Forsaken Desires

The Deepest Desires, Book 2

By: Ashley James

Narrated by: Michael Gallagher, Silas Hart

Length: 10 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

Aston Walker
One night changed everything for me... I walked into that party surrounded by friends and walked out with an enemy. It's been two years and I still have no idea why he hates me. Now, we're forced to work together, and I'm going to enjoy getting under his skin.

Knox Finnegan
I never knew someone could annoy me as much as he does. He's starting to break down my carefully built walls, when I really need to keep him as far away as possible. He's a temptation I can't afford, a desire I've tried to bury.

But feelings can't hide forever...

*Forsaken Desires is the second book in The Deepest Desires interconnected series. It's an MM enemies to lovers romance.

©2022 Ashley James (P)2024 Pink Flamingo Productions

Great 2nd book

The book tells the story of Aston and knox. Its enemies to lovers with lots of angest and lots of heat!

I would recommend reading the TW warning as does describe abuse and drug use.

The narrators did an amazing job abd felt it was even better than the first one.

However, i did feel the book was a bit too long and some of the scenes dragged on and could definitely be shorter. I did appreciate the spicy scenes as im all about the 🌶🌶

Overall great book and cant wait for the next one.

Secrets and truths

I love this book. It definitely can hurt your heart. You will feel a range of emotions with it so prepare for the roller coaster. Knox the one people are friends with but no one really knows. Aston the social butterfly. These two are oil and water. One night changed everything. All that was left was years of anger and grudges. Being in the same friend group made it difficult but they kept to their corners until one college class changed the course. That course will change everything for both of them.

Michael and Silas did such a great job of bringing them to life. The emotions were shown so well. You felt it all right along with them. It was such an easy listen for me once I started I didn’t stop so be prepared to be pulled in.

Knox and Aston

4.5/5 ⭐
3.0/5 🌶️
5.0/5 🎧

I love Aston and Knox so much. While this has hurt/comfort elements, I don't think I'd call it that. It was very much enemies to lovers with hate spice galore and I loved every moment. Their push and pull was so insanely seggsee.

Everyone should have a friend like Katie, just saying. She was such a highlight of this story and I was so happy there was never any jealousy about her presence. She was exactly what Knox needed and I was so happy she was there.

The audio was fantastic. Pink Flamingo did an amazing job like always. I loved listening to Michael Gallagher and Silas Hart, they were both tremendous.

Beautiful story; amazing performance

Thank you once again Ashley James, just as Luca and Branson lived rent free in my mind for a while after I finished "Barred Desires" so shall Knox and Aston. Michael Gallagher is in my top 10 favorite performers so I'm never disappointed when I hear his sultry voice. Solar Hart definitely was no slouch! he too did a marvelous job in bringing to life this wonderful journey of 2 people - who happen to be men - clashing and falling in love...and wow! some of those scenes were really 🔥!!!


5 stars - I would listen again

4-4.5 stars from me for book 2! So many emotions

I definitely enjoyed book 2 in this series of interconnected M/M standalones. I don’t feel like this series is taboo though so if you are looking for that then I would look elsewhere. Book 1 was more forbidden romance and this one just had a ton of tension and angst. I mean again I liked it but setting expectations here haha.

Knox and Aston had such a rollercoaster relationship but to see them grow together and let the other in was beautiful to see. The stuff Knox went through as a kid and even in college was heartbreaking. Check the TWs on this one, there is abuse and some nasty stuff said and done that could make it hard for readers. I was happy to see Knox’s dad get his comeuppance!! To see Knox broken was who tough but glad him and Aston finally got on the same page because their love was amazing. I couldnt help but laugh a lot with Aston’s antics haha. He egged Knox on so much, but even I didnt see it coming when he hit him! I already finished listening to book 3 but I don’t remember hearing about Knox seeing a therapist or whatever for his trauma and also his temper, but that would have been a nice addition to kind of acknowledge the mental health aspect and how people need to get help (this was addressed with a different couple and trauma/event in book 3).

Tha steam was fantastic, it was fun to see the rough and Dom pieces of the guys come out, to see Knox try all new things and Aston teaching him his ways haha. I loved the dirty talk, I loved how they couldnt stop being in each other’s orbits. They tried to stay away (Knox more than anything haha) but they couldnt do it. I also thought Knox’s random BFF Katie was amazeballs. I sure hope she gets a happy ending (maybe with 2 lovely guys based on book 3 events haha). I loved the snark and banter and back and forth she had with Knox. She definitely was a big highlight in this book. I also loved the cameos and interactions we got with our first couple in book 1 and we get to know more about the couple of book 3 since one of the guys is the brother and roommate of Aston.

I have listened to both of these narrators and I really like that we got Silas as one, he always does a great job and helps bring his characters to life so easily it feels. These two do a phenomenal job with the enemies to lovers aspect of this story, and the emotion they exuded in the super high octane scenes were perfect. I think some of the accents from the side characters weren’t as consistent as we would have wanted between the two (like if they both did Katie she didnt sound like the same person). Only critique for me for the audio.

I would rate this 4-4.5 stars (book 1 was a solid 4 so this was an improvement to me). There were some plot holes I think in this one, like the first one had, that took me out of the story so that had me rounding down to a 4 instead of a 5 stars but it was pretty close. I really like this world this author created, and hope she does more in this world/more audiobooks come out after book 3 since I am already done listening to that haha.

🎧 Audiobook Obsession Reviewer - Flock Team 🎧

Angsty, Emotional & Steamy~Terrific Story & Listen

Ashley James pens another winning novel set in her “Deepest Desires” series, a captivating MM enemies-to-lovers romance, an emotionally moving story. Aston Walker and Knox Finnegan met at a party and had a moment, a moment that Knox wished never happened and one that caused him to hate Aston. Aston had no idea what he did to cause that hate, but two years later, both were attending the same college and were in the same class, and were paired to work on a class project together. Knox was not happy about but had no choice but to go with it and Aston was a good sport about it, despite the angst. The chemistry between these two is undeniable, but nothing could ever happen between them because Knox was straight and being anything other than that would be problematic with his family. Except he could only deny himself for so long. It was great to see him finally give in to his deepest desires, because Aston and Knox were great together and for each other. Knox struggled with his inner demons and when he goes back home during school break, he faced his biggest demon, his abusive father. While he shared his struggles with a friend, I wished he would have shared them with Aston. I get why he didn’t, but if he did, it would have saved them a lot of heartache. Ashley James put these two through the wringer, and hearing what Knox had to endure was gut-wrenching, and I was proud of him when he finally freed himself of that hatred. Knox and Aston’s story was not an easy one, but it is one that needs to be heard, fiction or not, because it happens, sadly, and the author kept it all real. It is a beautifully written story, the world building and character development is absolutely fantastic. There is never a dull moment, the drama is non-stop, and it is high in angst, emotions and steamy romance. Ashley James, thank you for another great story and emotional rollercoaster ride.

🎧📚🎧 Michael Gallagher and Silas Hart were the perfect cast to bring these characters to life and did so with a complete understanding of who they were portraying, giving each a voice that was fitting. I loved how they took their roles and owned them, sounding believable and just as I imagined they would sound. They set the right tone for the story, captured all the characters’ emotions and had you feeling every single one. These entertaining storytellers are a pleasure to listen to and their performance elevates the story to another level. Thank you for another fantastic listen.

Forsaken Desires

Omg, talk about being confused about your Sexuality. But I understand what he was going through, with a father like that who wouldn't be afraid, and a mother who doesn't care doesn't make it any easier. I hate both parents. I think the best thing that happen to him was his BFF Katie, because he really need some like her. but I'm also glad that Ash was there too. Knox really needed them both and because of it he finally was able to know what real love was. awww just writing this is making me wanna cry. but Ashley James does it again. makes me fall for these characters and let's not forget how good the narrators where on bring this little book to life. all in all this was an amazing story. I can't wait for the next book. I want to know who's next to fall in love.

Loved it!

I started this book and didn't want to put it down. I loved Aston and Knox. Their story had me wanting more. The banter and spice between them was amazing. The chemistry they had was WOW! I really loved how Knox’s character developed and seeing him grow. I will definitely be listening to this book again.

I did the audio and I just added new narrators to look for. They did an amazing job portraying Knox and Aston.

Aston and Knox

𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙯𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙙𝙖𝙬𝙣𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙚'𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙡𝙮𝙨𝙢. 𝙄 𝙢𝙖𝙮 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙤𝙛 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣.

Fᴏʀsᴀᴋᴇɴ Dᴇsɪʀᴇs → Ashley James | The Deepest Desires → Book 2
Aston ~ Knox

A misunderstanding at a party quickly turns Aston and Knox to enemies but Aston is positive that Knox just needs to see the truth so takes it upon himself to irritate Knox until he finally gives in.

Aston and Knox's story is better than book one in the series. Aston and Knox's banter is good and bad but the enemy part is very one-sided from Knox's point of view. There is a surprise MFM scene that I am not sure was needed.

I am intrigued for the third book in the series to see what happens with Anderson and Crew.

🎧 Michael Gallagher and Silas Hart did a good job giving Aston and Knox voices and brining their story to life.

Get ready for...

🏳️‍🌈 MM
💔 Enemies
🏳️‍🌈 Bi-Awakening
💚 Found Family
🎙️ First-Person, Dual

Maple Leafs → 🍁🍁🍁.5
Spice → 🥵🥵🥵🥵
Emotional Damage → 😭😭
LOLs → 🤣🤣
⚠️ → Sensitive content present, check before enjoying the book!

Forsaken Desires

Forsaken Desires is the second book in The Deepest Desires series. This is a passionate MM romance. Knox and Aston don’t have the easiest start to their relationship. Knox grew up with an abusive father who was homophobic. Check your trigger warnings. Knox had to overcome his past and truly open his heart up to Aston. I can’t wait for the next book.

Michael Gallagher and Silas Hart did a fantastic job narrating this book.