SLACK & TAUT (Ford’s story) by J A HUSS

“Who are you Ford Aston?”

J&G:  Well, after meeting Ford Aston and falling madly in love with him in the Rook & Ronin series we were in book heaven when we found out Ford was going to tell us his story.

This very complex, socially awkward, sexy and kinky genius definitely had a story to tell – what with him keeping his “pets” and his devastation over the unrequited love he felt for Rook. There was so much we needed to know about him and in Slack we started to scratch the surface of this deep man.

‘I am the first to admit that my rules are unreasonable. My behaviour is atrocious. My indifferene is derogatory. But if the pets don’t care, why should I.’ – Ford

Slack took us back to the events leading up the New Year’s Eve party at Chaput Studios where we left off in Manic and we certainly gained some insight into this very intriguing character.

“You’re one disturbed, messed up freak.”

Slack was a little bit of an  introduction of what was to come in Ford and set the scene for the unveiling of a very different side to the man we had come to know.

Jenny:  So….Taut. Wow! Gitte, if you had told me when we first met Ford in the Rook & Ronin series, that it would take two very special girls to steal Fords heart I would have balked.

‘So I guess I was right after all. I’m not defective.’

After all, Ford doesn’t do relationships, he avoids being touched preferring to be the one doing the touching and making demands as far as sex goes. He had his “pets” and they were just that. Women he had on hand to fulfil his dominant side and his sexual pleasures.

“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………….”

Still feeling the pain of losing Rook to Ronin and harbouring an all-encompassing love for her Ford takes off to drive to LA and leave his friends and Rook behind to try and forget and move on. Boy, he didn’t bargain on just how much that trip would change his life did he Gitte? He was to meet a woman who was sensitive, beautiful and hiding her own pain and sorrow. He was to meet his kindred spirit of sorts.

Gitte: Well, I’ve been a Ford girl ever since we met him Jenny. There’s just something about him and I knew his story would be pretty passionate and highly addictive.

“…relationships aren’t something I normally do. I do sex. I do fucking. I do blow jobs, I do bondage, and I keep pets. I keep girls as pets, Ashleigh. I never get their names, I never ask them out on a date. They’re given a time and a place, they meet me or they don’t. If they don’t show up and I feel like fucking, there’s always another girl on the list.” … “I told you, I’m not a nice guy. I’m Fucking Ford. It’s practically a nickname. This is how I operate.”

And yeah it really was passionate. I didn’t realise it was going to be so beautiful and emotional too though. I think this was because of Ashleigh, she truly brought the real Ford to the surface. There was a hand of fate when these two met in a snow storm. They both needed guidance and help. Ford amazed me, he truly opened up his soul and his heart to this girl and not only did I love her for healing Ford, but I loved her for being her. She was a great heroine and she didn’t take any of Ford’s crap. My heart went out to both of them as they went through an emotional healing of heart and mind.

‘That’s it. I need this girl. She’s so lost. She’s looking for someone to help her and I’d like to be this person. She’s got a hold of my heart…’

Ford has always made me melt into a puddle on the floor one minute and fanning myself the next. This is still the case and I love him even more now after seeing a vulnerability and learning of his childhood and who he really is.

‘I don’t understand what I am, I just deal with it…’ ‘The real me is filled with curiosity. I want to know everything. I want to understand everything’ ‘So I have to turn me off. I have to be something else.’

His relationship with his Mum but more so his Dad was truly beautiful. Oh and the image of Ford cradling a baby….sigh…..

‘My Dad was a great man…He was my biggest champion. He made me stronger…He pushed me to be better, learn more, try harder.’ – Ford

J&G:  We both thoroughly enjoyed Fords story.  There were some surprise reveals and some we had guessed but in no way did knowing take anything away from the journey Ford was to take in Taut. We learned so much of this man…of his past struggles, of his feeling of being an outcast, of his guilt over his father and why he would distance himself from so many in his life who loved him without question. Ford’s story was moving, funny and well told.

‘But just once, just fucking once, I’d like the Sandy instead of the Rizzo.’ – Ford

We have to say, we were in awe of this man. This author did an amazing job in revealing Ford’s struggles and exactly why Ford was the way he was. We really did feel for this man in ways we didn’t understand in previous books. Sure, we had loved him for his kink, hotness and his naughty side in the Rook & Ronin series but we came to love him for his beautiful heart, his struggle, his sensitivity and his loyalty. To see this once emotionally stunted man give himself to not one, but two hearts was mesmerizing and engaging.

“You take all the bad away for me, Ford. When I’m with you, all that stuff disappears.” – Ashleigh

Oh Ford has lost none of his sexiness and alpha-ness…..our Ford still retains the kinkiness and sexual mastery we know and love him for. The chemistry between Ford and Ashleigh was off the charts. This instalment was passionate, sensual, beautiful, funny and heart-warming.

“But I’m so far from satisfied I just want to curl up in a dark corner and die.”  – Ashleigh

We thoroughly enjoyed Fords story – his voice was believable and so well constructed by JA Huss. There were twists and turns that were both heartbreaking and heart-lifting. Ashleigh and Kate will completely steal your heart and we’re happy to have left Ford in a good place. An unexpected place, but a good place.

ARCs supplied by author in exchange for honest reviews