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

10/10 narrators

it's a good story, but not so good bad narration would have not ruined it. But great narrators make it

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.

Hard-earned HEA

Top-notch performances. You cannot go wrong with these two narrators.

This really is worth the credit.

That being said: I honestly didn’t expect a HEA, because of the heavy content and suffering of the MC. I felt boiling rage toward one character in particular. The MC really has one of the worse families I’ve read about since beginning my MM romance reading journey.
This book is leaps and bounds ahead of the first in the series. I was blown away by this one. Truly blown away.
5/5

Rough 😭

This was a great story but damn some chapters were hard to get through as they were very emotional and a bit triggering. I am not an emotional person but this story had me wiping away several tears. My heart bleeds for Bodie. The author does a great job at showing the struggles lots of people go through.