps on the road, Ashleigh and her baby girl. What transpires with this meeting of these two is a work of art in writing. The way we are taken through the peeling of layers, the cat and mouse game, the revealing of who these people are and what has caused them to be the way they are defies any description from me.
I can only say you will think you know where this book is going, be excited for what is happening and what you are learning about our Ford, experience great joy, heartache and then be sucker punched. You will recover and it will be good only to be spun and twisted so tight you cannot breathe ….
Oh, and the sex…. Well, people this is FORD… it is off the fucking charts… it is hot, caring, controlling, orgasmic… and that is just the first few encounters…..
There is so much more to say, such as the baby is beyond wonderful and Ashleigh is the most fully formed woman … this character is everything I wish most female characters were in books…. She is strong, has such presence in who she is…even in her most vulnerable moments and ballsy… there were times she was so strong she almost… only almost stole the book from Ford….
But you see…. That is the beauty of J. A. Huss…. She is so confident in her writing … in her telling of the tale and knowing her characters… she can do that without harming the integrity of these people or story.
So if you wish to go on an amazing journey and experience the beauty of life with all of the ugly, sadness and redemption which can be found everyday…. Then please read Taut.
In order to really appreciate this journey, though, in my opinion, the other books should be read first. You can come to this without reading them though, as Ms. Huss has provided enough back-story to give the reader a reference of it all.
The good news is Ms. Huss is not leaving us high and dry…. Oh no, Spencer's story is coming and it looks to be just as complex and intriguing in his way… the biker, gun obsessed way….isn’t that so Ms. Huss…. I shall be waiting patiently…..
Arc provided in exchange for an honest review
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
July 12, 2016
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J.A. Huss did a superb job of writing the all male pov of Ford Aston. This full book gave me more than a glimpse into the mind of my favorite character of this series!
I'm in the minority, but I didn’t love the heroine, Ashleigh. To be honest, I wanted the whole fairytale experience for my Ford, although the execution of their relationship was well done. I think I wanted Ford to be someone's END ALL and FIRST CHOICE. I would have been thrilled if the pet who threw the cookies from the novella ended up to be“the one” that could have made an interesting story as well. Nevertheless, I'm happy as long as Ford is.
Overall, this is a good read and fans will enjoy Ford’s voice and journey.
“I want to be won, Ford. If you can win me, you can have me. I’ll be yours and you’ll have earned it.”
J.A. Huss did a superb job of writing the all male pov of Ford Aston. This full book gave me more than a glimpse into the mind of my favorite character of this series!
I'm in the minority, but I didn’t love the heroine, Ashleigh. To be honest, I wanted the whole fairytale experience for my Ford, although the execution of their relationship was well done. I think I wanted Ford to be someone's END ALL and FIRST CHOICE. I would have been thrilled if the pet who threw the cookies from the novella ended up to be“the one” that could have made an interesting story as well. Nevertheless, I'm happy as long as Ford is.
Overall, this is a good read and fans will enjoy Ford’s voice and journey.
“I want to be won, Ford. If you can win me, you can have me. I’ll be yours and you’ll have earned it.”
January 13, 2014
I have so much to say about this book, but… whenever I want a review to mean something I freeze up and blurt “I love bubblegum” and hit enter.
TAUT deserves better so I’m spitting out my gum, pulling on my big girl “Ford’s Pet” panties and getting to work.
TAUT is a stand alone novel, yet you may have met Ford Aston before, because he’s a secondary character in the Tragic series. If you haven’t read Tragic, Manic & Panic, you could start here. (Or the Ford Aston novella SLACK.) I’m glad I started with Tragic because I fell in hardcore love with Ford in book 3, and the anticipation of reading HIS book was delicious. But, if you’re behind on your reading & want to start with TAUT go ahead. When you fall in love with Ford you’ll have the added bonus of being able to go back & read what he was up to before he met “the girl.”
So what’s the attraction to Ford?
Ford is a weird guy. A hot, genius, computer hacking, sexy, weird guy. He is the perfect level of weirdness that draws me in like a hooker to a pimp.
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Ford’s got issues. Some good ones, but I’ll let him tell you what they are. He doesn’t do girlfriends, he does “pets.” Then he meets “the girl”, and she is no pet.
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Ashleigh… she’s perfect for Ford. She’s got some issues going on too. I’ll let her explain those to you too, but I am #TeamAshleigh all the way. There is no throwing of kindles with this heroine. She’s everything I wanted for Ford. She’s feisty & smart and she’s got Ford’s number. If I can’t have Ford myself, I’ll sleep well knowing Ashleigh has him.
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TAUT is a delightful stand alone HEA novel. There was so much that made me happy about this book I’m surprised my digital highlighter didn’t run out of digital ink. There’s so many things I want to tell you, but I don’t want to ruin a single moment of it for you. All I can say is BUY IT!!!!!!! READ IT!!!!!!!
I LOVE FORD!!! !!!
You thought I was joking about the panties, didn’t you?
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TAUT deserves better so I’m spitting out my gum, pulling on my big girl “Ford’s Pet” panties and getting to work.
TAUT is a stand alone novel, yet you may have met Ford Aston before, because he’s a secondary character in the Tragic series. If you haven’t read Tragic, Manic & Panic, you could start here. (Or the Ford Aston novella SLACK.) I’m glad I started with Tragic because I fell in hardcore love with Ford in book 3, and the anticipation of reading HIS book was delicious. But, if you’re behind on your reading & want to start with TAUT go ahead. When you fall in love with Ford you’ll have the added bonus of being able to go back & read what he was up to before he met “the girl.”
So what’s the attraction to Ford?
Ford is a weird guy. A hot, genius, computer hacking, sexy, weird guy. He is the perfect level of weirdness that draws me in like a hooker to a pimp.
[image error]
Ford’s got issues. Some good ones, but I’ll let him tell you what they are. He doesn’t do girlfriends, he does “pets.” Then he meets “the girl”, and she is no pet.
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Ashleigh… she’s perfect for Ford. She’s got some issues going on too. I’ll let her explain those to you too, but I am #TeamAshleigh all the way. There is no throwing of kindles with this heroine. She’s everything I wanted for Ford. She’s feisty & smart and she’s got Ford’s number. If I can’t have Ford myself, I’ll sleep well knowing Ashleigh has him.
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TAUT is a delightful stand alone HEA novel. There was so much that made me happy about this book I’m surprised my digital highlighter didn’t run out of digital ink. There’s so many things I want to tell you, but I don’t want to ruin a single moment of it for you. All I can say is BUY IT!!!!!!! READ IT!!!!!!!
I LOVE FORD!!! !!!
You thought I was joking about the panties, didn’t you?
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May 23, 2015
We met Ford in JA Huss’s Rook & Ronin Series. While everyone was cheering for Ronin I was thinking “WTF, why isn’t she going after FORD!” THANKFULLY Julie gave Ford his own book: Taut.
Ford is a difficult man, he is complex, eccentric and a genius. The brain of the operations, but in his book everyone finally gets to see the compassionate and protective side of Ford.
I competed in a contest for JA Huss to win a trip to Vegas and be on her ST. I am only telling you this to explain why I have a “life size Ford cutout,” pictured below. Also, here are some teasers I made to celebrate my book boyfriend: Ford Aston!
January 22, 2014
4--Ford-a-licious--Stars!!!
Ronin...I'm so so
but you have officially been DE-throned!!
This book was nothing like I expected it to be but I really liked the direction it went. There were a few things keeping it from getting the full five stars--insta love and the ending.
The story begins with Ford walking out on Rook. If he can't have all of her, he doesn't want any of her. Not as a friend. Nothing.
Damn Ford.
He can't even stand to be in the same town as Rook so off he sets for LA in his Bronco.
OJ Simpson anyone??
Ford finds himself broke down in Vail, two miles from his house. He gets a tow from an old friend who has just rescued a mom and her baby--meet Ashleigh and Kate.
Ford checks in to a hotel for the night only to discover the mom and baby sleeping in their car. And so begins Ford, Ashleigh, and Kate's journey.
A journey of self-discovery. Of exploring intimacy. Of learning to love and be loved. Of being there for someone else and allowing others to be there for you. Of opening up and going after what you want. Finding happiness. Moving on.
Ashleigh's story literally nearly killed me.
Discovering Ford's story.
I did feel like Ford and Ashleigh were victims of circumstance more then anything. Their situations forced them together. Ashleigh had no where to go and no one to be there for her. Ford was looking for that connection with someone....anyone. To feel wanted and needed and Ashleigh wanted and needed him.
I really liked Ashleigh's character. She was fiesty and funny and didn't let Ford completely control her. And in the end Ford didn't want to. So his character really changed as well through the journey.
The ending:
I mean I kind of get why it had to happen like that.....but come on Ford, you're a genius you could have come with another grand gesture right?
It just didn't feel real for me. Despite that, overall I did really Ford's story. I was glad that Ford and Rook were able to make amends and find "their place" in each other's lives and that Ford was able to find his own happiness!
Ronin...I'm so so
but you have officially been DE-throned!!
This book was nothing like I expected it to be but I really liked the direction it went. There were a few things keeping it from getting the full five stars--insta love and the ending.
The story begins with Ford walking out on Rook. If he can't have all of her, he doesn't want any of her. Not as a friend. Nothing.
Damn Ford.
He can't even stand to be in the same town as Rook so off he sets for LA in his Bronco.
OJ Simpson anyone??
Ford finds himself broke down in Vail, two miles from his house. He gets a tow from an old friend who has just rescued a mom and her baby--meet Ashleigh and Kate.
Ford checks in to a hotel for the night only to discover the mom and baby sleeping in their car. And so begins Ford, Ashleigh, and Kate's journey.
A journey of self-discovery. Of exploring intimacy. Of learning to love and be loved. Of being there for someone else and allowing others to be there for you. Of opening up and going after what you want. Finding happiness. Moving on.
Ashleigh's story literally nearly killed me.
Discovering Ford's story.
I did feel like Ford and Ashleigh were victims of circumstance more then anything. Their situations forced them together. Ashleigh had no where to go and no one to be there for her. Ford was looking for that connection with someone....anyone. To feel wanted and needed and Ashleigh wanted and needed him.
I really liked Ashleigh's character. She was fiesty and funny and didn't let Ford completely control her. And in the end Ford didn't want to. So his character really changed as well through the journey.
The ending:
I mean I kind of get why it had to happen like that.....but come on Ford, you're a genius you could have come with another grand gesture right?
It just didn't feel real for me. Despite that, overall I did really Ford's story. I was glad that Ford and Rook were able to make amends and find "their place" in each other's lives and that Ford was able to find his own happiness!
January 28, 2014
(BR with Patty & Jennifer Kyle)
(4.5 "Can I be on your team?" Stars)
This book takes us back to the Chaput New Year's Eve party in Denver, where Ford confesses his feelings for Rook and then leaves town, and runs away with his broken heart. He just gets on the road and drives as far as he can. He ends up in Vail in a snowstorm near his family's home in the mountains. When he is about two miles away his car breaks down. An old friend that has a tow truck picks him up and takes him to a motel.
At the motel he meets a single mom named Ashleigh Li. Circumstances throw them together, and Ford helps Ashleigh and her child during the blizzard. They end up stuck with each other for a week, and then both head to LA together. They really get to know each other, and find they have plenty in common. They both seem to feel misunderstood, and are sad.
Ford is very set in his ways, and doesn't seem to have a positive opinion of himself. He thinks he's weird. He can't stand to be touched and has always been different from others. He likes to be in control, but isn't wanting a submissive anymore. They really have just been a distraction for him. He likes the kinky stuff, but also wants someone strong, who will challenge him.
I really enjoyed this book! I loved seeing the softer side of Ford, and him really putting himself out there. He fights for what he wants, and is a stand up guy. We see what a big heart he has, and how vulnerable he is. Ford is such a complex guy, but is the total package! I was thrilled he gets his HEA & enjoyed all the Ford sexy time! As usual he is delish! :D
-I take care of myself, I'm well educated, I'm not bad-looking. I'm sorta hot, actually. I know this, I have no trouble finding sex when I want it.
-It's like I have a sign on my fucking head that says I like the weird ones. I might like to try a nice girl, or at the very least, a semi-nice one with a little freak to her.
-"I'll just warn you. A night with me, my undivided attention, that's not something you'll ever forget. I might ruin you for life. I might make it impossible for you to ever be with another man again. I might-"
-I wrap my arm around her and pull her close. Were both naked and her warm body feels so perfect next to mine.
-She thrills me. Everything about her thrills me.
-"You take all the bad away for me, Ford. When I'm with you, all that stuff disappears."
-Love is a risk and I can live with it.
(4.5 "Can I be on your team?" Stars)
This book takes us back to the Chaput New Year's Eve party in Denver, where Ford confesses his feelings for Rook and then leaves town, and runs away with his broken heart. He just gets on the road and drives as far as he can. He ends up in Vail in a snowstorm near his family's home in the mountains. When he is about two miles away his car breaks down. An old friend that has a tow truck picks him up and takes him to a motel.
At the motel he meets a single mom named Ashleigh Li. Circumstances throw them together, and Ford helps Ashleigh and her child during the blizzard. They end up stuck with each other for a week, and then both head to LA together. They really get to know each other, and find they have plenty in common. They both seem to feel misunderstood, and are sad.
Ford is very set in his ways, and doesn't seem to have a positive opinion of himself. He thinks he's weird. He can't stand to be touched and has always been different from others. He likes to be in control, but isn't wanting a submissive anymore. They really have just been a distraction for him. He likes the kinky stuff, but also wants someone strong, who will challenge him.
I really enjoyed this book! I loved seeing the softer side of Ford, and him really putting himself out there. He fights for what he wants, and is a stand up guy. We see what a big heart he has, and how vulnerable he is. Ford is such a complex guy, but is the total package! I was thrilled he gets his HEA & enjoyed all the Ford sexy time! As usual he is delish! :D
-I take care of myself, I'm well educated, I'm not bad-looking. I'm sorta hot, actually. I know this, I have no trouble finding sex when I want it.
-It's like I have a sign on my fucking head that says I like the weird ones. I might like to try a nice girl, or at the very least, a semi-nice one with a little freak to her.
-"I'll just warn you. A night with me, my undivided attention, that's not something you'll ever forget. I might ruin you for life. I might make it impossible for you to ever be with another man again. I might-"
-I wrap my arm around her and pull her close. Were both naked and her warm body feels so perfect next to mine.
-She thrills me. Everything about her thrills me.
-"You take all the bad away for me, Ford. When I'm with you, all that stuff disappears."
-Love is a risk and I can live with it.
January 26, 2014
Dear Ford,
I just wanted to let you know that I think
I know you tried to push me away, but I’m not buying your act. You like to tell everyone…
You can try to scare me with your “crazy” tactics, but again, I’m not buying it.
I personally liked your level of insanity and lucky for you so did Ashleigh. She was exactly what you needed (besides me of course). I think she’s smart, brave and a badass. I loved how she kept you on your toes. She didn’t always give into you, something you are not used to
But when she did give in and played your games, oh my! What I wouldn’t give for 15 minutes with you!
But no kissing, we know that’s too personal
When you both decided to open up, my heart melted at the connection forming not only between you and Ashleigh,
but with Kate too.
I know you guys have been through some really hard times, but
Ashleigh said it best…
"You're like crazy sexy, Ford. And all this weird shit you do, that just adds to it. I'm not sure why, but I like your strangeness. It's real. And it drives me a little wild."
So I just wanted to say that I hope things go well with you and Ashleigh and Kate and that you all get the happily ever after you all deserve. Live life to the fullest, love each other hard and know that
and if you ever need me I will be here for you.
Yours always, xo
I just wanted to let you know that I think
I know you tried to push me away, but I’m not buying your act. You like to tell everyone…
You can try to scare me with your “crazy” tactics, but again, I’m not buying it.
I personally liked your level of insanity and lucky for you so did Ashleigh. She was exactly what you needed (besides me of course). I think she’s smart, brave and a badass. I loved how she kept you on your toes. She didn’t always give into you, something you are not used to
But when she did give in and played your games, oh my! What I wouldn’t give for 15 minutes with you!
But no kissing, we know that’s too personal
When you both decided to open up, my heart melted at the connection forming not only between you and Ashleigh,
but with Kate too.
I know you guys have been through some really hard times, but
Ashleigh said it best…
"You're like crazy sexy, Ford. And all this weird shit you do, that just adds to it. I'm not sure why, but I like your strangeness. It's real. And it drives me a little wild."
So I just wanted to say that I hope things go well with you and Ashleigh and Kate and that you all get the happily ever after you all deserve. Live life to the fullest, love each other hard and know that
and if you ever need me I will be here for you.
Yours always, xo
January 23, 2014
FIVE LOVING FORD FOREVER STARS!!!!!
(BR with Melissa and Jen)
Where do I even begin????!!!
I FREAKING LOVED this story!!
Dare I say it???
YES...it was my FAVORITE out of the series so far!!!
WHY?
F-O-R-D!!!
I am absolutely, positively, head over heels in LOVE with this guy!!
Why oh why does he have to be a fictional character????!!!!!
Ford, seems odd and quirky, and it's all been blamed on Asperger's, but I think he needed the right woman to come along and shower him with the love he so much deserves.
Sorry, but Rook was not it for Ford.
Any woman who doesn't put him first in her heart, is not worthy of Ford!
The story starts off with the Epilogue from "Panic".
The goodbye speech from Ford to Rook.
That's where I started to see this man had definite swoon worthy potential.
It took me longer to warm up to Ford than most.
Then in Slack, we got more of this man and I began to see just how complex he was.
His life was pretty empty, and he knew it.
He wants love so badly.
Why does love come so easily to Ronin, who doesn't have to try and why do most people act aloof towards Ford?
His interactions with a young girl named Sasha, revealed a warmth that is embedded in his soul.
BUT in TAUT, we get naughty, sexy, domineering, caring, and LOVING, Ford!
He's on a road trip to Cali, during a snow storm.
His truck breaks down but luckily he gets a tow to a nearby motel.
Here, he meets young & single mother, Ashleigh and her baby, Kate.
The girl is definitely down on her luck.
She doesn't have money for a motel room and is trying to survive the night in her broken down car, with a 3 month old infant.
Ford takes her in.
He's just so opposite of what most people think of him.
He is reeling from the rejection by Rook, and yet he has compassion for a young girl and her baby.
These two spend some time together.
The chemistry starts to grow.
Ford is showing his human side.
Ashleigh is a very smart and intuitive girl.
She's also holding on to some pretty intense emotional baggage.
She gets Ford!
Ashleigh sees through his idiosyncrasies and she challenges him.
The sexual buildup was intense.
I was about to die and I also couldn't wait for a simple kiss between the two.
Ford has never kissed a woman.
He only bites.
He doesn't like to be touched.
A simple touch causes Ford to feel physical pain.
I'm waiting patiently for the kiss to happen between Ford and Ashleigh.
I knew it would happen and it would mean something monumental.
There were things Ashleigh was hiding, and I truly didn't expect them!
The moment Ford realizes what has happened, it broke my heart.
He wanted nothing more than to take away Ashleigh's pain.
I'm thinking Ford is just pretty fucking amazing and that there is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG with this man!!!!
I don't want to say anything more.
This is a definite must read.
I'd be shocked if readers don't fall madly in love with FORD after reading this one!!
I only wish that this wasn't his final book.
He's such an amazing character.
I truly think his awesomeness eclipses the other characters in the series!!!
Hey Ford, if things don't work out with Ash, I'm available!!
Just sayin!! :)
So I guess I was right after all. I'm not defective. I want to be touched. I've denied myself this most basic of human comforts my whole life and I'm ready to move on. But the only woman I want to move on with is the only one I can't have.
"I don't kiss, Ashleigh. I bite. I don't like to kiss, but I do like to bite. So when I bite you, pretend it's a kiss. Can you do that?"
"You're like crazy sexy, Ford. And all this weird shit you do, that just adds to it. I'm not sure why, but I like your strangeness. It's real. And it drives me a little wild."
I bring Kate into my chest and she's so soft it's easy to want to hold her tight. She squirms a little in my arms and I pat her on the back the way Ashleigh does when she's trying to calm her. She relaxes her heavy head on my shoulder and that's it. It's over. I'm done.
"It's special, Ashleigh, because you are the first woman I will make love to."
(BR with Melissa and Jen)
Where do I even begin????!!!
I FREAKING LOVED this story!!
Dare I say it???
YES...it was my FAVORITE out of the series so far!!!
WHY?
F-O-R-D!!!
I am absolutely, positively, head over heels in LOVE with this guy!!
Why oh why does he have to be a fictional character????!!!!!
Ford, seems odd and quirky, and it's all been blamed on Asperger's, but I think he needed the right woman to come along and shower him with the love he so much deserves.
Sorry, but Rook was not it for Ford.
Any woman who doesn't put him first in her heart, is not worthy of Ford!
The story starts off with the Epilogue from "Panic".
The goodbye speech from Ford to Rook.
That's where I started to see this man had definite swoon worthy potential.
It took me longer to warm up to Ford than most.
Then in Slack, we got more of this man and I began to see just how complex he was.
His life was pretty empty, and he knew it.
He wants love so badly.
Why does love come so easily to Ronin, who doesn't have to try and why do most people act aloof towards Ford?
His interactions with a young girl named Sasha, revealed a warmth that is embedded in his soul.
BUT in TAUT, we get naughty, sexy, domineering, caring, and LOVING, Ford!
He's on a road trip to Cali, during a snow storm.
His truck breaks down but luckily he gets a tow to a nearby motel.
Here, he meets young & single mother, Ashleigh and her baby, Kate.
The girl is definitely down on her luck.
She doesn't have money for a motel room and is trying to survive the night in her broken down car, with a 3 month old infant.
Ford takes her in.
He's just so opposite of what most people think of him.
He is reeling from the rejection by Rook, and yet he has compassion for a young girl and her baby.
These two spend some time together.
The chemistry starts to grow.
Ford is showing his human side.
Ashleigh is a very smart and intuitive girl.
She's also holding on to some pretty intense emotional baggage.
She gets Ford!
Ashleigh sees through his idiosyncrasies and she challenges him.
The sexual buildup was intense.
I was about to die and I also couldn't wait for a simple kiss between the two.
Ford has never kissed a woman.
He only bites.
He doesn't like to be touched.
A simple touch causes Ford to feel physical pain.
I'm waiting patiently for the kiss to happen between Ford and Ashleigh.
I knew it would happen and it would mean something monumental.
There were things Ashleigh was hiding, and I truly didn't expect them!
The moment Ford realizes what has happened, it broke my heart.
He wanted nothing more than to take away Ashleigh's pain.
I'm thinking Ford is just pretty fucking amazing and that there is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG with this man!!!!
I don't want to say anything more.
This is a definite must read.
I'd be shocked if readers don't fall madly in love with FORD after reading this one!!
I only wish that this wasn't his final book.
He's such an amazing character.
I truly think his awesomeness eclipses the other characters in the series!!!
Hey Ford, if things don't work out with Ash, I'm available!!
Just sayin!! :)
So I guess I was right after all. I'm not defective. I want to be touched. I've denied myself this most basic of human comforts my whole life and I'm ready to move on. But the only woman I want to move on with is the only one I can't have.
"I don't kiss, Ashleigh. I bite. I don't like to kiss, but I do like to bite. So when I bite you, pretend it's a kiss. Can you do that?"
"You're like crazy sexy, Ford. And all this weird shit you do, that just adds to it. I'm not sure why, but I like your strangeness. It's real. And it drives me a little wild."
I bring Kate into my chest and she's so soft it's easy to want to hold her tight. She squirms a little in my arms and I pat her on the back the way Ashleigh does when she's trying to calm her. She relaxes her heavy head on my shoulder and that's it. It's over. I'm done.
"It's special, Ashleigh, because you are the first woman I will make love to."
December 29, 2015
4.5 Ford stars
This book is somewhat different from what i'm used to reading by JA Huss and yet it's still her.
It's slower in pace and the storyline dwells into some pretty "deep" emotional roads and dips from both characters Ford Aston and Ashleigh Li that are dealing with their own sorrow, guilt, emotional shatter..
They are set on this road trip by chance meant figuratively and literaly, and this trip is actually a journey of second chances, of healing and fighting for the notion of belonging...
There's a higher power lingering above them both taking them into trusting each other and puting their fate into the lives interlinked with strange possibility to step up from being total strangers, awkward individuals placing thier fears and hopes in a battle of hearts...
"God never sent me to save you...He sent you to save me."
I guess it worked for them both.
May 9, 2020
5 stars are not enough ... I loved every fucking second of this book. I didn't want to put it down, but I didn't want it to end.
Ford Aston is officially my new favorite book boyfriend. I will be dreaming about him for a long, long time. He is so complex ... probably one of the most well-developed, best thought out characters I have ever read in this genre. His thought process is intriguing, his feelings are real, tangible and messed up. He is vulnerable & yet so, so strong. And, yes, he can be a huge asshole .... and I fucking LOVE him for that!
Running away on New Years eve and getting stranded in a Vail blizzard was probably not the smartest, or even bravest thing that Ford could have done ... but when he begrudgingly decides to help young, single mom, Ashleigh who is stuck alongside him ... it becomes the best decision he would ever make.
Ford & Ashleigh are such a perfect pair! When they meet they are both in turmoil - lost & hurting. But together they learn how to find peace ... how to heal ... how to live ... how to love.
Now ... if you love your book-porn (like me) - you are probably wondering about the heat level of this book. Let me tell you ... this is an incredibly steamy, extremely sexy and super fucking hot read! Let's just say that on top of being an emotionally touching story ... it's also a physically touching story :o
Loved it! Loved it! Loved it!
I'm new Ford. Fuck happiness. Fuck the nice girls. Fuck everyone. I'm all about me now.
Ford Aston is officially my new favorite book boyfriend. I will be dreaming about him for a long, long time. He is so complex ... probably one of the most well-developed, best thought out characters I have ever read in this genre. His thought process is intriguing, his feelings are real, tangible and messed up. He is vulnerable & yet so, so strong. And, yes, he can be a huge asshole .... and I fucking LOVE him for that!
Running away on New Years eve and getting stranded in a Vail blizzard was probably not the smartest, or even bravest thing that Ford could have done ... but when he begrudgingly decides to help young, single mom, Ashleigh who is stuck alongside him ... it becomes the best decision he would ever make.
Ford & Ashleigh are such a perfect pair! When they meet they are both in turmoil - lost & hurting. But together they learn how to find peace ... how to heal ... how to live ... how to love.
"When my life is unraveling, and everything about it is slack, my poems are taut. My poems take the fray and wind it back together."
"I can pull you taut, Ashleigh. Like the poems. I can pull you back together."
Now ... if you love your book-porn (like me) - you are probably wondering about the heat level of this book. Let me tell you ... this is an incredibly steamy, extremely sexy and super fucking hot read! Let's just say that on top of being an emotionally touching story ... it's also a physically touching story :o
Loved it! Loved it! Loved it!
May 20, 2015
***5 FORD ASTON STARS***
LOVED IT!!!!
Dear Ford,
LOVED IT!!!!
Dear Ford,
March 17, 2015
5 TEAM FUCKING FORD STARS
Okay, I don’t know what it is about Rutherford (Ford) Aston because he’s a freak and has issues but, I lurve him. He was entertaining in the Rook & Ronin series but somehow he wormed his way into my heart and he has become SO MUCH MORE. I love Ronin but sorry babe, move on over because Ford is the SHIT! I am overjoyed that Ms. Huss gave him his own book. Ford is fascinating, quirky and freakin’ HOT.
Taut begins where Panic ended with Ford fleeing from his confrontation with, and confession to Rook. He is hurting, heartbroken and lost. He jumps in his Bronco and heads west (towards LA) in the middle of a blizzard. As fate would have it, or maybe it’s just plain weird ;-), Ford’s car dies and he crosses paths with Ashleigh Li, a 23 year old single mom to 3 month old Katelynn. Ashleigh’s in a similar predicament and the two of them are brought together. Taut takes place as they road trip west to L.A.
Ashleigh comes into Ford’s life like an avalanche -- he does not see her coming until it's too late. Ashleigh is strong, wild, sad and vulnerable. Both of them are grappling with emotional secrets while trying to find a way to deal with life. They don't know it at first but they want the same thing...to be loved, to belong...and they "get" each other.
“When my life is unraveling, and everything about it is slack, my poems are taut. My poems take the fray and wind it back together.”- Ashleigh
The chemistry between Ford and Ashleigh is off the charts!! And while Ford keeps saying he's not a fucking nice guy and that he can’t feel…everything he does shows how he does feel, he does care and that he’s a giver not a taker.
“I have never trusted anyone more than you, Ford Aston. I swear to God, I’m yours.”- Ashleigh
“I want to be a part of your team” - Ford
“I love you. I’m in, Ashleigh. I want you, I want Kate, I want this. I want to sleep with you every night and give you everything.” – Ford
This was an amazing read with steamy sex, passion, laughter, tears and loads of emotions. I could not put this down. Ford I am SO on YOUR TEAM!!
Okay, I don’t know what it is about Rutherford (Ford) Aston because he’s a freak and has issues but, I lurve him. He was entertaining in the Rook & Ronin series but somehow he wormed his way into my heart and he has become SO MUCH MORE. I love Ronin but sorry babe, move on over because Ford is the SHIT! I am overjoyed that Ms. Huss gave him his own book. Ford is fascinating, quirky and freakin’ HOT.
Taut begins where Panic ended with Ford fleeing from his confrontation with, and confession to Rook. He is hurting, heartbroken and lost. He jumps in his Bronco and heads west (towards LA) in the middle of a blizzard. As fate would have it, or maybe it’s just plain weird ;-), Ford’s car dies and he crosses paths with Ashleigh Li, a 23 year old single mom to 3 month old Katelynn. Ashleigh’s in a similar predicament and the two of them are brought together. Taut takes place as they road trip west to L.A.
Ashleigh comes into Ford’s life like an avalanche -- he does not see her coming until it's too late. Ashleigh is strong, wild, sad and vulnerable. Both of them are grappling with emotional secrets while trying to find a way to deal with life. They don't know it at first but they want the same thing...to be loved, to belong...and they "get" each other.
“When my life is unraveling, and everything about it is slack, my poems are taut. My poems take the fray and wind it back together.”- Ashleigh
The chemistry between Ford and Ashleigh is off the charts!! And while Ford keeps saying he's not a fucking nice guy and that he can’t feel…everything he does shows how he does feel, he does care and that he’s a giver not a taker.
“I have never trusted anyone more than you, Ford Aston. I swear to God, I’m yours.”- Ashleigh
“I want to be a part of your team” - Ford
“I love you. I’m in, Ashleigh. I want you, I want Kate, I want this. I want to sleep with you every night and give you everything.” – Ford
This was an amazing read with steamy sex, passion, laughter, tears and loads of emotions. I could not put this down. Ford I am SO on YOUR TEAM!!
January 9, 2014
I'd give this book a thousand stars if I could!
Ford was everything I wanted and a lot of what I didn't really expect.
As I was reading - I knew it would be "Just one of many flutters I'll make you feel today, so get ready."
Ford likes his suits - but we get to see him in jeans too... but seeing a man in his a perfectly fitted suit - "And by the way, your package looks so good in that suit."
wait until you read this line "Give me something soft, because I really need it." could you imagine?
J.A. Huss can write a book. And she does it well. Infact it was done so well - I thought she was writing an actual conversation on my kindle. The characters in this book are so well developed - you would think you knew them in real life.
And come on - don't we love an author who can make us fall in love with them just the way she did?
So many kisses and hugs to my new BFF (wink wink) way to hit this one out of the ball park!
**ARC given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review**
January 26, 2014
“Did he send you, Ford? Please. You can tell me if he did.”
How is it possible for me to go into this book without reading anything by JA Huss before including the three books this one was a spinoff of?
Well, I did and I loved every freaking moment I spent with Rutherford Aston.
Damn, this author can write a male POV with a storyline that had me so moved and emotional that I actually choked up a few times.
I loved Ford’s backstory, his Bronco, that he is an Eagle Scout, control freak, gorgeous hunk of a man who has never had a girlfriend, just “pets”
The relationship he finds himself in with Ash and Kate is fascinating and unique. And how these two worked their way into Ford’s ‘sphere of privacy’ was quite an experience.
Okay… so now I need to decide if I want to backtrack and read the Rook and Ronin books. I really just want more Ford and Ash…
How is it possible for me to go into this book without reading anything by JA Huss before including the three books this one was a spinoff of?
Well, I did and I loved every freaking moment I spent with Rutherford Aston.
Damn, this author can write a male POV with a storyline that had me so moved and emotional that I actually choked up a few times.
I loved Ford’s backstory, his Bronco, that he is an Eagle Scout, control freak, gorgeous hunk of a man who has never had a girlfriend, just “pets”
The relationship he finds himself in with Ash and Kate is fascinating and unique. And how these two worked their way into Ford’s ‘sphere of privacy’ was quite an experience.
Okay… so now I need to decide if I want to backtrack and read the Rook and Ronin books. I really just want more Ford and Ash…
Want to read
November 18, 2013FORD!!!!
August 21, 2014
It's Ford...need I say more?? Of course I rated it five stars! I absorbed every single word he said!! Review to come..but this is a MUST read!!! And the sex has MAJOR sizzzle! LOL
January 17, 2014
6 "I want to be Ford's Pet" Stars
Oh, Ford, you make me want to save you. You make me want to tie you up and make you see what I see. I want you to be the one that ties me up, pins me down and spanks me till I scream your name. You can be my Ronin and I can be your Rook. Please, just hear me out.
You have so much potential. I can see that man you want to be, but you think you don't deserve what everyone else has. Everyone wants a gentleman on the streets and freak in the sheets. You are all of that and more. You might have gotten a few bad eggs along the way, but you just didn't know I was waiting for you.
You want to be loved like everyone else. You want to be seen and heard. But your an enigma. You are the smartest man and you surprise me with each word that you speak. She isn't the end for you, keep searching. You wanted her, she wanted you, but she will always want him more. I am proud of you for leaving, yeah you might have been a little harsh and she may have wanted to slap you, but you needed to do that. It had to be that way. It will end badly for everyone.
"If it where anyone else, anyone but you who wanted me to give them so much for so little in return, I would've walked away and never looked back a long time ago. But you make it so, so difficult to turn away. And I couldn't let the sadness and pain touch you"
Get over it, you didn't meet her first, you can't have her and you never will. You need this road trip, you need fresh air. Climb in that beater of a Bronco and get away.
"She makes me so fucking weak. I am nothing. I am a mess"
I can see you are done with this shit. You tried with her. But it you know what you've lost and this time you lost big time.
"I'm New Ford. Fuck happiness. Fuck the nice girls. Fuck everyone. I'm all about me now".
So you drive and you drive and you think and you think.
This trip was suppose to be short and sweet. But you just kept driving. I couldn't stop you and now your life has been tossed upside down. You are doing things, talking about things, letting people in. This isn't you. You need the control I can give you. Come back to me. I'm the perfect pet. I listen and I don't talk and I don't touch. Don't you want that still?
I can see the changes in you. I can see you pulling away from the life you use to live. I understand, I get it. She is what you have been searching for. It won't be an easy road. But you already know that life will shit on you and you have to move the fuck on.
I can see the turmoil you feel. You want to be the Ford that everyone see's but you want to be the Ford that you feel you can be. So try, be that Ford. You can do it, you deserve it.
You have stolen my heart, Ford Ashton. You make me want to jump in this book and leave this world behind. Your growth, you acceptance, your past, your depth, everything about you makes me smile one big fucking smile. You were elusive and distant in Manic. You were confusing and slightly swoonworthy in Panic. But here, in this book, you are downright out of this world fan-fucking-tastic. I am still swooning for you. You blew my mind. Everything you did, every word you spoke, every part of your story pulled at me and showed me that someone can look a certain way on the outside, but have so many different things deep inside.
BRA-FUCKING-O J.A. HUSS. you fucking nailed this shit with a nice big hammer into my heart. Guys this is no Tragic. This isn't even close to being Manic or Panic. This shit is all Taut. It's down right the best book of the series. Not just because it's Ford's book, which makes it pretty fucking great, but because the writing is the tits and the dialogue is fucking amazeballs. The characters are suburb and I am just head over heals in love with this book. I want to marry it and have its babies. Like legit have it's babies. I want little Fords running around the house, while I'm tied to the bed begging for forgiveness. The house could burn down for all I care, I just want to be Ford's pet. Please let me be his pet.
Oh, Ford, you make me want to save you. You make me want to tie you up and make you see what I see. I want you to be the one that ties me up, pins me down and spanks me till I scream your name. You can be my Ronin and I can be your Rook. Please, just hear me out.
You have so much potential. I can see that man you want to be, but you think you don't deserve what everyone else has. Everyone wants a gentleman on the streets and freak in the sheets. You are all of that and more. You might have gotten a few bad eggs along the way, but you just didn't know I was waiting for you.
You want to be loved like everyone else. You want to be seen and heard. But your an enigma. You are the smartest man and you surprise me with each word that you speak. She isn't the end for you, keep searching. You wanted her, she wanted you, but she will always want him more. I am proud of you for leaving, yeah you might have been a little harsh and she may have wanted to slap you, but you needed to do that. It had to be that way. It will end badly for everyone.
"If it where anyone else, anyone but you who wanted me to give them so much for so little in return, I would've walked away and never looked back a long time ago. But you make it so, so difficult to turn away. And I couldn't let the sadness and pain touch you"
Get over it, you didn't meet her first, you can't have her and you never will. You need this road trip, you need fresh air. Climb in that beater of a Bronco and get away.
"She makes me so fucking weak. I am nothing. I am a mess"
I can see you are done with this shit. You tried with her. But it you know what you've lost and this time you lost big time.
"I'm New Ford. Fuck happiness. Fuck the nice girls. Fuck everyone. I'm all about me now".
So you drive and you drive and you think and you think.
This trip was suppose to be short and sweet. But you just kept driving. I couldn't stop you and now your life has been tossed upside down. You are doing things, talking about things, letting people in. This isn't you. You need the control I can give you. Come back to me. I'm the perfect pet. I listen and I don't talk and I don't touch. Don't you want that still?
I can see the changes in you. I can see you pulling away from the life you use to live. I understand, I get it. She is what you have been searching for. It won't be an easy road. But you already know that life will shit on you and you have to move the fuck on.
I can see the turmoil you feel. You want to be the Ford that everyone see's but you want to be the Ford that you feel you can be. So try, be that Ford. You can do it, you deserve it.
You have stolen my heart, Ford Ashton. You make me want to jump in this book and leave this world behind. Your growth, you acceptance, your past, your depth, everything about you makes me smile one big fucking smile. You were elusive and distant in Manic. You were confusing and slightly swoonworthy in Panic. But here, in this book, you are downright out of this world fan-fucking-tastic. I am still swooning for you. You blew my mind. Everything you did, every word you spoke, every part of your story pulled at me and showed me that someone can look a certain way on the outside, but have so many different things deep inside.
BRA-FUCKING-O J.A. HUSS. you fucking nailed this shit with a nice big hammer into my heart. Guys this is no Tragic. This isn't even close to being Manic or Panic. This shit is all Taut. It's down right the best book of the series. Not just because it's Ford's book, which makes it pretty fucking great, but because the writing is the tits and the dialogue is fucking amazeballs. The characters are suburb and I am just head over heals in love with this book. I want to marry it and have its babies. Like legit have it's babies. I want little Fords running around the house, while I'm tied to the bed begging for forgiveness. The house could burn down for all I care, I just want to be Ford's pet. Please let me be his pet.
January 20, 2014
Ford ... oh Ford. You are so messed up in the head I didn't think you would ever be able to get over Rook. Neither did you. But one night in the snow you took pity on a young woman and her baby and you were done for. I wonder if you knew how things would turn out, if you would have still done things the same? I think so.
And Ashleigh - you poor thing. I am so glad you and baby Kate found Ford, but I wish the road to get to where you are now had been easier for you. But remember it was a rough road for Ford too, so have some patience with him. He needs a gentle but firm hand, and I know you will take good care of him. If I can't have him, I am glad it is you.
Baby Kate - you are so loved already you have no idea. If all single mom's were as lucky as your mom there would be no kids unloved in the world. You will want for nothing, not things nor love and attention. You are going to be raised around some of the smartest and most loyal people I've ever known of. I am not going to lie, my parents are great but I am little jealous of you.
All readers - I suggest you read the Rook and Ronin trilogy before reading Taut, but it is not required. Either way, Taut is one of the best books I've read in a long time. I couldn't put it down and my love for Ford surpassed my love for Ronin, and I didn't think that was possible, I LOVE Ronin. Huss' writing is beautiful and tragic, and you will be sucked in, wondering what will happen next, and left satisfied and a little sad that it is over at the end.
And Ashleigh - you poor thing. I am so glad you and baby Kate found Ford, but I wish the road to get to where you are now had been easier for you. But remember it was a rough road for Ford too, so have some patience with him. He needs a gentle but firm hand, and I know you will take good care of him. If I can't have him, I am glad it is you.
Baby Kate - you are so loved already you have no idea. If all single mom's were as lucky as your mom there would be no kids unloved in the world. You will want for nothing, not things nor love and attention. You are going to be raised around some of the smartest and most loyal people I've ever known of. I am not going to lie, my parents are great but I am little jealous of you.
All readers - I suggest you read the Rook and Ronin trilogy before reading Taut, but it is not required. Either way, Taut is one of the best books I've read in a long time. I couldn't put it down and my love for Ford surpassed my love for Ronin, and I didn't think that was possible, I LOVE Ronin. Huss' writing is beautiful and tragic, and you will be sucked in, wondering what will happen next, and left satisfied and a little sad that it is over at the end.
April 18, 2014
I will try to review later. I am sick, so my brain isn't working...
January 8, 2014
10,000 stars!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ford. Sigh. I love Ford.
I LOVED Rook and Ronin.
But Ford. He stole my heart.
Give me a sexy, kinky, tortured soul and I'm a big puddle of goo.
Ashleigh - she was awesome!! I love how she didn't take any of Ford's crap and dished it right back to him. She kept him in his toes.
I loved Ford with Ashleigh. But the absolute kicker was Ford with Kate!!! Just...Sigh. So freaking cute.
This book was intense. Ford is intense. And complex And sexy. And smokin' hot. I loved getting into his head.
Words are not helping me express how much I freaking loved this book. I wish I could go back and re-read it for the first time ever because it was amazing. I was completely GLUED to my kindle and could not stop reading.
HIGHLY recommend. I would not change a SINGLE thing about this book.
I have a complete girl crush on JA Huss for giving us these books. She is now an author I will drop everything to read and will buy all future work without even reading the blurb. That's high praise!!!
Ford. Sigh. I love Ford.
I LOVED Rook and Ronin.
But Ford. He stole my heart.
Give me a sexy, kinky, tortured soul and I'm a big puddle of goo.
Ashleigh - she was awesome!! I love how she didn't take any of Ford's crap and dished it right back to him. She kept him in his toes.
I loved Ford with Ashleigh. But the absolute kicker was Ford with Kate!!! Just...Sigh. So freaking cute.
This book was intense. Ford is intense. And complex And sexy. And smokin' hot. I loved getting into his head.
Words are not helping me express how much I freaking loved this book. I wish I could go back and re-read it for the first time ever because it was amazing. I was completely GLUED to my kindle and could not stop reading.
HIGHLY recommend. I would not change a SINGLE thing about this book.
I have a complete girl crush on JA Huss for giving us these books. She is now an author I will drop everything to read and will buy all future work without even reading the blurb. That's high praise!!!
March 5, 2014
5 I’m CRAZY about Ford Stars
I’m in love with Ford and I’m in love with J.A. Huss. Oh my goodness, what a rush, what a treat!
Note: Taut:The Ford Book is a spin off from the Rook and Ronin series. You do not need to read the Rook and Ronin series to understand The Ford Book, but you must know that Ford has feelings for Rook, who is the Heroine in the Rook and Ronin series.
SUMMARY
Ford Aston is not a nice guy. He’s rich, good looking and is emotionless. He does not empathize nor care about anyone except for himself and the few people he is close to. He’s in love with Rook, but Rook is with Ronin. On New Year’s eve Ford has enough and decides to leave and drives back home to his house in LA.
On his way to LA he gets stranded in Utah during a blizzard and decides to stay the night until his car can be fixed. While Ford is getting his car towed he notices a young mother, Ashleigh and her three month year old baby, Kate stranded. The old Ford would have moved on without a second look, but he decides to help.
Ashleigh
I LOVED LOVED LOVED LOVED Ashleigh. Oh my goodness you know I love a damsel in distress story line, single mother and half Asian! It’s like Gold to me. PURE GOLD. When you first meet Ashleigh, you wonder what her predicament is. She’s very young and she needs help. She has the basic essentials, but you know she’s on the run or it seems like she left in a rush. She isn’t prideful, because when Ford offers to help, she doesn’t say no because she knows she has to take care of her baby. I love it!
Ford
I want to make Ford babies
I love Ford. I want him, I want to lick him and have babies with him. I read Ford’s novella prior to reading this and it gave me a HUGE insight on how much of a prick he is. In the previous books, it showed him having “pets” and using women for his pleasure. Later, seeing Ford with baby Kate is TOO ADORABLE! You will throw up with the cuteness.
Ford is a whole lot of issues. He can’t feel emotions and he’s going through some stuff with Rook. His feelings for Rook are strong and I’ll be honest, I’m not a team Rook kind of gal. So I was so happy for Ashleigh’s introduction.
Review
Ford and Ashleigh are both at a cross roads and both need to go to LA. Ashleigh wants some closure from her baby daddy and Ford wants to escape his feelings from Rook. Both are guarded and both are hurt. It’s such a beautiful and loving story in reading how two lost souls kind of help each other.
And during all of it…. you throw in a baby! I love Kate! She added such an interesting and unique dynamic to the story. It made the story and book PERFECT. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I gobbled up the pages.
In the author’s note, she isn’t sure if there will be another Ford and Ashleigh book. I am not sure if I want that, but I wouldn’t mind having a Kate book.
Spin Off Series Order
REVIEW | AMAZON
AMAZON
Rook and Ronin Series
REVIEW | AMAZON
REVIEW | AMAZON
REVIEW | AMAZON
For more reviews, http://jacquelinesreads.blogspot.com
When my life is unraveling, and everything about it is slack, my poems are taut. My poems take the fray and wind it back together
I’m in love with Ford and I’m in love with J.A. Huss. Oh my goodness, what a rush, what a treat!
Note: Taut:The Ford Book is a spin off from the Rook and Ronin series. You do not need to read the Rook and Ronin series to understand The Ford Book, but you must know that Ford has feelings for Rook, who is the Heroine in the Rook and Ronin series.
SUMMARY
Ford Aston is not a nice guy. He’s rich, good looking and is emotionless. He does not empathize nor care about anyone except for himself and the few people he is close to. He’s in love with Rook, but Rook is with Ronin. On New Year’s eve Ford has enough and decides to leave and drives back home to his house in LA.
On his way to LA he gets stranded in Utah during a blizzard and decides to stay the night until his car can be fixed. While Ford is getting his car towed he notices a young mother, Ashleigh and her three month year old baby, Kate stranded. The old Ford would have moved on without a second look, but he decides to help.
Ashleigh
I LOVED LOVED LOVED LOVED Ashleigh. Oh my goodness you know I love a damsel in distress story line, single mother and half Asian! It’s like Gold to me. PURE GOLD. When you first meet Ashleigh, you wonder what her predicament is. She’s very young and she needs help. She has the basic essentials, but you know she’s on the run or it seems like she left in a rush. She isn’t prideful, because when Ford offers to help, she doesn’t say no because she knows she has to take care of her baby. I love it!
Promise you won’t forget me
And I’m not a worthless person. Maybe I’ve got a lot of problems and pretty much everything is going wrong for me right now, but I’m not worthless
Ford
I want to make Ford babies
I love Ford. I want him, I want to lick him and have babies with him. I read Ford’s novella prior to reading this and it gave me a HUGE insight on how much of a prick he is. In the previous books, it showed him having “pets” and using women for his pleasure. Later, seeing Ford with baby Kate is TOO ADORABLE! You will throw up with the cuteness.
Ford is a whole lot of issues. He can’t feel emotions and he’s going through some stuff with Rook. His feelings for Rook are strong and I’ll be honest, I’m not a team Rook kind of gal. So I was so happy for Ashleigh’s introduction.
I don’t like people touching me. But I can touch them if I want. And right now I want to touch you, so come here
Do I want her to know me like this? Do I want her to know that I’m a freak, in the strictest definition of the word? Is this what intimacy entails? Baring your weaknesses to someone who might take advantage, but trusting them not to?
Review
Ford and Ashleigh are both at a cross roads and both need to go to LA. Ashleigh wants some closure from her baby daddy and Ford wants to escape his feelings from Rook. Both are guarded and both are hurt. It’s such a beautiful and loving story in reading how two lost souls kind of help each other.
And during all of it…. you throw in a baby! I love Kate! She added such an interesting and unique dynamic to the story. It made the story and book PERFECT. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I gobbled up the pages.
In the author’s note, she isn’t sure if there will be another Ford and Ashleigh book. I am not sure if I want that, but I wouldn’t mind having a Kate book.
Spin Off Series Order
REVIEW | AMAZON
AMAZONRook and Ronin Series
REVIEW | AMAZON
REVIEW | AMAZON
REVIEW | AMAZONFor more reviews, http://jacquelinesreads.blogspot.com
November 13, 2014
Ford Aston...I will hold you dear to my heart for a long time
JA Huss...I flipping love you! Thanks you a hundred times over for this wonderful trip inside one of my favorite male character's head! His POV and internal dialogue was so amazing. I think I am a bit shocked, yet so happy, that this story went out of the box and away from Ford's comfort zone. So many books have followed a typical alpha/dominant male type storyline, but I love that this hard, man, keeper of "pets," put aside his norm of wants, and found what he may have truly NEEDED in a young, sassy, broken single mother.
Make no mistake here, Ashleigh is no fading flower...she is sad, she is lost and she is a bit crazy, but she wants and deserves "to be won."
It was quite an emotional journey to see if Ford would be enough for her, for them as a whole. I have read Ford Aston's character in the past 2 books and have always seen the good in him...the desire to be loved...the overall ability to be a caregiver...it showed with every interaction he had with Rook. He may have spent a lifetime "untouched" and in control, but he was a man in desperate need of real connection. And let me just say, once Ford found that connection, YEA BABY, his ability to bring the dominance and the heat became off the charts hot and no longer mechanical!
I loved this read...Ford was everything and more! He has always been an enigma, and the chance to for him to shine was done brilliantly. I have to say that Ashleigh was not who I thought would be the one to break through...but every hand hold, head on the shoulder moment, and precious baby cuddles made her tolerable because in the end...Ford needed it...No, Ford WANTED it!
JA Huss...I flipping love you! Thanks you a hundred times over for this wonderful trip inside one of my favorite male character's head! His POV and internal dialogue was so amazing. I think I am a bit shocked, yet so happy, that this story went out of the box and away from Ford's comfort zone. So many books have followed a typical alpha/dominant male type storyline, but I love that this hard, man, keeper of "pets," put aside his norm of wants, and found what he may have truly NEEDED in a young, sassy, broken single mother.
Make no mistake here, Ashleigh is no fading flower...she is sad, she is lost and she is a bit crazy, but she wants and deserves "to be won."
It was quite an emotional journey to see if Ford would be enough for her, for them as a whole. I have read Ford Aston's character in the past 2 books and have always seen the good in him...the desire to be loved...the overall ability to be a caregiver...it showed with every interaction he had with Rook. He may have spent a lifetime "untouched" and in control, but he was a man in desperate need of real connection. And let me just say, once Ford found that connection, YEA BABY, his ability to bring the dominance and the heat became off the charts hot and no longer mechanical!
I loved this read...Ford was everything and more! He has always been an enigma, and the chance to for him to shine was done brilliantly. I have to say that Ashleigh was not who I thought would be the one to break through...but every hand hold, head on the shoulder moment, and precious baby cuddles made her tolerable because in the end...Ford needed it...No, Ford WANTED it!
August 13, 2016
NOW THIS... is what I'm talking about!
Ford is the epitome of Knight in Shining Armor in this one. He and Ashleigh meet through some interesting circumstances, and are thrust together. Then there are a bunch of twists and turns and by the end our boy Ford has grown exponentially!!!! I loved every minute of it!!! JUST WOW!!!! Ashleigh's story was extremely sad, I really felt for her. I was able to figure out the BIG twist but it still sucked balls when the story got to it. I know this will be one that I will re-read many, many times!
Quotage: "So you might as well get your dirty talk over with so you can concentrate on behaving tonight when I have your ankles tied to your thighs and your pussy open for inspection. Because I'm going to have a lot of rules, Ashleigh. And a lot of commands you'll have to follow. I'm going to touch you in places that will make you scream. I'm going to let you please me in ways you've only dreamed of, and then I'm going to fuck you sore." "I think I just came, I swear to God, I'm not even joking."
"I hope to God that baby-fucking sitter didn't steal your kid and you went apeshit and killed her and now you need to escape the country under the assumed name of BJ Cobbledick." He pauses: "Or something."
Ford is the epitome of Knight in Shining Armor in this one. He and Ashleigh meet through some interesting circumstances, and are thrust together. Then there are a bunch of twists and turns and by the end our boy Ford has grown exponentially!!!! I loved every minute of it!!! JUST WOW!!!! Ashleigh's story was extremely sad, I really felt for her. I was able to figure out the BIG twist but it still sucked balls when the story got to it. I know this will be one that I will re-read many, many times!
Quotage: "So you might as well get your dirty talk over with so you can concentrate on behaving tonight when I have your ankles tied to your thighs and your pussy open for inspection. Because I'm going to have a lot of rules, Ashleigh. And a lot of commands you'll have to follow. I'm going to touch you in places that will make you scream. I'm going to let you please me in ways you've only dreamed of, and then I'm going to fuck you sore." "I think I just came, I swear to God, I'm not even joking."
"I hope to God that baby-fucking sitter didn't steal your kid and you went apeshit and killed her and now you need to escape the country under the assumed name of BJ Cobbledick." He pauses: "Or something."
April 9, 2014
This book was just perfection!!I loved every minute of reading it.
From the minute we met Ford in previous books there was something about him that piqued our interest.
The not connecting to anyone and keeping a distance. Until Rook. He wants Rook but he can't have her because she belongs to Ronin.
So Ford leaves to forgot her because he doesn't wanna betray his friend.
Enroute Ford gets stuck in Vail his old home town and meets a girl called Asleigh.
Alone and stranded with her 3 month infant, Ford helps them.
And slowly the lovely Ashleigh and baby Kate are able to break those walls down.
If anyone is deserving of a happy ending it's Ford.
This book has Unexpected twists that keeps you hooked to the book!
An awesome read!
September 3, 2015
Ford is a very interesting character. Without having read the Rook and Ronin or the Spencer series, I was introduced to Ford in the Dirty, Dark and Deadly series with James Fenici. Ford and his relationship with Sasha was intriguing and I wanted to know more about him. In Slack, you read about Ford's pets - which made him seem so insensitive. But after reading Taut, Ford is one of my favorites! I loved that he was a bit nerdy and in his own sphere at times. Having the entire book on Ford's POV was perfectly crafted. The dialogue between Ford and Ash seemed so real and intimate, especially when she entered into his sphere. Not to mention that he is one sexy dirty talker! Ford's protectiveness toward Kate was also endearing and sweet.
I really enjoyed the journey of Ford, Ashleigh and Kate and I'll miss them.
I really enjoyed the journey of Ford, Ashleigh and Kate and I'll miss them.
January 23, 2014
This book is Ford's stand-alone book. You don't have to read Tragic, Panic, or Manic but if you do you will have a lot more background information. I chose to read them later on because I couldn't wait to get into this book. I did read Slack which is a short novella that tells about a day in the life of Ford Aston. It helps you understand him and previous characters he has relationships with. I recommend you read at least the novella before this book. It really helped me understand who Rook was and why she was so important to him. I think without reading one of the other books I would have been lost.
Ford loves Rook but she is with his best friend Ronin. He decides to leave town to get away from her and the temptations that come with her. He travels up to his family's mountain home on the way to L.A. but is caught in a blizzard. He meets a girl there, Ashleigh, who is stranded with her 3 month old baby. One night will change his life in ways he couldn't have imagined.
To be honest I didn't care for the way Ford acted in Slack because he was a complete pig. It seemed he had no respect or love for women at all. That was a short novella and there really wasn't room for his character to grow and mature. He really redeemed himself in this book and I grew to love him. Yes he was still a naughty boy but he had tender moments as well. My favorite scenes were of him and Kate.
Ashleigh was a likable heroine and that doesn't happen for me often. She did annoy me every time Tony came up though. I know the author did this to set up a plot twist and keep everyone guessing but honestly once this situation was out in the open it was a let down. I suspected what was going to happen the entire time. The whole situation with Ashleigh traveling to L.A. was just predictable but I loved Kate so much that it was tolerable. It also made for a kick ass scene with Ford so I can't complain.
This is just not enough Ford for me. I know this is supposed to be the only book but J.A. Huss should really consider making this a series. I am not ready to say good-bye to this bad boy yet. This book was a great read. Both Ashleigh and Ford had major issues but together they were whole and I loved it! This book was even better with Kate in it and it's not often that I say that. Once the kids start coming into the picture I'm usually ready for the story to end but that was not the case with this book. I went through an array of emotions with this book. I laughed, cried, and got annoyed.
This cover nagged me for some reason. I can't put my finger on it but Ford looked much better on his novella Slack then he did on this book. I guess that's just a matter of personal opinion but every time I saw this cover it bugged me.
If you like kinky bad boys then what are you waiting for? Ford is one of the best and definitely a worth-while read. This author will definitely be a go-to for me.
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