Storm Clouds and Devastation

Hidden Affairs, Book 2

By: Ashley James

Narrated by: Teddy Hamilton, Liam DiCosimo

Jules van der Meer... He's somebody I shouldn't want, someone I can't have.

The forbidden fruit. The desire not to be indulged in. He's wealthy, successful, important... everything I'm not.

I'm half his age. Immature and desperate.

It's what they all say—the men in the night with the fancy clothes and the shiny cars, with enough money to make me do whatever they please.

But him... well, he looks at me like I'm the answer to his prayers, a diamond in the rough. He doesn't realize how wrong he is, though.

I'm poison—putrid and vile. I'll seep into his pores, wrap around his bones, and destroy whatever light he has left until he's just like me...

Nothing but storm clouds and devastation.

Storm Clouds and Devastation is book two in the Hidden Affairs standalone MM series. This book features a significant age gap and touches on heavy issues such as mental illness.

©2023 Ashley James (P)2023 Podium Audio

Bohdi & Jules

It’s been a while since I have come out of book this shaken up. Bohdi went through so much. More than one person should have to go through. It tore me apart. I just wanted to hug him so badly. Thank goodness Jules became part of Bohdi’s world again. I really feel like I can’t say much as it will give away too much. This is an emotional and heavy read but oh so good. This book touched me in more ways than I can even explain. Teddy Hamilton & Liam DiCosimo did a stunning job narrating!

Holy Emotional Rollercoaster 💔

It's been a very long time since I was this shaken up by a book, gut wrenched to the core, and listened with bated breath to every single word of the narraration. Teddy Hamilton and Liam DiCosimo....I can't even describe how good they were, especially Teddy and his portrayal of Bodie!! He was captivating, emotional and heartbreaking. I just happened upon this book and I am sooo happy I did! This is a heavy book about topics that plague a lot of us. Be prepared, read the trigger warnings. It talks of mental illness, abuse by family, attempted suicide and eating disorders. This is a story and performance that will stick with me for a long, long time. Ashley James is a new author to me..she writes MM romance usually with an age gap. I didn't read the first one but I'm sure glad I read this one. As hard as it was to listen to parts of Bodie's story, you saw him raw and hurting but when Jules comes into his life, they actually save each other. The story ends so beautifully. I was gutted. ❤️❤️❤️ The audio is a masterpiece!

Incredible story but needs TWs

This is an incredibly sensitive story with a well crafted HEA. Readers should be aware that this book deals with some very triggering topics. Disordered eating, binging and purging, childhood sexual abuse, adult sex work, depression, suicidal ideation, and multiple suicide attempts are described in the text. There is also minor drug use depicted. The author is skilled in her ability to integrate the trauma of childhood abuse into the character arc without making it seem forced or overly dramatic. Even so, for readers who have enjoyed other books by this author, this book is pretty intense by comparison.

I would caution readers who have struggled with depression and suicidal ideation to proceed with the knowledge that this book has very realistic internal dialogue from a character struggling with untreated depression.

Baby Bo & Jules ❤️❤️❤️

Teddy & Liam brought two of my favorites to life, and it was absolutely perfect. I loved reading this book, and I am so glad it was brought to audio and I was able to experience their story in a new way.

One of the best

This is one of my favorite books and hearing the audio book really brought it to live.

So much TRAUMA!

I wasn't prepared for all the trauma Bodie experienced in his past as well as throughout the book. I also thought Teddy's voice would've been better for Jules and Liam for Bodie. Book was good, but sooooo heartbreaking.

Holy Emotional!!!

Wow!!! so emotional. this was so freaking emotional and deep. Ashley James, this is some outstanding writing. HEA, it has an ending this poor abused man deserves. Narration was absolutely Perfect. trigger warnings for eating disorder, sexual abuse and suicide. I never paused this story, it kept me up all night listening.

Difficult but beautiful love story

Excellent narration.
I loved this one even more than the first book! Difficult to listen to some of the story, as I know the feelings he had. Very well written.
Loved the whole book really.

Heartbreaking and beautiful! Amazing Narration by Teddy and Liam!

This. Is. Heavy. Proceed with caution with this one. So heart wrenching, I choked up too many times, it was so sad and infuriating at times, I kept reading because I needed the happy ending, it healed my heart.

Read trigger warnings!
This is a very special book and talks about topics that need to be said out loud more often. Just because you’ve never experienced similar situations or you feel uncomfortable talking about sensitive topics like these doesn’t make this book bad.

Wow

This was intense. I couldn’t put the book down for a second. More books like this should exist. This happens in real life everyday but there is such a nasty stigma about it that most men refuse to talk about it. But really, they should. It does a lot more good than most people think.